The Houston Rockets lost Game 2 to the Golden State Warriors and James Harden suffered a nasty eye injury. San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich is expected to sign a contract extension, while the NBA rescinds Draymond Green and Nene’s technicals.
Rockets’ James Harden on injury to his eyes: ‘I could barely see’ | USA Today
Golden State Warriors defeated Houston Rockets 115-109 in Game 2 of the Western Conference semis series and even though James Harden led his team with 29 points, he struggled with injury after Draymond Green accidentally poked him in the eyes.
“I could barely see,” Harden said. “I just tried to go out there and do what I can to help my teammates. It is pretty blurry right now. Hopefully, it gets better day by day.”
“He got raked pretty good in the eyes but he came back,” Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I didn’t have a doubt that he wasn’t coming back unless it was something catastrophic. That’s him. He would have loved to play better, but given the circumstances, he played great.”
After suffering eye injury during Game 2 loss to Warriors, Rockets' James Harden clearly struggling: "I can barely see. It's pretty blurry right now." pic.twitter.com/4fqGDP7bUJ
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 1, 2019
Sources: Popovich expected to sign 3-year deal | ESPN
San Antonio might be out of the NBA playoffs but they certainly plan to keep head coach Gregg Popovich who is expected to return for his 24th season with the team. A three-year contract is on the cards and the deal will keep Pop as the highest-paid coach in the association.
The 70-year-old clearly doesn’t want to retire yet after his previous five-year contract ended with a Game 7 defeat to the Denver Nuggets. Popovich won five NBA championships with the Spurs and will coach Team USA in the FIBA World Cup in China in September and in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
A Popovich extension has been a foregone conclusion for months, but a new deal doesn't change the fact that he'll continue to take his coaching future on a year-to-year basis. Spurs ownership believes he’s entitled to manage his future how he wishes. https://t.co/4xlyua3SQK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 30, 2019
Buddy system: Bond between Jokic, Murray showing on court | Associated Press
Denver Nuggets beat Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semis series as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 60 points and the chemistry between two teammates is more than evident.
“We are playing really good together,” the versatile Denver Nuggets big man said. “He’s a great basketball player, a great competitive guy and I just love to have him as a teammate. “Did you write that down?”
“Just playing my game. If somebody is open, I pass it and if I’m open, I shoot,” Murray said. “When everybody is making shots, it makes it a lot easier.” “We read each other really well,” Murray added. “He’s such a good passer and can shoot. There’s really nothing he can’t do — other than jump.”
NBA rescinds Green, Nene Game 2 technicals | ESPN
Official Ed Malloy gave Draymond Green and Nene double technicals in Golden State Warriors’ 115-109 Game 2 win over Houston Rockets but the NBA has rescinded the technicals. The players exchanged words late in the third quarter and the referee decided to punish them but the league had last say.
The NBA is rescinding the technical fouls given to Draymond Green and Nene last night. Green is back to 3 technicals for the playoffs.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 1, 2019
Gordon Hayward’s former workout partner now chasing NBA dream | Boston Globe
Daulton Hommes, who was Gordon Hayward’s workout partner during Boston Celtics’ forward recover from an ankle injury, declared for the upcoming NBA Draft straight out of Division 2. Hommes is currently ranked as the 96th-ranked player on ESPN’s list of the top 100 draft prospects and expects to be selected this year.
This season, Daulton averaged 22 points and six boards per contest, leading Point Loma Nazarene to the national title game.
“He had a monster year,” Hayward said, “and hopefully he’s going to kill it at these draft workouts here and get drafted. That would be ideal for him.”
When Gordon Hayward was finally ready to play 1-on-1 last summer, Daulton Hommes was there. Hayward said Hommes seemed to have NBA skills then, and now the D-II player of the year is going for it: https://t.co/8S1edTcB0t
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 1, 2019
