NBA notebook: Monroe signs with Celtics; Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

UNB! Sports Staff Report

Greg Monroe will sign a one-year, $5 million deal with the Bostpn Celtics, league sources tell ESPN.

The New Orleans Pelicans could only offer Monroe $2.2 million. They also offered Monroe the chance to be the starting center, but Monroe will join the Celtics with fewer assurances on playing time.

Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

According to ESPN, the Chicago Bulls traded Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans on Thursday.

New Orleans is planning to guarantee the $12.5M salary of Mirotic in the 2018-19 season.

In return, the Bulls acquire Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, and a 2018 first-rounder with "minima" protections.

Sources also told ESPN that the Bulls may waive Allen. They may keep Nelson, according to report after a previous one that said the Bulls wouldn't. 

Wizards All-Star guard John Wall to have left knee surgery

By HOWARD FENDRICH
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Wizards point guard John Wall will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and could miss much of the rest of the regular season.

The Wizards announced Tuesday that Wall would have the operation in Cleveland and that a timeline for his return would be determined afterward.

A person with direct knowledge of the injury said Wall could miss six to eight weeks. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not release any estimate of the length of Wall's absence. Washington's last regular-season game is on April 11.

This is the latest knee problem for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft out of Kentucky. He had surgery on both of his knees before last season.

In July, Wall agreed to a $170 million, four-year contract extension that starts with next season.

He was selected last week to participate in his fifth NBA All-Star game but now is expected to miss that event in Los Angeles next month.

Wall is second on the Wizards in scoring this season, averaging 19.4 points, and is second in the league with 9.3 assists per game. The timing of the surgery gives Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld a chance to find a new point guard before the NBA trading deadline, which is Feb. 8.

The Washington Post first reported that Wall would be having a procedure on his knee.

He sat out Washington's most recent game, at the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, because of a recurrence of soreness and swelling in his left knee. Earlier issues with the knee led him to sit out nine games in November and December, and he got platelet-rich plasma injections to try to cut down on the inflammation.

The Wizards entered Tuesday, when they were scheduled to host Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder at night, tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-22 record.

Led by its backcourt of Wall and Bradley Beal, a first-time All-Star pick this season, Washington lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals each of the past two years.

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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

Pistons land Blake Griffin from Clippers in blockbuster deal

(AP) -- The Detroit Pistons dramatically shook their struggling roster by acquiring one of the NBA's top players in Blake Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The deal for the five-time All-Star forward was announced early Tuesday, giving Detroit a player who has been the face of the Clippers but whose career has been undercut by injuries.

Detroit sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and center Boban Marjanovic to Los Angeles, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also acquired forward Brice Johnson and center Willie Reed.

"We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team," Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. "Blake Griffin is one of the NBA's elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it."

The Pistons did not yet say if Griffin would be available for Tuesday night's home game against Cleveland.

The 28-year-old Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games this season, but the Clippers have been plagued by injuries and are ninth in the Western Conference standings.

Detroit is scuffling as well. The Pistons have lost eight straight heading into Tuesday night's game against Cleveland.

"Needed a night to digest and reflect on what happened...." Griffin tweeted. "From being a (hashtag)1 pick, to Lob City, to six straight Playoff appearances, I am so proud to have been part of the success of the Clippers organization. LA has been my home since I started in the league and I will be forever grateful to the city for embracing me and supporting me. To the fans, you have been awesome every step of the way. Thank you for years of support.

"Now I'm ready for the next chapter, getting to work and helping the Detroit Pistons make a run in the Eastern Conference."

Last July, Griffin agreed to a $171 million, five-year deal, ending a brief flirtation with free agency. He told his teammates, coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, "I want my legacy to be a Clipper."

The deal didn't include a no-trade clause for the second-leading scorer in franchise history with 10,863 points.

Griffin gives Detroit's frontcourt another standout alongside Andre Drummond, but it also represents a clear change in course from the roster the Pistons had assembled. Detroit acquired Bradley in a trade with Boston last offseason, but he's in the final season of his contract. Harris has been impressive for the Pistons this season, shooting a career-best 41 percent from 3-point range.

"The move is not without risk. We gave up a lot to get him, including Tobias Harris - one of the hardest-working, highest-character players I know - and two high-quality young men in Avery Bradley and Boban Marjanovic," Gores said. "But we are very excited to bring Blake Griffin to Detroit. He is a great fit for our team and will bring a combination of toughness and athleticism that will elevate our team and excite our fans."

Detroit's season was looking promising until a late-December injury to point guard Reggie Jackson. The Pistons have stumbled while he's been out with a sprained right ankle, and the team is facing the prospect of missing the playoffs in its first season at its new downtown arena.

Detroit's next six games are at home, so the Pistons will have a chance to turn this season around - and an opportunity to build for a future with both Griffin and Drummond.

"His presence will help us offensively and his size gives us another rebounder and weapon in the paint," said Stan Van Gundy, Detroit's coach and team president. "Willie Reed and Brice Johnson are two young players that give us size and depth."

For the Clippers, moving Griffin continues a makeover of a franchise that has never made it past the second round of the playoffs.

The Clippers traded All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Houston last summer. He had been credited with bringing respectability to the team that was once the laughingstock of the league. Without Paul, Los Angeles won its first four games to open the season, and then lost nine of its next 11. The team is one game above .500 going into Tuesday night's game against Portland.

"Blake is one of the best players ever to wear a Clippers jersey. We want to express our gratitude and respect for everything he has done for this team and the city of Los Angeles," said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations. "This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise."

Paul's replacement, Patrick Beverley, has missed the entire season after right knee surgery. Also missing time have been DeAndre Jordan, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers and Milos Teodosic.

Yet owner Steve Ballmer remains optimistic.

"While change is hard, my confidence in our front office, led by Lawrence Frank and Michael Winger, along with the sage counsel of Jerry West, has never been higher," he said in a statement. "I believe today, more than ever, in our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship."

Los Angeles receives a protected first-round draft choice and a second-round pick from the Pistons.

The Clippers drafted Griffin first overall out of Oklahoma in 2009. However, he missed the 2009-10 season after surgery on his broken left kneecap. Griffin missed 21 games last season and 47 in 2015-16 because of injuries.

As a rookie, he was an All-Star, won the slam dunk contest and was named NBA Rookie of the Year.

He has averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his career.

"Blake Griffin had a tremendous impact on this organization and his legacy within the community of Los Angeles will be permanent," Balmer said. "It was a pleasure getting to know and cheer for Blake. I wish him, as well as Brice and Willie, the best of luck."

Even before the Pistons announced the deal, there was plenty of reaction on social media Monday night. Harris had a message on his accounts thanking Detroit for its support. Griffin's Twitter account had its own message with no words - just an image of actor Will Smith with a surprised expression on his face.

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AP Sports Writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Ingram sends Lakers past Spurs to 3rd straight win, 93-81

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Halfway through another mostly miserable season, the young Los Angeles Lakers have put together their longest winning streak of the year.

Coach Luke Walton is eager to see whether they can maintain the momentum that's making their future look slightly less bleak.

Brandon Ingram scored 26 points, Lonzo Ball added 18 and the Lakers held off the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 93-81 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.

Larry Nance Jr. had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers (14-27), who blew an early 19-point lead before running away in the fourth quarter with a poise they've shown only fleetingly this season. Los Angeles had lost nine straight before its current surge.

"We responded like a team that's failed a lot, and kind of got sick of it," Walton said. "We're seen that point many times this year where we're playing well, we have a lead, the other team goes on a run and then we stall out in the second half. I thought our players did a great job of coming together."

Ingram had an aggressive offensive game, and Ball contributed 10 rebounds, six assists and four 3-pointers as Los Angeles also snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Spurs at Staples Center since April 2013.

The Lakers (14-27) appear to be midway through their fifth consecutive non-playoff season, but their entertaining style occasionally produces great moments, such as the dunk thrown down by Nance on a less-than-ideal pass from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

"We're focused on defense, effort and energy, really," Nance said of the winning streak. "I don't know what it was, but it was about time we got out of that rut."

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half for the Spurs, who committed 21 turnovers while playing without injured starters Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Danny Green.

Bryn Forbes scored 18 points and Dejounte Murray added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"That was a pathetic performance by our team, and a lot of the reason for it was the way the Lakers played," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "They were very physical, much more physical than we were. Their desire was at a totally different level than ours was. ... Just effort and will. I thought in that sense, we were pathetic."

TIP-INS

Spurs: Pau Gasol had nine points and 12 rebounds in the 37-year-old Spaniard's latest return to the city where he won two championships alongside Kobe Bryant, whose two retired jersey numbers now hang in the Staples Center rafters.

Lakers: They made an early 25-3 run on the way to a 37-18 lead. Ball hit three 3-pointers and didn't miss a shot in the first half. ... Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played a solid defensive game and contributed down the stretch with 10 points and four rebounds.

AILING SPURS

Leonard missed his third straight game with a left shoulder strain, and Parker sat after spraining his right ankle in Sacramento on Monday. Green missed his fifth consecutive game with a groin strain.

Veteran Rudy Gay also sat out his seventh straight game with right heel bursitis, leaving the Spurs short-handed in the last stop on a three-game trip down the West Coast.

PEANUT GALLERY

Before the game, Popovich didn't mince words when asked about the recent criticism of Walton from Lithuanian basketball power broker LaVar Ball: "I think the first thing to look at is the substance and gravitas of the source that speaks, and just stopping at that point would tell you that you don't need to listen or go any further. It's just another fan in the peanut gallery with an opinion, which is meaningless."

TRADE ME NOT

Popovich also revealed that Aldridge requested a trade last summer after a rough season. The coach talked the star big man out of his feelings after a few dinners and meetings. "I was very candid with him," Popovich said. "I told him, `I'd be happy to trade you. You get me a talent like Kevin Durant, and I'll drive you to the airport. I'll pack your bags. And I will drive you there, get you on the plane and get you seated.' He laughed, (and) I said, `But short of that, I'm your best buddy, because you're here for another year, and you ain't going nowhere. Because we're not going to get for you talent-wise what we would want, so let's figure this thing out.' And we did."

UP NEXT

Spurs: Return home to face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Lakers: Open a three-game road trip at the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

Clippers hold off Kings 121-115 after blowing 14-point lead

By MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Blake Griffin says he's fully recovered from the concussion he suffered last weekend and marveled at how his Los Angeles Clippers have maneuvered their way around a series of injuries to key players this season.

Griffin is just as impressed with how much the club has gotten from unheralded teammates like Tyrone Wallace, who spent most of the season in the G League before joining the Clippers for his NBA debut this month.

Wallace intercepted a pass at midcourt and drove in for a dunk with 10.9 seconds left, moments after what appeared to be a costly turnover by Lou Williams, and the Clippers held off the Sacramento Kings 121-115 on Thursday night after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.

"Guys made big plays when we needed them," Griffin said. "Guys that weren't even on an NBA roster at the beginning of the season are coming up and making big plays like they've been in the league for years. That's awesome to see."

The Clippers, who lost DeAndre Jordan to a sprained left ankle in the second quarter, won their third straight over the Kings this season and their 11th in a row at Sacramento.

"It's tough. You just keep dropping guys every game," Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers said. "Every game someone is stepping in for us, too, and that's the blessing."

Williams finished with 30 points and six assists, one night after scoring a career-high 50 against defending champion Golden State. Griffin had 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in his return to the lineup, and Montrezl Harrell scored a season-best 25 - including 16 in the second quarter when Los Angeles put up 43 points.

The Clippers led 106-92 early in the fourth before the Kings rallied to go ahead 113-112 on Bogdan Bogdanovich's layup with 2:10 remaining.

Griffin followed with a 3-pointer and Williams later scored on a short jumper, but the Kings pulled to 117-115 on George Hill's free throw with 24.9 seconds left.

Williams then committed a turnover at midcourt when he threw a pass to Sacramento's Kosta Koufos, but Wallace saved his teammate when he stole the ball back and drove in for a dunk. Wesley Johnson added two free throws to seal the win.

"Normally bigs don't want to push the ball up so I kind of just sat there and waited a little behind the guard," Wallace said. "I figured (Koufos) was going to look to pass it. He just turned and threw the ball without looking, so I knew I had an opportunity to get the steal. I had the whole court in front of me."

Bogdanovich scored 22 points, and Koufos had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Hill added 21 points but missed two free throws in the final 70 seconds.

"We've got to start games and play with a lot more effort, a lot more aggressiveness, a lot more motor," Kings coach Dave Joerger said.

Williams had 21 points in the first half, including nine in the final 1:33 of the second quarter after the Kings had trimmed a 14-point deficit to 60-58.

The Clippers also got a lift from Harrell, who made all seven of his shots in the period.

That was important after Jordan limped off the court with an ankle injury after scoring on a dunk with 5:15 left in the first half.

"That's par for the course for our team this year," Griffin said. "One guy comes back, one guy has to go out."

GRIFFIN'S HEALTH

Griffin shot 5 of 14 and was 2 for 7 from beyond the arc in his return from a concussion he suffered last Saturday. "Fine head-wise and all that," he said. "I just felt like I was a little off rhythm-wise."

TIP-INS

Clippers: Harrell's 16 points in the second quarter were two more than he had the entire game against Golden State.

Kings: Bogdanovich had four fouls in the first half. ... Frank Mason was diagnosed with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot. He is expected to miss four weeks. Mason was injured Dec. 31 against Memphis.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Play at Houston on Saturday.

Kings: Play at Oklahoma City on Saturday.

James, struggling Cavs routed again, Raptors romp 133-99

By IAN HARRISON
Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) -- LeBron James isn't enjoying the view lately, watching the end of blowout losses from the Cleveland Cavaliers' bench.

James and his struggling Cavaliers absorbed their most-lopsided rout of the season, overwhelmed by the Toronto Raptors 133-99 on Thursday night.

The Cavaliers have dropped six of eight dating to a Christmas Day defeat at defending champion Golden State. James scored 26 points in this loss while Isaiah Thomas missed his first 11 shots.

"I don't know where it kind of went wrong or what happened," James said. "We've got to try to pick it back up and find it."

After losing to Minnesota 127-99 on Monday, the Cavaliers fell by an even bigger margin. Toronto's 133 points were the most by any Cavaliers opponent this season, and marked the third straight game that Cleveland has allowed at least 127.

So, what has been James' biggest beef with Cleveland's last two losses?

"That I haven't played in the fourth quarter," he said, adding his team is getting "tore up."

Kevin Love, who scored 10 points, said he's confident the Cavs can turn it around in time to reach the finals for a fourth straight season.

"We have enough talent here to get over that hump and make a lot of good things happen," Love said. "Right now it's just tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel but it is there. We will get out of it and we will get better."

Fred VanVleet scored a career-high 22 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and a season-high 18 rebounds and the Raptors overcame the absences of two starters.

C.J.Miles scored 16 points, Pascal Siakam and Norm Powell each had 14 and DeMar DeRozan 13 for the Raptors, who were without point guard Kyle Lowry (bruised tailbone) and forward Serge Ibaka (suspension). Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors.

VanVleet made six of eight 3-point attempts as the Raptors connected on a season-high 18 shots from beyond the arc.

"I was really proud of the way he came to play," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

Toronto's 12-game home winning streak was snapped in Tuesday's loss to Miami, but the Raptors bounced back in their first meeting with Cleveland since the Cavaliers swept the Raptors out of the second round of the playoffs last May.

Thomas connecting on a short jumper at 7:22 of the third quarter for his first basket. He finished 2 for 15 and went 0 for 6 from 3-point range. Playing for the fourth time this season as he returns from a right hip injury, Thomas scored four points in 24 minutes.

"He'll be fine," Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. "He's going to have to work out some kinks, but he'll be fine."

Lowry missed his second straight game after he was injured in a heavy fall in overtime of Monday's win at Brooklyn. Lowry participated in shootaround Thursday morning but is still too sore to play.

Ibaka served a one-game suspension for throwing a punch at Miami's James Johnson in Tuesday's home loss to the Heat.

Leading 30-24 after one quarter, the Raptors extended their lead in the second thanks to their bench. Siakam scored 10 points and VanVleet had eight as Toronto led 65-40 at halftime.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Thomas missed all 10 of his field goal attempts in the first half. ... G Derrick Rose who has been out since Nov. 7 with an ankle injury, will not play Friday at Indiana. G Iman Shumpert, out since Nov. 20 with a knee injury, is also expected to miss Friday's game. ... Cleveland is 11-11 on the road.

Raptors: Outscored Cleveland 76-48 in bench points. ... Outrebounded the Cavs 63-35.

RECORD-BREAKING START

Toronto's 29 wins through 40 games are the most in franchise history. The Raptors started 28-13 in 2016-17.

END OF THE LINE

Thomas failed to make at least one 3-pointer for the first time in 60 games. It had been the second-longest streak in the NBA behind Golden State's Klay Thompson (95).

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Thomas is expected to rest when Cleveland concludes a back-to-back by visiting Indiana on Friday. The Pacers have won both meetings with the Cavs this season.

Raptors: Host Golden State on Saturday. Toronto has lost seven straight to the Warriors.

Celtics overcome 22-point deficit to beat 76ers in London

By SAM JOHNSTON
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) -- Ten seasons ago, the Boston Celtics came to London and won. They went on to win the NBA title.

As they repeated the first half of that feat with a comeback victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics provided more evidence that they can emulate that 2007-08 squad.

Kyrie Irving had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Boston overcame a 22-point deficit to beat the 76ers 114-103 in the eighth regular season NBA game played in England.

"It's always great to believe in fate," Irving said. "But for us we have to be dogged in every moment we're afforded. It's great for that to happen for that past team but it's the past. We have to be very present. Winning an NBA championship is one of the hardest things you can do in life."

Jaylen Brown added 21 points, and Marcus Morris had 19 points and eight rebounds to help the Celtics extend their winning streak to seven games.

JJ Redick had 22 points and hit five 3-pointers for Philadelphia, but the 76ers were unable to take advantage of their fast start as the Celtics' NBA-best defense tightened at O2 Arena.

Joel Embiid had 16 points, and fellow All-Star hopeful Ben Simmons added 15 for the 76ers.

"This team that we just played today is the best defensive team in the NBA and we felt all of that," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "When you look at their individual defensive players to a man, they're as strong positionally as any team in the NBA."

Irving and Embiid struggled early, going a combined 1 for 10 from the field in the first quarter. Despite ending the quarter pointless, Embiid was able to make an impact on defense, notably swatting away Irving's attempted layup.

Embiid and Simmons helped out Redick at the start of the second and the 76ers made their first nine shots of the quarter to open the 22-point lead with 6:56 remaining in the quarter.

However, Irving finally made a 3, sparking a strong Celtics finish to the half as they closed to 57-48.

Having been outshone by fellow Rookie Of The Year contender Simmons in the first half, Jayson Tatum began the second half hot, making his first five shots to bring the Celtics within a point.

The Celtics took their first lead midway through the third quarter, and soon took control as Morris and fellow reserve Marcus Smart stretched the lead.

Irving returned early in the fourth and was fouled making a trademark driving layup and made the free throw to give the Celtics a 105-88 advantage midway through the quarter, all but ending the contest.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW?

With the Celtics top of the Eastern Conference with a 34-10 record and the 76ers (19-20) ninth and fighting to make the post-season a first round playoff meeting between the two is a possibility.

Despite having lost all three games to the Celtics this season, Embiid is confident the 76ers could compete in a seven-game series.

"If we end up meeting in the playoffs, I feel like we got a pretty good chance," Embiid said. "We just need to correct whatever has been careless the whole season and that's turnovers and fouling a lot."

TIP-INS

Celtics: The Celtics held Philadelphia without a field goal for the final 4:37 of the second quarter to trim the halftime deficit to nine points

76ers: Embiid was the only player on either team to finish with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to his 15 points.

UP NEXT:

Celtics: Host New Orleans on Tuesday night.

76ers: Host Toronto on Monday night.