UK in the NBA: Knight leads Pistons over Cavs
December 11, 2012
By Nick Jones | @Kernel_Nick
After a string of losses for his 7-15 Detroit Pistons, Brandon Knight turned things around with one of the best games to date in his young career as the Pistons’ starting point guard.
Knight scored a career best 30 points, during Detroit’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, with 13 of his points coming in the fourth quarter.
Knight finished seven rebounds and five assists as well, in 38 minutes of play. Tayshaun Prince, another former UK star, had 14 points and eight rebounds for Detroit in the same game.
According to Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank, Prince has emerged as more of a vocal leader in his 11th NBA season. “He’s a model of consistency through his career. He’s had a super season to this point,” Frank said to The Detroit News. “It’s easier to have a vet that’s producing to help others than a vet who’s not producing. In order to be listened to they have to see you doing it.”
Enes Kanter, who was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft despite having never played a game at UK due to eligibility issues, earned his first career start in an NBA regular season game in week six.
The second-year pro was filling in for the injured Jazz teammate Al Jefferson, his veteran teammate. Jefferson was especially satisfied with Kanter’s performance.
“He made me feel like if I do have a little injury, I can sit out and he’ll step up and play well for me,” Jefferson told Jody Genessy of the Deseret News after Utah’s win over Toronto.
The 6-foot-11 Turkish center scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while playing a season high, 35 minutes for the Jazz. Kanter’s contribution helped Utah to a big win over Canada’s lone NBA team, with the Jazz beating the Raptors 131-99.
Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ mediocre season to this point, Jodie Meeks, who built a reputation during his three years at UK as a deadly shooter, has made quite the transformation since the arrival of new head coach, Mike D’Antoni.
Over the past four games in week six, Meeks has averaged over 25 minutes and 12 points per game.
The shooting guard will likely continue to be the scoring threat the Lakers need off the bench as the season progresses.
Back in September, the Washington Wizards front office announced that John Wall, the face of the Wizards franchise, would be sidelined for eight weeks with a stress-related injury in his right knee.
Now 10 weeks later, there is still no definite answer as to when Wall will return to even the practice court to help his Wizards team.
Washington head coach Randy Wittman would dearly like to welcome Wall back into their rotation as it currently holds the worst record in the NBA thus far at 2-15.
“John’s still some weeks from getting on the floor and practicing,” Wittman said to Wizards’ correspondent, Chuck Gormley.
Another former Cat battling the injury bug is rookie Anthony Davis. The former No. 1 overall pick has appeared in only six games through the first six weeks of the season.
Davis, who was the pre-season favorite for the “Rookie of the Year” award, is making the necessary strides to get back on the court and could return to action as early as this coming week.
“He’s been cleared for contact and is ramping up his conditioning,” Hornets head coach Monty Williams told The Times Picayune. “He practiced a little bit, but again (we) have to wait until tonight or tomorrow to see how he feels.
Statistics through week six
Week seven T.V. schedule
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Brooklyn Nets (Keith Bogans) vs. New York Knicks 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN
L.A. Clippers (Eric Bledsoe) @ Chicago Bulls (Nazr Muhammad, Marquis Teague) 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Boston Celtics (Rajon Rondo) vs. Dallas Mavericks 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN
Utah Jazz (Enes Kanter) vs. San Antonio Spurs 10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN
Thursday, December 13, 2012
L.A. Lakers (Jodie Meeks) @ New York Knicks 8:00 p.m. EST on TNT
Friday, December 14, 2012 Boston Celtics (Rajon Rondo) @ Houston Rockets (Patrick Patterson, Terrence Jones) 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN