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Kansas’ Joseph Yesufu now becomes the fourth Jayhawk to enter the NCAA transfer portal – Basketball Insiders

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After the reigning champions suffered a disappointing elimination by the hands of the Arkansas Razorbacks in March Madness’ second round this past weekend, one of the Jayhawks’ best players has now announced he’s entering the transfer portal.

We are talking about junior combo guard Joseph Yesufu, as he’s decided to play for a third collegiate men’s program.

The six-foot athlete is a native of Bolingbrook, Illinois, and started off his college journey playing two campaigns for Drake, before joining the Kansas University program since mid-2021. Playing as a junior, he logged 12.7 minutes per game, averaging 4.1 points over 35 matches.

“Joe is a really, really good player,” said KU assistant Kurtis Townsend about the youngster. “He can shoot the ball, is athletic. He’s not that big. He’s low to the ground, really strong. The biggest thing is he’s a tough kid yet one of the nicest kids you’ll ever meet, just a great kid.”

By that time, the guard shot 24-of-84 from beyond the arc, with an efficiency of 28.6% and an overall shooting of 36.7%. He also provided 15 assists to 18 turnovers with 16 steals for his team.

Let’s take a look at his progress ever since. By the end of last year, he achieved season-high stats in back-to-back games against Tennessee on November 25 and Texas Southern on November 28. On both games, he hit 14 points.

Three months later, just this past February 11, Yesufu handed out 3 assists and won 3 more rebounds in only eight minutes against the Sooners. Only three days later, he came off the bench to register 3 steals again in Oklahoma. All this added up to averages of 9.2 minutes per match during his sophomore season.

However, his true breakthrough came in March’s Big 12 Tournament. First he grabbed four rebounds vs. West Virginia, then dropped nine points against Kansas State. His ascension was coming at the best time possible, considering the NCAA Tournament was just around the corner.

Yesufu produced one of the best three-pointers of this NCAA Tournament

The reigning champs entered this March Madness beating Howard by an impressive 28-point margin. Yesufu, who came out of the bench to score 8 points and hand out a couple of assists. Unfortunately they lost in the next round to the Razorbacks, but there was one specific three-pointer that was worthy of a poster.

Check out his amazing shot from beyond the arc that inspired Kansas’s fans last week:

As Yesufu turned in his decision to enter the transfer portal, he becomes the fourth KU athlete to take this path, joining Cam Martin, Zach Clemence, and Bobby Pettiford. This just means new scholarship opportunities open up as experience leave the roster.

The Jayhawks are already bringing in four new players in freshmen-to-be Chris Johnson, Jamari McDowell, Elmarko Jackson, and Marcus Adams.





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LeBron James hopes to be strategic with health and later push in playoffs

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Just like at the end of last year’s regular season, LeBron James needs to consider his playtime to rest and save up energy if he is to lead the Lakers‘ push during the NBA Playoffs. The only difference is, this time he’s not injured, but should emphasise being strategic with his health in case it happens.

The biggest challenge is the fact that the purple and gold have no guarantees that they’ll make it to the postseason just yet, and will also need their superstar’s guidance in order to keep chasing a better seed down the stretch. After beating the Grizzlies 136-124 this Wednesday evening, he revealed his thoughts on the matter.

“I got to be smart with it,” the veteran said after returning from a one-game absence due to a sore left ankle. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”

Despite being the oldest player in the league, James is still putting up impressive exhibitions along the way. The 21-year veteran logged his fourth triple-double of the campaign against Memphis, with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to his name. With this past win, the Los Angeles club extend their streak to a season-best five games and are sitting in the Western Conference’s ninth spot with nine contest yet to go.

This is why LeBron considers it necessary to avoid risking short-term objectives that could affect his playoff involvement. “I mean, I would’ve probably tried to play yesterday [in Milwaukee] if that was the case,” the 39-year-old said, as he’s only missed 10 games so far this season. During his absence, the squad has gone 6-4.

“Just be very strategic,” the star explained. “Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub. Not just one individual. But for me looking out for myself when it comes to injury and knowing my foot and knowing my ankle and how it reacts, and how it’s been over the last couple of years, it’s just always keeping a hefty eye on it.”

Unfortunately for the L.A. club, they must also decide how to manage Anthony Davis‘ situation, as the team decided to follow the same approach as he sat out on Wednesday due to a hyperextended left knee.

Despite AD’s knee injury, the Lakers prove to have depth as Rui Hachimura excelled in his teammate’s absence

Despite playing without their All-Star big man, who rested his left knee on Wednesday, the purple and gold still clinched a win against the Grizzlies inspired by many surprising leaders. One of them was Davis’ replacement, Rui Hachimura, who hit 32 points and earned 10 rebounds last night.

“When I came here today, this morning, I got all the flashbacks from last year,” shared the Japanese star. “Playoff time. … We have good memories here, had a pretty good games in here. I think I was happy to be able to come back here — it’s been almost a year.”

Just like last campaign, the Los Angeles team hope to play their best when it really counts. One year ago, the Lakers produced one of the strongest pushes down the last regular-season stretch. One Lakers forward believes it’s about being consistent.

“I don’t think any team in the league really wants to see us besides a couple,” said Taurean Prince. “We know our capabilities. I think everybody else does, too. It’s just about us coming being consistent.”





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Is Dejounte Murray (back) playing tonight against Celtics?

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Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (lower back soreness) remains questionable for Thursday night’s home game against the Boston Celtics. Murray, 27, has missed just three games overall this season.

The 2022 All-Star was also questionable with back soreness prior to Atlanta’s 120-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. He amassed 30 points, three rebounds, and seven assists in 35 minutes of action.

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Hawks (33-39) hold 10th-best odds to make the Eastern Conference playoffs. Sportsbooks show better odds for the Philadelphia 76ers (39-34) and Chicago Bulls (35-38).

“[Murray]’s efficiency tonight was just terrific,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “He picked his spots and set people up. He really set the tone for us.”

Through 69 games (all starts) this season, Murray is averaging a career-high 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 35.4 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 46.6% from the field and 36.8% from downtown.

“I always try to make the right basketball play, keeping confidence in my guys,” Murray said. “They know I believe in them. I’m always looking to get them the ball and for them to be aggressive taking shots.”

Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray (lower back soreness) is questionable vs. Boston Celtics

Of course, the bigger story ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Celtics is what occurred earlier this week.

The Hawks overcame a 30-point deficit in Monday night’s 120-118 win over Boston, their largest comeback victory in franchise history in the play-by-play era (since at least 1997-98).

Entering the matchup, the largest deficit the Hawks overcame in a win since 1997-98, regardless of opponent, was 27 points vs. Boston on Jan. 25, 2013, according to Elias Sports.

Murray recorded 19 points and a career-high-tying 15 assists against the Celtics. Atlanta also became the first team since 2002-03 to overcome a 30-point deficit against the team with the NBA’s best record.

The last team to come back from 30 or more points down to defeat the team that entered that day with the NBA’s best record was the Los Angeles Lakers (down 30) versus the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 6, 2002.

Furthermore, the Celtics had won 20 of 22 and were on a nine-game winning streak. Boston is now 11-3 in its last 14 meetings with Atlanta and 16-2 in its past 18 matchups with an Eastern Conference opponent.

NBA sportsbooks show the Hawks as 16.5-point underdogs against the C’s. Per ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Boston holds a 92% chance of defeating Atlanta at State Farm Arena.





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Rockets Win 10th Straight, Eye 1st Playoff Appearance Since 2020

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The Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-126 in overtime on Wednesday night for their 10th straight win, as they continue to fight for their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.

It’s the second-longest winning streak in the NBA this season, trailing only an 11-game run by the league-leading Boston Celtics. It’s also Houston’s longest win streak since the Rockets won 11 straight in March 2018.

“Oh, it was lit,” Jalen Green said after recording 37 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. “Everybody was happy, celebrating, screaming. We fought for that one. We worked hard. That’s how we should react after going 10-0. We’ll still keep going. We got what, 10 more games left?”

The Rockets (37-35) lucked out playing a dominant Thunder team without star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was downgraded to out on OKC’s injury report due to a quadriceps contusion.

Houston remains only one game behind the No. 10-seeded Golden State Warriors (38-34) for the West’s final play-in spot. The No. 9-seeded Los Angeles Lakers (41-32) hold a 2.5-game lead on the Warriors as well.

“We’re going to get a play-in game,” Green said. “We’re going to keep going.”

Through 72 games (all starts) this season, Green is averaging 19.8 points, a career-high 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 31.6 minutes per game while shooting career bests of 42.7% from the floor and 80.8% at the foul line.

Houston Rockets are 25-19 against Western Conference opponents, still trail Golden State Warriors

However, the Rockets’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft has averaged 29.8 points over the 10 games, shooting 51% from the floor and 45.9% from 3-point range.

The team has gone 12-1 in March with Green playing lights out. He could become the first non-All-NBA player since Tobias Harris in November 2018 to win Western Conference Player of the Month.

Furthermore, Houston is 26-11 at home, 11-24 away, 9-5 against Southwest Division opponents, and 25-19 in conference play. The team has also won six straight on the road and six in a row versus West teams.

“I think it’s invaluable for our young guys to go through this,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “And obviously making the playoffs or play-in will be another step, but just going through what they are now and coming on the other side of .500 is huge for them.”

Rookie forward Amen Thompson finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds in Wednesday’s win, the first 25-point, 15-rebound game by a Houston player since Yao Ming in December 2022, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Jabari Smith Jr., 20, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, switched from power forward to center after breakout star Alperen Sengun suffered a Grade 3 right ankle sprain and a bone bruise in his knee against the Sacramento Kings on March 10.

Additionally, the Rockets have finished dead last in the Western Conference the past three seasons.

During the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Houston defeated the Thunder in seven games in their first-round series. Though, the club went on to lose in five games to the Lakers in the conference semifinals.





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