Tierschutz aktuell /Nachrichten » d 2-0. Game 3, 9:

The Houston Rockets believe they got a steal by adding Southern California’s De’Anthony Melton with the 46th pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night – and they aren’t worried about his off-court headlines.

Melton was drafted by the Rockets following a season in which he was ruled ineligible because of an extra benefits scandal.

”He’s a guy that if he had played we feel pretty comfortable that he would have been a top-20 pick Albert Wilson Color Rush Jersey ,” general manager Daryl Morey said. ”So that’s why we were really happy to get him there. I think he was a little out of sight, out of mind.”

Houston also added Purdue forward Vincent Edwards in a trade for cash with Utah after the Jazz selected the senior with the 52nd pick.

”We feel like both these guys are not too far from potentially contributing for us,” Morey said.

USC never had Melton in the lineup last season due to eligibility concerns tied to a sprawling college basketball corruption case. The 6-foot-4 Melton, who started 25 games as a freshman and averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists, sat out after an investigation by the FBI alleged that a friend of Melton’s family accepted $5,000 to influence Melton to sign with a certain agent and financial adviser when he reached the NBA.

His eligibility first came into question when USC’s Tony Bland was one of four assistant coaches around the country accused of taking bribes to influence players to sign with certain agents, advisers and apparel brands. Bland was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to four charges concerning bribery and wire fraud.

”Obviously we have to do our homework and look into everything,” Morey said. ”That was something we were extremely comfortable that was not an issue.”

After leading his high school to consecutive state titles, Melton averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a freshman in the 2016-17 season. Scouts see him as a solid defender who needs to develop offensively.

Melton and Edwards will join a team led by James Harden and Chris Paul that won a franchise-record 65 regular-season games but was eliminated by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

Paul and center Clint Capela lead a group of free agents the Rockets will work to re-sign. Houston is also expected to make a play for LeBron James, but NBA rules kept Morey for commenting directly on any potential free agent targets.

”This was really about setting up our future but it doesn’t affect free agency Mike Foltynewicz Atlanta Braves Jersey ,” Morey said of the draft. ”Now we shift our focus to free agency. And the challenge of upgrading a very good team is not easy, so we’re going to have to be aggressive.”

The 6-foot-8 Edwards was named second-team All-Big Ten after averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists a game last season. He shot 39.8 percent from 3-point range and was an 83.3 percent free throw shooter last season. Edwards joined Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine and Tulane’s Jerald Honeycutt as the only three players in the last 25 years to finish their college careers with at least 1,600 points, 750 rebounds, 400 assists and 170 3-pointers.

”He sort of can do it all,” Morey said. ”He can defend multiple positions. He really fits our style of play … one thing unique about him is he can handle the ball and pass at his size and he’s already an accomplished shooter.”

—

The Indiana Pacers look loose and sound confident.

They were laughing, smiling and joking around at practice Thursday as turned to a new task – protecting their home court this weekend against LeBron James.

Sure, his sensational 46-point, 12-rebound effort in Game 2 exposed flaws in Indiana’s defense and allowed Cleveland to even the series, but it sure didn’t shake the faith of the fearless Pacers.

”It’s a good sign when you lose by three and the best player in the world has a game like that,” Indiana point guard Darren Collison said.

The Pacers shouldn’t be rattled.

They are 4-2 against the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs this season Tre'Quan Smith Color Rush Jersey , fought back from an early 18-point deficit Wednesday with Victor Oladipo in foul trouble and still had a chance to tie the score on Oladipo’s wide-open 3-pointer with 27 seconds left.

They still can seize control of the series by winning the next two in Indianapolis.

To avoid such a plight, the Cavs could give their star player some help – or they will need more command performances from The King.

But finding a stronger supporting cast Friday night in Game 3 could be potentially problematic with Kevin Love trying to play through an injured left thumb. Love, who is right-handed, said X-rays of the hand were negative even though he sat out the final 3 1/2 minutes of Game 2 as the Pacers continued to close the deficit.

”He’s great, yes sir,” coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday. ”Ready to go.”

The Cavs did not have media availability Thursday.

Indiana, meanwhile, spent most of the day working on corrections.

”I’ve already watched it,” Oladipo said, cutting off a question about whether he’d been studying film. ”But I’ll probably watch it again.”

While coach Nate McMillan didn’t provide specific details about what adjustments he might make, the Pacers figure the simplest solution to containing James and regaining control of the series will be focusing on themselves.

”I think offensively, we didn’t have the proper spacing and we were letting them push us off our spots Sampo Ranta Blackhawks Jersey , like we did to them in Game 1. And Victor got into foul trouble,” Collison said. ”There were a lot of encouraging signs from that game because we didn’t play our best basketball.”

—

RAPTORS AT WIZARDS

Raptors lead 2-0. Game 3, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN2.

NEED TO KNOW: The Raptors had never taken a 2-0 lead in a playoff series until now. With DeMar DeRozan leading the way, this one could be over quickly unless the Wizards figure out how to play a little defense, particularly on the perimeter. DeRozan scored 37 points, shot 61 percent from the field and 50 percent on 3s in Game 2. In all, the Raptors have made 29 baskets from beyond the arc through two games, 11 more than the Wizards. Washington, meanwhile, has lost seven of its last eight, dating to the regular season. Asked about where things stand right now Tyler Anderson Colorado Rockies Jersey , PG John Wall said: ”I’m just always cool. Just stay cool and understand that we didn’t play our best basketball.”

KEEP AN EYE ON: Washington’s starting lineup. Coach Scott Brooks has hinted about possibly removing C Marcin Gortat and inserting F Mike Scott. That would make Washington more athletic and nimble, and Scott’s ability to close out on outside shooters helps the defense against 3s. Plus, Scott offers more scoring punch.

INJURY UPDATE: Raptors G Fred VanVleet sat out Game 1 because of a bruised right shoulder suffered in Toronto’s regular season finale, and was out of sync in Game 2. It’s unclear how much – or if – he has practiced the last two days. Washington SF Otto Porter Jr. has been dealing with a strained right calf recently and a bum hip before that, but Brooks declared him ”100 percent healthy” heading into Game 3.

PRESSURE IS ON: Bradley Beal. The Wizards top scorer (22.6 points) is averaging just 14 in the playoffs. He was 3 for 11 in Game 2 and has struggled from 3-point range, too. Still, the Raptors know they must keep him under control. ”He’s one of the most dynamic players in our league,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. ”We’ve got to treat him as such and not look at him having a couple of games where he hasn’t shot well. We’ll treat him for who he is.”

—

CELTICS AT BUCKS

Celtics lead 2-0. Game 3, 9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN.


NEED TO KNOW: The Bucks won at Boston on opening night and have since lost four of five in the series. Milwaukee’s only win during that stretch came April 3, at home. So the Bucks are hoping a change in scenery also helps them change direction. The Celtics expect to see a different team this weekend. ”You know they’re going to come out aggressive, they’re going to come out hard M.J. Stewart Color Rush Jersey ,” Boston guard Terry Rozier said. ”We’re coming out with the mindset that we can forget about taking care of the home-court (advantage).”

KEEP AN EYE ON: Bucks F Jabari Parker. The Celtics have been challenging Parker and Al Horford has taken advantage in the paint. Now Parker, who has scored only two points in the first two games while averaging 12 minutes per game, sounds frustrated as he tries to work his way back from a second serious knee injury. When asked Thursday about how he gets more minutes, Parker said: ”Be on my coach’s good side. Yeah. Whatever that is, just try to be on the good side.” Coach Joe Prunty said later he has no issues with Parker. ”He’s on my good side,” Prunty said. ”We need him and everybody to be ready to go .