Clippers forward Nicolas Batum made just his fourth start this year on Friday and helped his club notch a 105-95 win over New York, writes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Typical starter Derrick Jones Jr. is still dealing with a groin injury, opening up an opportunity for the 36-year-old reserve.
Batum, whose season-high 17 points against the Knicks included 5-for-7 shooting from deep, noted that his gig as a backup under head coach Tyronn Lue has meant staying ready and adjusting to an irregular role.
“I mean that was the talk I had with Ty during the offseason after the Olympics and during training camp,” Batum said. “I mean some games I play 25 (minutes), some games five minutes, some games I won’t play… But I knew, like maybe like down the road, like the last 20 games, I might mean more like (in) a game tonight (with) some injury, so I need to be ready to step up.”
The 6’8″ vet is averaging just 17.4 minutes per game this year, his lowest in 17 NBA seasons. All told, Batum is logging 3.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 APG and 0.7 SPG during his time on the hardwood for the 34-29 Clippers.
There’s more out of California:
- Kings starters Malik Monk (sprained toe) and Domantas Sabonis (hamstring strain) have both been given the green light to resume on-court activity this weekend, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Both will miss Sunday’s clash against the Clippers, and Sabonis has been ruled out for Monday’s matchup with the Knicks as well. Jonas Valanciunas has served as Sabonis’ replacement, while Keon Ellis has been starting in place of Monk.
- Kings assistant coach Luke Loucks is set to start his reported new gig as the head coach at Florida State immediately. According to Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 KTXL Sacramento (Twitter link), the 34-year-old Loucks logged his last game on interim coach Doug Christie‘s staff on Friday in a 127-109 win over San Antonio. Loucks played under 23-year now-former FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton in college.
- Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored his 25,000th career point against Detroit during a 115-110 win Saturday, Golden State announced in a press statement (via Twitter). Curry, 36, is now just the 10th player in the history of the league to have reached that tally for a single team. Across 55 healthy bouts so far this season, the two-time MVP and 11-time All-Star is averaging 24.5 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per night. He’s the best player on an ascendant Golden State squad, which has won nine of its past 10 contests and is currently the West’s No. 6 seed at 36-28 overall.
California Dreamers …….
Ain’t no Cali team in West Finals this year.
Looks like a OKC vs Denver Finals. Grizzlies and TWolves could spoil the party.
Cope
Cali is in Columbia…There is no reason why the Warriors can’t make it to the Finals. The current team is playing far better than they were in 22. The 22 team barely made it into the playoffs. They shouldn’t have won anything. You still have the same core group. So, why worry about the Warriors? The Knicks have enough problems.
Besides 14%
Lakers have the best shot out of any of them…
2 Superstar level players… No other Californian team has that…
Steph Curry is the GOAT.
When Draymond gets his 5th ring, the haters are going to be SO mad, lol. Me? I will, once again, enjoy Curry’s greatness and analyzing what ACTUAL winning basketball looks like (as opposed to all these know it alls who act like they know what a Finals winner looks like in the regular season, but are so clueless, as their fave team never sniffs the Finals), so my well-thought out takes full of factoids and stats continue to be (to the detriment of my haters) spot-on and “right early”.
dude……as a dubs fan, I understand where the hate comes from. similarly…I was rooting against the chiefs because I’m tired of seeing their success. thats how people feel about the dubs! tired and hoping the dynasty ends. so….try to be understanding, as teams fight to catch up .
There’s just a bit of a difference when the team is as weak as it is now…
Butler can’t replace Klay… Teams can hone in on Steph and keep Butler out of the paint… Or just let Steph try and beat them by himself…
No one has scouted them because no one expects them to be healthy in the playoffs…
how the devil do YOU know who’s “scouted” whom? have you watched a single game? Klay is averaging 14 points. Jimmy is at 20 ppg. Jimmy also plays all pro defense.
Oh yeah I understand it too, like, its just so much fun having Draymond Green on my team and no one elses, you are so right, he is probably the most annoying player in history if he isn’t on your team, combine that with the Dubs window staying wide open now thanks to the 6 man youth brigade who are all excellent rotation pieces… these people waiting for their turn are going to be waiting forever and they know it.
GSW might be in the middle of the most dominant dynasty since the 60s Celtics or 80s Lakers and it might not even end when Curry retires! I invite them all to keep coping and making me laugh at their crybaby takes on here. Like, we can count all the times certain posters have said “the window is closed, curry had a great run but its over now” on here, and they have said this continuously since 2020, and now its 2025, and it’s still not true! lol – pure coping at its finest. Surrre buddy, the windows closed, whatever you say…keep talking, I will be busy at the parade cheering the GOAT of the game winning more rings than MJ…
FankeStein already has Jimmy traded for KD. Next year ok. Thats a real fan …. RIGHT real loony.
Warriors have 18 gms left. Are just 1 1/2 gns ahead of 9th seed. And 12 of those gms are against playoff teams. Warriors could be gone after first round …
Then Dr FankenStein will have to remake his monster lols…..
22 of 18
^ hahahahahahaha surrre lil guy, im sure KAT is gunna win a title in his career and isnt a choker! hahahahahah
I said Jimmy for one of KD/Giannis/Lebron – that’s who GSW has literally said they are going after, argue with Lacob and MDJ you clown! Take it up with them!