Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

April 6, 2017

By Wiley Ballard –

Marcus Georges-Hunt made his NBA debut on Tuesday night for the Orlando Magic … Derrick Favors continues to aim for a postseason return from injury … Anthony Morrow and Thaddeus Young battle for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots …  All of that and more can be found in this week’s Nissan #ProJackets Report.

Nothing has changed for Chris Bosh and his inactive status in Miami. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported a couple weeks ago that the Heat “intends to part ways with Bosh before it needs to clear off his salary from its cap prior to July free agency.” With just four games remaining in the regular season, Miami sits a three-way tie for seventh place with Indiana and Chicago. The Heat travels to Toronto tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip.

Derrick Favors missed his 14^th consecutive game on Tuesday night, a 106-87 win over Portland. It was Utah’s seventh consecutive home victory giving the Jazz a 48-30 overall record. CBS Sports reports that “it’s looking increasingly likely that he may miss the rest of the regular season.” If Utah can win two of its final four games, they’ll have reached the coveted 50-win plateau for the first time since 2009-10. When he has played, Favors has averaged 9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds while shooting 48.3 percent from the floor. Coach Quin Snyder remains “hopeful” that Favors will return in time for Utah’s first postseason run in five years. The Jazz seek their eighth consecutive home win Friday night at 9 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After 45 NBA D-League games, an all-star selection and a second NBA contract, Marcus Georges-Hunt made his monumental NBA debut last night for the Orlando Magic. CBS Sports reports that Georges-Hunt’s deal is a “two-year, partially guaranteed contract” that will keep him with the Magic for the end of this season. The rookie’s hometown paper took notice of the feat with this story published earlier this week. In his first NBA game, the 23-year-old pulled down a rebound and missed a three in four minutes of action in Tuesday’s loss to Cleveland. Check out his interview with local media after his signing. Orlando returns to the floor tonight against Brooklyn at 7 p.m. ET.

Anthony Morrow delivered on Tuesday night, even though his team did not. In the midst of a heated playoff race, the Bulls dropped a 100-91 decision the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. The setback snapped a four-game win streak for Chicago putting them into a three-way tie for seventh place. Morrow added 15 points on seven shots and a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. The 15-point performance was the largest since November for the Charlotte, N.C., native. Chicago travels to Philadelphia tonight looking to bounce back. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Iman Shumpert and the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a decisive thumping of the Boston Celtics last night, 114-91. The convincing victory gives Cleveland a one-game lead in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed with four games left on the schedule. In the win, Shumpert added five points and four rebounds. In 72 games this season, the 26-year-old has averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Cleveland hosts the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Thaddeus Young is playing his best basketball since the New Year, and it’s coming just in the nick of time for the Indiana Pacers. In his last five games, Young is averaging 15.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor. With four games left, Indiana sits in a three-way tie with Miami and Chicago for the final two playoff spots. Tuesday night’s win against Toronto, buoyed by Young’s double-double, snapped a four-game losing streak. The gritty 28-year-old has battled through a wrist injury throughout the season’s second half and his three-point shooting has suffered. Young’s mentality is unwavering, “You just try to focus at the task at hand, which is winning basketball games… I’ve got to keep playing.” Tonight’s assignment is the Milwaukee Bucks. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.

"Beat the odds do numbers and remain humble" @1future pic.twitter.com/l929j6LBhd

— Marcus Georges-Hunt (@GTMGH3) April 4, 2017

Never stop #post90 https://t.co/PtChk8E0FY

— Iman Shumpert I (@imanshumpert) April 2, 2017