Rajon Rondo had a so-so week, Gorgui Dieng thrived in a starting role and Russ Smith saw his third game-action with Memphis before being sent back down to the D-League.
Here’s a closer look at how Rondo and the two University of Louisville products on NBA rosters did in the 21st week of the season.
Rondo (Dallas Mavericks): The Louisville native, former University of Kentucky standout point guard and ninth-year pro averaged 8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists in three games for the Mavs, who went 1-2. Despite that, one of his teammates says that Rondo isn’t throwing off team chemistry.
Rondo tallied 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in Dallas’ 112-101 loss to visiting Memphis last Friday night. He was 4 for 8 from the field, including 0 of 2 from 3-point range, and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. He also had 2 steals and 4 turnovers in thirty minutes.
Rondo registered 12 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds in the Mavs’ 98-92 loss at Phoenix on Sunday. He was 6 for 13 from the field, including 0 of 1 from 3-point range. He also had 1 steal and 1 turnover in thirty-five minutes.
Rondo totaled 2 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in Dallas’ 101-94 win over visiting San Antonio on Tuesday night. He was 1 for 5 from the field and also had 4 turnovers in twenty-seven minutes.
For the season Rondo is averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8 assists per game for the Mavs (45-27), who are fourth in the Southwest Division and seventh overall in the Western Conference.
Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves): The second-year center from UofL continues to take advantage of Nikola Pekovic’s lingering ankle injury. Starting in Pekovic’s place he averaged 14 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in four games for the T-Wolves, who went 2-2.
Dieng tallied 19 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in Minnesota’s 95-92 overtime win at the New York Knights last Thursday night. He was 9 for 10 from the field and 1 of 4 from the free throw line while also recording 2 steals, 1 assist and 2 turnovers in forty-eight minutes.
Three days later Dieng had 16 points and 8 rebounds in the T-Wolves’ 109-98 loss to visiting Charlotte on Sunday. He was 5 for 8 from the field, including 0 of 1 from 3-point range, and 6 for 6 from the free throw line while also recording 1 assist, 1 blocked shot and committing 2 turnovers in thirty-six minutes.
The next night Dieng had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks in Minnesota’s 106-104 OT win at Utah. He was 4 for 8 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free throw line while also registering 3 steals, 1 assist and 1 turnover in forty-five minutes.
Dieng totaled 10 points and 3 rebounds in the T-Wolves’ 101-99 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. He was 4 for 6 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line while also posting 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal and 6 turnovers in thirty-three minutes.
Dieng is averaging 9.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2 assists per game on the season for Minnesota (16-55), which has the worst record in the Western Conference.
Smith (Memphis Grizzlies): The rookie guard from UofL made his third appearance of the season with Memphis before being sent back down to the Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies’ NBA Development League affiliate, Tuesday.
Russdiculous didn’t see action in the Grizzlies’ 112-101 win at Dallas last Friday and their 97-86 win over visiting Portland on Saturday, but did play two scoreless minutes in their 103-82 victory at the New York Knicks on Monday night. Two nights later Smith, who is averaging 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in the D-League, scored 16 points in an Energy loss.
So far this season Smith is averaging 1.4 points per game in nine NBA games - six with New Orleans and three with Memphis (50-22), which is leading the Southwest Division and is second overall in the Western Conference.
Photo courtesy of the Memphis Grizzlies Facebook page.
