Tip-offs: NBA news roundup

Houston hamstrung by Harden injury

Houston megastar James Harden will miss two games with a left hamstring strain, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said on Thursday.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni had already said Harden was "very doubtful" for Friday's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and an MRI exam confirmed the strain.

"He was diagnosed with a grade one-plus left hamstring strain," Morey said in a statement. "Harden will also miss the Rockets next two games and will be re-evaluated prior to our upcoming road trip."

Harden, the NBA's Most Valuable Player last season, scored 29 points before departing the Rockets' 100-89 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday with little over five minutes left.

Rockets renew effort to acquire unsettled Butler

The Houston Rockets' latest trade offer to the Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star guard Jimmy Butler includes four future first-round draft picks, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Other players who might be involved in the talks are still being discussed, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Houston's offer is the maximum number of first-round picks allowable in a trade under league rules.

Pairing Butler, a four-time All-Star, with All-NBA guards James Harden and Chris Paul certainly would boost the Rockets' pursuit of a championship.

Butler has averaged 24.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.8 steals through four games this season.

Jordan invests in e-sports franchise

NBA icon Michael Jordan is branching out into e-sports, investing in aXiomatic, the parent company of Team Liquid.

Jordan, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and now owner of the league's Charlotte Hornets, is making his first foray into the sector.

"I'm excited to expand my sports equity portfolio through my investment in aXiomatic," said Jordan, who joined his fellow Dream Team teammate Magic Johnson as an aXiomatic investor, as is Ted Leonsis, owner of the NBA's Washington Wizards and the NHL's Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.

"E-sports is a fast-growing, international industry and I'm glad to partner with this great group of investors."

LeBron lands award for philanthropy

With the NBA season barely two weeks old, superstar LeBron James has bagged his first trophy - this one for off-court philanthropic work.

James, in his first season since joining the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, received the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of his efforts to create the I PROMISE School and provide lasting educational resources for youth and families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, the league said on Thursday.

James and the LeBron James Family Foundation opened the I PROMISE School on July 30 and welcomed its first class of more than 240 third-and fourth-grade students.

Billboard bids to woo Durant to New York

Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors will face the New York Knicks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where the fans have a very big greeting waiting for Durant.

A billboard showing a cartoon Durant wearing a Knicks jersey went up near the arena on Thursday. He's standing next to New York star Kristaps Porzingis and holding the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The caption reads: "Can you make NY sports great again?", and is accompanied by the player's Instagram handle - @easymoneysniper - and the hashtag#KDNY2019.

The billboard was paid for by advertising agency NYCADSCO.com. Last year in the same location, a similar hoarding featured LeBron James.

Portis sidelined in fresh blow for depleted Bulls

Bobby Portis will miss up to six weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, adding to a long list of limping Chicago Bulls.

Portis was diagnosed with a sprained MCL after leaving Wednesday's 112-110 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Portis joins the brigade of Bulls on the sideline that includes starters Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn and backup guard Denzel Valentine.

Markkanen was sidelined on Sept 27 with an elbow injury that could shelve him for six weeks. Dunn is out four to six weeks with a knee sprain, and Valentine will be re-evaluated next week as he recovers from an ankle problem.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/27/2018 page11)