Star combo guard Tyrese Haliburton, the number 12 overall pick out of Iowa State in the 2020 NBA draft, received promising news yesterday about his left knee injury, via MRI. The Sacramento Kings star has no ligament damage whatsoever, and the franchise can breathe a sigh of relief about the team’s cornerstone.

Haliburton injured his leg during Sunday’s 112-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and the team feared the worst. Haliburton was under noticeable distress and needed help getting to the locker room. Coach Luke Walton echoed this sentiment on Sunday. “They’re working on it, so it’s not like we’re trying not to get the information out there,” Walton said. “We’re not hiding anything, but whenever that information all comes in and the powers that be communicate it out, that information will be sent out to you and that will happen when it happens. I can’t give you an exact time.”

Haliburton will sadly be forced to miss the conclusion of this season, but nothing more. In his absence, veteran guard Delon Wright will take his place and De’Aaron Fox should return on Friday as well. Haliburton is also expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of next year.

The Kings weren’t close to the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference anyway, so the offseason will simply start early for the young star. In his rookie season, the combo guard averaged  13 points per game, along with 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals. He flashed elite shot-making and playmaking skills, traits that will only improve as he plays more, and gets a better team around him. Interestingly enough for Haliburton, his stats have inflated since teammate Fox was sidelined due to the league’s safety and health protocols. Since Haliburton has become the primary ball handler and distributor for the Kings, he’s averaging 18.5 points and nine assists. This stat line is comparable to players like Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and Ja Morant, and shows a potential future trajectory for Haliburton.

Although the rookie’s season is over a bit early, Kings fans are surely happy that he escaped without major injury. Haliburton figures to play a huge role in Sacramento’s future.

The Golden State Warriors are expected this week to sign Andrew Bogut.

Golden State Preparing To Sign Bogut

The 34-year-old center is coming off an NBL MVP season in his native Australia and was a member of the first two Warriors campaigns that ended with them reaching the Finals.

Once Bogut obtains a work visa and gets clearance from FIBA, he can sign a contract for the remainder of the season. His season with the Sydney Kings of the NBL wrapped up on Sunday. Sources are saying that a FIBA clearance will come at some point this week. However, receiving a visa will take longer, between seven and 10 days.

Warriors assistant general manager Larry Harris selected Bogut first overall in the 2005 NBA Draft when he led the Milwaukee Bucks‘ front office. Reports claim that Harris recently went out to Australia to see Bogut play.

Coach Steve Kerr said that the team had discussed bringing the center back into the fold — after Bogut last played with the Warriors from 2012 to 2016 — but that there are no contracts signed yet.

“I’m not going to go into kind of our needs and all that,” Kerr said after Monday’s practice. “Just cut right to the chase and tell you that we have been talking to Bogut and his representatives and nothing is official. And there’s things that have to happen and we can’t really comment on it until it’s official. The other question I’ll answer at the appropriate time.”

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Warriors forward Kevin Durant, in the last year of his deal, expressed confidence in the front office to fill the final roster spot.”We trust whoever they bring in as long as he do his job,” he said. “I’m sure Bogut’s going to add a little bit of knowledge and wisdom because he’s been a part of the system before. We’re looking forward to having him on the team.”

It should also be noted that Lakers head coach Luke Walton could also find his way back to the squad before the playoffs. He’s been in hot water recently as it looks like LA will miss the playoffs but the Warriors would be happy to have him back. During Walton’s time as interim coach of Golden State, he had a 39-4 record.

The Los Angeles Lakers surely felt crushed on Sunday after reaching a new low.

Lakers’ Luke Walton: ‘Frustrating’ Performance In 122-73 Defeat

The Lakers suffered their worst loss in franchise history in Sunday’s 122-73 road defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.

“We didn’t show up to play, honestly, which is frustrating,” first-year Lakers coach Luke Walton said after the 49-point drubbing. “Honestly, it’s embarrassing for us as a team and for us as an organization, for our Laker fans that are so good to us.”

The loss just edged the team’s two previous worst losses at 48 points, most recently 123-75 at Utah on March 28, 2016.

“Again, at this point it is not about every night going out and winning,” Walton added. “It is playing a certain style that allows you a chance to win while we are trying to build this thing. It’s about getting better and building on games like our last game, and not being satisfied with it.”

The loss also, ironically, came on the 11-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s historic 81-point performance against Toronto, the second-most points scored by a single player in a game in NBA history.

It was the Mavericks’ (15-29) 13th consecutive victory over the Lakers, and they outscored their opponents 38-11 in the second quarter. Los Angeles had more turnovers (five) than field goals (four on 17 attempts) during the quarter.

“Tough game. That’s it,” said guard Jordan Clarkson, one of only two Lakers to score in double figures during the loss. “A loss is a loss.”

The Lakers (16-32), meanwhile, have dropped six of their last seven games. Four of those losses have come by double digits.

Dirk Nowitzki scored all 13 of his points for Dallas in the first half, after only netting three points in an overtime loss to the Jazz on Friday.

”I looked sluggish the other night on that back-to-back,” said Nowitzki, who had 20 minutes of play time, ”but took a day off yesterday, didn’t do anything. Felt a lot better today.”

The game was close for 10 minutes, with the Mavs leading 23-22 before they scored the next 15 points to blow it open.

Justin Anderson led seven Mavericks in double figures with a game-high 19 points in 16 minutes, his most playing time since Dec. 27.

Dallas led 67-33 at the half and dominated from there. They scored their most points and allowed the fewest in a half and a game this season. The 34-point halftime lead was the third-largest in franchise history.

The Lakers, on the other hand, scored their fewest points in a quarter, a first half and a game.

”What’s deflating is that we didn’t guard anybody tonight,” Lakers forward Julius Randle said.

Lou Williams led the Lakers with 15 points.

 Mavericks rookies Pierre Jackson (10 points) and Nicolas Brussino (eight points) both reached career highs.

 The Lakers were missing D’Angelo Russell, second on the team at 14.3 points per game. An MRI from Saturday revealed a mildly sprained right MCL and strained right calf. Larry Nance Jr. (bone bruise, left knee) returned after missing 16 games and scored four points.

The Mavericks complete a three-game homestand on Wednesday night against New York, while the Lakers will travel to Portland for the second game of a three-game trip on Wednesday night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE8Ts3csN5M

DALLAS, TX – JANUARY 22: Deron Williams #8 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against Timofey Mozgov #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center on January 22, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.