PRECIOUS ACHIUWA

Another game, another close one for the Toronto Raptors. They’re noticing a trend.

Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Game 6 to end the first-round series Thursday night.

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, Precious Achiuwa had 17 and the Toronto Raptors forced a return home for Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and James Harden were ruled out for Monday night’s Eastern Conference showdown with the Miami Heat due to nagging injuries.

Pascal Siakam had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Precious Achiuwa scored 21 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 93-88 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Point guards were the immediate focus when the NBA’s free agency window opened Monday night, with Kyle Lowry headed to the Miami Heat, Lonzo Ball on his way to the Chicago Bulls while Chris Paul and Mike Conley landed lucrative deals to remain with their current teams.

When the Dream Team era started in 1992, most of the NBA players in the Olympics represented the United States.

This is not how USA Basketball expected to open its Olympic summer.

Nemanja Bjelica anotó 17 de sus 21 puntos en la primera mitad y el Heat de Miami aplastó el domingo 120-107 a los Pistons de Detroit a pesar de darles descanso a varios jugadores clave en un partido relativamente sin importancia.

Precious Achiuwa scored a career-high 23 points and Max Strus added 20 for the Heat.

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat high fives Precious Achiuwa against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at American Airlines Arena on December 25, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The NBA announced on Wednesday that Heat rookie Precious Achiuwa and second-year sharpshooter Tyler Herro were selected to the 2021 NBA Rising Stars teams. Unfortunately, unlike in past years, there is not going to be a Rising Stars game due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, the Rising Stars Challenge is made up of NBA players in their first or second year in the league. Achiuwa becomes the tenth Heat player selected to the Rising Stars teams, joining Herro, Nunn, Norris Cole, Michael Beasley, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Caron Butler, Kurt Thomas and Khalid Reeves.

Miami Heat players Udonis Haslem, left, talks to Jimmy Butler during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Miami. The Miami Heat aren’t believing that quite yet — even after a disastrous start to the 2020-21 campaign. “Heat Nation, we are going to figure this out,” All-Star center Bam Adebayo said. AdThe year after losing the finals has not been kind to the most recent teams who have dropped the title series. Tyler Herro missed seven games with neck spasms.

Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons and Precious Achiuwa of the Miami Heat battle for a rebound during the third quarter at American Airlines Arena on January 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. MIAMI – The Detroit Pistons had their most dominant quarter in nearly two years. And last season’s NBA Finals trip for the Miami Heat suddenly seems long ago. Jerami Grant scored 24 points, Derrick Rose had 23 off the bench and the Detroit Pistons, the team with the NBA’s worst record, came into Miami and beat the Heat 120-100 on Saturday night. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 28 points and Duncan Robinson added 22 points while hitting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, bottom, and Miami Heat forward Precious Achiuwa go for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)MIAMI – The Miami Heat engineered a 58-point turnaround against the Milwaukee Bucks in 24 hours. “Started to feel like Miami Heat basketball again,” Herro said. Milwaukee is 2-3 this season; the Bucks started 24-3 last season. “You want to constantly develop some grit and some toughness during the course of a long season," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The main reason is that the big man out of Memphis has been all ears, listening to the team’s veterans. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said on Sunday, “That’s one of the reasons that our young players last year were able to grow and gain confidence so quickly. So as long as he continues to stay focused and continues to work, which we all know he will, he’ll continue to develop and we’ll all continue to get better because that’s the expectation here and that’s what we all love.”Achiuwa said, “It’s been really really helpful. Just being out there with those guys at the same time, it makes my job so much easier. Achiuwa said, “I don’t see anything as doing too much... I’m here to play winning basketball.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) dribbles against Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)MIAMI – Erik Spoelstra remained perfect on Christmas, and a record-tying show from Duncan Robinson helped him stay that way. Robinson made seven 3-pointers — tying the Christmas single-game mark — and scored 23 points, helping the Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-98 to start the NBA’s holiday quintupleheader Friday. Goran Dragic scored 18 points, Bam Adebayo had 17 and Avery Bradley finished with 12 for Miami, and Spoelstra improved his Christmas record as Heat coach to 8-0. COMING HOMEVeteran ref John Goble was crew chief and got to be home for Christmas; he’s a Miami native.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives against Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Boston. Irving scored 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting and had seven rebounds, five assists and two steals helping the Nets rout the Celtics 113-89 Friday night in the final preseason game for both teams. There were no fans in the new Boston Garden on Friday night, and his introduction was greeted with a faint, fake cheer. Precious Achiuwa scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Heat, while Bam Adebayo scored 13 points and Tyler Herro scored 10. McCollum led the Blazers with 26 points on 8-of-20 shooting and Gary Trent Jr. added 18 points in the loss.

MIAMI – Fresh off the franchise’s sixth appearance in the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were back to work on Wednesday with an eye on the future. With the 20th selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Heat snagged Memphis big man Precious Achiuwa. Achiuwa began the season playing power forward but was moved to center by head coach Penny Hardaway (yes, that Penny Hardaway). and just 21 years old, Achiuwa could help give Miami a formidable 1-2 punch down low when teamed up with Bam Adebayo. Miami has done well with their recent first-round picks, selecting Tyler Herro in 2019 and Adebayo in 2017.