Bahamian NBA Roundup

Buddy Hield Gets The Last Laugh Against His Former team, Ayton Hands Celtics A Rare Home Loss

NASSAU, BAHAMAS This time last year, Bahamian Indiana Pacer Buddy Hield was a shooting guard for the Sacramento Kings with the 2022 trade deadline drawing close. Less than a week later, he was all packed up with a one-way ticket to Indianapolis. The league can be like that sometimes. 

Hield got his revenge on his old team on Friday night scoring 21 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists and throwing down one monster dunk his Indiana Pacers beat the Sacramento Kings, 107-104. 

https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1621694353482596352?s=20&t=n_2tp4AIx3PMVfIopGPqZQ

The win was much-needed for a Pacers team with their season on the brink of being a lost year, having lost 12 of their last 11 games.

Aaron Nesmith had 17 points and rebounds. All-star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was traded from Sacramento alongside Hield, had 10 points and 9 assists for Indy. Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Domantis Sabonis, who was sent to Sacramento in return for Hield and Haliburton, had 15 points and 16 rebounds. 

The win puts the Pacers’ record at 25-29, good for 11th in the west which would land them out of the postseason.

Don’t be shocked if Hield gets traded to a contending team looking for a shooter to help them on their postseason run. 

Deandre Ayton and his Phoenix Suns handed the Boston Celtics a rare loss on their home court, defeating the Celtics 106-94. 

Ayton scored 15 points and pulled down 10 boards, pretty pedestrian by his loft standards, but he did dish out 5 assists, a high number for a big who plays with such ball-dominant guards. 

https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1621672492166438914?s=20&t=mnuyHsSKCo3_dHGaqqTEyg

The game was a shellacking from the beginning with the Suns leading the Celtics by as many as 20 points in the first half. They never let up managing to maintain their lead until the end.

Jaylen Brown of the Celtics did manage to score 28 points and grab 8 boards while Jayson Tatum added 20 and 6.  
Ayton is also in the mix for trade discussions given his contentious offseason.

With the trade deadline looming, it would be a surprise if one or both of them did not get traded.