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NBA Wrap: Tacko Fall takes over, Kyrie’s $1m stand, Harden’s regret

It’s been a big week in the NBA but a cult hero has pulled off one of the great cameos the league has seen to send his teammates into hysterics.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
4 min read
January 17, 2021 - 7:38AM
Celtics bench goes nuts as Tacko banks a three

Boston’s Tacko Fall may not have played many minutes in his NBA career so far but the 2.3m giant is already one of the fan favourites.

While he doesn’t get many minutes, he’s been a fan favourite with fans even begging for him to get in the game last season.

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But having played in the 10th match of his career in some garbage minutes against the Orlando Magic, Fall played just eight minutes but lit a fire under the NBA.

Officially Fall is 226cm tall but has had some reports saying he was 229cm tall — either way he’s one of the tallest player ever to play in the NBA and fans are continuing to love what he brings.

The Celtics routed the Magic 124-97 despite some of the big names including Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker missing the game.

Tacko Fall goes big.
Tacko Fall goes big.

Fall scored six points and nabbed five rebounds but had his teammates losing their damn minds on the sidelines after he nailed a deep two and then went all himself for a big dunk.

Fall went to shoot a three but the replays knocked it down to two as his size 22 shoes touched the line.

The commentator said: “Look at the bench” in between laughter as Fall knocked down the deep jump shot, banking it in off the glass as his teammates lost their minds on the bench.

He then backed it up, faking another three before getting in the paint and throwing down a big dunk.

It was a fun moment for the NBA which has been dealing with a lot with the COVID crisis.

The internet was quick to rave over the cameo.

Barstool Sports called Fall “a long lost splash brother” while Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who scored 21 points, was still buzzing after the game.

“Man, ya’ll gotta give Tacko his f***ing respect!” Brown told NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg. “Ya’ll seen the work. Come on, Tacko been in the gym with me. Come on, man. I’m the trainer.

“He’s definitely made the most of every opportunity he’s had, and it was good to see him come out and score some easy baskets.”

KYRIE’S COSTLY $1M STAND

It’s been an expensive absence for Irving.
It’s been an expensive absence for Irving.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 by the NBA after attending a crowded indoor party without wearing a mask, the league said Friday.

Irving was placed under investigation after video emerged on social media showing him attending a birthday party with no mask.

NBA protocols to combat the coronavirus forbid players from attending indoor gatherings of more than 15 people.

But his absence after the US Capitol was stormed has seen Irving forfeit his salary for each game he’s missed during a five-day quarantine that would end on Saturday.

That is currently at $US900,000 ($A1.167m) of his $US33.5m salary ($A43.5m).

Irving has not played since January 5 for what the Nets have said are “personal reasons”.

The Nets acquired Houston Rockets star James Harden this week to form a heavyweight line-up alongside Irving and Kevin Durant, who returned to play this season after a year-long injury absence.

The Nets are sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, with seven wins and six defeats.

— with AFP

HARDEN’S TRADE REGRET

But speaking of Harden, the star is trying to correct the record after his departure knocked some nose out of joint.

The day before his trade was made official, Harden front the media and said: “I love this city. I’ve literally done everything I can. This situation is crazy. It’s something I don’t think can be fixed. Thanks.”

The Beard burned a couple of bridges.
The Beard burned a couple of bridges.

The teammates he left behind weren’t happy with John Wall savaged Harden for the comments.

“When you have certain guys in the mix who don’t want to buy in, all as one, it’s going to be hard to do anything special, to do anything good as a basketball team,” Wall said.

“We can’t dwell down on it because it’s only been nine games. Come on man, you want to jump off a cliff after nine games. It’s a lot of basketball still to be played.”

Similarly, DeMarcus Cousins said “the disrespect started way before any interview”.

Harden, who could debut against the Magic tomorrow, said playing alongside Irving and Kevin Durant will be easy as “were all unselfish” as many pundits pondered what would happen with three alphas on the field.

But as for the move, Harden said he regretted not being able to compete in Houston.

“I wasn’t disrespectful to anyone,” Harden said. “Those guys just got there to Houston. I’ve been there for a very long time. I’ve been through all the ups and downs with that organisation. I just made a comment that the team as a whole wasn’t good enough to compete for a title. At the stage of my career where I’m at now, that’s what I would love.

“I regret (it) because I don’t need the attention, especially the negative energy, the negative attention. I’ve never been that guy. So there were some things I felt like out of my character but the ultimate goal was to get somewhere I could compete and here I am with Brooklyn.”

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Tacko Fall takes over, Kyrie’s $1m stand, Harden’s regret

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/american-sports/nba/nba-wrap-tacko-fall-takes-over-kyries-1m-stand-hardens-regret/news-story/3b4b2ac62f82c433040d9d7609167647