Basketball

11/15 -- Platt has broken his silence and apologized for the incident ...

"What I did is totally unacceptable and not justified in any way. I got frustrated and lost control over my behavior. I know these words cannot undo my wrongdoings. In the future I promise to make better choices.

"I’m not only apologizing to Nate Tenaglia but also to my teammates, the coaching staff, the University and the whole basketball community."

10:07 AM PT -- Fitchburg State has suspended Platt and barred him from campus for an unspecified amount of time.

"The Fitchburg State community is appalled by the conduct displayed during Tuesday night’s home basketball game."

"His behavior is antithetical to our community values and good sportsmanship. Fitchburg State does not tolerate behavior that violates those standards. The case is being reviewed at the student conduct level for consideration of further sanctions."

9:57 AM PT -- We spoke with the athletic director at Nichols College ... who says Tenaglia was able to return to the game and is doing fine ... and says the Fitchburg State athletic director called him to apologize for the incident and will hand down punishment accordingly.

This could be the dirtiest play in sports history ... a scumbag college basketball player straight-up elbowing an opponent in the FACE after shooting a 3-pointer ... and the video will piss you off.

This all went down on Tuesday night ... when Division III teams Fitchburg State and Nichols were playing in Massachusetts.

The guy who throws the 'bow is Fitchburg junior guard Kewan Platt ... ironically enough, he's a criminal justice major.

The man on the receiving end of the punch is Nichols guard Nate Tenaglia.

People are RAGING about the video on social media ... and Michael Rapaport is calling for Platt to be arrested.

Platt was called for a flagrant foul ... and Fitchburg ended up losing the game.

We've reached out to Fitchburg State, Nichols and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Commission for comment ... so far, no word back.

Tracy McGrady has some Hall of Famer to future Hall of Famer advice for Carmelo Anthony ... move on, bro ... saying he believes it's time for Melo to put a period on his NBA career.

Anthony is reportedly on the outs in Houston and McGrady says he's being unfairly scapegoated for the Rockets' slow start. Problem is, Tracy thinks that's gonna be the case wherever Anthony goes.

"If he goes to another team and his team starts playing bad, then what? They're gonna blame Melo."

But, don't get it twisted -- T-Mac says Melo can DEFINITELY still ball at the top level ... he just thinks the NBA has turned the page on Anthony, not giving him a fair shake, meaning he only has one option.

The Mavs are goin' ALL OUT to honor wounded U.S. troops Wednesday night ... 'cause they're flying in 120 soldiers and hookin' them up with courtside seats AND a fancy 4-course meal!!

The team announced it'll host its 14th annual Seats for Soldiers night ... and give away floor tix for the soldiers -- valued at around $350k.

"Our annual Seats for Soldiers night is a reminder that we don’t get to enjoy the game we love without the incredible sacrifices our soldiers make,” owner Mark Cuban says.

The team says the night will start with a truckload of food at Nick & Sam's in Dallas ... where they'll feed the troops a baller steak dinner (dessert's a 7-layer cake).

Then, it'll be off to the American Airlines Center ... where Cuban will hook up the men and women with some amazing seats for their tilt with the Utah Jazz.

In addition to the wounded troops sitting courtside, the Mavs tell us they're also hooking up over 1,000 veterans with free tickets to the game.

Aqib Talib didn't just have the best seats in the house for Tuesday night's Rockets-Nuggets game ... dude got the dopest souvenir ever too -- James Harden's game-used jersey!!!

The L.A. Rams -- in town 'cause they wanted to practice at altitude to prep for their now-moved Mexico City game (more on that later) -- popped by the Pepsi Center to catch some hoops.

Dudes like Talib, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff and Marcus Peters were all courtside ... but for some reason -- Harden decided Talib was most worthy of the post-game swag.

The Bearded One even signed it ... and Talib loved it, saying, "That courtside drip, you feel me?! That's authentic. It's still sweaty. That thing still sweaty, straight off the court!"

L.A. was set to face the Chiefs next Monday night in Estadio Azteca, and was trying to hit up Colorado Springs all week to prep for the altitude in Mexico's capital.

But, since recent Mexico City concerts tore up the field ... the game got moved back to L.A. -- which appears to mean the Rams will head home soon.

Don't feel too bad for at least one of the Rams superstars for leaving the game empty-handed -- Gurley was still rockin' the sick diamond pendant YG gifted to him this week!!

Carmelo Anthony ain't gonna have an easy time finding a new squad after the Rockets boot him to the curb ... so says Byron Scott.

Don't get the ex-NBA coach wrong ... he likes Melo and thinks he can still shoot it -- but, he tells TMZ Sports, the market for the 10-time All-Star after he moves on from Houston will be wafer-thin.

"It's gonna be hard, man," Scott says.

Byron's biggest issues with Melo? He says the dude can't fit in with teams looking to rebuild with younger players -- and he can't fit in with squads that get up and down the floor.

So, Scott says the only possible landing spots for the future Hall of Famer are with veteran, half-court teams ... or nowhere else.

BTW ... we also asked Scott about the Lakers and the job Luke Walton is doin' -- and he says everyone just needs to be patient when it comes to LeBron's first year in Hollywood.

But ... we had to ask -- would he consider linking up with his ex-Lakers teammate, Magic Johnson, and coaching L.A. if Walton falters??

Matt Barnes stays winning ... 'cause he mopped the floor with his twin boys at the bowling alley!!

The match was pretty epic ... the two 10-year-olds were neck and neck with their ex-NBA dad -- only a few pins apart heading into the 10th and final frame.

But, that's when Matt turned the chill all the way off ... and buried two straight strikes for the W.

The best part?? Barnes trash-talked through it all ... especially when his boys asked if he was gonna get the turkey to finish off the victory.

"Call it Thanksgiving, you better f*cking believe it!!!"

Losers had to do push-ups ... and yeah, Matt made sure to keep the chirping going through those too!

Kevin Durant's mom tells TMZ Sports she loves LeBron James and Magic Johnson, which can only mean one thing ...

Wanda Durant loves LeBron and Magic. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Of course, Lakers fans are gonna love this clip ... K.D. is a free agent this summer and some are hoping he'll end up with the King in L.A.

We asked Wanda if she thought the 2 superstars will link up and wreck the West together ... and SHE DOES NOT SAY NO.

"My son has been in the NBA now for 11 years, so he's wise enough to make the decision that's best for him. I trust that."

There's more Laker love in the clip too ... Wanda gushes about Magic and his wife, Cookie -- which could be a whole lotta nothin' ... but, could also be a whole lotta somethin'.

There you have it. K.D.'s free agency mystery solved. You're welcome.

Kristaps Porzingis can't play basketball right now ... but that doesn't mean he ain't havin' fun -- 'cause the Knicks superstar just hit up an NYC party with Ivan Drago!!!

Dolph Lundgren was out at Mr. Chow Tribeca -- celebrating the upcoming release of "Creed II" -- so the Unicorn put his ACL rehab on hold and popped by to join the party.

Why?? We're told Kristaps -- whose nickname used to be "Young Drago" -- is a HUGE fan of the 'Rocky' villain, and always wanted to meet him.

The first interaction between the two at the Haute Living and Zenith Watches bash was pretty great ... K.P. towered over the 6-foot-5 actor -- and, at one point, Dolph just had to ask, "How tall are you, man?!"

Of course ... Kristaps measures in at 7-foot-3 -- only about a foot and a half taller than Drago's most famous opponent, Sylvester Stallone.

So ... it all begs the question -- WHO YA GOT IN THIS FIGHT?!

9:30 AM PT -- LeVert reportedly dislocated his right foot and ankle in the incident ... and he can return later this season.

The NBA community is rallying behind Caris LeVert after his sickening leg injury on Monday ... with superstars like LeBron James and Paul George showing support for the Brooklyn Nets player.

LeVert went up for a block toward the end of the 2nd quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves ... and he landed awkwardly on his right leg, which appeared to snap.

If you haven't seen the video already, it should probably stay that way. If you DO want to see it ... we warned you ... it's painfully gruesome.

"Young Fella prayers to you!" LeBron tweeted Monday night. "Speedy recovery and even stronger impact coming soon for sure!"

George added ... "God bless you youngin tough road ahead but we’re here to help lift you @CarisLeVert ! You know how to reach me"

"Prayers for Caris LeVert," Kevin Love tweeted. "Hate to see this. Having a hell of a season. Keep strong"

Gordon Hayward -- who also suffered a nasty injury last season -- offered his assistance in recovery ... saying "Best wishes and prayers to @CarisLeVert on a speedy recovery! The journey back is hard, but you’ll be stronger in the end. Please reach out if you need anything!"

FYI -- 24-year-old LeVert was having his best NBA season by far ... averaging 18 points a game.

LeVert was stretchered off the court and rushed to a Minneapolis hospital for treatment. Players in the game were so shaken up by the injury that some were reportedly crying in the locker room at halftime.

Chris Paul shared his sympathy, saying, "Prayers out to @CarisLeVert!!! Been watchin him play this season and I’ve loved every bit of it! Hate to see him get injured."

Several Pepperdine men's basketball players tell TMZ Sports they feared for their lives as the wildfires raged near their campus this weekend.

Flames have ravaged Southern California the past few days ... and when they crept up on Pepperdine's Malibu campus Friday ... students were forced to flee to the school's gym before they ultimately evacuated.

Pepperdine guard Jade' Smith says it was one of the most frightening things he's ever experienced.

"It was wild. It was crazy. It was honestly one of the scariest experiences of my life," Smith says.

"There was a point where they started to come around and it felt like they surrounded us almost."

The Waves postponed their game against CSU Northridge on Saturday ... and were thankful just to be safe when we got them ahead of their upcoming road trip at LAX on Monday.

"We were stuck in the gym and we saw the fire coming over the hill to the campus," forward Kessler Edwards says.

"It almost got some of the buildings."

Pepperdine is headed to Colorado for a game Tuesday before it hits the Bahamas for a tourney later this week ... and ya gotta hear how happy forward Kameron Edwards is to be leaving the fires behind.

Jimmy Butler was personally greeted by his new Sixers GM, Elton Brand, and a private jet on his way outta Minnesota on Monday ... and TMZ Sports has the pics!!

The ex-Timberwolves forward was just shipped to Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade that sent Dario Saric and Robert Covington to Minnesota ... and Brand clearly couldn't wait to meet his newest superstar.

The Sixers are in Miami to play the Heat Monday night ... but we're told the guys are going straight to Philly. Butler's expected to suit up for the Sixers on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

It's Brand's first huge trade in his new position as general manager after his own 17-year NBA career ... and judging by the pics, he's happy with the results.

Paul Pierce tells TMZ Sports he had to pack his things and leave his Calabasas home behind ... saying the California wildfires were getting too close for comfort.

The retired NBA superstar was leaving Mastro's in Beverly Hills on Saturday night ... when he told us he had spent the day evacuating due to the massive wildfires that have forced more than 250,000 people to leave their homes behind.

At least 177 homes have been destroyed in SoCal by the fires ... and a ton of celebs and athletes have been affected -- including Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth and Gerard Butler, who all lost their Malibu homes.

Pierce shared a video from his multi-million dollar Calabasas home on Friday ... showing the fires moving toward his area.

LaMelo Ball's stint in Lithuania has made him INELIGIBLE for one of the biggest honors at the high school level -- the McDonald's All-American Game ... officials tell TMZ Sports.

The All-American game features the top 24 players from around the country selected by a voting committee based on their athletic and academic success.

Superstars from Magic Johnson to LeBron James to Kevin Durant to Melo's older brother, Lonzo, have participated in the game -- being selected to the team is one of the highest honors a high school player can have.

Of course, Melo announced his return to prep hoops earlier this week by enrolling in elite Spire Academy private school in Geneva, Ohio ... bringing him back to amateur status.

But, a rep for the organization's selection committee tells TMZ Sports LaMelo will NOT be in consideration to play in the game at the end of the season ... citing his past professional status as a means for disqualification.

"LaMelo Ball is a Professional Basketball player and has played professionally in Lithuania resulting in him being ineligible for the McDonald’s All-American Game," the rep tells us.

There are reports Melo didn't receive a cent of his salary while playing for BC Vytautas, making him clear to regain his amateur status.

But, reps for the All-American Game say they're not convinced -- yet -- however, they're willing to reconsider Melo's status if he can prove without a doubt he wasn't paid.

We also reached out to the organization behind the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award -- another huge honor for high school athletes -- and they told us Melo is NOT disqualified from consideration.

"As long as he maintains his amateur status, plays a full high school season and is in good standing with his team all season long, he’ll be considered just like any other HS candidate."

But, Melo and the rest of the Ball family aren't about accolades anyway -- for them, the only thing that matters is getting PAID in the NBA.

Riff Raff says he's already so impressed with the way his "cousin," Mac McClung, is ballin' out at Georgetown, he's droppin' a brand new track about the kid!

Mac has been making headlines for his insane dunks since he was in high school -- and he already posted a highlight reel jam in his 1st college game this week.

So, when we got Raff out in NYC he was all kinds of fired up about Mac -- tellin' us he's almost ready with a new song about the phenom!

"I already got one in the making for one of my albums," Raff says ... "Mac Attack! When he come through with that Mac Attack, shoot."

BTW ... Riff Raff has some hoop talents himself -- and tells us he'd love the chance to join a league like the BIG3 one day.

Then, he showed off his killer handles -- and issued a warning to Harvey ... WATCH YOUR ANKLES!!!

Remember how STOKED Trae Young was to get his brand-new, $138,000 Audi back in July??

Well ... it took his new Atlanta Hawks teammates only a few months to kill his chill -- 'cause they JUST STUFFED IT WITH A BOATLOAD OF POPCORN!!!

Jeremy Lin documented it all on social media ... showing the Atlanta rookie's new custom Audi R8 packed to the brim with the buttery stuff.

Trae wasn't the only victim Friday ... fellow rookie Omari Spellman had his (far less expensive) whip filled with the kernels too!!

At least it wasn't your average stale popcorn ... Lin performed a taste test and said, "That's high-level popcorn!"

The rooks seemed to take it in stride ... which is good news for the Hawks vets -- 'cause these pranks don't always go over so smoothly.

Kenyon Martin once threatened to kick the crap outta whoever stuffed his ride with popcorn in 2010 ... and Jaylen Brown told us just a few months ago he's STILL out for revenge on Amir Johnson for the prank.

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

Yeah, that's a REAL quote from LaMelo Ball's new high school basketball coach, Jermaine Jackson -- who says he's so excited about the young player, it's like Magic Johnson all over again.

LaMelo, along with Jackson and LaVar Ball, just hosted a media event at the Spire Academy in Ohio where the 17-year-old will play this season ... and they're HYPED UP!

"Like Magic Johnson said in the '80s, don’t look down because you might miss something," Jackson said about Ball ... "It’s showtime baby!"

LaVar added this message to the Ohio media -- "Since LeBron left, I brought you a Ball boy."

Don't worry, LaMelo has a plan after he finishes his senior year -- he wants to play college ball.

In fact, Ball told the media he's already got some schools in mind -- including North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State ... according to WKYC's Ben Axelrod.

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

LaVar also told the media he thinks LaMelo is the most famous high school basketball player of all time -- even more famous than Bron was -- because James was virtually unknown overseas.

Ball is expected to make his Ohio high school debut in the next few days.