Former Wahoos Shine as the NBA Returns from All-Star Break

The NBA returned from its All-Star break on Thursday night and a few former Virginia men's basketball stars wasted little time in setting the tone for the rest of the season.

Malcolm Brogdon showed no mercy for his former team as he dropped 24 points off the bench to power the Boston Celtics to a 142-138 overtime victory on the road against the Indiana Pacers. Brogdon was hyper-efficient, shooting 9/12 from the floor and 5/6 from beyond the arc. He also record five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals and was +6 in 37 minutes off the bench, strengthening his case as the leading candidate for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Brogdon played his best basketball in the clutch, scoring eight points and dishing out a couple of assists in the fourth quarter and overtime.

One of those assists went to Sam Hauser on a three-pointer, as the two former Wahoos have continued to develop a strong chemistry on the floor together. Hauser finished with eight points in the game and was a perfect 3/3 from the floor and 2/2 from downtown. Hauser recorded eight points, three blocks, one rebound and one assist and was a team-high +14 in 13 minutes off the bench. The Boston Celtics continue to boast the best record in the NBA and their Virginia-powered bench unit is a big key to their success.

Across the country, Ty Jerome returned from the All-Star break still looking to earn a long-term roster spot with the Golden State Warriors. Jerome certainly made a strong argument for himself in that regard on Thursday night as he scored 20 points on 8/15 shooting and went 2/4 from beyond the arc. In 30 minutes of action off the bench, Jerome tallied 20 points, three assists, two rebounds, and a steal, but the Warriors, who were still without two starters in Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins, ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 124-111.

With just 23 games left in the regular season, the Golden State Warriors are running out of time to make a decision on which player will occupy the 15th and final spot on their roster entering the playoffs. Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb, who are both currently on two-way contracts, are the top candidates for the position. Jerome has done plenty to prove that he can play a valuable role as a floor general for the Warriors, especially when Steph Curry has injury troubles. He is currently averaging 7.5 points and 2.9 assists per game and is having by far his best shooting season of his career, shooting 51.4% from the floor, 41.3% from three, and 91.9% from the free throw line. However, with Golden State's roster being heavy on guards and light on forwards, Anthony Lamb gives the Warriors much-needed depth at the forward position. Ty Jerome might have to deliver performances like the one he gave against the Lakers on Thursday night consistently for the rest of the season in order to get the nod.

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