Thomas Robinson making his mark in Portland

Portland Trail Blazers' Thomas Robinson (41) scores against Minnesota Timberwolves' Gorgui Dieng (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. The Trail Blazers won 108-97. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

Drafted by Sacramento, then traded to Houston during his rookie year, second-year power forward Thomas Robinson finally feels at home in the NBA with his third team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

As Robinson told John Wilmes of bleacherreport.com, he has embraced his role as a key reserve, even when his minutes aren’t substantial — he’s averaging 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes for Portland (49-27), currently the fifth-best team in a stacked Western Conference.

The former Kansas star enjoys providing a spark off the Blazers’ bench.

“Last year, I was trying to make my
role, going out of my way to prove
something. You want to show everyone
you can do something, that you can do
can do everything at first.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N7vKUmI61E

“I’m a high-energy player, a defender,
and an offensive rebounder. Not a
scorer. I love who I am to this team,
I wouldn’t change anything.”

Nick Collison, the next WWE superstar

During Oklahoma City’s Thursday victory over San Antonio, which ended the Spurs’ 19-game winning streak, Thunder power forward Nick Collison, known for his dirty work, added to his reputation as one of the NBA’s tough guys.

The Spurs’ Jeff Ayers accidentally elbowed Collison in the head late in the third quarter, creating a gash atop Collison’s noggin. It looked more like Collison had been walloped with a steel chair in a WWE match.

When the blood began to pour down his face, the NBA twitterverse took a break from the entertaining showdown between two Western Conference powers to marvel at the bloodbath.

AHHHHHH NICK COLLISON RT @SBNationGIF: BLOOD EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/G6A7SFyjKg

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 4, 2014

OKC's Nick Collison is bleeding badly with the Thunder up 10 late in the 3rd quarter. pic.twitter.com/RtZEPu8tCB

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 4, 2014

Hey Nick Collison, we have a First Aid mobile app to help with that head wound. #thunder #firstaid #ouch @okcthunder

— Red Cr_ss _klah_m_ (@RedCrossOK) April 4, 2014

As you can see in the video, the contact didn’t look nearly as bad as the result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vedvwjA3fw

The gritty backup big man played 13 minutes in the OKC victory, scoring four points, and didn’t return to the game after suffering the cut.

The best part of the whole ordeal, Collison told Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman, was that even though he needed staples in his head to stop the bleeding, it didn’t feel all that bad.

“Really, I’m surprised it was
bleeding. It hurt a little bit. It
stung. But I saw blood coming down my
nose so I knew I had to come out.”

“It was one of those ones that’s
awesome because you get a ton of
credibility from blood coming down
your face. But it really wasn’t that
big of a deal.”

After the game, Collison couldn’t resist joking about the injury, via Instagram, saying: “I really shouldn’t have popped that pimple in the game tonight. Sorry guys.”

Kirk Hinrich likes the Windy City

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Atlanta. The Bulls won 105-92. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)

Kirk Hinrich’s two-year deal with Chicago runs out at the end of the season, but it sounds like he would prefer to remain with the Bulls going forward.

Before putting up 17 points and six assists in a Chicago win at Atlanta Wednesday, the 11th-year guard who has spent nine seasons with the Bulls told the Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson there was a reason he signed with the franchise two summers ago, instead of taking more money to play in Milwaukee.

“I like it here. Obviously, returning
home was a big factor in why I came
back. I would like to stay here. But I
don’t know what’s in their future
plans. Right now, I’m just trying to
enjoy it while I’m in it and take what
comes later.”

“At this point of your career, you
want to be on a team that is a good
fit and has a chance to be a winner.”

Despite the absence of Derrick Rose most of the season, the Bulls (43-32) currently sit in the No. 4 slot in the Eastern Conference, and could have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

‘Hawks in the NBA standings

We’re now less than two weeks away from the end of the regular season, so here’s a look at where all of the NBA’s Jayhawks stand in the hunt for the playoffs.

We’ll rank the Kansas products according to their franchise’s record.

No. 1 — Nick Collison/Oklahoma City (55-19)

• Currently No. 2 seed in West

• Clinched playoff berth

No. 2 — Mario Chalmers/Miami (52-22)

• Currently No. 1 seed in East

• Clinched Southeast Division title/playoff berth

No. 3 — Thomas Robinson/Portland (49-27)

• Currently No. 5 seed in West

No. 4 — Markieff Morris & Marcus Morris/Phoenix (44-31)

• Currently 9th in West, with the same record as No. 8 Memphis

No. 5 — Kirk Hinrich/Chicago (43-32)

• Currently No. 4 seed in East

• Clinched playoff berth

No. 6 — Paul Pierce/Brooklyn (40-34)

• Currently No. 5 seed in East

• Clinched playoff berth

No. 7 — Drew Gooden/Washington (39-36)

• Currently No. 6 seed in East

• Clinched playoff berth

No. 8 — Darrell Arthur/Denver (33-42)