Demetris Nichols of the Sioux Falls Skyforce has been named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Jan. 14-20. 

A 6-6, 211-pound forward out of Syracuse, Nichols led the Skyforce to a 3-0 week, including back-to-back victories over the Texas Legends on Jan. 18 and 19.  He averaged 25.7 points while shooting 74 percent from the floor to go with 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 37.7 minutes. 

He scored a season-high 26 points in a 99-83 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors on Jan. 15, matching that total in a 102-93 victory over the Legends on Jan. 19. 

The Miami Heat have reassigned Dexter Pittman to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s NBA Development League affiliate.

Pittman has appeared in four games for Miami this season, averaging 1.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.0 minutes.  He returns to the Skyforce having played in 22 games on assignment as a rookie in 2010-11, when he averaged 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 27.8 minutes.  

In his previous assignment, he appeared in 10 games and averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He recorded double-doubles in five games, his most recent a 15-point, 12-rebound performance in a 99-83 win over Santa Cruz on Jan 15.

The Miami Heat have recalled Dexter Pittman from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League.

He was assigned to the Heat's D-League affiliate on December 26.

Pittman appeared in 10 games (seven starts) and averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.90 blocks, 1.20 steals and 25.1 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. He posted four double-doubles and was named to the 2013 NBA D-League Showcase Second Team. 

Luke Harangody (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Jerome Jordan (Reno Bighorns), Jeremy Lamb (Tulsa 66ers on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder), Shelvin Mack (Maine Red Claws) and DaJuan Summers (Maine Red Claws) were selected to the First Team All-NBA D-League Showcase First Team.

Bakerfield’s Damion James, now of the Brooklyn Nets, Austin’s Cory Joseph, on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs, Reno’s Marcus Landry, Sioux Falls’ Dexter Pittman, on assignment from the Miami Heat, and Texas’ Chris Roberts comprise the Second Team.

The Los Angeles’ Courtney Fortson, Fort Wayne’s Ron Howard, Erie’s D.J. Kennedy, Rio Grande Valley’s Terrence Jones, on assignment from the Houston Rockets, and Tulsa’s Daniel Orton, on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder, round out the third team.

The Miami Heat are pleased with the progress Dexter Pittman has made in his D-League assignment, averaging 13.6 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Even so, Erik Spoelstra made it clear that the Heat will take a slow process with Pittman because there is no space for him in the rotation as of right now.

"We like what's going on," Spoelstra said. "We're not necessarily going to try to rush him back. At some point, we'd like his progress for ourselves. He's making good steps. This is the best thing for him. It takes some discipline on my part. I'd like to have him around … but the best thing for him right now is game minutes and he can't necessarily get that with this group right now."