HOU • Center • #12
about 2 hours ago
Rather than test free agency, Adams agreed to three-year extension to stay with the Rockets. Houston already has Alperen Sengun as the starter, but Adams was a key player in Houston’s rotation down the stretch of the season as he usurped Jock Landale as the primary backup center. Adams isn’t much of a scorer at this point of his career, but averaged 15.8 minutes per game and 6.3 rebounds per game in the second half of the season.
Source: Shams Charania
IND • Center-Forward • #33
about 16 hours ago
While the illness that limited Turner during Thursday’s practice did not land him on the pregame injury report, it’s fair to wonder if the center was still feeling the effects. He missed all six of his three-point attempts in Game 4 and also did not record any steals or blocked shots. By comparison, Turner blocked five shots in Indiana’s Game 3 victory on Wednesday. The Pacers don’t need Turner to be a superstar, but they do need him to be more impactful than he was on Friday. He’ll look to rebound in Game 5 on Monday.
IND • Forward • #1
about 16 hours ago
Sandwiched around subpar offensive performances in Games 2 and 3, Toppin was effective in Games 1 and 4. Friday was the second time this series he’s scored 17 points, and the high-flying forward recorded a complete stat line. The lone negative for Toppin was his foul shooting, as he was just 1-of-4 from the stripe. Add in some key missed free throws from Bennedict Mathurin and Oklahoma City’s superior play in crunch time, and the Pacers likely feel that they let Game 4 get away. Toppin and the Pacers will look to bounce back when they visit Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday.
IND • Forward • #43
about 16 hours ago
Siakam started Game 4 extremely well, tallying 10 points and four steals in the first quarter. However, he was 1-of-6 from the field in the second half, only attempting one shot in the fourth quarter. Whether that’s on Siakam for not being aggressive enough to get the ball, or on the Pacers for not getting him the ball more often, that cannot happen. Similar to Tyrese Haliburton’s assist-to-turnover ratio, Siakam’s offensive production has been far better in wins than in losses during the NBA Finals. With two of the final three games on the road, the Pacers will need a better Siakam if they’re to win the franchise’s first NBA title. Game 5 is on Monday.
IND • Guard • #0
about 16 hours ago
While Haliburton had a good night inside the arc in Game 4, making six of his eight attempts, he was 1-of-7 from deep. Add in five turnovers, and this performance was far from the norm for the Pacers’ point guard. Haliburton’s assist-to-turnover ratio has been an excellent indicator of how the games have gone. In Indiana’s two victories, he’s tallied 17 assists and seven turnovers. In the two defeats, 13 assists and 10 turnovers. Obviously, the Pacers need Haliburton to be at his best if they’re to win the franchise’s first NBA title. Game 5 is on Monday, with the series tied at two games apiece.
OKC • Guard • #9
about 16 hours ago
While he may not be one of the marquee names in these NBA Finals, it’s fair to wonder where the Thunder would be without Caruso. He’s scored 20 points in both of Oklahoma City’s victories, and Friday’s offensive effort was supplemented by five steals and a blocked shot on the other end of the floor. While Isaiah Hartenstein (two points, six rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes) returned to the starting lineup with Cason Wallace (two points, three rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes) being bumped to the bench, Caruso was still the preferred option as Oklahoma City mounted its fourth-quarter rally. Caruso played 32 and 30 minutes in Games 3 and 4, and the Thunder may need him to continue shouldering that caliber of workload to win this series.
OKC • Guard-Forward • #8
about 16 hours ago
After two modest performances in the first two games of the NBA Finals, Williams upped his production in Indianapolis. In the two games, he totaled 53 points, shooting 17-of-36 from the field and 18-of-22 from the foul line. Friday night, Williams did most of his damage in the restricted area and at the charity stripe. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge in crunch time, but J-Dub’s ability to get to the foul line kept Oklahoma City within striking distance. That said, his perimeter shooting must improve, as Williams has shot 3-of-14 from deep in the first four games. Game 5 is on Monday, with the series tied at two games apiece.
OKC • Center-Forward • #7
about 17 hours ago
While Holmgren has been relatively quiet offensively in the NBA Finals, his rebounding has improved by the game. After grabbing six rebounds in Games 1 and 2, the slender forward hit double digits in both games in Indianapolis. The 15 rebounds in Game 4 were one shy of his playoff career-high, and Holmgren has accounted for at least 10 in nine games this postseason. The lone concern for Chet coming out of Game 4 was him rolling his left ankle on two separate occasions, in the first and fourth quarters. However, he did not have to exit the game following either injury, and Game 5 is not until Monday night.
OKC • Guard • #2
about 17 hours ago
With his team staring at a 3-1 deficit, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player stepped up when the Thunder needed him most. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the final 4:36 of Game 4, including a step-back jumper with 2:23 remaining that gave Oklahoma City the lead for good. He was perfect from the foul line and shot 50 percent from the field to lead the Thunder to a win that returned home-court advantage to the Western Conference champions. However, SGA did not record an assist, the first time he’s done so in these playoffs. Oklahoma City tried to play him off the ball more, but that approach tended to slow the team down more than they hoped. That changed in crunch time, and Gilgeous-Alexander did what he’s expected to do. Game 5 is on Monday night.
OKC • Center-Forward • #55
about 20 hours ago
After starting Cason Wallace in the first three games of the NBA Finals, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault has gone back to his usual first five. Hartenstein returns to the lineup, with Wallace heading to the bench. Hartenstein can be a capable facilitator in the short roll, and his floater in those spots is close to automatic. After playing 33 minutes in Game 1, Wallace logged 24 and 23 minutes in Games 2 and 3.
Source: Tony East
PHX • Forward • #35
1 day ago
Who knows what to believe at this point. A Thursday update from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro noted that a Durant trade was “not close,” but Shams and Brian Windhorst have been consistent over the last week, reporting the trade as imminent. Shams’ most recent report links Durant most closely to the Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves.
Source: Shams Charania
ATL • Center • #15
1 day ago
With Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu set to man the starting frontcourt positions in Atlanta, Capela is likely to look for a new team. The Lakers’ Achilles heel is the team’s lack of depth at center, and Capela could provide a strong presence down low. If he signs with LA, expect Capela to supplant Jaxson Hayes as the starter or at the very least split playing time with him.
Source: Jovan Buha
DEN • Guard • #4
1 day ago
Westy enjoyed a productive season with Denver, logging just under 28 minutes per game across 75 appearances. Since leaving Oklahoma City, Westbrook has played for five teams in six seasons, and he’ll look to latch on with another squad this summer. Given his age, the veteran will likely look for a contender.
Source: Marc Stein
IND • Center-Forward • #33
1 day ago
Head coach Rick Carlisle said that Turner had been battling an illness that would potentially prevent him from practicing on Thursday, but it won’t keep him from playing on Friday. He may not be at full strength, but he’ll be out there as Indiana looks to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • G • #15
2 days ago
Lerner said that Sheppard is participating to help him prepare to play a larger role in his second season. After Houston selected him with the No. 3 pick in 2024, Sheppard played just 12.6 minutes per game across his 52 appearances, though all signs point to Sheppard playing more in year two. How well he performs in Summer League should be a solid indicator of how much he will play for the Rockets next season, though the other moves this team could make will also open up minutes for him.
Source: Danielle Lerner
LAL • Forward • #17
2 days ago
Finney-Smith dealt with a lingering ankle issue that he mostly played through down the stretch of the season. The 32-year-old small forward is expected to be able to participate in training camp after successful surgery. Finney-Smith holds a player option to return to the Lakers for $15,378,480. It’s possible that he declines the option and becomes a free agent.
Source: Dave McMenamin
PHX • Forward • #35
2 days ago
Durant has been rumored to be on the move since before the trade deadline. While several teams have inquired about the availability of the small forward who turns 37 in September, the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves, Knicks and Heat are some of the more likely landing spots. Durant is likely headed elsewhere this offseason, though no trade is imminent at this time.
Source: John Gambadoro
PHI • • #
2 days ago
Scotto also passed along that the 76ers have four draft prospects in mind with the No. 3 overall pick. Those include VJ Edgecomb, who had a private workout last week, and Ace Bailey, who will visit the 76ers next week. Dylan Harper is the consensus No. 2 player in the draft and would seem to be the 76ers target in talks with the Spurs. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst previously speculated the 76ers could trade up, trade down or trade out with the No. 3 overall pick.
Source: Michael Scotto
IND • Center-Forward • #33
3 days ago
Turner finished the Pacers’ win in Game 3 with nine points, two rebounds, one assist and five blocks. His most important block came late in the game on a Chet Holmgren three-point attempt. Despite dealing with an illness and potentially missing practice Thursday, Turner isn’t likely to miss Game 4 on Friday.
Source: James Boyd
GSW • Guard • #2
3 days ago
A few weeks removed from undergoing surgery on his left (shooting) wrist, Podziemski underwent a separate procedure on Tuesday. According to the Warriors, the procedure to repair the core muscle injury was successful. Podziemski is expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of training camp in late September. As long as there aren’t any setbacks, Podziemski will be a player worth selecting in fantasy drafts.
Source: Dalton Johnson
OKC • Center-Forward • #7
3 days ago
While Holmgren’s box score shows a solid effort with 20 points and 10 rebounds, the 23-year-old power forward certainly struggled against a physical Pacers frontline. This was encapsulated in one of the final Thunder possessions. With two minutes left and down six points, Holmgren passed up an opportunity to drive after getting the ball on a pick and roll. Later in the possession, he appeared open for a three-pointer, but was blocked by Myles Turner. After corralling the miss, Holmgren drove the lane but was denied again by Turner, with help defense from Pascal Siakam, and the possession went to the Pacers. Holmgren will need to bounce back if the Thunder are going to get back into this series with a win in Game 4 on Friday.
OKC • Guard • #2
3 days ago
To say that Gilgeous-Alexander struggled in Game 3 would be an understatement. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle joked earlier this week that the 26-year-old point guard would have 34 points as soon as he got off the bus. Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander finished Game 3 with 24 and a playoff career-high six turnovers against the Pacers’ swarming defense. A better offensive effort from SGA is paramount for the Thunder in Game 4 on Friday.
IND • Forward • #43
3 days ago
The Pacers received truly great performances in Game 3 from Bennedict Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam. The 31-year-old power forward has been a rock for the Pacers this postseason bringing with him previous NBA Finals experience from his time in Toronto. Siakam’s excellent Game 3 included 21 points on 14 shots and locking up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensively on a crucial possession with under two minutes remaining. The Eastern Conference finals MVP played as big of a role as anyone in the Pacers taking a 2-1 series lead.
IND • Guard • #0
3 days ago
Haliburton became the fifth player in NBA Finals history to have at least 20 points, at least 10 assists and zero free throw attempts. The 25-year-old point guard also became the first player in NBA history with nine games of at least 10 assists and two made three-pointers in a single playoff run. Haliburton had only six and three points in the first halves of the first two games of this series, but was excellent in the first half of Game 3 with 12 points and seven assists. His play is a big reason the Pacers find themselves just two wins away from winning the NBA Finals.
IND • Guard-Forward • #00
3 days ago
The Pacers’ bench outscored the Thunder’s 30-11 in the first half of Game 3, which Indiana led by four at halftime, and Mathurin was a big part of that. The 22-year-old small forward’s 27 points were the third most off the bench in NBA Finals history. Mathurin joined Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili as the only bench players to have at least 25 points in an NBA Finals game in the last 25 years. Even more impressive was that Mathurin played only 22 minutes and took just 12 shots. His +16 in his time on the court was a game-high. It was an exceptional effort from the Pacers’ No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
CHI • • #
3 days ago
The count of interview requests the Knicks have had denied is up to five, with Donovan joining Chris Finch, Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Quin Snyder. On one hand, the Knicks are doing their due diligence in seeing what coaches around the league they could potentially speak with. On the other hand, New York is repeatedly getting the door slammed in its face. The Knicks are the only NBA without a head coach at the moment and should be in no rush to fill the position just a week after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau.
Source: KC Johnson
ATL • • #
3 days ago
Another one bites the dust. On Tuesday, Charania reported that Chris Finch, Ime Udoka and Jason Kidd were all blocked from interviewing with the Knicks by their respective teams. Now Snyder joins this seemingly ever-growing list. At some point, the Knicks will have a new head coach. However, in the week after Tom Thibodeau was let go, New York only has rejection letters.
Source: Shams Charania
PHX • Forward • #35
3 days ago
No surprises here, as rumors of a potential Durant trade have been floating around since February’s trade deadline. The teams most likely to land Durant are the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves, Knicks and Heat, though Charania notes several other teams have inquired. At this point, a Durant trade seems imminent, and no matter where he lands, he should be an elite fantasy option thanks to his ability to rebound, facilitate, play defense and score efficiently.
Source: Shams Charania
IND • Guard • #0
3 days ago
Haliburton sported a notable limp following Sunday’s Game 2 loss, but he should face no restrictions in a pivotal Game 3. He scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2, and he emphasized his need to be more aggressive on offense early in the game. Expect him to make a concerted effort to score early and often on Wednesday.
Source: Shams Charania
BOS • Guard-Forward • #7
3 days ago
Brown finished the season with a partial tear in his right meniscus, and after much consultation, he’ll undergo surgery. With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) set to miss an extended part of the upcoming campaign, Brown’s availability carries some extra weight.
Source: Shams Charania
