Category: NBA

NBA News

Posted on

Why Warriors' Butler deems infamous ‘Playoff Jimmy' nickname a facade

Why Warriors' Butler deems infamous ‘Playoff Jimmy' nickname a facade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Jimmy Butler deemed his iconic “Playoff Jimmy” nickname a facade.

ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote an exclusive feature on Golden State’s championship aspirations and shared an interesting quote from Butler about his moniker.

“Man, I think it’s a facade that people have created over the years,” Butler told ESPN of “Playoff Jimmy.” “I know what I’m capable of. I can tell you that. And I love it because everybody thinks I just take it up a notch, and I don’t really just take it up a notch. I just might have the ball a little bit more. I might be a tad more aggressive, looking to score.

“[But] you’re talking about somebody that’s going to do anything to f–ing win. That’s some motherf—er right there. The person that they deemed as [Playoff Jimmy], he’ll die out there. He really will. It’s scary. He really will die out there.”

Facade or not, Butler is a different beast in the NBA playoffs.

He has solid career regular-season averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 869 games. But over 121 career playoff games, Butler has averaged 21.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists, and truly earned the “Playoff Jimmy” name after averaging 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 64 playoff games with his former team, the Miami Heat.

And when Butler says he would “die out there,” he isn’t kidding around. He has played roughly 40 minutes per game over his entire 121-game postseason career and has played 48-plus minutes in seven playoff games.

So, Butler might say his nickname is a “facade,” inspired by an increase in usage, but the uptick in his tenacity is noticeable on and off the stat sheet. 

And for that reason, the Warriors can’t wait to have Butler, who missed Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Houston Rockets with a left pelvic contusion, back during Golden State’s 2025 NBA playoff run, expectedly for Game 4 on Monday night at Chase Center.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Philadelphia 76ers 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: What could go wrong, did go wrong

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Next up in the series are the Philadelphia 76ers. With the offseason signing of Paul George, the expectation was that this group would be a serious contender in the East. Unfortunately, injuries derailed the team early. While Quentin Grimes would get hot late, the focus in Philadelphia was on doing whatever could be done to increase the chances of keeping its top-6 protected 2025 lottery pick.

Philadelphia 76ers 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 24-58 (14th, East)

Offensive Rating: 11.0 (23rd)

Defensive Rating: 117.3 (26th)

Net Rating: -6.3 (25th)

Pace: 98.13 (24th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 10.5 percent odds of winning draft lottery, 35

As noted above, the 76ers entered the season with expectations of being among the Eastern Conference elite, with Paul George joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Unfortunately, signs of trouble emerged even before training camp began. Embiid suffered a torn left meniscus in January 2024 and never seemed to recover completely. After hobbling through the Paris Olympics, the 7-footer was not ready for the start of the regular season, ultimately playing 19 games before being shut down for good just after the All-Star break.

George hyperextended his knee on two occasions early in the season, once during the preseason. Groin and knee injuries led to him being shut down in mid-March. Add in Maxey being limited to 52 appearances due to injuries, and the 76ers could never get going. Promising rookie Jared McCain suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-December, robbing the fan base of one of the team's few bright spots from the early portion of the season.

By the end of March, the focus in Philadelphia was on doing whatever was possible to increase the team's chances of retaining its 2025 lottery pick. The selection is top-6 protected, with Oklahoma City claiming the pick if the 76ers fall outside of that threshold. Finishing with the fifth-worst record strengthened the 76ers' chances of keeping the pick, but anything can happen in the draft lottery.

Fantasy Standout: Tyrese Maxey

Having appeared in his last game on March 3, Maxey provided excellent per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats when healthy. Appearing in 52 games, the 76ers guard averaged 26.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.1 three-pointers in 37.7 minutes, shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 87.9 percent from the foul line. Between the field goal percentage and a career-high average of 2.4 turnovers per game, Maxey's efficiency took a slight hit. However, he was still a top-10 player in nine-cat and a top-15 player in eight-cat formats.

Having a Yahoo! ADP of 26, Maxey exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers; the availability was the sole issue. He missed six games in early November, but would only miss two more before a finger injury ended his season in early March. Will Maxey be a player worth reaching for in the first round of drafts next fall? That depends partially on how the roster around him looks, but the 76ers guard should be a relatively safe second-round selection at worst.

Fantasy Revelation: Quentin Grimes

Grimes began his season in Dallas, appearing in 47 games before being traded to Philadelphia at the February deadline in exchange for Caleb Martin (Philly also received a 2025 second-round pick). The combination of a move to Philadelphia and the team's many injuries thrust Grimes into a prominent role, and he took advantage of the opportunity. Starting 25 of the 28 games he appeared in as a 76er, the fourth-year guard averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers in 33.7 minutes, shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 75.2 percent from the foul line.

That production was good for fourth-round value in eight-cat formats and fifth-round value in nine-cat formats. Is this production that Grimes would be able to replicate as part of a complete 76ers rotation? Probably not, as he would be no higher than fourth in the offensive pecking order. However, few expected Grimes to be the "silly season" asset he ultimately became. The timing was excellent, as he will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Fantasy Disappointment: Paul George

One could argue that Embiid should be the pick here, as he was only able to play in 19 games. But George's 41 games provided a larger sample size, and he struggled in his first season with the 76ers. The nine-time All-Star shot 43 percent from the field and 81.4 percent from the foul line, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 32.5 minutes per game. The scoring average was the lowest for George since the 2014-15 campaign, in which he was limited to six regular-season appearances after returning from a gruesome leg fracture suffered in the summer of 2014.

Even before the first knee hyperextension that George suffered, things did not get off to a good start, as team president Daryl Morey said that neither PG nor Embiid would play many back-to-backs, "if any." Those aren't words you want to hear or read if you're a fan of the team or a fantasy manager. Unfortunately, George was unable to stay healthy, being active for at least 10 consecutive games on only two occasions. Having received injections in his left adductor and left knee, he was shut down in early March. While the per-game value wasn't terrible, George's debut season in Philadelphia left a lot to be desired.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Joel Embiid:

While the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player won a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics, he did not appear to be "right" physically. Having returned from a torn meniscus just before the end of the 2023-24 regular season, Embiid was a shell of himself physically during Philadelphia's first-round series with the Knicks. While it would be unrealistic to ask a player to pass on the opportunity to play in the Olympics, it's fair to wonder what the 2024-25 season could have been for Embiid had he been able to go through a complete recovery/rehab process.

Unable to make his season debut until November 12, Embiid played in 13 games before missing most of January with a sprained left foot. Add in the lingering left knee injury, and it was only a matter of time before things would get worse. Embiid made six more appearances after his return from the foot injury before being shut down for the rest of the season after the All-Star break. It was eventually decided that he needed to undergo another surgery on his left knee, and it is unknown when Embiid will be cleared to return to the court. While the per-game value was there, his totals value took a significant hit, and it's difficult to trust "The Process" for availability reasons. His days of being a first-round pick in fantasy drafts are likely over.

Kelly Oubre Jr.:

From a fantasy standpoint, Oubre has been a pleasant surprise in each of his two seasons with the 76ers. He started 57 of the 60 games he appeared in this season, averaging 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 three-pointers in 34.6 minutes. Improvements in rebounds and field goal percentage, as he shot a career-high 47 percent from the field, made Oubre a top-100 player in nine-cat formats. He would finish just outside that threshold in eight-cat formats. Unfortunately, Oubre did not play after March 12, as right ankle and right knee sprains caused a premature end to his season.

Boasting a Yahoo! ADP of 141, the "Tsunami Papi" was a consistent contributor for the 76ers and exceeded the expectations of fantasy managers. That said, his opportunities were boosted by the availability issues of Philadelphia's projected stars. For that reason, fantasy managers in standard leagues may not be willing to select Oubre within the first 100 picks of drafts. However, as the 2024-25 season showed, he's capable of providing that kind of value in the right situation. He has a player option worth nearly $8.4 million for the 2025-26 campaign.

Guerschon Yabusele:

Having last played in the NBA in 2019, Yabusele returned to the United States after an excellent run with France at the Paris Olympics. Philadelphia signed him to a one-year deal, hoping for him to provide additional frontcourt depth. Yabusele proved to be more than that, appearing in 70 games with 43 being starts. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 27.1 minutes, shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 72.5 percent from the foul line.

Yabusele would see time at the power forward and center positions in his first season with the 76ers. While he did finish the season ranked outside the top-150 in eight- and nine-cat formats, Yabusele's availability made him worth the risk in many fantasy leagues. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and there are likely to be multiple suitors for Guerschon's services. A return to Philadelphia may boost his early-season fantasy value, however, especially if Embiid is not ready to play.

Jared McCain:

The 16th overall pick in last summer's NBA Draft, McCain had the look of a player who could fit in immediately in Philadelphia. While the rookie began the season on the outside looking in regarding consistent rotation minutes, he would get his chance in early November. From November 8 onward, McCain would score 15 points or more in 10 straight appearances, including a 34-point night against the Cavaliers on November 13 and a 30-point effort in a November 22 win over the Nets. Unfortunately, the rookie would only make 23 appearances before suffering a torn meniscus in mid-December.

McCain, who was officially ruled out for the rest of the season on January 9, would average 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.2 three-pointers in 25.7 minutes per game, shooting 46 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the foul line. While he was only a top-200 player in eight- and nine-cat formats, there is a path to fantasy relevance for McCain, provided he remains healthy. As was the case last fall, he's likely to be a late-round pick at best in most drafts ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Justin Edwards:

While McCain was a first-round pick last summer, Edwards was not drafted before agreeing to a two-way contract with his hometown team on July 4. The combination of Philadelphia's many injuries and his play led to Edwards receiving a standard contract on February 9, and there may be a future for him in Philadelphia. He appeared in 44 games, starting 26, and averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 26.3 minutes. While Edwards failed to crack the top-200 in eight- or nine-cat formats, there were moments late in the season when he was worth the streaming risk. He's unlikely to be in a position where he should be selected in fantasy drafts in the fall, but the 6-foot-6 wing is an intriguing developmental piece for the 76ers.

Andre Drummond:

Given Embiid's injury history, Drummond was a worthwhile late-round selection for "insurance" reasons. Unfortunately, he also struggled with injuries last season, appearing in 40 games with his last being on March 12. Drummond averaged 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in 18.8 minutes, shooting 50 percent from the field and 62.2 percent from the foul line. For managers seeking to account for Embiid's injury woes, Drummond was eventually surpassed by Yabusele.

Drummond has a player option worth $5 million for the 2025-26 campaign. With Embiid's availability for the start of next season undetermined, Drummond's viability as a streamer will depend on what happens with Yabusele, who is an unrestricted free agent, and the other decisions Philadelphia's front office makes in the draft and free agency.

Kyle Lowry:

After signing with the 76ers in February 2024, Lowry played his first full season with his hometown team in 2024-25. Unfortunately, his days as a fantasy asset appear to be in the rearview mirror, as the veteran point guard provided minimal production in 35 appearances. Lowry averaged a career-low 3.9 points per game to go along with 1.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 three-pointers in 18.8 minutes, shooting 35 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the foul line. While Lowry has value as a veteran leader, that does not help fantasy managers. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it would take a lot to make Lowry worth the risk in most fantasy leagues.

Eric Gordon:

Gordon was another of Philadelphia's offseason signings made in hopes of providing perimeter shooting around stars Embiid, Maxey and George. Unfortunately, injuries limited the veteran guard to 39 appearances, the last of which occurred on February 9. Gordon averaged 6.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 19.7 minutes, shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line. Gordon was not much of an asset in fantasy basketball, an unsurprising development since few managers took the plunge in drafts, even in deep leagues. Even if Gordon, who will be an unrestricted free agent, returns to Philadelphia, that's unlikely to change in 2025-26.

Adem Bona:

The second-round pick out of UCLA did not play consistent rotation minutes until January, but he played some good basketball to close out his rookie campaign. In his last nine appearances, Bona averaged 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 blocks in 30.9 minutes, shooting 74.4 percent from the field and 64.7 percent from the foul line. Depending on what happens with Embiid (knee) and Yabusele (free agency), Bona will be a player worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues, especially if Drummond (player option) does not return.

The field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks are where Bona can be especially valuable, even if he only logs around 20 minutes per game. He was a top-40 fantasy player during that nine-game stretch to end the regular season. Fantasy managers certainly should not expect that kind of value, but don't sleep on the second-round pick.

Lonnie Walker IV:

After being unable to find a landing spot in free agency, Walker began his 2024-25 season with Lithuanian club Zalgiris. He would eventually return to the NBA just after the All-Star break, agreeing to a deal with the 76ers. In 20 games, Walker averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.3 three-pointers in 23.9 minutes, shooting 42 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. He scored 24 points or more in three of Philadelphia's final four games, including a 31-point effort in an April 13 loss to the Bulls.

The 76ers hold a team option for Walker's services in the 2025-26 season, worth approximately $2.9 million. He would be cheaper than Eric Gordon, who has a player option for next season. Walker would not be worth drafting in fantasy leagues, but remaining in Philadelphia may give him a shot at achieving deep-league relevance at some point.

Restricted Free Agents: Quentin Grimes, Jeff Dowtin, Jalen Hood-Schifino

Unrestricted Free Agents: Kyle Lowry, Guerschon Yabusele

Player Option: Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon

Team Option: Lonnie Walker IV, Jared Butler, Justin Edwards

Posted on

Former NBA player Stan Love, father of Kevin Love and brother of Beach Boy Mike Love, dies at 76

Stan Love, who played four seasons in the NBA but may be better known as the father of Kevin Love, has died at the age of 76. Kevin announced the passing Sunday on Instagram:

"The best last lesson one generation can teach the next: how to die with peace about how you've lived. This may be my Dad's greatest gift. Teaching me that healing happens in your soul and that healing is there for the taking, even in the face of imminent death. Dad loved his family unconditionally and left his children with one of life's great lessons...

"Dad, I'm so proud to be your son. My only hope is that you're proud of me. It was all I ever wanted. Thank you for everything."

Stan Love was born April 9, 1949, in Los Angeles, and went on to play his high school basketball at Morningside High School in Inglewood, 1.5 miles from the Forum where he would eventually play for the Lakers. Love went on to play his college ball at Oregon.

The Baltimore Bullets drafted Love with the ninth pick in the 1971 draft, yet he was never the most famous member of his family — his brother was Mike Love of the Beach Boys. Stan was traded to the Lakers in 1973, played a season with San Antonio in the ABA, and retired in 1975.

Kevin Love has been away from the Heat for most of the end of the season and postseason to be with his father and family. Love missed the Heat's last 10 regular-season games, returned for the first play-in tournament game, where the Heat beat the Bulls, but then had to return to Oregon and has not been with the team throughout its series against Cleveland.

Posted on

Jimmer Fredette named USA Basketball 3×3 men's national team managing director

Jimmer Fredette has been named the new USA Basketball 3x3 men's national team managing director after announcing his retirement from competition last week.

“When I got the call from USA Basketball about playing 3x3, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Fredette said, according to a press release. “I found out quickly that I loved the competition, energy and style of the sport. 3x3 fits my game and my personality. I made friends throughout my journey who will forever be a part of my life. I also saw an opportunity to be able to grow the sport within the USA.

“When USA Basketball approached me about this role, I jumped at it. I’m determined to help build a sustainable program for years to come and, ultimately, the best 3x3 program in the world. I’m so grateful for the USA Basketball Board of Directors for trusting me with this responsibility and I’m ready for the challenge.”

Fredette, 36, played on the U.S. men's Olympic 3x3 team in Paris but was injured early on, and the team didn't make the medal rounds without him.

Posted on

Draymond has humble response to finishing third for DPOY award

Draymond has humble response to finishing third for DPOY award originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green wasn’t fighting back any tears after finishing third in the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year race to winner Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley and runner-up Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels.

Green, who is in the middle of the 30th NBA playoff series of his 13-year Warriors career, instead has taken the disappointing news gracefully.

“Ain’t much you can do about it,” Green told retired Warriors star Baron Davis on the latest edition of the “Draymond Green Show” podcast. “This ain’t my first rodeo. This ain’t my first time being in the race, feeling like I should win and not win.”

Green won his lone Defensive Player of the Year award during the 2016-17 season when he was a 26-year-old. Then, the four-time NBA champion averaged a league-leading 2.0 steals per game with an impressive 1.4 blocks and 7.9 rebounds. 

Sure, another award would’ve been gladly accepted by the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. But the topic isn’t Green’s priority, as he is focused on a championship push while supporting the next generation of stars, including Mobley and Daniels.

“I know, for sure, Dyson Daniels was crushed,” Green told Davis. “I know that feeling [of] your first time being in the running and you don’t come up with it. I know that feeling. I’ve experienced it before. If anything, I feel for Dyson Daniels because he had a great defensive year, and this is his first time going through that … like, ‘Damn, I didn’t get it.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I’m fine. I’m moving on.

“I’ve been through that before. No big deal to me, but I will say congratulations to Evan Mobley – incredible. I’ve been a fan of his since USC. To see him continue to grow [and] continue to become the player everybody thought that he’d become. … I’m happy as hell to see him get that.”

Mobley took home the defensive hardware for the first time in his four-year career after averaging 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Daniels finished second, as mentioned, after leading the league with 3.0 steals per game while collecting 0.5 blocks. And Green rounded out the trio with 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

All three undoubtedly were game-changing defenders for their respective teams during the 2024-25 season. But with that said and Green’s wise acceptance noted, the veteran did detail some distaste for recent comments from Mobley’s teammate, Darius Garland.

The Cleveland guard recently said Green had a “cheat code” during the Defensive Player of the Year race because of his ability to promote himself on his podcast. 

“Darius Garland was throwing shade, like, ain’t none of that; don’t be a clown. It is what it is,” Green said of Garland to Davis. “We were in the running, [Mobley] won it, that’s great. The No. 1 seed with the second-best record in the NBA, who’s mad at that? These little dudes throwing shade. 

“Congratulations to [Mobley]. I was surprised when Darius Garland was throwing shade, when he came on the podcast, and it was us vouching for him to be an All-Star when he was begging. Like I said, shout out to Evan Mobley, that was super dope to see him win Defensive Player of the Year. I root for young guys. I’m not one of those guys that doesn’t want to see young guys do well. If anything, welcome to the table.”

Garland has, in fact, joined Green’s podcast. He might not be a recurring guest.

Nonetheless, Davis asked Green if losing out in the Defensive Player of the Year race motivates him. And the Golden State forward kept it classy.

“You’re always going to try to find fuel whenever you can,” Green told Davis. “I will say, I didn’t find a bunch – I would’ve locked guys down anyway. That’s who I am. I take pride in that. But you find fuel however you can. 

“Like I said, I obviously wanted to win it. But to be in the conversation at 35, still playing at an elite level [and] will continue to play at an elite level, I got no shame in it. I’ll show up next year and throw my name back in the hat. Because I’m going to do what I got to do on the defensive end. We’ll be right there again.”

Green would’ve loved to win his second career Defensive Player of the Year award. However, he has bigger fish to fry, starting with Golden State’s Game 4 matchup against the Houston Rockets during their 2024-25 Western Conference first-round series, which tips off at 7 p.m. PT on Monday at Chase Center.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Tatum, Brown become first Celtics duo to achieve this rare playoff feat

Tatum, Brown become first Celtics duo to achieve this rare playoff feat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics came up clutch in Sunday’s Game 4 against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center and earned a 107-98 win to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series.

Boston’s two superstars — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — led the way. Tatum scored a game-high 37 points with 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Brown scored 21 points with 11 rebounds, two steals and one assist.

This tandem also made some team history Sunday.

Per stats guru Dick Lipe, Tatum and Brown are the first duo in Celtics playoff history to have multiple games with 20-point double-doubles and at least two steals.

Five other Celtics duos have achieved this feat once, the most recent example 20 years ago when Paul Pierce (20 points, 11 rebounds, four steals) and Antoine Walker (24 points, 11 rebounds, three steals) led Boston to a win in Game 6 of a first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.

  • Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker: 2005
  • Larry Bird and Kevin McHale: 1986
  • Larry Bird and Robert Parish: 1984
  • Dave Cowens and Charlie Scott: 1976
  • Dave Cowens and Don Chaney: 1975

The Celtics were 11-1 in last season’s playoffs when both Tatum and Brown scored 20-plus points in the same game.

One of the best parts of the Celtics’ roster is its depth. The C’s have a lot of players who can score. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White can all score 20-plus points. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser are capable of catching fire from 3-point range off the bench.

But the Celtics are really, really tough to beat when their two-best players are impacting the game at a high level on both ends of the floor, and Game 4 versus the Magic was one such example.

The Celtics have a chance to eliminate the Magic and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals in Game 5 at TD Garden on Tuesday.

Posted on

2025 NBA Playoffs results, highlights, recap April 27, including Anthony Edwards outdueling Luka Doncic

All four series from Sunday are 3-1 now, but it's Minnesota and Los Angeles that feels like it could go on the longest.

TIMBERWOLVES 116, LAKERS 113 (Minnesota leads series 3-1)

What. A. Game.

Anthony Edwards took another step toward being a top-five player in the league, dropping 43 points, 16 in the fourth quarter as he took over when it mattered. LeBron James made a block and a steal late, playing great defense in the clutch (and sorry LeBron, that was a foul on Ant late). Edwards and Luka Doncic dueling it out.

" Just trying to prove I belong," Edwards said of dueling Doncic and LeBron.

The difference in this game and this series is the help Doncic and Ant are getting — or, not getting — around them.

Lakers coach J.J. Redick played his core five guys — LeBron, Doncic, Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura — the entire second half. Not one substitute. Legs got tired, and the Lakers lost the fourth quarter 30-20.

Meanwhile, Chris Finch is closing the game with two Timberwolves bench players in Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo. That depth and versatility are why the Timberwolves are one win away from the second round.

KNICKS 94, PISTONS 93 (New York leads series 3-1)

I am firmly in the "don't blame the referees for your loss" camp — there were 47+ other minutes to change the course of the game and not leave things to one play.

This game makes it hard to take that stance. The Pistons got screwed at the end of this one, Josh Hart clearly fouled Tim Hardaway Jr. on a game-winning corner 3-pointer and that has to be called.

Crew chief David Guthrie admitted the mistake, speaking to a pool reporter after the game:

"During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play. After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called."

This is another tight game in an entertaining series, but I'm not sold making that call would change where this series is headed. Jalen Brunson once again showed why he is the Clutch Player of the Year scoring 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, plus he had 11 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns had another big game with 27.

Cade Cunningham is ready for this moment, he had a 25-10-10 triple-double. It's just not enough in this series.

CELTICS 107, MAGIC 98 (Boston leads series 3-1)

Orlando is a good team that plays with real grit, it is are pushing Boston in this series. This game was tied 91-91 with four minutes remaining.

Then Boston closed it out on a 16-7 run behind a big day from Jayson Tatum, who finished with 37 points, and that was the ballgame.

Game 4 was a continuation of the same story from this series: Orlando just struggles to score. It shot 8-of-30 from beyond the arc in this game. Most of the shot creation falls on the shoulders of Paolo Banchero and he put up 31 points but on 12-32 shooting (36 true shot attempts), it's asking too much of him to do all the creation.

Game 5 is back in Boston and while Orlando is not going to go quietly, that feels like it will be the end of the series.

PACERS 129, BUCKS 103 (Indiana leads series 3-1)

The horrible scene of Damian Lillard sitting on the floor, likely with a torn Achilles (that will not only end this season but also likely keep him out of most of the next one), was hard to watch. It was a cloud over this entire game.

Game 4 of this series continued the simple pattern of the first three: Indiana has no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo but they at least can throw everything at him to slow him down, while Milwaukee cannot stop the Pacers from scoring at will.

The Bucks need a big secondary scorer next to Antetokounmpo to be a threat and without Lillard nobody stepped up.

Good game from Myles Turner, as the big man led the Pacers with 23 points.

Posted on

Davis issues stark warning to Rockets' Green after Draymond comments

Davis issues stark warning to Rockets' Green after Draymond comments originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s not wise to give Draymond Green and the Warriors bulletin board material in the playoffs.

Rockets guard Jalen Green might have done just that after his heated interaction with Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green at the end of Golden State’s win over Houston in Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday night and his comments afterward.

“Just talking,” Jalen said of his fiery interaction with Draymond. “Steph [Curry] had a good game. The reason they won. Just talking. [Draymond] can’t really do much of anything else, so talking is his only way.”

The elder Green responded to the Rockets star’s postgame comments on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis,” where he sarcastically brushed off the 23-year-old’s dig at him.

“That’s cool, I don’t do much. That’s fine. I don’t do much,” Draymond said. “I just do what I have to do, but I don’t do much. No problem, I’m happy he sees it that way. That’s incredible. Shout out to him.”

Green’s co-host and former Warriors guard, Davis, chimed in and issued a stark warning to the young Rockets guard.

“A lot of times those are like blanket statements, because you can start believing that and then … that’s how you get your ass kicked,” Davis said. “There’s a fine line between respect and disrespect. You’ve got to be careful because it could translate on the court as ‘Oh, I don’t feel like closing out’ or ‘I ain’t going to try and box out’ or ‘Oh, I’m just going to let him drive to the hole.’

“So be careful, that’s what I would say to the young fella. Especially in the playoffs, since it’s a different level. It’s a different level of talk and it’s a different level of talking and backing it up when it comes to the playoffs, and we’ve seen that countless amount of times with really young players going to the media and almost giving that energy out to themselves.”

With the win on Saturday, Green and the Warriors lead Green and the Rockets 2-1 in the series before the two teams square off again on Monday at Chase Center.

The elder Green was relatively quiet earlier in the series until the second half of Game 3, where his energy and defense helped fuel Golden State’s win without star forward Jimmy Butler.

And now, it’s safe to assume Jalen’s comments only have further ignited Draymond and the Warriors’ fire heading into a pivotal Game 4.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Ageless Al Horford adds to his legend with Game 4 block party vs. Magic

Ageless Al Horford adds to his legend with Game 4 block party vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Full admission: We’ve written this story before. You can go back in the archives and probably find 14 different versions of us gushing about ageless Al Horford’s impact. At this point, it feels like we’re just filling in an NBA Mad Lib.

At (CURRENT AGE, REFERENCE UPCOMING BIRTHDAY) years old, ageless Al Horford continues to be a defensive menace for the Celtics, holding the (ENTER PLAYOFF OPPONENT)’s superstar tandem of (SUPERSTAR X) and (SUPERSTAR Y) to just (X) points on (X) of (X) shooting with (X) blocks as Boston took a commanding (SERIES WIN-LOSS RECORD) lead.

In Sunday’s get-right Game 4 win over the Magic, the soon-to-be 39 year-old Horford held the age 23-and-under tandem of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to seven points on 3-of-15 shooting with three blocks, per NBA tracking.

The Magic mustered just 11 points on 5-of-19 shooting overall as Horford swatted five shots in Boston’s 107-98 triumph at the Kia Center.

The Celtics own a 3-1 series lead with a chance to close out the Magic on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Horford, per usual, has been fantastic throughout this series. Over four games, the Magic are shooting a meager 32.8 percent overall against Horford (21 of 64 overall), which is 12 percent below expected output. Among the 101 players with more than 25 shots defended this postseason, Horford ranks second in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage, trailing only Kawhi Leonard (9-of-38 FG, 23.7 DFG%).

What more can we say about Horford? Every time we write this article, it gets slightly more preposterous what he’s doing at an advanced age, but also somehow less absurd because you wouldn’t expect anything less.

The same guy who spent his early 30s locking up Joel Embiid and his mid 30s handcuffing Giannis Antetokounmpo is now tormenting a whole new generation of offensive-minded NBA big men. They get older, Horford seemingly stays the same age.

It’s a good thing the Hall of Fame shortened its waiting period to two years after retirement, because at this rate, Horford is going to play until he’s 45 and we’d be waiting until 2036 to watch him get his spot in Springfield.

Horford is still tidying up that resume having admitted before the postseason that he’s even hungrier for a second NBA title than he was for last year’s crown. The Celtics have done everything to limit the wear and tear on Horford during his time in Boston, but here we are in the playoffs, and due to injuries at other spots, Horford has started three of the four games against Orlando while averaging 31.8 minutes per contest (up from 27.7 in the regular season).

In Sunday’s win, Horford became only the second player in NBA history to record five blocks in a game at age 38 or older, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He occasionally picked up the Orlando ball-handlers at near full court to force the Magic to eat up clock before getting into their half court sets.

It doesn’t quite make sense that Boston’s defensive rating is its worst when Horford is on the floor in this series (111.9 in Horford’s 127 minutes, 91.3 with him off the court). But his individual impact has been undeniable.

Horford felt vital to Boston’s chances to repeat entering the postseason. The way the bracket is shaking out, the Celtics should see plenty of size on their journey, and Horford will get all sorts of defensive challenges.

But whether he’s jousting with Banchero and forcing a tough fadeaway, or hustling over to swat Cory Joseph straight to Kissimmee, Horford has been exceptional yet again.

When Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take their turns at the podium, they relentlessly gush about Horford’s impact, with Tatum pointing out Horford’s “heart of a champion” after Game 4.

Let’s be honest: We’re probably going to write this story again in a couple weeks. We’ll plug in some new numbers about how Horford is faring against Karl Anthony Towns or Evan Mobley. Just keep clicking and acting like it’s a fresh take.

Because, like Horford, this story never gets old.

Posted on

Steph awarded selfless NBA honor for Warriors' 2024-25 season

Steph awarded selfless NBA honor for Warriors' 2024-25 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry added another accolade to his already impressive trophy case.

The Warriors superstar is the recipient of the 2024-25 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, the NBA announced on Monday.

As mentioned, the award “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team.”

The 37-year-old Curry, who has dealt with nagging injuries all season, did just about everything he could to lead Golden State back to the playoffs. Whether it was young teammates, like Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Quinten Post, or veterans like Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, Curry was by their side every step of the way and elevated each one of their games both on and off the court.

Surprisingly, this is Curry’s first time ever winning the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, which was first presented in the 2012-13 NBA season.

However, as we have learned time and time again with Curry, there’s a first time for everything. Even in Year 16.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Magic coach's complaint about officiating validates Celtics' approach

Magic coach's complaint about officiating validates Celtics' approach originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

We’ve reached the gamesmanship portion of the Boston Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic.

After Boston’s 95-93 loss to Orlando in Game 3, Jaylen Brown shared some pointed comments about the Magic’s physical play, which included three flagrant fouls in three games and a Cole Anthony takedown of Brown that dislocated the Celtics star’s finger.

“There might be a fight break out or something,” Brown said Friday night. “Because it’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball, and the refs are not controlling the environment. So, it is what it is.

“If you want to fight it out, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round.”

While the Magic ended their flagrant foul streak in Sunday’s Game 4, they continued their physical style of play — but this time it cost them. Orlando committed 24 personal fouls, resulting in the Celtics making a season-high 30 free throws on 32 attempts en route to a 107-98 win.

After the game, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley decided to play his own officiating card.

“We were attacking the basket the exact same way,” Mosley told reporters. “Now, we didn’t knock them down when we got there. We had to understand that the calls, the whistle was going to head in that direction after what’s been said. So we have to continue to just be smart there, hold our ground, get positioning earlier and make sure we show our hands.”

Mosley apparently feels that Brown’s comments influenced the officiating in Game 4 and led to Sunday’s discrepancy in free throws (Orlando made just 14 of 20 free throw attempts). So, this appeared to be Mosley’s attempt to lobby the refs ahead of Tuesday’s Game 5 and swing the foul margin closer to the Magic’s favor.

“I always look at our ability to attack the rim. … Them shooting, let’s just say, 26 free throws before the back stretch; you look at those margins and they’re very similar attacks, but it’s not the same foul count,” Mosley said. “Whether that’s the physicality part of it or not, it’s just something we look at.”

Campaigning for calls is par for the course in the NBA playoffs, so Mosley’s comments aren’t too surprising. But they are a validation of Boston’s response to Orlando’s physicality.

After multiple hard fouls by the Magic in the first three games, the Celtics easily could have responded with some message-sending fouls of their own. Instead, they maintained their composure and struck the balance of matching Orlando’s physicality without racking up fouls — especially down the stretch.

The Celtics committed just two personal fouls in the fourth quarter, playing aggressive defense without fouling with the game in the balance. The Magic, meanwhile, racked up eight fouls, leading to 14 free throw attempts for Boston, which made all 14 to ice Game 4.

Jayson Tatum was the primary beneficiary, repeatedly getting to the basket late in the game to make 9 of 9 free throw attempts in the fourth. He finished the night 14-for-14 from the charity stripe with 37 points and a spot in the NBA history books.

“Just poise. Poise. Having an understanding of your environment,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said of Tatum after the game. “Obviously, some shot-making there, but at the same time, physical drives and getting to the free-throw line.”

The Magic are a very physical team, but Boston’s ability to maintain its poise is a big reason why it owns a 3-1 series lead, and could be moving on to Round 2 as soon as Tuesday. Tip-off for Game 5 at TD Garden is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

Posted on

Why Draymond waking up spells trouble for Rockets vs. Warriors

Why Draymond waking up spells trouble for Rockets vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While praising longtime teammate Stephen Curry’s marvelous finish in the Warriors’ Game 3 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Draymond Green also sprinkled a bit of criticism upon himself.

Curry, Green explained, excelled as the team’s emotional accelerant, a role customarily filled by him.

“You know, oftentimes I try to bring that energy, and I didn’t have it,” Green said. “And he found it, and then I followed him, and we all followed him.”

Green “didn’t have it,” and didn’t hide from his self-awareness. Truth is, he hasn’t been his usual hyperkinetic self in the first three games of his first-round Western Conference playoff series. It’s always erroneous to measure his impact by individual statistics, and those have been relatively ordinary. What’s more noticeable, though, is that of his inconsistent energy. It waxes and wanes, moments of his famous “fire” interspersed with moments of relative lethargy.

Draymond is, particularly on offense, blending into the scenery much more often than generating action with blowtorch intensity.

It was enough to wonder if, at age 35, he still could summon the vitality that made him such a game-changer.

“They’re trying to take away Draymond’s playmaking and take him out of our offensive scheme as best they can,” coach Steve Kerr conceded on Sunday. “So, this is not an easy series for Dray.”

Green typically lives for the postseason. His pulse quickens, his focus narrows, his voice adds a few decibels, and his raging spirit can spread throughout the locker room. It’s seen. Felt. Off and on the court.

“This is a very difficult series in a lot of ways,” Kerr said, citing the junkyard-dog defense of Houston’s Fred VanVleet. “And they’re doing a good job of trying to get him out of places where he can usually impact the game on the offensive end. The big challenge for Dray is to embrace that, accept the fact that we’re going to generate offense elsewhere, and he can still control the game defensively, regardless of what happens at the offensive end. And I think that’s that was the case (Saturday) night.”

A more familiar Draymond was seen in the second half of Game 3. After a low-impact first half – three points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, three turnovers, minus-3 over 17 minutes – Draymond blasted off after intermission. He contributed four points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal, two turnovers, plus-15 over 17 minutes. They tell part of the story.

His spirit was visible. He scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter. He committed three fouls in an 81-second span. Hyped up, he took his four fouls to the bench to cool off for a couple minutes. Upon returning, he played the last five minutes as if on a rescue mission. A block on Dillon Brooks. An assist to Brandin Podziemski. A block on Alperen Şengün. A swipe of a VanVleet pass.

“His fourth quarter defense was incredible,” Kerr said. “But he has to maintain that, that poise and that edge even through the physicality and the offensive stuff that they’re taking away from him.”

Maybe Green, who shared a contentious postgame exchange with Houston guard Jalen Green, was inspired by the fire started by Curry.

“I thought it was beautiful,” Green said of Curry supplying what he usually does. “He realized that it wasn’t there (for me), and he took it upon himself to bring that type of force to the game, and we all fell in line and followed.”

Maybe, too, Draymond sniffed the savory scent of victory. Winning would give the Warriors a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. They would be in position to silence the nettlesome young Rockets and advance to the conference semifinals.

If that Draymond shows up for Game 4 on Monday night, there might not be a Game 6.

If that Draymond doesn’t show up for Game 4, the Rockets might find an avenue to even the series at 2-2 and regain homecourt advantage upon returning to Houston for Game 5.

Yes, Green still is that important. Has been since 2014. Still is in 2025.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Celtics hold off Magic to take 3-1 series lead

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics draws a foul from Gary Harris of the Orlando Magic
The Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (right) is a six-time NBA All-Star [Getty Images]

Defending champions the Boston Celtics held off the Orlando Magic 107-98 to win game four of the first round of the NBA play-offs.

Jayson Tatum scored 37 points and claimed 14 rebounds, making all 14 of his free-throw attempts, including four in the final minute.

The Magic levelled the game at 91-91 in the fourth quarter but the Celtics took control by scoring 10 of the next 11 points at Kia Center in Orlando.

Boston, who are seeded second, are 3-1 ahead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

The New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers also took 3-1 leads in the East.

The Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-103, with the Bucks losing point guard Damian Lillard to a non-contact injury.

The 34-year-old, who has recently returned from a blood clot in his right calf, hurt his left leg in the first quarter and will have an MRI scan on Monday.

The Knicks edged out the Detroit Pistons 94-93, but there was controversy at the end when the Pistons' Tim Hardaway Jr missed what would have been a winning shot at the buzzer with no foul called as he was knocked by Josh Hart.

In the Western Conference first-round series the Los Angeles Lakers fell to a 113-116 defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Luka Doncic scored 38 points and LeBron James 27 for the Lakers, but they will have to rally from 3-1 down when they host game five on Wednesday.

Posted on

Pacers roll to 129-103 victory in Game 4 to take 3-1 lead after Bucks lose Lillard to injury

NBA: Playoffs-Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks

Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) take a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the second quarter during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Indiana Pacers scored at will while the Milwaukee Bucks couldn't recover from the loss of one of their two superstar players.

Now the Pacers are on the verge of ending the Bucks' season for a second straight year.

Myles Turner scored 23 points and the Pacers shot 60.2% on Sunday night while winning 129-103 over the Bucks, who lost Damian Lillard to a lower left leg injury midway through the first quarter.

The preliminary examination of Lillard indicated a possible Achilles tendon injury, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not immediately reveal those details.

“Once he kind of looked back, I think we all kind of knew what it was,” Turner said. “It's a weird feeling to describe because you have to still compete, you have to get out there, but you just never want to see that happen to another athlete who puts in as much time as he does to his craft and to his game, like we all do.

"It's very disheartening, but it happens fast. It's the playoffs. You have to be able to move on.”

The Pacers, who beat Milwaukee 4-2 in the first round last year, can eliminate the Bucks again by winning Game 5 on Tuesday in Indianapolis. The Bucks have lost eight straight road playoff games and the last five of those defeats have come at Indiana.

Milwaukee might have to try ending that streak without Lillard, who was helped off the court and into the locker room after suffering a non-contact injury midway through the first quarter.

“They’re going to do an image tomorrow,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Obviously, it’s lower leg. And, just being honest, it’s not very promising.”

The Pacers led 15-12 at the time of Lillard’s departure and seized control without him, as eight Pacers scored in double figures.

Aaron Nembhard had 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and 15 assists. T.J. McConnell had 15 points, Aaron Nesmith 14 and Obi Toppin 13. Pascal Siakam and Jarace Walker added 12 points each.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists before leaving with 4:44 left and the Bucks trailing 120-98. Kevin Porter Jr. added 23 points for the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo was the only Bucks starter to score more than six points. Kyle Kuzma continued his tough series by scoring three points and shooting 1 of 6.

“I've seen injuries deflate teams, but tonight, that one hurt," Rivers said. “I thought our guys tried, but it was tough. ... My job over the next 48 hours or whatever we have is to get us upright again, try to win one game in Indiana and get it back here.

"But my brain right now is at the same place as our players are, and that's thinking about Dame."

Two nights after blowing a 10-point halftime lead in a 117-101 loss at Milwaukee, the Pacers bounced back. They won convincingly despite missing Bennedict Mathurin, who was out with an abdominal bruise.

“I feel like we kind of let our foot off the gas pedal (in Game 3),” Haliburton said. “I thought we responded the right way today."

Turner, who had scored six points while shooting 1 of 9 from the floor in Game 3, had nine points in the first 4½ minutes Sunday as the Pacers never trailed.

The Pacers went on a 10-3 run immediately after Lillard's exit to extend its lead to double digits. Indiana led 63-52 at halftime and stayed in control by shooting 69.2% over the final two quarters.

Posted on

Damian Lillard leaves game after non-contact leg injury, he is feared to have torn his Achilles

"It's not very promising…" Doc Rivers said of Damian Lillard's Game 4 leg injury. "I feel bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team."

Midway through the first quarter, Damian Lillard went down with a non-contact leg injury. He was helped off the court and did not return to the Bucks' eventual loss to the Pacers.

It is feared to be a torn Achilles, reports Chris Haynes. If that is the case, Lillard will miss most, if not all, of next season.

Lillard, 34, is a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA player who was part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. He averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.