Draymond advises Steph not to be ‘Superman' in injury return

Draymond advises Steph not to be ‘Superman' in injury return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Despite the need for a hero to save the day, Warriors forward Draymond Green is against the idea of Steph Curry turning into Superman.

Following Golden State’s Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Green advised against a hypothetical scenario in which injured superstar Curry rushed his return to the court for a must-win Game 5. 

“Nah, we’re not going to Superman this thing. If he’s in a place where he can play, I’m sure he will,” Green told reporters. 

“Him and Rick [Celebrini] and everyone else will figure that out, but we don’t need Superman. You got to play the long game, so, if he can, we know he will. But there’s no pressure. We got to find a way to win whether he plays or not.” 

Following the loss, coach Steve Kerr avoided giving a definite answer on whether or not Curry could return Wednesday from a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

Curry, speaking with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, played off of Green’s words, alluding that he doesn’t expect to be available for Game 5. 

Without Curry’s magic on the court, the Warriors shot 43 percent from the floor and knocked in a dismal 8 of 27 from 3-point range Monday night. 

Green, a four-time NBA champion, acknowledges there’s no greater postseason luxury than a healthy roster. 

“When you’re competing for championships or trying to, the most important thing you can have on your side is health,” Green added.

Although it’s unlikely Curry returns for Game 5, Green assures there’s a plan in motion.

“As far as Steph, he’s working his tail off every day,” Green concluded. “He’s in here eight, nine hours a day, working and doing what he can to try to get back. 

“His morale is great. Obviously, nobody is excited right now, but he’s working to get back. That’s all you can do at this point.”

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Anthony Edwards glad to silence sidelined Steph Curry, Warriors in Game 4 win

Anthony Edwards glad to silence sidelined Steph Curry, Warriors in Game 4 win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Despite the definitive change of momentum in the series when Warriors star Stephen Curry limped off the court with a hamstring injury in Game 1, Minnesota Timberwolves all-world guard Anthony Edwards wishes the two-time NBA scoring champ were healthy and able to play.

The two were teammates on the USA’s gold-medal winning team in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Edwards’ appreciation of Curry grew to a higher level than it was before.

“Trust me, I wish he could be out there to play against him, no matter how it goes,” Edwards said. “Just from working out with him in the summer. He’s the greatest, greatest shooter of all time.”

While Edwards was racing up and down the court on his way to 30 points in the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory, Curry once again sat on the Warriors’ bench watching it go down.

At one point, the two men got into a playful exchange after Edwards sank one of the six 3-pointers.

“He was like, ‘You weren’t going to make that. You were too open,’ ” Edwards said. “And I was like, ‘I ain’t never going to stop. Never stop shooting. I learned that from you this summer.’ ”

Edwards never stopped shooting against the Warriors in Game 4, knocking down 11 of 21 shots, including 6 of 11 behind the arc. He added five assists and four rebounds, helping the Wolves move one step closer to sending the Warriors packing into the offseason.

One of the game’s biggest moments happened just before halftime when Edwards pulled up for a 30-foot jumper that cut Golden State’s lead to 60-58 at the half.

Players from both sides felt Edwards’ shot was a clear momentum-changer.

“He is one of one,” Draymond Green said. “With the increased volume (of shots), the ability that he’s worked his tail off for, to be able to shoot the ball like that makes him a tough cover for sure. But we’ve also got to do a better job.”

The Warriors put on a decent show in the first half and took their small lead into the locker room.

It took Edwards and the Wolves about 6 minutes to flip the script and turn the game into a blowout.

Edwards shot 6 of 8 in the third and made three 3s, turning a two-point deficit into a 20-point advantage heading into the fourth.

Minnesota’s three-time NBA All-Star guard has earned the nickname ‘Legend Killer’ after the Wolves eliminated the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in the playoffs last season. He added to that resume in the 2025 playoffs when he and his teammates knocked LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Lakers out of the postseason.

Edwards would love to add Curry’s name to that list, but it looks like that might not happen. Curry has missed the last three games and won’t even be re-evaluated until Wednesday, the day of Game 5. The series very well could end that night in Minneapolis.

“I would definitely love to compete against him but he got hurt unfortunately,” Edwards said. “I hope he gets better.”

“Coach (Chris Finch) came in and said we were playing like we already won the series pretty much,” Edwards explained when asked what changed. “I didn’t like how we were playing overall and I didn’t like how I was playing individually. I knew I had to pick it up.”

When it happened, the crowd at Chase Center, which had been boisterous all evening, began to simmer down and murmur to themselves.

Even Edwards’ teammates got caught up in what Edwards was doing.

“As a basketball fan, it’s fun, and then as a competitor, it’s fun because he’s on your team,” said Nickell Alexander-Walker, who scored 13 points. “He’s providing a spark, he’s playing with energy, he’s making tough shots on the road.

“You can hear the pain from the crowd when he’s making shots like that. He gets on a heater and he starts to do his thing, being the showman that he is. It’s definitely fun to be a part of, to watch, to have those stories later in the year.”

Sitting at the podium after the game, Edwards was asked what it was like to hear moans and groans from opposing fans.

“Satisfaction,” he said. “Just the best satisfaction ever.”

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Dallas Mavericks jump from 11th to first, win 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, will select Cooper Flagg

The basketball gods chose to bail out Nico Harrison.

The organization that inexplicably gave away Luka Doncic in a trade deadline deal entered Monday night with a 1.8% chance of winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery — and they got it. The Dallas Mavericks have the No. 1 pick, an ending to the lottery that will provide years of fuel for the conspiracy theorists around the league.

It's the first time the Mavericks have ever had the No. 1 pick, and they can now use it to draft Cooper Flagg as the new star and face of the franchise. With Flagg, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are positioned to make some noise in the West (once Irving recovers from the torn ACL that will sideline him most, if not all, of next season).

The Spurs and 76ers jumped way up, while the Jazz and Wizards were unlucky and slid back.

Here is how the NBA Draft Lottery shook out:

1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Charlotte Hornets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix)
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento)
14. San Antonio (via Atlanta)

Some other notes from how the NBA Draft lottery broke down.

• With San Antonio landing the No. 2 pick, expect to hear a ton of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Spurs rumors. San Antonio can now offer this year's No. 2 pick (which will almost certainly be Dylan Harper), the reigning Rookie of the Year in Stephon Castle, plus more picks and players. That's the foundation of a quick rebuild for the Bucks, and imagine the Spurs defense with Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama.

• The Philadelphia 76ers needed to stay in the top six to keep their pick, not only did they do that but they jumped up to the No. 3 pick, meaning they can add Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecomb to a young core of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, a bridge to the future no matter what happens with Joel Embiid and Paul George's health.

• Rolando Blackman turned out to be good luck.

• This tweet cracked me up.

• Cooper Flagg was in the building.

• The Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards had the two worst records in the league but the lottery gods did not favor them and they slid down the board as far as they could go, with Utah fifth and Washington sixth. This is the third year in a row the team with the worst record in the league slid down to fifth (the previous two years it was Detroit).

• Chicago lost the tiebreaker to Dallas, which decided which numbers they get in the ping-pong ball lottery, then the Mavericks jumped up to No. 1. That's a rough one for the Bulls.

• Here is what the rest of the first round looks like

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami)
16. Orlando Magic
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
18. Washington Wizards (via Memphis)
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee)
20. Miami Heat (via Golden State)
21. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota)
22. Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers)
23. Indiana Pacers
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers)
25. Orlando Magic (via Denver)
26. Brooklyn Nets (via New York)
27. Brooklyn Nets (via Houston)
28. Boston Celtics
29. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland)
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City)

• The NBA Draft occurs on June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Ant shoves Steph-less Warriors one step closer to offseason in Game 4

Ant shoves Steph-less Warriors one step closer to offseason in Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The last few seconds of the first half Monday night were illustrative in understanding why the Warriors are one loss from skidding into the offseason.

After Jonathan Kuminga dropped in two free throws to punctuate a 14-3 run and give the Warriors a 60-55 lead with eight seconds on the clock, the Minnesota Timberwolves inbounded and put the ball in the hands of Anthony Edwards.

The Warriors responded appropriately. Draymond Green and Gary Payton II, their best defenders, converged on Edwards in hopes of preventing one of those buzzer-beating 3-pointers that inspires one team and deflates the other.

Edwards took note of Green and Payton, dribbled into a rhythm and launched a 30-footer that swished, inspiring the Timberwolves and signaling the beginning of the end for the Warriors in Game 4 and, perhaps, these Western Conference semifinals.

Minnesota’s scorching third quarter – a 39-17 advantage – muted the sellout crowd (18,064) at Chase Center and laid a 117-110 smashing on the Warriors that leaves them one game from elimination.

“It was a big shot,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought the way we defended it was great. I mean, Gary was all over him. Draymond came out to double. Then he hit a step-back 30-footer. There’s not much you can do about that.”

Recognizing the significance of Edwards’ shot, Green expressed a measure of regret over the way that and several other shots were defended.

“It was huge,” Green said. “One thing we talked about at halftime is like, ‘Yeah, he hit a tough shot. What could we have done differently? Could we have not let him walk up to the spot?’

“But it’s like every time we’re on a run, we’re letting Ant break the run up. Somebody can break the run up, but it can’t be their best player. Our defense should be so keyed at that point during a run that it can’t be their best player just getting to a spot and raising up.”

With Stephen Curry sidelined with a strained left hamstring, the Warriors have been consistent in their messaging, saying their defense would be the primary dictator of their fortunes. And through three games, it had its moments.

Not so much in Game 4, largely thanks to Edwards.

“It was huge,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said of Edwards’ halftime buzzer-beater, “because it felt like one of those games where we were going to struggle to find a rhythm.”

Instead, Minnesota left Golden State’s defense in ruins during the relevant first three quarters, shooting 53.0 percent from the field, including 51.6 percent from distance, before finishing at 49.4 and 47.1. Edwards scored 30 points, 16 in the decisive third quarter. Julius Randle finished with a game-high 31. Their combined 61 points came on 22-of-42 shooting, including 10 of 19 from deep.

The third-quarter blast gave Minnesota a 97-77 lead entering the fourth quarter, effectively shoving the Warriors a giant step closer to going home for the summer.

“It felt like there were some [shots] in the third quarter where we got disconnected defensively and they got they got wide open looks,” Kerr said. “I also thought they hit some really tough shots as well. They played a great game and obviously took it to us.”

Golden State’s offense couldn’t do much to help its cause. There was another energetic performance by Kuminga – 23 points, 6-of-13 shooting from the field, including 11 of 12 from the line – and not much else.

Jimmy Butler III, so prolific in Game 3 but “under the weather” on Monday, walked off the court with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. Buddy Hield totaled 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting, including 2 of 6 from deep. Brandin Podziemski continued to struggle for buckets, finishing with 11 points while shooting 3 of 14, including 0 of 4 from distance.

“Everybody has to shoot,” Green said. “If you get the opening, you’ve got to let it go. Sometimes, we’re passing some up. Without Steph, at times the first good look oftentimes will be the best look.”

Since winning Game 1 on the road, the Warriors have lost three in a row, the last two on their home floor. The last time Golden State lost three consecutive postseason games were, gulp, the 2016 NBA Finals, when the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit by winning Games 5, 6 and 7.

Golden State’s task now is to win three straight games over the Wolves, including two at Target Center in Minneapolis.

“We’ve got to bounce back,” Kerr said. “We’ve got a flight to Minneapolis tomorrow and a chance to extend the series. And that’s the plan.”

From the looks of Games 3 and 4 at Chase, a Golden State comeback seems a feat beyond the grasp of the roster without Curry, with Butler now ill and so many shortcomings elsewhere.

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How Steph amusingly trash talked Ant after missed 3-pointer in Game 4

How Steph amusingly trash talked Ant after missed 3-pointer in Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Western Conference semifinals series between the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves was set up to be a potentially legendary showdown between Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards.

But after suffering a hamstring strain early in Game 1, Curry mostly has been constrained to watch from the sidelines.

Nevertheless, Curry has made his voice heard all series — both by teammates and opponents — which continued in the Warriors’ 117-110 loss in Game 4 on Monday at Chase Center.

In his postgame presser following his 30-point performance, Edwards revealed some in-game trash talk with Curry after Edwards was asked about playing against Golden State without their two-time NBA MVP.

“Just from working out with him over the summer, that’s what I told him after I hit a three,” Edwards told reporters. “Because he told me — I had missed one — he was like, ‘You weren’t going to make that. You were too open.’

“And I was like, ‘I ain’t gonna never stop shooting them. I learned that from you this summer.'”

It’s not often you see trash talk mixed with a compliment, but the two players clearly have a good relationship. Curry and Edwards spent plenty of time together last offseason when they helped Team USA win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Minnesota’s rising superstar has been open about the impact of that experience alongside Curry; that influence is evidenced by Edwards leading the NBA in made 3-pointers during the 2024-25 regular season.

In other words, one might argue Curry played a pivotal role in creating the juggernaut that could be responsible for his team’s playoff demise, now that the Timberwolves own a 3-1 lead with the series heading back to Minnesota.

Unfortunately for the Warriors — and potentially NBA fans as a whole — Curry might not have the chance for a rebuttal against Edwards in their friendly feud this season.

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Dallas Nabs No. 1 Pick in Cooper Flagg-Led 2025 NBA Draft

A tumultuous NBA season in Dallas took an upward swing Monday evening when the Mavericks, with just a 1.8% change of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, landed a shot at redemption.

San Antonio and Philadelphia round out the top three picks, with each having had a 6% and 10.5% chance at number one, respectively. They’ll likely have no shot at consensus number one, Cooper Flagg.

Unless the Mavericks defy expectations and pick someone else, Flagg will come to the team with a level of hype few players have ever matched, including his fellow Duke alum and 2019 top pick Zion Williamson – who was the New Orleans Pelicans’ representative for this year’s lottery – and French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who went to the San Antonio Spurs in 2023. Free agent Giannis Antetokounmpo looms on the market and San Antonio now has ample capital.

While his high school classmates may have relaxed in their last summer before college, Flagg was working out with the U.S. men’s basketball team in its preparation for the Paris Games, becoming the first college player (and first teenager) added to the Select Team since 2013.

Flagg also signed an NIL deal with New Balance, which has a factory 25 miles from his hometown of Newport, Maine. Flagg will presumably become the first top overall NBA Draft pick ever for the brand, which boasts established stars such as Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey as endorsers.

The 6’9” forward proceeded to have a stellar season at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four before the team lost to Houston. Flagg averaged 19.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals over 37 games. He elevated his draft stock even higher during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21 points, 7.6 rebounds, five assists and two blocks through five games.

Flagg was the just the fourth freshman to win the Wooden Award as the nation’s top player in men’s college basketball, alongside Williamson, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant. He also took home the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year honors, becoming the fourth player (and fourth Duke Blue Devil) to win both conference honors in the same season.

Prior to the stunning trade of Luka Doncic at the February trade deadline, the Mavs were set for 30 national TV appearances in the just completed regular season. The presumptive selection of Flagg may keep the team at the top of the pack when it comes to national TV games, especially as the NBA’s new media deal kicks in with ESPN/ABC, NBC, Peacock and Amazon’s Prime Video.

When the Spurs won the lottery and drafted Wembanyama in 2023, their national TV appearances leaped from a single game in 2022-23 to 11 games the following season.

The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets each had the best odds of winning the top pick at 14.1%. Right outside of the top three teams were the New Orleans Pelicans at 12.5%, the Philadelphia 76ers at 10.5% and the Brooklyn Nets at 9%.

The chance that a team with lower odds than the top three favorites would land the top pick was not a small one. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks, who had the 10th-worst record in 2023-24, had just a 3% chance at the lottery when ping-pong balls bounced their way last spring.

Dallas’ win marks the sixth time since the lottery began in 1985 that a team with less than a 4% chance won the rights to the top pick.

While Flagg is the unquestioned prize of the upcoming draft, the 2025 draft class does not lack for tantalizing prospects. Rutgers guard Dylan Harper has often come up in mock drafts as the consensus second-overall pick, and his teammate Ace Bailey and Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe have garnered plenty of attention themselves.

Although NIL has changed the draft pools for the NBA for a few years, this may be the first draft class where those changes are truly evident. Outside of the expected one-and-done freshman prospects and upperclassmen who took advantage of the NCAA’s expanded eligibility since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are few sophomore and junior players on the radar of scouts and executives.

The league recently announced that there were 106 early entry candidates for the June draft, the lowest number since 91 players declared early in 2015. Since 2021 when the NCAA allowed players to make money from NIL deals, the early entry pool has dropped each year from an all-time high of 353 players to less than one-third of that total in 2025.

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Why apologetic Draymond felt like ‘coward' after Warriors' Game 3 loss

Why apologetic Draymond felt like ‘coward' after Warriors' Game 3 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After the Warriors dropped Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Draymond Green still had his mind on his actions from Saturday.

Golden State’s veteran forward fouled out of his team’s Game 3 loss and apologized to reporters Monday for failing to speak to them in the aftermath.

“Before I start, I want to apologize to y’all,” Green told the media before starting his press conference after the Warriors’ 117-110 loss in Game 4 at Chase Center. “I didn’t talk the other day. I was quite a bit frustrated and very careful of — didn’t want to get myself fined, but more so say something and make it sound like an excuse.

“We struggle and lose, and I didn’t come up here and talk, and I felt like a coward when I got home. So I wanted to apologize to y’all for that.”

With four minutes and 38 seconds left in the Warriors’ eventual 102-97 loss on Saturday, Green collected his sixth and final personal foul with Golden State trailing by two points.

The 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist had tallied just two points, two rebounds and four assists up to that point, and his foul trouble kept him from making much of an impact as the Timberwolves attacked the rim.

While some of the calls on Green were questionable according to his Warriors teammates and coach Steve Kerr, it’s evident the 35-year-old didn’t want to blame the referees for his struggles in Game 3.

Green’s less-than-stellar night on Saturday came one game after he faced racially charged comments from Timberwolves fans in Minnesota — an incident that caused the team to open up an investigation when one fan was ejected from Target Center for violating the NBA Fan Code of Conduct, per the Timberwolves, and another left the arena on his own accord.

After that game, during which Green received a technical foul for hitting Wolves big man Naz Reid in the face, the Warriors star gave a passionate statement declaring he’s “not an angry Black man” and that there is an “agenda” trying to paint him as such.

When asked about his post-Game 2 comments after Monday’s loss, where Green improved to score 14 points with seven rebounds and two assists, he made it clear he has turned the page.

“I’ve moved on,” Green told reporters.

Green never has been one to shy away from accountability after all the ups and downs he has experienced throughout his career. His apology on Monday was just another example of that, even if it came a couple of days later.

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Steve Kerr avoids hypothetical about Steph Curry possibly playing in Game 5

Steve Kerr avoids hypothetical about Steph Curry possibly playing in Game 5 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has missed the Warriors’ last three Western Conference semifinals games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and if he misses another, Golden State’s season might end Wednesday.

Which is why everyone is wondering if Curry might push to play at Target Center.

Asked after the Warriors’ Game 4 loss if Curry would be allowed to play Wednesday if he told the medical staff he’s good to go, coach Steve Kerr danced around the hypothetical question.

“When are we giving the update?” Kerr asked, looking at Warriors PR personnel. “Wednesday, we’ll have an update.”

Curry sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in the first half of the Warriors’ Game 1 win over the Timberwolves. When his MRI results were announced, Golden State said the 37-year-old would be re-evaluated on May 14, the same day as Game 5.

Typically, re-evaluations lead to more time missed, so it’s unlikely Curry is ready to go Wednesday.

But longtime running mate Draymond Green shed light on the work Curry is doing to get back on the court before it’s too late.

“When you’re competing for championships, or trying to, the most important thing you can have on your side is health,” Green told reporters after Monday’s 117-110 loss. “You start getting a month, two and a half months longer into this already long season, and injuries are more likely to happen, so you try to do all that you can to prevent that. I send my love to [Jayson Tatum]. Never wish any injury on anybody; hoping that it’s not what everyone thinks it is. Such a great young talent in this league. Does everything the right way. So, hate to see him go down.

“As far as Steph, he’s working his tail off every day. You know, he’s in here eight, nine hours a day, working, doing what he can to try to get back. So, you know, his morale is great. Obviously, nobody’s excited right now, but he’s working to get back. That’s all you can do it at this point.”

Curry hasn’t spoken to the assembled media since May 8, but he talked to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears after Monday’s loss and tempered expectations that he might play Wednesday.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported last week and reiterated Monday that a possible Game 6, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, is the earliest Curry could return.

Curry is itching to return, knowing that the Warriors’ season is hanging in the balance. But all signs point to the four-time NBA champion sitting out another game.

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Nets awarded eighth overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft Lottery

The Nets have been awarded the eighth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.

This was their first time participating in the lottery since they landed the third overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft -- which they ultimately used on big man Derrick Favors out of Georgia Tech.

Brooklyn entered the night with just a 9.0 percent chance of winning this year's lottery and the opportunity to select Duke star Cooper Flagg after finishing with the sixth-worst record in the league.

Instead, the eighth selection will headline their four first-rounders this year. As part of the Mikal Bridges deal with the Knicks they also have the 19th, 26th and 27th picks as well as the 36th pick coming in the second round.

It'll be interesting to see if GM Sean Marks keeps all of these picks for the rebuilding club or looks to package some of them in a deal for a superstar such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is said to be "open-minded" about leaving Milwaukee.

Some of the players in recent mock drafts around Brooklyn's pick include Duke's Kon Knueppel, Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears, and Texas' Tre Johnson.

This year's draft takes place on June 25 and 26 at Barclays Center.

Here's how the rest of the lottery shaped out:

Players, fans react to Tatum's scary leg injury in Game 4 vs. Knicks

Players, fans react to Tatum's scary leg injury in Game 4 vs. Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics lost a pivotal Game 4 to the New York Knicks on Monday night to fall into a 3-1 series hole. Even worse, they may have lost their superstar for an extended period.

Jayson Tatum went down with an apparent lower right leg injury during the fourth quarter of Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. He stayed on the floor writhing in pain before Celtics trainers helped him into the locker room. He did not put any weight on his right leg and was helped into a wheelchair.

While Tatum’s status remains unclear, the outlook doesn’t look ideal. As the NBA world speculates about the injury’s severity, players on both teams, other athletes, and fans are sharing their stunned, empathetic reactions to one of the game’s biggest stars going down.

Knicks star Jalen Brunson immediately addressed Tatum’s injury during his postgame press conference.

“Prayers out to JT, man,” he said. “I just wanted to say that, first and foremost. Thoughts and prayers with him. Just praying for the best.”

Mitchell Robinson also shared his reaction immediately after the game.

“I’ve been dealing with injuries my whole career. You don’t want to see a guy go through stuff like that,” Robinson said.

Josh Hart shared similar sentiments.

“Hate that it happened. The NBA is a brotherhood, praying for him,” he said.

Karl-Anthony Towns joined his Knicks teammates in sending well-wishes to Tatum.

“I’ve been in a situation like that with my calf,” Towns said, per CLNS’ Bobby Manning. “If you saw, I just walked up, obviously respectful of his space. I just put my head down and prayed to my mother, prayed to God to put protection over him and comfort, whatever the injury may be. I hope it’s minor.”

Celtics veteran big man Al Horford has his longtime teammate on his mind after the defeat.

“The loss is the loss. More importantly it’s just Tatum that I’m worried about,” he said. “Just making sure I’m here for him. That’s my priority.”

Tatum’s co-star Jaylen Brown was at a loss for words.

“It’s tough,” he said. “Not really a lot to say.”

Tatum will get an MRI on Tuesday, according to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. The C’s will almost certainly be without him with their backs against the wall in Wednesday’s do-or-die Game 5.

Here’s how other noteworthy personalities reacted to Tatum’s injury:

Knicks defeat Celtics to move within one win of Eastern Conference Finals

Knicks defeat Celtics to move within one win of Eastern Conference Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jalen Brunson had 39 points and 12 assists, and the New York Knicks moved a win away from their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years and pushed the defending champion Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination with a 121-113 victory Monday night in Game 4.

The Celtics will have to make the NBA’s 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit to extend their title reign and may have to do it without All-Star Jayson Tatum, who was carried off the court with a right leg injury with 2:58 left.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 23 points and OG Anunoby bounced back from two poor performances by scoring 20 for the Knicks, who can win the series Wednesday night at Boston. If not, they would come back to Madison Square Garden to try to do it Friday night.

Tatum scored 42 points, his high in these playoffs, before he was hurt when the Celtics turned the ball over and his leg gave out as he tried to lunge forward toward the loose ball.

The Knicks had taken control just before that in front of a delirious crowd of fans who haven’t seen them play in the conference finals since they lost to Indiana in 2000.

Nobody has come from 3-1 down since Denver did it twice in 2020 at the Walt Disney World resort. It hasn’t happened when a team had to win a true road game since Cleveland rallied past Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals.

After leading by at least 20 points in the first three games — but blowing the first two of them in Boston — the Celtics had another double-digit lead less than five minutes into this game.

They led 62-51 at halftime, but the Knicks played their starters the entire way in a desperate third quarter in which they outscored the Celtics 37-23 to set up a thrilling final period.

Tatum’s three-point play tied it for the final time at 102-all before Anunoby hit a 3-pointer and the Knicks later put it away for good with an 11-0 burst that made it 116-104.

Derrick White made six 3-pointers and scored 23 points for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown had 20.

“We have to turn that page quickly and do our first job, which is win on Wednesday. That’s the mindset,” Celtics veteran Al Horford said. “As a group, we just have to rally together because obviously we’ve lost our leader, the guy that gets us going.”

Rockets reportedly interested in Antetokounmpo, but not so much trades for Booker, Durant, Zion

It's a big summer in Houston.

This is a 52-win Rockets team that took a big step forward this season behind an entertaining and athletic young core led by Alperen Sengun, Amem Thompson and Jalen Green. Houston had the fourth-ranked defense in the league, but the playoffs highlighted how much this team needs an elite bucket getter to spark their half-court offense. Houston has the picks and young players available to assemble a blockbuster trade to get that player.

Just don't expect it to be the Suns' Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, and the same is true of the Pelicans' Zion Williamson, reports Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

While Durant is widely seen as the most attainable of that group, and he is known to be very interested in playing in Houston, team sources said the Rockets still have significant reservations about that possible partnership, in large part, because Durant's age (36) would be so out of sync with their younger timeline. It's worth noting that previous talks between the teams about Durant, team sources said, were initiated by the Suns.

The Rockets have previously held serious interest in the Suns' Devin Booker, but team sources said that is no longer the case. Not only do team officials still have faith in Jalen Green, who is five years younger than Booker and $66 million cheaper over the next three seasons, but also Booker's struggles last season shifted the thinking on this front. As for Williamson, who has spent the majority of his first six seasons falling short of expectations while experiencing health issues along the way, team sources said the Rockets see him as too risky.

Durant to Houston is not completely off the table, but it's only happening if the trade is a complete steal for the Rockets, league sources told NBC Sports. As for Booker, the Rockets may have soured on him slightly, but the Suns have also made it clear from the highest levels of the organization that he is not available. That may have something to do with the Rockets' stance.

Which leaves Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will sit down with the Milwaukee Bucks front office in the coming weeks and discuss his and the team's future. He reportedly is open to considering a trade, the first time he has been truly serious about that in his 12-year NBA career.

The Rockets are certainly interested, according to the report, but know the price to land the 30-year-old two-time MVP would be high in terms of players and picks (and one of those players likely would be Sengun, who is not a natural fit next to Antetokounmpo). That said, if Antetokounmpo hits the market, the Rockets will jump into the mix and could put together an offer that would be hard for Milwaukee to turn down.

With all those moving parts, the Rockets and Fred VanVleet agreed to push back the date Houston has to decide on his $44.9 million team option to June 29 — after the draft and close enough to the start of free agency that Houston will have a much better read on the Antetokounmpo situation, as well as other free agents. VanVleet has said he wants to return to the Rockets, and they want him back, but at the right price, and he could be the veteran ball handler not brought back (or sent somewhere else) in a massive trade.

While the Rockets will be at the heart of the offseason trade rumors, GM Raphael Stone has made it clear he would be perfectly happy to run it back with the 52-win team from this season and see how big a step forward they take after this year's experiences. Don't be shocked if that is the ultimate outcome.

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.

Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.

The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.

Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.

In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.

The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.

Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.

But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.

Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.

Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.

Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.

Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.

The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.

Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.

In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.

The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.

Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.

But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.

Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.

Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.

Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.

What we learned as Jimmy Butler a non-factor in Warriors' Game 4 loss to Wolves

What we learned as Jimmy Butler a non-factor in Warriors' Game 4 loss to Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With an injured Steph Curry watching from the sidelines, the Warriors now are one loss away from their season coming to a close after a 117-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night at Chase Center.

The Warriors now are in a three-games-to-one series deficit, and have lost three straight playoff games for the second time under Steve Kerr, and the first since blowing a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 NBA Finals

The score didn’t tell the real story, especially with how bad the third quarter was for the Warriors, who had a two-point lead at halftime, and then trailed by 20 points at the end of the third quarter.

Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards (30 points) and Julius Randle (31 points) were too much to handle. The duo combined to score 61 points on 22-of-42 shooting and were 10 of 19 on 3-pointers. Pure dominance. 

It was unfair to expect Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga to repeat their performances from Game 3 when they combined to score 63 points, which amounted to 65 percent of the Warriors’ overall points. Kuminga scored a team-high 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting in Game 4, but Butler only had 14 points and was a game-worst minus-30. 

The two didn’t receive much help from their teammates elsewhere.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 4

Butler Goes Quiet

The 33 points Butler scored in Game 3 were his most in a playoff game since dropping 35 on the Boston Celtics to open the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. He played 43 minutes, and Butler looked gassed down the stretch. The Warriors’ offense crumbled, and Butler was just 1 of 7 in the fourth quarter. 

Jaden McDaniels made sure Butler didn’t get comfortable early, and the Warriors’ star never got going. Butler took one shot in the first quarter and had one point. At halftime, he had seven points on five shots. Yet the Warriors still led by two points, 60-58. 

Then the third quarter happened. Butler couldn’t find any extra juice, and McDaniels only made his life worse. The long and rangy but still twitchy all-world defender stuck to Butler’s every move. He manipulated screens and made the game as difficult as possible for Butler. 

As the Warriors were outscored 39-17 in the third quarter, Butler played all but eight seconds. Somehow, he was their leading scorer for the quarter with eight points. It was that bad. 

Butler only took nine shots all game, 17 fewer than Game 3.

Can’t Stop Kuminga

Even with several top defenders, the Timberwolves don’t have an answer for Kuminga. He isn’t aimlessly putting his head down and attacking the basket. Kuminga is assessing, and in a blink, he finds another gear that the Timberwolves can’t match.

Kuminga shook the Timberwolves’ defense in each of his two first-half stints. Through 13 minutes, Kuminga already was up to 16 points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting and made all eight of his free throws. The only player on his level going into halftime was Julius Randle, who already had 19 points and five rebounds for the Timberwolves.

His eight free throws in the first half were Kuminga’s most for an entire game since Dec. 30, 2024, when he made 10.

Kuminga got to 20 points entering the fourth quarter, but the Warriors were trailing by 20 points. The 11 free throws he made, missing just once, tied a career high.

Trouble From Downtown

The 3-point line always looks a little different when Curry isn’t on the court. Once again, it became a major problem for the Warriors. 

A game after going 0 of 5 in the first half but finishing 10 of 23 on threes, the Warriors looked like the three-ball could be a strength. Draymond Green made his first two attempts, and the Warriors in these playoffs were 3-1 when he made multiple threes. They’re now 3-2, as Green missed his final four threes.

Buddy Hield, who scored just 13 points in 35 minutes, was the only other Warrior to make multiple threes. He was 2 of 6 from 3-point range and 4-of-11 shooting overall.

Brandin Podziemski took four threes and missed all four. He’s now 3 of 17 on threes this series. Butler missed his lone attempt, and Kuminga missed both of his two tries. At least Moses Moody and Quinten Post, two players now out of the rotation, made threes in garbage time.

The Warriors as a team were outscored by 24 points behind the 3-point line. The Timberwolves had four players make multiple threes and went 16 of 34 (47.1 percent), a stark contrast to the Warriors’ 8 of 27 (29.6 percent). While the Warriors couldn’t make shots, they often didn’t seem to want to take shots either.

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