Category: NBA

With Warriors star Steph Curry injured, Brandin Podziemski faces new challenge originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MINNEAPOLIS – Knowing they’ll be without Steph Curry for at least the next three games of the Western Conference semifinals due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, it’s clear which two aspects the Warriors are going to lean into most: Playing through Jimmy Butler, and being a tenacious team defensively. 

The Warriors feel like they have the best defense in basketball, and losing the greatest shooter of all time only adds to that now being their main calling card. That means following the lead of Butler and Draymond Green, feeding off their energy and decision-making.

Kevon Looney, as he showed battling Rudy Gobert around the basket in the Warriors’ Game 1 win Tuesday night at Target Center, will be Steve Kerr’s trusted gritty veteran doing all the dirty work that doesn’t always get recognized. 

Kerr’s offense when Curry is off the floor often runs through Butler, giving the defense a much different look than Steph trying to run through and around bodies looking to get in his way. The ball was in Butler’s hands nearly the entire second half of Game 1, knowing he’ll always make the right play with a hate for turnovers. He and Green will run the offense, and the Warriors can only hope Buddy Hield keeps having the hot hand from deep after combining for 57 points and 14 threes the past two games. 

The spotlight also will grow exponentially on a teammate who always is watching Curry’s every move, waiting in the wings until he can go from sidekick to star of his own. Brandin Podziemski’s contributions are about so much more than scoring, but the open looks he usually gets will be wiped away with Curry on the sidelines, and he’ll have to provide plenty more points than he has been as of late. 

Pressure makes diamonds, and the Warriors are confident Podziemski can shine under bright lights. 

“BP always puts pressure on himself,” Looney said Wednesday. “He feels like he’s supposed to dominate everything when he’s out there. For me, just make sure he keeps his confidence. Don’t let missed shots or a couple bad plays affect the way he goes out there. I think he lives for moments like this. He wants to be a great player and he wants to step up. 

“You know how much he loves Steph, and how much he wants to make sure that we can be in a great spot when he gets back. I’m just making sure that I bring confidence to him to play his game.” 

Podziemski admits Curry’s injury changes how aggressive he is, whether that’s to score or make plays for others. Everybody, him included, will have greater offensive responsibilities.

He has settled into being a complementary combo guard alongside Curry. Scoring often is secondary among his responsibilities, behind pushing the pace, finding teammates, grabbing rebounds over players who have multiple inches or more on him, taking charges and diving on the floor for loose balls. Naturally, more of a scoring onus will be placed upon Podziemski in Curry’s absence. 

But there isn’t a complete shift in his mindset going into Thursday’s Game 2 and beyond. 

“Not necessarily,” Podziemski says. “I think when you tell yourself, ‘I have to score more because someone’s out,’ there’s like a natural force factor to that and then you start taking bad shots or overthinking what you’re doing. Everybody gets a rhythm from touching the ball more. 

“I’ll find offense throughout the flow of the offense in the combination with getting others involved, too.” 

The first shot Podziemski took in Tuesday night’s win was a 3-pointer in rhythm and off the dribble. Hield caught Julius Randle’s missed 3-pointer four and a half minutes into the game, and gave it up to Podziemski as the Warriors were off and running. 

Randle raced to find Butler. Mike Conley tracked down Curry. Anthony Edwards sprinted with Hield, and Jaden McDaniels trailed alongside Green. That left Gobert backpedaling and plenty of room for Podziemski to nail an open three. He took six more shots the rest of the night, including four threes, and missed each time. 

Among the Warriors’ starting five, Podziemski was the only one to have a negative plus/minus (minus-1), and his three points were second only to Looney’s two for Warriors players who received ample playing time. Those numbers don’t change Kerr’s confidence in Podziemski, who also had eight big rebounds, one bit. 

“This guy’s a gamer,” Kerr said. “He’s in the right spot all the time. He’s sticking his nose in there, rebounding constantly. He just drives winning. I think he’ll settle down. Last couple games, he’s struggled a little bit with his shot, but this is all part of the playoffs. I think Brandin will be a huge part of things going forward.” 

Kerr constantly refers to Podziemski as a “connector,” and that’s the exact type of player he wants him to continue being – with or without Curry. 

“We don’t need to ask him to do anything differently,” Kerr continued. “It’s about handling their pressure, for all of us – the team – handling their pressure, getting loose and getting some open shots.” 

Down the stretch of the regular season, as the Warriors were fighting for playoff positioning, Podziemski scored at least 20 points in three games of a four-game span. The Warriors won all three, beating the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. In Game 4 of the Warriors’ first-round series, he played like a veteran star who has been through these situations countless times, scoring 26 points and making six threes to help gain a three-games-to-one series lead. 

Since then, Podziemski has scored 30 points in the last four games, going 12 of 35 from the field (34.3 percent) and 6 of 22 (27.3 percent) as a 3-point shooter. 

Podziemski is the one who replaced Klay Thompson in the starting lineup last season as a rookie, and figured to be the Warriors’ starting shooting guard in Year 2, just to see De’Anthony Melton outplay him in training camp. Podziemski couldn’t find his shot at the beginning of the season, and then only became better both times he returned from injury. As his game grew and he secured his starting spot, the Warriors became the team they are now.

Adversity has only made Podziemski stronger in his short NBA career, and the sign of him making Curry proudest will be staring down his latest challenge and letting his production do all the talking, putting the Warriors in a place of comfort upon his mentor’s eventual return. 

“You don’t got to be nobody, you don’t got to be him,” Looney said. “You don’t got to be nobody else, you just got to be the best version of yourself, and the best version of yourself is going to be great for us.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Report: Woodson reaches deal to become Kings associate head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Doug Christie slowly but surely is rounding up his troops to join him for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Mike Woodson has reached a deal with Sacramento to become the team’s associate head coach under Christie, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.

Longtime NBA coach Mike Woodson has agreed on a deal to become associate head coach for the Sacramento Kings under Doug Christie, sources tell ESPN. Woodson spent the last four years as coach of Indiana University. He brings three decades of coaching experience to Kings staff.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 7, 2025

Woodson returns to the NBA after most recently serving as the Indiana men’s basketball coach for four seasons.

Before his time with the Hoosiers, Woodson worked in the NBA from 1996 to 2021 in various roles. The last time he served as an NBA head coach was with the New York Knicks from 2012 to 2014.

Woodson posts a 315-365 (.463) coaching record. He also has coached 46 playoff contests, holding an 18-28 record in such games.

Christie took over as interim coach in late December before earning the full-time gig last week. He and new general manager Scott Perry wasted no time making personnel changes, firing top assistant coach Jay Triano and several other assistants over the weekend.

They now will fill in the holes for the remaining staff, with rumors of Bobby Jackson and Darius Songalia making potential returns to Sacramento.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Head coach Joe Mazzulla leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing the Boston Celtics for games. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that his players were studying the closing seconds of Tuesday’s wild Game 2 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.

The Cavs led the Pacers by seven points with 57 seconds remaining before Indy mounted a furious comeback to win 120-119 and take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series.

The Pacers’ stunning late-game surge included an Aaron Nesmith put-back dunk off a missed free throw, an Aaron Nembhard steal off a Cleveland inbound pass and a Tyrese Haliburton go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard noted there are lessons Boston can take from that chaotic final minute, especially after the C’s blew a 20-point lead against the Knicks in Game 1.

“Definitely can learn from the Cavs being up seven — the game’s never over until it’s over,” Pritchard told reporters Wednesday at shootaround ahead of Boston’s Game 2. “So, you’ve got to take care of the rock. Even on a free throw box out — all the little things matter. We’ve got to learn from that and take it into this game.”

Pritchard suggested it’s common practice for the Celtics to look for teaching moments in other NBA games, particularly in the playoffs. And Nesmith’s put-back dunk appeared to be a particular point of emphasis for Boston, which has to contend with a strong rebounder on the wing in New York’s Josh Hart.

“We always look at stuff across league — little plays, stuff that could come up in situations for us,” Pritchard said. “It’s just preparation at the end of the day, so if we’re in a situation like they were in, we are already prepared.

“What are we trying to do? How are we gonna box these guys out on a free-throw box-out? If I’m not in the lane, I’m boxing outside the 3-point line. I’ve got to hit a guy like Josh Hart. He might crash hard, so I’ve got to be prepared to box him out in that situation.

“It’s little things like that. You’ve got to just be a student of the game and learn and keep growing.”

Hart racked up five offensive rebounds (11 total) in Game 1, including a pair of late-game boards that played a key role in New York’s comeback. So, it’s understandable that Hart was on the Celtics’ minds as they watched Nesmith soar over Donovan Mitchell for his clutch dunk.

But the bigger-picture lesson for Boston from Pacers-Cavs is that no lead is safe, and that even the smallest lapses in intensity can prove costly. The Celtics were in full control of Monday’s Game 1 with a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter, but that lead fully evaporated over 10 minutes of game play thanks to a combination of missed 3-pointers and defensive miscues.

The good news is that Mazzulla’s club has proven adept at learning from its mistakes: Boston has won four consecutive playoff games following a loss, with an average margin of victory of 15 points.

Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Warriors, Timberwolves go back and forth litigating Game 1 non-calls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have issues with the officiating. The Minnesota Timberwolves have issues with the officiating. Everyone has issues with the officiating.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon after Timberwolves practice at Target Center, Minnesota coach Chris Finch discussed the Warriors’ fouling of Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in Game 1 on Tuesday night and revealed he plans to send clips of the non-calls to the NBA.

“On defensive rebounds, they do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing and tackling Rudy,” Finch said of the Warriors’ physicality. “That’s clear. We’ll send a bunch of those clips into the league.

“In fact, I’m not sure I know another player in the league with Rudy’s pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten on the way he is. And so we’ve got to address that one way or another.”

Finch pointed to one play involving Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski and alluded to the Timberwolves upping the physicality from here on out.

“There was a play last night where Podziemski clearly grabbed him and he sheds Podziemski and he gets the foul,” Finch explained. “So we’ll certainly try and take justice into our own hands whenever we can, I think it’s the nature of a physical sport. But by the same token, my god, you should see some of these clips.

“It’s like pulling guards and linemen out there taking shots at Rudy.”

Podziemski was asked about Finch’s comments after Warriors practice, and explained that Golden State’s potential uptick in physicality has carried over from its first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

“I mean, it’s the playoffs,” Podziemski said. “What we just had to go through with the Rockets, I think has just kind of rubbed off on us. What they were doing is kind of similar to what we’re doing now. I don’t know if the Lakers were doing that to the Timberwolves in the first round, but this is the playoffs, you just try and do everything you can to win.

“I mean, Rudy’s probably a whole foot taller than me, so what do you want me to do?”

Warriors center Kevon Looney echoed a similar sentiment.

“Last series I feel like was way worse than anything I did last game,” Looney added. “It’s the playoffs. I’m gonna grab and push until they call it. Rudy’s a great rebounder. [Julius] Randle … Everybody got their own little tricks they do.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who also plans to submit clips of non-calls to the league, has his fair share of complaints and is not surprised by Finch’s comments.

“I was upset the first 10 minutes of the game,” Kerr said. “It was just like Houston all over again. They were bear-hugging Steph [Curry] and they could have called six fouls. But the league has established the physicality in the playoffs. Chris [Finch] talked about it last week, just the overall physicality. To me, it’s crazy out there, what’s happening. Everybody’s fouling each other.

“I just feel like they have a really hard job because playoff basketball, yes it’s physical and they’re going to allow more, but I think they could have called a foul [on] six, seven straight possessions with them guarding Steph. So I’ve got my complaints too, trust me. We all do, and this is how it works in the playoffs. We watch the tape and we see all the fouls on them that aren’t called. They watch the tape, they see the ones on us that weren’t called. It’s a physical game, it’s just going to be and both teams have to adjust. I’m getting ready to send my own clips into the league.”

As frustrating as the non-calls might be for both teams, Kerr believes the officiating has been nothing if not consistent.

“It has been consistent. They are consistently allowing teams to foul,” Kerr added.

It will be interesting to see if the officials adjust in Game 2 on Thursday at Target Center, but if the playoffs this season have shown us anything, it’s that the refs are taking a more hands-off approach.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Pritchard provides insight into Celtics' Game 2 mindset originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics aren’t going to panic after losing Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series versus the New York Knicks on Monday night.

The Celtics missed an NBA playoff record 45 3-point shots and made some uncharacteristic mistakes late in the fourth quarter and overtime. Despite all of that, the Knicks barely escaped TD Garden with a 108-105 overtime victory.

The Celtics know that an 0-2 deficit would make their job a lot tougher. So we should expect a strong level of urgency from this group ahead of Wednesday night’s Game 2 in Boston.

“It’s really like a must-win game,” Celtics guard Payton Pritchard told reporters after shootaround. “We know that. We got to take care of home court tonight.

“I think we’ll come out with a lot of energy and stuff like that, especially after watching the Pacers-Cleveland game. It’s a full 48-minute fight tonight. We let off the throttle in the last game up 20, let that one slip, so we can’t let stuff like that happen.”

Much of the postgame talk and analysis from Game 1 centered around Boston’s lackluster outside shooting.

The Celtics attempted a playoff-record 60 3-pointers in the series opener. Many of their misses were on open shots that they typically knock down. It’s one reason why the C’s are in no hurry to change the style of play that’s been so successful for them.

“I think looking back at the film, a majority of the 3s were actually good looks,” Pritchard said. “Now, I think each one of us could have had one or two shots that we’re probably like — probably could have got a better one.

“We’re a great 3-point-shooting team, but I think it’s understanding at the moment that if we’ve missed consecutive ones in a row, then at that moment, maybe then we need to try to get to the paint, try to get an easy one going. Obviously, we went through the film, so we’ll be better at that, but it’s not changing our — we’re not gonna hesitate and try to change our whole game.

“It’s one game, and this game (Wednesday) could be totally different. We could go 50 percent from 3 and we hit 30 3-pointers — we’re capable of doing something like that. You can’t ride the waves. You’ve got to stay even keel through it all.”

The Celtics have a 16-4 record all-time in Game 2s at home in the conference semifinals, and they haven’t lost back-to-back playoff games since the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

Most of the stats/trends point to a Celtics bounce back Wednesday night. But the Knicks aren’t just going to roll over. They are a confident team, and the chance to steal both games in Boston should give them plenty of energy early in this matchup.

Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Draymond has great Batman analogy for Butler, Hield's contributions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

An important DC Universe trio was called to action on Tuesday night.

After Steph Curry left Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center with a left hamstring strain, the Warriors needed a new Batman. And Batman needed a new Robin. And both needed a new Alfred.

With the recent developments to the lore of the Warriors Cinematic Universe, there were two candidates most likely to answer the call.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Warriors forward Draymond Green praised veteran teammates Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield for their clutch performances in the wake of Curry’s untimely injury.

“Robin (Butler) turned into Batman, Alfred (Hield) turned into Robin and they just filled in,” Green said. “It was beautiful to see. Everybody played great minutes.”

If you haven’t kept up with the latest Warriors character developments, Butler famously declared himself the Robin to Curry’s Batman earlier in the postseason, while Hield anointed himself Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler in the comic book series.

Of course, with Curry out, the Warriors needed an interim Batman, which Butler provided.

However, Hield (24 points) out-scored Butler (20 points) in the game and hilariously stole the lead title from Butler in the two players’ postgame press conference.

“I’m Batman today,” Hield proclaimed. “I saved the day. [Jimmy] is still Robin.”

Regardless of which fictional character each player is, the Warriors needed key players to step up.

Butler and Hield did exactly that.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

How Warriors' playoff schedule could benefit Steph's injury timeline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry will miss at least one week with a hamstring injury, but time could be on the Warriors’ side for his potential return.

With Curry ruled out for Games 2, 3 and 4 against the Timberwolves, Golden State will provide another update next Wednesday, when Game 5 is set to take place in Minnesota. If he is ruled out of Game 5, there might not be a reason for Warriors fans to panic just yet.

As is the case with all other playoff games occurring around the league, Games 1 through 5 between the Warriors and Timberwolves will be played every other day. But Game 6, due to the Bay’s new WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, opening their regular season Friday, May 16, at Chase Center, the Warriors wouldn’t play the if-necessary Game 6 until Sunday, May 18.

That would give Curry 11 full days off to rest before potentially returning in Game 6 in San Francisco.

The regular playoff schedule would continue as normal thereafter, with a Game 7, if needed, scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, in Minnesota.

An MRI revealed Curry has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, the first muscle strain of Curry’s 16-season NBA career. He sustained the injury early in the second quarter of Golden State’s 99-88 Game 1 win over the Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Warriors had Curry’s back and pulled out a needed team win in Game 1. But there’s no doubt they want — and need — their best player back on the hardwood with them to keep their championship aspirations alive.

Fingers crossed, Dub Nation.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

These stats should make Celtics fans confident entering Game 2 vs. Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics blew a huge lead in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks and lost 108-105 in overtime Monday night at TD Garden.

A bad 3-point shooting display — including a playoff-record 45 missed 3-pointers — sunk the Celtics.

But if history is any indication, Celtics fans should be confident in their team’s ability to not only bounce back with a Game 2 win on Wednesday night, but also rebound with a series victory.

The Celtics are 4-0 after a loss in the playoffs since last season, including 1-0 this postseason (Game 4 in Orlando). They’ve won those four games by an average of 15 points.

Specific to the second round, Boston lost Game 1 of the conference semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022 and the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023. The C’s won Game 2 in both of those series before ultimately prevailing in Game 7.

The Celtics are also 21-10 all-time in Game 2 of the conference semifinals, including a 16-4 home record.

The Knicks are 6-20 all-time in Game 2 on the road in a best-of-7 series, and that includes five straight losses and a 2-9 record in road Game 2s in the conference semis.

Boston is 8-4 in its last 12 Game 2s overall, including three straight victories.

The Celtics missed a ton of open shots in Game 1 and the Knicks shot 45.9 percent from 3-point range. And yet, the C’s only lost by three in overtime.

There’s no reason for the Celtics to panic, and the stats/trends going into Game 2 are in their favor.

But the task of winning this series would get far more difficult if they lose Wednesday. The Celtics are 1-3 all-time in playoff series in which they lose the first two games at home, with the only win coming in 2017 against the Chicago Bulls.

Steph cried in locker room after Game 1 injury vs. Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry didn’t need to say a single word to his team during halftime after exiting the game with a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves playoff series Tuesday night at Target Center.

He had been sitting back in the visitor’s locker room since sustaining the injury early in the second quarter. When Warriors coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the guys rolled in at the midway break, Curry’s face said it all.

Kerr looked at Curry, who had tears falling down his face, and instead of saying anything, gave his superstar point guard an emotional hug, The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II shared in his latest column.

“That’s all I could do,” Kerr told Thompson after the Warriors’ 99-88 win. “I just feel so bad for him. Everything that he does. How much he cares.”

Kerr added that no one on the team said anything to Curry at halftime, who was icing the injury at his locker with his headphones in. All the Golden State coach could do was tell Gary Payton II he would start for Curry in the second half and game plan for the final 24 minutes of the contest without their best player.

Curry exited the game with 13 points in 13 minutes. He’s averaging 22.6 points on 47.7-percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range through eight games during Golden State’s current playoff run, adding 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.1 minutes.

An MRI revealed Wednesday morning that Curry sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and would miss at least one week, ruling him out for at least Games 2, 3 and 4. Game 5 is set for next Wednesday in Minnesota. Game 6, if necessary, will be Sunday, May 18, at Chase Center in San Francisco.

“He’s obviously crushed,” Kerr told reporters postgame. “But the guys picked him up and played a great game. Obviously, we’re all concerned about Steph, but it’s part of the game. Guys get hurt and you move on. Our guys did a great job of moving on and getting a great win, 48 hours after a Game 7 road win.

“It’s an amazing group of guys. They compete, they’re together, been the best defense in the league since the Jimmy trade, and that’s what’s keeping us afloat.”

The team rallied around its superstar and pulled out a huge win on the road. It will take a group effort, led by Curry’s “Robin,” Jimmy Butler, to collectively put on their superhero capes against the Timberwolves.

“It’s super motivating,” Kevon Looney told Thompson “He’s carried a lot of us on his back to the highest level. He set a high standard, and you just want to kind of follow that. He knows we got his back. However long it’s gonna be, we’re gonna go out there and fight and try to win.

“We ain’t gon’ put our heads down. We know how to fight. We know how to be the men at war.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

This Mazzulla exchange says it all about Celtics' 3-point mentality originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Joe Mazzulla couldn’t contain his smile.

One day after his Celtics set NBA records for the most 3-point attempts (60) and misses (45) in a playoff game en route to a Game 1 loss to the Knicks, a reporter asked Mazzulla about Boston’s 3-point defense and pointed out that New York made more than half of its 3-pointers (11 for 19) in the second half Monday night.

“So, they made them,” the Celtics interrupted with a grin. “Man, what a novel idea. That’s a novel concept, huh? Just make them when you’re open.”

Mazzulla clearly had heard the criticism about Boston’s 3-point-heavy attack in Game 1, which backfired in a big way. Just one of the Celtics’ 20 shot attempts in the third quarter was a 2-pointer, and 34 of their 41 attempts in the second half were 3-pointers. The C’s made just nine of those deep attempts, blowing a 20-point lead and losing home-court advantage as the Knicks took a 1-0 lead in the second-round series.

But if you think Boston’s misses will deter the team from hoisting up more 3-pointers in Game 2, you don’t know Mazzulla.

“The duality of that question is really cool to talk about,” Mazzulla continued. “We start the press conference off by saying, ‘You took all these and you missed them.’ And then you say, ‘They shot 50 percent in the second half from three.’ Yeah, you have to make them.”

There’s nuance to the 3-point discussion, of course. While the Celtics have been historically reliant on deep balls — they smashed NBA records for 3-point makes and attempts during the regular season — they’re at their best when they get quality looks off good ball movement. Their offense was more stagnant in Game 1, however, which led to a few forced 3-pointers that Mazzulla admits he’d like his team to have back.

“I loved the majority of our shots,” Mazzulla added. “There were probably 10 or 11 you could probably take back considering the ebbs and flows of how the game was going at that particular time.

“So, you have to be able to do both. You have to be able to make open shots and you have to have that understanding of the ebbs and flows of a game. Coaching shot selection is always easy. Hindsight’s always 20/20.”

The Celtics swept their regular-season series against the Knicks this season thanks in part to excellent 3-point shooting; they made at least 17 3s on 38.6 percent shooting or better in all four matchups. So, Mazzulla and Co. are likely banking on the idea that Monday’s brick-fest was an aberration.

But the C’s still need to make a concerted effort to get better looks from distance, or Mazzulla will be facing more pressing questions going forward. Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Report: Steph has Grade 1 hamstring strain, will miss Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will be without their best player for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Target Center, and perhaps longer.

Golden State superstar Steph Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Tuesday’s Game 1 win over Minnesota and will be ruled out for Thursday’s contest, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.

Charania also reported, citing sources, that the Warriors expect Curry to miss at least one week with the injury and that an exact return timeline will be based on how he responds to rehab for the muscle strain, which is the first of his 16-year NBA career.

Curry suffered the injury early in the second quarter on Tuesday, and left the game for good after scoring 13 points with one rebound and one assist on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from 3-point range in 12 total minutes.

While it’s unclear exactly how long Curry will be out, the reported one-week timeline would indicate he not only will miss Game 2 on Thursday, but Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday with a possibility to return for Game 5 next Wednesday at Target Center, which is exactly one week away.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast