Category: Basketball

Basketball News

Posted on

Porzingis opens up about illness that's limited him in Celtics-Knicks

Porzingis opens up about illness that's limited him in Celtics-Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

What’s wrong with Kristaps Porzingis?

That’s been a pressing question since Monday night, when the Boston Celtics big man exited Game 1 of the team’s second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks due to an illness.

After the Celtics’ loss to the Knicks in Game 2 on Wednesday night, Porzingis provided some answers.

“Yeah, I’m dealing with some — I don’t know how to call it, but just not feeling my best at all,” Porzingis told reporters following Boston’s heartbreaking 91-90 defeat at TD Garden. “It just kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment.”

Porzingis, who went scoreless over 13 minutes in Game 1 before coming out in the second quarter, made more of an impact in Game 2 with eight points on 3 of 5 shooting with four rebounds. He was on the court for just 13:53 minutes, however, and still didn’t look like his usual self.

“It’s a tough moment for me to not be able to be with guys,” Porzingis said, adding that he’s been “super appreciative” of the support he’s received both inside the organization and from fans as he navigates his illness.

“It’s not an injury or anything, but just not feeling my best. It’s tough for me, honestly, but who cares? Nobody feels sorry for us, sorry for me, and we have keep going.”

Porzingis missed eight consecutive games in late February and early March due a viral upper respiratory illness, and appeared to confirm speculation that his current condition is tied to that original issue.

“Probably. Probably,” Porzingis said when asked if the two illnesses are related. “I’ve had ups and downs up until this point, and just now had a big crash. My energy, my everything hasn’t been good.

“But who cares? Have to look forward, and we’ll get better from this point on.”

The Celtics certainly could use Porzingis’ energy. The C’s became the first team in the NBA’s play-by-play era (since 1996-97) to lose two games in the same postseason when leading by 20-plus points, per Celtics stats guru Dick Lipe, and looked flat and disjointed in the fourth quarter of both Game 1 and Game 2.

Porzingis played a key role in Boston’s regular-season success against the Knicks, averaging 22.4 points per game versus his former team since coming to Boston while making 50 percent of his 3-pointers (26 for 52). But it’s clear that version of Porzingis hasn’t been present at TD Garden in this series to date.

The series shifts to New York on Saturday for Game 3, with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports Boston’s coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Posted on

2025 NBA Playoffs Panic Meter: Which of four home teams trailing in series should panic?

For the first time in NBA history, the four higher-seeded home teams lost Game 1 in their second-round series. Home teams are 0-5 so far in the postseason, which feels strange.

But is it reason to panic? Which fan base should be reaching for the panic button? Let’s rank all four home teams on our 2025 NBA Playoffs Panic Meter, with teams ranked on a scale of 1-5 sirens going off.

1) Cleveland Cavaliers

Where are the Cavaliers on the panic meter?

spongebob-panic.gif

It’s not simply that Cleveland is down 0-2 to Indiana, dropping both home games, or that the second loss was a gut-punch where the Cavaliers led by seven with 48 seconds left and found a way to blow it. No, the bigger concern is injuries.

Darius Garland’s value to the Cavaliers has never been more evident than when watching them struggle just to get the ball up the court under pressure and set up their offense. Everything has fallen to Donovan Mitchell, and while he scored 48 points in Game 2, it wasn’t enough. Garland has turf toe (a sprained big toe), which is painful, has already cost him the last four games, and usually lasts at least 10 days and sometimes weeks beyond this.

Evan Mobley would help with shot creation, especially in the half court, but he is fighting through a sprained ankle suffered in Game 1. De’Andre Hunter is out with what the team has diagnosed as a sprained finger, which it first described as a dislocation — he won’t be able to play until he can grip a ball.

The Cavaliers have to win Game 3 on the road, if they fall to 0-3 in the series it’s over. Cleveland needs Garland back at close to 100% to knock off an Indiana team that will be energized at home, but it doesn’t sound like he (or Mobley) are close to a return.

That’s reason to panic in Cleveland.

2) Boston Celtics

The level of panic drops considerably here — it’s just one game. Boston is not going to miss 45 3-pointers again this series.

The Knicks tried to employ some of the tactics the Magic used in their first-round series to chase the Celtics off the arc, but New York doesn’t have the personnel to pull it off. It only "worked" because Boston missed open shot after open shot.

Two little reasons for Celtics fans to at least know where the panic button is located, just in case. One is the health of Kristaps Porzingis, if the big man can’t play it makes life easier for the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, and it asks too much of Al Horford. Second, if the Knicks can just keep games close at the end (as they did in Game 1) they have Jalen Brunson. New York’s late-game execution has just been better.

3) Oklahoma City Thunder

No need to panic here, it’s just one loss, but that game raised this question: Are Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren ready for this moment? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 but had to play in a crowd as the Nuggets tilted their defense toward him. As they should. Which means Williams and Holmgren have to make them pay as the secondary scorers and shot creators, but Williams shot 5-of-20 and Holmgren had a rough night late. If they struggle again in the next couple of games, then more sirens come into play.

4) Minnesota Timberwolves

No reason to panic. There can be mild concern about losing Game 1, but there are two reasons to remain optimistic. First, Stephen Curry is out for the next week and Golden State can’t replicate that offensive performance without him (Draymond Green isn’t hitting four 3-pointers again). Second, and more importantly, Anthony Edwards isn’t going to be that bad again. If he wants to be a top-five player in the league, a guy who gets MVP ballot votes, if he wants to be the face of the league (even if he says he doesn’t) that is all earned in the playoffs.

Minnesota isn’t going to score 88 points again. Game 2 will look very different.

Posted on

Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics

Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Knicks-Celtics sequel was very similar to the original.

Same cast. Same plot. Same ending.

The Celtics go up by 20 in the third quarter, the Knicks chip away and take a late lead, Mikal Bridges makes a defensive stop to seal the win, the Knicks celebrate on Boston’s home court, and Knicks fans celebrate in the streets of Manhattan.

History repeated itself on Wednesday as the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the Celtics 91-90 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York, which also erased a 20-point third quarter deficit in Game 1 en route to a 108-105 win, return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 series lead over the heavily-favored defending champions.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum was then unable to get a shot off after being stifled by OG Anunoby and Bridges, who batted the ball away just before the buzzer.

That made the Knicks the first team to comeback from a 20-point deficit and win in consecutive postseason games, per TNT, and the first team to do so in any two games within a single series since at least 1998, according to ESPN.

The historic comebacks for New York and collapses for Boston caused an uproar on social media….

Posted on

NBA Playoff Ratings Up 6% Through First Round

The Minnesota Timberwolves may have robbed the NBA’s media partners of a quarterfinals collision between perennial ratings champs LeBron James and Steph Curry, but the league has momentum on its side as the second round of the playoffs begins to heat up.

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the opening salvo of the NBA postseason averaged 3.71 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT/truTV, which marks a 6% increase versus the year-ago 3.49 million. The Disney networks did much of the heavy lifting in the first round, as deliveries across the 12 ABC/ESPN games were up 14% year-to-year, while the TNT Sports channels saw a more modest 4% lift as their long association with the NBA nears an end.

As expected, big-reach broadcaster ABC has put up the biggest audience numbers, averaging 5.55 million viewers for its half-dozen weekend airings, up 13% from last year’s analogous stretch (4.9 million). ABC carried the most-watched playoff outing thus far, as Minnesota’s 116-113 win over Los Angeles on April 27 averaged 7.35 million viewers in the Sunday matinee (3:30 p.m. ET) slot.

ABC also was the beneficiary of an opening weekend that coincided with the Easter holiday, a date that has proven to be a boon for out-of-home viewing. With an average draw of 5.57 million viewers, deliveries for the network’s April 20 doubleheader were up a massive 32%, as ABC reaped the benefit of all those additional impressions that were captured via brunches and family celebrations. TNT’s own Easter two-fer also enjoyed a considerable boost, as its evening and primetime telecasts were up 23% to 4.13 million viewers.

Bear in mind that there’s been a distinct uptick in out-of-home impressions since Nielsen expanded coverage of its OOH panel earlier this year. The combination of the more inclusive metric and the Easter lift conspired to help boost the opening weekend’s deliveries by 17%.

While the NBA didn’t maintain that big year-over-year surge for long—after the second weekend of the playoffs, the rate-of-change was +4%—the first round finished on a strong note, as TNT averaged 6.63 million viewers for Game 7 of the Warriors-Rockets series. With an average draw of 4.51 million viewers per game, that maxed-out set stands as the playoffs’ second-biggest attraction, trailing only the truncated Wolves-Lakers series (5.1 million).

From a ratings standpoint, the Lakers’ early exit is less than ideal, as it dashed hopes for a second-round showdown with Golden State. When James and Curry crossed swords in the 2023 playoffs, that six-game slate averaged 7.8 million viewers, peaking with 8.64 million for the deciding telecast on ESPN.

While there won’t be a Lakers-Warriors juggernaut to help boost the NBA’s numbers this time around—the 2023 series was the most-watched conference semifinals in 27 years—a lengthy Knicks-Celtics duel could go a long way toward staving off a letdown. While the ratings for Game 1 of the New York-Boston tilt have yet to be issued, the rekindled rivalry between these two major-market franchises guarantees that at least one high-profile team will punch its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Together, the combined reach of the nation’s largest media market (New York boasts 7.49 million TV households) and the No. 9 DMA (2.58 million) translates into a hometown rooting interest for 8% of all U.S. TV homes. All told, the Eastern time zone is home to 48% of all TV users.

Out West, any best-case scenario involves Curry and the Warriors advancing to the Finals. The rest of the field is littered with smaller-market clubs, with top seed Oklahoma repping a market with 762,700 TV homes, giving the Thunder 40% of the local reach of the Nuggets and Timberwolves.

Coverage of the NBA playoffs continues Wednesday night with Game 2 of Knicks-Celtics tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Nuggets-Thunder in the 9:30 p.m. slot. Both games will be carried by TNT/truTV.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Former Lakers star Byron Scott is accused of sexually assaulting a girl 38 years ago

LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 - Lakers head coach Byron Scott seems to ponder his next move during action against the Timberwolves at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Former Lakers star Byron Scott, shown coaching the Lakers in 2016, has been accused of a sexual assault that allegedly took place 38 years ago. (Los Angeles Times)

Former Lakers player and head coach Byron Scott is accused in a lawsuit obtained by The Times of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student at Studio City Campbell Hall High School in 1987.

The former student alleges that Scott escorted her into a janitor's closet and that according to the lawsuit he "began kissing her on the mouth as she repeatedly asked 'what are you doing?'

"Then, despite her clear protests, Scott pushed [her] to her knees, and, against her will, pulled off her top. Scott then pulled down his shorts, exposed his erect penis, and tried to force [her] to perform oral sex on him."

The lawsuit originally was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 30, 2022, but Scott was referred to as "John Doe," the Lakers as "one of the most popular NBA franchise teams" and Campbell Hall as "Private School Doe." An amended complaint filed May 1 named Scott, the Lakers and Campbell Hall after a judge denied objections by Scott that he shouldn't be identified because he is a public figure and that there wasn't evidence to corroborate the woman's claims.

The plaintiff is named in her lawsuit but The Times doesn't publish the names of alleged sexual assault victims. She came forward after the California Child Victim's Act took effect in 2020, extending the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims against their abusers.

"Like many victims of childhood sexual assault, [she] was resigned to deal with the trauma privately, with only few close to her and a handful of mental professionals knowing what occurred on that summer day," the lawsuit states.

Read more:An older and wiser Byron Scott is still all business

"Then, Governor Newsom passed the California Child Victim’s Act, which revived [her] claims against the former professional athlete and the elite Los Angeles private school, and perhaps others. And while still a difficult decision to come forward now and relive the trauma, [she] is bravely doing so to shine a light and to seek some amount of justice and hopefully closure for the significant psychological trauma and emotional distress that she has experienced every day since the sexual assault."

Scott's attorney, Linda Bauermeister, issued a statement to The Times: "Our client is devastated by this complaint, a basketball event that took place in 1987. Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family."

Scott was 26 when a handful of Lakers players and officials filmed an instructional training video in the Campbell Hall gym. According to the complaint, the alleged victim was left alone with adults during a break and struck up a conversation with Scott. They ate lunch together and she gave him a tour of school facilities.

They soon were alone and, according to the complaint, Scott "forcefully grabbed [her] by the arm and pulled her inside the room." The complaint says she had "never kissed a boy."

The complaint blames the school for creating the circumstances for the sexual assault, saying, "Campbell Hall faculty and staff failed to take any steps or implement any safeguards to supervise or otherwise protect Plaintiff from anything that could, and eventually would, happen to her."

"… she continues to suffer, severe psychological and emotional distress, as well as feelings of embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, shame, and humiliation," the lawsuit states.

Read more:How Byron Scott found out he got fired from the Lakers and what he plans to do next

Scott, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended Inglewood Morningside High, began his fifth season with the Lakers, with whom he spent 11 of his 14 NBA seasons and won three championships, in 1987. He went on to coach five NBA teams over 15 seasons, including the Lakers from 2014 to 2016.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Cavaliers vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 9

It’s Friday, May 9, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) and Indiana Pacers (50-32) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Pacers grabbed a Game 2 victory after erasing a 20-point deficit and a Tyrese Haliburton game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining for a 120-119 win. Donovan Mitchell posted 48 points and 9 assists in a tiring all-out performance as Cleveland was without Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Deandre Hunter. All three players are questionable for Game 3.

The Cavaliers are currently 30-11 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Pacers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers live today

  • Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Cavaliers (-132), Pacers (+111)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -2
  • Over/Under: 229 points

That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 115.07, and the Pacers 114.03.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Cavaliers vs. Pacers game

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Cavaliers on the ML:

"Cleveland is in an all-out motivational and must-win spot. We know the stats that teams down 3-0 are basically burnt toast, so the Cavaliers will have to do everything possible to avoid that at Indiana. While the odds are against them, Cleveland is the slight favorite and I expect that number to grow if Mobley or Hunter are ruled in. At -120 to -135 odds right now, Cleveland is the best bet as I think they close past -175."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Pacers on Friday

  • The Pacers have an average winning margin of +7 in their 5 wins against the Cavaliers this season
  • 5 of the Pacers' last 7 matchups with the Cavaliers have gone over the Total
  • The Pacers have covered as an underdog 3 times in a row
  • The Cavaliers have failed to cover the Spread in 3 straight matchups against Eastern Conference Central Division teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Knicks vs. Celtics – Game 2 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 7

It’s Wednesday, May 7, and the New York Knicks (51-31) and Boston Celtics (61-21) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Knicks stole Game 1 in Boston, 108-105 in OT behind Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby's 29 points each. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both scored 23 points to lead Boston, but they could not survive the Knicks 33-21 run from the start of the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis exited Game 1 with an illness after 13 minutes, so his status (questionable) is important entering Game 2 for Boston, while Jrue Holiday returned after missing three games (16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists).

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+409), Celtics (-552)
  • Spread:  Celtics -10.5
  • Over/Under: 211 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 104.47, and the Celtics 109.94.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Knicks vs. Celtics game

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Celtics 1Q Team Total Over 28.5 and Josh Hart Under 11.5 Points:

"In Game 1, I was on Josh Hart's Over 11.5 Points and that cashed with 14, thanks to an early four-point start during the first few minutes and an efficient 5-for-9 shooting. However, Hart's numbers in Game 2 dip slightly compared to Game 1's when it comes to points and field goal attempts, which I expect to happen here. Hart has scored at least 10 points in all six Game 1's of his career, but that's not the case in Game 2's.

For the spread, I like Boston at -10 and -10.5m, but I like a quick start at home even more. The Celtics first quarter team total is set at 28.5 and I believe that's a number they can hit. New York has averaged 31.0 points per game in the first quarter of their four road games this postseason, so Boston will have to match that. While Orlando stifled them in the first round, Boston put up 32 first-quarter points in the following game off a loss — something I can see happening again."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Celtics game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +10.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 211.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Celtics on Wednesday

  • The Knicks have won their last 3 games as a road underdog
  • The Over is 10-7 in the Celtics' matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
  • The Celtics have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams

Expect a high-scoring Game Two clash. The Boston Celtics had the second-most efficient offense in the NBA during the regular season, averaging 116.3 points per game, while the Knicks weren’t far behind, averaging 115.8 per game. The over landed in Game One and can do so again.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Celtics injury updates: Porzingis in, Hauser out for Game 2 vs. Knicks

Celtics injury updates: Porzingis in, Hauser out for Game 2 vs. Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics got mixed results on the injury front Tuesday entering Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.

Big man Kristaps Porzingis (non-Covid illness) has been upgraded from probable to available for Wednesday night’s Game 2 at TD Garden, while forward Sam Hauser (right ankle sprain) has been downgraded from doubtful to out.

Porzingis’ availability is great news for the Celtics after he exited Game 1 early in the second quarter due to an illness. The 29-year-old went scoreless in 13 minutes of action and didn’t look like himself before heading to the locker room for the rest of the first half.

While the nature of Porzingis’ illness is unclear, head coach Joe Mazzulla suggested Tuesday it could be related to the viral illness that caused Porzingis to miss eight consecutive games in late February and early March.

“Since he came back, I think he’s been kind of dealing with it on and off, fighting through it, working through it, doing the best he can,” Mazzulla said of Porzingis.

Porzingis has struggled offensively in the 2025 playoffs, shooting 32.8 percent from the floor and just 11.8 percent from 3-point range (2 for 17) through six games. He’s had plenty of success against the Knicks, however, averaging 22.4 points per game versus his former team since coming to Boston while making 50 percent of his 3-pointers (26 for 52).

If Porzingis can play significant minutes in Wednesday’s Game 2 while returning to his shooting form, that would be a massive boost for the Celtics’ offense.

Hauser, meanwhile, sprained his ankle late in the third quarter of Game 1 while closing out an OG Anunoby 3-pointer. He played just four minutes prior to his injury while missing both of his 3-point attempts and has averaged just 2.7 points per game this postseason.

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

Posted on

Draymond Green joins elite NBA playoff club with 1,000th assist vs. Timberwolves

Draymond Green joins elite NBA playoff club with 1,000th assist vs. Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Draymond Green is an elite NBA playoff performer, despite what his critics believe.

The four-time NBA champion’s latest feature shows just how dominant he has been during the Warriors’ dynastic run, which began when they made the playoffs in Green’s rookie 2012-13 season.

With six assists in the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinal Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, Green now has 1,003 career playoff dimes.

Combined with his 1,438 career playoff rebounds, Green became the eighth player in NBA history to have at least 1,000 postseason boards and assists.

Green joins LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd as the only players to accomplish the feat.

The 35-year-old enters Tuesday’s Game 2 No. 25 on the NBA’s postseason rebound list, with a good chance to move into the top 20 all-time by the end of the series against the Timberwolves.

As for assists, Green is No. 15 on the all-time postseason list, and he sits just 19 helpers away from matching Jordan’s 1,022. If the Warriors advance to the Western Conference finals, the four-time NBA All-Star has a chance to catch Bryant at 1,040 and Pippen at 1,048.

Green has put his stamp on the NBA postseason record books and has no intention of stopping now.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

ACC cuts 20-game men’s basketball slate to make room for nonconference games in bid to boost sport

The Atlantic Coast Conference is hoping its men's basketball programs trade two fewer league games for marquee nonconference matchups in an effort to reverse a dwindling haul of NCAA Tournament bids. The league announced Wednesday it is reducing its 20-game men’s basketball schedule to 18. The change comes after Commissioner Jim Phillips has been vocal about spending the past two seasons examining the conundrum of the ACC getting fewer bids — down to four this year, its fewest since 2013 — despite having teams regularly playing deep into March.

Posted on

Stephen Curry suffers Grade 1 left hamstring strain, officially out for Game 2 in Minnesota

Stephen Curry is out for Game 2 of the Warriors series against the Timberwolves — and likely will be out at least a week — after an MRI confirmed a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, something first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

That initial report tried to put a positive spin on things, saying there is no timetable for Curry's return because he has not suffered this injury previously. While Curry hasn't, countless other NBA players have, which gives us a pretty accurate timeline of at least a week out and usually closer to 10 days, as Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes noted.

Curry injured his hamstring midway through the second quarter of Game 1, apparently when trying to make a sharp cut to defend Mike Conley. Curry checked out of the game soon after, went straight to the locker room, and did not return.

The Warriors went on to win Game 1 99-88 behind a strong defensive performance (and an awful offensive one by Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves), plus 24 points from Buddy Hield and Draymond Green knocking down four 3-pointers. It's a level of play that is not sustainable.

Golden State had a -1.4 net rating this season when Curry was off the court, as its offense struggled to generate good looks without his ball handling and gravity. That said, the Warriors did have a +12.8 net rating in the limited minutes they had Jimmy Butler III on the court and Curry off — Butler is going to have to put on a heroic performance for the Warriors to have a chance in this series.

Posted on

Chicago Bulls fantasy basketball season recap: Josh Giddey takes center stage as next franchise PG

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.

Today, we’ll take a look at a team that had a disappointing finish but has plenty of reasons for optimism moving forward.

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies
2024-2025 NBA Team Season Recap Hub
The Rotoworld Basketball crew breaks down each team’s season and an early look at what to expect from a fantasy perspective going into the 2025-2026 campaign.

Chicago Bulls 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 39-43 (10th, East)

Offensive Rating: 113.2 (20th)

Defensive Rating: 114.8 (19th)

Net Rating: -1.6 (20th)

Pace: 100.08 (13th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 1.7 percent chance of winning the lottery; 45th pick

Another season, another Play-In appearance and another disappointing finish. Chicago finished with a sub-.500 record and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Over the last 10 years, mediocrity has become the norm in the Windy City, as the Bulls have made two playoff appearances and failed to get out of the first round in that span.

Chicago moved on from DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, and the team traded Zach LaVine at the deadline to speed up the eventual teardown that will come once Nikola Vucevic is finally traded.

Wins won’t be plentiful in Chi-Town next season, but there are a few players on the roster who could become franchise cornerstones and pack a punch as fantasy basketball options for years to come.

Let’s recap last season’s fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Nikola Vucevic

The 34-year-old Vucevic continues to defy Father Time with slow and steady production. In his 14th season, Vooch averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 triples as he finished 18th in per-game fantasy hoops value. He set new career-best marks with 53% shooting from the floor and 40.2% shooting from beyond the arc.

Vooch finished with at least 17 points, 10 boards and three dimes for the seventh straight season, and he’s appeared in at least 70 games in five straight. Over the last seven years, the veteran big man has been a top-20 player in total value six times and a top-5 player three times.

In 2024-25, Vucevic posted 46 double-doubles, and he dropped 40 points on the Hornets on January 17 - his most in a single game in two years.

Vucevic is a solid scorer, shooter, rebounder and passer who has proven to be durable throughout his career. He’s not flashy or exciting, but you know what you’re going to get, and that consistency makes him a worthwhile mid-range center option in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Fantasy Revelation: Josh Giddey

After a disappointing 2023-24 season in OKC, Giddey was traded to the Bulls for Alex Caruso in a one-for-one swap. Caruso played a solid bench role for the Thunder this season, but he was far less impactful for his team than Giddey was for his.

In his first campaign with the Bulls, Giddey turned in 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 triples. He shot 46.5% from the field, 78.1% from the free throw line and 37.8% from beyond the arc. In addition to hitting more triples, Giddey was aggressive getting to the basket, attempting 3.2 free throws a game.

The rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-pointers, free throw attempts and three-point percentage were all career-best marks for Giddey, who had a phenomenal inaugural season with his new team.

The young point forward set new career highs with 30 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles across 70 appearances. He tied his career high in assists with 17 against the Lakers on March 22, and he grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds on April 4 against the Trail Blazers.

Giddey is slated for free agency this summer, and last season’s performance has surely earned him a nice pay day. Chicago has found its PG of the future, and Giddey should get a long-term deal this offseason to stick around with the Bulls. He’s worth a look in the mid rounds of 2025-26 fantasy drafts as a strong option with upside to stuff the stat sheet on any given night.

Fantasy Disappointment: None

Vooch and Giddey exceeded expectations, Coby White was great, and Ayo Dosunmu was serviceable in standard leagues. The rest of the roster was either in flux or finished right in the range of preseason expectations.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Coby White:

After a breakout 2023-24 season, White followed it up with another solid campaign. In 2024-25, the UNC product posted 20.4 points, 3.7 boards, 4.5 dimes, 0.9 steals and 2.9 triples while shooting 45.3% from the field, 90.2% from the charity stripe and 37% from long distance.

The points, steals, triples, FG% and FT% are all career highs, and White finished 71st in per-game fantasy hoops value. He’s been durable, with at least 74 games played in each of his last three seasons.

White dropped a career-high 44 points against the Magic on March 6 and canned nine triples on January 4 against the Knicks. He finished the season with nine 30-point games and shot at least 37% from beyond the arc for the fourth straight season.

His best basketball may still be in front of him, and White is a solid pick in the later rounds of 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Ayo Dosunmu:

Dosunmu enjoyed the most productive season of his career, averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 triples across 30.3 minutes per game. Aside from the three-pointers, his numbers were new career highs across the board.

He started 26 games and produced his first career triple-double with a 27/10/11 line on December 5 against the Spurs.

Unfortunately, a left shoulder injury limited Dosunmu to just 46 games after he played at least 76 in three straight. He had surgery in March and is expected to be available again in August.

Dosunmu should play a key role in Chicago’s rotation next season, and he’s worth a look at the end of standard drafts.

Matas Buzelis:

The 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft appeared in 80 games as a rookie and averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 “stocks,” and 1.2 triples. His shooting splits were respectable at 45.4/81.5/36.1, and he committed just 0.9 turnovers per game.

The long and athletic Buzelis competed in the Slam Dunk Contest and got his name out on the national stage. He excelled when given additional opportunities, averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers across 27 minutes.

He dropped a career-high 31 points and five triples on March 22 against the Lakers and posted a 12/12 double-double with three blocks on April 4 against Portland. Buzelis could be a regular part of the starting five moving forward, and he’s an intriguing late-round selection in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Lonzo Ball:

After missing two seasons due to a lingering left knee injury and multiple surgeries, Ball returned to the court and logged 35 games in 2024-25. He played just 22.2 minutes per night and finished with healthy averages of 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 triples. Those numbers weren’t great on their face, but considering the relatively low minutes, Ball’s performance was impressive.

His knee issue appeared to be behind him, but Ball suffered a right wrist sprain on October 28 that cost him 15 games, and he didn’t play after February 28 due to the same issue. With a partial season back under his belt, Ball could be a quality option in 2025-26 if he can return close to full strength.

His availability will be tough to trust, but Ball will surely be a quality per-game option with closer to 30 minutes.

Kevin Huerter:

Huerter’s role diminished significantly in his final season with the Kings, as his playing time fell to 20.9 minutes a night. He logged nearly 30 per game with the Bulls and averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.7 triples.

Chicago is deep at the guard position, so there’s no telling how Huerter will fit in with this team next season. As a three-point specialist, he could see meaningful rotation minutes, but his fantasy value figures to be minimal.

Tre Jones:

Jones saw a major decline in playing time with the arrival of Chris Paul, logging just 16.1 minutes per game with the Spurs this season. His minutes jumped to 25.3 in Chi-Town, and he posted 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals with efficient shooting percentages.

Jones missed the final 12 games of the season due to a left midfoot sprain, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of next season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s likely Jones looks to sign with a contender.

Zach Collins:

Collins was also part of the Zach LaVine-De’Aaron Fox deal, and he saw his playing time nearly double from 11.8 minutes with the Spurs to 19.7 with the Bulls.

Collins averaged just 8.6 points, 6.7 boards and 2.1 dimes with Chicago, but he was awesome in eight starts. As a member of the first unit, he averaged 14.9 points, 9.8 boards, 3.3 dimes, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.3 triples across 28.8 minutes.

If Chicago moves on from Vooch and makes Collins the starting center, he could have real fantasy value, but he doesn’t offer much as a backup playing 20 minutes a night.

Patrick Williams:

After appearing in just 43 games last season, Williams was available for 63 contests in 2024-25. He finished with 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.5 triples across 25 minutes.

The points and rebounds tied his career lows, while the three-pointers were a career high. In his fifth season, Williams started 36 games, though he may be out of the starting rotation moving forward with the ascension of Buzelis.

Williams is a solid defender, but he’s not particularly productive in any category that matters for fantasy hoops, especially with shooting splits of 39.7% from the field and 72.3% from the charity stripe. He’s off the radar in leagues of most sizes for 2025-26.

Restricted Free Agents: Josh Giddey, E.J. Liddell, Emmanuel MIller

Unrestricted Free Agents: Tre Jones, Talen Horton-Tucker

Club Option: None

Player Option: Jevon Carter