Category: Basketball

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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Steph to miss at least one week with Grade 1 left hamstring strain originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will be without their best player for multiple games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Golden State superstar Steph Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Tuesday’s Game 1 win over Minnesota and will be re-evaluated in one week, sidelining him for Games 2-4, the team announced after ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater later reported that the Warriors currently are planning on Curry remaining in Minnesota to begin his rehab process with director of sports medicine Rick Celebrini before the team flies back to San Francisco after Thursday night’s game.

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.

With Curry set to be re-evaluated in one week, he will miss Game 2 on Thursday at Target Center, Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday at Chase Center, but could return for Game 5 next Wednesday at Target Center, which is exactly one week away, if all goes well.

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Butler tells Timberwolves fans to ‘watch their mouth' with heckling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler issued a stern response to heckling Minnesota Timberwolves fans.

Speaking to reporters after the Warriors’ 99-88 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday at Target Center, Butler, the former Timberwolf playing in his first game at the arena since 2021, was asked about the heckling and loud boos he received throughout the game and shared a message to his former fan base.

“That doesn’t bother me,” Butler said. “But people do have to watch their mouth. It’s cool with the boos and all this stuff, but when you’re calling people out of their names, which I can hear …”

“What they say?” Warriors teammate Buddy Hield, who sat next to Butler at his postgame press conference, asked.

Butler: “You want me to repeat it? No, I’m not going to repeat it … That’s unnecessary. The boos, I get it, I understand. Let’s just keep it at that.”

Hield: “Yeah, watch your mouth.”

Butler: “Thanks, little bro.”

Butler only spent one-plus season (69 total games) with the Timberwolves from 2017 to 2018 before requesting a trade that sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The veteran forward’s short tenure in Minnesota was shrouded in controversy due to contract disputes and an overall dissatisfaction with the organization’s culture. So much so that Butler’s former Timberwolves teammate, Jeff Teague, declared Butler the “most hated man in Minnesota” prior to Game 1.

And based on what Butler might have heard from the crowd Tuesday night, he might not be wrong.

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