The NCAA announced Friday that the committee met this week in Indianapolis and addressed concerns about lengthy disruptions.
Donovan Mitchell scores 43 and Cavaliers beat the Pacers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1
INDIANAPOLIS — Donovan Mitchell had 43 points and nine rebounds, and the finally full-strength Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana 126-104 on Friday night to cut the Pacers' lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The road team has won all three games in the series, and the Pacers will have another chance to break that trend Sunday in Game 4.
Cleveland was desperate to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole and used everything in its arsenal to hold on this time - making 14 3-pointers, holding a 56-37 rebounding edge, even relying on zone defense to slow down the high-scoring Pacers.
And with NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, All-Star guard Darius Garland and key backup De’Andre Hunter all suited up after missing Game 2, Mitchell got the support he needed.
Max Strus made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Three other Cleveland players also scored in double figures on a night the Cavs led by as much 26, never trailed and managed to protect their late lead when the Pacers cut the deficit to 11 early in the fourth.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 points. Pascal Siakam had 18 and Tyrese Haliburton finished with four points and five assists in his first career home loss in a postseason game he's appeared.
The most physical of the three games resulted in players routinely sprawled on the floor. Hunter turned into a hard shoulder after making a basket early in the second quarter, a collision that nearly knocked him down, and Mitchell took a nasty spill into the front-row seats while being called for an offensive foul.
Tempers also flared at times with the Pacers drawing five technical fouls, one for a delay of game.
On the court, though, Cleveland controlled most of the game after breaking a 36-36 tie with a 25-4 run that helped push the Cavs to a 66-45 halftime cushion.
Indiana cut it to 80-65 midway through the third quarter and looked ready to pull off another fourth-quarter rally when Siakam's 3 with 8:24 to play made it 104-93. But Mitchell and Strus answered with back-to-back 3s to lead a game-sealing charge.
Cavaliers' Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, De'Andre Hunter all available, playing in Game 3
Entering what is essentially a must-win game for Cleveland on Friday night, already down 0-2 to Indiana, the Cavaliers three key players out last game are returning for Game 3.
Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (thumb) are all available for Game 3, with Garland and Mobley returning to their starting roles.
ROUND 2, GAME 3 STARTERS. #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/THTQNrfM5C
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2025
That starting five, the Cavaliers ' most-used lineup during the regular season and had a dominant +12.5 net rating, has played just 23 minutes across six playoff games due to injury (and has a -5.1 net rating in those minutes).
Cleveland needs Garland and Mobley to take some of the ball-handling and shot-creation load off Donovan Mitchell, who scored 48 points in Game 2 and got the Cavaliers out to a 20-point lead, but wore down during the fourth quarter as that lead slipped away. Mitchell was 2-of-6 in the fourth and Indiana got the win.
Garland has been battling turf toe going back to the regular season, but it was aggravated in Cleveland's first-round series against Miami and he sat out the final two games of that series and the first two of this one. Mobley and Garland were injured on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against Indiana. Mobley rolled his ankle when he was crowded by Myles Turner while taking a shot and landed on Turner's foot. Hunter suffered a dislocated thumb when Bennedict Mathurin blocked his dunk attempt. After the game, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he didn't think the Pacers' plays were dirty but that the officials need to better protecting player safety.
Why Steve Kerr believes Draymond Green will be ready for Game 3 after incident
Why Steve Kerr believes Draymond Green will be ready for Game 3 after incident originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green dealt with a lot during the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at Target Center.
After picking up a technical foul in the first half and facing racist taunts from a fan during the fourth quarter, Green issued a short, impassioned statement to a few media members in the locker room before leaving.
But with an important Game 3 set for Saturday night at Chase Center, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is confident the 35-year-old forward will be fine when the players take the court.
“I don’t think it will impact the game,” Kerr told reporters on a conference call Friday afternoon. “I wasn’t aware of what happened, in terms of the fan, like the insults, until I read about it this morning. I talked to him about that and we did talk about the technical counts and just the whole set of circumstances, but I know Draymond well. He’s going to be ready to go tomorrow. He’s going to play a great game.
“He understands where we are in the series and we have this great opportunity. It’s 1-1 and we’ve got home-court advantage. We got our home crowd tomorrow. So he’s excited. I’m excited and we moved past all that stuff.”
Green’s technical foul for hitting Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the head is his fifth infraction in nine games this postseason. Two more and Green faces a one-game suspension.
Long after the outcome of the game had been decided, Green, who played 29 minutes in the 117-93 loss, was riding a stationary bike near the tunnel when he appeared to be taunted by a fan sitting nearby.
The Timberwolves issued a statement Friday morning, which Kerr commended.
“The only thing I can say is that the Timberwolves handled it perfectly,” Kerr said Friday. “For their security to be on it and remove the fan. Obviously, that stuff is ugly and unacceptable. And so we want to thank the Timberwolves organization for handling it as well as they possibly could. I just think that things like this happen occasionally.
“Happened to me a couple of times as a player. Fans crossing the line, yelling stuff at you. It’s painful. I can’t sit here and claim to know what it would be like to be in Draymond’s shoes as a Black man, to hear racially insensitive comments like that.
“But I’ve heard my share of stuff that’s really painful and hurtful and it’s not ideal, but you always want the support of the security and the crowd, the home crowd, and like I said, the Wolves handled that beautifully and Draymond is handling it really well.”
But Kerr wanted to make it clear that one fan doesn’t represent an entire fanbase or city.
“It’s unacceptable for any fan to do that to a player,” Kerr said. “When you say it’s unacceptable, there has to be action that goes with that term, and that’s exactly what the Timberwolves did. Security immediately ejected the fan, so we are really grateful for the way that the T-Wolves handled the situation.
“I know that ‘Minnesota Nice’ is a phrase to describe Minnesotans and I found that to be 100 percent true. The last few days, every single person I ran into was so kind and everybody was saying the same thing like ‘I’m pulling for the T-Wolves, but you guys are always welcome in our city.’ It’s a real thing, the hospitality in Minneapolis, in Minnesota.
“So I never take words from one person and label a city with that. There’s just going to be people, individuals, sometimes they’re drunk, whatever, who cross the line and it’s unfortunate but it doesn’t at all impact my view of the city of Minneapolis.”
Kerr has been open about how, when he played college basketball at Arizona, fans taunted him regarding the murder of his dad, Malcolm, in a terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1984.
So, while Kerr might be the right person to ask if fans hurling racial or other insensitive taunts should be banned from attending future NBA games, he doesn’t want that weight on his shoulders.
“It’s a good question,” Kerr told reporters. “I kind of leave that up to the league to decide. They have their protocols, their rules, But these ugly incidents are … I don’t think they’re common but they do happen occasionally and I mentioned earlier, they happened to me when I was in college. Not racial taunts, but taunts about my father, who had been killed in a terrorist act a year earlier or so. That was the most shocking moment of my entire playing career to hear somebody saying something like that, that was so personally hurtful and painful and intentionally trying to hurt me.
“And so, I empathize with every athlete, whether it’s Draymond last night getting taunted about racial taunts, whether it’s really anything. It seems like a few times a year, you read about situations like this. I think Russell Westbrook, in Utah a few years ago, had to go through something like that, and it’s unfortunate but like I said, I believe most of these incidents are pretty isolated and it’s really important that people handle them the right way and the Timberwolves absolutely handled it the right way.”
Kerr understands what Green is going through, but he fully expects his star forward to bring his best self in a game the Warriors need to win Saturday night.
Knicks strive to play 'as desperate' as Celtics with commanding 3-0 series lead within reach
If fortune really does favor the bold, the Knicks' pair of stunning comeback road wins against the Celtics this week bode well for the remainder of their Eastern Conference semifinal bout. NBA history is on their side, too, as teams with a 2-0 advantage in a best-of-seven series have advanced nearly 93 percent of the time.
The Knicks, entering Game 3 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden with full momentum and better health, are primed to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the reigning champions and silence even more doubters. But it's still way too early for any chatter about a potential sweep -- comfort is a luxury they're unwilling to accept.
"Control the controllables, and do everything we can to put ourselves in a position to win," Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said after Friday's practice. "If we can do that, we'll live with the results. Don't take it for granted, don't get comfortable. You've got to be as desperate as we've been these last two games, in Game 3 and on. Never get comfortable with any success. Never too high, never too low."
While there's no such thing as style points in the playoffs, the Knicks undoubtedly have to clean up their game on both ends of the court. In spite of their improbable victories -- they had never won consecutive playoff games at TD Garden before -- both games featured 20-point deficits midway through the third quarter. They were also outrebounded twice.
The Knicks also can't count on more pitiful three-point shooting from the Celtics, who've gone a pitiful 25 percent (25-of-100) from beyond the arc. They can't expect Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum to keep shriveling up in fourth-quarter crunchtime, or dig another massive hole with inconsistent first-half performances.
Whether or not the first two games have crushed the Celtics' spirit, the Knicks must realize the numbers aren't sustainable and the series is far from over. After all, they've yet to play their best brand of basketball. The reality that their game can still be elevated could serve as an extra source of motivation. Their foot can't come off the gas pedal.
"The mentality is 0-0. Don't even focus on [the series lead]. Focus on the next play, the next quarter," Knicks captain Jalen Brunson said. "Don't look ahead, don't look into anything. Just focus on the task at hand and be present... The game is unpredictable. No matter what you prepare for, there's going to be things that happen that you're not really ready for... We've got to be locked-in together."
The Knicks now own home-court advantage, and perhaps an exceptionally raucous Garden crowd will help them buck a trend. While they've proven to be road warriors, they finished 27-14 at home during the regular season and lost two of three home games in their first-round series against the Pistons.
Why Perk believes Butler must ‘fit out' amid Steph's injury absence
Why Perk believes Butler must ‘fit out' amid Steph's injury absence originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Retired NBA veteran and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes star Warriors forward Jimmy Butler must be more aggressive in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Steph Curry indefinitely out with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
Perkins’ take comes one day after Butler finished with a role player-esque 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in Golden State’s 117-93 Game 2 loss to Minnesota.
“It’s the line LeBron [James] told Luka [Dončić] – ‘Don’t fit in, fit out.’ Jimmy, they need you to fit out now,” Perkins said on Thursday night’s post-game edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “You’re not the second option, you’re not the Robin – you’re the Batman. Thirteen shot attempts are not going to cut it; minimum 20 shot attempts going into this game. And that has to be the message delivered from Steve Kerr and Draymond Green in order for them to stay afloat, if Steph Curry returns.
“Jimmy is going to have to be aggressive. I love when he’s a point forward and they’re clicking on all cylinders, but to be on the road in Game 2, you look for your guy – your franchise guy, your No. 1 option – to set the tone early; Jimmy didn’t do that, but I believe he will do that at home [in] Game 3 or Game 4. We will be talking about Jimmy Butler. He will be going viral because he will have a 40-piece night.”
The six-time NBA All-Star earned the “Playoff Jimmy” nickname for his postseason prowess. But Butler didn’t look like his old Miami Heat self for the Warriors in Game 2.
Without Curry, who won’t return until Game 6 at the earliest, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Golden State needs Butler to ditch his Robin act for Batman. Butler showed in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets that he is capable of scoring 25-plus points – a feat he did three times in the opening round – and must make that level of production the norm while Curry is out.
Butler, who was too unselfish in Game 2, can’t approach the rest of the series as a pass-first facilitator, which he worrisomely described after Thursday’s loss.
“I don’t have a burden or expectation,” Butler told reporters postgame about potentially feeling pressure to score with Curry sidelined. “I don’t. I play basketball the right way. I will continue to play basketball the right way. If that time comes where your people that are saying whatever, [I’m] supposed to score 40 or 43, whatever the case may be, I’m capable of it. I can do it, but I love making sure that my guys are comfortable, passing the ball to them, taking the right shots at the right time.
“But we’ll talk about it, if that may be needed. Who knows.”
Perkins talked about “it.” And Dub Nation and probably the entire basketball world “knows” Butler must activate “Jimmy Buckets” mode.
The real question, however, is whether the 35-year-old, who repeatedly has expressed gratitude for being a sidekick in the Bay compared to a centerpiece in South Beach, has another legendary, team-carrying run left in the tank.
Golden State’s championship hopes seem to rest on Butler’s shoulders.
2025 NBA Draft Combine: Location, how does it work, top players, how to watch
This weekend the NBA world descends on Chicago for the annual NBA Draft Combine, where thanks to a change in the CBA nobody is allowed to skip out — all the top names need to show up and participate to be draft eligible (as well as share medical records). It’s a big change from previous combines.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.
Where is the 2025 NBA Draft Combine
The NBA Draft Combine will occur from May 11-18 in Chicago, at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis hotel. This location is an annual tradition.
How to watch NBA Draft Combine 2025
All of the combine’s activities will be streamed on ESPN+. On May 14 at 2 p.m. Easter, there will be a broadcast from the combine on ESPN2, which will also be streamed on ESPN+.
How does the NBA Draft Combine 2025 work?
The NBA has invited 75 players to the NBA Draft Combine, and under the terms of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), all of them have to “attend and participate fully” to be draft eligible. The league has defined “participate fully” as undergoing physical medical exams, sharing their medical history, taking part in the measurements, physical strength and agility testing, and shooting drills. Those players also have to do media interviews and have team meetings.
Every one of the 75 players in attendance will be officially measured for their height (without shoes), wingspan, and standing reach.
Next, there are athletic measures (something the top players used to skip, but no more). The players are measured for their vertical leap — both standing and a running max vertical — as well as being timed through a shuttle run, a lane agility test, and timed on a three-quarter court sprint.
For the NBA front office people who flood into Chicago this week, the most important part of the combine is interviews. That’s when they sit down with top players and others they are interested in and have a formal conversation with them.
The final days of the combine also see scrimmages, conducted by NBA assistant coaches, and not every player has to go through these (and top players will not). These games are a chance for players who are on the draft bubble to catch the eye of a scout or GM, maybe get themselves selected (or put in line for a camp invite and maybe a two-way contract).
NBA Draft Combine 2025 top players
The biggest names in the coming NBA draft will be in Chicago this week. That includes lock No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, as well as the next three on top of draft boards (what order they are selected could be impacted by the NBA Draft Lottery Monday night): Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey from Rutgers, as well as VJ Edgecomb from Baylor.
However, the combine doesn’t move the top of the draft. There will be 75 players in Chicago — more than can be drafted, there are only 59 picks this year — so the combine is a chance for a player farther down draft boards to stand out and help their stock.
The NBA announced today that 75 players have been invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, which will take place from May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 2, 2025
Additionally, a select number of standout players from the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp, which… pic.twitter.com/KlCy4tcvW8
The combine is a chance for a player who has slid to the late first round during the college season to improve his stock, or a player who might be undrafted could have a great scrimmage and draw the interest of a team.
One player to watch is BYU’s Egor Demin, the 6’9” point guard who may be the best passer in the draft, but scouts have questioned his ability to be a scorer and defender at the next level. If Demin can show an improved shot and good athleticism, it helps his cause.
Another is Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr., a standout who helped his cause during the NCAA Tournament, jumping from a second-round pick to a first-rounder for many teams. How he does at the combine can cement that first-round status, or drop him back.
A lot of players will use the feedback they get from teams at the combine to determine if they should stay in the NBA draft or return to college. Names to watch on that front include Carter Bryant from Arizona, Karter Knox from Arkansas and Drake Powell from North Carolina.
How Pope Leo XIV is affecting the college basketball betting market
Villanova has the most bets to win 2025-26 NCAA title in the 24 hours since the Wildcats alum was elected.
Why Kerr believes Warriors' Game 2 loss to Timberwolves was ‘helpful'
Why Kerr believes Warriors' Game 2 loss to Timberwolves was ‘helpful' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors entered Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves expecting an uphill battle without superstar Steph Curry, who remains out with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
Minnesota’s 117-93 win on Thursday night at Target Center reflected the sentiment.
However, now entering Game 3 on Saturday evening at Chase Center, Golden State coach Steve Kerr believes that – given the circumstances – the loss might end up being beneficial.
Kerr explained to reporters on Friday why he is confident the Warriors can build on their series-tying loss to the Timberwolves.
“We have to do it based on feel, but we can also do it based on last night and having a tape to watch,” Kerr said about Golden State’s preparation. “That’s why I think that game was very helpful for us. Despite the loss, we learned a lot, the players learned a lot, and I think we’ll have a concrete plan coming into tomorrow that we’ll feel good about.
“And of course, we have to adapt and adjust based on how the game is going.”
There is no scenario where Golden State would want to lose a playoff game by 24 points. But Kerr has to work with and find positives in what he has.
Because of Curry’s absence and the Warriors’ general weariness, Kerr played 14 players, with only two – Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski – surpassing 30 minutes. A direct byproduct, players who need to step up in Curry’s absence, such as Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis, flourished, efficiently scoring 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Kerr and the Warriors’ current task is simple: Stave off elimination until, ideally, Curry can return healthy. So, while Game 3 surely will be another chess match between Kerr and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, at least Kerr has a better idea of who might give Golden State its best shot with the NBA’s all-time greatest shooter in the waiting.
Out-of-bounds plays could be reviewed only by coach challenge under NCAA rules panel recommendation
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee, in an effort to enhance the flow of games, has recommended that video reviews of out-of-bounds calls can only be initiated by a coach's challenge. The NCAA announced Friday that the committee met this week in Indianapolis and addressed concerns about lengthy disruptions, particularly near the end of games. In addition to recommending the use of coach's challenges, points of emphasis to improve flow will include directives to address delay-of-game tactics, limit time spent at the monitor, improve game administration efficiency and reduce physicality.
Coen Carr, Michigan State basketball forward, delivers glass-shattering dunk
Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr shattered the backboard with a ferocious dunk during an offseason pickup run.
Coen Carr, Michigan State basketball forward, delivers glass-shattering dunk
Michigan State Spartans forward Coen Carr shattered the backboard with a ferocious dunk during an offseason pickup run.
Draymond Green two technical fouls away from suspension, Kerr says Green must 'be careful now'
Midway through the second quarter of the Timberwolves blowing out the Warriors in Game 2 of this series, Draymond Green picked up a technical foul. It's the same way he has picked up a lot of technical fouls over the years (and got his fourth in Game 7 vs. Houston), Naz Reid commits a reach-in foul going for the steal, Green wants to sell the call so the referee sees it, and in doing do flails his arms, but Green's elbow catches Reid in the face.
Draymond Green receives a technical foul on this play.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 9, 2025
pic.twitter.com/LdyZUsCpjr
That was Green's fifth technical foul in nine postseason games. Once he gets to seven technicals, he faces an automatic one-game suspension.
Green was also involved in a verbal incident with a fan, where Green was on a stationary bike, staying warm, and a fan engaged with Green and used a racial slur toward him (which can be seen in some videos of the incident). That fan was ejected, as he should have been.
After the game, Green said the referees have an agenda when it comes to him.
"I'm not an angry Black man," Green said, via Anthony Slater of The Athletic. "I'm a very successful, educated Black man, with a great family. And I'm great at basketball. Great at what I do. The agenda to try to keep making me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I'm sick of it. It's ridiculous."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was thinking more about his team needing Green if it is going to get out of this series, one where the Warriors will be without Stephen Curry for at least a couple more games.
"(Draymond's) gonna have to be careful now..." Kerr said.
"It's just a habit he has when somebody fouls him, and he's smart. So I think it was Reid reached and on the reach, Draymond kind of swiped through and drew the foul. But he does have a habit of sort of flailing his arm to try to make sure the ref sees it, and he made contact, and that's what led to the tech."
Green has been down this road before, he has missed games do to too many technicals in the postseason. The most famous of those came in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when his absence was part of what cost Golden State that game and started Cleveland's comeback from 3-1 down to win the title. This year's Warriors don't have the margin for error to be without Green for a stretch.
Timberwolves vs. Warriors Game 3 Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 10
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors Preview
It’s Saturday, May 10, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) and Golden State Warriors (48-34) are all set to square off from Chase Center in San Francisco.
After a dominant win for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the series between the two is knotted at 1-1.
Steph Curry is still sidelined with a hamstring injury. It will be up to Jimmy Butler to have a better game than he has in the first two games.
The Timberwolves are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Warriors have a 6-4 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 the 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 Timberwolves vs. Warriors live today
- Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Time: 8:30PM EST
- Site: Chase Center
- City: San Francisco, CA
- 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 Timberwolves vs. Warriors
The latest odds as of Saturday:
- Odds: Timberwolves (-216), Warriors (+178)
- Spread: Timberwolves -5
- Over/Under: 200 points
That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 101.71, and the Warriors 99.1.
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 Saturday’s Timberwolves vs. Warriors game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
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Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Jimmy Butler over 22.5 points:
Thomas: "Jimmy Butler has to get it going if they don't want to fall into a 2-1 hole. His 23.6% usage rate must be higher. I think he will get the memo from Steve Kerr and have a great game."
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 Timberwolves & Warriors game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Golden State Warriors at +5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 200.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from 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 Timberwolves vs. Warriors on Saturday
- The Timberwolves have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division teams
- 7 of the Timberwolves' last 9 road games in the postseason have gone under the total
- The Warriors have covered in 13 of their 18 matchups against Western Conference Northwest Division teams this season
The Warriors have covered in 13 of their 18 matchups against Western Conference Northwest Division teams this season
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!
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Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Atlanta Hawks 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Dyson Daniels ascends to stardom
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.
In a retooling season, the Hawks still ended up in the middle of the pack in the East. After missing the playoffs two seasons in a row, next year will be an important one for their current core.
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.
Atlanta Hawks 2024-25 Season Recap
Record: 40-42 (8th, East, lost in play-in)
Offensive Rating: 113.7 (17th)
Defensive Rating: 114.8 (18th)
Net Rating: -1.1 (18th)
Pace: 103.41 (3rd)
2024 Draft Picks: 13, 22
Atlanta decided on its direction when they traded Dejounte Murray last summer. They brought in Dyson Daniels, who ended up winning the Most Improved Player award, and they also acquired two first-round picks, one of which is the 22nd pick in this draft. They didn’t enter a rebuild, but after moving up in the lottery and getting the No. 1 pick last summer, it was clear that they were building for the future.
However, that wasn’t enough for Landry Fields to retain his job as the team’s general manager. He took over in 2022 and was let go after three seasons. Onsi Saleh is now the man in charge that will look to continue to build this team around Trae Young, with Quin Snyder still at head coach. The Hawks don’t control their first-round pick for the next three seasons, but they still have enough draft capital and young pieces to build with.
Fantasy Standout: Dyson Daniels
Daniels certainly has a case to be Atlanta’s “fantasy revelation” as well, but he was also the best fantasy option on the team, so he’ll get the nod here, and we won’t double up on awards. After spending his first two seasons in New Orleans, Daniels was incredible in his first season with the Hawks. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.1 three-pointers per game, which allowed him to provide early second-round value in nine-cat leagues.
The former top-10 pick was always stuck behind someone in the rotation with the Pelicans, but when he was traded to Atlanta, his only competition for minutes was Bogdan Bogdanovic. Daniels’ defense made him too valuable to take off the court, and he wasn’t stuck in a starting role that played fewer minutes than the backup; Daniels ended up playing 34 minutes per game. He has solidified himself as a fantasy superstar, and he will certainly be drafted much earlier after having a Yahoo! ADP of 143.9 this past season. Daniels has one more season on his contract before he enters restricted free agency, though it would be surprising if Atlanta didn’t extend him before that happens. He still has room to grow on offense, but his game fits flawlessly next to Trae Young in the backcourt.
Dyson Daniels is the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Improved Player!
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
14.1 PPG
5.9 RPG
4.4 APG
3.0 SPG (NBA leader)#KiaMIP | @Kiapic.twitter.com/4jjDPuljoX
Fantasy Revelation: Onyeka Okongwu
The season started off like another disappointing one for Okongwu, but he took over the starting center role in January and became a fantasy stud. He averaged 15.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 triples after moving into the starting lineup. Fantasy managers have been begging the Hawks to make the switch for years, and though it happened later than we wanted, the results were encouraging.
With a full offseason as the starting center, Okongwu should be more prepared for the role this upcoming season, and his ADP will be adjusted accordingly. There is still more to be desired from Okongwu, mostly as a shot blocker. He averaged more than one block per game each of the previous three seasons, so hopefully he can get back to that moving forward. His improvement as a floor spacer makes him a great fit as the center in this offense; he can operate as a roller or popper, but he can also draw the opposing big out to the perimeter to give Trae Young and Jalen Johnson driving lanes. Okongwu should be in line for a big year in his first as a full-time starter.
THIS SEQUENCE FROM ONYEKA OKONGWU pic.twitter.com/P342KgetLR
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 19, 2025
Fantasy Disappointment: Clint Capela
Of course, with Okongwu moving into the starting lineup, Capela was pushed to the bench. He also missed a lot of time down the stretch and only suited up for 55 games, where he averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, one assist and 1.1 blocks per game. Capela’s production has been steadily declining for years, but the move into a reserve role resulted in a huge hit statistically. He finished outside the top 100 in nine-cat leagues for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Capela had an excellent run with the Hawks, but he will now enter unrestricted free agency. There are certainly some teams that could use a center like Capela, so he may be able to find a situation where he can hold value next season. However, his run of being a consistent top 100 player is likely over. Capela was drafted just outside the top 100 in Yahoo! leagues this season, but he will likely go much later in drafts, depending on where he lands.
Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads
Trae Young
Atlanta’s franchise player improved on his assist average, which he has now done in each of his first seven seasons in the league. It may be a difficult trend to maintain, but he was able to lead the league in assists per game for the first time in his career. He averaged 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 11.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.9 threes per game. Though field goal percentage has never been a strong category for Young, he started off the season shooting worse than usual. He improved as the season progressed, but that still contributed to his points per game decreasing for a fourth straight season. His shot attempts have also decreased, which is another factor contributing to his scoring decrease.
However, he has also put an emphasis on being a leader and a playmaker for Atlanta. This was the second straight season that Atlanta missed out on the playoffs, and Young tweeted that it would be the last time he missed the playoffs. Is that a promise to the fans or a mandate to the front office? We’ll find out next season. Expect Young to continue to be among the best sources of points and assists in the league, though managers will also need to prepare to deal with his poor field goal percentage and plentiful turnovers.
Jalen Johnson
Sadly, it may have been a different Hawk winning Most Improved Player, but Johnson’s season was cut short by a torn labrum. He only played in 36 games but averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, five assists, 1.6 steals, one block and 1.2 three-pointers per game. On a per-game basis, Johnson was a top-20 player in nine-cat leagues this season. He just needs to stay healthy.
After spending his rookie year in the G League and most of his second season on the bench, Johnson found favor with head coach Quin Snyder, who quickly made him a starter early in the 2023-24 season. He broke out and hasn’t looked back. Johnson may have been disappointing at his Yahoo! ADP of 41.4 due to the season-ending injury, but his production was encouraging. He will likely go even earlier in drafts next season, and he will hopefully have a healthier season. At only 23 years old, Johnson will continue to develop into a superstar. He fits well next to Young as both a secondary playmaker and as a lob threat. Any shooting improvement will vault him into the top tier of fantasy producers.
Zaccharie Risacher
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft had a strong first year in the league, though it wasn’t as dominant as most top picks. He started 73 of his 75 games and averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 triples per game. Despite starting most of the season, he only played 24.6 minutes per game, and his role was dependent on how well he was playing.
Many top picks get the chance to ease into things, but on a team that had postseason aspirations, Risascher wasn’t afforded that luxury. He had to learn on the fly. He improved over the course of the year and showcased some upside, but it never came consistently. That limited his production and opportunity in year one, but if he continues to progress, his potential as a two-way floor spacer will open up the offense for Trae Young and Jalen Johnson to create. His style of player will translate much better on the court than it will in fantasy basketball. He struggled in his first taste of postseason basketball, but he will hopefully turn that into a learning experience. The 20-year-old still has plenty of upside.
Larry Nance Jr.
Nance Jr. was a throw-in as part of the Dejounte Murray trade, but he ended up playing a solid reserve role for Atlanta when he was available. He played in 24 games and averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 triples in 19.3 minutes per game. He started a few times and had a nice run of production in December, but he ended up being injured most of the season.
He’ll now enter unrestricted free agency. He could return to Atlanta as the backup center, though they could sign or draft someone else and make Nance the third option. He’s still capable of contributing in the box score, but his lack of a guaranteed role means that he should only be considered as a streaming option next season, regardless of where he signs.
Caris LeVert
LeVert was traded to Atlanta at the deadline as part of the deal that sent De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland. In 26 games for the Hawks, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 triples per game. LeVert was much better in Atlanta than he was at the beginning of the season in Cleveland and was able to fill the backup ball handler role.
He could choose to return to the Hawks, but LeVert will be free to sign elsewhere this summer. He may be able to find a starting role on another team, and if he signs with Atlanta, he’ll likely play a significant reserve role. Outside of a singular top-100 season with Indiana, LeVert has been a solid fantasy option for most of his career, though he has never been an exciting option. That will continue next year, no matter who he plays for.
Mouhamed Gueye
The 2023 second-round pick didn’t play much as a rookie, but he saw his role expand in the second half of his second season. In 33 appearances, he averaged six points, 4.2 rebounds and one block in 16.2 minutes per game. He also started 28 games.
His role was inconsistent, but Gueye showcased flashes of upside when he was given the opportunity. He ended up as the starting power forward late in the season, which is a role that Jalen Johnson will return to fill next season. Gueye is only 22 years old and has upside, making him worth stashing in dynasty formats. However, it’s unclear how large of a role he will play next season, barring injuries.
Vit Krejci
Krejci’s third season with the Hawks was his best yet. He averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 triples in 20.2 minutes per game. This was the first season of a four-year deal that he signed last summer, and his production outweighed the $2.2 million he was paid this season. Krejci is another success story from Atlanta’s G League affiliate in College Park, and he had some strong stretches as a streamer. He is little more than a depth piece when this team is fully healthy, but he was able to provide well-rounded numbers when he was given the opportunity. He’ll be 25 years old at the start of next season.
Terance Mann
Mann was traded to Atlanta in return for Bogdan Bogdanovic at the deadline. He played in 30 games for the Hawks and averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 threes per game. He was a solid reserve wing for them and brought veteran experience to a younger team. He will continue to do so next season, but his game doesn’t translate well into fantasy basketball production.
Kobe Bufkin
The Hawks drafted Bufkin with the No. 15 pick in 2023, and he spent most of his first year in the G League, only making 17 appearances for Atlanta. Well, he only played 10 games in year two before a right shoulder injury ended his season. In those games, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 12.4 minutes per game. At 21 years old, Bufkin still has time to figure things out, but 27 games in two seasons isn’t ideal. Atlanta has struggled to find consistent backup point guard play throughout Trae Young’s career. Could Bufkin be the answer? He’ll get the opportunity to prove it.
Restricted Free Agents: Jacob Toppin, Keaton Wallace
Unrestricted Free Agents: Clint Capela, Caris LeVert, Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Mathews
Team Option: Dominick Barlow