Category: Basketball

Jimmy Butler's Game 3 vs. Rockets status in ‘serious jeopardy,' per report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Jimmy Butler avoided a major injury, but his status for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets is in question.

Butler sustained a deep glute muscle contusion and his availability for Saturday’s game at Chase Center is in “serious jeopardy,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday night, citing league sources.

Charania reported that Butler’s MRI revealed no pelvic fractures or structural damage.

Before Charania reported about Butler’s status, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Tristi Rodriguez spoke to Stanford Medicine’s Dr. Marc Safran, M.D., about when the 35-year-old might be able to return to the court.

“Totally a guess because we don’t know the degree of damage, but my guess is, if it’s nothing structural, if you will, it’s just inflammation, it’s really going to be about managing the pain and what he can play through and being able to play effectively through,” Dr. Safran said. “He’s a motivated guy that wants to get out and play, and so he’ll come back as soon as it’s absolutely possible without trying to put himself at greater risk.

“So, fortunately, again, if it’s not structural, which the MRI will tell us, then it’s just really more a function of being able to manage the inflammation, manage the pain to be able to get him out there.

“So, is the next game completely out of the picture? No, it’s not. But most people, because of where this is, it can take a week to two or three to actually get back. But I think they’re going to do obviously everything in their power to reduce inflammation, get him back to doing what he wants to get out and do.”

Butler sustained the injury late in the first quarter of the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Rockets and was ruled out midway through the second quarter with a pelvis contusion.

Though it seems Butler will miss Saturday’s pivotal swing game, his agent, Bernie Lee, texted ESPN’s Marc J. Spears with a cryptic message.

“There is some hope, though,” Spears shared Thursday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent, texted me saying, ‘Pray for the bear.’ That tells me that’s some optimism for Jimmy.”

If Butler misses Saturday’s game, the Warriors have to hope that it’s a one-game absence and he’s able to return for Monday’s Game 4.

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Warriors provide update on Butler's injury, Game 3 status originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Jimmy Butler avoided a major injury, but his status for Game 3 against the Houston Rockets is up in the air.

An MRI confirmed Butler sustained a pelvis and deep gluteal muscle contusion, the Warriors shared Friday, and his status for Saturday’s game at Chase Center is questionable.

This comes after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday night, citing a league source, that Butler sustained a deep glute muscle contusion and his availability for Saturday’s game at Chase Center is in “serious jeopardy.” Charania reported that Butler’s MRI revealed no pelvic fractures or structural damage.

Before the updates about Butler’s status, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Tristi Rodriguez spoke to Stanford Medicine’s Dr. Marc Safran, M.D., about when the 35-year-old might be able to return to the court.

“Totally a guess because we don’t know the degree of damage, but my guess is, if it’s nothing structural, if you will, it’s just inflammation, it’s really going to be about managing the pain and what he can play through and being able to play effectively through,” Dr. Safran said. “He’s a motivated guy that wants to get out and play, and so he’ll come back as soon as it’s absolutely possible without trying to put himself at greater risk.

“So, fortunately, again, if it’s not structural, which the MRI will tell us, then it’s just really more a function of being able to manage the inflammation, manage the pain to be able to get him out there.

“So, is the next game completely out of the picture? No, it’s not. But most people, because of where this is, it can take a week to two or three to actually get back. But I think they’re going to do obviously everything in their power to reduce inflammation, get him back to doing what he wants to get out and do.”

Butler sustained the injury late in the first quarter of the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Rockets and was ruled out midway through the second quarter with a pelvis contusion.

Though it seems Butler will miss Saturday’s pivotal swing game, his agent, Bernie Lee, texted ESPN’s Marc J. Spears with a cryptic message.

“There is some hope, though,” Spears shared Thursday on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent, texted me saying, ‘Pray for the bear.’ That tells me that’s some optimism for Jimmy.”

If Butler misses Saturday’s game, the Warriors have to hope that it’s a one-game absence and he’s able to return for Monday’s Game 4.

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Cavaliers' Evan Mobley wins 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Evan Mobley has added to his stellar 2024-25 campaign.

The Cleveland Cavaliers star on Thursday was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, his first win in the category.

Mobley beat out Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green and Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels.

The No. 3 overall pick by Cleveland in 2021, Mobley put up averages of 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals across 71 games, helping anchor Cleveland on both sides of the ball as the team surged to the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed at 64-18.

Mobley, a San Diego native and USC product, also earned his first All-Star nod this season due to his efforts. He was previously named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2023, with another nod presumably looming.

The 6-foot-11 big man is also set to see a significant pay raise due to his win. After signing a rookie extension last July worth $224 million, language in his contract detailed that the sum would increase to $269 million should he win the award.

Fellow Cleveland star teammates Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland were among the players congratulating Mobley for the achievement.

Mobley was also a top-three finalist for the award in 2023. Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert won the award last season, the fourth of his career.

San Antonio Spurs sophomore phenom Victor Wembanyama was widely seen as the favorite to claim the award this year after a second-place rookie finish, but a season-ending blood clot diagnosis in February saw him get shut down.

Green, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year winner in 2017, was another top candidate after playing a key role in Golden State’s resurgence toward the back half of the season. Daniels, the No. 8 pick in 2022, has yet to win a major award but was named the steals leader for this season.

Kings GM Perry ready to conquer ‘unfinished business' in Sacramento originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

New Kings general manager Scott Perry and Sacramento, although brief, have a history. 

Back in 2017, Perry was the Kings’ president of basketball operations for three months before taking the New York Knicks GM role.

As a result of such a short tenure, Perry left behind plenty of unfinished business in Sacramento. 

In his return almost a decade later, the 61-year-old, in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan, detailed what motivates him about being back in Sacramento.

“I felt like there was a lot of unfinished business for me, personally, quite frankly,” Perry told Ragan. “Because when I was here eight years ago, I felt we got off to a great start. 

“So now, it’s a blessing to have this opportunity to come back, and I can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and make something happen.” 

Perry, who highlighted his relationship with Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, was hired as Sacramento’s general manager less than a week after the franchise mutually agreed to part ways with Monte McNair. 

Perry inherits a Kings team coming off a rollercoaster 2024-25 NBA season that ended in disappointing fashion after a 120-106 NBA play-in tournament loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

There is plenty of work cut out.

“First and foremost, we need to establish an identity of what it means to be a Sacramento King,” Perry added. “So when teams play us, you got to know what you’re facing. That is order No. 1. 

“ … It’s got to be based on toughness, a defensive mindset, a sharing-of-the-ball mindset, a lot of accountability, discipline, hard work.” 

For Perry, there is unfinished business to settle as he returns to a franchise that needs all the help it can get.

“Those got to be all of the components and variables of what it means to be a Sacramento Kings player and a part of the Sacramento Kings team,” Perry continued. “So, that needs to be reflected on a daily basis, even when the fans aren’t watching.

“But when we get on that court, win, lose or draw, we want that to shine through.”

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Tatum doubtful for Game 3 vs. Magic; Holiday added to injury report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic in Game 2 without Jayson Tatum, and they’ll likely have to do the same Friday in Game 3.

Tatum was listed as doubtful on Thursday’s injury report due to the wrist injury he sustained on a hard foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 1. He also had a doubtful designation for Game 2 before being ruled out in the hour leading up to tip-off.

Jrue Holiday was a surprise addition to the Celtics’ injury report with a right hamstring strain. The veteran guard is listed as questionable to play in Game 3.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla provided an update on Tatum’s injury during his Thursday appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand.”

“Yeah, there will definitely be a chance,” Mazzulla said when asked about the possibility of Tatum playing in Game 3. “Again, he’s dealing with a severe bone bruise. He’s day-to-day, and he’s progressively gotten a little bit better each day.”

As for Holiday, it’s unclear when he suffered his hamstring injury. He played 36 minutes in Boston’s Game 2 win, recording 11 points with six assists, four rebounds, and one block.

Game 3 between the Celtics and Magic is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off in Orlando. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. on NBC Sports Boston with Celtics Pregame Live.

Fresh off being named NBA Clutch Player of the Year, there's nobody more equipped to take a shot in the final minutes of a close game than Jalen Brunson.

While that's great to have, the Knicks point guard also understands his role goes beyond just scoring, and that in certain situations he needs to pass the ball more.

Speaking to reporters after practice on Thursday, Brunson said after watching film of New York's Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons that "there were a couple of possessions where I had some bad shots."

"That’s on me to just understand the situation where I need to get off of it," he continued, clarifying that he meant he needs to pass the ball more.

Despite having "some bad shots," Brunson still finished with 37 points on 12-of-27 shooting from the field (4-for-12 from three) and almost willed the Knicks to a win. However, the 27 shots he took were almost nine shots more than the 18.5 field goal attempts he averaged in the regular season.

In fact, in Game 1 -- a 123-111 Knicks win -- Brunson also went 12-for-27 from the field and scored a game-high 34 points.

None of this should diminish Brunson's role as a facilitator, though, as the point guard still managed to have eight assists in Game 1 and seven assists in Game 2 (almost half of New York's season-low 15 total assists), right on par with his season average of 7.3

Regardless, for the Knicks to have success in the postseason, other players besides Brunson will need to step up in big moments, so getting his teammates involved more often can only help in doing that. Karl-Anthony Towns, for example, had just 10 points in Game 2 and didn't attempt a shot in the fourth quarter.

"That’s the toughest part is trying to find that balance," said Josh Hart about Brunson. "I think him coming in, maybe at the start of the game, try to get some of these guys involved and get them free flowing and feeling great… It’s a feeling out process, but the good thing is it’s all fixable things."

Brunson will have a chance to showcase that balance on Thursday night in Game 3 against Detroit.

Cousins says Warriors-Rockets refs are ‘letting too much go' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins believes the referees are letting too many calls go in the Warriors’ playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

The first-round Western Conference matchup has been bruising so far, but Cousins is not a fan of how the refs are calling things on the court.

“It is getting a point where I think the refs are letting too much go,” Cousins told Michelle Beadle and Chandler Parsons on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” “As a fan and as a physical player myself, I enjoy this type of basketball. I think this is the foundation of basketball. It has always been a [part of the game]. I think in the past 10-15 years, we’ve kind of shied away from the physicality in basketball.

“That being said, there were some plays within the game that I thought the refs let go a little too much. There was one specific play where [Gary Payton II] tried to drive down the lane and went up for a dunk and completely got clipped. I think Steve [Kerr] called a timeout immediately after that. It was plays like that that stood out to me. You have to make those calls. Certain things you just can’t let go.”

"The refs are letting too much go." 😱

Boogie Cousins was never afraid of contact in the NBA, but (like Warriors fans) he thinks the Rockets' physicality should be put in check 👀

Agree?@boogiecousins | @MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsonspic.twitter.com/yElcWmw5rB

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 24, 2025

Houston’s physical and swarming defense has been causing issues for Steph Curry and the rest of Golden State’s offense in two games of the best-of-seven series. For the most part, the refs have not been calling many fouls despite the Rockets contesting every shot around the rim.

With Jimmy Butler sidelined with a pelvic contusion, Golden State struggled to get in an offensive rhythm in Game 2 as Houston brutalized them. The NBA officiating crew appears content to let the two teams trade blows, harkening back to previous generations of professional basketball, when teams could hand-check with impunity.

Even a more favorably officiated game would do little for the Warriors if they cannot devise a successful offensive strategy against the Rockets.

With Butler’s status uncertain for Game 3, the Warriors must get more offensive production out of their bench players. If not, no amount of favorable officiating will stop Houston from pulling out another win.

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As the Knicks face the Detroit Pistons in their first-round playoff series, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley answers some of your most pressing questions surrounding the team.

So, here's an all-new, playoff edition Knicks Mailbag.

Think you’re glossing over an important thing; HOW did he answer the questions about adjustments and schemes? One of his biggest (legitimate) critiques is that the offense lacks creativity especially given the talent. Is there anything in his answers to note? - @ThirtySeventy12

This was in response to a tweet about one of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s answers in a post-practice news conference on Wednesday. I promise, @ThirtySeventy12, that I wouldn’t gloss over anything noteworthy that comes out of a press conference. Thibodeau, like almost all NBA coaches that I’ve been around, isn’t going to talk to the media about specific adjustments he plans to make ahead of a game. He doesn’t do it during the regular season and he certainly isn’t going to do it during the playoffs. 

If Thibodeau said something significant/concrete about adjustments, I certainly would have included it. I’ve been listening to Thibodeau’s answers in press conferences for almost five years -- he rarely gets into details when he’s asked about adjustments.

Based on the general reaction to that post on X, formerly known as Twitter, it seems like people read it as Thibodeau was not going to make adjustments ahead of Game 3 on Thursday. I can guarantee that there will be some between-game adjustments. Will they work? We’ll find out.

As we’ve noted over the past couple weeks, the stakes for Thibodeau are high in this series. So his between-game adjustments ahead of Game 3 are pivotal. 

Did they ask him about Karl-Anthony Towns’ second half involvement? Or about the pick and roll defense? What other questions did he answer Ian? - @AtlasPharaoh

Yup, he was asked about Towns’ shots, rebounding, and adjustments on Cade Cunningham. I don’t think he was asked specifically about pick and roll defense. The whole interview is on SNY’s YouTube page. 

Here’s Thibodeau on Towns’ shots: “Well I think part of it is, if they’re going to commit to two and three people on him, I don’t want him forcing shots. But there’s things that he can do also, and we can do, to get him a second and third look. So that’s what we have to try to do. And then I think there’s ways in transition that we can search him out as well.”

Here’s Thibodeau on Tobias Harris defending Towns while Jalen Duren defends Josh Hart:

“We’ve seen that all year so it’s not anything new. Game 1 it was 123 points. So we have to take each game, each game is different; what do you learn from the game and then move it forward.”

A few other notes on potential adjustments: 

As OG Anunoby noted, the Pistons screened him off the ball more often in Game 2 in an effort to get Cunningham going. "They’re playing different actions," Anunoby said. Cunningham obviously had a big impact in Game 2. How will the Knicks counter this?

The Knicks had a season-low 15 assists in Game 2. As Newsday’s Steve Popper noted, the 15 assists matched the lowest they had in any game since January 2023. 

Here’s Anunoby’s answer when asked if the offense was too stagnant in Game 2: 

"It was a little stagnant but even in some of our best games, the ball gets stagnant sometimes. It’s just how the game goes sometimes, how it flows. We just try to correct that and figure out how to prevent it as much as possible."

Jalen Brunson and Hart both referenced some potential adjustments during their interviews with media after Thursday morning’s shootaround.

BALL MOVEMENT:

Brunson said he saw on film several individual and team-wide missed opportunities in Game 2: "There were a couple possessions where I had some bad shots and that’s on me just to understand the situation where I need to get off of it. But that’s on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively we need to be communicating a little better — me individually — and I’ve just gotta hold myself to a higher standard when it comes to that. I just need to be better."

Hart was asked about Brunson’s comment on moving the ball.

"That’s the toughest part is trying to find that balance. I think him coming in, maybe starting the game to try to get some of these guys involved, get them free flowing. You see it with LeBron (James) all the time,” Hart said. “One thing with LeBron, he comes in the first quarter, the second quarter, makes sure he gets his guys involved and gets them into rhythm and then he takes over when you need him to take over. So you can take bits and pieces from guys like that. It’s part of the reason sometimes when the 5 is on me, I can’t be that other ball handler that brings it up and gets him off the ball so maybe we’ll put Mikal (Bridges) in that role or something like that. So it’s a feeling out process but the good thing it’s all fixable things. 

REACTING TO REFS:

Both Brunson and Hart said they needed to complain less often to referees during game-play. “We’ve had a lack of focus when it comes to that. We’ve gotta let them do their job and we’ve gotta do ours,” Brunson said.

Added Hart: “(Complaining to refs during game-play) definitely takes you off your game. I think controlling that just comes from within, kind of focusing on controlling what you can control. We can’t control what they’re calling. We can’t control getting our first free throws with what, 17 seconds on the clock? We can’t control those kind of things. We can just control how we respond to it. Last game I responded terribly. I have to make sure I fix that, (Karl-Anthony Towns) fixes that, and move on from it.”

DETROIT'S DEFENSE ON HART/KAT:

Hart talked about the Knicks’ offensive approach when he is guarded by Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris is defended by Towns.

“I feel like I’ve been solid with it. I think at times we gotta make sure I remember, even with the flow of the offense, the role of the offense, I make sure at times I remember I’m also a guard, and I can play in those kinds of ways and not act like I’m a 6-8, 6-9 power forward. So just getting guys good shots, getting guys the ball, attacking, playing with pace and doing those kind of things.

“….So obviously you gotta try to figure that out, how they’re playing, attacking that, but also knowing that obviously I have the big on me. But also let’s not get away from KAT setting screens and getting himself open or getting other guys open. So, it’s just a balance, and I think that’s what you try to figure out the first couple games.”

What is the temperature of the team as we head into the playoffs? Feels like the vibes are erratic and the inconsistencies make it hard to gauge what to expect in the weeks ahead. Thanks! - @nilegirl (on March 24)

This question was from before the end of the regular season but it remains relevant, I think. I have thought for most of the season that this team doesn’t have the same tight connection that the 2023-24 team established. Even with that, it’s logical to assume that the Knicks will get through this Pistons series. The talent gap between the teams heavily favors New York. But playoff pressure is always a good stress test for a team’s cohesion. These next two games in Detroit will tell us something significant about the Knicks’ chemistry/connection. 

As the regular season draws to a close, do you have any insight into how the org views each of their 4 rookies? Who do they feel is most ready to be a rotation piece next year? Who will likely still be on a 2 way deal, or buried on the bench? - @jayb8418 (on March 24)

This is another one from the end of the regular season but it’s still relevant today. I can say that many in the organization are high on Ariel Hukporti. This is based on conversations with people in touch with the team over the course of the season. I think New York is optimistic about Hukporti’s future. Just to clarify: this doesn’t mean that they aren’t also high on Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek. I would assume that they are. But I’m just relaying what I gathered from conversations over the course of the season on Hukporti. 

Draymond Green finishes third in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green‘s bid for a second NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award came up short.

The Warriors forward finished third in DPOY voting, losing out to Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, the NBA announced Thursday.

Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels finished in second place behind Mobley and Green.

Green, 35, received 15 first-place votes, 20 second-place votes and finished with 154 total points, coming up short to Mobley’s 285 points and Daniels’ 197 points.

Green made a strong push to reclaim the top defensive honor, capturing the Western Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month Award in March.

In 68 regular-season games, Green averaged 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks in 29.2 minutes.

Green openly campaigned for himself over the season’s final few months, and it almost paid off.

Green spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke in late March about what a second DPOY award would mean to him.

“It would mean the world to me; you know I pride myself on the defensive end,” Green told Poole and Burke. “I think to be acknowledged as the best defender in this league is no small feat. It’s something that, I never pride myself on winning awards, but they never hurt the ego and they don’t hurt the pockets. But most importantly, even more so than that, I think all the hard work you put in to try and stay at an elite level, and to be recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year at 35, eight years after first doing it, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort to have that type of longevity.”

As unlikely as Green’s first DPOY was in 2016-17, he understood how much more profound winning it eight years later would have been.

“To even be mentioned in that conversation, to me, is special,” Green said. “Obviously, I want to win it, but it’s not something that’s totally in my control … When I started to see my name pop up in the conversation, I was like, ‘Wow, I really have a chance to do this.’

“And I came into this season, for the last couple years I’ve been kind of priding myself on that. Like, ‘I want to win another one. I want to win another one.’ But obviously you have to have success as a team and just to find that success, put myself in the conversation. At worst, I want to make [All-Defensive First Team] and if I can put myself in the conversation to be DPOY, I think that would be crazier than winning the first one.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, on numerous occasions, has called Green the best defensive player he has ever been around, but the four-time NBA champion still has just one Defensive Player of the Year Award on his resume.

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