Basketball News
The Atlanta Hawks (1-1) return home to defend home court against the New York Knicks.
Jock Landale (ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: N/A
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: Prime Video
In what will lead to a fairly dramatic change in style of play, the Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal to make Taylor Jenkins their new head coach, news first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne.
Jenkins has Milwaukee ties, he spent a season as an assistant coach for the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer in 2018-19, before taking the Memphis head coaching job. Jenkins spent six years as the Grizzlies head coach, and based on what he did there was considered by many around the league as one of the best coaches available this summer.
He will replace Hall of Famer Doc Rivers, who agreed it was time for him to step away as the Bucks coach.
In Memphis, Jenkins had a 250-214 record and helped develop the Grizzlies into a team that went to the playoffs four times in his six years (although he did not coach the team in the fourth of those appearances because the Grizzlies fired him late in the regular season).
Milwaukee set its sights on Jenkins early, and general manager Jon Horst, as well as team owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam, traveled to Memphis to talk to him, something The Athletic first reported several days ago.
While they had a star in Ja Morant, Jenkins' Memphis teams were built around defense and winning the possession battle (for example, going hard after offensive rebounds). That's a departure from how Doc Rivers viewed the game. Jenkins' teams had Jaren Jackson Jr. during his Defensive Player of the Year run, serving as a rim protector, but also focused on things like taking away corner 3s.
What the team that Jenkins will be coaching looks like is a good question. It appears Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo are on a path to part ways — how much a new coach or a major roster overhaul can change that is up for debate — which means Milwaukee will start a rebuilding process. In Memphis, Jenkins and his staff proved good at player development, which will be a key part of what comes next for the Bucks.
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Back when Kentucky Basketball lost assistant coaches Alvin Brooks III and Jason Hart, rumors began to circulate that Mark Pope was making a push for Jamal Crawford as a potential replacement.
However, nothing came of it, and it appeared that ship had sailed.
Now, KSR’s Jack Pilgrim and Matt Jones are reporting that there’s still a chance that Crawford could become an assistant coach at Kentucky, as a final decision has not yet been made by Crawford, and the Wildcats remain in pursuit.
Crawford, who is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater, Rainier Beach High School, is also an NBC broadcaster who is calling games in the NBA Playoffs. He’s a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year (shoutout Keldon Johnson) and scored 19,419 career points across his 20-year NBA career.
Needless to say, Crawford is a major name in the world of basketball, and getting him would be a massive pull for any coaching staff.
Saying this, between Crawford coaching at his alma mater and the city he was born in while also calling NBA games, it feels like there’s about as much of an uphill climb for Kentucky to get him as there is for Tyran Stokes, if not bigger.
Oh, speaking of, Stokes is spending his final season of high school basketball at Rainier Beach. Safe to think that getting Crawford would be a major move toward getting Stokes.
But again, both of these feel like a long shot. Crawford has too good of a thing going for him in Seattle right now, where he’s also raising his family. He’d have to leave that and his NBC gig to take on a full-time coaching role at Kentucky.
It’s nice to think about, but this feels like a pipe dream for the time being, though one that Pope was right to shoot for.
One other thing to consider: Kentucky already landed former NBA standout Mo Williams this offseason. Perhaps he can help get Crawford to Lexington?
The Oklahoma City Thunder had to figure out how to win without Jalen Williams for most of the regular season, they are going to have to do it again, likely for at least the rest of their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
Jalen Williams has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and "he will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis," the team announced Thursday.
On average, a Grade 1 hamstring strain keeps a player out 12 days, according to Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes, who maintains a database tracking NBA injuries. That timeline would keep Williams out for the entire first round of the playoffs, even if the series goes seven games (the Thunder are up 2-0), and if it ends earlier, he might miss the start of the second round.
Jalen Williams Injury History: The average time lost for Grade 1 hamstring strains is ~12.4 days. Multiple players have suffered the injury in the playoffs including Jaylen Brown, Steph Curry, & Devin Booker. Curry's injury occurred last year & kept him out of GS's last 4 games.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) April 23, 2026
Williams has been plagued by injuries all season and appeared in just 33 games for the Thunder this season. Williams was out for the first 19 games of the season recovering from right wrist surgery, then missed 30 more games due to a right hamstring injury (the opposite of the leg he injured Wednesday).
With Williams out, expect Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins to get more run.
This latest injury occurred in the third quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday night. Williams missed a transition layup, and as soon as he landed, he grabbed the back of his leg. Williams quickly checked himself out of the game and did not return.
Jalen Williams left Game 2 vs. the Suns with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/P47wjF0c9T
— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2026
In the 33 games he did play this season, Williams averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. In Game 1 of the series against the Suns, he had 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting. The Thunder won without Williams on Wednesday, 120-107, and took a 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Phoenix for Game 3.
Besides Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have had the rest of their roster available during the playoffs.
However, they might be playing without a member of their rotation for Friday’s Game 3. After Thursday’s practice, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Jake LaRavia is dealing with an ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day moving forward.
LaRavia has been LA’s ironman this year. He played in all 82 regular-season games and both playoff matchups. If he misses, then that’s because it is an injury he simply can’t play through.
Considering that Redick stressed that this is a minor sprain and that the MRI came back clean, hopefully, he can play. Right now, we’ll have to wait until the injury report to see his official status.
LaRavia was clearly dealing with some discomfort in Game 2’s win against the Rockets. He airballed a corner 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and was visibly limping afterward. LaRavia was then taken out of the game and never returned.
The Lakers are essentially playing with an eight-man rotation, so losing anyone makes winning that much harder.
During the regular season, LaRavia put up respectable numbers. He averaged 8.2 points, four rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
In the playoffs, however, LaRavia has struggled. His numbers have dipped across all categories as his playing time has shrunk, and he hasn’t found ways to be impactful.
Still, it’s been a small sample size, and LaRavia being on the floor gives the Lakers some size, defensive versatility and a player Redick trusts. LaRavia is averaging 17 minutes per game, tied for sixth among Lakers.
If he can’t play, then other players will have to step up.
Unfortunately, Redick doesn’t have many options. Rui Hachimura is already starting and playing heavy minutes. Redick might have to increase Jarred Vanderbilt’s time or go with different looks completely to make up for the minutes LaRavia typically plays.
Still, he is not ruled out, so it’s just something to monitor as this series heads to Houston for Game 3.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan are on speaking terms again, and Barkley revealed there's a former Major League Baseball All-Star behind the thawing of the relationship.
Barkley initially said during an interview last week on SiriusXM's "Mad Dog Unleashed" that he and Jordan had a conversation recently and made plans to play golf together soon. It had been 14 years since the two had a falling out after Barkley criticized Jordan's performance as owner of the then-Charlotte Bobcats during an interview with ESPN 1000 in Chicago.
A turning point came last week when former MLB outfielder Vince Coleman called Barkley at his home, Barkley said on Wednesday, April 23 during his latest appearance on ESPN 1000's "Waddle and Silvy Show," which is also where he made the original comments that upset Jordan in 2012. Coleman informed Barkley over the phone that he was with Jordan at The Grove XXIII, Jordan's golf club in South Florida.
"(Coleman) says, 'Yo, I'm down here at The Grove. I'm sick of you and MJ's BS. He's right here. Y'all need to talk. And we had a conversation," Barkley recounted to the show's hosts. "But Vince Coleman's the person who's responsible. We talked for a couple minutes. He's like, 'Man, let's get together and play golf,' and as soon as I get a break, I'm going to fly down there and we're going to spend a couple days playing golf."
Jordan and Barkley were rivals and superstars in the NBA and Olympic teammates with the original Dream Team in 1992. Jordan's Chicago Bulls beat Barkley's Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals, the same year Barkley won his lone MVP award. Coleman played 13 MLB seasons (1985-97), with the majority of his career spent with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.
Jordan became the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006 and Barkley has been an outspoken mainstay on "Inside the NBA," providing commentary on the league since his retirement.
Barkley criticized Jordan in 2012 for not surrounding himself with enough people willing to disagree with his decisions as the owner of Charlotte's NBA franchise, noting that "I love Michael, but he just has not done a good job."
Jordan sold his majority stake in the now-Charlotte Hornets in 2023 and currently owns the 23XI Racing NASCAR Cup Series team along with longtime NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.
Barkley said Wednesday the feud between he and Jordan isn't as bad as it may have seemed, simply because they hadn't spoken in so long.
Jordan and Barkley golfing together again!
— ESPN Chicago (@ESPN1000) April 23, 2026
FULL CONVO HERE: https://t.co/Wdba75y28U@WaddleandSilvy x @_CharlesBarkley#chicago#bulls#Sports#JordanandBarkley#sports#basketball#sportsfans#sportsmemories#golfing#sportslegends#golf#jordan#jordanspic.twitter.com/KFrqAWmMYP
"I tell people, it's not like we're like Prince Harry and Prince William who hate each other," Barkley said. "Honestly, I think we both missed each other because we've had this conversation with other friends and we were both too stubborn to pick up the phone."
"One thing we both said," Barkley added, "I got a lot of love for you and you got a lot of love for me. Like Vince said, this thing has been silly and stupid, but both of y'all are too damn stubborn to pick up the phone, and y'all need to get ... together and play golf and bury this thing."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vince Coleman ended Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan's long silence
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in their first-round series. The Cavs won the first two games in Cleveland with the series now shifting to Toronto for Games 3 and 4. Cleveland is favored by 2.5 points, and the over/under for the matchup is set at 219.5.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Toronto Raptors +2.5
Moneyline: Toronto Raptors +125 (42.2%) / Cleveland Cavaliers -155 (57.8%)
Over/Under: 219.5
Game 1:Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2:Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3: Thu., April 23 at Toronto (8 p.m., Prime)
Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Toronto (1 p.m., ESPN)
Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Cleveland (TBD)
Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Toronto (TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Cleveland (TBD)
*if necessary
The Lakers don’t win Game 2 against the Rockets without Marcus Smart’s efforts.
In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance.
Defensively, Smart was also at his best.
Smart had a game-high five steals and gave Kevin Durant plenty of trouble as he turned the ball over nine times, a season high for one of the best offensive players to ever play the game.
“I think we understand that kind of stuff and what he does on the floor, it doesn’t really show on the stats,” Hachimura said postgame. “But I think it gets us going as a team, especially the start of the game, he was guarding KD full court, and then he got the ball, and Bron almost got an and-one. Those kind of plays just set the tone. That’s really important for us. He always makes the plays.”
This game featured Durant’s return after missing Game 1, and Smart immediately set the physical tone this contest would take. Just minutes into the opening quarter, Smart was guarding Durant full court. He swiped the ball loose and dove onto the floor to guarantee the Lakers would gain possession.
With the Lakers shorthanded, players have to elevate their game to win these playoff matchups. Luke Kennard did this in Game 1, scoring 27 points, and Smart matched that energy for Game 2. Now LA is up 2-0 in this series.
“He set the tone for us, got us going,” Kennard said. “We know with those guys out, it could be anybody any given night right now. Again, we try to elevate each other and push each other and motivate one another to just be who we are and have fun out there and play hard. Marcus definitely got us going there in the first quarter. It’s good to see. We need him to continue to be aggressive for us.”
Smart has emerged as one of LA’s most important leaders. And as a leader, he has to do the walking along with the talking for everyone to buy in. He’s been doing that all season, and Game 2 was a prime example of this.
Every playoff team needs a Smart on its roster. He’s a selfless player, and one who can do the dirty work along with the tough defensive assignments few can handle. This was a bounce-back year for Smart, and he deserves all the adulation coming his way. He’s set the tone for the Lakers and is a big reason why they have yet to lose in the playoffs.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
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The Knicks vs. Hawks first-round playoff series is heading to Atlanta all tied up ahead of tonight’s Game 3.
The Knicks took Game 1, 113-102, while Game 2 went to Atlanta in a stunning 107–106 victory.
Despite trailing by 12 points entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks mounted a late comeback led by CJ McCollum, who finished with a game-high 32 points. The Knicks had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Mikal Bridges missed a final jumper as time expired.
It’s only the second time in franchise playoff history that the Knicks lost a game they were leading heading into the fourth quarter; they’re now 40-2 all-time.
The Knicks and Hawks will be back in action on Saturday for Game 4 of the series.
Knicks vs. Hawks Game 3 is scheduled to begin tonight, April 23, at 7 p.m. ET.
Tonight’s Hawks vs. Knicks matchup is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.
PRIME VIDEO PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS* if necessary
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The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks meet in Game 3 of their NBA first-round playoff series. The Hawks rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Knicks 107-106 on Monday and even the series. The next two games will be played in Atlanta.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Atlanta Hawks +1.5
Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks -102 (48.3%) / New York Knicks -118 (51.7%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Game 1:Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2:Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 3: Thu., April 23, at Atlanta (7 p.m., Prime)
Game 4: Sat., April 25, at Atlanta (6 p.m., NBC)
*Game 5: Tue., April 28,at New York (TBD)
*Game 6: Thu., April 30, at Atlanta (TBD)
*Game 7: Sat., May 2, at New York (TBD)
*if necessary
After a remarkable freshman season at BYU, 19-year-old forward AJ Dybantsa officially announced that he will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dybantsa will turn pro as an early entry candidate after a successful and impressive one-and-done collegiate campaign. The former McDonald's All-American forward averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is currently projected at No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards in USA TODAY's latest mock draft.
Dybantsa led the NCAA in scoring and was named a consensus first-team collegiate All-American, also earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
During his sole appearance in March Madness, he scored 35 points with 10 rebounds. It was one of eight games in which he had at least 30 points, highlighted by a 43-point performance against in-rival Utah. Dybantsa also notched a 30-point triple double against Eastern Washington in December.
Dybantsa led the nation in unassisted points scored, per CBB Analytics, and is able to inject instant life in whichever NBA team selects him. While he is listed at 6-foot-9, the playmaking forward finished more of his possessions as the ball handler in pick and roll sets than any other play type.
He also scored efficiently as the ball handler in transition and one-on-one against his defender in isolation. All teams will have interest in such a talented offensive creator who also brings a solid frame.
No matter which team gets the pole position, it will highly consider Dybantsa when it is on the clock. Other candidates for No. 1 in this class include Duke forward Cameron Boozer and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
The NBA's draft lottery in Chicago is scheduled for May 10 with the Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz as the most likely teams to get the No. 1 overall pick. The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa NBA draft projection how his game translates to NBA
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Our NBA player prop projections are all set for tonight's Game 3 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.
These Nuggets vs. Timberwolves predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.
If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, April 23.
 Nuggets |  Timberwolves |
|---|---|
| Murray o26.5 points -105 | Randle o19.5 points -115 |
| Hardaway Jr. o1.5 threes +150 | Edwards o5.5 rebounds -150 |
| Jokic o13.5 rebounds -120 | Edwards o3.5 threes +122 |
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Projection: 26.7 points
When it comes to putting points on the board, the Denver Nuggets have been unmatched, leading the league with 121.9 points per game.
Jamal Murray has been a driving force behind that firepower, clearing this 25.5-point line in six of his last 10 outings.
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Projection: 2.1 3-pointers
The Nuggets have been the league’s most efficient team from beyond the arc this season, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has played a key role in keeping that edge.
Hardaway has cleared his 1.5 made threes line in six of his last 10 games, as the veteran continues to deliver from deep.
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Projection: 14.9 rebounds
Nikola Jokic makes rebounding look effortless, and Game 3 should be no exception.
Expect an even more aggressive effort on the glass after a quiet Game 2 — one the Nuggets will be eager to move past — as the reigning force in the paint looks to swing the series back in their favor.
Jokic has also been clearing his rebounding line consistently, eclipsing 13.5 boards in seven of his last 10 games.
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Projection: 20.4 points
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been playing at a fast clip at home over the last 20 games, ranking among the league’s most up-tempo teams, and they’ll look to keep that pace rolling in this matchup.
They draw a similarly high-speed opponent in the Denver Nuggets, one of the fastest visiting offenses over the last 10 games, setting the stage for an increased number of possessions and more scoring chances for Julius Randle to stay productive within Minnesota’s offense.
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Projection: 5.54 rebounds
The T-Wolves have been dominant on the offensive glass at home, ranking near the top of the league with 13.6 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings.
Anthony Edwards also brings strong rebounding production that exceeds that mark, and with Game 3 back in Minnesota, expect him to be especially active on the boards, fueled by the energy of the home crowd.
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Projection: 3.7 3-pointers
There’s no question Anthony Edwards will come into Game 3 with plenty of energy after helping the Minnesota Timberwolves steal a win in Denver.
That momentum should carry into his perimeter game, where he’ll look to bounce back from recent misses after finishing with Under 3.5 threes per game in eight of his last 10 outings. He'll change that luck for tonight.
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| Location | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN |
| Date | Friday, April 23, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
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After an upset win in Boston in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Sixers could have reinforcements on the way as the series turns to South Philadelphia.
The Sixers said on Thursday afternoon that Joel Embiid participated “in parts” of practice the day before the team’s Game 3 matchup with the Celtics.
This would be quite the turnaround for Embiid, who had an emergency appendectomy on April 9 that has kept him off the court since then. The team stated on April 20 that Embiid has started a strength and conditioning program as he’s recovered from that surgery.
To say that an Embiid return this weekend, whether for Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday, would be a boost for the Sixers would be a colossal understatement. The Sixers hung tough while stealing a road victory on Tuesday, but they’ve been getting nothing from their big men. Even a version of Embiid that’s not 100 percent, which Sixers fans have been accustomed to seeing in the postseason anyway, would do wonders for their chances of prolonging this series against the vaunted Celtics.
Embiid’s getting back into action would mean this is the fourth time he’s faced Boston in the playoffs during his career. While 2018 and 2020 saw the Celtics making quick work of the team, that 2023 loss still stings. I’m not necessarily banking on it, but perhaps Embiid combining with the backcourt duo of VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey could have the Sixers doing something they haven’t done in 44 years: eliminating the Celtics.
In some potentially good news for the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama is going to travel with the team to Portland, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Wemby entered concussion protocol after falling and smacking his chin on the court in the second quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday. He appeared dazed before getting up and heading to the locker room. The Spurs were quick dispel rumors that were going around during/after the game he had been taken to the hospital for x-rays on his head or jaw.
Per the NBA’s concussion protocol rules, he must go through a 48-hour observation period with no contact basketball allowed, although he can do workouts such as cardio and non-contact drills as deemed fit, which he was seen doing at practice yesterday and today. Players must also undergo cognitive/neurological testing, be symptom free and cleared by team and league doctors to return to play.
Head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters at practice today that Wemby is progressing well, but they have not yet determined whether he will be available for Games 3 and 4 in Portland.
Game 3 is on Friday, which is outside the mandatory 48-hour window since the incident occurred on Tuesday. While it would be rare for a player to return that quickly from a concussion — 5-7 days is the most common time frame — it’s not unheard of. That being said, there are levels of severity to concussions, and it would appear this is a mild one based on his quick progression. If he was in any danger to fly or the Spurs did not think he stood a chance of returning on Friday or Sunday for Game 4, he would not be traveling with them.
In other injury related news, Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper are cleared to play in Game 3. Barnes exited in the fourth quarter Game 2 after suffering a shoulder stinger in a collision with Deni Avdija, and Harper reaggravated an existing thumb injury after getting tangled with Donovan Clingan a play later. Harper returned to that game, Barnes did not.
Game 3 will be tomorrow at 9:30 PM CT and streamed on Prime. The Spurs went 2-1 against Portland in the regular season without Wemby, including a win at the Moda Center in November. De’Aaron Fox scored 37 points in that game, and they will need a similar performance from him and for everyone else to step up in Wemby’s absence should he miss one or both games. The Spurs were down two points when he exited early in the second quarter of Game 2, and while regrouped and got the lead up to 14 in the fourth quarter, the offense fell apart down the stretch to lose the game 103-106. The series is currently tied 1-1.
