NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-06-24 15:56:04
WNBA Preview: Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers set to square off for the first time in the pros
Last week’s "WNBA Preview" column highlighted some essential games to either watch or track the outcomes of, as it pertains to the final standings of the Commissioner’s Cup games. There were some surprising finishes (Atlanta failing to clinch a spot in the finals by squandering a 17-point second-half lead to New York), and some not-so surprising ones (Indiana dominating Connecticut in a chippy contest to secure a spot in the Cup’s championship game). The Fever’s appearance in the championship match will mark the organization’s first in the Cup’s brief five-year existence. They’ve lost back-to-back games since clinching, but will have three games this week to get back on track before their July 1 final against Minnesota.
The Lynx used a second-half surge last week against an A’ja Wilson-less Aces squad to earn their second straight Commissioner’s Cup championship game appearance. They won last year’s main event over the Liberty in what ended up being an appetizer to the main course, the 2024 WNBA Finals. Minnesota’s start to this season has been nothing short of superb, and if Napheesa Collier is healthy enough to play in that game, they’d have a good chance at becoming the first back-to-back winner in tournament history.
Minnesota’s dominance, combined with the Fever’s peaks they’ve displayed at times this season, should make for a fantastic winner-take-all game.
WNBA Rookie Praise
Moving on. I’ve decided to devote a large chunk of this week’s column to praising the 2025 WNBA rookies (both the drafted and undrafted), as this was an eye-catching past seven days of basketball for that specific group of players.
At the top of the draft, the lottery picks continued to meet the expectations placed on them. Paige Bueckers has remained healthy since returning from a four-game absence. She helped lead the Wings to a 2-1 record this week that included back-to-back wins for the first time all season, tallying 20-point games in each of the three while nearing securing a triple-double in the overtime loss to the Mystics. Speaking of the Mystics, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have continued to produce at high levels as Day 1 starters. Iriafen’s performances were a bit quieter over the past seven days, as starting frontcourt mate Shakira Austin had a couple of massive games. Still, Iriafen closed the week with a 19-point, seven-rebound, six-assist, five-steal outing against the Wings, while Citron logged a career-high 27 points in that same game to bring her streak of double-digit scoring performances to 13.
The non-lottery picks also had themselves a week. Aneesah Morrow posted averages of 13.3 points and 6.7 rebounds across Connecticut’s three games and was eventually moved into the starting unit over the weekend.
The final pick of the first round, Aziaha James, was promoted to the Wings’ starting five last week and responded by logging a career-best 17 points in her second start. Two days later, she followed that strong outing with another double-digit scoring performance and a career-high in rebounds.
One pick later at 13th overall, Aaliyah Nye has been one of the Aces’ best players off the bench this season, and arguably the organization’s first impactful rookie since their run of Kelsey Plum-A’ja Wilson-Jackie Young from 2017 to 2019. She scored in double figures in the Aces’ final two games of the week and buried three three-pointers in each contest. Nye has consistently been playing 20-plus minutes per game since the beginning of the month and appears to have gained the trust of head coach Becky Hammon already.
And not to be forgotten is the Dream’s Te-Hina Paopao, who is starting to break out. Although she’s no longer starting games, the rookie has provided Atlanta with a great deal of impact recently as she led the Dream in scoring in their five-point loss to the Liberty, hit a career-high five threes against the Sky on Sunday, and has finished with 16 points in three of her last four games.
A rookie that can shoot LIGHTS OUT
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 22, 2025
Te-Hina Paopao put on quite the shooting display in today's win over the Sky!
Paopao had 16 PTS and went 5-6 from beyond the arc and finished the game shooting 83.3% from DEEP#WelcometotheWpic.twitter.com/O8X7WvOWVv
The undrafted rookies are making noise, as well; big noise. Honestly, just take a peek at the Mercury’s roster; you’ll find some established vets at the top of the food chain, and then several undrafted rookies occupying key rotation spots for a very good Phoenix team. Monique Akoa Makani set a new career-high in points this past week, while Lexi Held (injured) and Kathryn Westbeld were rock-solid during Phoenix’s undefeated week.
I could go on for a while, but the bottom line is this: the 2025 rookies have been impressive regardless of where they came from.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Now that we recapped what already happened, let’s look forward to this week’s action.
Minnesota Lynx @ Washington Mystics
(Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET)
This matchup doesn’t necessarily have the makings of a must-watch game on paper. Napheesa Collier is battling injury at the time of this writing, and four of the Mystics’ six victories are against Connecticut (2), Dallas (1), and Chicago (1), teams that own the three worst records in the WNBA. Yet, I’m still concluding that this matchup is one worth tuning in for — even without its star player, Minnesota is a phenomenal team, and although Washington has a 6-8 record, three of those losses have come by one possession. Anything could happen on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital, and I’m excited to see how the game unfolds.
Minnesota Lynx @ Atlanta Dream
(Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION)
The Lynx have multiple intriguing matchups this week — first on Tuesday against the Mystics and then another against the Dream on Friday. Friday’s bout features two of the league’s top offenses and two teams that like to rely on the three-point shot. The worthwhile thing to watch here is how well each team’s defense can defend the long ball. Atlanta allows the fewest three-point attempts and makes per game thus far by a pretty substantial margin, focusing on running teams off the line and forcing them to score inside the paint over Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. Minnesota gets a third of its points from beyond the arc and ranks near the league's top in efficiency and makes per game. The Dream’s offense lacks the three-point shooting accuracy but will want to volume their way on Friday against a Lynx defense that invites opponents’ three-point attempts but limits the effectiveness.
I’ll repeat it, pay attention to the impact of the three-point shot in this game! Whichever team is successful could find itself in a good position to win.
Indiana Fever @ Dallas Wings
(Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION)
Yes, basketball is a team game, and Friday’s matchup will be between the Fever and the Wings. Be that as it may, people are tuning in to see the matchup between the 2024 first overall pick, Caitlin Clark, and the 2025 top selection, Paige Bueckers. Friday will mark the first time the two share the court as professionals, with their lone couple of duels coming in the collegiate ranks — both in the NCAA Tournament, where Bueckers’ Huskies topped Clark’s Hawkeyes in the 2021 Sweet 16 before Iowa got revenge in the 2024 Final Four. The Fever have been up-and-down throughout this season and are currently riding a two-game skid, while the Wings have finally found some success recently. No matter which team secures the win, the game should be entertaining.
New York Liberty @ Phoenix Mercury
(Friday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET on ION)
As I assume you all reading this are followers of the W, I also assume you consumed last week’s Mercury-Liberty matchup. That particular game had a bit of everything, from star players performing at elite levels to injuries, lead changes, and momentum shifts. Ultimately, Phoenix ran away with the game toward the end to hand New York its only home loss thus far. The injury referenced here was Jonquel Jones’ reaggravation of an ankle injury suffered earlier in the season — she’ll miss this upcoming matchup and the Liberty’s following ones for the next four to six weeks. Jones’s absence throws a huge curveball into how New York wants to operate on both ends of the floor, but with her having missed essentially the final three quarters of the first matchup, Friday’s game could look pretty similar.
Seattle Storm @ Golden State Valkyries
(Sunday, June 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET)
It’s hard to pinpoint what level of contender this Storm team is. They’ve got some very strong wins on their resume this season behind a veteran nucleus of Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams that is proven and capable of beating any team. Yet, that resume also includes a loss to the Valkyries in the two teams’ only matchup. Much to my surprise, these Valkyries have been entertaining and a quality basketball team in their inaugural season. They’ve won five of their last six games, with two blowout ones (Las Vegas and Connecticut) standing out as much as the victories over strong opponents like Seattle and Indiana. We won’t know what type of performances the teams will put forth in the games leading up to this Sunday showdown, but what they’ve shown up to now excites me for what’s to come this weekend.
Sasha Barkov explains why Panthers leadership wanted first-time winners to hoist Stanley Cup before anyone else
It’s been a fun week celebrating the Florida Panthers and their second straight Stanley Cup championship.
There has been plenty of attention, and rightly so, cast upon what a tight and cohesive unit the team has grown into.
One big example of that came in the moments immediately after Florida won the Stanley Cup last week.
When Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov was handed the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Barkov did something that isn’t the norm.
Usually, the captain takes the cup for a spin around the ice before, one by one, his teammates do the same.
This time, Barkov carried the Cup to where all his fellow Panthers were standing, and the raised it only after he was surrounded by all of them.
It was an incredibly cool moment to see play out in real time.
Afterwards, when Barkov began the Cup raising process by handing the historic trophy off to the next player, he started by giving Lord Stanley not to the highest goal scorer or star goaltender, but to the players on the team who were first time champions.
First was defenseman Nate Schmidt, followed by Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek, Vitek Vanecek, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist, Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Jaycob Megna and Evan Cormier.
It was something that Barkov and several of the team’s leaders came up with as a way to honor those players for the sacrifices they made toward an unknown.
"It wasn't just me, we — Chucky, Reinho, Ekky, all these guys — were talking about it,” Barkov explained. “I think it was a great point that the guys who haven't won yet, they get to get it first. I think it was great and it tells a lot about our team, like what Paul (Maurice) did to Nosek's line at the end (of Game 6). When they came in down two to nothing (in the series) to Toronto, they really changed the way we played. The identity that they brought, and the way we started being physical again and playing the right way, they really changed that. They really deserve it, and it tells a lot about people like Paul and everyone in this team and organization with how we treat each other."
Barkov is referring to a video that has since gone viral showing Maurice on the Panthers bench during the final minutes of Game 6.
As Florida was about to win their second straight Stanley Cup, Maurice told his fourth line players that he wanted them to be on the ice when the final buzzer sounds. He wanted them to be the first to throw their gloves and helmets in the air.
It’s those moments that will last a lifetime to the players involved.
That’s why Barkov and Florida’s leadership did what they did, and it’s why the Panthers are who they are.
"It's an unreal feeling to lift that Cup,” Barkov said. “You know how much work you put in. There's 31 other teams in the league that are trying to do the same thing, and only one team wins it every year.”
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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Blackhawks Currently Have 10 Picks Scheduled In 2025 NHL Draft
The Chicago Blackhawks are still very much a rebuilding team. They are farther along than some other rebuilding squads, but there is still so much work to be done. The 2025 NHL Draft is an event that can help them take another step in their quest to become a winner again.
The draft is seven rounds long. Over those seven rounds, the Blackhawks are scheduled to make 10 selections. Two of them will come in the first round, two will come in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
All of those picks are lottery tickets that could blossom into impactful NHL players. They could also be used as currency to get other assets from teams across the league.
It would be surprising if GM Kyle Davidson used all 10. He has been known to shuffle them around in the past, which is a good indicator of his potential plans.
Chicago’s two first-round selections (if they keep both) will come on Friday night. The first one is 3rd overall, and the second is 25th. High-end prospects will be taken in those spots.
NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) on XThe @NHL announced the current order of selection for the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Round 1 takes place Friday (7 p.m. ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet, @TVASports).
Details: https://t.co/TLJ5fnEO7mIt isn’t likely for later round picks to become stars, but it does happen from time to time. Adding more talent to the prospect farm system is never a bad thing.
Davidson has a good track record when it comes to the entry draft. That trend needs to continue with these selections, whether he uses them or not.
Having this many picks gives the organization some wiggle room, as all 32 teams come together to make themselves better.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Fall is associated with plenty of fan favorites: Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin-spice flavored goodies, colder weather, you name it.
But 2025 will see something different. Something that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s.
NBA on NBC is coming back to television screens and introducing itself to streaming platforms beginning in the 2025-26 league campaign.
A popular theme song is also returning, amidst a new broadcasting team comprised of veteran commentators and former NBA stars.
Ever feel like EVERYONE has that one song stuck in their head? 🏀
The NBA on NBC and Peacock – coming this fall! pic.twitter.com/gpKMXlklFg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2025
Here’s everything to know about NBA on NBC in the upcoming season:
When does NBA on NBC start?
NBA on NBC will be back beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. An exact date for the first broadcast is TBD.
When does the 2025-26 NBA season start?
The 2025-26 season, the 80th in league history, has a regular-season start date of Tuesday, Oct. 21.
What is NBC’s history with the NBA?
The NBA and NBC had their first partnership from 1954 to 1962, before returning in 1990 to 2002 amid Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. NBC is part of the new media rights deal with the NBA that will last for 11 years, including games being streamed on Peacock.
What is the NBA on NBC theme song?
Fans can rejoice knowing “Roundball Rock,” the hit theme song for NBA on NBC produced by John Tesh, is returning.
Who is on the NBA on NBC broadcasting team?
Here’s a list of the commentators and former NBA stars who have joined NBC Sports’ broadcasting team thus far:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle
Color analysts: Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller
Studio host: Maria Taylor
Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter
Special contributor: Michael Jordan
Who will broadcast NBA games in 2025-26?
Along with NBA on NBC and Peacock in the new media rights deal, ESPN and ABC will continue its coverage of the league while Amazon Prime Video will be starting its new streaming partnership.
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more
When does NBA on NBC start? Theme song, broadcast team, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Fall is associated with plenty of fan favorites: Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkin-spice flavored goodies, colder weather, you name it.
But 2025 will see something different. Something that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s.
NBA on NBC is coming back to television screens and introducing itself to streaming platforms beginning in the 2025-26 league campaign.
A popular theme song is also returning, amidst a new broadcasting team comprised of veteran commentators and former NBA stars.
Ever feel like EVERYONE has that one song stuck in their head? 🏀
The NBA on NBC and Peacock – coming this fall! pic.twitter.com/gpKMXlklFg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2025
Here’s everything to know about NBA on NBC in the upcoming season:
When does NBA on NBC start?
NBA on NBC will be back beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season. An exact date for the first broadcast is TBD.
When does the 2025-26 NBA season start?
The 2025-26 season, the 80th in league history, has a regular-season start date of Tuesday, Oct. 21.
What is NBC’s history with the NBA?
The NBA and NBC had their first partnership from 1954 to 1962, before returning in 1990 to 2002 amid Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. NBC is part of the new media rights deal with the NBA that will last for 11 years, including games being streamed on Peacock.
What is the NBA on NBC theme song?
Fans can rejoice knowing “Roundball Rock,” the hit theme song for NBA on NBC produced by John Tesh, is returning.
Who is on the NBA on NBC broadcasting team?
Here’s a list of the commentators and former NBA stars who have joined NBC Sports’ broadcasting team thus far:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle
Color analysts: Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller
Studio host: Maria Taylor
Studio analysts: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter
Special contributor: Michael Jordan
Who will broadcast NBA games in 2025-26?
Along with NBA on NBC and Peacock in the new media rights deal, ESPN and ABC will continue its coverage of the league while Amazon Prime Video will be starting its new streaming partnership.
Mets Notes: Why Luisangel Acuña was sent down, what Richard Lovelady brings to bullpen
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Monday’s series opener against the Braves…
On Acuña being sent down
The Mets made a flurry of moves ahead of Monday’s contest, the most notable of which was infielder Luisangel Acuña being sent back down to Triple-A.
Mendoza stated that decision simply came down to the youngster's playing time.
Acuña served a significant role for this club earlier this season, but with his production dipping off and others getting healthy, he ultimately saw his time decrease significantly.
Prior to his demotion, Acuña logged just 18 plate appearance this month.
“He had a good April, he was getting consistent time and helped us win a lot of games,” the skipper said. “Then it was a combination of other guys producing and he became that role guy that helped us win a lot of games with his versatility, his base-running -- he was still impacting games.
“But it got to a point now where it’s getting difficult to find him playing time, and for his development and where we’re at in the regular season, what we want to see is for him to get regular at-bats and play everyday because it’s hard for us to judge him right now.”
Welcome to Queens, Mr. Lovelady
One of the other moves made was adding Dicky Lovelady to the active roster.
The veteran left-hander joined the club on a major league deal earlier in the day.
Lovelady hit the open market last week after opting out of his minor league deal with the Twins, upon finding out he wasn’t going to receive an opportunity on their big-league roster.
While he hasn’t found much success in the majors of late, he did pitch well for Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate, posting a 2.61 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 19 appearances.
Mendoza says the hope is he’ll give them a much-needed boost from the left-side.
“I’ve seen him pitch before while with Kansas City,” he said. “He's a lefty from the low-slot with the sinker, the slider, and he’s got a sweeper too. He's very tough left-on-left -- you just add another weapon out of the bullpen there so we can mix and match.”
Lovelady's held lefties to a .239 average over the course of his big-league career.
Expectations for Montas
Frankie Montas is officially set to make his Mets debut on Tuesday night.
The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since early in spring training due to a lat injury.
Things didn't quite go well for him during his minor league rehab assignment. He allowed eight homers and pitched to a 12.05 ERA and 2.14 WHIP over six appearances between High-A and Triple-A.
Still, Mendoza is confident that Montas can find his form and help this team.
“He’s someone when we signed him, we thought he’s going to be a big part of this rotation,” he said. “I remember when we faced him in the Wild Card series last year, he was pretty nasty, the way the ball was coming out and the way he was using all of his pitches.
“I’ve seen him pitch for a lot of years at this level and have a lot of success. So the expectation is for him to go out there and to compete and to give us a chance to win a baseball game each and every time he takes the ball, starting tomorrow.”
Travis Jankowski ready for anything thrown his way in second stint with Mets
It’s been an up-and-down season for Travis Jankowski.
The veteran is coming off back-to-back campaigns in which he played a significant role for the Rangers.
Still, Jankowski found himself looking for a permanent home this month.
He signed with the Cubs this offseason, but was released before the season began. He then joined the White Sox for a brief stint before being traded to the Rays, who gave him just 17 appearances before removing him from their 40-man roster.
Jankowski elected to hit free agency again, and quickly landed with the Mets on a minor league pact.
After spending eight games down in Triple-A Syracuse, he finally received the call he's been waiting for, back up to the big-league level prior to Monday night’s series opener against the Braves.
“It’s good to be back for a second stint,” he said. “I’m getting up there as far as age so it’s just about doing anything possible to get to the big-leagues. Being with the Mets who are a contender definitely sparked my interest, they made it really hard to say no to.”
Jankowski, of course, appeared in 43 games with the club back in 2022.
He served as the fourth outfielder but quickly became a beloved figure by Buck Showalter, his teammates, and fans with his high-energy play throughout spring training and the early part of the season.
Now, under a new skipper, he’s expecting to take on a similar role.
“It’s one of those things where I’ve done everything,” he said. “I’ve played every day, I’ve come off the bench, I’ve pinch hit and pinch ran, defensive replacement -- everything but pitch. And if Carlos [Mendoza] asks me to pitch I’ll go out there and eat an inning up.
“And to the fans, thanks for everything. I’m not sure why you guys love me but I’ll take it, hopefully I can keep up the support.”
Sabres Could Be Looking To Move Samuelsson
The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly being aggressive in their pursuit of trades with the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday and the start of free agency in just over a week. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has been talking to several teams in regards to restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram and winger JJ Peterka, but are also actively shopping defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.
The 25-year-old blueliner is in the third year of a seven-year, $30 million contract, and has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Samuelsson had a career-high 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 62 games last season, but was healthy scratched by head coach Lindy Ruff at times and played with multiple defensive partners throughout the year.. Because of his age, the former second round pick could be a buyout option, since he would cost only one-third of the remaining value of the deal (a cap penalty of $714,286), but it would be on the Sabres books over the next 10 years.
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Byram is looking for a significant pay increase and a larger role where he can play top-pairing minutes, while Peterka is reportedly looking for a change of scenery after the expiration o his entry-level deal and finishing second on the Sabres with 68 points, but the difficulty is that Adams is looking to make hockey deals for other NHL talent, while many interested clubs are looking to acquire players for draft picks and prospects.
Buffalo continues to have difficulty navigating the waters of players with no-movement, no-trade, or limited no-trade clauses, as many players have the Sabres on their list of destinations they prefer not to go to. Pagnotta also indicates that Buffalo has been linked to Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, but the restricted free agent is reportedly looking for a long-term deal in excess of the seven-year, $49 million contract that teammate Matt Boldy signed two years ago.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
First look at Windies Test pitch as Aussies eye major shake-ups with Ashes on horizon: Ultimate guide
After the disappointment of the World Test Championship final defeat, Australia’s return to the Caribbean was always going to feel like a bit of a reset heading into the new WTC cycle.
Ex-Laker Alex Caruso jokes after winning NBA title with Thunder: 'Now I got a real one'
Alex Caruso is an NBA champion!
Of course, Caruso already had a ring before he and the Oklahoma City Thunder closed out the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. His first one came with the Lakers after the slightly shortened 2020 season and a postseason played entirely in the NBA bubble in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Now I got a real one," Caruso told reporters following the Thunder's 103-91 victory over the Pacers. "Now nobody can say anything."
Read more:Oklahoma City defeats Indiana in Game 7 to secure franchise's second NBA title
He was joking, of course, making reference to the trolls who try to diminish the Lakers' title from five years ago because of the unique circumstances under which it was won.
That Lakers team had an average age of nearly 29 and was led by LeBron James, who was 35 years old upon winning his fourth NBA championship.
This Thunder team is led by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is 26 and — like the rest of his Oklahoma City teammates, except for Caruso — hadn't won an NBA title until now. Their average age is 25.68 years, making them the youngest NBA champion team since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.
Read more:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC to NBA title, and the Clippers must be cringing
"I think just because of the way the team is constructed now versus the team I had in 2020, it was much harder with this team just because of the experience [level]," Caruso, 31, said. "... I think through the playoffs, this team grew up and learned on the fly. Most teams have to learn through losses and learn though defeat, and I think this team learned through success. And it’s a unique capability to be able to do that for 21- to 27-year-old kids.
"For me, I’ve seen greats do it, so I knew the way, I knew the mindset. But to see these guys do it, man, it’s really cool to see it in person, and I’m so happy for the guys just to be able to figure it out and be able to get this done.”
Caruso was a valuable player off the bench en route to both of his NBA championships, averaging 6.5 points per game in 2020 and 9.2 this season. He scored 20 points in three different games during the 2025 season, including twice during the Finals; his high score during the 2020 campaign was 16 points.
He signed with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent during the 2021 offseason and was traded to Oklahoma City for guard Josh Giddey last summer. Caruso's previous championship experience was also valuable after Sunday's game, when Caruso had to give his teammates a crash course on popping champagne to celebrate the victory.
Caruso (the only previous champ) had to teach the team how to pop champagne 😂🍾 pic.twitter.com/5rhf6RvT4S
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2025
“We didn’t do it all at the same time until like the third try," Caruso said of popping the corks. "I tried my best when we got in there, I was like, 'All right, let’s get a head count, let’s make sure everyone’s here before we do the first one.’ And through the learning experience of taking the foil off, undoing the metal and having the cork ready, there was like three or four guys that popped their corks. And then it happened again. …
"We went through the process a couple times and eventually we got everybody on the same page. But, yeah, it was a good first try. We’ll get some rest, reset, try to go again next year and see if we can do it again, and we’ll be better.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Goodman: Why Brad Stevens has ‘major advantage' over other GMs
Goodman: Why Brad Stevens has ‘major advantage' over other GMs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Brad Stevens has done a phenomenal job through his first four seasons as the Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations. This offseason, however, will be his most challenging yet.
Stevens’ primary goal this summer will be getting under the second apron of the luxury tax while maintaining a roster that can compete for a title. The Celtics must shed roughly $20 million in salary to accomplish that task, which means they’ll have to part ways with at least one rotation player from their 2024 championship core.
Moves might be made before or during the upcoming NBA Draft, during which the Celtics own the 28th and 32nd overall picks. Stevens could use both selections, or he could package them in a deal to move up the draft board.
Either way, the former Butler head coach knows what to look for in college prospects, and NCAA basketball analyst Jeff Goodman believes he has a significant edge on his counterparts.
“Brad Stevens has a major advantage over just about every GM in the NBA,” Goodman said on the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season. “His college connections are so tight that he’s not gonna be — a lot of guys when they call up and they don’t know these college coaches, let’s face it, they’re gonna be played. They are. They just don’t have those relationships.
“No college coach is gonna lie to Brad Stevens because of what he did in college.”
Stevens’ draft selections since taking over for Danny Ainge include JD Davison, Anton Watson, and Baylor Scheierman. He acquired Jordan Walsh during the 2023 draft in a deal with the Sacramento Kings, who selected him at No. 38 overall.
Where Stevens has excelled in his role as Boston’s front-office leader is in the trade market. Al Horford, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis each were acquired in deals that turned out to be lopsided wins for the Celtics. That group made up four of the C’s top six during their 2024 title run.
Will Stevens make another stunning move this summer? Goodman wouldn’t rule it out.
“The beauty of Brad is nothing’s off the table,” he said. “I mean, he’s shown that to be the case, right? He’s so smart and fearless in this job that if he feels like, ‘Hey, you know what? I can get an unbelievable trade for Jaylen Brown,’ I think he would do it.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be there for him, but I don’t think he’s scared to make a big trade. He’s shown that and it’s worked out for him. … I think it gives everybody more optimism that whatever Brad does, it’s probably gonna work out.”
According to reports, Stevens and the Celtics are hearing trade offers on everyone except Jayson Tatum. That means Brown and White are technically on the table, though it would take a massive haul to acquire either star.
Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Sam Hauser are the more realistic trade chips for Boston this offseason. For Goodman, there’s an obvious choice between Holiday and Porzingis.
“I wouldn’t trade Porzingis right now. I just wouldn’t,” Goodman said. “I think his value is at its absolute lowest. I don’t think this is the time. I think you gotta get him healthy again, get him out there, and then maybe deal him.
“If you can trade Jrue Holiday, that’s the one I think you’d love to be able to get off your books. I just don’t know how you’re gonna be able to do it.”
The 2025 NBA Draft is set to begin Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Watch the full episode of The Off C’season with Goodman, Chris Forsberg, Kevin O’Connor, and Tom Giles below:
Thunder, Pacers Roar to 6-Year NBA Finals High With 16.4M Viewers
As expected, ABC enjoyed a big boost in its deliveries for the seventh game of the NBA Finals, as Sunday night’s broadcast of the Thunder’s 103-91 win over the Pacers averaged 16.4 million viewers—the biggest turnout for a title tilt since 2019.
While the Nielsen data is preliminary—a final readout on the audience numbers will be available Tuesday—the official TV turnout isn’t likely to be significantly larger than the figures released Monday afternoon.
ABC’s deliveries peaked with 19.3 million viewers in the 9:45 p.m. ET quarter-hour. All told, the Oklahoma City-Indiana series averaged 10.3 million viewers over the course of the seven nights, which marked a 9% decline compared to the year-ago Celtics-Mavericks set. That five-game series averaged 11.3 million viewers.
The Thunder-Pacers showdown now stands as the fifth least-watched Finals in the modern Nielsen era (1988-present). Excluding the pandemic-disrupted 2020 “bubble” series (7.45 million viewers per game) and the delayed 2021 follow-up (9.91 million), which closed out on July 20 of that same year, the only two Finals that this year’s event managed to top were the 2003 and 2007 editions. San Antonio’s sweep of the latter series kept the average down to just 9.29 million viewers per game, while their 4-2 victory over the Nets in 2003 managed 9.86 million.
Game 7 was the first of this year’s Finals to serve up more than 10 million viewers, as ABC throughout the series was hampered by the small-town matchups. Together, the Indianapolis and OKC markets are home to a combined 1.99 million TV households, accounting for just 1.6% of the national base.
Sunday night’s game was marred by an injury sustained by the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, who early in the first quarter went down with what would prove to be a torn Achilles tendon. In what amounts to a truly miserable coincidence, Haliburton was the third NBA player in the postseason to succumb to a wrecked Achilles while wearing the number 0. Bucks guard Damian Lillard sustained his injury in a first-round loss to Indiana, while Boston’s Jayson Tatum ruptured the same tendon in a second-round defeat at Madison Square Garden.
All three stars are expected to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA campaign as they recover from their injuries.
If this year’s results are a far cry from previous Game 7s—nine years ago, Cleveland’s 93-89 victory over Golden State averaged a staggering 31 million viewers, giving the NBA its biggest national TV audience since Michael Jordan’s last hurrah in 1998—Disney still managed to secure the bag over the course of these Finals. Before any necessary make-good considerations were factored into the calculus, ABC’s in-game advertising revenue is believed to have added up to some $300 million.
Thanks to the Game 7 boost, the NBA will enjoy bragging rights to a spot among the year’s top TV broadcasts for the first time since 2019. The closest the league has come to cracking the century club in recent years was in 2022, when Game 6 of the Warriors-Celtics tilt averaged 14 million viewers, or just eight spots shy of the cutoff.
Over the course of the 34 NBA postseason games that aired across ESPN and ABC between April 19 and June 22, the Disney networks averaged 6.12 million viewers per outing, good for a 10% improvement compared to 2024.
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Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Trail Blazers, acquire Anfernee Simons: Report
Celtics trade Jrue Holiday to Trail Blazers, acquire Anfernee Simons: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The NBA offseason is already in full swing.
Just a day after the NBA Finals ended, the Boston Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday night.
BREAKING: The Boston Celtics have traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/2ycXQicGkT
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
Boston remain engaged in trade talks for multiple key players on its roster, Charania added.
Holiday was a key contributor to Boston’s 2024 NBA title, playing lockdown defense and being a playmaking hub on offense. The 35-year-old agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension in April of 2024.
Simons, 26, is on an expiring contract worth north of $27 million. The 2018 No. 24 overall pick has developed into a solid multi-level scorer, but Portland has struggled to build a playoff team in the post-Damian Lillard era.
Portland initially received Holiday in its 2023 trade that sent Lillard to Milwaukee before rerouting him to Boston.
This past season, Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists on a 44/35/91 shooting split. Simons with Portland averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds on a 43/36/90 shooting split.
Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija were the other key scorers for Portland this past season, though the team doesn’t have a clear direction yet in terms of contending vs. building.
Boston seems to be retooling, letting go of a championship-caliber squad piece for a potential lead scoring guard as Jayson Tatum rehabs from a torn Achilles. With Boston seemingly eyeing more moves, how Simons fits into the wider scheme will be more clear.
This is a developing story and will be updated…