Jalen Williams Remains Busy Wednesday
Jalen Williams produced another good all-around performance in Wednesday's blowout win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, racking up 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block. While he went only 1-for-4 with the three-ball, Williams shot a solid 7-for-14 overall and had a 4-for-5 record at the foul line. Williams was a two-way beast against the Timberwolves, averaging 22.2 points and 2.0 steals per game. He will be expected to keep up this level of play in the team's first NBA Finals since 2012.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Chet Holmgren Strong at Both Ends Wednesday
Chet Holmgren recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in Wednesday's series-clinching 124-94 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had his third outing in four games with at least 20 points, shooting 8-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-4 from outside, and 4-for-6 at the charity stripe. Before the series against his hometown Timberwolves, Holmgren had managed only two games with 20-plus points this postseason, showcasing a significant improvement in his offensive output leading up to the Finals. The 23-year-old is averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks this postseason.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Records Another 30-Point Performance
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 34 points on 14-for-25 shooting as the team clinched a spot in the 2025 NBA Finals with a 124-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves restricted Gilgeous-Alexander to just four free throws in Game 5, but they were still no match for the MVP and his team. Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, recorded his 11th game of the postseason with at least 30 points and still had time to tally eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. He will now begin preparing for his first career Finals appearance, having averaged 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals during the playoffs.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Brandin Podziemski Recovering From Wrist Surgery
Brandin Podziemski underwent left wrist debridement surgery Tuesday, the team announced. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp. Podziemski had his sophomore campaign in 2024-25. While it had its ups and downs, the 22-year-old will be happy with how it ended, as Podziemski battled out a starting role during the second half of the season and had a couple of standout performances in the playoffs. He will look to take another step forward in 2025-26, having averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals this campaign.Source: ESPN
Golden State Warriors guard Aaron Nesmith Back on the Injury Report Ahead of Game 5
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's Game 5 against the New York Knicks. He rolled his right ankle in Game 3 of the series and was also deemed questionable for Tuesday's Game 4. However, Nesmith managed to play through the injury, recording 16 points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 32 minutes. Since he had no issues playing in Game 4, it seems likely that Nesmith will remain in the lineup on Thursday night. His presence limits the impact that Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin can have, although the latter impressed with a 20-point performance in just 12 minutes during Tuesday's 130-121 win.Source: NBA Injury Report
Indiana Pacers forward Karl-Anthony Towns Listed as Questionable for Thursday's Game 5
Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has been tagged as questionable for Thursday's Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. He is dealing with a left knee contusion after getting hurt in a collision with Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith during Game 4 on Tuesday night. If Towns can't play on Thursday, we will likely see Josh Hart rejoin the first unit. However, with the Knicks' season on the line, Towns will likely do everything he can to play and help his team. The five-time All-Star has averaged 25.8 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Eastern Conference Finals, shooting an impressive 45.5 percent from three-point range.Source: NBA Injury Report
New York Knicks forward/center Josh Hart Logs a Double-Double Off the Bench Tuesday
Josh Hart produced a double-double in Tuesday's 130-121 loss to the Indiana Pacers, despite coming off the bench for the second consecutive game. He was among the game's leading rebounders with 11 boards and posted 12 points on 3-for-5 shooting. He made five of six attempts at the foul line. However, on the negative side, Hart registered a game-high five turnovers in 36 minutes. The Knicks have dropped Hart to the bench in favor of Mitchell Robinson, but he has continued to play starter's minutes and is sure to feature heavily in Thursday's elimination game. The veteran has averaged 8.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 35.8 minutes throughout the series against Indiana.Source: ESPN
New York Knicks guard/forward Karl-Anthony Towns Collects Another Double-Double in Tuesday's Loss
Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds with three assists in Tuesday's 130-121 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He was the only Knicks starter with a positive plus/minus for the contest, shooting 8-for-15 from the field with a 1-for-2 mark from downtown and finishing 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. Towns posted his third double-double of the series and his 10th in his last 12 games. The Knicks will certainly need another big performance from the big man in Thursday's Game 5 to stay alive in the series. Towns may appear on the injury report before the game after hurting his left knee in a collision with Aaron Nesmith late in Tuesday's game.Source: ESPN
New York Knicks forward/center Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks with 31 Points in Tuesday's Loss
Jalen Brunson finished Tuesday's 130-121 loss to the Indiana Pacers with a team-high 31 points, shooting 9-for-19 from the field and 11-for-12 at the free-throw line. He was 2-for-6 with the three-ball while completing his line with two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. This marks the third time in the series that Brunson's big individual effort did not lead to victory for the Knicks, who are now down 3-1 in the series and will be facing elimination on home court Thursday night. Brunson is averaging 33.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the series. It looks like he must find one more gear for the Knicks to be competitive in the series.Source: ESPN
New York Knicks point guard Pascal Siakam Drops 30 Points on Knicks in Game 4 Win
Pascal Siakam shot 11-for-21 from the field and 5-for-6 at the charity stripe en route to 30 points in Tuesday's 130-121 victory over the New York Knicks. He matched his best performance of the postseason from behind the arc with a 3-for-4 effort. Following a relatively quiet night in Game 3, Siakam did a little bit of everything for the Pacers, finishing with five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. The 2019 NBA champion had his second 30-point outing in the series. New York has allowed him to take 20-plus shots in the games Siakam has gone off for 30-plus points, while he has attempted only 30 shots combined in the two games where his offensive production was limited. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau must devise a plan to limit Siakam's touches to boost his team's chances in the series.Source: ESPN
Indiana Pacers forward/center Tyrese Haliburton Records Historic Triple-Double Tuesday
Tyrese Haliburton had a special outing in Tuesday's Game 4 against the New York Knicks, leading his team to a 130-121 victory. He became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double in a Conference Finals game without a single turnover. Haliburton filled the stat sheet with 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and four steals, leading his team in all four categories. The Pacers star shot 11-for-23 from the field, including 5-for-12 from outside, and finished 5-for-6 at the line. The matchup against the Knicks appears to be suiting Haliburton very well, as he has significantly increased his production. Through four games, he has averaged 24.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.Source: ESPN
Indiana Pacers point guard Russell Westbrook Undergoes Hand Surgery
Russell Westbrook has undergone surgery on his right hand. The team announced that the procedure was necessary to repair multiple ligament tears in his hand. In the announcement, the Nuggets mentioned that Westbrook is expected to resume full offseason training in the summer. This indicates that he will be at 100 percent for the start of next season. The former MVP has a $3.47 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign. While coming off the bench for most of the season, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in his first year with the Nuggets. He isn't the player he once was, but he can still make an impact in fantasy basketball.Source: Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets point guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker Leads Timberwolves in Scoring Monday
Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished as the team's top scorer in Monday's 128-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, posting 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting off the bench. Minnesota's second unit played a big role in the contest, as Donte DiVincenzo also came alive with a 22-point effort. Alexander-Walker's offensive contributions didn't end with his scoring, as he matched Anthony Edwards for the team high with six assists. The 26-year-old completed his line with four rebounds and two steals, shooting 5-for-8 from deep. While playing against his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the series, Alexander-Walker has significantly increased his offensive output, averaging 17.3 points over his past three outings. Edwards and Julius Randle combined for only 21 points on Monday, making Alexander-Walker's improvement on the offensive end timely for the team.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Jaden McDaniels Busy Against Thunder in Game 4
Jaden McDaniels made an impact all over the court in Monday's Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, notching 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, four steals, and one block in a 128-126 loss. He was Minnesota's leading scorer among the starting unit, shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 3-for-6 from behind the arc. McDaniels is highly regarded for his defense, but he has also stepped up offensively in these playoffs, averaging 15.4 points per game. In the matchup against the Thunder, McDaniels has already had two 20-point outings. Given Julius Randle's struggles, the Thunder may have to rely even more on McDaniels for offense in Wednesday's elimination game.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards Settles for 16 Points in Game 4 Against Thunder
Anthony Edwards had a quiet evening in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, scoring only 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting in a 128-126 loss. A couple more shots and makes from the Timberwolves superstar, and we could be talking about a tied series. However, similarly to the series opener, Edwards struggled to get shots off. Most of his misses came from three-point land with a 1-for-7 effort, and Edwards finished 5-for-7 with his free throws. His night included four rebounds and six assists, but the three-time All-Star also committed five turnovers. Following a quiet Game 1, Edwards was much more active and went off for back-to-back 30-point games. The Timberwolves will be hoping the same happens again, with the team facing elimination in Wednesday's Game 5.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward