Rudy Gobert Anonymous in West Finals Opener
Rudy Gobert put in a disappointing 21-minute effort in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, tallying only two points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 114-88 loss. He finished 1-for-3 from the field and missed both of his free throws. The Thunder are well-equipped in the paint with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, and Gobert has to contribute a lot more for Minnesota to have a chance at making it into the NBA Finals. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has averaged only 1.3 blocks this postseason, while notching 8.3 points and grabbing 9.0 rebounds.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves center Anthony Edwards Quiet in Game 1 Against Thunder
Anthony Edwards struggled to make an impact in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, settling for 18 points in a 114-88 loss. Edwards hurt his right ankle late in the first quarter but still logged a team-high 37 minutes of playing time. Additionally, he led the Timberwolves with nine rebounds and registered three assists and one block, shooting 5-for-13 from the field with a 3-for-8 record from deep. Edwards has averaged 20 shot attempts per game this postseason, so it's quite an achievement for the Thunder to limit him to just 13 shots. Remarkably, this also marks only the second game in the playoffs where Edwards didn't reach the 20-point plateau. We can expect him to come back with a much stronger effort in Game 2.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Julius Randle Leads Timberwolves with 28 Points in Game 1 Loss
Julius Randle maintained his hot hand in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder but couldn't save his squad from a 114-88 defeat. The former Knick put up a team-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting, tallying eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Randle made five triples with six attempts but also committed five turnovers in the game. While Randle has been hot offensively in the postseason, his ball-handling has been poor in recent games, with this being his fourth consecutive outing with at least four turnovers. Against a top team like the Thunder, Minnesota cannot afford any sloppiness in its game, and Randle must lead the way alongside Anthony Edwards.Source: ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Chet Holmgren Helps Out in All Areas Tuesday
Chet Holmgren was unable to extend his double-double streak to three games during Tuesday's Western Conference Finals opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he still had a very productive night in a 114-88 victory. The 23-year-old scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, hitting his only three-point attempt, and recorded seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Holmgren's versatility makes it challenging for opponents to handle him, and the Timberwolves must certainly limit his impact to keep the series competitive. Through 12 postseason appearances, Holmgren has averaged 15.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 29.8 minutes.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Jalen Williams Fills Stat Sheet in Tuesday's Win
Jalen Williams made an impact all over the court in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a 114-88 win. He shot 7-for-18 from the field, including 1-for-2 from outside, and was perfect with his free throws, going 4-for-4. It was an impressive two-way performance from Williams, who was close to achieving his seventh postseason game with 20-plus points and set a playoff career high in steals. While Williams' shooting numbers have dropped in the postseason, he continues to be highly effective, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores Game-High 31 Points in Game 1 Win
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propelled his team to a 114-88 victory in the Western Conference Finals opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring a game-high 31 points on 10-for-27 shooting Tuesday night. He also had the most assists in the game with nine and picked up five rebounds with three steals, shooting 11-for-24 at the charity stripe. This was a rough shooting night for Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished 0-for-4 from three-point range, but he still got the job done on the offensive end, registering his fourth consecutive 30-point game. With improved efficiency, Gilgeous-Alexander is capable of much more in the series. He shot nearly 53 percent from the field against the Denver Nuggets in the previous round, so Tuesday was likely just a blip.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andrew Wiggins' Future Uncertain in Miami
Andrew Wiggins may be on the move again this summer. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, there is a 50-50 chance that Wiggins will be traded just a few months after the Heat acquired him from the Golden State Warriors. Wiggins' contract is worth $28.2 million next season, and he holds a $30.2 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign. Following his move to Miami, Wiggins had a larger role offensively, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes. At 30, he is still at the peak of his powers and will likely attract many suitors if the Heat decide to part ways with him.Source: Ira Winderman
Miami Heat forward Jrue Holiday Wants to Remain in Boston
Jrue
Holiday
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remain
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"We
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really
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and
win
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Holiday
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reporters
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hisread more...
Boston
Celtics
guard
Cavaliers Want to Keep Ty Jerome
Ty Jerome is scheduled for unrestricted free agency, but he will remain in Ohio if the team has its way. "Love to keep him. We're hopeful," Cavaliers president Koby Altman said. Jerome had his second season with the Cavaliers, although it was essentially a debut campaign for him after an ankle injury derailed his year in 2023-24, during which he played in only two games. The 27-year-old was one of the best bench players in the league, averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 19.9 minutes. He finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. Now, Jerome is looking at a substantial raise from his current $2.5 million salary. The Cavaliers can offer him a maximum of $14.3 million for next season, and it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to keep him around.Source: Michael Scotto
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Pelicans Want to "Make Things Work" with Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson hasn't seen any success during his time in Louisiana, leaving his future murky, but he remains an integral part of the team's plans. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pelicans' newly-hired president of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, wants to "make things work with Williamson as the team's centerpiece." New Orleans has aimed to build around Williamson ever since drafting him in 2019 as the No. 1 pick, but his availability is a significant concern. The 24-year-old has never played more than 70 games in a single NBA season and was limited to just 30 appearances in 2024-25. When healthy, Williamson can be a fantasy beast, but history has shown that managers can't count on that.Source: Marc Stein
New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Bucks "Hopeful" Giannis Antetokounmpo Won't Request Trade
Giannis Antetokounmpo has experienced three consecutive first-round exits with the team and is reportedly considering his future with the club. He is scheduled to meet with the team this week to discuss his future. NBA insider Marc Stein has reported that the Bucks remain "hopeful" that Antetokounmpo won't request a trade. Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career in Milwaukee, where he has become a two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star. However, he will turn 31 in December, and personal accolades seem to be secondary for him at this stage of his career, with Antetokounmpo focused on winning another championship. Even if he moves on, Antetokounmpo will remain among the top producers in fantasy basketball, and there should still be plenty of juice left in him.Source: Marc Stein
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Paul George Potentially On The Move?
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, "some teams" around the NBA "expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations" ahead of the 2025 Draft. Philly owns the No. 3 overall selection. However, the front office is rumored to dangle that pickAaron Gordon Finishes With Eight Points In Game 7
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) managed to suit up for Sunday's playoff loss to OKC. Unfortunately, he finished with only eight points, adding 11 rebounds while turning the ball over four times. Had the hamstring strain occurred during the regular season, Gordon likely wouldn't have been out there. However, he gave it his all, although it wasn't enough to stop the Thunder from earning a 32-point win. The 29-year-old finished the regular season by averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He also shot a career-high 43.6% from deep and was also instrumental in the Nuggets' success throughout the postseason. Still, injuries were an issue for Gordon. But if he stays healthy during the 2025-26 campaign, he should stay relevant for fantasy managers.Source: ESPN
Denver Nuggets forward Jamal Murray Has A Rough Afternoon On Sunday
Jamal Murray finished with 13 points in Sunday's loss to the Thunder. He added three steals and two assists. This was arguably Murray's worst showing of the series with OKC, especially on the scoring end. He shot a rough 6-for-16 from the field and made only one of his eight attempts from downtown. The 28-year-old averaged 21.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.9 boards during the regular season. While his three-point percentage dropped, he at least appeared in 67 games, eight more than the 2023-24 campaign. With that said, Murray has All-Star potential. However, his health is always a concern for fantasy managers, and he's also been known to go cold at times throughout his career.Source: ESPN
Denver Nuggets guard Chet Holmgren Finishes With Another Double-Double On Sunday
Chet Holmgren had a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double in Sunday's win over Denver. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick had trouble getting some of his shots to fall in Game 7, going 4-for-9 from the field and 0-for-3 from deep. Still, he did enough to help lead OKC to a 32-point win. The Thunder will next meet the Timberwolves on Tuesday to begin the Western Conference Finals. In two games against Minnesota during the regular season, Holmgren averaged 15.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks while shooting 61.1% from the field and 66.7% from behind the arc.Source: ESPN
Oklahoma City Thunder forward