April 2017 Basketball Wiretap

Zaza Pachulia Cleared To Play Normal Minutes In Game 1

May 28, 2017 10:39 AM

Zaza Pachulia is on track to start Game 1 of The Finals on Thursday for the Golden State Warriors.

Pachulia participated in all parts of all three practices on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“We’ve done running, had scrimmages and he’s done everything,” Mike Brown said.

Pachulia is expected to play his typical 15-20ish minute per night role and he has been fully cleared, health-wise, to do so.

“It’s good that we have one week off,” Pachulia said. “That way I can prepare myself mentally and physically for this team.”

Anthony Slater/San Jose Mercury News

Tags: Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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David Lee Won't Need Surgery On Knee

May 27, 2017 12:07 PM

David Lee won't need surgery on his knee this offseason.

Lee suffered a sprained patellar tendon in the Western Conference Finals. Lee's injury should heal in approximately six weeks.

Lee had a productive season for the San Antonio Spurs after bouncing around with the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks in 15-16.

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: David Lee, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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Isaiah Thomas Still Hoping To Avoid Surgery On Hip

May 26, 2017 3:41 PM

Isaiah Thomas says he must wait until the swelling subsides in his injured right hip before determining his rehabilitation plan but noted that surgery is not currently the top option.

"[Surgery is] not the No. 1 option right now, but it could be once the swelling goes down," Thomas said Friday while addressing reporters at Boston's exit interviews. "They want to let [the swelling] die down a little bit then take another MRI once everything is down and it's back to normal. We'll go from there. Hopefully I don't have to have surgery, but I know that is an option."

Thomas said the Celtics are committed to putting him on the best path to long-term health. Thomas will be a free agent in 2018.

"I've gotta do what's best for me in the long run, what's best for my body. As [coach] Brad [Stevens] continues to say each and every day, it's how you're healthiest for the long run. Even [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] and those guys say that, so that says a lot about who they are as people.

"Most importantly, they care about my health, not just being a basketball player. So the Celtics are definitely behind me in this tough situation, but I mean, nobody's going to feel sorry for me. I just have to keep going and figure out what I've gotta do to come back at the highest level possible."

Chris Forsberg/ESPN

Tags: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury

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Isaiah Thomas Still Consulting Specialists Before Deciding On Hip Surgery

May 24, 2017 12:39 PM

Isaiah Thomas has met with one specialist regarding the right hip injury that has sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs. Thomas will gather one or two more opinions before deciding whether to have surgery.

“He’s still obviously really sore,” Brad Stevens said. “The last [doctor] said that some of the inflammation that he has has to go down before they can make the final call.”

Thomas suffered the injury on March 15th and aggravated it several times before he was diagnosed with a labral tear after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Thomas is one season away from free agency.

Adam Himmelsbach/Boston Globe

Tags: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kawhi Leonard Ruled Out For Game 4

May 22, 2017 7:21 PM

Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out by the San Antonio Spurs for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Leonard has been out since the second half of Game 1 with an ankle injury.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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David Lee Diagnosed With Partially Torn Patellar Tendon In Left Knee

May 21, 2017 5:28 PM

David Lee has been diagnosed with a partially torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Lee will undergo an MRI to confirm the injury.

Lee injured the knee with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter, after he scored on a layup contested by Draymond Green.

Lee winced in pain immediately upon landing, and he was down on the floor near the tunnel leading out toward the locker rooms.

The San Antonio Spurs are already without Tony Parker for the remainder of the playoffs, while Kawhi Leonard has sat out Games 2 and 3.

Michael C. Wright, Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: David Lee, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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Celtics Lose Isaiah Thomas For Rest Of Playoffs

May 21, 2017 3:06 AM

Isaiah Thomas will miss the remainder of the postseason after aggravating a right hip injury during Friday's Game 2 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Celtics announced Saturday that Thomas suffered a "re-aggravation of a right femoral-acetabular impingement with labral tear" during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Celtics trail Cleveland 2-0 heading into Game 3. 

“Isaiah has worked tirelessly to manage this injury since it first occurred,” said Celtics Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian McKeon. “The swelling increased during the first two games against Cleveland, and in order to avoid more significant long-term damage to his hip, we could no longer allow him to continue.”

ESPN

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kawhi Leonard Won't Play In Game 3

May 20, 2017 3:11 PM

Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

Leonard aggravated his ankle injury in the second half of Game 1.

Leonard previously sat out Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals and Game 2 of the current series.

The San Antonio Spurs trail the Warriors 0-2 heading into Game 3.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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Isaiah Thomas Misses 2nd Half Of Game 2 With Right Hip Strain

May 20, 2017 3:27 AM

Isaiah Thomas missed the entire second half of Game 2 with a right hip strain.

Thomas played 17 minutes in the first half and didn't score a single field goal on six attempts.

“I think he's going to be reevaluated tomorrow, “ said Stevens, “and ‘we'll see’ is what I was told. I don't know anything further to that. I don't know if somebody out of our PR group will communicate that tomorrow or early Sunday, whatever the determination is.”

According to Stevens, Thomas has been battling the injury for a while.

“He's had a nagging hip injury,” said Stevens. “He aggravated it pretty significantly on Friday in Washington Game 6, went through a bunch of different testing on Saturday and Sunday, was able to play Monday, hasn't felt great either of the two days. But today I thought he looked much different in the first half. When we went back to the locker room, our training staff and doctors got with him. He was pretty despondent not to be able to play. I mean, that guy is a tough guy, and he plays through a lot. For him to have to sit is really hard.”

Lang Whitaker/NBA.com

Tags: Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kawhi Leonard Doesn't Practice, Remains Questionable For Game 3

May 19, 2017 1:29 AM

Kawhi Leonard remains questionable for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday.

Leonard was at the San Antonio Spurs' practice facility on Thursday but did not participate in the workout.

"He was sitting nicely on the sidelines. It's going well, as well as it can go," Pau Gasol said. "We have a good training staff. He's working with them and trying to get that ankle right. That's what I know."

Leonard reinjured his left ankle during the third quarter of Game 1. Leonard sat out Game 2 on Tuesday.

"The thing that worries me is that he did it again, the exact same thing," Popovich said. "So one would logically think maybe it will take longer, but I'm hoping that's not true and we'll have him for Game 3."

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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MRI Reveals Only Heel Contusion For Zaza Pachulia

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Kemba Walker Undergoes Surgery On Left Knee

RealGM Staff Report

Kawhi Leonard Out For Game 2, Questionable For Game 3

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Kelly Oubre Jr. To Undergo PRP Injections

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Kawhi Leonard MRI On Ankle Shows No Structural Damage

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Andre Iguodala Has No Structural Damage To Left Knee

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Andre Iguodala To Undergo MRI On 'Sore Left Knee'

Chris Haynes/ESPN

Kawhi Leonard Unsure If He'll Play Game 2

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Walter Tavares Out Indefinitely With Fractured Right Hand

RealGM Staff Report

Kawhi Leonard To Play In Game 1 Of WCF

Melissa Rohlin/San Antonio Express-News

Ben Simmons Unlikely To Play In Summer League

Scott Howard-Cooper/NBA.com

Kawhi Leonard Expected To Play In Game 1

Michael C. Wright/ESPN

Tyler Ulis Undergoes Surgery On Right Ankle

RealGM Staff Report

Allen Crabbe To Undergo Surgery For Broken Foot

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Nene Ruled Out For Playoffs With Torn Adductor

ESPN

Nene Suffers Pulled Left Groin

NBA.com

Steve Kerr Undergoes Spinal Cord Leak Procedure

ESPN

Kyle Lowry Doubtful For Game 4

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Kelly Oubre Suspended For Game 4

ESPN

Isaiah Thomas Playing With Temporary Dental Bridge

RealGM Staff Report