March 2023 NBA Wiretap

Draymond Green Returns To Warriors Starting Lineup For Game 7 Against Kings

Apr 30, 2023 3:10 PM

The Golden State Warriors are going to back to a familiar lineup for Game 7 against the Sacramento Kings. After coming off the bench for the last three games, Draymond Green will return to the Warriors starting lineup.

Green has come off the bench since he was suspended for Game 3. Green has still played his regular minutes allotment as a reserve, but Steve Kerr is returning to his best defender with his regular starting group.

The winner of Game 7 will move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semifinals series starting later this week.

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Tags: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Dillon Brooks Fined $25K For Skipping Media Responsibilities

Apr 30, 2023 12:48 PM

Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks was fined $25,000 for skipping media responsibilities during the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Brooks left the arena without meeting with the media after three of the Grizzlies four losses to the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA rules dictate that players must be made available to the media following playoff games. Brooks was roundly criticized for talking trash to LeBron James and the Lakers before the series began and before games, but then skipping out on meeting with the media following losses.

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Tags: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Fines

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Julius Randle Expected To Miss Game 1 Against Heat

Apr 30, 2023 11:26 AM

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle is expected to be out for Game 1 of the second round against the Miami Heat. Randle is still recovering from a sprained ankle.

Randle was initially injured at the end of the regular season. He reaggravated the injury during the Knicks first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both Randle and Quentin Grimes were called game-time decisions by New York coach Tom Thibodeau. Without Randle and Grimes, New York will have to begin the series against Miami down two starters.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Julius Randle, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Joel Embiid Dealing With LCL Sprain Believed To Greater Than Grade 1

Apr 29, 2023 6:31 PM

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid's knee injury is believed to be more serious than originally thought. Embiid is considered to have a right knee LCL sprain that is greater than a Grade 1 sprain. Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said on Saturday that Embiid is doubtful to play in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics on Monday.

A Grade 1 LCL sprain has a possible recovery time of a few days to two weeks. A Grade 2 LCL sprain can take two to four weeks. A Grade 3 LCL sprain is in the range of four to six weeks. LCL sprains can be subject to reinjury of greater severity than the original injury.

It's unknown if Embiid is dealing with a Grade 2 or Grade 3 LCL sprain. By Monday, he'll have sat for 11 days, after missing the Sixers Game 4 victory in their first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Julius Randle, Quentin Grimes Questionable For Game 1 Against Heat

Apr 29, 2023 4:09 PM

The New York Knicks are entering their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat a little banged up. New York could be down two starters for Game 1 against Miami on Sunday.

Julius Randle is still dealing with a sprained left ankle. Randle was hurt towards the end of the regular season and reaggravated the injury during the Knicks first-round victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Quentin Grimes missed both Games 4 and 5 against the Cavs due to a right shoulder contusion. Grimes was injured during New York's Game 3 win over Cleveland.

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Tags: Julius Randle, Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Joel Embiid Doubtful For 'At Least' Game 1 Against Celtics

Apr 29, 2023 2:54 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers know they have a tough task ahead of them against the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs. But that task will be even tougher if Joel Embiid can't play due a sprained right knee.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers gave an update on Embiid's inactivity at Saturday's practice before casting doubt on the potential MVP's availability for Game 1 on Monday.

"There is no latest," Rivers said. "Obviously, the doctors looked at him, and he didn't do anything today.

"I'll say this, but if I was a betting man, I would probably say doubtful for at least Game 1. But we'll see."

Embiid missed Game 4 of the 76ers sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. That would give him 11 days off before facing the Celtics in Game 1. However, recovery times from a sprained LCL can vary greatly, and the Sixers haven't said what grade of sprain Embiid is dealing with.

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Ja Morant: Off-Court Issues Affected Us A Lot

Apr 29, 2023 10:42 AM

The Memphis Grizzlies were disappointed after their first-round series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Multiple Grizzlies expressed that they know they need to be better moving forward, including franchise player Ja Morant.

Morant took ownership of Memphis' shortcomings, starting with himself.

“I just got to be better with my decision-making. Off-the-court issues affected us as an organization," Morant said.

When asked a follow-up, Morant reiterated that making better decisions starts with him, as the team's leader.

“Like I said before, my (takeaways) are off the court and on the court. Just, being disciplined. Off the court, it’s about making better decisions. On the court, it’s about being locked in even more," Morant said. “Being the leader of the team, it starts with me. However I attack any situation, I know my guys will follow. I just have to be better in that area.”

Drew Hill: Daily Memphian

Tags: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tom Thibodeau 'Hopeful' That Julius Randle Will Be Ready For Game 1

Apr 29, 2023 1:19 AM

Tom Thibodeau said he was hopeful that Julius Randle would be able to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat on Sunday.

Randle remains questionable due to a sprained ankle.

"He's better today than he was [Thursday], and that was the big thing. So we're hopeful," said Thibodeau on Friday.

Randle initially injured the ankle on March 29, before re-injuring the ankle in Game 5 of the first round.

In other injury news, Quentin Grimes is expected to be available for Game 1 after missing this past week with a shoulder contusion. 

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Tags: Julius Randle, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Raptors Interview Jordi Fernandez On Friday

Apr 29, 2023 1:15 AM

The Toronto Raptors interviewed Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez on Friday morning, sources told Marc J. Spears of ESPN.

The team is set to interview several other candidates, including Kenny Atkinson, Charles Lee, and Becky Hammon

Marc J. Spears/ESPN

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Brother Of Mike Budenholzer Died During Bucks' First Round Series Against Heat

Apr 28, 2023 11:35 PM

Mike Budenholzer was dealing with a family tragedy during the Milwaukee Bucks first round series against the Miami Heat.

One of Budenholzer's three brothers died just before Game 4, according to The Athletic. The brother died as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident.

Budenolzer is the youngest of seven children.

Budenholzer did not disclose the family tragedy during the series and it came to light during a media availability with Darvin Ham. Ham was a longtime assistant coach under Budenholzer. 

“Coach Bud is going through a lot on a personal level,” Ham said, when asked about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s reaction to losing the series. “He just lost his brother, so, my apologies Bud if I wasn’t supposed to let anybody know. He and I’ve been texting. I love those guys.”

Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, NBA

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Rockets Interested In Khris Middleton

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Rockets Discussed Possibility Of Trading Jalen Green With Coaching Candidates

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Cavaliers 'Absolutely' Will Keep J.B. Bickerstaff As Head Coach Next Season

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kevin Durant Signs Lifetime Deal With Nike

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Trae Young: I'm Excited For the Future With Quin Snyder

Jeff Schultz/The Athletic

Mike Budenholzer's Future As Head Coach With Bucks 'Shaky'

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Suns Move Games Off Cable To Free TV And Streaming

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Bob Iger Barred From Bidding For Suns By Robert Sarver

Josh Kosman/New York Post

Warriors/Kings Game 5 Averages 4.29M Viewers On TNT

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Doc Rivers On Joel Embiid Status For Game 1: 'I'm Just Going To Wait'

ESPN

Raptors Conducting Wide Search For Next Head Coach

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Hollinger & Duncan: 2023 Playoffs Week 2

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Windhorst: Giannis Antetokounmpo 'Unlikely' To Extend With Bucks This Offseason

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

League Insiders 'Extremely Skeptical' Bucks Will Keep Mike Budenholzer As Head Coach

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Lawrence Frank: Clippers Have To Get Back To Honoring, Respecting Regular Season

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Jericho Sims Undergoes Surgery On Shoulder

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

WNBA Revenue Doubled Last Season, Players Received Only 9.3 Percent Of It

Jennah Haque/Bloomberg

NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 26): Knicks/Cavs, Grizzlies/Lakers, Heat/Bucks, Warriors/Kings

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Giannis Antetokounmpo: Heat Played To Beat Us, We Were Playing To Win Championship

Eric Nehm/The Athletic

Lakers/Grizzlies Game 4 Averages 4.26M Viewers On TNT

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