What happened in three snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday, April 18.
Indiana Pacers Wiretap
The following graphics show the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating rankings for all 16 teams in the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Damian Lillard has been named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from March 26 to April 1. Victor Oladipo won the award in the Eastern Conference.
Lillard had the highest scoring average in the NBA for the week, averaging 28.3 points (46.9% FG, 25.9% 3-PT, 94.7% FT) to go with 6.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists. He was fourth in the Western Conference in total assists (26) for the week and tied for sixth in free throws made (18).
Oladipo averaged 26.0 points and 6.7 assists as Pacers went 3-0.
The Indiana Pacers will sign Trevor Booker on a minimum deal for the remainder of the season once he clears waivers.
Booker was waived by the 76ers to create a roster spot for Ersan Ilyasova.
Booker was traded by the Nets to the 76ers in November.
The Indiana Pacers are signing Trey McKinney-Jones to a 10-day contract.
McKinney-Jones is averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.8 minutes per game this season in the G League.
McKinney-Jones went undrafted out of Miami in 2013 and has mostly played in the G League.
The New York Knicks remain the NBA's most valuable franchise for the third straight season, according to Forbes' annual report.
The Knicks are valued at $3.6 billion, which is an increase of nine percent from 2017.
The Los Angeles Lakers rank second at $3.3 billion, an increase of 10 percent.
The Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics round out the top-5.
The average NBA franchise is now worth a record $1.65 billion, up 22% over last year, and more than triple the figure of five years ago.
Every NBA team is valued at $1 billion or more for the first time in league history.
“Investor interest in the NBA is enormous right now,” said Forbes’ senior editor Kurt Badenhausen, “thanks to the league’s strong current economic environment, as well as the international growth prospects, which are the best of any major U.S. sports league.”
1. Knicks: $3.6 billion (+9%)
2. Lakers: $3.3 billion (+10%)
3. Warriors: $3.1 billion (+19%)
4. Bulls: $2.6 billion (+4%)
5. Celtics: $2.5 billion (+14%)
6. Nets: $2.3 billion (+28%)
7. Rockets: $2.2 billion (+33%)
8. Clippers: $2.15 billion (+7%)
9. Mavericks: $1.9 billion (+31%)
10. Heat: $1.7 billion (+26%)
11. Spurs: $1.55 billion (+32%)
12. Raptors: $1.4 billion (+24%)
13. Kings: $1.375 billion (+28%)
14. Wizards: $1.35 billion (+35%)
15. Cavaliers: $1.325 billion (+10%)
16. Blazers: $1.3 billion (+24%)
17. Suns: $1.28 billion (+16%)
18. Thunder: $1.25 billion (+22%)
19. Magic: $1.225 billion (+33%)
20. Jazz: $1.2 billion (+32%)
21. 76ers: $1.18 billion (+48%)
22. Pacers: $1.175 billion (+34%)
23. Hawks: $1.15 billion (+30%)
24. Nuggets: $1.125 billion (+26%)
25. Pistons: $1.1 billion (+22%)
26. Bucks: $1.075 billion (+37%)
27. Wolves: $1.06 billion (+38%)
28. Hornets: $1.05 billion (+35%)
29. Grizzlies: $1.025 billion (+30%)
30. Pelicans: $1 billion (+33%)
Darren Collison will undergo left knee arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday.
Collison is expected to return in two to three weeks.
Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Dennis Smith Jr. have committed to participating in the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest.
Larry Nance Jr. is a strong candidate to be the fourth contestant.
The NBA will announce the participants next week.
Donovan Mitchell is one player who had gained momentum for the contest this season but it appears he will not receive an invite.
The Indiana Pacers will sign Ben Moore to a two-way contract.
Moore had been playing in the G-League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Moore is averaging 11.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.1 minutes per game.
Moore played for the Pacers in Summer League.
The Indiana Pacers have requested waivers on forward Damien Wilkins.
Wilkins played in 19 games, starting one, and averaged 1.7 points per game.














