June 2024 Basketball Wiretap

Luka Doncic Receives Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP

May 31, 2024 1:31 AM

Luka Doncic was named the Magic Johnson Western Conference finals MVP after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the series.

“It’s a good feeling, man, I cannot lie,” said Doncic upon receiving the award.

Doncic, who got all nine media votes, averaged 32.4 points in the series.

Doncic entered Thursday averaging 31 points per game in the playoffs, second only to Michael Jordan.

Game 1 between the Mavs and Celtics begins on June 6.

Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Tags: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Award, NBA Playoffs

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Dereck Lively II Cleared To Play Game 5

May 30, 2024 7:28 PM

Dereck Lively II was cleared to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals after suffering a neck sprain in Game 3.

Lively missed Game 4 due to the injury, but he did not suffer a concussion and sat on the Dallas Mavericks' bench.

The Mavericks enter Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Dereck Lively II Questionable For Game 5

May 30, 2024 2:01 AM

Dereck Lively II has been upgraded to questionable for Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Lively missed Game 4 due to a neck sprain.

Maxi Kleber also returned to the Mavs lineup in Game 4. 

Brad Townsend/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kristaps Porzingis 'Ramping' Up Intensity, No Update For Game 1 Of NBA Finals

May 30, 2024 1:49 AM

Joe Mazzulla said that Kristaps Porzingis was increasing his workload but did not have any definitive updates about his status for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

"There’s been a couple shootarounds where he hasn’t done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He’s been getting better and better," said Mazzulla on Wednesday.

Mazzulla added that he wasn't sure whether Porzingis would be healthy by Game 1.

The NBA Finals start on June 6.

NBC Sports Boston

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

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Pacers Had 90+ Percent Win Probability In 4th Quarter Of Three Games In Conference Finals

May 28, 2024 2:41 PM

The Indiana Pacers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics from the Eastern Conference Finals in four games despite playing three incredibly close games.

The Pacers had at least a 90 percent win probability in the fourth quarter of Games 1, 3 and 4, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. 

"For a young team like us, this experience in the playoffs is second to none," said Andrew Nembhard, who finished with a team-high 24 points in Game 4. "A lot of our first times. A lot of little things we maybe wanted to do better and we learned how these games go and what being in a series feels like."

"I can tell you like, yeah, we're going to learn from it and it's going to happen, but it's not guaranteed," Siakam said. "I know how hard it is to get to this point. It's unfortunate. You want to give credit to the other team because they took advantage of every mistake that we made. They did well.

"But for us, it's been hard, like heartbreaking losses after heartbreaking losses. Yeah, you're going to be encouraged by it and you hope to put the right amount of work to continue to get better. Because we need to be a lot better if you want to compete with those teams. And understand it doesn't matter how good we played, we didn't get it done."

Jamal Collier/ESPN

Tags: Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Kristaps Porzingis Has 'Some Hurdles' Remaining Before Cleared For Game 1 Of Finals

May 28, 2024 2:21 PM

Kristaps Porzingis has been out since late April with a non-contact calf strain, but there is optimism he could be cleared to play in Game 1 of The Finals.

"There's definitely hope, there's definitely optimism," said Shams Charania of Porzingis.

"There are still some hurdles, I'm told, that he has to clear before he can play in Game 1 of The Finals."

Entering the Eastern Conference Finals, there was reportedly a chance that Porzingis could return during that series if it were to extend.

Game 1 of The Finals is on Thursday, June 6th at TD Garden.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

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

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Maxi Kleber Expected To Play In Game 4 Of West Finals

May 28, 2024 9:15 AM

Dallas Mavericks big man Maxi Kleber is expected to play in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, barring a late setback ahead of the game. Kleber is returning from a separated shoulder that occurred in Game 6 of the first round.

Kleber has been out since that first-round series clincher on May 3. At one point, it looked like Kleber's season might be over. However, the Mavericks said that Kleber's return would be dependent on his recovery and how deep the team's playoff run goes.

Dallas is on the verge of clinching a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavericks lead the Timberwolves 3-0 heading into Tuesday's Game 4 in Dallas.

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

Tags: Maxi Kleber, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Jaylen Brown Named Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP

May 28, 2024 1:01 AM

Jaylen Brown was awarded the Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals MVP after the Boston Celtics completed a sweep of the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Brown averaged 29.8 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the series.

Brown received five out of nine votes, with Jayson Tatum getting the other four votes.

“He was unreal this whole series, a complete player on both sides of the ball that you don’t really see much these days,” said Derrick White of Brown. 

Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Tags: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Award, NBA Playoffs

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Maxi Kleber Questionable, Dereck Lively II Doubtful For Game 4

May 28, 2024 12:53 AM

Dereck Lively II was listed as doubtful for Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a sprained neck.

Lively was cleared from having a serious injury and has not entered the league's concussion protocol.

Maxi Kleber, who has not played since the first round due to a separated right shoulder, is questionable for the game. 

The Mavs lead the series 3-0. 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Dereck Lively II Cleared For Serious Neck Injury, Status For Game 4 Unclear

May 27, 2024 9:20 AM

Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II was cleared of having a serious neck injury, after leaving Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals early. Lively's status for Game 4 of the series on Tuesday is unclear at this point.

Lively was injured during a collision with Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half of Game 3. Towns' knee hit Lively in the back of the head, after the rookie center had fallen to the floor.

Lively has been a key member of the Mavericks rotation all season. In 15 playoff games, the Duke product has averaged 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game off the Dallas bench.

The Mavericks took a 3-0 series lead over the Timberwolves on Sunday. Dallas has a chance to close out the series at home on Tuesday.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Maxi Kleber Could Return To Mavs Lineup For NBA Finals

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

Tyrese Haliburton Questionable For Game 4 Of East Finals

RealGM Staff Report

Kristaps Porzingis Ruled Out For Game 4 Of East Finals

RealGM Staff Report

No Updates On Kristaps Porzingis, Tyrese Haliburton For Game 4

RealGM Staff Report

Tyrese Haliburton Expected To Miss Game 3 Due To Hamstring Injury

Shams Charania and Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Mavs-Timberwolves Game 1 Averages 7.02M Viewers

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Pacers-Celtics Game 1 Averages 6.48M Viewers

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 7 Averages 8.41M Viewers

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Mike Conley Questionable For Game 1 With Right Soleus Strain

Minnesota Timberwolves

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 19): Pacers/Knicks, Wolves/Nuggets

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 18): Mavericks/Thunder

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 17): Pacers/Knicks

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 16): Wolves/Nuggets

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 15): Celtics/Cavs, Mavericks/Thunder

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 14): Knicks/Pacers, Nuggets/Wolves

RealGM Staff Report

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 13): Celtics/Cavaliers, Thunder/Mavericks

RealGM Staff Report

Jarrett Allen Rib Injury Frustrated Members Within Cavs

Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, & Jason Lloyd/The Athletic

OG Anunoby Could Return For Eastern Conference Finals If Knicks Advance

Adam Zagoria/NJ Advance Media

Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert Questionable For Game 5

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 4 Averages 5.61M Viewers On TNT

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch