Basketball legend Bill Walton, who led the UCLA Bruins to two national titles before winning two championships during his NBA career, has died at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Walton died Monday while surrounded by his loved ones, his family said in a statement released by the NBA.

"Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

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. 

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. 

Veteran wing Evan Fournier is prioritizing staying the NBA for his next contract, as opposed to returning to play in Europe. A rumor came up at the EuroLeague Final Four that Fournier could play for Olympiacos in Greece or ASVEL in his native France next season.

The Detroit Pistons hold a $19 million team option for Fournier for next season. The Pistons are expected to decline that option to create cap space. That will make Fournier an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Fournier is expected to play for France at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He's likely to know his NBA future ahead of the Olympics, which will begin in Paris and the surrounding area in late July.

Fournier has played for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, in addition to the Pistons, in his 12-year NBA career. New York traded Fournier to the Detroit at this season's trade deadline.

DJ Wagner has chosen to follow John Calipari to Arkansas. Wagner, who entered the transfer portal when Calipari left Kentucky, will now follow suit.

A former top-five recruit, Wagner is one of three former Wildcats to join Calipari on the Razorbacks. Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic are also headed to Arkansas. Calipari also got recruits Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond to flip to Arkansas too.

In addition to the above, the Razorbacks are adding transfers Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic and Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.

JJ Redick would target Sam Cassell, James Borrego, and Jared Dudley as his assistants should he be named the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Borrego is currently with the Pelicans, with Cassell with the Celtics. Dudley is an assistant with the Mavs.

Cassell is also reportedly being targeted as an assistant for Doc Rivers' staff with the Bucks.

The Lakers are said to be "infatuated" with the idea of hiring Redick. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in Terry Stotts for their vacant head coach role, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Kenny Atkinson remains the favorite for the job. 

Dave Joerger, James Borrego, and Johnnie Bryant are also candidates for the role.

The Los Angeles Clippers are interested in Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

The Warriors currently have until June 28 to guarantee Paul's $30 million contract for next season.

Paul and the Warriors have discussed moving back the deadline with the possibility of using his salary in a trade.

Russell Westbrook also has until June 29 to decide his $4 million player option with the Clippers for next year.

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.

Maxi Kleber could return to the Dallas Mavericks lineup for the NBA Finals, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Kleber has been out since suffering a separated shoulder during Game 6 of the first round.

The Mavs are currently up 3-0 against the Wolves.

The NBA Finals will start on June 6.