Basketball Wiretap

Rudy Gobert Questionable For Game 2 For Personal Reasons

May 6, 2024 1:39 PM

Rudy Gobert is questionable or Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves' second round series against the Denver Nuggets for personal reasons. Gobert was not at shootaround with the Wolves.

Gobert's partner announced earlier this year that they were expecting a baby.

The Wolves enter the game up 1-0 over the Nuggets.

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Tags: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Donovan Mitchell Was 'Tired Of Losing In The First Round'

May 5, 2024 9:43 PM

Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mitchell scored 39 points in Game 7 after scoring 50 in Game 6.

Cleveland's 18-point comeback is the largest in a Game 7 since at least 1997. 

The Cavaliers were resilient against the Magic one season after they were eliminated in five games in the first round by the New York Knicks.

"I'm tired of losing in the first round," Mitchell said. "You work too hard. We work too hard. That was my mindset ... for me, just be in attack mode. I'm battling through what I'm battling through, but I could battle through it and figure it out, or rehab it for the next three or four months. That's where I'm at mentally."

"[Mitchell is] the guy that can pull everybody along, not just with his skill but in spirit as well," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "When you see your teammate, a guy you care about playing that way, you don't want to let that guy down so you go out and do whatever you can to help that guy.

"We talk about how everybody has their style and their piece of leadership here and that's how Don leads, by being special in the moment. His teammates want to be a part of it."

"I don’t mean this disrespectful, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said. “We didn't come in just to win the first round. We accomplished one goal, now we have to do it again. That’s the mindset."

Kendra Andrews/ESPN

Tags: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 3): Wolves/Nuggets

May 5, 2024 8:05 AM

What happened in one snapshot in the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

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Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 3): Magic/Cavaliers, Mavericks/Clippers

May 4, 2024 4:06 PM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Friday, May 3, 2024.

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Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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Giannis Antetokoumpo 'Wasn't Even Close' To Being Able To Return

May 3, 2024 4:56 PM

Giannis Antetokoumpo was unable to appear in the first round of the Milwaukee Bucks' series against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf injury. 

Antetokoumpo's status heading into Game 6 was slightly more promising, but he was ruled out. 

"I tried my best to come back to help my teammates," Antetokounmpo said Friday. "It's kind of hard to see them being out there and not being able to help them, but I just couldn't.

"I did all the tests I had to do, these like protocols you have to follow and have to check the boxes. I wasn't even close at checking the boxes."

Antetokoumpo suffered the injury at the end of the regular season and last played on April 9th.

Antetokoumpo missed multiple playoff games last season as well with a back injury.

Antetokounmpo was asked if he might change his approach next season.

"I don't know. Maybe I do follow a different pattern," Antetokounmpo said. "Maybe try different things. I don't like the word 'rest.' Like, if I can play, I will play. If I cannot play, I can't play.

"I'm for sure going to sit down and think about it, of how my summer is going to look like and how next year is going to look like."

Jamal Collier/ESPN

Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 2): Knicks/Sixers, Pacers/Bucks

May 3, 2024 4:21 PM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

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Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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Damian Lillard Returns For Game 6 At Pacers, Giannis Antetokounmpo Remains Out

May 2, 2024 5:37 PM

Damian Lillard will return to the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 at the Indiana Pacers after missing their Game 5 win. Lillard is dealing with an Achilles injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, will remain out as he continues to deal with a calf injury.

The Bucks trail the Pacers 3-2 in their first round series. 

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (May 1): Celtics/Heat, Mavericks/Clippers

May 2, 2024 11:14 AM

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

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Tags: NBA, NBA Playoffs, Infographic

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Anthony Edwards Generates Over 100M Views On NBA Platforms Since Start Of Playoffs

May 2, 2024 1:09 AM

Anthony Edwards has generated over 100 million views across the NBA's social and digital platforms since the start of the playoffs, according to the league's communications department.

The number only trails LeBron James with 130 million views.

Edwards was the seventh most-viewed player on the league's digital platforms during the regular season.

Edwards has also gained the most Instagram followers among players since the start of the playoffs.

The Timberwolves open their second round series against the Nuggets on Saturday.

NBA Communications

Tags: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Chris Finch Planning To Be With Timberwolves For Game 1

May 2, 2024 12:58 AM

Chris Finch is planning to be on the Minnesota Timberwolves' sideline for Game 1 of their series against the Denver Nuggets.

Finch had surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee on Wednesday.

Assistant Micah Nori is taking over head coaching duties in Finch's absence.

Due to a lack of spacing on the bench, Finch may switch seats with athletic trainer Gregg Farnam on the sideline for increased leg room. 

ESPN

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Lakers-Nuggets Game 5 Averages 4.53M Viewers

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 30): Sixers/Knicks, Cavs/Magic, Bucks/Pacers

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard 'Very Close' To Return, Could Play Game 6

Jamal Collier/ESPN

NBA Playoff Games Averaging 3.1M Viewers Through Sunday

Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

Kawhi Leonard Ruled Out For Game 5 With Knee Inflammation

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 29): Celtics/Heat, Thunder/Pelicans, Nuggets/Lakers

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 28): Knicks/Sixers, Clippers/Mavs, Pacers/Bucks, Wolves/Suns

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 27): Magic/Cavs, Thunder/Pelicans, Celtics/Heat, Lakers/Nuggets

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 26): Pacers/Bucks, Mavericks/Clippers, Wolves/Suns

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 25): Sixers/Knicks, Magic/Cavs, Nuggets/Lakers

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Ruled Out For Game 3

ESPN

Nikola Jokic: Winning Is A Lifestyle For Us

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 24): Heat/Celtics, Thunder/Pelicans

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Dean Wade Ruled Out For Remainder Of First Round

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 23): Wolves/Suns, Pacers/Bucks, Mavericks/Clippers

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2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 22): Knicks/Sixers, Cavs/Magic, Nuggets/Lakers

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Zion Williamson Says 'Realistic' Chance He Returns From Hamstring Injury During Playoffs

Andrew Lopez/ESPN

Joel Embiid: We're Going To Win This Series, We Are The Better Team

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Kawhi Leonard Questionable For Game 2 On Tuesday

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Jarred Vanderbilt Targets Game 3 Return

Dave McMenamin/ESPN