Russillo x KOC: Wolves crack Spurs, Knicks smash Sixers + our lottery dream is the NBA’s nightmare

Russillo x KOC: Wolves crack Spurs, Knicks smash Sixers + our lottery dream is the NBA’s nightmare

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Kevin O’Connor & Ryen Russillo break down the first two games of the NBA Playoff Conference semifinals. How did the Minnesota Timberwolves attack Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs? Are the New York Knicks truly unstoppable, or are the Philadelphia 76ers just running out of gas?

Plus, the pair discuss the perception of the Oklahoma City Thunder: can they ever become lovable again? What happens if they end up with a top-4 pick?

(0:34) Wolves beat Spurs in West semis Game 1

(46:18) Knicks beat 76ers in East semis Game 1

(52:53) Why is OKC unlovable?

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) handles the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends during the second half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) handles the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends during the second half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Monday, May 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eric Gay

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by Editor

Nick Nurse steps away from 76ers for brother's funeral, expected back for Game 2 vs Knicks

Nick Nurse steps away from 76ers for brother's funeral, expected back for Game 2 vs Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse was away from the team Tuesday ahead of Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks to attend the funeral of his brother.

Nurse’s brother Steve Nurse, 62, died unexpectedly last Wednesday. Nick Nurse left the team following Philadelphia’s 137-98 loss to open the second round against the Knicks on Monday for the service on Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa.

Nurse is expected to rejoin the Sixers for Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

“I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family and all their friends,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said at the team’s training center in suburban Greenburgh. “Life is precious and you don’t wish that upon anybody, so I’d like to pass along my condolences to him and his family while they’re going through these times.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

by Editor

2026 NBA Draft Lottery: odds, date, time, top prospects, how it works, future format

2026 NBA Draft Lottery: odds, date, time, top prospects, how it works, future format

The NBA Draft Lottery is less than a week away. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have the highest odds — 14% — in the lottery to land the No. 1 pick in what is expected to be a loaded draft. Recent years also have seen a number of teams jump bottom of the lottery into the top three of the draft, including the Dallas Mavericks, who won the lottery last year and earned the right to take the future Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg.

The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who had the best record for the second season in a row, could even win the lottery. They own the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick courtesy of the Paul George trade.

This figures to be the final NBA Draft Lottery in its current format before the league likely puts a new system in place for next season in an effort to reduce teams tanking for better odds. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 including, the top prospects.

NBA mock drafts: 3.0 • 2.0 • 1.0 | NBA Draft combine participants

When and what time is the NBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery is at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, May 10. It will be at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center and coincides with the draft combine.

Where is the NBA Draft Lottery streaming?

It will be on ABC, ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.

NBA Draft Lottery odds to land the No. 1 pick

The 14 teams that didn’t make the playoffs have a chance to land the No. 1 pick. The teams that finished with the three-worst records — Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn — each have the highest odds (14%) at winning the No. 1 pick.

Here are the odds for every team in the draft lottery, based on team records at the end of the regular season. Teams that finished the season with identical records had their draft order determined by a random drawing.

1. Washington Wizards

Record: 17-65
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

2. Indiana Pacers

Record: 19-63
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

Due to the Ivica Zubac trade with the Clippers, if the Pacers’ pick lands between the 5-9 spots on lotto night, it will go to L.A.

3. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 20-62
Odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

4. Utah Jazz

Record: 22-60
Odds for No. 1 pick: 11.5%

5. Sacramento Kings

Record: 22-60
Odds for No. 1 pick: 11.5%

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 25-57
Odds for No. 1 pick: 9%

7. New Orleans Pelicans (Atlanta Hawks)

Record: 26-56
Odds for No. 1 pick: 6.8%

The Pelicans owe their unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of their 2025 draft-night trade.

8. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 26-56
Odds for No. 1 pick: 6.7%

9. Chicago Bulls

Record: 31-51
Odds for No. 1 pick: 4.5%

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 32-50
Odds for No. 1 pick: 3%

11. Golden State Warriors

Record: 37-45
Odds for No. 1 pick: 2%

12. Los Angeles Clippers (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Record: 42-40
Odds for No. 1 pick: 1.5%

The Clippers owe their 2026 first-round pick to the Thunder as part of the 2019 Paul George trade.

13. Miami Heat

Record: 43-39
Odds for No. 1 pick: 1%

14. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 44-38
Odds for No. 1 pick: 0.5%

How the NBA Draft Lottery works

The draft lottery determines the order of the first 14 picks. It takes place in a private room with NBA officials, representatives of participating teams, select media and the accounting firm Ernst & Young, which oversees the drawings, in attendance.

For the drawings, 14 ping-pong balls (numbered 1 through 14) are dropped in a lottery machine. Before the lottery, 1,000 of a possible 1,001 combinations are assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. A league representative randomly selects four balls, revealing a four-number combination.

From the NBA:

The drawing process occurs in the following manner: All 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine and they are mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is removed. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then the second ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The same process is repeated with the same ping-pong balls and lottery machine for the second through fourth picks.

If the same team comes up more than once, the result is discarded and another four-ball combination is selected. Also, if the one unassigned combination is drawn, the result is discarded and the balls are drawn again.

After the first four picks are determined, the remaining picks are based on regular-season records, in reverse order.

Rest of 2026 NBA Draft order

FIRST ROUND NOS. 15-30

15. Portland (to Chicago)

16. Phoenix (to Memphis)

17. Philadelphia (to Oklahoma City)

18. Orlando (to Charlotte)

19. Toronto

20. Atlanta (to San Antonio)

21. Minnesota (to Detroit)

22. Houston (to Philadelphia)

23. Cleveland (to Atlanta)

24. New York

25. Los Angeles Lakers

26. Denver

27. Boston

28. Detroit (to Minnesota)

29. San Antonio (to Cleveland)

30. Oklahoma City (to Dallas)

Best prospects in 2026 NBA Draft

AJ Dybantsa

Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands. Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge’s 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption. He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point-forward potential. What will determine his upside is whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But the native of Brockton, Massachusetts, has a tremendously high floor with his scoring skill alone. — Kevin O’Connor

Cameron Boozer

He’s a do-it-all offensive talent who can post up, run pick-and-rolls, set screens, spot up and crash the boards. He doesn’t need to rely on bully ball to make an impact as a scorer or passer. Defensively, some of the questions about Boozer popped up in Duke’s Elite Eight loss to UConn: He wasn’t big enough to defend Tarris Reed, and he got smoked by Alex Karaban on a key 3-pointer on the perimeter. But he plays hard and has improved at every weakness in his game so far. — O’Connor

Darryn Peterson

He can pull up from anywhere and get to his spots. Plus he’s 6-6 and plays with a fluidity that just screams superstar. Not to mention he’s a defensive playmaker with the tools to guard multiple positions and the approach to impact the game even if he’s not scoring. Between the cramping saga, the missed time, the lack of apparent athletic pop, and the stretches where he played heavy minutes but struggled to produce offensively, there’s a lot to be concerned about. But the pre-draft period could answer any questions. — O’Connor

Caleb Wilson

Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He’s 6-10 with springs for legs. When he’s flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. But the conversation changes when you watch his jumper because he hasn’t shown any consistency as a shooter at any level. Still, even without the jumper, he has star upside. — O’Connor

Darius Acuff Jr.

Acuff is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. And that’s not even what he’s best at. Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders. — O’Connor

When and where is the 2026 NBA Draft?

The 2026 NBA Draft will again be two days: Tuesday, June 23 for the first round; and Wednesday, June 24 for the second round. Both rounds are in Brooklyn, New York.

ABC/ESPN will broadcast the first round, and the second round will be on ESPN.

Is the NBA Draft Lottery changing?

Almost certainly. NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to curb the wide-spread tanking teams engaged in ahead of this season’s draft.

The league reportedly will put forth a new 3-2-1 format for a vote by team owners on May 28. The new format will create a system where each team gets a certain number of ping-pong balls to win the No. 1 pick. Here’s how it looks in reverse order of the standings and then play-in game participants:

  • No. 1-3: two ping-pong balls (5.4%)

  • No. 4-10: three ping-pong balls (8.1%)

  • Teams in 9-10 play-in games: two ping-pong balls (5.4%)

  • Losers of 7-8 play-in games: one ping-pong ball (2.7%)

The league hopes non-playoff teams will be incentivized to stay competitive late in the season. It also provides the No. 8 seeds in the East and West at least one shot at the top pick.

In addition, the league will not allow teams to win the top pick in back-to-back seasons or win a top-five pick in three consecutive seasons.

by Editor

Sixers coach Nick Nurse briefly leaves team after older brother's death

Sixers coach Nick Nurse briefly leaves team after older brother's death

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse stepped away from the team Tuesday, May 5 so he could attend the funeral of his older brother.

The 76ers coach flew home to Iowa after the loss against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA conference semifinals following the death of his older brother, Steve Nurse, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. Nurse’s brother reportedly died “unexpectedly” on April 29 before Game 6 between the 76ers and the Boston Celtics in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Steve Nurse, who was 62 years old, was the longtime athletic equipment manager for the University of Northern Iowa.

According to The Athletic, the 76ers held a film session but no practice Tuesday afternoon.

Nurse is expected to rejoin the organization in New York Tuesday evening. Game 2 against the Knicks is Wednesday at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Nurse has coached the Sixers for three seasons, beginning with the 2023-24 season, and has taken the team to the playoffs twice, including this year. Nurse began his head coaching career with the Raptors in 2018-19 after five years as assistant in Toronto. He led the Raptors to their first NBA title in his first season with the team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Nurse away from Philadelphia 76ers for older brother’s funeral

by Editor

3 Ways the Cavs can beat Detroit in round two

3 Ways the Cavs can beat Detroit in round two

CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 03: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons guards James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on March 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 113-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The stage is set for round two of the NBA Playoffs. Here are three ways the Cleveland Cavaliers can ensure victory over the 60-win Detroit Pistons.

1. Shrink the floor

The Raptors and Pistons share a similar offensive profile. Neither team loves to shoot three-pointers, primarily because they aren’t very good at it. They’d prefer to score from the mid-range or attack the basket — led almost entirely by one primary initiator (more on this later).

That means Cleveland’s defensive game plan will be similar to round one. Pack the paint, shrink the floor, and dare someone to beat you.

Toronto surprised most of us with its efficiency. They nailed 35.6% of their three-point attempts in round one, the fifth-best of any playoff team this year. But they also struggled to score for long stretches, often because the Cavs declined to pay them any respect behind the arch. Shrinking the floor makes it really hard to score if you don’t have the personnel to shoot with volume.

That’s why the Raptors took the third fewest three-point attempts per game in round one, despite shooting better than anyone expected. They just didn’t have guys who could launch ‘em.

Neither do the Pistons… mostly.

Detroit has some weapons that the Cavs will have to monitor. Duncan Robinson can burn you. Tobias Harris is capable of big games. Even Cunningham shot near 40% from deep in round one. But truthfully, perimeter shooting is a weakness that the Cavs can exploit.

The Pistons shot the second-fewest three-pointers in round one and converted on the fifth-worst percentage. Harris, Dannis Jankins, Caris LeVert, and Javonte Green all shot below 30% from downtown. Thompson only attempted one three-pointer, which he missed. Neither big man in Detroit is likely to push their luck from deep either.

I’d expect the Cavs to totally ignore Thompson, and to dare everyone other than Harris, Cunningham, and Robinson to make them pay. I’d also expect the Cavs to win that gamble, given that the Pistons ranked 20th in three-point accuracy during the regular season — even worse than Toronto (18th).

2. Put it all on Cade Cunningham

Both the Cavs and Pistons battled to the end in round one. A seven-game series can be draining. More so, if you’re the one carrying the entire team on your back.

This isn’t to discredit Harris, who showed up big in Game 7 for Detroit, but let’s be real… Cunningham’s usage was through the roof during that series. He posted an absurd usage rate of 37%, matching Joel Embiid for the highest load in round one.

For comparison, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with a usage rate of 30%.

Carrying that much weight will wear anyone down. The deeper you go into the playoffs, the more of a toll it takes. Cunningham averaged 32 points on 22 shots per game in the first round. He’ll be asked to do something similar versus Cleveland. That’s a benefit for the Cavs.

The more pressure you can put on Cade to win this series on his own, the better. That means the Cavs will do everything in their power to limit Detroit’s supporting cast. The weight could be unbearable if Cleveland keeps a lid on the Pistons’ role players.

The Cavs are well-equipped to make Cunningham work. Dean Wade just had a phenomenal defensive series, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will no doubt pack the paint and contest every drive. Even Max Strus and Sam Merrill have shown they can ramp up the intensity — while Jaylon Tyson is more than ready to be physical with Cunningham.

Cunningham averaged 18.5 points on just 34% shooting against the Cavs in four games this season. I’m sure he’ll be better than that in this series. But it shows the Cavs can give him problems offensively.

On the other end, Cleveland would be mistaken not to include Cunningham in as many screening actions as possible. He’s already being tasked with too much offensive responsibility, so the more they can challenge him defensively, the more exhausted he’ll become.

3. Attack mismatches

Not having to worry about Scottie Barnes will be nice.

Seriously, Barnes delivered one of the better defensive performances I can remember. It felt like he was everywhere, using his length, athleticism, and seemingly never-ending motor to disrupt everything Cleveland wanted to do. The backcourt struggled primarily because Barnes, along with Jamal Shead, RJ Barrett, Ja’kobe Walter, and Collin Murray-Boyles, made them struggle.

Can Detroit replicate any of that?

Some things are certain. The Pistons will try to muck things up by using Thompson on one of Donovan Mitchell or James Harden. He’ll pressure them up the floor and deny the ball whenever possible. Other Pistons will attempt to do the same.

But that’s where Cleveland starts to gain advantages.

The Raptors were loaded with length and athleticism on the wing. No matter who the Cavs brought into the action, Toronto was able to switch and swarm the ball with their wings. The Pistons — while a better defensive team — are arguably a better matchup for the Cavs from this perspective.

Thompson is a great defender. But Duncan Robinson is not. The Cavalier backcourt will feel significantly more comfortable attacking Robinson than anyone on the Raptors roster outside of Jakob Poeltl.

This extends down Detroit’s rotation. Harris is a fine defender, but I don’t see him matching Mitchell’s speed like any of Toronto’s best defenders. Duren isn’t as mobile as CMB. Jankins shouldn’t be as disruptive as Jamal Shead. Kevin Huerter might not even get on the floor, and if he does, could promptly be played off it.

That’s kind of a big deal.

The playoffs are matchup-dependent. You are only as strong as your weakest link. The Raptors’ baseline of having no bad defenders made it an eternal struggle for the Cavs offense to get rolling. But Detroit’s weak points will be tested at every available opportunity.

If that happens, Mitchell might remind us of why he’s become a perennial All-NBA player at this stage of his career.

by Editor

J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons Sign Contract Extension

J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons Sign Contract Extension

J.B. Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons have signed a contract extension. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Pistons advanced out of the first round with their Game 7 win over the Orlando Magic.

Bickerstaff has helped guide the Pistons to a remarkable franchise turnaround after taking over for Monty Williams in 2024. Bickerstaff is a finalist for Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The Pistons finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Bickerstaff will now face his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the second round.

by Editor

Pistons sign head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to contract extension after first-round playoff win over Magic

Pistons sign head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to contract extension after first-round playoff win over Magic

The Detroit Pistons have signed head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to a contract extension.

The Pistons announced the transaction on Monday, a day after the Pistons won Game 7 against the Orlando Magic to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Bickerstaff has overseen a turnaround in Detroit that produced the best record in the Eastern Conference this season. With Sunday’s win, the Pistons have advanced out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Bickerstaff joined the Pistons for the 2024-25 seasons on the heels of a 14-68 campaign in Detroit that produced the worst record in the NBA. In Bickerstaff’s first season, the Pistons improved by 30 wins to 44-38 and clinched a playoff spot. They improved to 60-22 this season and will now face the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs as the East’s No. 1 seed.

This story will be updated.

by Editor

Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs series preview, prediction: Can Wolves slow Wemby?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs series preview, prediction: Can Wolves slow Wemby?

All season long, the San Antonio Spurs showed they were a team far ahead of everyone else’s timeline — they were a contender now, not in a year or three. San Antonio won 62 games and was the No. 2 seed in the West.

All season long, Minnesota almost looked bored. We’d see flashes of the team that made it to two straight Western Conference Finals, but we’d see ugly losses (or just flat games) on other nights. It looked like a team waiting for the games to get serious. When the games did get serious in the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves showed not just their talent but real heart to overcome injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, and they beat the Nuggets.

Can Minnesota repeat that formula, or is San Antonio just too deep and too good? Here’s what you need to know heading into this Western Conference Semifinals matchup.

When does the Timberwolves vs. Spurs begin?

Game 1 between Minnesota and San Antonio is on Monday, May 4, and you can watch it on Peacock. The series continues every other day until Game 6, there are a couple days off before that game.

Minnesota vs. San Antonio Playoffs Schedule 2026

All times are Eastern (* = if necessary).
Game 1: Monday, May 4 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 2: Wednesday, May 6 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Game 3: Friday, May 8 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: May 12* (TBD)
Game 6: May 15* (TBD)
Game 7: May 17* (TBD)

Player to watch: Rudy Gobert

Victor Wembanyama considers Rudy Gobert, a fellow French center, a mentor.

“He’s played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men,” Wembanyama said this week.

However, this is Wembanyama we’re talking about, so he wants more information and details than anyone else.

“A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water,” Gobert said. “It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don’t get those type of questions.”

Gobert was the reason the Timberwolves upset the Nuggets in the first round, thanks to his spectacular defense on Nikola Jokic. It’s not that the three-time MVP didn’t get his, but he had to work for every bucket, every inch of court, and it wore him down. It was the key to the series.

Now Gobert has to find a way to be physical and do the same thing to Wembanyama, but it may not be as easy. In part because this will not be a straight matchup — Gobert will not be one Wembanyama much of the time (look for him to be on Stephon Castle, that is what Portland did with its big Donovan Clingan).

Gobert on Wemby is tough because Wemby’s game is more fluid, he’s got better handles and a better 3-point shot, and his role in the San Antonio offense, while central, is not the same. The Nuggets play through Jokic, that’s the case in San Antonio, where Wembanyama can be off the ball and they use his gravity as a shooter to create driving lanes.

Gobert will get his time on Wembanyama (as will Julius Randle), and he needs to be physical and wear his mentee down. It’s just a lot easier said than done.

Keys to watch for in Minnesota vs. San Antonio

If/When does Anthony Edwards return?

Anthony Edwards reportedly told his teammates he will be back in this series from the ugly knee hyperextension and bone bruise he suffered in Game 4 against the Nuggets. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Edwards did a little on-court work, and there is some hope he could be back for “potentially Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest.”

All Minnesota is saying is that Edwards remains week -to-week. If Edwards does return, what version of him do we see? 80% 90%

Edwards dropped 55 points on the Spurs in a matchup this season (a game San Antonio still won), which leads into the next issue…

How can Minnesota score enough to win?

Jaden McDaniels may want to hold back from saying the Spurs are “all bad defenders,” as he did when talking about the Nuggets. San Antonio is an entirely different thing.

It’s not just Wembanyama protecting the rim, although he is the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year who completely changes the geometry of the court. It’s that he is surrounded by quality defenders on the perimeter: Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and on down the list, the Spurs don’t roll out a bad defender.

A fully healthy Timberwolves team with Edwards driving and creating, plus DiVincenzo knocking down 3s, could put up points on the Spurs and make this a series. As it is now, Minnesota needs a massive series from Julius Randle plus some other guys to step up — Ayo Dosunmu, if he’s healthy — to have any chance.

Minnesota also must rely on its defense, which was fantastic against the Nuggets, holding them to 13 points below their league-leading regular-season average. San Antonio has more shot creators and ball handlers, but Minnesota has a great defense and experience. Is that enough?

Prediction: Spurs in 5

The Edwards injury makes this a challenging prediction, if he were fully healthy I’d say Spurs in 7. However, without him to at least start the series — and we don’t know what version of Edwards we get if and when he does return — it just changes the equation.

San Antonio is just a tougher matchup for Minnesota, especially a shorthanded Timberwolves team.

by Editor

Anthony Edwards Could Return By Game 3 Or 4 Versus Spurs

Anthony Edwards Could Return By Game 3 Or 4 Versus Spurs

There is “growing optimism” that Anthony Edwards could return to the Minnesota Timberwolves lineup by Game 3 or 4 against the San Antonio Spurs, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.

Edwards, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during Game 4 of the first round, will miss the first couple games of the series.

Edwards suffered the injury on April 25. With a 1-2 week recovery timeline, Game 3 of the series will take place Friday. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday.

Edwards worked out both Saturday and Sunday before traveling with the team to San Antonio.

The Wolves prefer to remain cautious with Edwards, who has been struggling with inflammation in his right knee over the past month.

by Editor

Anthony Edwards reportedly could return to Timberwolves for Game 3 or 4 against Spurs 'at the earliest'

Anthony Edwards reportedly could return to Timberwolves for Game 3 or 4 against Spurs 'at the earliest'

The Minnesota Timberwolves survived and advanced past the Denver Nuggets despite Anthony Edwards missing two-plus games of their first-round playoff series with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Up next is a second-round playoff matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in which the Timberwolves are expected to need Edwards to have a reasonable chance of pulling off an upset. Per a report on Sunday, there’s a chance that Edwards could return to the Timberwolves’ lineup when the series shifts back to Minnesota.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on “NBA Tip-Off” that Edwards traveled with the team to San Antonio, where the series will tip off with Game 1 Monday. Edwards has returned to light workouts, but isn’t expected to play in Games 1 or 2, per the report.

But Charania reports that Edwards is “hopeful that he could push to be back in the lineup potentially for Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest.” Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Minnesota. Game 4 will take place next Sunday.

Charania also noted that “Minnesota is going to be conservative” in bringing Edwards back due in part to inflammation in his right knee that sidelined him for the stretch run of the regular season.

But the prospect of Edwards returning in time to impact the series is certainly good news for the Timberwolves, especially considering the initial scare around his injury. Edwards hyper-extended his left knee in Game 4, prompting initial fears that he’d sustained a long-term injury.

The bone bruise sidelined him for Games 5 and 6 as the Timberwolves closed out the series without him, but he avoided more serious ligament damage. And now, with a spot in the Western Conference finals at stake, there’s hope in Minnesota that Edwards could return to take on the Spurs.

Edwards made his fourth straight All-Star team the season and averaged a career-high 28.8 points, alongside 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He also posted career highs while shooting 48.9% from the field and 39.9% on 8.4 3-point attempts per game.

by Editor