Hoops Rumors

Jamal Murray was “in and out” of the Nuggets‘ two practices in the days leading up to Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Timberwolves on Saturday, head coach Michael Malone said today. As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, Murray was able to play through a left calf strain on Monday when the Nuggets closed out the Lakers, but the injury hasn’t fully … [Read more...] about Nuggets/Wolves Notes: Murray, KCP, Connelly, Edwards, Gordon

Timberwolves team president Tim Connelly joined the organization two years ago with a deliberate, aggressive plan in place for returning Minnesota to contender status, writes Chip Scoggins of The Star Tribune. With core pieces Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels already all in place, Connelly opted to go for size and veteran help, ultimately rounding out his … [Read more...] about Timberwolves Notes: Connelly, Nori, Ownership, Finch

Only one second-round matchup has been set so far in these NBA playoffs, but it looks like it has the potential to be one of the very best postseason series of 2024. The defending-champion Nuggets will face the Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals beginning on Saturday. Denver had a target on its back entering this season after winning a title in 2023, but the team … [Read more...] about Community Shootaround: Nuggets/Timberwolves Series

Youth and playoff inexperience didn’t matter in the Thunder’s sweep of the Pelicans in the opening round. They’re the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon notes that the Thunder got only one basket in the entire series from a player older than 25 (Twitter link). “There’s a difference between age and maturity,” Thunder coach Mark … [Read more...] about Western Notes: Thunder, Doncic, Spurs’ Arena, Edwards

A day after Mark Daigneault was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year for 2023/24, Thunder center Chet Holmgren lauded his head coach for his “crazy X’s and O’s” and his ability to connect with one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, per Rylan Stiles of SI.com. “Shoutout to Mark man. Helluva coach,” Holmgren said. “… (He) puts us all in position to be successful. … He’s not that much … [Read more...] about Northwest Notes: Daigneault, Edwards, Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz