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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Vivek Jacob |Antonio Kozlow |Oliver Taliku |Zach Wolpin
The No. 2 Boston Celtics will start their title defense with a first-round series against the No. 7 Orlando Magic. Orlando earned its seventh seed after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In Tournament Tuesday night. Despite winning 61 games, Boston finished with the second seed behind the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic have been a tad underwhelming at 41-41, struggling to create offense even after both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner returned from oblique injuries.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Vivek Jacob |Antonio Kozlow |Oliver Taliku |Zach Wolpin
The third-seeded New York Knicks will take on the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit has been the best story of the East, rebounding from a 14-win season last year to a 44-38 record this season. Cade Cunningham looks like a surefire bet for an All-NBA Team while Malik Beasley is among the favorites to win Sixth Man of the Year.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Antonio Kozlow |Zach Wolpin |Oliver Taliku |James Foglio
A lot has changed for Klay Thompson in the past year, as not only did he move on from Golden State to Dallas, but has been on a rollercoaster ride during an emotional, but relatively unsuccessful first season in Texas. However, after last night’s game, things could change for the best. During the first quarter of Wednesday play-in tournament clash between Mavericks and Kings, the veteran went scoreless. Nevertheless, the point guard bounced back with an impactful second half.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Antonio Kozlow |James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Oliver Taliku
A projected first-round pick is set to go big or go home, as Danny Wolf has told the press that he will enter the 2025 NBA draft and decline his remaining college eligibility. The Michigan star feels confident that his time is now, and won’t return back to Detroit after this summer. The versatile center is coming off a highly succesful campaign, earning the Big Ten tournament title and then advancing to the Sweet 16, where they fell defeated to Auburn.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Antonio Kozlow |James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Oliver Taliku
The Pelicans have made official the hiring of new executive vice president Joe Dumars, who hopes to change things around after a poor 2024-25 campaign. The Naismith Hall of Famer was excited to return to his home state of Louisiana, calling it a “full circle moment” in his succesful career. The announcement was made by New Orleans this Wednesday, as the title-winning executive with the Pistons will replace David Griffin as head of basketball operations.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Oliver Taliku |James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Antonio Kozlow
Clippers head coach Ty Lue believes that Ben Simmons could be the key to a deep run in the playoffs this season if he can start scoring more. Ty Lue needs Ben Simmons to improveBen Simmons joined the Los Angeles Clippers midway through this season, but he has failed to make any sort of an impact since moving to Los Angeles. Despite his difficulties on the court, Clippers head coach Ty Lue believes that Simmons could be crucial as his team enters the postseason this weekend.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Zach Wolpin |Oliver Taliku |Antonio Kozlow |James Foglio
On Tuesday, the Warriors hosted the Grizzlies in the #7 vs. #8 play-in game. It took OT for Golden State to win the game 121-116. With Jimmy Butler in the lineup, the Warriors are 24-7. While Butler has helped change the course of their season, other players’ minutes have taken a hit. That’s been true for former first-round pick Jonathan Kuminga. He’s been an afterthought for the Warriors at times. However, Golden State needs Kuminga to stay locked in and focused for the playoffs.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Oliver Taliku |Antonio Kozlow
Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker just finished the first season of his four-year supermax deal for $220 million, but he’s eligible to sign a two-year extension for $149.8 million this summer. The extension would give Booker $75 million annually in his early-30s. Devin Booker Is Due $53.14 Million In 2025-26During a recent interview with The Arizona Republic, the four-time All-Star was asked about his NBA future shortly after ESPN reported that Phoenix would offer Booker the extension.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | Oliver Taliku |James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Antonio Kozlow
Rudy Gobert says he is ready for Luka Doncic in the first round of the playoffs after facing off with the Slovenian in last year’s Conference Finals. Timberwolves facing LakersThe Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers will go head to head in the first round of the playoffs this season in one of the most anticipated matchups of the early postseason.
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1 week ago | 
basketballinsiders.org | James Foglio |Zach Wolpin |Antonio Kozlow |Oliver Taliku
The Sacramento Kings and general manager Monte McNair reached a mutual agreement to part ways following Wednesday night’s 120-106 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the No. 9 against No. 10 play-in tournament game. Kings Ended A 16-Year Playoff Drought Under Monte McNairMcNair has been with the Kings since September 2020, having previously spent 13 years in the Houston Rockets organization.
