NBA Player News

Murray had to exit Monday’s In-Season Tournament quarterfinal during the second quarter after tweaking something in his back. With this being Murray’s second game back after missing four with SI joint irritation, Kings fans and fantasy managers had a right to be concerned when he was taken to the locker room. The good news is that he was on the court to begin the third quarter, ultimately playing 30 minutes. Depending on when the Kings play their next game (against either the Suns or Lakers), fantasy managers could be in a difficult spot if Murray’s sidelined. Chris Duarte, who replaced him in the starting lineup, missed Monday’s game with a sore knee, so there’s no guarantee he will be available.

Facing a potential 3-1 series deficit, Wembanyama and the Spurs came out highly aggressive in Game 4. The 7-foot-4 phenom scored 22 points in the first half, including a half-court shot as time expired to send the Spurs into the break with a 50-38 lead. With San Antonio in firm control for most of the second half, Wembanyama only needed to play 31 minutes, watching most of the fourth quarter either from an exercise bike in the tunnel or on the Spurs’ bench. The series is now a best-of-3, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder are without Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf) for Game 4, opening up a spot in the starting lineup. Wallace, who performed well as a spot starter last season, will fill the void. Also, expect to see more of Jared McCain and Alex Caruso, who have both played well in the conference finals.

All five third-team selections were named All-NBA for the first time in their respective careers on Sunday. Duren’s selection may be the most impactful, as he’ll hit restricted free agency next month. The All-NBA selection makes him eligible for a max deal worth up to $287 million over five years. However, given his struggles during the postseason and the Pistons’ need to also address Ausar Thompson’s future, Duren may not strike it that rich this summer. Especially with other teams unable to offer a deal on par with what the Pistons can.