NBA Player News

After two modest performances in the first two games of the NBA Finals, Williams upped his production in Indianapolis. In the two games, he totaled 53 points, shooting 17-of-36 from the field and 18-of-22 from the foul line. Friday night, Williams did most of his damage in the restricted area and at the charity stripe. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge in crunch time, but J-Dub’s ability to get to the foul line kept Oklahoma City within striking distance. That said, his perimeter shooting must improve, as Williams has shot 3-of-14 from deep in the first four games. Game 5 is on Monday, with the series tied at two games apiece.

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.

Coming off of what he described as the best season of his NBA career, Brown just missed out on first-team All-NBA honors. The Celtics’ star wing was a first-team selection on 44 of 100 ballots, with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham appearing on 60 and finishing with 414 total points to Brown’s 384. Leonard, Mitchell, Durant and Brunson round out the All-NBA second team.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić were first-team selections on all 100 ballots, while Wembanyama was selected on 99. Unsurprisingly, they were the three finalists for league MVP, with Gilgeous-Alexander winning the award for a second consecutive season. Dončić and Cunningham, who needed waivers from the league to be eligible for postseason honors, round out the first team.

J-Dub injured his left hamstring during Game 2 of the conference finals, the second time this postseason he’s done so. Ajay Mitchell was the replacement in the starting lineup for Game 3, but he suffered a strained calf and will not play on Sunday. Jared McCain and Alex Caruso are two players whose opportunities should increase, even if they don’t start.

Strus has not been in the starting lineup for this series, with Dean Wade (two rebounds, one assist and one steal) receiving the first shot at defending New York’s Jalen Brunson. However, it’s fair to question if Cavaliers’ head coach Kenny Atkinson will consider a lineup change going into Monday’s must-win Game 4. Strus, who logged 31 minutes to Wade’s 17, is a greater threat offensively while being able to harass Brunson defensively. The Knicks’ star still scored 30 points in Game 3, but Cleveland not getting any offensive production from Wade was also problematic. Cleveland needs a win on Monday to extend its season and send the series back to New York for a Game 5.

After not attempting a shot in the second half of Game 2, Mobley had his best scoring performance of the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 3. His 24 points led the way for the Cavaliers, and he posted that number on good percentages from the field and the foul line. However, Mobley was also responsible for five turnovers, as were Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. It’s nearly impossible for a team to win a game at this point in the postseason when its three best players struggle with turnovers. Game 4 is on Monday, with the Cavaliers needing a win to extend their season.

The three players the Cavaliers count on the most offensively struggled with their efficiency in Game 3. Mitchell committed five turnovers, with James Harden and Evan Mobley doing the same. Cleveland’s miscues led to New York scoring 17 fast-break points, besting the Cavaliers by 13 in that category. Mitchell also shot 3-of-10 from beyond the arc, and the inefficiency was too much to overcome in this matchup. For Cleveland to extend the series with a win on Monday, they’ll need a far better version of Mitchell than the one they’ve received in the first three games.

While more productive in Game 3 than he was in either of the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Harden’s overall impact was once again muted. Given the matchup, the Cavaliers can ill afford not to have Harden playing at an elite level. He shot just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc on Saturday and finished with as many turnovers as assists. Harden and the Cavaliers need a win on Monday to avoid getting swept.

Towns came out hot in Game 3, scoring 11 of the Knicks’ 37 first-quarter points. He would only score three more points the rest of the way, but the ability to facilitate for others was once again on display. Towns recorded a team-high seven assists in Game 3, and he was also responsible for eight rebounds and three steals. While Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have put up decent numbers, Towns has been the best post player in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks will look to complete the sweep with a win in Game 4 on Monday.