NBA Player News

Playing in Phoenix for the first time since being traded during the offseason, Durant started slowly on Tuesday. He missed five of his first six shot attempts, and the Rockets were on the wrong end of a 21-0 run during the first quarter. Durant and the Rockets would eventually find their footing, with the veteran forward leading seven double-digit scorers with 24 points. The victory pulled Houston into a tie for fourth in the West, but the Lakers do hold the tiebreaker. And third remains within reach, as the Rockets trail the Nuggets by one game with three to go.

With Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf) unavailable, the Thunder turned to Wallace to fill the resulting void in the starting lineup. He struggled with his shot in Game 4, but the third-year guard wasn’t the only one who failed to show up. Jared McCain (four points, two rebounds) shot 1-of-10 from the field and Alex Caruso (two rebounds, one assist and two blocks) missed his lone shot attempt. Regardless of what happens with J-Dub and Mitchell for Tuesday’s Game 5, the Thunder need more from Wallace, McCain and Caruso if they’re to defend home court.

Named third-team All-NBA on Sunday, Holmgren produced another underwhelming showing in Game 4. If there’s a positive, it’s that his nine rebounds were two more than the 7-foot-1 forward/center’s total in Games 3 and 4. However, with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama’s consistent excellence, the Thunder need more from Holmgren if they’re to win this series, especially if Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out after missing both games in San Antonio.

Hartenstein reached double figures for the second time this series, but his defensive efforts weren’t enough to keep Victor Wembanyama from dominating Game 4. And it doesn’t help that Chet Holmgren has been largely underwhelming, with Sunday’s defeat evening the series at two games apiece going into Tuesday’s Game 5. Hartenstein logged 17 minutes in Game 4, due partly to things getting out of hand during the latter stages of the third quarter. His playing time should crack the twenties on Tuesday if things are competitive throughout.

The absences of Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf) left the Thunder light on players capable of making things happen off the bounce in Game 4. That factored into San Antonio’s ability to pressure Gilgeous-Alexander more, but not with double teams as some may assume. The Spurs’ guards assigned to defend the two-time league MVP were more aggressive, forcing Oklahoma City’s “others” to do more offensively. They couldn’t answer the call, resulting in a 103-82 defeat. Game 5 is on Tuesday night, with the series tied at two games apiece.

While he still has not looked 100 percent after returning from a sprained right ankle that sidelined him for Games 1 and 2, Fox’s presence on the court has paid dividends. Stephon Castle totaled two turnovers in Games 3 and 4 after committing 20 in the first two games, and Fox contributed a game-high 10 rebounds on Sunday. Victor Wembanyama’s dominance and the Spurs’ defense were the stories of Sunday’s blowout victory. Still, Fox’s return is one reason why San Antonio has a realistic shot at dethroning the reigning champs. Game 5 is on Tuesday night.

Castle was one of four Spurs’ starters to record a complete stat line in Game 4, with Julian Champagnie being the exception. The second-year guard was once again a pest defensively, but he was also far more efficient on offense. After totaling 20 turnovers in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, Castle has been responsible for one each in Games 3 and 4. Getting De’Aaron Fox back has helped immensely, even if the veteran point guard has not looked as explosive as usual due to his right ankle injury.

After scoring 22 and 20 points in Games 2 and 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Vassell was not as productive offensively in Game 4. However, he shot 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and recorded a complete stat line in the Spurs’ 103-82 victory. Neither team shot the ball well from beyond the arc, going a combined 15-of-66, but San Antonio’s defensive activity carried the night. Vassell and the Spurs will look to take a 3-2 series lead when they visit the Thunder for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

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.