NBA Player News

Murray was ice-cold from beyond the arc in Game 1, missing all eight of his attempts. However, he shot 50 percent from the field and was a frequent visitor to the foul line. The Nuggets guard made all 16 of his attempts at the line, resulting in a 30-point game in Saturday’s series opener. Denver will host Game 2 on Monday at 10:30 PM Eastern on NBA and Peacock.

After playing a total of 32 minutes in the first three games of the Spurs’ second-round series, Kornet was asked to play 26 minutes in Game 4. The reason was Victor Wembanyama’s second-quarter ejection after picking up a Flagrant 2 foul. Kornet held his own on the glass, but there were also times when the Spurs called on Carter Bryant (two points and one rebound in 12 minutes) as part of a center-less lineup. With Wembanyama back in the fold for Game 5 on Tuesday, Kornet’s minutes are going to decrease significantly.

On a night when Victor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career just over three minutes into the second quarter, the Spurs still had chances to win Game 4. Harper was one of the reasons why, with the rookie guard producing one of the best performances of his first NBA season. Highly efficient as a shooter, Harper finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line, playing 27 minutes. Even with his reserve role, he has the talent needed to be a difference-maker in this series, which is tied at two games apiece.

The Spurs didn’t pick up the win on Sunday, but Castle’s improved efficiency as a playmaker was one of the positives to take from Game 4. After totaling nine turnovers in Games 2 and 3, he committed one on Sunday while shooting just under 50 percent from the field. Despite Victor Wembanyama being ejected in the second quarter, the Spurs still had chances to win late, with Castle’s play being one of the reasons. San Antonio hosts Game 5 on Tuesday night with the series tied at two games apiece.

Despite three players scoring at least 20 points, the Spurs were unable to take a 3-1 series lead on Sunday night. Fox may have led the way in scoring, but he once again shot the ball inefficiently. The Spurs’ guard has shot less than 40 percent from the field in three of the four games in this series, with Game 2 being the exception. Fox did keep the turnovers in check, committing just one, but that doesn’t matter much when a player leads the team in shot attempts but shoots as poorly as he did on Sunday. Game 5 is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

Reid, who finished one rebound shy of a double-double, rolled his right ankle early in the fourth quarter of Game 4. The good news is that he returned later in the quarter, providing key contributions as the Timberwolves evened the series at two games apiece. Game 5 is on Tuesday night, so Reid won’t have too long to rest his injured ankle. Don’t be surprised if he shows up on the preliminary injury report.

Gobert has reached double digits in rebounds in four of his last five playoff games, with Sunday’s tally being the most for him since Game 6 of the first-round series against Denver. With Victor Wembanyama getting ejected just over three minutes into the second quarter, Gobert spent most of the night competing with Luke Kornet for rebounds and points in the paint. That won’t be the case for Game 5 on Tuesday, but the “Stifle Tower” has held his own more often than not. The winner of Tuesday’s game will take a 3-2 series lead.

After shooting 5-of-22 from the field in Game 3, McDaniels was a bit more efficient in Game 4. He didn’t record any assists or defensive stats on Sunday, but that did not prove problematic on a night when San Antonio lost Victor Wembanyama to a second-quarter ejection. With the series now a best-of-3, the Timberwolves are going to need more production from McDaniels, who has scored 17 points or fewer in each of the first four games. Game 5 is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

Even with Victor Wembanyama being ejected during the second quarter, the Timberwolves found themselves in a dogfight throughout Game 4. As superstars are expected to do, Edwards stepped up when his team needed him most. The Timberwolves’ guard scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, helping Minnesota pull even at two games apiece. Edwards logged 40 minutes in Game 4, and that may be his floor for the rest of this series. Game 5 is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

Wembanyama threw an elbow while being fouled, striking Minnesota’s Naz Reid above the neck. After a video review, the Spurs star was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected. Wembanyama finished with four points (2-of-5 FGs), four rebounds and one assist. His absence means more minutes for Luke Kornet, and there may be periods when Carter Bryant plays the five as part of a smaller lineup.

After coming off the bench in his return to action on Friday, Dosunmu moves into the starting lineup for Sunday night. As a result, Mike Conley will head to the bench and could fall out of the rotation entirely. With Dosunmu available, Conley played four minutes in Friday’s Game 3 defeat despite remaining in the starting lineup.