Calf Strain To Sideline Ajay Mitchell For Game 4
Ajay Mitchell will miss Sunday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference finals with a strained right calf, the Thunder disclosed in their official injury report.
Mitchell played nearly 17 minutes on Friday before leaving the game after a hard collision in the third quarter. He was called for a flagrant foul after stopping San Antonio’s Stephon Castle from getting a breakaway layup, which led to a brief scuffle between the teams (Twitter video link).
It’s not clear if the calf strain occurred on that play, but Mitchell was limping as he left the bench area and headed toward the locker room, according to Jenni Carlson and Jeff Patterson of The Oklahoman.
Mitchell, who started the game in place of the injured Jalen Williams, finished with two points, five rebounds and an assist. Williams is listed as questionable for Sunday with left hamstring soreness, and coach Mark Daigneault didn’t provide much information on either player when speaking to reporters earlier on Saturday, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire.
“No update on either guy. I don’t even know, to be point honest,” Daigneault said. “Well, I know, but I’m not giving an update on it. It’ll be a listing tonight.”
Cason Wallace is likely to move into the starting lineup if Williams remains out, according to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman.
Mitchell also had an injury scare late in Game 2 that caused him to receive medical treatment on the bench. He told reporters after that game that he got hit in the thigh and didn’t expect any further problems.
The Spurs aren’t listing any injuries for Sunday, with coach Mitch Johnson saying earlier today that De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper are both expected to play.
Celtics Notes: Thomas, White, Wing Depth, Giannis
Isaiah Thomas hopes his decision to become a scout with the Celtics will lead to bigger things in his post-playing career, Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only story. Speaking on his “Point Game” podcast, Thomas revealed that discussions regarding the scouting position have been “in the works for a while.”
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, be a part of an organization, be a part of the front office and help make these decisions that are being made down the line,” he said. “So this is a step in the right direction in terms of, you know, hopefully one day being a GM or head of basketball operations or whatever the game of basketball takes me.”
Thomas, who will be based in his hometown of Seattle, has already begun working, and his first duties included representing the Celtics at last week’s draft combine in Chicago. He took part in some player interviews and said the prospects were comfortable with him because they’re familiar with his playing career.
“To go through that process as a player is hectic,” he said. “You’re a little nervous. You know that they know a lot, but you don’t know what they’re going to ask. So, being in that space as obviously not like a player, and being able to ask questions and really relate to these kids because they know me. They don’t always know anybody in the front office, like they know the face of the organization but they don’t know everybody else that is involved in the front office. So, it’s easy for me. I’m able to chop it up with these guys because I can relate to them. Obviously I’m a lot older than them, but I’m still a part of the game.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Derrick White‘s selection for First Team All-Defensive honors marked the first time in his career he has received that recognition, notes Brian Robb of MassLive. White, who was the only guard named to the First Team, was a Second Team selection in 2023 and 2024.
- The Celtics have a surplus of wing depth now that Jayson Tatum is healthy, which may lead to an offseason trade, Robb states in a mailbag column. He explores the pros and cons of parting with Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez or Jordan Walsh.
- Chad Finn of The Boston Globe (subscription required) makes the case for sending out Jaylen Brown in a deal to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks. He argues that a “big swing” is necessary to get the Celtics back into title contention and that Antetokounmpo would represent an upgrade over Brown.
Spurs Notes: Guard Health, Wembanyama, Fouls, Game 4
The Spurs are attempting the difficult feat of beating the reigning champions while their primary and secondary point guards are battling through leg injuries. The good news is that both Fox and Harper are expected to be available to play in Game 4 on Sunday, per head coach Mitch Johnson (Twitter link via ESPN’s Tim McMahon).
De’Aaron Fox returned from his high ankle sprain for Game 3 but clearly wasn’t moving as well as usual, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. Dylan Harper, who injured his adductor in the third quarter of Game 2, seemed similarly limited, finishing Game 3 with just six points on seven shots, far less than the 15.5 PPG he’d been averaging in his previous 11 outings.
To make matters worse, Fox came up hobbling in the third quarter after Luguentz Dort fell onto his ankle while diving for a loose ball. He was able to finish the game despite the scare.
“Once the pain subsides for a little bit, I felt like I was fine,” he said. “I was able to move a little bit, so I wanted to still be out there.”
We have more notes from the Spurs:
- Victor Wembanyama is challenging conventional wisdom about how experience trumps young talent in the postseason, writes ESPN’s Ben Golliver. At just 22 years old, Wembanyama has been perhaps the best all-around player in the 2026 playoffs. However, he knows there’s more he can do to get the Spurs back on track after losing back-to-back games to the Thunder, their first consecutive losses since January. He says it starts with him being a better team player, Michael C. Wright writes for ESPN. “I feel like I’m having trouble making my teammates better right now,” Wembanyama said. “My shooting splits aren’t terrible. I need to be more of a team player, facilitate better, rebound the ball better, push their defense a little bit further and see how much they need to help with my teammates and [then] feed them.“
- One area of the game that Johnson is focused on improving is keeping the Thunder off the free throw line, which hurt San Antonio in Game 3, Orsborn writes. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 12 free throw attempts, and Johnson was unhappy with how many of those were self-inflicted. “I think probably half of them were from us being undisciplined first off the floor,” the Spurs coach said. “He got us out of position and took advantage of it. I can’t remember how he got all 12 free throws, but I know a few of them were pretty good defense it felt like up until that point.“
- Wembanyama believes Game 4 will be a good measuring stick game, both for himself and the team, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. The Defensive Player of the Year noted that this series is a new experience for most of the players on the roster and that everyone can be better. “It was the first playoffs for many of us,” he said. “Of course, there was going to be hard trials. It is to be expected. But now, we’re going to see what we’re made of.” Johnson noted that the team has to adjust its offensive approach, since it spent the season having Harper, Fox, and Stephon Castle attack the advantages drawn by Wembanyama’s presence, a playing style that’s difficult to maintain with two of the three guards banged up, per Jeff McDonald of the Express-News (via Twitter).
Scotto’s Latest: Irving, Leonard, Acuff, Hawks Draft, Front Office Hires
Masai Ujiri‘s comments since arriving as the Mavericks new president and alternate governor have been consistent and future-facing, leading some executives around the league to wonder about the long-term fit of Kyrie Irving alongside franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg, Michael Scotto reports for HoopsHype. Ujiri has expressed enthusiasm about seeing the two stars plays together, as has newly hired assistant general manager Mike Schmitz.
“That’s something you dream of,” Schmitz said. “Having a magician with the ball like that who can pass, dribble, shoot, and someone with the connective qualities of Cooper. It’s a match made in heaven.”
However, given the difference in timelines — Irving is 34 years old and coming off a torn ACL, while Flagg will enter next season at just 19 — there are questions about how long it makes sense to keep the duo together. The Mavs have a top-10 pick in this year’s draft as well as 21-year-old Dereck Lively II, so they’re well-positioned to undergo a youth movement to build a future contender around Flagg, especially if they can continue adding to that young core in a deal for Irving. On the other hand, Kyrie could provide veteran stability and help Flagg continue to develop into a superstar while making the team more competitive.
The Mavericks struggled to find an answer at point guard this season, ranking 22nd in assists and 18th in turnovers with Irving rehabbing. Brandon Williams started 15 games while Ryan Nembhard started 27. Both showed themselves to be useful NBA role players, but not necessarily starting point guards to build around should Irving be moved.
The 2026 draft lottery is loaded with intriguing point guards, though, at least one of whom will likely be available when the Mavericks are on the clock with the ninth pick.
We have more news and notes from Scotto:
- In addition to monitoring Dallas’ plans for Irving, rival executives will be keeping a close eye on what the Clippers do with Kawhi Leonard and the fifth overall pick, Scotto writes. If the Clippers make Leonard available, many execs would have him and Giannis Antetokounmpo “neck-and-neck” as the top player on the trade market, Scotto adds. On the other hand, if L.A. retains – and possibly extends – Leonard, rivals are curious about whether the team would consider moving the No. 5 pick. Assuming the Clippers keep that selection, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler is widely viewed as their most likely target, according to Scotto.
- Echoing prior reporting from Kevin O’Connor, Scotto cites league sources who say the Kings are “enamored” with Darius Acuff, the point guard out of Arkansas. The question is whether the electric scorer will still be available when the Kings are on the clock. Acuff averaged 23.5 points and 6.5 assists while making 44.0% of 5.8 three-point attempts per game this season.
- Rival executives who have spoken to Scotto believe the Hawks will use the No. 8 pick to either select a point guard from the group of Wagler, Acuff, Mikel Brown, and Kingston Flemings, or to take 7’3″ Michigan center Aday Mara. Mara’s stock has been rising and he’s considered a lottery lock due to his size, passing ability, and potential as a defender and rim protector. According to Scotto, Atlanta would also like to bring back CJ McCollum, a veteran leader who had a red-hot start to the Hawks’ first-round series against the Knicks.
- The Mavericks are looking to fill out their front office under Masai Ujiri, and two potential targets they’re eyeing are Prosper Karangwa, the Sixers‘ assistant general manager, and Patrick Engelbrecht, the Raptors‘ director of global scouting, with whom Ujiri worked for over a decade.
- The Mavs are not alone in their interest in Kawanga, Scotto writes, as the Lakers are also eyeing him, Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler, and Jazz vice president of player personnel Bart Taylor, among others, as they look to build out their front office. Timberwolves assistant general manager Steve Senior reportedly passed on an offer from the Lakers, opting to stay in Minnesota.
- The Jazz are tapping Shane Fenske as general manager of their G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, per Scotto. Fenske, who is the Jazz’s assistant general manager, was preceded by Katie Benzan, who is not leaving the team but rather changing roles within the franchise, notes Ben Anderson of KSL Sports (Twitter link).
2026 NBA Offseason Preview: Indiana Pacers
When Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon during the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, it didn't just scuttle the Pacers' chances of winning a championship that night. It essentially cost them their entire 2025/26 season as well.
Just two weeks after that Game 7 loss, Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard ruled out Haliburton for all of '25/26, recognizing that the injury occurred too late in the postseason to make a second-half return prudent, even if the star point guard were able to beat the usual recovery timeline for an Achilles tear.
The Pacers, who advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2024 before making the NBA Finals a year later, weren't a one-man show, so there was reason to believe they could remain competitive without their star point guard. But Haliburton's injury was just the tip of the iceberg in what turned into a nightmarish, injury-plagued year in Indiana.
Less than one month into the season, the Pacers sat at the very bottom of the NBA's standings with a 1-13 record as injury issues forced them to turn to journeymen reserves like Tony Bradley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to fill out their starting lineup. The roster eventually got a little healthier, but it was a lost year by that point, with the team dropping 30 of its first 36 games and eventually prioritizing draft position over competing for a play-in spot.
Amid a forgettable campaign, the Pacers made a fascinating trade-deadline deal, sending Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a pair of first-round picks, and a second-round selection to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. The move addressed a hole that was created during the 2025 offseason when starting center Myles Turner left for Milwaukee in free agency and was clearly made with 2026/27 (and beyond) in mind. After all, once Haliburton returned and the Pacers got healthier, they'd need a quality big man like Zubac if they hoped to make another deep playoff run.
Besides the fact that the trade featured a 13-38 team acting as a buyer, it was an unusual deal for another reason. The 2026 first-rounder the Pacers included in their package was top-four protected and would turn into a 2031 pick if it landed within its protected range. With Indiana headed for a bottom-three record, there would be what was essentially a coin flip to determine whether the pick landed in the top four and stayed with the Pacers (52.1%) or fell to fifth or sixth and was conveyed to L.A. (47.9%). That coin flip favored the Clippers, who got lucky on lottery night and received the No. 5 overall pick in a loaded draft.
This raises an obvious question: Given that they were willing to give up that pick for a player they didn't need until next season, couldn't the Pacers have waited until this summer and extracted more value on the trade market for that selection? If the Clippers hung onto Zubac through the deadline and then were offered the No. 5 overall pick for him in the coming weeks, would they really have had the leverage to demand the second first-rounder (an unprotected 2029 pick) that Indiana gave up as part of its mid-season package? I'm skeptical.
Bucks To Retain Darvin Ham, Hire Joe Boylan
Head coach Taylor Jenkins‘ coaching staff for the Bucks is taking shape. In addition to the recently reported addition of Patrick St. Andrews as an assistant, Milwaukee is bringing on Joe Boylan and retaining Darvin Ham, Eric Nehm and Sam Amick report for The Athletic.
Ham spent six of the last eight seasons with the Bucks, working first under Mike Budenholzer and more recently under Doc Rivers. In between those two stints, he was the Lakers’ head coach for two seasons, taking them to the Western Conference finals in 2023. He was considered a candidate for the Pelicans’ head coach vacancy this summer before Jamahl Mosley was eventually hired.
St. Andrews has a close relationship with Jenkins, stemming from their time working as assistant coaches together with the Hawks and extending to their time in Memphis during Jenkins’ tenure as head coach.
Like St. Andrews, Boylan worked with Jenkins in Memphis, spending one season with the Grizzlies after working with the Timberwolves from 2021-24. Boylan held a variety of player development roles before he was hired by Minnesota, spending time with the Pelicans, Grizzlies, Warriors, and Celtics.
Bucks To Hire Patrick St. Andrews As Assistant Coach
The Bucks are hiring former Trail Blazers assistant coach Patrick St. Andrews as an assistant under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). St. Andrews previously worked with Jenkins when they were both with the Grizzlies.
St. Andrews was in charge of managing Portland’s minutes distribution and restrictions due to injuries last season, according to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (via Twitter), who notes that St. Andrews was one of the team’s top assistants.
Prior to stints in Memphis and Portland, St. Andrews spent five seasons as an assistant with the Bucks, making this move something of a homecoming. It also gives Jenkins a familiar face as he continues to build out Milwaukee’s coaching staff.
Coaching Rumors: Kidd, Bryant, Klei, Bailey, Cook
Could Jason Kidd resurface with the Trail Blazers? It’s not out of the question, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
It’s natural that Kidd, who parted ways with the Mavericks this week, would be a potential candidate for any head coach opening.
Kidd has quietly been connected to Portland within league circles, according to Scotto, though it’s uncertain whether the Blazers will make a serious run at him or if he’ll want to pursue the job.
New majority owner Tom Dundon‘s cost-cutting measures make it unlikely that the Blazers would meet Kidd’s market value. Kidd is still owed $40MM+ from the Mavericks, who are eating the final four years of his contract. Kidd has also expressed interest in making personnel decisions and Portland’s GM Joe Cronin signed a multi-year extension last year. The Blazers are already in the process of conducting coaching interviews with at least a handful of candidates coming in for in-person interviews.
However, Scotto also notes that Damian Lillard, who will be back in action next season after recovering from an Achilles tear, has previously expressed interest in having Kidd as his head coach. Back in 2021, the last time Portland had a coaching search, Lillard told Yahoo Sports, “Jason Kidd is the guy I want.”
Portland ultimately chose Chauncey Billups, who was arrested and placed on leave amid a federal probe into illegal gambling at the start of this past season.
Here’s more coaching intel from Scotto:
- Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant is a potential candidate for the Bulls’ head coaching vacancy, Scotto reports. Bryant was a finalist for the Suns’ head coaching job last summer before Jordan Ott was chosen.
- The Hawks could be making an in-house hire. The coach of the G League’s College Park Skyhawks, Steven Klei, is a candidate to be promoted to Quin Snyder‘s NBA staff, per Scotto. There are a couple of openings on the staff after Butler hired Ronald Nored to be their head coach and Conner Varney as an assistant.
- Hawks assistant Bryan Bailey was among the candidates who interviewed for the Trail Blazers‘ head coaching job, according to Scotto. Bailey joined Snyder in Atlanta after serving as an assistant on Snyder’s Utah staff.
- The Trail Blazers contacted the Cavaliers for permission to speak with assistant coach Omar Cook regarding a possible assistant coaching position, Scotto writes. Cook played for Portland during the 2003/04 season.
Pelicans Hiring God Shammgod As Assistant Coach
The Pelicans are hiring veteran coach God Shammgod to be an assistant under new head coach Jamahl Mosley, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
A former guard who played professionally in the NBA and several other leagues around the world from 1997-2009, Shammgod got into coaching after retiring as a player and spent nearly a decade as a player development assistant in Dallas from 2016-25.
Shammgod worked alongside Mosley, a former Mavs assistant, until 2021 and then joined him in Orlando for the 2025/26 season. Now he’ll be leaving the Magic to rejoin Mosley’s in New Orleans as a front-of-the-bench assistant, per Scotto.
League sources tell Scotto that Mosley is expected to carry over a handful of assistants who were already working for the Pelicans, including Greg Monroe, Jodie Meeks, Mike Hopkins, and Will Bynum. However, he’ll also be making some of his own additions to the staff besides Shammgod.
Two of those potential newcomers are Dale Osbourne and Bret Brielmaier, who worked with Mosley in Orlando and are considered “strong candidates” to make the move to New Orleans, Scotto reports. Osbourne was in charge of the Magic’s defense, while Brielmaier holds some previous experience as a G League head coach, having led the Long Island Nets during the 2020/21 season.
Knicks Notes: Series Lead, Anunoby, Brunson, Pre-Draft Workouts
The Cavaliers advanced to the conference finals after trailing the Pistons 2-0 in their previous series. So the Knicks aren’t taking anything for granted with a 2-0 series lead. The series shifts to Cleveland for the next two games, beginning with Game 3 on Saturday night.
“We don’t feel any closer than we did last game or any game,” Karl-Anthony Towns said, per Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “In our minds, it’s back to 0-0. We gotta win the next game, it’s the most important game of the year. That’s how we treat it. We’re hungry to go out there and play basketball at the highest level. But we also understand that you can never be satisfied in these positions in the playoffs. The mindset is gonna continue to be 0-0 every single time we step on that court.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- OG Anunoby was named to the All-Defensive Second Team on Friday. He’s been selected to the Second Team twice during his career and just missed out in 2025, when he finished 11th in overall voting. “His versatility is just off the charts and you can do a lot of things with your defense because of him,” coach Mike Brown said of Anunoby, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post.
- In the battle of star point guards, Jalen Brunson has already led the Knicks past Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs in two previous playoff series. He’s two games away from eliminating Mitchell’s team again, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post notes. Brunson is averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 assists through the first two games.
- The Knicks evaluated a couple of draft prospects on Friday. Michigan’s Morez Johnson and Florida’s Xaivian Lee visited the team’s training facility, SNY’s Ian Begley tweets. The Knicks have the 24th, 31st, and 55th overall picks in next month’s draft. The Athletic’s latest mock has Johnson getting selected at No. 17 by Oklahoma City.