Atlantic Notes: Robinson, Nurse, M. Brown, Vucevic
The Knicks have ruled backup center Mitchell Robinson out for Game 2 against the Sixers due to an illness, SNY’s Ian Begley writes (Twitter link). He had previously been listed as questionable.
Robinson played just 12 minutes in Game 1, limited by foul trouble as well as the Sixers’ decision to intentionally foul him early in the game to take advantage of his 37.7% career playoff percentage from the free-throw line. He went 0-for-4, but Philadelphia did not go back to the strategy in the second half.
With Robinson on the bench, Knicks head coach Mike Brown turned to second-year center Ariel Hukporti, playing him almost as many minutes in the series opener (17) as he did in the entire first-round matchup against the Hawks (19). Hukporti also picked up four fouls, but contributed nine rebounds and two blocks.
With Joel Embiid ruled out due to ankle and hip injuries, New York will hope that their defensive-minded big man will not be as sorely missed as he would be otherwise.
We have more notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers‘ head coach Nick Nurse is back after a brief absence to mourn the unexpected loss of his older brother. He says that his brother would want him back with the team, per the Associated Press. “I’m here coaching and my brother would expect me to be,” Nurse said. “He was a huge fan. He wants us to go play, he wants us to play hard, so that’s what we’re going to try to do tonight.”
- Brown isn’t burdened by the weight of the championship mandate from the Knicks‘ leadership, because he already puts the same pressure on himself, Zach Braziller writes for the New York Post. “It doesn’t matter what others say. I’m disappointed if we’re not in the Finals and having a chance to win it,” he said. Brown is known for his steady temperament; it’s something the players admire about him. “He doesn’t listen to the outside noise and doesn’t let that affect him. And he’s focused every day on how he can come in and make this team better,” Josh Hart said. “He listens to his coaches and listens to us with our feedback and what we have to say and asks us questions and stuff like that.”
- After being eliminated in the first round by the Sixers, the Celtics have personnel decisions to make as they try to rebuild a championship roster around their core players. Nikola Vucevic will be a key factor in their offseason as his $21.5MM deal comes off the books this summer. President Brad Stevens spoke about the mid-year edition, though he stopped short of offering insight into the team’s plans. “I thought that Vooch gave us all that he had and, did what we asked…” Stevens said. “I have a lot of respect for Vooch as a person and as a pro. I thought he was really good in our locker room. I thought he was a really good person to have around. Certainly, a positive experience with him.”
Injury Notes: Merrill, Robinson, Embiid, Vanderbilt, Kennard, Huerter
Cavaliers wing Sam Merrill, who exited Tuesday’s game vs. Detroit after playing just seven minutes, has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Merrill didn’t participate in today’s practice and is listed as questionable for Game 2, though given his diagnosis, it would be a little surprising if he returns on Thursday.
Merrill was a crucial part of Cleveland’s rotation during its first-round series vs. Toronto, providing much-needed floor spacing. After making 42.1% of his three-pointers during the regular season, he converted 11-of-29 (37.9%) across seven games against the Raptors. Among Cavs players, only Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Max Strus made more threes in the first round, and each of them played more minutes and hit a lower percentage than Merrill.
As Fedor notes, after Merrill went down in Game 1, the Cavs increased the workloads of Strus and Jaylon Tyson and inserted Keon Ellis into their rotation.
“We’ll probably have to lean on those guys if Sam isn’t back right away,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has been added to the team’s injury report due to an illness and is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday’s Game 2, head coach Mike Brown told reporters this afternoon (Twitter link via James L. Edwards III of The Athletic). Robinson played just 12 minutes and had two points, four rebounds, and four fouls in Game 1.
- Although the Sixers ruled out Joel Embiid for Game 2 of their series vs. New York, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll miss multiple contests. Head coach Nick Nurse said today that it’s fair to consider Embiid day-to-day as a result of his ankle and hip injuries, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic.
- As gruesome as Jarred Vanderbilt‘s finger injury looked on Tuesday, the Lakers provided a positive update on his status on Wednesday. “They were able to put his finger back together. He’s splinted and he’s day to day,” head coach JJ Redick said of Vanderbilt, who sustained an open dislocation of his right pinky finger (Twitter link via Khobi Price of the California Post). Vanderbilt is considered doubtful to play in Game 2 on Thursday, while Luke Kennard is also on the injury report as questionable due to neck soreness, per the team (Twitter link via Jovan Buha).
- Pistons wing Kevin Huerter, on the shelf since April 27 due to a left adductor strain, has been listed as doubtful for Game 2 vs. Cleveland, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter link). Huerter was listed as questionable for Game 1 being being downgraded to out.
Former Hawks Owner Ted Turner Passes Away
Media mogul Ted Turner, the former owner of the Hawks and MLB’s Atlanta Braves, has passed away at age 87, per Matt Kempner and Christopher Quinn of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Turner, who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2018, died peacefully surrounded by loves ones, a spokesperson told the AJC.
Turner bought a majority stake in the Hawks in 1977 to ensure the team remained in Atlanta and to provide content for his local cable station, WTCG, which was later rebranded as WTBS/TBS (Turner Broadcasting System). He continued to serve as the Hawks’ owner until after Turner Broadcasting System was acquired by Time Warner in 1996.
Time Warner later the sold the franchise in 2004 to a group known as Atlanta Spirit LLC, while current Hawks owner Tony Ressler took control of the team in 2015.
A banner still hangs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta honoring Turner. Ressler issued a statement on Wednesday recognizing the former Hawks owner’s importance to the organization.
“For me personally, owning the Atlanta Hawks and following in his footsteps – even in a small way – has been one of the great honors of my life. Seeing his name raised above the rafters at State Farm Arena serves as a constant reminder of the standard he set and the legacy he built,” Ressler’s statement reads, in part. “In many respects, my work in Atlanta – through the Hawks, the transformation of State Farm Arena, and the development of Centennial Yards – are all extensions of that legacy, rooted in our shared belief that sports and community can come together to inspire, uplift, and create lasting impact.
“Ted Turner showed us what it means to think boldly and act with purpose. His legacy will continue to guide and inspire all who strive to make a difference.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver also put out a statement in the wake of Turner’s passing, referring to former Hawks owner as a “true pioneer whose vision transformed modern media” (Twitter link).
“He was a passionate steward of our game for decades,” Silver said. “Both as a longtime owner of the Hawks and as a devoted partner who played an integral role in advancing the league’s growth.”
We at Hoops Rumors send our condolences to Turner’s family and friends.
Hornets’ Brandon Miller Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Hornets forward Brandon Miller has undergone surgery to address instability in his left shoulder, the team announced today in a press release.
The Hornets didn’t provide any sort of recovery timeline for Miller or confirm that he’ll be ready for the 2026/27 season. The team simply ruled him out indefinitely and stated that updates will be provided as appropriate.
After being limited to 27 games in 2024/25 due to a wrist injury, Miller had a breakout third year, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes per game across 65 outings (all starts). He made 43.5% of his shots from the floor, including 38.3% of his three-point tries, and 89.2% of his free throws.
Miller played a key role in the Hornets’ best season in a decade. The club had a 41-24 record when he played and went just 3-14 in the games he missed.
Miller’s one extended absence came at the start of the year when he missed 13 consecutive games after being diagnosed with a left shoulder subluxation, which is a partially dislocated shoulder. Although he returned in late November and played in all but four games the rest of the way, he wore protection on that shoulder following his absence. It seems the injury never fully healed, prompting the decision to address it surgically at this time.
Miller is one of 23 players who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
2026 NBA Offseason Preview: Portland Trail Blazers
There were plenty of reasons not to believe that the Trail Blazers were going to take a significant step forward in 2025/26.
Two of Portland's most significant roster additions during the 2025 offseason were a veteran who would sit out the entire year while recovering from a torn Achilles (Damian Lillard) and a first-round pick who didn't appear ready to immediately contribute as a rookie (Yang Hansen). Then, head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested during the first week of the regular season as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling, prompting the team to pivot to an interim head coach, Tiago Splitter, after a single game.
But a Blazers season that looked like it might quickly go off the rails turned out to be the most promising year the team has had in a half-decade, as Portland finished over .500 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Sixth-year forward Deni Avdija led the way, making a leap from solid starter to star and earning the first All-Star nod of his career while finishing as a Most Improved Player finalist. However, there was no shortage of complementary pieces fueling the Blazers' success.
Toumani Camara played all 82 games and continued to establish himself as an impact two-way player; Jerami Grant enjoyed a bounce-back season following a down 2024/25; Jrue Holiday fit into the backcourt exactly like the front office envisioned when he was acquired last summer from Boston; second-year center Donovan Clingan established himself as a reliable starter in the middle, while Robert Williams was healthy enough to back him up for most of the season; and Splitter acquitted himself well after being unexpectedly thrust into his first NBA head coaching job.
The 2025/26 season provided a number of reasons for optimism in Portland, and Lillard's impending return is another. Still, there are some question marks entering the summer that can't be overlooked.
Was finally freeing up their lottery-protected first-round pick by conveying the No. 15 overall selection to Chicago a good thing, or will it hurt the Blazers not to add another young player to this core? Is a consolidation trade for a star necessary to become a true contender? And just how aggressively will new team owner Tom Dundon, who has already made several headlines related to off-court cost-cutting moves, be willing to spend on his roster?
The Trail Blazers' Offseason Plans
Ten of the 15 players who finished the season on Portland's standard roster have guaranteed salaries for 2026/27, while two more - Vit Krejci and Sidy Cissoko - have non-guaranteed minimum salaries that look like pretty good deals. In other words, before they begin seriously exploring the trade market or talking to free agents, the Blazers could open the offseason with 12 of their 15 roster spots already spoken for.
Extensions Expected For Raptors GM Bobby Webster, Coach Darko Rajakovic
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster and head coach Darko Rajakovic are both expected to receive extension offers in the next few weeks, sources tell Michael Grange of Sportsnet. The organization is hoping to emphasize continuity after making its first playoff appearance in four years, Grange adds, and Webster and Rajakovic have one year left on their respective contracts.
“You don’t have your head coach and general manager head into the final year of their contracts as lame ducks, not after a playoff year,” one source told Grange.
Details of Webster’s next deal will be worked out in meetings with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the Raptors’ parent company, but Grange hears there’s a “mutual understanding” between the parties. Rajakovic had a year added to his three-year contract during the 2024/25 season, and Grange expects Webster to handle negotiations with his coach.
Grange also points out that there’s a fresh sense of urgency with former team president Masai Ujiri now running the Mavericks. He has several positions to fill in Dallas, and there has been speculation that he might target Webster to be his general manager. However, Grange states that he spoke to multiple sources who dismissed that idea, believing the Raptors wouldn’t let Webster go and that he wouldn’t want to revert to a secondary role under Ujiri when he’s in charge of the operation in Toronto.
Grange suggests that it’s more likely Ujiri will target members of the talent evaluation staff that he assembled with the Raptors. That includes assistant general manager Dan Tolzman, a player personnel expert who also worked with Ujiri in Denver. Tolzman played a significant role in building the 2019 championship team and helped identify young talents such as Scottie Barnes, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles on the current roster.
Grange views Tolzman as a potential GM candidate with the Mavericks, while Toronto’s director of player personnel Patrick Engelbrecht and director of global scouting Curtis Crawford may also join Ujiri in Dallas.
MLSE president Keith Pelley didn’t put any pressure on Webster to improve the team heading into the trade deadline, according to Grange, which suggested that an extension would be coming. Accordingly, Webster opted to remain conservative rather than getting in a bidding war for Jaren Jackson Jr., who was “very much on the Raptors’ radar” before being traded from Memphis to Utah.
Grange describes the just-completed season as “an extended job interview” for Webster and his basketball operations team, nearly all of whom worked under Ujiri. The results were impressive, with a 46-36 record followed by a tight seven-game series against Cleveland in the first round. It marked the first winning season and playoff appearance for Rajakovic since he took over the team in 2023.
Luka Doncic’s Return From Strained Hamstring Remains Uncertain
Luka Doncic provided an update Wednesday on his Grade 2 left hamstring strain, telling reporters that he wants to return at some point during the playoffs but still doesn’t have a definitive timeline, writes Khobi Price of The California Post.
“Obviously this is a different injury than I ever had,” Doncic said. “It’s been second time I [injured the hamstring this season]. So recovery has been a little longer. But I’m feeling good. Working every day, so I’m trying to come back.”
Doncic strained the same hamstring in February, causing him to miss four games and limiting his playing time in the All-Star Game.
The Lakers haven’t provided much information on Doncic’s injury since it occurred nearly five weeks ago in an April 2 contest. There were media estimates that he would need four to six weeks to recover, but Doncic said doctors told him it would likely take eight weeks.
He has been able to start running, but hasn’t been cleared for contact, which is a significant step before he can consider returning to action.
“It’s very frustrating,” Doncic said. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I wanna do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough, to, just to sit and watch them play.”
Doncic confirmed that he went to Spain shortly after the injury occurred to undergo advanced treatment in hopes of speeding up the recovery process. That included four PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, which resulted in an extended time away from the team.
“Everybody knows that Spain, they’re just one of the best countries to do that,” Doncic said. “And obviously, I talked with the Lakers doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there. Obviously, I know and trust lots of people from Spain that I used to work before. But why I was in Spain so long is because I needed four days in between every shot. So I did it four times. So that’s why I stayed longer.”
The injury may have prevented Doncic from becoming an MVP finalist, as he put up incredible numbers during his first full season in L.A. He led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game, while finishing third in assists at 8.3 and sixth in steals at 1.6. However, he only appeared in 64 regular season games and had to get a ruling from the league that made him award eligible due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
Doncic scored more than 600 points in March while leading the Lakers to a 16-2 record that had them in line to be the No. 3 seed in the West. However, they slipped to fourth in his absence and are now in the midst of a daunting second-round matchup with Oklahoma City.
LeBron James admitted that the team was at a severe disadvantage without Doncic during Tuesday’s Game 1 loss.
“When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy that averages 34 [points] and eight [rebounds] and nine [assists] and is that special, that’s [tough],” James said.
Brad Stevens Responds To Report On Jaylen Brown’s ‘Frustration’ With Celtics
Tracy McGrady is suggesting that Jaylen Brown has become frustrated with the Celtics in the wake of their first-round playoff ouster, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens hasn’t seen or heard anything to make him believe that’s true, according to Brian Robb of MassLive.
McGrady, a studio analyst for NBC Sports, made the claim Wednesday morning on his Cousins podcast with Vince Carter (YouTube link). The comments carry extra weight because McGrady has served as a mentor for Brown and is presumably tied into his thinking regarding the team.
“I think his frustration lies deeply within the organizations and other things that we don’t really have the details to,” McGrady said. “It’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing just going on with the Boston organization, with JB. I think part of him is like, ‘I showed you guys more of who I am as a basketball player.’
“Not only just what I did on the basketball court but the leadership that I displayed within this team and you’ve seen that. Not having our best player in (Jayson Tatum). You’ve seen a different side of me and what I’m able to bring to the game of basketball. All that stuff just came into play with him and his frustration.”
With Tatum sidelined until early March while recovering from a torn Achilles, Brown was asked to carry more of the scoring load and responded with the best season of his 10-year career. He posted career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 games, placing him in contention for first-team All-NBA honors.
He recently raised eyebrows in Boston by calling this his favorite season, even though the Celtics, who won the NBA title two years ago, failed to advance in the playoffs.
Speaking Wednesday at his end-of-season press conference, Stevens said Brown hasn’t offered any indication of being unhappy.
“I talked to Jaylen Monday a little bit, after he just, real quickly, and was nothing but positive,” Stevens said. “He has not expressed those frustrations to me.”
Brown is under contract for three more seasons, so he wouldn’t have much leverage to force a trade even if McGrady’s claims are true. Brown will earn $58.5MM, $62.8MM and $67.1MM before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2029.
Stevens added that he’s willing to meet with Brown and talk through any problems, Robb adds.
“We’ve been here 10 years together, and I do think that, obviously I love JB,” Stevens said. “Everybody around here loves JB, and I think just like any of our other guys, as we get to the end of the season, I’ll be here, and my door is always open. And if anybody ever wants to come in and talk about it, and talk about their team, their place, whatever the case may be, I’m all ears.
“And that would be one through 16, not just Jaylen, not just Jayson, not just the guys that have been here. I think it’s really important to be available. So I certainly am, and none of that has been expressed to me.”
Sixers Rule Out Joel Embiid For Game 2
After initially being listed as probable due to a right ankle sprain, Sixers center Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 on Wednesday due to that ankle injury as well as right hip soreness. The decision, which is now official, was first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania (Twitter link), Embiid has been dealing with increased soreness in his ankle and hip since Monday’s contest and wasn’t able to participate in this morning’s shootaround. The banged-up big man, who returned to action in Game 4 of the first round after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last month, has been receiving “around-the clock” treatment in the hopes of getting him ready for Game 2, Charania adds, but it wasn’t enough.
Embiid played a crucial role in the 76ers’ first-round comeback from a 3-1 deficit, averaging 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per night in Games 5, 6, and 7. Philadelphia outscored Boston by 31 points with Embiid on the floor during those three victories. However, the former MVP struggled in Monday’s blowout loss to New York, scoring 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
With Embiid unavailable, the Sixers will have to lean more heavily on Adem Bona, who started the first three games of the Boston series, and Andre Drummond, who split center duties with Bona during those contests, averaging 24.3 MPG.
There were also be added pressure on Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Paul George to carry the offensive load without Embiid on the court.
Timberwolves’ Ayo Dosunmu To Return For Game 2
After welcoming Anthony Edwards back from a knee injury for the first game of their second-round series vs. San Antonio on Monday, the Timberwolves will get more reinforcements in their backcourt for Game 2, having announced today (via Twitter) that Ayo Dosunmu has been upgraded to available (Twitter link).
Dosunmu played a major role in Minnesota’s first-round series win over Denver, scoring 25 points to go along with nine assists in a Game 3 win and then following that up by racking up 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting in Game 4. For the series, he averaged 21.8 PPG and 4.0 APG on .609/.545/.950 shooting across five outings.
However, right calf soreness sidelined him for Game 6 against the Nuggets and kept him on the shelf for Game 1 against the Spurs. Wednesday’s game will be the first time the 26-year-old has suited up since last Monday.
While it’s unclear whether Dosunmu will be on a strict minutes limit, it’s probably safe to assume he won’t immediately be thrown back into the fire by playing 40 minutes tonight. For his part, Edwards came off the bench and was limited to 25 minutes on Monday — I’d expect the Wolves to take a similar approach with Dosunmu’s workload.
Edwards continues to be listed as questionable for Wednesday due to his left knee injury, but he reported no setbacks after Game 1 and there have been no indications that his availability for Game 2 is in any jeopardy.