Austin Reaves Cleared To Play In Game 5
The Lakers will have Austin Reaves back in the lineup on Wednesday as they try to close out their first-round series against Houston, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Reaves received medical clearance to play in the Game 5 matchup after going through pregame warmups.
There have been indications over the past few days that Reaves was close to returning from the Grade 2 left oblique strain that has kept him out of action since April 2. He was listed as questionable for Games 3 and 4 before being eventually downgraded to out. He was a game-time decision again tonight and was able to convince the medical staff that he’s ready to go.
“From the start, it’s been a group effort,” Reaves told reporters, including Mark Medina of Essentially Sports. “The main thing is getting me back out there as fast as possible without putting me at risk to re-injure myself. Everyone has been extremely positive through this whole process. We’re all working toward one goal.”
Reaves expressed optimism following a light shooting workout on Tuesday, saying that he’s feeling good and “turning in the right direction.” He also admitted, “I’m bad at feeling pain,” and noted that team doctors and trainers are closely evaluating the risk of further structural damage.
The Lakers also lost Luka Doncic in the April 2 contest with a left hamstring strain, and both players missed the final five games of the regular season, along with the entirety of the playoffs up to this point. Coach JJ Redick reiterated on Tuesday that Doncic isn’t expected to return during the first round, while ESPN’s Shams Charania said during a TV appearance on Wednesday that the All-Star guard also likely won’t be ready for the start of the second round if the Lakers advance (Twitter video link).
Reaves and Doncic have been heavily involved on the bench since their injuries, providing advice and encouragement to teammates as they try to survive without their top two scorers, Medina adds. Even so, Reaves admits being “super frustrated” while waiting for his oblique to heal.
“I’ve been pretty miserable of not having somewhat of a control on a game,” he said. “Just sitting over there not with no hope in the game, but no hope that I can affect the game. Obviously, I can talk and try to lead from being over there. But not really being on a court. It sucks.”
Cavaliers Change Starting Lineup For Game 5
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson made a change to his starting lineup for Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Raptors, replacing defensive specialist Dean Wade with Max Strus, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story.
The move is designed to spark the Cavs’ struggling offense after they averaged just 96.5 points per game in a pair of losses at Toronto. Cleveland shot 36.8% from the field and 25% from three-point range on Sunday while squandering a late lead and allowing the Raptors to tie the series.
Strus connected at 40.2% from beyond the arc in 12 games after returning from a broken foot in mid-March, and Atkinson is impressed with his postseason track record.
“He’s got a lot of experience in the playoffs,” Atkinson said in a pre-game session with the media. “I think it’s experience, savvy, know-how, IQ, connector, all those things. They translate. Those characteristics translate into playoffs.”
Fedor notes that tonight marks the first time since December 14 that Wade hasn’t been part of the starting five when he’s healthy. He has helped to neutralize the impact of Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes through the first four games of the series, but Atkinson is more concerned about fixing the team’s offensive issues.
Fedor states that Strus should help “declutter” the offense by providing more spacing and better shooting and cutting than it had with Wade starting. Strus’ presence is expected to prevent Toronto’s defense from focusing so much attention on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
Strus has been up and down in the current series, posting 24, six, 15 and one points in the four games. He was a minus-16 and minus-15 in the two losses, but his coach doesn’t believe that reflects his overall value.
“I think he’s played pretty well,” Atkinson said. “I don’t judge just solely on making and missing shots. He’s an important piece to what we do.”
As Atkinson alluded to, Strus has a wealth of playoff experience, reaching the postseason every year since 2021 and holding a 36-32 record in those games. He was a starter for the Miami team that made a surprising run to the NBA Finals in 2023.
Fedor also notes that there’s value in having the 6’9″ Wade as part of the second unit because the team hasn’t done well in the minutes that Evan Mobley has played at center. Putting another big body on the court could help ease the pressure on Mobley to protect the rim and equalize the rebounding battle.
Injury Notes: Gordon, Hyland, Wagner, Isaac, Huerter, Hart
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is listed as questionable in the official injury report for Thursday’s Game 6 at Minnesota. Gordon wasn’t available for Games 3 and 5, but he managed to play through the pain caused by tightness in his left calf and logged 23 minutes in Saturday’s Game 4.
Tomorrow will be another must-win for Denver, which trails 3-2 in the series. Coach David Adelman talked to reporters, including Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (Twitter link), about what will go into making the decision on Gordon’s availability.
“I though Aaron in the first half (of Game 4) was very different from Aaron in the second half,” Adelman said. “And I know in both halves, he wasn’t moving great. So I’m not saying he looked great the first half. But I thought his mobility, the way he guarded (Julius) Randle in the post, we need that. I thought in the second half, you could see the wear and tear. Not to mention, for me, one of the hardest parts of a guy like that is you’ve gotta get him back on the court quicker (after he subs out). And I think when you get to halftime, you sit there for 20 minutes, that doesn’t help anyone.
“So I’m not a doctor. I’m not a trainer. But obviously, you guys could see it. I could see it. There’s a point where it’s not good for him; it’s not good for the team. And everybody knows that Aaron wants to play. The guy’s the ultimate teammate. He’s been so good for us over the years. But we have to do what’s right for him and the team.”
Gordon and Peyton Watson, who remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, worked out after today’s walkthrough, according to Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette (Twitter link).
Other than Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, who both suffered serious injuries on Saturday, the only player listed on the Timberwolves‘ injury report is Bones Hyland, who is questionable due to left knee soreness.
We have a few more injury-related updates from around the league:
- Magic forward Franz Wagner, who was ruled out of tonight’s Game 5 with a calf strain, offered an update on his condition, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link).“I hate to miss any game, especially in this situation,” Wagner said. “But I think there are things that are really important. Obviously, we know the history of other guys that have gotten hurt. So like I said, you’ve got to be careful with this kind of injury.” Wagner had his right foot in a boot as he spoke with the media, adds Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Jamal Cain took Wagner’s place in the starting lineup.
- The Magic are also missing backup big man Jonathan Isaac, who’s out with a left knee sprain, per Marc Stein of the Stein Line (Twitter link).
- The Pistons are playing tonight without Kevin Huerter, who’s sidelined with a left adductor strain, relays Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- The Knicks are listing Josh Hart as questionable for Thursday’s Game 6 with a lower back contusion, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Knicks Notes: Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, Alvarado
A change in strategy by the Hawks set up Jalen Brunson for his best performance of the series in Tuesday’s Game 5, writes Vincent Goodwill of ESPN. Coach Quin Snyder opted to switch Dyson Daniels onto Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted a triple-double on Sunday. That gave Brunson more freedom to operate, and he responded with 39 points while shooting 15-of-23 from the field as the Knicks cruised to a 29-point win.
“It’s like a chess match,” Brunson said. “If someone makes a move, you’ve got to make another move. You’ve got to wait to see what they do. The way we play, we’ve got to be ready for anything.”
Atlanta posted a pair of one-point victories in Games 2 and 3 to take the lead in the series, but New York has been dominant since then, holding the Hawks to 42.7% from the field and 27.7% from three-point range in the last two outings. CJ McCollum, who looked like the star of the series early on, was limited to six points on Tuesday.
“It’s been a multitude of things. We picked it up as a unit,” Brunson of the Knicks’ defense. “They’ve also gotten a lot of looks. and we were lucky they were missing. I think us being on the same page, both sides of the ball, was a factor.”
There’s more from New York:
- The defensive adjustment didn’t seem to bother Towns, who finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Knicks ran their offense through him most of the night, observes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Towns was able to overpower Daniels in the paint and use his size advantage to get the ball to open teammates. “I feel like passing’s been my thing since I came into the league. Sometimes the scoring gets more noticed than the passing,” Towns said. “But I’m glad I have the opportunity to show what I can do, passing-wise. I’ve just got to continue to stay disciplined, continue to make the right play, regardless if it’s the scoring play or the hockey assist.”
- OG Anunoby may be New York’s best player throughout the series, Braziller adds in a separate story. Anunoby turned in another great game with 17 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a plus-19 rating, and his teammates are recognizing the contribution he’s making every night. “He’s one of the best two-way players in the NBA,” Towns said. “This series has been great for him to show the world on a big stage something that we always thought he was. When you have someone like that who is that good offensively and even better defensively, weirdly enough, it’s special. I believe he’s going to be First Team All-Defense, and he deserves it.”
- After not playing in the series opener, Jose Alvarado has worked his way back into the rotation, per Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. He came off the bench to score 12 points in 12 minutes in Game 5 and helped the Knicks pull away early in the second quarter. Schwartz notes that Alvarado’s latest chance came after guards Landry Shamet and Miles McBride struggled earlier in the series.
Franz Wagner Has Calf Strain, Will Miss Game 5
April 29, 4:36 pm: Magic coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed that Wagner won’t be available for the game, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter link). Mosley adds that he’s not sure if there’s a timeline for Wagner’s return, and his status will depend on how he responds to treatment (Twitter link).
April 29, 10:06 am: Wagner attended the Magic’s shootaround on Wednesday morning but didn’t participate, a team official tells Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link), Magic forward Paolo Banchero told reporters after the shootaround that the team isn’t expecting Wagner to be active for Game 5.
April 28, 1:35 pm: Magic forward Franz Wagner, who underwent an MRI on Tuesday after exiting Monday’s game due to calf tightness, has been diagnosed with a right calf strain, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, Wagner’s status for Game 5 of the series is up in the air and will depend on his response to treatment. The Magic have confirmed Charania’s reporting and indicated the 24-year-old will be listed as questionable for Wednesday’s contest (Twitter link).
The fact that Wagner hasn’t already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game is a positive sign for Orlando and suggests that the strain must be a mild one. Still, even a Grade 1 strain typically causes players to miss at least a week or so, so it would be a bit of a surprise if Wagner is active for Game 5. The Magic certainly won’t want to take their 3-1 series lead for granted against a 60-win Pistons team, but calf issues are tricky to manage and can lead to more serious injuries if they’re mishandled.
Despite sitting out the fourth quarter of Game 4, Wagner scored 19 points, matching his series high. Through four playoff games, he has averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 steals in 30.5 minutes per night, with a .439/.333/.933 shooting line.
Reserve wing Jamal Cain was on the court for the entire fourth quarter in Wagner’s place on Monday and played a key role in the victory, acting as the primary defender on Pistons star Cade Cunningham and throwing down an emphatic highlight-reel dunk, as Josh Robbins of The Athletic details.
Based on his Game 5 usage, Cain may be the leading candidate to move into the starting lineup if Wagner sits, though Anthony Black and Tristan Da Silva also started several games during the regular season when the German forward was inactive due to an ankle injury.
Cavs’ Draft Pick Saliou Niang Headed To College
Cavaliers draft-and-stash prospect Saliou Niang is planning to play in the United States next season, but not in the NBA.
Niang has decided to play Division I basketball, Alessandro Maggi of Sportando tweets, with North Carolina and LSU in the running for his services.
Niang has been playing for Italy’s Virtus Bologna. The European club will receive a severance payment to allow Niang to head to the college ranks, where he’s expected to receive a significant NIL deal.
In 38 EuroLeague games this past season, Niang averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest. The 6’6” forward, 21, was selected with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2025 draft. He played in three Summer League contests last July, averaging 7.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 1.3 APG in 22.5 minutes per game.
The Cavaliers will retain Niang’s NBA rights — he’ll essentially become a domestic draft-and-stash prospect rather than an overseas one.
Kerr, Warriors’ Brass Meet But Situation Remains Unresolved
It remains uncertain whether Steve Kerr will return as the Warriors‘ head coach.
Kerr met with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for two hours on Monday but nothing was decided, ESPN’s trio of Shams Charania, Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater report. Kerr, Lacob and Dunleavy plan to reconvene next week to continue discussions. Kerr’s contract expired at the conclusion of Golden State’s season.
Both sides described the meeting as productive, per ESPN. Kerr will take a previously planned golf trip this week, as those around him continue to describe the veteran coach as torn over whether he wants to continue in his longtime job.
Kerr hinted in a lengthy New Yorker interview that he’d like to keep coaching, while ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated that Kerr might have to make staff and strategic changes and accept a reduced salary to receive a new contract.
The Warriors’ lottery pick could play a role in Kerr’s decision whether to return, the ESPN trio adds. There’s a mutual belief that Kerr still makes sense as the head coach leading a playoff contender built around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but not necessarily the fresh face of a rebuilt roster.
According to ESPN, team sources remain adamant that this is purely a “basketball decision” and that the Warriors’ brass hasn’t begun a search for Kerr’s potential replacement in case the two sides can’t come to an agreement.
Lakers, Bulls, Nets Among Potential Offseason Suitors For Peyton Watson
The Lakers, Bulls, and Nets are viewed as potential suitors who will have the spending flexibility to make a competitive play for Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson this offseason, league sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
While Fischer’s reporting makes it sound as if Brooklyn may be included in that group is a result of informed speculation rather than confirmed interest, he says the Lakers and Bulls both expressed trade interest in Watson prior to February’s deadline.
All three teams could have have significant cap room available this summer, and Watson figures to be a popular target after enjoying a breakout season in which he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 29.6 minutes per game on .491/.411/.730 shooting.
It’s safe to assume the Lakers will be in the market for an impact two-way wing this offseason, and the Nets are expected to try to be more competitive after losing 62 games in 2025/26, since they don’t control their own first-round pick in 2027. The Bulls’ intentions are less clear, especially since they’re currently in the midst of overhauling their front office, but no club has more projected cap space than Chicago.
Conversely, the Nuggets already have more than $201MM in guaranteed money on their 2026/27 books for just eight players, so re-signing Watson to a market-value contract would likely push their team salary well into second-apron territory unless they cut costs elsewhere.
Still, Watson won’t be unrestricted, and it has become increasingly rare in recent years for top restricted free agents to sign offer sheets or change teams. The Nuggets should have the upper hand in negotiations, with no cap rules preventing them from matching any offer from a rival team as long as they’re willing to pay the associated tax penalties.
Although the hamstring issues that have limited Watson to just five total appearances since February 4 shouldn’t have a real impact on his value in free agency, they’ve certainly been discouraging for the Nuggets, who could use the 23-year-old in their rotation as they attempt to complete a comeback from down 3-1 in the first round vs. Minnesota. Denver hasn’t offered any formal updates on Watson’s status for the rest of the series, but Fischer hears from sources that he has always been considered likely to miss the entire first round.
Warriors, Kings To Host 2026 California Classic Summer League
For the second time in three years, the Warriors and Kings will act as joint hosts of the California Classic Summer League, the two teams announced today in a pair of press releases.
The event, which serves as a smaller-scale precursor to the Las Vegas Summer League, will take place from July 3-6. While all 30 NBA teams participate in the Vegas Summer League, only a small handful will take part in the California Classic.
The Warriors’ half of the event, played at Chase Center, will feature the Spurs, Heat, and Lakers in addition to Golden State, with games played on July 3, 5, and 6. The Warriors will also have a second Summer League team taking part in the three-day Golden 1 Center event from July 4-6. The Kings, Bucks, and Nets will join Golden State for that half.
The California Classic and the Salt Lake City Summer Leagues will offer fans a first look at several rookies from the 2026 draft class before they play under a brighter spotlight in Vegas from July 9-19. Several lottery picks will likely compete in the California Classic, given that the Warriors, Kings, Nets, Bucks, and Heat all currently project to pick in the top 13 this June.
This year’s event will be the eighth annual California Classic. After the Kings hosted the first three iterations, they’ve alternated with the Warriors in recent years, with both teams taking on hosting duties in 2024 and again this year.
DeAndre Jordan Named 2025/26 Teammate Of The Year
Veteran center DeAndre Jordan appeared in just 12 games as a member of the Pelicans this season, but he has been named the 2025/26 Teammate of the Year, the NBA announced today (Twitter link).
The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award recognizes “the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team,” per the league.
Pelicans players and interim head coach James Borrego spoke repeatedly over the course of the year about the impact that Jordan had on a young roster despite his extremely limited role.
“To see the growth of our young team, DeAndre had a massive impact on that,” Borrego said near the end of the regular season. “He brought professionalism every day. A voice every day. A respect for every drill, every practice and every moment together.”
The Teammate of the Year award isn’t voted on by media members. A panel of league executives select the 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the award, while current players vote on the winner. Players receive 10 points for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one point for fifth place.
Jordan just narrowly won this season’s vote ahead of Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, who has won the award three times and was the last Pelicans player to claim it back in 2020. Jordan earned 66 first-place votes to Holiday’s 39, but the Blazers veteran nearly made up the difference by accumulating more second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-place votes than the big man.
Here are this season’s full voting results, according to the NBA, with the player’s point total noted in parentheses:
- DeAndre Jordan, Pelicans (1,445)
- Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers (1,437)
- Jeff Green, Rockets (1,420)
- Garrett Temple, Raptors (1,223)
- Pat Connaughton, Hornets (672)
- Jalen Brunson, Knicks (659)
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics (651)
- De’Aaron Fox, Spurs (640)
- Duncan Robinson, Pistons (523)
- Jaylin Williams, Thunder (471)
- Desmond Bane, Magic (445)
- Marcus Smart, Lakers (424)
Jordan’s win snaps a seven-year streak of a point guard being named Teammate of the Year. From 2018-25, Holiday won it three times, Mike Conley won twice, and Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry won once apiece.