Thunder Notes: Historic Comeback, Caruso, Holmgren, SGA
After two lopsided victories in their first-round series against Memphis, the Thunder found themselves in a major hole in the first half of Game 3. Oklahoma City trailed by as many as 29 points and entered halftime down 26.
“In the moment, it sucks,” All-Star Jalen Williams said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. “It’s not something that you want to make a habit of. But we also have extreme confidence in how we can play to kind of turn the tide.”
Aided in part by Ja Morant‘s hip injury, the Thunder were relentless on defense in the second half, forcing the Grizzlies into more turnovers (13) than made field goals (nine). Alex Caruso was at his best during that stretch, recording four steals in the final 14 minutes, Lorenzi adds.
“Our defense is our superpower,” Caruso said. “When we’re locked in on that side of the ball, we’re an unstoppable force.”
The Thunder ultimately pulled off the second-largest comeback in NBA playoff history, notes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. It was also the first time in playoff history that a team overcame a 26-point halftime deficit, according to Lorenzi.
Here’s more on the Thunder, who now hold a 3-0 lead on Memphis ahead of Saturday’s Game 4:
- While much of the post-game focus was on Caruso’s excellent defensive work, head coach Mark Daigneault didn’t view his performance as out of the ordinary (Twitter video link via HoopsHype). “He changes every game he’s in,” Daigneault said of Caruso. “He’s like that every night, he’s like that in a preseason game, he’s constantly engaged in the competition and the size of the stage or the pressure of the game doesn’t impact him at all.”
- In a column that was publishd prior to Game 3 and looks prescient in retrospect, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman explained why he believed Caruso was the “perfect playoff player” for Oklahoma City. “I feel like I’m one of the great competitors in this league,” Caruso said Tuesday. “I might not be in the top half, quarter, wherever you want to put it talent-wise… but as far as competing and putting it all out there and trying to win, I’m in the elite group of that.”
- Big man Chet Holmgren finished the first half with one point and missed all four of his field goal attempts, but he caught fire in the second half, scoring 23 points, including 16 in the third quarter, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN relays. “Mark changed the trajectory of the game,” Holmgren said. “Trusted me in calling a play for me to bomb one at the half after the s— storm I put up in the first half. Credit to him for that. Once I saw one go in, I felt good.”
- While the Thunder are in good shape heading into Saturday’s contest, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has surprisingly struggled with efficiency thus far in the playoffs. In a detailed film breakdown, Rylan Stiles of SI.com says Gilgeous-Alexander has simply been missing shots he normally makes and isn’t worried about how he’ll fare for the rest of the postseason.
Warriors’ Draymond Green Wins 2024/25 Hustle Award
Warriors forward/center Draymond Green has won the NBA’s Hustle Award for the 2024/25 season, the league announced today (story via Brian Martin of NBA.com).
The Hustle Award has been around since the ’16/17 campaign. Unlike other postseason awards, it is not voted on by the media.
Instead, the award goes to the player who has the top composite ranking in nine “hustle stats” — charges drawn, deflections, screen assists, contested two-point shots, contested three-point shots, offensive loose balls recovered, defensive loose balls recovered, offensive box outs, and defensive box outs.
As Martin writes, Green didn’t lead the NBA in any of those nine categories, but he was in the top 15 in five and became the first winner in the award’s history to rank in the top 40 in all nine.
The Hustle Award is meant to honor players “who make the effort plays that don’t often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning on a nightly basis,” per Martin.
Green, who finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season, was runner-up for the Hustle Award on two other occasions, Martin notes. Thunder guard Cason Wallace finished second behind Green, with Sixers forward Guerschon Yabusele, Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels rounding out the top five.
Thunder swingman Alex Caruso won the Hustle Award in ’23/24 while playing for the Bulls. Wizards guard Marcus Smart has won the award three times.
Projected First-Rounder Joan Beringer Entering Draft
French big man Joan Beringer is entering the 2025 NBA draft, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN. The 18-year-old is ranked No. 17 on ESPN’s latest big board, making him a projected first-round pick.
“It’s been my dream to play in the NBA,” Beringer said. “It’s a good moment to go. I want to say thank you to my teammates. They made everything a lot easier for me.”
Beringer has spent the 2024/25 campaign with Slovenian club Cedevita Olimpija, which competes in the Adriatic League and EuroCup. He has averaged 4.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17 EuroCup appearances (17.5 minutes per game).
As Givony details, Beringer is an intriguing prospect for multiple reasons. He’s the third-youngest player in the draft class, as he won’t turn 19 until November. He also wasn’t on NBA radars entering the season, as Beringer says he had never touched a basketball until the summer of 2021.
“I first started playing basketball in the street with my friends,” Beringer said. “Just for fun. I played football before, and there was a basketball court nearby the field. My feet got too big, so I couldn’t find soccer cleats anymore. I was 6-8 then. I’m 6-11 without shoes now. I joined a small club, Saint-Joseph Strasbourg, two weeks later. My work and willingness to go after things are the reason I was able to be where I am now.”
With a 7’5″ wingspan, impressive timing, and exceptional mobility, Beringer is viewed as having considerable defensive upside, according to Givony, who notes that the teenage center led the ABA in block percentage.
Alijah Arenas Making ‘Significant Progress’ After Car Crash
Five-star prospect Alijah Arenas was involved in a serious car accident early Thursday morning and had to be placed in a medically-induced coma.
According to Arenas’ family (Twitter link via Shams Charania of ESPN), the 18-year-old is no longer in a coma and “has shown significant signs of progress within the last 24 hours.” While Arenas remains intubated, the fact that he was able to come out of the coma was a “critical step forward in his recovery.”
Arenas was reportedly the driver and lone person involved in the crash. After hitting a fire hydrant and tree, the vehicle he was driving caught on fire, and nearby bystanders helped rescue him from the accident, per the statement.
A 6’6″ shooting guard who has committed to playing his freshman season at USC, Arenas was No. 13 on ESPN’s recruiting rankings for the 2025 class, making him a possible first-round pick in 2026. He is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas.
Our best wishes go out to Arenas as well his family and friends as he continues to recover.
Thomas Haugh Returning To Florida For Junior Season
Florida forward Thomas Haugh has decided not to declare for the 2025 NBA draft and will instead return to the Gators for his junior season, he told Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).
Haugh helped the Gators win an NCAA championship in 2024/25, averaging 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 40 appearances (24.4 minutes per game). He posted a .485/.340/.794 shooting line as Florida’s top reserve.
While the 21-year-old was considered a potential second-round pick in 2025, ranking 62nd on ESPN’s latest big board (subscriber link), Givony says Haugh will enter ’25/26 as a projected first-rounder in 2026.
Nets Notes: Thomas, Fernandez, Draft, Offseason
High-scoring guard Cam Thomas will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer after spending his first four NBA seasons in Brooklyn. C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News explains why he believes the Nets should retain Thomas, writing that while the 23-year-old is challenging to evaluate, he has flashed plenty of upside and has remained loyal to the franchise despite significant roster changes during his time with the team.
For his part, Thomas says he isn’t nervous at all about becoming a free agent.
“I know my value,” said Thomas, who was limited to 25 games in 2024/25 due to a series of hamstring injuries. “I know what I’m worth around the league. It’s not really nothing for me to be intimidated or excited about because I know my value that I bring to a team… I definitely know I know my value and all my work. I think that’s all that matters to me.”
Re-signing Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe, another impending restricted free agent, is reportedly a priority for the Nets.
Here are a few more notes from Brooklyn:
- As Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes, the Nets have the sixth-best odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick ahead of the 2025 draft lottery, which takes place May 12. They also control three additional first-round picks (Nos. 19, 26, and 27) and their own second-rounder (No. 36). Would Brooklyn consider trading one of those selections? “Yeah, it’s a good question, probably a question more for [general manager] Sean [Marks] than it is for me,” head coach Jordi Fernandez demurred. “I’ll be ready to coach whatever group we put together. And the coaches, as we always try to do, [will] help them get better and show them the way and the habits … and be connected and do all those things we’ve been preaching and build the identity we want to build.”
- Marks has said Fernandez will play a key role in the prospects the Nets target, but the coach didn’t offer many insights about what attributes he’s looking for in players ahead of the draft, Lewis adds. “Yeah, obviously this is my first time as a head coach going through this process, so it’s going to be nothing like I’ve done before,” Fernandez said. “Sean always talks about collaboration, and that’s what I’m ready for; I’m ready to help, and do whatever I can, to give my opinion. But at the end of the day, Sean and his group, what they do is they watch these kids live [and] on tape. They’ve been watching them for a while, so they’re the experts. Me and the coaches will be there to support and help. So it’s an exciting summer.”
- The Nets are projected to have the most cap room of any team this offseason and have a surplus of future first-round picks at their disposal. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll use those assets in 2025, according to Lewis (subscription required), who writes that the team might try to maintain roster and financial flexibility ahead of the 2026 offseason.
Injuries Mount For Nuggets During Game 3 Rout
The Nuggets got off to a solid start Thursday night during Game 3 in Los Angeles, building an early seven-point lead. However, the Clippers quickly swung the tide of momentum and built a lead they would never relinquish during a 23-2 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and start of the second, writes Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette.
Denver ultimately lost by a final score of 117-83, a humbling defeat for the 2023 NBA champions. The Nuggets now find themselves facing a 2-1 hole heading into Saturday’s Game 4.
“We got embarrassed today. It happens in the playoffs,” interim head coach David Adelman said. “(We’ve) been a part of it before, been a part of the other side of it. The bottom line is, it’s one game, and (if) we come back (in) Game 4, we do the right things, (we) give ourselves a chance.”
While forward Michael Porter Jr. was able to play 35 minutes Thursday, he was clearly struggling with the left shoulder injury he sustained late in Game 2, scoring just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. After the game, 26-year-old said his shoulder issue is normally a four-to-five week injury and he felt very limited, estimating that his left shoulder was around 20-30 percent healthy, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, who reports that Porter suffered a Grade 2 sprain.
Porter said he played Thursday because he was told the injury wouldn’t get worse unless he sprained it again (Twitter link via Shelburne), but he was noncommittal about his chances of suiting up Saturday.
“If I can go out there and feel more confident that I can help the team, then I’m going to play,” Porter said, per Benedetto. “If it’s still in a place like it is today, and I don’t feel like I can help the team at all, there’s no point in trying to go out there.”
To make matters worse for a team that’s already thin on the depth chart, backup guard Russell Westbrook didn’t play in the second half after dealing with left foot inflammation during his eight first-half minutes.
According to Shelburne, Westbrook turned his left foot during pregame warmups and attempted to play through the injury before being pulled in the second quarter. Adelman didn’t have an update on the former MVP’s status after the game, Benedetto adds.
Lakers Notes: Game 2, Redick, Hachimura, Offense, Defense
The Lakers evened their first-round series with Minnesota at one game apiece on Tuesday evening, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Head coach JJ Redick called a timeout to tear into his team after Los Angeles’ lead was cut from 22 points to 11 in the third quarter, and the Lakers responded with a 9-0 run to regain control of Game 2.
“That’s JJ,” LeBron James said of the first-year coach’s outburst. “Obviously we need to listen to the message and not how he’s delivering it. … I thought we responded after that.”
Redick was particularly complimentary of Rui Hachimura, who remained aggressive despite having to exit the game in the first quarter after being hit in the face.
“He played like a warrior tonight,” Redick said of Hachimura. “I’m sure that he is probably in the X-ray room right now. There were a few plays that he made just getting deflections and disrupting plays. … He was awesome.”
Hachimura will wear a protective mask for a “little bit” for precautionary reasons, but imaging was negative, Redick said today (Twitter link via McMenamin).
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- While Redick was pleased with the team’s defensive effort in Game 2, he said Thursday that the offense has plenty of room for improvement heading into Game 3, per Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group. The Lakers have averaged just 94.5 points in the first two games of the series. “We were more organized (compared to Game 1),” Redick said. “But the biggest thing for us is we have to find ways to create a little bit more thrust and pace. That’s probably the biggest thing. And we’ll continue to fine-tune that.”
- Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards admitted he has been confused by the Lakers’ defensive strategy, according to Price. “I don’t know – it seemed like every time I caught the ball, [the Lakers] kind of went into a zone in a sense,” Edwards responded when asked about Minnesota’s lack of ball and player movement in Game 2. “It was kind of confusing at times, but we’ll watch film and be ready.” Edwards had 25 points in Game 2, but he attempted 22 shots and had zero assists and two turnovers after finishing with nine assists and one turnover in Game 1.
- Edwards was flummoxed, but star guard Luka Doncic said the Lakers didn’t actually alter their defensive approach between games, Price adds. “We did the same game plan,” said Doncic, who finished with game highs of 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 42 minutes. “We didn’t really change much. It was just a question of if we were gonna be more physical or not. And we were for 48 minutes. We learned from the last game. And we just stuck to it.”
And-Ones: A. Arenas, 2025 Draft, X. Lee, Kidd
Alijah Arenas, a five-star prospect who has committed to play his freshman season at USC, has been placed in a medically-induced coma following a serious car accident early Thursday morning, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN.
As Charania details, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call of fire at 4:55 a.m. local time after a Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a fire hydrant and tree. The LAFD did not identify Arenas by name, but Charania confirms he was involved and taken to a local hospital in serious condition. Initial tests indicated Arenas did not suffer any broken bones, Charania adds.
Arenas, a 6’6″ shooting guard, is No. 13 on ESPN’s recruiting rankings for the 2025 class, making him a potential first-round pick next year. The 18-year-old is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN (Insider link) have updated their list of the top 100 prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. While many of the top 25 prospects remain unchanged, some have moved around a few spots. For instance, Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears is up to No. 5 from No. 7. Givony writes that the 18-year-old has generated “significant buzz” from the NBA scouts and executives he and Woo have spoken to in recent weeks.
- Former Princeton guard Xaivian Lee is withdrawing from the 2025 draft and will transfer to Florida for his senior season in 2025/26, agent George S. Langberg tells Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link). Lee was named first-team All-Ivy League each of the past two season for the Tigers and is now focused on helping the Gators defend their national championship.
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has become a minority stakeholder in English Premier League club Everton, per The Dallas Morning News. “I’m honored to be joining Everton’s ownership at such an important moment: with a new stadium on the horizon and a bright future ahead, it’s a great moment to come on board,” Kidd said in the release.
Southwest Notes: Zion, Pelicans, Rockets, Warriors, Morant
While new head of basketball operations Joe Dumars continues to reshape the Pelicans‘ front office, his biggest task will be deciding the future of Zion Williamson, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. If Dumars can’t get Williamson committed to the team, Duncan argues he should trade the injury-plagued former No. 1 overall pick.
As Duncan writes, Dumars intentionally avoided mentioning Williamson directly by name during his introductory press conference, but it’s clear that much of his messaging was directed at the star forward.
“You’re not going to be successful just with talent alone,” Dumars said. “There are some intangibles that you have to have. You’ve got to figure out: Does this guy really want to be great? Is he going to work? Is he going to show up? Does he have toughness? All of those intangible things besides who can run fast, who can jump high, who can shoot the ball. I can see that. Anybody can see that.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- The Rockets evened their first-round series against the Warriors on Wednesday night, led by 38 points from Jalen Green and a strong team defense. The Warriors downplayed Houston’s physicality after Game 2, which saw Jimmy Butler exit with a pelvis contusion, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Actually I might agree with (Draymond Green that it was less physical compared to Game 1),” Stephen Curry said. “There were a couple crashes that happened out there, but we know what they’re trying to do — use their size advantage at times to try to bully us. We held up a pretty good fight both games. We just let Jalen get going a little bit and he got free to space. There’s no reason he should get up 18 threes.”
- While the Warriors downplayed the physical play, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said the chippiness is working in Houston’s favor. According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN, there were six technical fouls, a flagrant 1 foul, “minor scuffles,” and several profane chants directed at Draymond Green. “If it gets chippy, we’ve seen over the last two years that’s worked in our favor for the most part, gets us amped up,” Udoka said. “But when you have a lead, (and you’re) up 20, and things start to happen, you understand why. That’s kind of the last resort by teams. You’ve got to keep your composure at that point and just stay calm.”
- A lawsuit against Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has been dismissed, reports Adrian Sainz of The Associated Press. Joshua Holloway, who was 17 at the time and recently finished his sophomore season as a player at Samford University, sued Morant for assault for punching him in the face at a pickup game he was invited to at the home of Morant’s parents in July 2022. Morant countered by saying he was acting in self-defense after Holloway threw the ball at his face. Shelby County Circuit Judge Carol Chumney agreed that Morant acted in self-defense and was immune to civil liability in the case, in part due to the testimony of other witnesses present, as Sainz details.