Atlantic Notes: Thomas, Sixers, Celtics, Hart
Speaking on the Road Trippin’ Show podcast (YouTube link), Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. suggested that Cam Thomas‘ time in Brooklyn came to an end due to his attitude rather than his talent, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays.
A restricted free agent in 2025, Thomas eventually signed his qualifying offer in September after being unable to negotiate a favorable multiyear deal with the Nets. He was waived in February and joined the Bucks before being cut again in March.
“There’s a lot more to the NBA and sticking around than just (scoring),” Porter said. “For Cam, I think it was a mixture of he was frustrated with a lot of things, and also his personality … he doesn’t really socialize. He’ll come to the gym sometimes and he’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody.
“I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate; I just think that’s him. But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and come off that money and you’re a number one option, it comes with so much more. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”
Thomas has flashed impressive scoring ability since entering the league, averaging 22.9 points per game in 91 outings during his third and fourth seasons (2023-25). However, he hasn’t consistently contributed in other ways and hasn’t always shot the ball efficiently, having registered career averages of 43.5% from the floor and 34.0% from beyond the arc.
We have more from around the Atlantic:
- As Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice and Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) detail, the Sixers rolled with a patchwork center rotation on Wednesday with usual starter Joel Embiid sidelined due to ankle and hip injuries. Adem Bona and Andre Drummond both got into foul trouble, prompting head coach Nick Nurse to turn to forward Dominick Barlow, who had played just 54 total minutes through the team’s first eight playoff games. Embiid is listed as questionable for Game 3, so it remains to be seen whether Philadelphia will have him back on Friday.
- Confirming that Celtics minority shareholders Aditya Mittal and Wyc Grousbeck are preparing a bid for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe says the expectation is that their roles with the NBA franchise would remain unchanged if they were to buy the Seahawks. According to Himmelsbach, Mittal would be the Seahawks’ controlling owner if the bid is successful, while Grousbeck would hold a smaller stake in the team.
- In case you missed it, we rounded up several Knicks notes earlier today. Since we published that article, Josh Hart (sprained thumb) has been upgraded from questionable to probable, signaling that he’s expected to suit up for Game 3.
Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Shamet, McBride, Hart, Robinson
Given that even mild hamstring strains often require a recovery period of a week or two, there was some skepticism on Thursday when OG Anunoby was dubbed day-to-day and listed as questionable for Friday’s game after being diagnosed with a strain. However, league sources tell Stefan Bondy and Jared Schwartz of The New York Post (subscription required) that imaging revealed a “very minor” strain and that the Knicks forward is truly considered day-to-day.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link) conveyed a similar sentiment in the latest episode of The Putback.
“This is not something that’s going to (take) weeks (to come back from) unless there’s some kind of setback,” Begley said. “If he misses games, it’s going to be a handful of games. He will be back, assuming the Knicks get through Philadelphia. He will be back in this series if the Sixers take a game or two. (There’s) optimism in the locker room — there’s a chance he could be back Friday or Sunday.”
While Anunoby hasn’t been ruled out yet for Game 3 on Friday, it would be surprising if he suited up just two days after suffering the injury, especially with the Knicks holding a 2-0 lead in the series. However, all indications are that he won’t miss as much time as he has when he sustained similar injuries in the past. As Bondy and Schwartz write, two previous hamstring strains cost Anunoby nine games and four games, respectively, but this one is considered milder than either of those.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- In separate stories for the Post, Schwartz breaks down the ripple effect of Anunoby’s injury, noting that Landry Shamet could return to the rotation and the Knicks could deploy more double-big looks, while Bondy says the team should play it safe with Anunoby, arguing that Miles McBride is more than capable of taking his spot in the starting lineup for at least the next game or two.
- Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post breaks down why Josh Hart is the best bet to step up if Anunoby misses time, noting that the versatile swingman saw his production spike when Anunoby was injured early in the regular season.
- Of course, it’s not a lock that Hart will be available for Game 3 — he’s listed as questionable after spraining his left thumb in Game 2. Still, there have been no indications to this point that Hart’s availability is in serious jeopardy. Mitchell Robinson is also on the injury report after missing Game 2 with an illness, but he’s considered probable to return to action.
OG Anunoby Considered Day-To-Day With Hamstring Strain
Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who exited Wednesday’s game after sustaining an apparent leg injury, has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and will be considered day-to-day, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Charania, Anunoby is being listed as questionable to play in Game 3 in Philadelphia on Friday.
Anunoby appeared to suffer the injury on a missed dunk attempt with just over three minutes left in Game 2. The 28-year-old landed a little awkwardly and briefly grabbed at the back of his right leg, then was limping as he begin running up the court following the offensive possession (video link via NBA.com). He signaled to the bench that he needed to check out of the game and was subbed out shortly thereafter.
The diagnosis is probably a best-case scenario for the Knicks, given that a more severe hamstring strain can sideline a player for weeks or even months — Luka Doncic, notably, has been out since April 2 due to a Grade 2 strain. Anunoby’s day-to-day designation suggests his strain is a mild one.
Still, even a mild hamstring strain typically requires a recovery period of at least a few days, if not a week or two. Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who is currently recovering from a Grade 1 strain, hasn’t played since April 22.
While it sounds like Anunoby’s absence might not be an extended one, the team’s medical staff will want to ensure he’s not rushing back before he’s ready, since soft-tissue injuries can easily be aggravated if they’re not fully healed.
Anunoby is averaging a team-high 35.3 minutes per game so far in the postseason, so head coach Mike Brown will have to reconfigure his rotation if the two-way wing is forced to miss time. That would likely result in an increased role for reserve guard Miles McBride, who was part of the Knicks’ closing lineup on Wednesday following Anunoby’s exit. The team would probably lean a little more heavily on wings Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, with Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado among the other candidates for more playing time.
The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Sixers came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round, so New York won’t want to take its foot off the gas as the series shifts to Philadelphia.
Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Bridges, McBride, Fouls, Workout
The Knicks came through in crunch time on Wednesday to pull out a victory in Game 2 of their second-round series vs. the 76ers and will carry a 2-0 lead into Philadelphia. However, the win may have come out a cost, as standout forward OG Anunoby exited the game in the fourth quarter due to an apparent right hamstring injury and didn’t return, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post.
Anunoby appeared to sustain the injury on a missed dunk attempt with just over three minutes left in the game. The 28-year-old landed a little awkwardly and briefly grabbed at the back of his leg, then was limping as he begin running up the court following the offensive possession (video link via NBA.com). He signaled to the bench that he needed to check out of the game and was subbed out shortly thereafter.
“It looked like he was hopping, but I don’t know anything,” head coach Mike Brown said after the game, per Vincent Goodwill of ESPN. “They haven’t told me. I just know he left the game. Nobody said he was back. I haven’t talked to anybody yet.”
There have been on additional updates on Anunoby since last night, so we’re still waiting to get a sense of whether the injury is a minor one or if it’s more significant. As Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post and Ian O’Connor of The Athletic write, it’s a concerning development for a team that has been playing its best basketball since Game 4 of the first round, given how important Anunoby has been during that stretch. He holds overall playoff averages of 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in 35.3 minutes per game.
We have more on the Knicks:
- Mikal Bridges‘ scoring average dropped to 14.4 points per game this season, making him a target for criticism given what the Knicks paid to acquire him (five first-round picks) and to extend him ($150MM over four years). However, he has been on a roll in the postseason, showing why the team valued him so highly, writes Jake Nisse of The New York Post. Bridges has scored 35 points on 16-of-23 (69.6%) shooting through the first two games of the second round and has been one of the primary defenders on Sixers star Tyrese Maxey, who has made just 12-of-32 shots (37.5%) while committing 10 turnovers. Bridges’ contributions could be even more important going forward if Anunoby misses time, Nisse notes.
- Count Miles McBride among the Knicks who is prepared to take on a larger role if necessary, depending on Anunoby’s diagnosis, writes Ian Begley of SNY.tv. McBride said he’d be “extremely comfortable” if asked to do more. “I feel like the coaching staff trusts me, I know my teammates trust me and I trust myself overall,” McBride said. “So if that happens, I know I’ll be ready.”
- After his big men got into foul trouble for the second straight game, Brown suggested in his post-game media session that he hopes the free throw discrepancy between the two teams gets “evened out a little bit more” over the course of the series, per Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. “I think it was (Karl-Anthony Towns)’ third or fourth foul where Maxey came off him,” Brown said, presumably referring to this play. “I’m not sure what’s a bump and what’s not a bump, but up by half-court, I gotta go back and I gotta watch that, because you can literally call somebody getting bumped every time down the floor if you want to. And so, for KAT to pick up his third or fourth foul that way — I can’t remember which one it was — that was tough.”
- Texas Tech wing Donovan Atwell, Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau, Kentucky center Malachi Moreno, and Ohio guard Jackson Paveletzke were among the prospects who took part in a pre-draft workout with the Knicks on Tuesday, a league source tells Adam Zagoria of NJ.com (Twitter link). New York holds three picks in this year’s draft — Nos. 24, 31, and 55.
Atlantic Notes: Robinson, M. Brown, Nurse, 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). Robinson had previously been listed as questionable, having been added to the injury report this afternoon.
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, though 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:
- 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.”
- Sixers‘ head coach Nick Nurse is back after a brief absence to mourn the unexpected loss of his older brother, Steve Nurse. Nick 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.”
- 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-season addition, though he stopped short of offering insight into the team’s plans for the veteran center. “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.
Knicks Notes: Offensive Explosion, Bridges, Anunoby, Game 2, Jones
The Knicks are firing on all cylinders. New York made 53 of its 84 shots en route to Monday’s 137-98 blowout win over the Sixers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“It’s a lot of fun when you have concepts on either end of the floor and guys are trying to embrace those concepts at the highest level,” head coach Mike Brown said, per James Edwards III of The Athletic. “When they do, it doesn’t really matter what you call or (who) initiates the action because guys are trying to play the right way. It can be any team out on the floor. If they’re trying to embrace what you’re throwing out there, sacrificing, all of that other stuff, it can be a lot of fun to watch.”
As Edwards notes, every New York starter besides Josh Hart, who had eight points and six assists, scored 17 points or more and only Jalen Brunson took more than 11 shots.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Mikal Bridges had 11 points or fewer in each of the first five games of the first-round series against Atlanta before erupting for 24 points in the Knicks’ 51-point blowout in Game 6. Apparently, it was no fluke. He had 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting along with five assists and a plus-19 rating in 27 minutes during Game 1 against Philadelphia. He also kept Sixers play-maker Tyrese Maxey under control. “It’s very important. He’s a huge factor for us,” Brunson told Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “He’s been playing great.”
- In the last three games, OG Anunoby is 23-for-30 from the field and 8-for-11 from distance, Braziller notes. “I think [it’s] the way he’s been able to create space, the way he’s been attacking,” Brunson said. “Those things have been a key factor for him. Obviously, he’s knocking down shot after shot. He’s just playing real aggressive, really downhill. … He’s creating havoc, and he’s making good decisions.”
- Brunson expects a much tougher game from the Sixers on Wednesday. “I don’t think we’re going to see that team, from Game 1 to Game 2,” Brunson said, per Vincent Goodwill of ESPN. “They’ll be ready to go.”
- The Knicks hosted Florida State’s Lajae Jones for a pre-draft workout on Monday, Ian Begley of SNY tweets. Jones averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Seminoles, his third college team.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Nurse, Ingram, Quickley, Celtics
Sixers center Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy less than a month ago, grimaced after taking a shot to his midsection from Knicks forward Mikal Bridges during Monday’s Game 1 loss (Twitter video link). Asked about it after the game, Embiid stopped short of calling the contact “dirty,” but questioned whether it was necessary within the flow of the play.
“I don’t know if it was dirty or not,” Embiid said, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). “I guess I’ve got to do a better job of protecting, especially that part (of my body). … I just felt like it wasn’t necessary, but we move on. It is whatever. It’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too, and do it too.”
We have more from around the Atlantic:
- Sixers head coach Nick Nurse is currently away from the team in order to mourn his older brother, who unexpectedly passed away last week, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. Nurse attending the funeral service in his hometown of Carroll, Iowa and is expected to rejoin the 76ers in time for Wednesday’s Game 2 in New York, Jones adds.
- After battling heel inflammation near the end of the regular season and in the playoffs, Raptors forward Brandon Ingram is visiting a specialist this week to discuss the treatment plan for the injury, head coach Darko Rajakovic said on Tuesday (Twitter link via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca). Both Ingram and guard Immanuel Quickley, who missed the entire first round due to a hamstring strain, expect to be back on the court within three or four weeks and shouldn’t have their offseason routines significantly impacted by their health issues.
- Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (subscription required) takes stock of where the Celtics‘ roster stands entering the offseason, writing that all indications point to head coach Joe Mazzulla being back on the sidelines next season. As for center Nikola Vucevic, the only player on the 15-man roster without a guaranteed contract or option for next season, Himmelsbach says Vucevic will have to take a sizable pay cut no matter where he ends up, adding that he won’t be surprised if the big man doesn’t return to Boston.
Bontemps/Windhorst’s Latest: Celtics, Harden, Towns, Duren
Celtics big man Neemias Queta enjoyed a breakout year in an increased role in 2025/26, making 75 starts in the middle and averaging new career highs in points (10.2), rebounds (8.4), assists (1.7), and blocks (1.3) per game while finishing fourth in Most Improved Player voting. Still, center is considered a position Boston will look to upgrade this summer, sources tell Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“Can Queta get you through 82 (games)?” one Western Conference scout said to ESPN. “Yes, but can he patchwork it through the playoffs? I think he keeps getting better, but there’s a ceiling. They have to get a higher-level center if they want to be considered serious contenders.”
The question is how the Celtics might be able to acquire a starting-caliber center after having moved so many of their larger, most tradable contracts last offseason. While the team should have some form of mid-level exception available, it’s not easy to add an impact free agent with that exception, especially since there’s no guarantee Boston will have access to the full non-taxpayer version of the MLE.
Here are a few more items of interest from Bontemps and Windhorst:
- Given their cap/apron situation, the Cavaliers will be incentivized to negotiate a new multiyear deal with James Harden that lowers his cap hit for 2026/27 rather than simply having him pick up his $42.3MM player option, Bontemps and Windhorst observe. “(That is the) best path to get under the apron without materially salary dumping,” one Eastern Conference executive said. “The Cavs will pay him more than he could get in free agency. They’ll probably work something out.” Sources tell ESPN that Harden and Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson have established a strong working relationship.
- Karl-Anthony Towns technically has two years left on his contract after this season, but 2027/28 is a player option, so the Knicks big man looks like a prime offseason extension candidate. A deal could hinge on how the rest of New York’s playoff run goes, but Towns had another All-Star season in 2025/26 and has been excellent so far in the postseason. “They’re probably in a spot with KAT that they should either extend him or look to trade him,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “If this playoff run convinces everyone this is a good fit, maybe they can get him to take a little discount off his max like (Jalen) Brunson did and help them keep the core together.”
- Earning an All-NBA spot this spring would make Jalen Duren eligible for a Rose Rule contract worth up to 30% of the salary cap (instead of 25%), but Bontemps and Windhorst suggest the Pistons will probably be reluctant to go that high for the All-Star center. One Western Conference executive who spoke to ESPN speculated that Duren might not even get a standard (25%) max deal, pointing to an average annual salary around $35MM as a figure that might work. “What’s a number that could leave both sides uncomfortable?” that exec said. “That might be what it takes to ultimately get a deal done.”
Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Robinson, Bridges, Alvarado
In the Knicks’ first-round victory over the Hawks, they relied on the offensive output of their best defender to help take them over the top. OG Anunoby stepped out of the role player spotlight and assumed the role of leading man, Howie Kussoy writes for the New York Post.
The 6’8″ wing had 29 points and seven rebounds in the record-setting Game 6 victory, a performance that epitomized his play throughout the matchup. Over the course of the series, he averaged 21.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while hitting 56.7% of his threes and playing versatile defense against Atlanta’s best scorers.
“[He was] just doing everything — scoring, defense, rebounding, making plays,” said Mikal Bridges. “He’s doing everything out there and that’s what we need. And I think he’s gonna continue to do that for us.”
It was a performance impressive enough to beg the question if we should be thinking about Anunoby more as a third star than another elite role player, contends Jake Nisse of the New York Post.
We have more from the Knicks:
- The Knicks have struggled at times to establish their toughness, often operating as more of a finesse team than one built on brute force, but in Game 6, Mitchell Robinson showed his ability to play enforcer, Kristian Winfield writes for the New York Daily News. It was a message he was trying to show since Game 1, when he wrote “Standing on business” on the tape wrapping his ankles. An altercation with the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels brought all of that to the forefront again. “Mitch is a big part of our locker room. What he does on the court — obviously y’all know he impacts winning, and he does a lot of things that sometimes don’t end up on the stat sheet, but makes us come out with a W,” Karl-Anthony Towns said.”So, Mitch is very vital for our locker room, for our team, and we’re always gonna support him. We’re always gonna stand behind him when he wants to, I guess – quote-unquote – ‘stand on business.'”
- After a brutal start to the series, Bridges found the range offensively in Game 6 and may have recaptured some of his usual swagger, the Post’s Stefan Bondy writes. Bridges finished the game with 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting and hit big momentum shots over the course of the night. “He just did what he’s capable of doing,” coach Mike Brown said. “Now, is he going to go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive and took great shots. And it shouldn’t go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal. … A big night on both ends of the floor by Mikal.”
- Jose Alvarado got to experience a special moment in the Game 5 victory over the Hawks, as his hometown crowd sang “Jose, Jose, Jose” while he was being subbed out in the third quarter, Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News writes. It’s a feeling he isn’t taking for granted. “It’s amazing,” Alvarado said. “I can’t really put it into words. I always had a Knicks jersey on. I always think, ‘This is crazy.’ But it’s a good feeling. I’m excited to be in the city I’m from and compete for a championship.” Alvarado wasn’t just a hometown kid in the series though — he was an impactful player off the bench, culminating with his Game 5 performance, when he scored 12 points in 11 minutes.