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Stacey King, three-time NBA champion and Bulls broadcaster, dead at 59

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:38:12 -0400

Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion and a broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls, has died, the team announced on Sunday. He was 59.

Bulls executives Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf released statements on King’s death.

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"Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans.

"We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

Michael Reinsdorf, the team’s president and CEO, remembered King as a player who "loved being a Bull."

"You could feel it in everything he did – the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans," he said. "He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team.

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"Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued. We were fortunate to know him not only as a player and broadcaster, but as a friend. Stacey genuinely cared about people, and he made our organization better. We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever."

Chicago selected King with the No. 6 overall pick of the 1989 draft out of Oklahoma.

He played four full seasons with the Bulls before he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks during his career.

King was on the Bulls during their first three-peat run from 1990 to 1993. He averaged 6.4 points in 438 career games.

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After King retired, he started his broadcasting career in 2006. He was with CSN Chicago and the Chicago Sports Network.

Rick Adelman, architect of some of the NBA's best offenses and Hall of Famer, dead at 79

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:56:48 -0400

Rick Adelman, who ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,042 wins, died on Monday. He was 79.

The National Basketball Coaches Association announced his passing. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Adelman spent 23 seasons as an NBA head coach, leading the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. He compiled a 1,042-749 regular-season record and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Before coaching, Adelman played seven seasons as an NBA point guard after being drafted by the San Diego Rockets in 1968.

After taking over the Trail Blazers during the 1988-89 season, Adelman led a Clyde Drexler-led roster to NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992.

In 1998, Adelman became the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. The Kings reached the playoffs in all eight of his seasons in Sacramento and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement Monday honoring Adelman's legacy.

FORMER NUGGETS COACH DOUG MOE DIES AT AFTER CANCER BATTLE, SON SAYS

"Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA," Silver said.

"Following his NBA playing career, Rick turned to coaching where his leadership, innovation and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year run. He was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person. I send my deepest condolences to Rick's family and many friends throughout the league."

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Adelman is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Kay, their six children (including Nuggets coach David Adelman) and 12 grandchildren.

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Anthony Edwards catches flak for congratulating Spurs with eight minutes left in game

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:24:26 -0400

The Minnesota Timberwolves' season came to an end on Friday night at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the form of a 30-point beatdown in front of a capacity home crowd at Target Center.

For the people of Minneapolis, it was another crushing blow to a sports town that has witnessed its fair share of "close, but no cigar" moments over the past several decades.

It will be another long offseason for Wolves fans after falling short of yet another conference championship appearance, a series they haven't played in since their magical 2004 postseason run.

It's not like they needed the knife to be twisted any more than it already was, but one man decided to take the suffering a step further, and it came from the unlikeliest of sources.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES ARE COOKED: WHY SAN ANTONIO SPURS CLOSE OUT THE SERIES AND COVER IN GAME 6

That's T-Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards going to congratulate the Spurs on a well-played series, which is fairly normal in competitive sports, but take a look at the score graphic in the bottom left of the screen.

Just over eight minutes remained on the clock in the fourth quarter, but Edwards was already waving the white flag and dapping up the Spurs' bench.

Sure, Minnesota was down by 33 points and there was no world where they were coming back, but maybe wait until the clock hits triple zeroes before glad-handing your opponents in front of your home fans.

I'll never question Edwards' competitive edge, as he's one of the few modern NBA players who has that throwback, "don't give a damn" attitude that the league desperately needs, but the optics on this one are pretty poor.

Fans weren't thrilled with his display of sportsmanship either, if the comments on X are any indication.

At the end of the day, these are just salty fans and keyboard warriors, so their opinions probably mean next to nothing in the eyes of Edwards.

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But what about his peers? Or, better yet, how do the legends who played the game before him feel about the move?

Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin and Udonis Haslem weren't impressed, with Nowitzki going so far as to say he's never seen anything like it in his two decades of playing in the NBA.

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I'm sure the intent from Edwards was pure, but it was obviously not a well-received move from the T-Wolves' leader.

He's young. He'll learn. But this was a rare miss from the Ant-Man.

Minnesota Timberwolves are cooked: Why San Antonio Spurs close out the series and cover in Game 6

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:53:19 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs (3-2) look to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-3) at the Target Center Friday for Game 6.

San Antonio crushed Minnesota in a pivotal Game 5, 126-97, to take control of the series. Victor Wembanyama got revenge for getting tossed in the first half of Game 4 for elbowing T-Wolves big Naz Reid Tuesday. Wembanyama had game-highs in points (27) and rebounds (17) in Game 5.

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Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has been fantastic while playing through injury in this series. Ant-Man is averaging a team-high 23.6 points in this series on 50.6% shooting and 40.0% from behind the arc. His teammates, on the other hand, not so much.

I’ll get into that below as part of my betting analysis for Spurs-Timberwolves Game 6.

San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves Game 6 betting odds (FanDuel)

Moneyline: San Antonio (-225) | Minnesota (+180)
Spread: SPURS -5.5 (-112) | Timberwolves +5.5 (-108)
Total — 218.5 — Over (-110) | Under (-110)

There are two reasons why I’m betting San Antonio to wrap this series up Friday and cover the spread. First, Edwards doesn’t have enough help. Second, the only games the Spurs have lost in this series are when either Wemby has played terribly or gotten thrown out of the game.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

This is a horrible matchup for Minnesota’s second-leading scorer during the regular season, PF Julius Randle. When Wembanyama is on the floor, it’s nearly impossible for Randle to attack the basket. Julius is averaging just 14.8 points in this series on 45.4% true shooting (.366/.211/.750).

He can’t create off the dribble either when San Antonio wing Stephon Castle guards him. Castle is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and it’s much easier to play defense when you have Wemby protecting the rim.

Meanwhile, Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert is pretty much useless in this series offensively. He is a bad outside shooter and can’t pull Wembanyama out of the paint. Not that it wouldn’t matter anyway. Wembanyama is clearly in Gobert’s head because he is even smoking layups in this series.

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This brings me back to my second pro-Spurs factor: the best basketball player in the world, Wembanyama. San Antonio lost the series opener 104-102 because Wemby was awful. He scored just 11 points and went 0-for-8 from 3-point range.

Then the Spurs lost Game 4 mostly because Wembanyama got that flagrant two. Otherwise, he has a +25 net rating in this series and Minnesota looks helpless when Wemby is on the floor.

Ultimately, San Antonio and Wembanyama are too big and athletic for the T-Wolves.

Prediction: Spurs 111, Timberwolves 99

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Draymond Green wants retribution for Timberwolves after Wembanyama dodges NBA punishment

Mon, 11 May 2026 21:24:30 -0400

It’s been a busy 24 hours for Draymond Green.

Instead of watching the NBA Playoffs from his couch, Green has been everywhere, making a cameo at Kevin Hart’s roast, taking a shot at Chelsea Handler as an off-the-court "3," and stirring headlines behind a podcast mic.

Green had plenty to say after Sunday’s heated Game 4 in Minneapolis, where Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was ejected against the Timberwolves.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA SETS NBA POSTSEASON BLOCK RECORD IN THE SPURS' LOSS TO THE TIMBERWOLVES

Wemby made his first career ejection count, driving an elbow into Naz Reid’s neck. The play was ruled a Flagrant 2, and San Antonio never recovered without its centerpiece, losing to even the series at 2-2.

On Monday, Green jumped on his podcast and ripped both Wembanyama and the NBA after the league chose not to issue a suspension or fine. The truth is, the NBA was not fully expected to ground one of its biggest stars ahead of a pivotal playoff game.

VICTOR WENBANYAMA AVOIDS SUSPENSION FOR ELBOW ON NAZ REID, WILL PLAY GAME 5

As a longtime enforcer no stranger to throwing elbows, Green argued the punishment did not go far enough and that Minnesota got the short end.

"What if the shoe was on the other foot and Naz was taking out Wemby?" Green asked.

"There would be fines. There would be suspensions. Jaden McDaniels and Jokic just got fined for much less. For there not to be a fine is crazy.

"After watching their coach say ‘well I’m happy he took matters into his own hands and leveled Naz Reid with an elbow,’ I would say to the Timberwolves it’s fair game. There’s no suspension, no fines. Who’s coming out there tomorrow night and doing it to Wemby?"

Early buzz suggested Wembanyama could face a suspension.

Replays showed a violent swing that may not have been precisely targeted but looked deliberate enough to raise eyebrows.

Even Spurs teammate Dylan Harper appeared stunned by the outburst. But after review, the NBA did not see enough to warrant further punishment.

After the loss, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended his star.

"Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself," Johnson said.

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"Every single play, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We do not complain, we just play. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

"It’s starting to get disgusting. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands, not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they are not. And I think it’s disgusting."

Now the series shifts to a crucial Game 5 on Tuesday with tensions already boiling over.

And whether the league wants to admit it or not, Green’s warning is hanging in the air. If Minnesota feels wronged, all eyes will be on how they respond.

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Victor Wembanyama avoids suspension for elbow on Naz Reid, will play in pivotal Game 5

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:48:01 -0400

Victor Wembanyama’s first career ejection will not have a suspension included, as the NBA decided not to dock the San Antonio Spurs big man for the elbow he threw on Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series.

Wembanyama will be available for Game 5 of the series, which is set for Tuesday night, per ESPN.

Wembanyama was originally issued an offensive foul after hitting Reid in the face with his elbow while being double-teamed in the corner after securing a rebound. But video review saw the elbow hit Reid square in his jaw and neck, which sent him to the hardwood.

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Officials announced that Wembanyama’s foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. As a result, it’s an automatic ejection.

The ejection came with just 8:39 left in the second quarter, which marked the earliest an NBA All-Star had been ejected from a playoff game since 1997-98, per ESPN Research.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Wembanyama, an MVP candidate, can’t be replicated on the court for the Spurs, who eventually lost to the Timberwolves, 114-109, to even up the series at two games apiece heading into Game 5.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson used his postgame press conference to defend the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, specifically the level of physicality Wembanyama gets from opponents during games.

"Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself," he said, via ESPN. "Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He's gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don't complain because we're just going to play. We don't really give a s---. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

"It's starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I'm glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he's going to have to protect himself if they're not. And I think it's disgusting."

Johnson added that there was "zero intent" on Wembanyama’s elbow to Reid’s face, believing that a Game 5 suspension "would be ridiculous." But it was always the league’s decision in the end.

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Ultimately, they decided Johnson’s stance was correct, and Wembanyama will be on the court with his teammates in a pivotal Game 5 as the series returns to San Antonio on Tuesday night.

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Spurs coach fires off Victor Wembanyama defense after star's Game 4 ejection for elbow-swinging incident

Mon, 11 May 2026 05:54:27 -0400

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson spoke out about Victor Wembanyama’s ejection from the team’s Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Wembanyama was tossed after he swung his elbow and hit Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the face in the second quarter. It was the first ejection of his career.

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Johnson said he was "glad" that Wembanyama "took matters into his own hands," but added that he was concerned about the level of physicality that Wembanyama gets during games.

"Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself," he continued, via ESPN. "Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He's gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don't complain because we're just going to play. We don't really give a s---. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he's going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

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The incident occurred as Wembanyama was swarmed by Reid and Jaden McDaniels after he grabbed an offensive rebound. Both T’Wolves players tried to jar the ball loose.

McDaniels tugged on Wembanyama’s left arm. The 7-foot-4 phenom then flailed his right arm back and struck Reid in the neck.

Wembanyama was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, triggering an automatic ejection.

Johnson dismissed any notion that Wembanyama would be suspended for Game 5.

"There was zero intent," he said. "I think it would be ridiculous."

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Minnesota’s win tied the series at 2-2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Spurs lose Victor Wembanyama to first career ejection after violent elbow in Western Conference semis

Sun, 10 May 2026 21:40:11 -0400

Victor Wembanyama is due for more sessions with those Shaolin monks. The French phenom found himself in early foul trouble of the worst kind on Mother's Day.

The San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals after a heated exchange in the paint with Minnesota’s Naz Reid.

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The ejection occurred with 8:39 left in the first half at the Target Center.

Wembanyama was swinging, hoping to shield the ball after a rebound when he unleashed a high right elbow, which caught Reid squarely in the chin, sending the Timberwolves forward to the hardwood.

Spurs teammate Dylan Harper was left gobsmacked by the hit, just steps away from it.

Officials initially called a common foul but moved to a video review as the Minnesota crowd grew restless.

After examining the replay, the call was upgraded to a Flagrant 2.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Wembanyama left the floor with just four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes of action. His absence left the Spurs without their primary defensive anchor in a pivotal road matchup.

Reid hit both resulting free throws.

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This marks the first time in Wembanyama's professional career that he has been booted from a game.

The NBA will likely review the incident for potential further discipline.

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Stop betting Overs like a casual: Take the Under in San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:31:30 -0400

I'm running it back and betting on boring when the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) at the San Antonio Spurs (1-1) for Game 3 of the 2026 Western Conference Semifinals Friday at the Target Center.

Betting the Under 218 in Spurs-Timberwolves Game 1 was a rocking chair cover for me as the T-Wolves stole the series opener 104-102. In fact, the final score made Game 1 seem higher-scoring than it was because there were 65 points scored in the fourth quarter.

WHY THE 76ERS ARE POISED TO COVER THE SPREAD IN A MUST-WIN GAME 3 AGAINST THE KNICKS AT HOME

But, I'm utilizing the zig-zag theory, an NBA postseason handicapping strategy where you fade the results of the previous game in a playoff series. Game 2 soared over its 216.5 total when San Antonio beat the brakes off Minnesota 133-95.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA SETS NBA POSTSEASON BLOCK RECORD IN THE SPURS' LOSS TO THE TIMBERWOLVES

Maybe the offenses hit their stride at the end of Game 1 and I'm stepping in it here. However, there is usually value in the Unders since people like betting Overs because points are exciting and no one wants to watch a boring game.

Best Bet: UNDER 216.5 in Spurs-Timberwolves Game 3

Officiating tends to zig-zag in the NBA playoffs, not just teams, and there were a combined 64 free throws in Game 2. These teams averaged a combined 49.9 free throws per game during the regular season and San Antonio led the NBA in defensive FT/FGA rate.

That said, if the refs "let them play" Friday, there should be fewer free-throw attempts.

2026 NBA PLAYOFFS: DENVER NUGGETS AT MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES GAME 4 BEST BET

Also, there could be a lot of long possessions. The Spurs were fifth in offensive turnover rate (TOV%) in the regular season and 26th in defensive TOV%. They led the NBA in defensive rebounding rate, so Minnesota won't score many second-chance points.

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Meanwhile, both teams play better defense than offense. The Timberwolves ranked eighth in defensive rating during the regular season and the Spurs ranked third.

'ZIG-ZAG THEORY': HOUSTON ROCKETS WILL COVER AND EVEN SERIES VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS IN GAME 2

Minnesota’s defense improves at home, too. The T-Wolves are 30-14 to the Under (an NBA-high 68.2%) this season at home with a -6.6 margin vs. the total.

Plus, the pace slows in playoff games after a blowout because the losing team responds by locking in on defense. Since 2021, the total is 46-30-1 to the Under (60.5%) in the game after a 20-plus-point blowout. When the margin is 30+ points, the total is 19-8 to the Under (70.4%).

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Going back to the zig-zag theory, the T-Wolves have to slow down the pace in Game 2. They won Game 1 and the pace was 95.9. The Timberwolves got crushed in Game 2 by 38 points on the pace increased to 107.4.

The bottom line is Minnesota cannot beat San Antonio in a fast-paced game. Instead, the T-Wolves need to grind the Spurs down and win a rock-fight, which is what we'll see in Game 3

Prediction: Spurs 108, Timberwolves 102

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Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2 picks focus on Wembanyama blocks and Anthony Edwards points unders

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:08:11 -0400

It was a clean sweep of a day yesterday. Sure, winning two of two bets isn't all that impressive, but it is certainly better than us losing both or even splitting. The Pistons gave us a bit of a scare, but after the Cavs tied it up, Detroit pulled away and gave us a win. Tonight, we go to the Western Conference and take on the game between the Timberwolves and Spurs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are up 1-0 in the series, which may come as a shock to some of the more casual fans. We've seen a lot of success from the Timberwolves over the past few years, but they have never been able to win the Western Conference Finals. Honestly, even this year, it is unlikely they get past the Thunder if they beat the Spurs. It was still nice to get off to a good start in the series.

What was most unexpected for the Timberwolves was that Anthony Edwards returned to action in Game 1. He came off the bench, and he was used in a limited capacity, but he made an impact. Edwards played just 25 minutes in the game, but he still contributed 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Mike Conley turned back the clock and hit four threes for the club. Overall, Minnesota had six players end up in double figures. That bodes well for their success in the series.

The San Antonio Spurs are somewhat ahead of schedule, so even if they lose this series, I don't think they are going to look at this year as a disappointment. For the record, I think they win the series. In Game 1, neither of the teams could get all that much separation from the other. Neither team had a double-digit lead, and it very much felt like the two teams were trying to feel each other out in the game.

SPURS PHENOM VICTOR WEMBANYAMA MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH FIRST CAREER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

I personally played over 5.5 games for this series even before I knew the Anthony Edwards news. It was just too juicy (+185) to pass up. The Spurs' advantage over most teams is Victor Wembanyama. He was fine in this game, but Rudy Gobert is familiar with his moves and has the height to at least impact his shot. Wembanyama ended with 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting, going 0-for-8 from deep. He still had 15 rebounds and 12 blocks in the game, so the impact was still there.

For the record, Wembanyama is listed at 4.5 blocks for his total tonight. He was credited with at least two blocks that should've been goaltends. I actually think he goes under this total. He had 17 games of 5+ during the regular season, none against the Timberwolves. In the playoffs, he has gone over in three of the five games. I expect the Timberwolves to be less aggressive in this game, having already taken the first game of the series. Give me the under on his blocks.

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While we are talking about Wemby, I do expect him to establish himself on offense much more, but 27 points seems like a bit much. I'm not going to touch it. I'll go for a player prop on a different superstar -- Anthony Edwards. This might not even happen, because I feel like they will bench him since they took Game 1, but I'm going under 21.5 points for Edwards. He is not playing a ton of minutes, and as mentioned, I expect Minnesota to play a bit more cautiously or less aggressively in this one. Give me the under on Wemby blocks and Edwards under points.

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Victor Wembanyama sets NBA postseason block record in the Spurs' loss to the Timberwolves

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:06:57 -0400

Victor Wembanyama showed why he was the NBA's first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.

In the San Antonio Spurs' 104-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night at Frost Bank Center, Wembanyama recorded 12 blocks, setting an NBA postseason record. He had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks, becoming just the third player to get a triple-double in the playoffs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks in 1973-74.

While Wembanyama starred defensively, he struggled offensively, going just 5-for-17 from the field.

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"We have to be better," Wembanyama said. "It shows up on the stat sheet. We need to figure out before 48 hours what we can do better, and I’ve got no doubt that we will. I trust us."

The Timberwolves got an unexpected boost in the win, as star guard Anthony Edwards returned from injury sooner than expected. Edwards suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended his left knee during Game 4 of the Timberwolves’ opening-round series against the Denver Nuggets.

The 24-year-old was expected to miss the first two games of the Timberwolves’ series against the Spurs but came back early.

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He scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Minnesota held on to hand San Antonio only its second loss in its last 17 series openers at home. Edwards said he knows his presence helps calm his teammates.

"I know for a fact, just me being out there, it calms everybody down," Edwards said. "Not saying there’s any pressure on any of my teammates, but it takes pressure off of everybody just knowing that I’m out there, I’m available to play, yeah. And just doing what I do best, just trying to put the ball in the hoop."

Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said no one expected Edwards back so soon.

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"Nobody expected him to play," Timberwolves veteran Mike Conley said. "It was just his level of commitment to the game. Not just to the game, but to his teammates. It showed a lot."

Edwards' return helped propel the Timberwolves past the Spurs despite Wembanyama’s superb defensive effort.

The Spurs will look to bounce back in Game 2 when they play the Timberwolves on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Minnesota T-Wolves at San Antonio Spurs best bet for Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Semifinals

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:32:06 -0400

The second round of the 2026 NBA PLAYOFFS starts Monday with two games that weirdly overlap. Thank God for YouTube TV's controllable multi-view feature.

Nonetheless, I'm here to handicap Game 1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals.

76ERS VS KNICKS SECOND-ROUND SERIES PREDICTED TO GO AT LEAST SIX GAMES IN MUST-WATCH NBA MATCHUP

Minnesota was 2-1 straight up and against the spread vs. San Antonio during the regular season, and the total was 2-1 to the Over.

But, due to load management and tanking, you have to take the regular season with a grain of salt when betting on the playoffs. With that in mind, I'm fading the regular-season results in the Timberwolves-Spurs series opener.

Best Bet: UNDER 218 in Timberwolves-Spurs Game 1

Let me explain why this series could turn into a rock-fight. First of all, San Antonio ranked third in defensive efficiency during the regular season and Minnesota ranked eighth. Again, the regular season isn't the end-all, be-all, but this matches the eye test.

Furthermore, the average pace for the three Timberwolves-Spurs games was 96.0 possessions per 48 minutes. For context, 99.4 was the average pace during the NBA regular season. The average pace for the 2026 NBA Playoffs is 95.5. So, if those averages hold up, we’re looking at a roughly 92.1 Pace for this series.

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These teams will have to hit mad 3-pointers and/or get to the foul line often for the Over to cash. Well, the T-Wolves allowed the fewest made 3-pointers per game during the regular season and the Spurs led the NBA in defensive FT/FGA rate.

Minnesota All-Star SG Anthony Edwards was upgraded to "questionable" for Game 1. Personally, I think that’s more likely to be a "smokescreen" and we don’t see Ant-Man until this series heads to Minneapolis for Game 3.

Plus, T-Wolves SG Donte DiVincenzo is out for the season and breakout combo guard Ayo Dosunmu missed their close-out win vs. the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the first round and is "questionable" for Monday. DiVincenzo and Dosunmu are great shooters and their absence hurts Minnesota’s floor spacing.

Yet, the Timberwolves went from +14.5 underdogs on the opener down to +12.5 after the Edwards injury news, so maybe he does play Monday. Regardless, even if Edwards does, San Antonio is the second-toughest defense to play in your first game back from injury, besides the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs have long, athletic wings to throw at Edwards, with the greatest defensive basketball player ever, Victor Wembanyama, backing them up. Also, without Ant-Man, the Timberwolves will probably run their offense mostly through PF Julius Randle in Game 1, and I don’t see that going well for him.

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I say that as a New York Knicks fan who absolutely loves Julius. Because he was their best player, Knicks fans held their postseason shortcomings from 2021-24 against him. When, in reality, you’re never a title contender if Randle is your best player. That’s not his fault. That goes on the NYK’s organization.

However, he tends to play too much iso-ball and take guys off the dribble. Because Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert can’t shoot, Wembanyama doesn’t have to leave the paint. Hence, Randle will have to make hard, contested jumpers or score against Wemby inside the paint. Good luck, dude.

Lastly, the Spurs are double-digit favorites, so the market expects a lopsided game, and "blowouts are where Overs go to die".

Teams play with less urgency in blowouts and there is no reason to foul down 10+ points in the final minutes. The Under cashed in four of the five games in the San Antonio vs. Portland Trail Blazers series, and the Spurs were double-digit favorites in three of those Unders.

Prediction: Spurs 113, Timberwolves 98

_____________________________

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Sports media race-baiters are already taking Nikola Jokic criticism too far

Fri, 01 May 2026 16:35:36 -0400

Nikola Jokic deserves criticism for not playing better in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Timberwolves. Minnesota eliminated Denver in six games Thursday night, despite a series-ending injury to Anthony Edwards.

Jokic didn’t play poorly in the traditional sense, but 25.8 points per game on 44.6% shooting isn’t good enough for a player of his caliber.

That said, the coverage is already excessive.

Moments after the Nuggets’ loss, former ESPN broadcaster Mark Jones mocked Jokic and celebrated his loss.

NBA PLAYOFFS RATINGS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED

For background, Jones’ schtick revolves around rooting for every top NBA star, except for Jokic and Luka Doncic. Here's more about Jones' weird fixation on the skin colors of athletes.

Kendrick Perkins’ feelings toward Jokic are also well-documented. In 2023, Perkins admitted on ESPN that he and other black players believe Jokic is only an MVP candidate because of alleged favoritism from white voters. Note: The data says NBA MVP voters do not favor white players. Nonetheless, like Jones, Perkins has actively rooted against Jokic as a paid NBA analyst for ESPN.

He also celebrated Jokic’s shortcomings Friday morning:

"We’re not in Serbia, we’re in America and he got punked yesterday. We have to hold him accountable like we do every ‘all time great.’ I jumped the gun just like everybody else when it comes to disrespecting all time greats," Perkins said.

"We were so ready to put this man above all time greats because of certain numbers he was putting up in the regular season. He has one NBA championship. Matter of fact, I don’t think Jokic is going to win another NBA championship. He got exposed. Jokic has never sniffed an All-Defensive Team as a center. Rudy Gobert outplayed him."

For the record, Perkins failed to bring this level of energy when players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum came up short in the postseason.

Elsewhere, other commentators played the "what if this were LeBron?" card to argue that Jokic is protected.

Paul Pierce was one of them:

"We’re not going to sugarcoat this one. Because if this was LeBron at the peak of his powers losing like this, this is what we’d say. We say today that Joker is the best player in the game, right? He might not win MVP, but he’s the best player," Pierce argued. "We’ve said this for the last three or four years, right? Let this have been LeBron at the peak of his powers. What would we have been saying? If you’re the best player in the league, you’re not supposed to lose in the first round."

Dan Patrick made the same case.

"If this was LeBron, a three-time MVP and one-time NBA champion, bowing out the way Joker did, we’d be crushing LeBron," Patrick said Friday.

Pierce and Patrick's remarks are not racially motivated. However, their comparisons to James are weak. They are misleading.

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LeBron James was criticized more for his shortcomings than Jokic because he was also praised more for his success. James is a daily topic on talk shows during the postseason. By comparison, Jokic is rarely mentioned, even amid his historic six-season run.

James is arguably the most famous American athlete of the past 20 years. Jokic, despite his greatness, isn’t even one of the five most famous NBA players today.

Further, James was at the center of a decade-long debate about whether he or Michael Jordan was the greatest of all time. No one has ever compared Jokic to Jordan. At most, there have been rumblings about Jokic cracking the top 15.

Complaining that Jokic doesn’t receive as much criticism as James is like pointing out that Patrick Mahomes faces more scrutiny for playoff losses than Jalen Hurts. The bigger the star, the fiercer the backlash.

So before someone says it, no, Jokic is not protected because he is White. As noted earlier, Jokic is far more Great White Villain than Great White Hope.

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A normal conversation today would revolve around whether Jokic is still the best player in the NBA and whether the Nuggets have surrounded him with enough talent. The answer to the latter question is clearly no. Whether Jokic is still better than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama is a real debate.

Instead, the gloating from the race idolaters and the forced LeBron comparisons have hijacked the conversation. But that says more about the state of sports media than it does about Jokic.

Timberwolves' defense and Rudy Gobert may be their only hope to close out Nuggets after key injuries

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:04:04 -0400

One of the best things about series betting is the hedging opportunities. You can get out of bets you put in before a series if you don’t like the way it looks.

Sure, it could cost you, but think about it. The Denver Nuggets were favored to win the series over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

If you took Minnesota, you could’ve hedged and taken Denver a few days ago. Of all the remaining series in the NBA, this looks the most likely for a team that was down 3-1 to win the series.

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The Nuggets are not looking like a team that dominated in the regular season or even one that has an elite player in Nikola Jokić. This was another spectacular year for Jokic, and he should win the MVP, but that will likely go to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jokic led the league in rebounds and assists, something never done before this season. He also finished eighth in points, once again averaging a triple-double. However, that hasn’t been enough to give the Nuggets an advantage in this series.

Jokić has actually looked rather average this series. He is averaging 25 points per game, which is under his regular season total; he has increased his rebounding totals, and thanks to a 16-assist game last game, he is about in line with his season average. What is concerning is that his efficiency has been terrible.

He is shooting just 42.2% from the floor and 19.4% from deep in the postseason. Compare that to his regular season, when he averaged 56.9% and 38.0%, respectively. It shouldn’t all be blamed on Jokić. The Nuggets' defense has been terrible, and Aaron Gordon hasn’t been available in every game, but a lot should fall on his shoulders since he gets so much credit for their success.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves looked like they were going to dominate the series. After four games, the team was sitting comfortably with a 3-1 lead. The team was playing balanced basketball and great defense with a strong confidence.

Then, unfortunately, the team had the injury bug hit them. Donte DiVincenzo went down with an Achilles tear, and Anthony Edwards hyperextended his knee, which will put him out for weeks. Edwards is obviously a significantly bigger loss, but both injuries hurt the team.

If the Timberwolves can’t close this out, we probably won’t get to see Rudy Gobert get the credit he deserves. He isn’t having a very great scoring postseason, but that’s not really what he is out there for.

He is there to make life miserable for Jokić, and that’s exactly what he has been doing. We will see where the rest of the team goes from here, but he has been the most reliable of all Timberwolves players.

One of the things most sports bettors know is that NBA role players perform better at home. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, that’s pretty much all that is left.

Julius Randle has led a team before when he was with the Knicks, but I don’t think he can do it against the Nuggets. There is still a lot of talent, and I expect better effort from the Timberwolves in this game, but I can’t support them. I don’t think the Nuggets are going to necessarily cover, but I do lean more that way.

I think this game goes under the 224.5 because I think the only hope the Timberwolves have to win the game, and the series, relies on their defense and slowing down their offense to limit the Nuggets' possessions. Give me the under.

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Ayo Dosunmu's 43-point explosion may not repeat as Timberwolves try to finish Nuggets in Game 5

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:51:02 -0400

It was a fairly solid weekend of NBA Playoff picks for the readers. We were able to get an easy win on the Magic team total over in Game 3 of their series against Detroit (Game 4 takes place tonight). We were also able to cash a ticket on the Thunder covering a fairly large number on the road against the Suns. Yesterday, the Cavs were in control until they did the typical Cleveland thing and blew the game late. It is almost as if every Cleveland sports team has decided to make the playoffs as unreliable as possible. Today, we go for a victory with the Timberwolves and the Nuggets taking each other on in Game 5.

This has been a bit of a chippy series, but it almost feels like that is precisely what the Timberwolves wanted. Minnesota has been the team calling out Denver about its defense, and they are happily accepting any sort of confrontation. Any team with Anthony Edwards on it will have some swagger, but this almost feels like the T-Wolves are being disrespectful to this challenger. I suppose it is working, considering the team is up 3-1 in the series.

However, there is a major cause for concern. The Timberwolves took a big hit last game, and I'm not talking about the shoving between Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic. Their sharpshooter, Dante DiVincenzo, who was cited as a major reason they won Game 2, was lost for the season (and probably next season) after he tore his Achilles. Significantly worse, the Timberwolves also lost Edwards for a few weeks after he hyperextended his knee. If Minnesota is going to get one more game in this series to close it out, they need to do it without Edwards.

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The Nuggets do not look like the one-time champion that you'd expect. They are proving the Timberwolves correct in the assessment that their defense is trash. In three consecutive games, they've allowed over 112 points to their opponent, which is about the season average. They also only scored 96 points in both of the games in Minnesota. Rudy Gobert, the much-maligned center for the Timberwolves, is doing a great job of limiting Jokic's success. We will have to see if Jokic can figure out Rudy's defensive efforts.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3 pick hinges on Jaden McDaniels calling out Denver's entire defense

Aaron Gordon has returned for Denver, but it does seem like he is still struggling. He only played 23 minutes and put in just nine points on 11 field goal attempts. Overall, the team shot just 21% from deep in this game. I have to imagine that improves. The team shot almost 40% from deep in the regular season, but they are shooting 28% overall in the series. That's still better than what they showed in Game 4.

A lot of the story in Game 4 was about the ending. It is a stupid narrative, but it pops up every now and then. The game was essentially over -- the Timberwolves had the ball with seconds remaining, tossed it down court, and rather than dribble it out, McDaniels went in for a layup. Jokic took exception to it, and there was some minor shoving. No one ended up getting suspended, but there were some fines.

Missed in that was the impressive game from Ayo Dosunmu of the Timberwolves. He was acquired at the trade deadline from the Bulls and gave Minnesota a career performance. Dosunmo scored 43 points in that game, but I wouldn't expect that success to continue. He is listed at 19.5 points tonight, and I like the under. He is still a bit of a role player, and even though he will have an increased role, there won't be home court or an element of surprise. Julius Randle will need to take over the bulk of the scoring duties, and I think he is more likely to go over 21.5 points. I'll play both of these options tonight as Denver looks to extend the series.

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2026 NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 best bet

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:10:45 -0400

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to put their foot on the Denver Nuggets' throat when they host Game 4 Saturday in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the Target Center at 8:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota beat the brakes off Denver 113-96 in Game 3 Thursday to take a 2-1 series lead.

Now, both teams have -110 odds to win this series at DraftKings. The T-Wolves are slight home underdogs — +1.5 on the spread and +102 on the money line — and the total is 229.5.

WHY BETTING THUNDER -9.5 AGAINST THE SUNS FEELS LIKE A SAFE PLAY IN A LOPSIDED SERIES

In an unexpected twist, the Timberwolves have made Nuggets' three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic seem mortal. Although Jokic is still getting his numbers, he's been less efficient. The Joker is shooting just 40.0% from the field and 20.8% from behind the arc with a -6 net rating.

Denver's other major concern is the health of its only good defensive player, forward Aaron Gordon, who missed Game 3 and is "questionable" for Saturday. Even if Gordon plays Game 4, how effective will he be? And does it matter anyway? That's what I'm here to discuss.

Best Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves +102 moneyline, up to -120

I'm expecting a Jokic bounce-back game Saturday. He's just too good. Nikola has averaged a triple-double in three of his last four NBA playoffs, and he usually balls up T-Wolves C Rudy Gobert.

However, this is a bad matchup for the Nuggets because they need PG Jamal Murray to play like an All-Star, and the Timberwolves have two of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.

Murray is averaging 25.3 points per game in this series, but he is shooting 35.9% from the field and 22.2% from 3-point range. That's just not going to cut it. And it won't get easier for him either because McDaniels is picking Murray up full-court.

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Meanwhile, with or without Gordon, Denver has a terrible defense. Sure, having Jokic gives the Nuggets a chance to beat anyone, but you can't win a title with the 21st-ranked defensive efficiency in the Association.

Also, Minnesota is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, and role players shoot better at home. The T-Wolves are sixth in 3-point shooting percentage and allow the fewest 3-pointers per game on defense.

Lastly, this will be a contrarian bet with the public most likely backing Denver because people will think, "The Nuggets won't go down 3-1 in this series. They are the better team with the best player in the world."

Well, I'm here to tell you those people are wrong, and the Timberwolves are winning Game 4.

Prediction: Timberwolves 117, Nuggets 110

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Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3 pick hinges on Jaden McDaniels calling out Denver's entire defense

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:05:34 -0400

We had two NBA playoff games last night with the Pistons taking down the Magic (and me taking a loss on my play) thanks to an absolutely brutal third quarter from Orlando.

In the other game, the Thunder were able to beat the Suns with ease, but that one game went much closer to how I predicted it would go. Tonight, we have three games that are all listed with tight spreads. Let's take a look at how we should play the Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3.

The Nuggets lost home-court advantage in the last game when they dropped Game 2 to the Timberwolves. However, I'm not sure that it matters all that much. Almost everyone expected this game to go at least six games. We aren't quite there yet as both teams still need to win one more game, but I really wouldn't be surprised if they split this set in Minnesota. Denver has the best player in the game with Nikola Jokic, so it isn't like they will lose this series 4-1. That stuff just doesn't really happen in the NBA.

Denver doesn't need to do a ton of things differently in order to win a game. They lost Game 2 by five points, so it wasn't a blowout, and they led the game for 65% of the time. I personally believe the bigger problem for the Nuggets was going up big to start the game. When you get a big lead, teams can tend to take their foot off of the gas. Denver did and the Timberwolves responded.

Minnesota is not without a superstar of their own. Anthony Edwards is probably the most fun player in the league to watch. He is flashy, cocky, and afraid of no one. That typically is a good combination for players to find success in this league. He hasn't been overly efficient so far in the series, shooting under 40% from the floor and just 25% from deep.

If you're Chris Finch, the head coach, you don't want to tell him to stop shooting. Maybe advise him to drive a bit more, but he can hit a ton of threes.

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I also feel like we need to give a bit of kudos to Rudy Gobert. He is a guy who takes a lot of garbage from people. Some of it is deserved, some of it is a little overstated. He has four Defensive Player of the Year awards under his belt and has done as good of a job against Jokic as you could expect. He does need to improve his rebounding and free throws in order to be on the floor at crunch time, though.

For Game 3, there is one key piece of information that I think gives us the correct play. Jaden McDaniels called out the entire Nuggets team on his podcast (honestly, it could be someone else's podcast; everyone seems to have one in the NBA). He said it before Game 2, but I don't think it really made its way into the Nuggets' focus until after the game.

I expect the Nuggets to lock in on defense in this game, as most of McDaniels' remarks were about how bad they all are on defense. Minnesota should be rocking for the playoff game, but I think the total is too high for them. Specifically, the Timberwolves team total is 116.5, and I think it goes under.

You can say NBA teams don't play with pride often, but they tend to after being called out.

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Timberwolves players release statement addressing 'recent tragic events' involving ICE in Minneapolis

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:34:20 -0500

The Minnesota Timberwolves released a statement from its players regarding the rising anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tensions in Minneapolis.

There have been two fatal incidents in Minneapolis in recent weeks involving federal immigration agents amid heightened tensions over the operations as well as clashes with anti-ICE demonstrators.

Like everyone in the Twin Cities, the Timberwolves have been impacted by the events, and they released a statement expressing their "sincere sympathies and love to everyone."

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"We, the Minnesota Timberwolves players, extend our sincere sympathies and love to everyone across the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota who has been affected by the recent tragic events impacting our communities," the statement read. "Minnesota is strongest when we uplift and support one another, and there is no room for hatred or division across our great state or among all who live here.

"We mourn the lives lost and send strength, peace and compassion to all who are hurting. We believe in the resilience, unity and care that define Minnesotans, and bring our communities together in times of hardship and need."

The Timberwolves postponed their game on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Department of Veteran Affairs ICU nurse, involving a Border Patrol agent.

ANTI-ICE PROTESTS TAKE PLACE AS T'WOLVES-WARRIORS NBA GAME TAKES PLACE

"The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," the NBA said, adding that the game would be played Sunday.

The following day, NBA fans delivered anti-ICE messages at Target Center, with signs inside the arena reading, "ICE out now." A moment of silence was held for Pretti — the same protocol for the Timberwolves following the earlier death of Renee Good.

The team held a moment of silence for Good, 37, who was killed while operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Good, according to Noem, refused and "attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle."

"Our thoughts are with her family and everyone affected, and our hearts are with our community as we hope for healing and unity during this challenging time," the Target Center’s public address announcer said.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch also spoke before his squad defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy," he said. "We want to just convey our condolences and heartfelt wishes and prayers and thoughts to the families and loved ones and all of those that are greatly affected by what happened."

The National Basketball Players Association released a statement this past Sunday as well.

"Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent," the union said. "Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice.

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"The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all. The NBPA and its members extend our deepest condolences to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, just as our thoughts remain focused on the safety and well-being of all members of our community."

The shooting fueled further protests in the Twin Cities amid a recent surge of ICE activity in the area as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

ӣ��Ƶ' Ryan Gaydos and Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Anti-ICE protests take place as T'Wolves-Warriors NBA game takes place

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 19:46:13 -0500

NBA fans delivered anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) messages during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ game against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Fans held signs inside the Target Center that read, "ICE out now," after two deadly incidents involving federal officers rocked Minneapolis this month. The second incident occurred Saturday when a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a Minneapolis man.

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The NBA postponed the Warriors-T’Wolves game that was scheduled for Saturday, pushing it to Sunday. Fans responded with anti-ICE messages inside the building, while protesters had similar messages outside of the arena.

A moment of silence was held for Alex J. Pretti before tip-off.

He was shot and killed after he allegedly confronted officers during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation in the southern part of the city.

The shooting death came a few weeks after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good. DHS said Good was shot in self-defense after she used her SUV in a way that posed a threat. DHS said video showed Good interfering with ICE officers by parking her vehicle in the roadway in an apparent attempt to block federal vehicles.

WNBA STAR BREANNA STEWART CALLS TO 'ABOLISH ICE' BEFORE UNRIVALED GAME

The National Basketball Players Association released a statement on Sunday as well.

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NBA postpones Timberwolves-Warriors game in aftermath of Border Patrol-involved shooting in Minneapolis

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:21:56 -0500

Saturday's NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors was postponed in the aftermath of a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent.

"The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," the NBA said, adding that the game would be played Sunday.

Earlier this month, the Timberwolves held a moment of silence prior to a game for Renee Good, the woman fatally shot by an ICE agent.

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Good, 37, was killed while operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Good, according to Noem, refused and "attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle."

"Our thoughts are with her family and everyone affected, and our hearts are with our community as we hope for healing and unity during this challenging time," the arena's public-address announcer said at the time.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called Good's killing "murder."

"It’s shameful, really, that in our country we can have law enforcement officers who commit murder and seemingly get away with it. It’s shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there’s video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying," Kerr said.

"So, very demoralizing, devastating to lose anyone’s life, especially in that manner. So, it’s terrible, terribly sad for her family and for her and that city."

LAKERS' LEBRON JAMES SHRUGS OFF REPORTED TENSION WITH JEANIE BUSS: 'IT DON'T BOTHER ME'

The Timberwolves and Warriors both referred to the NBA's statement in emails to ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Minneapolis officials have since identified the individual killed on Saturday as a 37-year-old White man who is a resident of Minneapolis and is believed to be a U.S. citizen. He was declared dead at a hospital.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told ӣ��Ƶ the suspect was armed with a gun and two magazines.

"Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but was pronounced dead at the scene," DHS said.

"The suspect also had 2 magazines and no ID — this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."

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DHS said after the incident that approximately 200 agitators arrived and began to "obstruct and assault law enforcement," leading to crowd-control measures.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz urged the agents to leave his state after the shooting.

ӣ��Ƶ' Rachel Wolf, Paul Mauro, and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

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Timberwolves hold moment of silence for Minnesota woman killed in ICE shooting

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:36:21 -0500

The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence for the woman shot and killed by an ICE agent during an immigration operation in Minneapolis earlier this week.

Renee Good, 37, was killed while operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Good, according to Noem, refused and "attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle."

"Our thoughts are with her family and everyone affected, and our hearts are with our community as we hope for healing and unity during this challenging time," the arena's public address announcer said.

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The scoreboard showed a photo of a vigil with the words "In memory of Renee Nicole Good."

During the moment of silence, one fan in attendance yelled, "Go home, ICE." Another yelled, "F--- ICE," and cheers erupted.

"As we all know, our community has suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said before his team defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. "We want to just convey our condolences and heartfelt wishes and prayers and thoughts to the families and loved ones and all of those that are greatly affected by what happened."

The shooting fueled further protests in the Twin Cities amid a recent surge of ICE activity in the area as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

FORMER MLB GREAT MARK TEIXEIRA MAKES STANCE ON MINNESOTA ICE SHOOTING CLEAR

Noem said Good's actions against ICE officers leading up to the shooting amounted to an "act of domestic terrorism."

"An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him," she said.

Good worked as a Minneapolis-based immigration activist serving as a member of "ICE Watch," DHS sources told ӣ��Ƶ. DHS sources told ӣ��Ƶ that the group aims to monitor, track, interfere and oppose ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. The group is present in multiple sanctuary cities across the country.

According to DHS, Good followed federal ICE agents to two other locations prior to the shooting and was blocking the roadway to interfere with ongoing enforcement in the area.

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Nearly 2,000 ICE members were in the Twin Cities for the operation.

ӣ��Ƶ' Julia Bonavita, Alexis McAdams, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Nuggets star makes NBA history with Christmas masterpiece against Timberwolves

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 11:29:22 -0500

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić had an extra-special Christmas this year.

In the Nuggets’ 142-138 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Ball Arena, Jokić made history. The 30-year-old center had 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in the win, becoming the first player in NBA history to record at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a single game.

Jokić also scored 18 points in overtime, setting an NBA record for the most points scored during overtime in a game.

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The Nuggets needed every bit of Jokić’s superb performance in the win, as the team was down three of its regular starters due to injury.

It looked like the Nuggets were going to cruise to victory with a 15-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Timberwolves stormed back. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves back from the deficit in the final 5 ½ minutes of regulation, hitting a twisting 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 115-all.

Edwards added seven quick points as the Wolves opened the extra period on a 9-0 run, but as the Nuggets fought back, Edwards picked up two technical fouls and was ejected.

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And then Jokić took over.

In the extra period, Jokić was 3-for-3 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from long range to go with a 10-for-11 performance at the foul line.

After blowing a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets fell behind 124-115, but went on an 11-2 run to tie it at 126-all.

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By the third quarter, Jokić had his 179th career triple-double, two shy of Oscar Robertson for second place in NBA history.

The Nuggets, who improved to 22-8 with the win, play the Orlando Magic (17-13) on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lakers' Austin Reaves comes up big again, nails game-winner vs T'Wolves

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:20:08 -0400

Los Angeles Lakers star Austin Reaves cobbled together another magical moment to begin the 2025-26 season on Wednesday night, this time at the expense of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With just over six seconds left in the game, Reaves received the inbound pass near half court. He dribbled off a pick, crossed over and drove into the lane. He got to the foul line and put up a floater. The ball swished through the net at the buzzer.

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Los Angeles secured the 116-115 win as Reaves’ Lakers teammates mobbed him. He finished with 28 points and 16 assists.

Reaves admitted after the game that he "probably blacked out a bit" as he watched the ball go through the net and the jubilation he felt afterward.

"What tier he is, I don't know. I don't care about that, but I think last year he established himself as a bad dude," Lakers head coach J.J. Redick said. "This is who he is."

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It’s a huge win for the injury-riddled Lakers as they bet big on Reaves, who seemingly has made his mark in the NBA out of nowhere. He was an undrafted free agent who joined the Lakers in 2021. He signed a four-year contract before the 2023-24 season and is earning nearly $14 million this season.

But the team has relied on him a ton early this season as they’ve been without LeBron James and now Luka Doncic.

Reaves scored 51 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings and had 41 points in a loss against the Portland Trail Blazers. The team moved to 3-2 with the buzzer-beater against Minnesota.

"The big thing is he’s established himself as the leader," Redick said. "That's big time. That's what we need from him."

Reaves reflected on just how big the win was, especially coming off of a playoff series loss last season when he had an opportunity to extend the matchup.

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"To have that opportunity for a big road win, especially with a lot of people out, is special," he said. "We kept hooping, and they kept encouraging me to go do what I do."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NBA star's sister killed in New Jersey shooting, officials say

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 20:21:40 -0400

The sister of Minnesota Timberwolves star Naz Reid was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey on Saturday, prosecutors said.

Jackson Township police officers responded to a call about shots fired at an apartment complex at around 11 a.m. ET on Saturday. Responding officers found a deceased woman, identified as Toraya Reid, with multiple gunshot wounds, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.

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Shaquille Green, 29, of Jackson Township, was seen running on a road near the complex and officers were able to take him into custody without incident, officials said. Green, who was determined to have been dating Reid, was later charged in Reid’s death.

Green was charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, the prosecutor’s office said. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail.

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Naz Reid was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, only a few miles from where the incident took place. He went to high school in Roselle and later played college basketball at LSU. He posted two photos of himself with his sister when they were younger on his Instagram Stories.

Reid spoke about his sisters Toraya and Jakahya, in an interview with Mpls.St.Paul Magazine in 2023. He called Toraya, his older sister, "super protective."

"She treats us like she’s our parent," he said.

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Reid is about to enter his seventh season with Minnesota.

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Timberwolves star Julius Randle reacts to tragic Minneapolis mass shooting: 'We gotta be better'

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 19:16:05 -0400

Minnesota Timberwolves star Julius Randle was among the many who couldn’t fathom the horrific shooting that left at least two children dead and 17 others injured in a Minnesota church on Wednesday.

Law enforcement confirmed that a man, in his early 20s and dressed in black clothing, opened fire during a Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.

Randle, a father of three, was heartbroken to hear the news in his team’s home city.

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"Prayers to everybody in Minnesota smh (shaking my head)," Randle posted on X. "I worry every day for my kids about these things. We gotta be better."

The Timberwolves also released a statement on the matter.

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"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and everyone whose lives have been forever changed by this senseless act of violence.

"As members of this community, we stand together in mourning. No child should ever feel unsafe in a place of learning or worship, and no family should endure such unimaginable loss. Together with all Minnesotans, we mourn this tragic loss and extend strength and compassion to everyone affected."

MLB’s Minnesota Twins, the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx also shared similar statements after seeing the news.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara detailed the gunman’s horrific act of violence, as he approached the church and began "firing a rifle through the church windows towards the children sitting in the pews.

"Shooting through the windows, he struck children and worshipers that were inside the building," O'Hara said. "The shooter was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol. This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible."

The gunman is deceased, likely of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Several children who were injured were being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center. Tom Wyatt, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Hennepin Healthcare, confirmed that four of those patients required surgery.

ӣ��Ƶ’ Paulina Dedaj, Greg Norman and Matt Finn contributed to this report.

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