Brandon Rahbar: Chet Holmgren finished #2 in Rookie of the Year voting. pic.twitter.com/vpEZYhk0CL ..read more

Clemente Almanza: Mark Daigneault on preparing to defend Luka Doncic: “Just make sure Lu (Dort) is on time for the game ..read more

Mike Curtis: Jason Kidd said Luka Doncic (right knee sprain) is probable for Game 1 against the Thunder. Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle sprain) is available. Maxi Kleber and Olivier-Maxence Prosper remain out ..read more

Anthony Slater: The Mavericks won’t have Maxi Kleber in the Thunder series, which could leave them with a traditional center on the floor the entire time. Mark Daigneault: “Our guess would be for them to stay big…It definitely changes their looks.” pic.twitter.com/eFVD54y2Vb ..read more

Anthony Slater: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tweaked his ankle in Game 4 vs the Pelicans and Jalen Williams was a bit banged up in the series, but the injury report is clear for the Thunder entering Dallas series. Here’s SGA and Williams getting shots up post practice today pic.twitter.com/YIJHC1DILx ..read more

After clearly losing his confidence throughout the early months – he has admitted as such – Josh Giddey got back to the basics and started impacting the game as good as he ever has in his career. Since March 1 the 6-foot-8 guard is averaging 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game. Giddey has made a larger impact on the defensive end as well while shooting 54 percent from the floor, 37 percent from beyond the arc, 69 percent at the rim and 77 percent from the charity stripe ..read more

That defensive work – along with his career-best rim finishing numbers – is what has stood out the most for Giddey during this stretch. It was the difference in him remaining on the floor in the playoffs to this point and has been a long time coming. A point of development the Thunder have focused on since Giddey landed in Bricktown. “I always spoke to coach my first few years about guys who teams will attack a matchup, that is how you get played off the floor and I never wanted to be that guy,” Giddey said following Game 4 against the Pelicans ..read more

This was nothing new for Giddey who routinely shoots the ball well inside the Smoothie King Center, but it stems from the work put in away from the bright light.s “I don’t know, it’s just some arenas you feel good in…Just being confident, the first few games of this series the shot wasn’t falling but continuing to trust the work,” Giddey said of his shooting hot streak against the Pelicans ..read more

One Eastern Conference GM, unsolicited, asked, “Does Book want to stay in Phoenix? Unclear.” A second Eastern Conference executive pointed to the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as other candidates who could see Booker as an ideal fit. For the Spurs it would be pairing him with rookie big man Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder already have a promising young backcourt in  point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander and shooting guard Jalen Williams, but both being practically the same size as the 6’6″ Booker, that could make for a formidable trio of two-way t ..read more

One Eastern Conference GM, unsolicited, asked, “Does Book want to stay in Phoenix? Unclear.” A second Eastern Conference executive pointed to the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as other candidates who could see Booker as an ideal fit. For the Spurs it would be pairing him with rookie big man Victor Wembanyama. The Thunder already have a promising young backcourt in  point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander and shooting guard Jalen Williams, but both being practically the same size as the 6’6″ Booker, that could make for a formidable trio of two-way th ..read more