Hoops Rumors

Bulls guard Josh Giddey is dealing with a muscle issue on the side of his hand but he’s expected to suit up for the play-in game against Miami on Wednesday, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network reports. “It’s just about managing the pain,” Giddey said, adding that the injury will be addressed in the offseason (Twitter links). Giddey can’t imagine watching Wednesday’s game … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Giddey, Ball, Jones, Buzelis, Pistons Tickets, Sims

Donovan Mitchell is missing his fourth consecutive game on Sunday due to a sprained left ankle, but the Cavaliers remain confident their star guard will be ready to go when the team begins its first-round playoff series next weekend, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Mitchell conducted a full workout at the Cavs’ training facility on Saturday and worked out on the court … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Mitchell, Ball, Jones, Giddey, Giannis, Furphy

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week for a second straight Monday, the NBA announced today (Twitter link). Antetokounmpo sat out Milwaukee’s regular season finale on Sunday, but was stellar in three Bucks wins over Minnesota, New Orleans, and Detroit earlier in the week, averaging 27.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 10.0 assists, … [Read more...] about Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden Named Players Of The Week

Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham expects a heated battle in the first playoff series of his career, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post relays via an ESPN interview. Detroit will match up against the Knicks in the opening round. “It’s going to be a war,” he said. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things. I … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Cunningham, Pacers Comeback, Bulls Season, Connaughton

Led by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, the Pacers secured a top-four seed — and home-court advantage in the first round — in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating Cleveland on Thursday, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. After starting the season with a 10-15 record, the Pacers have gone 39-16 … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Pacers, Jerome, Holland, Bucks