Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is planning for the challenge of slowing down the Indiana Pacers in a matchup of two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams in the Finals starting with Game 1 on Thursday.

• As Daigneault digs into the details, he knows there's a difference between getting a feel for the opponent and the opponent making sure you feel them.

  "We aren't inventing anything this week. They pump a 99-mph fastball at you, and you can prepare all you want for that," Daigneault said. "But when you're in the batter's box, it's different when it's time to hit. It's going to be a very tall challenge."

  Oklahoma City features two top on-ball defenders who'll share the chore of shadowing Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. He averaged 18.8 points and 9.8 assists in the playoffs to reach the Finals and is the engine of a revving offense capable of attacking from many angles. Lu Dort defended Haliburton in two regular-season matchups, Thunder wins, and limited him to averages of 11 points and 5.5 assists.

  While the Thunder feature the NBA's leading scorer and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the mentality of winning with defense and succeeding as a team are more than words to this young roster.

  "Staying true to who we are is the reason we are here. We'd be doing ourselves a disservice to change or be something we're not once we got here," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "If we want to keep having success, we have to be who we are. It's organic, so it's nothing we have to think about or force. It's who we are no matter the moment."

  Gilgeous-Alexander will get the majority of the attention from the Pacers' defense, but forward Chet Holmgren said Oklahoma City has seen plenty of that approach. The Thunder claim they truly don't care how the points get on the board in Game 1 or beyond, as long as OKC is putting up wins.

  "I'd say the biggest thing is playing for each other," Holmgren said. "And the type of guys we have here. If you ask anybody, everybody is going to tell you they are a winner. We have a team with 17 winners. They're going to put winning at the top of the totem pole over anything else, really. Does that mean you are guaranteed to win every single night? No. But when that's the main focus, you aren't working toward anything else, then you are able to chase that (outcome) better than if you had a different perspective on it."

  Perspective might be a challenge early in the series.

  Daigneault is matching up with Rick Carlisle, who guided the 2011 Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title, with a group of 20-somethings in the Finals for the first time. He reminded his team to walk into the home arena grateful and wasn't afraid to reflect on the magnitude of the moment.

  "Every single person that's participating in this," he said, "whether it's coaches, players, staff, there was a time in their life when this was just a dream. That's every player that's participating. There was a time they were in their driveway shooting, 1 on 0, with a basket counting down the end of the game. That's what makes it so special to be part of. We're all very humbled and grateful to be a part of it."

  --Field Level Media

The Phoenix Suns are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Jordan Ott as their next head coach, ESPN reported Wednesday.

• Ott will be hired for the position over his former Cavaliers colleague, associate head coach Johnnie Bryant. Ott and Bryant met with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein and new general manager Brian Gregory in Michigan on Tuesday.

  Per ESPN, Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the latter stages of the search process and tabbed Ott as his choice as head coach.

  Phoenix is looking for a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, who was fired April 14 after his first season and a 36-46 record. Ott will be the fourth coach in four seasons for the Suns.

  Ott began his career as a video coordinator at Michigan State in 2008 before filling that same role under Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks. He joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach in 2016 and moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 before Kenny Atkinson hired him in Cleveland.

  NBA Coach of the Year Atkinson and his staff led the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

  --Field Level Media

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns has been treated for injuries he suffered in the NBA playoffs, including ligament damage to his left finger and a bruised left knee, ESPN reported Wednesday.

• The finger injury occurred in the second round against the Boston Celtics, and Towns hurt his knee during the Eastern Conference finals, won by the Indiana Pacers in six games. He did not miss any games.

  Towns, a five-time All-Star, chose to undergo necessary procedures immediately to better prepare for next season, per the report.

  The Knicks acquired Towns as part of three-team trade before the start of the 2024-25 season that sent Julius Randle, Keita Bates-Diop and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

  Towns, 29, started 72 regular season games, averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 35 minutes per game.

  The No. 1 pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by Minnesota, he has career averages of 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 645 games.

  In 18 playoff games with the Knicks, the 7-footer averaged 21.4 points and 11.6 rebounds.

  Towns has two years, plus a player option, remaining on the four-year, $220.4 million deal he signed with the Timberwolves. He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

  --Field Level Media

The Indiana Pacers have waited 25 years to return to the NBA Finals, but they will have to wait a little longer as the team's arrival to Oklahoma City was delayed by weather.

• While the Pacers' charter flight was in the air on Tuesday, forecasters issued a tornado warning, flood watch and severe thunderstorm watch for Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

  At least one tornado was spotted in Norman, Oklahoma, roughly 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, but it was not immediately known whether the tornado touched down or caused damage.

  Indiana's flight was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the plane was refueled. The team expected to arrive in Oklahoma City later Tuesday evening.

  The Pacers, making the franchise's second-ever appearance in the Finals and first since 2000, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are scheduled to appear at NBA Finals media day on Wednesday at Paycom Center, which will be the stage for Thursday's Game 1.

  --Field Level Media

It's fair to say Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly's default position is not to stand pat.

• In February 2023, he moved D'Angelo Russell for Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker - two key parts of the Timberwolves' eight-man rotation that just reached the Western Conference finals for the second straight year.

  Last October, Connelly shipped four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo - two more key pieces in that eight-man rotation.

  So, with the NBA draft and free agency fast approaching, what might Connelly have in store in order to get the Timberwolves to their first NBA title?

  "I mean, you're always just guessing," Connelly said. "I mean, I don't know. I mean, until you win it all, you've got to be very self-critical and look for areas where you can improve upon.

  "This time of year is especially active because the draft (precedes) free agency, so it's really one of the biggest transactional windows we have. We feel very happy with the core we have. We don't feel like there's a tremendous pressure to do much. But, you know, until you're raising the trophy, you've got to be active and creative as possible to try to get to a point where, at some point, you're the final team."

  Presuming Connelly wants to bring back every member of that eight-man rotation that went 27-12 over the final three months of the regular season and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 and the Golden State Warriors 4-1 in the playoffs, he's going to have to do some financial gymnastics.

  Minnesota led the NBA in total cap allocations in 2024-25 at $237,156,897. Hypothetically, the Wolves could live well above the cap again, but forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid are veterans who get to decide whether to accept a contract option for next season or become a free agent. Meanwhile, Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent.

  "The goal is to keep everybody," Connelly said.

  But if any or all three move on, the Timberwolves have the Nos. 17 and 31 picks in the NBA draft. They also have three youngsters who just completed their first season - wing Terrence Shannon Jr., guard Rob Dillingham and forward Jaylen Clark - who could warrant more minutes next year.

  At the same time, the current group lost the Western Conference finals in five games to the Oklahoma City Thunder - an organization loaded with enough younger players and first-round picks that it ought to contend for several more years.

  "I think (our) team grew together as it got to know each other, so I don't know if there's a ton of certain skillsets we need," Connelly said. "I think it's more kind of collective maturity - to be able to play different ways and have... you know, every night we're not going to be able to be super-productive. So how do we win those games (that are) kind of in the mud?

  "You know, we've got a bunch of guys who have these huge roles that are starting to get a little bit older. So you always want to have people behind them. So I think there's some positions that potentially could be more of (a) need because of how the present roster is set up."

  --Field Level Media

Two early favorites have emerged in the wake of the New York Knicks firing coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, which created a vacancy for one of the most intriguing jobs in the NBA.

• Just three days after losing to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks parted ways with Thibodeau. After five seasons, 226 regular-season victories and four playoff appearances, Thibodeau leaves behind a roster he helped cultivate into a growing threat in the East.

  New York may have one of sports' most polarizing owners in Jim Dolan, but the Knicks also have a talented roster in a city primed to attract marquee talent.

  That led multiple sportsbooks to quickly generate an odds market on the Knicks' next coach. Leading the pack at SportsBetting.ag is Michael Malone, who was fired by Denver with three games left in the regular season -- less than 24 months after guiding the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title.

  He is followed by former Villanova coach Jay Wright and ex-Knicks coach and television analyst Jeff Van Gundy.

  KNICKS NEXT COACH ODDS*

  Michael Malone (+100)

  Jay Wright (+150)

  Jeff Van Gundy (+600)

  Chris Quinn (+700)

  Taylor Jenkins (+800)

  Danny Hurley (+900)

  Rick Brunson (+1200)

  Mike Brown (+1400)

  Mark Jackson (+1600)

  Steve Nash (+2200)

  James Borrego (+3300)

  Johnnie Bryant (+4000)

  John Calapari (+4500)

  Mike Budenholzer (+5000)

  Mike D'Antoni (+5000)

  Sam Cassell (+6600)

  *SportsBetting.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

  Knicks team president Leon Rose said in a statement that the team "decided to move in another direction" as it eyes a championship run next season. The Knicks' odds are improved thanks to the Boston Celtics losing star Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury that will cost him most, if not all, of next season.

  Thibodeau posted a 24-23 playoff record with the Knicks and was fired less than a year after signing a three-year extension through 2027 that was worth a reported $10-11 million per season.

  Considering the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, the vacancy is expected to draw interest from a host of high-profile and experienced candidates.

  A look at the top half-dozen candidates on the list:

  MICHAEL MALONE

  In addition to leading the Nuggets to the 2023 title, Malone spent two seasons as a Knicks assistant in the early 2000s. The 53-year-old is no stranger to the limelight of Madison Square Garden and is the son of the late Brendan Malone, who spent three different stints as an assistant with the franchise. After leaving the Knicks, Malone has posted a 510-394 regular-season record in parts of 12 seasons as an NBA coach.

  JAY WRIGHT

  Wright coached Knicks star Jalen Brunson at Villanova along with teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. A two-time national champion at Villanova, Wright retired in 2022 citing the changing landscape of college basketball. The biggest question may be whether Wright has a desire to return to coaching, much less in a pressure-cooker environment like the Knicks' job. He declined to be considered when the job became available previous times over the past decade.

  JEFF VAN GUNDY

  It has been 18 years since Van Gundy patrolled the sidelines for an NBA team. Still just 63 years old, Van Gundy did serve as an assistant with the Clippers this season following a long run as a broadcaster. He won 248 games with the Knicks over parts of seven seasons after taking over for the fired Don Nelson late in 1995-96. He also led the franchise to its most recent NBA Finals appearance in 1999.

  CHRIS QUINN

  A former NBA player, Quinn has spent more than a decade as an assistant with the Miami Heat. He was installed at +700 despite not being near the top of many early lists to replace Thibodeau. However Quinn has been on NBA teams' radars. He met with the Phoenix Suns this year after interviewing with Cleveland last offseason.

  TAYLOR JENKINS

  Like Malone, Jenkins was a surprising late-season firing when he was let go by Memphis on March 28 after winning a franchise-record 250 games and earning three playoff appearances over parts of six seasons. Jenkins offers a wealth of experience despite being only 40 and has a reputation for cultivating young talent. However, he did post a mere 9-14 playoff record with Memphis.

  DANNY HURLEY

  Hurley seriously contemplated leaving UConn for the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason. He ultimately returned to Storrs to chase a three-peat that came up short with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss, but maybe he'll be more tempted by an NBA job that would keep him in the Northeast. A Jersey City native, Hurley spent his coaching career before UConn at stops in either New York or New Jersey. Hurley does have a strong roster assembled at UConn ahead of next season, but would the allure of coaching Brunson, Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns be enough to draw him to MSG?

  --Field Level Media

Over the last five years, Tom Thibodeau won 226 regular-season games with the New York Knicks, or just 30 fewer than his six predecessors combined.

• His 24 playoff wins were the most by a Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy and six more than New York recorded in the 20 years prior to his arrival. And the Knicks' trip to the Eastern Conference finals this spring was the first for the franchise since 2000 and unleashed a joyfully riotous weeks-long party in a city starved for a basketball title.

  For all of that, Thibodeau got fired Tuesday before the three-year extension he signed last summer could even begin.

  Tough town, tough gig -- especially for Thibodeau's successor, who arrives with championship-or-bust expectations even after the Knicks' lack of depth, athleticism and defensive acumen were exposed by the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.

  Here are a few candidates who might be tasked with finally winning the Knicks' first title since 1973:

  Michael Malone, ex-Nuggets head coach: Nobody is better prepared for the crucible of New York than Malone. He spent two seasons as a Knicks assistant in the early 2000s and is the son of the late Brendan Malone, who had three different stints as a New York assistant. And no one understands the demands placed upon a head coach like Malone, who was fired by Denver with three games to go in the regular season despite winning a franchise-record 471 games as well as the Nuggets' lone NBA title in 2023.

  Johnnie Bryant, Cavaliers assistant coach: Bryant was the associate head coach of the Knicks under Thibodeau for four years before moving to Cleveland in 2024. He's reportedly up for the Phoenix Suns gig, the only other current NBA opening, so Thibodeau's firing might have been a preemptive strike by Knicks management. Bryant would also provide a familiar face for the Knicks, whose lone assistant coach with NBA head coaching experience is Maurice Cheeks -- who hasn't run a team since 2014.

  Taylor Jenkins, ex-Grizzlies head coach: Like Malone, Jenkins was a surprise late-season firing despite an impressive track record in Memphis, where he won a franchise-record 250 games. His ability to cultivate young talent could be intriguing as the replacement for the famously vet-friendly Thibodeau.

  Mike Brown, ex-Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings head coach: Brown coached LeBron James during the latter's first stint in Cleveland, so he knows all about dealing with strong personalities. He was also an assistant on three NBA champions with the Golden State Warriors before ending Sacramento's 16-year postseason drought in his first season at the helm in 2022-23.

  Frank Vogel, ex-Pacers, Magic, Lakers and Suns coach: Like Brown, he has experience with winning in challenging situations. Vogel got the Pacers to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in 2013-14 and led the Lakers to the title in the pandemic bubble before the impatient Suns fired him after one year.

  Mike Budenholzer, ex-Hawks, Bucks and Suns head coach: His star dimmed when he was fired following the first season of a five-year deal with the Suns. But he can't be ruled out as part of a bid by the Knicks to land Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, though such a deal is unlikely given the Knicks' lack of first-round picks and tradable players.

  Jeff Van Gundy, ex-Knicks and Rockets head coach: A long shot because it's been 18 years since he last served as a head coach. But Van Gundy, still somehow only 63 years old, is one of the few people who could give Thibodeau a run in the gym rat department, as he proved by taking an assistant's job with the Clippers this season following a successful broadcasting career. Plus -- and this cannot be stated enough -- as a former Knicks coach, Van Gundy would know what he's getting into.

  --Jerry Beach, Field Level Media

Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for the NBA's most valuable contract this offseason.

• Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, became "supermax" eligible with the Oklahoma City Thunder by earning All-NBA honors in consecutive seasons, and the numbers are something to behold.

  SGA could sign a four-year, $293.4 million pact with an average salary of $73.3 million, which equates to almost $900,000 per game in the regular season. He can sign the record-setting agreement as early as July 6.

  Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game in the regular season and has the Thunder in the NBA Finals.

  In the unexpected event of Gilgeous-Alexander opting to hold off for one more season, his July 2026 contract would become a five-year, $379 million deal.

  The 2025 extension season involves other big names who could be rewarded with guaranteed money despite having multiple seasons left on their current contracts.

  Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is eligible for a three-year extension worth over $210 million from the Denver Nuggets. He can sign a new contract between July 6 and Oct. 21, but with two seasons and a player option for another remaining on his existing contract, Jokic might not rush into anything.

  Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have a hold on a maximum extension of four years, $229 because he was traded. Doncic can't sign a four-year contract until August under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement but can take three years and $160 million next month if he's eager for the guarantee to get done.

  Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is eligible to sign a $229 million extension for four years in July. The Hawks and Mavericks exchanged the draft rights of Doncic for Young on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft,

  Gilgeous-Alexander was chosen 11th in that draft by the Charlotte Hornets after his Kentucky teammate, Kevin Knox, went ninth to the New York Knicks. Gilgeous-Alexander was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers for Miles Bridges, who was picked 12th.

  Stunningly traded by the Mavericks during the 2023-24 season, Doncic averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in 450 games over his first seven seasons.

  The top two picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) represent interesting cases in contract leverage. Neither has consistently been available to his team for multiple reasons, but both have been dominant for stretches and are younger than SGA.

  Williamson played 30 games last season, the third time in five years he failed to play in fewer than half of the Pelicans' regular-season games, and also is facing off-court legal issues.

  Williamson turns 25 on July 6, the first day he can sign a two-year extension worth up to $128.4 million.

  Morant, 25, is eligible for an extension of the same value. Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson, chosen between Doncic (third) and Young (fifth) in 2018, is also extension eligible.

  There are also two-year, $150 million extensions available to the Knicks with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Phoenix Suns with Devin Booker.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday after five seasons and four playoff appearances.

• The move announced by team president Leon Rose comes three days after a season-ending Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, the farthest the Knicks had advanced in the postseason in 25 years.

  "Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," Rose said. "This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction.

  "We can't thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories. Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward.

  "Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future."

  Thibodeau, 67, compiled a 226-174 (.565) record in the regular season, including a 51-31 finish this season. He was 24-23 in the playoffs with New York.

  In July 2024, Thibodeau signed a three-year extension through 2027-28 that was worth a reported $10 million to $11 million per season.

  Thibodeau previously coached the Chicago Bulls (2010-15) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2016-19) and owns a career record of 578-420 (.579) in the regular season and 48-55 (.466) in the playoffs. He was named the NBA's Coach of the Year in 2010-11 and 2020-21.

  He is two shy of becoming the 35th head coach in NBA history with 1,000 games.

  The Knicks last reached the conference finals in 1999-2000 and have not won a championship since 1972-73.

  Rose made Tuesday's decision with the full support of team owner James Dolan, according to The Athletic.

  Knicks star Jalen Brunson voiced his support for Thibodeau following the season-ending loss against the Pacers on Saturday in Indianapolis.

  "Is that a real question right now?" Brunson answered when asked whether Thibodeau was the man to take New York to the next level. "You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes. Come on."

  Throughout his coaching career, Thibodeau has drawn criticism for his strategy of giving his starters a heavy workload, potentially leading to breakdowns and injuries.

  Knicks swingman Mikal Bridges, who averaged a career-high 37.0 minutes in his first season with the club in 2024-25, voiced a complaint in March.

  "Sometimes it's not fun on the body," Bridges said. "You'll want that as a coach but also talked to him a little bit knowing that we've got a good enough team where our bench guys can come in and we don't need to play 48 (minutes), 47."

  --Field Level Media

There was a lot of criticism circling the Dallas Mavericks after they traded franchise star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.

• Expect another round of opinions about the big swap during the preseason when the Mavericks and Lakers meet at Las Vegas on Oct. 15.

  The Lakers announced four preseason games on Monday in which they are designated as the home team, and the attention-getter is the matchup vs. Dallas.

  The Mavericks landed Anthony Davis in the controversial deal, but Dallas fans were irate over the loss of Doncic.

  The Lakers won both meetings between the teams after the trade. Doncic had a triple-double (19 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists) as Los Angeles beat visiting Dallas 107-99 on Feb. 25. He then poured in 45 points in his first visit to Dallas as a visiting player on April 9, helping the Lakers prevail 112-97.

  Davis missed the Feb. 25 game on Feb. 25 before producing 13 points and 11 rebounds on April 9.

  The Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery despite being big longshots, so they could have Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick, in action when they get to Las Vegas. The Lakers, of course, will have a roster led by veteran LeBron James.

  The Lakers also announced preseason games against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 3 in Palm Desert, Calif., and home contests against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 12 and the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 17.

  --Field Level Media

Giannis Antetokounmpo is favored to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks amid increasing speculation that the two-time NBA MVP is open to being traded this offseason.

• The Bucks are the odds-on favorite at -140 by DraftKings to be the team Antetokounmpo is playing for in his first minute of the 2025-26 regular season. That's well ahead of the San Antonio Spurs (+380) and Houston Rockets (+450).

  The Rockets crashed out of the playoffs after posting the second-best record in the Western Conference, but have a young and talented roster poised to compete for several years. That roster could use an experienced star in the mold of Antetokounmpo to make a deeper playoff run next season alongside the likes of Amen Thompson, Antetokounmpo, Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks.

  The Spurs also make for an intriguing destination to pair with young star Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, who was acquired from Sacramento last season. San Antonio is still armed with a slew of draft picks to help facilitate a deal.

  The next shortest odds belong to the Toronto Raptors, who have moved to +1000 with a report by the Toronto Star that there is "mutual interest" should Antetokounmpo be traded. Separately, ESPN reported that the Raptors are "looking for a big fish" in the offseason trade market.

  It was originally reported last month that Antetokounmpo would be open to playing elsewhere in 2025-26.

  According to the Star's report on Sunday, the Raptors are deep enough at the wing position to combine with first-round picks to make a run at Antetokounmpo, who has spent his first 12 seasons with Milwaukee.

  Antetokounmpo, 30, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2024-25 before Milwaukee was handed its third straight first-round playoff exit.

  With highly paid All-Star guard Damian Lillard facing a lengthy rehabilitation after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs on April 27, the Bucks are not well-positioned to contend for a championship next season -- which speaks to the offseason decisions that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo face.

  He is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He carries cap hits of $54.1 million in 2025-26 and $58.5 million in 2026-27.

  GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO ODDS

  (First Regular Season Minute Played For)

  Milwaukee Bucks (-140)

  San Antonio Spurs (+380)

  Houston Rockets (+450)

  Toronto Raptors (+1000)

  Dallas Mavericks (+1200)

  Oklahoma City Thunder (+1300)

  New York Knicks (+1600)

  Brooklyn Nets (+2000)

  Memphis Grizzlies (+3000)

  Detroit Pistons (+3000)

  Cleveland Cavaliers (+3000)

  Atlanta Hawks (+3000)

  Los Angeles Lakers (+3500)

  Golden State Warriors (+3500)

  Miami Heat (+5000)

  Chicago Bulls (+5000)

  Boston Celtics (+5000)

  Phoenix Suns (+5000)

  Orlando Magic (+5000)

  New Orleans Pelicans (+5000)

  Los Angeles Clippers (+6000)

  Philadelphia 76ers (+6000)

  Minnesota Timberwolves (+6000)

  Sacramento Kings (+7000)

  Denver Nuggets (+8000)

  Indiana Pacers (+12000)

  Portland Trail Blazers (+13000)

  Charlotte Hornets (+25000)

  Washington Wizards (+25000)

  Utah Jazz (+25000)

  --Field Level Media

There is "mutual interest" between the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Toronto Star reported.

• It was originally reported last month that Antetokounmpo would be open to playing elsewhere in 2025-26.

  According to the Star's report on Sunday, the Raptors are deep enough at the wing position to combine with first-round picks to make a run at Antetokounmpo. Separately, ESPN reported that the Raptors are "looking for a big fish" in the offseason trade market.

  ESPN reported in May that the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player is exploring whether his best long-term fit is to remain in Milwaukee or move on after 12 seasons, nine All-Star selections and one championship with the Bucks.

  Antetokounmpo, 30, averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 2024-25 before Milwaukee suffered its third straight first-round playoff exit.

  With highly paid All-Star guard Damian Lillard facing a lengthy rehabilitation after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the playoffs on April 27, the Bucks are not well-positioned to contend for a championship next season -- which speaks to the off-season decisions that the Bucks and Antetokounmpo face.

  He is under contract through the 2026-27 season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. He carries cap hits of $54.1 million in 2025-26 and $58.5 million in 2026-27.

  --Field Level Media

The Indiana Pacers will be without forward Jarace Walker for at least the first two games of the NBA Finals as he recovers from a right ankle injury.

• The finals begin Thursday in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.

  Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Monday on 107.5 The Fan radio in Indianapolis that the injury was one that will take some time.

  "He's gonna be out for a while. I don't know how long," Carlisle said. "He certainly will not play in the first two games of the finals."

  The injury occurred on Saturday during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals when Walker rolled his right ankle after jumping to try to defend a shot from the New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns.

  He left the arena on crutches, and Carlisle said he was still using them on Sunday.

  Game 3 of the best-of-seven NBA Finals is scheduled for June 11 in Indianapolis. Carlisle said the schedule could work in Walker's favor.

  "The fact that the finals are stretched out over a pretty significant period of time gives him a chance to recover," Carlisle said. "... He'll do all of the treatment. He'll be very motivated (to return). He's been on point any time he's had any kind of dings or anything like that."

  Walker, 21 and in his second NBA season, is part of the deep bench Carlisle has used in the playoffs. He has appeared in 12 of their 16 postseason games and is averaging 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds over 9.8 minutes per game.

  --Field Level Media

The Phoenix Suns have whittled their list of potential head coaches to two, both currently on the staff of the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN reported Monday.

• The finalists, per ESPN, are Cleveland associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and assistant Jordan Ott. Both are set to meet with a Phoenix contingent led by owner Mat Ishbia this week.

  The Suns are looking for a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, who was fired April 14 after his first season and a 36-46 record. The new coach will be the fourth in four seasons.

  NBA Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson and his staff led the Cavaliers to 64 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

  Bryant, 39, was a guard in college at Utah and played professionally overseas before joining the Utah Jazz staff in 2012, where he remained until 2020. He was the associate head coach of the New York Knicks before joining the Cavaliers.

  Ott began his career as a video coordinator at Michigan State in 2008 before filling that same role under Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks. He joined the Nets as an assistant coach in 2016 and moved on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 before Atkinson hired him in Cleveland.

  --Field Level Media

The Utah Jazz hired longtime Boston Celtics executive Austin Ainge as their new president of basketball operations on Monday.

• Ainge, 43, worked in the Boston front office for 17 years, most recently as an assistant general manager, and is the son of Jazz CEO and alternate governor Danny Ainge.

  "We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Austin Ainge as our new President of Basketball Operations," said Jazz governor Ryan Smith. "Austin is one of the brightest minds in the NBA -- his 17 years with the Celtics have given him incredible insight into every part of an organization. I've known Austin for 15 years, and I've watched him grow into an accomplished, innovative, and strategic basketball executive who's ready to lead this organization."

  Justin Zanik will remain in his role as Utah's general manager and will work together with Austin Ainge and head coach Will Hardy moving forward.

  "I couldn't be more excited about the bright future of this organization," Austin Ainge said. "I look forward to partnering with Ryan and Ashley Smith and our other leaders within the Utah Jazz and will utilize my experience over the last 17 years building a championship-caliber organization. I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win. I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about as we build our program back up."

  In his time with the Celtics, Austin Ainge also worked as director of scouting and player personnel and served as head coach of the NBA G League's Maine Celtics (2009-11). His efforts helped Boston reach the Eastern Conference finals six times and capture the 2024 NBA championship.

  "We are thrilled for Austin as he embarks on his new journey with the Jazz," said Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. "He's clearly ready for this next step, and I know how much he's looking forward to leading a team. He's obviously very bright and has experienced success as a player, coach and executive at various levels of the game. On top of that, he leaves no stone unturned -- he's a strategic thinker that's motivated and is an extremely hard worker. We will miss him in Boston, but could not be happier for Austin and his family."

  Austin Ainge is already a familiar name for basketball fans in Utah. As a two-time team captain at BYU, he appeared in 101 games from 2003-07 and helped the Cougars win two Mountain West Conference titles and make three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

  The Jazz finished with an NBA-worst and franchise-worst 17-65 record in 2024-25, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

  --Field Level Media

Indiana Pacers reserve forward Jarace Walker injured his right ankle during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night and his availability for the NBA Finals is uncertain.

• Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Walker was on crutches after the game. The ankle badly turned while he was defending Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks during the opening possession of the fourth quarter.

  "He's young, so that's good," Carlisle said after his team's series-clinching 125-108 victory. "I did not see a replay, so I don't know how much, how far it turned over, how much weight he had on it. But when a guy goes down and stays down like that, you're always holding your breath."

  Indiana faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

  Walker had two points and one rebound in seven minutes before exiting. He remained on the floor as play continued until it was stopped after New York scored another basket. He was eventually helped off the floor by two trainers.

  Walker, 21, averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 75 regular-season games (five starts) this season. He was a first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2023 draft.

  Also, backup center Tony Bradley (hip), who was injured in Game 5, didn't see any action.

  --Field Level Media

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles, the New York Post reported on Friday.

• In the suit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the woman -- identified as Jane Doe from Seattle -- alleges Williamson sexually assaulted her twice in 2020.

  The plaintiff, who claims to be the NBA forward's ex-girlfriend, alleges in a 12-page filing that there was a pattern of "abusive, controlling and threatening behavior" toward her that occurred in California, Louisiana and other states.

  Williamson, 24, also is accused of threatening to have his security personnel shoot Doe in the head and have her parents killed, according to the report. The filing alleges Williamson was drunk or had taken cocaine during many of the alleged incidents.

  "Our client is very adamant about this -- it's not her desire or our desire to litigate this case in the press," Doe's attorney, Sam Taylor with the Lanier Law Firm, told the Post on Friday. "It's a very serious case, as reflected in the allegations. Our client looks forward to her day in court where she can go and explain to a jury what happened to her, the things she endured for this defendant and getting justice."

  Williamson's attorney, Michael Balascio, provided the following statement:

  "We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless," Balascio wrote, per Front Office Sports. "This is the plaintiff's third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.

  "Mr. Williamson and the plaintiff never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago, when he was 18 years old. That relationship ended years ago. At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars."

  Williamson's attorney claimed that his client filed a police report against Doe for extortion with an arrest warrant issued. Williamson will file a counterclaim and seek "significant damages" for Doe's lawsuit, his attorney said.

  As of Friday afternoon, the Pelicans had not commented publicly on the allegations.

  Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke, is a two-time All-Star with career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 214 games (all starts) with the Pelicans.

  --Field Level Media

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is recovering from wrist surgery, the team announced Thursday.

• Podziemski, 22, underwent a debridement procedure on his left (shooting) wrist on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

  The Warriors said he is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of training camp this fall.

  Podziemski averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 64 games (33 starts) in 2024-25.

  A first-round pick (19th overall) in 2023, he made the All-Rookie Team in 2023-24 with 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

  --Field Level Media

Karl-Anthony Towns carried the Knicks in Game 3, but the big man buckled in Game 4 and he is listed as questionable with a bruised left knee as New York faces elimination in the Eastern Conference finals.

• Towns stayed on his back in obvious pain moments after banging knees with Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith late in the fourth quarter of a 130-121 loss at Indiana in Game 4 on Tuesday night. The center briefly left the game but re-entered and was not in a talking mood postgame, leaving his status up in the air for a possible elimination game in the best-of-seven series.

  As for whether Towns is confident he can take the court for Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, that question won't be answered immediately.

  "I'm only thinking about this loss, I'm not thinking about that right now," Towns said postgame about his level of concern with the injury. "It's disappointing when you don't get a win. Just didn't do enough to get the job done (in Game 4)."

  Towns, 29, was favoring his left knee in the first half, but head coach Tom Thibodeau took it as a "good sign" that he was able to continue Tuesday night.

  With the Knicks trailing 3-1 in the series, Towns has done his part to keep New York in it.

  He's averaging 25.8 points and 11.5 rebounds, including a memorable effort with 24 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3. Towns scored 20 points in the final quarter of that contest.

  Nesmith is listed as questionable for the Pacers with a sprained right ankle. He injured the ankle in Game 3 and was cleared to play Tuesday just more than an hour before tipoff.

  --Field Level Media

Six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty on Tuesday to second-degree assault in relation to a shooting incident outside a Tacoma, Wash., mall in March 2023.

• According to reports, the prosecuting attorney suggested to the Pierce County Superior Court judge that Kemp be sentenced to nine months in jail plus a year of community custody while paying restitution to his victims. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

  Kemp, 55, pleaded guilty to firing at two men in a Toyota 4Runner. Kemp testified he had his cell phone, sports memorabilia and other belongings stolen from his truck. He traced his phone to the Toyota 4Runner and accosted the driver without any resolution.

  Later, per his account, Kemp traced his phone to the Tacoma Mall and saw the same Toyota 4Runner. Though Kemp said he fired in self-defense after being targeted by someone in the car, a video showed Kemp started shooting as he emerged from his vehicle.

  Kemp's shots did not hit anyone, but they damaged the 4Runner and another car. Both of his alleged targets are currently in jail on unrelated charges.

  Kemp was selected by the SuperSonics in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft and spent the first eight of his 14 NBA seasons in Seattle. The "Reign Man" averaged 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game during his career. He made six consecutive All-Star appearances from 1993-98.

  --Field Level Media

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith has been cleared to play in Tuesday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, coach Rick Carlisle said just more than an hour before tipoff.

• Nesmith was a game-time decision after sustaining a sprained right ankle midway through the third quarter in Game 3. He later returned with seven minutes to play but was largely ineffective.

  Carlisle said the decision to play Nesmith was because "he's doing better than expected."

  Carlisle didn't pinpoint how many minutes Nesmith could play on Tuesday in a series the Pacers lead 2-1.

  "To be determined," Carlisle said. "Not as of now, but I always watch everybody's minutes. It'll be something that in real time, we'll have to gauge."

  Nesmith was a star in Game 1 when he was a career-best 8 of 9 from 3-point range and scored 30 points. But he struggled the past two games while averaging 10 points.

  Nesmith, 25, is averaging 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 13 postseason games.

  --Field Level Media

San Antonio Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama is expected to return to the court by the start of training camp, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

• Wembanyama missed the last two months of this season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Thrombosis occurs when blood turns into clumps inside a blood vessel, creating a blood clot.

  While that sounds scary, ESPN reported that the 21-year-old Frenchman is expected to be a full-go heading into next season.

  Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and an NBA-leading 3.8 blocked shots in 46 starts this season.

  Named the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year last season in 2023-24, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama competed in his first All-Star Game in 2024-25.

  The Spurs selected Wembanyama first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. In parts of two seasons, he is averaging 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.7 blocks in 117 games (all starts). He also has made 270 3-pointers.

  --Field Level Media

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair two breaks in his right hand.

• "I'm grateful for everyone's support all year and I can't wait to be back out there at 100% soon," the veteran said in a statement posted to X by The Athletic. "The comeback is already in motion."

  Westbrook, 36, said the injury occurred during the 2024-25 season. His fingers were heavily taped during Denver's playoff run, which ended on May 18 with a six-game series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.

  A nine-time All-Star and the 2016-17 league MVP, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games (36 starts) in his first season with the Nuggets.

  The two-time NBA scoring champion boasts career averages of 21.2 points, 8.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds in 1,237 games (1,075 starts) with the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Nuggets.

  Westbrook has a player option for 2025-26 that carries a $3.47 million cap hit. He is the all-time leader in triple-doubles (203) and ranks eighth in NBA history in assists (9,925) and 23rd in points (26,205) but is still seeking his first championship.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Knicks reportedly are mulling a change to their starting lineup in an effort to climb back into contention in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers.

• SNY reported that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is pondering elevating center Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup in place of guard Josh Hart.

  "We always look at everything," Thibodeau said of the notion of tweaking the lineup following New York's 114-109 loss in Game 2 on Friday.

  The Knicks trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Sunday night in Indianapolis.

  New York repeatedly had troubles on defense on Friday and Karl-Anthony Towns played just 28 minutes due to his issues defending Pascal Siakam, who finished with 39 points.

  The 7-foot Robinson recorded 29 minutes of playing time off the bench -- he had six points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Hart called for more of Robinson in Game 3.

  "We have to figure out ways ... he can play more," Hart said. "We're great with him on. We all got to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team."

  Robinson, 27, is averaging 4.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in the playoffs.

  Hart, 30, is averaging 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the postseason

  --Field Level Media

There were four repeat performers and one first-timer named to the 2024-25 Kia All-NBA First Team on Friday.

• Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo heads up the first team, earning top honors for the seventh consecutive year. He was joined by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, along with first-time honoree guard Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

  Gilgeous-Alexander, named the NBA's Most Valuable Player earlier this week, earned his third consecutive first-team accolade, while Jokic captured his second in a row and Tatum was named for the fourth consecutive year. Those four players were named on all 100 ballots from a global media panel.

  Mitchell earned second-team honors in the 2022-23 season.

  New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley earned All-NBA Second Team honors.

  James extended his NBA record for most selections to 21, matching his number of seasons played dating back to 2004-05. Curry captured his 11th All-NBA Team accolade.

  Brunson and Edwards have now earned back-to-back second-team honors, while Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, made his debut.

  Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and Thunder guard-forward Jalen Williams comprised the All-NBA Third Team.

  Harden now has eight selections in his career, but was picked for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Towns has earned third-team honors on three occasions and Haliburton earned his second in a row. Cunningham and Williams are first-time recipients.

  The media voting panel made their selections without regard to position. Players earned five points for each vote to the First Team, three points for Second Team votes and one point for every Third Team vote.

  The independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP tabulated the ballots.

  --Field Level Media