NBA News

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (calf) is officially questionable for Thursday's NBA Finals matchup with the Thunder. It was reported early on Wednesday that he would be a game-time call for Game 6. While it's an encouraging sign that Haliburton at least appears to have a chance to suit up, he could continue to struggle if he gets the green light, much like he did on Monday night. If the 25-year-old can't get on the floor, Pascal Siakam, who is coming off a 28-point effort, would be the favorite to get most of the scoring opportunities. Andrew Nembhard may also have the ball in his hands more often, with T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin in line to see more minutes as well.

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (calf) is expected to be a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "He is going to be carefully evaluated over the next 36 hours and will likely be listed as questionable on the injury report and probably will be a game-time decision for Game 6," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told Indianapolis radio station 107.5 The Fan on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, it was reported that Haliburton is set to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of a right calf strain. Indiana's star guard struggled in Game 5 but has had a decent series overall, averaging 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. If he is unavailable on Thursday, the Pacers must rely more on veteran playmaker T.J. McConnell, who is coming off a solid Game 5 effort. In 22 minutes, he amassed 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren struggled to score the basketball in Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers but still made a positive impact in a 120-109 victory. The 23-year-old settled for only nine points on 4-for-15 shooting. However, he was plus-12 on the court across 34 minutes of action. Holmgren compensated for his offensive shortcomings with his defensive efforts and another successful night on the glass. He grabbed 11 boards, including five on the offensive end, marking his third consecutive game with double-digit rebounds. Additionally, Holmgren blocked three shots and recorded one steal. While Holmgren has been a bit quiet in the Finals, he is close to averaging a double-double for the series, having posted 12.8 points and 9.6 rebounds in 31.6 minutes.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a big mark at both ends in Monday's 120-109 victory against the Indiana Pacers, recording 31 points, two rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and four blocks. The MVP shot 9-for-21 from the field and 13-for-14 at the free-throw line. This was Gilgeous-Alexander's fourth game of the Finals with at least 30 points and marked his fourth outing in five games with multiple steals. The Thunder leader is on his way to adding the Finals MVP trophy to his resume, having been exceptional against the Pacers with averages of 32.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 2.4 steals.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams went off for a playoff career-high 40 points in Monday's 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers, shooting 14-for-25 from the field and 9-for-12 at the charity stripe. Williams' night included three makes from behind the arc on five attempts, and he completed his line with six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Williams has been one of the key players in the Thunder's success and has taken his offensive game to another level in the Finals. The 25-year-old is averaging 25.8 points per game against Indiana, along with 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam led the team with 28 points in Monday's 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. It was his best effort of the series all around, as Siakam pulled down six rebounds and finished with five assists, three steals, and two blocks. He went 9-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-6 from downtown, and missed only once on eight attempts at the free-throw line. With Tyrese Haliburton (calf) limited by injury, Siakam must step up again offensively on Thursday night in Game 6. He has been an impactful player at both ends in the Finals, averaging 20.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 2.0 steals.

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton played through a calf injury in Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and has no plans to sit out Thursday's Game 6. "It's the Finals," Haliburton said. "I've worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can. I was not great tonight by any means, but it's not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play." Haliburton failed to make a field goal in Monday's 120-109 loss, finishing with four points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He has also been dealing with a right ankle injury during the Finals.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (knee) shared a positive update regarding his recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain. He said the knee is feeling "good," and he appears to be progressing well. "I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I'm as close to 100 percent as possible when training camp begins in late September," James said. James has a $56.2 million player option to return to the Lakers for the 2025-26 campaign and is expected to exercise it. He will be entering his 23rd year in the Association and should continue to lead the Lakers team alongside Luka Doncic.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry doesn't appear to have retirement on his mind. "He still loves the game," said Dell Curry, Steph's father. "He's a competitive guy. He wants to win another title, so we're not even close to that window yet. But when the time comes, I think he'll make the right decision." The 37-year-old continues to play at an exceptional level, finishing the 2024-25 campaign by averaging 24.5 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 39.7% shooting from behind the arc. He suffered a hamstring strain during the postseason, limiting him to only eight games. However, it seems Curry is moving in the right direction. "He's been in the gym pretty quickly since he was able to get that hamstring cleared up," said his father. "He's been in the gym, in the weight room, working on his body, making sure his strength and his core and everything's ready to go." Curry should stay in the All-Star conversation next season. There's also a chance the MVP door is still open. Either way, he's expected to remain at least a top-20 fantasy option in both category and standard fantasy formats. Curry will just need to figure out how to stay off the injury report.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are "teams to monitor" as possible sign-and-trade candidates for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. The 22-year-old averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds last season. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 47 games due to injury. Kuminga also saw his role reduced dramatically during the postseason, starting only once in eight appearances. He is eligible for restricted free agency. Still, things may remain at a standstill until Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is traded. At any rate, there is still a chance Kuminga remains in Golden State, although he could benefit significantly by getting a fresh start with a new club.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant reportedly has "no desire" to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. There are a number of teams interested in making a move for the 36-year-old. However, it appears he is only interested in suiting up for the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets. Granted, KD doesn't have an official no-trade clause. But some teams may lose interest if he doesn't commit to an extension beyond the 2025-26 campaign. With the start of the new NBA year right around the corner, discussions should intensify, with some even speculating a trade could happen ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. With that said, Durant is still performing at an All-Star level. That shouldn't change, regardless of where he is playing come October.

Indiana Pacers power forward Jarace Walker (ankle) will remain sidelined for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Walker has yet to suit up in the series due to a sprained right ankle. According to Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports, head coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday that it's "very unlikely" he'll play during the Finals despite making progress in his recovery. Walker has averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.8 minutes this postseason. While his absence isn't a significant loss for the Pacers, Walker would be an additional frontcourt option on the bench for Carlisle if he were available.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Orlando Magic are trading guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal for guard Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies will also receive guard Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap. The 32-year-old has bounced around the league since entering it in 2013, suiting up for the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Wizards. However, his stock rose after he helped the Denver Nuggets win a championship in 2023. KCP would go on to sign with the Magic last offseason. Unfortunately, he wasn't as productive, averaging 8.7 points. He also shot 34.2% from behind the arc, a significant decline from his final season in Denver. With that in mind, Caldwell-Pope could get more scoring opportunities in Memphis. His durability is also a plus for fantasy managers. Still, he isn't a consistent fantasy producer, although he'll likely have some solid showings throughout the 2025-26 campaign, regardless of his role.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies are acquiring guard Cole Anthony from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies will also receive guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap. The 2020 No. 15 overall pick has spent his entire career in Orlando. His best season was in 2021-22, when he averaged 16.3 points per contest. However, Anthony amassed only 9.4 points in 67 games during the 2024-25 campaign, a substantial dip. Anthony could struggle to find a consistent role in Memphis, especially with Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Caldwell-Pope on the roster. Still, he may get an opportunity to get involved, considering Morant has had issues staying on the court over the years.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies are trading guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. In exchange, Memphis will receive guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap. It's a big investment for Orlando. However, Bane is a borderline All-Star and a player capable of picking up some of the slack on the offensive end behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The 26-year-old is one of the most feared three-point shooters in the National Basketball Association, draining 41.0% of his attempts from downtown throughout his career while averaging 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals. It's logical to assume Bane may not be as potent on the scoring end in Orlando, considering Banchero and Wagner should continue to be the focal points offensively. Still, he is expected to remain a valuable fantasy option for managers as long as he stays healthy, something that has been an issue for him since entering the league in 2020.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Houston Rockets center Steven Adams agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension. The 31-year-old spent most of his career in Oklahoma City before making a stop in Memphis for two seasons. After missing the 2023-24 campaign due to knee surgery, he suited up for the Rockets last season. However, Adams averaged only 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 58 regular-season appearances. He played a more prominent role in the postseason, amassing 5.7 points and 6.6 boards in 22.1 minutes (seven games). With Alperen Sengun on the roster, Adams' fantasy potential is significantly capped. Still, his leadership will go a long way in helping develop the young talent on the Rockets' roster.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled in Friday's loss to OKC. He had 18 points, his second-highest mark of the NBA Finals. However, after going 4-for-8 from downtown in Game 3, the 25-year-old made just one of his seven tries from behind the arc in Game 4. Haliburton is now averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds throughout the series. He has also improved on the defensive end. Unfortunately, Haliburton hasn't been consistent offensively. In addition, he has amassed at least four turnovers in the last three contests, making him a somewhat risky DFS option for Game 5 on Monday evening.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren had another double-double in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick had 14 points, a dip from the 20 he had in Game 3, but he made up for it by amassing a game-high 15 boards, his highest rebounding total of the series. Isaiah Hartenstein got the start for Game 4 on Friday evening. If Hartenstein gets another run with the first five on Monday in Oklahoma City, the door could be open for another solid rebounding night from Holmgren, giving him more than enough upside for DFS managers.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. He added three steals and a block. OKC had trouble keeping up with Indiana throughout the night. However, SGA put the Thunder on his back by scoring 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter while sinking six free-throws in the final minute of the contest. With the series knotted at two games each, both clubs will head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday. Gilgeous-Alexander is now averaging 32.8 points during the NBA Finals, so Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle will need to make adjustments. With that said, until the 26-year-old shows signs of regression, he remains a top option for DFS managers.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams scored 27 points in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. He added seven rebounds and three assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way by finishing with a game-high 35 points. However, despite failing to drain a three-point shot, the 24-year-old still had his best showing of the NBA Finals on Friday night. Williams' usage has steadily increased throughout the series. Assuming Indiana continues to focus its defensive efforts on SGA moving ahead, which is certainly possible, Williams' usage should continue to trend up, giving him plenty of upside for DFS managers for Game 5 on Monday evening.