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Franchise - $30.00 - Contest Completed | NBA Week 26

Wolves coach rips Jamal Murray for tossing heating pad on floor

Tue May 7 12:29pm ET
Field Level Media

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch blasted Nuggets guard Jamal Murray for throwing a heating pad onto the court in the second quarter of Minnesota's 106-80 win in Denver on Monday in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Finch said it was "dangerous" and "inexcusable" that Murray -- who was stationed on the bench -- threw the object onto the floor during live game action. Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns was accepting a pass from Kyle Anderson at the time of the incident with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter.

Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope picked up the heating pad and tossed it out of play without the officials being aware.

"I was the lead official, and I didn't notice it was on the floor or where it came from until Towns scored," crew chief Marc Davis told a pool reporter, per ESPN. "We weren't aware it had come from the bench. If we would have been aware it came from the bench, we could have reviewed it under the hostile act trigger. The penalty would have been a technical foul."


Finch tried to lobby with the officials with the respect to the potential safety issue.

"We tried to impress upon (the referees) there probably aren't many fans in the building that have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench, which they found logical," Finch said. "I'm sure it was a mistake and an oversight and nothing intentional by the officiating at all, but certainly can't allow that to happen."

Murray, 27, made just 3 of 18 shots from the floor and finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and four turnovers for the defending champion Nuggets, who trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Friday in Minneapolis.

Player Notes
Simone Fontecchio Tue May 28 4:50pm

Detroit Pistons forwardSimone Fontecchio(toe) had surgery on his left big toe on Tuesday and is expected to return by the start of training camp, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Fontecchio missed the final 14 regular season contests with a contusion on his right big toe. However, the 28-year-old was reliable for the Pistons before getting injured. He averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes per game, starting in nine of 16 outings as he was traded from Utah in February to the Motor City. As a restricted free agent, he could attract interest from multiple teams, including Detroit. Fontecchio had previously expressed a strong desire to stay with the Pistons.

Keldon Johnson Tue May 28 4:10pm

San Antonio Spurs small forward Keldon Johnson could be traded this summer as the Spurs are willing to hear offers involving the 24-year-old, according to Clutch Sports NBA reporter Brett Siegel. This past regular season, the Kentucky Wildcat averaged 29.5 minutes, 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.7 steals across 69 contests. Johnson would be an excellent option coming off the bench for a contending team.

Pascal Siakam Tue May 28 3:50pm

Indiana Pacers forward/centerPascal Siakamis expected to receive a max contract offer from the Pacers this summer, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. The 30-year-old averaged 35.4 minutes, 21.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 0.8 steals across 17 postseason contests. He helped take the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals after being traded from the Toronto Raptors in January.

Maxi Kleber Tue May 28 3:20pm

Dallas Mavericks forward/centerMaxi Kleber(shoulder) is set to return for Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. The 32-year-old power forward has been out of the Mavs lineup since May 3rd due to an AC joint separation. Kleber could see plenty of minutes as Derek Lively II (neck) is currently listed as doubtful. Before Kleber was sidelined, he averaged 19.3 minutes, 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 blocks in six postseason contests.

Mike Conley Tue May 28 2:50pm

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley (Achilles) is questionable for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas on Tuesday. Conley has suffered from a right soleus strain but has suited up the last five contests. The 36-year-old veteran will likely be good to go, with Minnesota on the verge of elimination. He has averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes in the series.

T.J. McConnell Tue May 28 9:10am

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell enjoyed another productive bench outing on Monday against the Celtics, scoring 15 points and tallying five rebounds, four assists, and one steal as Indiana's season ended with a 105-102 loss. He finished with 7-for-16 shooting, missing his lone attempt from three-point range. McConnell impressed throughout the playoffs with his high-energy performances off the bench. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 20.5 minutes. Plenty of teams will likely be looking at him as a potential offseason acquisition, with McConnell on a very affordable $9.3 million deal for next season. Recent reports suggest that he has been a long-term target of the Phoenix Suns, who are desperate for a point guard.

Pascal Siakam Tue May 28 9:00am

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam finished the 2023-24 campaign with a double-double, notching 19 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics. His line included three assists as Siakam shot 8-for-18 from the field with a 0-for-3 effort from downtown. It was a bad ending to an otherwise productive series, which saw Siakam become the first player in history to record 50-plus points with zero free-throw attempts in the first two games of a Conference Finals series. The Cameroonian star is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but he had a good spell with the Pacers and is expected to re-sign with the team. He is eligible for a five-year, $245 million deal.

Andrew Nembhard Tue May 28 8:50am

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard was the squad's leading scorer with 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting as the team's season ended with a Game 4 defeat against Boston on Monday. The 24-year-old added 10 assists for a nice double-double and recorded six rebounds with one steal and one block. Indiana will be very disappointed by getting swept in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Nembhard's performances in the series are definitely a positive for the team. He averaged 28.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the two full games played without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring). This was only his second season in the league, and Nembhard could be ready to make big strides in 2024-25.

Jrue Holiday Tue May 28 8:40am

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday finished Monday's Game 4 victory against Indiana with 17 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, shooting 7-for-13 from the floor and hitting twice from downtown with six attempts. Despite picking up an illness bug in the middle of the series, Holiday was highly efficient throughout the matchup. He hit nearly 42 percent of his three-point attempts and shot 58.7 percent overall to average 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. With him in such good form, the Celtics look near unbeatable.

Jayson Tatum Tue May 28 8:30am

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum collected his 11th double-double of the 2024 postseason on Monday with 26 points and 13 rebounds in a 105-102 win over the Pacers. He was two assists short of a triple-double and added one steal to his tally. It was a productive effort from Tatum, although the Celtics star had a tough time from three-point range with a 3-for-11 effort, which left a bad mark on his shooting efficiency. He finished the closeout game with 11-for-26 overall shooting. Tatum's shooting struggles aren't anything new in these playoffs, but he has improved his numbers throughout the postseason and pushed his scoring average to 30.3 points in the Eastern Conference Finals. The five-time All-Star also recorded 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in the series.

Derrick White Tue May 28 8:30am

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White had an incredible defensive performance against the Pacers in Monday's closeout game, recording five steals and three blocks. He also picked up four rebounds and four assists in the contest, capping off the big performance with a game-winning three-pointer to push Boston into the 2024 NBA Finals. He was a poor 2-for-9 with the three-ball for the night but shot a solid 7-for-14 overall to finish with 16 points. Incredibly, White leads the C's in both blocks and three-pointers made in these playoffs. He's averaging 17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.9 steals for the postseason.

Jaylen Brown Tue May 28 8:20am

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP on Monday after his squad completed a sweep against Indiana. Brown ended the series with a 29-point effort on 11-for-22 shooting while filling up the stat sheet in a 105-102 win with six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block. He averaged 29.8 points in the series with 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. In Game 2 of the series, Brown became the first player in Celtics history with multiple 40-point efforts in the Eastern Conference Finals. The 27-year-old didn't make any of the All-NBA teams this season, but he must be fired up by the snub and continues to play a hugely important role for Boston.

Andrew Wiggins Mon May 27 8:50pm

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Warriors are anticipated to "actively shop" forward Andrew Wiggins this offseason. The 29-year-old has nearly $85 million remaining on his current contract. However, with the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga in 2023-24, the Warriors could move Wiggins to upgrade another area of need. He averaged a career-low 13.2 points last season, meaning his fantasy outlook isn't as bright as in previous years. But Wiggins is still young enough to turn things around, especially if he gets more looks at the basket with a new team.

Darius Garland Mon May 27 8:40pm

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Pelicans and Cavaliers are expected to "re-engage" in discussions surrounding guard Darius Garland. The Cavs may want to break up the backcourt duo of Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Of course, Cleveland would rather keep Mitchell on the roster. If that happens, Garland could be on his way to a new team. The 24-year-old averaged 18.0 points during the 2023-24 campaign, over three points fewer than the previous season. He also appeared in only 57 games due to injury. There's no denying Garland's upside. However, he isn't a reliable offensive contributor. His inability to stay healthy will also negatively impact his fantasy stock. But the 2019 No. 5 overall pick could benefit from a change of scenery and surpass fantasy expectations if he can figure out how to stay on the floor. The Pelicans could also use a stable presence at the one position.

Brandon Ingram Mon May 27 8:40pm

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Philadelphia 76ers could make a push to acquire Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram this offseason. There are reports the Sixers are interested in Paul George. But if George decides to remain in Los Angeles, Philadelphia views Ingram as a "plan B option." The 26-year-old is coming off a down season, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 boards. He also shot 35.5% from behind the arc. With that said, Ingram is always one of the best players on the floor. Yet, he can't stay healthy, so his fantasy stock is nearly at an all-time low.

Tyrese Haliburton Mon May 27 6:10pm

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) won't play in Monday's pivotal matchup with the Boston Celtics. He injured his left hamstring in Game 2 and was ruled out for Game 3 on Friday night. While the team had him listed as questionable on the league's official injury report, most had assumed he wouldn't be available. With that said, Haliburton's status for the remainder of the series is a mystery. However, the Pacers would be eliminated from the postseason with a loss on Monday night, so his status might not matter as much after Game 4. Nonetheless, DFS managers should anticipate more production from T.J. McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner.

Kyle Anderson Mon May 27 9:00am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson had a good 17-minute outing off the bench in Sunday's Game 3 loss to the Mavericks. He finished with 10 points, three assists, and two blocks, scoring eight of his points inside a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to give Minnesota a 104-102 lead. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, the team was able to add just three more points on the board in the final five minutes, losing 116-107. Minnesota has had an awful time in the series, losing all three games so far, but Anderson has done well in the matchup. He's shot 63.2 percent from the field to average 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 18.0 minutes.

Karl-Anthony Towns Mon May 27 8:50am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns had another night to forget in the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, finishing a 116-107 loss to Dallas with 14 points on 5-for-18 shooting. His ugly shooting performance included a 0-for-8 effort from three-point range. Towns has been very active from deep in the series, but he's nailed only three shots, with his 13.6 percent efficiency the worst in Conference Finals history among players with at least five attempts. Overall, Towns has shot 27.8 percent in the series to average 15 points. On Sunday, the Timberwolves big man at least managed to salvage some of his line with a game-high 11 rebounds, which gave him his seventh postseason double-double of the year. The Timberwolves need a massive improvement from Towns to extend their season beyond Tuesday's Game 4.

Anthony Edwards Mon May 27 8:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards posted a team-high 26 points in Sunday's Game 3 loss against Dallas, shooting 11-for-24 from the field with no makes from downtown. It was another inefficient scoring performance from the Timberwolves star, although Edwards played better compared to the previous games and was even close to triple-double numbers. The 22-year-old picked up nine rebounds with nine assists and two turnovers. Edwards has been limited to only 38.6 percent shooting in the Western Conference Finals, and the Timberwolves are in big trouble following three losses.

Derrick Jones Jr. Mon May 27 8:30am

Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. demonstrated perfect three-point shooting in Sunday's Game 3 win over the Timberwolves, hitting 3-for-3 from deep to finish with 11 points. These are his first made threes in the series after Jones Jr. went 0-for-5 in the first two games. On Sunday, he also recorded a pair of rebounds and assists while producing a game-best plus-15 rating in 33 minutes on the floor. Jones Jr. has been a solid two-way contributor for the Mavericks during their playoff run, but he's been quiet in the matchup against Minnesota as Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have taken over. Through three games, Jones Jr. has averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.