NBA Player News

Since returning from a two-game absence with a hamstring issue, Murray has been on a tear. He has been playing some of his best basketball of the season and has averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.0 triples per game while shooting 45.9% from the line during the last three games. That is a 3% improvement on his season-long field goal percentage while taking four extra shots per game, which has resulted in some excellent nights. He’ll look to carry this production into New Orleans to wrap up the week on Sunday.

At the earliest, Walker could return for Game 3 on June 11. Though Walker has had some solid minutes, he hasn’t played a significant role for the Pacers in the playoffs to this point. Obi Toppin will continue to fill out the majority of the backup power forward minutes.

The Pacers sealed their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000 on Saturday, defeating the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to win the series. The lone negative was the right ankle injury suffered by Walker, who landed awkwardly during the fourth quarter. The second-year forward required assistance back to the locker room and did not return. During his postgame availability, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he was unsure what Walker’s status for the NBA Finals would be. Indiana has the depth to withstand Walker’s absence if he cannot play, but this would leave Carlisle with one less potential option to call on.

Reid has been one of the best reserves in the NBA over the last few seasons. If he chooses to test the free agent waters, it could be to simply gauge his value and earn a fair contract. It doesn’t guarantee that he will leave Minnesota, though if he is able to find a team that wants to him to start, that could be the best thing for his fantasy value. In that scenario, he would be drafted much earlier in fantasy drafts next season.

Haliburton followed up an unexpected Game 5 clunker with an excellent performance in Game 6 to send the Knicks packing. Haliburton put the Pacers up 20 points with under a minute left in the fourth quarter with deep three-pointer. The 25-year-old point averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.5 assists per fame and 6.0 rebounds per game in the series. The Pacers will have a few days off before the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday with Game 1 against the Thunder.

Brunson took the Knicks as far as they could go this year. In a must-win situation on the road in Game 6, the 28-year-old point guard faced the toughest Pacers defense he’d seen all series. Brunson’s 19 points were the lowest total he had in the series. He turned the ball over five times and was -18 in 34 minutes as the Knicks season came to an end in Game 6. Brunson had a number of accomplishments this year such as being honored by the All-NBA team, Clutch Player of the Year, and taking the Knicks as far in the playoffs as they’ve been in 25 years. While Brunson was excellent in these playoffs, his supporting cast wasn’t enough for the Knicks to make the Finals. New York will head into the offseason with questions surrounding the direction of the team after falling short in the playoffs once again.

Siakam set the tone for the Pacers once again in Game 6, scoring early and often. The 31-year-old power forward averaged 24.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game in the series with 52.4 percent shooting and 50 percent from behind the three-point line. The Pacers use a deep rotation that plays a fast pace of basketball, but Siakam was the clear difference-maker in the series.

Nembhard did a little bit of everything in Game 6. He certainly bothered Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who had just 19 points. Nembhard’s six steals were the most ever by a player in a closeout game in NBA history. Towards the end of the game, he had bothered Brunson enough that he head-butted Nembhard. The 25-year-old point guard was +25 in 37 minutes as the Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.

While Tony Bradley (hip) dressed for Game 6, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle opted to replace him in the rotation with Thomas Bryant. It was one of those coaching decisions that die-hard Pacers fans will remember for years to come. Bryant only played 13 minutes in Game 6, but he caught fire hitting three three-pointers and blocking a shot in the second half. Bryant’s contributions gave the Pacers a lift in closing out the Knicks in the second half of Game 6.

Bradley injured his hip in Thursday’s Game 5 and didn’t return. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that while the 27-year-old center will dress, it’ll be an in-game decision as to whether he plays or not. Thomas Bryant could play rotation minutes if Bradley ultimately isn’t used. While Bradley hasn’t had much of an impact on the stat sheet, his size would be useful against the Knicks’ frontline.

While Bradley has not been statistically impactful in the Eastern Conference Finals, his strength has been helpful in the Pacers’ matchup with Knicks center and elite offensive rebounder Mitchell Robinson. He strained his left hip flexor during Thursday’s Game 5 defeat and did not return, resulting in Thomas Bryant re-entering the rotation. If Bradley cannot play on Saturday, Bryant should play rotation minutes, but he was not effective in prior matchups with Robinson.