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The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the most impressive teams in the first round of the NBA Playoffs as they took down the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Lakers were the three-seed in the Western Conference, and the Timberwolves are the three-seed. Up next for Minnesota is the Golden State Warriors, and they also pulled off an upset in the first round as they beat the two-seeded Houston Rockets in seven games.
Minnesota and Golden State will get their series started on Tuesday night in Minneapolis. It should be a good series, but Magic Johnson is wondering if the Timberwolves can stay focused after an emotional series vs. the Lakers.
“I wonder if the Minnesota Timberwolves will stay focused and continue their excellent play and physicality against the Golden State Warriors tomorrow,” Magic Johnson said in a post. “One of the keys to the Series will be how much do the Warriors have left after a hard fought 7-game Series against the Houston Rockets?”
The Timberwolves have had more rest as they played two less games than the Warriors, and they have home-court advantage. Those are two big edges to have in this series, but don’t let the seven next to the Warriors’ name fool you. This is a great team playing some great basketball right now.
Golden State did upset the Rockets in the first round if you go by seeding, but the Warriors were actually favored in the series. The Western Conference was incredibly competitive. There wasn’t a lot of separation in the standings, so there wasn’t a big difference at all between the two-seed and seven-seed.
Minnesota and Golden State had two very similar seasons this year, and this should be a great series. The Warriors are low on rest, so it will be interesting to see how they respond just two days later on the road in Minnesota.
Game one between the Warriors and Timberwolves will go down on Tuesday night 8:30 CT from the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be airing on TNT, truTV and Max, and Minnesota is favored by 7.5 points.
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The Portland Trail Blazers had to start getting serious with their roster this past offseason. They no longer wanted to just keep young players with the hope that they could become decent players. That meant getting rid of some young guys who played in a lot of games for the Blazers last season. That includes forward Dalano Banton, who can switch between guard and forward. Banton has worked out for a few teams this summer as he searches for a new home, including the Pacers. Now, he has signed with another team. Former Trail Blazers Player Dalano Banton Signs With The Mavericks The Mavericks announced that they have signed Banton. He had other options as well, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. It was always unlikely that Banton was going to find a role on an NBA roster. He likely will be playing in the G League for the Mavs, which is probably the best place for him. Banton plays with a high level of effort, but he needs to develop some parts of his game. Offensively, he's just not enough of a threat to warrant taking an active NBA roster spot. The Blazers gave Banton plenty of time to try and develop his shot. He played in 67 games a year ago, playing 16.7 minutes per game. Still, he wasn't able to be efficient enough. Perhaps he can develop that in the G League this year. Former Trail Blazers Player Dalano Banton Will Be Playing in The G League This Year Banton needs some time in the G League, where he can work on his jump shot. In the modern NBA, it's really hard to get minutes if you don't have a semblance of a jump shot as a forward. The Mavericks don't need Banton to play on their NBA roster this season. They have enough pieces in the front court, although they won't have Kyrie Irving for most of the season. Last season with the Trail Blazers, Banton averaged 8.3 points, two rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He shot 39.1 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Latest Trail Blazers News For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.
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The Montreal Canadiens are ready to start the 2025-26 season, with high expectations around the team with a reinforced young core. On Wednesday, Heavy.com proposed a trade between Columbus and Montreal. The Canadiens would acquire Yegor Chinakhov, with a cap hit of $2.1 million, and the Blue Jackets would receive Patrik Laine, with a cap hit of $8.7 million. The outlet had previously proposed an alternative, where the Canadiens obtained Chinakhov for a package of Josh Anderson and Arber Xhekaj, freeing up $4.7 million in cap space. The Columbus coach confirmed that Chinakhov will be a healthy scratch in the Blue Jackets' season opener. Chinakhov requested a trade in July, so a change is not seen as improbable. Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov would fit in well with the Canadiens This trade pitch makes sense because Chinakhov needs a change to get stable minutes on a top-nine team. In Montreal, he could benefit from an environment that maximizes its young offensive players. The Russian's profile would also fit Martin St. Louis' system, as he shoots well and plays well without the puck. In a system that prioritizes possession, the volume and quality of his shots should improve. As he is a restricted free agent (RFA) in 2026, Montreal could maintain contractual control if his production improves. It is a buy-low with upside, as he has recorded a season with 16 goals. This would reduce the risk in relation to larger contracts. The Canadiens could offer a development environment without demanding immediate results. He would not have pressure to be the "savior." Furthermore, not all benefits would be for the player. The Habs are looking for more talent for their wings and scoring depth without sacrificing their defensive structure. The Russian would add shooting threat and quick transitions, especially with centers who gain the zone of control, which could be Suzuki or Kirby Dach.
Browns Announce Myles Garrett News Ahead of Steelers Game
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Bengals' Zac Taylor explains shocking Joe Flacco move for Packers game
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