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Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors escaped a heartbreaking result. After losing their 3-1 lead and being forced in a Game 7 with the Houston Rockets, the Warriors salvaged a decisive 103-89 victory.
Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are next. The six-seeded Wolves secured the 4-1 upset over the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round series. Edwards will be looking to add Curry to his collection of generational legends defeated.
The Timberwolves superstar took down Kevin Durant in last year's NBA Playoffs. This season, it was LeBron James. The only member left of those generation-defining superstars is Curry.
The Warriors point guard shared his honest thoughts in the lead-up to the matchup.
Curry reveals honest admission on Edwards
Edwards averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in the series win over the Lakers. The athletic superstar shot 42.0 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 77.4 percent from the free throw line.
Curry knows that Edwards is playing with 'supreme confidence.'
"We know they had their run last year and they're a new look with [Julius] Randle. But [Edwards is the] same man who's trying to take strides with every opportunity he gets.
I guess it's gonna be a tough challenge. You got to send multiple bodies at him and figure out a game plan to go at him. But yeah, they're hot right now.
They've been playing some great basketball the last couple of months, and we're excited that we have an opportunity to have some more basketball to play too."
-Stephen Curry
Edwards is one of the brightest young players in the NBA. The Warriors are certain to face an incredible challenge keeping up with his athleticism. Curry and company will undoubtedly embrace that challenge.
More must-reads:
- Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
- Insider offers opinion on Lebron James' thoughts on Lakers
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Sacramento Kings GM Reveals 'Ideal' Lineup Change
For years, the Sacramento Kings have struggled due to a lack of size and athleticism, especially at the forward positions. But new GM Scott Perry has a goal to address that team need this offseason to help move Keegan Murray to a different spot in certain lineups. The Kings came into the offseason with two main goals: to add a lead point guard and to add length and athleticism. They brought in Dennis Schröder to solve their point guard needs, but haven't fully addressed the need to add wing depth. They drafted Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, who both bring good size, but neither fits the 3/4 prototype of a 6-foot-8 to 6-foot-10 wing that could help Keegan Murray on the frontcourt. But it appears that the need is still on Scott Perry's mind, as he stated when he joined Sactown Sports 1140 on the Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross. "It's always on my radar to get better. That position, the four position, if a team has a good four-man, they're holding on to him," Perry stated. "In an ideal world, I'd like to be able to get Keegan more opportunities playing the small forward to allow us to play bigger as a team. " With the roster as currently constructed, the Kings' only backup power forward options are Dario Saric, who may be more of a center at this point in his career, and second-year big Isaac Jones. Doug McDermott could fill in, but he's a little undersized for the power forward spot and the Kings shouldn't go into the season relying on him for more than a shooting spark off the bench. It's also possible that Raynaud gets some time at the power forward spot, as he has the potential to be able to play next to Domantas Sabonis thanks to his outside shooting. But again, he's not the switchable wing that is so valuable in today's NBA. The Kings are still tied to restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, with the two sides meeting for the first time in recent days, with the meeting going well between Perry and Kuminga. Bringing in the 22-year-old wing would certainly solve the problem that the Kings are facing and give them extra size on the wings. A duo of Kuminga and Murray would be the best forward duo the Kings have had in recent years, potentially passing Harrison Barnes and Murray. What will be interesting to see what happens if the Kings strike out on Kuminga and are unable to get a sign and trade done with the Warriors. Perry seems to be patient going into next season, taking his time to build the roster in a way that fits his long term vision. There are a few options out there, including Precious Achiuwa and Kai Jones, or they could look to bring Trey Lyles, who they can go over the cap to sign since they have his bird rights. For now, we appear to be stuck in a wait-and-see situation until the Kuminga deal is resolved, but it's at least good news that Perry still has the power forward spot on his mind as the offseason continues.
Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Vikings HC discusses Justin Jefferson's availability for Week 1 after injury
On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings announced a concerning training-camp injury for Justin Jefferson, which will sideline the star wide receiver during the preseason. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told the media that Jefferson felt discomfort on Thursday. Minnesota discovered he has a mild left hamstring strain. The Vikings plan to be cautious with the four-time Pro Bowl receiver during the preseason. However, O'Connell believes there is no doubt that Jefferson will play the Chicago Bears in Week 1 at Soldier Field. "The best thing is, we avoided anything serious," O'Connell said via Alec Lewis of The Athletic. "I see no concerns in regards to the opener (against Chicago). I have no worry at all that we’ll be able to get Justin ready to go for the regular season.” Jefferson, 26, suffered a right hamstring injury in Week 5 of the 2023 campaign, causing him to miss seven games. The All-Pro wideout is coming off a season where he recorded 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Vikings are doing the right thing by choosing to be cautious in the preseason with their best player. Minnesota needs its No. 1 receiver available for first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the regular season. Jefferson has had big games against the Bears during his time in the league, including four games (out of eight appearances) with 100+ receiving yards. He has 50 receptions for 685 yards and three touchdowns against Chicago since he was taken by the Vikings in the first round of the 2020 draft.
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