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NBA report: One key call correct, one wrong in Pacers' loss

Tue May 7 8:21pm ET
Field Level Media

Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner said Monday night that he couldn't wait to read the NBA's Last Two Minute report after being on the wrong end of a controversial foul call in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series against the New York Knicks.

Turner isn't going to like what he reads, as the report released Tuesday backs up the call that he was guilty of the illegal screen with 12.7 seconds left in Indiana's 121-117 loss.

The Pacers trailed by one and were looking for a go-ahead shot when the call was made. Turner made contact with New York's Donte DiVincenzo to earn the foul and an on-site review agreed with the call.

Now the report does too, saying, "Turner turns into DiVincenzo's path and does not give him time and distance to change direction prior to the illegal contact."


Another critical call in the final minute involving Indiana's Aaron Nesmith was judged by the NBA to be the wrong decision.

The score was tied at 115 with 52.1 seconds left when Nesmith was called for a kicked ball violation on a play in which Indiana stole the ball.

Instead, the Knicks kept possession and DiVincenzo knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 40.4 seconds left and New York never trailed again.

Crew chief Zach Zarba said after the game that the kicked ball call was wrong and the play was not reviewable.

"Postgame review did show that it hit the defender's hand, which would be legal," Zarba said.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in New York.

Player Notes
Mike Conley Thu May 23 11:10pm

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (calf) is questionable for Friday's matchup against the Mavs. He has a right Soleus strain, which kept him off the floor for Game 5 in the previous series with Denver. However, the veteran was available for the final two games of the Western Conference semifinals. He was also on the floor for Monday's loss to Dallas. But Conley had just six points, shooting 2-for-7 from the field and 1-for-6 from deep. While the 36-year-old will likely be active for Game 2, he's a risky DFS option, considering he's not fully healthy.

Tyrese Haliburton Thu May 23 11:00pm

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) exited Thursday's loss to the Celtics due to left hamstring soreness. It was initially reported Haliburton was dealing with a left leg issue. However, the most recent update isn't good, considering the All-Star missed 10 games in January because of the same injury. With that said, he will likely appear on the injury report heading into Game 3 on Saturday. On the other hand, there's a good chance Haliburton won't be out there, meaning T.J. McConnell would handle things at the one.

Tyrese Haliburton Thu May 23 10:30pm

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (leg) won't return to Thursday's postseason meeting with the Celtics. There's not much information surrounding the nature of the ailment, with ESPN's Lisa Salters reporting the All-Star is battling leg soreness. Haliburton had a 25-point, 10-assist double-double with three steals in Game 1. But he'd finish Game 2 with 10 points and eight assists in 28 minutes of action. Of course, the biggest concern is his availability for Game 3. But if Haliburton can't suit up for that one, T.J. McConnell will see a surge in DFS potential.

Luke Kornet Thu May 23 9:20pm

Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (wrist) is questionable to return to Thursday's playoff meeting against Indiana. Kornet, who has been getting more action without Kristaps Porzingis (calf) in the lineup, lasted only five minutes before exiting with a sprained left wrist. If he doesn't return, he'll finish with two rebounds. While Oshae Brissett could get some work, there's a chance Jayson Tatum could spend time in the middle, although Al Horford should remain the top option at the five.

Luka Doncic Thu May 23 9:20pm

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) is probable for Friday's postseason encounter against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The multi-time All-Star has been dealing with various ailments for weeks. However, he'll be on the floor for Game 2, barring a setback. But just because Doncic is available doesn't mean the injuries won't continue to impact his play on the floor, especially since he shot 12-for-26 from the field and 3-for-10 from deep in the Game 1 win on Wednesday night.

Kristaps Porzingis Thu May 23 9:10pm

According to ESPN's Lisa Salters, reporting during the second quarter of Thursday's postseason matchup between the Celtics and Pacers, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) hasn't participated in practice. However, he's still been around the team. The veteran has been sidelined for nearly a month because of a right Soleus strain. While a report indicated Porzingis could be back for Game 4 on Monday night, head coach Joe Mazzulla stressed that he remains without a timetable for a return. With that said, it's not uncommon for Mazzulla to withhold information on an injured player, although the latest update isn't good news for the C's. But until he's back on the floor, Al Horford will get most of the minutes in the middle and remain a relatively reliable DFS option.

Naz Reid Thu May 23 10:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Naz Reid had a busy night off the bench in Wednesday's Game 1 against Dallas, recording 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in a 108-105 loss. Reid demonstrated perfectly why he was voted the Sixth Man of the Year, making an impact in all areas across 24 minutes of action. He finished with 5-for-9 shooting, going 3-for-6 with the three-ball. Reid's numbers have dropped in the playoffs, along with his playing time, but that's now three efforts in four games with 10-plus points from him. Minnesota will need more of the same in the battle against Dallas' well-equipped frontcourt.

Karl-Anthony Towns Thu May 23 10:30am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns took a team-high 20 shots but made only six efforts in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Mavericks, posting 16 points. Towns' inefficiency from the field ended up being costly for the team, as the Timberwolves suffered a narrow three-point defeat. Half of his misses came from downtown with nine attempts, and Towns was also limited to seven rebounds while registering two assists and one steal. With Anthony Edwards also struggling to score, the two Timberwolves stars combined for 12-for-36 shooting. Yet, the team was still close to walking away with the victory. We should see a much-improved effort from the star duo in Friday's Game 2.

Anthony Edwards Thu May 23 10:20am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards struggled to get points on the board but went close to his first career triple-double in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Mavericks. Edwards shot a very good 5-for-12 from downtown, but he finished 6-for-16 overall from the field and managed only 19 points. However, he led his team with 11 rebounds and eight assists, adding a pair of steals to his stat line. Edwards has had a huge postseason campaign, but after playing 44 minutes in Game 7 against Denver on Sunday, he logged 41 minutes on Wednesday and looked gassed in the closing stages. The games are coming thick and fast, with Game 2 of the series scheduled for Friday, and the Timberwolves will be in big trouble if Edwards can't get his energy levels back.

Jaden McDaniels Thu May 23 10:10am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels opened Wednesday's Game 1 against Dallas with 4-for-4 three-point shooting and was the team's top scorer in the end in a 108-105 loss with 24 points. The 23-year-old enjoyed his third consecutive 20-point effort with 9-for-15 shooting, hitting six of his nine attempts from behind the arc. McDaniels' night also included four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Minnesota's young forward has built himself a reputation as a very good defensive player, and he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team at the start of the week. But McDaniels has also been on a roll offensively lately thanks to some very sharp three-point shooting, going 12-for-18 from deep across his last three appearances.

Kyrie Irving Thu May 23 10:00am

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had one of his best offensive games of the 2024 postseason on Wednesday with a 30-point effort in a 108-105 win over Minnesota. Irving did a great job in getting to the rim early in the game and had 24 points in the first half alone. He couldn't get any threes to drop with three attempts but shot a good 12-for-23 overall from the field and posted five rebounds with four assists and one block. In the previous series against the Thunder, Irving averaged only 15.7 points, so he looked almost like a different player in the Western Conference Finals opener, and his scoring is a major plus for the Mavericks.

PJ Washington Thu May 23 10:00am

Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks as the team opened the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota with a 108-105 win on Wednesday. It was a rough shooting night for the 28-year-old, as Washington finished 4-for-10 from the field and 2-for-8 with his three-point attempts, but he made a big shot late in the game to set the Mavericks on their way. Washington's second triple gave Dallas a 104-102 lead with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite the poor shooting, Washington led all Mavericks starters with a plus-12 rating. The former Hornet has looked great in these playoffs, and the Mavericks tend to have a tough time when he's off the court.

Luka Doncic Thu May 23 9:50am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic took over in the fourth quarter and led the team to a 108-105 win against Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Wednesday night. Doncic scored seven straight points early in the quarter and had 15 of his game-high 33 points inside the final 12 minutes. He also came up big on the defensive end when it mattered the most, finishing with three steals and one block. Unfortunately, Doncic failed in his attempt to become only the third player in NBA history with a four-game postseason triple-double streak. But he still recorded a full line, dishing out eight assists and grabbing six rebounds. With more efficient shooting -- Doncic was only 12-for-26 from the field and 3-for-10 from downtown -- this could have been a monster game for the Mavericks superstar.

Kristaps Porzingis Wed May 22 7:10pm

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) won't play on Thursday night versus the Pacers. The veteran has been sidelined for nearly a month because of a right Soleus strain. Fortunately, it appears Porzingis is moving in the right direction, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that he could be back for Game 4 on Monday night. With Xavier Tillman Sr. (personal) questionable, Al Horford and Luke Kornet should continue to absorb nearly all of the minutes in the middle. However, Horford is the better DFS option by far.

Jayson Tatum Wed May 22 7:10pm

According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, forward Jayson Tatum could spend time at center at some point during the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Pacers. While Mazzulla wasn't definitive about it, Tatum's potential move to the middle could mean less work for Al Horford, who has been starting in place of Kristaps Porzingis. With that in mind, Porzingis could be back for Game 4 on Monday, meaning Horford's DFS outlook for the rest of the series doesn't look as promising as it was during the Conference semifinals. It is even worse news for Luke Kornet, although the door could be open for Sam Hauser to get more action.

Jalen Brunson Wed May 22 6:50pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (hand) underwent successful surgery on his left hand, which he injured in the Game 7 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Pacers. He will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. Brunson, who is expected to sign a lucrative extension this summer, finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging a career-high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists in 77 appearances. He also received MVP consideration. The 27-year-old should be good to go before training camp starts, barring a setback, and he's expected to be a top-10 fantasy option in all formats heading into the new season.

Bojan Bogdanovic Wed May 22 6:50pm

New York Knicks forward Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist) underwent successful surgery on his left wrist and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. The 35-year-old began the 2023-24 campaign in Detroit, where he averaged 20.2 points and shot 41.5% from deep. He was traded to New York ahead of the deadline. However, he struggled in 29 games with the Knicks, averaging only 10.4 points. Bogdanovic has one year left on his current contract. Although his fantasy stock can't get much lower, he could work his way into the rotation in 2024-25, especially if the team makes moves this summer.

T.J. McConnell Wed May 22 10:10am

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell continued his strong stretch of performances with a good 25-minute outing in Tuesday's Game 1 loss to Boston. He scored 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting off the bench and dished out four assists while recording three rebounds and one steal. McConnell has become a very useful spark plug off the pine for the Pacers, posting a pair of double-doubles and scoring in double figures in six of the last eight games. Boston has one of the most unproductive benches in the league, meaning Indiana's second unit has a big role to play in the series if the team wants to match the Celtics.

Myles Turner Wed May 22 9:50am

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner contributed all over the floor in Tuesday's Game 1 against Boston, registering 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in a 133-128 overtime loss. Indiana's big man got off to a red-hot start in the contest and racked up 18 points in the first half with 7-for-10 shooting. His scoring pace was much slower after the break, but it was still an impressive outing from Turner, who finished with 9-for-13 shooting, hitting three of his four attempts from deep. Indiana will hope to see more of the same from Turner in Game 2.

Pascal Siakam Wed May 22 9:50am

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the team took a heartbreaking 133-128 overtime loss against the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday. The former Raptor finished without a made three-pointer for the first time in four games but went a solid 12-for-23 overall from the field and led the Pacers starters with a plus-five rating after also posting seven assists and one steal. This marks Siakam's first double-double since he opened the playoffs with two in two games. It's been a struggle for him on the glass, but things have clicked for Siakam offensively following a quiet spell. The Cameroonian star has gone for 20-plus points in five of his last six appearances.