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Amazon set to become a new TV partner for NBA

Fri Apr 26 5:03pm ET
Field Level Media

The NBA television rights landscape is changing, with The Athletic reporting Friday that Amazon Prime Video has the "framework of a deal" in place with the league.

The outlet reported sources saying the streaming service is set to become an NBA destination platform with the contract beginning with the 2025-26 season expected to feature both regular-season and playoff games.

Meanwhile, Puck reported Friday that the league and long-time partner ESPN have "essentially come to terms" on a new agreement that keeps the network in possession of exclusive rights to the NBA Finals.

Both agreements are expected to be at least 10 years in duration.


Another long-time league partner, TNT, is not likely to be left out in the cold, though it reportedly faces a challenge from NBA/Peacock. TNT, as well as ESPN, reportedly have the right to match any offer.

The Athletic said the NBA, Amazon and ESPN declined comment.

The league's current nine-year contracts with ESPN and TNT are set to expire after the 2024-25 season.

With fewer games included in the new deals - one estimate has ESPN moving from 100 games to 80 and TNT aimed for a similar reduction - the NBA cleared the way for a third partner now likely to be Amazon Prime Video.

The Athletic report suggested Amazon's regular-season games could land on Thursday nights, a natural fit because Amazon has NFL games on Thursdays from September through early January.

The Street reported the NBA is likely expecting to double the $2.7 billion annual average that it has been receiving from ESPN and Turner.

-Field Level Media

Player Notes
OG Anunoby Wed May 8 10:10pm

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) won't return to Wednesday's matchup against the Pacers. He had played well in the contest, scoring 28 points while shooting 10-for-19 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep. Unfortunately, Anunoby limped off the court late in the third quarter, with TNT's Chris Haynes reporting the former Raptor experienced left hamstring soreness. Jalen Brunson (foot) briefly exited this contest, although he returned. However, DFS managers will likely see both men on the injury report ahead of Game 3 on Friday evening. While Anunoby is sidelined, Precious Achiuwa will likely see more work.

OG Anunoby Wed May 8 10:00pm

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (leg) exited Wednesday's postseason matchup with the Pacers. Jalen Brunson (foot) left in the first half because of right foot discomfort. Fortunately, Brunson returned, although now the team could be without Anunoby, who limped off the court while holding his left hamstring in the third quarter. If he doesn't return, he'll finish with 28 points, shooting 10-for-19 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep, with Precious Achiuwa and Miles McBride expected to see more minutes the rest of the way.

Jalen Brunson Wed May 8 9:40pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (foot) returned to Wednesday's postseason contest versus the Pacers. Brunson experienced right foot discomfort in the first quarter and was questionable to return. However, while fantasy managers are happy he's out there, it's evident he's not 100%. Of course, head coach Tom Thibodeau will monitor Brunson throughout the contest, and he will likely see fewer minutes than usual.

Kristaps Porzingis Wed May 8 9:30pm

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains out for Thursday's matchup against the Cavaliers. The 28-year-old suffered a right Soleus strain during the previous round versus the Miami Heat. Fortunately, team reporter Chris Forsberg posted a video to X on Wednesday that showed Porzingis doing some shooting. Nonetheless, he could still miss the remainder of the series with Cleveland. But until Porzingis is back in the lineup, Al Horford and Luke Kornet should handle things in the middle.

Nikola Jokic Wed May 8 9:20pm

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, his third time capturing the award in the last four seasons. The 29-year-old is coming off another potent season, amassing 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in 79 games. He also shot 58.3% from the field, one of the best marks of his career. Jokic doesn't appear to be slowing down, so he should remain a top fantasy option for many years ahead, especially since he's among the most durable players in the National Basketball Association.

Jalen Brunson Wed May 8 9:10pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (foot) exited Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. He is questionable to return. The 27-year-old had 43 points to lead the Knicks to the win in Game 1. Unfortunately, he was only on the court for eight minutes in Game 2 before exiting with right foot discomfort. The Knicks need him healthy. But if Brunson can't return, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo will pick up most of the slack on the scoring end.

Patrick Beverley Wed May 8 7:10pm

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley is under police investigation for his ball-throwing incident in Game 6 against the Pacers. With the Bucks down by 20 points and heading out of the playoffs, Beverley chucked the ball at Pacers fans multiple times near the end of the game. The controversial guard, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent, has since then regretted the incident. "Unfortunate situation that should have never happened," Beverley said on his podcast. "What I did was bad, and that should have never happened. I have to be better, and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that."

Thanasis Antetokounmpo Wed May 8 7:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo has suffered a torn Achilles and is set to undergo surgery, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. The older brother of multi-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has just finished his sixth NBA season, averaging 0.9 points across 4.6 minutes of action. He has a total of 198 regular-season games of experience under his belt in the Association. Together with his brother, Antetokounmpo won the NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021.

Dean Wade Wed May 8 6:50pm

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) will remain out for Thursday's Game 2 against Boston. He's missed two months with a sprained right knee, but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the 27-year-old. An update ahead of the second-round series opener by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com suggested Wade might be ready to return to action this weekend. With Jarrett Allen (rib) also out injured, the Cavaliers could really use an extra body on the frontcourt. Wade finished the regular season with averages of 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds across 20.5 minutes.

Jarrett Allen Wed May 8 6:40pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) has once again landed on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 2 against Boston on Thursday. Allen missed a fourth consecutive game as the Eastern Conference semifinals started on Tuesday night. He's bothered by a right rib contusion, which reportedly even makes it tough for him to sleep, so the signs aren't great regarding his potential return on Thursday. Evan Mobley will continue to start at center if Allen isn't ready to return, with Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris Sr. providing cover.

Luka Doncic Wed May 8 6:40pm

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (knee) is on the injury report as probable ahead of Thursday's Game 2 against the Thunder. He looks set to play through a knee sprain after going through a full practice on Wednesday. Doncic appeared to be troubled by the injury in Tuesday's Game 1, but he's previously had no issues stuffing the stat sheet. The 25-year-old superstar is averaging 28.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.1 steals for the 2024 postseason. However, Doncic has run into some serious shooting woes in the playoffs, hitting only 22.7 percent of his three-point shots and 39.5 percent overall from the field.

Donovan Mitchell Wed May 8 9:30am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell produced a game-high 33 points on 12-for-25 shooting as the team had to settle for a 120-95 loss in Game 1 against Boston on Tuesday. He hit four shots from deep with 11 attempts and collected six rebounds, five assists, and one steal. The Cleveland star has now scored 122 across the past three games. Mitchell has been in spectacular form lately, but he definitely needs more help if the Cavaliers want to make Boston sweat in the series.

Jaylen Brown Wed May 8 9:20am

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown had the hot hand in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Cavaliers, leading his team with 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting in a 120-95 win. The three-time All-Star started a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and erupted for 15 first-quarter points. He finished 4-for-6 from downtown and completed his line with six rebounds, two assists, and one block. Brown has been shooting the ball very well in the postseason but has been a bit quiet so far, averaging 24.3 points. However, it looks like he's ready to hit top gear, with the stakes getting higher.

Daniel Gafford Wed May 8 9:20am

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford had an impressive opening to the second-round series against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, posting a double-double and swatting away five shots in a 117-95 loss. Dallas struggled throughout the contest, but Gafford enjoyed his best postseason outing of the year. He scored 16 points with 5-for-12 shooting from the field and a 6-for-8 record at the line and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. The Thunder lack size and have struggled on the glass all year, making this a very favorable matchup for Gafford, who has now scored in double figures in back-to-back games while bagging 17 rebounds.

Luka Doncic Wed May 8 9:10am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic had a tough time making an impact in Tuesday's Game 1 loss to Oklahoma City. He was limited to 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting, nailed only one of his eight attempts from three-point range, and even struggled at the line, going 6-for-10. Doncic's night of misery included five turnovers to go along with six rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. Lu Dort did a great job defensively against Doncic, but the Slovenian star also seemed to have been bothered by his sprained right knee, which has kept him on the injury report lately. It will be extremely difficult for Dallas to match the Thunder if Doncic isn't at full flow.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wed May 8 9:00am

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came extremely close to his first career postseason triple-double as the team opened the second-round series on Tuesday against Dallas with a dominant 117-95 win. The Thunder star led all scorers with 29 points on 8-for-19 shooting and had nine rebounds and nine assists. Gilgeous-Alexander hit 2-for-4 from downtown and 11-for-13 at the charity stripe while helping out on the defensive end with one steal and two blocks. This was a monster effort from Gilgeous-Alexander as he outplayed Dallas' star-studded backcourt. Through five games, he's averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals in the playoffs.

Mitchell Robinson Wed May 8 9:00am

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has likely played his final game of the 2024 postseason. He has sustained a stress injury to his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks. The news comes after Robinson was ruled out for Wednesday's Game 2 against Indiana. Robinson had surgery on the same ankle in December and missed 50 games. He returned to action for the final stretch of the regular season. The 26-year-old was also out for one game during the Knicks' first-round series against Philadelphia. Isaiah Hartenstein is now set to play a huge role down the middle for New York, with Precious Achiuwa getting a handful of minutes off the bench.

Jamal Murray Wed May 8 8:50am

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray will be available for Friday's Game 3 against Minnesota. He was in danger of getting suspended after tossing two objects -- a towel and a heating pad -- toward an official in Game 2. Murray was fined $100,000 for the incident. The Canadian star has been battling a calf injury lately and had a poor game on Monday with eight points. His shooting numbers have been lacking in the postseason, but Murray has still averaged strong numbers by getting 20.4 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

Tyrese Haliburton Tue May 7 7:20pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) is considered questionable for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Knicks. He's carried the designation for quite some time due to back spasms but hasn't yet missed any postseason action. Haliburton had a rough one in the series opener on Monday, recording only six points in 36 minutes. Backup point guard T.J. McConnell has produced a pair of strong efforts and figures to maintain a prominent role in the rotation, with Haliburton not at 100 percent and off his game.

Mitchell Robinson Tue May 7 7:10pm

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will skip Wednesday's Game 2 against Indiana. The team has ruled Robinson out for left ankle injury management purposes. The seven-footer had surgery on his left ankle during the regular season and appeared to re-injure the ankle at the start of the playoffs. Robinson was limited to only two points and two rebounds in 12 minutes in the series opener against the Pacers on Monday. He will be out for a second time this postseason. Precious Achiuwa will get an opportunity to stake a claim in the rotation without Robinson, but he likely won't see a lot of action, with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau putting a lot of trust in his starters.