Chris Finch on learning from WCF loss
Chris Finch: 'We're going to go home and fight for Game 3' [RAW]
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch reacts after a 118-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday night. The Timberwolves are down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series as it shifts to Target Center Saturday night.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Lakers 2024-25 season player grades: Jarred Vanderbilt
Lakers 2024-25 season player grades: Jarred Vanderbilt Forward Jarred Vanderbilt quickly became a fan favorite when the Los Angeles Lakers acquired him in the February 2023 trade that mercifully jettisoned Russell Westbrook. He became a contributor as they made their run to the Western Conference Finals that year, even as his limitations became clear. But last season, he was riddled with injuries. A heel ailment forced him to miss the first several weeks of the schedule, and just when he was hitting his stride, he injured his foot in early February and was forced to sit the rest of the way. That foot injury caused Vanderbilt to miss the first couple of months of this season, which made fans pessimistic that he would return at all. But he made his season debut on Jan. 25 and remained relatively healthy the rest of the way. Jarred Vanderbilt's season stats In 36 regular-season games with the Lakers, Vanderbilt averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 16.1 minutes a game while shooting 48.8% from the field. In the first round of the NBA playoffs, he averaged 1.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes a game while shooting 33.3% from the field. Overall analysis Vanderbilt, the 6-foot-8 forward in his seventh season out of the University of Kentucky, continued to be a spark plug off the bench for Los Angeles. He would often box out hard and help out on the boards, which was something the team badly needed. Defensively, he continued to show his versatility and effectiveness by guarding players at multiple positions. However, his weaknesses remain intact. He shot 28.1% from 3-point range, and he's the type of player opposing teams would almost practically pay to shoot the ball from the perimeter. He isn't a strong finisher at the rim in traffic, and sometimes, his effort and energy aren't fully consistent from game to game. Figuring out how to best use Vanderbilt on the offensive end continues to be a process for the Lakers. He can handle the ball in transition and finish fast breaks fairly well, but in the halfcourt game, he often seems nearly useless offensively. What's next for Vanderbilt? The forward signed a contract extension prior to last season, and that extension runs through the 2027-28 season. While he will make between $11.5 million and $13.29 million for the rest of that contract, he may not be an easy player to trade due to his very limited offensive game. Still, expect to see his name in trade rumors and mock trades over the next few weeks until the Lakers' roster for next season takes shape. Overall grade: B-minus/B
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pacers' Rick Carlisle Sends OKC Thunder Message Before NBA Finals
Pacers' Rick Carlisle Sends OKC Thunder Message Before NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder made light work of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. It clinched a berth in the NBA Finals for just the second time in their young history. Advertisement The NBA Finals berth is the first since 2012 for the Thunder, when they lost to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat in five games. It's a similar situation for the Indiana Pacers, as they're berth in the Finals is the first time since 2000. Like the Thunder, the Pacers fell in their last Finals appearance to the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers. Jan 2, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Pacers' Rick Carlisle sends OKC Thunder message While the on-court battle will carry much intrigue and entertainment, the battle between the two coaches will also be fun to monitor. Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is just 40 years old and has been a head coach since 2020. Advertisement On the other side is Rick Carlisle, who got his coaching start in 2001 with the Detroit Pistons before coaching the Indiana Pacers from 2003 to 2007. In 2008, he moved on to the Dallas Mavericks, where he won an NBA Title in 2011. Ahead of the Game 1 matchup, Carlisle detailed the respect he has for the Thunder on The Pat McAfee Show. "We have great respect for Oklahoma City Thunder, and we're going to look forward to the challenge," Carlisle said. "... They're a great team and they defend really well... We're gonna have to do a good job with ball security and we're gonna have to play fast." The Thunder are heavy favorites ahead of the series, and for good reason. They finished with the best record in the league and earned home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They were also one of the best road teams in the league, and boast the league's Most Valuable Player. Advertisement The Thunder are -700, which implies a 87.5% probability that they'll be the ones lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warriors Linked to Timberwolves Guard After Disappointing End to Season
Warriors Linked to Timberwolves Guard After Disappointing End to Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Just a few days removed from a Western Conference Finals exit in Oklahoma City, the Minnesota Timberwolves are bracing for an offseason of tough decisions. Advertisement None bigger than deciding whether to re-sign unrestricted free agent Nickeil Alexander-Walker, cousin of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As of Saturday, Bovada lists the Golden State Warriors as among the favorites to sign Alexander-Walker with odds of +425, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers (+235) and Brooklyn Nets (+290). While the Wolves would ideally like to keep their core intact, including Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, it appears that Alexander-Walker's next destination could be San Francisco, especially given Minnesota's tight salary‐cap situation. With the Warriors suffering a "gentleman's sweep" at the hands of the Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA playoffs, a series in which Stephen Curry played just 13 minutes, adding a player like Alexander-Walker could be a savvy move to keep them in contention. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-WalkerCredit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images A 2019 first‐round pick (17th overall) out of Virginia Tech, Alexander-Walker began his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans before stops with Utah and finally Minnesota, where he emerged as a key two‐way reserve. Advertisement He has appeared in all 82 games each of the past two seasons in Minneapolis, averaging 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 25.3 minutes per game in 2024-25, shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.1% from deep. In the recent playoffs, Alexander-Walker flashed his potential, most notably with a 23‐point, 6‐assist outing in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder. Securing Alexander-Walker would not only bolster wing depth for the Warriors but also bring a proven scorer off-the-bench, echoing the role he excelled in for Minnesota. Yet, salary‐cap constraints complicate matters. Advertisement Alexander-Walker is expected to command a near-full mid‐level exception (approximately $14.2 million per season), but the Warriors lack open mid‐level funds, meaning they'll likely have to clear significant salary to sign him. Related: Draymond Green Sends Strong Message After Big Steph Curry News Related: Anthony Edwards Announces Exciting News on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.