Hoops Rumors

Tempo will be a key in the Bulls’ play-in game against the Heat tonight, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune writes. Chicago will want to speed up the game, while the Heat would prefer a half-court battle. “Our identity is up and down — and it’s not a secret,” guard Josh Giddey said. “Everyone knows the way we play.” Coby White says the Bulls need to match the Heat’s physicality. … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Bulls Play-In, Vucevic, Pistons, Haliburton

The Pacers‘ G League affiliate will no longer be known as the Indiana Mad Ants. According to a press release from the team, the NBAGL club has been rebranded as the Noblesville Boom. The new nickname, per today’s announcement, is a tribute to the phrase “Boom, baby!” made famous by former Pacers coach and commentator Bobby “Slick” Leonard, who passed away in 2021. The G League … [Read more...] about Pacers’ NBAGL Affiliate Rebrands As Noblesville Boom

Donovan Mitchell is missing his fourth consecutive game on Sunday due to a sprained left ankle, but the Cavaliers remain confident their star guard will be ready to go when the team begins its first-round playoff series next weekend, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Mitchell conducted a full workout at the Cavs’ training facility on Saturday and worked out on the court … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Mitchell, Ball, Jones, Giddey, Giannis, Furphy

Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham expects a heated battle in the first playoff series of his career, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post relays via an ESPN interview. Detroit will match up against the Knicks in the opening round. “It’s going to be a war,” he said. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things. I … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Cunningham, Pacers Comeback, Bulls Season, Connaughton

Led by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, the Pacers secured a top-four seed — and home-court advantage in the first round — in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating Cleveland on Thursday, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. After starting the season with a 10-15 record, the Pacers have gone 39-16 … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Pacers, Jerome, Holland, Bucks