RealGM Basketball Wiretap

01 May 2025

• Lakers-Timberwolves On Sunday Averages 7.35M Viewers

  Sunday's matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 7.35 million viewers on ABC.

  The number, up 32% from last season, is the second most-watched first-round playoff game since 2002.

  The game peaked at 10.27 million viewers.

  Game 4 between the Knicks and Pistons averaged 3.9 million viewers.

  The TNT matchups of Celtics-Magic averaged 3.78 million viewers, with the Bucks-Pacers averaging 2.74 million viewers.

• Tim Connelly Expected To Extend With Timberwolves

  Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has an opt-out for next season. However, most around the NBA expect Connelly to extend his run with Minnesota with a new deal.

  Now that Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are set to become the owners of the Timberwolves, the expectation is that they'll turn to keeping Connelly in charge of basketball operations. Minnesota could see competition for Connelly from the Atlanta Hawks or his former team, the Denver Nuggets.

  Connelly took over the Wolves front office in late May of 2022. He's made several major trades, including acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022. Connelly also traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks ahead of this season.

• Wolves, Knicks Considered Teams To Watch For Kevin Durant Depending On Playoffs

  The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks are two teams to watch as potential Kevin Durant trade destinations depending on each team's postseason results, league sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The Suns are reportedly set to work with Durant on a trade this offseason.

  The Suns are looking for the Rockets to swing a deal for Durant, though previous reports state that they are less likely to pursue a trade.

  The Heat and Spurs are also in the discussion as potential Durant landing spots.

• Anthony Edwards Fined $50,000 By NBA For Vulgar Comments In Game 1

  Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for his vulgar comments directed towards fans of the Los Angeles Lakers during the Minnesota Timberwolves' Game 1 win on Saturday.

  Edwards was caught on video saying "my d--- bigger than yours."

  Edwards has received a number of fines for inappropriate language during media availability this season.

• JJ Redick: Lakers Weren't 'Physically Ready' For Wolves In Game 1

  The Minnesota Timberwolves recorded a comfortable 117-95 Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Wolves' physical style appeared to catch the Lakers off-guard.

  "It's not to say our guys weren't ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game.... I'm not sure physically we were ready," JJ Redick said. "And really when [the Wolves] started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn't respond to meet that."

  "I think that they just physically beat us from the get-go," said Austin Reaves.

  The Wolves outscored the Lakers 67-33 from the start of the second quarter through midway in the third quarter.

  "Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know what type of intensity, the type of physicality is going to be brought to the game," LeBron James said after finishing with 19 points. "But that's just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night [in Game 2]."

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Anthony Edwards Eligible To Play Sunday After NBA Rescinds Technical Foul

  The NBA has rescinded the technical foul that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards received on Friday night. That means Edwards will be eligible to play in the Wolves final game on Sunday. That has importance, as Minnesota is still fighting for playoff position in the Western Conference.

  Edwards had received his 18th technical foul in the Wolves win on Friday. That would have seen him serve a second suspension due to technical fouls. Players are suspended on their 16th technical foul, then ever other technical foul after that.

  Then the playoffs start, the technical foul counts from the regular season are cleared. That means Edwards should be fine to play in any upcoming playoff games for Minnesota.

• Anthony Edwards To Be Suspended For Regular Season Finale

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot to play for on Sunday afternoon. The Wolves need a win to avoid playing in the Play-In Tournament. That's a win Minnesota will have to get without Anthony Edwards.

  On Friday, Edwards received his 18th technical foul of the season. Edwards is now set to be suspended for Sunday afternoon's regular season finale. Players are suspended for a game when they pick up their 16th technical foul on the season. They are then suspended on every other technical foul from that point.

  Edwards previously missed the Timberwolves loss at the Utah Jazz at the end of February, after picking up his 16th technical foul. In a twist of fate, the Wolves again play Utah on Sunday, this time in Minnesota.

  Technical foul counts are wiped clean when the playoffs begin. As such, it's unlikely Edwards will be facing any suspensions, should Minnesota make the playoffs.

• Tim Connelly, Matt Lloyd On Nuggets' List Of Basketball Operations Candidates

  When the Denver Nuggets begin their search for a new president of basketball operations, they are expected to have Tim Connelly and Matt Lloyd on their list of candidates.

  Connelly has an opt-out in his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the new ownership group of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are expected to do what it takes to retain him. Connelly left the Nuggets in 2022 to run the front office of the Wolves on a five-year, $40 million deal that represented a significant raise over his Denver compensation.

  Lloyd joined Connelly in 2022 after an extended tenure with the Orlando Magic.

• Donte DiVincenzo Plans To Play For Italy At EuroBasket

  Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo is planning to suit up for Italy at this summer's EuroBasket tournament. DiVincenzo said he's focused on the Timberwolves and completing the NBA season, but that things are moving along for him to play for Italy.

  After meeting with Italian national team staff and fellow NBAer Simone Fontecchio, DiVincenzo said he was in for this summer.

  "Chances of being at EuroBasket? I think they're really good, we're all on the same page. For me it'd be great to represent Italy. Now we just need to wait for the documents to arrive," DiVincenzo explained.

  After being asked where things are at with the process, DiVincenzo said others are handing that and he's focused on the rest of the Wolves season.

  "I'm extremely happy, again, now we just need to wait for the passport to arrive. My father and my agent are taking care of that, I'll focus on the court and on the final part of the season," DiVincenzo said.

  EuroBasket 2025 takes place from August 27 through September 14. Italy will play their group stage games in Cyprus in a group that includes host Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece and Spain.