The time has come. From the moment the 2023-24 NBA season tipped off back in October, every team dreamed of getting to this point.

Now, only two remain.

Today’s Lineup

Last Night’s Action

Mavericks clinch Finals berth with 124-103 Game 5 win in Minny

It was always going to end this way, right? If the Mavericks were going to end this series, it was going to be Luka (36 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST) and Kyrie (36 PTS, 5 AST) combining for 72 points that did it. And they did it in style, with Luka capturing Western Conference Finals MVP.

The Mavericks took control of this game early on and never looked back, even stretching it out to a 36 (!!!) point lead in the early goings of the third quarter. The Timberwolves were able to cut it down to a more respectable 21-point margin by the time the game was over, but this game was more of a blowout than the final score represented.

Shout out to Ant (28 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST) and KAT (28 PTS, 12 REB), who both rebounded from their stretch of disappointing games earlier in this series and did everything they could to try and get the Wolves back in this game. But the rest of Minnesota’s squad just couldn’t get it done at home, as the Wolves’ third-highest scorer was Rudy Gobert with… nine points.

On to the Finals!

Coaching Updates

Clippers, Ty Lue agree to contract extension until 2029

Clipper nation, stand up! Ty Lue just signed a contract extension with Los Angeles worth around $14 million a year that will keep him in town until the 2028-29 season.

Lue has been one of the most consistent coaches in the league since he came to LA despite Kawhi Leonard and Paul George struggling with injury inconsistencies—he’s tallied a 184-134 record since he arrived in Los Angeles four years ago, the sixth-best record in the NBA over that stretch. He also led the Clippers to their first conference finals appearance in franchise history back in 2021.

Wizards hire Brian Keefe after 39 games as interim HC

While the title-contending Clippers secure a veteran coach, the rebuilding Wizards are all the way on the other side of the spectrum and are taking a chance on a long-time assistant. Brian Keefe has been an assistant coach on various NBA staffs since 2007, and after going 8-31 as Washington’s interim head coach during the second half of last season, he’s getting a chance to show the hoops world what he can do in the first head coaching gig of his career.

As the Wizards rebuild and reshape their roster around Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, and young prospects like Bilal Coulibaly, Keefe will have a tough project on his hands in Washington.

WNBA Round-Up

If you’re a fan of basketball who isn’t watching the WNBA, you’re missing out. Simple as that. The W has never had as much talent as it has today, and there’s been more electric moments than we can count on our hands so far this year. Let’s go over some of the takeaways from the first couple weeks of the season!

Familiar faces in the MVP race

When it comes to the best of the best in the WNBA, there are a couple names that immediately come to mind. The first is Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson, whose 26.2 points per game and 13.2 rebounds per game both rank in the top three in the WNBA. A’ja, along with fellow 20+ PPG scorer Jackie Young, has led the Aces to a 4-1 record that includes a couple blowout wins against the Fever and Lynx.

Next up is Minnesota’s two-way god Napheesa Collier. She’s averaging 22.2 PPG and 10.8 RPG, which along with her 2.7 steals per game makes her a threat on both sides of the ball. Stars like Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper, Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas, and New York’s Breanna Stewart are also all in the early-season mix to take home the W’s highest honor—the league is in good hands!

Angel Reese, Cameron Brink show out in debuts

A lot of the hype around this season’s rookie class has been around former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark, but don’t count out the rest of the league’s youngsters making an impact! The Sparks’ Cameron Brink is KILLING IT in Los Angeles, averaging 9.5 PPG in her first six games and shooting over 40% from three.

And over her first five games in Chicago, Angel Reese has made a huge impact scoring down low through contact and eating up boards—she had her first double-double on Tuesday against the Storm and has recorded at least eight rebounds in four of her first five games. Chi-Town Barbie has quickly become one of the best offensive rebounders in the W!

Veterans remain as valuable as ever

But as exciting as rookies are, there’s nothing like a veteran that can keep contributing into their late thirties… or early forties.

Phoenix’s 41-year-old Diana Taurasi is in her 20th WNBA season and looks as fresh and talented as ever, averaging 19 PPG and staying absolutely lethal from beyond the arc. And DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut’s 36-year-old guard, is on track to average a career-high in points per game with 20.6 so far this season.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Thanks for spending a portion of your Friday with us. Remember that every step forward brings you closer to your dreams, so keep your head down and stay focused—success is within reach.

-Austin Zeglis