Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
When you’re watching Game 5 of the NBA Finals this evening, you’re not going to see commissioner Adam Silver.
The league’s communication department put out a release on Monday afternoon stating that Silver will not attend the game in San Francisco because he has entered health and safety protocols.
It’s important information, and it also has to be the first time that the health status of a league commissioner was reported like he was on an official injury list.
The Tip-Off
NBA legend Dwyane Wade is watching the NBA Finals, and he shared some thoughts about Stephen Curry:
Wade recently tweeted a screengrab of a comment he put on Instagram. Yes, that sentence is very silly. Here is what he said:
“Expanding the Mount Rushmore and making room for this bad MFer is the only conversation, that should be going around about Stephen Wardell Curry . Sincerely Dwyane Wade”
Mount Rushmore-status for Curry would mean that according to Wade, he would join a pantheon that otherwise likely includes Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
That means that, in Wade’s view, only one of the following players would join Curry: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Wilt Chamberlain.
I’m not sure I’m personally there with Curry on Mount Rushmore, but he’s got as good of a case as anyone, and Wade certainly has a better-informed opinion than I do.
One to Watch
Warriors (-4.5, -170) vs. Celtics (+135), O/U 211.5, 9:00 PM ET
It’s the tiebreaker of the NBA Finals and the Warriors are slightly favorited, but it’s way too early to count out the Celtics. Stephen Curry played out of his mind last time we saw him, but I’m expecting a huge game from Jayson Tatum.
Who’s in and out?
— Celtics: Robert Williams (knee) is probable
— Warriors: Otto Porter Jr. (foot) and Andre Iguodala (knee) are questionable
Shootaround
— Nuggets’ president Calvin Booth gains some fun draft capital with today’s Thunder trade
— Watch amazing highlights of Cam Whitmore, the Villanova signee who absolutely dominated for Team USA U18
— Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor spoke to NBA draft prospect Aminu Mohammed
— HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto shares the latest rumors about the Raptors
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
