Windy City Bulls standout PJ Dozier secures multi-year deal with Nuggets

Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II was cleared of having a serious neck injury, after leaving Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals early. Lively’s status for Game 4 of the series on Tuesday is unclear at this point.

Lively was injured during a collision with Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half of Game 3. Towns’ knee hit Lively in the back of the head, after the rookie center had fallen to the floor.

Lively has been a key member of the Mavericks rotation all season. In 15 playoff games, the Duke product has averaged 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game off the Dallas bench.

The Mavericks took a 3-0 series lead over the Timberwolves on Sunday. Dallas has a chance to close out the series at home on Tuesday.

Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks have yet to agree to a contract extension this offseason despite indications in March, May and June that a deal would be negotiated. Thibodeau has stated his preference of staying with the Knicks.

Sources tell The Athletic that there is no concern for either Thibodeau or the Knicks on the extension front as he is set to enter the final season of his initial five-year contract. Thibodeau is expected to negotiate a salary worth at least $10 million per season as contracts for NBA head coaches has increased dramatically over the past year.

The Knicks have had an unusually busy offseason with their trade for Mikal Bridges followed by a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension for Jalen Brunson. Thibodeau has long standing ties to Leon Rose and William Wesley dating back to when they represented him at CAA before they were hired by James Dolan to run the Knicks.

Following New York’s disappointing 21-22 season, Rose resisted calls for the dismissal of Thibodeau. Thibodeau responded by guiding the Knicks to first round series wins in each of the past two seasons.