TNT’s NBA coverage continues Thursday, April 11, at 8 p.m. ET with doubleheader action featuring the New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls followed by the
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors at 10:30 p.m.
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TNT NBA Tip-off presented by AutoTrader.com
Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Dennis Scott and Rick Fox
O’Neal on Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose: “A player of his caliber…if he’s not ready to come back…my advice is that he shouldn’t come back. If he does come back it’s a confidence builder.”
Scott on Nets guard Deron Williams: “He’s got that bounce back in his step. Now, Deron Williams is playing like the All-Star that we know he can be.”
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Game 1: Chicago Bulls (92) @ Brooklyn Nets (90)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Nischelle Turner (reporter)
Fratello on Nets forward Brook Lopez: “He is a major shot blocker in front of the rim.”
Fratello on the possible return of Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose: “Derrick Rose is his own man and he’ll come back when he’s ready.”
Fratello on Nets head coach P.J. Carlesimo: “The team is very comfortable with him now and he has become much more comfortable with what he’s got to do.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, O’Neal, Scott and Fox
O’Neal on Nets center Brook Lopez: “He’s so good…[Bulls] coach Tom Thibodeau said they can’t stop him. In the postseason he’s going to have to do everything.”
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Game 2: San Antonio Spurs (88) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (100)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Miller on OKC forward Serge Ibaka: “This Thunder team is different when Ibaka is involved and engaged at both ends of the floor.”
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Sprint Halftime Report
Johnson, O’Neal, Scott and Fox
Fox on OKC guard Derek Fisher’s 3-pt FG (4-5) proficiency in the first half: “They brought Derek in for playoff stability and games like this. It’s in his DNA.”
Scott on Ibaka: “He can stretch his game out to the free-throw line. Serge Ibaka needs more touches to take the pressure off [Kevin] Durant and [Russell] Westbrook.”
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Miller on what teams have to do in order to contend for a championship: “You want to do things that are championship basketball – great defense, ball movement [and] limit your turnovers.”
Miller on OKC’s defense: “Between Ibaka and Durant, they challenge everything at the rim.”
Miller on the Spurs: “This is a scary team when they share the basketball.”
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed OKC Thunder forward Kevin Durant after the game:
Durant: “It’s important for us to play well at the right time of the season.”
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Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai
Johnson, O’Neal, Scott and Fox
Scott on the Spurs’ needing to get healthy more than gaining home court advantage: “I’m not sure if San Antonio is that worried about home court [advantage] more than having some help. They need their big guys to get healthy.”
Scott on the Nuggets losing guard Danilo Gallinari to an injury: “That’s going to be a big loss for them because the games slow down in the playoffs. Ty Lawson is going to need to drive the lane…Gallinari is the only guy on that team that makes you guard the three-point line every night.”
Fox on the Nuggets losing their go-to scorer with Gallinari’s injury: “[The Nuggets] have slashers, runners and smart point guards. But when they need a go-to guy who can stretch the floor and create his own shot…I don’t know where they get that now.”
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