'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 2019 playoffs are now into the third week, and there are a number of mouth-watering matchups as teams battle for a place in their respective Conference Finals. In addition to the ongoing postseason, other stories are emerging from the league, as the annual draft is just two months away. A number of the NBA's biggest free agents will also be up for grabs in the coming months, and here are all the latest news and rumors you need to know for Monday, April 29th.
James Harden Frustrated With NBA Refs - Calls For 'Fair Chance'
The Houston Rockets faced the Golden State Warriors in Oakland last night, in a second round series matchup which many have tipped to go the distance. During the series opener, the Warriors came away with a tight 104-100 win, however, the game was marred by a number of perceived non-calls.
Stars on both teams took issue with the officials, and Harden was irked by what he believed were non-calls on his trademark 3-point attempts. While speaking after the game, Harden asked for a fair chance going forward:
I just want a fair chance, man. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called and we’ll live with the results. We all know what happened a couple years back with Kawhi. Call the game how it’s supposed to be called, and that’s it. I’ll live with the results.
Harden appeared to be fouled by Draymond Green on a potential game-tying attempt with less than eight seconds remaining, although the officials ignored his calls. The Warriors take a 1-0 lead into Game 2 on Tuesday.
Jared Dudley Wants To Join The Celtics
Jared Dudley will become a free agent on July 1, and the veteran has reportedly already set his sights on his next team. According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Dudley is keen on a return to Boston:
Free agency begins July 1 and there is already one player interested in joining the Celtics. Former Boston College swingman Jared Dudley, who enjoyed a solid bounce-back year for the Brooklyn Nets as a team leader, agitator, and 3-pointer shooter, is interested in returning to his college city to play for the Celtics, according to a league source.
Over the course of the 18/19 season, Dudley played in 59 games for the Brooklyn Nets, starting 25. He shot 35.1 percent from the 3-point line while averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Steve Kerr compares Kevin Durant to Michael Jordan
Kevin Durant is currently playing some of the best basketball of his career. Durant hit 50 points for the Warriors in Friday's Game 6 series clincher against the Clippers, and he hit a further 35 last night as Golden State defeated the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Durant's form has impressed Steve Kerr, who has compared Durant to Michael Jordan:
There's this guy named Michael something. Can't remember his last name. No, but Kevin's run this past week has just been off the charts. I've said it a few times this week: He's the most skilled basketball player on Earth. He's one of the most skilled basketball players to ever play the game. There's never been anybody like him. Six-11, handles the ball, shoots 3s, passes, defends. He's just an unbelievable talent. And I think after we lost Game 2 to the Clippers, I think he just felt like he had to turn it up and lift us up another level. That's exactly what he's done.
