Several teams around the NBA continue their pre-draft workouts this week. The Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets have invited several prospects to their practice facilities to showcase their talents. Although the Lakers don’t have a pick in this year’s draft, one player they focus on is Johnny Juzang of UCLA, who will work out for the team today. 

During the regular season, the Lakers sometimes looked older and slower than many of the younger, more athletic teams in the league. Now, they are searching for another young role player after successfully drafting Austin Reaves last year. 

Hornets Look to Add New Talent

The Hornets also have workouts scheduled, with some interesting prospects making the trip to Charlotte. Ron Artest III, the son of NBA veteran Metta Sandiford-Artest, will show his skills to the team today. He last played for the KW Titans of the NBL of Canada, averaging 5.6 points and 2.6 in 11 games. He also appeared in six games in the NBA G League in 2021, averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Another prospect scheduled to work out for Charlotte is Buddy Boeheim, son of Hall of Fame Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. In his final season playing for his dad, he led the ACC in scoring with 19.2 points per game and was fifth in the conference in three-pointers made. He was also a first-team All-ACC selection in 2022 and led his team to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals tips off on Monday as the series between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors moves back to San Francisco. Here’s what to expect in this pivotal matchup for both teams tonight.

Warriors Favorites Again To Win Series vs. Celtics

Before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, not only was Boston favored to win the game, but they were also temporary favorites to take the series. However, just one game later, the Warriors are now favored to win at home tonight and take the NBA Championship after their convincing win on Friday. 

Boston responded after losing by 19 points in Game 2 by taking a 16-point victory in Game 3. They must do the same tonight if they hope to take home their 18th Larry O’Brien Trophy. 

Warriors’ PG Stephen Curry is coming off possibly his best playoff performance to date after dropping 43 points and grabbing ten rebounds to lead his team to the 107-97 victory on Friday night. He is just the third point guard in NBA history to score 40 points and have ten rebounds in the Finals. He joins Hall-of-Famers Jerry West and Magic Johnson, who both won Finals MVP in those series. 

Whenever Boston needed a win in this series, they came up big on the defensive end by shutting down the paint and winning the rebounding battle. In all four games in this series, the team that has scored the most points in the paint has come out on top. 

The Celtics also must limit their turnovers tonight and have won all but one game in these playoffs following a performance with 15 or more. However, this team has bounced back after every postseason loss and hopes to do the same tonight on the road for their second win in San Francisco. 

The Warriors will win at home to take a 3-2 advantage in the series.