NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia 76ers fell in Game 1 to the New York Knicks by an ugly score of 137-98 to fall down 0-1 to open the Eastern Conference semifinals. Not a lot went right for the Sixers on the night as they shot just 41.1% on the night while the Knicks shot 63.1% and made 19 from deep compared to 11 for Philadelphia.

There was one play that stood out in the loss, and it was Knicks forward Mikal Bridges running into Sixers star Joel Embiid in the abdomen. Embiid then doubled over in pain as he is coming off an appendectomy and it is, obviously, quite painful for him to deal with at the moment.

Bridges was chasing Tyrese Maxey off the screen, but Maxey was already gone. It seemed like an odd and peculiar play for Bridges to keep going and run into Embiid.

"I got hit on it," Embiid said. "I don't know if it was—obviously, based on what’s been going on. I guess I got to protect it more. I don't know if it was dirty or not. I guess I gotta do a better job of protecting my (stomach), yeah, especially that part."

Joel Embiid is struggling with some abdominal pain after taking a shot from Mikal Bridges while setting a screen.

He's staying in the game, but something to keep an eye on. Embiid had an appendectomy less than four weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/b4wtNvT2AC

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) May 5, 2026

When asked a follow up on the play, Embiid went into a little more detail as he was, obviously, setting a screen for Maxey. Once Maxey came off the screen and was gone, the play should have been over from the perspective of Bridges. Instead, he kept going and hit Embiid which caused pain.

"Yeah, it was off the screen," Embiid added. "I don't think that was necessary, because, you know, Tyrese was already gone, and it was kind of like after the play. I just felt like it was unnecessary, but we move on. It’s playoff basketball. If that's the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too and do it, too."

Embiid had 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting while going 8-for-9 from the foul line. He and the Sixers will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid addresses Mikal Bridges play after Sixers fall to Knicks

Speaking on Sirius XM’s “Deals and Dunks” on Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein tabbed the Celtics as a team that could be in the running for the two-time MVP if the Bucks opt to move him after a disappointing 2025-26 season. “Because they’ve created this [cap] flexibility for themselves when it looked like it was gonna be really hard to do so — I feel like they’re gonna be able to make moves,” Stein said of the Celtics. “There will inevitably be people who bring back the, ‘Do they break up Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown’ — like, that storyline will probably come back. “There have been some rumblings at various points during the season that the Celtics could be a stealth Giannis team and a team that potentially interests Giannis. So let’s keep our eye on the Celtics. We know Brad Stevens is not afraid to make big moves and take big swings. So I think we have to be ready for just about anything with Boston.”

Boston Globe

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Boston a team to keep an eye on in Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?

But, Warriors forward Draymond Green doesn’t think the performance was a “legacy game” for Embiid, who has now reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the sixth time in his career. “I know a lot of people are saying, ‘Yo, is this a legacy game for Joel Embiid?’ and I say no, 'hell no,' ” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “Joel Embiid is a great player, Joel Embiid is an NBA MVP, Joel Embiid is all of those things. Gold medalist, perennial All-Star, one of the best bigs in this league. “Joel Embiid, also for those same reasons, is the reason that a game in the first round, I don’t care if it’s Game 7 or Game 2. … It’s still a first-round game and we’ve seen Joel Embiid in the first round. In order for Joel Embiid to have legacy games, Joel Embiid has to get to the conference finals and then Joel Embiid needs to help push that team to the NBA Finals.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: In order for Joel Embiid to have legacy games, Joel …

Braun missed 38 games during the regular season after suffering a severe left ankle sprain on Nov. 12. He initially tried to return on Jan. 4, but after struggling for three games, it was clear he wasn’t ready. He was able to run. He wasn’t able to jump. He went back on the shelf for another three weeks, then spent the rest of the season growing accustomed to a routine of postgame treatment on the ankle. He had torn the ligaments on the inside and outside of it. It was the first serious injury of his basketball career. It continued to swell up during the playoffs. Meanwhile, he also sustained an injury and developed swelling in his left calf in Game 1 against the Timberwolves, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. It exacerbated Braun’s inability to explode off the ground — his left leg is the one he usually pushes off of when he jumps.

Denver Post

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: He also sustained an injury and developed swelling in …

Needless to say, if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have any chance of winning their upcoming NBA playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, every rotation player will need to step up, especially offensively. That means no passivity, no lazy passes and no passing up shots, at a minimum.

In their previous series against the Houston Rockets, guard Luke Kennard started out as hot as a summer afternoon in Southeast Texas. In the first two games, he scored a combined 50 points and shot 17-of-26 from the field and 8-of-11 from 3-point range. But since then, the sharpshooter has managed to score only 25 points in four games while shooting 26.7% overall and 15.4% from downtown.

Melissa Rohlin, who covers the Lakers for the California Post, wrote in a recent article that Kennard will be the team's X-factor in the upcoming series versus the Thunder.

"The Lakers have a Luke Kennard problem," Rohlin wrote.

"He defers too much.

"Against a Thunder team with the NBA’s top-rated defense, Kennard will be the X-factor in their second-round playoff series. Without Luka Doncic, the Thunder will collapse on LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

"The Lakers desperately need scoring help. They need a sharpshooter to open up the court. They need a 3-point specialist.

"They need Kennard."

Kennard is a little too selective with when he takes shots sometimes. While he led the NBA in 3-point accuracy during the regular season for the third time with a 47.8% rate, he attempted 5.2 3-pointers per 36 minutes, which isn't a low number but isn't a high volume either. Coach JJ Redick said he would encourage Kennard to be more aggressive in looking to shoot the ball shortly after Kennard arrived in a February trade, but the guard hasn't consistently done so.

Rohlin set the bar high for Kennard in her article by defining a goal for him in this series.

"The Lakers need Kennard to be their third-leading scorer. To be aggressive. To hunt for his shot.

"... Even though he’s going to share the court with James and Reaves, he needs to play as though he’s a star.

"He needs to think of himself as a scorer. He needs to make his presence known."

Against the Thunder, the Lakers need points, more points and more points. Oklahoma City has one of the best defenses seen in recent memory, and it forces turnovers in bunches and led the league in points off turnovers during the regular season.

If Kennard is aggressive enough on a consistent basis, it will stretch Oklahoma City's defense and make its players move their feet instead of being able to simply remain in place and bait the Lakers into making risky passes. The Lakers need to play with pace, both in transition and in the halfcourt, and exercise constant ball and player movement.

Kennard has moved back to the bench with Reaves' recent return from an oblique strain. Los Angeles was 29th in bench scoring this season, which puts even more of an onus on Kennard to look to score rather than simply looking to hit open shots.

It's something he's capable of doing. But as Rohlin alluded to, he will have to change his mindset, at least for a fortnight or so.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Melissa Rohlin identifies X-factor for Lakers against Thunder

Edwards finished the game with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. It was a fantastic showing for a player many expected not to be available for the start of this series. And yet, after the game, Edwards told the NBA on NBC broadcast that he was, “disappointed,” with his play. “I made so many mistakes at the end of the game,” Edwards said after Game 1. “I'm disappointed in myself. For me, 75 percent of the game for me is my mind. My mind's got to be where it needs to be and in the last minutes of the game, it wasn't. I gave up two offensive rebounds, turned the ball over. Yeah. I'll be better.”

Clutch Points

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards after Game 1 win: 'I'm disappointed in myself'

“We just want to win ball games,” Edwards added. “That's all we want to do as a group. No matter whose night it is, we don't care. We want to embrace each other, we want to embrace each other, and we want to see each other succeed. We've just got to stay locked in on the game-plan, especially myself man. I can't give up two offensive rebounds to Champagnie. I may not be as athletic as I usually am, but I've got to be able to box out, make the small plays to win the big time games.”

Clutch Points

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We just want to win ball games,” Edwards added. …

Tom Orsborn‬: Mitch Johnson on Wemby and Fox combining for just 21 points and going a combined 0 of 12 from deep: "They'll be better. We'll be better for them. There's some things that we can do execution-wise that will be a lot better."

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "They'll be better. We'll be better for them. There's …

‪Ryan Eichten‬: The Timberwolves shot 32-77 (41.6%) when Victor Wembanyama was on the court and 9-13 (69.2%) when he was off

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Timberwolves shot 32-77 (41.6%) when Victor …

‪NBA‬: WEMBY: Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double including blocks in a postseason game since '73–74 👀 👽 11 PTS 👽 15 REB (postseason career-high) 👽 12 BLK (NBA postseason record) Also becomes the first player in NBA history to record 10+ PTS, 15+ REB, and 10+ BLK in a postseason game!

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double …

‪Keerthika Uthayakumar‬: The official NBA record for blocks in a playoff game is 10, done 3 times. @stathead.com has the unofficial number at 16, by Wilt in 1969. Wemby is the first player to have 11+ blocks in a playoff game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1973.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The official NBA record for blocks in a playoff game …

[Starkand] JJ Redick was asked about the key when it comes to playing through contact against the Thunder: "They don't foul, so the whistles aren't gonna be there. You accept that going in. They don't foul."

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: JJ Redick was asked about the key when it comes to …

Green said he believes the people stating that it was a legacy performance are the same ones who will be ready to blame Embiid if the 76ers fail to reach the conference championship – somewhere Embiid has never been since entering the league in 2014. “I hate when people try to set guys up like, ‘Aw man, this is a legacy game for Joel Embiid,’ only to set him up to try to tear him down in the weeks to come,” Green said. “I don’t like stuff like that. There’s no way a guy of Joel Embiid’s stature can have a legacy game in Round 1 and he still hasn’t accomplished, ultimately, what he wants to accomplish.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I hate when people try to set guys up like, ‘Aw man, …

Draymond Green responding to Austin Rivers - “Austin, you and I averaged the same amount of points in HS and I say HS cause that's when you were at your best. Should he really talk about my NBA career?… The guy received the biggest bailout in US history when his dad gave him 42 million dollars.”

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Draymond Green slams Austin Rivers: 'The guy received the biggest bailout in U.S. history when his dad gave him $42 million'

Steven Adams on his reputation as the strongest in the NBA: “I don't know who's voting...It didn't help me because the referees believed this too, so then I get cracked a lot and they're just like "Oh you're strong bro, you can get through it bro" and I'm just like call the foul! come on please!”

reddit

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Steven Adams on his reputation as the strongest in the …

Before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, the league was wrapped up in multiple controversies. For one, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were among those arrested for alleged involvement in gambling schemes. But in September, reporting from "Pablo Torre Finds Out" also revealed another scandal: potential cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers involving Kawhi Leonard. Pablo Torre, a journalist and podcaster also previously known for his time at ESPN, revealed the details of the potential cap circumvention involving the company Aspiration — and now, the team at "Pablo Torre Finds Out" is being rewarded for that story with the most prestigious honor in journalism, a Pulitzer Prize.

Sporting News

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Pablo Torre wins Pulitzer Award for Clippers reporting

Spurs HC remains absolute about timeout decision in loss to T'Wolves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has absolutely no regret whatsoever about what unfolded just before Julian Champagnie's buzzer-beating 3-point shot attempt.

The Minnesota Timberwolves flipped the game on its head in the final two minutes against the San Antonio Spurs with their 7-0 decisive run. The Spurs' lead evaporated as they missed putting the perimeter shots in the basket on the other end. On the other hand, Mike Conley, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr. dropped their shots successfully.

However, the Spurs tightened their defense in the last minute and got one final possession. But instead of taking a timeout, they hoped to take advantage of Minnesota's unorganized defense in the chaotic transition, even if that means asking Champagnie to shoot the game-winner.

Champagnie's buzzer-beating 3-point shot attempt was off as the Timberwolves won Game 1, 104-102.

MORE: Despite Victor Wembanyama's playoff record, Spurs lose thriller to Wolves

Spurs HC Mitch Johnson reveals reason behind not taking timeout for final possession

After the loss, questions were raised about Mitch Johnson's decision not to take the timeout, where he could have drawn up a play for a potential game-winner. With no regret, Johnson said they didn't want to take a timeout because this would have allowed the Timberwolves to make proper plans for defense.

"On the last play, we just got a rebound, and it felt like they weren't organized and that there was enough time for us to push the ball and get a look, but we didn't push it right away," Johnson explained. "So it got to that do-or-die moment where you have to decide whether to call a timeout or not. I thought Dylan did a good job pushing the ball and kicking it ahead to Julian. Julian had a fly-by and got a three-pointer in rhythm. I had no problem with the shot, I thought it was a great shot. I hope he shoots it every time."

Mitch Johnson on not taking a timeout on the last possession:

"It felt like they weren't organized and there was enough time for us to push the ball and get a look ... Julian got a fly-by, got a 3-pointer in rhythm. I had no problem with the shot."pic.twitter.com/Kx6bjMKEz6

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 5, 2026

It seems Johnson's bet failed as his man couldn't put the 3-ball in. But let's not forget if the ball went in, we would probably be celebrating this decision of Johnson.

More Spurs news:

What's the Playoffs record for most blocks? Victor Wembanyama breaks the record in Game 1

Victor Wembanyama wants to see Anthony Edwards at full strength

Victor Wembanyama singles out the Timberwolves player who has inspired him

The NBA's playoff blocks record has added confusion because of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama set the official single-game NBA playoffs blocks record on Monday night for the San Antonio Spurs.

But if you look in certain sources, you'll see that two guys actually rival Wemby in this regard: Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

Check out this table:

The NBC broadcast keeps saying Wemby has the most blocks in a playoff game but...? pic.twitter.com/quExn7mSYv

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) May 5, 2026

MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons

So what gives?

Blocks weren't official until the 1973-74 season. 

Before then, scorekeepers were apparently too busy to count anything but points, rebounds and assists.

That means that all those totals on the chart, like Wilt once blocking 16 shots in a playoff game, are unofficial, counted after the fact, not during the game.

So how do you handle a record?

Well, it technically belongs to Wemby after Monday night. That's just how it works.

But it also makes you wish you could go back in time and confirm just how good of shot blockers Chamberlain and Russell were.

They deserves spots on a list if they truly did all of that. There's just not a ton of footage to make this an easier task.

Give Wembanyama all his flowers, for sure. Besides, he may someday block 17 shots in a playoff game. If anyone was ever going to break this Wilt mark, it'd be him.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• Paul George had a birthday on his side
• The LeBron omen that gives the Cavs hope
• The tricky part of the Toronto Raptors' future has arrived
• Cooper Flagg gets his best NBA news

The New York Knicks' recent dominance sets a brand-new NBA Playoffs record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Knicks look to be the favorites to reach the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. It is a sign of natural progression, as they have advanced one postseason stage further every year for the past few seasons.

After barely losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, the Knicks' dominant form could see them reaching the NBA Finals in 2026. They are one of the most difficult matchups nowadays, and that is now in the record books.

The Knicks enter the record books with their recent dominance

In Games 5 and 6 against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks won by over 25 points. They have since followed that up with a brilliant Game 1 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, which the Knicks won 137-98.

This is the third game in a row that they have won with a lead of over 25 points. That is a one-of-a-kind record for the Knicks as they are the only team across the NBA's illustrious history to have ever done that in the Playoffs.

MORE: Karl-Anthony Towns is proud of the Knicks playing much better recently

The Knicks are peaking at the right time, which is scary for the rest of the league. Of course, the Western Conference has its own titans led by the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, the Knicks could be on the other side of the bracket in the Finals. It will be a bloodbath for any team when playing against the Knicks, especially when they are playing like this on both ends of the floor.

"I would hope so. That's the hope, you hope that at this time, you're the best version of yourselves," Karl-Anthony Towns said about the Knicks playing their best basketball as of late.

As the Knicks progress, they will want to keep this going. Of course, the 76ers will want to say something about that, and they will most likely find a way to do so. They came back from a 3-1 deficit in the previous round, so they dare to keep proving everyone wrong.

More NBA news:

• Karl-Anthony Towns knows the Knicks have the "fight" to succeed even more
• Josh Hart is the key to the Knicks' success, according to Mike Brown
• Becky Hammon's comments about Jalen Brunson continue to resurface
• Karl-Anthony Towns knows the value of being a fantastic playmaker
• Jalen Brunson's secret behind his pivot foot movement that has made him a star

What did Anthony Edwards loudly direct toward the Spurs bench originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who was listed as week-to-week after a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, shocked everyone by returning in just nine days. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, coming off the bench against the San Antonio Spurs, he hit consecutive tough shots and shouted toward the bench.

In the second quarter, Edwards nailed a mean fadeaway from the baseline. Moments later, he drained a pull-up jumper and turned to the Spurs bench:

“Y’all know me,” Edwards said. “I’m back.”

"I'M BACK." - ANT https://t.co/EyqpDRDZCbpic.twitter.com/qzVV4Au1jL

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

"I'll go out that b**ch on one leg if I got to,” he said on Sunday. “I don't give a fuck."

For 24-year-old Edwards, the Spurs are familiar prey. On Jan. 17, despite a foot injury, he dropped 55 points against the same team.

Despite the recent injury, there was no hesitation in his burst or jumping. He played with electricity, starting 3-for-3 from the field.

Edwards has battled injuries all season — hamstring strain, foot infection, and right knee issues have limited him to 61 games. On April 25, in Game 4 against Denver, his knee bent unnaturally, resulting in a bone bruise. Reports suggested he would miss at least the first two games.

MORE:Timberwolves and Spurs battle in the 4th Quarter: live score, updates, highlights

But Edwards relied on hyperbaric chamber therapy and aggressive recovery methods. Until 24 hours before the game, the team didn’t expect him to be available. His unforeseen healing made it possible.

Where typical players take two weeks, Edwards did it in nine days. Minnesota’s backcourt was weakened by injuries to Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, motivating Edwards to return quickly.

The four-time NBA All-Star made it clear the moment he stepped on the court - he wasn’t just there to show up. He was there to make an impact. Now, all eyes are on what comes next.

More Minnesota Timberwolves News:

• Rudy Gobert's honest take on Timberwolves facing Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama back-to-back
• Spurs' Victor Wembanyama names one Timberwolves player who has always inspired him
• Why Rudy Gobert thinks it's a hard task for Timberwolves to beat Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
• How Anthony Edwards earned his 'Wolverine' nickname
• Inside the relationship between Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert

There is a growing feeling that Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick is becoming a good NBA head coach. He has guided the team to at least 50 regular-season wins in both of his two years at the helm, and he just directed them to a victory in the first round of the playoffs over the Houston Rockets — a victory no one predicted when that series began.

But no one is immune to criticism, and there have been times when some have gotten on Redick for not calling quick enough timeouts during an opponent's hot streak. With the Lakers about to begin the Western Conference semifinals against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, he knows that he will have to adjust how he uses timeouts.

He talked about the adjustments he will make in that department during a media session on Monday.

“They're really good at runs, and part of that is how good their defense is, their ability to create turnovers," Redick said. "The live-ball turnovers really kill you. ... I've got to be more diligent than I normally am. I like my timeouts, I like going into the fourth quarter with four timeouts, I like having two in the last 30 seconds. I don't think you have the luxury of worrying about that because the games get away from you so quick because of how explosive they are when they go on their runs.”

Los Angeles lost all four of its regular-season games to the Thunder during the regular season, and it lost three of those games by at least 29 points. The Thunder were first in defensive rating, second in opponents' turnover percentage and first in points off turnovers per game during the regular season, and they also had an incredible 11.1 net rating.

Blunting their momentum will be a big key for L.A. in this series if it is to be competitive. That means not only limiting live-ball turnovers but also calling quick timeouts when Oklahoma City starts a spurt and scoring immediately out of those timeouts.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick on one adjustment he will make for Lakers vs. Thunder series

The Met Gala falls on the first Monday of May every year, which coincides with the NBA playoffs, much to Ben Stiller's dismay. While the New York Knicks superfan rubbed elbows with Hollywood's elite at the Met Gala in New York City, the Knicks tipped off Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.

"If you can't be at Madison Square Garden watching the Knicks ... this is a great second choice," said Stiller, who added the Knicks will win the semifinal series in six games. "This is an incredible event supporting the Costume Institute and the arts in New York. And we've been here a couple of times."

Stiller and his actress wife Christine Taylor, however, paid homage to the Knicks by wearing orange and blue.

"We are representing for the Knicks. We are wearing our Knicks colors," Taylor said during an interview with Vogue.

MET GALA: Angel Reese, Alysa Liu, athletes on red carpet

Timothée Chalamet opts to watch Knicks win

While Stiller was full of regret for missing Game 1 between the Knicks and 76ers, actor Timothée Chalamet was in attendance at Madison Square Garden.

Chalamet was in his customary courtside seats for the Knicks' 137-98 Game 1 rout ... even while girlfriend Kylie Jenner made an appearance at the fashion spectacle across town.

The stars are out at MSG for Sixers/Knicks Game 1!

NBA Playoffs presented by @Googlepic.twitter.com/22IwrwmGEm

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

Jenner is typically a courtside staple alongside Chalamet at Knicks playoff games, but the Met Gala created a scheduling conflict for the couple. There was precedent for Chalamet, meanwhile, as he skipped the Met Gala last year, too, so he could watch the Knicks on TV in a playoff game against the Boston Celtics.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timothee Chalamet attends Knicks game while Ben Stiller is at Met Gala

For Victor Wembanyama, the 2026 NBA Playoffs are a collection of firsts. Add another one to the list.

Playing in the conference semifinal round for the first time in his career, Wembanyama, the Spurs phenom forward-center, swatted away 7 blocks in the first half Monday, May 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the most ever by a San Antonio player in a playoff half since 1997.

That total was just one shy of Dwight Howard’s record for most blocks in any postseason half in the play-by-play era.

Wembanyama's block party didn't stop there. He was up to 10 before the end of the third quarter.

7 SWATS FOR WEMBY IN ONE HALF!

Most blocks in ANY postseason half in the PxP era:

Dwight Howard (8, 4/18/2010)
Victor Wembanyama (7, 5/4/2026) pic.twitter.com/TSIg6AZkrd

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

ANTHONY EDWARDS RETURNS: Highlights from Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 1

The 7-foot-4 All-Star now has a unique opportunity to reach a rare points-rebounds-blocks triple-double. He has 8 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his 10 blocks with 2:36 remaining in the third.

Wembanyama started the second half much like he did the first; he dashed past Rudy Gobert for a dunk and minutes later blocked an attempted layup from Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama dazzles with blocks against Timberwolves in Game 1

After upsetting the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs in six games, the Los Angeles Lakers will get back to work on Tuesday in Game 1 of their second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are the defending world champions, and virtually no one feels the Lakers have any real shot at winning the series.

Luka Doncic is still out of action due to his Grade 2 hamstring strain, and there still doesn't seem to be any timetable for his return. For Oklahoma City, rising star forward Jalen Williams will be out of action in Game 1 because of a hamstring strain of his own. Reserve center Thomas Sorber is also out with a torn ACL that has kept him out all season.

Lakers-Thunder Game 1 injury report: No Luka Doncic for L.A.; no Jalen Williams for OKC pic.twitter.com/AQoaVXxapk

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 4, 2026

While Doncic has begun to do some light shooting by himself during Lakers practice sessions, he doesn't seem to be close to doing even one-on-one work. He sustained his hamstring strain on April 2 when L.A. was destroyed 139-96 by the Thunder at Paycom Center.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers release injury report for Game 1 versus Thunder

Timberwolves and Spurs battle in the 4th Quarter: live score, updates, highlights originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the next round of the NBA Playoffs with the Minnesota Timberwolves ready to go. The big man matchup between Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert will be one of the key storylines to watch as this series plays out.

There is cause for concern for San Antonio's side with Minnesota going 2-1 in the season series. However, Anthony Edwards was one of the biggest reasons why and his status is uncertain. He'll be available in Game 1, but the load he'll carry is unknown. He averaged 36.7 points in the three games on 58% shooting, 52% from 3-point range.

The second-seeded Spurs ousted the Portland Trailblazers 4-1 in the first round. Wembanyama suffered a concussion in the midst of the series and was out for a game dealing with symptoms. All four of the Spurs’ wins were by double digits. 

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket

Timberwolves vs. Spurs live updates, highlights from Game 1 of NBA playoffs

4th Quarter- 6:50: Quick four points by Anthony Edwards to give T-Wolves 88-84 lead 

4th Quarter- 8:20: Julius Randle ties the game with a 3-pointer. 84 all. 

4th Quarter-8:22: Harrison Barnes layup give Spurs a 84-81 lead. 

4th Quarter- 9:52: Both teams are trading buckets with T-Wolves up 82-79

4th Quarter- 10:21: Anthony Edwards hits 3-pointer to take 78-75

End of 3rd Quarter: Spurs 72, Timberwolves 69

3rd Quarter- 0.3 seconds: Spurs up 72-69 pending a coaches review. 

3rd Quarter- 24.4 seconds: Spurs take 70-67 lead. 

3rd Quarter- 2:14: Spurs still lead 66-65 after Rudy Gobert misses two free throws. 

3rd Quarter- 2:36: Neither team has led more than two points this quarter. Spurs up 66-64 

3rd Quarter- 7:20: Both teams trade buckets to open the quarter. 

Halftime: Spurs 45, Timberwolves 45 

Team Stats

2nd Quarter- 19.4 seconds: A great back-and-forth battle between both teams. 

2nd Quarter- 1:46: Victor Wembanyama layup add to the lead, 45-41

2nd Quarter- 2:09: Keldon Johnson jumper puts Spurs up 43-4

2nd Quarter- 3:21: TV Timeout. Both teams trading baskets tied at 39

2nd Quarter- 6:07: Mike Conley hits 3-pointer to cut Spurs lead 35-32

2nd Quarter- 6:38: A pair of free throws from Luke Kornet puts the Spurs 35-29

2nd Quarter- 6:45: TV timeout. Spurs retake the lead with a Devin Vassell 3-pointer 32-29

2nd Quarter- 8:46: Spurs pull within one, 29-28, 

2nd Quarter- 10:53: Minnesota pulls ahead with five quick points to start the quarter 29-28

End of 1st Quarter: Timberwolves 24, Spurs 23

Team Stats

1st Quarter- 1:27: Anthony Edwards makes 3-pointer for 22-20 T-Wolves lead over Spurs

1st Quarter- 2:43: Both team going through a drought before TV timeout. 

1st Quarter- 3:48: Spurs pull ahead with 17-14 with many misses.

1st Quarter- 6:12: The Spurs and T-Wolves going back and forth but coming up empty 

1st Quarter- 7:35: Spurs take an early 11-8 lead

GO SPURS GO 🤩👏 pic.twitter.com/FFgmdmqpwE

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 5, 2026

How to Watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 1 NBA Playoffs

Friday, May 4

Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC/Peacock

More NBA Playoffs news:

• Pistons major comeback victory over Magic forces Game 7 in NBA playoffs
• Raptors need OT to outlast Cavaliers, force Game 7 in Cleveland
• T-Wolves crush Nuggets in six, advance to face Spurs in NBA Playoffs
• Knicks advance past Hawks with largest Playoff win in franchise history
• 76ers take Game 5 over Celtics in NBA playoffs

It is expected Ujiri will meet in coming days with Riccardi and Finley to determine if either remains with the organization.

marcstein.substack.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Masai Ujiri expected to meet with Matt Riccardi, Michael Finley to determine their futures

Dumont's talks with Ujiri were largely shielded from the rest of the organization until Monday but make significant sense in the wake of Dallas' abrupt appointment given the longstanding leaguewide belief that Dumont wanted to make the splashiest hire possible and that Ujiri — unlike everyone else in that category who was on the Mavericks' wish list — was not currently attached to another NBA team.

marcstein.substack.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dumont's talks with Ujiri were largely shielded from …

League sources say that Dumont thus wanted a lead executive with a proven track record as well as both the reputation and willingness to be communicative given Dumont's own reticence to speak publicly and Harrison's media-shy approach during his four-plus seasons in charge.

marcstein.substack.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: League sources say that Dumont thus wanted a lead …

Jon Krawczynski: Chris Finch on Matt Lloyd missing out on the Bulls job: "Congrats to Bryson Graham. I worked with Bryson in New Orleans for a number of years. He's a class act and an outstanding talent evaluator. I'm sure he will be a great pick for the Bulls. "Gunning for Matt. He's one of the best executives I've ever worked with anywhere I've been. He's an absolute rock star when it comes to that, from running processes to connecting with people in the building, to positivity to leadership, to being able to manage up and down. It's only a matter of time until he gets his chance, I'm convinced of it. These are really hard jobs to get, highly coveted. Lots of things go into them. We're fortunate to have him here and he's been a huge part of our success."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: It's only a matter of time until he gets his chance, …

On his way to NBA superstardom, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to go through an unconventional route. He didn't speed through the freeway. Instead, he took a couple of right turns and a few left turns on bumpy backroads. One person who was at his corner was enough to help him continue.

Ahead of their Round 2 series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Gilgeous-Alexander revealed Steve Nash always had his back. All the way back to his high school days — when he wasn't necessarily a highly-touted recruit before he landed at Kentucky.

Gilgeous-Alexander eventually did enough in his sole collegiate season to land No. 11 in the 2018 NBA draft. From there, it would take four NBA seasons for him to become a household name. Within the blink of an eye, though, he went from a first-time All-Star to probable back-to-back MVP winner, sharing the same sentences as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Going back to his first interactions with Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke fondly of the two-time MVP winner. At a young age, he encouraged the 6-foot-6 guard that he was on the right pathway. To hear that from an NBA legend must've made his whole summer and then some.

"Funny enough, Steve was the first person to tell me I was gonna make the NBA. I played for Team Canada's senior men's team when I was 16-17 years old. He just told me to stay on this path and I'll be here one day," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "As a kid, hearing that from a two-time MVP was really big for my confidence level. That's where I guess it started. Over the years, we've just kept in touch. He's obviously a great guy, great basketball mind. Nothing but great things to say about Steve."

Pretty cool to hear how influential Nash was to Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA journey. A decade later, there's a real chance that the latter usurps the former for the best basketball player in Canadian history — if it hasn't happened already.

Always a lot of love between Gilgeous-Alexander and Nash. Both have similar backgrounds and, really, similar journeys to the mountaintop. Let's see if the reigning MVP can continue to add to his mythos as he hopes the Oklahoma City Thunder go back-to-back.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: How a 2-time MVP helped shape Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA journey

Knicks up big over 76ers in 3rd quarter: Game 1 live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Knicks took care of the Atlanta Hawks in one of the franchise's biggest wins. Now the Philadelphia 76ers try their luck in the Big Apple.

These two Eastern Conference foes square off in a semifinals rematch of a tight series from 2024. Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey went at each other, which made for incredible moments. However, this series might have different components from two years ago.

Expect nothing less than a dogfight for supremacy. Madison Square Garden will be rocking for Game 1 with Knicks fans ready to watch this team try and get over the playoff hump. As for the 76ers, this is the moment that separates contenders from pretenders. No time for the weak hearted to rest.

Philadelphia has only one full day to recover after completing the NBA's 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit by beating the Celtics 109-100 on Saturday. They were also the first No. 7 seed to beat a No. 2 since the first round became a best-of-seven format.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket

76ers vs. Knicks live updates, highlights from Game 1 of NBA playoffs

2nd Quarter- 5:06: 76ers and Knicks trade 3-pointers with Justin Edwards and Mikal Bridges hitting 96-68

2nd Quarter- 6:03: Knicks up 93-65 and rolling.

First Half Team Stats

The New York Knicks lead the Philadelphia 76ers 74-51

2nd Quarter-0:06: Jalen Brunson makes a 25-foot three-point shot to close out the half. 

2nd Quarter-0:57: Tyrese Maxey makes two-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-1:08: Jalen Brunson makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-1:49: Joel Embiid makes a 1-foot layup. 

2nd Quarter-2:23: Mikail Bridges makes 23-foot three-point shot. 

Josh Hart's hustle.
Mikal Bridges' triple.
Jimmy Fallon's reaction 😂

Knicks are ROLLING in the 2Q! pic.twitter.com/oRWb5XPUEX

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

2nd Quarter-2:55: Jalen Brunson makes 11-foot pull up jumper. 

a lil float action from the captain 😮‍💨

🪣 16 PTS pic.twitter.com/AbSYpPjjlH

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

2nd Quarter-4:02: OG Anunoby makes a 17-foot pull up jumper. 

2nd Quarter-6:18: Joel Embiid makes a driving layup. 

2nd Quarter-6:43: Karl Anthony Towns makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

Kelly Oubre Jr. measures himself up next to KAT 😅

Guarding someone who’s 7 feet tall isn’t easy! pic.twitter.com/rjaXJ7RWL0

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

2nd Quarter-6:58: Tyrese Maxey makes a driving layup. 

2nd Quarter-8:26: Josh Hart makes a 23-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-8:43: Kelly Oubre makes a 24-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-8:57: Mikail Bridges makes a 1-foot running dunk. 

it starts with defense 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/2fm2Cy6WA3

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

2nd Quarter-9:52: Kelly Oubre dunk, assisted by Paul George. 

Paul George finds Kelly Oubre Jr. (7 PTS) 🙌

Sixers seeking a 1-0 series lead in the East Semis tonight! pic.twitter.com/BTwFRi4RFa

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026

2nd Quarter-10:17: Jose Alvarado with a 1-foot layup, assisted by Karl Anthony Towns

a goooood look from KAT 😮‍💨 then jose puts it away 😤 pic.twitter.com/WsL5Cwh6zn

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

2nd Quater-10:31: Paul George makes a 25-foot three-point shot. 

2nd Quarter-11:47: OG Anunoby makes a driving layup. 

1st Quarter Team Stats

The New York Knicks lead the Philadelphia 76ers 33-25

1st Quarter-0:24: Miles McBride makes 9-foot turnaround jumper. 

1st Quarter-1:19: OG Anunoby makes a driving layup. 

og getting buckets 🎱 pic.twitter.com/MJ7oR4qwaD

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

1st Quarter-2:16: OG Anunoby makes 24-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-3:21: Miles McBride makes 23-foot three-point shot. 

we never get tired of hearing

🗣️ DEEEUUUCEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/8KZJPO8n1S

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

1st Quarter-3:57: Jalen Brunson makes 26-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-5:19: Jalen Brunson makes 2-foot shot. 

the brunson burner is heating up 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/YUhNWhFqEf

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

1st Quarter-6:20: Mitchell Robinson makes a 1-foot dunk. 

BRUNSON TO LOB-INSON‼️ pic.twitter.com/jKQHVE2E2r

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

1st Quarter-6:35: Paul George makes 26-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-7:09: Jalen Brunson makes 11-foot driving floater. 

1st Quarter-8:39: Paul George makes a 25-foot three-point jumper. 

PG3 pic.twitter.com/gmeqvsFk5m

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 5, 2026

1st Quarter-9:19: Karl Anthony Towns makes 26-foot three-point shot. 

1st Quarter-9:53: Jalen Brunson makes 16-foot step back jumpshot

1st Quarter-10:21: VJ Edgecombe makes 14-foot pull up jump shot. 

1st Quarter-10:38: Mikail Bridges makes 1-foot dunk

straight to business for bridges 😤 pic.twitter.com/WdObWqE74P

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 5, 2026

The Sixers and Knicks are meeting in the postseason for the 10th time.

Philly, which just beat Boston in the playoffs for the first time since 1982, now faces a New York team it hasn't beaten in a postseason series since 1983 👀 pic.twitter.com/YSf97ASIId

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 4, 2026

How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks Game 1 NBA Playoffs

Friday, May 4

Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC/Peacock

More NBA Playoffs news:

• Pistons major comeback victory over Magic forces Game 7 in NBA playoffs
• Raptors need OT to outlast Cavaliers, force Game 7 in Cleveland
• T-Wolves crush Nuggets in six, advance to face Spurs in NBA Playoffs
• Knicks advance past Hawks with largest Playoff win in franchise history
• 76ers take Game 5 over Celtics in NBA playoffs

It’s official.

The NBA’s leading scorer will he relegated to the bench to start the next round of the playoffs.

In a decision that shocked nobody, Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss at least Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder. He has been ruled out by Los Angeles.

When asked about the status of his star guard, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, Lakers coach JJ Redick kept it blunt, “I don’t have any updates on Luka.”

Doncic has already passed the one-month mark since suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 against the Thunder.

After traveling to Spain for advanced treatment aimed at accelerating recovery, Doncic’s progression has been less than ideal. He’s done controlled on-court work with shooting and light movement, but has yet to progress to running or physical on-court work.

“Obviously, we always want to have Luka out there,” said teammate Austin Reaves on Sunday. “He’s one of the best players in the league, if not the best player. It’s definitely a different task. Everyone has to play differently to create and fill the void of the things he does for us.”

"I don't have any updates on Luka" – JJ Redick's response when asked about Luka Doncic's availability for tomorrow's Game 1 in OKC https://t.co/gKiTtM63lw

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 4, 2026

Sources told The California Post that Doncic is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series, clearing a return for a possible Game 3.

However, at this point in his recovery, returning to the series at any point — especially given Oklahoma City’s propensity for physical play — seems highly unlikely.

Wake Forest sophomore Juke Harris announced Monday on Instagram that he is transferring to Tennessee for the 2026-27 season and withdrawing from the 2026 NBA draft.

Harris was named the ACC Most Improved Player last season, averaging 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 44.4% from the field. He ranked sixth in the country in total points (750) and 15th in free throws (195).

The 6-foot-7 guard was one of six players nationally to average at least 21 points and six rebounds per game. His 750 points ranked as the second-most in a single season in Wake Forest history, trailing only Len Chappell (932 points), whose number is retired by the program.

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Harris was one of 73 prospects invited to compete in the draft combine, which will take place May 10-17 in Chicago, Illinois. It is not known whether Harris still plans to participate in the annual event or if he will withdraw and make the transition to Knoxville.

The 20-year-old was considered a possible late first-round pick after his dramatic statistical improvement in a larger role on the court with the Demon Deacons. He finished with the highest increase in scoring average in the country after improving from a mark of 6.1 as a freshman.

Harris was viewed as one of the top available players in the transfer portal and will likely be a critical addition for coach Rick Barnes. The team projects to be among the favorites to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament with Harris now in the mix.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Wake Forest news: Juke Harris to forgo draft, transfer to Tennessee

Luka Doncic remains sidelined for the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the Western Conference semifinals. The superstar guard suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury during an NBA regular-season matchup on April 2. ESPN senior insider Shams Charania provided an update about his status on Sunday, saying that his recovery has been on a “slow path.”

However, Doncic was seen putting up shots at the Lakers’ practice facility on Monday. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin posted the clip on X.

MORE: Austin Reaves reveals Lakers’ mindset for Thunder series

He appeared mobile and could return to action soon despite not being ruled out for Game 1 on Tuesday. Doncic has appeared in 64 games this season. The six-time All-Star averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 35.8 minutes per game.

LeBron James and Austin Reaves will likely carry the offensive load for Los Angeles. They will need to work doubly hard, as the Thunder have a lot of firepower on their roster.

Luka Doncic has a chance to play against Thunder

Charania stressed that Doncic will likely miss the start of the conference semifinals. However, his sources left the door open for the possibility that the Slovenian star could play later in the semifinals, which would boost the Lakers’ chances.

Los Angeles advanced to the next round by beating the Houston Rockets in six games. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City swept the Phoenix Suns, giving them more days to rest and practice. The Thunder were already the favorites to win, but they are favored even more with Doncic sidelined.

While the 27-year-old’s potential return would be huge for his team, rust could be a factor. The coming week will be crucial in determining if Doncic will see action against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co.

On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will open their Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Once again, they will be big underdogs, just as they were in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, and they will have to go to war without Luka Doncic, who is still nursing a hamstring strain.

The experts at the NBA Wires sites on the USA Today network gave their predictions for how this series will go. Not a single one of them picked the Lakers, which is an indication of how much work the Purple and Gold will have to get done over the next two weeks or so.

Clemente Almanza, Thunder Wire: For the Thunder, they had to lick their chops once this became official. They've had the Lakers' number this season. They were a plus-117 points across their four regular-season wins. I know you can't make things one-for-one in the two environments, but that type of one-sided dominance is too much to ignore. Especially if Doncic misses several games in this playoff matchup.

The Thunder are just quicker and younger than the Lakers. Both rosters are completely different. OKC has mostly homegrown talent in their early 20s. Meanwhile, the Lakers are a bunch of 30-plus-year-olds who've been around the league for a minute. That's a great combo for OKC. Bad combo for Los Angeles.

It's difficult to forecast this Round 2 series. Doncic's and Williams' injury clouds any real predictions. But I feel like the Thunder are deservedly the heavy favorite. Gilgeous-Alexander is on a mission. He's on his way to back-to-back MVP awards. OKC should torch Los Angeles' defense and then force them to cough up the ball a ton. It won't be as one-sided as their Round 1 matchup, but this should be a quick series.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire: If both teams were at full strength, this would be a very interesting and perhaps a very competitive series. But unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Jalen Williams and Luka Doncic both have hamstring strains, and it is unknown when either will return.

Austin Reaves’ return from an oblique strain has given the Lakers a shot in the arm. But the Thunder have one of the best defenses anyone has seen in recent memory in the NBA. They were second in opponents’ turnover percentage and first in points off turnovers during the regular season, and they’re simply deeper and more athletically gifted than Los Angeles.

The Thunder are also underrated offensively. They were seventh in offensive rating and fifth in points during the regular season, and while they aren’t a true fast-break team, they have no trouble winning a 130-point game.

LeBron James has a history of leading his teams to series wins as an underdog, just as he did in the prior series versus the Houston Rockets, so perhaps L.A. will be competitive at times in this series. But I fully expect Oklahoma City to take this series.

Prediction: Thunder in 6

Mack Baltes, Warriors Wire: In four regular season matchups this year, the Lakers were outscored by an abysmal 29.3 points per game, the worst margin of any matchup in NBA playoff history. With Luka Doncic and Jalen Williams still sidelined, that trend could easily continue.

Of championship-caliber teams in recent years, no one finishes their opponents as quickly as the Thunder have. With Oklahoma City’s sweep of the Suns, they became the third franchise in NBA history to start three consecutive postseason runs with a series sweep.

Additionally, Los Angeles still suffers from one of the most telling stats in the league, bench points. The Lakers ranked 29th during the regular season in this category, highlighting their dependence on Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. In round one of the playoffs, this trend continued with the Lakers ranking 11th of 16 teams. As for Oklahoma City, they averaged 12.5 more points off the bench than the Lakers in the regular season and 13.3 more in round one of the postseason.

That said, the Western Conference is tremendously talented. Although Los Angeles lacks the depth and perimeter defense (apart from the tremendous effort of Marcus Smart) needed to keep up with the Thunder, a sweep seems harsh, especially when considering that Luka Doncic could return. For all of these reasons, I expect the Thunder to dominate this series with many convincing victories and just one loss.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

Ky Carlin, Sixers Wire: The Lakers have LeBron James, who continues to deny Father Time a win on the floor, and a cast of shooters who did their job in Round 1 against the Houston Rockets. Combine the play of James and the shooters with Austin Reaves now on the floor and working on getting his rhythm back, and one has to believe LA will challenge the Thunder in some capacity. With that being said, the Thunder are the better team. It just is what it is. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and their strong supporting cast, this should be another rather easy Thunder win. They dominated the Lakers in the regular season, and with no Luka Doncic, this should be a series for OKC.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

Daniel Donabedian, Celtics Wire: Repeating as an NBA champion has never been more difficult, but the Thunder have the pieces to do it. The Lakers won’t be an easy out though, as 41-year-old LeBron James knows this could be one of his last times in the playoffs — and a desperate LeBron is dangerous, even at his age. There are obviously major injury question marks with Jalen Williams for the Thunder and Luka Doncic for the Lakers, but, as is, I’m going with the reigning champs in the second round. They’re not invincible and the Lakers understand what’s at stake, however, the Thunder are the most connected team in the league and have been since opening night. The Thunder also roster that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guy, who seems destined for back-to-back MVPs and is the best player in the NBA right now.

Prediction: Thunder in 6

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA Wires experts roundtable: Who will win Lakers vs. Thunder series?

Tom Petrini: "One of the most naturally gifted and built athletes that I've ever been around, not just with this. His running and jumping ability, which was is obvious. What you can't see is his robustness and how just naturally strong he is." Chris Finch on Ant's recovery.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Chris Finch on Anthony Edwards: 'One of the most naturally gifted and built athletes that I've ever been around'

Anthony Slater: Anthony Edwards is officially playing, per Chris Finch. He said there will be some sort of a minute restriction. Wouldn’t reveal if Edwards would start. “I don’t know.” Finch on his quick return: “He loves to play the game.”

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: He said there will be some sort of a minute …

Tom Petrini: Chris Finch said he didn't have a sense that Ant could play in Game 1 until yesterday. "We felt it would be mid-series, you know, at best case scenario, Game 2."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "We felt it would be mid-series, you know, at best …

Tom Petrini: "When he doesn't play, I don't think Minnesota necessarily changes their style of player drastically who they are. They're aggressive, they're athletic they're competitive, they're physical, they're tough-minded, and that's how they look through that whole series." -Mitch on Ant

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "When he doesn't play, I don't think Minnesota …

Tom Petrini: Mitch Johnson on outside noise: "That's why all you are here for the media and for the fans to read it and listen to it and argue about it, so it's part of the deal. We've done a good job all year of not feeding into it or giving power to things that we don't control."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "That's why all you are here for the media and for the …

ClutchFans: Ime Udoka on if the offense will be different next year -- he says he expects to play differently offensively next year just based on the personnel that was missing (Fred, Adams, KD at the end). He says he does not see any changes to the coaching staff.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: He says he does not see any changes to the coaching …

Tom Orsborn: Mitch Johnson said Carter Bryant's foot injury occurred in practice. "Optimistic that it won't be long term,” the coach said. Spurs downgraded the rookie forward just a few minutes ago from questionable to out.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs downgraded the rookie forward just a few minutes …

Considering what all of the NBA's top insiders have hinted at over recent days, it shouldn't be a shocker to learn the Los Angeles Lakers will enter their Round 2 series against the Oklahoma City Thunder behind the eight-ball. Luka Doncic has officially been ruled out for Game 1 with a hamstring strain.

Over a month later, Doncic remains sidelined with a hamstring strain. Ironically enough, the MVP candidate sustained the injury in OKC's regular-season win over Los Angeles on Apr. 2. Since then, he's been out and trying every remedy to hasten his recovery.

The Lakers managed to beat the Houston Rockets in six games in their Round 1 series. LeBron James and friends held things down. Eventually, Austin Reaves returned from a month-long absence due to an oblique strain. He played in Games 5 and 6. If Los Angeles hopes to pull off a seismic upset, it'll need to do so without Doncic to start things off.

We'll see what Doncic's Game 2 status is, but he'll likely also be out. Now, once the Round 2 series shifts over to Los Angeles, that's when we'll learn more. Until then, though, the Thunder should take care of business against the Lakers. They've had their number this year. Even with Doncic.

Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds in 64 games this past regular season. He single-handedly shakes up this Round 2 series. Even if the Thunder remain the heavy favorite. He'd at least give the Lakers a puncher's chance to make things interesting.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Luka Doncic's Lakers-Thunder Game 1 status officially revealed

Clemente Almanza: SGA on his relationship with Steve Nash: “Funny enough, Steve was the first person who told me I was going to make the NBA.”

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SGA on his relationship with Steve Nash: “Funny enough, Steve was the first person who told me I was going to make the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/oVca5A1xug

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) May 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Steve Nash: He was the first person to tell me I would make the NBA

The momentum the past few weeks had current Timberwolves GM – and a former long-time do-everything Bulls employee – Matt Lloyd as the favorite, but Graham reportedly stole the show in the in-person interview process and was announced as the winner on Monday.

Chicago Sun-Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The momentum the past few weeks had current …

Jamal Collier: Bulls COO Michael Resindorf statement on new VP Bryson Graham. Calls him an "elite talent evaluator who has earned tremendous respect across the league, an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who connects with players and people."

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Bulls COO Michael Resindorf statement on new VP Bryson Graham.

Calls him an "elite talent evaluator who has earned tremendous respect across the league, an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who connects with players and people." pic.twitter.com/dMA3FpsEPn

— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) May 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Calls him an "elite talent evaluator who has earned …

NBA Courtside: Rich Paul on why the media doesn’t criticize Nikola Jokic like they do LeBron: “The reason you don’t hear a lot of conversation about Jokic, is because I don’t believe people are happy to see Jokic lose. When LeBron loses, people are happy to see him lose. Especially his peers. Guys that played in the league who have platforms today, for different reasons, it’s extra. They are happy to see him lose.” (Via Game Over)

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “The reason you don’t hear a lot of conversation about …

In the initial days after the injury, Edwards was told it would take a minimum of two weeks before he could think about playing again, league sources told The Athletic. But Edwards wasn’t hearing it. He started rehabbing as quickly as possible, working in a pool to reduce the impact, talking to specialists and team medical personnel about the best courses of action and even using a hyperbaric chamber over the last few days, something he had been reluctant to do earlier in his career.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: He started rehabbing as quickly as possible, working …

Pistons make huge JB Bickerstaff contract decision before Cavaliers series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Big decisions are being made in the association in the middle of the NBA Playoffs. Two coaches in JB Bickerstaff and Jamahl Mosley had secure contracts prior to Game 7 between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons. Now, they share opposite fates. The losing coach lost his job, while the one advancing to face the Cleveland Cavaliers got a huge contract extension.

Pistons keep Coach Bickerstaff for the long haul

The Pistons are signing Coach JB Bickerstaff to a contract extension, per Shams Charania of ESPN. This decision came after the Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren-led squad managed to come back after suffering a 3-1 deficit in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Magic.

While the specifics of the deal are unclear, Bickerstaff more than deserved the extension after two-straight years of making the NBA Playoffs. He turned a program that was once a 14-win team into a top-seed in the Eastern Conference in just a span of two seasons. Moreover, Bickerstaff also led the Pistons to their first-ever second-round berth since 2008.

Now, he will enter quite familiar territory with the Pistons in the NBA Playoffs. Bickerstaff needs his new team to win over his previous squad, the Cavaliers. Notably, Bickerstaff was a coach for the Cavaliers from 2019 up until 2024. He held a 51.7% win percentage for the Cavaliers at the time in the regular season. More importantly, the Pistons head coach saw the development of key players like Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley before departing.

If there is someone who can lead this team to a 2003 NBA Championship-like run, it is Coach Bickerstaff. Pistons fans would be glad to know he got extended.

More Pistons News:

• Pistons vs. Cavs schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores for 2026 NBA Playoffs series

• Revisiting last time Magic were up 3-1 in Pistons in 2003

• Tobias Harris, Cade Cunningham help Pistons complete comeback vs. Magic

NEW YORK -- As the Philadelphia 76ers took the court on Monday morning to prepare for shootaround ahead of Game 1 with the New York Knicks, they know their focus will be slowing down Knicks star Jalen Brunson who is one of the premier players in this league.

Brunson averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists in the regular season as he has once again led the Knicks to the top of the conference. He may stand at just 6-foot-1, but he plays with a physical brand of basketball that has allowed him to win in the playoffs and cause nightmares for opponents at this stage of his career.

Sixers guard Quentin Grimes began his career with the Knicks and played with Brunson. He knows exactly what he's capable of and what it's going to take to slow him down.

"I played with him," Grimes said at shootaround on Monday morning. "He’s an elite-level scorer. He’s crafty, big body, likes to play physical, so we just gotta do our best to slow him down. Try to make it as hard as possible for him defensively, try to throw different bodies for him and stuff like that, but he’s gonna make tough shots. That’s what he does. We just gotta make it as tough as possible for him."

Of course, Grimes and the Sixers just had to battle tough offensive opponents in Round 1 in the form of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who give everybody trouble. Now, the challenge turns to Brunson who offers a much different look than both of those players.

"It’s a brand new challenge," Grimes explained. "Tatum and Brown, they’re bigger guys. They’re just bigger and hard to contest and stuff like that, but Jalen—like he’s a big body. He plays in the post as well. He can get downhill, probably finishes more than them a little bit. He gets in the paint with floaters and stuff like that."

To Grimes' point, Tatum and Brown are always looking for the right matchup in order to rise up and shoot over defenders by using their size and physicality. Brunson uses his physicality to get to the basket and have success in that area.

"A craftier finisher than them, but he’s still a top 5 tough shot maker in the league," Grimes explained. "We just gotta be ready for him. He’ll have the ball a lot in the fourth quarter and clutch time so we gotta try to get the ball out of his hands."

As Grimes mentioned, Brunson is a tough shot-taker and tough shot-maker in this league due to his smaller stature, but that doesn't mean he's trying to create advantages through quickness and speed. He is focused on using his body to create space for himself on the jumper or in the post.

"I think people just don’t realize probably how strong he is at his size," Grimes finished. "People may see, like, a 6-foot-1 guy, and think he’ll be super fast or super quick. He kinda just plays at a steady pace, he plays at his own pace, but he’s also very physical. He plays in the post. He’s posted guys that are, like, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8, and stuff like that so that’s one of the things that helped him get off in different ways of scoring for sure."

The Sixers and Knicks will tip off at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday night.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers guard discusses defending former Knicks teammate, Jalen Brunson

How Anthony Edwards earned his 'Wolverine' nickname originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's easy enough to call Anthony Edwards 'Ant,' but that's not much of a nickname.

How about 'Wolverine'? That feels like a big-time alter ego for the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar.

And somehow on Monday, both Minnesota's Julius Randle and ESPN's Shams Charania called Edwards that same name.

Maybe it's a nickname that's been flying under the radar for a while, or maybe it's just slowly surfacing, with the universe clearly in favor of it.

Randle did say he used it last year, too, but maybe now it's catching on.

MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons

What is Anthony Edwards' 'Wolverine' nickname?

Edwards' nickname is about his mentality.

His teammate Randle explained it to reporters on Monday:

"I just remember last year, at the beginning of the year, he would take a nasty fall or a hit or whatever, and we might have to call a timeout. You'd be like d--- man, he might be hurt for real. And he just gets up."

Randle laughed at that point in his answer, then continued.

"He loves the game, so he's going to do whatever he can to put himself in position to be out there," Randle said.

Charania described Edwards this way on The Pat McAfee Show: "Just insane. An absolute wolverine."

Yeah, this one is catching on, and it's a good one, for sure.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• Paul George had a birthday on his side
• The LeBron omen that gives the Cavs hope
• The tricky part of the Toronto Raptors' future has arrived
• Cooper Flagg gets his best NBA news

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will miss the start of the 2026 WNBA season.

On Monday, The New York Post reported that Ionescu, who injured her left ankle during a 79-67 victory over the Connecticut Sun, is expected to miss at least two weeks. The Liberty star had an MRI on Monday, revealing a left foot injury. Ionescu, who reportedly avoided "significant injury," is expected to be reevaluated in two weeks.

The Liberty guard drove for a layup around the 7:40 mark of the third quarter and landed awkwardly, rolling her left ankle. Ionescu's feet appeared to get tangled with Sun forward Diamond Miller. After the matchup, Ionescu was seen with a boot on her left leg.

"(Things are) positive right now," Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said of Ionescu's injury postgame. "We're just going to do the test tomorrow, and that's the only update I have."

"Obviously, it wasn't good to see," Liberty center Jonquel Jones said. "Our fingers are crossed, and we'll just kind of handle it as we get more information."

Ionescu finished her day with six points on 2-of-8 shooting in just under 16 minutes of play. She played in 38 games last season for New York, averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds.

Ionescu hurt the same left ankle during her rookie year, which cut her campaign short. She needed season-ending surgery. In 2026, Ionescu did not play in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 professional league, due to an injury sustained during the 2025 WNBA season.

The Liberty, who won their first WNBA championship in 2024, had injury issues all of last season and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury. Jones (ankle) and Breanna Stewart (knee) missed 13 regular-season games each, while Ionescu (neck, toe) missed six. Former Liberty forward Nyara Sabally played in just 17 games due to a lingering knee injury.

New York will open the 2026 regular season hosting the Sun at Barclays Center on Friday, May 8 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sabrina Ionescu injury update: How long will Liberty star be out?

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the most dominant team in the league this season, has the upper hand against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round thanks to their defensive physicality.

They have the leeway to be more aggressive than most teams. The Thunder are allowed to hand-check and hold more because their defenders are giving themselves an obvious advantage. 

The tape shows examples of the big advantage the Thunder have defensively.

Extra Aggressiveness Leads to Forced Turnovers

The Thunder defense thrives on initiating contact and forcing opponents to play through it. They did so to the Lakers throughout the regular season, winning three of the four matchups by double digits.

On this play, Cason Wallace goes for the steal on the pass to the post but can’t get a deflection. Jaylin Williams comes over to help and prevent a straight-line drive.

Wallace knocks the ball on the gather, but there was enough contact in Luka Doncic’s mind to warrant him to immediately turn to the official and then twirl his finger at the bench for a review because he knew he was hacked. 

Here’s another example of the Thunder’s aggressiveness:

The Lakers use Doncic as the on-ball screener here. Wallace grabs Doncic’s jersey before the screen is set, creating an obvious advantage for the defender. 

They play on momentarily before Doncic is called for a moving screen. Jake LaRavia is also culpable for the offensive foul because he never stops and waits for Doncic to set the screen. It’s an easy call for the officials, but Wallace got away with a ton of contact up top.

On this play late in a blowout game, after navigating the first screen, there’s contact between Doncic and Wallace. A play like this could warrant a call for Wallace being in an illegal guarding position, but they play on. 

The play results in nobody else touching the ball, and Doncic forces a shot that hits the back heel of the rim.

OKC’s Defensive Versatility 

While they get grace for their physical defense, the Thunder are flat-out an elite and brilliant defensive unit.

On this pick-and-roll coverage, the Thunder’s goal is to get the ball out of Doncic’s hands, so they put two on the ball. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the low man — the weakside defender on the baseline. He tags the roll man and aggressively goes for the steal, which he has to do since he’s a guard trying to rim protect against a big. 

There’s contact underneath, but they play on after Gilgeous-Alexander deflects the ball on the catch.

Their defensive versatility is showcased again, this time with a big man on a guard.

The Thunder communicate and choose to have Chet Holmgren switch late. Holmgren positions his right foot up high, trying to get Doncic to drive to the middle of the floor.

Doncic goes to his patented step-back, but Holmgren’s length makes it difficult for him, resulting in a defensive stop.

Overall, the Thunder’s defense is a talented unit that blends switching, blowing up straight line drives, and covering for one another. 

Oklahoma City’s combination of their high IQ and physicality as a unit will be their biggest key to taking down the Lakers.

The post Thunder’s Defensive Physicality Is Biggest Advantage Against Lakers appeared first on The Lead.

What was Anthony Edwards' injury? Why Timberwolves star returned ahead of timeline to face Spurs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In the end, Anthony Edwards wanted to play.

The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar seems to have made that happen. A multi-week expected injury absence is in line to be just nine days. Edwards is lined up to play Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

It's clearly huge news for the Timberwolves, and really for this whole series. Victor Wembanyama against Ant should be a movie.

It's just a surprise that Edwards is already back.

MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons

What was Anthony Edwards' injury?

Edwards had both a bone bruise and a hyperextension in his left knee.

When Charania reported that on April 26, he said Edwards was "expected to miss multiple weeks."

The two-week mark from that post would've gone to May 10, but Edwards seems set to return on May 4.

Edwards didn't have ligament damage, which clearly helped the cause.

What's hard to know is whether Edwards is 100%, or close to it, or if he'll be playing through a significant amount of pain.

But after the Timberwolves closed out the Nuggets without Edwards, he's back. And that's a big, big deal.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• Paul George had a birthday on his side
• The LeBron omen that gives the Cavs hope
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• Cooper Flagg gets his best NBA news

Is Anthony Edwards playing vs. Spurs? Latest injury updates on Timberwolves star's status for Game 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Even as they dealt with a plethora of injuries, the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied past Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Now, another generational big man awaits in the second round.

On Monday night, the Timberwolves will be in San Antonio for Game 1 of a second-round matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. But health is a major concern for Minnesota heading into the series — including the status of the squad's superstar.

Anthony Edwards missed the end of Round 1 with his knee injury. Now, his status for Round 2 remains up in the air. But with news suggesting on Sunday that Edwards could make his return at some point soon, will he be able to get on the floor for Game 1 against the Spurs?

Here's the latest on Edwards' status for the first Timberwolves-Spurs matchup.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

Is Anthony Edwards playing in Game 1 vs. Spurs?

Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 against the Spurs barring any pregame setbacks, per Shams Charania.

His likely return comes as a surprise compared to just days ago — the Timberwolves designated Edwards as questionable for Game 1 in their injury report on Sunday, signaling a return was possible.

Edwards is not doubtful. He’s questionable. That tells you he has every intention of playing. Tomorrow at shootaround likely will be a big test

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) May 3, 2026

On Monday, Edwards was a "significant participant" in shootaround, aiming to return for Game 1 if he could be cleared by Minnesota's medical team, per Shams Charania. 

The star guard, who has been out since Apr. 25 with his knee injury, had originally been considered to be on more of a week-to-week basis — ESPN initially reported on Sunday that Edwards was targeting a Game 3 or 4 return against San Antonio. But based on Minnesota's Game 1 injury report and Edwards' push to play, there became a real chance he was able to suit up for the series-opener.

Chris Finch with injury updates on Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu

“I mean Ant’s still week to week so I haven’t had any update on that so I really don’t know, obviously nothing out of the gate with him, and Ayo is more day to day… he(Ayo) went through things but just the… pic.twitter.com/AKDKxPWulx

— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 2, 2026

Per ESPN, Edwards went through "light on-court work" over the weekend, then traveled with the team to San Antonio and was officially cleared for basketball activities ahead of the team's Monday morning shootaround. While there was reported "optimism" for Edwards' eventual return in the series, the Timberwolves have also remained "cautious."

Minnesota has already proved it's capable of winning without Edwards — the Timberwolves closed out their series vs. Denver without him — but they're undoubtedly a better team with him on the floor.

Now, barring a pregame setback, he's set to make an earlier return than anticipated for Game 1.

What is Anthony Edwards' injury?

Edwards has been dealing with a bone bruise from a hyperextended left knee suffered in Game 4 against the Nuggets on Apr. 25. The injury came on a block attempt.

Game 1 against the Spurs marks nine days following the hyperextension.

Anthony Edwards was helped to the locker room after an apparent knee injury. pic.twitter.com/rMAHGMK1ie

— ESPN (@espn) April 26, 2026

Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 1 start time

• 9:30 p.m. ET

San Antonio vs. Minnesota is the later tip-off of a two-game playoff slate on Monday.

The Western Conference squads will open their second-round matchup at 9:30 p.m. ET. 

Shams Charania: Minnesota's Anthony Edwards is expected to play in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, barring any setback pregame, per ESPN sources. Just 9 days removed from his left knee injury, and after the team had expected him to return midseries, Edwards has received medical clearance and will get final sign-off after his pregame routine.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards expected to play Game 1 against Spurs

The Timberwolves have downgraded Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness) to out for Monday's Game 1 against San Antonio.

HoopsHype

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Ayo Dosunmnu ruled out with right calf soreness

Michael Grange: “I think this summer will be … understanding where I fit the best and what role I can play, and hopefully it'll be here. I really want to be back.” Sandro Mamukelashvili on his pending free agency.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I think this summer will be … understanding where I …

Varun Shankar: Rafael Stone said doesn't feel adding a PG for PG's sake is helpful. Doesn't want someone who just gets you into sets / isn't a threat after the initial pass / can't defend or shoot.

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Rafael Stone said doesn't feel adding a PG for PG's …

Khobi Price: Deandre Ayton on the environment at Paycom Center in OKC: "You can't hear yourself. It's definitely the "Thunder" for a reason. Their fans are thunderous. You can hear the floor shaking, the bleachers, you can't even hear a play call. And you gotta be super dialed in."

Twitter

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Deandre Ayton on the environment at Paycom Center in …

And then there were eight.

On Monday night, we'll see the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs tip off. But when you go to watch each game and or check the schedule, you might notice something peculiar. Rather than ensuring every second-round matchup gets the full spotlight and 2.5-3 hours of breathing room in time between games, the schedule is ... staggered. Huh?

For example, on Monday, we have the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the New York Knicks at 8 p.m. Eastern with the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolvesstarting their matchup only 1.5 hours later at 9:30 p.m. Eastern. That means the second half of Knicks-76ers will be in full swing at the same time as the Spurs and Timberwolves are likely still feeling each other out. The same applies to Tuesday night's schedule. The Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers rekindle their rivalry at 7:00 p.m. Eastern in the Motor City with the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder starting their duel with the Los Angeles Lakers at ... 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

Uh, sure.

The NBA’s second round schedule by date: pic.twitter.com/lOipaV0gh2

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) May 4, 2026

All of this is a bit weird, if I'm being candid. I'm sure diehard hoops fans will try to find a way to catch as much of the initial second-round action as possible, but asking folks to keep flipping back and forth or make a conscious decision about which game they'll watch as we cut down the field of NBA title contenders to eight feels so shortsighted. Some of these series could very well be heavyweight, prestigious matchups featuring some high-level basketball in each game.

And I, for one, would've liked to enjoy each game without worrying about flipping to any other on-court action. The second round of the playoffs deserves as much. Thankfully, this overlapping schedule seems to stop as we get deeper into each series.

As for why it's happening now, the NBA typically pays respect to the Central time zone. Because both the top-seeded Spurs and Thunder are in the Central time zone, the league doesn't want to tip off games too late for the home market hosting a game. That would explain why there are more natural scheduling gaps as Thunder-Lakers shifts to Los Angeles in the Pacific time zone, for example.

This NBA scheduling quirk is undoubtedly pretty frustrating. Fortunately, it seems to be fleeting, a minor annoyance before we get into the meat of the conference semifinals.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA playoffs second round schedule is weirdly staggered. Here's why

Pistons vs. Cavs schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores for 2026 NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After Sunday's double Game 7 slate, both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers walked away to decide their second-round matchup.

Despite falling into the feared 3-1 series deficit against the Orlando Magic, Cade Cunningham and his Pistons powered through to win three straight games. From Games 5-7, Detroit's star averaged 36.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. If he can limit his turnovers, Detroit should be on a collision course for its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2008.

Cleveland started the series hot, taking the first two games at home. However, Toronto was able to equalize back at home during Games 3 and 4. The home team went on to win every game that series, which could bode badly for a team that doesn't own home-court advantage for being the higher seed. The Cavaliers' main route to victory involved limiting Cunningham's involvement in the game. The Magic series showed that victory can come if he turns the ball over frequently. Let's not forget that Orlando had the Pistons on the ropes in the first round, but a historically bad shooting performance during the second half of Game 6 saw them blow the series.

During the regular season, Detroit and Cleveland each won two games apiece. At home this season, the Pistons boasted a 35-10 record and shot 48.6% from the field.

The winner of this series will take on whoever comes out of the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers series in this year's Eastern Conference Finals.

Here's what you need to know to watch Detroit vs. Cleveland, including broadcast information and start times.

Pistons vs. Cavs schedule

* If necessary

Where to watch Pistons vs. Cavs: TV channel, live stream

• TV channels: NBCSN, NBC
• Live streams: DIRECTV | Peacock | Prime Video

The Pistons vs. Cavs series will air across multiple platforms thanks to the NBA's expanded broadcast deal, which will see games split among the NBC networks and Peacock, and Prime Video. 

Games on NBC can be streamed live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. 

Fans can also turn to the streaming homes for each broadcast partner — Prime Video or Peacock — for games on those platforms.

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.

NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025

Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. 

* Can move up depending on earlier series

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

The Orlando Magic front office made the move many in the NBA suspected they would to begin their offseason, and the franchise acted quickly.

Less than 24 hours after the Magic were eliminated from the playoffs when they blew a 3-1 series lead in Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, the team announced it had fired coach Jamahl Mosley after five seasons. Mosley had been rumored to be on the hot seat heading into the postseason, as the Magic were relegated to the play-in tournament after being mentioned as Eastern Conference contenders heading into the 2025-26 NBA campaign.

Team president Jeff Weltman said in a statement that the Magic is seeking "a new voice and fresh perspective," and the job remains an intriguing one despite Orlando's collapse against the Eastern Conference's top seed. The Magic still have 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and former lottery picks Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter, Jr. under contract, and could potentially make the jump many anticipated this season a year later with the right hire.

Here's a breakdown of six potential candidates to replace Mosley as the Orlando Magic's next coach:

NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: How will each second-round series play out?

Orlando Magic coaching candidates

Billy Donovan

Donovan notoriously accepted the Magic job and even held an introductory news conference in Orlando in 2007 before deciding to return to Gainesville as Florida's coach. He recently stepped down as the Bulls coach after six years and has already been linked to the job in several reports. Donovan has a 469-413 overall record in 11 seasons as an NBA coach, with a trip to the Western Conference Finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016.

Mike Budenholzer

Budenholzer was unceremoniously fired after one season with the Phoenix Suns last year, but he still has a reputation for producing high-performing offenses from his days with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks previously and an NBA championship on his resume in the past five years. His scheme is also known for operating well even without a traditional point guard, which could free up the Magic's pre-existing personnel.

Tom Thibodeau

Thibodeau has been on the shelf since the New York Knicks fired him after last year's loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, but he's a proven coaching commodity with everything but an NBA Finals appearance on his resume. Thibodeau's defensive identity would build on the Magic's strengths, but might not be the best fit for a team whose stagnant offense caused it issues all season long.

James Borrego

The former Charlotte Hornets coach and Magic assistant/interim head coach could make a return to Orlando after an admirable 24-46 run as the Pelicans interim head coach this season. Despite his ties to San Antonio Spurs and Gregg Poppovich, Borrego's lack of playoff credentials will be hard to overcome in the coaching search if the Magic front office intends to act as aspiring contenders this offseason.

Sam Cassell

Might the Magic be the team that finally gives the longtime NBA point guard and assistant coach his first chance to lead an NBA team? He's been mentioned as a candidate for various openings over the years, and he's been a lead assistant coach under Joe Mazzulla during his successful run with the Boston Celtics.

Terry Stotts

The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors. His eight-straight playoff appearances with the Trail Blazers, combined with time spent in Kerr's offensive system, could be appealing to Orlando if it can't reel in its top candidates.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Billy Donovan among Orlando Magic candidates after Jamahl Mosley fired

The first public WNBA officiating complaint of the season is from the first overall pick.

Following the Dallas Wings’ preseason victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, rookie Azzi Fudd was asked how she is adjusting to the physicality of the WNBA. In answering, the UConn product took a backhanded swipe at the officiating.

“Honestly, I’m more confused,” Fudd said. “I thought you could be physical in the W and anytime you touch someone, it’s a foul. So I’m not really sure whether to be physical, whether to—I don’t know. I’m still figuring that out.”

Fudd’s teammate, Jessica Shepard, joked that Fudd was still figuring out press conferences, too, because she “may get hit” with a fine. A source, however, tells Front Office Sports that the league won’t be fining Fudd for her comments.

Officiating has been a contentious topic in the WNBA in recent years. Ahead of the 2025 WNBA Finals, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that she would establish a “multi-stakeholder” task force to evaluate officiating in the offseason.

It’s still unclear who was involved in the task force. Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said late last month that there were “lots of committees” that met in the offseason to address officiating concerns and is hoping to see changes this season.

“Talking about it and making changes are two different things,” White said at Fever media day. “Do I hope that there’s improvement? Of course. But just like athletes and just like coaches, it takes time and it takes experience and it takes commitment to being consistent with it.”

White said that the changes may be an increase in calls, which would align with Fudd’s preseason callout.

“I hope that we’re going to see a lot of whistles early and that that’s going to continue because players will adjust,” White said. “We just need it to be consistent.”

Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh was asked about his expectations for this season’s officiating at the team’s media day last week. Marsh, however, declined to provide a detailed answer.

“It’s just all about accountability,” he responded to a question from FOS. “We don’t expect the referees to get it right 100% of the time. … I do believe that the players and the coaches have a level of accountability that we have to answer to regularly and we just want that transparency from both sides. And we’ll leave it at that.”

The post Azzi Fudd Won’t Be Fined After Questioning WNBA Officiating appeared first on Front Office Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers begin a difficult playoff challenge tomorrow. They face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a best-of-seven series as clear underdogs once again.

A similar situation unfolded in the previous round against the Houston Rockets. On that occasion, the Lakers managed to compete, especially amid Kevin Durant’s absence, but the margin for error is even smaller this time.

Having Luka Doncic available would significantly improve their chances. However, the latest update suggests the star guard is still far from making his return.

Brian Windhorst delivers concerning update on Luka Doncic recovery

ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst outlined the situation on Get Up this Monday. His comments indicated that Doncic is not yet close to resuming full basketball activity.

“He is not close. There is a whole ramp up that is required when you are coming back from a hamstring,” Windhorst said. “He has not started that contact ramp up yet.”

He added: “The Lakers got a break by starting this series a little bit after, by resting LeBron, but it has not brought Luka back. A series lasts 14 days. I don’t know where they’ll be in 10 days, but do not expect to see Luka in the first few games of the series.”

Doncic’s importance to the team makes that setback even more significant. According to SofaScore, he averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists during the regular season.

Those numbers placed him firmly in MVP conversations at different points. His absence removes the team’s primary scorer and playmaker against the league’s best team.

Lakers production drops significantly without Luka Doncic

The statistical difference with and without Doncic is clear. His presence transforms the Lakers’ overall effectiveness on both ends.

According to StatMuse, the Lakers hold a 14-10 record without him across the 2026 regular season and playoffs. They have averaged 111.1 points per game in those contests.

With Doncic available, the numbers improve notably. The team is 43-21 and scores 116.9 points per game, reflecting his offensive impact.

Read more:

How Caitlin Clark's teammate could dent her WNBA MVP chances originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Indiana Fever are probably going to be a very good team in 2026 if a player other than Caitlin Clark -- or even Kelsey Mitchell -- is nominated for the WNBA MVP award.

How does that work? Isn't Clark healthy again? Is she not still one of the best and most explosive players in the entire league?

MORE: Fever’s biggest concern revealed days before new WNBA season

Clark missed 31 games through injury in 2025, but she won Rookie of the Year honors while placing fourth in MVP voting in 2024. In her absence over the past year, Mitchell stepped up and averaged a career-best 20.2 points per game, carrying the Fever as long as she was physically able and earning first-team All-WNBA honors when the season ended.

With Mitchell and Clark rested and ready for the 2026 season, opposing defensive schemes are going to hone in on the two All-Star guards. That means they may leave openings for the Fever's third All-Star: Aliyah Boston, whom ESPN is tipping to emerge as an MVP candidate in her fourth season.

"Last season, (Boston) was tied for sixth in MVP voting, made her first All-Defensive team, first All-WNBA team and earned a third consecutive All-Star appearance. There's going to be a ton of attention on those two guards and Boston should be the beneficiary," wrote ESPN's Kareem Copeland.

Furthermore, Copeland thinks the relative lack of attention on Boston could lead to the South Carolina product achieving a rare statistical feat in recent years: a double-double average over a full season.

"The 2023 No. 1 pick has never averaged fewer than 8.2 rebounds per game," he wrote. "Averaging a double-double is possible."

In the past four seasons, only Angel Reese and A'ja Wilson have averaged a points-rebounds double-double across an entire campaign. If Boston breaks into that elite club, it will mean a career-best year for the former no.1 overall pick -- and a genuine shot at snatching the MVP award away from Wilson.

More WNBA news:

• Sophie Cunningham drops cryptic hint that has Fever fans paying attention

• Brittney Griner shuts down retirement talk with blunt message after Sun loss

• Did Caitlin Clark just reveal Lexie Hull’s wedding timeline?

• Sabrina Ionescu injury update: Liberty star set for MRI after preseason scare before opener

Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Orlando Magic have dismissed head coach Jamahl Mosley, sources tell ESPN. Mosley's tenure in Orlando finishes after five seasons, including three consecutive playoff runs from 2023 to 2026. Orlando had a first-round elimination for the third straight time Sunday.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jamahl Mosley out as Magic head coach

NBA top rookie Cooper Flagg got a fast ride on the track Sunday before the NASCAR race in Texas with another 19-year-old, Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch. A week after being named the NBA Rookie of the Year, the Dallas Mavericks' 6-foot-9 forward was the honorary pace car driver for the race in Texas. But several hours before leading the 38-car field to the green flag at the 1 1/2-mile track, Flagg was the passenger in that 2026 Chevrolet Corvette. It was driven then by Zilisch, who is in his first full Cup season with Trackhouse Racing after winning 10 races in NASCAR's second-tier series last year. "We got going pretty fast, and I think half the ride I was more scared of what was going on," Flagg said. "I've never been in a car going that fast, so it was pretty cool."

spectrumlocalnews.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: A week after being named the NBA Rookie of the Year, …

In Banchero’s opinion, the work begins sooner rather than later. “It starts in the summer,” he said. “It’s about winning habits. It’s about just creating a winning environment every single day. From September to now, we’ve just got to be better. We’ve got to be better. And it doesn’t start in April when the playoffs start. It starts in September, October, when we get everybody in the building. You build habits, you create an environment where losing isn’t acceptable. Losing in the first round is not acceptable. It’s not good enough. “That should be the attitude. It shouldn’t be comfortable in the building. It should be everybody on their Ps and Qs feeling pressure to be great because this result is not good enough. So, I think that’s the mindset that needs to be there from top to bottom.”

Orlando Sentinel

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Paolo Banchero on building a winning culture: It doesn't start in April. It starts in September

Cunningham averaged 6.8 turnovers in Games 1-4. Wagner suffered a right calf strain late in the third quarter of Game 4. In Games 5-7 without Wagner on the floor, Cunningham’s turnovers dipped to 4.6 per contest. “That doesn’t make it necessarily feel any better,” Bane said speculating on the series outcome had Wagner not gotten hurt. “This is reality and that’s a what if.” “Franz has been a warrior,” Bane added. “He’s been fighting to get back from his ankle all season. (He) came back early just to try to build some chemistry with us. I never doubt where Franz’s heart is at. He wants what’s best for the team and that’s just who he is. Injuries happen. It’s unfortunate and he shouldn’t feel like this is on him or feel any weight. Some of those things you just can’t control.”

Orlando Sentinel

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “Franz has been a warrior,” Bane added. “He’s been …

Antonio Daniels: Let me clarify, a SMALLER version is what I meant. Please forgive me for misspeaking @ohnohedidnt24 🤷🏾‍♂️

x.com

Antonio Daniels:

"Scottie Barnes is a younger version of Victor Wembanyama...he impacts both sides of the basketball. They do it in different ways" pic.twitter.com/9baG3zS0Ca

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Let me clarify, a SMALLER version is what I meant. …

Doncic is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered April 2. And right now, nearly five weeks removed, he’s still tethered. He’s been able to do light on-court movement and some spot shooting. No full-speed running. No contact. No 1-on-1 drills. In other words, he’s still a ways away from being available in this series. Sources told The California Post on Sunday that he’s expected to miss at least the first two games of the series. That news was not unexpected, but it’s still hard to swallow for Lakers fans hoping to defy the odds for the second consecutive series.

New York Post

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Luka Doncic to miss at least the first two games of Thunder series

This will be a difficult offseason for the Magic, one marked by at least some changes. League sources have whispered since late October that Mosley’s job could be in jeopardy, but Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman declined to make an in-season coaching change despite several puzzling lopsided defeats. “These guys laid it all on the line in this game, and that’s all (we’ve) asked them to do, again,” Mosley said Sunday. “And that’s part of being able to coach this group, that they found a way to fight no matter what the circumstances, and that that’s the one thing that I want to say. “I’m appreciative most of all for these guys.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: League sources have whispered since late October that …

Weltman does not appear to be in jeopardy of losing his job. Two league sources said Weltman signed a contract extension during the first half of the season, around the time the team reached the NBA Cup semifinals.

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Weltman signed a contract extension during the first …

Jamahl Mosley's hot seat just became a much warmer one in Orlando originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Orlando entered the postseason with a healthy roster and built a 3-1 series lead, a real shot at the second round for the first time in 16 years.

The Magic walked out of it with a Game 7 loss to the Pistons, a luxury-tax problem nobody can wave away, and a head coach whose seat just got considerably hotter.

Marc Stein's Sunday newsletter put it that Jamahl Mosley is widely expected to take the fall.

"The reality is that Mosley has been subjected to hot-seat chatter for many months. The anticipation in NBA coaching circles is that he will be the first one blamed for Orlando's shortcomings."

That is not new to anybody in the league. Mosley has been linked to job security questions since the Magic's 52-point loss to the Raptors in March, and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported earlier last week that it likely would have taken a second-round appearance just to cool the chatter. So, where is the second round appearance?

A deep Magic playoff run could force Orlando to reassess Jamahl Mosley’s future, per The Athletic's Sam Amick.

“Knocking off the East’s top contender en route to the second round… would certainly warrant a second look at his situation from the Magic’s power brokers.” pic.twitter.com/1TFJUD4AuP

— League Alerts (@LeagueAlerts) April 27, 2026

Jamahl Mosley is expected to be the first to be blamed for Orlando’s collapse, per @TheSteinLine

“The reality is that Mosley has been subjected to hot seat chatter for many months. The anticipation in NBA coaching circles is that he will be the first one blamed for Orlando's… pic.twitter.com/zkrWFQC9V9

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 3, 2026

The track record is mixed in a way that's hard to litigate. Mosley took over a 21-51 team in 2021, missed the playoffs his first two years, then went 47-35 in 2023-24 for Orlando's best season since 2011. He has reached the postseason in each of the last three seasons. He has not won a series in any of them.

More NBA news:

• Why Amen Thompson's reported $250M extension is worth debate 
• Joel Embiid sends urgent message to 76ers fans ahead of Knicks series 
• Jaylen Brown blasts Embiid's playing style after 76ers complete 3-1 comeback 
• Joe Mazzulla makes a surprising admission following Boston's historic collapse
• What Tyrese Maxey told Joel Embiid after Jayson Tatum was ruled out

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.

During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.

In 1969, Rick Roberson was taken by the Lakers with the No. 15 pick in the NBA draft after he averaged 15.7 points and 12.4 rebounds a game during his three years at the University of Cincinnati. The 6-foot-9 big man got a chance to play as a rookie when Wilt Chamberlain missed most of the season with a knee injury, and that year, he put up 8.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 27.1 minutes a game.

In two seasons with Los Angeles, Roberson averaged 7.1 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes a game. He spent the following two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and then played with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1973-74 campaign, and with both teams, he got considerably more playing time than he did with the Lakers.

Overall, Roberson played seven seasons in the NBA and averaged nine points and 8.3 boards per game during his career.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 35 — Rick Roberson

The Denver Nuggets are facing major questions after a disappointing playoff exit.

Their first round elimination came against a Minnesota Timberwolves side missing key players during the series, raising serious concerns about the team’s trajectory.

That defeat has intensified scrutiny around the roster and sparked widespread discussion about a potential overhaul.

Amid that uncertainty, clarity has begun to emerge regarding who remains central to the franchise. NBA insider Shams Charania has now identified the only two figures in Denver whose futures appear secure heading into the offseason.

Shams Charania claims just David Adelman and Nikola Jokic are unlikely to move

According to Charania, the Nuggets are set for significant change, with just two individuals guaranteed to remain: head coach David Adelman and star center Nikola Jokic.

“David Adelman, their head coach, he is going to be back. His job is safe,” Charania said on ESPN last Sunday, dropping a confirmation that provides stability on the sidelines despite growing pressure elsewhere.

He then added: “The second order of business for the Nuggets this offseason is securing a long-term commitment from Nikola Jokic. He’s eligible for a contract extension: four years and $290 million plus. The expectation on both sides is that Nikola Jokic will be signing that when he’s eligible in July.

“But, beyond that, there is going to be real roster changes coming to Denver. They want to identify how they can surround Nikola Jokic with the right pieces to get this team over the top… They’re gonna get calls and listen to calls on everyone on the roster besides Nikola Jokic.”

Jamal Murray’s future uncertain as Nuggets weigh options

That stance inevitably brings Jamal Murray into focus as a possible trade candidate. The guard has been with Denver since being selected seventh overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Murray played a key role in delivering the franchise’s 2023 championship. His partnership with Jokic was central to that success and helped define the team’s identity.

However, recent playoff exits have led to growing questions about his role and long-term fit.

With Denver open to listening to offers across most of the roster, Murray’s situation could become one of the defining storylines of the offseason.

Read more:

When the 2026 WNBA season tips off on Friday, May 8, teams start separating themselves into competitive tiers.

In 2025, the Las Vegas Aces finished one of the greatest title runs in league history. With .500 record at the All-Star break, Las Vegas rattled off 16 straight wins to get to the postseason. The Aces then survived two down-to-the-wire playoff matchups with the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to reach the Finals, where they later swept the Phoenix Mercury.

That sort of grit and determination places the Aces on a different level than many franchises and, for the 2026 season, automatically places them in the championship contender tier once again. Who else has a chance to win a title this season? Which teams have more work to do?

From contenders to rebuilding, here's where each franchise lands in USA TODAY's tiers ahead of the season tip off. (Each tier has teams listed in alphabetical order.):

Tier 1: Championship contenders

• Atlanta Dream: While Atlanta lost center Brittney Griner to free agency, it returned four of five starters, a major victory for a team pushing to surpass a franchise-best 30 wins achieved last season. The Dream also returned the leader of its bench unit, Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon, and added two-time All-Star Angel Reese via trade. If Atlanta can find a combination of players who can contribute to its bench, it could make the Finals for the first time since 2013.
• Indiana Fever: The Fever's title hopes start and end with the health of Caitlin Clark, who played 13 games last season because of series of soft tissue injuries. Indiana still made it within one game of the WNBA Finals but ran out of steam as injuries took their toll with the season on the line. Clark is healthy now and, with help from Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, Indiana is poised to make a deep run again and potentially win the franchise's second title.
• Las Vegas Aces: After winning three championships in four years, the Aces want to rewrite history this season. "Hunger is still prevalent with this group, just because we're chasing something that hasn't been done before. I don't think anybody's ever went back-to-back twice (on) two different occasions," Aces point guard Chelsea Gray said. Vegas likely has the best chance of any team to win another title after bringing back eight players from its 2025 championship roster and adding pieces like guard Chennedy Carter.
• New York Liberty: The Liberty didn't look like themselves last season largely because of injuries. New York was bounced from the first round of the playoffs, a shocking development for the 2024 champions. The Liberty's core ― Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart ― are back, and they've added three-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally to the lineup. Sabally instantly elevates New York's profile on both ends of the floor, making New York an early candidate to win another title.

Tier 2: Playoff locks

• Golden State Valkyries: In 2025, the Valkyries became the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to make the playoffs, and with newcomer Gabby Williams in the fold, Golden State could make the postseason again. Williams is a lightning rod on both sides of the floor and could be a nightmare to defend beside stars Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton. Furthermore, should Golden State deploy a similar version of its top-five ranked defense from last season, it will be in a position to surpass its 23 wins and potentially secure a top playoff seed.
• Los Angeles Sparks: The Sparks have so much experience and veteran leadership, it's hard not to pencil them in for a playoff run. Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Ariel Atkins and Nneka Ogwumike have collectively won five titles, and that goes a long way for a team looking to win more. The Sparks feel like a team that could play spoiler when the postseason arrives. The key for L.A. will be getting the most out of its bench, led by former No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink and veteran guard Erica Wheeler.
• Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx won't see Napheesa Collier before June, leaving it up in the air how successful the team might be in the first half of the season. Minnesota also lost starters Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith plus bench pieces Natisha Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard in free agency. The Lynx still have Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams and newcomer Natasha Howard to help keep them afloat, but the team's ceiling beyond making the playoffs is unknown.
• Phoenix Mercury: The Phoenix Mercury made it to the WNBA Finals last season behind the strength of its core ― Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas ― and a productive bench. After one season, Sabally moved on to New York, leaving Phoenix to replace her production by committee. Phoenix will likely make the playoffs, but without Sabally, another WNBA Finals run is a tall task.

Tier 3: Playoff hopefuls

• Chicago Sky: For the third consecutive season, the Sky's roster doesn't look similar to the one in the year prior, making it hard to establish consistency. Still, Chicago has plenty of experienced players who can help it be competitive, including newcomers Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson and DiJonai Carrington, plus Courtney Vandersloot and Azurá Stevens, who were on the 2021 championship team.
• Dallas Wings: With a first-year WNBA head coach and multiple new faces in Dallas, the Wings hope to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Dallas' ceiling is extremely high on paper, backed by its guard trio, which includes No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd, and an upgraded front court, featuring co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith.

Tier 4: Building or rebuilding

• Connecticut Sun: It's hard to gauge just how good the Sun will be with a move to Houston next season on the horizon and only four players on the roster with more than five years of experience. With veteran center Brittney Griner serving as a mentor, the Sun will learn and have fun even if reaching the playoffs may is out of reach.
• Portland Fire: The Fire chasing the Valkyries' expansion team standards set last year: 20 wins and a playoff spot. That's a gigantic goal for a new franchise, but players like Bridget Carleton (26 playoff games) and WNBA champion Megan Gustafson (16 playoff games) can help Portland's young roster understand its possible.
• Seattle Storm: The Storm lost four out of its five starters from last season and multiple bench players. However, Seattle can lean on All-Star Ezi Magbegor and WNBA champion Stefanie Dolson to help guide its young roster. With first-round picks Awa Fam, Flau'jae Johnson and Taina Mair also in the mix, the Storm can work towards forming their new identity.
• Toronto Tempo: The Tempo's offense promises to be exciting with head coach Sandy Brondello, who spent the past four seasons with New York Liberty. Brondello helped the Liberty become a top-five offense in three of her four seasons and could bring that same successful formula to Toronto. The Tempo will need it as they assimilate into the league.
• Washington Mystics: With an average roster age of 23 years old, there's a full youth movement in Washington. Still, the Mystics have two All-Stars − Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron − leading the way. Center Shakira Austin is also an underrated piece that could help the team's continued rise.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From dynasties to rebuilds, the WNBA’s 2026 tiers take shape

It took three Game 7s and three series that ended in six, but the first round of the NBA playoffs have wrapped up, which means the conference semifinals are already upon us.

In the East, the No. 3 New York Knicks are taking on the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers while the top-seeded Detroit Pistons will face the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Out West, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the only team to win their first-round series in a sweep, will battle the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers as All-Star guard Luka Dončić continues to mend from his hamstring injury. In the other series, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs will face another squad dealing with injury issues, the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards dealing with his left knee bone bruise.

Here’s a look at each conference semifinal series, with a prediction for each:

Eastern Conference

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

This 76ers team is not only peaking at the right moment, they actually look like legitimate threats. As long as Joel Embiid is playing the way he has since returning from his appendectomy, Philadelphia will have an argument. Embiid’s size and scoring ability makes him a nightmare to defend. It also stresses Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and demands a big series from backup center Mitchell Robinson.

For as good as Philadelphia has been, however, New York has been even better. After the Knicks went down 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks used Towns as the anchor of their offense. OG Anunoby had a massive series, and New York’s trio of Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges make their defense versatile and tough to crack.

The pick: Knicks in 7

No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit, frankly, didn’t play its best series and had a few limitations exposed in its seven-game series against the Orlando Magic. For one, the Pistons struggle when their outside shots don’t drop. For another, it became clear that All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham needs more help; as the playoffs continue, he alone cannot carry Detroit. And, finally, the Pistons will need more from their other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, who struggled to impact games early in the series.

Many of the same issues above could be said about the Cavaliers, who also needed seven games to dispatch their first-round opponent, the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland struggled with turnovers for much of the series, and Donovan Mitchell had good games, but not great ones. Cleveland will need him to be stellar, especially if Mitchell is to upend the narrative that he can’t go deep in the postseason.

The pick: Pistons in 6

Western Conference

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

This might be the toughest series to project, simply because it’s unclear how much Anthony Edwards will be available with his left knee bone bruise. The Timberwolves did announce that Edwards was cleared for on-court basketball activities, so the news is positive on that front. If Edwards isn’t able to play, however, it will be tough sledding for Minnesota, even though its defense was exceptional against the Nuggets and even though role players like Jaden McDaniels stepped up in a big way.

Either way, this series will depend on the matchup between the two countrymen, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Gobert was superb against Denver Nuggets all-world center Nikola Jokić, and he’ll need to be even better against Wembanyama. Protecting the paint is essential, and San Antonio’s speed in the backcourt will be tough to navigate. One other element to watch here is San Antonio’s relative inexperience in the playoffs. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have made consecutive conference finals appearances.

The pick: Timberwolves in 7

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers

The issue for the Lakers is the ongoing absence of All-Star guard Luka Dončić. Without him, LeBron James had to take on a massive role against the Houston Rockets. And, despite his age, he delivered. The Lakers did stumble in the middle of the Houston series, so finding ways to keep James fresh will be crucial. The return of Austin Reaves was big, and Lakers role players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura played some of their best hoops of the year in the first round.

But, the tough part for the Lakers is that they’re running into an absolute buzzsaw in the Thunder. The only team to sweep in the first round, Oklahoma City is poised, focus and now has the understanding of what it takes to win a title. The Thunder are deep, explosive and play some of the most aggressive on-ball defense in the NBA. They’re balanced and have role players that would be stars on other teams.

The pick: Thunder in 5

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs conference semifinals predictions

UNCASVILLE, CT − Connecticut Sun fans stood in long lines for autographs from their favorite players at the WNBA team's annual open practice and meet-and-greet to kick off the 2026 season at Mohegan Sun arena in late April.

Nearly 1,500 season-ticket holders collected signatures from the newest roster members − legendary center Brittney Griner and UCLA national champions Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker − and old favorites − UConn grads Aaliyah Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa − alike.

The fans know there won't be many more opportunities like this after the Mohegan Tribe ownership group announced March 30 it would sell the Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. While the reported $300 million sale still has to be ratified by the WNBA Board of Governors, its a foregone conclusions Fertitta will move the franchise to Houston ahead of the 2027 season.

"It's disappointing because we have a history here," Myra Amsden, a season-ticket holder from Waterford, Connecticut, who has been coming to games for 20 years.

"The Sun were really robbed it from the tribe. There's too many things that are not right about this whole thing. And it's embarrassing, I think, for the WNBA."

The tribe had agreed to sell to former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca for $325 million in July 2025. He had planned to move the team to Boston. Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry matched the $325 million and wanted to relocate the team to Hartford. The WNBA said no to both proposals, saying neither group made a bid for expansion in the last round so they were not eligible to buy the Sun.

The WNBA announced expansion to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) in July 2025. At the time, commissioner Cathy Engelbert made it clear the league wanted to return to Houston sooner than later.

“One of those I wanted to shout out because they have such a strong history in this league, and they’re a great ownership group — Houston. … That’s the one we have our eye on,” Engelbert said at the time. “Tilman (Fertitta) has been a great supporter of the WNBA, and we’ll stay tuned on that.

“Houston would be up next for sure. There might be opportunities there.”

The opportunity comes at the expense of Sun fans. The Mohegan Tribe bought the franchise, formerly the Orlando Miracle, in 2003 for $10 million. They have played in Connecticut for 24 seasons. Mike Greer and his wife, Asia, have had season tickets for two years but have been coming to games for much longer.

"I feel like a sore loser," said Greer, who's 5-year-old daughter, Autumn, was waiting in line with him for autogrpahs. "I've been mad. ... It's not even bittersweet. It's just bitter. There's no silver lining."

Asia Greer added: "It doesn't seem like a good business deal as the league is appreciating. The WNBA just did whatever they wanted. It's really sad how they snatched the team away."

Jenny Trerice has been coming to Sun games since she was 15, "when they first existed." She reminisced about the many players − from Nykesha Sales and Lindsey Whalen to DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas − who she's cheered for over the years.

"For it to be such a big basketball place and for them to say, 'We'll be gone in less than a year,'" Trerice said. "It shocked me, but it didn't. It definitely more hurt me than anything ... it seems like almost no loyalty."

Trerice attends games with her mom, Jennifer, who lamented the loss of the team and the opportunity to spend time with her daughter.

"This is like some some mom-kid bonding time that's gonna be taken away," Jennifer said. "I cherish it."

Connecticut calls itself the basketball capital of the world, thanks to 18 national championships combined between the UConn men's and women's basketball teams. The Sun never won a title but did make the playoffs 17 times and WNBA Finals four times in their history.

“Connecticut deserves to have a team, because we’re a proven (place) where people will support women’s basketball,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in March. “So them now moving, I think it leaves a void. They had a great fanbase, and it wasn’t only UConn fans or fans only went when UConn players came.

“They did a great job of establishing their own fanbase, and it was a rabid fanbase that provided a lot of energy and a lot of passion for those teams.”

As season ticket holders stood for up to a half an hour to meet their favorite player, longtime season-ticket holder Angel Earle said the event, where you "used to be able to get every player" has grown so much now you have to pick three or four players to target. Seeing the fanbase grow but being unable to keep the Sun in Connecticut is "frustrating."

Earle, who is well-known among the Connecticut fans for sitting courtside in colorful costumes and leading cheers, said she will continue to root for the W but doesn't look forward to having to take a road trip to see a game live.

"The New York Liberty will be the closest (WNBA team) but, I think before I start traveling all that way, I'll probably move back to Jersey first," Earle said.

"When I am retired ... maybe I'll move to Texas (to support the Houston Comets). Who knows?"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connecticut Sun fans devastated by Houston move, savor final season

Today in Boston Celtics history, the storied ball club selected four notable players in the 1964 NBA Draft, which took place in New York City, as was typical during that era. However, they did not draft future Celtics champion forward Paul Silas, who was instead picked up by the then St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta) in the second round of the draft with the 10th overall pick (the draft consisted of many more rounds in that era).

Silas played for the Hawks in St. Louis, and after they moved to Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in the spring of 1972.

There, he won two banners, be elected to multiple All-Defensive teams, and an All-Star Game -- among many other honors.

Transactions

Boston instead took Joe Strawder with the 34th pick out of Bradley, but the big man never suited up for the Celtics. He was instead sent to the Detroit Pistons, where he played three seasons. The Celtics also drafted Ron Bonham out of Cincinnati with the 16th pick. Bonham won two rings with Boston, in 1965 and 1966 -- his sole two seasons with the team. He averaged 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game over that stretch. Boston selected big man Mel Counts with the seventh overall pick out of Oregon State, and Counts also won two titles with the Celtics, again in 1965 and 1966. He played just those two seasons with Boston, recording 6.8 points, 5.8 boards, and 0.6 assists per contest.

Finally, the Celtics drafted center John Thompson, who also played just two seasons with Boston, both banner years, again in 1965 and 1966. Thompson went on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career immediately after retiring as a player in 1966, averaging 3.5 points, as many boards, and 0.3 assists per game as a Celtic.

It was on this date in 1999 that the team cut Garnett from the roster -- though not the one you are likely thinking of. Guard Marlon Garnett -- no relation to KG -- was waived by the team after a 24-game stint in the 1998-99 NBA season. The Santa Clara alum averaged 2.1 points per game over that stretch.

That same day, Boston signed guard Damon Jones to a rest-of-season deal after the Galveston native played well through a pair of 10-day deals. The former Houston floor general played just 13 games total for the team, logging 5.8 points, 2.4 boards, and 2.2 assists per game as a Celtic.

Gone too soon

Sadly, it is also the day in 1993 that we lost small forward Frank Kudelka. An alum of Saint Mary's College of California, Kudelka was signed by the (now defunct) Chicago Stags in 1950 and was picked up by the (also defunct) Washington Capitals in the Stags dispersal draft when that team folded in 1950, only to be picked up by the Celtics a year later when the Capitals went belly up.

Kudelka played just 27 games with Boston before the team sold his contract to the (ALSO defunct) Baltimore Bullets in 1951, recording 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while with Boston. Rest in peace.

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Thompson, Counts, Bonham draft; Garnett cut; Jones signs

Caitlin Clark is undoubtedly the most high-profile player in the WNBA. However, according to ESPN, she’s nowhere near that best.

After a sensational, record-breaking rookie season that saw her earn an All-Star nod as well as the league’s Rookie of the Year award, Clark’s second season in the WNBA did not go quite as planned. Not only did Clark’s stats drop across the board, but she also spent a significant portion of the season sidelined with an injury.

Now, Clark is looking to bounce back this season, but she seems to have lost quite a bit of the momentum and hype she had with the media.

Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, ESPN released a set of power rankings, ranking the top 50 players in the league. While Clark might be the face of the league, she came in at just No. 10 on the list.

“Clark received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists and posting the second-most 3-point field goals in a season,” ESPN wrote of Clark.

“She became one of the league’s best passers and long-range shooters the moment she stepped onto a WNBA court, and was just getting started when she was named Rookie of the Year and first-team all-WNBA in 2024. Injuries limited her to only 13 games in 2025, but she was still named an All-Star,” the ESPN blurb continued.

Ranked ahead of Clark was Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum at No. 9, reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings at No. 8, Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray at No. 7, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu at No. 6, Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young at No. 5, New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart at No. 4, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier at No. 3, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas at No. 2, and reigning MVP A’ja Wilson at No. 1.

Needless to say, Clark’s ranking quickly sparked outrage amongst WNBA fans, who expressed their displeasure on social media.

“I love Paige, but how is she ahead of CC after one yr? Caitlin’s rookie year was better than hers if we’re going based off one season. Literally none of the four players ahead of CC make any sense,” one fan wrote in a post on X.

“Paige Bueckers, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Alisha Gray even Alyssa Thomas are not above CC. What is this harebrained nonsense?” someone else wrote in another post.

“This is mad disrespectful. Imagine ESPN treating LeBron or Jordan like this when he was playing,” someone else added.

“So Caitlin is 10 because of Injuries last season??? Despite winning MVP for USA??” someone else questioned.

“This is all so unserious,” another person commented.

Needless to say, fans were not exactly happy about Clark’s ranking. We’ll have to see whether or not she can prove ESPN wrong this upcoming season.

The post ESPN sparks outrage with ‘disrespectful’ Caitlin Clark move appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Over the last few years, Aaron Gordon has been one of the Denver Nuggets' most important players. The 6-foot-8 forward has given them complementary scoring, high-level defense, rebounding and timely 3-point shooting, and he was one of the final pieces to the puzzle when they won the NBA championship in 2023.

But now that the Nuggets have failed to reach the Western Conference finals since then and lost in the first round a few days ago, they're facing plenty of questions and potentially many changes this summer. While Gordon has three years left on his contract, NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the 30-year-old could be a candidate to be traded this offseason.

Siegel mentioned the Los Angeles Lakers as one team Gordon could "fit in with."

"Should the Nuggets actually pull the pin on Gordon, many teams in both conferences will begin bidding for his services," Siegel wrote.

"Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics are among the many win-now teams Gordon would obviously fit in with as realistic trade suitors."

Gordon has had some injury issues, and he played in just 36 regular-season games this year while missing the last three contests of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a calf injury. But his production and impact are unmistakable. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range during the regular season this year.

The Lakers need athleticism, defense and 3-point shooting at the wing and forward spots moving forward. If healthy, Gordon could be the type of player to help them take the next step.

However, he will be expensive for any team that tries to trade for him. He will make $33.66 million next season, and his contract will increase to $39 million during the 2028-29 season, although he has a player option for that season.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider: Aaron Gordon 'would obviously fit in' with Lakers

Jarrett Allen reacts to surprising MVP chants amid his remarkable Game 7 performance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For a long time, Jarrett Allen has been part of the core four on the Cleveland Cavaliers. That is Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and now, James Harden. In the past, that was Darius Garland, but he was the one traded for Harden at the 2026 deadline.

For most people, Allen is the least prominent in the core quartet, but he made sure to make his name known in Game 7 of the first round series against the Toronto Raptors. He had a dominant performance, getting 22 points and 19 rebounds. It was such a good game that Cavs fans at Rocket Arena were chanting MVP at Allen.

The surprising MVP chants for the Cavs' Jarrett Allen

When people think about the modern-day Cavaliers, they most likely think about Mitchell and Mobley. They are the team's best players, but that changed a bit in the Playoffs. Mitchell struggled against the Raptors, while Mobley was clearly the best Cavs player out there.

Thankfully, the core group had some good performances in Game 7, but Allen was truly the standout. It felt like he always found his way to get the ball with his rebounding, but he was also quite energetic with hustle plays.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell is glad to have James Harden's presence on the Cavaliers roster

That is what people want from Allen all the time. He is a workhorse, and when his energy is up, the opponents mostly struggle. Moving forward, he might receive more MVP chants, something that he did not expect to happen in Game 7.

"Probably from the bench jokingly. Got a little nervous out there. I thought it was Donovan Mitchell receiving the MVP chants," Allen said about how he felt when he received MVP chants during Game 7.

The Detroit Pistons will be the Cavaliers' opponents in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It will be a grueling matchup for both teams, but this time, it will be much more reliant on the big men because Allen and Mobley against Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart will be exciting and physical.

More NBA news:

• The Cavaliers are now the team to beat in the Eastern Conference Playoffs
• Jarrett Allen had one of the best performances of his career in Game 7
• How an omen from LeBron James gives the Cavaliers some hope for an NBA championship
• Why Evan Mobley needed to redeem himself in Game 7 against the Raptors
• Donovan Mitchell's honesty about how the Cavaliers needing to protect their home court advantage in Game 7

Caitlin Clark’s chemistry with Sophie Cunningham turned heads in the Indiana Fever’s 2026 WNBA preseason finale against Nigeria on Sunday.

The 24-year-old enters her third season on a mission after an injury-riddled 2025 campaign limited her to just 13 games.

Clark averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds before a groin strain shut her down. The two-time All-Star has returned with a vengeance. 

MORE: Caitlin Clark flexes outfit for Indiana Fever game

Clark is a generational talent who can slice through defenses off the dribble and torch opponents from beyond the arc. Her ability to create for teammates sets her apart. 

Ahead of opening night, the Clark-Cunningham tandem gave fans a glimpse of what is to come.

Caitlin Clark is back to form

The Fever had their way with Nigeria from start to finish. Clark was the catalyst for Indiana’s dominance.

Around the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, Clark pushed the pace in transition. She scanned the floor quickly. Clark then delivered a perfect no-look pass to a cutting Cunningham. Cunningham completed the highlight with the easiest two points of the night.

The Fever’s official Instagram account shared the play shortly after.

“anotha insane CC pass,” the Fever wrote. “Caitlin Clark splits three defenders to find Sophie Cunningham for the lay.”

Indiana closed the preseason on a high note with a 105-57 victory. Clark finished with 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting, 2-of-3 from three and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. She added four assists in 13 minutes of play. Cunningham contributed eight points and three assists in 12 minutes.

Cunningham was a priority for the Fever in offseason free agency. She re-signed on a one-year, $665,000 deal. Last season, Cunningham embraced her role as the team’s enforcer. 

MORE: Fever star Sophie Cunningham shuts down rumors about unhappiness with contract

Her bond with Clark extends beyond the court. That connection was impossible to ignore on this play.

Fever fans can expect more from these two when the regular season tips off on May 9 against the Dallas Wings.

Luka Doncic continues to recover from a Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered during an NBA regular-season game on April 2. He missed the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, but the Los Angeles Lakers were able to advance to the Western Conference semifinals by winning 4-2.

The team will need to continue playing without the six-time All-Star, as he is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday. The senior NBA insider stressed that Doncic recovery has been on a “slow path.”

MORE: Austin Reaves reveals Lakers’ mindset for Thunder series

“I’m told right now that Luka Doncic will be out to start the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Charania said on Inside the NBA. “The Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis with that Grade 2 hamstring strain. One source told me in the last few days (that) it’s still a slow path on Doncic’s recovery. He’s doing more and more on the court, but right now still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts.”

Lakers need committee approach

Doncic has appeared in 64 games this season, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals. His absence will be felt even more against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have a plethora of scorers.

Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura will be relied upon heavily by Lakers head coach JJ Redick to support LeBron James on both sides of the floor. The Slovenian star’s production is hard to replicate, and more than one player will need to step up. Reaves returned to action in Game 5 and played a big role in helping his team advance to the next round.

Oklahoma City swept the No. 8-seeded Phoenix Suns and has not played since Wednesday. The extra days off have given the Thunder more time to rest and practice ahead of their clash with Los Angeles.

Donovan Mitchell continues to praise James Harden's impact on him and the rest of the Cavs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were happy with Darius Garland before the 2025-26 season. Unfortunately, they found a way to improve on him by getting a more experienced guard who can lead the team alongside Donovan Mitchell. Now, they are reaping the benefits of having a former MVP spearhead the offense.

Now, the Cavaliers are into the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Garland has been excellent for the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Cavaliers with Harden turned their season around and are now through as one of the final four teams in the Eastern Conference.

Donovan Mitchell continues to be thankful for James Harden's presence in Cleveland

Mitchell has played with plenty of great players throughout his career. In the backcourt, he has played with the likes of Garland, Mike Conley, and now, Harden. It has been an excellent career for Mitchell to play with that much quality in the same backcourt. 

Harden is possibly the greatest partner he's had because the older guard is a former MVP and regarded as one of the greatest offensive engines in NBA history. Mitchell himself has not run out of praises for his veteran teammate, including after Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors.

MORE: Jarrett Allen re-defines his legacy with his Game 7 performance against the Raptors

Jarrett Allen was the standout player for the Cavaliers in Game 7. He had 22 points and 19 rebounds, dominating the paint for the Cavaliers against a plucky Raptors team. Mitchell and Harden had underwhelming games based on their standards, but the former is glad the latter is a teammate.

"He’s meant the world to me, I’m not gonna lie.  When you play with another guy at that level, the communication with us has been great for the group and me. His play speaks for himself.  When you got a guy who’s a hall of famer, MVP, it helps us," Mitchell said about Harden's impact on him as a teammate on the Cavs.

Mitchell brings up great points because Harden's experience has paid off for the Cavs. They want to be a much better team, and with Harden's presence, they have a reliable veteran they can respect for both his leadership and his play. Garland was a great player for Cleveland, but he does not have the same level of experience just yet.

More NBA news:

• The Cavaliers are now a team to beat in the Eastern Conference Playoffs
• The matchup for the Cavaliers ahead of their second-round series
• How a second-half barrage helped the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals
• James Harden gets rave reviews from Nets forward Michael Porter Jr.
• Donovan Mitchell speaks on why it was so important they had home court in Game 7

What channel is Knicks vs. 76ers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 1 of NBA Playoffs series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Plenty of star power will be on display for Round 2 on the Eastern Conference side of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The third-seeded New York Knicks will open their series against the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, with both teams coming off lengthy first-round matchups and with plenty of momentum.

For the Knicks, it took them six games to best the Hawks, but their Game 6 win was more than convincing, winning by 51 points. Philadelphia, meanwhile, finally beat the Celtics in the postseason, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to take the series in seven games. Now, the two historic franchises will meet with a conference finals bid on the line.

Here's what you need to know about Monday's matchup between the Knicks and 76ers, including broadcast information and start time.

What channel is Knicks vs. 76ers on today?

• TV channel: NBC
• Live stream: Peacock

Knicks vs. 76ers Game 1 will be broadcast by NBC and will stream live on Peacock. 

Peacock features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, the Tour de France, and more.

Knicks vs. 76ers start time

• Date: Monday, May 4
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series between New York and Philadelphia is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York.

Knicks vs. 76ers series schedule

* If necessary

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.

NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026

Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. 

* Can move up depending on earlier series

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

There is nothing in professional basketball quite like a Game 7. In the National Basketball Association, where legacies are built over 82 games and multiple playoff rounds, everything ultimately narrows to a single night when the margin for error disappears. Game 7 is the league’s purest competitive form—no pacing, no long-term strategy, just execution, composure, and resolve under maximum pressure. It’s where stars are expected to become legends and where role players can carve out unforgettable moments in league history.

Across decades, Game 7s have delivered some of the most dramatic and defining performances the sport has ever seen. From the dynastic dominance of Bill Russell to modern-era heroics by players like LeBron James and Jayson Tatum, these winner-take-all clashes reveal not just skill, but mental endurance. The stakes are amplified further in the Finals, where championships hang in the balance and history is written in real time.

RELATED: ESPN ranks NBA teams highest chance of winning NBA Finals

What makes Game 7 truly compelling is its unpredictability. Even the most dominant teams can falter, and underdogs often rise with fearless urgency. The numbers behind these games—records, scoring feats, and franchise histories—offer a deeper lens into just how rare and intense these moments are. Together, they tell a story of a league defined as much by its climactic endings as by the journeys that lead there.

There have been 155 Game 7s in NBA history

Over the course of the NBA’s evolution, Game 7 has remained a relatively rare but defining occurrence, with 155 instances highlighting just how difficult it is for two teams to remain evenly matched through a full series. Each one represents a deadlock of talent, strategy, and resilience stretched to its limit. These games often become historical reference points, remembered long after entire seasons fade. The cumulative total underscores how exclusive—and consequential—these moments truly are.

Every active NBA franchise has played at least one Game 7

No active franchise has escaped the crucible of a Game 7, reinforcing its role as a universal rite of passage in the league. Whether perennial contenders or rebuilding teams, each has faced the unique tension of a winner-take-all scenario. These appearances often mark turning points in franchise identity, shaping narratives for years to come. Simply reaching a Game 7 reflects a team’s ability to compete at a high level over a sustained series.

There have been 20 Game 7s in the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals have produced 20 Game 7s, where the stakes escalate from series victory to championship immortality. Home teams have dominated with a 16–4 record, emphasizing the tangible edge of familiar surroundings and crowd energy. Most recently, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers on their home floor, adding another chapter to this exclusive club. These games are often remembered as defining moments not just for teams, but for entire eras.

RELATED: NBA’s last 5 champions

The first Game 7 in NBA history took place on April 6, 1948

The NBA’s first Game 7 came on April 6, 1948, when the Philadelphia Warriors—now the Golden State Warriors—defeated the St. Louis Bombers 85–46. The lopsided score contrasts sharply with today’s tightly contested Game 7s, reflecting the league’s early developmental stage. Even so, it established the winner-take-all format that would become a cornerstone of playoff drama. That inaugural game laid the foundation for decades of high-stakes basketball.

The first Game 7 in the NBA Finals took place in 1951

In 1951, the NBA Finals saw its first Game 7, featuring the Rochester Royals—now the Sacramento Kings—and the New York Knicks. The Royals secured a 79–75 victory after the Knicks staged a remarkable comeback from a 0–3 deficit to force the decider. This series introduced the dramatic potential of momentum swings within a playoff matchup. It remains one of the earliest examples of resilience pushing a series to its absolute limit.

Bill Russell won all 10 Game 7s in which he played

Bill Russell holds a perfect 10–0 record in Game 7s, a testament to his unparalleled winning mentality. Anchoring the Boston Celtics dynasty, Russell consistently elevated his performance when the stakes were highest. His dominance in these situations reflects not just skill, but leadership and defensive brilliance. No player in NBA history has matched his flawless record in such pressure-packed games.

Jayson Tatum holds the Game 7 scoring record with 51 points

In the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jayson Tatum delivered a historic 51-point performance for the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers. The performance set a new benchmark for scoring in a Game 7, combining efficiency with volume under immense pressure. Tatum’s outing exemplified the modern scoring explosion while maintaining the gravity of the moment. It stands as one of the most dominant individual performances in playoff history.

RELATED: NBA’s highest paid stars of 2025-26 season

Jerry West holds the Finals Game 7 scoring record with 42 points

Jerry West scored 42 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the 1969 Finals against the Boston Celtics. Despite the loss, West’s performance remains the highest-scoring effort in a Finals Game 7. It encapsulates both individual brilliance and the often cruel nature of winner-take-all games. His effort continues to be a benchmark for Finals excellence under pressure.

LeBron James has the most total Game 7 points with 279

LeBron James has accumulated 279 total points across eight Game 7 appearances, the most in NBA history. Surpassing Jerry West by a narrow margin, James’ consistency in these situations is as impressive as his longevity. His performances often combine scoring, playmaking, and defensive impact, reflecting his all-around dominance. This record highlights both durability and sustained excellence in the league’s most demanding moments.

The Boston Celtics have played a record 37 Game 7s

The Boston Celtics lead all franchises with 37 Game 7 appearances, nearly a quarter of all such games in NBA history. Their 27–10 record (.730) underscores a tradition of success in high-pressure situations. This consistency reflects decades of competitiveness across multiple eras and rosters. For the Celtics, Game 7 is less an anomaly and more a familiar proving ground.

Conclusion

Game 7s distill the essence of basketball into its most intense and unforgiving form. The numbers behind these matchups reveal patterns of dominance, resilience, and historic individual brilliance. Ultimately, they remind us that in the NBA, greatness is often defined not just by winning—but by how you perform when everything is on the line.

Jaylen Brown calls out Joel Embiid 'flopping,' officiating in Celtics vs. 76ers: 'They clearly had an agenda' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Just around 24 hours after the Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7, sealing their blown 3-1 series lead, Jaylen Brown decided to air out some of his thoughts on the result.

After initially using his postgame press conference to mention Joel Embiid "flopping," on Sunday night, the Celtics star was on his own live stream, breaking down some of the big plays from Game 7 — and taking his criticism of the officiating a step further.

Brown doubled down on his Embiid comments, then suggested there were officials who needed to be "investigated" and that many have an "agenda" against him.

Here's what Brown had to say about Embiid and the officiating in Celtics vs. 76ers.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

Jaylen Brown calls out Joel Embiid for 'flopping'

Brown's gripes about how the Celtics' season ended began at the podium, moments after Boston allowed the 76ers to claim a Game 7 win on the road and complete a 3-1 comeback. While the Celtics missing Tatum, shooting 13-for-47 from deep and struggling to make clutch shots down the stretch all played a role in Saturday's loss, one of Brown's main attributions for the defeat came with some allegations against Philadelphia's star center.

"[Embiid is] a big body. He also was flopping around, he got some extra calls, stuff like that," Brown said. "They rewarded him for that, but that's the league that we're in."

"[Joel Embiid] also was flopping around. ... They rewarded him for that, but that's the league that we're in."

—Jaylen Brown after the Game 7 loss pic.twitter.com/FvzlGeKD24

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 3, 2026

In Game 7, Brown and Embiid had been seen getting chippy in one of the NBA's longest rivalry matchups. As Embiid sized up, then backed down Brown, the two barked at one another, with the 76ers star getting the best of that matchup then later being seen saying, "I'm not guarding you."

Joel Embiid with words for Jaylen Brown.pic.twitter.com/w6Nhvfg1VM

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 3, 2026

Joel Embiid to Jaylen Brown 😭

“I’m not guarding you” pic.twitter.com/UL994aGFgY

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 3, 2026

Brown and Embiid had some other high-intensity plays against one another in Game 7, each swatting a shot from the opposing star.

JOEL EMBIID STUFFS JAYLEN BROWN AT THE RIM 🤯

The block led to the score on the other end 🔥

(via @sixers)pic.twitter.com/9Alzh1SIM3

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 3, 2026

That wasn't the end of the Game 7 head-to-head matchup between Brown and Embiid. Toward the end of the series, after a whistle, Embiid sent Brown to the floor and was given a technical foul for excessive contact, a play that left the Celtics star limping.

Joel Embiid went to contest Jaylen Brown after the whistle and it was deemed excessive content. pic.twitter.com/tStaz9k9OH

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 3, 2026

Still, the two showed respect to one another postgame, seen chatting and smiling as the 76ers advanced.

Joel Embiid & Jaylen Brown after the game

Nothing but respect. ✊ pic.twitter.com/kvxxXVoM7Z

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 3, 2026

On Sunday night, however, appearing on his own stream, Brown had a whole lot more to say in regard to Embiid. 

"Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in f---ing basketball history. [He] flops. He knows it, this ain't breaking news," Brown said. "It is what it is."

"Flopping has ruined our league. Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too"

- Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/jEdxqbWE0C

— Riley ❄️ (@rileysbetter) May 4, 2026

Brown, breaking down some of his Game 7 film on stream, also said that "there's weight classes for a reason" in reference to his back injury from the Embiid technical foul. 

"Massive human being," Brown said. "But I'll tell you what. You give him another possession, I'll get right back in there and guard his a-- again."

Jaylen brown says it’s weight classes for a reason after he watches a clip of him guarding Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/MbKvi44iJ4

— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 4, 2026

MORE: Breaking down what went wrong for the Celtics in stunning Round 1 loss 

Jaylen Brown says Celtics-76ers officials had 'agenda,' should be 'investigated'

That wasn't the end of Brown's controversial stream comments about the Celtics' Game 7 exit on Sunday night.

He also called out the officials in the series, saying that he's not the only player who will push off offensively and suggested that the officials were "targeting" him.

"Every player does it. So why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I've spoken and I was critical of refs in the regular season, and so they responded, 'You're going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls,'" Brown said. 

He also claimed that he's previously spoken to officials who "told me there’s an agenda going on each game that any time Jaylen puts his hands up, just call it."

"But Paul George does the same thing, Jalen Brunson does the same thing, s--- I could go down the list, it's a basketball play," Brown said. "Philly took advantage of it, and they took advantage of the officiating, and it cost us to some degree. But I've been doing it all regular season, not a problem, and now all of a sudden it's an offensive foul every time?"

Jaylen Brown GOES OFF on the NBA Refs and says they had an agenda against him throughout the Sixers vs Celtics series:

“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critical on them in the regular season”

“I actually spoke to some refs and they told me there’s an agenda… pic.twitter.com/LcdgEt4IQn

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 4, 2026

Brown also went as far as to say that if he "had to choose," there were a few NBA officials who "need to be investigated," all of whom were on the call for the last three games of Celtics vs. 76ers.

“If I had to say there’s some referees that need to be investigated…we had 3 of them in the last 3 games”

Jaylen Brown on the officiating in the Celtics vs 76ers series 😳 (via FCHWPO on twitch) pic.twitter.com/hVHC5Sw1in

— Underdog (@Underdog) May 4, 2026

MORE:When was the last time 76ers beat Celtics in the playoffs before 2026?

Jarrett Allen silences critics with the game of his life originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers closed out Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors with a final score of 114-102, putting the Cavs into Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. It was a game that was close for the first half, with both teams heading into halftime tied at 49. It looked like a yet another long night of back-and-forth action just like the rest of the series had been up until that point. Then Jarrett Allen stepped out ontot he court for the third quarter. 

Allen, the Cavs' defensive standout at center, and oftne the subject of fans criticicsm, went on to have the most impactful third quarter of the series, posting a double-double in that single quarter alone. During the third quarter, he scored 10 points, shooting 5-6, while pulling down 10 rebounds against a very tough Raptors squad. Had that been all, his third-quarter stats would've made for a solid outing for the entire game, but that wasn't it for him. 

Allen was a beast for the entire game. For the night, he had 22 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. It was an all-time performance for the center, who stepped up in a big way at a time when the team needed another name to step up. After Game 6, it became obvious that the Cavs needed one of their bigs to step up and help clear the paint offensively. The obvious name was Evan Mobley, especially after the outing he put up.

More: Who are the Cleveland Cavaliers facing in round two of the NBA Playoffs?

Instead, it was Allen who showed up and helped clear the paint, allowing for the Cavs to attack in the paint more often. The Cavs were able to get guys like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the paint more often, not only scoring easier buckets as opposed to the junk they were throwing up in Game 6, but also making it easier to get foul calls in their favor.

Attacking the paint was something the Cavaliers had to establish, especially since the team shot just 29% from three for the game. If it wasn't for Allen's ability to manuver in the paint, the Cavs likely go home after this game. The Cavs outrebounded the Raptors 60 rebonds to 33, nearly doubling their opponents efforts on the night. Allen led all players with 19 total rebounds, while having more offensive rebounds (8) than the Raptors entire squad did as a whole (7).

Allen and Mitchell tied for the game high among Cavs players with 22 points scored each.

More NBA news:

• The Eastern Conference is still wide open ahead of the second round
• Paul George and the reason behind the 76ers not willing to lose Game 7
• VJ Edgecombe receives much-deserved praise for his defensive play
• The Boston Celtics appreciate Joel Embiid's impact after making his return
• Jaylen Brown believed in the 76ers more when they had no Joel Embiid

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, problems the Los Angeles Lakers had in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets was ball security. They averaged 17.7 turnovers a game in the six games of that series, and Houston often found success in pressuring their ball-handling and baiting them into making risky passes.

The Lakers will now face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals starting on Tuesday. If they thought Houston was excellent at forcing turnovers, they likely haven't seen anything yet in this year's postseason. While talking to the media on Sunday, coach JJ Redick said that taking care of the basketball will be L.A.'s biggest emphasis.

"The reality of their defense is that whatever moments we felt Houston pressuring, like the maximum amount of pressure they put on us, that's OKC's baseline. That's their floor. They're top-five in every category that's disruptive-base: Steals, blocks, turnovers forced, all that stuff. And they don't foul. They somehow do all of that without fouling, which is one of the most remarkable things I think in NBA history."

During the regular season, the Thunder were second in opponents' turnover percentage and first in points off turnovers, and they were first in defensive rating for the second year in a row. Many feel they're one of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history, and the team's roster is loaded with capable perimeter defenders, while big man Chet Holmgren (1.9 blocks a game in the regular season) patrols the paint.

On April 2, Los Angeles committed 18 turnovers against the Thunder and gave up 24 points off turnovers and 32 fast-break points in a 139-96 loss. Five days later, they gave up the basketball 17 times in a 123-87 defeat at the hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and crew.

If L.A. doesn't limit its turnovers in this series, it will get knocked out in a hurry.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick on Lakers' biggest key versus Thunder

The LeBron James omen that gives these Cleveland Cavs hope for an NBA title originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors could not have been more even for six games.

In the series tied 3-games apiece, the teams had each scored 669 points entering Game 7.

It was the second time in NBA history that a series had gone to Game 7 with the points exactly even, according to NBC's broadcast.

The first? The 2016 NBA Finals.

That was Cavs against Warriors, and that was Cleveland's long-awaited championship with LeBron James.

In essence, history answered which team scored more points after the six-game deadlock that time around.

Could this season's Cavs have the same story?

MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons

They certainly did on Sunday night, surging to end the first half, then pulling away in the second half to eliminate the Toronto Raptors from the first round of the postseason.

Sure, the Cavaliers are still 12 wins away from a championship. But they've got a LeBron-sized omen on their side.

They've also got a team fit for any moment.

If a game requires guard play, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can do it.

If the bigs are needed, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are well-equipped.

Shooting? Sam Merrill and Max Strus have it covered.

Add in guys like Jaylon Tyson, Dennis Schroder and Dean Wade, and that's quite the rotation that can fit any situation.

That's how they stuck tight with a gritty Raptors team for this whole series, even in the tough moments, even when down for the entire first half before tying it up on the half's final basket.

They had all the answers they needed.

The Eastern Conference had the Celtics knocked out, but the 1-seed Pistons are in Cleveland's way next. The other semifinal is 76ers-Knicks.

Eventually, a West behemoth would loom, likely the Thunder or Spurs -- or maybe LeBron himself.

For now, though, the Cavs have reason to celebrate, and reason to believe.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• Paul George had a birthday on his side

It's no secret that the return of Joel Embiid made a big difference for the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 1 against the Boston Celtics. After falling down 3-1, Embiid led the charge to help the Sixers rally from the deficit and eliminate the Celtics in seven grueling games.

Embiid return from an appendectomy in Game 4 of the series and averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists across the four games. He was phenomenal in every sense of the word and made sure he took advantage of the matchups the Celtics threw at him as Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Nikola Vucevic had a tough time defending him as they had to foul him.

However, if one asks Celtics star Jaylen Brown, he believes Embiid embellishes everything a little bit. Brown stated on his stream on Sunday night:

This is my personal opinion on basketball. Some of you might disagree, but argue with your grandma. Flopping has ruined our game. Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in (expletive) basketball history. Flops. He knows it. This ain't breaking news. It is what it is.

"Flopping has ruined our league. Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too"

- Jaylen Brown

(h/t @rileysbetter )

pic.twitter.com/rUU61pq6Fh

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 4, 2026

One can assume this is probably emotions talking for Brown after such a disappointing end to the series for the Celtics. Embiid did take 37 free throws across the four games he played, but when he's being defended by the aforementioned bigs, it isn't hard to figure out. The Celtics had no answer for him and the 2023 MVP winner went to work. As Brown stated, it is what it is.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls out Sixers star Joel Embiid for flopping

The first round of the NBA playoffs concluded Sunday with a doubleheader of massive Game 7s. After the Detroit Pistons emerged victorious, all eyes turned to the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

As soon as the pregame show began, analysts asked the key question: how would James Harden perform? In his previous two Game 7 appearances, he went 0–2, and his stat lines suggested he was virtually a no-show.

In the Cavaliers’ most important game of the 2025–26 season, would Harden deliver another letdown? He answered emphatically and put his Game 7 struggles to rest.

MORE: Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors have a wild NBA Playoffs stat going into game 7

The Cavaliers started slowly, but the Raptors’ early push proved to be their best stretch of the night. Once the second half began, Cleveland took control and smothered Toronto.

Harden shot 3-of-9 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, finishing with 18 points and a +9 rating. His performance stood as his strongest Game 7 showing in recent memory and made a significant impact.

Both teams entered Game 7 deadlocked—not only in the series record but also in total scoring. Each had scored 669 points, leaving one final game to decide everything.

The Cleveland crowd delivered a playoff atmosphere, reinforcing why Harden agreed to the trade: it gives him his best chance to win now.

MORE: Austin Reaves reveals Lakers’ mindset for Thunder series

Harden approved a February trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Clippers to Cleveland. The move has paid off so far.

The Cavaliers will now face the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Sunday marked a major step forward.

Now that Harden has shed the Game 7 narrative that once followed him, the question remains: can he lead the Cavaliers to a championship?

Austin Reaves gets honest about his and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to draw fouls originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers had a superb first-round series as they beat the Houston Rockets in six games. For the last two games, Austin Reaves has been active, and he has been a welcome addition to the Lakers' rotation that desperately needed an offensive boost.

Now, they will be playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions. It will be a challenging matchup for the Lakers, especially since they have to defend against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Since this is a matchup between Reaves and SGA, many NBA fans are alluding to their affinity for drawing fouls.

Austin Reaves responds to questions about his and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's free throws

Throughout NBA history, there have been many dominant offensive players. Despite what their numbers and reputation suggest, many of them dominated with the free-throw line in mind. Names like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan had solid parts of their game thriving from the free-throw line.

Unfortunately, that is looked down upon now because some players are skilled enough to draw legitimate fouls. Two of them will be playing in the Lakers vs Thunder series, and those are Reaves and Gilgeous-Alexander.

MORE: Austin Reaves' big decision that could lead to a massive contract extension

Drawing fouls and shooting free throws are part of the game. It is a polarizing topic for a lot of people, but for certain players like Reaves and SGA, they know it's part of the game, so they will do their best to take advantage of it because it can lead to getting more wins.

"I know that's a tough topic to talk about because everybody blows it out of proportion. He wants to win and is gonna do whatever it takes to win. If it's shoot 20 free throws, so be it. If I shoot 20 free throws, I'd be happy. I don't think there are any bad intentions with trying to get to the line," Reaves said after a Lakers practice ahead of their series against the Thunder.

Reaves makes a great point there because that is how the game is played. They need to take every advantage they can get because NBA games are won in the margins. If Reaves or SGA's ability to get into the free-throw line can win games, they will keep doing it because the result is all that matters.

More NBA news:

• The Los Angeles Lakers' gamble as they are playing for the future alongside Luka Doncic
• The reason behind Will Anderson Jr. helping LeBron James up
• JJ Redick speaks about his true feelings for LeBron James in the GOAT debate
• How Bronny James did something that Michael Jordan never did in his NBA career
• How Rui Hachimura now has a remarkable all-time NBA Playoffs record to his name

Danny Cunningham: #Cavs take down the Raptors 114-102. Jarrett Allen picked a good time to have the best playoff game of his career. He had 22 points and 19 rebounds. Mitchell had 22, Harden had 18 and Cleveland's dominant 2nd half sends them to the 2nd round. Game 1 is in Detroit on Tuesday.

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jarrett Allen goes big as Cavs take Game 7 over Toronto

ESPN Insights: Jarrett Allen is the second Cavaliers player in postseason history with 20+ PTS and 15+ REB in Game 7 He joins LeBron James on May 27, 2018 vs. the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jarrett Allen is the second Cavaliers player in …

Cavs Notes: James Harden now has 3 steals tonight and has moved past Larry Bird (296 STL) for the 8th-most steals in NBA Playoff History.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: James Harden now has 3 steals tonight and has moved …

Marc J. Spears: Cavs deejay trolling Toronto by playing Kendrick Lamar. There were also USA chants during the game.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Cavs deejay trolling Toronto by playing Kendrick …

NBA Communications: Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

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Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ye6Xp9HKdx

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule: Detroit …

Jason Beede: Earlier in the locker room in Detroit, I asked #Magic guard Anthony Black what’s going to stick with him from this season. He replied: “Losing Game 6.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: I asked #Magic guard Anthony Black what’s going to …

Since around 2008, it is downright difficult for me to place tremendously gifted basketball players (like Nikola Jokic) among the greats of the game. Why? Well, I will not delve too deeply into it, but if you know and have followed me over the years, you know that I am not a fan of extreme analytics.

See, basketball used to have a hierarchy of expectations and judgments. I learned a lot from the great Larry Bird, and it wasn't from him and me having a normal conversation; it was from him and me bantering back and forth competing in a game. Out of all the nasty things we said to each other, there was one thing he said that hit home like a rock. I was in the process of having a very good offensive game against him when I was playing with the Kings. I gave him a head fake and got him off his feet. I must admit I did not care about making the basket. All I cared about was driving the ball through his face, and I did, and the ball went in as well. I remember this like yesterday. I was laughing because in my mind I got the best of him when he said, "All you can do is score." Although I retorted, "I can make you bleed too," what he said hit home after I thought about it after the game.

"Eddie, if you don't improve other parts of your game, and especially defense, you cannot be compared to some of the great small forwards playing in my era. You will come up short in comparison."

At least I had a chance to prove it because I was playing against historically some of the greatest small forwards ever, like Dr. J, Bird, Dominique Wilkins, Bernard King, Alex English, Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, James Worthy, Kiki Vandeweghe, and Purvis Short. I never got a night off defensively in the 80s.

Jokic is an amazing basketball player who plays like a traditional old-school center with his own uniqueness. He has the skillset of a point guard, the scoring mindset of a wing player, and he is Bill Walton reincarnated offensively. I am amazed at his ability to seemingly always make the right play. He has a competitive demeanor that equates with the great players of the past, and especially those in the 70's and 80's. But respectfully, when he is perceived already to be sitting at the table of the Top 5 centers of all time (Kareem, Russell, Wilt, Shaq and Hakeem), I wonder... Who is he being compared to in his era to justify it, and who is he replacing in the Top 5?

This is an era where judging NBA players has gotten harder, because the game no longer labels them by size or position. On any given night, you'll see five wings spread around the arc, and little guys switching onto centers like Jokic. That makes it tough to picture how Jokic would have fared against the all-time greats, who validated their greatness by going at each other in the post. Only a handful of centers left in the league still offer that kind of reference point: Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Ivica Zubac and just a few others.

Gobert has been the toughest matchup from a team standpoint and just completed a dominant effort to eliminate Jokic in the first round. Embiid, if not for a chronic injury-laden career, would arguably be viewed as the best all-around center in the league despite Jokic's statistical dominance.

If you want to say Jokic is the best center we have ever seen offensively, well, you will get no argument from me. He is a walking triple-double. He taps out at a high number in scoring, passing, and shooting; he does it all with the ball.

But as Bird said to me, what else can you do? That's the bigger question for individuals who believe Jokic sits at this table. Is his lack of defensive abilities enough for you to say he would remove one of these all-time greats?

Every great on the Top 5 center list was a defensive presence, and if they played in today's game, they probably would be just as dominant or even more. The problem with today's society is impatience and a desire to anoint quickly.

A good measuring stick for seeing how prime Jokic would measure came against Gobert, a four-time DPOY who just defended, bothered and beat Jokic in two of their last three playoff appearances.

So just imagine how he would do against Shaq and Hakeem, who are 4 and 5 on the list with a total of six titles, two MVPs and five Finals MVPs between the two.

I say that Jokic is standing in the room with Moses Malone, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and George Mikan. And if San Antonio would stop messing around and be honest and admit Tim Duncan was a center, Jokic would be behind Tim.

Some people will scream that this is disrespect, but I will remind them what Larry Bird told little old me: "All you can do is score." And just offense is not enough to sit in the room with the all-time greats.

Eddie Johnson played 17 years in the NBA and is a longtime analyst/color commentator for the Phoenix Suns.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: We anointed Nikola Jokic too quickly. He doesn't sit at the table with the all-time greats yet

NBA Playoffs bracket 2026: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for every round of postseason games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NBA Playoffs are officially here. After 82 games of grinding through the regular season, the marathon has finally turned into a sprint, as the 2025-26 postseason field is set to narrow through the high-stakes crucible of the Play-In Tournament.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons have completed a historic resurgence to claim the top seed, while the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers have secured their spots and are resting up for a deep run. In the West, the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up the No. 1 seed, with the San Antonio Spurs right behind them.

With the first round officially tipping off on Saturday, April 18, the margin for error has vanished, and the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally underway.

Here's everything you need to know for the 2026 NBA playoffs, from schedule to streaming information.

NBA playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News and see below for series schedules and scores. 

SN

Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC
• Live streams: DIRECTV | ESPN app | Peacock | Prime Video

NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain the exclusive domain of ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.

All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream. 

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

NBA Playoffs 2026: Updated schedule, scores for every round

Eastern Conference second round

(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavs

* If necessary

(3) Knicks vs.  (7) 76ers

* If necessary

Western Conference second round

(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers

* If necessary

(2) Spurs vs. Timberwolves

* If necessary

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic - Detroit wins 4-3

(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers - Philadelphia wins 4-3

(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks - New York wins 4-2

(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors - Cleveland wins 4-3

Western Conference first round

(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns - Oklahoma City wins 4-0

(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers - San Antonio wins 4-1

(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves - Minnesota wins 4-2

(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets - Los Angeles wins 4-2

Play-In Tournament

NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026

• Play-In Tournament: April 14-17
• First round: April 18
• Conference semifinals: May 4-5 (possible move up to May 2-3)
• Conference finals: May 19-20 (possible move up to May 17-18)
• NBA Finals: June 3-June 19 

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

NBA Playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams to watch every series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has reached its conclusion, setting the stage for a postseason defined by high-stakes matchups and a brand-new broadcast landscape.

The journey to the Larry O'Brien Trophy officially began with the Play-In Tournament, and now the main contenders are in the mix. With dominant forces like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons having secured the top seeds, the focus is on what other teams can compete for the NBA championship.

This year marks a significant shift in how fans will consume the playoffs, as a landmark media rights deal introduces a three-pronged distribution model featuring ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. While the NBA Finals remain the exclusive property of ABC, earlier rounds will be split across these platforms, including the entirety of the Play-In Tournament moving to Prime Video.

Whether you are a cord-cutter relying on Peacock and Amazon or a traditional viewer tuned into ESPN and NBC, navigating the 2026 bracket requires a clear roadmap of where and when to find each game. From the opening tip of the play-in games to the final buzzer of the NBA Finals on June 19, every series offers a different path to glory.

Below is the comprehensive guide to the 2026 NBA Playoff schedule, including a full look at the current bracket, confirmed tip-off times, and a breakdown of which streaming services and cable channels you'll need to catch every minute of the action.

Where to watch NBA Playoffs 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NBC
• Live streams: DIRECTV | ESPN app | Peacock | Prime Video

NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain on ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.

All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream. 

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

NBA Playoffs schedule, scores 2026

Eastern Conference second round

(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavs

* If necessary

(3) Knicks vs.  (7) 76ers

* If necessary

Western Conference second round

(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers

* If necessary

(2) Spurs vs. Timberwolves

* If necessary

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic - Detroit wins 4-3

(2) Celtics vs. (7) Sixers - Philadelphia wins 4-3

(3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks - New York wins 4-2

(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors - Cleveland wins 4-3

Western Conference first round

(1) Thunder vs. (8) Suns - Oklahoma City wins 4-0

(2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers - San Antonio wins 4-1

(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves - Minnesota wins 4-2

(4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets - Los Angeles wins 4-2

Play-In Tournament

NBA playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News, which updates live as series are completed.

SN

NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026

• Play-In Tournament: April 14-17
• First round: April 18
• Conference semifinals: May 4-5 (possible move up to May 2-3)
• Conference finals: May 19-20 (possible move up to May 17-18)
• NBA Finals: June 3-June 19 

Related Links

• Latest NBA news and rumors
• Full 2025-26 NBA schedule and scores
• How to bet on the NBA
• The GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

It's going to happen. You can guarantee it. At some point in the Oklahoma City Thunder's Round 2 series against the Los Angeles Lakers, the latter's supersized fanbase will invade social media with slowed-down clips of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to prove one point.

Gilgeous-Alexander gets an unfair whistle. He foul-baits his opponents. He initiates contact. His nonstop flopping is a poison to the integrity of the sport. Blah. Blah. Blah. About every other NBA fanbase has voiced those same complaints to the ether over the years. It comes with the territory of basketball dominance.

That's why Austin Reaves' answer was a breath of fresh air. Also known to dive into the dark arts of generating contact to get to the free-throw line, the Lakers' homegrown scorer refused to swing at the slow-pitch setup question about Gilgeous-Alexander's free-throw numbers.

"I know that's a tough topic to talk about because everybody blows it out of proportion. He wants to win and is gonna do whatever it takes to win," Reaves said. "If it's shoot 20 free throws, so be it. If I shoot 20 free throws, I'd be happy. I don't think there's any bad intentions with trying to get to the line."

Smart. While you could say Gilgeous-Alexander's ascension into being a 30-point scorer over the last four seasons can be tied to his free-throw numbers, the same can be said about every all-time bucket-getter. It's the secret fourth level of scoring that every pseudo-NBA-All-Star hopes to unlock to become a perennial MVP candidate.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a measly 4.9 free-throw attempts in his first four seasons. In his next four seasons — when he graduated into NBA superstar status — that number jumped to 9.3 attempts. In a similar vein, Reaves went from a nice undrafted rookie to slowly climbing Los Angeles' ladder. Becoming a 20-point scorer over the last two years, he's averaged 5.9 free-throw attempts.

The Thunder will enter their Round 2 series against the Lakers as the overwhelming favorite. As they should. They dominated the rest of the league and look primed to go back-to-back. They've also had Los Angeles' number this year, with four blowout wins this past regular season.

Whatever happens, it feels like both sides respect the other's ability. At least for now. The Thunder won't take the Lakers lightly after they won an NBA playoff series without Luka Doncic. And Los Angeles understands the magnitude of its upcoming challenge and how daunting the odds are against it.

Austin Reaves was asked about his and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to draw fouls.

"I know that's a tough topic to talk about because everybody blows it out of proportion. He wants to win and is gonna do whatever it takes to win. If it's shoot 20 free throws, so be it. If I… pic.twitter.com/tbwaO2i6e4

— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) May 3, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Austin Reaves defends Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on this 1 controversial subject

The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.

The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.

So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Colorado State.

Dale Schlueter - center

Draft year and position: sixth round (eighth pick, 63rd overall), 1967 NBA Draft

Seasons at Colorado State: three

Seasons played with Warriors: two

Sonny Bustion - forward

Draft year and position: seventh round (eighth pick, 75th overall), 1967 NBA Draft

Seasons at Colorado State: three

Seasons played with Warriors: did not make the team

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Every Colorado State player drafted by the Warriors

The Brooklyn Nets have developed their teams through a number of strategies over the decades, and their front office has put together considerable success through the NBA draft. Many of the franchise's best players have joined the Nets either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades made on that day.

Moreover, it is not only the star players who have been acquired by the Nets through the draft. Several prominent alumni have been selected by the team each offseason during this annual event, with certain colleges being more prominently represented than others. An analysis of the players from different schools reveals that both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have contributed top talent to the Nets' roster over the years.

So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Nets out of

Frank Booker - guard

Draft year and position: seventh round (second pick, 140th overall), 1987 NBA Draft

Seasons at Bowling Green: four

Seasons played with Nets: did not make the team

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Every Bowling Green player drafted by the Nets

The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.

To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.

With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.

And for today's article, we will continue with the seventh of 11 who wore the No. 13, wing alum Kirk Snyder. After ending his college career at Nevada, Snyder was picked up with the 16th overall selection of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.

The Los Angeles, California native played the first seasons of his pro career with Utah. He would also play for the (then) New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (now, Pelicans) before he was dealt to the Houston Rockets in 2006. His stay with the team lasted until he was dealt to te Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008.

During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Snyder wore only jersey No. 13 and put up 3.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets jersey history No. 13 - Kirk Snyder (2006-08)

League sources tell The Stein Line that ESPN's top executives have been lobbying Steve Kerr aggressively to try to convince him to return to the world of NBA broadcasting, but the Warriors are expected to meet with Kerr as early as Monday to resume discussions about his status. I'm told Golden State has been operating internally in recent days as though it is more likely than not that a common ground can be found with the 60-year-old on a new deal that would keep him in place coaching Stephen Curry.

open.substack.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: ESPN aggressively lobbying Steve Kerr to return to broadcasting

League sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available. It must be noted that the expectation at this point in the college game is that May will stay with the Wolverines after they beat UConn for the national championship. Does May, however, indeed have NBA aspirations?

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NCAA championship coach Dusty May on Magic’s radar

The reality is that Jamahl Mosley has been subjected to hot seat chatter for many months. The anticipation in NBA coaching circles is that he will be the first one blamed for Orlando's shortcomings.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The reality is that Jamahl Mosley has been subjected …

ESPN has generally been very careful to cover the saga involving NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. But TNT Sports’ Inside the NBA production crew wasn’t afraid to go there in its first season with the Worldwide Leader.

After the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, Inside the NBA followed on ESPN (the game was on ABC). At the end of the program, Inside the NBA aired its “Gone Fishing” segment, which mocks teams eliminated from the playoffs. The “Gone Fishing” graphics always show stars from the team that has been eliminated, and they frequently include notable figures from the sports and pop culture worlds relating to that team’s city.

Well, the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs in a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. And the Inside the NBA “Gone Fishing” graphic included Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Bill Simmons, John Krasinski, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting form… and Russini and Vrabel.

The graphic featured Vrabel holding Russini (who worked at ESPN from 2015 to 2023) at the front of the boat as her arms stretched out a la the “I’m flying” moment between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic.

‘Inside the NBA’ on ESPN includes Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel on the “Gone Fishing” graphic for the Boston Celtics. pic.twitter.com/NxhFY302aq

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 4, 2026

Usually, the Inside the NBA crew isn’t afraid to speak its mind. But Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson didn’t know what to do with this one.

“You guys are…” Barkley said, likely referring to the production crew that put the graphic together.

“Our buddy Bill Simmons is in there, John Krasinski, Mark Wahlberg,” Johnson said.

“Who are the two people at the front?” Smith said, surely trying to bait Barkley or Shaq into addressing it. “I don’t know them.”

“Stop it,” Barkley responded. “Stop it.”

“Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on there, Tatum and Brown,” Johnson continued. “That’s all I see on that boat. I don’t see anything else.”

The post ‘Inside the NBA’ includes Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel in ‘Gone Fishing’ graphic for Celtics appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Why Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Celtics’ perfect trade target after 3-1 collapse against 76ers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics just became one of the most recent playoff exits yesterday, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers. They didn’t have Tatum in Game 7 and shot horribly, which caused their demise.

With that in mind, the Celtics may decide enough is enough, and to shock the NBA this offseason. The biggest rumor going around is the pursuit of one of the faces of the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis rumors are at an all-time high

© Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

After that disaster class by the Celtics, chatter about trading for Giannis at an all-time high. Why? Because he would be the best answer to creating a perfected version of Mazzulla Ball. 

Mazzulla Ball includes shooting an enormous amount of threes. However, when the other team is expecting that, it leads to bad shots, and the series against the Sixers showed that. But if Giannis is introduced, then it changes everything.

Giannis is arguably the most dominant inside presence in the NBA right now. If the opposing team continues to guard the perimeter, Giannis would get easy buckets on the inside. If the defense collapses on him, everyone else is free to shoot. It’s a perfect symbiotic relationship.

What it would take

© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Most trade ideas between the two parties are either a complex three-way trade, or a straight up trade between Boston and Milwaukee. There is one constant though, and it’s that Jaylen Brown is moved in the deal.

While it would definitely not be to the delight of Celtics fans, it’s the easiest way to make this trade work. With Brown’s massive contract, it would make it hard for the Celtics to afford him, Giannis, and Tatum.

Celtics would be the Beasts of the East again

© Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Overall, this would make the Celtics undeniably the team to beat in the Eastern Conference once again. Tatum and Giannis would have to stay healthy, but any roster Boston builds around them is sure to succeed. 

Hopefully, the Celtics find some way to get Giannis to their team without losing Brown and causing major consequences financially. In any case, getting Giannis might need to be a top priority.

MORE NBA CONTENT

Celtics’ 3-1 collapse forces offseason questions around Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White

Celtics are on brink of history for the wrong reasons ahead of Game 7 vs 76ers

How Celtics' return to team identity could power a Celtics Game 7 bounce back

Michael Scotto: Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff on Tobias Harris: “Nobody can say shit to me about Tobias Harris. He is dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment. He’s a leader. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great human being. He’s a high-level competitor.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: JB Bickerstaff on Tobias Harris: 'He is dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment'

Omari Sankofa II: JB Bickerstaff: “I know a lot of people would’ve liked it to be easier but I think it was great for our guys to go through what they went through, to understand what it looks like and where they have to be in order to get it done.“

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: JB Bickerstaff: “I know a lot of people would’ve liked …

Josh Lewenberg: Cavs are going back to Dean Wade; he replaces Max Strus in the starting lineup. Raptors going with the same starters as Game 6 (Shead and Walter in for Ingram and Quickley).

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Cavs are going back to Dean Wade; he replaces Max …

Why Brandon Ingram isn't playing tonight for Raptors with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Raptors will be playing Game 7 on the road, and shorthanded.

Brandon Ingram isn't taking part in the action when the Raptors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.

The Raptors are trying to break the series trend. In getting out to a 3-3 series tie, the home team has won every game.

If Toronto wants to advance, it'll have to change that, and it'll have to happen without Ingram.

MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons

Why isn't Brandon Ingram playing tonight?

Ingram remains out of action due to injury.

He's dealing with right heel inflammation.

Ingram first sat out in the second half of Game 5. He then didn't play in Game 6, which the Raptors won without him to force Game 7.

The Raptors also remain without Immanuel Quickley, who has yet to play in the postseason with a right hamstring strain.

Ingram led the Raptors in scoring during the regular season at 21.5 points per game, although he was struggling so far in the playoffs.

Without Ingram in the overtime Game 6, Ja'Kobe Walter surprised with 24 points.

BI will hope his teammates can win to get him back in action in these playoffs.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• Cavs' legacies, futures may have all changed on one bounce
• Brandon Ingram injury creates a big dilemma
• Things aren't going well for Donovan Mitchell
• Evan Mobley's crucial mistake sums up his career

Writer reveals nightmare Stephen Curry free agency scenario for Warriors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Stephen Curry should be the only untouchable asset for the Golden State Warriors this summer after the franchise’s disappointing 38-46 campaign. 

Moving forward, the goal for the Dubs should be to surround the four-time NBA champion with as many win-now pieces to ensure they’re well-equipped for a championship run in the immediate future. 

However, if the Dubs aren’t careful, Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe believes there’s a nightmare free agency scenario in which the organization could lose Curry for good.

“Warriors have to be careful with Stephen Curry this offseason,” O’Keefe wrote Saturday. “If Curry's reaction to this (NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole’s report that Warriors want Steve Kerr to hold players more accountable if he remains head coach) is in any way similar to that of fans, there'd be a level of bemusement in this demand.”

“While not a direct shot at the 12-time All-Star, the Warriors do need to be careful with everything they do this offseason and how it could potentially influence Curry's view of how the franchise is tracking.”

“Should the Warriors prove unable to sign Curry to an extension this summer, anxiety could grow as next season progresses with the 2022 Finals MVP on an expiring contract and set to become a free agent next year.”

The last thing the Warriors want to do is push their franchise legend into the arms of a different franchise in 2027. At that point, the Dubs’ title window would be closed, and the seven-time champions would have no choice but to enter rebuild mode. 

Essentially, rubbing Curry isn’t an option for Golden State if they want the future Hall of Famer to compete in the Bay beyond the 2026-27 season.

More NBA news:

• Warriors urged to reunite with $54 million NBA champion forward who was replaced by Kevin Durant

• Nuggets trade idea swaps Aaron Gordon for $186 million ex-Lakers superstar, NBA champion

• Warriors predicted to cut ties with Draymond Green, acquire $133 million Nuggets NBA champion

Completing another Round 1 sweep, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter their Round 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. And once again, they'll be the overwhelming favorite to advance past them. The reigning NBA champions have been the league's best team this season.

After bringing home their first Larry O'Brien trophy last year, they look primed to be the first back-to-back NBA champions since Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant teamed up. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on his way to winning a second consecutive MVP award.

The Thunder are the heavy favorite. The Lakers are the underdog. Some might view the latter's status as a way to add a chip on your shoulder or as pure disrespect. But JJ Redick believes the stats back it up. Los Angeles will need to pull off a seismic upset to beat OKC — especially if Luka Doncic misses most, if not all, of the Round 2 series with a hamstring strain.

"We saw a stat in our morning meeting. Teams that have had back-to-back, 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons, you're talking about the '95-'96 Bulls and '96-'97 Bulls and the '15-'17 Warriors. You're literally talking about two of the greatest teams of all time," Redick said. "I said to a bunch of people yesterday, off-site, talking about this series. To me, the Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history. It's just the reality. They're that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect that. We know what kind of task we have in front of us."

Well, Redick isn't wrong. He's always been blunt in nature. And how their Round 2 series diagnosis shakes out is the latest example. The Thunder have everything on their side. The offense clicked on all cylinders in Round 1. The defense remains one-of-a-kind. Gilgeous-Alexander looks like he's on a mission to enter all-time greatness. They've had the Lakers' number with an eye-popping plus-117 point differential in four regular-season wins. And Doncic's absence completely clouds any optimism for Los Angeles.

That said, the games still need to be played. What you believe on paper doesn't always translate on the court. We've seen this year's NBA playoffs get off to a chaotic start with two 3-1 series comebacks. The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets were bounced in Round 1. You just never know what could happen.

The Thunder can't afford to walk into Game 1 with the expectation that the Lakers will just eat the loss. That's how you enter into upset territory. I think the first couple of games in this series will go a long way as to whether or not it'll go chalk or if Los Angeles can make things very interesting when it shifts over to California for Games 3 and 4.

JJ Redick on the Thunder: "We saw a stat in our morning meeting, teams that have had back-to-back, 10 or more better net ratings in consecutive seasons, you're talking about the '95-'96 Bulls and '96-'97 Bulls and the '15-'17 Warrriors. You're literally talking about two of the… pic.twitter.com/UGkJQWmxCn

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 3, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: JJ Redick hypes up OKC Thunder: 'One of the greatest teams ever'

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for Game 1.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA" on Sunday.

Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis and is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.

Doncic returned to the practice floor during the Lakers' first round series, but has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5.

"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania reported. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."

Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show -- new updates on Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets' future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2026

Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span but ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, winning the series in six games.

The odds are stacked against LA yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.

Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series. It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic injury update, status ahead of Lakers-Thunder series

Bennett Durando: Shams Charania just went on Inside the NBA and confirmed some tidbits from our @denverpost reporting on the end of the Nuggets’ season: David Adelman’s job is considered safe, but changes to the roster are coming this summer as Denver navigates first-round exit amid payroll dilemmas.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Nuggets expected to make roster changes after first-round elimination

Justin Martinez: Shams Charania says Luka Doncic will miss the start of Los Angeles' series against OKC. He's being evaluated on a week-to-week basis for his Grade 2 hamstring strain.

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Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show -- new updates on Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets' future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Luka Doncic considered week-to-week, will miss start of second round against OKC

ESPN: Anthony Edwards will miss the start of the Wolves' second-round series against the Spurs, but there is growing optimism he could push his way back into the lineup in the coming week, possibly as early as Games 3 or 4, league sources told @Shams Charania.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards will miss the start of the Wolves' …

BOSTON -- The smile on Philadelphia 76ers big man Andre Drummond's face was apparent. He was just a part of a historic 3-1 rally as he helped the Sixers pull off the feat for the first time in franchise history after a Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics on the road.

Drummond played an important role as the backup center throughout the series and he knocked down four of the six triples he put up during his time on the floor. The aforementioned smile was due to the fact that for the first time in his 14-year career, he had won a playoff series.

Yes, Drummond had made the playoffs with the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets in the past, but had never been gotten past Round 1 before. He had also made the play-in with the Chicago Bulls before they fell short in those contests. As he now prepares for Round 2 against the New York Knicks, he talked with Sixers Wire about finally getting past Round 1.

"Hyped," Drummond started. "I'm excited. This is new territory for me. I’ve never been out of the first round. I've had plenty of chances there, but this is my first time being out. I'm happy, obviously. It’s really cool, but not satisfied. Looking forward to the next round playing against a team that knocked them out two years ago. So, I’m excited to be a part of something bigger than me. I'm excited to be part of a great season. We turned it around."

Drummond and the Sixers certainly turned it around. After a miserable 2024-25 season in which injuries ravaged the roster, they have bounced back with a big season and are headed to Round 2 for the first time since 2023. The Knicks knocked them out in the first round in 2024 before not making the playoffs in 2025.

As far as the Knicks are concerned, Drummond isn't ready to reveal all the secrets just yet, but he knows he and the Sixers are going to play as hard as they can.

"You know, I can't really give you that, because I don't know if they’re watching," Drummond laughed. "But for us, we're gonna come out and we're gonna play our game. Play to the best of our ability, and come out with some wins."

Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. EDT on Monday in New York.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Andre Drummond reacts to 1st playoff series win after Game 7

The Golden State Valkyries just cut the rookie they received in a controversial draft-night trade.

On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries waived Marta Suárez, the No. 16 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, whom the team acquired on draft night last month from the Seattle Storm alongside a 2028 second-round pick in exchange for Flau’jae Johnson, the No. 8 pick.

Draft-Night Drama

The Valkyries were scrutinized for the trade with many perceiving the return of two second-round picks for Johnson, projected to go in the top six in many draft boards, as weak. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the trade during the draft ahead of the No. 17 pick, and audible gasps were heard on the ESPN broadcast. 

After the draft, Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin told ESPN that she made the deal with Seattle before the picks were made: “This had nothing to do with Flau’jae or any specific athlete selection.”

Once the Valkyries were on the clock to select the No. 8 pick, Seattle informed them of their decision to select Johnson. 

“We didn’t think that she would be available at that point,” Storm GM Talisa Rhea said after the draft. 

Asked by reporters after the draft about her decision, Nyanin avoided the question, saying she was too “exhausted” to explain her rationale. She was also asked whether the move had salary cap implications, but said she does not “talk or comment about salary cap.” 

Following the Money

However, the decision to waive Suárez is another sign that the cap may have factored into the trade.

The Valkyries have 10 players under contract, according to Her Hoops Stats. With two open roster spots remaining, Golden State has about $816,490 left—and this does not include the $380,219 owed to 2025 draft pick Justė Jocytė.

The team would be left with one full-time roster spot remaining and less than $450,000 in cap space for the 2026 season. Suárez would have made $270,000 this year, meaning she would’ve fit under the team’s cap this year. But Golden State still has Laeticia Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen, two players on last season’s roster, under training camp deals.

Bigger Priorities?

The Valkyries may also be considering the future. All-star forward Kayla Thornton and key rotation piece Tiffany Hayes will be free agents next year, and the team may want to re-sign them, or they could try to lure another star in free agency.