Brandon Clarke's fiancée made her first public statements since the NBA player's passing.
Amber Suchomel, who goes by Amber Hana Lorraine on social media, published an Instagram post on Sunday, May 17 expressing her grief at losing Clarke, according to multiple outlets. Suchomel has since made her Instagram profile private.
"There are no words to describe this feeling,” Suchomel said, as People reported. “I never thought I’d have to live life without you. I’m not really sure how to do this without you by my side. You were the most special person, with the biggest heart. You made an impact on so many people, but most of all me. I have never felt so loved and cared for, you made me feel like the most special girl in the world.”
Suchomel went on to praise the Memphis Grizzlies forward, who died on May 11, for being "so impressive" in "everything you were passionate about," including his seven-year basketball career and his venture as a music artist.
The Sun adds that Suchomel posted an Instagram gallery of several photos of her and Clarke, including when he proposed to her and a note of when he asked her to be his girlfriend.
“All I want is to hug you and kiss you and to hold you in my arms. I don’t know how to process that you aren’t here anymore. I love you always Brandon, forever and always," she continued. "Please keep watching over me, I need you.”
When the news of Clarke's death broke, tributes poured in from across the NBA, including from commissioner Adam Silver and Clarke's Grizzlies teammate Ja Morant, who said the 29-year-old was "gone way too soon."
Some years, it's a struggle for voters to find 10 players deserving of making the All-Rookie Teams. Not this year. In fact, it was the opposite problem.
Three players were unanimously chosen to make First Team All-Rookie — Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, as well as Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe — in what was one of the deepest rookie classes in recent memory. Because of that, some quality players who played key minutes for playoff teams, didn't even make the second team. The All-Rookie Teams shook out like this.
NBA All-Rookie Teams
First Team
Cooper Flagg (Dallas) Kon Knueppel (Charlotte) VJ Edgecombe (Philadephia) Dylan Harper (San Antonio) Cedric Coward (Memphis)
Derik Queen (New Orleans) Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento) Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans) Ace Bailey (Utah) Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto)
The biggest snub was Hornets' center Ryan Kalkbrenner, but he finished 15 votes (and eight first-team votes) behind Murray-Boyles. Washington's Tre Johnson and Boston's Hugo Gonzalez were the next two vote getters. This is a case where a lot of years any of them would made the second team, but this is a ridiculously deep class.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.
If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.
Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.
The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all
Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.
The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.
Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA
The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.
Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.
Marc Spears:
"I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship" 👀 pic.twitter.com/E0lACvh2X6
The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.
The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.
Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.
The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.
Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater
The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.
Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.
This tweet summed it up perfectly:
I understand Chet just wanna hoop but unfortunately he’s mentally gonna have to participate in whatever this is Wemby got going on with him
After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.
Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After proving through 40 minutes that they’re more than ready for the bright lights of the conference finals and a road game at Madison Square Garden, they reverted to their old ways. The offense got stagnant. The defense left much to be desired. And questionable coaching decisions cost them.
Fortunately for the Cavs, they have a chance to put that all behind them. The goal at the start of the series was to split one of the first two on the road. Bouncing back and winning on Thursday wouldn’t erase the mistakes of Game 1, but it would get them into the driver’s seat of the series with the action shifting to Cleveland for Game 3.
We’ll see if this Cavs team can put that bad loss behind them.
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If I put “LeBron James” in quotes, at least half of you can hear the meme I’m referencing. The King is The King for a reason, after all.
But with the NBA’s Conference Finals featuring a new generation of stars, and superstars, we’re getting an idea of how the Hobby is reacting to the passing of the torch. If the eBay search bar is any indication of who’s heating up, who’s hot, and who just helped someone retire, there are few players more valuable than the one and only Victor Wembanyama.
Fresh off of his 41-point, 24-rebound, 3-block masterpiece in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, a winning performance that handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the entire postseason (!), the hobby has responded accordingly to Wemby’s otherworldlyness: On May 18, “Victor Wembanyama” was searched for more than 5,300 times per hour on eBay.
While the Alien is leading the charge, he’s somehow not the most-searched player on eBay this postseason. Take a look at the data provided by eBay below:
The Playoff Search Leaderboard
From the start of the NBA Playoffs (April 18) through May 17, the top-five most-searched NBA players on eBay are:
Cooper Flagg: This year’s #1 draft pick…whose Dallas Mavericks haven’t played a single playoff game this season after finishing with just 26 wins. That’s what winning ROY will do for you.
Victor Wembanyama: He’s got next, and all 29 other teams should be terrified.
LeBron James: The Lakers’ run ended early, thanks in part to Luka Doncic’s injury, but The King’s gravitational pull on the hobby did not.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The reigning, and now back-to-back, MVP, who just put up a real stinker in Game 1 against Wemby, and will be looking for redemption in Game 2.
Anthony Edwards: The Ant-Man might not’ve been able to get it done against the Spurs, but his playoff performances further bolstered Minny’s hope for the future.
On the team side, the San Antonio Spurs led the league in eBay searches from May 1-17, with the Detroit Pistons (shoutout Cade and them) and the New York Knicks (my goodness, Brunson) rounding out the top three.
The Moments That Moved the Market
Sometimes a stat line is louder than a series, and it appears that a few stellar playoff performances sent search bars into orbit:
April 25: Ayo Dosunmu’s 43 off the bench in the Wolves’ 112-96 Game 4 win over the Nuggets spiked searches for the new Minnesota guard more than 25x the prior week’s daily average, the biggest single-game spike of the postseason.
April 30: OG Anunoby’s 29 points that helped closed the door on the Raptors in Round 1’s Game 6 cranked his eBay traffic up 180% vs. the prior week.
May 17: Donovan Mitchell dragging the Cavaliers past the #1-seed Pistons and into the Eastern Conference Finals pushed Spida’s search rate 80% above his prior-week average.
May 17: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second straight MVP more than doubled (+100%) his daily search rate vs. the week before, on the same night Wemby led his team to victory over the Thunder.
Read the Search Bar
The clear takeaway is that the hobby is chasing moments more than anything else. A 40-20 outburst in San Antonio, a closeout-game 29 in Toronto, a 43-bomb off the bench in Denver, every one of them moved the eBay needle. The names that help their teams win in the playoffs win the hobby, and with the NBA Finals just a few weeks away, we could see cards from Wemby, Brunson, Spida, and Shai reach insane new heights.
In the meantime, make sure to use Mantel’s SLAM score to monitor the liquidity of your collection throughout the Playoffs.
Who are you buying ahead of the NBA Championship? Let us know on Mantel.
The San Antonio Spurs stole Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder in clutch fashion, without perhaps their most clutch player.
De'Aaron Fox didn't suit up in Game 1, missing the contest with right ankle soreness. That didn't slow the Spurs down, as they leaned on superstar Victor Wembanyama, who put on a playoff performance for the ages with 41 points, 24 rebounds, and 3 blocks as he led San Antonio to a 122-115 double-overtime victory.
The Spurs will need Wembanyama to have a repeat performance and continued additional contributions from guys like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie. Because, for the second straight game, the Spurs will be without Fox.
According to the league's 7:45 p.m. ET injury report, Fox is out for Game 2 versus the Thunder with right ankle soreness. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET.
"Pretty (much) status quo moving forward, I believe. Regardless of if he plays the games or not, this will be just kind of the world we live in," the coach said of the All-Star guard being listed as questionable.
Fox has played 11 postseason games through the first two rounds for San Antonio. He's averaged 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists on 48.6% field goal shooting.
NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas' Cooper Flagg, Charlotte's Kon Knueppel and Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe were unanimous first-team selections for the NBA's All-Rookie team, which was unveiled Wednesday night.
Also making first-team All-Rookie: San Antonio's Dylan Harper and Memphis' Cedric Coward. Harper also appeared on all 100 ballots, with 93 first-team nods and seven second-team votes.
Those five players were also the only ones to get votes in the Rookie of the Year balloting, where Flagg edged Knueppel for top honors.
The All-Rookie second team included New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Utah's Ace Bailey, Sacramento's Maxime Reynaud and Toronto's Collin Murray-Boyles.
The NBA will announce the All-Defensive team on Friday and the All-NBA team on Sunday, with Coach of the Year set to be announced Tuesday.
It's the offseason for most NBA teams, where everything means something — but a lot of the time, nothing at all. However, that's not going to stop conversation and cease speculation about player movement and team transactions.
It's a running joke that every player is rumored to be on the Lakers' radar, but after the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade in February 2025, it's almost seems as if nothing is off the table and anything can happen.
So, when restricted free agent Peyton Watson appeared at the Lakers practice facility for Klutch Sports Pro Day workouts, speculation among fans began, hoping the 23-year-old might sign with the purple and gold.
Kawhi Leonard is entering the final year of a three-year, $149.51 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, potentially making him an unrestricted free agent next summer. For the 2026-27 season, Leonard is owed $50.3 million.
Leonard, 34, is coming off a season where he appeared in 65 games and averaged 27.9 points on 50.5% field goal shooting, 38.7% 3-point shooting and 89.2% on free throws. The Clippers finished the season 42-40, good enough for a No. 9 seed, but were eliminated in the NBA Play-In Tournament by the Golden State Warriors.
Looming around the Clippers-Leonard era is the NBA's ongoing investigation into allegations that LA and owner Steve Ballmer allegedly facilitated a $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal for Leonard with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability company, in an effort to circumvent the NBA salary cap.
The team denied those allegations in a September 2025 statement and maintained their stance in a second statement, accusing Aspiration of engaging in "fraudulent activity."
“There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team,” the second statement reads. “Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong.”
The Clippers now find themselves in an interesting position to make a decision on whether they are still in "win-now" mode or if its time to consider rebuilding their roster.
LA made a blockbuster splash trade just before the trade deadline this season, shipping James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland, who just turned 26. They also sent Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks (2026 and 2029), and a second-round pick. The 2026 pick turned out to be the No. 5 overall pick.
The Clippers can decide to package that No. 5 pick in a trade to bring in either another superstar or key pieces to surround Leonard. But they can also go another route and bring in one of the draft's top prospects, which could signal they could move off of Leonard and could put him on the trade market.
If Leonard is dealt from the Clippers, it would mean the end of an era that began in 2019. Leonard signed with the Clippers after leading the Toronto Raptors to a NBA championship where he was named Finals MVP.
In seven seasons in LA, he helped lead the team to the playoffs five times, including the franchise's first conference finals appearance in 2021. But since then, the Clippers have been eliminated in the first round or missed the playoffs altogether.
When on the floor, Leonard is as dynamic as anyone in the league. He shows up on both sides of the ball. There would be many suitors across the league that would give the Clippers a call.
There's a distinct list of teams that Leonard would fit in with if he was traded from the Clippers. No matter where Leonard could go, he would have to agree to an extension with that team for the trade to work. Here are the teams that should get in the sweepstakes for Leonard, if there is one.
Los Angeles Lakers
Rumor has it that Leonard was leaning towards becoming a Laker in 2019, but opted for the other LA team instead. Leonard, a Los Angeles-native, was adamant years ago about wanting to play basketball close to home. After the semi-failed experiment with the Clippers, a cross over to the purple and gold with Luka Doncic could be a breath of fresh air for Leonard. If that happened, championship expectations would continue to drive conversations, though there would be some decisions to be made about Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura.
Golden State Warriors
It's not sunny, Southern California, but it is still the West Coast. Pairing Leonard with Stephen Curry would give the Warriors a defensive presence who is on the level of Draymond Green, while simultaneously providing them another scorer and go-to option in late-game situations. The Warriors are trying to hang on to their No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but that would have to be the first asset the Clips target if Golden State was serious about a potential trade. With Leonard expecting $50 million, the wonder is whether the Warriors have the cache to make it happen. One player who made the case? Green on his podcast.
Toronto Raptors
It's a reunion. This would be cool not just for a homecoming sense, but because the Raptors are currently constructed to be a Leonard-type player away from being a team contending for the Eastern Conference championship. This season, Toronto dropped a hard-fought, seven-game first-round series to the Cavaliers. There isn't any speculation of a Leonard return to T-Dot, but it could be the perfect closing chapter to a future Hall of Fame career.
Detroit Pistons
With the Pistons recent playoff elimination, their flaws were on national display — specifically missing another guy who can get his own shot and make plays for others. The Detroit offense looked lethargic when the Cavaliers keyed in on Cade Cunningham. Adding someone of Leonard's caliber will fill that void tremendously. Not only that, he fits within the mold of Detroit's style of play. He's physical, thrives defensively and is no pushover. Detroit might be a little too far from home for Leonard, but the fit basketball-wise is nearly perfect.
Miami Heat
There are questions that the Heat need to answer, one of which is whether they will get back to their identity and represent Heat culture. Bringing in Leonard answers those questions. It would give them a consistent inside-outside game to pair Leonard with Bam Adebayo. Not to mention, he would team up with former Clippers teammate Norman Powell again. The Heat are made up of guys who aren't afraid to get scrappy and Leonard is the same, despite his quiet demeanor.
Sacramento Kings
A long shot? Yes. However, as long as the Kings hang on to the No. 7 pick in the draft, they have a little leverage in the trade, especially if a rebuild is the direction the Clippers are headed. Sacramento has been known as basketball purgatory, but there are incentives for Leonard: the board man could get paid, he can be a short flight from home and he would not have to deal with the pressure of championship expectations. The Kings are in the midst of their own rebuild so Leonard may not fit the timeline, but owner Vivek Ranadivé has a fascination with big-name players, so don't count Sac out.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not even 24 hours removed from their gut-punch of a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, and there is already offseason talk. Once again, it involves LeBron James.
Sometimes, James is cryptic in his moves and thoughts. Other times, he just likes a post about a potential return to play next season in Cleveland. That is not so cryptic.
Sure enough, James “liked” an Instagram reel that featured in bold letters “Come Home” with a still of him banging his chest in the black Cavs uniforms they wore during his 2017-2018 season. The rest of the reel was about his most recent game in Cleveland.
LeBron liked a short IG reel posted about his last game in Cleveland which features this image. pic.twitter.com/RvDd8bryG7
— Jackson Flickinger (@JacksFlickinger) May 20, 2026
The rumors of James returning to Cleveland have gathered steam seemingly for years, gaining more traction after the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic as the ultimate baton hand-off from one superstar to another. With the Lakers’ prioritization of equipping Doncic, not James, with players that fit his style of play, the rumblings of his unhappiness grew. This, coupled with the Cavs’ hole at small forward and dire need for LeBron’s mental toughness in playoff situations, just adds fuel to the fire.
Do the Cavs blow a 22-point lead with James on the roster, getting in people’s faces and commandeering his head coach’s decision-making ability? It is hard to say for sure, but it would have certainly been helpful to have one of the game’s smartest ever to calm the nerves and stop the bleeding.
ESPN’s Shams Charania adds that James is expected to play another season, with the Lakers “probably” being his preference. However, this liked post from James may hint otherwise.
Topps will feature a portion of the ball in trading cards of the Spurs center and his teammate, guard Dylan Harper, with a printed autograph. Harper, who is a rookie, also had a standout night with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals. At 20 years old, he became the youngest player to notch a prestigious 4x5 game in the NBA playoffs.
The special edition cards will be released randomly to customers who purchase the Topps Now cards commemorating each player's landmark performance. The collectible items are on sale now at the Topps website through Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. ET and for $11.99.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues with referee Zach Zarba #15 against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen apart late during several postseason games. That is their own doing. However, those collapses have usually been accompanied by missed calls down the stretch. Blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game 1 was no exception.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report shows that the Cavs were on the wrong end of two missed calls late and the beneficiary of one missed call. Let’s go through these.
The first missed call benefited the Cavs. Evan Mobley should’ve been called for an offensive foul for the screen he put on Landry Shamet with just over a minute left in regulation.
The report says: “Mobley (CLE) extends his elbow outward and delivers contact to Shamet’s (NYK) head/face during the pick.”
If called correctly, this would’ve given the Knicks the ball right back.
The next missed call happened on that same possession. The awful Donovan Mitchell floater that didn’t hit the rim wasn’t out on the Cavs. The report says that the missed shot was off OG Anunoby instead of Jarrett Allen, as it was called on the floor.
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It’s difficult to get too worked up on this one. If things were called completely accurately on the floor, the ball would’ve already been with the Knicks due to the missed foul by Allen.
Still, this was a missed call and one that you would’ve liked to have seen Kenny Atkinson use a challenge on, although there wasn’t much time between the ball going out and the Knicks inbounding it.
The final missed call was the one that hurt the Cavs the most. The game-tying basket by Shamet shouldn’t have gone.
The Cavs tried to hedge and recover on Brunson near half-court. Sam Merrill, Brunson’s primary defender, tries to work around the screen. Anunoby makes sure that he can’t get around the screen because he was moving on the pick.
The report says: “Anunoby (NYK) establishes a wide screening position in Merrill’s (CLE) path and the contact occurs to his leg.”
If the screen isn’t moving, Merrill has a better chance of staying with Brunson, and the rotations would’ve been cleaner. More importantly, if this was called correctly, the Knicks would’ve lost possession.
There’s a lot of factors that go into blowing a 22-point lead. It’s fair to say that the Cavs might’ve won this game if these three calls were ruled correctly on the floor. At the same time, they should’ve never allowed the game be influenced by the officials in the first place.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 4: Jake Laravia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 4, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When Jake LaRavia had it going for the Lakers, he looked like a genius signing for the franchise. He was knocking down so many threes against the Wolves to start the season that Anthony Edwards was asking who he was.
Then the lights got brighter, and LaRavia began to dim.
His shooting struggles from the perimeter became a problem. From January to March, his 3-point shooting percentage dropped each month. Once the playoffs started, things got worse for LaRavia. He struggled massively in the postseason, only attempting seven shots as his shooting woes were clearly on his mind.
With LaRavia unable and unwilling to shoot, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was forced to bench him for the last two games of the postseason. During LaRavia’s exit interview, he discussed his year with the Lakers.
“I thought I had a good season in certain areas, and I think there’s a lot of things that I can work on in other areas,” LaRavia said. “Obviously, now seeing what the playoffs are like and stuff like that and falling out of rotation these last two games, it just makes me excited. Not looking at it negatively but just, I’m excited to go into this offseason and work on the things that I need to.
“Obviously, I didn’t shoot the ball in any capacity that I wanted to this year. Having months where you’re shooting sub 30% is just not going to cut it and I know I’m a way better shooter than that. So, just going into this offseason, working on specific things to be able to bring in next year.”
Since LaRavia started his career with the Grizzlies and then had a short stint with the Kings, this was his first time in a playoff setting and on a contending team. Some players are playoff risers, and others are fallers. LaRavia ended up on the wrong end of that spectrum.
However, his career isn’t over, and this playoff stint doesn’t have to be a forever status. He shot 42% from deep last year, and if he locks into the gym and has the right mentality, there’s no reason to believe he can’t get back to that level of play.
This offseason is a big one for the Lakers. They have a ton of cap space and are looking to add depth to their roster. LaRavia can either be a part of that depth or be one of the players the Lakers trade for new pieces.
For now, it’s time for LaRavia to control what he can control and lock in. There’s proof in performances like his against the Wolves and his 26-point game against the Grizzlies that he can be a great player. There’s also evidence like this postseason run that he’s not up to par.
It’s up to him to prove which player he can consistently be.
May 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joan Beringer (19) after game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Here are the NBA playoff games for Wednesday, May 20, 2026:
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:30 PM ET (NBC, Peacock)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks walks off the court after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Roses are red, Cleveland too.
Sadly for them, today it’s all about the Orange and Blue.
Here’s a humongous Bulletin off a ridiculous Game 1 comeback victory.
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 20, 2026
Mike Brown
On Brunson’s MVP-level performance:
“Obviously, we don’t get it done if Jalen Brunson doesn’t play like one of the MVP guys in the league. He was phenomenal. He did what he’s supposed to do tonight. And it definitely helped us get the win. He’s a leader. He’s our guy. And he felt we needed to play faster, he felt we needed to be better defensively. There were a couple things he felt and he made sure we knew. And our guys responded to him.”
On targeting James Harden late in Game 1:
“Sometimes you gotta do what the game dictates. They were trying to do the same thing with Jalen. And so we said, OK, we feel like we can play that game. We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen.”
On forcing Cleveland to adjust defensively:
“We have to try to figure out different ways to guard Harden and [Donovan] Mitchell, they gotta figure out different ways to guard Jalen. But there’s no secret we were attacking Harden.”
On finding the right five-man group during the comeback, sitting Josh Hart:
“We found a group of five guys that went out there, ended up getting stops and scoring the basketball.”
On continuing to trust Hart despite his shooting struggles:
“If Josh is open and his feet are set, he’s gotta let it fly. He’s made shots. We feel like he’s gonna make shots. And if he doesn’t wanna shoot it, he can get to his middy or he can go [dribble handoff] with somebody, a quick DHO with somebody. We faced this coverage all year and we played well throughout the course of the year and we faced it in Atlanta.”
On the early 2-for-19 stretch from beyond the arc:
“So, we started the game off 2-for-19 from the three-point line. It wasn’t just Josh. We had some pretty good looks from the right people, and if those go in, the mojo is a little bit different. They didn’t, and Cleveland was able to get back into it. The game is about adjustments. We made an adjustment down the stretch, and we were fortunate to be able to come back and get the win.”
On matching Cleveland’s tactic of targeting Jalen Brunson:
“You got to do what the game dictates. They were doing the same thing with Jalen. So we said two can play that game.”
On maintaining a competitive edge after time off:
“It has more to do with having an edge, keeping a competitive edge. Games obviously help you with that because your body and your mind are constantly on when you are playing games. When they are off, you tend to relax. That is just human nature…That competitive edge – knock on wood – may not be there at the start.”
On Landry Shamet’s impact in Game 1:
“Landry Shamet was great. He was great on both ends of the floor. He came up big. You’re not going to stop a guy like Donovan Mitchell. Landry tried like heck to make him work. He was fantastic. He was the difference in the ballgame tonight on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Landry’s a big guard, he’s physical, and he can defend without foul. To play him, knowing they will pack the paint when Jalen comes and the sprays are going to be there. And that’s what we decided to do.”
On early defensive slippage and turnovers in Game 1:
“Yeah, and especially early on we didn’t look like ourselves, especially when we were doubling and coming out of the double teams and kind of flying around. We were really slow in those areas and then I felt we played — we turned the ball over too much. It’s hard to have 19 turnovers and win a basketball game and a handful of ’em were self-inflicted, us throwing the ball away, us jumping in the air when we hit the paint.”
On the resilience shown in the historic comeback:
“I got to give my group credit. They’ve been resilient all year and I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game. I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it, maybe I have. But to be down 18, 19, 20, whatever we were down and to find a way to come back and win. I mean I take my hat off to my group.”
On giving Mitchell Robinson opportunities despite the Hack-a-Mitch:
“I wanted to give him a chance. Mitch has been great for us the last few games in that situation. We’re gonna continue to give him a chance. We’ll move him around and do some different things with him. Mitch can impact the game in different ways, so we need him on the floor.”
“I don’t have any answer for you. We just found a way. Just happy we found a way to win.”
On how he told his teammates to push them during a timeout before the Game 1 comeback:
“Keep fighting, keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession. Most importantly, sticking together. No matter how that game finished, habits translate to the next game. We’re just doing; we’re not giving up. We don’t want to give up, ever, so having faith in each other.”
On the mindset behind the 44-11 rally:
“I think the common denominator was just us still believing in each other and still playing, still fighting. Just chipping away. We knew like we weren’t going to get it all back in one possession. So, we couldn’t give them stops, kept running, got a couple of lucky shots to go in, but kept fighting.”
On attacking late instead of overthinking the matchup:
“Honestly, the ball was going in. So, I was just trying to get to my spot and just trying to make plays. If someone came over, I was going to find someone else. But just trying to get to my spot and trust my word.”
On cleaning up defensive breakdowns that fueled Cleveland’s lead:
“Defensively, what got us down 22, they [Cavs] were making great decisions in and off the trap, getting wide open threes. So, we’ve got to clean that up a little bit. But I like the way we stuck together.”
On how the comeback unfolded:
“I mean, we got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing, kept tipping away. They were playing great basketball, and we just found a way. I really don’t have an answer.”
On being in attack mode late in the game:
“Just being in attack mode, just trying to find seams to get to where I feel comfortable. Finally, one did go down and that’s just because of the rhythm I created from the shots beforehand. But KAT said it starts with our defense, the way we were able to get stops and go and then them having trust in me.”
On appreciating the Madison Square Garden crowd staying through the deficit:
“Definitely thankful. Because they could have walked out if they wanted to.”
On praising Landry Shamet’s performance in the comeback:
“He played big time. He’s up to any task that you put in front of him. He’s been that player for us, and we have the utmost faith in him. That’s just who he is. He’s a true professional ever since he’s walked into the league.”
“I really truly feel the fans was the one that got us this win tonight.”
On the defense carrying the Knicks in the fourth and overtime:
“At the end of the day, great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me in Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in this playoffs and it was what carried us in this playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and in overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win.”
On focusing on the team result over individual performance:
“I think the Knicks found a way to win tonight, and that’s all that matters. It’s not about the individual performances; it’s about this team finding a way to put up a win on the board. I think that’s what’s special.”
On representing the Knicks and the city after the Game 1 win:
“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. It had been a tough go-around for them for the first three quarters of the game. For us to come in that huddle with the energy of the fans and the fans really showing us so much love and support, to give them something to cheer for in the fourth, it’s always an honor. It’s a privilege to be able to do.”
On what the victory meant to the city:
“This team, all we want to do is make the city proud and bring this city wins. To be able to accomplish that tonight, on a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen, is an honor. It’s truly something special.”
On acknowledging early rust after the layoff:
“To be real, there was definitely rust. You could see we’re a team that hasn’t played in a playoff game in a while. It’s a testament to the grit and resiliency of this locker room and this team that as the game went along you could see the rust was coming off a little bit and we were able to find ourselves in the game. At the end of the day great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me, Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in these playoffs and carried us in the playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win against a really great team.”
On the team’s refusal to quit during the comeback:
“We don’t stop until the clock hits zero and shoutouts to our captain for holding it down for us. We learned from our mistakes and came out here and didn’t want the same things to happen [as last year].”
On Brunson carrying the offense late:
“He carried us offensively when we needed him. We wouldn’t be here without Cap.”
On what the comeback meant to the city and the fans:
“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. This team, all we want to do is make the city proud, bring the city wins and to be able to accomplish that tonight in a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen is an honor and it’s truly something special.”
Mitchell Robinson drives his truck home from the Garden after the greatest comeback in Knicks history pic.twitter.com/VunbJ7QpKr
— THE GARDEN IS ROCKING (@MSG_Rocking) May 20, 2026
Miles McBride
On Shamet’s defensive energy in the fourth quarter:
“He didn’t just change the game with the clutch shots, but defensively bringing energy. Getting hands on deflections and picking up full court. Things like that inspires the whole team.”
Landry Shamet said he didn't know his triple to tie Game 1 at 99-99 tied the game
"I was like 'oh s–t we're tied up'. When you're flowing, you don't want to be thinking about things" pic.twitter.com/kAiZt1QBIy
On realizing his late three-pointer tied the game:
“To be honest, when I shot it and then I looked up, I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), we’re tied up.’ I didn’t realize at the time that that one would have tied it up, which is kind of where you want to be. When you’re flowing, you don’t want to be thinking about things. They ball found me. I was open in transition. I let it fly and the ball went in.”
On crediting the team’s defensive depth for guarding Donovan Mitchell:
“One of the luxuries of our team is we got a lot of really good primary on-ball, primary off-the-ball defenders. Team defenders. I didn’t really play the first three quarters and then you throw fresh legs at someone whose got it going. Just come in try to compete, be physical, take advantage that I didn’t play. Use the energy that I had. That’s really it. Compete, communicate, make it hard on him. He’s a helluva player. We expect him to have a good game against us. Gotta give him his credit, he really hurt us. We have to make adjustments. We were connected, played hard and was physical.”
On the moment the Knicks realized they needed to get their excrement together:
“If you’re going to make it run, that’s when you have to do it. Might as well throw your best punch at that point, do what you can. You have to leave it all out there, especially this time of the year. That’s what we did. We have a group that didn’t flinch at the deficit. We made something happen.”
On the comeback atmosphere at Madison Square Garden:
“A lot of fun. MSG comebacks are fun, especially in the playoffs. I’m just real proud of our group, because that’s quite the deficit in the fourth.”
On being greeted by celebrities and Knicks legends after the win:
“It’s kind of wild when I think about it.”
Q "Jalen's such a weapon…What type of weapon is he?
OG "What type of weapon? Uh I mean. Jalen's an amazing player. Um. What kind of weapon-what do you mean?
Q "Like what kind of asset?
OG "Oh I mean. Hes an amazing player you know. I'm happy he's on our team. We're all happy” pic.twitter.com/wY1LV6k6Gs
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership and value to the team:
“He’s an amazing player. I’m happy he’s on our team, I think we’re all happy he’s on our team.”
On fighting through the deficit in Game 1:
“We had to keep fighting. We’re just mentally tough. We knew we had a run in us. Just play to the end.”
On shaking off early rust:
“[There was] a little rust, but that was expected. I knew that. As the game went on, the rust wore off.”
On how he felt physically as the game progressed:
“I felt good. Just continue to play hard, shoot shots and be aggressive. … I don’t think it was hesitancy [early]. Just as the game went on I felt more and more like myself.”
Kenny Atkinson on whether he was going to bench James Harden on defensive possessions at the end of the game:
"He's been one of our best defenders in these playoffs. I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn't think about that" pic.twitter.com/zJh8kPs92m
On not using any of his timeouts during the fourth-quarter collapse:
“I like to hold my timeouts. I didn’t want to have one timeout at the end of the game, one- or two-point game. I try to hold them.”
On tough Knicks shots in the fourth quarter:
“I thought they hit some really tough shots in that fourth quarter, those two 3’s, prayer 3’s end of shot clock. We got a little unlucky, quite honestly. (Jalen) Brunson obviously took over at the end.”
On Mikal Bridges’ “lucky” late threes:
“The two Bridges 3’s, like kind of what are you going to do?”
On the offense getting stagnant late:
“My only regret, and this can happen when you get a little fatigue, it just stopped moving. We were pinging the ball over the place, great ball movement and then it got a little stagnant.”
On pride in his team despite the collapse:
“I’m super proud of the way our group played. We played great basketball tonight for three quarters, unfortunately … they dominated us in the fourth quarter.”
On not even considering benching James Harden as Brunson cooked him:
“No. He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs. I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”
On Brunson’s late-game takeover:
“Brunson obviously took over at the end. We started double-teaming him, trying to do some different things… they dominated us in the fourth quarter. Basically, the fourth quarter he got loose. We definitely tried to mix up some stuff, throw some stuff at him. We’ll have to keep looking at it. There was a lot of tough floaters, and hit that tough, contested three.”
On Cleveland’s defensive plan against Karl-Anthony Towns:
“Really important and not just (for) Evan, right? Once we sub who’s going to make his catch his tough, make his passes tough. I do feel like we have personnel. They can bother him. We got multiple guys that can put pressure on and then we’ve got to be really good with our defense. It definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows and it’s been his assist rate. He’s got all that stuff at a high level so that’s going to be a big part of the series.”
On having personnel to pressure Towns:
“We do feel like we have the personnel to bother him. We’ve got multiple guys who can put pressure on him. We’ve gotta be really good with our off-ball defense. They’ve definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows. It’s been … it’s high level so it’s going to be a big part of the series.”
On not feeling disrespected despite being underdogs:
“I get it. I don’t feel disrespected, right? I think I get it. They’re playing great basketball. Massive rest advantage. We get that. So it’s not like I’m mad or anything. I get it. But like I said, we have to find a way to halt their momentum. I mean they have great momentum coming into this series and we have to find a way.”
On prioritizing physical and mental freshness:
“The most important thing is these guys are fresh and fresh physically and fresh mentally. We know they have a massive rest advantage. We know they’re massively favored in the series, but I’d say from our perspective it’s like we got to try to halt their momentum and it starts tonight.”
On expanding the rotation early in the series:
“I like, especially beginning this series, giving guys opportunities. You never know what you will find.”
On the Knicks’ physical style of play:
“They got big strong guys and they’re super physical. Good thing is we have two series where we’re dealing with that for 48 minutes basically. But we’re not coming in here saying, oh this is the Knicks. They’re a very physical team, definitely saw that on film.”
Donovan Mitchell on the message he gave in the locker room:
“I said it in the locker room, just that we lost, we f–king blew it.”
On the Cavaliers’ Game 1 loss:
“So many things I think played a factor into it. We didn’t close it out, we gotta clean up on film, and go from there. It’s one loss, it’s a bad loss, but all we can do is go back and watch the film and fix it. It’s just one game; we could have lost by 40, and it still would have been 1-0. We played pretty solidly for about three quarters. We’ll make adjustments and go from there.”
On failing to adjust to Brunson late:
“He was a little comfortable. We could have done some things collectively and we didn’t and that’s on us. But ultimately, we came to do nothing about it. Now we got to go out there and watch the film and fix it for game two.”
On taking accountability for letting the game slip away:
“We should have won the game. Even if there was complacency, we’re up 22 with eight minutes left. Gotta win the game. But we gotta keep your head up and go from there. Don’t let one quarter affect you for the rest of the series. It’s gonna be a long series, and there are things we did that are positive things we can look forward to. But we should have won the game, we didn’t… We lost, we f**king blew it, now let’s run up for Game 2.”
On not overreacting to his late-game struggles:
“I’ll watch the film and figure it out. I don’t think it’s anything to overreact to. In those scenarios, you’ve got to feel it, and I’ve always said it’s a feel thing.”
On not letting the loss derail momentum:
“That can’t happen. But it did. We play in two days. We can’t sit here and let it kill our momentum, kill what we’ve been doing. It’s not a good loss.”
On playing in the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden as a New Yorker:
“Being a New Yorker playing in the Finals is just different. You don’t take it for granted. You grew up around it. You grew up a fan of it. And now to be an enemy in it is special, for sure. We played there a few years ago [in the playoffs] and we got whupped. The remaining core guys that are here remember that. So, we have to go out and be ready. It’s an amazing opportunity for us and for me being back home, but we got to go in there and take it.”
On the Knicks entering the series as a dangerous opponent:
“It’s gonna be special for sure. [The Knicks] are a talented team. Obviously it starts with Jalen Brunson and KAT. But Mikal and OG have been phenomenal — Josh Hart. Look at their bench, it’s just been great.”
On joking about playing at home during the series:
“Me and my fiancee joked that we’d be at home regardless, right, so might as well play some basketball while we’re at the crib.”
On preparing for Game 1 against a rested Knicks team:
“We know them, obviously. But, I think the biggest thing is they’ve been off — they got a bunch of rest so got to be ready to go from the jump from Game 1. To the point, It’s great I get to play at home … doesn’t matter. We got to be locked in and ready to go. And I know we will be. They’re a tough team, and we’re excited.”
On how Cleveland has evolved since losing to New York in 2023:
“For most of the team, the core that was there, it was their first time in the playoffs. We’ve had a few series under our belts [since then]. We didn’t like how it went, obviously. This is different. We’re not here to rehash the past. This is a different scenario. This is something that, even last season, we came into it like, ‘This is our goal, to get to this point, to get to the Finals.’ Not really looking at it like, ‘Man, what happened [three] years ago?’ It’s just the opportunity in front of us.”
On focusing inward rather than predicting a Knicks matchup:
“I think for us, we weren’t saying, ‘It’s gonna be us vs. New York.’ We were really just focusing on ourselves. Especially how we started the year, it was a long road. I think now, it’s more so like we gotta steal the first one. And if we don’t steal the first one, steal the second one. That’s the mentality. It’s just like ‘hey, we’re here, we haven’t come this far just to be excited to be here.’ I think that’s the biggest feeling around the group — that we’re not just like, ‘We did it.’ Now, it’s more so that this is an opportunity for us to play and get to the Finals, and we have to get through these guys to get there.”
“It definitely hurts. You want to win Game 1, especially when you’re up like that, you want to win those games. We have to do better with finishing that, but it’s not an easy road, and we have to bounce back and try to get a dub. But we’ve done this before; we were down two in the last series, so we’ve been here before. You just have to bounce back and look at film, see what we can change, and fix that.”
On his infamous “lights were brighter” comment from 2023:
“That comment was that comment. What I said is what it is. For me personally now, I’ve grown, evolved, had a lot more playoff series under my belt, a lot more games under my belt, experience. What I said then was what I said then.”
On how Cleveland’s core has matured since 2023:
“Everybody’s evolved, everybody’s grown, everybody’s come into their own skin. Everybody’s just a different person coming here. So it’s good to see how everybody’s grown.”
On his loyalty to Mitchell after advancing to the ECF:
“I hope Don knows this, I’ll follow him into war. I’ll trust every single decision that he makes, every single shot that he takes, every single word that he speaks in the locker room.”
Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, John Starks, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Iman Shumpert & Stephon Marbury are locked in as Jalen Brunson brings the Knicks back pic.twitter.com/zq9L1VHB04
