"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.
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!
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.
Rotations are always cut a bit shorter as teams get deeper in the NBA playoffs, but depth players have to stay ready in case their number is called.
For the Knicks, that was Ariel Hukporti in Game 1 on Monday night.
Hukporti saw the floor just three times in New York’s first round meeting with the Hawks, but they were forced to turn to him early on this time around.
Karl-Anthony Towns ended up being okay after an early injury scare, but the big man was forced to the benched after picking up two early fouls against Joel Embiid.
Mitchell Robinson came on, but quickly picked up a foul of his own then Philadelphia turned to the Hack-A-Mitch strategy to try to slow the Knicks down, so he was pulled as well.
Ariel Hukporti entered into his most meaningful minutes thus far these playoffs.
The youngster was ready for the big moment, though, giving New York the big man they needed and holding his own in the tough matchup with Embiid downlow.
He went into the half as a +10 across his three minutes of action.
Hukporti saw even more time with the game out of reach down the stretch, and he ended up finishing the blowout victory with five points, a game-high nine rebounds, and a +22.
“I gotta give Ariel credit,” Mike Brown said. “We were in early foul trouble and Ariel came off the bench and he wasn’t expected to play, obviously, and he did a pretty solid job.
“You’re not going to stop a guy like Embiid or [Tyrese] Maxey, you just hopefully make them work without fouling them, and I thought Ariel did a really good job in that area.”
Hukporti will need to stay ready moving forward, as New York may have to turn to him again as they look to keep Embiid in check during this second round series.
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:
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.
It was the kind of game Knicks fans loved. It may not have been as big a blowout as New York's last game, but it also may have been more meaningful.
New York blew out visiting Philadelphia in Game 1 of their second-round series, 137-98, on a night they looked like clearly the best team in the East. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Manhattan.
The Knicks are a team in a groove, winning their last three games by at least 29 points, and in the last two they have shot 61% overall and 44% from 3-point range.
Part of the Knicks fast start and dominance was that the 76ers played like a team with a Game 7 hangover — they looked gassed a quarter into the game. Embiid started 1-of-6 and Maxey 1-of-4. If it wasn't for Paul George hitting 3-pointers, Philadelphia could have been in a much deeper hole earlier.
And that hole was already 23 points at the half, 74-51, leading to an ecstatic crowd reveling in it at Madison Square Garden. Things were going so well that Josh Hart had time to untie Jimmy Fallon's shoe courtside.
In the third quarter, the Knicks just added to their lead out of the gate, and Nurse, wisely, decided to rest his tired stars early and start thinking ahead to Game 2.
In addition to Brunson's hot hand, OG Anunoby had 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and five assists, playing well as the hub of the offense. Mikal Bridges added 17 points as well.
George was the only 76er with a hot hand all night, and while he played just 26 minutes, he led the team with 17 points. Joel Embiid finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting, while Tyrese Maxey had 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Expect a better outing from Philadelphia in Game 2, but if the Knicks are shooting like this there might be nothing the 76ers can do.
The Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of their second round matchup on Monday at MSG.
Here are some takeaways...
- The Knicks had a bit of a scare just minutes into this one, as Karl-Anthony Towns went down in significant pain after taking a hard fall coming down from an offensive rebound attempt, but he ended up being okay after staying down for a few moments and remained on the floor following a TV timeout.
Joel Embiid was also able to get both Towns (two) and Mitchell Robinson (two) into early foul trouble.
- With Towns sitting, it was Jalen Brunson who carried the load for the Knicks' offense in the early going. It was a mainly back-and-forth opening frame, but the All-Star point guard put together one of his signature barrages scoring nine straight New York points and dishing an assist on a Miles McBride three to make it a four-point game.
OG Anunoby found his touch late, as well, scoring all of his seven points to close the first quarter up by eight.
- Finally back on the floor, Towns got into a rhythm for the first time opening the second. The dominant big man was able to take advantage of Embiid resting after playing the entire first quarter, quickly pushing both his point total and the Knicks' lead all the way out to double-digits.
- New York's defense was tremendous and they continued to get whatever they wanted on the other end. The Garden was rocking and the home team had all of the momentum as they carried their largest lead of the half into the break (23) following Brunson's deep three at the buzzer.
- The captain was taking advantage of Embiid and Philly's defense in the pick-in-roll, scoring the teams last 11 points to bring his total out to 27, which is the second-most in any playoff half by a Knick in the play-by-play era.
- It was much of the same for the Knicks coming out of the break, as they continued to put on a defensive clinic and simply could not miss on the other end. This time it was Mikal Bridges' turn to put together a scoring run of his own, as he scored eight straight points at one point in the third to push himself into double-digits, as well.
- Philadelphia didn't received their first bench points of the game until there was four minutes left in the third.
- Brunson was relatively quiet in the third with New York's offense clicking on all cylinders, but eight points in the closing minutes of the frame helped him break 30 for the second time these playoffs, and kept the commanding lead above that mark heading into the closing 12 minutes.
- Both teams emptied their benches with things out of reach to open the fourth. Tyler Kolek took advantage of the opportunity for minutes, knocking down his first three attempts from the field and dishing an assist. Ariel Hukporti chipped in five points, reeled in a game-high nine rebounds, and was a +22 over 17 minutes.
Hukporti stepped up bug earlier in the contest with both Robinson and Towns in foul trouble.
- As far as the starters, Brunson led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Anunoby missed just one of his eight shots as he chipped in 18 points of his own, and both Bridges and Towns finished with 17 each. Josh Hart had just eight points, but also contributed eight rebounds and six assists.
They shot a whopping 63 percent from the field and 51 from three as a team on the night.
- The Knicks also did a tremendous locking down Philly's one-two punch, holding Embiid (14) and Tyrese Maxey (13) to a combined 27 points, 15 of which came from the free-throw line. They made just six of their 20 attempts from the field, missed all five of their shots from three, and turned the ball over a total of five times.
- New York is the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by 25+ points.
Game MVP: Jalen Brunson
The captain set the tone out of the gate for New York with his tremendous first half.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Fashion's biggest night has arrived, and several athletes have foregone their pregame getups for elaborate suits and gowns fit for one of the most stylish nights of the year.
The theme of the 2026 Met Gala is "Costume Art," paired with the dress code of "Fashion is Art." As always, the theme was up to interpretation, and this year's carpet showcased creativity in all of its forms.
Tennis legend Venus Williams is co-chair for the event alongside Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman. Venus' sister Serena Williams was among the throng of athletes in attendance, which consisted of icons across a wide variety of sports.
See below for a glimpse into the "Super Bowl of Fashion" and the standout looks of some of sports' biggest stars, including Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, 4x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, and more.
A’ja Wilson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: A’ja Wilson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Alysa Liu
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Alysa Liu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Angel Reese
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Angel Reese attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Dwyane Wade
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Dwyane Wade attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Eileen Gu
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Eileen Gu attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jimmy Butler
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Jimmy Butler attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Joe Burrow
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Joe Burrow attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Justin Jefferson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Justin Jefferson attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Julian Hamilton/Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn
US alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Naomi Osaka
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Naomi Osaka attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)
Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Paige Bueckers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Paige Bueckers leaves The Carlyle Hotel before the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
John Nacion/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook
US basketball player Russell Westbrook arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Russell Wilson and Ciara
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Russell Wilson and Ciara attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Serena Williams
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Serena Willaims attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Ayesha Curry and Stephen Curry attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Venus Williams
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Venus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 17: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 17, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs and face an unexpected opponent. The Timberwolves didn’t play great for most of the season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference, but used their size and physicality to outperform the Denver Nuggets, despite losing key players during the series. Donte Divencenzo is out for the rest of the season, but he’s already back on the bench cheering on his teammates. Anthony Edwards suffered a scary looking knee injury with a hyperextension and bone bruise in the third quarter of Game 3 in the first round, but he could be back on the court as early as tonight, an unbelievable 9 days after what looked like it could be a season-ending injury.
The Wolves were able to survive through the defensive efforts of Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, who bothered Nikola Jokic so much that he lost his composure more than once, and terrific performances from Jaden McDaniels, and a rotating cast of super subs—Ayo Dosunmu with a record-setting 43 points off the bench in game 4, and Terrance Shannon Jr. with 24 in Game 6.
This should be a much tougher test that the first round matchup against the Trail Blazers, who don’t have the wealth of talent and size on Minnesota’s roster. The Spurs nominally have five players on the roster who can play at the center spot, but it’s pretty apparent that they only want to play Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet when the game is on the line, except in smallball lineups, where Carter Bryant has been playing well. Bryant is dealing with a foot sprain, so it’s imperative for the Spurs that VW1 and LK7 stay out of foul trouble tonight. Rudy Gobert is notably bad at offense, so maybe the Spurs could hide a bad defender on him part of the time, but you still would hate to see Mason Plumlee out there unless the game is already decided.
It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments that Mitch Johnson will make to the Spurs offensive and defensive sets for the Timberwolves. Victor could take advantage of Gobert’s ineptness as a scorer to roam a bit more and create zone of exclusion in the paint for the Timberwolves, which would force them to rely heavily on hitting their outside shots. They’re a pretty good three point shooting team, so that wouldn’t necessarily work out in the Spurs’ favor, unless the perimeter defenders can quickly close out around the three point line.
Game Prediction:
The Spurs go wild from beyond the arc, with Champagnie, Vassell, and Wembanyama all hitting at least eight triples.
San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Second Round, Game 1 May 4, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: Peacock, NBCSN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 6: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers protects the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Paycom Center on April 6, 2025 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The second round series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder begins on Tuesday on the latter’s home court.
In the Lakers’ first round series against the Houston Rockets, pretty much nobody believed in them because it felt like an impossible task to defeat a healthier team without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They were instantly proven wrong in Game 1 when the Lakers reminded everyone that they can shock the world, and true enough, that’s what they did.
Now in the second round, nobody believes in the purple and gold once again, but for more justified reasons. After all, the Thunder are the only undefeated squad left in the playoffs and made light work of the Suns with an average margin of victory of 14.5 points per game.
It also doesn’t help that Oklahoma dominated Los Angeles four times during the regular season. The Thunder had an average margin of 29.3 points per game, which was the largest regular-season point differential between two teams in the same conference. The Lakers weren’t always healthy in those matchups, which will also be the case again in this series without Dončić for now.
Matchup overview
Besides Dončić, Jalen Williams also won’t be suiting up due to a hamstring injury, so that’s also one less superstar for the Thunder. Despite Williams’ absence, OKC is still very capable of playing at a high level because it has offensive firepower. On top of that, they employ the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 33.8 points, 8.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game in the first round.
As for the Lakers, LeBron James — who averaged 26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game in the first round —will for sure take charge of the offense once again, but he’s going to need his teammates to take their game to another level again. In fairness to Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, they all played very well in the first round. But it’s going to take more than skill, grit and heart to defeat this Thunder team.
The Lakers as a whole will have to be efficient and sharp on both ends of the floor. They will need to match the Thunder’s pace, aggressiveness and mental fortitude. It’s likely that OKC will expose Los Angeles’ inferior offense as seen in the first round when L.A. failed to score more than 100 points in three games. The Thunder will definitely turn it up on defense and fire away from downtown, where they rank second in the playoffs in attempts per game.
It’ll be up to the Lakers to respond and counter.
The Lakers’ chances
In Tagalog — the native language in the Philippines — there’s a well-known saying that goes “bilog ang bola,” which means that anything can happen in a 48-minute of basketball game. It’s easy to dismiss the Lakers and say that they don’t have what it takes to compete against this Thunder team, but time and time again this season, the purple and gold have proven that they’re capable of surprising us and even pulling off miracles.
That’s not to say that there’s no chance the Lakers get gentlemen swept, but at the very least, they’re still worth tuning in and rooting for. They’ve reached the semifinals and are considered a top-eight team. That alone is worth being hopeful about.
Regardless of the result, there’s a good chance that the Lakers will go all out on this one and hopefully it leads to stealing a game or two in Oklahoma.
Let’s see if the Lakers can pull off a miracle against the Thunder in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
The Lakers’ injury report states Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) are officially out for this one.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery reocvery) as out.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards has been cleared to play Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, returning 10 days after hyperextending his left knee.
Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series in San Antonio, but the 6-foot-4 guard expedited his rehabilitation to play in the opener.
“He's in,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said 90 minutes before scheduled tipoff.
Finch said Edwards will be on a minutes restriction, but said he was unsure if the 24-year-old will start or come off the bench.
‘Obviously, the way he’s moving and just what percentage of himself does he look like," Finch said in regards to the player's minutes. “Of course, obviously, but he’s looked really pretty good and I’m sure he’ll be a little winded at times, but I know he’s excited and we’re proud to have him back.”
Edwards was cleared to participate in team activities Saturday and upgraded to questionable on Sunday's injury report. He was a full participant in the morning shootaround and was cleared to play following pre-game workouts Monday.
“It will be fun to compete against him,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “I’m glad he’s playing.”
The Timberwolves also lost Donte DiVincenzo in Game 4 to a torn right Achilles tendon, but won the next two games against the Nuggets to advance.
Edwards was not in attendance during Game 6 while receiving treatment for his injury.
“He loves to play the game,” Finch said. “We dodged a bullet when it happened. He’s done an incredible job. Our medical staff has done an unbelievable job of getting him to this point. And he was super motivated by the fact that we were able to get that first series. I think that was kind of a little bit of an inspiration for him too, just gave him something to work towards.”
Edwards averaged 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 61 games during the regular season. He averaged 36.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds in three games against San Antonio this season.
The Spurs were preparing to play against Edwards leading up to the series opener, even though his status was in doubt.
“A player that level in a way takes a lot of the thinking out because you know there is only a handful of players in this league to that level, so you know their game,” Johnson said.
The Timberwolves were 2-1 against the Spurs during the regular season.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, named the Defensive Player of the Year on April 20, missed the opening game against Minnesota during the regular season with a left calf strain. Wembanyama averaged 34 points and 8.0 rebounds in two games against the Timberwolves, including 39 points in a 126-123 victory on Jan. 17 in the regular-season finale between the clubs.
San Antonio will be without rookie forward Carter Bryant, who sprained his right ankle during practice leading up to the series.
Minnesota will be without Ayo Dosunmu, who is out with right calf soreness.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars looks on against the Texas Longhorns during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While everyone’s focused on the NBA Draft lottery Sunday, the actual players making that such an exciting event will get their first official evaluations as NBA prospects in the coming days as well. It’s all happening in Chicago starting Sunday.
The NBA Draft combine will take place from May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in the second city. A G-League combine will also take place in the same location from May 8-10. Last week, the NBA announced it invited 73 players to the event…
The NBA announced today that 73 players have been invited to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026, which will take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.
Additionally, a select number of standout players from the AWS NBA G League Draft Combine 2026,… pic.twitter.com/9w2ncpacCe
Already, there’s been some additions and subtractions. As it stands now, the following seven players are continually being mocked in Brooklyn’s pick range, which is anywhere from the top selection to No. 7:
AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson
Cameron Boozer
Caleb Wilson
Darius Acuff Jr.
Keaton Wagler
Kingston Flemmings
Each member of what you might call (we are) the “magnificent seven” will be in Chicago to run through drills and scrimmages, have their measurements taken, undergo medical exams, and participate in interviews. All but the medical exams and interviews will be publicized and ranked. Last May, two players who ultimately wound up with Brooklyn topped the vertical leap (Drake Powell) and shuttle run (Grant Nelson) categories with the North Dakota 7-footer setting the combine record in the event.
In addition, at the end of next week, agents will invite team reps to so-called “agent days” where their clients will also run through drills. It was at one of those days last year that Egor Demin took a big leap after hitting 16 straight threes in 35 seconds, which went a long way toward dispelling the notion that he couldn’t shoot.
The combines will, of course, be supplemented by workouts and interviews at HSS. The league has strict rules on how how often teams can work out players but the workouts can take place as late as the morning of the first round of the Draft, June 23.
The Nets also have two second rounders this year — their own (no. 33 overall) and that of the Los Angeles Clippers (no. 43 overall), an off-shoot of the Mikal Bridges trade. With those picks out of the first round and well past the lottery, there’s a far wider gap of prospects Brooklyn could select with both picks. However, for pick no. 33, the latest mocks have Brooklyn taking:
Luigi Suigo, Mega (Bleacher Report) 7’2” C.
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State (The Athletic) 6’9” SF
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor (No Ceilings) 6’5” SG
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt (Yahoo!) 6’0” PG
For pick no. 43, the mocks are projecting Brooklyn to take:
Well, it did once. Almost half a century ago. We’ll get to that.
This wasn’t quite as much fun as winning Game 7 in Boston, but we’ve got a job to do and the stats won’t wait. So here we go with our 10 worst 76ers stats off one of the ugliest losses in franchise history.
SECOND-WORST LOSS EVER: The 76ers lost 137-98 to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series, and just like that all the good vibes from their Game 7 win in Boston two nights earlier evaporated. The 76ers came up one point short of the worst playoff loss in franchise history, a 40-point loss to the Celtics (121-81) in Game of their 1982 Eastern Conference Finals series at Boston Garden. It’s the 9th-worst Game 1 loss in any series in NBA history. It was the Knicks’ 2nd-biggest playoff win ever. They beat the Hawks 140-89 on Thursday.
ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A DISASTER: After losing Game 1 and Game 4 of the Celtics series both by 32 points, the 76ers are now only the second team in NBA history to lose three playoff games by 30 or more points in the same season. It happened just last year, when the Nuggets lost a game to the Lakers by 34 but won the series and then lost games to Oklahoma City by 43 and 32 points in that series. The 76ers have lost 10 playoff games in franchise history by at least 30 points – three of them in the last 16 days.
THAT’S PROBABLY TOO MANY POINTS: The Knicks’ 139 points are the 2nd-most the 76ers have ever allowed in a playoff game. They lost 156-120 to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks in 1970 in Game 3 of their Eastern Division series at the Spectrum. The 137 points are the 2nd-most the Knicks have ever scored in the postseason, behind only those 140 against the Hawks 2 ½ weeks ago.
THE MINUS FIVE: For the first time in franchise history, five 76ers were minus-20 or worse in a playoff game. Tyrese Maxey was minus-28, Paul George minus-26, Kelly Oubre minus-25 and Joel Embiid and Quentin Grimes were both mimus-24.
THIS OUGHT TO BE IMPOSIBLE: Adem Bona played just four minutes but picked up five personal fouls. That ties the “record” for fewest minutes played in the postseason by a player who committed five fouls. In 2022, Dewayne Dedmon of the Heat had five fouls in four minutes in a game against the 76ers in Miami.
A FIRST FOR JOEL: Joel Embiid finished with 14 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes. Embiid has played 64 career playoff games and this was the first time he’s ever played a postseason game with fewer than 15 points and fewer than five rebounds. It was only his 10th such game including the regular season and third when he played at least 20 minutes. Last time he didn’t have 15 or 5 and played 25 minutes was in the 2024 regular season against the Knicks at MSG, when he had 13 and three in 26 minutes.
AT LEAST HE WENT TO ‘NOVA: Jalen Brunson scored 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from 3. He’s the first player in 26 years to score 35 points against the 76ers in a playoff game while shooting at least 67 percent from the field an 50 percent from 3. The only other player to do that was Jalen Rose with the Pacers in 2000, with 40 points on 16-for-23 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3.
THIRD TIME IN OVER 50 YEARS: The 39-point loss was the 76ers’ 5th-worst ever to the Knicks, including the regular season. But it wasn’t their worst in 2026. They lost by 49 points at home in February (138-89). But in the last 50 years they’ve only lost one other game to the Knicks by 39 or more points and that was a 48-point loss (130-82) at the Garden in 1994.
THEY HAD 74 POINTS AT HALFTIME: The Knicks’ 74 points at halftime are the 2nd-most the 76ers have ever allowed in the first half of a playoff game. In 1970, they allowed 77 in that 156-120 loss to the Bucks. It was the Knicks’ 2nd-biggest first half ever in the postseason behind an 83-point half in Atlanta last week.
WHERE DID THE DEFENSE GO? The Knicks made 19 of 37 shots from 3 for 51 percent. That’s the highest 3-point shooting percentage vs. the 76ers in a playoff game in 18 years, since the Pistons were 9-for-16 for 56 percent in a 100-77 win at the Wachovia Center in Game 6 of their 2008 Eastern Conference First-Round series. Their 51 percent shooting from 3 was the Knicks’ 4th-highest ever in a game when they attempted at least 20.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls hired Atlanta Hawks executive Bryson Graham to lead their front office on Monday, hoping he can turn around a struggling franchise.
Graham takes over as Chicago’s executive vice president of basketball operations after the organization fired Arturas Karnisovas a month ago. He spent this season as Atlanta’s senior vice president of basketball operations after a 15-year run in New Orleans’ front office that saw him rise from intern to general manager. He had a hand in the Pelicans drafting Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Dyson Daniels in recent years.
Graham reunited with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in July when Atlanta acquired him from Minnesota. He averaged 20.8 points and was the NBA’s Most Improved Player. The Hawks went 46-36 before losing to New York in the first round of the playoffs and posted their highest win total since the 2015-16 team finished 48-34.
“This is one of the most storied franchises in the history of professional basketball, and I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to deliver results for this city and these fans,” Graham said in a statement. “My entire career has been built on the belief that sustained success starts with finding the right players and developing an all-around impactful culture.”
The Bulls fired Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley in early April after six years and one postseason appearance. They went on to finish 12th in the Eastern Conference at 31-51 while missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Graham will need to hire a new coach. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf had hoped to retain Billy Donovan. But the Naismith Hall of Famer opted to resign after six seasons, avoiding a potentially awkward situation with new management.
“He has worked his way up through basketball operations from the ground level, and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization,” Michael Reinsdorf said. “He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today’s league, today’s players, and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture. Just as important, Bryson is committed to building a high-level group around him.”
Graham inherits a team with two promising young stars in Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, two first-round draft picks and the salary-cap space to make big moves this offseason. But the Bulls haven’t been serious contenders in the Eastern Conference since Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the opener of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia.
Chicago’s lone playoff appearance under the previous regime was during the 2021-22 season, when the team led by Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan finished sixth in the Eastern Conference at 46-36 and got knocked out by Milwaukee in the first round. The Bulls lost point guard Lonzo Ball to a knee injury during that season, and he missed the next two years.
Chicago’s most recent all-star was DeRozan in 2023.
Karnisovas refused for years to launch a major rebuild and give the Bulls the best shot at the No. 1 pick, stressing patience and not skipping steps, before pulling the trigger this year. He made seven trades prior to the deadline, dealing Nikola Vucevic to Boston, Kevin Huerter to Detroit, Coby White to Charlotte and Chicago product Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota.
The Bulls mostly got second-round draft picks in return. They also acquired Jaden Ivey from Detroit, only to waive him following anti-LGBTQ+ comments about religion he made in videos posted on his Instagram account.
Graham, who’s from San Antonio, played at Texas A&M from 2006 to 2009 before joining the Aggies’ staff as a graduate assistant. He was hired as an intern in New Orleans by then-GM Dell Demps prior to the 2010-11 season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown had a lot to get off his chest.
Less than 24 hours after suffering elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers in a first-round series Boston led 3-1, Brown took to Twitch. On Sunday night, he opened up about several topics — most tied to the team’s historic Game 7 loss, the first time in franchise history the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead — without mincing words.
Brown averaged 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists against Philadelphia, finishing the series with 33 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in Game 7 following his campaign for league MVP consideration. He also said he has no regrets about how the season turned out, calling it the most “fun” he’s had in his career.
During the stream, Brown pulled up highlights and replayed several critical moments from Game 7. He also mentioned that going forward, viewers can expect more basketball-focused breakdowns on his livestreams.
He began Sunday night’s debrief with a familiar gripe he’s carried throughout the season.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during introductions prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA officiating
Brown led the playoffs with 10 offensive fouls, twice as many as the league’s runner-up (Jalen Duren, Karl-Anthony Towns, Neemias Queta, Stephon Castle).
“I was complaining about officiating, rightfully so,” Brown said. “Because our team finished dead last in getting calls. I was vocal about it, I got thrown out some games, etc. And they keep saying it’s a push off and stuff like that. You know how many players do that? That’s a common basketball play. Every player does it, so why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda. Maybe because I spoke and was critical of the refs in the regular season.”
In the regular season, Brown was called for 40 offensive fouls, second to Towns (65). He never held back, calling officials out — some by name — whenever Brown felt he or the Celtics weren’t held to the same standard as opposing teams across the league. Brown also claimed during his stream, with confidence, that officials had an “agenda” to push, linking it to the offensive foul total.
“I’ve actually spoke to some refs, and they said it was an agenda going into each game. ‘So anytime Jaylen brings his arm up, just from reputation, just call it.’ Like, Paul George does that same thing. Jaylen Brunson does the same thing. Sh*t, I can go down the list. It’s a basketball play, whether y’all believe it or not.”
Brown pointed to a play with 3:23 left in the third quarter, when George extended his right arm to create space from Sam Hauser and drilled a step-back 3, putting the Sixers ahead 79-66.
“It’s a foul on me, but it’s a good play on him. Why you think that is? I’ll let y’all fill in the blank. We got the same trainer.”
For what it’s worth, NBA referee Tyler Ford was selected for Game 7 between Boston and Philadelphia, over a month after an encounter with Brown during a March 10 game against the San Antonio Spurs led to Brown’s ejection by referee Suyash Mehta.
Joel Embiid flopping
Brown doubled down on his claim that Sixers star Joel Embiid, while dominant in the series, flopped to get to the free-throw line.
“Credit to the 76ers, credit to Joel Embiid. I still think he flopped entirely way too much,” Brown said. “Some of y’all don’t even know what flopping is. Like, some of y’all clearly don’t know basketball. You don’t know what flopping is. Flopping is exaggerating contact that’s already there. It’s not about drawing contact or drawing fouls. Nobody has a problem with drawing fouls. That’s a part of the game. Use your brain.”
Embiid attempted 37 free throws after returning in Game 4. Defending him became one of the biggest issues for the Celtics during the series, as coach Joe Mazzulla experimented with nearly everything to slow the 7-footer down. Boston turned to Neemias Queta, Nikola Vučević, and Luka Garza during Games 4 through 6 before giving Brown a chance in Game 7.
However, nothing worked.
Brown said Embiid routinely exaggerated contact, insisting it’s an epidemic affecting the NBA.
“It’s like when someone barely touched you, and you selling the call to make it seem like you just got shot by two police officers. Big difference. Whether you like it, don’t like it, your grandma like it, your grandma don’t like it. I don’t really care. That’s just my personal opinion on basketball. Some of y’all might disagree. Argue with your grandma. Flopping has ruined our game. Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f**king basketball history. He flops. He knows it. This ain’t breaking news.”
Embiid shot 83.8 percent from the charity stripe against Boston.
Fourth-quarter pass to Payton Pritchard — with Neemias Queta wide open
In the fourth quarter, with under three minutes remaining, Brown and the Celtics had a chance to take the lead. Pushing in transition, Brown passed up Queta wide open under the basket and instead kicked it to Payton Pritchard in the corner instead.
Pritchard missed the critical 3-pointer, but Brown insisted it was the right decision.
“Some people would’ve rather me went to Neemi to get the two because the 3-pointers wasn’t going in,” Brown said, “but all season long I’ve been going to Payton Pritchard in the corner.”
At that point, Boston was in dire need of offense. The Celtics missed 11 of their 12 final shot attempts, including 10 straight, and shot 26.5 percent from three in Game 7 — and 33.7 percent for the series.
Brown was money from the mid-range in Game 7, leading many to wonder why he turned to Pritchard with Queta feet ahead of Embiid. He thought about it and admitted perhaps he could’ve assisted Queta instead, but remained adamant that going to Pritchard was the right decision, claiming he’d do it again “10 times out of 10.”
“Maybe I could’ve thrown it to Neemi, for sure. Maybe Embiid could’ve maybe blocked him on the back side, maybe not. But all season long, Payton Pritchard has been that motherf**ker for us — and he still is that motherf**ker for us. So I’m doing that 10 times out of 10. Y’all can go back and keep questioning my playmaking ability or whatever, but I feel like that’s what my gut was telling me.”
BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talk after the game during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Credit to Sixers
Brown took a moment to give the Sixers their flowers, clarifying that Philadelphia’s series win was rightfully theirs.
“Obviously, the season didn’t end the way we want but you gotta take it on the chin,” Brown said. “Give credit where credit is due. So I don’t want to make it seem like I’m not giving them their props… I think (Tyrese) Maxey and (V.J.) Edgecombe are the future. Embiid is a hell of a player. George played incredibly well for their group, and that helped them win the series. They got better. Nick Nurse is a championship-level coach. I give my respect to Philadelphia.”
It had been 44 years since the last time the Sixers eliminated the Celtics in the postseason. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey joked after Game 7 that he wasn’t even born when asked if he understood the gravity of what Philadelphia had pulled off in Boston.
Final reflection
Brown reiterated his final assessment of the season, labeling it “great” all things considered.
“Great season,” Brown said. “I’m extremely proud of our group. Once again, I’ve been on championship teams, I’ve been on teams going to the Finals. Honestly, this was the most fun season I’ve ever had in basketball, personally. The uncertainty of going into the season, the uncertainty of going into every game — having to fight for every game — just did something emotionally, I feel like, for all of us.”
The Celtics took their circumstance of missing Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games before welcoming him back. They welcomed aboard a handful of newcomers, rookies, and returning players with minimal experience contributing to the team. Still, they made it work for a regular season that’s already secured Mazzulla’s sincere consideration for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award.
As Brown noted, Boston could’ve used Tatum’s injury as a reason to tank — and nobody would blame them. The organization shed payroll and parted ways with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet as a result. They utilized everyone on the roster, developed a handful of reserves, and showed promise heading into next season despite their catastrophic postseason exit.
“Most people wanted us to tank. Most people still probably wanted us to tank because of the way the season turned out, but you never know how a season is gonna go. All you can ask from the players is give it your all, and that’s what this group did.”
Feb 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) and forward Marjon Beauchamp (16) during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Tonight, the third-seed New York Knicks host the seventh-seed Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden for Game One of the Eastern Conference semifinals. A strong Knicks start could shape the series, while the Sixers look to grab a road win in hostile territory. Our heroes enter as roughly seven-point favorites, buoyed by their superior regular-season record, home-court edge, and deeper rotation. Aside from Joel Embiid’s sore hip, both teams are at full strength. Let’s get ready to rumble!
Game’s at 8 p.m. EST on NBC and Peacock. This is your game thread. This is Liberty Ballers. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good ambassadors of humanity. And go Knicks!
