OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Everything is tied up heading into Game Five of the Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs played stout defense against the Oklahoma City Thunder on their way to a 103-82 victory in Game Four. Now the Spurs need to win two of the next three games, including one on the road, to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
San Antonio made a major adjustment in the Game Four win. The Spurs doubled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander early and often in the first three games of the series. That may have neutralized SGA’s impact to an extent, but it also led to more open shots for the Thunder’s role players. In Game Four, the Spurs guarded Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1 and sent light help on drives. The result was a 19-point game for SGA and a 6-33 night from deep for OKC.
The playoffs are all about adjustments and counter-adjustments. The Thunder will certainly come out with a solution to San Antonio’s defense. They’ll have to do it without key ball-handlers. Ajay Mitchell is out with a calf strain, and Jalen Williams is questionable as he deals with his hamstring injury.
Every playoff game is a “must-win,” but Game Five feels particularly important. Defeating a shorthanded OKC squad on the road with two chances to clinch the series would put the Spurs in a strong position to advance to the Finals. They’ll need another dominant defensive performance to steal Game Five on the road.
Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber – Out (knee), Ajay Mitchell – Out (calf), Jalen Williams – Questionable (hamstring)
What to watch for:
Interior scoring
The Spurs outscored the Thunder in the paint 50-36 in Game Four. So far in the playoffs, if San Antonio can control the battle on the interior, they typically can win the game. The Thunder have been good at keeping Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs’ guards from dominating inside. In Game Four, Wembanyama was able to score through or over Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, while the guards did a better job getting downhill, particularly in the pick-and-roll. Outscoring the Thunder inside again will be crucial to winning Game Five.
Limiting turnovers
The best part about having De’Aaron Fox back in the lineup is the calming presence he brings alongside Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. San Antonio has been much better at valuing possessions since Fox returned to the lineup in Game Three. The Spurs had just 13 turnovers in Game Four. OKC is at its best when it can create turnovers and score easy buckets in transition. San Antonio’s defense is already suffocating enough. They can’t give the Thunder breaks by turning the ball over and letting them get easy shots.
Champagnie’s shooting
Julian Champagnie has been ice-cold in the Conference Finals. He’s shooting 19.4% from three-point range in the series. San Antonio desperately needs him to start hitting shots. The Thunder have loaded up on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ guards. Devin Vassell has taken advantage of the lack of defensive attention. If Champagnie can follow suit, San Antonio’s offense could be set for an explosion in Game Five.
The New York Knicks are hoping to win their third NBA title [Getty Images]
The New York Knicks reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years with a commanding 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks continued their fine form as they swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final 4-0 and extended their franchise record play-off win streak to 11 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks' scoring with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while the series' Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson added 15.
The Knicks, whose only NBA titles came in 1970 and 1973, last reached the Finals in 1999 when they lost 4-1 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Brunson, 29, was two years old when the Knicks last reached the Finals, when his father Rick - who is an assistant coach at the franchise - was a guard on the team.
"It means a lot, but I wouldn't be here without my team-mates, the belief they had in me," said Brunson.
"They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It's an honour to play with them."
The Knicks will face either defending champions Oklahoma City or the Spurs in next month's showpiece, with the teams tied at 2-2 in the Western Conference final.
Landry Shamet, who scored 16 points and netted all four of his three-pointer attempts, said his side are remaining focused on the "larger goal" rather than dwelling on their victory over the Cavaliers.
"We've got four more wins to try and go get and we know it's going to be even harder. Being in this position with this team, it's pretty special," he said.
If the Knicks continue their unbeaten run and sweep the finals, they will equal the NBA's record play-off win streak of 15 set by the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
The Knicks ended the first quarter with an 8-0 run and began the second with 12 unanswered points to lead 50-26.
Shamet's third three-pointer later put the Knicks 61-32 up and they never looked back, overwhelming the Cavs after half-time with 22 turnovers.
Donovan Mitchell top-scored for the Cavs with 31 points.
Game five of the Western Conference Final takes place on Tuesday. (01.30 BST Wednesday).
CLEVELAND - In some ways, it’s fitting that Leon Rose and the Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals after knocking out Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers.
Rose’s decision to pass on trading for Mitchell was one of the biggest pivot points of this Knicks era.
Remember: New York had the draft picks and the personnel to obtain Mitchell from Utah. But Rose ultimately decided that he didn’t want to meet Danny Ainge’s asking price.
At the time, it was a controversial decision.
In hindsight, it’s one of several pivotal choices by Rose that helped the Knicks ascend to the NBA Finals.
Instead of trading a package centered around RJ Barrett for Mitchell, Rose and his group moved Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second round pick to Toronto for OG Anunoby.
Anunoby has been one of the best players in the postseason. He had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Knicks’ closeout win over Cleveland on Monday.
Instead of using multiple first-round picks to acquire Mitchell, Rose sent most of his draft capital to Brooklyn in a trade for Mikal Bridges.
Rose took a ton of criticism for the trade, particularly when the Knicks had a chance to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo the following summer.
So, of course, Bridges made play after play on the defensive end throughout the postseason. He also found ways to attack within the flow of the Knick offense. He and Anunoby have peaked at the best possible time.
If they’d traded for Mitchell, there’s virtually no way they would have signed Donte DiVincenzo the next summer. And without DiVincenzo, the Knicks would’ve needed to use more draft capital to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota.
This was another trade that was criticized and questioned, but Towns on Monday hit 8-of-11 shots and grabbed 14 rebounds.
The Cavs cut the Knick lead to 16 at one point in the third quarter. Towns then went to work, blocking a shot on one end and then knocking down a three-pointer on the other end. Anunoby found Bridges for a wide-open three on the Knicks’ next possession.
That sequence took the life out of any Cleveland comeback.
Shortly after the trophy presentation, Rose spent a quiet moment with his family. Like the rest of the Knicks, Rose seemed to see Monday’s win as a major accomplishment -- but not one worth a raucous celebration.
Maybe that celebration will come in a couple weeks, but the fact that the Knicks are where they are today -- preparing for a trip to the NBA Finals -- is a testament to Rose’s determination and decision-making.
A few weeks ago, the Knicks executive did not receive a vote from his peers for the Executive of the Year award. It’s a regular-season award, and the Knicks had an uneven regular season.
But if you took another vote today, the results would look much different. Rose would probably be at or near the top, which is where his Knicks sit after this remarkable playoff run.
The road to get here wasn’t always easy, but the Knicks are headed to their first NBA Finals since 1999 after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night, and they are peaking at just the right time.
After going down 2-1 to the Hawks in the first round, New York has rattled off 11 straight wins and has a +272 point-differential over that span. It’s been one of the most dominant stretches not just in Knicks history, but NBA history, and it all starts with head coach Mike Brown who saw his team start playing a this version of basketball towards the end of the regular season.
“Down the stretch, like 6 or 7 games to go, after Landry [Shamet] got back, I started to see us play some good basketball and do more things that were selfless or more sacrificing from the group,” Brown said. “Throughout the course of the season you have your ups and you have your downs, and you have your good and your bad and your adversity that you have to fight through. Sometimes we got through it quickly, sometimes it took us a minute to figure it out.”
The trials and tribulations that the Knicks have faced not just this season but in postseason’s past where they got close to their final destination but couldn’t get over the hump has prepared them for this moment.
Even Brown, in his first season in New York, saw that the team had what it takes to get the job done.
“From afar, I just felt that this team was ready,” he said. “And I’m just thrilled to death that Mr. Dolan gave me an opportunity and Leon Rose gave me an opportunity to be a head coach again, especially here in New York.”
Brown had been a head coach for the Sacramento Kings for two full seasons and helped turn the franchise around before getting fired in the middle of last season.
He’s also no stranger to reaching the finals as he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors for six seasons at the height of their dynasty. Therefore, he knows what it takes to finish the job and has been doing what he can to set his players up for success.
“Our group is playing good basketball and they’re doing it in different ways,” Brown said. “They’re doing it differently, depending on who our opponent is and when you show that type of versatility on both ends of the floor, it adds to your belief.
“I’ve said it before, you use the regular season to get ready for the postseason and our guys did a hell of a job with that.”
“This team is hungry and that’s the most important thing,” added Karl-Anthony Towns. “Even with an amazing, historical win we had tonight, the celebrations were minimal. We really want to get back to work. [We] asked coach can we get back to work quick.”
While the Knicks will and certainly deserve to celebrate their incredible accomplishment of reaching their first NBA finals in more than two decades, they know their ultimate goal is still out there.
However, it’s now within their grasps and closer than it’s ever been for them.
“It feels good. We’re excited, we’re happy we won, but we’re also not satisfied,” said OG Anunoby. “We’re gonna celebrate tonight, but then once tomorrow comes, start resting and preparing for the next round.”
If New York is able to defeat either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, it’ll be the franchise’s first championship since 1973. But the way they’re playing right now – the best they’ve played all season – the Knicks should be considered the favorites.
“We’ve gotten to this point because we worked together, we’ve been a team, we’ve been unified,” Towns said. “The collective group has shown up in spots when we need to.”
Home or on the road, your opponent is desperate trying to keep their season alive.
For the 2026 Knicks, though, they continue to be no sweat.
New York has dominated their opponents in general throughout the playoffs, but they’ve been especially stellar when given a chance to send their opponent packing.
First it was the Hawks in Atlanta, then the 76ers in Philly.
They did so yet again in dominant fashion, establishing an early lead which they never looked back from, en route to a 37-point laugher that saw the benches empties early in the fourth quarter.
With that, the 2026 Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three closeout games by 30+ points.
Their average margin of victory of 39.3 points is also an NBA record.
“We don’t want to leave any doubt,” Miles McBride said. “We just want to come out and handle our business.”
“We’ve been playing hard and mixing in a little luck,” Jalen Brunson added. “But most importantly, we’ve been coming in focused and are just locked in on the moment.”
That next moment for them will be the opener of the NBA Finals -- a place the franchise hasn't been since 1999.
The scalding hot Knicks will be looking to come home victorious for the first time in 53 years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' season is over. A sweep in the Eastern Conference finals at the hands of the New York Knicks — capped off by a 37-point loss on their home floor, no less — is almost sure to bring a new level of scrutiny to a core that, while talented, has faltered time and time again in the playoffs.
One of the biggest questions facing the Cavs this summer will be James Harden and his impending $42.3 milion player option. But Harden, Cleveland's prized midseason acquisition, has already publicly said he's on board with coming back.
“Yes, 100%, definitely to both,” Harden told reporters after Game 4 when asked if he wants and expects to be in Cleveland next season. “Definitely want to be here. It’s tough ending it not how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”
A slow start to this season led to a blockbuster trade for James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers at the deadline in February in exchange for point guard Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick. Harden, an 11-time All-Star, averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 regular season games with the Cavaliers but struggled down the stretch in the playoffs, something that has reared its head before in Harden's career.
In the four games against the Knicks this series, Harden failed to reach 20 points once. His statline in the decisive Game 4 was as flat as the energy the Cavs as a whole played with: 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and five turnovers.
James Harden was asked if the Knicks were better than the Cavaliers
"It was 4-0, but I don't think we had a chance as far as our best shot. They dominated us 4-0. but I don't know if I can necessarily answer that question. Because genuinely I do feel like we're the better team" pic.twitter.com/8CAMItRK2H
The blame didn't solely lie on Harden; the Cavaliers in general were outplayed and outclassed across the board in such a way that's sure to invite questions about this team's roster going forward.
But Harden made it a point to answer one of those questions early. So did Donovan Mitchell.
“I love it here,” Mitchell said after the game. “I don’t know how else to say it. I said it before I signed the other extension: I love it here. I have no doubt this group can get there. But reports are going to be reports and people are going to be people. I’ll say the same thing: we have unfinished business."
Mitchell's situation is a bit different as he's under contract through next season and has a player option for 2027-28. He is, however, eligible for an extension this offseason and if he doesn't look to re-sign, there's speculation that the Cavs could be open to trading him.
Cleveland has become a home for Mitchell since arriving from the Utah Jazz in the summer of 2022. He's been the face of their post-LeBron era since and after getting the Cavs to their furthest point since 2018, the seven-time All-Star is determined to see it through.
“It was great energy to see in the city when we got to the conference finals. Just to feel that, it was amazing," Mitchell said. "That’s why getting swept like this sucks because even driving in, people were going crazy. I love that. I love that about this place. The city deserves a ring and we just got to keep going.”
You can make the case that no team in NBA history has played better basketball over an 11-game stretch than the New York Knicks are playing right now.
They are just the fifth team to win 11 consecutive games in a single postseason, and their point differential of +262 is the highest for over any 11-game span, regular season or playoffs.
All that said: can they actually win the NBA Finals?
The Spurs and Thunder are each formidable, yes, and popular convention is that the winner of the West will be the eventual champion. But do not overlook this Knicks team; it can absolutely win a title.
New York can score, defend and has plenty of depth, all of which are necessary in an NBA Finals.
New York has been bulldozing through its opponents, and can kindle on offense. From asking captain Jalen Brunson to anchor scoring, to playing through Karl-Anthony Towns as a point-center, to sprinting out in transition, the malleable Knicks are built to compete with San Antonio and Oklahoma City and can adjust on the fly to either.
“Our group, they’re playing good basketball, and they’re doing it in different ways,” Knicks coach Mike Brown told reporters after Game 4. “They’re doing it differently, depending on who our opponent is. When you show that type of versatility on both ends of the floor, it just adds to your belief.”
Throughout the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks shot 38.1% from 3-point range, sinking 53 made triples.
Eastern Conference finals MVP Jalen Brunson dropped 38 points in Game 1, sparking an improbable 22-point fourth quarter comeback. Against the Cavs, Brunson averaged 25.5 points on 47.8% shooting.
Against the defenses of the Spurs or Thunder, that offensive versatility will be crucial because either opponent would easily be the toughest test New York will face this postseason.
New York, on the other end of the floor, is smothering opponents with its defense, led by the trio of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. The group allows for flexibility, since New York can switch pick-and-rolls with all three.
Similarly, the versatile trio can alter their assignments to be matchup-dependent. Hart is comfortable guarding Hawks All-NBA third-team forward Jalen Johnson just like he is Cavs center Jarrett Allen. Bridges can clamp down Sixers All-NBA third-team guard Tyrese Maxey and Anunoby, an NBA All-Defensive second-team selection, is the best of the bunch.
The Knicks forced the Cavaliers to commit 66 turnovers in the East finals and posted a +16 in turnover differential across the four games in the series.
During the regular season, the Thunder ranked second in the NBA in turnovers committed per game (12.6) and the Spurs ranked fourth (13.5), so those active hands and deflections will be essential in gaining an edge.
And coming off the bench, Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado have each embraced their roles.
Robinson is a defensive spark. McBride is a 3-point sniper. Shamet does a little bit of everything and Alvarado might be the most annoying defender, aside from Thunder guard Luguentz Dort.
With 7:47 left to play in Game 4 on Monday night, with the lead so lopsided that Knicks coach Mike Brown emptied his bench, New York held a 39-7 edge in bench points.
The Thunder are the deepest team in the NBA. The Spurs aren’t too far behind.
But one area where the Knicks will carry an edge into the Finals is rest and freshness. The Spurs and Thunder are tied at two games apiece and this series, at a minimum, will span two more games and will finish Thursday, May 28, at the earliest. The series, frankly, looks like one that’s headed for seven.
“This team is hungry, and that’s the most important thing,” Towns told reporters after the game. “Even with an amazing, historical win we had tonight, the celebrations were minimal. We really want to get back to work. We asked coach if we could get back to work quick. We knew what happened last time when we had a long layoff, so we already talked after the game about preparing.”
It has been 53 years since the New York Knicks won an NBA championship. This is the mentality it takes to win one.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Iowa Hawkeyes dribbles against Kylan Boswell #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right – Bennett Stirtz is definitely not one of the Big 3 prospects that the Jazz need to consider with their 2nd overall pick. However, players with Stirtz’s combination of ball handling, shooting versatility, and awareness don’t come around often, and deserve to be scouted in the event that the Jazz fall in love and decide to trade into the later half of the first round. You can count on the Iowa guard to consistently make the correct decisions, and he has the skills to then capitalize on the advantages he created. However, analyzing Stirtz is more complicated than the simple reading of his talents would indicate. His coach at Iowa, Ben McCollum, coached a style of play so unlike anything Stirtz will encounter at the next level, that it takes some real work to understand whether or not Stirtz will be able to provide anything close to his impressive collegiate production.
What Stirtz is good at, he is really good at. His shooting provides a skill that he’ll be able to hang his hat on in the NBA, and his aptitude in this regard far exceeds the raw counting stats. While his near 40% clip from downtown in his junior year at Drake better represents the level of shooting prospect that Stirtz is, no stat can properly quantify the otherworldly touch Stirtz has on his shot. His attempts are often remarkably difficult – with very few other ballhandlers or offensive options on the team, a difficult Stirtz jumper was often the most efficient look for the Hawkeyes. His shot is stable in all sorts of circumstances – against type coverage, off of movement, or after a step-back, and a Stirtz look still feels like it’s going in. Due to the unique construction of the Iowa offense, Stirtz shot off-the-dribble jumpers at 97.4 percentile frequency, and somehow maintained elite efficiency despite that heavy offensive load: 83.7 percentile efficiency during his senior season. Simply put, if you need someone to take a shot at the end of the shot clock, Stirtz is one of the best choices in the class. Naturally, he’s even more efficient on catch-and-shoot shots – his efficiency in this play-type was in the 89.5th percentile. However, due to Iowa’s heavy dependance on their star guard, these shots were not a huge part of his offensive diet, with his frequency being in the 29.7th percentile. There isn’t a roster in the NBA that would rely on Stirtz to the same extent that Iowa did, so it’s easy to expect for his overally efficiency to increase as his difficult shot diet of off-the-dribble looks are replaced with his more effective catch-and-shoot opportunities.
However, even if Stirtz is used more off of the ball in the NBA, it would be a waste of his talents to not let him utilize perhaps his defining skill – in my opinion, Stirtz is the best pick-and-roll operator in this draft class. While he lacks the dynamic speed necessary to take advantage of switches, his understanding of angles, timing, and positioning combined with an exceptionally functional handle and his aforementioned shooting touch allowed him to spearhead consistent offensive production, even without high level offensive teammates. Once again, his assist numbers undersell his talent as a passer. While not outstanding in this regard, his vision and accuracy are sound and versatile – if a teammate becomes open as a result of his pick-and-roll probing, it’s likely that he will recognize this and capitalize. And, if he is the one that the defense sags off of, he is a threat to score from all 3 levels, with his rim finishing (70% efficiency) being perhaps his most underrated trait.
No matter the type of offense he is asked to participate in at the next level, Stirtz will be a solid contributor because he simply knows how basketball works. He moves instinctively off of the ball, he understands when to shoot, and he knows when to make the extra pass – basketball comes easy to Bennett, and so I struggle to see a world where Stirtz is not a key cog in a team that wins games. He’s a cerebral player, and that is evident in nearly every aspect of his game.
A smaller skill but an important one – Stirtz has my vote as the player with the most stamina in the draft class. This past season, he played 37.7 minutes per game, and for each of those minutes the entire opposing defense was honing in on him. He’s a true endurance runner, and I would be fascinated to see how that skill is utilized in the NBA where he won’t be playing every minute of every game as the only offensive option. A unimportant but fun fact; in conference play in 2024-2025, Stirtz pulled a Wilt Chamberlain and averaged 40.3 minutes per game, which is more than the amount of minutes in regulation – he literally never came off the court.
Weaknesses
With that offensive profile, we can be sure that it isn’t talent that is limiting Stirtz’s high-end upside. Unfortunately, Stirtz’s athleticism can sometimes impede his productivity on both ends of the court. He isn’t immobile or ground bound by any means, but he does lack the strength of a Darius Acuff, the vertical pop of a Mikel Brown, and the end-to-end speed of an Ebuka Okorie. While his shooting projection is solid, it’s worrying how much he had to rely on difficult jumpers. This is a symptom of lacking top-end speed or quickness – without being able to separate consistently from his defender, he is sometimes forced to settle for contested shots. He’s exceptionally skilled at those shots, but no one is so skilled as to make these shots more efficient than an open jumper or attempt at the rim. While I still have high hopes in his offensive projection, his highest-end upside is certainly constrained due to his lack of dominant physical traits.
This athleticism deficiency extends to the defensive end as well, although the analysis on his translation is once again made difficult due to his unique collegiate situation. He isn’t a glaring negative like Acuff was this year – he moves his feet well and knows where to be – but you wouldn’t mistake him for a defensive difference-maker either. He was often stationed on the least intimidating offensive option and recuperated in the corner while watching the action go on around him. However, in especially pivotal moments, he showcased some high level processing and quick hands. You would hope that once he reaches the NBA and shoulders a less all-encompassing offensive load that he would be able to maintain that higher-level defensive production, but expecting him to be anything more than a net-neutral in a playoff context is unrealistic.
While concerns about age are sometimes overblown – if a guy can play, he can play – it is worth mentioning that Stirtz is about 3 years older than many of his peers in the 2026 guard class. At this moment, I think Stirtz is a better basketball player than any non-Darry Peterson guard in the draft, and that he has accessible areas of improvement, but his overall room for growth is lower than some of his younger counterparts.
Conclusion/Fit on the Jazz
For all watching the playoffs, it is clear that the Jazz need additional ball-handlers. The Spurs and Thunders have an abundance of riches in regards to their stalwart perimeter defenders, and once the postseason comes around, those defenders are allowed to be more physical than ever. While a projected starting lineup of Keyonte, Peterson, Markkanen, Jackson Jr., and Kessler is intriguing for a number of reasons, that is a lot of playmaking burden resting on George’s shoulders – I would say that lineup features 2 good dribblers and 1 good passer, and it’s not like all of these high-level creators are sitting on the bench either. Bennett Stirtz would provide much needed offensive resilience for when the going gets tough, with his enviable combination of on-ball creation (likely relegated to his minutes with the bench) and off-ball savvy (more useful when playing alongside Keyonte or our pick at #2). Think of all of the strong off-ball options that the Jazz already have – they will be given so many more opportunities for success with another strong passer on the roster who can fit with the singular strong passer we already have (Keyonte George). No matter who we draft at 2 or pick up in free agency, our offense will be able to make room for Stirtz because he’s just good enough at everything. Need a pick-and-roll partner with Kessler? Stirtz is your guy. A movement shooter to capitalize off of Markkanen collapsing the defense? You can count on Bennett. A cog in the blender, or a late-shot clock creator, or a recipient of Nurkic’s top-of-the-key passes? While he won’t replicate the huge offensive usage of his time at Iowa, Stirtz can do all of these plays and more. He won’t be fixing any of our defensive issues on the perimeter, but with a more subdued offensive load and two huge safety nets in the paint, we can hope that he won’t be a complete sieve on that end. Stirtz is a player I would’ve been happy to take at 8 had the Jazz slipped in the lottery, but now could be an elite value play for the Jazz to make a move for in the later half of the first round.
Current Draft Projections (most recent big board/mock draft)
No Ceilings: 18
ESPN: 19
Bleacher Report: 21
CBS Sports: 18
ClutchPoints: 23
What would be some feasible ways to attain Bennett Stirtz? There are two options that immediately come to mind. There are reports that the Thunder are planning to wheel and deal with their 4 picks – they simply don’t have the roster spots to keep them all. Would they be interested in a future pick for #17, in the name of continuing to spread their wealth of assets into the future? Another team that comes to mind is the Detroit Pistons, currently sitting at #21. This seems to be near the back-end of Stirtz’s draft range, but if the Jazz feel like they can get their guy at this spot, I would suggest calling with an offer of their choice of bench piece (Svi and Filipowski in particular could be interesting to Detroit) along with a less-valuable draft pick than the one we would offer to OKC. If I were Detroit, I’d be happy to snatch up Stirtz myself, but after a disappointing postseason run as the #1 seed, I could see there being pressure coming from the top to shore up the rotation with win-now moves.
Is Stirtz a draft sleeper that you would want the Jazz to acquire? What are some trades you can put together to sneak the Jazz into the back-half of the first round? Let me know in the comments!
Charles Barkley didn’t even wait for the final buzzer to tear into the Cavaliers during their season-ending loss, which punched the Knicks’ ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
The Cavaliers started off Monday’s elimination game strong before the Knicks overpowered them for over three quarters in what turned into a 130-93 loss for Cleveland at Rocket Arena.
The outcome seemed destined before halftime rolled around, and Barkley took the moment to rail on the Cleveland’s lack of effort.
“Kids at home, if you want to see what the word quit means: to give up. The verb of that: CA-VA-LI-ERS,” he said on “Inside the NBA” at the half. “This is what you see… They were down 29. This is just effort here. This is just effort.”
Barkley then had the producers play clips to highlight his point about the lack of effort from the Cavs.
“How do you give up 23 fastbreak points in a half?” Barkley asked. “Players aren’t going to say they quit, but you know what shows? Their actions.
“Lisa [Salters] and Malika [Andrews] were talking about [Cavs players] saying they believe. Well, I believed they were going to get their ass whooped and that’s what’s going to happen.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers bench reacts in the fourth quarter. The New York Knicks advance to the 2026 NBA finals. Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostKnicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a shot surrounded by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The “Inside the NBA” crew didn’t stop there either.
After the loss, Kenny Smith said that he believed the Cavaliers “took a step backwards because it showed what you’re vulnerable to, to everyone else in the Eastern Conference.”
Smith added that the Cavaliers needed to change their offensive identity for Cleveland to take that step.
"[The Cavs ] also took a step backwards because it showed what you're vulnerable to, to everyone else in the Eastern Conference."
Kenny Smith believes Cleveland needs to change their identity to be able to compete for a title pic.twitter.com/zOY1LbyBvU
The comment was in response to comments from Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who has taken plenty of criticism this series for not using timeouts in Game 1 as the Knicks mounted a historic comeback, and comments about how the Cavaliers were winning games in an analytical sense.
Knicks fans partied like it was 1999 on Monday night, punctuating a dominant run to the NBA Finals with a one-sided sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers that plunged the Big Apple into jubilant chaos.
The win ended a 27-year dry spell since their last Finals appearance — and Knicks nation was quick to use the opportunity to make up for lost time.
The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
“The city has been waiting for it since 1999. We’ve been through so many losses and the fans have always stuck close. It’s nice to finally be on the winning side,” Kevin Calle, a 30-year-old human resources manager from New Jersey, told The Post outside of Radio City’s watch party.
“It’s our time. The team is made up of a lot of underdogs. Let’s hope Manhattan makes it out alive tonight!”
While the scene at a Radio City remained under control, Madison Square Garden was plunged into a frenzy where thousands of revelers packed the streets immediately outside The Mecca.
Some scaled lamp posts, while others used brooms to perform a ceremonial “sweep” and hoisted themselves onto elevated ledges.
Within an hour of the Knicks’ clinching win — a 37-point drubbing of the Cavs — fans were chanting, “f—k the World Cup!”
Fans during a watch party for game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Radio City Music Hall on May 25, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY PostNew York Knicks’ Ariel Hukporti dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NBAE via Getty Images
MetLife Stadium is set to host several World Cup matches in June and July.
Many in the mob weren’t alive to see the Knicks play the lat time they made the NBA Finals in 1999, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s the New York summer. There’s a lot of things going on. The Yankees are doing well, but we got the New York Knicks taking it to the moon. Taking it to the moon!’ Juan Pablo Estupinan, 23, told The Post outside of MSG — while even younger fans crowd-surfed above him.
Filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet react after the New York Knicks defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. David Richard-Imagn ImagesThe Knicks squashed the Cleveland Cavaliers in four straight games and emerged as Eastern Conference Champions on Monday. Michael Nagle for NY PostWhile they still have a long road to the NBA finals ahead of them, the Knicks Nation was quick to celebrate. Michael Nagle for NY Post
“We’re split in baseball, we’re split on football, but New Yorkers are united with the Knicks,” said Henry Hunt, 23, from New Jersey.
“The crowd is going nuts. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
Knicks diehards who trekked to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 threw their own party outside of Rocket Arena — turning it up right in front of despondent Cavs’s fans.
Knicks fans shutdown 8th Ave while celebrating sweep of Cavs to advance to the NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/xHXhekiYfp
“It’s incredible. I’m on top of the world. There is no stopping the Knicks,” Tara Hochberg, 50, of Long Island, told The Post.
“We want Wemby,” Hochberg and dozens of others chanted, referencing Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama. And the same call echoed outside of The Garden as the Knicks await the winner of the Western Conference Finals between San Antonio and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Knicks fans celebrate during watch party. Michael Nagle for NY PostKnicks fans celebrate in the city after the team finished sweep of Cavaliers in Eastern Conference finals. Getty Images
Even Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who attended Game 2 in the nosebleed seats at MSG, got in on the action poking fun at the decisive win over Cleveland.
“NYC Sanitation, I’d like to report a sweep,” Hizzoner wrote on X.
Remember those questions after Game 1 about Karl-Anthony Towns struggling against Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley?
He dominated the Cavaliers big men over the last three games, and was at his best in the clincher, tallying 19 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
In his 26 minutes Monday night, the Knicks outscored Cleveland by 25 points. He also shot 50 percent from 3 (8-for-16) in the series.
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) puts up a shot as Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) defends during the second quarter of Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Zero
Are the Cavaliers sure they want to pay free agent-to-be James Harden?
He was a mess in this series, and was again a major problem in the final game, limited to 12 points on 2-for-8 shooting.
He also committed five turnovers, and finished with 17 and a minus-55 rating in the four contests.
Unsung Hero
OG Anunoby is all the way back from that right hamstring strain. He threw down two ridiculous dunks that brought the many Knicks fans in attendance out of their seats.
The two-way wing finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Most importantly, he looks like his pre-injury self after a slow start in the Eastern Conference finals.
Key Stat
118: Knicks point differential in elimination games on the road against the Hawks, 76ers and Cavaliers.
Quote
“It’s a magical thing, it’s a historical thing. It’s something that New York has been dying for a long, long time. We’ll enjoy that plane ride, but once we get in those cars and go to our respective homes, it’s going to be back to business.” — Karl-Anthony Towns.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) slams the ball during the third quarter.
CLEVELAND — Mitchell Robinson has proved to be a survivor: of the Scott Perry regime; of Knicks teams that were not even pretenders, losing at least 45 games in three of his first four seasons in the NBA.
Robinson was a building block when it started to turn around under team president Leon Rose and a key piece as the Knicks became legitimate contenders.
Monday night, the longest-tenured Knick became part of the franchise’s first Eastern Conference championship team in 27 years. He experienced losing, and he was impactful enough to be around once it all turned.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) slams the ball during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
In the clincher, a 130-93 blowout of the Cavaliers, Robinson enjoyed his best game of the series: eight points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. He’s a key piece to the improved bench from a year ago, a rim-protecting, rebounding machine. Robinson was a starter early in the season, but coach Mike Brown felt going with Josh Hart as a starter and bringing Robinson off the bench suited the team better.
“Mitch can start for any team in the league — any team. And if he started, he might be first team all-defense and some other things, who knows?” Brown said.
“But this does not work if Mitch does not allow us to do that. If he doesn’t sacrifice himself and allows us to do that, because you’re talking about a starting center that you throw in the game maybe for 30 seconds sometimes, or two minutes, whatever it is, you pull them right back out. So it starts and ends with him, and him sacrificing himself for the team.”
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This could be Robinson’s final year as a Knick. He is an unrestricted free agent. But before any of that, there is a title up for grabs. The Knicks are going to need Robinson in the next round, especially if there is a 1999 NBA Finals rematch against the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama could be waiting, and the Knicks could have an answer for the 7-foot-4 unicorn in the defensively gifted Robinson.
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general view of Rocket Arena after the New York Knicks defeat the the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The New York Knickerbockers are returning the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. Every Spurs fan remembers (or depending on your age, is familiar with) with those particular Finals.
The franchise has made four Finals appearances, but New York has not won a title since 1973.
They head into the 2026 Finals on a heater, completing the sweep of the Cavaliers last night in Cleveland.
Cleveland, who haven’t made it this far into the postseason since LeBron James moved to Hollywood, had been steadily improving since the pandemic bubble of 2020. In 2022, they brought in Donovan Mitchell and began producing winning records again. This season, they made a midseason trade for James Harden, finishing the season with the former MVP on a 20-9 run.
They landed forth in the Eastern Conference. After a seven game series against the Toronto Raptors, they faced the top seeded Detroit Pistons. They upset the Pistons in the seventh game blowout on Detroit’s home court.
Last night they suffered the second sweep that New York has dished out in these playoffs. The Knicks elimintaed the Hawks in six games in the first round of the playoffs before sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers.
James Harden has made the playoffs in each of his seventeen seasons, but has never hoisted the Larry O’Brien.
Jalen Brunson and company now await the winner of the Western Conference Finals. A Spurs match up reunites the two since the Spurs won the first of their five titles.
A Knicks/Spurs finals series also continues not having back-to-back champions, a trend since the Warriors last back-to-bcak in 2019.
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It took sheer grit, the relentless motor of Josh Hart, the elite scoring of Karl-Anthony Towns and the absolute superstardom of Jalen Brunson to get the job done. But this run isn’t just about punching a ticket to the Finals; it’s about celebrating a squad that finally brought real, heavyweight basketball back to New York City (by way of Cleveland).
Now that the confetti has dropped and the Eastern Conference trophy has been hoisted, you need the gear to prove you were here for the ride.
The MVPs of merch, Fanatics, have officially launched the Knicks’ championship collection, and considering the hunger of this fanbase, inventory isn’t going to last long.
From the official Locker Room hats worn by the players during the celebration to exclusive autographed memorabilia, here is just the tip of the iceberg of the best Knicks Eastern Conference Champs gear to snag right now.
Looking for more — we got you.
Josh Hart New York Knicks Nike Unisex 2026 NBA Finals Patch Swingman Jersey – Icon Edition
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Jalen Brunson New York Knicks Nike 2026 NBA Finals Patch Swingman Jersey – Icon Edition
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Karl-Anthony Towns New York Knicks Nike 2026 NBA Finals Patch Swingman Jersey – Icon Edition
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 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
During player introductions, the Knicks fans visiting Rocket Arena tonight were nearly as loud as the home crowd. Can you blame them for being boisterous? Crossing the 53-year desert since the last championship has made us mighty thirsty.
We finally have real reason to believe.
After some fine-tuning in Games Two and Three against the Hawks in the first round, the team that Leon Rose built has become a juggernaut. Tonight, in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals, with their season on the line, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers put up some resistance in the first quarter. Then New York seized the rope midway through the period, methodically went about their business, and piled on a 45-point lead to complete the sweep with a 130-93 victory.
That makes 11 straight wins, returning the orange and blue to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. For the first time this century, they seem unstoppable. They seem inevitable.
From the tipoff, the game plans were obvious. The Knicks planned to push the pace, hurling rebounds down the court for 13 fast-break points in the first period, while the Cavs asked seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to save their season. Spida did his best, scoring 12 points in the quarter and finishing with 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 32 minutes.
Each team shot poorly early, but improved as the game went on. The visitors capitalized on four Cleveland misses to go on a 9-0 run in the middle of the frame. As he had for most of the series, James Harden bricked multiple times. The vet ended his evening with 12 points and missed all six of his long-range attempts, once again fading into the background on the NBA’s biggest stage.
On the other side, Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, and Brunson all connected from deep, showing yet again the depth of their offense. After falling behind by six, the Knicks outscored the Cavs by 18 to close the quarter ahead, 38-26.
Thanks to two buckets by Jose Alvarado, triples by McBride and the smokin’ hot Shamet (16 PTS, 19 MIN), and a put-back slam by Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 14 RBS), New York scored 12 unanswered points to start the second quarter. That put them ahead by 24 points. Harden made three free throws and Spida swished one from deep, but they were using paper cups to fight a flood.
The Knicks got buckets from everybody and sprinted the court like Usain Bolt on amphetamines. Everything went right for our heroes. When Brunson stepped to the free-throw line at the midway mark, Rocket Arena thundered with MVP chants. He rebounded his own missed freebie, which promptly became another Shamet bomb for a 29-point lead.
The Ohio Players responded with a 15-3 run, with contributions from Max Strus, Mobley, Harden, and Mitchell, but another acrobatic, falling-away, shot-clock-beating shot by Bridges got the Knicks back on track. At halftime, the good guys were still up, 68-49.
Through the first half, New York protected the ball (four turnovers), cooked in transition (winning fast breaks 26-3), and smashed the glass (26-17). They pummeled Cleveland in the paint and converted nine turnovers into 18 points. Add 17 assists on 25 made shots, and what complaints could you possibly have? The Knicks came to close out the sweep, and the Cavs played like their suitcases were already packed for vacation. Landry Shamet—off the bench—led the way with 11 points, and KAT already had a double-double. Mitchell had 20 for The Land.
The Cavaliers emerged from halftime on a mission to save their dignity. Their defense forced New York into a turnover and a shot-clock violation, and a little run cut the deficit to 16. No sweat. New York just needed a minute or two to regain its rhythm. A steal by Josh Hart, a block by KAT, and back-to-back three-pointers stretched the gap to 22 at the eight-minute mark.
Kenny Atkinson called for time to regroup his troops. Out of that break, OG Anunoby intercepted Harden for a pick-six. Then Merrill and Mitchell both missed from deep, and Allen threw the ball out of bounds. Kenny took a seat as if admitting defeat while New York continued to grind Cleveland’s hopes to powder, dunking its way to a 30-point lead again. Our heroes never stopped running or harassing the Cavs, holding them to just 22 points in the quarter. By the buzzer, they were up 98-71.
Brunson rested through the fourth quarter, taking a well-deserved break. He logged 15 points tonight, but his fingerprints were all over this game just as his identity is all over this team. While he watched from the sidelines, the reserves got to have fun, with Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet, and Jordan Clarkson splashing buckets to reach a 45-point lead. The Cavs fans left early. The Knicks fans stayed for the party.
After the game, Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing presented the team with the Bob Cousy trophy for winning the conference, and then gave Jalen Brunson the series MVP trophy. Lisa Salters interviewed him, but the captain was short on hyperbole, as usual. Because for the incredible Jalen, the job remains incomplete. There are four more wins on his agenda.
Professor Miranda is dusting his recap with the usual magic powder. As for the Knicks, they wait to see who their opponent will be. Will it be the Spurs, whom the Knicks defeated for the NBA Cup in Vegas? Or the Thunder, who are trying to flop their way to a second championship? Doesn’t matter to us, the Knicks are ready for either one.
