Category: NBA

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach Kenny Atkinson used his media availability before Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers last year to complain about how officiating changes drastically from the regular season to the playoffs.

“I know there’s this rhetoric going around the league about, you know, ‘Oh man, that’s playoff basketball.’ To me, that’s not playoff basketball,” Atkinson said last year when asked about two plays that kept Evan Mobley and then Cavs’ forward De’Andre Hunter from playing Game 2.

The Cavs are in a similar spot a year later. They lost two close games at the start of their second-round series, this time against the Detroit Pistons. Their opponent was physically stronger in both games and wore the Cavs down.

Instead of using it as an excuse and pleading for the league to change how these games are called, Atkinson is instead challenging his players to adjust.

“It’s on us to adapt to how the game is being called,” Atkinson said on Saturday afternoon. “That’s a big part of this… It’s on us. This isn’t on the referees. This is on us to adapt and understand how the game is being called.”

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Few teams take advantage of the extra leeway more than the Pistons. They’re one of the most physically imposing teams in the league, and that’s by design.

“We just wear on you,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Game 3. “We legally hit you, we legally bump you. We’re legally handsy, and we just make it difficult.”

The Cavs’ three best players, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley, have struggled with this at times. Mitchell has seen his free-throw rate cut in half from the regular season. Harden has had a difficult time valuing possessions. And Mobley hasn’t been able to get to his spots in the first two games of the series.

This has also affected the Cavs’ three-point shooting. Cleveland had their third-worst shooting game of the season (21.9%), which included going 0-11 in the fourth quarter. Many of those looks were wide open.

According to Atkinson, there’s a correlation between Detroit’s physicality and his team missing threes. He made an analogy to NBA 2K, saying that his team’s stamina meter was drained too low by the end of the game. “Every time you get hit or you run a sprint, your [stamina] level goes down. … I think there’s something to that fatigue effect on shooting and that’s why they try to wear teams down.”

Atkinson is right on all of this. At the same time, I’m not sure how you get your team more prepared for physicality at this point in the season. This isn’t a playing style this team has thrived in since their inception.

We’ll see if the Cavs have a response in Game 3.

“We get this one, and it’s on,” Atkinson said. “We were there. I don’t think we played great. Let’s play great. Let’s get this one.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers hope that playing at home helps them get back into their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

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After a surprising Game 1 loss at home, the San Antonio Spurs own a 2-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves following two straight victories.

Anthony Edwards was limited in Games 1 and 2, but he roared back to life in Game 3, and my Spurs vs Timberwolves predictions expect Ant-Man to carry his team to a desperately needed win in front of the home crowd.

Here are my best free NBA picks for Sunday’s Game 4 from Target Center.

Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 4 prediction

Spurs vs Timberwolves best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 31.5 points+rebounds (-105)

Anthony Edwards came off the bench in Games 1 and 2 and totaled 30 points and six rebounds across 49 total minutes. He started Game 3 and eclipsed those totals with 32 points and 14 rebounds across 41 minutes.

He’s logged 30+ minutes in just three playoff games this postseason, but he delivered 32+ points+rebounds in two of them and went for exactly 31 in the other.

Ant-Man has started four games against the San Antonio Spurs this season, and he hit the Over on this combo line three times while averaging 41.3 points+rebounds.

Through the regular season and playoffs, he’s averaged 33.7 points+rebounds and gone for 32+ in 43 of 68 total appearances.

COVERS INTEL:Anthony Edwards’ season highs in points (55) and rebounds (14) both came against the Spurs.

Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 4 same-game parlay

The Minnesota Timberwolves have covered the spread in four of their last five games at home, and the team nearly covered the 5.5-point spread despite awful shooting performances from Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels.

With Edwards off his minutes restriction, I expect him to do everything he can to will his team to victory with the necessary support from his teammates.

Improved shooting from two starters means more scoring for Minnesota, and the point total is set far too low for Game 4. These teams have hit the Game Total Over in two straight and four of six head-to-head matchups this season.

Spurs vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 31.5 points + rebounds
• Timberwolves +4.5
• Over 217

Spurs vs Timberwolves odds for Game 4

• Spread: Spurs -4.5 | Timberwolves +4.5
• Moneyline: Spurs -180 | Timberwolves +150
• Over/Under: Over 217 | Under 217

Spurs vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS across their last five games at Target Center. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 4

Spurs vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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The New York Knicks will look to sweep the Philadelphia 76ers and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season on Sunday.

Despite Philly's best efforts, my Knicks vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks expect Jalen Brunson to lead the charge in silencing the City of Brotherly Love on May 10.

Our best Knicks vs 76ers SGP for Game 4

SGP leg #1: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points

Jalen Brunson is no stranger to big moments, and he’s averaged 29 points across six road closeout games since joining the New York Knicks. 

He’s recorded 30+ points in three of them, including a 41-point eruption in the 2024 postseason against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

SGP leg #1: Knicks -1.5

The Knicks have won six in a row and covered the spread five times during that span.

With Joel Embiid obviously banged up and Brunson putting up strong numbers, New York should be able to close this series out on the road and cover the spread.

SGP leg #1: Under 212.5

The game total Under has hit in two straight games and in four of seven head-to-head matchups this season.

Additionally, the Knicks and 76ers have hit the Under in two of the last three regular-season matchups in Philadelphia.

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Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs 76ers predictions for Game 4.

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Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

• Position: C
• Age: 19
• 2026-27 Contract Status: $6.3 million
• SunsRank (Preseason): 12
• SunsRank (Postseason): 12

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

The process is underway, and it’s doing its job thanks to a clear evolution in his game.

By the Numbers

The Expectation

Before the season started, Khaman Maluach was viewed as one of the highest‑upside prospects in the 2025 draft. Mainly thanks to an extremely rare profile: lateral mobility for his size, rim deterrence, huge potential in drop coverage, and offensive flashes that hinted at a possible stretch‑five outcome in the medium term.

But unlike other more “NBA‑ready” rookies, nobody really expected him to be immediately productive. Phoenix knew they were getting a raw prospect — a player who still had to learn a ton about NBA pace, defensive reads, and the physical impact required at the highest level. The idea behind drafting him was mostly long‑term: develop a modern center capable of protecting the rim in Jordan Ott’s system while eventually bringing real verticality on offense.

The Reality

Reality ended up matching those initial expectations pretty closely. Maluach almost never had a stable role in Phoenix’s rotation this season, finishing with only 46 games played and under 9 minutes per game. And yet… we saw the flashes, especially on defense, where as the season went on, Khaman slowly climbed toward the top of certain metrics.

Because even in an ultra‑limited role, he showed exactly why Phoenix believes in him so much. His physical presence immediately changes the geometry of the floor: rim contests, verticality, rebounding, massive defensive coverage despite his age, a real pick‑and‑roll threat, and a shooting touch that suggests he could stretch the floor.

The problem is that everything else was still under construction. His defensive positioning was inconsistent, his offensive game was heavily dependent on others, and his lack of experience was obvious at times against NBA centers who were smarter physically and tactically. But honestly, that was expected.

What It Means

I think Phoenix will continue with exactly the same development plan: lots of G League reps, lots of film work, and gradually bigger NBA sequences over time. And honestly, that’s probably the best thing for him. Because at only 19 years old, Maluach is still one of the youngest players in the league and surely one of the least experienced in this entire draft class.

Defensively, he needs to become more disciplined in his help rotations, better understand NBA timing, and learn to defend without relying on his size as a miracle solution. Offensively, he needs to develop his short roll game, improve his hands in traffic, and keep working on that outside shot that intrigues the organization so much.

I genuinely think that in 2–3 years, he can become a modern Rudy Gobert with a more varied and lethal offensive bag, or a more explosive but less stretch‑oriented version of Jay Huff.

Defining Moment

I’d like to talk about his performance against Dallas in April — not the most impressive offensively, sure. But he delivered an incredible defensive game, both in energy and reads — while being a major factor in the team’s success (14 rebounds and 3 blocks) — and it was also the first and only time he played more than 30 minutes.

Grade: B

I’d give him a B for his season, first because of his huge G League performances with completely insane numbers: around 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. On the NBA side, it’s less flashy, sure, but his on‑court impact through rim deterrence was noticeable. A strong performance against OKC late in the season capped off his first year in the big league.

Coming off a blowout win in Game 2, the San Antonio Spurs traveled to the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 3. The Spurs started the game with lockdown defense, limiting the Wolves to just one point in the first six minutes. After going up by 15, the Wolves, led by Anthony Edwards, managed to cut the deficit to one with a buzzer-beating three. The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair, ending with another buzzer-beating three, this time from Jaden McDaniels. With the score deadlocked at 51 apiece, the Spurs made it a point to keep the tempo high at all times. Despite multiple small scoring runs, the Wolves always seemed to counter. Until the end of the quarter, when the Spurs managed to hold a seven-point lead heading into the fourth. Anytime the Spurs made attempts to put the game out of reach, the Wolves would again come crawling back. With six minutes remaining, it was back to a one-possession game. Clutch shots from Victor Wembanyama, Julian Champagnie, and Dylan kept the Spurs afloat, but Minny would once again counter with clutch buckets of their own. With just over three minutes remaining, it was once again a one-possession game. However, Wembanyama drained a deep clutch three to put the Spurs back up by six. From that point on, it never became a one-possession game again. The Spurs ultimately won 115-108 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Victor Wembanyama dropped a near 40-point double-double: 39 points (13-18 FG, 3-5 3PT), 10-12 FT) and 15 rebounds to go along with five blocks, an assist, and a steal. Wemby was a man on a mission. He shot 72% from the field, 60% from three, and 83% from the free throw line. 16 of his 39 points came in the fourth quarter. He carried the Spurs on both defense and offense, especially when it became stagnant. Whether it was lob finishes, deep threes, or turnaround midrange jumpers, he showed off his entire arsenal. As stated earlier, he joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal as the fourth player in NBA history to record 35+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a postseason game. Oh, and he is only 22.

Lob City in Minny! Wemby throws down back-to-back lobs to start the game!

TWO-WAY PLAYER! Wemby rejects Julius Randle on one end, and finishes through contact on the other end for the and-one!

Off the glass! Wemby drives past Rudy Gobert and finishes off the glass for two!

EVEN WHEN YOU FOUL HIM, IT DOES NOT MATTER! Wemby, with his arm held by Gobert, blocks Edwards’ shot! After the play, Edwards even grabbed his jersey!

CLEANUP ON AISLE 1! Wemby cleans up the miss with a rebound and a tip-in!

PASSING VISION! Wemby finds an open Harper under the basket for his only assist of the game!

CLUTCH W3MBY! After the screen from Stephon Castle, Wemby drains a deep three to give the Spurs a six-point lead with three minutes remaining.

De’Aaron Fox dropped 17 points, five assists, three rebounds, and a steal. After an efficient Game 2, Fox took it upon himself to give the Spurs an extra scoring boost. He accomplished this by attempting 19 shots, with seven of them going in. Although it was not an efficient game, Fox’s shots inspired others to keep firing and to not to get complacent. He also dished out his share of dimes and played decent perimeter defense. To keep the pace up for Game 4, Fox will look to approach with the same aggression.

Too quick! Fox drives past McDaniels and finishes off the glass for a deuce!

AND-ONE! Fox drives to the rim and finishes through contact with a wild layup!

Devin Vassell dropped 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The x-factor is back again with another solid performance. Dev hit timely shots and was active on defense. He seems to always be in the right spots on both offensive and defensive rotations. His ultimate highlight of the game was posterizing Gobert!

Here’s another angle!

Stephon Castle dropped a double-double: 13 points and 12 assists to go along with four rebounds. Although Steph had a rough shooting night, he got to the line and dished out double-digit dimes. Most of his highlights are literally from diming up several different Spurs. Most of his dimes came from getting trapped inside the paint. He was finding open shooters like it was target practice. Steph has been guarded tightly by multiple Wolves defenders, especially McDaniels. Regardless, the 21-year-old continues to stand his ground and fight through contact.

DIMER BRONZE. Steph gets into the paint and finds an open Keldon Johnson for the trey! KJ finished with 11 points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

DIMER SILVER! Steph gets double-teamed under the basket and finds a wide-open Carter Bryant for the corner three!

ST3PH! After Dev picks Ayo Dosunmu’s pocket, Julian finds Steph on the fast break for the wide-open three!

DIMER GOLD! Steph returns the favor by finding a wide-open Julian for the corner three! Julian finished with six points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

This was such a gutsy win on the road. This was the Spurs’ first win in Minnesota since 2022. Besides the supporting cast stepping up in their roles, Wemby showed up and showed out. He dropped his most dominant (on the offensive end) performance since Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. He showed the world why he was an MVP candidate. Now, the silver and black look to Sunday to keep the pressure on Minny to hopefully take a commanding 3-1 lead.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

Game 4 is this Sunday at 6:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.

The saga surrounding Italian center Luigi Suigo has been one that Villanova fans have kept a close eye on.

Suigo is currently entered into the 2026 NBA Draft but has expressed interest in coming to college if he is not one of the top 20 picks — or at least in the first round. The early thought is that Suigo would go in the second round, which could lead to him playing in college for one year and potentially coming to Villanova.

But will that change in the coming weeks?

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports put together his latest mock draft and it features Suigo going No. 27 to the Boston Celtics. Would this be enough to keep Suigo out of college?

O’Connor writes:

“Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe. Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter, and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher, and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal, and would still be an excellent outcome. Sounds like a perfect fit for the Celtics system.”

Suigo, who hails from Milan, played this past season with KK Mega Basket in Serbia. He has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Combine this weekend. Suigo averaged 8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 18.6 minutes per game in the Adriatic League last year. At 7-foot-3, Suigo has good mobility and length. He has the makings of a future NBA center but could opt to come to college for one year first.

Suigo reportedly will not enter the draft if he is not considered a first-round pick, as high as the top 20. This has not been confirmed directly. Many publications have viewed Suigo as a second-round pick but that could be changing leading up to the draft.

Suigo has until June 13 to withdraw his name from the draft. This would allow him to play in college next season.

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With a win in Game 3, the New York Knicks take a 3-0 series lead back to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday as they look to complete the sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for a third straight season.

Jalen Brunson has set the tone for New York throughout the series, and my Knicks vs. 76ers predictions call for him to stay hot in a closeout contest.

Here are my best free NBA picks for Monday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

Knicks vs 76ers Game 4 prediction

Knicks vs 76ers best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-115)

Through three games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, it’s clear that the Philadelphia 76ers have no answer for Jalen Brunson. The New York Knicks superstar guard has scored 35, 26, and 33 points to lead his team to a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Brunson is no stranger to big moments, and he’s averaged 29 points across six road closeout games since joining the Knicks. He’s recorded 30+ in three of them, including a 41-point eruption in the 2024 postseason against the Sixers.

Brunson owns the third-highest playoff scoring average since 2022-23 at a robust 29.6, and I expect him to hit the Over on this scoring line as he’s done in four of seven matchups with Philadelphia this season.

COVERS INTEL:Jalen Brunson has scored 27+ points in 31 of 51 playoff games with the New York Knicks, good for 60.7%.

Knicks vs 76ers Game 4 same-game parlay

The Knicks have won six in a row and covered the spread five times in that span. With Joel Embiid obviously banged up and Brunson putting up strong numbers, New York should be able to close this series out on the road and cover the one-point spread.

The Game Total Under has hit in two straight games and in four of seven head-to-head matchups this season. The Knicks and 76ers have hit the Under in two of three season matchups in Philadelphia.

Knicks vs 76ers SGP

• Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
• Knicks -1
• Under 212.5

Knicks vs 76ers odds for Game 4

• Spread: Knicks -1 | 76ers +1
• Moneyline: Knicks -105 | 76ers -115
• Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5

Knicks vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Knicks have won six straight games and covered the spread in five of their last six. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. 76ers.

How to watch Knicks vs 76ers Game 4

Knicks vs 76ers latest injuries

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Success in the regular season doesn’t always carry over to the playoffs.

The difference is bigger than ever, as lower seeds are advancing more often. The games get tougher, players play harder and defenses focus for all 48 minutes.

A playoff riser is a term for players who elevate their game and perform at their best when the stakes are highest. Rui Hachimura, through eight games this year and continuing from previous playoff runs, has done just that as he’s transformed into one of the most reliable jump shooters in basketball.

Putting up a valiant fight, the Lakers fell to OKC on Thursday and now trail 2-0 in the series. The results are no surprise as, without superstar Luka Dončić, the purple and gold were heavy underdogs against the deepest team in the league.

​OKC will remain heavy favorites even as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.

The final score didn’t reflect the competitiveness of either of the first two matchups. The Thunder pulled away in the fourth in Game 1 to win by 18. The start of Game 2 looked like a continuation as OKC scored the first seven points and LA missed its first five shots.

​As they’ve done many times, the Lakers found their “release valve” who made something out of nothing.

​Watch below as Marcus Smart drives into the congested lane with no advantage and kicks out at Hachimura. Defended by the Chet Holmgren, runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, Rui attacks him in isolation and gets to his patented mid-range pull-up to break the ice for LA.

Called a lost art and a shot that’s maligned during the 82-game grind, the mid-range jumper becomes essential once teams game plan to take away attempts at the rim or 3-point line.

Among players who attempted a minimum of two per game, Hachimura led the league in the regular season from mid-range, shooting 55.6% on those jumpers.

​Where he’s become irreplaceable for LA during the playoffs is the 3-point shooting. Hachimura is currently at a blistering 57.1% on over five attempts per game this postseason after shooting 48% last year in five games against Minnesota.

​That number leads the Lakers and ranks second among players who take at least three per game in the entire playoffs.

​With LA still reeling to start Game 2, trailing 11-4, watch below as Hachimura catches it in the corner off a LeBron James pass and hits the 3-pointer over an outstretched Holmgren.

His main value remains being a player you can’t tag off of in the corner while the Lakers run on-ball actions. Watch below as Austin Reaves, who scored 31 points in Game 2, collects one of his six assists with a skip pass to the wide-open Hachimura.

Hachimura’s 57.1% from three jumps to an automatic 70.4% on wide-open attempts.

Taking into account the Lakers’ storied history as a franchise, Hachimura is already ninth all-time in 3-pointers made. He still holds the record for the highest playoff 3-point percentage in NBA history at 51%.

​He’s not a perfect player by any means. The defensive foot speed, lack of athletic tools at his position as a three or four and finishing at the rim leave a lot to be desired.

With that being said, he’s scored in double digits every game this postseason. He’s shot above 50% in seven of the eight games and reliably played over 40 minutes in the Lakers’ first three contests against Houston to help upset the Rockets in the first round.

Being tagged as one of the best shooters in the league, or a “laser” as head coach JJ Redick calls it, is an extremely valuable piece, especially considering the needs around Luka this summer.

​Hachimura is in the last year of a deal that will send him into unrestricted free agency. While they have his Bird rights, the Lakers have a ton of players to evaluate and are not in a position to let talent walk out the door without getting anything in return.  

​The grass could always be greener when it comes to wings in the NBA. No matter how this season ends, LA has one that’s shown to be a playoff riser, making for tough decisions to come this summer.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

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The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to stay composed and avoid panic mode as they aim to grab Game 3 at home against the Detroit Pistons, where our NBA player prop projections have identified several strong value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

These Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, May 9.

Pistons vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 3

Pistons	Cavaliers
Duren o10.5 rebounds -115	Harden o19.5 points -112
Cunningham u27.5 points  -115	Mitchell o3.5 assists -165
Harris o1.5 3-pointers  +105	Mobley o8.5 rebounds  -115

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Pistons Game 3 computer picks

Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 11.17 rebounds

The Detroit Pistons rank as the third-best offensive rebounding team in the league this season, and Jalen Duren has fully embraced his role on the glass. Dating back to Game 7 against the Magic, he’s elevated his play with consistent double-digit rebounding efforts.

He’s carried that momentum into this series with 12 and 10 boards in Games 1 and 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, making this rebound prop line an appealing look for Game 3.

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Cade Cunningham Under 27.5 points (-115)

Projection: 25.75 points

Cade Cunningham’s points projection for Game 3 feels appropriate, considering he’s fallen just short of clearing the 27.5 line in each game of the series so far. He’s posted 23 and 25 points in Games 1 and 2 against the Cavaliers, and with the series shifting to Cleveland, the defense will be even more focused on keeping him in check.

Expect Cunningham to remain in that same scoring range rather than taking a big leap forward here.

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Tobias Harris Over 1.5 3-pointers (+105)

Projection: 1.67 3-pointers

Over the last five games, opposing starting power forwards have averaged 6.1 three-point attempts per game against the Cavaliers — the fourth-most in the league — setting up a favorable spot for Tobias Harris, who’s been red-hot for the Pistons this postseason.

Coming off a 67% shooting performance from deep in Game 2, expect Harris to stay aggressive and keep letting it fly from beyond the arc in a pivotal Game 3.

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Cavaliers Game 3 computer picks

James Harden Over 19.5 points (-112)

Projection: 22.14 points

The Cavaliers have played at the 10th-fastest pace at home over their last five games, and that tempo should work in James Harden’s favor as he looks to help swing this series back in Cleveland’s direction.

Harden struggled mightily in Game 2, finishing with just 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting. With so much riding on his performance, the Cavs can’t afford a repeat showing especially with Game 3 shifting to their home floor.

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Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-165)

Projection: 4.55 assists

Donovan Mitchell has flirted with this assists line throughout the series against the Pistons, and with Game 3 carrying added importance, he may be leaned on to get over the hump.

With the offense lacking consistency, creating opportunities for others becomes even more critical. That opens the door for Mitchell to ease some of his scoring burden by stepping into more of a facilitator role—making him a strong candidate to rack up assists in this spot.

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Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 8.54 rebounds

The Cavaliers rank third in the league over their last 10 games with 12.7 offensive rebounds per contest, and Evan Mobley will be looking to make up ground alongside Harden after a highly uncharacteristic one-rebound performance in Game 2.

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How to watch Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 3

Location	Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date	Saturday, May 9, 2026
Tip-off	3:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers will be trying to get back into their second-round series as they host the Detroit Pistons for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.

My Pistons vs. Cavaliers props are looking at a couple of difference-makers for Cleveland today, including Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.

Keep reading for my free NBA picks for Saturday, May 9, and don't miss Zak Hanshew's Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions.

Best Pistons vs Cavaliers props for Game 3

Player	Pick
Donovan Mitchell	Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists	-115
Evan Mobley	Over 3.5 assists	+125
Duncan Robinson	Over 11.5 points	-120

Game 3 Prop #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 33.5 points + rebounds + assists

-115 at bet365

Donovan Mitchell acts primarily as a scorer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his contributions don’t stop there. Mitchell put up 38.1 PRA during the regular season, but hasn’t quite lived up to those numbers so far in the playoffs.

Overall this postseason, Mitchell is putting up 31.8 PRA, a notable dip in production. Down the stretch against the Raptors in the first round, he failed to put up more than 31 PRA in any of the last five games of the series, and followed that up with a 29 PRA performance against Detroit in Game 1 of this series.

But Mitchell had a bit of a breakout on Thursday, putting up 31 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a losing effort.

Cleveland needs more of that if they want any chance of getting back into this series. The Cavaliers offense should get a boost today playing at home, and that means bigger numbers all around. I like Mitchell to have another strong outing in Game 3.

Game 3 Prop #2: Evan Mobley Over 3.5 assists

+125 at bet365

He’s not exactly Nikola Jokic, but Evan Mobley is a center who knows how to move the ball around the court. The Cavaliers big man averaged 3.6 assists per game this season, the third straight year where he dished out at least three assists per game.

Mobley has continued that production in the playoffs, averaging 3.7 assists over his nine postseason games. Those numbers are up further against the Pistons, where he compiled five and four assists, respectively, in the first two games in Detroit.

All expectations are for the Cavaliers to play better at home this afternoon. This offense has averaged 118.5 ppg on the season, and the Detroit Pistons won’t be able to keep the Cavs down for an entire series. 

Game 3 Prop #3: Duncan Robinson Over 11.5 points

-120 at bet365

Duncan Robinson has always been a solid regular-season contributor, but this is the first time in years that he’s been relied on to get significant minutes in the playoffs. He’s coming through so far for the Pistons, averaging 12.0 ppg while shooting 42% from 3-point range in the postseason.

Robinson has been even better against the Cavaliers. Over the first two games of this series, he’s averaging 18.0 ppg, and he’s hit five threes in each of those contests. Going back to the previous series, Robinson has now scored 12+ points in four of his last five games during the playoffs. 

The Cavaliers are one of the worst teams in the NBA at defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 37.2% from deep. That plays right into Robinson’s hands, and I expect him to continue to score in this series.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

With the 2026 NBA Draft lottery less than 24 hours away, all eyes are on which franchise will claim the prized No. 1 overall pick, a game-changing selection that could alter the trajectory of a team for years to come.

The NBA Draft lottery uses a randomized drawing to establish the order of the first 14 picks, and for teams looking for help on a much-needed rebuild, landing a top lottery pick can transform a franchise’s outlook. The drawing determines the top four selections, while the remaining lottery teams are assigned picks 5-14 based on their regular-season records, in reverse order.

Picks 15 through 30 in the first round, as well as every selection in the second round, are also assigned in reverse order of the regular-season standings.

This year, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each enter the lottery with the top odds at 14% apiece to land the No. 1 pick. However, the lottery is notorious for its unpredictability, and teams with lower odds have often leapfrogged their way into top selections in past years.

Here’s what you need to know as the NBA Draft lottery unfolds.

More: What teams are in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery? Odds, past winners

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The Los Angeles Lakers hope that returning to the West Coast will change their fortunes against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  

The Thunder have dominated the first two games of the series by 18 points each, continuing a trend in which OKC dominated the four regular-season games, winning by an average of 29.3 points.

Here are my best Thunder at Lakers props and NBA picks for Saturday, May 9.

Best Thunder vs Lakers props for Game 3

Player	Pick
Chet Holmgren	Over 16.5 points	-110
Jared McCain	Over 1.5 made threes	+130
Jaxson Hayes Over 4.5 points	Over 4.5 points	-112

Game 3 Prop #1: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points 

-110 at bet365

The series has been a mismatch in the paint as Chet Holmgren has dominated Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. Holmgren has increased his scoring by two points per game—to 19.2—in the postseason and is averaging 23 in the OKC series, shooting 16-of-28, .571.

Ayton, meanwhile, has shot 6-of-19 for 13 points in the two games combined. That continued a trend for the seven-footer. He shot just .524 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular season—one of his five worst shooting percentages against any team—and averaged just 5.8 ppg.

Playoff basketball is a game of adjustments. It's on Ayton to step up his game. He may be able to hold Holmgren below 20 at home, but it's tough to envision him holding the big man below his season average.

Game 3 Prop #2: Jared McCain Over 1.5 made threes 

+130 at bet365

It's always fascinating to see how one mismatch can impact everyone on the floor. As the Lakers have struggled to contain Holmgren inside, it's also opened things up at the perimeter. L.A. has had to help Ayton in the paint, which has created more space for OKC's shooters.

Ajay Mitchell has averaged 19 points in the first two games, a half dozen more than his season scoring average. The biggest beneficiary, however, has been rookie Jared McCain. He's come off the bench to knock down four of five from outside in both games.

McCain is hitting 60% of his three-point attempts in the postseason. For the year, he shot .391 from outside and averaged 1.8 three-pointers per game.

He's certainly gotten L.A.'s attention and likely won't find himself as open going forward, but getting +130 odds of him topping his season average seems too generous to pass up, especially considering the heater he's on.

Game 3 Prop #3: Jaxson Hayes Over 4.5 points

-112 at bet365

Jaxson Hayes may be the best adjustment L.A. can make to try to slow Holmgren. He's taken three shots in both of the first two games, making four. 

The other scenario where Hayes steps up would be if Ayton continues to struggle with foul trouble against Holmgren. Hayes is a high-energy player off the bench who can show flashes of brilliance. He shot 24-for-27 over a four-game stretch in March, averaging more than 15 points and seven boards.

Hayes played in three of the four regular-season games against the Thunder, making 9 of 12 shots and averaging 8.7 points. He won't emerge as an interior force in the game, but two made shots and a free throw seem like a reasonable expectation.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.