Category: NBA

Karl-Anthony Towns' aggressive first half set the tone for the Knicks and a 21-point advantage in the second quarter buried the Celtics as New York closed out the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 119-81 Game 6 win Friday at MSG.

Takeaways

1. After a down Game 5, the Knicks needed more from Towns. He answered the call with his dominant first half, which included 12 first-quarter points. Fueled by Towns and Mikal Bridges, who added 10 first-quarter points, New York jumped out to a 26-20 lead and commanded the game despite Jalen Brunson's slow start. Towns, who finished with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting while adding 12 rebounds in 35 minutes, was the key catalyst.
2. Following a blown closeout game in the 127-102 loss Wednesday at Boston, the Knicks did not let the Celtics hang around. New York's 38-17 second quarter, which started on an 8-0 run through the first four-plus minutes, buried Boston. The Knicks' 27-point, 64-37 halftime lead sent a message as the Celtics struggled to generate anything beyond Jaylen Brown's 18 points through the first 24 minutes. Brown finished with a team-high 20 points in 32 minutes and fouled out.
3. Miles McBride, whose triple at the second quarter's 11:42 mark started the decisive period, picked up the slack off the bench. His 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a 2-for-5 clip from deep, especially sparked the offense while New York went through the opening 1.5 quarters with only two Brunson points. McBride, who added two rebounds and one block in 32 minutes, made plays on both ends of the floor that put the Knicks over the top during a pivotal stretch.
4. The Knicks return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, when they lost their best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers in six games. Twenty-five years later, New York gets a rematch with the Pacers. The Knicks were 2-1 against Indiana in the regular season, including a 123-98 win Oct. 25 and 128-115 victory Feb. 11. New York's loss was a 132-121 result Nov. 11. After respectively beating the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons and second-seeded Boston in six games, the third-seeded Knicks' NBA Finals path runs through Indiana, which beat the fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games apiece.

Who's the MVP?

Towns asserted his presence against the Celtics from the jump. He was the difference for the Knicks throughout the separating first half before Brunson got going.

Highlights

Mikal for 3️⃣!

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/mMnxtbWBmJ

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025

Defense ➡️ Offense 😤

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/yuUBqXUWFR

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025

Jalen Brunson gets the nifty layup to go!

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/KKtHdDthXU

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 17, 2025

What's next

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. from MSG. The series is a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference semifinals, which New York lost in seven games.

Porzingis candidly reflects on illness that impacted him throughout playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A frustrating postseason for Kristaps Porzingis came to an end Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Boston Celtics big man tallied just four points on 1 for 4 shooting in his team’s Game 6 blowout loss to the New York Knicks, providing a brief spark with a 3-pointer and a blocked shot but logging just 11 minutes and 30 seconds of court time.

Porzingis only played 20-plus minutes in one of Boston’s last six games while battling the lingering effects of an upper respiratory illness that caused him to miss eight straight games in late February and early March.

After torching the Knicks during the regular season, Porzingis was a shell of himself in this series, finishing with 25 total points over six games (4.2 per game) while shooting 6 for 25 (24 percent) from the floor and 2 for 9 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.

Following Boston’s season-ending loss at Madison Square Garden, Porzingis spoke at length about the health issues he’s battled for several weeks.

“I always try to downplay it in my own mind, like, ‘I’m good, I’m good, I’m good,'” Porzingis said about managing his illness. “But I don’t know, my system is not perfect right now, not working the way it should be. Many, many weird things. Might be the best thing I need right now is just to rest, just get somewhere in the sun and just let my system kind of even itself out.

“But it’s definitely a very, very frustrating time for me.”

While it was clear how the illness impacted Porzingis — he struggled with his breathing throughout the series and tired very easily — the big man said he still doesn’t know what type of illness he has.

“I’m not sure,” Porzingis said. “The doctors are trying to help as much as possible, but it was just some lingering fatigue, some effects. And even right now — I played 11 minutes, but I’m gassed right now. Like, I could just lay down over here and just take a little nap, easy, which is extremely weird, and many symptoms that were super weird.

“So, I think nobody has a clear answer. I’ll see how I go from here; maybe I do some extra testing, some extra stuff and see if we find something, but if not, maybe just a reset to my whole system, and hopefully that will get my energy levels back up.”

While the mystery surrounding Porzingis’ illness is obviously concerning, the big man confirmed he got approval from team doctors to play in each game of this series, and that he wasn’t risking further complications by taking the court.

“I got the approval from the doctors that they don’t believe anything serious can happen,” Porzingis said. “They tested my heart and everything, then it was just a matter of, how much can I give? I tried to give what I had, but it wasn’t much, as you could see.”

“But, yeah there’s no bigger risk, so I was able to play.”

Porzingis’ future with the Celtics is murky; he’ll enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26 at a $30.7 million salary. The 7-foot-3 big man is a two-way spark plug and matchup nightmare for opponents when healthy, but if Boston is looking for ways to get under the luxury tax to avoid repeater penalties, it’s possible the team could explore trading Porzingis and end his two-year tenure in Boston.

Brown shares optimistic outlook after season-ending loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

“It just wasn’t our year.”

Jaylen Brown emphasized that point several times Friday night after the Boston Celtics’ season-ending 119-81 loss to the New York Knicks. The reigning NBA champions were outclassed as they trailed by as many as 41 points in the Game 6 defeat.

The Knicks winning the series in six games was a stunning outcome. The C’s entered as heavy favorites, but New York jumped out to a 2-0 series lead and eventually finished the job in front of its home crowd.

Brown didn’t sugarcoat how he felt about an archrival ending his season, but he offered a refreshing perspective on the Celtics’ future.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught there is life after death,” he said. “So we’ll get ready for whatever’s next. Whatever’s next in the journey, I’ll be ready for.”

Between Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles injury and the lopsided Game 6 loss, the Celtics’ 2024-25 campaign couldn’t have ended on a much more sour note. On top of that, Boston is likely to part ways with multiple key players this offseason to avoid hefty luxury tax penalties.

While Brown understands the general feeling of unease surrounding the team, he is entering the offseason with a positive mindset.

“This journey’s not the end. It’s not the end for me,” Brown said. “You just take this with a chin up… I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now with JT being out…but there’s a lot to look forward to, and I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end.”

Brown logged a team-high 20 points with six rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the third quarter of Game 6. Although he was Boston’s only consistent scorer, he accounted for seven of the team’s 15 turnovers.

A nagging knee injury hampered Brown for a chunk of the second half of the season and the playoffs. He wasn’t listed on the injury report in recent games, but the 28-year-old acknowledged that he wasn’t 100 percent. He is uncertain about whether he will have to have a procedure to fix the issue.

That’s one of many question marks surrounding the Celtics as their season comes to a close. As Boston’s offseason begins, the Knicks will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Indiana Pacers.

Watch Brown’s full postgame press conference below:

Celtics roster reset: Breakdown of contracts, free agents entering offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As was the case with the previous five NBA champions, the Boston Celtics were unable to defend their title after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.

Losing superstar forward Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the series was a huge blow to Boston’s chances of repeating as champs. The injury also could have a significant impact on how the C’s approach the upcoming offseason.

The Celtics have a very expensive roster as a team in the second apron. It would behoove the Celtics to get under the second apron and give themselves some more financial and roster flexibility. Achieving that would require shedding some salary.

It’s too early to tell which players could be moved, but it seems unlikely that the Celtics bring back nearly their entire roster for the second straight summer.

Here’s what our Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg wrote earlier this week:

“The Celtics are already committed to $228 million in contracts next season. They are nearly $20 million over the second apron, and that’s before addressing a pair of free-agents-to-be in Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The team is currently projected to have a $238 million luxury tax bill, which would push the team closer to a half billion total spend if the roster was maintained.”

Here’s a full breakdown of the Celtics’ contract situations and free agents heading into the offseason:

Under contract in 2025-26

• Jayson Tatum: $54.1 million (contract expires after 2028-29, includes player option for 2029-30)
• Jaylen Brown: $53.3 million (expires after 2028-29)
• Jrue Holiday: $32.4 million (expires after 2026-27, player option for 2027-28)
• Kristaps Porzingis: $30.7 million (expires after 2025-26)
• Derrick White: $28.1 million (expires after 2027-28, player option for 2028-29)
• Sam Hauser: $10 million (expires after 2028-29)
• Payton Pritchard: $7.2 million (expires after 2027-28)
• Baylor Scheierman: $2.6 million (expires after 2025-26, team options for 2026-27 and 2027-28)
• Xavier Tillman: $2.5 million (expires 2025-26)
• Neemias Queta: $2.3 million (expires after 2026-27)
• Jordan Walsh: $2.2 million (expires after 2025-26, team option for 2026-27)

The Celtics spent huge money to sign Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to multi-year extensions last offseason. Tatum’s supermax contract was the richest in league history at the time.

This offseason should be a little quieter in regards to large extensions, and that’s because the team’s best players are all under contract for at least two more seasons, with the exception of Porzingis. The veteran center is entering the final year of his deal.

Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Team option for 2025-26

• JD Davison: $2.3 million

Davison, Boston’s second-round pick in 2022, won the 2024-25 G League MVP award this past season for the Maine Celtics. He also played in 16 NBA games this season. If the Celtics make some changes in the offseason, that could open up a larger role for Davison in 2025-26.

Restricted free agents

• Drew Peterson

Peterson played in 25 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 7.4 minutes per game. He excelled in the G League, averaging 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 15 games for Maine.

Unrestricted free agents

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

• Al Horford
• Luke Kornet
• Torrey Craig

Al Horford is 37 years old but remains a valuable player for Boston as a good outside shooter, a strong defender and the team’s best leader. Bringing him back on a team-friendly deal would be a great outcome for the Celtics.

Kornet has emerged as an essential big man off the bench who plays his role very well. He’s also highly effective in the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum, who has praised Kornet on several occasions. Kornet is great for team morale, too. Re-signing him should be a priority.

Craig was acquired at the trade deadline back in February. He didn’t have much of a role for Boston, but he could provide some depth, outside shooting and perimeter defense if brought back. Tatum’s injury could give Craig a slightly larger role.

Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It will be a very interesting offseason for Jonathan Kuminga — but that wasn’t on his mind Friday night.

The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyries’ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob — and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.

Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged it’s a “two-way street” — AKA, if the price is right.

But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyries’ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.

With the Warriors’ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being. Friday night was for celebrating the Bay’s new WNBA team, and it’s Valkyries season now.

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Watch Kuminga, Lacob joke around on jumbotron at Valkyries game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It will be a very interesting offseason for Jonathan Kuminga — but that wasn’t on his mind Friday night.

The Warriors forward was one of several Golden State players sitting courtside at the Valkyries’ 2025 WNBA season opener at Chase Center, but he was the only one next to team CEO Joe Lacob — and both appeared to be in good spirits when they were shown on the jumbotron during the game.

Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in June, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in the 22-year-old from other NBA teams after his strong Western Conference semifinals showing. While Kuminga can sign with another team this summer, the Warriors have the option to match any offer to keep him.

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters Friday that Golden State wants Kuminga to return, but acknowledged it’s a “two-way street” — AKA, if the price is right.

But even as that fact and reports of the Warriors exploring sign-and-trade options for Kuminga were prevalent, the Golden State star and the team owner were all smiles Friday despite the Valkyries’ 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Other players in attendance included Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, as well as coach Steve Kerr, who certainly received the loudest ovation of the night.

With the Warriors’ season officially over after they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, contract negotiations and talks can hold off for the time being.

Friday night was about celebrating the Bay’s new WNBA team. It’s Valkyries season now.

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Kerr calls shifting Warriors' offense away from Steph ‘laughable' idea originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As long as star Steph Curry takes the floor for the Warriors, don’t expect coach Steve Kerr to change his offensive scheme.

Kerr, speaking to reporters Thursday during exit interviews, made it clear Golden State’s offensive strategy starts and ends with the Chef.

“We have Steph Curry on our team, who is one of the greatest players of all time,” Kerr told reporters. “He’s also maybe the most unique superstar of all time. 

“What makes him special is his on-and-off-the-ball prowess. And so the best way to maximize Steph is to put him in pick and roll, and then to have him fly off screens. And I think that’s been proven, you know, over the last decade, how powerful that can be.” 

During the 2024-25 NBA season, Curry, a four-time NBA champion, eclipsed the 25,000-career point mark and became the first player in NBA history to record 4,000 made 3-pointers. 

Despite his dominancy, the Warriors crashed out of the Western Conference semifinals in large part due to Curry’s unavailability after suffering a left hamstring strain. 

It makes sense. The 37-year-old led the team in scoring throughout both the regular season (24.5 points) and the postseason (22.6 points).

So, the idea of Golden State shifting its offensive scheme is nothing short of humorous to the winningest head coach in Warriors’ history.

“He’s our sun. You know, this is a solar system,” Kerr added. “And he’s, you’re not going to duplicate Steph anytime soon. 

“So, any talk of, do we need to change our offensive system, to me, is kind of laughable. Like, what? What does that mean? So, let’s not run Steph off screens? Let’s not put Steph in pick and roll? I’m not even sure how to respond to that.” 

Kerr recognizes that moving the offensive scheme away from Curry would be an act of betrayal to the organization.

“Honestly, it’s like what we’ve done has been incredibly powerful,” Kerr concluded. “Steph is, again, one of the all time greatest players, playing at the peak of his power. Still, I think, or very close to it.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and anything else would be a disservice to our team.”

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(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

On the latest episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show," Kevin and guest Tom Haberstroh explored the idea of Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 overall pick and Maine native, somehow landing with the Boston Celtics.

As O’Connor revealed, Boston used some of its interview slots at the NBA Draft Combine to meet with Cooper Flagg, as well as Tre Johnson (a projected top-five pick), even though the Celtics hold no pick anywhere near the top of this year’s draft. Teams are limited to 13 interviews at the combine, O'Connor said.

“At the draft combine this week, Tre Johnson openly said the Celtics interviewed him," O'Connor said. "I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics also interviewed Cooper Flagg. Now, this does not mean they’re going to trade up into the top 10, but I do think it’s interesting.”

The Dallas Mavericks own the No. 1 pick this year. But O’Connor and Haberstroh discussed the hypothetical: Would Boston put Jaylen Brown (a recent Finals MVP) on the table to move up for Flagg? What would Dallas say? And would Flagg himself (or his camp) try to “pull an Eli Manning” — refusing to play for the Mavs to land in Boston?

“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take? … I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.”

Realistically, big trades for the No. 1 pick, especially when a generational prospect is available, are rare. But as both hosts note, it only takes a few phone calls — and possibly a little leverage from the player’s side — to kick-start something dramatic.

To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NBA‘s final four is set.

The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.

This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.

The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.

The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.

While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.

Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.

So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:

What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

• Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
• Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder

Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.

When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.

What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?

• Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals

The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?

• Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.

When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.

The matchups, schedule and how to watch the NBA conference finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA‘s final four is set.

The No. 3 New York Knicks will take on the No. 4 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs, while the No. 1 overall-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves will battle in the Western Conference Finals.

This is the second straight postseason that Indiana and Minnesota, two title-less franchises, have reached the conference finals. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance in the round since 2000 and OKC its first appearance since 2016.

The East Finals feature a rematch from the second round of last year’s playoffs when the Pacers overcame a 3-2 series deficit against the Knicks, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Indiana rolled through the first two rounds of this postseason, bouncing both the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.

Tyrese Haliburton and Co. now look to book the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, and just second overall. Indiana has lost eight of its nine conference final series.

The Knicks got past the No. 6 Detroit Pistons in a highly competitive six-game series before beating the defending champion No. 2 Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson and Co. jumped out to a 3-1 series lead as Boston lost star Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles late in Game 4. The Knicks closed out the series with a Game 6 rout, moving them another step closer to their first championship since all the way back in 1973.

While the East’s top two seeds have been eliminated, the NBA-best Thunder are still standing. After sweeping the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, OKC was put to the test in Round 2. A showdown of the top two MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic went to the distance, with the Thunder taking the decisive Game 7 over the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in blowout fashion. The Thunder haven’t won a title since relocating to OKC, with the franchise’s lone championship coming in 1979.

Anthony Edwards and the Wolves, like Indiana, needed just five games to win their two playoff series, taking down the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors, who lost Steph Curry to a hamstring injury in Game 1. Minnesota has never made the NBA Finals as it makes a third-ever conference final appearance.

So, when will the conference finals tip off and what’s the schedule? Here’s what to know:

What are the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Final matchups?

• Eastern Conference Finals: No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 3 Knicks
• Western Conference Finals: No. 6 Timberwolves vs. No. 1 Thunder

Who has home-court advantage in the Eastern, Western Conference Finals?

Home-court advantage goes to the higher-seeded team, which means the Pacers and Wolves will both start the conference finals on the road.

When do the NBA Eastern, Western Conference Finals start?

The West Finals begin Tuesday, May 20, followed by the East Finals on Wednesday, May 21.

What is the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals schedule?

• Game 1: Wolves at Thunder — Tuesday, May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Wolves at Thunder — Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Thunder at Wolves — Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 4: Thunder at Wolves — Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thunder at Wolves — Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 7 (if necessary): Wolves at Thunder — Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Where to watch, stream the Thunder vs. Wolves Western Conference Finals

The West Finals will air across ESPN and ABC. Games will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.

What is the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals schedule?

• Game 1: Pacers atKnicks — Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2: Pacers at Knicks — Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3: Knicks at Pacers — Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4: Knicks at Pacers — Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 6 (if necessary): Knicks at Pacers — Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 7 (if necessary): Pacers at Knicks — Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET, TNT

Where to watch, stream the Knicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals

TNT will broadcast the East Finals, which can also be streamed on TNTDrama.com and the TNT app.

When do the 2025 NBA Finals start?

The NBA Finals will tip off Thursday, June 5, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday, June 22.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on May 16.

Warriors commit to one-season quest to win it all with Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Even as younger teams become NBA adults capable of toppling them, the Warriors remain emphatically committed to three veterans who will enter next season averaging 36.4 years of age.

This is a naked attempt to defy NBA history, which is unkind to aging stars. The Warriors are attempting to do it only because Stephen Curry is a hoops unicorn.

“Here’s what I know: We have Steph Curry on our team, who’s one of the greatest players of all time,” coach Steve Kerr said on Friday.

Curry will be 38 years old when the 2026 NBA playoffs begin. Jimmy Butler III turns 36 in September, and Draymond Green will turn 36 next March. No team with such an aging core has won an NBA championship.

“We’re at the point now where you’ve got to have an eye to the future down the road,” general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “But this league is year to year, and especially with the guys that we have, our focus is mostly 90 percent on next season.”

This approach is a one-year pursuit. The last ride, as coined by Curry when Butler was acquired in February, is postponed until the 2025-26 season. The 2026-27 season is on the books, but Dunleavy’s “90 percent” remark removes it from the current equation.

“How do we make this group better? That can come in myriad ways,” Dunleavy said.

It begins with discovering supporting players capable of generating offense. The most reliable such player on Golden State’s current roster is Jonathan Kuminga, a gifted athlete whose spectacular moments don’t always offset his general impact. He’ll be a restricted free agent in June, and there will be outside interest. Remember this that as much as CEO Joe Lacob likes Kuminga, he loves winning in May and June.

It was abundantly evident during the postseason that the Warriors need a lot more shooting/scoring and a bit more size, in that order. Once Curry went down with a strained hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the offense was reduced to Buddy Hield’s fickle shot and not much else.

“But you could see, when Steph went out, the lack of shooting was an issue,” Kerr conceded. “And that impacted Draymond, it impacted Jimmy, impacted JK. Those are things that we have to figure out for sure.”

Figuring it out requires making shooters/scorers a priority, which is not something the Warriors have done in recent years. The biggest blown opportunity was 2018, when they selected Jacob Evans when Jalen Brunson, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Trent Jr. were still on the board.

It was 14 years ago that the Warriors last drafted an NBA-level shooter, and Klay Thompson was essential to four title teams before leaving for the Dallas Mavericks last summer. Dunleavy brought in Hield, a logical move insofar as he has similar skills.

Meanwhile, so many shooters have populated rosters across the NBA that most teams space the floor with at least four. Some, like the Eastern Conference finalist Indiana Pacers and defending champion Boston Celtics, are deep enough to play five-out, with everyone a threat from deep.

In a starting lineup featuring Butler and Green, who can make 3-pointers but don’t stretch a defense, the Warriors can play no more than three such threats. This is another perk of having Curry. It’s also another example of Golden State’s defiance, this one about the current trend rather than league history.

“It’s playing to your strengths, right?” Dunleavy said. “There are multiple ways to skin a cat. I think people complain about the homogeneousness of the NBA, so to speak, where everybody’s spacing is out and playing high pick-and-roll and shooting a bunch of threes and all that.

“I like that we can do things differently, obviously with Steph, he’s such a unique player and creates so much gravity. But Jimmy and Draymond are unique in their own rights. Jimmy’s ability to get to the line, it’s a highly efficient way to score and get to the basket and those things. We’ve got ways to be a really good offense, but it’s just maybe not as traditional in 2025 as some of these other clubs.”

Which is fine – if someone can score effectively from multiple levels. The last Warriors draft pick with that quality was Jordan Poole, selected in 2019. Essential to the team’s success in the 2022 playoffs that ended with a championship, he was traded to the Washington Wizards two years ago and has not been replaced.
Poole at his best could replicate some of what makes Curry special – and was even quicker off the dribble.

It’s not a coincidence that the Warriors reached the top when Curry had a sidekick who was capable of scaring defenses with shooting/scoring. So, it’s reasonable to put that need at the top of the offseason list.

“The biggest thing, who we’re trying to acquire or draft or sign, is how much does that player make us better,” Dunleavy said. “And from there, what all are we giving up? We’re good giving up whatever it takes.”

This offseason amounts to a roll of the dice for 2025-26. The Warriors know their core is exceptional but needs a better supporting cast. It’s up to the front office to find that. And, yes, Kuminga might be the chip in such a deal.

Winning a championship around Curry/Butler/Green will require a superb addition, or at least two very good ones.

The relatively old 2014 Spurs won it all with 38-year-old Tim Duncan, 36-year-old Manu Ginobili and 32-year-old Tony Parker.

But they had 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard, who was voted NBA Finals MVP.

A 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard is not walking through the Chase Center doors.

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What traits Warriors are looking for in offseason search for size originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Before my question was even complete, Warriors coach Steve Kerr already had his answer. 

Draymond Green is 35 years old. He just finished his 13th season. The incredibly unique defensive star has conquered giants and taken down the beasts of the NBA. But one man can only take so much.

Kerr is not comfortable with Green continuing to be his everyday starting center.

“I don’t want to start next season with Draymond as our starting five,” Kerr said Friday. “I think it’s doable for the last 30 games like we did this year, but you see the toll it takes on him. He’s talked about it too.” 

At his exit interview media availability the day prior, Green joked he is the center of the future for the Warriors. It was said in jest, but it also might be his reality. 

The way the Warriors currently are constructed with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green as their core and everything having to fit around them, Green is their best center. He almost strictly played the position once Butler arrived in mid-February. Whether Green wants to admit it or not, his body wore down in the end. 

There weren’t a plethora of injuries that came out from Green’s grueling job. The miles, though, they caught up. 

Irrational confidence is a strength of Green’s. It’s partly how he went from a second-round draft pick to a future Hall of Famer. Green plays defense with eyes in the back of his head, popping out of his ears and growing from his forehead. He sees everything, including the gluttony of big men he has to deal with. 

“I think when you look around the league, yeah, guys are big,” Green said Thursday. “[Nikola Jokic], [Alperen] Sengun, [Ivica] Zubac, a healthy Joel [Embiid], yeah. But I don’t back down from anyone, and if that’s what our organization decides to do, I’ll be right here ready to go. And if they decide that they want to go with one of the 5s on the roster, great. If they decide they want to go after someone, great.

“You know me. I’m always in favor of what’s best for this organization. I can always see past myself when it comes to this organization.” 

The season started with training camp in Hawaii where Green said he’s best with a center next to him, and Kerr was in agreement. Trayce Jackson-Davis served as the Warriors’ starting center alongside Green in 18 of the first 19 games. He took a seat for a few games, was back into the starting five and then essentially was all the way out of the rotation from the end of January to the rest of the season, until he started the final three games of the 2025 NBA playoffs. 

Rookie Quinten Post was expected to spend the majority of the season in the G League, but his readiness as a 25-year-old who spent five years in college gave him a real role sooner than expected. 

The combination of the two checks the box of who an ideal center is in the same frontcourt as Green and Butler in the eyes of general manager Mike Dunleavy. 

“One way or another on the offensive end, that player has got to be able to finish, whether it’s at the rim or shooting a three,” Dunleavy said. “We need, with the way Draymond and Jimmy can create and generally play near the rim, having somebody that they can finish near the rim or make a shot, it’s going to be important in that situation.”

Jackson-Davis is built to be a rim-running lob threat who can protect the basket defensively. He also struggled finishing far too often early in the season. Post is the Warriors’ tallest player at 7 feet and was one of their deadliest shooters from long distance. While playing 16.3 minutes per game, Post averaged 4.3 3-point attempts at a 40.8-percent clip.

Kevon Looney for the second straight offseason is set to be a free agent. He’s one of Kerr’s favorite and most trusted players ever, and Dunleavy says he’d love to have him back.

Size, as Dunleavy said Friday, has been a “buzz word” around the Warriors for years. Their small-ball lineups changed the game. It’s a copy-cat league and teams began to catch up. Plus, there clearly has been a shift to skilled big men. 

Now, 7-footers are roaming the hardwood and launching threes like they think their last name is Curry. The Warriors need positional size across the board: At center, in the frontcourt, on the wing and in the backcourt.

Jackson-Davis will be entering his third season, and Post his second. They have shown promise with much different play styles, but whoever the Warriors add will have to fit the timeline of Curry, Green and Butler, who all are in their late 30s and signed through the 2026-27 season.

“We’re at the point now where you’ve got to have an eye to the future down the road,” Dunleavy said. “But this league is year to year, and especially with the guys that we have, our focus is mostly 90 percent on next season. How do we make this group better? That can come in a myriad of ways.

“I would love to get guys in their pre-prime or prime where they’re going to have more years when Steph and Draymond and Jimmy are gone, but at the same time, if we have to get a bunch of 33-year-olds or 35-year-olds that we think can really help us win a championship, that is the goal, and we will do that, cost permitting.”

Old and small isn’t going to work. Players in between the ages of the Big Three and youngsters like Jackson-Davis and Post are required. The two-timeline plan didn’t bring another title, Curry did, as well as Green and Klay Thompson. 

But that 2022 title team also had players like Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica who brought shooting and size at 28 and 33 years old, respectively, and Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole as bridge players who can contribute to 16 playoff wins and the taxing 82-game season.

Dunleavy will have to strike a balance of size and age up and down the roster. The only question that needs answering is how he can maximize the years of Curry, Green and Butler. A couple of big guys of their own can be a giant first step in shaping the next iteration of these Warriors.

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