Category: NBA

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown $50,000 for public criticism of game officials following Boston's first-round exit from the playoffs.

The fine was announced by NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones on Tuesday night, two days after Brown said in a livestream he hosts that game officials “clearly had an agenda” to call fouls against him for "pushing off" when he drove toward the basket while handling the ball.

“There’s some referees that need to be investigated,” Brown said on the livestream Sunday, a day after the Celtics' 109-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.

“Every good basketball player does this. What are y’all talking about? They clearly had an agenda,” Brown said.

Brown was previously fined $35,000 in January after a two-minute postgame rant about the officiating following Boston's loss to San Antonio.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Turns out smack-talking officials on Twitch comes with a cost.

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown learned this the hard way.

The NBA announced Tuesday, May 5 that Brown has been fined $50,000 for comments he made during a Twitch livestream Sunday, May 3, one day after the Celtics fell in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA playoffs.

NBA executive vice president, head of basketball operations James Jones announced the fine in a statement.

Brown expressed his displeasure about several specific plays from Boston’s 109-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and insinuated that he was being officiated differently from his competitors.

“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critically of them in the regular season,” Brown said during the livestream. “I actually spoke to some refs, and they told me there’s an agenda going on each game, every time Jaylen puts his arm up, just call it.”

Brown said that it was a simple basketball play that several other players do.

“Philly took advantage of that and the officiating and it cost us to some degree,” he added.

During the livestream, Brown even replayed film of the plays in question and also called out 76ers center Joel Embiid by name, accusing him of embellishing contact to get to the line.

“Flopping has ruined our league,” Brown said. “Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in basketball history. Flops. He knows it.”

The first-round elimination was Boston’s earliest exit in the postseason since 2021.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA punishes Jaylen Brown for comments about refs

The back half of the NBA conference semifinals tipped off with another pair of series openers.

In the first game Tuesday, May 5, the No. 1 Pistons built an early lead against No. 4 Cavaliers, extending it to as many as 18 points, but Detroit needed to fend off a Cleveland rally in the fourth to defend homecourt.

In the nightcap, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder continued their quest to repeat with a defensive masterclass at home against the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers.

Here are the winners and losers from Tuesday night’s conference semifinal games between the Pistons and Cavaliers and Thunder and Lakers:

LAKERS VS. THUNDER: Updates, highlights, scores from Game 1

Lakers vs. Thunder Game 1 box score

• Oklahoma City Thunder 108, Los Angeles Lakers 90

Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 1 box score

• Detroit Pistons 111, Cleveland Cavaliers 101

WINNERS

Jared McCain, Cason Wallace and the Thunder bench deliver

Oklahoma City’s bench is one of its several strengths, and the group was ready in Game 1. The Thunder bench outscored L.A.’s by a 34-15 margin, which put intense pressure on the Lakers when their starters sat.

Jared McCain led the way with 12 points, but Isaiah Joe chipped in 9 and Alex Caruso and Cason Wallce added 5 points apiece. It’s not just offense, however, where this group makes its mark. Wallace and Caruso are excellent defenders and Wallace — as he has most of the season — was a menace; he swiped 3 steals and also recorded 1 block.

So on a night when the Lakers threw bodies at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the role players delivered.

Detroit gets to the line

How does a team shoot a worse percentage than its opponent, have only one more field goal yet win by 10? Get to the free throw line.

The plan for the Pistons early in the game was clear: attack the paint and put Cavs defenders in compromising positions. The Pistons went to the line 35 times and converted 27 of those for a solid 77.1% from the stripe.

And for all the free throws the Pistons shot, the Cavaliers were on the opposite end, going 15-of-16 (93.8%). That means that, in a 10-point game, Detroit’s advantage from the line created a +12 edge.

“I want to separate this from the game,” Donovan Mitchell told reporters after the loss. “The free throw disparity is not why we lost tonight — I want to make sure I say that, but I don’t know, I’m trying to get downhill.

“A friend of mine (Jaylen Brown) got fined for talking about flopping, so I’m not going to try to double down, but, like, I feel like that’s what I’ve got to do at this point. I’m trying to get downhill, get to the bucket and sometimes people are in my way and I’m trying to fight through contact and I’m not getting these calls.”

JAYLEN BROWN: NBA punishes Celtics star for Twitch comments about refs

Pistons turn turnovers into points

The other reason Detroit launched massive runs was because it turned defense into offense. Detroit’s perimeter players smothered Cleveland’s guards, jumping passing lanes and forcing tough passes in pick-and-roll actions. That flustered the Cavs and led to easy Pistons points in transition.

The Pistons forced 19 turnovers (compared to only 11 committed), which led to a 31-16 edge in points off turnovers.

Not surprisingly, Detroit also sprinted to a 15-6 advantage in fastbreak points.

The Pistons find balance

They’ll still want more offense out of Jalen Duren (11 points on 4-of-11 shooting), but the Pistons didn’t need to rely entirely on Cade Cunningham. And, for Detroit, that’s a recipe for success.

Tobias Harris (20 points) continued his hot start to the playoffs, Duncan Robinson (19) drained 5 3-pointers and Daniss Jenkins  (12) provided a spark off the bench.

LOSERS

Austin Reaves

Essentially, with Dončić out, the Lakers need to play as close to perfect hoops as possible to have a chance against the defending champs. Austin Reaves is playing in just his third game since returning from an oblique injury, so some initial struggles are to be expected. Los Angeles, however, cannot afford that.

Reaves was harassed by Oklahoma City’s perimeter defense and he shot just 3-of-16 from the field, finishing with only 8 points.

One issue Reaves may face in this series is the size and length of the Thunder defenders. Whether it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso — all excellent defenders in their own right — their physicality made it tough for Reaves all night long.

Cavaliers' James Harden and Donovan Mitchell

Simply put: there’s no way the Cavaliers will have a chance in this series if their top two scorers struggle through three quarters the way they did Tuesday night. Mitchell showed some promise in the first half, scoring 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Yet, he scored only 3 in the third quarter.

The night for Harden was even worse. After averaging 23.6 points per game in the regular season, Harden had committed more turnovers (5) through three quarters than he had made field goals (2).

The pair did pick it up in the fourth to combine for 19 points, but playing from behind is a tough task against Detroit.

Jarrett Allen's early fouls cost Cavs

He was, arguably, the biggest reason why Cleveland topped the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 in the first round. Allen was a force Sunday, May 3, scoring 22 points and hauling in 19 rebounds, eight of which were offensive.

Tuesday night it was a different story. The Pistons went right at Allen in the first quarter, drawing three early fouls on him in the first 5:58 of the game. That took him out of the game completely, and he finished the night with just 2 points and 3 rebounds in 18:22 on the floor.  

Jarred Vanderbilt injury worsens Lakers tough luck

It’s bad enough that Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) remains out and may miss the entire second round against the Thunder, but things got worse for Los Angeles.

Backup forward Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a right hand injury when his fingers swiped against the left side of the backboard as he attempted to block a shot. The NBC broadcast reported the injury was “gruesome” and indicated that Lakers trainers had to put a towel over it to conceal the injury. The Lakers ruled him out for the rest of the game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers vs Pistons, Lakers vs Thunder: Winners, losers in NBA today

It was one of the biggest questions ahead of the series. 

Who on the Knicks would get the responsibility of guarding the explosive and dynamic Tyrese Maxey? 

Josh Hart spent the end of the first round guarding the Hawks’ most dangerous guard, CJ McCollum. OG Anunoby often guards the opponent’s best scorer, regardless of their position. But Maxey’s quickness isn’t a great fit for Hart or Anunoby. 

So Mikal Bridges, back as the Knicks point-of-attack defender, got the assignment. When he came out of the game, it was Miles McBride who matched up with Maxey. 

And they both aced the test. 

“That was huge,” Josh Hart said after practice Tuesday. “Both of those guys obviously are blessed enough athletically to be able to keep up with them, use their physicality, use their length to their advantage. Maxey obviously is an offense unto himself, being able to break out in transition. He’s tough to guard off those handoffs and ball screens so they did an amazing job on him and just have to continue it.” 

Maxey finished with just 13 points on rough 3-for-9 shooting from the field while missing all three 3-pointers he took. None of those three field goals came against Bridges or McBride. He committed four turnovers. 

It was his lowest point total since Jan. 26. In the first round against the Celtics, he averaged 26.9 points on 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.8 percent shooting from 3-point range. 

“I feel like the whole team was just locked in, honestly,” McBride said Tuesday. “Mikal started off on him really well and then I came in, but there were times where other guys were matched up with him, and all of our antennas are up just guarding him as a team.” 

It was clear the Knicks placed an emphasis on slowing down Maxey, often having a second defender ready to help Bridges or McBride. They were physical with him — particularly when the 76ers tried to get him going in the pick-and-roll. The only concern was that he was able to get to the free-throw line more than the Knicks would have wanted — he took seven free throws, making all of them. 

His usage was also a bit perplexing — there were long stretches where he was not assertive. He didn’t make a field goal until midway through the second quarter. His nine shots were by far the fewest he took so far in the postseason — and fewest in any game since Feb. 3. 

The Knicks expect that to change. 

“We know Maxey is going to be more aggressive,” coach Mike Brown said Tuesday. “So we have to be more alert than we were in our last game.” 

They also acknowledge they perhaps benefited from a bit of luck. 

“He missed some shots, too,” Brown said. “We know his aggression is gonna be at a higher level in Game 2. Like we told all our guys, it’s five guys guarding the basketball, but at the point of attack, we have to be pretty good. The biggest thing with guarding Maxey at the point of attack is, he just moves so well and he can score at all three levels. His quickness, his athleticism for his size is second to none, because he’s able to score from all three levels. So you have to give a multiple effort on every single possession because when he gives it up, you can best bet that he’s gonna get it back at some point on that possession, if not right away.” 

The 76ers will certainly have countermoves they try in Game 2 to get Maxey going. Because if he’s as poor as he was in Game 1, they have little chance. 

But in Bridges and McBride, the Knicks might have the answers.

Not everyone was over the moon that Victor Wembanyama broke the NBA playoff record for most blocks in a game during Game 1 of the conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, May 4.

The 2026 Defensive Player of the Year finished with 12 blocks on the night, passing the previous mark by two. He also was one swat shy of Dwight Howard’s record for blocks in one half of a playoff game in what ended up being a triple-double performance with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

A day after the remarkable outing in San Antonio, members of the Timberwolves decried Wembanyama’s final stats after even they they earned a 104-102 road win. After coaches and players looked at the game tape, they came to the conclusion that several of Wembanyama’s blocks were not actually blocks, but uncalled goaltending.

“Obviously, he had a historic night, but when we looked at ‘em, at least four of ‘em were goaltending, maybe even a fifth,” Minnesota head coach Chris Finch told reporters Tuesday, May 5. “To me, it’s a little alarming that none of ‘em were called.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Timberwolves edge Spurs in Anthony Edwards' return from injury

Timberwolves center and Wembanyama’s fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert agreed that not all of the blocks should have registered as such on the box score.

“He fouled me on the first one,” Gobert told reporters. “But I mean, if you look at them, probably three or four (goaltends).”

Finch continued by saying the game officials should have “heightened awareness” of Wembanyama, “a generational shot-blocker” and his style of play. He noted that if Wembanyama, who is known as “the Alien,” had the estimated four goaltends called instead of blocks, that would add up to eight points for the Timberwolves.

“You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? It’s massive,” he said. “That’s also 33 percent of his blocks were goaltending, uncalled. If I were to give you a 33 percent raise, you’d like that, right? That’s a huge number.”

NBA PLAYOFF BRACKET: Scores, schedule, odds for conference semifinals

Finch assured that his squad, which includes four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards, isn’t fazed by the disparity. The conference semifinals continue with Game 2 Wednesday night in San Antonio.

“We’re gonna keep coming,” he said. “And we got to make some better decisions in how we attack the rim. All credit to the guys for not being discouraged.”

Gobert showed how the team was keeping a lighthearted attitude.

“I wish I had that type of treatment, too,” he laughed with reporters.

Victor Wemanyama Game 1 highlights

Watch extended highlights of Wembayama's historic triple-double on May, 4, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timberwolves' Chris Finch, Rudy Gobert question Wembanyama blocks

The discrepancy was startling. 

So much so that, just looking at the box score, it’s hard to believe it existed along with the final score. 

The Knicks took half the number of free throws as the 76ers — 17 to Philadelphia’s 34 — during their 137-98 Game 1 rout Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Joel Embiid scored eight of his 14 points from the free-throw line. Tyrese Maxey scored seven of his 13 points from the line. 

It went under the radar given the margin of victory. But Knicks coach Mike Brown knows it would behoove the Knicks to not let it continue. 

“Maxey and Embiid are really, really good at drawing fouls,” Brown said after practice Tuesday. “Maxey’s speed, he’s gonna drive and he’s gonna attack the chest. I thought our guys did on some of the calls, but most of them, you can’t lead with your hands, you gotta lead with your chest and hope that the referee sees that at times we’re not initiating the contact. But we can’t put ourselves in the position to put the whistle in the referees’ hands. Make them call a no call. So we gotta do better leading with our chest and showing our hands. 

“And then with Embiid, he’s really crafty. Shot fake, shot fake and he can still shoot it, whether it’s from 2 or 3. So we have to be disciplined, we have to stay down and figure out how to be a second jumper while having contests from behind and stuff like that. But we can’t send those two guys to the free-throw line, and the rest of their team, 34 times and expect to get a win, especially if we only go 17.” 

---

Brown began his news conference Tuesday by sending his wishes to 76ers coach Nick Nurse. 

Nurse’s brother, Ian, died unexpectedly April 29, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

“I heard about his brother, Ian, and I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family and all their friends,” Brown said. “Life is precious. You don’t wish that upon anybody. So I’d like to pass along my condolences to him and his family while they’re going through these times.” 

---

Miles McBride believes that, given the 76ers’ lack of depth, the Knicks’ physicality can have a cumulative effect over the course of the series. 

“It can definitely play a part if you’re being realistic,” McBride said Tuesday. “If you have more guys running them, being physical can definitely play a big factor.”

Knicks owner James Dolan was having some fun during a Sphere Entertainment earnings call Tuesday when he cracked a joke that alluded to a star of another team.

According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, Dolan made the joke when he was asked about the SG&A costs — the costs related to running the business day to day that exclude direct production expenses — during the call.

“Boy, I’m really tempted to crack a joke here,” Dolan said. “So I guess I will. So SG&A is a great basketball player. And when we get to the Finals, I’m sure we’re going to beat them.”

The Knicks and Garden boss was alluding to the nickname for Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is commonly referred to as SGA for short.

And SGA has become a bit of an antagonist for the Knicks during a recent meeting when the Thunder visited Manhattan and defeated the Knicks 103-100 on March 4.

Head coach Mike Brown earned a technical foul during the game after he complained to the referees about a missed foul on Gilgeous-Alexander that would have been his third of the game late in the first quarter.

Afterward, Brown used his postgame news conference to call out the way Gilgeous-Alexander plays.

“SGA, he’s a tough cover, and he does a great job of convincing the referees — probably better than anybody in the league — that he’s getting hit,” Brown said.

The Knicks are currently in the middle of a second-round playoff series with the 76ers, whom they defeated handily Monday night, 137-98 in Game 1.

Dolan may have been joking on the earnings call, but the Knicks could end up facing SGA and the Thunder if Oklahoma City reaches the NBA Finals.

The Knicks will have to knock out the Sixers and the winner of the Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers series, and Oklahoma City has to defeat the Lakers in a best-of-seven series and then dispatch the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-San Antonio Spurs series for it to happen.

New Yorkers are planning to storm Philadelphia for this weekend’s NBA playoff games between the Knicks and 76ers — despite the City of Brotherly Love’s efforts to try to block an orange-and-blue takeover.

Xfinity Mobile Arena is limiting direct sales to buyers with addresses in the Philadelphia metro area, while Sixers fans are promising not to resell their tickets to the Knicks faithful, but some New Yorkers say they’re heading south to Philly anyway.

An X fandom account, @BigKnickEnergy_, announced a $75 roundtrip bus fare from Madison Square Garden to Xfinity when the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals series switches from the Big Apple to Philadelphia on Friday and Sunday.

The en masse migration the will depart Friday at 4:00 p.m. from MSG and return at 10:30 p.m.

On Sunday, departure is at 12:30 p.m. at MSG and return at 7:00 p.m.

The Knicks are up in the series 1-0 after a Monday 137-98 dismantling of the rival Sixers at home. Game 2 at MSG is scheduled for Wednesday.

New Yorkers said the city of Rocky should pull a Rambo the policy because they’re only hurting themselves.

“The (Philadelphia) businesses downtown definitely want the New York fans coming,” Morristown resident Morristown resident Keith Gehm, 54 told The Post. “If you’re selling [cheese]steaks, you want the New York fans spending their money.

“But it’s a second city,” he added. “They’re just too fragile!”!’” 

Some fans remain optimistic the self-buyout scheme would ultimately fail.

Anile Melwani, a fan who attends both the New York and Florida games told the Post, “People will find a way to go.”

“Everyone who has a friend or family in Philly, they’re still gonna show up,” he continued, adding that despite the “unfair” treatment of Knicks fans, “there’s still gonna be a lot of New York fans.”

“You know how resilient New Yorkers are.”

Once again, rumor time has struck the Valley, as online discussion has continued to escalate. With teams continuing to get eliminated from the first round, new shakeups are being hypothesized every single hour over on Twitter. That leaves us today with our latest discussion that has hit the Suns’ world, as fans have clung to a new name that may be hitting the market.

It is expected that the Trail Blazers will field plenty of external trade interest in Jrue Holiday, per @JakeLFischer

(https://t.co/wvquLcpJ48) pic.twitter.com/Ebttw1wdVb

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 2, 2026

Even with the Trail Blazers exceeding expectations, similarly to Phoenix, and beating them in the Play-In tournament, some shakeup seems likely for this Northwest franchise. With the emergence of Scoot Henderson in the first round of the playoffs and Damian Lillard gearing up to return, the question of Jrue Holiday remaining in Portland continues to grow.

The guard was traded there just last year from the Boston Celtics, who were looking to shed salary to drop below the second apron. I wonder if that sounds familiar, Suns fans? Anyways, the guard this offseason could also see another change of scenery, from the recent reporting of Jake Fischer.

For a team in Phoenix with already a surplus of guards, you would think this means they turn away from this, but with his complementary fit alongside Booker, the question is: should they? That is why today we are back with another breakdown of how this could be done for the Suns and whether they should consider it.

How could it get done?

Looking at Jrue Holiday’s contract is pretty taxing. The veteran guard is owed $72 million over the next two seasons with a player option in his final year. With making just under $35 million this year, the only two ways it could realistically get done. You either trade Jalen Green in a one-for-one trade or the combination of Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen.

Which would make the most sense?

As we noted above, the Blazers’ main motivation for moving Holiday off was to give their guard room more freedom, so taking Green back makes zero sense on their end. Unless it was a three-team deal (which, if you want to get creative, let me know down below), it’s virtually impossible.

This leaves us with the package of O’Neale and Allen, who would bring some quality depth and three-point shooting to a team that could benefit from it. Portland was 28th for three-point range last season, hitting 34.3%. And they were dead last in the NBA in bench three-point shooting, where they were 32.0%. Adding O’Neale and Allen would help in this area.

Even if this makes sense for the Blazers and Holiday is a good stylistic fit for the Suns, there are concerns.

Why does it not get done?

For multiple reasons, this package doesn’t get it across the finish line. Mainly on the Suns’ end, as they now take on Holiday, and they face the surplus guard problem. With Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin wanting to resign, this forces them into a Jalen Green trade.

One that the league now knows they are forced to make: with low-ball offers from other GM’s, potentially leaving Phoenix with holes in other areas if they do not accept those deals. Not only that, but you add the age and injury history of Holiday in recent years, and that becomes an issue. With him being 36 going into next year, that does not push forward the youth movement the Suns want to embrace either.

Unfortunately, there is something in the water in Phoenix, as everyone who has come here via trade has suffered an injury. Even if they are completely healthy in their previous endeavors, they always run into some issues here. The guard, who is also going to be in his 18th year, would be a great fit both on the court and playstyle-wise, but has too many concerns with his large dollar amount.

With the league only getting younger and deeper, Holiday would not solve one of those issues for this team and leave an even bigger hole in another spot. Even if his ability to be a perfect locker room fit and culture guy would be a nice addition, it is not worth the cost for the Suns. I do see the benefit of him being the point guard, and of him embracing the team’s defensive hard work and hustle as well. He would definitely make things easier on Booker, but at what cost?

Especially in their position, Holiday is an addition to put you over the top for a championship, as he did for the Bucks and Celtics. The Suns are just not in that spot right now, which is why, even if he is one of my favorite fits alongside Booker, I say it is a no-go.

If Holiday proves he is still a solid player once he is off that contract, I would absolutely LOVE to have him as a secondary guard on a cheaper deal, but the price is not worth the risk in this instance.

Let me know your thoughts down below. Would you entertain a trade for Jrue Holiday for this Suns team?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look for a strong start in 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!

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the modern NBA, spectators put star players’ legacies on the line during the playoffs with every dribble they take.

And within a playoff series, there’s a natural comparison between star players. 

The Lakers-Thunder second-round matchup features two of the biggest names in the league despite Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) still being sidelined entering Tuesday’s Game 1 at Paycom Center. 

On the Lakers’ side, you have LeBron James, the 41-year-old, four-time league MVP who continues to redefine what the latter stages of a player’s NBA career can look like.

And on the Thunder’s side, you have the reigning and likely-to-be-two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the defending NBA champions to a league-best 64-win regular season.

With Doncic sidelined, series like Lakers-Thunder could be saddled with the “passing of the torch” narrative.
But that isn’t the case at all: Gilgeous-Alexander firmly has “the torch” in a way James hasn’t in a while. 

Gilgeous-Alexander claimed “the torch” when he led the Thunder to a franchise-best 68-win season in 2024-25 before receiving his first league MVP. 

He became the 11th player in league history and, ironically, the first since James, to win the regular season and Finals MVP in the same season (which James did in back-to-back-years in 2012-13). 

With respect to Nikola Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player in the league, with the opportunity to make even more history this postseason.

In an era defined by parity, Gilgeous-Alexander is looking to lead the Thunder past the Lakers and back to the Western Conference finals, which could make them the first defending champions to qualify for that round since the 2018-19 Warriors. 

And if Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder to becoming the first team since the 2018 Warriors to win back-to-back titles while winning regular season and Finals MVP again? He’d join James (2012-13) and Michael Jordan (1991-92) as the only players in league history to do so (it’s important to note that the Finals MVP was created in 1969, which was the final season of Bill Russell’s career). 

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

He could join James, Jordan, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win Finals MVP in back-to-back seasons.

What’s at stake for Gilgeous-Alexander is far greater than what’s at stake for James: Gilgeous-Alexander, who turns 28 in July, is in the midst of his prime. He could be putting together one of the greatest stretches by a player in consecutive seasons in league history. There should be a lot more chapters to write about his story. 

On the other hand, James’ legacy is solidified. 

Four NBA titles, and four Finals MVPs. Four regular-season MVPs. A league-record 22-time All-Star and 21-time All-NBA honoree. The league’s record holder for most points and minutes played.

But in a career that’s unprecedented, James can accomplish something that’s even rarer for a star: Snatch “the torch” back during the latter stage of his career, even for a moment, by outplaying the league’s best player in a playoff series victory.

Usually when the window for a star to be the leading man on a title-contending team closes, it remains shut. James wasn’t the best player during the regular season, with Doncic and Reaves leading the way. 

But he was during the first-round series against the Rockets with Doncic sidelined and Reaves out for four of the six games. And he still will be for the start of the series against the Thunder.

The closest comparison to what James can do is what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in 1985, when he became the oldest player in league history to win Finals MVP (38). The Lakers beat the defending champion Celtics, who were led by the then back-to-back MVP Larry Bird. 

The stakes were obviously much higher because it was a Finals matchup between iconic rivals. 

But the situations were also much different. 

Abdul-Jabbar was just five years removed from winning his last MVP award in 1980, and only a year removed from receiving All-NBA first team honors, which he did again in 1986 for the final time. 

It’s been 13 years since James last won an MVP, and six years since he last received All-NBA first team honors. 

Abdul-Jabbar was teammates with Magic Johnson, who finished ahead of him in the 1984-85 regular season MVP voting, in the midst of his prime.

With Doncic out, James’ best teammate is Reaves, who’s coming off an injury-riddled All-Star-caliber season, with the best teammates after Reaves not being comparable to the “Showtime” Lakers roster. 

The Thunder should win this series.

The challenge in front of James is one that hasn’t been done before.

Which would make it all the more impressive if he’s able to pull off another rare feat against the league’s best.

There are so many intriguing matchups and lineup decisions we are going to see as the Detroit Pistons face off with the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. I’m not sure which is my favorite, or which one is the most important. Jarett Allen vs. Jalen Duren? We are all curious what kind of Duren we will get after his offensive no-show against the Orlando Magic. Allen, meanwhile, was the hero of Game 7 for the Cavs, but the Toronto Raptors don’t have the size Detroit can throw at him. Perhaps it is Ausar Thompson vs. James Harden (or maybe Donovant Mitchell). We know Ausar can guard anyone in the NBA, but can he stay out of foul trouble when Cleveland’s stars are forcing the issue? Conversely, what about Duncan Robinson, who I am sure Cavs’ players will be hungry to switch onto and try to hunt on defense.

Will we have some different unsung heroes for Detroit? Is this a series where Ron Holland can make a mark? How much bigger of a role will Isaiah Stewart have against Cleveland’s double-big lineup. Cleveland’s guards can’t contain Cade Cunningham, but Kenny Atkinson surely knows that as well, and is likely fully prepared to throw Dean Wade and a bunch of other looks at him. How will Cade respond? Just about everything intrigues me about this matchup, and I hope the game lives up to how interesting the unknowns are. I’ve had my fill of gross-looking slugfests, thank you.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Peacock, NBC
Odds: Pistons -3.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (0-0)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0)

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Minnesota Timberwolves found an offensive approach that worked in the fourth quarter of Game 1, gashing the San Antonio Spurs’ defense with Rudy Gobert on the bench.

This Timberwolves vs. Spurs same-game parlay expects Minnesota to double-down on that approach in Game 2 on Wednesday, May 6.

Our best Timberwolves vs Spurs SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 Rebounds (-125)

Rudy Gobert had six rebounds in Monday’s first quarter, and he still ended with 10 boards, falling short of a prop that was set at 10.5 to start the series, albeit at plus-money. 

Gobert played an excellent 30 minutes in that tight win, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves tilt this series. Eight of those minutes came with Victor Wembanyama off the court, the San Antonio Spurs’ superstar’s only time off the court.

Minnesota is likely to focus Gobert on the chances with Wembanyama on the bench, but those are also likely to be few and far between, further limiting Gobert’s minutes.

SGP leg #2: Rudy Gobert Under 8.5 Points (-130)

Even when Gobert is on the court facing Wembanyama, Minnesota found success bringing Wemby into screen action, where he is prone to playing drop coverage despite Gobert creating separation in the on-ball defense. That allows for open 3-pointer looks for shooters like Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley and Naz Reid.

Gobert’s screen effectiveness helps the Timberwolves’ offense despite him not scoring, not to mention he managed just seven points in Game 1.

SGP leg #3: Over 215.5

Less Gobert will help both offenses. When he sat for the first 10-plus minutes of Monday’s fourth quarter, Minnesota scored 32 points. It had not yet managed more than 24 in any of the first three quarters.

---

Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA odds
• NBA picks
• NBA player props
• Best NBA betting sites
• Today’s NBA matchups

---

See our full Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Timberwolves vs Spurs predictions for Game 2.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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.

The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET tonight on NBCSN. Then the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC (WRC-TV).

Enjoy the basketball and the constant playing of John Tesh songs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the dream position. 

He’s the reigning MVP and his Thunder are the reigning champions. He’s expected to repeat for that honor. His team is, too. 

That should’ve been Luka Doncic. 

In a cruel twist of fate, Doncic will be on the bench Tuesday night watching the superstar whose trajectory was supposed to be his as the Lakers open their second-round playoff series against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Doncic, who’s out indefinitely because of a strained hamstring, was supposed to be the young hotshot taking over the league.

But his mantle remains empty, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s is decorated with the league’s most prestigious trophies.

Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander were in the same 2018 draft class. Doncic was selected third by the Mavericks and Gilgeous-Alexander was picked 11th by the Hornets before being traded to the Clippers that night.  

It quickly became clear that Doncic was going to become a sensation. 

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

In the NBA General Manager Survey ahead of the 2020-21 season, executives were asked if they were starting a franchise today and could sign anyone in the league who they’d pick. 

Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo tied for first place. 

But eight years after Doncic entered the league, he has yet to win a championship or an MVP Award. 

Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander is atop the league. For the second straight season, he led the Thunder to the best record in the NBA. And according to a player poll by The Athletic, his peers believe he deserves to repeat as MVP this year. 

As for Doncic? 

He wasn’t even an MVP finalist this season despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). 

Doncic had an incredible season before suffering the hamstring strain on April 2. He became the second person in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March, alongside Michael Jordan. Over that period, he led the Lakers on a 16-2 run. 

But even though Doncic is a generational talent and one of the league’s top players, his career hasn’t gone as planned so far. 

He was supposed to lead the Mavericks to a championship. He was supposed to win multiple MVPs. He wanted to retire alongside the team that drafted him. 

But while Gilgeous-Alexander’s career has been on a rocket ship’s trajectory, Doncic’s has taken a serpentine road. 

The two stars’ paths converged during the 2024 playoffs when they met in the second round. Doncic carried the Mavericks past the Thunder in six games. He went on to reach the Finals for the first and only time in his career. 

Things seemed to be going as planned for the Slovenian superstar. 

But eight months later, he was stunningly dealt to the Lakers.

He was shocked. Devastated. Disheartened. 

He was also disparaged.

Following the deal, whispers came from Dallas’ camp that they were frustrated with the superstar for a myriad of reasons, including his fitness and lack of effort on the defensive end. 

Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has quietly transformed from a promising young guard into the league’s biggest superstar. 

After the Clippers traded him to the Thunder in 2019, his game flourished. And Thunder general manager Sam Presti put the perfect pieces around him, including Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso. 

Last season, the Thunder took over the NBA. 

And they seem poised for another deep playoff run. They have the best defense in the league. And Gilgeous-Alexander is leading all scorers this postseason with 33.8 points a game. 

As for Doncic, this was supposed to be a revenge season for him. 

He came into training camp in arguably the best shape of his career. He carried the Lakers to fourth place in the West. 

But he was sidelined the last month, including missing the Lakers’ first-round series against the Rockets. 

Now, as he tries to work his way back from a strained hamstring to play in this series, he has to watch the guy whose trajectory should’ve been his.

Doncic was the player everyone expected to be atop the league. 

But until he leads his team to the mountaintop, the spotlight firmly belongs to Gilgeous-Alexander.