MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 15: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves are potentially on the lookout for a major upgrade to the roster this offseason, which could mean a blockbuster trade is in the works.
If the Wolves are going to make a big trade, they are going to have to part ways with one of their better players on the roster, which could be Jaden McDaniels. Bleacher Report contributor Zach Buckley listed McDaniels as a trade target “nobody is talking about.”
“He is a player virtually any club would covet, since he can contribute to winning right now but also shows enough flashes to think there could be a lot more in his offensive arsenal by the time he peaks,” Buckley wrote of McDaniels.
“The Wolves would prefer not to lose him, but if they’re serious about getting Edwards more help, they may not have another option. Getting a needle-mover requires giving up something good, and as far as the Timberwolves’ trade chips, McDaniels is clearly as good as it gets.”
The Wolves are in a championship window, but they don’t need to sacrifice their entire future just to hit on the next two years or so. That would be a disservice to all of the work they have put into building this roster since 2020 when the team selected Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 overall pick.
Edwards is still only 24 years old and has likely not even hit his prime yet. In order to compete with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama for many years to come, the Wolves have to surround Edwards with young talent, much like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have done.
The Wolves can be aggressive in trades this offseason, but it shouldn’t come at the price of McDaniels or Naz Reid, because that might end up resulting in a step or two back rather than forward.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
First and foremost, I want to apologize to the community for missing my Game 2 article; it wasn’t because the last 10 seconds made me want to throw up (though that certainly was the case); rather, it was because my two young kids have been sick and spent the weekend throwing up on me. In any case, I couldn’t be happier to return to action in a game where the Spurs corrected the main thing that plagued them in Games 1 and 2: poor execution down the stretch. On top of that, this game produced a box score laden with several interesting quirks. Let’s review:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of June 8 2026, this group include 1,204 games.
Factors that decided the game
The Spurs and Knicks traded off some important box score wins with respect to offensive opportunity, though in the end this trade favored San Antonio. First, New York recorded 3 more defensive boards and six more offensive rebounds, which (all else equal) should have secured them a solid edge in offensive opportunity. However, They did have five more turnovers, which dampened that edge significantly. Furthermore, the Knick’s turnovers were costly, as the Spurs crushed them on points off turnovers (21 to 7).
From an efficiency standpoint, no team racked up a massive advantage in any one area. The Spurs were slightly better from the field, with FG% and 3P% differentials of +0.97 and +0.16 percentage points, respectively. However, New York’s FT% margin was +3.69 percentage points.
While less efficient, the Knicks outscored San Antonio by three from the field on the back of better volume, including four more total shot attempts and three more threes.
Given this advantage from the field for the Knicks, this game was ultimately decided at the free throw line. New York only committed two more fouls than San Antonio, but the timing and type of those fouls was much worse (which largely reflected San Antonio’s aggressive offense). As a result, the Spurs got to shoot 10 more free throws, and ultimately outscored the Knicks by seven from the charity stripe.
Rare Box Score Stats
The Spurs became just the ninth postseason winner since 2012-2013 to have at least 10 more assists than their opponent and win by no more than four points. Typically, a victor with an assist margin at least as good wins by 20 or more.
Contrary to what Mike Brown would have you believe, the Spurs FTA margin in this game wasn’t wildly out of the ordinary; in fact, nearly 18% of postseason winners (213 of 1,204) have had a FTA differential at least as good since 2012-2013. However, the Spurs did accomplish this feat while only logging two fewer fouls than New York. Only 36 of 1,203 (a bit more than 1 in 33) other postseason winners during the period have enjoyed 10+ more free throws than there opponent with so narrow an edge in fouls.
San Antonio became the 46th postseason winner since 2012-2013 to make fewer field goals and threes than their opponent.
It’s relatively rare for a postseason winner to really struggle on the offensive glass while handily winning the turnover battle. In fact, San Antonio became just the 48th postseason winner since 2012-2013 to have an ORB differential no better than – 6 and a turnover differential of – 5 or better.
Wemby’s great games seem to nearly always coincide with a box score combination that is extremely rare. In this case, he recorded just the 10th playoff performance since the 1996-1997 postseason that included 32+ points, 8+ rebounds, 6+ assists, 2+ steals, and 3+ blocks.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Police descended on the Bryant Park around tip-off time in an effort to control the crowd of over 7,000 who gathered for the Knicks watch party, arresting 21 people for offenses including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Five NYPD officers were injured in the fracas.
Fans fight outside of a watch party at Bryant Park for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images21 people were arrested for a variety of offenses, including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration Getty Images
Eight fans were taken into custody and charged and 13 were released with criminal court summonses.
Cops said a large crowd of people “took over” 42nd Street and refused to disperse, blocking vehicle traffic and causing a significant backup in the area.
The crowd engaged in “incredibly reckless behavior” including violent fights that resulted in multiple injuries.
Some threw glass objects at each other and police officers, and ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground to throw them.
Meanwhile, wild footage shows crowds of Knicks fanatics screaming and ferociously tearing apart jerseys with the 7-foot-4 Spurs star’s name on the back.
NYPD officers detain a person as they move back New York Knicks fans outside of a watch party at Bryant Park for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026. Getty ImagesDozens of enraged Knicks fans surrounded a Spurs fan on the streets and tore apart his Victor Wembanyama jersey from his back after Monday night’s squeaker loss in Game 3. X / @NICHETONOTABLE
“Take it off! Take it off!” members of the crowd can be heard yelling as the jersey was torn into rags while onlookers cheered.
In another similar scene, a large group of men yanked a jersey from the back of a fan who was helpless to fight back against the horde.
Last night’s regularly scheduled watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled on the day of the game due to heightened security concerns after it was announced President Trump would be attending.
Tip off for Game 4 at the Garden is set for 8:30 Wednesday night in the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
In a video shared online, President Donald Trump appeared to close his eyes for several moments during Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, For the Win reported.
Trump attended the game from a suite at the arena after being met largely with boos from the crowd during the national anthem. Video clips shared on social media later showed him sitting with his eyes closed for a brief period during the game.
It is unclear from the footage whether Trump was asleep or simply resting his eyes. Neither the White House nor Trump has publicly responded to the allegations.
The clips nonetheless sparked discussion online among viewers.
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) June 9, 2026
Claims follow congressional exchange over Trump sleep allegations
The claims come days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the president amid similar online speculation that he was sleeping during public appearances.
During a June 3 congressional hearing, Rubio told Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., that he had never seen the president fall asleep in a meeting.
“Secretary Rubio, have you been at more than one meeting where President Trump has fallen asleep?” Lieu asked during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.
“I’ve never seen him fall asleep,” Rubio said. “On the contrary, the guy doesn’t sleep, which is a big problem,” adding that Trump has called him in the early morning hours.
Lieu then displayed multiple video clips while questioning Rubio, alleging the president appeared to have his eyes closed during parts of significant discussions, including wartime matters.
"The president's inability to stay awake on the job has caused other countries to perceive him differently," Lieu said. "They mock him."
Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. CT, Wednesday, June 10.
The series returns to Madison Square Garden for a second straight game.
Will Trump attend Game 4 of the NBA Finals?
The White House has not announced whether Trump plans to attend Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Who currently leads the series between the Knicks and Spurs?
New York leads the series 2-1 after San Antonio's Game 3 win.
When was the last time the Spurs won the NBA Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs last won the NBA Finals in 2014, when they defeated the Miami Heat in five games (4–1) to capture their fifth championship.
When was the last time the Knicks won the NBA Finals?
The New York Knicks last won the NBA Finals in 1973, when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games (4–1) to capture their second championship.
That 1973 team was led by players like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe.
This story was updated to include additional information.
In one year at Houston, Kingston Flemings established himself as a potential first-round pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft with his two-way capabilities and dynamic athleticism.
But Houston coach Kelvin Sampson believes it’s who Flemings is off the court that will separate the 19-year-old point guard from others in the 2026 draft class.
“Well, I think that’s the strength,” Sampson told NBC Sports California in an exclusive phone interview Tuesday. “I think what he does off the court is better than what he does on the court.”
Houston had just come off its second consecutive Big 12 championship with a 19-1 conference record. Milos Uzan, the point guard who led the Cougars to that success in the 2024-25 season and played all 40 games, returned to Houston for his senior season in 2025-26.
Along with Uzan, a couple of other familiar faces returned to the Cougars in 2025. One new face, however, was Flemings’.
Sampson shared that Flemings initially didn’t want to step on toes, given that he was the new guy joining a successful program. But one pep talk from Sampson was all it took.
“Kingston came in with kind of a compromising attitude where he didn’t want to step on toes,” Sampson said. “So I bring him in my office one day, and I said, ‘Young fella, I didn’t bring you over here to take a back seat. You’re the best player on this team, don’t run from it, embrace it. God gave you these gifts, don’t hide them because somebody was here before you. I want you to know when you climb Mount Everest, if you have this great accomplishment, you take your flag and stick it in, you claim it as your ground. You can still be a great teammate, you can still treat people with respect. But it’s not fair to you or to us if you come in and take a back seat.’
“So I said, ‘You’re either going to be driving this bus or you’re going to be a passenger. You haven’t been a passenger your whole life, so don’t come over here and act like you’re sitting in the back row; you can get up there in the front row and be proud of it.’ I think that’s what he needed at the time, and from that day forward, he was the best player on the team. But he was very respectful of those returning guys. I’ve read comments that they made about what a great teammate Kingston was, how respectful he was. But if you know Kingston, that’s just who he is. He’s very articulate, he’s very bright, he has a good perspective on life.
“He puts others first, but when he walks across those lines – he’s a killer.”
Flemings had a historically dominant freshman season at Houston, averaging 16.1 points on 47.6-percent shooting from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range, with 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. He led the Cougars in scoring, assists and steals – becoming the most decorated freshman in program history.
The Kings, who are in need of a starting point guard, hold the No. 7 overall pick. Flemings is one of the many guards who have been projected to go around that range, with other guards such as Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. also mixed into the guard gauntlet.
Sampson explained how Flemings’ game is different from the others.
“Well, we played both those teams last year. We played Arkansas and we played Illinois. [Acuff Jr. and Wagler are] both outstanding players. I think it depends on what you’re looking for. Of the three, I think Kingston is the best true point guard, because that’s what he is. He is a point guard. We played Arkansas in New Jersey right before Christmas, and I think Kingston had 28 in that game, and Acuff may have had 25. They’re both really good, but you know, Kingston is 6-foot-4. He sees the floor; he cares more about winning than he does about anything else. He had games where he had eight or nine assists and six points and games where he had 42 points. He does whatever you need him to do.
“But he’s true beyond his years. His basketball IQ is off the charts, really understands the game at a high level. It’s only going to get better. When we signed Kingston, he probably weighed about 165 pounds, maybe, and he played last year around 183, 184, something like that. Eventually, he’s going to be 195, and he’s not gonna be 19 years old. Kingston is 19; he’s a teenager. I was looking at the [NBA Finals] game last night. Look at how old [Jalen] Brunson is. [Stephon] Castle is a young guy. Castle also has [Victor] Wembanyama with him. None of these other teams have a Wembanyama, so it’s a little bit harder to be the point guard when you may wind up being the best player on the team.
“So Acuff has the strengths, I think he is an elite, elite scorer. Wagler has his strengths. I think he’s a really good basketball player that’s only going to get better. I like all three of them. I just think if you’re looking for a point guard, and based on how you define that position, I think Kingston would be the choice for me.”
Another key trait that has separated Flemings from other guards projected to go early in the first round is his defensive capabilities. At least to the so-called “draft experts.” However, Sampson doesn’t necessarily believe that to be the case.
While Flemings was committed to Houston’s elite defensive identity under Sampson, the coach understands that doesn’t automatically make Flemings a lockdown defender as he transitions into the NBA.
Sampson, the winner of multiple Coach of the Year awards who also coached in the NBA for six seasons, is more realistic – and honest – than that.
“Well, I think that’s where he’ll struggle the most,” Sampson said of Flemings’ defense. “When you’re 19 years old, you’re not going to go in and say, ‘Well, he was a good defender in college, he’s going to be a good defender here.’ He’s guarding guys that are 26, 27, 28 who have grown man strength. They’ve been lifting and understand the rigors and know how to do all the tricks of the trade. He’s not coming in as a Day 1 NBA defender, but nobody in the draft is either. We played [AJ] Dybantsa last year twice. He’s not. [Cameron] Boozer’s not. We played [Darryn] Peterson twice last year; he’s not.
“So this notion that he’s a good defender in college means he’s gonna be a defender in the NBA, that will take him a couple of seasons. That doesn’t mean he’s not going to try, and his athleticism is going to lead him to steals, but because you have steals and you can block shots doesn’t mean you’re a good defender. … So Kingston is going to be a good defender, because it’s important to him, and he wants to win, but he’s 19 years old, and he weighs 180 pounds.”
Fair enough.
Kings coach Doug Christie, a devoted defender during his playing days, and general manager Scott Perry are trying to enforce a defensive identity in Sacramento. They want to, at the very least, see the effort and a commitment on that side of the floor from their players.
While Christie outright pleaded for a starting point guard this offseason, Perry made it clear that his staff will go for the best available player on the board, regardless of position.
Whether Flemings has a future in Sacramento remains to be seen, but Sampson is sure about one thing. NBC Sports California asked him to fill in the blank with the following sentence: “The team that drafts Kingston Flemings is getting …
“A kid that has a high ceiling. They’re getting him on the ground floor of a career that’s probably going to be a high-rise building in a high-rent district.”
The Knicks’ front office may have given Mike Brown the green light.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated that Leon Rose’s crew OK’d the Knicks’ coach ripping the referees after Monday’s 115-111 home loss to the Spurs in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Spurs shot 34 free throws to the Knicks’ 22, including a 24-8 edge in the second half when San Antonio overcame a seven-point halftime hole to slice their series deficit to 2-1.
Mike Brown was not happy about the free-throw disparity Monday night. NBAE via Getty Images
“I know Mike Brown and I have covered Mike Brown at times when he’s been upset with officiating in the playoffs, and he has had a conscious conversation with the front office. ‘Do we go in there and make an issue of the officiating?'” Windhorst said on ESPN after the game. “While I don’t know for sure, I suspect that they made a decision, ‘Let’s go in there and make this a topic of conversation.'”
Going after the referees can be a bit of a chess game, with the hope that it can sometimes lead to better calls in the future or perhaps the referees adjusting how they call the game.
Coaches have to be careful too since they risk a potential fine, although at this point in the season it’s fair to assume Brown will gladly pay that violation if a better whistle helps the Knicks win the title.
Monday’s game marked the third straight in this series in which the Spurs have attempted more free throws than the Knicks, and the Knicks have been called for more fouls in the last two games.
Finals Tale of the Tape: Fouls and free throws
Category
Knicks
Spurs
Game 1 fouls committed
23
23
Game 1 free-throw attempts
18
25
Game 2 fouls committed
23
20
Game 2 free-throw attempts
21
27
Game 3 fouls committed
23
21
Game 3 free-throw attempts
22
32
The Knicks have committed 69 fouls to the Spurs’ 64, leading to them attempting 61 free throws compared to the Spurs’ 84.
In the second half Monday night, the Spurs connected on 20 of their 24 free-throw attempts to maintain their lead while the Knicks made six of their eight.
“I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free-throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight,” Brown said. “I don’t think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free-throw attempts. San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, OK. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free-throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too.”
Mike Brown making his case about the referees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson did not appreciate one play in which Spurs guard Stephon Castle ran him over, while Josh Hart objected after being bumped by Luke Kornet under the basket.
The Knicks actually held a 14-8 edge in free-throw attempts in the first half — and a 64-57 lead at the break — but the Spurs shot 14 and 10 in the next two quarters, respectively.
Brian Windhorst thinks Mike Brown’s speech about the fouls was approved by the front office. @ohnohedidnt24/X
“Again, I don’t complain much,” Brown said during his lengthy rant after his team lost for the first time in 14 games. “I never thought I’d see that in an NBA Finals game, and I saw it tonight. That’s tough to overcome when you’re playing against a great team. … But as a team, if you take away the fouls and the free throws that should have, in my opinion, been a little bit more even, again maybe we fouled that many times but they fouled, too. And it’s not shown at the end of the day on this boxscore.”
CHICAGO - CIRCA 1991: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Danny Ferry #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers circa 1991 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Oklahoma and Chicago Bulls star Stacey King died Sunday, apparently after what is being termed a “serious fall” at his home. Just 59, he seems far too young to die of a fall, but you never know what is going on in a person’s life, let alone his health problems.
We mention King because on Monday, we saw this very funny clip featuring the former Bull (he won three rings in the 1990s).
We decided to post it because it’s a funny story featuring former Duke star Danny Ferry.
According to King, Ferry came into a game between the Cleveland and Chicago, and his sole purpose, supposedly, was to take a shot at Bulls star Michael Jordan. Jordan got ready to fight, but the Cavaliers took Ferry out after that, and the Bulls had to wait for their revenge.
They got it the next time they played. We’ll leave the rest of it for King to tell, but it was pretty entertaining. We can see why Bulls fans loved the man. It’s a pretty entertaining story.
NEW YORK — Before anyone even asked him a question, Mike Brown constructed the narrative.
His Knicks had just lost Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals here at Madison Square Garden by four points. And with that, New York ceded some leverage back to the San Antonio Spurs in the series.
Brown opened his press conference with a statement, like he always does following games. This time, however, and in a rather uncharacteristic fashion, he bemoaned the game’s officiating.
The Spurs shot 10 more free throws than San Antonio in Monday night’s 115-111 New York loss, but Brown took exception with consistency in the second half.
"First of all, I want to make sure I get something clear: coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs, they won the game tonight," Brown started. "They came and took the game. But I will say this: I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight. I don’t complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts.
"San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, okay. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too."
To further make his point, Brown stipulated that because the Spurs shot 24 free throws in the second half, it was worse than the box score indicated.
"Now, we didn’t play good," Brown acknowledged. "San Antonio played great. We could have played better. There was a lot of things that we didn’t do that we did in Game 1 and Game 2.
"But to go 24 free throw attempts in the second half, that’s 48 for the game, if you think about the way they called that second half, compared to eight. All the shots we took, we got fouled four times, roughly, for eight free throw attempts."
The reality is that San Antonio took 32 free throws and converted 25 of those. The Knicks, by comparison, made 18-of-22.
But doubling up the second half attempts is a convenient manipulation – one that disregards the fact that New York attempted 14 free throws in the first half, compared to San Antonio’s eight.
And by going down this path, Brown, in essence, created an environment in which he made excuses for New York’s poor play. He even acknowledged as much.
"It’s going to be that, because I said it," Brown said. "The story is going to be that."
Yet, New York lost the battle in points off turnovers by a margin of 21-7. It settled for far too many 3s in the fourth quarter. And the Knicks did not match San Antonio’s aggression for most of the game.
Now, all that said, this is a calculated move by Brown.
He knows Game 4 is massive. If the Knicks win, they move to 3-1 and take complete control of the series, needing just one victory out of three remaining games to claim their first title in 53 seasons. If they lose, however, the series heads back to San Antonio tied at two games apiece.
By getting this out there – and Brown may have to pay the price in the form of a fine – he’s exerting direct pressure on the officiating crew for Game 4 to put their thumb on the scale somewhat. Essentially, Brown is putting out the narrative that his team has been wronged.
The implication being that some corrective measure is owed to the Knicks. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but, with a title on the line, it’s certainly worth a shot.
Now, were some of the calls enforced against New York in the second half soft? Certainly. But if you look closely, most came after New York lazily grabbed at players after they had put themselves in compromising positions.
Did the Spurs get away with some calls? Potentially. But that doesn’t account for why New York shot just 7-of-27 in the fourth quarter, including a brutal 2-of-14 from 3-point range, many of those decent looks.
"That ain’t cost us the game," Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said when asked about officiating. "We turned the ball over. We didn’t execute. We didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins; that’s how you lose a game."
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on before the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Our season review of the Cleveland Cavaliers continues with Kenny Atkinson and the coaching staff.
As is the case with our postgame report cards, a “B” grade represents a player or group meeting the standard we expect from them.
Cavs’ record
Regular season: 52-30 (-12 from last season)
Playoffs: 8-10 (+3 from last season)
Atkinson was dealt a rough hand this year.
The front office’s moves last offseason didn’t pay off. Trading Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball was a miss, as were the signings around the edges of the roster.
Additionally, injuries were a recurring issue throughout the year. Max Strus didn’t play until the spring. Darius Garland missed the start of the season, and when he did return, he wasn’t close to the All-Star version we saw the year before. The group also missed time from both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Atkinson deserves credit for keeping this season on the rails. The group continued to be bought in, even during their slump, and were able to keep their heads above water. This could’ve easily been a lost season.
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Then, Atkinson was forced to adapt again when they traded for James Harden.
Atkinson understands that this is a player’s league first and foremost. He sacrificed his personal preference to fit the style that worked best with this group given the limited time left in the season.
The Cavs blended Harden’s isolation system with some of the off-ball movement concepts we saw from them during their 64-win season. Making those adjustments on the fly with limited practice time is an incredibly difficult task, and not one many coaching staffs would’ve succeeded in doing.
The trades and the injuries resulted in the starting lineup they used most in the playoffs, only spending four regular-season games together. Yet, the Cavs were able to make it further in the playoffs than they have at any point since 2018. That’s a remarkable achievement.
At the same time, Atkinson deserves criticism for some of their biggest losses in the postseason.
The adjustments in the first two rounds weren’t as quick as they should’ve been. Against the Toronto Raptors, he took too long to find ways to get the bigs involved. The Cavs weren’t ready for the first two games against the Detroit Pistons, and he failed to get his group prepared for Game 6.
Atkinson also deserves a good portion of the blame for the disastrous Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks. He kept Harden on the court late, allowing him to get picked on by Jalen Brunson. By the time the defensive adjustment came, it was already too late. The offense ground to a halt. Atkinson couldn’t find a way to get it jump-started down the stretch in the fourth, even after timeouts.
The Cavs probably don’t win the series if Game 1 ended differently. The Knicks are playing at an incredibly high level right now. But at the very least, Cleveland could’ve made it a competitive series if they had held on to Game 1.
Figuring out how to balance the impressive regular season and frustrating playoffs is difficult for a project like this.
On one hand, Atkinson showed that he can make the absolute best of a bad situation. He continually raised the baseline of a group that had no business winning more than 50 games with the amount of injuries, roster turnover, and off-years from the supporting cast.
Simultaneously, he didn’t elevate this group in the postseason. It never felt like the players were in the best position to succeed, and the adjustments came far too late, if they came at all. That is concerning for a group that wants to compete for titles over the next few seasons.
Overall, I’m going to lean more positive. The playoff shortcomings don’t happen if this season goes off the rails, as it could’ve.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the rim as Og Anunoby #8 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks defend during the second quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For Game Three of the NBA Finals, a graphic of the Larry O’Brien Trophy was laid under the Knicks logo at halfcourt. This marks the very first time the image of the trophy has ever been placed there. Others have said it, but allow me to reiterate: seeing the iconic trophy on the court at MSG is weird.
No basketball stage is bigger than Madison Square Garden. Whenever a big game is played at the Mecca, visitors are expected to wilt under Broadway’s lights. It never occurs to us that the home team might feel a little of that heat, too.
Indeed, the Knicks seemed more affected by the pressure in their 115-111 loss. It was a flukey game across the board. For instance, they lost the third quarter for the first time in 17 playoff games. Given that the starters were out of sync all game, it made sense. In fact, this was the first they’ve looked like the “old Knicks” since the first round. The lead guys started slow, the reserves provided a second quarter lift while Towns and Brunson were split up, the play went stale again after halftime, and they hoped for Captain Clutch magic in the fourth. It was as if, after being away from the Garden for 19 days, they’d forgotten what a juggernaut they had become and, returning to their home court, reverted to their bad habits.
Out of the gate, the hosts coughed up two turnovers and fell behind by seven before Josh Hart finally got them on the scoreboard. That kicked off a promising stretch by Hart. The Spurs picked their poison and gave plenty of space to Hart on the perimeter. His two triples in the first quarter kept the Knicks from falling too far behind. Our Energizer Bunny finished with 16 points on 4-of-7 from deep, plus nine boards and five dimes.
The Spurs made eight of their first ten shots to go ahead by 11, but that’s a hard pace to maintain. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges picked up two quick fouls and was replaced by Landry Shamet (3 PTS, 1-of-8 FG, -20, 23 MIN). It was the start of a long night for Bridges, who had his first offensive dud in a while. He posted two points on 1-of-5 shooting.
In the game thread, UrsaMajor13 said, “Bridges and KAT really disappointing.” Since they had combined for 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting and eight fouls, Ursa almost won a spot in the headline. Weirdly, the plus-minus tells a different story. Would you believe that Karl-Anthony Towns finished +8 and Bridges +11? That box score is lying—and Soylent Green is people!
The Spurs’ star, Victor Wembanyama, recorded 32 points on 11-of-18 from the field; the Knicks’ star, Jalen Brunson, also scored 32 points, shooting 11-of-25.
Both of these things can be true: San Antonio did an admirable job of keeping KAT out of the offense and the Knicks did a lousy job of incorporating KAT into the offense. Brunson shot 15 more times than Towns. They could have at least split the difference. If the Knicks plan to close this out and float a parade through Manhattan, they’d better start running plays for Karl again.
"Didn't execute, didn't do what got us 13-straight wins in a row."
Tempers were spicy tonight. On one sequence, Wembanyama palmed the back of Brunson’s head and shoved him to the floor. No whistle. On another, after a Knicks make, Hart was laid flat under the rim when Luke Kornet body-bumped him. Hart jumped up to shove Kornet and got a tech. Nothing for the Spur. The refs sure seemed intent on stretching this series past four games, but maybe your broadcast showed different camera angles. Both sides played aggressive, physical basketball yet when the curtain fell, the Spurs had shot 32 freebies to the Knicks’ 22.
Mike Brown thought it was fishy.
"I never thought I'd be in an NBA Finals and see in the 2nd half 24 free throw attempts to another team's 8…San Antonio's a great team…It's gonna lower our odds big time if in Game 4 they get 24 free throws 2nd half to our 8"
After the first quarter, New York trailed 33-22. San Antonio once again executed better than the Knicks at the start of a game. The Spurs had assisted on 11 of 14 field goals, while the Knicks had been outshot 25% to 57% from downtown and coughed up the rock four times. Once again, both teams crashed the defensive boards. Of the 22 first-quarter rebounds, just two were offensive.
Fun fact: The broadcast reported that Mitchell Robinson’s 37% career playoff free-throw percentage is the lowest in NBA history. Robinson made 1-of-2 tonight—and played just seven minutes. Why? His -11 plus-minus points to an answer.
In the second quarter, San Antonio’s shooting cooled, and the Knicks reserves turned up the heat. Jose Alvarado gave Brunson a breather and capitalized on the opportunity. His jumper over Wembanyama was a first-half highlight. That was part of a 16-7 Knicks run that cut their deficit to two.
Jose Alvarado hits the jumper over Victor Wembanyama, as KAT is fouled in the paint (with replays) pic.twitter.com/wmXeu45LWt
Not to toot my own horn, but in my preview, I said it was Jordan Clarkson’s turn to have a game. He did his best to make it so, hitting a timely three and picking De’Aaron Fox’s pocket on an inbound—before passing the ball past Hart and to Stephon Castle, who scored with an and-one. Clarkson finished with 10 points in 13 minutes, making 4-of-7 from deep. From the cheap seats (a recliner in Binghamton, NY), certain fans wondered why Coach Mike Brown chose not to sub Clarkson for Bridges once he knew that Mikal was mentally on Mars.
Meanwhile, OG Anunoby was ferocious on both ends. He netted a triple and then stuffed Dylan Harper at the rim. With the Knicks rallying, a Brunson trey gave them a brief lead with four minutes to go—before Wembanyama scored five points to restore the guests’ advantage. It was the tale of the game. So many times, the Knicks were poised to take over and just fell flat.
Thanks to a Castle loose-ball foul on Brunson, a Towns steal, and an Anunoby slam, New York tied the game with two minutes remaining in the second. Hart (who’s been studly everywhere except the points column in this series) swished his third three-pointer, Brunson added another, and Towns made two free throws to give the good guys a 64-57 halftime lead.
Through the half, the Knicks shot better from the field (58% to 53%), better from three (47% to 40%), won the rebounding battle (18-14), and matched San Antonio in the paint (28-28). What kept the Spurs afloat was ball movement and game control. San Antonio had assisted on 17 of 23 baskets while New York managed just 11 assists on 22 makes. At intermission, Castle led all scorers with 18 and Anunoby was a close second with 17.
Early in the second half, Julian Champagnie went up for a three and kicked out his foot at Brunson, who was closing out. Brunson had turned away from the shooter, and contact was initiated because Champagnie nearly popped a hip reaching his leg out. The officiating crew deemed it a flagrant foul on Brunson. Go figure. (Champagnie logged 12 points on 3-of-7 from deep.)
Jalen Brunson was assessed a flagrant foul after review on this play from Julian Champagnie. pic.twitter.com/bAdGIroXfv
That call helped the guests mount a 10-4 run. Around the midway through the third, the Spurs tied the game at 76, and then Wembanyama stroked one from deep to regain the lead. With both teams fighting through it, the Knicks were down by three. Thanks to a Hail Mary from Clarkson, New York entered the final frame trailing 92-91.
While Brunson rested, the Spurs’ defense continued to disrupt the Knicks’ shooting and kept them scoreless for the first three-ish minutes. That increased the deficit to seven. Brunson returned to try to get things going, but even he was short on answers. New York would shoot 7-of-27 in the fourth quarter. Yuck.
At the other end, Wembanyama drained a three as Robinson crashed into him for a foul. Except, on replay, it was clear that Keldon Johnson shoved Robinson into Wembanyama. Brown challenged the call and, correctly, it was overturned. Instead of being down by 10, New York regained possession, and Brunson promptly drove the lane to make the deficit five.
Anunoby scored on a soft-touch jumper, then blocked Harper at the rim on a breakaway that led to a Brunson bucket. Buckets were hard to come by, with each team ratcheting up its defense. The clubs had combined to miss their first 16 shots from deep in the fourth period. And although the players in the frontcourt hung onto each other all game long, the refs waited until the final frame to start calling fouls. Wembanyama had shot six freebies in just over seven minutes of fourth-quarter play.
With four minutes to go, the Knicks trailed by eight and were gifted a missed finger roll by Wembanyama. Two free throws by Brunson chipped at that, and his jumper from the elbow cut the lead to four. Two minutes left.
Castle connected from deep for the first triple of the quarter. Bad timing for us. Trailing by seven, Anunoby made one of two from the line. Then, with 30 seconds left, Captain Clutch drilled a three straight on. The Garden went crazy.
With 12 seconds left, Fox hit a contested jumper to make the score 113-108, and the Garden went silent.
Out of a timeout, Hart swung the ball to Anunoby for a corner three! 113-111. Nine seconds left.
New York intentionally fouled Castle, who made both from the line. 115-111. Out of a timeout, Bridges hoisted a three-point attempt, but he was the last person we wanted taking the shot after going Casper all night. He missed. Ballgame.
Up Next
The Knicks remain in the driver’s seat, ahead 2-1. We can comfortably chalk this loss up to poor performances by Bridges, Shamet, Robinson, too much Brunson, not enough Towns, and a few crappy calls. Quoth Real Clydes, “On to the next.” The pressure really will be on our heroes now, though. We do not like the idea of giving these Spurs the momentum of a tied series heading home to Texas. Not one bit. Game Four will be played at the Garden on Wednesday. Get ready, Knickerbockers.
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 27: Alperen Sengun #28 and Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 27, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s question is an interesting one. We’ve been over and over the fact that the Houston Rockets have two non-shooters in the lineup in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. If the Rockets don’t make headway this season with shooting progress for at least one if not both guys, they may end up having to move on from one of them.
So, the question is, if you had to get rid of one of those guys — and only one — which one would it be?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
Poor attention to detail on defense. Untimely turnovers. Not enough movement off the ball on offense. Too much dribbling. Slow decision-making. And on and on.
But one thing ate at Brown as much as anything listed above: the officiating.
“They came and took the game. But I will say this: I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team's eight,” Brown said late Monday night. “I don't think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts….Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too.
“KAT gets the ball off of a loose-ball rebound and he shoots it, and he gets whacked across the arm and they hit the ball and it goes out of bounds on the baseline. There's no foul. There were opportunities for fouls to be called, to at least try to even the free throws out,” he continued.
“Now, we didn't play good. San Antonio played great. We could have played better. There was a lot of things that we didn't do that we did in Game 1 and Game 2. But to go 24 free throw attempts in the second half, that's 48 for the game if you think about the way they called that second half, compared to eight. All the shots we took, we got fouled four times, roughly, for eight free throw attempts. Again, I don't complain much. I never thought I'd see that in an NBA Finals game, and I saw it tonight. That's tough to overcome when you're playing against a great team.”
The Knicks were in the bonus three minutes into the fourth quarter, so they played a role in the free-throw discrepancy.
But the officiating -- in general -- has been an issue for New York. There were complaints about calls behind the scenes over the first two games.
On Monday, Brown made his case publicly.
“There are a lot of things we can do better and we are going to have to do better, but the same breath, like I said, hopefully they will see some more fouls called against them, so it's not 24-8,” Brown said. “This is a four-point ballgame. Four-point ballgame. One-possession ballgame going down the stretch. It's tough to overcome.
“If they do this in Game 4 where it's 24-8 in the second half,” he continued. "It's going to be tough for us to win.”
Sometimes in playoff series, this public plea can change how the next game is called.
We’ll find out on Wednesday if Brown’s words will have that kind of impact.
