NBA teams appear to smell blood in the water and are circling the Mavericks.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday that “multiple contenders” are “monitoring” Kyrie Irving’s status with the Mavs after Jason Kidd was ousted as head coach Tuesday. 

Charania suggested the Mavericks seemed to be moving on from those brought in under former majority owner Mark Cuban. 

General manager Nico Harrison was fired in November, Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers in a highly controversial deal last season and Kidd was let go this week, leaving Irving as the last major piece from the Cuban era. 

"The only Mark Cuban guy left on the Mavericks is Kyrie Irving..

There's multiple contenders around the NBA that are very much monitoring what happens with Kyrie Irving in Dallas" ~ @ShamsCharania#PMSLivehttps://t.co/m3jxOPUDFkpic.twitter.com/kNKAUqfwbj

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 20, 2026

“We’ve seen Patrick Dumont, the owner, essentially flush away anyone that was even around the Mark Cuban regime,” Charania said. “Nico Harrison, Jason Kidd they were all brought in by Mark Cuban. Luka Dončić, a Mark Cuban guy. The only Mark Cuban guy left on that team right now is Kyrie Irving. Kyrie Irving is a generational player, a generational talent. Masai Ujiri did his press conference today and he said we want to see Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg on the court together. 

“But there’s no question, there’s multiple contenders around the NBA that are very much monitoring what Kyrie Irving’s future is right now with the Mavericks. Whether it’s the summer, whether it’s into the season, that’s all going to play out over the course of the year.”

Irving, 34, did not play a single minute for Dallas in 2025-26 due to a torn left ACL he suffered late in the previous season. Hope that the NBA star would be able to play in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign disappeared when the Mavs and Irving’s agent announced in February that he was done for the year. 

Irving can be a game-changer when he’s on the court and healthy, and his future in Dallas is certainly going to be one that rival teams monitor. 

Irving has plenty of accomplishments next to his name, which include Rookie of the Year, nine All-Star nods and an NBA championship.

Kawhi Leonard is entering the final year of a three-year, $149.51 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, potentially making him an unrestricted free agent next summer. For the 2026-27 season, Leonard is owed $50.3 million.

Leonard, 34, is coming off a season where he appeared in 65 games and averaged 27.9 points on 50.5% field goal shooting, 38.7% 3-point shooting and 89.2% on free throws. The Clippers finished the season 42-40, good enough for a No. 9 seed, but were eliminated in the NBA Play-In Tournament by the Golden State Warriors.

Looming around the Clippers-Leonard era is the NBA's ongoing investigation into allegations that LA and owner Steve Ballmer allegedly facilitated a $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal for Leonard with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt sustainability company, in an effort to circumvent the NBA salary cap.

The team denied those allegations in a September 2025 statement and maintained their stance in a second statement, accusing Aspiration of engaging in "fraudulent activity."

“There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team,” the second statement reads. “Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong.”

The Clippers now find themselves in an interesting position to make a decision on whether they are still in "win-now" mode or if its time to consider rebuilding their roster.

LA made a blockbuster splash trade just before the trade deadline this season, shipping James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland, who just turned 26. They also sent Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks (2026 and 2029), and a second-round pick. The 2026 pick turned out to be the No. 5 overall pick.

The Clippers can decide to package that No. 5 pick in a trade to bring in either another superstar or key pieces to surround Leonard. But they can also go another route and bring in one of the draft's top prospects, which could signal they could move off of Leonard and could put him on the trade market.

If Leonard is dealt from the Clippers, it would mean the end of an era that began in 2019. Leonard signed with the Clippers after leading the Toronto Raptors to a NBA championship where he was named Finals MVP.

In seven seasons in LA, he helped lead the team to the playoffs five times, including the franchise's first conference finals appearance in 2021. But since then, the Clippers have been eliminated in the first round or missed the playoffs altogether.

When on the floor, Leonard is as dynamic as anyone in the league. He shows up on both sides of the ball. There would be many suitors across the league that would give the Clippers a call.

Here are potential Leonard landing spots:

More NBA: Warriors mock draft roundup: Golden State eying Mexican prospect

The Cleveland Cavaliers are not even 24 hours removed from their gut-punch of a loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, and there is already offseason talk. Once again, it involves LeBron James.

Sometimes, James is cryptic in his moves and thoughts. Other times, he just likes a post about a potential return to play next season in Cleveland. That is not so cryptic.

Sure enough, James “liked” an Instagram reel that featured in bold letters “Come Home” with a still of him banging his chest in the black Cavs uniforms they wore during his 2017-2018 season. The rest of the reel was about his most recent game in Cleveland.

The rumors of James returning to Cleveland have gathered steam seemingly for years, gaining more traction after the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic as the ultimate baton hand-off from one superstar to another. With the Lakers’ prioritization of equipping Doncic, not James, with players that fit his style of play, the rumblings of his unhappiness grew. This, coupled with the Cavs’ hole at small forward and dire need for LeBron’s mental toughness in playoff situations, just adds fuel to the fire.

Do the Cavs blow a 22-point lead with James on the roster, getting in people’s faces and commandeering his head coach’s decision-making ability? It is hard to say for sure, but it would have certainly been helpful to have one of the game’s smartest ever to calm the nerves and stop the bleeding.

ESPN’s Shams Charania adds that James is expected to play another season, with the Lakers “probably” being his preference. However, this liked post from James may hint otherwise.

LeBron will be a free agent this summer.

On most nights in Silverlake, the scene inside 33 Taps is what you would expect from a quintessential Los Angeles sports bar. Beers are chugged out of pint glasses.

Lakers highlights flicker across the televisions. Half the crowd is wearing Dodger hats as they chat and share boneless wings. 

But on Tuesday night, during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the place transformed into something completely different. 

This was no longer Los Angeles. 

This was Madison Square Garden. Only with better weather. 

There were rumors that a group of New York transplants had turned a neighborhood sports bar into a Knicks pilgrimage site during playoff games. They weren’t wrong.

From the moment you walk up to the bar you can see the overflow of Knicks fans seated outside. The line to get inside wraps around the corner. As soon as you enter through the doors, the energy hits you in the chest like a subway train pulling into Times Square during rush hour. 

Orange and blue Knicks jerseys flood every corner of the bar. Ewing. Starks. Camby. Houston. Anthony. Brunson. Towns. From throwbacks to current players, these were legit Knicks fans. A guy sitting at the bar wore a vintage Knicks bomber jacket like it was a suit of armor. 

As the Cavaliers took the lead at the half, another fan in a Knicks’ hat screamed at the television while clutching his beer. His accent was easily recognizable.

These were definitely New Yorkers, no matter where they lived now.  

Through conversations, most of them had migrated west years ago chasing acting careers, writing jobs, music gigs, or a clean beach and sunshine. But regardless of the reason, all roads led back to Manhattan. 

Only now, the 32nd & 7th in Midtown Manhattan was across the street from a taco stand and tucked between a sushi place and a Salt & Straw. 

“Everyone knows this is a Knicks bar,” said one fan who has lived in LA for over 10 years.

Another fan from The Bronx, said he started coming to 33 Taps back in 2023.

“Back then, it was maybe five or six people,” he said. “Now look at this.”

He motioned towards the standing-room-only crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder at communal tables all staring at the giant television along the back wall. 

Knicks fans going crazy at the official New York Knicks bar in Silverlake at 33 Taps.

NYK erased a 22-point deficit. Wow. What a comeback pic.twitter.com/Goz6qkopdM

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 20, 2026

It all started with Peter Agoston and Dre Anderson.

Two self-proclaimed Knicks superfans who started coming to 33 Taps in Silverlake to watch Knicks summer league games in 2021.

“I came to the bar and asked a bartender very nicely if they’d put on the Knicks game for me,” said Agoston. “I looked over and saw a Yankee hat. That was Dre. It was pre-destined. Knicks fans in Los Angeles desperately needed a home.”

Agoston and Anderson created the Left Coast Knicks Instagram account and began letting fans know when and where the watch party would be. 

For decades, being a Knicks fan felt like inherited trauma disguised as basketball loyalty. The Knicks haven’t won a title since 1973 (over the Lakers). Players and coaches changed, but the losses never stopped coming. Between 2001-2022 they missed the playoffs 15 times. 

Then came 2023. 

The Knicks beat the Cavaliers in the first round before losing to the Miami Heat in six games. But that postseason run changed everything. More fans started showing up. Agoston told them to come back next season. They did. 

“We’ve been humbled by countless years of ups and downs,” he said. “Most of our community here is very far away from their hometowns and families, this space we’ve created transcends just watching a game.”

And 33 Taps has its own version of Celebrity Row.

One of the regulars since 2023 is Desus Nice, the sharp-tongued comedian and former co-host of the “Desus vs. Mero” show. He moved to LA that year and didn’t want to watch games alone in his apartment. 

Actor Jerry O’Connell, a lifelong Knicks fan born in Manhattan began showing up to 33 Taps during last year’s playoff run. The Knicks upset the reigning champion Boston Celtics before eventually losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. 

“We’re a community now,” said another fan who arrived two hours early Tuesday night just to secure a table. “Some people moved here 20 years ago. Some moved here two months ago. But this became home.”

And nothing epitomized that home away from home more than Game 1. The Knicks, who had eight days of rest after sweeping the 76ers, trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter before detonating one of the wildest comebacks in playoff history, storming back to force overtime in what turned into a stunning 115-104 win.

The reaction inside 33 Taps was absolute chaos. Beer flew through the air. Fans jumped up and down, shouting, screaming and high-fiving strangers. Fans poured out into the orange and blue sunset as if they had just witnessed a religious experience. 

And maybe they had. Because for one night in Silverlake, the night belonged to New York.

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Wemby-mania is here!

And Topps is capitalizing on it.

The trading card company announced on Wednesday, May 20 that it got possession of a game-used ball from Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Yes, the double-overtime matchup where Victor Wembanyama recorded a historic 41 points, 24 rebounds and 3 blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Topps will feature a portion of the ball in trading cards of the Spurs center and his teammate, guard Dylan Harper, with a printed autograph. Harper, who is a rookie, also had a standout night with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals. At 20 years old, he became the youngest player to notch a prestigious 4x5 game in the NBA playoffs.

The special edition cards will be released randomly to customers who purchase the Topps Now cards commemorating each player's landmark performance. The collectible items are on sale now at the Topps website through Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. ET and for $11.99.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen apart late during several postseason games. That is their own doing. However, those collapses have usually been accompanied by missed calls down the stretch. Blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game 1 was no exception.

The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report shows that the Cavs were on the wrong end of two missed calls late and the beneficiary of one missed call. Let’s go through these.

The first missed call benefited the Cavs. Evan Mobley should’ve been called for an offensive foul for the screen he put on Landry Shamet with just over a minute left in regulation.

The report says: “Mobley (CLE) extends his elbow outward and delivers contact to Shamet’s (NYK) head/face during the pick.”

If called correctly, this would’ve given the Knicks the ball right back.

The next missed call happened on that same possession. The awful Donovan Mitchell floater that didn’t hit the rim wasn’t out on the Cavs. The report says that the missed shot was off OG Anunoby instead of Jarrett Allen, as it was called on the floor.

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It’s difficult to get too worked up on this one. If things were called completely accurately on the floor, the ball would’ve already been with the Knicks due to the missed foul by Allen.

Still, this was a missed call and one that you would’ve liked to have seen Kenny Atkinson use a challenge on, although there wasn’t much time between the ball going out and the Knicks inbounding it.

The final missed call was the one that hurt the Cavs the most. The game-tying basket by Shamet shouldn’t have gone.

The Cavs tried to hedge and recover on Brunson near half-court. Sam Merrill, Brunson’s primary defender, tries to work around the screen. Anunoby makes sure that he can’t get around the screen because he was moving on the pick.

The report says: “Anunoby (NYK) establishes a wide screening position in Merrill’s (CLE) path and the contact occurs to his leg.”

If the screen isn’t moving, Merrill has a better chance of staying with Brunson, and the rotations would’ve been cleaner. More importantly, if this was called correctly, the Knicks would’ve lost possession.

There’s a lot of factors that go into blowing a 22-point lead. It’s fair to say that the Cavs might’ve won this game if these three calls were ruled correctly on the floor. At the same time, they should’ve never allowed the game be influenced by the officials in the first place.

Game 2 is Thursday at 8 PM.

When Jake LaRavia had it going for the Lakers, he looked like a genius signing for the franchise. He was knocking down so many threes against the Wolves to start the season that Anthony Edwards was asking who he was.

Then the lights got brighter, and LaRavia began to dim.

His shooting struggles from the perimeter became a problem. From January to March, his 3-point shooting percentage dropped each month. Once the playoffs started, things got worse for LaRavia. He struggled massively in the postseason, only attempting seven shots as his shooting woes were clearly on his mind.

With LaRavia unable and unwilling to shoot, Lakers head coach JJ Redick was forced to bench him for the last two games of the postseason. During LaRavia’s exit interview, he discussed his year with the Lakers.

“I thought I had a good season in certain areas, and I think there’s a lot of things that I can work on in other areas,” LaRavia said. “Obviously, now seeing what the playoffs are like and stuff like that and falling out of rotation these last two games, it just makes me excited. Not looking at it negatively but just, I’m excited to go into this offseason and work on the things that I need to.

“Obviously, I didn’t shoot the ball in any capacity that I wanted to this year. Having months where you’re shooting sub 30% is just not going to cut it and I know I’m a way better shooter than that. So, just going into this offseason, working on specific things to be able to bring in next year.”

Since LaRavia started his career with the Grizzlies and then had a short stint with the Kings, this was his first time in a playoff setting and on a contending team. Some players are playoff risers, and others are fallers. LaRavia ended up on the wrong end of that spectrum.

However, his career isn’t over, and this playoff stint doesn’t have to be a forever status. He shot 42% from deep last year, and if he locks into the gym and has the right mentality, there’s no reason to believe he can’t get back to that level of play.

This offseason is a big one for the Lakers. They have a ton of cap space and are looking to add depth to their roster. LaRavia can either be a part of that depth or be one of the players the Lakers trade for new pieces.

For now, it’s time for LaRavia to control what he can control and lock in. There’s proof in performances like his against the Wolves and his 26-point game against the Grizzlies that he can be a great player. There’s also evidence like this postseason run that he’s not up to par.

It’s up to him to prove which player he can consistently be.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Here are the NBA playoff games for Wednesday, May 20, 2026:

• San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:30 PM ET (NBC, Peacock)

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Enjoy!

Roses are red, Cleveland too.

Sadly for them, today it’s all about the Orange and Blue.

Here’s a humongous Bulletin off a ridiculous Game 1 comeback victory.

Mike Brown

On Brunson’s MVP-level performance:

“Obviously, we don’t get it done if Jalen Brunson doesn’t play like one of the MVP guys in the league. He was phenomenal. He did what he’s supposed to do tonight. And it definitely helped us get the win. He’s a leader. He’s our guy. And he felt we needed to play faster, he felt we needed to be better defensively. There were a couple things he felt and he made sure we knew. And our guys responded to him.”

On targeting James Harden late in Game 1:

“Sometimes you gotta do what the game dictates. They were trying to do the same thing with Jalen. And so we said, OK, we feel like we can play that game. We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen.”

On forcing Cleveland to adjust defensively:

“We have to try to figure out different ways to guard Harden and [Donovan] Mitchell, they gotta figure out different ways to guard Jalen. But there’s no secret we were attacking Harden.”

On finding the right five-man group during the comeback, sitting Josh Hart:

“We found a group of five guys that went out there, ended up getting stops and scoring the basketball.”

On continuing to trust Hart despite his shooting struggles:

“If Josh is open and his feet are set, he’s gotta let it fly. He’s made shots. We feel like he’s gonna make shots. And if he doesn’t wanna shoot it, he can get to his middy or he can go [dribble handoff] with somebody, a quick DHO with somebody. We faced this coverage all year and we played well throughout the course of the year and we faced it in Atlanta.”

On the early 2-for-19 stretch from beyond the arc:

“So, we started the game off 2-for-19 from the three-point line. It wasn’t just Josh. We had some pretty good looks from the right people, and if those go in, the mojo is a little bit different. They didn’t, and Cleveland was able to get back into it. The game is about adjustments. We made an adjustment down the stretch, and we were fortunate to be able to come back and get the win.”

On matching Cleveland’s tactic of targeting Jalen Brunson:

“You got to do what the game dictates. They were doing the same thing with Jalen. So we said two can play that game.”

On maintaining a competitive edge after time off:

“It has more to do with having an edge, keeping a competitive edge. Games obviously help you with that because your body and your mind are constantly on when you are playing games. When they are off, you tend to relax. That is just human nature…That competitive edge – knock on wood – may not be there at the start.”

On Landry Shamet’s impact in Game 1:

“Landry Shamet was great. He was great on both ends of the floor. He came up big. You’re not going to stop a guy like Donovan Mitchell. Landry tried like heck to make him work. He was fantastic. He was the difference in the ballgame tonight on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Landry’s a big guard, he’s physical, and he can defend without foul. To play him, knowing they will pack the paint when Jalen comes and the sprays are going to be there. And that’s what we decided to do.”

On early defensive slippage and turnovers in Game 1:

“Yeah, and especially early on we didn’t look like ourselves, especially when we were doubling and coming out of the double teams and kind of flying around. We were really slow in those areas and then I felt we played — we turned the ball over too much. It’s hard to have 19 turnovers and win a basketball game and a handful of ’em were self-inflicted, us throwing the ball away, us jumping in the air when we hit the paint.”

On the resilience shown in the historic comeback:

“I got to give my group credit. They’ve been resilient all year and I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game. I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it, maybe I have. But to be down 18, 19, 20, whatever we were down and to find a way to come back and win. I mean I take my hat off to my group.”

On giving Mitchell Robinson opportunities despite the Hack-a-Mitch:

“I wanted to give him a chance. Mitch has been great for us the last few games in that situation. We’re gonna continue to give him a chance. We’ll move him around and do some different things with him. Mitch can impact the game in different ways, so we need him on the floor.”

Jalen Brunson

On how the Knicks pulled it off:

“I don’t have any answer for you. We just found a way. Just happy we found a way to win.”

On how he told his teammates to push them during a timeout before the Game 1 comeback:

“Keep fighting, keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession. Most importantly, sticking together. No matter how that game finished, habits translate to the next game. We’re just doing; we’re not giving up. We don’t want to give up, ever, so having faith in each other.”

On the mindset behind the 44-11 rally:

“I think the common denominator was just us still believing in each other and still playing, still fighting. Just chipping away. We knew like we weren’t going to get it all back in one possession. So, we couldn’t give them stops, kept running, got a couple of lucky shots to go in, but kept fighting.”

On attacking late instead of overthinking the matchup:

“Honestly, the ball was going in. So, I was just trying to get to my spot and just trying to make plays. If someone came over, I was going to find someone else. But just trying to get to my spot and trust my word.”

On cleaning up defensive breakdowns that fueled Cleveland’s lead:

“Defensively, what got us down 22, they [Cavs] were making great decisions in and off the trap, getting wide open threes. So, we’ve got to clean that up a little bit. But I like the way we stuck together.”

On how the comeback unfolded:

“I mean, we got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing, kept tipping away. They were playing great basketball, and we just found a way. I really don’t have an answer.”

On being in attack mode late in the game:

“Just being in attack mode, just trying to find seams to get to where I feel comfortable. Finally, one did go down and that’s just because of the rhythm I created from the shots beforehand. But KAT said it starts with our defense, the way we were able to get stops and go and then them having trust in me.”

On appreciating the Madison Square Garden crowd staying through the deficit:

“Definitely thankful. Because they could have walked out if they wanted to.”

On praising Landry Shamet’s performance in the comeback:

“He played big time. He’s up to any task that you put in front of him. He’s been that player for us, and we have the utmost faith in him. That’s just who he is. He’s a true professional ever since he’s walked into the league.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the defense carrying the Knicks in the fourth and overtime:

“At the end of the day, great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me in Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in this playoffs and it was what carried us in this playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and in overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win.”

On focusing on the team result over individual performance:

“I think the Knicks found a way to win tonight, and that’s all that matters. It’s not about the individual performances; it’s about this team finding a way to put up a win on the board. I think that’s what’s special.”

On representing the Knicks and the city after the Game 1 win:

“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. It had been a tough go-around for them for the first three quarters of the game. For us to come in that huddle with the energy of the fans and the fans really showing us so much love and support, to give them something to cheer for in the fourth, it’s always an honor. It’s a privilege to be able to do.”

On what the victory meant to the city:

“This team, all we want to do is make the city proud and bring this city wins. To be able to accomplish that tonight, on a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen, is an honor. It’s truly something special.”

On acknowledging early rust after the layoff:

“To be real, there was definitely rust. You could see we’re a team that hasn’t played in a playoff game in a while. It’s a testament to the grit and resiliency of this locker room and this team that as the game went along you could see the rust was coming off a little bit and we were able to find ourselves in the game. At the end of the day great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me, Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in these playoffs and carried us in the playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win against a really great team.”

Mikal Bridges

On the team’s refusal to quit during the comeback:

“We don’t stop until the clock hits zero and shoutouts to our captain for holding it down for us. We learned from our mistakes and came out here and didn’t want the same things to happen [as last year].”

On Brunson carrying the offense late:

“He carried us offensively when we needed him. We wouldn’t be here without Cap.”

On what the comeback meant to the city and the fans:

“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. This team, all we want to do is make the city proud, bring the city wins and to be able to accomplish that tonight in a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen is an honor and it’s truly something special.”

Miles McBride

On Shamet’s defensive energy in the fourth quarter:

“He didn’t just change the game with the clutch shots, but defensively bringing energy. Getting hands on deflections and picking up full court. Things like that inspires the whole team.”

Landry Shamet

On realizing his late three-pointer tied the game:

“To be honest, when I shot it and then I looked up, I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), we’re tied up.’ I didn’t realize at the time that that one would have tied it up, which is kind of where you want to be. When you’re flowing, you don’t want to be thinking about things. They ball found me. I was open in transition. I let it fly and the ball went in.”

On crediting the team’s defensive depth for guarding Donovan Mitchell:

“One of the luxuries of our team is we got a lot of really good primary on-ball, primary off-the-ball defenders. Team defenders. I didn’t really play the first three quarters and then you throw fresh legs at someone whose got it going. Just come in try to compete, be physical, take advantage that I didn’t play. Use the energy that I had. That’s really it. Compete, communicate, make it hard on him. He’s a helluva player. We expect him to have a good game against us. Gotta give him his credit, he really hurt us. We have to make adjustments. We were connected, played hard and was physical.”

On the moment the Knicks realized they needed to get their excrement together:

“If you’re going to make it run, that’s when you have to do it. Might as well throw your best punch at that point, do what you can. You have to leave it all out there, especially this time of the year. That’s what we did. We have a group that didn’t flinch at the deficit. We made something happen.”

On the comeback atmosphere at Madison Square Garden:

“A lot of fun. MSG comebacks are fun, especially in the playoffs. I’m just real proud of our group, because that’s quite the deficit in the fourth.”

On being greeted by celebrities and Knicks legends after the win:

“It’s kind of wild when I think about it.”

OG Anunoby

On Jalen Brunson’s leadership and value to the team:

“He’s an amazing player. I’m happy he’s on our team, I think we’re all happy he’s on our team.”

On fighting through the deficit in Game 1:

“We had to keep fighting. We’re just mentally tough. We knew we had a run in us. Just play to the end.”

On shaking off early rust:

“[There was] a little rust, but that was expected. I knew that. As the game went on, the rust wore off.”

On how he felt physically as the game progressed:

“I felt good. Just continue to play hard, shoot shots and be aggressive. … I don’t think it was hesitancy [early]. Just as the game went on I felt more and more like myself.”

Kenny Atkinson

On not using any of his timeouts during the fourth-quarter collapse:

“I like to hold my timeouts. I didn’t want to have one timeout at the end of the game, one- or two-point game. I try to hold them.”

On tough Knicks shots in the fourth quarter:

“I thought they hit some really tough shots in that fourth quarter, those two 3’s, prayer 3’s end of shot clock. We got a little unlucky, quite honestly. (Jalen) Brunson obviously took over at the end.”

On Mikal Bridges’ “lucky” late threes:

“The two Bridges 3’s, like kind of what are you going to do?”

On the offense getting stagnant late:

“My only regret, and this can happen when you get a little fatigue, it just stopped moving. We were pinging the ball over the place, great ball movement and then it got a little stagnant.”

On pride in his team despite the collapse:

“I’m super proud of the way our group played. We played great basketball tonight for three quarters, unfortunately … they dominated us in the fourth quarter.”

On not even considering benching James Harden as Brunson cooked him:

“No. He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs. I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”

On Brunson’s late-game takeover:

“Brunson obviously took over at the end. We started double-teaming him, trying to do some different things… they dominated us in the fourth quarter. Basically, the fourth quarter he got loose. We definitely tried to mix up some stuff, throw some stuff at him. We’ll have to keep looking at it. There was a lot of tough floaters, and hit that tough, contested three.”

On Cleveland’s defensive plan against Karl-Anthony Towns:

“Really important and not just (for) Evan, right? Once we sub who’s going to make his catch his tough, make his passes tough. I do feel like we have personnel. They can bother him. We got multiple guys that can put pressure on and then we’ve got to be really good with our defense. It definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows and it’s been his assist rate. He’s got all that stuff at a high level so that’s going to be a big part of the series.”

On having personnel to pressure Towns:

“We do feel like we have the personnel to bother him. We’ve got multiple guys who can put pressure on him. We’ve gotta be really good with our off-ball defense. They’ve definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows. It’s been … it’s high level so it’s going to be a big part of the series.”

On not feeling disrespected despite being underdogs:

“I get it. I don’t feel disrespected, right? I think I get it. They’re playing great basketball. Massive rest advantage. We get that. So it’s not like I’m mad or anything. I get it. But like I said, we have to find a way to halt their momentum. I mean they have great momentum coming into this series and we have to find a way.”

On prioritizing physical and mental freshness:

“The most important thing is these guys are fresh and fresh physically and fresh mentally. We know they have a massive rest advantage. We know they’re massively favored in the series, but I’d say from our perspective it’s like we got to try to halt their momentum and it starts tonight.”

On expanding the rotation early in the series:

“I like, especially beginning this series, giving guys opportunities. You never know what you will find.”

On the Knicks’ physical style of play:

“They got big strong guys and they’re super physical. Good thing is we have two series where we’re dealing with that for 48 minutes basically. But we’re not coming in here saying, oh this is the Knicks. They’re a very physical team, definitely saw that on film.”

Donovan Mitchell

On the Game 1 collapse:

“I said it in the locker room, just that we lost, we f–king blew it.”

On the Cavaliers’ Game 1 loss:

“So many things I think played a factor into it. We didn’t close it out, we gotta clean up on film, and go from there. It’s one loss, it’s a bad loss, but all we can do is go back and watch the film and fix it. It’s just one game; we could have lost by 40, and it still would have been 1-0. We played pretty solidly for about three quarters. We’ll make adjustments and go from there.”

On failing to adjust to Brunson late:

“He was a little comfortable. We could have done some things collectively and we didn’t and that’s on us. But ultimately, we came to do nothing about it. Now we got to go out there and watch the film and fix it for game two.”

On taking accountability for letting the game slip away:

“We should have won the game. Even if there was complacency, we’re up 22 with eight minutes left. Gotta win the game. But we gotta keep your head up and go from there. Don’t let one quarter affect you for the rest of the series. It’s gonna be a long series, and there are things we did that are positive things we can look forward to. But we should have won the game, we didn’t… We lost, we f**king blew it, now let’s run up for Game 2.”

On not overreacting to his late-game struggles:

“I’ll watch the film and figure it out. I don’t think it’s anything to overreact to. In those scenarios, you’ve got to feel it, and I’ve always said it’s a feel thing.”

On not letting the loss derail momentum:

“That can’t happen. But it did. We play in two days. We can’t sit here and let it kill our momentum, kill what we’ve been doing. It’s not a good loss.”

On playing in the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden as a New Yorker:

“Being a New Yorker playing in the Finals is just different. You don’t take it for granted. You grew up around it. You grew up a fan of it. And now to be an enemy in it is special, for sure. We played there a few years ago [in the playoffs] and we got whupped. The remaining core guys that are here remember that. So, we have to go out and be ready. It’s an amazing opportunity for us and for me being back home, but we got to go in there and take it.”

On the Knicks entering the series as a dangerous opponent:

“It’s gonna be special for sure. [The Knicks] are a talented team. Obviously it starts with Jalen Brunson and KAT. But Mikal and OG have been phenomenal — Josh Hart. Look at their bench, it’s just been great.”

On joking about playing at home during the series:

“Me and my fiancee joked that we’d be at home regardless, right, so might as well play some basketball while we’re at the crib.”

On preparing for Game 1 against a rested Knicks team:

“We know them, obviously. But, I think the biggest thing is they’ve been off — they got a bunch of rest so got to be ready to go from the jump from Game 1. To the point, It’s great I get to play at home … doesn’t matter. We got to be locked in and ready to go. And I know we will be. They’re a tough team, and we’re excited.”

On how Cleveland has evolved since losing to New York in 2023:

“For most of the team, the core that was there, it was their first time in the playoffs. We’ve had a few series under our belts [since then]. We didn’t like how it went, obviously. This is different. We’re not here to rehash the past. This is a different scenario. This is something that, even last season, we came into it like, ‘This is our goal, to get to this point, to get to the Finals.’ Not really looking at it like, ‘Man, what happened [three] years ago?’ It’s just the opportunity in front of us.”

On focusing inward rather than predicting a Knicks matchup:

“I think for us, we weren’t saying, ‘It’s gonna be us vs. New York.’ We were really just focusing on ourselves. Especially how we started the year, it was a long road. I think now, it’s more so like we gotta steal the first one. And if we don’t steal the first one, steal the second one. That’s the mentality. It’s just like ‘hey, we’re here, we haven’t come this far just to be excited to be here.’ I think that’s the biggest feeling around the group — that we’re not just like, ‘We did it.’ Now, it’s more so that this is an opportunity for us to play and get to the Finals, and we have to get through these guys to get there.”

Evan Mobley

On the pain of losing Game 1 after leading by 22:

“It definitely hurts. You want to win Game 1, especially when you’re up like that, you want to win those games. We have to do better with finishing that, but it’s not an easy road, and we have to bounce back and try to get a dub. But we’ve done this before; we were down two in the last series, so we’ve been here before. You just have to bounce back and look at film, see what we can change, and fix that.”

Jarrett Allen

On his infamous “lights were brighter” comment from 2023:

“That comment was that comment. What I said is what it is. For me personally now, I’ve grown, evolved, had a lot more playoff series under my belt, a lot more games under my belt, experience. What I said then was what I said then.”

On how Cleveland’s core has matured since 2023:

“Everybody’s evolved, everybody’s grown, everybody’s come into their own skin. Everybody’s just a different person coming here. So it’s good to see how everybody’s grown.”

On his loyalty to Mitchell after advancing to the ECF:

“I hope Don knows this, I’ll follow him into war. I’ll trust every single decision that he makes, every single shot that he takes, every single word that he speaks in the locker room.”

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I’ve seen middle school science fair bridges built out of straws and pipe cleaners hold together better than the Cleveland Cavaliers right now.

Cleveland delivered one of the most stunning collapses in NBA playoff history in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, letting a 22-point fourth-quarter lead slip away against the New York Knicks.

If the Cavs are going to respond, it’ll take a full-team effort and our Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks are leaning on a statement showing from big man Jarrett Allen on Thursday, May 21.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 prediction

Who will win Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2?

Cleveland: For three quarters, Cleveland was cruising in Game 1. But some tweaks from the Knicks and some short-sighted coaching decisions from Kenny Atkinson let things get out of hand in the final frame.

Cleveland knows it can run with New York and we’ll see adjustments to sure up soft spots (like leaving James Harden out to dry) and exploit its strengths (inside scoring).

Cavaliers vs Knicks best bet: Jarrett Allen Over 19.5 points + rebounds (-112)

Jarrett Allen didn’t have a bad game in the opener, scoring 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting with seven rebounds. But at times, the Cleveland Cavaliers forgot about him.

The New York Knicks are susceptible inside, as we saw vs. Joel Embiid in Round 2, and Cleveland must make a more focused effort on getting Allen touches – especially against smaller forwards.

Allen can also put up points from offensive rebounds, and he snatched six of his seven boards on that end. He generated 17 rebounding chances in Game 1 yet walked away with only one defensive rebound.

Projections call for 13+ points and 10+ boards on Thursday.

COVERS INTEL:Not only did Allen’s usage dip from 16.8% to 13.8 in Game 1, but he also left points on the table, shooting just 4-for-8 from the foul line after shooting 67.4% from the stripe in Round 2.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay

The Cavaliers were playing excellent basketball up until that flop in the fourth quarter. The collapse is going to scare a lot of people off, so we’re getting some extra padding on the point spread with Cleveland.

The Cavs are a solid 27-9 SU off a loss on the year, including a 4-2 record off a loss in the postseason.

Jarrett Allen should have seen the ball more in Game 1, and we’ll see Cleveland feed the interior to compress the Knicks perimeter defense.

His game projections sit above 13 points with a ceiling of 10 rebounds. The rebounding chances were there in Game 1; he just deferred those boards to Evan Mobley.

Josh Hart may not play as big a role in this series as he has in the Knicks’ postseason run. Cleveland played off of him, using Allen to guard and begging Hart to shoot.

The Knicks also got good defense from Landry Shamet, who stole minutes from Hart. Game 2 models come in short of this 12.5-point total.

Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP

• Cavaliers +6.5
• Jarrett Allen Over 19.5 points + rebounds
• Josh Hart Under 12.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Broad Sword Bets

The Cavaliers can crush the Knicks inside with Jarrett Allen. He’s often drawing smaller forwards and projections for Game 2 call for 13+ points and 10+ rebounds. With Evan Mobley guarding Karl-Anthony Towns in the high post, Allen is free to protect the paint and send shots back.

Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP

• Cavaliers moneyline
• Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
• Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds
• Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 blocks

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Cavaliers vs Knicks odds for Game 2

• Spread: Cleveland +6.5 (-115) | New York -6.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Cleveland +195 | New York -240
• Over/Under: Over 215.5 (-110) | Under 215.5 (-110)

Cavaliers vs Knicks betting trend to know

Cleveland is 27-9 SU when coming off a loss this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Knicks.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2

Cavaliers vs Knicks latest injuries

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The Cleveland Cavalierssquandered a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.

Numerous things have to go wrong to give up an advantage that large. The defensive end was no exception. Jalen Brunson led the way with 15 points in the fourth quarter to help claw his team to victory.

Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson could’ve handled the fourth quarter better. He held onto timeouts and allowed the Knicks to pick on James Harden repeatedly down the stretch. Both are inexcusable.

Still, the comeback was also because the Knicks hit some incredibly tough shots. That’s something that Atkinson wanted to acknowledge when he talked to media members after practice on Wednesday afternoon.

“[In the] fourth quarter, they were in the first percentile of shot quality,” Atkinson said after practice. “We have data that you guys don’t have. First percentile. So, our process was right, they made some tough, tough shots.”

We don’t have access to the data, but you can sort of see what is leading to Cleveland’s internal numbers pointing to this.

Of the 22 shots that New York took in the fourth, nine came at the rim, six came in the midrange, and seven came from beyond the arc. Of those three zones, the shots at the rim are the ones the Knicks converted the least, which is the most efficient place to score from.

A lot of the looks in the midrange were contested pretty well, particularly on Brunson. However, good offense beats good defense, as it did here.

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Atkinson also wasn’t willing to put this loss on Harden. He said on Wednesday that the Cavs wouldn’t have gotten out of the first round if it wasn’t for him, and that his defense down the stretch wasn’t the main issue.

“[Harden] is a good isolation defender,” Atkinson said. “Everybody’s putting it on James. Sure, some of it was him. … Sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated.”

I wouldn’t go as far as saying the eye test backs up that the Knicks were in the first percentile for shot quality. They hit some tough shots, but they also got some clean outside looks, especially when the Cavs tried and failed to double-team Brunson. That said, that wasn’t where the Cavs lost this game.

“Looking back on it, we’re more dissapointed by the offense,” Atkinson said. “The shot quality wasn’t great. We weren’t getting to the rim. We took nine threes. I thought we could’ve gotten to the rim more and put more pressure on them.”

The offense was horrid down the stretch. All of the things that were working throughout the game just disappeared. This is where Donovan Mitchell deserves a lot of blame.

Mitchell was occupying possessions, but not generating good looks. He took the air out of the ball by slowing down the pace. This came at the expense of the rhythm they built in the previous two quarters, leading to disastrous results as seen in the possession breakdown in the final eight minutes of the fourth.

The Cavs wouldn’t have been in the position that they were in if it weren’t for Mitchell’s incredible shotmaking and the force he was playing with on both ends in the first three quarters. He deserves credit for that. But he also bears the blame for that going away.

It’s also fair to point out that this is where fatigue likely set in the most. That’s why holding onto timeouts is indefensible for Atkinson.

Despite how poorly things ended, the Cavs showed that they can play up to their talent level against the Knicks. If they can figure out how to do so for 48 minutes, instead of just 40, they’ll turn the series around.

“I just want to lean on the positives,” Atkinson said. “We had three quarters of really good basketball. Some of the best basketball we’ve honestly played in the playoffs… offensively and defensively.”

Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks fought back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's contest to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime.

While Brunson's 17 points in the fourth quarter and OT were incredibly impressive, the team acknowledged they can't allow themselves to go down by that much at this stage of the playoffs.

Looking ahead, Brunson, Josh Hart, and head coach Mike Brown discussed with reporters on Wednesday what the team learned from the Game 1 victory, how they're staying focused, and what they anticipate from the Cavs in Game 2 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Starting stronger

The Knicks led by seven points after the first quarter on Tuesday night, but were outscored 67-46 in the second and third quarters. Brunson said the biggest takeaway from the game was how they played prior to their big fourth quarter.

"I think more of the first three quarters is a bigger takeaway," Brunson said. "They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels. Just got to give them a lot of credit. Obviously, we played well in the fourth and overtime. 

"We got to come out ready to go. Honestly, I think we did. It was the middle, it was the middle of second and third quarter where we let go of the rope. That's our biggest takeaway."

Hart agreed, saying the Knicks need to bring the same type of energy they expect from Cleveland in Game 2. 

"They're going to come out with extreme energy, attention to detail, focus, sense of urgency and desperation," Hart said. "And we got to not match that, but we have to exceed it. They're looking at it like, 'That was our game we gave away.' They're looking at film of, 'If we fix this here and fix this here, we would've won the game.' And that's what they're gonna try to do tomorrow.

"So we got to make sure we come in focused and have a better start than we did."

Winning mindset

While the comeback was a strong team achievement, Brunson added that the confident mindset they've displayed all season long helped them fight back.

"Yeah, absolutely. It's great to have a mindset of continuing to do the things that has made us a good team over the course of this year," Brunson said. "Regardless of what the score was and being able to fight back, obviously, was great. I mean we don't want to be in the position where we're down 22 again obviously, but having that mindset definitely helps."

Brunson also thanked the Garden crowd for giving the team an edge throughout the night, adding that "our fans kept us in it, so credit to all them." 

He was later asked about going on social media to see the reaction from a big comeback win like Game 1, but showed how locked in he really is.

"I've been shutting down social media throughout the series," Brunson said. "Obviously, I think I've posted in between series, but I've been shutting it down, not opening it. Just focusing on what we need to do as a team, what I need to do individually. Just doing my best to have tunnel vision and stay focused."

Making adjustments for Game 2

Hart mentioned how the Cavs will be spending Wednesday dissecting film about what they could have done better down the stretch to close out the win. And while it's common to learn from mistakes, Brunson noted how the Knicks can improve going forward by watching their film as well.

"I think a lot of people when they watch film after a loss, you learn a lot. I think you can still learn from a win as well," Brunson said. "Obviously, you're very thankful you got the win, but there's clearly things that we need to work on to be better and not be in the position we were in. It's definitely a lot you can learn, always."

"They're gonna be ready to go."

Brown gave praise to Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff, but similar to Brunson, mentioned that his team will need to make the proper adjustments as well in Game 2. He knows Atkinson won't let James Harden get isolated as much as he did in Game 1 and it'll be a challenge for the Knicks to find other ways to score.

"Kenny's a great coach and we know they're going to come out ready to play," Brown said. "They came to New York to get one game and it's still within reach... They're going to be ready, they're going to mix it up. At the end of the day, it's our job to make sure that we're more efficient and we're more diverse offensively so that nobody can sit on any one action we're trying to run."

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to bounce back from a shocking loss in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs took Game 1, 122-115, in a double overtime victory where star Victor Wembanyama put up a staggering 41 points over 49 minutes of action — a career-high for the center.

The Thunder, whose nine-game postseason winning streak was snapped in the loss, struggled in the first half but clawed back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the overtime periods.

The next game in the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Friday night, when the series moves to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.

Spurs vs. Thunder start time:

Game 1 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 20.

How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.

NBA Western Conference Finals schedule

• Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (OT2)
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 3: Friday, May 22 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 4: Sunday, May 24 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
• Game 6: Thursday, May 28 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
• Game 7: Saturday, May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* if necessary

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If Game 2 of the Western Conference finals is anything like the series opener, NBA bettors should probably go ahead and book tomorrow off. 

The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder put in a double OT classic on Monday, and run it back in OKC tonight. My same-game parlay for Game 2 calls for OKC to even the series on the back of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but also respects Victor Wembanyama’s defensive impact at the rim.

Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Spurs vs. Thunder tonight.

Our best Spurs vs Thunder SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Thunder moneyline

The Oklahoma City Thunder still forced overtime against the San Antonio Spurs despite a dismal opening half in Game 1. The Thunder rallied behind a more aggressive offense, and I see OKC finding that gear earlier in Game 2. OKC is a strong bounce-back team, going 8-0 SU off a playoff loss the past two postseasons.

SGP leg #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 28.5 points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was passive in the opening half of Game 1. In previous series, SGA could rely on his teammates to carry the offensive weight when teams clamped down on the MVP. However, he quickly realized he would need to set the tone in the second half. We saw more attacks from Gilgeous-Alexander, and that approach will get him Over his scoring prop tonight. Models call for closer to 30 points in Game 2.

SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

Victor Wembanyama is always a threat to swat your shot into the fifth row. He didn’t have a single block in the first half of Game 1, but once OKC started attacking the interior, he quickly sent back three shots in the second half and overtime. Wemby will patrol the paint with the Thunder not shying away from the Spurs’ 7-footer, providing ample block opportunities in Game 2.

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See our full Spurs vs Thunder Game 2 preview

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

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off employees as new owner Tom Dundon cuts costs.

The exact number of employees who were let go was not made public, but they included staff in both the business and basketball operations.

"These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years,” Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers' president of business operations said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community.”

Dundon leads the group of investors who bought the NBA franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft who died in 2018. The NBA's Board of Governors approved the sale, worth a reported $4.25 billion, in April. Dundon also owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

Blazers employees learned of the layoffs during a Tuesday morning video call. Among the employees impacted was digital reporter Casey Holdahl, who had been with the team for 18 years. He announced his fate on social media, thanking fans for engaging with his work.

The move comes as the new owners negotiate with both local and state officials over funding to renovate the Moda Center and secure a long-term lease that would keep the team in Portland.

The Oregon Legislature approved funds for the renovation of the Moda Center in early March. The measure gives the state joint ownership of the 30-year-old arena with the city, and provides a mechanism to secure $365 million for the building’s renovation ahead of the women’s NCAA Final Four in 2030.

The new owners group includes Dundon, Portland-based Sheel Tyle, the co-founder of investment firm Collective Global; Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital; the Cherng Family Trust, the investment firm of the co-founders of Panda Express; Stan Middleman of Freedom Mortgage who also owns a stake in the Philadelphia Phillies.

___

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