Category: NBA

The Knicks return to Rocket Arena tonight, leading the Eastern Conference Finals 3-0 over the exhausted Cavaliers. After building up (and blowing) a 22-point lead in Game One, Cleveland has been overwhelmed by New York’s pace, physicality, and depth of talent. Kenny Atkinson insists that his Cavs are winning analytically, but that’s the irrational talk of a desperate man. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series, and, given New York’s 10-game murder streak, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, et al., are unlikely to be the first.

Tip off is at 8 PM EST on ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be cool to each other, don’t injure yourselves with those black market confetti cannons, and go Knicks!

In just a short while, the Knicks will begin playing in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, needing just one more win to send the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. It has been a postseason to remember, as the Knicks are currently rocking a ten-game winning streak—making them just the tenth team in history to win ten straight games in a single postseason. And not only have they won, but they have largely dominated, as they have an NBA-record +234 point differential across their first thirteen playoff games.

Making the Finals would be a remarkable vindication for so many different individuals. For Leon Rose, who went from being a player agent with CAA to serving as the president for the Knicks and making a series of shrewd moves which positioned the franchise as perennial contenders. For Mike Brown, who has handled several ups and downs in his first season as the team’s head coach only to have them on the brink of history. And perhaps above all else, for Jalen Brunson, who has continuously been the recipient of skepticism over the ability of a small point guard to be the primary option for a legitimate championship contender. While the team is in this position because of the contributions of several players—from the starters to the bench players—Brunson has unquestionably been the face of the franchise since signing with the team in 2022, and leading them to the Finals would further cement his place on the Mount Rushmore of all-time greats in Knicks history.

Making the Finals would not be the end of the road, of course. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are currently locked in a 2-2 tie in the Western Conference Finals, and whichever team comes out on top would face the Knicks for the rights to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Either squad would be a fearsome opponent, as the Thunder are the reigning champions and the Spurs have the best player on the planet in the form of the 7’4” Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks will likely be seen as underdogs regardless of which team they face off against, and given the team’s lengthy history of disappointment and heartbreak, fans could certainly be forgiven for expecting the other shoe to drop at any moment.

Still, the way they have been playing, it’s tough to count the Knicks out against anybody. Fans have every right to believe that this could finally be the year. And either way, to go from the perennial losers that the Knicks were for most of this century to being just one win away from the Finals is an accomplishment that should not go overlooked. If and when they do finally finish the Cavaliers off and cement their title as Eastern Conference champions, it will be an emotional moment of jubilation—not just for the players and coaches and front office members, but for the entire city of New York.

Just one more win to make it to the final dance. Tune into ESPN at 8:00 to see if they can make it happen. Let’s go Knicks.

…oh, the Mets lost to the Reds today, by the way. Nolan McLean got the absolute crap kicked out of him for the second straight start. He gave up seven runs in just 3.2 innings of work. The bullpen trio of Austin Warren, Jonathan Pintaro, and Tobias Myers combined for 5.1 scoreless innings, but the bats couldn’t get the team back into the game against Nick Lodolo and the rest of the Reds pitching staff. Cleanup hitter Marcus Semien(?) hit a solo homer against Lodolo in the sixth and they also scratched out a run in the seventh and that was about it. The Mets have now lost four straight.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Carson Benge, +5% WPA
Big Mets loser: Nolan McLean, -33% WPA
Mets pitchers: -31% WPA
Mets hitters: -19% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Carson Benge leadoff hit-by-pitch in the first, +3.6% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: J.J. Bleday solo homer in the third, -9.1% WPA

CLEVELAND — Josh Hart, in his trademark style, started with a joke when formulating his thoughts.

What was his immediate reaction when owner James Dolan mandated the Knicks reach the Finals this year?

“We better get to the Finals,” Hart said after Knicks shootaround Monday morning ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, “or we’re gonna get traded.”

The comment was tongue in cheek, but there is no doubt that there was significant pressure on the Knicks to win the East this year.

That expectation was set when Tom Thibodeau was fired despite reaching the conference finals. It was solidified in January when Dolan said that “getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do.”

Monday morning, the Knicks were preparing to fulfill that mandate.

“We all had that aspiration regardless, so we didn’t really need to hear that because we all wanted that moment, we all wanted to see that, especially after last year being in the Eastern Conference finals and coming up short,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We understand that we’ve gotta take that next step. So what he’s talking about is also how we all felt.

“We wanted to go out there and we wanted to take that next step. Get past the Eastern Conference finals. It was historical last year, the city went crazy and it was awesome to see the city so alive but there’s new standards now, there’s new expectations and we’ve raised the expectations so we knew what we came into this season to do and what we want to accomplish and we’ve just gotta keep our head down and continue to focus on the goal at hand.”

Hart echoed a similar sentiment — that Dolan wasn’t putting any more pressure on the team than they were already putting on themselves.

“Not pressure because I think that’s the goal that we all kind of have,” Hart said. “Obviously, it hits a little bit different when the big dog says it. But that’s the goal that each and every one of us has. And we’re our own biggest critics, so this kind of adds a little bit more fuel to that internal fire of the hunger to get there.”

It is also notable when Dolan delivered that mandate.

It’s hard to remember with how the Knicks have played in the playoffs, but there was a point in the regular season where they were spiraling. Dolan’s comments — breaking a two-year media silence — came Jan. 5, just a few hours before the Knicks were punked by the Pistons in concerning fashion. It was in the middle of a stretch in which the Knicks lost nine of 11 games.

At the time, they looked far from a Finals team.

“The regular season is full of peaks and valleys and ebbs and flows, that’s how a regular season goes,” Towns said. “And you kind of expect a run like that to happen at a certain part of the season. It was just the most inopportune time, especially when things weren’t looking great and New York fans, rightfully so, are not the most patient. So we understood that.

“Tough stretch for us but it also helped us grow and be more unified and understand that if we continue to believe in each other, we continue to lean on each other, we can get out of any situation regardless of it’s a 2-9 run in the season or it’s a 22-point deficit in Game 1. As long as we continue to believe in the goal and continue to lean on each other, we’ll be fine.”

Happy Memorial Day! Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals is tonight between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Watch it on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. The Knicks lead the series 3-0 and will win their first Eastern Conference championship since 1999 if they win tonight. Enjoy the game everyone!

CLEVELAND — It’s an orange and blue wave.

Riled-up Knicks fans have taken over Cleveland on the eve of Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers on Monday — taking advantage of bargain-rate ticket prices in the Ohio city.

Thousands of Big Apple hoops faithful flocked to Rocket Arena for a chance to watch the Knicks sweep the Cavs and earn their first trip to the finals in 27 years — and a shot at the first championship in 53 years.

“It’s insane. We weren’t even planning on staying,” said diehard fan Monica Martinez, who told The Post she drove for six hours to get to Cleveland. “We extended our trip. I waited 25 years for this, so we are going to do it all and do it up.”

Many wallet-conscious New Yorkers said they made the trip to Cleveland since they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to see their favorite team play at Madison Square Garden, where tickets cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Most paid between just $150 and $200 to get into Rocket Arena.

Forest Hills resident Vernon Balanza said he copped tickets to Game 3 on Saturday for just $137 — a far cry from the arm-and-a-leg cost to get into the Garden for a playoff game.

“It’s just too expensive,” Balanza said of the World’s Most Famous Arena in Manhattan. “The cheapest ticket is like $500, $600. Even then, I can’t get myself to pay for that.”

Brooklyn native Archer Batravil, who now calls Miami home, made the trip from the Sunshine State.

“It means the world to me as a born and bred New Yorker, living and dying with every shot,” he said. “It’s been [27] years since 1999. I’m ready for the revenge game against the Spurs.”

The San Antonio Spurs, who beat the Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals, are currently dueling with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

Even former Knick Stephon Marbury got into the action. A clip posted on X captured the former hoopster rallying passengers on a flight to Cleveland for the game.

“After the game, not before the game, we going crazy,” he said. “Go New York, go New York go!”

Kyle Kuzma is getting into politics.

Sort of.

Posting to social media Monday afternoon, the former Laker placed a $36,000 bet on Spencer Pratt to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. The payout would be a whopping $133,588.89.

For my parlay papis I’m going big on @spencerprattpic.twitter.com/pjWCL5X4ow

— kuz (@kylekuzma) May 25, 2026

Besides posting the bet, Kuzma spoke about the overall state of Los Angeles by responding to someone on X with, “LA has been cooked since Covid what am I missing lol.”

Kuzma is no stranger to Los Angeles, having been acquired by the Lakers in a draft-day trade with the Brooklyn Nets after they chose him with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

He played four seasons with the Lakers, but it were his first two seasons that left the biggest impressions.

He averaged 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a rookie, being named to the all-rookie first team. He followed that up with an even better second season, averaging 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as he became a full-time starter and played in 70 games (68 starts).

However, his production dipped the following two seasons when he averaged 12.9 points per game. But he was a key rotation player during that time, helping the LeBron James and Anthony Davis win the 2020 NBA championship.

He was later traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021, before then being rerouted to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025.

After losing his home in the devastating Pacific Palisades fire a few years ago, Pratt, the former reality TV star from ‘The Hills’, has made a strong push in his candidacy to be Los Angeles’ next mayor.

The Lakers hired former New Orleans Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas to fill one of two new assistant general manager roles, The Times confirmed Monday.

Ramadas previously worked as the vice president of basketball operations and strategy for the Pelicans and will be involved in managing the salary cap, analytics and data for the Lakers, who are retooling their front office and basketball operations under new ownership this summer. Speaking at an end-of-season newsconference, GM Rob Pelinka said the Lakers will hire two new assistant general managers, with the other position focusing on pro scouting, draft scouting and player development.

Ramadas, who received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in astronautical engineering from USC, worked at El Segundo-based The Aerospace Corporation for 12 years before jumping to the NBA full-time in 2024.

Read more:Lakers continue retooling of organization with plans for more hires

The hire is the first significant move of what is shaping up to be a consequential offseason for the Lakers both on and off the court. In addition to high-profile contract decisions regarding stars LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are re-tooling the front office and business operations eight months after Dodgers owner Mark Walter officially took over in a historic $10-billion sale.

The Lakers were already interviewing assistant general managers when the season ended in the Western Conference semifinals in a four-game sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers are adding labs for biomechanics, movement and recovery in their El Segundo training facility after moving the G League affiliate South Bay Lakers to the Coachella Valley. The infrastructure improvements are coming through consultation with the Dodgers, who Pelinka called a “brother-sister organization” for the Lakers.

Staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

An ACL tear robbed the world of “Playoff Jimmy” this spring. Instead, music fans at BottleRock in Napa did get a taste of “Festival Jimmy.”

The Golden State Warriors’ injured star looked spry as he joined Teddy Swims on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage at Bottlerock in Napa. He threw peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the crowd, seemingly because it was the Culinary Stage, professed his love for the Bay Area, and even danced to Shaboozey while telling the crowd, “Don’t tell Steve [Kerr]! I got a torn ACL!”

Still, the highlight came when Butler sang a verse of “A Thousand Miles,” the Vanessa Carlton classic that Terry Crews sings in the acclaimed film, “White Chicks.” Butler claimed he’d wanted to sing it since high school, but people didn’t like his voice. That didn’t stop Butler from singing Hootie and the Blowfish in a Michelob Ultra commercial.

He also sang Hall & Oates for Michelob in a commercial that saw him packing for the NBA’s Covid-19 bubble. It’s hard to tell in the low-resolution video, the only one we could find, but it implies that one of the items Butler packed in his single suitcase was his own Miami Heat No. 22 shirsey. Perhaps that was the work uniform for his Big Face Coffee pop-up?

Butler’s musical taste is very eclectic. He discovered country music while a student at Marquette and claims to have written over 60 country songs for a future album, which he envisions taking a “DJ Khaled” role in bringing in multiple other artists. Butler is good friend with Mark Wahlberg, though it’s unclear if that extends to a love for the music of the Funky Bunch.

He’s also not afraid to use music as a weapon. After his Miami Heat dropped a game in overtime in 2023, Butler blasted Nickelback in the locker room, turning the volume way up so Chad Kroeger’s lyrics and voice could punish his teammates for letting him down. Look, it’s possible that Butler’s a fan of the post-grunge Canadian rockers, but it seems more likely that anyone forcing an NBA team to listen to Nickelback is doing it at best as a joke and at worst as malicious ear torture.

It apparently worked, as the 2023 Heat went from the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals, possibly out of fear of a “How You Remind Me” reprise.

Clearly, Butler isn’t letting his rehab bring him down. Just don’t tell his coach about all the dancing.

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With the series evened up and now a best-of-three, the Oklahoma City Thunder head home for a pivotal Game 5—but their biggest strength is suddenly under scrutiny.

Injuries to key guards combined with inconsistent play from their stars have thinned OKC’s depth, opening the door for San Antonio’s defense to capitalize.

My Spurs vs. Thunder predictions have this one shaping up much tighter than the last few games, and my NBA picks are grabbing the points with the visiting Spurs on Tuesday, May 26.

Spurs vs Thunder Game 5 prediction tonight

Who will win Spurs vs Thunder Game 5?

Spurs: Depending on the injury status of OKC’s backcourt – Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell are questionable – this could be San Antonio’s game to steal on the road. Without those guards, the Thunder’s offense is disjointed with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stuck between being a facilitator and scorer.

Oklahoma City will shoot better at home, but San Antonio is doing a great job neutralizing OKC’s other threats. I see this one being closer than oddsmakers expect and the Spurs have a shot at winning outright.

Spurs vs Thunder best bet: Spurs +5.5 (-110)

Injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell have thrown a wrench in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offense. 

.@ShamsCharania provides an injury update on the Thunder's Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell 🏀 pic.twitter.com/71ACPWzxc4

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 25, 2026

Without those guards, OKC lacks reliable ball handlers. That forces Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play true point guard rather than off the ball, where he’s most dangerous.

The San Antonio Spurs are keeping SGA guessing with pressure but not fully committing to double teams. Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm, shooting a collective 12-for-32 the past two games.

The rest of the Thunder’s starters aren’t picking up the slack. Meanwhile, the Spurs are getting great contributions from their starting five.

COVERS INTEL: San Antonio’s starting five has outscored Oklahoma City’s starters by an average of 31.7 points in the WCF. The Thunder’s bench posted a collective -9.4 in Game 4 after averaging a league-high +6.3 in the postseason.

Spurs vs Thunder Game 5 same-game parlay

Stephon Castle is back in his regular spot with the Spurs’ point guards healthy. Castle has been active on the glass in this series, pulling down five or more boards in each of the first three games.

He had three rebounds on 12 rebounding chances in Game 4, and projections sit as high as six rebounds in OKC on Tuesday.

Victor Wembanyama was much more aggressive on offense in Game 4, specifically from outside. He knocked down 3 of 7 attempts from distance and has made at least two triples in three of the first four games.

San Antonio is being conservative with Wemby on defense — limiting his amount of running around on close outs — in order to save his legs on the offensive end.

Game script says the Spurs are fighting from behind, needing big shots from their big man. Forecasts call for two 3-point makes from Wembanyama.

Spurs vs Thunder SGP

• Spurs +5.5
• Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Spur of the moment

If San Antonio is going to steal another game in OKC, Wembanyama will be at the heart of that upset. He was much quieter on the boards the past two contests but with the Spurs’ defensive schemes trying to keep him in the paint, he’ll be in prime position for blocks and rebounds in Game 5. 

Spurs vs Thunder SGP

• Spurs Moneyline
• Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
• Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 Threes

Spurs vs Thunder odds for Game 5 tonight

• Spread: Spurs +5.5 | Thunder -5.5
• Moneyline: Spurs +165 | Thunder -200
• Over/Under: Over 216 | Under 216

Spurs vs Thunder betting trend to know

The Spurs are 10-7 SU and 11-6 ATS as road underdogs on the year. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Thunder.

How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 5

Spurs vs Thunder latest injuries

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The New York Knicks are in the driver's seat and have a chance to put the Cleveland Cavaliers out to pasture with a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals tonight.

Our Knicks vs. Cavaliers same-game parlay expects that to come to fruition, with Mikal Bridges stepping up to show New York's superior depth.

It's all part of our Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, May 25.

Our best Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP for Game 4

SGP leg #1: Knicks -2

All members of the New York Knicks' starting five are averaging 14-plus points per game, showing how the team's depth is vastly superior to what the Cleveland Cavaliers are throwing out there in this series.

Cleveland has struggled moving the ball, and New York has effectively isolated the Cavs' big-man duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Without them finding a groove, it's been up to Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to beat the Knicks, and they simply haven't been up to the task. 

SGP leg #2: Under 217

Game 1 saw 219 points, but that game required overtime. Game 2 went Under this number, and while Game 4 cleared it, the Cavs are exhausted and demoralized.

New York’s stifling defense has dominated this series, and I don’t expect many points from the struggling Cavs. I like this line at 217, but I’ll bet it down to 215.5.

SGP leg #3: Mikal Bridges Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists

Jalen Brunson is the headliner, but the Knicks have thrived because of their bevy of depth options, including Mikal Bridges.

Bridges has averaged 26.1 PRA across his last eight games, clearing this combo line seven times. Cleveland’s lackluster defense won’t offer much resistance, particularly in transition as he scores and facilitates. I expected this line to be priced at 23.5, making it a solid value play

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See our full Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4 preview

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

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The New York Knicks face the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, with the visitors just one win away from the NBA Final.

To help you make your NBA picks, we've looked to our NBA player prop projections for tonight's Game 4.

Afterward, check out our complete Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions for May 25.

Knicks vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 4

Knicks	Cavaliers
Towns o17.5 points +100	Harden o18.5 points -105
Hart u12.5 points -110	Allen o1.5 assists +135
Bridges u15.5 points -125	Mitchell o3.5 assists -165

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Knicks Game 4 computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (+100)

Projection: 20.18 points

As Jon Metler mentioned in our Knicks vs. Cavaliers expert predictions, Karl-Anthony Towns is in a prime position to eclipse this number. His perimeter shooting will set him up for a big game, as Cleveland tries to keep the New York Knicks' guards out of the game.

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Josh Hart Under 12.5 points (-110)

Projection: 11.08 points

Josh Hart had a big Game 2, scoring 26 points, but he took an uncharacteristic 21 shots. Hart will likely hover around 10-12 shots tonight, and he'll fall just short of this number like he did in Game 3.

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Mikal Bridges Under 15.5 points (-125)

Projection: 13.90 points

Mikal Bridges is playing like a man possessed, but our model sees regression tonight. As mentioned, the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to keep N.Y.'s wings quiet, which will limit Bridges' output.

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Cavaliers Game 4 computer picks

James Harden Over 18.5 points (-105)

Projection: 21.26 points

James Harden has eclipsed this point total in 10 of 17 playoff games thus far, and with the Cavs on the verge of elimination, you know "The Beard" will be chucking. It won't be pretty, but the volume will be there to reach 19 points.

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Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 assists (+135)

Projection: 1.63 assists

Our model calls for Jarrett Allen to pick up two dimes tonight. He had three in Game 1, but has had zero since. The Cavaliers will look to rely on him to kick out and hit shooters if the big man can't get anything easy down low.

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Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-165)

Projection: 5.05 assists

With the amount of time Donovan Mitchell has the ball, Over 3.5 assists seems like a gift. He had four in his last outing, and our projections call for five dimes tonight.

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How to watch Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4

Location	Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date	Monday, May 25, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

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The Golden State Warriors are expected to make an aggressive run at signing combo guard Anfernee Simons or Collin Sexton in free agency, according to a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. In his latest mock draft, Siegel included plenty of other trade and free agent rumors. He predicted the Dubs would selected Arizona combo guard Brayden Burries with the 11th overall pick, citing the team’s desire to add a rookie who can contribute immediately and help solidify the backcourt. If the Warriors target a wing or big with the pick (either through the draft or trade), however, Siegel noted that Golden State is making waves that they will add a legit combo guard this offseason.

“Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton are two early names league sources have described as key Warriors targets as unrestricted free agents this summer utilizing the mid-level exception,” Siegel writes. “The Dubs intend to add an impactful guard who can play on or off the ball alongside Steph Curry.”

It’s easy to see how either Simons or Sexton would fit with the Warriors. Both players are excellent scorers who can also space the floor as shooters. They could lead Golden State’s offensive attack when Curry is out and seemingly fit in well alongside him as well. It’s a role that Jordan Poole excelled in with the team, especially in the 2022 championship run, and one that the team has been unable to fill since.

Despite the offensive fit, dedicated what would likely be the full mid-level exception to either Simons or Sexton would mark a significant shift in roster-building strategy from the Warriors. Simons and Sexton are both smaller guards who struggle mightily on the defensive end. Besides Poole and Chris Paul (who was acquired in a contract dump trade for Poole), the Dubs have avoided dedicated much cap space to offense-first guards like that.

Of course, the Warriors have made it clear that they need to change things up after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. The team’s lack of offensive firepower around Curry was embarrassing and is likely leading to the shift in strategy.

Sexton has averaged 18.3 points per game in his career and recorded 15.4 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 turnovers on 48.5%/40.1%/85.5% shooting in 23.7 minutes per game this past season in 68 games between the Hornets and Bulls. The 27-year old has never appeared in an NBA postseason game.

Simons was also traded to the Bulls at the deadline earlier this year by a contender. He finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 turnovers on 44.0%/38.5%/89.6% shooting in 24.9 minutes per game across 55 contests.

Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Kenny Atkinson’s remarks that the Cavaliers — down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks — were analytically winning the series.

During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith said the second-year Cavs coach could have a pink slip waiting for him if Cleveland gets swept in Game 4 on Monday night at Rocket Arena.

“That moment right there, that is why Kenny Atkinson deserves to be an assistant coach,” Smith said. “Now obviously I’m being facetious… For any coach to have that come out of their mouth, it’s egregious.

"That moment right there is why Kenny Atkinson deserves to be an assistant coach."@stephenasmith responds to Atkinson's comments about the Cavs "analytically" winning 2 games against the Knicks pic.twitter.com/O90KF7lTXH

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 25, 2026

“… Numbers do matter, they play a significant role… let’s stop acting like this is new… what’s new is the focus that has been placed on it in terms of justification for hiring certain dudes to run your franchise.

“… People like him give you the impression that as long as the numbers say something, they’re good. You are down three to nothing in a conference finals. You walked in four games away from a championship appearance and now you’re on the verge of getting swept and what comes out of your mouth [is that].

“That’s the certain kind of stuff… there are some [owners] out there that would have the pink slip ready for him the second they lose tonight just because of stuff like that. You can’t say that, you just can’t.”

Atkinson’s take made waves across social media.

“I think analytically, we’ve won two out of three in the expected score,” Atkinson told reporters in a press conference Sunday.

“I don’t know if you guys follow that, the expected score. And I know you’re looking confused.”

“Analytically… we’ve won 2/3 games on the expected (score),- Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson.

The Cavs have lost all 3 games of the Knicks series. pic.twitter.com/TQNHG2lZsJ

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 24, 2026

His team is up against it after he led the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 64-18 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year — which earned him NBA Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season.

In their last four games this postseason, all five of the Knicks’ starters have scored in double digits, a team playoff record.

New York is on a 10-game win streak in the 2026 playoffs, including a perfect 5-0 in its last five playoff road games.

The Knicks could complete a series sweep on the road tonight.

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The New York Knicks are just one win away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals and have the opportunity to do so tonight in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks took a commanding 3-0 series lead and extended their postseason win streak to 10 games in the process in Saturday night’s Game 3.

“No matter what is at stake, it’s a chance for us to come together, be better than we were the game before, continue to learn,” Jalen Brunson said ahead of tonight’s game. “And try to be the best team we can be.”

The Knicks set the Game 3 tone immediately by exploding for 37 points in the first quarter, and while Cleveland briefly fought back to tie it at 50–all in the second, New York countered with a 10–1 run to reclaim a lead they would never give up again. Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points and 6 assists, while Mikal Bridges delivered 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

In the event that the Cavaliers win tonight’s matchup, Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in NYC. If the Knicks win, the Cavs’ season is over and the Knicks will advance into the NBA Finals with a start date of June 3.

Knicks vs. Cavaliers start time:

Game 4 of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers playoff series is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 25.

How to watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers for free:

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

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus 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.

If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.

Knicks-Cavaliers second round playoff schedule

• Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavs 104 (OT)
• Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavs 93
• Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavs 108
• Game 4: Monday, May 25 (8 ET, ESPN)
• Game 5: Wednesday, May 27 (8 ET, ESPN)*
• Game 6: Friday, May 29 (8 ET, ESPN)*
• Game 7: Sunday, May 31 (8 ET, ESPN)*

* if necessary

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

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The New York Knicks are on one of the best postseason runs we have ever seen. The Western Conference Finals are understandably drawing more attention, but do not overlook what New York is doing, led by none other than Jalen Brunson.

These Jalen Brunson picks trust the Knicks star to lead the way to complete a sweep in Game 4 on Monday, May 25.

For more NBA picks, check out our Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions.

Jalen Brunson prop pick for Game 4

Jalen Brunson best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-110 at bet365)

Jalen Brunson is the New York Knicks’ clear leader, and he has utterly dominated this Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Games 1 and 3, Brunson scored 38 and 30 points, respectively. In his seeming letdown in Game 2, the diminutive point guard dished out 14 assists.

The Cavaliers' defense focused on Brunson in Game 2, holding him to 7-for-16 from the field. However, he solved that riddle in Game 3, going 10-for-19 from the field and getting to the free-throw line 12 times.

By no means is Brunson a shoddy playmaker, but he is a bucket-getter first. With the chance to secure a berth in the NBA Finals, expect Brunson’s true nature to show itself plenty tonight.

Furthermore, every Brunson bucket should have a deflating effect on the Cavs. Exploiting James Harden’s and, to a lesser extent, Donovan Mitchell’s defense will only push that backcourt duo closer to the offseason and the beach.

Jalen Brunson same-game parlay

Brunson’s deep shot has not shown up for him in this series. Going 2 of 17 (11.8%) from beyond the arc through three games may look like a small sample size, but it is too egregious to be dismissed so easily.

Most notably, Brunson took only four 3-pointers in Game 3 while scoring 30 points. He knows where his success comes against the Cavaliers, inside the arc.

Brunson has shot 60% or better from inside the arc in every game of this series. Emphasizing that will only help his scoring.

And if Brunson is scoring, then this game should get away from Cleveland. In a rout, doubt Brunson to play enough to record seven assists.

Look at each of the last two rounds: New York won so handily in each clinching game, Brunson did not play even 29 minutes in either game. Fading his assists prop is actually a bet on the Knicks.

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