Category: NBA

One could argue that Sunday marks one of the biggest days the Jazz have seen in a long time, easily the biggest since the Jazz were in a very similar situation a year ago. While the 2026 NBA Draft has recently lost a lot of its depth, it remains incredibly strong at the top, and anyone lucky enough to select in the top four will be adding a potential franchise-changing talent. Last season the Jazz had the worst record in the association and held a 52.1% chance at a top four pick and a 14% chance at the number one pick. As we all know, the worst-case scenario came as the Jazz fell to the fifth pick before selecting Ace Bailey. This season the Jazz finished tied for the fourth-worst record with the Sacramento Kings, requiring a coin flip to decide who gets the tiebreaker. Luckily the Jazz won that coin flip, but what does that mean for the odds at each pick?

Catch the NBA Draft Lottery at 1:00pm MT Sunday on ABC to see where we land 👀#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/bsttGzTl3n

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 4, 2026

The Jazz have a 45.2% chance at a top four pick and an 11.5% chance at the number one pick, but it goes a little deeper than that. The worst-case scenario last year was falling to five. This year the worst-case scenario would be falling to eight, but that is very unlikely. Compared to last year, there was about a 48% chance we’d be selecting fifth. The odds for each pick are listed below.

• First-11.5%
• Second-11.4%
• Third-11.2%
• Fourth-11%
• Fifth-7.5%
• Sixth-27.1%
• Seventh-17.9%
• Eighth-2.4%

How do those odds make you feel? Hopeful? Nervous? Scared? Excited? The Jazz have NEVER moved up in the lottery, but there’s always a first time for everything. While the sixth and seventh positions are the two highest probabilities by quite a large margin, there’s still a 55% chance we won’t be picking seventh or eighth! So here’s to hoping Sunday is an amazing day for the Jazz and their future.

Who do you hope the Jazz end up with in the draft? 👀💜#graphicdesign#graphicdesigner#sports#nba#basketball#TakeNotepic.twitter.com/bmMOIzp6bc

— The Colonel (@colby_colonel) May 6, 2026

Everyone wear your lucky shirt on Sunday, and if that’s the same shirt you wore last year… get a new lucky shirt. If you have any superstitions, listen to them. Do anything you can to give the Jazz that edge on Sunday! The NBA Draft Lottery is this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time on ABC.

After Cam Thomas got dumped by both Brooklyn and Milwaukee this season, former teammate Michael Porter Jr. said it was more about attitude than ability. 

“There’s a lot more to the NBA and sticking around than just [scoring],” Porter said in a revelation that always seemed to escape Thomas. “For Cam, I think it was a mixture of he was frustrated with a lot of things, and also his personality … he doesn’t really socialize. He’ll come to the gym sometimes and he’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody. 

“I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate; I just think that’s him. But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and come off that money and you’re a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.” 

Porter was speaking on the “Road Trippin’ Show” podcast about a broad range of topics, including about him being a No. 1 option on a team. 

It’s a role that Thomas viewed himself capable of filling, and the young guard did average team-highs of 22.5 points and 24.0 points in the past two seasons for the Nets. But after rejecting multiple contracts from the Nets last summer — a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option, or a one-year, $9.5 million pact — he ultimately settled for the $5.98 million qualifying offer. 

In the end, Thomas managed just 15.6 points in an injury-marred campaign and got waived by Brooklyn. He got picked up by Milwaukee, but cut loose there as well. While he flashed the ability to get buckets, his shortcomings in terms of defense, playmaking, and — ultimately — self-awareness see him now unemployed. 

“I know he was frustrated about the contract the year before, and the fact that Brooklyn didn’t really pay him how he wanted,” Porter said. “He’s thinking talent-wise, he’s thinking as good as Austin Reaves, he’s as good as Jalen Green, he’s as good as this guy or that guy, and they’re getting paid $100 million contracts. So I understand that part. But I knew when he left Brooklyn, I’m like, man, over there in Milwaukee he better change a couple of these things or else it’s going to be tough for him. 

“And when he first got there, they were raving about him because he had a few good games. Doc Rivers was complimenting him and everything. And then I’m sure he had a bad game and kind of went back into his shell a little bit. It can come off like he has an attitude, but really that’s just him. And then I think from there it was downhill. But when it comes to being a basketball player and a talent, he’s up there with the best of them.” 

Porter added he may take as many shots as Thomas, “but the time the ball was in my hands was a fraction.” He expressed confidence he can be a top scorer on a contender, but says the Nets adding a backcourt playmaker — via the lottery, trade or signing — will let them take a step forward. 

“A No. 1 option on a championship-caliber team? I’m not about to sit here and say that I don’t think I can take on a big responsibility on a championship team, because I do, but I definitely would need some help with me,” Porter said. “If I got another guy over here who really is able to create and draw some attention, and now I’m getting two or three wide-open 3s a game, I think it would really help us.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped both games in Detroit.

Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

PARTIAL WINNER – Donovan Mitchell

I wanted to give Donovan Mitchell the full-fledged ‘WINNER’ title tonight. However, his second-half rally fell short. And we’ll talk more about the Cavs ‘ late-game execution later.

To focus on the positives, first, Mitchell had his best game since Game 2 versus the Toronto Raptors. That’s worth feeling good about.

Mitchell had 31 points on 11-24 shooting, and he was more efficient before the game became desperate. His on-ball production looked closer to what we’ve expected from him. Bringing it up to the floor and generating blow-bys to get the defense in rotation. Mitchell settled into a groove of either hitting floaters or passing to teammates for most of the second half.

Then, closing time came.

But before that, Mitchell delivered a much-needed sign of life. This would bode well for the Cavs if it carries over to the rest of the series.

LOSER – James Harden

I mean, listen, man. We all knew these games were coming. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

Harden doesn’t value possessions. That much is clear. His errant touchdown pass to Evan Mobley, who was draped by Ausar Thompson, is an example of this. There’s no reason to throw such a dangerous pass at the start of a game when the Pistons were already building a double-digit lead. That turnover added gasoline to the fire.

It got slightly better as the game went on. That is to say, Harden only had one turnover in the second half. Yeah, it came in the final minutes of a winnable game and was a result of him dribbling for 15 seconds in isolation — but it was his only turnover, nonetheless.

Harden finished tonight 3-16 from the floor. Worse, his style of play demands the ball run through him more often than anyone else. That’s a deadly combination.

Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game.

It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games.

It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 8, 2026

There’s a reason these types of performances make up a quarter of Harden’s playoff career. The fact that he hasn’t been able to adapt in 17 years is a crushing indictment against one of the most talented players of all time.

LOSER – Crunch Time

Everything looks hard for the Cavs.

It’s impossible not to notice the difference between how Detroit and Cleveland have closed the last two games. The Pistons are calm and composed, getting to advantageous spots and scoring timely buckets. The Cavs, meanwhile, are running around like headless chickens.

Much of this ties back to what we talked about with Harden. The late-game offense boils down to watching Harden pick his poison and dribbling until a Pistons defender turns him over, or forces him into a difficult shot. That’s a recipe I’ve grown sick of — having seen it multiple times in the previous round (and in years past).

But blaming Harden is missing the forest for the trees.

This team is too talented to fall by the wayside at closing time. Mitchell had opportunities, and instead of aggressively attacking the rim, opted for desperation three-point attempts. Mobley, meanwhile, was a non-factor offensively despite the massive defensive attention given to both guards.

On the other hand, Detroit is playing like a team. Trusting Tobias Harris to work in the post. Running the ball through Duncan Robinson and using his gravity to bend the defense. And, of course, resting on Cade Cunningham’s shoulders as he made all the right plays down the stretch.

Everyone needs to be better. The Cavs won’t last much longer if their process isn’t cleaned up.

The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t overcome a poor first quarter as they dropped a second winnable game against the Detroit Pistons, and are now down 2-0 in their second-round series.

The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass. As a note, the percentiles are in comparison to other playoff games, which influences the sample size.

	Offensive Rating	Effective Field Goal Percentage	Offensive Turnover Percentage	Offensive Rebounding Percentage	Free Throw Rate
Cavs	107.8, 29th percentile	46.3%, 10th percentile	12.2%, 72nd percentile	30.6%, 62nd percentile	27.2, 80th percentile
Pistons	120.2, 69th percentile	57.5%, 69th percentile	14.6%, 48th percentile	34.1%, 78th percentile	18.8, 40th percentile

Now, let’s dive into the numbers.

• The Pistons went 14-28 (50%) from three. Out of the 91 regular-season and playoff games they’ve played this year, this was just the seventh time they’ve connected on 50% or more of their triples. Duncan Robinson hurt Cleveland most, going 5-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc.
• The Cavs went 7-32 (21.9%) from three. This was their lowest percentage from distance this postseason. Out of the 91 total games they’ve played, this was their third-lowest mark. It’s a make-or-miss league. The Cavs were on the wrong end of that as both teams had outlier performances, just on different ends of the spectrum.
• Just five of the eight Cavaliers who attempted a three-pointer actually made one. Only two made more than one: Dean Wade (2-4) and Donovan Mitchell (2-9).
• This is the second game in a row James Harden has had more turnovers (four) than made field goals (three). This is the fourth time it’s happened during this playoff run. Turnovers weren’t the main issue in this game. Instead, it was the shooting. Harden went 3-13 from the field in what was an abysmal game.
• Harden had a team-worst plus/minus of -15. The Cavs were simply bad on both ends of the court when he was out there. The Pistons sought out mismatches and relentlessly attacked him on defense. On the other end, he wasn’t able to get his shot to fall, and he also didn’t have success as a playmaker.
• The Cavs attempted just six shots in the restricted area all game (2nd percentile). The most efficient place to score from is getting to the rim. The Cavs weren’t able to get there at all. It’s a miracle they were even in this game, considering how poorly they shot the three-ball and their ability to attack the basket.
• Donovan Mitchell took none of his 24 field-goal attempts at the rim. For context, nearly a quarter of his shots came there during the regular season. Mitchell did, however, go 9-13 on shots in the short midrange. The floater was working against the Pistons.
• Mitchell attempted his most free-throws this postseason at nine. This wasn’t an overall efficient night due to going 2-9 from three. Being able to get to the line helped keep him on track as a scorer.
• Evan Mobley had just one of Cleveland’s 47 rebounds. Being a good rebounder doesn’t always lead to high rebounding numbers. However, there’s no excuse for having only one in a game this close.
• Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists. The Cavs don’t have an answer for Cunningham right now. He’s been the best player on the court, and when he has the three-ball falling like he did tonight (3-6), there’s little anyone can do to stop him.
• The Cavs won the second-chance points battle 22-16. Cleveland had three more second-chance opportunities than Detroit. That’s an area the Cavs needed to clean up after Game 1, and did.
• Cleveland (11) commited less turnovers than Detroit (13). Five of Cleveland’s 11 giveaways came in the first half. They corrected that over the last three quarters and were in a position to steal this one late because of it.
• The Cavs have lost the fourth quarter in six of their nine playoff games. Closing games has been a challenge. Cleveland had a chance to win this one, but was outscored 28-22 in the fourth.
• Cleveland went just 0-11 from three in the final frame. This included three misses from Mitchell and four from Max Strus.
• The Cavs had just six points in the final four minutes. The offense went cold at the worst possible time. The Pistons outscored the Cavs by seven in that stretch.
• The Cavaliers are now 4-13 on the road in the postseason since trading for Mitchell. Two of those wins are against a Miami Heat team that had more losses than wins in the regular season. You simply can’t have a long postseason run if you can’t occasionally steal road games.

The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart again in crunch time. They’ll head back to Cleveland trailing the Detroit Pistons 0-2.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

31 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers

Well, we’ve been waiting for this.

Mitchell had his best game in weeks, jolting the Cavaliers back to life in the second half. Detroit had Harden in a locker, so the Cavs allowed Mitchell to effectively play point guard during the third quarter. This led to the most engaged version of Don we’ve seen since Game 2 versus Toronto. He repeatedly attacked the basket for floaters and used his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.

Late-game execution was the problem. Mitchell suddenly stopped getting to the basket. And once again, Spida became a stationary sidekick as Harden dribbled the ball into oblivion.

Grade: B

James Harden

10 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 turnovers

This was a total train wreck.

Harden has raised the Cavaliers’ floor this postseason simply by being more available than Darius Garland ever was. And at times, he’s even raised their ceiling by showing glimpses of the player that will one day be in the HOF.

But that light is dwindling, and the last few games have been antithetical to everything that this team built its success on in the past.

Over-dribbling, isolation-heavy basketball has never led to the best version of the Cavs. Yet it’s the only style that Harden plays. He isn’t adapting to playing without the ball in year 17. You win or lose on his terms. The 0-2 deficit speaks for itself.

Grade: F

Evan Mobley

9 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals, 2 turnovers

Mobley wasn’t involved enough on offense tonight. Part of that is the Pistons shrinking the floor and taking away the roll. Another part was Jarrett Allen had it going — so naturally, more touches went his way.

But Mobley did a fine job of reading the floor in this one. He punished the help defense with his playmaking, dishing 4 assists and narrowly missing on a few other potential assists that didn’t drop.

More so, Mobley was phenomenal on defense. His rim protection and efforts against Jalen Duren are some of the only reasons this game was close in the fourth quarter. We’d like to see him grab more rebounds, but he did spend chunks of time switched onto the perimeter.

Grade: C

Jarrett Allen

22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Allen gave you everything you need to win this one. An efficient 22 points on 9 shot attempts. Competent defense at the point of attack whenever he had to switch. And, a respectable effort on the glass that was only tested when he was left alone to box out multiple players. He’s not going to do much more than this.

Grade: A-

Dean Wade

8 points, 5 rebounds

It’s the same old story. Wade’s defense makes him valuable. But his lack of offensive creation tests how valuable that defense actually is. The Pistons, like the Raptors, have successfully shrunk the floor by ignoring Wade in the corner.

Grade: C–

Max Strus

3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Strus was on fire in Game 1. Not so much in Game 2, shooting just 1-6 from the floor.

This is more or less what you expect from a streaky role player. He gave you a performance worthy of winning. Now you live with the opposite result. The Cavs missed their chance in Game 1.

Grade: D+

Jaylon Tyson

7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

It feels like Tyson is going to be the X-Factor in this series. The Cavs desperately need someone who can create off the dribble and space the floor next to the core four. Tyson hasn’t gotten a full crack at that yet. But if he does, it could be the thing that finally unlocks Cleveland’s offense.

Grade: B–

Keon Ellis

3 points, 6 minutes

Ellis is going to get opportunities with Merrill out due to a hamstring injury. So far, those minutes haven’t gone well. He’s a defender who loves to gamble, and he isn’t doing enough on offense to replace Merrill’s production.

Grade: D

Dennis Schroder

4 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers

I don’t know if the Cavs planned on playing Schroder this often in the playoffs. But he’s become a mainstay in the rotation, largely because of how inconsistent the starting backcourt has been. The Cavs have needed an additional ball handler to relieve pressure, and I think Schroder did a fine job of that tonight despite his usual limitations.

Grade: C+

The Detroit Pistons used another well-rounded effort, with contributions up and down the roster, to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series. It was a tougher game as Cleveland cleaned up its turnovers and got a much friendlier whistle than in Game 1, but every time the Cavs punched Detroit in the mouth, the Pistons found a way to punch back.

The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham with 25 points and 10 assists, and just like in Game 1, Cunningham saved his best for late in the game. Cade scored 12 points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter and played excellent defense to help stave off a late Cleveland surge.

Detroit was up comfortably throughout the first half, but a stagnant third quarter on offense and a subpar defensive effort, combined with an unfriendly whistle, allowed the Cavs to cut Detroit’s lead to four entering the final quarter. Cleveland then scored the first three baskets of the fourth, including an emphatic Evan Mobley dunk, to take their first lead of the game since early in the first.

Detroit then turned into their two most reliable players in game one — Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson. Harris settled things down with a steady turnaround jumper from 11 feet, and Robinson hit a three. When the Cavs cut it to a one-possession game again, Tobias hit a floater, and Duncan hit a three. Of course. That was all Detroit needed to get into Cade time.

He hit a pull-up three at the top of the key, a baseline fadeaway, got to the free-throw line, and effectively put the game away with a stepback three with just over two minutes left.

Plenty of Pistons played well, and it was all needed because nearly as many players were battling foul trouble. A game after Cleveland complained about the poor whistle they received, the script completely flipped in game 2 (interesting how that works).

Ausar Thompson got his fourth foul early in the third quarter, and his absence was a big contributor to Cleveland’s third-quarter run. James Harden seemed to be trying to bait foul calls as his entire role in the offensive game plan. Or, it was the only thing Harden did well, anyway.

The Beard was just 3-of-13 from the floor and had four turnovers, including a critical one late in the fourth when he pounded the air out of the ball and then got his pocket picked by Thompson. He wasn’t the only Cavs player who struggled. Evan Mobley was limited to just nine points and one rebound. Dean Wade, who is mostly in the lineup for defense, scored just eight points.

Donovan Mitchell almost won the game for the Cavs by himself. He was brilliant throughout the night. He had his swim move and floater game working hard, and he hit some tough perimeter shots to try to keep his team in the game. He led all scorers with 31 points. Jarrett Allen chipped in 22 points.

The Pistons got contributions up and down the roster. Ausar Thompson scored 10 points and added seven rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 21 points, stretching his 20-plus game streak to seven. Duncan Robinson scored 17 and hit five three-pointers. Daniss Jenkins scored 14 points and added six rebounds and four assists. He was absolutely critical to keeping Detroit in it when Cunningham was mostly quiet.

In the end, Detroit did exactly what it had to do. It protected its home-court advantage, established how they can best the Cavs on both ends of the floor, and now they will look to head to Cleveland to really put a stranglehold on this series.

The Detroit Pistons have taken a 2-0 lead on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals with their 107-97 victory Thursday, May 7. This comes two days after the Pistons beat the Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1.

And while both contests were played on the Pistons' home court, Little Caesars Arena – so not entirely unexpected outcomes – Cleveland had chances in both games to steal a win on the road. But for the second game in a row, Cavaliers star James Harden struggled – especially in the first half.

The Cavaliers acquired Harden, a three-time scoring champ and 11-time All-Star at this year's trade deadline, in part to help them make a deeper run in the playoffs than last year, when, as the top seed in the East, they were upset by the Indiana Pacers 4-1 in the conference semifinals.

If Cleveland wants to go deeper this year, they will need Harden to knock down more shots, be much more accurate on his 3-point shooting, increase his assists and tone down his turnovers.

He finished the night with just 10 points, while shooting 3-for-13 from the field and committed a crucial turnover with 30 seconds remaining in Game 2 with Cleveland down six points and trying to rally.

JAMES HARDEN WITH THE ANKLE BREAKER 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/RuDobWxppj

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 8, 2026

"We won the possession game, we just didn't make shots. We had plenty of chances," Harden said after Game 2 on Thursday night.

He was circumspect about his struggles, saying he needed to pick and choose his spots better, and "figuring out what works and doesn't work for the betterment of the team ... trying to find a combination of when to be aggressive and when to get the team shots."

According to ESPN Insights, this was Harden's 20th playoff game in which he shot 25% or less (minimum 10 field goal attempts), breaking a tie with Bob Cousy for the most such playoff games in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55).

In Game 1 against the Pistons on Tuesday, May 5, Harden scored 22 points but shot just 40% (6-for-15) from the field and made only 1-of-7 3-pointers (14.2%). And while he dished out seven assists, he also turned the ball over seven times. His struggles were evident in the first half when he shot just 2-of-7 from the floor, recording nine points with four coming from the charity stripe.

Harden and the Cavaliers have a chance to right the ship Saturday, May 9 when they host Detroit in Game 3 at 3 p.m. ET (NBC), but they need to reset quickly.

Here are Harden's stats from Game 2 for the first half and the game:

James Harden's final Game 2 stats vs. Pistons

• Points: 10
• Field goals: 3-for-13
• 3-pointers: 0-for-4
• Free-throws: 4-for-4
• Rebounds: 6
• Assists: 3
• Blocks: 0
• Turnovers: 4
• Minutes: 36:52

James Harden's first-half Game 2 stats vs. Pistons

• Points: 8
• Field goals: 2-for-10
• 3-pointers: 0-for-3
• Free-throws: 4-for-4
• Rebounds: 4
• Assists: 1
• Blocks: 0
• Turnovers: 3
• Minutes: 18:20

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers' James Harden struggles vs Pistons in Game 2, dooming Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost 107-97 in Game 2 to the Detroit Pistons. Their season now comes down to defending a home stand.

The Cavs once again started this game down by double digits. Careless turnovers and poor three-point shooting add up quickly in the NBA Playoffs. Even more so when you’re playing against a 60-win team that has the capacity to burn you.

This game started with both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen practically handing the ball straight to Duncan Robinson on separate plays. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell would join them, coughing it up throughout the first half for five combined turnovers. The Cavs had nine turnovers overall by halftime.

Harden was especially bad in the opening half. He started the night shooting 1-9 from the floor with 3 turnovers to just 1 assist. Some of his decision-making was as puzzling as it gets. He now has 30 career playoff games with more turnovers than made field goals.

The margin for error in the playoffs is remarkably small, and it continues to shrink the further you go. For all the credit that Detroit deserves, the Cavs are not giving themselves a chance with the way they are turning it over.

Cleveland’s saving grace was getting to the free-throw line. They attempted 12 free throws in the first half. That helped them make up for a 3-14 start from downtown and kept the Pistons from totally running away with this one.

This put the Cavs in a position to rally in the second half.

The Cavs flipped the script, only turning it over once until the final minutes of the fourth quarter (when Harden dribbled his way into a trap).

Mitchell came alive for the first time in this series, scoring 31 points. He still settled for a few difficult jumpers that he shouldn’t have, but overall, Mitchell attacked the basket with more intention than he has in weeks.

This spark from Mitchell helped the Cavs pull back into the game and even take a momentary lead in the fourth quarter. That would quickly evaporate, as Tobias Harris (21 points) and Duncan Robinson (17 points) hit timely shots to close the door.

Cade Cunningham poured in 25 points and 10 assists for the Pistons.

Cleveland goes back home feeling like they could have won either of the first two games, but stay in a 0-2 hole regardless.

If the Golden State Warriors were hoping to keep their offseason intentions a secret, well … they failed. Because we all know exactly what Golden State wants to do this summer, after they figure out Steve Kerr’s future, and maybe even extend Steph Curry.

It’s the same thing they want to do every offseason, only this year it feels more urgent: acquire a star.

There are a lot of dark horse options. Karl-Anthony Towns always seems to have one foot on the trading block. The Philadelphia 76ers could look to move on from Joel Embiid, though their first-round upset of the Boston Celtics makes that less likely. There are the tiniest rumors swirling around Nikola Jokić’s future with the Denver Nuggets. Kevin Durant is still playing, which means he’s not far away from moving to a new team. The NBA offseason is as messy and dramatic as a Keeping Up With The Kardashians episode, so it’s impossible to tell just how it will unfold.

But there’s a trio of names that stand above the rest when it comes to being linked to the Warriors: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard.

We know that the Dubs have been poking around James for years, trying to see if he wants to chase a ring alongside Curry before hanging up his signature Nikes. We know that Golden State tried like hell to trade for Antetokounmpo at the deadline, before the Milwaukee Bucks decided they were bluffing. And we know that the Warriors actually came somewhat close to dealing for Leonard at the deadline, putting forth a package that, according to reports, they thought the LA Clippers would accept.

Not much has changed. All three of those Hall of Famers enter the summer knowing that they could be hitting up Zillow sometime between now and October. And the Warriors, even more star-craved than they were in February, are going to try like hell for all of them.

So for now, let’s focus on those three. Which of the three is the best fit for the Warriors, and also the most realistic? Let’s examine them one by one.

LeBron James

Contract status: Player option for one year, $52.6 million

How the Warriors could acquire him

James is the only one of these three who could sign with the Warriors outright. He gets to choose his fate, as he can opt into another year with the Los Angeles Lakers (and ask for a trade if he’s done there), or enter free agency. The easiest way for the Warriors to acquire James would be if he really wanted to sign with Golden State, in which case he could join for the mid-level exception. However, there’s nothing to indicate that he would be willing to leave tens of millions of dollars on the table. He has enough sway that if he decides to opt into his deal and then ask for a trade, that he could probably decide where to go. So acquiring him is all about LeBron deciding that he wants to finish his career in the Bay Area.

Why he’d fit

Do we really have to ask that? He’s LeBron Freaking James, after all. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history and he’s remarkably selfless. James would give the Warriors pretty much everything they’re looking for: an elite second scoring option, a dynamic playmaker that allows Curry to play off ball, and a walking money maker who will ensure that the Chase Center is sold out every night.

One of the benefits of James is that we know he’s willing to be the 1B at this stage in his career. Despite being in SoCal before them, James publicly pronounced the Lakers as Anthony Davis’ team, and then Luka Dončić’s. There would be no star tug-of-war with Curry.

We also know that LeBron gets along incredibly well with the Warriors core. He and Curry have a great relationship, have the utmost respect for each other, and have shared the court very well during their time as teammates for Team USA and in the All-Star Game. James and Draymond Green are very close friends. And we know from his stint in the Olympics that LeBron has a huge level of respect for Kerr.

He’s not the player he once was, but he’s still one of the most well-rounded stars in the league, and one who would buy into what Golden State is doing.

Why it might not work

The biggest reason is that James will turn 42 next season, and he’s finally starting to show some cracks in the armor in terms of availability; he’s played 60 or fewer games four times in the last six seasons. Any move for a star is a short-term acquisition made to maximize Curry’s title window, but James probably will retire in a season or two, and who knows how many games he’ll play between now and then.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Contract status: Two years, $121.2 million, with a player option for the second year

How the Warriors could acquire him

It’s a three-step plan. First, Antetokounmpo has to actually be available this summer. Second, the Warriors have to ask the Bucks to take their pick of any and everything they have to offer. Third, they have to hope that someone else doesn’t have a whole lot more. In all likelihood, someone else will have a whole lot more, and then it’s a matter of if Antetokounmpo wants to play for the Warriors, and if he’s willing to force his way there.

Why he’d fit

At this stage in their respective careers, Antetokounmpo is pretty comfortably the best player of the three. He’s pretty much a lock to be a top-five MVP finisher if healthy (his run of seven straight top-four finishes will come to a close this year, after he only played 36 games). And at 31 years old, he’s also easily the youngest, and could help keep the team competitive post-Curry.

What he does on the court is desperately needed by the Warriors. He draws fouls. He vacuums up rebounds. He gets out in transition. He defends brilliantly. He’s the total package, and it’s a dream imagining his combination of size and athleticism — which is second only to Victor Wembanyama — paired with Curry’s shooting. It’s pretty easy to imagine Antetokounmpo immediately giving the Warriors a top-10 offense and defense. Plus, we know he has great respect and adoration for Curry.

Why it might not work

Once arguably the most likable player in the league, Antetokounmpo has started to attract drama. He’s lost a lot of fans with his stop-and-start status over the last year, as he seems to keep publicly changing his mind as to whether he wants to be traded or to stay in Milwaukee forever. He’s jovial and he loves Curry, but it’s fair to wonder if he might be a disruption on the Dubs, and if he’d be comfortable not being the focal point of the offense, or the last name announced overs the PA system. And it’s not hard to imagine something blowing up between Giannis and Draymond.

He also had some injury issues this year, and his body is one that you could see falling apart in his 30s. His lack of a three-point shot also isn’t ideal for a Warriors team that needs more shooters.

Kawhi Leonard

Contract status: One year, $50.3 million

How the Warriors could acquire him

From the sound of it, Steve Ballmer was unwilling to trade Leonard to the Warriors at the deadline, so this starts with him having a change of heart. Perhaps LA’s inability to make it past the Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament will help convince Ballmer that a rebuild is in order. From there, it’s probably a simple trade package centered around Jimmy Butler III and a draft pick or two. Leonard is the most feasible from an acquisition standpoint.

Why he’d fit

In many ways, Leonard is the ultimate Kerr player. He’s one of the top scorers in the league, but doesn’t seem to care whether he’s the go-to option or not, and doesn’t like to hog the ball. He’s a strong three-point shooter (39.1% for his career), but doesn’t settle for jumpers. He’s a good playmaker and a willing passer. And, of course, he’s one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, with the length and skillset to switch on any screen.

Leonard (who averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game this year) and Curry would instantly be one of the best scoring duos in the NBA. Leonard and Green would instantly be one of the best defensive duos in the NBA, and one of the most versatile as well. That Kawhi has a knack for elevating his game in the playoffs sure doesn’t hurt, either.

In many ways, Leonard is like Andrew Wiggins, just significantly better at everything, and substantially quicker at making his decisions. When you look at Golden State’s roster, there’s a strong case to be made that Leonard would be the best addition of these three in terms of fit.

Why it might not work

Kawhi might be the best fit on the court, but he’s the worst at staying there. He played 65 games this year, which was just his second time exceeding 60 games in the least nine seasons. The Warriors are old and have a lot of injuries. Curry will miss time. Green will miss time. Butler, if the Warriors somehow find a way to pull off a star acquisition without trading him, will miss a whole lot of time. Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis, should they return, will miss time. With Leonard, the Warriors would be putting a lot of faith in the health of a player who has, unfortunately, developed a reputation that conflicts with that faith.

But it’s hard to find a reason it wouldn’t work beyond that.

In all likelihood, the Warriors won’t get any of these three. But it is fun to think about…

There aren’t a lot of things to complain about through two games of a series where you’ve won both games, especially in the ways the Knicks have won them.

But there was a somber feeling after the gritty Game 2 victory at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night because of the unknown status of OG Anunoby, who came up lame on a cut to the basket and left in the final three minutes of a tight game. The Knicks were able to close out the game, but had to hold their breaths.

Ugh… looks like a right hamstring injury for OG Anunoby.

You can see him grab at the back of his right leg on a cut with 3:00 mins remaining in the 4Q. Stays in the play got a few seconds but then immediately motions to the bench that he needs to come out pic.twitter.com/Pn9rPJvVtq

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 7, 2026

It’s worth noting that, unlike his severe hamstring strain in 2024, Anunoby was much more fluid afterwards. He crumpled to the floor in pain mid-play in that Pacers series, while he hobbled and stayed in the game here. Either way, it seems to be of a lesser severity, and that seemed to be backed up by the recent report by Shams Charania that he’s questionable for Game 3:

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with right hamstring strain and will be day to day, sources tell ESPN. Anunoby is the Knicks second-leading scorer this postseason at 21.4 points per game. He is listed questionable for Game 3 on Friday against Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/q1zLXpbRkr

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 7, 2026

Now, is this a true game-time decision questionable, or a gamesmanship questionable? I lean towards the latter, as even if this is not anything major, a Grade 1 hamstring strain feels like something that will take more than two days to recover from. Maybe it’s not that bad, and he’ll be ready for Game 4 if the Sixers avoid the 0-3 deficit tomorrow, but either way it seems like the Knicks should be cautious and play to their series advantage.

There are a lot of unknowns with both teams’ injury reports. Joel Embiid is still battling his general soreness, and Mitchell Robinson is battling an illness. Both of their statuses are paramount to the overall strategy of the game, but let’s assume that both play for the sake of trying to game-plan life without Anunoby.

The biggest thing you’re losing with Anunoby is his defense, especially on the red-hot Paul George. After George carried the Sixers’ offense early in Game 3, Anunoby did a fantastic job of clogging him up on the perimeter and keeping him from getting enough separation to fire up a 3. He also did a good job when switched onto guys like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

On that end, the solution isn’t an easy one. The only proper forward on the bench is Mo Diawara, who I suspect could get some run, but won’t start. The Knicks could go to Landry Shamet off the bench, who found his way back into the rotation on Wednesday, and play to the fact that George hasn’t been aggressive off the bounce at all in this series, but would be taking a risk.

Who would even be the best option to replace Anunoby in the starting lineup? Conventional wisdom says Deuce McBride or a healthy Mitchell Robinson, but it can also be matchup-based. If Embiid is out, there’s going to be a lot of small ball for Philly, making the double big lineup not a priority. With Embiid, it would make sense to start Robinson to match their size and physicality.

What about Deuce McBride, who closed last night’s game despite a subpar offensive night? It would give you another defender to throw on Maxey or Edgecombe, and you could shift Josh Hart to George. He would certainly give you the off-ball shooting, but he can’t drive the way Anunoby has in the postseason.

That’s arguably the second biggest thing. Anunoby has been a force in the paint in the playoffs and has lived off cuts to the rim, something that nobody else on the roster can easily do. In a matchup where OG’s defense is more impactful with what he does off the ball, it might be the least replaceable.

OG Anunoby has been playing some of the best basketball in the entire league on both ends of the floor these Playoffs… pic.twitter.com/hB9z9ApgPF

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) May 5, 2026

He’s also been exceptional as a secondary rebounder. Late in the third quarter, he got a steal, two offensive rebounds, and nailed a go-ahead three-pointer in a span of 25 seconds. Considering the flow of the game, the way he willed that entire possession was extremely important.

You just can’t replace his impact; you can only hope to mitigate the magnitude of his loss. It’ll be a team effort, as the team is going to need even more from the likes of Bridges and Hart, while asking guys like Shamet, McBride, and maybe Diawara to step up for stretches. The one thing that this team has that they’ve lacked in recent years (especially last year) is tested, playable depth. With a 2-0 series lead, there’s as much margin for error as you can ask for in a postseason setting.

The best news of all of this is that Anunoby seems to have avoided a severe injury, something that would’ve been crippling to this team’s hopes of making the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. It’s hard to tell when he’ll be back at this point, but it thankfully seems to be sooner rather than later.

PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks seem to have gotten the best news possible with OG Anunoby.

His right hamstring strain is “very minor,” The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported, and he is considered day to day.

Anunoby is even listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 clash at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Still, even with the optimistic diagnoses, Friday may be too soon for him.

So if the Knicks don’t have him for Game 3, how does it affect their starting lineup and what are the ripple effects?

Let’s break it down:

1. The most likely replacement in the starting lineup is Miles McBride.

He closed the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden when Anunoby was in the locker room.

Often, McBride’s workloads more closely resemble a starter’s than a bench player’s.

And he has experience.

He started 15 games in the regular season.

When Mikal Bridges was twice benched in the first round, McBride closed with the other starters.

He’s been particularly effective when sharing a backcourt with Jalen Brunson — the Knicks have a net rating of plus-33.4 points per 100 possessions when the two share the floor.

But it should be noted that the Brunson-McBride-Bridges-Josh Hart-Karl-Anthony Towns lineup has played just five minutes together this postseason.

It has usually been Bridges, not Anunoby, who McBride replaces on the court when he plays with the starters.

So, this would be a new twist.

2.  Knicks coach Mike Brown could also insert Mitchell Robinson — who is listed as probable (illness) for Game 3 and expected to return — into the starting lineup and roll with a double-big look.

Playing Robinson and Towns together is something Brown said he did not like to do during the first round because of the matchup problems it presents defensively, but he has since done it for brief stretches anyway.

Robinson and Towns have shared the floor for 16 minutes this postseason, during which the Knicks have a net rating of plus-19.5 points per 100 possessions.

How does this affect the Knicks on the court?

It will require the biggest adjustment on the defensive end.

Bridges has done a terrific job guarding Tyrese Maxey in the series.

But no Anunoby could change that.

3. If it’s McBride elevating to the starting lineup, it could mean he gets the Maxey assignment.

Anunoby was guarding Paul George, and McBride is much smaller than George.

It would make sense to have the bigger Bridges shift down and guard George, have McBride on Maxey and keep Brunson on Kelly Oubre, Hart on VJ Edgecombe and Towns on Joel Embiid — if he plays — or whomever the 76ers have at center.

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McBride has guarded Maxey when Bridges has gone to the bench.

4.  It gets trickier if Robinson starts in a double-big lineup, which is why it’s more likely that it will be McBride.

If Bridges is on Maxey, Brunson is on Oubre, Hart is on Edgecombe and Robinson is on Embiid or the 76ers center, that leaves Towns on … George.

That’s not a good matchup.

What are the domino effects to the bench?

5. The most obvious would be Landry Shamet returning to the rotation.

Other than a few minutes Wednesday, he has only played in garbage time since Game 2 of the first round.

A key bench weapon during the regular season, his shooting woes at the end of the regular season spilled into the start of the postseason.

And Brown said the Knicks offense grew “discombobulated” with Shamet serving as a makeshift backup point guard.

That meant Jose Alvarado, more of a natural point guard, took his spot in the rotation.

But if McBride moves to the starting lineup, his bench minutes have to go somewhere — Shamet is the most likely recipient.

6. If it’s Robinson in the starting lineup, or getting a bigger workload regardless, that could open up minutes for Ariel Hukporti or even Jeremy Sochan.

7.  Brown’s ability to go with small-ball lineups is hampered, since Anunoby often played center in those groupings.

Anunoby is so important to so much the Knicks do on both ends of the floor.

So if he misses any time, there will be a lot of moving parts.

After dropping Game One to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there was a lot of talk about the demise of the San Antonio Spurs. Some ESPN commentators even suggested they could be swept in the series.

The young team responded with a resounding 133-95 victory over the Wolves, where every player but one scored a point. It was an utter and thorough beating. It was the type of performance that should inject some confidence into Spurs fans. It’s likely why the Spurs are -196 favorites to defeat the Wolves in the Twin Cities on Friday’s Game Three.

Before we focus on the future, let’s talk about what made them successful in Game Two in today’s player grades. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

26 minutes, 19 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-for-15 shooting, 2-for-7 threes, +12

Wembanyama didn’t put up the eye-popping counting stats like he’s typically known for, but he was incredibly impactful. The big man made an effort to get more shots around the rim, attacking the glass and going right at smaller Minnesota defenders. Overall, he looked more controlled offensively. He didn’t post 10+ blocks on defense, but he still altered shots at the rim. He was a big reason why the Spurs outscored the Wolves in the paint 58-36.

Grade: A

De’Aaron Fox

26 minutes, 16 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-for-10 shooting, 2-for-2 threes, +24

Fox bounced back in a big way. He was in total control during his minutes. When things got tight, he gave the Spurs a bucket. He competed defensively at the point of attack, was active on traps, and snatched steals when Minnesota wasn’t paying attention. It was exactly the type of savvy veteran game the Spurs needed from Fox. Fox looks much more locked in after a lackluster Game One.

Grade: A

Stephon Castle

24 minutes, 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 5 fouls, 6-for-10 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +17

Caslte has been the enforcer for the Spurs in this series. His physicality has been incredibly necessary in both games. Minnesota couldn’t stop him from getting to the basket. He made all nine of his free throw attempts, managing to get the Wolves’ best defender, Jaden McDaniels, in foul trouble. His defensive pressure has been great, but he needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble moving forward. San Antonio will need him to play big minutes in this series.

Grade: A

Julian Champagnie

22 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 foul, 4-for-6 shooting, 4-for-6 threes, +19

That is how you respond to missing the potential game-winner in Game One. Champagnie has been red hot from three in the playoffs, shooting 58.8% from deep. He’s held his own defensively in this series, even when the Wolves try to pick on his matchup. This was a big turnaround game for Champagnie after Game One. It’s one her desperately needed.

Grade: B+

Devin Vassell

22 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-9 shooting, 2-for-6 threes, +13

Vassell hit one of the craziest shots I have seen, where he jumped before catching it, then released it quickly to beat the shot clock and nailed it. It’s funny that it was one of the two threes he made. He missed some open shots in this one, which didn’t hurt San Antonio because they dominated every other aspect of the game. But the Spurs will need him to hit open threes as the series shifts to Minnesota.

Grade: B

Dylan Harper

22 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 5-for-10 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, +24

Harper is going to be a mega star. He’s not afraid of anyone and was a huge reason the team built its big lead at the end of the first half. He was incredible defensively at the point of attack. He was a thrill to watch run and operate the fast break. He and Castle have been the Spurs’ most consistent producers through two games of this series.

Grade: A

Keldon Johnson

19 minutes, 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 2-for-8 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +28

Johnson wasn’t able to finish around the rim, but his intensity was crucial in this game. He got to the free-throw line 8 times. Grabbed offensive rebounds and dove after loose balls. Even if his offensive game isn’t working, he can provide a lot of energy with his effort. He clearly turned things up another degree in Game Two.

Grade: B-

Luke Kornet

13 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, +22

Kornet played fantastic minutes. After a poor performance in Game One, the Spurs were actually able to increase the lead while he was in for Wembanyama. Protected the rim well and had some clutch tips to teammates on the boards. Just doing those things solidly while Wembanyama takes a breather will be a big factor for the Spurs’ success in this series.

Grade: A-

Harrison Barnes

15 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4-for-7 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, +18

Unc had himself a game! A lot of it was in garbage time, but it was great to see Barnes break out of his slump a bit. That behind-the-head, cock-back dunk was a thing of beauty. He also hit a couple of sweet-looking threes. Hopefully, just seeing the ball go in will help his shooting moving forward in this series.

Grade: B+

Carter Bryant

16 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 1-for-3 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, +18

Bryant is going to play a role in this series. Spurs’ head coach, Mitch Johnson, wanted him to play physical defense on Anthony Edwards. He did a solid job, but he fouled a ton. Bryant has some much-needed energy and strength to help the Spurs in this series.

Grade: C

Jordan McLaughlin

10 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, +1

I love watching J Mac play. He made some great passes in garbage time.

Grade: B

Kelly Olynyk

10 minutes, 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 2-for-3 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, +1

KO was putting on a clinic out there! He and Joe Ingles were going at each other in the final minutes of the game. This might have been his best garbage time performance of the year.

Grade: B

Lindy Waters III

8 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-5 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +1

Waters hit a couple of threes in garbage time, racking up 8 points in just 8 minutes.

Grade: B+

Bismack Biyombo

3 minutes, 2 points, 1-for-2 shooting, -4

Biyombo made a nice-looking jump hook! He almost got a reverse layup to go. Fun minutes from the veteran center.

Grade: Incomplete

Mason Plumlee

3 minutes, 1 assist, 2 blocks, -4

Plumlee made an awesome pass and had a few blocks. He may have been the only Spur not to score, but these were productive minutes from Plumdog Millionaire.

Grade: Incomplete

Inactives: Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

Jaylen Brown called the 2025-26 season his “favorite.”

Taking into account that the Celtics were bounced from the first round of the playoffs — after blowing a 3-1 series lead — Stephen A. Smith believes this is a preposterous notion.

The Boston star is not only sticking by his words, but calling out the ESPN talking head by telling him to hang up the microphone and “retire.”

Brown claimed officials have an “agenda” against him on a livestream — for which he was later fined $50,000 by the NBA — after the Celtics’ elimination at the hands of the 76ers.

On a stream Wednesday, Brown stood by his words.

"He needs to be quiet … unless you're trying to get traded." @stephenasmith reacts to Jaylen Brown doubling down on his previous comments pic.twitter.com/3xV00b7tXo

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 7, 2026

“I say this and I stand on this again. Clip this up. This was my favorite season of my career,” Brown added. “Like, I will say it even louder. I stand on it. I triple down, quadruple down, whatever y’all want me to say.”

Brown clarified that it was his “favorite” because his teammates around him grew and had a largely successful season despite many pundits picking against the Celtics from the outset.

Smith, talking on “First Take” on Thursday, couldn’t believe that someone like Brown, who plays for a storied franchise like the 18-time NBA champion Celtics, could consider this season a favorite.

“The first order of business is that he needs to be quiet, and like [Kendrick Perkins] said, go on vacation unless you’re trying to get traded,” Smith said.

Brown reshared the clip on his X account and told Smith in no uncertain terms that he does not intend to be quiet.

“I’ll ‘be quiet’ / stop streaming if you ‘be quiet’ and retire let’s give the people what they want,” Brown wrote.

Smith replied to the post and said why he has “love” for Brown, he was just trying to offer advice after what was a tough end to Boston’s season.

“Bro, I got love for you so I’m not going to even go there,” Smith wrote on X. “Folks are looking out for you and you don’t even realize it. Here you are making this kind of noise and it hasn’t even been a week since you lost a 3-1 lead. You’re HOME. A champion and a Finals MVP saying his favorite season is the season he’s home in the FIRST ROUND. This is not about ME. It’s about YOU….and what YOU SAID. Enjoy your offseason.”

Brown, without the benefit of having Jayson Tatum, who missed the Game 7 loss with a leg issue, scored 33 points on 44.4 percent shooting from the field with nine rebounds and four assists.

He said on his livestream Wednesday that any perceived rift between him and the Celtics is unfounded, and he felt bad that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was asked questions about it earlier in the day.

“I hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this,” Brown said. “Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. And if it was up to me I could play in Boston for the next 10 years.”

PHILADELPHIA - As the Knicks prepare for Game 3 against the Sixers, OG Anunoby’s status was still to be determined as of Thursday evening. 

That fact alone tells you that the Knicks avoided all worst-case scenarios on Anunoby’s hamstring injury.

The general feeling on Anunoby’s hamstring strain? Optimism. He is considered day-to-day. But he’s not day-to-day, as in ‘he’s really out for 10 days.’ Anunoby is truly day-to-day. 

As noted on The Putback earlier Thursday, the hamstring strain is considered a minor one. 

There was optimism in the Knicks locker room that Anunoby will be able to play either in Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday. 

My personal opinion: sit Anunoby on Friday and see what happens in Game 3. Then base your decision for Sunday’s Game 4 on what happens Friday. 

If you are up 3-0, isn’t it prudent to give Anunoby extra time to heal?

Based on conversations earlier Thursday, I think people on all sides of the injury believe Anunoby’s absence will be counted in days and not weeks. (A quick aside: I know that is a triggering phrase for those who followed the Julius Randle shoulder rehab in 2024. Just to be clear: SNY never reported that Randle would be out for weeks and not months.)

Back to Anunoby.

The Knicks are fortunate that, barring a setback, Anunoby will be back on the floor soon. He has arguably been the most impactful player of their postseason. The wing has defended at a high level and is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. The Knicks have outscored opponents by an average of 14.75 points per game when Anunoby is on the floor. 

ALL HAIL MIKAL

It’s probably gone under the radar, but Mikal Bridges has been playing at a high level lately. In the Knicks’ last three playoff games, Bridges is averaging 19.4 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal per game. 

He's also been a key part of the Knicks’ strong defense in that stretch. 

“If there is one player that I wanna make sure that I mention, it’s Mikal Bridges,” Mike Brown said at the end of his opening statement to the media after Game 2. “You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got…And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively. He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”

Bridges has certainly turned things around from earlier in the postseason. He played an average of 20 minutes in Games 3 and 4 against Atlanta, going scoreless in one game and scoring eight points in the next.  

In the second half of Game 2 on Wednesday, Bridges helped hold an injured Maxey to 3 of 9 shooting and nine points. 

“It started with Mikal. I feel like he's just been great for us at the point of attack,” Miles McBride said after the game. “And, you know, the team's been locked in. He's a tough player. And, you know, for Mikal, he's going to just keep going at him, but, you know, Mikal’s a great player. He's going to step up every time.”

NYC HOOPS

Great basketball event in New York City this weekend: the annual Hoops Showdown founded by Johnny Rodriguez. The event started in 2016 as a four-team tournament and has since hosted more than 200 Division I players and 20 players who were drafted into the NBA. (That group includes Naz Reid and Nick Richards.)

This year’s event – the tenth anniversary - is on Saturday from 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm at 1619 East 174th Street in The Bronx.