Here are the NBA playoff games for Wednesday, May 20, 2026:
- San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:30 PM ET (NBC, Peacock)
Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Enjoy!
NBA Playoff Wednesday discussion
Knicks Bulletin: ‘Habits translate’
Roses are red, Cleveland too.
Sadly for them, today it’s all about the Orange and Blue.
Here’s a humongous Bulletin off a ridiculous Game 1 comeback victory.
Mike Brown
On Brunson’s MVP-level performance:
“Obviously, we don’t get it done if Jalen Brunson doesn’t play like one of the MVP guys in the league. He was phenomenal. He did what he’s supposed to do tonight. And it definitely helped us get the win. He’s a leader. He’s our guy. And he felt we needed to play faster, he felt we needed to be better defensively. There were a couple things he felt and he made sure we knew. And our guys responded to him.”
On targeting James Harden late in Game 1:
“Sometimes you gotta do what the game dictates. They were trying to do the same thing with Jalen. And so we said, OK, we feel like we can play that game. We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen.”
On forcing Cleveland to adjust defensively:
“We have to try to figure out different ways to guard Harden and [Donovan] Mitchell, they gotta figure out different ways to guard Jalen. But there’s no secret we were attacking Harden.”
On finding the right five-man group during the comeback, sitting Josh Hart:
“We found a group of five guys that went out there, ended up getting stops and scoring the basketball.”
On continuing to trust Hart despite his shooting struggles:
“If Josh is open and his feet are set, he’s gotta let it fly. He’s made shots. We feel like he’s gonna make shots. And if he doesn’t wanna shoot it, he can get to his middy or he can go [dribble handoff] with somebody, a quick DHO with somebody. We faced this coverage all year and we played well throughout the course of the year and we faced it in Atlanta.”
On the early 2-for-19 stretch from beyond the arc:
“So, we started the game off 2-for-19 from the three-point line. It wasn’t just Josh. We had some pretty good looks from the right people, and if those go in, the mojo is a little bit different. They didn’t, and Cleveland was able to get back into it. The game is about adjustments. We made an adjustment down the stretch, and we were fortunate to be able to come back and get the win.”
On matching Cleveland’s tactic of targeting Jalen Brunson:
“You got to do what the game dictates. They were doing the same thing with Jalen. So we said two can play that game.”
On maintaining a competitive edge after time off:
“It has more to do with having an edge, keeping a competitive edge. Games obviously help you with that because your body and your mind are constantly on when you are playing games. When they are off, you tend to relax. That is just human nature…That competitive edge – knock on wood – may not be there at the start.”
On Landry Shamet’s impact in Game 1:
“Landry Shamet was great. He was great on both ends of the floor. He came up big. You’re not going to stop a guy like Donovan Mitchell. Landry tried like heck to make him work. He was fantastic. He was the difference in the ballgame tonight on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Landry’s a big guard, he’s physical, and he can defend without foul. To play him, knowing they will pack the paint when Jalen comes and the sprays are going to be there. And that’s what we decided to do.”
On early defensive slippage and turnovers in Game 1:
“Yeah, and especially early on we didn’t look like ourselves, especially when we were doubling and coming out of the double teams and kind of flying around. We were really slow in those areas and then I felt we played — we turned the ball over too much. It’s hard to have 19 turnovers and win a basketball game and a handful of ’em were self-inflicted, us throwing the ball away, us jumping in the air when we hit the paint.”
On the resilience shown in the historic comeback:
“I got to give my group credit. They’ve been resilient all year and I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game. I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it, maybe I have. But to be down 18, 19, 20, whatever we were down and to find a way to come back and win. I mean I take my hat off to my group.”
On giving Mitchell Robinson opportunities despite the Hack-a-Mitch:
“I wanted to give him a chance. Mitch has been great for us the last few games in that situation. We’re gonna continue to give him a chance. We’ll move him around and do some different things with him. Mitch can impact the game in different ways, so we need him on the floor.”
Jalen Brunson
On how the Knicks pulled it off:
“I don’t have any answer for you. We just found a way. Just happy we found a way to win.”
On how he told his teammates to push them during a timeout before the Game 1 comeback:
“Keep fighting, keep chipping away. We’re not going to get it back in one possession. Most importantly, sticking together. No matter how that game finished, habits translate to the next game. We’re just doing; we’re not giving up. We don’t want to give up, ever, so having faith in each other.”
On the mindset behind the 44-11 rally:
“I think the common denominator was just us still believing in each other and still playing, still fighting. Just chipping away. We knew like we weren’t going to get it all back in one possession. So, we couldn’t give them stops, kept running, got a couple of lucky shots to go in, but kept fighting.”
On attacking late instead of overthinking the matchup:
“Honestly, the ball was going in. So, I was just trying to get to my spot and just trying to make plays. If someone came over, I was going to find someone else. But just trying to get to my spot and trust my word.”
On cleaning up defensive breakdowns that fueled Cleveland’s lead:
“Defensively, what got us down 22, they [Cavs] were making great decisions in and off the trap, getting wide open threes. So, we’ve got to clean that up a little bit. But I like the way we stuck together.”
On how the comeback unfolded:
“I mean, we got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing, kept tipping away. They were playing great basketball, and we just found a way. I really don’t have an answer.”
On being in attack mode late in the game:
“Just being in attack mode, just trying to find seams to get to where I feel comfortable. Finally, one did go down and that’s just because of the rhythm I created from the shots beforehand. But KAT said it starts with our defense, the way we were able to get stops and go and then them having trust in me.”
On appreciating the Madison Square Garden crowd staying through the deficit:
“Definitely thankful. Because they could have walked out if they wanted to.”
On praising Landry Shamet’s performance in the comeback:
“He played big time. He’s up to any task that you put in front of him. He’s been that player for us, and we have the utmost faith in him. That’s just who he is. He’s a true professional ever since he’s walked into the league.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On the defense carrying the Knicks in the fourth and overtime:
“At the end of the day, great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me in Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in this playoffs and it was what carried us in this playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and in overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win.”
On focusing on the team result over individual performance:
“I think the Knicks found a way to win tonight, and that’s all that matters. It’s not about the individual performances; it’s about this team finding a way to put up a win on the board. I think that’s what’s special.”
On representing the Knicks and the city after the Game 1 win:
“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. It had been a tough go-around for them for the first three quarters of the game. For us to come in that huddle with the energy of the fans and the fans really showing us so much love and support, to give them something to cheer for in the fourth, it’s always an honor. It’s a privilege to be able to do.”
On what the victory meant to the city:
“This team, all we want to do is make the city proud and bring this city wins. To be able to accomplish that tonight, on a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen, is an honor. It’s truly something special.”
On acknowledging early rust after the layoff:
“To be real, there was definitely rust. You could see we’re a team that hasn’t played in a playoff game in a while. It’s a testament to the grit and resiliency of this locker room and this team that as the game went along you could see the rust was coming off a little bit and we were able to find ourselves in the game. At the end of the day great offensive plays by JB, amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet, clutch plays by the man next to me, Mikal Bridges, but it was our defense that has always been special in these playoffs and carried us in the playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win against a really great team.”
Mikal Bridges
On the team’s refusal to quit during the comeback:
“We don’t stop until the clock hits zero and shoutouts to our captain for holding it down for us. We learned from our mistakes and came out here and didn’t want the same things to happen [as last year].”
On Brunson carrying the offense late:
“He carried us offensively when we needed him. We wouldn’t be here without Cap.”
On what the comeback meant to the city and the fans:
“It’s always special when you give your fans something to cheer for. This team, all we want to do is make the city proud, bring the city wins and to be able to accomplish that tonight in a night where it didn’t seem like it was going to happen is an honor and it’s truly something special.”
Miles McBride
On Shamet’s defensive energy in the fourth quarter:
“He didn’t just change the game with the clutch shots, but defensively bringing energy. Getting hands on deflections and picking up full court. Things like that inspires the whole team.”
Landry Shamet
On realizing his late three-pointer tied the game:
“To be honest, when I shot it and then I looked up, I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), we’re tied up.’ I didn’t realize at the time that that one would have tied it up, which is kind of where you want to be. When you’re flowing, you don’t want to be thinking about things. They ball found me. I was open in transition. I let it fly and the ball went in.”
On crediting the team’s defensive depth for guarding Donovan Mitchell:
“One of the luxuries of our team is we got a lot of really good primary on-ball, primary off-the-ball defenders. Team defenders. I didn’t really play the first three quarters and then you throw fresh legs at someone whose got it going. Just come in try to compete, be physical, take advantage that I didn’t play. Use the energy that I had. That’s really it. Compete, communicate, make it hard on him. He’s a helluva player. We expect him to have a good game against us. Gotta give him his credit, he really hurt us. We have to make adjustments. We were connected, played hard and was physical.”
On the moment the Knicks realized they needed to get their excrement together:
“If you’re going to make it run, that’s when you have to do it. Might as well throw your best punch at that point, do what you can. You have to leave it all out there, especially this time of the year. That’s what we did. We have a group that didn’t flinch at the deficit. We made something happen.”
On the comeback atmosphere at Madison Square Garden:
“A lot of fun. MSG comebacks are fun, especially in the playoffs. I’m just real proud of our group, because that’s quite the deficit in the fourth.”
On being greeted by celebrities and Knicks legends after the win:
“It’s kind of wild when I think about it.”
OG Anunoby
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership and value to the team:
“He’s an amazing player. I’m happy he’s on our team, I think we’re all happy he’s on our team.”
On fighting through the deficit in Game 1:
“We had to keep fighting. We’re just mentally tough. We knew we had a run in us. Just play to the end.”
On shaking off early rust:
“[There was] a little rust, but that was expected. I knew that. As the game went on, the rust wore off.”
On how he felt physically as the game progressed:
“I felt good. Just continue to play hard, shoot shots and be aggressive. … I don’t think it was hesitancy [early]. Just as the game went on I felt more and more like myself.”
Kenny Atkinson
On not using any of his timeouts during the fourth-quarter collapse:
“I like to hold my timeouts. I didn’t want to have one timeout at the end of the game, one- or two-point game. I try to hold them.”
On tough Knicks shots in the fourth quarter:
“I thought they hit some really tough shots in that fourth quarter, those two 3’s, prayer 3’s end of shot clock. We got a little unlucky, quite honestly. (Jalen) Brunson obviously took over at the end.”
On Mikal Bridges’ “lucky” late threes:
“The two Bridges 3’s, like kind of what are you going to do?”
On the offense getting stagnant late:
“My only regret, and this can happen when you get a little fatigue, it just stopped moving. We were pinging the ball over the place, great ball movement and then it got a little stagnant.”
On pride in his team despite the collapse:
“I’m super proud of the way our group played. We played great basketball tonight for three quarters, unfortunately … they dominated us in the fourth quarter.”
On not even considering benching James Harden as Brunson cooked him:
“No. He’s been one of our best defenders in these playoffs. I trust him. Smart. Great hands. Didn’t think about that.”
On Brunson’s late-game takeover:
“Brunson obviously took over at the end. We started double-teaming him, trying to do some different things… they dominated us in the fourth quarter. Basically, the fourth quarter he got loose. We definitely tried to mix up some stuff, throw some stuff at him. We’ll have to keep looking at it. There was a lot of tough floaters, and hit that tough, contested three.”
On Cleveland’s defensive plan against Karl-Anthony Towns:
“Really important and not just (for) Evan, right? Once we sub who’s going to make his catch his tough, make his passes tough. I do feel like we have personnel. They can bother him. We got multiple guys that can put pressure on and then we’ve got to be really good with our defense. It definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows and it’s been his assist rate. He’s got all that stuff at a high level so that’s going to be a big part of the series.”
On having personnel to pressure Towns:
“We do feel like we have the personnel to bother him. We’ve got multiple guys who can put pressure on him. We’ve gotta be really good with our off-ball defense. They’ve definitely shifted schematically like everybody knows. It’s been … it’s high level so it’s going to be a big part of the series.”
On not feeling disrespected despite being underdogs:
“I get it. I don’t feel disrespected, right? I think I get it. They’re playing great basketball. Massive rest advantage. We get that. So it’s not like I’m mad or anything. I get it. But like I said, we have to find a way to halt their momentum. I mean they have great momentum coming into this series and we have to find a way.”
On prioritizing physical and mental freshness:
“The most important thing is these guys are fresh and fresh physically and fresh mentally. We know they have a massive rest advantage. We know they’re massively favored in the series, but I’d say from our perspective it’s like we got to try to halt their momentum and it starts tonight.”
On expanding the rotation early in the series:
“I like, especially beginning this series, giving guys opportunities. You never know what you will find.”
On the Knicks’ physical style of play:
“They got big strong guys and they’re super physical. Good thing is we have two series where we’re dealing with that for 48 minutes basically. But we’re not coming in here saying, oh this is the Knicks. They’re a very physical team, definitely saw that on film.”
Donovan Mitchell
On the Game 1 collapse:
“I said it in the locker room, just that we lost, we f–king blew it.”
On the Cavaliers’ Game 1 loss:
“So many things I think played a factor into it. We didn’t close it out, we gotta clean up on film, and go from there. It’s one loss, it’s a bad loss, but all we can do is go back and watch the film and fix it. It’s just one game; we could have lost by 40, and it still would have been 1-0. We played pretty solidly for about three quarters. We’ll make adjustments and go from there.”
On failing to adjust to Brunson late:
“He was a little comfortable. We could have done some things collectively and we didn’t and that’s on us. But ultimately, we came to do nothing about it. Now we got to go out there and watch the film and fix it for game two.”
On taking accountability for letting the game slip away:
“We should have won the game. Even if there was complacency, we’re up 22 with eight minutes left. Gotta win the game. But we gotta keep your head up and go from there. Don’t let one quarter affect you for the rest of the series. It’s gonna be a long series, and there are things we did that are positive things we can look forward to. But we should have won the game, we didn’t… We lost, we f**king blew it, now let’s run up for Game 2.”
On not overreacting to his late-game struggles:
“I’ll watch the film and figure it out. I don’t think it’s anything to overreact to. In those scenarios, you’ve got to feel it, and I’ve always said it’s a feel thing.”
On not letting the loss derail momentum:
“That can’t happen. But it did. We play in two days. We can’t sit here and let it kill our momentum, kill what we’ve been doing. It’s not a good loss.”
On playing in the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden as a New Yorker:
“Being a New Yorker playing in the Finals is just different. You don’t take it for granted. You grew up around it. You grew up a fan of it. And now to be an enemy in it is special, for sure. We played there a few years ago [in the playoffs] and we got whupped. The remaining core guys that are here remember that. So, we have to go out and be ready. It’s an amazing opportunity for us and for me being back home, but we got to go in there and take it.”
On the Knicks entering the series as a dangerous opponent:
“It’s gonna be special for sure. [The Knicks] are a talented team. Obviously it starts with Jalen Brunson and KAT. But Mikal and OG have been phenomenal — Josh Hart. Look at their bench, it’s just been great.”
On joking about playing at home during the series:
“Me and my fiancee joked that we’d be at home regardless, right, so might as well play some basketball while we’re at the crib.”
On preparing for Game 1 against a rested Knicks team:
“We know them, obviously. But, I think the biggest thing is they’ve been off — they got a bunch of rest so got to be ready to go from the jump from Game 1. To the point, It’s great I get to play at home … doesn’t matter. We got to be locked in and ready to go. And I know we will be. They’re a tough team, and we’re excited.”
On how Cleveland has evolved since losing to New York in 2023:
“For most of the team, the core that was there, it was their first time in the playoffs. We’ve had a few series under our belts [since then]. We didn’t like how it went, obviously. This is different. We’re not here to rehash the past. This is a different scenario. This is something that, even last season, we came into it like, ‘This is our goal, to get to this point, to get to the Finals.’ Not really looking at it like, ‘Man, what happened [three] years ago?’ It’s just the opportunity in front of us.”
On focusing inward rather than predicting a Knicks matchup:
“I think for us, we weren’t saying, ‘It’s gonna be us vs. New York.’ We were really just focusing on ourselves. Especially how we started the year, it was a long road. I think now, it’s more so like we gotta steal the first one. And if we don’t steal the first one, steal the second one. That’s the mentality. It’s just like ‘hey, we’re here, we haven’t come this far just to be excited to be here.’ I think that’s the biggest feeling around the group — that we’re not just like, ‘We did it.’ Now, it’s more so that this is an opportunity for us to play and get to the Finals, and we have to get through these guys to get there.”
Evan Mobley
On the pain of losing Game 1 after leading by 22:
“It definitely hurts. You want to win Game 1, especially when you’re up like that, you want to win those games. We have to do better with finishing that, but it’s not an easy road, and we have to bounce back and try to get a dub. But we’ve done this before; we were down two in the last series, so we’ve been here before. You just have to bounce back and look at film, see what we can change, and fix that.”
Jarrett Allen
On his infamous “lights were brighter” comment from 2023:
“That comment was that comment. What I said is what it is. For me personally now, I’ve grown, evolved, had a lot more playoff series under my belt, a lot more games under my belt, experience. What I said then was what I said then.”
On how Cleveland’s core has matured since 2023:
“Everybody’s evolved, everybody’s grown, everybody’s come into their own skin. Everybody’s just a different person coming here. So it’s good to see how everybody’s grown.”
On his loyalty to Mitchell after advancing to the ECF:
“I hope Don knows this, I’ll follow him into war. I’ll trust every single decision that he makes, every single shot that he takes, every single word that he speaks in the locker room.”
Cavaliers vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 2
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I’ve seen middle school science fair bridges built out of straws and pipe cleaners hold together better than the Cleveland Cavaliers right now.
Cleveland delivered one of the most stunning collapses in NBA playoff history in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, letting a 22-point fourth-quarter lead slip away against the New York Knicks.
If the Cavs are going to respond, it’ll take a full-team effort and our Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks are leaning on a statement showing from big man Jarrett Allen on Thursday, May 21.
- UPDATE: Added prediction who will win & +1150 SGP.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 prediction
Who will win Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2?
Cleveland: For three quarters, Cleveland was cruising in Game 1. But some tweaks from the Knicks and some short-sighted coaching decisions from Kenny Atkinson let things get out of hand in the final frame.
Cleveland knows it can run with New York and we’ll see adjustments to sure up soft spots (like leaving James Harden out to dry) and exploit its strengths (inside scoring).
Cavaliers vs Knicks best bet: Jarrett Allen Over 19.5 points + rebounds (-112)
Jarrett Allen didn’t have a bad game in the opener, scoring 10 points on 3-for-6 shooting with seven rebounds. But at times, the Cleveland Cavaliers forgot about him.
The New York Knicks are susceptible inside, as we saw vs. Joel Embiid in Round 2, and Cleveland must make a more focused effort on getting Allen touches – especially against smaller forwards.
Allen can also put up points from offensive rebounds, and he snatched six of his seven boards on that end. He generated 17 rebounding chances in Game 1 yet walked away with only one defensive rebound.
Projections call for 13+ points and 10+ boards on Thursday.
COVERS INTEL:Not only did Allen’s usage dip from 16.8% to 13.8 in Game 1, but he also left points on the table, shooting just 4-for-8 from the foul line after shooting 67.4% from the stripe in Round 2.Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay
The Cavaliers were playing excellent basketball up until that flop in the fourth quarter. The collapse is going to scare a lot of people off, so we’re getting some extra padding on the point spread with Cleveland.
The Cavs are a solid 27-9 SU off a loss on the year, including a 4-2 record off a loss in the postseason.
Jarrett Allen should have seen the ball more in Game 1, and we’ll see Cleveland feed the interior to compress the Knicks perimeter defense.
His game projections sit above 13 points with a ceiling of 10 rebounds. The rebounding chances were there in Game 1; he just deferred those boards to Evan Mobley.
Josh Hart may not play as big a role in this series as he has in the Knicks’ postseason run. Cleveland played off of him, using Allen to guard and begging Hart to shoot.
The Knicks also got good defense from Landry Shamet, who stole minutes from Hart. Game 2 models come in short of this 12.5-point total.
Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP
- Cavaliers +6.5
- Jarrett Allen Over 19.5 points + rebounds
- Josh Hart Under 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Broad Sword Bets
The Cavaliers can crush the Knicks inside with Jarrett Allen. He’s often drawing smaller forwards and projections for Game 2 call for 13+ points and 10+ rebounds. With Evan Mobley guarding Karl-Anthony Towns in the high post, Allen is free to protect the paint and send shots back.
Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP
- Cavaliers moneyline
- Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points
- Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds
- Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 blocks
Covers NBA betting tools
Cavaliers vs Knicks odds for Game 2
- Spread: Cleveland +6.5 (-115) | New York -6.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Cleveland +195 | New York -240
- Over/Under: Over 215.5 (-110) | Under 215.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Knicks betting trend to know
Cleveland is 27-9 SU when coming off a loss this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Knicks.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date | Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Cavaliers vs Knicks latest injuries
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Kenny Atkinson defends James Harden and fourth-quarter defense during Cavs Game 1 collapse to Knicks
The Cleveland Cavalierssquandered a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks.
Numerous things have to go wrong to give up an advantage that large. The defensive end was no exception. Jalen Brunson led the way with 15 points in the fourth quarter to help claw his team to victory.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson could’ve handled the fourth quarter better. He held onto timeouts and allowed the Knicks to pick on James Harden repeatedly down the stretch. Both are inexcusable.
Still, the comeback was also because the Knicks hit some incredibly tough shots. That’s something that Atkinson wanted to acknowledge when he talked to media members after practice on Wednesday afternoon.
“[In the] fourth quarter, they were in the first percentile of shot quality,” Atkinson said after practice. “We have data that you guys don’t have. First percentile. So, our process was right, they made some tough, tough shots.”
We don’t have access to the data, but you can sort of see what is leading to Cleveland’s internal numbers pointing to this.
Of the 22 shots that New York took in the fourth, nine came at the rim, six came in the midrange, and seven came from beyond the arc. Of those three zones, the shots at the rim are the ones the Knicks converted the least, which is the most efficient place to score from.
A lot of the looks in the midrange were contested pretty well, particularly on Brunson. However, good offense beats good defense, as it did here.
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Atkinson also wasn’t willing to put this loss on Harden. He said on Wednesday that the Cavs wouldn’t have gotten out of the first round if it wasn’t for him, and that his defense down the stretch wasn’t the main issue.
“[Harden] is a good isolation defender,” Atkinson said. “Everybody’s putting it on James. Sure, some of it was him. … Sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated.”
I wouldn’t go as far as saying the eye test backs up that the Knicks were in the first percentile for shot quality. They hit some tough shots, but they also got some clean outside looks, especially when the Cavs tried and failed to double-team Brunson. That said, that wasn’t where the Cavs lost this game.
“Looking back on it, we’re more dissapointed by the offense,” Atkinson said. “The shot quality wasn’t great. We weren’t getting to the rim. We took nine threes. I thought we could’ve gotten to the rim more and put more pressure on them.”
The offense was horrid down the stretch. All of the things that were working throughout the game just disappeared. This is where Donovan Mitchell deserves a lot of blame.
Mitchell was occupying possessions, but not generating good looks. He took the air out of the ball by slowing down the pace. This came at the expense of the rhythm they built in the previous two quarters, leading to disastrous results as seen in the possession breakdown in the final eight minutes of the fourth.
The Cavs wouldn’t have been in the position that they were in if it weren’t for Mitchell’s incredible shotmaking and the force he was playing with on both ends in the first three quarters. He deserves credit for that. But he also bears the blame for that going away.
It’s also fair to point out that this is where fatigue likely set in the most. That’s why holding onto timeouts is indefensible for Atkinson.
Despite how poorly things ended, the Cavs showed that they can play up to their talent level against the Knicks. If they can figure out how to do so for 48 minutes, instead of just 40, they’ll turn the series around.
“I just want to lean on the positives,” Atkinson said. “We had three quarters of really good basketball. Some of the best basketball we’ve honestly played in the playoffs… offensively and defensively.”
Knicks Notes: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart on needing to start stronger; making adjustments for Game 2 vs. Cavaliers
Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks fought back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's contest to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals from the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime.
While Brunson's 17 points in the fourth quarter and OT were incredibly impressive, the team acknowledged they can't allow themselves to go down by that much at this stage of the playoffs.
Looking ahead, Brunson, Josh Hart, and head coach Mike Brown discussed with reporters on Wednesday what the team learned from the Game 1 victory, how they're staying focused, and what they anticipate from the Cavs in Game 2 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Starting stronger
The Knicks led by seven points after the first quarter on Tuesday night, but were outscored 67-46 in the second and third quarters. Brunson said the biggest takeaway from the game was how they played prior to their big fourth quarter.
"I think more of the first three quarters is a bigger takeaway," Brunson said. "They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels. Just got to give them a lot of credit. Obviously, we played well in the fourth and overtime.
"We got to come out ready to go. Honestly, I think we did. It was the middle, it was the middle of second and third quarter where we let go of the rope. That's our biggest takeaway."
Hart agreed, saying the Knicks need to bring the same type of energy they expect from Cleveland in Game 2.
"They're going to come out with extreme energy, attention to detail, focus, sense of urgency and desperation," Hart said. "And we got to not match that, but we have to exceed it. They're looking at it like, 'That was our game we gave away.' They're looking at film of, 'If we fix this here and fix this here, we would've won the game.' And that's what they're gonna try to do tomorrow.
"So we got to make sure we come in focused and have a better start than we did."
Winning mindset
While the comeback was a strong team achievement, Brunson added that the confident mindset they've displayed all season long helped them fight back.
"Yeah, absolutely. It's great to have a mindset of continuing to do the things that has made us a good team over the course of this year," Brunson said. "Regardless of what the score was and being able to fight back, obviously, was great. I mean we don't want to be in the position where we're down 22 again obviously, but having that mindset definitely helps."
Brunson also thanked the Garden crowd for giving the team an edge throughout the night, adding that "our fans kept us in it, so credit to all them."
He was later asked about going on social media to see the reaction from a big comeback win like Game 1, but showed how locked in he really is.
"I've been shutting down social media throughout the series," Brunson said. "Obviously, I think I've posted in between series, but I've been shutting it down, not opening it. Just focusing on what we need to do as a team, what I need to do individually. Just doing my best to have tunnel vision and stay focused."
Making adjustments for Game 2
Hart mentioned how the Cavs will be spending Wednesday dissecting film about what they could have done better down the stretch to close out the win. And while it's common to learn from mistakes, Brunson noted how the Knicks can improve going forward by watching their film as well.
"I think a lot of people when they watch film after a loss, you learn a lot. I think you can still learn from a win as well," Brunson said. "Obviously, you're very thankful you got the win, but there's clearly things that we need to work on to be better and not be in the position we were in. It's definitely a lot you can learn, always."
"They're gonna be ready to go."
Brown gave praise to Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson and his staff, but similar to Brunson, mentioned that his team will need to make the proper adjustments as well in Game 2. He knows Atkinson won't let James Harden get isolated as much as he did in Game 1 and it'll be a challenge for the Knicks to find other ways to score.
"Kenny's a great coach and we know they're going to come out ready to play," Brown said. "They came to New York to get one game and it's still within reach... They're going to be ready, they're going to mix it up. At the end of the day, it's our job to make sure that we're more efficient and we're more diverse offensively so that nobody can sit on any one action we're trying to run."
How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder Game 2 for free: Livestream, start time
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are hoping to bounce back from a shocking loss in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs took Game 1, 122-115, in a double overtime victory where star Victor Wembanyama put up a staggering 41 points over 49 minutes of action — a career-high for the center.
The Thunder, whose nine-game postseason winning streak was snapped in the loss, struggled in the first half but clawed back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the overtime periods.
NBA Western conference finals: what to know
- What: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- When: May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The next game in the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Friday night, when the series moves to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.
Spurs vs. Thunder start time:
Game 1 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, May 20.
How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.
NBA Western Conference Finals schedule
- Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (OT2)
- Game 2: Wednesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Game 3: Friday, May 22 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Game 4: Sunday, May 24 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
- Game 6: Thursday, May 28 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
- Game 7: Saturday, May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
* if necessary
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
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.
Spurs vs Thunder Same-Game Parlay for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 2
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If Game 2 of the Western Conference finals is anything like the series opener, NBA bettors should probably go ahead and book tomorrow off.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder put in a double OT classic on Monday, and run it back in OKC tonight. My same-game parlay for Game 2 calls for OKC to even the series on the back of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but also respects Victor Wembanyama’s defensive impact at the rim.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Spurs vs. Thunder tonight.
Our best Spurs vs Thunder SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Thunder moneyline
The Oklahoma City Thunder still forced overtime against the San Antonio Spurs despite a dismal opening half in Game 1. The Thunder rallied behind a more aggressive offense, and I see OKC finding that gear earlier in Game 2. OKC is a strong bounce-back team, going 8-0 SU off a playoff loss the past two postseasons.
SGP leg #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 28.5 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was passive in the opening half of Game 1. In previous series, SGA could rely on his teammates to carry the offensive weight when teams clamped down on the MVP. However, he quickly realized he would need to set the tone in the second half. We saw more attacks from Gilgeous-Alexander, and that approach will get him Over his scoring prop tonight. Models call for closer to 30 points in Game 2.
SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
Victor Wembanyama is always a threat to swat your shot into the fifth row. He didn’t have a single block in the first half of Game 1, but once OKC started attacking the interior, he quickly sent back three shots in the second half and overtime. Wemby will patrol the paint with the Thunder not shying away from the Spurs’ 7-footer, providing ample block opportunities in Game 2.
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See our full Spurs vs Thunder Game 2 preview
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The Trail Blazers have laid off employees as part of a restructuring effort
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off employees as new owner Tom Dundon cuts costs.
The exact number of employees who were let go was not made public, but they included staff in both the business and basketball operations.
"These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years,” Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers' president of business operations said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community.”
Dundon leads the group of investors who bought the NBA franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft who died in 2018. The NBA's Board of Governors approved the sale, worth a reported $4.25 billion, in April. Dundon also owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Blazers employees learned of the layoffs during a Tuesday morning video call. Among the employees impacted was digital reporter Casey Holdahl, who had been with the team for 18 years. He announced his fate on social media, thanking fans for engaging with his work.
The move comes as the new owners negotiate with both local and state officials over funding to renovate the Moda Center and secure a long-term lease that would keep the team in Portland.
The Oregon Legislature approved funds for the renovation of the Moda Center in early March. The measure gives the state joint ownership of the 30-year-old arena with the city, and provides a mechanism to secure $365 million for the building’s renovation ahead of the women’s NCAA Final Four in 2030.
The new owners group includes Dundon, Portland-based Sheel Tyle, the co-founder of investment firm Collective Global; Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital; the Cherng Family Trust, the investment firm of the co-founders of Panda Express; Stan Middleman of Freedom Mortgage who also owns a stake in the Philadelphia Phillies.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Boston Celtics Daily Links 5/20/26
HeraldFive players Celtics could target in NBA free agency
GlobeJaylen Brown seems set on confrontation and challenging convention. It’s the All-Star’s way.
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks back from 22 down in fourth quarter to steal Game 1 from Cavaliers in OT
Jason Kidd is out as Mavericks coach, two weeks after Dallas hires new team president Masai Ujiri
CelticsBlogThree possible paths for Brad Stevens and the Celtics this offseason
Jaylen Brown drops the mic—The Week in Green
The Celtics have scheduled 3 more pre-draft workouts
CLNS Media Jaylen Brown vs Stephen A. Smith Feud: Does it Matter? | Garden Report
NESNNick Wright Blasts Stephen A. Smith’s Shadiness During Jaylen Brown Feud
Celtics Predicted To Draft 14.1-Point Forward With High Upside But Long Development Curve
Another Former Celtic Signs Deal To Return To College Basketball
Dave Portnoy Comes To Celtics Jaylen Brown’s Defense Amid Stephen A. Smith Beef
Mass Live Examining 3 more Celtics predraft workouts, potential targets
Former Celtics guard addresses trade rumors ahead of offseason
Celtics WireWhat will the Celtics look like next season?
Could a trade for Giannis bring a culture problem to the Celtics?
Isaiah Thomas on his return to Boston Celtics as a scout
How far are the Boston Celtics from competing with the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs?
Celtics history: Kuberski lost in 1974 expansion draft; Mehen, Freedom born
How the Thunder and the Spurs are changing Celtics, NBA plans
Who will be on the Celtics next season – Giannis? LeBron? Jaylen and Jayson?
Could LeBron James sign with the Celtics this offseason?
The Athletic NBA Players Tiers 2026: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, injured standouts in Tier 3
Who’s most overrated? MVP? Title winner? All 2026 NBA anonymous player poll results
Hardwood Houdini Mavericks would be fools not to look at the Celtics after firing Jason Kidd
Uncomfortable and unavoidable Joe Mazzulla reality is seemingly closer than ever
Brutal moment of deja vu cements painful reality for the Celtics
Celtics reportedly worked out potential sleeper defensive menace ahead of draft
West Finals have Celtics fans at wits’ end with Joe Mazzulla even more
Celtics have four money-saving no-brainers before the hard part begins
Chowder and Champions Cavaliers just learned painful Knicks lesson Celtics know all too well
Thunder-Spurs reality exposes uncomfortable Celtics truth
CLNS Media/YouTubeLIVE: Jaylen Brown vs SAS & Are The Celtics Still Contenders? | The Garden Report
Jaylen Brown vs Stephen A. Smith Feud: Does it MATTER? | Garden Report
What Are the REAL Effects of Jaylen Brown vs Stephen A. Smith? | The Big 3 NBA Podcast
Locked on CelticsBoston Celtics Plan to CONQUER Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs—Why It MATTERS Now
The Huntington News Parquet Report: I cursed the Boston Celtics
NESN/YouTubeHow Far Are The Celtics From Truly Competing With Thunder & Spurs With Sean Grande
WEEI/YouTube What will the Celtics roster look like next season? | Rich & Ken with Ted Johnson
DailyMotion Jaylen Brown: The Controversial Star of the Celtics’ Success
Total Pro SportsKendrick Perkins Exposes Private Messages From Former Celtics Players Criticizing Jaylen Brown
Clutch PointsJaylen Brown admits his mom made him accept special NBA award nomination
The Sports HubIt sounds like the Celtics are still in on the Giannis sweepstakes
The Jaylen Brown-Stephen A. Smith beef, explained (sort of)
SI .com Victor Wembanyama Is Changing Everything About the Boston Celtics Plan for the Future
5 Players the Boston Celtics Could Consider With the 27th Pick in the NBA Draft
Celtics Roundtable Should Somebody With Boston Celtics Have a Talk with Jaylen Brown?
The Sporting NewsJason Kidd’s unsurprising firing reveals Brad Stevens-style front office dream gone wrong
Last Word on Sports Celtics Sign-And-Trade Turning Lemons Into Lemonades With Nic Claxton Blockbuster Swap
Heavy Boston Celtics Floated As Potential Trade Destination For $37.6 Million Big Man
Celtics’ Top Three Offseason Trade Targets Don’t Include Giannis Antetokounmpo
NBA Trade Rumors: Could Jaylen Brown Land With Your Team?
FIBA Basketball Garza ready to make some noise with Bosnia and Herzegovina
Fan RecapCeltics May Already Have Horford Successor Ready
Basketball Network “He’s always a friend to the white folks” – Kwame Brown calls out Stephen A. Smith for targeting black athletes after latest dispute
Fadeaway WorldRudy Gobert Trade Rumors: 3 Potential Destinations If Timberwolves Reset
Stephen A. Smith Warns Jaylen Brown He Could Expose What Celtics And His Teammates Think About Him
Jaylen Brown Reportedly Lost Support From Celtics Legends Amid Recent Controversy
What’s Wright?/YouTube Nick Wright LIGHTS UP Stephen A. Smith for Jaylen Brown THREAT
Victor Wembanyama’s agent called Rob Pelinka to learn more about Kobe Bryant
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals made it abundantly clear that we are clearly in the Victor Wembanyama era in the NBA.
Few players have been as impressive at such a young age as he has been. To qualify it as just impressive, though, is underselling what he’s doing. Dominating a playoff game against the defending champions at just 22 years old is rarefied air.
One of the few players with a relatable trajectory that early in their career was Kobe Bryant. At the age of 22, Bryant was also dominating the playoffs, including a 48-point, 16-rebound performance to sweep the Kings in the second round before a 45-point, 10-rebound showing in Game 1 of the conference finals.
It makes sense, then, that Wemby and his team are interested in Kobe’s mindset at that age. On Wednesday, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote a feature on Wemby, which included an anecdote about Wemby’s agent, Bouna Ndiaye, reaching out to Rob Pelinka, who was Kobe’s agent for the vast majority of his career.
Last April, he called Los Angeles Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who represented Kobe Bryant for much of his career, and scheduled a lunch.
The reason was simple.
“The way they think is different,” Ndiaye told ESPN. “The way they play, the way they stretch themselves. Just their curiosity. How they study and watch things. They’re both very creative on how to solve a problem.”
Wemby and those around him were looking for ways to improve physically without simply bulking up. To the surprise of no one, Pelinka was very willing to talk and shared plenty of stories about Kobe.
Ndiaye nodded along as Pelinka recounted these stories, both men delighting in the intellectual curiosity each of their star clients brought to their craft.
“I wanted to understand how Kobe did things,” Ndiaye told ESPN. “So that we could learn from him. Victor is not like anybody else. We have to be creative to build programs that are unique to him.”
If there’s any criticism about Pelinka divulging stories and wisdom to a conference rival, remember Kobe’s final tweet after watching LeBron James pass him on the all-time scoring list.
It’s awesome to see a young player ascending as Wemby is currently doing. Even if it comes with a tinge of fear that the Lakers will have to go through him to win a title, continuing to move the game forward remains the goal.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
Firing Jason Kidd removes the last reminder of the Luka Doncic trade from Dallas
Jason Kidd signed a four-year, $40-million contract extension after the 2024 season, seemingly cementing him as the Dallas Mavericks head coach for the foreseeable future.
Instead, he was abruptly fired Tuesday, prompting Charles Barkley to exclaim live on the ESPN set, “Oh my goodness! Jason Kidd was just fired. Wow. That’s a shocker.”
Why? It seems that despite Kidd repeatedly asking everyone to “move forward,” his presence was a constant reminder of the Mavericks’ ill-fated trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.
The executive who made the deal — Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison — was fired in November. For a long time it wasn’t clear whether Kidd was an advocate of the deal in which Dallas acquired oft-injured center Anthony Davis or a victim of a front-office blunder.
But Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ former majority owner who currently owns 27% of the team, indicated March 31 on a podcast that Kidd was complicit in the deal.
Read more:Lakers newsletter: How Luka Doncic got his joy back
“I think there was animosity between [Harrison] and some people on Luka’s team — his agent and some of the people around them,” Cuban said. “I don’t think they got along. I think there were issues.
“J-Kidd had coached Anthony Davis and was close to him, and Nico was close to AD since he was like 13 years old. So I think there was some confirmation bias as well. But that doesn’t justify our coach and our general manager to stand up and trade our best player.”
Boom. Cuban turning on the coach he had long supported was telling. Kidd spent 4 ½ years of his 19-year Hall of Fame playing career with Dallas, including helping the team win its only NBA title in 2011.
Kidd soon became a head coach, and after stints in Brooklyn and Milwaukee and two years as a Lakers assistant, Cuban hired the former point guard in 2021.
Under Kidd’s leadership, the Mavericks ascended to the NBA Finals in 2024. But then came the Doncic deal, the finger-pointing and a throaty rebuke by the team’s fans, mostly centered on Harrison.
Read more:Lakers want LeBron James and Austin Reaves to return next season
Cuban linking Kidd to the trade caused the episode to bubble up again recently, much to the exasperation of the coach.
“When are we going to move on? We have to move forward,” Kidd told the Dallas Morning News. “We’re focused on the present and the future, and we’ve got an incredible opportunity to build.”
Someone else will do the building in Dallas under new team president Masai Ujiri. Cuban expressed mixed emotions about the firing in an email to Fox Sports.
“Obviously, I’m a J-Kidd fan,” Cuban wrote. “So I’m surprised and disappointed. But we have to give Masai a chance to see what happens.”
Kidd, considered one of the sharpest minds in the NBA, likely will catch on elsewhere. The Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers are shopping for a new head coach. The Magic courted Kidd five years ago before hiring Jamahl Mosley.
Kidd landed in Dallas instead and seemed in the driver’s seat for a long ride until the Doncic trade. Cuban’s comments were followed on Wednesday by a report from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, who on the “Pat McAfee Show” reported that Kidd supported the decision to move Doncic.
“How involved was Jason Kidd? He wasn’t making the trade, but Mavericks sources do believe that he had a level of support for that trade,” Charania said.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Where to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, May 20
The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to even the Western Conference finals in Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs won the opener 122-115 in double overtime on Monday. The loss was the defending champion Thunder’s first of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
How to Watch San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Wednesday, May 20
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV Channels: NBC, Peacock
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Odds
Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -6.5
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -247 (68.2%) / San Antonio Spurs +201 (31.8%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)
Game 2: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Friday May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Sunday May 24, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Thursday May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
* if necessary
Who do Knicks fans want on Celebrity Row — the Hollywood stars who help or curse the team during playoffs
Is Kylie Jenner the good luck charm the Knicks need to reach the NBA Finals?
Good and bad omens are subjective to some, but when the beauty mogul is on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks average 8.2 more points per game, according to data by Casino.org.
The Knicks are 5-1 when Kylie has attended — an 83.3 percent courtside win rate, with a +13.5 average margin — over the past two seasons with boyfriend and die-hard Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet.
Jenner sat courtside with Chalamet for the Knicks’ 126-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series last month.
After that, the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star took in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 on May 6.
Chalamet, who skipped the past two Met Galas to watch the Knicks, is New York’s biggest celebrity scoring boost, with the team averaging 117.4 points when he has been in attendance — 13.6 points more than in other Knicks games analyzed, per Casino.org.
Jenner was not with Chalamet for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night — a 115-104 overtime comeback win for the Knicks over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
If both are in attendance for Game 2 on Thursday, New York is projected to score around 116 points, per Casino.org.
When the power couple and legendary director Spike Lee, a longtime staple at MSG, sit courtside, the Knicks are 5-0, winning by nearly 20 points per game.
The Knicks are 13-6 in games analyzed in which Lee has been in attendance.
The Knicks did not have the same luck when some other stars sat courtside.
The blue and orange are 0-2 in games in which comedian Jon Stewart and Olympic gymnast Suni Lee were in attendance.
Other Knicks die-hards such as Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan were not included in the data.
Casino.org US analyzed more than 280 publicly reported celebrity appearances at NBA games involving the four remaining playoff teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Some impressive stats from an incredible ECF Game 1
Last night’s win will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable games for Knicks fans of all generations. It had a bad start, questionable decisions, a historic comeback, clutch shots, and big moments. But somewhat lost in all of the memories, and incredible on-court performances are some of the numbers that sound anywhere from incredible to downright unbelievable.
So, here is a list of some of the most noteworthy stats from a noteworthy game, brought to you by reporters, analysts, and Knicks fans from all over.
Let’s start with the low point. When the Cavaliers were up 93-71 with 7:49 left in the game, ESPN Analytics had the Knicks with just a 0.1% chance to win the game. Until last night, teams trailing by 22 points or more in the fourth quarter of a playoff game were 1-594.
Teams up 20 or more in the final seven minutes of a fourth quarter in a playoff game were also 643-0 before last night.
Teams were also 3-747 in games where they were down 20 or more at any point in the fourth quarter.
As we all know now, they turned things around due to some lineup changes, a heroic effort by Jalen Brunson, a few clutch baskets by role players, and a side of Kenny Atkinson, and the Cavaliers choking. Noted by many, the Knicks ended up going on an insane 44-11 run.
And much of the run was powered by Brunson, his shot-making, and him getting James Harden to switch on to him seemingly at will. According to ALL NBA Podcast, Harden was the screener defender on 21 on-ball picks in the final two periods. New York got 1.6 points per direct actions on those plays. He also guarded eight isolations in the fourth quarter-something that has only happened 30 times during the tracking era-and gave up an absurd 1.88 points per direct actions on those, which was the most of such instances since the 2013-14 season.
Brunson, as he does so often, also etched his name into the history books. He extended his lead for most playoff points since joining the Knicks, most 35+ points playoff games since he became a Knick, and now has more 35-point playoff games than 99.7% of all players in NBA history.
He also raised his average to 29.4PPG in the playoffs as a Knick, which is sixth all-time among players who have played 50 or more playoff games with one franchise.
And he also became the second-fastest point guard in NBA history to reach 2,000 career playoff points, trailing only Steph Curry.
We also cannot talk about Game 1 without mentioning Mikal Bridges and his late-game heroics. Not only was he one of the few players to start the game relatively well, but he also made two of the three biggest shots in the game, and the Knicks do not win this game without him. In fact, Bridges is playing maybe his best stretch of basketball as a Knick. He’s been incredible all postseason long defensively, and has been amazing offensively over his last six games, averaging 18.7PPG, while shooting 67.1% from the floor.
While Tuesday night’s thriller wasn’t the dominant performance fans have gotten accustomed to seeing from this team, they have now won eight straight games, haven’t lost a game in 27 days, and have outscored opponents by an absurd 196 points during that span.
It can be hard to sometimes appreciate greatness while we are in the moment. But this is a reminder that this is a very good team that is always capable of coming back from a large deficit, and is led by one of the greatest playoff performers of all-time. Enjoy it, and don’t take it for granted.
LeBron James to tape live podcast with Tyrese Haliburton in NYC at Fanatics Fest on July 16
NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James will likely have a few things to say about free agency, the state of the NBA and his own future on July 16.
James — the NBA's all-time leading scorer — will be appearing at Fanatics Fest NYC that day at the Javits Center in New York and recording a live version of the “Mind the Game” video podcast with Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton, the sports apparel giant announced Wednesday.
The taping will come roughly 2 1/2 weeks after the start of NBA free agency. James has not yet announced if he will return next season for a 24th year of his record-setting career. He just finished his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers and could elect to stay with that team or sign elsewhere as a free agent.
Whatever his choice is, it would seem likely that James announces something long before that July 16 podcast taping.
“None of us in here know what the future holds,” James said last week when the Lakers' season ended with a second-round playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “None of us. Nobody has any idea what the future holds. And I don’t either. Like I said, I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future. And when I get to that point, everyone will know.”
Fanatics Fest will run through July 19 — the day of the FIFA World Cup final, being played nearby in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The event will play host to the teams that make the World Cup final for news conferences on July 17.
The “Mind the Game” episode with James and Haliburton will be released on July 21 on YouTube, Prime Video and other platforms.
The event is a sports fan festival, with organizers describing it as “bringing together athletes, leagues, collectors, brands, and fans for a multi-day celebration of sports and culture.” Many of the biggest names in sports are expected to attend over the four days.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba