A BetMGM user won nearly half a million dollars Tuesday thanks to the New York Knicks’ improbable overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1.
The user laddered $775,000 in wagers on five different Knicks spread lines, resulting in $466,718 in winnings.
Key Takeaways
The bets ranged from $75,000 on Knicks -2.5 to $70,000 on Knicks -6.5.
This same bettor won several spread ladders for five- and six-figure payouts earlier in the playoffs.
ESPN Analytics said the Knicks only had a 0.1% live chance to win Tuesday.
The Knicks trailed the Cavs by 22 points with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation. Teams that had faced a deficit of that size at any point in the fourth quarter were 1-594 since 1997-98.
With 7:49 remaining, the Knicks had fallen to a 0.1% chance to take the Eastern Conference finals opener. New York went on a 30-8 run from that point until the end of the quarter before eventually stealing the game in overtime, 115-104.
According to ESPN Analytics, the Knicks win probability was as low as 0.1% 🤯
Teams trailing by 22 points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since 1997-98 were 1-594 entering Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vk7NUIilGQ
While the Knicks took a morale-boosting series lead in front of their home fans, perhaps nobody secured a bigger win than the BetMGM user. Their five-staged bet slip required the Knicks to win by at least seven points to maximize the winnings, meaning they needed every ounce of magic in the comeback to get there.
The Knicks went on to win the overtime period 14-3, giving them an 11-point margin of victory.
The bettor’s wagers included:
$75,000 on Knicks -2.5 (-210)
$350,000 on Knicks -3.5 (-185)
$185,000 on Knicks -4.5 (-160)
$95,000 on Knicks -5.5 (-140)
$70,000 on Knicks -6.5 (-120)
A winning history
BetMGM has not confirmed the identity of the big-bank bettor - but they did offer a clue.
Earlier in the playoffs, BetMGM shared that one user won a series of similarly laddered spread bets for multiple five- and six-figure payouts.
In Game 2 of the conference semifinals between the Detroit Pistons and Cavaliers, the user risked $225,000 for a total payout of $419,641.58. They followed that up on the same day by placing $190,000 in bets on the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover against the Los Angeles Lakers, claiming $291,860.10 after the defending champs won by 18 points.
BetMGM did not provide a name for the bettor, but he was referred to as “our ladder bettor” in the tweet promoting the wagers for Tuesday’s matchup.
No ladder wagers have been shared for any upcoming games. That lines up with previous rounds, during which the bettor only laddered spreads for select contests. Plus, they may still be recovering from the sweat of the Knicks’ historic victory.
The conference finals have already provided two of the most exciting games of the year, and both needed extra time to produce a winner.
While the San Antonio Spurs find themselves up 1-0 over the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKC is still a +130 leader in NBA championship odds and -115 to win the West. The Spurs are +150 to win it all and -105 to advance to the Finals.
The Knicks are +400 to win the NBA Finals and strong -450 favorites to advance past their ongoing series. The Cavs have the longest championship odds on the board at +4,000 and are +350 to eliminate New York.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks prays prior to the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’ve never done time in San Quentin, but MSG must have felt like the legendary penitentiary. James might be able to tell you after spending Tuesday at the venue.
Torture chambers weren’t meant for multipurpose arenas, but there they were. Intimidated, threatened, bullied, harassed, coerced, and terrorized. Ultimately, all of it combined for the men in black to get disgraced.
Neither Mike nor Kenny called for a late break. The former wanted and was denied, while the latter didn’t even entertain it— nor benching Harden.
You see, anyway, them the Knicks. They got both the lead plumber and the pipe fixer. Dr. Mario got the pills, the beard trimmer, and the ill will.
Duck after duck, the Cavs saw their advantage vaporize. Large feet didn’t win in their first-ever ECF trip. Bright lights were too bright for the former Brooklynites.
Lose by 40 or lose by 10, a loss’ a loss that you can’t escape.
According to ESPN Analytics, the Knicks win probability was as low as 0.1% 🤯
Teams trailing by 22 points in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since 1997-98 were 1-594 entering Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vk7NUIilGQ
Who takes his place? Who is the next head coach in Dallas?
Kidd's exit — as well as that of other members of the scouting, analytics and front office staff in a house-cleaning — was orchestrated by new team president Masai Ujiri. He has established that this is going to be his franchise, run his way, with his people. And we have seen Ujiri hire two coaches before, both in Toronto: Nick Nurse (2018) and Darko Rajaković (2023). Neither was a head coach before, although both had some experience as head coaches in the G League or internationally, and both were seen as rising stars. As ESPN's Tim MacMahon put it on The Hoop Collective Podcast, Ujiri is looking for the "next great coach," not a retread. So who are the names to watch?
Sean Sweeney
Sweeney is still busy as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs, but he's also a name mentioned by ESPN's MacMahon and Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
Sweeney is seen as one of the top assistant coaches in the league and at or near the front of the "he should get a chance" line. He also has ties to the Dallas Mavericks, having been on Kidd's staff between 2021 and 2025. Sweeney is reportedly on the list of coaches the Chicago Bulls want to talk to about their open head coaching position — but thanks to Cooper Flagg, Dallas would be a much more appealing job.
Micah Nori
The longtime assistant coach has been Chris Finch's right-hand man in Minnesota for the past five years. Nori is also at the front of the line for assistants who have interviewed for other jobs and deserve a shot somewhere.
Stein mentions Nori along with Sweeney as guys seen as around the league as potentially being star head coaches somewhere.
Billy Donovan
While it goes against Ujiri's pattern in past hires, Donovan is a proven NBA coach with a strong reputation and is the best and biggest name on the market, and Donovan has to at least be considered. Along those same lines, James Borrego — the former Hornets coach who did a respectable job stepping in as the interim coach in New Orleans last season — could get a look.
Donovan walked away from the Chicago Bulls this summer, saying he wanted to coach meaningful games for a team that is thinking playoffs, and ideally a deep playoff run. It’s why he’s considered the frontrunner in Orlando. Dallas, with Cooper Flagg, presents that same kind of opportunity, the chance to help build and be part of something lasting. Donovan at least has to be a name to watch.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder delivered an instant classic in Game 1. A competitive Game 2 tonight should be more than enough for an encore.
These Spurs vs. Thunder props and NBA picks recognize the lineup adjustments that already came to pass in Game 1, and that's why Dylan Harper's assist prop stands out as incredible value on Wednesday, May 20.
Game 2 Prop #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points
-110 at bet365
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played well in Game 1, a sentence made true because his 12 assists made up for wretched shooting. Facing Victor Wembanyama is a reality; SGA needs to shoot better than 7-for-23 despite that reality.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder star to reach 30 points may be bold, but realize he scored 24 points despite his terrible shooting. It is only fair to remove overtime from his stats to get a better baseline: Gilgeous-Alexander went 6-for-19 in regulation for 22 points.
So, realize he still scored 22 points in regulation despite shooting 31.6% from the field.
One way or another, expect Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting to improve in Game 2, even if that comes from throwing his body to the floor to get to the free-throw line more often.
Game 2 Prop #2: Dylan Harper Over 3.5 assists
+125 at bet365
De’Aaron Fox is officially questionable for Game 2, a game-time decision with a sprained ankle lingering from the last round. Logic suspects Fox will not play.
The San Antonio Spurs have a 1-0 lead in the series; they do not intend to ease up in Game 2, but it would be only human nature, just as it will be human nature for the Thunder to play with distinct desperation.
Which is all to say, the Spurs may look at tonight as a likely loss with or without Fox. Getting him closer to 100% health for Games 3 and 4 should take priority.
If Fox does indeed miss tonight, that will lead to more minutes for Dylan Harper, though Harper’s postseason play already demands more minutes. His six assists in Game 1 come across as inflated — two did come in overtime — but the ball is in Harper’s hands more often for a reason. He has become San Antonio’s third-best player, and that assessment might actually be true with or without Fox in the lineup.
This prop bet makes sense because of those plus-money odds. If this were priced at -110, it would not be worth pondering. But +125 simply ignores how vital Harper has become for the Spurs.
Game 2 Prop #3: Isaiah Hartenstein Under 4.5 rebounds
-135 at bet365
This is not going to be Isaiah Hartenstein’s series. He cannot defend Victor Wembanyama. Hartenstein’s strength is mitigated on the perimeter and in transition.
He played just 12 minutes in Game 1, including exactly nine seconds in the 10 minutes of overtime.
Hartenstein totaled two points and two rebounds in his 12 minutes in Game 1. Those might be his series averages.
Until oddsmakers drop his props to 3.5, bet these Unders. It is not a knock on Hartenstein that he will play so little in this series; it is simply another way in which Wembanyama changes every game he is in.
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The San Antonio Spurs drew first blood with a double-overtime thriller in Game 1, but our expert NBA picks expect the Oklahoma City Thunder stars to do their part in trying to even the series up tonight.
See what our basketball experts are keying in on as their best bets for Game 2, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. in OKC.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 28.5 points
Price: -105 at bet365
Don't overthink this one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a back-to-back MVP, an elite scorer, and his team needs him more than ever right now. This total is sitting at 28.5 points — not 30.5 or 31.5, which is more typical for Gilgeous-Alexander — and a big reason for that is he finished well below his scoring totals in the previous series... because the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t need his scoring against the Lakers. Now, down 0-1 in the series, elevated minutes and usage are absolutely on the table in this spot. If you go back and watch Game 1, where he shot 7-for-23 from the field, he was still getting to his spots in the mid-range. He just missed shots he normally makes. Mark Daigneault is also an excellent coach, and I expect him to run actions designed to pull Victor Wembanyama away from the paint as a help defender against SGA. At 28.5 points, I think this is a number we can attack, as I price the Over closer to -155.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Jalen Williams Over 9.5 rebounds + assists
Price: -105 at bet365
Jalen Williams was suddenly OKC’s busiest shooter in his Game 1 return, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing passively in the opening half. As SGA got more aggressive in the second half, Williams’ playmaking potential ticked up. He finished with only three assists on six potential dimes, but he settles back into his role tonight after averaging 5.5 assists on the season. As for the boards, Williams hauled in seven rebounds on 16 chances in Game 1. Most models have Williams’ assist forecast flirting with five dimes, and his rebounding projections all lean toward five boards tonight.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Under 216.5
Price: -110 at bet365
This matchup features elite offenses on both sides, but Game 1 showed how impactful the defenses can be, with just 202 combined points scored in regulation. The pace also slowed dramatically after the opening quarter, as the teams played at an average pace of 89.3 from quarters two through four. For comparison, the slowest average team pace during the regular season was 95.58. While Game 1 won’t perfectly predict tonight's tempo, it’s hard to expect an up-and-down game coming off Monday’s double-overtime battle.
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There's no way Game 2 can live up to Game 1…. Can it? Could our hearts and minds even take it?
Game 1 will be remembered for Victor Wembanyama's dominance — and his ridiculous 3-pointer from Stephen Curry range to force double-overtime. However, Game 1 was really a master class in defense from both teams. The Spurs won but had an offensive rating of 108, which would have been the league's worst this season, and was 12.3 per 100 possessions worse than their regular-season average. OKC's offensive rating of 102.7 was 16.5 points below its season average (stats via Cleaning the Glass).
Both teams struggled to score or get to their pet plays, resulting in fewer buckets. How they adapt in Game 2 will be one of the most interesting things to watch on Wednesday night.
Here are three things to keep an eye on in Game 2, where the Spurs are looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
You can watch Game 2 from OKC starting at 8:30 ET on NBC, or stream it on Peacock.
What do Thunder do about Wembanyama?
Maybe the better question would be: "Is there anything the Thunder can do about Wembanyama?"
"Everything's on the table," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said on Tuesday. "In these series, you can't just throw one pitch throughout the whole series…
"But in these series, one of the things you got to do is you got to figure out what the problems are, and you got to put the fires out pretty quickly. And so that's our challenge and we got to work on that with the team."
For all the focus on Wembanyama's 41 points and offensive production, it was his defense that really changed the game — he forced the Thunder to reconsider every drive into the paint. Chet Holmgren would grab an offensive rebound and hesitate to go back up, such is Wemby's presence.
There is no simple answer to this, but the one adjustment ties into our next topic — the Thunder need shooters all over the floor when Wembanyama is on the court to force him out to the arc, and then those shooters have to actually hit shots. Sounds much more simple than it is.
On the other end of the court, Alex Caruso spent the most time guarding Wembanyama in Game 1, according to NBA tracking data, and at least limited his shots. Jalen Williams particularly struggled with the matchup, with Wembanyama only missing one shot while Williams covered him. Chet Holmgren has moments, but can't slow him consistently. Isaiah Hartenstein can't be on the floor with Wemby (because he's a non-shooter, which allows Wembanyama to hang out around the rim on defense without consequence, which is why Hartenstein was subbed out two minutes into Game 1 and likely doesn't start Game 2).
Expect Daigneault to throw a variety of looks at Wembanyama, but the real key may be this: Oklahoma City needs to win the non-Wembanyama minutes by more than the nine they did in Game 1.
Can either team find an offensive groove?
With two of the top three defenses in the league facing off, we knew this would be a low-scoring series, but Game 1 was a defensive masterclass from both teams. Points were at a premium and will be all series — neither of these teams rolls to an easy target to exploit (like the Knicks did to James Harden and the Cavaliers).
For Oklahoma City, they need better performances from Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell, flat out. Same with the streaky Lu Dort. Those guys combined for 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting. They may not get the clean looks they're accustomed to, but they need to knock down the shots they get.
Expect the Thunder also to try to get the ball to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more on the move or in more favorable matchups, not that there are great ones against a deep San Antonio lineup of defenders.
Daigneault has to play shooters every second Wembanyama is on the court and ruthlessly sit anyone cold. This is where the Thunder's depth comes into play. Not everyone is going to have an Alex Caruso night, but the Thunder need more players closer to that than we saw in Game 1.
The Spurs will keep trying to run everything through Wembanyama, but they need just more efficient shooting as well: Julian Champagnie was 3-of-11 from deep, Devin Vassell was 5-of-12 overall and even Stephon Castle, who had a good game, shot 5-of-14 overall and 1-of-6 from 3. They need more ball movement and to finish their contested shots better. One thing that may help with that is…
How does De’Aaron Fox’s return spark Spurs?
After missing Game 1 with ankle soreness, starting point guard De'Aaron Fox is set to return in Game 2. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said this is just something that will linger through the playoffs, and Fox will play through it as best he can.
One area where Fox's return matters: The Spurs had 23 turnovers in Game 1, resulting in 28 Thunder points. Fox, a veteran point guard and floor general, will help cut down that number and the easy buckets the Thunder get in transition off them. That alone will help boost the Spurs' offense.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 18: Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks look on during the first quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA coaching carousel is spinning today, and Dub Nation needs to take a second to look at the full picture.
Jason Kidd is out in Dallas after five seasons, and before we say anything else, let’s give J-Kidd his flowers. He’s a Bay Area legend and Hall of Famer. He’s absolutely one of the greatest point guards to ever lace them up. He took the Mavs to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 NBA Finals. That’s generational work for a franchise that hasn’t sniffed success since Dirk Nowitzki and Kidd won a title 15 years ago as players.
But this just shows exactly how cold this business is. New president Masai Ujiri got full authorization to determine his future per ESPN, and after taking your franchise to the Finals two years prior Coach Kidd is out of the picture. And with that, Kidd, Jalen Brunson, and of course Luka Doncic are now gone from a team that the Warriors knocked out of the Western Conference Finals in 2022, at a time when the Mavs looked like a team that was up next.
EXCLUSIVE: Jason Kidd didn't just part ways with the Mavs—a league source tells me simply:
“He wanted out.”
So what’s next? Think a J-Kidd & Giannis reunion in Minnesota?
“Not out of the question,” says a trusted league fixture.
Now look across the league at what’s happening in San Francisco.
In the final moments of the Warriors’ season, Steve Kerr quietly told Steph Curry and Draymond Green that he loved them both, then sat in a hotel lobby bar in Phoenix with his coaching staff counting the years they’d all spent in the game together. And after a month of genuine internal conflict, walks with Lulu through the Presidio, sandwiches at Golden Gate Deli, and real conversations with Steph, Dray, Joe Lacob, and his own family, he said yes to coming back.
That contrast should hit different right now.
Kerr’s loyalty isn’t blind sentimentality. It’s earned, deliberate, and mutual. Lacob and Dunleavy sat with him and asked one shared question: what honored the Warriors’ past while setting the franchise up for the best future? The four Larry O’Brien Trophies in Lacob’s office are standing monuments to what this relationship is about. That’s a front office that treats its coach like a partner, not an employee with an expiration date.
Dallas handed J-Kidd a 26-56 season after trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, a deal that Kidd insisted he wasn’t aware of until the eleventh hour, then showed him the door when a new regime walked in. Ujiri will build something in Dallas eventually. He always does. But don’t let the business language of “new direction” fool you into thinking a Finals trip two years ago didn’t happen. I’ll be interested to check out the opinions of those who watched his coaching tenure; will Coach Kidd get another landing spot soon?
I covered Jason Kidd when he played for the Nets. I know one of his childhood friends. I've been to his house, met his kids, then-wife, and Pilates Instructor. And I have insight from many people who worked with him in his coaching years. This is a great firing.
Meanwhile, Steve Kerr is coaching Steph Curry hopefully until the end of both of their careers.
Kerr himself said he was the luckiest coach in NBA history because he lucked into over a decade of Steph. I’m definitely gonna believe J-Kidd deserves better than what Dallas gave him. LET HIM COOK, DAMN!
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The Garden is in full bloom.
Following their nine-day (!) hiatus from playoff basketball, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks miraculously triumphed over Donovan Mitchell’s Cleveland Cavaliers in a comeback victory for the ages at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Find a way,” Brunson said after scoring 38, including a heroic layup to send the game into overtime. “We got some stops, kept fighting, kept believing. We just kept chipping away.”
Next up, Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart and KAT will start from scratch and attempt to do it all over again in Game 2 at MSG on Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. EST.
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are still available for the sure-to-be electric contest at the Garden the House that Brunson Built.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for Game 2 was $715 including fees on SeatGeek.
Potential home Games 5 and 7 back in NYC — if the series goes that far — are quite a bit pricier starting at $878 including fees.
While prohibitively expensive, it’s hard to put a price on playoff basketball- especially when it’s this good.
Case in point, Yahoo! Sports described witnessing the Knicks’ already historic fourth-quarter rally where Jalen Brunson led the team on an improbable 44-11 run as “something akin to a full-scale collective out-of-body experience.”
“I don’t know if I’ve seen that in a playoff game,” Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown said afterwards. “I don’t know if I’ve been a part of it.”
“What did I just see? Let’s gooooo,” Oscar nominee and Knicks diehard Timothée Chalamet shared in an Instagram Story.
Kicking yourself for missing Game 1?
No need to worry, Knicks fans.
Our team has everything you need to know about Game 2 of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals series at Madison Square Garden below.
New York Knicks playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks Eastern Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets, can be found here:
New York Knicks home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 2 Thursday, May 21
$715(including fees)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 27 (if necessary)
$878(including fees)
Game 7 Sunday, May 31 (if necessary)
$1,124(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers playoff home game tickets
All Cavs Rocket Arena playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Cleveland Cavaliers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 23
$257 (including fees)
Game 4 Monday, May 25
$160 (including fees)
Game 6 Friday, May 29(if necessary)
$233 (including fees)
How to watch the Knicks and Cavs on TV
Fans hoping to catch Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on MSG, ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC, and NBA TV.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Sep 29, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly speaks to the media during media day at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
It was the third straight season in which the Wolves got demolished in their final game of the season. In 2024, it was the Dallas Mavericks, and last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to the championship, both in the Western Conference Finals.
This time, against the Spurs, the end of the season came a round earlier, and against a seven-foot-six Frenchman who seems primed to dominate the league, with a cast of 26-and-under players who are all years away from their primes.
Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly spoke to the media Tuesday to put a bow on the Timberwolves’ 2025-26 season and discuss where the franchise is heading moving forward.
“Our goal to start the season was to be a home playoff team. We weren’t,” Connelly said. “Our goal was to get further than we did last year. We didn’t. So those things kind of demand action, and we’ll see how those things take shape. We want to win more than we won this year.”
Connelly made it clear that the Timberwolves need to get better, saying, “We finished sixth in the West again, and it didn’t end the way we wanted, so I think everything is on the table.” Connelly continued, “We have to be realistic about what we have, which is way more good than bad, but know that we’re not good enough right now.”
Tim Connelly on the Timberwolves moving forward: “It would be disingenuous for me to be sitting here in front of this crew and say, 'Hey we're happy with the sixth seed. We're happy with not be a home court playoff team. We're happy that our last three closeout games have been… pic.twitter.com/A2yuas5Iem
With the last two teams to eliminate the Timberwolves, the Spurs and Thunder, currently battling it out in this year’s West Finals, the goal is clear. Minnesota needs to make moves to improve the roster, or else be destined to be taken out by one of the same two teams every year.
“I think the equation changes when you see the two teams playing in the Western Conference [Finals] right now,” Connelly explained. “We got smacked by Oklahoma City last year, we got smacked by San Antonio…We know our competition is not gonna sit still, and nor will we.”
While the Spurs and Thunder are certainly the measuring stick in terms of quality, the Timberwolves president pushed back on the idea that the Wolves need to build their team with the sole focus of taking down one or both of those teams.
“I think it’s dangerous because if they were specific solely to the San Antonio matchup, you take your ball and go home a little bit right now,” Connelly stated. “We’re not going to sit here for the next two months and solely focus on our ability to match up with the Spurs.”
“I think on the most simplistic level, if you have enough good players, and we have a great, great one in Anthony, you’re going to be a good team. So I don’t think you want to lose sight of that.”
Connelly has made his opinion clear; it is more important to stack as much talent as possible than to chase certain players that might have an advantage in a certain matchup. In Connelly’s eyes, it makes more sense to acquire the best players possible and retrofit the team’s identity around who is on the roster.
The Timberwolves President didn’t get into specifics about how he would improve the roster or what players may be a target for the team this offseason, but did give an insight into his philosophy around putting together a championship team.
“The risk is all self-induced pressure,” Connelly said. “I’d rather get fired for trying than just sit here and be in job survival mode.” He continued, “We’re not going to have a blind appetite for risk just because. But until you win it all, I think you’ve got to just keep playing hands.”
Two years ago, on the night of the NBA Draft, the Timberwolves took a risk and traded their 2031 first-round pick unprotected, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham. That risk did not pay off, as at the recent trade deadline, the Wolves traded Dillingham to the Chicago Bulls for Ayo Dosunmu.
Dosunmu has shined in his brief stint in Minnesota, including a 43-point performance in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets after both Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards went down with injuries.
With Dosunmu’s contract expiring this offseason, Connelly made it clear that retaining Dosunmu was one of his priorities heading into the summer, stating, “Ayo’s our most important free agent.” Connelly finished his answer about Dosunmu, saying, “We’re pretty optimistic that we’ll get something done there. He’s everything we thought and more.”
The other piece of the organization that Connelly is intent on keeping is Head Coach Chris Finch. While many fans online may want a new look in that position, Connelly and the Timberwolves organization have total confidence in Finch.
“I think Finch is great. I think we have a fantastic coaching staff.” Connelly said. “It’s not an easy job. He was masterful, I think, in the Denver series. We’re not here without Finchy. The playoff success we’ve had. I’m just thankful that he’s a partner and thankful that he’s our head coach.”
It is unclear exactly which direction the Timberwolves will take. Will they trade one or both of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, who have been key players during their time in Minnesota? Will they be able to make a big swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would be sure to make waves both in Minnesota and across the NBA?
What is clear is that Connelly and the Timberwolves know they cannot just stand pat. They have to improve the team and cannot let continuity further devolve into complacency. While Minnesota is expereinceing it’s golden age in the franchise’s history, one thing was made apparent by Connelly at Tuesday’s press conference at the Wolves’ practice facility: the team needs to get better.
“We’ve had success the last couple years, and we have to take that next step.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks smiles after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What. A. Game.
The Knicks were down 93-71 with 7:40 left in Tuesday’s series opener at Madison Square Garden. No matter how optimistic you are, this game was over.
At that moment in time, I was just trying to mentally move on to Game 2, the same way I did after that stunning loss to Indiana last year in Game 1. Splitting at home is not the end of the world, and regardless of how this game went, I knew that the Knicks were capable of picking themselves up and making the adjustments they needed to come out firing on Thursday.
Well, I was right in my belief; it just happened two days sooner. It was the most unbelievable stretch of basketball I’ve ever watched in my entire life.
Jalen Brunson outscored an entire team by himself over the last 14 minutes of the game.
The Knicks, who have had some incredible runs and quarters in this playoff run, somehow topped themselves with a 44-11 run to end the game.
I don’t care if the average NBA fan might prefer the true avalanche of triples that willed the Pacers to a win in Game 1 last year. This game completely erased the stench of one of the most mortifying losses I’ve experienced as a sports fan. Regardless of what happens in this series and beyond, the Knicks got their getback from the utter humilation they experienced at the hands of Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton.
But how did they do this? Was it as simple as finally making their threes and Cleveland cooling off? While, of course, a comeback of that caliber is impossible without certain things that don’t necessarily require schematic shifts, there were several things that the Knicks managed to pick up on during the game that helped them rally.
Even if they hadn’t come all the way back. Even if Sam Merrill’s in-and-out shot in the final seconds of regulation went in to let Cleveland escape with a win, these changes are something that they’ll absolutely be able to apply moving forward and do to prevent themselves from falling into such a large deficit in the first place.
No Longer Doubling The Ball
The adjustment that the Knicks made after falling behind 1-2 to the Atlanta Hawks four weeks ago was pretty straightforward.
We’re not going to let CJ McCollum beat us. Blitz every screen, show every action, make him make a play.
It worked to a tremendous degree, so they applied it again to Tyrese Maxey in the next series.
It worked again, so they decided to stick with it against a turnover-prone James Harden to start this series.
In the first half, it did work. Harden was making bad decisions and the Cavs were missing the good looks they were getting when good ball movement left the Knicks helpless on a 4-on-3, but when Cleveland drained six of their last seven threes to end the half, the warts really started to show.
Out of the locker room, the Knicks kept at it, and the Cavs continued to beat it with excellent precision. You could tell it was their emphasis coming out of the locker room. If the Knicks’ offense didn’t heat up and Cleveland was able to abuse this defensive coverage, they had Game 1 in the bag.
Look at how Harden finds Jarrett Allen in the center of the court and collapses the defense. On every one of these possessions, there’s a shooter open. Dennis Schroder, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill, it didn’t matter. You had to choose one of them to leave open because of the 4-on-3 and they kept making you pay.
If it wasn’t an open three, it was an open layup. Hard closeouts on shooters led to driving lanes and cuts to the rim by Allen and Evan Mobley that the Knicks couldn’t stop. There were also times where Donovan Mitchell was just able to drive straight to the rim with ease.
No timeout effectively stopped the double-teaming, but after Merrill’s three-pointer with 3:05 left in the third quarter, the Knicks primarily switched their coverage to straight-up. The rest of the way, Cleveland scored just a grand total of 27 points in 20 minutes.
The only times I noticed the Knicks doubling the ball after that were on sporadic possessions, but also during Cleveland’s collapse. The blitzing worked in the first half when their offense was out of sorts, so returning to it when the sky is falling on them can work.
Ultimately, the Knicks cannot enter Game 2 thinking that Cleveland won’t abuse this coverage if attempted. I know it’s a scary proposition to deal with Harden or Mitchell 1-on-1, but it’s as rare as a blue moon when both of them are on their game at the same time, and we saw that again today. It’s enticing to try to force turnovers at half-court, but they have too much shooting to let them continue to exploit it.
Attacking James Harden
Through three quarters, I was pretty impressed watching how Harden was holding up defensively. After all, his reputation is certainly not the best on that end.
But a nearly 37-year-old man did not suddenly wake up and become good defensively, no matter if he has three inches and 30 pounds on Brunson. The final eight minutes of the first half were a schematic masterpiece for a Knicks offense that was abysmal in the first 40. The Cavs were voluntarily giving up a switch between Dean Wade and Harden and allowing Brunson to get to his spot repeatedly against the former MVP. Just watch this masterpiece.
— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) May 20, 2026
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges repeatedly drew Wade away from the action to leave Harden on an island, and it wasn’t until the Knicks had come all the way back that they finally sent a double team with Merrill. By that time, Brunson was willing to give the ball up to OG Anunoby, who further opened up the offense with hard drives to the rim that opened up three-point looks for Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges.
Give the Knicks enough time, and they’ll find your defensive weakness. They did it with Joel Embiid; they figured out how to do it with Harden. The Cavs will certainly adjust one way or another, but the game plan into Game 2 is clear: Let Jalen Brunson go to work against single coverage all day, every day.
I love Josh Hart. He’s an extremely important part of this team, both on and off the court. If the Knicks are going to end a 53-year long championship drought, their glue guy is going to be a massive part of it.
But sometimes, it’s not your series. It’s really early, but all of the data suggests that Hart might be out of place here. After all, if he’s not a willing shooter who’s able to somewhat consistently make shots, it freezes up the Knicks’ offense with the ghost coverage that opponents are able to play.
Hart was minus-23 in 31 minutes. The Knicks outscored the Cavaliers by 34 points in 22 minutes with him on the bench. That entire run in the fourth quarter and overtime was with him on the bench. He wasn’t providing enough defensively to make up for what he was doing to the offense.
There’s value to Hart in this series, but he needs to be used differently. The starting lineup has now been absolutely decimated in three combined matchups against the Cavs this year, putting up a net rating worse than -30 in 43 combined minutes, getting the team off to a slow start on Christmas, and struggling in February and last night.
I believed that Mitchell Robinson was the answer if the Knicks ever needed to change the starting five in this series, but the answer might be the likes of Deuce McBride or Landry Shamet after what we just witnessed.
Granted, it’s one game. It’s statistical noise. The Knicks didn’t just find a lineup that turns the Cavs into goop on both ends of the floor, but there are stylistic reasons why a change there could be beneficial.
For one, Shamet did a great job on Mitchell when he defended him, and it allowed Bridges to frustrate Harden with his length, while Anunoby did what he does best off the ball. If you go to Mitch, you match up with the Cavs’ double big lineup and take away any rebounding disadvantage that the Knicks seemed to have early in this game.
There are multiple factors that Mike Brown is going to need to consider over the next two days heading into Game 2, but you have to hope that a guy who was hired to be innovative with the lineups won’t revert to something that doesn’t work for extended stretches.
The two NBA teams will first face one another on Jan. 14, 2027 at Accor Arena in Paris and then play again on Jan. 17 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. This will be the sixth time the NBA has contested a regular-season game in Paris and it will be the first regular-season game in Manchester.
The Spurs also played two regular-season games in Paris against the Indiana Pacers during Wembanyama's second season in January 2025. The 7-foot-4 French superstar was born and raised in the city's suburbs and began his professional career playing for clubs in the area before debuting in the NBA. Next year's trip will represent the first time the Spurs have appeared in a game in England.
The NBA has been playing games abroad since 1978 and ramped up its presence internationally more than 30 years ago. But it is seeking greater influence in European basketball at the moment, with plans on starting an NBA Europe league also backed by FIBA that could could begin play as soon as October 2027. The NBA is also scheduled to play regular-season games in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
The Pelicans finished with a 26-56 record and traded away their 2026 first-round pick to move up in last year's draft and select promising rookie Derik Queen. They also have veterans Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and guard Dejounte Murray, but could see the roster change this offseason under new coach Jamahl Mosley and lead executive Joe Dumars.
This will be the first time the franchise plays games in France and England.
"These games provide a unique platform to showcase our team, our culture and our community to global audiences while building meaningful relationships with fans, partners and communities abroad," Dumars said in a statement. "We are grateful to be part of the NBA’s continued international growth efforts, and we are excited to help grow the game globally and connect with new generations of basketball fans."
Jan 21, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carson Towt (33) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The NBA Draft Combine is now over, and there are three Tar Heels that could have their name called on draft night should nobody withdraw their name. Two of those Tar Heels have already fully committed, but Matt Able is the guy that may or may not decide to return to college and play under Michael Malone. There is also the Seth Trimble situation, but that situation is somewhat complicated.
But now that we’re done with the combine, ESPN released their latest NBA Mock Draft yesterday, and there was some movement that UNC fans may be interested in. That said, let’s take a look at where ESPN has each player landing in the draft.
Caleb Wilson —1st Round, 4th overall pick to the Chicago Bulls
There was a lot of speculation before the combine that Caleb Wilson could potentially move into the top three of the NBA Draft, but that possibility has disappeared according to most outlets. While NBA scouts have stated there’s no real order when it comes to the top four players of the draft, it is feeling more and more like Wilson is destined to become a Chicago Bull.
The Bulls have finally decided to tear everything down to the studs and are officially in rebuild mode. With a new front office, a new head coach that hasn’t been named yet, loads of cap space, and two first-round picks, the Bulls are in an ideal situation to build their team around Wilson. He could end up being their best draftee since Derek Rose, so he’ll have big shoes to fill in the Windy City.
Henri Veesaar — 1st Round, 25th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Estonian center could find himself in an interesting situation to start his NBA career should things play out the way that ESPN is projecting. Henri Veesaar could potentially get drafted by the Lakers, a team that seemingly will be without LeBron James for the first time in years. Of course they still have Luka Doncic, but what they don’t have is depth at center, which is where Veesaar comes in.
What’s worth noting is that media outlets do not seem to agree when it comes to their projections for Veesaar. For instance, Yahoo Sports has Veesaar going 20th overall to the San Antonio Spurs, which is a pretty big jump up the boards compared to ESPN. As long as he lands somewhere within the 20-30th pick range, he’ll likely be satisfied with his decision to stay in the draft. The excitement may wear off if he is picked up by the Dallas Mavericks, though. If you know you know.
Matt Able — 2nd Round, 33rd overall to the Brooklyn Nets
Here is the projection everyone has been waiting for. Former NC State guard Matt Able is currently projected by ESPN go very early in the second round should he stay in the NBA Draft. Much like the Veesaar situation, though, this one isn’t easy to figure out — Yahoo Sports has Able as the 42nd pick to the San Antonio Spurs, which is significantly lower than ESPN is predicting.
While I would love to say that Matt Able returning to UNC feels likely, the truth is that we just don’t know. Taking second round money in the NIL era is really hard, but also some players are more than willing to take the risk if they’re just done with the school aspect of their careers. Able would have a chance to develop and get drafted higher should he stay in college, but let’s be honest: he’d develop in the league too. There’s no wrong decision for Able, but it would be awesome if Michael Malone didn’t have to go back into the portal to get someone that is inevitably less talented than Able to fill out his roster.
What do you think of ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft? How are you feeling about Matt Able’s impending decision to leave or stay in the draft? Let us know in the comments below.
Jason Kidd was shown the door in Dallas. Will he be out of work for long?
The 53-year-old was fired by new Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri on Tuesday in a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA.
The Magic, Bulls and Trail Blazers are the teams still looking for head coaches, and NBA reporter Marc Stein noted that Orlando had interest in Kidd in 2021 and is looking for an experienced head coach, though whether the Magic will pursue him is still to be determined.
Jason Kidd might be a candidate for another job after being fired in Dallas. NBAE via Getty Images
The Magic fired Jamahl Mosley after blowing a 3-1 series lead against the top-seeded Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, marking the third straight year Mosley’s Magic were eliminated in the opening round.
Orlando hoped to take a step forward after acquiring Desmond Bane last offseason, but went 45-37 and settled for the Play-In Tournament before coming close to taking down the top seed.
Kidd, who has a 388-395 record as a coach including his one season with the Nets and four years with the Bucks, led the Mavericks through tumultuous times over five campaigns, including last season’s trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, who immediately went down with a season-ending injury.
Stein reported before the Mavericks fired Kidd that former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy and Billy Donovan are expected to be candidates for the Magic’s vacancy.
The Magic have a solid roster, but have not made noise in the East. NBAE via Getty Images
After drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Mavericks went 26-56 this season.
Sep 23, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks speaks at Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
First things first: The Nets are not talking about Draft strategy. They are notorious in that regard. Unlike other teams, they don’t announce who they have in for workouts and interviews. They even frown upon agents who reveal which clients have traveled to HSS Training Center. (Last year’s SCOUT series on the Draft was remarkable in that it gave some insights into the process but really kept the most sensitive info off camera, fuzzing out every screen, whether the big board in the Draft room or someone’s laptop.)
That said, fans and draftniks want to know the latest. Among them Jeremy Woo who compiles ESPN’s mock drafts. In his latest mock, out Tuesday, Woo speculates that the Nets pick is, in the minds of NBA executives, a “wild card,” meaning it’s possible that we could see it move.
After a second straight disappointing lottery result dropped the Nets three spots, this pick is viewed around the league as a potential wild-card spot, with Brooklyn needing star power and still developing young players at every position after rostering five first-rounders a year ago. What direction the Nets wind up going might offer insight into how they view their current prospects. They also have cap space and a supply of tradable future firsts at their disposal. Acuff Jr. doesn’t fit Brooklyn’s established positional-size philosophy, but he has a best-available case if this is how the board falls. It’s not viewed as a given that the Nets select a guard, however, and they could find value in trading back.
Acuff was helped by his combine measurements, standing 6-2 barefoot with a plus-4 ½ wingspan. While still on the smaller side, those dimensions are solid for a starting point guard, and his sturdy build should help him keep up with NBA physicality. None of that assuages the concerns around his poor defense, but his offensive bona fides vaulted him into this range of the draft and will keep him there. The Kings at No. 7 are viewed by rival teams as Acuff’s floor: Sacramento needs a point guard, and there are existing connections, including the fact that GM Scott Perry coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky.
A lot of what Woo talks about is not that new. The Nets have options. In order of degree of difficulty, they could stay where they are, they could move down, they could acquire a second first rounder using their multitude of draft assets or finally, they could (try to) move up. Four days ago, Brian Lewis reported this:
Whispers going around the combine suggest Nets general manager Sean Marks is open to moving up or down from the No. 6 spot.
And in his latest mock draft, Kevin O’Connor implies that the Nets universe of possibilities may not be limited to the four or five guards linked to them by draftniks: in alphabetical order, Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler.
The Nets shocked a lot of people when they took Egor Dёmin with the eighth pick one year ago. And maybe they will shock again this year. Multiple league sources have connected Brooklyn to Michigan center Aday Mara and Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament. But in this mock, we’re sticking with the best guard available.
In his opinion, that’s Wagler, but is there another implication from KOC: that the Nets could add a second first and take the 7’4” Mara or 6’10” Ament or, as Erik Slater speculated, the 6’9.5” Karim Lopez or the 6’10” Yaxel Lendeborg? A league source told ND before the trade deadline that of course the Nets have interest in adding a second first with such a deep draft. But he added that teams were unlikely to answer calls until after the lottery when they know the lay of the land. Of course, we’re there now. Another league decision-maker told us that he thought with all those assets 32 picks — including nine tradeable firsts — they could move up.
Brooklyn has four unprotected first-rounders over the next seven years, acquired in two separate trades (Mikal Bridges to the Knicks and Cameron Johnson to the Nuggets). Three are from New York (2027, 2029, 2031) and one from Denver in 2032.
Brooklyn also has the most favorable pick in 2028 among Philadelphia (if 9-30), New York and Phoenix.
The downside? Houston has the right to swap picks next year, the final condition from the James Harden trade in 2021.
Marks ranked the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards in Tier One as well. In overall numbers, the Nets’ 13 firsts were tops by his count, two more than the Grizzlies 11 while their overall total of 32 was eight more than the next biggest cache, the Hornets 24. The nine tradeable firsts were two better than three other teams, the Grizzlies, Hornets and Thunder.
Who’s ranked 30th? The Denver Nuggets.
Again, if you’ve been following this site, that’s not new either. Sean Marks (no relation) & co. have accumulated picks willy-nilly. They have seven in 2029 — three firsts and four seconds — and six in 2032 — two firsts and four seconds. As the league decision-maker said, there’s only one reason to husband all those assets: to be able to move quickly and opportunistically when the time comes, but that time may is unlikely to come till a month from now and if history is any guide, as a surprise.
France's Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs side will face the New Orleans Pelicans in a double-header in Paris and Manchester next season.
The two sides will face twice in Europe in the space of 72 hours in January 2027.
They will play first at the Accor Arena in Paris on Thursday, 14 January. Then they will take each other on again at Co-op Live in Manchester on Sunday, 17 January.
It is the first time that Manchester has played host to a regular-season NBA match.
French centre Wembanyama finished third in this season's vote for the NBA Most Valuable Player award. He is also one of the sport's most popular figures.
The Spurs are currently leading 1-0 in this season's Western Conference finals against reigning NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Earlier this year, the first European double-header between two teams across multiple European cities took place. The Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies faced each other twice in Berlin and London in the space of three days in January.
Another double header has been scheduled to take place across Berlin and Paris in 2028.
When it was confirmed last year that Manchester would host a 2027 NBA game, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: "This is great news for the city-region and is an exciting opportunity for us to see some of the best basketball players in the world on our doorstep."
The move comes alongside the NBA's plans to launch a European NBA-run league.
"Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we're seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe," said George Aivazoglou, NBA managing director for Europe and the Middle East.
"As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities."
The NBA has focused on both Paris and Manchester as part of its plans to launch an independent European league, with both cities attracting interest from investors over having franchises in an 'NBA Europe' league, which could start as early as the 2027-28 season.
2027 and 2028 NBA fixtures in Europe
Victor Wembanyama is this season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year [Getty Images]
2027
Thursday, 14 January: San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans - Accor Arena, Paris
Sunday, 17 January: New Orleans Pelicans v San Antonio Spurs - Co-op Live, Manchester
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Dylan Harper
