I don’t think Jalen Williams will be playing, and it'll be De’Aaron Fox’s second game back, removing some injury friction in their starting lineup — which I also like for San Antonio.
The Thunder may be up 2-1, but they're living dangerously by heavily relying on their role players — such as Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, and even Jaylin Williams.
The Spurs have the length and defensive pieces to make life miserable for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Oklahoma City's supporting cast is due for some serious regression.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Luguentz Dort Over 1.5 assists
Price: +145 at bet365
With Jalen Williams hurting and Ajay Mitchell out, OKC is running short on playmakers. Luguentz Dort hasn’t logged more than 23 minutes in the series, but he’s needed in a thinning OKC backcourt in Game 4.
In the past two games, Dort has dished out six total dimes on 10 potential assists. His assist total has jumped from 0.5 to 1.5, but we’re seeing a solid return from a player with a likely uptick in minutes and involvement in the offense.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Over 219.5
Price: -110 at bet365
After a slower opener, this series has completely shifted to a faster tempo, with Games 2 and 3 producing 235 and 231 combined points.
San Antonio naturally prefers to push the pace, but the up-and-down style has benefited Oklahoma City as well, with the Thunder erupting offensively over the last two games.
The Spurs have now gone Over the total in eight straight playoff games, while OKC enters tonight leading all postseason teams in both points per game and offensive rating.
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The San Antonio Spurs’ dramatic double-OT win in Game 1 feels like a distant memory after dropping two straight.
Now trailing 2-1, San Antonio's lack of depth and heavy legs will be tested tonight.
Our top Thunder vs. Spurs predictions and same-game parlay jumps on the visiting team to capitalize on that fatigue and cruise to a third straight win on Sunday, May 24.
Our best Thunder vs Spurs SGP for Game 4
SGP leg #1: Thunder moneyline
The disparity in bench numbers has been jarring, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten 61 points and 121.6 minutes per game from their reserves, compared to just 21.3 points and 60.4 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama has averaged 41.7 minutes, and giving him a break isn’t viable. The Spurs are +21 with him on the floor and -38 when he’s on the bench.
With Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox nursing injuries, and Wemby forced into big minutes, fatigue will be critical. I priced this line at -140, so I’m thrilled to get it early at +110.
SGP leg #1: Victor Wembanyama Under 1.5 3-pointers
After an aggressive Game 1 performance where he logged 25 shots and just two three-pointers, Wemby has been pushed to the perimeter, settling for 31 total shots and 12 triples in Games 2 and 3.
To salvage the series, San Antonio must adjust their game plan to feed Wemby down low. Increasing his paint touches allows the Spurs to maximize his towering size, force defensive collapses, and open up clean kickout opportunities for their shooters.
Backing the Spurs to make this crucial tactical adjustment makes this prop a highly lucrative, high-value play at plus-money tonight.
SGP leg #1: Keldon Johnson Over 8.5 points
The newly crowned Sixth Man of the Year was highly efficient during the regular season, averaging an impressive 20.4 points per 36 minutes while stretching the floor at a 36.3% clip from beyond the arc.
With the Spurs needing a reliable offensive spark plug to take the pressure off their starters, expect Keldon Johnson to see an expanded role and a significant uptick in volume tonight.
Given his proven scoring efficiency when he gets the opportunity, I will gladly bet this line all the way up to 9.5 points.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs. Spurs predictions for Game 4.
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May 22, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the second half during game three of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Today is Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at San Antonio Spurs. 8:30 p.m. ET watch it on NBC (WRC-TV) or Peacock. OKC leads 2-1.
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Heading into Game 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 2-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference Finals.
Despite being down early thanks to the Spurs racing out to a historic 15-0 lead in the opening three minutes, Oklahoma City’s bench ended up outscoring San Antonio’s bench 76–23, marking the highest reserve scoring output in a conference finals game in modern NBA history.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists to guide OKC out of their early 15-point hole. Despite the loss, Victor Wembanyama chipped in a team-high 26 points for the Spurs.
NBA Western conference finals: what to know
What: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
When: May 24, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Channel: NBC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The series continues on Tuesday, May 25, with Game 5 in Oklahoma City where, depending on the result of tonight’s game, a Western Conference champion could be crowned.
Thunder vs. Spurs start time:
Game 4 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 24.
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.
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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.
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.
Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the NBA Western Conference finals.
De’Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.
Wembanyama took Oklahoma City’s 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.
The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).
After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in Game 3, San Antonio’s reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.
The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead.
After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alley-oop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining.
San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter.
San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.
Oklahoma City’s franchise low is 65 points in a playoff loss to Memphis on May 3, 2014, and its second-fewest points had been 85 against San Antonio on May 21, 2014.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everyone loves an underdog. Everyone loves a good story.
The most satisfying thing about sports is when someone comes out of nowhere and becomes a folk legend.
Linsanity. David Freese for the 2011 Cardinals. Travis Ishikawa for the 2014 Giants. Miguel Rojas for the 2025 Dodgers. Big Shot Bob Horry for multiple NBA championship teams. Alec Martinez for the 2014 LA Kings (sigh).
Maybe Landry Shamet isn’t on their level… yet, but what I will promise is that he will go down in Knicks history, regardless of how this season inevitably ends. That’s something that would’ve sounded unfathomable when he first put pen to paper two years ago.
After all, this was a journeyman. In six seasons, he played for five teams, bouncing from Philly to the Clippers to Brooklyn to Phoenix to Washington. While he carved out a nice bench role on multiple playoff teams, including the 2021 Suns team that made the NBA Finals, he was banished to the lowly Wizards in 2023 as part of the Bradley Beal trade.
As many players do, his performance suffered after joining a destitute Washington squad. The longtime three-point maestro shot a career-low 33.8% from deep in 46 games, and he was dangerously close to teetering on the line of being out of the NBA. After all, there are only so many spots for veterans in a league that caters to young players with upside towards the bottom of rosters.
He stayed unsigned for several months that offseason until the Knicks came calling, looking to fill the final roster spot ahead of the 2024-25 season. At the time, it was assumed that Villanova alum and OAKAAK Ryan Arcidiacono would be given the 15th roster spot to complete the Nova Quintet, but Leon Rose elected to sign Shamet along with Marcus Morris Sr. and Chuma Okeke in mid-September to compete for the final spot.
Then came the mega trade. Karl-Anthony Towns was in, Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were out. Due to the complicated financials of the trade, the Knicks needed to clear space and elected to temporarily waive Morris instead of Shamet. That move showed early who the team entrusted more, but the Knicks planned to re-sign Morris after the trade became official in early October.
The only problem was that Morris wanted a guaranteed spot, so he opted not to re-sign in a move that was probably a bit shortsighted, considering he hasn’t been signed to any NBA contract since. His loss was Shamet’s gain, as the 27-year-old now had significantly less competition to make the roster.
Tom Thibodeau liked what he saw in Shamet’s shooting ability and defensive capability, and all signs pointed to him beating out Okeke and bubble legend TJ Warren for the final roster spot ahead of the team’s second-to-last preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 15.
Shamet dislocated his right shoulder on a basic swipe of the ball on Moussa Diabate, putting him on the shelf for a number of months. With the cash-strapped and hard-capped Knicks stuck, they decided to waive Shamet to save whatever little bits of money they could instead of rostering a player that would miss the next several months with injury and paying him as such.
But they didn’t want to lose him. The organization believed that his injury would not keep him out for as long as Julius Randle’s had a few months earlier, and still wanted him in the fold. How could they do this when he isn’t two-way eligible? The G-League Draft, of course!
The Westchester Knicks made a pair of savvy moves, one that included trading away former second-rounder Trevor Keels, to get the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft. This allowed them to select Shamet and Matt Ryan, keeping both in the organization. For Shamet in particular, he’d be able to practice and later rehab in Westchester, similar to an MLB rehab assignment. A team could poach him, but they’d need to give him a standard contract while he was rehabbing, which was never happening.
All told, it took just over two months for Shamet to make his debut in the orange and blue, signing a standard contract in late December and slowly working his way into the Knicks’ rotation in early January. The rust was evident on his jumper early, as he went just 4-for-20 from deep in his first 14 games. But as he found a more consistent role, his play dramatically improved.
He shot 43% from three over his last 19 games. In April alone, he made at least four on four different occasions, including seven in the season finale against the Nets. While Thibs’ rotations promised his role would decrease come playoff time, he seemed to have an inside track to a good role.
That didn’t happen. After playing 10 minutes in Game 1, Shamet was limited to just six total minutes in the next three games before being glued to the bench for the last two games of the Detroit series. Throughout the six-game Boston series and the first two games against Indiana, he played 11 garbage-time minutes. The rotation was reduced to the starting five along with Deuce McBride, Mitchell Robinson, and small stints for Cam Payne when Brunson sat.
But after the Pacers stole both games at the World’s Most Famous Arena to start the Eastern Conference Finals, the usually stubborn Thibodeau was forced to overhaul his process. Robinson replaced Josh Hart in the starting five, while he leaned more on the likes of Delon Wright and Shamet off the bench. At least in the short term, it gave them a spark. He was plus-12 in the comeback Game 3 win that gave us a bit of hope.
Shamet combining physical post defense with a flop. It's one of the best ways to combat a mismatch. Shamet applies a lot of force. Toppin responds in turn…flop. Turnover.
The adjustments would ultimately prove to be futile, as the Pacers closed out the Knicks in six games. Shamet was once again an unrestricted free agent, and it was clear that he wasn’t a priority for the Knicks in the offseason. They filled two roster spots with Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, and with just enough space to add one more player on a vet min, the Knicks took their time in considering options.
Shamet ultimately got another training camp invite in September after waiting for the Knicks to call him back, but with a new coaching staff in tow, he’d have no favoritism in a camp battle that included as many as six men, but was mostly between himself, Garrison Matthews, and Malcolm Brogdon.
Matthews was a taller version of Shamet, someone who could shoot the lights out and would add size to a smaller roster. Brogdon was a veteran presence with playoff experience that could serve as a traditional backup point guard on a team with only one suitable ballhandler. Tyler Kolek wasn’t going to be entrusted with a big role, so they needed someone to stabilize the offense in the non-Brunson minutes.
It always seemed like Brogdon had the edge because of it, with Shamet being close behind. They maybe could’ve figured something out to keep both, but the decision was made much easier when Brogdon up and retired after looking a step slow during the preseason.
Just in: After nine NBA seasons, New York Knicks guard Malcolm Brogdon has decided to retire from basketball, he tells ESPN. Brogdon became the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2023 Sixth Man of the Year after being drafted No. 36 in 2016. pic.twitter.com/nablWsQ9mu
That gave Shamet a roster spot, but it sure sounded like Mike Brown liked him even better than Thibs did. Early season injuries to Hart and McBride gave Shamet an increased role, which he took advantage of with some brilliant performances along the way.
But then came a late November game in Orlando, where he tried to fight over a Wendell Carter Jr. screen, banging up his right shoulder again and leaving the game in a similar fashion to the preseason game 13 months prior. Not again, not now.
This time, he showed enough importance that waiving his non-guaranteed contract was never considered by the Knicks’ brass. It also helped that he wouldn’t need surgery after an MRI revealed just a strain, rather than a dislocation. He’d miss two months, but would return towards the end of the three-week stretch of hell and would make an immediate impact upon return.
The Year is 2054.
My grandson bounces on my knee.
“But pop-pop, how did the Knicks rebound from a 2-9 January stretch to win their first championship in 50+ years?”
Whether starting in place of a banged-up Hart or Anunoby or coming off the bench, he would consistently come up big. For the second straight year, he went into the playoffs expected to be a key part of the bench.
And for the second straight year, things didn’t go as expected. He struggled in Game 1 and was part of some brutal lineups in Game 2 that helped blow the game. A small stint in Game 3 was all he got, as he was soon replaced in the rotation by Jose Alvarado. Just like that, he was once again on the outside looking in. But all Shamet knew in this moment was to stay ready, just like he had done throughout the season.
Landry Shamet, who's fallen out of Knicks playoff rotation, on the court running sprints postgame as Josh Hart appears on NBC pic.twitter.com/K8dyZd9AI6
His number would eventually be called again, but his impact wouldn’t truly be shown until Game 3 in Philadelphia. Against the team that brought him into the league out of Wichita State, he sucked the life out of a desperate Sixers crowd in Game 3 before helping bury them under an avalanche of threes in Game 4.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) May 9, 2026
He didn’t play much in the first three quarters of Game 1 in Cleveland, but Mike Brown sent him out there to use a rare 5-out lineup with Hart struggling as the Knicks fell behind by as many as 22 points with under eight minutes to go. Suddenly, the game turned. Shamet was disrupting Donovan Mitchell’s rhythm. He made a three early that cut the lead a smidge before Brunson’s big run.
Then, after the captain brought them all the way back, Shamet finished it off with a game-tying corner three.
In overtime, with the stunned Cavs on the ropes, he hit the effective dagger to send MSG ablaze.
Two timely triples from Landry Shamet 🔥
Shamet (3-3 3PM) delivered in big moments for the Knicks to help them complete their largest postseason comeback in franchise history!
After being a gigantic part of saving the Knicks in Game 1, he was very quiet the following night after Hart went ballistic. Going into Game 3, the Knicks needed all hands on deck to take a stranglehold of this series, and they got that with more clutch shooting from Shamet.
Four more triples and a plus-five in 27 minutes further cemented himself in Knicks lore for his heroics. A guy that didn’t have a guaranteed roster spot during the preseason was now a big part of a team that’s one win away from the NBA Finals, for a franchise that’s gone 27 years without such an appearance.
Landry Shamet will go down in Knicks folklore, the only question now is just how rooted will he be.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder may have the upper hand in this heavyweight Western Conference finals slugfest, but you can be sure the San Antonio Spurs will come out swinging in tonight’s must-win Game 4.
While mounting injuries are taking a toll, there’s still more than enough available talent to deliver another classic installment of this rivalry.
My favorite Thunder vs Spurs props include another Shai Gilgeous-Alexander masterpiece and a bounce-back effort from Stephon Castle.
Read on for my Top 3 NBA picks ahead of this May 24 showdown.
Best Thunder vs Spurs props for Game 4
Player
Pick
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Over 29.5 points
-112
Stephon Castle
Over 23.5 points + assists
-120
Cason Wallace
Over 11.5 points + rebounds
-120
Game 4 Prop #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points (-112)
The shooting efficiency numbers don’t reflect it, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting together an outstanding series.
He made all the right reads in Game 3, and it would be no surprise to see the San Antonio Spurs dial back the double teams and traps tonight after being picked apart by the Oklahoma City Thunder's 3-point shooters.
If that results in more one-on-one coverage, SGA has a path to easier mid-range jumpers — and I expect that to translate to his highest points total of these Conference Finals.
His 30-point effort in Game 2 provides a blueprint, and I’m picking Shai to sense the moment here with a chance to take a stranglehold on the series.
Game 4 Prop #2: Stephon Castle Over 23.5 points + assists (-120)
Stephon Castle brings so much to the table for the Spurs, but injuries to De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper have piled even more responsibility onto his plate. Predictably, it’s been a bumpy ride, but Castle isn’t backing down from the challenge.
San Antonio is going to load up all the minutes he can handle, and I expect a better shooting night here after his 1-for-8 dud on Friday, even if he doesn’t hit the heights of his 25-8-5 Game 2 stat line.
Castle has nailed this combo Over in three of his last four outings in these playoffs, and his connection with Victor Wembanyama is always a ticket to a few easy assists.
Game 4 Prop #3: Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points + rebounds (-120)
The Thunder’s depth shone through in Game 3, and they’ll need to shuffle those cards again here with Ajay Mitchell out and Jalen Williams still questionable.
That should mean even more minutes for Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso — and I love this Over for Wallace, who made a pair of huge 3-pointers on Friday.
He’s cashed this prop in all three games of this series, as well as two of the final three contests against the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous round.
With the Spurs leaning on guard-heavy lineups, Wallace’s tenacity on both ends of the floor stands out as an X-factor for OKC tonight.
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Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama made the First Team. The Second Team members are Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.
The last Sixer to make an All-NBA Team before Maxey was Joel Embiid, who earned a First Team spot in his 2022-23 MVP season.
Maxey played through a nagging right pinky finger injury in the playoffs and his production dropped off during the Sixers’ second-round series loss to the Knicks. He still played a major part in the Sixers’ first-round series comeback over the Celtics and averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the postseason.
“I think this was a big-time jump and season for me,” Maxey said after the Sixers’ season-ending Game 4 defeat to the Knicks. “I did a good job of doing a lot of different things I wanted to work on last summer. I kind of came out here and executed them. This series was definitely tough for me. … I saw multiple bodies every single night. Every single pick-and-roll, it was a trap. Every single Brunson action, it was a trap. Every single time I got downhill, the entire team was in the paint and I was trying to kick out.
“I’ve got to really watch it because it was definitely one of the hardest series I’ve played in. I’ve got to be better for my teammates no matter what the case is, no matter what the defense is. … Next year I want to do some things off the ball and just not have to be in front of the defense all the time. When you’re in front of the defense all the time, it gives them opportunities to trap me a lot. … I feel like that’s one thing that really good players and great players can do. They can be on the ball and make plays on the ball, but they can also be off the ball and contribute that way, use their gravity that way.
“Drafting (Edgecombe) was huge for myself. He took a lot of pressure off me this season and he’s only going to get better, honestly.”
Jaylen Brown’s stellar 2025-26 season was recognized Sunday night with his second career All-NBA selection.
The Boston Celtics star received Second-Team All-NBA honors alongside Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic were named to the First Team.
Here’s a look at the full voting results, with Brown finishing as the top vote-getter on the Second Team.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 Kia All-NBA Team.
With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out until March 6, Brown embraced his role as Boston’s No. 1 option. The five-time All-Star posted career bests in points per game (28.7), rebounds per game (6.9), and assists per game (5.1).
In what was expected to be a “gap year” for the C’s, Brown led his team to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Brown finished sixth in the NBA MVP race with four fourth-place votes and seven fifth-place votes. Although the Celtics’ run ended with a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Brown called it his “favorite season” of his 10-year NBA career.
Even after his outstanding season, there are question marks surrounding Brown’s future in Boston. The Celtics have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade rumors, and any deal for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar would likely require Brown being shipped out of town.
During a recent Twitch stream, Brown made it clear that he’d prefer to remain with the C’s.
“I love Boston. And if it was up to me, I could play in Boston for the next 10 years,” he said.
Brown last earned Second-Team All-NBA honors in 2022-23, when he finished with 26.6 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 7: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets on April 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns may have overachieved in plenty of ways during the 2025-26 season, still, overachieving doesn’t automatically translate to end-of-season recognition. That’s just the reality of how awards work now.
Because of the NBA’s 65 game eligibility rule, Phoenix had a very limited pool of players even eligible for postseason honors. Only Oso Ighodaro, Collin Gillespie, Royce O’Neale, Jordan Goodwin, and Ryan Dunn played in 70 or more games and qualified. So when the NBA released its All-Defensive teams aon May 22, you already knew Phoenix wasn’t going to have much representation.
2025-26 NBA All-Defensive teams:
First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert, Derrick White
Second team: Bam Adebayo, Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Dyson Daniels, OG Anunoby
Someone like Dillon Brooks never really had a chance to be part of the conversation. Brooks played in 56 games, leaving him short of eligibility despite the kind of defensive season that absolutely would’ve warranted attention had he reached the threshold.
But what about Jordan Goodwin? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.
After all, he was one of the better defensive guards in basketball this season. He finished sixth among guards in offensive rebounds per game and seventh among guards in steals. His 110.1 defensive rating speaks for itself. When you isolate rebounding alone, you can absolutely make the argument that no guard in the NBA impacted the glass the way Goodwin did.
Which makes his absence from the All-Defensive voting feel a little perplexing. Not shocking. Perplexing.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team.
When awards voting rolls around, players on national television every week and players with bigger names tend to dominate the conversation. That’s the reality of it. Goodwin spent the year doing a lot of the dirty work that wins games and changes possessions without necessarily creating the kind of headlines that drive national narratives.
Still, not receiving a single vote feels surprising. Especially when you watched him night after night. You saw the hands. The point of attack defense. The rebounding. The hustle plays that turned into extra possessions. The way he consistently made life uncomfortable for opposing guards. The value was obvious in Phoenix.
It’s a question that fellow teammate Collin Gillespie asked via Twitter.
Side note, I do love seeing that kind of support. It’s one of those little things that gives you more confidence heading into the offseason that the Phoenix Suns are going to do everything they can to retain both of these players. Because they’re exactly the kind of depth pieces you want around your core.
I do wonder why, in this day and age of award oversaturation, there are only two All Defensive teams. Why not three? There are three All NBA teams. It feels like another opportunity to recognize players who lean into the unsexy side of basketball and make a real impact doing it.
I also have an issue with the fact that there were three centers on the All Defensive First Team. Maybe that’s the traditional structure. I still don’t love it.
Personal qualms with the NBA award structure aside, there is one potentially positive thing to take from all of this. Had Jordan Goodwin received recognition, it probably would have driven his price up this offseason. For a team towing the luxury tax line, every dollar matters, and if Goodwin had picked up a few votes, it absolutely would have strengthened his case for more money.
And yeah, there’s something kind of sad about that. You catch yourself quietly rooting for a player not to receive recognition because it could help your team financially. That probably says more about the state of the NBA than anything else.
I’ll cool my jets before I spiral into a larger conversation on the league’s philosophical shortcomings, and there are plenty.
I’ll simply end here. I appreciated everything Jordan Goodwin brought to Phoenix this season. He won the Marley Hustle Award, easily outplayed the value of his contract, and became the personification of a team that competed with grit, connectivity, and attitude.
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Thunder Game 4 computer picks
Alex Caruso Under 10.5 points (-120)
Projection: 8.18 points
This may seem daunting after watching Alex Caruso in the first few games of this series, but the guard is due for regression.
Caruso went under this number in six of eight prior playoff games, and the San Antonio Spurs will do what they can to shut him down, along with the rest of the OKC bench.
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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 6.5 points (+102)
Projection: 7.86 points
After playing just 12 minutes in Game 1, Isaiah Hartenstein has played 20+ minutes in back-to-back outings. His increased floor time will lead to more shots, pushing him Over this total.
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Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (Odds)
Projection: 6.51 assists
With Ajay Mitchell out and Jalen Williams questionable, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have to take on a much bigger offensive role. He'll be looking to shoot more, which should cut into his assists.
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Spurs Game 4 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.72 points
Julian Champagnie has played his part well for the Spurs this season, and he's currently shooting 39% from three. As the Oklahoma City Thunder look to close in on Wemby, Champagnie will be there to knock down outside looks.
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De-Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-125)
Projection: 16.02 points
De-Aaron Fox returned from injury and still put up 15 points in Game 3. He's eclipsed this total in all but one playoff game so far, and he'll do so again tonight.
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Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points (-120)
Projection: 26.86 points
Victor Wembanyama knows he has to dominate if his team has any chance of winning. Going back to Oklahoma City down 3-1 is a death sentence, and Wemby will go all out to secure the win for San Antonio.
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How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 4
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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Karl-Anthony Towns (32) running across the basketball court during an NBA game as fans watch from the stands.
The only thing more unbelievable than the Knicks’ 10-game win streak through the playoffs are the ticket prices at Madison Square Garden.
It looks like two tickets for a potential Game 3 at The Garden in the NBA Finals have already been sold after the Knicks went up 3-0 on the Cavaliers with a chance to make the Finals for the first time since 1999.
According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, two courtside tickets have been sold on StubHub for a staggering $279,804.
The first two courtside seats have sold for the first Knicks Finals home game at Madison Square Garden in 27 years.
The secondary ticket market for a Knicks Finals game has some eye-popping prices just for a chance to see these Knicks try to snap the franchise’s 53-year championship drought.
The cheapest price for a single ticket to Game 3 of the Finals at MSG is $3,265 as of Sunday morning on Tick PIck. That seat in is in section 418.
Fans who want to get closer to the action will find prices as high as $192,000 at Seat Geek to sit in Section 6 D behind the Knicks bench. Believe it or not, that’s more money than a few 1-bed, 1-bath apartments in midtown Manhattan listed on Zillow.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
How does that compare to the two teams in the Western Conference finals?
If the Thunder make the Finals, they would host Game 1 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and the highest ticket price on the secondary market for that game is currently $12,339 for a seat in Section 106.
Prices for a good seat at a potential Finals Game 1 with the Spurs hosting are a bit higher. The most expensive tickets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio are a center court seat in Section 8 for $21,803 at Seat Geek and a $29,126 Box seat.
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In both cases, the get-in price for a potential Game 1 at either area is around $1,000, which is a third of the price of the cheapest seat at The Garden.
New York took over in Game 3 with a 121-108 win behind Jalen Brunson's 30 points and Mikal Bridges' 20. The Knicks have won 10 straight games with nine of them by double digits, including five consecutive and all three in this series.
The Knicks are one game away from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. With a win, New York will have a nice rest advantage over the winner of the Spurs and Thunder. In the Game 3 win, the Knicks held Cleveland to 29% from three and the Knicks hit 39% from deep and 56% from the field. New York got a boost from Landry Shamet with 14 points in 28 minutes, which was more than the rest of the bench (9 points). The Knicks are a short favorite in Game 4.
Cleveland had four starters score at least 17 points in Game 3, but it wasn't enough. The Cavaliers lost its second home game of the playoffs and a third means the season is over. Cleveland has struggled from the free throw line in the series, going 67.6% overall and 63% in Game 3 (12/19). Cleveland will have a tough act to follow up with how hot the Knicks are.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Time: 8:10 PM EST
Site: Rocket Arena
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Sunday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-130), Cleveland Cavaliers (+110)
Spread: Cavaliers -2.5
Total: 217.5 points
This game opened Cavaliers -1.5 with the Total set at 215.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson
SG Josh Hart
SF Mikal Bridges
PF OG Anunoby
C Karl-Anthony Towns
Injury Report: Knicks vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
None
New York Knicks
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
New York is 54-42 ATS
New York is 51-45 to the Under
New York is 12-19 ATS as a road favorite
New York is 16-15 to the Under as a road favorite
Cleveland has the second worst ATS record at 39-59
Cleveland is 49-50 to the Under on the season
Cleveland is 21-28 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
Cleveland is 26-22 to the Under at home
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s Cavaliers and Knicks’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks -1.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 217.5
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The New York Knicks have looked unstoppable for most of their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and my Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions for tonight expect the sweep to be completed.
Read on for my free NBA picks for Game 4 on Monday, May 25, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4 prediction
Who will win Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4?
Knicks: The Cleveland Cavaliers have looked thoroughly outclassed in the Conference Finals, and the New York Knicks lead them in shooting efficiency, rebounds, steals, and turnover margin.
The Knicks’ depth and versatility on both ends of the floor have fueled the team’s 10-game win streak. All 10 victories have come by 6+ points, with nine by double digits.
Cleveland looked wholly defeated at the end of Game 3 and gave up on its final defensive possessions. New York is in full control, and it’ll close this series tonight.
Knicks vs Cavaliers best bet: Knicks -2 (-110)
The New York Knicks can attack in a variety of ways, as all five starters are averaging 14+ points.
Cleveland has struggled to move the ball effectively, and New York’s size and rebounding depth have largely neutralized the Cavs’ double-big advantage of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
I expect a comfortable victory, and I’ll bet this line up to 4.5, making it a strong wager at -2.
Game 1 totaled 219 points, but it took overtime to get there, and Game 2 went Under. New York’s stifling defense has dominated this series, and I don’t expect many points from the struggling Cavs. I like this line at 217, but I’ll bet it down to 215.5.
Bridges has averaged 26.1 PRA across his last eight games, clearing this combo line seven times. Cleveland’s lackluster defense won’t offer much resistance, particularly in transition as he scores and facilitates. I expected this line to be priced at 23.5, making it a solid value play.
Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP
Knicks -2
Under 217
Mikal Bridges Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Team effort
Cleveland’s defense has allowed opponents to hit 37% of 3-pointers. Miles McBride only needs a pair of triples to cash this prop. I’m also willing to take a chance on his 3-point line at +150.
Anunoby is shooting a blistering 50.9% from distance and can exploit Cleveland’s defensive shortcomings.
New York’s 10-game heater has featured Towns as a key facilitator. His 30% assist percentage is significantly higher than his regular-season mark of 23.6%.
Cleveland sports a modest 47.9% rebound percentage, and Hart can grab 8+ boards as he’s done in eight of 13 appearances.
Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Knicks are 9-1 ATS across their 10-game win streak. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 4
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, May 25, 2026
Tip-off
8 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Knicks vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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Jon Metler: 
Spurs -2.5
Jason Logan: 
Luguentz Dort Over 1.5 assists
Joe Osborne: Over 219.5
COVERS INTEL: New York is +225 during its current win streak, which is the