PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off employees as new owner Tom Dundon cuts costs.
The exact number of employees who were let go was not made public, but they included staff in both the business and basketball operations.
"These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years,” Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers' president of business operations said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community.”
Dundon leads the group of investors who bought the NBA franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft who died in 2018. The NBA's Board of Governors approved the sale, worth a reported $4.25 billion, in April. Dundon also owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Blazers employees learned of the layoffs during a Tuesday morning video call. Among the employees impacted was digital reporter Casey Holdahl, who had been with the team for 18 years. He announced his fate on social media, thanking fans for engaging with his work.
The move comes as the new owners negotiate with both local and state officials over funding to renovate the Moda Center and secure a long-term lease that would keep the team in Portland.
The Oregon Legislature approved funds for the renovation of the Moda Center in early March. The measure gives the state joint ownership of the 30-year-old arena with the city, and provides a mechanism to secure $365 million for the building’s renovation ahead of the women’s NCAA Final Four in 2030.
The new owners group includes Dundon, Portland-based Sheel Tyle, the co-founder of investment firm Collective Global; Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital; the Cherng Family Trust, the investment firm of the co-founders of Panda Express; Stan Middleman of Freedom Mortgage who also owns a stake in the Philadelphia Phillies.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers 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
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals made it abundantly clear that we are clearly in the Victor Wembanyama era in the NBA.
Few players have been as impressive at such a young age as he has been. To qualify it as just impressive, though, is underselling what he’s doing. Dominating a playoff game against the defending champions at just 22 years old is rarefied air.
One of the few players with a relatable trajectory that early in their career was Kobe Bryant. At the age of 22, Bryant was also dominating the playoffs, including a 48-point, 16-rebound performance to sweep the Kings in the second round before a 45-point, 10-rebound showing in Game 1 of the conference finals.
It makes sense, then, that Wemby and his team are interested in Kobe’s mindset at that age. On Wednesday, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote a feature on Wemby, which included an anecdote about Wemby’s agent, Bouna Ndiaye, reaching out to Rob Pelinka, who was Kobe’s agent for the vast majority of his career.
Last April, he called Los Angeles Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who represented Kobe Bryant for much of his career, and scheduled a lunch.
The reason was simple.
“The way they think is different,” Ndiaye told ESPN. “The way they play, the way they stretch themselves. Just their curiosity. How they study and watch things. They’re both very creative on how to solve a problem.”
Wemby and those around him were looking for ways to improve physically without simply bulking up. To the surprise of no one, Pelinka was very willing to talk and shared plenty of stories about Kobe.
Ndiaye nodded along as Pelinka recounted these stories, both men delighting in the intellectual curiosity each of their star clients brought to their craft.
“I wanted to understand how Kobe did things,” Ndiaye told ESPN. “So that we could learn from him. Victor is not like anybody else. We have to be creative to build programs that are unique to him.”
If there’s any criticism about Pelinka divulging stories and wisdom to a conference rival, remember Kobe’s final tweet after watching LeBron James pass him on the all-time scoring list.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
It’s awesome to see a young player ascending as Wemby is currently doing. Even if it comes with a tinge of fear that the Lakers will have to go through him to win a title, continuing to move the game forward remains the goal.
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and Lakers superstar Luka Doncic during the third quarter of a game at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2025, in Dallas. (Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
Jason Kidd signed a four-year, $40-million contract extension after the 2024 season, seemingly cementing him as the Dallas Mavericks head coach for the foreseeable future.
Instead, he was abruptly fired Tuesday, prompting Charles Barkley to exclaim live on the ESPN set, “Oh my goodness! Jason Kidd was just fired. Wow. That’s a shocker.”
Why? It seems that despite Kidd repeatedly asking everyone to “move forward,” his presence was a constant reminder of the Mavericks’ ill-fated trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.
The executive who made the deal — Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison — was fired in November. For a long time it wasn’t clear whether Kidd was an advocate of the deal in which Dallas acquired oft-injured center Anthony Davis or a victim of a front-office blunder.
But Mark Cuban, the Mavericks’ former majority owner who currently owns 27% of the team, indicated March 31 on a podcast that Kidd was complicit in the deal.
“I think there was animosity between [Harrison] and some people on Luka’s team — his agent and some of the people around them,” Cuban said. “I don’t think they got along. I think there were issues.
“J-Kidd had coached Anthony Davis and was close to him, and Nico was close to AD since he was like 13 years old. So I think there was some confirmation bias as well. But that doesn’t justify our coach and our general manager to stand up and trade our best player.”
Boom. Cuban turning on the coach he had long supported was telling. Kidd spent 4 ½ years of his 19-year Hall of Fame playing career with Dallas, including helping the team win its only NBA title in 2011.
Kidd soon became a head coach, and after stints in Brooklyn and Milwaukee and two years as a Lakers assistant, Cuban hired the former point guard in 2021.
Under Kidd’s leadership, the Mavericks ascended to the NBA Finals in 2024. But then came the Doncic deal, the finger-pointing and a throaty rebuke by the team’s fans, mostly centered on Harrison.
Cuban linking Kidd to the trade caused the episode to bubble up again recently, much to the exasperation of the coach.
“When are we going to move on? We have to move forward,” Kidd told the Dallas Morning News. “We’re focused on the present and the future, and we’ve got an incredible opportunity to build.”
Someone else will do the building in Dallas under new team president Masai Ujiri. Cuban expressed mixed emotions about the firing in an email to Fox Sports.
“Obviously, I’m a J-Kidd fan,” Cuban wrote. “So I’m surprised and disappointed. But we have to give Masai a chance to see what happens.”
Kidd, considered one of the sharpest minds in the NBA, likely will catch on elsewhere. The Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers are shopping for a new head coach. The Magic courted Kidd five years ago before hiring Jamahl Mosley.
Kidd landed in Dallas instead and seemed in the driver’s seat for a long ride until the Doncic trade. Cuban’s comments were followed on Wednesday by a report from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, who on the “Pat McAfee Show” reported that Kidd supported the decision to move Doncic.
“How involved was Jason Kidd? He wasn’t making the trade, but Mavericks sources do believe that he had a level of support for that trade,” Charania said.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to even the Western Conference finals in Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs won the opener 122-115 in double overtime on Monday. The loss was the defending champion Thunder’s first of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
How to Watch San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -247 (68.2%) / San Antonio Spurs +201 (31.8%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT) Game 2: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Friday May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Sunday May 24, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Thursday May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)* Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Is Kylie Jenner the good luck charm the Knicks need to reach the NBA Finals?
Good and bad omens are subjective to some, but when the beauty mogul is on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks average 8.2 more points per game, according to data by Casino.org.
The Knicks are 5-1 when Kylie has attended — an 83.3 percent courtside win rate, with a +13.5 average margin — over the past two seasons with boyfriend and die-hard Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet.
Actor Timothée Chalamet and girlfriend Kylie Jenner on celebrity row at Game 2 of the Second Round NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs series between the Knicks and the 76ers at Madison Square Garden on May 6, 2026 in New York. Getty Images
Jenner sat courtside with Chalamet for the Knicks’ 126-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series last month.
After that, the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star took in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 on May 6.
Chalamet, who skipped the past two Met Galas to watch the Knicks, is New York’s biggest celebrity scoring boost, with the team averaging 117.4 points when he has been in attendance — 13.6 points more than in other Knicks games analyzed, per Casino.org.
Tina Fey, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Ben Stiller attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
Jenner was not with Chalamet for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night — a 115-104 overtime comeback win for the Knicks over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
If both are in attendance for Game 2 on Thursday, New York is projected to score around 116 points, per Casino.org.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. NBAE via Getty Images
When the power couple and legendary director Spike Lee, a longtime staple at MSG, sit courtside, the Knicks are 5-0, winning by nearly 20 points per game.
The Knicks are 13-6 in games analyzed in which Lee has been in attendance.
The Knicks did not have the same luck when some other stars sat courtside.
Spike Lee reacts during the second quarter of Game 1 of the eastern conference finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The blue and orange are 0-2 in games in which comedian Jon Stewart and Olympic gymnast Suni Lee were in attendance.
Other Knicks die-hards such as Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan were not included in the data.
Casino.org US analyzed more than 280 publicly reported celebrity appearances at NBA games involving the four remaining playoff teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Mikal Bridges #25, Miles McBride #2 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks look on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night’s win will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable games for Knicks fans of all generations. It had a bad start, questionable decisions, a historic comeback, clutch shots, and big moments. But somewhat lost in all of the memories, and incredible on-court performances are some of the numbers that sound anywhere from incredible to downright unbelievable.
So, here is a list of some of the most noteworthy stats from a noteworthy game, brought to you by reporters, analysts, and Knicks fans from all over.
Let’s start with the low point. When the Cavaliers were up 93-71 with 7:49 left in the game, ESPN Analytics had the Knicks with just a 0.1% chance to win the game. Until last night, teams trailing by 22 points or more in the fourth quarter of a playoff game were 1-594.
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
Teams were also 3-747 in games where they were down 20 or more at any point in the fourth quarter.
NBA teams were 3-747 when down by 20 or more in the 4th quarter of a playoff game over the last 30 years. They are now 4-747.
Knicks come back from 22 in the fourth quarter, the second-largest 4th quarter comeback in the playoffs in the play-by-play era (since 1997).
— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) May 20, 2026
As we all know now, they turned things around due to some lineup changes, a heroic effort by Jalen Brunson, a few clutch baskets by role players, and a side of Kenny Atkinson, and the Cavaliers choking. Noted by many, the Knicks ended up going on an insane 44-11 run.
The @nyknicks ended tonight's game on a 44-11 run.
No other NBA team in the last 20 years has scored at least 44 of the game's final 55 points (reg or post). pic.twitter.com/tz06fXYxdt
And much of the run was powered by Brunson, his shot-making, and him getting James Harden to switch on to him seemingly at will. According to ALL NBA Podcast, Harden was the screener defender on 21 on-ball picks in the final two periods. New York got 1.6 points per direct actions on those plays. He also guarded eight isolations in the fourth quarter-something that has only happened 30 times during the tracking era-and gave up an absurd 1.88 points per direct actions on those, which was the most of such instances since the 2013-14 season.
Brunson, as he does so often, also etched his name into the history books. He extended his lead for most playoff points since joining the Knicks, most 35+ points playoff games since he became a Knick, and now has more 35-point playoff games than 99.7% of all players in NBA history.
Most Playoff Points Since Jalen Brunson Joined The Knicks :
He also raised his average to 29.4PPG in the playoffs as a Knick, which is sixth all-time among players who have played 50 or more playoff games with one franchise.
Most Points Per Game in NBA Playoffs for One Franchise (min 50 G):
We also cannot talk about Game 1 without mentioning Mikal Bridges and his late-game heroics. Not only was he one of the few players to start the game relatively well, but he also made two of the three biggest shots in the game, and the Knicks do not win this game without him. In fact, Bridges is playing maybe his best stretch of basketball as a Knick. He’s been incredible all postseason long defensively, and has been amazing offensively over his last six games, averaging 18.7PPG, while shooting 67.1% from the floor.
Over NY's last six games, Mikal Bridges is averaging 18.7 points while shooting 67.1% from the floor.
Per @bball_ref, over the last 30 years, the only other non-centers to average more than 18 PPG while shooting above 65% from the floor over a 6-game stretch in the postseason…
While Tuesday night’s thriller wasn’t the dominant performance fans have gotten accustomed to seeing from this team, they have now won eight straight games, haven’t lost a game in 27 days, and have outscored opponents by an absurd 196 points during that span.
The Knicks haven't lost a game in 27 days 🤯
They've outscored their opponents by 196 points in that span…
It can be hard to sometimes appreciate greatness while we are in the moment. But this is a reminder that this is a very good team that is always capable of coming back from a large deficit, and is led by one of the greatest playoff performers of all-time. Enjoy it, and don’t take it for granted.
NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James will likely have a few things to say about free agency, the state of the NBA and his own future on July 16.
James — the NBA's all-time leading scorer — will be appearing at Fanatics Fest NYC that day at the Javits Center in New York and recording a live version of the “Mind the Game” video podcast with Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton, the sports apparel giant announced Wednesday.
The taping will come roughly 2 1/2 weeks after the start of NBA free agency. James has not yet announced if he will return next season for a 24th year of his record-setting career. He just finished his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers and could elect to stay with that team or sign elsewhere as a free agent.
Whatever his choice is, it would seem likely that James announces something long before that July 16 podcast taping.
“None of us in here know what the future holds,” James said last week when the Lakers' season ended with a second-round playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “None of us. Nobody has any idea what the future holds. And I don’t either. Like I said, I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future. And when I get to that point, everyone will know.”
Fanatics Fest will run through July 19 — the day of the FIFA World Cup final, being played nearby in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The event will play host to the teams that make the World Cup final for news conferences on July 17.
The “Mind the Game” episode with James and Haliburton will be released on July 21 on YouTube, Prime Video and other platforms.
The event is a sports fan festival, with organizers describing it as “bringing together athletes, leagues, collectors, brands, and fans for a multi-day celebration of sports and culture.” Many of the biggest names in sports are expected to attend over the four days.
Once upon a time, the Sixers held NBA Draft workouts which were open to the media.
Back when Sam Hinkie was running things, those workouts took place at PCOM in a tiny gym not befitting of an NBA franchise. Plenty of talented players came through that building. It’s where Ben Simmons had his pre-draft workout. There was even a year when Villanova’s Josh Hart and St. Joe’s DeAndre’ Bembry squared off.
Vince Rozman was a big part of Hinkie’s front office, largely helping with draft prep. Rozman was elevated from scouting coordinator — a position he took way back in 2006 under Billy King — to director of basketball operations and scouting innovation in 2013. Even when Hinkie left and the team opened up its state-of-the-art facility in Camden, New Jersey, Rozman remained. He became an even bigger fixture, speaking to the gathered media about prospects coming through that day. He came across sharp but personable.
Fast forward to 2026 and Rozman has been on quite the journey. Should the next step in it be running the Philadelphia 76ers? In a word — yes.
Bob Myers said last week he’s looking for someone to run things “day-to-day” while he’ll have a say in “high-level” decisions around the draft, free agency and trade deadline. His search appears to be off to a positive start. The list of reported candidates is vast and varied. There are plenty of folks with connections to Myers from the Golden State Warriors, some hotter names on the market and a couple shoot-your-shot candidates.
Of all of them, Rozman might have the best resume to lead the franchise into the future and (eventually) build around the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
After his promotion by Hinkie, Rozman was elevated by … whoever was running the front office in 2018 to senior director of scouting. He was promoted once more to VP of scouting in 2019, a position he continued to hold when Daryl Morey took things over ahead of the 2020-21 season.
It was a frenetic time for the Sixers prior to that (relatively speaking). Elton Brand was still considered the team’s lead executive. Along with ownership, the Sixers hired Doc Rivers as head coach to replace Brett Brown. A few months later, they brought on Morey after he left his longtime post with the Houston Rockets.
The 2020 NBA Draft was fast approaching after Morey’s hire. Rozman was already leading the charge on the organization’s draft prep and strategy. He was then charged with getting Morey up to speed.
“It’s been great, honestly. … I think we’ve all been kind of in a firefight, because he’s been here for two weeks and we need to catch him up,” Rozman said in November of 2020. “We felt really, really prepared to be able to do it. The good thing is we tend to think similarly on players, so that’s helpful. If you think of it from Daryl’s standpoint, he’s coming in, he needs to catch up on the roster, he needs to catch up on our scouting staff, the front office, the draft.
“I think we’re all lucky that he’s obviously well-qualified to do it. But I don’t know that the process has necessarily changed. Instead of informing (general manager Elton Brand) and talking through all the draft-related possible transactions or players or what have you with Elton and our scouting staff, it’s now with Elton and Daryl, and obviously (executive vice president of basketball operations) Peter Dinwiddie, as well, to be ready for (draft night).”
That night was not only Morey’s best running the Sixers, it was one of the best nights a front office has had in franchise history.
Morey changed the composition of the roster by moving off the ill-fitting Al Horford and Josh Richardson. Danny Green and Seth Curry were acquired and both started for a team that was the No. 1 seed in the East in 2021-22. The team also selected Tyrese Maxey with the 21st pick, arguably the biggest draft steal in franchise history. They also selected Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed, two players who have carved out NBA roles on good teams.
The following offseason, Morey promoted Rozman to assistant general manager. Unfortunately, the Sixers didn’t have as much draft luck in 2021, selecting Jaden Springer, Filip Petrusev and Charles Bassey. Bassey was the only player who was on an NBA roster to end this season. The players selected after Springer make it a tougher pill to swallow.
The following season, Rozman decided to spread his wings after 16 years in Philly. He took a job with the Oklahoma City Thunder as VP of identification and intelligence. He’s spent the last few seasons largely running the draft room for Sam Presti, one of the best executives in the sport. Not to rub salt in any wounds, but it wouldn’t be surprising to hear Rozman’s initial scouting of Jared McCain as a draft prospect was involved in that trade process.
One of the Thunder’s biggest recent draft wins is Ajay Mitchell. He was initially taken by the New York Knicks in the second round, but OKC maneuvered to acquire the young guard out of UC Santa Barbara. In just his second NBA season, Mitchell has been a huge part of the Thunder’s success, playing a pivotal sixth-man role in the regular season and playoffs. Folks around the league have wondered aloud if Mitchell is primed for a James Harden-type situation, eventually departing OKC to star elsewhere.
Mitchell is brought up here because these are the types of wins the Sixers need. The organization is locked into three max contracts. It will likely prove difficult for any new executive to find a way out of the deals for Joel Embiid and Paul George, so perhaps the best person for the job is the one who can find ways to build on the margins. Mitchell was initially on a two-way contract before proving his worth and getting converted to a standard NBA deal.
Rozman has proven to be an excellent talent evaluator, able to find stars, role players and diamonds in the rough. He has familiarity with the organization, but he’s also been working under arguably the best executive in basketball.
For you Process true believers, Rozman comes with the ultimate stamp of approval.
Vince Rozman is incredible. He’s also a hidden gem because he deflects credit so graciously.
He’s *great* -with people -at evaluating talent -at systems -as a communicator
The Thunder made a brilliant hire. At some point soon someone really smart is going to hand him the keys. https://t.co/iCVP4sWNOi
The New York Knicks are on a wild run in the 2026 NBA playoffs, and a WWE star may be behind it all.
It was a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with the Knicks erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 115-104 overtime win, the second-largest comeback in the fourth quarter of a postseason game since 1997. While New York is certainly praising the late-game heroics of Jalen Brunson and company, people are pointing out that the shocking result happened because of WWE wrestler Danhausen − and his proclamation before Game 1.
Does it make sense? Not really to non-wrestling fans, but those interested in both can't help but notice Danhausen may have something to do with the Knicks' success.
Who is Danhausen?
Danhausen may come off weird to non-wrestling fans, as someone with white, black and red face paint talking in strange ways. His gimmick is that he places curses on wrestlers and other things, and they end up working in mysterious fashion.
After he was with All Elite Wrestling from 2022-26, he made his first WWE appearance at Elimination Chamber in February. His debut was odd, but he has since become a fan favorite wrestler thanks to his comedy and creativity.
Danhausen and the Knicks
The odd relationship with New York goes back to the first round of the playoffs. As part of WWE's promotion of WrestleMania 42, Danhausen appeared on "First Take" and placed a curse on Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith.
The segment was strange, but it had some effect: the Atlanta Hawks took a 2-1 lead over the Knicks. Danhausen even gloated about it on an episode of SmackDown.
However, Danhausen later revealed someone paid him "human monies" to lift the curse off of the Knicks.
The result? The Knicks win three straight games to win the series, and follow it up with a dominant sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round. ESPN even noted on "First Take" on May 19 that the Knicks were 6-0 since the curse was lifted.
Danhausen curses Cleveland Cavaliers
As if it couldn't get weirder, Danhausen appeared on ESPN program "NBA Today" ahead of Game 1. On the show, he placed a curse on the Cavaliers.
It didn't end there, as Danhausen went to Madison Square Garden ahead of the game with his own Knicks jersey.
All of that led to what happened in Game 1, when the Cavaliers were up 93-71 with 7:52 left in the game and on the way to victory. New York instead went on an incredible 44-11 run to cap off the comeback.
After the stunning result, fans took notice of Danhausen's actions, and he was already taking full credit for it, and demanding courtside seats between Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner so the Cleveland curse can continue.
Believe it or not, there may be some magic behind the Knicks' playoff run, and it better ensure it stays on Danhausen's good side in order to win its first NBA title since 1973.
ESPN announcer Mike Breen was ready to drop another legendary call, but the ball had other plans.
With just 5.3 seconds left in regulation in a tie game Tuesday night, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill took an open 3-point shot at the top of the key.
Many inside Madison Square Garden, including Breen, believed Merrill was about to break Knick fans’ hearts as the ball looked destined for nothing but nylon.
But the ball rolled around the rim and fell out, sending Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals to overtime before the Knicks ultimately prevailed 115-104.
“I think I got the ‘B’ of ‘Bang!’ out,” Breen said on Mad Dog Sports radio Wednesday morning. “That’s not the first time that’s happened. That’s happened a few times, because it looked right on target.”
Iconic broadcaster Mike Breen Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Breen’s iconic “Bang!” catchphrase has been the backdrop to countless iconic NBA moments since the broadcaster began calling games on WFAN and MSG in the early 2000’s.
Moments like Luka Doncic’s game-winning 3-pointer over the Clippers in overtime in 2020, Derrick Rose’s 2015 Eastern Conference semifinals Game 3 buzzer-beater and Ray Allen’s Corner 3 against San Antonio in 2013 all received the coveted “Bang!” treatment.
But Tuesday night’s half-bang went viral across social media, with Barstool Sports dubbing the moment the first premature “Bang!”
The ball came this close to going down. @TheHoopCentral/X
While the ball did not go down, that Breen began his legendary catchphrase still emphasized how important Merrill’s shot was to the game’s narrative.
“It’s, ‘Wow, what a great victory for the Cavs to win game one on the road.'”
Cavalier guard Sam Merrill. Getty Images
The narrative seemed to be written even before that shot.
The Knicks trailed 93-71 with 7:52 remaining in the fourth quarter and it looked like the Cavaliers were going to steal a win in the Garden with a 99.9% win chance, according to ESPN.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to drive the ball around Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on October 24, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hey, look! A news drop that isn’t playoffs-related. The Spurs have announced that they will be playing two regular season games overseas for the 2026-27 season, both against the New Orleans Pelicans. The first will be in Paris, France at Accor Arena on January 14, 2027, and the second will be at Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England on January 17.
“It’s an incredible honor to make our return to France and play our first-ever game in England, given the strong embrace we’ve felt from the community and fans across Europe,” said San Antonio Spurs CEO RC Buford. “Bringing world-class basketball, community impact engagements and compelling fan activations to a European market, alongside the league, aligns directly with our organization’s vision to unite our global audience through unforgettable experiences and a shared love of sports.”
The Spurs have a unique history engaging with international basketball since joining the NBA in 1976. More than 50 international players have suited up for the franchise, including seven from France, and the team welcomed the NBA’s first-ever French jersey patch partner, Ledger, in 2025. The Spurs have made a purposeful effort to enhance the cross-cultural exchange between NBA basketball and international fans as part of the organization and league’s long-term commitment to growing the game globally, most recently hosting “Spurs Week Paris” in February 2026 and a Playoff watch party in Paris in April 2026. The January 2027 games will mark the Spurs sixth regular-season game in France and first regular-season game in England, in addition to seven preseason games played across Europe.
In addition to the games, the NBA, the Spurs and the Pelicans will conduct NBA Cares social impact programming focused on health, wellness and sustainability, coach and referee development programming and interactive fan activities that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Paris and Manchester. The Spurs will continue their work with Ledger to bring youth basketball programming and court renovation efforts across the two cities throughout the team’s time in market and will build upon their existing global programs such as Play Paris and Spurs Community Leadership Institute (SCLI) to maximize impact.
This will be Victor Wembanyama’s second time playing in his home country with the Spurs, with the first being last season in two games against the Indiana Pacers. The two teams traded blowouts, with Wemby looking good in their win and okay in their loss amidst a tough month of January for him, although we learn just a couple of weeks later that his struggles were due to deep vein thrombosis, which ended his season during the All-Star break. Hopefully he will be healthy in his return to Paris next season. He will definitely be on another level as a player and have some more hardware to show off compared to last year.
The Pelicans finished a distant 11th in the West with a 26-52 record this season despite getting 62 games from Zion Williamson — the second most of his career — but he wasn’t quite the game-changer he has been in the past (when healthy). However, they did not have former Spur Dejounte Murray most of the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles in Janaury 2025, but he was good in the 14 games he did play towards the end of the season. They also recently hired former Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who has plenty of young talent to work with and develop — a noted strength of his.
There is certainly room for the Pelicans to improve and jump at least into the play-in next season if they stay healthy. It is often a tense match-up with the Spurs regardless of where the teams are in the standings, so it should be a good series for our overseas friends to experience.
The New York Knicks erased a 22-point deficit in Game 1 and won in OT, 115-104. Jalen Brunson put the Knicks on his back and scored 38 points in the game and 17 of them coming in the fourth quarter and OT.
Cleveland only had one day off and was at a major rest disadvantage entering Game 1, so the 11-point loss was a tough for the Cavaliers. Cleveland shot 40% from the field, 32% from three, was out rebounded 47-38, and turned the ball over 21 times. Donovan Mitchell was the only Cavalier to score more than 15 points as he dropped 29 and Evan Mobley led the game with 14 rebounds, while James Harden struggled with double the turnovers (6) compared to assists (3).
New York won its eight-straight game and made one of the most historic comebacks of all time. Entering the fourth quarter, the Knicks were 4-of-23 from three (17.3%), and were out-played for three quarters. New York also left plenty at the free-throw line, going 21-of-32 (66%), but in the end, it didn't matter as the Knicks pulled through. Brunson dropped a game-high 38 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 13 rebounds. Landry Shamet was one of the heroes of Game 1 going a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and playing the final stretch in the fourth quarter and OT.
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: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 8:10 PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-225), Cleveland Cavaliers (+185)
Spread: Knicks -6.5
Total: 215.5 points
This game opened Knicks -6.5 with the Total set at 216.5.
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 52-42 ATS and an NBA-best 31-15 ATS as a home favorite
New York is 50-44 to the Under and 24-22 at home
New York is 24-22 to the Under at home and 16-16 to the Over as a home favorite
Cleveland has the second worst ATS record at 39-57
Cleveland is 10-8 ATS as a road underdog and 8-10 on the ML
Cleveland is 28-21 to the Over on the road
Cleveland is 48-49 to the Under on the season
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 Thursday’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 -6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 215.5
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HOUSTON, TX - JULY 2: Head Coach Ime Udoka, Reed Sheppard #15 and General Manager Rafael Stone of the Houston Rockets pose for a photo during a press conference on July 2, 2024 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets have some work to do, from a roster standpoint. This couldn’t have been made more obvious following Houston’s disappointing first-round postseason series against the Los Angeles Lakers, who were playing without their best player in Luka Doncic, while their second-best player in Austin Reaves was limited to just two games.
The Rockets were dominated by Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard for much of the series. Which is a major concern. Especially considering the landscape of the top of the Western Conference.
We just saw Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs (which was an instant classic, by the way). Both of those teams are leagues ahead of the Rockets.
Either of them would likely sweep the Rockets, with each side at full strength. Okay, maybe Houston would win a game, but you get the point.
There’s a rather steep lag between Houston and the top teams in the West. And it doesn’t appear as if the Rockets’ brass is on the same page, as it pertains to roster alignment.
Which is also a major concern.
Following Houston’s season-ending defeat to the Lakers, Rockets coach Ime Udoka emphasized the need for a multitude of skillsets on the roster.
Take a look (and figurative listen) for yourself.
“We do need to address some needs. The shooting, lack of shooting….at times. I think we will have soem very interesting conversations on having a little more of a mix, instead of some duplicates out there.”
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone took to the Ryen Russilo Show to share his thoughts on the matter, illustrating a clear difference in perspective.
“I do think you’re 95 percent of the time better off having redundant strengths than you are having a guy who fits, but isn’t as good of a basketball player. There’s trade-offs.”
This isn’t necessarily the first time that the two have seemingly been misaligned, as it pertains to the roster. Reed Sheppard has been another illustration, as the team invested heavily in him, taking him third overall in his draft class (ahead of even Stephon Castle), while Udoka hasn’t exactly given him consistent playing time.
Outside of the Rockets being without one of their starters, due to injury (in which case Udoka has been forced to dole out major playing time to Sheppard).
But even that wasn’t exactly vocalized by both Udoka and Stone, like we’ve seen here, regarding duplicity on the roster.
The two sides will need to get on the same wavelength, because this roster needs work. The team lacked outside shooting this past season and has ever since Mike D’Antoni and Daryl Morey left the franchise in 2020. And Houston needs playmaking guards (which also isn’t a new development).
It’s great to have formidable wings, but you need more than just that player profile.
May 19, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the fourth quarter of game one of the eastern conference finals during the 2026 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
That was a soul-sucking loss for the Cleveland Cavaliers. To go from a 22-point lead with roughly seven minutes left in the fourth quarter to an overtime loss is beyond demoralizing. Those who chose to engage in the toxic social media spaces had all of their darkest thoughts validated in a maddening echo chamber.
Count me among those who went to bed depressed and wondering where it all went wrong.
Spoiler: it went wrong in a lot of areas during those final seven minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
One of the common themes in the doomsday discourse centered around James Harden. It feels like the Cavaliers community operates in absolutes when it comes to Harden; either the Cavaliers were geniuses for bringing him in, or he needs to be launched out of a cannon into the surface of the sun.
But Harden in Game 1 was the victim of the true culprit behind Cleveland’s collapse: Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson saw what every viewer saw, or at least he should’ve. The New York Knicks identified Harden as the weak point defensively and spammed the same action repeatedly, high screen-and-rolls designed to force Harden onto an island against one of the league’s most methodical isolation scorers in Jalen Brunson.
The result was predictable.
Brunson scored 13 of his 38 points during the final seven minutes. Because Harden was on the receiving end of much of that scoring run, many fans immediately threw his name into the conversation about why the Cavaliers blew the game.
But Harden became the scapegoat for a disaster-class coaching performance from Atkinson in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks closed the game on a staggering 44-11 run. During that collapse, Atkinson held onto his timeouts while watching a 22-point lead shrink to five with three minutes remaining.
There were no noticeable defensive adjustments for far too long. The Cavaliers continued allowing Harden to get dragged into the same matchup over and over again, turning him into the basketball version of a “barbecue chicken” alert. It also took far too long for Cleveland to start trapping Brunson and forcing the ball out of his hands.
And by the time the Cavaliers finally adjusted, the Knicks were already one step ahead. Mike Brown countered by replacing Josh Hart, who had struggled from three, with Landry Shamet to improve spacing and punish the extra help defense.
Meanwhile, Atkinson; who had spent the first three quarters adjusting effectively on both ends of the floor, suddenly looked like a deer in headlights.
After the game, Atkinson’s explanation only added to the frustration. Instead of fully owning the collapse, phrases like “unlucky” were tossed around while avoiding accountability for timeout management and the lack of decisive adjustments that may have helped stabilize the game.
It’s not Harden’s fault that he was repeatedly left isolated defensively possession after possession. At some point, a coach has to recognize what is happening and react.
Atkinson didn’t.
He didn’t make substitutions. He didn’t implement meaningful defensive changes. He didn’t even call a timeout to regroup while the game spiraled out of control.
Fans blamed what they saw on the screen: Harden getting hunted.
They should be blaming what they didn’t see: Kenny Atkinson responding with decisive coaching action.
