Category: NBA

ESPN just accidentally declared war against the Swifties.

Midway through the first quarter in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers on Saturday, the ESPN on ABC broadcast referred to Taylor Swift as “Travis Kelce’s fiancée,” which caused an uproar on social media.

As the broadcast showed Swift and Kelce sitting court side at Rocket Arena, ESPN commentators Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson refused to say the pop star’s name.

The ESPN on ABC broadcast of Knicks-Cavs Game 3 showed Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in attendance.

"Travis Kelce and his fiancée here at the game." – Mike Breen

"As Travis and his girlfriend are in the building, that's always great to see." – Richard Jefferson pic.twitter.com/L7vBqMQ8NJ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 24, 2026

“Travis Kelce and his fiancée here at the game,” Breen said as the cameras panned over to the couple.

“As Travis and his girlfriend are in the building, that’s always great to see,” Jefferson added.

Fans on social media lambasted Breen and Jefferson for the seemingly backhanded acknowledgement of Swift, considering her superstar status and global regocnition.

“Richard Jefferson not calling Taylor Swift by her name is corny lmfao,” on user commented on X.

“Are the #KnicksGame announcers not allowed to SAY Taylor Swift’s name? Wtf was that,” commented another.

One user thought that the announcers’ refusal to say her name was intentional as they mentioned her three times.

“They’ve done it like 3x lmao definitely feels intentional. Not sure why ESPN would ever want that though,” the user said.

Swift and Kelce’s appearance comes as the two are set to get married in the coming weeks, with Page Six previously reporting the couple’s big day will be on July 3.

Kelce, an Ohio native, has been spotted at Cavaliers games before, with the team honoring him and his brother, Jason, with a bobblehead night during the 2023-24 NBA season.

The Cavaliers trailed the Knicks 60-54 at halftime during Saturday’s game, with OG Anunoby leading the Knicks with 13 points, and Kelce was shown on the Rocket Arena videoboard chugging a beer during the second half of the Knicks’ eventual 121-108 victory.

New Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins has narrowed his coaching staff, according to a report from Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic. In a trio of moves that align with the Bucks’ desire for a cultural reset, Jenkins will bring Joe Boylan to Milwaukee for the first time, while retaining the services of long-time Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham, and reuniting Milwaukee with Patrick St. Andrews, who spent five seasons in the Cream City from 2018-2023.

Joe Boylan has a long history in the NBA, working in a variety of roles since the 2009-10 season, including stints with the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, and twice with the Memphis Grizzlies (including one where he was an assistant under Jenkins). Notably, Boylan has specialised in player development, working with players such as Jaden McDaniels, Brandon Ingram, and Naz Reid. His role in Milwaukee, then, will be particularly important as the Bucks look to develop their current crop of young players (think Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng), along with their 10th overall pick in this year’s draft—and anyone else they acquire via trade or free agency. If his 2025 article with The Athletic, “I developed NBA players for a decade. This new training method can help anyone,” is anything to go by, Boylan focuses on a constraints-led approach, placing players in different environments that force them to discover solutions themselves rather than focusing on repetition of “ideal” technique.

In addition to hiring Boylan, the Bucks are also bringing back Darvin Ham. After interviewing for the New Orleans Pelicans’ head coach position, Ham will return to the Bucks where he has spent six seasons as an assistant coach—four prior to coaching the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons and two since returning. Known for his work ethic and communication, Ham has a lengthy history with Jenkins, with the pair working together under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta for five seasons. Just as importantly, Ham offers the Bucks a sense of stability, an essential quality following what has been a tumultuous period for Bucks basketball.

Also joining Milwaukee is Patrick St. Andrews, who worked under Jenkins with the Memphis Grizzlies between 2023-2025, but also has a long history with the Bucks, spending five seasons in Milwaukee under coach Mike Budenholzer, including the 2021 championship season. In addition to these, St. Andrews was also a long-time member of Budenholzer’s staff in Atlanta, working with the Hawks in various roles from 2014 to 2018. Most recently, however, St. Andrews spent the past season with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he was initially hired along with current interim head coach Tiago Splitter as part of Chauncey Billups’ staff before Billups was placed on leave after being arrested in a federal gambling investigation. According to Blazers insider Sean Highkin, “St. Andrews was one of Tiago Splitter’s most important assistants this year and was responsible for managing rotations and minutes restrictions when half the team was coming back from injury.”

Together, the additions of Boylan, Ham, and St. Andrews point to the Bucks’ commitment to reestablish their culture, leaning on the past to project them into the future. With a combined focus on player development, stability, and in-game management, the hires give Jenkins a versatile staff built on familiarity, signalling the type of foundation Milwaukee wants to build under its new head coach. And with the NBA Draft right around the corner—and free agency coming shortly after—the timing couldn’t be better.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell has been ruled out for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Mitchell started seven of the Thunder’s 11 playoff games as a replacement for Jalen Williams in the starting lineup. Mitchell finished fifth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting.

He had his lowest scoring performance of the postseason on Friday, producing just two points and one assist in 17 minutes of play. He's been ruled out with a right soleus strain.

Williams could be closing in on a return, though, but he officially remains questionable ahead of Game 4 with a sore left hamstring.

CLEVELAND — The New York Knicks are known for their celebrity crowd. Timothée Chalamet, Ben Siller, and Spike Lee are mainstays on the sideline at Madison Square Garden. But so far, the Cleveland Cavaliers have hosted the biggest celebrity so far in attendance for a game.

Cleveland Heights native and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been to many Cavs playoff games since he entered the NFL. The team even had a bobblehead giveaway for him back in 2023. Although he’s never brought his world-famous pop star fiancée to the game.

Taylor Swift was in attendance, sitting baseline, across from the Cavs’ bench throughout the game. The in-arena hosts did not officially welcome them during the first half of Game 3.

Swift is one of the highest recording artists of all time. She boasts 14 number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard Top 100. This has led to her being the wealthiest female musician of all time.

The Cavs need all the good luck they can get in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Knicks. They trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series to decide who will go to the NBA Finals. The Cavs had a chance to steal Game 1 in New York, but blew a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and ultimately lost in overtime.

The Cavs are hoping to turn things around in Game 3. Maybe Swift and Kelce can help turn the luck around this series.

Donovan Mitchell's health is something to watch as Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals unfolds.

ESPN's cameras showed Mitchell walking back toward the locker room midway through the second quarter, though ESPN later reported he was not accompanied by a trainer. He returned to the bench area in short order and got back into the game before the quarter was through.

Donovan Mitchell went to the locker room halfway through the second quarter of Game 3 vs. the Knicks.

Mitchell then returned to the Cavs bench. pic.twitter.com/mDq9344WTR

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 24, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donovan Mitchell injury update, status for Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 3

New York's Madison Square Garden is famous for its celebrity row, but Cleveland's Rocket Arena saw arguably the most famous woman in the world pull up courtside Saturday night.

Pop icon Taylor Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce sat on the sidelines for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers. Kelce, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs star, grew up in nearby Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift locked in for Knicks-Cavs Game 3 👀 pic.twitter.com/OoiUXWa49T

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 24, 2026

His hometown team could use the support, down 2-0 in the East finals and fighting to avoid a 3-0 deficit.

Photos: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Knicks-Cavaliers game

The Knicks have Celebrity Row at the Garden, and now the Cavaliers have Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

As Cleveland hosted the Knicks at Rocket Arena for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday, the Chiefs tight end and Swift — who have been a couple since 2023 and set to get married in less than two months — sat courtside, with Kelce.

The broadcast captured the couple with just over eight minutes remaining in the first quarter, with Kelce wearing a backwards hat and Swift handing him a piece of gum from her purse, and Kelce later chugged a beer during the second of the Knicks’ eventual 121-108 win — and was pictured looking devastated at the scene unfolding around him on the court.

Swift has become a fixture at Chiefs games since they started dating, and the pair have also attended Game 1 of the 2024 ALCS and the U.S. Open together, along with also attending the Cincinnati-Nebraska college football game last season at Arrowhead Stadium.

But this time, they went to watch the sport that Kelce recently revealed he almost played in college, as he discussed on an episode of the “New Heights” podcast that he nearly went to West Virginia before opting to attend Cincinnati for college football before a conversation with his father, Ed.

“[Ed] looked at me and said, ‘You are a man of your word. You wanna be like these kids that commit to a university and de-commit and now the integrity of your word doesn’t mean anything?’” Kelce said during the episode with Cincinnati basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun, who was part of the Bob Huggins-led staff recruiting Kelce to West Virginia.

Kelce continued with his football career and ended up becoming one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, recording seven seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, winning three Super Bowls and becoming Patrick Mahomes’ most consistent target across the rise and fall of the Kansas City dynasty.

Back in 2024, the Cavaliers also honored the Cavaliers brothers with a bobblehead night.

Swift and Kelce watched as the Cavaliers trailed the Knicks, 60-54, at halftime, with OG Anunoby recording 13 points to lead the Knicks while James Harden collected 14 points for Cleveland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to even their Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

The Knicks head to Cleveland tonight after taking the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. Game One featured a historic comeback fueled by Captain Clutch, while Game Two showcased New York’s depth and Brunson in the facilitator role. Back on their home court, Cleveland—desperate to avoid falling behind by three—should respond with more energy and better shooting from its role players. The Knicks are locked, though, playing with the focus and urgency of a team methodically pursuing a bigger goal.

Tip off is at 8 PM EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Fear the Sword. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good citizens. And go Knicks!

Knicks are within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22 and the New York Knicks moved within one game of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

OG Anunoby had 21 points as New York led the entire game. The Knicks were 43 of 77 from the field, including 11 of 28 on 3-pointers. They were also 24 of 27 from the foul line.

The Knicks can wrap up the Eastern Conference Finals and sweep their second straight series with a win on Monday night. New York is the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight during a postseason run. The last team to do it was the Boston Celtics, who also went on a 10-game run on their way to the 2024 title.

All but one of the Knicks’ wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 21 for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 12 of 41 on 3-pointers and 12 of 19 from the foul line.

New York led 91-82 at the end of the third quarter but put it out reach in the fourth when Landry Shamet made three 3-pointers in a 99-second span to make it 105-94.

The Knicks made their first four shots en route to a 9-1 lead less than two minutes into the game. New York was 12 of 17 from the field in the quarter and was up 37-27 after 12 minutes.

Cleveland rallied and tied it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run. They went into halftime with a 60-54 advantage.

Brunson had six of his 12 points during an 8-1 run midway through the third quarter as the Knicks extended their lead to 83-70 with 3:41 remaining.

Knicks are within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22 and the New York Knicks moved within one game of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

OG Anunoby had 21 points as New York led the entire game. The Knicks were 43 of 77 from the field, including 11 of 28 on 3-pointers. They were also 24 of 27 from the foul line.

The Knicks can wrap up the Eastern Conference Finals and sweep their second straight series with a win on Monday night. New York is the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight during a postseason run. The last team to do it was the Boston Celtics, who also went on a 10-game run on their way to the 2024 title.

All but one of the Knicks’ wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 21 for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 12 of 41 on 3-pointers and 12 of 19 from the foul line.

New York led 91-82 at the end of the third quarter but put it out reach in the fourth when Landry Shamet made three 3-pointers in a 99-second span to make it 105-94.

The Knicks made their first four shots en route to a 9-1 lead less than two minutes into the game. New York was 12 of 17 from the field in the quarter and was up 37-27 after 12 minutes.

Cleveland rallied and tied it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run. They went into halftime with a 60-54 advantage.

Brunson had six of his 12 points during an 8-1 run midway through the third quarter as the Knicks extended their lead to 83-70 with 3:41 remaining.

Today is Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The New York Knicks play the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. ET. Watch it on ESPN. Enjoy the game!

CLEVELAND — Making the Knicks offense more dynamic was one of the most important improvements Mike Brown was supposed to bring.

One of basketball’s best minds is raving about his job doing just that.

“The defense can’t just key on a couple of actions anymore,” LeBron James said on his “Mind the Game” podcast, which he co-hosts with Steve Nash. “I thought over the last couple of years with New York, you kind of got a good rhythm of how they were gonna play. The ball was gonna end up in a certain way every single time.”

Now, with the new wrinkle the Knicks have unleashed this postseason, they have become much more unpredictable.

The transformation the Knicks underwent, after trailing the Hawks 2-1 in the first round, worked wonders.

Karl-Anthony Towns operating as a facilitator from the elbow was freeing up Jalen Brunson to find open shots off the ball and allowing other teammates to cut and set screens around him.

“You now shift your pie chart from people just thinking heavy, heavy, heavy, JB pick-and-roll, JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts,” James said. “Which means the defense can’t just be keyed in on one action now. So having KAT as the hub, at the elbow, at the top of the key, it allows JB to be off the ball, where he can set a rip screen for OG [Anunoby] to get to the rim where if [the defense] messes that up, OG gets a dunk. If they mess that up and both of them go with OG to the rim, now you have JB coming off it clean, either for a clean shot or a [dribble handoff]. Now the defense is playing catch up. That’s helped their demographic out a lot, their pie chart on what they can do offensively.

“And JB is still gonna have his iso game where he’s really good, he’s still gonna have his pick-and-roll game where he’s really good. But to sprinkle in a little bit of off-ball action, a little bit of pinch-post action, with a different hub, that helps a lot.”

That new “sprinkle” has led to a whirlwind for Towns and his role in the Knicks offense, though.

Just when it seemed it had been cemented, it was again forced to change.

The Towns-as-a-hub system was not as effective the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers’ big man duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

LeBron on KAT as hub: "You now shift your pie chart from people thinking heavy…JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts…D can't just be keyed in on 1 action now"

On Josh Hart: "Knicks have always had 1 of those guys…that's just synonymous with the Knickerbockers" pic.twitter.com/QsZyde0WNj

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 23, 2026

By the fourth quarter of Game 1, when the Knicks pulled off their historic comeback, they abandoned the Towns-centric system and reverted back to running the offense through Brunson with the ball in his hands.

And that’s how Brunson and the Knicks pulverized the Cavs down the stretch.

In Game 2, when the Cavs began aggressively double-teaming Brunson, he became the facilitator, rather than Towns.

And Brunson subsequently recorded 14 assists, his most ever in a playoff game.

So far this postseason, Towns has gone from playing off Brunson, to having the ball constantly in his hands early in possessions, to once again playing off Brunson.

What’s that been like for him?

“I’ve always said I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to impact winning and help this team win,” Towns said Saturday morning after shootaround. “That’s the blessing of our group. We have multiple ways and systems that we can utilize to help us get the win. I’ve been happy because we’ve continued to win. There’s nothing to be sad about.”

And now, it’s left the Knicks with multiple systems they can utilize when the situation calls for it.

“I think whatever it is, you kind of have a counter for it,” Mikal Bridges said Saturday. “And everybody be ready. Five guys who can play on ball and off ball so I think it’s just to be able to keep everybody honest and just read and react.”

The Cavaliers have no answer to slow down Brunson.

Their strength, defensively at least, is in their bigs with Mobley and Allen.

So it makes sense to let Brunson torch the Cavs in isolation.

But perhaps there will be a moment where the Towns-as-a-hub offense is again required, either in this series or a potential Finals appearance.