Here…

Come…

The Brooms!

Mike Brown

On OG Anunoby’s status heading into Game 4:

“He’s still day-to-day. I had not followed up to ask any specifics. I just wanna let them know, ‘OK, when’s he gonna be ready to play?’ It’s all medical-related and it starts with [the training and medical staff]. All I want them to do is tell me when he can play.”

On the 76ers’ ability to rally:

“They’re a really good team, man, and they’ve already done it once before. We addressed it, but the biggest thing is just trying to stay present, not getting ahead of yourself and however you can do that, try to do it. And the simplest way for me is just keep reminding myself, reminding people around me it’s one game at a time — but it’s also one quarter, one possession at a time and trying to lock in on each possession like it’s your last.”

On balancing playoff adjustments:

“What we’re doing now, I think, can have great carryover next year and down the line because we’d be able to expand on it the right way through a training camp and all that other stuff. Right now it’s a little limited, but there’s still enough options within what we kind of stumbled upon to make it effective, but hopefully as time goes on, we’ll be able to expand on it, and if we can get to it during this playoff run, great. If not, we feel pretty good about where we’re at, going forward even afterwards.”

On Mikal Bridges’ athleticism:

“He runs like a deer. His gait is beautiful, which makes him fast and it doesn’t even look like it.”

On the current Knicks culture:

“When guys are engaged like that 24/7 throughout the course of the year, it bodes well for the environment, for the culture and guys are actively trying to keep their mind present because when they get an opportunity, they want to perform well.”

On his trust on the full Knicks rotation and his players’ professionalism:

“As a coach, you love to see it. That’s why you give different guys opportunities at different times. Sometimes, you start Landry. Sometimes, you start Mo. Sometimes, you start this guy. And what hopefully it shows at the end of the day coming from me is that I have confidence in them, and not only that, your number can be called any time, so be ready. And our guys have taken that to heart. We’ve got a lot of good guys that are resilient. They’re fighters. And they’ve done a good job of keeping their mind on staying present in whatever we’re doing, and it’s showing when they go out there and get the opportunity.”

On deploying an “equal opportunity” offense:

“Anybody can be in any position. Anybody can set screens. Anybody can initiate it, but it’s going to take some time to expand on it.”

On offensive growth potential:

“What we’re doing now, I think, can have great carryover next year and down the line because we’d be able to expand on it the right way through a training camp.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the need to stay focused for Game 4:

“I just look at us as a team that’s trying every single day to stay in the present and find a way to win. Every single time we step on the court. We just got to stay in the present. The next game is the most important game. There’s a lot of things we need to clean up and we want to clean up and we have another game to do that. It’s about just staying about us.”

On offering condolences to Nick Nurse:

“I got to say one thing, I missed saying this. I told Derek the other day, I was so tired after Game 2. I feel like we’ve played five games already. Game 2, Game 3, but I didn’t get to say, my family, at least, wanted to give love and condolences to Nick Nurse’s brother and his family. I never got to say that after Game 2. I was exhausted, as you can see on the court. So it kind of skipped my mind in Game 3 yesterday. It skipped my mind, the mad house, media coming in and everyone trying to get out. I don’t care if you don’t write it or anything, but I wanted y’all to know that. I could’ve told y’all in the locker room but y’all was trying to get to every player, so just wanted to make sure that was known. Wanted to say that on TV, on the podium after Game 2, but I was just so tired. I was so tired I couldn’t even get to the Gatorade. I couldn’t even make another Gatorade joke. Really wanted to give my condolences to him. I haven’t been able to talk to him personally, but I know it’s real tough. I don’t know what he’s going through, but in a similar fashion I know how it is to have to show up to work and to have a lot of pressure on you to do something special when you’re kind of not fully there.”

On whether or not he had anything to do with the Knicks’ offensive adjustments this playoffs:

“I feel like we all had an opinion, and we were able to figure out what was best for our team, especially in a spot like that — down 2-1. I had my opinion, I feel like we’ve done a great job adjusting to have all of us be our best.”

On Mikal Bridges’ growth:

“I think that he’s always been athletic, he’s always been talented. I think what’s better is just to see the experience kicking in for him. He’s using that experience to help us and help himself. It’s great to see that his career has helped make him the best version of himself right now, today.”

On the timing of the Knicks’ offensive shift:

“I feel like the real change for us came before Game 4 in Atlanta. I think that’s when we really changed our offense. It’s been great. It’s been something I’ve talked about for a lot of the season, to feel like we can help our guys more. We made the right moves. [Brown] set the table for us to have this kind of run.”

On the alignment between the Knicks players and Coach Brown:

“It was the perfect time for all of us to really get on the same accord. There’s no better time to be playing your best basketball than right now. So shout out to Mike and really the whole coaching staff for putting us in the best position to succeed.”

On playing on Mother’s Day:

“It’s work. Just work to me. I’m glad we got a game on Mother’s Day. It gets me doing what I love and what gets me off of everything off the court.”

On trusting his passing chops:

“I feel like I’ve always had this my whole career. It’s just I never had the opportunity to utilize that skill set. It’s being utilized. My teammates have been in great positions for me to find them when they’re open.”

On making collaborative adjustments:

“I feel like we all had an opinion and we were able to figure out what was best for our team, especially in a spot like that – down 2-1. I had my opinion. I feel like we’ve done a great job adjusting to have all of us be our best.”

Jalen Brunson

On internal growth and outside perceptions:

“These guys understand that you guys only see the finished product. You guys see what’s on the court. You guys see what’s what when the cameras are on, when there’s media access. You guys don’t see the ups and downs of us talking things out. You guys don’t see us in practice trying to figure things out. And we all want to win. Obviously, there’s ups and downs to it. And we have times where we look disconnected and we look connected. That’s just team sports. That’s basketball. That’s sports. That’s life. There’s going to be ups and downs. It’s all about how you move on, how you get positive, how you move in a positive direction regardless of whether things are negative or positive. You got to block out the noise. You got to focus on inside those lines. You got to focus on just us as a team. There’s going to be times where things aren’t going your way. It’s how you respond. How you respond as a team is going to define who we are. And I think it took time. I think we still have a lot of room where we can grow. But it’s really key for us. I think our mental approach is a positive for us.”

On Mikal Bridges’ durability:

“Obviously, he’s played an unlimited amount of games in a row. And that’s just a testament to who he is.”

Mitchell Robinson

On his dunk over Joel Embiid:

“It’s just a basketball play. You’re trying to bait me. That’s a good one. But no, just playing ball, just happy. It’s part of this league.”

On not planning on using his poster on Embiid as a screensaver:

“Not mine, no. It don’t got no truck in it.”

Landry Shamet

On Mikal Bridges’ impact:

“I would take it a step further. There’s a ton of stuff that I would argue people don’t see that he does throughout the course of the game that’s far more important than just a couple of the big plays and coming up with a loose ball down the stretch. He does that for 48 minutes. So does his level go up and does he show up in big moments? Absolutely, but I would argue that he’s the type of guy that does that for all 48 and finds a way to do it every night.”

Josh Hart

On playing through thumb injury:

“It’s something I’ll revisit in the offseason. There’s people that played through this. They got (Kyle Lowry) on their team, who played through it and won a championship. So it’s something that’s doable.”

On Mikal Bridges’ defense:

“He’s going to take each matchup personal. When he gets into that mindset and that mode he’s a heck of a player. He’s doing an amazing job. [Tyrese Maxey] is a tough task, a tall order. The way [Mikal] is able to maneuver and navigate screens, do all those things, and on top of that, give us good shots, good minutes and a good quality of executing on the offensive end is great.”

Jordan Clarkson

On staying ready despite a swinging role:

“Never. I was just going with the flow, staying locked in. I don’t really think too far ahead. Whatever is in the moment is what’s going on. I got out the mud, bro. I was a second-round pick, damn near undrafted. I just stick with the grind and stick with the process, try to find ways to impact the game. I only care about winning. I came here for the opportunity to play winning basketball.”

Nick Nurse

On missed open shots steadily against the Knicks:

“There’s certainly an element of that for sure that has got us in the last two games. I don’t expect to make them all. But you make one of those, it’s a one-point game. Make two of them, you’re up two. I don’t know what else you can do other than create wide-open shots. Certainly, in Game 2, down the stretch there, all we did was have really good offensive creation. We just didn’t make enough. I can’t fault the guys’ effort and trying to do the right thing. We just need them to go in.”

VJ Edgecombe

On missed shots dooming Philly:

“We’re not making shots, we’re getting a lot of looks. We just watched the film. We’re generating a lot of good looks. Nothing is going in for us.”

On fatigue impacting the Sixers play:

“Obviously, fatigue is a factor. But fatigue’s a factor for every team this late in the season. If you want to win, that shouldn’t matter. We’ve just been missing wide-open shots.”

Coming out of a December that started off well but ended poorly, the Mavs were looking to build on the momentum of an ever-growing Cooper Flagg, all the while hoping Anthony Davis would finally string together a run that could help propel Dallas to a PlayIn berth or better. For the most part, Flagg was playing his more natural position and while still shaky, the team was beginning to show they were going to hang in almost any game.

January Record: 7-8 (19-30 overall)

January began with the Mavs splitting their first six games. Another loss was followed by what proved to be a season-long winning streak of four games. Two of the victories came against the Utah Jazz, with the other two against the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors. All of that momentum was immediately lost however, as they closed out the month with an equally long losing streak.

Anthony Davis goes down with season-ending injury

Although we didn’t know it at the time, January 8, 2026 was the last time Anthony Davis would play as a Dallas Maverick. Any remaining holdouts hoping that Davis was finally going to put a run together most likely knew that was now not to be the case. Those hoping he would stay healthy long enough to be traded were also holding their breath. The injury looked so mundane yet elicited such a visceral reaction from Davis, that you almost knew it was going to shelve him for a while, despite a variety of conflicting reports in the following days. When it was all said and done, Davis only played in 29 regular season games and two PlayIn games for the Mavericks.

Naji Marshall finally sits one out

In yet another injury-plagued season, though not nearly as bad as the prior year, Marshall proved to be the Mavericks’ ironman in the early going. On January 28, Marshall had played in all 47 games of the season to that point, before sitting out the following night. He came on strong to start the new year, scoring in double figures in all but a single game in January leading up to his first absence. His best outing of the month was a 30 point, 7 rebound, 9 assist game in a win over the Warriors on January 22. By season’s end, Marshall logged 74 games played, second on the team to only Max Christie.

Klay Thompson drains his 2,800th three-pointer

Thompson will go down as one of the very best shooters in the history of the NBA. Despite missing more than two full seasons straight, he joined elite company as only the fifth player to ever to hit 2,800 three-pointers. In the January 12 matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, Thompson connected on 3-for-7 from downtown. By the end of the season, he drained 99 more three-pointers for a solid hold on fourth all-time in three-point makes.

After the calendar turned on January, things got very rocky for the Mavericks, but more changes with an eye on the future were soon to come as well.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

NBA Draft Lottery winners and losers: Wizards earn top pick, trade dooms Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Washington Wizards are officially on the clock.

The NBA’s worst team this season was rewarded with some lottery luck on Sunday, winning the top pick in a loaded draft.

The Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls filled out the top-four picks, in that order. Now, it’s time to start scouring mock drafts and studying some of the top players in this potentially historic class.

Here are some winners and losers from the lottery:

Winner: Wizards

Starting with the obvious, winning the lottery is monumental for the Wizards.

The team has won fewer than 20 games in three straight seasons, but lottery luck hasn’t given them the first overall pick since 2010. John Wall, who was their representative at Sunday’s drawing, was the pick that year. Washington, in 2025, fell from second to sixth, where it selected Tre Johnson.

There isn’t an obvious No. 1 player in this class, but that’s only due to the glut of talent at the top. BYU forward AJ Dybantsa projects as a potential pick, but you could make the argument for Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer or North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. For a roster that just added Trae Young and Anthony Davis in mid-season trades, perhaps a wing talent like Dybantsa is the pick.

Loser: Nets

Lottery luck hasn’t been on Brooklyn’s side recently.

Last year, the Nets dropped from sixth to eighth. This year, they fell from third to sixth. These results come after years of surrendering their own first-round picks to teams like the Celtics and Rockets — where they picked players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Reed Sheppard.

The Nets can still add talent at No. 6, but they will miss out on the top-four talent that seems to be on another tier. Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, Houston guard Kingston Flemings, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler and Arizona guard Brayden Burries could be options for Brooklyn.

Winner: Trades shake up the order

Four trades were revisited during this lottery, with the results impacting the Pacers, Clippers, Pelicans, Hawks, Bucks and Thunder.

The Pacers-Clippers trade this season involving Ivica Zubac meant that Indiana kept its pick if it was top-four, or else it went to LA. Well, it was fifth — so the Clippers now have a premium pick after losing in the Play-In Tournament. The reigning Eastern Conference champions, meanwhile, have nothing to show for their 19-win campaign — although they will get Tyrese Haliburton back from injury next season.

The Pelicans gave up their unprotected first-rounder to the Hawks last year during the draft, but the Hawks could also swap picks with the Bucks if Milwaukee’s pick jumped over New Orleans’. Neither pick moved into the top four, so the Hawks will take the Pelicans’ No. 8 pick and the Bucks will keep their No. 10 pick.

The Thunder, who are rolling through the playoffs and seem poised to win consecutive titles, own the Clippers’ unprotected first from the trade that also gave them reigning (and potentially repeat) MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. For the rest of the NBA, it was a sigh of relief that their pick stayed put at No. 12.

Winner AND loser: Tanking

It was tough to watch for most of the season, but fans of many bad teams were rewarded Sunday. Others, not so much.

The Wizards had the worst record in the NBA, blatantly resting Young and Davis and letting their young talent play extended minutes. The Jazz and Grizzlies had a similar strategy, with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant missing time and both teams opting for development over victories in 2025-26.

Other teams that tanked weren’t as lucky. The aforementioned Pacers and Nets fell just outside of the top-four despite their year-long losing effort. The Kings dropped from fifth to seventh despite going 22-60, which was their worst record since 2008-09.

The good and the bad of tanking were on full display Sunday, and it’s unclear how these results will impact the NBA’s potential plans to revamp the lottery odds moving forward.

We’re fully into the month of May on the calendar, which means a few things in the sporting world. Several of the college sports are getting down to the nitty gritty, with lacrosse soon crowning champions and the baseball and softball NCAA Tournaments soon to start. Meanwhile, in the pros, the MLB season is in full swing, the WNBA season is just getting underway, while two other leagues are only partway through their playoff journeys.

The spring and summer months feature the multi-week long battles that are the NBA and NHL playoffs. Around here at Tar Heel Blog, we have several Carolina Hurricanes fans on staff and probably as readers, there aren’t really any obvious UNC connections other than them being another local team. (It would be very cool if UNC sponsored an NCAA hockey team at some point, though).

However, there are plenty of connections to the NBA playoffs, as many Tar Heels have gone on to NBA careers following their time in Chapel Hill. Many of those names have also had notable moments and careers in the playoffs. It’s with that in mind that I ask today’s Question of the Day. What’s your most favorite or most memorable moment from a Tar Heel in the NBA Playoffs?

Several Carolina alumns had their moments in the NBA Playoffs, but of course, Michael Jordan has an abnormally large amount of them. Whether it be his shot over Craig Ehlo, his “flu game” in the 1997 NBA Finals, or winning the 1998 Finals with the shot over Bryon Russell, there are plenty to choose from. There are plenty I didn’t even get to in those examples.

However, I’m going to go a little off the board for my answer. One of my favorite ever Tar Heels whose time in Chapel Hill I can actually remember is Danny Green. It was especially fun watching him go from a second round pick and somewhat of an afterthought in the pros to a legitimate option for the Spurs, including in 2013.

While his San Antonio team didn’t end up winning that particular championship over the Heat — they did get revenge the following year — Green was incredible in the 2013 Finals. Including a 27-point, 6-10 from three effort in Game 3, Green led San Antonio in scoring in two games in the series and may very well have won Series MVP had the Spurs held on to finish off the series in Game 6. He ended up shooting an incredible 55.5% from three over the course of the seven games.

That’s my answer, but we want to hear from you! What is your favorite game or memory from a Tar Heel in the NBA Playoffs?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs
Date: May 10th, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock

On Friday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves entered Target Center entrenched in a tug-of-war with the San Antonio Spurs. With a victory, they could seize control of the Western Conference Semifinals, wash away the stench of that Game 2 disaster, defend home court, remind the young Spurs that playoff experience actually matters, and turn Game 4 into a chance to put San Antonio on the brink.

Instead, they spent the first seven minutes of Game 3 acting like someone had unplugged the offense.

For over half of the first quarter, the Wolves managed one point. One. A single Anthony Edwards free throw. That was it. No rhythm, no flow, no composure, no ability to finish, no ability to breathe offensively. It was the basketball equivalent of trying to start a lawn mower in March after leaving it in the garage all winter. Pull the cord. Nothing. Pull again. Nothing. Everyone starts looking around awkwardly. Maybe this thing is broken.

By the time Minnesota finally woke up, San Antonio had already built a 15-point hole. And yes, to their credit, the Wolves clawed back. They showed fight. They turned what could have been a first-quarter burial into a real game. But that opening stretch mattered. In a playoff game that came down to the wire, you cannot give away seven minutes and expect the basketball gods to refund them later.

The cruel part is that once the Wolves stopped hitting the snooze button, they were right there. They competed and held leads. They had moments where it felt like the veteran team was about to take control. But every time Minnesota seemed ready to tilt the game, San Antonio had an answer: a better look, a cleaner possession, or Victor Wembanyama acting like a cheat code with a jump shot.

Ultimately that was the difference. The Spurs got easier offense. The Wolves had to work for almost everything. San Antonio attacked the rim with purpose. Minnesota too often ran into Wemby’s shadow and started negotiating with itself. San Antonio generated better looks closer to the basket. Minnesota had too many possessions that felt forced.

So now the series sits in the exact place Minnesota absolutely did not want it to be.

Spurs 2, Wolves 1.

Game 4 at Target Center.

Win, and this becomes a 2-2 series where both teams have shown they can hurt the other, where the Wolves still have every reason to believe their experience and toughness can carry them forward. Lose, and suddenly they are down 3-1, needing three straight wins against Wembanyama, including two in San Antonio, while still nursing injuries and searching for answers.

That is not a hill. That is Everest with a Spurs logo painted on it.

So let’s call this what it is: Game 4 is a must-win in everything but the mathematical sense. The Wolves do not technically go home if they lose. But if they drop this one, the series starts feeling like a funeral procession with a Game 5 tipoff time.

This is the desperation game. This is the bite-back game. This is where Minnesota either reasserts itself as the battle-tested, bruising, playoff-hardened team that just knocked out Denver, or it lets a young Spurs team start believing this whole thing belongs to them.

With that, here are the keys to the game….

1. Body Victor Wembanyama

Game 3 was too easy for Wembanyama. He got to his spots. He impacted the rim. He punished Minnesota from multiple levels. The Wolves talked a lot about physicality after Game 1, but in Game 3, they didn’t deliver enough of it. That has to change immediately.

This is where Julius Randle becomes one of the most important players in the series. We have seen him body Wemby before. We have seen him put a shoulder into that narrow frame, move him off his spot, and make him look like a baby giraffe fighting a lion. That version of Randle has to show up.

Every Wembanyama catch needs contact. Every drive needs bodies. Every rebound needs someone putting a forearm into his chest. The Wolves cannot let him float through this game like he is playing in open space. They need to make him feel the weight of the series.

Rudy Gobert has to do his part. Naz Reid has to do his part. Randle has to do a lot of it. This has to be a collective effort built around one simple idea: no comfort.

If Wemby gets comfortable, San Antonio becomes incredibly difficult to beat. If he gets battered, pushed, forced to work, forced to play through bodies for 48 minutes? Then the Wolves have a chance to tilt the game back toward their strengths.

2. Lock Down Everyone Else

Wembanyama is going to get his. That’s the starting point. You do not beat San Antonio by pretending you can make him disappear. But the Wolves absolutely cannot let the rest of the Spurs get comfortable around him.

This is where Minnesota has to borrow from the Denver series, even if the matchup is completely different. Against Denver, the Wolves made life miserable for Jamal Murray. Jaden McDaniels snatched his soul. Rudy battled Jokic, but the perimeter pressure was what allowed the whole defense to breathe.

Against San Antonio, the assignment is less obvious but just as important. De’Aaron Fox cannot be allowed to bend the defense at will. Stephon Castle cannot be handed easy lanes and confidence. Devin Vassell cannot be allowed to get into rhythm. Champagnie cannot be gifted clean catch-and-shoot looks.

The Wolves need connected perimeter defense. McDaniels, Edwards, Dosunmu, Shannon, Clark, whoever is on the floor, has to hound the ball, fight over screens, cut off penetration, and close out with purpose. They cannot allow the Spurs guards to waltz into the paint, force Gobert into impossible decisions, and then spray the ball out to shooters.

And yes, this might be a Jaylen Clark game. If the Wolves need chaos, put in the rabid wolverine. Let him pick up full court. Let him make someone uncomfortable. Let him blow up a possession or two. Sometimes in a playoff game, you don’t need elegance. You need disruption. You need someone who makes the other team say, “Why is this guy guarding me like I owe him money?”

3. Dominate the Glass

The Wolves technically outrebounded San Antonio in Game 3, but that number does not tell the whole story. Some of that came from Minnesota missing so many first looks and cleaning up its own mess. The bigger issue came on the defensive end, where the Wolves had multiple chances to finish possessions and simply didn’t. Three different times, balls that should have been secured by Minnesota ended up back in San Antonio’s hands, eventually turning into Spurs threes. In a seven-point game, that is basically the whole thing.

This is where playoff basketball becomes cruel. You can defend for 20 seconds, force a miss, and do almost everything right. But if you don’t finish the possession, none of it matters. Against a team with Wembanyama, Fox, Castle, Vassell, and shooters waiting around the arc, you cannot hand out second and third chances.

Everybody has to rebound like the ball is the series, because once Minnesota secures those boards, it can run. And that is the second half of the equation. Defensive rebounds are not just about preventing Spurs points; they are Minnesota’s best pathway to easier offense. Get the ball, push, attack before Wemby gets set, make San Antonio defend in transition. None of that happens if the ball keeps bouncing back to silver and black jerseys.

Finish possessions. Or get finished.

4. Make Shots, But Stop Letting Wemby Scare You Out of Good Ones

Minnesota’s offense in Game 3 started as a horror show and eventually became merely inconsistent. That’s not good enough. The Wolves shot 35% from three, which is around the target range they probably need in this series. But it still felt like too many important shots rattled out, too many possessions died late, too many looks near the rim got rushed, altered, or outright abandoned because Wembanyama was nearby.

That is the Wemby effect. He doesn’t have to block every shot. Sometimes he wins just by existing. The Wolves have to fight that.

This does not mean driving blindly into him and getting the ball slapped into the 15th row. It means attacking with a plan and not making the defensive play for him. If you have a lane, take it. If he commits, make the pass. If he stays home, finish strong. If the defense collapses, kick out. But the Wolves cannot allow his presence to turn good offensive opportunities into awkward, off-balance, self-defeating attempts.

There has to be a balance between respect and fear. Respect Wemby’s length. Do not fear it so much that you stop playing basketball.

From deep, the Wolves need to be more than adequate. They need to be timely. They need to hit the shots that stop runs, the shots that punish help, the shots that make San Antonio think twice about collapsing. This team has lived and died by the three all season.

Find a way to live.

5. Treat This Like the Season Is on the Line

The Wolves have spent the entire season playing with the switch. On, off, on, off… In Game 2, it was off. In the first seven minutes of Game 3, it nearly fell off the wall. That cannot happen again.

Not for a quarter. Not for five minutes. Not for two careless possessions. Game 4 demands full desperation from the opening tip.

The Wolves need to come out like the more urgent team, because they are the more urgent team. They need to defend 94 feet. They need to run back. They need to hit people legally, preferably. They need to box out. They need to attack. They need to play with the kind of edge that tells San Antonio immediately, “You are not walking into our building and taking this series from us.”

Target Center will be ready. The crowd will bring it. But the crowd cannot make the first shot, keep Wembanyama off the glass, or stop the Spurs in transition. The players have to bring the force.

This is where experience matters. This is where two straight Western Conference Finals runs are supposed to matter. This is where the Wolves are supposed to look like the team that has been through playoff wars and knows exactly how much a Game 4 can swing a series.

If they treat this like just another game, they will lose. If they treat it like a fight for survival, they can even the series and make this a best-of-three.

Bite Back

The Wolves were bitten in Game 3. They cornered the Spurs with Game 1, got mauled in Game 2, and then let Game 3 slip because they started too slowly, defended too inconsistently, and failed to make San Antonio feel the full weight of a desperate veteran team protecting its home floor.

Now it is time to bite back.

This series is not over. The Wolves have enough talent, enough toughness, enough playoff scar tissue, and enough defensive weaponry to beat San Antonio. But they cannot keep waiting until the game starts slipping away before they decide to fight. They cannot keep giving away stretches and asking themselves to climb back uphill. They cannot let Wembanyama and the Spurs grow more confident by the quarter.

Game 4 is the response game. Win, and the series is tied 2-2. Home court is technically gone, but momentum is alive. The Wolves head back to San Antonio having restored order and reminded the Spurs that this is going to be a long, painful, physical fight.

Lose, and everything changes. Down 3-1. Two games left in San Antonio if it gets that far. Wembanyama and this young team smelling blood and gaining belief. A battered Wolves team staring at the edge.

That cannot be the outcome.

The Wolves need to land their shot. They need to play with force. They need to turn Target Center into a place San Antonio wants no part of. They need to show, from the opening tip, that this series still runs through their defense, their physicality, and their refusal to go quietly.

This is the hunt.

The prey bit back.

Now the Wolves need to answer.

You may or may not remember this, but a while back, Kelly Flagg counseled Cooper not to go crazy when he bought his first car.

From all reports, he listened.

She also counseled him to hold off on a girlfriend. And on that point, he may not have listened. And while we can’t be sure, he may have ignored that particular piece of advice for a while now, as he is apparently dating Duke Basketball player Arianna Roberson.

They were both freshmen last year, and Roberson is from San Antonio, which is about 250 miles from Dallas. And by Texas standards, that ain’t bad, more or less a Sunday drive.

We will say this, though. We would never suggest that someone date an NBA player, because, well, they’re generally players, as Megan Thee Stallion recently discovered with Flagg’s teammate Klay Thompson.

In Flagg’s case, we wouldn’t worry nearly as much. Why?

Because he’s a very loyal guy, and he’s already proven it.

He could’ve taken a much bigger deal from Nike, rather than signing with home-state shoe company New Balance. And when he signed that deal, he explicitly mentioned being loyal to Maine.

Given what we’ve seen from Flagg so far, the state is going to profit from that decision – already has, really. Nike is roughly 5 times the size of New Balance, but Nike has been struggling lately, while New Balance is coming on. A lot of people back home are very grateful to Flagg for looking out for them.

And there has always been speculation about Flagg signing with the Boston Celtics when his rookie contract is up. This spring, though, someone asked him about that, and he said that he was in Dallas, and that he’s a very loyal person.

Given those public examples, he seems like a good man to bet on romantically.

• Cooper Flagg enjoying Turks and Caicos vacation with rumored girlfriend
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• Cooper Flagg Goes Viral With His Girlfriend Arianna Roberson in Turks and Caicos
• Steamy new pics suggest Cooper Flagg and Arianna Roberson are officially an item

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

In Saturday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jared McCain and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled right on by Luke Kennard and the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-108. OKC now has a 3-0 lead and will win the series. This team is 7-0 so far in the playoffs. There will be no collapse.

McCain didn’t score as well as he has recently, but didn’t need to. He finished with one three-pointer in 10 minutes and also had one assist.

For the Lakers, Kennard had a nice night with 18 points on 7-10 shooting, including 4-6 from behind the line.

On Sunday, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs will square off with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4. The Spurs currently lead, 2-1.

• ‘Sam Presti knows what he’s doing’: Dave Pasch on Thunder acquiring Jared McCain
• Luke Kennard Explains How Lakers Can Stop Thunder Scoring Runs
• The trade Blazers refused to make was their worst deadline mistake
• Thunder depth becoming the biggest storyline of Lakers series
• Why Jared McCain’s Unwavering Confidence Has Been Important For The Thunder Against The Lakers
• Thunder charge past Lakers 131-108 in Game 3 for another blowout in the champs’ 7-0 playoff run
• Interior Dominance Leads OKC Thunder to Commanding 3-0 Series Advantage Over Lakers

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Keep the broom handy. The Knicks will face the 76ers on Mother’s Day in Game Four of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Xfinity Mobile Arena. New York holds a commanding 3-0 series lead and sits one win away from a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Sixers, meanwhile, are desperate to extend their season, to avoid a sweep on their home floor. The Knicks have ripped through six straight playoff wins, while Philly has looked washed and pressed after tumbling with the Celtics in the first round.

Much of the Knicks’ success has come from dominating in the paint and on the glass, repeatedly turning missed shots into crushing second-chance points. Philadelphia has struggled to match New York’s conditioning, size, and physicality for a full 48 minutes.

In Friday’s Game Three, the Knicks pulled away for a 108-94 win behind another sterling performance from Jalen Brunson, who finished with 33 points and nine assists. Mikal Bridges added 23 points while Josh Hart chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with 22 points, while Tyrese Maxey added 17 points and seven assists. Paul George piled up 15 first-quarter points before vanishing, missing his final nine shots.

The postseason has exposed Philly’s lack of depth and heavy reliance on star creation. The Cheesesteaks can still generate bursts of offense, but not for long. New York’s defense (especially the wings) has simply suffocated them. 

Maxey remains the engine of Philly’s offense, but the Knicks have neutralized him effectively for most of the series. Joel Embiid continues to battle through all sorts of aches and pains, relying on flops and dirty plays to make any headway. Oubre has been one of Philadelphia’s few consistently aggressive contributors, attacking the rim and crashing the boards. George remains an aging veteran; he can light up the first quarter and then fades into the ether. Rookie VJ Edgecombe offers athleticism and defensive energy, but has been unreliable offensively.

New York looks fully in control right now. Brunson has dictated the pace of the series, Towns has turned his passing ability into a true weapon, and Bridges has stepped seamlessly into a larger defensive role, especially with OG Anunoby sidelined. Hart continues doing it all on the margins—rebounding, defending, pushing pace, and playing massive minutes without slowing down. Landry Shamet also gave the Knicks an unexpected offensive lift in Game Three off the bench.

Anunoby remains day-to-day with a hamstring strain and is unlikely to play. For Philadelphia, Embiid is expected to play despite ongoing problems with his ankle, hip, etc.

Prediction 

ESPN gives New York roughly a 66% chance to close out the series. Right on. Expect the Phillies to play with desperation early, but if the Knicks continue winning the rebounding battle and forcing Maxey into difficult half-court possessions, New York should pull away again. For the Knicks to finish the sweep: keep Brunson in attack mode, keep Towns out of foul trouble, and continue turning missed shots into extra possessions. The formula has worked three straight times already.

Interesting fact: the Knicks have not completed a best-of-seven playoff sweep since 1999. Today, the fatigue factor favors New York. Philadelphia’s core players have logged enormous minutes throughout the postseason. Maxey already leads all playoff players in total minutes played, and his legs have turned to rubber in the last two fourth quarters. He’s a fine young player. He’s no Jalen Brunson. Look for Cap to lock this game down in the third quarter and a party in the fourth. New York by 15!

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (3-0) at Philadelphia  76ers (0-3) 
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Place: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
TV: ABC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

• Position: SF/PF
• Age: 23
• 2026-27 Contract Status: $2.8 million (team option)
• SunsRank (Preseason): 6
• SunsRank (Postseason): 11

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

Dunn’s development stalled out as he declined from a key rotation player to being out of the rotation.

By the Numbers

The Expectation

Going into this season, everyone (myself included) hoped that Dunn would build off of a promising rookie season and continue to grow into a solid rotation player for the Suns’ future. Whether he started or came off the bench, we expected him to play high minutes and have a positive impact on games with his defense and rebounding. Offensively, the expectation was that he would continue to improve his three-point jumper and get comfortable in the new Jordan Ott offense.

The Reality

It was a frustrating season for Dunn as he showed the limitations and holes in his game during his sophomore campaign. He started the first six weeks of the season playing about 24 minutes a game in October and November, averaging over 8 points per game and shooting well from distance. As with many young players, the Dunn experience was highly volatile, and Ott opted to play more experienced players in his place, including Royce O’Neale, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith, and Rasheer Fleming.

Dunn showed slight improvement in some areas this season; his three-point percentage ticked up from 31.0% to 33.1%, and he averaged more rebounds and assists than last season, too. However, the concerns remain about his shooting. He has yet to shoot over 50% from the free-throw line in his career, and while improving his three-point percentage from his rookie season, Dunn still looks hesitant and uncomfortable shooting wide-open threes. He only made 12 total threes above the break this year.

His strengths as a cutter and mover on offense do not outweigh his inconsistencies. So, until Dunn can become a reliable shooter, teams will opt to leave him open or foul him at the rim without any concerns because of his limitations.

Defensively, Dunn still gets whistled for fouls, making it hard for him to stay on the court against the league’s best players, and his energy and hustle did not match those of others around him. What we were hoping to get from Dunn this season was what Jordan Goodwin actually provided, and now the Suns have to decide if Dunn is worth building around moving forward.

What It Means

Dunn’s overall lack of development has him on the outs of the rotation heading into next season. He will not fetch much in return as a trade piece in any deal the Suns could pull off this summer, and his offensive limitations do not align well with the current roster, which relies heavily on spacing and three-point shooting.

Dunn is one of the most intriguing pieces on the Suns’ roster, as one of the few first-round draft picks of the decade. If Dunn can elevate his shooting and defensive impact, then the Suns could look to sign him to a team-friendly extension next season. If he continues to bounce in and out of the rotation, the Suns could move on after this season or next, when he has a team option for the fourth and final year of his contract.

Dunn has a lot of pressure to take a big leap in his third season. Right now, he is fifth in the pecking order of the Suns’ young players who need development. Jalen Green, Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Oso Ighodaro are all ahead of Dunn in priority because of their untapped potential. Last offseason, Ryan Dunn was a core piece to the Suns’ future; this offseason, he has become almost an afterthought.

Defining Moment

Dunn’s defining moment came early in the season against the San Antonio Spurs in November when he scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in a dominant win. He showcased everything he could be for the franchise if he could consistently knock down open threes, attack the rim, and play aggressive defense against one of the best teams in the NBA. Unfortunately, that confident version of Dunn rarely showed up in games the rest of the season.

Grade: C

Ryan Dunn deserves a C because even though his minutes in the rotation were inconsistent, he never detracted from the Suns’ identity and was always ready when his number was called on. It was not the big season we were hoping for, but he still contributed 19 minutes of hard-nosed, Suns brand of basketball every game this year.

The day has finally arrived.

Today, we’ll know the final order of the upcoming NBA draft where the Hawks are slated to have three picks — one of those landing in the lottery despite Atlanta making the playoffs.

Last year, the Hawks acquired a valuable pick swap by sending out the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to pick up the 23rd overall pick in that draft — Asa Newell — and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick swap between the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans.

Both teams missed the playoffs (and the Play-In Tournament entirely), giving the Hawks extra lottery balls to jump into the top 4.

Now let’s answer a few questions about today’s proceedings:

What are the lottery odds for this pick swap?

There has been some misinformation floating around about the true odds of where this pick will end up. Due to the statistical complexity of all of the lottery scenarios — as well as the chances both Milwaukee and New Orleans both see their combinations drawn — it’s not as easy as adding the two teams’ odds together.

The final odds, corroborated by a recent release from the NBA:

First overall pick: 9.700%

Second overall pick: 9.965%

Third overall pick: 10.135%

Fourth overall pick: 10.304%

Top-4 pick: 40.204%

What happens if the Hawks don’t hit the lottery?

In this case, the Hawks could finish no higher than seventh and no lower than 11th (although 11th would be a statistical improbability). The Hawks have a roughly combined 50-50 shot at receiving the seventh or eighth overall pick.

Seventh overall pick: 19.75%

Eighth overall pick: 30.18%

Ninth overall pick: 9.19%

10th overall pick: 0.67%

11th overall pick: less than 0.01%

Who is representing the Hawks at the draft lottery?

In years past, it has been the wife of the principal governor, Jami Gertz, on stage. However, the Hawks didn’t manage to have any luck with her as the talisman from 2018 to 2020.

Two years ago, the Hawks grabbed the number one pick with the top executive at the time, Landry Fields, present for the ceremony. This time, it will be new general manager Onsi Saleh to answer the call.

What about the other Hawks picks?

The Hawks will also have the 23rd overall pick (via the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs) as well as the 57th overall pick (via the Boston Celtics).

What else to watch for this draft lottery?

One of the most interesting things to look for is where Indiana’s pick lands. If it stays within the top four, the Pacers keep the pick. If it slides to fifth or sixth — and there’s a roughly 50% chance at this scenario — the pick goes to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Speaking of the Clippers, their own pick goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder no matter what happens today, owing to the Paul George and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trade way back in the 2019 offseason. There’s even a roughly 7% chance that the pick jumps into the top 4.

How and when can I watch, stream, or listen to the lottery?

Location: Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

Start Time: 3:00 PM EDT

TV: ABC

Radio: ESPN Radio

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo, YouTube TV

I swear, if Luka Doncic was playing, this second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder would be going differently.

The Lakers wouldn’t be losing …

… second halves by so much.

But if his hamstring allowed their offensive engine to drive, the offense might not be humming. But the Lakers could probably keep it running.

They might not be keeping pace, but with the league’s leading scorer contributing, the gap wouldn’t be a year wide by every game’s end.

The Lakers really miss Doncic. Duh.

Read more:Lakers drop Game 3 to Thunder; now one loss from elimination

But it’s not only because, without him, they’re stuck reliving a recurring nightmare; in all three games, the Lakers have played Oklahoma City tough in the first half, including taking the lead into halftime in Games 2 and 3, only for it to be yanked away.

It’s also because they’re also losing data points on the scoreboard going into a pivotal offseason.

This whole Western Conference semifinal series against these defending champions has been a lose-lose proposition for the Lakers, who are now down 3-0 and staring into the elimination abyss in Game 4 on Monday.

But throw in the 33.5 points per game Doncic averaged this season, and the Lakers don’t get outscored by a combined 54 points after halftime.

Calculate for Doncic’s career 30.9 points per playoff game, and let’s assume their high-water mark would surely eclipse Saturday’s tally in their 131-108 Game 3 loss at Crypto.com Arena.

For whatever that’s worth.

Which is little compared to what else the Lakers miss with Doncic on the bench, nursing the Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered on April 2 in Oklahoma City.

For the Lakers, this end-of-the-road series is most valuable as an evaluation period for next season. It’s a barometer reading: You are here. The Thunder are there.

The goal now is to build a team around Doncic that could conceivably keep pace with Oklahoma City, and so they’re evaluating who will help do that if they come along for the ride next year.

But the Lakers are doing these playoff measurements without Doncic on the court. They’re test-driving the wrong car toward vacation.

Doncic can expect a postcard in the mail: Wish you were there.

So does he, of course.

“It's very frustrating,” Doncic said between Games 1 and 2, standing with his hands in his pockets, pained to report that he wasn’t close to returning, five weeks into his eight-week return-to-work timeline.

“I don't think people understand how frustrating it is. All I wanna do is play basketball, especially this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I'm very proud of them. It's been very tough, to, just to sit and watch them play.”

He got to see the Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in a six-game, first-round series without him and, for four games, Austin Reaves — who is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 40% from the floor and 25% from three-point range this series, having become a higher priority of the Thunder’s physical defense without having to deal with Doncic.

On Saturday, Doncic had to watch another lead — and with it, another opportunity to steal a game — disappear as if by a cruel magic trick. As time wore down, Doncic sat on the bench next to Reaves, staring blankly, hands folded in his lap, like so many Lakers fans at the arena.

The Lakers’ latest deflating loss could have used Doncic’s energy,his showmanship, his fire. He’s among the league-leaders in that, too.

“Look, yeah, when you have the league’s leading scorer out there – if he was – it definitely changes the dynamic of a team,” said guard Luke Kennard, who scored 13 of his series-high 18 points in the first half Saturday.

“Obviously, we miss him. And we know he’s working his butt off right now [to return to play] … but yeah, I mean, he would definitely change it for us. But right now, he’s not.”

Kennard is right, of course. Things would be different if Doncic was out there dealing.

Not that different.

But the Lakers at least wouldn’t be running out of gas so far from getting home every game, and they’d also have a better idea of how much farther they have to go.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Happy Mother’s Day!

I realize today is Game 4 and there are options for discussion, but for now, let’s be grateful for those women who enrich our lives. Whether it’s your mother, or the mother of your children, or that nurturing aunt or neighbor, this is a great day to reach out and remind that someone that they made an impact in your life.

Dylan Harper was asked about his mother, who coached him through high school, and he shared this:

The mothers of the San Antonio Spurs are present and accounted for. They support their boys at games, on social media, and in the press.]

Wemby’s mom if often seen on the sidelines.

Carter Bryant’s mom has some wardrobe dedicated to her son’s career with the Spurs. They recently recorded an interview.

Last year, when the members of the Spurs were asked about the most influential people in their lives, “mom” topped the list.

No shortage of love.

How are you spending the day?

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

For those not competing for a NBA championship, it's one of the most important times of the offseason. Draft season.

First in order is the lottery on Mother's Day. The anticipated event is here meaning no more simulations on what the 2026 NBA draft order might be and presumably which prospect will go where. Draft positioning will be determined beginning Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET.

The Sacramento Kings posted a 22-60 record during the 2025-26 season and are searching for a piece that can be a contributor to their future or even the face of the franchise. They have a pretty good chance at landing one of the top prospects.

Sacramento is in need of a point guard. Kings general manager Scott Perry made it clear during end-of-season interviews with reporters that Sacramento will take a "best player available" approach, as they did in 2025.

Perry was brought in to the Kings brass following the 2024-25 season. His first opportunity to put his vision of building a contender began with the 2025 NBA Draft, where he drafted Nique Clifford (24th), Maxime Raynaud (42nd) and signed Dylan Cardwell as an undrafted free agent.

Fast forward to 2026. The odds for the Kings to land the No. 1 pick are 11.5%. The odds for Sacramento to land a top-4 pick are even greater at 45.1%.

However, their draft range is expected to be between No. 5-8, with the No. 9 pick being worst-case scenario. Experts are saying the most likely outcome is a No. 7 pick, overall. However, in many mock draft lists, the Kings have the No. 5 pick. And there's a consensus that they would take Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas.

Here's who experts are saying the Kings will select in their pre-lottery mock drafts:

The Golden State Warriors are going into the draft with unanswered questions: whether or not Steve Kerr will be the coach and whether he wants to incorporate inexperienced players.

The draft isn't until June, but the draft lottery is Mother's Day. The Warriors will know their position in the 2026 NBA Draft beginning Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET.

Golden State is coming off of a 37-45 season where they were eliminated in the NBA Play-in Tournament by the Phoenix Suns in a game for the No. 8-seed. That game is where questions about Kerr's future emerged, as the end of the season marked the end of his contract.

As the Warriors answer head coaching questions, they must decide the type of player they want to bring in. The Dubs need a ball-handler, playmaker, scorer and an inside presence, namely someone who can be a spark or a glue guy in non-Stephen Curry minutes.

One of the brighter spots from their 2025 NBA draft selections was Will Richard out of Florida. He was scouted a prototypical 3-and-D player, and that's what the Warriors got in the making. Richard was a 56th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies later traded to the Warriors on draft night. He averaged 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 20 minutes per game. His shooting percentages were on 46.8% field goals and 33% 3-point shooting in the 2025-26 season.

The 2026 Warriors are hoping to have similar fortune as the Dallas Mavericks in 2025, who finished 39-43, had a 1.8% to land the No. 1 pick and did, ultimately selecting Cooper Flagg, the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The Bay Area is praying for the same blessing. They have a similar scenario. And, Bleacher Report had them winning the 2026 lottery in an April mock draft.

The Warriors have 2% chance at landing the No. 1 pick. Very slim, but stranger things have happened. Chances at landing a top-4 pick are better, but still small, at 9.4%.

It's expected the Warriors will likely land a pick between No. 11-14, with No. 14 being the worst-case. Golden State cannot land at No. 5 through No. 10 with less than 1.0% chance at No. 13 or No. 14.

The overwhelming consensus from sports experts is that the Warriors will have the No. 11 pick. Here's who experts' are saying the Warriors would select in their pre-lottery mock drafts: