Category: NBA

For me, writing can be a solitary thing. As I write this, it’s 10:03 p.m. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals just ended. I am sitting on the couch.

This season, I have been fortunate to be credentialed, affording me an opportunity to not only attend the games in person, but to observe many longtime newspaper sportswriters, local TV journalists, and national periodical writers.

On Monday, I drove up to Oklahoma City for games 1 and 2. Eight hour drive and many hours hanging out at Paycom Center. I had some amazing conversations with Carolina Teague (Spurfect), Tom Petrini (Spurs on SI), Maxime Aubin (L’Equipe), and Matt Guzman (Spurs on SI). Over the course of the season, I have witnessed their press conference style and gleaned knowledge from their writing. They all hustle, writing into the wee hours of the night. Their work ethic inspires me. I slept very little in Oklahoma, to say the least.

Late night games lead to later night writing. Morning media availability, shoot arounds, practice, pre and postgame press conferences followed by yeat another high-adrenalin game. With the series set for games every forty-eight hours, there is little time to reset.

In addition to the local coverage for the Spurs, the Western Conference Finals has brought in national writers, many who I follow intently. I heard one writer from a national magazine state that he’sdwanted to see more Spurs games in person throughout the regular season, but spends most of the year traveling to multiple locations and can’t quite lock in on one team until the postseason.

This is my ninth year with Pounding the Rock. I have written more than 3,000 posts, and to be honest, I am still finding my voice. Sitting with these writers — in some cases for hours in a car, or talking through footage while rewatching Game 1, or over Chinese food while analyzing the Knicks game 1 comeback in real time — I heard in perspectives I hadn’t considered. I was privy to minds that are locked on basketball 24/7.

Personally, I am partial to Pounding The Rock. This is where I started my Spurs journey. And so, as the postseason intensifies, I am increasing my visibility and promotion of this site. If you don’t follow me on X.com (formerly Twitter) you can catch my pre and post game videos: https://x.com/JephDuarte

I also am now posting exclusive behind the scenes video content on Facebook and Instagram.

There is an abundance of Spurs info out there, but PoundingThe Rock.com is home, and has a great team of contributors. I appreciate all of you who read the Open Thread and encourage you to follow the other members of this crew.

Game 3 tips off tonight back home in the Frost Bank Center. I’ll be there to get updates on Mitch Johnson’s pregame press conference, player availability, shoot around, starting lineups, and to capture the vibes as the Western Conference Finals get a Fiesta makeover.

Go Spurs Go!

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In 1987, Detroit was building what would soon become a championship team. With a backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Rick Mahorn, second-year player Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, and John Salley, the core was set.

And they had Boston in a nice spot in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pistons had crushed the Celtics in Game 4, 145-119, and were poised to win in Boston in Game 5. Even better for them, Robert Parish had injured his ankle and Kevin McHale was having a subpar game and was in foul trouble to boot.

So when Larry Bird’s drive was blocked with time running out and Detroit ahead 107-106 with mere seconds left on the clock, it looked like it was over for the Celtics.

Well, not quite.

As it turned out, Bird stole the inbounds from Thomas to Laimbeer and hit Dennis Johnson for a layup with one second left. Bird didn’t make friends, but he hated Laimbeer, who he (correctly) considered a dirty player.

Boston would go on to win the series, 4-3. This video is of the entire game, which is much better than just the final :17 seconds, and well worth your time. It was a very different kind of basketball.

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Games can be won and lost in short spurts.

The Cleveland Cavaliers found that out the hard way once again as they dropped Game 2 109-93 to the New York Knicks.

After blowing a 22-point lead in an eight-minute meltdown in Game 1, it was 18 unanswered points in the middle of the third quarter that cost them Game 2. Both were fueled by poor offensive execution.

Now, the Cavs are in a 0-2 hole for the second consecutive series.

The offense once again abandoned them in a critical part of the game. They went scoreless in a five-and-a-half-minute stretch in the third quarter when the game was decided.

That simply can’t happen in the postseason, against an opponent that is this good offensively.

The outside shot deserves a lot of blame here.

The Knicks have been willing to give up three-point looks all season if it means they can secure the paint. That’s why they ranked 29th in opponent three-point frequency all season. That showed through once again.

New York was willing to concede open attempts from three if, in doing so, they were preventing a look inside the arc. That’s how Sam Merrill was able to generate seven three-point looks in 23 minutes. And if you look at the shots below, all but the last attempt were quality looks.

The issue was that none of them went down.

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The same is true for Cleveland’s other shooters. Max Strus went 1-4, Donovan Mitchell went 2-7, and Jaylon Tyson went 0-3. When four of your best shooters combine to go 3-21, there’s not a whole lot you can do to overcome that.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Kenny Atkinson said afterward. “I thought our process was right. … At the end of the day, you have to put the ball in the hole.”

Playoff basketball is about making the most of what your opponent gives you. The Knicks are content with giving up the three-ball. And this was the second-straight game the Cavs shot far below their season-long average from deep.

Conversely, Josh Hart played better offensively than he had at any point in the postseason. The Cavs dared him to make shots in Game 1, and he didn’t. In Game 2, he went 5-11 from three en route to a game-high 26 points.

There’s no way to take away everything. Teams are simply too good at this point in the playoffs.

You have to be willing to give up something. What the Cavs gave up came back to bite them. What the Knicks gave up didn’t. And that’s ultimately what made the difference in this game.

There were other areas the Cavs couldn’t take advantage of offensively.

The Cavs took the same percentage of shots at the rim as the Knicks, but they just couldn’t convert there either. Only 61.5% of their looks in the restricted area went down.

Going hard to the rim allowed them to attempt more than twice as many free throws as the Knicks, but they didn’t make the most of that either, leaving 10 points at the line.

Overall, the Cavs got to the spots they wanted on the court. Forty percent of their looks came from three (62nd percentile), 34% came at the rim (61st percentile), and they had more free-throw attempts. That’s the balance you want

But basketball comes down to converting those shots, not just generating them.

“We just didn’t make shots,” Mitchell said. “I loved everything about the looks we got. Some days, you just miss the open ones. … Offensively, I’m not worried at all.

That said, the Cavs need to do a better job of getting the bigs involved.

Evan Mobley scored 10 points in the first quarter, but took just two shots the rest of the way. Jarrett Allen was physical in the paint offensively, but wasn’t rewarded enough for his work, as he had just 13 points on 5-10 shooting.

The story is always the same for the Cavs. The offense is at its best when the bigs are a focal point. When they aren’t, the offense can become too dependent on the outside shot.

New York knows this. That’s part of why they’re selling out to cut off passes inside and clogging the paint.

There’s something to be said about the Cavs not being able to flex their strengths as easily as you’d like. It often feels like they take the path of least resistance if it’s opened to them. Given the skill of their bigs, they do need to make it a priority to get them going, even if it’s difficult.

Missing shots influences the defense. Every misfire, particularly from deep, is an opportunity to run the other way off the rebound.

The Knicks benefited from this. They were able to get into their half-court sets quickly and establish an offensive rhythm more easily. This resulted in every member of their starting lineup scoring 14 or more points.

Jalen Brunson beat the Cavs with his passing, not his shooting. His 14 assists were one shy of what the Cavs had as a team.

Cleveland tried to vary the defensive looks against him after he torched them down the stretch of Game 1. They sent two to the ball and hedged more often than they did on Tuesday, and Brunson made them pay. He quickly got the ball out and found the open man, which is exactly what you need to do in that situation. His teammates rewarded him for that trust.

Some of that is due to picking on James Harden. He held up better down the stretch of Game 1 than the results would lead you to believe. Brunson hit a lot of tough shots. That’s what he does.

The doubles and different looks came from Cleveland wanting to avoid what happened in Game 1. New York went back to the well again and had success, but more so because the rotations and doubles created more problems than they actually solved.

What you can’t do is let Brunson have his cake and eat it too. That’s what it felt like at times in this game with the easy reads he was presented with.

Despite that, this game was lost on the offensive end. Even with things getting away from them, the Knicks scored just 109. That’s a point total the Cavs have surpassed in all eight of their postseason wins.

What makes this frustrating is the fact that the Cavs are getting clean looks, and could be getting better ones if they could get Mobley and Allen more involved. If they’re able to continue to create good looks, then this isn’t over yet. That is, if Mitchell is healthy.

Afterward, Mitchell reiterated that he’s feeling great. That clarification was needed because he looked anything but that on the court.

The burst that we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Mitchell wasn’t there. He wasn’t moving quickly laterally on defense, and his drives to the basket were more line drives than quick side-to-side moves. That usually indicates some type of lower-body injury.

Mitchell still put up a game-high 26 points on 8-18 shooting, even with the three-ball not falling. That speaks to how skilled he is as a scorer. But if the explosiveness isn’t there, then it’s difficult for the Cavs to establish a consistent offense. They need him close to 100%, or at least as close as possible, after coming off two straight seven-game battles.

The Cavs can still get back in this matchup, but they’ll need their best player to be his best self if they want to do so.

A few notes on Josh Hart after the Knicks’ win over Cleveland:

Mike Brown had high praise for Hart after Hart poured in a team-high 26 points in the Knicks’ Game 2 win on Thursday.

The coach compared Hart to a future Hall-of-Famer whom he’d coached in San Francisco.

“They're different players, but they're similar players because Andre (Iguodala) is edgy too. And Andre's a hell of a player. I mean, he's a great player, and he does so many little things that if you're not careful, you won't appreciate them,” Brown said late Thursday. “And it's the same with Josh. He does so many little things that don't show up in his box score.”

In Game 2, Hart had seven assists and four rebounds. He also defended well (the Cavs shot 39 percent from the field).

“But he does so much more — start with versatility that he gives us defensively that, you know, you have to — starting with me — be careful to not dismiss it,” Brown said. “And then on top of that, because he's so impactful, as a connector, (I’ve) got to give him probably more leash than anybody else. You know, I got to let him go be him and get out of his way. 

“And, you know, that's hard sometimes as a coach because you're looking at X's and O's and you want everything to be perfect. You're looking at the box score, you're looking at this, with Josh, and Andre, all that s--t that should be thrown out the window because those dudes are winners.”

The Knicks are six wins away from winning on another level. They are two wins away from an NBA Finals appearance.

It’s thanks to Hart, who went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc after missing his first three attempts from deep. The Cavs have been giving Hart plenty of space to shoot the ball.  The strategy worked well in Game 1 as Hart missed four of his five attempts from three.

But he bounced back in Game 2 and now the Knicks could be 96 minutes from a berth in the Finals.

“It's just who Josh is,” Brown said.  “He's a gamer; he knew what he had to do in terms of the adjustments he needed to make, in order to be effective, not just for him for the team and be really decisive. Not only that, he helped us get out and transition. 

"We have to play fast, so we're not going against a set defense all the time. You know, when you get out of the transition, if you're a team that cross-matches, it’s going to be hard for you to find the right bodies. That’s how we’re going to have to play. We’re going to have to play fast versus their cross matches and see if we can get something earlier in transition.”

For the first time since he was a sophomore in high school, Sam Hauser finished a season of basketball shooting under 40% from three. At 39.3%, we’re just shy of being able to morally round up, and thus a brilliant streak of shotmaking has come to an end.

Unfortunately, a close to his Celtics tenure may not be far behind.

In many ways, Hauser had a strong season. He averaged career highs in points (9.2), rebounds (3.8), assists (1.5), and minutes (24.8). He also started in 49 games, which was more than his previous four seasons combined. He had a relatively slow start to the year, but played a genuine part in helping the team vaporize the gap year notion by April.

The second half of the season was particularly encouraging. Over his last 45 games, Hauser started 44 and averaged 10.5 points while shooting 40% from three. He had games of nine and eight made threes in the final month, operating in easily the most prominent role of his career.

Hauser held the starting gig into the playoffs, and was even their most efficient three-point shooter, knocking down 16/38 (42.1%).

The unfortunate truth is that even with his strong shooting performance, Boston was considerably worse with Sam on the floor in their first-round loss.

A -16.3 net rating swing is hard to wrap your head around, especially when it’s the offense that took the largest hit. The answer is in the shot location data.

With Sam on the court, the Celtics attempted significantly fewer shots at the rim (16.9 frequency vs. 21.8 without him) and saw their three-point efficiency dip to 29.1%, compared to 38.2% in his absence. They leaned into far more midrange attempts as a result.

The explanation is not complicated. Hauser is a highly respected marksman, but he’s also third in the entire NBA in three-point attempt rate, with 83.9% of his field goal attempts coming from behind the arc. A team’s worries are limited to keeping vision on him and closing out hard. There is no true threat of a drive when the defense is in rotation — he finished the series with four shots at the rim.

None of this is meant to bury him. Hauser is a good basketball player. He’s a smart team defender, moves the ball quickly, and can shoot off movement as well as anyone on the roster. The Celtics have gotten a ton of value from this partnership.

That’s actually the point.

At some stage, you’ve seen everything a player can give you. Boston is at that stage with Sam Hauser, and they probably know it.

Hauser is a specialist with one of the more useful skills you can have in basketball. The questions this offseason aren’t really about what he is, they’re about how the Celtics can redistribute his minutes to build a flexible rotation.

Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Ron Harper Jr. project to be more dynamic two-way pieces. They bring athleticism, and while their skills are less refined, their roles are more malleable. Walsh and Gonzalez are wing-stopper types you can throw into matchups against the other team’s best perimeter options. Scheierman and Harper Jr. can make things happen on or off the ball, and have no hesitation to make a play when the ball swings their way.

The Celtics are elite at protecting the basketball, ranking first in limiting their own turnovers, but they rarely force mistakes, finishing second to last in steals. While Hauser is a solid positional defender, he has a conservative style that doesn’t generate many deflections or turnovers. Shifting minutes to that group would be an injection of defensive playmaking and help the Celtics build on their advantage in the possession battle.

Opening the door to see if any of them can take another step forward is in the Celtics’ best interest, and Hauser is the right option to make that happen.

His contract is clean and genuinely good value — four years, roughly $11.6 million annually through 2028-29. A lot of teams need supplementary shooting and haven’t grown their own. Boston has built the infrastructure to handle the loss of a shooter like Sam.

Brad Stevens spoke candidly in his end-of-season press conference about the Celtics’ lack of rim pressure contributing to their early exits the past two years.

“One of the things we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim. And we do need to add to our team to do that,” Stevens said.

As much as the organization values Hauser, he is a culprit in their rim pressure deficiency. He also likely represents the most tradable contract to find help in that regard.

The Celtics’ salary picture makes this even clearer. Tatum, Brown, and White account for 77.7% of the active roster payroll. Everything below them drops quickly to rookie contracts and minimums. Hauser’s $10.8 million next season is the closest thing Boston has to a mid-sized contract. It’s the most realistic tool in trade conversations, and the easiest pathway if the Celtics want to acquire a proven impact player without dismantling their core. Hauser’s contract would get them in the ballpark, and his shooting ability should make him an attractive trade target rather than just a number on a spreadsheet.

Hauser has been a great success story for this front office. He developed from an undrafted unknown into a reliable rotation piece on a championship team. The issue isn’t about what he is doing wrong, but that the Celtics have likely capped out in terms of how much value they can get from him as the first wing on the floor after Brown and Tatum.

They have an opportunity to pivot away from their flaws into a more dynamic version of themselves. Finding someone who can threaten the paint off a closeout, while opening the door for the wing group to develop, is a good place to start building the next great version of this team.

Dalton and Tristi's NBA mock draft 2.0: Who Warriors, Kings pick in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

While the conference finals are underway in the NBA playoffs, draft season has begun with the combine done and teams beginning to bring prospects in for workouts.

Can the Kings find a franchise savior with the No. 7 pick? Will the Warriors add a rookie who can help Steph Curry right away with the 11th pick?

The Washington Wizards aren’t technically on the clock quite yet, but the 2026 NBA Draft now is just one month away. Dalton Johnson and Tristi Rodriguez predict all 30 first-round picks with plenty of changes in our mock draft 2.0.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU 

For now, Dybantsa is the pick for the Wizards. He has all the makings of a possible future star as the Wizards finally mean business, but Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and even Caleb Wilson have to be in consideration. –Dalton Johnson

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Peterson’s health and availability should be questioned no longer after a strong presence at the NBA Draft Combine. The Jazz have their guy, if the Wizards don’t snag him first. – Tristi Rodriguez

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, PF, Duke 

Boozer’s dad works in the Jazz’s front office and played four seasons for the Bulls. He slots right in between both teams and is much more than just a safe pick –DJ

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina

Wilson only boosted his draft stock at the combine last week in Chicago, and that’s likely where he’ll end up next month. – TR

5. LA Clippers (via IND): Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville 

In a draft full of talented guards, Brown might have as much upside as anybody else. He’s big enough to share a backcourt with Darius Garland and might be too dynamic to pass up despite past health concerns from back problems. –DJ

6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

The Nets, perhaps more than any team in the NBA, desperately need a star. Acuff Jr. already has proclaimed he can be just that for them. – TR

7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

We’re staying with the same selection for Sacramento in our mock draft 2.0, with Flemings headed to California’s capital.

As if it didn’t make sense the first time around, this pick feels all the more right post-combine. While there was some surprise and even some concern after Flemings’ height was listed as 6-foot-2.5 without shoes and his wingspan came in at 6-foot-3.5, he proved that wasn’t an issue once the rock was in his hands.

Flemings already showed off his hops with eye-popping dunks at Houston, and he solidified his leap with a 33.5-inch standing vertical jump, which was tied for fourth overall among guards. His max vertical leap was much higher than Acuff Jr. and Keaton Wagler’s – two guards who are toe-to-toe with him in the draft rankings.

However, the 19-year-old really shone during shooting drills. He was 26 of 30 (86.7 percent) in off-the-dribble shots overall, and he shot an impressive 19 of 25 (76 percent) from 3-point land.

There are a lot of traits the Kings could appreciate, but Flemings’ shooting is a no-doubter. 

Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned his defense – one of his biggest strengths at Houston.

The two-way guard could help make this transition period for Sacramento much smoother. – TR

8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

The Hawks need some fresh bones to back up CJ McCollum, and they’ll get that with Keaton Wagler. Though his combine results didn’t jump off the page, Wagler’s season with Illinois proved he’s worth being patient for to properly evaluate. – TR

9. Dallas Mavericks: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers 

Where Lopez winds up in the draft will be fascinating. It feels like his range goes from top 10 down to the 20s. Here, he has the skill set and background of a Masai Ujiri pick. –DJ

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee 

The Bucks are in a bad place. Giannis Antetokounmpo wants out and they know it, so they might as well take the massive upside swing on Ament. –DJ

11. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor 

Throughout Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy’s first press conference since the end of the season, the Warriors’ coach and general manager mentioned multiple times a lack of depth on the wings from injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Our last mock draft’s pick, Yaxel Lendeborg, fills that need. Going with Carr might be the perfect balance of a player who can help now and projects major future upside. 

The combine did wonders for Carr. He came in a little under 6-foot-5 barefoot and a lanky 184 pounds with an eye-popping 7-foot wingspan. Carr shot lights out in drills and then wowed everyone during his one scrimmage, where he scored 30 points with six 3-pointers and seven rebounds. 

With his length and silky-smooth jumper, Carr can play shooting guard and small forward depending on who’s around him. The Baylor product can both splash threes as a great movement shooter and swat shots away as a two-way player for years to come. As a 21-year-old who will turn 22 in late November, Carr is a great combo of present and future for a Warriors team that wants to get younger and more athletic. –DJ

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan

The Oklahoma City Thunder looked like the best team in the NBA all season and through the conference finals of the ongoing playoffs, but there might be areas to address after the potential parade. Isaiah Hartenstein could enter unrestricted free agency if the Thunder decline his $28.5 million team option, opening the door for Mara. – TR

13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama 

The Heat will take the best player available and be happy Philon is there. Philon made the leap as a sophomore and averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game on 50.1 percent shooting with a 39.9 3-point percentage. –DJ

14. Charlotte Hornets: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan

Lendeborg will enter the league as a 24-year-old rookie, but his unique talent could bode well with what’s building in the Queen City. – TR

15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Brayden Burries, G, Arizona 

A guard seen as a clear lottery pick is bound to fall. Seeing Burries still on the board here would be shocking and the Bulls would gladly select someone who impacts both sides of the ball after leading Arizona in threes (70) and steals (59) as a freshman. –DJ

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX): Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech

With Ja Morant’s future in Memphis a big question mark now and down the road, it’s never too early for the Grizzlies to seek other options. Anderson’s shooting, playmaking and pace-pushing would be welcomed in Memphis. – TR

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Morez Johnsonn Jr., PF/C, Michigan 

The reality is, the Thunder will surely have to trade one or some of their picks. If they still have the 17th pick, Johnson is the perfect winning player who can help the defending champions quickly and cheaply. –DJ

18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington

The Hornets need to bolster their frontcourt, and through the combine, Steinbach climbed the rankings and solidified his status as a first-round draft prospect. – TR

19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa 

The Raptors were near the bottom of the league in 3-point attempts and makes, shooting 35.4 percent from deep. In comes Stirtz, who can let it fly from deep and run an offense in his sleep. –DJ

20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

Health is quite literally everything when it comes to Quaintance. If he can stay healthy, the Spurs could get a steal at No. 20. – TR

21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford 

The new-age Grit and Grind Pistons would break speed limits everywhere by adding Okorie. He can get to the rim and shoot it from deep, is smart with the ball and would allow Cade Cunningham to play more off the ball and not have all the responsibility in his hands. –DJ

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston

Philly needs reliable frontcourt depth – emphasis on reliable. – TR

23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

After taking Wagler with their first pick, the Hawks add more frontcourt help with their second. Veesaar is a 7-foot senior who also shot 42.7 percent beyond the arc. –DJ

24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara

Graves quietly and smoothly raised his draft stock through the combine, and he could be an intriguing option for the current best team in the East. – TR

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn 

With Doncic leading the Lakers, they need more talent at center. In comes Reed, who does not miss around the rim, is a lob threat and averaged 19.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in the NCAA tournament. –DJ

26. Denver Nuggets: Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas

Swain is a young, athletic wing. What else could you ask for late in the first round? – TR

27. Boston Celtics: Amari Allen, Wing, Alabama 

Josh Hart averaged 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in four games against the Celtics this season, plus went 11 of 23 on 3-pointers. Here’s how Boston can find its version of Hart. –DJ

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke

Max Strus and Duncan Robinson were and have been impactful role players for their respective teams in the NBA playoffs, and that’s widely important. At the combine, Evans compared his impact to that of both players. – TR

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA) – Tounde Yessoufou, Wing, Baylor 

It’s a wing league, and Yessoufou has every physical trait front offices drool at. He’s a top-tier athlete full of physicality. He also didn’t live up to expectations his freshman year at Baylor and will have to develop as a shooter after shooting 29.3 percent from 3-point range, including going 1 of 9 in the NCAA tournament. –DJ

30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Meleek Thomas, SG, Arkansas

Thomas has teetered on both ends of being a late first-round selection and an early second-rounder. He fits with Dallas, which needs scoring and perimeter shooting. – TR

Even with injuries to key players, the San Antonio Spurs have to feel good about themselves coming into tonight’s Game 3. They were able to steal Game 1 from the defending champs, a double OT classic that saw the Spurs eventually out-execute the Thunder down the stretch, and were tantalizingly close to coming back home to the Frost Bank Center with a 2-0 series lead. Even with the loss of Dylan Harper in the 3rd quarter and 21 more turnovers to go with the 21 giveaways from Game 1, it was still just a 2 point game in the early moments of the 4th. With both Harper and DeAaron Fox’s availability up in the air, the potentially undermanned Spurs will have to rely on the otherworldly brilliance of Victor Wembanyama, with the hope that the rocking San Antonio home crowd can give them that little extra bit of, “oomph,” that they might need to protect home court against the defending champs.

San Antonio Spurs (1-1) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1)
May 22 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: NBC, Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Line: San Antonio -1.5

Spurs Injuries: DeAaron Fox, ankle (day to day), Dylan Harper, leg (day to day)

Thunder Injuries: Jalen Williams, hamstring (day to day)

What to watch for

• With Fox yet to play in this series and Harper potentially sidelined, going forward the bulk of the ball handling duties may fall entirely on the shoulders of Stephon Castle. Castle was San Antonio’s leading scorer in Game 2, memorably throwing down arguably the best poster jam of the year for 2 of his 25 points, and has been his usual busy self on the defensive side of things, but his 20 combined turnovers in the two games is a real concern for the Spurs. It plays right into the hands of Oklahoma City, who’s hounding, handsy defense is arguably the best in the league at forcing turnovers and turning them into points on the other end. With the real possibility he will only have limited versions of Harper and Fox going forward, Mitch Johnson is going to need figure out how to help his do-it-all guard take better care of the basketball and cutdown on what have been dreadful turnover numbers for San Antonio in the early stages of this series (42 combined as a team between Games 1 and 2).
• Oklahoma City’s biggest adjustment from Game 1 to 2 defensively was sticking a big on Victor Wembanyama for as much of the game as possible. Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren handled the bulk of the Wemby assignment, with doses of Alex Caruso sprinkled in. Hartenstein, who played just 12 minutes in the Game 1 loss, played 27 minutes in Game 2 and spent all of them doing everything he could to contend with the extraterrestrial Frenchman. Wembanyama went from having 26 paint points in his dominant Game 1 performance to just 10 in the Game 2 loss, and while he still finished with a freak statline, Vic is still at his best and most demoralizing to opponents when he’s dominating around the rim. Getting him more paint touches tonight should be imperative.
• Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played more than 30 minutes for OKC in Game 2 (38 minutes), while 4 of San Antonio’s starters logged at least 35 minutes and a 5th (Harper) was probably well on his way. While it’s the norm for playoff rotations to be shortened the deeper a team advances, the oddity of the double OT game in Game 1 racked up some heavy mileage on San Antonio’s starters right from the outset of a physical series. Keldon Johnson has been the only Spur to play at least 20 minutes off the bench in both games so far in this series, compared to 3 for OKC in Game 1 and 4 in Game 2. With a game being played every other day in this series, player minutes and potentially heavy legs will be a big thing to monitor going forward.

If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

The New York Knicks scored 18 unanswered points on the way to a 109-93 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers as they took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference final.

The score was tied at 53-53 when the Knicks pulled away at their Madison Square Garden home to take a 71-53 lead on the way to a ninth straight victory.

Josh Hart scored 26 points, including five three-pointers, for the home side as he racked up a career-high tally for a play-off game, while team-mate Jalen Brunson added 19 points and 14 assists.

The Knicks, who last reached the NBA Finals match in 1999 and have not been champions since 1973, also had Mikal Bridges scoring 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 18.

"We don't really care who gets the shine, the shots, the minutes, those kind of things - we're focused on winning," Hart said.

"I think everyone is willing to sacrifice their own personal agendas or performance for the betterment of the team. And when you have a group of guys that do that, sky's the limit."

Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points for the Cavaliers and James Harden contributed 18 for the visiting side, who went 2-0 down to the Detroit Pistons in the last round before emerging 4-3 series winners.

"This isn't our first time facing adversity," Mitchell said. "We've been to two game sevens, so being down 2-0, it's not the biggest challenge.

"It's right there. So let's go ahead and take advantage of it."

Games three and four will take place in Cleveland on Saturday and Monday.

The winners will play either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs, whose Western Conference final is tied at 1-1.

Although Tyrese Proctor finally got off the bench for Cleveland, it’s not looking good for the Cavaliers, who lost 109-93 to New York Thursday night.

Proctor played for just a minute but did not register in the box score. Still, he got to play in the Eastern Conference Finals, and not many people can say that.

On Friday, the epic series between Jared McCain’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Mason Plumlee’s San Antonio Spurs resumes.

• 4 takeaways: Knicks’ starting lineup delivers in big Game 2 win over Cavaliers
• Donovan Mitchell bluntly shuts down fatigue concerns after Cavs’ Game 2 loss
• Fans roast Cavs’ Dennis Schroder for wasting no time with 0-2 Instagram post
• Down 2-0, Donovan Mitchell has to rally his Cavaliers against the team he once worshipped
• Knicks cruise to Game 2 victory over Cavaliers for commanding Eastern Conference finals lead
• Despite 2-0 comeback vs. Pistons, the Cavs are cooked after MSG meltdown vs. Knicks
• Mitchell Robinson brutal Knicks free-throw shooting making him unplayable

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James Harden remains the face of postseason failure, shooting under 36 percent from the field (under 27 percent on 3-pointers) with more turnovers (six) than assists (five) through the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals.

Donovan Mitchell remains the face of a franchise that repeatedly fails to reach its potential, responding to Cleveland’s Game 1 collapse — in which he made one shot over the final 17 minutes — by scoring seven first-half points in Game 2.

He didn’t make his presence felt until the Cavs fell into a double-digit hole in the second half, also leaving Madison Square Garden with more turnovers (five) than assists (four) after two games.

The Cavaliers, who became one of the league’s top-rated offenses after trading for Harden in February, now head back to Cleveland with the sting of Thursday’s 109-93 loss, still seeking an offensive breakthrough against a Knicks defense that has now held opponents under 100 points on six occasions during their dominant postseason run.

Over the past 65 minutes of play — beginning with the fourth quarter of Game 1 — the Knicks have allowed only 116 points, having held Cleveland to 39 percent shooting in Game 2, including 26 percent (9-for-35) on 3-pointers.

During the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak, they have allowed an average of 98.8 points. And through 12 games, the Knicks have posted the second-best defensive NET rating in the postseason, barely behind the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs.

“Our defense was pretty good, especially when you have the talent that they have and the All-Stars that they have and the shooting that they have,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “We just have to keep mixing up what we do. Our guys did a pretty good job of trying to pay attention and lock in on the details on the defensive end.”

Sharpshooter Sam Merrill is 3-for-15 from the perimeter. Max Strus, who averaged nearly 15 points while helping the Heat eliminate the Knicks in 2023, has 13 total points. Dennis Schröder, who shot 47.6 percent on 3-pointers against the Knicks in last year’s playoff series with the Pistons, has seven points on 3-for-14 shooting.

Even Cleveland’s talented bigs have been limited.

OG Anunoby has helped keep Jarrett Allen below his season average in both contests, while Evan Mobley — who initially caused issues for the Knicks by scoring 14 first-half points in Game 2 — was held scoreless and without a field goal attempt in the second half.

With 10:37 left in the third quarter, the score was tied. Then, the Knicks seized control with an 18-0 run, holding the Cavs without a point for more than five and a half minutes.

“We were able to get stops, run and get easy baskets,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our offense, the way we were able to play in transition, is definitely a credit to our defense.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani quietly attended the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night — paying face value for tickets near a section that boasted $700 seats.

Mamdani, who did not list his attendance on his public schedule, posted a smiling photo alongside Public Advocate Jumaane Williams inside the Garden with the caption “Knicks forever” — only after the team’s astonishing 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

While the game was ongoing, a fan who paid roughly $700 for their ticket snapped a pic of Hizzoner sitting nearby, NY1 journalist Bernadette Hogan posted on X.

The socialist mayor paid for his ticket at “face value,” a City Hall spokesperson told Hogan. City Hall did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Outside the arena, many fans seemed far more interested in Knicks player Jalen Brunson than Mamdani — or his supposed “Curse of the Mambino,” which was blamed for the Mets’ brutal losing streak.

Before the Knicks’ wild Tuesday night comeback win, Voodoo King Michael Washington performed a spiritual cleanse to quell fans’ fears about the socialist’s sorcery.

But some young spectators didn’t have a clue who Mamdani is.

Kevin Taylor, 18, watched the game with his friends Kevin Burke, 19, and Kristian Charles, 17, in the outdoor viewing area at MSG.

“I feel great. Knicks are flowing, you know, they’re doing great,” Taylor told The Post. “If they make it to the finals, we’re gonna need a bigger TV though.”

“Mamdani? Who’s that?” Taylor said when asked about the mayor. “That’s the mayor!” Charles chimed in.

“Jalen Brunson is the mayor of New York right now,” Taylor responded.

Jailine Polanco, a 29-year-old esthetician and Mets fan, had a stronger reaction after learning Mamdani was in the arena.

“I didn’t know about the curse. But now it all makes sense. .. He needs to stay away from the Knicks, because they’ve been doing very good… Oh, he is here? 
Pack him up. 
I pack him up. Now,” Polanco said.

“He needs to worry about his city, not about Knicks basketball,” added her friend, Kristian Diaz.

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Cleveland; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Cavaliers -2.5; over/under is 213.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Knicks lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 109-93 on Friday, led by 26 points from Josh Hart. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26.

The Cavaliers are 33-19 in conference games. Cleveland is eighth in the league with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.0.

The Knicks are 35-17 in conference games. New York is fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.5 points per game and is shooting 47.8%.

The 119.5 points per game the Cavaliers average are 9.4 more points than the Knicks allow (110.1). The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 1.1 more than the 115.4 the Cavaliers allow to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Evan Mobley is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 9.0 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 27.4 points and 5.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Jalen Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 rebounds over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 107.3 points, 41.7 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points per game.

Knicks: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 44.2 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points.

INJURIES: Cavaliers: None listed.

Knicks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are now two victories away from reaching their first NBA Finals in 27 years.

The Knicks handled the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, May 21 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, 109-93, and they unlocked a different way to win: it was role players who carried the day.

All five New York starters hit double-figures in scoring, with Josh Hart, who had struggled earlier this postseason, scoring a team-high 26 points. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 19, with Brunson notching a playoff career-high 14 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18.

Here are takeaways from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals:

At the moment, one must search for areas of concern for the Knicks.

But there is one glaring issue.

Mitchell Robinson, who went 0-for-4 from the free-throw line, was again neutered by Hack-a-Mitch during the Knicks’ 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Across the first two games of the series, Robinson is a combined 2-for-12 from the free-throw line.

For the whole postseason, he is 13-for-41.

That’s just not tenable.

It is making Robinson, who can be extremely impactful, almost unplayable.

He logged just 13 minutes Thursday — and only three minutes in the second half.

He played 14 minutes in Game 1.

Even playing him at the starts of quarters, when the Cavs can’t do Hack-a-Mitch unless they want to play a significant portion of the quarter in the penalty, isn’t a solution.

Anytime Robinson attempts a putback or a dunk — particularly on lobs — the Cavs just foul him and send him to the line.

Before Friday’s game, Robinson said he plans to reveal a whole new version of himself.

“Last post before I delete this app,” Robinson wrote on Facebook on Thursday afternoon. “I finally have changed my [phone] number for many reason [sic]…as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all…. Mitch out.” The new chapter so far contains the same old problem.

Coach Mike Brown again raved about Jose Alvarado’s leadership on the bench.

“We actually pointed it out to our group in practice,” Brown said. “You watch the film, he’s uplifting the entire team when he’s on the bench. He’s always talking in a positive way. He’s showing our young guys that you can impact the game if you’re present, because Jose’s always present.“You’re using your voice and your energy, guys feel that on the floor. Jose’s been phenomenal.”

Tuesday was ESPN’s most-watched Eastern Conference finals Game 1 since 2018, the network announced.

It had an average audience of 7.1 million viewers and peaked at 8.9 million viewers.

Jalen Brunson refused to let the Knicks lose Tuesday, almost single-handedly delivering a franchise playoff-record 22-point fourth-quarter comeback. 

Two days later, the Cavaliers forced the ball out of his hands, so he adjusted. Instead of pouring in another 30-point performance, he distributed a playoff career-high 14 assists, as the Knicks took a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. 

“It just shows that he plays the right way,” Mikal Bridges said after the Knicks’ thorough 109-93 victory at a rocking Garden. “If you’re not going to send a double-team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double-team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy. Ever since I’ve known him, he plays the right way. 

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“Kudos to him, how he works, and his understanding of the game. If you’re going to come [double-team him], he’s going to make you pay and that’s what makes him great.” 

Brunson only scored two points in the first quarter and finished with 19. It equaled his second-lowest point total of the postseason. He was still impactful in creating for his teammates, getting the ball to the right man in the right spots. 

“They were sending two to the ball, and I was able to find my teammates and we were knocking shots down,” Brunson said. “Just trying to create an advantage and trusting them and having them make a play.” 

Added coach Mike Brown: “They’re sending double-teams at him, and he had 14 assists. He did what he’s supposed to do.” 

Perhaps the best example was Josh Hart, his former Villanova teammate and close friend. Hart was benched at the end of Game 1 and struggled early in Game 2. Brunson kept finding him, and on one fast break set him up for a dunk when he could’ve gone in for a layup. It was a way to boost Hart’s confidence on his way to a team-high 26 points. 

“I’m really not trying to look for him. He just happens to be open. So I give him the ball,” Brunson joked before turning serious. “I have the utmost confidence in him, watching the things he does after practice, his routine and everything. He works hard. I know we joke around a lot, but he does work hard.”