Category: NBA

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens are both denying any rift between the two.

In fact, Brown says that if it were up to him, he'd be happy playing in Boston "for the next 10 years."

The status of the team's relationship with its leading scorer this season was called into question after Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady recently said on his podcast that Brown has a frustration that "lies deeply within the organization."

Brown hasn't been shy about expressing his frustrations publicly. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA earlier this week for comments he made about the officiating after the Celtics' season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Stevens on Wednesday, May 6, refuted McGrady's allegations, saying the last conversation he had with Brown two days earlier was "nothing but positive."

Later that day, Brown echoed Stevens' remarks on his Twitch stream.

"I hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this," he said. "Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. And if it was up to me I could play in Boston for the next 10 years."

The Celtics posted the second-best record in the East during the regular season, despite playing for an extended period without star guard Jayson Tatum, who was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Brown led the team in scoring with a career-high 28.7 points per game.

"Obviously, we're not satisfied with the result," the five-time All-Star said. "If it sounds like an excuse, it's not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jaylen Brown refutes rumors, hopes to play 'next 10 years' in Boston

After four consecutive easy playoff wins, the Knicks needed some extra work to put away the Philadelphia 76ers in a 108-102 victory Game 2 victory on Wednesday night. 

Playing without star center Joel Embiid, the 76ers gave the Knicks a battle. 

New York withstood the absence of big man Mitchell Robinson, a weak three-point shooting night and foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up the win. A combined 70 points from Towns, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby was a deciding factor in the victory, which gives the Knicks a 2-0 series lead. 

Now, the series scene shifts to Philadelphia.

Let’s navigate through some keys ahead of the game on Friday night's Game 3.

Paint production

Through two games, the Knicks have dominated in close, outscoring Philadelphia 114-62 in the paint.

Interior points were a huge factor on Wednesday night. 

New York won the paint scoring battle by a massive 56-30 margin, which helped make up for a cold shooting night. The Knicks shot 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) as a team from the three-point line. On nights when the three-ball isn't falling, dominating the paint can make up for it. 

It was remarkable this happened even with Robinson out due to illness, and the Knicks only having nine offensive rebounds against the 76ers. 

One main reason for finding easy scores around the basket is Towns. Having him operate as a playmaker out on the perimeter has opened up the paint for cutters. Towns had seven assists in Game 2, and has recorded at least six assists in each of the last five games.

If the Knicks can keep a healthy edge in interior scoring, it gives them a chance to win every game. 

Pivotal injuries 

While the Xs and Os are important, it’s the Jims and Joes on the floor who matter. Injuries will loom large in deciding how this series goes for both teams. Late in the fourth quarter of Game 2, Anunoby came up hobbling, and he was not available for the last two minutes and 30 seconds due to what seemed like a leg injury. 

Postgame, Knicks head coach Mike Browndid not have an update on Anunoby’s status. It’s a gloomy ending to what was another marvelous night from Anunoby, who recorded 24 points, five rebounds and four steals.  

Anunoby has been New York’s most consistent player during these eight playoff games and has made a great impact on both ends of the floor. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds during the postseason. It’s safe to say if he misses any time, that will have a significant effect on New York’s hopes to make a deep playoff run.

As mentioned before, Robinson missed the game with an illness. With Towns and Ariel Hukporti both picking up several fouls, the Knicks missed their rebounding center.

For Philadelphia, Embiid’s injury seems to be day-to-day, as he was ruled out earlier in the day before Game 2 with both hip and ankle injuries. Though he had trouble defending in Game 1, Embiid’s offense is valuable. The 76ers missed the big man’s ability to score and create offense in the half-court, especially during the fourth quarter, when they scored just 12 points on 4-for-19 from the floor.

Back in rhythm

If Anunoby is unavailable for the next game, the Knicks will need a group effort to replace his production. One player who could fill some of the void is Mikal Bridges. He’s averaged 19.7 points on 74 percent from the field over the last three games, including an effective 19 points and five rebounds in Game 2. 

Bridges has also had the unenviable task of checking 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey. He and the Knicks as a team did a solid job on Maxey in Game 2, holding him to just 9-for-23 shooting. 

Bridges had been maligned for uneven play throughout his two seasons with the Knicks, and his disappointing first few games of this year’s postseason run, but it seems like he has pulled himself of the rut he was in. 

Now, the Knicks will likely need Bridges to contribute even more on both ends.

A bit too far with that one, Draymond.

Draymond Green, who typically jumps on “Inside the NBA” as a guest analyst when his Warriors season is over, took a low blow at NBA legend Charles Barkley on Wednesday night.

“Sports are for young people. You hope to have a great, long career, but nobody wins when they’re 37, 38,” Barkley said on the ESPN show.

Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical.

In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals.

Draymond continues to recreate history. pic.twitter.com/Lr0TD1EcuP

— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 7, 2026

“I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” Green replied.

Barkley spent the final four seasons his Hall of Fame career with the Rockets from 1996-2000, battling injuries while not scoring like had in the past.

When co-analyst Kenny Smith asked what that meant, Green doubled down on the statement.

“Did you see it? I saw it,” Green said.

Fox Sports television host Nick Wright detested the segment.

“Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical,” Wright said before crushing Green’s argument.

The Rockets went 57-25 in Barkley’s first season, grabbed the second seed in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the Jazz in six games in the conference finals, though many think they would have advanced to the NBA Finals had Barkley not been injured at the end of that series.

Injuries began to pile up on Barkley from there, as he played just 62 of a possible 164 games in his final two years in the league in his age-36 and age-37 seasons, respectively.

He still averaged a double-double in each season, averaging 16.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, although his points average marked Barkley’ lowest output with any of his three teams.

Even in Barkley’s toughest season in Houston, though, he averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 points per game, which clears Green’s career-highs for any season.

“Draymond continues to recreate history,” Wright said.

Green, 36, was between the ages of six-year-old and 10-year-old when Barkley played the backend of his career with a Rockets team that included aging Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.

Green has become increasingly hostile when discussing his NBA career, as he’s also embroiled in a war of words with former NBA player Austin Rivers, the son of Doc Rivers.

The Warriors forward, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, where he also played some college football, has previously said that Steve Kerr didn’t make his career, as many think.

“As much as he’s done for me in basketball, a part of me thinks he’s hindered me in my career and what I could have become,” Green said.

Rivers clapped back at him, saying that he was “disrespectful” to Kerr and his situation.

“You were the luckiest basketball player, I think I’ve ever seen,” Rivers said. “You were drafted to a franchise with a Hall of Fame front office, Hall of Fame coach, the greatest shooter of all time and perhaps a top-five player of all time. Not to mention one of the most lethal scorers of all time and arguably a top-10 player of all time, Kevin Durant — the same guy you chased off because you talk too much. Steve Kerr made your career. How dare you?”

The Warriors failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year this season after losing in the NBA Play-in Tournament.

When looking forward to next season, Green added that Jimmy Butler was going to miss a big chunk of the campaign, as will Moses Moody, which represents $75 million of their payroll.

“The goal is always to compete at a championship standard … as you get older, you have to redefine what success is,” Green concluded. “Still the most sellouts in the NBA. Still, the most nationally televised games in the NBA. And you just want to give yourself a chance.

“Success might not be, at this point, a championship. That’s the way it goes.”

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has entered the chat.

During Tuesday’s installment of the “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham reacted to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese’s “NBA playoffs love triangle,” as Reese’s boyfriend, the Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., and her ex, the Pistons’ Jalen Duren, clashed and guarded each other in the first-round playoff series.

Reese previously reshared videos of Carter dunking on Duren to her Instagram Story, which sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy.

“Something had to have happened for [Reese] to keep, I don’t know, wanting to embarrass him in some way,” Cunningham said.

“Or nothing happened,” said West Wilson, who is Cunningham’s co-host and “Summer House” star in the middle of a public cheating scandal.

“Then move on, worry about current boyfriend,” Cunningham replied.

Wilson added that Duren, whose production dipped in the series, is “in his head.”

Angel Reese posted her bf Wendell Carter Jr. BODYING her ex Jalen Duren pic.twitter.com/wmK0ukIOTS

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 20, 2026

The Pistons center averaged 19.5 points in the regular season but that has dipped to 10.6 points over eight postseason games.

Detroit advanced after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit.

Reese and Carter tend to keep their relationship private.

Duren and Reese were a rumored couple in the summer of 2024, when the pair shared videos on social media from what seemed to be a similar vacation setting.

They never confirmed the relationship publIcly.

“A messy NBA storyline involving Angel Reese and her ex, the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren vs. current boyfriend, the Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., … while they’re literally guarding each other in a playoff series,” the description of the “Show Me Something” video read.

It was a helluva run. Five first-round exits, two semi-finals defeats, a conference finals heartbreak, and, right in the middle of it all, ultimate glory. Nine years of playoff basketball. 47 wins and 42 losses—more than a season’s worth of postseason action. 

Now, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Milwaukee Bucks are on the outside looking in. But that doesn’t mean they should switch off. If anything, they should be paying even closer attention, using these playoffs to determine what holds up under the bright lights—and what direction their off-season should take. 

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns

What happened?

As expected, the Thunder wrapped up this series quickly, winning all four games by an average of 17.3 PPG even with Jalen Williams playing just two games. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the rout with 33.8 PPG and 8.0 APG on 55% shooting, while Dillon Brooks led the Suns, averaging 26.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG (shooting .459/.438/1.00).

What matters?

Despite the loss, which again was expected—not every team can be stacked with first-round studs—it’s the Suns that offer Milwaukee guidance. And it’s for two primary reasons. One, coaching matters. After an unsuccessful year under Mike Budenholzer in 2024-25 where the Suns went 36-46, rookie head coach Jordon Ott was instrumental in the Suns winning nine more games and moving from 11th to 7th in the Western Conference standings despite the roster having arguably less talent. With the Bucks having already signed Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach, that box seems to be checked. Two, the right veterans can make all the difference. For all his perceived warts, Brooks was phenomenal for the Suns this year, leading a culture shift that helped transform Phoenix from the 27th ranked defence to the 9th. What does this mean for the Bucks? It’s not always the big names that make the most difference. Castoffs, malcontents—take a look at them. Hard.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers 

What happened?

The Spurs took care of the Blazers in a gentleman’s sweep. Wemby averaged 21.0 PPG on 58.3% from the field and a shocking 53.8% from deep; dude is a real-life cheat code. The Blazers were led by Deni Avdija and, somewhat surprisingly, Scoot Henderson, with both combining to average nearly 40 PPG over the five-game series.

What matters?

Although the series ended in five games, many of the games themselves were much more competitive than people would have thought. Portland’s size appeared to be the factor that kept them in most of the games. At 6’3” (but 207 lbs), Scoot Henderson was really the smallest player the Blazers played. Of course, they also had Jrue at the other guard spot, but their wing group of Camara, Avdija, Grant, and Sharpe, along with Clingan in the middle, was a real headache for the Spurs at times. The key takeaway here is that, well, size matters…

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets 

What happened?

After going up 3-0 without the services of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (until Game 5), the Lakers let the Rockets back into the series by winning two straight games, but finished the job in Game 6. The series was closer than that, though, with the Rockets pulling off the choke of all chokes in Game 3, up six with about 30 seconds left, and turning it over twice to allow the Lakers to tie the game. In the end, Houston, like so many teams before them, got LeBron’d; the 41-year-old (!) averaged 23.2 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 7.2 RPG over the series. Remarkable.

What matters?

The main takeaway from this series is that balance is key. I think during the regular season, people (including me) can be led to believe that if you build an elite defence, offence can be secondary, and you can still go far in the playoffs. But when the playoffs roll around, we always learn how much half-court creation still matters. Could you imagine if the Rockets had an Austin Reaves-type during that series? It would have helped greatly. But they were stuck with a fleet of defense-first guys and forced to play the 6’1” Reed Sheppard (a second-year guy) into the ground each game to grease their clogged-toilet offence.

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 

What happened?

What a series! If you didn’t see unfold in real time, do yourself a favour and watch the tape. After holding serve in the opening game, Denver lost home court thanks to an all-around team effort by Minnesota in Game 2, with ex-Buck Donte DiVincenzo perhaps the biggest difference maker with momentum-shifting play after play (and 16 points, seven boards, six assists, and a team-high +20). Of course, he’d go on to tear his Achilles in the opening minutes of Game 4, a game in which Anthony Edwards also played his last minutes of the series—and Ayo Dosunmu officially arrived (43 points), giving the Wolves a 3-1 lead.

But when the Nuggets won Game 5 and Dosunmu played his last minutes of the series, a comeback seemed inevitable. Jaden McDaniels, however, would have none of it. The six-year pro put up a career-high 32 points to go along with 10 rebounds—while seat-belting Jamal Murray to just 4/17 shooting—Rudy Gobert continued to earn some much-deserved respect back, and Terrence Shannon Jr. came out of nowhere (24 points and six rebounds) to send the Nuggets home.

What matters?

Having beaten the Nuggets in two out of three recent playoff series, including the last two, the Wolves demonstrated that building a roster to “beat the best” works. Dig deeper and it’s apparent just how valuable two way wings with length are. Not only was McDaniels the MVP of this series, he also averaged 22.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.0 stocks per game (with zero turnovers and 75% shooting) to close out the Nuggets in Games 6 and 7 of their 2024 Conference Semi Finals win. In fact, the only time this iteration of the Nuggets have beaten the Wolves in the playoffs was in 2022-23 when McDaniels didn’t play due to injury.

Now, the Bucks aren’t going to suddenly luck into McDaniels in the offseason, but they do have a similarly-built Ousmane Dieng—both are listed as 6’9”, 185 lbs—and absolutely should force-feed him all of McDaniels’ tape. At just 22 years old and having only played 166 career games, Dieng is certainly still mouldable. Plus, it’s not as if he hasn’t shown some defensive chops (see his blanketing of Devin Booker in March). The other takeaways? It’s time to get back to the gritty defensive team the Bucks used to be and make opponents feel them. And belief is perpetually underrated. Instil those and you’ve got a shot.

---

Do you agree with our assessments, or is there something we missed? Add your two cents in the comments.

On April 27, the NBA announced its list of early entrants for June’s 2026 draft. Only that list was much smaller than in years past. 

The total number announced in April sat at 71 players. That’s 33% lower than the 106 who filed last year — and nearly 80% lower than the all-time high of 353, set just five years ago in 2021. 

The figure is so low that you have to go back to 2012 to find a year with fewer early entrants. In 2012, the NBA announced a list of 66 players. Since then, it never dipped below 75. 

Until this year. 

The drop is hardly unexplained. In July 2021, the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era began, which allowed college players to earn money in amounts previously impossible. 

Since then, the number of entrants into the NBA draft has steadily dwindled — every year since 2021 has seen the early entry list drop by at least 14%.  

It’s also worth noting that a 2016 rule change by the NCAA allowed players to sign up for the draft, and then later withdraw and keep college eligibility. After that change, the number of early entrants rose sharply in the next five years to the 2021 figure of 353 players. 

However, the NIL era has meant that some players can earn more by staying in school than they might as a late draft pick, two-way player or undrafted pro.  

“For a lot of these players, it’s more money than they could make. Way more money than making a G League roster,” Brian Meehan, an economics professor at Berry College with a research interest in the economics behind NIL’s effects on draft prospects, told USA TODAY Sports. “Even if they’re on a two-way contract, staying in school and playing for a team with lots of collective money is more lucrative.” 

A paper which Meehan co-authored, published in 2025 in the Journal of Sports Economics, found that 81% of draft-eligible prospects in The Athletic’s top 100 prospects list entered the draft in 2021, the final year before NIL deals took shape. By 2022, right after the start of the NIL era, the share dropped to 52%.  

“If you forgo the eligibility and you go into the NBA draft and you’re undrafted, you don’t make a roster, or you’re a late second-round pick, and you don’t have a guaranteed contract. That’s a risky place to be for a person who maybe just completed a first or second year in a college program,” Meehan added. 

The 2026 NBA draft will be held on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. If a player wants to retain their college eligibility, they’ll need to withdraw from the draft by May 27. 

FURTHER READING: The NBA draft lottery is almost here. Here are the odds for each team

Methodology note: Yearly early-entry list data based on figures released annually by the NBA.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chart: NBA draft early-entry list has shrunk in NIL era

The uncertainty surrounding two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee should be resolved within the next month.

At an introductory news conference Wednesday for new head coach Taylor Jenkins, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam addressed the issue hanging over the franchise's head this offseason: Trade the 10-time All-Star or try to re-sign him to a new deal?

"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam told reporters. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's (GM Jon Horst) job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."

The Bucks are guaranteed to have a top-14 pick in the June 23 draft, with the exact spot to be determined by Sunday's draft lottery.

Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to remain in Milwaukee, even though he could become a free agent next summer. However, he's stated his preference is to play for a team that's committed to winning a title. That doesn't describe the Bucks last season, who went 32-50 as their star forward battled injuries and frustration with his playing time.

The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. However, if he doesn't sign, free agency looms at the end of the season.

"We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis – at all – and always knew where he stood," Haslam said. "And I think he always knew where we stood. We've had those kind of conversations since the season was over.

"So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with Bucks could be settled by draft

Coming off a heartbreaking Game 1 defeat, the Spurs eyed revenge against the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Carter Bryant returned from his ankle injury, so the Spurs were back at full strength. After a tough shooting first quarter for both teams, the Spurs managed to take a seven-point lead into the second quarter. The Spurs stepped on the gas and started to outplay Minnesota on both sides of the ball. They forced multiple turnovers and outscored the Wolves 35-18 to take a 24-point lead into the half. In the third, the pressure somehow kept escalating. The Spurs continued to dominate the pace and ramped up double teams for Anthony Edwards and others. They outscored the Wolves 39-28 in the third and put the game completely out of reach in the early fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 133-95, and tied the series 1-1.

Stephon Castle led the way with 21 points (6-10 FG, 9-9 FT), four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Steph fought off tough defenders and forced his way into the paint. With several slashing finishes and midrange jumpers, Steph also got to the free-throw line and drained all nine of his attempts. With his frame, Steph is interchangeable on both sides of the ball. He was active in the passing lanes and continues to play terrific on-ball defense. With the series shifting up north, the 21-year-old is playing as if he has already been here before.

BLOW-BY JAM! Steph fakes out Mike Conley and has a clear path for a monster slam!

SHEESH STEPH 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/WjQzew1Ekf

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

AND-ONE! Steph fights through Jaden McDaniels’ contact and somehow flips it in for the and-one!

HOW STEPH?!?! 🤯

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/rmMHeLSWDp

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 19 points and 15 rebounds, along with two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Although it is not a triple-double with blocks, Wemby had a much better offensive game: shooting just under 50% from the field and splashing two threes. He managed to get two rejections (which, at this point, feels like a disappointment) and was deterring Wolves players from attempting shots in the paint. A balanced Wemby is unstoppable, as he continues to be an opposing coach’s nightmare to gameplan. Wemby is just as adaptable on either side of the ball, and he will be ready for what Chris Finch throws at him next.

UFO APPROACHING! Wemby plays solid defense, then runs the floor and skies in for the one-handed putback slam!

VIC PUTBACK OMG ‼️

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/HAuclHQ4Cr

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

JUST THROW IT UP THERE! Devin Vassell and Wemby run the P&R, and it results in an alley-oop and-one!

COUNT THAT ☝️

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/9vit9C9tVj

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Here’s the Twitter/X highlight bundle for the Alien!

19 PTS, 15 REB, 2 AST & 2 BLK 📊 pic.twitter.com/p7yVrJp6e8

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

De’Aaron Fox dropped 16 points, two assists, and two steals. Fox faced a lot of criticism for his Game 1 performance, and he owned up to it postgame. He then started hot in Game 2, nearly matching his scoring total from Game 1 in the first quarter alone. He shot 50% from the field, and even drained a pair of threes. Due to the score of the game, the box score may not look like an out-of-this-world performance, but it definitely was the spark plug to kick the team into high gear.

INSTANT OFFENSE! After the Wolves’ bucket, Fox takes the inbounds pass and immediately zooms it to a cutting Carter Bryant for the destructive poster slam!

WELCOME BACK CB 😳

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/ENARv8gi8y

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Fox bucket-getting never gets old.

De’Aaron Fox tonight:

• 16 points
• 2 steals
• 2/2 3PM
• 5/10 FG pic.twitter.com/9J8hXvEgS4

— Bala (@BalaPattySZN) May 7, 2026

Julian Champagnie dropped 12 points (4-6 3PT), three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. After laying a goose egg in the first half, Julian dominated the third quarter. All of his threes came in the third, including a sequence that will make any Spurs fan smile. He drained a wing three, rejected Edwards’ shot out of bounds, and then drained another three after Fox picked Julius Randle’s pocket. Julian was one of the best three-point shooters in the league this season, and performances like this have Spurs fans thinking about Danny Green comparisons.

JU GOT THE HOT HAND 🔥

📺 @ESPNNBApic.twitter.com/rUVCYZkRlA

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Dylan Harper dropped 11 points. seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. After leading the Spurs in scoring with 18 in Game 1, Dylan picked up right where he left off. He dished out dimes, was active on the boards, and made crazy dribbles with finishing moves. Night in and night out, Dylan continues to play like a seasoned vet. Anytime he brings the ball up the court, his playmaking instincts kick in, and it continues to make Spurs fans feel spoiled.

Dunker spot! Dylan finds an open Luke Kornet as the defense collapses, and it results in a two-handed finish!

THROW IT DOWN LUKE 😤

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/h1d3j3rusN

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

CLEANUP ON AISLE 2! Dylan skies in for the putback slam after seeing Wemby have one of his own!

DYLAN OUTTA NOWHERE ‼️

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/H9dkjVX5Vp

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

UNGUARDABLE! Dylan catches the pass from Steph in transition and puts on a show. He spins off of Jaylen Clark, puts a move on Terrence Shannon Jr., and finishes while floating in the air!

Too smooooth @dy1anharper 🧈

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Kj2al7FS31

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Devin Vassell dropped 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Throughout his first playoffs, Dev has played like a playoff riser. His numbers might not wow the casual fan, but the effort he has shown on both ends of the floor has given the Spurs an extra boost. He always seems to make the extra play that is appreciated by the fans, and in this game it was this ridiculous no-dip catch and shoot three.

Just like they drew it up 😏

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/SkckLtEeUP

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

Seriously, look at this. He jumps before he catches the ball and manages to shoot it all in one motion!

still thinking about that @Yvngdevo three 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lEQCq460JX

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

FOUR POINT PLAY! Dev drains the wing three while being fouled by Conley for the and-one!

DEV FOUR POINT PLAY 🔥

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/5LRgwRrSna

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

All in all, this was a much-needed bounce-back win. After coming out flat in Game 1, the silver and black ramped up the defensive pressure and finally started to generate easy looks that were executed. Harrison Barnes even poured in 12 points off the bench. Keldon Johnson dropped a near double-double with nine points and 10 boards. For context: Seven players finished in double figures, and 14 out of 15 scored (Poor Plumlee)! It was a total team effort and domination that has given the team and its fans confidence heading into Game 3 in Minnesota.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

Game 3 heads to Minneapolis this Friday at 8:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.

There was no John Poulakidas player preview here at MavsMoneyball. That is understandable given the undrafted rookie’s whereabouts at the time. Back in October, he was preparing to play 27 minutes per night for the Clippers’ G-League affiliate, having been waived by Los Angeles in camp two weeks earlier. He didn’t become a Maverick until early March, shortly after Ryan Nembhard’s two-way contract was upgraded to a standard deal. He made his NBA debut that same night, played in 13 games over the next six weeks, and ended the season with eight made threes and a career-high 28 points in the same finale where Nembhard broke Jason Kidd’s franchise rookie assist record.

Two undrafted guys on the same squad, both having memorable nights on the last day of a 26-win season.

Who is this guy?

John Poulakidas is a 6-foot-6 lefty shooter from Naperville, Illinois, who finished his college career as the second-leading three-point shooter in Yale history. He shot 40.2 percent from deep across 110 games for the Bulldogs, made 243 career threes, and finished 10th on Yale’s all-time scoring list at 1,362 points. The most efficient way to describe him is also the most accurate one: he’s a shooter, and he has been a shooter for a long time.

The college résumé has texture beyond the percentages. As a junior in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Poulakidas hit the game-winning jumper in Yale’s 78-76 first-round upset of fourth-seeded Auburn, finishing with 28 points on six made threes. He returned for a senior year, led the Ivy League in scoring at 19.4 points per game, earned First Team All-Ivy honors, and was named MVP of the Ivy League Tournament after a 25-point championship game against Cornell. He went undrafted in 2025 and signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Clippers before getting waived in camp.

Season retrospective

Most of his year was spent with the San Diego Clippers, the L.A. Clippers’ G-League affiliate. Across 24 regular-season games there, Poulakidas averaged 14.7 points and shot 47.3 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game (96-of-203), the seventh-highest three-point mark in the G League among qualified players. After joining Dallas in March, he played 14 minutes in his NBA debut that night, a 117-90 loss to Charlotte.

His March was a typical two-way distribution. Most of his time went to the Texas Legends. At the NBA level, the appearances were short and scattered: 18 minutes for three points against the Pelicans, 28 minutes for 11 points against the Bucks, single-digit cameos in between. Somewhere in there, Mark Followill landed on “Pull-a-three-dis.” The long-time announcer’s nicknames don’t always work. This one did — the kind of corny that earns its smile during garbage time.

April rebooted the workload. Cooper Flagg’s ankle was managing him out of the rotation. Dallas had nothing to play for. The bench got long. On April 8 against the Suns, Poulakidas put up 23 points on five made threes in 29 minutes off the bench, his career high at the time. Four days later, in the season finale against Chicago, he played 36 minutes and finished with 28 points on 8-of-16 from three.

Outlook

Most rebuilds come with built-in upside. Bad year, high pick, talent infusion later. Dallas doesn’t get that. The team’s first-round picks are mostly gone for the next four years, which means there’s no benefit to being terrible. This year the losses helped the Tankathon premise. For the next four years, losing will do this franchise no good at all. The Mavericks have to rebuild without the usual rebuilding rewards, and that puts a different kind of pressure on every roster spot. The cheap value has to be developed in-house, in the places other teams aren’t looking.

A player like Poulakidas is exactly the kind of low-cost flier that math rewards. He shot 40.3 percent from three across his 13 NBA games. He shot 47.3 percent from three across his G-League work in San Diego. He shot 40.2 percent from three across four years at Yale. The shooting profile has been consistent at every level he’s played. He’s 23, which fits the Flagg-era timeline cleanly, and cheap perimeter shooting that takes pressure off a focal point is one of the more useful things a rebuilding roster can have—especially one that can’t draft its way out of holes.

The roster math complicates the path. We can pencil a draft pick that will likely get plenty of minutes if not a solid starter role. Perhaps that will be alongside Kyrie Irving, who will slated to return from his knee injury next season. Klay Thompson is potentially still here at least to start of the campaign. Max Christie is locked in. Flagg eats wing wherever he wants them. Poulakidas is not breaking up that group. The question is whether the back-of-bench shooter who made 31 of 77 threes in a lost season is the kind of guy you keep on a real contract instead of the kind of guy you let walk because the slot is needed for someone else.

Two-way contracts exist for cases like this. They’re cheap experiments at the back of the roster, low-risk fliers on undrafted prospects, and most of them produce nothing memorable. Poulakidas’s two-way produced 13 NBA games, two career nights, and a back-of-the-bench question that has more substance than back-of-the-bench questions usually do.

He didn’t earn what Nembhard earned. The sample is too small and the context too soft. But he earned a look, and he earned a question. On a roster that can’t draft its way out of holes, the question itself is an asset.

The new Ujiri front office now decides on the answer.

The Lakers defensive strategy in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals was brilliant. 

Attack Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in four different ways in an attempt to choke off the oxygen of the Oklahoma City offense. By doing so, the Lakers were daring anyone else on the team to beat them. 

Chet Holmgren did. 

While the Lakers were busy blitzing, trapping, shading, swarming, and hedging the reigning MVP, Holmgren slipped through the cracks like a cool breeze under a locked door.

He finished with a team-high 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. He drained two threes, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. 

This is why it’s so difficult to beat the Thunder.

Just when you cut off the head of the snake, another head reappears and bites you. 

The Lakers made SGA look human in Game 1. They held him to 18 points—the first time he’s scored under 20 in almost a year—and forced him into a shocking seven turnovers and only three free throw attempts. Both well off his season averages. 

“We got back in transition, we matched up, and then all of a sudden we walked away from him and he got a wide open dunk,” said Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick, when asked how Holmgren was able to slip through the cracks while the defense was locked in on SGA. “That is not something we want to do in Game 2.”

The Lakers’ Holmgren problem is something to look for in Game 2 on Thursday. 

When he and SGA are on the floor together, he gets wide-open looks when the Lakers’ big runs out to hedge the post. Oftentimes, both Deandre Ayton and Jaxon Hayes were able to force SGA into throwing the ball away, but sometimes he was quicker than they were and found a wide-open Holmgren.

When SGA sits and Holmgren remains on the floor, there’s no letdown. 

OKC’s offense doesn’t stall without their MVP, it continues on. In the non-SGA minutes in Game 1, the Thunder were plus-9 and had an offensive efficiency rating of 133.3. 

“We have to be better when Shai is not on the floor,” said Redick on Wednesday. “They play a very specific way when he is not on the floor… we need to be even if not win those minutes.”

The Lakers’ strategy on SGA is working. 

In fact, it might be their only path to upsetting OKC in the series. But to Redick’s point, when he’s not on the floor, you have to keep your foot on the gas. The Lakers need to win those minutes, not lose them by nine points. 

One way to do that is to contain Holmgren. 

That’s easier said than done, but it starts with discipline, execution, and not drifting. 

The man guarding Holmgren must stay with him at all times and not get caught drifting or ball-watching. Because that split-second of hesitation can be the difference between a stop or a wide-open dunk. 

According to Redick, containing Holmgren requires remaining physical and holding OKC to midrange jump shots. They have to continue to blitz SGA and limit his operating window, but the bigs also need to get back to Holmgren in time to stop him.

Because right now, they’re solving one problem, but creating another. 

And Holmgren is that new problem.

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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: SG/SF
• Age: 28
• Contract Status: One-year deal, UFA in 2026-2027
• SunsRank (Preseason): N/A
• SunsRank (Postseason): 15

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

Arriving halfway through the year, Amir Coffey showed that his hustle and hard work on the court embodied what the Phoenix Suns culture was all about.

By the Numbers

He may have spent limited time here, but let’s look at those stats.

GP	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG%	3PT%	FT%	DEFRTG	OFRTG	+/- (TOTAL)
16	14.1	4.8	1.9	1.0	0.4	0.1	50%	41.7%	69.2%	110.6	116.2	+5.6

The Expectation

The bar was not set too high for Coffey, but he had a bar to reach. The team clearly needed more wing depth, with Rasheer Fleming not getting much burn and Grayson Allen sustaining injuries throughout the year. With free agent signing Nigel Hayes-Davis also not living up to the hype, taking a flyer on Coffey was the right call, especially for a team that needed a boost at that moment.

The Reality

Coffey came to Phoenix and fit the team’s culture and needs. With Dillon Brooks breaking his hand and also being sidelined, this provided the opportunity for Coffey to get some playing time. Since the Suns also signed Haywood Highsmith, the small wing room has become really deep. Coffey only suited up in 16 games for the Suns, but brought some positive energy on both ends in his short time.

Compared to his time spent in Milwaukee earlier in the year, Coffey was in a better spot. For starters, he got more minutes here in Phoenix, 14, compared to 9 in his previous venture. The wing also proved he could do exactly what the team needed him to do. Coffey made big-time threes if he was open, he hustled for OREB’s to create second-chance plays, and he used his active hands to create turnovers.

These were all things that allowed him to generate some playing time until he was injured towards the end of the season. That then shut down Coffey as the Suns geared up for the playoffs and were shrinking the rotation.

What It Means

With Coffey being an unrestricted free agent, the Suns could bring him back, and with his smaller role, it would not be too expensive. The question is whether too much wing depth arises. They already have Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith, and want to develop Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming.

Fans widely expect the Suns to move one of those wings for a true power forward, and if that is the case, he could be brought back as the third-string small forward, but the Suns could look to get younger, too. Coffey was a late-season signing with the Bucks last offseason, so the market may be low for the wing, allowing the Suns to leave the option out there but not strike right away on a new deal.

I like Coffey and would like to have him back, but the roster construction may prove otherwise.

Yeah Amir Coffey can get resigned

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) March 6, 2026

Defining Moment

The best moment of the season for Coffey came on March 5th, when he had his best game for the Suns. Even in the loss, he posted up 12 points and 4 rebounds, showcasing his true 3&D ability as a wing.

Amir Coffey has consistently brought energy and impactful plays for this team since his addition at the deadline

Love his hustle and grind to do the little things for Phoenix, definitely should not go unnoticed

— BruceVeliz (@BruceVeliz) March 7, 2026

Grade: B

Even if he was not a key impact player every night, given what he was expected to be, Coffey deserves this rating.

He came in the middle of the season and looked a lot better on this Suns team than he did on the Bucks. Now, you could argue the Bucks’ dysfunction and their coaching staff compared to the Suns was that issue, but I think that is a disservice to Coffey, who showed he could still be a solid role player.

One that I was very interested in the Suns signing this previous offseason, and was happy they could acquire at least some point down the line. Coffey came in and filled a need for wing depth, while being better than Nigel Hayes-Davis, whom they traded him for.

To me, that is not only a win for the Suns but also for Coffey, allowing him to find himself on a roster next year if it is not Phoenix.

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It is admittedly easy to get a little bored watching Cameron Boozer. Scouting young basketball players usually offers a sense of discovery, but Boozer has been displaying the same steady dominance since he was 14 years old. There are no frills to his game, just sound decision-making with a well-rounded skill set and a physical style of play. As a high school player, Boozer won four state championships in Florida, three EYBL championships on the Nike grassroots circuit, two gold medals with USA Basketball, and one mythical national championship playing against prep schools from all over the country. His Duke team lost three games by a combined five points all year, and it took a miracle to keep them out of the Final Four. At every stop, Boozer has consistently been the star player driving his team’s success.

Critics will always find a way to excuse Boozer’s mastery. He was overpowering high schoolers. He won’t be able to score over real rim protectors in the pros. NBA forwards are going to burn him with their speed. At least so far, Boozer has been unfazed by any jump in competition despite also being the youngest player on the floor with a July 2007 birthday that will make him the only projected lottery pick who is still 18 years old on draft day.

There are no perfect players, and Boozer is far from perfect. He’s slow, he isn’t a great leaper, and often looks pretty stiff in tight spaces. Of course, you can poke holes in Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic too, and it hasn’t stopped them from being three of the best players of their generation.

Boozer was the best player in college basketball this season as a true freshman, but he isn’t considered the consensus No. 1 overall pick at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft. Classmates A.J Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson are excellent prospects in their own rights, and in some ways it’s understandable why people think they will translate to the pros better than Boozer. I’m here to tell you those people are overthinking it. Boozer is the best prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, and each team that passes on him in the lottery is making a huge mistake.

Boozer has crushed every level of competition. There’s no reason to think it won’t continue in the NBA.

Boozer’s production is unmatched

Boozer became the fifth freshman ever to win the Wooden Award as college basketball’s most outstanding player this season, and it was nearly unanimous with 59 of 61 first-place votes.

Boozer just had college basketball’s second most productive season since basketball-reference started tracking box-score plus/minus. BPM is an all-in-one metric that “estimates a basketball player’s contribution to the team when that player is on the court.” It is not a flawless stat, but it’s one of the better public metrics for capturing individual performance.

Being super productive at a young age against older competition is perhaps the biggest signal of future stardom. The only other freshmen on this list — Williamson, Davis, Flagg, and Holmgren — have all acquitted themselves well in the NBA so far.

Rank	Player	BPM	Year	School
1	Zion Williamson	20.1	2019	Duke
2	Cameron Boozer	18.4	2026	Duke
3	Anthony Davis	17.24	2012	Kentucky
4	Sindarius Thornwell	17.14	2017	South Carolina
5	Zach Edey	16.7	2024	Purdue
6	Yaxel Lendeborg	16.7	2026	Michigan
7	Cooper Flagg	16.35	2025	Duke
8	Brandon Clarke	16.3	2019	Gonzaga
9	Frank Kaminsky	16.2	2015	Wisconsin
10	Trayce Jackson-Davis	16.02	2023	Indiana
11	Keegan Murray	15.69	2022	Iowa
12	Denzel Valentine	15.57	2016	Michigan State
13	Delon Wright	15.55	2015	Utah
14	Zach Edey	15.39	2023	Purdue
15	Victor Oladipo	15.09	2013	Indiana
16	Donovan Clingan	15	2024	UConn
17	Chet Holmgren	14.97	2022	Gonzaga

Want some diversity in your all-in-one metrics? Boozer also posted the highest single-season RAPM score since Hoop-Exploder started tracking college basketball in 2017-18. RAPM measures a player’s impact on scoring margin to reflect their contribution to team success regardless of numbers in the box score. In short, when Boozer is on the floor, his team consistently wins his minutes. I don’t think that trend is stopping now.

Boozer’s offensive versatility is unmatched

Most players are best when they’re used in certain ways. Not Boozer. The 6’9, 250-pound forward can play a variety of different roles on offense, and excel in all of them. This season at Duke, Boozer spent at least nine percent of his time doing eight different play types, and scored efficiently on all of them.

Yes, Boozer was able to bully college competition on post-ups. He was also awesome at pick-and-roll ball handling, spot-up shooting, offensive rebounding, isolation scoring, cuts, and roll man duties. Here’s the points per possession data on these variety play types, via Synergy Sports. This shows that Boozer won’t be pigeonholed into a role at the next level.

Play type	PPP	PPP Rank	PPP Rating	Percent of Time
Post Up	1.096	86%	Excellent	21%
Pick and Roll Handler	0.938	77%	Very Good	10.90%
Spot-Up	1.269	95%	Excellent	10.50%
Transition	1.347	88%	Excellent	10.10%
Offensive Rebounds (Putbacks)	1.384	85%	Excellent	9.80%
Iso	1.042	81%	Very Good	9.70%
Cut	1.486	88%	Excellent	9.70%
PnR Roll Man	1.275	82%	Very Good	9.30%

Boozer has a supercomputer brain

Boozer is great in a lot of areas, but his best skill may be his processing. You might be more likely to hear that term when reading about quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, but it’s equally critical in basketball. Star players need to be able internalize a constantly changing set of variables in a split second and use it to maximize their win probability on any given possession. Boozer does this better than any 18-year-old forward you will ever see.

Boozer is such a good scorer that he commands a lot of defensive attention. It only makes him more deadly as a passer. He’s the sort of player who never forces his own offense, and instead just wants to make the right play. Watch this possession, where Boozer turns a post-up into an alley-oop dunk by manipulating the weakside defender with his eyes to make him think the pass is going to the corner.

pic.twitter.com/bR7XWuPq6D

— Follow @CrazieCast (@DukeTWTClips) February 28, 2026

Look at this pass against national champion Michigan where Boozer sucks in the help as a driver before bailing out at the very last second to create an open wing three for his teammate:

I can't believe this pass from Cam Boozer on Saturday. Unreal stuff. Backhand pass while moving down the lane at full speed…. It is silly how impressive this is. pic.twitter.com/jv9jaziA3r

— JPR (@Scouting_Col) February 23, 2026

Boozer’s 25.6 percent assist is a tremendous mark for a freshman with his size, and I’m even more impressed by his 3.6 rim assists per 100 possessions. Rim assists are the most valuable pass you can make on the court because there’s a greater chance of completing the play than with a longer jump shot.

Here’s how Boozer compares as a passer to his other peers projected to be drafted in the top-10.

Player	Assist %	Rim assists per 100
Cameron Boozer	25.6	3.6
AJ Dybantsa	22.1	2.2
Darryn Peterson	12.5	1.8
Caleb Wilson	18.1	2.5
Kingston Flemings	32.6	3.7
Yaxel Lendeborg	18	2.9
Keaton Wagler	23.2	2.4

Only Flemings is a better playmaker among the elite prospects in this class, and he’s a smaller guard at 6’3. Boozer doesn’t have to play on the ball (more on that later), but when he does, you can trust him to make excellent decisions.

Boozer’s physicality is top notch

Boozer exited Duke’s shocking Elite Eight loss to UConn with “a couple fractures” in his face and scratches all over his arms. His opponents got it just as badly as he did he all year. Boozer consistently uses his 250-pound frame to his advantage, and it shows up mostly in his rebounding, screen setting, hard rolls to the rim, and ability to get to the foul line.

Boozer is going to generate a lot of extra possessions on the offensive glass. His 12.5 percent offensive rebound rate ranked in the 97th percentile for prospects in this draft class, per DraftBallr. On this possession, Boozer creates the open corner three for a teammate, works to get into rebound position, and finishes it with a putback after he grabs the offensive board.

Boozer uses his physicality to consistently muscle his way into free throws, too. Getting to the foul line is a star skill in the NBA, and Boozer has it. On this play, he’s acting as the roll man and finishes over Rueben Chinyelu for the and-one. Chinyelu is listed at 6’10, 265 pounds with a 7’8 wingspan, which would make him one of the longest and heaviest players in the NBA. Boozer still invited the contact and got the bucket.

cam boozer moves florida's rueben chinyelu – one of the most physical and strongest players in college basketball – under the basket for an easy and-1 finish pic.twitter.com/4Bt9REbGUC

— Chip (@SwingSkill) January 20, 2026

Boozer’s 53.6 percent free throw rate ranks in the 89th percentile of the class, per DraftBallr. You can count on him to make his freebies too with a 79 percent stroke from the foul line on 280 attempts.

Boozer will shoot at a high level in the NBA

Boozer’s free throw percentage is a sign of strong touch, and his range extends to the NBA three-point line. This season, he made 39.1 percent of his 138 three-pointers. He’s going to be a weapon on pick-and-pops from day one while also being able to space the floor as a spot-up shooter.

Boozer had 147 possessions as a jump shooter this year and scored 1.12 points per possession, which ranked in the 86th percentile of the country. He’s at his best as a shooter when a teammate sets him up. Boozer scored 1.22 PPP on his catch-and-shoot attempts this year, posting impressive 61.2 percent true shooting on those opportunities. He has easy NBA range on his jumper when he gets squared up.

Boozer can hit shots over contests despite a slower release. On 41 possessions this season, he went 16-of-25 and scored 1.17 PPP on “contested jumpers,” according to Synergy.

He does have some limiting factors as a shooter right now. He’s not a super high volume three-point chucker after taking 6.5 threes per 100 possessions this season. He’ll want to bump up that two or three more in the pros. He’s also not a natural shooter off the dribble yet. He scored 0.90 PPP on dribble jumpers this year, which ranked in the 65th percentile and merely rated as “good” — a rarity on Boozer’s profile.

The pull-up jumper is a superstar skill, and Boozer will need to develop it to reach his highest-end outcomes. It’s also going to be an important counter when he’s not fast enough to beat his man off the dribble. Here’s one example where Boozer ripped a step-back three after his drive was denied against Louisville. If he can do this with more consistency, his offensive ceiling is going to be through the roof.

Boozer can drive really well for a 250-pound forward

Boozer’s simple-yet-effective driving is one of the best parts of his game. He can be trusted to run pick-and-roll or attack a smaller defender on isolations, and the threat of his downhill scoring opens up opportunities to make plays as a live dribble passer. While he doesn’t have a ton of counters in the middle of the floor, he can usually rely on his bully ball game to get to the line if all else fails.

When a guard screens for Boozer, he knows how to punish switches by running over smaller defenders. Even without crazy pop off the floor as a leaper, he’s still able to square himself to the basket, and he has the touch to make below-the-rim finishes.

Great rep as a pick-and-roll handler from Cameron Boozer. I want to see him used like this more often: pic.twitter.com/eqVJtxvOUJ

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) December 6, 2025

Boozer made 64.5 percent of his rim attempts this season with 57 percent of them coming unassisted. He doesn’t need to play as a full-time point forward because he’s so good in so many other areas, but he can take on those duties in a pinch if his team needs it.

Boozer is already pretty good at driving and finishing with either hand. He’s not the most agile driver, but he has step-throughs and Eurosteps when he needs them.

Beautiful drive from Cam Boozer pic.twitter.com/KNs0UtA8zl

— FLOOR and CEILING (Wilko) (@wilkomcv) February 16, 2026

Boozer almost never settles from mid-range. He only took 52 two-point attempts all season away from the rim. When he has the ball, he’s going to the hole or kicking out to a teammate to space the floor. You could argue not having a mid-range game hurts Boozer’s NBA translation if he’s expected to be in a star role — the mid-range is said to be the domain of superstars — but non-rim twos are also the least efficient shot any player can take. The fact that he prioritizes a ‘Moreyball’ shot-profile is a wonderful thing for a player this young.

Boozer’s outlet passing will boost transition offense

Boozer has been throwing dimes in transition going back to his high school days. He’s such a dependable defensive rebounder, and when he gets to the ball he’s always looking to hunt for quick-hit opportunities in transition.

One minute of Cameron Boozer outlet passes. His defensive rebounding, passing and grab-and-go abilities will all juice transition offense. pic.twitter.com/1WAzAIUDvV

— Matt Powers (@DraftPow) April 23, 2025

Boozer impacts winning in so many areas

Boozer’s combination of usage, scoring volume, and efficiency at such a young age is a strong star indicator. This year, he scored 40.3 points per 100 possessions on 65.3 percent true shooting with a 30.6 percent usage rate. A team can run their offense through him and reap the rewards, but he can also thrive in an off-ball role as a floor spacer, rebounder, and connective passer.

Boozer is going to be a plus in the possession game. He’s an outstanding rebounder for a power forward on both ends of the floor. His 14.7 percent turnover rate and +1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio aren’t the strongest numbers …. but it’s still better than Dybantsa (15 percent turnover rate with +1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio) while clearing Peterson in A/TO. He got to the foul line more than Dybantsa or Peterson, too.

Boozer is not super long or super athletic. He will allow blow-bys defensively that compromise his team’s structure. He’s going to have some games where he’s not finishing well at the rim in the halfcourt. He’ll probably need to tighten his handle so he doesn’t get picked trying to run over smaller NBA defenders.

Even if you allow for all of that, Boozer is still the best player in the class because when the ball hits his hands, his team gets a good shot. He thinks the game at a high level, he has impressive touch as a shooter from all over the floor, and he plays a physical style that will translate well when the game slows down in the playoffs. He’s able to vacillate between all these roles on the same possession and still maximize his team’s chances of scoring.

This play shows Boozer’s versatility on different play types, his motor to keep hunting an advantage, and his quick processing ability.

MSU defense stops the Boozer drive, he flows into handoff, becomes the roller, throws the short roll lob to Patrick Ngongba, who is undercut and gets free throws pic.twitter.com/6Zs4mrTbN4

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) December 6, 2025

Boozer is a better shooter than Dybantsa, a better playmaker than Peterson, and a much better rebounder than both. There also might not be a stronger player in this draft class. Even if he’s just hoping to get to average defensively, he still has quick hands and sharp instincts to make some plays on that end. If nothing else, he’s great at ending defensive possessions with a rebound.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is stacked with talent inside the top-4, but Boozer stands alone. Taking anyone else with the top pick will be a regrettable decision.

Sixers know they had chance to ‘steal a game,' see signs they can fight back in Knicks series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers traveled home empty-handed, knowing all their hard work was for naught Wednesday night.

In contrast to the opener of their second-round playoff series with the Knicks, the Sixers’ competitive spirit and defensive diligence were stellar in Game 2. However, they missed all sorts of shots in the fourth quarter of a 108-102 loss without Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain and right hip soreness).

“We played good enough defense to win that game,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said, “especially in the fourth (quarter). What was it, 19 points (for the Knicks) in the fourth? You’ve got to hope you can score more than 20 in a quarter.”

The Sixers scored a mere 12 points in the fourth, shooting 4 for 19 from the floor and 1 for 10 from three-point range. 

They felt capable of far better jump shooting down the stretch. Paul George had a fantastic start to the game but went scoreless and missed all five of his field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. VJ Edgecombe shot 0 for 4 in the fourth, Tyrese Maxey 2 for 7. 

“Good looks,” George said in the visiting locker room at Madison Square Garden after his 19-point night. “I thought we just ran out of gas. We got a little flat. We got some pretty good looks, for the most part. We just didn’t knock ‘em down.”

As George noted, the Sixers’ lack of juice in the final minutes was evident. Maxey played 45 minutes in the Sixers’ Game 7 win over the Celtics and nearly 47 on Wednesday. At 36 years old, George logged 43 minutes in Game 2. Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. were both at 40. 

Nurse’s norm is to play his best players unless the circumstances force him to do otherwise. Another bench player or two like Justin Edwards might have lightened the load a bit on the Sixers’ stars, but the philosophy tends to be fair enough in the playoffs. And depth has not been one of the Sixers’ strengths since president of basketball operations Daryl Morey dealt away Jared McCain and acquired no players at the trade deadline.

“I don’t know,” Nurse said when asked about whether the extreme minutes load impacted his top players late in the fourth quarter. “It may have. But I look at it and those guys are wanting to stay in there. They really are committed to fighting through the game. You look at Tyrese, he played almost the entire game and he’s a plus-minus of zero in a six-point loss. So even the minute and 15 seconds he was out obviously weren’t very good. 

“Those guys, not only did they play lots of minutes, but they played hard at both ends. And there was a lot going on, a lot of pressure on them and stuff, and I commend their effort. All we needed were one or two (wide-open makes). … Just one or two to at least get it down to the end where we’d have a chance.”

Maxey’s rest day plans were simple ahead of Friday night’s Game 3 in Philadelphia.

“Probably a whole bunch of nothing,” he said. “Treatment, sitting down, relaxing.”

Besides the off-target jumpers, Maxey’s turnovers stung at the end of the night. He posted 26 points on 9-for-23 shooting, six assists and six giveaways. The Sixers’ All-Star guard had some sharp, decisive moments against the Knicks’ blitzes but wasn’t pleased overall with how he handled New York’s defense. 

“They did a good job of taking away certain passes that I like to make when I get trapped,” Maxey said. “And then there were a couple of times we didn’t execute our trap offense. The trap came, I tried to advance pass it, and the advance (outlet) didn’t come up, and now I’m stuck in the air.

“I’ve got to do a better job of just dragging it out and being more poised. They trapped me aggressively. It wasn’t like a soft trap. … It was my fault a lot of those times. I’ll be better with that.”

For what it’s worth, the film shows only one Maxey turnover that stemmed directly from a trap.

There was a haywire sideline out-of-bounds play, two ill-advised passes in the Sixers’ half-court offense, and two times he lost the ball on drives. Maxey’s maintained a low turnover rate throughout his career and will expect to play a cleaner Game 3. 

Dominick Barlow was a second-half bright spot in Game 2, entering at center with both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona in foul trouble. 

An intelligent, versatile, can-do sort of player, Barlow had six points on 3-for-3 shooting, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 16 minutes. Whatever Embiid’s status is for Game 3, Barlow made a strong case to remain a key rotation piece, including at center. 

“I’ve been in situations where I haven’t played before,” Barlow said. “I know sometimes that things are random. They told me I was probably going to play tonight. It came at a spot that I didn’t know, obviously. But I thought I played (well). Made some mistakes … but I thought defensively, we were good at the end of the game and gave ourselves a chance.”

That opportunity slipped away with a flurry of fourth-quarter misfires.

“We had a chance to steal a game here,” George said. “They did a good job. Our job is to go home and win on our floor, keep the series alive. We do understand that at some point, we’re going to have to steal one here.”

Donovan Mitchell wasn’t happy with his lack of trips to the line after having just two free-throw attempts in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

“I’m just not getting the calls,” Mitchell said afterward. “I don’t know why. I don’t flop, maybe that’s why. … It’s frustrating a little bit because I’m such a dynamic driver.”

Mitchell is a dynamic driver, or at least, he has been. For various reasons, he hasn’t been able to showcase that this postseason.

Through eight playoff games, Mitchell is taking just 22% of his shots in the restricted area (40th percentile). For comparison, he attempted 24% of his shots there in the regular season (54th percentile) and 30% there last postseason (74th percentile).

That’s a dramatic drop, and one we saw come into play in Game 1 against Detroit.

Nine of Mitchell’s 19 shots came in the paint, but only one was in the restricted area.

Here’s a look at eight of his nine shot attempts in the paint (his field goal three minutes into the game isn’t available on nba.com). In six of the eight attempts below, you’ll notice that he either shies away from contact or quickly gets the shot up before contact can be made with defender. That’s why most of these come in the five to 10-foot range, and not at the rim itself.

You can get to the line without getting to the rim. James Harden did an excellent job of this in Game 1 as he had nine free-throw attempts. But you still have to be intentional about how you attack for that to happen. Harden, even though he’s lost a step, isn’t afraid to initiate contact and be the aggressor. That, more than anything, is why he’s consistently gotten to the line throughout his career.

Not getting to the rim or basket is also reflective of the Cavs’ lack of spacing overall. Cleveland’s defense needs the trio of Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen (or at least Wade and Allen) to be passable. Having two or three players that teams are okay with ignoring on the perimeter clogs driving lanes and leads to turnover issues.

At the same time, there’s no getting around that in matchups against wing-heavy teams. They need their oversized frontcourt out there to be competitive. The Cavs are just gambling that their star backcourt can figure things out enough offensively. So far, they haven’t been able to, at least not consistently.

This has all resulted in what has been a disappointing postseason run for Mitchell.

The scoring hasn’t been there in either volume or efficiency. He currently has his second-lowest points per game in his playoff career (23.1) on his second-lowest efficiency since coming to Cleveland (49.5 effective field-goal percentage).

That has laid bare some of the other flaws in his game. If Mitchell isn’t scoring, his lack of ability as a rebounder, defender, or playmaker means he’s simply not positively impacting winning. As a result, the Cavs have been -3.2 points per 100 possessions better in the playoffs when he’s off the court compared to when he’s on. That’s the complete opposite of what we’ve seen from Mitchell since his time in Cleveland.

There are many reasons why the Cavs went seven games against a less talented Toronto Raptors team and dropped Game 1 against Detroit. However, none more than the fact that Mitchell can’t get to the basket and, by extension, the line like we’ve come to expect. If he’s not doing that, the scoring isn’t going to be at the volume or efficiency this team needs, even if these issues aren’t entirely his fault.

If Mitchell or the team can’t figure out how to get him easy looks inside, the offseason will be here far too early for the Cavs. This team can’t survive Mitchell not playing as an All-NBA level scorer.