Category: NBA

Game 4 was a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That was true coming into the night with the Wolves down 2-1 in the series, and certainly became true after Victor Wembanyama launched an elbow at the neck of Naz Reid and ejected the San Antonio Spurs’ best player from the game with a Flagrant Two foul.

When Wembanyama exited the game with 8:39 left in the second quarter, the opportunity for Minnesota was obvious. With the other team’s best player out for the rest of the game, the Wolves’ path to winning Game 4 became a lot cleaner and, to put it bluntly, easier.

The Timberwolves showcased why in the next few possessions. Without Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Wolves went straight to the rim for layups and took what was a two-point lead when Wemby went out to a nine-point lead within a few minutes.

What happened from there was classic Minnesota Timberwolves basketball in the worst and best way.

The Wolves stopped attacking the paint or getting many good looks on offense. Their ball pressure relaxed, which allowed the Spurs to get to their preferred spots on the floor, and at times, Minnesota mentally lost track of the game, including more than once allowing the Spurs to get a fastbreak bucket following a made basket on the other side of the floor.

As has consistently happened during this era of Timberwolves basketball, instead of stomping out any chance for the Spurs to come back, the Wolves let their foot off the gas. They appeared to play down to the level of their opponent, despite that team being of high quality even without their best player.

“I thought we let our mind slip more than anything else,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said after the game. “I felt like we lost our way a little bit and then gave them life. We never expected them to just go away.”

The Timberwolves only won the second quarter minutes following Wemby’s ejection by two points, which put their lead at four points heading into the third quarter, which allowed the Spurs during the halftime break to reset their rotations and their strategy for the rest of the game.

The start of the second half didn’t go much better for Minnesota. They missed 13 of their first 17 shots, while the Spurs made nine of their last 11 shots to win the third quarter 28-20.

The San Antonio lead grew to eight points, and with less than eight minutes left in the game, a nervous energy began to take hold inside the arena. While that feeling of anxiety has been absent from this Timberwolves postseason run, it is certainly an emotion that Target Center crowds have become well acquainted with going back years and decades.

The difference with this Timberwolves team is that they have Anthony Edwards. With the season on the line, Edwards scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter to drag a lifeless Timberwolves offense back into the lead.

“Today is Mother’s Day, so I just wanted to win for my mom,” Edwards said of his late mother, whom he lost in 2015 when he was in eighth grade. “I couldn’t lose this game for her.”

Edwards did exactly that. He did not allow the Timberwolves to lose this game while playing 40 minutes for the second straight game. With offense stuck in the mud and the Spurs throwing constant double-teams at the Timberwolves’ superstar, Edwards did just enough to get the Wolves over the finish line.

In the same way that the Wolves often play down to the perceived level of their opponent, Edwards and the Timberwolves responded when their back was up against the wall. Despite having numerous poor stretches of play, when the game mattered most, the Wolves made enough winning plays to get the job done.

It was an ugly win for the Timberwolves in Game 4, but the manner in which they got the win doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the series is tied 2-2 with a set of three games left to determine who advances to the Western Conference Finals.

“Now it’s just take it one game at a time, trying to figure out how to get a win,” Edwards said about the rest of this series. “That’s the only thing that’s on my mind right now, trying to figure out how to get a win.”

The Celtics joined the Lakers, Knicks, Cavaliers and Timberwolves in pursuing Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA trade deadline in February, according to Shams Charania. ESPN also indicated that disappointing postseason finishes for some of those teams — Boston the only one eliminated already — could dictate pursuits this summer.

The Bucks will listen to Antetokounmpo offers ahead of the NBA Draft next month, opening the offseason’s biggest blockbuster early after Milwaukee co-owner Jimmy Haslam expressed a desire last week to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future before then. Charania added that the Bucks, who can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million extension in October, continue to leave the door open to Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks.

That could lead to a maddening summer of indecision and posturing meant to improve offers. Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s similar assessment of interest ahead of the deadline fielded no offers that intrigued the franchise to move on, and Antetokounmpo’s own stated interest in leaving the team emerged tepidly. There is hope, ahead of his extension date, that such a deadline could spur action.

Charania’s reporting, connecting the Celtics to Antetokounmpo, followed Sam Amick’s that stretched back before Boston’s elimination in the first round and indicated that sources around the league expected the Celtics to make a run at Antetokounmpo. Such a move won’t happen without a significant roster overhaul that could include one of their superstars — Antetokounmpo makes $58.5 million next season, Tatum earns the same, and Brown comes in slightly below them at $57.1 million.

The Celtics’ relatively small assortment of draft picks and challenging salary-matching rules would almost certainly call for additional teams to become involved. Chris Mannix recently reported that Boston and the Hawks, Brown’s hometown team in Atlanta, briefly discussed a Brown deal last summer that the Hawks balked at over Brown’s salary.

Antetokounmpo, 32 in December, saw his averages drop across the board to 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on 62.4% shooting, an improvement alongside his three-point shooting (33.3%) at low volume. He appeared in only 36 games due to a calf ailment that Antetokounmpo and the team reportedly disagreed about his ability to return from late in the season. Another calf injury in 2024 cost him the ability to appear in the Bucks’ first round loss to Indiana, and he missed two games in 2023 while the Heat upset Milwaukee in three games. His Bucks’ tenure over that stretch also became marked by roster overhauls and coaching changes that made the team worse since his last healthy postseason push in 2022, when the Celtics defeated him in seven games.

Still, Antetokounmpo ranks among the 4-5 best players in the league when healthy, making seven straight All-NBA First Teams prior to this season. He led the NBA in player efficiency rating this year, and provides the rim-threatening, defensive impact at the center position that Brad Stevens desired in his end-of-season press conference. A move would come with excruciating sacrifices, though, whether several years of draft picks, Brown or Tatum, or the entirety of the roster’s significant depth. Antetokounmpo has some say in his destination as well, long connected to New York City and complimentary of Joe Mazzulla, unprompted, in an interview late this season.

He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer by declining his $62.8 million team option. Giannis’ brothers Thanasis, an impending free agent, and Alex Antetokounmpo, who played on a two-way last year, have also joined him on the Bucks’ roster.

“My general feeling watching us play in each of the last two playoffs, in the second round against New York and even against Orlando in the first round, was we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” Stevens said last week. “We’ve got to figure out a way to do better in that. One of the things we’ve got to figure out is how to have more impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that.”

The ball is beginning to roll on the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason, which could include moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are listening to offers on a potential Antetokounmpo trade over the next several weeks:

“The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA draft combine and over six weeks away from the draft, league and team sources told ESPN. There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo, and ownership and front-office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.“

This report doesn’t exactly tell us anything new about a possible Giannis trade, and Charania has said this type of thing many times before. But it could have other teams pandering between now and the NBA Draft, which is just over a month away on June 23–24. It would be wise for the Bucks to drum up as much interest as possible to create a bidding war between the teams that are interested in Antetokounmpo, which would allow the Bucks to get the best offer possible.

Teams like the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers (since they own Milwaukee’s first-round picks from 2028–30) make the most sense out of the gate, but other teams could emerge as possible destinations for him. The main thing Antetokounmpo wants is a chance to win another championship, so teams that are a player away could be other options for him. If squads like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets are willing to make a move, the Bucks should look to do business with them.

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discussed what teams would and wouldn’t make sense in a trade offer, but also adds this important caveat:

“Heading into the February trade deadline, team sources maintained to the Journal Sentinel that any potential deal for the star would require ‘everything’ in terms of young players and future draft assets. If the Bucks maintain such a firm stance on a big return, it might be more indicative of the team’s willingness to continue to retool around its star.“

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Luka Doncic isn’t coming to the Los Angeles Lakers’ rescue. And at this rate, the Purple and Gold would need a lot more than their superstar to counter the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City can sweep Los Angeles in Game 4 of this Western Conference semifinal tonight, laying double-digits in La-La Land tonight. 

Our Thunder vs. Lakers props dig into this do-or-die game (at least for L.A.), breaking down my best NBA picks and prop predictions for May 11.

Best Thunder vs Lakers props for Game 4

Player	Pick
Luke Kennard	Over 1.5 threes	-125
Isaiah Hartenstein	Over 8.5 points	-105
Lu Dort	Over 1.5 threes	-130

Game 4 Prop #1: Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes 

-125 at bet365

Luke Kennard was one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ few highlights in Game 3. The reserve guard was much more aggressive offensively, jacking up 10 shots and finishing with 18 points in the loss. Twelve of those tallies came from beyond the 3-point arc.

Kennard finished 4-for-6 from distance on Saturday. He’d been MIA since Austin Reaves returned to the L.A. rotation but was big to open the playoffs. 

He started Round 1 making 8 of 11 triples in the first two games then cooled for a 3-for-10 slump from outside before going 2-for-3 from 3-point land in Game 3. In Game 4, the Lakers scaled back a struggling Marcus Smart and Kennard’s usage jumped to 14.5%.

The way I see it, Los Angeles needs Kennard to take and make shots from outside — either in a competitive game or a blowout, that could see the bench get extra run. Game 4 projections agree, with Kennard pegged for two triples with a positive game script for this prop.

Game 4 Prop #2: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points

-105 at bet365

On the long list of things L.A. can’t compete with is the Oklahoma City Thunder's size.

The Thunder’s twin 7-footers really stress the Lakers’ size restrictions. Center Isaiah Hartenstein is having an excellent series beating up on Los Angeles around the rim.

Hartenstein is getting his share of looks, especially with L.A. selling out to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That past two games, he’s a collective 11-for-13 from the floor for totals of 10 and 12 points with his usage almost doubling to 13.2% from 7.3% in Game 1.

His 31 minutes in Game 3 tied his season high in floor time and his seven shots matched his postseason pinnacle. His scoring prop for tonight remains modest, however, at 8.5 O/U.

Game 4 projections are very bullish on the Oklahoma City’s big man, with most north of 9.5 points and a ceiling of 11.0 from Hartenstein.

Game 4 Prop #3: Lu Dort Over 1.5 threes

-130 at bet365

Thunder small forward Lu Dort logged only 20 minutes in Game 3 due to foul trouble yet made both of his looks from long range.

Dort attempted 11 total triples in the two games prior, making just three of those 3-pointers. He has, however, connected for two more treys in five of OKC’s first seven playoff games and is shooting 37% from deep in the postseason.

With Los Angeles throwing the kitchen sink at SGA and Oklahoma City owning the inside, Dort is getting clean looks the perimeter versus the Lakers. 

All 13 of his 3-point attempts are graded as “open” or “wide open,” with no defender within at least four feet — including 10 3PAs with no Lakers within six feet of Dort.

Dort, who strangely shoots significantly better beyond the arc on the road (39.4% vs. 30.8% at home), is projected for two makes from distance in Game 4 with models either leaning toward the Over or calling for 2+ triples.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

“The Roast of Kevin Hart” on Sunday night somehow turned into the blasting of Draymond Green.

The Warriors star, whose NBA season came to an end just a couple weeks ago via a playoff loss to the Suns, attended Netflix’s special event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, and while the evening was supposed to be all about hearing celebrities throw barbs at Kevin Hart, Green sure took a verbal beating.

Tom Brady led off the attack on the polarizing hooper just minutes into the start of the show, right after he got done grilling Hart.

“Draymond Green is here,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion roared to the crowd. “Yeah. Draymond’s here. For now. He’ll probably get thrown out in the next 10 minutes. You know we’re not roasting Steve Kerr, right?”

Green laughed at the quip, but a few minutes later, he found himself in the crosshairs of comedian Shane Gillis.

Tom Brady: “Draymond Green is here. Draymond’s here, for now. He’ll probably get thrown out in the next 10 minutes.” #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/tFpafgakTU

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 11, 2026

“Draymond Green is here, give it up for Draymond,” Gillis, the event’s host, said. “Yeah. Sick. F–k him. Boo.

“With a name like Draymond Green, he only had a few options in life: Pro athlete, pimp in a documentary or wealthy cartoon duck.”

“Steph Curry couldn’t make it tonight, but he did carry Draymond Green all the way here.”

Jeff Ross came with the jokes for Draymond Green #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/dkzPpEJSej

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 11, 2026

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also made fun of Green’s name, telling him, “Maybe it’s time to retire.” Pete Davidson also lit him up over the Warriors’ loss to Phoenix.

But perhaps the most painful dig came from Jeff Ross, who poked fun at the four-time All-Star’s relationship with Steph Curry.

“Steph Curry couldn’t make it tonight, but he did carry Draymond Green all the way here,” Ross said. “Love you, buddy. I’m not going to make fun of you because you’re violent. You’ve been ejected more times than a Kevin Hart DVD.”

"I never have, and never will, smash Chelsea Handler. I'm Draymond Green. I don't hit threes." #KevinHartRoastpic.twitter.com/7ujebgnG7y

— Netflix (@netflix) May 11, 2026

Green, though, did get a chance to dish some jokes back, and one he hit Chelsea Handler with went viral on X.

“I never have, and never will, smash Chelsea Handler,” he said. “I’m Draymond Green. I don’t hit threes.”

It’s been an eventful month already for Green, who was criticized for some on-air sparring he did with Charles Barkley last week, and with the Warriors not slated to begin the 2026-27 campaign for a few more months, it seems the Green offseason headlines might only be just getting started.

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The New York Knicks are earning a break for themselves after a Game 4 win against the Philadelphia 76ers that completed a sweep and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row.

The Knicks will face off against the winner of the other Eastern Conference series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, which is only three games deep. The Pistons lead 2-1 with Game 4 coming on Monday in Cleveland.

Game 5 for the series is scheduled for Wednesday, while Game 6 would take place on Friday if the Cavs win at least one more game. If the series were to reach Game 7, that would mean the series would end on Sunday, May 17.

If the series goes that long, the Eastern Conference Finals would begin on Tuesday, May 19, either at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit if the Pistons come out on top or Madison Square Garden if the Cavs win the series.

If the series were to end in five or six games, there is potential for the series to begin early on Sunday. This means the Knicks will have at least a week to heal and rest up for the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s rare to get this kind of break in the middle of the playoffs, but that’s what happens when you take care of business during the postseason.

Posting and Toasting Community, which team would you want the Knicks to face off against in the ECF? Let us know in the comments below.

The disrespect continues for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the Timberwolves clawed back to even their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs at two games apiece, the latest NBA title odds dropped, and Minnesota somehow ended up with the longest odds of any remotely viable contender left standing. I’m excluding the Lakers who are currently hanging on by a thread against Oklahoma City with odds sitting at a hilarious +60,000 like somebody accidentally left an extra zero on the spreadsheet.

The Wolves are a team that already survived their matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, has now been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and has repeatedly punched above its weight in the postseason over the past three years.

And Vegas looked at all that and basically shrugged. The Wolves currently sit at +8,000 to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs, the exact team Minnesota is currently tied with 2-2, are sitting at +380.

Now, to be fair, nobody is arguing that the Wolves should be favorites. That would be ridiculous. The road in front of them is absolutely brutal. They already had to go through Denver and the best player on the planet in Nikola Jokic. Now they’re in a trench war against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. And even if they survive this? Oklahoma City is looming like the final boss.

The Thunder, deservedly, have become the betting darlings of the postseason. They’re sitting at -180, the only remaining team with negative odds, and Vegas is treating them like Thanos after he finally got the last Infinity Stone. OKC is deep, athletic, relentless, and terrifying. Nobody is disputing that.

But +8,000 for Minnesota? That feels absurdly aggressive, especially when you actually look at what this Wolves team has already accomplished and who they’ve accomplished it against. They just eliminated Denver. Again. They beat the Nuggets in the playoffs for the second time in three years. They’ve now won playoff series in three consecutive seasons. They’ve proven repeatedly that when they lock in defensively, they can drag elite teams into ugly rock fights and survive. They split their regular season series with Oklahoma City 2-2. They’ve split this Spurs series down the middle despite being held together by athletic tape, pain tolerance, and whatever mutant healing factor Anthony Edwards apparently stole from Wolverine.

Yet somehow they’re still being treated like a novelty act. It’s funny because we’ve seen this exact cycle before. Nobody believed they could beat Phoenix in 2024. Then the Wolves stomped them into dust. Nobody believed they could beat Denver after dropping three straight games in that same postseason. Then Minnesota marched into Ball Arena and pulled off the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history. Nobody believed they could survive the injuries against Denver this year after losing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Then they closed the Nuggets out anyway behind defense and one of the gutsiest team efforts this franchise has ever produced.

Every time, the Wolves have responded by making the doubters look ridiculous.

That’s part of what makes this current version of the Timberwolves so fascinating. They’re simultaneously battle-tested and doubted. Proven and dismissed. At some point, maybe people should stop acting surprised.

Now, again, let’s be realistic here. The Wolves are not some flawless juggernaut. Their offense can go into deep freezes. Their reliance on three-point shooting can make them look unstoppable one night and borderline unwatchable the next. Anthony Edwards is clearly compromised physically. The backcourt injuries have forced role players into critical minutes. Victor Wembanyama remains to be conquered and SGA is waiting in the wings after that.

There are legitimate reasons why Vegas is hesitant, but +8,000 still feels far from a fair assessment. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last few postseasons, it’s this: counting out the Wolves is a dangerous hobby. This team has embraced the underdog role. They seem to genuinely enjoy being doubted. The more people pick against them, the more they lean into the “nobody believes in us” identity they’ve built over these playoff runs. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels turning games into defensive hostage situations. Julius Randle bulldozing people downhill. Naz Reid detonating off the bench. Terrence Shannon Jr. becoming a quick step freight train. Mike Conley somehow continuing to outrun Father Time like he found Tom Brady’s avocado ice cream diet. And then there’s Ant, who even without functioning knees still walks around with the confidence of a guy who thinks every arena belongs to him.

All of this matters in playoff basketball. Belief matters. Chemistry matters. Defense absolutely matters.

And if Minnesota survives San Antonio? Suddenly those +8,000 odds start looking a whole lot sillier. Because once you get down to the final four, weird things happen. Injuries happen. Matchups matter. One hot shooting stretch can flip an entire series. One defensive masterpiece can rewrite everything.

So no, Minnesota probably shouldn’t be favored to win the title, but treating them like they’re 20 times less likely than the Spurs to pull it off? If you’re the gambling type and feeling a little reckless, Vegas may have just handed you the basketball equivalent of finding a wallet on the sidewalk.

Because if this Wolves team keeps defending like maniacs, keeps embracing the fight, and keeps making everyone look stupid for doubting them…

+8,000 might not stay on the board much longer.

As expected, the NBA will not be taking any further action against Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid in the throat area, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The incident occurred with 8:39 left in the second quarter, after Wemby had grabbed an offensive rebound, and Reid and Jaden McDaniels were swiping and draped all over him. Wemby then swung his elbow and hit Reid in the throat, and after video review, head referee Zach Zarba determined that the three key points of intent, wind-up and follow-through were met to meet the criteria of a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in him being ejected from the game for the first time in his NBA career.

While making it clear that he did not justify the play itself, head coach Mitch Johnson had Wemby’s back after the game, stating his frustration with the officiating and how the amount of contact and physicality players are allowed to get away with on him led up to this point, perhaps at the risk of his own fine.

“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don’t complain because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a s—. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

“It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”

Wemby reportedly had words of encouragement for his teammates at halftime, and to the Spurs’ credit, they didn’t fold or give up on the game without their star center (despite Carmelo Anthony’s idiotic suggestion that they should during NBC’s halftime show — perhaps that mindset is an insight into why he never even made the finals himself). Instead, they weathered the initial storm and rode their star guards to a 9-point second-half lead before what felt like an inevitable Anthony Edwards fourth-quarter storm, and they didn’t have quite enough time recover, resulting in a 109-114 loss with the series tied at 2-2.

The good news is Wemby will be available for Game 5 after avoiding suspension. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering it was a pretty standard flagrant 2 (or at least as standard as a flagrant 2 can be) without anything extra, plus we already saw Nikola Jokic attempt to throw a punch against this same team in the last round with no suspension, as well as several far more egregious fouls that didn’t lead to suspension, although Wemby will have to pay the mandatory fine of $2,000 that comes with a flagrant 2. His case is likely also helped by the fact that has no prior history of such acts (unlike Draymond Green or Isaiah Stewart, whom we’ve seen receive “repeat offender” suspensions in the past).

Speaking of Green, one thing that likely won’t impact Wemby but he will have to keep in mind is the NBA’s technical counter, which can lead to a player being suspended after accumulating 7 points in the playoffs, with 2 points for Flagrant 2’s and one point for Flagrant 1’s or technical fouls. While it is extremely unlikely he will reach 7 points, hopefully this is still something he learns and grows from.

The series will resume on Tuesday in San Antonio. Thanks to the Knicks sweeping the 76ers, there is no double-header to contend with, so tip-off will be at the preferred time of 7:00 PM CT (instead 8:30) on NBC and Peacock. (Game 6 may be another story, depending on if Cleveland vs. Detroit reaches a Game 6, but at least that’s on Friday.)

The San Antonio Spurs, largely because Victor Wembanyama’s second quarter ejection, missed out on the chance in Game 4 to take a commanding lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, they can breathe a sigh of relief.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Wembanyama has avoided suspension over the right elbow he threw at Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid on Sunday, May 10 in Game 4, an eventual 114-109 Minnesota victory.

This comes as a massive relief for San Antonio, which is now in a 2-2 tie in the series. Wembanyama is the team’s best player and arguably the player in the entire NBA who most impacts games on both ends of the floor.

Once he left the game, the Timberwolves attacked the paint more freely because of the void Wembanyama left down low.

CHICAGO – Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard could hardly sleep the night before the NBA Draft lottery.

Who could, in his situation? In a daring trade to acquire Ivica Zubac back in February, the Pacers sent, among other things, their 2026 first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. It was protected 1-4 and 10-30, meaning the Clippers could only receive the selection if it landed 5-9. On Sunday, a machine full of ping pong balls would decide which team would be blessed by fate. 52.1% of the time, the answer would be the Pacers. The other 47.9% would benefit L.A.

It was basically a coin flip, at least by odds. Maybe that’s too tame. It was closer to Russian Roulette but with a shade under 2.9 bullets; with just a couple of spins in a chamber they didn’t have eyes on to decide their fate.

Coin flip odds are more instructive. Heads, the trade looks incredible for the Pacers. They acquire a center that they covet, one who nearly made an All–NBA team in 2024-25. They send out two first-rounders in future seasons with worse lottery odds, plus two players who were fading in their plans. A near-perfect addition. Tails, it looks much worse for them. Add a top-five prospect in a very strong draft to that above trade package, and that’s after Zubac barely suited up thanks to injuries. Worst of all, it would mean the Pacers finished with the second-worst record in the NBA and didn’t get the lotto luck for it. How the deal feels could change over the next five years as assets continue to be exchanged, but the Pacers 2026 first-rounder was the best non-Zubac asset moved in the deal. Who would actually use that pick came down to the lottery.

“The truth is, I didn’t sleep much last night. And [Pacers general manager] Chad (Buchanan) and I kind of got away and walked. And we were trying to plan out everything, for the good, for the bad,” Pritchard explained.

As the lottery results were being revealed, Pritchard said his heart was beating like Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He would have been a terrible poker player on Sunday – his emotional state was obvious even to onlookers 30 feet away. And truly, as a trio of Pacers involved in the lottery broadcast sat to witness their fate, only one was able to hide their emotions as a Clippers logo was shown to a room filled with hundreds of people. Millions more watched on television.

The draft lottery and subsequent unveiling of results were held in Chicago’s Navy Pier. A massive Festival Hall was sectioned off, with about one-fourth of the room converted into a stage and viewing area for the proceedings. Every team involved in the lottery had a table in the front of the room for their executives to sit at – the Pacers’ was in the middle row on the left side between the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

The only two at the Pacers table were Pritchard and Buchanan. They’ve worked together for years, originally overlapping with the Portland Trail Blazers over two decades ago. Now, they’re the leaders of Indiana’s front office – the other top figure of the group, vice president of basketball operations Ted Wu, was the team’s lottery representative who was in the room for the drawing.

So it was just Buchanan and Pritchard, the smallest number of team representatives at any table. The third figure in the room was guard T.J. McConnell, the Pacers’ on-stage lottery representative. He’s the longest-tenured Pacer and was a rookie with the 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers, a team that went 10-72 before winning the 2016 draft lottery. McConnell wanted to bring that luck to the Pacers.

There was a hope emanating from the Pacers about 30 minutes before the big reveal. Pritchard and Buchanan spoke with league figures like any other big NBA event – Pritchard congratulated new Mavericks president Masai Ujiri on his new job. Buchanan caught up with executives on another lottery team. There were smiles, at first. They believed they were due for some luck.

“Obviously not good news,” McConnell would be saying about a half hour later.

The two executives sat down, still awaiting the results. Something about doing so made reality settle in. For the next eternity – okay, still just 30 minutes – the Pacers front office leaders had to sit there, powerless against their fate, with judgment coming their way regardless of the result. For a few minutes, neither said a word.

Pritchard showed the most outward emotion. He chewed gum the entire event. At 1:48 p.m. local time, he put on his glasses. Four minutes later, he took them off to fidget with them on the table. The next minute, he put them on for the second time in five minutes.

Buchanan was far more rigid. At 1:51, he adjusted his collar, then was still for several minutes. Next to Pritchard, he looked like a statue. It was the perfect picture of the two and their personalities – and a display of why they’ve worked so well together for all these years as partners in the NBA.

At 1:59, Buchanan’s trance ended as he checked his phone. At the same time, Pritchard did the same. He put his phone away four minutes later, then frantically looked around the room before running his hands through his hair. Both executives were looking for something, anything, to distract them at that moment.

“I know the Twitterverse is probably going to be a little brutal. And I get it, man, I get it,” Pritchard would say later, fitting for someone whose phone became a key prop for fiddling and posting during the day. ”To those people, I’m sorry.”

In came McConnell to provide that diversion. In a sea of suit-wearing lottery representatives, McConnell took the court in a yellow button-up shirt and black pants. He was situated on the same side of the room as the Pacers’ executive table, so he had a clear view of Pritchard and Buchanan.

McConnell reached his seat. He gave John Wall – the Washington Wizards lottery representative – a high five before pulling his phone out and putting it on silent. The next moment, he gave a quick glance to the Pacers front office members gathered about 40 feet away from him. They all made eye contact. Suddenly, McConnell’s mood was serious. Nerves returned for everyone.

The broadcast began as ESPN’s Malika Andrews began to walk across the front of the room to interview the consensus top-three prospects in the coming draft. AJ Dybantsa was first. Right in the background of the interview, Pritchard could be seen as clear as day. Six minutes later, Andrews was finished and NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum took the stage. He was about to reveal the results.

As Tatum pulled the first card out of a folder to reveal which team would be picking 14th, Buchanan put his elbows on the table. It was his first movement in over five minutes. The Pacers had nothing to worry about until the sixth pick, but the start of the process increased the tension.

No teams jumped into the top four until the Chicago Bulls, who entered the day with the ninth-best odds to do so. When the Dallas Mavericks were revealed to have the ninth pick, that meant the Bulls jumped into the top four. Pritchard stroked his chin, thinking about how that would impact his team.

One minute later, the Memphis Grizzlies also jumped up into the top four. It’s 2:17 now, and both Buchanan and Pritchard are rubbing their chins. They each leaned forward. The team picking sixth was about to be announced. Time for the stressful part.

Tatum pulled out the card for the sixth slot. Up came a Brooklyn Nets logo. There was little reaction from Pacers executives. McConnell looked out over the crowd. There was one final reveal to go.

Between Tatum saying “Nets” and pulling out the card for the fifth pick, 13 seconds passed. To Pritchard and Buchanan, it felt like 13 days. Tatum began his lines. “The fifth pick in the NBA Draft will be made by…

“The LA Clippers,” he said, holding up a Clippers logo. McConnell stared off into space. Buchanan didn’t move. Pritchard took a few seconds before re-adjusting in his chair.

The team’s gamble was a loss. The best possible pick they could send to the Clippers is, in fact, going to the Clippers. It took five minutes before Buchanan moved at all, slightly loosening his posture at 2:23. McConnell walked off the stage and chatted briefly with Charlotte Hornets forward and lottery representative Kon Knueppel.

There was a commercial break before the top-four picks were announced, but that break in the action did little to change the demeanor of Buchanan, Pritchard, or McConnell. All three looked almost shell-shocked despite knowing the odds entering the event. 

McConnell’s darting glances after it became reality the pick was going to the Clippers were intentional. Moments earlier, his heart was beating “so fast,” yet there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. LA got the pick, and McConnell couldn’t even look at his front office reps

“In a way, I felt like I was letting him down,” McConnell said. “I know there’s no reason to feel that way, but just weirdly do.”

Wall’s Wizards were announced as the winners of the lottery a few minutes later. The broadcast ended, then executives and some high-profile draft prospects all chatted at the front of the room. Buchanan and Pritchard stayed near their table area but stood up and joined in on some conversations.

The 47.9% chance of losing their pick had actually happened. The odds said that was the most likely outcome for the team, but something about the draft lottery messes with everyone’s brain. It just seems like nothing bad will happen, until it does.

Pritchard couldn’t hide his emotions all afternoon. He was so fidgety that it was clear he was nervous in some way. As he began to speak with reporters not long after the event ended, the team president made his mental state even more clear.

“We’re all disappointed,” Pritchard said. That was a theme. “Disappointed because this is a great draft,” he added later. As he continued speaking, Pritchard kept making it clear how talented the team thinks Zubac is. But he would also catch himself by repeating that emotion.

“What we’ve learned from (Zubac) so far is he’s super smart, and he wants to fit in, and he’s all about winning. And again, disappointed. I’m not trying to smooth over that. We wanted to pick, but we’ll be okay,” Pritchard said. Just over 30 seconds later, a repeat. “Again, I wanted to pick. We wanted to pick, and I know people are going to be disappointed. But you have to remember, our top seven or eight players are still with us. So today it stings. But wait till next season. Let’s give this group an opportunity to go compete for a championship. Because they’ve proven they can do it.”

Indeed they have. The Pacers made the NBA Finals in 2025, then upgraded at center from Myles Turner to Zubac. A top-four would have been a perfect addition to round out the team for the next few years.

Many Pacers players couldn’t sleep before Game 7 of that series. They were nervous for the big stage. That was identical to Pritchard on Sunday, who had a ton of anticipation and wanted the lottery win for his owner, longtime Pacers governor Herb Simon.

“My heart hurts for Mr. Simon, if I’m honest. He’s such a good person and he wants it for Indiana like we all want it. In a way, I feel like I’ve let the organization down,” Pritchard said.

He and McConnell shared that emotion. The lottery brings out the hope in everybody. But instead, the Clippers will pick fifth, a painful twist of fate. It’s why Pritchard couldn’t sleep the night before and why the Pacers trade was viewed as risky. This risk didn’t pay off, but the Zubac trade still can. If Pritchard has his way, his next sleepless night will come before an NBA Finals game with Zubac leading his team’s defense. But there could be more tossing and turning in store for him if Zubac isn’t a perfect fit right away or, worse, the fifth pick turns into a star for the Clippers. Time, as with all trades, will tell if Pritchard’s future sleepless nights will be for positive or negative reasons. He’ll just have to hope for better than 52.1% odds of positive outcomes this time.

2026 NBA mock draft roundup: Early Celtics first-round pick predictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics need to be a more dangerous team in the paint. They shot the most 3-pointers and ranked second-to-last in points in the paint per game among the 16 NBA playoff teams in the first round.

A lack of depth/talent in the frontcourt was a concern coming into the 2025-26 campaign, but in the regular season, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza did a good job alleviating those fears. The playoffs revealed that Boston really did have issues at center, especially against an opponent like the Philadelphia 76ers that had an elite big man in Joel Embiid.

Embiid dominated the Celtics and helped the Sixers overcome a 3-1 series deficit with a Game 7 victory in Boston.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talked after the playoffs about the need to be better around the rim and generate more good shots (dunks) in close.

“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” Stevens explained at a May 6 press conference. “Everybody plays a role in that, but at the end of (Game 7), (Sixers big man Joel) Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions.”

Stevens also added: “I think the biggest thing is, can we generate looks at the rim? Yeah, everybody wants to do that, and every one of us would prefer a dunk over a 3. Every single one of us. Those are hard to get, and we struggle to generate them.”

The Celtics could look at the trade or free agent markets to add a player who can create good looks at the rim. The 2026 NBA Draft is another place to find that kind of player, whether it’s a center with imposing size or a wing capable of attacking defenders and finishing at the basket.

The Celtics have the No. 27 pick in the first round. The chances of finding an impact player in this range aren’t great, but you can absolutely find a valuable role player. The C’s have drafted several of them in the 20s in recent years, including Robert Williams (No. 27, 2018), Payton Pritchard (No. 26, 2020), Baylor Scheierman (No. 30, 2024)) and Hugo Gonzalez (No. 28, 2025).

Which specific players should the Celtics target in Round 1 of the upcoming draft? Here’s a roundup of post-draft lottery predictions from expert mock drafts.

Jeremy Woo, ESPN: Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama

“Allen’s positional versatility and ability to augment lineups on both sides of the ball give him a path to finding a long-term NBA role. While he is not likely to create his own shot at a high level and shot a middling 34.1% from 3, his playmaking flashes and defensive instincts give him a good role-player baseline to build on if his scoring ability can catch up. Whether he can work up the board from here or ultimately winds up back in college remains to be seen, as an older Freshman who was unheralded to begin the season.

“The Celtics value taller perimeter players in Allen’s mold who can fit in alongside their stars, and they could afford him time to develop.”

Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

“The 7-foot Veesaar transferred to North Carolina after two seasons at Arizona, taking on a larger role for the Tar Heels. His production jumped significantly as a starter, putting up 17 points per game. The Celtics are in a position where they can afford to strengthen the center position, even with Neemias Queta enjoying the most productive season of his career.”

J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer: Karim Lopez, SF/PF, New Zealand

“I’ve had more of a ‘pumped brakes’ mentality when it comes to López, because I think where he lands will be really important.

The ability to pinpoint useful skills and maximize them is an advantage that some organizations have and some don’t. We’ve seen what Boston has done with Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Sam Hauser, and I think that Lopez—a power wing whose rim pressure makes him an intriguing prospect—would similarly benefit from the time and structure that the Celtics could give him.

If they tidied up the details surrounding his downhill strength and helped his percentage from 3 climb a few points, Lopez could become an asset.”

Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports: Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama

“Another prospect who could return to school, Allen is a versatile wing who has both skill and toughness. He can handle, pass, and is a better shooter than his numbers indicate. Allen is a high-volume wing rebounder who is the type of competitor who should mesh well with Joe Mazzulla and ultimately realize his defensive potential.”

Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation: Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s

“Ejiofor is a great mover for someone with a 245-pound frame. The St. John’s senior big man isn’t super tall or long, but he adds a level of physicality to any frontcourt while also intriguing with his connective passing ability. Ejiofor is really good on the glass at both ends, and he can offer some rim protection while also having pick-and-roll coverage versatility. His rim finishing and playmaking are solid, but he might need to develop a three-point shot to stay in the NBA.”

It’s looking more and more like Kentucky Basketball freshman Malachi Moreno could remain in the 2026 NBA Draft.

On Monday, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that Moreno will not take part in this week’s NBA Combine 5-on-5 scrimmages. That’s usually a sign that a player likes where his NBA stock is and doesn’t want to risk damaging it in scrimmages.

In addition, O’Connor now says there’s a “pretty strong chance” Moreno would be drafted in the first round this year.

Between this development and the surprise addition of Washington center Franck Kepnang, it’s safe to think there’s now a very real chance Moreno is staying in the draft, which would be a brutal development for Mark Pope and his rebuilt roster, which was banking heavily on the Great Crossing product manning the 5 spot.

While Kepnang is a suitable big man when healthy, he’s missed far too many games in his college career to count on him staying healthy for the duration of next season.

In other words, if Moreno stays in the draft, then Kentucky will be in desperate need of another big man, and there aren’t exactly many good options available at this point.

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Giannis trade coming soon? What the latest reporting means for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Let the Summer of Giannis begin.

The Milwaukee Bucks are “open for business” on receiving trade offers for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

And it sounds like the Boston Celtics –fresh off blowing a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers — could be in the mix for Antetokounmpo’s services.

There’s been plenty of reporting and discourse around Antetokounmpo’s future over the last several weeks, culminating with Charania’s latest insights. So here’s a breakdown of when a deal might be consummated (if it happens), which teams could be involved and what it all means for the Celtics.

When might a Giannis trade happen?

There’s no secret here: In a press conference last week, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters he’d like Antetokounmpo’s future settled before the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins June 23.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam said. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets.”

Blockbuster trades rarely happen until after the NBA Finals, as clubs typically want the option of negotiating with every other team for leverage purposes. This year’s finals could end as early as June 10 (Game 4) and as late as June 19 (Game 7).

So, if a Giannis trade goes down, it will likely be sometime between June 10 and June 23.

Which teams could be involved in Giannis trade discussions?

Charania noted the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are both expected to pursue Antetokounmpo this offseason.

Charania also added that playoff teams such as the Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers all had interest in Antetokounmpo ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February, and that how those teams finish in this year’s playoffs “will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for Antetokounmpo.”

Boston, of course, is the only team on that list that lost in the first round. So, perhaps that means Brad Stevens and Co. are more aggressive in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo this summer.

Another wrinkle: Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to sign an extension with his future team and may have some leverage in choosing his desired destination.

“The conversation will be simple: Where does [Giannis] want to be moved and where will he sign long term?” a source told Charania.

Will the Celtics be a legitimate suitor for Giannis?

It certainly appears that way.

Antetokounmpo clearly has respect for the Celtics and recently praised their ability to maintain success this past season despite losing several key members of their rotation in the offseason.

“Everything about my decision is based on winning; culture,” Antetokounmpo told Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in April. “Like, you saw I talked with [Boston] coach Joe Mazzulla. I said, ‘You had so many opportunities to make excuses, but you didn’t.'”

The Celtics also have a need for a player like Antetokounmpo. In his end-of-season press conference, Stevens expressed a desire to have “more of an impact at the rim,” and Giannis fits that mold on both ends as a former Defensive Player of the Year who leads the NBA in dunks per game over the past two seasons.

Any Celtics trade for Antetokounmpo likely would involve dealing Jaylen Brown, which would be a monumental move that the franchise would have to weigh carefully. But at the very least, it seems like Stevens and Co. are leaving all options on the table after a premature playoff exit.

Draymond Green clarifies viral comments about end of Charles Barkley's career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors star Draymond Green set the social media landscape ablaze when he took a jab at Charles Barkley last week on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA,” saying the goal is to “not look like [Barkley] in a Houston Rockets uniform.” 

After Green’s comment was widely labelled as disrespectful towards Barkley, he provided clarification on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” denying that he meant any disrespect. 

“Don’t lie and don’t put words in my mouth,” Green said. “If you want words, I always give you the words out of my mouth. [At] no point did I say, ‘Oh man, I’m better than Charles Barkley.’ Stop it. Again, to try to build it as disrespect. There’s no disrespect from me to Charles Barkley. That’s just not how I roll.” 

Green explained that he admires Barkley’s career and meant no disrespect towards his accomplishments and skill. 

“We’re not on the same level. Yeah, I’m not an NBA MVP. I’m not at all,” Green said. “But I hope to walk in the Hall of Fame. And if I do that, if I’m lucky enough to do that, fingers crossed. Hopefully I will be. Then that would stamp us on the same level. So he’s right. I’m not there. And that’s okay. Still constructing. Still working at it. Still trying to get there.” 

Green also explained that, in the context of the show, the analysts take jabs at each other and current NBA stars. He notes that Barkley has frequently criticized stars like Steph Curry or LeBron James, despite their careers, on paper, being better than Barkley’s. 

“It’s a very interesting concept because some of Chuck’s funniest things that’s made him the media personality he is , is kind of him taking digs at people,” Green said. “Some of the best moments on the show is him taking a dig at Kenny, or him taking a dig at Shaq…  

“…That’s what makes that show great. And so, I find it very interesting when people say [I] can’t say nothing about Chuck because [I don’t] have a better career…” 

In saying that he did not intend any personal disrespect towards Barkley, he apologized for the public’s perception of his comments being disrespectful. 

“I am also a man of accountability, and in telling a joke — the way it was received —  I don’t think it should have been received that way, but it was …” Green said. “If it’s received the way I see it being received, I am not too big to say — if that was viewed as disrespect publicly, I can say sorry publicly.” 

In the end, it doesn’t seem that Barkley took much disrespect from the comment, and Green added that the two have a great working relationship on the show and that there is no tension. 

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