TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not exactly the type of notoriety one hopes for from their favorite basketball club. However, through eight games, it certainly has felt that the Cavaliers are their own worst enemy. Even in the games that they have persevered in, there have been long stretches of lapses in judgment and ill-advised passes.
With the way the Cavaliers currently run their offense, a lot of those possessions run through their two-star guards, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Both of which, to varying degrees, have been the main culprits as to why the turnover count is so high, and the offense looks so inept at times.
Donovan Mitchell, who is looking for another max extension this postseason, has frankly been far below what one would expect from a player who is the franchise’s star. Mitchell, more times than not this postseason, looks like someone forcing the issue. What makes this jarring is that Mitchell, in the regular season, was fantastic, looking like someone who could erase a lot of the team’s offensive woes with his ability to drop 30 points without even blinking.
Now that the defenses are scheming to neutralize him, Mitchell has looked about as mortal as we have seen him. Mitchell is shooting 44% from the field in the postseason, a nearly 5% drop in efficiency from the regular season. It’s not just the stats that show Mitchell is playing worse; it is the simple eye test of game to game. It often appears like Mitchell is trying to figure out his spots in the postseason.
Mitchell is often seen settling for floaters or pull-up threes rather than using his elite athleticism to get to the rim and force the defense to collapse to meet him. This has neutralized part of what made Mitchell so dynamic. We are also seeing this affect him getting to the line. Mitchell is currently averaging two free throw attempts a game, as opposed to the regular season, where he was getting there six times a game.
The best players in the league know, in the postseason, that defenses aim to take away what you are good at — so when they take your fastball, what other pitches are in your arsenal? I think we are seeing that Mitchell, when met with the team’s best defender, believes someone else has a more ideal matchup and attempts to play facilitator. Frankly, Mitchell, at best, is a slightly above-average playmaker when it comes to setting guys up. That’s why Mitchell is averaging nearly three turnovers a game.
Harden is the greater offender in this regard, currently contributing a nauseating 5.4 turnovers a game (43 total). With turnover numbers as high as eight turnovers in Game 3 against Toronto and seven turnovers in Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons, as well as Game 4 in Toronto.
This isn’t a case of being unlucky — this is just sloppy play from one of the league’s premier distributors. Harden admitted as much after Game 1 against the Pistons.
"You look at my turnovers and a lot of them are just on me and nothing they did. I don't even know how many transition points they had. That's the game. It's nothing else. Other than that, we played a pretty solid game."#Cavs guard James Harden on the turnover issues continuing… pic.twitter.com/kTZAgi5FoU
At times with his turnovers, they looked almost so casual that it appeared someone had slipped a Xanax into his Gatorade. The lack of urgency and importance on every turnover was just one kick to the crotch after another to the Cavaliers as they clawed their way back to an almost improbable comeback against the Pistons.
Harden has more positives than negatives in the postseason. While Mitchell has fluctuated in his impact, Harden — despite shooting the team in the foot and making up almost a third of the team’s turnovers in the postseason — has been a stabilizer on offense at his most efficient.
However, the issue with Harden is that when he is on the floor, he needs to be on the ball. Therefore, all of his impact is going to come from those on-ball opportunities, and right now, that comes with the lax nature of his turnovers. Time will tell whether Game 1 against Detroit was the wake-up call Harden needed to see that this team cannot overcome his lapses in judgment or sloppy ball handling.
The fact of the matter is that there is proof that Cleveland is talented enough to overcome their two best players faltering at the highest level. Cleveland is currently in the second round of the postseason with Mitchell and Harden not being at their best — something that would have sunk the prior iterations of the Cavaliers. The other guys are showing up to make up lost ground.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have had their moments in the postseason. We are seeing Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Denis Schroeder having their games as well.
This makes the lack of Mitchell and sometimes Harden all the more torturous. If Cleveland’s star backcourt both showed up in a game, the Cavaliers might look nearly unstoppable. As of now, they look as frustrating as any team remaining in the postseason.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers works against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 04, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the condensed schedule of the NBA playoffs and the quick turnaround for the Philadelphia 76ers after their seven-game series with the Boston Celtics, it was frequently wondered if Joel Embiid was going to be able to make it through a series that would play as many as seven games in 15 days.
Well, just two games in, we have the answer to that. The former NBA MVP was just ruled out for Game 2 with lingering ankle and hip soreness, per Shams Charania.
Just in: Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 tonight against the New York Knicks due to ankle and hip injuries, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eJm0W04R3G
Embiid didn’t look healthy in Game 1, just two days after a dominant performance to lift the Sixers over the Celtics in Game 7. In the blowout Knicks win, he scored just 14 points on 3-for-11 from the field with a turnover while being completely exploited defensively. He was minus-24 in 25 minutes.
*The 27 pick-and-rolls they put Embiid into during Game 1 led to 44 Knicks points, according to Second Spectrum. That’s 1.63 points per possession, nearly the same efficiency as Brunson going to the line for two free throws."
He’s dealt with balky knees for the past several years, but has also suffered oblique, foot, and hip injuries this season, as well as an appendectomy that cost him several weeks. He had played five consecutive games since his return in Game 4 against the Celtics, but with the reality that he hadn’t played seven consecutive games since December 2023, this always felt like a possibility. The fact that it’s ankle and hip pain, though, is notable.
The Sixers might’ve been willing to sit Embiid today because of the dynamics of this series. With no extra rest days, the organization might’ve made the decision to risk going down 0-2 heading back to Philadelphia while allowing Embiid to get extra rest, rather than overexert him and risk a disastrous scenario of a hobbled Embiid in the same perilous situation.
With Embiid out, expect a stronger Sixers defense, even if Andre Drummond isn’t the most stout defender. One big advantage that the Knicks will have is that Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns are now significantly less likely to get in early foul trouble, something that felt like a big key entering this series.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Stopping LeBron James has been a tough task for NBA teams over the past 23 years, and the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t about to start spitting into the wind when it comes to containing LeBron.
My Lakers vs. Thunder predictions for Game 2 see OKC giving LBJ the green light, while making sure no one else in Purple and Gold is causing too much havoc.
Thunder: The Lakers put up a sound fight in Game 1, but the Thunder just kept inching further and further away, until they finally finished 18 points ahead.
Oklahoma City was a little rusty after more than a week between series, and even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting bottled up, the rest of the OKC rotation was too much for the Lakers.
Another big spread says Oklahoma City takes a 2-0 series edge Thursday.
Lakers vs Thunder best bet: LeBron James Over 21.5 points (-115)
LeBron James got whatever he wanted in Game 1, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting.
The bulk of those buckets came at the rim against a seemingly impenetrable Oklahoma City Thunder interior defense. But what if that’s what OKC wants?
James drew defense from Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, and the Thunder didn’t bother bringing doubles at all. Allowing James to score 27 points isn’t going to put a dent in things if the other Los Angeles Lakers can’t contribute. And they didn’t, with the rest of the team shooting just 34% from the field with 15 turnovers.
Game 2 forecasts call for 21+ points from James.
COVERS INTEL: LeBron James still scored 27 points despite his Game 1 usage plummeting to 22.1%. That’s down from 30.9% in Round 1. He shot just 17 FGAs on Tuesday after putting up 20+ attempts in four of the six games vs. Houston. Expect more activity from James in Game 2.
Lakers vs Thunder Game 2 same-game parlay
The Thunder won with ease in Game 1, and that was after an extended layoff between rounds. Oklahoma City has shaken off the rust and will run the Lakers out of the gym in Game 2, with L.A. lacking the firepower and interior scoring to hang with the champs.
Chet Holmgren is a matchup nightmare for the Lakers. The 7-footer runs the floor in transition, moves well without the ball, and knocks down looks from long range. Holmgren is forecasted for 17+ points on Thursday.
Lakers vs Thunder SGP
Thunder -15.5
LeBron James Over 21.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bet on Chet
Holmgren put up 24 points and 12 rebounds along with two blocks in Game 1, smashing L.A.’s soft interior defense.
The Lakers don’t have a solution for his size, quickness, and range, especially when rolling out Isaiah Hartenstein and forcing Los Angeles to match up small on Chet.
Over/Under: Over 209.5 (-110) | Under 209.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Thunder betting trend to know
Los Angeles has only eclipsed its team total in 16 of its last 40 away games (-11.85 Units / -26% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Thunder.
How to watch Lakers vs Thunder Game 2
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Thunder latest injuries
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Timberwolves Game 2 computer picks
Rudy Gobert Over 8.5 points (+102)
Projection: 10.65 points
This is the first of two five-star plays for tonight.
Rudy Gobert missed this line by a single bucket last time out, but he took more than enough shots to clear it in 29 minutes of action. If he shot closer to his regular 68% field-goal percentage, he would have cleared. Our model expects that to happen tonight.
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Ayo Dosunmu Over 11.5 points (-130)
Projection: 14.03 points
Ayo Dosunmu has unlocked another gear and is our second five-star play of the game.
After dropping 43 in Game 4, Dosunmu put up a reasonable 18 points in Game 5. An injury kept him out until tonight, and our model expects him to pick up where he left off.
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Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists (+120)
Projection: 5.07 assists
Julius Randle is an underrated passer for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He handed out five or more dimes in three outings vs. Denver, and our model sees him doing it again tonight.
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Spurs Game 2 computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-115)
Projection: 19.77 points
De'Aaron Fox had his first truly bad outing of the postseason in Game 1, scoring 10 points on 5-for-14 shooting. Fox is too skilled to have a repeat performance like that, with our prop projections calling for close to 20 points.
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Julian Champagnie Over 8.5 points (-120)
Projection: 10.36 points
Julian Champagnie has become a reliable offensive option for a San Antonio Spurs team in deep trouble against Minnesota. He'll get enough open threes to knock down, pushing by 8.5.
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Devin Vassell Over 2.5 assists (+140)
Projection: 2.74 assists
Devin Vassell gets plenty of run time with the Spurs' starting five, who had an uncharacteristically rough shooting night. With San Antonio set to bounce back, expect more assist opportunities from Vassell.
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How to watch Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 2
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts during the first quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
From the last thing this team needed department, the Sixers will be without Joel Embiid for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden Wednesday.
The star big man has officially been ruled out against the New York Knicks with a right ankle sprain and right hip soreness.
The Sixers were already in a 1-0 series hole after a 137-98 drubbing in Game 1 Monday night. Without Embiid, an uphill battle turns into something much greater.
We’ll see how Nick Nurse looks to use his big man rotation. Adem Bona started at the beginning of the Celtics series with Embiid out, but Andre Drummond played the bulk of the minutes. Drummond has been the primary backup since Embiid’s return.
With New York starting Karl-Anthony Towns, who is more mobile and a threat from three, Bona might be the better option. With that said, Bona was brutal in his brief Game 1 appearance, committing five fouls in less than four minutes. With Jalen Brunson’s propensity to draw fouls, the frontcourt could get thin very quickly. Playing Dominick Barlow at the five is also an option, but that makes the Sixers much smaller.
Any way you slice it, this is unfortunate news for the Sixers. They’re going to need the ultra-aggressive version of Tyrese Maxey to come out early. The All-Star guard took just one field-goal attempt in the first quarter of Game 1. The team could also use meaningful contributions from someone like Quentin Grimes off the bench to help match the Knicks’ firepower.
This also puts doubt on Embiid’s status for the remainder of the series.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be without one of their key stars on Wednesday night as they look to turn things around following a 39-point Game 1 loss to the Knicks.
Joel Embiid has officially been ruled out due to hip and ankle injuries.
Embiid had been receiving around-the-clock treatment in an effort to play, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, but he was unable to participate in Philly's morning shootaround and will now miss the contest.
New York did a good job of keeping the seven-time All-Star in check throughout the commanding Game 1 victory, holding him to just 14 points on an ineffective 3-of-11 shooting from the field.
All but six of those points came from the free-throw line, and he pulled in just four boards.
The Knicks also did a tremendous job of taking advantage of him in the pick-and-roll all night, finishing with a whopping 46 points in the paint as a team.
With Embiid sidelined, Philly will have to lean on Andre Drummond and Adem Bona at center.
But Wembanyama left disappointed by his offensive output and then Minnesota's coach and players added some salt to the wound by clapping back at the legitimacy of some of Wembanyama's blocks. Coach Chris Finch argued in the aftermath of Game 1 that at least four of Wembanyama's swats should have been called goaltending. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who is considered Wembanyama's mentor, agreed.
"To me, it's a little alarming they weren't called," Finch told reporters ahead of Game 2.
So are the Timberwolves right? Were all of Wembanyama's 12 blocks in Game 1 legitimate?
USA TODAY Sports went back and watched the film of every block Wembanyama was credited with to see if Finch has a point. The answer was somewhere in between, with an awesome display of shot-blocking, one blatant missed goaltending and a few borderline calls that are now being used to stoke a postseason narrative.
Were all of Victor Wembanyama blocks vs. Timberwolves legitimate?
Note: USA TODAY Sports watched replays of all 12 blocks Wembanyama was credited with during Game 1 against the Timberwolves to judge whether the block was legal or should have been called a goaltend, as well as if there was potential for a foul to be called on the play.
Victor Wembanyama's first block
Time: 11:38 left in 1st quarter
What happened: Timberwolves guard Terrance Shannon Jr. drove to the basket on the first possession of Game 1 and Wembanyama slid over to block his layup attempt against the backboard.
Was it a block: Yes, this appears to have been correctly called a block. Wembanyama's hand tapped the ball before it reached the backboard. Watch here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's second block
Time: 11:20 left in 1st quarter
What happened: Shannon dribbled past Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox in transition on Minnesota's second possession of Game 1 and attempted a layup. Wembanyama swooped in from behind for a block.
Was it a block: No, this block seems to have been called incorrectly after several viewings of the replay. The ball appears to reach the backboard before Wembanyama blocks the layup attempt. Watch here to judge for yourself.
What happened: Rudy Gobert caught a pocket pass from Mike Conley rolling to the basket and attempted a running left-handed layup near the rim that Wembanyama blocked.
Was it a block: Yes, but it's debatable. There's an argument based on multiple angles of the replay that Wembanyama also fouled Gobert on the play. However, Wembanyama's hand hit Gobert's arm after he blocked his shot. Watch here to judge for yourself.
This is why you shouldn’t believe everything you see.
The below tweet/photo is one of many that claims Wemby’s 3rd block was actually a foul.
If you watch the replay and slow it down you can see Wemby blocks Gobert’s shot first.
What happened: Timberwolves forward Naz Reid had the ball in the low block while being defended by Spurs guard Dylan Harper. Reid spins towards the middle of the paint, then pivots back toward the low block and attempted a running bank shot. Wembanyama came from the other side of the paint to swat the shot against the backboard with the ball nearly on its way down.
Was it a block: Yes, because it was called that way on the floor and no replay angle has definitively shown the ball was on its way down. But this was close to a goaltend. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's fifth block
Time: 8:02 left in 2nd quarter
What happened: Timberwolves forward Julius Randle rebounded his own miss, pump-faked twice and then attempted a left-handed putback layup near the basket only to have the shot blocked by Wembanyama to force a shot clock violation.
Was it a block: Yes. Though there might have been some contact on the play, Wembanyama appeared to maintain his verticality because he hardly jumped off the floor. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's sixth block
Time: 1:30 left in 2nd quarter
What happened: Gobert received a pass from Timberwolves teammate Jaylen Clark in the lane, dribbled once to his left to initially evade Wembanyama and then came to a jump stop. But as Gobert rose for a shot attempt near the rim, Wembanyama came in from behind to block the ball out of bounds.
Was it a block: Yes, but there does appear to be some contact made with Gobert by either Wembanyama or Spurs teammate Julian Champagnie. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's seventh block
Time: 23 seconds left in 2nd quarter
What happened: Wembanyama's final block of the first half occurred when Reid drove into the paint while being defended by Spurs guard Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama came from the weak side to swat Reid's shot attempt.
Was it a block: Yes, this was a clean block and there doesn't seem to be any doubt Wembanyama blocked the ball on its way up. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's eighth block
Time: 8 minutes left in 3rd quarter
What happened: Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels spun past Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox after posting him up in the paint and getting him in the air with a pump fake. But Wembanyama's first block of the third quarter occurred when he came to help and swatted a left-handed layup attempt by McDaniels.
Was it a block: Yes. This appeared to be a clean block in which Wembanyama did not make contact with McDaniels and blocked the ball on its way up before it reached the backboard. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's ninth block
Time: 3:22 left in 3rd quarter
What happened: Anthony Edwards got Wembanyama off his feet with a pump fake in the corner, but missed his driving layup attempt along the baseline. Randle got the offensive rebound, but Wembanyama came in from Randle's right and blocked his putback attempt.
What happened: Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland drove past Spurs guard Devin Vassell and Wembanyama came in from his help defense position on Reid in the corner to block Hyland's layup attempt.
Was it a block: Yes, although the Timberwolves could argue Vassell might have made slight contact with Hyland's body. Wembanyama actually might have blocked the same shot with both hands. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
What happened: Wembanyama officially set the new NBA playoff record for blocks when Edwards knifed through Champagnie and Spurs guard Stephon Castle for a driving finger roll attempt. Wembanyama came from the weak side to block the shot off the backboard and ignite the San Antonio fastbreak
Was it a block: Yes, probably. But this is a really close call based on the available replay angles. It's hard to tell if Wembanyama blocked Edwards' shot attempt before it reached the backboard. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama blocks Anthony Edwards for his 11th block of the night, and Fox with the layup at the other end. Wolves timeout. With replays.
What happened: Shannon drove past Vassell into the lane and attempted a running left-handed floater. Wembanyama came over from the weak side to block the shot against the backboard.
Was it a block: Yes, but Minnesota might argue for goaltending. Wembanyama clearly blocks the ball before it reaches the backboard, but there is a chance Shannon's shot had reached its apex. But it's awfully close even in slow motion and hard to fault the call on the floor. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
When speaking with media on Wednesday morning, Lakers star Luka Doncic confirmed that he plans to return for the NBA playoffs. Getty Images
Doncic told reporters the update on Wednesday during a media availability in between Tuesday’s Game 1 loss to the Thunder and Thursday’s Game 2 of the best-of-seven second-round playoff series.
“Obviously, this is a different injury than I ever had,” said Doncic, who was sidelined for four games in February because of a mild left hamstring injury. “It’s been [the] second time I [injured the hamstring this season]. So recovery has been a little longer. But I’m feeling good. Working every day, so I’m trying to come back.”
Originally, the injury was expected to have a recovery timeline of four to six weeks, but Doncic said he was told eight weeks.
Thursday marks five weeks since the injury happened. Eight weeks from Doncic’s injury is May 28 — which is 10 days after a potential Game 7 of a Lakers-Thunder series.
Doncic started running on the injured hamstring, the next step in his return-to-play protocol.
“It’s very frustrating,” Doncic said. “I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is. All I wanna do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball. It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing. I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough, too, just to sit and watch them play.”
Right after the injury happened, Doncic traveled to Spain for advanced treatment aimed at accelerating recovery. He received four PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections.
“Everybody knows that Spain, they’re just one of the best countries to do that,” Doncic said. “And obviously, I talked with the Lakers’ doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there. Obviously, I know and trust lots of people from Spain that I used to work before. But why I was in Spain so long is because I needed four days in between every shot. So I did it four times. So that’s why I stayed longer.”
Luka Doncic: "I went to Spain to do PRP. Everybody knows that Spain, they're just one of the best countries to do that…I know and trust lots of people from Spain. Why I was in Spain so long is because I needed four days in between every shot. So I did it four times. So that's… pic.twitter.com/16xtKAuMhp
When asked about the PRP injections potentially expediting his recovery, Doncic responded: “I’m just in the process, I’m working every day. I feel better every day. Like I said, in the beginning they say eight weeks. So we just go from there.”
Game 3 and Game 4 of the Lakers-Thunder series are scheduled Saturday and Monday at Crypto.com Arena.
Doncic didn’t have a concrete answer when asked if he’d try to ramp things up when the series shifts to Los Angeles.
“I’m just doing everything I can,” he said. “Every day I’m doing stuff I’m supposed to do. Obviously recovery, now I’m working. But like I said, doctor said eight weeks at the beginning of the first MRI. Just going day by day, and I feel better every day.”
Luka Doncic's response when asked whether he'll try to ramp up his return-to-play process for when Lakers-Thunder shifts back to L.A.: "I'm just doing everything I can, like I said, every day I'm doing stuff I'm supposed to do. The doctors said 8 weeks at the beginning of the 1st… pic.twitter.com/ab2kaCQavE
Doncic had an incredible season before suffering the hamstring strain April 2. He became the second player in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March, alongside Michael Jordan. Over that period, he led the Lakers on a 16-2 run.
“We had an amazing month of March,” Doncic said. “The injury came in the worst moment probably for me. But I think other guys just stepped up really good. But it was very frustrating for me.”
Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.AP Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.AP Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.NBAE via Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.NBAE via Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.NBAE via Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.NBAE via Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.NBAE via Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.Getty Images Despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6), Doncic wasn’t named an MVP finalist.Getty Images
Yet he wasn’t even an MVP finalist this season despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6).
It’s a tough break for Doncic, who came into training camp in arguably the best shape of his career. Motivated by the shocking trade that sent him to Hollywood from Dallas, he carried the Lakers to fourth place in the West after playing in 64 games and averaging 35.8 minutes per game.
Without Doncic, the Lakers shocked the Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the defending champions.
“Everybody had us out; everybody had us [losing in] five, six games, and we proved it,” Doncic said. “We can play. The way everybody stepped up is truly amazing to see. So hopefully they continue that.”
Despite limiting reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 18 points and getting an incredible game from LeBron James, the Lakers suffered a 108-90 loss in Game 1.
“When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy that averages 34 [points] and eight [rebounds] and nine [assists] and is that special, that’s [tough],” James said regarding the Lakers missing Doncic.
With Doncic on his way back, the Lakers could return to full strength with James and Austin Reaves and have a legitimate chance at pulling off one of the biggest postseason upsets of the decade.
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“Obviously, we always want to have Luka out there,” Reaves said Sunday. “He’s one of the best players in the league, if not the best player. It’s definitely a different task. Everyone has to play differently to create and fill the void of the things he does for us.”
Luka Doncic: "This is a different injury than I've ever had…the recovery's been a little bit longer. Working every day, trying to come back."
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Against a team as good as the Thunder, there is no margin for error. LeBron James discussed the attention to detail required for LA to have success against OKC before the series even began.
So, when LA played Game 1 and had 18 turnovers, that didn’t exactly put them in a position for success. The result went as expected: the Thunder beat the Lakers fairly easily.
After the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned how the process was good, but the execution was lacking.
“When we made gameplan mistakes, they hurt us,” Redick said. “I thought the Houston Game 5 was the most gameplan mistakes we made in a playoff game so far. We, obviously, lost that game. You’re playing the world champs. Your margin for error is not very high. You can make mistakes. Basketball is a game full of mistakes. There were just too many tonight. We got to clean that up.”
Despite the final score, the Lakers stayed within reach of the Thunder early on. It was an eight-point game at halftime, and midway through the third quarter they cut the lead to four. However, OKC requires 48 minutes of concentration. LA missed their next three shot attempts, Jaxson Hayes had a turnover and the Thunder went on a 6-0 run, bringing the lead back up to double figures.
“I just think we had some gameplan breakdowns,” LeBron said. “What we’ve been preparing, we had some breakdowns. They’re going to test you, obviously. They’re going to see how many times they can make you have gameplan breakdowns. We had a few, almost too many versus a team like this. We know what they’re capable of doing. They can go on a run where it’s like ‘We got them right here, it’s a two-possession game, three-possession game’ and then boom, it’s a double-digit lead. That’s what some of the great teams do. Can’t have compound mistakes.”
Minus LeBron, every other Laker has room for improvement. Jake LaRavia was struggling and gave the team nothing offensively. Austin Reaves had one of his worst games ever. He shot 3-16 from the field and had a team-high four turnovers.
Reaves is supposed to be the franchise guard, and that performance wasn’t even close to good enough.
“Just made a couple mental mistakes…If you watched [OKC] throughout the year, every time you make a couple mistakes in a row, they capitalize on those,” Reaves said.”
The good news is that this series is still very early. OKC did their job and won their home game. The Lakers want to steal one and that’s still on the table with Game 2 set for Thursday. For them to accomplish this, they’ll have to be better in every statistical category, and the last thing they need is self-inflicted errors.
“Those little mistakes are going to hurt,” Hachimura said. “We talked about it after the game. Those little stuff, they hurt us. This is the first game. Of course, we have more games but I think we have to communicate better on those mistakes. Especially after coming out of timeouts, those are going to be important positions for us so we have to lock in.”
The Mavericks introduced Masai Ujiri as their new president of basketball operations on Tuesday. He answered questions for about 45 minutes, where he spoke about his background, his time off from basketball, and his hope of turning Cooper Flagg into a king. But it wasn’t Ujiri who inspired the most hope in me on Tuesday. It was team governor Patrick Dumont. The last question he was asked revolved around what he learned about the NBA that would make this job better for Masai and ultimately make the Mavericks a better franchise:
“I think it has to do with communication and collaboration within the organization,” Dumont said. “That having the right leadership is key, but having those leaders work together with a common goal is what sets franchises apart. That, to me, is the big difference.”
His answer here means something. It was just 20 seconds at the end of a long presser, but the emphasis he put on communication and collaboration indicates a level of self-awareness that is important. Not even 15 months ago, he oversaw a deal that exemplified a lack of communication of the highest order. That cannot happen again. He lost a lot of fans the minute Shams tweeted out the trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, and for those of us who have stuck it out, the acknowledgement that Dumont is the one who gave the go-ahead remains in the back of our minds. Even with the poster boy, Nico Harrison, long gone.
And this lingering concern will be a worry going forward. Dumont will still be the man who signs off on every trade, signing, hiring, and firing. The Mavericks have an unprecedented opportunity for redemption with Cooper Flagg, but Dumont is still the guy who called the NBA Finals the “championship games”, in addition to calling in the disastrous trade. So while hearing him say he wants better communication throughout the organization doesn’t release all of my stress, it does give me a smidge of reassurance that maybe things will be different this time around.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 29: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is continuing to catch strays during the offseason.
The Athletic conducted a league-wide survey asking players various questions about their peers. When asked who the most overrated player in the league is, Sengun received the most votes with 12.3 percent.
Sengun, 23, average 20.4 points per game this season, which was a step up from the previous year, but it was not his career-high, which was set back in the 2023-24 campaign. However, he did make his second straight All-Star team.
Sengun’s season was up and down as he was trying to adapt to playing alongside Kevin Durant and find his way around all of that. All things considered, he did a decent jump weathering the storms throughout the year.
While he wasn’t perfect, he was the leader in many victories this season, including five where he scored 30 or more points.
Sengun still has a long way to go as a lot of his potential is untapped. Perhaps this diagnosis of being the league’s most overrated player will fuel him in his offseason preparations.
TDS community, what do you think of Sengun being named the most overrated player in the league? Let your thoughts be known in the comments section below.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Turns out the Sixers lost Game 1 because of the schedule, not because the Knicks crushed their souls into dust.
Let’s see if having a bit of rest helps the Philly Numbers, or if they keep crumbling.
“People have talked about a mandate — like I’m coaching to win. It doesn’t matter what others say. I’m disappointed if we’re not in the Finals and having a chance to win it.”
On embracing expectations once he signed with New York:
“The opportunity for this job came open, and I was just intrigued by the players. I was intrigued by being in New York, calling Madison Square Garden my home court, being around the fans, hanging with [team president] Leon Rose who I’ve known for many years. He’s just a fantastic human being. And being around the players on that roster, and that’s all I looked at it as. The mandate and all that other stuff, like that’s what I expect, that’s what I want to do, and hopefully it can happen, but who knows.”
On the need for improvement after Game 1:
“We’re playing well at the right time, but I think we have room to grow. We can’t give up 34 free throws like we did last night. It’s gonna be tough if you give up 34 free throws. We had 15 turnovers last night. We can’t have 15 turnovers against this team because they thrive at the free-throw line, they thrive in the steal game, they convert those turnovers into points really quickly. And they didn’t shoot well. We know they’re gonna shoot better. We know that [Tyrese] Maxey is gonna be more aggressive, so we have to be even more alert than what we were in our last game.”
On guarding Maxey and Embiid without fouling:
“Maxey and Embiid are really, really good at drawing fouls. Maxey’s speed, he’s gonna drive and he’s gonna attack your chest. Most of them you can’t lead with your hands, you gotta lead with your chest. You hope that the referee sees that at times, we’re not initiating the contact, but we can’t put ourselves in the position to put the whistle on the referees’ hands of making a call or no call. So we gotta do a better job of leading with our chest and showing our hands. Shot fake, shot fake, and he can still shoot it whether its from two or three. We have to be disciplined and we have to stay down and figure out how to be the second jumper while having tests from behind and stuff like that. But we can’t send those guys to the free-throw line – and the rest of their team – 34 times and expect to get a win, especially if we only go 17.”
On Maxey’s point-of-attack challenge:
“The biggest thing when guarding Maxey at the point of attack is, he just moves so well and he can score from all three levels. His quickness, his athleticism for his size, is second to none. Because he can score from all three levels, so you have to give a multiple effort on every single possession. Because when he gives it up, you best bet that he’s gonna get it back at some point during that possession if not right away.”
On offering condolences to Nick Nurse:
“I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family, and all their friends. Life is precious, and you don’t wish that upon anybody.”
Josh Hart on Kelly Oubre saying Jalen Brunson has a big head and his braids getting in the way pic.twitter.com/A1Zqmrqp3V
“I mean, it’s pretty easy because yesterday is irrelevant. Only thing that matters right now is the present. We got to make sure we’re focused, have good attention to detail, make sure we’re prepared for tomorrow. You know, that’s a good team. Obviously, they had an emotional Game 7, and I don’t know what their travel schedule is like and all that, but I’m sure they probably didn’t even go home. They probably went straight here. They had physical and exhausting series in travel. So, they’re gonna try to get their legs under them and come out with energy tomorrow. So we gotta make sure we don’t just match that, but exceed it.”
On being the favorites against the Sixers:
“Being the favorite means literally nothing. Every game you have to come in with a focus and attention to detail. And if you don’t do that, you can lose anybody in this league. We feel like we can beat anybody, but it’s that mentality that you have to go out there and be present every single day. Not worried about the past, because that’s irrelevant. Not worried about what the future holds, because you have no idea. It’s about us being in the present. So we don’t really care too much about being favorites or All Stars, All-NBA and all, because at the end of the day, none of that really matters. And none of that matters if you win. No one remembers the leading scorer or how many All Stars you had or how many NBA, All-NBA [honors you had]. They remember you being a champion, and that’s obviously the goal.”
On Brunson’s head size comments from Kelly Oubre:
“I feel like that was something that is very well documented. So I don’t think that was any shocker when he said that one.”
On Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride guarding Maxey:
“That was huge. Both of those guys obviously are blessed enough athletically to be able to keep up with him, use their physicality, use their length to their advantage. Maxey obviously is an offense unto himself, being able to break out and transition. You know, he’s tough, so they did an amazing job on him and have to continue it.”
"Give God the glory, can't take it for granted. We've been here and we've lost. We've been up, we've been down. This is an experienced group. We're locked in."
“I feel like the whole team was just locked in, honestly. Mikal started off on him really well and then I came in, but there were times where other guys were matched up with him, and all of our antennas are up just guarding him as a team.”
On staying locked in during the series:
“Man, give God the glory. Can’t take it for granted being here. We’ve been here. We’ve lost. We’ve been up. We’ve been down. This is an experienced group, so we just can’t take it for granted. We’re locked in.”
On targeting Embiid in pick-and-roll:
“A lot of it is just reading and reacting.”
"I'm mesmerized by the way the Knicks are playing…
They remind me of my team My team personified Team
I see similarities to this team… They like each other It manifests on the court…
“Most importantly, the ball was going in, and I got in a rhythm. My teammates did a good job with setting screens and getting me open.”
"Maybe guys were tired…hopefully we get a good rest. I mean, we've been playing every other day…so I don't even know. Get a good rest, go out and display the physicality we had in our last series."
“Not very often. There’s been one or two brief moments. I think in the playoff game in Orlando, he took some wild shots. But it’s better than him turning them down.”
On the Game 1 defensive struggles:
“We have to wash that one away and get back and provide a bunch more energy and physicality. I just felt like we were a full step slower defensively. We just seemed like we were chasing everything, didn’t guard the ball well enough, didn’t contest shooters well enough. They were obviously picking us apart, just moving a lot better than we were. I think it was a pretty tough night for everybody. I didn’t think we shot it particularly well, but I don’t think we generated good enough shots. We’re gonna have to figure out how to run more offense to get some of the same looks we got in the past series. Obviously it’s a new series. We gotta figure it out.”
"He has a big head. It's definitely tough to guard him with his head *flailing motion* doing all that."
“I just know he has a big head. He’s got the braids. He’s a very smart, tactical player, so he uses all that to his advantage. Hey, I’ll be there. He can whip me [with his braids] all he wants, but he’s not getting free like that.”
On bouncing back from the Game 1 loss:
“We kind of started the Boston series off like this, right? But we made adjustments. We got better each and every game, so I expect the same from this series. Only up from here.”
On the Game 1 loss links to the quick turnaround after Game 7 in Boston:
“It was a quick turnaround. We had to travel, didn’t have a full practice before the game. In my time, I remember in the playoffs, you always had at least a practice before the game. If we were able to get some rest, get some recovery, and then get a good practice in…we would’ve been a little bit more prepared. But we don’t make the schedule. We just have to go out there and play.”
— The Ryen Russillo Show (@TheRyenRussillo) May 6, 2026
VJ Edgecombe
On his rookie season extending into the second round of the playoffs:
“Obviously, this is a dream. I didn’t imagine it to happen so fast like this.”
On adjusting to guarding Brunson:
“He’s a great player, so he’s going to make adjustments. Now, it’s time for me to make adjustments on how I guard him. Just play hard, fight through, just try to make sure I don’t get hit by any screens. Just try my best to stay in front of him and make him make difficult shots.”
On embracing the unpredictability in playoffs:
“You live for surprises. It’s hard to set high expectations and think you are going to fulfill all your expectations. I didn’t set crazy high expectations for myself. I just wanted to play basketball. I’m glad I’m in the position I’m in.”
“If we lose by seven points, or 70 points, it doesn’t really matter. They won one game and we lost one game. We’re gonna make some adjustments and we’ll be ready for Game 2. Game 1 doesn’t carry over to Game 2.”
On the emotional toll of the Celtics series and the need for adjustments vs. New York:
“We can’t use the fatigue as an excuse. But it has been an emotional roller coaster. You go from a Game 7, you get one day off and then you’re right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover of us trying to get up and trying to get prepared for this next matchup. But we definitely should have come out and did a better job.”
On settling in after the Game 1 blowout loss:
“Just get settled in. Yeah, we had breakdowns but they also shot the (expletive) out of the ball. You know, they were hot. They came out hot, they came out on fire. But it’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments; see what we need to get better at. It’s the same as last series. It’s one. They don’t get any extra points for going up big [in Game 1]. We’ll be ready for Game 2.”
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 6, 2026
Aristotle “Telly” Hatzigeorgiou
On NYC restaurants banning Philly cheesesteaks:
“We just sat around, and all of a sudden we see the word ‘Philly’ there, and we’re like, ‘ugh!’ Teeth are grinding, and we didn’t want anything Philly that’s weak. We wanted strong NYC grit. Not a weak Philly cheesesteak.”
This has to be the greatest crash out I've seen from a Sixers fan yet 😂
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, answers a question during a press conference at Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Three days after the Celtics’ early playoff elimination, Brad Stevens sat down in front of the media for his longest press conference of the year, touching on a slew of questions ranging from the team’s offensive play style, reports that Jaylen Brown is unhappy with the organization, Jayson Tatum’s Game 7 sidelining, and much more.
Here’s the crux of what Brad Stevens had to say — and some of my instant reactions to his comments.
On Tracy McGrady’s recent comments about Jaylen Brown:
Tracy McGrady made headlines late Tuesday night when he shared on his podcast that Jaylen Brown is frustrated with the Boston Celtics.
“His frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to,” McGrady said. “There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston organization with JB.”
McGrady, a former NBA superstar, is a prominent member of the media and an NBC analyst. But he’s also long been a mentor and close friend of Brown’s, so his words carry more weight than most.
While he didn’t offer specifics, his comments raised eyebrows, particularly in that they came on the heels of a Jaylen Brown saying this was his favorite-ever Celtic season on a Twitch stream on the day following the team’s elimination.
As such, the first question Stevens fielded was about T-Mac’s comments regarding Brown’s grievances.
Brad Stevens on T-Mac's comments on Jaylen's frustrations with the organization:
"I talked to Jaylen, Monday… It was nothing but positive. He has not expressed those frustrations to me."
“I talked to Jaylen Monday a little bit after — real quickly, and it was nothing but positive,” Stevens said. “He has not expressed those frustrations to me. We’ve been here 10 years together. Obviously, I love JB, and everybody around here loves JB, and just like any of our other guys, as we get to the end of the season, I’ll be here, and my door is always open, and if anybody ever wants to come in and talk about it — and talk about their team, their place, whatever the case may be, I’m all ears. And that would be 1-16, not just Jaylen, not just Jayson, not just the guys that have been here. I think it’s really important to be available. So I certainly am, and none of that has been expressed to me.”
My reaction: Would Stevens air out private conversations of frustration from his star player? Probably not. So, while I was glad this question was asked, Stevens’ answer did not provide assurance that the organization and Brown are on good footing. I don’t have insight into Brown’s frustrations, but between the Twitch stream and T-Mac’s comments, there may be something there. I imagine we’ll learn more in the weeks to come.
On the Celtics’ first-round loss to the 76ers:
The Celtics blew a 3-1 lead for the first time in franchise history, but they were also just a few fourth-quarter shots away from advancing in Game 7.
How did Stevens reckon with that duality?
He took it upon himself to address the series loss before even taking any questions.
“I thought we really struggled to generate good looks against Philly,” he said. “I thought they deserved to win. I thought on the other end, they made it really hard on us, and really kind of felt in control in a lot of ways, especially as Embiid got his legs under him. I thought that probably one of the defining things that they did to us in games five through seven was they cleaned up the glass, which had been a real boost for us. Our first-shot offense wasn’t very good the whole series, but we really got a lot of good looks on second chances and off the glass, and I thought they did a really good job. So I think overall, obviously, we had chances to win, and I’m sure there’ll be specific questions about that, but I thought overall, Philly deserved to win, and played a great series and made it hard on us.”
My reaction: I was a little bit surprised at how candid Stevens was about the team’s first-round shortcomings — he clearly felt like Philadelphia was the better team, and that the Celtics didn’t just miss shots — they struggled to generate good looks. That’s a key difference from what Joe Mazzulla maintained after Game 7.
On the Celtics’ play-style and three-point-heavy offense:
Are the Celtics too reliant on three-point shooting? That’s been the million-dollar question for years now, and this year’s postseason performance re-surfaced those conversations. Stevens fielded at least four questions on the topic, and here’s what he had to say.
Do the Celtics shoot too many threes?
“I look at more of each shot individually, and my general feeling watching us play, in really each of the last two playoffs, in the second-round against New York, even against Orlando in the first round, was, we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” he said. “So, we got to figure out a way to do better in that. And I think that that’s again, 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. Everybody plays a role in that. But, at the end of that game, Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions, right? And so I thought the shots we took, with the exception of Jaylen’s top-of-the-key-three and the one where you get in the middle of the lane, and then Payton’s open shot, I thought they were really well defended. I thought we struggled to get to where we wanted to go on offense a lot of the series, but it was particularly in those last four games, when those four perimeter defenders who are all very good, had Embiid standing behind them.”
Asked about three-point shooting again, he double-downed:
“The biggest thing is: can we generate looks at the rim?” Stevens said. “Yeah, everybody wants to do that, and every one of us would prefer a dunk over that, over a three. Every single one of us. Those are hard to get, and we struggle to generate them, and so, yeah, we certainly shot some bad ones. I’m not telling you we didn’t. There’s no question about that. But I also thought we shot some really hard shots at the rim, really hard shots in the midrange too, and I don’t necessarily fault anyone for that, other than credit to Philly’s defense, and we’ve got to do a good job as we build out the roster to have more options.”
My reaction: In Brad Stevens’ eyes, this is not an issue of making or missing shots. He doesn’t believe the Celtics have been able to sufficiently generate good looks in their first-shot offense, and clearly said that’s been an issue in their last three playoff serieses. At the same time, it’s evident to me he feels like it’s a reflection of roster shortcomings: “We need to add to our team to do that.” This line of questioning, more than anything, made me feel like Stevens feels that the roster needs significant upgrades.
On Jayson Tatum coming back and then missing Game 7:
Jayson Tatum returned to the lineup 10 months after rupturing his Achilles tendon, was excellent to close the regular season, and was in the midst of a very good first-round series against the 76ers before he injured his knee and had to miss Game 7.
Stevens fielded multiple questions about the left knee stiffness that held him out of the biggest game of the year, providing context on what Tatum was dealing with.
“You probably could see it at the end of Game 6,” Stevens said. “We thought that it would dissipate and be okay the next day. He didn’t do very much on Friday, just rested, and then came in on Saturday morning and tried to do a workout. I watched it, and [he] clearly didn’t feel right. I think it’s not like a long, long-term concern, but it certainly didn’t look right when he was working out, and didn’t feel right. So, it made sense to be smart about that. The obvious answer is, anytime you’re coming back from an injury like he was coming from, there’s a tendency to overcompensate, and there’s probably a little bit of that there.”
Brad Stevens on Jayson Tatum missing Game 7:
“He came in on Saturday morning and tried to do a workout. I watched it, and it clearly didn't feel right. I think it’s not a long long term conern.” –@CLNSMedia | Q: @RealBobManningpic.twitter.com/KmQWr4b3HC
He was also asked about Tatum’s heavy minutes in the weeks leading up to Game 7, and about whether that could have contributed to his sidelining.
“We did try to ramp him up for more playoff load and playoff minutes towards the end of the regular season, including a couple of the games there late where we kept him in, even though the games weren’t necessarily close, just to get his minutes up,” he said. “And that’s a part of this kind of load management era that we have a lot of discussions about, because I think Phil Coles and his group do a great job. And a big part of that is they say you have to be ready to play those kinds of meaningful minutes in those kinds of meaningful moments. Do we think that that had an impact on his knee stiffness and the injury in Game 6? Hard to tell, but you can’t cross it off. So we have to look at that. I know that they will, but I feel really comfortable that they worked their butts off to try to get everybody on the court, and they did an amazing job with JT, and he did an amazing job all year, and to be able to play a lot if needed.”
My reaction: This was always a risk, and it’s unfortunate that Tatum had to miss the biggest game of the year. But, I don’t think he or the team has any regrets about the way his return-to-play was handled, and ultimately, there was no real harm done: Tatum did not get seriously hurt, proved to himself he’s still the guy he was before the injury, and should be good to go and fully rested to begin next season.
On Joe Mazzulla’s future with the Celtics:
Stevens was asked about the job that Joe Mazzulla has done over the past four years and what his future holds.
“First of all, I know how hard that job is, and I know all that goes into it,” he said. “And I know he and his staff are putting everything they can into it. And when I say that we struggle to get by — I think that’s, again, that’s — we need to add to our team. So, I think our coaching staff, like all of us, can continue to improve and get better. That said, I think they’re very good. And we need to continue to provide them the resources to grow, and to get better, and to continue to be the best that we can be. I don’t think we can ignore, and certainly, again, can’t ignore anything, the good and the bad. But there was a lot of growth this year, and I thought that there [were] a lot of things that we can build off of, even though that ending was disappointing.”
My reaction: I don’t think Joe Mazzulla is on the immediate hot seat, and Stevens said multiple times that the coaching staff did a good job. That being said, this was not a ringing, resounding endorsement (he could have gone further in discussing Joe’s coaching tenure positively), and it’s clear that Stevens expects Mazzulla — like everyone — will get better.
The Eastern Conference was unpredictable during the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs thanks to three seven-games series and the upset loss of the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics.
The conference’s frenzied first round also changed FanDuel’s market for 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Superstar Celtics like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were previously among the favorites for the media-voted award before their untimely first-round dismissal.
The wide-open race in the East, coupled with Boston’s elimination, means three players are ahead of the pack for the Larry Bird Award. New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (+160) is the current favorite after averaging just over 26 points per game in the first round against Atlanta. Continuing a string of strong postseason runs, Brunson’s consistency and high usage gives him considerable traction with the Knicks as the conference’s new favorites.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham slightly trails Brunson on the heels of a terrific first round against Orlando. With Detroit trailing 3-1 in the series, Cunningham took over and averaged 36.3 points per game in the final three games of the series — helping the Pistons recapture their confidence in the process. Cunningham now sits at +200, behind only Brunson in the Eastern Conference.
Donovan Mitchell (+600) from the Cleveland Cavaliers sits third in the market for Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Although Cleveland moved past Toronto in the first round, the Raptors made Mitchell work and held him to 23.1 points per game and 43 percent shooting after Mitchell put up 27.9 points on 48 percent shooting in the regular season. Cunningham and Mitchell will battle in the second round for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals with the winner likely gaining a significant market boost in the process.
After a noticeable decline in the odds, the secondary list of contenders is still filled with All-Stars capable of taking over a playoff series. Karl-Anthony Towns (+1200) played improved defense for the Knicks while closing out the Hawks. But Towns was third in scoring for the Atlanta series behind Brunson and guard OG Anunoby — hurting Towns’ potential case for a series MVP award.
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid (+1700) must stay healthy and eliminate the No. 2 seed Knicks in the second round to even make the Eastern Conference Finals. But a healthy Embiid is still a force after averaging 29 points per game in four games against Boston.
Similar to Embiid’s candidacy, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (+3000) needs to first get past New York in the second round to even garner serious ECF MVP consideration. But if Maxey’s stellar play against Boston is any indication, the high-scoring guard is capable of putting up points in bunches after averaging just under 27 points per game in the series.
A few other notable names to consider for Eastern Conference Finals MVP includes Knicks two-way threat OG Anunoby (+3300), Cavaliers veteran guard James Harden (+3500), and Cleveland big man Evan Mobley (+5500).
COVERS INTEL: LeBron James still scored 27 points despite his Game 1 usage plummeting to 22.1%. That’s down from 30.9% in Round 1. He shot just 17 FGAs on Tuesday after putting up 20+ attempts in four of the six games vs. Houston. Expect more activity from James in Game 2.
Timberwolves
Spurs
