New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks). Mosley has long been believed to be a possible candidate if he became available, but it's unclear as of yet if he'll be added to the list.
Rondo is an interesting name. The four-time All-Star point guard has been out of the league for four seasons and is on the radar of a number of general managers, but is he ready for that leap? It has long been expected in league circles that the Magic's Mosley would move to the front of the line in New Orleans if Orlando moved on from him, which it did. Ham was a former head coach with the Lakers, and his name has come up as a possibility in Orlando’s coaching search.
While New Orleans is narrowing down the field, Portland continues to cast a very wide net, reports Amick.
As league sources said on Monday, the Trail Blazers have cast a net so wide that the list of candidates could be almost 20 coaches long and, in the end, will consist of names procured by both Dundon and general manager Joe Cronin. What's more, league sources say, there is no clear messaging as of yet about a possible timeline on the hiring.
While Tiago Splitter did a good job taking over a team a couple of days into the season (after the arrest of Chauncy Billups on alleged gambling charges) and leading the Trail Blazers to a surprise playoff berth, league sources told NBC Sports he does not appear to be a favorite of new owner Tom Dundon, so the door is wide open. Then there is the lingering money question: Rumors circulated that Dundon was trying to get a coach to take the job for $1.5 million or less — mid-major college coach money — the team has pushed back hard on that. Still, the chatter around the league is that Portland is trying to hire on the cheap, whatever that final number is. As Amick notes, it is thought that the least any coach in the league is making is at least $2 million, in Sacramento's Doug Christie (who is keeping his job).
It appears it could be a while before Portland has a coach.
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LeBron James defied all odds again.
In the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, King James led a Luka Dončić-less Los Angeles Lakers to a surprising six-game series win over the Houston Rockets.
Over the course of the series, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. After closing out, he told NBA on ESPN correspondents “the mission has always stayed the same throughout my career and that’s to go out there and try to dominate.”
Next up, King James and co. will attempt to dominate once again against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s No. 1 seeded, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since they don’t have home court advantage this time around, their three hypothetical games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena are scheduled to take place:
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for each and every contest in LA.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one game at the Crypto.com Arena was $250 including fees on SeatGeek.
Prices start at $146 including fees for games at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center.
While pricey, don’t underestimate just how much you can help the Lakers at home.
Over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, the Thunder beat Los Angeles in all four of their meetings and won by an average of 29.3 points (!) per game.
According to NBA.com, that should come with a disclaimer because “LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played in the same game just once and were minus-16 in 17.9 minutes.”
Sources told The California Post that “Dončić is expected to miss the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma.”
Will he be back for Games 3 and 4?
While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Conference Semifinals series below.
Lakers playoff home game ticket prices
A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Lakers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 9
$292(fees included)
Game 4 Monday, May 11
$250(fees included)
Game 6 Saturday, May 16
$300(fees included)
Thunder playoff home game ticket prices
All Thunder playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Thunder home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Tuesday, May 5
$146(fees included)
Game 2 Thursday, May 7
$168(fees included)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 13
$205(fees included)
Game 7 Monday, May 18
$323(fees included)
How to watch the Lakers and Thunder on TV
Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC and NBA TV.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out thus far?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick's first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt's secret instagram account '
There are two versions of Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt on Instagram.
There’s the one you know. The verified, polished account with a half-a-million followers.
Like most NBA players on social media, it features highlights of dunks, tunnel fits, and postgame smiles with teammates. It’s the one the public expects to see.
Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt’s secret instagram account ‘vando_vault’ is filled with hilarious memes, funny videos, and locker room moments featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and teammates.
And then there’s the other one.
The one that feels like you just got added to the team group chat.
Lurking beneath the algorithm’s surface lives “vando_vault.” Vanderbilt’s not-so-secret second account that’s an unfiltered scrapbook of locker room life, memes, hilarious videos, and screenshots that tell the story within the story.
Scroll through the photos in each of the posts below long enough and you’ll find a version of Luka Doncic you’ve never seen before. The one that lives up to the nickname “The Don.”
There’s Deandre Ayton’s hilarious expressions. Austin Reaves in cornrows and his budding bromance with Doncic. There’s trolling of Kevin Durant and Stephen A. Smith. Even Luke Kennard isn’t safe from the occasional internet meme.
Look deeper and you’ll find handwritten motivation notes. AI videos of Doncic dancing, and even funny screenshots of LeBron James. It’s weird. It’s lighthearted. It’s perfect.
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Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team's shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds.
Key Takeaways
Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of the series.
The Spurs are still a comfortable second place in odds to win the NBA Finals.
Teams that go up 1-0 in a playoff series end up winning more than 77% of the time.
FanDuel sportsbook opened with the Spurs, the West's second-place finishers, at -3,000 amid uncertainty over Edwards' future. The Timberwolves' star guard sustained a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets and was given a two-to-six-week return timeline.
Rumors swirled that there was a chance Edwards could be ready for Game 1, so FanDuel dropped San Antonio to -2,200 on Sunday, a day before the series opener. Oddsmakers pivoted again when it was announced Monday that Edwards was likely to play in Game 1. The Spurs were knocked down to -600, while Minnesota shortened to +450.
The T-Wolves still had a ton of work to do in Game 1. They entered as 9.5-point underdogs without Donte DiVinceno and Ayo Dosunmu against a Spurs team that had enjoyed several extra days of rest and was at home, where it went 32-8 in the regular season.
Despite the Spurs’ advantages, the T-Wolves emerged with a two-point victory as Julian Champagnie’s would-be game-winning 3-pointer clanked off the rim at the buzzer. Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards had 18 points (11 in the fourth quarter) in 25 minutes off the bench.
Victor Wembanyama set an all-time playoff record with 12 blocks to go with his 15 rebounds, but he only scored 11 points on 29.4% shooting.
FanDuel now has the Spurs at -186 (65% implied chance) and the Timberwolves at +156 (39% chance) to win the series. The Spurs are -9.5 favorites again for Game 2.
NBA Finals odds picture
The Timberwolves’ early advantage hasn’t caused a massive change in the championship picture.
The Spurs still find themselves second in NBA championship odds at +470, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (-170). However, they are down from about +340, where they were before their Game 1 loss.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves are sixth of the eight remaining teams in title odds at +3,000. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+7,000) have longer odds.
BetMGM insights shared with Covers on Monday revealed that the Spurs led all remaining teams in tickets (10.9%) and were second in money wagered (16.8%) in the NBA Finals futures market. The Timberwolves were sixth in tickets (5.5%) and handle (5.2%).
Bettors also loved the Spurs to win the Western Conference. They drew 21.3% of bets and 23.3% of the pot, which ranked first and second, repectively, in the West.
The Timberwolves were fourth in wagers (12.6%) and handle (9.5%) of the eight remaining teams.
History favors underdogs
While the Spurs are still favored to win their second-round series, they will have to overcome a strong historical precedent.
Teams that take a 1-0 series lead have won 700 of 901 series (77.1%), according to Land of Basketball. Stripping away all other data points, that would suggest the Timberwolves have -337 odds to win the series, and the Spurs should be +337 (assuming no vig).
Minneosta now has a combined regular-season and playoff record of 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams will meet for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Added a +800 SGP + who will win prediction.
The Philadelphia 76ers are down 1-0 to the New York Knicks and now must try to even the series without Joel Embiid.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with five boards in the blowout defeat, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him to attack the glass for the undersized Sixers.
Knicks: The Game 1 result was a perfect storm for Philadelphia. The 76ers were still sweating from a Game 7 in Boston a day prior while the Knicks just couldn’t miss. New York won’t shoot as well in Game 2 but is still in control as long as Joel Embiid is dragging himself around on defense. The Knicks have too many offensive options and this spread says the Knicks take a 2-0 lead to Philly.
76ers vs Knicks best bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 5.5 rebounds (+100)
The New York Knicks’ high-action drags Philly's centers away from the paint on defense, and all of them lack mobility, preventing them from crashing the glass.
Oubre will often be the closest defender to the rim, and he’s active enough to contest for rebounds. He hauled in five boards on eight potential chances in just 27 minutes in Game 1.
So far in the postseason, Oubre is averaging 5.9 rebounds on 10.0 chances. New York’s shooting will regress in Game 2, leaving more rebounding opportunities, and Oubre’s projections sit at 6+ boards.
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
76ers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t pick up the pace in Game 1. The Knicks’ hot shooting forced them to start too many possessions from the inbounds.
Philadelphia’s best plan of attack is to avoid the half-court defense by fueling fastbreaks and transition. New York won’t shoot as well as it did in the opener, but its offense is a tough solve for Philly.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been more of a playmaker for the Knicks in the playoffs. But with the 76ers missing Embiid, KAT could see smaller checks and more space from the top of the key.
He’ll either attack inside or let it fly from mid-range. Projections are as high as 22 points for Game 2.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Over 215
Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big man about Towns
Towns has been awesome for New York so far in the postseason, and with Embiid a no-go tonight, KAT has an edge. He’s been a catalyst for playmaking (averaging six assists), and Game 2 projections call for as many as 22 points with a lean toward two triples.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Over 215
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes
76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: 76ers +7 | Knicks -7
Moneyline: 76ers +225 | Knicks -275
Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215
76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Knicks make good on big spreads at home. New York is 24-4 SU and 21-7 ATS (75%) when laying more than five points at Madison Square Garden, including 3-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off
7 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
76ers vs Knicks latest injuries
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DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Tobias Harris #12, Jalen Duren #0 and Duncan Robinson #55 help up Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you love rock-em-sock-em wars, the last Detroit Pistons series was for you. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not as physical as the Orlando Magic. We may not get a Hagler-Hearns collision in Round 2, but Cleveland presents other challenges.
Cade Cunningham had his playoff coming-out party against the Magic. He will be the best player in this series too, and if his jumper continues to fall, he could play even better. There’s no doubt Jalen Duren wants to have a bounce-back series, and there are signs that he could.
JB Bickerstaff goes head-to-head with his former team. Of course, Cleveland has different schemes and players, but Bickerstaff should know Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley’s tendencies like the back of his hand.
Game vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock/NBC
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)
Analysis
The Cavaliers are coming off a grueling 7-game series with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto had the fifth-ranked defense in the regular season. They and Detroit play a similar brand of fly-around defense.
Detroit is the superior rim-protecting team and has better perimeter defenders. We saw how much trouble Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead gave the Cavs backcourt.
It’s not far-fetched to assume Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, and the other stout perimeter defenders can make it tough for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Detroit can make it tough, but that is still a lot of firepower. Harden or Mitchell are capable of getting it going after slow starts, so the attention on them cannot waver.
Mitchell in particular is due for a good series. He’s risen in the playoffs historically (27.8 PPG, 7th all-time), but he also has some stinkers. He’s a lot to handle when the shotmaking gets going, but if anybody can make him struggle in back-to-back series, it is Ausar.
Continuing to stay out of foul trouble will be major for the future Defensive Player of the Year. Ausar only had a 2.3 foul percentage (91 percentile) against Orlando compared to 7.4 (3rd percentile) against the Knicks last year. He is the defense-to-offense king, and staying out of foul trouble keeps him on the floor. They’ll need him for closer to 35 minutes per game. He may take some Harden minutes, and Harden is a historic foul drawer.
Harden will always have a dogged defender on his bumper. He may not have the burst he once had, but he is still a PnR maestro and a laser shooter. Harden makes the game easier for their bigs and role players. He can make every pass in the book, and the Cavalier shooters relish sharing the floor with him. Detroit cannot sag off this point guard as they did with Jalen Suggs.
Cleveland’s bigs were a bit more impressive than the guards in some pockets of the last series. Jarrett Allen had a double-double in the third quarter alone in Game 7. Mobley approached the series with more scoring aggression, and his long-range shot was falling (39% on 3.3 3PA).
It’s on Isaiah Stewart and Duren to take away their basketball spirit. We have seen Allen say the playoff lights were too bright. Mobley has disappeared in a series before. Granted Mobley was younger, but these Pistons are certainly the best paint-defense Allen and Mobley have seen on this stage. Take them away and force the guards to create vs a set defense.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland’s frontcourt is lengthier than Orlando’s, but they don’t play with the same physicality. Cleveland has not shown that they have crisp enough rotations to tag and grab Duren on every roll as Orlando did.
Duren may or may not be his regular-season self in this matchup, but Cleveland is more favorable than Orlando. There are two 7-footers in Cleveland, but maybe physicality can mitigate the height difference a bit. The PnR with Cade may be there a bit more since there is no Suggs flying around causing chaos.
Cade was the big man on campus last series. Orlando has more premier perimeter defenders than Cleveland. The Cavs’ go-to stoppers are Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. Two very good defenders, but Cade has seen every type of coverage at this point and is a man on a mission. He is going to get his and be him in this matchup.
Role players
Daniss Jenkins found some much-needed rhythm in Game 7. Carry some of that over because Detroit’s offense is more lethal when he makes open shots. Duncan Robinson had highs and lows, but his shooting will be needed as Cleveland has snipers.
Sam Merrill is one of the best pure shooters in the series. He is a mover that the Pistons chasers cannot leave. Tyson only shot 35 percent from 3 vs Toronto, but he is not a role player who you dare to shoot either.
Cleveland has the shooting advantage all around. 42 percent of their playoff shots have been 3s compared to 33 percent for Detroit. Cleveland’s backcourt has off-the-bounce juice, and other role players like Max Strus hit shots. Detroit has a bit more self-creation from its role players.
Tobias Harris was cooking the Magic. He made pivotal shots and was a safety blanket for Detroit’s offense. Can he average over 20 points again? That is asking a lot, but if Duren and Jenkins are better, Detroit won’t be so dependent on its 15-year veteran. Harris will still be a bailout option and may have a favorable matchup if Cleveland elects to stick Mobley on Ausar so Mobley can roam.
Dennis Schröder is one of Cleveland’s self-creating role players Pistons fans know very well. He can be impactful if Kenny Atkinson presses that button. He only played about 14 minutes a game against Toronto, so it will be interesting to see how much run he gets against a team he helped in the offs last year.
Cleveland has the better offense, more star power, but questionable basketball character. Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to do even better than Toronto and an MVP-caliber first option (Barnes was amazing, but Cade is a different animal).
Detroit should view the Cavs as punkable. Bickerstaff had a front row seat to those Cavs postseason flameouts. He knows how and why his former players shrank.
The game plan devised will note every single micro detail on guys like Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. Film already shows you players’ tendencies, but being with players for over two years reveals tendencies that film can’t show.
The Magic started strong, punching Detroit in the nose in Game 1. The Pistons cannot let that happen again against a team with more firepower. Set the tone early and hold down homecourt. You won 60 games for a reason.
As much as a wake-up call, Cade Cunningham needed to get his lungs back. A collapsed lung is obviously nothing to take lightly, and missing three weeks at the end of the regular season certainly cost Cunningham some cardiovascular health.
But as any endurance athlete would tell you, their lungs can get back into shape after only a week or two of work following some inactivity. It is the blessing of all the preceding training.
Cunningham opened the series against the Magic shooting an ugly 42.4% from the field and 28.6% from deep through four games. No wonder the Detroit Pistons trailed 3-1 in that series.
Cunningham closed the series shooting 54.1% from the field and 11-for-18 (61.1%) from deep in the final three games. No wonder the Pistons swept those games. Cunningham averaged 36.3 points in those three games, desperation the mother of innovation, but also boosted by sheer health.
With his lungs back, don’t bet against Cunningham anytime soon.
Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
+105 at bet365
For a veteran who averaged 8.5 rebounds this season and 9.2 across his career, this is a modest rebounding prop, right? Yet, Jarrett Allen fell short of this number in five of the seven games the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to get by the Raptors.
And now Allen faces a superior rebounding team, one that emphasizes the offensive glass, one that is significantly bigger than Toronto.
Jalen Duren should make Allen’s life miserable in this series, a harsh truth for Cleveland’s future beyond this month.
Game 1 Prop #3: Tobias Harris Over 17.5 points
+102 at bet365
Not to try to give the Magic more credit than they are due, but their injured roster most of the season obscured their defensive possibilities. It was clear once it was healthy in April, that was a defense to worry about.
Cleveland’s defense is not. From the All-Star Break to the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers’ defensive rating sat at No. 18 in the NBA. None of the 12 teams behind the Cavs made the playoffs proper.
Even the shorthanded Magic sat at No. 12 in that stretch.
Tobias Harris cleared this prop in the last five games of the series against Orlando. Even in the first two, he scored 17 and 16 points. He should, quite frankly, feast against a lackluster defense like Cleveland’s.
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Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic's head coaching search. Who is going to step into Jamahl Mosley's shoes and get this team both out of the play-in and the first round? What are the Magic looking for in their next coach? A creative offensive mind? Playoff experience? Weltman wouldn't be pinned down when talking to reporters (quote via Jason Beede at the Orlando Sentinel).
"I don't think we look for a particular trait or a quality. Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone that kind of looks at our team in the way that we feel can help move us forward. Obviously someone who understands where we are on our timeline, that we've kind of tried to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don't have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this sort of box."
A few names have surfaced in league circles, though this is all speculation, as Weltman and company have not formally begun interviews.
Here's a quick look at some of the top candidates.
Billy Donovan
This is the name on everyone's lips in league chatter, the guy who seems the best fit for both sides. Donovan left Chicago looking for something different and a team playing in meaningful games, and the Magic are that (a team that was up 3-1 in the first round on Detroit but could not close the door). Donovan also is well-liked by players (which matters after the issues between Mosley and Paolo Banchero), and he got the most out of limited rosters he was handed in Chicago.
There is a bit of a complicated history between Donovan and the Magic. Back in 2007, Donovan did not have a contract extension at the University of Florida, where he had won two national titles, and he was eyeing the NBA. Donovan agreed to leave and become the Magic's new head coach, and on June 1st he signed his contract and was introduced to the media as the guy about to turn things around in Orlando. Then he got cold feet, or realized this was not a situation he liked, or something happened and he asked out. Six days later, the Magic released Donovan from his contract, and he returned to Florida. That's almost 20 years ago and everything is different now, that incident shouldn't impact this one, but it hangs out there.
Tom Thibodeau
The former Bulls/Timberwolves/Knicks head coach wants back in the game and Orlando may be interested, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
League sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. The Magic's defense fell off sharply last season, Thibodeau would turn that around. He's another coach who tends to get the most out of his teams, although his offense has been best when heavy with isolations/pick-and-rolls for a star guard (Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson). Thibodeau's short rotations and heavy minutes for starters can wear down key players, and the Magic just went through an injury-filled season.
Darvin Ham
The former Lakers' head coach and longtime Bucks assistant has been linked more to New Orleans, but he is a name coming up for every head coaching job now, it seems.
Ham did not do as bad a job as Lakers fans would have you believe. He was 90-74 (.549 winning percentage) in the regular season, and his teams made the playoffs both years, reaching the Western Conference Finals one year, but were always eliminated by Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. That said, Ham the head coach was not very flexible with systems and could get stuck in a rut, trusted certain players even when it was clear it was not working, and his playoff adjustments were lacking and often fell back on "play harder." Is he, like many coaches, better the second time around, having learned some lessons?
Dusty May
You can strike this off the board. Marc Stein at The Stein Line reported that "sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available."
Except, coming off a national championship with the Wolverines, nobody thinks May is leaving Ann Arbor. If, for some reason he did decide to jump to the NBA now, May would have interest from Portland, Chicago and New Orleans as well, there is no assurance he would head to Orlando. Still, it's just far, far more likely he isn't going anywhere.
Other names to watch
• James Borrego. He was the interim coach in New Orleans much of this past season and has done a good job considering the roster and injuries. However, Pelicans' management is looking more outside the organization. He's a very creative offensive mind.
• Terry Stotts. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach got a lot out of the Blazers in the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum era. He's spent the past two seasons on Steve Kerr's bench with the Warriors.
• Sam Cassell. The popular former player has been an assistant coach for years around the league and has been at the front of the "he should get a head coaching job" line for years. Could the Magic give him the chance?
“I won’t use that as an excuse, but that was an emotional roller coaster (last series),” Paul George said. “One day off and then right back into another matchup. I think there was some carryover with us trying to get up and get prepared for this matchup. But we should’ve come out and done a better job.”
New York’s offense never endured a drought. The Knicks finished the night at 63.1 percent from the floor and 51.4 percent from three-point range. Both Joel Embiid (14 points on 3-for-11 shooting) and Tyrese Maxey (13 points on 3-for-9 shooting) were far less productive than usual.
“We just were kind of stuck in mud at both ends and they put it on us,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “They had a great shooting night and we didn’t guard well enough. They put it on us.”
Nurse was not at the Sixers’ film session Tuesday morning because he was dealing with a personal matter, a team official said. The Inquirer and The Athletic reported that Nurse was away to attend the funeral services of his brother, Steve Nurse, in Iowa. Of course, such things are bigger than a basketball series.
Nurse was expected to rejoin the Sixers later Tuesday, according to The Inquirer. Game 2 is Wednesday night and the Sixers don’t sound uncertain about being capable of tying up the series.
“Confident group,” Kelly Oubre Jr. said Tuesday. “We don’t feel too high or too low. I think that we kind of stay even-keeled. We also know in the back of our heads that we’re always capable of doing better and doing more. We owe it to the city of Philadelphia and to our families to just go out there and put on a better display of basketball.’
While Oubre and the Sixers generally highlighted the problems with their own play in Game 1, Jalen Brunson’s name also popped up plenty.
Brunson torched the Sixers for 35 points, going 12 for 18 from the field and 8 for 8 at the foul line. When Embiid was asked postgame about his own foul drawing in Game 1, he began his response with Brunson.
“You’ve got to ask Jalen Brunson,” Embiid said. “I don’t think I got to the free throw line as much as I wanted.
“But that’s not the reason we lost. I think defense was the biggest reason. We just weren’t good enough or physical enough. All their guys were too comfortable. I want to focus on what we could’ve done better on defense.”
And when Oubre fielded a question Tuesday about Brunson being the “head of the snake” for the Knicks’ offense, his reply was … quotable.
“He has a big head,” Oubre said. “It’s definitely tough to guard him with his head doing all that.”
Oubre imitated Brunson bobbing his head around in an effort to draw fouls and create favorable contact.
“He’s a great player,” Oubre continued. “We’ve played against him plenty of times and we have to make the adjustments that we saw on film. Kudos to him. … They did what they had to do at home and it’s up to us to respond.”
None of the Sixers’ opinions on Brunson’s style of play will be relevant Wednesday night.
“They’re a really physical team and they’re good,” Edgecombe said Tuesday. “If we lack physicality and effort, the score’s going to be like that.”
George expects the series to begin in earnest with Game 2.
“Just get settled in,” he said. “Yeah, we had breakdowns tonight, but they also shot the s— out of the ball. … They came out on fire, but it’s a game of adjustments. We’ll make adjustments.
“It’s the same as last series. They don’t get any extra points (in the series) for going up big tonight.”
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 4: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game One 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Getting it right starts with getting it wrong. It’s true in math, mental health and Madison Square Garden, where last night the New York Knicks took a 1-0 series lead over Philadelphia with a 137-98 shellacking of the 76ers.
Through all the fits and false starts of this season, there were glimpses. Early on the Knicks were an offensive dynamo but struggled to get stops. Then there were periods of defensive dominance. Early in December, they won nine of 10 games; two weeks later, they dropped nine of 11, followed by an eight-game winning streak. All the while, the hares heard the hype. Cleveland got Harden! Look at Boston not even need Tatum! Detroit! Detroit! Detroit!
All the while, the tortoise kept on keeping on. Over the last four games, the tortoise has mutated into the Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Raphael were Games 4-6 versus Atlanta. Last night the Knicks were Donatello: brilliant, focused, and carrying a big stick.
Jalen Brunson reminded everyone with short-term memory loss who’s the best player in the series East. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to look right at home playing point center. Mikal Bridges is playing like he’s worth 10 first-round picks. OG Anunoby is shooting a playoff-record 99% from the field while locking down anyone within reach. Josh Hart is doing 99% of all the things, and doing them well.
What’s different about these Knicks — than any Knick team I’ve seen in my life — is their depth. Miles McBride looks more in-rhythm. Mitchell Robinson looks springy. Ariel Hukporti was terrific backing up KAT and Mitch, who both committed four fouls. Every Knick played and scored besides Jeremy Sochan. Everyone played like they knew their role and it was the role they were born to play.
Contrast that with the opposition. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined to shoot 11-of-30. The Sixers were -24 in the 3-point battle. New York had 34 assists to 15 turnovers; Philadelphia had 15 dimes and 19 oopsies. Their bench was outscored by 12. Their starters were outscored by 27. And those are just what the numbers say.
The eye test wasn’t any better, which doesn’t bode well for the Sixers, who’ve mostly stuck with a six-man rotation to get this far. Quentin Grimes had a pissiness about him that suggests he still hasn’t gotten over the end of his time as a Knick, when he complained, “It feels like if I don’t hit the shot, I’m coming out. Every shot I shoot probably weighs like 100 pounds if I don’t make it.” Grimes missed three of his four looks last night but did get 24 minutes of run, so hopefully he’s happy.
At least Grimes mostly kept his issues internal. In just four minutes of playing time, Adem Bona committed five fouls (I think all offensive) and three turnovers, and “committed” is putting it gently. He played like the Kool-Aid man high on bath salts, running through every Knick he could. The Knicks, similar to Game 6 in Atlanta, didn’t let up, even with the game decided by the third quarter. There’s a difference between aggression and anarchy.
Quoth LadyKnick: “It is really surreal . . . similar to the ‘90s Knicks, but more on [offense].” This team really is something special. I know, I know, they’re just “quirky” enough to where you can see them losing Game 2. But they’re also doing things we haven’t seen from any Knick team in the past, or any team, period. Sometimes a win is just a win, a 1-0 lead, the home team handling its business. Sometimes it’s something more.
In 1969 the Knicks hadn’t won a playoff series in 16 years. They opened their postseason against the league’s best team that year, the Baltimore Bullets. The Bullets had never had any success, but landing Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld in consecutive glowed them up from rags to riches. The Knicks won Game 1 in Baltimore impressively, then went on to sweep them. It was a statement win, the birth of the Golden Age in club history.
In 1992 the Knicks were a year removed from a sub-.500 record and an embarrassing first-round sweep. They faced the Pistons in the opening round, a Pistons team that had owned the East the prior five years, winning 15 of 18 series. The Knicks won Game 1 by 34, then went on to win a dogfight. It was a statement win, the birth of the Silver Age in Knick history.
What does last night mean? Depends on what happens tomorrow. If the Knicks slip, the Sixers will take the split as “mission accomplished,” and the Knicks will face two games in Philly MSG West. If they win? Then the joyride continues, and hopefully the surreal never stops.
FIBA Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican basketball legend José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz has passed away at the age of 62. Ortiz was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Puerto Rican basketball history. He had been battling colorectal cancer since 2023, according to FIBA.
Throughout his career, Ortiz played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His performance earned him the Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 1987. That same year, he made history as the first Puerto Rican player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, going 15th overall to the Utah Jazz. Ortiz went on to play two seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds over 64 games.
Following his time in the NBA, Ortiz played professional basketball in Europe, with teams in Spain and Greece, before returning to Puerto Rico to continue his career.
Hoy Puerto Rico pierde más que un atleta. Pierde una leyenda.
Gracias por tantas alegrías y por representar nuestra bandera con orgullo.
Descansa en paz, José “Piculín” Ortiz Rijos. 🕊️ Nuestro “Concord”.
Ortiz was a pillar of the Puerto Rican National Team, representing his country in four Olympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, and 2004) and competing in numerous FIBA World Championships and international tournaments. On August 30, 2019, Ortiz’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring a career spanning two decades.
“Today Puerto Rico loses more than an athlete, it loses a legend,” Puerto Rico’s Basketball Federation told FIBA. “Thank you for all the joys, for representing our flag with pride and for taking the name of our island to the highest. Rest in peace, José “Piculin” Ortiz Rijos. Your legacy will live on every court, with every fan and with every generation that you inspire.”
Sep 30, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors vice chairman and team president Masai Ujiri talks to the media during media day at Scotiabank Area. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world on Monday morning by hiring veteran executive Masai Ujiri as their new President of Basketball Operations and Alternate Governor. Ujiri enjoyed largely successful stints as the top decision maker with the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors throughout the 2010s, winning both an Executive of the Year award and an NBA title during that time. He was let go by the Raptors in June of 2025.
Though Ujiri’s track record through 2019 is virtually bulletproof, the last few years of his Toronto tenure were tumultuous to say the least. After winning the 2019 title, the Raptors became imprisoned in mediocrity from 2020 to 2023 before finally embarking on a long-overdue rebuild. According to reporting around the organization, this was in large part due to a mandate from ownership group Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Chairman Ed Rogers had no interest in a rebuild so soon after winning the title, and Ujiri was prevented from hitting the reset button at an ideal time.
But even factoring in the troublesome Toronto ownership piece, Ujiri’s final six years in Toronto can’t be described as anything less than a failure. Is this guy cooked? Has the game passed him by? OR was Ujiri fed up with Toronto ownership, mentally checked out during the final years of his tenure, and desperate for a break and change of scenery? With these questions in mind, let’s take a hard look at all the major moves Ujiri made after winning the 2019 title. Through the good, the bad, and the neutral, we might be able to discern whether Ujiri can rediscover his fastball and build a winner around Cooper Flagg.
The Good
June 2021- Toronto selects Scottie Barnes fourth overall in the NBA Draft
This is by far the best move of Ujiri’s post-title tenure. Barnes has blossomed into a superstar for the Raptors, a top-15 player worth building a franchise around. And while it may seem like giving Ujiri credit for hitting on the fourth overall pick is a bit generous, Barnes wasn’t the consensus best player available when Toronto made their selection. After Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley were off the board, many assumed the Raptors would take Jalen Suggs with their pick. Others argued for guys like Jonathan Kuminga or Franz Wagner. At the time of the draft, The Ringer, The Athletic, and SB Nation had Barnes ranked fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, on their big boards. This wasn’t a no-brainer pick at fourth overall, and Ujiri nailed it.
August 2021- Toronto signs & trades Kyle Lowry to Miami for Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic
You could argue that Toronto should have traded Lowry a year earlier, but Ujiri did well to avoid paying him a three-year mega contract while getting something in a sign-and-trade. Lowry was a franchise legend and had played an instrumental part in delivering their first title, so he had a lot of say in whether he stayed or went. When it became clear that his time as a Raptor was over, Ujiri worked with his preferred destination to facilitate a deal. And though Dragic infamously did not work out, Achiuwa did enough to establish himself as a rotation player in the league. Ujiri dodged a bullet by not paying Lowry, who declined dramatically in Miami. This should have launched the rebuild in earnest, but OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam were too young to trade and too good to bottom out.
June 2024- Toronto acquires Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Sasha Vezenkov, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick from Sacramento for Jalen McDaniels
If you want to fleece someone, call the Sacramento Kings. This return was highway robbery for Jalen McDaniels, a player not to be confused with his much more talented brother. Sacramento made this trade to duck the luxury tax, and Ujiri smartly preyed on their desperation, snagging a good role player in Mitchell and a rookie flyer in Shead. The latter’s defensive prowess should allow him to maintain a rotation role in Toronto for a long time. This was a nice bit of business from Ujiri that went under the radar when it happened.
February 2025- Toronto acquires Brandon Ingram from New Orleans for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 1st round draft pick (from Indiana), and a 2031 2nd round draft pick
The last major deal of Ujiri’s Raptors stint was a blockbuster. And though it may be a controversial take, I think this was a good deal from a process and value standpoint. Ingram’s value was depressed at the time, and Ujiri saw an opportunity.
As I’ll detail later, the Raptors have had a tough time attracting free agents, and Ingram represented a chance for them to add an All-Star on the relatively cheap. They essentially gave up one first-round pick and some garbage. And look, here’s where it gets thorny— that pick is currently slotted as second in the 2026 NBA Draft. Now, it looks like Toronto paid a hefty price for Ingram. But a year ago, who could have foreseen Tyrese Haliburton tearing his Achilles in the NBA Finals, triggering a supertank gap year from Indiana, and exponentially inflating the value of their draft pick? I suppose that’s the danger in dealing those assets, but I think this was solid process by Ujiri. Ingram was fantastic for Toronto this season, making the All-Star team and helping them to the fifth seed before injuries ended his season.
The Bad
November 2020- Toronto drafts Malachi Flynn 29th overall over Desmond Bane
Ujiri has mostly nailed the draft throughout his career, and lots of people passed on Bane, but this one hurts. Flynn was a bad basketball player, and he wasn’t even the usual archetype Ujiri goes for. You would have hoped that he would have recognized Bane’s obvious talent instead. Making the wrong pick one slot before Bane went adds insult to injury.
March 2021- Toronto trades Norman Powell to Portland for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr.
This was the first big blunder of Ujiri’s 2020s run. I understand the process here— Ujiri decided he didn’t want to pay Norman Powell entering his age-28 season and flipped him for a guy (Trent Jr.) of a similar archetype who’s nearly six years younger. Trent had a couple of good years in Toronto, but it’s clear that Toronto gave up on Powell too quickly. Paying him the modest $18 million AAV contract he got from the Clippers would have been a solid investment.
February 2022- Toronto trades Goran Dragic and a 2022 1st round draft pick to San Antonio for Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 2nd round draft pick
While this trade wasn’t that consequential, it was bad process. Toronto was on a hot streak heading into the deadline and looking to bulk up for the playoffs, and Ujiri thought that Thaddeus Young was the guy to put them over the top. They dangled Dragic’s expiring contract and the 20th overall pick (essentially moving down 13 spots) to acquire the veteran forward. Young gave Toronto very little during his tenure, and Ujiri was wrong in believing he had more left in the tank. The pick they gave to San Antonio ended up being Malachi Branham, who stinks. But they missed the opportunity to draft Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Christian Braun, or Peyton Watson, all of whom would have been great additions for the future.
February 2023- Toronto acquires Jakob Poeltl from San Antonio for Khem Birch, a 2023 2nd round draft pick, a 2024 1st round draft pick, and a 2025 2nd round draft pick
Again, value-wise, this isn’t a bad deal. Poeltl was still a very good player at the time, and Toronto only gave up one significant pick for him. And the 2024 draft was horrible, so the eighth-overall pick they gave up (Rob Dillingham) doesn’t hurt that much. Ultimately, this trade was a failure because of what it represented in a timeline sense. Toronto was clearly staring a rebuild in the face, and trading a lottery pick for Poeltl, a good, not great center, didn’t make any sense. He didn’t make the team any better, and they had to rebuild the next year anyway.
July 2023- Toronto loses Fred VanVleet for nothing in free agency
VanVleet has opened up about his desire to leave Toronto before the 2023 offseason. The Raptors weren’t good that year, but they didn’t trade VanVleet at the deadline because Ujiri wanted to push for the playoffs. Maybe the offers weren’t great, but they likely could have gotten something. Instead, they finished .500, lost in the Play-In, and let a franchise legend walk for nothing.
December 2024- Toronto trades OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to New York for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 2nd round draft pick
There’s no way around it; this was a disastrous trade for Ujiri. He dealt Anunoby when his value was at its lowest in years and failed to get back a single first-round pick. Sure, Barrett has turned into a nice player for them, but the contract Ujiri gave Quickley after the deal basically negates that. After seeing the leap Anunoby took in New York, it’s painful to see just how little Toronto got back for his services.
July 2024- Toronto signs Immanuel Quickley to a 5-year, $162.5 million contract
This was just a crazy overpay by Ujiri. Quickley isn’t a bad player, but he’s a one-way guy who doesn’t guard at 6’2. Giving him $32.5 million per year never made sense because that’s a number you give someone if you anticipate a star leap on the way. Nothing about Quickley’s game made it seem like that was possible. A contract like this on the books for a non-star player (with injury issues) makes team building really difficult.
February 2025- Toronto trades Davion Mitchell to Miami in a five-team deal that nets them PJ Tucker and a second-round pick (Jimmy Butler trade)
2025 PJ Tucker was unquestionably cooked like the Christmas goose. Why did Ujiri feel like he had to force his way into the Jimmy Butler trade so he could give up a good role player for this guy? It was apparently just salary dumping Mitchell and getting a second-rounder in the process. After Ujiri was fired, they flipped that pick to the Warriors for Trayce Jackson-Davis, who stinks. I bet they wish they had Mitchell back, because they didn’t use that cap relief for anything.
The “Whatever”
Most of the transactions Ujiri made in the 2020s fall into this category. Here are some highlights:
Trading a first-rounder for Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji: This is one of the more “sure, why the hell not” deals in league history. Ujiri traded the 29th pick in a bad draft (Isaiah Collier) for two okay role players who played decently in Toronto, and Olynyk helped them get Ingram later. Perfectly adequate.
The Pascal Siakam Trade– Toronto got three picks for Siakam. One was used to acquire Olynyk and Agbaji. One was used on Ja’Kobe Walter in 2024 (19th overall). He’s fine! And one was used to trade for Brandon Ingram (2026). It’s not a great return for a star player, but given how long they waited to do the deal, this wasn’t bad value.
Selecting Gradey Dick 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft: Dick had a decent sophomore season before regressing in a big way this year. While he might not be very good, it’s not like the Raptors whiffed on a bunch of other players to take him. Sure, they could have drafted Keyonte George or Jaime Jaquez Jr., but that’s hardly a franchise-ruiner. And Dick is still just 22 years old with plenty of time to figure things out.
Every Single Free Agency Signing: The Raptors free agency history in the 2020s is hilarious. They could not get anyone to come to Canada. Here is a list of some marquee names they added:
Stanley Johnson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Aron Baynes
Alex Len
Khem Birch
Svi Mykhailiuk
Otto Porter Jr.
Will Barton
Jalen McDaniels
Dennis Schroeder
Garrett Temple
Bruno Fernando
Ujiri just wasn’t interested in free agency. None of those guys got big deals, none of them were any good. It’s remarkable. At least we know he won’t be counting on Plan Powder!
Objectively, this is a pretty poor run for any executive. Most of the moves made during this time didn’t work out, and it’s fair to wonder if Ujiri’s philosophy is still congruent with winning basketball in today’s game. However, when you consider the context of the entire post-title Raptors ecosystem, I think it’s easy to take a glass-half-full approach toward Ujiri’s next chapter in Dallas. Here, he has complete control with new organization, one with a generational superstar tailor-made for Ujiri’s sensibilities. If this doesn’t re-energize him, he’s probably got nothing left.
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Lakers Game 1 computer picks
Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes (+145)
Projection: 2.02 threes
This is a five-star play according to our model, providing a whopping 26.08% EV edge. Luke Kennard has slowed down since his first few games against Houston, but we all know how good a shooter he is.
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LeBron James Over 19.5 points (-145)
Projection: 22.63 points
LeBron James refuses to age, averaging 23.2 points per game in the Los Angeles Lakers' series win over the Rockets. Twenty points is a line Bron crossed in four of six games in Round 1, and with still no Luka, the King will need to wear the crown on offense.
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Deandre Ayton Over 9.5 points (-120)
Projection: 11.53 points
Deandre Ayton may not be the guy, but he certainly did his part in helping the Lakers advance. The big man averaged 11.8 ppg on 60% shooting vs. Houston, and he's the best option L.A. has to keep up with the Oklahoma City Thunder's size.
He might put up the quietest 10 points you'll ever see, but it'll cash all the same.
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Thunder Game 1 computer picks
Ajay Mitchell Under 3.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 3.31 rebounds
Our model sees a 20.01% EV edge on this bet. Ajay Mitchell cruised by this line in all three games vs. Phoenix, but the Lakers will provide more of a fight on the glass. There are only so many boards to go around, and OKC might be up so big in the fourth that Mitchell's playing time could be cut.
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Luguentz Dort Over 7.5 points (-112)
Projection: 8.15 points
Lu Dort is an effective 3-and-D option for the Thunder, and he eclipsed this points line in three of four against Phoenix. The Lakers will have their hands full with SGA and Chet, which will leave Dort wide open for makable threes.
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Alex Caruso Over 1.5 assists (-145)
Projection: 2.62 assists
Alex Caruso knows how to create for his teammates, and he'll be asked to do more against L.A. than he was in Round 1. Averaging over 20 minutes per game, Caruso will create enough shots for his teammates to collect two dimes.
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How to watch Lakers vs Thunder Game 1
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
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A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.
Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).
2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
Cade Cunningham
Jarrett Allen
Lakers
Thunder