CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: The Dallas Mavericks receive the ninth pick during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
1200 comments! You fellas and ladies love to talk and I love that for you. Here’s the last MMB Lounge in case you need to carry over arguments. I have also decided to do these for each round of the playoffs but you knew that by now.
My brain is very draft-focused right now and I am having a hard time NOT thinking about Mikel Brown Jr. I am so damn mad at the Mavs for boofing the tank at the very end. They aren’t going to be in a position to draft him unless things get really weird.
If you haven’t checked out our draft stuff, you know where to look. Remember to be nice and let me know if things get out of hand.
May 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) after game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Here are the NBA playoff games for Monday, May 18, 2026. We’ll have the Western Conference Finals!
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
In addition, the Washington Mystics play the Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. ET tonight on Monumental Sports Network.
The most anticipated series of the season tips off tonight, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs — the two best teams in the NBA — play Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
We've polled our basketball experts for their favorite NBA picks for tonight's game, where, despite two elite defenses, we should see plenty of offense in OKC.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 15.5 points
Price: -125 at bet365
All season long, I’ve been looking for schedule spots where De'Aaron Fox should see elevated minutes and a usage spike in crunch time. It’s harder than you think, because the San Antonio Spurs blow out so many teams, but the Western Conference Finals are the perfect series to target Fox’s props. Every game should be highly competitive, which is massive for Fox, who is one of the most clutch scorers in the NBA and a former Clutch Player of the Year Award winner. I know the Thunder boast an elite defense, but Fox shouldn’t be trading as low as 15.5 — his scoring output was down this season simply because San Antonio didn't need him in the 4th quarter. In this series, they will, and Fox will get to his spots in the mid-range. I'd price the over on 15.5 points closer to -185.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Chet Holmgren Over 1.5 assists
Price: -115 at bet365
Chet Holmgren was in attack mode against a smaller Lakers lineup in Round 2, but he meets his match now as Victor Wembanyama can counter his size, speed, and shooting. In their head-to-head meetings this season, Holmgren's scoring numbers — and usage — plummeted. Holmgren will play away from the rim to draw Wemby out of the paint and open the interior for his teammates. The 7-footer will be used as more of a conduit for the Oklahoma City Thunder offense, finding cutters, connecting with shooters off screen actions and kickouts, or dump-downs to Isaiah Hartenstein. His assists projections all sit north of the 1.5 O/U total, ranging from 1.6 to as high as 2.3 dimes for tonight.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Over 221.5
Price: -110 at bet365
Expect a fast pace and sharpshooting from deep in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. OKC now shifts from facing two of the league’s slowest-paced teams, the Suns and Lakers, to a Spurs squad playing at the second-fastest pace this postseason. That pace has led to San Antonio allowing the most shot attempts per game in the playoffs, which should create plenty of opportunities for a Thunder offense averaging a postseason-best 121.3 points per game. The Spurs haven't been far off on the road, where they're averaging 119.4 PPG. Both teams are also shooting a better percentage from three in the playoffs than they did during the regular season.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks arrive at the Eastern Conference Finals well-rested after Cleveland survived back-to-back Game 7 battles to get here.
For Game 1, my Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions zone in on Brunson exploiting Cleveland’s vulnerable perimeter defense, with his three-point shooting expected to be a key factor in setting the tone.
UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +900 SGP.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 1 prediction
Who will win Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 1?
Knicks: If not for a pair of one-point losses to the Hawks in the first round, the Knicks would be undefeated in the postseason, and we’d be talking about them in the same breath as the Thunder. The Knicks have rattled off seven straight wins by an average of 26.4 points per contest.
New York has played four fewer games than Cleveland, and its combination of fresh legs, home-court advantage, and stellar play on both ends of the floor will lead it to victory tonight.
Cavaliers vs Knicks best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 3-pointers (+100)
Jalen Brunson has knocked down 40.9% of his 66 3-point attempts, good for fourth-best among players with at least 60 3-point shots in the playoffs. He’s shooting a torrid 46.7% at home, over 10% better than on the road.
Brunson has hit 3+ treys in seven of 10 playoff games, including four of five at home.
Opponents have found success against the Cleveland Cavaliers from downtown, especially in the semifinals. Detroit shot just 35.6% from three in the regular season, and 32.7% in the first round before Cleveland allowed them to hit 39% in their seven-game series.
Over their seven-game win streak, the New York Knicks rank first in Offensive Rating (130.5) and second in Defensive Rating (103). New York’s 27.5 Net Rating is nearly 11 points higher than second-place San Antonio (16.7).
Donovan Mitchell’s assists dropped from 5.7 in the regular season to just 2.9 in the playoffs, but his playmaking has translated to wins. In 63 total games with at least four assists, Mitchell and Cleveland went 44-19 straight up, including 4-0 in the playoffs.
If Cleveland wants to stay competitive in Game 1, Mitchell will need to get his teammates involved.
Cavaliers vs Knicks SGP
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 3-pointers
Knicks moneyline
Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rain in the Garden
New York’s offense has run through Karl-Anthony Towns during its seven-game win streak, and he’s dished 5+ dimes in every contest. He should be able to find teammates for open looks.
Bridges is finally back in his groove after a pitiful start to the playoffs. He’s hit 46.7% of his triples and gone for 2+ in three of his last five. McBride is fresh off a seven-triple barrage in Game 4 against the 76ers, and Hart canned four in that contest.
Over/Under: Over 216.5 (-110) | Under 216.5 (-110)
Cavaliers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Knicks have hit the moneyline in 33 of their last 45 games (+14.85 Units / 8% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Knicks.
How to watch Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 1
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Cavaliers vs Knicks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Steve Kerr is returning to the Golden State Warriors, but he made one thing very clear while discussing his decision to stay.
Speaking with reporters on Friday, Kerr openly admitted that the Warriors are no longer the championship-caliber team they once were and that he, personally, needs to be better as a coach after the team finished the season with a record of 37-45 and missed the playoffs.
Steve Kerr gets detailed on what must change as part of his decision to return
“I know I have to be better. I didn’t have a great coaching year.”
“I know I have to be better,” Kerr said in his first media availability since agreeing to return on a multi-year contract with Golden State. “I didn’t have a great coaching year.”
The most pressing issue that both Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. specifically want to improve are turnovers. The Warriors finished the regular season tied with the Washington Wizards for the third-most turnovers per game in the NBA at 15.7. For comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the fewest in the Western Conference averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game. Kerr emphasized that cleaning up those mistakes will be a major focus heading into next season.
Kerr is self-reflective in his first comments since new deal. "I gotta tighten the ship up next year."
Both Kerr and Dunleavy made note of the fact they want the Warriors to fix their turnover problems that have plagued the organization for years.
While it may have been easy to blame last season entirely on injuries or roster limitations, Kerr instead chose to take accountability for it himself. Now, the challenge becomes whether he and the Warriors front office can successfully address those issues and help guide the Warriors back toward contention while maximizing what remains of the Stephen Curry era.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, May 18th:
“I think the last couple of years, frankly, have been difficult with the age, the collective age of our team – the injuries,” Kerr said. “I think we had like six guys this year who either couldn’t play back-to-backs or were on minutes restrictions, often at the same time.
“I think I really, frankly, gave everyone too much leeway this year. It just felt like we were constantly resting everybody and just trying to survive to the next game and have enough healthy bodies.”
“I think we have had discussions where we want him to finish his career (as) a Warrior,” Dunleavy said Friday. “He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”
Green has a player option for just over $27 million next season that he can exercise to remain with the franchise, though the Warriors could ask Green to decline the option and work out a longer-term contract with a lower annual salary. If the Warriors want to acquire a star in a trade, they would likely need to use Green’s contract to match salaries. But it remains to be seen how the next few months unfold.
Their 125-94 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday finally allowed Mitchell to claim his seat in a long-coveted conference final.
The Cavs hadn’t reached a conference final without LeBron James since 1992. Mitchell has never been there, so it would be disingenuous to look past the impact of this night. It meant so much to an organization that has been haunted by James’ ghost and to Mitchell, who has been haunted by his own failures. No longer.
“A breath of fresh air,” Mitchell acknowledged after the game. “It’s been almost a decade and I’m running into the same issue. I, personally, and as a team, we can breathe a little bit … but we can only breathe for about 12 hours.”
Thursday, Wright Thompson’s feature on Kerr for ESPN revealed that a few seasons ago, the coach had starting working the lyrics from “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift into his postgame comments to the media. Kerr crossed off lyrics when he had used them and eventually his son, Matthew, who is on the writing staff for “Rooster,” edited all the Swiftie moments into one video that made it look like Kerr was reciting the whole song.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DETROIT — Over the past seven months, Donovan Mitchell made sure to remind every reporter he could that this season wasn’t the same as the previous.
“We got to let last year go,” Mitchell said back in November. “This is a whole different season. Everybody around us got better. It’s a different season. I think we have to drop this whole, ‘Well, last year was this.’ It’s not the same.”
Everything that seemingly could go right during the 2024-25 regular season did. They had three double-digit win streaks, won 41 games by 10 or more points, and didn’t face any adversity as they cruised to 64 wins.
Their good fortune reversed in the postseason. Injuries and an inability to close games led to them being a second-round exit in five games.
This regular season was the opposite.
The Cavs couldn’t establish any real momentum. Consistent injuries, underperforming role players, and two drastic trades led to 12 fewer wins. And far more ways for this team to fracture — except it didn’t.
“He kept this thing together,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said about Mitchell after the Game 7 win over the Detroit Pistons. “When things weren’t going great, he was the beacon, the light. His leadership carried us on the court.”
The Cavs never established any kind of rhythm or looked like a title-contending team throughout the season, but Mitchell’s steady hand on and off the court kept things on the rails. His consistent effort, seen mostly through his scoring, allowed the Cavs to tread water through turbulent times in the first half of the season. That bought the group time to figure out who they were.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the Donovan Mitchell NBA Jam shirt is HERE.
It’s not uncommon for a team that enters the year with championship aspirations to blow up before getting after the ground. Most recently, it was last season’s Philadelphia 76ers that fell flat due to injuries after trading for Paul George the summer before. The same could’ve happened in Cleveland.
Significant injuries to Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Max Strus, coupled with disappointing seasons from De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball, could’ve easily derailed this year.
Mitchell stepped up every time he needed to. This included putting up 35+ point nights to get past tanking teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards on a somewhat consistent basis. That isn’t ideal, but it allowed the Cavs to keep pace with the rest of the conference contenders.
For as good as he was on the court, it’s how he approached things off the court that allowed this team to keep going.
“When things weren’t going great, he was the person everyone looked to,” Atkinson said. “I would’ve said this if we lost. I was going to say the same thing. We could have splintered. If your leader splintered, if he goes another direction, which he very well could have, things weren’t going great. But he stayed positive, he supported the young guys, he never got down on the group. Kudos to him.”
That spirit was seen throughout the playoffs, even when things weren’t going his way.
Mitchell struggled in the final five games of the first round series against the Toronto Raptors. In the second round, his disappointing showing in Game 6 cost them their best chance to secure a spot in the conference finals. The flaws that have plagued him throughout his career were on full display.
Instead of doubling down on trying to pull the team over the finish line himself in Game 7, he trusted his teammates to get the job done. He hit the “singles” Atkinson has been asking him to look for all postseason and finished with eight assists. Three more than he’s had in any other playoff game this year.
“That’s huge,” Jarrett Allen said. “For the leading scorer of our team to come out with the mindset not to score the ball, but to get everybody else going. I think that really set the tone for the game for us offensively. Donovan knows he can get a bucket at any time. We all believe that. But he got everybody else going. He got me a quick six points. Everybody was scoring. Sam [Merrill] was scoring, Max [Strus] was getting [clean looks] all because Don was attacking downhill and distributing the ball.”
The perseverance that Mitchell has shown throughout the season, including the postseason, has now taken this team somewhere they haven’t been with this group. They’ve taken a meaningful step forward and are now four wins away from winning the conference, a feat this franchise hasn’t done without LeBron James.
That’s worth celebrating, even if they have eyes on more.
“Even last year, we lost to Indiana, we had our goals set on getting to the Finals,” Mitchell said. “And we’re one step closer, but it’s been almost a decade of running into the same issue. I personally, and as a team, we can breathe a little bit, but in the same token, we can only breathe for about 12 hours, and then get right back at it.”
Things won’t get any easier for the Cavs.
The New York Knicks have stood in this core’s way since the very beginning. Losing to them in the humiliating fashion that they did in 2023 has set the narrative for this core. They’ve done a lot to shake those preconceived notions over the last month. This isn’t the team that we saw last year or in any of the previous playoff runs.
However, if they’re going to rewrite history, they’ll need more star performances from Mitchell. Fortunately, he has a lot of practice coming up big for this group this year.
“It’s incredible,” Allen said of Mitchell’s leadership.
“I hope Don knows this. I’ll follow him into war. I’ll trust every single decision that he makes, every single shot that he takes, every single word that he speaks in the locker room. It speaks volumes to how he is as a person. He goes out there and does follow his own message.
“It’s easy for the team, easy for myself to follow somebody that goes out there and gives 110% no matter what and is a high-level character guy as well. That makes it easier for not only the guys who’ve been in the league who’ve seen guys who don’t lead in a certain way, but especially for the young guys as well, to follow that lead. It’s been incredible for him to keep us together during those times.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket around James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Rocket Arena on February 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
These two teams couldn’t be coming into this series from more opposite perspectives.
The Cavs have played two physically demanding series that have gone seven games. This has left them without consecutive days off since Game 5 against the Toronto Raptors on April 29.
Meanwhile, the Knicks haven’t played since May 10. They’ll have nine days between their last playoff game and the opening of the conference finals. And their last series against a lifeless Philadelphia 76ers team was anything but physically demanding.
This game will be a matchup between a tired, but sharp team and a well-rested, but potentially rusty team. We’ll see which one will prevail on Tuesday.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: Assistant Coach Greg St. Jean and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch film before the game against the Utah Jazz on April 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the search for the coaching candidate most willing to work for exposure, the Blazers are still scouring the market for eager suitors to take the reins of their roster.
Shockingly, not many clear options are stepping up.
As a result of their reluctance to pay livable wages, the Blazers are not looking at marquee free agent coaches, but assistants. On Sunday, longtime NBA beat writer Marc Stein reported a couple of names, including a former Laker, who Portland is considering.
League sources tell The Stein Line that the Blazers, meanwhile, have expressed interest in Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori in addition to previously reported candidates Jared Dudley (Denver) and Hetzel
In response to that report, Portland-based NBA reporter Sean Highkin added a current Lakers coach to the mix of potential names in Greg St. Jean.
Some good info on the Blazers coaching search in here.
One more name I have to add that I haven’t seen reported anywhere but have heard is at least getting a look is Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean. https://t.co/jIL31HuiOG
St. Jean has been with the purple and gold across two stops. He was part of Frank Vogel’s staff in 2019-20, helping the Lakers to a title in the bubble.
When Jason Kidd departed for Dallas, St. Jean joined him, forming a relationship with Luka Dončić. He would eventually join Vogel again briefly in Phoenix, but that staff lasted just one year with the Suns before being fired.
He’s become an influential voice among the current coaching staff and would certainly be a notable loss if he does go to Portland. That being said, until the Blazers start operating like a real franchise, it’s hard to know how serious anyone is going to consider the offer to be head coach.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons during the game during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers may be done for the season, but Sixers fans are never out of things to talk about. I’ll share a few in my latest “Sixers thoughts” column…
Tobias Harris showed what he was truly made of in Detroit’s Game 7 loss
As the playoffs progressed, I read so much online about how Tobias Harris received an unfair shake in Philadelphia, how fans here mistreated him and how he shouldn’t be measured up against a contract an incompetent front office handed him.
Harris had some good postseason performances for a 60-win Pistons team this spring, but I just knew the shoe was eventually going to drop and I was going to revel in it. Game 7 on Sunday night, in which a top-seeded Detroit squad lost by 31 points at home to Cleveland, was the exact disaster-class from Harris that Philly could smell coming from a mile away.
In 23 minutes of play, Harris mustered just five points and didn’t make a single shot from the field. It didn’t feel that dissimilar from his final game as a Sixer when he had a whopping zero points as the Knicks sent them home packing in six in the first round back in 2024.
I’ve also come across takes that ask, “Why are you still thinking about Tobias Harris?”
Why wouldn’t I? This is what fans do. This is the nature of sports. You root for the guys on your favorite team. If they disappoint you and leave, you probably don’t wish them well. Add in the national media and fans across the basketball community doing their classic schtick of wondering why Sixers fans were so mean to an individual who contributed nothing meaningful to winning and you’re left with a fairly clear-cut answer.
The Celtics have the history and the banners. The Knicks have Madison Square Garden and the celebrities sitting courtside. The Sixers have… I don’t know. There is no defining characteristic. I mean that in a more solemn way. Everyone’s just angry and I don’t blame us!
On this day 25 years ago…
The Raptors prevailed 101-89 over the Sixers north of the border to force a Game 7 in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was a rough evening for MVP Allen Iverson, totaling just 20 points while shooting only 25 percent from the field. Meanwhile, Vince Carter dominated for Toronto, dropping 39 points to go with five boards, five assists and four steals.
The series would shift back to South Philadelphia for the finale two days later with the Sixers ultimately winning after Carter missed a would-be game-winning jumper at the buzzer. The Sixers would then go on to face Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals, taking that series in seven games as well.
Some MVP history…
I love immersing myself in basketball history. I find myself looking at the awards voting history on basketball-reference from time to time.
Do you know when the last time a non-Joel Embiid Sixer received a first-place MVP vote was? 2005! Iverson garnered two first-place votes, finishing fifth overall after averaging 30.7 points per game, his fourth and final scoring title. Steve Nash won his first of back-to-back MVPs that season and while I loved watching the brand of basketball those Suns teams played, Shaquille O’Neal was massively robbed for his effort that season, his first in Miami.
Who should be the Sixers’ new lead basketball executive?
I’m certainly not saying it will happen, but the answer very much should be Vince Rozman. Rozman as president of basketball operations with Jameer Nelson as general manager? I’m in.
Stephen A. Smith didn't mince words while responding to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics star's "f--k Stephen A" rant during a Twitch livestream on Saturday.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics star’s “f–k Stephen A” rant during a Twitch livestream Sunday.
During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith didn’t back down in their feud — which dates back to the end of Boston’s season after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs — and claimed “the list goes on” of things he could report about Brown.
“But in the end, Jaylen Brown be careful what you wish for,” Smith said. “You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might think about you, how the city may feel about you, how Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you, sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on.
Stephen A Smith sends a warning shot at Jaylen Brown after his ‘f*ck Stephen A’ comments
“Jaylen Brown be careful what you wish for. You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might think about you, how the city may… pic.twitter.com/AXbWAXmNAZ
“The season is over bro. You’re on Twitch trying to do what I do and talking about me needing to step away. It makes no sense.
“I’m not being disrespectful. I’m simply making the point that it is not wise after 24 hours of having your season over in the first round, for you to be coming out talking about that is your favorite season. It ain’t the smartest thing in the world to do.
“You’re talking about clickbait and all of that stuff, somebody told you, one of the best ways to get it is to bring up my name and that’s what you did. So who’s really looking for clickbait? Is it me or is it you?”
Stephen A. Smith responded to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics star’s “f–k Stephen A” rant during a Twitch livestream. XCeltics star Jaylen Brown went off on Stephen A. Smith during a Twitch livestream on Saturday May 16, 2026. X
“F–k Stephen A,” Brown said, according to video clips from the Saturday stream. “Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. Like my offer still stands: You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well I want you to be quiet and get off these networks. Because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism.”
Warning: Adult Language
Celtics star Jaylen Brown goes OFF on Stephen A Smith for questioning why Jayson Tatum wasn’t on his stream and making his own narratives about why the 2025-2026 Celtics season was JB’s favorite
“What type of journalism is this?… F*CK Stephen A… My offer still wants. You… pic.twitter.com/XAqaJ6YJYZ
Their rift stems from Smith’s remarks when he said earlier this month that it wasn’t a good look that Brown said in a separate livestream that this was his “favorite” season of his career after Boston’s first-round playoff exit.
At the time, Smith urged Brown to “be quiet” and “go on vacation” unless he was trying to get traded.
The Celtics were two years removed from a championship and without their star forward Jayson Tatum, who was working his way back from a torn Achilles, this season.
Brown was tasked with carrying much of the load before Tatum’s return.
He was also fined $50,000 for criticizing referees while on a livestream following the Celtics’ season-ending loss to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) drives past Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first quarter of Game 7 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Brown recorded a career-best 28.7 points per game during the regular season and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Game.
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The highly anticipated Western Conference Finals begin tonight, May 18, as the San Antonio Spurs head to Oklahoma City to take on the reigning NBA champion OKC Thunder.
The clash marks the first time since 1998 that two 62-win teams have met in the playoffs, promising a spectacular battle of young talent and elite defense.
The top-seeded Thunder enter Game 1 with a perfect 8-0 postseason record after completing back-to-back sweeps of the Suns in Round 1 and Lakers in Round 2. They’ll face a Spurs squad that has won eight of their last eleven games and boasts a dominant 4-1 regular-season record against Oklahoma City this year.
NBA Western conference finals: what to know
What: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
When: May 18, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Channel: NBC
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
The primary headline of the series centers on Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren in what has quickly become the league’s most exciting young rivalry, and while two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a battle-tested, defending champion Thunder squad with home-court advantage, the Spurs’ elite rim protection and defensive schemes give them an opportunity to slow the game down.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
You can also stream the NBA playoffs with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder kick off the premier matchup of these NBA playoffs on Monday, May 17.
Victor Wembanyama & Co. will give OKC more trouble than it's seen to date, and our Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay is eyeing a gritty, tightly-contested opening game.
The San Antonio Spurs have the NBA's best defensive rating for the playoffs at 102.2. The Oklahoma City Thunder are no slouches, either, ranking sixth at 109.3. The best defense in the game against another that hasn't had to break much of a sweat is ripe for a low-scoring opening salvo.
SGP leg #1: Spurs +6.5
No team gave the Thunder fits in the regular season like the Spurs did. San Antonio is the only team in the NBA that finished with a winning record over OKC this year, going 4-1 in the matchup. While that familiarity won't guarantee a win here, this will be a tight game that goes down to the wire
SGP leg #1: Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama has recorded 14+ rebounds in five of his last six games with at least 20 minutes played. Game 1 against the Thunder should be close, and Wemby’s rebounding will be needed against the Thunder’s two-headed monster of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs Thunder predictions for Game 1.
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See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round.
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The long wait is over. The Knicks’ springtime sojourn waiting for the Cleveland Cavaliers to dispatch the Detroit Pistons so they can commence the Eastern Conference Finals ends on Tuesday night, after New York went nine days without a game.
But the long layoff presents challenges for the Knicks and head coach Mike Brown. Asked if he’s worried about complacency, his team losing its sharpness, or being a step slow, the head coach said, “You worry about all those things.”
“But at the end of the day, we’ve had the chance to rest, too,” Brown said. “And they’ve had to play 14 games in 29, 30 days. So, it could go either way. You just hope when we step out there, our competitive spirit is at an extremely high level and we don’t ease into the game at all.
“Because they’re a dangerous, dangerous offensive team, they’re very potent with their shooters and playmakers and they have size and toughness and all that.”
Josh Hart added that the break – a roughly 218-hour interlude – is something they would rather not have to deal with, but it did offer them a chance to reset.
“Obviously, you'd rather not have a 9-day break – you're in a good rhythm, then you've kinda got to sit there and wait,” Hart said. “Ideally, if it was a three- or four-day break, that would've been nice. Good points and bad points [to the rest].”
During the time off, the Knicks did get a big boost as OG Anunoby, who missed the final two games of the sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers, was a full participant in practice yet again on Monday and looks set to return to action from a hamstring issue. Brown had no other injury issues to report.
Attacking Cavs
“I remember back in the day when I was with [Greg Popovich], Pop said you need three All-Stars to win a championship. Well, they’ve got four,” Brown said of the Cavs’ trio of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen that was boosted with James Harden’s coming over in an early February trade. “[Harden] has added a dimension to their team that not many teams have.
“Not many teams can say, 'Hey we have four All-Stars on our roster,' and that fourth guy is a playmaker and a scorer. That’s a problem when you have that and Donovan Mitchell and everybody else and then they have the shooting.”
But, even with the importance of Mitchell and Harden to the Cavs’ offense, Brown said the Knicks have to be “conscious of trying to play the right way against this group.”
“We have to put pressure on them in all phases, starting with transition and ending with the ability to try and get an offensive rebound,” he said. “You wanna make all of their guys, especially their guys that playmake for them and do a lot for them, you wanna make them work as much as you can.
“But that’s not gonna be our vocal point. Our vocal point is going to be to take the best possible shot that we can get because it’s hard to score in the playoffs. But we do wanna make those guys work.”
Leaning on MSG
With the No. 1 Pistons eliminated, the Knicks have home-court advantage for the series, something that the players will look to use to their advantage.
"It means the world to me," Brunson said. "This place has done wonders for myself and my family. I don't take it for granted, not one bit."
Hart added that Knicks fans always come out and "show love," and MSG is "definitely the best atmosphere in the league."
"You always want to be at home, be in the Garden," he continued. "And you feed off of that energy. It's fun. When the Garden is going, especially during this time, there's nothing like it."
Of course, New York is also back home for Mitchell.
“Yeah it’s great I get to play at home, woo, but it doesn’t matter,” the Cavs' star said. “We’ve got to be locked in and ready to go, and I know we will be.”
The 25-year-old Madar has extensive pro basketball experience overseas and was the 2023 EuroLeague Rising Star playing for Partizan Belgrade. He's also played for Haopel Tel Aviv (Israel), Fenerbache (Turkey) and Bayern Munich (Germany).
Per Mozzart Sport, "Madar has been dissatisfied with the treatment at Hapoel for some time, during the quarterfinal with Real he was given a total of 10 minutes and he played less than five minutes in the second game and a little more than six minutes in the fourth game. That's why going to the NCAA turned out to be a great solution for him."
Per Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney, Madar's eligibility would "come as a result of exemptions for military service as well as national team participation, which can provide another avenue for a permissible year of delayed enrollment."
The point guard was drafted No. 47 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and played on the Celtics' 2021 Summer League team before returning overseas.
Wade's roster build in his return to Baton Rouge has been a slow burn. It took weeks for the former NC State coach to land his first transfer commitment, but has since added small forward Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky), combo guard Divine Ugochukwi (Michigan State) and shooting guard Abdi Bashir Jr. (Kansas State)
Yam Madar age: How old is Yam Madar?
Madar is 25 years old and will turn 26 during the 2026-27 season (Dec. 21).
When did Celtics take Yam Madar in NBA Draft?
Madar was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft (pick No. 47 overall). He played with the Celtics Summer League team in 2021.
The “NBA on Prime Video” broadcast announced Sunday night that Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had won his second consecutive MVP award – the only problem was ESPN’s Shams Charania had made the announcement almost 12 hours prior.
Many in the basketball world, from tv personalities to players, had thoughts on the situation, with Warriors star forward Draymond Green being one of them.
“I think the NBA has to do something about that,” Green said on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “Like, ultimately, you’re the NBA. You control the media. Shams is an NBA reporter with ESPN, who is a partner of the NBA. To tweet at six o’clock in the morning who the NBA MVP is, it’s actually embarrassing.”
Draymond on SGA Winning MVP, Shams Leaking It, And SGA/Wemby Matchup Tonight
“Shams leaked it, it's actually embarrassing, it makes our league look like we have no organization, like that's child's play… It's the conference finals, you (Wemby) got all the motivation you need,… pic.twitter.com/vMGsXsCaQz
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 18, 2026
“I thought that was pretty pathetic, if I’m being honest,” Green added.
While some were upset, Charania joined “The Pat McAfee Show” and defended his actions, explaining that he believed he had a responsibility to report the news – even if it comes before a scheduled release.
“This is a massive story,” Charania said. “And when I get it, I vet it. And then my job is to report the news. And so that’s all I focus on. That’s what I wake up thinking about. That’s what I go to sleep thinking about.”
"When I have big news I'm gonna report it..
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning back to back MVPs is a massive story..
However, Green had a different belief when it came to the premature release of the news.
“It makes our league look like we have no organization,” Green said. “… Like we can’t hold the winner of the most prestigious individual award in the NBA, we can’t hold those results until it’s actually time to be announced. That was a little disappointing.
“There’s no way that can happen. If there’s supposed to be an announcement on Amazon Prime, the announcement has to happen on Amazon Prime. This is something Commissioner [Adam] Silver has to do something about. This this can’t happen.”
Fox o15.5 points
Holmgren o1.5 assists
COVERS INTEL: In 26 home playoff games with the Knicks, 
(@ItsKingSlime) 
