The Knicks' road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
The Knicks’ road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
They have won 11 straight games — completing series sweeps of the Sixers and Cavaliers, respectively — en route to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
They did it behind the leadership of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, crowned the Eastern Conference finals MVP by a unanimous vote, after some doubted that he could be a No. 1 option on a championship team.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center, holds the MVP trophy after Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs, the Knicks have outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs, according to ESPN.
The Knicks has defeated their opponents by 23.8 points per game dating back to Game 4 of their first-round series against the Hawks.
The Knicks’ shooting prowess throughout the playoffs has been a combined effort from their starters — Brunson, wings Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and center Karl-Anthony Towns — and the sharpshooting Landry Shamet off the bench.
All five of the Knicks’ starters scored in double digits in at least three of four games in their conference finals series against Cleveland.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots against Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals playoffs series in Cleveland. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the 76ers during Round Two Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images
Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game against Cleveland, while shooting 48.7 percent overall in the conference finals.
Shamet has shot 64 percent during New York’s 11-game win streak and a record 92 percent from deep in the conference finals.
The Knicks are also 6-0 on the road in this unbeaten streak.
They now have nine days off before the NBA Finals begin June 3, and will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Western Conference finals is tied at 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5.
Tickpick announced in the immediate aftermath of the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers that Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden are "the most expensive NBA Finals tickets on record." The secondary ticket marketplace app said get-in prices at that point were $3,745 for Game 3 and $3,464 for Game 4.
Those price ranges are holding and even increasing into Tuesday, with the cheapest Game 3 ticket on Stubhub as of 2 p.m. ET set at $4,273. And that's just to sit in the upper deck. It'll cost more to sit in the lower bowl, and a small fortune to be really close to the action.
On Tuesday, there were two courtside tickets on Stubhub listed at $107,103 and $101,748. There was no seat listed in the 100 level of Madison Square Garden for less than $6,000. Sports business reporter Darren Rovell reported the first two courtside seats for the NBA Finals were actually sold on Stubhub on Sunday – before the Knicks clinched the Eastern Conference finals – for $279,804.
The good news for Knicks fan is there is still an opportunity to buy face value tickets to the NBA Finals through the franchise's Knicks Fan First program. Fans who register by Tuesday, May 26 at 11 p.m. ET will have the opportunity to purchase Knicks' NBA Finals tickets before the general public.
The Knicks haven't won an NBA championship since 1973, and their postseason run this year has been punctuated by raucous watch parties around the city and famous fans like Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Tracy Morgan and Jimmy Fallon joining the ever-present Spike Lee courtside at many playoff games.
The NBA Finals will begin on Wednesday, June 3 with the Thunder or Spurs hosting the first two games of the series by virtue of having home-court advantage. The Knicks host Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on June 8 and then play Game 4 inside the World's Most Famous Arena on June 10.
Game 6 of the NBA Finals would also be held in New York on June 16 if the best-of-seven series were to reach that point. The get-in price as of Tuesday was also more than $4,200.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been in the crossfire of many commentators after this playoff run. His comments about analytics didn’t sit well with many, and the team also underperformed in several key moments — including during the Game 1 collapse against the New York Knicks. The coach is going to bear part of the blame when things go sideways like that.
Yet, his players haven’t lost faith in him. At least not publicly. So much so that their star player thinks it’s “hilarious” that Atkinson is receiving criticism for how things ended.
“We’ve done something that we haven’t done since 2018,” Mitchell said. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny, and ultimately that’s all that matters. I know he’s from Long Island, he don’t give a damn. … We’re in it together.”
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Mitchell wasn’t alone in this sentiment.
“He’s the ultimate player’s coach, he gets it, he understands his team,” James Harden said. “I think he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”
This was a tumultuous regular season for the Cavs. It could’ve gone sideways at many points, but it didn’t. Atkinson deserves some of the credit there. And he does deserve praise for helping the team win two playoff rounds.
At the same time, when things go as poorly as they did against the Knicks, there’s going to be criticism thrown his way. That just comes with the business. That, however, doesn’t mean he deserves the most blame.
“It’s on us,” Mitchell said. “It’s definitely on us. It’s not on Kenny.”
The margin for error is extremely slim with the Western Conference Finals down to a best-of-three series heading into Game 5.
That pressure, however, produces a big fat-ass barrel of NBA betting fun when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
My Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay for Game 5 adds that enjoyment, at least if you're siding with San Antonio. I’m taking the visitor to cover the spread while getting long-range love from its long and lanky center.
The injury report is not looking good for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re potentially down two key guards, which has forced star scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to carry more of a facilitator role instead of playing off the ball.
The San Antonio Spurs have done a great job keeping SGA out of rhythm on offense and OKC’s role players in check. This one comes down to the wire with San Antonio covering as a road dog: a role that’s produced an 11-6 ATS record this season.
SGP leg #2: Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds
Stephon Castle sits second on the Spurs with 50 rebounding chances in the WCF, which have translated into 19 total boards. He’s snatched five or more rebounds in each of the first three games and while he had just three boards in Game 4, he was in position for 12 rebounding chances.
Projections sit as high as six rebounds tonight.
SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes
Victor Wembanyama was more aggressive in his shot selection in Game 4, shouldering the scoring load inside and out. He attempted seven 3-pointers — making three — and has hit two or more triples in three of the four conference finals games.
San Antonio is being protective of his energy on defense, as it tries to save his legs for the offensive end. Wemby is forecasted for at least two 3-pointers in Game 5.
Get Jason Logan'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 5.
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Feb 12, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second half at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
When the offseason rolls around, the internet starts doing some wild things. People get bored. They spend a little too much time in the trade machine. The results can be nothing short of horrifying. Practical thought leaves the body like a soul departing, and what we’re left with are some truly ridiculous trades.
That’s part of the offseason’s oversaturation. Podcasts need topics, national outlets need content, and fans want something to debate. Everybody starts trying to justify bad ideas in the name of conversation.
Mission accomplished, I guess. Because I’m here to take a look at a cpuple of the absolutely absurd trade proposals floating around recently. And these aren’t coming from your local podcast. This isn’t me hopping on Suns JAM Session and tossing out a random hypothetical. No, these are from major national media outlets, and some of them are downright comical.
So let’s go ahead and take a look at a few of the more ridiculous trade ideas making the rounds.
ESPN: Suns trade for Ja Morant
This one comes to us from ESPN, who put together six trades exploring where Ja Morant could ultimately land.
Phoenix Suns get:
Memphis Grizzlies get:
Ja Morant
Grayson Allen
Royce O’Neale
Haywood Highsmith
Jamaree Bouyea
2029 second-round pick
2032 second-round pick
This is a beautifully ridiculous trade.
The Suns would give up four players and two picks for Morant, and I’ve already expressed numerous times how I feel about him as a potential member of the Phoenix Suns. His addition goes against everything Phoenix tried to build this past season, and once you factor in the availability concerns and missed games, it becomes even harder to justify.
What might be the most absurd part of the entire thing, though, is what Bobby Marks notes:
The Suns overachieved last season, and they now are faced with the choice of relying on the same roster or making an aggressive trade for a player such as Morant. Because the Suns would be taking back more salary in the trade, it would hard cap them at the first apron. The restriction could put them in a position to lose free agents Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin.
So by this logic, the Suns would add Ja Morant to pair in the backcourt with Devin Booker. Jalen Green would still be on the roster, too, meaning three-guard lineups become the norm. Yay!
And that’s where this thing really starts to fall apart. Phoenix would not only be hard-capping itself, but they’d also be knee-capping themselves when it comes to depth. They wouldn’t be able to go over the first apron at $209 million, so once again you’re piecing together the bench with a collection of veteran minimum players and hoping it works.
The viability of bringing back Gillespie, Goodwin, and/or Williams is practically out the window. Booker, Green, and Morant would account for $125.6 million of your cap, which is 76% of it. Oh, and you’re still giving up draft capital to make it happen, which chips away at your future flexibility too.
I’m sorry, this trade is completely unrealistic. It feels like an NBA 2K trade, where you jam assets together until it works for one side and completely ignore what it does to the other.
Vecenie: Malauch to the Hornets
A lot less inflammatory, still not rooted in reality, comes a suggestion from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, in which the Phoenix Suns would send out Grayson Allen and Khaman Maluach for Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner, or the 18th overall pick.
In the Phoenix Suns offseason preview on the Game Theory podcast, @Sam_Vecenie proposed a trade to acquire Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets:
➡️ HORNETS: Khaman Maluach, Grayson Allen ➡️ SUNS: Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick) pic.twitter.com/9J6qAuKO6E
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) May 25, 2026
Phoenix Suns get:
Charolotte Hornets get:
Miles Bridges
Grayson Allen
Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick)
Khaman Maluach
My first thought when I see a trade like this is simple. Why would Phoenix want to do it?
This feels like something that benefits the Charlotte Hornets far more than the Suns. Charlotte gets more three-point shooting and, depending on how you view the prospects, arguably gets the better young center than the one they selected 34th overall a season ago.
And to be clear, I’m a fan of Kalkbrenner. I did a ton of research on him as a draft prospect last year when Phoenix owned the 29th pick. I thought he made a lot of sense at the time. He had a solid rookie season on a team that gave real opportunities to its young players.
That still doesn’t answer the bigger question. Why would you give up on Maluach this early in his career? And why bring in Bridges, another undersized power forward, on a roster that already needs to prioritize minutes for sophomore Rasheer Fleming?
Then there’s the pick. If the return is No. 18 overall, that’s not much of a trade-off. You’re essentially flipping Maluach, who was taken 10th overall a year ago, for the 18th pick. That’s hard to justify.
This one feels like creating a trade for the sake of creating a trade, then working backwards trying to make it sound reasonable.
I’m still waiting for one of the national pundits to cook up something that feels relevant, realistic, or at the very least includes Jalen Green. Because, quite honestly, he’s the biggest trade chip the Phoenix Suns possess right now. If Phoenix can somehow flip him into something that genuinely helps move the organization forward, whether that’s players, picks, or some combination of both, that’s the route I’d explore. At least from my perspective.
Until then, we watch and wait. That’s the offseason. Everybody starts throwing ideas at the wall, hoping one sticks. National outlets keep the content machine moving. Fans debate every hypothetical like it’s already on the transaction wire.
My guess? None of these mock trades happen. Phoenix has been pretty transparent about wanting to stay measured this summer, and the organization doesn’t feel like a team gearing up for a splashy offseason. Sometimes, the loudest part of the offseason is the internet. The actual moves tend to be a lot quieter.
After a dominant victory, sometimes you need a little something to wine-d down.
Josh Hart celebrated the Knicks’ sweep of the Cavaliers via a blowout 130-93 Game 4 victory by sipping on a glass of wine at his postgame press conference.
The Knicks’ do-it-all wing, donning a Knicks NBA Finals hat and an elegant outfit, took the podium to celebrate alongside his former Villanova teammates Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, as the triumvirate prepare for the Thunder or Spurs next week.
Josh Hart had a little something to take the edge off on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I don’t think a switch flipped per se,” Hart said when asked about the 11-game win streak and turnaround after going down 2-1 to the Hawks in Round 1. “This is a selfless team.”
Hart joked when talking to the reporter that the person wasn’t allowed to ask questions because he was eating wings during the press conference.
“I see it, don’t say anything,” Brunson said when they both noticed the reporter eating wings.
“I know you don’t come in sucking your fingers,” Hart added as laughter erupted in the media room. “You got chicken wings. You supposed to be asking questions and you went and got chicken wings. Hell no. You don’t get nothing. Then wings are hitting though.”
Hart was benched during the Knicks 22-point comeback in Game 1, where the Cavaliers blew a massive fourth-quarter lead and eventually lost in overtime.
Josh Hart wears his NBA Finals hat with a wine glass. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Cleveland had no chance after that staggering collapse, as the Cavaliers struggled in the remaining three games and were eventually swept.
Game 2 was the Hart show, as he went 10-for-21 from the field and scored 26 points after being benched in favor of Landry Shamet the game prior.
Shamet shot an obscene 11-for-12 from 3-point range in the Conference finals, showing that this Knicks team doesn’t need any one person to carry them.
The Knicks will have to wait to learn their Finals foe, as the Thunder and Spurs have their heels dug into the sand in a 2-2 series.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles up the court against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the postseason draws closer to an end, the attention shifts toward the NBA Draft less than a month away. The Golden State Warriors, armed with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, have multiple needs to address on their roster. With that in mind, here is a roundup of projected picks for Golden State from draft experts across the web:
One of the newer names linked to the Warriors is Arizona’s Brayden Burries. The 20-year-old guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a freshman while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. He played in 39 games during his lone college season, helping lead the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance. Here is what ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel had to say about his fit with the Warriors:
If the Dubs do keep this pick, sources said the franchise will be prioritizing talents ready to play immediately during their rookie season. The Warriors do not want to run into another James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga situation with this draft pick. Brayden Burries is among several prospects the Warriors have been scouting and gathering more information on since the start of 2026, along with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Karim Lopez, Nate Ament, Darius Acuff Jr., Hannes Steinbach, and Cameron Carr.
Burries has taken a major step up a lot of teams’ draft boards lately due to his high IQ, versatility on defense, and ability to wear multiple hats alongside star players. Golden State will still look to make a major upgrade this offseason, but sources say the team is comfortable with the idea of keeping this pick and setting up its future. If any player fits this description, it’s Burries, and coming from Arizona would make Steve Kerr happy.
Burries would be an intriguing addition to a Warriors team searching for a guard with reliable scoring and defense alongside Stephen Curry. He would also bring solid size and athleticism to their backcourt while helping Golden State get younger around its veteran core.
Arizona's Brayden Burries measured 6'3.75 barefoot and 215 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'6 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/6SV3jKaUQJ
54. Golden State Warriors – SG Emanuel Sharp – Houston, Senior
Emanuel Sharp was one of a handful of players the Warriors recently got a look at in a pre-draft workout featuring several second-round-rated prospects. At Houston, Sharp knocked down 309 threes in his career. The Warriors have always had a lot of luck drafting experienced collegiate shooters late in the second round, and Sharp could be yet another. Aaron Nkrumah, who was a standout at the NBA Draft Combine, is another player worth keeping an eye on for the Warriors in the second round of this year’s draft.
There’s no more appropriate place to start than with point guards Jalen Brunson and Stephen Curry, the latter of whom has been a mainstay in Tier 1 — until now.
Curry posted one of the worst assist-to-turnover ratios among starting point guards (1.68), his team has missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and Golden State has been a top-five seed in the Western Conference only once since Kevin Durant left in 2019. Much of that has to do with the quality of Curry’s teammates. He is still a top-tier scorer, bending defenses with his movement and shooting threat. He still gets to the free-throw line like a star, averaging 5.1 attempts per game, and he continues to hold up defensively, averaging 1.1 steals per game. But his 3.6 rebounds per game were a 14-year low. If Curry played enough games to qualify, he would have led the NBA in made 3s at 4.4 per game. But he is 38 years old and missed nearly half of this season with a knee issue after suffering a hamstring strain in the 2025 playoffs.
Not even those 1972-73 Knicks can boast they were on the type of roll these Knicks are on. In the midst of an 11-game winning streak, they’ve outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs.
It’s easy to see how either Simons or Sexton would fit with the Warriors. Both players are excellent scorers who can also space the floor as shooters. They could lead Golden State’s offensive attack when Curry is out and seemingly fit in well alongside him as well. It’s a role that Jordan Poole excelled in with the team, especially in the 2022 championship run, and one that the team has been unable to fill since.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: A detailed view of the court before the game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 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
The Lakers aren’t wasting any time building out their front office.
During his exit interview, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said the franchise would hire two assistant general managers, and they have moved quickly to do so. On Monday, the franchise announced the hiring of an assistant general manager, naming former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas to the position.
Now, it sounds like they’re quickly moving onto the other assistant GM spot and are targeting Philadelphia 76ers vice president of player personnel, Prosper Karangwa.
League sources also say that the Sixers remain hopeful that they can retain vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa as part of their revamped front office even though Karangwa has also drawn interest from the Los Angeles Lakers as well as Dallas.
League sources say that the Lakers has officially secured permission to speak with Karangwa while Dallas has not yet formally lodged that request, but Ujiri’s interest in bringing both Karangwa and Raptors executive Patrick Englebrecht is certainly anticipated. The Lakers have stated that they plan to hire two assistant general managers this offseason and already secured one of them by striking a deal with New Orleans Pelicans analytics ace Rohan Ramadas.
Dan Woike of The Athletic backed up that reporting later in the day on Monday as well.
Another name that I’ve heard connected with the Lakers over the last few days is Philadelphia 76ers player personal exec Prosper Karangwa.
It’s no surprise that Karangwa is a popular figure with plenty of teams wanting him in their front offices. He has plenty of basketball experience. He played professional basketball in France and after his playing days were done, he rose through the ranks with the Orlando Magic. He started as a scout back in 2012 and was promoted to the Director of College Scouting in 2016.
Karangwa’s been with the Sixers since 2020, when he was hired in his current role. Since 2021, he has also been the General Manager of the Sixers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. They won the G League championship under his leadership in 2023.
The Lakers getting permission to speak with him is a good sign that they are in the running for another quality hire from a basketball mind that’s well-regarded around the league and not already associated with LA.
This is in stark contrast to how the team was run under Jeanie Buss, where many hires had some connection to the franchise.
Lakers fans should be excited that the Lakers are overhauling their front office and infusing it with more brainpower from outside the purple and gold family tree.
If all goes well, perhaps Karangwa can join the Lakers, and they can have their two assistant general managers hired before the offseason fully kicks off with the NBA Draft and free agency.
Jordan Clarkson’s role for the New York Knicks looks a lot different than it did with the Utah Jazz.
The now 33-year-old, 12-year NBA vet only comes in for a few minutes a game, and is not the flamethrower that he once was in Utah.
But on Monday night, in a game in which he only played nine minutes and scored three points, Jordan Clarkson clinched a ticket to the NBA Finals as the Knicks swept the Cavaliers to reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999. In his first season away from the Jazz since 2019, Clarkson has reached the place that many thought he could have reached in Salt Lake City.
However, this won’t be his first trip to the NBA Finals, as he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to Cleveland midseason in 2017-18. The last of four straight Finals appearances for LeBron James and the Cavs, that 2018 Cleveland team was a shell of its 2016 squad. By the end of the postseason, Clarkson had been taken out of the rotation entirely against the Warriors.
Two seasons later, he was traded to Utah, where he won the NBA’s sixth man of the year award with the Jazz, but failed to ever reach a conference finals.
While Clarkson likely won’t play many crucial minutes for the Knicks when they face the daunting task of playing either San Antonio or Oklahoma City, making it to this point in the playoffs should be seen as a victory for him, regardless of team impact. For three seasons prior to this Finals run, Clarkson was a starter on three different tanking Utah teams, that had no realistic shot of making it this far.
In five and a half seasons, Clarkson became one of the more beloved Jazz players in recent history and was an amazing member of the Utah community during his Jazz tenure.
Clarkson averaged 8.6 points per game in the regular season and is averaging 5.4 in the playoffs.
The New York Knicks made quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers to sweep the Eastern Conference Final, punching their first ticket to an NBA Finals since 1999.
Now, the question that remains is, who will play the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs?
Let's explore the options below, ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
Who will face the Knicks in the NBA Finals?
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How the Western Conference Final was won
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have traded body blows through four games of the Western Conference Final, with both teams looking like the definitive favorite at various times.
After the Spurs opened the series with a 122-115 victory in OKC, the Thunder answered with back-to-back victories before San Antonio returned serve with the most lopsided win for either side of the series, taking Game 4 103-82.
The Thunder, who hold the homecourt advantage for the final three games, are favored to advance to their second straight championship series. Kalshi has OKC listed at 60% probability of winning the seven-game set with the Spurs.
Wemby can change the tides
However, Victor Wembanyama is, unsurprisingly, the ultimate X-factor. In San Antonio's Game 1 win, Wemby went for 41 points and 24 rebounds. In Game 4, he scored 33. In the two losses, he's gone for 21 and 26 points, respectively.
The Spurs lack the Thunder's depth, but Wembanyama is such a dynamic player who has shown an ability to take over games like no one else has in this series, even back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Buckle up for Game 5
Kalshi's series odds mirror the lines for Game 5, with OKC listed as having 60% probability to win tonight at Paycom Center. The Thunder have only lost once at home during the NBA playoffs, but that came in Game 1 of this series.
So, if you are confident in the Spurs, consider investing in the outcome of tonight's game by backing San Antonio.
No team has exhibited a stronger ability at counter-punching OKC than Wemby & Co., dating back to the regular season. It'll probably be the best value you'll get on the Spurs from here on out, too.
Knicks will be well-rested underdogs
The conventional wisdom has appeared to be that whichever team escapes the West will ultimately win the NBA Championship. The New York Knicks will be the underdog no matter who stands across from them, but they distribute the ball extremely efficiently, with five players averaging double-digit scoring during these playoffs.
Jalen Brunson leads the way with 26.9 points per game, but OG Anunoby (19.7) and Karl-Anthony Towns (16.9) aren't far off. The Knicks will also have the rest advantage after eliminating the Cavaliers on Monday.
During the regular season, New York went 0-2 vs. OKC and 1-1 against San Antonio. The Knicks will adjust their game plan depending on which team makes it through.
Brunson will almost definitely be used as a counterweight to SGA if the Thunder advance, where Towns will need to be his best big self to even slightly slow Wembanyama (you can't fully contain him).
The six -- among thousands of Knicks diehards who partied like it was 1999 outside The Mecca -- were issued summonses for disorderly conduct and processed at the NYPD's Midtown South Precinct, authorities said.
Six people were hauled off in cuffs when celebratory madness erupted outside Madison Square Garden as the Knicks clinched the NBA finals for the first time in 27 years.
The raucous crew — among thousands of Knicks diehards who partied like it was 1999 outside The Mecca Monday night — allegedly climbed on light posts and other structures, blocked cars, jumped over police barriers and refused to disperse, law enforcement sources said.
Six Knicks fans were issued summonses for disorderly conduct when cops caught them stirring up mayhem outside Madison Square Garden following the team’s historic sweep, authorities said. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
They were issued summonses for disorderly conduct and processed at the NYPD’s Midtown South Precinct, authorities said.
Video from the jubilant scene showed one reveler — who appeared no older than his early teens — hoisting himself up a light pole, before two cops immediately slapped cuffs on him when he jumped down.
The crowd of partying fans then erupted into jeers of “Let him free!” and “Boo!
Another video showed people standing on the iconic arena’s marquee, and the outdoor lit-up signs, as one bystander yelled, “You’re going to jail.”
Members of the rowdy crew climbed on the arena’s iconic marquee. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostRevelers also blocked cars and jumped over police barriers, law enforcement sources said. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
But an unfazed member of Knicks nation relished the joyful mood – as the hometown team bludgeoned the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 at Rocket Arena, punching their ticket to the championship.
“This is amazing! I waited years for this. I love Jalen Brunson,” he gushed, referring to the Knicks’ guard who was unanimously named the series MVP.
Jubilant fans exclaimed they’d waited years for the team to come this far. Michael Nagle for NY Post
The mob of revelers descended on the Garden despite the NYPD’s move to call off the venue’s usual outdoor watch party during Monday’s playoff game because unruly fans had been clogging the sidewalks during the team’s historic run.
MSG’s permits for the Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 shindig were summarily denied by the city’s Street Activity Permit Office, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Post, with cops reportedly refusing to participate unless fans tone it down a notch.
The celebrations came despite the NYPD’s move to call off the venue’s usual outdoor watch party during Monday’s playoff game. Michael Nagle for NY Post
“Games 1 and 2 have seen progressively more problematic issues at the watch parties outside MSG — six arrests last night alone — so the NYPD will not support more watch parties outside the stadium,” a police department spokesperson confirmed Friday.
“But we will continue to review requests to support parties at alternate sites, like Summer Stage,” the spokesperson added, referring to Central Park’s outdoor amphitheater.
No one was taken into custody outside Radio City Music Hall, which remained under control as orange-and-blue clad fans gathered there Monday night for a watch party, cops said.
Brooke Rose captured a candid moment of some of the Knicks' WAGs, and diehard fan, Timothée Chalamet, after the New York's Eastern Conference finals sweep of the Cavaliers on Monday night.
Brooke Rose captured a candid moment of some of the Knicks’ WAGs, and diehard fan, Timothée Chalamet, after the New York’s Eastern Conference finals sweep of the Cavaliers on Monday night.
Taking to her Instagram Story, Brooke, who is the daughter of Knicks president Leon Rose, shared a photo of Ali Brunson, Shannon Hart and Jordyn Woods all smiling during the team’s celebration on the court at Rocket Arena — with Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner in the frame.
“The best wives in the world,” Brooke wrote and tagged the women, as well as Chalamet.
(L-R) Ali Brunson, Shannon Hart, Kylie Jenner, Jordyn Woods and Timothee Chalamet after the Knicks’ four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 25, 2026. Instagram/Brooke Rose
Woods and her fiancée, Knicks center Karl-Anthony, posed together while holding the Eastern Conference finals trophy.
Shannon, who is the wife of Knicks guard Josh Hart, gushed over the team in an Instagram Story post for reaching the 2026 NBA Finals on her birthday.
Knicks president Leon Rose and actor Timothée Chalamet, a diehard Knicks fan, shared a moment after New York’s Eastern Conference finals sweep of the Cavaliers on May 25, 2026. Instagram/Brooke Rose
Another clip by Brooke showed Chalamet and her father shaking hands and hugging after the Knicks’ 130-93 Game 4 clincher.
One image included Brooke and Wynn Wesley, the daughter of Knicks executive, William Westley, aka “World Wide Wes.”
Wynn Wesley, the daughter of Knicks executive, William Westley and Brooke Rose, daughter of Knicks president Leon Rose, after the Knicks’ Game 4 series sweet of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals on May 25, 2026. Instagram/Brooke Rose
Chalamet wasn’t the only Celebrity Row staple who made the trip to Cleveland to support the Knicks.
Comedian Tracy Morgan, rapper Fat Joe, actor Ben Stiller, and director Spike Lee all attended Game 4.
Knicks legends, Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Patrick Ewing were in the building to witness New York extend its win streak to 11 games.
The pair presented star guard Jalen Brunson with the 2026 Easter Conference Finals Larry Bird MVP trophy.
The Knicks — back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years — have nine days off before the series begins June 3, and will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Western Conference finals is tied at 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5.
The New York Knicks continued their torrid run through the playoffs Monday night with a 130-93 demolition of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It wrapped up a 4-0 sweep and punched the team’s ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
While the Knicks stayed hot on the court, the club is amid a plan to unlock its full potential off the court by splitting the Knicks and New York Rangers into separate publicly traded companies—both are currently part of Madison Square Garden Sports.
Here is a look at the who, what, when and why behind this potential transaction, which is still subject to league approvals and other conditions.
What is MSG Sports doing with the Knicks and the Rangers?
In February, the MSGS board approved a plan to explore a split. “We believe this proposed transaction would provide each company with enhanced strategic flexibility, its own defined business focus and clear characteristics for investors,” MSGS CEO James Dolan said when announcing the news.
The firm took the next step last week when it filed a Form 10 Registration Statement with the SEC for the proposed spin-off. It continued a long history of the Dolan family splicing up their business empire in the hopes of creating more value, i.e. a higher stock price.
Dolan family patriarch Charles built the family’s first fortune on the back of cable television by founding HBO and building Cablevision into a behemoth that was sold to Altice in 2016 for $18 billion. Dolan died in 2024 at 98; by that point, his son, James, had been running the family’s businesses for nearly three decades.
Cablevision acquired 50% of the Knicks, Rangers and related businesses in 1994 and the rest of the MSG properties three years later. In 2010, Madison Square Garden was spun off from Cablevision into its own publicly traded company.
“This enables MSG to freely pursue its business plan while providing shareholders with the benefit of being able to more clearly evaluate the company’s assets and future potential,” James Dolan said in announcing that split.
The MSG spinoff was the first domino in what is now three unique companies. In 2015, Dolan split MSG in two with the sports teams and venues (Madison Square Garden, Beacon Theater, Radio City Music Hall and Chicago Theater) in one and Madison Square Garden Network (MSGN) in the other.
The next machination was to split the teams and venues in 2020 under MSGS and Madison Square Garden Entertainment. This transaction forced the Knicks and Rangers to sign leases with their new landlords, MGSE. Meanwhile, Dolan launched his Sphere business at MSGN and renamed the company Sphere Entertainment in 2023.
Why is MSG Sports splitting the Knicks and the Rangers?
MSGS has long been pegged as having a “Dolan discount” for the stock trading at a steep discount to its enterprise value. MSGS’ current EV is $9.6 billion, a 29% discount to the $13.5 billion combined total from Sportico’s most recent valuations of the Knicks at $9.85 billion and the Rangers at $3.65 billion.
The reality is that sports teams have historically traded at a discount to what they might fetch in a private transaction. The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Indians—now Guardians—both traded at steep discounts before they went private.
Manchester United shares languished at $13 and below its 2012 IPO price but more than doubled on hopes of a sale when the Glazers hired Raine Group to explore their options in late 2022. Jim Ratcliffe ultimately bought 25% of the common stock at $33 per share in early 2024, implying a valuation of more than $6 billion. The stock sank back to $14 after the transaction closed, although it recently rebounded to a two-year high of $20.
There are a couple of strikes working against publicly traded sports teams. Soaring valuations are partly driven by scarcity value, and there is no scarcity value as a publicly traded stock. There are 8,000 securities traded on U.S. stock exchanges, including exchange traded funds, yet just 124 teams in the four biggest U.S. sports leagues, which have added only two new franchises during the past 20 years.
The other issue is sports teams are not great businesses by themselves. Team ownership opens doors for other investment opportunities and are a great tax break when you buy them, but there is reason that investment bankers started valuing teams on revenue multiples—still the standard today—instead of earnings ones, like most companies with a price-to-earnings ratio. Sports teams historically lost money, and while today’s collective bargaining agreements are more owner-friendly and TV deals have soared, teams still have low profit margins or can lose money, with the exception of the NFL.
The Knicks and Rangers lost a combined $22 million after taxes and interest during the 2024-25 fiscal year, per Madison Square Garden Sports’ financial filings, despite the Knicks’ run to Eastern Conference finals.
MSG Sports’ plan to potentially split the teams sent shares up 16% the day it was announced in February. MSGS shares are up 89% during the past year, bringing the public and private valuations more in line.
Why is MSG Sports splitting the Knicks and Rangers now?
A transaction 3,000 miles away last year helped heat up spinoff talks when Mark Walter agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers at a $10 billion valuation, months after the sale of the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. Before the rise of the Golden State Warriors, the Knicks and Lakers were the NBA’s financial titans in a league of their own.
“The spin enhances the possibility of raising capital, and [it] makes minority stake sales easier, as there are two distinct teams’ business models, which makes for a clearer investment vehicle,” Seaport Research Partners analyst David Joyce wrote in an April research note.
Sportico recently spoke with multiple investors who think Dolan could move beyond just an LP stake deal and sell one of the teams outright. Someone familiar with the spinoff details pushed back on the premise of a control sale of either team.
A spokesperson for MSGS declined to comment on the possibility of a control sale of one of the teams.
Dolan has long prioritized his sports teams, but the 71-year-old has increasingly spent time on the Sphere, a project that was his creation and described as his “baby” by those close to him. Dolan envisions a global network of Spheres, using the same IP, with the next two iterations already in the works for a mini-Sphere outside Washington, D.C. and a full-size version in Abu Dhabi.
What potential issues could arise in the Knicks-Rangers split?
The spin-off is expected to be structured as tax-free for shareholders, but there are other tax consequences to this deal.
A new federal tax law expands a 2017 tax provision that limited the compensation public companies could deduct for tax purposes. The 2017 provision capped the deduction at $1 million each for the CEO, CFO and the next three highest-paid officers. The new law expands the number of employees to also include the next five highest-compensated ones starting with the 2027 tax year.
An independently traded Knicks team would pay its top five executives and top five players $195 million—nearly 90% of that to players—triggering $55.4 million in taxes, per Joyce, after excluding the $1 million per employee in maximum compensation. The Rangers would incur a post-spinoff incremental tax of $19.8 million on $76 million in salaries.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t trade for a one-year rental. All indicators point towards James Harden returning to the team this summer after opting out to restructure his deal.
“Yes. 100%,” said Harden on whether he wants to be back in Cleveland. “Definitely want to be here. I think we found something. It’s tough not ending how we wanted to, but I think we found something.”
That’s as strong a commitment as you’ll get from a player in today’s NBA. That type of clarity on someone’s future can actually be relieving. Reports suggest the Cavs are just as certain that they want Harden back for next season.
“This is not theoretical, James Harden will be back with the Cavs next year,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “It will be for multiple years guaranteed.”
This should come as no surprise. It was unlikely that Cleveland would have traded Darius Garland for half a year of Harden. This was always going to be a multi-year relationship.
Harden averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 assists in 18 playoff games this year. Everything he did was on the fly after joining the Cavs midseason. In some ways, that makes their run to the Eastern Conference Finals impressive. But I don’t think anyone is handing out brownie points at this time.
“We showed a lot, we could have folded a few times, especially in the second round,” said Donovan Mitchell after the season ended. “Game 6 [loss to Detroit] was tough. That’s an organizational altering series, and for us to rally around each other and execute on the road, that tells you everything you need to know.”
The Cavs have work to do; New York made that painfully obvious. They don’t have the continuity or cohesion that’s required of winning at the highest level. Another year with Harden could help them achieve that. That’s what you have to tell yourself, at least.
Harden carries with him all the baggage of a legendary player who has never made it to the top of the mountain. This was understood before trading for him. Harden tied Karl Malone for the most playoff wins without a championship this postseason. That’s a narrative that’s come to define him for many fans.
“We ignore leadership, we ignore the human character of who he is, we ignore the empowerment he gives people, and we ignore his greatness in a major way,” said Mitchell. “It’s really unfair, now more than ever, now that I see it on a regular basis, we have a ‘ring culture’ society, and that’s just who we are.”
There’s merit to Harden’s on-court resume. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, no matter how hard you criticize him. Still, there’s always only been one way to shut people up. He has to win.
“I’m still here, right? Still alive, still going. That’s all I can do,” said Harden of his shortcomings in the playoffs. “As much as we want to feel sorry or doubt our journey, whether it’s you guys or me, you just gotta keep pushing.”
Apr 12, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Wizards guard Sharife Cooper (13) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Enaruna (21) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Welcome to our Wizards player review series. We’ll go through each guy that played meaningful minutes and look back on their season. Here’s Sharife Cooper.
Sharife Cooper has had a winding basketball journey, bouncing around China, Turkey, Greece, and France after a year of sparse minutes as a rookie with the 2021-22 Hawks. The Wizards brought him in this season on a two-way deal.
In some ways, he was a classic tank captain — a journeyman guard who struggled defensively and primarily played big minutes in late-season games.
To Cooper’s credit, his numbers would place him above that status. He put together a 61 percent true shooting percentage, well-above-average for position, and he knocked down 38 percent of his threes. He was able to get to the basket consistently and finish. He’s capable of playmaking, too.
When the Wizards gave him the ball, good things generally happened. He put up positive numbers when he created out of the pick-and-roll and in isolation. When he iso’d, he managed an even one point per possession, an upper-percentile number.
Cooper plays with darting speed and a score-first mentality. He can score at all three levels, including a fairly efficient midrange shot, and he did a better job than the Wizards’ other young guards of penetrating the defense on a consistent basis.
That’s the good news. The flip side is that Cooper is not a particularly threatening off-ball player and doesn’t provide enough as a playmaker to offset that. His three-point shot, while efficient last season, came on low-volume despite his heavy offensive role. He has a low, somewhat labored shot-put release, lightly reminiscent of a Ball brother. He is not seeking out threes, and defenses at times sagged off him.
While he ran a solid volume of pick-and-rolls and produced a respectable number of assists, he did not turn that usage into consistent shots for his teammates. Per Databallr, he ranked in the 28th-percentile in potential assists per on-ball time — measuring how often he created shots, relative to how much he had the ball.
It’s likely for that reason that Cooper rarely broke into the team’s healthy rotation, and did not navigate his way to a standard NBA contract, unlike Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins. Small, defensively-challenged guards have to be higher-end playmakers in today’s NBA.
And Cooper was certainly defensively challenged. Defensive metrics can be wonky, but they point to him being one of the worst individual defenders in the league.
On a team with Trae Young and Tre Johnson, he is duplicative, which likely makes it an uphill battle for him to stick with the Wizards as they look to elevate out of tank territory.
