Category: NBA

While Game 2 did not go the way any Wolves fans would want, it’s still an opportunity to reload and reflect. Canis’ Thilo Widder is joined by our Spurs’ sister site Pounding the Rock EIC JR Wilco to discuss what could change in a pivotal Game 3 return to Minnesota.

Thilo Widder

Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have called the last frat “slightly braggadocious” but alas, when else am I going to be able to use that word?

That was certainly a game. Not a good one, but it was certainly one. The Wolves guards imploded under the weight of a Stephon Castle without foul trouble while Jaden McDaniels unfortunately found himself on the wrong side of Scott Foster.

The Wolves continue to be one of the least consistent teams in the league, but a 16-7 run was enough of a run to build a 25 point lead that just got worse and worse. That run was the least of the numerous problems Minnesota had, as their guards shot 10/36 on the game.

Ayo Dosumnu, who I highlighted as a swing player, had only a block and a steal in 10 minutes of playtime before getting injured again. Bones Hyland continues to play very badly. Anthony Edwards is still so clearly hobbled.

If that was a representation of the rest of the series, that would suck (for me as a fan at least, I’m sure you’d disagree). Fortunately for us as content creators and fans of good basketball, it probably won’t be.

On that note though, I’m curious what the biggest changes you saw and if they are sustainable. Obviously, DeAaron Fox and Victor Wembenyama played better, but that was always to be expected. What turned this from a neck and neck Game 1 to a blowout of that scale in Game 2?

J.R. Wilco

One of the reasons we watch sports is to see something that we don’t expect. And nothing fulfills that purpose less than a blowout. I had an absolute blast watching Game 1, and even though the evening ended poorly for me, I have good memories of that tightly contested game that felt like each play mattered. 

In the regular season, when the other team goes on a run, you tell yourself that there’s plenty of time in the game and your team can definitely make it back. But in a game like we saw on Monday, even a seven point lead seems daunting. Both teams dialed into that extent is one of the joys of being a fan. Nothing else quite touches it.

Of course, another joy of being a fan is watching your team absolutely pummel a squad that they’ve recently lost to, and so I’m not gonna lie:  Wednesday night was fun too. Just a different kind of fun. Fox was slithering through the lane. Wembanyama was flying all over the court — I mean that literally and not just vertically, because I saw a still shot of the rebound dunk he threw in for his first points, and Victor isn’t even on the screen when Julian Champagnie starts his shooting motion. And the screen covered all the way to mid court! Julian and Vassell pilled off one of the most rare plays in basketball, the alley-oop three-pointer. I’m still geeking out about it. 

I’m also geeking out about the chess match Johnson and Fitch are engaged in. Here are the things that I think our responsible for the way, the Spurs ran the table.

They turned Edwards and Randle into passers by doubling and trapping, much like OKC did in last year’s WCF. When the Wolves doubled back on all of the talk about how Wemby would have to keep blocking every shot they took, he recognized that they weren’t coming at him and stayed down so he could just challenge and rebound instead of trying to go after every attempt. That kept Minnesota’s possessions mostly one and done. Third, San Antonio committed to running at every opportunity, especially after scores. They just had so many buckets early in the shot clock and Minny looked unprepared for those quick strikes. 

Those are the things Finch needs to respond to. What do you see happening in Game 3?

Thilo

God, hard to say. The Wolves of yesteryear (or yesteryesteryear, I forget) were absolutely incapable of stopping the fast break, or any team with pace in general. I don’t doubt that this is a return to that form.

The Wolves are built first and foremost on turning defense into offense, not in the typical sense but by wearing out their opponents with their defense until Minnesota faces no pushback on the other end.

It is, by and large, a war of attrition.

However, for that to work, you cannot allow any easy points. 29 fast break points is far too much. Hell, 15 is probably too much for the “beat them with hammers” approach to work. 

I think part of that problem will fix itself with Ayo and Ant getting healthier – more bodies back typically means less opportunities on the break – but I think the solution is in committing to one of two extremes

The Wolves of the past, the ones that would bleed points in transition, were violently pursuant of offensive rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns would crash the glass. Rudy Gobert would crash the glass. Jaden McDaniels would crash the glass. There were even possessions where Minnesota would leave Michael Conley Jr. as the only man back in pursuit of those ever alluring extra possessions.

Now, would I suggest doing that against the eight foot demigod and his trusty sidekick, possibly the fastest player in the league? No, probably not. That would be dumb and obscenely risky and I simply would not have the heart to bring that up in fear of being yelled at like an old school scout on the set of Moneyball.

But it is an option.

The other, more likely option is far less fun. Instead of going all in on extra possessions, you do the opposite. You abandon the offensive glass as much as you can. A five-on-four break is infinitely easier to defend than a two-on-one or three-on-one alternative. Rudy Gobert becomes your only offensive rebounder. Julius Randle commits to getting back after his mid-range shots.

This sucks though. And more importantly, it doesn’t fix the turnover problem. Quite simply, this is also a part of who the Wolves are. They’re not 22 per game bad, but they tend to play fast and loose with the ball far too often. 

Ultimately, I think Chris Finch will try incredibly hard to make this series be played in the half court entirely. That could mean a lot of conservative calls. Rebounding is the start of that, but I think Mike Conley probably gets more run, simply because he’s not as prone to bad choices as TJ Shannon or Bones Hyland.

To follow that up, I think Bones has lost his spot in the playoff rotation of this series. While the Thunder of last year absolutely broke Julius Randle with ball pressure and pass-forcing, the Spurs are breaking Bones by simply letting him overdribble.

That may not be a full answer, but it’s certainly a start: play slower, be more boring, keep going to the rim, and, Jaden, stop fouling.

To that point, it feels like the underspoken most important data point of this series will be who can foul out the opposing team’s perimeter stopper first. McDaniels and Castle are so hugely important in these next three to five games that it feels like losing either loses the game.

How did the Spurs play without Castle during the regular season? Is there a backup plan if he’s sitting like he was in Game 1? How do the Wolves attack him without burning through their usable possessions?

(God, Donte would be eating the Spurs drop coverage alive right now. Truly a crushing loss. Fly high, Big Ragu.)

J.R.

There was a point when one of the main fears I had about the T-wolves was how we could keep DiVincenzo from going off for an entire series. Talk about a man who can’t be left alone at the arc! I’ve been an admirer of Dante’s for a while now. All the best to him, and a quick recovery. Now to your questions. 

San Antonio was 11-3 without Castle this year, but that was the regular season and we know that the playoffs are a different animal. But one of the accidental benefits of the Spurs’ bottoming out wasn’t just the timing, it was the repetition. Trading for Fox and then getting the second pick last draft means that we have a three-headed guard lineup, which is an incredible crutch to lean on when any of them have to take a breather, need a night off … or happen to foul out. 

We love our Castle, no doubt, but I know a number of Spurs fans who swear that Harper will be even better than Steph. Yeah, the fact that backup plan is a rookie point guard would usually terrify me, but Harper isn’t your typical rookie, and he’s not yet the defender that Castle is, Dylan shoots for a higher percentage, is impossibly smooth around the basket, and takes better care of the ball. As much as Steph’s defense is missed when he’s not on the floor, the team plays quite well without him. 

If the rest of this series turns into a battle of defensive aces struggling against foul trouble, that’ll be a shame. We already have too much talk about the timing and the frequency of the whistles in the rest of the matchups for that mess to invade ours too. But it’s 2026 after all, what else should we expect if not some top-tier controversy? Hopefully, we’re spared that, and Friday night’s game is another competitive and enjoyable contest.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Warriors enter Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery with the 11th-best odds for the number-one overall pick.
• Austin Rivers challenges Draymond Green to a 1-on-1 matchup amid their ongoing feud.
• Top NBA Draft prospect Darryn Peterson says high doses of creatine caused his midseason cramping issues.

This weekend marks an important date for the future of the Golden State Warriors.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is set for Sunday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. PT on ABC, as the league’s 14 lottery teams vie for the top spot in what is viewed as one of the strongest draft classes in recent history. For the Warriors, they enter the lottery with the 11th-best odds for the No. 1 overall pick at 2.0% after finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 37-45 record.

Here’s a full look at the odds for every team entering Sunday’s lottery:

According to the chart, Golden State holds a 9.4% chance of jumping into the top four. However, the Warriors’ most likely outcome is remaining at No. 11, where they currently hold a 77.6% probability of selecting. It should also be noted that there is a 12.6% chance they fall to No. 12 and a 0.4% chance they slide to No. 13.

While Golden State’s chances of landing the top pick remain slim, Sunday’s lottery results will still play a major role in determining the franchise’s direction as they attempt to balance competing around Stephen Curry while also preparing for the next era of Warriors basketball.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, May 8th:

Warriors News:

2026 NBA draft lottery: Odds for every team, potential picks | ESPN

No. 1 pick odds: 2% | Top-four pick odds: 9.4%

Most likely pick if they stay at No. 11: Karim Lopez, SF/PF, New Zealand Breakers

Similar to Milwaukee, the direction Golden State takes here will be indicative of where the franchise’s goals lie. The Warriors can try to continue to maximize the final phase of Stephen Curry‘s career with a more NBA-ready prospect, or they could take a longer view. Assuming they don’t move up, this would become an interesting juncture in the draft, with the top freshmen all potentially off the board.

Lopez might marry those two goals, with a good mix of size, skill, feel and pro experience for a teenage prospect. On the other end of the age spectrum, forward Yaxel Lendeborg should get a long look from the Warriors because of his versatility to plug in right away.

Austin Rivers challenges Draymond Green to 1-on-1 amid back-and-forth feud | NBC Sports Bay Area

After Austin Rivers responded to Draymond Green’s brutal comments regarding his career, the former NBA veteran added fuel to the fire by asking the Warriors star to prove his basketball talents in a non-team setting.

“Why don’t you play me 1-on-1, Draymond?” Rivers exclaimed on Tidal League’s “To The Baha” podcast. “You can’t do handoffs in 1-on-1. You can’t set no pick-and-roll in 1-on-1. So, all that extra talk was BS.”

ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel’s update on Steve Kerr: “Everything stands in the direction of Steve Kerr being back”

NBA News:

Darryn Peterson says high doses of creatine led to cramping | ESPN

One of the top prospects in this year’s NBA draft spent much of his freshman season at Kansas trying to solve mysterious and sometimes debilitating cramping. But in an extended interview with ESPN this week, Peterson said that a new round of bloodwork and other tests after the college basketball season led his doctors to conclude that his use of high doses of creatine created the condition.

“I’d never taken it before [going to college],” Peterson said of the popular supplement which helps to increase muscle strength, power and growth. “But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must’ve made the levels unsafe.”

Lakers, Austin Reaves meet with the officials following their 125-107 loss vs. the Thunder

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors mailbag: The draft, the offseason, and Steve Kerr

I’d be surprised if they trade their first-round pick for anything other than a star player. It seems unlikely that they would want to trade down to get more draft picks, and put more young, raw players on the roster, though they’ll probably do something in the second round, because that’s just what they do. But with the first-round pick, they’ll want to get the best player they can, rather than multiple lesser players.

A post to end the week:

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The Knicks are heading to Philadelphia with a 2-0 lead ahead of Game 3.

In a Game 2 defined by lead changes and physical defense, the Knicks pulled away from the Sixers late thanks to Jalen Brunson, who finished with 26 points and hit a series of clutch jumpers in the final minutes.

Despite being without Joel Embiid, who was sidelined with hip and ankle soreness, the 76ers remained competitive throughout the night thanks to a 26-point effort from Tyrese Maxey and double-doubles from both Paul Reed and Kelly Oubre Jr.

Embiid is listed as questionable tonight, and the Knicks have two starters who left Game 2 with injuries. Both Josh Hart (thumb) and OG Anunoby (hamstring) will be game-time decisions tonight.

The next game in the Knicks vs. 76ers series is scheduled for Sunday night.

Knicks vs. 76ers start time:

Tonight’s (May 8) Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3 is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET.

How to watch Knicks vs. 76ers for free:

Tonight’s game is one of the NBA Playoffs games streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearswith all the perks.

Knicks-76ers second round playoff schedule

• Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
• Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
• Game 3: Friday, May 8 (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 12*
• Game 6: Thursday, May 14*
• Game 7: Sunday, May 17*

* if necessary

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

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.

Embiid returns for Sixers vs. Knicks Game 3, Anunoby sits  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Joel Embiid returned to the Sixers’ lineup Friday night for Game 3 of the team’s second-round playoff series vs. the Knicks. 

After missing the Sixers’ 108-102 loss in Game 2 with right ankle and right hip injuries, Embiid was back in the Sixers’ starting five. Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George joined him. 

The Sixers fell into a 2-0 series hole Wednesday in New York without Embiid and used Andre Drummond, Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow at center. Barlow gave the Sixers a strong second-half stint and Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he’ll remain an option at center. 

According to Nurse, Embiid has been “getting better all the time” and participated in the Sixers’ Friday morning shootaround. 

The Knicks ruled out OG Anunoby (right hamstring strain) for Game 3. Josh Hart (left thumb sprain) and Mitchell Robinson (illness) were both available.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown said that Anunoby is “day-to-day.”

His absence is a significant development. Anunoby has been great in the 2026 playoffs, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds.

“OG’s been unbelievable,” said Nurse, who coached Anunoby at the start of his NBA career with the Raptors. “He’s been amazing both in the Atlanta series and this series. OG has been as good as I’ve ever seen him. He just keeps getting better and better. That’s a testament to him. 

“His shooting’s been great. His cutting game is great. You used to think, ‘Well, let’s force him inside the line and see what’s going to happen.’ Now he’s dunking on people and hitting that 17-footer. He’s been doing everything at a super-high level. … Let’s hope he’s out there. I’m a big fan of OG’s.”

The Knicks shifted to a smaller starting lineup without Anunoby, sliding guard Miles McBride up to the first unit. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns rounded out the Knicks’ Game 3 starters. 

The Houston Rockets are sitting at home for the second round of the playoffs trying to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate next season.

This could lead to another aggressive offseason where the team scours the trade market. One player that could be on the Rockets’ radar is Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

“The one thing they (the Rockets) do have, they’ve got assets. They’ve got the 2027 and 2029 Suns picks. They’ve got the 2029 Mavs pick. They’ve got a swap in 2027 with the Brooklyn Nets. They are loaded, and they’ve got their own picks moving forward,” MacMahon said h/t Rockets Wire reporter Ben DuBose.

“So, if they want to make a blockbuster trade… and look, we’ll see what happens with the Cavaliers. If Donovan Mitchell’s available, that is a guy I could see the Rockets being aggressive to go get.“

The Rockets should value the experience of going deep in the playoffs, much like they have with Fred VanVleet and Kevin Durant. Mitchell has won a playoff series in each of the last three years with the Cavs and has 72 playoff games under his belt since 2018, reaching the postseason in all of his nine NBA seasons.

Mitchell’s contract expires at the end of the 2027-28 campaign, so it’s possible the Cavs may look to trade him this offseason if they were to fall short once again and he doesn’t want to sign an extension.

TDS community, what do you think of the idea of trading for Mitchell? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Five players Celtics should target with $27.7M traded player exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics will look to upgrade their roster this offseason after a stunning first-round exit in the 2026 NBA playoffs. During his end-of-season press conference, C’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens identified one area of the team that needs addressing.

“One of the things that we’ve got to figure out is how to have more of an impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that,” he said. “Everybody plays a role in that, but at the end of (Game 7), (Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel) Embiid is standing at the rim on all those possessions, or a lot of those possessions.”

Boston’s frontcourt was exposed when Embiid returned to the Sixers lineup, and that was among the biggest reasons for its collapse after taking a 3-1 series lead. While Neemias Queta and Luka Garza played significant roles all season long, the Celtics need someone they can count on to anchor their frontcourt when facing tough playoff matchups. Nikola Vucevic wasn’t the answer, and even if he re-signs this summer, it’s worth wondering whether he’d have a major role.

Unfortunately for the C’s, this year’s free agent class of centers leaves plenty to be desired. The good news, though, is that Boston can add an impactful big man via the trade market with the $27.7 million traded player exception (TPE) it gained from the Anfernee Simons/Vucevic trade back in February.

So, what are the top realistic trade options? Here are five big men the Celtics should consider acquiring with their TPE.

Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

• 2026-27 Salary: $23.1 million
• 2025-26 Stats: 57.1 FG%, 11.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.1 bpg (69 games)

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Celtics have been linked to Claxton in trade rumors before, and it’s easy to see why. The 6-foot-11 center is an above-average defender who can switch and guard anyone on the court at a high level. He consistently averages double digits in points per game while racking up rebounds and blocks.

Claxton is an athletic, versatile rim protector who should be relatively affordable in a deal with the rebuilding Nets. He’s coming off a down season by his standards, but joining a contender could help him return to form.

P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks

• 2026-27 Salary: $19.8 million
• 2025-26 Stats: 45.0 FG%, 32.5 3P%, 14.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 bpg (56 games)

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

At 6-foot-8, Washington isn’t the prototypical big man you may have had in mind, but the 27-year-old can play the five when the Celtics go small. Boston would benefit from his versatility, as he can protect the rim as well as switch and hold his own defensively against players of all sizes. Offensively, he’s capable of shooting the 3 and making his presence felt in the post.

Washington is a rell-rounded player who could help the C’s in a wide variety of ways.

Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic

• 2026-27 Salary: $18.1 million
• 2025-26 Stats: 51.2 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 11.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 bpg (78 games)

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Magic might look to move Carter Jr. to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. If so, the Celtics should give them a call.

Carter Jr. is a rock-solid defender who can also occasionally provide a spark on the offensive end. He isn’t the best rim protector, but he’s a versatile big who excels at switching and can anchor the paint. His play style would work well in Boston.

Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

• 2026-27 Salary: $17.2 million
• 2025-26 Stats: 65.5 FG%, 9.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.3 bpg (55 games)

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

If the Celtics prefer a more traditional center, Gafford could be their guy. The 27-year-old averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over 55 games last season in the first year of his three-year contract extension with Dallas

Gafford is an exceptional rim protector. Offensively, he offers little upside but can do some damage in the paint.

If the C’s are looking for a Kristaps Porzingis-like big man who can shoot the 3 and provide rim protection, they should look elsewhere. If they want an elite presence in the paint, Gafford should be on their list of targets.

Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies

• 2026-27 Salary: $17 million
• 2025-26 Stats: 47.9 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 14.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.7 bpg (43 games)

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Aldama checks a lot of boxes for Boston. The 7-footer is only 25, he’s affordable, and he provides value on both ends of the court.

Last season with Memphis, Aldama averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. He also notched just under one block and steal per game. The only concern with Aldama is injuries, as he was limited to only 43 games last season.

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Hollywood loves an underdog story.

Too bad those long shots are reserved to the silver screen and not the purple and gold hardwood of Crypto.com Arena. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are back in La-La Land buried in a 0-2 series hole to the Oklahoma City Thunder. My Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and same-game parlay for Game 3 doesn’t buy into that Tinsel Town magic, taking OKC to cover on the continued dominance of their big man in the middle, Chet Holmgren.

Here are my best NBA picks for May 9.

Our best Thunder vs Lakers SGP for Game 3

SGP leg #1: Thunder -8.5

The Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t got the best from their top star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and honestly haven’t looked dominant in the first two games of this Round 2 series. However, OKC has won the battle over 48 minutes, wearing down a talent-thin Los Angeles Lakers squad to pull away and cover massive spreads in the first two contests.

The 8.5-point spread for Game 3 is just the second time Oklahoma City has laid single digits in the playoffs and OKC seems to have L.A.’s number, boasting a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS mark against the Lakers so far this season.

SGP leg #2: Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists

Marcus Smart is shooting too much in the first two games of this series. Los Angeles needs the veteran point guard to be just that, prompting extra playmaking from Smart in Game 3.

He’s already dished out five and seven assists in the opening two games of this series and passing on shots and generating more potential assists will see him top four or more dimes for the seventh time in nine postseason games Saturday.

SGP leg #3: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points

The Lakers don’t have the size or versatility in their frontcourt to properly counter Chet Holmgren.

With the Lakers focused on flustering SGA, Holmgren is getting plenty of space to operate down low and is killing the Lakers whenever he steps outside the arc. He’s scored 22 and 24 points so far in this Round 2 set and his Game 3 models all sit above this modest total of 16.5 points for Saturday night.

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I enter tonight’s game more calm and serene than any other game this postseason. And I don’t particularly think I’m the only Knicks fan who feels that way. For many, the last 36 hours involved being an involuntary passenger on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

After seeing the Knicks win an ugly and gritty Game 2, the win almost felt meaningless due to the large void left by the uncertainty surrounding OG Anunoby’s injury. His suffering a significant injury would be a gutshot to fans, and a death sentence for a Knicks championship run.

Following hours and hours of refreshing social media feeds, trying not to have PTSD from Anunoby’s hamstring injury in 2024, and role-playing as an orthopedic doctor, fans let out a collective sigh of relief when reports started surfacing that Anunoby’s hamstring strain was mild and that he was just day-to-day.

Because fans, for the most part, were expecting the worst, his diagnosis feels like a bullet dodged, making tonight’s game against the 76ers somehow feel less dire. That being said, it’s still a road playoff game against a desperate and hungry rival looking to claw itself back into the series. A loss tonight means a little less room for error moving forward, while also giving Philadelphia a bit more confidence and momentum. Meanwhile, a win tonight would buy them, and more specifically, Anunoby, more time.

While the weight and emotions going into the game may feel different, the significance of the game doesn’t change. Nick Nurse and the 76ers will continue to change some things up. They’ll likely be better prepared to deal with the aggressive trapping of Tyrese Maxey. They’ll also likely double down on pressuring Jalen Brunson now with OG Anunoby out. And as backup point guard Kyle Lowry mentioned, they’ll make sure to pressure Karl-Anthony Towns more on the perimeter.

Unlike the fans, though, the Knicks likely aren’t going into this game as though they have multiple lives. While human nature may take over and give them at least a slight sense of relief, these Knicks have displayed more sense of urgency and focus since their Game 3 loss to the Hawks in the last round. From Brunson, Towns, and Mikal Bridges, who have been playing incredibly well, to bench players Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado, along with the now probable Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson, this team should come into the game ready to compete.

Whether they win or not is still up in the air, but they have the depth, offensive firepower, and defense to defeat what is still a fatigued and very thin 76ers team.

Prediction

If Joel Embiid is out again tonight, which I suspect will be the case with the Knicks being sans Anunoby, I expect another close back-and-forth affair between these two teams. I do think the 76ers will come up hot, much like they did in Game 1. They’ll be back home, knowing they are a loss away from going down 3-0, and will also know that the Knicks are wounded, missing one of, if not, their best postseason performers.

But this battle-tested Knicks have been like roaches, and I mean that in the most endearing way someone can use that word. Even when they look tired, or out of sorts, or are just not executing well, they have a remarkable tendency to always give themselves a chance. They’ve got the will and the grit that cannot be quantified by counting stats or analytics. And I think that bodes well for them tonight in a game where things may not go their way. But unlike the last time Anunoby missed a postseason game with a hamstring injury, this team also has depth.

McBride, Shamet, Clarkson, Robinson, and even Mo Diawara have all had huge moments for this team this season and have won multiple games. Replacing Anunoby with one player will be impossible. But they might just be able to recreate him in the aggregate (yes, that was a Moneyballreference).

Knicks win: 105–102

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (2-0) vs Philadelphia 76ers (0-2)
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
TV: Prime Video
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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Veteran point guard Marcus Smart served as a finger in the dam for the Los Angeles Lakers when Austin Reaves was out of the lineup. 

Now that Reaves is back and rolling, Smart should be taking a step back in terms of his shooting activity. That hasn’t been the case.

Our Thunder vs. Lakers predictions believe that if L.A. is going to climb out of a 0-2 hole versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, it needs less shooting and more playmaking from Smart.

My NBA picks like Smart to top his assist prop in Game 3 on Saturday, May 9.

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the game airing on ABC. 

Thunder vs Lakers Game 3 prediction

Who will win Thunder vs Lakers Game 3?

Thunder: At this point, it looks like L.A. is running out of options. Los Angeles has done a great job limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the Thunder are extremely deep and getting great production from the other starters, along with the bench.

When everything is added up over 48 minutes, the Lakers come up short. Oklahoma City has taken L.A.’s best shots and still managed to cover those massive spreads. They’ll stiffen up on defense with the series hitting the road, especially after giving up 52 points in the paint in Game 2.

The Thunder will take a commanding 3-0 series lead tonight. 

Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists (-115)

When Austin Reaves was out, Marcus Smart filled that scoring role. And when Reaves returned at the end of Round 1, naturally, Smart’s shots slimmed. 

Through two games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, however, Smart is a collective 8-for-28 from the field. He’s not who the Los Angeles Lakers need shooting the ball. 

Rather, the Lakers need Smart to set up Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura.

Smart has dished out five and seven assists so far and has recorded four or more dimes in six of eight playoff outings. Yet, his assist total for Game 3 sits at 3.5 O/U.

Saturday's projections lean toward four assists from Smart.

COVERS INTEL: Marcus Smart is actually second on the team in touches in Round 2, ahead of LeBron James. He’s generated 12 dimes from 16 potential assists vs. OKC and is averaging 5.6 assists on 9.8 potential assists per game for the playoffs.

Thunder vs Lakers Game 3 same-game parlay

Game 3 will be just the second time the Thunder have been single-digit favorites in the postseason. Despite covering big piles of chalk at home, OKC didn’t look dominant in those wins. Instead, Oklahoma City slowly drifted away from the Lakers.

Los Angeles’ frustrations are starting to boil over, and we’ve seen OKC crush a much stronger version of this L.A. team at times in the regular season. I like them to cover the modest -8.5 in La-La Land on Saturday.

Chet Holmgren is the MVP for this series. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commanding extra attention from Los Angeles’ defense, Holmgren has stepped up with efforts of 22 and 24 points in the opening two games.

The Lakers don’t have the size or versatility to counter the 7-footer, especially when he steps out and knocks down perimeter shots. Chet is projected for 17+ points in Game 3.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Thunder -8.5
• Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists
• Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Holmgren, Again and Again

I bet this same SGP in Game 2, and the Thunder’s 7-footer came up a winner, scoring 22 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking two shots in OKC’s one-sided win.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Holmgren is a huge problem for this L.A. interior and is projected for 17+ points, 9.5 rebounds, and two swats in Game 3. Let’s run it back, big fella.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Thunder -8.5
• Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
• Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
• Chet Holmgren Over 1.5 blocks

Thunder vs Lakers odds for Game 3

• Spread: Thunder -8.5 (-110) | Lakers +8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder -390 | Lakers +380
• Over/Under: Over 212 (-110) | Under 212 (-110)

Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Thunder are a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS versus the Lakers this season, including an 8-1 SU/ATS record against L.A. over the past two years. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 3

Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries

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Due diligence. That’s part of the administrative side of the offseason game, and that’s what we’re doing as we walk through the free agent landscape this summer. Maybe this is something you skim past and never think about again. Maybe it becomes useful ammo at a cocktail party when another fan starts talking about how badly they want Devin Booker. You can counter with one of the names from this list of free agent shooting guards.

Quite honestly, the Phoenix Suns don’t need another shooting guard. They’re already investing $93.4 million into that position next season. Unless they become desperate for the 14th or 15th guy on the bench to fill that specific role, a lot of the names below don’t carry much appeal.

We’re still going to look at them because that’s the point of this exercise. Position by position, working through the market and laying out who is available this offseason. Without further ado, here is the list of unrestricted free agents at the shooting guard position, per Spotrac.

Well, that was an underwhelming list, wasn’t it? As underwhelming as a Schlitz, ammiright?

Anybody above the Jordan Clarkson line probably isn’t even worth considering. Most of those players are attached to teams that hold their Bird rights, and if those organizations want to keep investing in them, they will. There is no need for the Phoenix Suns to invest more roster capital at this position, and if they do, it should be for a veteran minimum contracted player.

Side note: I didn’t realize Clarkson was almost 34.

Once you get below that Clarkson line, you start seeing names that make a little more sense. Is that Landry Shamet?! Our old friend Josh Okogie? And hey, the man who bet on himself, Cam Thomas. Should’ve taken the RFA extension offer from the Nets, buddy.

Amir Coffey feels like the obvious target for the Suns to bring back. They traded for him because of the versatility, the ability to hit the three, and the defensive flexibility. Spotrac lists him as a shooting guard; he’s really more of a wing defender. I’d expect Phoenix to bring him back for depth and continuity purposes. Outside of that, there really aren’t many players on this list that feel like realistic targets. The Suns already have plenty of guard depth.

We’ll move on to the small forwards next. Is there anybody here that interests you? Let us know in the comments below.

Two games in four days in Oklahoma City have the Lakers quickly trailing 2-0 in the series, a daunting deficit, considering the opponent they are facing and the fact that history is not on their side. The team that wins the first two of a series advances 92% of the time.

​The purple and gold are still without superstar Luka Dončić, who revealed he likely won’t return this series, while OKC continued to miss All-Star Jalen Williams.

​Building on Game 1, Game 2 followed a similar script. LA kept it close while holding the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to another modest night. OKC’s shot-making took over in the fourth to take another double-digit win.

An important change between the two games came by way of Austin Reaves’ play. In just his fourth game back from a Grade 2 oblique strain, he found his offensive rhythm for a Lakers team in critical need of it.

After a nightmare Game 1 on Tuesday where Reaves finished 3-16 from the field for eight points, he surpassed that total in the first half on Thursday with 13. He ended the night putting up 31 points on 10-16 from the field and six assists, surpassing his previous playoff career high of 23.

​Reaves’ first two shots had shades of the previous matchups, overpenetrating and getting blocked by stingy rim protectors in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. He eventually settled into his offense, finding rhythm and patience in the pick-and-roll.

​The Thunder play drop coverage with their bigs, while their guards aggressively chase the offensive playmaker over the screen. One of the shots available against that defense is the pull-up in the mid-range.

Watch below as the Lakers run their Spain action — the big man screening on the ball receives a back screen from an off-ball player. Luke Kennard, setting the Spain screen, ghosts while Jaxson Hayes rolls hard to the rim.

Reaves navigates around the screen and gets the foul on Cason Wallace with the basket.

​To address some of the issues, the Lakers made one key adjustment by running more actions with LeBron James as the main screener. It not only took one of their elite defensive bigs out of the on-ball action, but got LeBron going downhill while involving their two best players in the play.

Watch below as they run the action at the top of the key with shooters spaced and a big man in the dunker spot. Reaves comes around the LeBron screen, whose roll forces Hartenstein to tag and opens Hayes for the floater to put the Lakers up a point at the half.

They ran it again to start the third quarter, getting Reaves downhill for his patented floater.

Reaves and LeBron combined for half of the Lakers’ points and assists but had eight of the 20 turnovers.

Another key shot necessary against this coverage is the pull-up 3-pointer. Watch as Reaves comes off the screen from Deandre Ayton with the big man dropped back. He takes advantage of the open space and knocks down the shot.

Coming into this game, Reaves was just two for his last 17 before hitting 3-6 on Thursday.

“I thought he did a good job touching the paint,” head coach J.J Redick said postgame. “Those touch shots were there tonight. Got some good looks from three. Played a solid game. Obviously, he had five turnovers, but everyone in our team had turnovers.”

While there are no moral victories in the playoffs, nothing short of a win was more important than getting Reaves’ offense going as the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. The Thunder won the first two battles, but the Lakers are hoping to win the war by finally getting their star guard back on track.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

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While the NBA Playoffs might be unpredictable to the masses, BetMGM bettors are wallowing in money following several six-figure wins on Thursday.

According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, more than $700,000 was claimed in select spread bets from yesterday’s playoff matchups.

Key Takeaways

• BetMGM reported a series of nine ascending spread bets, all worth at least $20,000, on Thursday.
  
  
• The largest individual payout was $110,000 for a $100,000 wager on the Pistons at -4.5 (+110).
  
  
• The Thunder have a 62% implied chance to win the championship.

At least one bettor put their money where their mouth was, supporting the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their ongoing series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The first in the series of bets was headlined by a $100,000 wager on the Pistons to cover a 4.5-point spread at +110 odds. The full breakdown is shown below.

A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $225,000 on the @DetroitPistons in Game 2:

$50,000 on Pistons +1.5 (-190)
$35,000 on Pistons -1.5 (-150)
$20,000 on Pistons -2.5 (-130)
$20,000 on Pistons -3.5 (-102)
$100,000 on Pistons -4.5 (+110)

Pistons won Game 1 by 10 points

Gambling problem?…

— John Ewing (@johnewing) May 7, 2026

The user’s confidence paid off as the Pistons stormed ahead to a 2-0 series lead. Cade Cunnignham dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort, while Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points and six rebounds weren’t enough to overcome a 10-point disaster by James Harden. 

The $225,000 in total spread bets that were submitted resulted in a $419,641.58 payout, or $194,641.58 in profit. 

A little over two hours after the Pistons wagers were reported, Ewing shared that another $190,000 in Thunder tickets had been accepted. Once again, the bold bettor was on the money. 

A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $190,000 on the @okcthunder to cover in Game 2:

$100,000 on Thunder -9.5 (-230)
$50,000 on Thunder -11.5 (-165)
$20,000 on Thunder -12.5 (-145)
$20,000 on Thunder -13.5 (-140)

Thunder won by 18 points in Game 1

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

— John Ewing (@johnewing) May 8, 2026

The Thunder logged their second straight 18-point victory over the Lakers as three OKC members scored at least 20 points. Austin Reaves had 31 points in a losing effort scarred by controversial refereeing decisions.

PrizePicks, who is a OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE NBA is calling out the refs for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder

That’s how bad this has become https://t.co/6NYNdTTKYJ

— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) May 8, 2026

The winning bets produced a $291,860.10 payout and $101,860.10 in profit.

Altogether, BetMGM paid $711,501.68 total and $296,501.68 in profit to the holder(s) of the tickets. It is unclear if the bets were placed by the same or different individuals.

Tracking the NBA playoff odds

Both the Pistons and Lakers were favored to win Games 1 and 2 at home. With both now up 2-0, they are unsurprisingly huge favorites to close out their series and advance to the Conference Finals.

The Thunder were the largest second-round favorites in the playoff bracket. They are now -10000 (99% implied chance) in odds to advance, while the Lakers are +1800 (5.3% chance).

The Pistons are a much longer -450, comparatively speaking, although they still have a 81.8% chance to advance. The Cavaliers are +340 (22.7% chance).

Elsewhere around the league, the San Antonio Spurs are -4.5 favorites entering Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with their series tied, 1-1. They’re also -325 (76.5% chance) to win the series despite dropping Game 1 as a 10.5-point favorite at home. The Timberwolves are +250 (28.6% chance) to win the series.

The Knicks, the second-largest favorite of the second round with -1200 series odds (7.7% chance), are 1.5-point underdogs in a road Game 3 on Friday night. Joel Embiid, who played in Game 1 but missed Game 2, is questionable.

NBA Finals odds picture

BetMGM has the Thunder leading NBA Finals odds at -165 (62.3% chance). The Spurs (+325), Knicks (+800), and Pistons (+1500) are the only teams with odds shorter than +5000.

While the Thunder are the clear-cut favorites, they still face a tall task getting out of the Western Conference. They are 6-0 against the Lakers across the regular and postseason, but they were only 2-2 against the Timberwolves and 1-4 against the Spurs.

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