Category: NBA

Celtics assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and Tyler Lashbrook could both become NBA head coaches next season. Lashbrook is a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers head coach position, while Dobbins is in the mix for the Dallas Mavericks head coach position.

Dobbins has been with the Celtics since 2017 and is one of Joe Mazzulla’s four front-of-bench assistant coaches, while Lashbrook has been with the team since 2023 and works primarily on the offensive (and player development) side.

What Tony Dobbins brings to the Celtics

Tony Dobbins is one of the Celtics’ longest-tenured assistants and an important member of the defensive team. He is a former professional basketball player who went undrafted after an illustrious career at Virginia Tech (1999-2000) and Richmond (2001-2004) as a defensive specialist. Dobbins spent a few years in the G League, but the majority of his 13-year pro career took place overseas, where he laced up for professional clubs in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain.

Dobbins has been a Celtics assistant coach since 2017, beginning in the film room and rising through the ranks over the past decade. Dobbins was the Celtics’ Summer League head coach in 2023. This past year, he was the assistant coach who worked most closely with Jayson Tatum as he rehabbed his Achilles injury.

“He’s one of the best people you’ll ever be around,” Jayson Tatum told CelticsBlog last year.

“I can’t thank him enough for his selflessness and just really being engaged with me every single day,” Tatum said after making his return from his Achilles injury.

Before that, Dobbins worked most closely as Jaylen Brown’s lead coach. He’s widely known as one of the most patient and even-keeled people on the Celtics’ sidelines.

“Tony is always keeping everybody level-headed – reminding me, and reminding our team just to breathe,” Brown said in February. “Managing the emotions of the game is what he speaks to a lot, because the better players — the better professionals — can manage their stress levels and their emotions during the game, so that they can see the game clearly.”

Marc Stein reported on Thursday that the Mavericks are expected to interview a dozen or so prospects to replace Jason Kidd as head coach. In addition to Dobbins, that list includes Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, and Miami consultant
Noah LaRoche.

What Tyler Lashbrook brings to the Celtics

Tyler Lashbrook is one of the lead voices in the Celtics’ offense team and a key part of the team’s player development. He was the head coach of the Maine Celtics during the 2024-2025 season before returning to the parent club this year.

Before joining the Celtics in 2023, Lashbrook was with the Philadelphia 76ers since 2014. He began as an intern in the film room and worked his way to becoming a video coordinator and player development coach.

Lashbrook was a player development coach in Boston during the championship season before becoming a head coach in the G League for the first time last year.

Lashbrook is reportedly one of three finalists for the Trail Blazers head coach position, a list that also includes interim head coach Tiago Splitter and longtime Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, per Marc Stein.

If either Dobbins or Lashbrook is selected for their respective head coach roles, they’ll become the latest in a long line of former Celtics assistants to land head coach positions. Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee and Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy were both recently Celtics assistants, while Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was the Celtics’ head coach in 2022.

The Jalen Brunson-Spurs fan mystery that stemmed from Game 1 continues.

After the Knicks’ 105-95 series-opening win at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the ESPN broadcast caught the three-time All-Star in a spat with fans near the scorer’s table.

Referee Scott Foster quickly noticed and tried to turn Brunson’s attention elsewhere before his Knicks teammates came over to do the same.

The NBA is reportedly investigating a pair of “vulgar” courtside fans, though the San Antonio crowd offered a lot of potential persons of interest.

X account New York Basketball posted a series of clips from the final minutes of the ESPN game broadcast, with the incident beginning in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

The video begins with 20.6 seconds left on the clock while OG Anunoby is at the foul line and Brunson wandering toward the scoring table and seemingly hearing chirping from the sidelines.

The video shows Brunson appearing to have words with a fan in a white hat.

The two seemingly went back and forth for a bit before Foster took notice and the woman next to the fan in the white hat seemingly chimed in.

Later, Brunson dribbled the ball over to the same sideline as the scoring table as the final buzzer rang out. Foster stood between the guard and the fans Brunson appeared to be conversing with.

The Post’s photographers snapped pictures as a heated Brunson chatted with Foster, gesturing behind the official, as Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride made their way over to the fuss.

It’s unclear what was said in the brief exchange with Foster. 

Alvarado tried to pull Brunson away twice before pushing him along to the Knicks’ sideline area to talk with ESPN’s Lisa Salters for the broadcast.

While walking away, Brunson looked back as he walked with McBride, and as Karl-Anthony Towns passed them to head toward the fans, the backup guard seemingly said, “Hey, don’t.”

Additionally, before Brunson started his interview with Salters, Alvarado came by to say something in Brunson’s ear.

Despite exiting the game in the first quarter for a big Knicks injury scare, Brunson found a way to be Captain Clutch yet again down the stretch.

He delievered as the Knicks crawled out of a 14-point third-quarter deficit and tallied 30 points on 12-of-31 shooting across 37 minutes.

The Spurs host Game 2 on Friday before the series heads to New York, and it seems some courtside seats for the second go-round may have just opened up.

ESPN may have some explaining to do.

Despite improved presentation during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night with vintage trademarks returning, the network is under scrutiny Thursday morning as keen-eyed observers caught something bizarre.

ESPN aired an AI-generated image of former Spurs star point guard and four-time champion Tony Parker smiling and waving his finger up and down.

The image had Parker wearing a racing Spurs jacket with the Western Conference logo on one sleeve and what looked to be an American flag on the other.

Parker was also wearing a black and gray hat sideways with confetti falling in the background.

Several fans took to X to voice their concerns over the image, which ESPN showed while cutting to a commercial break in the second half.

“Could ESPN really not find a genuine shot of Tony Parker as they cut to an ad break? Just had to use AI,” ABC News journalist Jon Healy said on X Wednesday night.

“AI sucks. This isn’t Tony Parker. Do better. Gross,” WFLA sports anchor Jeff Dubrof posted to X.

Parker, a six-time All-Star and the 2007 Finals MVP, formed a dynamic duo with all-time great Tim Duncan in San Antonio.

The point guard spent 17 seasons with the Spurs before joining the Hornets for his final year in 2018-19, and averaged over 15 points per game in 11 of those years.

He posted a career-high 22 points per game in 2008-09 while shooting over 50 percent from the field.

In their first NBA Finals game since Parker was on the team back in 2014, the Spurs blew a 14-point second-half lead and fell to the Knicks 105-95.

Phenom Victor Wembanyama struggled to find his footing, with the 22-year-old shooting just 6-of-21 from the field despite tallying 26 points and 12 rebounds.

San Antonio looks to even the series in Game 2, which is set for Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.

She’s having a ball.

Flub-prone Knicks fan Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday dribbled up another awkward show of support for the team’s bid to win the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years.

Hochul, during a news conference about readiness for soccer’s upcoming World Cup, declared herself a fan of all sports.

“I’m fired up. I’m a huge sports fan, whatever it is,” she said.

“If there’s a ball involved, I love it. So, we’re excited, New Yorkers.”

The cringey comment came at the end of Hochul’s remarks and dovetailed with her recent failed attempt to dunk on President Trump’s own Knicks fandom.

Hochul last week tried to undercut Trump’s claim to be a lifelong Knicks supporter by snarkily saying, “I’d ask him to name the starting lineup from the 1993 championship team and see how he does.”

As any long-suffering Knicks fan knows, the orange and blue team last won a championship in 1973.

During 1993, the Knicks blew a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls — who went on to win the championship that launched the team’s first “three-peat.”

The Knicks did make it to the NBA Finals in 1994, but lost to the Houston Rockets. They also did so in 1999, falling to the San Antonio Spurs.

Undaunted by the flub, Hochul began her remarks Thursday by rhapsodizing over the Knicks’ latest championship drive and bafflingly comparing it to dawn.

“Let’s keep it going, Knicks,” she said. “I was just reflecting on the crack of dawn — literally crack of dawn — when the skies are orange and blue, early this morning when I took my walk and you know what I noticed? New Yorkers are making eye contact again. It was shocking. People looking up and have an extra lift in their step and wearing their Knicks gear as I was trying to go incognito but everybody seems to notice.

“There’s something magical in the air. So, it’s a very special day. Go Knicks. Make us all so proud.”

Hochul then tempted fate by invoking a jinx.

“They will be up until the fourth game and then they’ll be done,” she said, before catching herself, “I didn’t say that. I did not jinx anything, OK?”

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue our series with a look at Jaxson Hayes.

Coming off a year in which he was thrust into a starting role after trading away Anthony Davis midseason and then a playoffs that saw him benched entirely in favor of 48 minutes of small-ball groups, Jaxson Hayes came into his third season with the Lakers looking for a bit of redemption that would only really come by being properly slotted back into a reserve role.

With Deandre Ayton signed as a starter, Hayes did just that, reestablishing himself as a more than capable backup center who flashed increasingly strong chemistry with both Dončić and Austin Reaves in bench groups. He even proved productive and ready to step into a larger role on nights when Ayton was unavailable or not at his best.

Hayes did not play well every night, as his issues with discipline and focus could resurface on any given night. But Hayes did mostly play hard, and his combination of motor, athleticism and general pick-and-roll know-how allowed him to positively impact the Lakers offense in ways that truly complemented his team’s best playmakers.

Ultimately, relative to his salary and slotting in the rotation, Hayes was one of the more impactful performers in executing his job and playing his role on a night-to-night basis. Whether he’s ever able to expand beyond a backup role on a team with real title aspirations is a question with more doubts than not, but that’s not to say he cannot help a good team. After all, he did that this year and it looks like he’ll continue to be able to do so for years to come.

How did he play?

Of Hayes’ three seasons with the Lakers, I think this past year was easily his best. He shot a career-best 75.6% from the field, was a monster finisher around the basket with 122 dunks (second on the team to Ayton’s 123), fouled less while showing more discipline on defense, showed real improvement on the offensive glass and played with better motor over the course of the full year.

His finishing was particularly impactful, especially as a contrast to Ayton’s more varied attack that relied more on short jumpers, baby hooks and flip shots in and around the paint. Hayes made progress with these sorts of shots too, but he remains one of the more ferocious finishers in the league and had countless highlight dunks over the course of the season.

Whether in the pick-and-roll or just running the floor in transition, Hayes’ dynamism as an above-the-rim threat helped grease the wheels of the Lakers’ offense by drawing attention to the paint so the team’s outside shooters could get good looks and by serving as a release valve for the team’s primary shot creators. With a great catch radius and good hands, Hayes’ finishing truly was helpful.

Of course, there are limitations to being almost purely a roll man within this team’s offense and when teams switched or were able to play the Lakers’ pick and roll with just two defenders without surrendering the lob, Hayes could be neutralized and mostly taken out of the game offensively. But when teams did overcommit to Luka and Reaves, or if their general coverages were not tight enough, he could make them pay.

That said, he still made his fair share of mistakes. The illegal screens and committing a silly foul/sniping at the refs when he thought he was wronged are two of the more enduring mistakes he needs to clean up. His focus could also drift at times and if he was not locked in, he would deservedly find himself back on the bench or see his minutes reduced.

But, for the first time in his Lakers tenure, Hayes’ minutes felt less defined by the negative aspects of his game than by what his positive contributions were, which is huge progress from where he was even a season ago.

What is his contract situation moving forward?

Hayes enters this summer as an unrestricted free agent. After making a shade under $3.5 million this season, and coming off one of his better years while squarely in his physical prime and focusing on getting stronger, I would imagine he’d be looking for at least a small raise, whether on the Lakers or elsewhere.

The Lakers do have Hayes’ Bird rights and could easily bring him back at a reasonable number, but it remains to be seen if they’ll renounce those rights to try to maximize their cap space or if they’ll simply keep his relatively small cap hold on their books. If the latter, it would clearly signal their desire to keep him in the fold as a rotational big whose offensive game really does complement the team’s best playmakers.

Should he be back?

I would certainly support Hayes returning next season, especially if he’s making close to what he did this year (or a slight raise). Hayes fits well with Luka — while also sharing an agent with him and just getting his Slovenian passport to play on the national team with him too — and his general athleticism and speed are assets I believe the Lakers should continue to try to leverage as a part of their team-building strategy around Dončić (and Reaves, should he return).

Further, I’m a firm believer that as players age and show even small bits of growth while playing through their prime seasons, teams would be wise to not let guys like that walk after investing multiple seasons into their development. Hayes fits that profile neatly, and I think the Lakers would benefit from continuing to see if he can round out his game in the right ways to have him develop into an even more productive rotation player.

You can follow Darius on BlueSky at @forumbluegoldand find more of his Lakers coverage on the Laker Film Room Podcast.

An arbitrator has ruled that Terry Rozier must forfeit the majority of his $26.6 million NBA salary for the 2025-26 season due to a violation of his Heat contract.

Rozier was arrested by the FBI last October for alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scheme and has since pleaded not guilty. In late May, the arbitrator decided that Rozier breached his contract obligations because the conditions of his pretrial release in his criminal case left him in violation of the contract.

Rozier’s release conditions banned him from contacting anyone with the Heat and Hornets, and imposed travel restrictions.

Initially, the arbitrator ruled the Heat must pay Rozier his full salary since it ruled that he couldn’t be put back on unpaid leave by the NBA, which he was placed on when indicted by New York’s Eastern District.

Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, then stated that the team decided not to make payments to Rozier “almost immediately,” forcing a second round of arbitration in early April, per the court filing.

In his most recent court filing on Wednesday, Trusty asked that Rozier’s release conditions remove the Hornets from the no-contact list, as they removed Heat personnel from the no-contact list after his release from the team. Trusty argued that changing the condition could affect his ability to play in the NBA as the free agency negotiation period begins this month.

“Under the current ruling of the arbitrator, an inability to play for or against the Charlotte Hornets would constitute a ‘failure to perform services’ by Mr. Rozier and substantially diminish or eliminate any chance of being contracted by an NBA team,” Trusty wrote in the document.

Rozier is scheduled to be arraigned next week on new charges, including sports bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and will plead not guilty, per Trusty.

Rozier pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in October, when he also pleaded not guilty.

2026 NBA mock draft roundup: Fresh Celtics predictions amid Spurs-Knicks Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 NBA Finals began Wednesday night when the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs by overcoming a double-digit second-half deficit to win Game 1 on the road.

Jalen Brunson’s 30 points and fourth-quarter heroics dominated headlines after the game, but the real star of the series opener for the Knicks was center Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 18 points with 12 rebounds. But more importantly, Towns played really good defense against Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama.

It was another example of how important it is to have a center capable of guarding the league’s best big men. Many of the top contenders have a center who can impact games at a high level. That list includes Wembanyama and Towns, as well as Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren, Evan Mobley and Alperen Sengun. Giannis Antetokounmpo could potentially be traded to a contender this offseason.

The Celtics are lacking in this department.

Neemias Queta had an excellent regular season as the starting center, but he was far less effective in the playoffs against Embiid. Queta scored fewer than 10 points in five of the seven first-round games against the Philadelphia 76ers, and he was also in foul trouble in several of those matchups.

One place where the Celtics can upgrade their frontcourt is the 2026 NBA Draft later this month. The C’s have the No. 27 overall pick in the first round.

Here’s a list of potential Celtics targets in Round 1 based on recent predictions from experts in 2026 NBA mock drafts.

Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports: Sergio De Larrea, Wing, Valencia (Spain)

“The Celtics had good luck last year taking Hugo Gonzalez in the late first round. Why not go with another Spaniard? De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.”

David Cobb, CBS Sports: Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford

“If you pop in the film of Okorie’s 36-point outburst from Stanford’s Jan. 14 win over North Carolina, you’ll wonder why he slipped this far. He followed it up with three more 30+ point showings during one of the most unexpectedly dominant freshman seasons in college basketball. The margins are slim for making it in the league as an undersized scoring guard. But if nothing else, perhaps he can sustain an NBA bench unit.”

Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation: Tyler Tanner, Guard, Vanderbilt

“Tanner might be destined to return to college after being one of the most divisive players in this year’s class. He was one of the very best players in college basketball as a sophomore, but he’s just so small at a tick under 5’11 barefoot and 167 pounds with a 6’4.25 wingspan. He definitely plays bigger than his size on both ends with a sixth sense for forcing turnovers and a rare ability to dunk on your head for such a tiny guard. I have questions about his three-point shooting and creation ability at the next level. He’d be a great flier in this range.”

Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

“The Celtics typically load up with as many shooters as they can get, and they naturally have an affinity for floor-spacing bigs. Once financial constraints forced them to split from the likes of Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis in 2025, they pivoted to Luka Garza and Nikola Vučević. But Vučević is a free agent now, and Garza is unproven as a rotation regular, so Boston could continue its stretch-big search with Veesaar. He is a 7’0″ play-finisher both around the rim and beyond the three-point arc.”

Danny Chau, The Ringer: Joshua Jefferson, SF/PF, Iowa State

“The Celtics could stand to improve their secondary playmaking, regardless of position. The way the board has fallen, Boston could land one of the best passers in the class while also shoring up its frontcourt depth. Jefferson may not have ideal length for his position, but he makes up for that with brute strength, quick hands, and excellent two-way instincts. At their best, the Celtics exhibit a five-man flow that adapts to the coverage at hand. Having a quick processor like Jefferson on the floor would help keep things in motion.”

What in the world is going on with the Clippers?

It was eight months ago when reports surfaced that Steve Ballmer, owner of Los Angeles’ “other” team, was accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary cap rule by using Aspiration, a now-defunct green banking company, to pay star Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a “no show” job.

Almost immediately once the accusations became public back in September 2025, an investigation, led by David Anders and the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, began.

Ballmer and the Clippers initially welcomed the investigation, claiming innocence in two press releases sent out that day by saying, “Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration. Any contrary assertion is provably false.”

However, eight months later and no definitive end appears in sight. And NBA commissioner Adam Silver has had enough.

“The investigation has been conducted by a law firm independent of the NBA,” Silver said Wednesday prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs. “Yes, ultimately we’re paying their bills, but they are doing the work independent of the league office, and my instruction to them is we can’t be investigating forever, but at some point, we have to wrap it up.

“But at the same time, the most important thing is that we get it right.”

If Ballmer and the Clippers are to be believed — their innocence that is — then why has this investigation taken so long? The NBA had an entire regular season — and most likely an entire postseason — during that span, including the Clippers hosting NBA All-Star game in February.

Silver spoke more on that topic Wednesday night.

“I think it’s clear they’re far along,” he said. “I think those reports are reading all the time from people who are being interviewed by them, and I think they understand that you can keep going on and on.

“But I think we’re close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up because you also need finality. Their team has to understand what the situation is they’re going to be operating under, and so do the other 29 teams.”

The backstory began in September 2021 when Ballmer partially funded the Aspiration with a $50 million investment from his personal LLC, according to Pablo Torre.

Two weeks later, the Clippers and Aspiration announced a $300 million partnership, which included at the time a patch on the Clippers jerseys and continued sponsorship in the Intuit Dome.

The following April, Leonard signed a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration. This came nine months after he signed a four-year, $176.3 million max extension to stay with the Clippers.

The investigation came to life when Torre reported that an unnamed employee who purportedly worked for the banking company said Leonard’s sponsorship deal “was to circumvent the salary cap.”

In an interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne in September 2025, Ballmer stated that he had no prior knowledge or involvement in Leonard’s deal with Aspiration.

“The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd,” the Clippers said in a statement at the time. “There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong.”

Since then, Aspiration went bankrupt and co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.

Prosecutors were originally seeking 18 years in federal prison after saying Sanberg defrauded investors and lenders out of $248 million by fraudulently obtaining loans, falsifying bank and brokerage statements, and concealing that he was the source of some revenue booked by the company

For now, it’s still a wait-and-see game — with all eyes on what Silver will do once the investigation is completed.

“I certainly hear and read things all the time about the perception of what really happened or didn’t happen here, and my only reaction is I think I wouldn’t be doing my job if ultimately I issue the determination based on perception,” Silver said. “My job is to follow the facts, and what essentially happens here is that … findings will be made by this independent firm. That’s presented to me. It’s then ultimately my role to determine what the appropriate discipline, if any, should be meted out based on their findings.

“So it’s sort of two independent processes there, and that’s what’s happening right now.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

No team is as good or as bad as its most recent game. This is the truest of gambling axioms, though it may not apply to a team’s 12 most recent games. Regardless, do not overreact to the New York Knicks’ 105-95 win in Game 1. 

The books are not, installing San Antonio as a 6.5-point favorite.

But this is a Knicks vs. Spurs props article, and these NBA picks run counter to some sportsbook movement simply because the value is too distinct to be explained away via one game.

Game 2 tips off at 8:30 ET on Friday, June 5.

Best Knicks vs Spurs props for Game 2

Player	Pick
Jalen Brunson	Over 6.5 assists	+120
Victor Wembanyama	Under 26.5 points	-110
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 3-pointers	+150

Game 2 Prop #1: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists

Jalen Brunson’s assists prop was set at 6.5 in Game 1, and the Under was priced at +115.

Yes, the New York Knicks star dished out just two assists while taking 31 shots (not a typo), but this is still an overreaction.

If anything, Brunson’s inefficient-though-heroic Game 1 should strengthen the argument that he will move the ball in Game 2. The San Antonio Spurs should leave him little choice.

Postseason series are defined by adjustments. San Antonio will focus its defense on preventing Brunson from beating it again. For that matter, Brunson should devote himself to not going 12-of-31 from the field again. To some degree, New York got away with one in that regard.

But mostly, one game should not flip the plus-money on this prop. That is an overreaction that creates value.

Game 2 Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Under 26.5 points

Only headlines keep this prop elevated. Victor Wembanyama has fallen short of this modest points prop in three of his last four games. He did not reach 27 points in four of the seven games in the Western Conference Finals and in four of the six games against the Timberwolves.

Remove ejections and injuries, and Wembanyama has still fallen short of this number in nine of 16 genuine games this postseason.

In this matchup, Wembanyama faces a stiffer defensive challenge than the public is willing to acknowledge. For years now, talking heads and the basketball illiterate have thrown insults at Karl-Anthony Towns because they refuse to learn the game or consider a player's humanity. 

Their simultaneous ignorance and arrogance prevented them from seeing his quality defense, particularly his lower-body strength.

Towns’s strength keeps Wembanyama off balance more than he is used to, as well as further from the rim. Credit Towns for Wemby going 6-of-21 in Game 1. Only his 12-of-13 free-throw shooting got the Frenchman to 26 points.

This has not been a postseason of consistent scoring from the Defensive Player of the Year. This NBA Finals shouldn’t be, either.

Game 2 Prop #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 3-pointers

Speaking of overreactions, this prop was priced at +120 in Game 1. Then, Towns went 0-of-2 from deep, boosting this payout to +150.

The odds increase makes some sense. Towns taking only a pair of 3-pointers is concerning. But the Spurs should try to cut off his drives to the rim after their success in Game 1. And doing so should naturally increase Towns’s 3-point attempts.

Going 0-of-2 in Game 1 lowered his postseason 3-point shooting percentage to 46.8%. Someone hitting nearly half their 3-pointers should not be priced at +150 to hit a pair of threes in Game 2.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The fan who disrupted Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals by running onto the court to take a selfie with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been arrested and banned for life from attending NBA games, the league announced.

The NBA also said a second individual involved in the incident had also been banned from attending NBA games moving forward.

"The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas," the league said in a statement released on June 4, according to the Associated Press. "A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident."

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Spurs are caught in a major defensive dilemma regarding how to deploy Victor Wembanyama in Game 2.

Wemby was fantastic guarding the perimeter in Game 1, but it came at a price: removing him from the paint left the defensive glass wide open for the Knicks to feast on. 

Our Game 2 Knicks vs. Spurs predictions expect San Antonio to adjust by keeping their star big man near the rim tonight, betting they can live with New York’s outside shooting if it means shutting down those killer second-chance opportunities.

My NBA picks expect Wembanyama to ratchet up his rebounding on Friday, June 5.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 2 prediction

Who will win Knicks vs Spurs Game 2?

Spurs: The Knicks accomplished their mission and stole a win in San Antonio, flipping home-court on its ear. New York’s veterans never looked rattled in Game 1, even when falling behind big. And when the pressure built, the young Spurs crumbled late in the fourth quarter.

The Finals nerves are gone and I expect a tight San Antonio side to be much looser and shoot better than a dismal effort in the opener. I could see this being another close contest, but San Antonio is a great team off a loss (21-6 SU) and evens things up in Game 2.

Knicks vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)

The San Antonio Spurs need Victor Wembanyama to stay at home and clean the defensive glass. 

Not only does his rebounding spark the Spurs’ transition (which was a no-show in 2H), but giving up a Costco-sized pack of offensive rebounds to the New York Knicks is crippling to the defense after forcing a miss.

Wembanyama still wrangled 12 boards on 22 rebounding chances but only nine on defense, as he was closing out on shooters. 

His Game 2 rebounding total stays lower at 11.5 O/U with projections ranging from 12.5 to 15+ boards. My number is around 14 rebounds, which should have the Over priced at -185.

COVERS INTEL: Wembanyama spent most of Game 1 guarding Karl-Anthony Towns. Game 2 adjustments could see Wemby assigned more to Josh Hart, who shot just 1 for 5 for three points in Game 1. That allows him to play closer to the rim and stay in prime rebounding range.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 2 same-game parlay

I’m not running to lay the points with San Antonio, as New York doesn’t quit. However, I see the Spurs getting past the initial nerves and executing better offensively. Home teams coming off a loss in the NBA Finals aren’t great against the spread, but they are 24-16 SU since 2005-06.

With Wembanyama grabbing long boards and fueling the transition attack, San Antonio evens this series. He’ll stay closer to the rim and convert more of those rebounding chances, with models calling for as many as 15+ boards in Game 2.

Dylan Harper is a big part of that transition attack with his aggressive play getting to the rim for easy looks. With De’Aaron Fox struggling to score, there’s pressure on Mitch Johnson to give the rookie more run. Harper’s projected for as many as 13 points on Friday.

Knicks vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs moneyline
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
• Dylan Harper Over 11.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Out of this World

After the Game 1 loss, Mitch Johnson told reporters the team needs to get Wembanyama going earlier following a quiet opening frame. With a focused effort on feeding the “Alien”, Wemby tops his scoring prop, with some bullish models above 29 points. On defense, staying glued to the paint has him picking up rebounds and sending back a ton of shots.

Knicks vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs -6.5
• Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
• Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

Knicks vs Spurs odds for Game 2

• Spread: Knicks +6.5 | Spurs -6.5
• Moneyline: Knicks +190 | Spurs -230
• Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Knicks vs Spurs betting trend to know

NBA Finals games with totals of less than 220 points are 36-60 O/U (62.5% Unders) since the 2005-06 season. The Game 2 total is at 214.5 O/U. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Spurs.

How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 2

Knicks vs Spurs latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

SAN ANTONIO – The NBA’s defending champions required five regular season games and seven Western Conference Finals bashfests to suss out San Antonio’s Spurs, failed.

The Knicks needed but three quarters. Another dynamite fourth quarter from Knick hero Jalen Brunson gave New York its first Finals lead in a over a half-century on Wednesday night, toppling San Antonio 105-95 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

That previous Finals advantage, a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1973 NBA Finals, was celebrated by Knick reserve center Phil Jackson on a beach at Malibu with an unnamed actress, according to Phil’s book ‘Maverick,’ Jackson “gobbling LSD for breakfast.”

Brunson (and Knicks coach Mike Brown, for that matter) appeared to show little instinct toward toward Phil’s breakfast of champions after Game 1, giving every indication these current Knicks keep these sainted Spurs in sensible range.

And within the same level as previous combatants. We worried over the Knicks faltering against stiff Western competition after facing Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland in the previous three rounds (Eh, Woof, and Whatever). We shoulda concerned ourselves with whether or not San Antonio was ready for the team that only needed 14 outings to escape the East.

The visiting Knicks delicately primed past the restrictions of rust in the team’s first contest since May 25. New York was down 10 points in the second quarter and 14 in the third before colluding to surprise San Antonio in what the NBA calls “clutch minutes,” the final five minutes of a close game. Timing issues aside, it felt as if every second of Game 1 was crucially clutch, the utter and pristine picture of all-out NBA playoff basketball.

Brunson finished with 30 but was no angel on his way toward the mark, flinging lefty hopers over the arms of Victor Wembanyama, spinning out repeatedly on floaters and only using arms on in-and-out three-pointers. Those were practice legs, scrimmage flings, and Brunson (7-22 entering the third period, 5-9 from the floor in the final 12 minutes) needed every second surrounding him to re-locate his crouch.

Once the legs returned, though, over. Brunson’s corner three off a Mikal Bridges offensive rebound with 1:50 remaining gave New York a 97-95 lead, all the grasp it needed. Rust was absolutely an issue, for these visiting Knicks, now they’ll band together to earn a full endorsement deal with an anti-rust spray, we won’t name any brands because we’re not sponsored ourselves, but watch for “polyurethane resins” to be uttered by Jose Alvarado on an advertisement sometime this summer.

Alvarado helped keep the visitor’s wits throughout, his presence was badly needed in the second quarter when Brunson turned his ankle and left the game. Alvarado, perhaps buoyed by Brunson bounding over with both legs to complain to Scott Foster during the injury timeout, hit 3-of-3 from the field in his run, seven points, three defensive boards and an assist and a steal, because he’s Jose Alvarado.

Bothered by foul trouble, Josh Hart barely worked that second quarter. Josh made up for it.

In one of the finest three-point performances in NBA Finals history, Hart’s derring-do stole the home court advantage right out from Texas’ ten-gallon hat. Four steals and six assists from Hart, who covered all angles defensively while still sustaining his sniff for the passing lanes. His shot was off (1-5 from the field, 0-3 from deep) but he was in the right place in every other instance, a superior all-around performance, even if his jumper doesn’t go all the way around.

The home team failed to clasp past 100 points per 100 possessions, the Spurs missed three-quarters of their threes and wasted a four-turnover game, and 15-point first half from Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama was a force defensively but missed 16-21 field goal attempts on his way toward 26 points, a dozen boards and six turnovers, three blocks.

De’Aaron Fox clunked 3-13 from the field on one leg. The veteran developed good looks in the fourth quarter, missed, while Dylan Harper (16 points and seven rebounds through three quarters) watched from the bench. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, cherished Spurs veterans but a little hype in Game 1, somewhat charged, possibly caffeinated, 5-15 from the floor combined.

It was a learning experience. Fans talked themselves into shouting “Spurs in five” on the way out of the building in Game 1 and, yeah, it ain’t hard to see what’s under that hat. San Antonio does have a seven-and-a-half-foot center with skills, after all.

Yet New York proved none of this counts if the center in question is centimeters removed from what matters, the best attempt available, a Knick splash. New York missed 25-36 three-pointers in Game 1, but its concentration and approach was apparent from the rafters. If Wemby is slightly out of focus, dive to the rim as if the season depends on it. The Knicks are to be commended for maintaining a straight line to the rim anytime Wembanyama was bothered elsewhere, held or held up, New York launching the millisecond his fingertips were no obstacle.

These moments usually require hours to develop, entire games. The Thunder ran out of time, the Timberwolves rarely earned the pause, the Trail Blazers never even caught up to Central time. Yet New York kept its principles in place throughout Game 1 until these fundamentals found paydirt. Until the legs returned, finally out of Connecticut’s practice sweats for the first time in over a week.

The Spurs understand what they have to do now, yet that knowledge was in place well ahead of Game 1. It’s the connection which counts the most, and San Antonio must find out who its conductor is.

New York knows. This is Brunson’s team, the Villanova cats with two battling bigs. Karl-Anthony Towns put himself on the floor throughout Game 1, 18 points and 18 chestbumps with Wemby while defending Victor. Front-to-front stuff, too, the awkward kind.

KAT and Mitchell Robinson’s mystery finger were, in spite of Victor’ 12-13 mark from the free throw line, a bruise-in-waiting for Wembanyama to push through. The Knicks are thick up top and soulful down below and full of brains and wit throughout the middle.

The Spurs are running out of time to define their own personalities, as the showcase in Manhattan draws nearer. The younger team is capable, but can they hold in the face of a crew which doesn’t crack?

Kelly Dwyer covers the NBA at KDonhoops.com

For the next month before the 2026 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at No. 22. Next up in this series is Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson.

After spending two years at St. Mary’s, Jefferson transferred to Iowa State. With the Cyclones, his college career truly took off. By his senior season in 2025-26, he was one of the best players in the country. He was named a consensus Second Team All-American and First Team All-Big 12. Unfortunately, Jefferson’s left ankle injury, suffered three minutes into the first round of the NCAA Tournament, cost Iowa State, which ranked as high as No. 2 in the country, a chance to make much noise during March Madness.

Profile

2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 30.9 minutes, 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, 47.1% FG, 34.5% 3P, 70.0% FT

Team: Iowa State

Year: Senior

Position: PF/SF

Height & Weight: 6’7.75” | 246.2 lbs

Born: November 21, 2003 (22 years old)

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Strengths

The biggest strengths for Jefferson are his basketball IQ, versatility and physicality. All of those traits manifest in different ways.

Spending most of his time at the four, Jefferson operated like a point forward for the Cyclones. In the half-court, he was featured as a playmaking hub at the elbows. He was excellent in the pick-and-roll and in DHOs, creating opportunities for others or getting downhill and finishing with strength and nice touch around the rim. He also got to the free throw line plenty (6.1 attempts per game as a senior). He frequently started the break, grabbing the ball off the rim and pushing it for transition opportunities. For a player at his size, Jefferson is a smart and accurate passer, finding cutters and shooters for easy baskets.

Jefferson is a strong rebounder overall, especially on the offensive glass, where he averaged nearly two a game. His off-ball defense was great for the Cyclones as he averaged 1.9 steals a game over the last two seasons and generally wreaked havoc. While he isn’t the greatest rim protector, he does well to wall drivers off and challenge without fouling. Jefferson’s best assets on the defensive end are his NBA-ready frame and IQ. The frame and physicality are likely genetic — his father, Ben, was an offensive lineman in the NFL, as was his oldest brother. His middle brother played defensive line at the D-1 level.

Jefferson is a Swiss Army Knife-type player. He can do a little bit of everything, even progressing as a three-point shooter in his four college seasons. While he might not have star potential, he has the traits of an excellent connective piece at the next level.

Weaknesses

The reasons Jefferson is a fringe first-rounder are his age, inconsistency with his shot and lack of high-end athleticism.

Jefferson will be 23 in November, making him an older rookie. While the experience clearly helped him improve his game, he didn’t truly dominate until his senior season. The question for NBA evaluators will be whether Jefferson is on a track to continue improving or has already plateaued.

While shooting 34.5% on 3.1 attempts per game is solid for a player with Jefferson’s varied skillset, it’s fair to wonder if he can carry that over to the NBA level. He shot below 30% from beyond the arc in his previous three seasons combined. The improvement on higher volume is encouraging and he’s a solid free throw shooter (72.2% for his career) with good touch inside the arc, but shooting could be a swing skill — as it is for so many forwards.

The athletic testing portion of the combine did Jefferson no favors. He tested poorly in just about every athletic metric. Not historically bad like Johni Broome, but not great. The film shows a player who looks functionally athletic against some high-level competition, but he’s not the fleetest of foot and it’s hard to know until you see him against NBA athletes.

Positional Fit

The theoretical best version of Jefferson is a dream fit for the Sixers.

You could slot him in at the four right between Joel Embiid and Paul George. He could be an excellent connector for the starting group and occasionally take on a bigger offensive role when the stars are inevitably out. Rebounding and passing are two of the Sixers’ biggest needs and Jefferson checks both boxes. His ability to create turnovers and get loose balls would endear him quickly to Nick Nurse. Again though, the shooting will need to continue to improve.

He also fits both timelines. He could potentially be a rotation player now, while making himself into a key cog next to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future. It’s not hard to envision Jefferson pulling the ball off the rim and finding Edgecombe for easy transition lobs. Again, Jefferson likely doesn’t have star upside, but finding good, smart, versatile, rotational-level players is also important.

Draft Projection

SB Nation mock draft: No. 24, New York Knicks

With so many players deciding to go back to school and cash in on NIL money, a deep draft has thinned out quite a bit. Many of the more popular names we’ve seen linked to the Sixers could come off the board before we even reach the 20s. Depending on how it shakes out, selecting Jefferson at 22 might not be a reach.

Watching him go to the Knicks might suck.