With opportunity knocking for some team to step up and show they were the team to beat in the East, the New York Knicks answered that door.
The Knicks slammed that door on Joel Embiid and the 76ers on Sunday before they could get their foot in the way.
In a building that sounded far more like Madison Square Garden than Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, the Knicks started 9-of-10 from 3-point range, hit 11 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, led by double-digits less than 4:30 into the game, and never looked back.
THE KNICKS HIT 11 THREES IN Q1
11 3PM is the most in a first quarter in a postseason game by any team in the play-by-play era!
New York led by 19 after the first quarter and 24 at the half — after hitting 18 first-half 3-pointers on 29 attempts (62%), tying the NBA playoff record for most 3-pointers in a half. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns scored or assisted on 59 of the Knicks 81 first-half points.
The Knicks pushed that lead up to 30 by the middle of the third quarter, and if this were a Little League game, the mercy rule would have kicked in.
New York went on to win 144-114, sweeping Philadelphia out of the playoffs 4-0.
New York advances and will face the winner of the Detroit vs. Cleveland series, which the Pistons lead 2-1. The Knicks will head into that series on a seven-game winning streak, winning those games by an average of 26.4 points.
Philadelphia heads into a summer with a lot of questions… and no easy answers.
The Knicks return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season, but they look more dominant. Part of that was New York finally starting to use Towns as a hub in the high post, taking advantage of his passing if teams bring a double team.
As for Sunday's Game 4, there is only so much to say.
New York was red hot and focused from the opening tip, and it finished with 25 made 3s, tying the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a playoff game.
KNICKS TIE THE NBA'S POSTSEASON RECORD FOR THREE-POINTERS MADE WITH 25!
144 POINTS ARE THE MOST THEY HAVE SCORED IN THE POSTSEASON IN FRANCHISE HISTORY pic.twitter.com/AvoqtuagbU
Deuce McBride led the way with seven 3-pointers and 25 points, while Brunson had 22 points and Josh Hart and Towns each scored 17.
Joel Embiid scored 24 points, while Tyrese Maxey added 17 for Philadelphia.
The 76ers have not advanced past the second round in 25 years. On the court, this has become Maxey's team — he should make an All-NBA team this year — especially paired with VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt. The Knicks need to pivot to building around them as the future.
However, Embiid and Paul George are on the books next season for a combined $112 million and $119 million for the 2027-28 season (that assumes George picks up his player option for that season, a safe bet). Because both have injury histories and availability concerns, trading them would be difficult at best (the 76ers would likely have to send draft picks to the team taking them as a sweetener).
That's the 76ers' offseason problem. The Knicks now get to rest before the Eastern Conference Finals start.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have fallen in five games in the second round of the playoffs the previous two years. They have a chance to avoid that specific fate this season if they can defend home court in Game 4 against the Detroit Pistons and tie the series in the process.
Cleveland’s offense came alive in Game 3 after registering just 101 and 97 points in the first two games of the series. They did this by getting to the basket and then converting in-rhythm threes that came from forcing the defense to collapse.
So far, the team that has shot better from three has won this series. In the first two games, Detroit couldn’t miss as they went 38.5% and 50% from distance. The Cavs were able to get out to a 17-point lead in Game 3 due to shooting it better from the outside, and the Pistons missed 13 straight triples. Detroit was able to climb back into the game late because they went 7-10 from three to close.
There’s been a lot of talk this series about needing to be the more physical team to win this series. At least through three games, it’s been the one who shoots better from three that prevails. We’ll see if that trend continues in Game 4.
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With their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, May 10, the New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. They are the first team into the NBA's final four, but they might not be on that conference finals island for long.
On Sunday, May 10, LaMelo Ball and Ana Montana announced that they welcomed their first child together in January. They had a son named LaOne, continuing the tradition of "La" names.
LaVar Ball, the founder of Big Baller Brand, is LaMelo's father. He also has sons LiAngelo and Lonzo, who have each spent time in the NBA and have become pop culture figures in their own right.
The Charlotte Hornets point guard and the model broke the news on Mother's Day via a feature in People and shared how becoming parents impacted them.
"Welcoming LaOne into the world has changed our hearts in the best way," they said in a joint statement. "Family has always meant everything to us, but becoming parents has given us an entirely new perspective on love, purpose, legacy and what truly matters most."
The publication shared photos of each parent with LaOne, only showing the baby's legs. He is wearing an infant version of Ball's signature sneaker, the Puma MB.01.
The couple also said they are establishing a nonprofit called I Am Fertility to assist aspiring families with IVF treatment and other means of conceiving a child. Montana, whose given name is Analicia Chaves, said that she conceived LaOne through IVF. The nonprofit established The Hope Grant, which will give a gift of $5,000 to two families to assist them on their own fertility treatments.
"At one point during my IVF journey, I felt overwhelmed, emotional, isolated and unsure where to turn," she told the publication. "That experience inspired me to create I Am Fertility as a safe space where women don't have to face this journey alone."
Montana shared more thoughts about her first Mother's Day on Instagram. She posted a gallery that started with a black and white video of herself holding LaOne's hand. The message on the video is a play off Justin Bieber's "Everything Hallelujah" song, which has become a popular social media trend.
"My first of many Mother's Day, Hallelujah/Living in an answered prayer, Hallelujah/Found my purpose, Hallelujah/Launched my nonprofit iAMfertility, Hallelujah/A God that provides, Hallelujah," the video read.
Ball, the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year, showed his support and celebrated the holiday with her in the comments.
"We love you mamí," he wrote with a series of heart emojis, "happy mother’s day"
Also on May 10, the Hornets were the first name to be called in the NBA draft lottery, which gives them the No. 14 pick.
CHICAGO — After a generational class brought on a season of embarrassing tanking, the top of the draft order is finally set. The NBA held its draft lottery Sunday to order the top half of the teams.
Here is a first look at how those selections could play out next month at Barclays Center.
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, BYU (F, 6-9, 215 pounds)
Led the NCAA in scoring and has the kind of star potential to do the same in the NBA for the Wizards as the linchpin of their rebuild, inheriting the team from Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson, Kansas (PG/SG, 6-6, 205)
Cramping, availability issues and decreased explosion raised eyebrows. He says creatine brought on the cramps. Now teams await his medicals and interviews, and want to see how he looks at the combine, but Utah won’t overthink this.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa smiles as he talks to media during the NBA basketball draft lottery on May 10, 2026. AP
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cam Boozer, Duke (PF, 6-9, 250)
A lack of verticality will have teams eyeing his combine measurements, but he’s the ultimate winner and had a historic season for Duke. Memphis loves to draft productive collegians, and Boozer is the apex of that.
4. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (SF/PF, 6-10, 215)
The skywalker saw his season cut short at UNC. But if he develops a 3-point shot, he can grow into the best player in a great class and a legit star for the Bulls.
5. LA Clippers (from Indiana)
Kingston Flemings, Houston (PG, 6-4, 190)
A dogged two-way player who had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and plays both ends of the floor. The speedy Flemings will inject youth and athleticism for the Clippers, who got their best-case scenario in landing this pick from the Pacers.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Keaton Wagler, Illinois (PG/SG, 6-6, 185)
Shoots like a two-guard and maps the court like a lead playmaker. Yes, his modest athleticism and lack of downhill juice are a worry next to Egor Demin, but the Nets go with the best available player.
Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles up court during the National Semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026. Getty Images
7. Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (PG, 6-3, 190)
The ball-dominant guard led the SEC in scoring and assists. His defense is a glaring question that could lead Brooklyn to hesitate, scarred by the Cam Thomas experience. The Kings, however, are known to like him.
8. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)
Mikel Brown, Louisville (PG, 6-5, 190)
With an up-and-down season at Louisville and back issues, Brown — who’d come into the year as a projected top 5 pick — has to show a lot at the combine, but could be a nice young piece for a Hawks team in need of a pure point post-Young.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Brayden Burries, Arizona (SG/PG, 6-4, 205)
He’s a versatile and well-rounded player who can excel on or off the ball and fit anywhere next to Kyrie Irving and play off Cooper Flagg.
Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats goes to the basket during the National Semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026. Getty Images
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Ament, Tennessee (SF, 6-10, 207)
After the run on guards, taking an upside swing on a gifted developmental player here seems like a worthy gamble for a Bucks team that could be in full-on rebuild in a post-Giannis era.
11. Golden State Warriors
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama (PG, 6-4, 175)
Benefited greatly from coming back for his sophomore season. He’ll benefit again from serving as Stephen Curry’s understudy.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan (PF, 6-9 ¾, 235)
Big and skilled. And old. He’ll be 24 before his rookie season even starts, so he’ll be expected to come in and contribute immediately — exactly the kind of rookie the champion Thunder could use.
13. Miami Heat
Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (SF/PF, 6-8, 220)
The Mexican teen playing in New Zealand is the top international in this class. He’s a prospect who can boost his stock in combine workouts this week in Chicago. But as it stands, he’d be a nice get for the Heat here.
14. Charlotte Hornets
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky (PF, 6-10 ½, 255)
The ultimate X factor. He played just four games this season, a year out from a torn ACL. But with the return to big-boy basketball and burly centers, Quaintance brings that element for Charlotte.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to even their Western Conference semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4. The San Antonio Spurs took a 2-1 lead with a 115-108 victory in Game 3. The Spurs are favored by 4.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 218.5.
How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves +156 (37.5%) / San Antonio Spurs -187 (62.5%)
Over/Under: 218.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102 Game 2:Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95 Game 3:Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108 Game 4: San Antonio at Minnesota (Sunday May 10, 7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Minnesota at San Antonio (Tuesday May 12) Game 6: San Antonio at Minnesota (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Minnesota at San Antonio (Sunday May 17)*
The Knicks closed out their second-round matchup with a 144-114 win over the 76ers on Sunday afternoon.
New York advances to its second straight Eastern Conference Finals.
Here are the takeaways...
- The 76ers were able to get off to a good start back on their homecourt in Game 3, but with a chance to close the series out this one was all Knicks from the tip. New York tied an NBA record, knocking down 11 of its first 13 attempts from behind the arc (84.6 percent) as the team quickly established a commanding double-digit advantage (43-24).
- Miles McBride took advantage of his second straight chance in the lineup with OG Anunoby remaining out with a hamstring strain, knocking down his first four attempts from behind the arc for 12 first quarter points. Jalen Brunson had 11 points of his own, and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in five and five assists.
- Towns did have a scare as he took another hard fall on his back coming down from a rebound attempt late in the first, but he was able to return for the final play of the quarter, and then to open the second.
- Landry Shamet was able to build off his big Game 3 showing with two threes in the first, and he carried that over, knocking down another to open the second. Towns got in on the fun and McBride drilled his fifth of the half, pushing the lead all the way out to 27 points just minutes into the middle frame (59-32).
- Philly did chip into the lead a bit as New York missed five straight, but the road team quickly settled back into a groove. Josh Hart got in on the fun, Brunson drilled a three, and McBride added his sixth of the half to help them head into the break with a commanding 27 point lead.
- The Knicks shot 54 percent as a team in the first half, including 18-of-29 from three.
- Towns scored or assisted on each of the Knicks' first three buckets coming out of the break, but he was quickly forced to the bench after picking up his fourth foul minutes into the third. In a game filled with so many positives, Towns' recent struggles with foul trouble continued.
- Things continued to go New York's way, though, as Brunson played a part in four consecutive baskets to bring his totals to 22 points and six assists, and stretch the lead out to 30 for the first time in the game. They reached triple-digits in points on Hart's three with 6:32 remaining in the third.
- Brown emptied his bench before the third came to a close, leading by as many as 39 points (122-83).
- Ariel Hukporti, who enjoyed himself a strong series, made the most of his garbage time minutes with five points and four rebounds off the bench. Tyler Kolek knocked down a pair of baskets, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado had seven points each, and Pacome Dadiet chipped in two.
- As far as the starters, McBride led all scorers with 25 points, including seven threes. Brunson finished behind him with 22 and six assists, Towns and Hart both chipped in 17 apiece, while Shamet and Bridges both had a dozen. Robinson contributed six points and six rebounds in 16 mins off the bench.
- New York tied the playoff record for most threes in a game with 25 on 44 attempts.
Game MVP: Knicks fans
It's hard picking an MVP in a complete domination from beginning to end, so let's go with the fans, who completely took over Philly in both Games 3 and 4.
PHILADELPHIA — It felt over before it even started.
Joel Embiid was booed — loudly — in his own building when he was shown on the jumbotron during warmups. The 76ers PA announcer was being drowned out by all the Knicks fans in attendance, which felt like a majority of the crowd. Before tipoff, Xfinity Mobile Arena had already become Knixfinity Arena.
Then the historic party truly got started. This bludgeoning felt inevitable.
Jalen Brunson celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the May 10 game against the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the NY PostJose Alvarado and Josh Hart celebrate during the Knicks’ Game 4 win May 10 against the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
There was no suspense, no hint of this ever being competitive. The Knicks’ breathtaking 3-point shooting — their 25 made 3s tied the NBA record for most in a playoff game — wouldn’t allow for any of that. They put the 76ers out of their misery in emphatic fashion.
They completed a dominant sweep with a 144-114 rout Sunday afternoon, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season. They’ll have to wait for the Pistons-Cavaliers series to finish before learning their opponent.
Sunday marked seven straight postseason wins, for the first time in franchise history, beginning when they trailed 2-1 in the first round. That feels like ages ago.
Miles McBride #2 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the Knicks celebrate during their series-clinching win over the 76ers on May 10, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesMiles McBride attempts a 3-pointer during the Knicks’ May 10 game against the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
In total, they outscored the 76ers by 89 points in the series. In the seven-game winning streak, they outscored opponents by 185 points. For the whole postseason, their average margin of victory of 19.4 points per game is the largest through two rounds since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, according to the NBA.
“Our guys, they’ve tried to take it to another level with the focus on the details and their energy and effort level,” coach Mike Brown said. “And that’s a lot of the reason why we’re playing pretty good basketball.
“When you talk about the elite or the great in any business, I don’t care what business you’re in, there’s one word that stands out — it’s consistency.”
The Knicks played it cautiously and were again without OG Anunoby due to his right hamstring strain. It didn’t slow them down one bit. Miles McBride, starting in his place for the second straight game, erupted for 25 points — his most since Jan. 15 — on red-hot 7-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.
“They left me open,” McBride said. “… My guys found me. I just wanted to set the tone early.”
It was part of an incredible all-around 3-point shooting performance for the Knicks.
They shot 11-for-13 from 3-point range in that first quarter — tying the NBA record for most made 3s in a quarter in playoff history. And one of those two misses was Landry Shamet’s heave as time expired.
McBride hit four in a row. Jalen Brunson drilled three. Shamet made two. Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart added one apiece. The 76ers, meanwhile, went 2-for-10 from deep in the first quarter.
In total, the Knicks scored 43 points in the first quarter and led by 19 going into the second.
By the first timeout in the second quarter, the Knicks’ lead was up to 27. The 76ers had already let go of the rope.
The Knicks drilled seven more 3s in that second quarter. Their 18 made 3s in the first half tied the NBA record for most in any half in playoff history. They had 81 points in the first half and led by 24 at the break.
“Twenty-five 3s on 44 attempts is unbelievable,” Brown said. “That’s great basketball. But with the group that I have in that locker room, they’re more than capable of doing something like that.”
Knicks fan Kehos Herz, left, from Brooklyn, brought a broom to the arena in Philadelphia for the team’s series-clinching Game 4 win on May 10, 2026. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
The rest was strictly procedural.
Brunson embarrassed Dominick Barlow with a crossover before finishing with a layup. McBride stole Embiid’s inbounds pass and kicked it to Brunson, who made a 3-pointer. It was five points in five seconds for Brunson and gave the Knicks a 29-point lead with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
That’s when the “Knicks in four” chants began. It wouldn’t be long until the “Tyler Kolek” chants cropped up. There was not much left for the 76ers to do other than go through the motions — and be taunted on their home court in the process.
76ers forward Paul George (8), Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0), and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) react on the bench during the third quarter.
Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“I will always think it is one of the coolest things in the world,” Brunson said, “when you hear Knicks fans in opposing arenas. It’s a really cool feeling, I can’t lie.”
The Knicks emptied their bench with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. They led by 39 heading into the fourth. It was around then that Franklin the Dog, the 76ers mascot, was being tormented by Knicks fans as he worked his way through the crowd.
Brunson finished with 22 points and six assists. Towns added 17 points, 10 assists and four rebounds. Hart had 17 points and nine rebounds. Shamet chipped in 12 points. As a team, the Knicks had 33 assists.
“I think,” Hart said, “we’re in a good little flow state right now.”
The rally towels the 76ers gave away in the arena said “Fight for Philly. Fight for each other.”
This was no fight. The 76ers went down with a whimper.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers wrestle for a loose ball during the second quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If anyone is looking for a silver lining, this has only enraged Celtics fans more.
The 2025-26 Sixers season has finally come to an end. They were destroyed 144-114 in Game 4 by the New York Knicks, completing the second-round series sweep.
Joel Embiid looked like the only Sixer ready to unload the clip for this game. He led the Sixers with 24 shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor with five rebounds and four assists. Tyrese Maxey put up 17 shooting 6-of-16 from the field in 32 minutes of play.
Paul George was truly disappointing for the first time these playoffs, going for seven points on 3-of-7 shooting. VJ Edgecombe wasn’t able to finish his spectacular rookie season on a high-note, having eight points, six rebounds, and seven assists shooting 4-of-14 from the floor. Miles McBride led all scores with 25.
OG Anunoby was out again for New York with a hamstring strain.
For one last time this year, here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Maxey was much more aggressive to start. He got to the basket for a couple of layups, but his first two three-pointers of the game didn’t fall. As if it didn’t already sound like Madison Square Garden South, threes from Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and McBride had DJ Ghost about to burst the speakers trying to play music loud enough to drown out Knicks fans. McBride buried two more to give them a double-digit lead and prompt an early Sixers timeout.
Out of a timeout an overzealous double team left McBride wide open again, allowing him to easily make his fourth triple of the quarter. On top of not being able to get a stop, the Sixers’ inability to hit an open shot helped New York make it ugly quick. They missed their first six threes, nearly all of them pretty good looks.
Frankly, nothing mattered on that side of the floor with the Knicks getting offense as easily as they did. They were only needing one screen or pass to get an open shot. They made nine of their first 10 threes and when they did miss another, the Sixers fouled the three-point shooter to put him at the line. That foul was committed by Justin Edwards just after he had checked into the game in Nick Nurse’s attempt to expand the rotation. The Knicks led by 19 after shooting 68% in the first.
Second Quarter
Some progress was made with George knocking down a midrange jumper and Edwards getting to the line while the Knicks finally missed a three then turned the ball over. Two stops was as good as they could manage as Landry Shamet got open for another three and Josh Hart finished through contact for an and-1. All Karl-Anthony Towns had to do was get Embiid to step up on him to find an open pass.
Even during a stretch that looked like the Sixers were trying to make things more respectable, the Knicks were still beating them in hustle plays. The Knicks grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, including four on a single possession.
Just getting this out of the way here since we all know how narrative ball works. If there was one Sixer putting up a fight it was Embiid. The way his mobility worsened after the Boston series has made it so hard for their defense, but he was dragging the Sixers’ offense as far as he could. He made all six of his shots in the half to put up 19, limping the whole way through.
Joel Embiid had his arm around Justin Edwards for part of this timeout, standing on the floor with the lineup closing out this game. Then he embraced Trendon Watford and Dalen Terry before returning to the bench.
A pretty good sign that this series just wasn’t meant to be for the Sixers was the fact that Hack-A-Mitch failed just about every time they tried it. They were able to get New York in the bonus before the two-minute mark, but Robinson hit both free throws. He missed both on the next possession after getting to the line organically, but got the offensive rebound. The Knicks pushed their lead to 24 at the break.
Third Quarter
For the first time this series, Embiid drawing Towns’ fourth foul of the night did not feel like it mattered at all. Towns went to the bench in the middle of a strong passing performance — he had just picked up his 10th assist of the night, but the Knicks’ offense didn’t miss a beat without him.
The karaoke cam has apparently become the staple of playoff blowouts, and it was brought out again after a devastating sequence from Brunson to extend the lead to 29. He danced his way around Barlow for a layup before the Sixers turned over the inbounds pass and he buried a corner three.
In the “things could not possibly be going worse” category, Quentin Grimes cut wide open down the baseline for a lob, but he just couldn’t corral the pass. It was his second smoked bunny of the game. The Sixers were flirting with Game 6 Hawks territory all night as the Knicks lead extended to 39 after three.
Fourth Quarter
The white flag had already started to be raised but the bench was fully emptied to start the fourth, their only goal now not to lose as bad as the Hawks. There are a lot of things to feel good about coming out of this season, and the Boston series may still be the best moment of the era. They really tried their hardest this round to make you forget that though.
The last Sixer to make a basket announced by Matt Cord: Johni Broome, just like we all expected. Jokes aside, congratulations on a great career, Matt. He was, for this blogger’s money, the best PA announcer in the NBA and will be missed at Sixers games going forward.
“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”
The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.
Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.
Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.
“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”
Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”
There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.
Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ejected for throwing an elbow out of frustration at the throat of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid early in the second quarter of Game 4 of their rugged second-round NBA playoff series on Sunday night.
Wembanyama was whistled for an offensive foul as soon as he struck Reid, who had swarmed the NBA Defensive Player of the Year outside the paint along with teammate Jaden McDaniels after the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama rebounded a missed 3-pointer by the Spurs.
After a video review of the play, with the fans at Target Center chanting, “Kick him out! Kick him out!,” the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. That penalty triggers an automatic ejection, immediately swinging the balance of a pivotal game in the series toward the Timberwolves. The Spurs took a 2-1 lead with their 115-108 win in Game 3 on Friday.
When the penalty was announced, Wembanyama appeared to ask teammate Harrison Barnes: “What does that mean?”
After he slapped hands with each of his Spurs teammates on his way off the floor, with the arena sound system blaring Michael Jackson’s “Beat it!,” Reid sank both free throws to give the Timberwolves a 38-34 lead. Wembanyama finished with four points, four rebounds and three fouls in 13 minutes.
With Reid, Julius Randle and McDaniels in their frontcourt, the Timberwolves have had plenty of muscle and tenacity to send at Wembanyama, even if he’s been good enough offensively to overcome it. He had 39 points on 13-for-18 shooting from the floor in Game 3.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ejected for throwing an elbow out of frustration at the throat of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid early in the second quarter of Game 4 of their rugged second-round NBA playoff series on Sunday night.
Wembanyama was whistled for an offensive foul as soon as he struck Reid, who had swarmed the NBA Defensive Player of the Year outside the paint along with teammate Jaden McDaniels after the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama rebounded a missed 3-pointer by the Spurs.
After a video review of the play, with the fans at Target Center chanting, “Kick him out! Kick him out!,” the foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 2 for excessive contact above the neck. That penalty triggers an automatic ejection, immediately swinging the balance of a pivotal game in the series toward the Timberwolves. The Spurs took a 2-1 lead with their 115-108 win in Game 3 on Friday.
When the penalty was announced, Wembanyama appeared to ask teammate Harrison Barnes: “What does that mean?”
After he slapped hands with each of his Spurs teammates on his way off the floor, with the arena sound system blaring Michael Jackson’s “Beat it!,” Reid sank both free throws to give the Timberwolves a 38-34 lead. Wembanyama finished with four points, four rebounds and three fouls in 13 minutes.
With Reid, Julius Randle and McDaniels in their frontcourt, the Timberwolves have had plenty of muscle and tenacity to send at Wembanyama, even if he’s been good enough offensively to overcome it. He had 39 points on 13-for-18 shooting from the floor in Game 3.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 9: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons plays defense during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on the wrong end of a few calls this season late in games. Whether or not they were in the closing moments of their Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons didn’t matter. The Cavs, specifically James Harden, hit enough shots late to secure the victory to trim the Pistons’ lead in the series to 2-1.
One of those shots seemed like it could’ve been called a shooting foul in the moment, but wasn’t.
With 30 seconds left in a one-point game, Harden attacked Tobias Harris in isolation with a side-step three. Harris flew into Harden, knocking him to the ground. It didn’t affect the shot, as the three-ball went through, but it seemed like this should’ve been a foul even though it wasn’t called one in the moment.
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The NBA agreed with this not being called a foul, according to The Last Two Minute Report they released on Sunday afternoon.
The report states that this was ruled correctly on the floor, saying: “Harris (DET) jumps to contest Harden’s (CLE) jump shot attempt, but would otherwise avoid making contact if not for Harden extending forward.”
I’m not sure if I can get behind this reasoning. Harden’s momentum is taking him forward, but Harris clearly jumps forward and initiates the contact. This wasn’t a situation where Harden stuck out his legs to draw or exaggerate contact. The space that Harden created with his sidestep caused forced
Either way, the call doesn’t matter too much at the end of the day. Harden hit the shot, and the Cavs won the game.
The Last Two Minute Report states that there were no missed calls in the closing moments of Game 3.
The New York Knicks came into Philadelphia Sunday, May 10, looking to close out a series sweep over the 76ers. Miles McBride made it look like they were trying to get out of there fast to beat traffic on the turnpike back to New York.
McBride hit four three-pointers in the first quarter Sunday, including three straight that forced the 76ers into a timeout. He finished with six threes and had 20 points at the half. New York made 11 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc after one quarter and went into the halftime having hit 17 three-pointers to lead 78-53 at the half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
New York shot 84.6% from three in the first 12 minutes and 69.6% from the floor overall.
The Sixers had no answer.
McBride, who stated in place of the injured OG Anunoby, came back from sports hernia surgery in late March and barely registered in eight appearances before Anunoby’s injury forced him into the lineup in Game 3.
Anunoby was hurt in Game 2 of the series driving to the basket. He has been listed as day-to-day since, but he has missed the last two games. Anunoby was averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game in the postseason before being hurt.
A win on Sunday would give the Knicks their first playoff sweep since 1999.
The NBA Draft Lottery is now behind us and while I think I can speak for EVERYONE when I say that I wish it went a little differently, we have to look toward the future. I’ll be linking all of our in-depth draft profiles to each player (we worked really hard on these, after all) so let’s break down who I think each lottery team will select in this year’s NBA Draft now that we know the order.
There’s an argument for a couple of guys to go #1 overall, but what isn’t a debate is which one has the least amount of concerns, and that would be AJ Dybantsa. It would have been really nice for the BYU product to make his way to Utah for the Jazzmen, and it even looked like he was hoping that we’d get the #1 spot, but his fit in Washington would be seamless.
Bilal Coulibaly has not developed offensively during his time in the league, so Dybantsa will take the starting SF spot in DC, and in doing so solidifies their future. Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be fun additions for the upcoming season(s) but once Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, and Dybantsa are ready to take the leap, we may finally see a Wizards team that wins 50 games for the first time in over 50 years.
Just an incredible talent: the most NBA ready scorer in this year’s draft, pro-level offensive skillset, and undeniably a walking bucket. His only concern this entire year was his durability.
He was plagued with muscle cramps for the majority of his time at Kansas, but recently it was reported that the cause of all that cramping was high does of creatine. Better late than never, I say. I have no other choice but to be hopeful that the issue is now behind him, and if it truly is, a backcourt of Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson is enough to make my mouth water.
The Memphis Grizzlies are… struggling as of late. After trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz this year, their role players not developing the way they hoped, and the impending trade of Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies just need a star level talent in the building.
After winning the College Player of the Year with averages of 22/10/4 it would be safe to say that Cam Boozer is one of those star level talents. After watching Nikola Jokic manhandle the league for the last few years it’s hard to imagine a world where Boozer doesn’t succeed. Now I’m not saying that he’ll be a future 3x MVP, but at bare minimum I think Memphis has an All-Star and potential perineal All-NBA level player on their horizon.
There are questions about Wilson’s fit in a modern NBA offense, but there’s a reason that he’s drawing Kevin Garnett comparisons. His defensive tenacity is unmatched, he stuffs the stat sheet, and he’s a very underrated playmaker.
Much like Memphis, Chicago is in need of true star power, and while I understand being a little shy to select a player with huge defensive upside but questionable offensive skillset again (*cough* Patrick Williams *cough*), Caleb Wilson is no Patrick Williams. Paring Wilson up with what we’ve seen from Matas Buzelis could be very dangerous in the future, and Chicago should be joyous.
The Clippers seem to be heading towards a Kawhi Leonard divorce this offseason, and while the defensive concerns of the two guards you traded for in Darius Garland and Benedict Mathurin are very visible, it would make sense here to draft a more reliable defender in Mikel Brown Jr.
Is he the next Gary Payton? No. Is he going to be a traffic cone on defense? Also no. He has the ability to fill up the stat sheet, have great shooting splits, and if it goes as well as I want it to for him, he could very well be the “face” of the Clippers franchise for the next decade.
The Brooklyn Nets have some sins to atone for after drafting 5 decent to unplayable Rookies last year. Being in a bigger market means that you have to and get a superstar, and Darius Acuff could certainly be that.
He has his problems, sure. He’s not an All-World defender, but he’s undeniably one of the best offensive engines that the college game has seen from a guard in quite some time. Statistically Acuff had the greatest season that any Coach Calipari guard has ever had, and I don’t think I have to tell you how insane that is. In my opinion they should draft the obvious offensive superstar, and figure out the rest later.
The Kings have been stuck in basketball purgatory for a while now, and I think it’s time that they just start fresh. Get rid of EVERYONE and draft a high upside guy like Flemings.
I’ve written about my concerns with him and his consistency, but he certainly knows how to put the ball in the hoop. On top of that he’s a very good playmaker and rebounds well for his position. It may be a few years before they could compete given the history of this franchise, but I could see a world where a Flemings led Kings team is back in the playoffs just as long as they’re able to surround him with the right tools.
The further down we go on this list the less upside there is for players, and that’s why teams that are getting ready to take a leap need to draft talent that will help you win immediately. Enter: Brayden Burries.
He isn’t a superhuman athlete or a top 3 playmaker in the draft, but he is a reliable option at the SG position AND knows how to play a role. Adding someone like him to the Jalen Johnson Hawks could be really interesting in the near future.
After winning the Rookie of the Year, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to add more talent to Cooper Flag and Wagler could help in many departments.
He’s got great size, he does a little bit of everything, he’s efficient, and he can play either guard position. In the immediate he would be a great aid to a healthy Kyrie Irving in the Mavericks’ backcourt, and in the future he could be a great facilitator next to Cooper Flagg.
Hannes has shot up a lot of people’s draft boards as of late and for very good reason. He’s an elite rebounder, he’s got great shooting splits, and he’s a very solid defender despite his lack of vertical athleticism.
He’s certainly not going to be mistaken for fellow German Dirk Nowitzki anytime soon offensively, but he has shown flashes of offensive ability and his shooting mechanics are very solid. He would be a fantastic piece to add to this young core, and if Giannis stays, he would be a great sidekick in the frontcourt.
#11 – Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon Jr.
A Steph Curry-less future is approaching in Golden State so now it’s time to consider a replacement. Steph Curry would still run the show for a few years, but after that? Labaron Philon could be a guy in The Bay.
He was great during his second season at Alabama averaging 22 points and 5 assists a night. He was hyper efficient as well with 50/39/79 shooting splits. His defensive effort/ability and his frame are cause for concern but can we think of any other team/front office that’s been able to overcome a short/defensive liability point guard before??? Oh, that’s right.
Yaxel has slipped in many mock drafts for one simple reason: his age. He was part of the Cade Cunningham high school draft class and while Cade was in MVP considerations this year and is leading his team (potentially) to the NBA Finals, Lendeborg is just now becoming a professional.
The ONE team that age couldn’t possibly matter to is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They will always need players that are ready to contribute right away, and Lendeborg can certainly do that. Yaxel does a little bit of everything on the floor and if there’s one thing that OKC loves, it’s a do it all forward.
There have been rumors that the Heat will be moving on from Tyler Herro this offseason in favor of “Big Game Hunting”, so they could very easily replace that archetype with Cameron Carr.
He averaged nearly 19 points per game on very solid shooting splits. He isn’t a great defender, but he does rebound well for his position. I believe that the Heat like what Herro has to offer their team in terms of style, but if they wanted to keep a similar scheme while getting cheaper in the process, I think that Carr could be a great selection.
#14 – Charlotte Hornets: Nate Ament
Ament arguably had the longest fall from grace in this draft process, but his upside is still as present as ever. He had an up-and-down season at Tennessee but a 6’10” forward who can do what he can is hard to pass on.
The Charlotte Hornets already have a lot of talent so it isn’t super important that he hit on this pick here, and Ament is one of those players that you almost have to take a chance on.
With the NBA Draft Lottery coming to a close that just means we’re one step closer to the NBA season returning, and I couldn’t be more pumped. Who do you think the Jazz will draft? What are you expecting from the other teams? Sound off in the comments!
