Category: NBA

Just like in the 1st round against the Orlando Magic, the Pistons have reached the point of win or go home as they face elimination against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. If there is one positive for the Pistons it is that they only have to win two games in a row to steal the series rather than the three they had to against Orlando.

Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland came with a bit of controversy as what many thought was a missed foul on Ausar Thompson at the end of the game kept the game tied before the Pistons lost in Overtime. The Last Two Minute Report by the NBA has since disproven the controversy by confirming the correct call was made, but it has still led to a ton of discourse.

The bottom line about Game 5 is that the Pistons put themselves in a position to win multiple times during the game and couldn’t seal the deal. You can complain about the foul and free throw discrepancy, and those are valid things, but the Pistons blew a 15-point lead in the 1st half and also a 9-point lead with two minutes left.

Now, they have to go to Cleveland with their season on the line where the Cavaliers have not lost a game during the postseason so far.

Vitals

Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH
When: Friday, May 15 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Cavaliers (-3.5)

Analysis

The big takeaway from the last three games amongst Pistons fans is the foul discrepancy and how many more free throws the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken. In Cleveland’s three straight wins, they have shot a total of 100 free throws while the Pistons have only shot 52. I don’t think I really need to say much more about it here that hasn’t already been talked about to death online.

The biggest reason why the Cavaliers have taken control of the series is because their stars have stepped up while the Pistons have gotten very minimal contributions out of anybody but Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. It reached a breaking point in Game 5 as Jalen Duren was benched for the whole 4th quarter and overtime in favor of Paul Reed, who is one of the few bright spots outside of Cunningham and Harris.

In Games 1 and 2, the Pistons were able to successfully hold James Harden in check to the point where despite 23 and 31 point games by Donovan Mitchell, they were still able to come out on top. Since those first two games, Donovan Mitchell has kicked it up to another level and James Harden has gotten things rolling. It has scrambled the Pistons defense as they have to sell out more to stop both player’s dribble penetration and it has allowed the Cavaliers to get players like Evan Mobley, Max Strus, and Jarrett Allen rolling with easy looks.

You can say it is due to an uneven whistle, but the bottom line is that unless the Pistons make adjustments to how they are defending Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, this series will be ending tonight.

The Pistons have done a bad job defending the three point line as the Cavaliers have gotten quite a few open threes after long possessions because the Pistons lose focus or rotate off somebody too much. The Cavs are too good of a shooting team to consistently allow that to happen.

The Cavaliers have successfully matched the Pistons physicality on defense and are able to bring doubles on Cade to force other players to beat them. That did not happen on Wednesday down the stretch. All the Pistons had to do was make one of the wide-open shots that Cade generated off of a pass out of a double and the controversial call doesn’t matter and we are discussing the Pistons closing out a series tonight.

You can blame the refs all you want, but the bottom line is despite the foul and free throw discrepancy, the Pistons have held leads in 2 of the last 3 games in the 4th quarter and could not seal the deal in either one. Young teams have to learn how to win in the playoffs and the Pistons were able to get the job done against the Orlando Magic, but the Cavaliers are an older, more experienced team with a ton of players that have played a lot of playoff games.

They know how to game the system whether you like it or not. And those plays around the margins can make all the difference in winning or losing a playoff series.

The Pistons are not dead in the water. But, if they want any hope at winning this game and returning home for Game 7, their execution down the stretch has to be much better. The amount of free throws each team have shot won’t matter if you execute your offense and do a better job at defending and creating turnovers. The Cavaliers are prone to doing it as they proved in Games 1 and 2.

JB Bickerstaff and the players can discuss the uneven whistle all that they want, but it is clear at this point that the team that led the league in fouls during the regular season is going to foul a lot. The Cavs know it and have put together a gameplan that focuses on it. Now, the Pistons have to put together a gameplan of their own to counteract it.

Lineups

Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2): James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Detroit Pistons (2-3): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Question of the Day

Do the Pistons get it done and force another Game 7?

What Joe Lacob told Steve Kerr that gave coach confidence in Warriors return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Joe Lacob made it clear what his expectation is for the Warriors each and every season.

Which was, in part, why Steve Kerr was confident in his decision to return to Golden State for two more seasons.

The Warriors coach spoke to reporters for the first time since signing his new contract, and was asked about his relationship with Lacob over the years and currently, as the team navigates a difficult path back to playoff contention.

“Joe and I have great respect for each other,” Kerr said. “I was here as a player all those years at Oracle when the crowd was loving it and the team was lousy. It just was. The team did not have what it haves now, which is really strong leadership, incredible infastructure and a vision for winning. Everyone boo’d Joe when he said ‘We’re going to win a title’ or ‘We’re trading Monta [Ellis]’ or whatever it was, right? You can’t argue with the results.

“Joe came in here, and he built a pretty incredible organization, on the business side, on the basketball side. We’ve had a great partnership. It doesn’t mean we always agree, nor should we. We want to be pushing each other.”

In recent weeks, when Kerr was deciding whether or not he wanted to return and coach the Warriors, he spoke with both Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy on multiple occasions, and one thing Lacob said in those meetings stuck with him and gave him confidence that the organization still is dedicated to winning.

“The only thing I would reveal from our conversations, and I don’t think he would mind if I shared this, but we were talking about our injuries and how this is the first time where we can’t realistically just say, “Hey, let’s win a title next year,’ you know?” Kerr recalled.

“He just said, ‘You know, I’m the owner, and I can’t help but just say I expect to be in the playoffs every year and have a shot.’ Frankly, that’s one of the reasons why we have done that is because of his vision and his passion. I admire that. I love that. I think he sees the same thing in me. We’re both incredibly competitive. He’s going to be frustrated with things that I do, and I’m going to be frustrated with his reaction sometimes on the sideline if he’s upset with something.”

If winning was not Lacob and the Warriors’ No. 1 priority, there is no doubt in Kerr’s mind that he already would have called it quits by now.

“That’s all part of it, but we have great respect for one another, and we share the exact same goal,” Kerr explained. “That’s ultimately why I’m coming back, because if that didn’t exist, then this would have ended.

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The National Basketball Association might have leaked the script for the upcoming conference finals, hasn’t it?

On Thursday evening, the NBA released all possible scenarios for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, both of which have one team already locked into the matchups—OKC Thunder in the West, New York Knicks in the East—but their opponent still to be determined.

Interestingly enough, the NBA announced the tip-off time for a potential Knicks-Cavaliers ECF, assuming Cleveland beats Detroit in Game 6 later today, setting Game 1 for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The potential Pistons-Knicks tip-off time in case Detroit beats all odds and advances in seven games? Not even in consideration for the NBA!

Make of that whatever you want, but hey, I wouldn’t complain having the Pistons and the whole ridiculous Deeeeee-trooit baaas-keeet-baall chant the hell out of the picture.

The Cavs won Game 5 on Wednesday, bringing their semifinals matchup to a 3-2 balance with Detroit facing back-to-back win-or-go-home games going forward, starting today… in The Land. None of those teams had won away from home before the Cavs beat the Pistons on the road, taking a series lead for good and making it hellaciously tough for a postseason-underperforming Detroit squad to pull off the miracle and advance.

Tip-off today is at 7 p.m. ET. If you still have popcorn left, grab a whole bunch and enjoy this war while the Knickerbockers get back to practice in their Tarrytown facilities, patiently waiting for their next victim.

On top of that, it’s been announced that Knicks’ all-time great broadcaster Mike Breen will be on the call for all of New York’s ECF games, with ESPN holding the broadcasting rights for the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals.

All jokes, but good times all around, ain’t em?

Myles Turner’s loose lips showed just how much of a sinking ship the Milwaukee Bucks were this season — with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the forefront of it all.

The Bucks’ star center, signed to a four-year, $108.9 million deal last offseason in a shocking move after the Pacers let him walk, told “Game Recognize Game” podcast co-host Breanna Stewart that Milwaukee had many problems under the hood, including tardiness.

“Bro, we literally — if the plane took off at 2 o’clock, we weren’t leaving until 4:30,” Turner said on the latest podcast. “I’m being so serious, bro. It was crazy. Guys were hours late to the plane. It got to the point where I just knew not to show up until like an hour after they said the plane was taking off. It was crazy.”

When Stewart asked who the biggest infringer was, Turner had one name on the tip of his tongue.

“That’s easy: Giannis,” he said. “Giannis is gonna show up whenever he wants really, you know? I think that it kinda just came with the territory. And once I saw what was going down, I was like ‘Hey, man, more power to you. They ain’t gonna fine you. Do what you do.'”

When Stewart, star of the WNBA’s Liberty, said her new coach Chris DeMarco added a fine system that includes $25 penalties for missed free-throw box-outs, Turner added that now ex-Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who has since retired, “didn’t fine anyone ever.”

“Guys were showing up to film whenever they wanted to show up; guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I’ve personally ever experienced,” Turner said.

On other teams, he said, players were fined regularly.

Doc Rivers never gave out fines, players late for planes, and getting fined for not boxing out.

NEW EPISODE of Game Recognize Game with Stewie and Myles OUT NOW.

Watch on YouTubehttps://t.co/RrTE4wnLZ8@breannastewart@Original_Turnerpic.twitter.com/pgIZDgyFzu

— Game Recognize Game (@gamerecgamepod) May 14, 2026

Taylor Jenkins, the Bucks’ new coach, will need to make changes following a horrific 32-50 regular season.

Antetokounmpo appears likely to be traded this offseason, given the extent of the dysfunction Turner described, as well as public comments from front office executives when the team introduced Jenkins.

“We will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization,” Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said during a press conference to introduce Jenkins. “We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”

The expectation is that a solution to this incoherent situation will be found before the 2026 NBA Draft in June.

Antetokounmpo has been publicly upset with the franchise that held him out to end the season due to injuries, public stating that he was healthy enough to play.

His next team odds have the Celtics as the primary option to trade for his services, should he be dealt this offseason.

I had the incredible experience of being Brew Hoop’s eyes and ears at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this past week. As much as I didn’t want to leave, I’m home now, but I left with plenty of thoughts on prospects the Bucks may be targeting with their 10th overall pick. There was a lot to take in at the Combine, and a laundry list of names have been linked to Milwaukee, so to make things easy, we’ll start with the guys Eric Nehm reported have met with the Bucks so far. Here are some notes on all of them:

Darius Acuff Jr.

Most of the concerns surrounding Acuff have involved his (lack of) size. It’s no secret that small guards are an endangered species right now. But Acuff measured better than some may have expected, slotting in at 6’2” barefoot with a 186-pound frame and a 6’7” wingspan. He plays smaller than his size to some degree, but those are still encouraging numbers. Ultimately, though, it feels pretty unlikely that the Arkansas stud will fall past Brooklyn and Sacramento, so scouting him is just due diligence for Milwaukee.

Nate Ament

Ament has all of the parts needed to build a good player, but he doesn’t come with an instruction booklet. The Tennessee forward came out for his athletic testing at the same time as some big guys, including Cam Boozer, Hannes Steinbach, Aday Mara, and Caleb Wilson, and he looked right at home beside them with his 6’9.5” barefoot height and 6’11.5” wingspan. He needs to fill out with more muscle, but he has a real NBA build. He fared pretty well in shooting drills, but the form will definitely need several tweaks if he’s going to be a real deep threat. 

Mikel Brown Jr.

Brown killed it at the Combine. His measurements were great; at 6’3.5” barefoot with a 6.7.5” wingspan, he has real combo guard size, which is important if he’s going to be playing alongside Ryan Rollins. Brown also shot the leather off the ball in drills. His jumper is as effortless and clean as anyone’s in the class. It’s tough to imagine him falling to 10 unless teams get really scared about his noted back injury worries.

Brayden Burries

Burries was another standout performer at the Combine, even if he didn’t make quite as much noise as Brown or the guy we’ll touch on next. He tested well athletically, posting a 38.5-inch maximum vertical and some quick pro lane drill and 3/4 court sprint times while also measuring in at nearly 6’4” barefoot and 215 pounds. Burries also scorched nets in the shooting drills. He’s another guy who could fit next to Rollins in the backcourt pretty seamlessly. 

Cameron Carr

No player helped their stock more at the Combine than Cam Carr. His athletic stuff was impressive, and then he came out and dominated the second scrimmage on Wednesday, going for a LOUD 30 points in 27 minutes. He’s one of the best true three-and-D wings in the draft, and he proved himself to be worthy of consideration at 10 for the Bucks if Giannis sticks around, as long as Yaxel Lendeborg isn’t still on the board. 

Chris Cenac Jr.

Unless the Bucks know something we don’t, Cenac would be a reach at 10. He’s pretty raw and doesn’t have a defined role, but he does have some intriguing tools, which he showed off in Chicago. The Houston product is 6’10” with a 7’5” wingspan and a 37-inch max vert, and his jumper is a lot smoother than what most guys his size are working with. 

In media availability, I asked Cenac how he thinks he’d be able to match up with centers early in his NBA career. He said “it’ll definitely be a challenge, but you know I’m never running from the fire, I’m definitely ready to jump in the fire and see what it’s like and go out there and compete.” He’ll probably be more of a power forward as a rookie, but if he can find some more consistency from deep, that would open up some enticing double big possibilities with him alongside Myles Turner or Giannis. Again, though, he’s not likely to hear his name called 10th overall.

Aday Mara

Not that it was a total shock, but Mara wowed the draft world when he got marked at 7’3” barefoot with an almost 10-foot standing reach. He shot the ball surprisingly well for a guy of his giant stature, specifically during the movement shooting drills, which is honestly pretty scary. However, his form isn’t NBA-ready: it’s slow, and he struggles to put enough arc on the ball. His stretch potential is something to keep an eye on if he’s going to be paired with the Greek Freak.

Labaron Philon

Philon didn’t do much to stand out in either direction at the Combine, which could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. He’s firmly in the running for the 10th pick right now, given he’s a tier behind the Acuffs and Browns of the world on most boards. So, I asked him if he views himself as a true combo guard at the next level and what his favorite way to play offensively is because, again, he could be sharing the floor with Ryan Rollins. His answer: “I don’t really have a preference, I like playing on the ball, off the ball. I think I can do both at a great high rate, so being able to find a mix between playmaking and scoring, really.”

Keaton Wagler

Wagler’s measurements were a tad concerning, with a meh 36-inch max vert and a wingspan that only exceeds his height by an inch. On top of that, he shot surprisingly poorly during drills. This is a case where the larger sample size has to be trusted over the Combine results, although that should always be done anyway. Meeting with the Illinois star is mainly due diligence too, though, with steam picking up quickly for him to land with the Clippers at 5.

Tyler Tanner

Tanner broke the news during media availability that he met with the Bucks on Wednesday. Milwaukee’s interest here is interesting, because the Vanderbilt guard is only ranked in the top-10 by Twitter’s spreadsheet scouting battalion. He unfortunately tanked his stock this week, measuring in at 5’11” barefoot and failing to make an impact in scrimmages (although his decision to play in them as a projected first-round pick was commendable). Tanner will probably return to school, so maybe Jon Horst is doing his 2027 homework early.

Here are some brief notes on some other players worth talking about despite not officially being connected to the Bucks:

Yaxel Lendeborg: Tested not-so-well athletically, but no reason for worry here because he’s a proven awesome functional athlete. Shot it well in the spot-up drill specifically. Met with and worked out for Milwaukee last year, per Nehm.

Hannes Steinbach: Posted measurements of 6’10” barefoot with a 7’2” wingspan and weighed in at 248 pounds. He’s a big fella. The Bucks visited him at workouts recently, again according to Nehm.

Karim Lopez: Didn’t look good in the athletic testing, and his jumper is all over the place. He’s even rawer than Nate Ament.

Dailyn Swain: It was a rough week for the Texas wing. His shot looked clunky during drills, and he had a pretty quiet scrimmage on Wednesday. He opted to sit out of Thursday’s game, but many thought he should have played again.

Morez Johnson Jr.: Had a fantastic showing in every sense. The only blip for him was the spot-up shooting drill. The Michigan forward feels like a lottery party crasher that Milwaukee needs to have on their radar.

Jayden Quaintance: Didn’t do athletic testing. The jumper is gross (which is fine). When I asked him how he thinks he can fit alongside another big at the next level, he said “I feel like my versatility and the way that I move, I feel like it’s different than a lot of bigs, so I feel like we’ll be able to kinda occupy the same space and I’ll be able to do different things to play different roles, especially defensively, and offensively, spacing-wise as well with my quickness and the speed that I have.”

Ebuka Okorie: The Stanford guard’s measurements were better than those of some of his peers (6’1” barefoot, but a nearly 6’8” wingspan and a 37.5-inch max vert). Shot it really well. A potential late riser—he’s not at all significantly worse than other guards projected in the range of the 10th pick.

Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis of these prospects from Brew Hoop, both in written and podcast form!

Steve Kerr reveals how his wife's ‘meaningful' reminder helped Warriors decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The days and weeks leading up to Steve Kerr’s decision about his Warriors future were emotional, to say the least.

While he engaged in productive conversations with team owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, and even kept in touch with star players Steph Curry and Draymond Green, he also had several discussions with those closest to him, including his wife, Margot.

And one message from Margot helped change his entire perspective.

“She said, ‘You might coach again someday, but you’ll never coach the Warriors again,’ ” Kerr recalled Margot telling him while speaking to the media Friday after signing a new contract with Golden State. “That was really meaningful to me because I love this team, I love our players. That struck me.

“I couldn’t imagine walking away from the Warriors.”

So he agreed to a two-year contract extension to return as coach and continue his decorative 12-year tenure with the team, in which he’s helped bring four NBA titles to the Bay.

Once Margot helped get his emotions together, he turned to the Warriors brass to make the logical decision.

“So at that point, it was really, ‘What do you guys want to do?’ ” Kerr remembers asking Lacob and Dunleavy. “We had great meetings, and over the course of about a week, we agreed. Let’s do it. So here I am.”

The decision is just one of the many important ones Golden State leaders will have to make this offseason, as they will now shift their focus to roster construction with several key players, such as Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, set to miss the start of the 2026-27 season.

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Fresh off his Rookie of the Year award, Dallas Mavericks Cooper Flagg made things Instagram official with girlfriend, Duke women’s basketball center Ari Roberson, on Thursday.

Flagg, who led Duke to the Final Four last March before Dallas took him first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, shared a snapshot of the pair kissing while in Turks and Caicos on his Instagram Story.

Roberson, a 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman for the Blue Devils, reposted the photo with two black heart emojis.

She also shared a TikTok video that showed them doing an online trend, which included moments from their vacation.

“Carry on…” she wrote with a kissing face emoji.

Roberson is the younger sister of former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson, who last played with the Nets in 2020-21 after six seasons with the Thunder.

Flagg and Roberson made waves online when they shared individual photos of themselves enjoying the same swings over the ocean at Noah’s Ark in Turks and Caicos last Friday.

Before that, Flagg and Roberson stirred buzz when they attended Duke’s 101-64 blowout win over Syracuse at Cameron Indoor Stadium in February.

They seemingly met through their Duke connection.

Roberson overlapped with Flagg for a year at the school when they were freshmen in the 2024-25 season.

Their vacation comes on the heels of Flagg winning NBA Rookie of the Year and edging his former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, currently a Charlotte Hornets forward, for the honor.

View this post on Instagram

The 19-year-old Flagg became the second-youngest player to win the award behind Lakers superstar LeBron James.

This past year, Roberson averaged 8.0 points per game on 41 percent shooting across 33 games for the Blue Devils.

Charles Barkley said American society is still unfriendly toward gay people in the aftermath of the death of Jason Collins, the ex-Net who made history in 2013 by becoming the first active Big Four (MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA) athlete to announce he was gay.

Barkley believes there are more male athletes who are gay but unwilling to do so due to a “homophobic” mentality permeating society.

“If another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,” Barkley said Tuesday on ESPN after Collins died at the age of 47 after battling Stage 4 glioblastoma. “And that’s unfortunate. Anybody who think we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.

Inside The NBA: While discussing Jason Collins' passing, Charles Barkley: "We live in a homophobic society … anybody who think we ain't got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they're just stupid."

Via @ESPNNBApic.twitter.com/TJMIPoytHE

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) May 14, 2026

“There is such animosity toward the gay community and that’s what really unfortunate. But anybody that think him coming — I know a couple of other soccer players that came out — if you think there are not more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA, you’re just stupid.”

Barkley, 63, and his “Inside the NBA” co-hosts touched on Collins’ legacy Tuesday night in a poignant segment after Collins died from brain cancer.

A little more than 13 years ago, Collins — then a free agent — made history when he wrote in the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

He suited up for one final season the following year with the Nets to cap his 13-year career in which he appeared in 735 games and averaged 3.6 points.

Collins’ bravery has had a lasting effect, and eight years later then-Raider Carl Nassib became the first active player in NFL history to come out.

“You say 13 years ago, ‘Well, what’s the big deal somebody said that they’re open gay, what’s the big deal?'” Barkley’s co-host, Kenny Smith, said. “Well, 13 years ago it was a big deal. The reason why it doesn’t feel as big now, at times, is because of people like him. Kudos to him.”

Ernie Johnson, who runs point for the show, later complimented Collins.

“A guy who really through his words and through his actions has told us all, You don’t have to live in the shadows,” Johnson said. “He said, ‘Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self.'”

Barkley has voiced support for members of the LGBTQ+ community over the years, including a notable exchange at a bar three years ago.

He reportedly pushed back against those protesting against Budweiser for using Dylan Mulvaney — a transgender woman — while at a Lake Tahoe bar.

“If you’re gay, God bless you. If you’re trans, God bless you. And if you have a problem with them, f–k you,” Barkley told the patrons, according to People.

He also said: “I’m gonna buy some drinks for y’all and I’m gonna buy Bud Light. Let me tell you something: All you rednecks or assholes who don’t want to drink Bud Light, f–k y’all. Hey, y’all can’t cancel me.”

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In three short seasons, Victor Wembanyama has the San Antonio Spurs knocking on the door of the Western Conference finals and making a case for the best player in the NBA.

Wembanyama leads San Antonio against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, and our Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions combine player props to identify the best bet for the 7-foot Frenchman.

Here are my NBA picks and Wembanyama predictions for Game 6 on May 15.

Victor Wembanyama prop pick

Victor Wembanyama best bet: Under 3.5 blocks (+105 at bet365)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are desperately trying to find a solution for the San Antonio Spurs’ defense. 

Minnesota has the lowest effective field goal rate among all teams in Round 2 (47.1 EFG%) and has been plagued by poor starts, either mindlessly attacking the paint with Victor Wembanyama patrolling the paint or settling for tough outside shots.

To combat those slow starts, T-Wolves head coach Chris Finch told reporters that his offense needs to be patient and take its time, moving the ball to improve its chances in Game 6. 

To find that space, Minnesota could go with a smaller rotation to stretch the Spurs’ interior defense.

We saw a bit of this in Game 5. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert received his fewest minutes of the postseason, as Finch utilized stretch forwards Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Jalen McDaniels at the No. 5 spot in order to draw Wembamyama away from the rim.

Wemby finished with only three blocks across 33 minutes in Game 5, and a more calculated attack from Minnesota – one that draws the 7-footer to the outside – would keep his shot swatting to a minimum.

Projections for Wembanyama range from 2.5 to 3.5 blocks in Game 6, with most models below 3 rejections. 

Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay

The Spurs just have too much depth for the T-Wolves to keep track of. On top of Wembanyama’s output, San Antonio is getting excellent scoring from all five starters and deep down the bench.

While Wemby won’t send four or more shots back, he’s not shy about letting it fly from deep. He’s knocked down two or more triples in three of his last four games with that lone down spot in Game 4, when he was ejected after 12 minutes.

Projections call for two triples tonight.

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.

When the Sixers decided to part ways with former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, there was plenty of debate amongst the fanbase as to whether a new front office group would really change all that much. When plenty of blame falls at the feet of ownership, it’s easy for the wires to get crossed of which specific places blame should go.

Now that Bob Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, has made his first public appearance for the Sixers alongside governor Josh Harris, their quotes offered a little more insight into what problems will leave with Morey, and which ones might be potentially here to stay.

One of the biggest topics that came up in the press conference at the team’s practice facility Thursday, one that Harris wanted to get out in front of and address, was the luxury tax. The topic of “ducking” the luxury tax has become a hot one in Philly, with the Sixers not having paid it for their roster since 2022.

The vitriol really kicked into gear after the front office not only ignored Joel Embiid’s pleas to not duck the tax, but traded away Jared McCain for no rostered players in return. Harris was happy to field a question about this, wanting a chance to give his thoughts publicly.

“The front office absolutely has the green light to go into the luxury tax — in fact we’ve been in and out of the luxury tax,” Harris said. “It’s just not an issue.”

He went on to describe the money they’ve put into the team like a new practice facility, arena and the several max contracts they’ve shelled out since he bought the team. Myers went a step further, saying that if Harris shot down a proposed transaction because it would put them over the tax, he wouldn’t want to work for Harris.

No one should expect the Sixers to shoot up into the second apron next year, but Harris has backed up those words in the past. On top of the new facilities, he has given out max or near-max money to Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. The Sixers did pay the luxury tax in 2021 and 2022, two years of Embiid’s MVP contention.

There of course have been some penny-pinching as well, most notably ducking the tax in the 2023 season, the best year in terms of regular season wins since Harris took over the team. There was also attaching multiple second-round picks to salary-dump KJ Martin at last year’s deadline.

What this ownership has shown over their time in charge is that they will spend the money for a team they believe to be true title contenders. Injuries likely played a major part, but it doesn’t seem like Morey was able to sell them on an idea that would do so.

The public defense of Morey for the McCain trade was that ownership forced his hand to get over the tax. It’s worth repeating again that those were not mutually exclusive ideas. Thanks to the Paul George suspension, the salary dump of Eric Gordon alone would have gotten them under the tax. Not paying the luxury tax for 2025-26 might have been a mandate from Harris, but trading McCain was Morey’s call — with ownership’s approval.

Speaking of those big contracts handed out, a criticism often given to both Morey and Harris was their proclivity to big game fishing. For Morey, this was more centered around his roster construction, as one built around Embiid, George and Maxey would indicate.

Whether the Sixers still believe in that model is for a new hire to decide.

“Well, we didn’t get it done this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done,” Myers said about the Big 3 model. “Depth may be more important than it’s ever been… Not to say this model doesn’t work, but we have to look at this year and be honest about it.”

The big fish criticism has applied to Harris on more of a macro-sense. The label on him is that he will get the most well-known name available rather than leading a search to find the next new thing. Myers represents those concerns in a lot of ways for Sixers fans.

As the president of basketball operations in Golden State, he helped acquire Kevin Durant and saw the team win four titles in his time. He also missed on big draft picks that failed to bring the Warriors “two timelines” plan to fruition.

That concern over Harris’ thought process still looks valid. Several times during their press conference, Harris said something along the lines of, “that’s why you bring in the guy who’s won four championships.”

Myers’ shaky draft record was a big reason even Morey’s biggest detractors were nervous about moving on from him. If there’s any hope on that front, it’s that the Sixers’ scouting department hasn’t seen any changeover just yet.

There were several mentions made to the scouting staff currently being in Chicago for the draft combine, including general manager Elton Brand. Myers says he hopes to hire a new president before the draft in late June. Even if he’s able to do so, there is not a lot of time left to put together a strategy for this year.

It might just be a matter of timing and logistics, but the Sixers may have a lot of the same scouting infrastructure that they had under Morey. If that’s the case, that’s a reason to feel optimistic about the Sixers’ pick at No. 22 this year.

One mistake this group needs to steer clear of is not making the power structure clear. Brand’s first two seasons as general manager were notorious for being a collaborative front office without one clear vision for the team. That regime also changed after two bad contracts were handed out and they were swept out of the playoffs in 2020.

How exactly everything unfolds is still unclear after this press conference. Myers said he won’t be involved in day-to-day operations of this team, but will have a voice in big decisions. With the Sixers also retaining Brand for the moment and head coach Nick Nurse, there will already be a lot of high-paid chefs in the kitchen this new president of basketball operations will be running.

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Game 6 of this Western Conference semifinal series could be a “coming of age” contest for the San Antonio Spurs.

They need to go on the road if they want to eliminate a veteran Minnesota Timberwolves team. 

My Spurs vs. Timberwolves props and NBA picks single out three player props for Friday night, including a last stand from deep for Anthony Edwards.

Here are my best Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions for May 15.

Best Spurs vs Timberwolves props for Game 6

Player	Pick
Anthony Edwards	Over 2.5 threes	-135
Julius Randle	Over 10.5 rebounds + assists	+110
Stephon Castle	Over 5.5 rebounds	+120

Game 6 Prop #1: Anthony Edwards Over 2.5 threes

-135 at bet365

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards appreciated the extra day off before Game 6 more than anyone.
 
He’s been playing through a painful knee injury suffered in the first round yet is still pacing the T-Wolves offense. Edwards will be the healthiest he’s been in a long time and carries that weight again with Minnesota facing elimination at home.

Edwards is coming off his quietest day beyond the arc in Game 5, making just one of his three 3-point attempts. The shooting guard had knocked down three triples in each of the past two games and is shooting much better from distance at home during the postseason (36% vs. 28.6% away).

The San Antonio Spurs’ interior defense is pushing the Timberwolves to the perimeter and game script has Minnesota playing from behind, prompting plenty of 3-point attempts.
 
Edwards’ projections all sit north of three treys with some models as high as four makes from downtown.

Game 6 Prop #2: Julius Randle Over 10.5 rebounds + assists

+110 at bet365

Julius Randle has come under a lot of fire in this series.
 
He’s been ice cold shooting the ball, firing at 36.6% from the floor in the past five games. But he’s found other ways to contribute, with 18 rebounds and four assists in the last two outings.

The T-Wolves could roll out a smaller rotation with Randle at center in hopes of drawing Victor Wembanyama away from the rim. That will open up space and make Randle a conduit for cutters.

He’s been actively passing in the series with 28 potential assists but his teammates haven’t converted those dimes into buckets, with just eight total assists from Randle the past five games. 

He’s getting after it on the glass as well, transforming 71 rebounding chances into 39 boards. If Randle draws more defensive assignments on Wemby, he’ll be stationed closer to the rim and in prime rebounding space.

Projections for Randle have a ceiling of five assists and seven rebounds, which gets up Over his combo prop of 10.5 rebounds + assists — a bar he’s topped the past two games.

Game 6 Prop #3: Stephon Castle Over 5.5 rebounds

+120 at bet365

There haven’t been too many rebounds to go around with Wembanyama cleaning the glass like a Costco-size jug of Windex. That could change in Game 6.

The Timberwolves flirted with a smaller lineup in Game 5 in an attempt to stretch the Spurs’ interior and drag Wemby away from the rim. With the 7-footer having to check Randle, Jalen McDaniels, or Naz Reid on the perimeter, Stephon Castle could see extra opportunities on the boards.

So far in the series, the Spurs' 6-foot-6 guard has been in position for 44 rebounding chances and converted those into 23 rebounds — 4.6 per game. He’s deferred seven of those rebounding chances, meaning he let Wembanyama swoop in and snatch up the miss.

His game models range from 5.1 to 6.15 rebounds tonight with the bulk of those models leaning to six boards.

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It’s do-or-die for the Detroit Pistons in Game 6, while the Cleveland Cavaliers aim to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.

My Pistons vs. Cavaliers props and NBA picks expect big performances from James Harden, Cade Cunningham, and Jarrett Allen.

Keep reading for the full breakdown and Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions.

Best Pistons vs Cavaliers props for Game 6

Player	Pick
James Harden	Over 19.5 points	-110
Cade Cunningham	Over 27.5 points	-110
Jarrett Allen	Over 1.5 blocks	-130

Game 6 Prop #1: James Harden Over 19.5 points

-110 at bet365

James Harden might be past his prime, but the 36-year-old still has some game.

Harden put up a postseason-high 30 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 5 win, while chucking up a team-leading 21 field goal attempts and getting to the charity stripe 14 times.

Harden has scored Over 19.5 points in two straight games, and three of five contests against the Detroit Pistons.

He’ll be relied on heavily again in Game 6 as the Pistons continue to clamp down on Donovan Mitchell, who dropped just 21 points last time out.

Game 6 Prop #2: Cade Cunningham Over 27.5 points

-110 at bet365

Cade Cunningham delivered in Game 5 with 39 points while shooting 48% from the field and 60% from 3-point range. He’ll likely need a similar performance in Game 6 to help the Pistons avoid elimination.

The former first-overall pick clearly has the clutch gene — he scored 32+ points in all three must-win games during the Conference Quarterfinals against the Magic.

Tobias Harris is the only other Pistons player averaging more than 12 ppg, and Duncan Robinson is questionable for Game 6. Expect Cunningham to get a ton of touches — and points — tonight.

Game 6 Prop #3: Jarrett Allen Over 1.5 blocks

-130 at bet365

Jarrett Allen has been a defensive beast this postseason, ranking third on the team in defensive rating and second among all players in the NBA with 24 blocks.

Defense doesn’t always show up on the box score, but in Allen’s case it often does. The Cavs center has logged Over 1.5 blocks in three straight contests, and nine of his last 11 outings.

Detroit is averaging 86.6 field goal attempts per game in the series — third most among all teams in the Conference Semifinals. The Pistons will get their looks, but Allen will be there to shut them down in the paint.

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What Warriors coach Steve Kerr wrote to Draymond Green in emotional letter originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Not many people know Draymond Green better than Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

So during the 2025-26 NBA season, when Golden State’s fiery forward was struggling on the court, Kerr took it upon himself to privately reach out to Green.

The old-fashioned way.

ESPN’s Wright Thompson, who spent a lot of time with Kerr throughout the season, detailed, in his recent profile story, Kerr’s gesture for Green after a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 14.

“Steve sat down at his computer and typed out a letter to Draymond Green,” Thompson wrote. “Green had been in a spiral. Draymond’s plus-minus stats in one stretch were -17, -10, -12, -10, -6, -5, -9. The team performed better when he wasn’t on the court, after a decade of being the Warriors’ emotional center. To prove to himself, and the team, that he mattered, he forced things on offense.”

What exactly did Kerr write to Green?

“He told Dray how much he meant to him,” Thompson continued. “He talked about the turnovers, how the Warriors were 9-2 when they turned the ball over less than their opponents, and 3-11 when they turned it over more. He talked about aging, about how all great players adapted at the end of their career.

“Magic Johnson learned how to shoot threes, he wrote, and Steph Curry got stronger, and Michael Jordan learned to dominate the low post. Your superpower, he told Green, is your brain and your defensive instincts. He told him he loved him. Most of all, he told him he understood him.”

Both Green and Kerr have been vocal about how they view themselves as similar people, with similar levels of fire and passion that sometimes get them both in trouble.

Their personalities have clashed numerous times over the years, including this season, when both were seen yelling at each other on the Warriors bench during a timeout huddle in a Dec. 22 win over the Orlando Magic.

That altercation led to a private meeting between the two, where they apologized to each other and likely reiterated some of the things Kerr addressed in the letter he wrote just one week prior.

With Kerr returning to coach the Warriors for two more seasons, it likely won’t be the last time the two have a heart-to-heart discussion.

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There are marriages that survive because of love. There are marriages that survive because of shared history. And then there are marriages that survive because both sides are too stubborn or afraid to walk away from each other.

And right now, the relationship between the Lakers and LeBron James is the latter.

That’s why the report that came out Wednesday from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin about LeBron feeling “unappreciated” after the Lakers’ March 31 win over the Cavaliers landed with so much force around the league.

Not because it was shocking, but because it wasn’t.

The greatest player in Lakers history since Kobe Bryant doesn’t just storm out of the locker room with ice bags wrapped around his knees and slides on his feet randomly — especially not because he didn’t get a game ball.

That kind of resentment and animosity builds slowly, layer by later, over years of passive-aggressive messaging and emotional distance.

And if we’re being honest, both sides are to blame for this mess.

Let’s start with the obvious: The Lakers absolutely should have honored LeBron that night.

Surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined (regular season and playoffs) wins in NBA history is not some throwaway stat. It is one of the defining accomplishments in league history. On par with LeBron passing Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record. It deserved its own moment, acknowledgment and celebration.

LeBron James has passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,228) for the most TOTAL WINS (regular season + playoffs) in NBA history

Greatness. pic.twitter.com/zVGeCzw2AR

— NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2026

Lakers coach JJ Redick even said as much in his postgame speech to his team that night. After listing all the accomplishments, he finished by saying:

“More importantly, LeBron James, the winningest player of all time in the regular season and playoffs.”

What happened next is what caused the ruckus, and what makes it even more ridiculous in hindsight is that the whole thing could have been avoided.

Rob Pelinka interrupted the celebration to honor Redick’s 100th win as a head coach and even had a video of his two sons congratulating him. He then presented Redick with a game ball.

JJ's kids at the end here

(via @Lakers)pic.twitter.com/aAO3IH6N5P

— NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2026

But why on earth did Pelinka not have more than one game ball ready?

NBA teams prepare three game balls before every game. Just like an NFL head coach hands out multiple game balls after the game, Pelinka easily could have secured all three to hand out to Redick, LeBron and Luka Doncic, respectively.

Instead, the Lakers somehow turned a night that should have celebrated organizational greatness into another chapter of awkward family tension. And LeBron had every right to feel slighted.

If we’re ranking the accomplishments that occurred that night in order of historical significance, it would look like this:

1. LeBron surpassing Kareem for most wins in NBA history.
2. Luka breaking Kobe Bryant’s franchise record with 600 points in March.
3. Redick earning his 100th win while becoming the first Lakers coach since Phil Jackson to post back-to-back 50-win seasons.
4. Luka reaching 15,000 career points.
5. Rui Hachimura reaching 5,000 career points.
6. The Lakers finishing March 15-2.

LeBron’s accomplishment was the greatest based on the history of the NBA. Period. And Pelinka should have done more to recognize it.

But LeBron needs to own something about himself, too. Because his reaction also exposed something contradictory to his words.

LeBron consistently says he “doesn’t care” about what people think about him. He claims to ignore articles, podcasts and criticism. He says he’s “too busy watching golf videos on YouTube” to worry about his public perception. He says winning and his teammates are the only things that matter to him.

Except his actions have not always backed up his words.

You don’t storm out of a locker room over feeling underappreciated if appreciation doesn’t matter deeply to you. And there’s nothing wrong with owning that. In fact, it makes you more human.

Of course, LeBron wants to be appreciated. Of course, he wants reverence. He’s spent 23 seasons carrying the weight of the sport on his shoulders. Players like LeBron don’t just want championships. They want legacy. They want validation. They want history to stop for a second and recognize the enormity of what they’ve done. Especially when it comes with three decades’ worth of sacrifice, dedication and hard work.

That’s why all this talk about him retiring and disappearing feels unrealistic.

LeBron might not want a yearlong farewell tour filled with rocking chairs and framed jerseys. But he absolutely wants to feel appreciated and honored by the game of basketball before he leaves it forever. This only confirms that.

And at the same time, the Lakers have every right to feel frustrated. They gave LeBron everything he wanted. They won a championship together in 2020. They traded for Russell Westbrook when he asked. They drafted his son, Bronny. They empowered his voice for nearly a decade.

And yet, since Doncic arrived, the relationship has clearly shifted.

Luka is the future now. Everybody knows it. That’s what makes this relationship so emotionally volatile. Aging superstars rarely handle succession gracefully — hell, there was an entire television series about it.

The Lakers have spent the last year slowly transitioning their team from LeBron to Doncic. And it’s that tension that bleeds into everything. Which is why this offseason cannot be handled through leaks to the media, anonymous quotes and more passive-aggressive behavior.

These two sides need to sit down and have a brutally honest conversation.

If LeBron feels unappreciated, he needs to say it directly. If the Lakers believe LeBron doesn’t show enough gratitude for what they’ve done for him, they need to stay that, too. Air all of it out.

Because LeBron is about to discover in free agency that there may not be a better basketball situation for him, both on the court and off, than staying in LA, playing alongside Luka and sharing a locker room with his son.

And the Lakers need to recognize that players like LeBron do not grow on trees. You don’t nickel-and-dime emotional acknowledgment with someone who delivered you a championship, restored relevance and helped bridge the franchise from the Kobe era into the Luka era.

If both parties actually want this marriage to continue, both sides need to evolve and grow.

The Lakers need to appreciate LeBron more and show it.

LeBron needs to show more gratitude toward the Lakers.

Otherwise, this relationship isn’t heading toward reconciliation.

It’s heading toward a loud, ugly and very public divorce.

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