Category: Basketball

Daryl Morey’s tenure in Philadelphia has come to an end.

After six seasons as the Sixers’ president of basketball operations, Morey will no longer have that post after meeting with owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer on Tuesday. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news.

Head coach Nick Nurse will be back for his fourth season and Bob Myers, the former Golden State Warriors’ executive who is the president of sports for HBSE, will lead the team’s search for a new president of basketball operations.

Harris and Myers, who will both speak at a press conference Thursday at 4 p.m., released statements on Morey:

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Daryl personally and professionally, and I’m grateful for his contributions over the last six seasons,” Harris said. “After speaking with Daryl, we determined that it was time for a fresh start. Bob Myers will lead the process of identifying a new leader and I believe his experience in constructing four NBA championship teams will be a valuable resource to our organization.

“To our fans, your frustration and disappointment are understandable and warranted. We have fallen well short of our own expectations and failed to deliver in the way this city deserves. That bothers me deeply and I have confidence in Bob to establish a path forward for our franchise.”

“I know how much the 76ers mean to the City of Philadelphia, and it’s important we find the right leader to shape the future of this team,” Myers said. “The process will start immediately, and we will be thorough and deliberate in our evaluations. I believe this is a destination for top talent across the league and look forward to solidifying our infrastructure moving forward.”

Morey’s time with the Sixers started on a terrific note. He was hired ahead of the 2020-21 season, inheriting a very flawed roster which featured Al Horford and Josh Richardson. During the 2020 NBA Draft, Morey flipped both players and turned them into Danny Green and Seth Curry. He also drafted Tyrese Maxey at pick No. 21 and made two sold selections in the second round in Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed.

The regular season was a resounding success, with Doc Rivers leading the group to the East’s top seed. We unfortunately know how that ended with the team losing to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games. Ben Simmons, who was in trade rumors for James Harden earlier in the season, struggled mightily during the playoffs. Both Rivers and Joel Embiid made postgame comments that didn’t sit well with Simmons, ultimately leading to a holdout.

While many in Philadelphia grew antsy as Morey held on to Simmons to begin the 2021-22 campaign, it worked out well with the team finally acquiring Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. Harden showed some lingering effects from a previous hamstring issue and Embiid suffered yet another orbital bone fracture in the first round. The Sixers lost to the Miami Heat in six games in the second round.

Arguably the best team Morey assembled here and the one that came the closest to finally getting over the second-round hump was in 2022-23. With Harden here the entire season and Maxey coming into his own, the team was one of the hottest in the NBA entering postseason play. After sweeping the Brooklyn Nets, they went up against the rival Boston Celtics. Again, it was another series that ended in disappointment as the team blew a 3-2 series lead, getting crushed in Game 7 in Boston.

Morey made the decision to move on from Rivers and hire Nurse. In that offseason, we got another holdout as Harden and Morey’s relationship soured to an irredeemable degree. To start the 2023-24 season, the Sixers looked almost unstoppable with Embiid somehow outplaying his MVP pace and Maxey well on his way to earning the league’s Most Improved Player award. The team was beset by another Embiid meniscus tear and beaten by the New York Knicks in six games in the first round.

In trading Harden, Morey began his boldest strategy while running the Sixers. All the players he took back in the trade with the LA Clippers were on expiring contracts. Morey’s plan was to keep his books clean for the offseason so the team could offer a big-time free agent a max contract. That player wound up being Paul George. Morey also signed Embiid to a three-year max extension and gave Maxey a new max deal.

We don’t need to rehash the 2024-25 season — living through it was enough. The only good to come out of it was the emergence of rookie Jared McCain and the team tanking to close the season, which allowed them to select VJ Edgecombe third overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Sixers bounced back this season, with both Embiid and George playing more and at a much higher level. Maxey took an All-NBA leap and Edgecombe finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. Despite pulling off an improbable comeback from a 3-1 deficit and finally knocking off the hated Celtics in the playoffs, the Sixers were totally out of gas in the second round and were swept by the Knicks.

What might’ve been the last straw for Morey was the trade deadline. He traded McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for draft compensation and made no corresponding moves to help the current roster. His comments about “selling high” on McCain have become a bit of national punchline as McCain has thrived in OKC. This was also after Embiid called out ownership and the front office about ducking below the luxury tax at previous deadlines. It was clear Nurse didn’t have the necessary depth to compete with the Knicks and the team’s stars were exhausted and banged up.

Now, we await the list of candidates that will trickle out as the team searches for a new leader.

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Star guards are providing the central narratives for this Eastern Conference clash. The Detroit Pistons will go as far as Cade Cunningham takes them, while Clevland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell is pushing with all his might to avoid the postseason reputation that plagues his bearded backcourt partner.

This Cavaliers vs. Pistons same-game parlay and NBA picks put faith in Mitchell in Game 5 on Wednesday, May 13.

It's all part of our full Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions.

Our best Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP for Game 5

SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points (-105)

Donovan Mitchell is not shooting well from distance, a woeful 30.8% from beyond the arc in this series despite taking nearly 10 3-pointers per game. But he knows the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense depends on him.

So he has cleared this points prop in each of the last three games, taking 23.3 shots per game compared to just 20.0 field-goal attempts per game in the regular season.

Mitchell may not be scoring efficiently, but he is shooting with such volume that this prop should come home for a fourth straight game. I dove further on this pick in my Cavaliers vs. Pistons prediction for Game 5.

SGP leg #2: Donovan Mitchell Under 3.5 assists (-105)

No one on the Cavaliers’ roster is exactly excelling. Credit the Detroit Pistons. They have one of the best defenses in the NBA, perhaps behind only the Thunders’ and the Spurs’. That is, very obviously, rather elite company.

So Donovan Mitchell is not moving the ball much. He has cleared this modest prop just once this series, averaging 2.75 assists per game. As long as Mitchell is shooting as often as he currently is, do not expect his assists to begin piling up.

SGP leg #3: Over 212.5 (-110)

Detroit’s defense is very good. It is not perfect. And given enough time, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were always going to crack that defense.

They did in Games 3 and 4.

This series may continue to yo-yo, but expect the offenses to begin finding more of a groove as more time passes.

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See our full Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 5.

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Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites, especially sites of the opposing team. Be polite and don’t insult your hosts.

After a contentious game on Mother’s Day, the Timberwolves bring their weird combination of basketbrawl and acting class to San Antonio, as they attempt to do anything but play basketball to win a playoff series.^* The strategy of bumping, grabbing, and pushing the Spurs star players paid a huge dividend on Sunday as Victor Wembanyama lost his temper and struck out and elbowed Naz Reid with his free arm while Jaden McDaniels was pulling on his other arm with both hands. Victor will need to do a better job of controlling his emotions tonight, while the referees will need to do a better job of controlling the game to keep things from once again spiraling out of control.

The Spurs played well in Wemby’s absence, maintaining a lead for most of the second half until Anthony Edwards took control in the fourth quarter by taking advantage of the Spurs lack of rim protection to score at will. The Spurs will need Wembanyama to be fresh late in the game today to contain Edwards, who is getting stronger by the game, and to take care of some of the other antics that Chris Finch likes to roll out to play mind games on the opponents. The Spurs need to get past all of that and play ball, and they should be fine, as they are the more talented team.

De’Aaron Fox is questionable with an ankle that was injured when Ayo Dosunmu dove at his legs when Fox grabbed a rebound in Sunday’s game, so the Silver and Black may have to rely on Harper and Castle tonight, which should be fine as long as they don’t get into foul trouble. Harper is also listed as questionable with knee soreness, but hopefully he will play as he’s been having a very productive series so far. Luke Kornet played his best game of the series on Sunday, and he’ll be needed again tonight to hold down the game when Wemby rests. Coach Mitch will be tested again tonight as he tries to keep his team from thrown off kilter by the Timberwolves’ shenanigans. Keldon Johnson has been bothered by Minnesota’s length, and he needs to hit some outside shots to open up his drives to the basket. This game is pretty much a must win game for the Spurs, because you don’t want to go back to the Target Center for an elimination game, unless it’s an elimination game for the Wolves. GO SPURS GO!

* Homer hyperbole—mostly.

Game Prediction:

Chris Finch is ejected from the game after he tries to throw an banana peel on the court in Stephon Castle’s path.

San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Second Round, Game 5
May 12, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: NBC
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With Sixers seeking Morey's replacement, here's what will be on new leader's plate  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Daryl Morey’s first draft night with the Sixers is a great illustration of how rapidly things can change in the NBA.

Back in 2020, Morey selected Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed. He traded away Al Horford and Josh Richardson, acquired Danny Green and Seth Curry, and set the Sixers up nicely for an Eastern Conference-best 49-23 regular season.

We’ll see what sort of transformation Morey’s replacement has in mind. 

The Sixers announced Tuesday night that Morey is out as the franchise’s president of basketball operations. Bob Myers will “lead the process of identifying a new leader of basketball operations and oversee the department in the interim,” the team said in a press release. There will surely be some urgency with the NBA draft set for June 23 and June 24. Free agency will begin the next week. 

As far as the roster-construction task ahead, there’s multiple massive positives. Tyrese Maxey is a 25-year-old superstar lead guard and VJ Edgecombe just had a fantastic rookie season alongside him. Joel Embiid and Paul George each played integral parts in the Sixers’ historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Even with the age, injury and contract concerns surrounding George and Embiid, it’s a strong group. All options should be on the table for whoever steps into Morey’s shoes, but the Sixers’ situation would not appear automatically hopeless if the team built around the same foursome. 

“With the hesitation that in the NBA, things happen, we have some players who are as close to untouchable as you might have in this league in Tyrese, Joel, VJ, Paul,” Morey said on Feb. 6. “We like our core. We really think it’s a very good core.” 

Of course, the long-term commitments to George and Embiid have serious downsides. Embiid’s optimistic about his left knee, but the 32-year-old big man’s norm has been a strange storm of injuries. George turned 36 during the playoffs and most late-30s NBA players are decidedly past their primes. 

Going a bit further down the Sixers’ roster, there is not a ton to like. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes were the two other Sixers to average over 13 minutes in the postseason. Both will be unrestricted free agents this offseason. After them, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow and Justin Edwards were the only players to get any time in head coach Nick Nurse’s playoff rotation. 

“We feel like we’re a deep team,” Morey said in February. “Again, people might not agree, but we do feel like a deep team. In fact, there are many people who are writing that we’re a deep team, so it wasn’t just our opinion. I do think Nick … is using our players in an optimal way to win games. You for sure always want more good players than bad players. We still have two roster spots. … So we’ll continue to look to add in that marketplace as well, but we do feel like we’re a deep team.”

The Sixers sent second-year sharpshooting guard Jared McCain to the Thunder at the trade deadline and did not make any dramatic upgrades with their open roster slots. They converted Barlow and Jabari Walker from two-way contracts to standard NBA deals. Dalen Terry also got a standard spot by the end of the year. Morey signed Cameron Payne post-deadline but waived the veteran guard after he suffered a late-season hamstring injury.

In recent years, Morey’s Sixers were often inferior in the long-range shooting department. They finished the 2025-26 season ranked 23rd in both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy, according to Cleaning the Glass. Defensive rebounding also jumps out as a major roster weakness. 

The Sixers did nothing to address any of those holes at the deadline and the Knicks exposed them with a second-round series sweep over an exhausted, overmatched team. In addition to the trade market and free agency this summer, the Sixers own the 22nd overall pick in the draft via the McCain trade.

The team has remained unable to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs during managing partner Josh Harris and co-managing partner David Blitzer’s run at the top of the organization. Sixers fans have had plenty of valid sources of displeasure since Harris and his ownership group bought the team in 2011.

Notably, Embiid went out of his way before the deadline to comment on the Sixers “ducking the (luxury) tax the past couple of years.”

With Morey out and his replacement pending, that storyline certainly hasn’t disappeared.

“I understand the perception,” Morey said at what wound up being his final Sixers press conference. “I hope to defeat it by finding a deal that I can go to ownership and say, ‘We think this move is the right move to do for that and create those apron issues,’ but I haven’t been able to recommend that move yet.” 

Jason Collins, the retired NBA player who made history as the league’s first openly gay athlete, has died after a short battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, his family announced on Tuesday.He was 47.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Collins, who came out in 2013 while still actively playing in the NBA, had been under treatment for a brain tumor. The average prognosis for glioblastoma with radiation and chemotherapy is about 11 to 14 months, he said in an essay published by ESPN last year. In the essay, Collins revealed he had traveled to Singapore to receive experimental treatments currently not available in the US.

“As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this. These are the cards I’ve been dealt,” he wrote. “If that’s all the time I have left, I’d rather spend it trying a course of treatment that might one day be a new standard of care for everyone.”

He drew parallels between sharing his cancer battle and coming out as gay. “Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self … this is me. this is what I’m dealing with,” Collins wrote.

Collins first spoke out on his sexuality in a 2013 essay for Sports Illustrated. “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” it began.

At the time, there were also no active gay players in the other major American sporting leagues.

He played for 13 years in the league across several teams, including the Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets, before retiring in 2014.

Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted the award for him.

“I told my brother this before I came here: he’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Associated Press contributed

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, has died after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. He was 47. 

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, as died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” his family announced in a statement released by the NBA. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.” 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remembered Collins for the lives he changed.  

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” Silver said in a statement released by the league. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.” 

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues,” Silver added.

Former Nets center Jason Collins has passed away at 47 after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, his family announced.

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA from 2001 to 2014, including eight with the Nets organization.

In 2013, he became the first active, openly gay player in NBA history and from all four major American sports. 

Collins was drafted by the Nets with the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Stanford and helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. The big man spent the first seven seasons of his career in New Jersey before playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washing Wizards.

He returned to the Nets in 2014 following their move to Brooklyn, playing 22 games during the 2013-14 season. For his career, Collins averaged 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over 735 contests.

Collins announced his cancer diagnosis in December 2025 and tried experimental treatments in Singapore over the winter, allowing him to return home and be active, per ESPN. Although, the disease recently returned and he died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on Collins' passing and thanked him for making the league more inclusive.

"Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

Below are Collins' family's and Silver's full statements:

The following statement was issued today on behalf of the family of Jason Collins: pic.twitter.com/Vf1MwmmQLH

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 12, 2026

NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on passing of Jason Collins: "Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

Full statement: pic.twitter.com/pSzVRIiZbv

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 12, 2026

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Has this series really gotten underway? As the saying goes, it doesn’t truly begin until a road team steals a win.

The Detroit Pistons came out strong early, but the Cleveland Cavaliers answered with back-to-back victories once the series shifted to Ohio.

While my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks aren’t quite strong enough to side firmly with either team in Game 5, they do point toward another standout showing from Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday, May 13.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 prediction

Who will win Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5?

Pistons: Until a road team wins in this series, do not expect one to. That was the exact rhythm of the Cavaliers’ first-round series win, and for now, expect that to continue. This second round should gift us at least one Game 7.

Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points (-105)

Donovan Mitchell takes some flak for being on so many 60-win teams but never reaching a conference finals. If the Cleveland Cavaliers fall short of the Eastern Conference Finals this year, do not blame Spida.

Mitchell has cleared this prop in three straight games, most notably scoring 39 points in Monday’s second half.

Will he stay at that kind of rate? Almost certainly not. But Mitchell is carrying Cleveland’s scoring load no matter what the Detroit Pistons’ defense tries.

COVERS INTEL: Mitchell is already a volume scorer, taking 20.0 field-goal attempts per game in the regular season. That has jumped to 21.7 this postseason and 23.3 in this series.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 same-game parlay

Mitchell is not moving the ball much this series, a reflection of Detroit’s defense. While the bulk of Cleveland’s roster struggles, Mitchell understands the better scoring option is to simply keep the ball himself.

He has cleared this modest assists prop in just one of four games, averaging 2.75 assists per game. Yet, as his scoring became more efficient in the last two games, it helped spur them both Over their totals.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

• Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Under 3.5 assists
• Over 212.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Spida at The Rim

Donovan Mitchell’s long-range shooting has fallen off in the postseason, down to 32.3% from 36.4% in the regular season. Worse yet, he has shot just 12-of-39 from beyond the arc this series, 30.8%. Yet, he is scoring in bunches.

As absurd as it may seem, this exact same-game parlay cashed in Game 3, Mitchell hitting just 2-of-8 from deep yet scoring 31 points.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

• Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Under 2.5 3-pointers
• Over 212.5

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Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 5

• Spread: Cavaliers +4 | Pistons -4
• Moneyline: Cavaliers +150 | Pistons -180
• Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5

Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons have won the first half outright in 29 of their last 40 home games while the Cavaliers have lost the first half outright in 18 of their last 30 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.

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The Lakers’ roster isn’t the only thing getting restructured this offseason.

In the first offseason under Mark Walter’s ownership, the Lakers will undergo several changes in their front office and with the organization’s infrastructure while trying to keep pace in the ever-evolving NBA.

The Lakers plan to hire two assistant general managers, Rob Pelinka, the team's president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a season-ending news conference Tuesday after the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One position will focus on pro scouting, draft scouting and player development while the other will specialize in analytics, data and the salary cap. The organization has already begun interviews, Pelinka said.

“It’s not that we’ve had holes in those places,” Pelinka said. “We got a great team of people that works incredibly hard. It’s just we want to add more to that.”

Since Walter, the controlling owner of the Dodgers, became the majority owner of the Lakers in October, the Lakers have gradually reshaped front office and business operations. Joey and Jesse Buss were controversially fired in a front office shake-up that occurred less than a month after the sale was finalized. The brothers of Jeanie Buss worked in the front office, with Joey serving as alternate governor, vice president of research and development and the chief executive of the G League team. Jesse was the team’s assistant general manager and director of scouting.

Read more:Lakers want LeBron James and Austin Reaves to return next season

Lakers executives are now responsible for shaping a roster that has eight players facing unrestricted free agency or have player options this summer, including stars LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers scouts were already in Chicago for the NBA draft combine Tuesday morning after the team's season-ending loss Monday. Pelinka was scheduled to join them later that afternoon. With the 25th pick in the draft, the Lakers will interview about 20 players before the draft that begins June 23. The Lakers added former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett as a draft advisor in February to help with the process.

“Tony has said he never, ever wants to coach again,” Pelinka said. “That chapter in his life is 100% over. But having sort of the mind of a builder and a coach in our draft department with our scouts has been incredibly special, just to see that interaction.”

On the business side, the new ownership group swiftly brought in Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen to lead Lakers' business operations. He created two new roles to drive revenue, oversee business strategy and grow interest in the franchise in both domestic and international markets.

Already catering to one of the more glamorous fan bases in the league, the Lakers added a row of courtside seats behind each basket for postseason games. They announced the search for a new jersey patch sponsor and sent out season ticket renewal notices that irked fans facing high markups.

Moving the G League team from the South Bay to the Coachella Valley opened another business opportunity. The Coachella Valley Lakers will open the 2026-27 season in the 11,000-seat Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert.

Read more:Swanson: Just say no. Lakers should learn their lesson, avoid Giannis Antetokounmpo

Sharing the same facility in El Segundo made integration of the two rosters seamless. Several established players, including James, participated in G League practices this season while rehabbing long-term injuries, and developing players, including Bronny James and rookie Adou Thiero, got valuable playing time with the South Bay Lakers to build their confidence for their small roles on the NBA roster. The South Bay Lakers advanced to the G League Western Conference finals this year, but lost while key players Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Nick Smith Jr. played with the then-shorthanded NBA team.

Moving the G League operations allows the Lakers to use extra space in their El Segundo training center for new labs for biomechanics, movement and recovery, Pelinka said. The Lakers are working in consultation with the Dodgers for the high-tech improvements.

“It's a full rebuild and retool,” Pelinka said. “It's adding to the great things that are already here, which have led to success, but elevating it and bringing it to the next level.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been two separate teams this postseason. They’ve been an absolute buzzsaw at home. That team has been elite on both ends of the floor and has received multiple superstar performances from their core four. But if you get them away from Rocket Arena, they’ve looked pretty ordinary. This includes multiple fourth-quarter collapses in Games 4 and 6 against the Toronto Raptors and Games 1 and 2 against the Detroit Pistons.

Whether the Cavs can go about changing that trend will determine if they can advance to the conference finals. They need to win at least one game on the road to get past the Pistons. Why not do so in Game 5?

If they are going to steal Game 5, the Cavs will need to do a better job of containing Cade Cunningham when he’s at home. This postseason, Cunningham has averaged 31.8 points and 8.2 assists on 50% shooting in his six home games. That’s considerably more than he’s averaged on the road, including these two games in Cleveland, where he wasn’t his best self.

The Cavs were partially to blame for that change. They trapped him much more in Game 4 than they have at any point in the series.

“Just try get in his way,” Jarrett Allen said when asked on Monday about how to stop Cunningham. “Try to make sure that he rethinks every single pass that he’s going to take. Try to make sure that every single drive to the lane, somebody’s there to bump him, somebody’s there to contest him. Try to make everything as hard as we can for him.”

Whether the Cavs can do so in Game 5 could determine whether they can steal homecourt advantage.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2) at Detroit Pistons (2-2)

Where: Little Ceasars Arena – Detroit, MI

When: Wed., May 13 at 8 PM

TV: ESPN

Point spread: Pistons -3.5

Cavs injury report: None

Pistons injury report: Duncan Robinson – QUESTIONABLE (back), Kevin Huerter – QUESTIONABLE (abductor strain), Caris LeVert – QUESTIONABLE (heel)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Pistons expected starting lineup: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Previous matchup: Donovan Mitchell’s 44 points allowed Cleveland to even the series.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, dies of brain tumor at 47, family announces.

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, died following a “valiant” battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, his family announced Tuesday. 

Collins was 47. 

The ex-Nets player and 13-year NBA veteran had revealed his diagnosis in December in a piece published by ESPN. Stage 4 glioblastoma is one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. 

Collins died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family, ESPN reported. 

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” a statement from Collins’ family said. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. 

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.” 

Collins had gone to Singapore over the winter to undergo an experimental treatment, which had been successful enough to allow him to return to the United States, appear at NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles and attend a game at Stanford, where he had played college basketball. 

The California native played in the NBA for more than a decade before he retired in 2014, playing two stints with the Nets — one while they were still in New Jersey and one in Brooklyn — along with stops with the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. 

Collins became a national news story in 2013 when he announced that he was gay in a cover story for Sports Illustrated. In the opening, Collins firmly declared: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.” 

The announcement made Collins the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major men’s professional sports leagues in North America. 

“I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport,” he said in the story. “But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” 

Collins returned to the Nets in February 2014 when he signed a 10-day contract with the now-Brooklyn-based franchise. He played 22 games for the Nets that season and was coached by Jason Kidd, who played with Collins during his first run with the organization when it was in New Jersey. He retired from the NBA in 2014 and became an ambassador for the league. 

The Nets said they were “heartbroken” over Collins’ passing.

“Jason spent eight seasons in a Nets uniform, helping define an era of our franchise and playing a vital role on our back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003. He was a constant in our locker room — selfless, tough, and deeply respected by teammates, coaches, and staff alike,” the Nets’ statement read.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others. 

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.” 

Collins married his longtime partner, Brunson Green, in May in a ceremony in Austin, Texas. 

In September, his family first revealed that he was undergoing treatment for an advanced brain tumor

The Knicks have the luxury of sitting back and watching the other Eastern Conference semifinal play out to learn their next opponent in the conference finals.

The Pistons and Cavaliers are tied 2-2 — both teams have won their two home games.

But who would the Knicks rather face? There are arguments for either. Let’s break it down:

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks lost all three regular-season matchups against the Pistons, and it wasn’t even close — their closest defeat was by 15 points. The other two were by 31 and 38 points.

They were completely outmuscled by the physical Pistons defense and interior presence.

But it’s important to remember how often the regular season does not translate to the postseason.

The case for the Pistons

They are pretty one dimensional offensively. Everything revolves around Cade Cunningham, and they lack secondary scorers who can create their own shot.

Jalen Duren has arguably been the biggest underperformer of these playoffs — his regular-season averages of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds are down to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in the postseason. Ausar Thompson is extremely limited as a scorer. Duncan Robinson is purely a catch-and-shoot option and nearly useless when he’s inside the arc or has to create for himself. Tobias Harris has had some big games this postseason, but he shouldn’t scare the Knicks.

And the Knicks, between OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges (who shut down Tyrese Maxey in the second round), have good options to guard Cunningham and force others to beat them.

Between Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, the Cavaliers have a bit more offensive firepower and a more high-octane scoring punch.

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks dominated the Hawks and 76ers in the paint. Even with Duren’s struggles and their overall inconsistency, the Pistons’ inside defense has been superb. They’ve given up just 39.1 points in the paint this postseason — the fewest in the NBA entering Tuesday. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have given up the third most at 50.2 paint points per game.

The Cavaliers have a former Defensive Player of the Year in Evan Mobley at center, but he should have nightmares about the Knicks tormenting him in the first round in 2023. It’s become obvious how important Karl-Anthony Towns is to the Knicks offense — he’d probably rather deal with the skinnier Mobley than the stronger Duren.do

As a whole, the Cavaliers defense is much weaker than Detroit’s — their defensive rating of 113.1 is 11th among all playoff teams. The Pistons are third best at 106.1.

The case for the Pistons

Outside of his offensive struggles, Thompson is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He would almost certainly guard Jalen Brunson for the Pistons, like he did in last year’s first-round matchup.

Brunson has pretty much figured him out, though. Who can forget Brunson crossing him up before drilling the series-clinching shot in Game 6 last year?

Across their three regular-season games, the Cavaliers seemed to find a potential Brunson stopper in Dean Wade. In those three games, Brunson shot just 1-for-16 from the field and 0-for-6 from 3-point range when Wade guarded him, according to the NBA’s tracking stats.

The overall Cavaliers defense might be worse, but they have the better option to guard Brunson specifically.

The case for the Cavaliers

The Knicks would have home-court advantage. Little Caesars Arena was absolutely raucous when the Knicks and Pistons met in the first round last year. Pistons fans relentlessly chanted vulgarities at Brunson.

It would help to not have to play the first two games and a potential Game 7 there.

The case for either

Both J.B. Bickerstaff and Kenny Atkinson are strong regular-season coaches with little postseason success. Mike Brown has been pushing all the right buttons with the Knicks in the playoffs. They should be confident they’ll have the coaching advantage either way.

And in terms of depth, both teams are similar in the strengths of their benches. The Cavaliers are eighth and the Pistons are 11th in bench scoring in the postseason.

The Post says:

The Knicks should prefer to face the Cavaliers. The Pistons have looked a lot more beatable in the postseason, but even so, their defense has remained elite. It’s been on the offensive end where they’ve really struggled. The Knicks offense has been executing at its highest level in the two years with this core. The Pistons and their physicality would be a bigger threat to disrupt that than the Cavaliers.

Cunningham is the most dangerous opponent left in the East.

And home-court advantage does matter. Playing the first two games and a potential Game 7 on the road would be tough. It should also be noted that the Cavaliers have lost all five road games they’ve played this postseason.

With the Lakers’ 2025-26 ending after their Game 4 loss to the Thunder on Monday, there will be a period of “deconstruction”, as president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka put it, to figure out how the franchise can elevate itself after a four-game sweep at the hands of the defending champions.

But there will also be a wide variety of reconstruction: Inside the team’s El Segundo practice facility; on the roster; and in the front office.

The front office has already witnessed changes over the last several months since Mark Walter, the Dodgers controlling owner, officially purchased the team in October. 

And there are more to come, with Pelinka saying on Tuesday during his joint end-of-season media availability with coach JJ Redick that the organization is currently in the interview process for two assistant general managers.

One assistant general manager will work in “player draft and evaluation processes”, according to Pelinka, which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. 

The other assistant general manager will be more on the “strategy side”, which entails cap, analytics and data. 

Pelinka’s comments on Monday were aligned with what he said in February. He told reporters then that he and Jeanie Buss, the Lakers governor and former majority owner, will lead the offseason changes with Walter’s support.

“It’s not that we’ve had holes in those places,” Pelinka said of the assistant general manager hirings. “We got a great team of people that work incredibly hard. It’s just we want to add more to that and for both those [assistant general manager] positions we have started a wide search and have begun interviews, but haven’t hired out either of those.”

The Lakers made significant changes to their basketball operations in the fall, which included firing Joe and Jesse Buss from their front-office positions in November. Joey was the organization’s vice president of research and development, while Jesse was an assistant general manager and director of scouting. 

The franchise also parted ways with most of their scouting department.

Since then, the Lakers have made several hires, including Lon Rosen as the president of business operations (replacing Tim Harris), Michael Spetner as the new chief strategy and growth officer (new position) and Ryan Kantor as the vice president of global partnerships (new role). 

Rosen, Spetner and Kantor all previously worked for the Dodgers.

On the basketball operations side, the Lakers hired former Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett as an NBA draft adviser in February.

Dodgers executives Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman joined the Lakers in advisory roles in November. 

Pelinka said the Lakers have made “numerous” other hires, but said they don’t publicly announce the addition to the data, strategy, analytics, scouting and medical scouting teams. 

But at the forefront of the Lakers’ front office changes will be the hiring of the assistant managers who’ll report to Pelinka, who was promoted to his current role as president along with his role as general manager as part of contract extensions he and Redick received last year. 

“Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason,” Pelinka said. 

Inside of the building, there will be other changes the Lakers hope to benefit from that don’t have anything to do with roster changes. 

With the Lakers’ G League team relocating to Coachella Valley, the Lakers will have more space to enhance their practice facility.

“We have a space in the back where working in collaboration with some of the Dodgers folks, we’re bringing in a biomechanics lab, new movement labs, a recovery lab, those things are super expensive to do and super thoughtful, but we’re doing the planning with Lon and his team around that and that construction is going to happen this offseason,” Pelinka said. “They’re going to be redoing aspects of the court as well. It’s a full rebuild and retool, and it’s adding to the great things that are already here, which have led to success, but elevating it and bringing it to the next level. So an ongoing process that we’ll be doing throughout the offseason. Probably, hopefully, culminating in and around the summer league in Vegas.”

The Lakers will look different next season – well beyond the expected roster changes.

And they’re hopeful those changes will provide them with the foundation of getting closer to competing for a championship, and achieving “sustained excellence”.