Category: Basketball

I like to wake up each morning and, before either logging into work remotely or driving into the office, spend about 30 minutes reading new stories, scrolling my Twitter feed, and getting a gauge on what’s going on in the sports world at large. Some people need coffee to get themselves going in the morning. All I need is information. That’s the fuel, for once I start consuming it, the brain starts firing.

One story I continually see is the theory about Giannis Antetokounmpo coming to the Phoenix Suns because Phoenix is supposedly a preferred destination. We don’t know how much merit there is to any of this actually occurring, seeing as the sources never feel consistently reputable.

Still, over and over again, media outlets keep pushing it, fans keep talking about it, and every corner of Suns discourse somehow circles back to Giannis. People wonder if it’ll happen. Some are so damn excited that the possibility even exists.

The Valley jersey looks too clean on Giannis for this not to happen.

Second Giannis swap in 10 days, expect plenty more until he's a Phoenix Sun 😉 https://t.co/1KRcNRbDN8pic.twitter.com/L0akayNpjF

— Aryton Temcio (@FreckledMamba) May 7, 2026

It gets the clicks. I get why the remote possibility of acquiring the 10-time All-Star is discussed. I guess I’m part of the problem as well, as I sit here and type this out. But I do so more out of frustration than fantasy.

If you want to talk about things that get my blood pumping, this is one of them. Because I can’t. I genuinely can’t do this again. I cannot go through another aging star with a massive price tag coming to Phoenix, getting everybody hyped as if the parade route is already mapped out, then watching the team fall flat on its face as everyone scrambles around pointing in every different direction trying to explain why it failed instead of acknowledging the glaring goddamn reason sitting right in front of them.

We lived it with Kevin Durant. We lived it with Bradley Beal. So why the fuck would we willingly hop back on the same goddamn carousel again? I truly do not understand the mindset.

Let’s say that it happens. Let’s say that somehow, someway, the Phoenix Suns are able to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. I’m not even going to start contemplating what we’d have to give up, because you know and I know that it’s highly unrealistic. The Suns simply do not have a trade package you could piece together that would be desirable enough to land him.

Sure, there are other teams out there that can offer better packages. We know that. We also know, thanks to the cases of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, that players can force themselves to a desired destination even if other offers are objectively better.

The problem is those two moves completely nuked the Suns’ cupboard. That thing has an old box of Cheerios and some honey in it (because honey never expires). And if you think the team would give up Devin Booker for Giannis, that in and of itself is certifiably insane. Booker is younger. Booker has given this city 11 years of dedication. Booker is the identity of the franchise. I highly doubt the organization would pivot away from that for an aging, injury-prone power forward as a replacement.

Still, let’s play the “what if” game. Let’s say this team acquires Giannis. Then what?

The assumption is you’d have to give up enough assets that your depth is completely shot to shit, and now you’re running veteran minimums out there night after night trying to patch together a rotation whenever somebody inevitably misses time. Chimezie Metu, anyone? And you know what that does? It puts extra strain on both Giannis and Booker, which equates to injuries and exhaustion because there’s zero margin for error. Every game becomes a survival exercise. And I don’t know if people realize this or not, but neither Booker nor Giannis exactly comes with pristine bills of health anymore.

Since coming to Phoenix and destroying our dreams in the 2021 NBA Finals, Giannis has averaged 61.2 games played per season. He played only 36 games last year. Time typically is not kind to older big men who play with the level of aggression that Giannis does. Remember Dwight Howard? He was dominant early in his career. Then the paychecks got bigger, the body started wearing down, and the production slowly followed. You do not want to become the 2017 Atlanta Hawks, stuck paying for what a player used to be.

That’s the challenge facing any team pursuing Giannis. Because wherever he goes, the expectation is that he gets another extension. He’s slated to make $58.5 million next season and has a player option worth $62.8 million the following year. He’s going to want one more massive bag before retirement. Phoenix should not be the team left holding it for a player who could be on the back nine of his career, halfway to the clubhouse for a nice Arnold Palmer.

Maybe that’s part of why Phoenix appeals to him. Mat Ishbia has shown in the past that he’s willing to spend for talent. The hope is that ownership has been learned from those mistakes. The reminders are already sitting there staring everybody in the face. Go look at the dead cap money.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo honestly were to come to Phoenix, I would not be a happy fanalyst. It’s one thing to bring in somebody who is overpriced and injury-prone. It’s another thing entirely to bring in the guy who ripped your heart out in the NBA Finals. Why in the name of John Paxson would we want that? Are we that masochistic? Do we need him to not only fuck us in the Finals, then come here and fuck our cap sheet for the next few years too?

We’ve got to get out of this mentality that every player who bats their eyes toward the Valley of the Sun needs to be Photoshopped into a Phoenix Suns jersey and admired like the Wolverine meme holding a picture frame.

Every damn day lately, it’s another “Giannis to Phoenix” rumor. I genuinely cannot do the “aging superstar + zero depth + pray for health” experiment again. We already lived it.

Meanwhile, some Suns fans: pic.twitter.com/jQB1M1ubWM

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) May 8, 2026

I understand there are sections of the fan base that view everything at surface level. I recognize that. Still, I’ve seen way too much conversation about Giannis coming to the Suns over the past week, and it finally got me to the point where I had to write something about it.

Because, for everything this organization and its leadership keep saying about continuity and development, this move would be 25 steps backward. People need to start understanding that. They need to accept it. They need to stop getting hypnotized by the name on the back of the jersey and start appreciating the one on the front.

And maybe that’s the disconnect in all of this. Fans are still conditioned to think the next big name automatically equals the next big leap, even after the past few years have shown exactly how fragile that equation can be. Star chasing sounds exciting in May. It looks great in graphics packages and rumor cycles. Then the season starts, depth disappears, injuries pile up, and everybody acts stunned when the math no longer works. Phoenix does not need another shortcut disguised as ambition. It needs sustainability, identity, and a roster that actually fits together around Devin Booker instead of constantly asking him to survive another experiment.

Ah. That worked. The blood is coming down.

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.

The Spurs played their most dominant game of the season on Wednesday night, blowing out the Timberwolves 133-95, and now the tally for the series is 1-1, with Minnesota having stolen home court advantage with their Game 1 two point victory. If playoff series were decided by point differential, this series would be over, but it’s wins that count, and each team has one. The Spurs have to win at least one of the next two games to take back home court advantage and avoid a 3-1 deficit. Only 15 teams have come back from 3-1 deficits in 303 total seven game series in the NBA, although two of those happened in the first round this year, but the young Spurs don’t need that drama. Tonight isn’t a must-win, but it’s about as close as it gets for the young Silver and Black team, because if they fail, the next game definitely will be.

The Spurs need to continue with the improvements they made in Game 2, with attacking quickly on offense and not getting bogged down in the halfcourt one-on-one game that Minnesota excels at defending. The return of Carter Bryant to the lineup really helped the Silver and Black defense, and Keldon Johnson seems to be adjusting to playoff intensity after a slow start. The Spurs offense runs through it’s talented trio of young guards, and if Stephon Castle can stay out of foul trouble, he can have good night for the visitors.

With Donte DiVincenzo gone for the season, the Spurs have been double teaming Randle and Edwards as soon as they get the ball, a strategy that was very effective on Wednesday night because both of those players aren’t great at passing the ball. The Wolves might try to give more minutes to Naz Reid to improve their offensive movement but if that happens, the Spurs can take advantage on defense. If San Antonio can keep up the pressure on both ends of the court, it could be a great night for Spurs fans, but that’s always hard to do on the road. Anyway, GO SPURS GO!!

Game Prediction:

Chis Finch goes on a hunger strike to protest unfair treatment from the officials. Nobody notices.

San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves, Second Round, Game 3
May 8, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Streaming: Prime
TV: Prime
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

There is nothing better than playoff basketball. Yeah, the NBA regular season has taken a public relations hit in recent years, but when the snow thaws and the postseason begins, there’s still no drama quite like it.

The storylines. The overreactions. A narrative can totally change in a matter of 48 hours. Legacies can shift on a dime.

The Detroit Pistons were a quarter and a half away from being dubbed frauds, chokers. You name it. J.B. Bickerstaff may have heard the “can’t get it done in the playoffs” chatter get louder. Cade Cunningham would have moved from your favorite player’s favorite player to the “are we sure he can carry a team all the way?” narrative.

Then, in the pressure cooker of it all, the Pistons looked themselves in the mirror and figured things out, staving off a pesky Orlando Magic team. A beautiful thing that is a microcosm of all that is right about postseason hoops. Fast forward a week, and the momentum has carried over to the second round, where the Pistons have won two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in workmanlike fashion, seizing control of the series in the process. Here are a few thoughts about what we’ve witnessed so far.

Tobias Harris. That’s The Tweet.

Speaking of a narrative-changing, look no further than Detroit’s elder statesman, Harris, who developed a reputation in Philadelphia for producing playoff no-shows. Less than two years ago, he recorded a zero point performance in a potential closeout game against the New York Knicks. He was practically run out of town shortly after. Yet, in just a couple of weeks, he has rewritten history and completely overhauled his reputation.

There were questions all year long about who the Pistons would turn to as a second option outside of Cunningham. And for the first half of the Orlando series, those questions remained unanswered. But then something happened along the way. Harris, who hadn’t scored 20 points in consecutive games all season, proceeded to do so in seven straight games, including three must-win games against the Magic.

His post-ups have become one of Detroit’s most efficient and reliable plays. Furthermore, he has endeared himself to Pistons fans and has stated his case as one of the great Motor City playoff performers. Not too long ago, he was getting booed out of Philly. Now, the Little Caesars Arena crowd buzzes with anticipation each time the 33-year-old receives an entry pass in the short corner. This is the beauty of the playoffs, where years of mental, and emotional turmoil and scrutiny can be shed with signature moments on the biggest stage.

Many people groaned when Harris re-signed with the organization two years ago. Since then, he has become one of its most important figures, and by all accounts has been instrumental in the culture shift that has occurred over the last two years. Now, the icing on the cake is him emerging as a real second option at the perfect time on the sport’s biggest stage. It has been a redemption story for the ages, as Detroit as it gets.
Give Unc his flowers; he’s earned them.

Physicality On Display

There is no doubting how much Orlando prepared the Pistons for this moment. The players and coaching staff have candidly acknowledged as much. The Magic series was full of sloppy turnovers, offensive rebounds, and loose balls being won by Orlando. They proved to be the perfect primer for facing the Cavs to this point, as Detroit has flat-out owned the boards and “50-50 balls” through two games.

The Pistons have won the total rebounding battle, but equally importantly, have bested the Cavs in offensive boards in both matchups. Early against the Magic, that was far from the case. Wendell Carter, Paolo Banchero, and co. gave the Pistons all they could handle in the paint, forced them to look in the mirror, and double-downed on their culture of toughness that led to 60 wins this past season.

While you can make the case that Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are more skilled than Orlando’s frontline, it is a different kind of skill, and they clearly pack less brute strength. Time after time through two games, Duren, Ausar Thompson, and Isaiah Stewart have gotten second-chance opportunities that just weren’t consistently there a series ago.

This has extended to the perimeter as well. Daniss Jenkins looked like a deer in the headlights through the first four Orlando games. Duncan Robinson reminded fans of Malik Beasley’s no-show against the Knicks last year. They got next to nothing on the perimeter outside of Cunningham. Certainly, some of this could have been attributed to rust or first-round jitters. But there’s no doubt that going against elite perimeter defenders like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black has made it easier to go against the Cavs wing defense. Cunningham, Jenkins, Thompson, and even Robinson and Caris LeVert have practically gotten into the paint at will through the first two games. The spacing and movement have been crisp, and the team has even figured out how to leverage the opponent’s choice to ignore Thompson to their advantage.

Have The Pistons Found Their Closing Lineup?

Against the Magic, it was clear that Bickerstaff was trying to figure out who would remain on the floor with Cunningham, Harris, and Duren in crunch time. It took a fair amount of juggling. But as the playoffs have rolled on, Thompson’s defense has usually warranted him being out there in addition to the aforementioned three. With Robinson being hunted defensively far too often against the Magic, everyone from Caris LeVert to Daniss Jenkins to Javonte Green got their shot at being the final piece of the puzzle.

But it’s become clear through the last four games that Jenkins has cemented himself as that guy. He’s offered spacing next to Cunningham, combined with secondary playmaking, scoring, and pesky defense. This has given the Pistons their best possible shooting lineup without overly sacrificing shooting or defense. Jenkins has been trustworthy with the ball in some tight spots, and not to mention, has been a clutch free-throw shooter. He is good enough defensively and has shot it well enough that the team could have the opportunity to go offense/defense with Thompson and Robinson when applicable as the playoffs go on.

What other observations stand out to you so far?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have played awfully through the first two games of the series. The guards haven’t lived up to their standards, the defensive communication hasn’t been good, and the team is simply missing wide-open shots. That isn’t going to get the job done on the road against a 60-win Detroit Pistons team.

Yet, despite how bad things have looked, the Cavs had chances to steal both Game 1 and 2. The Cavs were either tied or had a brief lead in the fourth quarter in each outing, but poor late-game execution cost them. We’ll see if that changes as the series shifts back to Cleveland.

Technically, this isn’t a must-win game. The season isn’t over if the Cavs drop this game. However, no team has come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history. We’ll see if the Cavs have what it takes to get off the mat and keep their season alive.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-2) vs. Detroit Pistons (2-0)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Sat., May 9 at 3 PM

TV: NBC, Peacock

Point spread: Cavs -4.5

Cavs injury report: Sam Merrill, – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)

Pistons injury report: Kevin Huerter – DOUBTFUL (abductor strain)

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: The Cavs fell apart down the stretch of Game 2 in a way that felt all too familiar.

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

	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.9 (8th)	115 (15th)	+3.9 (9th)
Pistons	118.3 (10th)	109.5 (2nd)	+8.8 (3rd)

Roob Stats: The 76ers lost again and we've got some demoralizing stats … again originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Here’s the good news. Yes, there is good news.

The 76ers are down three games to none, but five of the seven times in franchise history they’ve been down 3-0 in a seven-game series they’ve won Game 4.

That’s 1969 and 1985 vs. the Celtics, 2000 vs. the Pacers, 2011 vs. the Heat and 2018 vs. the Celtics.

The only times they’ve been swept in a seven-game series are 1999 vs. the Pacers and the 2020 Celtics series.

In 2000, they even won two games against the Pacers before losing that series in six games.

So history says maybe the 76ers won’t get swept. And around here lately that does pass for good news.

With that, on to the stats off Game 3 of the 76ers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Knicks, a 108-94 loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The 76ers have now lost four games this postseason by at least 14 points, tying a franchise record. That’s bad news.

Running out of steam in the 4th quarter: After scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter in Game 2, the 76ers scored just 18 in Game 3. The 76ers have played 498 playoff games in franchise history – including their days as the Syracuse Nationals – and they’ve never scored 30 or fewer combined points in consecutive fourth quarters. This is also the first time they’ve scored 18 or fewer points in consecutive postseason fourth quarter in their last 160 playoff games. In 2000, they had back-to-back 17-point fourth quarters in their series against the Charlotte Hornets.

Those 3’s aren’t going so well for Joel: Joel Embiid was 0-for-4 from 3 and is now 3-for-26 from 3-point range in his six playoff games this year. That’s 11.5 percent. Only seven players in NBA history have shot that poorly from 3-point range in a single postseason (minimum 20 attempts). The only 76er to shoot worse in a single postseason is Charles Barkley, who made two of 20 3’s in 1990-91 for 10 percent. In his career, Embiid is now 68-for-251 from 3 in the playoffs for 27.1 percent. That’s 5th-worst in NBA history among 197 players who’ve taken at least 200 career postseason 3’s. In the last 20 years, only Giannis Antetokounmpo is worse than Embiid at 25.9 percent.

Can’t stop Brunson: With 33 points Friday night, Jalen Brunson now has scored 25 or more points in seven consecutive playoff games against the 76ers, the longest streak of consecutive 25-point games against the 76ers in the playoffs in 35 years, since Michael Jordan did it in 10 games in a row. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Jordan have scored more points in any seven-game span vs. the 76ers than Brunson’s 261 in his last seven games.

Running out of steam: In the first quarter, Paul George made six of nine field goal attempts and three of four 3’s in 10 minutes, scoring 15 points. He played 28 more minutes and went 0-for-9 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3 and didn’t score. He’s the first player in 76ers history to score 15 points in a postseason first quarter and not score again. The fewest points in a game by a 76er who had 15 in the first quarter is 20 by Allen Iverson in Boston in Game 1 of their 2002 Eastern Conference First-Round series. He scored 15 in the first quarter and five the rest of the game.

We need more from No. 0: Tyrese Maxey is minus-39 so far in the Knicks series. Maxey was minus-28 in Game 1, plus-zero in Game 2 and minus-11 in Game 3. This is the worst three-game plus-minus span of his postseason career. His previous worst was minus-36 in Games 4, 5 and 6 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Heat in 2022.

Knicks lighting it up: The Knicks have shot 63 percent, 51 percent and 50 percent from the field in these three games. This is the first time in 21 years the 76ers have allowed a team to shot 50 percent or better in three straight playoff games and only the second time ever a team has made 50 percent of its shots against the 76ers in the first three games of any series. In 1984 the Nets did it in their Eastern Conference First-Round series, and in 2005 the Pistons made 50 percent of their shots in the first three games of their Eastern Conference First-Round series. The Knicks have shot 50 percent or better in a franchise-record five straight games going back to their Atlanta series. There’s only been one longer streak since 1986, and that was the Suns’ eight-gamer streak in 2022.

Joel Embiid pleaded with 76ers fans to keep their home playoff tickets against the Knicks.

One diehard 76ers fan named Matt, as uncovered by the Philadelphia Inquirer, is taking extreme measures to keep Knicks fans from making Xfinity Mobile Arena a de facto Madison Square Garden South, or at least make New Yorkers pay more.

His plan?

Get Sixers fans to buy fully refundable Amtrak tickets ahead of Sunday’s Game 4 before canceling the train trip shortly before the 3:30 p.m. ET tip-off in order to increase the prices for New Yorkers. According to the Inquirer, he posted his idea to Reddit on r/Sixers to get fans to join in on his ploy.

For curious Knicks fans, the estimated cost — as per a search conducted by The Post on the Amtrak website on Friday evening — is just shy of $300 for a round-trip ticket.

But compared to the $500-plus tickets for potential Games 5 and 7 at the Garden — according to the resaler TickPick — New Yorkers who want to trek to Philly won’t be breaking the bank for game tickets, or at least have to give an arm and a leg, comparatively.

TickPick has prices as low as $159 for Friday night’s Game 3 and $170 for Game 4. As The Post’s Zach Braziller reported as of Thursday night, 59 percent of tickets sold on TickPick for Game 3 came from accounts linked from New York and New Jersey.

Embiid, after the 76ers beat the Celtics in the first round, wanted to make sure Philly fans were doing their part to make Xfinity feel like a home.

Because in 2024, when the Knicks beat the Sixers in the first round, New Yorkers were loud and made their presence felt in the City of Brotherly Love.

“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support,” Embiid said then. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.

“Knicks fans travel, they buy tickets. There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”

The “war” between the two cities has even transferred to other spaces, as a few New York eateries have rebranded Philly Cheesesteaks with different names for the duration of the playoff series.

And though the 76ers are down 2-0 in the series, Philadelphia scored a win this week when members of The Post picked cheesesteak over New York’s chopped cheese in a taste test.

Here are the NBA playoff games for Friday, May 8, 2026:

• New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers — 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video)  
• San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET (Prime Video)  

In addition, the Washington Mystics are playing tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ion when they take on the Toronto Tempo. Enjoy the basketball tonight!

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers' lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night after he missed the previous game against the New York Knicks with a sprained right ankle and a sore right hip.

Embiid struggled through a short night in the Knicks’ 137-98 romp in Game 1, scoring 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting before the starters were benched with the game out of reach.

Embiid had been listed as probable to play in that game and the Knicks repeatedly took advantage of his lack of mobility to create open shots.

He had been expected to play Game 2 but was ruled out hours beforehand.

Embiid had an appendectomy late in the regular season. He returned during Game 4 of Philadelphia’s first-round series against Boston and helped the 76ers overcome a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Ready for a curveball?

The latest NBA Mock Draft from Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor not only has Malachi Moreno going in the first round, but even ahead of Jayden Quaintance.

Yes, this projection has Moreno going 24th overall to the New York Knicks, while Quaintance goes 29th to the Cleveland Cavaliers, nearly falling out of the first round altogether.

This would be both a shocking rise for Moreno and a stunning fall for Quaintance, though perhaps an earned one for the latter after he missed most of this past season due to the longest case of knee swelling ever recorded (we think).

I don’t agree with this projection, but if it turns out that this is how NBA executives view Moreno and Quaintance, you’d think there’s actually a chance Moreno stays in the draft and Quaintance returns to college.

The real story here is these recent mock drafts and rankings continue to suggest there’s a very real chance Moreno could hear his name called toward the end of Round 1. Could that be enough to sway him into keeping his name in the draft?

Next week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago could go a long way in deciding where Moreno is playing basketball next season.

Elsewhere, Iowa State transfer and Kentucky recruiting target Milan Momcilovic went 46th overall to the Phoenix Suns. While Momcilovic reportedly prefers to stay in the draft, if that’s the kind of projection he’s getting from NBA decision-makers, then it’s hard not to see him returning to college and collecting an NIL paycheck that could cross $5 million.

Saying this, it only takes one team to fall in love with you, and with Momcilovic’s ability to shoot scorched earth from deep, it won’t be a surprise if someone in the first round will take the gamble on him.

Also, there’s likely going to be a host of players ranked ahead of Momcilovic who return to school, including Andrej Stojaković, Matt Able, Billy Richmond, Flory Bidunga, Rueben Chinyelu, Tyler Tanner, and potentially Moreno.

It’s going to be a process, one that I’d now expect to go into deadline day on May 27 for Moreno and Momcilovic (and Quaintance if his stock really is this bad right now).

Finally, new UK graduate Otega Oweh hears his name called at pick No. 59 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the second-to-last pick of the draft. There haven’t been a lot of mock drafts with Oweh being drafted, so this is nice to see for a guy who’s undoubtedly been the MVP of the Mark Pope era thus far in Lexington (and I selfishly hope we get to see him again playing for La Familia one day).

Be sure to check out the full projection here!

Tonight, the Knicks (2-0) visit the Philadelphia 76ers (0-2) at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals. It’s a chance for New York to take a commanding 3-0 lead on the road, but it won’t come easy. Although ESPN.com etting sites peg the Sixers as slight favorites at home. That’s mainly because the hosts will get Joel Embiid back, while the guests may be without OG Anunoby (hammy) and Josh Hart (bum thumb).

Game time is at 7 p.m. EST on Prime Video. This is your game thread. This is Liberty Ballers. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Show those Philly fans what good behavior looks like. And go Knicks!

The New York Knicks will be without star forward OG Anunoby for Game 3 of their series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a hamstring strain.

The news comes after Anunoby scored 24 points in a 108-102 win in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden.

Anunoby has been a key factor in the series so far for the Knicks, so not having him in the first road game against Philly could hurt their chances of taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.

With Anunoby on the sidelines, there is a good chance the Knicks will go with Miles McBride in the starting lineup as he had the most minutes off the bench in Game 2 with 21.

For the Sixers, they might also be dealing with some injuries of their own. All-Star center Joel Embiid missed Game 2 with a litany of injuries and is deemed questionable for Game 3 against the Knicks. If he were to play, it might benefit the Knicks to give Mitchell Robinson more minutes and slide Karl-Anthony Towns to the power forward slot in placement of Anunoby.

Ultimately, regardless of who the Sixers trot out on the court, the Knicks have to focus on how they execute their game plan. They had a good idea going into the game that Anunoby might not be available, so they have to respond accordingly and try to pull out a win despite the tough circumstances.

P&T Community, what do you think of the news regarding Anunoby? Chime off in the comments section below.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — OG Anunoby was ruled out for Game 3 on Friday night with a strained right hamstring, but the New York Knicks forward appears to have avoided a serious injury and remained day to day in the second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Anunoby was injured late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, in which he scored 24 points.

The Knicks hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game. He went to the locker room area and did not return to the bench before the end of the Knicks’ 108-102 victory.

Anunoby is averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range.

The 6-foot-7 Anunoby, who is considered the Knicks’ top defender, injured his hamstring two years ago in the second round as the Knicks were taking a 2-0 lead over Indiana. He missed the next four games and played just a few minutes in Game 7 as the Pacers rallied to win the series.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Defiant Knicks fans flooded into enemy territory Friday night for Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers — in a swift rejection of Joel Embiid after the Philly star whined that New York’s faithful are not welcome in the City of Brotherly Love.

Dozens of diehards traveled down the Turnpike by chartered bus to Xfinity Mobile Arena in a bid to “really piss Philly fans off” as the Knicks look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We’re gonna fill the place up with as many Knicks fans as possible,” vowed Vincent Puleo, co-owner of Big Knick Energy, which helped organize the bus trip.

“Trying to send the message: don’t try to ban New Yorkers from anything!” he warned, adding he wants to “really piss Philly fans off.”

Puleo’s threats come after Embiid — the 76ers’ oft-injured superstar center — groused Saturday about the last time the two teams locked horns in the NBA playoffs in 2024, when Knicks fanatics flooded Philly and made it feel like “[Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East.”

He then pleaded with Sixers fans not to sell their Friday night tix to Knicks fans, crying, “This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”

Puleo insisted Friday he took Embiid’s whining “as a personal invite.”

“We weren’t gonna go until Embiid said something,” he admitted.  

Fans riding the bus also blasted the Philly bigman — as their arrival behind enemy lines neared.

“Forget Embiid. Embiid could say whatever he wants. Embiid could tell us, ‘don’t sell the tickets to the Knicks fans.’ We’re taking over,” Huntington resident Justin Almonte, 25, slammed.

“We’re going to take over Philly. This is home field advantage for our team in a different state. I hope we catch a W.”

Hudson Perl, of Livingston, New Jersey, said Embiid’s plea “just shows how … sorry a fan base” the 76ers have.

“Like you should not be saying to people, ‘don’t sell your tickets.’ Your fans should be there automatically,” griped the 19-year-old, who flew to Atlanta for the Knicks clincher against the Hawks in the opening round of the playoffs.  

The Jalen Brunson-led Knicks toppled the Hawks in six games before controlling the first two games against the 76ers at MSG — leaving the Big Apple buzzing with hope of the organization’s first championship since 1973. 

Embiid, meanwhile, was listed as questionable for Friday night’s pivotal matchup, but 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame he thinks his center “is gonna give it a shot.”

The bus trip from Big Knick Energy, which is also run by Angelo Pellegrino and Leros Transportation Group, charged fans $75 for a round trip to Philly for Game 3 and is also offering the shuttle for Sunday’s Game 4.

“I think we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna overtake Philly,” declared Dix Hills resident Jake Bornstein.

“We’re gonna mess with the Philly fans. It’s gonna be hella fun.”

Tipoff for Game 3 is slated for 7 p.m.

The NBA draft lottery takes place on Sunday, when the Golden State Warriors will learn whether their 2% chance at the No. 1 pick pays off and which pick they’ll be offering to the Houston Rockets this summer in a rejected trade offer for Kevin Durant. It all depends on the combination of ping-pong balls drawn in a closed room, where the Warriors will send legendary public relations man Raymond Ridder to observe.

That’s how the NBA ensures fairness, or if you’re a conspiracy theorist, where Adam Silver gets all 14 officials to agree to give the No. 1 overall pick to whoever most recently helped the Los Angeles Lakers and then never tell a soul. But the real stars are the on-stage representatives, who appear on camera and help bring luck — or awful, franchise-ruining disappointment — to their teams.

Here’s a ranking, from worst to first, of the 14 different legends, team officials, active players, and owner’s children attending the big lottery draw.

14. Scott Perry, Sacramento Kings

Perhaps Perry feels the need to show his face at the draft lottery after one season at the helm of the Kings, one where he traded last year’s Kings lottery rep, Keon Ellis, along with his big free-agent signing, Dennis Schroder. But does he have to remind the poor Sacramento fans that the man who previously used lottery picks on Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja, Frank Ntilkina, and Kevin Knox is in charge of their draft? At least he’s not a blood relative of Vivek Ranadive.

13. Larry Harris, Golden State Warriors

Did the Warriors reward a longtime scout and executive with a place in the spotlight? Or did no one more exciting than Del Harris’ son volunteer to go to Chicago for the event?

12. Tayshaun Prince, Memphis Grizzlies

Prince is the Memphis Grizzlies’ vice president of player affairs, but he’s primarily associated with the glory days of the Detroit Pistons, not the 139 games he played for the Grizzlies. This also feels like a situation where other executives weren’t interested in the task and Prince drew the assignment. Was Tony Allen busy?

11. Mallory Edens, Milwaukee Bucks

Edens is a social media influencer who rose to fame at age 18 when she represented the Bucks at the 2014 lottery draw and the internet got inappropriately horny about a girl who hadn’t graduated from high school yet. Bill Simmons said, “The Cavs won the lottery and Mallory Edens won the Internet,” which Jerry Seinfeld would probably agree with.

Guy watching the NBA Draft Lottery be like…I'd take Mallory Edens with the #1 pick! #NBADraftLotterypic.twitter.com/EeRnMAXtRr

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 21, 2014

Gross! Anyway, Doc Rivers got fired and Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting traded, so the Bucks might as well send the daughter of their billionaire owner to the lottery. Edens is a film producer and — allegedly — the ex-girlfriend of Aaron Rodgers, so expect her to do her own research instead of accepting the NBA’s so-called “lottery odds.”

10. Nick Collison, Oklahoma City Thunder

There’s no one who could make the Oklahoma City Thunder sympathetic in the lottery draw for a draft that might take place a week after they win their second straight title. Collison is as good a choice as any, a veteran who spent all 15 years of his career with the Thunder and became the first player to get his jersey retired in OKC. Plus, he’s used to taking a pounding in the low block so if observers start throwing things at him when the Thunder jump into the top three, Collison can take it.

9. Vince Carter, Brooklyn Nets

No shade to Vinsanity, who was great in his time with the Nets, but are the Nets really the team you’d associate with Carter? Then again, the Nets are woefully short on franchise legends, since most of their greatest players spent more time with other teams, like Jason Kidd or Derrick Coleman, or reached greater heights elsewhere, like Brook Lopez or Julius Erving. Maybe they can call on Kerry Kittles the next time they’re in the lottery.

8. Onsi Saleh, Atlanta Hawks

Is sending the general manager of your team a little boring? Usually yes, but Saleh deserves a chance to be in the TV spotlight as a reward for pulling off the heist that got the Hawks into this room in the first place — swapping last year’s No. 13 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 23 pick and this year’s Pelicans first-rounder. Now they have a 29.3% chance at a top-four pick and a 6.8% chance at No. 1.

Saleh also landed a promising young forward named Jonathan Kuminga who has inspired very little discussion among our commenters in the past few seasons.

7. Rolando Blackman, Dallas Mavericks

Trotting out Cooper Flagg, last year’s No. 1 pick, isn’t going to get any sympathy for the lottery gods, to whom the Mavericks sacrificed former general manager Nico Harrison early last season. Instead, they’re using Blackman, a four-time All-Star and former Mavericks assistant coach — who just happened to be their rep at the Flagg lottery last year.

6. Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat

‘Zo is a legend in South Beach, winning a title in 2006 and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. For younger fans, Mourning is the subject of one of the world’s greatest GIF’s, where the veteran goes through a full gamut of emotions while seated on the bench. Imagine his reaction if the Heat get lucky!

5. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

Choosing a promising young player to attend the draft generally has good vibes. It feels like the hypothetical lottery pick is being welcomed early. Knueppel is a strong choice because he finished second in the Rookie of the Year and unlike 60% of the Hornets starting lineup, he doesn’t have legal issues regarding domestic violence, reckless driving, or being an accessory to murder.

4. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

George is another good-vibes pick, especially since he’s the biggest draft success story so far in the Jazz’s multi-season tanking odyssey. He outranks Knueppel because he’s had to go through more misery by enduring three seasons on the Jazz. Knueppel only knows the Hornets as a playoff team!

3. Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls

Kukoc has a non-specific front office role as a “special adviser to the team president and CEO,” but his real role is “Member of the 1996-98 Bulls.” It’s a strong selection and more exciting than the rep the last time the Bulls won the draft lottery in 2008: Bulls executive vice president of marketing/broadcasting Steve Schanwald, who was called ‘Stan” during the telecast.

2. TJ McConnell, Indiana Pacers

McConnell could be a controversial choice as a draft lottery guy, because he wasn’t drafted coming out of college. However, that’s also the case with Ben Wallace, the only modern-day undrafted NBA player to make the Basketball Hall of Fame, and he was the Detroit Pistons representative in 2021 when they won the lottery and landed Cade Cunningham. The basketball gods reward hard work and hustle!

1. John Wall, Washington Wizards

Wall may be the biggest bright spot for the Wizards since Wes Unseld retired 45 years ago. That says a lot about the franchise, but Wall was a tremendously exciting, five-time All-Star whose career was derailed by a freak injury (He slipped and ruptured his Achilles tendon while recovering from Achilles surgery). He was also the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, making him the perfect Wizard rep. Plus, if they sent Anthony Davis or Trae Young, they’d probably get hurt climbing into their seats.

The Dallas Mavericks are turning to an Arizona alum to take over their franchise.

The Mavericks on Friday announced the hiring of Mike Schmitz as general manager ahead of next month’s NBA Draft. Schmitz spent the last four seasons on the Portland Trail Blazers staff after serving as a draft analyst for ESPN.

Schmitz attended the University of Arizona from 2009-12, where he covered UA athletics for the Daily Wildcat. Schmitz’s Arizona basketball beat helped showcase his eye for identifying talent, according to a 2018 profile in the Daily Wildcat.

We have hired Mike Schmitz as our General Manager. @Chime // #MFFLpic.twitter.com/uZBxpQ1vlM

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 8, 2026

Schmitz worked for Yahoo Sports and Draft Express before joining ESPN. He worked for the Worldwide Leader for five years, then transitioned to a front office role in Portland. He most recently served as the Trail Blazers’ assistant GM.

“Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA,” said Dallas president Masai Ujiri. “He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does.”

Schmitz takes over a Mavericks franchise that a year ago won the NBA Draft Lottery, earning the rights to the No. 1 pick, which they used on Duke standout Cooper Flagg. Dallas went 26-56 this season and holds a 29% chance at receiving a top-four pick in this Sunday’s Draft Lottery.

Dallas is more likely to receive a mid-lottery pick, and some mock drafts have linked the Mavericks to Arizona guard Brayden Burries.