Victor Wembanyama did not speak to the media following his ejection from game four on Sunday [Getty Images]
Victor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career - for elbowing an opponent - as his San Antonio Spurs side were beaten 114-109 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in game four of the Western Conference semi-finals.
France international Wembanyama, 22, had grabbed the rebound of a missed Spurs three-pointer early in the second quarter and was protecting the ball when he turned around and appeared to elbow Timberwolves' Naz Reid in the jaw.
The incident was initially called as a offensive foul, as fans in Minneapolis chanted "kick him out, kick him out".
And, after a video review of the play by the officials, it was upgraded to a flagrant 2 - which is an automatic ejection and a minimum of $2,000 (£1,464) fine - for excessive contact above the neck.
When the ejection was announced, Wembanyama appeared to ask Spurs team-mate Harrison Barnes: "What does that mean?"
Timberwolves' victory on Sunday levels the best-of-seven series at 2-2 before game five in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, while he did not condone Wembanyama's actions, he was glad he "took matters into his own hands" as he believes the 7ft 4in (2.24m) star needs more protection from referees.
Johnson added: "I'm glad Naz Reid is OK and I didn't want him to elbow him. But [Wembanyama's] going to have to protect himself if no-one else does for him. And I think it's disgusting."
Wembanyama finished with four points and four rebounds in just under 13 minutes of action, while his Spurs team-mates De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper scored 24 points each.
Reid, meanwhile, contributed 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves.
"We never expected them just to go away," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
"They won a game in the Portland series without Wembanyama, so they're a very good team."
Also on Sunday, the New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals as they brushed aside the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 in game four.
Miles McBride scored 25 points and Jalen Brunson added 22 points to hand the Knicks a 4-0 series clean sweep.
The Knicks will take on top-seeded Detroit Pistons or fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers for a spot in the NBA Finals.
Owner of eatery that created the Philly Cheesesteak will cook at Long Island pizzeria in Knicks gear as punishment for lost bet.
Maybe it was a misteak.
The descendant of the brothers credited with creating the first Philly cheesesteak will make the renowned sandwiches at a Long Island pizzeria — while wearing head-to-toe Knicks gear — after losing a bet with the eatery’s co-owner.
Frank Olivieri, proud owner of Philadelphia’s iconic Pat’s King of Steaks, will begrudgingly wear orange and blue while slinging sandwiches at Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead after the Knicks annihilated the 76ers 144-114 on Sunday.
Frank Olivieri owns Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia. The Washington Post via Getty Images
Olivieri had instigated a friendly wager with the pizza parlor’s co-owner, Louis Cretella. The pair bet on which teams would win, Olivieri siding with the 76ers and Cretella with the Knicks — and the loser would have to travel to the other’s restaurant and cook for a day in the winning team’s gear.
“[Olivieri] wanted to make a wager on game three. I said, let’s bet the whole series,” Cretella told The Post.
Olivieri is accustomed to losing, but held out hope for his Philadelphia team until the bitter end.
“We always have a feeling that the 6ers, or anyone else in Philly are going to come back. We’re used to saying ‘maybe next year’,” he told The Post.
He shrugged off the impending ignominy, adding that he’s “been meaning to try [Dario’s] cheesesteak anyway.”
“I figured it would be a good way to extend some brotherly love to our brothers up in New York and on Long Island,” he added.
Olivieri made a bet with Dario’s Pizza co-owner Louis Cretella. Alex Mitchell / NY Post
Olivieri and Cretella haven’t set a firm date for when the cheesesteak connoisseur will grace the Long Island pizzeria, but suggested that this may not be the end of their game.
“We’re willing to do another bet in the next round, whether it’s a place Cleveland or Detroit, so we’ll see,” Cretella said.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and will play the winner of the Detroit Pistons vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers series.
Cretella changed the pizzeria’s computer system to rename the Philly cheesesteak the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak. Alex Mitchell / NY Post
The friendly wager came about after Olivieri learned his ancestors’ cheesey, meaty creation had come under fire amid the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Knicks were pitted against the 76ers.
Olivieri will cook cheesesteaks at Dario’s while wearing Knicks gear. Alex Mitchell / NY Post
Cretella changed the menu item from Philly cheesesteak to the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak in the restaurant’s computer system. Hard copy menus also have the “Philly” crossed out and “F*** Philly” in black marker written over it.
Olivieri took notice and reached out to place the bet he has now lost.
It feels ironic that the Washington Wizards became the first team with the worst record to get the No. 1 pick since the NBA switched to these new lottery odds — just in time for the league to change everything next year to "fix" tanking. Again.
The way the ping-pong balls bounced this year left some big winners and some painful losers. Let's break down who won and who lost in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
Winner: Shameless tanking
The Washington Wizards traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis and barely played them to maintain their lottery odds (to be fair, AD was injured). The Utah Jazz were the face of tanking in the league, got a massive fine, traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. and mostly sat him to keep their draft position. The Memphis Grizzlies were just a couple of games out of the play-in when they traded Jackson to the Jazz and started tanking in earnest, going 5-28 the rest of the way.
All three of those teams were rewarded and have the top three picks in this draft. If you wonder why the league thinks it needs a new lottery system to fix tanking, this is the prime example.
Winner: Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
Chicago jumped up to the top four because Toni Kukoc brought the swagger.
Six years ago, when Arturas Karnisovas took over as the lead executive in Chicago, the Bulls jumped up from seventh in the lottery odds to get the No. 4 pick, which they used to select Patrick Williams. That pick (and subsequent contract) was an anchor on Karnisovas' entire tenure.
This year, Bryson Graham has taken over as the lead executive in Chicago, and the Bulls jumped from ninth in the lottery odds to get the No. 4 pick. Most likely, they will use that on North Carolina's Caleb Willson, unless Memphis falls in love with him, in which case Cameron Boozer of Duke likely falls to the Bulls. Either way, Graham needs this pick to work out.
Winner: Washington Wizards
Washington was active in "pre-agency" at the trade deadline last February, getting good deals on two former All-Stars other teams were looking to dump move on from: Trae Young and Anthony Davis. This is a team that already had some promising young players like big man Alex Sarr and last year's first-round pick Tre Johnson. This was a team that was already going to be better and in the postseason mix in the East.
Now they likely add AJ Dybantsa, the 6'9" ultra-talented, ultra-athletic wing out of BYU, who seems like a perfect fit. Suddenly, the Wizards look interesting next season.
There is a report that Washington might be open to trading down, via Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Sure, if someone comes in with a Godfather offer they can't refuse, but that's unlikely at best. The Wizards are not giving up their first No. 1 pick since selecting John Wall in 2010, a pick that has the fan base excited, without some overwhelming talent returning.
Loser: Brooklyn Nets
The most talent-starved team in the league was let down by the basketball gods. While they will still get a quality player at No. 6 — likely a star guard like Darius Acuff Jr. or Keaton Wagler — but it's not the guy or the lottery luck they were hoping for.
Brooklyn is on track to struggle again next year, and with the coming new “3-2-1" lottery system, their chances of adding that elite talent just got longer.
Winner: Utah Jazz
The lottery gods finally smiled on the Jazz. Which is ironic because they became the face of tanking this season when the league fined them $500,000 for playing their stars 20 minutes a game, then benching them in the stretch and losing. It turns out that what the league wanted was just for the Jazz to make up an injury and bench them all game, so they did. The Jazz got all the bad press, and the basketball gods rewarded them.
This is another team already building something with guard Keyonte George and big man Walker Kessler, plus last year's No. 1 pick Ace Bailey. They already had Lauri Markkanen and then added Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline. Now put Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the mix and they look like a potential playoff team starting next season.
Loser: Indiana Pacers
You know it's not good when just after the lottery the GM steps up and takes the blame.
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
As part of the trade to bring in Ivica Zubac in February, the Pacers traded their pick this year to the Clippers, but it was top-four protected. While the Pacers finished with the league's second-worst record, that made it basically a coin toss (52% to 48%) whether they would lose their pick. They did lose it, which essentially means they traded the No. 5 pick for Zubac. Make no mistake, Zubac with a healthy Tyrese Halliburton is a good pairing — and the Pacers will be back contending for the East crown next season with him — but that is a steep price.
Winner: LA Clippers
If the Pacers are losers, then the Clippers must be winners. They get to add another high-level player to a roster that is getting retooled in the next couple of years.
They are going to be an interesting team on draft night. At No. 5, that's where a run of strong point guards starts, except the Clippers traded for Darius Garland during the season (for James Harden). LA needs to find a guard or wing who can play off ball, not just on, which might be Keaton Wagler.
Loser: Sacramento Kings
Call it an ethical tank if you want, the Kings were just bad this season. At No. 7, they are still going to get a quality player, but maybe not the star they were hoping for to anchor their rebuild. Also, like Brooklyn, the Kings may be bad again next year but with flatter lottery odds (almost certainly a part of whatever system the owners approve) it will be even harder for Sacramento to get that elite talent.
Loser: New Orleans Pelicans
We knew this would be the case when it happened last June. That's when the Pelicans traded the rights to their pick this year to jump up 10 spots and select Derik Queen. Now we know that it is the No. 8 pick. Queen showed promise this season, but that looked like a bad trade at the time and it may be worse now.
But the offense isn’t the only thing that changed.
“I feel like our mindset shifted,” McBride told SNY. “We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”
He made four three-pointers in an 81-second span to give the Knicks an early 14-point lead.
New York never looked back, building a 24-point lead at halftime and going up by as many as 44 in the second half.
They beat Philadelphia by 30 to extend their playoff win streak to seven games, winning each of those by an average of 26.4 points.
Given the circumstances, has any Knick team in the last 50 years played a better seven-game stretch?
Don’t think so.
Now New York will enter the Eastern Conference Finals as the prohibitive favorite.
“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”
Things are getting better at the right time for Brunson and the Knicks.
A SLOW BUILD
The Knicks underwhelmed for long stretches of the regular season. Fans and media questioned their legitimacy again and again. But that sentiment never effected the team, Brunson says.
“It was a rollercoaster for sure,” he said. “I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on.
“There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”
So far, the journey has shown that the Knicks are a resilient, talented team.
Now, they can take a short rest and get ready for the next round of the playoffs.
The conference final will start on either Sunday or Monday. Game 4 of Cavs-Pistons is Monday night.
Not sure if you heard, but the Brooklyn Nets fell to the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. If you want to hear the longest F-bomb in the history of Locked on Nets, hosted by Erik Slater, here’s Sunday’s episode, where Slater and I talked and groaned through the latest Brooklyn Nets disappointment…
Terance Mann provided a more SFW reaction on social media…
The two-year tank is over. The Houston Rockets have swap rights with the Brooklyn Nets next season, though given the ultra-flattened odds set to come into effect, there is a world where both the Nets and Rockets miss the playoffs, and Brooklyn gets a decent pick anyway. But GM Sean Marks can’t bank on that, and besides, it’s a bit too early to think about the 2027 NBA Draft Lottery; the Nets have all but sworn to improve next season after winning just 46 games over the past two seasons.
Luckily, they have Head Coach Jordi Fernández, who, despite the record, seems to be pretty good. After that, it’s bleak. Michael Porter Jr., with one more year on his contract, is up for an extension likely in the $40 million range. Nic Claxton, with two years left on his $22 million AAV deal, has likely regressed into negative-value territory, though perhaps there are some executives around the NBA who don’t watch enough of the Nets to know that yet. Day’Ron Sharpe is a pretty good backup center, especially with a $6 million team option next season. Egor Dëmin had a nice rookie season all things considered, though he has much work to do to become a valuable playoff contributor. The other rookies are much, much further away. Josh Minott seems like a real player. Ziaire Williams might be too. We’ll see about Noah Clowney.
Barring some splashy summer moves, that’s about it. So who can the Nets add with the #6 overall pick in June? Who can we get excited about? (Let’s assume that Dybantsa/Boozer/Peterson/Wilson go with the first four picks, in some order.)
Kingston Flemings
I think you’ll hear this name a lot leading up to the NBA Draft. Flemings, a 19-year-old guard who had an incredibly productive freshman season for the University of Houston, had been linked to the Nets throughout the season — perhaps there’s already some mutual interest between the two sides. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sportsmocked him to the Nets following the lottery drawing…
The quick sell is simple: Flemings defends, he drives the ball, and his 2.9 assist:turnover ratio could indicate some real playmaking ability. And for a guy whose shot was questioned, well, 38.7% from deep on six attempts per 100 ain’t bad, nor is 84.5% from the line and 44% on long twos. At 6’4”, can he play with enough force to finish inside consistently? Does his outside jumper have room to grow?
These are the questions, but given his strengths — not to mention a lauded work ethic and disposition —it’s easy to see the Nets taking a chance on him at #6.
Darius Acuff Jr.
He’s probably going to be there at #6. Maybe the Chicago Bulls take him at #4 ahead of Caleb Wilson, and it’s also possible the Los Angeles Clippers take the SEC Player of the Year at #5 despite already rostering another small guard in Darius Garland.
But it feels like this 19-year-old and the Nets are going to hear a lot about each other in the coming months. Listed 6’3”, Acuff is a polarizing prospect, not because of his height but in part because of his frame. He is quite skinny — shifty but not overly explosive — and he is the betting favorite to be the worst defender in the NBA next season. He rarely rebounded, stole, or deflected the ball in college. It’s not easy for any young guard in the league, but Acuff’s defensive effort at Arkansas was consistently under the microscope, not to mention the frame.
Now that that’s out of the way, good God can he play offense. He was at the absolute center of John Calipari’s offense, handling a ton of pick-and-roll, and shot 60% at the rim, 40% from the midrange, 44% from deep, and had 3x as many assists as turnovers. Again, he won SEC Player of the Year and the SEC Tournament’s MVP. The arguments about what it means to be a small guard in the NBA won’t be fun, but his highlights…that’s another story.
Keaton Wagler
The Illinois guard could certainly get picked by the Clips at #5, but we have another offense-first guard (get used to it) in the mix. ESPN and The Athletic each have the 19-year-old as the #5 overall prospect, as the 6’7” 19-year-old can theoretically play at either guard spot and bring valuable shooting + passing skills to the table. He and Egor Dëmin would comprise the NBA’s least explosive backcourt next season, but some of Wagler’s highlights are just nutty…
Worried that he’s not blowing by people? Fair. But the frame might help him survive; sounds a little bit like a certain Russian ballplayer I know.
Mikel Brown Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr. is already 20 years old and played just 21 games for Louisville in his lone NCAA season, dealing with a lower back injury. You want the sell? Just check out his 45-point night against NC State…
Like Acuff Jr., Brown’s not gonna provide much defensive or rebounding value; he’s going to have to be an overwhelming offensive threat … which he might be.
He rarely got to the rim this season, and didn’t finish well when he got there, and he only shot 34.4% from deep. But Brown shot a million of ‘em, largely off the dribble, shot well on midrange jumpers, and dropped some high-level dimes out of the pick-and-roll. Plus, he was a consensus top-10 player in his high school class, and we know the Brooklyn Nets love them some pre-draft-year pedigree.
Others
My gut is that those are the four names you’ll be hearing the most, but there are certainly not the only options for the Brooklyn Nets at #6. Remember, Egor Dëmin wasn’t even in the picture when Brooklyn first drew #8 last season.
Labaron Philon Jr.: He’ll turn 21 early next season after playing at Alabama for two seasons, but the 6’4” guard has an electric highlight tape and shot nearly 40% from three this season. He was a better playmaker his sophomore season, and though he put up very few rebounding/defensive numbers, posting a 63 TS% while carrying a huge offensive load is more than impressive.
Aday Mara: He’s 21, he’s slow, yes, yes, yes. But the Spanish big man is also 7’3” with commendable passing and rim protection instincts. Drafting him at #6 wouldn’t be the sexiest pick, but it’s conceivable that he ends up as one of the draft’s six best players.
Yaxel Lendeborg: Born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents but raised in New Jersey, Lendeborg is 23 years old. He’ll be 24 when training camp opens. However, the big wing was one college basketball’s best all-around players this past season, winning a title with Aday Mara at Michigan while making threes, making twos, rebounding, passing, blocking shots, and rarely turning it over. Is Lendeborg going to be the ideal role-playing wing?
Dailyn Swain
NateAment
Brayden Burries
If we’re making a really long list, I could’ve thrown a couple more names in there. There is little consensus after the first four picks. The Brooklyn Nets have the opportunity to select the best prospect they’ve had since moving to Brooklyn, but it will not be easy.
Let’s get this out of the way now: They are not trading up. It’s not happening.
Bryson Graham after the Bulls jumped up to No. 4 overall in the NBA Draft: “I almost fainted … It’s such a great draft.” pic.twitter.com/wkpOOVbxcu
What the heck would Brooklyn have to offer the teams at the very top of the draft?
Trading down is infinitely more feasible, though perhaps not likely. But it may be the right move for the Nets if they particularly like one of the older prospects like Swain/Lendeborg/Joshua Jefferson or a less heralded guard like Tyler Tanner or Bennett Stirtz. The guards projected to go in the 5-9 range are quite talented, but all have very real question marks. The older prospects, if nothing else, could be more ready to help Brooklyn take a step forward next year, perhaps quelling some of the fanbase’s frustrations. (And saving some jobs?)
The NBA Draft Lottery Gods did not smile upon the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon, but once again regarded them with wrath. That doesn’t mean the Nets can’t draft a great player, though. Here’s to hoping.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now on the brink of elimination, the Los Angeles Lakers look to avoid being swept in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
Unless the Lakers have a miracle in them to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, this series feels pretty much over. No matter what adjustment the Lakers come up with, what’s been established is that they’re simply not better than the Thunder.
And that’s why Los Angeles is on the verge of being swept — unless they have something to say about it.
In order to keep their season alive on Monday, the Lakers have to do something they haven’t done in this series: outplay the Thunder. This means LeBron James and Austin Reaves have to give more than what they already have in the last three games and hope most of their supporting cast play extraordinarily well.
This is what James and Reaves pretty much implied after Game 3. But the question is, will they follow through?
“We gotta give everything… everything and more to beat a team like this.”
LeBron James talks about the Thunder’s versatility, the Lakers’ third-quarter struggles and the mindset heading into Game 4. pic.twitter.com/qRNvg2Rokf
Austin Reaves on the Lakers' mindset for Monday's Game 4, with LAL down 0-3 to the Thunder, a deficit no team in NBA history has come back from:
"Just come and compete. There's a bunch of guys in the locker room that are competitors. Basically the message after the game was… pic.twitter.com/6L7jb3A7wl
Over the years in the playoffs, there have been times when the Lakers let go of the rope — remember the Nuggets series in 2023 — simply because they couldn’t compete anymore. They can do that on Monday, too, but it’ll be up to them.
This season has obviously not been perfect for the Lakers, but if there are two things they have consistently done, it’s compete to the best of their abilities and rise to the occasion. That’s why it’ll honestly be a surprise if this team doesn’t go down swinging. They owe it to themselves at least to keep fighting until the final buzzer.
Whether fighting means controlling the paint, stepping up their defense, especially against the Thunder’s role players — looking at Ajay Mitchell — or simply coming out stronger in the third quarter, this is the game where the Lakers throw everything they have at OKC and let desperation take over.
Let’s see if that works for the purple and gold and if they can live to fight another day on Monday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, only Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) is out.
As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to field questions about his superstar center after his first career ejection in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 10.
Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter after pulling in a rebound and delivering an intentional elbow to the throat of Naz Reid after being swarmed by him and Jaden McDaniels.
Johnson, after the game didn't condone the act, but was in defense of the Spurs' MVP candidate and 2026 Defensive Player of the Year.
“In general, I do think it’s getting to a point that the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “We’ve been asking him to do that for a while. Naz Reid was okay and that call was warranted, but in terms of the game plan of every single team we face since that young man has been in the league and the physicality that people try to impose on him and the lack of protection is really disappointing."
Minnesota and San Antonio had been a physical series leading up to the Wemby's bow. On the particular play, as Wembanyama came down with the rebound, he was smacked in the head by McDaniels, who then held Wembanyama's arm afterward.
As he swung away from McDaniels, his elbow made contact with Reid, catching him in the throat.
The game's officials reviewed it and determined that the contact was an unnecessary, non-basketball play with wind up, contact and follow through, resulting in the Spurs center's first-career ejection – regular season or postseason.
“At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff," Johnson said. "I’m glad he took matters into his own hands — not at all in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that, I’m glad Naz Reid was okay. I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”
The Spurs went on to lose the game without Wemby, 114-109.
Social media reactions to Spurs-Wolves physicality
Social media also has noticed the physicality with Wembanyama in the Wolves-Spurs series so far. Here's how X users, some clearly Spurs fans, have reacted to how the series has been played. It's social media, please be advised of explicit language.
1) McD slaps Wemby in the head/face (NO CALL)
2) McD holds Wemby’s arm after Wemby gets the rebound (NO CALL)
3) Wemby sings his arm with the ball in away from McDaniel’s & inadvertently hits Naz
Victor Wembanyama had to ask if he was ejected from the Spurs' game Sunday.
Victor Wembanyama had never been in this spot before.
After a Flagrant 2 foul was announced following a review when Wembanyama delivered an elbow to Naz Reid’s neck midway through the second quarter of Game 4, he needed to ask Spurs teammate Harrison Barnes, “What does that mean?”
And when Barnes answered Wembanyama’s question — a moment that was captured by the NBC broadcast — on Sunday, Wembanyama nodded, high-fived some teammates and walked away from the bench after getting ejected for the first time in his career.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The foul occurred when Reid, Wembanyama and another Timberwolves player were fighting for control of a rebound, and when Wembanyama collected possession, he wound up his elbow and directed it toward Reid at Target Center.
Reid fell toward the ground, and Wembanyama’s night ended with just four points across 12 minutes and 2-for-5 shooting from the field.
“I by no means thought it was intentional,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson told reporters postgame. “Tough break. … In general, I think it’s getting to a point where if the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, then at some point he’s gonna have to protect himself. We’ve been asking him to do that now for a while.”
And with the Spurs forced to spend the final 38-plus minutes without their superstar, it altered Game 4, with the Timberwolves winning, 114-109, behind 36 points from Anthony Edwards to even the series at two games apiece.
Victor Wembanyama asks Harrison Barnes if he’s ejected during the Spurs’ May 10 game. Screengrab via X/@NBAonNBC
Johnson, though, was left furious at the physicality Wembanyama has been forced to deal with — and how he has to “protect himself” on the court if the officials won’t.
“I just think that the amount of physicality that people play with with him, at some level you have to protect yourself,” Johnson told reporters. “Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on him.
The series now shifts back to San Antonio, with Game 5 set for Wednesday, and it’s unclear if Wembanyama will face any additional discipline following the incident.
Winning is a family affair for Jalen Brunson, and he made sure to celebrate the Knicks’ 144-114 series-clinching victory over the 76ers as such.
The Knicks star was captured sweetly celebrating the win with his family after he put up 22 points in 28 minutes in Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday, while shooting 8-of-17 from the floor and 6-of-10 from 3-point range.
In one photograph, Brunson is seen picking up his daughter, Jordyn, and kissing her on the cheek.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) kisses his daughter at the end of the fourth quarter after defeat Philadelphia144-114 in Game 4 Jason Szenes for the New York Post
In another image, he is seen holding his daughter, who will be 2 years old in July, and sharing a kiss with his wife Ali.
In a separate heartwarming moment, the Knicks star is seen walking off the court while holding his daughter’s hand as she walks beside him.
During Brunson’s postgame press conference, he was briefly interrupted by an adorable voice in the back of the room shouting, “Hi dada.”
Jordyn could be heard shouting “dada” a second time, which caused Brunson to chuckle and lose his train of thought for a moment.
“Hi dada”
Jalen Brunson cracks up when his daughter says hi after Knicks win over 76ers. pic.twitter.com/oGG5sOuQL3
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 10, 2026
Sunday’s win marked the second consecutive postseason run in which the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals, though the team did it in emphatic fashion against the Sixers.
All but one game was close during the series and Brunson continued to show how he has helped turn the Knicks into a winning franchise.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) kisses his wife Ali Brunson at the end of the May 10 game. Jason Szenes for the New York PostKnicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 and his daughter as they walk off the court after Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson has averaged 28.0 points on 48.6 percent shooting from the floor and 37.5 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Asked to reflect on his role in reviving the Knicks fortunes, Brunson wanted to save that question for later.
“I think that’s a question I would love to answer once I retire. This place means a lot to me and we’re still writing our story. So I’ll answer that at another time,” he responded.
The Knicks have some downtime while they wait to find out if they’ll be playing the Pistons or the Cavaliers in the conference finals.
Wembanyama, 22, is a bright, young player, one who has been transparent about his relative inexperience in playoff basketball. Treat this as another lesson, rather unfairly, that he’ll have to learn.
Because not only did Wembanyama miss two and a half quarters of an eventual five-point loss, he might face further discipline from the NBA league office, including a possible suspension.
With Game 5 set for Tuesday, May 12, the NBA is expected to review the incident and make any determination on discipline by Monday evening. And if Wembanyama does indeed face a suspension in Game 5, the series might very well slip away from the Spurs.
No team is better than the Timberwolves at annoying opposing players, getting under their skin to force them to respond in ways that are uncharacteristic. Jaden McDaniels, an all-world defender and sometimes-troll, is the perfect example.
McDaniels, one series after he called out the entire Denver Nuggets by name for being “all bad defenders,” joined teammate Naz Reid in the second quarter on Sunday night, pestering Wembanyama to the point of frustration that prompted the Spurs phenom to throw a reckless elbow at Reid’s throat.
It was a dangerous play, and Reid and Wembanyama are both fortunate that the elbow appeared to catch Reid’s collarbone before striking his throat.
And, to be completely fair to Wembanyama, McDaniels and Reid were aggressively harassing Wembanyama, and he should have the right to protect himself. This, unfortunately for Wembanyama, is nothing new.
“At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “I’m glad he took matters into his own hands — not at all in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that. I’m glad Naz Reid was okay, I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself if (the officials) are not.”
Johnson is absolutely justified, but Wembanyama will nonetheless have to learn that he and the Spurs stand to lose more in cases like these. He’s one of the top three best players in the world, and teams are going to hunt and target him — whether that’s in an attempt to put him in foul trouble, or, like Sunday night, to get in his head. This is only magnified in the playoffs, when a suspension can swing an entire series.
Wembanyama is too good. No player impacts the game on both ends the way he does. His defensive presence alters the way opposing teams attack San Antonio, and his shooting range and offensive portfolio are singular for someone with his frame.
After playing just 12:29 on Sunday night, Wembanyama left with 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting, adding 4 rebounds and 1 assist. And the Timberwolves, both in the minutes following the ejection and in the fourth quarter, spammed attacks in the paint, knowing Wembanyama would not be there to protect the rim. Simply put: Wembanyama’s ejection made the prospect of a Spurs victory far more challenging.
“Everybody know the rim’s going to be a lot more open when he’s not on the floor,” Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards told reporters after the game. “Yeah, he’s 8 feet tall, so he’s gonna cover up the rim anytime he on the floor.”
When reviewing possible suspensions, the league looks at several factors, including a player’s history. Since this was Wembanyama’s first Flagrant 2 and first ejection, the NBA might opt to let the time missed in Game 4 stand. The league can also fine Wembanyama.
Johnson, who obviously has an agenda to push in this case, said it “would be ridiculous” if Wembanyama was suspended.
Either way, the Spurs should prepare for the possibility. And beyond that, they should continue to expect teams to provoke Wembanyama like this, simply because San Antonio is easier to beat when he’s not on the floor.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: Rueben Chinyelu #9 of the Florida Gators reacts to winning the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamentagainst the Prairie View A&M Panthers held at Benchmark International Arena on March 20, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Sunday’s NBA draft lottery provided a bit of a surprise and some unfortunate good luck for the Clippers, who saw the Thunder not jump into the top four while also having the Pacers slip, resulting in the other LA team picking fifth.
The Wizards secured the top pick, a familiar place for an Anthony Davis team to be, while the Jazz, Grizzlies and Bulls round out the top of the draft.
The Lakers knew their spot in the draft some time ago following a coin flip with the Knicks that saw them land at the 25th pick. With the season on the brink of ending and the draft now approaching, let’s take a look at some of the prospects fans can start searching for on YouTube.
In a bit of a spoiler for the rest of these picks, this is the only non-center mocked to the Lakers. However, wings are always a valuable commodity and the Lakers certainly could use more of them.
Here’s what Ricky O’Donnell had to say about this pick:
Jefferson is a big, strong forward who brings two-way ability and rare passing vision for someone his size. He made a nice leap as a shooter this year to get up to 34.5 percent from three (a career-best), but he’ll need to continue to grow in that area. He will add some toughness and rebounding to any frontcourt, and his ball handling and playmaking would let JJ Redick’s coaching staff get creative with his usage.
Friend of Silver Screen & Roll and draft expert Mike Garcia also shared some insights on Jefferson in his recent Substack post.
Simply put, he has an NBA body and reads the floor. He has a sense of confidence with the basketball and just plays poised all the time. It helps he knows exactly where to be and what to anticipate on both ends of the floor. This kind of reading ability, a lot of NBA players don’t reach.
What makes him appealing? He’s just mobile enough to be switchable, but reads the game so well, he’ll likely be neutral defensively as a big wing and possible back up 5 as a rookie, which is an absolutely big deal.
The general consensus is that the Lakers need an athletic, lob-catching center. However, there also might not be that type of player available. Instead, there’s a different option in Henri Veesaar from North Carolina.
Here’s Jeremy Woo’s insight:
Veesaar comes off a productive season at North Carolina and will offer sheer size and viable shooting (42.6% from 3) in a draft that has become light on true centers. He has above-average athleticism and offensive skill for his size, plus he should also be able to hold up defensively in drop coverage. The functionality he offers on offense and defense should allow him to plug into a rotation next season.
The Athletic — Henri Veesaar, center, North Carolina
Woo wasn’t alone in projecting Veesaar to LA as Sam Vecenie of The Athletic followed suit as well.
Veesaar is projecting like he prefers to stay in the 2026 draft, and he’d be a pretty excellent fit as a floor-spacing complement for the Lakers with all of their perimeter talent. Yes, Luka Dončić tends to like more of a rim-running big than a floor-spacer, but the Lakers simply need talent at the center position. At 7-foot, Veesaar moves very well for his size and also has a high-end skill set that involves both passing (as he averaged 2.1 assists per game) and shooting from distance, as he hit 42.6 percent of his three 3-point attempts per game.
Veesaar isn’t the only center expected to be available in the range of the Lakers’ pick. Reuben Chinyelu isn’t quite a lob-catching big, but he’s still a center that could prove valuable to the purple and gold.
Here’s Adam Finkelstein’s thoughts on the potential selection:
Chinyelu is another one who may very well be headed back to Florida next year, but is ready to impact an NBA game defensively right now. At 6-foot-10 with a nearly 7-foot-8 wingspan, he’s freakishly long, powerful, and yet totally switchable with great recoverability. The offense has improved, but is still limited. The Gators are waiting, but it’s not hard to see how Chinyelu could be exactly what the Lakers need.
Our good friend Mike Garcia also wrote about Chinyelu in his Substack post:
Steven Adams’s strength is otherworldly, but if there was a more mortal version of that kind of archetype, it’s Rueben Chinyelu. Rueben isn’t that kind of giant, but he has one advantage defensively that Steven Adams doesn’t have; the ability to mirror smaller point guards defensively along the perimeter, while still being a dominant rebounder. This also makes him great at hedging or trapping in screen situations and recovering to the roll man.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Western Conference Semifinals between the Spurs and the Timberwolves keeps providing memorable matchups. On Sunday, Victor Wembanyama’s first-half ejection threatened to create a throwaway game, but the Silver and Black responded without their best player and battled to the very end before losing a heartbreaker, 114-109. The series will move back to San Antonio for Game 5 tied 2-2.
Surprisingly, considering the event that will be most remembered from this game, the Spurs seemed like the calmer and more disciplined team early on. They played with pace while still involving Victor Wembanyama both on and off the ball, with the pick and roll between the big man and Stephon Castle proving to be effective. On the defensive end San Antonio was not sending as much help as they did in past games but were getting some stops. The main thing keeping the Timberwolves in it in the opening few minutes were second-chance points. Alas, as it has happened often in the postseason, once the second unit checked in, the execution suffered and Minnesota upped the pressure to create turnovers. The momentum was swinging the home team’s way before Dylan Harper, who had a slow, erratic start, showed off his tremendous offensive talent to provide a boost. After one, the Wolves led by four on a surprisingly high-scoring affair.
Both teams quickly started to settle for too many jumpers to kick off the second quarter, but the Spurs were getting the better of their opponent until the incident that changed the game. Victor Wembanyama got an offensive rebound, was fouled, didn’t hear a whistle, and threw an elbow at Naz Reid that rightfully got him ejected. The rest of the half prectably consisted of the Wolves trying to get to the rim as much as possible, with Anthony Edwards attempting to take over. But the Silver and Black responded. Luke Kornet provided some good minutes, and the frenetic pace of the game when they went small favored them. There were some stretches when it seemed like Minnesota would pull away, but San Antonio’s guards always scored a timely bucket to keep up with their opponent, as Chris Finch’s guys fell for the trap of playing rushed. At the half, the Spur still trailed by four.
The circumstances were so favorable for them with Wembanyama out that it wasn’t shocking to see the Timberwolves come out of the locker room feeling a little complacent. The energetic Spurs made them pay for it by causing turnovers, and never looked scared as they hunted matchups and attacked their defenders one-on-one. The isolation-heavy style does not characterize San Antonio, but it worked well and led to Minnesota’s players trying to do the same, with many looking to be the hero of the night, to bad results. When Kornet had to rest, the team suffered from a lack of height, but tried to make up for it with timely traps for Anthony Edwards on defense and pace and aggression on the other end. Improbably, San Antonio won the third quarter and went into the final frame up four.
The chaotic nature of the game didn’t stop until the final buzzer. Edwards went off for 16 fourth-quarter points, and both Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert had good moments on offense, which normally would have meant that the Timberwolves were fully in control. It wasn’t the case. They took the lead with a shade under five minutes to go, but the Spurs’ guards responded a few times to take it back. Even after the home team managed to extend its buffer to seven heading into the final minute, San Antonio continued to fight and got it to three with 21 seconds to go. The deciding factor on what was often a sloppy but always hard-fought matchup was a catch from Ayo Dosunmu on a long inbound pass, as the ball bounced off his leg, allowing him to control it. In the end, despite the Silver and Black’s fantastic effort without their superstar, Minnesota won Game 4 to tie the series.
Game notes
The Wembanyama ejection is hard to talk about because he absolutely deserved it, but his frustration leading up to it is also easy to understand. Wembanyama takes a beating every game. Opposing teams have stated that it’s their goal to be as physical with him as the officials allow. He had gotten hit with an elbow in a previous play and was clearly fouled on the rebound that led to him throwing the elbow. He could have seriously hurt Reid, so he got the punishment he deserved, but, as Mitch Johnson said after the game, “at some stage, he should be protected. And if not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and, unfortunately, stuff like that happens.”
The guard trio was terrific on Sunday, stepping up to provide scoring. Fox, Castle, and Harper combined for 68 points. They all had their struggles at times, with Fox’s inability to hit shots in the clutch being the most notable, but they all not only scored but also defended and played with the pace the team needed to have a shot.
The forwards, on the other hand, struggled. Julian Champagnie missed all of his five threes. Keldon Johnson had three turnovers. So did Carter Bryant, who did not get a favorable whistle at all, as the officials seemed intent on reminding him that he’s a rookie. Harrison Barnes didn’t make much of an impact in his 10 minutes. They all played extremely hard, like everyone else on the team, but didn’t make plays.
Devin Vassell had a great Devin Vassell game. Even with the three guards dominating the ball, he still managed to log 14 points and three assists while hitting big shots and making some plays on defense. Vassell has settled into a small role in which he has to pick his spots on offense and do a little bit of everything else, and he delivered in the loss.
Luke Kornet turns into a different player when Wembanyama is not available. He wasn’t having a good postseason in a very limited role, but he gave San Antonio a strong 27 minutes in this one. There were some mistakes, but overall, a terrific “next man up” night for Kornet.
Anthony Edwards played 40 minutes and had 36 points in 22 shots. That’s a fantastic performance in ideal circumstances, but considering he’s playing through two knee injuries and is dealing with conditioning issues, it’s just insane.
Nine of those assists came in the 16 minutes he played in the first half.
His final total could have been much higher, but he only needed to play four minutes in the second half.
Sunday marked the third time this postseason that Towns has reached double digits in assists.
In the regular season, he did it just once.
It is part of a dramatic change the Knicks made ahead of Game 4 of the first round, operating their offense through Towns at the elbow and allowing him to facilitate with the four others on the court cutting and setting screens around him.
That change has unlocked the best version of the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns looks to pass during the Knicks’ May 10 playoff game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
“Shout out to our team,” Towns said. “We found a way to, in a way, stabilize our season and do what was needed to adjust to Atlanta. And [we] found ourselves in a better position. It’s a shout-out to the coaching staff for realizing adjustments that needed to be made and also [a] shout-out to me personally that they trusted me.”
He is still considered day to day, and the Knicks have been optimistic that he won’t miss much time.
Imaging revealed that it is a “very minor” strain, The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported.
But with a 3-0 series lead, the Knicks didn’t feel the need to rush him back Sunday.
Now, he has another week of rest before playing again.
Miles McBride, for the second straight game, started in Anunoby’s place and erupted for 25 points.
Knicks fans regularly jeered Joel Embiid with “F–k Embiid” chants throughout the series.
He spoke about that experience — and having his son hear those chants — after Game 4.
“We go on the road, they’re chanting,” Embiid said. “I hate that he hears that, but he has to understand that that’s the way the world is, and you’ve just got to live and understand that there’s going to be negativity, there’s going to be positivity, but you’ve got to go through it, and it’s OK.”
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Utah Jazz win the 5th overall pick during the 2025 Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Postition
Team
Lottery Movement
1
Washington Wizards
Stayed
2
Utah Jazz
Up 2
3
Memphis Grizzlies
Up 3
4
Chicago Bulls
Up 5
5
Los Angeles Clippers (From Indiana)
Indiana dropped 3 giving pick to Clippers
6
Brooklyn Nets
Down 3
7
Sacramento Kings
Down 2
8
Atlanta Hawks (From New Orleans Pelicans)
Down 1
9
Dallas Mavericks
Down 1
10
Milwaukee Bucks
Stayed
11
Golden State Warriors
Stayed
12
Oklahoma City Thunder (From LA Clippers)]
Stayed
13
Miami Heat
Stayed
14
Charlotte Hornets
Stayed
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Knicks fans made their presence known during their Game 4 victory over the 76ers on May 10.
PHILADELPHIA — “Let’s go Knicks,” they roared early as the 3-pointers fell like an avalanche.
“Deuce,” they bellowed after every one of Miles McBride’s seven 3-pointers.
“Knicks in four,” they chanted as the road team piled it on.
Technically, Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals was a road game for the Knicks.
It just didn’t feel anything like one, fans of the orange and blue taking over Xfinity Mobile Arena to watch their Knicks complete a four-game sweep of the host 76ers with a 144-114 decimation on Mother’s Day.
“I used to think Philly was a sports town,” Josh Hart said with a wry smile. “I don’t know if it is anymore.”
It was a Knicks town this weekend.
There was a strong contingent of Knicks fans for Friday night’s Game 3, but they were mostly drowned out by the 76ers supporters until the game was out of reach.
Knicks fans celebrate at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Sunday was different.
Sunday, they owned the building.
Sunday, they made it their home.
The only resistance came from the ear-splitting 76ers public address announcer.
His effort was futile.
It started in warmups, with Knicks fans booing Joel Embiid.
“I thought we were back in the Garden for a second,” Hart said.
Knicks fans celebrate during their Game 4 win against the 76ers on May 10. N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
To add salt in the wound, a group of Knicks fans brought mini-posters of Mitchell Robinson’s alley-oop dunk Friday over Embiid and tried to hand them out to 76ers fans.
“Man, Mitch did his thing right here, so shout-out to the fans,” McBride said.
Knicks fans celebrate after their win against the 76ers on May 10. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Before the series began, Embiid called on 76ers fans to hold on to their tickets and not let it be a repeat of two years ago, when Knicks fans invaded Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The team limited tickets to residents of the Philadelphia area, mirroring the Pistons plan from a year ago in the first round against the Knicks.
They also donated 500 tickets for each game to local community groups.
It didn’t work, as available tickets flooded the secondary market once the Knicks won the first two games of the series at home.
Josh Hart is pictured after the Knicks defeated the 76ers on May 10. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The takeover seemed to anger Tyrese Maxey.
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks,” the star guard said. “That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s we have to go out there and win these games.
“Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden.”
