Category: Basketball

If the Golden State Warriors were hoping to keep their offseason intentions a secret, well … they failed. Because we all know exactly what Golden State wants to do this summer, after they figure out Steve Kerr’s future, and maybe even extend Steph Curry.

It’s the same thing they want to do every offseason, only this year it feels more urgent: acquire a star.

There are a lot of dark horse options. Karl-Anthony Towns always seems to have one foot on the trading block. The Philadelphia 76ers could look to move on from Joel Embiid, though their first-round upset of the Boston Celtics makes that less likely. There are the tiniest rumors swirling around Nikola Jokić’s future with the Denver Nuggets. Kevin Durant is still playing, which means he’s not far away from moving to a new team. The NBA offseason is as messy and dramatic as a Keeping Up With The Kardashians episode, so it’s impossible to tell just how it will unfold.

But there’s a trio of names that stand above the rest when it comes to being linked to the Warriors: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard.

We know that the Dubs have been poking around James for years, trying to see if he wants to chase a ring alongside Curry before hanging up his signature Nikes. We know that Golden State tried like hell to trade for Antetokounmpo at the deadline, before the Milwaukee Bucks decided they were bluffing. And we know that the Warriors actually came somewhat close to dealing for Leonard at the deadline, putting forth a package that, according to reports, they thought the LA Clippers would accept.

Not much has changed. All three of those Hall of Famers enter the summer knowing that they could be hitting up Zillow sometime between now and October. And the Warriors, even more star-craved than they were in February, are going to try like hell for all of them.

So for now, let’s focus on those three. Which of the three is the best fit for the Warriors, and also the most realistic? Let’s examine them one by one.

LeBron James

Contract status: Player option for one year, $52.6 million

How the Warriors could acquire him

James is the only one of these three who could sign with the Warriors outright. He gets to choose his fate, as he can opt into another year with the Los Angeles Lakers (and ask for a trade if he’s done there), or enter free agency. The easiest way for the Warriors to acquire James would be if he really wanted to sign with Golden State, in which case he could join for the mid-level exception. However, there’s nothing to indicate that he would be willing to leave tens of millions of dollars on the table. He has enough sway that if he decides to opt into his deal and then ask for a trade, that he could probably decide where to go. So acquiring him is all about LeBron deciding that he wants to finish his career in the Bay Area.

Why he’d fit

Do we really have to ask that? He’s LeBron Freaking James, after all. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history and he’s remarkably selfless. James would give the Warriors pretty much everything they’re looking for: an elite second scoring option, a dynamic playmaker that allows Curry to play off ball, and a walking money maker who will ensure that the Chase Center is sold out every night.

One of the benefits of James is that we know he’s willing to be the 1B at this stage in his career. Despite being in SoCal before them, James publicly pronounced the Lakers as Anthony Davis’ team, and then Luka Dončić’s. There would be no star tug-of-war with Curry.

We also know that LeBron gets along incredibly well with the Warriors core. He and Curry have a great relationship, have the utmost respect for each other, and have shared the court very well during their time as teammates for Team USA and in the All-Star Game. James and Draymond Green are very close friends. And we know from his stint in the Olympics that LeBron has a huge level of respect for Kerr.

He’s not the player he once was, but he’s still one of the most well-rounded stars in the league, and one who would buy into what Golden State is doing.

Why it might not work

The biggest reason is that James will turn 42 next season, and he’s finally starting to show some cracks in the armor in terms of availability; he’s played 60 or fewer games four times in the last six seasons. Any move for a star is a short-term acquisition made to maximize Curry’s title window, but James probably will retire in a season or two, and who knows how many games he’ll play between now and then.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Contract status: Two years, $121.2 million, with a player option for the second year

How the Warriors could acquire him

It’s a three-step plan. First, Antetokounmpo has to actually be available this summer. Second, the Warriors have to ask the Bucks to take their pick of any and everything they have to offer. Third, they have to hope that someone else doesn’t have a whole lot more. In all likelihood, someone else will have a whole lot more, and then it’s a matter of if Antetokounmpo wants to play for the Warriors, and if he’s willing to force his way there.

Why he’d fit

At this stage in their respective careers, Antetokounmpo is pretty comfortably the best player of the three. He’s pretty much a lock to be a top-five MVP finisher if healthy (his run of seven straight top-four finishes will come to a close this year, after he only played 36 games). And at 31 years old, he’s also easily the youngest, and could help keep the team competitive post-Curry.

What he does on the court is desperately needed by the Warriors. He draws fouls. He vacuums up rebounds. He gets out in transition. He defends brilliantly. He’s the total package, and it’s a dream imagining his combination of size and athleticism — which is second only to Victor Wembanyama — paired with Curry’s shooting. It’s pretty easy to imagine Antetokounmpo immediately giving the Warriors a top-10 offense and defense. Plus, we know he has great respect and adoration for Curry.

Why it might not work

Once arguably the most likable player in the league, Antetokounmpo has started to attract drama. He’s lost a lot of fans with his stop-and-start status over the last year, as he seems to keep publicly changing his mind as to whether he wants to be traded or to stay in Milwaukee forever. He’s jovial and he loves Curry, but it’s fair to wonder if he might be a disruption on the Dubs, and if he’d be comfortable not being the focal point of the offense, or the last name announced overs the PA system. And it’s not hard to imagine something blowing up between Giannis and Draymond.

He also had some injury issues this year, and his body is one that you could see falling apart in his 30s. His lack of a three-point shot also isn’t ideal for a Warriors team that needs more shooters.

Kawhi Leonard

Contract status: One year, $50.3 million

How the Warriors could acquire him

From the sound of it, Steve Ballmer was unwilling to trade Leonard to the Warriors at the deadline, so this starts with him having a change of heart. Perhaps LA’s inability to make it past the Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament will help convince Ballmer that a rebuild is in order. From there, it’s probably a simple trade package centered around Jimmy Butler III and a draft pick or two. Leonard is the most feasible from an acquisition standpoint.

Why he’d fit

In many ways, Leonard is the ultimate Kerr player. He’s one of the top scorers in the league, but doesn’t seem to care whether he’s the go-to option or not, and doesn’t like to hog the ball. He’s a strong three-point shooter (39.1% for his career), but doesn’t settle for jumpers. He’s a good playmaker and a willing passer. And, of course, he’s one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, with the length and skillset to switch on any screen.

Leonard (who averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game this year) and Curry would instantly be one of the best scoring duos in the NBA. Leonard and Green would instantly be one of the best defensive duos in the NBA, and one of the most versatile as well. That Kawhi has a knack for elevating his game in the playoffs sure doesn’t hurt, either.

In many ways, Leonard is like Andrew Wiggins, just significantly better at everything, and substantially quicker at making his decisions. When you look at Golden State’s roster, there’s a strong case to be made that Leonard would be the best addition of these three in terms of fit.

Why it might not work

Kawhi might be the best fit on the court, but he’s the worst at staying there. He played 65 games this year, which was just his second time exceeding 60 games in the least nine seasons. The Warriors are old and have a lot of injuries. Curry will miss time. Green will miss time. Butler, if the Warriors somehow find a way to pull off a star acquisition without trading him, will miss a whole lot of time. Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis, should they return, will miss time. With Leonard, the Warriors would be putting a lot of faith in the health of a player who has, unfortunately, developed a reputation that conflicts with that faith.

But it’s hard to find a reason it wouldn’t work beyond that.

In all likelihood, the Warriors won’t get any of these three. But it is fun to think about…

There aren’t a lot of things to complain about through two games of a series where you’ve won both games, especially in the ways the Knicks have won them.

But there was a somber feeling after the gritty Game 2 victory at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night because of the unknown status of OG Anunoby, who came up lame on a cut to the basket and left in the final three minutes of a tight game. The Knicks were able to close out the game, but had to hold their breaths.

Ugh… looks like a right hamstring injury for OG Anunoby.

You can see him grab at the back of his right leg on a cut with 3:00 mins remaining in the 4Q. Stays in the play got a few seconds but then immediately motions to the bench that he needs to come out pic.twitter.com/Pn9rPJvVtq

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 7, 2026

It’s worth noting that, unlike his severe hamstring strain in 2024, Anunoby was much more fluid afterwards. He crumpled to the floor in pain mid-play in that Pacers series, while he hobbled and stayed in the game here. Either way, it seems to be of a lesser severity, and that seemed to be backed up by the recent report by Shams Charania that he’s questionable for Game 3:

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with right hamstring strain and will be day to day, sources tell ESPN. Anunoby is the Knicks second-leading scorer this postseason at 21.4 points per game. He is listed questionable for Game 3 on Friday against Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/q1zLXpbRkr

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 7, 2026

Now, is this a true game-time decision questionable, or a gamesmanship questionable? I lean towards the latter, as even if this is not anything major, a Grade 1 hamstring strain feels like something that will take more than two days to recover from. Maybe it’s not that bad, and he’ll be ready for Game 4 if the Sixers avoid the 0-3 deficit tomorrow, but either way it seems like the Knicks should be cautious and play to their series advantage.

There are a lot of unknowns with both teams’ injury reports. Joel Embiid is still battling his general soreness, and Mitchell Robinson is battling an illness. Both of their statuses are paramount to the overall strategy of the game, but let’s assume that both play for the sake of trying to game-plan life without Anunoby.

The biggest thing you’re losing with Anunoby is his defense, especially on the red-hot Paul George. After George carried the Sixers’ offense early in Game 3, Anunoby did a fantastic job of clogging him up on the perimeter and keeping him from getting enough separation to fire up a 3. He also did a good job when switched onto guys like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

On that end, the solution isn’t an easy one. The only proper forward on the bench is Mo Diawara, who I suspect could get some run, but won’t start. The Knicks could go to Landry Shamet off the bench, who found his way back into the rotation on Wednesday, and play to the fact that George hasn’t been aggressive off the bounce at all in this series, but would be taking a risk.

Who would even be the best option to replace Anunoby in the starting lineup? Conventional wisdom says Deuce McBride or a healthy Mitchell Robinson, but it can also be matchup-based. If Embiid is out, there’s going to be a lot of small ball for Philly, making the double big lineup not a priority. With Embiid, it would make sense to start Robinson to match their size and physicality.

What about Deuce McBride, who closed last night’s game despite a subpar offensive night? It would give you another defender to throw on Maxey or Edgecombe, and you could shift Josh Hart to George. He would certainly give you the off-ball shooting, but he can’t drive the way Anunoby has in the postseason.

That’s arguably the second biggest thing. Anunoby has been a force in the paint in the playoffs and has lived off cuts to the rim, something that nobody else on the roster can easily do. In a matchup where OG’s defense is more impactful with what he does off the ball, it might be the least replaceable.

OG Anunoby has been playing some of the best basketball in the entire league on both ends of the floor these Playoffs… pic.twitter.com/hB9z9ApgPF

— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) May 5, 2026

He’s also been exceptional as a secondary rebounder. Late in the third quarter, he got a steal, two offensive rebounds, and nailed a go-ahead three-pointer in a span of 25 seconds. Considering the flow of the game, the way he willed that entire possession was extremely important.

You just can’t replace his impact; you can only hope to mitigate the magnitude of his loss. It’ll be a team effort, as the team is going to need even more from the likes of Bridges and Hart, while asking guys like Shamet, McBride, and maybe Diawara to step up for stretches. The one thing that this team has that they’ve lacked in recent years (especially last year) is tested, playable depth. With a 2-0 series lead, there’s as much margin for error as you can ask for in a postseason setting.

The best news of all of this is that Anunoby seems to have avoided a severe injury, something that would’ve been crippling to this team’s hopes of making the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. It’s hard to tell when he’ll be back at this point, but it thankfully seems to be sooner rather than later.

PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks seem to have gotten the best news possible with OG Anunoby.

His right hamstring strain is “very minor,” The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported, and he is considered day to day.

Anunoby is even listed as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 clash at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Still, even with the optimistic diagnoses, Friday may be too soon for him.

So if the Knicks don’t have him for Game 3, how does it affect their starting lineup and what are the ripple effects?

Let’s break it down:

1. The most likely replacement in the starting lineup is Miles McBride.

He closed the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden when Anunoby was in the locker room.

Often, McBride’s workloads more closely resemble a starter’s than a bench player’s.

And he has experience.

He started 15 games in the regular season.

When Mikal Bridges was twice benched in the first round, McBride closed with the other starters.

He’s been particularly effective when sharing a backcourt with Jalen Brunson — the Knicks have a net rating of plus-33.4 points per 100 possessions when the two share the floor.

But it should be noted that the Brunson-McBride-Bridges-Josh Hart-Karl-Anthony Towns lineup has played just five minutes together this postseason.

It has usually been Bridges, not Anunoby, who McBride replaces on the court when he plays with the starters.

So, this would be a new twist.

2.  Knicks coach Mike Brown could also insert Mitchell Robinson — who is listed as probable (illness) for Game 3 and expected to return — into the starting lineup and roll with a double-big look.

Playing Robinson and Towns together is something Brown said he did not like to do during the first round because of the matchup problems it presents defensively, but he has since done it for brief stretches anyway.

Robinson and Towns have shared the floor for 16 minutes this postseason, during which the Knicks have a net rating of plus-19.5 points per 100 possessions.

How does this affect the Knicks on the court?

It will require the biggest adjustment on the defensive end.

Bridges has done a terrific job guarding Tyrese Maxey in the series.

But no Anunoby could change that.

3. If it’s McBride elevating to the starting lineup, it could mean he gets the Maxey assignment.

Anunoby was guarding Paul George, and McBride is much smaller than George.

It would make sense to have the bigger Bridges shift down and guard George, have McBride on Maxey and keep Brunson on Kelly Oubre, Hart on VJ Edgecombe and Towns on Joel Embiid — if he plays — or whomever the 76ers have at center.

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McBride has guarded Maxey when Bridges has gone to the bench.

4.  It gets trickier if Robinson starts in a double-big lineup, which is why it’s more likely that it will be McBride.

If Bridges is on Maxey, Brunson is on Oubre, Hart is on Edgecombe and Robinson is on Embiid or the 76ers center, that leaves Towns on … George.

That’s not a good matchup.

What are the domino effects to the bench?

5. The most obvious would be Landry Shamet returning to the rotation.

Other than a few minutes Wednesday, he has only played in garbage time since Game 2 of the first round.

A key bench weapon during the regular season, his shooting woes at the end of the regular season spilled into the start of the postseason.

And Brown said the Knicks offense grew “discombobulated” with Shamet serving as a makeshift backup point guard.

That meant Jose Alvarado, more of a natural point guard, took his spot in the rotation.

But if McBride moves to the starting lineup, his bench minutes have to go somewhere — Shamet is the most likely recipient.

6. If it’s Robinson in the starting lineup, or getting a bigger workload regardless, that could open up minutes for Ariel Hukporti or even Jeremy Sochan.

7.  Brown’s ability to go with small-ball lineups is hampered, since Anunoby often played center in those groupings.

Anunoby is so important to so much the Knicks do on both ends of the floor.

So if he misses any time, there will be a lot of moving parts.

After dropping Game One to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there was a lot of talk about the demise of the San Antonio Spurs. Some ESPN commentators even suggested they could be swept in the series.

The young team responded with a resounding 133-95 victory over the Wolves, where every player but one scored a point. It was an utter and thorough beating. It was the type of performance that should inject some confidence into Spurs fans. It’s likely why the Spurs are -196 favorites to defeat the Wolves in the Twin Cities on Friday’s Game Three.

Before we focus on the future, let’s talk about what made them successful in Game Two in today’s player grades. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

26 minutes, 19 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-for-15 shooting, 2-for-7 threes, +12

Wembanyama didn’t put up the eye-popping counting stats like he’s typically known for, but he was incredibly impactful. The big man made an effort to get more shots around the rim, attacking the glass and going right at smaller Minnesota defenders. Overall, he looked more controlled offensively. He didn’t post 10+ blocks on defense, but he still altered shots at the rim. He was a big reason why the Spurs outscored the Wolves in the paint 58-36.

Grade: A

De’Aaron Fox

26 minutes, 16 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-for-10 shooting, 2-for-2 threes, +24

Fox bounced back in a big way. He was in total control during his minutes. When things got tight, he gave the Spurs a bucket. He competed defensively at the point of attack, was active on traps, and snatched steals when Minnesota wasn’t paying attention. It was exactly the type of savvy veteran game the Spurs needed from Fox. Fox looks much more locked in after a lackluster Game One.

Grade: A

Stephon Castle

24 minutes, 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 5 fouls, 6-for-10 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +17

Caslte has been the enforcer for the Spurs in this series. His physicality has been incredibly necessary in both games. Minnesota couldn’t stop him from getting to the basket. He made all nine of his free throw attempts, managing to get the Wolves’ best defender, Jaden McDaniels, in foul trouble. His defensive pressure has been great, but he needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble moving forward. San Antonio will need him to play big minutes in this series.

Grade: A

Julian Champagnie

22 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 foul, 4-for-6 shooting, 4-for-6 threes, +19

That is how you respond to missing the potential game-winner in Game One. Champagnie has been red hot from three in the playoffs, shooting 58.8% from deep. He’s held his own defensively in this series, even when the Wolves try to pick on his matchup. This was a big turnaround game for Champagnie after Game One. It’s one her desperately needed.

Grade: B+

Devin Vassell

22 minutes, 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-9 shooting, 2-for-6 threes, +13

Vassell hit one of the craziest shots I have seen, where he jumped before catching it, then released it quickly to beat the shot clock and nailed it. It’s funny that it was one of the two threes he made. He missed some open shots in this one, which didn’t hurt San Antonio because they dominated every other aspect of the game. But the Spurs will need him to hit open threes as the series shifts to Minnesota.

Grade: B

Dylan Harper

22 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 5-for-10 shooting, 1-for-3 threes, +24

Harper is going to be a mega star. He’s not afraid of anyone and was a huge reason the team built its big lead at the end of the first half. He was incredible defensively at the point of attack. He was a thrill to watch run and operate the fast break. He and Castle have been the Spurs’ most consistent producers through two games of this series.

Grade: A

Keldon Johnson

19 minutes, 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 2-for-8 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, +28

Johnson wasn’t able to finish around the rim, but his intensity was crucial in this game. He got to the free-throw line 8 times. Grabbed offensive rebounds and dove after loose balls. Even if his offensive game isn’t working, he can provide a lot of energy with his effort. He clearly turned things up another degree in Game Two.

Grade: B-

Luke Kornet

13 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, +22

Kornet played fantastic minutes. After a poor performance in Game One, the Spurs were actually able to increase the lead while he was in for Wembanyama. Protected the rim well and had some clutch tips to teammates on the boards. Just doing those things solidly while Wembanyama takes a breather will be a big factor for the Spurs’ success in this series.

Grade: A-

Harrison Barnes

15 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4-for-7 shooting, 2-for-5 threes, +18

Unc had himself a game! A lot of it was in garbage time, but it was great to see Barnes break out of his slump a bit. That behind-the-head, cock-back dunk was a thing of beauty. He also hit a couple of sweet-looking threes. Hopefully, just seeing the ball go in will help his shooting moving forward in this series.

Grade: B+

Carter Bryant

16 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, 1-for-3 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, +18

Bryant is going to play a role in this series. Spurs’ head coach, Mitch Johnson, wanted him to play physical defense on Anthony Edwards. He did a solid job, but he fouled a ton. Bryant has some much-needed energy and strength to help the Spurs in this series.

Grade: C

Jordan McLaughlin

10 minutes, 2 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, 1-for-1 shooting, +1

I love watching J Mac play. He made some great passes in garbage time.

Grade: B

Kelly Olynyk

10 minutes, 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 2-for-3 shooting, 1-for-2 threes, +1

KO was putting on a clinic out there! He and Joe Ingles were going at each other in the final minutes of the game. This might have been his best garbage time performance of the year.

Grade: B

Lindy Waters III

8 minutes, 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-for-5 shooting, 2-for-4 threes, +1

Waters hit a couple of threes in garbage time, racking up 8 points in just 8 minutes.

Grade: B+

Bismack Biyombo

3 minutes, 2 points, 1-for-2 shooting, -4

Biyombo made a nice-looking jump hook! He almost got a reverse layup to go. Fun minutes from the veteran center.

Grade: Incomplete

Mason Plumlee

3 minutes, 1 assist, 2 blocks, -4

Plumlee made an awesome pass and had a few blocks. He may have been the only Spur not to score, but these were productive minutes from Plumdog Millionaire.

Grade: Incomplete

Inactives: Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

Jaylen Brown called the 2025-26 season his “favorite.”

Taking into account that the Celtics were bounced from the first round of the playoffs — after blowing a 3-1 series lead — Stephen A. Smith believes this is a preposterous notion.

The Boston star is not only sticking by his words, but calling out the ESPN talking head by telling him to hang up the microphone and “retire.”

Brown claimed officials have an “agenda” against him on a livestream — for which he was later fined $50,000 by the NBA — after the Celtics’ elimination at the hands of the 76ers.

On a stream Wednesday, Brown stood by his words.

"He needs to be quiet … unless you're trying to get traded." @stephenasmith reacts to Jaylen Brown doubling down on his previous comments pic.twitter.com/3xV00b7tXo

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 7, 2026

“I say this and I stand on this again. Clip this up. This was my favorite season of my career,” Brown added. “Like, I will say it even louder. I stand on it. I triple down, quadruple down, whatever y’all want me to say.”

Brown clarified that it was his “favorite” because his teammates around him grew and had a largely successful season despite many pundits picking against the Celtics from the outset.

Smith, talking on “First Take” on Thursday, couldn’t believe that someone like Brown, who plays for a storied franchise like the 18-time NBA champion Celtics, could consider this season a favorite.

“The first order of business is that he needs to be quiet, and like [Kendrick Perkins] said, go on vacation unless you’re trying to get traded,” Smith said.

Brown reshared the clip on his X account and told Smith in no uncertain terms that he does not intend to be quiet.

“I’ll ‘be quiet’ / stop streaming if you ‘be quiet’ and retire let’s give the people what they want,” Brown wrote.

Smith replied to the post and said why he has “love” for Brown, he was just trying to offer advice after what was a tough end to Boston’s season.

“Bro, I got love for you so I’m not going to even go there,” Smith wrote on X. “Folks are looking out for you and you don’t even realize it. Here you are making this kind of noise and it hasn’t even been a week since you lost a 3-1 lead. You’re HOME. A champion and a Finals MVP saying his favorite season is the season he’s home in the FIRST ROUND. This is not about ME. It’s about YOU….and what YOU SAID. Enjoy your offseason.”

Brown, without the benefit of having Jayson Tatum, who missed the Game 7 loss with a leg issue, scored 33 points on 44.4 percent shooting from the field with nine rebounds and four assists.

He said on his livestream Wednesday that any perceived rift between him and the Celtics is unfounded, and he felt bad that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was asked questions about it earlier in the day.

“I hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this,” Brown said. “Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. And if it was up to me I could play in Boston for the next 10 years.”

PHILADELPHIA - As the Knicks prepare for Game 3 against the Sixers, OG Anunoby’s status was still to be determined as of Thursday evening. 

That fact alone tells you that the Knicks avoided all worst-case scenarios on Anunoby’s hamstring injury.

The general feeling on Anunoby’s hamstring strain? Optimism. He is considered day-to-day. But he’s not day-to-day, as in ‘he’s really out for 10 days.’ Anunoby is truly day-to-day. 

As noted on The Putback earlier Thursday, the hamstring strain is considered a minor one. 

There was optimism in the Knicks locker room that Anunoby will be able to play either in Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday. 

My personal opinion: sit Anunoby on Friday and see what happens in Game 3. Then base your decision for Sunday’s Game 4 on what happens Friday. 

If you are up 3-0, isn’t it prudent to give Anunoby extra time to heal?

Based on conversations earlier Thursday, I think people on all sides of the injury believe Anunoby’s absence will be counted in days and not weeks. (A quick aside: I know that is a triggering phrase for those who followed the Julius Randle shoulder rehab in 2024. Just to be clear: SNY never reported that Randle would be out for weeks and not months.)

Back to Anunoby.

The Knicks are fortunate that, barring a setback, Anunoby will be back on the floor soon. He has arguably been the most impactful player of their postseason. The wing has defended at a high level and is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. The Knicks have outscored opponents by an average of 14.75 points per game when Anunoby is on the floor. 

ALL HAIL MIKAL

It’s probably gone under the radar, but Mikal Bridges has been playing at a high level lately. In the Knicks’ last three playoff games, Bridges is averaging 19.4 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal per game. 

He's also been a key part of the Knicks’ strong defense in that stretch. 

“If there is one player that I wanna make sure that I mention, it’s Mikal Bridges,” Mike Brown said at the end of his opening statement to the media after Game 2. “You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got…And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively. He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”

Bridges has certainly turned things around from earlier in the postseason. He played an average of 20 minutes in Games 3 and 4 against Atlanta, going scoreless in one game and scoring eight points in the next.  

In the second half of Game 2 on Wednesday, Bridges helped hold an injured Maxey to 3 of 9 shooting and nine points. 

“It started with Mikal. I feel like he's just been great for us at the point of attack,” Miles McBride said after the game. “And, you know, the team's been locked in. He's a tough player. And, you know, for Mikal, he's going to just keep going at him, but, you know, Mikal’s a great player. He's going to step up every time.”

NYC HOOPS

Great basketball event in New York City this weekend: the annual Hoops Showdown founded by Johnny Rodriguez. The event started in 2016 as a four-team tournament and has since hosted more than 200 Division I players and 20 players who were drafted into the NBA. (That group includes Naz Reid and Nick Richards.)

This year’s event – the tenth anniversary - is on Saturday from 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm at 1619 East 174th Street in The Bronx. 

PHILADELPHIA — It doesn’t sound like Joel Embiid will get his wish. 

Xfinity Mobile Arena may sound like Madison Square Garden Southwest on Friday night. 

Ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series are dropping, and a large portion of tickets bought off secondary markets went to residents of New York City and New Jersey, according to Kyle Zorn, the director of content for TickPick, a ticket resale marketplace. 

In fact, 59 percent of tickets purchased on TickPick for Game 3 are linked to New York and New Jersey, while just 22 percent are connected to Pennsylvania 

That’s not a good sign for Embiid and the 76ers, who trail the Knicks 2-0 in the series.

After Philadelphia advanced to the second round Saturday, Embiid pleaded with 76ers fans not to sell their tickets, to avoid a repeat of two years ago when Knicks fans took over the Philly arena. 

The 76ers mimicked the Pistons plan from a year ago by limiting tickets to residents of the Philadelphia area.

A message on the team’s website read: “Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside [of the] Greater Philadelphia area will be canceled without notice and refunds given.” 

“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.”

But with the 76ers in a big hole in this series, and Embiid’s health a question mark again — he missed Game 2 due to ankle and hip injuries and is questionable for Friday’s Game 3 — it appears their fans are losing faith. 

Zorn said that up to 3,400 tickets are now available on TickPick for Game 3, and 5,000 for Game 4 on Sunday. Furthermore, prices have dropped heavily. At the start of the series, the get-in price for Game 3 was $272. Now, it is $165.

Those are far cheaper than the prices for the first two games of the series at the Garden. 

“Overnight [after Game 2], we saw a huge spike in the amount of inventory being listed. Had the series gone 1-1, or if it went 2-0 Philadelphia, you would see a decrease in inventory or a stable amount of tickets on site,” Zorn said. “That is very telling. A lot of signs are pointing to there being a large percentage of fans coming from New York.

“I would expect a majority of those tickets being put up for sale coming from season ticket holders or anyone who purchased tickets from that initial on sale that was restricted to Philadelphia geolocations,” he added.

It didn’t take long for Phoenix Suns first-year head coach Jordan Ott to get the respect from NBA players. According to The Athletic’s latest player poll, Ott finished fifth in most impressive NBA coach, only behind Joe Mazzulla, Mark Daigneault, J.B. Bickerstaff, and Erik Spoelstra, all coaches who have either led their teams to 60-win seasons or won a championship.

The most impressive coach in the NBA, according to NBA players, per @TheAthletic

1. Joe Mazzulla, 17.8%
2. ⁠Mark Daigneault, 15.8%
3. ⁠J.B. Bickerstaff, 11.0%
4. ⁠Erik Spoelstra, 8.9%
5. ⁠Jordan Ott, 6.8% pic.twitter.com/GTXbTXdUjk

— NBARetweet (@RTNBA) May 6, 2026

In Ott’s first season as an NBA head coach, he led the Phoenix Suns to a 45-37 record, good for the 7th seed in the Western Conference. They earned the eighth seed via the Play-In tournament, where they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Going into the season, Phoenix was projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA after trading away Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal in the offseason.

After the team went 11-5 in January, Ott received his first career Coach of the Month award after the team beat both the one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons in a 30-day span.

Throughout the season, NBA coaches praised Ott for his work with the Suns, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Before becoming the coach of the Suns last year, Ott was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He enters this offseason as the first coach to retained their status with the Suns’ organization since Monty Williams in 2023.

Former NBA star Lamar Odom is celebrating 100 days sober — sharing an uplifting message with his nearly 1 million Instagram followers.

“There are days I don’t think I could make it,” the former Lakers star wrote Thursday. “But with God’s grace, the love of the people around me, and a commitment to myself, I’m still standing.”

Odom’s sobriety streak began in January, shortly after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in Las Vegas.

Authorities claimed they pulled him over for going well over the posted speed limit of 65 MPH and he allegedly reeked of marijuana during the ensuing traffic stop.

They also stated he failed subsequent field sobriety tests. The criminal case against him remains ongoing.

It’s unclear if the incident sparked Odom’s abstinence from substances, though he was nonetheless clearly proud of how far he’s come since the run-in with cops.

“To anyone out there fighting their own battles — whether it’s addiction, depression, or just trying to find your way — keep going,” Odom wrote on Thursday. “Better days are ahead. I promise. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!”

Odom’s issues with substances have been well-documented — a Netflix film titled “Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom” recently dropped and it delved deep into the topic and how it related to his near-death experience in Nevada as well as his high-profile relationship with Khloe Kardashian.

Odom himself has also brought up the matter recently during a February appearance on Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady’s “Cousins” podcast. He explained to the NBA icons he used to have “cocaine summers,” and he believed it all ultimately cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

“I should be where y’all at,” he said.

In wrapping up his Thursday post, Odom asked his fans for their continued prayers.

“I appreciate every single one of you,” he said. “Thank you!!!”

Every now and then, you see something that’s just hard to put into words.

A specifically timed (and context-dependent) moment of humor. An unusual sequence of events. A coincidence bordering on a glitch in the Matrix. And one of the first things you do is look around and see if anyone else is around to share in the moment. And yet, somehow, that is almost never the case.

It’s as if the moment was plucked from the immensity of the cosmos and placed there just for you, and you alone.

Depending on the event, it can be the sort of thing that makes you question your sanity and your senses. You’re not even sure that you should share the story because it’s so outlandish.

That’s not what last night was.

When I was in my early 20’s, I helped run a print and copy shop in New Braunfels.

In contrast to the otherwise humble appearance of the shop, it did quite a lot of business (from both corporate and individual sources), and this led to a steady stream of customers entering and exiting the building.

The printing industry has a way of attracting a wide breadth of eccentricity. Just about everyone has ideas, but only those most certain of their vision pursue having that vision printed out.

I will, for instance, never forget the lady who wanted know if we could print on oversized tortillas for a retirement party (and brought them with her). Or the gentleman who regularly paid a pretty penny for mounted full-scale blueprints of his favorite science-fiction star ships. Or the one and only time I received a request for a combined quinceañera+baby shower invitation. Oh, the stories I could tell.

The point being that any given day one might encounter an architect with unusual CAD drawings that required multiple blueprints to be taped together, or an artist upset at how the color printer can’t perfectly replicate the vivid shades of their artwork off of the glass, or the recently bereaved wife of a Lombardi-era Green Bay Packer needing assistance duplicating treasured keepsakes.

Or, an extremely suave gentleman, with two ladies in tow, dressed head-to-toe in a robin’s-egg blue colored suit, topped off with a cane and matching short-brimmed fedora.

I can recall with ease a great number of oddities and peculiarities from my time in the printing industry, but anomalies and foibles are the expected within that arena, rather than the exception. For every eccentricity I can recall, there are dozens more that have faded from memory.

But I will, never, ever forget the first time I encountered The Copy Pimp.

In all fairness to the gentleman in question, I never did get confirmation of what his occupation actually was. But each Tuesday, without fail, about an hour before closing, he would enter the shop in the company of those two ladies, bring me a new (and somewhat chaotic looking) flyer, and inquire as to which copier would be best suited to reproduce them.

I would then set up any needed manual adjustments on the copier of his choice and produce a test print for his review. He would then thank me, in a tone as smooth and rich as molasses, and sit down in a chair at the nearby customer kiosk, to supervise the ladies who would then take over the copying.

Sometimes he would come lean against the counter and ask me about pricing, and the ins-and-outs of the industry. About profit margin, foot traffic, custom work, bulk discounts, even who some of our biggest clients were — always asked with impeccable manners and the insight of a businessman.

“That is no kind of return, Sonny,” he once remarked when I told him that the profitability ratio of public-use copy machines was roughly pennies-on-the-dollar. “Y’all need to mark that up. Get your worth.”

When I replied that their purpose was really just to bring people into the store, he grinned appreciatively and saluted the intelligence of the owner by remarking that that was “…a proper honeypot.”

By this point we had a routine down. The song and dance really didn’t require much conversation, though he seemed to thrive on the ritual of it. I’d been witness to what (I believe) was his entire ensemble rotation. All pastels in green, blue, orange, pink, and a yellow suit that I only saw him wear once, the week after Easter.

The problem was, in sharing these stories with my coworkers, I found that no one else had ever encountered him.

Each mention brought forth an eye roll, and it was starting to concern me. Seeing someone that no one else has seen, after all while, starts to become concerning.

The problem, I reasoned, was a matter of timing. There were only seven us to begin with, counting the owners. By the time the Copy Pimp arrived, just before closing time, there were only two of us. One (usually me) working the front of the store, and the other (usually my coworker Drew) working in the back on our most time-sensitive or skill-specific jobs.

Convinced that this was the issue, I told Drew that I would come let him know the next time the Copy Pimp was in the store. The next Tuesday, at six o-clock, no one showed up.

Nor the following Tuesday. Nor the Tuesday after that. Until finally, almost a month later, the man himself finally appeared, clad in his signature robin’s-egg blue. It remains one of the few times that I have, without exaggeration, seen another person completely freeze, and their jaw literally drop.

As it turned out, the gentleman in question (who I estimate to have been about 60) had experienced a bad bout of pneumonia, which he explained as he very genteelly introduced himself to my stunned compatriot.

It was all I could do not to actually elbow Drew in the ribs after weeks of self-doubt and him giving me an incredibly hard time about my ‘delusions’.

And that is almost exactly what watching the Spurs last night felt like.

I almost radiated smugness as I watched the Spurs all but dismember one of the best remaining teams in the Western Conference bracket.

I watched with pride as they ruptured Minnesota’s vaunted defense with a dizzying series of Fox and Wemby pick-and-rolls that knocked them so off balance that they were left vulnerable to the battering drives of Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson, who worked the interior like a boxer works the body to open up avenues to the face.

I beamed with vindication as Minnesota players twisted themselves into all kinds of shapes in their attempts to avoid San Antonio’s titan-tier rim protector, after so many comments about goaltending and attacking the rim without fear, irrespective of his smothering presence.

I damn near levitated at the sight of Devin Vassell catching a perfect pass from the well-covered Julian Champagnie on the upswing of his jump shot, into the most beautiful almost-nothing-but-net conversion you could possibly imagine.

And I outright chuckled as I watched Champagnie, Barnes, and even Lindy Waters III start raining threes down on the Timberwolves’ last gasp at a comeback rhythm.

This was the vision that I’d had for this team all year. Even the year before, before all the parts were assembled.

In the previous two seasons something big would go wrong to affect the overall win total, and there I would be, insisting that there was more to this team than that. That I could see it. That the underlying metrics were hinting at it. That there was greatness being shrouded by the heavy veil of timing.

And then, for at least one night in the playoffs, almost every single thing went right. And everyone was seeing it with me at the same time. And no one in their right mind could deny it. This team is special. The most special kind of special. Maybe it won’t result in a title (yet), but it’s more than just untapped/unrealized potential.

Months later, one of the owners admitted to me that she knew exactly who I was talking about (who wouldn’t), after I caught her having a conversation with our pastel-garbed patron. He’d been coming there for years, but she thought it would be fun to pull my leg a little bit.

I sometimes wonder if the universe-at-large shares that same sense of humor.

Before the end of the game, I compared it to the clinching blowout of the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, without Tony Parker and the Nephew-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

It turns out I was just one point off when it came to margin of victory.

I have seen so many highs in my 30-ish years watching the Spurs play basketball and have written about so many lows in the years after. And while there are certainly moments that stick out, so many more have blurred together. I confess that I’ve sometimes wondered what highs there are left for someone who’s seen so much undeviating victory.

But last night I saw The Copy Pimp. And so, I hope, did you.

Takeways

• There were a lot of (reasonable) questions about how to cover/scheme for Julius Randle defensively entering the series. And after more-or-less defending Randle straight up in Game 1, to less than desirable results, the Spurs opted to double him and force him to pass the ball. A smart strategy considering passing is sometimes not a thing he likes to do. But just as revelatory was the defense that Keldon Johnson played against him during his minutes on the court. Over the years Keldon has (deservedly) been taken to task for his defense, but one thing we haven’t talked about a lot here is how good his defense has been since the arrival of defensive guru Sean Sweeney. I don’t know what Sweeney slipped into Keldon’s Wheaties, but last night was arguably his most impressive performance of the season on that end, and his hard-fought rebounds were critical in the earlier portions of the game, before the Spurs sent the Wolves into a death spiral. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: even when Keldon’s shot isn’t falling, he finds a way to contribute meaningfully. If this team wins a title, I think he’s getting a jersey in the rafters.
• Last time I talked about my desire for Carter Bryant and Harrison Barnes to get into some kind of alternating rotation, and I don’t know if Mitch has been reading my articles, but it was great to see them splitting a kind of timeshare in this one. Usually time shares are pretty scammy, but this one really profited the Spurs, as Bryant was able to use that youthful athleticism to make Randle’s life harder, and Barnes was able to go harder than usual with those legs getting some rest in spite of the challenging assignment. If only they could be combined into one player, because Bryant brings the youthful stamina, and Barnes has the shot he needs. They combined for 14 points and +18 each. More of that, please.
• Because we rarely see him, it’s easy to forget that Lindy Waters is the kind of player who can soak up real minutes without serving as a negative. He played heavier minutes in both Golden State and Oklahoma City, and he’d be within rights to feel like he’s deserving of more somewhere else. If that’s his mindset, though, no one has heard a peep about it, as he always seems ready to do his job when the time calls, which is knock down threes and play hard. He did both in equal measure last night, ensuring that the starters and heavy-minute backups could get a bit of extra rest without worrying about the lead. Those guys are important, and they’re on every team that has success. Goodness forbid that the Spurs suffer an injury that necessitates giving him more playing time, but it’s good to know he’s ready just in case. That’s classic Spurs behavior, and you love to see it.

Playing You Out – The Theme Song of the Evening:

Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta by Geto Boys

Perhaps even better than taking Game 1 of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers is that the Detroit Pistons best player, Cade Cunnigham, didn’t actually play that well until the closing minutes when he needed to put the game away. The fact that the Pistons were able to walk away with a 111-101 win despite a subpar offensive showing from Cade. If you remove the final 5 minutes of crunch time, the star point guard was just 5-of-17 with equal parts turnovers and assists — four. The Pistons were thriving because so many other players were performing so well. Jalen Duren had more freedom than against the Magic, the ball was moving more freely side to side, which opened up shots for Duncan Robinson and driving lanes for Daniss Jenkins. Yes, the Pistons might not be able to rely on a plus-9 free-throw advantage tonight, but this might also be a much better Cunningham performance. If the Pistons can play as loose on offense, as intense on defense, and Cade unlocks more of his game, the Pistons could be up 2-0 by the end of the night. They will need to continue to force Donovan Mitchell and James Harden into tough looks while at the same time not losing sight of Cleveland’s big men or its roster of reliable shooters. But Detroit certainly has the defense capable of answering that call.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons -3.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (1-0)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1)

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Luka Doncic is making progress but doesn't seem to be anywhere near a return to the court.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has been ruled out for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left hamstring strain, according to the league's injury report as of 10:30 p.m. ET on May 6.

The Lakers have been without their leading scorer since April 2 when he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in a loss against the Thunder. Doncic missed the Lakers' remaining regular-season games and start of the postseason, including a first round, 4-2 series win against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers advanced to face the Thunder in the conference semifinals, where they are down 1-0, following a 108-90 loss in Game 1 on May 5.

Doncic has been seen shooting at Lakers' practices. He told reporters after their Wednesday practice that he is doing "everything he can" to get back on the court and join the team in the playoff battle amidst a championship chase.

"I'm feeling good and working out every day, trying to come back," Doncic told reporters. "Right now, I'm running, but I haven't done any contact."

Luka Doncic’s first press conference since he injured his hamstring on April 2. He said his timeline to return to the #Lakers was 8 weeks. He’s ramping up. But still a ways to go. pic.twitter.com/Qux41bcTO0

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 6, 2026

Guard Sam Merrill was ruled out for Game 2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Detroit Pistons Thursday night with a left hamstring strain.  

Merrill was on the court testing the leg during warmups, according to reports, but the team announced he would not play after he returned to the locker room.  

He exited Game 1 on Tuesday after just 6 minutes and 41 seconds. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday and did not practice. Now, the Cavaliers, already down 1-0 in the series, are facing Detroit’s defense without their best shooter.  

That’s a big issue for the Cavs.

The Pistons basically dared the Cavaliers to beat them from outside in Game 1. Without Merrill, Cleveland struggled. The Cavs turned the ball over 20 times, and the Pistons converted that into 31 points in the 111-101 win. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 45 points but also combined for 10 of those turnovers.  

Merrill shot 42.1% from 3 during the regular season and averaged a career high of 12.8 points. He is in the first year of a four-year, $38 million extension with Cleveland. 

“You can’t replace what Sam brings,” forward Jaylon Tyson said Wednesday. "He’s a key piece of this team. Our best shooter. Somebody’s got to step up for him.” 

Tyson, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder figure to absorb the minutes. In Game 1 without Merrill, that trio shot 5-of-11 from 3 and combined for 22 points in 56 minutes   

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sam Merrill injury update, status for Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to even their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons.

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Go Cavs!