Throw out Game 2. The Minnesota Timberwolves failed to make open shots early, and that quickly led to a blowout for the San Antonio Spurs.
However, little of what was seen on Wednesday can be projected forward.
My Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks look at the one notable San Antonio adjustment from Game 2 and ponder how Minnesota will respond to it in Game 3 on Friday, May 8.
Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 3 prediction
Spurs vs Timberwolves best bet: Naz Reid Over 1.5 threes (-120)
In response, expect Minnesota to emphasize its shooters.That starts with Naz Reid, finally looking close to healthy and already 5-of-7 from deep in this series.
In four games against the Spurs this season — ignoring the game when Reid left after five minutes with a shoulder injury — Reid is 11-for-21 from deep, hitting multiple 3-pointers in every game.
If the Timberwolves need to emphasize their shooters and move the ball out of Anthony Edwards’s hands quickly in the halfcourt — thereby breaking the Spurs’ designed double teams — that should naturally lead to a few additional assists for Ant-Man.
Those assists are unlikely to come in the paint, though. They will come on deep 3-pointers.
One player who does not take those is obviously Rudy Gobert, whose minutes should continue to be diminished in this specific series.
Spurs vs Timberwolves SGP
Naz Reid Over 1.5 threes
Anthony Edwards Over 4.5 assists
Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Timberwolves odds for Game 3
Spread: Spurs -4 (-110) | Timberwolves +4 (-110)
Moneyline: Spurs -190 | Timberwolves +160
Over/Under: Over 216.5 (-110) | Under 216.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
Minnesota is 3-0 ATS at home so far this postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 3
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Spurs vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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There are few basketball players alive who can match the accomplishments of Oscar Robertson.
The former Indiana high school trailblazer, Cincinnati Bearcat and 12-time NBA All-Star has pretty much seen it all. And now, the 87-year-old Hall-of-Famer can see a larger NCAA Tournament.
Robertson visited the Marquee Network broadcast booth Thursday, May 7, during the Cubs vs. Reds game and was asked about March Madness' expansion. His answer was to the point:
“Well, they probably want more money."
He ain't wrong.
How much money will NCAA, schools make from March Madness expansion?
Yahoo! Sports' Ross Dellenger reported the expanded NCAA tournaments "will add $300 million in additional revenue over the final six years of the contract with TV partners Warner Bros. Discovery and CBS."
In its release announcing the expansion, the NCAA said it "will be able to award more than $131 million in new revenue distributions to member schools participating in the basketball tournaments over the remaining six years of the NCAA's broadcast agreements."
So the Big O is right. It's all about that big bag.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 09: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly held discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks about a potential deal at this year’s trade deadline. The swap would have included Evan Mobley and all of Cleveland’s available draft picks for 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“There’s another Eastern Conference contender, however, that folks around the league are looking at as a potential Antetokounmpo landing spot,” said Jake Fischer per The Stein Line Substack. “Cleveland.”
Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last year while shooting above 62% from the floor. He’s a generational talent whose development has proven to be second to none. For every ‘Giannis-like’ prospect that emerges, only one has actually blossomed into the athletic beast that Antetokounmpo has become.
That’s partly why trading Mobley for Antetokounmpo might make sense.
Mobley is also a special talent, notching a Defensive Player of the Year Award and an All-NBA nod before turning 24. Still, even the most optimistic outlook for Mobley would likely have him falling below the heights that Giannis has reached. That’s a credit to Giannis, not a knock on Mobley.
Two things complicate this move, however.
For starters, there’s always a risk to trading a player as accomplished and young as Mobley. Sure, I wouldn’t expect him to be better than Antetokounmpo, but I can’t guarantee it. I also can’t guarantee that Giannis will be healthy enough long-term for any of it to matter. The 2021 Finals MVP has had numerous postseasons derailed due to injury since then, and only played 36 games last season.
Trading Mobley (and all of your draft capital) means you are fairly confident that Giannis puts you over the top for a championship. If not, there’s no reason you’d do this. Mortgaging the future of the franchise without meaningfully increasing your window for a title is nonsensical. That comes with a parlay on Antetokounmpo’s health and a bet against Mobley’s development.
Moreover, the Cavs would also have to feel certain that this roster, as constructed around Mobley, is enough to win it all. This current group, including an aging James Harden and an unproven Donovan Mitchell, has to justify another big swing for this to make sense.
As a result, the end of this playoff run will likely influence what decisions the Cavs make this summer. There’s much to learn about this team and only a few more opportunities to do so. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Starting in 2027, March Madness will get even madder.
The new opening round will grow from eight teams to 24, be played Tuesday/Wednesday prior to the first round for men and Wednesday/Thursday for women and feature at-large teams and automatic qualifiers.
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 7: Chris Webber and Charles Barkley of NBA TV chats with Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 7, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For years, Draymond Green seemed like the perfect fit alongside the Inside the NBA crew. Four years ago, he signed a long-term deal with TNT and began making guest appearances after the Golden State Warriors were no longer in the playoffs, which often happens much earlier than Green would like. Green was a natural, comfortably fitting into the banter between Ernie, Kenny, Chuck, and sometimes Shaq,
Something has changed in the last few seasons. Now what used to be pointed but light-hearted banter is coming off as simply mean-spirited, like when Green slammed Charles Barkley’s late-career stint with the Houston Rockets.
Things got a little tense on the 'Inside the NBA set when Draymond took a shot at Chuck's final years in Houston 😬 pic.twitter.com/g9xRH5H6qq
Responding to Barkley’s assertion that, “Sports are for young people,” Green said that his goal was to, “I think the goal is simply not to look like you in a Houston Rockets uniform.” When Kenny “The Jet” Smith asked Green what that looked like, Green asked, “Did you see it? I saw it.”
The diss didn’t land, in part because Barkley was pretty good as a Rocket, making the All-Star team and the Western Conference Finals in his first season as part of a “Big Three But Old” alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Even when Scottie Pippen joined up for a single season in 1998-99, Barkley averaged 16.1 points and 12.3 rebounds as a willing third option on a team that won at a 51-win pace.
This is not to ignore that insulting other members of the panel is a foundational element to what Inside the NBA has been, along with racing Kenny to the video board, shoving Shaq into Christmas trees, body-shaming the beautiful women of San Antonio, failing to find sponsorship for the Neat-O Stat of the Night, and wildly underestimating the distance from Earth to the moon.
But the problem is that Green didn’t actually deliver a zinger, or a punchline at all. Smith even set him up for a chance to burn Barkley, or describe why he was so bad on the Rockets, and Green just gave him a weird look and didn’t expand. Essentially, Green responded like he would to a critic on social media, giving back the “Thinking Face” emoji.
It’s a sign that Green is spending too much time both podcasting by himself and reading internet comments. Green no longer has Baron Davis as a co-host, so the majority of his podcast content is a solo monologue. That doesn’t keep him ready for the pushback, bantering, or playfulness that comes from being on a panel show. Being on Inside the NBA isn’t about owning people, or clapping back, or Epically Destroying your co-hosts. More than anything, the show is about jokes.
That element of humor has really disappeared with Green, whether it’s from insecurity about his own decline, the extra cussedness that comes with aging, or public sentiment turning dramatically against him after punching Jordan Poole (or choking Rudy Gobert, or hitting Jusuf Nurkic, or stomping on Domantas Sabonis, etc.).
When Green told a heckling Paul Pierce, “You thought you was Kobe?” and told him, “There ain’t gonna be no farewell tour,” it was mean but funny. Pierce really did try to end his career on a high note in his hometown of Los Angeles, a place that did not particularly care about him or the Los Angeles Clippers. (Note: Pierce briefly ran a truly terrible hookah bar called “The Truth Hollywood” and it did not succeed.)
So when Green tried to mock Barkley’s Rockets career, the issue wasn’t that Green was being inaccurate or disrespectful. It was that he wasn’t funny. Make fun of him being out of shape! Say Barkley’s defense was worse than his golf swing! Remind Barkley that in his last playoff appearance, he lost to Shaq!
A key element of what makes Barkley great is his ability to laugh at himself, but there has to be a punchline. Green’s own persona is increasingly based on responding angrily to every critical remark abut him, the opposite of taking a joke. And as recently as two years ago, Green and Barkley delightfully went at each other late in the All-Star Game broadcast.
Is the problem that angry responses are more likely to go viral? Has Green become less comfortable on camera as his own NBA future gets murkier? Regardless, Green should shift his tone, simply because it makes for much better television.
And bring some churros to the set the next time ESPN has a Spurs game. With the Chuckster, time and fried dough heal all wounds.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 10: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets grabs the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 10, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets plan last season was not some mystery. From Media Day back in September, it’s been about “playing the probabilities” and “flexibility.” Could you call it tanking? In response, Nets officialdom did everything but paraphrase the fictional prime minister in the British House of Cards TV series: “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.”
That’s in the past now. With the Draft Lottery Sunday, we are about to get real. Speculation will soon be replaced by a much clearer path to the team’s summer moves which just about everyone believes will be aggressive. Count Michael Porter Jr. among those who thinks he can see the future.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Kendrick Perkins on the Road Trippin’ podcast, he talked about how he sees the summer working out, which he believes will include him.
Michael Porter Jr. joined @RoadTrippinShow today and was asked whether he thinks he could function as the #1 option for a championship team.
MPJ says he thinks he’d need a little bit of help next to him, hinting a co-star and said he’s talked to the Nets front office about the… pic.twitter.com/DMEtFzuP38
“I’ve talked to the front office,” he told Perkins. “I think we’re going to get a good draft pick and then we got the most money in the NBA to get a really good playmaking 2-guard or point guard.”
A “good draft pick” will be subjective of course. The Nets can’t fall below the seventh pick and have twice as good a chance at No. 1 — 14 percent — as they do at No. 7 — seven percent. But as we keep saying, it’s all about the aerodynamics of small plastic balls.
His other comment about having “the most money” — presumably cap space — is not quite so. Brooklyn will be top two or three with as much as $50 million but at the very least Chicago will have more. It should also be noted that at one point early in the season, Porter suggested the Nets then-rookie guards weren’t cutting it … which got in a bit of hot water.
He didn’t offer any names the Nets might have in mind. He did say that he sees the Nets following the OKC Thunder path, building organically, developing both lottery picks and others into championship pieces. He admits the losing last season was tough on him.
“I never lost consistently my whole career until I got to Brooklyn. We were losing a lot. We were young. We were building something, but we’re not there yet. So it was definitely hard, bro. It definitely was hard,” he told Perk. “But I see the future with the team. I see what we’ve got in the young dudes. I see we have the most money to spend. I think we’ve got the most. We’re the youngest team. Kind of like Oklahoma City — it took them a while to get good. I think that’ll be how it is here. But I’m with it. I want to stay in Brooklyn.”
He even admitted that between the time he was snubbed for the All-Star Game in early February and the time he was finally shut down with a hamstring issue on April 3, he was not the same player. He said he regrets taking his “foot off the gas.“
MPJ once again said that he took his foot off the gas after not making the All-Star team:
"I regret that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I let my foot off the gas because there really wasn’t anything we were playing for anymore. We couldn’t make the playoffs, I couldn’t… https://t.co/3ggkHdPyGG
“I regret that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I let my foot off the gas because there really wasn’t anything we were playing for anymore. We couldn’t make the playoffs, I couldn’t be an All-Star… I wasn’t in the weight room as much, I wasn’t preparing as much, and my 3-point percentage dropped.”
As Erik Slater noted Thursday, MPJ averaged 20.5 points on 40.9% shooting from the field and 25.6% from three over his final 14 games after the All-Star reserves were announced. For the season, he put up 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds while shooting 46/36/86.
Porter of course is eligible for an extension up to $234 million over four years. He can starting talking to Sean Marks & co. starting on June 30 and although the top of the range seems quite pricey, both sides have offered positive takes about a future together. The 6’10” 27-year-old will make $40.8 million this season, the last on the five-year, $172 million deal he signed with the Nuggets. The Nets certainly had offers to move him at the trade decline, but reportedly told suitors, thanks but no thanks.
Asked if he thinks he could be the No. 1 option on a championship team, he admitted he’d need a co-star and that he’s talked to the front office about possibilities. Peyton Watson anyone?
Although he didn’t talk much about his current teammates, he offered a take on Cam Thomas’ exit from the Nets and later the Bucks, suggesting Thomas’ personality played a big part of his failure to harness all his powers. While conceding Thomas was one of the best shotmakers in the league, he said that’s not enough.
Michael Porter Jr. on why things didn’t work out for Cam Thomas in Brooklyn and Milwaukee:
"There's a lot more to sticking around in the NBA than just [scoring]. For Cam, I think it was a mixture of him being frustrated with a lot of things and also his personality… He doesn't… pic.twitter.com/yhBbJ2MaWf
“There’s a lot more to sticking around in the NBA than just [scoring]. For Cam, I think it was a mixture of him being frustrated with a lot of things and also his personality… He doesn’t really socialize… He’ll say like two words all day, all practice. He doesn’t really talk to anybody. I don’t think he does it in a way where he’s trying to be a bad teammate. I just think that’s him.
“But when it comes to a team being willing to pay you and make you a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more [responsibility]. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and try to bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”
Porter, as he has in the past, did not step back from his controversial takes on culture beyond sports, saying he thinks it’s even helped his career …. financially.
“I think the reason that I make a lot of money in the NBA, but I still want to do other things, is because most NBA players, and most athletes — or people who have a lot to lose — are like robots. They want to maintain a certain image. They want to not disturb the peace. They want to shut up and dribble. They just want to play their sport, stay out of the way, and whatever. I always wanted to actually have a platform. I wanted to use my platform to actually have an impact and be able to talk about what I want to talk about.”
The New York Knicks get ready to run the “Rocky Steps,” with their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers shifting to the City of Brotherly Love.
My Knicks vs. 76ers predictions give a hat tip to the home team, with Philadelphia winning on the strength of its defense. That means shutting down New York superstar Jalen Brunson and continuing to get production from Paul George.
The Philadelphia 76ers are against the wall in Game 3, down 0-2 to the New York Knicks. After rallying in Round 1, the 76ers aren’t panicking and will turn to their defense to get the job done.
Potentially having Joel Embiid back is big, and the Knicks possibly missing OG Anunoby is even bigger.
SGP leg #2: Jalen Brunson Under 26.5 points
Although Jalen Brunson finished with 26 points in Game 2, he wasn’t at his best, shooting just 9-for-21 from the field and needing several trips to the foul line to boost his total. Philadelphia threw longer defenders at Brunson, using Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe to close the gaps quicker.
With Embiid back inside and clogging up the key, Brunson won’t get easy looks or space on the perimeter. He also doesn’t draw the same whistles on the road as he does in MSG, limiting his scoring from the stripe.
Brunson's projections sit as low as 24 points for Game 3.
SGP leg #3: Paul George Over 16.5 points
Paul George has been the 76ers’ most consistent offensive player in the playoffs. He’s topped his scoring prop in four of his last five outings and scored 19 points in Game 2, thanks to a red-hot start from beyond the arc.
With Anunoby either out or limited, New York has some serious rotation issues, which could leave smaller players on PG. He’s projected for 17+ points on Friday.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs 76ers predictions for Game 3.
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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently raised eyebrows by labeling the 2025-26 season as his “favorite.” However, his statement should come as no surprise to those who paid attention throughout the campaign.
Brown called it his “favorite season” during a Twitch stream one day after the Celtics blew a 3-1 first-round series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers. He doubled down on his remarks during another stream on Wednesday night.
“You got to see all of these guys, all of my teammates, grow,” Brown said. “I got to see them overcome adversity as a group, up close and personal. … Obviously, we’re not satisfied with the result. If it sounds like an excuse, it’s not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year.
“I wouldn’t say by far. By far would be a stretch because obviously winning the championship is great. But I’m telling y’all, this was my favorite season.”
Understandably, Brown calling it his favorite season immediately after Boston’s collapse didn’t sit well with many fans. Plus, one would think that hanging Banner 18 at TD Garden would trump a first-round exit, especially when star teammate Jayson Tatum missed most of the season and Game 7 due to injuries.
But Brown made similar statements on several occasions before his postseason Twitch streams. Throughout the campaign, the 10-year veteran spoke glowingly about the Celtics’ supporting cast blossoming and the team exceeding its preseason “gap year” expectations. He called it his “favorite season” as early as December.
Brown’s messaging has been consistent all season long. Here’s a look back at some of his most noteworthy quotes that show why he considers the 2025-26 season the “favorite” of his illustrious career:
“I think this has been my favorite season so far,” he said. “Being able to get the opportunity to lead a group of guys who – some of us, we have some championship experience, but we have five or six new guys who haven’t really played NBA basketball. And now, we look like one of the better teams in the league.
“That’s just credit to our coaching staff and credit to our leadership that we’ve been able to get those guys comfortable, and we’re playing some good basketball right now. So it means everything.”
Jan. 21, 2026 – Brown praises Celtics’ ‘resiliency’
One month after his first “favorite season” declaration, Brown raved about the Celtics’ resiliency as the second-place team in the East without Jayson Tatum.
“Very resilient, very tough,” he said. “Start of the season, the expectations weren’t high. But these guys, they came in and worked day in and day out. Last year, we were second in the East. We’re halfway through the season and we’re second in the East.
“That’s just a testament to the work ethic, the resiliency of our head coach, of our leadership. It’s a testament to where we are right now.”
Feb. 12, 2026 – First-half comparison
During the All-Star break, Brown took to social media to compare the team’s 2025-26 first-half numbers with those from 2024-25. Boston’s record, seeding, offensive rating, and defensive rating were eerily similar to the previous year.
“I’m proud of this group and staff/office,” he wrote on X. “Looking forward to 2nd half go C’s.”
I’m proud of this group and staff/ office looking forward to 2nd half go Cs ☘️ pic.twitter.com/I0cqxQTPYg
Feb. 16, 2026 – Brown ‘extremely proud’ of Celtics’ season
Brown couldn’t help but smile while speaking about his team’s surprising success at the All-Star break. Boston entered the break with a 35-19 record.
“To see them finding their ground, their footing, and playing well – as a leader, I can’t tell you how much that means to me, to see those guys kind of starting to flourish on their own,” he said of the Celtics’ supporting cast. “Before, when the season started, there was uncertainty.
“I’m proud. I don’t know what to tell ya’ll, I’m extremely proud of our group, where we’re at right now. Second in the East versus how many players (we lost) and everything that was being said, the gap year, and for us to be sitting here at the All-Star break and having our guys feeling like we could even be better, I’m proud, bro. It’s been great, it’s been fun.”
March 30, 2026 – So much for a “gap year”
With Tatum back in the fold, the Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets on March 29 for their 50th win of the season. Few expected Boston to accomplish that feat during what was expected to be a “gap year” with Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury.
“50 wins in a gap year,” Brown wrote on X after win No. 50.
With the No. 2 seed in the East locked up, the Celtics’ second unit got a chance to shine in the regular-season finale against the fully healthy Orlando Magic. Boston earned a 113-108 victory in arguably the most entertaining game of the season, with Baylor Scheierman (30 points), Ron Harper Jr. (27 points), and Luka Garza (27 points) each having memorable performances.
Brown, who often credited the role players for making it his “favorite season,” took to social media with a simple message after the thrilling win.
May 2, 2026 – A ‘great season’ despite Game 7 loss
Brown didn’t hang his head after the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers. Instead, he called the 2025-26 campaign “probably one of my most fun years playing basketball,” while once again mentioning the growth of his teammates.
“It was a great season. I’m proud of my teammates and just their growth,” Brown said. “I’m so grateful to be with this group. This group is awesome. I had a fun year. This is probably one of my most fun years playing basketball.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ offense has been struggling all postseason long, and Game 1 against the Thunder was no exception.
Los Angeles failed to crack 100 points, losing on the road to OKC. In fact, in their last five playoff games, LA has only scored above the century mark once.
Despite the inability to put the ball through the hoop, the Lakers are certain that change is going to come.
“We’re going to make shots,” Marcus Smart said postgame. “It’s just a matter of time and we just got to continue to make sure we’re shooting them.”
LA and OKC took the same number of attempts at 85, but the Thunder just made more shots. OKC went49% from the field and 43% from deep, while LA shot 41% overall and 31% from beyond the arc.
Besides just making more of their shots, LeBron James offered insights into how those looks can be improved.
“We have to be better at finding ways to get into the blender, finding ways to get into the paint,” LeBron said. “We know they’re a paint-swarming team so we have to be better with getting into the paint, not turning the ball over and shooting with confidence. I thought we got some really good looks.”
Similar to putting points on the board, turnovers have also been an issue for LA. They had 18 in Game 1 and lead the playoffs in this category, averaging 17.7 per game. That can’t continue if the Lakers want to pull off a series upset. No one has beaten OKC even once in the playoffs, and self-inflicted errors will not lead to anything good for LA.
On the plus side, this was just one game, and the path towards improvement is clear. The Lakers need to protect the ball, get in the paint and take advantage of the looks they get from deep.
“We watched the film and know we can shoot a lot on threes on this team,” Rui Hachimura said. “I think they gave up a lot of threes in the regular season. They’re like one of the worst teams or something [at allowing threes]. We talked about that. I think we need to shoot more threes for sure, especially against them. I think in the second half we did a better job, but we could have done it in the first.”
Even with how badly things went for LA, they hung around with OKC for most of the game. This was just one performance, and not every contest will go this way. Austin Reaves will play better, LA’s defense has proven to be respectable and if a couple more shots can go down, they can still leave OKC with a 1-1 split.
Key Knicks starter OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain, is day-to-day, and will be listed as questionable for Game 3 against Philadelphia on Friday night, according to multiplereports out of New York.
The key question is just how serious a strain is this? If it's just a tweak, then Anunoby may only miss a game or two, if that. However, if this is an actual Grade 1 strain, the standard recovery timeline is at least a week and maybe two, which would mean he might not return for this second-round series against the 76ers, which the Knicks lead 2-0.
The injury appeared to occur in the final minutes of the game, when Anunoby took a quick step. He still went up for a dunk a few seconds later — Paul George blocked it — and he seemed in pain when he landed. Anunoby instantly asked out of the game at that point.
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
Any time he misses with this injury is a blow to the Knicks. He is averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in these playoffs, is shooting a lights-out 53.8% from 3-point range (on almost five attempts a game) and is the team's best defender. The Knicks cannot afford to be without him for an extended period.
Expect Miles McBride and Landry Shamet to get more run while Anunoby is out. Also, Mike Brown could go with more double-big lineups with Mitchell Robinson, if he is healthy next game.
The men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments will grow to 76 teams starting next season, following a vote by the NCAA selection committees, Thursday, May 7.
It’s the first time the NCAA tournament will expand on the men’s side since it went for 65 to 68 teams in 2011, and the women’s side followed suit in 2022. However, it’s the first major expansion since the men went from 53 to 64 in 1985, and the women’s jumped from 48 to 64 since 1994.
The move has been anticipated since conversations began in 2025 as NCAA president Charlie Baker has strongly vouched for expansion. Multiple college athletic directors and coaches confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on April 28 there’s an “expectation” for it to grow after ESPN reported it was in the final stages of being approved.
The proposal was accepted by the men's and women's basketball committees on May 7, and now the men's and women's basketball oversight committees, the Division I Cabinet and DI Board of Governors approval is all that's needed to finalize the move.
With eight more spots, the new NCAA tournament will have a First Four play-in that will go from eight teams in four games to 24 teams playing 12 games to advance to the first round of the tournament. It has yet to be determined where the games will be played, but it is expected to take place Tuesday and Wednesday prior to when the first round begins on Thursday.
The first round of 64 and ensuing rounds remain intact.
While the major bracket stays the same and keeps the excitement of it, the main issue with expansion is it waters down the potential field, allowing Power conference teams with subpar records in, while still keeping quality mid-major teams out.
Another factor is the expanded field will require mid-major conference tournament champions that are high seeds to play their way into the first round. In the 68-team format, the four-lowest seeded automatic qualifiers (No. 16 seeds) played in the First Four to advance to the first round.
It was not announced if there will be any changes to the selection format. The 2027 men’s NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 16 and the women’s on March 17.
Yet, as New York has taken a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals, Anunoby has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and is listed as day to day, per a May 7 social media post by ESPN's Shams Charania.
Late in the fourth quarter, Anunoby attempted to cut to the basket when he pulled up and grabbed his right leg, near his hamstring. In the moments that followed, Anunoby remained on the floor and even attempted a dunk when the ball found him down low.
OG came up gimpy on this cut. Then tried and missed a dunk. Then asked out.
It became clear, however, that Anunoby was hobbled by the injury and limped fairly significantly once he tried to jog to the other side of the court. He asked to be subbed out and left the game with 2:31 to play, replaced by backup guard Miles McBride.
Anunoby did not return to the bench for the remainder of the game.
Anunoby has emerged as a multi-purpose threat for the Knicks in the playoffs and is integral to their title hopes, so the injury is a bit of a setback.
Not only has he been tasked with guarding a premier offensive player — on May 6 he was the primary defender on Paul George — but he has ramped up his effort on rebounding. Anunoby is also a reliable perimeter shooter, the Knicks now must find how to replace him.
OG Anunoby injury: who steps in?
New York could slide Josh Hart, who plays all over the floor, to fill his immediate assignment if Anunoby misses time. That could free up backup guard Miles McBride to start alongside Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.
Given that McBride stepped in for Anunoby in the clutch of a tight game, logic dictates that he would be the first player up. McBride, however, plays a very different game than Anunoby, giving up size and strength.
New York could also deploy some combination of Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet to contribute, or spell McBride once he heads to the bench.
“Next man up,” Knicks forward Mikal Bridges said Wednesday night after the game. “That’s really it.”
OG Anunoby stats
In 67 games this season, Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Known for being an excellent two-way player and one of the better wing defenders in the NBA, Anunoby has elevated his play in the postseason; over New York’s last six games (including May 6), he’s averaging 23.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and has totaled 12 steals and 8 blocks over that span.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout the first two games of this series the Knicks have been able to slow down the Sixers’ offense in a way they really hadn’t experienced in their first-round series against Boston. On top of the 4-of-19 shooting performance that sunk them in the fourth quarter of Game 2, they’ve really struggled to take care of the basketball.
It’s starts at the very top. After turning it over nine times throughout the entirety of the seven games against the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey has already given it away 10 times in the first two games against New York. VJ Edgecombe has given it away at a rate more expected for a rookie, but his four turnovers in Game 2 were just as costly.
With stops having come at such a premium for the Sixers, they haven’t been able to afford giving away free possessions. The inability to “keep the scoreboard moving,” as Nick Nurse would put it, is what the difference was in Game 2. Live ball turnovers obviously compound the issue, giving the Knicks fast break opportunities. The Sixers conceded 23 points off their 18 turnovers in Game 2.
“They were active… they were blitzing some,” Nurse said after the game. “I think they got their hands on a couple, we made a couple mistakes on inbounds [passes.] That was certainly one negative of the game and then they turn those into points.”
To Nurse’s first point, the Knicks have thrown a lot of ball pressure at Maxey, especially in Game 2 with Joel Embiid sidelined. Maxey attributed New York’s double teams for their ability to turn him over, but also felt like he was trying to go too fast at times.
“They did a good job of kind of taking away certain passes that I like, like to make when I get trapped,” he said, “and then it was a couple times we didn’t just execute our trap offense.”
Maxey also said that he jammed his right pinky at some point in the second quarter, the same finger he sprained back in March, and that impacted his confidence dribbling around and splitting double teams.
With OG Anunoby’s upcoming status suddenly in doubt, those double teams on Maxey aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the immediate pinky concerns either — Maxey confirmed earlier in the playoffs he’ll have to wear a brace on it the rest of the season.
Something the Sixers will have to do away with though is unforced errors. A specific turnover Maxey and Edgecombe both got asked a lot about was an inbounds pass to no one. After a basket and a stop that had them up two, Edgecombe tried to get the ball in quick and to get the ball back with no one guarding him.
None of the other Sixers picked up on this and continued running the play, letting Edgecombe’s pass sail across the court and out of bounds on the other sideline.
“I was trying to run the play, and I just wasn’t looking,” Maxey said. “It happens.”
Miscommunications do happen, but the Sixers can afford them less and less as the stakes get higher. Another series deficit will be impossible to climb out of if they keep shooting themselves in the foot.
“We know we got to cut down on turnovers. That’s not who we are as a team,” Edgecombe said. “We all can protect the ball, pass the ball, so we just got to be more responsible with the ball.”
Now that they’ve played a game in this series without Embiid, they’ve seen how the Knicks will guard Maxey as the primary scoring threat.
“They just want someone else to beat them, regardless of who it is, just not Tyrese,” said Edgecombe. “I’m gonna do my part, create for everyone, and go from there.”
Now that the Sixers have seen how the Knicks will defend both versions of this team, it’s up to them to adjust accordingly.
The 76ers put up a much more valiant fight in Game 2 against the Knicks, but one of their final shots was not at all ideal in the closing seconds of a game they had a chance to win to tie the conference semifinal series.
With the Knicks up by five points as 30 seconds remained on the clock, Paul George got the look after a dribble handoff from VJ Edgecombe and launched an off-balanced, heavily contested 3-pointer.
Quentin Grimes confronts Paul George after putting up an airball shot in the closing seconds of their Game 2 loss to the Knicks in the semifinal series on Wednesday night. The Knicks lead 2-0. X @HaterReport
Following the shot, Grimes confronted George about his shot selection when the 76ers had 18 more seconds on the shot clock to find a better look. The nine-time All-Star seemingly defended his decision.
Grimes walked away looking deflated and disappointed at the lost opportunity.
However, George’s shot wasn’t the one thing that sealed the loss for Philadelphia.
The 76ers struggled as a group in the fourth quarter, scoring just 12 points versus the Knicks’ final 19 on the board. They shot just 21.1 percent in the fourth quarter.
They scored at least 28 points in all the previous quarters.
“I thought we just might’ve ran out of gas a little bit in the fourth,” George said after the game. “We could’ve did a better job of getting some easier ones, but I think we did just run out of gas a little bit in the fourth.”
Quentin Grimes slumps in disappointment and frustration after Paul George’s airball shot during the final seconds of Game 2 against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The 36-year-old finished the night with 19 points, shooting just 5-for-13 from beyond the arc. He also logged six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Grimes, a fifth-year guard and former Knick, came off the bench to score seven points while adding three rebounds, three assists and one steal.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday where the 76ers will try to get their first win of the series.
“We like where we’re at. We played good defense, I thought, all the way until the fourth quarter,” George said. “We just didn’t make shots, but a lot of positives coming out of the game tonight.”
COVERS INTEL: Naz Reid attempted 6.1 threes per game at home this season, compared to 5.6 per game on the road.
