Category: Basketball

There’s only one reason the Utah Jazz should try to loosen the Washington Wizards’ vice-like grip on the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft: AJ Dybantsa. Combine his elite athleticism, prolific scoring and defensive potential with his close ties with Utah and the Jazz organization and we’re looking at a prospect who could thrill local fans for many years to come. But would the price to wrestle him away from a hungry Wizards team, when potential franchise players like Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer will still be available at number 2, be worth it?

The thought of Dybantsa slotting into the starting line up next to Markkanen, Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and Walker Kessler/Ace Bailey should have every Jazz fan drooling into their Cheerios. He is an elite scorer at all three levels, has an all-round game that opens up the floor and creates scoring opportunities for his teammates, and has the length and athleticism that make him an instant problem for opposing teams.

Dybantsa’s transition to the Jazz would be relatively easy. He has already spent two years in Utah, playing high school and college ball, and his parents are here too, having relocated to Provo when he declared for BYU. For their part the Jazz would be getting a rookie who is already acclimatized to the altitude and community and is more likely to stick around to not only shine in the short term, but to be part of their ultimate push for an NBA Championship.

The Jazz Owner, Ryan Smith, is keeping draft trade options open, telling the Deseret News that “Everything should be on the table” and that “Austin and Danny [Ainge] have also been known to do some pretty crazy stuff on draft night” (Deseret Voices Podcast, 5/12/26). Boston Celtics fans will remember the 2017 NBA draft when Danny Ainge traded the #1 pick to the 76ers to pick up Jason Tatum at #3. At the time this seemed a little crazy, but when you compare Tatum’s career to that of Markelle Fultz, who the 76ers drafted, you begin to see the method behind the madness. Are the Ainges preparing a similar surprise on draft night for the Utah Jazz?

Drafting Dybantsa would certainly put to rest some of the health concerns associated with Darryn Peterson or the worry over Cameron Boozer’s lack of athleticism. But assuming the Wizards are open to a trade, what kind of assets would they expect from the Jazz? You have to remember that Washington had their fans endure a similar slide to the cellar that we experienced here in Utah and are looking to build around recent acquisitions Anthony Davis and Trae Young. They will likely require a hefty (nonrefundable) deposit for the number 1 pick, which will almost certainly involve players and future draft capital.

Would the Jazz consider the loss of a Kyle Filipowski, a Cody Williams, or even an Isaiah Collier, along with a first round pick in the 2027 or 2028 draft? We have a mere 12 days to find out. One thing is for sure: Jazz management is looking at all options (crazy and otherwise) to maximize the return on what could be their most consequential draft in decades.

The New York Knicks are on the cusp of their first NBA championship in 53 years after the greatest comeback in the history of the NBA Finals. What was looking destined to be a tied series with the San Antonio Spurs through four games is now a commanding 3-1 Knicks lead, with the first of three title-clinching opportunities set for Saturday night in San Antonio.

Unlike the Spurs, whose core pieces have come through the draft, the Knicks are the polar opposite. Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Game 4 hero OG Anunoby were all acquired via trade, while Jalen Brunson was the bargain of a free agent signing who got this era of Knicks basketball rolling. But there was another piece added at February’s trade deadline who had a massive role in New York’s epic 29-point rally.

Jose Alvarado, a fan favorite with the New Orleans Pelicans, was dealt to his hometown team for Dalen Terry, cash, and a couple of second-round picks. Aside from his high effort and pesky defense, Alvarado gave the Knicks with another ball-handling guard who could initiate offense and create rim pressure with Jalen Brunson off the court. During the regular season, Brunson and Alvarado played all of 114 minutes together through 20 games. In the postseason, that number dropped all the way to zero.

That is, until Knicks head coach Mike Brown made maybe one of the most impactful coaching adjustments we’ll ever see in a Finals game.

As had been the theme all playoffs, Brunson and Alvarado’s minutes were separate in the disastrous first half of Game 4. Alvarado played a shade over three minutes, fouled twice (perhaps fortunate to avoid a flagrant foul while grabbing Victor Wembanyama’s leg), and his turnover was a “bad pass” that sure looked like an uncalled goaltend against Luke Kornet.

Down by 19 points at the 5:33 mark of the third quarter, Brown sat the largely ineffective Mikal Bridges and paired Brunson and Alvarado together. Brunson was in for all but two defensive possessions (10 total seconds) in the second half, while Alvarado was in for 12 of the game’s final 17 minutes. It was the most Alvarado had played all postseason. The result was something the Spurs had no answers for.

In 9:40 of fourth quarter action, Alvarado scored 8 points on 3/3 shooting (including a critical 3 in clutch time), along with 2 rebounds and 3 assists, which was one fewer than the entire Spurs team had in the second half. The Knicks were a +19 overall in the Brunson-Alvarado minutes, and Alvarado had double the points of the rest of the bench, which combined to shoot 2/16.

“I know a lot of you guys can’t [clap] because you’re in the media and you’ve got to be neutral, but I’m gonna f—king clap for Jose,” Mike Brown said in his post-game press conference. “Sorry, Mom.

“Jose was unbelievable tonight. He changed the game. His speed, his ability to touch the paint. You give San Antonio a lot of credit for trying to throw a lot of different things at us defensively—kind of a match-up man/zone. If you don’t close out to Jose as hard as he works on his shot, he’s going to make you pay. If you close out to him, he’s quick enough to go by you. He made some great basketball plays offensively tonight, and then he was great defensively.”

Alvarado provided a much-needed release valve and screen-setter for Brunson in the face of Spurs double teams and constant on-ball pressuring up near half court. Brunson could work a little bit more off-ball while Alvarado spaced the floor in a way that, say, Josh Hart really cannot as a secondary ball-handler in a half-court offense.

“Jose’s been good in the pick-and-roll,” Brown said. “Jose’s been good touching the paint. And if Jalen wanted to get off the ball for a few possessions, Jose could handle it. And he could touch the paint and make the game easier for others. If Jalen was on the ball and the ball got sprayed and it found Jose, Jose can then touch the paint with his speed.

“So that’s all I was trying to do, is see if we could touch the paint a little bit more with the two guards out there, while the floor was spaced the right way, see if we can get some easy looks, especially from the three-point line, while trying to play faster.”

Mike Brown was in desperate search of something to crack the Spurs defense. Nothing was working in the first half and Karl-Anthony Towns’ early foul trouble created a cascading effect where he went seven-deep in his rotation. Much like in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Brown sat Josh Hart for the three-point shooting of Landry Shamet in New York’s other improbable 20+ point comeback, Brown unstuck the offense by finding his solution off the bench—an antithetical to what’s regularly felled his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau.

On an unforgettable, still scarcely believable night at Madison Square Garden, the decision to call on the New York City native to play the role of backcourt super sub alongside the Knicks’ superhero could end up as a championship-winning coaching masterstroke.

Bronny James gave his fans a rare glimpse into his personal life on Wednesday.

In an effort to shed light on CPR & Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Month, LeBron James’ son recorded a video where he spoke all about the 2023 cardiac arrest he suffered while he was practicing with the USC men’s basketball team.

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And in the footage, he shared for the first time on his social media page an image that showed off his heart surgery scar.

Bronny, who now plays guard for the Lakers alongside his dad, explained in the clip that he had been “in the best shape of my life” at the time of his medical emergency.

“Out of nowhere, I sat down for a little bit, got back up, walked around and kind of felt a little dizzy. A little nauseous,” he said.

“And then I ended up passing out. Woke up on the practice floor, like, ‘What happened?’”

Bronny said a coaching assistant saved his life by grabbing an AED and performing CPR.

“I’m alive today because medical staff and my coaches were prepared for the worst,” he said. “And it ended up saving my life. So, I’m really appreciative of that.”

Following the incident, Bronny was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, and he underwent surgery to correct the issue a short time later.

The procedure was successful and Bronny hasn’t sustained a scare since. However, it all left him with a six-inch scar in the center of his chest, which could be seen prominently in the photo he shared in his Wednesday Instagram video.

Bronny, who released the vid in a partnership with the American Heart Association, finished his message by imploring his fans and followers to get familiar with CPR in the hopes that it will save more lives like his going forward.

“Learn it,” he wrote in a caption on the video. “Practice it. Be ready.”

As her famous friends celebrated, Selena Gomez was in pain across the Atlantic.

Gomez, who is currently in London, took to social media to reveal her “heart break” after watching her beloved Spurs blow a 29-point lead to the Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Gomez shared a photo of a previous trip she made to MSG with friends, while rocking a Spurs jersey.

“Happy for NY but my heart breaks just a lil lol,” Gomez wrote. “It’s okay. I’m happy for the team! Thanks for giving us some great games @NBA.”

Gomez is tight with pop star Taylor Swift, who was sitting front and center on Celebrity Row with the Haim Sisters.

“3 am in London but can’t miss it,” Gomez, a Grand Prairie, Texas native, posted on Instagram with a photo of her watching the game on a laptop.

Gomez watched as new Knicks hero OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winning basket with 1.2 seconds left to the give the Knicks a 107-106 that he would hold onto after a defensive stop.

The Knicks now own a 3-1 series lead with Game 5 back in San Antonio on Saturday night.

After the shot, all of Madison Square Garden and the city of New York erupted in cheers, celebrating the largest comeback to take place in NBA Finals history, leaving the Knicks just one win away from winning their first NBA Finals since 1973.

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Madison Square Garden was packed out with celebrities attending, as Swift, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and Spike Lee were all in attendance rooting on the Knicks.

As the New York Knicks made an incredible 29-point comeback to beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, there were rumblings of a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Boston Celtics starting to resurface. A clip from the new episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast on Spotify started to circulate where he changed his tune on Boston potentially being interested in the Bucks superstar.

“I thought Boston was out of this. I know Boston is out of this and I was wondering if they were playing possum or not,” Simmons said. “I think they were playing a little possum, I think they’re in on Giannis.”

He continued to speculate on Boston potentially seeing the offer from the Miami Heat for Antetokounmpo and thinking they could beat it or just wanting to drive up the price against a conference rival. The Heat’s offer is not really a secret since they have waived around the same trade package for a superstar for years now, mostly consisting of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. plus draft capital.

According to his intel, Giannis “really wants to end up in Boston because he would have the best chance to win a title and I think Boston is not ruling out the idea.” He also mentioned the $27.7 million trade exception Boston got in the Anferenee Simons trade and the press conference Brad Stevens had at the end of the season after the Celtics were knocked out of the playoffs by the Philadelphia 76ers as a potential reason for Boston to make big changes to the roster.

“I thought they were sitting out this Giannis thing and I no longer think that,” Simmons concluded.

We saw more speculation started to arise on this morning from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. He added an amendment on his reporting from his Bleacher Report stream on Tuesday where he said the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers were the only two teams active in the Giannis trade market, but the Boston Celtics seem to be lurking in the shadows.

Fischer reported: “Earlier in the week, league sources with knowledge of the situation maintained that Boston had not yet seriously engaged Milwaukee on an Antetokounmpo trade … but they also declined to rule out the possibility of the Celtics eventually entering the fray. Rival teams, furthermore, continue to point to Boston’s various assets as illustrating its ability to become a factor here. They also note that Antetokounmpo shares a skills coach with Jayson Tatum (Drew Hanlen) and is believed to have a level of interest in landing with the Celtics on top of his well-chronicled affinity for Miami.”

He continued by saying the Celtics have not engaged in any trade talks with Jaylen Brown after his breakout 2025-26 season where he finished All-NBA Second Team and 6th in NBA MVP voting, but it also hasn’t been ruled out as a possibility. Portland is skeptical Giannis will sign an extension with them and Miami is banking on his previous interest from reports all the way back in 2020 offseason.

Regardless of the outcome, it feels funny to think that Brad Stevens is this mysterious monster from the Backrooms that could swoop in out of nowhere to steal Giannis away. It wouldn’t be the first time Pat Riley went blow for blow with a Celtics executive for the same player during the offseason. From all the reporting. it still doesn’t seem likely but Stevens has never leaked anything to the public when it comes to his moves so you never really know.

A response from the far east?

Jaylen Brown is currently on a trip traveling through China, but this morning put out a tweet that may have been a response to the Simmons and Fischer rumors that were circulating saying: “The neighbors rice always smells better.”

Although the idea of Jaylen subtweeting about the reports with a response of “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side” is an interesting idea, it could most likely just be something related to his current trip. Based on the previous reporting we have seen, Boston doesn’t seem very eager to get a deal for Antetokounmpo and move off of Brown in any way.

Previous Reporting

On Tuesday June 9th, CelticsBlog put out an article highlighting the interview Bobby Manning of CLNS did with Brian Windhorst of ESPN where he talked about what he had heard on the Giannis to the Celtics front. When Manning asked Windhorst his thoughts on the trade, he said “I have not heard that Boston is on Giannis’ list…I have not heard that Giannis is prepared to sign an extension with Boston. So frankly, the Jaylen Brown part is moot to me.”

This interview did come out two days ago but reports travel fast in the NBA world and if the reports from Simmons and Fischer are true, it feels like Boston could be really moving in silence. In my mind, I still don’t see the Celtics making a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The fact Giannis is going to be in his mid-30s, the injury toll that he has accrued in the last few seasons, and the possibility of him not wanting to sign an extension could be the difference maker in Boston’s decision.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Stevens and the Celtics front office just decided to just add smaller pieces around the already established core of Jayson Tatum with a full offseason of rest, Jaylen Brown coming off the best season of his career, and Derrick White potentially having a bounce back season. It is critical that they add a big man this offseason, but it doesn’t have to be the biggest fish on the market unless they really wanted to. Brad Stevens has kept everything silent in his tenure as the Celtics President of Basketball Operations so we will only really know if these reports are true if we see Giannis given an actual Celtics uniform in a press conference.

They’re still going to work at HSS Training Center, still working out prospects, interviewing them too. They’re talking to agents, too, about their clients. Whatever happens on the other side of the East River isn’t going to stop the process. Carry on.

Obviously, the NBA Draft, now 12 days and a great deal of fan anxiety away, tops the list of priorities. We try to keep track of who’s been in — or in the case of Mikel Brown Jr., who’s been visited — at this point, various reports have identified a total of 26. Here’s the latest, courtesy of USA Today’s Rookie Wire and Hoophype workout trackers.

• Tre White, Kansas 6’7” sharpshooting wing who had splits of 45/40/87 and proved himself a workhorse of the Jayhawks, playing 31.5 minutes per in 35 games.

• Michael Ajayi, a 6’7”, 235 pound power forward at Butler, he averaged a double-double: 16.4 points and 11.1 boards while playing solid defense for the Bulldogs.
• Seth Trimble, North Carolina, another 6’7” senior like White and Ajayi, he’s more of a combo guard.
• Milos Uzan, a 6’4” 23-year-old point guard for the Houston Cougars with remarkable durability, having played 77 games over the past two years while averaging 11.1 points and 4.0 assists.
• Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana’s 6’6” shooting guard who’s been one of the NCAA’s top scorers the last two years, averaging better than 20 points a game both years while shooting better than 40% from deep.

Of that group, only White is on anyone’s Top 100 Big Board, at No. 65.

Also scheduled is Kingston Flemings, the Houston lead guard who of course has long been tagged as a possible pick between Nos. 5 and 8. Brett Siegel is reporting both the Clippers picking at No. 5 and Nets are brining him in this week. No word on when he’ll be in.

Flemings is the most diminutive of the four guards seen as possible Nets picks at No. 6, measuring 6’2.5” at the NBA Combine, a half inch taller than Danius Acuff but with a wingspan almost three inches shorter. Where Flemings exceled at the Combine was in the athletic measures. He was first around the four in shuttle run, standing vertical and max vertical — an impressive 40.5^ — and second, by one one-hundredth of a second, to Acuff in the 3/4-court sprint. That as well as his defense is what sets him apart. His shooting isn’t bad either. He was first in the 3-point star drill (19/25) and second in shooting off the dribble. Can he convince the Nets brass to look beyond his size?

Of course, as many have suggested, Jalen Brunson’s exploits in New York have many re-thinking small guards in general. Acuff has been quoted repeatedly that he has has been studying Brunson and a league decision maker told ND after their second year of bad lottery luck their best option might be “take one of the guards and for the best. Maybe Acuff if you think he can be like Brunson for you.”

No word (yet) on how the two bigs — Nate Ament and Karim Lopez — fared in their faceoff Tuesday, but the very fact that the Nets set up such a 1-on-1 is a pretty good indicator there’s interest either at No. 6 or if the team succeeds in adding a second pick close enough to the top of the Draft to snag them. Going back as far as last fall, a Nets insider expressed interest in getting another pick in the loaded 2026 Draft while that same league decision-maker quoted above told ND that there is only one reason a GM accumulates as many picks. “The only reason you bank so many firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,” he said.

As for moving down, that seems less likely with multiple sources saying it appears that the Nets will stay at No. 6. The most recent such report came Thursday with Jake Fischer of The Steinline writing that the Nets are “indicating at this juncture” that they intend to stay where the Lottery put them.

Will other chess pieces move between now and 7:30 p.m. ET on June 23? Fischer devotes a lot of his latest report to that question (after suggesting that the Celtics may join the Heat in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo.)

Most teams picking behind the Clippers are currently operating under the assumption that LA will stand pat and keep their No. 5 overall selection … with Wagler as a strong candidate to be taken with the pick that the Clippers only acquired when the May 10 lottery dropped Indiana’s pick out of the top four. The Pacers were then compelled to send it to Clipperland as part of their February trade to acquire Ivica Zubac.

If the Nets decide that they prefer to keep the No. 6 overall selection — as they are indicating at this juncture — that could mean that Dallas at No. 9 proves to be the highest-slotted team willing to move down.

Sacramento, which holds the No. 7 selection, has been widely connected to Acuff due largely to the fact Kings general manager Scott Perry once coached Acuff’s father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s. That connection has also sparked considerable chatter about Sacramento wanting to move up to ensure that it can land Acuff, but sources tell The Stein Line that the Kings are comfortable staying where they are.

As for the oft-rumored possibility that the Thunder might be willing to move either the 12th or 17th picks, Fischer wrote this:

The Thunder, as we’ve covered on numerous occasions recently, simply don’t have roster room to make (and keep) all of their current draft selections: Nos. 12, 17 and 37. They already have 15 players under contract for next season.

What a lot of fans don’t realize is that the next Nets move may not wait until June 23 and the Draft. It could come in days. As Bobby Marks reminded people in a tweet Thursday, teams can start negotiating with their own free agents the day after the NBA crowns its 2025-26 champion. That could be as early as this weekend if the Knicks beat the Spurs in San Antonio Saturday night.

The big name for the Nets, of course, is Michael Porter Jr., seen four days ago enjoying the ruins at Machu Picchu in Peru.

Mike Scotto of Hoopshype wrote Wednesday about his status, suggesting that while the Nets seem willing to extend him, that could change.

Porter Jr., who turns 28 on June 29th, drew trade interest from teams, including the Golden State Warriors, as the deadline neared. The Warriors considered parting with a first-round pick for Porter Jr. hours before the deadline, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, Terance Mann was brought up in expanded discussions involving Porter Jr., but there were complications regarding his involvement, which would’ve necessitated a potential third team, HoopsHype has learned. Brooklyn also values Mann, who was a starter last season and is considered a strong veteran presence in their young locker room.

With Porter Jr. entering the prime of his career and the Nets in the midst of a rebuild, executives across the league have always questioned if their timelines would fit beyond his current contract. If the Nets don’t agree to an extension with Porter Jr., teams around the league are expected to poke around on his trade availability.

Historically, when the Nets want to keep one of their veteran players, they have a tendency to move quickly. Over the last several years, they’ve signed Kevin Durant, Joe Harris, Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson to big deals without much fuss. (Interesting side note Scotto had on Mann who will be eligible for his own extension on October 1.)

Also, Thursday, Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron provided an example of how an MPJ contract could work within the Nets salary cap.

Third Apron has gone back and forth on Porter Jr.’s value on his current contract, but something in the mid-$30 million range, like Bridges’ recent deal, makes sense. The Nets could use roughly $9 million of their cap space to raise his $40.8 million salary to his $49.5 million maximum salary. They could then add up to four additional seasons with his 2027-28 salary reduced by 40 percent.

Here’s an example of a framework that could make sense:

2026-27: $40,806,150 $49,500,000 (30 percent of the salary cap)

2027-28: $29,700,000 (18 percent)

2028-29: $32,076,000 (18.5 percent)

2029-30: $34,452,000 (18.9 percent)

2030-31: $36,828,000 (19.3 percent)

Such a framework could pay Porter Jr. a lucrative deal over multiple years while keeping his annual salary lower in the later seasons. That could increase his trade value in the future if he continues playing well on a team-friendly contract.

There will be other free agency decisions for Sean Marks & co. in the near future, Gozlan wrote, the most prominent and most likely being Day-Ron Sharpe.

Day’Ron Sharpe has a $6.25 million team option that he’s outplayed. The Nets could decline it and make him an unrestricted free agent while retaining Bird rights, and they could begin negotiating a new contract with him once the Finals end. Both sides could agree to a deal that gives him a higher annual salary while locking in multiple years.

There’s a lot of digest there, as there is after Wednesday’s Knicks-Spurs game that has to be considered one of the best basketball games ever played anywhere. As we noted in a tweet, good for those fans who followed the Knicks through their deepest, darkest days. Hoping we can do the same … some day.

The Spurs may have been their own heel on Wednesday night.

A historic 29-point collapse in Game 4 against the Knicks — a 107-106 loss that left them on the brink of NBA Finals runner-up status — perhaps left too much on the extremely high shoulders of 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama.

“Second half he plays all but 57 seconds… I feel like he totally ran out of gas,” ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said on “Get Up” on Thursday morning. “I don’t understand why he was not getting more rest in the game. At the end of the third quarter he’d played five more minutes than he played in Game 3 and that was a one-point game this was a 15-point game.

“He couldn’t move defensively, that made it easier for the Knicks and offensively, he was unable to get anything. At one point he went 1 of 10. When he gets fatigued he starts flopping around.”

In Game 3, Wembanyama cemented himself as a force and a Knicks villain, posting 32 points with eight rebounds and six assists in 39 minutes during the 115-111 win at the Garden. He seemed destined to follow it up on Wednesday as he trolled the hometown team throughout the first half as the Spurs built up a 29-point lead, scoring 16 of his own with six rebounds and a pair of massive blocks.

In return, Windhorst believes coach Mitch Johnson did him no favors, playing him 23:02 of a possible 24 minutes as he went 3 of 14 from the field for eight points as San Antonio helplessly watched its lead dwindle.

He finished the night with 43:55 played, well above is postseason average of 34 and his highest non-overtime total of the playoffs with 24 points — his lowest output of the NBA Finals.

“I gotta say, if you are going to talk trash and you are going to do some of the stuff that he does — which he does — you can’t let this happen at the end of the game,” the longtime reporter said. 

With just 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, Wenbanyama stepped up to the foul line looking to extend the Spurs’ one-point lead. But the possible fatigue and the overwhelming arena atmosphere appeared to get to him. The center, usually very composed at the line, missed both of his free throws attempts. 

The Knicks seized the opening, with Jalen Brunson driving hard to the basket, scoring a layup that gave the Knicks a 105-104 lead — their first of the game.

“I think it began before that,” the Frenchman said of the fourth-quarter collapse. “I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. I think it’s just execution, greediness of some sort. We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”

For Wembanyama and the Spurs, now their backs are against the wall. The Spurs will now have to win three straight games to win the NBA championship. 

Game 5 tips off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. 

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Courtside tickets for the NBA Finals were selling for as much as $200,000 in New York. 

It only cost Karl-Anthony Towns two quick fouls to have the best seat in the house for a half, as the New York Knicks center got into early foul trouble against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

With the series swinging back to San Antonio, my Knicks vs. Spurs predictions take the 7-footer to find his postseason form in Game 5. Find out why in my NBA picks for June 13.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 5 prediction

Knicks vs Spurs best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (+100)

Karl-Anthony Towns sat for most of the first half of Game 4 but was ready to roll in the second half, playing 18 of 24 minutes.

His offense, however, was understandably spotty, and much like Game 3, Towns couldn’t get into a rhythm. Mike Brown’s plan for Game 4 was to get Towns going early, but that went out the window.

I’m not backing off KAT in Game 5. He salvaged 13 points Wednesday, not too short of his total of 17.5, considering the circumstances. 

Projections sit as high as 21+ with my number at 18.7 points, which should have Over 17.5 listed at -118.

COVERS INTEL:Towns’ usage was at 23.5% in his limited time in the first half of Game 4, in which he scored six points in just eight minutes. That’s higher than his average usage of 19.9% in the first two games in San Antonio, when KAT finished with 18 and 21 points.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 5 same-game parlay

The San Antonio Spurs’ inexperience has them backed into a 3-1 hole, but that youth could also be a strength in this spot. San Antonio is just young and dumb enough to shake Game 4.

The extended two-day break also works in their favor, especially when it comes to recharging Victor Wembanyama’s draining batteries. He looked tired and passive in the second half Wednesday. 

The Spurs have had the New York Knicks by the throat several times in the series and have shown resiliency enough in the playoffs, going 7-2 SU and ATS off a loss. They might not cover a bigger number, but can stay alive in Game 5.

Towns was passive in Game 3 and then got two quick whistles to ice his offense in Game 4. Mike Brown wants to run his offense through KAT, and we’ll see that in Game 5... as long as the refs don’t get trigger-happy.

Towns looked great in San Antonio in the opening two games, and his scoring prop is providing great value, with projections calling for 21+ points on Saturday.

Much like KAT, Stephon Castle got into foul trouble and couldn’t find his stroke in Game 4, shooting just 2-for-7 from the field. He kept attacking and knocked down all eight of his free-throw attempts.

Castle finished with 13 points in just 26 minutes — tying his second-lowest action in the postseason. Game 5 models sit as high as 19 points from the Spurs guard, given his standard floor time.

Knicks vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs moneyline
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
• Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points

Knicks vs Spurs odds for Game 5

• Spread: Knicks +5.5 | Spurs -5.5
• Moneyline: Knicks +170 | Spurs -205
• Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5

Knicks vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Under is 1-3 in the 2026 NBA Finals heading into Game 5, with the total sitting at 216.5 O/U. The Under has been the correct side of the total, with finals games going 45-69 O/U since the 2005-06 season (60.5%). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Spurs.

How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 5

Knicks vs Spurs latest injuries

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NEW YORK (AP) — A brutal night for Victor Wembanyama continued even after he returned to his hotel on Wednesday, as he was pelted with boos from jeering Knicks fans and nearly struck by a flying egg.

A video shared online showed at least one egg tossed in the direction of the San Antonio Spurs superstar as he entered his hotel, flanked by security, following the team's game 4 loss to the Knicks.

It was not clear who threw the egg. The video showed taunting fans swarming the hotel, a few blocks south of Madison Square Garden.

A few seconds after the egg cracks on a street sign, Wembanyama turns around and confronts a person standing near the hotel's entrance, before continuing inside.

The Spurs did not immediately respond to a request seeking clarity on whether the object struck Wembanyama.

The confrontation followed a historic collapse by the Spurs, who now find themselves on the brink of elimination after blowing a 29-point lead to the Knicks. Wembanyama missed two key free throws in the game's final minutes.

The Knicks victory prompted scenes of bedlam and jubilation across New York City, as ecstatic fans packed the streets, set off fireworks, scaled lampposts and at times clashed with police.

According to the New York Police Department, 56 people were taken into custody for charges that ranged from assault to disorderly conduct.

“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the police department said in a statement.

An NYPD spokesperson said they had nothing on file about the egg incident.

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we look at Marcus Smart. 

Whatever expectations the Lakers had when they signed Marcus Smart last summer were not only met but exceeded. 

Through his gritty defense, vocal leadership and contagious effort, Smart quickly earned the respect of his teammates and fans alike. The veteran was everything his reputation advertised and the team needed.

Beyond his production, Smart’s impact and connectivity next to his star teammates also served as important proof of concept as the Lakers approach a pivotal offseason. 

With the franchise expected to make significant changes this summer, Smart proved he can help contribute to whatever shape the roster takes if brought back. And if he’s not, he displayed how important having players like him can be.

How did they play?

Typically, 6’3” guards aren’t able to be defensive anchors for a team, but Smart is the exception. 

Whether it was guarding up or down, diving for loose balls or stepping in for charges, Smart injected much-needed care into the Lakers’ defense. 

It is no secret that the Lakers’ roster lacked defensive talent last season. However, there was a level of effort that Smart helped cultivate that ultimately got the most out of the group. 

Even if the results didn’t equate to an above-average defense by the end of the year, Smart’s individual efforts deserve recognition. 

Although much of his value comes from the intangible parts of his game, the numbers showcased how tangible his impact actually was.  

The Lakers were a fantastic 8.9 points better with Smart on the floor this past season and allowed 7.3 points less per 100 possessions. Both are elite indicators of a player being a meaningful difference maker.

For as good and consistent as Smart was as a defensive tone setter, his offense waxed and waned. 

Playing next to the likes of Luka Dončić , LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Smart was slotted off=ball more than ever before (72% of his makes were assisted on). 

As a result, this put more of an emphasis on Smart’s perimeter shooting, an area he has historically been just okay at, which was the case once again. When removing garbage time, Smart converted just 33% of his 3-point attempts and 30% of his above-the-break chances.

While not as effective on offense as he is on defense, Smart showed how versatile and helpful he could still be.

Despite his struggles from the perimeter, Smart still found ways to be a spark on that end. His ball-handling, playmaking and downhill ability proved critical in the playoffs once Dončić and Reaves were ruled out. His knack for crashing the offensive glass also created countless extra possessions throughout the year.

What are their contract situations moving forward?

With a player option at his disposal, Smart can either opt into the remaining $5.3 million of his deal with the Lakers or opt out and test the market. After his strong year, there are expected to be plenty of suitors he can pick from.

At 32, Smart’s decision will likely come down to playing for a contender and/or landing a more lucrative deal than the one he currently has. The Lakers are uniquely able to offer Smart both.

With ample cap space and a clear role in place, a return may benefit both parties. 

Should they be back?

If a new deal can be reached and is reasonable from both a financial and years perspective, the Lakers should absolutely bring Smart back into the fold. 

Beyond checking multiple boxes on the court, Smart was also a successful case study of the type of players who succeed around Dončić and Reaves.

The fluidity and chemistry between the trio were evident as ineups featuring Smart, Reaves and Dončić had an incredible +22.1 net rating. For context, that was the best mark among all 3-man pairings last season.

In an ideal world, the Lakers could find a younger and better version of Smart this summer, allowing him to slide into a more appropriately sized role. Not only would this add more defensive talent and depth to the roster, but it would help Smart stay sharp and healthy all year. 

Ultimately, it is not a guarantee that Smart would even want to return or prefer another opportunity elsewhere. But if he does opt to remain in Los Angeles, then the Lakers should be excited for a reunion.

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.

What a game. What a team. Those players and us fans wish we could have those last seconds back, or heck, even the entire fourth quarter. The roller coaster ride of emotion had a lot of peaks but the downward swirl there in the fourth makes you almost want to erase it from your memory because of the pain it brought.

That’s what we at Pounding the Rock are here for. Join us on this journey to erase the pain of that loss. We have the technology. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, it means going through the better parts (highlights, if you will) of the game and remembering that the joy of winning never comes easy nor does it come without the disappointment of losing.

So sit back, try to enjoy some of the good parts of Wednesday’s game as we try to erase from memory the second half/fourth quarter of the game. If you hear the voices of Kate Winslet, peak career Jim Carrey, early career Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, and Elijah Wood, that’s normal. It’s completely normal.

Victor Wembanyama led the team with 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds while Dylan Harper contributed 21 points on 8 -12 shooting off the bench.

Early on, there were some good, purposeful ball movement to find the open player in the corner for an open three. A lot of those seeing as how the team set a record for most threes in the first half. The first half being the operative word.

The Spurs swarmed early and got some easy points off of turnovers. Playing aggressive, yet loose, seems to be a winning formula they’ll hope to duplicate and maintain.

Victor Wembanyama got crafty with his footwork to get around his defender for the bucket inside. If this move was a craft beer, it’d be described as hoppy but a subtle bounce with a sweet aftertaste.

Analytically speaking, the pull-up mid-range jumper is inefficient. But aesthetically speaking, the mid-range jumper is pretty, especially when Dylan Harper is able to probe his way through the defense and make space for himself to pull up.

We know the second part of the saying “Live by the three . . .” but this is a highlights article remember, so we’ll stop there and have a moment to appreciate Carter Bryant’s early development into becoming the next great D and Three wing.

Stephon Castle showed off his court vision and extremely nice touch on a half-court lob to Bryant who showed off his hops.

This mildly chaotic scrum off a jump ball ended with a drained three for the Spurs. The most impressive part was Dylan Harper fighting (successfully) for the ball in a sea of Knicks arms.

More of that old school style play for those who are fans of the mid-range game. The spin move by Harper was particularly *chef’s kiss.

If you missed the game because you were too busy trying to duplicate the memory-erasing technology from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs will head home for Game 5 on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

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Sports bettors made a killing in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which went straight into the history books after the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in Finals history to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Wednesday’s contest finished with a game-winning tip-in from OG Anunoby that capped off an incredible rally from a 29-point deficit. 

Key Takeaways

• The Knicks were as long as +3000 live underdogs at FanDuel.
  
  
• 86% of live moneyline bets at BetMGM were on the Knicks.
  
  
• FanDuel has the Spurs as -5.5 favorites in Game 5.

The Knicks were -1.5 favorites at most sportsbooks heading into Game 4. It only took them less than two quarters to fall into a 71-42 hole, drawing a round of well-earned “boos” from the fans in attendance at Madison Square Garden.

OG ANUNOBY WITH THE PUTBACK.

KNICKS COMPLETE THE 29-PT COMEBACK FOR THE WIN.

LARGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZtWVWY6JsR

— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026

FanDuel sportsbook told Covers that the Knicks got to as long as +3000 in live moneyline odds, giving them an implied 3.2% chance of winning the game. BetMGM and DraftKings both confirmed the Knicks’ live moneyline odds reached as long as +2200, equaling a 4.4% implied chance.

Unfortunately for the sportsbook, bettors took those numbers.

A massive 86% of bets and 67% of live-betting money wagered at BetMGM was on the Knicks’ moneyline. An additional 76% of tickets and 75% of the handle were also on the Knicks to cover the live spread, which varied throughout the matchup.

BetMGM also outlined how the Knicks’ moneyline odds evolved during the game. They entered at -130, went up to +375 after the first quarter and +1400 at halftime, and were +800 going into the fourth quarter. 

The Game 4 comeback

The Spurs’ epic collapse marked the second time in this series that they literally threw a game away.

In Game 2, with the score tied and less than 10 seconds on the clock, Victor Wembanyama tossed a pass to Stephon Castle in transition just as the latter turned his back to hustle downcourt. The ball ricocheted off of Castle’s back into the waiting hands of Jalen Brunson, who was fouled and made the game-winning free-throw. Victor Wembanyama missed a shot to win at the buzzer.

The Spurs could have almost assuredly prevented a loss in regulation in Game 4 on Wednesday, had De’Aaron Fox held his nerve.

The 10-year NBA veteran found himself ahead of the pack to collect a loose ball on the Knicks’ side of the court with less than 15 seconds remaining and his team up one, but rather than bleed the clock and wait to get fouled, he attempted — and missed — a layup.

"I just thought I'd be able to outrun [OG Anunoby]."

De'Aaron Fox explains his late game shot that was blocked by OG Anunoby.

(via @BenGolliver) pic.twitter.com/HbWQvzPZ5M

— ESPN (@espn) June 11, 2026

The Knicks rebounded the ball, and a few seconds of game time later, Anunoby put in the decisive shot to put his team one game away from a championship.

NBA Finals betting outlook

NBA teams up 3-1 in the Finals are 37-1 across all of NBA history. The only loss occurred in 2016, when the 73-9 Golden State Warriors lost three straight to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

From a broader view across all 303 best-of-seven series that stood 3-1 at one point, only 15 (5%) teams recovered from the deficit. 

FanDuel Sportsbooks isn’t completely crossing out the possibility for the Spurs, although they think it’s unlikely. Their +385 NBA Finals oddsgives them a 20.6% implied chance of winning the Finals to the Knicks’ -500 (83.3%).

The series will return to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday, where the Spurs are -5.5 favorites. The Knicks won Games 1 and 2 on the road as +4.5 and +6.5 underdogs, respectively. 

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Iman Shumpert had postgame commitments after the Knicks’ wild Game 4 win.

He decided to make other plans.

The former Knicks guard bailed on an ESPN podcast appearance Wednesday night so he could join the celebration outside Madison Square Garden after the Knicks’ dramatic NBA Finals comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Shumpert was set to appear on “The Hoop Collective” podcast but said he instead was heading to Seventh Avenue with J.R. Smith to celebrate with the fans outside MSG.

And he did exactly that.

Video posted to social media showed Shumpert outside MSG in the middle of a swarm of fired-up Knicks fans, smiling, high-fiving and soaking in the scene as the Garden celebration spilled into the street.

Shumpert did not appear to be in any rush to get back to work as he held up five fingers and said “Knicks in five.”

Instead, the 2011 first-round pick leaned into the moment, greeting fans and partying with the same crowd that embraced him during his time in New York.

The scene came after the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs, 107-106, and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

That was more than enough to turn Seventh Avenue into a full-blown Knicks party.

For Shumpert, it was also a reminder of the bond he still has with the city.

He played parts of four seasons with the Knicks after they selected him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, becoming a fan favorite for his defense, energy and unmistakable style.

He later won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, alongside Smith, but New York has never quite let him go.

It was a fitting scene on a night when seemingly every Knicks fan in the city wanted to be part of the moment.

The Knicks now head to San Antonio for Game 5 with a chance to win their first NBA title since 1973.

Jalen Brunson barely looked like he cared.

After the Knicks’ stunning 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals Wednesday night, Warriors star Draymond Green sat with Brunson on “Inside the NBA” and apologized for the criticism he’s given him leading up to the Finals.

“I apologize. I will say it to your face… I’m sorry,” Green said on “Inside the NBA” after the game. “Then, I will say it when you go and get your ring: I apologize.”

But with slides on and a microphone in hand, Brunson sat stoically with the studio show’s crew after his 36-point masterpiece, clearly not giving much attention to Green’s apology.

“I appreciate that (Green’s apology),” Brunson said.

Green, a four-time champion and All-Star with the Warriors, has been critical of the Knicks and Brunson throughout their playoff run, saying the team’s path to the Finals was easy and that Brunson isn’t capable of being the top player on a championship team.

“And I double down on this. Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong,” Green said on the “Draymond Green Show” on May 31. “Prove me wrong, double down, absolutely double down. Getting out of the East has never been a surefire way at a championship

“What are y’all talking about? You get out of the East cause you’re supposed to get out of the East. It’s the f–king East, of course, you’re supposed to get out of the East. That just don’t mean you win a championship because you get out of the East. It’s the f–king East.”

Green was referencing comments made by Hammon, the current Las Vegas Aces head coach and former Spurs assistant, where she said in 2023 that Brunson was “too small” to be a “1A” player and that he couldn’t lead the Knicks to a championship.

Even as Brunson helped the Knicks punch their Finals ticket on May 25, Hammon still doubled down on her take.

“I speak from experience,” Hammon said in an X video on May 26. “Allen Iverson got MVP, and he lost in the Finals. I think the two best teams are in the West, but I’m up for being proven wrong.”

“That’s the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson’s a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago.”

Brunson, who’s averaged 24 or more points per game each of his four years with the Knicks, hasn’t let the critiques get to him.

After scoring 36 points in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, Brunson and the Knicks are just a win away from their first title since 1973.

The Knicks can close it out Saturday in Game 5 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.