OKLAHOMA CITY — Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 22 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.
Ajay Mitchell had 20 points and Jaren McCain added 18 for the defending champion Thunder, who improved to 6-0 in the playoffs. The Lakers will host Game 3 on Saturday.
The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie finger on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers also had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.
With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander’s follow through. Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.
Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth. The Lakers cut Oklahoma City’s lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on December 30, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With an early exit from the playoffs, it looks like there’s trouble in Celtics land.
Jaylen Brown is “deeply frustrated” with the Boston Celtics organization, per @Tmac_213
“I think his frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to… There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston… pic.twitter.com/W9EgpUdFvP
It’s a trade that makes sense for both sides but if the Bucks decide they’re not interested in Brown maybe the Jazz could give them an offer that makes sense.
Here’s a trade that could make sense for both sides. If the Utah Jazz don’t jump in the NBA lottery, this trade makes some sense.
Lauri Markkanen and Jaylen Brown’s contracts match perfectly. If Utah ends up with the #6 or #7 pick, they could move that to Boston for Brown along with Markkanen and that might be enough to get it done. For Boston, they get a player that, even though he’s not the level of Brown, is still all-star caliber and they get a top ten pick.
For Utah, they get an upgrade and a player that fits better at the 3 and who’s also a huge upgrade defensively. It also fits all their pieces together much better. Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both at their best at the 4. This allows more cohesion with their team and a better defensive identity. A front court of Jaylen Brown, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler could be incredible defensively. On top of that, this would give Jaylen Brown the opportunity to be the lead dog of the Jazz. He wouldn’t be considered the Robing to another Batman and that could be appealing to him considering the frustrations he’s had in Boston.
It’s an interesting idea and we’ll see if it’s possible. What do you think? Is something like this a move the Jazz should consider?
Thunder center Chet Holmgren, left, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves fight for a rebound in the first half of Game 2 on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (Nate Billings / Associated Press)
But the Lakers are facing the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals and it is a chore that remains too heavy for Los Angeles.
Even with Reaves recovering to score 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting and handing out six assists and James collecting 23 points and six assists, the Lakers still lost Game 2 of the best-of-seven series, 125-107, Thursday night at Paycom Center.
The Lakers trail the series 2-0, with Game 3 back in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night.
The odds have now increased against the Lakers winning this series. In NBA history, only 34 teams have recovered from a 2-0 hole to win a best-of-seven series, while 431 teams have gone on to win the series.
The Lakers even did a very good job again on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, throwing double teams at him to hold the All-Star guard to 22 points.
Lakers forward LeBron James. left, tries to drive past Thunder guard Luguentz Dort during the first half of Game 2 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. (Nate Billings / Associated Press)
Chet Holmgren had another strong game with 22 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two blocks and Ajay Mitchell had 20 points for the Thunder.
The Lakers, who had a one-point lead at halftime, went down 13 points at the end of the third quarter, but a James three-pointer pulled them to within 95-89, forcing the Thunder to call a timeout with 8:57 left.
The Lakers even got to within five points in the fourth quarter, but a 10-2 run by the Thunder put L.A. in a 13-point hole with 5:53 left, this time forcing Lakers coach JJ Redick to call a timeout so his players could collect themselves.
The Lakers could not.
A big play was when Reaves took a charge against Gilgeous-Alexander with 10:34 left in the third quarter, which was his fourth foul. Gilgeous-Alexander was called for a flagrant foul on the play and Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul.
Reaves shot three free throws, making them all for a 66-61 Lakers lead.
Yet the Lakers were unable to maintain their quality of play against a Thunder team that just kept charging ahead even with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench.
The Thunder finished the third on an 18-8 run to open a 93-80 lead.
One of the many keys for the Lakers was getting a productive Reaves. It was just his fourth game back after being out a month because of a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and it showed. Reaves missed 13 of his 16 shots in Game 1 and all five of his three-pointers, and scored just eight points.
Reaves didn’t make any excuses for his poor play.
“He’s got a great sense of self-accountability to where, you know, he’s his own worst critic and he’s going to hold himself to a standard of how he wants to play,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Had a great conversation with him yesterday and today. He’ll be good to go.”
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, center, pulls up for a shot over Thunder center Chet Holmgren, left, during the first half of Game 2 on Thurday night. (Nate Billings / Associated Press)
Reaves scored 13 points in the first half while distributing the ball.
He missed his first two shots, but finished the first half five-for-nine shooting.
Along with James scoring 10 points and handing out five assists, Rui Hachimura scoring 11 and Marcus Smart adding eight while doing his part to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander, the Lakers opened a 58-57 lead at the half.
The Lakers sent defenders at Gilgeous-Alexander often, double-teaming the league most valuable player and forcing the other Thunder players to shoot the basketball in the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander only took nine shots in the first half and made four.
The Thunder shot just 25% from three-point range in the first 24 minutes.
Note: Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt was downgraded out for Game 2 because of a dislocated right pinkie finger.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 22 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.
Ajay Mitchell had 20 points and Jaren McCain added 18 for the defending champion Thunder, who improved to 6-0 in the playoffs. The Lakers will host Game 3 on Saturday.
The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie finger on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers also had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.
With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander’s follow through. Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.
Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth. The Lakers cut Oklahoma City’s lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.
PISTONS 107, CAVALIERS 97
DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists, Tobias Harris scored 21 points and Detroit beat Cleveland to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series.
Game 3 is Saturday in Cleveland, where the Cavs were 4-0 in the first round against Toronto.
The top-seeded Pistons have won five straight games since Orlando put them on the brink of elimination in the first round.
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Jarrett Allen had 22 points and seven rebounds, bouncing back from a poor performance in Game 1 for the fourth-seeded Cavs.
James Harden, though, missed 10 of 13 shots and was limited to 10 points. Harden had four turnovers, including one with 33 seconds left when the Cavs trailed by just six.
Cleveland’s Max Strus scored just three points after he had 19 in the series opener.
Detroit’s Duncan Robinson had 17 points, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and Daniss Jenkins came off the bench to score 14 points, his third straight game in double figures.
The Knicks and 76ers are both facing injury questions ahead of Game 3.
PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks and the 76ers have major health questions as the Eastern Conference semifinal series shifts to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday night.
The two centers, Joel Embiid and Mitchell Robinson, missed Game 2.
Robinson (illness) is probable to return and Embiid (sprained right ankle, right hip soreness) is questionable.
Knicks guard Josh Hart is also questionable due to a sprained left thumb.
Joel Embiid is pictured during the 76ers’ May 6 loss. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Hart suffered the injury late in the third quarter but was able to finish the game and play most of the final quarter.
Of the three, Embiid is likely the biggest question mark.
On Tuesday, he woke up sore, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said, and the team determined after shootaround that day he wouldn’t be able to play.
Andre Drummond started in Embiid’s place.
The oft-injured Embiid missed the first three games of the playoffs after undergoing an emergency appendectomy late in the regular season.
Josh Hart reacts during the Knicks’ May 6 loss. Charles Wenzelberg
In Game 1 against the Knicks, he struggled on the defensive end, and shot just 3-of-11 from the field while scoring 14 points in a blowout defeat.
One key to the Knicks’ postseason run has been their ability to force turnovers.
Of the eight teams remaining, only the Thunder are forcing more in the playoffs.
The opposition is committing 15.6 per game against the Knicks.
That number is up from 14.4 during the regular season.
It has been a major strength so far against the 76ers, who are averaging 18.5 turnovers in the two games.
Tyrese Maxey has turned it over 10 times, six coming in Game 2.
The Knicks have turned Philadelphia’s 37 turnovers into 48 points.
Former Knick and NBA veteran P.J. Tucker announced his retirement on Thursday, hanging up his sneakers after a professional basketball career that spanned parts of two decades.
Tucker, 41, played three games for the Knicks during his final season in the NBA last year, and his career included time with the Raptors, Suns, Rockets, Bucks, Heat, 76ers and Clippers.
“[Twenty] years being my job but 40 plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it. So here’s to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin,” he wrote on Instagram Thursday alongside a carousel of photos from across his career in the league.
New York Knicks forward P.J. Tucker shakes hands with New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges as he checks into a playoff game last season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The pinnacle of Tucker’s NBA career came in 2021 as part of the Bucks’ championship-winning team.
He was dealt from the Rockets to the Buckets before the trade deadline and appeared in 20 regular season games and another 23 in the playoffs.
Tucker averaged 4.3 points in 29.6 minutes per game during the postseason.
He was originally selected by the Raptors with the 35th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft right out of high school, but failed to earn much playing time and eventually found himself in the G League.
P.J. Tucker of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Trophy during their Victory Parade & Rally of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 22, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NBAE via Getty Images
The Raptors waived him in late March of his rookie season, and Tucker failed to find another NBA team to play for — kicking off a five-year run of playing overseas in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Germany.
Tucker found his way back to the NBA in 2012 with the Suns.
Over the course of his career, Tucker played in 886 NBA games and averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 7: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 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 once again saw a tight game turn into a double-digit loss on Thursday. LA held a lead midway through the third but again saw the Thunder pull away in the fourth to win by double digits, 125-107.
The purple and gold had one of its best quarters of the postseason in the second, outscoring OKC 35-30 to lead by one at the half. They held the lead through the early stages of the second half before the Thunder took over and never looked back.
Nineteen LA turnovers turned into 26 OKC points while the Thunder also had 17 second-chance points and 48 points off the bench.
LA missed their first two shot attempts from behind the arc to start. OKC went up by as much as seven until Rui Hachimura converted on a midrange jumper to get the Lakers on the board.
Isaiah Hartenstein was off to a hot start for the Thunder with six points.
Hachimura was leading Los Angeles with five points, while LeBron was close behind with four. The Lakers surged on a 7-0 scoring run to tie the game. OKC had a quick response with their own 11-0 run.
Los Angeles was now shooting 33% from the field.
Jaxson Hayes and LeBron stopped the bleeding with back-to-back shots in the paint. Hachimura then splashed a triple that cut the deficit to four at the end of the first.
Hachimura improved his all-time playoff best 3-point % after a 2 for 3 1st Q, including a buzzer-beater that capped the second 7-0 run of the period for LA.
Jared McCain converted on a midrange jumper to open the second period. Ajay Mitchell provided a massive spark for the Thunder as he was up to nine points. Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves both knocked down much-needed 3-pointers for LA.
At the 7:50 mark, Oklahoma City was up by five.
Mitchell poured in four more points before he was subbed out. Reaves converted on his second three-point play in this half. He was the first player on the Lakers in double figures with 13, a much better showing and effort than Game 1.
Smart put LA up by one with four minutes left in the half.
Los Angeles continued playing well, with Luke Kennard and Hachimura both draining threes. With 2:13 now left in the half, the Lakers were nursing a tiny lead. Both teams spent the last minute of the half exchanging the lead, with the purple and gold heading into the locker room up one.
LA trailed 27-16 with 1:26 left in the 1st Q, but rallied with a 7-0 run to close the period, and outscored the Thunder 35-30 in the 2nd Q to take a 58-57 lead into halftime.
Reaves (13), Hachimura (11) and LeBron (10) are in double figures, with LeBron adding 5 assists.
Chet Holmgren opened the second half with a jumper in the paint for OKC. Hachimura then continued his ridiculous shooting with another triple. Reaves scored on a midrange jumper before being fouled on the other end by SGA. The play was upgraded to a flagrant one along with Alex Caruso receiving a technical, so Reaves made three free throws in a row to give LA a five-point lead.
Reaves responded with a triple on the other end. The Thunder then scored four of the easiest points to make it a one-point OKC deficit. Cason Wallace converted on two free throws to put Oklahoma up by one.
OKC was up by seven at the 4:04 mark.
Everything was going in the way of the defending champs as they were on an extended 23-5 scoring run to give themselves a double-digit lead. The Thunder took full control, leading by 13 heading into the fourth.
93-80 Thunder are back in front after three quarters of play. They obliterated the Lakers while SGA sat on the bench. Big plays from Jared McCain and Jaylin Williams have put the LA down by double figures entering the final frame.
After a pair of turnovers, Hachimura opened LA’s scoring with his signature midrange jumper. Los Angeles cut the deficit to six with a 7-0 run, with LeBron scoring five points.
The Thunder were forced to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored on a layup. The Lakers were keeping close, but their turnover count was now at 19. With seven minutes left, it was an eight-point deficit for Los Angeles.
At the 5:53 mark, the Thunder were up by double figures after an 8-0 run.
The lead continued to grow as LA completely ran out of steam and didn’t have enough offense to keep it close. The Lakers waved the white flag with 2:14 left and down 17.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 23 points and six assists. Reaves ended with 31 points and six assists. Hachimura notched 16 points, shooting an impressive 6-10 from the field and 4-7 from three.
Smart logged 14 points with five assists and four rebounds. Kennard had 10 points, Hayes scored six points to go with his three rebounds and two assists.
Game 3 will be on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 5:30 PM PT.
One could argue that Sunday marks one of the biggest days the Jazz have seen in a long time, easily the biggest since the Jazz were in a very similar situation a year ago. While the 2026 NBA Draft has recently lost a lot of its depth, it remains incredibly strong at the top, and anyone lucky enough to select in the top four will be adding a potential franchise-changing talent. Last season the Jazz had the worst record in the association and held a 52.1% chance at a top four pick and a 14% chance at the number one pick. As we all know, the worst-case scenario came as the Jazz fell to the fifth pick before selecting Ace Bailey. This season the Jazz finished tied for the fourth-worst record with the Sacramento Kings, requiring a coin flip to decide who gets the tiebreaker. Luckily the Jazz won that coin flip, but what does that mean for the odds at each pick?
The Jazz have a 45.2% chance at a top four pick and an 11.5% chance at the number one pick, but it goes a little deeper than that. The worst-case scenario last year was falling to five. This year the worst-case scenario would be falling to eight, but that is very unlikely. Compared to last year, there was about a 48% chance we’d be selecting fifth. The odds for each pick are listed below.
First-11.5%
Second-11.4%
Third-11.2%
Fourth-11%
Fifth-7.5%
Sixth-27.1%
Seventh-17.9%
Eighth-2.4%
How do those odds make you feel? Hopeful? Nervous? Scared? Excited? The Jazz have NEVER moved up in the lottery, but there’s always a first time for everything. While the sixth and seventh positions are the two highest probabilities by quite a large margin, there’s still a 55% chance we won’t be picking seventh or eighth! So here’s to hoping Sunday is an amazing day for the Jazz and their future.
Everyone wear your lucky shirt on Sunday, and if that’s the same shirt you wore last year… get a new lucky shirt. If you have any superstitions, listen to them. Do anything you can to give the Jazz that edge on Sunday! The NBA Draft Lottery is this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time on ABC.
“There’s a lot more to the NBA and sticking around than just [scoring],” Porter said in a revelation that always seemed to escape Thomas. “For Cam, I think it was a mixture of he was frustrated with a lot of things, and also his personality … he doesn’t really socialize. He’ll come to the gym sometimes and 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 come off that money and you’re a No. 1 option, it comes with so much more. I don’t know if he was willing to break out of his personality and be talkative and try to be a leader and bring guys together. I think that’s kind of what happened here in Brooklyn.”
Michael Porter Jr. is picture during the Nets’ March 20 game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
It’s a role that Thomas viewed himself capable of filling, and the young guard did average team-highs of 22.5 points and 24.0 points in the past two seasons for the Nets. But after rejecting multiple contracts from the Nets last summer — a two-year, $30 million deal with a team option, or a one-year, $9.5 million pact — he ultimately settled for the $5.98 million qualifying offer.
In the end, Thomas managed just 15.6 points in an injury-marred campaign and got waived by Brooklyn. He got picked up by Milwaukee, but cut loose there as well. While he flashed the ability to get buckets, his shortcomings in terms of defense, playmaking, and — ultimately — self-awareness see him now unemployed.
“I know he was frustrated about the contract the year before, and the fact that Brooklyn didn’t really pay him how he wanted,” Porter said. “He’s thinking talent-wise, he’s thinking as good as Austin Reaves, he’s as good as Jalen Green, he’s as good as this guy or that guy, and they’re getting paid $100 million contracts. So I understand that part. But I knew when he left Brooklyn, I’m like, man, over there in Milwaukee he better change a couple of these things or else it’s going to be tough for him.
“And when he first got there, they were raving about him because he had a few good games. Doc Rivers was complimenting him and everything. And then I’m sure he had a bad game and kind of went back into his shell a little bit. It can come off like he has an attitude, but really that’s just him. And then I think from there it was downhill. But when it comes to being a basketball player and a talent, he’s up there with the best of them.”
Cam Thomas drives to the basket during the Nets’ Feb. 3 game against the Lakers. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Porter added he may take as many shots as Thomas, “but the time the ball was in my hands was a fraction.” He expressed confidence he can be a top scorer on a contender, but says the Nets adding a backcourt playmaker — via the lottery, trade or signing — will let them take a step forward.
“A No. 1 option on a championship-caliber team? I’m not about to sit here and say that I don’t think I can take on a big responsibility on a championship team, because I do, but I definitely would need some help with me,” Porter said. “If I got another guy over here who really is able to create and draw some attention, and now I’m getting two or three wide-open 3s a game, I think it would really help us.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 07: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after being defeated by the Detroit Pistons 107-97 in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I wanted to give Donovan Mitchell the full-fledged ‘WINNER’ title tonight. However, his second-half rally fell short. And we’ll talk more about the Cavs ‘ late-game execution later.
To focus on the positives, first, Mitchell had his best game since Game 2 versus the Toronto Raptors. That’s worth feeling good about.
Mitchell had 31 points on 11-24 shooting, and he was more efficient before the game became desperate. His on-ball production looked closer to what we’ve expected from him. Bringing it up to the floor and generating blow-bys to get the defense in rotation. Mitchell settled into a groove of either hitting floaters or passing to teammates for most of the second half.
Then, closing time came.
But before that, Mitchell delivered a much-needed sign of life. This would bode well for the Cavs if it carries over to the rest of the series.
LOSER – James Harden
I mean, listen, man. We all knew these games were coming. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
Harden doesn’t value possessions. That much is clear. His errant touchdown pass to Evan Mobley, who was draped by Ausar Thompson, is an example of this. There’s no reason to throw such a dangerous pass at the start of a game when the Pistons were already building a double-digit lead. That turnover added gasoline to the fire.
It got slightly better as the game went on. That is to say, Harden only had one turnover in the second half. Yeah, it came in the final minutes of a winnable game and was a result of him dribbling for 15 seconds in isolation — but it was his only turnover, nonetheless.
Harden finished tonight 3-16 from the floor. Worse, his style of play demands the ball run through him more often than anyone else. That’s a deadly combination.
Today was James Harden’s 182nd career playoff game.
It was the 36th time he’s had 3 or fewer made field goals. Nearly 20% of his career playoff games.
It was the 46th time that he’s had as many or more turnovers than made field goals. More than 25% of his career playoff games.
There’s a reason these types of performances make up a quarter of Harden’s playoff career. The fact that he hasn’t been able to adapt in 17 years is a crushing indictment against one of the most talented players of all time.
LOSER – Crunch Time
Everything looks hard for the Cavs.
It’s impossible not to notice the difference between how Detroit and Cleveland have closed the last two games. The Pistons are calm and composed, getting to advantageous spots and scoring timely buckets. The Cavs, meanwhile, are running around like headless chickens.
Much of this ties back to what we talked about with Harden. The late-game offense boils down to watching Harden pick his poison and dribbling until a Pistons defender turns him over, or forces him into a difficult shot. That’s a recipe I’ve grown sick of — having seen it multiple times in the previous round (and in years past).
But blaming Harden is missing the forest for the trees.
This team is too talented to fall by the wayside at closing time. Mitchell had opportunities, and instead of aggressively attacking the rim, opted for desperation three-point attempts. Mobley, meanwhile, was a non-factor offensively despite the massive defensive attention given to both guards.
On the other hand, Detroit is playing like a team. Trusting Tobias Harris to work in the post. Running the ball through Duncan Robinson and using his gravity to bend the defense. And, of course, resting on Cade Cunningham’s shoulders as he made all the right plays down the stretch.
Everyone needs to be better. The Cavs won’t last much longer if their process isn’t cleaned up.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball while Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons attempts to block the shot during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass. As a note, the percentiles are in comparison to other playoff games, which influences the sample size.
Offensive Rating
Effective Field Goal Percentage
Offensive Turnover Percentage
Offensive Rebounding Percentage
Free Throw Rate
Cavs
107.8, 29th percentile
46.3%, 10th percentile
12.2%, 72nd percentile
30.6%, 62nd percentile
27.2, 80th percentile
Pistons
120.2, 69th percentile
57.5%, 69th percentile
14.6%, 48th percentile
34.1%, 78th percentile
18.8, 40th percentile
Now, let’s dive into the numbers.
The Pistons went 14-28 (50%) from three. Out of the 91 regular-season and playoff games they’ve played this year, this was just the seventh time they’ve connected on 50% or more of their triples. Duncan Robinson hurt Cleveland most, going 5-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc.
The Cavs went 7-32 (21.9%) from three. This was their lowest percentage from distance this postseason. Out of the 91 total games they’ve played, this was their third-lowest mark. It’s a make-or-miss league. The Cavs were on the wrong end of that as both teams had outlier performances, just on different ends of the spectrum.
Just five of the eight Cavaliers who attempted a three-pointer actually made one. Only two made more than one: Dean Wade (2-4) and Donovan Mitchell (2-9).
This is the second game in a row James Harden has had more turnovers (four) than made field goals (three). This is the fourth time it’s happened during this playoff run. Turnovers weren’t the main issue in this game. Instead, it was the shooting. Harden went 3-13 from the field in what was an abysmal game.
Harden had a team-worst plus/minus of -15. The Cavs were simply bad on both ends of the court when he was out there. The Pistons sought out mismatches and relentlessly attacked him on defense. On the other end, he wasn’t able to get his shot to fall, and he also didn’t have success as a playmaker.
The Cavs attempted just six shots in the restricted area all game (2nd percentile). The most efficient place to score from is getting to the rim. The Cavs weren’t able to get there at all. It’s a miracle they were even in this game, considering how poorly they shot the three-ball and their ability to attack the basket.
Donovan Mitchell took none of his 24 field-goal attempts at the rim. For context, nearly a quarter of his shots came there during the regular season. Mitchell did, however, go 9-13 on shots in the short midrange. The floater was working against the Pistons.
Mitchell attempted his most free-throws this postseason at nine. This wasn’t an overall efficient night due to going 2-9 from three. Being able to get to the line helped keep him on track as a scorer.
Evan Mobley had just one of Cleveland’s 47 rebounds. Being a good rebounder doesn’t always lead to high rebounding numbers. However, there’s no excuse for having only one in a game this close.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists. The Cavs don’t have an answer for Cunningham right now. He’s been the best player on the court, and when he has the three-ball falling like he did tonight (3-6), there’s little anyone can do to stop him.
The Cavs won the second-chance points battle 22-16. Cleveland had three more second-chance opportunities than Detroit. That’s an area the Cavs needed to clean up after Game 1, and did.
Cleveland (11) commited less turnovers than Detroit (13). Five of Cleveland’s 11 giveaways came in the first half. They corrected that over the last three quarters and were in a position to steal this one late because of it.
The Cavs have lost the fourth quarter in six of their nine playoff games. Closing games has been a challenge. Cleveland had a chance to win this one, but was outscored 28-22 in the fourth.
Cleveland went just 0-11 from three in the final frame. This included three misses from Mitchell and four from Max Strus.
The Cavs had just six points in the final four minutes. The offense went cold at the worst possible time. The Pistons outscored the Cavs by seven in that stretch.
The Cavaliers are now 4-13 on the road in the postseason since trading for Mitchell. Two of those wins are against a Miami Heat team that had more losses than wins in the regular season. You simply can’t have a long postseason run if you can’t occasionally steal road games.
For three quarters, the Cavaliers' game plan of "make anyone but Cade Cunningham beat us" was modestly effective — he only had eight shots and 13 points, but he also had 10 assists. At least the Cavs had slowed the leading scorer of these playoffs.
But in the fourth quarter, there was no stopping Cunningham.
Cunningham put up a dozen in the fourth and outdueled Donovan Mitchell, who finished the game with 31 points but didn't get enough help.
Behind Cunningham and rock-solid defense, Detroit picked up the 107-97 win to go up 2-0 in this Eastern Conference semifinal.
The series now moves to Cleveland on Sunday for Game 3, which you can watch on NBC and Peacock at 3 ET. The Cavaliers had some things they could take away from this loss that worked, plus they have been much better at home these playoffs (but 0-5 on the road).
Detroit has now won five playoff games in a row after falling behind Orlando 3-1 in the first round.
Two things were clear early in Game 2. One, Detroit was happy to have Cunningham working off-ball, and as Cleveland's Dean Wade worked to deny the Pistons' star the chance to initiate the offense. At times, Detroit used Wade's overplay against him, getting Cunningham the ball rolling toward the rim, where he could shoot or find a teammate (he had more assists than points in the first quarter).
The other key was the Pistons upping their defensive pressure, which threw the Cavaliers off. The result was Cleveland shooting below 40% (39.5%) and 3-of-14 (21.4%) from 3-point range in the first half, with nine turnovers. Harden, in particular, struggled, shooting 2-of-10 in the first 24 minutes.
James Harden is now 9-of-28 in this series and 1-of-11 from 3-point range with 11 turnovers. He simply has to be better in Cleveland if the Cavaliers are going to make this a series.
While Cunningham rightfully gets the headlines, the play of Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris was critical for Detroit in this game. Harris was again phenomenal with 21 points and seven boards, hitting some clutch shots. Thompson got eight first-quarter points coming out of the dunker's spot as the defense collapsed on Cunningham, but he also was strong on the boards (seven rebounds), served to bring the ball up and initiate the offense at points, and remains the best perimeter defender in this series (and the league).
Tobias Harris clamps. Ausar Thompson gets the steal.
Cleveland played with much more force in the second half ‚ they matched Detroit's physicality on defense, and they were more intentional and targeted on offense (plus they stopped turning the ball over). Mitchell led the way — they used him both as the screener and ball handler — and that opened things up for others.
It was a four-point game entering the fourth quarter, and then Detroit started the fourth on a 6-0 run to take the lead.
That's when Cunningham started to take over, and the Cavaliers ultimately had no answer.
Jarrett Allen had another strong game for Cleveland with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Duncan Robinson was 5-of-9 from 3 for Detroit and finished with 17 points, while Daniss Jenkins scored 14 off the bench and had some key minutes. Jalen Duran was again strong inside with 10 boards to go with his eight points.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 7: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart again in crunch time. They’ll head back to Cleveland trailing the Detroit Pistons 0-2.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Mitchell had his best game in weeks, jolting the Cavaliers back to life in the second half. Detroit had Harden in a locker, so the Cavs allowed Mitchell to effectively play point guard during the third quarter. This led to the most engaged version of Don we’ve seen since Game 2 versus Toronto. He repeatedly attacked the basket for floaters and used his gravity to create opportunities for his teammates.
Late-game execution was the problem. Mitchell suddenly stopped getting to the basket. And once again, Spida became a stationary sidekick as Harden dribbled the ball into oblivion.
Harden has raised the Cavaliers’ floor this postseason simply by being more available than Darius Garland ever was. And at times, he’s even raised their ceiling by showing glimpses of the player that will one day be in the HOF.
But that light is dwindling, and the last few games have been antithetical to everything that this team built its success on in the past.
Over-dribbling, isolation-heavy basketball has never led to the best version of the Cavs. Yet it’s the only style that Harden plays. He isn’t adapting to playing without the ball in year 17. You win or lose on his terms. The 0-2 deficit speaks for itself.
Mobley wasn’t involved enough on offense tonight. Part of that is the Pistons shrinking the floor and taking away the roll. Another part was Jarrett Allen had it going — so naturally, more touches went his way.
But Mobley did a fine job of reading the floor in this one. He punished the help defense with his playmaking, dishing 4 assists and narrowly missing on a few other potential assists that didn’t drop.
More so, Mobley was phenomenal on defense. His rim protection and efforts against Jalen Duren are some of the only reasons this game was close in the fourth quarter. We’d like to see him grab more rebounds, but he did spend chunks of time switched onto the perimeter.
Allen gave you everything you need to win this one. An efficient 22 points on 9 shot attempts. Competent defense at the point of attack whenever he had to switch. And, a respectable effort on the glass that was only tested when he was left alone to box out multiple players. He’s not going to do much more than this.
Grade: A-
Dean Wade
8 points, 5 rebounds
It’s the same old story. Wade’s defense makes him valuable. But his lack of offensive creation tests how valuable that defense actually is. The Pistons, like the Raptors, have successfully shrunk the floor by ignoring Wade in the corner.
Grade: C–
Max Strus
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Strus was on fire in Game 1. Not so much in Game 2, shooting just 1-6 from the floor.
This is more or less what you expect from a streaky role player. He gave you a performance worthy of winning. Now you live with the opposite result. The Cavs missed their chance in Game 1.
Grade: D+
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
It feels like Tyson is going to be the X-Factor in this series. The Cavs desperately need someone who can create off the dribble and space the floor next to the core four. Tyson hasn’t gotten a full crack at that yet. But if he does, it could be the thing that finally unlocks Cleveland’s offense.
Grade: B–
Keon Ellis
3 points, 6 minutes
Ellis is going to get opportunities with Merrill out due to a hamstring injury. So far, those minutes haven’t gone well. He’s a defender who loves to gamble, and he isn’t doing enough on offense to replace Merrill’s production.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
4 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers
I don’t know if the Cavs planned on playing Schroder this often in the playoffs. But he’s become a mainstay in the rotation, largely because of how inconsistent the starting backcourt has been. The Cavs have needed an additional ball handler to relieve pressure, and I think Schroder did a fine job of that tonight despite his usual limitations.
May 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons used another well-rounded effort, with contributions up and down the roster, to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series. It was a tougher game as Cleveland cleaned up its turnovers and got a much friendlier whistle than in Game 1, but every time the Cavs punched Detroit in the mouth, the Pistons found a way to punch back.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham with 25 points and 10 assists, and just like in Game 1, Cunningham saved his best for late in the game. Cade scored 12 points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter and played excellent defense to help stave off a late Cleveland surge.
Detroit was up comfortably throughout the first half, but a stagnant third quarter on offense and a subpar defensive effort, combined with an unfriendly whistle, allowed the Cavs to cut Detroit’s lead to four entering the final quarter. Cleveland then scored the first three baskets of the fourth, including an emphatic Evan Mobley dunk, to take their first lead of the game since early in the first.
Detroit then turned into their two most reliable players in game one — Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson. Harris settled things down with a steady turnaround jumper from 11 feet, and Robinson hit a three. When the Cavs cut it to a one-possession game again, Tobias hit a floater, and Duncan hit a three. Of course. That was all Detroit needed to get into Cade time.
He hit a pull-up three at the top of the key, a baseline fadeaway, got to the free-throw line, and effectively put the game away with a stepback three with just over two minutes left.
Plenty of Pistons played well, and it was all needed because nearly as many players were battling foul trouble. A game after Cleveland complained about the poor whistle they received, the script completely flipped in game 2 (interesting how that works).
Ausar Thompson got his fourth foul early in the third quarter, and his absence was a big contributor to Cleveland’s third-quarter run. James Harden seemed to be trying to bait foul calls as his entire role in the offensive game plan. Or, it was the only thing Harden did well, anyway.
The Beard was just 3-of-13 from the floor and had four turnovers, including a critical one late in the fourth when he pounded the air out of the ball and then got his pocket picked by Thompson. He wasn’t the only Cavs player who struggled. Evan Mobley was limited to just nine points and one rebound. Dean Wade, who is mostly in the lineup for defense, scored just eight points.
Donovan Mitchell almost won the game for the Cavs by himself. He was brilliant throughout the night. He had his swim move and floater game working hard, and he hit some tough perimeter shots to try to keep his team in the game. He led all scorers with 31 points. Jarrett Allen chipped in 22 points.
The Pistons got contributions up and down the roster. Ausar Thompson scored 10 points and added seven rebounds. Tobias Harris scored 21 points, stretching his 20-plus game streak to seven. Duncan Robinson scored 17 and hit five three-pointers. Daniss Jenkins scored 14 points and added six rebounds and four assists. He was absolutely critical to keeping Detroit in it when Cunningham was mostly quiet.
In the end, Detroit did exactly what it had to do. It protected its home-court advantage, established how they can best the Cavs on both ends of the floor, and now they will look to head to Cleveland to really put a stranglehold on this series.
And while both contests were played on the Pistons' home court, Little Caesars Arena – so not entirely unexpected outcomes – Cleveland had chances in both games to steal a win on the road. But for the second game in a row, Cavaliers star James Harden struggled – especially in the first half.
The Cavaliers acquired Harden, a three-time scoring champ and 11-time All-Star at this year's trade deadline, in part to help them make a deeper run in the playoffs than last year, when, as the top seed in the East, they were upset by the Indiana Pacers 4-1 in the conference semifinals.
If Cleveland wants to go deeper this year, they will need Harden to knock down more shots, be much more accurate on his 3-point shooting, increase his assists and tone down his turnovers.
He finished the night with just 10 points, while shooting 3-for-13 from the field and committed a crucial turnover with 30 seconds remaining in Game 2 with Cleveland down six points and trying to rally.
"We won the possession game, we just didn't make shots. We had plenty of chances," Harden said after Game 2 on Thursday night.
He was circumspect about his struggles, saying he needed to pick and choose his spots better, and "figuring out what works and doesn't work for the betterment of the team ... trying to find a combination of when to be aggressive and when to get the team shots."
According to ESPN Insights, this was Harden's 20th playoff game in which he shot 25% or less (minimum 10 field goal attempts), breaking a tie with Bob Cousy for the most such playoff games in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55).
In Game 1 against the Pistons on Tuesday, May 5, Harden scored 22 points but shot just 40% (6-for-15) from the field and made only 1-of-7 3-pointers (14.2%). And while he dished out seven assists, he also turned the ball over seven times. His struggles were evident in the first half when he shot just 2-of-7 from the floor, recording nine points with four coming from the charity stripe.
Harden and the Cavaliers have a chance to right the ship Saturday, May 9 when they host Detroit in Game 3 at 3 p.m. ET (NBC), but they need to reset quickly.
Here are Harden's stats from Game 2 for the first half and the game:
James Harden's final Game 2 stats vs. Pistons
Points: 10
Field goals: 3-for-13
3-pointers: 0-for-4
Free-throws: 4-for-4
Rebounds: 6
Assists: 3
Blocks: 0
Turnovers: 4
Minutes: 36:52
James Harden's first-half Game 2 stats vs. Pistons
