OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 28: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 28, 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another former Arizona Wildcat is heading to the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs beat defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in game seven of the Western Conference Finals, which means Carter Bryant will be heading to the finals in his rookie season.
He becomes the third Arizona alumni to reach the finals in his rookie season since Luke Walton did it with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. The other player was Richard Jefferson with the New Jersey Nets in 2002.
Carter Bryant is the 3rd Arizona alum to reach the NBA Finals in his first pro season, first since Luke Walton with the Lakers in 2004. The other is Richard Jefferson with the Nets in 2002.
Al Fleming made it in 1978 with Sonics but was drafted in 1976
This is now the 12th consecutive season that an Arizona Wildcat will participate in the NBA FInals. Last season, it was T.J. McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin with the Indiana Pacers to make the finals, but unfortunately they could not get the job done.
Aaron Gordon and Zeke Nnaji were the last Arizona Wildcats to win the NBA Finals when they won with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
Bryant was drafted by the Spurs in last year’s NBA Draft with the 14th overall pick. His rookie season has given him a bit of everything.
Earlier this season, he participated in the NBA dunk contest and was beaten in the championship by another former Wildcat in Keshad Johnson. Fast forward and Bryant will now be playing on the NBA’s biggest stage.
The conference finals did bring a lot of struggle but in typical Arizona fashion he responded. From being chewed out by his coach to having some of the loudest plays, Bryant has taken big steps in his basketball development.
Carter Bryant appeared to have tears in his eyes after his coach yelled at him following a turnover pic.twitter.com/bBVIo5wI8i
It’s one thing for your coach to stick by you, but when you have one of the best players in the world continuously supporting you, the work ethic can never fade. Victor Wembanyama, along with the rest of the Spurs, have never lost faith in Bryant.
The New York Knicks were the team from the eastern conference awaiting their NBA Finals opponent. This is a team that not only San Antonio has struggled against, but Bryant has seen major struggles.
In the two regular season games between New York and San Antonio, Bryant played a total of 11 minutes and did not score. It will certainly be interesting to see how much he will be played in his first finals appearance. The first opportunity he could have will be next Wednesday in game one.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks are playing the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals after their opponent pulled out a gutsy Game 7 win on the road to get back to the Finals for the first time in 12 years.
For the Knicks, it’s a rematch of their last Finals appearance in 1999, when they lost in five games to Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and the Twin Tower Spurs. This time around, they won’t face two towers in the paint, but they are facing off against one of the most unique big men in league history in Victor Wembanyama.
Here’s a look at the schedule for the series between the Knicks and Spurs:
Game 1: Wednesday June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Game 2: Friday June 5, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Game 3: Monday June 8, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Game 4: Wednesday June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Game 5: Saturday June 13, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX (if necessary)
Game 6: Tuesday June 16, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)– Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (if necessary)
Game 7: Friday June 19, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) – Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX(if necessary)
Posting & Toasting community, what are you most looking forward to in the series between the Knicks and Spurs? Let us know in the comments section below.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Rolando Blackman represents the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday I asked the staff this simple question (then forgot to run the post for a week): what is something regarding the NBA Draft that you’ve talked yourself into?
Tyler: I’ve talked myself into believing that the Mavericks will be making at least one draft night trade in round one. At pick nine, it could be that they see value in moving back and drafting a guy they didn’t feel was worth it at ninth. It could be wanting to acquire an extra first-round pick (think OKC or Charlotte). Or, it could be trading pick 30 for cap relief, or even attaching a player to pick 30 to move up in the order. I don’t know which will be the case, but I’m convinced at least one will happen.
Sudarshan: Maybe not since the Lottery, but I’ve talked myself into being somewhat accepting of the Masai Ujiri hiring.
Regarding the draft itself? We’re going to get a polarising prospect which will inspire many a heated debate about fit & future.
Bryan: I’ve talked myself into Brayden Burries being the best guard option available after the top 4 (Brown, Wagler, Acuff, Flemings) are off the board. There is still a solid chance that Aday Mara goes 8th to Atlanta and one of the lead guards falls to us, but if not, we could do much worse than Burries at 9.
Joe: Something I’m convincing myself of more and more is that Dallas is going to have more options at 9 then a lot of people originally let on. When the season ended on April 12th, the entire fanbase was online complaining and pouting that winning 26 games in a season wasnt good enough because they wouldnt be able to have a good chance at a top 4 pick and that they would have less options to draft an all world prospect. I think as we get closer and closer, we see the consensus uncertainty and near guaranteed chaos that is almost surely going to happen throughout the top 10 picks of this upcoming nba draft. I think that between the different taste in the teams favorite prospects and depth of upper echelon talent, there are going to be teams who make some interesting and consensually bizzare decisions. I think a team like the Nets, the Kings, or the hawks, can reach or take someone that pushes one of the Mavs guys to them at 9
Brent: Bracing for changes this summer. Maybe on or before draft night. No one outside of #32 is untouchable and we have a new brain trust in place who will shake things up in ways we will not see coming. Expect the unexpected. So much ink is being spilled right now on what might happen and I feel like we are about to get a curveball or two that will reshape the face of this roster.
Michael: I’ve talked myself into actually remembering that I have no idea what will happen. Early on, I took to believing the Mavs would target a guard, then got on the hope train that we’d still get a good one despite falling a spot in the draft order. Now I’ve all but eliminated most of those thoughts in exchange for hopeful optimism and expecting the unexpected.
I trust Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz enough to do the right thing, but the “right thing” is now colored against a much different background. It seems evident that a massive roster overhaul is at least plausible, so with that, I no longer have any expectation we’re going for a guard. In fact, I expect something unexpected that will begin to make sense as the offseason really begins to play out. If anyone on the current roster could be moved, anyone in the draft could reasonably fill a need. Therefore, I’m expecting the front office to make intelligent moves, but no longer predicting what those moves might be.
After rolling through the Eastern Conference behind Jalen Brunson’s playoff brilliance, the Knicks now face the San Antonio Spurs after Wemby & Co. eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
Despite New York’s dominant postseason run, NBA Finals odds immediately opened the Knicks as series underdogs, saying everything about how highly the betting market views OKC.
Before Game 1 tips off, here’s a full breakdown of the opening Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals odds, Finals MVP markets, and the best early betting angles.
Knicks vs. Thunder NBA Finals odds
Market
Knicks
Spurs
Series price
+170
-205
Game 1 spread
+5.0 -110
-5.0 -110
Game 1 moneyline
+170
-205
Game 1 total
Over 217 -110
Under 217 -110
Odds as of 5-30 via bet365.
The New York Knicks may have entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, but New York hasn’t looked like an underdog for weeks.
After sweeping both the 76ers and Cavaliers in back-to-back series, the Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Finals behind Jalen Brunson’s playoff brilliance and one of the most physical defensive identities left in the postseason.
Still, sportsbooks opened San Antonio as the favorite entering the series.
The betting market clearly respects the Spurs' depth and versatility, but the Knicks have already proven throughout this playoff run that they’re more than capable of controlling games with defense, rebounding, and clutch shot-making.
NBA Finals MVP Odds
Player
Odds
Victor Wembanyama
-175
Jalen Brunson
+210
Karl-Anthony Towns
+2000
Stephon Castle
+6000
OG Anunoby
+7500
De'Aaron Fox
+10000
OG Anunoby
+12500
Odds as of 5-30 via bet365.
Jalen Brunson opened as the clear betting favorite on the Knicks side after carrying New York through the Eastern Conference playoffs, while Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby also remain intriguing long-shot options entering the NBA Finals.
Still, the market continues to lean heavily toward Oklahoma City.
Victor Wembanyama opened as the overall Finals MVP favorite at -175, reflecting both the Spurs' status as series favorites and his dominant postseason run. Meanwhile, players like Stephon Castle continue to draw respect because of San Antonio’s depth and defensive versatility.
If the Knicks are going to pull off the upset, though, it’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Brunson winning the award.
Knicks vs. Spurs series prediction
The Knicks bring physicality, depth, and defensive toughness, but this series ultimately comes down to a question they may not be able to answer: how do you consistently contain Victor Wembanyama over seven games or less?
San Antonio’s ceiling is simply higher. Wemby’s two-way dominance warps matchups on both ends, and if the Spurs get even steady secondary production, they’ll be difficult to slow.
The Knicks can grind games into the mud and steal a couple with their rebounding and half-court execution, but they lack the singular superstar force to tilt a tightly contested series.
Expect a competitive, physical Finals with multiple close finishes, but San Antonio’s star power and defensive versatility give them the edge late.
Prediction: Spurs to win NBA Finals (-205)
Early Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 prediction
We saw New York look a little sluggish in this same scenario for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, coming off an extended rest while their opponent just finished a seven-game series.
The Knicks trailed by as much as 22 points in the fourth quarter, but rallied back as Cleveland utterly collapsed.
The Spurs will not implode like that.
I don't think San Antonio will be up by 20+ points either, but if New York has to shake off rust in the Finals opener, the Spurs are too talented to not take advantage.
Prediction: Spurs -5 (-110)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Victor Wembanyama continues Wemby-mania with Stephon Castle and rookie sensation Dylan Harper as he marches into his first NBA Finals with the Spurs. The center has already had an outstanding postseason with the most blocks in a game, and, at 22, he was the youngest player to have a 40-point, 20-rebound in playoff history.
After bulldozing through the conference semifinals and finals, this is the Knicks' first time making it to the championship round since 1999. Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges will seek to bring the Big Apple back to glory with Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet cheering them on every step of the way.
The NBA Finals tip off on Wednesday, June 3 in San Antonio.
The New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs in what is sure to be a thrilling best-of-seven series for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Victor Wembanyama was emotional after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of a heated Western Conference finals. This will be the San Antonio center's first Finals appearance after a historic playoffs run where he broke several records, including most blocks in a game and, at 22 years of age, the youngest player to notch 40+ points and 20+ rebounds in a competition.
The Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks' dominance was marked by an average margin of victory of 23.7 points.
Now the attention shifts to the NBA Finals, which tip off on Wednesday, June 3. Below is the complete schedule for this year’s championship series.
May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the third quarter during game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs survived an epic Game 7 in Oklahoma City, and are going back to the Finals after 12 years. The team’s record is now 5-7 all-time in Game 7s.
The Spurs seemed to be unaffected by nerves, starting off making their first five shots and each starter scored within six minutes. Victor Wembanyama didn’t have the highest scoring night (22 points, seven rebounds, two assists), but he was leading the charge defensively. Stephon Castle also stepped up (16 points, six rebounds, six assists) as if he’d been there before and maintained his edge even while in foul trouble.
The Thunder being absent Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell didn’t have enough help around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when he was seeing multiple bodies. He still went on a wild spree, but the Spurs’ pressure made the half-court as nasty as a mud wrestling match, and it had OKC’s players shaky, missing easy ones behind the arc.
Observations
This marked the second time in NBA history that a Game 7 featured the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Both stars were true to their nature with SGA doing a boatload of scoring, and Wemby blowing up a lot of sets. This time, the edge this time goes to SGA because he gave the opposing defense fewer breaks, but history will remember that detail less because OKC lost.
The Spurs had more ball handlers, and for a while, their motion created extra breakdowns to unlock the 3-point line. Then OKC, sensing desperation, raised its intensity and nothing came easy for the rest of the game as they scored just 34 in the lane. Keep in mind that their season low, which includes the playoffs, was 32 points.
SGA’s conditioning is next-level because he was OKC’s only capable high-usage ball handler, and he wasn’t as tired as one normally would be seeing a defense as sharp as San Antonio’s He was doing everything for them in his 43 minutes.
The first non-Wemby minutes started with the Spurs ahead by 10 points and they were up nine when the substitution came. Stephon Castle had a big part keeping the offense rolling in that span. The biggest weakness of that rotation was getting beat twice in transition. The next critical non-Wemby minutes were a short stretch in the third, and the Spurs maintained their nine-point lead. Then Luke Kornet had a huge chase down block (play of the game) on Isaiah Hartenstein in the last one after Wemby picked up his fifth foul.
Chet Holmgren was guarded by Devin Vassell plus other perimeter players, and he spent the game invisible. Some might call this one of the most embarrassing disappearing acts of all time.
Julian Champagnie had his best moment of the season in the third quarter, scoring 11 points while the game was for the taking. It was also a big emotional boost for the team, and so were Keldon Johnson’s consecutive treys and fastbreak layup early in the fourth.
The Spurs defense was fierce and unrelenting. They had six steals in the first quarter, with two belonging to De’Aaron Fox, as they swiped at drives and intercepted passes. Additionally, they did a decent of guarding without fouling.
The Thunder had the edge in second-chance scoring, but the Spurs closed the distance in the second half, and there was no bigger tip-ins than Dylan Harper’s to put the team up 11 with fewer than five minutes to go, and Castle’s with under a minute left.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 1: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks have their mark for the NBA Finals.
After winning Game 7 at the Paycom Center, the San Antonio Spurs have completed their comeback and will face off against the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
For the Spurs, it’s their first visit to the NBA Finals since 2014 after they beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games. That was San Antonio’s sixth Finals visit in a 15-year span, which began back in 1999 when they faced off against the Knicks, whom they beat in five games.
For the Knicks, they have not been back to the Finals since that trip back in 1999, but they come into this series extremely well-rested after sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers in back-to-back series. Their last game came back on Monday, when they beat the Cavs by 37 points in Game 4 inside Rocket Arena.
The Knicks could come in with a big advantage with not as much mileage as the Spurs in the playoffs. The Spurs are coming off a brutal seven-game Western Conference Finals bloodbath against the Thunder, while the Knicks will have over a week of rest. However, the Knicks will start the series on the road and must win at least one game in San Antonio in order to win the franchise’s first title since 1973.
Posting and Toasting community, what do you think of the matchup between the Knicks and the Spurs? Let us know in the comments section below.
Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs teammates celebrate their win over the Thunder.Photograph: Nate Billings/AP
For large parts of this season, many wondered if the Oklahoma City Thunder had any weaknesses. One thing the reigning champions didn’t have was Victor Wembanyama, who led the San Antonio Spurs to a Game 7 victory in the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs’ 111-103 victory on Saturday night means they will face the New York Knicks in the NBA finals, with Game 1 set for Wednesday in San Antonio.
It would be a disservice to Wembanyama’s teammates to say the result was solely down to the 7ft 4in Frenchman, though. Julian Champagnie scored 20 points, including six three-pointers, Dylan Harper looked dangerous whenever he came off the bench and Wembanyama’s backup, Luke Kornet, pulled off a brilliant block at the rim in the fourth quarter as the Thunder threatened a comeback. Wembanyama finished the game with 22 points and seven rebounds.
“They don’t know how much I love them, and everyone stepped up tonight,” the 22-year-old said of his teammates.
The Thunder, who were without Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury, fought hard even as the clock ticked down but they were forced to take hopeful threes from well outside the arc and the Spurs had the final say with a breakaway dunk.
Wembanyama was named the series MVP and was in tears at the end of the game.
“Realizing that some part of a childhood dream is going to come true,” said Wembanyama when he was asked why he had been so emotional as his team clinched their place in the finals. “We’re still hungry, we want more. This feeling is so powerful, I can’t explain it”.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, was typically brilliant for the Thunder, scoring 35 points and dishing out nine assists. But none of his teammates scored more than 20 as they relinquished their title.
“You have to grow from every experience, including the tough ones,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “And it’s the NBA – there are tough ones. We can also be really disappointed ... There’s nobody that we don’t think we can beat, respectfully.”
As for the Spurs, they are confident of the road ahead. They may also be cheered by history: the last time the Knicks made the NBA finals, in 1999, they faced the Spurs, who won the series 4-1.
“We never knew if we were going to get this far but when you’ve got the greatest player in the world things happen,” said Champagnie after the game.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs started the Western Conference finals with a win in Oklahoma City, then ended the series the same way.
The champions are dethroned. Wembanyama and the Spurs are headed to the NBA Finals.
Wembanyama scored 22 points, Julian Champagnie got 18 of his 20 off of 3-pointers and the Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 on Saturday night — bucking heavy odds to win a Game 7 on the road.
Victor Wembanyama, holding the Western Conference MVP trophy he won, celebrates with teammates after the Spurs’ 111-103 Game 7 win over the Thunder on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Stephon Castle scored 16 points and De’Aaron Fox had 15. Dylan Harper added 12 and Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell each finished with 11 for the Spurs, who are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
They will host the New York Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday night.
The Spurs reacts as a timeout is called in the second half of their Game 7 win over the Thunder. AP Photo/Nate Billings
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, but for the eighth consecutive season the NBA will have a new champion.
By the end of the night Saturday, May 30, either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. The Thunder and the Spurs, the two best teams in the regular season, are battling in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the conference finals Saturday, May 30.
And all eyes are on the two stars in this game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player for the Thunder, and the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, the young phenom and unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.
Awaiting either squad in the NBA Finals is the New York Knicks, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Here are live takeaways from Game 7 of the Western Conference finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder:
Second-chance points have saved the Thunder
If there’s one thing that sparked Oklahoma City’s run in the second quarter, it was its work on the offensive glass.
The Thunder gained a 9-4 edge on offensive rebounds in the first half Saturday night. It was no surprise, then, that Oklahoma City took a massive 17-6 lead in second-chance points into intermission.
The offensive rebounding helped revive a moribund Thunder offense
The other thing offensive boards have done for OKC is to neutralize San Antonio’s transition offense; the Spurs have wanted to play quickly, and failing to scoop up defensive rebounds have robbed the Spurs of chances to get out on the break.
So did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A monster, 13-point second quarter from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifted the Thunder back into this game. Gilgeous-Alexander, admittedly, was slow to start this game.
The Spurs did throw extra bodies at him anytime he got the ball in an attacking position, so some of the early issues were to be expected.
But Gilgeous-Alexander was far more decisive in the second quarter and looked to get his looks before the Spurs were able to set their defense.
At the half, Gilgeous-Alexander has 19 points on a wildly-efficient 8-of-11 shooting and has added 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
His 19 points were most this series during a first half. He looks like an elite player who knows what’s at stake.
The San Antonio offense to start the game was impressive. Their defense was even better
Early on in Game 7, the Spurs swarmed the ball, used active hands to deflect passes and took control of the game with turnovers.
San Antonio, though the first 6:45 of the game, forced the Thunder into 5 turnovers (on 5 steals), which led to a quick 7-0 advantage on points off turnovers. Of course, it helped that the Spurs didn’t commit a single turnover during that span early, but it was the force and intensity the Spurs brought that impacted the game.
The Thunder were better with the ball in the second quarter, which allowed them to get better looks. For San Antonio to win this Game 7, it needs to find a way to continue pressuring ball-handlers into turnovers, because that’s the recipe it can use to play with more tempo.
He has been overshadowed all series long, but Oklahoma City will have a tough time winning this game if Chet Holmgren cannot provide more — on either offense or defense.
By the midway point of the the third quarter, Holmgren had taken just 2 shot attempts (making one), for 4 points. On the other end, he collected just 2 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal. He’s a premier defender but simply hasn’t been able to protect the rim as well as he has at points during the regular season.
On offense, he’s hesitating far too much when he gets the ball in his hands.
When the Knicks were down 2-1 to the Hawks in the first round of the 2026 playoffs, things began to look existential for this core, from the bench all the way up to the President. Everybody was under the spotlight, as another two losses would be a catastrophic failure for a team with championship aspirations, after championship-level big swings.
Firing head coach Tom Thibodeau and bringing in Mike Brown was one, as was the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, but perhaps the most scrutinized move that built this current iteration was the five first-round picks New York sent Brooklyn to acquire Mikal Bridges. He was a vaunted wing they paid a premium to their crosstown rivals to pick up, and he just put up zero points and four turnovers in a pivotal Game 3 loss.
Many had said he more than proved his worth during the 2025 playoffs, with multiple clutch games and moments to beat the Pistons in round one and upset the Celtics in round two. But this town isn’t big on consolation prizes, and a first-round loss this year would put Bridges on the chopping block and the trade that brought him here under a spotlight.
But since then, we’ve seen a completely different Bridges, one that’s been instrumental to their 11-game win streak and first NBA Finals berth in 27 years. Since that woeful Game 3, he’s cemented his Knicks legacy and once and for all made those picks an afterthought.
It started with his game-changing defense. He locked in on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, this year’s Most Improved Player.
Alexander-Walker went from a 20.8 points per game average in the regular season to 13.7 against the Knicks -- his two-point accuracy falling from 52.5 percent to 32.1 -- and Bridges forced nine turnovers in 29 minutes matched up with him. He was also massive off the ball and on switches, helping take All-Star Jalen Johnson out of the series.
Electric 28.3-points per game scorer Tyrese Maxey awaited Bridges in the second round, and Bridges stepped up to the plate. Bridges held him to an inefficient first two games -- 19 points a night on 38 percent shooting from the field -- and forced eight turnovers in 21 minutes of matchup time.
When OG Anunoby went down with a hamstring injury, Bridges stepped up to take on Paul George to finish the sweep. All the while, Bridges has done the little things on this end as well, boxing out, fighting for boards and running the floor hard.
In the Conference Finals, he had the privilege of guarding James Harden, and once again lived up to the challenge. Harden averaged 16 points on 39 percent shooting from the field and 18 percent shooting from three, struggling to make a real dent in Bridges’ defense.
There are few wings in these playoffs that have comparable impact to Bridges defensively, and he’s been a different offensive force since his zilch. From Game 6 against Atlanta, he’s averaged 18.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game on a remarkable 71.4 percent shooting from two and 37.9 percent from three.
This isn’t just by way of his usual diet of leakouts, catch-and-shoot threes and mid-range pulls, either. Bridges rediscovered his paint aggression, looking for contact and rim attacks in transition and the halfcourt.
He’s been creating for himself more in the pick-and-roll as the series have gone on, even bailing the Knicks out at pivotal times. His huge threes in Game 1 against the Cavaliers, including the fading prayer over Evan Mobley, were crucial to the Knicks pulling off the comeback.
New York will need him to continue this tear in the NBA Finals, but no matter how this final round plays out, the black cloud of draft picks that’s hovered above him for two seasons can now dissipate for good. Bridges has more than proven himself these playoffs, and the front office is validated for taking that swing.
The Knicks have taken over games in the postseason with their scoring runs.
The results, when all of those scoring runs stack together, have been blowouts.
Each one for the Knicks — the small spurts, the overpowering tears, the mind-boggling stretches that alter games and series — added together and turned their 2026 postseason appearance into a historic six weeks.
When the Knicks open the NBA Finals on Wednesday, they’ll enter on an 11-game winning streak during which they’ve outscored opponents by 262 points.
Scattered throughout those victories, the Knicks have embarked on scoring stretches that capture a strong momentum team, extending those stretches to the point where they could even end up at 63-11 — like it did in Game 6 of their first-round series against the Hawks.
These runs, OG Anunoby said, are infectious, combining shots falling, ball movement, turnovers, steals, stops and some more shots falling.
“It adds up,” Anunoby added, and the Knicks’ ability to overwhelm opponents has become a defining trait ahead of their first Finals appearance since 1999.
Karl-Anthony Towns attempts a 3-pointer during the Knicks’ Eastern Conference series-clinching win on May 25, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg
“It’s great when you can kinda have those moments in the game where everything’s clicking,” Karl-Anthony Towns said Friday after the Knicks practiced in Tarrytown, “and I think what’s great about us and what this run has shown is that when we get on those runs, we continue to extend those runs for a long period of time.
“So our ability to stay focused and stay in that zone has helped us tremendously in this playoff, and it’s a lot of the reason why we’re sitting here in this chair today talking about NBA Finals.”
Game 6 against the Hawks served as the most ridiculous instance of a scoring run for the Knicks, allowing them to construct the largest halftime lead in playoff history and score the franchise’s most points in a postseason game.
But they also used a 44-11 tear to close Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers after trailing by 22 points.
That stretch featured 15 points from Jalen Brunson, and it also included Landry Shamet’s forever shot from the corner — the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime — and nine points from Anunoby in overtime.
The Knicks produced an 18-0 run in the third quarter to break open Game 3 against the Cavaliers and a 20-0 run in the second quarter to all but decide Game 4 before it even reached halftime.
OG Anunoby drives to the basket during the Knicks’ May 21 win against the Cavaliers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
There were also smaller moments that flew under the radar, like a 17-5 run in the final frame of Game 2 against the 76ers that turned a four-point lead into a 16-point advantage and allowed the Knicks to avoid a close finish.
And Brunson always possesses the ability to construct his own spurts.
These windows can be delicate, too.
They take connectivity and belief in everyone and sacrifice, head coach Mike Brown said, because someone could be on the bench when a run begins and won’t make it on the floor.
“There are maybe times when you’re open during those runs and somebody misses you and you can’t get pissed,” Brown said Friday, “because if you get pissed, now your emotions and your energy are someplace else or focused on something else as opposed to what you need to do defensively and all that other stuff.”
At some point in the Finals, the Knicks could get hit with a counter punch.
They might not be able to sustain runs and orchestrate blowouts and rest starters in fourth quarters.
But until then, they’ve mastered the art of momentum — of creating it, of sustaining it, of using it without seemingly anything, or anyone, being able to interrupt their flow.
“Anything and everything out of the ordinary can happen [during runs],” Brown said of being a momentum team, “and you gotta rely on those intangibles to make sure you stay locked in.”
Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) against the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
I was never a fan of the Jalen Green trade, and this past season illustrated the problems I anticipated. The Suns were exceeding all expectations while Green was out with injury, but then fell to earth when he returned. If it felt like they were worse after he came back, you’d be right. The team was 17-15 (.531) when he didn’t play, and 28-22 (.560) when he did. When you consider Booker’s injuries, the Suns were 24-13 (.648) when Booker played, and Jalen Green didn’t.
To put it in perspective: taking Jalen Green out of the picture, and a little better health by Booker, could have put the Suns in a position to compete for the 4th seed in the West. This would have given them a real shot at making the second round instead of getting splattered by the Thunder in a four-game sweep.
On the surface, this doesn’t seem to make much sense: why would the Suns be worse with their second or third-best player on the court? The short answer is that when he’s on the court, it forces the Suns to play lineups that are very sub-optimal. When he’s sitting on the bench, that’s $36.3 million in wasted salary. This puts the Suns in a position where there is no good answer other than to move him for a player who can play as a power forward.
Thinking through the lineup permutations, if the Suns play a lineup of Booker and Green in the backcourt, plus a “normal” frontcourt rotation with a small forward (Brooks) and a power forward, then they don’t have a true point guard running the offense, and Booker is being used sub-optimally. Booker’s best play has always been next to a point guard, whether Rubio, Chris Paul, or Collin Gillespie.
If the Suns play Gillespie, Green, and Booker, it puts Booker at small forward (he’s not a small forward) and then forces the Suns to either play Brooks at power forward (where he’s outmatched size-wise) or sit him (which puts your second or third best player on the bench). Again, this forces the Suns to either play people out of position or put their best players on the bench.
You theoretically could put Green on the bench as a super-Sixth Man, but that’s $36.3 million in salary coming off the pine, while the Suns also have great guards competing for those same bench minutes in Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen. Both of whom have far smaller salaries, meaning that the Suns spend less money (and less salary cap) on them when they’re sitting on the bench. When Green is on the bench, he has the same on-court value as Bradley Beal’s cap space dead money. This is just another form of inefficiency.
When you dive further into the statistics, you see the same observations playing out.
The table below shows the net +/- per 48 differential for all the main Suns players at the end of the season. What jumps out is how middling Green’s effect on the court was, and how playing a real power forward, even a journeyman like Isaiah Livers, improved the team immensely compared to throwing small forwards like Brooks, Dunn, or O’Neale at the problem. Note that the Suns’ small forwards all played significant minutes at power forward, and all had negative differentials in part due to playing out of position.
Again, the solution to the problem is blindingly obvious: trade Green for a decent power forward, and you end up with a balanced rotation, while taking minutes away from the player who’s become the “pigeon” on defense (O’Neale), and probably should never have been playing power forward in the first place.
Player
On Court/Off Court
Booker
6.6
Fleming
6.6
Gillespie
6.4
Ighodaro
5.1
Maluach
4.5
Coffey
4.3
Goodwin
2.2
Green
0.4
Livers
0.0
Allen
-1.4
Dunn
-2.1
Williams
-4.6
Brooks
-5.1
O’Neale
-8.3
When you look at net ratings for various lineups on the Suns, you see the same pattern emerging. Lineups with Booker and Gillespie had a +7.0 net rating, and Booker/Green was a +4.1. Interestingly, Gillespie/Fleming lineups had a +8.7 rating, and Booker/Fleming lineups were a +10.4. The conclusion that satisfies Occam’s Razor here is that the Suns are best when playing a balanced lineup, and that Jalen Green’s presence on the roster directly interferes with this necessity.
This is not calling Green a bad player (though his shooting efficiency is pretty lackluster) or a bad teammate. It’s simply to say that he’s a bad fit because he only plays one position, and it’s the same position as the Suns’ best player (Booker). With Green on the roster, the Suns are faced with the choice between playing lineups with a relatively low ceiling (a little over .500 winning percentage) or sitting their second-best player and his $36.3 million salary.
Note that the Suns had the worst point differntial of any team in the NBA after Jalen Green came back from injury as well.
We all know that the “Moneyball” era of the NBA is here: like layups and three pointers as the only shots teams want to take. Every little advantage is crucial. Winning is all about maximizing the efficiency of your shots, your possessions, your lineups, cap space, and anywhere else that contributes to winning. There is no conceivable way to maximize the value of Jalen Green while he’s on the same team as Devin Booker. This inefficiency and wasted cap space on a player that doesn’t help on the court dooms the Suns to mediocrity until he or Booker is gone.
Suns fans were howling for Jordan Ott to give Rasheer Fleming some playing time in the playoffs as OKC mercilessly exploited the Suns’ lack of size. However, the reason Fleming didn’t get any was due to the conundrum created by Green’s presence on the roster. His presence makes even less sense than that when John Gambodoro is saying the Suns’ top two priorities this offseason are re-signing Gillespie and Goodwin.
I would expect the Suns top priorities this offseason to be 1. Retaining Collin Gillespie 2. Retaining Jordan Goodwin
If the Suns want to take the next step to being a team competing for home court advantage in the playoffs, rather than just a play-in team that gets unceremoniously annihilated in the first round, they must move Jalen Green elsewhere, preferably for a power forward. The logic is inescapable, and the quantitative evidence backs up the eye test.
Knicks
Spurs
