With the Raptors’ offseason begun in full force, the franchise has seen its rookie receive the team’s first major individual award of the 2025-26 season. Collin Murray-Boyles has been named to the All-Rookie Second Team, the first Toronto player to receive the award since Scottie Barnes in 2022.

It has been a stellar season for Murray-Boyles that has not been totally reflected in his box scores. The former South Carolina Gamecock finished the campaign with 8.5 blocks, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, as well as a block and a steal a piece. Murray-Boyles proved that when given the minutes, he could affect the game at both ends of the floor. Predominantly coming off the bench in the regular season, as well as some high profile starts at centre, the rookie demonstrated excellent defensive chops, stellar rebounding, and flashes of genuine scoring abilities.

The playoffs are where Collin really shined, looking like the best player in Toronto’s rotation of big men at only 6’7. Averaging 14, 6.4, and 2.4, Murray Boyles had 5 stocks in a crucial game 6, and played a big part in anchoring Toronto throughout the series. Early playoff reps can mean so much for a young player’s development, and have further proved that the forward is a piece worth building around for the Raptors. But, Murray-Boyles seems to have enjoyed himself all the while. “It just makes me smile all the time, just being able to be a part of this,” he said about playoff basketball on the Raptors.

With Jakob Poeltl out for stretches throughout the year, Murray-Boyles’ defensive abilities as a small-ball centre earned him comparisons to his teammate, Scottie Barnes, as well as Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. It seems he might land somewhere outside of that range, more of a defensive specialist who can pass, rather than a point forward, though the young player’s game certainly has the time to evolve. Improving his free throw shooting would make him even more of a threat in the post, where his ability to pump fake and score close to the basket gives him some of the most dominant looking moments on the hardwood.

Murray-Boyles’ received the fewest amount of votes of any player selected to the All-Rookie team, with only 66 votes compared to the player ahead of him, Ace Bailey, who received 107. He was the only All-Rookie on a playoff team to not make the First Team, which in part can be chalked up to him coming off the bench for a Toronto roster with much forward depth, while many of his other classmates found themselves in starting jobs on depleted rosters.

Looking to the future, Collin Murray-Boyles has the potential to become an All-Defensive mainstay, as well as a cornerstone of an ascendant Toronto Raptors squad. He’s come a long way since being drafted ninth overall, swearing quietly out of shock as he was called to join his current team. He has come into the league as a developed player, and as the years go on, additional coats of polish should see him transcend his place now and become a premier two-way threat Raptors fans should be glad to have on their team.

Coming off a dramatic double overtime win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs looked to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. De’Aaron Fox missed his second straight game with a high ankle sprain, so the Spurs were once again without one of their all-stars. After a back-and-forth first quarter ended in a stalemate, the Spurs struggled offensively in the second. They were outscored 31-20 in the quarter and entered halftime with a double-digit deficit. The Spurs quickly erased their deficit and tied the game early in the third thanks to defensive stops and timely threes. However, OKC ramped up the pressure on defense and forced more turnovers. The result was an eight-point deficit for the Spurs heading into the fourth. Also, Dylan Harper injured his leg and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Despite Harper’s injury, the Spurs managed to keep pace with OKC and even managed to get within five points with just over a minute left. Unfortunately, Stephon Castle committed his ninth turnover of the game, and OKC closed it out. The Spurs ultimately lost 122-113.

Stephon Castle dropped 25 points (10-17 FG), eight assists, five rebounds, and a steal. Steph was cooking in the first half, scoring-wise; however, those same turnovers from Game 1 came back to bite him in Game 2. It seemed like for every dime that Steph was dishing out, he would also get a turnover to counter it. Already playing without Fox, OKC pressures him intensely whenever he is the main ball handler. Now add Harper’s injury, OKC is even more relentless. Steph now holds the record for most turnovers in the conference finals in the first two games with 20. For as many highlight plays Steph continues to make, he has to take better care of the ball. If Fox and/or Harper can play Game 3 and beyond, it would do wonders for Steph.

2-way player! Steph gets the steal on one end and drops it off for the Luke Kornet deuce!

HOW? Steph throws up a crazy floater from the top of the key for two!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME! Steph drives in and completely posterizes Hartenstein for the dunk of the year!

Patience and toughness. Steph drives in, takes his time, and finishes at the rim over Ajay Mitchell!

HB FOR 3! Steph dishes out a dime to an open Harrison Barnes for the corner three!

Defense to offense! After Wemby breaks up the alley-oop attempt, Keldon Johnson feeds Steph for the fastbreak three!

Returning the favor! Steph finds an open KJ in the corner for the transition three!

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and a steal. After a generational performance in Game 1, Wemby still managed to stay active on the glass and was active on defense. He had several early rests due to fatigue from Game 1, but still played the entire fourth quarter. OKC switched up their defense on him by having Isaiah Hartenstein guard him instead of smaller players. Hartenstein covered him the same way Timberwolves players were guarding him last series: holding and being physical to the point where the referees do not see it. His paint defense is so valuable; every time he is benched, OKC makes it a mission to attack the paint. His endurance will be tested throughout the rest of this series, as the DPOY will look to continue to give his team an unguardable edge.

W3MBY! Wemby drains one of his two three-pointers early in the first quarter!

Putback with the left! Wemby rebounds his own missed shot by contorting his left arm at the bucket!

Too much space! Wemby drains the pull-up deep three to tie the game!

NASTY PUTBACK! Wemby rebounds another one of his shots for a tip-in slam!

He can do this all day! Another missed shot, another rebound+ tip-in!

Devin Vassell dropped 22 points (6-12 3PT), four rebounds, an assist, and a block. Dev hit several key shots in much-needed momentum swings. He stepped up to the plate on both ends of the floor, especially making up for lost points after Harper’s injury. He will need to keep his hot shooting pace for the next couple of games in front of a raucous Frost Bank Center crowd, especially if Fox and/or Harper are out.

Corner specialist! Dev knocks down the open corner three after a blistering pass from Wemby!

Why not let it fly? Dev sinks the fastbreak transition three!

Despite the turnovers, the injuries, and battling through more physical contact, the Spurs still managed to keep this a close game down the stretch. Mitch Johnson and the coaching staff will have to look through film and work on correcting the mistakes while they wait to see the status of Fox and Harper for Games 3 and 4. Even if Harper is projected to miss time, a Fox return for Game 3 gives the Spurs a chance to clean up the turnovers and give them a scoring edge they have been missing in the first two games. If neither plays, Steph is going to have to tuck the ball away and play at a slower pace to keep the turnovers as low as possible. Despite the injury concerns, the silver and black can still make this series a competitive one, but as stated before, a return of either helps the Spurs’ chances of winning the series by a larger margin.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

Game 3 of the WCF shifts to the Frost Bank Center this Friday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.

Yesterday, the NBA released the 2025-26 All-Rookie Teams. As the team with the worst record last season, the Washington Wizards relied heavily on young rosters. However, that didn’t translate into any players making the first or second teams.

That’s unfortunate, especially considering that both Tre Johnson and Will Riley averaged double figures in scoring. Johnson received 19 second team votes and 5 second team votes.

Despite their omission from the Rookie team, this does not mean that Johnson and Riley aren’t poised to be long term contributors for Washington. Let’s call it motivation for the next year.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James expressed uncertainty about his NBA future in the immediate aftermath of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

And he maintained that feeling in a recent discussion about his playing career.

During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, which he co-hosts with NBA legend Steve Nash, James reiterated that he needs time to think about what he’ll do entering an offseason where he’ll be an unrestricted free agent.

“I’m still in the moment of just taking my time,” James said. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny — being here with [the Lakers] for a foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else.

“But like, I haven’t even really even got to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind. But, I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like.”

Free agency season is loading for @KingJames, but not until after Memorial Day.

Tap into the new episode out now on Youtube, @PrimeVideo, or wherever else you listen to your podcasts. pic.twitter.com/YnpIr0PogP

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) May 21, 2026

James reiterated his family will be a priority in his decision. He and his wife, Savannah, have three kids: Lakers guard Bronny, 21; Arizona Wildcats guard Bryce, 18; and Zhuri, 12.

“It’s very important,” he said. “I mean, 1A and 1B, is [what] do I feel comfortable doing with my career? But also with my family, how do they feel about whatever decision that I’m able to come up with and make? And that’s a joint decision as well. It’s 1A and 1B. I don’t think one is higher than the other.”

James is coming off a two-year, $101.4 million contract with the Lakers that included a $52.6 million salary for 2025–26.

The options James will mull over are retirement, or play a record-extending 24th NBA season either after re-signing with the Lakers or signing with another team.

“If it’s continuing to play the game that I love, which I know I can still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it’s not,” James said, “but I have not gotten to that point yet. When I get there, it’d be fun to kind of see what the future could hold. Either if it’s, like I said, in another NBA arena for another year or not.”

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During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania mentioned that James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, told him that virtually “every” contender has called Paul about James since the Lakers’ season ended.

James reaffirmed if he does return for a 24th season, it’ll be with a franchise where winning is the priority.

“Winning is most important,” James said. “Because you want to be excited about going to work every day. And being around a group of guys that feel the same way, and try not to take steps backwards. Understanding the season is a marathon, or whatever the case may be. But those building blocks throughout the course of the season is what matters when you get to the sprint, which is now, the postseason.

“I’m not going anywhere it’s a start over at Year 24. I’m done with that.”

James is coming off averaging 20.9 points (51.5% shooting, 31.7% on 3-pointers), 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 regular season games (career-low 33.2 minutes).

He upped his averages to 23.2 points (45.9% shooting, 32.7% on 3-pointers), 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds in the Lakers’ 10 playoff games (38.4 minutes) before they were swept by the Thunder in the second round.

James missed the first 14 regular season games because of sciatica he started dealing with last summer. He also entered the 2025 offseason dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee that he suffered in the season-ending Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

“I had a couple of bumps and bruises to end the season, but I think we can both agree that an offseason without rehab is a success after a long season,” James said to Nash. “I’ll take it.”

MIAMI (AP) — League One Volleyball is bringing an expansion franchise to Miami for its third season, boosting the women's professional volleyball league to 10 teams for its upcoming third season.

The league made the announcement on Thursday, adding that it will also introduce an Eastern and Western Conference format for the 2026-27 season.

Miami will join the league's Eastern Conference, along with Atlanta, Madison, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Western Conference will include Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Salt Lake and San Francisco.

The league said the goal of the new format is to create new regional rivalries and more competition for fans and athletes.

“Expanding to Miami marks an exciting next chapter for the league as we continue building a truly national platform for professional volleyball," said commissioner Sandra Idehen in a statement. "Miami’s passion for sports, global influence, and deeply rooted volleyball community make it an ideal home for our newest team. With the addition of LOVB Miami and the launch of our Eastern and Western Conferences, we’re creating even more opportunities for regional rivalries, marquee matchups, and unforgettable fan experiences throughout the season.”

League One Volleyball, branded as LOVB and pronounced “LOVE,” launched in January 2025 after securing more than $100 million in funding from private equity and individuals, including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and NBA star Kevin Durant.

It has expanded since debuting with six teams and is among numerous recently launched women's leagues hoping to capitalize on rapid growth in popularity and investment in women's sports.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

The 2025-26 season had a lot of surprises for Boston Celtics fans. Jaylen Brown’s ascension to a top-10 player over the regular season. Neemias Queta’s explosive growth into a serviceable starting center. The Stay Ready crew’s energy and impact. Sadly, a disappointing first-round playoff exit.

However, one of the biggest surprises was the disappearance of Derrick White’s shot. White may have started his career in San Antonio with a shaky shot, but he developed into a certified sniper in 2022-23 — his first full season with the Celtics — and shot at least 38.1% from three-point range over the three seasons preceding 2025-26.

So, what went wrong this season? And what might it mean for his future with the team?

Examining White’s shooting over the 2025-26 season

There was no gradual buildup to White’s shooting struggles: it was evident right out of the gate. The 31-year-old started the season with a string of inauspicious “tour date” shooting performances, kicked off with 7/20 shooting from the field in the Celtics’ opening night loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

He shot only 4/13, or 30.8%, from three-point range on opening night, but that proved to be his most efficient showing over the first seven games of the season. Over those seven games, White hit only 30.8% of his shots from the field and 25% of his three-point attempts while jacking up almost 17 field goal attempts per game.

In lieu of Jayson Tatum, the Celtics resorted to using White as a second option on offense, as he finished behind only Jaylen Brown in shot attempts per game. While he put up 12.6 field goal attempts per game the year before, he shot 16.2 per game over the first 38 games of the 2025-26 season — a nearly 30% increase.

Despite a handful of explosive performances, like a 33-point showing on 55% shooting from the field and 64.3% shooting from three-point range against the Miami Heat last December, White clearly struggled early on with his newly expanded role on offense.

Nevertheless, he seemed to build some momentum toward the end of 2025. White’s three-point shooting efficiency improved from 25.4% on 10.5 attempts per game in October to 35.7% on 7.5 attempts in November, then to 38.2% in December on 10.9 attempts per game.

That momentum collapsed in January, when he shot only 37.3% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range, but things evened out a little in February, when he shot 39.5% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.

By the time Tatum returned in March, White was shooting 39.2% from the field on 15.2 attempts per game and 33% on 8.8 three-point attempts per game — both well below his career averages.

Many pundits (including me) expected Tatum’s return to benefit White by lessening his offensive load and allowing him to be used in a more off-ball role. While his volume drastically decreased with Tatum back on the court — he attempted only 11.4 field goals and 6.5 three-pointers per game following Tatum’s return on March 6 — his efficiency did not improve. In fact, from three-point range, it only got worse: White hit only 30.9% of his three-pointers over his last 17 games with Tatum back in the lineup.

Volume-wise, it was a career year for White. He averaged a career-high 16.5 points on 14.4 shot attempts per game, 4.4 rebounds (the second-highest mark of his career) and 5.4 assists — another career high. He also averaged career highs in steals per game (1.1) and blocks per game (1.3).

However, it may have been White’s single-worst season in terms of shooting efficiency. He shot 39.4% from the field (the worst mark of his career) and 32.7% on 8.3 three-point attempts per game (his second-worst three-point shooting season of his career). His 48.9% effective field goal and 52.9% true shooting percentages were also career-worsts.

His expanded offensive role through February played into that inefficiency, as he was only assisted on 71.8% of his three-point makes over the course of the season, and only 11.4% of his three-point attempts were from the corner — both being the lowest marks of his Celtics tenure and the second-lowest marks of his career in their respective categories.

White’s shooting struggles got even worse in the playoffs, where he shot 32.1% from the field on 11.6 shot attempts per game and 27.3% on 7.9 three-point attempts. His lack of success seemed to impact his confidence, too, as he hesitated on a handful of open shots and passed out of multiple scoring opportunities, even when the Celtics were desperate for a basket. He did not score more than 11 points until he broke out in Game 7 (interestingly enough with Tatum sitting out with an injury) but, by then, it was too late.

Is White’s future in Boston at risk?

Despite White’s huge contributions to the 2023-24 championship run and the team’s overall success in recent years, he could be on the chopping block if Brad Stevens is looking to make waves this offseason.

His defense remains elite — it seems like he only gets better and better at racking up stocks at the years go by — but it is unclear if the soon-to-be 32-year-old can regain the shooting efficiency that made him one of the best role players in the game.

A consistent, smaller role than the one he was pushed into for 2025-26 may help since White has historically been at his best as a tertiary option behind the Jays. He did struggle to hit shots while playing alongside Tatum this year, but that may be due to his fluctuating role on offense as he was asked to step up as a creator in the early season, then got lost in the mix upon JT’s return.

If White is unable to return to form, he might not fit in if the team continues to be built around the Jays and a three-point-heavy offense moving forward. Neither of the Jays are elite shooters in terms of efficiency from deep, but their gravity can create open opportunities for others, so they need to be surrounded by above-average shooters who can capitalize on those open looks in order for Joe Mazzulla’s offense to churn at a high gear.

Other factors to consider regarding White’s future in Boston are his salary, age, and redundancy with the team’s up-and-comers.

White will be 32 by the time the 2026-27 season begins, with two years of more than $30 million in guaranteed salary and a $34,844,000 player option for 2028-29. Stevens got the C’s under the luxury tax this year, but that price tag is difficult to maintain next to the Jays’ two supermax deals. Following the 2026-27 season, the contracts of Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and Amari Williams will expire, so it could prove to be quite a task to retain them while keeping White and the Jays.

Additionally, White has earned his reputation as an elite role player so, in combination with his sizable contract, he could be used as an asset in potential trade deals. That’s also where his redundancy with others on the team could come into play, since Boston has Payton Pritchard on a bargain contract and a small collection of young, exciting wings on rookie deals, like Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez.

If Stevens is serious about upgrading the Celtics’ impact at the rim, he may see White and his contract as more expendable than Pritchard or the team’s stable of young wings.

White has become a fan favorite in Boston for his defensive impact, willingness to lose teeth to win games, and his magical buzzer-beating shot in Miami to send the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals to Game 7, but he could end up a trade casualty regardless — especially if he can’t get his shot back early next season.

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And it’s back to the Alamo City.

Following an intense, back-and-forth first two games of the Western Conference Finals, Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder head to San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center for a pair of high-stakes showdowns.

They’re scheduled to take place on:

Game 3Friday, May 22
7:30 p.m.

Game 4Sunday, May 24
7 p.m.

As of now, last-minute tickets are available for both contests.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for either game was $338 including fees on SeatGeek.

While pricey, this series — that pundits have billed as “the real NBA Finals” — has been nothing short of stunning thus far.

Game 1 saw a herculean effort from Victor Wembanyama, who led the Spurs to a 122-115 double-overtime victory. The 22-year-old, 7’4 French center scored 41 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and sunk a clutch three from near half court to tie the game at 108 and send the game into its second overtime.

Wow.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned in Game 2. San Antonio fell behind in the second quarter and were down 11 at halftime. Although they outscored OKC in the second half and mounted a comeback, they lost 122-113.

“It’s all in the scouting,” Wembanyama said. “I have to trust the scouting. We have to trust it and do our work early. It’s straight effort. … Doesn’t mean it’s easy. We have to work through it.”

Should you attend, the Frost Bank Center will be giving away Fiesta-colored T-shirts for Game 3. The Game 4 giveaway is rally towels.

Best of all, Taco Palenque is offering free tacos to fans after every Spurs win.

Want to be there to see Wemby, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagne suit up at home?

We’re here to help you, baseline bums and Spurs Jackals.

Our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Conference Finals games live at Frost Bank Center below.

San Antonio Spurs playoff home game tickets

All Spurs Frost Bank Center playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found here:

Oklahoma City Thunder playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar, including all announced Thunder Western Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets are listed below.

How to watch the Thunder vs. Spurs on TV

Fans hoping to catch Wemby and SGA duke it out on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC, and NBA TV.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff bracket here to catch up.

Huge artists on tour in 2026

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NBA season?

We’ve got you covered.

Many of the biggest names in music will be dropping into the Alamo City these next few months.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Don Toliver (June 14)

• Grupo Frontera (July 19)

• Earth, Wind, and Fire with Lionel Richie (July 28)

• J. Cole (Sept. 13)

• Chayanne (Sept. 27)

Want to see who else is out and about? Check out this list of all the biggest events coming to the Frost Bank Center to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

The serious basketball heads I know are ecstatic. The NBA Conference Finals have delivered three thrillers so far. Last night in the West, SGA and the Thunder tied their series with another slugfest against Wemby and the Spurs. On Tuesday, throughout most of their Game One, the Knicks looked rusty while the Cavaliers rode the momentum gained from besting the Pistons in the semifinals. Then Jalen Brunson lit the burner. Outscoring the Cavs on his own, Captain Clutch erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime with a 44-11 run and steal the win, 115-104. Yet, for all of Brunson’s heroics, don’t miss Bridges’ clutch defensive and offensive contributions, and Landry Shamet’s team-high +25 in 17 minutes. The star shined most brightly, but his supporting cast carried plenty of the load.

Tonight, New York hosts a crestfallen Cleveland crew for Game Two. Inquiring minds want to know if the Ohio Players will recover from their epic collapse and steal a win at the Garden.

Donovan Mitchell remains one of the NBA’s elite playoff scorers and is capable of carrying Cleveland’s offense for long stretches. He faltered down the stretch, however, like a man who’d burned his fuel to fumes over the past week. And James Harden? Forget it. When J.B. needed a bucket, it was Harden he hunted and took to the woodshed over and over again. In addition to all the points allowed by his turnstile defense, The Beard committed six turnovers and shot 1-of-8 from deep. We hope Kenny Atkinson plans to play him a full 48 minutes tonight.

In 40 minutes, Evan Mobley logged a 15-14 double-double and three blocks, but shot nearly as poorly as Harden. Jarrett Allen managed 10 points and seven boards, but was part of a frontcourt that got clobbered all night long. The home team outscored the visitors a whopping 60-38 in the paint, which compensated for New York’s 31% efficiency from the perimeter.

Deep into Tuesday’s game, fatigue set in for the Cavaliers, and New York benefited from its long respite, showing fresh legs late. Three things will likely decide the rematch (yeah, yeah, for brevity’s sake, we’ll say three). First, turnovers: the Knicks’ defensive pressure continues to yield great dividends, generating 28 points off 21 giveaways in Game One. Second, frontcourt dominance: the good guys didn’t just score a ton in the paint, they won the boards 47-38. Third, fourth-quarter execution: coach Kenny Atkinson said the ball got “stuck” in the fourth frame, and he wasn’t lying. His club managed just 18 points while the Knicks ran circles around them.

The Knicks swept Philadelphia in the semifinals and should have done the same to the Hawks (they lost two First Round games by a combined two points). They have consistently overwhelmed opponents with rebounding, defensive pressure, and superb offensive talent. As shown on Tuesday, when they switch to bulldozer mode, they are seemingly unstoppable.

Likely starters for Cleveland: Harden, Mitchell, Dean Wade, Mobley, and Allen. For New York: Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Towns, and Robinson. The injury report is blank.

Prediction

ESPN.com likes our heroes at 72%. Wasn’t that the percentage for the last game, too? We can dig it. Expect a more aggressive Cleveland effort tonight, especially from Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. On Tuesday, each team shot below 33% from deep. We’ll get better from New York tonight, now that they are back in rhythm. Josh Hart brought a lot of wild, haphazard energy, resulting in a team-worst -23, but he should be more focused tonight. OG Anunoby could not throw a basketball into the ocean, shooting 2-of-9 and 1-of-6 from deep. He will prove that he is a better shooter than that sometime during this series. Finally, Karl-Anthony Towns seemed most befuddled after a long break (seven turnovers…) but still managed a 13-13 double-double and a +13. Once all these guys return to Round Two form, the Cavs might just hide beneath their bench. Look for less tomfoolery from our gang and, despite a few runs by Cleveland, a win by 8.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (1-0) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1)
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 8 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NY
TV: ESPN
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

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Fans were treated to an absolute thriller at the Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and we pick back up at the Garden for Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 2 tonight.

Our basketball experts have their favorite NBA picks for this contest, where we're cashing in on how both teams will adjust their defensive schemes.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Expert Picks Tonight

Pick	Odds
Jon Metler: Brunson 7+ assists	+102
Jason Logan: Harden 18+ points	-120
Joe Osborne: Knicks -6.5	-105

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists

Price: +102 at bet365

Jalen Brunson fell just short for us in Game 1 with six assists, but if sportsbooks are going to repost 6.5 at plus money, I’m going right back to it. Nothing from Game 1 changed my outlook on this prop. In fact, I feel even better about it heading into tonight: Brunson consistently broke down James Harden in isolation, and it’s hard to imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers continuing to let that happen without sending more help defenders or double teams. If Cleveland adjusts defensively, it should naturally create more passing opportunities for Brunson. What really stands out is that despite taking 29 shot attempts in Game 1, Brunson still generated 12 potential assists. That’s a very strong underlying number and suggests the playmaking opportunities were there all night. I price the Over 6.5 assists closer to -165.

Jason Logan's expert pick: James Harden Over 17.5 points

Price: -120 at bet365

The New York Knicks blitzed James Harden in the first half of Game 1, sending extra defenders to force the ball out of his hands. He scored only seven points on 3-for-5 shooting and couldn’t get inside to draw fouls in the opening two frames. However, Cleveland was able to skip the ball to open hands, building a big lead in the process. New York’s crazy comeback started when it switched up its defensive scheme in the second half and played Harden straight up. He took 10 FGAs and got to the foul line six times but walked away with just eight points in the second half due to poor shooting (2 for 10). Harden’s usage jumped from 23.7% in the 1H to 29.2% in the 2H, and if the Knicks stick to what worked, Harden will get plenty of scoring opportunities — but the Cavs won’t generate so many wide-open looks. Projections are bullish on "The Beard" with most models north of his 17.5-point total, including a few on the happy side of 20 points.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks -6.5

Price: -105 at bet365

I’ll take the Knicks to pick up where they left off in Game 1. There were clear signs of rust after an eight-day layoff, yet New York still finished on top in most key statistical categories... despite trailing by 22 in the fourth quarter. Zooming out, New York leads all playoff teams in both net rating and effective field goal percentage, with eight of their nine postseason wins coming by 11+ points. Cleveland’s road efficiency has cratered, and the Cavs looked completely rattled late in Game 1, which is an enormous red flag with a raucous MSG crowd to contend with again.

More Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 picks

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If you’re like me, you can’t wait for Game 2 later today.

If you’re one of them, you probably want the series to be over with so you can pack your bags and spend two months in Cancun starting asap.

Here’s the latest from Tarrytown and elsewhere as we wait for tip-off at 8 p.m.

Mike Brown

On his calf injury scare from Game 1:

“It’s alright. I’m good to go. I would’ve blown my Achilles out if I didn’t have on my P.F. Flyers. I had on my P.F. Flyers, so they help give me the support I need. It’s old school.”

On attacking James Harden in isolation late and not forgeting about the KAT-centric offense:

“That’s just the action we went to at the time, but we have a lot of other stuff, and we didn’t execute well throughout the course of the game. We have to do a better job of it. And we tried to clean a lot of it up today, and hopefully it will translate to the game tomorrow because I feel like everybody we have on the floor is dynamic. Our offense has been dynamic and we don’t want to lose sight of that.”

On adjusting offensively for Game 2:

“Kenny’s a great coach and we know they’re going to come out ready to play. They came to New York to get one game and it’s still within reach… They’re going to be ready, they’re going to mix it up. At the end of the day, it’s our job to make sure that we’re more efficient and we’re more diverse offensively so that nobody can sit on any one action we’re trying to run.”

On diversifying the Knicks’ offensive system:

“Trying to show the diversity our group has. Not just with the actions that we try to execute but with the players involved in it. I have to try to do a better job of helping with that diversity throughout the course of the game so that down the stretch we have a few more things that we go to.”

On the need for being more efficient and varied offensively going forward:

“They are going to be ready and mix it up at the end of the day. It’s our job to make sure we are more efficient and we are more diverse offensively so that no one can sit on any one action we are trying to run.”

On the week-long break before the ECF:

“It has more to do with having an edge, keeping a competitive edge. Games obviously help you with that because your body and your mind are constantly on when you are playing games. When they are off, you tend to relax. That is just human nature.”

On Brunson’s leadership during the comeback:

“He’s a leader. He’s our guy. And he felt we need to play faster. He felt we needed to be better defensively. There were a couple things that he felt, and he made sure that we knew and our guys responded to him.”

On Shamet’s bounce-in three:

“It was crazy. I kind of felt it was going in. I don’t know why. It was just one of those things. I was like, ‘I think that’s going to go in’ as crazy as it sounds.”

On expecting a bounceback from Josh Hart:

“When you are in the position that Josh was in or Mikal was in in the Atlanta series … they sacrificed their minutes willingly and they were great about it while keeping themselves ready. Mikal was fantastic … and I don’t see anything different from Josh going forward.”

Jalen Brunson

On the biggest takeaway from Game 1:

“I think more of the first three quarters is a bigger takeaway. They were playing great basketball, had us on our heels. Just got to give them a lot of credit. Obviously, we played well in the fourth and overtime. We got to come out ready to go. Honestly, I think we did. It was the middle, it was the middle of second and third quarter where we let go of the rope. That’s our biggest takeaway.”

On the team’s mindset fueling the comeback:

“Yeah, absolutely. It’s great to have a mindset of continuing to do the things that has made us a good team over the course of this year. Regardless of what the score was and being able to fight back, obviously, was great. I mean we don’t want to be in the position where we’re down 22 again obviously, but having that mindset definitely helps. Our fans kept us in it, so credit to all them.”

On shutting down social media during the playoffs:

“I’ve been shutting down social media throughout the series. Obviously, I think I’ve posted in between series, but I’ve been shutting it down, not opening it. Just focusing on what we need to do as a team, what I need to do individually. Just doing my best to have tunnel vision and stay focused.”

On learning from a win as well as from losses:

“I think a lot of people when they watch film after a loss, you learn a lot. I think you can still learn from a win as well. Obviously, you’re very thankful you got the win, but there’s clearly things that we need to work on to be better and not be in the position we were in. It’s definitely a lot you can learn, always.”

On Mikal Bridges stepping up late:

“It’s who he is. When he’s needed to step up, for as long as I’ve known him, he’s stepped up. It’s great to have guys like that — that you’ve known for a long time — be in those positions with you. We have a lot of fond memories of having big games and doing stuff like that.”

Miles McBride

On the Knicks’ relentlessness in Game 1:

“This team’s relentless. You never know whose night it’s gonna be, but we’re going to figure it out.”

On the long layoff before the ECF:

“We know it’s tough when you never had nine days off like that. Almost felt like a mini training camp in a sense. But I mean at the end of the day, it’s what our job is to go out there and get wins and we figured it out.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’s disappointing Game 1:

“It’s tough to have that rest and then they’ve been playing. Things can be a little wonky at first, but he’s going to figure it out. I thought he had a solid game for us. The goal is to win, so he was a part of that.”

On Jose Alvarado’s vocal leadership:

“Honestly I’ve gotta shoutout Jose. Jose was just on us the whole game, talking to everybody, keeping us engaged, giving it up for everybody out there, but [when we were down big], he mainly talked to most of the starters and got them going.”

On Alvarado keeping everyone engaged throughout the series-opener comeback:

“Jose was big-time for us even when he wasn’t in, even for guys that weren’t in and might not get in, just [keeping them] engaged the whole time. That helps. Talking to a guy that might get back cut. Talking to starters, keeping them positive, keeping them engaged when things aren’t going their way. He was huge for us.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the defense carrying the comeback:

“And at the end of the day, great offensive plays by JB. Amazing clutch plays by Landry Shamet. Clutch plays [by the man next to me] Mikal Bridges. But it was our defense that has always been special in this playoffs and it was what carried us in this playoffs that showed up in the fourth quarter and in overtime and allowed us to be sitting here with a win.”

Landry Shamet

On the Knicks not flinching at the 22-point deficit:

“We have a group that didn’t flinch at that deficit and just went out there and made something happen.”

On Jose Alvarado’s impact from the bench:

“That guy, he’s as competitive as they come. Jose was, throughout the whole game, very engaged, coaching us, talking to coaches, talking to players, everything, getting guys going when we had a little lull. He does a lot for us and that’s my point: you need [everybody] 1 through 15, and even though his minutes were low and all of us want to compete and be out there, he’s still giving himself up to us to help the group. That’s what we need.”

On what he told the ball before it dropped:

“Just stay down. That’s what I said. ‘Stay down,’ and it stayed down.”

Josh Hart

On the emotional swing of Shamet’s shot:

“You’re deflated for 0.5 seconds, and then you’re hyped the next moment.”

On watching from the bench during the comeback:

“It’s always difficult, watching it on the bench. Obviously, I want to be out there. I want to help my guys win, but at the end of the day, for me, I don’t have an ego to it.”

On accepting whatever the Knicks need and ask from him:

“I don’t have an ego. I said it last year, the last couple of years I’ve been here: to serve these guys, and that’s the gift God gave me — God put me here to serve these guys and make sure they’re in the best position to be successful. And I put the success of the team over the success of myself any day.”

On his expectations for how Cleveland will defend him next:

“Yeah, probably the same game plan. For them, this is the same game plan that put them up 20 or whatever, and then we had that comeback so they’re probably gonna do the exact same thing. I’m gonna shoot the exact same shots, I’m gonna shoot it with confidence, play my game — whatever that is in the moment. But nah, I don’t think their game plan is gonna change too much.

On expecting a Cleveland response in Game 2:

“They’re going to come out with extreme energy, attention to detail, focus, sense of urgency and desperation. And we got to not match that, but we have to exceed it. They’re looking at it like, ‘That was our game we gave away.’ They’re looking at film of, ‘If we fix this here and fix this here, we would’ve won the game.’ And that’s what they’re gonna try to do tomorrow. So we got to make sure we come in focused and have a better start than we did.”

On Jose’s and the rest of the veterans’ leadership in the locker room:

“I feel like we all kind of do that and that’s just kind of the make-up of our team. He does that a little bit more in the huddle. Other guys kinda do that at different times throughout the game whether it’s in the huddle or pulling guys to the side during a dead ball or free throws. That’s what you need in the playoffs and adverse situations — for guys to talk and hold each other accountable kind of to steady the ship”

Mikal Bridges

On embracing defensive challenges:

“I think that’s just how I’ve always been, try to be a defender and make plays. Just taking on that challenge and definitely one of my roles is to play defense and to guard the best guys. … It’s always dope to have a challenge of guarding different guys who are really skillful, from Nickeil, CJ [McCollum], Maxey, [Paul George]. Now, to James and Donovan [Mitchell]. Something I always just embrace.”

Kenny Atkinson

On James Harden’s Game 1 defensive act:

“One thing about James: I’ll just defend him. He’s a good isolation defender, always has been. He’s super smart. I said it [Tuesday] night, he has great hands.”

On the need for better team defense to stop Brunson:

“[Brunson] hit two or three really tough shots on him, but the baseline drive [that tied the game with 19.3 seconds remaining in regulation] where our low guy didn’t come over and get a contest, that is team defense. At this level, it’s team defense. Sure, everybody’s putting it on James. A lot of it’s on the team, our team defense. … Sure, some of it was him, there were a couple of blow-byes. But again, I’d argue it was the team defense, too.”

On what he told Harden privately:

“Without you, we’re knocked out in the first round. We’re in a great position, you’ve played great. Sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated. Keep being yourself.”

On having dealt with playoff adversity before:

“We’ve been through it in the playoffs. I’m more like, ‘OK, here it is. This is what it’s about.’ You live between misery and awesomeness in the playoffs, and this is of course misery. But this is probably the fourth miserable game we’ve had in the playoffs. It’s like, ‘OK, get back on the horse.’ “

On leaning on the positives from Game 1:

“I want to lean on the positive. We had three quarters of really good basketball — some of the best basketball we’ve honestly played in the playoffs, offensively and defensively.”

Dennis Schroeder

On Cleveland controlling most of Game 1:

“We gave them a game. At the end of the day, we controlled the game — I think 90 percent of the game we controlled it. The last 10 percent, they did a great job. You have to give them credit, too, for not giving up and making shots at the end, and that was the game.”

Jarrett Allen

On responding with resiliency in Game 2:

“Just understanding that we didn’t have the best effort last night, we didn’t have the best outcome, and the resiliency is going to show [Thursday] how we come out. Just have confidence in yourself and the team, and know that we have to go get one [in Game 2].”

James Harden

On failing to defend Jalen Brunson:

“(Brunson) made some tough ones, but obviously we all know he’s a great one-on-one player and I think anybody on an island, it’s going to be difficult. So we got to do a better job of making sure he sees bodies. On the other end, they do a good job of supporting him and helping him when he’s on an island. So he made some tough ones, but we got to do a better job as a team just because it’s not a one-man job. So, you got to be better in that aspect. I think he made a couple of them, which really got them going.”

Donovan Mitchell

On supporting Harden defensively:

“There’s different coverages and different ways. Maybe we could have got to it a little bit earlier. Maybe get it out of Brunson’s hands. … This isn’t on him. This is on all of us. Just because of a certain stretch. Like, no. We still had opportunities on the other end as well to take advantage and score, and we didn’t. It’s not just on one person. He’s been around the league long enough — 17 years — he understands.”

Stephon Marbury

On stepping onto the court during overtime:

“I would like to issue a formal apology to every Knicks fan, every security guard, and especially Jalen Brunson not because I stole his shine, because I could never. That man owned the Garden. I just got swept up in the current like a plastic bag. My energy flew out of the roof, I lost my mind, and my feet carried me somewhere they didn’t belong. Thank you to the fans for the positive reaction it felt great, which is honestly concerning. Now… how about we run that back? Just kidding. Unless Jalen hits another one. Then all bets are off.”

Stephen A. Smith

On Brunson torching Harden in Game 1:

“Jalen Brunson goes ballistic and literally should be arrested for the assault that he put on James Harden. Just abused him at every single turn. Annihilated him kept going by him scored like 5 or 6 straight baskets.”

Charles Barkley

On Cleveland’s fourth-quarter meltdown in Game 1:

“You know, Ernie, I take my job very seriously. I don’t like getting on TV and saying people choked. But that was a damn choke job. I’m going to say that now, and I’m very selective when I say that.”

“So they had a 22-point lead, and they just started milking the clock. Like a prevent offense.”

“My problem was, if you go back and look, and you show those highlights in the beginning, the ball was moving. Everybody was getting wide-open shots. You go back and look at the first six or eight minutes of that fourth quarter, and they were just going one-on-one. The shot clock was on their back every single time, and Kenny should have called a timeout sooner.”

Carmelo Anthony

On inviting Jeremy Lin to clear the air at his podcast:

“Jeremy Lin, I’m giving you my invite to come sit on the couch. Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bullshit that’s out there please. And I love what you’re doing right now, man … Come speak the truth.

“People always talk about … nobody liked the Linsanity … personally me, you get what I’m saying? They throw that out there.

“But people don’t know that, behind the scenes, we were very supportive of this.

“Linsanity could have been a $100 million business easy and I’m trying to get this through to him.

“He was like, ‘Nah, I’m not brought up on that, my parents. But I respected that. I hear that, matter of fact, bring your parents in here, let us talk to them… It was [happening] so fast.”

Born from a basketball pedigree, Cameron Boozer is a natural-born winner. Boozer has made a case as possibly the most accomplished high school player of all time, claiming four Florida state championships, three Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) rings, two gold medals, and countless individual awards. This isn’t a coincidence; Boozer has one of the most mature, league-ready skillsets and physical frames in the 2026 NBA draft class. Although Boozer couldn’t bring home an NCAA Tournament title to Duke in this year’s March Madness, he could play a significant role on a contending team through his physicality, floor spacing, and high basketball IQ.

Boozer was cerebral, consistent, and physical in his short stint in Durham. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on .556/.391/.789 shooting splits. His all-around success can be attributed to how he played at Duke. As a stretch-four playing alongside 6’11” Pat Ngongba for most of the season, Boozer was Duke’s primary offensive hub. He didn’t confine himself to any area of the court; he could be found on the block as frequently as he would be at the top of the key. His ability to read defenses and to adjust to the pace of the game helped him serve as a secondary ballhandler for Duke, and his physicality and efficient shooting made him very dangerous on screens.

Boozer is a great scorer. He isn’t just a wrecking ball in the paint; he has a deep post bag. He can finesse past opposing bigs with an array of shimmies, pump-fakes, and shuffles. Although going up against smaller, less skilled ACC defenders helped a bit, he legitimately showcased a league-ready understanding of post scoring and consistently found great looks. Additionally, his three-point shooting makes him a true floor spacer and a headache to deal with on screens, where Boozer was equally dangerous barreling down the floor or putting up a fluid, fundamentally sound jumper. Just ask Trevon Brazile and the Arkansas frontcourt.

Boozer was an above-average defender while at Duke, averaging 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Despite the elite burst of athleticism that many of this draft class’s top prospects share, his intelligence and feel for the game extended to the other side of the ball. He keeps up active hands to disrupt passing lanes, and he’s an elite rebounder, meaning he’s more than serviceable on the defensive end. Additionally, his seven-foot wingspan allowed him to swat a couple of shots, even in the presence of the renowned shot-blocker Ngongba.

His roughly 6’9”, 250-pound frame, coupled with his playmaking instincts, efficiency, and dangerous jumper, has drawn him comparisons to Nikola Jokić. But Boozer is much smaller than Jokić, meaning he projects more like a modern-day, more athletic Kevin Love. However, Boozer’s natural athleticism is a major concern for analysts. Although he isn’t a total non-factor when it comes to vertical leap and agility—he clocked higher than AJ Dybantsa and Caleb Wilson in several Combine agility measurements— he has looked a little sluggish when switching onto smaller guards. He doesn’t play above the rim as much as the prototypical NBA power forward does, and although he can, his vertical ability isn’t as evident as it is with Dybantsa and Wilson.

Additionally, his fit on an NBA roster would be cloudy. Boozer was one of Duke’s primary initiators on offense, running pick-and-rolls and advanced sets as a do-it-all forward. However, Boozer was largely restricted to the interior on defense, and his height makes it very hard for him to be the imposing rim protector that the prototypical NBA center is. He looked really uncertain switching onto guards throughout the season, and it proved difficult for him to bang around with college’s larger centers like UNC’s Henri Veesaar and Michigan’s Aday Mara. His relatively slow feet play a large part in this, and his ability to deal with smaller wings on the perimeter and larger, agile bigs inside is a legitimate concern. Thus, it’s hard to see him making the same disruptive impact he had on opposing defenses in college without drastically improving his perimeter defense to match up against other stretch forwards.

Although Milwaukee’s chances of selecting Boozer are very, very slim, he’ll still be an exciting player to watch elsewhere in the league.

Who would you want to pick with the fourth pick in the NBA Draft? Vote in our community draft board below!

Arguably the biggest story in sports in recent days came in the NBA. On Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. A large reason — literally and figuratively — for the victory was San Antonio’s star Victor Wembanyama. The man known “Wemby” scored 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, also making a game-tying three to send it to double overtime, where the Spurs came away with the win.

Just by looking at him, you would be able to tell that Wembanyama in a freak of nature, which I mean in the positive sense. The man is 7’4”. Then you watch him actually play, and he’s even crazier. Most players with his massively tall but slender build tended to be of the “stiff” variety who mainly made it because they’re just taller than everyone else. However, Wembanyama can do all sorts of basketball things that should be impossible for someone his size.

Watching him dominate action the other night got me thinking: who are the biggest freaks of nature you’ve seen in your years watching North Carolina Tar Heels’ sports?

There’s probably going to be a couple popular choices here, including one Julius Peppers. For one, Peppers just played two sports in general, and was at least a contributor in both. Peppers was obviously better on the football field, where he went on to be a top NFL Draft pick and had a career that got him inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

However, Peppers was also a very handy basketball player. He played on the Tar Heels’ basketball team in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons. In the first of those, he helped Carolina go on an unexpected run to the Final Four, averaging 4.5 poings and 3.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game.

Also, just look at this man, they made one of those.

However, my own personal choice is someone who played solely on the basketball court, but also doesn’t require much explanation.

I came of a sports-watching age in the late 1990s into the early 2000s. At that time, there was no basketball player cooler for a kid than Vince Carter. Part of that was that he played for a pro team with a name would appeal to a child on the Toronto Raptors, with fun jerseys. (He also played for a college team that had awesome jerseys.) Oh, and there was also the dunks.

I personally chose the #15 to wear in basketball for my grade school team — who had light blue jerseys, it should be said — just because of Vince. He was so cool. (I mean, he probably still is, he just was then too.)

What about you, who do you think the biggest freak of nature you ever saw play at UNC was?

Before the Dallas Mavericks announced the hiring of team president Masai Ujiri, very little had been reported on the search. Every couple months between the November firing of Nico Harrison and this month’s hiring, there would be a sprinkle of insight into team governor Patrick Dumont’s thinking. The team made it clear that they would let the season play out, that the interim leadership would be considered, and a shortlist of recognizable industry names were sought after. And while Ujiri’s name floated in that reporting, traction on that or others remained silent.

Looking at that candidate list one could gather that Dumont was most interested in flashy names, some even completely unattainable. Forgive me if I read that reporting and felt past traumas of Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson-led free agency strategy of aiming for whichever top tier target existed only to strike out and keep the powder dry.

Even more surprising was the announcement days later that Ujiri had named draft expert and former Portland Trail Blazers assistant general manager Mike Schmitz as team general manager. With these hirings and the skillsets each leader brings, the organization has found experience and balance that the team hasn’t had in quite some time.

Their first task is finding a new head coach to lead them into this new Mavericks era, after Tuesday’s announcement that the team had mutually parted ways with Jason Kidd. This important next step officially initiates the Ujiri-Schmitz era — one that hopefully allows the pair to install a new vision around Cooper Flagg.

The last 24 months at Mavs HQ has been anything but calm. Few pro franchises, in any sport, have experienced the emotional highs and personal devastation in such short, public order. Dumont has faced such a steep learning curve since taking over in January 2024, with a rapid fire sequence of mistakes across 2025 that required extreme damage control.

Before that damage was done Dumont seemed content for the operational leader — at the time, Nico Harrison — to run the team as he saw fit. And boy did he. With Tuesday’s decision, and the press conference on Wednesday where Ujiri made clear that the decision to move on from Kidd was his alone, it underlines that Dumont is handing the keys over to Ujiri to the run the team as well. The difference between the former leader and this one, is a wealth of experience and a stable presence that the team sorely missed in the Harrison era.

In Wednesday’s presser Ujiri spoke of a “new slate” and a unified direction with all leaders to build under the same shared vision. That vision starts with Schmitz, who steps into the role for the first time, with his previous stint in Portland after making his name in global NBA draft scouting. And their relationship has been in depth and unified.

“I’ve worked with him how many years in this league, scouring, scouting the whole world. Whether it’s in Uganda, Russia, Serbia, or South America — we’ve been all over the world together,” Ujiri shared about his relationship with press Wednesday. “You see the basketball mind, you see the strategy, you see the people relationships, you see the respect for an organization. And you see the focus on winning. And the focus on direction.”

In the few short weeks Ujiri has been at the helm, and the even fewer times he’s spoken publicly, it’s clear that he brings clarity and intention in the way he communicates. He speaks with an authority and integrity that quite frankly the organization has lacked. And while their could be questions about how tapped in he still is with an ever-evolving league landscape after a slow fade in Toronto, the addition of Schmitz effectively balances his potential gaps with a young, development forward, general manager who has a deep global knowledge of the game. They will compliment each other in leading this team.

Now they’ll be on the lookout for the final leadership piece. Ujiri didn’t elaborate much on who he’ll be looking for to lead their bench. He clarified that he hasn’t yet spoken to any candidate directly, but will take an aggressive approach to finding the right match, as they align the team to Cooper Flagg’s timeline. It’s worth unpacking that the other two times he’s hired a head coach, both did not previously have NBA head coaching experience — something he acknowledged on Wednesday, but said it was out of circumstance. He will leave no stone unturned in finding the right match. And with the draft nearly a month away, expect that to progress quickly.

Honestly, the fact that San Antonio lost ranks fourth or fifth on my list of most troubling facts about last night’s game. By far the most serious issue is Dylan Harper’s injury, as he has been absolutely essential in this playoff run and clearly the second-best Spur in the series so far. The second most vexing problem has been San Antonio’s proclivity for turnovers, especially since many of them were unforced and they unequivocally cost the Spurs the game. In any case, one silver lining is that last night’s box score is unusual and interesting in several ways, so let’s dive in:

Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of May 20, 2026, this group include 1,193 games.

Factors that decided the game

• For as complicated and messy as the game appeared to be at times, the key issues deciding the game are actually quite clear.
• First, San Antonio’s shooting efficiency surpassed OKC’s (albeit by tiny-to-modest margins) from everywhere; in fact, in recent NBA history it has been quite rare for a team to win a playoff game with the FG%, 3P%, and FT% margins that the Thunder had (more on that below).
• Furthermore, OKC didn’t enjoy any notable advantage in rebounding; they did record one more offensive board, but San Antonio won the defensive glass by five (largely because the Thunder took more shots).
• Quite simply, the Spurs’ turnovers were devastating. Because OKC had 11 fewer giveaways, they had more opportunities to score, both from the field and at the free throw line. Most importantly, the Thunder enjoyed a FGA margin of +10, which allowed them to make four more shots despite having a lower FG%.
• On top of their advantage from the field, OKC had a FTA margin of +7, partly because of a terrible rash of fouls by the Spurs in the fourth quarter. This allowed the Thunder to extend their lead by four points from the charity stripe despite having a lower FT%.

Rare Box Score Stats

• Let’s start with team stats from the graded box score. Everything mentioned in this section captures the frequency of different statistical combinations in the 1,193 postseason games played since 2012-2013 (i.e., the “reference period”):
  • This is the 30th game in which the winning team had a turnover margin of -11 or better.
  • Given such a favorable turnover margin, it’s actually a bit shocking that OKC didn’t win in a blowout. In fact, they became just the eighth winner with a turnover margin of -11 or better and a point differential no greater than +9.
  • San Antonio became just the eighth loser to log FG%, 3P%, and FT% values at least as good as 48.81%, 40%, and 88.24%, respectively.
  • There were A LOT of offensive rebounds in this game, with 16 for the Spurs and 17 for OKC. In fact, this is just the 22nd contest in the reference period in which at least 33 offensive boards were recovered (that’s about 1.76% of the 1,193 postseason games played in this period, or roughly 1-in-54).
  • The offensive rebounding numbers are especially surprising when you consider that both teams logged a pretty good FG%, so there weren’t a huge amount of rebounds to be had. In fact, there is just ONE other contest in the reference period in which 33+ offensive boards were recorded with both teams shooting at least 47.87% from the field. That other game was another OKC win, this time over Minnesota in Game 4 of the 2025 Western Conference Finals.
  • The Thunder became just the 11th winner in the reference period to log FG%, 3P%, and FT% differentials as bad or worse as -0.94, -3.89, and -9.07 percentage points, respectively.
• Now let’s turn to stats for individual Spurs, which includes some good news and bad news:
  • Wemby recorded just the 15th instance since the 1996-1997 postseason in which a player pulled down 41+ rebounds over two consecutive playoff games (this is excluding play-in games). Available data do not capture how many times a player has done this with Isaiah Hartenstein BLATANTLY HOLDING his off arm at all times, but I assume that this number is much lower.
  • Sadly, Stephon Castle has become the first player across all true playoff games since 1996-1997 to run up a total of 20 turnovers over tow consecutive games. The previous high was 17, a former record shared by LeBron James and Cade Cunningham.

What are Team Graded Box Scores?

Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).

Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.