Category: Basketball

CLEVELAND — Jalen Brunson needed just three words to answer.

How long has he thought about reaching the Finals with the Knicks?

“Since,” he said Sunday, “I signed.”

It went from a thought to a mandate.

This year, it was always the requirement.

Anything else would have been considered a failure.

From the moment the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau, despite reaching the conference finals, going one step further and reaching the Finals became the unambiguous expectation.

It became solidified when owner James Dolan said in January that “getting to the Finals, we absolutely got to do.”

A few weeks before that, the Knicks set that standard by refusing to raise a banner for their NBA Cup triumph, preferring to hold out for more meaningful ones.

But that doesn’t make this moment any less special.

The Knicks are in the midst of a magical and historic run.

With a win in Game 4 of these Eastern Conference finals Monday, they can secure back-to-back overpowering series sweeps.

It would extend their incredible winning streak to 11 games.

And it would fulfill that Finals-or-bust mandate.

“Going through this process, one of the things that I’m trying really hard to do and trying really hard to make sure our team does from the top down is to stay present,” coach Mike Brown said Sunday. “And what I mean by that is, we don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves, because as soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster always occurs, it seems.

“So for us, starting with me, making sure everybody in the organization on down understands it’s about the next game. And really, it’s about the next possession. And I try to block out everything else as best I can and not think about ‘what ifs,’ because I know for me, it would distract me 100 percent at this time of the year.”

From an outside perspective, though, it’s hard not to let the mind wander and think about what is now possible for these Knicks.

They are within touching distance of their first Finals berth since 1999, a feat that would surely whip New York City into an even wilder frenzy than it’s been in the last few weeks.

And with the way they are playing — setting more and more records with each passing game — it feels entirely within their capability to topple whichever team comes out of the West and bring home a championship.

Their nightly dominance is eliciting the best types of dreams.

“I don’t want to consider us peaking at this moment,” Brunson said. “I still think we have a lot of work to do. Us as a team, I’ve said this all year, we just want to get better every single day. That includes the times that we’re in the playoffs because there’s still time to learn, still time to get better. That’s how I’ve always thought about it. I haven’t really had the time to really kind of wonder where we are as a team. All I focus on is how can we get better from the day before?”

That focus is entirely forward-looking.

Thinking of Knicks history and how long it’s been since they reached the Finals “doesn’t really cross my mind at all right now,” Brunson said.

The drought is a recurring topic in media and fan discourse.

But it doesn’t mean much to this group.

“I don’t think we’re stuck on it,” OG Anunoby said Sunday. “Our goal is just to win each and every game. However long it was, six years or two years or 20 years, it doesn’t matter.”

A Finals berth, a second straight sweep, a winning streak and a place in Knicks history are all attainable for the Knicks on Monday.

For them, it’s just Game 4.

“No matter what is at stake, it’s a chance for us to come together, be better than we were the game before, continue to learn,” Brunson said. “And try to be the best team we can be.”

This week, we’ll be kicking off our season recap series with each player on the roster. To set things off right, and because everyone loves discussing player grades so much, let’s give some grades based on the season as a whole.

In many ways, this felt like multiple seasons packed into one. The Lakers not only endured being without LeBron James at the start of the season, but excelled. His return, and an injury to Austin Reaves, led to some growing pains in the ensuing months but the Lakers figured everything out in March, leading to one of the best stretches of basketball the franchise has seen in multiple seasons.

The ending was bittersweet as a shorthanded team did all they could in the postseason before succumbing to the defending champions in the second round. It was a season full of brilliance, surprises and disappointments.

So, let’s look back on the season. Similar to the regular season version, grades will be based on the player’s expectations coming into the year. A “B” grade represents the average performance, or meeting expectations, for that player.

Luka Dončić

64 games, 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 4 turnovers, 47.6% FG, 36.6% 3PT, 78% FT

After his first season featured flashes of his MVP form, a refocused Luka came into this year and returned to his top form. He carried the Lakers through so many games this year and, once the team got right, looked like the league’s best in March.

Injuries were the only downside, but those are hard to avoid and hard to knock him for given how much he focused on his body in the offseason.

Grade: A+

Austin Reaves

51 games, 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks, 3 turnovers, 49% FG, 36% 3PT, 87.1% FT

Reaves’ constant ascension reached yet another level this season. We learned right away what kind of season he was going to have, as without Luka and LeBron, Austin showed he was up to the task of carrying a team.

Austin did well to ease many of the concerns about his viability alongside Luka. The biggest knock on him was how little the two shared the court. Hopefully, he spends the summer getting on the Luka plan for his body.

Grade: A

LeBron James

60 games, 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks, 3 turnovers, 51.5% FG, 31.7% 3PT, 73.7% FT

It took a while for LeBron to get things going this season and find his groove. It was a new role with new expectations and LeBron had to adjust.

For portions of the season, it felt like the LeBron era in LA was going to come to an end. But his play in March changed the outlook on things and he showed in the playoffs that he can still carry a team when needed.

Grade: B+

Marcus Smart

62 games, 9.3 points, 2.8 assists, 3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 1.5 turnovers, 39.5% FG, 33.1% 3PT, 82.2% FT

After two injury-riddled seasons, Smart proved he could still be a reliable contributor on a contending team. When the team was at it’s best in March, Smart was a valuable member of the starting lineup, contributing on both ends of the court.

His ability and willingness to do the little things and the dirty work made him an important piece of the team and may have earned him a longer contract this summer.

Grade: B+

Rui Hachimura

68 games, 11.5 points, 2.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 0.6 turnovers, 51.4% FG, 44.3% 3PT, 69.4% FT

In the delineation between 82-game and 16-game players, Rui definitely falls closer to the latter side of that spectrum. The regular season was solid as he jumped between roles, including moving to the bench once everyone was healthy.

But his postseason performance certainly made up for however underwhelming his regular season was.

Grade: B

Deandre Ayton

72 games, 12.5 points, 8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1 block, 1.2 turnovers, 67.1% FG, 64.5% 3PT

The Lakers signed Ayton with the hopes of him being a long-term solution to their center position.

He certainly was not that. In a different role than he’s had before in his career, Ayton’s production fluctuated throughout the year, including in the playoffs.

In the end, the only certainty about his season is he is not the long-term answer.

Grade: B-

Jake LaRavia

82 games, 8.2 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.1 turnovers, 45.9% FG, 32.1% 3PT, 76.3% FT

The only player to play more than 72 games, LaRavia featured in 82 games, indicating how important he was during the regular season as an innings eater.

His energy and length defensively were valuable, but his offensive shortcomings eventually made him unplayable when it mattered. Still, given how small his contract is, he still was productive this year.

Grade: B

Luke Kennard

32 games, 9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks, 0.9 turnovers, 52.7% FG, 44.8% 3PT, 91.2% FT

Considering who he was replacing, the bar was on the floor for Kennard to be an improvement at the trade deadline. He was every bit of that and then more, including having an out-of-body experience in the postseason to help the team win a series.

Grade: A

Jaxson Hayes

66 games, 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, 0.5 turnovers, 75.6% FG, 65.3% FT

While it may have looked different in certain spots and at certain times, Hayes was ultimately still the same player he has always been. He had his most efficient season, but still was closer to unplayable than valuable in the playoffs.

Grade: B

Jarred Vanderbilt

65 games, 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 0.9 turnovers, 47.1% FG, 29.3% 3PT, 58.9% FT

All those videos of Vando shooting corner threes last summer amounted to yet another poor shooting season. Vando was on the edge of the rotation most of the season and often made the decision relatively easy with how ineffective he was offensively.

Grade: C

Nick Smith Jr.

30 games, 6.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks, 0.7 turnovers, 43.5% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 73.3% FT

After spending most of the season on a two-way deal, Smith Jr. signed a standard deal late in the season. After helping the Lakers to a huge win in Portland early in the year, it was a relatively uneventful season with the parent Lakers.

Grade: B

Maxi Kleber

43 games, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 0.4 turnovers, 45.2% FG, 23.1% 3PT, 53.8% FT

Whatever ideas there were of Kleber being a useful on-court option this season were extinguished. In spurts, he was valuable and was a notable contributor in a couple of wins. But he was never able to string together a run of games.

Grade: C

Dalton Knecht

54 games, 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 0.4 turnovers, 45.5% FG, 34.2% 3PT, 72.7% FT

It’s incredible how far Knecht has fallen. After a rough summer, Knecht did not bounce back and Redick stopped giving him chances. And rightfully so. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this was his last year in LA.

Grade: F

Bronny James

42 games, 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 0.6 turnovers, 40.9% FG, 38.6% 3PT, 85.7% FT

Imagine telling someone in November of 2024, as Knecht was leading the Lakers to wins that, by the postseason in 2026, Bronny would be the rookie getting playoff minutes. It’s a testament to the work he’s done, mostly in the G League.

Grade: B+

Adou Thiero

25 games, 1.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks, 0.4 turnovers, 51.6% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 63.6% FT

Injuries largely upended Thiero’s rookie season. He got a late start to the campaign due to injury, then suffered another one midseason that lingered.

Still, he was able to show flashes of what he could be, including in the playoffs.

Grade: C-

Drew Timme, Chris Mañon

The pair of two-way players at season’s end had different kinds of seasons. Drew Timme briefly became a rotation player and had a case for the final standard contract at season’s end. Mañon, meanwhile, made next to no impact on the parent team.

JJ Redick

Redick’s 50-win rookie season felt hollow after a terrible showing in the playoffs. He cleared the 50-win benchmark again this season and followed it up with a much more encouraging postseason showing.

He again navigated injuries and kept adapting admirably to the circumstances. It looks set to be a fruitful future with Redick and Luka at the helm.

Grade: A

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

CLEVELAND — These aren’t the regular-season Knicks — at least not since they trailed the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

They haven’t lost in a month, reeling off a franchise record 10 consecutive wins in the postseason, mostly in dominant fashion.

Take it from someone who would know.

“Teams that make that next step, it’s the balance that’s impressed me the most,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said after practice Sunday, the eve of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals series that could end Monday night at Rocket Arena with one more Knicks victory. “They have so many contributors right now, and I think that is what’s different from the regular season.

“We all know they had ups and downs, they had periods where they weren’t playing well. The sustainability of it, you’re expecting a letdown. We haven’t seen a letdown from them yet.”

During this 10-game winning streak, the Knicks have won by an average of 22.5 points.

Only two games were really undecided late: The second game of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers, which the Knicks won by six, and Game 1 of this series, when they rallied from 22 points down in the fourth quarter.

Otherwise, it has been a parade of blowouts.

In the postseason, the Knicks are outscoring the opposition by 18.5 points per 100 possessions, by far the best in the league.

They are second in offensive rating and first in defensive rating.

The entire starting five of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are averaging double figures in the postseason, and Anunoby, Towns and Bridges are all shooting better than 55 percent from the field.

“It comes down to performing better, individually. Bridges is 27 of 38 [in this series]. [Landry] Shamet is 7-for-8 from 3 in this series. They’re getting stellar performances across the board,” Atkinson said. “Josh Hart in Game 2 had an incredible game. Jalen’s great and Towns is great, but we’ve kind of done a decent job on those guys, you can argue. … OG’s two wing 3s [in Game 3], like the jab, jab 3, are you kidding me? …

“The goal was to slow down their momentum, and that mojo they got, and we haven’t been able to do that. That’s the frustrating thing for me. Part of that is them playing great. We haven’t found a formula to slow their mojo down.”

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The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead when they face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4.

Our NBA experts have you covered for when the action gets underway at Frost Bank Center tonight, with a trio of NBA picks for Sunday, May 24.

Thunder vs Spurs Expert Picks Tonight

Pick	Odds
Jon Metler: Spurs -2.5	-110
Jason Logan: Luguentz Dort Over 1.5 assists	+145
Joe Osborne: Over 219.5	-110

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Spurs -2.5

Price: -110 at bet365

Give me the San Antonio Spurs -2.5 in Game 4 here against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think they should be closer to a 4-point favorite in this spot.

I don’t think Jalen Williams will be playing, and it'll be De’Aaron Fox’s second game back, removing some injury friction in their starting lineup — which I also like for San Antonio.

The Thunder may be up 2-1, but they're living dangerously by heavily relying on their role players — such as Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, and even Jaylin Williams. 

The Spurs have the length and defensive pieces to make life miserable for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Oklahoma City's supporting cast is due for some serious regression.

Jason Logan's expert pick: Luguentz Dort Over 1.5 assists

Price: +145 at bet365

With Jalen Williams hurting and Ajay Mitchell out, OKC is running short on playmakers. Luguentz Dort hasn’t logged more than 23 minutes in the series, but he’s needed in a thinning OKC backcourt in Game 4. 

In the past two games, Dort has dished out six total dimes on 10 potential assists. His assist total has jumped from 0.5 to 1.5, but we’re seeing a solid return from a player with a likely uptick in minutes and involvement in the offense.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Over 219.5

Price: -110 at bet365

After a slower opener, this series has completely shifted to a faster tempo, with Games 2 and 3 producing 235 and 231 combined points.

San Antonio naturally prefers to push the pace, but the up-and-down style has benefited Oklahoma City as well, with the Thunder erupting offensively over the last two games.

The Spurs have now gone Over the total in eight straight playoff games, while OKC enters tonight leading all postseason teams in both points per game and offensive rating.

More Thunder vs Spurs Game 4 picks

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The San Antonio Spurs’ dramatic double-OT win in Game 1 feels like a distant memory after dropping two straight.

Now trailing 2-1, San Antonio's lack of depth and heavy legs will be tested tonight.

Our top Thunder vs. Spurs predictions and same-game parlay jumps on the visiting team to capitalize on that fatigue and cruise to a third straight win on Sunday, May 24.

Our best Thunder vs Spurs SGP for Game 4

SGP leg #1: Thunder moneyline

The disparity in bench numbers has been jarring, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten 61 points and 121.6 minutes per game from their reserves, compared to just 21.3 points and 60.4 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama has averaged 41.7 minutes, and giving him a break isn’t viable. The Spurs are +21 with him on the floor and -38 when he’s on the bench.

With Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox nursing injuries, and Wemby forced into big minutes, fatigue will be critical. I priced this line at -140, so I’m thrilled to get it early at +110.

SGP leg #1: Victor Wembanyama Under 1.5 3-pointers

After an aggressive Game 1 performance where he logged 25 shots and just two three-pointers, Wemby has been pushed to the perimeter, settling for 31 total shots and 12 triples in Games 2 and 3.

To salvage the series, San Antonio must adjust their game plan to feed Wemby down low. Increasing his paint touches allows the Spurs to maximize his towering size, force defensive collapses, and open up clean kickout opportunities for their shooters.

Backing the Spurs to make this crucial tactical adjustment makes this prop a highly lucrative, high-value play at plus-money tonight.

SGP leg #1: Keldon Johnson Over 8.5 points

The newly crowned Sixth Man of the Year was highly efficient during the regular season, averaging an impressive 20.4 points per 36 minutes while stretching the floor at a 36.3% clip from beyond the arc.

With the Spurs needing a reliable offensive spark plug to take the pressure off their starters, expect Keldon Johnson to see an expanded role and a significant uptick in volume tonight. 

Given his proven scoring efficiency when he gets the opportunity, I will gladly bet this line all the way up to 9.5 points.

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See our full Thunder vs Spurs Game 4 preview

Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs. Spurs predictions for Game 4.

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Today is Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at San Antonio Spurs. 8:30 p.m. ET watch it on NBC (WRC-TV) or Peacock. OKC leads 2-1.

Enjoy the game!

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

Heading into Game 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 2-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Despite being down early thanks to the Spurs racing out to a historic 15-0 lead in the opening three minutes, Oklahoma City’s bench ended up outscoring San Antonio’s bench 76–23, marking the highest reserve scoring output in a conference finals game in modern NBA history.

League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 26 points and 12 assists to guide OKC out of their early 15-point hole. Despite the loss, Victor Wembanyama chipped in a team-high 26 points for the Spurs.

The series continues on Tuesday, May 25, with Game 5 in Oklahoma City where, depending on the result of tonight’s game, a Western Conference champion could be crowned.

Thunder vs. Spurs start time:

Game 4 between the Spurs and the Thunder is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 24.

How to watch Thunder vs. Spurs for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to watch TV live and stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.

NBA Western Conference Finals schedule

• Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (OT2)
• Game 2: Thunder 122, Spurs 113
• Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108
• Game 4: Sunday, May 24 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 6: Thursday, May 28 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
• Game 7: Saturday, May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* if necessary

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

Everyone loves an underdog. Everyone loves a good story.

The most satisfying thing about sports is when someone comes out of nowhere and becomes a folk legend.

Linsanity. David Freese for the 2011 Cardinals. Travis Ishikawa for the 2014 Giants. Miguel Rojas for the 2025 Dodgers. Big Shot Bob Horry for multiple NBA championship teams. Alec Martinez for the 2014 LA Kings (sigh).

Maybe Landry Shamet isn’t on their level… yet, but what I will promise is that he will go down in Knicks history, regardless of how this season inevitably ends. That’s something that would’ve sounded unfathomable when he first put pen to paper two years ago.

After all, this was a journeyman. In six seasons, he played for five teams, bouncing from Philly to the Clippers to Brooklyn to Phoenix to Washington. While he carved out a nice bench role on multiple playoff teams, including the 2021 Suns team that made the NBA Finals, he was banished to the lowly Wizards in 2023 as part of the Bradley Beal trade.

As many players do, his performance suffered after joining a destitute Washington squad. The longtime three-point maestro shot a career-low 33.8% from deep in 46 games, and he was dangerously close to teetering on the line of being out of the NBA. After all, there are only so many spots for veterans in a league that caters to young players with upside towards the bottom of rosters.

He stayed unsigned for several months that offseason until the Knicks came calling, looking to fill the final roster spot ahead of the 2024-25 season. At the time, it was assumed that Villanova alum and OAKAAK Ryan Arcidiacono would be given the 15th roster spot to complete the Nova Quintet, but Leon Rose elected to sign Shamet along with Marcus Morris Sr. and Chuma Okeke in mid-September to compete for the final spot.

Then came the mega trade. Karl-Anthony Towns was in, Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle were out. Due to the complicated financials of the trade, the Knicks needed to clear space and elected to temporarily waive Morris instead of Shamet. That move showed early who the team entrusted more, but the Knicks planned to re-sign Morris after the trade became official in early October.

The only problem was that Morris wanted a guaranteed spot, so he opted not to re-sign in a move that was probably a bit shortsighted, considering he hasn’t been signed to any NBA contract since. His loss was Shamet’s gain, as the 27-year-old now had significantly less competition to make the roster.

Tom Thibodeau liked what he saw in Shamet’s shooting ability and defensive capability, and all signs pointed to him beating out Okeke and bubble legend TJ Warren for the final roster spot ahead of the team’s second-to-last preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 15.

And then, this happened.

Shamet dislocated his right shoulder on a basic swipe of the ball on Moussa Diabate, putting him on the shelf for a number of months. With the cash-strapped and hard-capped Knicks stuck, they decided to waive Shamet to save whatever little bits of money they could instead of rostering a player that would miss the next several months with injury and paying him as such.

But they didn’t want to lose him. The organization believed that his injury would not keep him out for as long as Julius Randle’s had a few months earlier, and still wanted him in the fold. How could they do this when he isn’t two-way eligible? The G-League Draft, of course!

The Westchester Knicks made a pair of savvy moves, one that included trading away former second-rounder Trevor Keels, to get the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft. This allowed them to select Shamet and Matt Ryan, keeping both in the organization. For Shamet in particular, he’d be able to practice and later rehab in Westchester, similar to an MLB rehab assignment. A team could poach him, but they’d need to give him a standard contract while he was rehabbing, which was never happening.

All told, it took just over two months for Shamet to make his debut in the orange and blue, signing a standard contract in late December and slowly working his way into the Knicks’ rotation in early January. The rust was evident on his jumper early, as he went just 4-for-20 from deep in his first 14 games. But as he found a more consistent role, his play dramatically improved.

He shot 43% from three over his last 19 games. In April alone, he made at least four on four different occasions, including seven in the season finale against the Nets. While Thibs’ rotations promised his role would decrease come playoff time, he seemed to have an inside track to a good role.

That didn’t happen. After playing 10 minutes in Game 1, Shamet was limited to just six total minutes in the next three games before being glued to the bench for the last two games of the Detroit series. Throughout the six-game Boston series and the first two games against Indiana, he played 11 garbage-time minutes. The rotation was reduced to the starting five along with Deuce McBride, Mitchell Robinson, and small stints for Cam Payne when Brunson sat.

But after the Pacers stole both games at the World’s Most Famous Arena to start the Eastern Conference Finals, the usually stubborn Thibodeau was forced to overhaul his process. Robinson replaced Josh Hart in the starting five, while he leaned more on the likes of Delon Wright and Shamet off the bench. At least in the short term, it gave them a spark. He was plus-12 in the comeback Game 3 win that gave us a bit of hope.

The adjustments would ultimately prove to be futile, as the Pacers closed out the Knicks in six games. Shamet was once again an unrestricted free agent, and it was clear that he wasn’t a priority for the Knicks in the offseason. They filled two roster spots with Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, and with just enough space to add one more player on a vet min, the Knicks took their time in considering options.

Shamet ultimately got another training camp invite in September after waiting for the Knicks to call him back, but with a new coaching staff in tow, he’d have no favoritism in a camp battle that included as many as six men, but was mostly between himself, Garrison Matthews, and Malcolm Brogdon.

Matthews was a taller version of Shamet, someone who could shoot the lights out and would add size to a smaller roster. Brogdon was a veteran presence with playoff experience that could serve as a traditional backup point guard on a team with only one suitable ballhandler. Tyler Kolek wasn’t going to be entrusted with a big role, so they needed someone to stabilize the offense in the non-Brunson minutes.

It always seemed like Brogdon had the edge because of it, with Shamet being close behind. They maybe could’ve figured something out to keep both, but the decision was made much easier when Brogdon up and retired after looking a step slow during the preseason.

That gave Shamet a roster spot, but it sure sounded like Mike Brown liked him even better than Thibs did. Early season injuries to Hart and McBride gave Shamet an increased role, which he took advantage of with some brilliant performances along the way.

But then came a late November game in Orlando, where he tried to fight over a Wendell Carter Jr. screen, banging up his right shoulder again and leaving the game in a similar fashion to the preseason game 13 months prior. Not again, not now.

This time, he showed enough importance that waiving his non-guaranteed contract was never considered by the Knicks’ brass. It also helped that he wouldn’t need surgery after an MRI revealed just a strain, rather than a dislocation. He’d miss two months, but would return towards the end of the three-week stretch of hell and would make an immediate impact upon return.

Whether starting in place of a banged-up Hart or Anunoby or coming off the bench, he would consistently come up big. For the second straight year, he went into the playoffs expected to be a key part of the bench.

And for the second straight year, things didn’t go as expected. He struggled in Game 1 and was part of some brutal lineups in Game 2 that helped blow the game. A small stint in Game 3 was all he got, as he was soon replaced in the rotation by Jose Alvarado. Just like that, he was once again on the outside looking in. But all Shamet knew in this moment was to stay ready, just like he had done throughout the season.

His number would eventually be called again, but his impact wouldn’t truly be shown until Game 3 in Philadelphia. Against the team that brought him into the league out of Wichita State, he sucked the life out of a desperate Sixers crowd in Game 3 before helping bury them under an avalanche of threes in Game 4.

He didn’t play much in the first three quarters of Game 1 in Cleveland, but Mike Brown sent him out there to use a rare 5-out lineup with Hart struggling as the Knicks fell behind by as many as 22 points with under eight minutes to go. Suddenly, the game turned. Shamet was disrupting Donovan Mitchell’s rhythm. He made a three early that cut the lead a smidge before Brunson’s big run.

Then, after the captain brought them all the way back, Shamet finished it off with a game-tying corner three.

In overtime, with the stunned Cavs on the ropes, he hit the effective dagger to send MSG ablaze.

After being a gigantic part of saving the Knicks in Game 1, he was very quiet the following night after Hart went ballistic. Going into Game 3, the Knicks needed all hands on deck to take a stranglehold of this series, and they got that with more clutch shooting from Shamet.

Four more triples and a plus-five in 27 minutes further cemented himself in Knicks lore for his heroics. A guy that didn’t have a guaranteed roster spot during the preseason was now a big part of a team that’s one win away from the NBA Finals, for a franchise that’s gone 27 years without such an appearance.

Landry Shamet will go down in Knicks folklore, the only question now is just how rooted will he be.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder may have the upper hand in this heavyweight Western Conference finals slugfest, but you can be sure the San Antonio Spurs will come out swinging in tonight’s must-win Game 4.

While mounting injuries are taking a toll, there’s still more than enough available talent to deliver another classic installment of this rivalry.

My favorite Thunder vs Spurs props include another Shai Gilgeous-Alexander masterpiece and a bounce-back effort from Stephon Castle.

Read on for my Top 3 NBA picks ahead of this May 24 showdown.

Best Thunder vs Spurs props for Game 4

Player	Pick
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	Over 29.5 points	-112
Stephon Castle	Over 23.5 points + assists	-120
Cason Wallace	Over 11.5 points + rebounds	-120

Game 4 Prop #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 points (-112)

The shooting efficiency numbers don’t reflect it, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is putting together an outstanding series.

He made all the right reads in Game 3, and it would be no surprise to see the San Antonio Spurs dial back the double teams and traps tonight after being picked apart by the Oklahoma City Thunder's 3-point shooters.

If that results in more one-on-one coverage, SGA has a path to easier mid-range jumpers — and I expect that to translate to his highest points total of these Conference Finals.

His 30-point effort in Game 2 provides a blueprint, and I’m picking Shai to sense the moment here with a chance to take a stranglehold on the series.

Game 4 Prop #2: Stephon Castle Over 23.5 points + assists (-120)

Stephon Castle brings so much to the table for the Spurs, but injuries to De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper have piled even more responsibility onto his plate. Predictably, it’s been a bumpy ride, but Castle isn’t backing down from the challenge.

San Antonio is going to load up all the minutes he can handle, and I expect a better shooting night here after his 1-for-8 dud on Friday, even if he doesn’t hit the heights of his 25-8-5 Game 2 stat line.

Castle has nailed this combo Over in three of his last four outings in these playoffs, and his connection with Victor Wembanyama is always a ticket to a few easy assists.

Game 4 Prop #3: Cason Wallace Over 11.5 points + rebounds (-120)

The Thunder’s depth shone through in Game 3, and they’ll need to shuffle those cards again here with Ajay Mitchell out and Jalen Williams still questionable.

That should mean even more minutes for Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso — and I love this Over for Wallace, who made a pair of huge 3-pointers on Friday.

He’s cashed this prop in all three games of this series, as well as two of the final three contests against the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous round.

With the Spurs leaning on guard-heavy lineups, Wallace’s tenacity on both ends of the floor stands out as an X-factor for OKC tonight.

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Maxey selected to All-NBA 3rd Team for 2025-26 season  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tyrese Maxey has been named to the All-NBA Third Team for the 2025-26 season.

Jamal Murray, Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Duren joined Maxey on the Third Team, which was announced Sunday night. Maxey got 36 votes for the Second Team and 60 votes for the Third Team from the 100-person media panel.

Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama made the First Team. The Second Team members are Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. 

The last Sixer to make an All-NBA Team before Maxey was Joel Embiid, who earned a First Team spot in his 2022-23 MVP season.

The 25-year-old Maxey ranked first in the NBA in minutes per game (38.0) and fifth in points per game (28.3). He set new career-best averages in assists (6.6), rebounds (4.1) and steals (1.9) while remaining a relatively low-turnover star. 

Maxey racked up a career-high 54 points in the Sixers’ Nov. 20 overtime win over the Bucks. He reached the 40-point mark on five occasions and scored under 20 in just seven of his 70 regular-season appearances.

Maxey played through a nagging right pinky finger injury in the playoffs and his production dropped off during the Sixers’ second-round series loss to the Knicks. He still played a major part in the Sixers’ first-round series comeback over the Celtics and averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the postseason. 

Though there’s considerable uncertainty about the Sixers’ future with the franchise searching for a new leader of basketball operations, Maxey and Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe are looking forward to many years as teammates. 

“I think this was a big-time jump and season for me,” Maxey said after the Sixers’ season-ending Game 4 defeat to the Knicks. “I did a good job of doing a lot of different things I wanted to work on last summer. I kind of came out here and executed them. This series was definitely tough for me. … I saw multiple bodies every single night. Every single pick-and-roll, it was a trap. Every single Brunson action, it was a trap. Every single time I got downhill, the entire team was in the paint and I was trying to kick out.

“I’ve got to really watch it because it was definitely one of the hardest series I’ve played in. I’ve got to be better for my teammates no matter what the case is, no matter what the defense is. … Next year I want to do some things off the ball and just not have to be in front of the defense all the time. When you’re in front of the defense all the time, it gives them opportunities to trap me a lot. … I feel like that’s one thing that really good players and great players can do. They can be on the ball and make plays on the ball, but they can also be off the ball and contribute that way, use their gravity that way.

“Drafting (Edgecombe) was huge for myself. He took a lot of pressure off me this season and he’s only going to get better, honestly.”

Jaylen Brown earns Second-Team All-NBA nod after career year for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown’s stellar 2025-26 season was recognized Sunday night with his second career All-NBA selection.

The Boston Celtics star received Second-Team All-NBA honors alongside Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic were named to the First Team.

Here’s a look at the full voting results, with Brown finishing as the top vote-getter on the Second Team.

With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out until March 6, Brown embraced his role as Boston’s No. 1 option. The five-time All-Star posted career bests in points per game (28.7), rebounds per game (6.9), and assists per game (5.1).

In what was expected to be a “gap year” for the C’s, Brown led his team to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Brown finished sixth in the NBA MVP race with four fourth-place votes and seven fifth-place votes. Although the Celtics’ run ended with a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Brown called it his “favorite season” of his 10-year NBA career.

Even after his outstanding season, there are question marks surrounding Brown’s future in Boston. The Celtics have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade rumors, and any deal for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar would likely require Brown being shipped out of town.

During a recent Twitch stream, Brown made it clear that he’d prefer to remain with the C’s.

“I love Boston. And if it was up to me, I could play in Boston for the next 10 years,” he said.

Brown last earned Second-Team All-NBA honors in 2022-23, when he finished with 26.6 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the floor.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder have won back-to-back games, and the San Antonio Spurs will need to give their all to even this series.

Although injuries have thinned OKC's roster, our NBA player prop projections found where the value lies for Game 4.

For more NBA picks, be sure to check out our Thunder vs. Spurs predictions.

Thunder vs Spurs computer picks for Game 4

Thunder	Spurs
Caruso u10.5 points -120	Champagnie o10.5 points -105
Hartenstein o6.5 points +102	Fox o14.5 points -105
Gilgeous-Alexander u7.5 assists -105	Wembanyama o25.5 points -105

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Thunder Game 4 computer picks

Alex Caruso Under 10.5 points (-120)

Projection: 8.18 points

This may seem daunting after watching Alex Caruso in the first few games of this series, but the guard is due for regression.

Caruso went under this number in six of eight prior playoff games, and the San Antonio Spurs will do what they can to shut him down, along with the rest of the OKC bench.

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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 6.5 points (+102)

Projection: 7.86 points

After playing just 12 minutes in Game 1, Isaiah Hartenstein has played 20+ minutes in back-to-back outings. His increased floor time will lead to more shots, pushing him Over this total.

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Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (Odds)

Projection: 6.51 assists

With Ajay Mitchell out and Jalen Williams questionable, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have to take on a much bigger offensive role. He'll be looking to shoot more, which should cut into his assists.

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Spurs Game 4 computer picks

Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-105)

Projection: 11.72 points

Julian Champagnie has played his part well for the Spurs this season, and he's currently shooting 39% from three. As the Oklahoma City Thunder look to close in on Wemby, Champagnie will be there to knock down outside looks.

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De-Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-125)

Projection: 16.02 points

De-Aaron Fox returned from injury and still put up 15 points in Game 3. He's eclipsed this total in all but one playoff game so far, and he'll do so again tonight.

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Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points (-120)

Projection: 26.86 points

Victor Wembanyama knows he has to dominate if his team has any chance of winning. Going back to Oklahoma City down 3-1 is a death sentence, and Wemby will go all out to secure the win for San Antonio.

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How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 4

Location	Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date	Sunday, May 24, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Phoenix Suns may have overachieved in plenty of ways during the 2025-26 season, still, overachieving doesn’t automatically translate to end-of-season recognition. That’s just the reality of how awards work now.

Because of the NBA’s 65 game eligibility rule, Phoenix had a very limited pool of players even eligible for postseason honors. Only Oso Ighodaro, Collin Gillespie, Royce O’Neale, Jordan Goodwin, and Ryan Dunn played in 70 or more games and qualified. So when the NBA released its All-Defensive teams aon May 22, you already knew Phoenix wasn’t going to have much representation.

Someone like Dillon Brooks never really had a chance to be part of the conversation. Brooks played in 56 games, leaving him short of eligibility despite the kind of defensive season that absolutely would’ve warranted attention had he reached the threshold.

But what about Jordan Goodwin? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.

After all, he was one of the better defensive guards in basketball this season. He finished sixth among guards in offensive rebounds per game and seventh among guards in steals. His 110.1 defensive rating speaks for itself. When you isolate rebounding alone, you can absolutely make the argument that no guard in the NBA impacted the glass the way Goodwin did.

Which makes his absence from the All-Defensive voting feel a little perplexing. Not shocking. Perplexing.

When awards voting rolls around, players on national television every week and players with bigger names tend to dominate the conversation. That’s the reality of it. Goodwin spent the year doing a lot of the dirty work that wins games and changes possessions without necessarily creating the kind of headlines that drive national narratives.

Still, not receiving a single vote feels surprising. Especially when you watched him night after night. You saw the hands. The point of attack defense. The rebounding. The hustle plays that turned into extra possessions. The way he consistently made life uncomfortable for opposing guards. The value was obvious in Phoenix.

It’s a question that fellow teammate Collin Gillespie asked via Twitter.

Side note, I do love seeing that kind of support. It’s one of those little things that gives you more confidence heading into the offseason that the Phoenix Suns are going to do everything they can to retain both of these players. Because they’re exactly the kind of depth pieces you want around your core.

I do wonder why, in this day and age of award oversaturation, there are only two All Defensive teams. Why not three? There are three All NBA teams. It feels like another opportunity to recognize players who lean into the unsexy side of basketball and make a real impact doing it.

I also have an issue with the fact that there were three centers on the All Defensive First Team. Maybe that’s the traditional structure. I still don’t love it.

Personal qualms with the NBA award structure aside, there is one potentially positive thing to take from all of this. Had Jordan Goodwin received recognition, it probably would have driven his price up this offseason. For a team towing the luxury tax line, every dollar matters, and if Goodwin had picked up a few votes, it absolutely would have strengthened his case for more money.

And yeah, there’s something kind of sad about that. You catch yourself quietly rooting for a player not to receive recognition because it could help your team financially. That probably says more about the state of the NBA than anything else.

I’ll cool my jets before I spiral into a larger conversation on the league’s philosophical shortcomings, and there are plenty.

I’ll simply end here. I appreciated everything Jordan Goodwin brought to Phoenix this season. He won the Marley Hustle Award, easily outplayed the value of his contract, and became the personification of a team that competed with grit, connectivity, and attitude.

He’s a keeper.

The only thing more unbelievable than the Knicks’ 10-game win streak through the playoffs are the ticket prices at Madison Square Garden.

It looks like two tickets for a potential Game 3 at The Garden in the NBA Finals have already been sold after the Knicks went up 3-0 on the Cavaliers with a chance to make the Finals for the first time since 1999.

According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, two courtside tickets have been sold on StubHub for a staggering $279,804.

The first two courtside seats have sold for the first Knicks Finals home game at Madison Square Garden in 27 years.

Someone purchased TWO seats on StubHub for….

$279,804!

I have confirmed the sale.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 24, 2026

The secondary ticket market for a Knicks Finals game has some eye-popping prices just for a chance to see these Knicks try to snap the franchise’s 53-year championship drought.

The cheapest price for a single ticket to Game 3 of the Finals at MSG is $3,265 as of Sunday morning on Tick PIck. That seat in is in section 418.

Fans who want to get closer to the action will find prices as high as $192,000 at Seat Geek to sit in Section 6 D behind the Knicks bench. Believe it or not, that’s more money than a few 1-bed, 1-bath apartments in midtown Manhattan listed on Zillow.

How does that compare to the two teams in the Western Conference finals?

If the Thunder make the Finals, they would host Game 1 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and the highest ticket price on the secondary market for that game is currently $12,339 for a seat in Section 106.

Prices for a good seat at a potential Finals Game 1 with the Spurs hosting are a bit higher. The most expensive tickets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio are a center court seat in Section 8 for $21,803 at Seat Geek and a $29,126 Box seat.

In both cases, the get-in price for a potential Game 1 at either area is around $1,000, which is a third of the price of the cheapest seat at The Garden.