The New York Knicks will try to complete a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. With one more victory, the Knicks will reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The New York Knicks are favored with a -141 moneyline compared to the Cleveland Cavaliers' +119. The over/under is set at 217.5.
How to watch New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers +119 (43.8%) / New York Knicks -141 (56.2%)
Over/Under: 217.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavaliers 104 (OT) Game 2:Knicks 109, Cavaliers 93 Game 3:Knicks 121, Cavaliers 108 Game 4: New York at Cleveland (Monday May 25, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN) Game 5: Cleveland at New York (Wednesday May 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)* Game 6: New York at Cleveland (Friday May 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)* Game 7: Cleveland at New York (Sunday May 31, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)*
It’s been quite a whirlwind few months for Lakers star Luka Doncic.
Apart from all of the on-court issues surrounding his grade 2 hamstring strain that saw him miss the entire postseason, the biggest drama in Doncic’s life was the split from longtime fiancee Anamarie Goltes.
Luka Doncic and his ex-fiancee Anamarie Goltes are tied up in a custody battle over the two daughters the couple share. Instagram/@anamariagoltes
The bombshell breakup came as Goltes — a model and influencer — filed a petition in California seeking child support and attorney fees, according to a report from TMZ.
Their first daughter, Gabriela was born November 2023 in the United States while Doncic was still playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Their second daughter, Olivia, was born last December in Slovenia.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life,” Doncic wrote in a statement. “As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.”
Doncic finished fourth in the voting for league MVP, which Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won for the second consecutive season. Getty Images
It appears Doncic is keeping good on his word.
Giving fans a rare glimpse inside his personal life, Doncic shared two photos on his Instagram Monday morning.
In one photo, Doncic is seen holding Olivia while playing with Gabriela. In the other photo, Doncic is out for a walk and it appears he has Gabriela on his shoulders.
Giving fans a rare glimpse inside his personal life, Doncic shared two photos on his Instagram Monday morning.
Doncic was named first-team All-NBA on Sunday afternoon, the sixth time in his career he’s been recognized in that manner.
He is the fifth player in league history to earn six All-NBA first-team honors by age 27 or younger, according to the Lakers. He and Nikola Jokic were the 22nd and 23rd players in NBA history to receive six or more career first-team selections.
He led the league with a scoring average of 33.5 points to go with 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals. His 254 made 3-pointers were the most in Lakers history for a season and the third most in the league for 2025-26.
Giving fans a rare glimpse inside his personal life, Doncic shared two photos on his Instagram Monday morning.
Doncic made a late push in the MVP race, and appeared to be making up serious ground. He was the only player to be named the Western Conference Player of the Month twice during the season, receiving the honor in January and March.
However, his hamstring strain caused him to miss the final month of the season and all of Los Angeles’ postseason push.
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Coming off a tough loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, the Spurs looked to regroup and even the series in Game 4. Even though they were not listed on the injury report, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper are still playing through their respective injuries. After an 8-7 lead by OKC, the Spurs embarked on a 15-0 run. They outscored the Thunder 28-19 in the first quarter, which would be a theme for the rest of the game. The Spurs’ defense adjusted from Game 3 and decided to guard MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander straight up, with only doubling him when necessary. The result: Not as many open shots for OKC’s role players, and when they were open, they managed to actually miss. Also, the Spurs gave the Thunder a taste of their own medicine: live-ball turnovers that resulted in extra points. Through a tough and gritty defensive performance, the Spurs held OKC to 33% shooting from the field and 18% from three-point territory. The Spurs led by as much as 25 in the game, and routed OKC 103-82.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 33 points (11-22 FG, 8-9 FT), eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals. Wemby was ultra-aggressive to start after being named to First Team All-NBA. 22 of his 33 points came in the first half alone. Anytime he was in the paint, he was able to take advantage of his height by tipping the ball multiple times off the glass for putbacks. He also drained three threes and stretched the OKC out thin. Wemby is now averaging 30.3 points per game, 13.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3 blocks in his first-ever Western Conference Finals on nearly 50/40/90 efficiency. A friendly reminder: he is only 22 years old.
On the board! Wemby gets the Spurs on the board first with a deep three!
SPURS BALL MOVEMENT! The Spurs throw it around the world with Wemby dishing the last pass in the possession to Julian Champagnie, who drives in and finishes!
Stephon Castle dropped a loud 13 points, six assists, three rebounds, one steal, and a block. Steph was a monster on defense, especially when guarding SGA. With the Spurs’ strategy to trust in guarding without immediately doubling, Steph helped hold SGA to 40% shooting and four turnovers. It is very puzzling to see him left off the All-Defensive teams, but Steph is, without a doubt, using it as fuel. Ever since Fox returned to the backcourt, Steph has only turned the ball over twice in two games. Playing his natural position at shooting guard, he has been able to play without fear of overthinking his game.
LOCKED UP! Steph locks up SGA and forces several pump fakes, hesitations, and a jump ball!
Devin Vassell dropped 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. Dev continues to do the dirty work and continues to play like a playoff riser. He has played without fear in his first playoff run, hitting timely shots, defending both the perimeter and the paint well, and making the right play every time. Regardless of how this team’s run ends, his performances are close to classic Spurs role player performances.
D3VIN VAS33L! Dev knocks down the transition three from the Steph dime!
THE D STANDS FOR DEFENSE! Dev blocks Jared McCain off the glass and gets the rebound. He then leads the fastbreak with a lob to Wemby for the alley-oop connection!
De’Aaron Fox dropped a double-double: 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, a steal, and a block. It has been remarkable to watch this man play through the pain in his ankle, providing the team with whatever they need. He was able to grab a game-high 10 boards on one healthy ankle, and still provided scoring with a dose of playmaking. As stated earlier, his return has allowed Steph and Dylan to play stress-free with his decision-making. Regardless of how the Spurs finish their playoff run, there is no doubt he has earned the respect of Spurs fans worldwide.
Fox dime! Fox gets double-teamed and threads the needle to an open Luke Kornet under the basket for the dunk!
This was a much-needed response to keep hope alive in the series. The Spurs may not have had their best offensive performance, but they definitely shut down the Thunder’s offense. They held OKC to their lowest scoring total in five years and frustrated SGA. The Spurs know to expect a big response in Game 5, but this performance has sparked even more confidence that they will keep the reigning champs on their heels. Also, the Spurs should do whatever they can to invite the Salesian Sisters for the remaining games in the series.
The Western Conference Finals turn into a best-of-three series with Game 5 being a huge litmus test for both teams. Game 5 is this Tuesday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Jon Metler's expert pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Price: -110 at bet365
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in full desperation mode, trailing 3-0 to the New York Knicks and constantly searching for defensive answers.
So far, nothing has worked. Jalen Brunson has either exploded as a scorer or carved them up as a playmaker, including a 14-assist performance earlier in the series. That’s why I think Karl-Anthony Towns is positioned to benefit most from Cleveland’s likely adjustments in Game 4.
The Cavaliers can’t aggressively help off the wings in the Brunson/Towns two-man game because OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have consistently punished rotating defenses with catch-and-shoot opportunities created by Brunson.
That should push Cleveland toward a more aggressive drop coverage with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, forcing them to concede more open perimeter looks to Towns. I price KAT closer to -145 to clear this total.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Evan Mobley Over 1.5 threes
Price: +110 at bet365
Evan Mobley’s inside-out scoring is a strength of this Cavs offense... when the “outside” part is clicking.
The versatile forward went 1-for-6 from distance in Game 3 after knocking down two triples in each of the first two games of the series. New York is happy to let Cleveland jack it up from the perimeter, as the Cavs just haven’t been able to cash in on open shots.
Mobley is getting excellent looks, with all 17 3PAs graded as “open” to “wide open” with no defender within at least four feet. Thirteen of those 3-point shots have come without a Knicks player within six feet. However, he’s a collective 5-for-17 from beyond the arc for the series.
Projections aren’t bullish on Mobley’s makes from downtown, but a desperate game script has Cleveland on the ropes as a home underdog and needing big shots from its stars to stay alive. If Mobley doesn’t top this prop, it won’t be for a lack of clean looks from long range.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks -2.5
Price: -110 at bet365
I’ll keep backing the Knicks to finish the job and send the Cavs home tonight. New York has now won 10 straight playoff games, with nine of those victories coming by double digits.
It's also shown zero interest in dragging out the series, blowing out both the Hawks and Sixers in previous close-out games by 51 and 30 points — with both taking place on the road.
The Knicks have clearly been the better team in this matchup and should stay aggressive from the opening tip vs. a Cleveland team that's running on fumes.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In a showdown of titans, San Antonio is tied 2-2 with defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals because, for two games, Victor Wembanyama took over. He dropped 41 in the dramatic Game 1 double-overtime win on the road. However, it was in Game 4 — a must-win game for the Spurs, they couldn't afford to go 3-1 down — where he played maybe his best game.
“I think our competitive response all year has been pretty good and he’s been at the forefront of that more than not,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And I think tonight he felt, not speaking for him, but from my perspective and obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways.”
Wembanyama hadn't been bad in Games 2 and 3. For example, in Game 3 he had 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting and was +4. However, the Spurs had been able to use Isaiah Hartenstein's physicality to push Wemby away from the rim — he had just four shots in the restricted area, six in the paint — and out on the perimeter.
Sunday night, we saw an aggressive Wembanyama who set the tone early (11 first-quarter points) and went hard to the rim — he shot 7-of-10 in the restricted area in Game 4 and took a dozen shots in the paint. When he's that close to the basket, there is nothing any player in the league can do. Especially when he's also 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Johnson also modified his team's defensive schemes in a way that let Wembanyama hang closer to the rim — where he is a force unlike anyone in the league — and the results were dramatic. In Game 3, the Thunder shot 11-of-15 in the restricted area and 21-of-32 in the paint overall. In Game 4, the Thunder still tried to attack and get downhill, but shot 48.3% in the restricted area and were 18-of-41 (43.9%) overall in the paint. Look at the Spurs shot chart.
NBA.com
After the ugly Game 3 loss at home, Spurs legendary former coach (now front office person) Gregg Popovich appeared in the locker room postgame — the first time he had done so all year, according to De'Aaron Fox in a postgame interview on NBC. Popovich's message was simple: That's not Spurs basketball.
“He saw it. We all saw it," Fox said. "We all felt it."
Wembanyama felt it and did what all the greats do — he took that personally. He put the team on his shoulders. He finished Game 4 with 33 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, but the stats don't tell the story of the tone Wembanyama set. Or the one he continues to set.
“We all have high standards and I know I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it,” Wembanyama said. “Yeah, it was better today. It wasn’t perfect...
“The series is far from over. We’ve got six more wins before we can rest.”
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) prepare for a jump ball in the fourth quarter during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Exactly one year ago, the Knicks stepped onto the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Pacers. Our heroes had lost the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, each by five points or less. Favored to win the series, New York stunned us by dropping those two at Madison Square Garden, but our faith remained strong. It was still our year! We would just have to wait a couple more games to reach the promised land.
New York won by six on May 25, 2025. From there, they lost Game Four nearly wire-to-wire, won Game Five wire-to-wire, and then the wheels came off. Aside from a brief five-point lead in the first quarter, they were demolished in Game Six. Brokenhearted, disconsolate, forlorn, confused—you name it, we felt it as fans. We blinked through disbelief as we watched Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers hoist the Bob Cousy Trophy and advance to the Finals. The friggin’ Pacers.
One year later—with a new coach but essentially the same roster—the Knicks stand on the verge of a Finals berth again. This time, they will leave nothing to chance. Their opponent, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, are reeling from three straight punches and are utterly exhausted after playing 17 postseason games without a break. In Game Three, essentially with their season on the line, the Cavs simply couldn’t keep up. New York outscored them on fast breaks 17-0 through three quarters, and by the fourth period, Cleveland basically stood back and admired the craftsmanship of Sir Jalen Brunson.
You’ll forgive us for counting the chickens still gestating in their eggs. We take great confidence in the fact that no NBA team has ever climbed out of a three-game hole to win a playoff series. Our heroes have not appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999, and destiny, at last, is on our side. No more front-office incompetence. No more LOLKnicks. No more cheap shots in kids’ movies that I have to explain to my son. Finally, we have a team that deserves to share a jersey with Willis, Walt, and Patrick. Enjoy every blessed minute of it, fans.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson has tried to lift his team’s spirits. He claims they’re actually winning the series analytically. What else can he say? “Donovan Mitchell looks ready for a summer-long convalescence,” or “James Harden is a washed-up paper tiger,” or “Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have folded like laundry in the frontcourt”? Could Kenny ever admit that a supporting cast of Max Strus, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson just doesn’t emanate that certain championship aroma?
Atkinson has a ring. He won it with Mike Brown as an assistant on Golden State’s bench. Kenny knows what greatness looks like. Surely he can see that his team is tapped out after surviving slugfests with the Raptors and Pistons to get here, then finding a juggernaut before them. Would we be surprised if Laura Atkinson hasn’t already booked a Turks and Caicos getaway for next weekend? No sir, we would not.
All things considered, the Cavs seem kinda lucky to be here. The Knicks stopped believing in luck under the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei (a.k.a. Tom Thibodeau) and—for Jalen—Rick Brunson. They believe in maximum effort, discipline, and unity. They took two seasons to learn how to combine like Voltron, but combine they have and all the talking heads are giving them flowers. Winners of the most lopsided 10-game winning streak in league history . . . the most potent offense in history . . . all the laudatory noise means nothing to that maniac Brunson. He is obsessively focused on one thing and steadily leads his troops toward it. It’s not the Cousy—Jalen is coming for the Larry O’Brien. Heaven help anyone who stands in his way.
Tonight’s prediction? Knicks by 15 and bedlam in NYC.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (3-0) at Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3) Date: Monday, May 25, 2026 Time: 8 PM ET Place: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: ESPN Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
San Antonio was blown out by the Thunder 123-108 in Game 3 on Friday, leading to former coach and Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich giving the team a tongue-lashing for the first time all season.
His message clearly resonated with the Spurs as they responded with a 103-82 Game 4 win to tie the Western Conference finals at 2-2.
Gregg Popovich screamed at the Spurs after a Game 3 loss. Getty Images
“We lost Game 3 … but that was the first time he walked into the locker room and was like, ‘Nah, that’s BS. That’s not how we play basketball,’ and obviously he had some choice words for us,” Spurs star De’Aaron Fox told NBC after the blowout win Sunday night. “That was the first time all season that he came into the locker room right after a game and told us how he felt.”
Popovich doesn’t stand on the sidelines barking directions to his players anymore.
He was seen sitting in a luxury box next to Tim Duncan during Game 4.
A video of Popovich speaking to star center Victor Wembanyama went viral on social media ahead of Game 3, with the Frenchman listening intently and hanging on every word.
The Hall of Fame coach has tutored Wembanyama since he entered the league, acting as his coach for his first full season and then for five games in the 2024-25 season.
The 77-year-old Popovich still has plenty of connections with this Spurs roster, as he stepped down as the coach in May 2025 after suffering a stroke, which has limited his physical condition and forced him to relinquish the role. Mitch Johnson, who is currently in his second season, replaced him.
“Every team gets blown out, but just mentality-wise, I think that was one of the worst games we had probably of the season,” Fox said of the Game 3 home loss, per ESPN. “Then, Pop came in after the game. He saw it, we all saw it. We all felt it. Coming into this game, we wanted to make sure that mentality was out the door. Even if we lost this game, as long as we came in with the right mentality and played the right way, we could be OK with losing the game. The way that we lost [Game 3] I think hurt more than losing the game, and that was pretty much for everybody in the locker room.”
Victor Wembanyama (l) was coached by Gregg Popovich for most of his career, while De’Aaron Fox (r) said the ex-coach’s message inspired the team. NBAE via Getty Images
After a historic 29-year run in San Antonio, Popovich, who started in December 1996, won five titles as the team’s coach, dominating with a Duncan-led tandem.
The Spurs now head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5.
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) loses the ball to San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
I must admit, my confidence was hanging by a thread as last night’s game started. After all, the Thunder are a genuinely great team, the Spurs had suffered consistently bad disadvantages in three straight games (e.g., turnover margin), and it felt like OKC’s plan of fouling Wemby continuously was going to end up being an effective method for mitigating his impact. I didn’t even feel good when San Antonio got up big in the first quarter because, well, look at Game 3. Even so, my spirits lifted as the second quarter progressed, soared with Victor’s halfcourt heave to go up 12 at halftime, and remained excellent throughout a dominant second half. Considering the environment and stakes, this may have been the Spurs best performance of the season to date, and fortunately it also produced a fascinating box score. Let’s review some highlights:
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 24, 2026, this group include 1,197 games.
Factors that decided the game
This is a great game for showcasing why winning is determined by relative differences in performance (i.e., how the winner performed relative to the loser). In particular, the Spurs shot terribly in this game, yet still outscored OKC by 13 from the field because the Thunder’s shooting efficiency was DREADFUL.
I talk about this more below, but the Spurs achieved the rare feat of beating OKC in every basic box score battle that doesn’t directly relate to shooting volume or efficiency (more on that below). These margins were rarely huge (hence the grades are usually modest), but lots of little advantages often add up to a big victory.
San Antonio also won most margins having to do with shooting volume or efficiency, with the most notable victory being their FTA margin of +14. Interestingly, FT% is the only key area where they lost to the Thunder badly; even so, the Spurs outscored OKC by eight from the charity stripe.
Rare Box Score Stats
Last night, San Antonio became the first postseason victor since the start of 2012-2013 to win by 21+ points while logging FG%, 3P%, and FT% values at least as bad as 38.89%, 27.27%, and 75%, respectively. There are only four other instances in the same 1,197-game period in which a winning team had a shooting percentage line at least as bad in all three dimensions, and the previous high margin of victory in that set was 12.
The Spurs became just the 12th winner since the start of the 2012-2013 postseason to win EVERY basic box score battle outside of anything related to shooting volume or accuracy. In other words, relative to OKC they had more offensive rebounds, more defensive rebounds, more assists, fewer turnovers, more steals, more blocks, and fewer personal fouls.
San Antonio became the 42 winner in the last 1,197 NBA postseason contests to win by 21+ points with FGA and 3PA margins no better than -1 and 0, respectively (that’s a frequency of about once in every 29 postseason games during the period).
The Spurs and Thunder combined for just 15 total made threes in this game. That is not wildly unusual over the last 14 postseasons; in fact, it has now happened 195 times in that 1,197-game span. However, the vast majority of those occasions were in the 2010s. Since 2019, it’s happened between 0 and 7 times per postseason.
An interesting point of comparison for this fact about total threes made is that the total number of field goals made in last night’s game (65) was also quite low relative to the reference period, with 98 total games over the last 1,197 (i.e., about one game in every dozen) where two teams have combined to make 65 or fewer field goals. The frequency of this occurrence has declined over time (largely due to rising pace), but not nearly as dramatically.
Wemby logged just the 12th true playoff performance since the 1996-1997 postseason that included 33+ points, 8+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 3+ blocks, and 2+ steals.
Kelly Olynyk is featured in the headline photograph because last night he became the only NBA player to record 3+ steals while playing no more than five minutes in a true playoff game since 1996-1997. In fact, of the 48,406 player performances that have included 3+ steals in ANY NBA game since 1996-1997, Olynyk’s game last night was just the sixth case that lasted less than five minutes. Nice job, Kelly!
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.
The New York Knicks will try to secure the rest advantage over their Western Conference counterpart in the NBA Finals when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
These Knicks vs. Cavaliers props and NBA picks for Game 4 fully expect New York to complete this sweep tonight, with Karl-Anthony Towns playing a key role.
Game 4 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 points 1Q (-144)
The New York Knicks should emphasize a strong start tonight. Make the Cleveland Cavaliers face elimination early in Game 4 and challenge them to not think about packing it in before they head to the beach.
The NBA punchline of “1, 2, 3, Cancun” usually overlooks that moment at the start of Game 4 when the “Cancun” aspect of that laugh is cemented. A strong first quarter can erase any remaining competitive intrigue from the trailing team.
Jalen Brunson may be New York’s star, but he rarely starts a game aggressively. He instead incorporates his teammates early before taking over late. For example, Brunson has scored just two and five points in the last two first quarters.
Karl-Anthony Towns, however, is a willing beneficiary of Brunson’s early deference. Towns has scored seven and 11 points in the last two first quarters, a combination of long-range shooting and work at the rim.
Two buckets from Towns in tonight’s early frame is not much of an ask, but it would help spur the Knicks toward the Finals more than usual.
Game 4 Prop #2: James Harden Under 17.5 points (-102)
Winning back-to-back seven-game series should not be quickly forgotten, but losing a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals may cost the Cavaliers and James Harden all such goodwill. Well, it may cost the Cavaliers all such goodwill. It is debatable if Harden has any such goodwill.
He went 3-for-9 from the field in the decisive win against the Raptors in the first round before going 2-for-10 from the field in Game 7 against the Pistons. Did Cleveland win because of Harden or despite him?
This Game 4 should not help his argument.
Harden has cleared this prop in the last two games, but topping out at 19 points in Game 3 despite playing 41 minutes is not an encouraging sign. If New York does indeed win its 11th straight game, a blowout feels rather likely. Eight of the Knicks’ last 10 wins have been blowouts.
A blowout in a series-clinching game typically cuts into starters’ minutes. Cutting into Harden’s minutes at all should doom his scoring, given that he has hardly scored in bunches in this series.
This prop is likely already set at its actionable low, so the -102 are a delightful surprise.
Game 4 Prop #3: Miles McBride Over 5.5 points (+102)
A blowout should lead to only more minutes for Miles McBride. The Knicks guard is rarely the subject of prop bets, but there is still value in this.
Realize, New York has shown a penchant for closing series with firepower. It beat Atlanta by 51 points in a game that was not even that close. The 76ers fell by 30 points.
Routs lead to more minutes for McBride, obviously. Thus, he scored 25 points in 29 minutes in that farewell to Philadelphia.
This is very much a bet that the Knicks will win with ease tonight and give Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart some time to laugh and celebrate. McBride has already scored five points in each of the last two games. An additional shift on the court should spur him past this prop and into plus-money profit.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Lakers have filled one of their two assistant general manager vacancies.
The franchise has hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka.
With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images
Ramadas last worked as a vice president of strategy and operations for the Pelicans.
The hiring, which was first reported by ESPN on Monday, is the first of two assistant general manager hires the Lakers plan on making this offseason.
One assistant general manager will work in “player draft and evaluation processes”, according to Pelinka, which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. The other will be more on the “strategy side”, which entails cap, analytics and data.
The latter is the role is filling Ramadas.
After earning a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from USC, Ramadas worked for The Aerospace Corporation for 12 years before joining the Pelicans’ front office on a full-time basis in September 2024.
He was the franchise’s senior director of analytics and innovation before being promoted in May 2025 to vice president of strategy and operations.
Ramadas was an analytics consultant for the Pelicans for seven years before joining the organization full-time. Before working with the Pelicans, Ramadas was a draft analyst with the Heat in 2016-17.
The hiring of Ramadas is part of the Lakers’ “reconstruction” this summer, which is the franchise’s first full offseason since Mark Walter, also the Dodger’s controlling owner, purchased the majority stake of the Lakers.
“We have already started that reconstruction, have made hires in our front office and continue to develop new technologies and new areas that we’ve turned on for the draft [and] free agency,” Pelinka said. “A lot of the infrastructure is being built. We will continue to staff out with assistant general manager positions. There’s a couple of those that we’re currently interviewing for and have done an extensive dive in that process. Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason.”
The franchise is also looking to enhance their practice facility with a biomechanics lab, new movement labs and a recovery lab.
The Lakers’ changes come in the midst of a pivotal offseason: LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent; Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option for 2026-27 and become an unrestricted free agent; Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes are also unrestricted free agents; Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player options for next season.
NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks dunks in Game Four of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 23, 1999 in New York, New York. The Spurs won 96-89. OTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Never in Knicks history has New York swept back-to-back postseason series.
“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. 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.”
On the risk of getting ahead of themselves:
“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.”
On thinking about winning a title when he signed with the Knicks:
“When I took the job, I thought about it. But 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.”
On balancing enjoyment with focus:
“The guys have played good basketball, and they deserve the right for me to make sure that I recognize it and that they’re able to take a breath and enjoy for a few moments what they did do. But again, I’ll try to read the room, and so every once in a while, I may tell them, ‘Hey, you guys were great. Great, great, great, great, but be ready for this, because this can happen.’ So I’ll try to let them go a little bit but bring them back to earth every once in a while with a statement, something that could happen or did happen. And we kinda go from there, but everybody is human. Everybody needs an opportunity to enjoy this roller-coaster ride as it’s unfolding. But the same breath, it’s my job to try to make sure I lead the charge in bringing them back down to earth sooner than later.”
On OG Anunoby’s All-Defense snub:
“I got one more thing before I’m taking off. You guys can all print this. Great players out there. I’m not discounting anybody, but freakin’ OG got robbed. He should’ve been first-team All Defense. First-team All-Defense. The versatility he brings to this team — we’re a top-five defensive team. Top-five defensive team, OK? The versatility that he brings — and everybody always says, ‘Oh, you got KAT. You got Jalen. Blah, blah, blah.’ The versatility that that guy brings to this team is off the charts, and I hope the voters get it right the next time around. I’m happy he’s second-team. He deserves something, but it was wrong.”
On championship traits he sees in this group:
“All of them had a competitive spirit that was unmatched. They were all connected. Those intangibles are what I see that our team is.”
"Freakin' OG got robbed. He should've been First Team All-Defense. I hope the voters get it right next time around. It was wrong."
Mike Brown ends his availability today by making the case for OG Anunoby to be First Team All-Defense 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Z0HSYCirhf
“We have to come in knowing that this series isn’t over and keep our foot on their necks and try to win the game.”
On earning second-team All-Defense recognition:
“It was cool to get the recognition. Anytime you’re recognized by coaches and the media, it’s really cool. The second team is cool, I was hoping I got first team, I thought I should have gotten first team. But second team is good. Every recognition is good. First team, second team. There’s a lot of good defenders in the league, so to be recognized as one of the 10 premier ones is really cool in itself. Just happy. Now I’m just focused on the rest of the playoffs.”
On believing he’s been elite defensively for years:
“I feel like I’ve been a great defender for years. So anytime you get recognition — recognized by coaches or the media, your peers, whatever — it’s really cool. Second Team is cool.”
On not dwelling on the Knicks’ finals drought:
“I don’t think we’re stuck on it. 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.”
"I was hoping I got First Team, I thought I should have got First Team"
“We’ve won all these games in a row as a team. We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We found ways to get these great wins as a team. As long as we stay together and stay unified, we feel and have always felt that the sky’s the limit for us.”
On demanding more desperation amid the Game 3 win:
“I think that we’ve got to be more desperate. We’ve got to be more desperate. This [Cavaliers] team is too good, too great, it’s too much of a big stage to not find more desperation in the game.”
On what frustrated him most during the first half of Game 3:
“We gave up 27 points. That’s what pissed me off more than anything.”
How long has Jalen Brunson imagined leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals?
On how long he’s thought about reaching the Finals with the Knicks:
“Since I signed.”
On whether the Knicks are peaking:
“I don’t want to consider us peaking at this moment. 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?”
On treating Game 4 like any other:
“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. And try to be the best team we can be.”
On not thinking about historical stakes:
“It doesn’t really cross my mind at all right now. Just really focused on tomorrow. I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, honestly.”
On fan excitement amid this ridiculous run:
“I mean they’re probably excited. Rightfully so, but we have a job to do, and we have things that we need to focus on. That’s on them being them, but we have to be locked in to do what we do.”
“Analytically, we’ve won 2 out of 3. We’re two out of the three in the expected score. If you believe in process and all that, like, man, take that later. I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself, and if I have this feeling, I can go to our analytical table and be like, man, the expected score was like one point or two — us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over.”
On the public’s reaction to that argument:
“I know no one wants to hear that. I think you guys like hearing it, but I know the general public, nobody wants to hear that. Everybody is outcome-based. You know, sure, I get that too.”
On past success against New York:
“We’ve had success against this team before. We’ve had really good moments in this series — up 20 in Game 1. Even Game 2, take that run out from the beginning of the third quarter, and it’s pretty tight.”
On believing in process despite results:
“If you believe in process and all that … take that layer. I know I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself. We have this feeling — I have this feeling — then I can go to our analytical table.”
On the Knicks avoiding any sort of drop in production:
“Teams that make that next step, it’s the balance that’s impressed me the most. 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.”
On Cleveland’s defensive struggles and Knicks contributors:
“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. 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.”
On the Cavs players believing in a comeback:
“I had eight great answers. I said, ‘Well that makes me believe more because you guys really believe in yourselves.’ Each guy had a different reason or two. I don’t want me to get up and say, ‘Hey we got to believe.’ It’s not that. It’s, do they believe? They do believe. They’re probably not steeped in the stats that you guys all know, how hard this is. But I don’t think they care about that. They believe in the group, they believe in each other, they believe we’ve had really good stretches against this team.”
What has our game come too! I remember when we use to just play basketball and took what the defense gave us and just enjoyed getting the bucket. The beauty and choreography was unreal. Now a coach is saying they are up 2-1 analytically although actually down 3-0. 🤷🏾 https://t.co/cL4IUoaacR
“I still feel like we’re the better ballclub. Obviously, we haven’t shown that. We have another opportunity Monday to keep this thing going.”
On playing for avoiding a sweep:
“I think, ultimately, it’s a pride thing. Tomorrow is going to be a big test for where we are mentally. We’re at home — we don’t lose at home. We should take pride in that. These dudes, call a spade a spade, they’re trying to sweep us. Me, personally, I don’t take that lightly. Whether I’m playing five minutes or 15 minutes, whatever it is, I’m going to put my best foot forward and I know my teammates are going to put their best foot forward and try not to let that happen. I think that’s a pride thing.”
“I’m gonna be in the parking lot selling brooms, folks!” 🧹🧹🤣
“It reminds me of a team I played on. Bradley, Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed, Barnett — unselfish play, tenacious defense.”
On whether the Knicks will finish the sweep in Cleveland:
“I’m buying the brooms!”
LeBron on KAT as hub: "You now shift your pie chart from people thinking heavy…JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts…D can't just be keyed in on 1 action now"
On Josh Hart: "Knicks have always had 1 of those guys…that's just synonymous with the Knickerbockers" pic.twitter.com/QsZyde0WNj
“The defense can’t just key on a couple of actions anymore. I thought over the last couple of years with New York, you kind of got a good rhythm of how they were gonna play. The ball was gonna end up in a certain way every single time.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub in the offense:
“You now shift your pie chart from people just thinking heavy, heavy, heavy, JB pick-and-roll, JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts. Which means the defense can’t just be keyed in on one action now. So having KAT as the hub, at the elbow, at the top of the key, it allows JB to be off the ball, where he can set a rip screen for OG to get to the rim where if [the defense] messes that up, OG gets a dunk. If they mess that up and both of them go with OG to the rim, now you have JB coming off it clean, either for a clean shot or a [dribble handoff]. Now the defense is playing catch up. That’s helped their demographic out a lot, their pie chart on what they can do offensively. And JB is still gonna have his iso game where he’s really good, he’s still gonna have his pick-and-roll game where he’s really good. But to sprinkle in a little bit of off-ball action, a little bit of pinch-post action, with a different hub, that helps a lot.”
“When you look at somebody like Donovan Mitchell, you know what he possesses. I don’t care if you’re tired. I don’t care if you’re banged up. Do it without the mask. Save the bus, save the girl, take the punches, the broken ribs. That’s why you’re Spidaman.”
On the Cavs’ overall issues:
“When I look at this team, I look at guys that feel like sometimes somebody needs to put them in position, somebody needs to show them the way. No, no, no. Half the things that are going on with Cleveland is effort.”
“He’s arguably already a top five Knick EVER.” 😳
Where do you place Jalen Brunson in Knicks lore? 👇
“He is this generation’s Patrick Ewing. He is the best player on the Knicks. He is, for me, the engine that makes that s*** go.”
On Brunson’s playoff résumé:
“He is. Like that mofo, if he don’t do that (late-Game 1 burst), they get smoked. That s started with him. He hit three, four shots in a row… It was perfect. The stage was perfect for him to do what he did. What he did last night will be why you remember him. Real shit man. He took the game over.”
Paul Pierce
On Brunson’s standing among Knicks greats:
“Arguably already a top-five Knick ever.”
The Larry O on the MSG Hardwood is happening for the first time ever on June 8th.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve heard plenty of stories about the Cleveland Browns and analytics over the years, especially when Paul DePodesta first came around. DePodesta departed this offseason to go back to Major League Baseball, but present day, analytics is more widely accepted as a standard across the NFL. One thing you typically don’t see, though, is using analytics to talk about a team’s win-loss record in critical moments.
That shifts us over to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had fans on the highest of highs a little over a week ago when they dominated the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the series against the Knicks has soured fans again, starting with when New York had an improbably 22-point comeback half-way through the fourth quarter in Game 1. Since then, the Cavaliers have not been able to have sustained success at getting a lead against the Knicks, with a combination of poor three-point shooting, defensive assignments, and New York executing at a high level combining to them now being down 3 games to 0 and facing elimination tonight. No team has ever come back from being down 0-3 at this stage.
Nonetheless, head coach Kenny Atkinson had this to say in an interview yesterday, which certainly didn’t go over the way you expected it too:
“Analytically, we’ve won three, no, two out of three games.” I saw someone on Twitter celebrate by posting a 2026 Analytical Champions Banner for the Cavaliers yesterday. That’d be like saying, “With our defense last year, analytically, the Browns made the postseason.” Yes, I get the things that he’s trying to imply, like the Knicks shot the lights out of the ball and the Cavaliers missed some open looks, and if those things had been closer to the averages, the outcome might have been differently. But there are so many variables in every game, and Cleveland hasn’t done the right things strategically to force such shooting percentages to be different on either side of the court.
It’s been an interesting past month of Cleveland sports — a time when all three major teams are potentially in the spotlight. You had fans high on the Cavaliers, they are currently high on the division-leading Guardians, and any time the Browns are in the midst of an offseason, it feels good to build up that hope all over again. But it looks like the Cavaliers are about to give way to the Browns in terms of sports fandom, with more organized team activities and then mandatory minicamp coming up over the next 2-3 weeks, as fans try to figure out who Cleveland’s starting quarterback will be in 2026.
A BetMGM customer who has won nearly $2 million laddering spread bets during the NBA playoffs lost $350,000 backing the Oklahoma City Thunder in their Game 4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The bettor's customary ladder spread bets went 0-for-6 Sunday night, with a standout loss of $150,000 on Thunder +6.5. The Spurs cruised past the Thunder 103-82.
Key Takeaways
The bettor had won multiple ladder spread bets since the beginning of the playoffs.
BetMGM reported the user had correctly backed OKC with $300,000 in bets in Game 3.
The ladder bettor – whose identity remains anonymous – has dominated the sportsbooks during the NBA playoffs.
The big-bank user has won more than $1.9 million since April 27. The bettor took home $167,508 from $300,000 in bets by supporting the Thunder in Game 3 against the Spurs, which ended in a 15-point road win for the defending champs.
Laying another $350,000 in tickets on the Thunder in Game 4 felt like a sign that the series was destined to be headed to a 3-1 count.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs had different plans. After they became the second team in NBA playoff history to lose a game they started with a lead of at least 15-0 in Game 3, they raced out to a 23-8 lead. The difference this time was that the Thunder never took the lead during the final 44 minutes of play, leaving the series tied 2-2.
The loss ended the ladder bettor’s sharp streak, during which numerous days of six-figure profits were racked up.
BetMGM reported the user won $466,718 from $775,000 in wagers during the New York Knicks’ historic Game 1 comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The bettor followed that up with $176,883 in profit from $300,000 in Game 2 and $217,172 in new funds from a $350,000 stake in Game 3.
Earlier in the playoffs, the bettor won $419,641 from $225,000 in tickets during the conference semifinals matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Cavaliers and $291,860 from $190,000 backing the Thunder in the conference semis against the Los Angeles Lakers, among other prolific wins.
Thunder still lead future odds
With their series now tied at two games apiece, the Thunder still find themselves in the driver’s seat in NBA Finals odds.
Heading back to OKC for Game 5 on Tuesday, the Thunder are -115 to win the Finals. That’s the longest their odds have been since before the playoffs began, although it is still comfortably ahead of the Knicks (+260), Spurs (+275), and Cavaliers (+25,000).
The Thunder are also -210 to win the West, while the Spurs are only +170. Those odds translate to a 67% implied probability that the Thunder will find themselves back in the Finals for the second straight season.
OKC is a 5.5-point favorite in Game 5 and -200 on the moneyline. They’re 6-4 against the spread as a favorite in the playoffs, although they’re only 1-1 against the Spurs. They also lost six of nine games against the Spurs straight up dating back to the beginning of the regular season.
NBA teams that win Game 5 in a 2-2 series have won the series more than 82% of the time, according to Spurs analyst Dan Weiss. That heaps even more pressure onto both teams, who have already produced one of the best series in recent playoff history.
Jan 30, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles as Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) defends during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent. Again. But this time, the Washington Wizards are involved.
According to Brandon Robinson of ScoopB, the Wizards are a dark horse contender for James, who just finished the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Here’s the money quote from Robinson:
The gravity of Washington’s pitch centers around Anthony Davis. It is no secret around the league that Davis and James remain incredibly close friends. However, Davis has been noticeably non-committal publicly regarding his long-term desire to stay in Washington. Compounded by a desire to keep their star happy and anchored in D.C., the Wizards organization could be feeling the pressure to make a major splash.
Robinson went on to add that Trae Young would form the third piece of a “Big Three” of James, Davis and Young. In addition, James has been complimentary of the Wizards’ rebuilding process in past podcast interviews.
I am skeptical that the Wizards will bring in James for a farewell tour. He is 41 years old, yet he remains one of the league’s top players. But then again, the Wizards are under pressure to start winning games after getting the No. 1 draft pick.
As it turns out, the Browns aren't the Cleveland-based sports team having the most warped obsession with analytics.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, whose team trails the Knicks 3-0 in the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals, came up with an all-time glass-half-full justification for the Cavs' struggles.
Via Matt Clapp of Awful Announcing, Atkinson claimed — with a straight face — that Cleveland is essentially winning.
“Analytically . . . we’re two out of three in the expected [score]. . . . We’ve won two out of the three,” Atkinson said.
The remark immediately flopped worse than SGA.
“I know you’re looking confused," Atkinson said. "But if you believe in process and all that. . . . take that layer. . . .
“I think last night, it was, the expected score was like one point or two. Us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over. I know no one wants to hear that. I think you guys like hearing it. The general public . . . everyone’s outcome-based. Sure. I get that too.”
Yes, the general public is outcome-based. Because winning and losing is based on the outcome.
At a time when the Cavaliers face the nearly impossible task of digging out of a 3-0 hole, they need inspiration. They need confidence. Telling them to buck up because they've analytically won two of the three games that they lost surely won't do the trick.
It would be nice if, in hindsight, this is the moment where blind reliance on analytics jumps the shark. Or, even better, when the shark eats it.
And then Atkinson can claim analytics actually ate the shark. If you believe in process.
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Evan Mobley Over 1.5 threes
