Category: Basketball

The dream scenario for the Washington Wizards isn’t simply landing AJ Dybantsa, assuming he is the No 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The dream scenario is landing Dybantsa while already having established stars around him. If the Wizards enter the 2026-27 season with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Dybantsa, they would have one of the more fascinating roster constructions in the NBA.

The fit is not perfect. No roster is. But there are compelling reasons why Dybantsa could thrive alongside both veterans.

How Dybantsa Fits With Trae Young

The biggest advantage Trae Young provides is that he immediately removes pressure from AJ Dybantsa as a primary scoring option.

Most No. 1 picks enter the league expected to become the primary offensive creator on Day One. Look at John Wall back in 2010-11. Wall delivered, sure. But it took several seasons before the Wizards returned to the playoffs.

That often leads to inefficient basketball, forced shots, and growing pains. Dybantsa would not face those challenges to the same degree.

Young remains one of the NBA’s elite playmakers. His ability to run pick-and-roll, collapse defenses, and create open shots would give Dybantsa easier scoring opportunities than most rookie wings receive.

How Dybantsa Fits With Anthony Davis

If Young helps Dybantsa offensively, Anthony Davis helps him defensively.

One of the biggest challenges for young players is learning NBA defensive rotations and responsibilities. Even highly regarded prospects make mistakes. Rotations are missed. Assignments are blown. Screens are miscommunicated.

Davis has spent his entire career covering those mistakes. Even in his 30s, Davis remains one of basketball’s premier defensive anchors when healthy. His rim protection allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, knowing they have elite help behind them. At least when he’s healthy.

That is particularly important for Dybantsa. Rather than immediately defending forwards who would regularly be stronger than him, Dybantsa could focus on guarding wings and developing his individual defense immediately while building his physical strenth. Davis would handle much of the heavy lifting inside.

Offensively, Davis also complements Dybantsa’s skill set. Davis does much of his damage near the basket, while Dybantsa projects as a versatile wing capable of scoring from multiple levels. Their offensive games naturally occupy different areas of the floor, reducing overlap.

And again, is Dybantsa likely the No. 1 pick?

Well duh. At -390 per FanDuel, he’s the runaway choice. Even Dybantsa himself says that he has no intent of dropping down. So whether the Wizards, Jazz, or some other team has that pick, Dybantsa wants to be No. 1.

The Biggest Questions: Timing — and will Davis be a Wizard this fall?

Dybantsa’s fit itself is not the primary concern. The timeline is. Young and Davis are at the latter stages of their primes. Dybantsa hasn’t played in an NBA game yet. The Wizards have to determine whether they can compete for championships in the next several years before Davis, in particular, begins to decline significantly, when healthy.

That creates some urgency. The front office would need to build a capable supporting cast quickly while Dybantsa develops into a star.

Finally, we have to consider whether Davis will even be a Wizard past this June or even Young for that matter. Getting the No. 1 pick helps. Getting past the “deconstruction” stage helps. But again, Davis and Young aren’t getting younger and the Wizards need to make a significant move up the standings to keep their veterans content, if not happy.

From a pure basketball perspective, the fit works. Young would make Dybantsa’s offensive development easier as a point guard while Davis would provide defensive stability from the post and veteran leadership. Dybantsa would fill in as the rookie small forward who can play either forward spot or swing to guard in a larger lineup.

The Wizards’ challenge would be to maximize a possible championship window that may last only a few seasons, as Dybantsa begins ascending toward his prime while Young and Davis are at the end of theirs.

There are nights where a player goes off and you spend the next morning explaining it away like, the opponent was tired, the shots were lucky, or the defense missed a rotation. Then there are nights where the performance arrives attached to a story that earns its own weight, and March 25th was completely, unmistakably the second kind.

On Latino Heritage Night at Chase Center, with the Warriors dragging themselves through the seventh game of an 11-day road stretch across seven cities, Gui Santos delivered the best game of his NBA career, scoring 31 points in a 109-106 comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets. The box score is glowing but it isn’t the point.

Steve Kerr described his team afterward as looking like they were “running in mud,” and if anything that undersells how lost Golden State looked for three quarters. They turned the ball over 26 times, matched a season high, trailed by as many as 13 points, and spent most of the night looking like a group of professionals who desperately needed sleep, a home-cooked meal, and maybe a long conversation with a therapist.

Santos looked like the only person in the building who didn’t get that memo. While the offense was discovering new and creative ways to give the ball away, he was quietly assembling something complete: catch-and-shoot threes, post work against bigger defenders, free throws drawn in traffic. He touched every part of the offensive toolkit and used all of it correctly, which is the difference between a hot streak and a replicable performance. Hot streaks are accidental while what Santos put together that night had a structure to it.

Fifteen of his 31 points came in the third quarter alone, on 5-of-7 shooting with three threes knocked down, and the Warriors were still trailing when it was over. He was just out there working, cashing every opportunity the defense handed him with the calm focus of someone who had decided, somewhere between warmups and tip-off, that this night belonged to him.

The coaches watched it happening in real time and responded accordingly. When Santos caught the ball in the post, the sideline was already on its feet calling out to him: go to work Gui, go to work, do what you do. He said afterward that hearing that changed something. “When you listen to that, you say ‘ok now I can go.'” And that is exactly what he did, finishing the night 11-of-16 from the field, 4-of-6 from three, and 5-of-8 from the line against a defense that had no answer for a version of Gui Santos nobody had quite seen before.

After the game, Santos called his family, and that is where this story becomes something bigger than a career high. He became the fourth Brazilian after Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejão, Nenê Hilário to score 30 or more points in a game.

How cool for it to come on Latino Heritage Night in front of a sellout crowd at Chase Center, while coaches screamed encouragement from the sideline and an exhausted Warriors team quietly rode his shoulders through a comeback they probably had no business completing. Gui Santos, the Brazilian wing who spent the better part of his Warriors career as a project and a promise, had walked into a piece of basketball history he didn’t even know existed until he was already standing inside it. That is bigger than a career high!

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As the series shifts back to Oklahoma City, the Thunder return home with a Game 7 on their hands against the San Antonio Spurs, with our NBA player prop projections identifying several strong value spots on the board for tonight's thriller.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

These Spurs vs. Thunder predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, May 30.

Spurs vs Thunder computer picks for Game 7

Spurs	Thunder
Wembanyama u26.5 points  -125	Gilgeous-Alexander o30.5 points -112
Castle o6.5 assists -135	Holmgren o8.5 rebounds +105
Vassell u2.5 3-pointers  -120	Caruso o1.5 3-pointers  -165

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Spurs Game 7 computer picks

Victor Wembanyama Under 26.5 points (-125)

Projection: 25.79 points

The Oklahoma City Thunder have slowed things down to the seventh-lowest pace in the league over their last 25 home games.

This sluggish tempo should limit overall possessions for the San Antonio Spurs and put a dent in Victor Wembanyama's offensive production. It's a style that plays right into OKC's hands, as they've dominated at Paycom Center with a stellar 6-1 home record during this postseason run.

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Stephon Castle Over 6.5 assists (-135)

Projection: 6.59 assists

Stephon Castle has been an absolute assist machine throughout this series against the Thunder. Castle has cleared this line in four of the six games against OKC, while narrowly missing the mark in the other two.

With San Antonio's season on the line and a ticket to the NBA Finals within reach, expect Castle to be locked in as a primary facilitator.

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Devin Vassell Under 2.5 3-pointers (-120)

Projection: 2.44 3-pointers

The Thunder have been absolutely brutal on opposing small forwards this year, holding them to a mere 25.5% shooting from beyond the arc—the second-lowest mark in the league.

While Devin Vassell has defied this difficult matchup by sinking two or more 3-pointers in every single game this series, OKC will undoubtedly sell out to run him off the perimeter tonight.

Expect a heavy defensive focus as the Thunder look to snap Vassell's streak and keep him from clearing a prop line he has already cashed in four of the six games.

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Thunder Game 7 computer picks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points (-112)

Projection: 31.61 points

The Thunder check in as the league's third-highest scoring offense over their last 20 games. They are also projected to see an uptick in total possessions tonight by sharing the floor with a fast-paced Spurs squad that ranks 10th in tempo on the road this year.

Furthermore, this matchup offers an excellent opportunity to get to the free-throw line — something Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has done masterfully all series. San Antonio has been highly generous in that department lately, allowing opposing starting point guards to attempt a whopping 4.4 foul shots per game over the last 10 contests, the 10th-highest mark in the NBA.

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Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 8.55 rebounds

It's time for Chet Holmgren to step up in a major way. While he has looked more like himself on the glass over the last two games against the Spurs, it is non-negotiable for him to hold his own against Wemby if Oklahoma City wants to return to the NBA Finals.

Holmgren has managed to clear this rebounding prop in three consecutive games, and the Thunder will need that momentum to continue if they hope to secure a Game 7 victory.

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Alex Caruso Over 1.5 3-pointers (-165)

Projection: 1.56 3-pointers

The Thunder have been highly aggressive from deep over their last 25 home games, ranking 10th in the league in 3-point attempts.

Alex Caruso has been as reliable as they come on both ends of the floor especially from the perimeter, where he has knocked down three or more triples in four of the six matchups in this series.

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How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 7

Location	Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date	Saturday, May 30, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC/Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Kyrie Irving is looking forward to the NBA Finals.

The former Nets guard said in a Friday Twitch stream that he was “excited” to watch the Knicks in their return to the NBA’s biggest stage, and gave a shoutout to the orange and blue faithful as well.

“The Knicks making the Finals is OD… a lot of those Knicks fans in New York are gonna go bonkers, man,” he said.

“It’s gonna be one of those ones. You just gotta gear up for it if you’re on the East Coast, man. They done made it to the NBA Finals, they done earned their ticket, they did everything that they could in the regular season to prepare.”

The 34-year-old Irving, who was with the Nets from 2019-23 until he was traded to the Mavericks, also praised Jalen Brunson as a “great” point guard who has “great pieces around him.” The Knicks are in the Finals for the first time since 1999.

Irving, who missed all of this season following an ACL tear in March 2025, also gave a positive update on his injury status.

“I am definitely close to being over at 100 percent in terms of my ACL recovery,” he said on the Twitch stream.

“It’s been a while now…I’m so grateful that I’ve had the time to heal and just experiment with my body more on the court and off the court in the weight room and just pushing myself to the limit.”

Irving will team up with reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and veterans Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton once he is able to get back on the court.

The Knicks, meanwhile, are waiting to learn their Finals opponent after sweeping the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Thunder and Spurs will face off in the West’s Game 7 on Saturday night with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line.

Behold a young homegrown contender built through the draft, with an MVP running the offense. They wield the best record in basketball. They’re the defending champions with a home crowd loud enough to register on seismographs. Everybody around the league is looking at them and asking the same question with varying levels of jealousy: is this the next dynasty?

That’s the 2026 Oklahoma City Thunder.

It was also the 2016 Golden State Warriors, right down to the part where everybody started talking about them like the future before the future had actually arrived. The scary thing about becoming the next Warriors is that eventually you have to survive the part where the Warriors stopped being a great story and started becoming a problem. Saturday is that part.

Which remains one of the funniest and most horrifying events in modern basketball history, depending entirely on what zip code you lived in. Oklahoma City spent years building a contender, developed an MVP, assembled a legitimate title threat, pushed the Warriors to the absolute brink of elimination, and then watched their best player leave to join the people who had just beaten him. Imagine losing a sword fight and then finding out your shiniest sword filed paperwork to switch sides.

Oklahoma City has been trying to become the Warriors ever since.

They won Game 7, walked away with Durant sixty-six days later, and turned his talent into two bonus championships that OKC spent a decade watching from a very uncomfortable distance. The Warriors went beyond winning the rivalry; they turned it into a modern day cinematic masterpiece of how to dismantle your biggest conference rival. That’s what the Thunder need to do Saturday to rise up the dynastic rankings. Now Oklahoma City can feel what the Warriors went through exactly 10 years ago. They’re the defending champions with the MVP, the home court, the banner, and the growing institutional confidence that the Western Conference belongs to them. This is usually the point where a dynasty starts stretching its legs and making everybody else miserable on a predictable schedule.

I have the strong feeling that the Spurs weren’t consulted on that schedule. Unfortunately for OKC’s story, Victor Wembanyama showed up. San Antonio wasn’t supposed to be here yet. Surely the Nuggets or Timberwolves should have been in this spot. Or at least Houston! The conventional wisdom said be patient, their time is coming, let the Thunder have this one. In reality, they are just five games away from winning it all.

Here is the part that should keep Oklahoma City awake tonight. The Warriors completed their dynasty arc by proving they could survive the challenger that was supposed to replace them. They stared down Durant and Westbrook, crawled out of a 3-1 grave, won Game 7, and then walked away with Durant sixty-six days later like adding they had added the Green Power Ranger Tommy to their squad.

Oklahoma City doesn’t need to steal Victor Wembanyama if they win tonight. Adam Silver would probably need a sedative if that happened. But they do need to do the first part by protecting home court. Beat the young rival on the biggest stage available. Reach the Finals and leave absolutely no doubt about who runs this conference and why.

Because dynasties aren’t measured by how they handle success. They’re measured by what happens when the next monster shows up and starts knocking on the front door, and Wembanyama has been knocking for six games now with increasing confidence and very little concern for the name on the other side.

For ten years Oklahoma City watched the Warriors build something that felt permanent and consuming and almost unfair in its completeness. They rebuilt in the quiet, in the patience of believing their chance would eventually come back around. Tonight that opportunity is standing right in front of them. A reeeeaaal dynasty would seize it.

.

One of the signs of success is needing to replace up-and-coming members of both the coaching staff and the front office who get better jobs elsewhere.

Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Jordan Ott, a valuable assistant coach, to the Phoenix Suns when he was appointed head coach last summer. Now, they’re losing general manager Mike Gansey to the Philadelphia 76ers. He will lead basketball operations for Philadelphia.

Gansey is a native of Olmstead Falls. After his playing career ended professionally overseas, he took a front office position with the then Canton Charge, the Cavs’ G League team. He was with the Charge from 2012 to 2017, before taking on the assistant general manager role with the Cavs in 2017, shortly after Koby Altman took over basketball operations from David Griffin.

Gansey continued to advance within the organization. He served as assistant general manager until February 2022, when he was promoted to general manager.

It’s difficult to parse out what to attribute to members of a coaching staff or front office. Not every one of those groups acts the same from team to team, and oftentimes decisions can be made collectively. We can’t always point to a signing or trade happening or not happening because of the work of one member of the front office.

What we can say is that Gansey is very well respected within the organization. His voice carried weight and will be missed.

The Cavs may look to fill the role Gansey vacated internally. Based solely on the organizational hierarchy and how they’ve done things in the past, Brandon Weems is the internal candidate who seems most likely to take that role. The St. Vincent-St. Mary alum is currently serving as assistant general manager.

Diving into Mike Gansey's history, path to leading Sixers' front office  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers are set to begin the Mike Gansey era.

On Friday night, the news broke that Gansey has been hired as the franchise’s president of basketball operations. So, how did he get here and what can be gleaned from his history?  

Basketball fans of a certain age may remember Gansey from his time as an excellent college player. He got some NBA draft buzz after averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals as a West Virginia senior. While it’s been two decades since Gansey’s college days, he has a player’s perspective on key ingredients for winning teams.

Though Gansey never cracked the NBA, he played professionally for several seasons before joining the Cavaliers as a front office intern. The Cavs are essentially a hometown team for Gansey, who’s a native of Olmsted Falls, Ohio.

Gansey’s first experience as a lead executive came with the Canton Charge in the D-League. Canton had two 31-19 seasons and a 29-21 campaign with Gansey as general manager. He was named the D-League’s Executive of the Year for the 2016-17 season.

One of the Charge’s success stories during Gansey’s tenure was Quinn Cook. The undrafted guard won the 2015-16 D-League Rookie of the Year award, eventually broke through to the NBA and won two championships with the Warriors. Joe Harris is another recognizable NBA name who passed through Canton after being drafted by the Cavs with the 33rd overall pick in 2014.

Two Gansey brothers teamed up for a season in the D-League. Steve Gansey, who’s about three years younger than Mike, was the Charge’s associate head coach for the 2014-15 season (under head coach Jordi Fernandez). He went on to serve as head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and College Park Skyhawks. 

It’s typically tough to tell from the outside exactly who’s responsible for what in NBA front offices, but Gansey is known to have played a major role in the Cavs’ draft process. 

Here are the Cavs’ first-round picks since 2017, when Gansey was promoted to assistant GM: 

• Collin Sexton — Eighth in 2018
• Darius Garland — Fifth in 2019
• Dylan Windler — 26th in 2019
• Isaac Okoro — Fifth in 2020
• Evan Mobley — Third in 2021
• Ochai Agbaji — 14th in 2022 (Traded to the Jazz before the start of his rookie year)
• Jaylon Tyson — 20th in 2024 

There’s a variety of players on that list. At a minimum, it’s safe to say Gansey is open to many types of prospects. 

“I think we were just trying to get the best player available, whether it was an upside guy, an older guy,” he told reporters after the Cavs drafted Tyson. “We look at our roster and especially with this pick, 20, I don’t think there’s really expectations for him to play (immediately). 

“Obviously, if he comes in, competes and can play, that would be great. But I think with our roster, we have good depth where we can bring him along slowly. With Tyson, he just checks so many boxes and you can kind of play him with any of our guys. … Just trying to get the best player available and we felt he was the guy there at 20.”

As the playoff made abundantly clear, the Sixers do not currently have great depth. They’re set to pick 22nd on Gansey’s first draft night in charge. Gansey’s predecessor, Daryl Morey, also had a best player available approach and the Sixers made several strong picks, including Tyrese Maxey (No. 21 in 2020), Jared McCain (No. 16 in 2024) and VJ Edgecombe (No. 3 in 2025).

Outside of the draft, the Cavs have executed plenty of significant moves with Koby Altman as president of basketball operations. Since Gansey’s promotion to GM in February of 2022, Cleveland has acquired Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, De’Andre Hunter, Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder and James Harden. Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill stand out as valuable role player signings in recent years. 

With Gansey as the No. 2 in Cleveland’s front office, the Cavs were not remotely reluctant to shake things up. We’ll soon see what Gansey has in store with the Sixers. 

The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder meet in a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. The winner will advance to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City is favored in Game 7 with a -151 moneyline compared to San Antonio's +127, with a spread of -3.5 and an over/under of 212.5.

How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Date: Saturday, May 30

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -3.5

• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -151 (57.7%) / San Antonio Spurs +127 (42.3%)

• Over/Under: 212.5

Series schedule, results

Game 1:Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)
Game 2:Thunder 122, Spurs 113
Game 3:Thunder 123, Spurs 108
Game 4: Spurs 103, Thunder 82
Game 5:Thunder 127, Spurs 114
Game 6:Spurs 118, Thunder 91
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

* if necessary

Glasgow Warriors will face the Bulls in their URC semi-final at Murrayfield, after the South African side bested Munster in Pretoria.

Johan Ackermann's side were big winners at Loftus Versfeld, as they ran in six tries to rack up a 45-14 victory.

The Warriors secured their place in the semis on Friday night as they eventually overcame a stubborn Connacht side 33-21 at Scotstoun.

They will now head to Murrayfield, as Scotstoun is unavailable as it prepares to host the Commonwealth Games later this summer.

The Bulls only visited Glasgow last month, with Franco Smith's men running out 25-21 winners in a tight game.

It's been two years since the Warriors visited Pretoria for the URC final and, at it's famous altitude, reached their highest high as they won their second title.

As for the Bulls, they've finished runners-up in the previous two URC seasons and will be hoping third time is the charm.

Bill Russell famously once said: “The two greatest words in sports are ‘Game 7.’”

With the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder soon tipping off a Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals tonight, I thought it would be the perfect time to reminisce on some of the best Game 7’s in Celtics history. You can go into any era of Celtics history and find an all-time performance when the lights are at their brightest.

Russell was undefeated in his career in Game 7’s with a perfect 10-0 record with five of those wins coming in the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics as a franchise have played the most Game 7’s in NBA History at 38, the most recent a month ago when they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite this season, Boston has been pretty great in these do-or-die contests historically with a 27-11 record.

1957 NBA Finals: Hawks vs. Celtics

The first Game 7 played in both NBA and Celtics franchise history came in the 1957 NBA Finals when they faced off against the St. Louis Hawks on April 13th, 1957. With under a minute to go in the game, Bill Russell made a basket to tie it up and blocked the Hawks attempt to take the lead and eventually force overtime.

With the game still tied at the end of the first overtime, Bill Sharman had a chance to give the Celtics the win, but his jumper rimmed out and they headed for a second overtime. In the second overtime, Boston had a two-point lead with 2 seconds left and St. Louis had possession. They drew up a play for Bob Pettit who had 39 points up to that point, but both of his game tying attempts missed, giving the Boston Celtics a 125-123 win and their first NBA championship.

The 1957 Rookie of the Year Tom Heinsohn was remarkable in this game and carried the offense for Boston with 37 points and 23 rebounds on 17-33 shooting in 45 minutes played. Russell, also a rookie, finished with 19 points and 32 rebounds in 54 minutes. In later years, Heinsohn would call it the best game ever played which is high praise given that he was the Celtics coach during Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals in what was deemed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

1965 Eastern Division Finals: 76ers vs. Celtics

The 1965 Eastern Conference Finals was the definition of a back and forth series where both the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics traded victories going into Game 7. This was a battle of the big men as Wilt Chamberlain was trying to take down Bill Russell for the first time in his career. Wilt would have 30 points and 32 rebounds while Russell had 15 points and 29 rebounds. Sam Jones led the way for Boston with 37 points, but it was John Havlicek who was the hero of this Game 7.

In the final seconds of the game after Russell threw the ball out of bounds on an inbound play, the 76ers had the ball with the Celtics leading 110-109. Hal Greer went to inbound the ball for Philadelphia and when he threw it in play, John Havlicek intercepted it and Jones dribbled out the clock to propel Boston to collect their seventh straight NBA championship. This game will be remembered most for the iconic radio call from Johnny Most as he exclaimed in excitement: “Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball!”

1981 Eastern Conference Finals: 76ers vs. Celtics

In an inverse of the 2026 series between the Celtics and 76ers, Philadelphia jumped out to a quick 3-1 series lead over Boston in the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics were able to battle back into the series behind two huge games by Larry Bird to force a Game 7 back in the Boston Garden on May 3rd, 1981.

This game started with Boston trailing by 7 points at halftime, but this didn’t deter them as they were able to tie it up late in the fourth quarter. Boston’s defense would swarm Philadelphia in the paint and that led to Larry Bird hitting a huge bank shot to give the Celtics a 91-89 lead with 1:03 left in the game. With 29 seconds left, Maurice Cheeks would have a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, but he missed the first and the 76ers couldn’t get a last second shot off. Boston would win 91-90 and go on to the NBA Finals where they defeated the Houston Rockets for their 14th title.

1984 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Celtics

Out of all the Game 7s on this list, the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals might be the biggest of them all. The best rivalry in basketball history, the clash of the titans between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, all culminating in their first head-to-head Finals matchup. This series started with the Lakers stealing home court from Boston in Game 1, but the Celtics would bounce back to take a 3-2 series lead going into Game 6. Los Angeles won Game 6 at home, setting up winner-take-all battle in Game 7 back in Boston on June 12th, 1984.

Boston took the early advantage in this game, leading by 6 points at halftime, but the third quarter saw them start to pull away. They outscored the Lakers 33-26 and took a 91-78 lead going into the fourth quarter. Los Angeles didn’t roll over; they locked in defensively and held the Celtics to only 20 points in the final frame and cutting Boston’s lead to three points on a James Worthy jumper with 1:14 to go in the game. This would be the Lakers final basket of the game as the Celtics rattled off a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach and earn Boston their 15th championship.

2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Cavaliers vs. Celtics

Jumping ahead to 2008, this was the first playoff series that LeBron James would face the Celtics as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston was powered by their Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Keven Garnett, and Ray Allen and they were giving the 23 year-old James fits throughout this entire series. The Cavaliers were able to play some strong defense to support James, and after they beat the Celtics in Game 6, they were in for a fight in Game 7 back in TD Garden on May 18th, 2008.

Game 7 saw an all-time duel between LeBron James and Paul Pierce who decided that they were going to be the one who sent their team to the Eastern Conference Finals. James scored 45 points on 14-29 shooting and was dominating Boston for most of the game and made it a one-point game with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter.

However, the Celtics did not let up in this game as PJ Brown hit a clutch midrange jumper with 1:21 to go make a three-point game. After that Pierce took over, playing elite defense on James on every possession. He hit two clutch free throws to finish the game with 41 points. Boston would go on to beat the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals to claim their 17th championship.

2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Wizards vs. Celtics

The 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards is one of my all time favorite series. Every game saw both teams battle tooth and nail, being led by two All-Star point guards in Isaiah Thomas and John Wall. Thomas made his impact felt in Game 2 when he scored 53 points on his sister’s birthday who he tragically lost at the beginning of these playoffs to give Boston a 2-0 advantage in the series. Wall would make his impact in a win or go home Game 6 for the Wizards where he hit a game-winning three to help bring Washington to a Game 7 in TD Garden on May 15th, 2017.

The first half saw both teams keep the game close with Washington taking a 55-53 into halftime. Bradley Beal went off for Washington, dropping 38 points on the night and the Wizards would open up their biggest lead of the game at 6 points midway through the third quarter. However, the Celtics would respond with a 9-0 run at the end of the quarter to take a 85-79 lead going into the fourth. Once the fourth quarter started, Kelly Olynyk became a folk hero in the city of Boston forever. He exploded for 14 points in the quarter and finished with 26 points on 10-14 shooting to lead the Celtics to a 115-105 win and a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bucks vs. Celtics

On the five year anniversary of the game Kelly Olynyk knocked out the Wizards in the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals, another unlikely role player would have his own special moment in a Game 7. After a heartbreaking Game 5 loss at home to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Celtics were down 3-2 going back on the road. Jayson Tatum would put up a heroic 46 point Game 6 performance, setting the stage for Game 7 on May 15th, 2022.

The Bucks shot out to an early 10-point lead towards the end of the first quarter but that was before the Celtics started to pull away thanks to the help of Grant Williams having the game of his life. Williams would finish with 27 points on 10-22 shooting from the field and 7-18 shooting from three. Boston would ride the hot hand of Grant Williams to a dominant 109-81 victory and use this series as a stepping stone to eventually making the 2022 NBA Finals. Williams put out a video on his Instagram reminiscing on this game and said, “These were such cool moments to look back to because it shows that you had some type of defining moment in your career.”

2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals: 76ers vs. Celtics

Not only is the final Game 7 in this article the most recent victory for the Celtics, but it is also my all time favorite performance. A year after Grant Williams’ heroics, the Celtics found themselves experiencing deja vu in the playoffs once again. Down 3-2 in the series going on the road in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, this time against the Philadelphia 76ers. Jayson Tatum once again came up big in Game 6 on the road and this time was going to make his mark on Game 7 in TD Garden on May 14th, 2023.

The similarities continued into Game 7, where the 76ers took a 6-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but Jayson Tatum had 11 points for the Celtics. Once the second quarter hit, Tatum continued his hot shooting first half with 14 points in the second quarter and Boston had a 55-52 lead at the half. Boston would leave Philadelphia in the dust in the second half, led by Jayson Tatum dropping an NBA Game 7 record with 51 points on 17-28 shooting from the field and 6-10 shooting from three and the Celtics would win 112-88 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs will play Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals, and it’s become one of the most compelling series in recent memory as two young teams are emerging into potential greatness.

OKC is very young and remarkably deep and flexible, while San Antonio is even younger. We can’t remember if it’s the core or the overall team, but we read that this is the youngest team ever to get to a conference finals.

And of course both teams feature a member of the Brotherhood, with Mason Plumlee on the Spurs and Jared McCain on the Thunder.

McCain has emerged as a major factor, with his upbeat nature and boundless confidence fueling his game and, in turn, his team.

We thought we’d put together a links run for tonight’s game featuring McCain. There are a few themes: 1) his surprise emergence, 2) the hard fouls that Plumlee and Bismark Biyombo gave McCain in Game 5, and 3) that OKC will rely on him in Game 7.

Game time is 8:00 p.m. Quite frankly, most NBA basketball has been reduced to threes and dunks and is no longer compelling. This series is incredible, and these two teams, as young and talented as they are, are going to change the trajectory of the league. The Warriors did that during their era, and a lot of teams went with small ball.

These teams are not about that, and it could save the NBA from death by boredom. It’s too bad they’re both in the West though. This rivalry could become historic, and if they met in the Finals, it would be amazing for the league.

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• Why does Jared McCain paint his nails?
• Victor Wembanyama’s Message to Teammates Before Jared McCain Shove Revealed by NBC Announcers
• Jared McCain may have just screwed the 76ers up without even trying
• Mason Plumlee foul on Jared McCain fuels Thunder retaliation talk after Game 5
• NBA rumors: Why Jared McCain’s Thunder breakout will put pressure on 76ers in free agency
• Why Jared McCain is deciding what 76ers do with Quentin Grimes
• Jared McCain reveals warning he heard from Spurs veteran after dirty hit
• Jared McCain is giving the Thunder a live answer to Jalen Williams’ injury
• Victor Wembanyama’s Intentions Questioned After Allegedly Ordering Teammates to Foul Jared McCain
• Jared McCain has been successful in OKC. What type of return at No. 22 would make the Sixers trade a success?
• Jared McCain is healing painful Thunder scars from years past in real time

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It all comes down to this: Game 7 between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder tonight, with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

With tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET at Paycom Center and the Thunder listed as 3.5-point favorites, our Covers experts are ready to dish out their best NBA picks for Saturday, May 30.

Spurs vs Thunder Expert Picks Tonight

Pick	Odds
Jon Metler: Spurs ML	+135
Jason Logan: Holmgren double-double	+185
Joe Osborne: Thunder TT o107.5	-115

Odds courtesy of bet365.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Spurs moneyline

Price: +135 at bet365

The Oklahoma City Thunder are simply lacking the level of efficient offense needed to win this series right now.

Jalen Williams is still battling a hamstring injury and doesn’t look fully healthy, while Ajay Mitchell could also be limited if he’s able to play. That leaves a heavy burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the matchup hasn’t been easy for him. Stephon Castle has consistently pressured him at the point of attack, and when he does get into the paint, Victor Wembanyama is waiting at the rim.

From a matchup standpoint, I don’t see Oklahoma City having enough answers for what the San Antonio Spurs are doing. The injuries matter, and Chet Holmgren hasn’t provided the offensive impact the Thunder need from him in an expanded role.

I picked San Antonio to win this series in seven games before it started, and my conviction has only grown stronger. With the Spurs trading at +135 on bet365 and my number closer to +110, there’s clear value at the current price.

Jason Logan's expert pick: Chet Holmgren to record a double-double

Price: +185 at bet365

My best bet for Game 7 is the Over on Holmgren's points total, but I also like what I’ve seen from OKC’s 7-footer on the glass in recent games. He’s totaled 22 rebounds on 36 rebounding chances in the past two outings, despite not playing much in the second half of those blowouts.

Holmgren’s been active on the offensive glass too, racking up seven collective offensive boards in those contests. This is the lowest total of the series, with defense expected to be drum tight. That means more misses and ample rebounding chances.

His projections for Game 7 sit as high as 9+ boards and 17+ points. I’ll ask for at least 10 and 10 from Holmgren, who will see more minutes if game script holds up and we get a tight do-or-die contest.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Thunder team total Over 107.5

Price: -115 at bet365

The Thunder have consistently responded well to adversity in this series, scoring 122 and 127 points in their two previous games following a loss.

OKC's offense has also been far more explosive at home, averaging 121.3 points across three contests while posting an effective field-goal percentage nearly eight points higher than on the road. 

While Game 7s are often expected to be lower scoring, that narrative is already baked into a total that has fallen seven points from Game 6.

More Spurs vs Thunder Game 7 picks

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Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason is a free agent for the first time in his career.

The former first-round pick out of LSU has grown in each of his four seasons with the Rockets. In the 2025-26 campaign, Eason averaged 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Rockets, making 60 appearances (34 starts) for the team.

His player profile and potential for even more growth is why Bleacher Report writer Eric Pincus listed him at No. 13 in his free agent rankings.

“Eason represents part of the team’s young core, but he’s expecting a significant pay raise,” Pincus wrote.

“If Houston pays Eason in the $20-30 million starting range, the franchise could face apron restrictions. If the Rockets pass, letting him leave as a restricted free agent (or sign-and-trade him), the team loses youth, depth, and a tough wing who is shooting 46 percent from three-point range on nearly five attempts.”

The only players that ranked higher than Eason in the rankings are Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, Miami Heat guard Norman Powell, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Luguentz Dort, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, Washington Wizards guard Trae Young, Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

The Rockets have a big decision when it comes to Easton’s future. It’s clear that the team wants to invest in him, but it comes at a certain price. The Rockets would lose a lot of their rebounding prowess and physical toughness by letting Easton walk, but they could have a lot of cap flexibility if they choose to move on.

It’s a conundrum that the Rockets have to solve this offseason. There’s reason to believe the Rockets can improve with Eason on the roster, but if they don’t bring him back, they will need to make several moves to replace his value.

TDS community, how much would you pay Eason this summer? Can the Rockets afford to let him go? Let us know in the comments section below.