Now that the NBA Draft Lottery has taken place, the top of the NBA Draft is now set with the top five picks belonging to the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Caleb Wilson seems to be a consensus top five pick so with the order now set, what would be his best and worst fit?

Best Fit: Memphis Grizzles

Before the lottery, my choice for this spot would’ve been either the Indiana Pacers or the Atlanta Hawks, as both have good rosters and would allow Wilson to join a winning program. Obviously, neither team made the top five (the Pacers actually did land pick number five but had to surrender it to the Clippers). I went with the Grizzlies over the Clippers because Wilson seems to fit better with timeline in Memphis as opposed to Los Angeles, though that could change based on the moves the Clippers make regarding players like Kawhi Leonard.

In Memphis, Wilson would get to play with a young team that has an opening in the post after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz this past season. With Ja Morant also likely soon out the door the team looks to turn to younger players like wings Cedric Coward, who finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year race, and Jaylen Wells as well as a young center in Zach Edey.

Worst Fit: Utah Jazz

 I went back and forth between the Jazz and the Wizards. Both have front courts already in place, and of course neither have shown the ability to win with both finishing in the bottom of the league the past three seasons. However, Washington seems to have made better moves to actually try to win next season (and they play in the East where making the playoffs is easier) by acquiring veterans in Trae Young and Anthony Davis and with Davis’s health, there is a way for Wilson to get some playing time.

However, in Utah they have a young front court of the aforementioned Jackson Jr and former one time Tar Heel Walker Kessler, and though neither are the epitomes of health, both are still young and would be much more established making it harder for Wilson to get the playing time he needs to further develop into the superstar he could easily become.

Projected Spot: Chicago Bulls

Wilson is rated as the fourth overall pick and therefore is being mocked as such to the fourth overall team, which in this case would be the Bulls. The Bulls do have history with former Tar Heels — most recently with Coby White and most notably with Michael Jordan — but are horribly run and currently don’t have a head coach. The Bulls do need size and Wilson would get lots of playing time, but until they hire a coach the situation would look murky due to the ownership alone.

So what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

Steal a road game, steal the series. That is what both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers must be thinking as they enter Game four with Detroit up 2-1. That means Cleveland will be looking to protect its homecourt advantage, where it is unbeaten these playoffs, while Detroit attempts to take full control with a win in enemy territory. All three games in this series have featured one team seemingly to roundly outplay the other before the opponent somehow storms back to take a late lead that they can’t quite maintain. Will that trend continue tonight?

Game Vitals

When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Watch: NBC/Peacock
Odds: Pistons +3.5

Analysis

Much attention was paid to Cade Cunningham’s three consecutive turnovers, which allowed the Cavs to pull away in the fourth quarter of a tied game. Fair enough. Cade giveth great performances, and Cade taketh away in a critical moment. The bigger issue, to my mind, is Detroit’s biggest problem in these playoffs — its big men.

Jalen Duren is straight up having a bad playoffs, and it’s now stretched to 10 games. It’s not just that opponents are taking away his opportunities, though they are doing that. It is that Duren is fumbling away the opportunities he does get, sometimes literally.

This season for Duren has been all about an elevated level of skill and assuredness that he added to his prolific strength as a big man. He was no longer strictly a rim-running big; he was a center who had a dangerous face-up game, who could make the right decision in the short roll, and who could combine burst with a new level of touch and finesse that made him a lethal scorer within eight feet.

Duren shot 67.3% on 10.6 attempts within eight feet in the regular season. That trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo for players with at least eight such shots per game. Duren was a monster. In the playoffs, Duren’s attempts have been whittled to just over seven per game, and his field goal percentage has plummeted to just 50%. Of the 17 players in the playoffs who have averaged that many shots within eight feet, only Paolo Banchero and Jamal Murray shoot worse than Duren. The 22-year-old big man has also seen his free throws and rebounds tick lower while his turnovers have increased.

No problem, you might think, Detroit’s deepest position was at the center spot, and Isaiah Stewart was a whispered defensive player of the year candidate before a suspension and injury took him out of contention late in the season.

Stewart has been a bit of a disaster in these playoffs. There has been no definitive indication of any health concerns, but something simply doesn’t look right. In the regular season, Stewart’s impact was felt up and down the floor. His absence in last year’s postseason matchup against the Knicks is often cited as one that swung the series.

Well, Stewart is available in these playoffs, but he isn’t making any impact. He’s been limited to just under 14 minutes per game, but that is masking just how little he is accomplishing on the floor. On a per 36-minute basis, Stewart’s scoring has plummeted from over 15 to around 10, his three-point shot has almost completely disappeared, down by 66%. Detroit’s defense has been stout throughout the playoffs, and is a mighty 94.1 when Stewart is on the floor. The issue is that offense, already a middle-of-the-road offense in these playoffs, falls off a cliff with Stew on the floor. It goes from a modest 110.2 to a 93.7. Looking at Stewart’s on-off splits, the team is 20 points per 100 possessions better on offense with him off the floor compared to on the floor. That’s not all on Stewart, of course, but it’s been a black hole of a position for the Pistons, and it’s so bad not even Stew’s defense can make up for it.

It was no surprise to many Pistons fans that when the Pistons finally made their run to take the lead in game 3, it was with Paul Reed on the floor. He scored 11 points in just over nine minutes of action and breathed some actual life into a very stagnant offense.

JB Bickerstaff has to figure out this big man conundrum, and he’s got to be willing to ask some hard questions and come to some hard conclusions. The Cavs, with both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were always going to present some challenges for the Pistons bigs, but I think we can definitely say whatever the team is doing is not working. Maybe it’s more Paul Reed; maybe that means resting Isaiah Stewart. Maybe it means whoever starts the game isn’t necessarily finishing the game, and instead riding whatever is the closest resemblance to a hot hand.

It feels like if Detroit can get a good to great game from a big, they are almost defacto going to win that game, and if they win that game, they will be on the doorstep of winning the series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals (with its own matchup issues for bigs against the mighty New York Knicks).

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-1)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2)

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Questions of the Game

Confidence level in Detroit winning tonight’s game? Confidence level in Detroit winning the series?

Would you believe the aftermath of a sweep is one week without the Knicks?

Guess beggars can’t be choosers.

Here’s the latest from Pennsylvania’s Garden.

Knicks fans: Mike Brown approves ✅ pic.twitter.com/dW2XAUAyu4

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2026

Mike Brown

On why he trusted Miles McBride in OG Anunoby’s absence:

“Deuce, he’s not afraid. He gives us the ability to make shots from range and or the ability to go get a shot. He gives us another ball handler. He’s a really good defender, and he’s versatile. When he’s on the floor with Jalen, analytically, they’re pretty good together. But he just brings a lot to the table for us on both ends of the floor, last thing offensively he’s got to be guarded because he can makes shots.”

On McBride’s mental toughness during the series:

“He’s just tough-minded. In order to have success in anything you do in life you need to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”

On how McBride’s shooting performance elevated the team in Game 4:

“Obviously, all of our guys, starting with Jalen [Brunson] and KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], were really good, but Deuce — he was unbelievable. His ability to stretch the floor and create space for others is second to none. He’s got a confidence about him and in himself that just makes us take another level on both ends of the floor.”

On where McBride’s resilience comes from:

“It’s Mother’s Day. It comes from his mom. Get that correct. It comes from his mom. [Deuce is] just tough. He’s tough. He’s a football player, you know? In order to have a chance in life and at anything you do, you have to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”

On embracing criticism while making bold adjustments:

“We made a lot of moves throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of the playoffs, and you just keep trying to do what’s best for the team. I don’t care what team I’m with. When you’re talking about being in the NBA, even if you do stuff right, you’re going to get criticized. So you just embrace whatever’s out there and you keep trying to do what’s best for the team. And at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, the one thing I know I can do is I can go look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, I tried to do the best I could for this group, regardless of anything else.’ I try to do the best I could, and that’s what keeps me going.”

On gaining appreciation for the Knicks’ traveling fan base:

“I obviously didn’t know how well they traveled and stuff like that, because I was out of coaching, so I watched [them] once in a while. I watched ESPN and all of that stuff during basketball time. And they showed videos of fans after first-round wins climbing light poles. So I’m like, wow. You love it. You love seeing stuff like that. But I got a lot of respect for them. And the more you’re around, the more you appreciate and understand why they are like that. But more than anything else, they’re knowledgeable. It’s a knowledgeable group, a knowledgeable fan base, and you respect that just as much as their passion shows.”

On the timing of the next game after a sweep:

“I wouldn’t want to play [Monday] or Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday?”

"I definitely knew the Knicks had crazy fans…but for them to travel the way they've traveled, be as loud & always have our backs…I've never seen anything like [this arena takeover] honestly. It really does give us energy"

— Deuce McBride pic.twitter.com/2Mvqwl0sy3

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Miles McBride

On meeting the expectations placed on him in a starting role:

“This is what I expect to do. I feel like that’s why the coaching staff trusts me in the lineup, my teammates trust me out there, and just I trust my work.”

On his mindset when stepping into bigger minutes:

“I just want to win and do what I can to help this team win.”

On the significance of being part of a record-setting playoff performance:

“It’s definitely special. I didn’t even know honestly. To have anything like that on your name is a legacy you want.”

On capitalizing when the Sixers left him open:

“They left me open. This is what I expect to do. That’s why the coaching staff trusts me, my teammates trust me. And I trust my work.”

On seeing Knicks fans hand out posters of Mitchell Robinson’s dunk on Embiid:

“Man, Mitch did his thing right here, so shout-out to the fans.”

On how the team’s mentality shifted after an earlier loss in the series:

“I feel like our mindset shifted. We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”

On the internal standard the team is holding itself to:

“People on the outside always have their expectations, but internally we have our own. Our expectations are a championship, nothing less. So, this series is done, enjoy it. Obviously we’re happy, can’t take it for granted but we have a lot more to go.”

"This year we just have another year with each other, it's just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there's a lot more work to do"

Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about the mindset switch from advancing to the ECF last season vs. this season: pic.twitter.com/5WwEnUvT5x

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the team’s maturity heading into another Eastern Conference Finals:

“This year we just have another year with each other, it’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do.”

On how McBride’s early barrage set the tone in Game 4:

“He was fantastic. The start of the game really was the Deuce McBride show. He went out there and hit some really big shots that gave us momentum. We talked about how we wanted to start fast and we’ve talked about starts, and Deuce allowed us to do that. Shout out to Deuce. That’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen Deuce play, especially in the moment.”

On adjusting the team’s approach after the first-round struggles:

“Shout out to our team. We found a way to, in a way, stabilize our season and do what was needed to adjust to Atlanta. And [we] found ourselves in a better position. It’s a shout-out to the coaching staff for realizing adjustments that needed to be made and also [a] shout-out to me personally that they trusted me.”

On the difficulty of closing out a series and ending another team’s season:

“It’s great when you see a team having that kind of focus and discipline and execution. I’ve always said that the toughest games are to end someone’s season and to see us taking that to a series, it’s great. It’s great for us to see. But now we’ve got to reset. We’ve got to readjust. Get our minds back right and enjoy this time with our family and get back to business.”

On staying grounded despite outside criticism during the season:

“It was a rollercoaster for sure. I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on. There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”

On what lies ahead despite the sweep:

“We have a lot of work to do.”

"Roller coaster for sure…

Outside the NY Knicks organization

Things looked worse…

Inside the building…

We were working every day to be the best team we could be…

That's still our goal…

The journey shows you who you are"

– Jalen Brunson on making it back to the ECF pic.twitter.com/7efa3Lb0OK

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the team’s focus throughout the playoff run:

“We’re focused. We’re staying poised, staying composed. Just focusing on the little things. One day at a time, one game at a time. Not looking ahead at all, staying in the moment.”

On whether it matters who they face next in the conference finals:

“One game at a time. One game at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

On hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas:

“It’s one of the coolest things in the world hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas.”

On how team chemistry has developed over time:

“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better. It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”

On reflecting on his growing legacy in New York:

“I think that’s a question I would love to answer when I retire. This place means a lot to me. We’re still writing our story. I’ll answer that another time.”

Josh Hart on IG: pic.twitter.com/iCfcIT9SlN

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Josh Hart

On his view of Philadelphia’s faithful:

“I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don’t know if it is anymore. Everybody was begging for Philly (fans) not to sell their tickets. It never felt like a road game.”

On keeping emotions in check after advancing to the ECF:

“No relief, no jubilation. Just another step in the process. The way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was — I don’t wanna say it was celebratory — but it hit a little bit differently. Here, it’s business as normal, and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused.”

On the ball movement that fueled the Knicks’ historic shooting night:

“Guys were sacrificing good shots for better shots, and when you do that, the ball has energy and we have to knock down shots. So playing a style like that is fun.”

On rediscovering his three-point touch in Game 4:

“My right hand remembered that the goal was to make 3s. So happy to have her back.”

On how the Sixers’ arena atmosphere felt during the takeover:

“It was like a branch of MSG here today.”

On the importance of recovering during the playoff break ahead:

“We’re a little banged up. We need to get some treatment, get some rest, recover a little. And be ready to go.”

On how he plans to spend the downtime before the next series:

“We’ll relax. Maybe watch a few games.”

Mitchell Robinson on IG: pic.twitter.com/eoKcVSsHiC

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Mitchell Robinson

On Jalen Brunson’s long-term impact on the franchise:

“He’s definitely proved himself. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for this team for, what, the last five years? S—, they don’t give him his credit.”

Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk
…
Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this
…
Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult
…
Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Paul George

On the loss to the Knicks:

“We ran into a hot New York team. They’re getting momentum. And they’re playing better and better as these games are coming. And they came out hot. They threw haymakers early and they kept throwing them.”

Just got back to NYC

Already up outside MSG: pic.twitter.com/8MgPivvFs0

— Jared Schwartz (@jschwartz115) May 11, 2026

Joel Embiid

On the Knicks being simply superior to the Sixers:

“I mean, they were just better. I’m proud of this group. I feel like we play hard, we tried, as we have done all season, and at times it’s OK to say that the other team was just better. Tonight, they made every shot, they made every single play, we didn’t make shots. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches … everybody just got to get better.”

On the organization-wide need for improvement after the sweep:

“So, we just gotta get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better.”

On taking personal responsibility for the team’s shortcomings:

“Frankly, they were just better than us. So, we have to look at each other, and that starts with me. I wasn’t around for much of the season for a lot of things. So, moving forward, I have an understanding of what it takes to make sure that I get to play. I think we will be better next year. But, for now, I’m disappointed we didn’t get a chance for a championship. So, everyone has to look at themselves, starting with me.”

"It actually really sucks

It just sucks bruh

It just sucks man

Yeah It just sucks…

It felt louder here than it did for them in the Garden…

I don't know how to keep them out…

NGL It does suck"

– Tyrese Maxey on New York fans dominating his arena pic.twitter.com/rXeDx111ht

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Tyrese Maxey

On the frustration of Knicks fans taking over Philadelphia’s arena:

“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks. That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s, we have to go out there and win these games. Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden. We got to put a stop to it as a team. Winning these games, that’s gonna make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics of it, but it does suck. I can’t even lie. It definitely does suck.”

It's lonely in here pic.twitter.com/zp80Tgiii7

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

Nick Nurse

On Joel Embiid battling through injuries during the series:

“I commend him man, he worked his ass off to get out there and play. He certainly was trending upward toward the end of the Boston series…obviously, he gets the hip, ankle, injury that took him out a game, and I don’t think he ever got back to where he was trending.”

Chad ochocinco calls out Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson for doubting the New York Knicks all postseason and now what are y’all going to say after they swept the sixers pic.twitter.com/WIDBskPyJA

— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 11, 2026

I will attempt to refrain from commenting too much on the play that defined last night’s game and will instead try to focus on the optimistic fact that this young and inexperienced Spurs team very nearly scored a road playoff win against a very good (and extremely desperate) opponent without the support of their best player for nearly three quarters. Especially considering how critical Victor Wembanyama’s role is in this particular matchup, it was impressive to see how effective the team managed to be for long stretches. In any case, for the moment I’ll set my broader feelings about the game aside and focus on the box score, which has a number of striking 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 10, 2026, this group include 1,183 games.

Factors that decided the game

• Both teams had numerous mild edges in this game, though they were often offsetting. For example, Minnesota won the offensive (+2) and defensive (+6) glass, but San Antonio had three fewer turnovers.
• San Antonio also fouled less and earned a FTA margin of +5. However, the Timberwolves’ big advantage in FT% (+13.13 percentage points) drove the Spurs FTM differential down to just +1.
• San Antonio had a +2.99 percentage-point edge in FG%, which should have put them in a great position to win. Unfortunately, Minnesota offset this with two big advantages. First, they attempted eight more total shots, and thus had a FGM margin of +1.
• Second, the Spurs’ overall edge in shooting efficiency emphatically did not extend to the three-point line, as the Timberwolves had a 3P% margin of +13.96 percentage points. As a result of all this, Minnesota outscored San Antonio by six from the field despite their FG% deficit.

Rare Box Score Stats

• San Antonio and Minnesota combined for 53 shots from distance in this game, which is unusually low but for from unheard of in today’s game. In fact, there have been three other cases in the 2026 playoffs alone (i.e., excluding the play-in) where two teams combined for a 3PA total as low or lower (that’s about once in every 15-16 games). However, what is amazing is how quickly this outcome has gone from being completely expected to notably rare. As recently as the 2016 playoffs, an absolute majority of true playoffs had a 3PA total of 53 or less, and wen the Spurs won the title in 2014 this share was north of 84%. Prior to that, games with more than 53 three-point attempts were exceptionally rare, with no instances in several years.
• This is just the 11th postseason game since 2013 (that’s about 1-in-108, or 0.93% of games) in which the winner had a FG% margin at least as bad as -2.99 percentage points and a 3P% margin as good or better than +13.96 percentage points.
• This was also just the ninth postseason contest in the same period in which the loser shot at least as 47.67% from the field and at least as bad as 23.08% from distance. Oddly enough, one of the other cases happened yesterday as well, as the 76ers shot 50% from the field and 22.86% from distance.
• Though San Antonio’s blocks were (for obvious reasons) way down in this game, they did have 13 steals and thus combined from a total of 16 stocks (steals + blocks), which is 10 more than the Timberwolves’ total of six. Since 2013, only seven other postseason winners (about 1-in-169) have had a stock differential as bad or worse.

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.

Will the Knicks ride the wave or get a reality check in the Eastern Conference finals?

They embarrassed the 76ers in the second round of the NBA playoffs after a sweep was solidified with a 144-114 route on Sunday, and the “Inside the NBA” crew began discussing a potential NBA Finals appearance for Mike Brown’s surging group.

“It gets real again in the next round for the Knicks,” Kenny Smith said as the Knicks will face the Cavaliers or Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. “Cleveland and the Pistons have caused problems for the Knicks this year.”

Smith added that the next round will look very similar to the Hawks series, which the Knicks won in six games.

Shaquille O’Neal, though, doesn’t think anyone in the East can contend right now with the Knicks, who have won seven straight games after falling behind 2-1 against Atlanta.

“They’ve shown me they are ready,” O’Neal said. “And I have to disagree with both guys, I think they’ll breeze through whoever the next opponent is if they play like this.”

Charles Barkley said the Knicks “had a cakewalk” to the Eastern Conference finals, calling the Hawks “not ready for primetime” while the 76ers dealt with injuries.

Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk
…
Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this
…
Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult
…
Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 11, 2026

“Whoever they play next is a very difficult series,” Barkley said.

“Knicks going to the finals,” O’Neal said, interrupting Barkley.

It’s been total annihilation in the Knicks’ last seven games as they’re firing on all cylinders, tying a record for 3-pointers in an NBA playoff game on Sunday with 25.

The Knicks also have the best point differential (+194) in NBA playoff history through a team’s first 10 playoff games, besting the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who added Kevin Durant to a team that went 73-9 in the regular season the year prior.

The wild ride will come to a halt for the next week or so as the Knicks await the winner of the Cavaliers vs. Pistons series, which Detroit currently leads 2-1 with Game 4 in Cleveland on Monday night.

Sixers can see real reasons for optimism now, but they're still not close to contention  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers don’t have to haul aside the rubble of endless injuries and meaningless losses to see a bright future now.

However, they sat Sunday night with the humiliation of a second-round playoff sweep capped by a 30-point Game 4 loss to the Knicks. New York fans flooded Xfinity Mobile Arena and had much to celebrate. 

“We got beat by a really good team that was better than us tonight,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “Nobody wants to lose the way we did tonight without doubt. No one wants it to end that way, but our team went through a lot of ups and downs and I think we hung in there really well for the season. A lot of good things happened.”

Even after a serious improvement upon last season’s 24-win disaster, the Sixers appear to need more on many fronts to morph into true contenders. More three-point shooting, more defensive rebounding, more availability from their veteran stars. And, to put it bluntly, more good players. 

Compared to their Eastern Conference foes, the Sixers’ depth was an enormous problem. Quentin Grimes had one big playoff performance as the team’s sixth man, scoring 18 points in Game 5 of the Sixers’ fantastic first-round series win over the Celtics. Three bench players 23 years old or younger received postseason rotation minutes in Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards and Adem Bona. 

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey traded away Jared McCain in February and added no one. Judging a front office’s work is always complex, but it’s clear the Sixers’ deadline was disappointing to the organization as a whole, players included. 

We’ll see if the Sixers opt to change anything at the top. The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that Morey and Nurse’s jobs are “expected to be evaluated entering the offseason” and that “ownership has not made final decisions on either and is likely to take a few days to assess before making any major calls.”

For better and for worse, it seems likely the Sixers will retain the same core players. 

Joel Embiid, 32, dealt with a slew of health woes and was generally great when he suited up. Paul George, 36, served a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy and then played quite well on both ends of the floor for most of the postseason. The Sixers have committed long-term contracts to both.

“I’m as confident as I’ve ever been,” Embiid said. “Obviously, (the knee) was the biggest concern and I’m not thinking about it. As long as we keep doing what we’ve been doing, I won’t have to think about it anymore. I’m looking at next year, obviously being more available, and being more available might mean being a high seed as a team. 

“The personal goals don’t matter. I know that if I’m available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow. … I’ve accomplished everything else. I’m in a good mental place. It sucks losing, but I just know that moving forward, I’ll be better for my team.”

Tyrese Maxey became an All-Star starter for the first time. He played through a nagging right pinky finger injury in the playoffs and was limited by the Knicks’ constant blitzes, but the Sixers have a legitimate superstar as their lead guard who topped the NBA in minutes per game. 

“I thought he had an amazing year,” George said of Maxey. “He got better. I thought he really added to a foundation that was already great. He’s one of the best scorers. He’s just been consistent for us all year with what he’s dealt with, with what we’ve been through. The next step for him … he’ll have to figure out and adjust to how these playoffs have been. They’re trying to get the ball out of his hands, and him having to learn to play make from there. 

“He’s set a precedent that he can average 30 and he’s an elite scorer and shooter. So I’m pretty sure, going into next year, that’s going to be what’s on teams’ boards, trying to stop Tyrese. … I’m sure he’s going to sit with his trainers, his workout people, and they’re going to look at, ‘How can we be better? What can we do better?’ I think that conversation will come up then.”

Maxey shared his exit interview press conference with VJ Edgecombe, who’s already a very valuable two-way player at 20 years old.

Embiid said Edgecombe “has a chance to be extremely special” and “is going to be a monster.” 

“I really love my teammates and I really love all the good things they say about me, but I’ve got to keep putting in the work and I’ve got to keep getting better so whatever they say will come to pass,” Edgecombe said. “I’m glad to be here in Philly. … Losing just now, it’s tough, but we’re going to be good for sure.” 

Indeed, the Sixers have real reasons for optimism. The team’s leaders in the locker room are right to focus on internal growth and believe better days are ahead.

The gap between the Sixers and the Knicks team that coasted to the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday was not small, though. 

“I think the biggest thing is this was a step in the right direction,” Maxey said, “going from last year where we didn’t even make the playoffs to this year where we (got) to the second round. Again, no moral victories, but at some point you’ve got to take away something positive. And we got a lot of experience. … Once you get this taste of playoff experience, you don’t want to go backwards. … And just staying together, man. Keeping the camaraderie high, keeping the vibes high. 

“The vibes with this group are really good, especially with the young guys. Really liked each other, really did things together. So we’ve got to keep that vibe going and keep that culture building. If we can keep building that culture, then I think the sky is the limit for this team.”

Why NBA Draft Lottery results couldn't have gone better for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics did not participate in Sunday’s 2026 NBA Draft Lottery because they were one of the 16 teams that made the playoffs, but they still ended up being one of the winners from the event’s results.

Pretty much everything that could have gone right for the Celtics actually came to fruition.

Outside of the Pacers losing their pick to the Clippers (more on that below), there weren’t any earth-shattering results from the lottery.

The NBA Draft Lottery 2026 Results! pic.twitter.com/z1VNqyDCYY

— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2026

Let’s dive into how the outcome of the draft lottery benefits the Celtics directly and indirectly.

Indiana Pacers’ trade fiasco

The Pacers gave up a ton of assets to acquire Clippers center Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline in February, including their 2026 first-round draft pick protected for spots 1-4 and 10-30. Despite finishing with the second-worst record in the league, there was only a 52 percent chance of the Pacers keeping their pick entering the lottery.

Indiana ultimately lost out, as its pick slid to No. 5 overall and will convey to the Clippers. This means the Pacers, who already have a fantastic roster if Tyrese Haliburton makes a successful return from an Achilles tear, will not add an elite young player to the mix.

If the Pacers were able to add a player like AJ Dybantsa or Cam Boozer, they probably would have been a top-two or -three team in the Eastern Conference going into next season, and that would have made reaching the NBA Finals a lot tougher for the Celtics and other East contenders.

The Pacers should still be a threat, no doubt. But their roster could have looked a lot scarier had they gotten some lottery luck.

Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo suitors had no lottery luck

ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote Monday that the Bucks “are open for business on trade calls and offers” for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Almost none of the potential suitors for Antetokounmpo improved their situation in the lottery, and that’s good news for the Celtics if they decide to get involved this summer.

The Golden State Warriors have been speculated as a potential Antetokounmpo destination in the past, and they need to maximize their increasingly small window to compete while Stephen Curry remains an elite player. The Warriors ended up with the No. 11 pick.

The Miami Heat are always discussed as a potential landing spot for superstar players whenever rumors pop up, even though it’s been a while since they pulled off a blockbuster deal. The Heat don’t like to tank and are typically in the playoff mix. But the Heat had no lottery luck and will pick at No. 13 in Round 1.

The Bucks had a small chance to earn a top-four pick despite not controlling their own 2026 first-rounder, but they had no such luck and will pick at No. 10. That pick is probably not going to be good enough to land an impact player who can pair with Antetokounmpo and help Milwaukee compete in the East.

The Hawks are often thrown into Antetokounmpo mock trade proposals as a third-team or as a potential Antetokounmpo spot. They did not get a top-four pick and ended up with No. 8 overall. Is the No. 8 pick good enough to construct a package for Antetokounmpo?

Two Western Conference teams landed in top three

If you really think that Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson or other players in this draft have superstar potential, then it would benefit the Celtics for those players to go to Western Conference teams.

The Wizards won the lottery and will pair an elite young talent with Trae Young and Anthony Davis next season, but the Utah Jazz moved up in the lottery for the first time in franchise history and will pick at No. 2. The Memphis Grizzlies landed at No. 3 and the Clippers are at No. 5.

Two of the top three picks and three of the top five being owned by Western Conference teams is good for East contenders like the Celtics.

OKC Thunder didn’t get lucky

The Thunder had a 1.5 percent chance to win the No. 1 pick because they own the Clippers’ 2026 unprotected first-rounder. It wasn’t likely that OKC would move up, but we’ve seen crazy outcomes before, including last year when the Dallas Mavericks won the lottery with only 1.8 percent odds.

The Thunder didn’t have any luck and will pick at No. 12. It’s still a good pick for a team that might win a second straight title this season and has an absolutely loaded roster headlined by reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But could you imagine how much better OKC would be if it got Dybantsa, Boozer or Peterson?

Any team with championship aspirations in the near future, like the Celtics, didn’t want to see the Thunder get lucky Sunday afternoon. And for the first time in a while, OKC was unlucky.

The NBA Draft Lottery is finished and we now know which teams will be picking in what order. This means there is pretty much 20/20 vision as to where Arizona standouts Brayden Burries and Koa Peat will be heading. It would be the third consecutive year that a Wildcat was taken in the NBA Draft and the second straight year that one was taken in the first round.

If Burries and Peat are taken, they would be players six and seven taken in the Tommy Lloyd era. Overall, they would be the eighth and ninth players under Lloyd to make it to the NBA.

Last year it was Carter Bryant going to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, while the year before it was Pelle Larsson taken by the Miami Heat in the second round. Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry, and Christian Koloko were taken in the 2022 NBA Draft. Undrafted free agents Keshad Johnson and Caleb Love have also played in the NBA.

While Burries and Peat are the standouts from Arizona who have entered this year’s draft, Jaden Bradley is also projected to be taken in the second round.

Here are some projections as to where all three players could be taken on various mock drafts. Analysis from each site is included in italics when provided:

Brayden Burries

ESPN: No. 9 to Dallas Mavericks

Burries endeared himself to teams over the course of the season as a steady two-way contributor with room to grow as a scorer. Scouts see an intriguing upside as he continues to improve as an on-ball playmaker, but he is a solid enough shooter to play the 2, giving him appealing versatility. He is older than other freshman guards in the lottery and not as toolsy or flashy, but he might be closer to directly impacting winning.

New York Times: No. 9 to Mavericks

Burries was the leading scorer on one of the top three teams in the country, despite a slow start that saw him average just 7.8 points in his first five games. From that point, he averaged 17.3 points while shooting 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 81 percent from the foul line in his final 34 games. He’s also an aggressive rebounder who grabbed 5.5 boards per game in that time, while averaging 2.4 assists as a solid ball mover who didn’t take many bad shots.

The question is about separating from his man consistently, as he’s more of a power guard who uses the threat of his shot to keep defenders off-balance. Burries turned into a really good defender by the end of the year and averaged 1.5 steals. For Dallas, Burries would be a terrific complement to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving as they look to make a jump next year.

CBSSports: No. 9 to Mavericks

Burries is a strong and aggressive two-way guard who can get downhill with force, provide a formidable three-point shooter, and simultaneously defend his position. He’s also more physically ready to make the transition to the NBA game than most of the other one-and-done guards in the draft. Alongside Cooper Flagg, the Mavs not only have young talent, but young two-way talent.

Koa Peat

ESPN: No. 24 to New York Knicks

Peat opted to declare for the draft and has an opportunity to play his way up the boards with a strong predraft process. Some teams viewed him as an excellent candidate to return to school and improve his stock, an option that remains available to him. Scouts view his perimeter shooting as a critical swing skill that will impact his trajectory, as he is not particularly effective scoring outside 15 feet at this stage of his career. But his strength and quickness relative to his size, coupled with a solid offensive feel and ability to guard the perimeter, give him a chance to find a niche in the right situation.

New York Times: No. 16 to Memphis Grizzlies

Peat prompts a wide range of opinions from NBA scouts. On the plus side, he has won everywhere he’s been and is one of the most decorated players in his age group. He won state titles and four gold medals with Team USA in youth events, then helped carry Arizona to a Final Four. He averaged 14.1 points while shooting 53 percent from the field and is a tough, physical rebounder. He passes well and makes excellent decisions to keep his team in the flow of the offense, be it in short rolls out of ball screens or on the wing. If you need him to score, he can do that as we saw in the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and taking a bigger offensive load. Or, he can slide into a role as a tough, physical defender who takes on different matchups and then makes quick reads.

Yet, the flaws jump off the page. He’s not really a shooter, as he’s only taken 20 3-point attempts and made seven of them while hitting just 62.3 percent of his attempts at the foul line — basically in line with his averages at lower levels. Defensively, he’s not overly fast, and there are possessions when you see him get beaten laterally by quicker players, although I did think he was a good defender by the end of the season.

CBSSports: No. 14 to Charlotte Hornets

Peat is another polarizing prospect because he’s strong, physical, can finish, rebound, short-roll to get downhill, and even play-make a bit, but doesn’t shoot. He was pivotal to Arizona’s Big 12 championships and Final Four run, and loaded with winning intangibles. That DNA is very much in line with what we saw Charlotte prioritize last year, when they nailed the 2025 draft with Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Sion James.

Jaden Bradley

ESPN: No. 51 to Washington Wizards

New York Times: No. 48 to Orlando Magic

It’s also worth noting that former Arizona Wildcat Henri Veesaar is projected, in most mock drafts, to go to the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 25. Tune in on June 23 to see where the next “Wildcats in the NBA” will be heading.

The dust has settled on the NBA Draft Lottery. The Milwaukee Bucks will be picking 10th on draft night this June. Now that the initial excitement (or disappointment, although if that’s how you’re feeling, that’s on you for getting your hopes up in the first place) has worn off after a good night’s sleep, let’s talk more about exactly what having the 10th pick will mean for the Bucks.

Obviously, this is a golden opportunity for the Bucks to add some excellent young talent. Given the lack of prospects worth rallying behind in Milwaukee in recent years, the anticipation of this draft is through the roof. The pressure is there, too, for the front office at least. It’s no secret that Jon Horst’s draft track record hasn’t been awesome (even if identifying future 10-year role player Sam Merrill with the 60th pick is pretty cool). It’s time for the man in the office to right the ship and make everyone forget about D.J. Wilson, MarJon Beauchamp, and AJ Johnson.

It’s been a decade since this team’s last lottery pick. Who knows when the next one will be. This one has gotta be a hit.

If the Bucks enter a rebuild this summer, a lot will be riding on the prospect they select because they’ll immediately become a major centerpiece of the team’s core. Luckily, there are numerous potential star bets in the lottery this year, which we’ll get to shortly. If Milwaukee keeps the big fella around and looks to compete next year, this pick will still be important because this roster could really use some new life breathed into it, no matter what.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which direction they choose; Milwaukee’s approach to this draft shouldn’t shift. The goal here is simple: identify the best prospect available at 10 and draft them. Throw context out of the window. This franchise is in no spot to get picky about guys based on little things like what position they play. Just go out, get a guy, and figure the rest out later.

So, which guy should the Bucks be targeting here? Unfortunately, landing at the 10 spot means the class’ biggest studs—AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson—will not be in play. Other top dogs like Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Kingston Flemings will probably be gone as well by the time Milwaukee gets on the clock.

The lack of consensus at the 10th pick is a little scary. It leaves Horst more room to try to get fancy and mess things up. The last thing the Bucks (and their fans) need is another Thon Maker.

Don’t fret, though, because this class is good enough even outside of the top five to where screwing up should be a lot tougher. Van already outlined some of the names fans should expect to see on the board for the Bucks, including Mikel Brown Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara. All three are very enticing options for different reasons.

Brown Jr. has the highest ceiling of the trio as a flashy combo guard who can get buckets in bunches and spearhead an offense. He’d be a nice fire to Ryan Rollins’ ice in the backcourt.

Mara would step into the NBA as the tallest player not named Victor Wembanyama, and his elite intersection of passing feel, rim protection, and post scoring would put him in a position to be a uniquely dominant force.

Lendeborg is a flat-out winner. He is nearly 24 (red flag), but a winner nonetheless, and that’s what matters. He wouldn’t be the upside swing some may want to see the Bucks take, but he’d make the team better.

The potential game-changers projected to be available at 10 don’t end there. Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon, Nate Ament, Hannes Steinbach, Dailyn Swain, Ebuka Okorie, and Morez Johnson Jr. all stand out as names worth tagging too. 

The Brew Hoop team will be diving further into individual prospects in the coming weeks. For now, though, some general truths hang in the air. This isn’t your average draft class—more teams will walk out winners than usual. Milwaukee needs to be one of those winners. This pick shouldn’t get traded (once it’s legally able to be traded, that is). And, above all, this is a super exciting time to be a Bucks fan, even in the wake of a rough season.

The Milwaukee faithful haven’t had a reason to get this excited about the draft in a minute. Enjoy the experience, and keep an eye out for Brew Hoop’s coverage of it! 

With January in the books as the best month of the Mavs’ season, February rolled in and was anything but. Dallas continued to stick around in a lot of games, often keeping things close before coming up short. A generally abysmal record and some bad (but obvious) news were the call for the month, but the Mavericks also made an unexpected move to change the entire dynamic of their future.

February Record: 2-8 (21-38 overall)

The only saving grace for the Mavericks in February was that it is the shortest month on the calendar. Dallas lost six straight games to open the month, as part of a 10-game losing streak dating back to the end of January. At this point, the feeling amongst the fanbase seemingly shifted to “tank mode.” Gone were the hopes of a PlayIn bid, replaced by the notion that losing for a better draft pick was much more appealing. The Mavs managed back-to-back wins over two of the limited squads that were performing worse than Dallas, the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets, before dropping their last two to close out the month.

Anthony Davis is traded to the Wizards

On February 4, and in typical Mavs’ fashion where virtually no one saw it coming, Anthony Davis was traded to the Washington Wizards. There were a few rumors here and there, mainly about a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that never materialized, but the prevailing thought had become that Davis was staying until at least the off season. The Wizards were certainly not on anyone’s radar. With everyone thinking Davis’ hand injury against the Utah Jazz less than a month prior was going to keep him off the market, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi did the improbable and got off the contract of Davis, removing another pillar of the ill-fated Luka Doncic trade. Better still, they managed to move DeAngelo Russell who had fallen into Jason Kidd’s doghouse long before, in the deal as well. Also on the way out were Jaden Hardy and the injured Dante Exum. Dallas gave themselves a tremendous amount of financial flexibility going into the offseason, and did it in a single move no one really saw coming.

Marvin Bagley shows out

The return Dallas received in the Davis trade didn’t exactly leap off the page, although it really didn’t need to. Dallas needed to get off of Davis’ contract and also needed to turn the keys over to Cooper Flagg. Khris Middleton was arguably the biggest incoming name, however Marvin Bagley made a strong bid to stick around and perhaps was the best piece Dallas got in the deal. In his first game with Dallas, he scored 16 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked four shots in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He came off the bench in all but four of his appearances with the Mavs, but often outplayed started Daniel Gafford in those games. He ended the season having scored 20 or more points in four contests with the Mavs. Bagley may yet have a future in Dallas after having proved to be a very capable back-up and spot starter.

Kyrie Irving announces he is out for the season

Although the announcement was widely expected, on February 18, Kyrie Irving confirmed that he would be out for the remainder of the season. It would have been nice to see Irving get back on the court and to play with Cooper Flagg in a few meaningless games at the end of the season. He could have tested out his recovery quietly when no  one was really looking, but instead opted for the safer path and that is fine. Irving added months to his recovery timeline and will be ready for the start of next season with what will surely be a new-look Mavs squad.

With the forgettable games of February in the rearview, Dallas was in a position to finish out the season by taking a look at some of their new players. As much as the season was essentially lost by this point, the Mavs still had plenty to play for as Flagg made his closing arguments for Rookie of the Year honors.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That is a huge morale boost for the fans. And yet … the organization is willing to make moves with that pick, including trading down that very pick, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and The Stein Line.

The Washington Wizards will reportedly consider trading down from the No. 1 pick, per @JakeLFischer

“Winger told me directly that the Wizards will at least consider trading down. He insisted that this is ‘not a savior moment’ for Washington given that the franchise just traded… pic.twitter.com/XmaCWaqkPX

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 11, 2026

It’s important to note that it is very rare for a team that has a No. 1 overall pick traded before he plays for that team. But it has happened twice in relatively recent memory.

The last such case was in 2017 when the Philadelphia 76ers acquired the No. 1 pick to select Markelle Fultz from the Boston Celtics who received the No. 3 pick to select Jayson Tatum. Fultz ultimately bounced between multiple teams while Tatum became Boston’s franchise player and led the Celtics to a championship in 2024.

Also, in 2014, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Andrew Wiggins of Kansas No. 1 overall before trading him in a package for Kevin Love. The move ultimately worked out for the Cavaliers who would go on to win the NBA championship two years later. Even for Wiggins, he had a strong start to his NBA career for the Timberwolves. Wiggins ultimately became an All-Star in 2022 for the Golden State Warriors, as well as an NBA champion.

Again, it’s very rare for a team to trade the No. 1 pick away, whether before the draft or soon after. And anything Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger said about “considering” trading down from the No. 1 pick? Well, any sound front-office executive will say that to maintain maximum leverage.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

What a game! I kind of inexplicably blacked out 12 minutes into the game and gained consciousness a few moments later to watch the rest of the entertaining wrestling match/basketball game trying to piece together what happened like in the movie Memento. You, fellow readers, get the pleasure of going with me on this journey to find the truth.

The first truth we find is that De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper led the team with 24 points apiece, and both guards’ hands were busy with 3 steals each to match the aggressive defense played on both sides. Fox justified his previous “Clutch Player of the Year” award by making timely plays down the stretch for the good guys while Harper justified being the number two overall pick by making professional play after professional play.

Take a good look at this highlight below because it’ll be the last time you’ll get to see these! For this game at least, let’s keep our fingers crossed.

If you’re a fan of Arrested Development, you’ll get this reference. If you’re not a fan of Arrested Development, I don’t know what to say—I can only bring so much culture into your life. Victor Wembanyama’s plus/minus was -1 tonight in 12 minutes of play on the floor. He managed 4 points, 4 rebounds, and one assist in those 12 minutes.

What gives? It’s like he really is an alien and the mother ship suddenly came down and plucked him from the court while blasting disco music like Gonzo’s alien family did in Muppets from Space. Even the official San Antonio Spurs Twitter account is missing a whole chunk of highlights of the first quarter after this assist from De’Aaron Fox to Wembanyama. The mystery thickens!

FOX ⬆️
WEMBY ⬇️

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/dzbA7l3R24

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 10, 2026

Other than this highlight of Dylan Harper with the beautiful subtle ball fake and step through, there’s no other highlight (evidence) of the entire 1st quarter, whether of Wembanyama or anything Spursy. I had the game on mute so I could only assume that after Wembanyama’s sudden disappearance the Spurs were also shocked but tried to keep it close—closing out the mystery quarter down 4 to the Timberwolves.

OH MY DYLAN 🙌

END 1Q | SAS 30, MIN 34 pic.twitter.com/wCYjBqioKs

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

I scanned the sidelines and even peaked into the raucous crowd but could not find a trace of the man in the jersey stitched with the number “1.” I asked my two colleagues in the living room with me if they had seen the 7-foot Frenchman that abruptly vanished from our television screen earlier. I was only met with “Huh? Why are you talking to me in a weird Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes British accent?” and “Can I go to bed *after* I finish watching Finding Nemo”? (Note: Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and anyone who’s a mom to someone!)

That being said, Carter Bryant surely made his mother proud with this easy dunk off the pretty ball movement from Harper to Julian Champagnie, who found Bryant open under the basket.

Carter coming thru 🚗

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/iFCGcsZBsP

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

Somewhat similar to Game 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers when the boys unexpectedly lost Wembanyama early in the game, it seemed to take the air out of their sails. For this game, they seemed just a bit better equipped to deal with the cards dealt. Luke Kornet, for one, stepped up and played 26 solid minutes of clean the glass, put all the put backs back, and blocked or altered all the shots.

LUUUUUUKE‼️

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/7p3dqT5JS4

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

I think Stephon Castle felt what I felt: shock, confusion, a bit of anger, and hunger for some birria tacos. And who could blame him? A rowdy game will bring that out of you. So much that he even dunked on his own teammate!

STEPH ON CLEAN-UP DUTY‼️

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/FsBxUUp25M

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

Amid the circus, it’s worth pointing out the crisp and purposeful ball movement of these Spurs. Here, Devin Vassell makes a crazy circus shot of his own, but the play was set up by ping-ponging passes initiated by Castle and fed through Champagnie.

YEAH DEV!

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/d0HdnJEnEn

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

What a flip into the bucket by Harper. It’s like his limbs move independently of his body.

ONE. MORE. QUARTER. 👏

END 3Q | SAS 84, MIN 80 pic.twitter.com/didciC9Y7j

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

OK as we got toward the end of this game, I have considered all the available evidence to me (i.e., self-imposed Twitter blackout, live broadcast on mute, ignoring family (only briefly! It was *still* Mother’s Day), pretending to read group chats and only replying with 👽 emojis), and the only conclusion I could come up with is that Victor Wembanyama got thrown out of the game for laughing. It happened to Tim Duncan so why couldn’t history repeat itself?

ANOTHER ONE 🙌

📺@NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/p3zmqJwYBL

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 11, 2026

In all seriousness, losing Wembanyama to a flying elbow (to be clear, an elbow that he himself threw with those pterodactyl wings he calls arms) was a huge blow to the team and this game. It’s worth noting that our boy did spend last summer with Shaolin monks and Kevin friggin’ Garnett. The “there are two wolves” inside of us narrative could not be more true in this case where it seems like nirvana and Kevin friggin’ Garnett (a Timberwolf, no less) were constantly at odds with each other.

It’s like Frank Costanza stood alone and screamed “Serenity now!!” into the void while multiple Timberwolves clawed at him. Even Lloyd Braun couldn’t save the day, but the hopefully the good guys will have their fearless leader back in time for the next match.

If you missed the game because you were too busy writing sticky notes to yourself with reminders to buy milk, watch more games on mute, and to enjoy Game 5, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs head back to San Antonio for Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.