Category: Basketball

Inside the NBA Playoffs, where every possession matters — lessons from Durant, Brunson, Stephen Curry, and more on pressure, leadership, momentum, and what it takes to win.

The NBA Playoffs don’t just raise the stakes; they rewrite the rules. Possessions stretch, pressure multiplies, and reputations are built (or broken) in real time. From rising stars to all-time greats, the game slows down and sharpens all at once. Across eras and experiences -- from Kevin Durant to Stephen Curry to Jalen Brunson -- one truth keeps surfacing: the playoffs demand a different version of you.

Here are 10 lessons pulled straight from those who’ve lived it.

Lesson 1: The Playoffs Are a Different Sport

Ask Paolo Banchero, and he’ll tell you plainly: The playoffs feel like a completely different season. The pace slows, the scouting tightens, and every weakness gets exposed. What works over 82 games won’t necessarily translate in a seven-game series. The adjustment isn’t just physical; it’s mental. You have to think about the game at a higher level, possession by possession.

Lesson 2: Every Possession Feels Like an Eternity

“You feel every possession,” Stephen Curry has said, and that’s not exaggeration. In the playoffs, there’s no autopilot. Each trip down the floor carries consequences. Momentum swings harder, and mistakes linger longer. It’s not just about execution; it’s about endurance under pressure.

Lesson 3: Stay Aggressive—Don’t Let the Defense Dictate You

For Cade Cunningham, one early playoff lesson stood out: passivity is a trap. When defenses load up, show bodies, and force the ball out of your hands, the instinct can be to defer. But that often kills rhythm. The best players stay aggressive within the flow—probing, adjusting, and forcing the defense to react rather than dictate.

Lesson 4: Leadership Doesn’t Have to Be Loud

Jalen Brunson embodies a quieter kind of leadership. No theatrics, no unnecessary noise -- just consistency, poise, and trust. In playoff environments, where emotions can spike, that steadiness matters. Leadership isn’t always about speeches; sometimes it’s about showing up the same way every possession.

Lesson 5: Momentum Can Flip an Entire Series

Young teams often learn this the hard way. Chet Holmgren has described how quickly things can turn, from double-digit leads to sudden collapses. One run, one quarter, one missed opportunity can shift everything. The playoffs are less about controlling the entire game and more about surviving -- and capitalizing on -- those swings.

Lesson 6: Find Your Closing Move

Every great player needs a way to shut the door. For Curry, it became the now-iconic “night night” celebration, a symbol of finishing the job. But the gesture is just the surface. What matters is the mindset behind it: confidence built through repetition, ready to surface when the game is on the line.

Lesson 7: Spacing Wins Series

Big men like Amar'e Stoudemire have long understood a simple truth: if you’re getting doubled, you need shooters. Floor spacing forces defenses into impossible choices. Stay home on shooters, and stars can attack. Collapse the paint, and the perimeter becomes lethal.

Lesson 8: Experience and Size Still Matter

There’s a reason veteran teams tend to thrive deep into May and June. Legends like Hakeem Olajuwon have emphasized how size, chemistry, and experience can overwhelm younger squads. Talent alone isn’t enough; discipline, execution, and physicality separate contenders from hopefuls.

Lesson 9: The Stage Demands More

There’s nothing like playing under the lights at Madison Square Garden or in a hostile road arena. Former players like Mark Jackson recall those moments as defining, where nerves, energy, and expectation collide. The playoffs amplify everything, and not everyone rises to the occasion.

Lesson 10: Your Window Isn’t Guaranteed

Few moments capture the fragility of it all like Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury in the Finals. One instant can shift the trajectory of a career. The playoffs aren’t just about chasing a title; they’re about maximizing the opportunity in front of you, because nothing is promised beyond it.

Final Thoughts

The playoffs expose everything — your habits, your mindset, your weaknesses, your edge. They demand adaptation, resilience, and belief at the highest level. As players across generations echo in different ways, you can’t fully explain playoff basketball. You have to experience it.

And once you do, it’s all you think about.

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Should we just cancel the rest of the NBA playoffs and declare injuries the winner? They’ve already dominated this postseason far more than one team possibly could. The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, after what feels like his 10th hamstring injury. In the series against the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo tore his achilles, and Anthony Edwards gruesomely hyperextended his knee. Wolves backup Ayo Dosunmu put up a heroic 43 points in Game 4, then returned to the bench two games later to nurse an injured calf. The Nuggets lost Aaron Gordon to calf tightness midway through the series and played entirely without Peyton Watson, who was sidelined by a hamstring strain.

Jayson Tatum’s record-quick comeback from an achilles tear was the feelgood story of the season, at least until he hurt his leg, which ruled him out of a vital Game 7 that his Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Los Angeles Lakers’ starting rotation lacks Luka Dončić until further notice and played four of six games against the Houston Rockets without another of their stars, Austin Reaves. The Rockets’ Kevin Durant played 78 of 82 regular season games, then missed every game of the Lakers series but one thanks to a bad knee and a bone bruise in his ankle. We of course had to save the most ridiculous injury for last: Victor Wembanyama was knocked out by the court itself after tripping on a drive and whacking his jaw on the hardwood. (He missed all of one game and wishes he could have missed zero.) Perhaps it was an omen.

Related: Embiid urges 76ers fans not to sell playoff tickets to Knicks fans: ‘If you need money, I’ve got you’

This is how the NBA is now. Ten hyper-athletic men powered by modern training regimens share a 94-by-50-foot rectangle, sprinting back and forth and leaping into the air and often crashing into each other as they do. An unconscionably long 82-game regular season sands down the players’ durability. Mix in the extra dose of vigor and roughness that comes with the heightened stakes of the playoffs, and bodies break down. Injuries that affect the outcome of games and series, that make you want to turn off the TV, are a constant risk.

This isn’t to say that this postseason has lacked drama or dopamine. Among the relatively uninjured, somehow, is none other than 41-year-old LeBron James, who continues to find escape routes from the bounds of time. The Sixers pulled off a miraculous comeback from 3-1 down to eliminate the Celtics, the Pistons did the same against the Magic. The Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett hit a game-winning three-pointer that kicked high, high off the back of the rim and through the hoop. (I immediately thought of Tyrese Haliburton’s shot against the Knicks last year, the most indelible memory from one of the best runs of clutch plays in history – before Haliburton tore his achilles in the next series.) The shorthanded Wolves banded together to topple the Nuggets; I wanted their scrappy crew to win so badly that it hurt a little bit. But all this brilliance can’t be worth the trail of broken bodies left in the wake. These playoffs feel like a stay-healthy contest rather than a way to determine the best team in the league, which hurts the viewing experience. Far worse is the intensifying feeling that professional basketball itself is incompatible with health.

There are sports, like boxing, in which physical damage is inextricable from the appeal. Basketball is different, or should be. The attraction is in the manipulation of space required to splash a three-pointer, in the precision and explosiveness that goes into a chase-down block. One player bodying another via dunk or block is satisfying, but we don’t want the other player to be hurt. Moses Moody caving his knee in while jumping for a dunk is not supposed to be part of the experience, nor is the epidemic of achilles and calf injuries. Fans should not be wincing every time their favorite player clatters to the ground and is slow to get up, which seems to happen a dozen times per game. No superstar escaped this season unscathed: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the luxury of not playing many fourth quarters thanks to his team usually putting the game away by then, but still missed time in February because of an abdominal strain. Nikola Jokić hyperextended his knee, after which his searing form from early in the season failed to fully return. Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung in March. Dončić’s hamstring betrayed him in the middle of one of the hottest runs of form of his career. The latter two MVP candidates had to seek exemptions for the league’s 65-game rule to be considered for the honor.

That we’re only one round into the playoffs feels impossible. After his team finished off the Nuggets, Wolves coach Chris Finch looked tired rather than triumphant: the younger, healthier San Antonio Spurs were already waiting in the conference semi-finals.

“Before the series started, I figured the real winner of this series was going to be San Antonio, because both these teams were going to take a lot of pieces out of each other, and they did,” Finch said. “So I’m not sure what we have left standing before we go down there.” It’s easy to envision the Spurs essentially winning by TKO over what remains of the Wolves, or the Thunder forcing James into debilitating exhaustion midway through their series.

There’s a lot to be excited about for the rest of the playoffs, a likely Spurs-Thunder showdown in the Western Conference finals at the top of the list. Still, it’s hard to be too jazzed when more injuries are almost certain to join the pile. Last year’s NBA finals, brilliant through six games, will always be blemished by Haliburton’s achilles tear early in Game 7. In the 2024 finals, Dončić, the best player on the floor, was clearly carrying an injury. We can hope that injuries won’t insert themselves into this year’s finals, but recent history suggests mercy is unlikely.

Practically everybody agrees that the season needs to shorten, perhaps by a lot. Maybe the games do, too. Reverting first-round playoff series to best-of-five, as was the case before 2003, could keep players healthy a little bit longer. Maybe a seven-game series is too much punishment on a human body under any circumstances. For as long as the NBA resists change, its players will pay the price.

After the Lakers mercifully ended the Rockets’ bizarre, injury-marred season on Friday, the agony of defeat appeared tempered by exhaustion. The camaraderie between the players was also striking. Durant, who has had a tough season, hugged James tightly. He giggled with Dončić on the sidelines. Fred VanVleet, the Rockets’ vital point guard who sat out the whole season with a torn ACL, mingled with the players. It looked like everybody had finally been relieved of the burden of the game: the faces atop those beaten bodies, at last, smiling.

The first-round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs already felt like a war of attrition. Star players were dropping left and right, and in some cases changing the outcome of series. It’s starting to feel like the healthiest team will ultimately be the last team standing as the second round begins.

The Boston Celtics were a popular pick to win the East heading into the playoffs. Now they’re out after the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a shocking Game 7 victory with injured star Jayson Tatum on the bench. The Denver Nuggets were a trendy pick to win the championship a couple weeks ago. Instead, the team looked old, slow, and soft as they were boat-raced by the Timberwolves despite significant injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.

Let’s rank the final eight teams still standing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs by their championship chances.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

Will Luka Doncic play in the second-round? It’s a question that hangs over the Lakers series with the Thunder. Los Angeles didn’t need him in round one against a pathetic Rockets’ offense, but the matchup with OKC will obviously be a much bigger challenge. Austin Reaves’ return to the lineup from his own soft tissue injury is an encouraging sign, but he’s about to face a stiff test against the Thunder’s legion of elite perimeter defenders. The Lakers know they have a sharp head coach in JJ Redick and a genius 41-year-old legend in LeBron James who should be able to find every vulnerability in the Thunder — but actually winning the series feels almost impossible with Luka still on the mend. The Lakers should feel great about getting this far, and this matchup with OKC will tell them where they need to improve this summer even if they ultimately fall short.

7. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are a different team with Joel Embiid healthy and engaged, and they proved it in their shocking first-round victory over the Celtics. Embiid looked well-rested coming back from appendicitis, and he destroyed a weak Boston frontcourt when it mattered. He’ll have a much tougher matchup against the Knicks in round two, but his one-on-one scoring is still a huge advantage in the series for Philly. Tyrese Maxey also bolstered his reputation in the first-round, and his ability to play huge minutes at a superstar level is so impressive. VJ Edgecombe ripped five three-pointers in Game 7 to continue his fantastic rookie season, and his athleticism could give the taller Knicks’ wing defenders problems in round two. Anything feels possible in the East right now even if the Knicks are the favorites. Philly should like its chances around Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves’ first-round series win against the Nuggets was the ultimate vindication for their core, but sadly it came at a cost with Donte DiVincenzo tearing his Achilles and Anthony Edwards suffering a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. Edwards is somehow expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Spurs, and Minnesota will need him to regain top form in quick order. Rudy Gobert just humbled Nikola Jokic, and now he draws an arguably even tougher assignment against his younger and more athletic countryman in Victor Wembanyama. If Gobert can somehow out-play Wemby the way he just outplayed Jokic, the Wolves will have a chance. It feels like Minnesota may have found something with the former Illinois Fighting Illini duo of Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. in the last round, and both will need to provide consistent scoring given the team’s other injuries. It’s too bad we can’t see the Wolves fully healthy in this matchup against the Spurs, because that would have been electric. At this point, we should know better than to count out Minnesota even with the chips stacked against them. The Wolves have the length, athleticism, and experience to rattle anyone, but it feels like they have their work cut out for them against San Antonio.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs and Raptors were tied in aggregate score through 6.5 games before Cleveland dropped the hammer in the third quarter of Game 7 to avoid an embarrassing exit and advance to the second-round. The series never should have been that close. Cleveland has the pieces for a long playoff run after trading for James Harden at the deadline, but head coach Kenny Atkinson is still tinkering with his rotation and trying to maximize his lineups. Donovan Mitchell didn’t have a great series, and it’s hard to imagine the Cavs reaching their potential if he’s unable to find his All-NBA level from the regular season. Cleveland has a higher offensive ceiling than Detroit in their second-round matchup, but there’s no guaranteeing they’ll reach it, especially against an elite defense. At this point in the season, the Cavs should really know what they have, but it still doesn’t feel like it.

4. Detroit Pistons

The first-round was shaping up to be a disaster for the Pistons as they trailed the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic 3-1 before Franz Wagner injured his calf. That injury proved to be a turning point, and Detroit survived to set up their second-round matchup with the Cavs. Detroit was expected to have problems scoring in the halfcourt entering the postseason to some degree, and the struggle was real against an impressive Magic defense. Cleveland will pose different challenges, but the Pistons’ success still begins and ends with Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 overall pick isn’t the most efficient scorer and he continues to have some turnover problems, but he’s a battering ram lead guard who can handle heavy usage while also contributing to an elite defense. Jalen Duren badly needs to roar back to form after a terrible first-round series, and it will be interesting to see if the Cavs can take away his rolls to the rim like Cleveland did. Detroit should feel very fortunate to still be playing, but Cleveland is a winnable matchup.

3. New York Knicks

It might have taken the Knicks six games to eliminate the Atlanta Hawks in round one, but they still won the series by an unfathomable 105 points in the aggregate. New York showed what this team can look like when its firing on all cylinders, with Jalen Brunson’s deadly 1-on-1 scoring, Karl-Anthony Towns’ versatile offensive skill set, and OG Anunoby’s lockdown wing defense and efficient scoring forming a strong foundation for a contender. Can the Knicks’ role players step up around them? This feels like it will be a key series for both Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride, with Robinson needing to help limit Joel Embiid’s scoring and McBride balancing lineups with more shooting and likely drawing the assignment on Tyrese Maxey for stretches. The East is almost setting up a little too well for the Knicks. This season has been a Finals-or-bust from the start, and with the Celtics out of the way, New York is the clear favorite in the conference.

2. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs saw their championship chances flash before their eyes when Victor Wembanyama banged his head on the floor during Game 2 of their first-round series against the Blazers. Somehow, he only missed one game with a concussion, and the Spurs looked dominant with him with a +13.3 on/off net-rating for the series. Wembanyama is a one-man wrecking crew, but the Spurs’ role players are also stepping up at the right time. Julian Champagnie ripped 62 percent of his threes against Portland, and will be a key shooter going forward. Rookie guard Dylan Harper took over Game 3, and showed why he’s a future All-Star in this league. Luke Kornet is rock solid as a backup center, and the Celtics have to be regretting letting him walk right now. De’Aaron Fox also looked more assertive when Wemby was in a more limited role in his return from the head injury, and that’s a great sign going forward for San Antonio. The reality is that the Spurs are a viable threat to win it all as long as Wembanyama is upright. The playoffs are setting up for an epic series in the Western Conference Finals vs. the Thunder.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending champs were the only team that made it look easy in the first-round, and their reward for a sweep against the Suns was an eight-day break before facing the Lakers. The Thunder still felt the carnage of the playoffs with Jalen Williams suffering a hamstring strain that puts his availability in question going forward, but OKC essentially played without him all year, and remains the favorites even if he can’t go. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sensational in round one by scoring 33.8 points per game on 67.8 percent true shooting, and he’s set up for another huge series against a Lakers team without a natural defensive matchup for him. OKC’s defense is set up to thrive against the Lakers, too. It finished No. 1 in efficiency in both the regular season and playoffs on the way to a championship last season, and that might happen again this year after being a hair better during the 82-game marathon this season. The Thunder’s formula for success of SGA + an elite defense is so sustainable even without Williams. It shouldn’t matter if Luka Doncic returns for this series. The Thunder will roll either way.

Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter, and the Orlando Magic are out of the playoffs with a 116-94 loss to Trajan Langdon’s Detroit Pistons.

Banchero didn’t go down easy though: he put up 38 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, and passed out 6 assists. For his part, Carter had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and the Toronto Raptors lost Game 7 to Tyrese Proctor and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Barrett finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ingram was out with a heel injury, while Proctor got a DNP.

On Monday, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs will open the series with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Paolo Banchero has brutally honest take after blowing 3-1 lead to Pistons
• Highlights From Paolo Banchero 38-Point Game
• Paolo Banchero Voices Frustrations As Magic Suffer Third Consecutive First-Round Exit
• A heartbroken Paolo Banchero shared the blunt truth about Magic after Game 7 loss
• Paolo Banchero: ‘Losing in the first round is not acceptable, that should be the attitude’
• Pistons fans chant ‘Angel Reese’ at Wendell Carter Jr. during Game 7 blowout win over Orlando Magic
• Pistons fans roast Wendell Carter Jr. with Angel Reese chant as Detroit, Jalen Duren advance to second round
• “Angel Reese ain’t posting him anymore”, “He about to be single again” – NBA Fans Mock Wendell Carter Jr For Nightmare Outing in Magic Loss to Pistons
• Injuries and a brutal third quarter end the Raptors’ playoff return in Game 7 loss
• Raptors’ RJ Barrett shuts down Scottie Barnes doubters with bold statement
• RJ Barrett’s powerful message about Raptors after taking Cavs to Game 7
• RJ Barrett gets it done on both sides of the ball

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The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs is set to tip off, and a huge injury is looming over the Timberwolves-Spurs series.

Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has been dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise that he suffered in Game 4 of the first round, missing the final two games of that series against the Nuggets.

Despite that, and the ruptured Achilles tendon injury Donte DiVincenzo suffered, also in Game 4, the Timberwolves closed out Denver in six games.

Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Edwards’ injury status headed into Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs:

Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight vs. Spurs?

It’s still unclear, but the Timberwolves did get some significantly positive updates ahead of the game.

On Sunday, May 3, the Timberwolves announced that Edwards had been cleared for on-court basketball activities and indicated that Edwards would be listed as questionable on the injury report for Game 1 against the Spurs.

And when that first injury report was published, Minnesota indeed had listed him as questionable.

Still, that doesn’t mean that Edwards will play Monday night, and he presumably still needs to clear several hurdles to be activated. And, even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.

If Edwards misses only two games with the issue, it will be a remarkably quick recovery for this type of injury.

On Dec. 29, Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokić similarly sustained a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise in a loss against the Miami Heat. To recover from that injury, Jokić missed 16 games, which covered the span of a month.

Anthony Edwards injury

The injury ocurred with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.

Athletic trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.

The trainers helped him toward the tunnel, though they didn’t immediately usher Edwards to the locker room, momentarily examining him in the tunnel.

Anthony Edwards stats

In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.

In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Edwards injury update: T-wolves stars' availability vs. Spurs

In the 1960’s, there were three great teams in the NBA: the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, and whoever Wilt Chamberlain was playing for at the time.

The Celtics were built around Bill Russell, while the Lakers were crafted around Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

The Lakers never won a championship during Russell’s time in Boston, and this haunted West for life. Even after establishing himself as Boston’s Red Auerbach’s equal as a GM, he could not step foot in Boston Garden. In the new Prime documentary about him, Jerry West: The Logo, West reveals that he was going to go to a game at Boston with his son, but he was physically incapable of doing it.

In the 60s, as you’ll see here, West and Baylor were a great combo, but they could not typically overcome Chamberlain’s sheer size and athleticism.

Well, no one could. Russell could manage him, but he could not control him. He took a little away here, a bit there, and his teammates were typically superior, but overcome Chamberlain?

It was not possible.

In 1968, Chamberlain requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, and ended up with Baylor, West, and the Lakers.

The Celtics were aging, and people generally thought they were ready to fall. But Russell wasn’t ready to let go, and he won his 11th and final championship.

West and the Lakers would finally win one in 1972, but Baylor would retire early in the season. Almost as soon as he did, L.A. went on an epic 33-game win streak and were basically unbeatable.

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It took three Game 7s and three series that ended in six, but the first round of the NBA playoffs have wrapped up, which means the conference semifinals are already upon us.

In the East, the No. 3 New York Knicks are taking on the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers while the top-seeded Detroit Pistons will face the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Out West, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the only team to win their first-round series in a sweep, will battle the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers as All-Star guard Luka Dončić continues to mend from his hamstring injury. In the other series, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs will face another squad dealing with injury issues, the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards dealing with his left knee bone bruise.

Here’s a look at each conference semifinal series, with a prediction for each:

Eastern Conference

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

This 76ers team is not only peaking at the right moment, they actually look like legitimate threats. As long as Joel Embiid is playing the way he has since returning from his appendectomy, Philadelphia will have an argument. Embiid’s size and scoring ability makes him a nightmare to defend. It also stresses Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and demands a big series from backup center Mitchell Robinson.

For as good as Philadelphia has been, however, New York has been even better. After the Knicks went down 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks used Towns as the anchor of their offense. OG Anunoby had a massive series, and New York’s trio of Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges make their defense versatile and tough to crack.

The pick: Knicks in 7

No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit, frankly, didn’t play its best series and had a few limitations exposed in its seven-game series against the Orlando Magic. For one, the Pistons struggle when their outside shots don’t drop. For another, it became clear that All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham needs more help; as the playoffs continue, he alone cannot carry Detroit. And, finally, the Pistons will need more from their other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, who struggled to impact games early in the series.

Many of the same issues above could be said about the Cavaliers, who also needed seven games to dispatch their first-round opponent, the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland struggled with turnovers for much of the series, and Donovan Mitchell had good games, but not great ones. Cleveland will need him to be stellar, especially if Mitchell is to upend the narrative that he can’t go deep in the postseason.

The pick: Pistons in 6

Western Conference

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

This might be the toughest series to project, simply because it’s unclear how much Anthony Edwards will be available with his left knee bone bruise. The Timberwolves did announce that Edwards was cleared for on-court basketball activities, so the news is positive on that front. If Edwards isn’t able to play, however, it will be tough sledding for Minnesota, even though its defense was exceptional against the Nuggets and even though role players like Jaden McDaniels stepped up in a big way.

Either way, this series will depend on the matchup between the two countrymen, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Gobert was superb against Denver Nuggets all-world center Nikola Jokić, and he’ll need to be even better against Wembanyama. Protecting the paint is essential, and San Antonio’s speed in the backcourt will be tough to navigate. One other element to watch here is San Antonio’s relative inexperience in the playoffs. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have made consecutive conference finals appearances.

The pick: Timberwolves in 7

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers

The issue for the Lakers is the ongoing absence of All-Star guard Luka Dončić. Without him, LeBron James had to take on a massive role against the Houston Rockets. And, despite his age, he delivered. The Lakers did stumble in the middle of the Houston series, so finding ways to keep James fresh will be crucial. The return of Austin Reaves was big, and Lakers role players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura played some of their best hoops of the year in the first round.

But, the tough part for the Lakers is that they’re running into an absolute buzzsaw in the Thunder. The only team to sweep in the first round, Oklahoma City is poised, focus and now has the understanding of what it takes to win a title. The Thunder are deep, explosive and play some of the most aggressive on-ball defense in the NBA. They’re balanced and have role players that would be stars on other teams.

The pick: Thunder in 5

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs conference semifinals predictions

The 2026 men's basketball transfer portal has been full of swings and misses for high-major programs.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope was seen in recent days at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Israel on an apparent recruiting trip. First-year LSU coach Will Wade, who has one player on his roster for next season — former Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate — is also reportedly in Europe as he looks to fill out the Tigers' roster.

The Wildcats landed a pair of top-ranked lead guards in Zoom Diallo from Washington and Alex Wilkins from Furman, although questions have been raised of how the backcourt will fit together. Wilkins, a true freshman last season, averaged 17.8 points with 4.7 assists per game, but also was one of the least-efficient guards nationally, averaging 3.8 turnovers per contest. The two similar players aren't the best of shooters, either.

Who has best haul so far? College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Under-the-radar transfers: When the stars are gone, the smart portal moves matter most

Both programs are likely holding out hope for Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, the No. 3 overall player of the transfer portal this offseason, per USA TODAY Sports' rankings. The Louisiana native's older brother, Marshall Graves, played four seasons at LSU under Wade during Wade's first stint with the program.

While the teams on the list have made some intriguing moves and aren't done filling their rosters, they perhaps have more question marks than normal, given some of their positions on college basketball's totem pole.

Here's a look at the high-end programs with the worst transfer portal hauls so far:

Kentucky

Kentucky lost out on the Tyran Stokes sweepstakes, which likely put a dent in its portal plans. Still, it's hard to overlook the Wildcats' apparent shortcomings as one of the most successful programs in the sport's history.

Kentucky was also unable to land BYU guard Rob Wright III, who withdrew from the portal to stay with the Cougars, and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, who picked St. John's.

After landing its awkward-fitting backcourt duo of Diallo and Wilkins, Kentucky and Pope also grabbed a commitment from Ousmane N'Diaye, a 22-year-old Senegalese forward that was playing in the highest tier of professional basketball in Italy. Kentucky also grabbed James Madison transfer Justin McBride, a four-time transfer who averaged 15.9 points per game last season.

Mark Pope’s bluegrass honeymoon is over: Kentucky paid for a Final Four. Not this.

Opinion: Mark Pope, stop comparing yourself to John Calipari — or wind up like Hubert Davis

Kentucky has a chance at putting its roster questions to bed, though, if it can lure Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou. However, the former five-star prospect is reportedly considering staying in the NBA Draft after declaring. As a true freshman, he averaged 17.8 points with 5.9 rebounds per game last season.

To make matters worse, all seven of Kentucky's transfers landed at Power Five programs, with three of them staying in the SEC. While the Wildcats grabbed some intriguing players, their roster makeup certainly has some question marks and definitely wasn't their preferred outcome.

• Transfers in: Zoom Diallo (Washington), Alex Wilkins (Furman), Justin McBride (James Madison), Jerone Morton (Washington State).
• Transfers out: Collin Chandler (BYU), Andrija Jelavic (Ohio State), Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Mouhamed Dioubate (LSU), Brandon Garrison (Alabama), Jasper Johnson (Oregon), Jaland Lowe (Georgetown).
• Returners: Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Trent Noah

LSU

LSU has one player on its roster as of May 3.

While it hasn't been ideal by any measure, the Tigers still have a few options: International recruiting, plucking a G Leaguer, convince the few uncommitted portal players or maybe even a late high school addition.

Former NC State guard Paul McNeil Jr., who played under Wade last season, could end up with the Tigers. So could Graves, who has connections to the program. But cutting it this close doesn't give much room for error, especially with Dioubate not being a go-to scoring option by any means.

Opinion: A scoundrel returns: Will Wade's LSU comeback makes perfect sense

Maybe LSU has an underlying plan that isn't immediately understood by the fan base. But the clock is ticking.

• Transfers in: Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky)
• Transfers out: Jalen Reece (Texas A&M), Robert Miller III, Marcus Vaughns (Arizona State), Mazi Mosley (Loyola Marymount), Mike Nwoko (Xavier), Mat Gilhool (Kansas State), Jalen Reed (Michigan), Ron Zipper, Dedan Thomas Jr. (Houston)
• Returners: None

Kansas

Kansas' gamble on waiting out Stokes' decision worked out, as it landed the No. 1-ranked player out of high school who will instantly be the team's go-to scorer next season. The addition still wasn't enough to overcome some of the Jayhawks' offseason blunders, though.

Kansas lost a pair of high-end big men in Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller, who went to Louisville and Missouri, respectively. It replaced Bidunga with College of Charleston transfer Christian Reeves, a clear step down from USA TODAY Sports' No. 2-ranked portal player.

Kansas also grabbed Utah transfer Keanu Dawes, a solid Big 12 pickup who averaged 12.5 points with 8.8 rebounds last season, and Toledo transfer Leroy Blyden Jr., who averaged 16.4 points with four rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 2025-26 as a true freshman in the MAC, one of the weakest non-Power Four conferences in college basketball.

The Jayhawks did, however, also sign five-star high schooler Taylen Kinney, along with three other top-150 ranked recruits. Still, they have no full-time returning starters from last season, with their top returner being Kohl Rosario, who averaged 3.4 points per game. Kansas already tried putting all its eggs in one basket last season with five-star phenom Darryn Peterson, which resulted in a second-round exit at the NCAA Tournament.

Maybe the Jayhawks will have more luck this time around?

• Transfers in: Christian Reeves (College of Charleston), Leroy Blyden Jr. (Toledo), Keanu Dawes (Utah).
• Transfers out: Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Bryson Tiller (Missouri), Elmarko Jackson (Georgetown), Jamari McDowell (Wake Forest), Samis Calderon (Butler), Jayden Dawson, Corbin Allen (Appalachian State).
• Returners: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya

Notre Dame

Micah Shrewsberry has a 41-56 record in three seasons at Notre Dame, and has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament, or any other postseason competition for that matter.

The transfer portal hasn't been kind for Shrewsberry and the Fighting Irish, as they lost their two best players in Markus Burton (Indiana) and Jalen Haralson (Tennessee). Sophomore guard Cole Certa, Notre Dame's third-leading scorer in 2025-26, left for Clemson.

It also doesn't look great that Notre Dame's only returning starter from last season is Braeden Shrewsberry, the son of its head coach.

Notre Dame added part-time starting guard Braeden Smith from Gonzaga, center Logan Duncomb from Winthrop and sharpshooting guard Ethan Roberts from Penn, although the roster's talent as of now appears to be far off last season's squad, which wasn't a good team either.

• Transfers in: Bryce Dortch (Rutgers), Braeden Smith (Gonzaga), Devin Brown (Davidson), Logan Duncomb (Winthrop), Ethan Roberts (Penn).
• Transfers out: Kebba Njie, Cole Certa (Clemson), Markus Burton (Indiana), Jalen Haralson (Tennessee), Ryder Frost (George Washington), Garrett Sundra (James Madison), Sir Mohammed.
• Returners: Braeden Shrewsberry, Brady Koehler, Logan Imes

TCU

TCU won nine of its last 11 games to end the regular season before taking down Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It also gave Duke a scare in the first half before falling apart in the second half of the second round.

The Horned Frogs were set to return four starters in 2026-27, including star forward David Punch, making them one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12. However, Punch entered the portal and left for Texas, and TCU has struggled to add to its returning group.

TCU has landed a pair of transfers in West Virginia's DJ Thomas and Long Beach State's Gavin Sykes. The true freshmen were solid last season, as Thomas averaged 6.6 points per game off the bench, while Sykes was one of the best scorers in the Big West at 19.4 points per game, although he'll have to prove his ability at a much higher level in the Big 12.

TCU also lost part-time starter Liutauras Lelevicius to Clemson and rising bench contributors Kayden Edwards to Creighton, RJ Jones to Washington State and Jace Posey, turning an intriguing team for next season into one with a much lower ceiling.

• Transfers in: DJ Thomas (West Virginia), Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State)
• Transfers out: Malick Diallo (Loyola Chicago), David Punch (Texas), Liutauras Lelevicius (Clemson), Ashton Simmons, Kayden Edwards (Creighton), Jace Posey, RJ Jones (Washington State).
• Returners: Xavier Edmonds, Micah Robinson, Brock Harding, Tanner Toolson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky basketball, Kansas, LSU among transfer portal biggest losers

CLEVELAND — Reputations don’t change overnight, especially ones built through years of playoff failures.

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t alter how they were perceived with a gutsy 114-102 Game 7 win over the Toronto Raptors. They did, however, show that they don’t have to be defined by previous postseason letdowns.

Jarrett Allen was the exact opposite of the caricature he’s been made out to be. He was the toughest player on the court on Sunday with the way he thoroughly dominated the paint on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, Allen made it impossible for Toronto to finish inside.

He cut off both passing and driving lanes with his activity on defense, resulting in three blocks and two steals. Allen did this while grabbing 25% of missed shots himself when he was on the floor, translating to 19 rebounds.

This all added up to Cleveland having an impressive 101.4 defensive rating with him playing.

That impact carried to the other end of the floor as well.

Allen played with a forcefulness that Toronto couldn’t match. Every cut, screen, or drive to the hoop was made with an effort that we don’t always see from Allen, but when he has few can stop.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson saw a game like this coming with the way Allen looked in pregame intros.

“He was flying around,” Atkinson said. “Normally, he’s enthusiastic, but it was like, ‘Man, what got into this guy?’ But he was ready for the moment.”

Allen’s game is momentum-based. When he starts to see a few go through, his energy and effort continue to rise. That’s what we saw, especially in the third quarter. He finished the evening with 22 points on 7-8 shooting in the restricted area with eight huge offensive rebounds.

There was a simple message still written on the Cavs’ whiteboard after Game 7: “Win the possession game again!” Underneath that was a box with +9 in it, signaling how much they won that category.

The guards did a good job of limiting turnovers, but the real difference maker was Allen’s offensive rebounding.

Allen’s lowest playoff moment came when he couldn’t keep Mitchell Robinson and the New York Knicks off the glass three years ago. That was one of the many reasons Cleveland lost that first-round series so convincingly. It’s also where Allen made the infamous reference to the lights being “brighter than expected.”

This game was the exact opposite.

Allen wasn’t the one getting pushed off his spots; he was the one moving defenders out of the way and breaking their spirit in the second half.

This one game doesn’t change who Allen is moving forward. In basketball and in life, you continually need to confront and overcome the same problems.

Allen conquering his previous challenges is emblematic of the team as a whole.

In this series, the Cavs repeatedly showed that they can meet the moment. RJ Barrett’s game-winning three in Game 6 that hung in the air for eternity before falling through might’ve broken previous versions of this team. It didn’t for this one.

Every time they had a chance to collapse after a bad break, they picked themselves back up and continued fighting. That’s something that we haven’t consistently seen before and will help them in the postseason.

“I’m proud of our group,” Max Strus said after an impressive game of his own.

“Overcoming adversity, losing, coming back from it, showing some toughness, showing some character, showing some resilience. I think it’s going to be awesome for us to go through that. Now that we’ve gone through it, we know what it takes to get over the hump. I think it’ll be better for us in the next rounds.”

That is undeniably true.

However, it’s also true that the Cavs proved their loudest critics right on multiple occasions over the last two weeks. Mental mistakes, such as struggling to get the ball over half court late in games, cost them both Game 4 and Game 6. Championship-level teams can’t afford to give away road games, especially not two in similar ways.

The Cavs are both the team that showed they don’t have to be defined by their postseason failures, and that what has led to them can pop up at any moment. The first option wasn’t there for previous groups. That, more than anything, is reason to be optimistic if you want to be.

Talent has never been the problem with the Cavs.

The pieces are in place for a deep postseason run. The issue, both individually and as a collective, lies in rising to the occasion in the biggest moments.

Allen isn’t the only one who’s earned the reputation as a playoff failure. He’s on the same team as James Harden — the modern superstar most known for falling short in the clutch — and Donovan Mitchell — someone who hasn’t gotten out of the second round in his previous eight postseason attempts. Both will have to defeat their demons if this team is going to get over the hump.

Luckily for them, Allen provided the roadmap for doing so.

“I always feel like in this league, when you get a certain label, it always sticks with you no matter what,” Allen said. “No matter how hard you try to change it, it’s always going to follow you around. I think that if I…want to change the narrative that was placed on me…that’s going to weaken my strengths going forward and always try to weigh me back.

“I’ve always been the guy that always just moves forward. Things happen in the past that go my way, that don’t go my way. It’s just part of playing basketball, being at the professional level. [All I can do is] just be my best going forward.”

If Harden, Mitchell, and the rest of the team can continue following Allen’s example and just be their best going forward, then maybe this group can accomplish something meaningful.

What are we supposed to do now?

But seriously, after watching the Celtics collapse against the 76ers and seeing their season come to a crashing halt, it feels like something is missing from spring.

We’ve all devoted countless hours to watching this team play in May and June, and knowing that the journey is completely finished as of May 2 just doesn’t feel right.

In one sense, this team ultimately underachieved and fell short of its potential. In another, if you view it through a broader lens, the Celtics also overachieved and exceeded expectations from the start.

“When you start a season, you think you’re going to be playing until June every single year,” Sam Hauser told reporters. “That’s the expectation, especially being in Boston and with the Celtics — the standard is a championship, and when you fall short of that, it’s disappointing. But there’s a lot of good that we can take from this year and a lot of things that we can build off of.”

Asked Sam Hauser how he processes loss/disappointment on the heels of what was a great regular season:

“When you start a season, you think you're going to be playing until June every single year. That's the expectation, especially being in Boston and with the Celtics — the… pic.twitter.com/uiwRXa0Y3p

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) May 3, 2026

As you wake up in a somber daze, and solemnly stare out your window, I encourage you to view this season through both a glass-half full and glass-half-empty prism. I don’t think it’s accurate to say it was a complete success, and I also don’t think it’s fair to say it was a complete failure.

In that sense, it’s a very unique season and one unlike any other I can recall. The only one that comes close is the Isaiah Thomas masterpiece in 2017, but that one felt different as the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. This playoff run was over before it began. So, how can fans not be disappointed?

No, no, don’t get me wrong … You can absolutely be disappointed, but you should also be grateful. Back when the season began, many expected it would end somewhat like it eventually did. The Celtics would lose in the first round to a more-talented opponent and fade into the night as a middling team.

But, they didn’t do so as the 7-seed. They did so as the 2-seed, which makes it so much more difficult to digest.

Remember, they weren’t supposed to be here. In my opinion, these are the most gratifying seasons, where a team defies the odds and the whole becomes greater than the parts.

“This season, what the expectations were and how we came out and we rose to meet that level of uncertainty with this group,” Jaylen Brown told reporters. “There’s nothing more I could ask for. I had a great time with my teammates. We played hard. Feel like we left it all out there. Tonight, we came up short.”

Asked Jaylen Brown how he looks at failure and success, and whether anything short of a title feels like a failure:

“It's hard to reflect on it just right now, because it's so fresh from the moment. But, obviously this organization is used to playing later into the season. I… pic.twitter.com/q1l5UA5GI3

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) May 3, 2026

Brown took his game to the next level this season. Derrick White was a dominant force defensively. Payton Pritchard created even more for himself and others. Hauser evolved as a driver and defender. Neemias Queta was one of the most-improved players in the NBA. Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Hugo González and Jordan Walsh stayed ready and all made significant strides.

Oh yeah, and Jayson Tatum busted his butt and came back. He didn’t just come back. He was back. Back to his old ways, terrorizing opponents and making the game look easy. Then came another injury. Life isn’t always fair, but Tatum should be applauded for his resilience and determination. Full stop.

When you look closely at the roster, and compare it to Celtics teams of the past and other rosters around the NBA, it’s truly a remarkable feat that the Celtics secured the 2-seed. Joe Mazzulla and his staff deserve a great deal of credit for maximizing each player’s skills and pushing the right buttons throughout the regular season.

At the same time, this series exposed what is clearly a flawed roster with several holes. The Celtics need a versatile big who can defend, rebound and score at a high level. They need a wing who can give Brown and Tatum a breather and get buckets. They need a scrappy on-ball defender (it may be González, but he’s still learning) who can pester opponents and let them know he’s there.

While there are many layers to this series, when you break it down to its core, the deciding factor (besides Joel Embiid, of course) was that the Sixers felt way too comfortable in the games they won. There was no resistance. Where was Kevin Garnett, Marcus Smart or Jrue Holiday to channel that intensity the right way?

I admire the youth approach, and it’s quite amazing how much each player grew, but they need more defensive-minded veterans to complement that young talent.

Oh yeah, and there’s the 3-point shooting. I love 3-pointers more than anyone I know, so if I’m saying you’re shooting too many 3’s, you’re probably shooting too many 3’s. There’s nothing wrong with having it as your bread and butter, but you need to be able to diversify your offensive approach when the 3-ball isn’t falling.

Asked (a very visible disappointed) Payton Pritchard how he balances processing a 56-win season with this outcome:

“Just because you don't win a championship one year doesn't mean it didn't build for the next championship. So, when we won Banner 18, four years before that, we… pic.twitter.com/Ow3sxKhSfw

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) May 3, 2026

This will be an interesting offseason, and I expect the team to look different moving forward. I don’t think this is the end of the Tatum and Brown era, but otherwise, nothing would surprise me.

As you digest this season, and analyze what went wrong with a glass-half-empty mind-set, this is your friendly reminder to also look at the glass half full. It was one hell of a ride. Be grateful it happened. For now, maybe read a book, get outside, spend time with your family.

The Celtics will be back. They’ll learn from this, and next time, they’ll be ready to shatter the glass to smithereens.

Pritchard summed it up perfectly while speaking with reporters Saturday night.

“Just because you don’t win a championship one year doesn’t mean it didn’t build for the next championship.”

Occam’s razor is attributed to a 14th-century friar named William of Ockham. He doesn’t seem to be widely remembered for much else. The simplest explanation is: his idea that the explanation with the fewest elements is probably the most logical one was by far his best work.

The Houston Rockets had a disappointing 2025-26 season. It culminated in a disappointing first-round exit. Now, it’s time for explanations, diagnoses, and plans.

Here, the focus is on the playoff exit. There’s minimal value in considering plans that will bolster the team’s regular-season record if they aren’t playoff viable. So, why did the Rockets lose to a Lakers team that was without Luka Doncic and largely without Austin Reaves?

There are likely multiple Occam-friendly explanations, which may disqualify the razor from being applied. Firstly, and most obviously, the Rockets were without Kevin Durant. That’s a sound explanation, but it’s not very satisfactory. With Doncic and Reaves (mostly) sidelined, the Rockets’ young core should have taken care of business.

So, the task becomes explaining why they couldn’t. Here’s where the razor cuts:

Having two non-shooters in the same starting lineup is likely the primary culprit.

People don’t like that explanation. They’d prefer to believe there are multiple ways to build an NBA contender. It’s a reaction to the NBA’s optimization movement. It’s disheartening to think that team-building concepts are so rigid.

Here’s the issue: Everyone else is optimizing. The only other would-be contender to feature two non-shooters in the starting lineup would be the Detroit Pistons. As of this writing, they’re due to face the eighth seed in the weaker conference in a do-or-die Game Seven in seven hours.

So it’s not going well for them either (Editor’s note: The Pistons won last night, but doesn’t take away from James’ point).

Otherwise, go look at the playoff bracket. Every other serious team’s starting lineup features four, if not five, players whose three-point attempts must be defended. This is reality. The Lakers predictably packed the paint, and that’s the primary reason why the Rockets lost. When the paint isn’t available, it’s easier for defenses to guard the entire floor.

So what’s the solution?

Rockets have to explore three options

Let’s start with one option that shouldn’t be an option (even if it’s the most probable course of action):

Running it back.

Rafael Stone: Please. You cannot run this back. This is not a team that’s a Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams away from accomplishing anything substantial. Even adding a Tim Hardaway Jr. or a Gary Trent Jr. or a (wait, why are you throwing a tomato) Luke Kennard won’t be enough to move the needle.

Why? The explanation is, thematically enough, simple. The Rockets will still be starting two non-shooters. That’s still going to be tremendously easy to exploit in the playoffs. Adding bench shooters would allow them to stagger Sengun and Thompson, but if they can’t both be on the floor when the stakes are high, the problem persists. The Rockets will be choosing between keeping their best playmaker and best defender on the floor.

Put differently: It’s not just about shooting, it’s about spacing. You could surround Sengun and Thompson with the best shooting trio that could be assembled. Thompson’s defender will still sag off of him to put an extra man in the paint, which will result in the same problem.

That leaves two obvious options (spoiler: There’s a third): Trade Sengun, or trade Thompson. Full disclosure: I lean towards moving Sengun.

*I dug my own grave on this, but I can no longer say anything about Alperen Sengun other than “Nikola Who?” without becoming painfully self-conscious. Yet, when I was telling whoever would listen that a non-shooting, non-defending big man was a tough sell in 2024, I was a pariah. Now, the notion of moving Sengun is much more fashionable. I’ll credit myself for being early and move on.

This is less about Sengun himself and more about roster construction and market scarcity. Sengun is Houston’s primary playmaker. It’s more feasible to find a better primary playmaker than it is to find a better defensive wing than Amen Thompson. Thompson’s skillset is rarer, and that’s one of two reasons why I’d lean towards keeping him between the two.

The other reason? Sorry, but Sengun hasn’t hit 60% True Shooting yet in his career (yes, he hit 59.9% in 2023-24, but 60% isn’t even an especially high bar, and that’s one season). You can blame spacing, but Sengun had ample one-on-one opportunities with Deandre “Don’t call me Gobert” Ayton in this year’s series. When he doesn’t have a strength advantage, he has a tremendously difficult time scoring, and that has nothing to do with spacing. There is a legitimate concern that Sengun just doesn’t have great touch.

If the Rockets go this route, they don’t need to push chips in for a superstar. It could be wiser to retool. Trading Sengun for a lesser five who’s a better stylistic fit with the rest of the roster and future assets could put the Rockets in a better overall position.

That could mean a stretch five. Could Myles Turner and two first-round picks be had in a multi-team deal? Bobby Portis and picks? A non-Buck and picks?

Yet, it doesn’t have to be a stretch five. A lower usage big man with defensive value who can comfortably be benched could work. What about Yves Missi and two unprotected future firsts? In that permutation, you’re relying on Jabari Smith Jr. at the 5 minutes to be viable.

And yes, you could just flip Sengun and a bunch of other stuff for Giannis Antetokounmpo. You’re still running two non-shooters, and almost certainly not winning a title, and totally berift of assets, but…yeah, you could.

Alternatively, you could build a high-octane offense and live with the defensive shortcomings by pairing Sengun and Kevin Durant with a third star – but it has to be the right star. It can’t be a paint merchant, or even a midrange maestro. This player would need to be a high-volume three-point shooter.

Who might be available? Jaylen Brown feels like an obvious candidate given his ties to Udoka, but he’s one of those players whose reputation as a three-point shooter doesn’t quite align with reality. Donovan Mitchell is a thought, but pairing him with Fred VanVleet (and if he’s not in the deal, Reed Sheppard) makes for two small guards in a defense that’s still anchored by Sengun. No bueno.

We don’t need to identify the specific star. The simpler point is that if the Rockets want to test the theory that Sengun would thrive with better spacing, they’d need to bring in a third star who’s a significant three-point threat. Even if Sengun’s scoring efficiency never improves, his passing processing would surely improve with three-point threats around him.

So, those are the obvious routes. There is a third one:

But it almost certainly won’t happen.

Rockets could trade Kevin Durant

A starting lineup featuring two non-shooters isn’t championship viable in 2026.

If you don’t have championship aspirations, that’s a moot point.

Why did the Rockets acquire Durant? Was it to make a championship push? Or, was it to get off Jalen Green expeditiously and bring in a veteran who, at least in basketball terms, should elevate the rest of the core?

If it’s the latter, there should be no qualms about moving the guy with the burner accounts. If the Rockets could flip Durant for complementary players (ie, shooters) and a future first, they’d buy themselves some time. Time to build around the sneaky superstar they grab in the 2027 or 2029 draft.

Time to see if one of Sengun or Thompson makes a shooting leap. Time for Anthony Edwards to shake loose to pair with Sengun.

I love this option, but it’s likely a tough sell for ownership. That’s why it’s being treated as an addendum here. Assuming that it’s not an option, the Rockets should move one of their non-shooting starters this summer:

It’s the simplest solution.

After a convincing 3-1 defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers in round one, the San Antonio Spurs will face a familiar foe in the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves are red hot, coming off a 3-2 victory over the Denver Nuggets, despite missing several key rotation players. The series is set to be a defensive, physical battle that will test the young Spurs and give the Wolves a chance to reach their third straight Western Conference Finals.

The Timbewolves enter the series as underdogs, with multiple players on the injury report. Anthony Edwards’ status is the most interesting of the series as a whole. Edwards has been cleared for on-court opportunities after suffering a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise against Denver. He is listed as questionable for Game 1. Donte DiVincenzo will miss the series after tearing his Achilles tendon in round one. Ayo Dosunmu, who dominated the Nuggets in the first round, is listed as questionable with calf soreness.

The Spurs come into the series with a full bill of health, but they struggled against Minnesota in the regular season. The Wolves took the regular season series between these two teams 2-1. Two of the three games were settled by 3 points or fewer, and the teams never played each other at full strength. It’s hard to take much from the regular season, other than the fact that these are two top-ten defenses, with superstar shotmakers in Victor Wembanyama and Edwards.

The Timberwolves are undefeated at home in the playoffs, which makes home-court advantage crucial for the Spurs. Winning two games at home will put them in a good position to take the series. It all starts with setting the tone in game one, with the chance to make the WCF for the first time since 2017.

San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)

May 4th, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT

Watch: Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Carter Bryant – Questionable (foot)

Timberwolves Injuries: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles), Ayo Dosunmu – Questionable (calf), Anthony Edwards – Questionable (knee)

What to watch for:

Minnesota’s Offense

If Edwards and Dosunmu sit, the key question for Minnesota becomes, where do they get offense from? Against Denver, it came from Jaden McDaniels, who is emerging as a star in these playoffs. McDaniels is averaging 17.8 points per game on 49.4% shooting from the field in the playoffs. He’s been a force getting to the rim, but is shooting just 11.1% from deep. The Wolves have also gotten solid production from Naz Reid and Terrance Shannon Jr. without Edwards.

Denver and San Antonio are two very different defensive teams. The Spurs have been excellent at funneling drivers toward Wembanyama, who has dominated around the rim this postseason. Stephon Castle will have a major challenge in front of him in guarding the Wolves’ best perimeter player, whether it’s Edwards or someone else. If San Antonio’s defense can slow down a surging Minnesota offense attack, they should be in a good position for Game One.

Defensive matchups

Portland showed the league what the blueprint for guarding the Spurs could be in the postseason. They put a big man on Castle, a wing on Wembanyama, and their best perimeter defender on De’Aaron Fox. Ultimately, the Blazers didn’t have the personnel to match up with San Antonio, but the Timberwolves have enough talent to make it interesting.

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch could elect to put former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert on Castle, allowing him to roam the paint as an elite rim protector. Then he could put Julius Randle on Wembanyama. That matchup gave Wembanyama some issues in the regular season, as Randle could get under him and play physical defense. Then, McDaniels, the best perimeter defender, could take the Fox assignment.

Or, Finch could ride the hot hand and just put Gobert on Wembanyama. The Wolves’ center played great defense on Nikola Jokic in round one. That could give Minnesota the confidence to let Gobert handle Wembanyama, even if San Antonio’s star big man has historically dominated that matchup.

Spurs three-guard lineup

San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson has been hesitant to play his three best guards together this season and in the playoffs. Fox, Castle, and Dylan Harper only logged 10 minutes together in Round One, with a neutral net-rating. In the regular season, the trio played 25 minutes together with a -26.9 net rating. If that doesn’t sound good, it’s because it isn’t. However, this lineup could come in handy against Minnesota.

The Wolves don’t have a lot of strong ball-handlers themselves, and could be bothered by the Spurs’ tough guards on the perimeter. Then, on the other end, the Wolves would need to contest with multiple players who can create their own shots and open up looks for others. If Castle and Harper continue to knock down threes, this is a lineup that could swing the series.

Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Pistons -3; over/under is 213.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Pistons host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers to begin the Eastern Conference second round. Detroit and Cleveland tied the regular season series 2-2. The Cavaliers won the last regular season matchup 113-109 on Wednesday, March 4 led by 22 points from Jaylon Tyson, while Jalen Duren scored 24 points for the Pistons.

The Pistons are 12-4 against opponents in the Central Division. Detroit is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 57.9 points in the paint led by Duren averaging 14.6.

The Cavaliers are 11-5 against Central Division teams. Cleveland is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 32.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Evan Mobley averaging 6.6.

The Pistons make 48.5% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Cavaliers have allowed to their opponents (46.4%). The Cavaliers score 9.9 more points per game (119.5) than the Pistons allow (109.6).

TOP PERFORMERS: Cade Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris is averaging 19.3 points over the last 10 games.

Donovan Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 110.5 points, 47.2 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 9.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.

Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 113.7 points, 45.3 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.8 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (adductor).

Cavaliers: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Thunder -16; over/under is 213.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Thunder host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers to open the Western Conference second round. Oklahoma City went 4-0 against Los Angeles during the regular season. The Thunder won the last regular season matchup 123-87 on Wednesday, April 8 led by 25 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Rui Hachimura scored 15 points for the Lakers.

The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City averages 119.0 points and has outscored opponents by 11.1 points per game.

The Lakers are 33-19 in conference play. Los Angeles ranks sixth in the Western Conference scoring 52.0 points per game in the paint led by LeBron James averaging 11.1.

The Thunder score 119.0 points per game, 4.4 more points than the 114.6 the Lakers allow. The Lakers score 8.4 more points per game (116.3) than the Thunder give up (107.9).

TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is averaging 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over the past 10 games.

Austin Reaves is averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists for the Lakers. James is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 123.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points per game.

Lakers: 7-3, averaging 104.5 points, 40.4 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 9.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Detroit Pistons fought back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Orlando Magic in the NBA play-offs and advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The Pistons won the final match of their best-of-seven series 116-94, their first play-off series win since 2008.

They are the 15th team in NBA history to come back from 3-1 down, and the second in the space of two days after the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics.

Cade Cunningham top-scored for the Pistons with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points.

"We had a great regular season, we built a lot of momentum going into these play-offs," said Cunningham.

"To lose in the first round would have really stung. To come back from 3-1, odds against us, and to come back and win it at home - it feels good."

The Pistons will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semi-finals, another best-of-seven series starting on 5 May.

The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors to book their place in the second round with a 114-102 victory.

Jarrett Allen starred for the Cavaliers with 22 points and 19 rebounds as they recovered from a 10-point deficit after the first quarter.

The scores were tied 49-49 at the halfway mark but the Cavaliers surged ahead in the third quarter with Allen contributing 14 points and 10 of his rebounds.

"I just wanted to show my team-mates that we can win this game," said Allen.

"Energy and effort, that's what I believe wins games. Every single possession, it means a lot. Every single possession means it could be the end of the season."

Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and James Harden scored 18.

For the Raptors, who were in the play-offs for the first time since 2022, Scottie Barnes had 24 points and nine rebounds while RJ Barrett scored 23.