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Landry Shamet's message to Knicks fans after Game 5 win over Pacers: 'We got more to do'

The Knicks kept their season alive by beating the Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals as stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns led the way to force a Game 6 on Saturday back in Indiana.

While the duo combined for 56 points on 22-for-38 shooting and got plenty of cheers from The Garden crowd, guard Landry Shamet also heard his name chanted by Knicks fans on Thursday night, including a standing ovation -- and deservingly so.

Shamet played 14 minutes in Game 5, the most he's played in a playoff game this year, and scored five points to go along with two assists and an offensive rebound. After the win, the 28-year-old gave his appreciation back to the New York fans for their support throughout the must-win game and all season long.

"I love New York. I love these fans. I've seen how they ride the wave with us, the highs, the lows," Shamet said. "It's just important for me to give everything I've got to them. I appreciate it. We got more to do."

He credited Brunson and Towns for carrying the team and setting the tone offensively, but his defense and energy off the bench pressured the Pacers guards and helped create a couple of turnovers. Overall, the Knicks forced a series-high 20 turnovers against the Pacers in the Game 5 win, as Shamet noted their awareness and energy all night long.

"I think just our intensity, our attention to detail, that's a sense of desperation which is what we needed," Shamet said. "And we're gonna have to go do it again. That was the biggest thing, just our energy. Our communication was great. Did a better job in transition. Still, some other things we got to clean up, we'll get to that tomorrow."

Shamet was asked if they could tell the Pacers were frustrated by the Knicks defense, but said that's not their job. Instead, the team will look to replicate their performance on Saturday in Game 6 to force a Game 7.

"I could sense a competitive game, there's waves like I said," Shamet said. "Our job is not really to pay too much attention to that. We just got to focus on us and do what we can do. We know they're a hard team to guard, play fast. If we take care of what we have to take care of, hopefully we see results like tonight."

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Brunson, Towns carry Knicks to 111-94 victory that cuts Pacers' series lead to 3-2

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds despite a bruised left knee and the New York Knicks stayed alive in the Eastern Conference finals by beating the Indiana Pacers 111-94 on Thursday night in Game 5.

The Knicks won on their home floor for the first time in the series and prevented the Pacers from earning the second NBA Finals trip in franchise history. Indiana will try again Saturday night at home.

Knicks fans chanted “Knicks in 7! Knicks in 7!” in the final minutes as New York extended its first trip to the conference finals since 2000 and kept alive hopes of becoming the 14th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a series. No team has won a conference finals series after dropping the first two games at home.

Two nights after giving up 43 points in the first quarter, the Knicks held the Pacers to just 45 in the first half and limited Tyrese Haliburton, who had 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds Tuesday, to just eight points and six assists.

Brunson, outplayed by his point guard counterpart Tuesday, rebounded with his franchise-record 20th postseason game of 30 or more points with the Knicks.

Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench for the Pacers, who had won six straight road games. Indiana shot just 40.5% from the field in by far its lowest-scoring game of the postseason.

Brunson scored 14 in the first quarter as the Knicks held a 27-23 lead - giving up 20 fewer points than in the first quarter of Game 4, when they trailed 43-35.

Towns, who was questionable to play after hurting his left knee in a collision late in Game 4, picked up the slack with 12 in the second, when Brunson was scoreless.

Brunson came back with the Knicks’ first eight of the third quarter as they opened a 20-point lead midway through the period. The Pacers cut that in half before New York regained control with a 12-0 burst, highlighted by Brunson’s four-point play, to make it 86-64.

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Defiant Knicks keep season alive with Game 5 win over Pacers in East finals

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) scores against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.Photograph: Adam Hunger/AP

The Madison Square Garden crowd had waited all week for a spark. On Thursday night, they got a firestorm. With their season dangling by a thread, the New York Knicks delivered a wire-to-wire 111–94 beatdown of the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, keeping their playoff hopes alive and forcing a Game 6 in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 13 rebounds – despite a bruised left knee that had left his status uncertain until shortly before tipoff – as the Knicks trimmed the Pacers’ lead to 3–2 in the best-of-seven-games series and gave their home fans something to believe in.

Related: Anthony Edwards is 23, far from a failure – and not the next LeBron just yet

“It was do or die,” Towns said. “Nothing was going to stop me from playing this game.”

Brunson, held in check during a blowout loss in Game 4, bounced back in familiar fashion. He dropped 14 points in the first quarter alone, finishing 12-of-18 from the field and adding four assists in his 21st career playoff game with 30 or more points, extending a Knicks franchise record he set last week.

“We were just able to get stops early and we would convert,” Brunson said. “We just found a way.”

New York never trailed, flipping the script after a week of frustration that had included two home losses, one unprecedented collapse and a series deficit that left them staring down elimination. But the Game 5 version of the Knicks looked far more like the team that had been among the class of the East all year: tough, urgent, together.

The defense set the tone early. After surrendering 43 points in the first quarter of Game 4, the Knicks gave up just 23 in the opening frame Thursday and held Indiana to 45 at the intermission. Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ star playmaker who had posted a 30-point triple-double two nights earlier, was held to just eight points on 2-of-7 shooting with six assists.

“He didn’t get the same looks,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Give their defense credit. They had a lot to do with that.”

Indiana’s other weapons couldn’t make up the difference. Bennedict Mathurin led the team with 23 points off the bench, but the Pacers as a whole struggled to find their rhythm. Game 2 hero Pascal Siakam had 15. Obi Toppin added 11. As a team, they shot just 40.5% from the field and coughed up 19 turnovers.

“We didn’t play with the level of force that we needed to,” Carlisle said. “To start the game, we didn’t have the right level of attitude necessary in this environment. It was a bad start.”

It was also the first time in these playoffs Indiana, who came in with a six-game road win streak, had been held under 100 points. After taking a 3-1 series lead on Tuesday’s behind Haliburton’s latest masterclass, the Pacers had looked like a team on the cusp of their second ever NBA finals appearance. But on Thursday, they looked rattled from the jump and New York took complete advantage.

Brunson keyed a 23–13 start in the first quarter, and when the Pacers briefly cut the deficit to four, the Knicks responded with a 14–2 second-quarter run to stretch their lead to 48–34. Towns, who scored 12 points in the period, helped New York take a 56–45 lead into half-time.

In the third, the Knicks poured it on. Brunson scored their first eight points of the quarter to build a 20-point cushion. Though Indiana briefly clawed back to within 10, a 12–0 New York run – capped by a Brunson four-point play and a Miles McBride jumper – restored order. By the time the fourth quarter began, the Knicks were up 90–73.

From there, the Garden crowd could begin to dream in full throat. Fans chanted “Knicks in seven! Knicks in seven!” as the home team closed the show, leading by as many as 20 and never letting Indiana seriously threaten down the stretch.

Josh Hart finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges added 11 and 12 points respectively. More than just scoring, though, it was the Knicks’ collective urgency and defensive cohesion that defined Game 5.

“We played to our standards,” Brunson said. “That’s what it’s going to take.”

With Thursday’s win, the Knicks extended their first trip to the conference finals since 2000 and moved one step closer to history. Only 13 teams in NBA history have overturned a 3–1 series deficit, with none having done it in a conference finals after losing the first two games at home.

Game 6 will be played Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers will have another chance to clinch their first NBA finals berth since 2000, when they bowed to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. But if the Knicks can replicate Thursday’s effort, they will bring it back to the Garden for a winner-take-all Game 7 that few would have imagined just days ago.

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Knicks stave off elimination with 111-94 win over Pacers in Game 5 of Eastern Conference Finals

The Knicks led from start to finish and by as many as 22 points, fighting off elimination in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a 111-94 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Jalen Brunson set the tone early in the first quarter, making two quick buckets and finding Mitchell Robinson for an alley-oop jam. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee contusion), who was listed as questionable, missed his first couple of shots but hit a three-pointer and scored inside to ignite the Knicks. Brunson then made back-to-back three-pointers, giving him 12 points already, as the Knicks took a 23-12 lead with 4:23 left in the first quarter.

Indiana closed the quarter on a 10-2 run as New York held onto a 27-23 lead. Brunson had 14 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting, while Tyrese Haliburton had just two points (0-for-2 shooting) and the Pacers shot 36.8 percent (7-for-19) as a team. The Knicks won the turnover battle (one to the Pacers' three), but were outrebounded 12-10.

-- With Brunson on the bench, Towns opened the second quarter aggressively with a floater followed by an and-one layup. Despite hobbling, Towns grabbed the team's first offensive rebound, scored again, and then found an open Miles McBride for three on the next possession to go up 37-32. Towns and the Knicks grew the lead to 50-36 with contributions from Landry Shamet and Josh Hart. But the Pacers didn't fold, as Jarace Walker and Benedict Mathurin both hit three-pointers to cut the deficit to single-digits before the half.

New York outscored Indiana by seven points in the second quarter, taking a 56-45 lead into halftime. Towns had 17 points and 10 rebounds at the break (+17 in 19 minutes), while Brunson was held scoreless in the second quarter. Haliburton didn't make a basket, scoring just four points on foul shots. New York took a commanding 25-18 lead in the rebound column, but turned it over six times in the second quarter.

-- Brunson came out of the locker room firing with the team's first eight points of the third quarter and Robinson secured an offensive rebound plus the putback to go up 16 points. Towns and OG Anunoby extended the lead to 72-52, their biggest lead of the series. However, turnovers continued to be a problem for NY and then Towns picked up his fourth foul with 6:24 left in the third quarter, forcing him to the bench.

-- Down 74-62 with about four minutes remaining in the third, Rick Carlisle opted for the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy on Robinson, who missed both free throws. Tom Thibodeau didn't let Indiana keep that up, subbing in Precious Achiuwa for Robinson with Towns in foul trouble. Looking to stop the Pacers' mini-run, Brunson drilled a pull-up three-pointer, plus the foul on former Knick Obi Toppin, to give him 16 points in the third quarter alone and 30 total for the game. Achiuwa's layup and McBride's jumper capped off a 12-0 NY run and pushed the lead to 86-64.

Mikal Bridges nailed a mid-range jump shot with 1.1 seconds left in the third to give the Knicks a 90-73 lead heading into the fourth quarter. New York won the third quarter, 34-28. Halliburton's quiet night continued with just one basket in the third quarter.

-- T.J. McConnell, Pascal Siakam and Walker tried to step up with Halliburton on the bench, helping the Pacers go on a 9-0 run early in the final frame and cut into the Knicks' lead. Brunson and Towns had enough left in the tank to keep it going, as the duo both scored to go up 106-90 and become the first pair of teammates since the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in 2002 to each have 20+ points in the first five games of a conference finals.

The benches emptied for the final minute and a half, as New York held on for the 111-94 win and forced a Game 6. The Knicks held the Pacers to under 100 points, which is the first time Indiana has been held under the century mark in these playoffs.

-- Towns finished a game-high +26 with 24 points on 50 percent shooting, 13 rebounds, and three assists. Bridges had 12 points, Anunoby had 11, and Josh Hart had 12 points off the bench. Halliburton was held to eight points on 2-for-7 shooting. The Knicks won the rebound (45-40) and turnover battles (15 to the Pacers' 19). Indiana shot just 40.5 percent from the field, while New York went 49.4 percent shooting.

Game MVP: Jalen Brunson

The star guard stepped up in the must-win contest, doing all he could to keep the Knicks' season alive. He finished with 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting with five rebounds and five assists.

Highlights

What's next

Game 6 in Indiana between the Knicks and Pacers will take place on Saturday, May 31 at 8:00 p.m.

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Dominant: Thunder posting numbers never seen before on way to NBA Finals

Dominant: Thunder posting numbers never seen before on way to NBA Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The manner in which the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their spot in the NBA Finals seemed fitting.

It was a blowout.

Those have been the story of the Thunder season.

There hasn’t been a team in NBA history with at least 12 wins by 30 points or more in a season — or with four such wins in a single postseason — until now. The Thunder are putting together one of the most dominant years in league history in terms of outscoring opponents. The most recent entry on that list: a 124-94 romp over Minnesota to clinch the Western Conference title, a score that probably could have been a lot worse if the Thunder were so inclined.

“This isn’t our goal,” Thunder guard, NBA MVP and West finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We didn’t start the season like we want to win the West. We want to win the NBA championship. Now we are a step closer to our goal and we’re happy about that. But it’s still four more games to go win, four really hard games to go win and we have to be the best version of ourselves for four nights to reach the ultimate goal.”

A look inside the numbers paints a picture of how dominant this season has been for the Thunder:

They’re winning by 12.5 points per game

The biggest point differential per game in NBA history, including playoffs, was posted by the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks — who outscored teams by 12.6 points per game.

The Thunder are winning by 12.5 per game when counting the regular season and the playoffs (the NBA Cup championship game, by league rule, doesn’t figure into any official stats that are kept).

That’s the second-biggest rate in league history, for now.

They have beaten 28 of the 29 other NBA teams by double figures at least once this season. The only team to avoid that fate against the Thunder was Golden State, which actually outscored Oklahoma City by an average of 4.7 points per game in their head-to-head matchups.

“They embody everything it means to be a team,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “And so, they deserve this. They deserve the opportunity that we have now. I couldn’t be happier for them because they invest so much in their own games, but they also invest so much in each other and in the team. And I just think it’s a really uncommon thing in professional basketball that they’ve built.”

The 30-point wins

There have been 13 games this season involving the Thunder that were decided by 30 points or more. They won 12 of them.

Minnesota absolutely throttled the Thunder in Game 3 of the West finals, winning by 42 points. It was a rare blip for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder have had a win by at least 30 points in every series — a 51-point win over Memphis in Round 1, wins by 43 and 32 points over Denver in Round 2, and now the 30-pointer that eliminated Minnesota in Round 3.

Oklahoma City’s eight 30-point wins in the regular season came against teams that all missed the playoffs; Toronto, Washington, Sacramento, Phoenix, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah. But to do it four times in the playoffs speaks to the ability the Thunder have to simply run away from quality opposition.

“They’re a really good team,” Minnesota star Anthony Edwards said. “Everyone here knows it. It’s no surprise to nobody here that this team is pretty good.”

80 wins

Oklahoma City is now at 80 wins this season, including playoffs. It’s the 15th time in NBA history that a team has won 80 in a season.

If the Thunder win the NBA title, they’ll finish with 84 wins — a total that only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (88), 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (87) and 1996-97 Bulls (84) have reached.

“Happy for the moment, but this isn’t our goal,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “This isn’t the end of the road. … One more series to try to go win.”

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Pat McAfee identifies himself as the 'somebody' who 'embarrassed' John Mellencamp at Pacers-Knicks game

Left, Former NFL player Pat McAfee in Feb. 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Right, John Mellencamp in May 2025 in Beverly Hills. (Sean Gardner; Timothy Norris/Getty Images)
ESPN personality Pat McAfee, left, appears to have annoyed singer John Mellencamp with his antics at the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers game Tuesday in Indianapolis. (Sean Gardner; Timothy Norris / Getty Images)

Legendary rocker and Indiana native John Mellencamp apologized Thursday "on behalf of most Hoosiers" for the "poor, poor sportsmanship" displayed during the Pacers' home win over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals two days earlier.

Although the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer did not call out any specific Indiana sports fan in the statement he posted to X hours before Game 5, Mellencamp seemed to have a particular person in mind — popular ESPN personality Pat McAfee.

"I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team," the "Hurts So Good" singer wrote. "The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship."

Read more:Teddi Mellencamp and dad John get real about burial plans as she battles Stage 4 cancer

Hours after Mellencamp posted his statement, McAfee reposted it on X and identified himself as the one who instigated Pacers fans to behave in such a manner.

"I am 'somebody,'" McAfee wrote.

Mellencamp and McAfee were both on hand Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers defeated the Knicks 130-121 to take a 3-1 series lead. Addressing the crowd during a fourth-quarter timeout, McAfee called out celebrity Knicks fans Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet — all of whom were in attendance that night — and encouraged Pacers fans to "send these sons of b— back to New York with their ears ringing!"

Stiller addressed the matter later that night on X, saying he assumed that McAfee was "playing around" and that all the fans he met at the arena were "awesome and incredibly cool."

Mellencamp, however, was not happy with the shenanigans.

Read more:Pat McAfee says ESPN didn't tell him to stop talking about Caitlin Clark. 'God' did

"I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life," the singer once known as Johnny Cougar wrote. "On behalf of most Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our poor behavior. I'm sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this smackdown."

Mellencamp's use of the "smackdown" appears to be a thinly veiled reference to McAfee, who is a color commentator and occasional wrestler for WWE. "Friday Night SmackDown" is one of the organization's signature TV shows.

It is unclear why Mellencamp opted to voice his displeasure so long after the incident occurred. Perhaps he plans to be in attendance Thursday night at Madison Square Garden as his Pacers attempt to seal their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000.

One person who won't be there is McAfee, despite a friendly invite from Stiller.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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2025 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Thunder add Thomas Sorber and Rasheer Fleming, Asa Newell slides to Pacers

The deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA draft and still play college basketball has passed, and we saw numerous talented players opt to return to college for another season, including Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, Alabama's Labaron Philon and Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford, among others.

Those moves take away from some of the depth of this class, but this is the new reality of NIL money being available. Still, there is plenty of talent that will be available in the first round of this draft, and our mock draft 2.0 showcases it. This mock will also extend to cover the entire first round after the first edition only included the lottery picks.

With less than a month until the draft, here is how our team currently thinks it will play out:

1. Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Even with the shocking decision made by Nico Harrison in February (you know what that was), there isn't much to deliberate here. Flagg is the unquestioned top prospect in this draft class, so he has to be the pick here. He should slot in nicely next to Anthony Davis in the short term and will be an excellent focal point in the long term. - Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld

2. Brooklyn Nets

Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Take the best player on the board. Don't pull a "We have De'Aaron Fox, we don't need Luka Doncic" draft moment. The Spurs will shop this pick but will want a massive return so they most likely keep it and let Harper fight for minutes with Fox and Stephon Castle. - Kurt Helin, NBC Sports

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

While I think the odds of Philadelphia making this pick are low, I think Bailey makes sense here if they stay. He’s a talented scorer with tons of upside, and he’s not as bad of a passer as the numbers indicate. Bailey will help them be more competitive next season, assuming the rest of the roster has better injury luck. - Noah Rubin, Rotoworld

4. Charlotte Hornets

V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor

The Hornets have a need for additional offensive firepower on the perimeter, especially with starter Josh Green being far more impactful as a defender than as a scorer. The athletic Edgecombe fits the bill, and there may also be opportunities to play on the ball due to LaMelo Ball's injury history. - Johnson

5: Utah Jazz

Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

Danny Ainge is going to shop this pick, but if he keeps it, the Jazz take Fears and bet that Will Hardy and his staff can develop his three-point shot and limit his turnovers. - Helin

6. Washington Wizards

Derik Queen, C, Maryland

Queen gets reunited with his childhood neighbor Bub Carrington, and he allows Alex Sarr to spend more time on the perimeter. Sarr and Queen compliment each other well, with Queen spending more time being physical in the paint, while Sarr can clean up any issues of having an undersized center with his shot-blocking ability. - Rubin

7. New Orleans Pelicans

Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

Sure, the Pelicans used a first-round pick on Yves Missi last summer. But passing on a talent like Maluach if he's still on the board would be difficult for them to do. He was measured at nearly 7-foot-1 without shoes at the combine, and there's plenty of room for growth with Maluach not turning 19 until September. - Johnson

8. Brooklyn Nets

Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

You can't go wrong taking the best shooter on the board. - Helin

9. Toronto Raptors

Tre Johnson, G, Texas

Perhaps this isn’t a classic Masai Ujiri pick, but Johnson’s upside as a scorer is too good for them to pass up. Johnson can step in as a perimeter scoring option off the bench for Toronto from day one, and he can develop into much more than that. This was a “best player available pick” more than a flawless fit. - Rubin

10. Houston Rockets (via PHX)

Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

Given the need for improved perimeter shooting, would the Rockets entertain including this pick in a package that would land them a proven option? Jakucionis only shot 31.8 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game during his lone season at Illinois, so he may not help much in that regard if the Rockets were to select him. However, he provides good size for his position, potentially setting up a solid partnership for the future with last year's lottery pick, Reed Sheppard. - Johnson

11. Portland Trail Blazers

Collin Murray-Boyles, C, South Carolina

Murray-Boyles is the ultimate "if we can develop his shot" player in this draft. The Trail Blazers will bet they can. - Helin

12. Chicago Bulls

Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm, France

The Bulls have been trying to figure out a direction for a while, and Essengue will provide them with a young piece that can make an impact on both ends of the floor. He should be able to get some easy buckets in Chicago, courtesy of some Josh Giddey passes. However, his upside on defense is what should get Bulls fans excited. - Rubin

13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)

Danny Wolf, F Michigan

With Clint Capela set to hit free agency and Onyeka Okongwu seemingly locked into the starting center role, adding depth to the frontcourt should be a priority for the Hawks in this draft. Wolf may not be listed as a center, but he measured at 6-foot-10.5 at the combine and can stretch the floor out to beyond the three-point line. Add in the passing ability, and Wolf can add a dimension to the Hawks' offense that has been lacking. - Johnson

14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)

Carter Bryant, F, Arizona

The Spurs are looking for wings (and may be for a number of years going forward) and Bryant is a good long-term play. He's a bit raw, but this far down in the draft is a good time to bet on upside potential — which Bryant has plenty of. - Helin

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA)

Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

The Thunder don’t exactly have any weaknesses, and it isn’t often that an NBA Finals team makes two first-round picks, including one this early. Sorber is a 6’10.5” center with an insane 7’6” wingspan, and he showcased shooting touch and passing ability last season, which will be attractive to OKC. However, his defensive ability is what is exciting, so he’ll fit in nicely with one of the best defensive teams ever. - Rubin

16. Orlando Magic

Jace Richardson, G, Michigan State

The Magic are still in dire need of perimeter shooting, specifically players who are comfortable off the ball due to the presence of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Richardson's height measurement at the combine may have raised some eyebrows, but he's a solid perimeter defender who's also one of the best shooters in this class. In past drafts, the Magic have seemingly prioritized length, but this is a spot where they should strongly consider prioritizing shooting. - Johnson

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)

Nolan Traore, G, Saint-Quentin, France

The Timberwolves will be looking for inexpensive Mike Conley replacements and depth at the point, and the French guard showed real growth as a teenager playing professionally in France last season. - Helin

18. Washington Wizards (via MEM)

Egor Demin, G, BYU

The Wizards are in a position where they can afford to take some upside swings, and the idea of what Demin can be is enticing. His lone season at BYU wasn’t great, but a 6’9.5” point guard is rather unique. The 19-year-old will have time to figure things out in Washington. - Rubin

19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL)

Liam McNeeley, G/F, Connecticut

Brooklyn has four first-round picks, and while the team is in rebuilding mode, it may not be prudent to hold onto all four (see Houston's 2021 draft class), so we'll see what Sean Marks does. As for the pick, McNeeley had a good combine, alleviating any potential concerns that scouts and decision-makers may have had after an ankle injury limited him for a significant portion of the season. - Johnson

20. Miami Heat (via GSW)

Nique Clifford, G, Colorado State

Clifford is a classic Miami player in that he's smart, can shoot and defend, and showed leadership in college. It's easy to see Clifford finding his way into the Heat rotation within a couple of years. - Helin

21. Utah Jazz (via MIN)

Ben Saraf, G, Ratiopharm Ulm, Israel

Saraf will be the second player drafted from Ratiopharm Ulm in the first round of this draft, joining Essengue. The 6’6” lefty is a crafty playmaker, and Utah has been trying to figure out the point guard position over the last few drafts. Though Isaiah Collier had a promising rookie season, Saraf is worth taking a chance on. - Rubin

22. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL)

Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija, France

To say that this is a "home run swing" would be an understatement, as Beringer did not shift his focus to basketball (from soccer) until four years ago. However, he's the kind of prospect that teams are willing to roll the dice on, especially with the defensive upside. Beringer's offensive skill set needs work, but that's to be expected of a player with his limited competitive experience. - Johnson

23. Indiana Pacers

Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia

An athletic, energy big who could come off the bench and run with the Pacers. They also have the depth to allow him time to develop his shooting and ball handling. - Helin

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)

Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s

The rich get richer. The 6’9.5” wing boasts a 7’5.25” wingspan, which will help make a massive impact on the defensive end. He also has a lethal outside shot and should be a solid two-way reserve for one of the deepest teams in the league. - Rubin

25. Orlando Magic (via DEN)

Maxime Raynaud, F/C, Stanford

After winning the Pac-12's Most Improved Player award in 2024, Raynaud was outstanding in his lone season in the ACC, earning first-team All-Conference honors. He measured extremely well at the combine, can space the floor out to the three-point line and is a capable defender in the two-man game. And with starting center Wendell Carter Jr.'s injury history, Orlando getting a player of Raynaud's caliber at this spot could prove to be a steal. - Johnson

26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK)

Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida

His standout NCAA tournament has to make the Nets feel good about his potential at the next level, particularly as a scorer off the bench (he can hit tough shots). - Helin

27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)

Cedric Coward, G, Washington State

Coward only played six games last season due to a shoulder injury, and prior to entering the draft, he was planning to transfer to Duke. However, he excelled at the combine with a 7’2” wingspan and 38.5” vertical, and he showcased his elite outside shot. Coward would be a solid piece for Brooklyn to build with. - Rubin

28. Boston Celtics

Noah Penda, F, Le Mans, France

The Celtics may not have multiple first-round picks in this draft, but their salary cap situation and Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon tear make them one of the teams to watch. Penda, who can play either forward position, offers defensive versatility and a solid basketball IQ. His shooting does need to improve, but Boston should have the options around him to help compensate for that issue. - Johnson

29: Phoenix Suns (via CLE)

Hugo Gonzalez, G/F, Real Madrid, Spain

Predicting what the Suns are thinking is an impossible task. Gonzalez deserves to be a first-round pick, but he's a bit of a development project. Do Mat Ishbia's win-now Suns have the patience for that? - Helin

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via OKC)

Drake Powell, G, North Carolina

One of my favorite players in this class, Powell was limited at UNC, but he tested well at the combine with a 43” vertical and a seven-foot wingspan. Powell will be able to make an impact on defense from day one and will fit in well with the other elite defenders on the Clippers. The 19-year-old former five-star high school prospect also has the upside to be much more than a defensive role player, and the Clippers certainly need to consider their future as Kawhi Leonard and James Harden continue to age. - Rubin

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NBA Trade Rumors Roundup: Zion staying in New Orleans, Cavaliers to consider Garland, Allen talks

Trade rumors are picking up steam in what many predict will be a wild offseason full of trades. As the NBA Draft nears those rumors will fly, and there are plenty out there now. Here are some of the big ones.

Zion staying in New Orleans

If you're looking for a sign that new Pelicans GM Joe Dumars plans to keep and build around Zion Williamson, look no further than the NBA Draft Lottery — Zion was New Orleans' on-stage representative. Teams don't send players they are about to trade, they send guys who represent the franchise well. Will Guillory of The Athletic has been hearing Zion will stay put this summer.

"All parties feel pretty good about where things stand with the Pelicans-Williamson marriage heading into next season."

Perhaps that's just a negotiating tactic to gain leverage, but it sounds increasingly like Zion is not going anywhere this offseason. Last season, Zion put up monster numbers — 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists a game — but played in just 30 due to health issues. It's hard to give up on a guy capable of those numbers. If Zion puts up those kinds of stats and plays 60+ games next season, Dumars will look like a genius.

Cavaliers open to Garland, Allen deals?

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 64 games and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before injuries and the Pacers proved to be too much. However, with Jayson Tatum's injury throwing the door even more wide open in the East next season, should the Cavaliers just run it back?

Or, might they be open to trades for Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen? Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggests that trade door might be more open than one would think.

"They prefer to keep the core four together and see if they can build around them and find the right pieces around them... In saying that, I think the two untouchables are Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. I have been getting the sense that the Cavs would be more willing to entertain and at least consider possibilities for Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland than they have in the past.

"Now, that all comes down to it's got to be the right deal. It's got to be the right pieces coming back that the Cavs believe would be a step forward, as opposed to just a lateral move or a step back."

This would need to be a home run deal for the Cavaliers to even entertain it — especially for Garland, whose value to this team showed in his absence the postseason. That blockbuster deal may not be out there, but it's never a bad idea to listen.

Clippers interested in Jrue Holiday

The Los Angeles Clippers have long been interested in Jrue Holiday, and were going to get him in a three-team deal originally set up to send Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, but that deal collapsed (and Boston outbid Los Angeles when Holiday did become available).

With the Celtics trimming their salary this offseason, Holiday is projected to be one of the players to go, sending the three years and $104 million he is still owed out the door with him. The Clippers are one of the teams interested in landing him, reports Brian Robb at masslive.com. Holiday is a natural, two-way Swiss Army knife point guard who could be the glue that brings the Clippers roster together around James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.

Whether the Clippers can pull off such a trade is another question, but they have a very creative front office and a short window to win with this group before they pivot.

Antetokounmpo “open minded” about future

As it so often is on the court, this offseason the ball is in Giannis Antetokounmpo's hands. Does he want to remain loyal to the Bucks and try to win in Milwaukee, despite Damian Lillard likely missing most or all of next season with his torn Achilles? Or, does he want to ask for a trade to a team where he could contend next season?

The latest update is that there is no update, but he remains "open minded" to the possibilities, ESPN’s Shams Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show.

"He is right now in the process of figuring out: is my forever home going to be in Milwaukee? Or is it time to go pursue a championship somewhere else? I'm told that process is ongoing. There still has not yet been a big moment of truth meeting, I'm told, between the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo."

Expect that meeting and decision to come before the NBA Draft.

Josh Giddey seeks $120+ million contract

Josh Giddey is one of the more interesting players in free agency this summer. Last season with the Bulls, he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, and looked even better after the All-Star break when more responsibility fell to him (and half the East was tanking). However, he's not a strong defender and how much he contributes towards winning basketball is up for debate (there is a reason the Thunder were willing to move on from him). Can he put up these numbers in games that matter?

Considering all that, how much do the Bulls want to pay the restricted free agent? He is seeking at least five years, $120 million reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. Previous rumors had Giddey seeking more like $150 million across five years ($30 million a season), which seemed steep.

However, $120 million in the modern NBA is third-star money. After watching him up close, do the Bulls think he can be that guy? Giddey can put up counting stats, but can he prove to do more than just that?

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Ben Stiller talks bonding over basketball with Timothée Chalamet, a 'genuine Knicks fan through and through'

Ben Stiller has an incredible Hollywood resume as an actor, producer, director, and writer. But first and foremost, he’s a Knicks fan.

A staple at Madison Square Garden throughout the regular season and playoffs, Stiller has also been cheering on his Knicks on the road during the postseason, as he was in the building in Indiana for Game 4 against the Pacers, sitting next to fellow actor and diehard Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet.

Stiller and Chalamet have become quite the tandem when it comes to cheering on the Knicks, and Stiller explained on The Putback with Ian Begley, how he and Chalamet have formed a bond over their beloved team.

“We met each other over the years a few times and I’m a fan of his, he’s a great actor, always seemed like a nice guy,” Stiller said. “Saw him at some Knicks games and then we were at the Detroit series and were both looking to go to Detroit, so we decided to go together and got to know each other.

“Genuine Knicks fan through and through. New Yorker, New York kid, and has a true appreciation of the game and no trouble calling out the refs during a game, too.”

While sitting courtside in Indiana, Stiller and Chalamet, along with Spike Lee, were the subject of a WWE-style roasting by TV personality and former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee.

"We got some bigwigs from the big city in the building. Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothée Chalamet is here. Let’s send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears ringing," McAfee said to pump up the crowd during the fourth quarter of Game 4.

Stiller was able to get a good laugh out of it, though, saying on The Putback that Indiana had an ‘amazing, amazing atmosphere,’ and that McAfee should head to the Big Apple for Thursday night’s Game 5.

"I have to say, I was not familiar with his game. I did not know that was coming," Stiller said.

"I did know that Timothée has been on his show and I was like 'Oh, that’s your boy, that’s your guy,' so then when that happened I was a little bit like 'Whoa, okay.' But the WWE aspect, I get it. It’s just not the way it happens in New York.

"He should come to the Garden for Game 5. They’ll put him up on the screen and they’ll show him punting the ball, and everybody will give him a nice cheer. That’s how we do it in New York.

"But I get it. It was fun. I feel like he was just trying to get the crowd riled up. It was a little bit out of the blue… it just seems a little cartoonish, but then again it goes with the WWE."

Knicks fans can certainly expect to see Stiller and Chalamet on Thursday night at Game 5, as the Knicks look to stay alive and flip the momentum in the series, with Indiana up 3-1 in the best-of-seven set.

Any chance we’ll get to see the two actors mic’d up during the game?

"They don’t want to do that," Stiller said with a laugh. "I’m telling you."

You can watch Stiller's full appearance on The Putback by clicking here.

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Report: Kuminga could return to Warriors due to financial restrictions

Report: Kuminga could return to Warriors due to financial restrictions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even though all signs thus far indicate Jonathan Kuminga likely will leave the Warriors this summer, the finances could make that tricky.

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater noted a few interesting wrinkles to the situation and why he believes the best possible outcome for all parties would be for Kuminga to remain in the Bay.

First, with Kuminga expected to earn at least a 20 percent raise as a restricted free agent, a new deal would put Golden State over the cap. But the incoming salary would only count as half of Kuminga’s outgoing salary, as noted by the “base year compensation” rule in the CBA.

So, as Slater notes, if Kuminga’s new deal starts at $30 million, which is what his next team would absorb it as, the Warriors would look at a $15 million incoming match.

As a restricted free agent, Kuminga could sign with Golden State or sign an offer sheet with a team with cap space. The Warriors would have the right to match.

A sign-and-trade is also a possibility. But as Slater pointed out, the base-year rule in addition to the first-apron cap “significantly limits” the number of realistic sign-and-trade opportunities for the Warriors.

“The Warriors’ front office, Kuminga’s representatives and the league are expected to explore all options into July,” Slater wrote. “But team sources have been hinting that, because of these market and financial restrictions, there’s a likely world where the most obvious and prudent path is for them to bring Kuminga back and figure the rest out later.”

After numerous DNPs-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) to begin Golden State’s postseason run, Kuminga re-emerged into Steve Kerr’s rotation when Steph Curry went down with an injury and reminded the Warriors and the rest of the league of his talent and athleticism.

And that talent and athleticism might be on a one-way trip back to the Warriors.

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