Category: Basketball

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: How important do you think it is for the Suns to re-sign Mark Williams this summer?

GuarGuar: For the right price, I absolutely would bring Mark back next season. It was very apparent after the All-Star break that we were a different team, and his absence during that time is no coincidence. His size and presence are things Oso doesn’t have, and we sorely missed them during our OKC series. The health of Mark is a big concern for sure, so I wouldn’t commit too much to him, but I saw enough last year that I do want him back.

Diamondhacks: On the court, not even Dillon Brooks or Collin Gillespie was as integral to our early success as Mark Williams. But if you think he’s our center of the future, I have a bone to pick. The third metatarsal. It’s come to my attention (a year or so after Rob Pelinka’s) that this is a very important basketball bone, and further, that Mark Williams performing at the lofty standards he set is cumulatively bad to the bone.

Absent more hopeful orthopedic expertise, I guess Ishbia could foot the bill for a quality center, good for a thousand minutes or so, but more or less on the foot’s schedule.

Ashton: I can take it or leave it, but as it stands now, I think the Suns must do it. Giannis is not walking through that door anytime soon.

I was impressed with Oso’s development, but he needs another season, and I still question if he is a long-term piece. I really have no idea what affordable centers may be on the FA market to replace him.

And the draft to save the day? Centers are returning to school for big NIL paydays. Well beyond the money that the Suns could offer with their second-round pick.

Rod: At this point in time, I don’t think either Khaman Maluach or Oso Ighodaro should be starting at center for the Suns, so bringing back Williams is pretty important. That being said, it’s even more important to bring him back on a team-friendly deal because I believe Maluach could be ready to start in 2027-28 or perhaps even before next season ends.

I don’t want to let him walk this summer, but I also don’t see him as the Suns’ long-term answer at center, so if the price of bringing him back is too high, I would let him go rather than committing too much money to a contract longer than a year. Personally, I’d be fine with him returning to play on the 1-year qualifying offer of $9.6 millon.

Q2: There’s been talk of offering Dillon Brooks a 4-year contract extension worth up to $125 million this summer. What are your thoughts on this?

GuarGuar: I am okay with giving Dillon that type of contract. He isn’t a max player or close to one. I want to be clear about that. He’s a great culture setter and plays very hard and with so much energy, which I love. He can be a black hole offensively, though, and can really take us out of a rhythm at times. On the flip side, sometimes he’s the only one aggressive enough to keep our offense afloat, so you take the good with the bad with him.

I’d love to keep him here in Phoenix; he seems to get along really well with this group.

Diamondhacks: My thought is to do whatever the opposite of an extension is. Truncation? Swap Dillon for someone who does things the Suns actually and desperately need. Like pass and rebound the ball. Honestly, I’m not sure what Brooks does out there sometimes, other than miss a lot of shots and stare at people. He really is an exceptional starter. You have to go back a long way to find someone who stares like that. Kurt Thomas, maybe?

Brooks likely had a significant intangible influence early (i.e., in Flagstaff and beyond) on a younger, impressionable roster, and our FO appears to be “all in” on the idea that this will continue. My poker observation is that his performative intensity generated valuable returns but, eventually, trickled in, less of a river than the flop. Teammates modeled and internalized some of his toughness, which is great. Now seems like a good time for those cheaper and more active proteges (or possibly an outside ‘leader’ type) to run with the competitive culture Brooks instilled. Without some of his ‘thirtysomething’ basketball and adolescent excess.

Ashton: H-E-Double-Picks no. Four years?

Look, I realize that some fans want the Dillon Brooks Fanclub pinned to the sidebar conversations, and for good reason. He is a motivational speaker, and that is putting it politely.

I looked it up. Does everyone here know that Brooks led the charge in technical fouls last season? Sure, you did. But did you know Booker was third? These mouthy “shooting guards” are complaining about not getting the calls and what to you expect? Love Thy Ref and get the calls.

Personal fouls? Brooks is doing well in that area as well, ranking number four (Booker is 21st). I pulled my stats using team rankings if you want to double-check.

All of this to say that you want to extend a player who couldn’t even get through his first season without legal trouble. What is the encore? Buckeye prison system basketball team? You do not reward bad behavior in any system.

If an argument were to be made for Brooks, then consider him as future trade bait? I almost wish the Suns could do an incentive-based contract that stipulates staying out of the top 20 in both foul areas and making a million or two. That and it would save him fines,

But I am a solid pass.

Rod: I really like having Brooks on the team, but $125 millon over 4 years seems a bit too high to me. As important as he is to the team, I don’t want to insult him with a low-ball offer either. Hopefully they can come to an agreement closer to $100 million over 4 years instead or, my personal favorite, agree to put off talking about an extension until the 2026-27 offseason begins. By then, we should have a much better idea of whether the team is indeed headed in the right direction with the current core and really worth making big investments to keep it together.

Q3: Both Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin will be unrestricted free agents this summer. If the Suns could only afford to bring one of them back, which would you choose?

GuarGuar: This is a very tough question, but if we could only afford to bring back one, I would bring back Collin. He’s a true playmaking PG, and when he’s hot, he can literally take over games offensively, which Goody can’t do. Gillespie isn’t a starter for a championship team, but he is a very serviceable rotation guard on one. Would hate to lose either of those guys though!

Diamondhacks: No two Suns executed Ott’s up-tempo Chaos Culture better – or frankly, as well — as Gillespie and Goodwin. These G-stringers won’t win you a sexy championship, but they personify a timeless ethic about how basketball should be played. Relentless, physically courageous, unselfish, opportunistic – and self-controlled. And since we’re not winning a title anyway, I suspect that ethic and execution may have more currency to some fans — and perhaps even to Mat Ishbia — than the Illusory Trophy itself.

I would, with appropriate compensation, sooner move on from more established players like Green, Brooks, or one of Allen/O’Neale, than part with either Jordan Goodwin or Collin Gillespie. Sorry. I’m keeping them both.

Ashton: Some chatter about how some teams could really use Collin Gillespie, and I wonder if he is being over-valued. Loved Goodie, but in the same vein of trade conversations later down the line, it has to be Collin Gillespie. He is generating the most NBA interest.

Also, if you study mock drafts for 2026, you are going to scroll past a lot PGs and PFs in the first round. A playmaker position is valued this year.

Rod: In all the years I’ve been doing Inside the Suns, this is the first question that I’ve ever put forth to the Fantable that I didn’t already have some idea of how I would answer it. Goodie vs Gillespie is a tough one because I love having both of these guys on the team.

Of the two, Collin is the better point guard while Goodie is the better all-around player. They’re both very important to this team and losing either one would be a shame, but I’m going to have to give Collin the nod as being the more important of the two to keep…by a very narrow margin.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

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Quotes of the Week

“With the continuity of our players, with the continuity of our staff, with a huge focus and emphasis on development, we’re going to take big jumps this summer and you’re going to see it next year.” – Brian Gregory

“There’s never a point where we’re not always looking and having communication on are there players out there that fit what we’re all about .” – Brian Gregory

“I like this team, I like where we’re going, I like the direction of the organization, I like the culture that we built, I like the identity that we have and we’re not going to do anything silly to mess that up.” – Mat Ishbia

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Suns Trivia/History

On May 9, 2010, the Suns defeated the San Antonio Spurs 107-101 in San Antonio to sweep the Spurs 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals. It was only the 2nd time in franchise history that the Suns had swept a team in a 7-game playoff series. The First occurred 5 years earlier when the Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in a first round series.

On May 11, 1992, the Suns lost 153-151 to the Portland Trail Blazers in a double overtime Western Conference Semifinals game. Phoenix’s 151 points are the most ever scored by a Suns team in a single playoff game and the most points scored by the Suns in a loss.

On May 14, 2007, after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 104-98 to tie their Western Conference Semifinals series 2-2, Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for one game by the NBA for stepping off the bench and onto the court after Robert Horry’s hit on Nash in the final minute of the game even though Stoudemire and Diaw never got close to the altercation on the court. Horry also received a two-game suspension from the league for his flagrant foul on Nash and for striking Raja Bell above the shoulders in the subsequent fracas.

On May 15, 1994, Kevin Johnson posterized Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon.

On this day in 1994… Kevin Johnson drove baseline and got way up for the emphatic slam! #NBAVault#NBA75pic.twitter.com/M842HgALcK

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 15, 2022

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Important Future Dates

May 10-17 – NBA Draft Combine (ESPN2/ESPNU/NBA App/YouTube TV)
Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals)
June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN)
June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN)
June 30 – Free agency begins
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas

The Lakers’ second-round series against the Thunder is shifting from Paycom Center, widely considered one of the NBA’s loudest arenas. 

That could be good news for the team’s role players. 

Against the Thunder’s deep roster, the Lakers need everyone to make a positive contribution. 

What is one major advantage the Thunder have had this series?

Bench points. 

In Game 1, the Thunder’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench, 34-15. In Game 2, that advantage ballooned to 48-24.

The Thunder, quite simply, have more players who are playing well than the Lakers, which makes all the difference in the playoffs. 

The Lakers have actually done a good job limiting reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all postseason scorers in the first round of the playoffs with 33.7 points a game. This series he’s averaging just 20 points.

But unfortunately for the Lakers, trying to limit the Thunder has been like playing Whac-A-Mole at an arcade. In Game 1, Chet Holmgren led the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds. In Game 2, Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each had 20 or more points. 

Meanwhile, for the Lakers, nearly everyone not named LeBron James has struggled offensively at various points this series. 

Austin Reaves went from scoring eight points in Game 1 to finishing with a game-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. 

Deandre Ayton had three points on 1-for-7 shooting in Game 2. Luke Kennard had a disappearing act in Game 1, shooting 1-for-4 from the field. Jake LaRavia has struggled to make an impact. Marcus Smart has been quiet on the offensive end after having a few scoring explosions in the first round. Jaxson Hayes hasn’t made much of an impact.

Rui Hachimura has been consistent, finishing with 18 points in Game 1 and 16 points in Game 2. But other than him, the team’s role players have left a lot to be desired. 

If the Lakers’ role players could become a threat, that would greatly help spread the court for James and Reaves, who are trying to carry the Lakers while Luka Doncic remains sidelined with a strained hamstring. 

The Thunder have had the NBA’s top-rated defense the last two years. The Lakers need bigger contributions from their role players both in the starting lineup and on the bench. 

They need to become a threat. They can’t allow the defense to collapse on James and harass Reaves. Everyone on the court needs to make the Thunder respect them. 

Even though the Lakers are down 2-0 in their second-round playoff series, losing both games by 18 points, the final score made those games seem more lopsided than they appeared. 

In Game 1, the Lakers jumped to a 7-0 start and trailed by only eight points at halftime, 61-53. In Game 2, they were neck-and-neck with the Thunder for much of the game until OKC pulled away midway through the fourth quarter. 

Now the Lakers are going home.

They’re going to be on their turf, in front of their crowd, shooting on the baskets they’ve developed a feel for over 41 regular-season games. 

If the Lakers’ role players step up, they could claw their way back into this series.

The Lakers’ second-round series against the Thunder is shifting away from Paycom Center, which is widely considered one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. 

That could be good news for the team’s role players. 

Against the Thunder’s deep roster, the Lakers need everyone to make a positive contribution. 

One major advantage the Thunder have had this series?

Bench points. 

In Game 1, the Thunder’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench, 34-15. In Game 2, that advantage ballooned to 48-24. 

The Thunder, quite simply, have more players who are playing well than the Lakers, which makes all the difference in the playoffs. 

The Lakers have actually done a good job limiting reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all postseason scorers in the first round of the playoffs with 33.7 points a game. This series he’s averaging just 20 points.

But unfortunately for the Lakers, trying to limit the Thunder has been like playing Whac-A-Mole at an arcade. In Game 1, Chet Holmgren led the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds. In Game 2, Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each had 20 or more points. 

Meanwhile, for the Lakers, nearly everyone not named LeBron James has struggled offensively at various points this series. 

Austin Reaves went from scoring eight points in Game 1 to finishing with a game-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. 

Deandre Ayton had just three points on 1-for-7 shooting in Game 2. Luke Kennard had a disappearing act in Game 1, shooting 1-for-4 from the field. Jake LaRavia has struggled to make an impact. Marcus Smart has been quiet on the offensive end after having a few scoring explosions in the first round. Jaxson Hayes hasn’t made much of an impact.

Rui Hachimura has been consistent, finishing with 18 points in Game 1 and 16 points in Game 2. But other than him, the team’s role players have left a lot to be desired. 

If the Lakers’ role players could make themselves a threat, that would greatly help spread the court for James and Reaves, who are trying to carry the Lakers while Luka Doncic remains sidelined with a strained hamstring. 

The Thunder have had the top-rated defense in the league the last two years. The Lakers need bigger contributions from their role players both in the starting lineup and on the bench. 

They need to make themselves a threat. They can’t allow the defense to collapse on James and harass Reaves. Everyone on the court needs to make the Thunder respect them. 

Even though the Lakers are down 2-0 in their second-round playoff series, losing both games by 18 points, the final score made those games seem more lopsided than they appeared. 

In Game 1, the Lakers jumped to a 7-0 start and trailed by only eight points at halftime, 61-53. In Game 2, they were neck-to -neck with the Thunder for much of the game until OKC pulled away midway through the fourth quarter. 

Now the Lakers are going home. 

They’re going to be on their turf, in front of their crowd, shooting on the baskets they’ve developed a feel for over 41 regular season games. 

If the Lakers role players could step up, the Lakers could claw their way back into this series. 

Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen reported that Lakers coach JJ Redick said, "The Thunder is one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history." Maybe Redick is right. The Lakers were able to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and with Jalen Williams not playing, OKC still won Games 1 and 2 by 18 points each.

Hopefully the Lakers can avoid a sweep when they return to The Crypt, but it doesn't look very likely, not when committing 39 turnovers in two games.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

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It was so bush league to see the Lakers crowd around the beleagued referees at the end of an 18-point loss to the Thunder in Game 2. The number of free throws was nearly even, favoring OKC 26-21. There are no bigger whiners in the league than LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton, who have in their minds never committed a foul and are always fouled with no call on any possession. This is playoff basketball — grow up and play ball. The results in this series speak for themselves.

Bob Goldstone

Corona del Mar

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You cannot tell me that the defensive “mauling” allowed by NBA officials during the playoffs would be tolerated during the regular season. It almost looks like the NBA upper brass — Adam Silver and his cohorts/consultants — have directly or indirectly “suggested” that referees simply “let ‘em play.”

This inconsistency and change of “style“ by the officials has either confused or frustrated many offensive players as well as some fans. To me, a foul is a foul, period! Considerations like superstar or rookie, home team or visitors, the fourth quarter versus the first, closing minutes or seconds of a game, regular season versus the playoffs should not matter.

Rick Solomon
Lake Balboa

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I'm watching Lakers-Thunder Game 2 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is running into people and getting the Michael Jordan treatment. Everything is a foul against the Lakers. On the another hand, LeBron James is getting the stuffing beat out of him and no calls. Coach JJ Redick needs to bring this bias up with the media and put the spotlight on the refs. That’s what Phil Jackson and Pat Riley would do. Lakers fans can start a go-fund-me page for the fine.

Ed Villanueva
Chino Hills

It ain't over yet

So is now a good time for Times columnist Bill Plaschke to jump off the Lakers bandwagon and go back to his column from April 9th and say the Lakers should shut it down against the Thunder? Of course that proclamation was made before the Lakers won their final three games of the regular season to clinch the fourth seed in the playoffs and then proceeded to overwhelm the favored Rockets in the first round. Remember, the series Plaschke called over after just two games?

Danny Balber Jr.
Pasadena

LeBron spells GOAT

LeBron James' performance against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs should put to rest the discussion of whether LeBron or Michael Jordan is the NBA's GOAT. The number of championship rings a player obtains is dependent on teammates and coaching systems. Based on both individual play and contributions to his teams, LeBron's entire body of work is unmatched and LeBron's play at age 41 is still magnificent.

Richard Raffalow
Valley Glen

Cut Trout loose

Mike Trout is having a renaissance season so far with the Angels. He is back to playing center field and is hitting home runs like the Trout of old. He has avoided injuries which have plagued him for several years. Now is the time for the Angels to give Trout a real shot at a postseason by trading him. The Angels are once again in last place and going nowhere. Trout will turn 35 soon and he deserves to go to a contender and play meaningful baseball in September and October. Free Trout!

Dave Ring
Manhattan Beach

Reign of pain

Since 2017, the L.A. Kings have employed a dizzying array of players, coaches, general managers and front office executives. Despite all that personnel turnover, in that time they have amazingly failed to win even a single playoff series much less be a consistent regular-season threat. The one constant who is responsible for all the hockey decisions and has overseen this astounding lack of success over the previous nine years is team president Luc Robitaille.

Why does absentee ownership group AEG continue to allow him to remain in charge, annually selling hope instead of actually providing results? Could it be that the Kings' steadily increasing valuation, most recently pegged at $3.5 billion (2nd highest among all U.S. teams), is really all that motivates AEG as opposed to accountability and on-ice success?

Andre Miller
El Segundo

Will fit right in

Detroit Tigers free agent ace Tarik Skubal will miss time on the IL after elbow surgery, which means he’ll fit right into the Dodgers’ rotation next season.

Steve Ross
Carmel

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It feels like the Lakers are close to putting together a winning performance in at least one of their games against the Thunder in their second-round playoff series.

But their 18-point losses in Game 1 and Game 2 in Oklahoma City suggest they aren’t as close as it feels. 

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday, with the Lakers looking to avoid falling into the dreaded 0-3 hole — a series deficit no team in NBA history has overcome. 

If the Lakers want to have a shot at winning the best-of-seven series, they need to make a few adjustments for Game 3:

Zone defense

The Lakers spent a significant chunk of the regular season deploying a zone defense.

And yet, they haven’t played zone during the playoffs.

The Thunder faced the second-most zone defense in the league this season, scoring 1.005 points per possession (ranked 20th), compared with the 1.039 points per possession they score when playing against man-to-man defense (ranked second).

The Lakers played zone defense the third most of any team this season, allowing 0.955 points per possession (ranked sixth in the NBA).

The Lakers have stuck with putting two on the ball when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ball handler.

It’s produced the results they’ve wanted when it comes to limiting Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s averaged 20 points and five turnovers to go with four assists through the first two games. The Lakers are getting the ball out of his hands and forcing other Thunder players to make plays.

The problem for the Lakers is that the “others” have been making those plays when the Lakers’ defense voluntarily puts itself in rotation. 

The Thunder are scoring 1.75 points per possession in the playoffs when their opponent sends a double team on isolations — which is by far the highest mark in the league. And when teams have doubled Gilgeous-Alexander’s isos during the regular season and playoffs, the Thunder are scoring 1.286 points per possession, an elite mark.  

The Thunder are comfortable when the Lakers put two on the ball against Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Lakers need to throw in different looks more consistently. Playing zone defense again, even if it’s only in doses, should be part of the equation. 

Attack Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Another way to limit Gilgeous-Alexander is attacking him on the other end of the floor, which the Lakers did once Game 2 was pretty much decided. 

Austin Reaves kept having the Laker that Gilgeous-Alexander was defending, which was Luke Kennard at the time, set ball screens late in the fourth quarter when the Thunder had full control.

Gilgeous-Alexander was hedging to try to avoid switching. 

The Thunder may not have been as locked in defensively as they were earlier in the game, but the Lakers were creating the kind of advantages they wanted.

If they have a similar strategy in Game 3, it could help them wear down Gilgeous-Alexander in other ways outside of the defensive double teams. 

Less switching 

The Lakers’ 1-5 switching is allowing the Thunder to pick their preferred matchups, even if the Lakers show up or double like they have with Gilgeous-Alexander.

Even if the Thunder aren’t scoring on the first shot, mismatches are in the Thunder’s favor, leading to easier offensive rebounding opportunities for Thunder players including Chet Holmgren.

Being more judicious with the switching could help the Lakers on the defensive glass, which is an area they need to win to have a chance of beating the Thunder.

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History is on the side of the San Antonio Spurs.

In a 7 games series, when tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 goes on the win the series 73% of the time.

In Game 1, Anthony Edwards came off the bench. After a rapid recovery from a knee hyperextension he gave the Timberwolves a boost with 18 points in 25 minutes of play. In Game 2, the Spurs dominated as Ant-Man was held to 12 points in a blow out. But in Game 3, Edwards did what he does, playing an impressive 41 minutes and tallying a more impressive 32 points. 12 consecutive points at the end of the first including a buzzer-beater followed by taking the lead at the start of the second quarter.

The Timberwolves problem isn’t Anthony Edwards.

And that’s the problem.

Edwards has been one of the league’s most promising players since going first overall in 2020. He’s stayed hot while many of his contemporaries have cooled off. Edward’s skillset, showmanship, youth and vitality had pundits predicting him as a future face of the NBA…until Victor Wembanyama came along.

The Timberwolves have made some high profile trades since Edwards proved to be worth the hype, hedging future draft picks for Rudy Gobert, sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and parting with a developing Rob Dillingham in lieu of the more seasoned Ayo Dosunmu.

If statistics prove correct and the Spurs do win the series, to what length will the organization go to please their generational talent? Who would be on the chopping block?

Minnesota are the most “win now” team in the Western Conference. I’d say in the league, but the Knicks hold that honor. Ever since the Karl- Anthony Towns trade, they’ve both been in line to be the league’s top squad.

The Timberwolves have also been to the Western Conference Finals the last two seasons, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 20205.

For perspective, since the 2024 Finals the Dallas Mavericks have since blown it up. After winning in 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder are still at the top of the their game and favorites to win it all.

If they lose a round earlier to a team still on their rise, their window begins to close.

At Edward’s age, the Timberwolves will still be contenders. They could be a piece or two before plateauing, but let’s be honest, the T-wolves are less likely to resemble the late 90s Chicago Bulls and more likely to fare like the late 90s Utah Jazz.

And ultimately Edwards will live in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama. True, most will, but many saw it coming. This will be Ant-Man’s first true reckoning,

He’s lost to Luka Doncic, he’s been knocked out by Shai Gilgeous- Alexander. Losing to Wemby now could have a more profound effect on his ego than he’s ready for.

But It’s not just Anthony Edwards who needs this win. The organization needs it to keep the team on the rise. A step backward will surely rock the whole program and give them a lot to think about in the offseason.

The question is — when will Minnesota’s offseason start?

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Jaylen Brown has three years and about $183 million left on a 5-year contract he signed in July of 2023. It was a controversial deal at the time, but Brown was headed to free agency the next year and the Celtics knew they needed to keep him.

Fast forward three years later and Jaylen Brown will once again be eligible to sign a contract extension on July 26th. This deal would tack on an additional two years and an estimated $142 million to his deal.

That in total would have Brown on Boston’s books for the next five years at $325 million and he would be 34-years-old when the deal runs out.

Last summer, the Phoenix Suns were presented a very similar situation with Devin Booker. Booker, like Brown, had three years left on a super-max extension he signed in 2022 and was eligible to add two more years on to his deal. The Suns did offer him that extension, which was reported at $145 million but based on future cap projections, Spotrac estimates that it will come in at $132 million. No matter what the deal is worth, Booker is going to make a lot of money.

Brown just had his best NBA season this past year and, to me, is a better player than Booker is. If Brown is going to sign a new deal, it is going to be a max.

With that said, I am in no rush to extend him.

There are reasons for the Celtics to ink Brown to an extension.

Number one, it would keep him happy. Earlier this week, Brown said on his Twitch stream that he wants to be in Boston for the next ten years. No one turns down the 35% super max and Brown is no different. If the Celtics were to offer him a max extension, I am very confident that Brown would sign it.

Number two, and the far more compelling reason, is that Jaylen Brown is a great player who the Celtics should want to keep around for a really long time. I know he didn’t have a great series against the 76ers but he was so awesome this season. He averaged career highs in points (28.7) and assists (5.1) in the regular season while being the best player on a team that won 56 games without Jayson Tatum.

On the other hand, why should Boston rush to sign him? As was mentioned, Brown has three years left on his current deal with no player option. Free agency is not lurking like it was back in 2023.

Another aspect of this is that the Celtics have Jayson Tatum. The Suns were backed into a corner with Booker because he is their best player. Phoenix had just traded Kevin Durant and bought-out Bradley Beal — they needed to keep Booker on the team and happy so they paid him.

The Tatum and Brown duo has brought Celtics fans a lot of joy over the years, including a championship, and the Celtics should want to keep them paired together. Extending Brown this summer and Tatum next summer, when he becomes extension eligible, would accomplish that.

However, the Celtics did lose in the first round this season and Brad Stevens talked about how they were not good enough at his end of season press conference on Wednesday.

pic.twitter.com/JaJweYJIDX

— Karan (@ksenguptaa) May 8, 2026

However, I don’t think the Celtics need to rush into signing Brown to a new deal because their team wasn’t good enough this season and locking into this core doesn’t sound like something Brad Stevens is ready to do.

A look at each team in the NBA draft lottery — and how it's gone for them in the past originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA draft lottery is Sunday, with Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn having the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick.

The lottery began in 1985, when the New York Knicks received the top selection and altered the course of their franchise by taking Patrick Ewing. The format has had its share of changes since then, and there might be another coming soon, but for now the process should be pretty familiar. The top four selections are determined via a weighted draw. Then picks No. 5-14 are dispersed in reverse order of finish from this season.

Last year, The Associated Press reviewed each franchise’s draft lottery history. Here is an updated version — including only the teams involved in this year’s lottery.

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Washington Wizards/Bullets

Lottery Wins: 2001 (Kwame Brown) and 2010 (John Wall)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2024; No. 3 in 2012 and 2013

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1993, 1995, 2004, 2009 and 2025

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 14%

Details: Only 11 teams have received multiple No. 1 picks in the lottery era, so the Wizards’ luck hasn’t been all bad. But dropping from second to sixth last year was a blow. If their pick had fallen out of the top eight this year, it would have gone to the Knicks, but after finishing with the league’s worst record, Washington doesn’t have to worry about that.

Indiana Pacers

Lottery Wins: None

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1985 and 1988

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1986

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 14%

Details: Indiana was one of the worst teams in the league when the lottery began and narrowly missed out on Ewing in 1985. The Pacers’ pick this year goes to the Los Angeles Clippers if it is outside the top four.

Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets

Lottery Wins: 1990 (Derrick Coleman) and 2000 (Kenyon Martin)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1991; No. 3 in 1987 and 2010

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1988

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 14%

Details: The Nets had just a 4% chance at the No. 1 pick when they won it in 2000, and they would have another top pick to their credit if they hadn’t dealt their selection away before the 2017 lottery.

Utah Jazz

Lottery Wins: None

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 3 in 2011

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 2025

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 11.5%

Details: The Jazz haven’t been in the lottery much over the past four decades, and when they have they’ve often been an afterthought. A trade gave them the Nets’ pick at No. 3 in 2011. Last year, Utah was in the top pre-lottery spot but fell to the No. 5 pick.

Sacramento Kings

Lottery Wins: 1989 (Pervis Ellison)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2018; No. 3 in 1991

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 2009 and 2010

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 11.5%

Details: Sacramento’s lone lottery victory led to a forgettable selection at No. 1, but the Kings haven’t had as many heartbreaking drops as you might think. Only once, in 2009, have they had the top pre-lottery position.

Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies

Lottery Wins: None

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009 and 2019; No. 3 in 1996

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2018

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 9%

Details: Plenty of No. 2 picks but no No. 1s. In 2003, the Grizzlies moved up four spots to No. 2, but that pick belonged to Detroit because of a trade. Had Memphis moved up one more spot to No. 1, its pick would have been protected — and the Grizzlies would have had a chance to draft LeBron James.

Atlanta Hawks

Lottery Wins: 2024 (Zaccharie Risacher)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2005; No. 3 in 2001, 2007 and 2018

Dropped Out Of Top 3: None

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 9.8%

Details: The Hawks finally exited the never-won-the-lottery club two years ago, making good on a 3% chance to land the first pick. This year Atlanta gets either New Orleans’ first-round pick or Milwaukee’s, whichever is better. (The Pelicans are seventh in the pre-lottery pecking order and the Bucks are 10th.)

Dallas Mavericks

Lottery Wins: 2025 (Cooper Flagg)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1994

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1986, 1992, 1993 and 2018

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 6.7%

Details: The Mavericks were one of the unluckiest franchises in lottery history before capitalizing on a 1.8% chance to land Flagg. Before that, Dallas had never once improved its pick position. The mid-1990s were particularly dire. In 1993 the Mavericks went 11-71 but dropped three spots to No. 4. A 13-69 mark the following season didn’t yield the top pick either.

Chicago Bulls

Lottery Wins: 1999 (Elton Brand) and 2008 (Derrick Rose)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2002 and 2006; No. 3 in 2004

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 2000 and 2001

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 4.5%

Details: The Bulls landed the No. 1 pick just a season after losing Michael Jordan. They’ve struggled to build a contender since then, but they’ve had their chances.

Milwaukee Bucks

Lottery Wins: 1994 (Glenn Robinson) and 2005 (Andrew Bogut)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2014

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 2007

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: None

Details: Neither of those No. 1 picks was as much of a game changer for the Bucks as Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was taken outside the lottery in 2013. If Milwaukee’s pick this year is higher than New Orleans’, it would go to Atlanta and the Bucks would get the Pelicans’ selection.

Golden State Warriors

Lottery Wins: 1995 (Joe Smith)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2020; No. 3 in 1986, 1993 and 2002

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1985, 1988 and 2001

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 2%

Details: The Warriors were the lottery’s first big losers, receiving the No. 7 pick in the very first edition in 1985 after finishing tied for the worst record in the league. It wasn’t long before the NBA changed the rules to make drops of that size impossible.

Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics

Lottery Wins: None

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1990, 2007 and 2022; No. 3 in 2009

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 2008

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 1.5%

Details: Of the eight franchises that have never won the lottery, this is one of the luckiest. While in Seattle, the team moved up eight picks to get Gary Payton in 1990 and climbed three spots to select Kevin Durant in 2007. Now the Thunder have the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick.

Miami Heat

Lottery Wins: None

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 2008; No. 3 in 1990

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1989 and 1991

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 1%

Details: The Heat have neither needed nor received much help in the lottery recently, but they could have used some during the franchise’s difficult early years. Miami dropped from first to fourth in 1989 after winning 15 games, then fell from second to fifth a couple of years later.

Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats

Lottery Wins: 1991 (Larry Johnson)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1992, 2012 and 2023; No. 3 in 1999, 2006 and 2020

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1989, 2005, 2013, 2024 and 2025

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: 0.5%

Details: Charlotte has had so many lottery appearances that it is not surprising the franchise has experienced some good and bad. Jumping six spots to get Alonzo Mourning in 1992 might’ve been even more important than landing Johnson at No. 1 the year before. The Hornets also moved up a whopping 10 spots to No. 3 in 1999 and took Baron Davis.

Los Angeles Clippers

Lottery Wins: 1988 (Danny Manning), 1998 (Michael Olowokandi) and 2009 (Blake Griffin)

Other Top-3 Picks: No. 2 in 1989, 1995, 2001 and 2004; No. 3 in 1985 and 2000

Dropped Out Of Top 3: 1987 and 1999

Chance Of Receiving No. 1 Pick This Year: None

Details: The Clippers have had bad luck in a variety of ways, but the lottery has generally treated them fairly. Three No. 1 picks and six more top-three picks more than make up for occasional disappointments, like missing out on David Robinson after a 12-win season in 1987. Los Angeles has to give its pick to Oklahoma City, but the Clippers receive Indiana’s if it is No. 5 or No. 6.

Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points as the San Antonio Spurs moved into a 2-1 lead in the NBA's Conference semi-finals - while the New York Knicks are one win from progressing from their series with Philadephia 76ers.

France international Wembanyama took 15 rebounds and blocked five shots against the Minnesota Timberwolves, helping seal a 115-108 victory on the road.

The 22-year-old scored nine of the Spurs' first 11 points as they raced into an 18-3 lead, but Anthony Edwards, who scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, dragged his side back into contention and the match was tied at 51-51 at the end of the second quarter.

The Spurs led 106-103 with three minutes to go, before Wembanyama's third three-pointer and a flurry of free throws helped the Western Conference second seeds pull away from their hosts.

In Philadelphia, Jalen Brunson scored 33 points for the Knicks as they won 108-94 to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final.

The visitors had turned around a four-point first quarter deficit to lead 60-52 at half-time.

Quentin Grimes made a pair of three-pointers to bring the 76ers within four points in the fourth quarter, before Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart all scored to set up the victory for the Eastern third seeds.

The two best-of-seven series resume on Sunday, with the Knicks hoping to progress to the Conference final and the Spurs aiming for a third consecutive win.

• Thunder and Pistons extend leads in play-off semis
• Wembanyama shines as Spurs and Knicks win in play-offs

MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Wembanyama went 13 of 18 from the floor and 10 of 12 from the line, adding five blocks and a full night of paint deterrence as the Spurs won their second straight game after dropping the opener at home.

“It was like holding the ship together. We had a lead. We didn’t need to rush. We needed to be consistent,” Wembanyama said.

De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, and Stephon Castle had 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating.

Anthony Edwards had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Naz Reid added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, whose defense kept them alive after a woeful start but allowed the Spurs to shoot 6 for 10 from 3-point range in the pivotal third quarter.

Minnesota will host Game 4 on Sunday night. The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama’s fifth foul with 6:18 left and brought the Wolves within 99-98 on pair of free throws, but the Spurs never trailed in the second half despite never leading by double digits. Wembanyama sat for about a minute before coach Mitch Johnson sent him back in.

“We were going to not leave any bullets in the chamber in terms of keeping him on the bench,” Johnson said. “We were going to play him, and then if he fouled out, we deal with that.”

Wembanyama didn’t flinch despite the foul risk, finishing with 16 points in the fourth quarter. His 3-pointer that answered Reid’s pushed San Antonio’s lead to six with 3:06 to go. Reid tried another one near the end of the shot clock on the next possession that hit the rim and Wembanyama snagged for another rebound.

Edwards, who showed Minnesota yet again his swift healing ability by returning from a deep bone bruise in his hyperextended left knee after just one week to make the start of the series, had 22 points in the first half to help them snap back from an early 18-3 deficit.

“He needed that. We needed that,” coach Chris Finch said. “He’s battling back to find a game like this, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result that went along with it.”

The Wolves missed their first 12 shots and didn’t get a basket to go down until Rudy Gobert’s putback with 6:52 had elapsed, but unlike in the 133-95 drubbing they took in Game 2 on Wednesday they had the defensive intelligence and tenacity at the ready to make up for the long shooting lulls.

Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all tie.

McDaniels and Julius Randle were the most affected by Wembanyama’s presence, unable to get their short-range and rim-attacking game going. They shot a combined 8 for 34 from the floor.

“I went in the locker room and told the guys we had a bunch of great looks,” Edwards said. “If we make our shots, we win this game.”

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Philadelphia; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 212.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 3-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the Philadelphia 76ers in game four of the Eastern Conference second round. The Knicks defeated the 76ers 108-94 in the last matchup on Friday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 22.

The 76ers are 9-7 against division opponents. Philadelphia ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 16.9 fast break points per game led by VJ Edgecombe averaging 8.0.

The Knicks are 14-3 against opponents from the Atlantic Division. New York is third in the Eastern Conference allowing just 110.1 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.

The 76ers average 12.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.6 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up (13.9). The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the 76ers allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Quentin Grimes is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 24.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 102.0 points, 38.8 rebounds, 21.0 assists, 5.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.

Knicks: 7-3, averaging 115.6 points, 43.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.6 points.

INJURIES: 76ers: None listed.

Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (hamstring).

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

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.

The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.

The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.

The Timberwolves' 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

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

The noise inside Target Center swelled with every passing minute Friday night, the kind of playoff atmosphere designed to rattle inexperienced teams. Anthony Edwards started for the first time since he returned from a knee injury he suffered in the second round against the Denver Nuggets and every basket he scored sent the crowd into another frenzy.

The noise inside the arena swelled with every passing minute Friday night, the kind of playoff atmosphere designed to rattle inexperienced teams. Instead, Victor Wembanyama stood calmly in the middle of it all. And when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, when Minnesota smelled momentum and the arena leaned forward waiting for a collapse, the Spurs’ superstar answered every challenge himself.

Wembanyama delivered 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks as San Antonio escaped with a 115-108 Game 3 victory over the Timberwolves, reclaiming control of the Western Conference semifinal series in the process.

For a moment early on, it looked like the Spurs might cruise. San Antonio burst out of the gates with an 18-3 run, moving the ball crisply and defending with a physical edge that silenced the crowd almost immediately. Wembanyama controlled everything near the rim, while Stephon Castle pushed the pace and found open shooters before Minnesota could settle defensively.

Both the crowd and Timberwolves looked stunned as head coach Chris Finch called a timeout. But playoff games rarely stay comfortable for long and Minnesota responded with a big run to cut into San Antonio’s lead in just five minutes. Edwards slowly dragged Minnesota back into the fight. He attacked the basket relentlessly, hit difficult jumpers through contact and fed energy into the home crowd with every possession. Naz Reid came off the bench firing. Jaden McDaniels battled for loose balls and second chances.

The comfortable Spurs lead was gone, replaced by the kind of tense back-and-forth battle that tests poise more than talent. Every time San Antonio threatened to create separation in the second half, the Timberwolves answered. Edwards turned transition opportunities into highlight plays. Reid knocked down corner threes. The crowd roared louder with every stop.

With the Spurs leading 102-100, a moment when inexperience usually shines, Wembanyama took over completely.

First came the three-pointer that quieted the building. Then a soaring finish at the rim. Then another defensive stop that reminded everyone why Minnesota struggled to attack the paint all night. Possession by possession, the 7-foot-4 star suffocated the comeback. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, delivering every answer San Antonio needed while the Spurs calmly closed the game at the free-throw line after struggling there for much of the night.

Castle quietly orchestrated the offense throughout the chaos, finishing with 13 points and 12 assists. De’Aaron Fox added 17 points despite an uneven shooting night, while Devin Vassell chipped in key baskets during a critical third-quarter stretch.

But this night revolved around Wembanyama. The sense that even in one of the loudest environments imaginable, with momentum slipping and the Timberwolves surging, the Spurs never truly panicked because their best player never did.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the crowd that spent most of the night roaring sat mostly silent.

The Spurs had survived Minnesota’s best push. And now, they are two wins away from the Western Conference Finals.

Game Notes

• Victor Wembanyama joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal among players who have recorded 35+ PTS, 15+ REB, 5+ BLK in a playoff game.
• San Antonio missed eight free throws on Friday night. While it did not hurt them in Game 3, it will lead to a loss against a team like Oklahoma City or New York. They will need to fix that if they want to continue down the road in their playoff journey.
• Minnesota dominated the second chance points: 30-12

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called out referee Tony Brothers following his team's Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, taking umbrage with what he called Brothers' "completely unprofessional behavior."

Brothers, the longtime NBA ref, and Finch got into it during a timeout, with players and staff holding Brothers back, while Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards walked Finch away.

"I'm not sure I've seen players hold a referee back from their head coach before..." a reporter began to ask after the game, before Finch cut in: "Pretty unprofessional, huh?"

Tony Brothers and Chris Finch during the last timeout lolpic.twitter.com/YyTER8FsGP

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 9, 2026

He then went in on Brothers.

Finch said he was frustrated over what he perceived as an intentional delay in being granted a timeout.

"I wanted the timeout. I had called it 3 seconds earlier and I wanted the timeout," Finch said. "I said 'I want my 3 seconds back,' ... because he clearly heard me. He looked my way, ignored me, went on with the play ... almost cost us a turnover. So, and then, you know, he lost it.

"Then I went to ask him where the ball was going to be taken in and he screamed at me for that. So, completely unprofessional behavior by him."

Chris Finch on his interaction with Tony Brothers:

"I wanted the timeout and I said I want my 3 seconds back. He clearly heard me. He lost it. Then I went to ask him where the ball was gonna be taken in and he was screaming at me for that. So completely unprofessional behavior… https://t.co/2EzXqtpM7spic.twitter.com/zLImoRFTAX

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 9, 2026

Edwards downplayed the incident after the game, saying it's all part of "competition at the highest level."

"We want to win. Finchy wants to win. Tony Brothers is Tony Brothers. We all love him, so it's all good here," Edwards said.

Edwards scored 32 points, but Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 39 to lead the way to a 115-108 victory that gives San Antonio a 2-1 lead.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Finch rips Tony Brothers for 'unprofessional behavior'

PHILADELPHIA – If you're waking up on Saturday morning feeling good about the Knicks’ prospects in this postseason, you can thank Mikal Bridges. 

Bridges' defense on Tyrese Maxey has one of the biggest factors in this Knicks-Sixers series. 

Maxey is averaging 18.6 points over three games against the Knicks -- that’s 10 points fewer than his regular-season average, he’s 2-for-12 from beyond the arc, and has 12 turnovers.

That’s nearly double his regular-season average. 

Bridges isn’t the only Knick defending Maxey, but he’s drawn the assignment most often, and he’s aced it. 

“He’s doing an amazing job. That’s a tough task, a tall order. The way he is able to maneuver and navigate screens, do all those things, and on top of that, give us good shots, good minutes and a good quality of executing on the offensive end is great,” Josh Hart said after New York’s Game 3 win. 

Bridges is chasing Maxey all over the floor; defending him on and off the ball, stifling his backdoor cuts. 

While doing all of that, the much-maligned Bridges has also found a way to impact the other end of the floor. 

He had 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting in Game 3. That’s four straight games with at least 17 points. He’s hit 69 percent of his shots in that span. 

Quite a bounce back from Game 3 of the Hawks series, when Bridges went 0-for-4 with four turnovers. 

“Kal is one of those guys, I never worry about him because he’s going to bring it every game. He’s going to take each matchup personal,” Hart said. “When he gets into that mindset and that mode he’s a heck of a player.” 

ROBINSON ROLLING

You may not see it in the box score, but Mitchell Robinson impacted Game 3 in a big way on both ends of the floor. 

Keeping possessions alive on the offensive glass. Forcing the Sixers to chase him into the paint as a roller in pick-and-rolls. Defending Joel Embiid. A mind-bending dunk on Joel Embiid. 

The Knicks outscored the Sixers by 16 in Robinson’s 19 minutes. 

Maybe most importantly, he made four of his eight free-throw attempts. He went 2-for-4 when Philadelphia intentionally fouled him late in the third quarter. 

“It feels real good,” Robinson said after the game. 

Robinson was in the gym at 9:30 on Friday morning, working on his free throws with Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton. 

The work obviously paid off. One element helping Robinson from the line? Spinning the ball before his attempt.

“Once I do it, instead of rushing it it kind of gives me a quick little breath and then go into it instead of just flinging it up there,” Robinson said. 

“It helps a lot,” he said of the spin. “Keeps the ball not moving in my hand once I catch grip and just go into it.”