Category: Basketball

Draymond claps back at Knicks fan for Warriors Cancun diss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There’s not much you can get past Draymond Green.

As Green joined TNT’s NBA playoff coverage following the Warriors’ second-round exit, the Golden State veteran had a unique interaction with a fan during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.

“Cancun! Cancun! How was Cancun?” the Knicks fan shouted at Green.

The man continued to repeat himself before Green shared a slick response.

“Can you afford to go?” Green said before walking away.

Knicks fan: “How was Cancun?!”

Draymond: “Can you afford to go?!” 😭

(via icebybriv / TT) pic.twitter.com/qQn1VSw2S0

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 24, 2025

The Warriors’ rollercoaster 2024-25 NBA season came to an end after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Meanwhile, New York, after defeating the Detroit Pistons in the first round and reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, is down 0-2 in their quest to the 2025 NBA Finals. The Knicks will have their hands full as the series now is headed to Indiana.

And for the sake of that fan, he better hope the Knicks can turn things around, or his team will be joining Green and the Warriors in Cancun.

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Draymond drops hilarious four-word response to Kerr's center remarks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green will do anything to help the Warriors win, but the Golden State veteran is tired.

After logging countless minutes as the Warriors center in their small-ball starting lineup during the 2024-25 NBA season, Green was grateful to hear his coach Steve Kerr say he’s uncomfortable doing the same next campaign.

“As far as what Steve said, God bless his heart,” Green said in response to Kerr’s comments on the latest “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” episode. “It was real because playing the 5, it’s hard. And I’m always down to do it, as you know, like any challenge you throw my way, I’ll take on the challenge, but it’s hard battling every night guys who outweigh me by 60 to 80 pounds, and they’re four inches or five inches, seven inches taller than me. It does take a toll.”

Green, 35 and fresh off his 13th NBA season, was responding to Kerr saying in his end-of-season press conference that he doesn’t want the power forward starting at center in 2025-26.

“I don’t want to start next season with Draymond as our starting 5,” Kerr said Friday. “I think it’s doable for the last 30 games like we did this year, but you see the toll it takes on him. He’s talked about it too.” 

The Warriors will seek other options this offseason, and Green couldn’t be more grateful for Kerr’s part in the decision. Even though Green earned All-Defensive First Team honors in the role and was a finalist for NBA Defensive Player of the Year this season, he believes Golden State can upgrade at the position while providing him with a deserved reprieve.

“… I’m saying, I don’t think people understand the toll of and what anchoring the defense requires; that means every possession I have to put myself in a position to stop a fire, to help stop something,” Green continued. “It takes a lot. But I always say I’m cut out for whenever our organization needs to go to it, I’m right here. Let’s do it. I ain’t never going to complain about it.

“But I agree with Steve — if we can have a different starting center, and at some point if we need to go to [me starting], cool, but it’s a lot, and as I get older and older in this league, it becomes tougher and tougher. These guys get younger, more athletic, and like I said, I think I’m more than capable of hanging with the young guys and athleticism. But it does take its toll.”

Like Green, Dub Nation and NBA analysts alike have called for the Warriors to get bigger. Now that Golden State appears poised to do so, Green’s physical well-being should benefit — and that could mean the world for his game.

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Watch Steph incredibly hit 14 threes in 30 seconds in MrBeast video originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA world has come to realize that disrespect only fuels and motivates Steph Curry.

One young high schooler learned that the hard way during a competition with the Warriors superstar in a MrBeast YouTube video.

Demarrion, who is the top shooter at his high school, issued a subtle dig at Curry just before the contest. Demarrion was asked who he likes more out of Curry and Los Angeles Lakers megastar LeBron James, to which he responded that his preference was James.

“Oh, you’re a LeBron guy,” Curry responded.

“You shouldn’t piss him off before you go against him,” MrBeast warned.

“I like it,” Curry said, with a cryptic smile on his face.

Curry then proceeded to knock down 14 3-pointers in 30 seconds.

Demarrion was given double the amount of time to make as many 3s as he could, and if he beat Curry’s 14, he would win $100,000.

But the Petty King was victorious, as Demarrion made just nine shots in one minute.

Mr. Beast: “Who do you like more, Steph Curry or LeBron James?”

Kid: “LeBron”

Steph Curry: “So he’s a Bron guy.”

Mr. Beast: “Oh my God… you shouldn’t have pissed him off before going up against him.”

Steph then drops 14 threes in 30 seconds, beating the high school kid who… pic.twitter.com/d4bAeGRvyt

— 𝐙𝐨 🌶️🔥 (@ZoSpicyDubs) May 24, 2025

Tough luck, kid.

As the winner, Curry was rewarded with the $100K to give to the charity of his choice, which of course, he chose his Eat. Learn. Play Foundation.

And Demarrion deserves some credit for fueling Curry even more.

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For most of the past five months, the Knicks have played well in spite of their starting lineup.

The starting five's net rating from Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season was -1.4. But the Knicks went 28-21 in that span and finished the year with 51 wins.

In their first two playoff series, the Knicks' starting five was outscored by a combined 52 points. But the team executed when it mattered against the Pistons and came back from 20-point deficits twice against Boston en route to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Knicks haven't been able to mask the starting five issue against the Pacers. Indiana has abused New York's starting five in the first two games of this series. The Pacers have outscored the lineup by a combined 29 points. The Knicks lost the first two games of the series by a combined eight points.

It's clear that something needs to change entering Game 3 in Indiana.

Is it as simple as subbing Miles McBride for Josh Hart or inserting Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup?

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is never going to tip his hand to the media. So his answers to questions about the Knicks starting five aren't exactly brimming with insight.

"We've just got to keep looking at it, just got to be better,” Thibodeau said late Friday night after New York's Game 2 loss.  

The starters trailed Indiana by 10 points just seven minutes into the first quarter. Robinson and McBride entered off the bench and helped erase the Pacers lead.

The starting five was a -6 to open the second half. So it was outscored by a combined 16 points to start the first quarter and second half.

What is the prevailing issue?

"I think we just have to talk to each other off the jump," said Mikal Bridges. "I think maybe we just play a little to soft in the beginning. I'm not sure."

FRIED IN FOURTH

The starting five's struggles weren't the only reason why the Knicks lost Game 2.

They started the fourth quarter with their double-big lineup, featuring Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson with Cam Payne at point guard. That group was outscored by nine points in the first three minutes of the quarter. A tie game turned into a nine-point Pacer lead by the time Jalen Brunson checked back in.

Thibodeau went away from Towns for a 6:30 stretch of the fourth, which tells you what he thought of his center's play against Indiana.

In all, the Knicks were outscored by 20 with Towns on the floor in Game 2. I don't like using single-game plus/minus as to assess a player because it can be misleading. But the team's struggles on defense were apparent during Towns' minutes.

After the loss, Hart was asked for his thoughts on what New York needed from Towns.

"We need him to be aggressive offensively. We need him to be locked in and communicate defensively," Hart said. "That's all we need from him. We need him to communicate at a high level. Offensively, be aggressive, get to his spots, get deep post position, and use his talent offensively. Defensively, be locked in, communicate at a high level and be an anchor for us."

MORE MITCH OR MCBRIDE?

Thibodeau played McBride and Robinson for the majority of the first half. New York outscored Indiana by 10-plus points when one of those players was on the floor.

McBride was less effective later in the game and Robinson seemed to tire late in the fourth quarter. But it's hard to ignore their total impact on the game. They made up for the starters' poor first quarter. It was telling to me that when Hart was asked about Robinson, he mentioned that Robinson should be playing more often.

"Man, he's huge. He's someone who does just everything. Offensive rebound, defensive rebound, he can guard on the perimeter, guard in the post. He's a big X factor for us," Hart said. "We have to figure out ways -- I think he played 30 minutes -- figure out ways if he can play more. We're great with him on. We all got to be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team."

The Knicks obviously face long odds to win the series. Only six of the 82 teams to trail a conference finals 0-2 came back to win. New York's comeback will have to start on Sunday in Indiana. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. If Thibodeau decides to go with the same starting five and it produces the same result, the second-guessing of the coach will only grow louder.

Pascal Siakam scored 39 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 to go 2-0 up in the NBA Eastern Conference play-off finals.

The three-time All-Star scored the Pacers' first 11 points at Madison Square Garden as they claimed their sixth consecutive play-off win away from home.

Game three in the best-of-seven series takes place in Indianapolis at 01:00 BST on Monday.

"I just came out aggressive," said Siakam, who has averaged more than 20 points in six consecutive seasons and won the NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

"We're a team. It doesn't matter who scores. That's what I love so much about this team.

"I got it going early and the guys did a good job of finding me. Another night, it will be somebody else. That's what makes us special."

Myles Turner scored 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

The fourth-seeded Pacers led by 10 points with two minutes 25 seconds left, but two free throws from OG Anunoby, five points from Jalen Brunson and a Josh Hart lay-up with 14 seconds left brought the Knicks to within one point at 110-109.

But Aaron Nesmith and Turner scored two free throws apiece for the Pacers to secure victory.

Brunson finished with 36 points to set a Knicks post-season record of 19 30-point games, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges both scored 20 points and made seven rebounds.

Bridges said: "I know it is 2-0 but it is still a long series. We just have to find different ways to advance."

The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 2-0 in the Western Conference finals.

The winners of each conference finals will meet in the NBA Finals from 5-22 June.

• https://www.nba.com/news/2025-nba-playoffs-schedule

With the Knicks facing a 0-2 series deficit after Friday's 114-109 Game 2 loss to the Pacers, what changes will be made before a pivotal Eastern Conference Finals swing for Game 3 in Indiana?

Neither side appears to be looking too far ahead as the best-of-seven set shifts from MSG to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

"Same thing -- just get ready for the next one," said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau after the Pacers, who mixed in 11 players, outscored New York's eight-man rotation 65-57 in the second half. "You've got to be ready for the next challenge. We've got to study the film, make our corrections and get ready to play again."

Indiana stole both of the first two away games in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers before dropping Game 3, 126-104.

Although Rick Carlisle's team won the series, 4-1, the Pacers are not taking the Knicks for granted.

"There are a lot of traps here," Carlisle said. "You cannot assume going home is going to be easier -- it never is. Each game, as you ascend in a playoff series, becomes harder.

"New York -- they have an amazing fighting spirit, so we're going to have to keep concentrating on our process, making it hard on them and trying to keep tempo in the game."

Where do the Knicks start?

After Pascal Siakam's game-high 39 points among the Pacers' six double-digit scorers, New York must get back to basics.

"Just taking it one game at a time," said Knicks wing Mikal Bridges, who scored 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting while adding seven rebounds in 45 minutes. "We know it's 2-0, but it's still a long series -- 1-1 first series, up 2-0 last series, now down 0-2.

"We've just got to find different ways to advance. We've just got to be better defensively as a team and offensively make the right play."

Karl-Anthony Towns echoed Bridges when he referenced how his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the 2024 Western Conference semifinals and lost three straight before ultimately winning the series in seven games.

"If I've learned anything, especially last year, as quick as you win two games is as quick as you could lose two games," said Towns, who scored 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in 28 minutes. "So just bank on my experience and we've just go to execute at a higher level."

The Indiana Pacers are leaving New York with more than just a pair of road wins. They now have a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference finals.

Pascal Siakam erupted for a playoff career-high 39 points and helped close out a 114-109 victory over the Knicks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, giving the Pacers a 2-0 lead as the best-of-seven-games series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3. It was another ruthless closing performance by an Indiana team that has now taken back-to-back games from the Knicks on their home floor.

Siakam’s brilliance was complemented by 16 points from Myles Turner and a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, who stuffed the box score with 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Indiana, now halfway to just their second trip to the NBA finals, depart New York in firm control.

Game 3 is Sunday in Indiana, though the Pacers might prefer to keep playing in Manhattan. They’ve now won six straight playoff road games dating back to a first-round loss in Milwaukee, the longest streak in team history.

“I just came out aggressive at the end of the day, we’re a team, you know, it doesn’t matter who scores, that’s what I love so much about this team,” said Siakam, the ninth-year power forward from Cameroon who’d scored 17 points in Game 1. “I got to go in early, the guys did a good job finding me, and again, another night is going to be somebody else, you know, that’s what makes us special.

A back-and-forth contest with 17 lead changes through the first three quarters was tied 81-81 heading into the fourth when the Pacers opened the final frame on a 13-4 run with Knicks star Jalen Brunson on the bench. They seized momentum for good after Siakam’s three-pointer with 9:17 remaining made it 94-85 and never trailed again.

By the time Haliburton found Siakam in acres of space for an easy layup that made it 110-100 with 2:45 left, the result seemed all but a handshake away. New York rattled off nine unanswered points during a furious rally and cut the deficit to 112-109 in the final seconds, but Brunson’s contested 29-footer to tie caromed off the back of the rim. Indiana’s Myles Turner secured the rebound and iced the game at the line, bringing the rollicking sellout crowd of 19,812 to heel.

It marked the second straight fourth-quarter fade by the Knicks, who also blew a 14-point lead with under three minutes left in Game 1. While Friday’s loss wasn’t quite as historic, it was every bit as devastating. “We had a chance to tie the ballgame,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a hard-fought game. Both games came down to the last play.”

Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points and 11 assists, a heroic effort that wasn’t quite enough. Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 10 rebounds while Josh Hart chipped in 15 points and 11 boards. But the Knicks shot just 11-of-32 from deep and once again struggled with turnovers and defensive communication at key moments, allwoing the Pacers far too many wide-open looks.

Haliburton followed up his Game 1 heroics with a more subdued but effective night. Turner added 16 points, including 13 on 4-of-6 shooting in the fourth, and held his own defensively against Towns.

For Indiana, it was another showcase of their poise and versatility. Their bench outscored New York’s 24-11, and they outshot the Knicks 52% to 45% from the field.

No team has lost the first two games on their home floor in a conference finals and come back to win the series. Indiana are bidding for a second NBA finals appearance in their 58-year history and first since 2000, when they bowed to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

As for the Knicks, the questions are piling up. They’ve now dropped consecutive games at home for the first time all playoffs. Their late-game execution, so often a strength under Thibodeau, has deserted them. And their margin for error is all but spent as they now face the daunting task of flipping their first conference finals appearance in 25 years on the road against one of the NBA’s hottest teams.

The Knicks are in a 0-2 hole after losing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 114-109, to the Indiana Pacers.

Takeaways

1. The Knicks had no answer for Pascal Siakam, whose game-high 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting in 33 minutes kept the Pacers humming despite off nights by Game 1 stars Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith.
2. Jalen Brunson did what he could with his team-high 36 points on 13-of-26 shooting and 11 assists in 39 minutes, but co-star Karl-Anthony Towns' inconsistent 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting (and -19 rating) through 28 minutes left New York lacking. Either the Knicks' supporting cast needs to step up Tom Thibodeau must take a look at making changes.
3. Along those lines, should Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride play more? Robinson's defense and rebounding (nine boards, including four offensive) in 29 minutes off the bench gave the Knicks much-needed sparks, while McBride's two-way potential flashed through his 25 minutes.
4. Do the Knicks have enough depth to keep up with the Pacers for Games 3, 4 and beyond? Despite Haliburton and Nesmith coming back down to earth for Game 2, the Pacers picked up the slack with TJ McConnell's 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and three assists in 14 minutes off the bench. Indiana played 11 players and flexed its depth as it forced Thibodeau to reconsider the Knicks' rotation and potential lineup adjustments.

Who's the MVP?

Siakam

Highlights

Deuce McBride gets the triple to go and MSG is loving it 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/BwZXrhTFH9

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 24, 2025

Cam Payne finds Mitchell Robinson for the slam 😤 pic.twitter.com/B9118Y1ifH

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 24, 2025

Brunson ties it up before the end of the 3rd! ✨

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/jp5SI1aqd6

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 24, 2025

What's next

The Knicks head to the Pacers' home court for Game 3, which tips off Sunday at 8 p.m. from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Twenty-two seasons ago, LeBron James entered the NBA with almost unbelievable expectations, the fate of a franchise in Cleveland and a league hungry for a new star on his back.

Twenty-two years later, the Lakers' star exceeded even the most outlandish predictions, winning championships in three different cities, scoring more points than anyone in league history and authoring the kind of sustained greatness that’s unmatched across sport.

And if you needed proof, more was offered Friday.

A panel of media voters selected James to the league’s All-NBA second team — the 21st year he’s been voted all-league on one of the three teams. His 21 All-NBA appearances is six more than Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant andf Tim Duncan, who are tied with the second at 15.

Despite turning 40 in late December, James played 70 games and averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from three. His 78.2% shooting from the free-throw line was a career best.

Clippers guard James Harden made All-NBA third team, his eighth All-NBA selection and first since 2020.

League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell made first team All-NBA.

Read more:LeBron James' future: What's next for the Lakers star?

Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards and Evan Mobley joined James on the second team while Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Williams were with Harden on the third team.

James, who suffered a sprained medial collageral ligament in the Lakers’ final game of the first round, has a $52-million player option for next season. If he declines the option, he’d be an unrestricted free agent.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Knicks' dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns earned All-NBA honors, the league announced Friday.

Brunson was named to the All-NBA second team while Towns made it to the All-NBA third team.

The Knicks guard is having another incredible season in his third year in New York. After being named to his second All-Star team -- his first as a starter -- he's now a two-time All-NBA player after being named to the second team a season ago.

Brunson joins Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James and Evan Mobley on the second team after averaging 26 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists across 65 games this season.

As for Towns, the first-year Knick not only made the All-Star team but was named to his third career All-NBA team. He was named to the All-NBA third team for the 2017-18 season and the 2021-22 season as a member of the Timberwolves.

Towns joins Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden and Jalen Williams on the All-NBA third team after averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 72 games this season.

While both Knicks had tremendous seasons, they fell short of first-team honors. That recognition went to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

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Pacers steal Game 2, beat Knicks 114-109 in Eastern Conference Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The New York Knicks are officially in trouble.

New York again couldn’t defend home-court advantage in Game 2 Friday, losing 114-109 to the Pacers with the Eastern Conference Finals headed to Indiana.

Both teams stayed neck and neck throughout the first three quarters, with Indiana making a serious push late in the fourth. Indiana even took a 110-100 lead with a few minutes left, but New York brought life into the crowd with a run of its own.

However, the Knicks didn’t have enough in the tank with limited bench options to turn to. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points on an efficient 15 of 23 clip from the field. No other teammate scored more than 16 (Myles Turner).

Tyrese Haliburton, the star of Game 1 with his late heroics, logged 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting but compensated for it with 11 assists.

Jalen Brunson tried to put New York on his back with 36 points, but his solid 13 of 27 clip to go with 11 assists didn’t move the needle at the right time.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 20 points, but the latter rarely played in the fourth quarter despite it being a pivotal stretch.

Indiana had six players come off the bench, but only one made a notable impact. T.J. McConnell put up 10 big points on 5-for-8 shooting in 14 minutes.

For comparison’s sake, the Knicks had only three players come off the bench. Both Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride played over 25 minutes, but scored just six apiece. Cam Payne made a nine-minute cameo, but missed all three attempts, including two from three.

With the backs against the wall, the Knicks desperately need to pull an upset of their own in Game 3 at Indiana.

Game 3 in Indiana is scheduled for Sunday, May 25. Should the Knicks lose, they’ll be on the brink of an Eastern Conference Finals sweep right after eliminating the reigning champs Boston Celtics.

Pacers steal Game 2, beat Knicks 114-109 in Eastern Conference Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The New York Knicks are officially in trouble.

New York again couldn’t defend home-court advantage in Game 2 Friday, losing 114-109 to the Pacers with the Eastern Conference Finals headed to Indiana.

Both teams stayed neck and neck throughout the first three quarters, with Indiana making a serious push late in the fourth. Indiana even took a 110-100 lead with a few minutes left, but New York brought life into the crowd with a run of its own.

However, the Knicks didn’t have enough in the tank with limited bench options to turn to. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points on an efficient 15 of 23 clip from the field. No other teammate scored more than 16 (Myles Turner).

Tyrese Haliburton, the star of Game 1 with his late heroics, logged 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting but compensated for it with 11 assists.

Jalen Brunson tried to put New York on his back with 36 points, but his solid 13 of 27 clip to go with 11 assists didn’t move the needle at the right time.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 20 points, but the latter rarely played in the fourth quarter despite it being a pivotal stretch.

Indiana had six players come off the bench, but only one made a notable impact. T.J. McConnell put up 10 big points on 5-for-8 shooting in 14 minutes.

For comparison’s sake, the Knicks had only three players come off the bench. Both Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride played over 25 minutes, but scored just six apiece. Cam Payne made a nine-minute cameo, but missed all three attempts, including two from three.

With the backs against the wall, the Knicks desperately need to pull an upset of their own in Game 3 at Indiana.

Game 3 in Indiana is scheduled for Sunday, May 25. Should the Knicks lose, they’ll be on the brink of an Eastern Conference Finals sweep right after eliminating the reigning champs Boston Celtics.