Category: Basketball

The King has spoken.

LeBron James has presented a timeline regarding his future and when to expect an update on his decisions. Yes, plural.

James, 41, will be an unrestricted free agent coming off his 23rd NBA season where he led the league in fast break points while averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. He could consider retirement. Or, he could opt for his 24th NBA season – further extending the NBA record for most seasons played.

And if year 24 is the answer, there would most definitely be suitors. But pump the brakes.

During an episode of his podcast "Mind The Game" with Steve Nash, James shared that he hasn't really thought about what his next chapter is going to be, whether retirement, a return to the Los Angeles Lakers or possibly even a different team.

"I'm still in the moment of like, just taking my time," James said. "I haven't even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I'm a free agent and I can control my own destiny, (if it's) being here with this (Lakers) franchise for the foreseeable future, or if it's going somewhere else."

James elaborated on a timeline leaning into late summer for when he'd have a decision, but first come his priorities – family.

"I haven't even really even gotten to that point. I haven't even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That's kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind," James said. "But I think at some point you know, up until late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and July's rolling and maybe into August we start to kind of like get a feel of what my future may look like."

Whether James continues to play the game that he loves is up in the air. What's not in question is his ability to do so.

James said he knows he can "still give so much to the game and play at a high level" but hasn't came to a point where he's making a decision.

"When I get there, it'd be fun to kind of see what the future could hold," he said.

Tiers. It’s a subject we spent plenty of time discussing here at Bright Side of the Sun as we worked through our postseason SunsRank rankings.

Having tiers created a much more structured approach to ranking every member of the Phoenix Suns roster and determining who the team’s best players actually are. That’s the beauty of tiers. They provide segmentation and definable categories, making the entire exercise easier to navigate and comprehend.

Anybody who plays fantasy football already understands this concept. Tiers become incredibly important when you’re on the clock, scurrying to determine who should come off the board next. If you’ve already separated players into groups, the decision-making process becomes cleaner and easier to process. So yes, I love me some tiers.

When you extrapolate that concept outward beyond just the Suns roster though, it becomes an even more useful tool for understanding and ranking players across the NBA as a whole. It’s also an incredibly daunting task, one I absolutely do not envy. Thankfully, Law Murray of The Athletic has been tackling exactly that challenge, releasing a series of articles breaking players across the league into different tiers. I highly recommend reading the series and appreciating the work.

It’s a far more in-depth process than what we did with SunsRank because you’re evaluating the entire NBA landscape. There aren’t clean labels like cornerstone, pillar, wildcard, or depth piece. Instead, it’s tier-based with subcategories like Tier 2B or Tier 3A. Still, the overall goal remains the same: creating structure around player evaluation.

Murray has five tiers, with the following designations:

Now that those tiers have started rolling out, we finally have a national perspective on where certain members of the Suns roster land within the larger NBA hierarchy. And while rankings are typically something we roll our eyes at, I find value in these rankings. Because it allows us to see a structured perception. This isn’t some click-baity article meant to stir conversations in the doldrums of social media. These are rankings that, much like SunsRank, carry historical caveats within. You can see either progression or digression, which provides a greater context and layer to the conversation.

So where did the Suns players end up? Let’s start by reviewing the entire list of Suns’ players, and then delve a bit further.

My initial reaction to seeing these rankings is that, internally, the Bright Side writing staff and community largely got it right. Through all of the thought exercises, tier definitions, and polling, the order of where Suns’ players ranked locally and nationally was very…what’s that word Brian Gregory has made us fall in love with?…aligned!

If you remember our SunsRank exercise, Devin Booker was followed by Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green in the writers’ rankings, while the community rankings flipped Brooks and Green. Even then, the margin between the two on the community side was razor-thin, with only five votes separating them. Both Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen made the list as well, although our writing team had Mark Williams ahead of Grayson in SunsRank. But overall, having 5 players in the top 125 is a solid foundation.

Seeing Green ultimately land below Brooks by three sub-tiers in Law Murray’s rankings actually fortifies how the local fan base views those players relative to one another. Green has the talent, the upside, and the athleticism. But Brooks is the emotional leader, the tone setter, and the one who carries with him a much more deliverable price-for-value paid.

What becomes really interesting, though, is when you start digging deeper into where each player lands compared to the rest of the league within their respective tiers. And probably the most surprising thing for people outside Phoenix, at least from a national perspective, is seeing Booker land in Tier 2D.

Only one player other than James Harden fell in their ranking as compared to last season. And that player is Devin Booker. It’s a reminder, and honestly a reinforcement, that the perception of Devin Booker both locally and nationally is beginning to shift. The feeling now is that he’s falling out of that true superstar stratosphere, that a player who once comfortably lived in the top 15 conversation is starting to slide further down those lists.

Whether the driving factor is production, overall skill set, or some combination of both, it’s understandable why he ended up in this tier.

I’ve said it multiple times recently. Booker is a star. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a star. Still, the conversation naturally changes once a player is being paid superstar money. That’s where the value discussion begins to creep in, fairly or unfairly. It’s a conversation you know and I know we will continue to have for quite some time, because we are beginning to enter that uncomfortable space where the price tag rises as the potential for production wanes. We’re not there yet. But it’s just over the horizon, and some do not want to see that day.

At this point though, Booker remains the foundation and backbone of the Phoenix Suns franchise.

Per Murray:

The shooting guards here are Devin Booker and De’Aaron Fox, two players who could also be called point guards. Booker has won just four playoff games without Chris Paul on the floor with him, and all five of Phoenix’s series wins with Booker have been against a team missing a star for all or part of the series (Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Paul George). That’s not to say that Booker isn’t a very good player. The Suns would be lost without him, as he is his team’s best chance for anything close to efficient offense, and he competes on defense. But he would benefit significantly from three things: a point guard who consistently helps him get easier shots, another star teammate at any position and a head coach who can stick around a while (Jordan Ott is Booker’s eighth head coach).

Sometimes I feel defensive when national writers speak to who and what Booker is. I poke my nose into the sky and sigh, knowing that they typically are only touching the surface. But in this case, is Murray wrong? I think not. And that realization is one that many still struggle to come to grips with.

Further down the list is Dillon Brooks, who lands in Tier 4C. Who is he next to in the rankings?

I think this ranking is appropriate as well.

Dillon Brooks absolutely elevated his game this past season, and people around the league took notice. He was one of the few risers who landed in Murray’s 4C. For a long time, and I’ll include myself in this, what he did with the Memphis Grizzlies often felt more rooted in antics, while his stint with the Houston Rockets came across as more annoying than impactful. Last season changed that perception.

What Brooks did in Phoenix reinforced the idea that he genuinely moves the needle. Emotionally, he’s always done that. This year though, he proved he could do it through offensive production and through the cultural impact he had on a basketball team. Nobody expected the Phoenix Suns to be remotely competitive entering the season. Then you inject Brooks into the equation alongside a group of young, feisty players, and suddenly the entire identity of the team shifts. The league noticed that. His placement within these tiers reflects exactly that.

And then there’s Jalen Green, who fell into Tier 4E.

You’ll notice I added a third column to this tier breakdown because I think it’s unbelievably important to the conversation.

I’ll start with the obvious. Jalen Green missed 50 games this season, and that absolutely impacted how he’s perceived both locally and nationally. Interestingly enough though, his tier placement one season ago was also Tier 4E. Then you start looking around the rankings and notice players like Ja Morant, who missed 62 games, sitting in Tier 3E. Or Domantas Sabonis, who missed 63 games and also lands in Tier 3E. That’s where your eyebrow starts to raise a little because it forces you into an uncomfortable realization.

The national perception of Green simply isn’t where it needs to be right now.

That matters because the Phoenix Suns are about to pay him $36.3 million next season, and when you scan the players around him in these rankings, he’s making significantly more money than most of them. You start understanding why the fans who want Green traded this offseason may ultimately be disappointed.

Based purely on this type of ranking system, you can see that his national value probably isn’t high enough right now to bring back the kind of desirable assets Phoenix would want in return to meaningfully move the franchise forward. Now granted, this isn’t a ranking system put together by NBA executives or general managers. It’s the perspective of a writer at The Athletic. Still, it provides insight into how Green is viewed nationally, and that’s really the crux of the Suns’ current situation.

Even if Phoenix were interested in exploring trades involving Green, which honestly I don’t believe they are right now, this probably isn’t the time to do it.

Now we turn to a pair of players who saw their stock rise this season. First up? Collin Gillespie.

As Collin Gillespie approaches unrestricted free agency this offseason, his rising national value becomes incredibly important. Ultimately, that perception could help dictate the price point at which the Phoenix Suns bring him back, something that certainly appears to be a priority for the organization.

It’s funny because when you look across Tier 5A, most of the players in that grouping are either making a lot of money already or are players beginning to trend downward in their careers. There are exceptions though, and Collin is one of them. His value is clearly rising after what was a breakout season for him.

Locally, we understand the context. We watched him fade a bit as the season progressed. Still, when you step back and evaluate the season holistically, the value is obvious. The hope entering next year is that the progression continues, he takes another step forward, and his placement in these rankings keeps climbing.

Lastly, there’s Grayson Allen.

He landed just one tier below Collin Gillespie and is the second-oldest player within that grouping. Like Gillespie, Allen did not crack the top 125 rankings a season ago, which serves as a reminder of how valuable he still is around the league. It also reinforces the idea that he could ultimately become one of the pieces the Phoenix Suns move if they decide to pivot certain aspects of their roster construction.

Allen possesses one of the more tradable contracts on the roster, paired with a skill set that translates almost anywhere. Shooting always travels. Teams are always looking for secondary scoring and spacing off the bench. Because of that, it’ll be interesting to see what his market value actually looks like around the league.

That said, regardless of what Phoenix could potentially get back in return, moving off Allen absolutely hurts your depth and second-unit scoring.

What these rankings ultimately reinforce is something Suns fans are still wrestling with emotionally. Phoenix has good players. Legitimately good players. The issue is the league no longer views the roster as one built around overwhelming star power. Instead, it’s increasingly viewed as a team trying to construct functionality, depth, and identity around Devin Booker rather than simply stacking names and hoping it all works. Honestly, that’s probably healthier long term, even if it feels less sexy on paper.

And that’s where these tiers become valuable. They strip away emotion and force you to evaluate the roster through a colder lens. Booker remains the clear headliner, although nationally he’s drifting closer toward “high-end star” than “untouchable superstar.” Brooks is gaining respect because his impact finally translated into winning basketball people could quantify. Gillespie and Allen are viewed as legitimate rotational pieces. Green remains the wild card, simultaneously carrying the highest ceiling and the most uncomfortable price-to-production conversation on the roster.

Taken together, the rankings paint a pretty honest picture of where the Suns currently exist within the larger NBA ecosystem. Competitive. Interesting. Deeper than expected. Still lacking the kind of top-end hierarchy that typically defines true championship contenders.

In sports, there are three types of players. Those who are great regular season players, who take their greatness to a whole other level in the playoffs. Then there are great regular season players who flame out in the postseason. Lastly, there are the players who are average to good regular season players, who step their game up when it matters most, including in the playoffs. In my opinion, Jabari Smith Jr. is lining up to become that kind of player, and in 2025-2026 he showed us glimpses.

A lot of what is required to be successful in the postseason is mental. In the playoffs, every team is good and made up of good players. In the course of a seven-game series, there are no more secrets about what you or your opponent are going to try to do, it’s about executing your gameplan better, and imposing your will mentally and physically. Now I won’t say that physically Jabari Smith Jr. imposed his will on these playoffs, but he has the mentality that you need to win. Sadly, there were moments in the series against the Lakers that he looked like the only player who cared.

In the series against the Golden State Warriors last season, Jabari’s first taste of playoff basketball, he was extremely efficient on the offensive end but not nearly aggressive enough, taking less than five shots per game. This postseason, Jabari knew he’d have to be more of a factor with Kevin Durant missing all but one game in the series, and the team being down 0-3 in the series as a result. Yes, he stepped up his point production slightly in the playoffs, but honestly, it wasn’t enough. The team needed more from him offensively.

That being said, Jabari Smith Jr. took more than 14 shots per game in the series. The issue being that he only shot 38.3 percent from the field, including 37.3 percent from three. He played hard defensively as he always does, but let’s face it for a man of his stature he should be more of a factor on the boards. I don’t believe watching him on the court that it is from lack of effort, which is why I won’t be too harsh on the young man in this review. I think he has what it takes to be a contributor on a winning team, he just needs to finally put it together in his upcoming fifth season.

If he can combine the efficiency of his first playoff series with the aggressiveness and sense of urgency he showed in his second playoff series, then he will be one of those impact players in the postseason. I think at this point Jabari’s ceiling is a fringe All-Star ultimately on the outside looking in, unless the Rockets are just grossly misusing him, I don’t see him being much more than that. However, I can’t explain enough how big of a fan I am of his mental makeup. His 15.8 points per game in the regular season is fine with me, as long as he can bump it up to 18-19 points per game in the postseason. His 7.9 rebounds per game is cool with me, as long as it turns into 9-10 rebounds in the postseason. He doesn’t have to shoot 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three like he did in the 2024-2025 playoffs, but he needs to be close.

Since Jabari Smith Jr. was drafted third overall in 2022, he’s been on a personal mission to prove to himself that he belongs. With Paolo Banchero winning rookie of the year, Chet Holmgren already being a key contributor to an NBA Championship, and the eyes of many wondering if the Rockets made the right choice selecting him third overall, you can see that the spirit is willing with Smith, the question… Is he really that dude? I think he can be, because I see how hard he works, I see how badly he wants it, the only thing left for him to answer to me is, is he willing to go take it. Because no one is going to hand it to him. If he can match his on-court production with that dog mentality I sense in him, then I hope he’s still wearing a Rockets jersey when it happens.

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The San Antonio Spurs may not have won the battle, but they’ve got the inside track on the war with the Western Conference finals locked at 1-1 heading to Texas tonight.

After winning the series opener, San Antonio struggled through a disjointed road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Injuries, turnovers, and OKC’s physical approach to slowing down Victor Wembanyama all took their toll.

Our Thunder vs. Spurs predictions for Game 3 see Wembanyama pushing back, especially with the unknown status of San Antonio’s backcourt stars. 

My NBA picks and Thunder vs. Spurs same-game parlay like Wemby to top his scoring prop on Friday, May 22.

Thunder vs Spurs prediction Game 3 prediction tonight

Who will win Thunder vs Spurs Game 3?

Spurs: If De’Aaron Fox and/or Dylan Harper can come back from injury in Game 3, the path is cleaner for the Spurs. San Antonio’s turnover troubles could be solved with steady hands in the backcourt. On the year, this was a tough team at home.

The Spurs are 36-10 SU as hosts (57.6% ATS) and are a solid 13-2 SU and 12-3 ATS on their own floor when coming off a loss in the previous game. Considering how sideways Game 2 got, San Antonio was still within five points in the final minutes. That shows just how good the Spurs truly are.

Thunder vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 25.5 points (-105)

The Oklahoma City Thunder put Isaiah Hartenstein on Victor Wembanyama in Game 2 and used a more physical defensive approach to push him away from the basket. 

After taking 21 of his 25 shots in the paint in Game 1, Wembanyama attempted just 8 of 16 FGAs in the key on Wednesday. 

The constant abuse wore him down late and contributed to a more passive outing. He also reached the foul line only twice despite plenty of questionable contact. 

With the San Antonio Spurs home for Game 3, I expect a more aggressive Wembanyama and friendlier whistles from the officials.

COVERS INTEL: Wembanyama sees a near 3-point uptick in scoring at home compared to the road, and Game 3 projections sit as high as 27+ points. Those forecasts include injured guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper. Should one or both guards sit, Wemby shoulders more of the scoring load.

Thunder vs Spurs same-game parlay

De’Aaron Fox has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, and Dylan Harper is fighting through a bum leg. That said, I have more confidence in those guards coming back than OKC’s Jalen Williams, who re-aggravated a hamstring injury in Game 2.

The Spurs played poorly and had bad luck, yet still stuck around on Wednesday. Getting back home helps settle things down, especially in the turnover department. 

With Williams out, Oklahoma City needs another scorer to step up. Chet Holmgren has had issues against the Spurs this season, carrying over to a 7-for-17 start to this series. He did make two triples in Game 1, and his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting is vital to the Thunder.

After missing minutes in Game 2, Chet gets a wake-up call and knocks down two or more 3-pointers in Game 3.

Our "from downtown” same-game parlay: Lone Star Shootout

After a physical Game 2 took its toll on both rosters, the Spurs and Thunder are missing complementary pieces to their offense. That means they’ll lean extra hard on their star players.

I expect more scoring from the stripe from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama after the refs swallowed their whistles in Game 2. Points with the clock stopped are a recipe for Overs.

Thunder vs Spurs odds tonight

• Spread: Oklahoma City +2 (-110) | San Antonio -2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oklahoma City +110 | San Antonio -130
• Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Spurs betting trend to know

San Antonio is 13-2 SU and 12-3 ATS at home when coming off a loss in the previous game this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Spurs.

How to watch Thunder vs Spurs

Thunder vs Spurs latest injuries

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There were 13 former Michigan Wolverines players that logged minutes in the NBA in the 2025-26 season. With the playoffs winding down, let’s take a look at how every Michigan alum performed this year.

Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)

Wagner is definitely the best former Wolverine in the NBA right now. Despite being injured for more than half the season, he still proved to be a high-level performer, posting 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Unfortunately, Wagner went down with a calf injury in the first round of the playoffs and was forced to miss the final three games of the series, but he will continue to be a cornerstone of the franchise going forward.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver Nuggets)

Hardaway is well over a decade into his pro career and is still a very effective contributor. In his first season with the Nuggets, he led Denver in scoring off the bench with 13.5 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting from three-point territory. Playing a key veteran role and shooting at a high clip from beyond the arc, Hardaway should continue to be an impactful player in the years to come. He is set to be a free agent this summer, but there’s no doubt he’ll have a number of suitors.

Jordan Poole (New Orleans Pelicans)

Poole had an up-and-down season in his first year with the Pelicans, falling in and out of the lineup and playing just 39 games. After playing a significant role on the Golden State Warriors en route to winning a championship in 2022, Poole was dealt to the Washington Wizards and is now trying to find his footing in New Orleans. He averaged 13.4 points per game with the Pelicans this year.

Duncan Robinson (Detroit Pistons)

Robinson was a much-needed addition for the Pistons this season, bringing one of the NBA’s premier sharpshooters back to the state that he played in college. Following a successful stint with the Miami Heat from 2018-25, Robinson scored 12.2 points per game and shot a red-hot 41 percent from three this year. The former Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year has carved out a solid role for himself after going undrafted.

Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets)

Wolf was selected late in the first round last summer following his lone season at Michigan, and he immediately showed why he was one of the Big Ten’s most versatile players, scoring 22 points, four assists and four rebounds early in his rookie year. Later in the season, he was thrust into the starting lineup due to injury and he scored a career-high 23 points and nine rebounds in March. Following a solid debut season, there’s no doubt he will be a part of the Nets’ future.

Moussa Diabaté (Charlotte Hornets)

Diabaté experienced a breakout season in fourth year in the NBA, racking up career-highs including 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 26 minutes per game on 63.1 percent shooting from the field. The former All-Big Ten Freshman honoree has seemingly found a home in Charlotte, showing major strides this season and eventually earning the NBA’s Hustle Award. Now, he will attempt to build on his breakout campaign next season and beyond.

Caris LeVert (Detroit Pistons)

LeVert came to the Pistons with hopes of being a secondary playmaker off the bench, but he ended up having a much lesser role than expected and played a career-low 19.2 minutes per game. He also averaged single-digit scoring for just the second time in his career, posting 7.4 points per game. The 2016 first-round pick showed he can still be a valuable player though, erupting for a season-best 24 points and four rebounds in a playoff game this month.

Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)

Wagner’s pro career has been a bit overshadowed by his younger brother, but he has carved out a role with the Magic as well. Wagner was selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft and has spent the last six seasons in Orlando. Coming off a season-ending ACL injury, he returned to the court after missing nearly two full years. In 36 games, Wagner averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and will now enter free agency.

Jett Howard (Orlando Magic)

Howard is another former lottery pick from Michigan, and although he hasn’t exactly hit the ground running to start his career, he has displayed glimpses of impressive upside. Most notably, Howard went off for a career-high 30 points, including a 22-point fourth quarter in November. Howard scored 5.5 points per game on a career-best 37.2 percent shooting from three-point range in a slightly expanded role off the bench, so perhaps he’ll continue to make strides next season.

Kobe Bufkin (Los Angeles Lakers)

Bufkin hasn’t quite been able to carve out a consistent role in three years in the NBA, but he was one of the best players in the G-League this season by averaging 24.8 points and 4.4 assists in 17 games with the South Bay Lakers. He was eventually called up to the NBA, scoring 2.9 points per game in 16 appearances with the Lakers. In the final weeks of the season, Bufkin was waived by the Lakers, so he’ll try to find a new home this summer.

Caleb Houstan (Atlanta Hawks)

Houstan was one of the highest-rated recruits in Michigan history and went onto be a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. After playing the first three years of his pro career with the Magic, Houstan spent this past season with the Atlanta Hawks on a two-way contract, splitting time between the NBA and G-League. In 18 games with the Hawks, Houstan averaged just 2.3 points on 53.8 percent from three. Unfortunately, he was waived late in the season and is currently a free agent.

Isaiah Livers (Phoenix Suns)

Livers spent the first three seasons of his career with his hometown Pistons before signing with the Phoenix Suns last summer. He wasn’t really a part of Phoenix’s rotation for most of this season, putting up just 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 36 appearances. Livers has proven he can be a relatively effective option off the bench with the Pistons, scoring 6.6 points per game in his first two seasons, but he hasn’t been able to recreate that success the last two years.

Vlad Goldin (Miami Heat)

Goldin went undrafted after receiving All-Big Ten recognition in his only season with Michigan, but he quickly signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat. He put up 23 points and nine rebounds in his G-League debut and eventually made his NBA debut in December. Goldin wasn’t much of a factor with the Heat, averaging only 0.8 points per game, but his G-League statistics — 11.3 points, seven rebounds, two blocks — were impressive.

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A historic rally set the tone for the Eastern Conference Finals, and now all eyes turn to Game 2 as our NBA player prop projections zeroes in on the Cavaliers vs. Knicks matchup at Madison Square Garden — highlighting several high-value betting opportunities as Cleveland looks to regroup.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, May 21.

Cavaliers vs Knicks computer picks for Game 2

Cavaliers	Knicks
Mitchell u26.5 points  -112	Brunson o27.5 points -110
Harden o18.5 points -112	Towns o11.5 rebounds +100
Allen o7.5 rebounds  -112	Bridges o1.5 3-pointers  +100

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Cavaliers Game 2 computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 26.5 points (-112)

Projection: 25.64 points

Donovan Mitchell looked every bit the steady force while the Cleveland Cavaliers controlled most of Game 1 against the New York Knicks — until the fourth quarter hit, when he managed just three points the rest of the way in an overtime collapse.

He still finished with 29 points, clearing this prop line even in defeat, but the current projection feels a bit shaken—perhaps too hesitant to trust that Mitchell can deliver a bounce-back performance and lead a Game 2 redemption.

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James Harden Over 18.5 points (-112)

Projection: 20.31 points

James Harden’s Game 1 showing was a letdown—no sugarcoating it. The Cavaliers veteran managed just 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting, a far cry from what Cleveland needs.

Whether it was fatigue from a quick series turnaround or the Knicks simply locking him down, the Cavs won’t stand a chance unless Harden sharpens up in Game 2. Another 31% shooting night—or anything close to it—won’t cut it if Cleveland hopes to steal one on the road.

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Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds (-112)

Projection: 7.68 rebounds

Evan Mobley has been so productive that the Cavaliers may have lost sight of Jarrett Allen a bit  and that can’t happen, especially after Game 1.

Cleveland needed strong contributions from both bigs to avoid the collapse they suffered, but Allen was quiet, finishing with just 10 points and seven rebounds in the opener.

If the Cavs want to steady themselves in Game 2, they’ll need to get him more involved offensively and bring a much more aggressive presence on the glass after hovering over this prop line on Tuesday.

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Knicks Game 2 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points (-110)

Projection: 27.94 points

Everyone’s talking about Jalen Brunson — and for good reason.

He once again played the hero in Game 1, erupting for 38 points and powering the Knicks to a stunning overtime win. His fiery leadership has been the driving force behind New York’s playoff surge, and the buzz has only grown louder since Tuesday’s comeback.

Don’t expect that hot streak to cool off now. In Brunson, you can trust with clearing this points prop line.

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Karl-Anthony Towns over 11.5 rebounds (+100)

Projection: 11.93 rebounds

Karl-Anthony Towns opened the series with a strong 13-point, 13-rebound double-double and has been a force on the glass all postseason. He’s now hit double-digit rebounds in seven of New York’s 11 playoff games, consistently controlling the boards.

With Towns dominating down low, expect him to keep that momentum rolling at home and clear this rebounding prop once again.

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Mikal Bridges Over 1.5 3-pointers (+100)

Projection: 1.73 3-pointers

Mikal Bridges delivered a strong two-way showing in the Knicks’ Game 1 win, finishing with 18 points on 64% shooting Tuesday night, including a couple of treys at a 50% clip from deep.

With New York riding high, Bridges should once again find his rhythm — making the Over on his 3-point prop a live play in Game 2 tonight.

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How to watch Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Thursday, May 21, 2026
Tip-off	8 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

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With the Raptors’ offseason begun in full force, the franchise has seen its rookie receive the team’s first major individual award of the 2025-26 season. Collin Murray-Boyles has been named to the All-Rookie Second Team, the first Toronto player to receive the award since Scottie Barnes in 2022.

It has been a stellar season for Murray-Boyles that has not been totally reflected in his box scores. The former South Carolina Gamecock finished the campaign with 8.5 blocks, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, as well as a block and a steal a piece. Murray-Boyles proved that when given the minutes, he could affect the game at both ends of the floor. Predominantly coming off the bench in the regular season, as well as some high profile starts at centre, the rookie demonstrated excellent defensive chops, stellar rebounding, and flashes of genuine scoring abilities.

The playoffs are where Collin really shined, looking like the best player in Toronto’s rotation of big men at only 6’7. Averaging 14, 6.4, and 2.4, Murray Boyles had 5 stocks in a crucial game 6, and played a big part in anchoring Toronto throughout the series. Early playoff reps can mean so much for a young player’s development, and have further proved that the forward is a piece worth building around for the Raptors. But, Murray-Boyles seems to have enjoyed himself all the while. “It just makes me smile all the time, just being able to be a part of this,” he said about playoff basketball on the Raptors.

With Jakob Poeltl out for stretches throughout the year, Murray-Boyles’ defensive abilities as a small-ball centre earned him comparisons to his teammate, Scottie Barnes, as well as Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. It seems he might land somewhere outside of that range, more of a defensive specialist who can pass, rather than a point forward, though the young player’s game certainly has the time to evolve. Improving his free throw shooting would make him even more of a threat in the post, where his ability to pump fake and score close to the basket gives him some of the most dominant looking moments on the hardwood.

Murray-Boyles’ received the fewest amount of votes of any player selected to the All-Rookie team, with only 66 votes compared to the player ahead of him, Ace Bailey, who received 107. He was the only All-Rookie on a playoff team to not make the First Team, which in part can be chalked up to him coming off the bench for a Toronto roster with much forward depth, while many of his other classmates found themselves in starting jobs on depleted rosters.

Looking to the future, Collin Murray-Boyles has the potential to become an All-Defensive mainstay, as well as a cornerstone of an ascendant Toronto Raptors squad. He’s come a long way since being drafted ninth overall, swearing quietly out of shock as he was called to join his current team. He has come into the league as a developed player, and as the years go on, additional coats of polish should see him transcend his place now and become a premier two-way threat Raptors fans should be glad to have on their team.

Coming off a dramatic double overtime win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs looked to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. De’Aaron Fox missed his second straight game with a high ankle sprain, so the Spurs were once again without one of their all-stars. After a back-and-forth first quarter ended in a stalemate, the Spurs struggled offensively in the second. They were outscored 31-20 in the quarter and entered halftime with a double-digit deficit. The Spurs quickly erased their deficit and tied the game early in the third thanks to defensive stops and timely threes. However, OKC ramped up the pressure on defense and forced more turnovers. The result was an eight-point deficit for the Spurs heading into the fourth. Also, Dylan Harper injured his leg and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Despite Harper’s injury, the Spurs managed to keep pace with OKC and even managed to get within five points with just over a minute left. Unfortunately, Stephon Castle committed his ninth turnover of the game, and OKC closed it out. The Spurs ultimately lost 122-113.

Stephon Castle dropped 25 points (10-17 FG), eight assists, five rebounds, and a steal. Steph was cooking in the first half, scoring-wise; however, those same turnovers from Game 1 came back to bite him in Game 2. It seemed like for every dime that Steph was dishing out, he would also get a turnover to counter it. Already playing without Fox, OKC pressures him intensely whenever he is the main ball handler. Now add Harper’s injury, OKC is even more relentless. Steph now holds the record for most turnovers in the conference finals in the first two games with 20. For as many highlight plays Steph continues to make, he has to take better care of the ball. If Fox and/or Harper can play Game 3 and beyond, it would do wonders for Steph.

2-way player! Steph gets the steal on one end and drops it off for the Luke Kornet deuce!

HOW? Steph throws up a crazy floater from the top of the key for two!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME! Steph drives in and completely posterizes Hartenstein for the dunk of the year!

Patience and toughness. Steph drives in, takes his time, and finishes at the rim over Ajay Mitchell!

HB FOR 3! Steph dishes out a dime to an open Harrison Barnes for the corner three!

Defense to offense! After Wemby breaks up the alley-oop attempt, Keldon Johnson feeds Steph for the fastbreak three!

Returning the favor! Steph finds an open KJ in the corner for the transition three!

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and a steal. After a generational performance in Game 1, Wemby still managed to stay active on the glass and was active on defense. He had several early rests due to fatigue from Game 1, but still played the entire fourth quarter. OKC switched up their defense on him by having Isaiah Hartenstein guard him instead of smaller players. Hartenstein covered him the same way Timberwolves players were guarding him last series: holding and being physical to the point where the referees do not see it. His paint defense is so valuable; every time he is benched, OKC makes it a mission to attack the paint. His endurance will be tested throughout the rest of this series, as the DPOY will look to continue to give his team an unguardable edge.

W3MBY! Wemby drains one of his two three-pointers early in the first quarter!

Putback with the left! Wemby rebounds his own missed shot by contorting his left arm at the bucket!

Too much space! Wemby drains the pull-up deep three to tie the game!

NASTY PUTBACK! Wemby rebounds another one of his shots for a tip-in slam!

He can do this all day! Another missed shot, another rebound+ tip-in!

Devin Vassell dropped 22 points (6-12 3PT), four rebounds, an assist, and a block. Dev hit several key shots in much-needed momentum swings. He stepped up to the plate on both ends of the floor, especially making up for lost points after Harper’s injury. He will need to keep his hot shooting pace for the next couple of games in front of a raucous Frost Bank Center crowd, especially if Fox and/or Harper are out.

Corner specialist! Dev knocks down the open corner three after a blistering pass from Wemby!

Why not let it fly? Dev sinks the fastbreak transition three!

Despite the turnovers, the injuries, and battling through more physical contact, the Spurs still managed to keep this a close game down the stretch. Mitch Johnson and the coaching staff will have to look through film and work on correcting the mistakes while they wait to see the status of Fox and Harper for Games 3 and 4. Even if Harper is projected to miss time, a Fox return for Game 3 gives the Spurs a chance to clean up the turnovers and give them a scoring edge they have been missing in the first two games. If neither plays, Steph is going to have to tuck the ball away and play at a slower pace to keep the turnovers as low as possible. Despite the injury concerns, the silver and black can still make this series a competitive one, but as stated before, a return of either helps the Spurs’ chances of winning the series by a larger margin.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

Game 3 of the WCF shifts to the Frost Bank Center this Friday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on NBC/Peacock.

Yesterday, the NBA released the 2025-26 All-Rookie Teams. As the team with the worst record last season, the Washington Wizards relied heavily on young rosters. However, that didn’t translate into any players making the first or second teams.

That’s unfortunate, especially considering that both Tre Johnson and Will Riley averaged double figures in scoring. Johnson received 19 second team votes and 5 second team votes.

Despite their omission from the Rookie team, this does not mean that Johnson and Riley aren’t poised to be long term contributors for Washington. Let’s call it motivation for the next year.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James expressed uncertainty about his NBA future in the immediate aftermath of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

And he maintained that feeling in a recent discussion about his playing career.

During the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, which he co-hosts with NBA legend Steve Nash, James reiterated that he needs time to think about what he’ll do entering an offseason where he’ll be an unrestricted free agent.

“I’m still in the moment of just taking my time,” James said. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny — being here with [the Lakers] for a foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else.

“But like, I haven’t even really even got to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind. But, I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like.”

Free agency season is loading for @KingJames, but not until after Memorial Day.

Tap into the new episode out now on Youtube, @PrimeVideo, or wherever else you listen to your podcasts. pic.twitter.com/YnpIr0PogP

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) May 21, 2026

James reiterated his family will be a priority in his decision. He and his wife, Savannah, have three kids: Lakers guard Bronny, 21; Arizona Wildcats guard Bryce, 18; and Zhuri, 12.

“It’s very important,” he said. “I mean, 1A and 1B, is [what] do I feel comfortable doing with my career? But also with my family, how do they feel about whatever decision that I’m able to come up with and make? And that’s a joint decision as well. It’s 1A and 1B. I don’t think one is higher than the other.”

James is coming off a two-year, $101.4 million contract with the Lakers that included a $52.6 million salary for 2025–26.

The options James will mull over are retirement, or play a record-extending 24th NBA season either after re-signing with the Lakers or signing with another team.

“If it’s continuing to play the game that I love, which I know I can still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it’s not,” James said, “but I have not gotten to that point yet. When I get there, it’d be fun to kind of see what the future could hold. Either if it’s, like I said, in another NBA arena for another year or not.”

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During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania mentioned that James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, told him that virtually “every” contender has called Paul about James since the Lakers’ season ended.

James reaffirmed if he does return for a 24th season, it’ll be with a franchise where winning is the priority.

“Winning is most important,” James said. “Because you want to be excited about going to work every day. And being around a group of guys that feel the same way, and try not to take steps backwards. Understanding the season is a marathon, or whatever the case may be. But those building blocks throughout the course of the season is what matters when you get to the sprint, which is now, the postseason.

“I’m not going anywhere it’s a start over at Year 24. I’m done with that.”

James is coming off averaging 20.9 points (51.5% shooting, 31.7% on 3-pointers), 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 regular season games (career-low 33.2 minutes).

He upped his averages to 23.2 points (45.9% shooting, 32.7% on 3-pointers), 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds in the Lakers’ 10 playoff games (38.4 minutes) before they were swept by the Thunder in the second round.

James missed the first 14 regular season games because of sciatica he started dealing with last summer. He also entered the 2025 offseason dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee that he suffered in the season-ending Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves in the first round of last year’s playoffs.

“I had a couple of bumps and bruises to end the season, but I think we can both agree that an offseason without rehab is a success after a long season,” James said to Nash. “I’ll take it.”

MIAMI (AP) — League One Volleyball is bringing an expansion franchise to Miami for its third season, boosting the women's professional volleyball league to 10 teams for its upcoming third season.

The league made the announcement on Thursday, adding that it will also introduce an Eastern and Western Conference format for the 2026-27 season.

Miami will join the league's Eastern Conference, along with Atlanta, Madison, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Western Conference will include Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Salt Lake and San Francisco.

The league said the goal of the new format is to create new regional rivalries and more competition for fans and athletes.

“Expanding to Miami marks an exciting next chapter for the league as we continue building a truly national platform for professional volleyball," said commissioner Sandra Idehen in a statement. "Miami’s passion for sports, global influence, and deeply rooted volleyball community make it an ideal home for our newest team. With the addition of LOVB Miami and the launch of our Eastern and Western Conferences, we’re creating even more opportunities for regional rivalries, marquee matchups, and unforgettable fan experiences throughout the season.”

League One Volleyball, branded as LOVB and pronounced “LOVE,” launched in January 2025 after securing more than $100 million in funding from private equity and individuals, including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and NBA star Kevin Durant.

It has expanded since debuting with six teams and is among numerous recently launched women's leagues hoping to capitalize on rapid growth in popularity and investment in women's sports.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

The 2025-26 season had a lot of surprises for Boston Celtics fans. Jaylen Brown’s ascension to a top-10 player over the regular season. Neemias Queta’s explosive growth into a serviceable starting center. The Stay Ready crew’s energy and impact. Sadly, a disappointing first-round playoff exit.

However, one of the biggest surprises was the disappearance of Derrick White’s shot. White may have started his career in San Antonio with a shaky shot, but he developed into a certified sniper in 2022-23 — his first full season with the Celtics — and shot at least 38.1% from three-point range over the three seasons preceding 2025-26.

So, what went wrong this season? And what might it mean for his future with the team?

Examining White’s shooting over the 2025-26 season

There was no gradual buildup to White’s shooting struggles: it was evident right out of the gate. The 31-year-old started the season with a string of inauspicious “tour date” shooting performances, kicked off with 7/20 shooting from the field in the Celtics’ opening night loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

He shot only 4/13, or 30.8%, from three-point range on opening night, but that proved to be his most efficient showing over the first seven games of the season. Over those seven games, White hit only 30.8% of his shots from the field and 25% of his three-point attempts while jacking up almost 17 field goal attempts per game.

In lieu of Jayson Tatum, the Celtics resorted to using White as a second option on offense, as he finished behind only Jaylen Brown in shot attempts per game. While he put up 12.6 field goal attempts per game the year before, he shot 16.2 per game over the first 38 games of the 2025-26 season — a nearly 30% increase.

Despite a handful of explosive performances, like a 33-point showing on 55% shooting from the field and 64.3% shooting from three-point range against the Miami Heat last December, White clearly struggled early on with his newly expanded role on offense.

Nevertheless, he seemed to build some momentum toward the end of 2025. White’s three-point shooting efficiency improved from 25.4% on 10.5 attempts per game in October to 35.7% on 7.5 attempts in November, then to 38.2% in December on 10.9 attempts per game.

That momentum collapsed in January, when he shot only 37.3% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range, but things evened out a little in February, when he shot 39.5% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.

By the time Tatum returned in March, White was shooting 39.2% from the field on 15.2 attempts per game and 33% on 8.8 three-point attempts per game — both well below his career averages.

Many pundits (including me) expected Tatum’s return to benefit White by lessening his offensive load and allowing him to be used in a more off-ball role. While his volume drastically decreased with Tatum back on the court — he attempted only 11.4 field goals and 6.5 three-pointers per game following Tatum’s return on March 6 — his efficiency did not improve. In fact, from three-point range, it only got worse: White hit only 30.9% of his three-pointers over his last 17 games with Tatum back in the lineup.

Volume-wise, it was a career year for White. He averaged a career-high 16.5 points on 14.4 shot attempts per game, 4.4 rebounds (the second-highest mark of his career) and 5.4 assists — another career high. He also averaged career highs in steals per game (1.1) and blocks per game (1.3).

However, it may have been White’s single-worst season in terms of shooting efficiency. He shot 39.4% from the field (the worst mark of his career) and 32.7% on 8.3 three-point attempts per game (his second-worst three-point shooting season of his career). His 48.9% effective field goal and 52.9% true shooting percentages were also career-worsts.

His expanded offensive role through February played into that inefficiency, as he was only assisted on 71.8% of his three-point makes over the course of the season, and only 11.4% of his three-point attempts were from the corner — both being the lowest marks of his Celtics tenure and the second-lowest marks of his career in their respective categories.

White’s shooting struggles got even worse in the playoffs, where he shot 32.1% from the field on 11.6 shot attempts per game and 27.3% on 7.9 three-point attempts. His lack of success seemed to impact his confidence, too, as he hesitated on a handful of open shots and passed out of multiple scoring opportunities, even when the Celtics were desperate for a basket. He did not score more than 11 points until he broke out in Game 7 (interestingly enough with Tatum sitting out with an injury) but, by then, it was too late.

Is White’s future in Boston at risk?

Despite White’s huge contributions to the 2023-24 championship run and the team’s overall success in recent years, he could be on the chopping block if Brad Stevens is looking to make waves this offseason.

His defense remains elite — it seems like he only gets better and better at racking up stocks at the years go by — but it is unclear if the soon-to-be 32-year-old can regain the shooting efficiency that made him one of the best role players in the game.

A consistent, smaller role than the one he was pushed into for 2025-26 may help since White has historically been at his best as a tertiary option behind the Jays. He did struggle to hit shots while playing alongside Tatum this year, but that may be due to his fluctuating role on offense as he was asked to step up as a creator in the early season, then got lost in the mix upon JT’s return.

If White is unable to return to form, he might not fit in if the team continues to be built around the Jays and a three-point-heavy offense moving forward. Neither of the Jays are elite shooters in terms of efficiency from deep, but their gravity can create open opportunities for others, so they need to be surrounded by above-average shooters who can capitalize on those open looks in order for Joe Mazzulla’s offense to churn at a high gear.

Other factors to consider regarding White’s future in Boston are his salary, age, and redundancy with the team’s up-and-comers.

White will be 32 by the time the 2026-27 season begins, with two years of more than $30 million in guaranteed salary and a $34,844,000 player option for 2028-29. Stevens got the C’s under the luxury tax this year, but that price tag is difficult to maintain next to the Jays’ two supermax deals. Following the 2026-27 season, the contracts of Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and Amari Williams will expire, so it could prove to be quite a task to retain them while keeping White and the Jays.

Additionally, White has earned his reputation as an elite role player so, in combination with his sizable contract, he could be used as an asset in potential trade deals. That’s also where his redundancy with others on the team could come into play, since Boston has Payton Pritchard on a bargain contract and a small collection of young, exciting wings on rookie deals, like Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez.

If Stevens is serious about upgrading the Celtics’ impact at the rim, he may see White and his contract as more expendable than Pritchard or the team’s stable of young wings.

White has become a fan favorite in Boston for his defensive impact, willingness to lose teeth to win games, and his magical buzzer-beating shot in Miami to send the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals to Game 7, but he could end up a trade casualty regardless — especially if he can’t get his shot back early next season.