Category: Basketball

After an impressive win in Game 1, the Pistons have an opportunity to head to Cleveland up 2-0, which is still hard to process after how the series against the Orlando Magic went. It won’t be easy, as the Cavaliers will be motivated to bounce back after a sloppy Game 1 in which they turned the ball over 19 times.

The great thing about the NBA Playoffs is that each game can bring a whole new group of challenges. Maybe the Pistons are less successful in generating turnovers in Game 2 and now have to put up a better performance on offense in order to win. The Pistons offense was not great in Game 1, as Cade Cunningham struggled with his shot, but they did enough to come out on top.

Whatever happens, this should be another great game at home with a chance to put the Cleveland Cavaliers in a very difficult hole early in the series.

Game Vitals

Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)

Analysis

People have talked about how the Cavaliers were careless with the ball in Game 1 without giving much credit to the Pistons’ defense. The Cavaliers were definitely sloppy, but the Pistons are the best team in the league at generating turnovers, so it isn’t all that shocking that they were able to control the game through generating turnovers.

They are able to overcome many of their offensive short-comings by getting out in transition and the Cavaliers have turned the ball over the most out of every team in the Playoffs, so at some point you have to concede that this probably isn’t the best matchup for the Cavaliers, even if they are the superior team on offense.

I don’t want to downplay the Cavaliers and make it seem like Game 2 will be an easy win, but many of the things the Pistons did in Game 1 are easily repeatable since they have done it all season. The toughest part for the Pistons so far this postseason is actually going out and doing it every night, which they struggled with at times against the Orlando Magic. That is why it took them 7 games and a 3-1 comeback to take them down.

A noticeable difference for the Pistons on offense in Game 1 as opposed to their series against the Magic is that offense seemed a little bit easier to come by for every other player on the Pistons besides Cade Cunningham. Cade was put through the ringer by having to deal with physical defense all game by Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers don’t have quite the defensive infrastructure that the Orlando Magic do and didn’t pack the paint as much, so it opened things up a bit.

I wouldn’t even say that Cade had a more difficult time generating offense, as he still got up 19 shots and many of the looks he got were fine, he just only made six of those shots. Many of the missed shots were shots that he was making against Orlando, so I would suspect that he gets back to form in Game 2.

One notable player looking to get back to form for the Cavaliers is Jarrett Allen, who only played 18 minutes and scored 2 points due to being in foul trouble. Jalen Duren was able to attack him early against a more spaced out defense and draw a few fouls. It led to Allen not playing the rest of the 1st half, then Kenny Atkinson decided not to close with him despite him only having 4 fouls.

Although James Harden nearly led a 4th quarter comeback for Cleveland with some tough shot-making, he also helped the Pistons get the edge in the turnover battle by turning over the ball seven times. Many of his turnovers were also live-ball turnovers that allowed the Pistons to get out and run.

Donovan Mitchell also had a bit of an off-game as he only scored 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting. He made some comments after the game about the lack of foul calls, but he also didn’t do a ton of attacking the basket as he shot 4-of-10 from behind the arc and many of his drives ended in floaters. I would expect a much more aggressive Donovan Mitchell in game 2, so the Pistons may have to put other players besides just Ausar Thompson on him if he starts to get some foul calls.

It will be interesting to see who JB Bickerstaff settles with playing off the bench. Isaiah Stewart struggled mightily in Game 1 and the last couple games of the Orlando Magic series, so does he finally unleash Paul Reed off the bench? Ron Holland got the 3rd most bench minutes in Game 1 after not getting much playing time against the Orlando Magic, so will this be a Ron Holland series?

It is very clear that Daniss Jenkins is going to get a ton of minutes off the bench, and if he keeps playing how he has been the last couple of games it is completely justified. He helped swing Game 7 against the Magic with his shooting and helped swing Game 1 against the Cavaliers with a ton of hustle plays and 7 rebounds. He was also huge as a safety valve for Cade in the 4th quarter when the Cavaliers started to trap.

The Cavaliers played six different players off the bench, so I would expect that to get cut back as the series goes on and Kenny Atkinson is able to settle on which players work the best for this matchup. Thomas Bryant, in particular, probably got more minutes than was planned due to Jarrett Allen’s foul trouble.

The biggest takeaway I have from Game 1 is that the Pistons were able to get back to playing their brand of basketball and if that continues, I don’t see this series going longer than 5 or 6 games.

Lineups

Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1): James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Detroit Pistons (1-0): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

It’s all coming full circle for the Washington Wizards.

John Wall, the franchise’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, will represent the Wizards at Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery.

The 35-year-old retired in August after a decorated career that included nine seasons as Washington’s star point guard. Wall departed the Wizards as the franchise’s leader in assists (5,282) and steals (976) and led the team to three playoff series wins.

After finishing 17-65 — the NBA’s worst record — Washington owns a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Wizards can fall no further than No. 5 and own a 52.1% chance of winning a top-four pick.

This isn’t Wall’s first time on the lottery stage. The five-time NBA All-Star represented Washington at the 2011 draft lottery when they owned the fourth-best odds at winning the top pick.

That time, the odds were not in Washington’s favor, the team instead dropping two spots to No. 6 before later selecting Jan Vesely.

Fifteen years later, Wall will take the stage once more, this time hoping for a better result in a monumental draft lottery for the Wizards, who just finished their third tanking season and appear one star player away from making real noise in the Eastern Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday will look to rebound from their Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their second-round playoff series. Once again, Lakers superstar Luka Dončić will not be available for the game.

Doncic indicated to reporters on Wednesday, May 6, that he was given an eight-week recovery timetable for his hamstring injury. It’s been five weeks as of Thursday, May 7.

He suffered the injury on April 2 in a regular-season blowout loss to the Thunder and has not played in a game since.

Dončić also confirmed to reports that he went to Spain shortly after the injury to receive specialized Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, with the intention of it accelerating his recovery. He stayed for an extended period to receive four separate injections that were spaced out four days apart and worked with specialists.

They predicted a firm Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Houston Rockets in the First Round of this year’s NBA playoffs. Without two of their three best players (Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury and Luka Doncic, out with a hamstring strain), they had no chance against the talented young Rockets, most media members in an ESPN survey said. 

Actually, 15 of 16 believed that Houston would win comfortably. 

And you can’t really blame them. Statistically, their chances of winning was 14 percent, according to Polymarket. That equates to “no chance”, according to Legion Hoops. 

But the Lakers still won the series – and pretty convincingly at that – getting up 3-0, which is basically unbeatable historically. 

That begs the question of how much attention we should give numbers and stats, especially in the playoffs.

Here’s why. 

Numbers are great at calculating how to get the most efficient shots, finding weak points and so much more. But they can’t stand alone. They can’t tell you about chemistry and they can’t predict the big moments of a playoff series. In order to get a full picture of a player, a team, a series, you have to look up from the stats sheet. 

Momentum, the intangibles in between possessions, rivalries, chemistry between certain players, trust in each other – and the opposite – overall team connection, leadership, mental toughness – no one can measure these things. 

But it is, however, right here that the real story of a game takes place. The story of winning – or losing – of personalities and the biggest moments. 

Most things worth experiencing are not quantifiable. It is in between all the numbers we track that the greatness of basketball is found. 

Right there, when numbers just won’t cut it anymore, we have only emotions left. In those cracks and in between our logic and reasoning, basketball forces us to feel. The good, the bad, the sad, the disappointment, and the elation. 

All of those feelings which we often are afraid to feel in our normal lives, because it would mean we lose control. But when we watch basketball, all of these feelings are acceptable, even applauded. And in that, basketball becomes a vent for all of our big feelings, which most people spend so much energy bottling up to get through the day. 

According to a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective on fandom, sports provide a rare, socially acceptable place for behavior that would otherwise be unacceptable. Fans can be loud, boo and scream, and be hostile towards the opponent. That leaves a place to get the aggressive, primal urges of the id (from Freud’s theory) out in a way that’s acceptable by our social norms and the superego, in which our moralistic nature resides. The id’s raw energy is channeled into a civilized activity that we like to call fandom. Sports help us get an emotional release for pent-up tension. And basically, that’s why it feels so important – and gratifying – to be a sports fan. 

That leads us to the future of the NBA, and a pretty good representation of the next generation generally, it seems: Victor Wembanyama from another playoff contender, the San Antonio Spurs. Just last week, Wemby talked about how he isn’t interested in trying to hide his emotions or consider it a weakness, which has been the predominant culture in the sports world, and generally, up until now. But that may be about to change.

“I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions,” he said in an answer to a question about whether being emotional is weakness. 

If sports, fandom and basketball help us cope with life, find balance and release pent-up feelings of the past, that is a powerful conclusion and a meaningful purpose. 

This piece started as a reminder to look up from the stats sheet – and perhaps your phone, as well – and how basketball is less about numbers and more about moments and all that comes in between. But as it turns out, it’s a lot about feelings, too. 

Sure, for some, it’s about money mostly, but for fans, players and people around the teams, who put so much time and effort into this sport, it comes down to feelings. 

Like someone used to say all the time (it was me), basketball is all about feelings. And maybe I was right. One thing I know, though, is that numbers can’t predict heart – so look up, or you might miss it. 

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

The Los Angeles Lakers will try to rebound from their Game 1 loss and even their Western Conference semifinals series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the opener 108-90. Oklahoma City is heavily favored with a 15.5-point spread with an over/under of 209.5. The Lakers will again be without Luka Dončić, who has not yet been cleared for contact.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Date: Thursday, May 7

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TV Channels: Amazon

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -15.5

• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -935 (86.6%) / Los Angeles Lakers +616 (13.4%)

• Over/Under: 209.5

Series schedule, results

Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90
Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Thursday May 7, 9:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)*
Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*

*if necessary

BOSTON — For 82 games, the Celtics’ depth — particularly at the wing position — was one of its biggest strengths.

“We just have 15, 16 guys that can impact winning,” Joe Mazzulla said before the playoffs. “At any point in time, people can help us win.”

When Mazzulla made that comment, it resonated. We’d seen it all year, after all.

Jordan Walsh started 25 games and showed flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, demonstrating an ability to shut down some of the best scorers in the league.

Baylor Scheierman started 20 games and emerged as the perfect complementary role player who had a penchant for winning plays.

At just 19 years old, Hugo Gonzalez started three games, but made his mark in plenty more, drawing charges, diving for loose balls, and becoming one of the league’s top plus-minus guys.

Even Ron Harper Jr., who began the season on an Exhibit-10 contract, got three starts and helped swing several games, outplaying Kevin Durant on the second night of a back-to-back in Houston.

Depth, however you wanted to look at it, was an undeniably positive storyline. All four backup wings came into the season unproven, and all four finished it with big-time performances under their belt and undeniable potential.

But, while that player development was part of what made the 2025-2026 regular season special, the Celtics couldn’t sufficiently leverage it when it mattered most.

Walsh played the most substantial backup wing role, in large part due to his ability to guard Tyrese Maxey, but he played just 5 minutes in Game 7. Gonzalez didn’t play rotational minutes until Game 7, and though he helped key a critical first-half run, all in all, he played just 19 postseason minutes.

Harper Jr. played 21 minutes across the first six games, got an unexpected Game 7 start, and then went on to only record 4 minutes in that game, despite tallying two quick steals.

Throughout the series, fans clamored for more minutes for each of their favorite back-ups: more Scheierman minutes, Walsh in the starting lineup, any sign of life from Gonzalez.

Before Game 7, I posted a thread on X asking fans what they would change; most of the 500+ respondents urged for more minutes from one of the team’s young wings.

The reality, however, is that playoff rotations usually tighten up. By late March, Jayson Tatum was back playing (very effective) heavy minutes, and Sam Hauser had established himself as the team’s fifth starter.

Mazzulla’s rotation conundrum was not made easier by the fact that none of the young guys on the roster separated themselves from one another — while different players stepped up in different moments, there was no clear hierarchy going into the playoffs.

“It was an unusual roster in that we had a lot of unproven young players that had really not contributed at a meaningful level yet in their careers, and [they] really showed themselves capable of that,” Brad Stevens said at his end-of-season press conference. “Oftentimes, as a coach and as a staff, it’s a lot easier if some do and some don’t, because then there’s a clear demarcation line. But that’s a good problem to have.”

In this series, however, the Celtics didn’t really benefit from the fact that there was no set rotation the way they did all season. In the decisive Game 7, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper, and Walsh all went scoreless on 10 combined field goal attempts. None of the four players was able to develop an offensive rhythm against Philadelphia.

It’s easy to say that Mazzulla should have played Scheierman, given that he broke through as an all-around player shortly after the trade deadline. But one could also make the case that Gonzalez, who probably brings the most to the table from an athleticism standpoint, should have seen opportunities before Game 7.

But the reality is that there is limited on-court time, and it’s hard to blame Mazzulla for those decisions, considering there was no clear pecking order among the backups going into the playoffs.

Stevens emphasized that it is not the front office’s job to make rotational decisions: “The role questions, and when people play, and how many people play, that’s what a coach has to do — and it’s really hard when, again, there’s not a clear separation.”

At his end-of-year press conference, Stevens was specifically asked about Gonzalez’s growth and, in turn, he praised his rookie season. The 2025 No. 28 pick averaged 14.6 minutes across 74 games, shot 36.2% from three, and was one of the NBA’s plus-minus leaders.

“Hugo had a great rookie year, and is, I think, a critical part of us moving forward because his athleticism can meet the moment in the big games,” he said. “That’s a real thing. You can see it. You know it. His strength is off the charts. He’s probably the strongest — he’s one of the strongest guys on our team right now, pound-for-pound, as a 20-year-old. So, he’s got a bright future.”

Still, Stevens explained that Gonzalez hadn’t done enough during the season to clearly demand postseason minutes.

“That said, he didn’t separate himself from those other guys,” he said. “And so, as a front-office person, I can’t sit here and say that one person should have been playing over another, should have been playing over another. There wasn’t enough separation.”

It’d be hard to argue with that.

Gonzalez had great moments, but he also made rookie mistakes, couldn’t create as much offensively, and didn’t space the floor as well as someone like Hauser, who has been on the Celtics for five seasons and was in the rotation for the 2024 title run.

Now that the 3-1 series lead has been blown, it’s easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback and say this guy should have played, or this guy should have played, but the real challenge lies in the fact that all four wings — who had taken turns being so important during the regular season — came into the playoffs on relatively equal footing.

Mazzulla, for his part, denied that making those rotational decisions was difficult.

“It wasn’t,” Mazzulla said. “I think too many times, pushing the right button gets linked to a positive result. At the end of the day, it’s about pushing the right button [toward the] process of putting us in a position to win. And that’s always the goal. And the locker room, whoever is out there puts us in position to win.”

That’s Mazzulla’s perspective, and it’s obviously a valid one. Still, watching the Celtics-76ers series unfold, it became increasingly clear that the team’s regular-season depth and rotational unpredictability were no longer the asset it was in the regular season.

In Game 7, only five players scored — three of the team’s starters (Harper Jr., Luka Garza, and Scheierman) went scoreless. Walsh was effective in slowing down Maxey in stretches, but none of the other bench guys consistently left their imprint on the game.

That’s, in part, the result of a roster that hadn’t been there before. Nearly half of the rotation — Neemias Queta, Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper Jr., and Garza — had never before logged postseason action.

“There’s positives in that, because these are experiences that will then add up for these guys to take advantage of in the future,” he said. “But when you’re in the midst of it, and you have a chance, you wish you would still be playing.”

Gonzalez ($2.9 million), Garza ($2.8 million), and Scheierman ($2.7 million) are all under contract next season. Harper Jr. ($2.6 million) and Walsh ($2.4 million) have team options. It seems unlikely that all five guys will be back in green next season — and if they are, it seems even likely that, with another year under their belt, there will be a pecking order established earlier in the season.

During the 2024 title run, Mazzulla didn’t have to make these decisions. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford were all going to see significant minutes. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser were on the edges of the rotation. Everyone who played had been there before, and the guys who didn’t hadn’t meaningfully contributed throughout the year.

A lot of that, to put it plainly, is just roster construction.

“As I look back, we didn’t have a team that was as experienced or as, certainly, as ready for that moment as you know we’ve had in the past,” Stevens said.

At the same time, in hindsight, it’s clear that one of the Celtics’ biggest regular-season strengths became a challenge when it came to the postseason. The 2025-2026 season was formative for so many players — that’s part of why Jaylen Brown has dubbed it his favorite-ever season.

But when it mattered most, that depth became a challenge.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their second-round NBA playoff series against the Detroit Pistons in Game 2. The Pistons fought off the Cavs for a 111-101 victory in Game 1. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points in Game 2 with an over/under of 215.5.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons

• Date: Thursday, May 7

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• TV Channels: Amazon

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Detroit Pistons -3.5

• Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -160 (59.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +135 (40.9%)

• Over/Under: 215.5

Series schedule, results

Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2: Cleveland at Detroit (Thursday May 7, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday May 9, 3 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)*
Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)*
Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*

*if necessary

With a take this inflammatory, we must all operate with the same basic assumptions. Here are mine: The Boston Celtics probably do not want to trade Jaylen Brown. He is eligible for a two-year, $141.9 million extension in July, and I expect they will offer it to him. I have no idea if Brown wants to sign said extension, and if he doesn’t, they will trade him. That is, as we say in the biz, that. 

Because of the contract situation, we really don’t have to speculate much on if he willbe traded or not; the fountain pen and the expensive piece of paper will do the talking. But we can certainly wonder if Boston should proactively move past the Jaylen Brown era (short answer: no) or if Brown himself is starting to think past his time as a Celtic (short answer: probably, but everyone thinks about their future).

But then there’s the keystone question, one that is the genesis of this whole discussion and the reason I’m writing this at all: should Jaylen Brown want a trade now, and could that ultimately be good for Boston? (short answer: I think so)

Should the Celtics want to trade Jaylen?

If I’m Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office, I’m not getting in the habit of proactively trading All-NBA players who won a championship and Finals MVP for your franchise. The Celtics are no longer in dire financial straits, and it would be pretty cold to say “thanks for your service Jaylen, peace out!” without having your hand forced. Jaylen isn’t even 30 yet, just had the best season of his career and has the two best abilities a superstar can have: durability and availability. Boston would be stupid to throw that away.

But Brown is not just a contract or a stat sheet; he’s a guy with personal and professional priorities. I don’t know if those are still best served in Boston, and Brown and I might be on the same page. 

Brown’s reaction to their recent first-round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers hasn’t exactly been gracious, and he even said that this season was his “favorite year” of his career. Not crazy because it was easily Brown’s best statistical season, but also not really a team-first view either, given that they won the NBA Finals in 2024, this was the first time the Celtics had missed the second round of the playoffs since 2021 and this was Brown’s first major stretch of his career without Jayson Tatum since he was a rookie. 

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” is not true whatsoever (ever heard of a smoke machine?) but I don’t think Jaylen is saying this stuff just… cuz. It feels like a soft launch of a trade request, or at the very least, a cup of coffee with one. And I wouldn’t blame him, given we all just saw the best Jaylen Brown ever is one without Jayson Tatum on the floor. If you were Jaylen, you’d at least be wondering what life would be like if that were all the time, right? 

Brown is not going to find that arrangement in Boston. Put simply, Tatum is a significantly better player than Brown and one the Celtics are more financially tied to. He will be healthy next season and regain his status as the primary creator and ball handler. Does Brown actually want to return to his old role? 

How Jayson and Jaylen work in 2026 and beyond

The “Can Tatum and Brown win together?”debate… thing that dominated Celtics circles for over half a decade was finally put to rest when they, ya know, did. But personally, I always found both sides of the argument profoundly stupid. For one, it implied that this was an equal partnership, which it basically never was; Tatum’s dribble advantage always ensured he would dominate the ball. For another, it had this weird, New England Puritanical determinism bent to it; it was like you had to decide if you were committing your whole heart and soul to this core or if you were 100 percent out. God had already decided whether this was the right path, so you were either on the bus to salvation or nowhere near it.

I, conversely, always felt that trading Brown would make sense if I could be sure the Celtics would get better. Some Kevin Durant smoke back in 2021 piqued my interest, as did some 2019 Anthony Davis packages. For who those guys were at the time, Jaylen included, we were just talking about a categorical upgrade for Boston. It was always a question of how valuable Brown was to Boston versus how valuable he was to other teams. 

And it’s the same deal now. Before the Celtics won it all in 2024, Brown’s value as an asset never exceeded his impact as a player. But it’s a brave new world in Boston, and Jaylen’s ability to be an elite first option may entice some interested teams to part with some serious beans to give Brown what he will never have on the Celtics: his own show, with all the trappings of superstardom and franchise control. How could he possibly avoid thinking about this?

Brown and Tatum have been extremely productive colleagues, but any suggestion from the Tatum-Brown Eternal Cult that they are blood brothers who never want to be separated ignores plenty of counter evidence. Logan Murdock’s excellent profile of Brown for The Ringer in 2023 explored the two’s relationship at length, and while the crux was basically “there has never been any conflict between them and that they’re good friends,” it also wasn’t “this guy is my ride or die forever, and I couldn’t imagine playing basketball without him.” Nor did Brown say much this year about how much he missed the then-injured Tatum on the court and how excited they all were to have him back. Calling this his “favorite year” isn’t super endearing either.

It was never a personal conflict, and I will resist to no end any notion that it was, but there has been obvious basketball friction between the two; they never ran much of a two-man game like some sort of Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray duo, and both are most comfortable with the ball in their hands. Then again, find me a pair of superstars in NBA history that have been completely, 100 percent without a basketball conflict. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? Absolutely not. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Nope. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant? Are you kidding me? 

I think Pippen/Jordan is very instructive, as while Pippen was better than Brown is now, and Jordan was uh, better than Tatum, you have to wonder if Jaylen knows the first word everyone thinks of when they think Scottie Pippen: sidekick. It wasn’t until Jordan retired that Pippen left the Chicago Bulls, and, already past his prime, his production plummeted. Does Brown really want to be remembered as a sidekick? Or does he want a fabulous second act to his career? Personally, I would want the second act.

What does Jaylen Brown want?

As I said before, Brown can force Boston’s hand by refusing to sign the extension they will offer him. That will speed things along, and then Boston will try to get the best deal they can; you’ll notice I avoided speculating about Giannis Antetokounmpo or any of the other packages thrown out on social media because they would have distracted from the crux of the issue: should Jaylen Brown actually want this, but an Antetokounmpo swap with Boston attaching a pick or two would probably be good for both parties. I wonder if Milwaukee would actually trade Giannis to Boston of all places — that would be a Category 5 betrayal of their fans — but Brown is probably by far the best player they could get back. Meanwhile, Tatum-Giannis-Derrick White is another category upgrade. His media circus and durability would make me nervous as a Celtics fan, but this is Giannis Antetokounmpo we’re talking about — still a business you want to be in.

But again, this really will be Brown’s decision, and I am essentially at peace with the fact that the right one for him might be to take his talents someplace else. He spent nine years in Boston blowing through every expectation and ceiling ever put on him, by me and many others, and I would be happy for him to be here another nine as a Celtic. But I also want him to be happy as Jaylen Brown; if it is no longer in Boston, that is, as we have said, that.

The Knicks took a 2-0 series lead Wednesday night, grinding out a 108-102 victory over the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. New York trailed after the first quarter, 33-31, and stayed close through three, tied at 89 heading into the fourth. The relentless Knicks defense gradually wore down Tyrese Maxey (47 MIN, 26 PTS) and Paul George (43 MIN, 19 PTS)—and maybe both sides were a little gassed. Philly managed just 12 points in the final frame, and each team squeaked out just three points in the final three minutes. This wasn’t the blowout that we’ve become accustomed to, and the offense faltered at times (7-of-26 3PT), but the paint dominance (56 points), a 20-10-7 line from KAT, and Anunoby’s two-way bullying were enough to claim the victory.

Jalen Brunson

41 minutes, 26 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers, 9-21 FG, 1-5 3PT, +7

Brunson was the engine, as usual, but it wasn’t easy. Kelly Oubre, Jr. and VJ Edgecombe took turns harassing JB through most of the first quarter, and he worked hard just to make 9-of-21 from the floor. He made up for it at the free throw line, where he converted 7-of-8. Those trips to the stripe were crucial in the fourth quarter when Philly was clinging to their lead. Given how well he was guarded, a 6:3 assist-to-turnover ratio ain’t too shabby. Cap still found his spots, still made the right reads, and outdueled Maxey yet again. Grade: B+

Karl-Anthony Towns

27 minutes, 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers, 6-8 FG, 7-9 FT, 1-1 3PT, +6

This was a KAT performance that reminds you of what he can do when he’s aggressive. He shot 75% from the field, drew eight fouls, and dished seven dimes. The double-double was almost a footnote given how efficient he was. Without Joel Embiid (ankle/hip), Philly had no answer for Karl inside or as a passer at the elbow. His free throw trips kept the Sixers in foul trouble all night. Three turnovers and that silly foul right after halftime keep the grade from climbing higher. Grade: A-

OG Anunoby

37 minutes, 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 9-17 FG, 2-7 3PT, +12

Best player on the floor last night? Quite possibly. OG logged four steals, zero turnovers, and 24 points on clean, efficient shotmaking. He generated 11 points off turnovers by himself and added six fast-break points, turning defense into offense while demoralizing Philly. Add to that a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. The three-point shooting was a little off, but who cares when he’s so active and impactful everywhere else? The Knicks needed a difference maker in a close game, and OG answered the call. The only dark cloud? Late in the game, he tweaked something in his leg and exited. Say your prayers it’s merely something minor. Grade: A

Mikal Bridges

38 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 9-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, +7

A quietly terrific game. ’Kal shot 69 percent from the field, did his damage in the mid-range and at the rim (with very encouraging aggression). Crashing the glass and running hard, he hustled to score four second-chance points and four fast-break points. The threes weren’t falling, but he wasn’t the only one with that problem last night. Defensively, he was excellent, with more of an impact than his one steal and one block suggest. Consistent, efficient, low-noise production. Two more points and the Knicks would have had four starters with 20 or more. Grade: A-

Josh Hart

44 minutes, 5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks, 4 turnovers, 2-6 FG, 1-5 3PT, +5

The stat line is a tale of two halves. The good: seven boards, six assists, three steals, a +5. The bad: four turnovers, a tech foul, and 2-of-6 shooting. Hart’s energy is essential to the team’s success, and his playmaking and defensive activity were genuine contributions. One of the game’s biggest moments came when, after jamming his thumb in the third quarter, he returned in the fourth to make a back-breaking triple. The turnovers were costly, though, and the shooting kept him from having a complete game. By our count, Josh must have a splint on two of his 10 digits—and the series is still young. Grade: B-

Ariel Hukporti

7 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers

The tall sophomore’s main crime was the foul trouble. With Mitchell Robinson sidelined by illness, and two first-quarter fouls on Towns, coach Mike Brown needed a clean game from his back-up center. Instead, Huk (who played very well in Game One) registered four personal fouls that limited his impact and shortened his stint. He grabbed three boards and had a second-chance bucket, but he fell short of expectation. Grade: C+

Miles McBride

21 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, -2

Defense was Deuce’s saving grace yesterday. He had a rough shooting night, making 1-of-5 from the field. One turnover, one assist, and a -2 in his stint. Sure, he canned a timely triple in the fourth, but he wasn’t a factor on offense otherwise. He’ll need to be more of a threat from deep as the playoffs continue, and if Anunoby misses any time, expect Deuce to play bigger minutes. Grade: B-

Landry Shamet

8 minutes, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steal, 0 TO, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, +6

Shamet’s night was the definition of “cardio” in the box score, but don’t be fooled. That +6 in his eight minutes of action tells a truer tale. While Landry didn’t record a single counting stat, the Knicks went on one of their better mini-runs while he was on the floor. he functioned purely as a floor spacer tonight, and supplied some solid defense on the other end. Nothing memorable, but sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed. All those blanks bring down his mark. Grade: C+

Jordan Clarkson

8 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 2-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, -6

A mixed bag. Clarkson went 2-of-4 from the field and grabbed five boards (three offensive), which is the hustle we like to see from him. The -6 in his minutes was a bummer. Grade: C

Bench / Rotation Notes

Jose Alvarado chipped in three points on 1-of-2 shooting, with one assist and one turnover in a seven-minute cameo. Overall, six NY reserves combined for 15 points and 52 minutes. Conversely, Nick Nurse played just three bench guys, who also scored 15 points. So far, New York’s depth is fine against Philly. It might prove less so in other rounds. Grade: C+

Coach Mike Brown

Battling poor officiating in addition to a well-coached opponent, Brown made the right adjustments heading into the fourth. The Knicks allowed 13 triples on 34 attempts, which is a bit concerning, but the overall defensive structure was sound, and New York outscored the Phillies 19-12 in the fourth to close it out. Up 2-0, no complaints. Grade: B+

The Knicks are in the driver’s seat heading to Philadelphia. Game Two was less pretty than Game One, but not unexpected. We figured the Sixers would come back with a strong counterpunch—and maybe play better without Embiid sucking up so much oxygen, frankly. Games Three and Four will be played in a tougher environment, but despite Philly’s attempts to block their attendance, Knicks fans should be present and vocal. Let’s hope the ‘Bockers give them something to cheer about.

Go Knicks!

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The Cleveland Cavaliers were messy in the series opener versus the Detroit Pistons. 

Think “James Harden’s beard after eating ribs” kind of messy.

Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal tips off tonight, and my Cavaliers vs. Pistons props expect a cleaner effort from Cleveland and more halfcourt action because of it.

That boils down to my best NBA picks for Game 2 on Thursday, May 7.

Best Cavaliers vs Pistons props for Game 2

Player	Pick
James Harden	Over 6.5 assists	-112
Jalen Duren	Over 15.5 points	+100
Donovan Mitchell	Over 2.5 threes	-115

Game 2 Prop #1: James Harden Over 6.5 assists

-112 at bet365

James Harden pointed the finger at himself following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1. The Cavs guard had seven turnovers to seven assists in the opener. Yuck.

Those miscues combined with cold shooting from Cleveland left Harden’s 14 potential assists to shrivel up and die. And losing Jarrett Allen to foul trouble early also threw a wrench in the Cavaliers’ schemes.

Game 2 could see a shake up in the starting lineup, with Max Strus replacing Dean Wade and giving Cleveland more spot-up threats for Harden to find in drive-and-kick sets. If Allen can stay on the floor, he also benefits from the point guard’s playmaking.

Projections for Harden aren’t bullish on his assist output but do lean toward seven or more dimes in Game 2, with forecasts ranging from 6.1 to 7.3 assists. With fewer wasted possessions and improved fluidity on offense, Harden tops his passing prop.

Game 2 Prop #2: Jalen Duren Over 15.5 points

+100 at bet365

Jalen Duren’s box score from Game 1 doesn’t exactly tell you how troublesome the Pistons’ beefy forward is for the Cavaliers. 

Duren got Allen into early foul trouble and dominated the glass with 12 rebounds. Offensively, he finished just 4-for-11 from the field for 11 points, staying below his closing point total of 16.5 O/U. He's gone Under in that prop market in seven of his first eight postseason outings.

While Duren has underperformed in the playoffs, Tuesday’s output was a byproduct of Detroit scoring a ton of points off turnovers and transition. Game 2 will be cleaner with more halfcourt action, which is where Duren throws his weight around. 

Tonight’s game projections are positive, as most models sit around 17 points with a ceiling flirting with 20 points from Duren. My number comes out just north of 17 points in Game 2. His scoring total is bouncing between 14.5 and 15.5 O/U, depending on the book.

Game 2 Prop #3: Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes 

-115 at bet365

Detroit didn’t have to worry about protecting the perimeter against Orlando’s lack of outside threats in Round 1. Cleveland, on the other hand, has Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell hit 4 of 10 shots from beyond the arc in Game 1 and has hit three or more triples in five of his eight playoff outings so far. All 10 of those 3PAs in Tuesday’s loss were graded as either “open” or “wide open,” meaning there were no defenders within at least four feet of Mitchell.

Game 1’s offense flowed like a backed-up crapper and Mitchell found it tough cracking the Piston’s stingy interior defense, even complaining about the physicality when attempting to drive to the basket.

With Detroit pushing him out the perimeter and game script calling for Cleveland to claw from behind, Mitchell will continue to take and make shots from downtown. His Game 2 forecasts all sit beyond three 3-pointers tonight.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Devin Vassell isn’t the first name you think about when it comes to NBA sharpshooters, nor is he the guy you’d expect to hit circus shot in the playoffs — but here we are.

Everything has been going right for the Spurs this season with the Victor Wembanyama-led team quickly becoming a force in the Western Conference. It’s not just Wemby who is coming through for San Antonio, but role players who has ascended above their potentials to turn into assassins when the moment calls.

It’s difficult to know if Vassell’s three was more based on pure instinct or awareness. The shot clock was about to expire, he was the target of a desperation pass — and without thinking he jumped, took the pass in the air, and drained the corner three in one fluid motion. It was simply sensational.

A lot of players would have tried to set their feet and watch as time expired, but I love Vassell just going for it here. It’s a small moment in the scheme of things, but one that definitely highlights how the Spurs have zero quit — even when they’re up by a huge margin, they’re looking to make shots like this and keep the scoreboard ticking.

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens are both denying any rift between the two.

In fact, Brown says that if it were up to him, he'd be happy playing in Boston "for the next 10 years."

The status of the team's relationship with its leading scorer this season was called into question after Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady recently said on his podcast that Brown has a frustration that "lies deeply within the organization."

Brown hasn't been shy about expressing his frustrations publicly. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA earlier this week for comments he made about the officiating after the Celtics' season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

After four consecutive easy playoff wins, the Knicks needed some extra work to put away the Philadelphia 76ers in a 108-102 victory Game 2 victory on Wednesday night. 

Playing without star center Joel Embiid, the 76ers gave the Knicks a battle. 

New York withstood the absence of big man Mitchell Robinson, a weak three-point shooting night and foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up the win. A combined 70 points from Towns, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby was a deciding factor in the victory, which gives the Knicks a 2-0 series lead. 

Now, the series scene shifts to Philadelphia.

Let’s navigate through some keys ahead of the game on Friday night's Game 3.

Paint production

Through two games, the Knicks have dominated in close, outscoring Philadelphia 114-62 in the paint.

Interior points were a huge factor on Wednesday night. 

New York won the paint scoring battle by a massive 56-30 margin, which helped make up for a cold shooting night. The Knicks shot 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) as a team from the three-point line. On nights when the three-ball isn't falling, dominating the paint can make up for it. 

It was remarkable this happened even with Robinson out due to illness, and the Knicks only having nine offensive rebounds against the 76ers. 

One main reason for finding easy scores around the basket is Towns. Having him operate as a playmaker out on the perimeter has opened up the paint for cutters. Towns had seven assists in Game 2, and has recorded at least six assists in each of the last five games.

If the Knicks can keep a healthy edge in interior scoring, it gives them a chance to win every game. 

Pivotal injuries 

While the Xs and Os are important, it’s the Jims and Joes on the floor who matter. Injuries will loom large in deciding how this series goes for both teams. Late in the fourth quarter of Game 2, Anunoby came up hobbling, and he was not available for the last two minutes and 30 seconds due to what seemed like a leg injury. 

Postgame, Knicks head coach Mike Browndid not have an update on Anunoby’s status. It’s a gloomy ending to what was another marvelous night from Anunoby, who recorded 24 points, five rebounds and four steals.  

Anunoby has been New York’s most consistent player during these eight playoff games and has made a great impact on both ends of the floor. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds during the postseason. It’s safe to say if he misses any time, that will have a significant effect on New York’s hopes to make a deep playoff run.

As mentioned before, Robinson missed the game with an illness. With Towns and Ariel Hukporti both picking up several fouls, the Knicks missed their rebounding center.

For Philadelphia, Embiid’s injury seems to be day-to-day, as he was ruled out earlier in the day before Game 2 with both hip and ankle injuries. Though he had trouble defending in Game 1, Embiid’s offense is valuable. The 76ers missed the big man’s ability to score and create offense in the half-court, especially during the fourth quarter, when they scored just 12 points on 4-for-19 from the floor.

Back in rhythm

If Anunoby is unavailable for the next game, the Knicks will need a group effort to replace his production. One player who could fill some of the void is Mikal Bridges. He’s averaged 19.7 points on 74 percent from the field over the last three games, including an effective 19 points and five rebounds in Game 2. 

Bridges has also had the unenviable task of checking 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey. He and the Knicks as a team did a solid job on Maxey in Game 2, holding him to just 9-for-23 shooting. 

Bridges had been maligned for uneven play throughout his two seasons with the Knicks, and his disappointing first few games of this year’s postseason run, but it seems like he has pulled himself of the rut he was in. 

Now, the Knicks will likely need Bridges to contribute even more on both ends.