The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder open their Western Conference finals series. Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, has yet to lose a game in these playoffs, sweeping the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the first two rounds. San Antonio beat the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games and six games, respectively, to advance to the West finals.
How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -241 (67.7%) / San Antonio Spurs +196 (32.3%)
Over/Under: 219.5
Series schedule
Game 1: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 2: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 20, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Friday May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Sunday May 24, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Thursday May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)* Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Victor Wembanyama is fast becoming the biggest international star in the NBA — if he's not already the biggest draw outside the USA, he's close.
Which is why the NBA is sending the French star Wembanyama and the Spurs for two games in Europe, including one in Paris, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
The NBA schedule for next season will not come out until August, but it will include two international games in January for the Spurs, one in Paris and the other in Manchester, England (a city that is expected to be part of NBA Europe when it launches, planned for the fall of 2027). The Spurs will face Zion Williamson and the Pelicans (unless Zion gets traded this offseason).
The Spurs played two games in Paris in January of 2025, splitting the games against the Pacers.
Those will not be the only two international games next season; the NBA is expected to return to Mexico City for a game, as it traditionally does. In the preseason, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets are scheduled to play in the NBA China Games 2026, scheduled for Oct. 9 and 1, at The Venetian Arena in Macao.
A slice of pizza from Joe’s, a bagel from Zabar’s, a dirty water dog — only in New York. Getting gouged $100,000 for a ticket to a basketball game — also, only in New York. Knicks fans who are dying to see their team return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 are facing some of the most astonishing prices imaginable on the secondary market. Prices for the first home game of the finals at Madison Square Garden have gone through the stratosphere, and even nosebleed seats are selling for an eye-watering price.
Tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals are going for upwards of $500 in the upper deck against the Cavaliers, but <a href="https://www.stubhub.com/new-york-knicks-new-york-tickets-6-3-2026/event/160286427/?backUrl=%2Fnew-york-knicks-tickets%2Fperformer%2F2742that’s chump change compared to a prospective NBA Finals game.
The sickening prices are a product of the secondary market gone mad, which has become all too common for, well, everything. Sites that once existed as a way for fans to re-sell tickets to games they could attend have become the breeding ground for grifters, working as part of large computer farms to buy up tickets as soon as they go on sale to everything and then re-list at a higher price. It’s all well and good to enjoy the schadenfreude when a game’s value collapses and they have to eat a loss, but unfortunately, this is the exception and not the rule.
The volume with which resellers operate at means that in the long run, they come out ahead, especially when it comes to the courtside seat example, which would have sold at approximately $7,000 when first listed, ridiculous in its own right, but who cares when someone is willing to re-buy at $100K due to FOMO.
It’s just nice to know that amidst rampant inflation, food insecurity, soaring housing prices, and families struggling to afford childcare, there are people who can spend $100,000 on a ticket to a basketball game. It’s truly the glorious future the founding fathers envisioned for us.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 1: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Houston Rockets phenom Amen Thompson is eligible for a contract extension this offseason for up to five years at $251 million.
That’s the most the Rockets can offer, but there’s reason to believe Houston would not want to give him that much money, given how much they have to spend elsewhere. Houston Chronicle reporter Varun Shankar believes the Rockets won’t offer a full max contract to Thompson this offseason.
“Do not expect Amen Thompson to get a max contract extension. Such a contract would pay him a quarter of the salary cap over the next few seasons, but the impressive guard/forward still faces enough questions about his shot and eventual offensive profile. That, combined with the Rockets’ precedent of getting relatively team-friendly extensions, should keep him in the ballpark of 20-23% of the salary cap,” Shankar wrote.
Thompson and his camp have a right to push for a max extension, scoring 15 points in all six games of the playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, including 26 points in Game 3.
During the season, Thompson averaged a career-high 18.3 points per game while also establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the league. He is only 23 years old, so the sky is truly the limit for him and what he can achieve as he continues to grow in the NBA.
The Rockets value him highly and should look to pay him a max contract, or very close to it.
TDS community, should Thompson get the max this offseason? Chime off in the comments section below.
In a matchup that felt inevitable, the top two seeds will clash in the Western Conference Final, and Game 1 tips off tonight.
The MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and their runners-up will all be on the floor tonight as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center.
Our Spurs vs. Thunder props break down some of the night’s most favorable values, giving you my best NBA picks for Monday, May 18.
Stephon Castle has found the ball in his hands a lot this postseason, and he ranks second on the San Antonio Spurs in usage rate and first in assists.
Among players with at least 10 games played, Castle’s 6.1 assists per game are tied with Jalen Brunson for fifth-most, and his 28.9% assist percentage is 10th among players with 30+ minutes per game.
Castle has hit 6+ assists in six of 11 games overall and three of five road games, and with De'Aaron Fox banged up, the second-year man could see an uptick in playmaking responsibilities.
Game 1 Prop #2: Devin Vassell Over 2.5 made threes
+150 at bet365
Devin Vassell is only shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc this postseason, but his career 37.2% mark from deep means that there is room for positive regression in the Western Conference Final.
Vassell can enjoy improved efficiency against a Thunder team that’s allowed the seventh-most efficient 3-point shooting (36%) and fifth-most made 3-pointers (12).
The volume is there for Vassell, whose 65 triples are the 10th-most in the playoffs. If he can improve his shooting percentage in this favorable matchup, Vassell can reach three triples and cash this plus-money prop.
Game 1 Prop #3: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 18.5 points + rebounds + assists
-120 at bet365
The Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama in particular, limited Chet Holmgren in the regular season. Holmgren’s 16.5 Usage Rate and 10.5 points per game against the Spurs were his lowest marks against any team.
Conversely, Isaiah Hartenstein’s 19.7 Usage Rate against the Spurs was his fourth-best mark.
Wembanyama’s defensive attention will likely remain focused on his rival, Holmgren, who can stretch the floor. Hartenstein, as a result, should see less of Wemby, allowing him to stay productive in the paint.
Hartenstein has gone for 19+ PRA in five straight games and six of his last seven.
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Apr 5, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23) talks with forward Leaky Black (14) during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. They recently acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis who will be around a young core that features Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and the No. 1 pick. But let’s say that the Wizards are a team that players do NOT want to get traded to. In fact, when polled about the No. 1 team they wish they would NOT go to, the Wizards ranked No. 2. The Memphis Grizzlies were the runaway … winners with 35.8 percent of the vote of a 120 player survey.
Despite the Wizards’ front office trying to rebuild the team from the ground up, it’s clear that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins have work to do. Here are some hypothetical reasons why players wouldn’t want to be traded to the Wizards:
The Wizards have a losing culture (until I hope the 2026-27 season) — Washington hasn’t won 50 games since 1978-79. They have gone through their worst three year losing stretch since Winger came to town. Even if the tear down WAS intentional, the end result is a team that loses and loses. We’re optimistic that that changes next season. But given the last few years, it’s harder to argue that Washington doesn’t have a losing culture.
A player who gets traded to the Wizards is likely a stepping stone for someone or something else — Since Winger took over, there have been some notable players in Wizards uniforms like Jonas Valanciunas or CJ McCullom. But they were traded out when a pick became available. If you’re an existing NBA player and you get traded, you want to feel valued by the team who acquires you. Given Washington’s tank-at-all-costs philosophy over the last three years, if you’re a veteran or even a player in his mid 20s who gets traded to Washington, you already have a feeling that you’re only playing here for a few weeks to a season before Dawkins trades you again for something else. Players, even role players, want to feel valued for more than as a tuture trade chip.
Political environment of DC — Well, there is always the perception that D.C. is about political drama.
Now, look. Do I honestly think that the Washington area is undesirable to live in or work in? No. But there are costs to the strategy the Wizards took since Winger and Dawkins took over. And here’s an excerpt of the Amick/Robbins/Vardon article on that:
The Wizards finishing second [in this survey] is not a surprise. The team has not won 50 games in a season or reached the Eastern Conference finals since 1978-79. Its 17-65 record as it tanked this season likely perpetuated the losing-franchise narrative.
“I can personally say now it’s not what people think or what people make it seem,” Davis said. “Yes, the losing is part of it, so people kind of tie that with the organization. But the organization within itself is totally different from what people think they’re seeing.”
Hopefully, the Wizards will be a team players want to play for (or get traded to) in the not-too-distant future.
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The New York Knicks finally know what’s what.
Starting Tuesday, May 19, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and co. will go toe-to-toe with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the long-awaited 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.
Home games are Madison Square Garden are scheduled to go down at:
If you’d like to catch a game at MSG, last-minute tickets are available for all four potential Big Apple contests.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one game was $510 including fees on SeatGeek.
Other games start anywhere from $557 to $1,194 including fees.
New York comes into this series rather well-rested. Mike Brown’s club wrapped their Semifinals sweep of the 76ers on Sunday, May 10, nine days before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
As a bonus, they’ll be getting star power forward OG Anunoby back from a mild right hamstring strain injury that he suffered in game 2 against the Sixers.
Meanwhile, Mitchell, Harden, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley had to tough out a seven-game series against the No. 1-ranked Detroit Pistons before finishing them off with a decisive 125-94 Game 7 victory.
“Yeah it’s great I get to play at home…doesn’t matter.” NYC native Donovan Mitchell said in a press conference after the game.
“We gotta be locked in and ready to go…they’re a tough team. We’re excited.”
Adding intrigue to this high-stakes series is Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown’s history with Cleveland. The 56-year-old Columbus native coached Cleveland from 2005-10 and ’13-14, leading the team to their first Finals appearance in 2007.
Now, he’s hoping to do the same for New York who haven’t gotten to the Big Dance since 1999 where they lost to the Spurs (just like the Cavs in ’07).
“I don’t look at it like [there’s pressure],” Brown said. “I literally do this to try to compete to try to win a championship. That’s what my focus is throughout the course of the year.”
“People can talk about Mike Brown, but it’s my job to ignore the noise. It’s easy to do that because the pressure that I put on myself and the team puts on itself to be great or try to be the best team in the league.”
While we don’t know how this series will turn out, we do know the Garden will be electric.
We’ll see you there.
New York Knicks playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks Eastern Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets, can be found here:
New York Knicks home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Tuesday, May 19
$557(including fees)
Game 2 Thursday, May 21
$510(including fees)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 27 (if necessary)
$809(including fees)
Game 7 Sunday, May 31 (if necessary)
$1,194(including fees)
Cleveland Cavaliers playoff home game tickets
All Cavs Rocket Arena playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Cleveland Cavaliers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 23
N/A
Game 4 Monday, May 25
N/A
Game 6 Friday, May 29(if necessary)
N/A
How to watch the Knicks and Cavs on TV
Fans hoping to catch Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on MSG, ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC, and NBA TV.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
About Knicks-Cavs
Over the course of the 2025-26 campaign, the Knicks and Cavs met three times.
In the first game of the season way back on Oct. 22, New York won 119-111 behind OG Anunoby’s 24 points and Jalen Brunson’s 23.
The Knicks came out on top again in their second showdown, which took place on Christmas Day. This one was a bit of a nail-biter with leads varying wildly. Cleveland was up 38-23 at the end of the first quarter but by halftime, New York had regained the lead. By the end of regulation, Brunson had led the club to a 126-124 victory.
Cleveland notched their sole win against the orange and blue when they took down the Knicks 109-94 on Feb. 24. Donovan Mitchell dropped 23 points, grabbed five boards, recorded assists and notched three steals.
As for this series, Yahoo! Sports predicts “Knicks in six.”
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Just two weeks after being fired by the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Mosley to be their next head coach, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other sources.
This move was not a surprise, Mosley had been linked to Pelicans president Joe Dumars and the head coaching job for the Pelicans before he was let go in Orlando (Mosley had been on the hot seat all season, so his firing was expected). He beat out other favorites, including former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Bucks assistant Rajon Rondo.
Mosley takes over from James Borrego, who did a respectable job as interim head coach after Dumars fired Willie Green 12 games into the season.
Mosley lifted Orlando from a 21-win team before he took over five seasons ago to three straight 41+ win seasons and playoff appearances, and he built his team around a very good defense. However, that upward trajectory of the Magic stalled out this season: their defense fell back to average, their offense was unimaginative, and while the Magic got up 3-1 on Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, they blew that lead and were again bounced early. Mosley also clashed with Magic star Paolo Banchero, and in a star-driven NBA that rarely ends well for the coach.
Mosley takes over a roster that is expected to see changes this offseason — although not through the draft, as it traded away the rights to its first-round pick this year to Atlanta to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 last June (Atlanta is selecting No. 8 with that pick). Zion is under contract, although Dumars may well explore his trade market. They also have Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, two-way wing players who drew a lot of trade interest from other teams at the deadline, but those teams would not meet the Pelicans' high asking price. New Orleans also has Queen, who had a good rookie season, and his fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears, as well as Jordan Poole and Dejonte Murray at the guard spot. Saddiq Bey also had an under-the-radar but quality season in New Orleans.
If the Pelicans can get a rim-protecting center and Mosley can improve the defense, and they get another healthy season from Zion, a path to more wins and respectability is in front of them. That said, Mosley has a lot of work in front of him.
Just two weeks after being fired by the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Mosley to be their next head coach, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by the Pelicans.
“Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff,” said New Orleans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars. “He has consistently demonstrated an ability to develop young talent while establishing teams that compete with toughness, discipline, and togetherness. His teams reflect his coaching style through their defensive intensity, effort, preparation, and commitment to playing the right way. Those qualities reinforce the long-term stability of a winning culture.”
This move was not a surprise, Mosley had been linked to Dumars and the head coaching job for the Pelicans before he was let go in Orlando (Mosley had been on the hot seat all season, so his firing was expected). He beat out other favorites, including former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Bucks assistant Rajon Rondo.
Mosley takes over from James Borrego, who did a respectable job as interim head coach after Dumars fired Willie Green 12 games into the season.
Mosley lifted Orlando from a 21-win team before he took over five seasons ago to three straight 41+ win seasons and playoff appearances, and he built his team around a very good defense. However, that upward trajectory of the Magic stalled out this season: their defense fell back to average, their offense was unimaginative, and while the Magic got up 3-1 on Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, they blew that lead and were again bounced early. Mosley also clashed with Magic star Paolo Banchero, and in a star-driven NBA that rarely ends well for the coach.
Mosley takes over a roster that is expected to see changes this offseason — although not through the draft, as it traded away the rights to its first-round pick this year to Atlanta to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 last June (Atlanta is selecting No. 8 with that pick). Zion Williamson is under contract, although Dumars may well explore his trade market. They also have Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, two-way wing players who drew a lot of trade interest from other teams at the deadline, but those teams would not meet the Pelicans' high asking price. New Orleans also has Queen, who had a good rookie season, and his fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears, as well as Jordan Poole and Dejonte Murray at the guard spot. Saddiq Bey also had an under-the-radar but quality season in New Orleans.
If the Pelicans can get a rim-protecting center and Mosley can improve the defense, and they get another healthy season from Zion, a path to more wins and respectability is in front of them. That said, Mosley has a lot of work in front of him.
Less than two weeks after the Orlando Magic let him go, Mosley is heading to New Orleans. The Pelicans are hiring him as their next head coach on a five-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
League executives at last week’s combine had been whispering for days that Mosley was the reason the Pelicans kept stalling their decision. New Orleans wanted him. They just had to see if he was ready to jump back in.
Clearly, he is.
It’s the first major coaching hire for Joe Dumars, the Hall of Famer who took over the Pelicans’ front office last April after a long run in Detroit. Dumars was a legendary Pistons player and then built a championship team as an executive. He came to New Orleans to do it again.
This hiring is how Dumars begins that process.
Mosley, 47, spent five seasons in Orlando, going 189-221 with the Magic. He built them into a legitimate defensive force. They were ranked second in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season. They made three straight playoff appearances under Mosley, but also three straight first-round exits.
The last one, a blown 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons, cost Mosley his job.
Before Orlando, Mosley spent 15 years as an assistant with Cleveland, Denver and Dallas before getting his shot as a head coach.
He inherits a Pelicans team still looking for stability after Willie Green was fired just 12 games into last season. They finished 26-56 overall, going 24-46 under interim coach James Borrego. Zion Williamson remains the centerpiece. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen give him young pieces to develop.
The Knicks play in their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals beginning Tuesday, when they take on a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is coming off seven-game series wins over the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
These two teams met, albeit under different circumstances, in the first round of the playoffs just three short years ago, and now get to reignite that rivalry with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line.
Here’s what to expect from the series and who we expect to advance...
The Cavaliers have one major question the 76ers also failed to solve against the Knicks: what do you do about Jalen Brunson? Both their starting guards are lackluster defensively, their wing options are shaky, and their bigs are better suited for the paint.
There’s a strong chance Cleveland deploys whoever out of Max Strus, Caris LeVert, or Dean Wade is on the floor on Brunson, who should be able to get to the paint with ease against these names. As far as individual matchups go, Brunson may have more pickings in this series than any of the previous ones, with almost any switch giving him a huge advantage.
Of course, he’ll need to execute and not fall too deep into the isolation hole. With how successful the motion offense and Brunson off-ball play has been, this shouldn’t be a concern.
If Cleveland decides to send extra bodies Brunson’s way, their backline defense can easily get stretched too thin between relying on their guards (who have now led their offense through two seven-gamers) and less mobile bigs to make plays three-on-four. Teams haven’t been able to employ this effectively thus far in the postseason, though Cleveland has some decent size to cause problems at least.
Speaking of wings, the Knicks have more advantages here, as OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been looking for their offense all postseason, and the Cavs don’t have clean matchups for them. Harden and Mitchell lack the instinct, one wing is likely on Brunson, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will have to be really polished if switched on.
One measure New York will have to attack early is Cleveland putting a big on Josh Hart so they can roam the paint defensively. He’ll need to be ready to take and make threes, as well find timely cuts to punish them for this.
Karl-Anthony Towns has of course been the star of the Knicks' offense with his patience and playmaking, and will need to continue that streak against tighter passing lanes and longer arms inside. Where he and his fellow big man Mitchell Robinson can really win the series is on the glass.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Cleveland has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the playoffs, which plagued them against New York three seasons ago. Towns and Robinson could have the chance to bully them on the offensive boards again, and we could see more double-big lineups to press upon this edge.
On the flip side, the Cavs boast a ton of raw offensive talent that will push the Knicks defense to its limits. Mitchell and Harden are each capable of turning an entire game on their own, and will be probing New York’s pick-and-roll defense for holes.
Expect the Knicks to start Hart on Mitchell, Bridges on Harden, and Anunoby on Mobley. They could also switch their bigs so Towns is on Mobley, allowing Anunoby to ghost Allen and deal with most of the pick coverage.
A key here will be not falling for Harden’s foul-baiting and forcing him into tough jumpers and floaters instead of layups and easy assists. They’re going to try and get him in empty-side situations so the Knicks have a tough time helping on the roll, don’t expect traditional drop coverage too often.
If the Cavs are getting too much leverage on their star pick-and-rolls, the Knicks have the defenders to switch everything and try and force them to win one-on-one. Expect Brunson to be a major target again in screens and set plays, especially since he’ll have to chase sharpshooters in Strus and Sam Merrill.
Mobley stepped up as a shot-maker, averaging 17 points on 55 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three these playoffs, including some clutch buckets against Detroit. Anunoby and Towns can’t expect an easy matchup here and will need to work to limit him.
After their first three games, the Knicks have largely moonwalked through these playoffs, while the Cavaliers have scratched and clawed their way here. Was this a sign of asymmetric preparedness, or the strength of their foes?
We’ll find out for certain in a couple weeks' time, but for now it’s hard not to be impressed with the Knicks' precision and dominance in the face of the Cavaliers' inconsistent production. While anything can happen in the playoffs, one outcome seems much more certain.
For as long as he’s had a family, LeBron James has always made it clear where they stand when it comes to life’s priorities.
As the Lakers star just wrapped up his 23rd NBA season and is contemplating retirement, he was quick to point out, “I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously.”
If the offseason is telling us anything, LeBron James is serious about spending time with his family. Instagram/kingjames
“I’ll have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, that’s a big factor. And my 19-year-old son [Bryce] is entering his second year at Arizona. And my wife as well. They’re a huge factor in any decision I’ve made, so they’ll be a big part of it as well.”
If the offseason is telling us anything, James is serious about spending time with his family.
James playing along side his son Bronny James with the LA Lakers.
“Got the band back together.”
Bron, Bryce, and Bronny back home rocking the same cut
In a rare moment where James let his fans into his world, he posted a video on Instagram featuring him and his sons Bronny and Bryce relaxing at home.
“Got the band back together.”
James is coming off his record-setting 23rd NBA season where he led the Lakers to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. In 60 games, he averaged 20.9 points. 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game — but upped those numbers in the postseason when averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In just his second year in the league, Bronny played in 47 games, averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists per game, but proved that he’s capable of playing in this league and could have an expanded role next season.
Bryce is coming off his redshirt freshman season at the University of Arizona.
Teenager Bryce James is coming off his redshirt freshman season at the University of Arizona. Instagram/kingjames
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Madison Square Garden Sports (NYSE: MSGS) has filed a Form 10 Registration Statement with the SEC for the proposed spin-off of its New York Rangers business from the New York Knicks, which currently both sit under the MSGS banner. In February, the MSGS board approved a plan to explore a split to unlock shareholder value.
The confidential filing does not ensure the split is completed. “Completion of the transaction would be subject to various conditions, including effectiveness of the Form 10 Registration Statement, any required league approval, receipt of a tax opinion from counsel and Company board approval,” MSGS said in its release.
The spin-off is expected to be structured as tax-free for shareholders, but there are other tax consequences to this deal.
A new federal tax law expands a 2017 tax provision that limited the compensation public companies could deduct for tax purposes. The 2017 provision capped the deduction at $1 million each for the CEO, CFO and the next three highest-paid officers. The new law expands the number of employees to also include the next five highest-compensated ones starting with the 2027 tax year.
An independently traded Knicks team would pay its top five executives and top five players $195 million—nearly 90% of that is to players—triggering $55.4 million in taxes, per Seaport Analyst Research Partners analyst David Joyce, after excluding the $1 million per employee in maximum compensation. The Rangers would incur a post-spinoff incremental tax of $19.8 million on $76 million in salaries.
“The spin enhances the possibility of raising capital, and [it] makes minority stake sales easier, as there are two distinct teams’ business models, which makes for a clearer investment vehicle,” he wrote in an April research note.
Sportico recently spoke with multiple investors who think MSGS owner James Dolan could move beyond just an LP stake deal and sell one of the teams outright. Someone familiar with the spinoff details pushed back on the premise of a control sale of either team. Sportico most recently valued the Knicks at $9.85 billion and the Rangers at $3.65 billion.
A spokesperson for MSGS declined to comment on the possibility of a control sale of one of the teams.
MSG Sports’ plan to potentially split the teams sent shares up 16% the day it was announced in February. MSGS shares are up 79% during the past year. The stock still trades at a 29% discount to Sportico’s $13.5 billion combined valuation for the Knicks and Rangers.
On Tuesday, the Knicks kick off their Eastern Conference finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. A series win would likely push the Knicks’ playoff revenue to at least $140 million. The Knicks last won the NBA title in 1973, while the Rangers’ last Stanley Cup win was 1994. The Rangers missed the playoffs this season for the second straight year.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 11: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Jarrett Allen #31 against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dinners should not be where revelations take place.
After a Saturday night meal, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert told head coach Kenny Atkinson that Jarrett Allen was the team’s spark. Atkinson has since credited that conversation as a turning point. And while Gilbert was right, it’s a “no s***” observation. Frankly, the fact that it took a dinner with the owner to shift Atkinson’s worldview is the most concerning detail of Cleveland’s postseason run so far.
Because the evidence was already there. Repeatedly. In plain sight.
Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors was a blueprint. Allen’s presence was stamped all over the 114-102 win. Allen was physical, assertive, and finished at the rim. Donovan Mitchell, who was nowhere near his best that night, operated as a facilitator rather than a hero. The offense flowed. Cleveland advanced.
Then the series shifted to Detroit, and almost like the coaching staff hadn’t been in the building for Game 7, the focus reverted back to the star backcourt. Allen played just 18 minutes in Game 1, which is unacceptable even though he was dealing with foul trouble. He and Evan Mobley combined for only 11 points. Cleveland lost 101-111. The team spent the next several games trying to find Mitchell’s groove rather than building on what had just worked.
Games 2 through 6 against Detroit told the same story in rotating chapters. When Allen and Mobley were connected and involved, the offense had a logic to it. When Cleveland fell back into “let’s see if Mitchell has it” mode, and more often than not in this postseason, he didn’t, the offense siloed. James Harden became the primary facilitator by default. Mitchell forced. The life drained out of the building, and it seemed like the Cavaliers blew their chance at the Eastern Conference Finals.
The pattern was never subtle. Mitchell playing hero-ball, chucking up contested looks, is electric when they’re falling. When they don’t, it is the most aggravating form of basketball to watch, and it visibly drags him and everyone around him down with it.
Game 7 against Detroit confirmed what Game 7 against Toronto had already shown. From the opening possession, the bigs were going to be involved. Allen was set up immediately and converted. Mitchell ran the offense as a distributor, getting Mobley and Allen engaged early and keeping them there. The result was an offense that played with a coherence Cleveland rarely sustained for more than a few minutes at a stretch across either series; it produced a 125-94 blowout on the road.
When Mitchell drives and draws defensive bodies, it opens a dump-off lane for Allen or Mobley. Either they finish inside, or they kick out to Sam Merrill, Max Strus, or Harden for open looks. Allen and Mobley are too gifted offensively to exist solely as pick-and-roll partners. The offense becomes genuinely difficult to guard when they’re true options, not afterthoughts.
The Cavaliers have now won two Game 7s this postseason running this offense. They’ve also dropped winnable games in both series when they abandoned it.
Cleveland opens against the New York Knicks on Tuesday as significant underdogs, and they are heading into a road series against a deeper, well-coached team. The margin for error is thin. Reverting to Mitchell-first basketball when it isn’t working; burning possessions, flattening the offense, waiting for a hot streak that may not come, is a luxury they cannot afford.
The blueprint has been written twice now. Allen and Mobley at the forefront. Mitchell as the engine who makes everyone better, not the lottery ticket the team cashes in and hopes for the best. When this Cavaliers offense is a collective effort rather than an individual one, it is as good as anything left in these playoffs.
Atkinson shouldn’t need another dinner to figure that out.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs open their Western Conference Finals showdown tonight in what on paper looks to be one of the most compelling Finals matchups in recent memory. The Thunder enter undefeated in the postseason, having swept both Phoenix and the Lakers, while the Spurs arrive with a little more wear and tear on the tires having lost a game in the opening round to the Trail Blazers and two games in Round 2 to the Timberwolves. Despite those three losses, this is the series NBA fans were hoping to get because despite Oklahoma City’s postseason perfection, San Antonio holds a clear edge from the regular season, winning four of the five meetings and doing so by an average margin of 11.75 points. Are the Spurs the Thunder’s kryptonite?
A major storyline centers on the star power on both sides. Oklahoma City is led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the two-time reigning MVP who averaged 31.1 points during the regular season and continues to control games with better than elite efficiency. The Spurs counter with Victor Wembanyama, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and one of the league’s most dominant two-way forces. Wembanyama has been central to San Antonio’s surge, with the team going 37–3 in his last 40 games with at least 15 minutes played. Their matchup—Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren—anchors the chess match of the series.
Health will also play a key role in Game 1. The Thunder expect Jalen Williams back after a hamstring injury that has kept the All-Star out of the lineup for the better part of the season. Williams offers a crucial scoring and playmaking option to their lineup. Meanwhile, the Spurs list De’Aaron Fox as questionable with an ankle issue, though he is expected to play; his effectiveness could swing the early momentum of the series although Dylan Harper has gotten better each game of the postseason. Both teams rely heavily on their perimeter creators, making these injury updates especially significant.
As mentioned, the regular-season series tilted heavily toward San Antonio: December 13 (111–109) – San Antonio win December 23 (130–110) – San Antonio win December 25 (117–102) – San Antonio win January 13 (119-98) – Oklahoma City win
No question the Spurs draw confidence from those regular season results, but a healthy and postseason-tested Thunder are decent favorites to advance to the NBA Finals against the winner of the Cavs/Knicks series.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Thunder vs. Spurs
Date: Monday, May 18, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
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Game Odds: Thunder vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-245), San Antonio Spurs (+200)
Spread: Thunder -6.5
Total: 220.5 points
This game opened Thunder -6.5 with the Game Total set at 217.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Thunder vs. Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Luguentz Dort
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SF Jalen Williams
PF Chet Holmgren
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Stephon Castle
SG Devin Vassell
PF Julian Champagnie
C Victor Wembanyama
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
San Antonio Spurs
De’Aaron Fox (ankle) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Luke Kornet (foot) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Spurs
The Thunder are 38-7 at home this season
The Spurs are 33-13 on the road this season
The Spurs are 53-39-2 ATS this season
OKC is 44-45-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 50 of the Thunder’s 90 games this season (50-40)
The OVER has cashed in 42 of the Spurs’ 94 games this season (42-52)
Devin Vassell scored 10 or more points in each game of the Spurs series against the Timberwolves
Vassell pulled down 5 or more rebounds in 4 of the 6 games against Minnesota
Dylan Harper averaged 14.7 points, 6.2 boards, and 2.5 assists against Minnesota
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 47.1% from the field against the Lakers
This is the first month this year SGA is shooting under 50% from the field
Chet Holmgren averaged 20 points and 8.5 rebounds last round
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Thunder and Spurs’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Thunder -6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 220.5
NBC Sports’ Lead Betting Analyst Jay Croucher’s (@croucherJD) Series Prediction: Thunder in 7
"The Thunder will likely struggle to score in the halfcourt against Victor Wembanyama, who has found an extra gear in the playoffs, but expect the tipping point of the series to be 1) OKC having home court advantage, and 2) OKC generating just enough San Antonio turnovers to juice their own offense."
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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Stephon Castle
Isaiah Hartentstein
