MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket on Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on November 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets were a relatively top-heavy ball club in 2025-26. Their only consistent performer was Kevin Durant, followed by Amen Thompson, although Thompson’s contributions extend far beyond the stat sheet.
Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason were all major contributors. However, they weren’t exactly consistent contributors, as each of them hit a lull at one point or another during the season.
Houston had two All-Star players in Durant and Sengun, although Sengun made the All-Star team due to injuries (which still counts). Houston will have just one All-NBA player in Durant. Which likely isn’t enough, due to Durant’s age (although any talks about his decline can and should be neutered expeditiously).
Durant took on a myriad of roles, playing every position, ranging from point guard to shooting guard to small forward to power forward. To the tune of the third-most minutes per night and the second-most minutes in total.
Durant played 78 games –his most since the 2018-19 season. And after a disappointing postseason appearance, in which the Rockets were defeated by the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round, the Rockets are rumored to be considering a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks to land two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It’s believed that it would take Sengun, Smith and draft capital to land Antetokounmpo. If so, the Rockets will have to think long and hard about it.
The Rockets are expected to call on Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer after another disappointing playoff run.
Houston would likely build an offer to the Bucks centered around Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., which is a near identical salary match, plus future draft capital. pic.twitter.com/BCZxyaDaem
The only two players that should be considered as untradeable are Thompson and Durant (in my opinion). Don’t get me wrong, Smith was the x-factor for Houston. When he played well, the Rockets usually did well also.
And Sengun made consecutive All-Star teams and is still just scratching the surface of his potential.
But we’re talking about Antetokounmpo, after all. One of the league’s 75 greatest players of all-time, who just averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 65.8 percent true shooting and 63.6 percent effective shooting.
Antetokounmpo would’ve led the Rockets in scoring and efficiency, even in a season that saw him turn 31-years-old midway through the calendar year. Houston will certainly want to maximize Durant’s window, which will likely be just two more years, at most.
Neither Smith nor Sengun will likely become the player that Antetokounmpo is, even now. And again, both are fine, young players.
But Antetokounmpo’s presence will make life easier for Durant, which Houston has to consider, after asking Durant to do essentially everything in his first season in Houston. If Houston can get a deal done with Milwaukee by parting just Sengun and Smith (and draft capital), that would be tough to turn down.
Great things happen, historically, when you pair multiple MVPs together. And the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going anywhere.
Houston may as well load up. It’s their best chance of dethroning the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 4: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is guarded by Victor Wembanyama during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama showed why he was awarded the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and seems poised to win the award for years to come.
Wembanyama blocked an incredible 12 Timberwolves shots in the series-opening game, an NBA record in a playoff game dating back to when blocks became an official stat during the 1973-74 season. Unofficially, according to Basketball Reference, the last time a player had 12 or more blocks in a playoff game was Wilt Chamberlain in 1970.
Wemby had 12 blocks against the Wolves in Game 1, the most in a playoff game since 1970. Here are all 12.
Setting aside a couple of missed goaltending calls early, the story of the series for the Wolves will be about generating enough offense with Wemby on the court pic.twitter.com/vQyWJbTwYB
The Wolves’ ability to generate offense when Wembanyama is on the court is likely to be the largest determining factor of whether or not Minnesota can win this series. Unlike the last series against the Denver Nuggets, where Nikola Jokić provided little to no resistance at the rim, the Spurs have a generational rim protector underneath the basket.
Despite being rejected at the rim so many times, the Wolves made the correct choice to continue attacking the paint as much as possible. While the 3-point shot and the midrange will be a large part of the Timberwolves offense, it cannot be the only way they put the ball in the basket.
“We’re not going to just not attack the basket because he’s down there,” Randle explained about the team’s mindset. “We can be smarter about how we do it, be a little bit smarter. We’re not going to let him deter us from attacking the rim.”
One place the Wolves could do a better job offensively is to more often push the ball in transition and off of defensive rebounds.
If the Wolves can beat Wembanyama down the floor, he won’t be in a position to block the shot, which will lead to makes at the basket and open looks from beyond the arc. Terrence Shannon Jr. executed that idea best in Game 1 by pushing the pace early and often.
I think one area the Wolves can improve from Game 1 is to push the ball more in transition. Get out an run before Wemby can get back to the run
Terrence Shannon Jr. was really the only one who did push the pace in Game 1 and it led to good look each time pic.twitter.com/78uOuXRUZU
“He gonna have to block it every time,” Shannon said of Wembanyama after the game. “I ain’t gonna stop going downhill.”
The Timberwolves scored just 69 points through the first three quarters of the game, but put together a 35-point fourth quarter to win the game.
The big adjustment was moving Rudy Gobert to the bench, which allowed the Wolves to put all five players on the court who could shoot and stretch the floor. Instead of Wembanyama sitting by the rim and ignoring Gobert on offense, he was forced to guard out on the perimeter, which allowed the Wolves to get some open looks near the rim for the first time all game.
In the fourth quarter, the Wolves took Rudy Gobert off the floor and spaced the floor with 5 shooters trying to get Wemby out of the paint
It worked as the Wolves scored 35 points in the fourth quarter en route to the win. Here are a few of the plays that were made possible by… pic.twitter.com/2sx5vU9WBy
The question for the rest of the series is, can the Wolves score enough with Gobert on the floor, or will they need him on the bench to go on a scoring run?
The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. The Timberwolves still need Gobert to play a large role in this series, as his defense and rebounding are invaluable, and the team did win his 30 minutes in Game 1 by two points, but there will likely be times when it makes sense for Chris Finch to go with the five-out spacing lineup with Randle and Reid.
Finch has been outstanding with adjustments and lineups this entire postseason. Even though the Wolves have been down multiple rotation players since Game 4 against the Nuggets, he has consistently pulled the right levers in each game and will need to continue doing so for the Wolves to win this series.
Game 2 on Wednesday night should be another interesting test for Minnesota as they look to take the first two games on the road of a second-round series just as they did two years ago in Denver.
A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.
Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).
2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.
Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).
2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Across 1,960 career playoff and regular-season NBA games, LeBron James has never been a larger underdog than he is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Fawkes, the 15.5-point Game 1 line represents the largest perceived deficit of James’ illustrious 23-year career.
Key Takeaways
LeBron hasn’t been as large of a series underdog since 2006.
The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets at +550 underdogs in the first round.
Bronny James has +500 odds of scoring 15 points in the upcoming series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on a real-life Goliath in the form of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are -15.5 at home ahead of tip-off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Los Angeles Lakers are consensus 15.5-point underdogs in Game 1 tonight at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
➡️That would be the biggest underdog LeBron James has been in ANY game in his 23-year career
James is already 11 regular-season games clear of Robert Parish and 39 playoff outings ahead of Derek Fisher for the NBA’s all-time record in career appearances. But while he has won four championships and produced countless unforgettable moments, he has never been a larger underdog than he is tonight.
The Lakers’ +600 moneyline odds at DraftKings suggest they only have a 14.3% chance to steal Game 1 on the road. Notably, they’re still without leading scorer Luka Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 against this same Thunder team.
Upsets aren’t impossible. The Lakers overcame huge +550 odds to win their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, eliminating a team they were given a 15.4% chance of beating in six games.
However, in extending their season, they also accepted a date with a team that tormented them during the regular season.
LeBron, Lakers face daunting task
The defending-champion and NBA Finals odds favorite Thunder (-155) went 4-0 against the Lakers during the regular season. Those wins came by nine, 29, 36, and 43 points, and they did not have MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the nine-point victory.
DraftKings has the Thunder at -1600 (94% implied chance) to eliminate the Lakers and move on to the Western Conference Finals. LA is only +900 (10% chance) to continue past the series.
For context, here are all of the opening series odds for the other NBA conference semifinals:
San Antonio Spurs (-525), Minnesota Timberwolves (+350)
New York Knicks (-260), Philadelphia 76ers (+215)
Detroit Pistons (-125), Cleveland Cavaliers (+105)
According to SportsOddsHistory, that makes this the second-most lopsided series of LeBron’s career as an underdog. The only other time he faced a greater deficit was in the 2006 Conference Semifinals, when his Cleveland Cavaliers were +1200 against the Detroit Pistons. Detroit won the series in seven games after falling behind 3-2.
Oddsmakers at DraftKings don’t believe that James has much of a hope of extending the series as he did back in ‘06. There are -320 odds the Thunder cover a 2.5-game spread, meaning they have an implied 76.2% chance of winning the series in four or five games.
Notably, the Thunder enter the series having already swept the Phoenix Suns. They also swept their first-round opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies, before they were taken to seven games by the Denver Nuggets one year ago.
They went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
Bronny James prop special
As LeBron looks to add a possible final crowning achievement to his playoff resume, his son, Bronny James, is enjoying his first taste of playoff action.
Bronny finished the first round against the Rockets with 10 total points scored while getting playing time in five of six games. FanDuel Sportsbook published a special market for Bronny to reach 15 total points in the series with the Thunder for +500 odds, suggesting he only has a 16.7% chance to hit the mark.
Bronny had 10 total points the Lakers' series vs. the Rockets 😳
The New York Knicks scorched the nets at Madison Square Garden in the series opener and take aim at a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.
My same-game parlay for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal likes the points to keep flowing, along with standout efforts from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for 76ers vs. Knicks on May 6.
Our best 76ers vs Knicks SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Over 215
The New York Knicks shot 63% from the floor and scored 137 points in the series opener. While I expect New York’s success to come back to earth, its offense throws a lot at Philadelphia, especially with Joel Embiid limping around on defense.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they need to promote pace on offense, and I expect the Sixers to do their share of the scoring in Game 2. This total has jumped only two points from the closing number of 213 O/U in Game 1, leaving a low bar for the Over.
SGP leg #2: Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging six rebounds for the postseason, but his work on the boards surges in this series. Embiid is being drawn away from the rim and isn’t mobile enough to chase down misses.
Oubre had five boards on eight rebounding chances in Game 1, with New York not missing much. There will be more rebounding chances in Game 2, and Oubre is projected for six or more rebounds after pulling down seven in both regular-season meetings with the Knicks.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns has served more as a conduit for the Knicks' offense in the playoffs, passing off rather than attacking. However, Philadelphia has to change how they defend KAT.
That means sending smaller players at him up top or sagging off with Embiid. Either way, Towns can find the bottom of the basket, and Game 2 forecasts have him scoring around 22 points.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his 76ers vs Knicks predictions for Game 2.
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See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
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New Orleans has been deliberating over finalists Darvin Ham (a Bucks associate head coach under Rivers), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn assistant), Sean Sweeney (San Antonio associate head coach) and Rajon Rondo (a coaching associate with the Bucks). Mosley has long been believed to be a possible candidate if he became available, but it's unclear as of yet if he'll be added to the list.
Rondo is an interesting name. The four-time All-Star point guard has been out of the league for four seasons and is on the radar of a number of general managers, but is he ready for that leap? It has long been expected in league circles that the Magic's Mosley would move to the front of the line in New Orleans if Orlando moved on from him, which it did. Ham was a former head coach with the Lakers, and his name has come up as a possibility in Orlando’s coaching search.
While New Orleans is narrowing down the field, Portland continues to cast a very wide net, reports Amick.
As league sources said on Monday, the Trail Blazers have cast a net so wide that the list of candidates could be almost 20 coaches long and, in the end, will consist of names procured by both Dundon and general manager Joe Cronin. What's more, league sources say, there is no clear messaging as of yet about a possible timeline on the hiring.
While Tiago Splitter did a good job taking over a team a couple of days into the season (after the arrest of Chauncy Billups on alleged gambling charges) and leading the Trail Blazers to a surprise playoff berth, league sources told NBC Sports he does not appear to be a favorite of new owner Tom Dundon, so the door is wide open. Then there is the lingering money question: Rumors circulated that Dundon was trying to get a coach to take the job for $1.5 million or less — mid-major college coach money — the team has pushed back hard on that. Still, the chatter around the league is that Portland is trying to hire on the cheap, whatever that final number is. As Amick notes, it is thought that the least any coach in the league is making is at least $2 million, in Sacramento's Doug Christie (who is keeping his job).
It appears it could be a while before Portland has a coach.
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LeBron James defied all odds again.
In the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, King James led a Luka Dončić-less Los Angeles Lakers to a surprising six-game series win over the Houston Rockets.
Over the course of the series, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. After closing out, he told NBA on ESPN correspondents “the mission has always stayed the same throughout my career and that’s to go out there and try to dominate.”
Next up, King James and co. will attempt to dominate once again against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s No. 1 seeded, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since they don’t have home court advantage this time around, their three hypothetical games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena are scheduled to take place:
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for each and every contest in LA.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one game at the Crypto.com Arena was $250 including fees on SeatGeek.
Prices start at $146 including fees for games at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center.
While pricey, don’t underestimate just how much you can help the Lakers at home.
Over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, the Thunder beat Los Angeles in all four of their meetings and won by an average of 29.3 points (!) per game.
According to NBA.com, that should come with a disclaimer because “LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played in the same game just once and were minus-16 in 17.9 minutes.”
Sources told The California Post that “Dončić is expected to miss the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma.”
Will he be back for Games 3 and 4?
While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Conference Semifinals series below.
Lakers playoff home game ticket prices
A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Lakers home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Saturday, May 9
$292(fees included)
Game 4 Monday, May 11
$250(fees included)
Game 6 Saturday, May 16
$300(fees included)
Thunder playoff home game ticket prices
All Thunder playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Thunder home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Tuesday, May 5
$146(fees included)
Game 2 Thursday, May 7
$168(fees included)
Game 5 Wednesday, May 13
$205(fees included)
Game 7 Monday, May 18
$323(fees included)
How to watch the Lakers and Thunder on TV
Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on 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.
2026 NBA playoff schedule
Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out thus far?
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.
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick's first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt's secret instagram account '
There are two versions of Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt on Instagram.
There’s the one you know. The verified, polished account with a half-a-million followers.
Like most NBA players on social media, it features highlights of dunks, tunnel fits, and postgame smiles with teammates. It’s the one the public expects to see.
Lakers reserve Jared Vanderbilt’s secret instagram account ‘vando_vault’ is filled with hilarious memes, funny videos, and locker room moments featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and teammates.
And then there’s the other one.
The one that feels like you just got added to the team group chat.
Lurking beneath the algorithm’s surface lives “vando_vault.” Vanderbilt’s not-so-secret second account that’s an unfiltered scrapbook of locker room life, memes, hilarious videos, and screenshots that tell the story within the story.
Scroll through the photos in each of the posts below long enough and you’ll find a version of Luka Doncic you’ve never seen before. The one that lives up to the nickname “The Don.”
There’s Deandre Ayton’s hilarious expressions. Austin Reaves in cornrows and his budding bromance with Doncic. There’s trolling of Kevin Durant and Stephen A. Smith. Even Luke Kennard isn’t safe from the occasional internet meme.
Look deeper and you’ll find handwritten motivation notes. AI videos of Doncic dancing, and even funny screenshots of LeBron James. It’s weird. It’s lighthearted. It’s perfect.
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Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team's shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds.
Key Takeaways
Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of the series.
The Spurs are still a comfortable second place in odds to win the NBA Finals.
Teams that go up 1-0 in a playoff series end up winning more than 77% of the time.
FanDuel sportsbook opened with the Spurs, the West's second-place finishers, at -3,000 amid uncertainty over Edwards' future. The Timberwolves' star guard sustained a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets and was given a two-to-six-week return timeline.
Rumors swirled that there was a chance Edwards could be ready for Game 1, so FanDuel dropped San Antonio to -2,200 on Sunday, a day before the series opener. Oddsmakers pivoted again when it was announced Monday that Edwards was likely to play in Game 1. The Spurs were knocked down to -600, while Minnesota shortened to +450.
The T-Wolves still had a ton of work to do in Game 1. They entered as 9.5-point underdogs without Donte DiVinceno and Ayo Dosunmu against a Spurs team that had enjoyed several extra days of rest and was at home, where it went 32-8 in the regular season.
Despite the Spurs’ advantages, the T-Wolves emerged with a two-point victory as Julian Champagnie’s would-be game-winning 3-pointer clanked off the rim at the buzzer. Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards had 18 points (11 in the fourth quarter) in 25 minutes off the bench.
Victor Wembanyama set an all-time playoff record with 12 blocks to go with his 15 rebounds, but he only scored 11 points on 29.4% shooting.
FanDuel now has the Spurs at -186 (65% implied chance) and the Timberwolves at +156 (39% chance) to win the series. The Spurs are -9.5 favorites again for Game 2.
NBA Finals odds picture
The Timberwolves’ early advantage hasn’t caused a massive change in the championship picture.
The Spurs still find themselves second in NBA championship odds at +470, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (-170). However, they are down from about +340, where they were before their Game 1 loss.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves are sixth of the eight remaining teams in title odds at +3,000. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+7,000) have longer odds.
BetMGM insights shared with Covers on Monday revealed that the Spurs led all remaining teams in tickets (10.9%) and were second in money wagered (16.8%) in the NBA Finals futures market. The Timberwolves were sixth in tickets (5.5%) and handle (5.2%).
Bettors also loved the Spurs to win the Western Conference. They drew 21.3% of bets and 23.3% of the pot, which ranked first and second, repectively, in the West.
The Timberwolves were fourth in wagers (12.6%) and handle (9.5%) of the eight remaining teams.
History favors underdogs
While the Spurs are still favored to win their second-round series, they will have to overcome a strong historical precedent.
Teams that take a 1-0 series lead have won 700 of 901 series (77.1%), according to Land of Basketball. Stripping away all other data points, that would suggest the Timberwolves have -337 odds to win the series, and the Spurs should be +337 (assuming no vig).
Minneosta now has a combined regular-season and playoff record of 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams will meet for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Added a +800 SGP + who will win prediction.
The Philadelphia 76ers are down 1-0 to the New York Knicks and now must try to even the series without Joel Embiid.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with five boards in the blowout defeat, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him to attack the glass for the undersized Sixers.
Knicks: The Game 1 result was a perfect storm for Philadelphia. The 76ers were still sweating from a Game 7 in Boston a day prior while the Knicks just couldn’t miss. New York won’t shoot as well in Game 2 but is still in control as long as Joel Embiid is dragging himself around on defense. The Knicks have too many offensive options and this spread says the Knicks take a 2-0 lead to Philly.
76ers vs Knicks best bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 5.5 rebounds (+100)
The New York Knicks’ high-action drags Philly's centers away from the paint on defense, and all of them lack mobility, preventing them from crashing the glass.
Oubre will often be the closest defender to the rim, and he’s active enough to contest for rebounds. He hauled in five boards on eight potential chances in just 27 minutes in Game 1.
So far in the postseason, Oubre is averaging 5.9 rebounds on 10.0 chances. New York’s shooting will regress in Game 2, leaving more rebounding opportunities, and Oubre’s projections sit at 6+ boards.
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
76ers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay
The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t pick up the pace in Game 1. The Knicks’ hot shooting forced them to start too many possessions from the inbounds.
Philadelphia’s best plan of attack is to avoid the half-court defense by fueling fastbreaks and transition. New York won’t shoot as well as it did in the opener, but its offense is a tough solve for Philly.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been more of a playmaker for the Knicks in the playoffs. But with the 76ers missing Embiid, KAT could see smaller checks and more space from the top of the key.
He’ll either attack inside or let it fly from mid-range. Projections are as high as 22 points for Game 2.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Over 215
Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big man about Towns
Towns has been awesome for New York so far in the postseason, and with Embiid a no-go tonight, KAT has an edge. He’s been a catalyst for playmaking (averaging six assists), and Game 2 projections call for as many as 22 points with a lean toward two triples.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Knicks moneyline
Over 215
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes
76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: 76ers +7 | Knicks -7
Moneyline: 76ers +225 | Knicks -275
Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215
76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Knicks make good on big spreads at home. New York is 24-4 SU and 21-7 ATS (75%) when laying more than five points at Madison Square Garden, including 3-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tip-off
7 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
76ers vs Knicks latest injuries
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DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Tobias Harris #12, Jalen Duren #0 and Duncan Robinson #55 help up Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you love rock-em-sock-em wars, the last Detroit Pistons series was for you. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not as physical as the Orlando Magic. We may not get a Hagler-Hearns collision in Round 2, but Cleveland presents other challenges.
Cade Cunningham had his playoff coming-out party against the Magic. He will be the best player in this series too, and if his jumper continues to fall, he could play even better. There’s no doubt Jalen Duren wants to have a bounce-back series, and there are signs that he could.
JB Bickerstaff goes head-to-head with his former team. Of course, Cleveland has different schemes and players, but Bickerstaff should know Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley’s tendencies like the back of his hand.
Game vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI
When: 7:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock/NBC
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)
Analysis
The Cavaliers are coming off a grueling 7-game series with the Toronto Raptors. Toronto had the fifth-ranked defense in the regular season. They and Detroit play a similar brand of fly-around defense.
Detroit is the superior rim-protecting team and has better perimeter defenders. We saw how much trouble Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead gave the Cavs backcourt.
It’s not far-fetched to assume Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, and the other stout perimeter defenders can make it tough for James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Detroit can make it tough, but that is still a lot of firepower. Harden or Mitchell are capable of getting it going after slow starts, so the attention on them cannot waver.
Mitchell in particular is due for a good series. He’s risen in the playoffs historically (27.8 PPG, 7th all-time), but he also has some stinkers. He’s a lot to handle when the shotmaking gets going, but if anybody can make him struggle in back-to-back series, it is Ausar.
Continuing to stay out of foul trouble will be major for the future Defensive Player of the Year. Ausar only had a 2.3 foul percentage (91 percentile) against Orlando compared to 7.4 (3rd percentile) against the Knicks last year. He is the defense-to-offense king, and staying out of foul trouble keeps him on the floor. They’ll need him for closer to 35 minutes per game. He may take some Harden minutes, and Harden is a historic foul drawer.
Harden will always have a dogged defender on his bumper. He may not have the burst he once had, but he is still a PnR maestro and a laser shooter. Harden makes the game easier for their bigs and role players. He can make every pass in the book, and the Cavalier shooters relish sharing the floor with him. Detroit cannot sag off this point guard as they did with Jalen Suggs.
Cleveland’s bigs were a bit more impressive than the guards in some pockets of the last series. Jarrett Allen had a double-double in the third quarter alone in Game 7. Mobley approached the series with more scoring aggression, and his long-range shot was falling (39% on 3.3 3PA).
It’s on Isaiah Stewart and Duren to take away their basketball spirit. We have seen Allen say the playoff lights were too bright. Mobley has disappeared in a series before. Granted Mobley was younger, but these Pistons are certainly the best paint-defense Allen and Mobley have seen on this stage. Take them away and force the guards to create vs a set defense.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland’s frontcourt is lengthier than Orlando’s, but they don’t play with the same physicality. Cleveland has not shown that they have crisp enough rotations to tag and grab Duren on every roll as Orlando did.
Duren may or may not be his regular-season self in this matchup, but Cleveland is more favorable than Orlando. There are two 7-footers in Cleveland, but maybe physicality can mitigate the height difference a bit. The PnR with Cade may be there a bit more since there is no Suggs flying around causing chaos.
Cade was the big man on campus last series. Orlando has more premier perimeter defenders than Cleveland. The Cavs’ go-to stoppers are Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. Two very good defenders, but Cade has seen every type of coverage at this point and is a man on a mission. He is going to get his and be him in this matchup.
Role players
Daniss Jenkins found some much-needed rhythm in Game 7. Carry some of that over because Detroit’s offense is more lethal when he makes open shots. Duncan Robinson had highs and lows, but his shooting will be needed as Cleveland has snipers.
Sam Merrill is one of the best pure shooters in the series. He is a mover that the Pistons chasers cannot leave. Tyson only shot 35 percent from 3 vs Toronto, but he is not a role player who you dare to shoot either.
Cleveland has the shooting advantage all around. 42 percent of their playoff shots have been 3s compared to 33 percent for Detroit. Cleveland’s backcourt has off-the-bounce juice, and other role players like Max Strus hit shots. Detroit has a bit more self-creation from its role players.
Tobias Harris was cooking the Magic. He made pivotal shots and was a safety blanket for Detroit’s offense. Can he average over 20 points again? That is asking a lot, but if Duren and Jenkins are better, Detroit won’t be so dependent on its 15-year veteran. Harris will still be a bailout option and may have a favorable matchup if Cleveland elects to stick Mobley on Ausar so Mobley can roam.
Dennis Schröder is one of Cleveland’s self-creating role players Pistons fans know very well. He can be impactful if Kenny Atkinson presses that button. He only played about 14 minutes a game against Toronto, so it will be interesting to see how much run he gets against a team he helped in the offs last year.
Cleveland has the better offense, more star power, but questionable basketball character. Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to do even better than Toronto and an MVP-caliber first option (Barnes was amazing, but Cade is a different animal).
Detroit should view the Cavs as punkable. Bickerstaff had a front row seat to those Cavs postseason flameouts. He knows how and why his former players shrank.
The game plan devised will note every single micro detail on guys like Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen. Film already shows you players’ tendencies, but being with players for over two years reveals tendencies that film can’t show.
The Magic started strong, punching Detroit in the nose in Game 1. The Pistons cannot let that happen again against a team with more firepower. Set the tone early and hold down homecourt. You won 60 games for a reason.
As much as a wake-up call, Cade Cunningham needed to get his lungs back. A collapsed lung is obviously nothing to take lightly, and missing three weeks at the end of the regular season certainly cost Cunningham some cardiovascular health.
But as any endurance athlete would tell you, their lungs can get back into shape after only a week or two of work following some inactivity. It is the blessing of all the preceding training.
Cunningham opened the series against the Magic shooting an ugly 42.4% from the field and 28.6% from deep through four games. No wonder the Detroit Pistons trailed 3-1 in that series.
Cunningham closed the series shooting 54.1% from the field and 11-for-18 (61.1%) from deep in the final three games. No wonder the Pistons swept those games. Cunningham averaged 36.3 points in those three games, desperation the mother of innovation, but also boosted by sheer health.
With his lungs back, don’t bet against Cunningham anytime soon.
Game 1 Prop #2: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds
+105 at bet365
For a veteran who averaged 8.5 rebounds this season and 9.2 across his career, this is a modest rebounding prop, right? Yet, Jarrett Allen fell short of this number in five of the seven games the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to get by the Raptors.
And now Allen faces a superior rebounding team, one that emphasizes the offensive glass, one that is significantly bigger than Toronto.
Jalen Duren should make Allen’s life miserable in this series, a harsh truth for Cleveland’s future beyond this month.
Game 1 Prop #3: Tobias Harris Over 17.5 points
+102 at bet365
Not to try to give the Magic more credit than they are due, but their injured roster most of the season obscured their defensive possibilities. It was clear once it was healthy in April, that was a defense to worry about.
Cleveland’s defense is not. From the All-Star Break to the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers’ defensive rating sat at No. 18 in the NBA. None of the 12 teams behind the Cavs made the playoffs proper.
Even the shorthanded Magic sat at No. 12 in that stretch.
Tobias Harris cleared this prop in the last five games of the series against Orlando. Even in the first two, he scored 17 and 16 points. He should, quite frankly, feast against a lackluster defense like Cleveland’s.
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Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic's head coaching search. Who is going to step into Jamahl Mosley's shoes and get this team both out of the play-in and the first round? What are the Magic looking for in their next coach? A creative offensive mind? Playoff experience? Weltman wouldn't be pinned down when talking to reporters (quote via Jason Beede at the Orlando Sentinel).
"I don't think we look for a particular trait or a quality. Coaches come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Someone that kind of looks at our team in the way that we feel can help move us forward. Obviously someone who understands where we are on our timeline, that we've kind of tried to get past the growth stages of the rebuild. … I don't have a box to say that we want the next coach to come out of this sort of box."
A few names have surfaced in league circles, though this is all speculation, as Weltman and company have not formally begun interviews.
Here's a quick look at some of the top candidates.
Billy Donovan
This is the name on everyone's lips in league chatter, the guy who seems the best fit for both sides. Donovan left Chicago looking for something different and a team playing in meaningful games, and the Magic are that (a team that was up 3-1 in the first round on Detroit but could not close the door). Donovan also is well-liked by players (which matters after the issues between Mosley and Paolo Banchero), and he got the most out of limited rosters he was handed in Chicago.
There is a bit of a complicated history between Donovan and the Magic. Back in 2007, Donovan did not have a contract extension at the University of Florida, where he had won two national titles, and he was eyeing the NBA. Donovan agreed to leave and become the Magic's new head coach, and on June 1st he signed his contract and was introduced to the media as the guy about to turn things around in Orlando. Then he got cold feet, or realized this was not a situation he liked, or something happened and he asked out. Six days later, the Magic released Donovan from his contract, and he returned to Florida. That's almost 20 years ago and everything is different now, that incident shouldn't impact this one, but it hangs out there.
Tom Thibodeau
The former Bulls/Timberwolves/Knicks head coach wants back in the game and Orlando may be interested, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
League sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. The Magic's defense fell off sharply last season, Thibodeau would turn that around. He's another coach who tends to get the most out of his teams, although his offense has been best when heavy with isolations/pick-and-rolls for a star guard (Derrick Rose, Jalen Brunson). Thibodeau's short rotations and heavy minutes for starters can wear down key players, and the Magic just went through an injury-filled season.
Darvin Ham
The former Lakers' head coach and longtime Bucks assistant has been linked more to New Orleans, but he is a name coming up for every head coaching job now, it seems.
Ham did not do as bad a job as Lakers fans would have you believe. He was 90-74 (.549 winning percentage) in the regular season, and his teams made the playoffs both years, reaching the Western Conference Finals one year, but were always eliminated by Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. That said, Ham the head coach was not very flexible with systems and could get stuck in a rut, trusted certain players even when it was clear it was not working, and his playoff adjustments were lacking and often fell back on "play harder." Is he, like many coaches, better the second time around, having learned some lessons?
Dusty May
You can strike this off the board. Marc Stein at The Stein Line reported that "sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan's Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available."
Except, coming off a national championship with the Wolverines, nobody thinks May is leaving Ann Arbor. If, for some reason he did decide to jump to the NBA now, May would have interest from Portland, Chicago and New Orleans as well, there is no assurance he would head to Orlando. Still, it's just far, far more likely he isn't going anywhere.
Other names to watch
• James Borrego. He was the interim coach in New Orleans much of this past season and has done a good job considering the roster and injuries. However, Pelicans' management is looking more outside the organization. He's a very creative offensive mind.
• Terry Stotts. The longtime Portland Trail Blazers coach got a lot out of the Blazers in the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum era. He's spent the past two seasons on Steve Kerr's bench with the Warriors.
• Sam Cassell. The popular former player has been an assistant coach for years around the league and has been at the front of the "he should get a head coaching job" line for years. Could the Magic give him the chance?
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.
Cade Cunningham
Jarrett Allen