Star batter Babar Azam is back in Pakistan’s 16-man squad to face world champions Australia in the three-match ODI series starting next week, selectors said Friday.
Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 3
Even with injuries to key players, the San Antonio Spurs have to feel good about themselves coming into tonight’s Game 3. They were able to steal Game 1 from the defending champs, a double OT classic that saw the Spurs eventually out-execute the Thunder down the stretch, and were tantalizingly close to coming back home to the Frost Bank Center with a 2-0 series lead. Even with the loss of Dylan Harper in the 3rd quarter and 21 more turnovers to go with the 21 giveaways from Game 1, it was still just a 2 point game in the early moments of the 4th. With both Harper and DeAaron Fox’s availability up in the air, the potentially undermanned Spurs will have to rely on the otherworldly brilliance of Victor Wembanyama, with the hope that the rocking San Antonio home crowd can give them that little extra bit of, “oomph,” that they might need to protect home court against the defending champs.
San Antonio Spurs (1-1) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1)
May 22 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: NBC, Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Line: San Antonio -1.5
Spurs Injuries: DeAaron Fox, ankle (day to day), Dylan Harper, leg (day to day)
Thunder Injuries: Jalen Williams, hamstring (day to day)
What to watch for
- With Fox yet to play in this series and Harper potentially sidelined, going forward the bulk of the ball handling duties may fall entirely on the shoulders of Stephon Castle. Castle was San Antonio’s leading scorer in Game 2, memorably throwing down arguably the best poster jam of the year for 2 of his 25 points, and has been his usual busy self on the defensive side of things, but his 20 combined turnovers in the two games is a real concern for the Spurs. It plays right into the hands of Oklahoma City, who’s hounding, handsy defense is arguably the best in the league at forcing turnovers and turning them into points on the other end. With the real possibility he will only have limited versions of Harper and Fox going forward, Mitch Johnson is going to need figure out how to help his do-it-all guard take better care of the basketball and cutdown on what have been dreadful turnover numbers for San Antonio in the early stages of this series (42 combined as a team between Games 1 and 2).
- Oklahoma City’s biggest adjustment from Game 1 to 2 defensively was sticking a big on Victor Wembanyama for as much of the game as possible. Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren handled the bulk of the Wemby assignment, with doses of Alex Caruso sprinkled in. Hartenstein, who played just 12 minutes in the Game 1 loss, played 27 minutes in Game 2 and spent all of them doing everything he could to contend with the extraterrestrial Frenchman. Wembanyama went from having 26 paint points in his dominant Game 1 performance to just 10 in the Game 2 loss, and while he still finished with a freak statline, Vic is still at his best and most demoralizing to opponents when he’s dominating around the rim. Getting him more paint touches tonight should be imperative.
- Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played more than 30 minutes for OKC in Game 2 (38 minutes), while 4 of San Antonio’s starters logged at least 35 minutes and a 5th (Harper) was probably well on his way. While it’s the norm for playoff rotations to be shortened the deeper a team advances, the oddity of the double OT game in Game 1 racked up some heavy mileage on San Antonio’s starters right from the outset of a physical series. Keldon Johnson has been the only Spur to play at least 20 minutes off the bench in both games so far in this series, compared to 3 for OKC in Game 1 and 4 in Game 2. With a game being played every other day in this series, player minutes and potentially heavy legs will be a big thing to monitor going forward.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Knicks produce 18-point surge in win over Cavaliers
The New York Knicks scored 18 unanswered points on the way to a 109-93 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers as they took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference final.
The score was tied at 53-53 when the Knicks pulled away at their Madison Square Garden home to take a 71-53 lead on the way to a ninth straight victory.
Josh Hart scored 26 points, including five three-pointers, for the home side as he racked up a career-high tally for a play-off game, while team-mate Jalen Brunson added 19 points and 14 assists.
The Knicks, who last reached the NBA Finals match in 1999 and have not been champions since 1973, also had Mikal Bridges scoring 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 18.
"We don't really care who gets the shine, the shots, the minutes, those kind of things - we're focused on winning," Hart said.
"I think everyone is willing to sacrifice their own personal agendas or performance for the betterment of the team. And when you have a group of guys that do that, sky's the limit."
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points for the Cavaliers and James Harden contributed 18 for the visiting side, who went 2-0 down to the Detroit Pistons in the last round before emerging 4-3 series winners.
"This isn't our first time facing adversity," Mitchell said. "We've been to two game sevens, so being down 2-0, it's not the biggest challenge.
"It's right there. So let's go ahead and take advantage of it."
Games three and four will take place in Cleveland on Saturday and Monday.
The winners will play either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs, whose Western Conference final is tied at 1-1.
Friday’s Brotherhood Playoff News & Links
Although Tyrese Proctor finally got off the bench for Cleveland, it’s not looking good for the Cavaliers, who lost 109-93 to New York Thursday night.
Proctor played for just a minute but did not register in the box score. Still, he got to play in the Eastern Conference Finals, and not many people can say that.
On Friday, the epic series between Jared McCain’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Mason Plumlee’s San Antonio Spurs resumes.
- 4 takeaways: Knicks’ starting lineup delivers in big Game 2 win over Cavaliers
- Donovan Mitchell bluntly shuts down fatigue concerns after Cavs’ Game 2 loss
- Fans roast Cavs’ Dennis Schroder for wasting no time with 0-2 Instagram post
- Down 2-0, Donovan Mitchell has to rally his Cavaliers against the team he once worshipped
- Knicks cruise to Game 2 victory over Cavaliers for commanding Eastern Conference finals lead
- Despite 2-0 comeback vs. Pistons, the Cavs are cooked after MSG meltdown vs. Knicks
- Mitchell Robinson brutal Knicks free-throw shooting making him unplayable
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Knicks’ resurgent defense shuts down Cavaliers stars
James Harden remains the face of postseason failure, shooting under 36 percent from the field (under 27 percent on 3-pointers) with more turnovers (six) than assists (five) through the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals.
Donovan Mitchell remains the face of a franchise that repeatedly fails to reach its potential, responding to Cleveland’s Game 1 collapse — in which he made one shot over the final 17 minutes — by scoring seven first-half points in Game 2.
He didn’t make his presence felt until the Cavs fell into a double-digit hole in the second half, also leaving Madison Square Garden with more turnovers (five) than assists (four) after two games.
The Cavaliers, who became one of the league’s top-rated offenses after trading for Harden in February, now head back to Cleveland with the sting of Thursday’s 109-93 loss, still seeking an offensive breakthrough against a Knicks defense that has now held opponents under 100 points on six occasions during their dominant postseason run.
Over the past 65 minutes of play — beginning with the fourth quarter of Game 1 — the Knicks have allowed only 116 points, having held Cleveland to 39 percent shooting in Game 2, including 26 percent (9-for-35) on 3-pointers.
During the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak, they have allowed an average of 98.8 points. And through 12 games, the Knicks have posted the second-best defensive NET rating in the postseason, barely behind the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs.
“Our defense was pretty good, especially when you have the talent that they have and the All-Stars that they have and the shooting that they have,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “We just have to keep mixing up what we do. Our guys did a pretty good job of trying to pay attention and lock in on the details on the defensive end.”
Sharpshooter Sam Merrill is 3-for-15 from the perimeter. Max Strus, who averaged nearly 15 points while helping the Heat eliminate the Knicks in 2023, has 13 total points. Dennis Schröder, who shot 47.6 percent on 3-pointers against the Knicks in last year’s playoff series with the Pistons, has seven points on 3-for-14 shooting.
Even Cleveland’s talented bigs have been limited.
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OG Anunoby has helped keep Jarrett Allen below his season average in both contests, while Evan Mobley — who initially caused issues for the Knicks by scoring 14 first-half points in Game 2 — was held scoreless and without a field goal attempt in the second half.
With 10:37 left in the third quarter, the score was tied. Then, the Knicks seized control with an 18-0 run, holding the Cavs without a point for more than five and a half minutes.
“We were able to get stops, run and get easy baskets,” Jalen Brunson said. “Our offense, the way we were able to play in transition, is definitely a credit to our defense.”
Mamdani quietly attends Knicks game — sitting in section where tickets cost around $700 or more
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani quietly attended the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night — paying face value for tickets near a section that boasted $700 seats.
Mamdani, who did not list his attendance on his public schedule, posted a smiling photo alongside Public Advocate Jumaane Williams inside the Garden with the caption “Knicks forever” — only after the team’s astonishing 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
While the game was ongoing, a fan who paid roughly $700 for their ticket snapped a pic of Hizzoner sitting nearby, NY1 journalist Bernadette Hogan posted on X.
The socialist mayor paid for his ticket at “face value,” a City Hall spokesperson told Hogan. City Hall did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Outside the arena, many fans seemed far more interested in Knicks player Jalen Brunson than Mamdani — or his supposed “Curse of the Mambino,” which was blamed for the Mets’ brutal losing streak.
Before the Knicks’ wild Tuesday night comeback win, Voodoo King Michael Washington performed a spiritual cleanse to quell fans’ fears about the socialist’s sorcery.
But some young spectators didn’t have a clue who Mamdani is.
Kevin Taylor, 18, watched the game with his friends Kevin Burke, 19, and Kristian Charles, 17, in the outdoor viewing area at MSG.
“I feel great. Knicks are flowing, you know, they’re doing great,” Taylor told The Post. “If they make it to the finals, we’re gonna need a bigger TV though.”
“Mamdani? Who’s that?” Taylor said when asked about the mayor. “That’s the mayor!” Charles chimed in.
“Jalen Brunson is the mayor of New York right now,” Taylor responded.
Jailine Polanco, a 29-year-old esthetician and Mets fan, had a stronger reaction after learning Mamdani was in the arena.
“I didn’t know about the curse. But now it all makes sense. .. He needs to stay away from the Knicks, because they’ve been doing very good… Oh, he is here? Pack him up. I pack him up. Now,” Polanco said.
“He needs to worry about his city, not about Knicks basketball,” added her friend, Kristian Diaz.
Knicks take 2-0 lead into game 3 against the Cavaliers
New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -2.5; over/under is 213.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Knicks lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 109-93 on Friday, led by 26 points from Josh Hart. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26.
The Cavaliers are 33-19 in conference games. Cleveland is eighth in the league with 28.3 assists per game led by James Harden averaging 8.0.
The Knicks are 35-17 in conference games. New York is fifth in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.5 points per game and is shooting 47.8%.
The 119.5 points per game the Cavaliers average are 9.4 more points than the Knicks allow (110.1). The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 1.1 more than the 115.4 the Cavaliers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Evan Mobley is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 9.0 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 27.4 points and 5.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 107.3 points, 41.7 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points per game.
Knicks: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 44.2 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.8 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: None listed.
Knicks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
“Rust Never Sleeps” – Canadiens 6, Hurricanes 2
The Carolina Hurricanes dropped their first 2026 postseason game in grand fashion by a score of 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. With the loss, they fall behind 1-0 after game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Canes had a record 11 day break between games and many wondered if that pause would cause some rust as they tried to work themselves back into game shape. The obvious answer was yes, although the Canes would not necessarily admit it.
While it seemed they had good energy, perhaps they were slow mentally.
After Seth Jarvis scored just 33 seconds into the game, the Habs would answer four straight times to make the score 4-1 before the end of the first period. Each goal was due to some breakdown or deficiency on the home team’s part. The Canes seemed to be skating in mud and were too often a step behind the speedy Montreal team in that period.
Captain Jordan Staal indicated that his team was not prepared.
“We were just not aware of them obviously. Different (guys), different style, different pace. Just awareness, really. The breakaways that we gave up right off the bat. Obviously, we need to find ways to defend better.”
If the team was not “aware” of how Montreal played, one wonders why they did not watch more film during their ample time off. Montreal, even with their short time between series, seemed to be well aware of how Carolina played.
The second period was more like Carolina hockey as they held the Habs to just three shots on goal. Eric Robinson scored on a breakaway to make it 4-2, but the Canes would not get any closer.
In the third period, the Hurricanes were only credited with two shots on goal themselves. Obviously, that was not going to get the job done. The Habs scored twice more, once on an empty net, to close out the scoring.
Jaccob Slavin blamed the loss on himself and not on the rust.
“No, I don’t think it had anything to do with the break but personally I think I handed them the game, so I need to be better.”
Brind’Amour said much the same in his interview.
“I don’t think we were very sharp. Our top guys had a rough night and that will not work this time of year……… We clearly were not ready for that pace. I’m not going to use the layoff as an excuse, but we were not ready to play playoff hockey.
When asked why he replied.
“Yeah, we weren’t ready. I mean we were not mentally ready.”
It is a bit perplexing why the team was not ready, but it is just one game and they will have another opportunity on Saturday night.
Now that game is a huge game.
Game Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS030311.HTM
Event Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES030311.HTM
Has the Arizona defense improved at all?
Introduction
As Spring Training was getting underway this year, I wrote up an article on how the Diamondbacks might be able to improve themselves defensively as they attempted to navigate their way back into the playoffs. That argument centered on two changes: roster changes/upgrades and individual improvement from several younger players becoming increasingly comfortable and confident in their respective positions. It’s something of a bugaboo that I’ve been harping on for over a year now. In my opinion, excellent fielding not only protects pitchers but is also some of the most entertaining and rewarding parts of the game as it allows the players to demonstrate their otherworldly athleticism. Now that we’ve gotten past the quarter pole of the 2026 season, we have enough data to start teasing out some trends and conclusions on how those changed dynamics have played out to this point in the season. Overall, depending on your preferred metric, the D-Backs have definitely been better defensively so far with Baseball Reference putting them at third in the league by defensive runs saved (DRS), fifth by outs above average (OAA), and Fangraphs measuring them out at seventh – all of which represent significant improvements year–over–year.
Roster Improvements
This dynamic was probably the one I felt most confident about as it felt like a no-brainer to improve two lackluster defenders in Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez with excellent ones in Carlos Santana and Nolan Arenado respectively. Well, you can take this as exhibit #983 of why I’m not a baseball general manager. Santana has been functionally a non-factor this season after straining an adductor all the way back in the beginning of April while Arenado has been anywhere from excellent to mediocre depending on the outlet. Instead, the team has leaned on rookie Jose Fernandez and Ildemaro Vargas to fill in at first base with surprisingly positive results – especially considering it’s neither of their natural positions. Fernandez came up in the minors mostly as a shortstop and third baseman with just 17 appearances at first in the minor leagues, but he’s been able to utilize the excellent range that made him such an exciting shortstop prospect to hold his own at first base. Meanwhile, Vargas is having a career year by nearly every measure and his glovework has been no exception with excellent DRS ratings. It should be noted that both Vargas and Fernandez are not well rated by Fangraph’s version, but we’ll have to save those differences for another time.
Individual Improvements
Once again, both Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno have been defensive standouts for the team as they continue to cement themselves as stars in their own right. But in my article from February, I highlighted that Moreno’s bigger issue has been staying healthy and on the field rather than any type of skill gap. Sadly, he has once again struggled with that aspect of his game by missing nearly three weeks of action already – this time for an oblique strain to go along with his long list of maladies. Meanwhile, even as Perdomo has struggled to regain the MVP-caliber offensive contribution he displayed last year, he’s managed to (mostly) maintain his defensive prowess. This is another situation in which different ratings land in very different places. According to Baseball Savant, Perdomo has stepped back slightly by OAA and arm strength while Fangraphs has seen him accumulate nearly half of his rating from last year. Regardless of the specific nuances though, it seems like both of them have mostly maintained their defensive skills to buoy slow starts offensively – here’s to hoping they can keep it up for the rest of the season.
Spiraling Angels botch double play, sealing loss to Athletics
The Angels led for five innings before crumbling late en route to a 10-inning, 3-2 loss to the Athletics on Thursday night at Angel Stadium, all in front of a sparse crowd featuring fiery “sell-the-team” chants from shirtless fans in the upper deck.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th, the A’s Zack Gelof hit into a fielder’s choice groundout off reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.
Angels second baseman Adam Frazier had trouble getting the ball out of his glove after catching shortstop Zach Neto’s throw. That allowed Nick Kurtz to reach home as the go-ahead run.
Gelof was initially called out, but the A’s won the challenge — and ultimately the game 3-2.
“Yeah, [Frazier] looked like he just couldn’t get the ball out of his glove,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “You know, one of those things where the ball got in, and he was doing everything right to turn it, just couldn’t get out of his glove.”
The Angels were unable to tie against A’s reliever Mark Leiter Jr., who earned the save, despite having runners on the corners and zero outs in the bottom half of the frame. Zeferjahn (2-2) took the loss.
Nolan Schanuel gave the Angels a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer. But the Angels’ offense, which has been outscored 84-32 since a May 9 loss in Toronto, continued to struggle.
“They believe,” Suzuki said of the Angels’ spirit, specifically on offense. “Every inning, you got all the guys — they’re all up there, rooting guys on and believing that we’re going to put up runs, and really, we’re just not. And it’s not for a lack of effort; it’s not for a lack of anything like that. We just need to find ways to score runs, that’s all.”
The Athletics took advantage of the small deficit, as Darell Hernáiz and Nick Kurtz hit RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to tie the game and force extras.
Angels starter José Soriano surrendered two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. A’s starter Luis Severino surrendered two runs on three hits over seven frames with 10 strikeouts.
“I’ll take away the positive things,” Soriano said. “[I] got into the seventh, but couldn’t complete the inning, but I feel good (about) the way I pitched today. I helped the team the most I can … I control what I could control … I battled; I feel good about that.”
Read more:Athletics rally to beat the Angels in extra innings
After failing to split the four-game series with the AL West-leading A’s, the Angels have dropped four consecutive series and hold an MLB-worst 17-34 record.
That has prompted a growing group of fans to gather shirtless in the upper deck at Angel Stadium and chant that owner Arte Moreno should “sell the team.” The chants could be heard on the Angels’ TV broadcast.
The players, meanwhile, are trying to string together enough good plays to score more wins.
“Really just trying to get the rhythm going of just piling on good at-bat after good at-bat after good at-bat,” Angels right fielder Jo Adell said. “We just haven’t really had that rhythm. It’s like a good at-bat here, and we struggle to kind of pile up after one another and get that rhythm going. We’re hoping to, at some point, find what that is; we’ve had it, we know what it is. But it’s just one of those things, baseball can kind of just slip away from you.”
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Angels. The Angels host the Rangers (24-25), who are a close second in the AL West and riding a two-game winning streak.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Knicks vs. Cavs Game 2 takeaways: Jalen Brunson, Knicks finding ways to win
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are now two victories away from reaching their first NBA Finals in 27 years.
The Knicks handled the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, May 21 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, 109-93, and they unlocked a different way to win: it was role players who carried the day.
All five New York starters hit double-figures in scoring, with Josh Hart, who had struggled earlier this postseason, scoring a team-high 26 points. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 19, with Brunson notching a playoff career-high 14 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18.
Here are takeaways from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals:
In a dangerous sign for Cleveland, the Knicks are finding different ways to win
Jalen Brunson was a perfect example of that. After igniting in Game 1 for 38 points, the Cavaliers threw double-teams at him Thursday night, determined to make anyone but Brunson beat them.
It didn’t work.
Brunson responded with calm and poise and facilitated the offense, dishing out a playoff career-high 14 assists. Some of that was by default; in the first half, his shot wasn’t dropping, and he headed into intermission just 1-of-6, with 2 points. At that point, however, he already did have 5 assists.
Credit New York’s role players — Josh Hart chief among them — for draining shots when the ball found them, but Brunson masterfully leveraged Cleveland’s added pressure into easier offense for his teammates. The Cavaliers even resorted to face-guarding Brunson in the second half the full 94 feet of the court.
“If you don’t send a second guy at (Brunson), he’s got a pretty good chance at scoring it,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. “If you send the second guy at him, he’s going to make the game easier for his teammates. He’s going to find them. They just have to step up and make shots.
“MVP candidate like Jalen is, you gotta make the game easier for everybody else.”
And once New York’s role players started hitting those shots, that only spaced the floor better for Brunson to take over. In the second half, he shot 6-of-10 for 17 points, while adding 9 assists.
The most positive thing for the Knicks is that this adjustment seemingly came up on the fly, when the Cavaliers tried those tweaks in coverages, all of which shows that New York is capable of outmaneuvering Cleveland.
“I think it’s an advantage for us learning how to play differently,” Brunson told reporters after the game. “There’s going to be times when one game plan is going to be different than the next. Being able to adjust and learn on the fly and adjust on the fly is something that we need to continue to get better at, but I think we’ve been doing a great job of it. I think we just need to continue to be open to figure out how we can win the next game.”
The Cavaliers have no answers when New York goes on runs
In Game 1, it was a 30-8 blitz in the fourth quarter. Thursday night, it was 18 unanswered in the third. Either way, through two games in the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavs have no blueprint to halt these explosive Knicks runs.
They have coincided with cold stretches from Cleveland’s offense, but Knicks coach Mike Brown spoke after the game about destabilizing the Cavalier defense with pace.
The Cavaliers cross-match on defense, which means that they have specific defensive assignments for each player. The issue that can come up is when a team likes to get out into open space in transition, which can force Cavaliers players to scramble to find their man. During that third quarter run, the Knicks exploited that.
“We have to play fast so we’re not going against a set defense all the time,” Brown said. “If you’re a team that cross matches, and you get out in transition, it’s going to be hard for you to find the right bodies. That’s how we’re going to have to play. We’re going to have to play fast versus their cross matches to see if we can get something early in transition.”
How can the Cavaliers combat that? It helps, for one, to make shots. Cleveland shot just 38.8% from the field Thursday night. But the Cavaliers need to be hyper-disciplined in getting back to slow New York down; they need to avoid complaining to officials if they think they’ve been fouled and they need to sprint back to their assignments.
It’s easier said than done, especially when considering the residual fatigue the Cavaliers might be feeling after needing a pair of seven-game series to get here.
The Cleveland bench, at some point, needs to show up
With the length that the Knicks have at wing, it makes it difficult at times for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to score. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he was pleased with the process that generated Cleveland’s shots and complimented the team’s shot selection. The issue was that they just didn’t fall.
A lot of that came from the bench, which scored just 17 points on 5-of-24 shooting (20.8%) before Atkinson conceded the game and emptied the bench with 1:15 left.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to put the ball in the hole,” Atkinson said. “Tonight we didn’t.”
Max Strus and Sam Merrill, Cleveland’s two snipers, shot just 1-of-11 (9.1%) from 3-point range.
Poor shooting nights happen in the NBA. The Cavaliers simply cannot afford another one like this.
The series now shifts to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers are 6-1 this postseason. Perhaps that might be the spark that gets the Cavs bench going in a must-win Game 3 on Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 2 takeaways as New York grabs 2-0 series lead
Mitchell Robinson brutal Knicks free-throw shooting making him unplayable
At the moment, one must search for areas of concern for the Knicks.
But there is one glaring issue.
Mitchell Robinson, who went 0-for-4 from the free-throw line, was again neutered by Hack-a-Mitch during the Knicks’ 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Across the first two games of the series, Robinson is a combined 2-for-12 from the free-throw line.
For the whole postseason, he is 13-for-41.
That’s just not tenable.
It is making Robinson, who can be extremely impactful, almost unplayable.
He logged just 13 minutes Thursday — and only three minutes in the second half.
He played 14 minutes in Game 1.
Even playing him at the starts of quarters, when the Cavs can’t do Hack-a-Mitch unless they want to play a significant portion of the quarter in the penalty, isn’t a solution.
Anytime Robinson attempts a putback or a dunk — particularly on lobs — the Cavs just foul him and send him to the line.
Before Friday’s game, Robinson said he plans to reveal a whole new version of himself.
Knicks’ May 21 win. NBAE via Getty Images
“Last post before I delete this app,” Robinson wrote on Facebook on Thursday afternoon. “I finally have changed my [phone] number for many reason [sic]…as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all…. Mitch out.” The new chapter so far contains the same old problem.
Coach Mike Brown again raved about Jose Alvarado’s leadership on the bench.
“We actually pointed it out to our group in practice,” Brown said. “You watch the film, he’s uplifting the entire team when he’s on the bench. He’s always talking in a positive way. He’s showing our young guys that you can impact the game if you’re present, because Jose’s always present.“You’re using your voice and your energy, guys feel that on the floor. Jose’s been phenomenal.”
Tuesday was ESPN’s most-watched Eastern Conference finals Game 1 since 2018, the network announced.
It had an average audience of 7.1 million viewers and peaked at 8.9 million viewers.
Jalen Brunson adjusts to play a different — and important — Knicks role in Game 2 win
Jalen Brunson refused to let the Knicks lose Tuesday, almost single-handedly delivering a franchise playoff-record 22-point fourth-quarter comeback.
Two days later, the Cavaliers forced the ball out of his hands, so he adjusted. Instead of pouring in another 30-point performance, he distributed a playoff career-high 14 assists, as the Knicks took a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
“It just shows that he plays the right way,” Mikal Bridges said after the Knicks’ thorough 109-93 victory at a rocking Garden. “If you’re not going to send a double-team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double-team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy. Ever since I’ve known him, he plays the right way.
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“Kudos to him, how he works, and his understanding of the game. If you’re going to come [double-team him], he’s going to make you pay and that’s what makes him great.”
Brunson only scored two points in the first quarter and finished with 19. It equaled his second-lowest point total of the postseason. He was still impactful in creating for his teammates, getting the ball to the right man in the right spots.
“They were sending two to the ball, and I was able to find my teammates and we were knocking shots down,” Brunson said. “Just trying to create an advantage and trusting them and having them make a play.”
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Added coach Mike Brown: “They’re sending double-teams at him, and he had 14 assists. He did what he’s supposed to do.”
Perhaps the best example was Josh Hart, his former Villanova teammate and close friend. Hart was benched at the end of Game 1 and struggled early in Game 2. Brunson kept finding him, and on one fast break set him up for a dunk when he could’ve gone in for a layup. It was a way to boost Hart’s confidence on his way to a team-high 26 points.
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“I’m really not trying to look for him. He just happens to be open. So I give him the ball,” Brunson joked before turning serious. “I have the utmost confidence in him, watching the things he does after practice, his routine and everything. He works hard. I know we joke around a lot, but he does work hard.”
The 9th Inning Heroics Continue: Dbacks 2, Rockies 1
On Thursday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks were able to begin the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies with a walkoff win to push the team’s winning streak to a season-long 5 games. This team has now won 9 of their last 12 games.
This game was won due to the continued success of this Arizona pitching staff. Eduardo Rodriguez continued his run as the ace of this staff throwing 7 scoreless innings tonight. The 7 scoreless innings tonight drop his season ERA to a minuscule 2.24 as he continues to be the leader of this rotation. ERod continued his approach mixing up his pitches more this season vs previous seasons and getting lots of ground balls because of it. It has been such a massive development for this team continuing to get so much length from their starting rotation. Cant be overstated the importance of this.
Another equally enormous performance tonight came from Kevin Ginkel in the 8th inning getting out of a bases loaded 1 out jam and keeping it a tie game at 1-1. Juan Morillo began the inning, and after getting some planned rest and not throwing much the past week appeared very rusty. Morillo loaded the bases and then hit the batter walking in a run and putting this bullpen in a precarious position. Fortunately, Kevin Ginkel came in and completely overpowered the next 2 Rockies hitters keeping the score where it was and giving the team a chance to win the game. Kevin Ginkel regaining the dominant form we have seen from him in previous seasons has been such a massive development in the early going for this team.
The offense really was disappointing tonight. The Rockies threw a starter who had never even started a professional game in his career before, and he held the Dbacks offense scoreless through 5 innings while only allowing 2 baserunners. Definitely not what you would expect, but the Dbacks hitters continued to chase pitches outside of the zone playing right into the pitcher’s hands.
Dbacks hitters were able to draw 8 walks, mostly off the Rockies bullpen, but the Dbacks were still only able to score just 2 runs despite all of the free passes.
Good teams can win baseball games in multiple ways, and this team this season has shown the ability to win slugfests as well as the pitching duels like we saw tonight. This is definitely an encouraging development from my perspective as it has seemed like in year’s past this team could only win games by bludgeoning teams to death with offense. The Dbacks will look to keep the momentum going tomorrow night as they will give the ball to Michael Soroka.
The biggest negative for me of this game, was the reporting from Bob Nightengale during the game that this was the smallest crowd at Chase Field since May of 2023 at just 14,761 fans. C’mon guys! We have got to do better than that! Especially when this team is winning games! I would greatly encourage people to try and show up to the ballpark this holiday weekend and give these guys some energy at home! They deserve it! Especially with the big replica jersey giveaway this weekend. LFG!
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 3 preview: Three things to look for, including who is heathy
For two games, this series has been everything.
Two high-level, high-skill, deep, elite teams, both brilliantly coached, playing with urgency on every possession because they understand if they don't, it will be the end of their season.
While the scene shifts to San Antonio for Game 3, nothing else is going to change — these two teams recognize in each other an equal, a genuine contender, and someone they don't really like. The intensity with which this series has been played is fantastic.
Game 3 is Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET, and you can watch it on NBC or stream it on Peacock. Here are three things to look for in this game.
1) Who is healthy?
I hate that this has to be the No. 1 item, but with key starters from both teams possibly out, it has to be discussed.
San Antonio has been without De'Aaron Fox for the first two games of this series and his replacement as a starter, Dylan Harper, left Game 2 game in the third quarter with what the team is now calling adductor soreness.
Officially, both Spurs players are questionable for Game 3.
Fox was a game-time decision for Game 2 after going through warmups, expect that pattern to continue. Harper’s adductor issue is similar to a hamstring strain in that it's a very easy muscle to reinjure if not fully healed, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the rookie misses at least a game or two.
For the Thunder, Jalen Williams is also officially questionable with left hamstring soreness. He will be a game-day decision and is day-to-day, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Williams appeared to reinjure the left hamstring in the first quarter of Game 2, the same hamstring that kept him out half of the Thunder's first-round series against the Suns and the entire series against the Lakers. While the Thunder have been without Williams for much of the season and kept winning, they need him in this tight a series.
Oklahoma City came into this series with a depth advantage, and that could start to show as this series keeps going. San Antonio's starters have played more than 40 minutes together this series, while Oklahoma City doesn't have a lineup that has played more than 15 minutes. The Spurs have five players who have logged at least 70 minutes through two games (Game 1 going to double OT helped spike that), while Oklahoma City has just one in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That's just something to watch, especially if both teams are without key rotation players this series.
2) Can San Antonio reduce their turnovers?
These are the statistics that define the series through two games.
Turnovers: San Antonio 44, Oklahoma City 25.
Points off turnovers: Oklahoma City 55, San Antonio 27.
Part of this ties into item No. 1 on this list. With starting point guard Fox missing both games due to a high ankle sprain suffered against the Timberwolves last round, and Dylan Harper missing much of the second half of Game 2, a huge shot creation load has fallen on the shoulders of Stephon Castle — and he has 20 turnovers through two games. While Castle is an All-Star level shot creator — and incredibly good for a second-year player — it's a lot to ask. Especially going up against the high-pressure Oklahoma City defense that was the best in the league this season, and forced the second-most turnovers.
Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio have struggled with half-court offenses this series when they face set defenses, and both have thrived when they can get out and run in transition. Give the Thunder too many easy buckets off steals or other turnovers, and it becomes hard for the Spurs to score enough to keep up.
3)Is this another Wembanyama game?
Oklahoma City's Isaiah Hartenstein did as good a job as humanly possible on Victor Wembanyama in Game 2, and the Frenchman still had 21 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. In a game where the officials let it get physical, Hartenstein walked right up to that line and, in doing so, forced Wembanyama to work hard for every inch of the court.
If Game 3 is called more tightly, it's advantage Wembanyama. Also, back at home, expect more energy from Wembanyama, fueled by that home crowd.
Put simply, if Wembanyama looks more like the Game 1 version of himself than the Game 2 version, everything else we've written in this story may not matter — he can take over a game like nobody else. And if he does, the Spurs will be in charge of the series again.