In a showdown of titans, San Antonio is tied 2-2 with defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals because, for two games, Victor Wembanyama took over. He dropped 41 in the dramatic Game 1 double-overtime win on the road. However, it was in Game 4 — a must-win game for the Spurs, they couldn't afford to go 3-1 down — where he played maybe his best game.
“I think our competitive response all year has been pretty good and he’s been at the forefront of that more than not,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “And I think tonight he felt, not speaking for him, but from my perspective and obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways.”
Wembanyama hadn't been bad in Games 2 and 3. For example, in Game 3 he had 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting and was +4. However, the Spurs had been able to use Isaiah Hartenstein's physicality to push Wemby away from the rim — he had just four shots in the restricted area, six in the paint — and out on the perimeter.
Sunday night, we saw an aggressive Wembanyama who set the tone early (11 first-quarter points) and went hard to the rim — he shot 7-of-10 in the restricted area in Game 4 and took a dozen shots in the paint. When he's that close to the basket, there is nothing any player in the league can do. Especially when he's also 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Johnson also modified his team's defensive schemes in a way that let Wembanyama hang closer to the rim — where he is a force unlike anyone in the league — and the results were dramatic. In Game 3, the Thunder shot 11-of-15 in the restricted area and 21-of-32 in the paint overall. In Game 4, the Thunder still tried to attack and get downhill, but shot 48.3% in the restricted area and were 18-of-41 (43.9%) overall in the paint. Look at the Spurs shot chart.
NBA.com
After the ugly Game 3 loss at home, Spurs legendary former coach (now front office person) Gregg Popovich appeared in the locker room postgame — the first time he had done so all year, according to De'Aaron Fox in a postgame interview on NBC. Popovich's message was simple: That's not Spurs basketball.
“He saw it. We all saw it," Fox said. "We all felt it."
Wembanyama felt it and did what all the greats do — he took that personally. He put the team on his shoulders. He finished Game 4 with 33 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, but the stats don't tell the story of the tone Wembanyama set. Or the one he continues to set.
“We all have high standards and I know I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it,” Wembanyama said. “Yeah, it was better today. It wasn’t perfect...
“The series is far from over. We’ve got six more wins before we can rest.”
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) prepare for a jump ball in the fourth quarter during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Exactly one year ago, the Knicks stepped onto the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Pacers. Our heroes had lost the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, each by five points or less. Favored to win the series, New York stunned us by dropping those two at Madison Square Garden, but our faith remained strong. It was still our year! We would just have to wait a couple more games to reach the promised land.
New York won by six on May 25, 2025. From there, they lost Game Four nearly wire-to-wire, won Game Five wire-to-wire, and then the wheels came off. Aside from a brief five-point lead in the first quarter, they were demolished in Game Six. Brokenhearted, disconsolate, forlorn, confused—you name it, we felt it as fans. We blinked through disbelief as we watched Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers hoist the Bob Cousy Trophy and advance to the Finals. The friggin’ Pacers.
One year later—with a new coach but essentially the same roster—the Knicks stand on the verge of a Finals berth again. This time, they will leave nothing to chance. Their opponent, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, are reeling from three straight punches and are utterly exhausted after playing 17 postseason games without a break. In Game Three, essentially with their season on the line, the Cavs simply couldn’t keep up. New York outscored them on fast breaks 17-0 through three quarters, and by the fourth period, Cleveland basically stood back and admired the craftsmanship of Sir Jalen Brunson.
You’ll forgive us for counting the chickens still gestating in their eggs. We take great confidence in the fact that no NBA team has ever climbed out of a three-game hole to win a playoff series. Our heroes have not appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999, and destiny, at last, is on our side. No more front-office incompetence. No more LOLKnicks. No more cheap shots in kids’ movies that I have to explain to my son. Finally, we have a team that deserves to share a jersey with Willis, Walt, and Patrick. Enjoy every blessed minute of it, fans.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson has tried to lift his team’s spirits. He claims they’re actually winning the series analytically. What else can he say? “Donovan Mitchell looks ready for a summer-long convalescence,” or “James Harden is a washed-up paper tiger,” or “Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have folded like laundry in the frontcourt”? Could Kenny ever admit that a supporting cast of Max Strus, Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson just doesn’t emanate that certain championship aroma?
Atkinson has a ring. He won it with Mike Brown as an assistant on Golden State’s bench. Kenny knows what greatness looks like. Surely he can see that his team is tapped out after surviving slugfests with the Raptors and Pistons to get here, then finding a juggernaut before them. Would we be surprised if Laura Atkinson hasn’t already booked a Turks and Caicos getaway for next weekend? No sir, we would not.
All things considered, the Cavs seem kinda lucky to be here. The Knicks stopped believing in luck under the cruel tutelage of Pai Mei (a.k.a. Tom Thibodeau) and—for Jalen—Rick Brunson. They believe in maximum effort, discipline, and unity. They took two seasons to learn how to combine like Voltron, but combine they have and all the talking heads are giving them flowers. Winners of the most lopsided 10-game winning streak in league history . . . the most potent offense in history . . . all the laudatory noise means nothing to that maniac Brunson. He is obsessively focused on one thing and steadily leads his troops toward it. It’s not the Cousy—Jalen is coming for the Larry O’Brien. Heaven help anyone who stands in his way.
Tonight’s prediction? Knicks by 15 and bedlam in NYC.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (3-0) at Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3) Date: Monday, May 25, 2026 Time: 8 PM ET Place: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH TV: ESPN Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
One has to wonder whether the recent success of the Vegas Golden Knights has more to do with John Tortorella becoming head coach than with Bruce Cassidy no longer being head coach. If the latter, this could be cause for pause if you're the Edmonton Oilers.
Rumored to be waiting on an interview with Cassidy that may never come, the Oilers are reportedly interviewing several candidates. Still, Cassidy is "their guy." He's target No. 1, and only if he's not available will the Oilers move on to other options.
Maybe that's best, given the way the series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche has gone.
Down 3-0 in the Western Conference Final, Colorado is being outplayed and outworked by a Golden Knights team that is firing on all cylinders under Tortorella. This is the same team that, just a couple of short months ago, had Cassidy calling the shots, and they looked iffy about making the playoffs at all.
Buffalo Sabres columnist Mike Harrington posted, "Man, this Vegas team must have HATED Bruce Cassidy to be playing like this for Torts. When somebody gets permission to talk to Cassidy, you wonder if this gives them pause at all."
This is just one person's opinion, but it's a valid argument. It certainly raises questions. How is it that one team (the same team) can buy in so feverishly under one coach with a reputation for holding players accountable, but not another?
Did the message wear thin? Did Cassidy lose the room? Or, does it have little to do with Cassidy and this is more about Vegas stepping up in crunch time, and buying in during a playoff run? Maybe it wasn't about the coach, but about the games meaning more.
Maybe the Oilers Aren't Worried...
One fan responded, "They needed a mental reset. With Cassidy, he was too close to the situation to figure it out. It happens. Torts came in totally objectively with a clear view of the situation and set their minds straight. Bruce is a great coach and will have no trouble getting another HC job."
Another wrote, "They loved Cassidy. However they just needed a reset. It was the same nonsense every press conference and nothing was changing. He would say we need to do something and it wouldn't change. The team probably just got tired of hearing the same thing over and over again."
Those two takes could also be true.
Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Like Kris Knoblauch in Edmonton, he was once the right fit at the right time with this Oilers group. Last season? Not so much. The style didn't mesh with the group and where they were at, so Edmonton made a change. That's not to say Knoblauch is bad coach.
Cassidy is clearly a solid bench boss. If he wasn't, the Golden Knights wouldn't be toying with the idea of paying his salary in full not to coach elsewhere. No team does that if they truly believe he had lost his magical Stanley Cup touch.
Perhaps none of this matters if the Oilers never get a chance to formally interview him. Chris Johnston noted, "I think the Oilers are going to have to wait and see with Bruce Cassidy; if not, you're choosing between [Craig] Berube, [Peter] Laviolette, maybe there's a mystery box..."
EIGHT IS ENOUGH: The Cubs have not lost a ninth consecutive game since July 17, 2022, when they fell at home to the Mets, 4-3, in 10 innings in the second game of a doubleheader. They had lost the first game, 2-1, in 11 innings. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
LET’S NOT DO THIS: A loss today would give the Cubs the dubious distinction of having the longest losing streak, nine games, of any team that had multiple double-digit winning streaks in a season. The 1916 Giants had winning streak of 17, 14 and 12 games. The first came after they had lost eight in a row. The second and third were separated by a tie. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
IT’S AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT IS: In their eight losses, the Cubs have been outscored, 43-20, an average of 5.4-2.5. They have been outhit, 68-39, an average of 8.5-3.8. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: One day after Jon Lieber one-hits the Reds, Kerry Wood matches that feat by one-hitting the Brewers at Wrigley Field. The only Milwaukee hit is a leadoff single by Mark Loretta in the seventh. Wood walks two and strikes out 14. The Cubs win 1-0 with the only run a solo homer by Rondell White in the fourth. It happened 25 years ago today, Friday, May 25, 2001.
The Pirates lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Pirates lineup.
Ben Brown, RHP vs. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP
Ben Brown’s first two starts this year, after being pressed into the rotation due to injuries, were very good. The third, last Tuesday vs. the Brewers, wasn’t quite as good, though still decent — three runs in five innings with six strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches in that one so should be fully stretched out to go as far as needed today.
Brown’s only appearance vs. the Pirates this year was two scoreless innings of relief April 11 at Wrigley Field in a game the Cubs lost in 11 innings.
Here’s one really positive thing about Brown — he has allowed just one home run this year in 38.2 innings, and that was to the very first batter he faced this season on Opening Day (Daylen Lile of the Nationals), so he’s faced 153 batters since then without allowing a long ball. Keep up the great work, Ben.
Carmen Mlodzinski has made eight starts and two “bulk guy” relief appearances after an opener this year, after being mostly a reliever up to this year.
He threw 5.1 shutout innings against the Cubs April 10 at Wrigley Field, and last time out, last Wednesday vs, the Cardinals, he threw five shutout innings. He has allowed just two home runs this year in 50 innings. This will not be an easy game for Cubs hitters.
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout. If you do go there to interact with Pirates fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Nolan McLean (2-3, 3.57 ERA)looks to rebound from his uncharacteristic outing vs. the Nationals on May 19 when he allowed nine runs (six earned)
A.J. Ewing had his third career two-hit game and picked up his third stolen base of the season in Sunday's loss
New York has scored just four runs in their last four games (1-3) and find themselves tied for the second-worst record in the NL (22-31) with the Giants
Today's Lineups
REDS
METS
Blake Dunn, CF
Cason Benge, DH
Elly De La Cruz, SS
Bo Bichette, SS
JJ Bleday, LF
Mark Vientos, 1B
Sal Stewart, 3B
Marcus Semien, 2B
Eugenio Suárez, DH
A.J. Ewing, CF
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
Tyrone Taylor, RF
Spencer Steer, RF
Nick Morabito, LF
Tyler Stephenson, C
Brett Baty, 3B
Matt McLain, 2B
Luis Torrens, C
What channel is SNY?
Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.
How can I stream the game?
The way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.
Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.
Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”
To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.
For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.
Start your week off right with a trio of Memorial Day MLB same-game parlay predictions for Monday, May 25.
My top MLB picks begin with the New York Yankees cashing in at Kauffman Stadium and wrap up with the Los Angeles Dodgers filling up the box score against the Colorado Rockies.
Yankees vs. Royals SGP: Bronx Bombers rough up Wacha
Kansas City Royals veteran Michael Wacha is eyeing statistical correction with his 2.70 ERA way below his 4.08 xFIP and supported by an unsustainable 82.5% strand rate and .232 BABIP that are also way below his respective 72.7% and .287 marks from last year.
As a result, I like the New York Yankees to rough up the righty. In particular, outfielder Trent Grisham and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. The pair of left-handed hitters respectively sport solid .360 and .351 wOBAs against righties since the beginning of last season.
Pairing the game total Over with the Over on Cincinnati Reds lefty Nick Lodolo’s strikeouts provides an odds boost because the legs are uncorrelated.
Lodolo’s 16.4% strikeout rate is miles behind the 26.2% mark through his first four seasons, and the Reds and New York Mets respectively rank third in sixth in xwOBA over the past two weeks.
Turning to the Matt McLain leg, he’s priced for profit because his .248 BABIP is way below his .292 mark from last year, despite his 34.4% squared-up contact rate checking higher than last year’s 32.6% mark. He’s also piled up five runs, eight hits, and seven RBI across his past 10 games.
I like this SGP at +350 and higher.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, CINR
Rockies vs. Dodgers SGP: Dodgers fill up the box score
So, with the wind blowing out at Dodger Stadium, I’m targeting the heart of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. Freddie Freeman (.371), Will Smith (.375), and Kyle Tucker (.352) all sport high-end wOBAs against right-handed pitchers since the beginning of the 2025 campaign, and the Dodgers already teed off on Gordon earlier this season for six runs across just four innings on April 20.
I’d back this SGP to +300
Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNLA, COLR
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
San Antonio was blown out by the Thunder 123-108 in Game 3 on Friday, leading to former coach and Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich giving the team a tongue-lashing for the first time all season.
His message clearly resonated with the Spurs as they responded with a 103-82 Game 4 win to tie the Western Conference finals at 2-2.
Gregg Popovich screamed at the Spurs after a Game 3 loss. Getty Images
“We lost Game 3 … but that was the first time he walked into the locker room and was like, ‘Nah, that’s BS. That’s not how we play basketball,’ and obviously he had some choice words for us,” Spurs star De’Aaron Fox told NBC after the blowout win Sunday night. “That was the first time all season that he came into the locker room right after a game and told us how he felt.”
Popovich doesn’t stand on the sidelines barking directions to his players anymore.
He was seen sitting in a luxury box next to Tim Duncan during Game 4.
A video of Popovich speaking to star center Victor Wembanyama went viral on social media ahead of Game 3, with the Frenchman listening intently and hanging on every word.
The Hall of Fame coach has tutored Wembanyama since he entered the league, acting as his coach for his first full season and then for five games in the 2024-25 season.
The 77-year-old Popovich still has plenty of connections with this Spurs roster, as he stepped down as the coach in May 2025 after suffering a stroke, which has limited his physical condition and forced him to relinquish the role. Mitch Johnson, who is currently in his second season, replaced him.
“Every team gets blown out, but just mentality-wise, I think that was one of the worst games we had probably of the season,” Fox said of the Game 3 home loss, per ESPN. “Then, Pop came in after the game. He saw it, we all saw it. We all felt it. Coming into this game, we wanted to make sure that mentality was out the door. Even if we lost this game, as long as we came in with the right mentality and played the right way, we could be OK with losing the game. The way that we lost [Game 3] I think hurt more than losing the game, and that was pretty much for everybody in the locker room.”
Victor Wembanyama (l) was coached by Gregg Popovich for most of his career, while De’Aaron Fox (r) said the ex-coach’s message inspired the team. NBAE via Getty Images
After a historic 29-year run in San Antonio, Popovich, who started in December 1996, won five titles as the team’s coach, dominating with a Duncan-led tandem.
The Spurs now head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5.
Who will win Astros vs Rangers today: Rangers (-130)
Houston Astros starter Tatsuya Imai owns an 8.31 ERA on the season and has conceded at least three runs in four of five starts. That is alarming, given he has only pitched five innings once.
His numbers are especially bad against left-handed hitters, as he has posted a .418 wOBA, 22.4 BB%, and 2.25 WHIP facing lefties.
The Astros rank 26th in average and 27th in ISO against right-handed pitching over the last two weeks, hitting for neither average nor power.
That sets up well for Rangers starter Kumar Rocker, who has held opponents to a 36.4% hard-hit rate and 6.8% barrel rate over his last three starts. He will be able to limit power, and he has a well-rested bullpen behind him after the previous two Rangers starters combined to pitch 13 innings.
I don't see the Astros scoring enough to push this game Over the number, and would play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-15, -1.78 units
Over/Under bets: 16-16-1, -2.46 units
Astros vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Astros +110 | Rangers -130
Run line: Astros +1.5 (-180) | Rangers -1.5 (+155)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-115) | Under 8.0 (-105)
Astros vs Rangers trend
Houston owns a 1-8-1 O/U record over the last 10 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Rangers.
How to watch Astros vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Monday, May 25, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, RSN
Astros starting pitcher
Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 8.31 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Kumar Rocker (2-4, 3.60 ERA)
Astros vs Rangers latest injuries
Astros vs Rangers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
One of the things I am always sensitive to is the ratio between positive and negative news. The analysis itself is neutral, but what we choose to analyze is never neutral. We will always come in with preconceived notions about what we are likely to find. So, every once in awhile I want to highlight something we think will be positive to give us that lime wedge after a series of tequila shots.
Coming into the season, Christian Walker was predicted to go in one of two directions. He could go the Jose Abreu route and completely fall apart or he could rebound and have a year typical of what he had done in the past. Of course, the basic numbers indicate the latter, but we should dig a little deeper and see how similar these numbers are to his other full seasons. We will look beyond the COVID year and see how similar Walker’s underlying numbers are to those Arizona seasons that influenced the Astros to make the signing in the first place.
Before we jump into the numbers, we should look at some of the numbers we will be including. Obviously, numbers like strikeout rate and walk rate are self-explanatory. We will also look at BABIP (batting average on balls in play), Historically, the league average for that number usually rests around .300, but we sometimes see some minor fluctuations there. We will also look at isolated power and secondary average. Isolated power is a part of secondary average and it usually rests somewhere between .150 and .175 on average. Secondary average mirrors batting average, so a .250 secondary average is usually around the league average.
SO%
BB%
BABIP
ISO
SEC
2021
23.8
8.5
.307
.137
.232
2022
19.6
10.3
.248
.235
.353
2023
19.2
9.4
.272
.239
.364
2024
24,1
10.0
.287
.217
.332
2025
27.7
6.3
.291
.183
.253
2026
19.6
8.7
.271
.265
.362
So, at first blush it doesn’t appear as if 2026 is way better than anything he has done before, but it appears that 2025 was way worse than just about anything he had done before. 2021 would be the only comparison and his strikeout rate was lower and his walk rate was higher that season. His BABIP was also higher that season as well. So, it could easily be said that 2025 was the worst full season of Walker’s career.
When we are looking for real improvement we often look at the statcast numbers. Sometimes a player can be lucky one year and unlucky the next. What we are looking for are reasons for the improvement outside of luck. Obviously, the K rate is the first really positive indicator. He is also walking more often as well. Let’s look at the quality of contact between 2025 and 2026.
xBA
xOBP
xSLG
xOPS
2025
.233
.292
.435
.727
2026
.254
.327
.469
.796
What do these numbers mean? They mean what they usually mean. Walker was not as bad as he looked last season and he isn’t quite as good as he has looked so far this season. It is the implications of this that are more important for us to consider. Walker has one more year on his contract. He currently sits at 1.7 FWAR. That followed a 1.1 FWAR count last season for a grand total of 2.8 FWAR for the first year plus of his Astros tenure.
The Fangraphs standard for value is between eight and nine million per win. If we set it at the low end then we would expect Walker to produce five wins in his first two seasons to be worth the 40 million he will be owed over the course of those seasons. That means that he would need to earn 2.2 more FWAR between now and the end of the season to recoup the 40 million spent. Given his current pace that seems doable, but the Statcast above predicts some regression.
The elephant in the room
As many of you know, last week I called for a tear down and Walker was one of the names mentioned. Trading him will be easier said than done. He has a limited no trade clause that lists six teams he cannot be traded to. Who are the teams on that list? We are not sure. Those lists tend to be individual to the player. Sometimes they list teams that are perennially in the cellar. Sometimes they list organizations with players or coaches they don’t like. Sometimes they list cities they wouldn’t want to live in. It is impossible to know where his head is at here and how that would impact his market.
Yet, one cannot deny the desire to cash in on an asset while he is near the peak of what his value is. Walker is on pace to hit 40 home runs this season. He isn’t going to hit 40 home runs in all likelihood, but some rube somewhere in a GM’s chair might believe that he might. If that gamble comes with a good prospect then the prospect plus the financial savings is something to consider.
Of course, the Astros are also coming off of a three game sweep of the Cubs. They are currently 11-11 in May as the pitching has seemingly found some level outside the sewer. They could lean into the current uptick and hope that another rebound is possible. You obviously aren’t getting there without a productive Walker. They also could believe that a Walker is a key part of whatever run they could make in 2027. At any rate, Walker’s performance has been a positive this season and even if the Statcast results predict a regression, it would still be growth from last season. What do you think? Would you hold onto Walker if a team came calling with a good prospect?
May 24, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) loses the ball to San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) in the fourth quarter during game four of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
I must admit, my confidence was hanging by a thread as last night’s game started. After all, the Thunder are a genuinely great team, the Spurs had suffered consistently bad disadvantages in three straight games (e.g., turnover margin), and it felt like OKC’s plan of fouling Wemby continuously was going to end up being an effective method for mitigating his impact. I didn’t even feel good when San Antonio got up big in the first quarter because, well, look at Game 3. Even so, my spirits lifted as the second quarter progressed, soared with Victor’s halfcourt heave to go up 12 at halftime, and remained excellent throughout a dominant second half. Considering the environment and stakes, this may have been the Spurs best performance of the season to date, and fortunately it also produced a fascinating box score. Let’s review some highlights:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of May 24, 2026, this group include 1,197 games.
Factors that decided the game
This is a great game for showcasing why winning is determined by relative differences in performance (i.e., how the winner performed relative to the loser). In particular, the Spurs shot terribly in this game, yet still outscored OKC by 13 from the field because the Thunder’s shooting efficiency was DREADFUL.
I talk about this more below, but the Spurs achieved the rare feat of beating OKC in every basic box score battle that doesn’t directly relate to shooting volume or efficiency (more on that below). These margins were rarely huge (hence the grades are usually modest), but lots of little advantages often add up to a big victory.
San Antonio also won most margins having to do with shooting volume or efficiency, with the most notable victory being their FTA margin of +14. Interestingly, FT% is the only key area where they lost to the Thunder badly; even so, the Spurs outscored OKC by eight from the charity stripe.
Rare Box Score Stats
Last night, San Antonio became the first postseason victor since the start of 2012-2013 to win by 21+ points while logging FG%, 3P%, and FT% values at least as bad as 38.89%, 27.27%, and 75%, respectively. There are only four other instances in the same 1,197-game period in which a winning team had a shooting percentage line at least as bad in all three dimensions, and the previous high margin of victory in that set was 12.
The Spurs became just the 12th winner since the start of the 2012-2013 postseason to win EVERY basic box score battle outside of anything related to shooting volume or accuracy. In other words, relative to OKC they had more offensive rebounds, more defensive rebounds, more assists, fewer turnovers, more steals, more blocks, and fewer personal fouls.
San Antonio became the 42 winner in the last 1,197 NBA postseason contests to win by 21+ points with FGA and 3PA margins no better than -1 and 0, respectively (that’s a frequency of about once in every 29 postseason games during the period).
The Spurs and Thunder combined for just 15 total made threes in this game. That is not wildly unusual over the last 14 postseasons; in fact, it has now happened 195 times in that 1,197-game span. However, the vast majority of those occasions were in the 2010s. Since 2019, it’s happened between 0 and 7 times per postseason.
An interesting point of comparison for this fact about total threes made is that the total number of field goals made in last night’s game (65) was also quite low relative to the reference period, with 98 total games over the last 1,197 (i.e., about one game in every dozen) where two teams have combined to make 65 or fewer field goals. The frequency of this occurrence has declined over time (largely due to rising pace), but not nearly as dramatically.
Wemby logged just the 12th true playoff performance since the 1996-1997 postseason that included 33+ points, 8+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 3+ blocks, and 2+ steals.
Kelly Olynyk is featured in the headline photograph because last night he became the only NBA player to record 3+ steals while playing no more than five minutes in a true playoff game since 1996-1997. In fact, of the 48,406 player performances that have included 3+ steals in ANY NBA game since 1996-1997, Olynyk’s game last night was just the sixth case that lasted less than five minutes. Nice job, Kelly!
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
The New York Knicks will try to secure the rest advantage over their Western Conference counterpart in the NBA Finals when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
These Knicks vs. Cavaliers props and NBA picks for Game 4 fully expect New York to complete this sweep tonight, with Karl-Anthony Towns playing a key role.
Game 4 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 points 1Q (-144)
The New York Knicks should emphasize a strong start tonight. Make the Cleveland Cavaliers face elimination early in Game 4 and challenge them to not think about packing it in before they head to the beach.
The NBA punchline of “1, 2, 3, Cancun” usually overlooks that moment at the start of Game 4 when the “Cancun” aspect of that laugh is cemented. A strong first quarter can erase any remaining competitive intrigue from the trailing team.
Jalen Brunson may be New York’s star, but he rarely starts a game aggressively. He instead incorporates his teammates early before taking over late. For example, Brunson has scored just two and five points in the last two first quarters.
Karl-Anthony Towns, however, is a willing beneficiary of Brunson’s early deference. Towns has scored seven and 11 points in the last two first quarters, a combination of long-range shooting and work at the rim.
Two buckets from Towns in tonight’s early frame is not much of an ask, but it would help spur the Knicks toward the Finals more than usual.
Game 4 Prop #2: James Harden Under 17.5 points (-102)
Winning back-to-back seven-game series should not be quickly forgotten, but losing a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals may cost the Cavaliers and James Harden all such goodwill. Well, it may cost the Cavaliers all such goodwill. It is debatable if Harden has any such goodwill.
He went 3-for-9 from the field in the decisive win against the Raptors in the first round before going 2-for-10 from the field in Game 7 against the Pistons. Did Cleveland win because of Harden or despite him?
This Game 4 should not help his argument.
Harden has cleared this prop in the last two games, but topping out at 19 points in Game 3 despite playing 41 minutes is not an encouraging sign. If New York does indeed win its 11th straight game, a blowout feels rather likely. Eight of the Knicks’ last 10 wins have been blowouts.
A blowout in a series-clinching game typically cuts into starters’ minutes. Cutting into Harden’s minutes at all should doom his scoring, given that he has hardly scored in bunches in this series.
This prop is likely already set at its actionable low, so the -102 are a delightful surprise.
Game 4 Prop #3: Miles McBride Over 5.5 points (+102)
A blowout should lead to only more minutes for Miles McBride. The Knicks guard is rarely the subject of prop bets, but there is still value in this.
Realize, New York has shown a penchant for closing series with firepower. It beat Atlanta by 51 points in a game that was not even that close. The 76ers fell by 30 points.
Routs lead to more minutes for McBride, obviously. Thus, he scored 25 points in 29 minutes in that farewell to Philadelphia.
This is very much a bet that the Knicks will win with ease tonight and give Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart some time to laugh and celebrate. McBride has already scored five points in each of the last two games. An additional shift on the court should spur him past this prop and into plus-money profit.
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The final day of the season, to a modern audience, can seem almost overwhelming: 10 games going on at once, each with their own rhythm and dynamic and storyline. It can be hard to imagine that at one time, before the advent of regular live television coverage, this is how it was every weekend. But from the mass of narratives, one key theme, one that has lurked in the background all season, emerged: that this is a brutally hard, extremely competitive, league in which any slip-up is punished.
There have been complaints this season about the style of many games, but then there comes a point towards the end of most seasons when a number of fans pronounce themselves bored and declare it a bad season; that tends to correlate quite strongly with how well their team has done.
This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition
The Lakers have filled one of their two assistant general manager vacancies.
The franchise has hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka.
With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images With Mark Walter and Jeannie Buss leading the way, the Lakers have hired Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka.Getty Images
Ramadas last worked as a vice president of strategy and operations for the Pelicans.
The hiring, which was first reported by ESPN on Monday, is the first of two assistant general manager hires the Lakers plan on making this offseason.
One assistant general manager will work in “player draft and evaluation processes”, according to Pelinka, which will include pro scouting, draft scouting and player development. The other will be more on the “strategy side”, which entails cap, analytics and data.
The latter is the role is filling Ramadas.
After earning a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from USC, Ramadas worked for The Aerospace Corporation for 12 years before joining the Pelicans’ front office on a full-time basis in September 2024.
He was the franchise’s senior director of analytics and innovation before being promoted in May 2025 to vice president of strategy and operations.
Ramadas was an analytics consultant for the Pelicans for seven years before joining the organization full-time. Before working with the Pelicans, Ramadas was a draft analyst with the Heat in 2016-17.
The hiring of Ramadas is part of the Lakers’ “reconstruction” this summer, which is the franchise’s first full offseason since Mark Walter, also the Dodger’s controlling owner, purchased the majority stake of the Lakers.
“We have already started that reconstruction, have made hires in our front office and continue to develop new technologies and new areas that we’ve turned on for the draft [and] free agency,” Pelinka said. “A lot of the infrastructure is being built. We will continue to staff out with assistant general manager positions. There’s a couple of those that we’re currently interviewing for and have done an extensive dive in that process. Those will be two key pillars that we’ll add for this offseason.”
The franchise is also looking to enhance their practice facility with a biomechanics lab, new movement labs and a recovery lab.
The Lakers’ changes come in the midst of a pivotal offseason: LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent; Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option for 2026-27 and become an unrestricted free agent; Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes are also unrestricted free agents; Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player options for next season.
NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks dunks in Game Four of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 23, 1999 in New York, New York. The Spurs won 96-89. OTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Never in Knicks history has New York swept back-to-back postseason series.
“Going through this process, one of the things that I’m trying really hard to do and trying really hard to make sure our team does from the top down is to stay present. And what I mean by that is, we don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves, because as soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster always occurs, it seems. So for us, starting with me, making sure everybody in the organization on down understands it’s about the next game. And really, it’s about the next possession. And I try to block out everything else as best I can and not think about ‘what ifs,’ because I know for me, it would distract me 100 percent at this time of the year.”
On the risk of getting ahead of themselves:
“We don’t wanna get ahead of ourselves, because as soon as we start getting ahead of ourselves, that’s when disaster always occurs, it seems.”
On thinking about winning a title when he signed with the Knicks:
“When I took the job, I thought about it. But going through this process, one of the things that I’m trying really hard to do and trying really hard to make sure our team does from the top down is to stay present.”
On balancing enjoyment with focus:
“The guys have played good basketball, and they deserve the right for me to make sure that I recognize it and that they’re able to take a breath and enjoy for a few moments what they did do. But again, I’ll try to read the room, and so every once in a while, I may tell them, ‘Hey, you guys were great. Great, great, great, great, but be ready for this, because this can happen.’ So I’ll try to let them go a little bit but bring them back to earth every once in a while with a statement, something that could happen or did happen. And we kinda go from there, but everybody is human. Everybody needs an opportunity to enjoy this roller-coaster ride as it’s unfolding. But the same breath, it’s my job to try to make sure I lead the charge in bringing them back down to earth sooner than later.”
On OG Anunoby’s All-Defense snub:
“I got one more thing before I’m taking off. You guys can all print this. Great players out there. I’m not discounting anybody, but freakin’ OG got robbed. He should’ve been first-team All Defense. First-team All-Defense. The versatility he brings to this team — we’re a top-five defensive team. Top-five defensive team, OK? The versatility that he brings — and everybody always says, ‘Oh, you got KAT. You got Jalen. Blah, blah, blah.’ The versatility that that guy brings to this team is off the charts, and I hope the voters get it right the next time around. I’m happy he’s second-team. He deserves something, but it was wrong.”
On championship traits he sees in this group:
“All of them had a competitive spirit that was unmatched. They were all connected. Those intangibles are what I see that our team is.”
"Freakin' OG got robbed. He should've been First Team All-Defense. I hope the voters get it right next time around. It was wrong."
Mike Brown ends his availability today by making the case for OG Anunoby to be First Team All-Defense 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Z0HSYCirhf
“We have to come in knowing that this series isn’t over and keep our foot on their necks and try to win the game.”
On earning second-team All-Defense recognition:
“It was cool to get the recognition. Anytime you’re recognized by coaches and the media, it’s really cool. The second team is cool, I was hoping I got first team, I thought I should have gotten first team. But second team is good. Every recognition is good. First team, second team. There’s a lot of good defenders in the league, so to be recognized as one of the 10 premier ones is really cool in itself. Just happy. Now I’m just focused on the rest of the playoffs.”
On believing he’s been elite defensively for years:
“I feel like I’ve been a great defender for years. So anytime you get recognition — recognized by coaches or the media, your peers, whatever — it’s really cool. Second Team is cool.”
On not dwelling on the Knicks’ finals drought:
“I don’t think we’re stuck on it. Our goal is just to win each and every game. However long it was, six years or two years or 20 years, it doesn’t matter.”
"I was hoping I got First Team, I thought I should have got First Team"
“We’ve won all these games in a row as a team. We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We found ways to get these great wins as a team. As long as we stay together and stay unified, we feel and have always felt that the sky’s the limit for us.”
On demanding more desperation amid the Game 3 win:
“I think that we’ve got to be more desperate. We’ve got to be more desperate. This [Cavaliers] team is too good, too great, it’s too much of a big stage to not find more desperation in the game.”
On what frustrated him most during the first half of Game 3:
“We gave up 27 points. That’s what pissed me off more than anything.”
How long has Jalen Brunson imagined leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals?
On how long he’s thought about reaching the Finals with the Knicks:
“Since I signed.”
On whether the Knicks are peaking:
“I don’t want to consider us peaking at this moment. I still think we have a lot of work to do. Us as a team, I’ve said this all year, we just want to get better every single day. That includes the times that we’re in the playoffs because there’s still time to learn, still time to get better. That’s how I’ve always thought about it. I haven’t really had the time to really kind of wonder where we are as a team. All I focus on is how can we get better from the day before?”
On treating Game 4 like any other:
“No matter what is at stake, it’s a chance for us to come together, be better than we were the game before, continue to learn. And try to be the best team we can be.”
On not thinking about historical stakes:
“It doesn’t really cross my mind at all right now. Just really focused on tomorrow. I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, honestly.”
On fan excitement amid this ridiculous run:
“I mean they’re probably excited. Rightfully so, but we have a job to do, and we have things that we need to focus on. That’s on them being them, but we have to be locked in to do what we do.”
“Analytically, we’ve won 2 out of 3. We’re two out of the three in the expected score. If you believe in process and all that, like, man, take that later. I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself, and if I have this feeling, I can go to our analytical table and be like, man, the expected score was like one point or two — us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over.”
On the public’s reaction to that argument:
“I know no one wants to hear that. I think you guys like hearing it, but I know the general public, nobody wants to hear that. Everybody is outcome-based. You know, sure, I get that too.”
On past success against New York:
“We’ve had success against this team before. We’ve had really good moments in this series — up 20 in Game 1. Even Game 2, take that run out from the beginning of the third quarter, and it’s pretty tight.”
On believing in process despite results:
“If you believe in process and all that … take that layer. I know I don’t throw that on them. I see it for myself. We have this feeling — I have this feeling — then I can go to our analytical table.”
On the Knicks avoiding any sort of drop in production:
“Teams that make that next step, it’s the balance that’s impressed me the most. They have so many contributors right now, and I think that is what’s different from the regular season. We all know they had ups and downs, they had periods where they weren’t playing well. The sustainability of it, you’re expecting a letdown. We haven’t seen a letdown from them yet.”
On Cleveland’s defensive struggles and Knicks contributors:
“It comes down to performing better, individually. Bridges is 27 of 38 [in this series]. [Landry] Shamet is 7-for-8 from 3 in this series. They’re getting stellar performances across the board. Josh Hart in Game 2 had an incredible game. Jalen’s great and Towns is great, but we’ve kind of done a decent job on those guys, you can argue. … OG’s two wing 3s [in Game 3], like the jab, jab 3, are you kidding me? … The goal was to slow down their momentum, and that mojo they got, and we haven’t been able to do that. That’s the frustrating thing for me. Part of that is them playing great. We haven’t found a formula to slow their mojo down.”
On the Cavs players believing in a comeback:
“I had eight great answers. I said, ‘Well that makes me believe more because you guys really believe in yourselves.’ Each guy had a different reason or two. I don’t want me to get up and say, ‘Hey we got to believe.’ It’s not that. It’s, do they believe? They do believe. They’re probably not steeped in the stats that you guys all know, how hard this is. But I don’t think they care about that. They believe in the group, they believe in each other, they believe we’ve had really good stretches against this team.”
What has our game come too! I remember when we use to just play basketball and took what the defense gave us and just enjoyed getting the bucket. The beauty and choreography was unreal. Now a coach is saying they are up 2-1 analytically although actually down 3-0. 🤷🏾 https://t.co/cL4IUoaacR
“I still feel like we’re the better ballclub. Obviously, we haven’t shown that. We have another opportunity Monday to keep this thing going.”
On playing for avoiding a sweep:
“I think, ultimately, it’s a pride thing. Tomorrow is going to be a big test for where we are mentally. We’re at home — we don’t lose at home. We should take pride in that. These dudes, call a spade a spade, they’re trying to sweep us. Me, personally, I don’t take that lightly. Whether I’m playing five minutes or 15 minutes, whatever it is, I’m going to put my best foot forward and I know my teammates are going to put their best foot forward and try not to let that happen. I think that’s a pride thing.”
“I’m gonna be in the parking lot selling brooms, folks!” 🧹🧹🤣
“It reminds me of a team I played on. Bradley, Frazier, DeBusschere, Reed, Barnett — unselfish play, tenacious defense.”
On whether the Knicks will finish the sweep in Cleveland:
“I’m buying the brooms!”
LeBron on KAT as hub: "You now shift your pie chart from people thinking heavy…JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts…D can't just be keyed in on 1 action now"
On Josh Hart: "Knicks have always had 1 of those guys…that's just synonymous with the Knickerbockers" pic.twitter.com/QsZyde0WNj
“The defense can’t just key on a couple of actions anymore. I thought over the last couple of years with New York, you kind of got a good rhythm of how they were gonna play. The ball was gonna end up in a certain way every single time.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub in the offense:
“You now shift your pie chart from people just thinking heavy, heavy, heavy, JB pick-and-roll, JB iso, to now the demographic of your offense shifts. Which means the defense can’t just be keyed in on one action now. So having KAT as the hub, at the elbow, at the top of the key, it allows JB to be off the ball, where he can set a rip screen for OG to get to the rim where if [the defense] messes that up, OG gets a dunk. If they mess that up and both of them go with OG to the rim, now you have JB coming off it clean, either for a clean shot or a [dribble handoff]. Now the defense is playing catch up. That’s helped their demographic out a lot, their pie chart on what they can do offensively. And JB is still gonna have his iso game where he’s really good, he’s still gonna have his pick-and-roll game where he’s really good. But to sprinkle in a little bit of off-ball action, a little bit of pinch-post action, with a different hub, that helps a lot.”
“When you look at somebody like Donovan Mitchell, you know what he possesses. I don’t care if you’re tired. I don’t care if you’re banged up. Do it without the mask. Save the bus, save the girl, take the punches, the broken ribs. That’s why you’re Spidaman.”
On the Cavs’ overall issues:
“When I look at this team, I look at guys that feel like sometimes somebody needs to put them in position, somebody needs to show them the way. No, no, no. Half the things that are going on with Cleveland is effort.”
“He’s arguably already a top five Knick EVER.” 😳
Where do you place Jalen Brunson in Knicks lore? 👇
“He is this generation’s Patrick Ewing. He is the best player on the Knicks. He is, for me, the engine that makes that s*** go.”
On Brunson’s playoff résumé:
“He is. Like that mofo, if he don’t do that (late-Game 1 burst), they get smoked. That s started with him. He hit three, four shots in a row… It was perfect. The stage was perfect for him to do what he did. What he did last night will be why you remember him. Real shit man. He took the game over.”
Paul Pierce
On Brunson’s standing among Knicks greats:
“Arguably already a top-five Knick ever.”
The Larry O on the MSG Hardwood is happening for the first time ever on June 8th.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve heard plenty of stories about the Cleveland Browns and analytics over the years, especially when Paul DePodesta first came around. DePodesta departed this offseason to go back to Major League Baseball, but present day, analytics is more widely accepted as a standard across the NFL. One thing you typically don’t see, though, is using analytics to talk about a team’s win-loss record in critical moments.
That shifts us over to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had fans on the highest of highs a little over a week ago when they dominated the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the series against the Knicks has soured fans again, starting with when New York had an improbably 22-point comeback half-way through the fourth quarter in Game 1. Since then, the Cavaliers have not been able to have sustained success at getting a lead against the Knicks, with a combination of poor three-point shooting, defensive assignments, and New York executing at a high level combining to them now being down 3 games to 0 and facing elimination tonight. No team has ever come back from being down 0-3 at this stage.
Nonetheless, head coach Kenny Atkinson had this to say in an interview yesterday, which certainly didn’t go over the way you expected it too:
“Analytically, we’ve won three, no, two out of three games.” I saw someone on Twitter celebrate by posting a 2026 Analytical Champions Banner for the Cavaliers yesterday. That’d be like saying, “With our defense last year, analytically, the Browns made the postseason.” Yes, I get the things that he’s trying to imply, like the Knicks shot the lights out of the ball and the Cavaliers missed some open looks, and if those things had been closer to the averages, the outcome might have been differently. But there are so many variables in every game, and Cleveland hasn’t done the right things strategically to force such shooting percentages to be different on either side of the court.
It’s been an interesting past month of Cleveland sports — a time when all three major teams are potentially in the spotlight. You had fans high on the Cavaliers, they are currently high on the division-leading Guardians, and any time the Browns are in the midst of an offseason, it feels good to build up that hope all over again. But it looks like the Cavaliers are about to give way to the Browns in terms of sports fandom, with more organized team activities and then mandatory minicamp coming up over the next 2-3 weeks, as fans try to figure out who Cleveland’s starting quarterback will be in 2026.
NYY vs 
KCR
CIN vs 
NYM
COL vs 
LAD
COVERS INTEL:
Karl-Anthony Towns
James Harden
