The Knicks' road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
The Knicks’ road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been quite the journey.
They have won 11 straight games — completing series sweeps of the Sixers and Cavaliers, respectively — en route to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
They did it behind the leadership of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, crowned the Eastern Conference finals MVP by a unanimous vote, after some doubted that he could be a No. 1 option on a championship team.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, center, holds the MVP trophy after Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs, the Knicks have outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs, according to ESPN.
The Knicks has defeated their opponents by 23.8 points per game dating back to Game 4 of their first-round series against the Hawks.
The Knicks’ shooting prowess throughout the playoffs has been a combined effort from their starters — Brunson, wings Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and center Karl-Anthony Towns — and the sharpshooting Landry Shamet off the bench.
All five of the Knicks’ starters scored in double digits in at least three of four games in their conference finals series against Cleveland.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots against Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals playoffs series in Cleveland. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the 76ers during Round Two Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images
Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game against Cleveland, while shooting 48.7 percent overall in the conference finals.
Shamet has shot 64 percent during New York’s 11-game win streak and a record 92 percent from deep in the conference finals.
The Knicks are also 6-0 on the road in this unbeaten streak.
They now have nine days off before the NBA Finals begin June 3, and will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Western Conference finals is tied at 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5.
After cashing my first profitable MLB player props piece here, I'll look to keep the momentum rolling as a few familiar faces grab my attention tonight.
Byron Buxton, Munetaka Murakami, and Kyle Schwarber all find themselves in prime spots to do damage at the dish, so let’s dive into why each of them could be in for big evenings on Tuesday, May 26.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Byron Buxton
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Kyle Schwarber
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-107
Munetaka Murakami
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-109
Byron Buxton Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
Boots will be grounded for me this evening and I need some action while I suck down a few polish dogs with extra onions.
Twins star Byron Buxton may be the best bat to back on the Southside tonight, as he takes on right hander Sean Burke, who has been getting crushed by right-handed hitters over his last few outings.
The last 30 right-handed hitters Burke has faced own a 14.3% barrel rate with just a 4.8% ground ball rate, while opposing hitters are elevating the ball 95.2% of the time. Those hitters also sport a .387 xBA, .726 xSLG, and .424 xwOBA during that span.
Buxton owns 85.5% arsenal coverage against Burke, while also elevating the ball well over his last 10 games. During that stretch, he owns a 55.2% hard-hit rate and 20.7% barrel rate.
This marks the Twins outfielder’s 36th elite rating on the road. In the previous 35, he has cleared this prop 51.43% of the time and homered 25.71% of the time as well. Of course, I sprinkled on his home run prop.
Overall, Buxton has recorded 2+ bases in six of his last 10 elite-rated spots.
As always, I’m looking out for the “I do not pay juice” crowd. If you are not a fan of laying the -110 here, sprinkle on Buxton’s double and home run props instead. The only way you are losing those is if he triples or strings together multiple singles, plus you are getting a far better number.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Munetaka Murakami Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-109)
Double dipping tonight as I enjoy two props from the nosebleeds.
The second play in a matchup I am all over features the most exciting player in the city of Chicago, Munetaka Murakami. Give me the Over on his hits, runs, and RBI prop set at 1.5.
The White Sox slugger enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box. In 27 elite ratings this season, he has surpassed this prop 55.56% of the time. If you are looking to pair his hit with Byron Buxton’s, Murakami has also recorded a hit in 70.37% of those elite-rated matchups.
Murakami draws Twins right hander Joe Ryan this evening, giving him a great opportunity to take advantage of Ryan’s struggles against left handed hitters. The slugger owns a 1.141 OPS and .481 wOBA over his last 30 plate appearances against right handed pitching.
Ryan enters today with poorly rated matchup numbers in ISO and ground ball rate, giving one of the most dangerous hitters in the White Sox lineup a chance to elevate and drive the ball tonight.
Sprinkle the home run for some extra fun!
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-107)
Kyle Schwarber enters today with the highest rating in this matchup, marking his 241st elite rating over the last three years. During that span, he has cleared this prop in 54.17% of those elite ratings.
No different on the road, where he has gone over this number 52.83% of the time across 106 elite ratings.
Despite the slight cold streak following an illness, Schwarber is still making 58.3% hard contact with a 25% barrel rate and just a 16.7% ground ball rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
The slugger draws Padres right hander Randy Vasquez, against whom he owns 57.7% arsenal coverage.
The 27-year-old starter has been giving up plenty of hard contact lately and allowing left-handed hitters to elevate the ball at a high clip. During that stretch, he owns just a 36% ground ball rate allowed, while lefties are making 46% hard contact with a 10% barrel rate against him.
If you are willing to lay roughly -160, you can take Schwarber’s hit prop. But from a value standpoint, I think this is the better play.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, Padres.TV
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 158-276-24, +2.7 units
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.
Tickpick announced in the immediate aftermath of the Knicks' Game 4 win over the Cavaliers that Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden are "the most expensive NBA Finals tickets on record." The secondary ticket marketplace app said get-in prices at that point were $3,745 for Game 3 and $3,464 for Game 4.
Those price ranges are holding and even increasing into Tuesday, with the cheapest Game 3 ticket on Stubhub as of 2 p.m. ET set at $4,273. And that's just to sit in the upper deck. It'll cost more to sit in the lower bowl, and a small fortune to be really close to the action.
On Tuesday, there were two courtside tickets on Stubhub listed at $107,103 and $101,748. There was no seat listed in the 100 level of Madison Square Garden for less than $6,000. Sports business reporter Darren Rovell reported the first two courtside seats for the NBA Finals were actually sold on Stubhub on Sunday – before the Knicks clinched the Eastern Conference finals – for $279,804.
The good news for Knicks fan is there is still an opportunity to buy face value tickets to the NBA Finals through the franchise's Knicks Fan First program. Fans who register by Tuesday, May 26 at 11 p.m. ET will have the opportunity to purchase Knicks' NBA Finals tickets before the general public.
The Knicks haven't won an NBA championship since 1973, and their postseason run this year has been punctuated by raucous watch parties around the city and famous fans like Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Tracy Morgan and Jimmy Fallon joining the ever-present Spike Lee courtside at many playoff games.
The NBA Finals will begin on Wednesday, June 3 with the Thunder or Spurs hosting the first two games of the series by virtue of having home-court advantage. The Knicks host Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on June 8 and then play Game 4 inside the World's Most Famous Arena on June 10.
Game 6 of the NBA Finals would also be held in New York on June 16 if the best-of-seven series were to reach that point. The get-in price as of Tuesday was also more than $4,200.
Feb 12, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second half at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
When the offseason rolls around, the internet starts doing some wild things. People get bored. They spend a little too much time in the trade machine. The results can be nothing short of horrifying. Practical thought leaves the body like a soul departing, and what we’re left with are some truly ridiculous trades.
That’s part of the offseason’s oversaturation. Podcasts need topics, national outlets need content, and fans want something to debate. Everybody starts trying to justify bad ideas in the name of conversation.
Mission accomplished, I guess. Because I’m here to take a look at a cpuple of the absolutely absurd trade proposals floating around recently. And these aren’t coming from your local podcast. This isn’t me hopping on Suns JAM Session and tossing out a random hypothetical. No, these are from major national media outlets, and some of them are downright comical.
So let’s go ahead and take a look at a few of the more ridiculous trade ideas making the rounds.
ESPN: Suns trade for Ja Morant
This one comes to us from ESPN, who put together six trades exploring where Ja Morant could ultimately land.
Phoenix Suns get:
Memphis Grizzlies get:
Ja Morant
Grayson Allen
Royce O’Neale
Haywood Highsmith
Jamaree Bouyea
2029 second-round pick
2032 second-round pick
This is a beautifully ridiculous trade.
The Suns would give up four players and two picks for Morant, and I’ve already expressed numerous times how I feel about him as a potential member of the Phoenix Suns. His addition goes against everything Phoenix tried to build this past season, and once you factor in the availability concerns and missed games, it becomes even harder to justify.
What might be the most absurd part of the entire thing, though, is what Bobby Marks notes:
The Suns overachieved last season, and they now are faced with the choice of relying on the same roster or making an aggressive trade for a player such as Morant. Because the Suns would be taking back more salary in the trade, it would hard cap them at the first apron. The restriction could put them in a position to lose free agents Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin.
So by this logic, the Suns would add Ja Morant to pair in the backcourt with Devin Booker. Jalen Green would still be on the roster, too, meaning three-guard lineups become the norm. Yay!
And that’s where this thing really starts to fall apart. Phoenix would not only be hard-capping itself, but they’d also be knee-capping themselves when it comes to depth. They wouldn’t be able to go over the first apron at $209 million, so once again you’re piecing together the bench with a collection of veteran minimum players and hoping it works.
The viability of bringing back Gillespie, Goodwin, and/or Williams is practically out the window. Booker, Green, and Morant would account for $125.6 million of your cap, which is 76% of it. Oh, and you’re still giving up draft capital to make it happen, which chips away at your future flexibility too.
I’m sorry, this trade is completely unrealistic. It feels like an NBA 2K trade, where you jam assets together until it works for one side and completely ignore what it does to the other.
Vecenie: Malauch to the Hornets
A lot less inflammatory, still not rooted in reality, comes a suggestion from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, in which the Phoenix Suns would send out Grayson Allen and Khaman Maluach for Miles Bridges and Ryan Kalkbrenner, or the 18th overall pick.
In the Phoenix Suns offseason preview on the Game Theory podcast, @Sam_Vecenie proposed a trade to acquire Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets:
➡️ HORNETS: Khaman Maluach, Grayson Allen ➡️ SUNS: Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick) pic.twitter.com/9J6qAuKO6E
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) May 25, 2026
Phoenix Suns get:
Charolotte Hornets get:
Miles Bridges
Grayson Allen
Ryan Kalkbrenner (or the 18th pick)
Khaman Maluach
My first thought when I see a trade like this is simple. Why would Phoenix want to do it?
This feels like something that benefits the Charlotte Hornets far more than the Suns. Charlotte gets more three-point shooting and, depending on how you view the prospects, arguably gets the better young center than the one they selected 34th overall a season ago.
And to be clear, I’m a fan of Kalkbrenner. I did a ton of research on him as a draft prospect last year when Phoenix owned the 29th pick. I thought he made a lot of sense at the time. He had a solid rookie season on a team that gave real opportunities to its young players.
That still doesn’t answer the bigger question. Why would you give up on Maluach this early in his career? And why bring in Bridges, another undersized power forward, on a roster that already needs to prioritize minutes for sophomore Rasheer Fleming?
Then there’s the pick. If the return is No. 18 overall, that’s not much of a trade-off. You’re essentially flipping Maluach, who was taken 10th overall a year ago, for the 18th pick. That’s hard to justify.
This one feels like creating a trade for the sake of creating a trade, then working backwards trying to make it sound reasonable.
I’m still waiting for one of the national pundits to cook up something that feels relevant, realistic, or at the very least includes Jalen Green. Because, quite honestly, he’s the biggest trade chip the Phoenix Suns possess right now. If Phoenix can somehow flip him into something that genuinely helps move the organization forward, whether that’s players, picks, or some combination of both, that’s the route I’d explore. At least from my perspective.
Until then, we watch and wait. That’s the offseason. Everybody starts throwing ideas at the wall, hoping one sticks. National outlets keep the content machine moving. Fans debate every hypothetical like it’s already on the transaction wire.
My guess? None of these mock trades happen. Phoenix has been pretty transparent about wanting to stay measured this summer, and the organization doesn’t feel like a team gearing up for a splashy offseason. Sometimes, the loudest part of the offseason is the internet. The actual moves tend to be a lot quieter.
The margin for error is extremely slim with the Western Conference Finals down to a best-of-three series heading into Game 5.
That pressure, however, produces a big fat-ass barrel of NBA betting fun when the San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
My Spurs vs. Thunder same-game parlay for Game 5 adds that enjoyment, at least if you're siding with San Antonio. I’m taking the visitor to cover the spread while getting long-range love from its long and lanky center.
The injury report is not looking good for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’re potentially down two key guards, which has forced star scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to carry more of a facilitator role instead of playing off the ball.
The San Antonio Spurs have done a great job keeping SGA out of rhythm on offense and OKC’s role players in check. This one comes down to the wire with San Antonio covering as a road dog: a role that’s produced an 11-6 ATS record this season.
SGP leg #2: Stephon Castle Over 4.5 rebounds
Stephon Castle sits second on the Spurs with 50 rebounding chances in the WCF, which have translated into 19 total boards. He’s snatched five or more rebounds in each of the first three games and while he had just three boards in Game 4, he was in position for 12 rebounding chances.
Projections sit as high as six rebounds tonight.
SGP leg #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes
Victor Wembanyama was more aggressive in his shot selection in Game 4, shouldering the scoring load inside and out. He attempted seven 3-pointers — making three — and has hit two or more triples in three of the four conference finals games.
San Antonio is being protective of his energy on defense, as it tries to save his legs for the offensive end. Wemby is forecasted for at least two 3-pointers in Game 5.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Thunder predictions for Game 5.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been in the crossfire of many commentators after this playoff run. His comments about analytics didn’t sit well with many, and the team also underperformed in several key moments — including during the Game 1 collapse against the New York Knicks. The coach is going to bear part of the blame when things go sideways like that.
Yet, his players haven’t lost faith in him. At least not publicly. So much so that their star player thinks it’s “hilarious” that Atkinson is receiving criticism for how things ended.
“We’ve done something that we haven’t done since 2018,” Mitchell said. “I love Kenny. We love Kenny. We ride with Kenny, and ultimately that’s all that matters. I know he’s from Long Island, he don’t give a damn. … We’re in it together.”
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Mitchell wasn’t alone in this sentiment.
“He’s the ultimate player’s coach, he gets it, he understands his team,” James Harden said. “I think he did an unbelievable job of getting me acclimated as fast as possible.”
This was a tumultuous regular season for the Cavs. It could’ve gone sideways at many points, but it didn’t. Atkinson deserves some of the credit there. And he does deserve praise for helping the team win two playoff rounds.
At the same time, when things go as poorly as they did against the Knicks, there’s going to be criticism thrown his way. That just comes with the business. That, however, doesn’t mean he deserves the most blame.
“It’s on us,” Mitchell said. “It’s definitely on us. It’s not on Kenny.”
After a dominant victory, sometimes you need a little something to wine-d down.
Josh Hart celebrated the Knicks’ sweep of the Cavaliers via a blowout 130-93 Game 4 victory by sipping on a glass of wine at his postgame press conference.
The Knicks’ do-it-all wing, donning a Knicks NBA Finals hat and an elegant outfit, took the podium to celebrate alongside his former Villanova teammates Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson, as the triumvirate prepare for the Thunder or Spurs next week.
Josh Hart had a little something to take the edge off on Monday night. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I don’t think a switch flipped per se,” Hart said when asked about the 11-game win streak and turnaround after going down 2-1 to the Hawks in Round 1. “This is a selfless team.”
Hart joked when talking to the reporter that the person wasn’t allowed to ask questions because he was eating wings during the press conference.
“I see it, don’t say anything,” Brunson said when they both noticed the reporter eating wings.
“I know you don’t come in sucking your fingers,” Hart added as laughter erupted in the media room. “You got chicken wings. You supposed to be asking questions and you went and got chicken wings. Hell no. You don’t get nothing. Then wings are hitting though.”
Hart was benched during the Knicks 22-point comeback in Game 1, where the Cavaliers blew a massive fourth-quarter lead and eventually lost in overtime.
Josh Hart wears his NBA Finals hat with a wine glass. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Cleveland had no chance after that staggering collapse, as the Cavaliers struggled in the remaining three games and were eventually swept.
Game 2 was the Hart show, as he went 10-for-21 from the field and scored 26 points after being benched in favor of Landry Shamet the game prior.
Shamet shot an obscene 11-for-12 from 3-point range in the Conference finals, showing that this Knicks team doesn’t need any one person to carry them.
The Knicks will have to wait to learn their Finals foe, as the Thunder and Spurs have their heels dug into the sand in a 2-2 series.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles up the court against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the postseason draws closer to an end, the attention shifts toward the NBA Draft less than a month away. The Golden State Warriors, armed with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft, have multiple needs to address on their roster. With that in mind, here is a roundup of projected picks for Golden State from draft experts across the web:
One of the newer names linked to the Warriors is Arizona’s Brayden Burries. The 20-year-old guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a freshman while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. He played in 39 games during his lone college season, helping lead the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance. Here is what ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel had to say about his fit with the Warriors:
If the Dubs do keep this pick, sources said the franchise will be prioritizing talents ready to play immediately during their rookie season. The Warriors do not want to run into another James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga situation with this draft pick. Brayden Burries is among several prospects the Warriors have been scouting and gathering more information on since the start of 2026, along with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Karim Lopez, Nate Ament, Darius Acuff Jr., Hannes Steinbach, and Cameron Carr.
Burries has taken a major step up a lot of teams’ draft boards lately due to his high IQ, versatility on defense, and ability to wear multiple hats alongside star players. Golden State will still look to make a major upgrade this offseason, but sources say the team is comfortable with the idea of keeping this pick and setting up its future. If any player fits this description, it’s Burries, and coming from Arizona would make Steve Kerr happy.
Burries would be an intriguing addition to a Warriors team searching for a guard with reliable scoring and defense alongside Stephen Curry. He would also bring solid size and athleticism to their backcourt while helping Golden State get younger around its veteran core.
Arizona's Brayden Burries measured 6'3.75 barefoot and 215 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6'6 wingspan and 8'2.5 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/6SV3jKaUQJ
54. Golden State Warriors – SG Emanuel Sharp – Houston, Senior
Emanuel Sharp was one of a handful of players the Warriors recently got a look at in a pre-draft workout featuring several second-round-rated prospects. At Houston, Sharp knocked down 309 threes in his career. The Warriors have always had a lot of luck drafting experienced collegiate shooters late in the second round, and Sharp could be yet another. Aaron Nkrumah, who was a standout at the NBA Draft Combine, is another player worth keeping an eye on for the Warriors in the second round of this year’s draft.
There’s no more appropriate place to start than with point guards Jalen Brunson and Stephen Curry, the latter of whom has been a mainstay in Tier 1 — until now.
Curry posted one of the worst assist-to-turnover ratios among starting point guards (1.68), his team has missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons and Golden State has been a top-five seed in the Western Conference only once since Kevin Durant left in 2019. Much of that has to do with the quality of Curry’s teammates. He is still a top-tier scorer, bending defenses with his movement and shooting threat. He still gets to the free-throw line like a star, averaging 5.1 attempts per game, and he continues to hold up defensively, averaging 1.1 steals per game. But his 3.6 rebounds per game were a 14-year low. If Curry played enough games to qualify, he would have led the NBA in made 3s at 4.4 per game. But he is 38 years old and missed nearly half of this season with a knee issue after suffering a hamstring strain in the 2025 playoffs.
Not even those 1972-73 Knicks can boast they were on the type of roll these Knicks are on. In the midst of an 11-game winning streak, they’ve outscored their opponents — Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — by a total of 262 points, the best point differential across 11 games during any point in NBA history, regular season or playoffs.
It’s easy to see how either Simons or Sexton would fit with the Warriors. Both players are excellent scorers who can also space the floor as shooters. They could lead Golden State’s offensive attack when Curry is out and seemingly fit in well alongside him as well. It’s a role that Jordan Poole excelled in with the team, especially in the 2022 championship run, and one that the team has been unable to fill since.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Last week’s edition of Rangers Reacts asked folks about whether the 2026 Texas Rangers are meeting your expectations.
They are not:
I whopping 0% of you said the Texas Rangers are exceeding your expectations for 2026.
And perhaps most remarkably, this poll went up before the team was swept in Anaheim, and then no-hit by a collection of Bumpus Joneses in Astros uniforms.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: A detailed view of the court before the game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers aren’t wasting any time building out their front office.
During his exit interview, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said the franchise would hire two assistant general managers, and they have moved quickly to do so. On Monday, the franchise announced the hiring of an assistant general manager, naming former Pelicans executive Rohan Ramadas to the position.
Now, it sounds like they’re quickly moving onto the other assistant GM spot and are targeting Philadelphia 76ers vice president of player personnel, Prosper Karangwa.
League sources also say that the Sixers remain hopeful that they can retain vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa as part of their revamped front office even though Karangwa has also drawn interest from the Los Angeles Lakers as well as Dallas.
League sources say that the Lakers has officially secured permission to speak with Karangwa while Dallas has not yet formally lodged that request, but Ujiri’s interest in bringing both Karangwa and Raptors executive Patrick Englebrecht is certainly anticipated. The Lakers have stated that they plan to hire two assistant general managers this offseason and already secured one of them by striking a deal with New Orleans Pelicans analytics ace Rohan Ramadas.
Dan Woike of The Athletic backed up that reporting later in the day on Monday as well.
Another name that I’ve heard connected with the Lakers over the last few days is Philadelphia 76ers player personal exec Prosper Karangwa.
It’s no surprise that Karangwa is a popular figure with plenty of teams wanting him in their front offices. He has plenty of basketball experience. He played professional basketball in France and after his playing days were done, he rose through the ranks with the Orlando Magic. He started as a scout back in 2012 and was promoted to the Director of College Scouting in 2016.
Karangwa’s been with the Sixers since 2020, when he was hired in his current role. Since 2021, he has also been the General Manager of the Sixers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. They won the G League championship under his leadership in 2023.
The Lakers getting permission to speak with him is a good sign that they are in the running for another quality hire from a basketball mind that’s well-regarded around the league and not already associated with LA.
This is in stark contrast to how the team was run under Jeanie Buss, where many hires had some connection to the franchise.
Lakers fans should be excited that the Lakers are overhauling their front office and infusing it with more brainpower from outside the purple and gold family tree.
If all goes well, perhaps Karangwa can join the Lakers, and they can have their two assistant general managers hired before the offseason fully kicks off with the NBA Draft and free agency.
The Mets activated left-handed reliever A.J. Minter and outfielder/first baseman Jared Young off the IL ahead of Tuesday's game against the Reds at Citi Field, the team announced.
In corresponding moves, right-handed reliever Jonathan Pintaro and outfielder Nick Morabito were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Additionally, outfielder Tyrone Taylor was placed on the 10-day IL due to a right hip flexor strain, with infielder Eric Wagaman called up to take his spot on the 26-man roster.
Mendoza said that there was a "sense of relief" that the team didn't get worse news on Taylor, though the manager did not want to put a definitive timetable on his recovery.
"I think we got relatively good news, especially after what he was expressing after the game last night," said Mendoza. "We were kind of expecting the worst to be honest with you. We just had the news here, it’s kind of like week-by-week here. So hopefully 2-to-3 [weeks], but putting a timetable here I think is too early."
A 40-man roster move will be needed to accommodate the transactions, and will be announced prior to Tuesday's game.
Minter has been out since early last season after needing surgery for a torn lat. His return should bolster a back end of the bullpen that has been a strength for New York over the last month or so.
Young, who is returning from a torn meniscus, excelled for New York earlier this season, hitting .350/.391/.450 in 23 plate appearances over 11 games.
It's fair to believe that the presence of the lefty-hitting Young could eventually cut into the playing time of MJ Melendez, who is hitting .063/.250/.063 in 40 plate appearances spanning 17 games since May 7.
Young is in the lineup at first base on Tuesday, with Mark Vientos on the bench.
With Morabito sent down and Taylor on the IL, the Mets have just three natural outfielders on the active roster, though Young, Melendez, and Brett Baty can play the corner outfield spots.
According to Mendoza, the decision was made to keep Wagaman and send Morabito down because the Mets like Wagaman as a right-handed hitter off the bench and against lefties, where as Morabito need to play every day.
"Just continue to play, I think that’s the biggest thing," Mendoza said about his message to Morabito. "There is a lot to like about the player. We saw flashes of his defense, his speed, but he has to play every day. There’s no reason for him to be here, playing once every two or three days just waiting on lefties. He got a taste, he knows what it’s like here at the big league level, and he knows how important he is to this organization.
"The message is keep going over there, we’ll see you back here."
Through 11 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, Jacob Misiorowski has thrown 311 pitches at 100 miles per hour or faster — more than every other MLB starter combined.
The rest of MLB’s starters have combined for 170 such pitches through games played on May 25.
Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler leads the way behind Misiorowski with 52 thrown, while Miami’s Eury Perez has tossed 23. Just behind him with 22 is Cam Schlittler, then Chase Burns with 21 and Shohei Ohtani 20.
It’s not just raw numbers that are breaking the speed gun. It’s also Misiorowski’s rate.
He’s thrown 996 pitches this season across his 11 starts. That translates to hitting 100 miles per hour or more on 31.2 percent of his pitches. During his rookie season last year, his rate was 16.7 percent.
Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene, who led starting pitchers in 2025 with 296 hurls above 100 miles per hour, broke 100 at a 16.9 percent frequency last season. Greene, currently out with an injury, would project to roughly 165 triple-digit pitches through the Reds’ first 53 games if he had maintained that rate under a healthy five-man-rotation workload.
In 2022, Greene threw 337 pitches that broke 100 miles an hour, which set the single season record for 100-plus mile per hour pitches thrown by a starter in the Statcast era (2015 or later). If Misiorowski continues at his current pace, he could potentially reach Greene’s record in his next start.
The numbers also highlight the hard-throwing era baseball finds itself in. In 2017, MLB starters combined for 66 pitches at 100 miles per hour or faster for the entire season. This year, even excluding Misiorowski, starters already have 170 — with roughly two-thirds of the season still to play.
Methodology note: 100-plus mile per hour pitch data comes from the Baseball Savant / Statcast API. Starting pitchers were identified as the first pitcher used by each team in a game. Data is current as of 1 p.m. ET, May 26.
MONTREAL, CANADA- MAY 25: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against Jalen Chatfield #5 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL has hit the business end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with just four teams remaining. The Eastern Conference Finals is entering its fourth game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens, with Carolina leading 2-1. The West sees the Colorado Avalanche trying to stave off elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are leading 3-0.
That’s the top-down view, but if you haven’t been keeping up with the NHL postseason so far, but want to dive in, let’s go a little deeper into these four remaining teams, as well as discuss the broader theme of the playoffs so far.
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have been the most consistent team in the playoffs with an overall record of 10-1, built on the back of their lane-clogging defense and suffocating forecheck. It’s also fair to say they’ve been one of the least-tested teams in the postseason thanks to back-to-back series against the Senators and Flyers to kick off their run.
On paper this team has every tool needed to hoist the cup, but they have two glaring issues right now:
Firstly is in net, where veteran Freddie Andersen has been extremely unreliable in the ECF. In three games he’s allowed 10 goals on 47 shots, an abysmal save percentage of 0.787% — not all of that is on Andersen, with Carolina having defensive breakdowns in every goal allowed, but a playoff-caliber netminder shouldn’t let in as many easy goals as he has.
The second issue is that the Hurricanes’ top line really hasn’t separated itself to prove it can be a cup-winning unit. Andrei Svechnikov/Sebastian Aho/Seth Jarvis have had a lot of opportunities, but not a lot of results. They need this top line to pick up their play in order to really feel like a team that can go all the way.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has re-emerged this season to become an exciting and young team, with legitimate Stanley Cup potential in the future. I say, “in the future,” because the ECF thus far has proven there’s still a lot to work on for the Habs. Their free-flowing offense based on long outlet passes to the wings is a beautiful tactic, but it’s too predictable and one-note. It caught Carolina off guard in Game 1, but they’ve since adjusted to allow only 25 shots in two games, after Montreal had 22 shots in Game 1 alone.
The team needs more toughness, both up front and on the blue line — which can come with time. The real story of the postseason for Montreal has been the breakout performance of rookie goalie Jakub Dobeš, who is cementing himself as an absolute phenom. Without Dobeš in goal the Canadiens would have likely allowed five or six more goals in this series, and the rookie legitimately looks like a future Vezina-caliber tender.
This series is far from over with Carolina really struggling to get quality opportunities because of Dobeš, while also having extreme goaltending issues of their own. Montreal is fast, skilled, and if they can crack the code to breaking through the Canes’ defense then they will cause problems.
The rest of the East …
The Canadiens went through the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the East to reach this point. They proved their mettle against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres, both of whom were outclassed. Meanwhile the Hurricanes had an easier route through the Metropolitan division, but showed why they were the top team in the Eastern Conference this season.
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs were the runaway favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year on the back of an astounding regular season that saw the team finish at 55-16-11 to win the Presidents’ Cup — but everything is going wrong. A late-season injury to phenom defenseman Cale Makar carried into the playoffs, and his absence is really showing in the Western Conference Finals.
Without Makar at full strength, the shape of Colorado falls apart, both offensively and defensively. You can see the void on the ice, and problematically other players haven’t stepped up. Martin Necas has largely disappeared this postseason, and with him playing poorly we’ve see Nathan McKinnon suffer as well.
Call it the Presidents’ Cup Curse, but this doesn’t look anything like the Avalanche team which bodied the league during the regular season, then beat the Stars and Wild. Colorado is out of gas, and down 3-0 against the Knights means it’s almost assured they will go home.
Vegas Golden Knights
Full credit to the Knights, because they really looked nothing like a cup team until they installed John Tortarella as head coach late in the season. This team is an entirely different animal with Torts on the bench, and their veteran experience paired with star power have made them a team to watch.
One of the biggest benefactors of the new coaching scheme has been Mitch Marner, who was the Knights’ big free agent signing last summer. Initially, he struggled to find his footing in Vegas, but in the postseason he has 21 points in 15 games — earning every cent of his big money contract.
This is a team that is really difficult to put in a box. They were so average during the regular season it’s tough to ignore, but so good now that it can’t be overlooked. Now they’re taking it to Colorado in the Western Conference Finals to give themselves a legitimate shot to win it all.
The rest of the West …
This was a similar story to the East where the Avalanche went thought the toughest competition inside the conference, while the Golden Knights got an easy road. If you see people complaining about the playoff structure in the NHL then the west is the best reason why, because the Avs had to play the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in the West just to reach the conference finals, despite being the best team in the conference — while Vegas drew No. 6 and No. 7 ranked teams, while finishing 5th in the division.
Stanley Cup Finals prediction
The Golden Knights should close out against the Avalanche, while I believe the Hurricanes will need six games to put away Montreal. This sets us up for Vegas vs. Carolina in the Stanley Cup Finals.
It’s been a tremendous run for the Golden Knights, but Carolina is the toughest team in these playoffs. Their defense alone makes them nearly impenetrable, and no team has solved it so far.
Jordan Clarkson’s role for the New York Knicks looks a lot different than it did with the Utah Jazz.
The now 33-year-old, 12-year NBA vet only comes in for a few minutes a game, and is not the flamethrower that he once was in Utah.
But on Monday night, in a game in which he only played nine minutes and scored three points, Jordan Clarkson clinched a ticket to the NBA Finals as the Knicks swept the Cavaliers to reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999. In his first season away from the Jazz since 2019, Clarkson has reached the place that many thought he could have reached in Salt Lake City.
However, this won’t be his first trip to the NBA Finals, as he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to Cleveland midseason in 2017-18. The last of four straight Finals appearances for LeBron James and the Cavs, that 2018 Cleveland team was a shell of its 2016 squad. By the end of the postseason, Clarkson had been taken out of the rotation entirely against the Warriors.
Two seasons later, he was traded to Utah, where he won the NBA’s sixth man of the year award with the Jazz, but failed to ever reach a conference finals.
While Clarkson likely won’t play many crucial minutes for the Knicks when they face the daunting task of playing either San Antonio or Oklahoma City, making it to this point in the playoffs should be seen as a victory for him, regardless of team impact. For three seasons prior to this Finals run, Clarkson was a starter on three different tanking Utah teams, that had no realistic shot of making it this far.
In five and a half seasons, Clarkson became one of the more beloved Jazz players in recent history and was an amazing member of the Utah community during his Jazz tenure.
Clarkson averaged 8.6 points per game in the regular season and is averaging 5.4 in the playoffs.
The New York Knicks made quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers to sweep the Eastern Conference Final, punching their first ticket to an NBA Finals since 1999.
Now, the question that remains is, who will play the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs?
Let's explore the options below, ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
Who will face the Knicks in the NBA Finals?
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How the Western Conference Final was won
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have traded body blows through four games of the Western Conference Final, with both teams looking like the definitive favorite at various times.
After the Spurs opened the series with a 122-115 victory in OKC, the Thunder answered with back-to-back victories before San Antonio returned serve with the most lopsided win for either side of the series, taking Game 4 103-82.
The Thunder, who hold the homecourt advantage for the final three games, are favored to advance to their second straight championship series. Kalshi has OKC listed at 60% probability of winning the seven-game set with the Spurs.
Wemby can change the tides
However, Victor Wembanyama is, unsurprisingly, the ultimate X-factor. In San Antonio's Game 1 win, Wemby went for 41 points and 24 rebounds. In Game 4, he scored 33. In the two losses, he's gone for 21 and 26 points, respectively.
The Spurs lack the Thunder's depth, but Wembanyama is such a dynamic player who has shown an ability to take over games like no one else has in this series, even back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Buckle up for Game 5
Kalshi's series odds mirror the lines for Game 5, with OKC listed as having 60% probability to win tonight at Paycom Center. The Thunder have only lost once at home during the NBA playoffs, but that came in Game 1 of this series.
So, if you are confident in the Spurs, consider investing in the outcome of tonight's game by backing San Antonio.
No team has exhibited a stronger ability at counter-punching OKC than Wemby & Co., dating back to the regular season. It'll probably be the best value you'll get on the Spurs from here on out, too.
Knicks will be well-rested underdogs
The conventional wisdom has appeared to be that whichever team escapes the West will ultimately win the NBA Championship. The New York Knicks will be the underdog no matter who stands across from them, but they distribute the ball extremely efficiently, with five players averaging double-digit scoring during these playoffs.
Jalen Brunson leads the way with 26.9 points per game, but OG Anunoby (19.7) and Karl-Anthony Towns (16.9) aren't far off. The Knicks will also have the rest advantage after eliminating the Cavaliers on Monday.
During the regular season, New York went 0-2 vs. OKC and 1-1 against San Antonio. The Knicks will adjust their game plan depending on which team makes it through.
Brunson will almost definitely be used as a counterweight to SGA if the Thunder advance, where Towns will need to be his best big self to even slightly slow Wembanyama (you can't fully contain him).
Byron Buxton
Kyle Schwarber
Munetaka Murakami
