NBA News

The back half of the NBA conference semifinals tipped off with another pair of series openers. In the first game Tuesday, May 5, the No. 1 Detroit Pistons hosted the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers, while the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder continued their championship defense at home against the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement The interesting thing to note …

NEW YORK — To hear Nick Nurse tell it, it all came back to those high ball screens. Time and again in his postgame remarks after a tip-to-tail annihilation to tip off the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers head coach pointed to a string of defensive possessions early in Game 1 on which it seemed his team had …

Not everyone was over the moon that Victor Wembanyama broke the NBA playoff record for most blocks in a game during Game 1 of the conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, May 4. The 2026 Defensive Player of the Year finished with 12 blocks on the night, passing the previous mark by two. He also …

DALLAS (AP) — Masai Ujiri hadn’t even taken a question from reporters as team president and alternate governor of the Dallas Mavericks when he tacitly acknowledged the chaotic 15 months that have enveloped the franchise. “Listen, I hope to bring calm,” Ujiri said Tuesday in opening remarks at his introductory news conference just a few moments after trying to soothe …

It is all pretty simple, really. Mike Brown is only the Knicks’ head coach because not even back-to-back 50-win regular seasons were enough to save his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, from being fired after New York stumbled in the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. Advertisement The implied word from on-high for all to see that even though Thibodeau posted a .565 …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Minnesota Timberwolves found an offensive approach that worked in the fourth quarter of Game 1, gashing the San Antonio Spurs’ defense with Rudy Gobert on the bench. Advertisement This Timberwolves vs. Spurs same-game parlay expects Minnesota to double-down on that approach in …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Minnesota Timberwolves did not blink when Victor Wembanyama blocked shot after shot in Game 1. They proceeded to upset the San Antonio Spurs thanks to an offensive outburst in the fourth quarter. Advertisement My Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions and these NBA picks …

If an NBA season was a theme park, the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 would be its roller coaster. As they entered the season, some pundits — myself included — wondered aloud if it’d be better to tank in hopes of securing a high draft pick for next season, when presumably Jayson Tatum would be back from an Achilles tear. Advertisement (We’ll …

Dallas landing Masai Ujiri to take over basketball operations is seen by many as a coup. One of the most respected front office minds in the league, the man who built the Toronto Raptors into champions, comes to a Mavericks team in the midst of a self-inflicted rebuild (including rebuilding its reputation with its fans) after Nico Harrison made the …

The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is on Mother’s Day this year, with every team that didn’t make the playoffs seeking the gift of the right ping-pong ball combination on Sunday, May 10. A whole batch of franchises tanked this past season just to have a better shot at securing the best choice possible in what’s considered a strong draft class. …

The Kentucky Wildcats are nearing completion of their 2026-2027 basketball roster, with just a couple more spots to fill. Kentucky native Malachi Moreno was expected back on the team after he tested the NBA Draft waters. However, some recent draft rankings and projections have left some wondering if he could actually stay in this year’s draft. Advertisement The Georgetown (KY) …

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse was away from the team Tuesday ahead of Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks to attend the funeral of his brother. Nurse’s brother Steve Nurse, 62, died unexpectedly last Wednesday. Nick Nurse left the team following Philadelphia’s 137-98 loss to open the second round against …

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse stepped away from the team Tuesday, May 5 so he could attend the funeral of his older brother. The 76ers coach flew home to Iowa after the loss against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA conference semifinals following the death of his older brother, Steve Nurse, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. …

The NBA Draft Lottery is less than a week away. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have the highest odds — 14% — in the lottery to land the No. 1 pick in what is expected to be a loaded draft. Recent years also have seen a number of teams jump bottom of the lottery into the …

While the Orlando Magic are just starting their search for a new head coach after firing Jamahl Mosley, Portland and New Orleans are further along in their searches — but those two teams are in very different places. The Pelicans have narrowed down their list to four candidates, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic. Advertisement New Orleans has been deliberating …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The New York Knicks scorched the nets at Madison Square Garden in the series opener and take aim at a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. Advertisement My same-game parlay for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal likes …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Across 1,960 career playoff and regular-season NBA games, LeBron James has never been a larger underdog than he is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.  Advertisement According to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Fawkes, the 15.5-point Game 1 line represents the largest perceived …

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse stepped away from the team on Tuesday to attend the funeral of his brother, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Steve Nurse, 62, reportedly died unexpectedly last Wednesday, the day before the Sixers’ Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in the first round. His brother’s team went on to complete a historic 3-1 comeback to …

Subscribe to The Dunker Spot First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones begin dissecting second-round playoff action! They react to the Game 1 victories of the Knicks and Timberwolves, then discuss potential tweaks we may see from the Sixers and Spurs. Advertisement They also preview the other second-round series — Lakers-Thunder and Cavs-Pistons — by digging into the matchups, lineups, and …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team’s shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds. Advertisement Key Takeaways Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. After having more than a week to rest, the Oklahoma City Thunder welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to town on Tuesday, May 5. Advertisement To help with your NBA picks, we’re here to provide NBA player prop projections for tonight’s game, including one for …

Listen to Orlando front office president Jeff Weltman and it sounds like the Magic are going to run it back with the same core — including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner — next season and bet on better coaching and better health to get them to the top of the East. That puts a lot of pressure on the Magic’s …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Both the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers struggled in their own ways to advance, but advance they did. Advertisement My Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks focus on Jarrett Allen and his struggles on the glass in Game 1 of this series, …

FIBA Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican basketball legend José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz has passed away at the age of 62. Ortiz was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Puerto Rican basketball history. He had been battling colorectal cancer since 2023, according to FIBA. Throughout his career, Ortiz played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, averaging …

LeBron James and the Lakers begin Round 2 of their quest for an NBA Title tonight but standing in their way are the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Minus Luka Dončić, LeBron and co. are heavy underdogs. OKC dominated the league and their treatment of the Lakers was no exception. The Thunder went 4-0 this season against Los Angeles …