NBA News

The Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions, will play the seconded-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The two franchises last faced off in the postseason a decade ago, when the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook/James Harden-led Thunder defeated the Spurs in Tim Duncan’s last playoff series in 2016. Schedule | …

For Donovan Mitchell, a breakthrough moment has arrived. He’s going to the conference finals for the first time. In his ninth season, Mitchell has reached the NBA’s final four. He and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled past the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 — on the road, no less — of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Their …

After reigning MVP and the runner-up for MVP in 2019, James Harden and the rest of the Houston Rockets gentlemen-swept the Utah Jazz 4-1 in April of 2019 and beat the Jazz for the second year in a row in the playoffs, the Jazz decided it was time to change it up and “upgrade” the roster. With a desire to …

Before the playoffs even started, this was the series everybody pointed to, the one everybody wanted to see. The San Antonio Spurs vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. The battle of the two best teams in the NBA. The first playoff meeting of what shapes up to be the rivalry that will define the NBA’s next five years (at least). Victor …

It was meant to happen. The Spurs and Thunder seemed destined to meet in the Western Conference Finals once San Antonio became a bona fide contender, in part by dominating Oklahoma City in the regular season. The two young teams are set to rule the conference for years, led by their MVP candidates, and will have their first important battle …

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP on Sunday over fellow finalists Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić. The MVP win marked the second consecutive for Gilgeous-Alexander, whose Oklahoma City Thunder will square off in the Western Conference finals against Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs starting Monday. Advertisement International dominance for NBA MVP continues The win continues an eight-season MVP drought …

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander responded to winning his first MVP award a year ago by going out this season and putting up very similar numbers, highlighting a level of consistency nobody else can match. He never scored below 20 points in a game and again led his team to 60+ wins and the best record in the NBA. That was enough to …

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The All-NBA first team this season might have been decided in part by an appeals process. Successful petitions by the Los Angeles Lakers ′ Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons ′ Cade Cunningham to gain eligibility for awards such as MVP and All-NBA this season — even after they fell short of the 65-game minimum — seem …

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died last week on May 11 at the age of 29. The NBA team and Clarke’s agency separately announced the next day that he had passed. Tributes poured in from across the league remembering the former Gonzaga star as a passionate player and caring member of the community. Ja Morant mourned his teammate, saying he …

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP on Sunday over fellow finalists Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić. The MVP win marked the second consecutive for Gilgeous-Alexander, whose Oklahoma City Thunder will square off in the Western Conference finals against Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs starting Monday. Advertisement International dominance for NBA MVP continues The win continues an eight-season MVP drought …

The Thunder swept their way to the Conference Finals. The Spurs were dominant but had to fight harder to get there. Who comes into the matchup in better shape? Marilyn Dubinski: I think both teams have their advantages and disadvantages.  There is no doubt that the Spurs are the more battle-tested team, while the Thunder had about the easiest path …

Over the course of the regular season, it became clear Stephon Castle was not going to suffer a sophomore slump following up his Rookie of the Year season. Castle, at only 21 years old, improved in every nearly counting stat he could. From points (14.7 per game to 16.7), rebounds (3.7 to 5.3), assists (4.1 to 7.4), and effective field …

Things are bad, objectively bad. The Nets have lost 118 games in two years, having missed the post-season three straight seasons. There’s not an All-Star, past or current, on the roster. No matter what you believe, their decision to draft five rookies in the first round continues to be excoriated. Going back further, they haven’t won more than 45 games …

The LeBron James era of the Los Angeles Lakers has featured lots of turnover. Lots and lots of turnover. For years, the constant was LeBron James and Anthony Davis. One player who worked himself into that mix and, eventually, became the new constant was Austin Reaves. Advertisement No player on the roster has more experience alongside LeBron. Reaves’ entire career …

Despite being one of the league’s very best at it this season, shooting threes still isn’t really Rui Hachimura’s “thing.” In fact, he downright doesn’t like it. When Rui joined the Lakers, he was known as an efficient mid-range scorer. However, in a league where shots were being pushed to the rim or the 3-point line, a high-volume mid-range scorer …

Once upon a time I was a grad student, a Chinese food delivery driver and a New York Jets fan, and therefore poor, hustling and doomed. That year —2004 — the Jets had been good, though. Really quite good, and “good” was a word my father and I avoided like the plague when it came to Gang Green. But we’d …

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the …

How much postseason basketball have you been watching? I know once the Phoenix Suns season ends, plenty of fans pack away the jerseys, toss the hats in the closet, and decide they’ve had enough basketball for a while. The season didn’t end in a championship, so they check out until next October. Others become casual viewers. They’ll catch a game …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons have played a back-and-forth series, but it all comes down to Game 7 with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line. Advertisement Cade Cunningham and James Harden delivered for their respective teams last time …

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is doing his best to mitigate Detroit’s home-court advantage for Sunday’s Game 7 against the Pistons. Per WKYC’s Nick Camino, Gilbert chartered 25 buses to transport Cavaliers fans from Cleveland to Detroit to attend Sunday’s decisive game. Fans were seen arriving to load up on buses Sunday afternoon ahead of the scheduled 8 p.m. ET …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. It all comes down to this, as the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to collide in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena tonight. Advertisement Looking to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2008, my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions …

The career Austin Reaves has had so far has been special. Not only has he gone from being a kid from Oklahoma to a superstar in Los Angeles, but the progression of his career has been a dream. Every year, Reaves’ role has increased, and his production has continued to grow alongside it. His minutes played, points and rebounds per …

Former Kentucky and current Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player awards, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania. The NBA’s official MVP announcement is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET, where Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama were named finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA MVP award. …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up the Western Conference semifinals with a Game 6 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they’ll face a stiffer task when they face the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Advertisement My Spurs vs. Thunder …

From the moment of my fist keystroke here, there are 10 days, 10 hours and 34 minutes until the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline for college underclassman, those wishing to continue their undergraduate eduction at an institution of higher learning. Advertisement Flory Bidunga, you are on the clock. And now the Louisville Cardinal fanbase, after enduring a week of quiet burgeoning …