NBA Basketball 3d Briefing
×Last updated: May 23, 2026, 11:47 AM ET
Conference Finals Recap
The Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 15-0 deficit espn.com in Game 3 against San Antonio, with their bench contributing 76 points in a 123-108 victory that gave them a 2-1 series lead. Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points espn.com but acknowledged postgame that he needs to be "more of a team player" after falling behind in the series. The Thunder's comeback came despite missing starting wing Jalen Williams, who was ruled out with a left hamstring injury espn.com after also exiting Game 2 with a tight hamstring espn.com. Adding to San Antonio's injury woes, rookie Dylan Harper suffered a right hamstring injury espn.com during the Game 2 loss, leaving the Spurs severely depleted heading into Game. The Western Conference finals opener peaked at 12 million viewers espn.com, marking the most-watched Game 1 in conference final history.
Cleveland's Uphill Battle
The Cavaliers face a familiar 2-0 hole espn.com in their conference finals series, but players expressed confidence after their Game 2 performance despite the double-digit loss. Cleveland's core knows the window is closing espn.com on their championship opportunity, with the franchise back in the conference finals for the first time since the LeBron James era ended. LeBron James himself cited being "out-talented" espn.com as the reason the Lakers fell to Oklahoma City in the first round, highlighting the young Thunder's depth advantage. The Cavs will need their role players to step up significantly, as they've leaned heavily on one primary option throughout their roller-coaster season espn.com.
Defensive Excellence Honored
Victor Wembanyama earned unanimous First Team All-Defense honors espn.com after a historic rookie campaign anchoring San Antonio's defense, while Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert and Derrick White rounded out the elite defensive unit. On the rookie front, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe were unanimous selections espn.com for All-Rookie First Team after standout debut seasons. These honors recognize both established stars and emerging talent as the league transitions into its offseason evaluation period.
Draft and Asset Movement
Oklahoma City and San Antonio sit atop the draft asset rankings espn.com as the league's two best teams also control significant portions of the next eight drafts, giving them flexibility for future moves. Jeremy Woo's latest mock draft espn.com projects how these assets might be utilized, with teams evaluating a deep class of prospects following an exciting combine week. The draft becomes increasingly important for franchises like Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans and Milwaukee as they navigate the coaching carousel espn.com.
League Business and Offseason Outlook
Bam Adebayo received the NBA's Social Justice Champion award espn.com for his community work throughout the season. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers laid off significant business-side staff espn.com as new ownership begins restructuring operations under Tom Dundon. The Timberwolves plan an aggressive offseason espn.com after another early playoff exit, with team president Tim Connelly acknowledging their roster isn't "good enough" to compete with the elite. Minnesota's disappointment mirrors Cleveland's urgency, as both franchises recognize the narrow margins at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Future Storylines
LeBron James will appear at Fanatics Fest NYC espn.com for a live recording of his "Mind the Game" podcast with Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, providing fans with offseason content while speculation continues about roster moves. The Thunder entered Game 3 as underdogs espn.com for the first time in 34 playoff games, marking a significant shift in perception despite their young core's impressive playoff run. As the conference finals continue, both Oklahoma City and Cleveland understand that championship windows can close quickly in today's competitive landscape.