NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 10, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NBA Playoff Developments & Coaching News

The Western Conference semifinal picture sharpened overnight as the Oklahoma City Thunder blitzed the Lakers in Game, improving their series lead to 7-0 in the playoffs, largely powered by the emergence of second-year guard Ajay Mitchell while Jalen Williams remained sidelined OKC improved to 7-0. This dominant performance has drastically shifted futures markets, with Lakers title odds flipping to 35-1 against the surging Thunder, who are now pegged at -160 favorites to advance. Meanwhile, in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers face a near-insurmountable deficit after Joel Embiid's return proved insufficient; Jalen Brunson’s 33 points and late-game execution snapped the 76ers' hopes, pushing the New York Knicks to a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Coaching stability appears locked in for the Golden State Warriors, as Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract extension, according to reports from Priority Sports agents Dan Eveloff and Rick Smith, cementing his tenure amidst significant offseason questions regarding the team’s roster construction details on Kerr's return. Elsewhere in franchise operations news, the Dallas Mavericks are reportedly hiring former Blazers assistant Mike Schmitz to manage basketball operations under President Masai Ujiri, signaling a major restructuring of their front office strategy heading into the draft.

The Cavaliers managed to stave off a sweep, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 35 points and James Harden hitting three crucial shots in the final two minutes to secure a 116-109 victory over the Pistons, cutting Detroit's Eastern Conference semifinal deficit to 2-1. In unrelated on-court drama, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch publicly condemned official Tony Brothers, labeling the referee’s actions during a fourth-quarter stoppage in Game 3 as "completely unprofessional behavior" after two separate confrontations occurred.

Draft Prospects & League Administration

Attention now turns toward the impending NBA draft lottery, which carries immense weight this season as a third of the league seemingly tanked specifically to secure a top pick, making Sunday’s drawing particularly consequential for struggling franchises. Prospect analysis is already deep, with teams preparing for various outcomes and mapping out the best fits for lottery-bound players scouting the most likely picks. Separately, aspiring NBA player Darryn Peterson revealed that recent medical testing concluded that his debilitating cramping issues were directly caused by his use of high doses of creatine.