NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 5:48 PM ET

Western Conference Finals: Spurs-Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder tied their Western Conference finals series with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, getting 30 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forcing 21 turnovers in a dominant Game 2 effort that mirrored their comeback strategy from last season's title run. The win flipped the odds in the series, with San Antonio opening as favorites in Friday's Game 3 for the first time in 33 playoff games — a shift that marks Oklahoma City's first stint as underdogs since 2023. The Thunder's momentum now faces a test against a Spurs team losing Dylan Harper to a right hamstring injury, which he suffered during Game, joining Jeremy Sochan in the injury column after Fox went down earlier in the series. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Harper will be a game-time decision for Friday due to a right adductor issue, while Jalen Williams is being evaluated day to day on a left hamstring strain. The Spurs are now down two rotation players, and head coach Gregg Popovich will need to adjust on the fly if Harper sits out. LeBron James, watching from the Eastern side of the bracket, said the Lakers were "out-talented" by the Thunder in the playoffs, a frank admission that reflects how dominant OKC's roster has become.

Knicks-Cavs: New York Pulls Ahead

The New York Knicks seized a 2-0 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, defeating them 109-93 behind Josh Hart's playoff-career-high 26 points. Hart kept shooting throughout and played with relentless energy, propelling New York halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. The Knicks' two-game sweep shifted the narrative quickly — Cleveland, despite the double-digit loss, told reporters the task ahead was undaunting and drew comfort from their history of erasing 2-0 deficits. The Cavs also acknowledged the clock is ticking on their core, as this marks the franchise's first return to the conference finals since the LeBron James era ended, and the pressure of sustaining a championship window looms. ESPN's playoff takeaways noted the momentum swing across both series, with the Knicks looking dangerous and Cleveland trying to find answers before falling too far behind.

Mavs in Transition and Rookie Recognition

Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri took full responsibility Wednesday for the decision to fire head coach Jason Kidd, calling it "very tough" and his alone — a move that came after a disappointing stretch for a team still viewed as a contender. The same franchise saw three unanimous first-team rookies named Wednesday, with Cooper Flagg of the Mavs, Kon Knueppel of the Hornets, and VJ Edgecombe of the Sixers earning the honor. Flagg's selection underscores how Dallas is betting on youth to complement its veteran core, even as the front office reshuffles its coaching staff.

Front Office Shakeups and Storylines

The Portland Trail Blazers laid off a significant number of business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon, signaling a broader cost-cutting push within the organization. Meanwhile, the NBA unveiled four possible Finals matchups, ranging from Spurs-Knicks to Thunder-Cavaliers, with analysts breaking down the implications of each pairing heading into the conference finals. On a lighter note, Victor Wembanyama's training regimen was detailed in a feature exploring how monks in central China helped build the 7-foot-4 phenom into the league's most dominant force — a profile piece that humanized the Spurs' franchise centerpiece amid an injury-riddled series.