NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: May 11, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

NBA Playoff Action & Standings

The early rounds of the NBA playoffs saw several series take definitive turns, with the Oklahoma City Thunder extending their perfect run to 7-0 after decisively defeating the Lakers in Game, even with Jalen Williams sidelined; second-year guard Ajay Mitchell stepped up significantly as the Lakers focused defensive efforts on MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to secure the victory. Elsewhere in the East, the New York Knicks delivered a punishing blow to Philadelphia, as Jalen Brunson dropped 33 points for the Knicks to help seal a 3-0 series lead, a deficit the 76ers could not overcome even with Joel Embiid's return on Friday night, leaving them one game from elimination. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers managed to cut their deficit against the Pistons to 2-1 after Donovan Mitchell poured in 35 points and James Harden connected on three critical shots in the final two minutes of a 116-109 contest. The betting markets reacted to these results, with the Lakers' title odds flipping to 35-1 against the Rockets, while the surging Thunder maintained their status as heavy favorites at -160.

Coaching Moves & Front Office Shifts

In major organizational news, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract extension, confirmed by his representatives to ESPN, ending speculation about his future and signaling a commitment to the core of the franchise heading into a potentially transitional offseason to determine team direction. On the executive side, the Dallas Mavericks are reportedly hiring former Blazers assistant GM Mike Schmitz to oversee basketball operations under team president Masai Ujiri, signaling a significant restructuring of their front office apparatus. In a separate incident involving on-court management, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch publicly condemned official Tony Brothers, labeling the referee's repeated confrontations during a fourth-quarter stoppage in Game 3 as "completely unprofessional behavior."

Draft Prospects & Offseason Outlook

Attention is now turning toward the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery this Sunday, an event described as massively important given that a third of the league seemingly tanked to secure a favorable position. Ahead of the lottery, analysts are releasing projections regarding the most likely picks for every team positioned to select near the top of the order. Separately, one notable pre-draft prospect, Darryn Peterson, revealed that his recent bouts of debilitating cramping were attributed by doctors to high doses of creatine following post-season testing. Furthermore, the league calendar shifts focus next week to the NBA Draft Combine, where dozens of prospects will compete starting Monday to elevate their stock ahead of the main event.