NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: May 22, 2026, 8:52 PM ET

Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks seized command of the Eastern Conference finals, with Josh Hart scoring 26 points in a 109-93 victory that gave them a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland. Jalen Brunson sparked a historic rally in Game 1 by relentlessly targeting James Harden, leading to a comeback that had only a 0.1% probability at its lowest point. Despite blowing a 22-point lead in Game 2 while coach Kenny Atkinson defended his timeout usage, the Knicks' aggressive attack on Harden proved too much for Cleveland's defense. The Cavaliers, however, remain confident despite the deficit, pointing to their previous experience erasing 2-0 holes in these playoffs.

Western Conference Finals

Oklahoma City and San Antonio delivered a thriller in Game, with the Spurs' 122-115 double-overtime victory averaging 9.2 million viewers to become the most-watched Western Conference finals opener in NBA history. The Thunder evened the series in Game 2 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points and 21 forced turnovers, though they'll be without Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury for Game. San Antonio faces its own injury concerns as Dylan Harper becomes a game-time decision with a right adductor injury, compounding their challenge after losing Dejounte Murray to injury earlier in the series. For the first time in 34 playoff games, the Thunder enter as underdogs against the Spurs.

Coaching Carousel

Jason Kidd's five-year tenure with the Dallas Mavericks concluded mutually, with team president Masai Ujiri taking full responsibility for the "very tough decision" to make a change. The move comes as Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans and Milwaukee continue their searches for long-term coaching solutions, with the Mavericks joining the ranks of teams seeking new leadership after disappointing playoff exits.

Draft & Rookie News

Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe earned unanimous first-team All-Rookie honors, headlining a draft class that also saw Jeremy Woo release his updated mock draft projecting all 60 picks following the 2026 combine. Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio control significant draft assets through the next eight drafts, positioning them as key players in future trade discussions and draft-night maneuvering.

Offseason Outlook

The Portland Trail Blazers laid off business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon, signaling cost-cutting measures ahead of what promises to be an aggressive offseason across the league. Detroit Pistons general manager Trajan Langdon expressed desire to retain both All-Star center Jalen Duren and veteran forward Tobias Harris, while the Minnesota Timberwolves plan aggressive moves to join the NBA's elite tier after another early playoff exit. Teams like Orlando, Boston, Denver and Golden State face pivotal offseasons as they look to retool through draft, free agency and trades.

Player Movement & Business

LeBron James will appear at Fanatics Fest NYC alongside Tyrese Haliburton for a live recording of their "Mind the Game" podcast, providing one of the few concrete details about his future plans amid ongoing speculation about his Lakers future. The San Antonio Spurs will return to Paris in January 2027 for games against the New Orleans Pelicans, continuing the NBA's international expansion efforts. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons has been spending time away from basketball pursuing sportfishing adventures during his offseason recovery.