NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: May 26, 2026, 11:45 AM ET

Eastern Conference Finals & the Knicks' Historic Run

The New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after a dominant run through the Eastern Conference, and long-suffering fans poured into city streets to celebrate the franchise's first conference title in a generation celebrating on the streets. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the festivities by poking fun at the Cavaliers, a move that drew laughs from supporters and media alike as the city embraced its basketball revival mayor trolls Cavs. The Knicks' improbable journey, from a midseason coaching change to a full roster overhaul, was fueled by bold moves that paid off when it mattered most bold moves paid off. ESPN's analysts noted that the Knicks "analytically" won two of the first three games against Cleveland, suggesting their system was outperforming traditional box-score metrics analytically winning. Despite falling to the Knicks in the conference finals, Donovan Mitchell reiterated his commitment to the Cavaliers and expressed confidence in his partnership with James Harden, even as the series ended in a sweep Mitchell committed to Cavs. The Cavs, meanwhile, found encouragement after erasing a similar deficit earlier in the playoffs, with players insisting the task ahead was not undaunting despite trailing 2-0 in the series Cavs remain confident.

Western Conference Finals: Thunder vs. Spurs

The Western Conference finals swung back and forth as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs traded blows through four games. The Thunder's bench erupted for 76 points in a 123-108 comeback victory after falling behind 15-0 to the Spurs in Game, demonstrating the depth that has carried them this deep into the postseason bench overwhelms Spurs. But Oklahoma City's offense collapsed in Game, producing what analysts called their worst performance in years as the Spurs evened the series at 2-2 Thunder flounders in Game 4. Adding to the Thunder's injury concerns, guard Ajay Mitchell was ruled out of Game 4 with a right calf strain, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their rotation Mitchell ruled out. On the Spurs' side, Victor Wembanyama continued to dominate on both ends of the floor, earning unanimous first-team All-Defensive honors and coming within one vote of unanimous All-NBA status, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic earned the nod Wemby All-Defensive unanimous. The Thunder's struggles in Game 4 also opened a wider conversation about which teams can match up with the Spurs' talent and system in a full seven-game series Thunder struggles.

Wemby's Defensive Reign and Playoff Trends

Victor Wembanyama's influence extended far beyond his rim protection. His ability to prevent opponents from even attempting shots, rather than simply blocking them, has made him what one analysis called the most dangerous defender in the league and a likely MVP candidate for the next decade Wemby prevents shots. The defensive dominance traces back to unconventional training methods learned from monks at a Shaolin monastery in central China, a regimen that shaped the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year into an unstoppable force Shaolin training. Across the playoffs, Wemby's presence has been the single most defining on-court trend, while the Cavaliers' scoring problems and the Knicks' disciplined system have been the other two major storylines shaping the conference finals playoff trends defined. Wembanyama's All-Defensive selection as the lone unanimous choice on the first team reflects how singular his impact has been this postseason Wemby unanimous selection.

Extension Talks and Offseason Movement

As the postseason winds down, the league's biggest extension candidates are entering negotiations that could reshape next season. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, and several other stars are at the center of extension discussions, with each deal potentially influencing how their respective teams approach the upcoming campaign extension candidates loom. Meanwhile, the Lakers made their first significant offseason move by hiring Rohan Ramadas as an assistant GM under Rob Pelinka, signaling a push to strengthen the front office as they look to contend Lakers hire assistant GM. ESPN insiders also pitched six trade proposals that could reshape the league, including potential landing spots for Ja Morant, while buzz around the Celtics and other contenders suggests aggressive offseason activity ahead six trade proposals. Draft coverage heated up after a productive week at the 2026 NBA combine, with Jeremy Woo releasing a mock projecting all 60 picks, though Kentucky center Malachi Moreno opted to return to school rather than declare draft mock released.

Roster Building and the Path Forward

The four conference finalists offered a masterclass in roster construction heading into the offseason. The Knicks' willingness to make bold moves and San Antonio's development of young talent like De'Aaron Fox, who has become the Spurs' veteran leader after leaving Sacramento, illustrate two divergent but effective models Spurs' veteran leader. OKC and San Antonio also control a disproportionate share of draft assets over the next eight drafts, giving them flexibility that most franchises lack draft asset control. For eliminated teams, offseason guides outline priorities including the Magic, Celtics, Nuggets, and Warriors, each facing different windows of opportunity heading into free agency and the draft offseason priorities. The Thunder's bench depth, which proved decisive in Game, and the Cavaliers' reliance on a single player in times of trouble reveal both the rewards and risks of different roster philosophies Cavs rely on one player. Four possible Finals matchups remain on the table, with series-by-series breakdowns suggesting the Knicks-Spurs pairing would generate the most intrigue given the stylistic contrast between New York's grit and San Antonio's pace Finals matchup rankings.

Off the Court

Bam Adebayo was honored with the NBA's Social Justice Champion award, recognizing his advocacy work beyond basketball Adebayo honored. A photo of Adebayo and partner A'ja Wilson wearing Vegas Golden Knights jerseys at a game sparked a reaction from the Carolina Panthers, adding to the NBA's celebrity spotlight this postseason Bam and A'ja photo. Olympiakos won the Euro League title 92-85 over Real Madrid with Giannis Antetokounmpo watching from the stands in Athens, capping a dominant European season for the Greek powerhouse Olympiakos wins EuroLeague. Courtside celebrity sightings throughout the playoffs ranged from high-profile athletes to entertainers, underscoring the cultural reach of the NBA's current moment celebrities courtside. Jimmy Butler, recovering from an ACL injury, was spotted jumping around on stage in a video that suggested his rehabilitation was progressing well, drawing amused reactions from teammates who reportedly told him not to show the clip to coach Steve Kerr Butler jumps on stage.