NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: May 28, 2026, 11:50 PM ET

Playoff Action

The San Antonio Spurs delivered a dominant performance in Game 5 against Oklahoma City, building a 3-2 series lead as the Thunder face elimination in Thursday's decisive matchup. Oklahoma City activated Jalen Williams for Game 6 after the star wing missed three games with a hamstring strain, providing a crucial boost for a team that turned to reserves Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain to claw back in the series. New York fans took to the streets celebrating the Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani trolling the Cavaliers over their sweep at the hands of the Knicks, who went all-in with bold moves and a coaching change that paid dividends.

Coaching Carousel

Atlanta promoted Onsi Saleh from general manager to president of basketball operations on a long-term extension, while Cleveland confirmed Kenny Atkinson will return as head coach despite getting swept in the Eastern Conference finals. Boston's Joe Mazzulla captured Coach of the Year honors over finalists J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson, and Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon stood by her assertion that Jalen Brunson needs to prove her wrong about his championship potential.

Draft & Free Agency

Arizona forward Koa Peat kept his name in the draft along with Santa Clara's Allen Graves and Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson, who averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists while maintaining top-20 prospect status. League insiders weighed in on lingering free agent decisions involving Austin Reaves, Jalen Duren and Mitchell Robinson, while ESPN analysts proposed six trades that could reshape the offseason landscape. The NBA approved draft lottery reforms aimed at preventing tanking, though data shows top-five picks haven't translated to titles over the past two decades.

Front Office & Business

The Lakers laid off more than a dozen employees as part of a reorganization under new leadership, while Victor Wembanyama's 1-of-1 trading card sold for $5.11 million in a private transaction. President Donald Trump plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next month, adding political intrigue to the championship series. Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley said he wants to unlock Zion Williamson as a playmaker in New Orleans' revamped system.

Injuries & Off-Court News

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson suffered a broken right pinkie finger ahead of the Finals with no timetable for return, while Wembanyama received a league warning for skipping postgame media obligations after Game. Off the court, Myra Gordon and Tyrese Maxey announced the birth of their daughter Marvel on May 14, and Stephen and Ayesha Curry plan to expand their restaurant chains to markets where Dell Curry starred during his playing career.

Series Outlook

Oklahoma City controls the series with a 3-2 lead and odds-on favorite status to reach the Finals, though San Antonio's veteran leadership from De'Aaron Fox kept them alive. Analysts examined the on-court trends defining these playoffs, from Wembanyama's dominance to Cleveland's scoring struggles, while four conference finalists provided roster-building lessons for the rest of the league heading into an active offseason.