NBA Basketball 8 Hours

Last updated: May 17, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

MVP Announcement & Conference Finals

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secured his second straight MVP award, becoming the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors. The Thunder superstar will be officially honored Sunday night, the day before he faces fellow MVP finalist Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City received a boost as Jalen Williams declared himself healthy for the series after missing the past six games with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

Playoff Developments

The Pistons forced a Game 7 against the Cavaliers with a dominant second-half performance, marking their fourth elimination game victory in the 2026 NBA playoffs. Cleveland's James Harden surpassed Stephen Curry for 10th place on the NBA's all-time postseason scoring list during the contest. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards showed sportsmanship after Game, walking to the Spurs bench to "give them their respect" following Minnesota's third consecutive playoff exit.

Health Concerns & Team Outlook

Knicks forward OG Anunoby practiced through hamstring discomfort, noting his current right hamstring injury is less severe than the one he suffered during the 2024 playoffs. For Cleveland, a third consecutive second-round loss would spark questions about their superstar duo as rival teams monitor the situation. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, returning for a 13th season, admitted needing improvement after a critical assessment of his performance during his 12th season at the helm.