[Inside The NBA] While discussing Jason Collins’ passing, Charles Barkley: “We live in a homophobic society … anybody who think we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.”
Inside the NBA discuss Max Strus’ attractiveness
Did ESPN really just cut to commercial during the Moment of Silence for Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins?
Jalen Duren despite the loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers: 9 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, -16, 25 MIN
Charles Barkley: “Cade Cunningham has more responsibility than any player in the NBA, in my opinion. They’re too dependent on Cade. They look for him every single trip up and down the court… in the history of basketball, you can’t depend on one guy to score, make every pass against the elite teams
[Post Game Thread] The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2) take Game 4 over the Detroit Pistons (2-3) in a 117-113 OT win.
Two Spurs fans re-enact Wemby’s elbow on the jumbotron during Game 5
The Pistons were ahead by 9 points with 3 min to go in regulation tonight.
Reporters ask Brunson about his reduced on ball role in the offense since going down 2-1 to ATL: “Some stars might push back, they’re used to having the ball in their hands. They might take it as a slight. It doesn’t sound like you did. Why was that?” Brunson: One I’m not a star, two I want to win.”
Donovan Mitchell is officially on his deepest playoff run. This is the first time he’s won 3 games in the second round.
[Highlight] Ausar Thompson tracks Donovan Mitchell all the way and steals the ball to prevent a game-winning attempt. The Pistons want a trip called on Jarrett Allen.
Dan Le Batard: Wembanyama’s return didn’t feel right: “This is unusual. Wembanyama’s return was being celebrated (on NBC) as redemption and an amazing story arc for a guy who did something dirty…I’m surprised part of the narrative wasn’t ’thank God he didn’t hurt his elbow on that guy’s jaw.’”
Thunder GM Sam Presti making some calls while watching the NBA Combine scrimmages
[Highlight] Harden misses the second FT, but gets his own rebound and is rewarded with more free throws
A moment of silence in Detroit for Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins before the game. Rest in Peace. 🙏❤️
James Harden had more rebounds than Detroit All Star C Jalen Duren
Cade Cunningham despite the loss in game 5: 39 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 2 STL, 60% from 3
[Law Murray] The NBA Players Association TheNBPA just released released three tiers of officials. Tier 1: Elite and top performers. Tier 2: Solid performers. Tier 3: Needs improvement
James Harden 30/8/6/1/3 and Max Strus 20/8/1/1/1 as Cavaliers take the series lead 3-2
[McMenamin] And so – without even stopping to change clothes – (LeBron) James marched off into the L.A. night, simmering from another perceived indignation delivered by the organization that, as one source close to him told ESPN, tried to “push him out the door,” after acquiring Doncic
[Jaren Jackson Jr.]: “i couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility . i love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating. i just wish i could talk to you . you were so much to so many and even more to me . i will never have the words to describe what this feels like .”
[Finkelstein] AJ Dybantsa’s preference is to remain in Utah and get drafted by the Utah Jazz.
[Keown] Mark Daigneault on Sam Presti’s evaluation process: “One time we were discussing a player, and he said to me, ‘All the guys are standing there watching film before practice, and I’m just imagining him standing there with them, and I just don’t see him fitting in.’ And that was it.”
Daryl Morey Attempted to Acquire Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder in the Jared McCain Trade
Mobley with a big scar on his face talks about the physicality of the series
[Highlight] The Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in OT of Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Cleveland ended regulation on a 9-0 run over the final 3 minutes to force overtime.
Slow motion replay of the contact between Thompson and Allen at the end of regulation (Pistons v Cavs Game 5)
[Highlight] LeBron James tells SGA and AC to go get another one after game 4 defeat.
[Bontemps] League officials expect the “3-2-1” anti-tanking proposal to be passed by the league this month. This proposal will give the three worst teams a lower percentage of winning the lottery than teams from 4th-10th. Silver will have ability to fine teams and strip them of their pick(s).
The Spurs announcer asks for a moment of silence for the recent passing of Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins. NBC inexplicably faded to black then cut to commercial in the middle of the moment; a DraftK*ngs commercial played on the broadcast.
[Highlight] Jaylon Tyson gives Tobias Harris the crotch-grabbing staredown after tie-up with Beef Stew
Paul Pierce on Victor Wembanyama, “This is the best basketball player… the most complete player we’ve ever seen play the game.”
Old video of Behind the Scenes with NBA Referee Zach Zarba. Zach Zarba was ranked as the No. 1 referee in the NBA. Zarba is the only official ranked by players in the Top 12 by every single team in the league.
J.B. Bickerstaff on the last play of regulation: “Jarrett Allen fouled Ausar. It’s clear. He trips him when he’s going for a loose ball. End of game situation, that’s tough.”
BROTHERS: “During live play, both players were going for the ball and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball.”
Evan Mobley in the game 5 win - 19 pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks and big buckets down the stretch in the fourth qtr
[Highlight] The ball gets stuck behind the backboard, and the arena worker uses the broom to release it, and unintentionally SCORES on his first try!
[Vorkunov] The NBPA surveyed all its players about the referees and asked them to be ranked on a 1-5 scale and put into one of 3 tiers. The union said only tier 1 and 2 refs should work the playoffs
[Keown] “Coach will literally not play you for an entire series and then put you out there for Game 1 in the next one,” Gilgeous-Alexander says. “That’s why I tell guys, ‘Treat every game like Game 7 and they’re about to beat us.’”
Paul Reed in the series against Cleveland: 12⁄5 on 78% TS in only 13.6 minutes
Simmons: “I dont say this lightly. Having Harper and Wemby back to back, feel like I’m disrespecting Castle but think he’s gonna be 3rd. We saw this when the Celtics added McHale and had Bird. When the Lakers added Worthy after they had Magic. When the Bulls had MJ and they were able to get Pippen.”
[State of the Game] Jaylen Brown said he used fan support years ago to start again despite the fact that Brad Stevens preferred Gordon Hayward: “Once you get the people talking about it, the front office is going to start making decisions.”
[Highlight] James Harden makes the first free throw to put the Cavaliers up 3, misses the second one, grabs the offensive rebound, gets fouled, makes the first free throw and misses the second one again, putting the Cavs up 4.
The Pistons fail to cut the lead, and the Cavaliers will win this one.
Cameron Boozer among the “big 4” prospects at the combine: #1 (tied) in lane agility, #2 (tied) in shuttle run, #1 in standing reach, #1 in wingspan, #1 in hand width
[MacMahon] Aaron Wiggins barely played in this series. Aaron Wiggins would play 25 minutes for the Lakers. That’s not me guessing. I asked somebody on the Lakers staff like how many minutes would he play? They said at least 25.
Ausar Thompson despite the loss: 6/7/5/4/3
NBA on Instagram: Remembering Brandon Clarke (1996-2026)
[Draymond Green Show] Draymond Green suggests that the Golden State Warriors will be “looking” at the LA Clippers after winning the 5th overall pick and will be monitoring the availability of Kawhi Leonard: