nba

Naz Reid on what separates MIN from OKC/SAS: “Just the moodiness. Both of those teams, they’re playing for one another, excited to be on the floor with one another, they’re selfless… we have more than enough talent, just need to be less moody and more selfless.”

Jaden McDaniels says Victor Wembanyama is the greatest defender he’s ever played against

[The Athletic] How Gregg Popovich quietly became the Spurs’ secret weapon – In his role as “El Jefe” after retiring from coaching last year, Gregg Popovich continues to mentor the Spurs players behind the scenes

Jeremy Lin breaks down Spurs vs Timberwolves

Dillon Brooks says Jarred Vanderbilt is a dumb NBA player: “I’m going to throw a shot. I can’t even lie. This guy doesn’t even like me, to be honest with you. Jared Vanderbilt. On the Lakers. He’s like a rebounder, can’t shoot. I just think he’s got way more potential that he’s not untapping.”

[Stein] Warriors, who league sources say have maintained a longstanding interest in bringing (LeBron) James to Northern California, will be severely limited in what they can offer. James’ hometown Cleveland Cavaliers have even less…other team you could credibly add to the shortlist is the Clippers

[Bleacher Report] 2026 NBA Draft prospects talk about their first LeBron James memory

Luke Kornet has made the conference finals 4 out of the last 5 years

[Highlight] Ant Edwards accepts defeat, daps up the Spurs bench with 7 minutes left

[Krawczynski] The Timberwolves feel good about the core of Edwards, McDaniels, Reid and Joan Beringer going forward. The pathway to significant playing time for Beringer likely resides in breaking up the three-man big rotation of Gobert, Randle and Reid.

Chris Hines, Timberwolves assistant coach, on his Instagram story: “Discipline in leadership is contagious. So is the absence of it.” Earlier this morning, Chris Finch said in his exit interview “It all comes down to discipline right now… At times our discipline came and went.”

[Krawczynski] Mike Conley says he does plan to play another season. Says the way he played in the playoffs proved to him he can still do it.

The showdown is here: #1 OKC will face #2 San Antonio in the WCF

[Highlight] James Harden falls down and takes a rest on the floor mid-possession, but the tactical energy conservation backfires as his sweat causes Dean Wade to slip and give a turnover

[Weiss] Fox has worn it for years. It’s a thick rubber band… “It’s his logo, we wear it every game,” Harper tells The Athletic. “Supporting the brand. Fox is my vet, so me, him and Steph wear it… around the time the Slash Bros became the Band Bros, Castle and Harper’s 3s started going down.

THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM 2026 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION

Udonis Haslem rants on the lack of accountability in postgame conferences

[Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul] Blazers owner Tom Dundon defends hotel room decision: “I would do it again… If that’s too hard for people, (then) I’m not right for them. I want that culture”

[Highlight] 27 years ago Allan Houston hits the series ending winner to give the 8th seeded Knicks an upset victory over the 1st seed Heat.

[Highlight] Alex Rodriguez’s upset face after Julian Champagnie’s corner 3

[Post Game Thread] The San Antonio Spurs Eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in Convincing Fashion, 139-109.

[Post Game Thread] The Detroit Pistons (3-3) force a Game 7 by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3) 115-94, behind a balanced team effort with six players scoring in double figures.

[Uthayakumar] James Harden is now 4-14 in Game 6s in his career, the second-worst record in Game 6 in NBA playoff history.

Stephon Castle checks out as he leads the Spurs to the WCF: 32 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, ¹¹⁄₁₆ FG, ⁵⁄₇ 3P, ⁵⁄₆ FT, +28 in 30min

[Highlight] Ausar Thompson gets called for his fifth foul assaulting Evan Mobley. Avoids a second flagrant.

J.B. Bickerstaff on James Harden: “He has an unbelievable ability to manipulate what the rules are. We would play 1 on 1 when I coached in Houston and he would foul bait me.”

Chet Holmgren series stats vs Lakers: 20/10/1 with 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks, with 61/39/87 shooting (69 TS%)

A year after watching Haliburton dominate the nba finals kings fans now get to watch Mike brown and deaaron fox in the conference finals.

[Highlight] ABC running campaign for Cavaliers vs Knicks Eastern Conference Finals matchup this morning

Julius Randle in Game 6 against the Spurs; 23 MINS, 3 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 1/8FG, 0/2 3PM, 1/2FT, team low -34 while on the court

Spurs end-of-the-bench centers Olynyk, Biyombo and Plumlee outscored Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert 7 PTS to 3 PTS on a combined 19min to 45min played

[Highlight] Ausar Thompson gets the ball to Paul Reed, who….. scores

[Highlight] Victor Wembanyama dives to the ground after a touch by Julius Randle, and Keldon Johnson fouls Randle (with a replay).

[Finkelstein] Morez Johnson Jr. was also one of the combine’s biggest risers. Sources told CBS Sports he’s now in play in the late lottery, and other teams with picks in the early 20s acknowledged that they no longer expect Johnson to be available there.

A perfectly timed replay with audio in the arena. Anthony “Freddy Mercury” Edwards

[Highlight] Ausar Thompson absolutely spikes Strus’s layup with both hands

The Ringer dropped an article on the modern day NBA breaking its players with stats that back it up

[Highlight] Stephon Castle is ⁵⁄₅ on 3-pointers, has 27 points after draining one

[Highlights] Paul Reed full highlights vs. Cleveland Cavaliers last night (115-94 W) - Game 6 - Eastern Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs:

17 Points on ⁷⁄₉ FG (77.8%), ¹⁄₁ from 3, ²⁄₃ FT, 6 Rebounds (3 Off. Rebs), 1 Assist (3 TOV), 1 Block, 1 PF, and a +/- of +8 in 16:12 minutes played off the bench.

[Highlights] Jalen Duren full highlights vs. Cleveland Cavaliers last night (115-94 W) - Game 6 - Eastern Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs:

15 Points on ⁷⁄₁₀ FG, ¹⁄₄ FT, 11 Rebounds (4 Off. Rebs), 1 Steal, 3 Blocks, 2 PF, and a +/- of +9 in 27:28 minutes played.

[Highlights] Dylan Harper full highlights vs. Minnesota Timberwolves last night (139-109 W) - Game 6 - Western Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs:

15 Points on ⁶⁄₈ FG (75.0%), ¹⁄₃ from 3, ²⁄₂ FT, 5 Rebounds (1 Off. Reb), 2 Assists (3 TOV), 1 Block, 2 PF, and a +/- of +16 in 25:42 MP off bench

[Highlight] Ausar Thompson pushes and steps over Sam Merrill (flagrant 1 on review)

Sophomore Stephon Castle Through His First Two Playoff Rounds: 19.⁹⁄₄.⁹⁄₆.1 with 3.1 TOV on 49% FG (6.⁶⁄₁₃.5), 44% 3PT (2.0/4.5), 80% FT (4.⁶⁄₅.8)

[NBA Uniform Tracker] Wordmarks for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Association (white), Icon (blue) and Statement (black) for next season.

[Highlights] Duncan Robinson full highlights vs. Cleveland Cavaliers last night (115-94 W) - Game 6 - Eastern Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs:

14 Points on ⁴⁄₇ FG (57.1%), ⁴⁄₇ from 3, ²⁄₃ FT, 2 Rebounds, 2 Assists (ZERO turnovers), 2 PF, and a +/- of +3 in 20:13 minutes off the bench.

Pelinka: “What did those teams (Detroit, San Antonio, and OKC) have to go through to build through the draft? Multiple seasons of losses, and that is just not part of our infrastructure here. As much as some of us might want it to be that way, it’s not the Lakers’ way.”

[Highlights] Marcus Sasser full highlights vs. Cleveland Cavaliers last night (115-94 W) - Game 6 - Eastern Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs:

9 Points on ⁴⁄₅ FG, ¹⁄₂ from 3, 1 Rebound, 1 Assist (1 TOV), 1 Steal, and a +/- of +27 (game high, BY FAR) in 18:01 minutes played off the bench.

[Highlight] A Cavaliers fan hits the halfcourt shot to win $10K, and then he does the J.R. Smith celebration (with a replay).

With a replay.

The other 4 contestants fail to make the halfcourt shot