The New York Knicks seem to follow a similar script on this suddenly smooth road to the NBA Finals — adjusting in second halves, pulling away for easy wins.
It’s a mark of a team peaking at the right time, finding new life with every opponent mishap and discovering it has the answer to every question posed. The latest evidence was the Knicks’ 121-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, which pushed them to within one game of their first NBA Finals since 1999.
The Knicks will look to complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals on Monday night in Cleveland.
Watch the game highlights and more;
0:00 #3 KNICKS at #4 CAVALIERS
5:23 Media Availability
17:24 On This Day In NBA History – On May 23. 1989 Michael Jordan threw down a poster dunk vs the Pistons.
17:53 Player of the Night
20:23 Top 5 Plays of the Night
Oklahoma City secured a 2-1 lead in the West Finals behind SGA (26 pts, 12 ast) and playoff career-highs from Jaylin Williams (18 pts, 5 3PM) and Jared McCain (24 pts). With their 76-23 advantage in bench scoring in Game 3, the Thunder’s second unit now holds a +119 scoring differential over San Antonio through three contests. OKC’s bench is putting up historic numbers.
This is OKC reminding everyone why they’re the defending champs!
Game 4 in San Antonio is a must win for the Spurs or else, the series will be over by game 5 when it shifts back to OKC.
INDIANAPOLIS — There is a distinct, rhythmic roar that echoes through Gainbridge Fieldhouse when the Indiana Fever find their transition groove, and the Golden State Valkyries found themselves squarely on the wrong end of it.
Behind a masterful balancing act from their cornerstone tandem of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, the Fever weathered a fierce second-quarter storm to secure a hard-fought 90-82 victory over the WNBA’s sophomore franchise. The win pushes Indiana to a promising 4-2 start for the 2026 season—their best opening six-game stretch since 2012, the year where they won the championship.
For a moment, it looked like the Valkyries were going to pull off a massive upset. Lead by the veteran savvy of Tiffany Hayes (19 points) and a brilliant spark from rookie sensation Kaitlyn Chen (18 points off the bench), Golden State staged a relentless 26-18 second-quarter run. They walked into the locker room at halftime holding a comfortable seven-point cushion and all the momentum.
But the third quarter belonged entirely to Indiana.
Adjusting to Golden State’s suffocating defensive traps, Clark began carving up the perimeter, scoring eight points in the frame while dishing out laser-focused assists. Meanwhile, Boston anchored the interior, punishing the Valkyries in the paint. Indiana flipped the script with a crushing 29-17 third-quarter surge, establishing a lead they would never relinquish.
Inside the Box Score
Player
Points
Rebounds
Assists
Key Stat
Caitlin Clark (IND)
22
2
9
4-of-9 from three-point range
Aliyah Boston (IND)
20
16
3
Labeled 42nd career double-double
Kelsey Mitchell (IND)
19
0
3
Flawless 11-of-11 from the free-throw line
Tiffany Hayes (GSV)
19
2
2
Shot 7-of-13 from the field
Kaitlyn Chen (GSV)
18
1
0
Provided instant offense in 19 minutes
Rewriting History
The night wasn’t just a win in the standings; it was another milestone evening for Indiana’s foundation pieces.
With her bruising 20-point, 16-rebound performance, Aliyah Boston secured her 42nd career double-double, tying legend Elena Delle Donne for the 34th most in WNBA history. Simultaneously, Clark’s 9-assist showcase inches her closer to smashing Sue Bird’s historic record as the fastest player to hit 1,000 points and 500 career assists.
“Yeah, it was definitely really physical, too. Um, and they’re a really good team and they’re really good defensively and we battled and I thought we played really great defense, especially in the second half and um thought we got off to a good start, then we kind of dropped a little bit and then the second half was really really good and kind of powered us through.” Clark said postgame. “But for me personally, like it was definitely good to, you know, see my first two shots go in and then kind of go from there.”
When the Valkyries intentionally fouled late to stop the clock, Kelsey Mitchell put on a masterclass in ice-cold execution. Mitchell went a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe, shutting the door on any hopes of a Golden State comeback.
Game highlights;
What’s Next
The Valkyries (3-2) will have another shot at the Fever as they face them on the 28th of May at the Bay Area for a 4-game homestand.
Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and the New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night.
It’s gonna be a wild night in MSG “if” the Knicks are able to advance to the 2026 NBA Finals!
Here’s a recap of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between Cavs and the Knicks.
Games 3 and 4 will now shift to Cleveland as they try to turn this into a series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back from a subpar series opener to score 30 points, Alex Caruso added 17 off the bench and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 122-113 on Wednesday night in Game 2.
Chet Holmgren scored 13 points and reserves Jared McCain and Cason Wallace each had 12 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder finished with a 57-25 edge in bench scoring, plus a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Now that the series tied, next two games will be in San Antonio and will now be a best of 5 series. OKC will try and get back home court advantage as they go to an equally hostile Spurs crowd.
Aliyah Boston had 24 points and eight rebounds, Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points, and the Indiana Fever beat the Portland Fire 90-73 on Wednesday night with Caitlin Clark sidelined.
The Fever ruled Clark out with a back injury less than two hours before tipoff, her first missed game this season.
Lexie Hull added 16 points on a perfect shooting night – going 4 of 4 from the field, all 3-pointers, and 4 of 4 on free throws – and had eight rebounds for the Fever (3-2). Tyasha Harris made her first start for the Fever, in Clark’s place, and finished with seven assists, two steals and no turnovers, but was scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting.
A great win for the Fever as they move above .500. Both of Indiana’s losses were by less than 5 points, meaning they easily could have gone either way. The Portland Fire, on the other hand, are having a fantastic start for an expansion team. Bridget Carleton has been balling, and it definitely helps that the Fire roster is packed with veteran players.
Game Highlights;
Next up for Indiana is their last home game against the Golden State Valkyries, followed by four road games over their next five matchups. Meanwhile, Portland will travel north to face the Toronto Tempo in a highly anticipated battle of the expansion teams.
For CC fans, I’m sure you all have been waiting for this.
Enjoy!
Caitlin Clark does an exclusive interview with five puppies.
0:42 – If you could have your own show what would it be about?
1:08 – What’s your favorite midnight snack?
1:33 – Is a hotdog a sandwich?
1:39 – What did you do over the off-season?
2:11 – Where do you get the inspiration for your outfits?
2:26 – Do you have any hidden talents?
2:47 – If you could time travel, what time period would you travel to?
3:37 – Who would be your dream courtside guest?
Victor Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds, Dylan Harper finished with 24 points and a team playoff-record seven steals, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime classic to open the Western Conference finals Monday night.
A monster game by Victor Wembanyama, and we have not seen a player produce those numbers in a long time, these are Wilt Chamberlain numbers!!!
This series could be one of those NBA classic games that you get to rewatch over and over again, or a sweep for OKC!
If you missed Game 1 of the WCF, you can watch the extended full game 1 high lights that the NBA just released.
Enjoy!
Game 2 will remain in OKC this Wednesday evening as they look to even the series.
The Indiana Fever secured an emphatic 89–78 home victory over the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, powered by a masterclass performance from Caitlin Clark.
Clark finished the night with 21 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action, registering her 21st career double-double. In doing so, she rewrote the WNBA history books yet again. This marked her 12th career game with at least 20 points and 10 assists—the most in WNBA history, breaking further away from runner-up Courtney Vandersloot.
Caitlin Clark so far tonight:
21 PTS | 10 AST | 7 REB
she already has the most career games with 20+ points and 10+ assists in WNBA history, and she just added another with her 12th such game. pic.twitter.com/rvdItjjebt
Additionally, Clark achieved this milestone in a blistering 57 games, extending her record-setting streak of starting a season with four consecutive games of 20+ points and 5+ assists. Backed by 17 points apiece from Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham, the Fever dominant lead reached 20 in the fourth quarter (89 – 69), answering any lingering questions about Clark’s early-season efficiency.
Full game highlights;
Seattle returns home for a two-game stretch starting Wednesday against Connecticut—the sole team they’ve defeated so far this season. While Indiana continues their four-game homestand on Wednesday when they host Portland.
The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, dismantling the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 125-94 in a winner-take-all Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena.
Cleveland dominated the glass with a 50-41 rebounding advantage, fueled by big men Jarrett Allen (23 points) and Evan Mobley (21 points, 12 rebounds). Donovan Mitchell spearheaded the Cavs’ offense with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, while Sam Merrill provided a major spark off the bench, hitting five triples for 23 points. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham was held to just 13 points as the Cavaliers secured a matchup against the New York Knicks for the right to advance to the 2026 NBA Finals.
Game highlights;
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be in New York Tuesday evening.
After a season that saw SGA place himself among the game’s all-time greats – or, in some cases, in a tier all by himself – the Thunder guard just became the 7th player this century and 14th ever to win back-to-back Kia NBA MVP Awards.
Joining Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, LeBron James (2x), Tim Duncan and fellow Canadian Steve Nash as back-to-back winners since 2000, the two-time reigning Kia NBA MVP now leads the Thunder against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
But first, how did SGA bring his game to another level in 2025-26? He…
Set the NBA record for most consecutive 20+ pt games, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record
Became the first player since Wilt (1963-64) with 20+ pts in every regular season game, with a minimum of 50 games
Joined Michael Jordan as the only guards with at least 30+ PPG on 50+ FG% in four straight years
Became the only guard in NBA history to average 30+ PPG on 55%+ shooting
Led the league in total Clutch points, earning Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year honors
Had the highest +/- in the NBA (+788) by more than 100 points
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs, multiple sources tell ESPN.
This is the fourth straight season that Gilgeous-Alexander finished in the top five in MVP voting. He finished fifth in 2022-23 and second in 2023-24 before winning the past two seasons.
In that span, Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player since Jordan to average at least 30 points per game in four consecutive seasons.
Aside from Wemby, no one can challenge SGA for the MVP awards.
Stat-wise, SGA in the regular season is averaging 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists at 55.3% field goal percentage.
Rousey wasted absolutely no time, shooting in for a takedown immediately after Carano threw a leg kick and dragging the fight to the mat within seconds. Carano briefly threatened with a guillotine choke, but once Rousey escaped into mount, it was over almost instantly — the former UFC champion locked in her signature armbar for a finish that left the crowd stunned.
As the title suggests, the fight only lasted for 17 seconds. The intro of the players took longer than the fight.
The San Antonio Spurs were well on their way to the Western Conference finals in the fourth quarter when Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards went down to their bench to briefly offer his congratulations.
The young Spurs left no doubt they’re already a serious NBA title contender.
Stephon Castle had 32 points and 11 rebounds to highlight another dominant performance from the backcourt, and Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs romped past the Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday night to finish in the second-round series in six games.
Spurs will face the waiting OKC in the Western Conference Finals this Sunday, May 18th.
Spurs Highlights for Game 6;
Spurs BEST PLAYS from 4-2 Series Win vs Timberwolves 🔥
In a thrilling, high-scoring overtime showdown, the Washington Mystics edged out the Indiana Fever 104–102 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, lit up by an spectacular guard battle between Caitlin Clark and Sonia Citron.
Clark once again proved her status as a late-game mastermind, fueling a fierce Indiana comeback after the Fever fell behind by 14 points in the second half. The phenom guard exploded for 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, capping her performance with a clutch, contested 3-pointer with just 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 89 and force overtime. She finished with a game-high 32 points, eight assists, and seven 3-pointers, carrying the offensive load despite struggling with efficiency on 10-of-28 shooting.
However, Citron countered with a masterclass in scoring efficiency to seal the road victory for Washington. The stellar guard racked up a career-high 30 points on an incredibly efficient 10-of-14 shooting from the floor while adding six rebounds and four assists. Citron’s steady hand proved decisive in the extra period, where she orchestrated the offense with five critical points and two assists to hold off the Fever and cement an early-season statement win.
Game highlights;
The Washington Mystics get the overtime dub over the Fever 104-102 🚨
James Harden scored a playoff-best 30 points and Donovan Mitchell had 21, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers come back from a nine-point deficit late in regulation and beat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
That was a great comeback by the Cavs!
One more win to advance the Eastern Conference Finals, where the New York Knicks is waiting for them.
Watch the last 20-seconds of the 4th quarter the crazy ending of OT.
Game 6 will shift back to Cleveland this Friday, where the Cavs and closeout the series.
Caitlin Clark just silenced doubters in the Indiana Fever’s 87–78 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. Following a stellar 20-point season opener, Clark dismantled the Sparks’ defense with 24 points and 9 assists, showcasing the elite vision and scoring punch that defined her collegiate career.
Caitlin Clark handles look even better on #PhantomCam 😮💨
Fully recovered from the groin injury that sidelined her for much of 2025, Clark looked every bit the superstar Indiana envisioned. She was flanked by a scorching Kelsey Mitchell, who poured in 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, helping the Fever shoot 49% as a team. The game also featured the debut of Monique Billings, scoring 9 points with 8 rebounds, who was signed by the team in the off season alongside Sophie Cunningham, who added 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Despite Sparks multiple veteran presence, they could not keep up with the Fever’s fast paced tempo. Kelsey Plum lead the Sparks with 25 points and 4 assists, while Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink added 16 points and 11 points, respectively.
Indiana will face the Washington Mystics this Saturday to kick off a four-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Sparks will look to rebound at home with two upcoming games against the Toronto Tempo on May 15 and 17.
After being waived by the Valkyries, Kate Martin was pickup by Los Angeles Sparks to a player development contract.
In their announcement, “Kate is a gifted shooter, whose grittiness and winning history mesh well with Sparks basketball,” said Sparks General Manager Raegan Pebley. “She’s confident in her shot, plays tenacious defense and is an unselfish, high-energy teammate. We’re eager to watch Kate develop within our system.”
WNBA teams can now maintain two developmental players who train in-house and receive benefits without hitting the salary cap. These players act as a talent reserve, eligible for activation in up to 12 games to provide critical roster depth.
Raul Dominguez, reporting for Associated Press and published on NBA.COM;
Victor Wembanyama atoned for his first career ejection with another huge performance, finishing with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series.
The two wins by the Timberwolves prove that they can only win this series if they can stop Wemby from playing, which is what happened in Game 1 and Game 4.
Even without Wembanyama, Minnesota’s win felt more like a war than a walk in the park. It is a testament to how deep the Spurs are.
Game 5 will be back in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves will look to tie the series and the Spurs will look to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where OKC is waiting for them.
The Thunder defeated the Lakers, 115-110 tonight in Los Angeles. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a team-high 35 points along with 8 assists for the Thunder, while Ajay Mitchell tallied 28 points, 4 steals and 4 assists in the game. Austin Reaves recorded 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The Thunder win the series 4-0.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals after completing a dominant sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. In a high-octane, high-scoring affair where both teams cleared the 110-point mark, OKC maintained their perfect postseason record. The Thunder remain undefeated through two rounds of the NBA Playoffs, cementing their status as the team to beat in the West.
More history for OKC!
The Thunder become just the 11th team ever to start a Playoffs 8-0 🔥
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again proved why he is an MVP candidate, leading the way with a stellar 35 points and 8 assists. He was flanked by a breakout performance from Ajay Mitchell, who was instrumental in the clinching victory with 28 points.
While Chet Holmgren had a relatively quiet night by his standards, he came alive when it mattered most. Holmgren scored 8 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, providing the crucial scoring punch needed to hold off a late Lakers surge.
The Lakers didn’t go down without a fight, keeping the score close until the final minutes. However, a string of late-game turnovers and missed opportunities ultimately cost them the season.
The trio of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves carried the load, accounting for 76 of the Lakers’ 110 points. LeBron James, finished with a double-double, adding 12 rebounds to his scoring total. Austin Reaves contributed across the board with 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
With their season now over, Los Angeles enters a pivotal offseason. The front office faces a massive decision regarding the franchise’s direction—most notably whether to rebuild or continue building around the 39-year-old James.
The Thunder will now enjoy some much-needed rest while they await the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs series. With that matchup appearing likely to go the full seven games, OKC will have the advantage of fresh legs heading into the next round.
The Aces got their 2025 WNBA championship rings before Saturday afternoon’s season opener at T-Mobile Arena. But their bling day turned into a blowout for the Mercury.
The Mercury, who were swept by the Aces in the WNBA Finals last year, won 99-66, the largest margin of victory in a season opener for Phoenix. It was also the largest margin of defeat by a defending champion in its season opener in WNBA history.
The Phoenix Mercury defeat the Aces, 99-66, in their 2025 Finals rematch to open the regular season!
Despite the loss, Caitlin Clark just became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 1,000+ points, 250+ rebounds, and 250+ assists. She reached this milestone in just 54 games, shattering the previous record of 62 games.
Clark’s scoring and playmaking have transformed the league. This record proves she’s an all-around force and the new face of professional basketball.
The Indiana Fever dropped a heart-breaker in their season opener, falling 107–104 to the Dallas Wings in a game defined by relentless back-and-forth action. The contest was a statistical dead heat for much of the night, featuring 12 lead changes and 8 ties, with neither team able to carve out a double-digit advantage.
While the half-court battle remained even, Dallas found their edge in transition. The Wings dominated the fast-break points category, outscoring the Fever 25–12. This ability to push the pace allowed Dallas to capitalize on Indiana’s defensive rotations and keep the pressure on the Fever’s backcourt.
Kelsey Mitchell put on a masterclass for Indiana, leading all scorers with a blistering 30 points. She was supported by Aliyah Boston, who anchored the interior with 23 points. Caitlin Clark finished with a quiet but efficient stat line of 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, facilitating the offense through heavy defensive pressure.
For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale proved once again why she is one of the league’s premier finishers. Ogunbowale led Dallas with 22 points, including a clutch, go-ahead step-back three-pointer in the final seconds that effectively sealed the game. Paige Bueckers debuted with a strong 20-point performance, while former Fever guard Odyssey Sims haunted her old team with 20 points of her own.
The Fever had opportunities to force overtime in the closing seconds. Both Mitchell and Clark had looks from beyond the arc to tie the game, but their attempts failed to find the mark.
Indiana will look to bounce back as they travel to Los Angeles for a Wednesday night matchup. Meanwhile, the Wings remain at home to host the Atlanta Dream this Wednesday evening.
The Los Angeles Lakers led the Oklahoma City Thunder at halftime and had a five-point lead early in the third quarter.
It looked like the Lakers were playing well enough to make it anyone’s game in the fourth quarter. That didn’t happen because the Thunder did what they have done all season – control the third quarter.
The Thunder owned the league’s best third-quarter net rating during the regular season, outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per 100 possessions.
By the time the third quarter ended, the Thunder were up 13 points – and on their way to a 125-107 victory over the Lakers in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series Thursday.
Game 3 and 4 will be Los Angeles, which will give the Lakers, especially the bench, some confidence to face the defending champs.
The Golden State Valkyries waived Kate Martin on May 7, 2026, as the expansion franchise finalized its inaugural 12-player roster. Martin’s professional journey began on 2024 Draft Day, where she was selected 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces while attending the event as a spectator to support teammate Caitlin Clark.
During her 2024 rookie season with the Aces, Martin became a fan favorite, appearing in 34 games and contributing to the team’s deep playoff run. She joined Golden State via the 2025 Expansion Draft, where she averaged 6.2 points per game before a quad injury hampered her 2026 preseason.
The Connecticut Sun have officially announced the acquisition of 5’9” guard Hailey Van Lith, adding one of the most decorated collegiate players in history and a recent Olympic medalist to their 2026 roster.
Van Lith joins the Sun following a stint with the Chicago Sky, where she was selected as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, then was waived by the Sky before the start of the 2026 WNBA Season.
After appearing in 29 games during her rookie campaign with Chicago, Van Lith showed significant flashes of elite efficiency during the most recent preseason. In two outings with the Sky, she averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists, shooting a blistering 71.4% from the field.
Beyond the WNBA, Van Lith has already proven herself on the world stage. She represented the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she earned a bronze medal as a key member of the USA 3×3 Women’s National Team.
Indiana Fever has officially announced the 2026 Roster
#0 Kelsey Mitchell: Guard
#2 Myisha Hines-Allen: Forward
#3 Raven Johnson: Guard
#7 Aliyah Boston: Center-Forward
#8 Sophie Cunningham: Guard
#10 Lexie Hull: Guard
#12 Damiris Dantas: Center-Forward
#13 Justine Pissott: Guard-Forward
#21 Makayla Timpson: Forward-Center
#22 Caitlin Clark: Guard
#25 Monique Billings: Forward
#32 Shatori Walker-Kimbrough: Guard
#52 Tyasha Harris: Guard
Stephanie White will be the Fever’s head coach, while Briann January, Karima Christmas-Kelly, and Austin Kelly will be the assistant coaches, along with trainers Alexis Gholston and Todd Champlin.
In related news, Indiana also announced that the team have waived Megan McConnell, Jessica Timmons and Kayana Traylor.