NO. 1 THUNDER VS. NO. 4 NUGGETS The two teams split the season series, strong co-parenting. OKLAHOMA CITY C: Isaiah Hartenstein – big and burly and smart and left-handed so he jumps directly into Nikola Jokic's shooting motion, right into the right hand. None of this will matter one
NO. 2 CELTICS VS. NO. 3 KNICKS These guys know each other? BOSTON C: Kristaps Porziņģis – bad offensively against Orlando but I can't be bothered, crushes the other team by being out there, standing tall. Played very well in two appearances against the Knicks (24 per on 50/
HOUSTON 3, GOLDEN STATE 3 If everyone stays healthy. If Fred VanVleet crushes in the clutch. If the young players listen to the coaching staff about defense. If the the team isn't rattled by the trade deadline. If all the young role players continue to roll offensively. If
GOLDEN STATE 3, HOUSTON 2 Amen Thompson , threatened with coming off the bench in an NBA game for the first time since 2024, was settled and secure throughout Game 6, remarkable composure for the 22-year old. The Rockets weren't set to be swayed by Thompson's mood
MINNESOTA 4, LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1 Turns out the Lakers were tired. Tired from getting their asses kicked all up and down the court by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Those victorious Wolves didn't flout a distinct advantage but the defense sustained, Minnesota featuring supreme interior disruption from Rudy Gobert.
CLEVELAND 4, MIAMI 0 Ty Jerome pushes the ball, knows he's good, DeAndre Hunter looks for quick shots, remembers he's good. Opponents think Jerome is after Ten-Day points, box score buckets, numbers for his next contract, but not here. Assists, Hockey Assists, overall good cheer, then
MINNESOTA 3, LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1 We knew Minneapolis was going to see some stuff over the weekend. Knew it because of who was courtside: Ice-T sitting next to Adina Howard, forty percent of anyone's all-time dinner party. The trick for Minnesota was to find someone to supplant
NEW YORK 3, DETROIT 1 Unfortunate that any referee's call or non-call mars a terrific series, so I won't let it. I'm the guy that fast-forwards through replays and reviews, I don't care about the outcome nor how the outcome got there,
NEW YORK 2, DETROIT 1 Amid the fights and flareups developed a separation: New York is better at this. The Pistons might still win this series, Detroit has enough, including another game in Michigan if the Pistons can pull out Game 4. But the Knicks feature some ballers, scorers growing
INDIANA 2, MILWAUKEE 0 The largest test of the Pacers' reformed defense awaits. Milwaukee may not make changes in Game 3, Bobby Portis could stick to that bench, doesn't matter. Bobby will still get minutes, there are plenty of looks to go around and the Bucks will
NO. 1 OKLAHOMA CITY VS. NO. 8 MEMPHIS C: Isaiah Hartenstein – 11 and 11 and four assists and floater form from the dunker's spot which will be emulated throughout NCAA hoops next season, you watch. So I don't have to. PF: Chet Holmgren – 15 and eight
NO. 2 BOSTON VS. NO. 7 ORLANDO C: Kristaps Porziņģis – consistent dollops of KP will allow the Celtics so much, more free throws, increased deflections, a good pair of hands to finish off a busted play. Enough to overcome Cleveland after two rounds of hoop? Remains to be banged, but