Victor Wembanyama recorded a dominant double-double as the San Antonio Spurs thrashed the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday to level their Western Conference semifinal.
The 38-point demolition marks the heaviest postseason defeat in the Minnesota franchise’s history.
San Antonio responded emphatically to their series-opening loss, racing to a commanding 29-point advantage by half-time.
Wembanyama and Fox set the tone
The French phenom amassed 19 points and 15 rebounds, attacking the offensive glass aggressively from the opening tip-off.
He was superbly supported by De’Aaron Fox, with the dynamic guard contributing 16 points to the blowout victory.
The All-Star duo scored the team’s first 11 points, combining to shoot an efficient 12-of-25 from the field after struggling offensively in Game 1.
Stephon Castle top-scored for the home side with 21 points, while rookies Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper also provided highlight-reel dunks during a blistering second-quarter run.
Timberwolves struggle amid Edwards injury
Minnesota endured a dismal opening period, managing a mere 35 points before the break while shooting just 29.8% from the floor.
Talisman Anthony Edwards was restricted to 12 points off the bench as he continues his recovery from a hyperextended left knee.
Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, and Terrence Shannon Jr also finished with 12 points apiece during a forgettable night for the visitors.
The magnitude of the defeat surpassed Minnesota’s previous playoff low, a 30-point drubbing against the Los Angeles Lakers in April 2003.
Spurs showcase historic offensive firepower
San Antonio’s fluid offense yielded 50% shooting from the field and an impressive 41% success rate from beyond the three-point arc.
The 133-point haul represents their highest-scoring playoff performance since a 145-105 series-clinching win over the Denver Nuggets in May 1983.
The Texas franchise have now avoided consecutive defeats since a mid-January road trip, showcasing remarkable consistency.
The Western Conference semifinal now shifts to Minneapolis, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday evening.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 in their Eastern Conference semi-final on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead.
Playing without their injured superstar Joel Embiid, the visiting side put up a significantly stronger fight than during their heavy 137-98 defeat in the series opener.
The closely fought contest featured 25 lead changes and 14 ties, with neither franchise managing to build an advantage larger than seven points.
Brunson delivers in clutch moments
However, the tense environment proved ideal for New York’s talismanic point guard.
The former Villanova standout hit a crucial tie-breaking basket with just over five minutes remaining to shift momentum in his team’s favour.
He subsequently added another vital jumper to establish a 103-99 advantage before Mikal Bridges extended the margin to six points.
Supporting cast steps up
OG Anunoby provided excellent scoring support by contributing 24 points to the vital home victory.
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the paint, securing a comprehensive double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
This commanding performance follows a historic run for the Eastern Conference contenders, who recently became the first team to win three consecutive post-season games by 25 points or more.
Sixers face uphill battle
Tyrese Maxey led the resistance for the visitors with 26 points, but his impressive efforts were ultimately not enough to prevent a second successive defeat.
The Pennsylvania franchise now faces another steep mountain to climb, mirroring the adversity they experienced when falling 3-1 behind against the Boston Celtics in the opening round.
The series will now transition to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.
All eyes will be on whether Embiid can return from injury to rejuvenate his struggling squad in front of what promises to be a fiercely partisan home crowd.
Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam wants Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term future resolved before next month’s NBA draft to clarify the franchise’s rebuilding strategy.
Haslam made the comments on Wednesday alongside general manager Jon Horst during a press conference introducing Taylor Jenkins as the team’s new head coach.
The Greek forward has spent his entire 13-year career with the franchise but could depart following a heavily disrupted, injury-hit season.
Asset planning before the draft
The two-time MVP has consistently stated his desire to remain in Wisconsin provided the team remains capable of challenging for NBA championships.
However, Milwaukee finished this campaign with a dismal 32-50 record, ending a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time. If Giannis does play somewhere else, we’ve got to have a lot of assets.”
Jimmy Haslam, Bucks co-owner
The organisation can offer their star player a lucrative four-year, $275m (£216m) contract extension in October.
Should he decline the offer, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP could become an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.
Jenkins takes charge of rebuild
Haslam stressed that the ownership group, alongside management and the new coaching staff, will ultimately decide the roster’s direction over the next two months.
The Bucks hold a lottery pick in this year’s draft, creating an immediate deadline to either build around their franchise cornerstone or pivot towards a full rebuild.
“Sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he’s going to play somewhere else.”
Jimmy Haslam
New head coach Jenkins arrives having previously led the Memphis Grizzlies to three consecutive playoff berths between 2021 and 2023.
He previously worked with Antetokounmpo as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff during the 2018-19 season.
“Obviously, even only being here for one season, he and I established a really good relationship and maintained that respect, even from a distance.”
Taylor Jenkins, Bucks head coach
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic remains uncertain about his return from a severe hamstring strain that has sidelined him from the NBA playoffs since early April.
The MVP candidate suffered a Grade 2 tear against the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2 April and has not featured for his team since.
Speaking from the team hotel on Wednesday, the prominent guard admitted his immense frustration at missing the crucial postseason period.
“I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is,” Doncic told reporters.
“All I want to do is play basketball, especially this time. It’s the best time to play basketball.”
Extended recovery timeline
Initial medical assessments suggested the Lakers talisman would require an eight-week recovery period.
Thursday’s Game 2 of the second-round playoff series marks exactly five weeks since the initial incident occurred.
When questioned about a potential return for Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles, the sidelined star remained noncommittal.
“I’m just doing everything I can,” he explained.
“Just going day by day, and I feel better every day.”
Specialist treatment in Spain
In an effort to accelerate his rehabilitation, the franchise cornerstone travelled to Europe for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
He received four separate injections in Spain, with each treatment spaced four days apart with the approval of team doctors.
The current physical issue is an aggravation of a previous strain to the same muscle that forced him to miss four games earlier in the campaign.
Having previously rushed back from setbacks with poor results, the 25-year-old is proceeding with extreme caution and has yet to resume contact drills.
Lakers continuing playoff push
Despite missing their top performer, Los Angeles successfully eliminated the Houston Rockets in six games during the opening round.
They are now challenging the defending champion Thunder without their primary offensive weapon.
“It’s very frustrating seeing what my team is doing,” Doncic added.
“I’m very proud of them. It’s been very tough to just sit and watch them play.”
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out of Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semi-final against the New York Knicks on Wednesday due to ankle and hip injuries.
The franchise officially downgraded the former league MVP from probable to out on the latest NBA injury report.
He missed the team’s morning shootaround after experiencing increased soreness across both affected areas.
Medical staff had been providing the seven-time All-Star with around-the-clock treatment in a desperate bid to get him cleared for the crucial fixture.
Searching for a response
The seventh-seeded Sixers are desperate to bounce back at Madison Square Garden following a heavy defeat to the Knicks in the series opener.
Losing their talismanic centre presents a massive hurdle for Philadelphia against the Eastern Conference’s second seed.
The veteran big man recently returned from an appendectomy to orchestrate a stunning first-round upset over the Boston Celtics.
Historic comeback form
Despite missing the opening three games of that previous series, the imposing forward averaged 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists upon his return.
He punctuated that remarkable run with a 34-point, 12-rebound performance on Saturday to help eliminate Boston.
That defining victory allowed Philadelphia to complete only the 14th successful comeback from a 3-1 deficit in NBA playoff history.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder remain the overwhelming favourites to retain the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the NBA conference semifinals get under way following a turbulent opening round.
Eight teams remain in the hunt for the 2026 championship after a dramatic first round featuring massive upsets, key injuries and three decisive game sevens.
Leading the pack are the reigning champions, who hold a commanding 48.8% probability of securing consecutive titles according to analytics.
Mark Daigneault’s squad swept the Phoenix Suns and already hold an early series advantage over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
Armed with formidable depth, home-court advantage and the likely two-time Most Valuable Player, the top seeds appear perfectly positioned to repeat their recent glory.
Thunder boast tactical versatility
The Oklahoma City roster boasts remarkable tactical flexibility for the gruelling postseason run.
The presence of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein allows them to dominate inside with significant size.
Conversely, they can deploy a menacing fleet of guards to wreak havoc in transition and suffocate opposition offences.
Their head coach has also proven consistently fearless when experimenting with lineups throughout high-pressure playoff series.
Spurs present the biggest threat
The most significant obstacle to a repeat championship could reside just down Interstate 35.
The San Antonio Spurs claimed four victories from five meetings against the Thunder during the regular season.
Propelled by 7ft 4in sensation Victor Wembanyama, the young franchise dispatched the Portland Trail Blazers in five games during the opening round.
The French phenomenon recovered from a mid-series concussion to average an astonishing four blocks per game.
Minnesota disrupts the bracket
However, the potential of a heavyweight Western Conference finals clash took a minor hit on Monday night.
A short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the basketball world by stealing Game 1 from San Antonio.
Relying on a suffocating defence that previously stifled the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves restricted their opponents to just 28% shooting from beyond the arc.
Despite this early setback and an emerging reliance on Stephon Castle’s perimeter shooting, expectations remain incredibly high for the developing Texas roster.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons secured home victories to take 1-0 leads in their respective NBA Conference semi-final series on Tuesday.
Thunder overpower Lakers in West
The defending champions, entering as the Western Conference’s top seed, produced a dominant 108-90 win to open the best-of-seven match-up.
A suffocating defensive effort by the hosts restricted Los Angeles to their lowest points tally in a post-season game since 2021.
Chet Holmgren spearheaded the home side’s balanced attack, recording a formidable double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and team-mate Ajay Mitchell provided crucial support by contributing 18 points apiece.
James shines but Lakers falter
Despite the heavy defeat, veteran forward LeBron James delivered a valiant individual performance to finish with a game-high 27 points.
The visitors were heavily punished for their sloppy play against the reigning title holders.
“You’re playing the world champs, your margin for error in terms of mistakes is not that high,” said Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
“[There were] just too many tonight. We’ve got to clean that up.”
Los Angeles were also missing injured guard Luka Doncic, who remains sidelined with a hamstring issue and is doubtful for game two on Thursday.
Pistons hold off Cavaliers rally
In the Eastern Conference, top-seeded Detroit drew first blood by securing a hard-fought 111-101 victory over Cleveland.
The home side established an early advantage and successfully navigated a late surge from the visitors to close out the contest.
Playmaker Cade Cunningham guided the Michigan franchise with 23 points, while veteran forward Tobias Harris chipped in with 20 of his own.
Donovan Mitchell matched Cunningham’s tally to lead the scoring for the Cavaliers.
Backcourt partner James Harden added 22 points for Cleveland, but a costly seven turnovers blighted his overall impact on the game.
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points as the top-seeded Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal on Tuesday.
The victory in Michigan ended a historic 12-game postseason losing streak against the Ohio franchise that stretched back to 2007.
Tobias Harris contributed 20 points and Duncan Robinson added 19 to help secure the opening matchup of the second-round series.
Cavaliers fight back but fall short
Cleveland trailed by as many as 18 points before rallying to tie the game at 93-all with just over five minutes remaining.
James Harden, making his first appearance against Detroit since being acquired by the Cavaliers, sparked the late comeback with seven consecutive points.
However, Jalen Duren quickly restored order for the hosts by blocking a crucial Harden attempt before converting three successive dunks off Cunningham assists.
Donovan Mitchell led the visitors with 23 points, though the dynamic guard saw his NBA-record streak of scoring at least 30 points in nine consecutive series openers finally snapped.
Remarkable turnaround continues
Detroit’s impressive playoff run marks a staggering transformation for a franchise that suffered an NBA-record 28 consecutive regular-season defeats just two years ago.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has masterminded a 60-win campaign and secured the Central Division title, notably achieving this success immediately after being dismissed by Cleveland.
Both sides entered the contest heavily fatigued after surviving gruelling seven-game battles in the opening round of the postseason.
The number one seeds will look to double their series advantage when they host Game 2 on Thursday evening.