Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has claimed his side are outperforming the New York Knicks in expected wins, despite facing a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Ohio franchise are on the brink of elimination after suffering three consecutive double-digit defeats.
However, the Cavaliers boss believes the underlying data tells a completely different story about the best-of-seven series.
Underlying data reveals shooting disparities
Atkinson revealed that predictive models suggest Cleveland should currently hold a 2-1 advantage over their conference rivals.
“I think analytically, I think we’ve won… we’re two out of three in the expected wins,” Atkinson told reporters.
He explained that New York are vastly overperforming their expected shooting percentages, while his own squad are enduring an uncharacteristic slump.
The numbers heavily support the coach’s assessment regarding overall shot quality and execution.
Struggles from beyond the arc
Cleveland have struggled immensely from three-point range, converting just 32% of their uncontested opportunities throughout the postseason matchup.
In contrast, the Knicks have punished those exact same defensive lapses by making 42% of their open attempts from deep.
Saturday’s 121-108 defeat highlighted this sharp contrast, with the Cavaliers missing 10 of their 17 wide-open perimeter shots.
“Last night, our expected score was like one point or two… us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over. I know no one wants to hear that.”
Knicks chase historic NBA Finals return
No team in NBA history has ever successfully overturned a 3-0 series deficit to advance in the playoffs.
The surging Knicks are currently riding a formidable 10-game winning streak across all postseason fixtures.
A victory in Game 4 on Monday would secure New York’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
Despite the overwhelming historical odds, Atkinson maintains absolute belief in his roster’s overall process and their commanding early lead in Game 1.
The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring a trade for Dallas Mavericks centre Daniel Gafford as they look to build a championship roster around star guard Luka Doncic.
The Californian franchise are reportedly willing to part with Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and their 2026 first-round draft pick to secure the 25-year-old.
Los Angeles executives are eager to find a proven pick-and-roll partner to complement their Slovenian playmaker.
Reuniting a successful partnership
Gafford previously thrived alongside Doncic during their run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Adding the rim-protecting big man would address a glaring weakness in the Lakers’ frontcourt.
NBA front office insider Bobby Marks believes the move makes perfect financial sense for Los Angeles.
The Lakers do not lose any cap flexibility, as the outgoing salaries are almost identical to Gafford’s $17.2m salary for next season.
A new era in Dallas
Dallas have recently overhauled their front office and parted company with head coach Jason Kidd.
The Texan franchise are now pivoting towards a youth movement centred around highly-touted prospect Cooper Flagg.
Moving their starting centre would clear future cap space and add crucial draft capital to their rebuilding project.
However, any departure depends heavily on the health of sophomore big man Dereck Lively II.
Lively managed just seven appearances this season before undergoing right foot surgery in December.
Financial pressures mount elsewhere
Trade speculation is also intensifying around the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the summer window.
The 2025 NBA champions face severe financial constraints that could force the departure of core players.
Rising star Jalen Williams has been linked with a complex multi-team move involving the Brooklyn Nets and Michael Porter Jr.
Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 103-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, levelling the Western Conference finals at 2-2.
The 7-foot-4 French centre also recorded eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a dominant performance.
San Antonio’s stifling defence restricted the visitors to their second-lowest points total of the postseason.
Shooting struggles hamper Oklahoma City
The Thunder endured a miserable shooting night, converting just 33% of their overall field-goal attempts.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored for the visitors with 19 points, but his team-mates struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Oklahoma City were particularly poor from beyond the arc, making just six of their 33 three-point attempts.
Spurs bounce back from heavy defeat
The Texas franchise produced an immediate response to their disappointing 123-108 loss in Friday’s game three.
De’Aaron Fox secured a double-double for the hosts with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell each contributed 13 points.
The San Antonio bench also delivered a much-improved display, adding 30 points after managing just 23 in their previous outing.
Fast start sets the tone
San Antonio established their dominance early, orchestrating a 16-0 scoring run in the opening quarter.
A spectacular alley-oop dunk from the French international, set up by Vassell following a block on Jared McCain, ignited the home crowd and built an early 15-point advantage.
The crucial game five will take place in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, before the series returns to Texas on Thursday.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic have been unanimously selected to the All-NBA First Team, joined closely by San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons playmaker Cade Cunningham complete the prestigious five-man line-up.
The announcement arrives as the Spurs and Thunder battle in the Western Conference finals, with Oklahoma City currently holding a 2-1 series lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander, recently crowned the league’s most valuable player for a second consecutive year, secures his fourth straight first-team appearance.
Wembanyama makes history for San Antonio
Wembanyama narrowly missed out on becoming a unanimous selection by a single voting point.
The French sensation is the first San Antonio player to feature on the primary squad since Kawhi Leonard achieved the feat during the 2016-17 campaign.
Jokic earns his sixth first-team nod, extending his record for the most All-NBA honours in Denver franchise history.
Meanwhile, both Doncic and Cunningham required special league exceptions to qualify after falling one game short of the 65-game eligibility threshold.
The Lakers star previously secured the scoring title with a formidable average of 33.5 points per game.
Durant sets unique milestone in Second Team
The All-NBA Second Team features a wealth of elite talent, spearheaded by Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant.
The veteran scorer becomes the first player in history to receive All-NBA recognition with five different franchises.
He is joined by Boston Celtics winger Jaylen Brown, New York Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and LA Clippers stalwart Leonard.
Brunson’s Knicks currently command a dominant 3-0 lead over Mitchell’s Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
New faces dominate Third Team selections
The Third Team is entirely composed of first-time honourees, highlighting a shifting landscape across the association.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey make their debut appearances on the end-of-season roster.
They are accompanied by Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray and Pistons centre Jalen Duren.
The inclusion of Duren alongside Cunningham marks the first time a Detroit duo has featured in the same season since Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace in 2006.
Victor Wembanyama registered 41 points and 24 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs secured a thrilling 122-115 double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
The 7ft 4in French centre anchored his team’s defence to frustrate the visitors throughout a gruelling contest.
His sheer physical presence altered numerous shots, including a vital fourth-quarter attempt from Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Despite avoiding a direct block, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year forced a crucial miss through intimidation alone.
Measuring an unquantifiable impact
Analytics experts across the NBA admit they struggle to accurately measure the fear factor generated by the former first-overall draft pick.
While modern arenas use advanced tracking cameras to capture billions of data points, defensive metrics remain a comparative mystery.
A player can execute perfect defensive positioning only for an opponent to make an impossible shot, which continues to confuse machine-learning algorithms.
“How do you measure fear?”
This was the question posed by one Western Conference analytics staffer when evaluating the unique disruption caused by the Spurs star.
A dominant force in Texas
The historic stat line further cements the 22-year-old’s status as the premier two-way player in modern basketball.
His staggering 8ft wingspan routinely forces opposing guards to completely abandon their traditional attacking schemes around the rim.
Gilgeous-Alexander experienced this firsthand, laughing in disbelief after wrestling for a rebound with a man nearly a foot taller.
San Antonio will now look to build on this hard-fought momentum as they chase a coveted spot in the NBA Finals.
Golden State Warriors guard Jimmy Butler has made a surprise musical appearance at a California festival, jumping on stage to perform while continuing his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The 36-year-old took to the microphone at Bottlefest in Napa on Friday to demonstrate his vocal abilities to a delighted crowd.
Unexpected festival performance
During his impromptu set, the veteran basketball star delivered enthusiastic renditions of several popular tracks.
His performance included a highly-received cover of Vanessa Carlton’s hit song “A Thousand Miles”.
“But I’m in my bag right now. I’ve been wanting to sing this since high school and nobody ever wants to sing.”
The charismatic forward then immediately transitioned into Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul”.
A lighthearted message for Kerr
The energetic display also featured Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, which prompted a specific request to the audience regarding his head coach.
“Don’t show this to Steve [Kerr]; I got a torn ACL.”
Despite his own cautionary warning, the experienced playmaker appeared to be moving freely as he hopped around the stage.
His dynamic movements suggest his intensive rehabilitation programme is progressing positively.
Crucial recovery for Golden State
He sustained his torn anterior cruciate ligament during a January victory over the Miami Heat.
Following that severe physical setback, the recovering athlete underwent successful reconstructive surgery in February.
Before his campaign was abruptly curtailed, he was averaging impressive figures of 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists during the 2025-26 NBA season.
As he concluded his memorable cameo, the festival DJ humorously suggested a main-stage headline slot for him next year.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has praised Donovan Mitchell’s vital leadership as the franchise attempts to overturn a 2-0 deficit against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The six-time All-Star produced a sensational 26-point performance to eliminate the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the semi-finals.
That decisive victory followed a highly turbulent 2025-26 campaign for the Ohio outfit.
Atkinson highlighted his star guard’s unwavering positivity after the side struggled to stay above a .500 win percentage in December.
Guiding a turbulent campaign
The former Utah Jazz standout responded to a dismal 18-point showing in Game 6 by adding eight assists in the series-clinching triumph over Detroit.
In the visitors’ locker room at Little Caesars Arena, Atkinson singled out the 28-year-old for guiding the squad through a demanding season that included a franchise-altering trade.
“We turn to you,” Atkinson told his most consistent performer.
“Not just your on court, but your leadership. Your positivity when things were really not going great.”
Overcoming past playoff heartbreak
This marks the dynamic playmaker’s ninth consecutive postseason appearance, yet his first three years in Cleveland all ended in bitter disappointment.
The Eastern Conference franchise suffered an embarrassing first-round exit to the Knicks in 2023.
They subsequently endured back-to-back semi-final eliminations, including a painful loss last season despite holding the number one seed.
However, the electric scorer has now successfully navigated his team to the conference finals for the very first time.
Facing a formidable New York deficit
Despite the landmark progression, the start of the current series has perfectly mirrored the squad’s rocky regular season.
Cleveland suffered a historic collapse in Game 1 by blowing a 22-point advantage, before falling to a heavy 16-point defeat in the second matchup.
As the series shifts to Cleveland on Saturday, the team must once again lean heavily on their talisman to protect home court.
“I’m not sitting here scrambling and trying to figure things out,” Mitchell stated following the latest defeat.
“At the end of the day, we make some shots, we’ll be in good shape. We’ll make our adjustments.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has admitted that returning from multiple injuries is a “real mental challenge” after making her comeback in Friday’s 90-82 victory over the Golden State Valkyries.
The 23-year-old missed Wednesday’s win against the Portland Fire due to back soreness but returned to play 32 minutes on Friday.
A series of soft tissue issues had previously restricted the record-breaking playmaker to just 13 appearances during a heavily disrupted 2025 campaign.
Confidence and physical struggles
Speaking before the clash with Golden State, the former number one draft pick revealed that her fluctuating physical confidence dictated her recent absence.
“Coming back from injury and having however many soft tissue injuries in 2025 is a real mental challenge,” Clark told reporters.
“These are the best players in the world, and if I don’t feel 100% confident in my body on game five of the year, I don’t know if that’s really worth it in that scenario.”
Despite those doubts, the Fever star showed no signs of rust upon her return, registering 22 points and nine assists without any minute restrictions.
Frustration over injury reporting
Her sudden omission from Wednesday’s lineup drew scrutiny, prompting the WNBA to issue Indiana with a formal warning for a late injury report.
The league intervened after the point guard was only added to the unavailable list 100 minutes before tip-off against Portland.
Head coach Stephanie White expressed clear frustration at the league’s intervention, insisting the franchise handled the situation correctly.
The player herself also pushed back against online narratives surrounding her late withdrawal, sarcastically offering to share her breakfast menu with critics.
Finding grace amid the trauma
Looking ahead, the prolific scorer feels she is finally putting her body in the best possible position to navigate a grueling domestic season.
However, she admits the psychological hurdle of returning to elite sport remains significant after pushing her physical limits too far last year.
“I think there’s moments where maybe I get in my head a little bit, and that’s understandable. I need to have a little grace with myself, and I need people to give me a little bit of grace, too. When you go through so many things, it becomes a little bit traumatizing, too.”
Caitlin Clark