The New York Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers with a record-breaking 144-114 Game 4 victory.
Deuce McBride scored 25 points, hitting seven of his team’s 25 three-pointers, as the visitors dominated Sunday’s contest.
Jalen Brunson added 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart both contributed 17 in another lopsided triumph.
Historic three-point barrage
The Eastern Conference hopefuls set an NBA postseason record by connecting on 11 three-pointers in a blistering first quarter.
McBride became the first player in franchise playoff history to hit four triples in the opening period.
That early dominance propelled the team to 144 points, marking their highest-ever scoring tally in a playoff fixture.
It also secured their first best-of-seven series sweep since defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the 1999 conference semi-finals.
Brown’s remarkable impact
Mike Brown’s squad have now outscored opponents by 194 points across 10 postseason games.
This unprecedented margin represents the best point-differential in any 10-game span in NBA playoff history.
The sweeping victory also extends the franchise’s longest-ever postseason winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
They will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Detroit Pistons for a place in the NBA Finals.
Sixers’ misery continues
Philadelphia had arrived full of momentum following a gutsy first-round comeback against the Boston Celtics.
However, despite 24 points from Joel Embiid and 17 from Tyrese Maxey, the hosts were entirely outclassed.
The defeat means the 76ers’ painful wait for a conference finals appearance extends, having failed to progress past the second round since 2001.
The Washington Wizards have secured the number one overall pick in next month’s selection process after winning the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
Going into the event, the Capital City franchise held a 14% probability of claiming the highly coveted top selection.
Joining them at the summit of the draft board are the Utah Jazz, who will make the second overall selection.
The Memphis Grizzlies have secured the third position, while the Chicago Bulls will round out the top four.
Clippers benefit from Pacers trade
Just outside the elite bracket, the Los Angeles Clippers will pick fifth after acquiring the selection from the Indiana Pacers.
This valuable draft asset originally changed hands as part of the agreement involving Croatian center Ivica Zubac earlier this year.
Because the Indianapolis-based outfit failed to jump into the top four during the lottery, the protection clauses on their traded selection were not triggered.
Crucial rebuilding phase begins
Securing the top selection provides a vital foundational block for the struggling Washington organisation as they look to revitalise their roster.
Next month’s draft will now see the league’s rebuilding franchises finalise their evaluations of the world’s top amateur prospects.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been ruled out of Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday due to a strained right hamstring.
The defensive specialist remains day-to-day in the second-round playoff series after suffering the injury late in Game 2.
New York currently holds a commanding 3-0 lead over their Eastern Conference rivals in the best-of-seven matchup.
Postseason impact and injury history
Before exiting Wednesday’s 108-102 victory, the 6-foot-7 forward had been enjoying an outstanding playoff campaign.
He is currently averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason, shooting an impressive 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range.
The highly-rated defender had registered 24 points in Game 2 before abruptly motioning to the bench and heading to the locker room.
This latest setback mirrors an unfortunate history of hamstring issues during the pivotal stages of the playoffs.
Two years ago, he suffered a similar injury in the second round while helping his team build a 2-0 series lead against the Indiana Pacers.
On that occasion, he missed four consecutive games and managed only a few minutes in Game 7 as Indiana eventually rallied to win the series.
The Oklahoma City Thunder moved to the brink of the Western Conference finals with a dominant 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Ajay Mitchell starred with career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists to give the defending champions a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The result means the visitors improve to an unblemished 7-0 record in this year’s postseason.
They are now the sixth defending NBA champions to start the following playoffs with seven consecutive victories.
Mitchell shines as champions pull away
The Lakers fought desperately to keep pace with the title holders during a closely contested first half.
However, the Western Conference leaders demonstrated their merciless efficiency by outscoring their opponents 33-20 in a decisive third quarter.
Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds as the visiting side comfortably closed out the game down the stretch.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists despite facing relentless defensive pressure.
Struggling Lakers face elimination
LeBron James managed 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the beleaguered hosts.
Austin Reaves chipped in with 17 points, but both stars struggled with their shooting efficiency throughout the night.
Rui Hachimura’s 21-point effort and 18 points from Luke Kennard were not enough to prevent a fifth defeat in six games for the Los Angeles franchise.
The home team continue to sorely miss NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic, who sat out his 14th consecutive game with a hamstring strain.
Jalen Williams was also absent for the victorious visitors, missing his fifth straight match with a similar hamstring issue.
The series remains in California for Game 4 on Monday night.
The Phoenix Mercury avenged their WNBA Finals defeat by thrashing the Las Vegas Aces 99-66 on Saturday, spoiling the defending champions’ ring ceremony at T-Mobile Arena.
The 33-point victory represents the largest opening-day winning margin in the Arizona franchise’s history, dating back to their inception in 1997.
It also marks the heaviest season-opening defeat ever suffered by a defending WNBA champion.
A bittersweet afternoon for the champions
The hosts were presented with their 2025 WNBA championship rings before tip-off, celebrating the sweep they inflicted on Phoenix last season.
However, the celebratory mood quickly faded as the visitors dominated proceedings on the court.
“I hate ceremonies like this. Obviously, you want to enjoy it, but there’s a whole business side of the issue to take care of.” – A’ja Wilson
Aces star A’ja Wilson, who led her team with 19 points, admitted it was difficult to separate the emotions on the day.
The four-time Most Valuable Player acknowledged that their opponents carried extra motivation following a painful offseason of reflection.
Nogic shines on historic debut
While returning stars Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack anchored the visitors with 20 points and 15 rebounds respectively, a highly anticipated debutant stole the spotlight.
Serbian guard Jovana Nogic, playing her first WNBA game at the age of 28, poured in 19 points for the Mercury.
Her arrival highlights the impact of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, which offers higher salaries to attract elite international talent.
“This is a player who hasn’t come over because maybe it wasn’t worth it, money-wise. The bump in salary, hopefully, is a reason for some of these European players to start coming over.” – Nate Tibbetts
Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts praised the international rookie’s immediate impact on the court.
Nogic expressed her gratitude for her team-mates, stating they helped alleviate the pressure of her American debut.
Looking ahead
Thomas, who narrowly missed out on a triple-double by adding nine assists to her 20-point tally, emphasised the importance of starting the new campaign strongly.
“You don’t forget what happened last season. But at the same time, it’s the beginning of a new season. For us, it was about setting the tone.” – Alyssa Thomas
For the defending champions, attention now turns to finding their rhythm before they raise their third championship banner at Michelob Ultra Arena on 23 May.
Steve Kerr has agreed a new two-year contract to remain as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, extending his tenure into a 13th season.
The agreement ensures the 58-year-old will remain the highest-paid coach in the NBA, having earned $17.5m (£13.7m) during the previous campaign.
Representatives from Priority Sports confirmed the extension on Saturday following three weeks of intensive deliberation.
The deal concludes multiple recent meetings between the head coach and Golden State’s management duo of owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy.
Navigating a turbulent campaign
This crucial contract extension secures established leadership for the closing stages of the Stephen Curry era in San Francisco.
However, an agreement was not a foregone conclusion following a highly challenging domestic campaign.
An injury-ravaged Golden State roster limped to a 37-45 record, finishing as the 10th seed in the competitive Western Conference.
Their turbulent season concluded with a disappointing play-in tournament elimination at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.
‘Time for new blood’ averted
The long-serving tactician had previously hinted at a potential departure in October by opting to let the final year of his previous contract play out.
“I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
Steve Kerr following the Warriors’ play-in elimination
Despite the franchise hierarchy conducting preliminary research into potential successors, key figures across the organisation never truly desired a managerial change.
Curry provides crucial backing
Curry, who blossomed into a global superstar under the current regime, made his feelings emphatically clear following their early post-season exit.
“I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe he’s the right guy for the job. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn’t even need to be said.”
Stephen Curry on his head coach
The coaching stalwart was originally hired in May 2014 in what was initially viewed as a controversial decision to replace his popular predecessor Mark Jackson.
That bold structural change altered the team’s offensive philosophy and immediately sparked a historic dynasty that has defined modern basketball.
Caitlin Clark scored 20 points on her highly anticipated return to WNBA action on Saturday as the Indiana Fever suffered a narrow 107-104 defeat by the Dallas Wings.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year was making her first regular-season appearance since July after an injury-hit campaign last season limited her to just 13 games.
Despite battling noticeable rust and struggling from beyond the arc with a two-for-nine shooting ratio, the first overall draft pick also registered seven assists and five rebounds.
“Started off a little slow, I think just the anxiety of the first game, trying to work through that,” Clark said.
Lingering back issue requires in-game adjustments
The record-breaking guard caused some concern for the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd when she left the bench area twice during the contest to receive medical attention.
She later clarified that she needed her back manually adjusted, reassuring fans that the quick visits to the locker room were purely preventative.
“It gets out of line pretty quickly, so just getting my back put back in place a little bit, but other than that I feel great,” she explained.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White dismissed any long-term fears regarding her star player’s fitness, attributing the mid-game maintenance to standard professional physical care.
Fever stars shine despite opening weekend defeat
The mid-western franchise ultimately fell short in their opening fixture, despite dominant individual performances from their established veteran core.
Three-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell delivered a spectacular scoring masterclass, finishing with a game-high 30 points on the night.
Fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston proved equally formidable in the paint, contributing a highly efficient 23 points to keep the hosts within striking distance.
Mitchell had a golden opportunity to force overtime as the final buzzer sounded, but her dramatic 32-foot attempt fell agonisingly short of the rim.
The Cleveland Cavaliers reduced their Eastern Conference semifinal deficit to 2-1 with a crucial 116-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
James Harden rebounded from a string of error-strewn performances by delivering three pivotal shots in the final two minutes to secure the home win.
Donovan Mitchell orchestrated the offence with a game-high 35 points, continuing his prolific scoring form in the postseason.
Mitchell achieves historic postseason scoring milestone
The dynamic shooting guard surpassed 2,000 career playoff points during his 73rd postseason appearance.
This achievement ties him for the third-fastest pace among active players to reach the landmark, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite scorers.
Frontcourt presence Jarrett Allen provided vital support with 18 points as the hosts maintained their unbeaten streak across five home playoff fixtures.
Detroit threatened to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when Duncan Robinson levelled the score at 104-104 with a crucial late three-pointer.
Harden silences critics in tense finale
However, Max Strus immediately intercepted a midcourt pass from Cade Cunningham to restore the advantage via a breakaway layup.
The 17-year veteran playmaker then took control, executing a signature step-back jumper to extend the margin and calm the home crowd.
Cunningham, who registered his second career postseason triple-double with 27 points, briefly kept the visitors alive with a perimeter shot of his own.
Despite his impressive overall statistics, the young point guard’s eight turnovers proved incredibly costly for the Michigan franchise.
A decisive step-back three-pointer from the former MVP over Tobias Harris with 25 seconds remaining ultimately sealed the contest.