Basketball

Basketball

Sea Bears look to rebound on home court

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Yesterday at 5:40 PM CDT

The Winnipeg Sea Bears took one on the chin, and now they will try to dust themselves off and find the bounce-back trail for the first time this season.

After dropping a hard-fought 103-101 contest against the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Toronto on Tuesday, the Sea Bears (2-1) will return to the court on Friday to host the two-time reigning Canadian Elite Basketball League champion Niagara River Lions (0-1) at Canada Life Centre (7 p.m.).

The Sea Bears know they were a play or two away from boasting an unblemished record through three games. Instead, they left with a sour taste in their mouth after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter in Target Score time.

A short memory is imperative.

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Basketball

Josh Hart was frustrated by a postseason shooting slump. The Knicks knew his work would pay off

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Josh Hart was frustrated by a postseason shooting slump. The Knicks knew his work would pay off

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:12 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart is the closest thing to a comedian on a New York Knicks team that's been all business in these NBA playoffs.

There was nothing to laugh about Thursday night early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, when Hart missed three 3-pointers to continue a postseason shooting slump. His frustration was evident as he slammed the ball down a few times, and he wondered why what he was doing in practice wasn't showing up in the games.

“I’m just like, bro, it’s not translating right now,” Hart said, once he finished chewing a slice from the box of pizza he carried to his postgame news conference.

His teammates — particularly the ones who were also his teammates at Villanova — knew eventually it would.

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Updated: 12:12 PM CDT

Basketball

Cavaliers are in trouble in the East finals, especially if Donovan Mitchell is not fully healthy

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Cavaliers are in trouble in the East finals, especially if Donovan Mitchell is not fully healthy

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:37 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donovan Mitchell insists he is feeling good. Actually even better than that.

He had better be, or the Cleveland Cavaliers are in trouble.

Questions about Mitchell's health persisted after he and his teammates lost Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals to the New York Knicks on Thursday night. They're down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, and Mitchell twice this week has been asked if he's playing through any sort of injury.

“I’m great,” he said. “Great. Great.”

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Yesterday at 10:37 PM CDT

Basketball

Valkyries beat Liberty 87-70 as Gabby Williams scores 16

The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:54 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Gabby Williams scored 16 points to lead a balanced offense and help the Golden State Valkyries rout the New York Liberty 87-70 on Thursday night, spoiling the season debut of Satou Sabally.

New York (3-2) came into the game averaging a league-best 100 points in its first four contests, but struggled to score against Golden State (3-1). The Liberty also couldn’t stop the Valkyries on the other end. Golden State had five players in double figures.

Sabally was signed in the offseason by New York, a prized free agent acquisition. She finished with five points in nearly 16 1/2 minutes.

While New York did get Sabally back, they were missing starters Sabrina Ionescu (foot) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (personal). Ionescu injured her foot in a preseason win over Connecticut and has yet to play in the regular season. She’s progressing and could return soon. Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera also are still out as they finish up their overseas playing commitments in Spain.

Basketball

Knicks move 2 wins from the NBA Finals with a 109-93 victory over the Cavs

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Knicks move 2 wins from the NBA Finals with a 109-93 victory over the Cavs

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:12 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — 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.

Mikal Bridges also scored 19 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 13 rebounds to help the Knicks win their ninth straight game. That's the NBA's longest postseason winning streak since the Boston Celtics won 10 straight on their way to the 2024 championship.

Hart went 5 from 11 from 3-point range, burning a defensive strategy that seemed built around leaving him open from long range, and also had seven assists.

“Just a whale of a game from Josh,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:12 PM CDT

Basketball

West finals shift to San Antonio, while Spurs and Thunder deal with multiple injury concerns

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

West finals shift to San Antonio, while Spurs and Thunder deal with multiple injury concerns

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:21 PM CDT

Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seems to have shaken off his now-traditional Game 1 blahs. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is putting up numbers the likes of which haven't been seen in a conference finals for about a half-century.

The stars in these Western Conference finals, they're being stars.

It's the supporting casts that are of major concern — for both teams.

Game 3 of the West title series is on Friday night, things having shifted to San Antonio tied at a game apiece. The Spurs took Game 1 behind 41 points and 24 rebounds from Wembanyama, and the defending champion Thunder got 30 points from Gilgeous-Alexander on the way to getting a victory in Game 2.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:21 PM CDT

Basketball

Wembanyama disappointed after Spurs fall to Thunder, despite another brilliant stat line

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Wembanyama disappointed after Spurs fall to Thunder, despite another brilliant stat line

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Victor Wembanyama fouled Jalen Williams on a shot attempt in the opening minutes of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.

Except, no, he really didn't.

Yes, Wembanyama made contact with Williams. Yes, it looked like a foul. Yes, it was called that way — at first. Upon review, it was determined that Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein actually shoved Wembanyama into his teammate and caused the foul himself.

That's how physical the Thunder were with Wembanyama in Game 2. They grabbed, pushed, nudged, anything and everything they could muster against the 7-foot-4 French star who still finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

Jessica Shepard’s triple-double sparks the Wings past the Sky 99-89

The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

CHICAGO (AP) — Jessica Shepard had her second career triple-double and the first in the WNBA this season, Arike Ogunbowale scored 11 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Wings beat the Chicago Sky 99-89 on Wednesday night.

Shepard tied her season high with 18 points on 6-for-7 shooting, added a career-best 12 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Natasha Cloud hit two free throws that cut Chicago’s deficit to three points with 2:32 left, but Ogunbowale answered with a 3-pointer 11 seconds later, then hit another with 1:42 remaining that made it 93-84.

Paige Bueckers scored 24 points for the Wings (3-2). Rookie Azzi Fudd tied her career high with 12 points. The No. overall pick also scored 12 in a 92-69 win Monday against Washington.

Basketball

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Thunder top Spurs 122-113 in Game 2 of West finals

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30, Thunder top Spurs 122-113 in Game 2 of West finals

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The MVP looked like the MVP again, and the Western Conference finals are knotted up.

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.

“I thought we all played better,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I had a quiet confidence about that. I didn't know if we'd win or lose the game, but I was pretty sure after watching Game 1 and knowing our team that we were going to come out and play better tonight.”

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

OKC guard Jalen Williams’ hamstring issues return, he leaves Game 2 of Thunder-Spurs early

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

OKC guard Jalen Williams’ hamstring issues return, he leaves Game 2 of Thunder-Spurs early

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guard Jalen Williams, who missed six games earlier in these playoffs with a strained left hamstring, was ruled out for the second half of Game 2 of Oklahoma City's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.

The reason: Another hamstring problem, which the Thunder called tightness.

Williams appeared to be getting treatment on the hamstring during the first half, then left the bench area and did not play in the second quarter. Television footage showed him walking toward the locker room holding a large wrap on the back of his left leg.

Cason Wallace started the second half in Williams' place, and the Thunder announced that Williams wouldn't return not long afterward. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Williams would be evaluated on Thursday.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Spurs-Thunder Game 1 averages record 9.2M viewers, NBA Playoff ratings up 16% through 2 rounds

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Spurs-Thunder Game 1 averages record 9.2M viewers, NBA Playoff ratings up 16% through 2 rounds

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

The first year of the NBA's media rights deal continues to deliver large amounts of viewers.

San Antonio's 122-115 double overtime victory over Oklahoma City on Monday night was the most-watched Western Conference Game 1 final in league history, averaging 9.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, according to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics.

The audience peaked at 12 million for the second overtime and game's conclusion. It was also the most-viewed television program of the night with 6.9 million on NBC.

Monday night’s game was the second-most watched of this year's playoffs. Game 7 of the first-round series between Philadelphia and Boston on May 2 averaged 11 million on NBC/Peacock.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles named to NBA’s all-rookie second team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles named to NBA’s all-rookie second team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been named to the NBA's all-rookie second team.

Murray-Boyles is the 13th player in franchise history to receive all-rookie honours and first since Scottie Barnes in 2021-22.

The 20-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks and 21.9 minutes in 57 regular-season games (22 starts). 

Murray-Boyles scored in double figures in 25 regular-season games, grabbed 10-plus rebounds six times and had four double-doubles. 

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

Spurs’ Fox out of Game 2 against Thunder with ankle issue, then Harper leaves with leg injury

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Spurs’ Fox out of Game 2 against Thunder with ankle issue, then Harper leaves with leg injury

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — If this was the regular season, De'Aaron Fox wouldn't even be trying to play. Such is the severity of his ankle injury. And his replacement in San Antonio's starting lineup is now ailing as well.

Just like that, the Spurs have some big issues to deal with in the Western Conference finals.

Fox — the Spurs' All-Star guard — tried to go through a pregame workout Wednesday but his right ankle wasn't good enough to let him play. So, the Spurs kept Dylan Harper in the starting lineup in his place, only to see him leave in the third quarter with a leg injury.

The Spurs got a split of the first two games in Oklahoma City, but it's anyone's guess who'll start in the backcourt when the series resumes in San Antonio on Friday night.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

NBA All-Rookie 1st team: Flagg, Knueppel, Edgecombe, Harper and Coward

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

NBA All-Rookie 1st team: Flagg, Knueppel, Edgecombe, Harper and Coward

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas' Cooper Flagg, Charlotte's Kon Knueppel and Philadelphia's VJ Edgecombe were unanimous first-team selections for the NBA's All-Rookie team, which was unveiled Wednesday night.

Also making first-team All-Rookie: San Antonio's Dylan Harper and Memphis' Cedric Coward. Harper also appeared on all 100 ballots, with 93 first-team nods and seven second-team votes.

Those five players were also the only ones to get votes in the Rookie of the Year balloting, where Flagg edged Knueppel for top honors.

The All-Rookie second team included New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Utah's Ace Bailey, Sacramento's Maxime Reynaud and Toronto's Collin Murray-Boyles.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

Cavaliers shrug off concerns about Harden as they try to even the East finals against the Knicks

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Cavaliers shrug off concerns about Harden as they try to even the East finals against the Knicks

Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press 4 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Jalen Brunson against Donovan Mitchell was the matchup splashed across the screens to hype the Eastern Conference finals.

Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it turned into Brunson versus James Harden in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

Brunson continuously attacked the matchup to spark one of the largest postseason comebacks on record, as the New York Knicks rallied from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 115-104 victory. A day later, the Cavaliers shrugged off concerns that one of the most accomplished offensive players in league history might be too poor of a defender to give them NBA Finals hopes.

“I know everybody’s putting it on James, but I’d say a lot of, it’s on the team, our team defense,” coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday after the Cavaliers practiced at Madison Square Garden. “And we were great for three quarters. Like, really, really great. So we can do it.”

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Basketball

The Trail Blazers have laid off employees as part of a restructuring effort

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

The Trail Blazers have laid off employees as part of a restructuring effort

The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off employees as new owner Tom Dundon cuts costs.

The exact number of employees who were let go was not made public, but they included staff in both the business and basketball operations.

"These changes impacted talented people who have helped shape the Trail Blazers over many years,” Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers' president of business operations said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for their contributions, their leadership and the care they showed every day for our team, our fans and the Portland community.”

Dundon leads the group of investors who bought the NBA franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft who died in 2018. The NBA's Board of Governors approved the sale, worth a reported $4.25 billion, in April. Dundon also owns the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

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