Samwise NBA Newsletter
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Thunder Rout Lakers in Game 3, Sweep on the Line Monday
The Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, taking a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. Ajay Mitchell starred with 24 points and 10 assists without a turnover, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. Seven Thunder players reached double figures, with Chet Holmgren scoring 18 and Cason Wallace hitting four three-pointers off the bench for 16. LeBron James led the Lakers with 19 points but shot just 7-of-19. Oklahoma City improved to 7-0 in the 2026 playoffs, holding a 59-point combined margin of victory across three games. Game 4 is Monday at 10:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
Cavaliers Rally Past Pistons in Dramatic Game 3 to Cut Series Deficit
The Cleveland Cavaliers kept their season alive with a 116-109 Game 3 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in Cleveland, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden scored 19 and delivered clutch baskets late in regulation. Max Strus sealed the win by stealing a Cade Cunningham inbound pass and converting the go-ahead layup with 2:28 remaining. Cunningham posted a triple-double for Detroit with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists but shot 10-of-27 and committed eight turnovers. Cleveland hosts Game 4 on Monday evening.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated
Anunoby Out Again, Embiid Probable as Knicks Chase Sweep in Game 4
The New York Knicks need one more win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, visiting Philadelphia Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET for a potential sweep-clinching Game 4. Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who suffered a right hamstring strain late in Game 2, has been ruled out for the second consecutive game. The 76ers, down 0-3 and having lost the first three games by a combined 59 points, receive a significant boost with center Joel Embiid listed as probable after missing Game 2 with ankle and hip injuries. Embiid returned for Game 3 and scored 18 points in 35 minutes despite limited mobility.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Wembanyama Joins Historic Company as Spurs Eye 3-1 Lead Against Timberwolves Tonight
The San Antonio Spurs hold a 2-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves entering critical Game 4 on Sunday at Target Center in Minneapolis, tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. Victor Wembanyama delivered a historically dominant Game 3 performance Friday, recording 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks on 13-of-18 shooting to become just the fourth player since blocks became official in 1973-74 to post 35-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus blocks in a single playoff game, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Anthony Edwards, battling a bone bruise in his left knee, responded with 32 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Draft Lottery Today: AJ Dybantsa Expected to Go No. 1 as Teams Compete for Top Pick
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery takes place Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Chicago, airing live on ABC, with the Washington Wizards holding the best odds to land the top overall selection. BYU guard AJ Dybantsa has emerged as the widely expected choice at the top of the class, with Duke's Cameron Boozer, Kansas' Darryn Peterson and San Diego State's Caleb Wilson also considered top-five talents. The Brooklyn Nets enter with a 40 percent chance to secure a top-three pick for the first time since 2010. The 2026 draft class has been described by evaluators as among the strongest in a generation. The NBA Draft is scheduled for late June.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
NBA Draft Combine Opens in Chicago with 73 Top Prospects Under Evaluation
The 2026 NBA Draft Combine runs May 10–17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, with 73 invited prospects beginning a week of measurements, athletic testing, medical evaluations, team interviews and five-on-five scrimmages. Top invitees include BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Duke's Cameron Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson, all projected lottery picks. The combine opens on the same day as the Draft Lottery, giving team executives and coaches their first in-person evaluations of prospects before draft order is formally set. Several borderline first-round prospects will look to improve their positioning with strong physical testing and scrimmage performances over the week.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
Luka Doncic Injury Timeline Remains Unclear as Lakers Face Potential Elimination
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic remains sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2 and still has no definitive return date. Doncic has resumed running but has not been cleared for full-contact practice. He received four platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain and was originally given an eight-week recovery estimate, potentially placing his return in the conference finals if the Lakers advance. With Los Angeles trailing 3-0 to the defending-champion Thunder and facing potential elimination in Game 4 on Monday, Doncic's 2025–26 season may end without him playing another minute.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Playoffs — Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
(2) Knicks vs (7) 76ers — Knicks lead 3–0
(1) Pistons vs (4) Cavaliers — Pistons lead 2–1
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs (5) Lakers — Thunder lead 3–0
(2) Spurs vs (6) Timberwolves — Spurs lead 2–1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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