Samwise NBA Newsletter
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Donovan Mitchell Ties Playoff Record with 39 Second-Half Points, Cavs Even Pistons Series at 2-2
Donovan Mitchell delivered one of the most remarkable half-court performances in NBA postseason history Monday night, scoring 39 points in the second half to match Sleepy Floyd's record for most points in a playoff half, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-103 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 4. Mitchell, who had just four points at halftime on 1-of-8 shooting, ignited a franchise-record 23-0 run to open the third quarter. He finished with 43 points total. Evan Mobley contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. The series shifts to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Thunder Complete Series Sweep of Lakers, SGA Scores 35 in Dramatic Game 4 Finish
The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers out of the second round of the NBA playoffs Monday, surviving a fourth-quarter scare to win 115-110 and advance to the Western Conference Finals with a perfect 8-0 postseason record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and added 8 assists, while Ajay Mitchell chipped in 28 points, including 10 in the final quarter. Chet Holmgren's tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds remaining proved decisive. LeBron James finished with 24 points for Los Angeles and Austin Reaves added 27, but the Lakers' season ended without injured Luka Doncic ever playing a single postseason minute.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Clears Wembanyama for Game 5 After First Career Ejection in Timberwolves Series
Victor Wembanyama will be eligible to play in Tuesday's Game 5 after the NBA ruled he will face no suspension for the flagrant foul that caused the first ejection of his career in San Antonio's Game 4 loss to Minnesota. Wembanyama was removed from the game after elbowing Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the neck in the second half, contributing to the Spurs dropping a critical contest that evened the series at 2-2. The NBA determined that the ejection itself constituted sufficient punishment. Wembanyama had been dominant in Games 2 and 3 but will have a chance to reassert himself in Tuesday's decisive contest at home in San Antonio.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports
Edwards, Wembanyama Set for High-Stakes Game 5 Showdown as Timberwolves Visit San Antonio
With the Western Conference semifinal series tied 2-2, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama meet again Tuesday night in a pivotal Game 5 in San Antonio at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Edwards torched the Spurs for a game-high 36 points in Game 4 while playing through knee discomfort, while Wembanyama aims to rebound from his Game 4 ejection and reassert his dominance. The Spurs, listed as double-digit home favorites, have dropped consecutive games after leading the series 2-1 following dominant performances from Wembanyama. The winner of Game 5 takes the series lead heading to Game 6 on Friday in Minnesota.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports
OG Anunoby's Right Hamstring Strain Clouds Knicks' Conference Finals Preparations
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby remains day-to-day with a right hamstring strain that has sidelined him since early in Game 2 of the second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Anunoby exited after straining the hamstring while cutting with approximately three minutes left in a Knicks victory and did not play in Games 3 or 4 as New York swept the series. Despite his absence, the Knicks won Game 4 by 30 points. Anunoby has been averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this postseason while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. The Knicks await the winner of the Cavaliers-Pistons series for the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated
2026 NBA Draft Combine Opens in Chicago as Dybantsa, Boozer, Peterson Lead Anticipated Class
The 2026 NBA Draft Combine is underway at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, running through May 17, with more than 70 prospects participating in measurements and 41 players confirmed for 5-on-5 scrimmages. AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson are expected to be the top three selections, with the Washington Wizards holding the first overall pick after winning Sunday's draft lottery. The Chicago Bulls jumped from ninth-best odds to secure the fourth pick. Caleb Wilson from North Carolina projects to go fourth to Chicago in several mock drafts. Combine measurements and scrimmage results over the next week are expected to significantly influence final draft-board rankings ahead of the June event.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
Six G League Combine Standouts Earn Invitations to Full NBA Draft Combine in Chicago
Six players earned promotions from the G League Draft Combine to the full NBA Draft Combine in Chicago after impressing evaluators at the earlier event. The call-ups represent players who entered the G League pathway rather than the traditional college draft route, giving them a chance to audition for all 30 NBA teams gathered in Chicago this week. The annual combine, which concludes on May 17, features measurement testing, athletic drills, and 5-on-5 scrimmages that serve as a key final evaluation before June's draft. NBA front offices view the combine as the last major opportunity to reassess late-first-round and second-round prospects before finalizing draft boards.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
Knicks Enter Eastern Conference Finals in Dominant Fashion as Postseason Picture Comes Into Focus
The New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, with New York owning the best point differential through two rounds in NBA postseason history at plus-194 over 10 games. Coach Mike Brown's team won seven straight playoff games and set franchise records for points (144), 3-pointers (25, tying an NBA playoff record), and victory margin in a second-round sweep. New York will face the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons series, currently tied 2-2. Oklahoma City has swept into the Western Conference Finals and awaits the Spurs-Wolves winner.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Playoffs — Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
(2) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers — Knicks win 4–0
(1) Pistons vs. (4) Cavaliers — Series tied 2–2 (Game 5: Wed., Det.)
Western Conference
(1) Thunder vs. (4) Lakers — Thunder win 4–0
(2) Spurs vs. (6) Timberwolves — Series tied 2–2 (Game 5: Tonight, SA)
Conference Finals
East: (2) Knicks vs. TBD (Pistons/Cavaliers winner)
West: (1) Thunder vs. TBD (Spurs/Timberwolves winner)
NBA Finals: Begin June 3, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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