Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just became the first guard since Stephen Curry to win back-to-back MVP awards — and he's about to try to win a championship on top of it.
The West Is Settled: Wemby's Spurs vs. SGA's Thunder, Game 1 Tuesday Night
The matchup basketball fans have been circling since October is finally here. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs fly into Oklahoma City to open the Western Conference Finals Tuesday at 7:30 PM CT on NBC/Peacock — and the Spurs are walking into the toughest possible road test they've faced yet.
OKC enters the series undefeated in the playoffs. San Antonio split their games in Oklahoma City during the regular season, and while the Spurs went 4-1 against the Thunder overall, both squads are healthier and sharper than any of those matchups reflected. San Antonio has been a different team since February, and their 4-1 road record this postseason proves they can win away from home — but stealing Game 1 in OKC would be the biggest statement yet.
The single biggest tactical question: can San Antonio protect the ball? OKC's defense is built for forcing turnovers — they created 16.7 per game in the regular season — and when they get steals, they generate easy transition looks against a defense that would otherwise have to score over Wembanyama in the half-court. Perimeter players like Stephon Castle will be tested physically from the opening tip. On the injury front, De'Aaron Fox is questionable with an ankle issue and Luke Kornet is questionable (foot), while OKC's Thomas Sorber is out with a knee injury.
Gobble's Take: Two franchise cornerstones under 23 years old, one series — the league office is quietly hoping this goes seven games and praying nobody gets hurt.
Source: Yahoo Sports NBA
Shai Wins Back-to-Back MVP, Now Wants the Ring
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made history Sunday, becoming the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards. At 27, he's the first guard to do it since Stephen Curry in 2015 and 2016, and the first player of any position since Nikola Jokic took the award in 2021 and 2022.
The numbers backed the voters. Playing on the league's best regular-season team — OKC finished 64-18 — Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds across 68 games after signing a four-year, reported $285 million extension in the off-season. He received 83 first-place votes and won with 939 points. Jokic finished second, and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was third — meaning the two men meeting in the conference finals this week were the top MVP vote-getters on their side of the bracket.
"It's special — not really for me personally but more so for the city and organisation," Gilgeous-Alexander said after receiving the award.
Gobble's Take: Back-to-back MVP is the résumé line — now OKC fans want the hardware that actually goes in a trophy case.
Source: Yahoo Sports NBA
Cavaliers Erase a 0-2 Hole, Demolish Detroit in Game 7, and Reach the East Finals
Down two games to none against a 60-win team, the Cleveland Cavaliers closed out a 4-3 series win with a 125-94 Game 7 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Detroit's home floor, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.
Detroit never found its footing. The Pistons shot 35.3% from the field, were outscored 58-34 in the paint, and trailed by as many as 35 points in the second half. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points, while Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen each scored 23 and Evan Mobley added 21. Coach Kenny Atkinson had written "11-15" on a whiteboard before training camp — the Cavs' cumulative postseason record over the previous three years.
"This is fantastic. But we've got to be more disciplined," Mitchell said. "We shouldn't have to wait to get hit, to get punched in the mouth and face a go-home situation." All-Star Cade Cunningham said, "It sucked. Being back home, definitely wanted to get this win for the fans."
Gobble's Take: Cleveland came back from 0-2, won Game 7 on Detroit's floor, and held the Pistons to 35.3% shooting. The Pistons emerged this season as one of the league's biggest surprises under coach J.B. Bickerstaff — but the run ends here.
Sources: Yahoo Sports NBA · Yahoo Sports NBA · Yahoo Sports NBA
Knicks Host Cavaliers in Game 1 of the East Finals — Brunson vs. Mitchell Starts Tuesday
Madison Square Garden hosts Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Tuesday night at 8 PM ET. Jalen Brunson's Knicks (53-29) face Donovan Mitchell's Cavaliers (52-30) — separated by one game in the standings. New York went 2-1 against Cleveland in the regular season; the Cavaliers won the final regular-season meeting 109-94.
New York makes 14.2 threes per game — the same number Cleveland surrenders per game. The Cavaliers shoot 48.2% from the field, 2.2 points above what Knicks opponents have shot this season. Brunson averages 26 points and 6.8 assists; Mitchell is averaging 26.2 points and shooting 44.4% over his last 10 games. The Knicks have gone 8-2 in their last 10, averaging 120.4 points and shooting 51.7%. OG Anunoby is day-to-day with a hamstring issue; Cleveland's Larry Nance Jr. is out with illness.
The Cavaliers reached the East Finals after falling behind 0-2 against a 60-win team, stringing together three impressive victories, then responding to a demoralizing Game 6 loss with a Game 7 win.
Gobble's Take: Two teams one game apart in the standings open the East Finals at MSG Tuesday night.
Sources: Yahoo Sports NBA · Yahoo Sports NBA
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