The San Antonio Spurs beat defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder 103-82 in the NBA Western Conference Finals to tie the series at 2-2. The star of the night was Victor Wembanyama, with 33 points and a buzzer-beater from his own half.
Olympiacos rose to the top of Europe by beating Real Madrid 92-85 in the EuroLeague final. The Greek side lifted the fourth EuroLeague trophy in club history and ended a 13-year title drought that had lasted since 2013.
After the Knicks' 121-108 win over the Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, legendary player and analyst Charles Barkley asked OG Anunoby, who plays for the Knicks, his real name. The pronunciation exchange in the Inside the NBA studio became the most talked-about moment of the night.
In the NBA Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 on their own court. For the Spurs, who lost Game 3 at home 123-108 and fell 2-1 behind in the series, this match is the last chance to restore the balance. Stopping the Thunder, one of the league's most consistent teams, does not look easy.
In Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 on the road. The Knicks, who took a 3-0 series lead, are one win away from the NBA Finals. Cleveland, meanwhile, are just one loss away from the series ending in a sweep (4-0).
The Eastern Conference Finals enter a critical phase with the third game to be played in Cleveland on Sunday, May 24. The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead in the series by winning the first two games at home (115-104 and 109-93). Now the series moves to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers are at home. According to statistical predictions, home side Cleveland's chance of winning in Game 3 is 54.9%. The Knicks are on the verge of reaching their first NBA Finals since 1999.
In the third game of the Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Spurs 123-108 in San Antonio to take a 2-1 lead in the series. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 26-point, 12-assist double-double and the Thunder bench's extraordinary contribution of a full 76 points broke home side Spurs' resistance. Victor Wembanyama's 26 points were not enough to save San Antonio. The series will continue with the fourth game again in San Antonio.
In the second semifinal of the EuroLeague Final Four, Real Madrid defeated Valencia Basket 105-90 at the Telekom Center Athens to advance to the championship game on May 24. While the fairytale journey of Valencia, who reached the Final Four for the first time in their history, ended in the semifinal, Real Madrid, the tournament's most successful team with 11 titles, widened the gap with their deep roster and experience. Madrid will face Olympiacos in the final.
In the EuroLeague Final Four semifinal, Olympiacos defeated Fenerbahce Beko 79-61 at the Telekom Center Athens to advance to the championship game on May 24. The regular-season leaders, backed by home advantage, delivered an impressive defensive performance that held last year's champions Fenerbahce to just 61 points. Olympiacos are one step away from their first EuroLeague title since 2013.
The Western Conference Finals enter a critical phase with the third game to be played in San Antonio on May 23. The series is 1-1; while the Spurs won the first game 122-115 away, OKC took the second game 122-113 at home. According to statistical predictions, home side Spurs' chance of winning is 53.6%. The duel between Victor Wembanyama and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at the center of the generational clash that will shape the league's future.
The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 in the second game of the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Josh Hart's 26 points, Jalen Brunson's double-double of 19 points and 14 assists, and the team's 32-21 domination in the third quarter brought the Knicks one step closer to their first NBA Finals since 1999. The series now moves to Cleveland.
EuroLeague Final Four's most exciting semifinal will be played on Friday, May 22, at Athens's Telekom Center. Valencia Basket, in the Final Four for the first time in their history, face Real Madrid, who have made 11 Final Four appearances in the last 15 years and won the trophy 3 times. The two teams have already met 6 times this season, with Madrid leading 4-2. Valencia's hope is Playoff MVP Jean Montero.
