Takeaways: Spurs close out Timberwolves

May 16, 2026 No Comments

2026 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 16, 2026, 12:17 AM ET

The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs is here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western conference semifinals.

The No. 2-seeded New York Knicks swept the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the East. The fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers went ahead 3-2 in their series with the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons on Wednesday before the Pistons struck back in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7.

In the West, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves were knocked out by the 2-seed San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama in six games on Friday. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round, picked up where they left off with another sweep over the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers.

As the chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy heats up, here’s what matters most in both conferences and what to watch for in all four series.

Jump to a series:
76ers-Knicks | Cavaliers-Pistons
Timberwolves-Spurs | Lakers-Thunder

More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

Western Conference

(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2

Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102
Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95
Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108
Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109
Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97
Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109

Biggest takeaway from Game 6: Minnesota buckled under the quandary posed by the distribution of talent on San Antonio’s roster in the Spurs’ 139-109 win in Game 6 that punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. It’s now a predicament how the Oklahoma City Thunder will encounter Monday when it hosts San Antonio in Game 1 of the conference finals at Paycom Center.

Naturally, Minnesota loaded up to stop Victor Wembanyama, only for Spurs guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox to carve up the Timberwolves early. Castle and Fox scored or assisted on 28 of the team’s 36 points in a sizzling opening quarter. The duo shot a combined 7-of-8 on contested attempts in the first half, as the Spurs combined to shoot 18-of-30 over that span whenever Wembanyama didn’t get a touch.

San Antonio ate heartily off the Frenchman’s gravity, however. Then, it seemed the Spurs had broken Minnesota when they opened the second quarter on a 20-0 run that tied for the team’s third-largest postseason run in the play-by-play era. Throw rookie guard Dylan Harper into the mix, and San Antonio’s trio of lead guards combined for 58.2% of the team’s scoring over the first three quarters. They combined to shoot 23-of-30 from the field and 9-of-12 from deep with 15 assists.

San Antonio led by as many as 29 points in the first half, but Minnesota clawed back into it with a 2-3 zone defense and a 12-point second quarter from Anthony Edwards. The problem? Nobody else in the Timberwolves’ starting lineup scored. — Michael C. Wright

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate (4) Los Angeles Lakers 4-0

Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90
Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107
Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108
Game 4: Thunder 115, Lakers 110

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked back into the game with 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, more than a couple of minutes earlier than his regular rotation. The goal was to get the MVP some extra rest by closing out the Lakers on Monday night. Mission accomplished, as the Thunder became the first defending champions since LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 to sweep the first two series of the playoffs.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine of his series-high 35 points in the fourth quarter to help send the Lakers into a summer of uncertainty. Austin Reaves, who enters free agency, had 27 points, six rebounds and six assists but missed a potential tying 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining. If this was LeBron James’ last game in a Lakers uniform — or even the NBA — he went down swinging with 24 points and 12 rebounds. — Tim MacMahon

Thunder escape late Lakers charge to complete sweep
Seven days inside the Thunder’s basketball utopia

Eastern Conference

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers tied (1) Detroit Pistons 3-3

Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
Game 3: Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109
Game 4: Cavaliers 112, Detroit 103
Game 5: Cavaliers 117, Pistons 113 (OT)
Game 6: Pistons 115, Pistons 94

Biggest takeaway from Game 6: With their backs against the wall, the Pistons responded again. Detroit has now won four consecutive games this postseason when facing elimination.

Rallying from being down 3-1 in the first round against the Orlando Magic taught the Pistons lessons they have touted all throughout this series. It gave them confidence that despite facing elimination in Game 6, the task in front of them was simple: Win one road game. They did that by sticking with Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren despite their abysmal play on offense at times. And they were rewarded.

Thompson was all over the floor on both ends, tallying four steals, a block, nine rebounds, four assists and 10 points before he fouled out. Duren recorded 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds in what was easily his most aggressive offensive game of the series. They provided enough help for Cade Cunningham, who hit five 3-pointers, scored 21 points and added seven assists. — Jamal Collier

Game 7: Cavaliers at Pistons (Sunday, TBD, Amazon Prime)

What to watch in Game 7: It’s winner-take-all with a lot at stake. Cleveland wasted a golden opportunity to advance to its first conference finals since 2018 by losing a clinching game at home. And the Cavs will need a victory in Game 7 on the road to avoid a disappointing second-round loss for the third year in a row. The Cavs made a win-now midseason trade at the deadline to acquire James Harden for this exact moment, but falling short of their goal once again will open a whirlwind of questions.

The young Pistons have been open about how the playoffs are still a learning experiment for most of their core experiencing this level of basketball for the first time. But after 60 wins in the regular season and a furious comeback in the first round, losing this winner-take-all game on their home floor will sting all summer.

Both teams played seven games during the first round and will need a seventh game to advance in Round 2. A taxing road series with the red-hot New York Knicks awaits the winner. — Zach Kram

Pistons stave off elimination again, top Cavs to force Game 7

(3) New York Knicks beat (7) Philadelphia 76ers 4-0

Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94
Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: The Knicks are playing a cohesive brand of basketball, one they perhaps had been building up to all season long.

But even the most orange-and-blue-eyed optimist couldn’t have foreseen this: the capitalizing on mistakes, the torrid 3-point shooting, bordering on a record pace. The Knicks’ 25 3-pointers in their 30-point Game 4 victory tied for the most in NBA playoff history.

Now, their 0-3 record in Detroit this season doesn’t seem to matter, and nor does their 2-1 mark against Cleveland. Detroit beat them up, heavily motivated from last season’s first-round series, but are the Knicks a much tougher bunch this time around? The Cavs had the Knicks on the ropes on Christmas Day before New York put on a fourth-quarter run that seemed like the past seven playoff games.

Perhaps it was an omen. — Vincent Goodwill