NBA Playoffs: Spurs Oust OKC, Will Face Knicks In Finals

At Paycom Center, Oklahoma City:

Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points while Julian Champagnie added 20 as the San Antonio Spurs, with seven players including all five starters scoring in double figures, dethroned the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in the seventh and deciding game of the Western Conference Final on Saturday. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points (to go with nine assists). 

The Spurs will play in their first NBA Finals since 2014, when they defeated the Miami Heat in five games and will face the New York Knickerbockers in this year's finals, opening at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, starting this coming Wednesday at 5:30 PM Pacific Time on ABC.

The two teams faced each other in the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games their first NBA title, the first won by a former ABA club.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Canes Finish Off Habs, Will Face Golden Knights In Final

 At Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina:

Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, Eric Robinson, Jackson Blake, Shayne Gostisbehere (power play), and Seth Jarvis (empty net) each scored once while goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 23 of 24 shots on Friday as the Carolina Hurricanes manhandled the visiting Montreal Canadiens 6-1 to win their Eastern Conference Final in five games.

With the Canadiens' defeat, the drought for Canadian clubs for winning the Stanley Cup since 1993 continues.

The Hurricanes will open the Stanley Cup Final will open in Raleigh on Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time on ABC.

NBA Playoffs: Spurs Force Game Seven With OKC

At Frost Bank Center, San Antonio:

Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and grabbed ten rebounds on Thursday as the San Antonio Spurs dominated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to square their NBA Western Conference Final at three games apiece.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 15 points.

The series will be decided in Oklahoma City this coming Saturday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time on NBC and Peacock.

 

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Hurricanes One Win Away From Final

At Bell Centre, Montreal: 

Sebastian Aho (power play), Jordan Staal, Logan Stankoven, and Andrei Svechnikov (empty net) each scored once while goalie Frederik Andersen saved all 18 shots for the shutout as the Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday night in game three of the Eastern Conference Final.  

The Hurricanes, by beating the Canadiens on Friday night back home in Raleigh, will reach the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche, Advance To Final

At T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada:

Mark Stone and Cole Smith each contributed a goal while goalie Carter Hart saved 20 of 21 shots on Tuesday as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 and completed a four-game sweep of the Western Conference Final.

The Golden Knights will play in their third Stanley Cup Final against the winner of the Carolina-Montreal series (which the Hurricanes lead two games to one).

Vegas lost the Final to Washington in 2018, but won it in 2023 over Florida.

The Final will take place in June on ABC-TV with date and time to be determined. The series will open at Montreal or Raleigh. 

NBA Playoffs: OKC Take 3-2 West Final Series Lead On Spurs

 At Paycom Center, Oklahoma City:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting San Antonio Spurs 127-114 at home in game five of the NBA Western Conference Final on Tuesday.

Alex Caruso, off the bench, added to the OKC cause with 22 points while Jared McCain poured in 20.

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points while Julian Champagnie added 22 (to go with his eight rebounds) and Victor Wembanyama contributed 20.

The Thunder, now up three games to two, can close out this series with a game-six road victory on Thursday in San Antonio on NBC and Peacock at 5:30 PM Pacific Time.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Golden Knights On Verge Of Finishing Off Avalanche; OT Goal Puts Hurricanes Up 2-1 In Series With Canadiens

 The Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Sunday and Monday.

Sunday's Game

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada:

Mark Stone (power play), William Karlsson, Keegan Kolesar, Thomas Hertl, and Brett Howland (empty net) each scored once as the Vegas Golden Knights came back from a three-goal deficit to upend the visiting Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in game three of their Western Conference Final.

The Knights, up three games to none, can close out the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Final with a game-four home victory on Tuesday at 6:00 PM Pacific Time on ESPN.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Bell Centre, Montreal:

Andre Svechnikov scored the winning goal at 14:06 into overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the homestanding Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to take game three of their Eastern Conference Final, which the Canes now lead two games to one.

NBA Playoffs: Knicks Finish Off Cavaliers, Advance To First Final Since 1999; Spurs Deadlock Series With OKC At 2-2

The NBA Playoffs continued on Sunday and Monday. 

Sunday's Game: 

WESTERN CONFERENCE: 

At Frost Bank Center, San Antonio: 

Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 103-82 to square their Western Conference Final at two games apiece.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders paced OKC with 19 points.

Monday's Game

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Rocket Arena, Cleveland:

Karl-Anthony Townes scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks completed their four game sweep of the Eastern Conference Final by destroying the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93.

Six Knickerbockers scored in double figures.

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, one-third of Cleveland's point total.

The Knicks will play in their first NBA Finals since 1999 against San Antonio or Oklahoma City.  The series will open on ABC on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 PM Pacific Time.

New York has won two NBA championships, in 1970 and 1973, both at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: OT Goal Enables Hurricanes To Square East Final With Habs

At Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina:  

Nikola Ehelers scored a pair of goals, including the game winner at 3:29 of overtime on Saturday as the Carolina Hurricanes squared their Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece with a 3-2 home victory over the Montreal Canadiens. 

NBA Playoffs: Knicks One Win From Returning To NBA Final

 At Rocket Arena, Cleveland:

Jason Brunson scored 30 points while Mikal Bridges added 22 and OG Anunoby contributed 21 on Saturday as the New York Knicks now hold a three-games-to-none Eastern Conference Final lead over the hosts Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Six Knicks, including all five starters scored in double figures.

Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 24 points while Donovan Mitchell added 23.

The Knicks can close out the series and advance to their first NBA Final since 1999 with a road win in Cleveland on Monday at 8:00 PM PDT on ESPN.