The Lede
👀 Exclusive NBA Draft Intel: The latest from Brett Siegel on the No. 1 pick.
🗽 The Knicks Move On: New York is back in the Finals after a dominant sweep.
🤔 Will LeBron return to Cleveland? Why another reunion makes sense.
❓ Daily Trivia: Do you know your No. 1 Picks?
Got a question about the NBA playoffs, the upcoming draft, or really anything hoops-related? Drop your question HERE for a chance to be featured in a future newsletter.📫
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The Scoreboard
3 Stars of the Night ⭐
🥇 Landry Shamet - 16 PTS, 4/4 3PM, +28
Shamet has turned into something of a New York cult hero over the course of this series, and for good reason. The veteran sniper missed just a single three-pointer throughout the Knicks’ four-game sweep, and capped it off with a masterful showing in the finale.
🥈 Karl-Anthony Towns - 19 PTS, 14 REB, 2 BLK
Towns may have taken the high road when asked about his All-NBA snub before the game, but he certainly channeled that energy into a great performance. KAT was a perfect 3/3 from beyond the arc, and his work on the glass was integral to slowing down Cleveland.
🥉 OG Anunoby - 17 PTS, 7 REB, 2 STL
Anunoby is looking like he’s back at full strength after suffering a hamstring injury earlier this postseason. He put together an excellent two-way showcase, including throwing down a handful of high-flying dunks that earned rave reviews from a famous New York celebrity.
Siegel’s Scoop: The Latest on Pick No. 1 🕵️
Editor’s note: Catch new, exclusive intel from ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel right here in the ClutchPoints Newsletter!
While the Wizards have made it clear to teams that they are willing to hear out offers for the No. 1 pick, nobody believes Washington will actually trade this pick. However, many teams are still of the belief that the Wizards are not fully locked into who they will take with the No. 1 pick quite yet.
Even though the widespread belief is that AJ Dybantsa will be the Wizards' selection, Darryn Peterson's dynamic play and upside as a potential All-Star guard down the road are hard to ignore.
As previously reported in our Mock Draft 1.0 before the draft combine, both the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets have held discussions with the Wizards about the No. 1 pick. Sources say the Chicago Bulls have also reached out to the Wizards since the start of the combine, along with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Utah Jazz want Dybantsa. This is the worst-kept draft secret around the NBA, other than the Sacramento Kings wanting Darius Acuff Jr.
Although the Jazz do have the assets to put together a lucrative trade offer for the No. 1 pick, it doesn't appear (at least as of right now) that owner Ryan Smith, Danny Ainge, and Austin Ainge will be willing to sacrifice Ace Bailey and a slew of draft picks to move up and guarantee themselves Dybantsa.
No matter what happens over the course of the next few weeks during the Wizards' pre-draft interviews and workouts, the overarching belief around the NBA is that the No. 1 pick will be either Dybantsa or Peterson.
— Brett Siegel
Want to get the full breakdown of Brett’s latest draft insights? Check out his updated 2026 NBA Mock Draft 2.0 here.
Daily Trivia❓
Which of these players was NOT the first overall pick in the NBA draft?
The Latest ✍️
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers both exceeded a lot of expectations this year, but each of their seasons ended with a disappointing postseason sweep.
Regardless, one thing is on every NBA fan's mind ahead of the upcoming offseason, and that is the possibility of a return to Cleveland for LeBron James. Here is why the Cavaliers must go all in on a reunion with their former number one pick.
Sound Off 🔊
Do you think the Knicks should be the favorite to win the NBA Finals over either team out West?
The Highlight Zone 📸
OG Anunoby stops on a dime and absorbs the contact to finish this tough dunk on the break. 💪
Karl-Anthony Towns gets it done on both ends in this sweet sequence that blew the game wide open. 💥
The Knicks fans break out the brooms after making the Finals for the first time in 27 years. 🧹
Looking Ahead 👀
All tied up at two games apiece, San Antonio and OKC still have everything to play for in a series that has swung wildly back and forth so far.
Held to a season-low 82 points last time out, the Thunder will need to figure out how to get their offense humming again. And it all starts with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Spurs made the bold move to guard SGA straight up last game, and he wasn’t able to capitalize. If the reigning MVP wants to lead OKC back to the Finals, he’ll need to get the better of Stephon Castle and the rest of San Antonio’s cohort of elite perimeter defenders.
Who do you think will take control of the series? Let us know below. 👇
Spurs-Thunder Game 5, who you got?
