Offseason

This NBA offseason will be the "most craziest ever," Shams Charania of ESPN predicted.

Only one team (Brooklyn) projects to open cap space. LeBron James, James Harden and Kyrie Irving – all well past their peaks – are the only All-Star impending free agents. Rumored trade candidates – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, every Celtic besides Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Trae Young – are more enticing, but not overwhelming.

I have a hard time seeing this offseason nearing 2010, 2016 or 2019.

But the unexpected moves are the ones that really drive the drama.

Comebacks

20-point comebacks:

Entire 2017 playoffs – 3 (record entering this season)
2025 New York Knicks – 3

Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns keyed the Knicks' latest comeback, in Game 3 against the Pacers:

Other players to do it:

Jamal Murray in 2019 Nuggets-Spurs
Goran Dragic in 2010 Suns-Spurs
Jalen Rose in 2000 Pacers-Knicks

John Haliburton

The Pacers are allowing Tyrese Haliburton's father, John Haliburton, to attend home games, and he'll watch from a suite tonight, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

Either John Haliburton, when meeting with the Pacers, expressed appropriate contrition about confronting Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court and this was overdue… or didn't and shouldn't be allowed back.

Considering John Haliburton said the right things in his statement and I haven't seen any claims he told the Pacers anything different, I'm happy he's back. Tyrese is doing special things. I'm glad his dad can be there to enjoy this playoff run with him.

Thunder-Timberwolves

The Thunder's offensive-rebounding percentage last night (46%) was the third-highest in a playoff game since 2018.

One reason Oklahoma City didn't claim the No. 1 spot: The Timberwolves' offensive-rebounding percentage last night (53%) did.

This was the first playoff game with both teams above 45% since 1987!

If you're wondering the one recent team in this realm, the Knicks grabbed 49% of offensive boards in Game 1 vs. the 76ers last year.

via Basketball-Reference

Timberwolves-Thunder

By defensive rating relative to league average, the Thunder spent much of the season with the best defense in NBA history. They let off the gas late but still finished comfortably tops in the league this year. Their defense had mostly continued to look elite in the playoffs.

Yet…

Obviously, the Timberwolves trail 3-1. But interesting how they've turned this into an offensive series.

Thunder-Timberwolves

The Thunder didn't keep up in Game 3:

Champions' three worst playoff losses have all come in the last three years:

2021 Bucks lost by 39 to Nets
2022 Warriors lost by 39 to Grizzlies
2024 Celtics lost by 38 to Mavericks

But if they win it all, the Thunder would push the bar even further.

We've spent a lot of time discussing how players can't compete hard through an entire 82-game regular season. It seems we're reaching the point even the best team can't bring it in every playoff game.

All-NBA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum unanimously made the All-NBA first team and would've gotten Nate's, Danny's and my vote as well. The fifth actual first-teamer was Donovan Mitchell, who I had on the first team and Nate and Danny had on the second team.

Nate's and Danny's other first-teamer, Evan Mobley, made the second team, where I had him. All three of us agreed with actual voters on having LeBron James and Stephen Curry on the second team. Anthony Edwards made the actual and my second team, though Nate's and Danny's third team. Jalen Brunson, whom the three of us had on the third team, was the final second-teamer.

Cade Cunningham and Karl-Anthony Towns landed on the third team, where Nate, Danny and I had both. We were split on a couple other actual third-teamers – Nate and Danny picking Jalen Williams, me picking Tyrese Haliburton. None of us chose James Harden, who took the final actual slot.

The three of us had Jaren Jackson Jr. on our second teams, but he finished No. 17 in voting – missing on super-max eligibility. Darius Garland, whom Nate and Danny had on their second teams and I had on my third team, finished No. 19 in voting.

Full voting: