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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

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Live Event

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Albert Burneko

Jayson Tatum holds up three fingers to celebrate making a three-pointer in a game in which the Celtics missed an NBA playoff–record 45 threes, and lost in overtime.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics Will Just Keep Doing This Until We Are All Driven Insane

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Tom Ley

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the fourth quarter of Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on May 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder – Game One

That Was All Mark’s Dang Fault

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Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during their game at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2025 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Philadelphia 76ers v New York Knicks

How To Watch Basketball

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.09</p>


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Chris Thompson

Tyrese Haliburton scores against the Cavs

The Pacers Out-Styled The Cavaliers And Swiped Home-Court Advantage

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Ray Ratto

Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Houston Rockets after making a three-point basket during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game Seven

Sometimes It’s The Buddy Hield Game

Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets goes berzerk after dunking and taking a technical for hanging on the rim theatrically during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series.

DENVER NUGGETS VS LA CLIPPERS, NBA

Nikola Jokic’s Friends Showed Up When He Needed Them Most

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a three-point basket late during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 01, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons – Game Six

Jalen Brunson Got Away Clean

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David Roth

Owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

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Podcasts

I’m Feeling Like Steve, With Patrick Redford

Rudy Gobert

Big Lakers Ambitions Squished By, Of All People, Rudy Gobert

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets sits on the bench after notching his 40th point during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 131-115 win over the LA Clippers

Jamal Murray Was Arrogant And Generous Enough To Craft Another Classic

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers get into an altercation after Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 29, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Milwaukee Bucks v Indiana Pacers – Game Five

Bucks Collapse Leads To Giannis Antetokounmpo Delivering Fatherhood Lessons To Tyrese Haliburton’s Dad

Buddy Hield #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.

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Buddy Hield To The Rescue

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JJ Redick Pushed The Panic Button And Lost Anyway

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks is helped off the court after an apparent injury during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on April 27, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers v Milwaukee Bucks – Game Four

The Milwaukee Bucks Are Dead

Josh Hart reacts after the Knicks beat the Pistons in Game 4.

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The Knicks Got Away With That One

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Samer Kalaf

Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the game winning basket during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers

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Aaron Gordon Bails Out Nuggets With Buzzer-Beating Dunk

of the Memphis Grizzlies walks off the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2025.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Memphis Grizzlies – Game Three

For 20 Minutes, The Memphis Grizzlies Were Actually In It

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets reacts in the first half against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 23, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game Two

Jalen Green Stops Killing The Rockets Long Enough To Kill The Warriors Instead

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons react after a call during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons v New York Knicks – Game Two

Jalen Brunson Is The NBA’s Premier Falling-Down Artist

Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers drives on Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard Is Just Living With It

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Ty Jerome #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in game one of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Heat 121-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Miami Heat v Cleveland Cavaliers – Game One

See What Makes The Cavaliers Special Through The Ty Jerome Game

Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets dives for the ball against Gary Payton II #0 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2025.

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets – Game One

The Warriors And Rockets Know Each Other’s Weaknesses

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Barry Petchesky

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 10: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks look on during the third quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on April 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons

The Knicks Gave The Pistons A Lesson In Playoff Entropy

Los Angeles, CA - April 19: Minnesota Timberwolves bench reacts after a basket as Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the second half of a first round game one NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 to win game one of a first round NBA basketball game

The Lakers Have Bigger Problems Than Luka Doncic Can Fix

DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets pushes the ball in transition as Ben Simmons (25) of the LA Clippers defends during the third quarter of the Nuggets' 112-110 overtime win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

There Is No Getting Off The Russell Westbrook Rollercoaster

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