Overview
- Saturday’s semifinals are set at T-Mobile Arena: Knicks vs. Magic and Spurs vs. Thunder, with the winners advancing to Tuesday’s championship.
- The Spurs upgraded Victor Wembanyama to probable, and head coach Mitch Johnson expects an early substitution and fewer than his normal minutes after Friday’s clearance.
- Oklahoma City is tied with the 2015–16 Warriors for the best 25-game start at 24-1 and enters Las Vegas on a 16-game winning run with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 32.6 points.
- San Antonio went 9-3 during Wembanyama’s 12-game absence, leaning on De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper to keep pace in the West.
- The Thunder reached the semis with a 138-89 rout of the Suns, while Knicks–Magic spotlights Jalen Brunson and Orlando’s scoring jolt from Desmond Bane.