COACH MIKE BROWN UTILIZES KNICKS' DEPTH DURING LANDRY SHAMET’S INJURY RECOVERY
Landry Shamet has resumed full basketball activities! Read the latest on his shoulder recovery and the Knicks' New Orleans road trip.
The NBA trade rumour mill is heating up, and word is the Knicks are sniffing around for a defensive-minded guard, especially with the recent injury updates.
The Knicks are hitting the road, heading to New Orleans to play the Pelicans in the Smoothie King Centre. The starting lineup is still up in the air, but there's some good news coming from behind the scenes that could help the team long term.
Even though the Knicks are dealing with some guys out for the short term, one name fans know is making progress as the season hits its stride.
Good News on Key Guard's Recovery
SNY's Ian Begley says Landry Shamet is back to doing full basketball drills as he recovers from his shoulder injury.
Begley said Shamet is now getting ready to start practising with contact, which is a big step. From the start, the team thought Shamet would make a full recovery without needing surgery, and that's still the plan.
If all goes well, Shamet should be back sometime next month.
The Knicks haven't set a date for his return, but this update makes it sound like he's getting better consistently.
Landry Shamet (shoulder) is now doing all basketball activities, but he still needs to be cleared for contact. @IanBegley reports he could be back next month.
Why This Matters for the Knicks
Shamet's been out, and while it hasn't been a huge story, it's changed how the Knicks put their lineups together.
Before he got hurt, Shamet had earned Coach Mike Brown's trust early on. He started a few games and played almost 21 minutes a night in his first 15 games. He was a reliable shooter, stayed calm under pressure, and understood spacing, which helped the lineups flow.
Since then, other injuries have forced the Knicks to go deeper into their bench. Instead of sticking with a tight rotation, Brown has been flexible, letting younger guys step up and take on important roles.
This changes things when Shamet gets back. Instead of being needed right away, he can come back as another option—a seasoned guard who fits in without messing things up.
I'm curious to see how the rotations will work once Deuce and Shamet are back.
Knicks' Depth Is Now a Strength
One good thing that's happened for the Knicks this season is how they've handled tough times.
Instead of running Jalen Brunson into the ground, the Knicks have spread the responsibilities around, trusting younger players like Tyler Kolek and Kevin McCullar. This has helped keep the bench players steady and the team consistent, even though the lineups change a lot.
When Shamet comes back, he'll be another useful player on a team that's already shown it can adjust on the fly.
The Final Word for the Knicks
The Knicks are trying to win their third game in a row in New Orleans.
They'll have to do it without Shamet for now, but since he's getting closer to being cleared, the Knicks are getting ready to add another good player in 2026.
This kind of progress is important for a team that's been relying on depth and being able to adapt.
For now, the road trip goes on. The lineup keeps changing. And the Knicks keep finding ways to stay on track.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
