Latest news with #ex-Knick
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Mike Breen reveals why he didn't use his iconic ‘bang' call during NBA Finals Game 1 winner
Many fans were left without something after Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot in Game 1 of the NBA Finals — commentator Mike Breen's signature 'bang' call. Breen, who has been announcing the NBA Finals for 20 years, chose to forego the legendary call on Thursday, opting for the more generic — but still effective — 'It's good, it's good.' The longtime NBA broadcaster explained his reasoning behind not going with the 'bang' call for the shot that gave the Pacers an early lead in the series. Advertisement 'We were so happy with such a fun game and a great comeback,' Breen told Sports Illustrated, 'and now there's obviously juice to the series and I liked the Haliburton call and then I find out later that I'm getting destroyed because I didn't say 'BANG!' 'I think in all these years I only said bang for a two-pointer once. It was a Kobe Bryant game-winner in the playoffs when he hit a shot against Phoenix, and it was the only time. That's the only time. I save it for threes. Advertisement Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton shoots the game winning basket over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace in the closing second of the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Oklahoma City. AP 'In hindsight, because of the magnitude of the shot, it certainly would've worked and made people happy, but I don't premeditate the call and it was such an unbelievable shot. If he was beyond the 3-point mark, I probably would've said 'BANG!'' Breen, the Knicks' play-by-play man on MSG Network, is known to be selective about the call, with the last one coming in May for Jalen Brunson's series-clinching shot against the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Richard Jefferson, Dorris Burke and Mike Breen speaking before the Denver Nuggets against the Boston Celtics game on March 2, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement Brunson's shot, which gave the Knicks the win in Game 6, earned an even rarer double 'bang' call from Breen. He previously explained to The Post after ex-Knick Donte DiVincenzo's clutch 3-pointer in the 2024 NBA playoffs what has to happen in order for a shot to receive the double 'bang.' 'Three or four specific things had to happen and they did, so when he hit that shot and the crowd went crazy, it just came out,' Breen said then. 'It's not something that was thought of, it just came out for such a spectacular play during this extraordinary sequence in such a huge playoff game.'
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Kevin Harlan's wild ‘wet' and ‘dirty' call stuns NBA fans everywhere
Kevin Harlan experienced a wild sequence of events during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. Towards the end of the third quarter during Friday's game between the Knicks and Pacers, star point guard Jalen Brunson dove into the TNT broadcast table while going for a loose ball, and Harlan managed to narrate all of it. 'Brunson, oh look out he's coming in, he falls into our lap, ball the other way, [Josh] Hart the other way,' Harlan said during the broadcast. Advertisement After the dust finally settled, Harlan broke down what happened to him along the sidelines, where the longtime commentator had some choice words to explain the events. 'I'm wet, I'm dirty, stuff all over the place!' Harlan said while Reggie Miller laughed. Advertisement It sounded like something spilled on the table and the footage showed Harlan jumping up in his seat. Brunson, 28, managed to keep the ball in play for the Knicks, dishing it to Hart as he went all the way for an open layup to give the team the lead. The Pacers immediately answered with forward — and ex-Knick — Obi Toppin scoring a layup off of a full-court inbounds pass. 3 Jalen Brunson falls onto the scorers table saving the ball from out of bounds during the third quarter. Jason Szenes / New York Post Advertisement 3 Jalen Brunson handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NBAE via Getty Images This is not the first time Harlan has shown off his off-the-cuff capabilities on the mic, with the 64-year-old experiencing a similar instance during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. During a March Madness game between North Carolina and Mississippi, Harlan tipped a loose ball away from the broadcasting table, while also commenting what was happening to perfection. 3 Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan pose for a photo during the game between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement 'Knocked out of bounds, deflected by me, and off to the side,' Harlan said. The Knicks ultimately lost Game 2 114-109 despite a 36-point performance from Brunson. Pacers forward Pascal Siakam was the game's leading scorer, putting up 39 while shooting 65 percent from the field. With Friday's loss, the Knicks are down 2-0 in the series, with Game 3 set for Sunday at 8 p.m. in Indiana.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propels Thunder to dominant Game 1 win over Timberwolves
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, had nine assists. He made 8 of 14 field goals after halftime. Julius Randle scored 28 points for Minnesota, but just eight in the second half. Anthony Edwards, who had been averaging 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Oklahoma City was just two days removed from eliminating Denver in Game 7 of the conference semifinals. Minnesota hadn't played since May 14. Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City. Minnesota led 48-44 at halftime as Randle scored 20 points and made 5 of 6 3-pointers. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 11 points on 2-of-13 shooting before the break. The Thunder went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to take a 66-60 lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 points, drives on Anthony Edwards during the Thunder's 114-81 win over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. NBAE via Getty Images A short time later, Kenrich Williams, a rarely-used sub this postseason, hit a midrange jumper and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to put the Thunder up 71-62. Oklahoma City outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the third quarter to take a 76-66 advantage into the fourth. A spinning dunk by Holmgren in traffic put Oklahoma City ahead 86-75 and drew a roar from the crowd. Former Knick Julius Randle, who scored 28 points, looks to make a move on Isaiah Hartenstein, another ex-Knick, during the Thunder's Game 1 win over the Timberwolves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Gilgeous-Alexander threw up a prayer as he was being fouled while falling to the floor. The ball rolled in, and he made the free throw to make it 91-77 with seven minutes remaining.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
New details on Kristaps Porzingis' mystery illness with Celtics future uncertain
After looking like a shell of his All-Star self during the semifinals loss to the Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis finally has a diagnosis for the sickness that hampered him since March. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in his post-season media availability that Porzingis was dealing with 'post-viral syndrome,' which the medical team expects him to get over within a few weeks now that the season is over. Stevens noted that Porzingis' recovery was not helped by continuing to play basketball this season, and he suspects the big man will make a full recovery. Advertisement 3 Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with 'post-viral syndrome' according to team president Brad Stevens. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post The team hopes that Porzingis will play in the EuroBasket biennial tournament for his home country of Latvia in August. Porzingis consistently missed time for much of the second half of the season with an unknown illness, and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was forced to sit him for the whole second half of Game 5 against the Knicks because 'he couldn't breathe' in an eventual second-round series loss to his former team. Advertisement Porzingis initially missed eight games in March, recovering from what was described as a 'non-COVID illness,' and looked like a shell of himself by the time the playoffs rolled around in May. Even when Porzingis played, he was completely ineffective. 3 Brad Stevens revealed that Kristaps Porzginis should recover within a few weeks. AP The ex-Knick averaged 20.9 minutes per game through two playoff rounds, putting up just 7.9 points per contest as he constantly looked winded on the court. Advertisement The 7-foot-2 center averaged 4.2 points per game and just 3.7 rebounds in 15.5 minutes in six games against the Knicks and was benched for long stretches as Boston searched for scoring and consistent defense. Now, Boston enters an uncertain offseason where nothing is off the table after star Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles and could miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. It had been reported that the Celtics, who have a massive salary cap total already committed for 2025 of $261.9 million, will break up the team in an attempt to get cheaper. Advertisement 3 Kristaps Porzingis missed serious time for the Celtics in the playoffs this year. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post If they don't shed salary, the Celtics' new ownership group is expected to owe a $238 million luxury tax bill on top of the salaries they are already committed to pay. Porzingis could be a piece that Boston looks to move this offseason as he has an expiring contract after this season, although it is unclear what his trade market will be.
New York Post
03-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Knicks can't afford an inconsistent Karl-Anthony Towns against Celtics
The Knicks were lucky to survive that performance from Karl-Anthony Towns. Performance might be putting it lightly. Advertisement No-show is probably better. Towns struggled through a nightmarish Game 6 against the Pistons, which the Knicks won 116-113 to clinch the series. And he was at his worst in the fourth quarter when the Pistons went on a 20-2 run and looked set to force a Game 7. He finished with just 10 points — matching his series low from Game 2 — on 4-for-10 shooting from the field. Advertisement He missed his only 3-pointer. In the fourth quarter, he missed both shots he took, recorded two turnovers and three fouls. He also went 1-for-2 from the line when he had a chance to tie the game with 1:19 left. Advertisement He fouled out with 49.1 seconds left. Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks puts down a rebound during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 'It doesn't matter about stats, it doesn't matter about personal accolades, it's about finding a way to win and we did that,' Towns said. 'I know the city only cares about one thing, and that's W's, and we found a way to get that done.' Thursday's showing was emblematic of Towns' up-and-down series. Advertisement CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS He had 23 points in the Knicks' Game 1 win, but then disappeared with 10 in their Game 2 loss — and did not take a shot in the fourth quarter. Then he responded with 31 in a Game 3 win and was the hero in Game 4, drilling two clutch shots down the stretch. But he finished the series with 17 and 10 points in the Knicks' Game 5 loss and Game 6 win, respectively. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. The highs were very high and the lows were very low. The Knicks will need better than that, and more consistency, to pull off an upset of the Celtics in the second round. On the defensive end, the Celtics hunted Towns in pick-and-rolls during the regular season, in which the Knicks went 0-4 in the matchup. Advertisement Tobias Harris of the Detroit Pistons defends against Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post He is likely to guard ex-Knick Kristaps Porzingis, who averaged 24.5 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 45.5 percent shooting from 3-point range in the four games. That was tied for Porzingis' second-highest scoring average against any team this year. Put simply, Towns needs to win that matchup. Julius Randle, the main part of the Knicks' blockbuster trade with the Timberwolves that brought Towns to New York, had a stellar first-round series with Minnesota to help it upset the Lakers. Advertisement He averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds and was probably the second-most important player for the Timberwolves behind Anthony Edwards. It's time for Towns to better that. It's why the Knicks made the trade, after all.
