RJ Hamster
SI:AM | What’s With All These NBA Playoff Blowouts?
DAN GARTLAND
Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I’m glad at least one of the NBA conference finals is going the distance, so we have something to watch this weekend
In today’s SI:AM:
📝 Cruz on new college sports bill
Another lopsided playoff game
Dustin Safranek/Imagn Images
The Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Spurs hasn’t exactly lived up to the lofty expectations set by the thrilling first two games of the series. After a double-overtime classic in Game 1 and a similarly competitive Game 2, fans were clamoring for the series to go the full seven games. And after San Antonio’s impressive victory in Game 6 last night, they’ll get their wish.
But the rest of the series hasn’t been as hotly contested as it seemed it would be after the first two games. The Spurs won Thursday night’s Game 6 by 27 points, four days after winning Game 4 by 21.
San Antonio made the blowout somewhat interesting, at least, with a 20–0 run in the third quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a midrange jumper to cut OKC’s deficit to 72–64 with 8:23 left in the quarter. Then it took the Thunder more than seven minutes to hit their next shot. They missed 14 shots in a row. The game was essentially over before the buzzer sounded to end the quarter.
Fans have become accustomed to seeing lopsided games this postseason. It’s not just the Knicks winning games handily. San Antonio’s win last night was the 13th game this postseason where the margin of victory was at least 25 points. That’s tied for the third most such games in any postseason. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI
The best of Sports Illustrated
- Victor Wembanyama played with a sense of “desperation” as the Spurs forced a Game 7 against the Thunder with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line, Chris Mannix reports.
- Kevin Sweeney reveals his mock NBA Draftfollowing the NCAA withdrawal deadline.
- Pat Forde spoke with Texas Senator Ted Cruz about the new bipartisan bill he authored with Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington, which Cruz calls “the last, best hope” to save college sports.
- Here are Gilberto Manzano’s top 10 best remaining NFL free agents, along with their ideal landing spots.
- Ryan Phillips examines the MLB owners’ proposed salary cap and floor in their first offer in CBA negotiations.
- The SI WNBA team identifies the early trends of the 2026 season.
Get the print edition of Sports Illustrateddelivered to your door.
Sarah Phipps/Imagn Images
👀 The top five …
… things I saw last night:
5. The Orioles fan who caught a home run ball and a ground-rule double ball in back-to-back innings. (MLB.com interviewed the guy. He’s a 22-year-old who just graduated from college in Baltimore.)
4. Astros outfielder Cam Smith’s leaping home run robbery.
3. Carter Bryant’s ferocious two-handed slamlate in the first half.
2. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s grand slam over the Green Monster. (That snapped a streak of 15 straight games without a homer for Acuña, the sixth-longest homerless stretch of his career.)
1. Ava Kuszak’s walk-off homer for Nebraska in the Women’s College World Series against Arkansas. (The Razorbacks are still alive in the double-elimination format.)
Join SI The Post-Up
A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores.CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE
We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email.
Sports Publishing Solutions Inc.
625 Broadway, 10th floor
New York, NY. 10012
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter.
You can unsubscribe here .
Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions
© 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC.
All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators’ opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLERor texting 800GAM.
Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.
