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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Everyone loves Enes Kanter’s kebabs

Good morning. We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

#EVENTHEHAWKS: Atlanta took care of business in Game 6, beating the Celtics 104-92 on a solid team effort. The Hawks move on to face Cleveland beginning on Monday. As for the Celtics? It should be another interesting summer for them.

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ROCKET ON OUTTA HERE: Here’s my de facto eulogy to the Houston Rockets, a team no one will miss.

MOLDING ENES: Phenomenal story from Anthony Slater on how the Thunder from top to bottom embraced Enes Kanter last spring and helped him reach his considerable potential. WSJ’s Ben Cohen has more on the players’ infatuation with halal cuisine. (Attention Thunder staff: if you need a place near Sacramento, see if Sam’s Mediterranean in Davis will do it. MY HEAVENS THE SHAWARMA.)

ON THE AIR TONIGHT ...

Raptors at Pacers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews and NBA TV, TOR leads 3-2
Heat at Hornets, 8 p.m., ESPN, CHA leads 3-2
Clippers at Blazers, 10:30 p.m., POR leads 3-2

Do we want closure, or GAME 7s?

STINGERS UP: Woj on how MJ hiring Steve Clifford a few years ago changed everything for Charlotte. This Jeje Gomez piece on the Hornets’ depth was also really good. And finally, the always excellent Zach Lowe on Clifford and Marvin Williams doing work.

BOOM DIZZLE: Baron Davis joined Prada and Epstein on the Limited Upside podcast to talk about his documentary, THE DREW, which premieres Friday on Showtime.

FLEX: Eric Koreen on Dwane Casey showing he’s not as stodgy as he’s made up to be.

COACHING CAROUSEL: The Kings want to interview Nate McMillan and Elston Turner. Turner is a guy who probably should have gotten a shot at some point in the past decade.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: On Thursday I misattributed an excellent ESPN.com story on the Rockets’ dysfunction. It was actually written by Calvin Watkins. Go read it!

[ARCHED EYEBROW]: Vindicated by the league’s last-two-minute report, the Twitter account for the refs’ association @‘s Dywane Wade’s famous wife Gabrielle Union, who had complained about a non-call on Twitter after the game. This seems like a bridge that ought not to have been crossed.

WELL ALRIGHT: Stan Van Gundy says Andre Drummond may attempt to start shooting free throws underhanded next season.

HE MADE IT: Some heroin in Philly has been branded with Steph Curry’s face. This is a collector’s item I heartily recommend Dub Nation ignores.

AND FINALLY: Shaq and Chuck wrestling in the green room, via r/nba.

Happy Friday. See you next time.

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