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Come Fan with UsWednesday, August 5, 2026

Someone finally hit the Cavaliers in the mouth. (It was a Cavalier.)

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

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

RELISH THE CHALLENGE: Paul Flannery’s Sunday Shootaround live from Oakland looks at how the Warriors make it all look so easy. It’s not! The Thunder are proving that, but Golden State relishes the challenge. Plus: five takeaways from the NBA lottery and the best quotes of the week. Check it out.

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That Warriors-Thunder series is back Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

BACK FROM THE DEAD: Don’t bury those Raptors just yet. Backed by DeMar DeRozan and Bismack Biyombo and some funky bad shooting for key Cavaliers, Toronto won Game 3, 99-84. The game was pretty chippy with a couple of stand-offs. The most hilarious moment was when LeBron got hit in the face and flopped terribly. It was teammate Tristan Thompson who inadvertently smacked him. Whoops!

Twenty-six rebounds for Biyombo. For most of the game he had zero points, too, until the Cavs decided to stop guarding him late in the fourth.

All that said, A LOT went right for the Raptors ...

SOMETHING TO PROVE: Eric Koreen on what the Raptors have left to prove.

GODLIKE: After LeBron discusses his basketball influences, J.R. Smith reveals that his game is inspired by 2K.

BOO THIS MAN: Dahntay Jones did a Dahntay Jones thing and uppercut Biyombo in the groin in garbage time. (You can tell it was garbage time because Dahntay Jones was in the game.)

HOW’S THE WATER? Ricky O’Donnell on how two prospects are using the transformative new NCAA rules on eligibility to truly test the NBA Draft waters.

IS THIS HEALTHY? Draymond Green can recite the names of the 34 players taken before him in the draft.

[GRUMBLES] The Lakers are indeed on track to soon be fun again.

YES! Russ Bengtson on greatness, Steph Curry and LeBron James.

HMM: Stephen Silas has launched into the middle of the Rockets’ coaching search, but the Warriors are hoping to grab him to replace Luke Walton.

HERE HERE: Slate’s Josh Levin on what makes Zach Lowe great. We NBA fans are so lucky to have so many excellent writers covering the league!

SPEAKING OF ZACH ... He says goodbye to the man behind the Crazy As Heck Spurs Coyote mascot costume.

STILL NOT A PONY: If Paul Pierce is your dad it turns out you can get a llama for your fifth birthday.

OH NO! Magic Johnson came to regret trash talking Jordan. As did everyone.

MOMS CLUB: Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph are friends except right now while their teams are fighting for a spot in the Finals. Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph’s moms are friends always.

SPEAKING OF FRIENDS FOREVER ... Flawless Pablo Torre piece on the LeBron-Dwyane Wade friendship that enrages the world.

Happy Sunday. See you next time.

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* * *

Steph Curry fell into the crowd and no one helped

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