The Halftimerz

Jonquel Jones Makes Liberty History as New York Rolls Past Toronto

The New York Liberty are heating up. Behind a dominant performance from Jonquel Jones, the Liberty cruised to a 97-82 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to three games and improving to 6-4 on the season.

Jones was unstoppable, finishing with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks while continuing to cement her place in Liberty history. The veteran center joined franchise legends Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart as the only players in team history with multiple games of at least 15 points and 15 rebounds, while becoming just the fourth Liberty player ever to post a 20 point, 15 rebound performance.

She set the tone early, piling up 17 points and 12 rebounds before halftime for the first first half double-double of her Liberty regular-season career. Her 12 first-half boards matched the highest total by any player in a half this season.

After trailing 20-17 at the end of the first quarter, New York seized control with a massive 15-2 run in the second period. The Liberty carried a six-point lead into halftime before exploding for 30 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

Breanna Stewart added 19 points and nine rebounds, scoring 17 of her points after the break, while Marine Johannes chipped in 15 points and became the first player in the WNBA to reach 30 made three-pointers this season.

Leonie Fiebich scored 14 points, Satou Sabally added 12 off the bench, and rookie Pauline Astier finished with 10 points and five assists as New York matched a franchise record with six players scoring in double figures.

Toronto fell to 5-5 despite 17 points apiece from Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes.

With Jones dominating the paint and the Liberty firing on all cylinders, New York looks every bit like a team finding its championship form.

Is Jonquel Jones the most underrated superstar in the WNBA right now?

Victor Wembanyama Joins Rare Company as Spurs’ Remarkable Rise Continues

The San Antonio Spurs weren’t supposed to be here this soon.

After years of patiently building around franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have accelerated their timeline in stunning fashion, punching their ticket to the 2026 NBA Finals after eliminating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

And unsurprisingly, Wembanyama has been at the center of it all.

According to the NBA, the 22-year-old superstar has joined an exclusive club that includes only Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as the only players in league history aged 22 or younger to lead their team in playoff scoring heading into the NBA Finals.

Wembanyama has been nothing short of dominant throughout San Antonio’s postseason run, piling up 394 points despite missing a playoff game in the first round. His scoring total is 49 points ahead of the Spurs’ next-leading scorer, Stephon Castle, highlighting just how much of the offensive burden he has carried.

What’s most impressive is how quickly San Antonio’s rebuild has come together.

The Spurs endured growing pains during Wembanyama’s rookie season, a struggle that ultimately led to the selection of Castle in the 2024 NBA Draft. A year later, injuries helped position the franchise to land another elite young talent in Dylan Harper.

Now, those pieces have formed one of the NBA’s most exciting young cores.

Wembanyama has not only lived up to the immense hype that followed him into the league—he’s exceeded it. With Castle, Harper, Jeremy Sochan, and a deep supporting cast around him, the Spurs appear built for sustained success.

The scary part for the rest of the NBA?

Their superstar is still only 22 years old.

🏀 Is this the beginning of the NBA’s next dynasty in San Antonio?

The stage is set, and the story almost feels too perfect.

For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals and standing in their way once again are the San Antonio Spurs. A rematch nearly three decades in the making, with history echoing loudly and a championship drought hanging even louder over Madison Square Garden. Fifty-three years. That’s how long it’s been since the Knicks last held the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Now, they’re four wins away. This time, though, feels different.
New York has stormed through the 2026 postseason with a level of toughness, cohesion, and belief that has reignited one of basketball’s most passionate fan bases. There’s a grit to this group — a throwback edge that mirrors the city it represents — and a growing sense that this could finally be the year the drought ends.

But if there’s one team built to silence a storybook ending, it’s San Antonio. The Spurs arrive battle-tested after taking down the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a grueling seven-game series. They’re young, dangerous, and playing with the kind of fearless confidence that makes them a nightmare matchup in June. And despite a regular season win over San Antonio in the 2025 NBA Cup Final, the Knicks aren’t buying into any sense of familiarity.

In fact, Josh Hart brushed it off entirely — in classic Hart fashion.
“I mean, that was December. I don't think that's really gonna be equivalent to what the atmosphere and energy is going to be like,” Hart said. “Technically, that game didn't happen, so I don't think there's anything that we can learn from.”

It’s a mindset rooted in respect and reality.

That NBA Cup clash took place on a neutral floor in Las Vegas, far removed from the intensity of an NBA Finals atmosphere. Now, the Knicks will open the series on the road in San Antonio, where a relentless Spurs crowd is ready to turn up the pressure from the opening tip.

Different stakes. Different stage. Different war.
For New York, that means one thing: start fresh.

No carryover. No assumptions. Just a clean slate and a chance to rewrite history.

For San Antonio, it’s an opportunity to usher in a new era with a statement victory over one of the league’s most storied franchises. Old ghosts. New stars. One trophy.

The 2026 NBA Finals aren’t just a series; they’re a collision of past and future. And this time, the ending is still unwritten.

Hailey Van Lith Gets Second Chance as Connecticut Sun Bring Rookie Guard Back on Developmental Deal

The rollercoaster continues for rookie guard Hailey Van Lith.

Just two days after being waived, the Connecticut Sun announced Saturday that Van Lith has re-signed with the franchise on a developmental player contract, giving the former first-round pick another opportunity to prove she belongs in the WNBA.

The move comes after Connecticut activated guard Leila Lacan, who returned from overseas after leading Basket Landes to the 2026 French La Boulangere Wonderligue championship and earning Finals MVP honors. The roster shuffle initially cost Van Lith her spot, but the Sun quickly found a way to keep her in the organization.

According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Van Lith had other opportunities available but ultimately believed remaining in Connecticut was the best move for both her immediate growth and long-term future. And based on how she's played recently, it's easy to understand why.

After a difficult rookie season with the Chicago Sky, Van Lith has looked like a completely different player since arriving in Connecticut. The 2025 No. 11 overall pick struggled through injuries and inconsistent minutes in Chicago, averaging just 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 33.9% from the field and 16.1% from three-point range across 29 games.
Many wondered whether the former college star would ever find her footing at the professional level. Now, she may be doing exactly that.

Since being claimed by the Sun on May 6, Van Lith has become an important contributor in Connecticut's rotation. Through nine appearances, including three starts, she's averaging 8.1 points and 2.2 assists in just 17.6 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 49.2% from the floor and 47.1% from beyond the arc.

Her breakout performance came against the Las Vegas Aces on May 15, when she poured in 17 points on 63.6% shooting while adding four assists, showing the offensive confidence that made her one of college basketball's most recognizable stars.

Under the WNBA's current collective bargaining agreement, developmental roster spots allow teams to keep promising young players in the system while providing valuable game experience and development opportunities. Players with fewer than four years of service are eligible and can appear in up to 12 games during the season.

For Van Lith, the deal represents more than just a roster move. It's another chance. Another opportunity to continue rebuilding her confidence, refining her game, and proving she can become the impact guard many expected when she entered the league.

The Sun clearly aren't ready to give up on her potential. And if her recent performances are any indication, Van Lith may be rewarding that faith sooner rather than later.

Do you think Hailey Van Lith can develop into a long-term WNBA starter, or should Connecticut look elsewhere for its future backcourt plans?

Do you think Hailey Van Lith's resurgence in Connecticut is the start of a breakout WNBA career, or is the jury still out?

Victor Wembanyama Claims Western Conference Finals MVP as Spurs Eliminate Thunder in Game 7 Thriller

The future of the NBA has officially arrived.

After leading the San Antonio Spurs to a stunning 111-103 Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, Victor Wembanyama was named the 2026 Western Conference Finals MVP, cementing his status as one of the league's most dominant superstars.

With a trip to the NBA Finals hanging in the balance, Wembanyama delivered another complete performance, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, and one block while helping the Spurs close out the defending champion Thunder on their home floor.

For Oklahoma City, the loss marks a heartbreaking end to a season that carried championship expectations. For San Antonio, it's the culmination of a remarkable playoff run powered by the 7-foot-4 phenomenon.

Throughout the seven-game series, Wembanyama was simply unstoppable. The two-time All-Star averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and an impressive 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. His dominance was on display from the opening tip of the series.

Wembanyama exploded for 41 points and 24 rebounds in a Game 1 victory that immediately put the Thunder on notice. Even as Oklahoma City responded by winning Games 2 and 3, Wembanyama continued to produce, posting 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 2 before adding 26 points in Game 3.

Facing a critical Game 4 at home, the Spurs star responded with one of his best performances of the postseason, pouring in 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting to even the series.

Even after struggling to find his rhythm offensively in Game 5, where he shot just 26.7 percent from the floor, Wembanyama bounced back when San Antonio needed him most. He scored 28 points in Game 6 to force a winner-take-all Game 7 and helped guide the Spurs across the finish line on Saturday night.

Now, Wembanyama and the Spurs are just four wins away from completing one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent NBA history.

Standing in their way? The New York Knicks.

With the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy now in hand and his confidence soaring, Wembanyama will have a chance to add an even bigger prize to his growing collection.

The NBA Finals stage is set. And Victor Wembanyama looks ready for the spotlight.

🔥 Is Victor Wembanyama already the best player in basketball?

🏀 Can the Knicks slow him down?