Tatum's Cathartic MSG Return & The Houston Rockets Catch Fire (w/ Evan Turner)

Tatum's Cathartic MSG Return & The Houston Rockets Catch Fire (w/ Evan Turner)

Author: SI NBA April 11, 2026 Duration: 47:09

Chris Mannix and Evan Turner break down Joel Embiid’s unlucky case of appendicitis, then discuss Jayson Tatum’s triumphant return to Madison Square Garden less than a year after tearing his Achilles there in the playoffs. They also examine whether the Houston Rockets’ recent winning streak is enough to carry them deep into the playoffs and the tight MVP race between Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.



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There’s always another layer to the story in the NBA, a rumor beneath the headline or a strategic gamble that changes everything. Open Floor: SI's NBA Show digs into those details with Chris Mannix, who navigates the entire league landscape from the draft through the playoffs and into the next season’s speculation. This isn’t just a recap of scores; it’s a conversation about the forces shaping the standings, the trades that alter franchises, and the off-court narratives that captivate fans. Each episode unpacks the latest news with the insight you’d expect from Sports Illustrated, while also entertaining the deeper debates and conspiracy theories that make the league so endlessly discussable. You’ll hear clear analysis on team building, playoff pushes, and the evolving legacy of the game’s biggest stars. For anyone who thinks about basketball beyond the highlight reel, this podcast provides a regular, grounded yet engaging look at the real NBA calendar, where the story never actually stops. Tune in for a perspective that’s as much about the why and what’s next as it is about what just happened on the court.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Open Floor: SI's NBA Show
Podcast Episodes
Desmond Bane Traded & Jalen Williams Ascension (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:35
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols discuss if the Indiana Fever need an enforcer for Caitlin Clark after a very physical game against the Connecticut Sun before getting into why the Desmond Bane trade was one of the rare tr…
Everyone Rejects The Knicks & Pacers Out Run OKC (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:14
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols discuss how the Knicks coaching search keeps getting more desperate as a fifth team denies a request to poach their play caller, how the Kevin Durant trade rumors intensifying means we are…
Thunder Even It Up & the Jason Kidd To Knicks Rumors (w/ Mark Medina) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:30
Chris Mannix discusses the rumors surrounding Jason Kidd leaving the Mavericks to coach the Knicks and why the Mavs should consider blowing up the roster around Cooper Flagg before he's joined by Mark Medina to break dow…
Thibs Shocking Firing & Thunder/Pacers Preview (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols get into the surprise firing of Tom Thibodeau and question the motives behind letting a coach go that led the Knicks to their first conference finals in twenty five years. We also discuss…
The Knicks Need To Run It Back (w/ Fred Katz) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:28
Chris Mannix is joined by Fred Katz of The Athletic to talk about what the Knicks need to do after losing to the Pacers in the ECF, what Mitchell Robinson does for this team, the good and not so good of Karl-Anthony Town…
Ant Edwards Playoff Struggles & Knicks Mix It Up (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:06
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols discuss Ant Edwards passive game four performance and if he still has room to grow as a player at only twenty three years old. We also discuss the Knicks lineup changes against the Pacers,…
Dissecting That Crazy Pacers Comeback (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:48
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols discuss the wild game ending comeback by the Pacers against the Knicks in game one, how Aaron Nesmith played at an an all star level down the stretch, the rampant flopping throughout the g…
Nuggets Window Closing & ECF Preview (w/ Mark Medina) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:34
Chris Mannix is joined by Sportskeeda's Mark Medina to break down what moves the Nuggets have left with a talented yet shallow roster, what we can expect from a stacked Knicks/Pacers series, and the logistics of the Cavs…
Wolves In WCF Again & Warriors Still Contenders (w/ Rachel Nichols) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:56
Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols convene for the first time since the crazy draft lottery and share their ideas for how they'd fix the lottery odds, Julius Randle proving his doubters wrong this postseason, why we're stil…
Inside The Most Dramatic Draft Lottery Ever (w/ Kevin Sweeney) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:03
Chris Mannix and SI's Kevin Sweeney talk live in Chicago at the NBA draft combine about the shocking draft lottery that saw the Mavericks jump to the number one pick and in position to draft Cooper Flagg. We also break d…