OTTAWA AT CAROLINA: That's easy. Free and Easy Travis Green leads his underdog Sens over uptight and annoying Rod Brind'Amour's Canes. Write this down, please. Carolina will never win a Cup as long as annoying Brindy is coaching! SENS IN 6.
BOSTON AT BUFFALO: The Sabres – from Lucky Lindy down to the stickboy – are possessed. Beantowners are okay and I love Jewish goalie Jeremy Swayman out of Alaska as a Huge plus but Buffalo's Alex, is a Tuch better. How can you beat Tuchy from the fairy tale town of Syracuse, Arizona? BUFF IN 6.
CANADIENS AT TAMPA BAY: Montreal's Martin St. Louis is the sixth best coach in the NHL. Trouble is for the Habs is that The Lightning's Jon Cooper is the best. Period! Maven is a big Jake Guentzel fan, not to mention Braden – you get the POINT. Also, that ex-Rangers who the Blueshirts unloaded, Ryan McDonagh is playing ace hockey. BOLTS IN 6.
PITTSBURGH AT PHILADELPHIA: Now that Pitt's brass has unloaded bum coach Mike Sullivan to the Loserville-On-The-Hudson Rangers, Crosby-Malkin-Letang-Karlsson will put the Swiss Cheese sandwiched Flyers out of their misery, faster than you can say "Philly rhymes with SIlly which is the Broad Street goaltending! PITT IN 4.
The NHL has official announced the date, time and odds for the 2026 Draft Lottery.
This is relevant for the Florida Panthers due to them finishing as the eighth-worst team in the league this season thanks to an injury-filled campaign unlike any the franchise had seen before.
According to the league, the Draft Lottery is set for Tuesday, May 5. A start time has not been announced, but these are generally broadcast prior to the start of that evening’s Stanley Cup Playoff slate.
Once things get going, fans watching the broadcast will see the lottery balls drawn in real time.
There will be two draws held, one for the first overall pick and one for the second overall pick.
Teams can only move up 10 spots in the lottery, so only the eleven-worst teams in the standings have a chance at picking first.
Officially, the Panthers have a 6.0% chance at obtaining the first overall pick.
Depending how the ping pong balls land, Florida will either move up for the first or second overall pick, keep the eighth pick, or get bumped back to ninth or tenth overall.
The consensus number one prospect this year is forward Gavin McKenna, and whoever wins the lottery will be landing a dynamic, NHL-ready star in the making.
For Florida, simply having a first-round pick, let alone one in the top 10, is a massive asset to work with.
Whether they use the pick to select a high-end prospect or entertain trade offers for players who can help at the NHL level immediately, it’s an unexpectedly positive potential boost for a team already expected to be among those competing for a Stanley Cup next season.
Remember, Florida initially traded this pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2025 Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to the Panthers, but the pick came with a provision of being protected if it ended up being in the top 10.
The 2026 NHL Draft is set for June 26 and 27 from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The Autism Acceptance sneakers worn by Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
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With the Play-In Tournament in the rearview, the NBA Playoffs officially tip off today.
The third game of today’s NBA on Prime triple-header features the No. 6 seed in the East, Atlanta Hawks, facing off with the No. 3 New York Knicks.
For the second season in a row, the Knicks (53-29) finished third in the Eastern Conference, capturing the No. 3 seed and home court advantage in the first round.
The Knicks and Hawks faced off three times this season, most recently on April 6. The Knicks won two of three, including the April 6 matchup 108-105.
Hawks vs. Knicks: what to know
What: NBA Playoffs First Round, Game 1
When: April 18, 6 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, New York)
Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)
Game 2 of the Knicks-Hawks playoff series is set for Monday, April 20.
Hawks vs. Knicks start time:
Game 1 of the Hawks vs. Knicks playoff series tips off at 6 p.m. ET tonight, April 18.
How to watch Hawks vs. Knicks for free:
Select NBA playoff games, including tonight’s Hawks vs. Knicks matchup, are streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout on the day that MLB is honoring Jackie Robinson Day prior to the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves on April 15, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Well the Braves were able to absolutely cruise to a game 1 victory in Philly behind Martin Perez and Jose Suarez, who combined for 9.0 shutout innings. The offense broke out for 9 runs and Austin Riley hit 2 homers, a very promising sign.
Beating up on Taijuan Walker is one thing, but we will have a very different level of pitching matchup today, as two of the most effective pitchers of the last few seasons will face off. This battle of lefty aces perhaps favors Atlanta from a platoon split perspective, as Atlanta has hit the ball pretty well off lefties, while Philadelphia has been absolutely brutal at the plate facing southpaws. While there is certainly some small sample size theatre involved in these stats, Chris Sale isn’t an easy pitcher to hit from either side of the plate, so any platoon advantage he may see, particularly against Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber can only help. Austin Riley seems to be finding himself at the plate, which is huge for this Braves team in general, but especially in adding a bigtime right-handed bat for a team with a ton of left-handed hitters.
Cristopher Sanchez will be taking the ball for Philly and he is a formidable matchup. Sanchez has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the beginning of 2024. Sanchez boasted an xFIP of 3.19 over 181.2 innings in 2024 and 2.77 over 202.0 innings in a monster 2025. He has had a strong record of avoiding walks in his career, but dramatically improved his strikeout rate from below average to above average last year and has carried that into this young season. He pitches primarily with a sinker and changeup, with his slider in distant third in terms of usage. Sanchez has solid mid-90s velocity on his sinker, but has elite extension from the left side that makes it that much harder for hitters to pick up his pitches. All of his pitches lean towards the arm-side, as compared to average movement for the pitch types. His slider is very vertical, but his changeup and sinker have exceptional arm-side run and drop. This pitch-mix produces an elite ground ball rate, so getting the ball in the air against Sanchez may be a challenge for Braves hitters. The Braves could really use some production from Acuna, Riley, and Albies from the right side of the plate to plate some runs against Sanchez.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia, PA
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Celtics’ 2026 outlook without Jayson Tatum for much of the season, they haven’t missed a beat, finishing with the No. 2 seed in the East and drawing a first-round matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jaylen Brown really stepped up during Tatum’s absence, and he headlines my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions as we expect Boston's dominance at home to continue in Game 1.
Find out more in my NBA picks for Sunday, April 19.
Our best 76ers vs Celtics SGP for Game 1
Jaylen Brown has found plenty of success against the Philadelphia 76ers this season, averaging 38.6 PRA across four matchups. The Boston Celtics guard delivered 37+ PRA twice and finished with 35 in the two other games.
With defensive anchor Joel Embiid sidelined once again, this sets up as a favorable matchup for Brown. Philadelphia’s 116.5 defensive rating without Embiid would rank ninth-worst in the league.
In Philly's last three games in Boston without Embiid, the 76ers were outscored by 17.3 points per game. The Celtics also posted a +8.3 net rating at home this season, and with the roster close to full strength, I’ll back them to win this one by 13+.
No team hit the Under at a higher rate than Boston (63.4%). The Celtics consistently kept games low-scoring thanks to a bottom-five pace and top-five defense.
Without Embiid, Philadelphia’s offensive rating dropped from 118.5 to 112.9, ranking eighth-worst in the league. The Sixers will likely struggle to score, and I expect Boston to control the tempo in a slow grind.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns fouls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder as Gilgeous-Alexander attempts a shot during the third quarter at Paycom Center on March 19, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the NBA playoffs.
It is that time of year again, when teams chase the one main thing that they have built for all year. The NBA Championship! Some teams make it all the way to the end. Be it a dark horse or those expected to be there. At times, the team expected to be there falls early.
It is the drama and excitement and chase for ultimate success and history. Having said that, let’s see what teams will face in the first round.
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles | Saturday April 18 (8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles | Tuesday April 21 (10:30 ET, NBC)
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston | Friday April 24 (8 ET, Prime Video)
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston | Sunday April 26 (9:30 ET, NBC)
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles | Wednesday April 29 (if necessary)
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston | Friday May 1 (if necessary)
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles | Sunday May 3 (if necessary)
My Predictions
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons in 6
Philadelphia 76ers in 7
New York Knicks in 6
Toronto Raptors in 6
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder in 6
San Antonio Spurs in 5
Minnesota Timberwolves in 5
Los Angeles Lakers in 6
If you want to discuss anything, you can do so below. For the Lakers , right here. I will update this thread as the first round progresses. Have at it in the comments below.
When I am not posting ridiculous trades on here you can find me talking about Nintendo, LGBT content, music, and the Lakers on my Twitter. You can follow Alexis on Twitter at @BeautifulShy_RSand on BlueSky at @msshyskye.bsky.social.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke prior to Saturday's meeting with the Cubs...
Benge leading off
With the Mets’ offense shorthanded and struggling, Mendoza decided to shake things up in the lineup for Friday’s series opener in Chicago.
Part of that shakeup included Carson Benge jumping up to the leadoff spot.
Benge enjoyed a strong day in his first career start in that spot, lacing a 105 mph lineout to open the game, then picking up a single up the middle a few innings later.
This continues a good stretch for the young outfielder, who is riding a three-game hitting streak and has reached safely in six of his last seven games.
While some of the decisions have to do with the Mets' options at the moment, the skipper liked what he saw from Benge in his first chance in that spot.
“He continues to have good at-bats,” Mendoza said. “Yesterday he hit the ball hard, had that single, but I think it just comes down to personnel, we have to get some guys back in the lineup, then you start making those decisions -- but in the meantime, I feel like leaving him there makes the most sense.”
Melendez bringing a spark
MJ Melendez had gotten off to a bit of a slow start this year in Syracuse, but that certainly hasn’t shown following the slugger's call-up to the Mets this week.
Melendez went 2-for-4 with two well-struck doubles against Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday.
Thrown back into the lineup on Friday, the outfielder put together another strong showing, reaching three times with a walk and a pair of hard-hit singles.
He’s now been on base five times over his first eight plate appearances.
“Really good at-bats,” Mendoza said. “We saw it from the first game against Ohtani, hitting the ball hard, using the whole field, controlling the zone -- he’s been really good for us offensively and he’s going to continue to get opportunities.”
Melendez is back in the lineup, hitting fifth as the DH on Saturday, but it’s possible he sees time at first in the near future with Jorge Polanco landing on the IL without a timeline for return.
Apr 1, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Luis Robert – CF
MJ Melendez – DH
Francisco Alvarez – C
Mark Vientos – 1B
Brett Baty – RF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Freddy Peralta – RHP
Cubs lineup
Nico Hoerner – 2B
Michael Busch – 1B
Alex Bregman – 3B
Ian Happ – LF
Seiya Suzuki – RF
Moises Ballesteros – DH
Miguel Amaya – C
Pete Crow-Armstrong – CF
Dansby Swanson – SS
Jameson Taillon – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 2:20pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
In the days leading up to Game 1 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins' head coach Dan Muse remained pretty coy about who would get the nod between the pipes to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs for his team.
And that finally became clear on gameday.
After Saturday's optional morning skate ahead of Game 1, Muse announced that Stuart Skinner would be the Penguins' starting goaltender for series opener in Pittsburgh at 8:00 p.m. ET later that evening. Skinner - like many others - did not take the ice for the optional skate, which was the initial indication that he would get the nod Saturday night.
"As I said [Friday], we have the benefit of two guys that have played great for us all year," Muse said. "So, we went through our process, and Skinner is starting."
There was a bit of uncertainty as to who would get the first nod between Skinner and Arturs Silovs, as both have fairly even in terms of sheer numbers. Skinner has an .888 save percentage on the season in comparison to Silovs's exact same .888, but since the Olympic break, Silovs owns an .871 save percentage in 13 appearances - well below his season percentage - while Skinner had a slightly better number at .884 over 14 appearances.
The Penguins have operated with a goaltender rotation all season long, and it surely isn't common practice to continue that into the postseason. However, Muse reiterated that they are taking things one day at a time when it comes to goaltending, lineups, and everything else in between.
"I've said it all year, [we] take things a game at a time. I think I'm not going to go anywhere past Game 1 on anything. That's not just in regards to [goaltending], that's into everything. We are focused solely on Game 1. That has been our focused as we've prepared. So, that's what I'll speak on here today."
In his career against the Flyers, Skinner is 5-1-2 with a 2.45 goals-against average to go along with a .913 save percentage, while Silovs - with more limited experience, as he is still a rookie - has posted a 1-0-1 record with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage versus Philadelphia.
LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 2: Steve Finley #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers drops his bat after hitting a ninth inning walk off grand slam home run against the San Francisco Giants on October 2, 2004 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers came from behind to win 7-3 and win the National League West. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case you missed it, the San Francisco Giants won their 8th baseball game of the 2026 season last night and scored 10 runs in the process just to make us all feel even better about it. It was their 20th game of the season, though, so there’s the whole matter of their 8-12 record. Heading into the game, their 7-12 standing generated this comment from writer Wendy Thurm:
This is why there’s gnashing of teeth. The Giants have declared they are a “postseason or bust” team at all times, even when they hire a rookie manager who doesn’t know a lick about spit and needs months — maybe even a full season — to get accustomed to managing a major league team. The team demands we pay attention to the results, and right now, the team is underperforming to an extent that they’re running into a the weight of MLB history when it comes to teams that have a bad start.
Now, the three Wild Card setup has certainly changed the math on playoff odds for teams with this sort of start and I would expect to see this list rise in the coming years, but let’s keep with the historical theme and expand the look at the Giants franchise that I did after their 3-7 start. In that post, I looked at three teams in the Oracle Park era that were able to turn things around. No, I won’t be looking at the current team’s standings and comparing to history every 10 games, but given their early struggles, it seems worth putting them in context for one of the winningest franchises in professional sports.
The Giants franchise has started a season 8-12 seventeen times and had just five winning seasons afterwards.
Two things stand out with this list:
The 100-loss 1985 team is not on it, which means the 2026 Giants might be winning their way out of that comparison finally — though, check back next week to see if they’re 10-15 or 11-16.
Only twice in the Oracle Park era has the team overcome this start to have a winning record. I looked at the 2015 in some detail with the previous post about their 3-7 start, concluding:
If the 2026 Giants got to 84-78, they’d be in a great position for a Wild Card spot. All they need is a couple of MVP-type performances and a couple of All-Star caliber performances from the lineup, absent stellar pitching.
But what can I say about the 2004 team (which started 5-5)? Well, the only thing I firmly remember about that season is reading in the newspaper (people under 50 don’t look up what that is) that the Giants had acquired Wayne Franklin near the end of Spring Training. And then I remember sitting along the first base line at Dodger Stadium on the penultimate game of the season and watching in the 9th inning defensive replacement Cody Ransom commit a critical error after Dustin Hermanson got squeezed, the Giants blow a 3-0 lead and Wayne Franklin surrender a walk-off grand slam to Steve Finley to knock the Giants out of the playoff race.
So, personally, I hate the 2004 season and think any team that compares to it is haunted. But also…
That team had Barry Bonds on it.
Therefore, you can’t really make a comparison or say something like, “See, the Giants have been in this situation before and it has worked out just fine. Tony Vitello is going to figure out how to manage and the team is going to iron out all its mental lapses and the bullpen will be solid” just because the 2004 team started 8-12 and wound up 91-71, more than enough to clinch a Wild Card in this era of baseball. You can’t say that! It wouldn’t make sense!
That 2004 team scored 850 runs! The 2021 squad didn’t even score that many (804). They played stellar defense (+28.4 Defensive Runs Above Average, per FanGraphs). Their pitching was in the bottom third by fWAR (+12.7 — 21st) and 16th in ERA (4.34). The idea that the 2026 Giants will overcome mediocre pitching with top-5 hitting is a tough one to assert, just given the start. But even if people hit to their career averages, the front office’s plan was the opposite: middling offensive boosted by stellar pitching. At the end of the day, of course, if the Giants got to 91 wins somehow, we’d all be thrilled, and rightfully so, even if it meant a crushing loss to end the run.
By the way, the last three games of the 2026 season are at Oracle Park against the Dodgers.
The other Oracle Park era teams don’t offer a lot of hope. 2008 was Tim Lincecum’s first year, the first year without Barry Bonds, and with the team still trying to solidify its pitching and defense identity. 2018 was Bobby Evans’ attempt to build a quasi-contender while dancing under the luxury tax line, so, the team added Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria and wound up having the worst month in franchise history. With Bobby Evans back in the fold, don’t be surprised if he’s back to finish the job (advise in such a way that every month is the worst). 2019 saw Farhan Zaidi try to shake loose the championship era while also putting a somewhat entertaining team on the field. All that really happened was that Kevin Pillar revitalized his career. 2020 was ended by Trent Grisham hitting a walk-off grand slam for the Padres in Oracle Park.
Basically, the Giants will have to overcome the historical significance of the bad 8-12 start in a way that defies their present look. It’s a long season, of course, and it helps that the farm system might actually be able to supplement the major league roster with some legitimate league average help. That’s certainly a different situation than the one other teams on this list found themselves in when they started poorly and maybe Bryce Eldridge, Carson Seymour, and, like Gregory Santos will be key contributors this season to actually elevate the team’s performance. That’s hope worth holding onto, even if history only offers anxiety.
"One is that this was the first time that it was real. Yeah. You know, it was a lot. And I'm not saying that it was real that I wanted a trade. It was just, bro, everywhere I went, in the street, people would tell me, 'Don't leave. Don't do this. Please stay.' It was real. Back in the day, when I was younger, 25, 24, they would always say this stuff. But then maybe, like, a week later, it will turn off. They would talk about a different story. This year, every day — social media, turn the TV on, First Take, ESPN, blah, blah, blah — it was, 'Giannis, Giannis, Giannis, Giannis, Giannis'...
"If I'd ever been in that position, if I could change something, maybe I'd come out and shut it down, because I think people weren't listening to me. Like, 'Giannis, come out and ask for a trade. Giannis, come out and do this.' I'm like, first of all, people that I respect and people that I love, I would have conversations with them — my coach, my GM, people that matter [behind closed doors]."
"I kept saying, 'Guys, I'm here. I'm not going nowhere.' Oh yeah, whatever, whatever, blah, blah — Giannis is going to the Knicks. Okay. Two weeks later: 'I'm here, guys. I'm locked in. I got hurt, but I'm coming back to play here.' Oh, Giannis is going to Miami. They wasn't listening to what I was saying, right? So, if I could turn time back, I would maybe come out a little bit earlier and say, 'Hey, guys, this ends today. Look at me in the eyes. I'm staying with Milwaukee until further notice. It ends today. Stop making stories, and after stories, and after stories.'"
What played out in public was something everyone watching the saga feels — Antetokounmpo is torn between loyalty to the only NBA organization he has ever played for, a place he won a ring, a city he loves, and his competitve desire to win, something that is not happening with the Bucks (who finished 11 games out of the play-in and were just a .500 team when Antetokounmpo was healthy.
At the time, Antetokounmpo's agent, Alex Saratsis, reportedly had conversations with the Bucks about the star's future and if this was still the best fit for everyone. Antetokounmpo himself never asked for a trade, and said at the time of Saratsis, "He's his own person. He can have any conversation he wants." The Bucks tested the waters for an Antetokounmpo trade, but league sources told NBC Sports they didn't get the sense the Bucks were serious.
That's expected to change this summer. The drama at the end of the season about Antetokounmpo's return to play in meaningless games — he wanted to compete and play with his brothers, the Bucks both were thinking about their draft pick and didn't want to risk further injury to a player who had played just 36 games due to a variety of injuries — feels like it sealed the fate. Maybe not, maybe he tells the Bucks he will sign an extension with them when he can on Oct. 1, but that seems like a long shot at this point.
Which means the Giannis, Giannis, Giannis, Giannis, Giannis rumors are about to start up again.
An 82-game regular season packed with turbulence ended with 53 wins and the fourth seed in a brutal Western Conference race. Following a blowout of the tanking Utah Jazz, the Lakers playoff reward is home court advantage against the physically imposing Houston Rockets.
Very few pundits give them a chance to compete in the series, let alone win, due to the injuries to the backcourt of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The absence of their star guards returns LeBron James to his vintage self as the lead shot creator.
Right behind him, with the biggest difference in their previous roles, is Luke Kennard. The two-man game between them and an old reliable action for LeBron goes from a useful option to an offense-defining play for the purple and gold in this series.
LeBron and Kennard played 27 games together, posting a net rating of +8.7 in just over 300 minutes. LeBron is no stranger to initiating actions with marksmen, dating back to his Cleveland days with teammates such as Kyle Korver and JR Smith. Kennard steps right in as one of the best he’s ever played with, percentage-wise.
LA added Kennard as their only deadline move in a swap for Gabe Vincent. He ingratiated himself as a key rotation player and expanded LA’s playbook with his gravity. Head coach J.J. Redick constantly highlights that Kennard is the only “movement shooter” on the team.
What first makes this go is Kennard’s ability to make quick reads dependent on how the other team defends the action. Watch in the clip below as he operates in the middle of the floor. The Mavericks opt not to switch the screen, steering clear of having Max Christie defend the bigger, stronger LeBron.
Kennard gets downhill with nothing open. The Lakers adapt seamlessly.
The pair flip the screen and Kennard sets a ghost screen — a fake ball screen where the screener quickly moves away — and pops to the 3-point line. That second of indecision opens up the driving lane for the dunk.
“A Lot of it does depend on coverages, whether or not teams are in a shock (at the level of the screen) or they’re red-ing (switching) it,” Redick said. “I think Luke has as good an off-ball feel as anybody for when to set, when to go, when to change pace, create a little separation. When he gets separation like a number of great shooters, there’s an overreaction to that.”
Without Luka and Reaves to create those overreactions, the team will rely on Kennard’s ability to do so.
When teams do decide to switch the duo’s pick-and-roll action, the Lakers instantly clear out to put LeBron in the post, as shown below. Watch as they run their “88” action, or empty-side screen and roll.
A post entry is thrown with two shooters on the opposite side and the center positioned to the other side of the key, allowing LeBron to drive and score against single coverage.
“We can also hunt mismatches if they are red-ing and get LeBron down at the post or get him at the nail where that’s advantageous basketball for us, and he’s just going to make the right decision,” Redick said. “ LeBron as a screener, we’ve seen it already.
“Against Dallas, it allowed Luke to touch the paint. It allowed Luke to create offense for us, and then LeBron catching the ball in the pocket is in a four-on-three situation.”
An underrated aspect of Kennard’s game is his added playmaking ability. The three games following the loss of their backcourt racked up 28 assists in his move up the playmaking hierarchy.
He showed good feel all year on making the extra pass to a teammate, whether that be to the three-point line or soft touch lobs to his bigs like he throws to Deandre Ayton in the clip below.
LA leverages the dual threat of LeBron and Kennard off-ball, getting Kennard to “touch the paint” and find his big man.
Many of the teams LA closed the season with are nowhere close to the defense Houston will present. They roster a host of physical defenders, including Amen Thompson and Tari Eason. LeBron and Kennard will be one and two in the pecking order of which ball handlers they look to frustrate with physicality and full-court pressure.
This is the mountain the Lakers have in front of them, a steep one to climb. To have a chance, they need this two-man action, LeBron’s bread and butter, to be impactful.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs, and the two teams will face off again when the 2026 first-round series tips off at TD Garden on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown has delivered an MVP-caliber season, and my 76ers vs. Celtics predictions expect the 2024 Finals MVP to come through with a strong performance in Game 1.
Read on to find out why I expect Brown to stuff the stat sheet in a comfortable home victory in my NBA picks for Sunday, April 19.
76ers vs Celtics prediction
76ers vs Celtics best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)
With Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the season and key players from the Boston Celtics title run playing for new teams, Jaylen Brown asserted his dominance and delivered the best statistical campaign of his career. Brown averaged career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (5.1).
Brown finished with 37 PRA in 52 of 71 games overall, including 27 of 38 games at TD Garden. His production didn’t slip much with Tatum back in action.
Brown averaged 41.2 PRA without Tatum and 31.4 in 13 games with Tatum in the lineup. He accumulated 37+ PRA in nine of 13 games played with his superstar teammate.
Brown found success against the Philadelphia 76ers this season, averaging 38.6 PRA across four matchups. He delivered 37+ PRA twice and finished with 35 twice more.
The 76ers will be without defensive anchor Joel Embiid yet again, making this a favorable matchup for Brown. Philadelphia’s 116.5 defensive rating without Embiid would rank ninth-worst in the Association.
After a disappointing exit in the 2025 playoffs, the Celtics look primed for a deep postseason run, and their success will depend heavily on Brown’s leadership and performance.
After proving that he can be “the guy” for a contending team in the regular season, I expect Brown to carry that momentum and mindset into the playoffs and set the tone early for he and his teammates.
76ers vs Celtics same-game parlay
Philly and Boston split the four-game season series at two games apiece, but the Sixers have had a difficult time playing at TD Garden without Embiid.
In the last three games played in Boston without the big man, the 76ers were outscored by 17.3 points per game. Boston sports a +8.3 net rating at home this season, and with the team close to full strength, I’ll back them to win this one by 13+.
No team hit the Under at a higher percentage than the Boston Celtics at 63.4%. The C’s kept the score low throughout the season thanks to a bottom-5 pace and top-5 defense.
Without Embiid, the Sixers’ offensive rating dipped from 118.5 to 112.9, good for eighth-worst. Philly will have trouble scoring, and I expect Boston to make this one a slow grind.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
Jaylen Brown Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists
Celtics -12.5
Under 213.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Puncher's Chance
Re-united and it feels so good! Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are in line for big games against a vulnerable defense as they look to lead their team to another title.
Jaylen Brown finished with 26+ points in 50 of 71 games overall, including nine of 13 with Jayson Tatum in the lineup. Tatum went for 23+ points in nine of 16 games and 24+ in six of 16.
Brown’s career-best year as a facilitator should continue into the playoffs. He handed out 5+ assists in 35 of 71 appearances, and he reached that mark in eight of 13 games played with Tatum.
Tatum’s rebounding is through the roof this season, as he averaged 10 boards across 16 regular-season appearances. Tatum secured 10+ boards in 10 of 16 games and seven of nine at TD Garden. Without Embiid to patrol the paint, I expect Tatum to gobble up rebounds.
76ers vs Celtics SGP
Jaylen Brown Over 25.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 23.5 points
Jaylen Brown Over 4.5 assists
Jayson Tatum Over 9.5 rebounds
76ers vs Celtics odds for Game 1
Spread: Philadelphia +12.5 (-110) | Boston -12.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Philadelphia +550 | Boston -800
Over/Under: Over 213.5 (-110) | Under 213.5 (-110)
76ers vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 35 of their last 50 games (+18.50 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Celtics.
How to watch 76ers vs Celtics Game 1
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
76ers vs Celtics latest injuries
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to his team during a timeout against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On focusing on the Knicks’ strengths: “Obviously, you respect what you’ve done all year. The neat part about it is we’ve faced a lot of different things. We’ve faced cross-matches, we’ve faced teams playing us the same, we’ve faced zone, we’ve faced box-and-1. So to be able to have those different looks throughout the course of the year has helped us work on us. You continue to understand what your strengths are and you try to go to your strengths more than anything else while focusing on some of the things they may possibly do.”
On preparing for Hack-A-Mitch: “We’ve talked about it. We have different things in mind that we’ll do. A lot of them will come down to time and score and feel. But we understand that’s what teams may want to do, especially if our offense is clicking at that point in time.”
On expecting cross-matches from Atlanta: “We’ve been cross-matched all year. We imagine they’ll go to that. We faced a lot of different defenses. They may try to cross-match and they may do some things — we’ve faced a box-and-1, we’ve faced a zone. We feel like we’re prepared for anything that they throw at us, so we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
On adjusting if Alexander-Walker gets hot: “He hit some tough shots, some amazing shots that he’s more than capable of doing. If he hits those shots again, you tip your hat off to him and you say, ‘Great job.’ Now, obviously, you have to be ready to mix in more blitzes or some of this or some of that throughout the course of the series if he’s going like that. Which we will be ready for that stuff.”
"You grow up your whole life wanting to play in the playoffs. Thanks to God that I've been able to be in the playoffs, I think it's my fourth year. It feels like it's time to get it done and finish it out the right way."
On the intensity of playoff basketball: “Playoffs are fun and real amped up and a lot of aggression, a lot of thinking. It’s just fun being in those games. The crowd and everything just goes up another level. So it’s always fun playing playoff games. Just trying to do whatever it takes to win.”
On raising his game in the postseason: “I would want to. I feel like every player would want to. I just try to be the best I can be and try to do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
On sacrificing within the offensive hierarchy: “Sacrifice for your brothers. Putting your body on the line, doing whatever it takes to make the play to help your teammates out.”
On playoff experience being part of his DNA: “That’s kind of what I’ve known. It’s kind of my DNA.”
On learning from last season’s loss: “I think just everything is a learning experience. Obviously, you’re not happy when you lose, especially when you’re close. But you take everything as a learning experience and build from it and learn from it.”
On ignoring outside noise: “I think what motivates us is just trying to be the best team we can be, honestly. Not really too worried what other teams have to do or what they do, we’re just so worried about ourselves and preparing for whoever we have to play, and it’s them. So we’re just worried about preparing and that’s really it, nothing else.”
On Brown vs. Thibodeau playoff prep: “I think they both prepare great. That’s what I take from it.”
On capitalizing on the playoff opportunity: “It’s great that we put ourselves in this position to be in the playoffs in this position. At the end of the day, the season doesn’t mean anything if we don’t capitalize on this opportunity. You can’t look to the future, you can’t look past an opponent. You can’t do any of that. The present is the most important thing. As long as we take care of the present, the future will be taken care of.”
Josh Hart
On being judged in the playoffs: “We made the playoffs. We had 50 wins, so that was good. We know we’re going to be judged by what we do starting now.”
Miles McBride
On the difference between Thibs’ and Brown’s coaching: “It’s a lot more digital, I’d say.”
“They had more experience than us… and they were like, nah, y’all running around thinking this is sweet. It ain’t sweet.” pic.twitter.com/17kCjHVDqy
— Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady (@VinceAndTmac) April 17, 2026
Tracy McGrady
On the key for the Knicks to reach the Finals: “It starts on the defensive end. When they’re locked in and talking, they’re a different team. I’ve seen them have stretches where they look like a top five defense in the league, and that’s what it’s going to take. Good defense turns into better offense for this team. Offensively, they’ve got enough. It’s really just about balance. When Mikal gets going, it opens everything up because now you’ve got a few guys that can give you 20 any night. I like when they’ve got size on the floor too. Towns can space it, Mitch handles the paint, that’s tough to deal with.”
On what the Knicks need from Karl-Anthony Towns: “They need discipline and presence from him in every possession. He’s too skilled to fade in and out of games. I want to see him be aggressive, not just shooting 3s, but putting pressure on the rim, making defenses react. And defensively, just be solid. Contest, rebound, and don’t put your team in tough spots with fouls.”
On boycotting Atlanta rap artists during the first-round series: “We don’t want to hear no Atlanta artists right now. Time to show some New York solidarity.”
On New York bias vs. Atlanta bias: “When people say I have a New York bias, it’s an issue, but if I say you have an Atlanta bias, a down south bias, that’s OK. Any time we can show love and spotlight our city, especially when we need to band tougher, why not have the same pride in New York others have (in their regions)? It’s not bias, it’s just pride.”
On not having Atlanta artists in rotation hurting the most: “We could probably go 10 years without any Boston artists. I’d have an easier time not hearing artists from any of those cities than I would from any artists from Atlanta.”
