RJ Barrett finished with 24 points in Game 6, and he’s averaging 24.3 points per game overall in this series on 51% shooting. Including the final game of the regular season, Barrett has gone past this points prop number infive of his last seven outings.
With Immanuel Quickley sidelined, Barrett has attempted 19+ shots in each of his past four contests, and he can continue to hunt James Harden and Donovan Mitchell and bully his way into the paint.
SGP leg #2: Collin Murray-Boyles Over 6.5 rebounds
While Barrett is one of the keys for the Toronto Raptors offensively, Collin Murray-Boyles’ two-way impact is another big X-factor for the visitors.
CMB has grabbed at least seven rebounds in four of his last five outings, and he logged 40 minutes in Game 6 as the Raptors leaned into smaller lineups down the stretch.
He'll see a similar workload in another do-or-die scenario, which will give him enough time to clear this line.
SGP leg #3: Raptors +8
Given the Cavs’ struggles to create good looks and Harden’s history in elimination games, this line is surprisingly high.
Toronto has covered the spread in the last four games of this series, and I expect Darko Rajakovic’s young core to bounce back faster following Friday’s slugfest.
Cleveland may have the best player in this series, but Toronto's two-way play is good enough to keep it in just about every game with the Cavs. They can force Harden and Mitchell into bad shots, which will burn possessions for the home side.
Get Tom Oldfield's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Raptors vs Cavaliers predictions for Game 7.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an eventful first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks wrapped up with a historic beatdown on Thursday, the Knicks got to kick their feet up and enjoy an exciting Game 7 at TD Garden in Boston, where the underdog shocked the powerhouse Celtics (without Jayson Tatum) to set up an unlikely second-round clash.
It’s the No. 3 seed New York Knicks (53-29) against the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers (45-37) for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, kicking off on Monday night at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Here’s everything you need to know about this matchup.
Season Recap
You know how the Knicks’ season has gone. After all, you’re reading this on a Knicks site, but just to sum it up.
After firing Tom Thibodeau, engaging in a long coaching search, and keying in on Mike Brown, the Knicks mostly ran back the same team, albeit with new faces Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, while drafting Mo Diawara. It was supposed to be a deeper, offensive powerhouse, and, for the most part, it was. The Knicks started 23-9 and even got some hardware along the way, beating the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final in December. Everything was coming up New York as 2025 turned into 2026.
And then everything fell apart. Starting with a New Year’s Eve collapse in San Antonio, the Knicks lost nine of their next 11 games, capped off by a terrible effort on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at MSG against the tanking Mavs. The sky was falling, we had podcasters saying he couldn’t wait to blow up this core, we had loud calls for Mike Brown’s job, the defense was abhorrently bad, and the season was in a tailspin.
Then, they mollywhopped the Nets by 54 and everything calmed down. After going from 23-9 to 25-18, the Knicks won 28 of their final 39 games, powered by the NBA’s second-best defense over the final 2.5 months of the season. They swapped the disappointing Yabusele for Jose Alvarado and finished the season strong. After struggling through three games with the feisty Hawks, they made the last three games look like varsity playing JV.
The Sixers season has been defined by the status of Joel Embiid. After a lost season in 2024-25 and a slow start, his constantly nagging knee injuries knocked him out for much of November, where the Sixers predictably struggled. The emergence of Tyrese Maxey as the franchise’s face and the tremendous rookie campaign of VJ Edgecombe could only do so much to weather the storm.
But Philly started to find their stride after Embiid seemed rejuvenated once returning in December, getting up to 30-22 in early February before shin and oblique issues, on top of load managing his knee, caused them to stumble back into the play-in as his availability waned in the second half. It didn’t help that Paul George got a 25-game suspension for PEDs.
A three-game losing streak in early April solidified their play-in fates in a tough Eastern Conference, but a pitiful Game 82 performance by the Magic allowed them to obtain home-court advantage in the 7-8 game and won them a date with Boston.
With Embiid sidelined with an appendectomy, the Sixers stole Game 2 in Boston before going home and losing Game 3. With Embiid back, the Celtics blitzed the Sixers in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead, only for the proverbial East favorites to continue to struggle at home and lose Tatum to a knee injury in Game 7, sealing their fate in the first round to a rejuvenated Sixers team.
The first meeting between the two teams, just before Christmas, saw the Sixers snap a six-game winning streak as the Knicks were coming down from the high of winning the NBA Cup a week prior. It was the second game of a back-to-back after a shorthanded Knicks team survived the undermanned Pacers in Indiana the night before.
The two teams were even through three quarters, but Philly pulled away thanks to a fantastic game by the backcourt duo of Edgecombe and Maxey, who combined for 53 points on 50% shooting and nine threes with Embiid sidelined. The mostly-healthy Knicks got 20 apiece from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges, as well as a 21-16 masterpiece from Mitchell Robinson, but they struggled late defensively.
The next meeting was also the second game of a back-to-back during the three weeks of hell that the Knicks experienced in January. A healthy Sixers squad outmatched a Josh Hart-less Knicks team that was playing as bad defense as humanly possible, spending much of the second half down by 15+ points. After a rough first matchup, Brunson scored 31, but it didn’t matter with Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe all scoring at least 26 points on a combined 62.2% from the field.
After losing both games at MSG, the Knicks went on the road to Philadelphia for the third meeting after that bludgeoning of the Nets, and it marked the first game against a real team that sparked a turnaround. A 23-point turnaround in the second half had the Knicks rolling and up by 17 in the fourth quarter, but the offense completely shut down at the eight-minute mark of the fourth, allowing the Sixers to claw back.
While the Knicks hit a number of timely shots (particularly from OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet) to go up eight with 42 seconds left, an epic meltdown ensued that gave the Sixers two different chances to tie in the final ten seconds that went awry. Brunson scored 32, Anunoby scored 23, and Towns was limited to just 16 minutes as he struggled with foul trouble.
Embiid put up an efficient 38-11-5, but Maxey and Edgecombe were relatively muted as the Sixers shot just 9-for-29 from three.
The final meeting of the year was on par with the Hawks and Nets blowouts. The Knicks were without Anunoby, while the Sixers didn’t have Embiid or Paul George as the team readied for the All-Star break. It seemed like Philly left early, as the Knicks completely demolished them from buzzer-to-buzzer. This was the game in which Alvarado made eight threes in his first week as a Knick and was one of the biggest wins in franchise history.
Playoff History
(Note: Prior to 1963, the Sixers were known as the Syracuse Nationals)
Trends: Knicks since 1/20: 118.5 ORtg (6th), 108.2 DRtg (2nd), +10.3 net rating (3rd) Sixers with Joel Embiid: 27-16, 121 ORtg, 115.8 DRtg, +5.2 net rating, +7.7 On-Off
Coaching Breakdown
Mike Brown (NYK): Season with team: 1st Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: CLE, LAL, SAC, NYK Career record: 507-333 (.604) Career playoff record: 54-42 (.563) Best finish: 2007 Cavaliers (Finals appearance)
Mike Brown is entering the postseason as the head coach of a third different team. He’s never won a game past the Eastern Conference Finals, but he’s certainly experienced deep playoff runs as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2001-03 and an assistant under Steve Kerr from 2017-22, winning four championships as an assistant coach.
Brown’s philosophy is a stylistic change from former head coach Tom Thibodeau, in that he prioritizes ball movement, spacing, and a drive-and-kick to open shooters (which he calls “sprays”). He was mostly unsuccessful in increasing the Knicks’ pace, showing that the team’s slow play is rooted in the way their captain operates in the offense, rather than the scheme. His biggest success has been increasing three-point attempts, but those have slowly decreased as the season has gone on.
Defensively, Brown has been flexible in his scheme. While Thibodeau always required a true rim protector on the floor, Brown has been more willing to mix up lineups in certain areas. After starting the season with a scheme that funneled the ball towards the middle of the floor into the help, Brown switched the scheme to look to send the ball towards the sidelines after the Knicks endured a month-plus stretch of abhorrent defense, powered by other teams driving and kicking to open shooters.
Nick Nurse (PHI): Season with team: 3rd Season as head coach: 8th Career teams coached: TOR, PHI Career record: 343-293 (.539) Career playoff record: 30-23 (.566) Best finish: 2019 Raptors (NBA Champions)
Nurse served as an assistant under Dwane Casey for several years and took over after the Raptors canned the one-time Coach of the Year in 2018. In his first year as a head coach, Nurse lifted a Larry O’Brien Trophy as Kawhi Leonard’s memorable one year in Toronto. Even after losing him, he led the Raptors to a 53-19 record in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, but that would prove to be a one-off. Aside from a 48-win season in 2021-22, Nurse’s final three years in Toronto were mediocre and he was out the door in 2023.
He’s spent the last three years as the head honcho in Philly, previously coaching against the Knicks in the playoffs two years ago before surviving a lost year in 2024-25. He’s back this time playing a very thin rotation that is heavily reliant on his stars, which he’ll look to deploy over and over again. There are no stylistic oddities with Nurse, who will most frequently be seen in his spats with the referees.
Projected Rotations
Knicks: Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges Josh Hart OG Anunoby Karl-Anthony Towns – Jose Alvarado Deuce McBride Jordan Clarkson Mitchell Robinson
Situational: Mo Diawara, Landry Shamet, Ariel Hukporti, Jeremy Sochan
Sixers: Tyrese Maxey VJ Edgecombe Kelly Oubre Jr. Paul George Joel Embiid – Justin Edwards Quentin Grimes (OAKAAK Alert) Dominick Barlow Andre Drummond
Situational: Adem Bona
Injury Report
For the Knicks, they had a few players get nicked up in their six-game series with the Hawks, but Jalen Brunson (ankle), Mitchell Robinson (ankle), and Josh Hart (back) all seemed to be in good shape by the end of Game 6 and should be good to go.
For the Sixers, it all revolves around Joel Embiid. The appendix surgery is in the past, but that knee continues to be a major issue. He banged his knee repeatedly and came up hobbled over and over again in Game 7, including a scary hyperextension in the final minute. I assume he’ll be good to go, but he’ll be one to watch all series long.
Broadcast Schedule
(The full schedule has yet to be released, this will be updated)
Game 1: Mon, May 4, 8 pm (NBC) Game 2: Wed, May 6, 7 pm (ESPN) Game 3: Fri, May 8, 7 pm (Prime Video) Game 4: Sun, May 10, 3:30 pm (ABC) Game 5*: Tues, May 12, TBD (TBD) Game 6*: Thu, May 14, TBD (TBD) Game 7*: Sun, May 17, TBD (TBD)
In a Game 7 to decide their first-round playoff series, the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet Sunday night on NBC and Peacock at Rocket Arena.
History favors the home team, which has won the first six game games of the series. Toronto has never won a playoff game in Cleveland (0-10).
It's been a tight series with the Cavaliers and the Raptors notching identical scoring totals (669 points) thorugh six games. They have similar field goal and 3-point shooting percentages, and their margins are scant in rebounding (Cleveland leads 253-249) and steals (Toronto leads 54-50).
Cleveland is 6-2 in Game 7s, including 4-0 at home, and have won their past four appearances in Game 7s. This will be the second Game 7 on the road for Toronto, which is 3-3 in series finales. In their last Game 7 as the visiting team, the Raptors fell 88-87 to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2001 Eastern Semifinals.
The Cavaliers are seeking to advance from the first round for the third consecutive season, and the Raptors are tying to reach the Eastern Semifinals for the first time since 2020. Cleveland eliminated Toronto from the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2016-18.
Sunday's winner of the series will face the winner of Game 7 between the Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons. The other Eastern Conference semifinal will be played between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday.
This is the first time since the first round was expanded to best of seven in 2003 that three series in the East have gone to seven games. It's only the second time since the 2002-03 season that at least three series have gone seven games (there were five Game 7s in 2014).
See below for additional information on the Celtics-76ers game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game preview:
Hometown hero RJ Barrett made the game-winning 3-pointer Friday in a 112-110 overtime victory over Cleveland. The Canadian's shot hit the back of the rim, bounced above the backboard and then dropped through — conjuring memories of Kawhi Leonard's game-winning shot hat bounced four times on the rim in a Game 7 victory over Philadelphia in 2019 (Toronto would win the championship).
“Kawhi bounce. Kawhi bounce… I make nothing the whole fourth quarter, whole overtime," said Barrett, who had 24 points but made only 3 of 13 shots in the second half. "So for that shot to drop. Yeah.”
Scottie Barnes had a game-high 25 points and 14 assists (his playoff career high tied a Toronto playoff record). Toronto leads all playoff teams in assists per game (26.5) and was ranked third in the regular season (29.5 apg).
Toronto will be trying to overcame the inexperience of a roster with only 180 playoff games and two Game 7s (vs. 597 and 18 Game 7s for Cleveland). The Raptors might have to do it without forward Brandon Ingram. Their leading scorer during the regular season at 21.5 ppg, Ingram left Game 5 with a right heel injury and missed Game 6. His Game 7 status is uncertain.
“Forget everything that's happened so far," Barrett said. "We've got one game to decide it all. This group has been tough and resilient, and we've fought through the toughest of tasks all year long. Going to Cleveland, Game 7, is going to be a tough task, but that's what we're built for."
Cleveland's hopes largely rest on twin superstars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who was acquired in February from the Los Angeles Clippers (for Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick.
This is Harden's 17th playoff appearances, and he ranks 13th all time in postseason scoring (4,021 points). His 179 playoff games is the third most without a championship behind Karl Malone (193) and John Stockton (182).
Harden, who averaging 25 points and 7 assists in the first two games of the series but has slipped to 19 ppg and 6.5 apg, is playing in his eighth Game 7 and enters with a 3-4 record.
In his ninth season, Mitchell is in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season since joining the Cavaliers but has yet to advance beyond the semifinals. He ranks seventh all time in playoff scoring average at 27.9 points per game. At home in this series, Mitchell is averaging 27 points and four assists while shooting 51.7% from the field (and 50% on 3-pointers).
"There's nothing to be deflated about," said Mitchell, who scored 39 points to lead Cleveland past Orlando in a Game 7 over Orlando in 2024. "Just got to protect home court. Now, if this was Game 7 and that happened, then (you feel) a little different. But we had an opportunity. Didn't happen. We've got to protect home court. Doesn't matter if we lost by 30. Two. Protect home court. That's all you can do.”
Said Harden: "There's no frustrations. I was frustrated for five minutes [after the game]. There's one more game, can't let it live too long. It's the playoffs, great things happen. That's why I tell the guys to never get too high or low. Focus on your job and go out there and win."
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
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RJ Barrett received one of the friendlier bounces you'll see from a rim and nailed the game-winner versus the Cavaliers in Game 6. The win for Toronto tied up the series 3-3 with a Game 7 in Cleveland. The home team is 6-0 in this series entering the final battle. The winner of this series will face the winner of Orlando or Detroit.
Cleveland continued its struggles on the road with a 27% three-point outing in Toronto and 70% from the free-throw line. At home, Cleveland has averaged 43.5% mark from three, which leads the playoff field. Five different Cavaliers scored 10 or more points with Evan Mobley leading the way at 26 points.
Toronto had a chance to win at the buzzer in regulation, but couldn't deliver until OT. Barrett's three-pointer will be an iconic shot in Toronto, especially if they win this series. The Raptors had four different players score at least 17 points and three at 24 or more (Barrett, Barnes, Walter). They will need that balanced scoring in Cleveland if they want to win the series Sunday night.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 7:40 PM EST
Site: Rocket Arena
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming: NBC / Peacock
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Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Raptors
The latest odds as of Sunday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers (-298), Toronto Raptors (+240)
Spread: Cavaliers -7.5
Total: 211.5 points
This game spread opened with Cleveland favored by 8.5 points and the Game Total set at 212.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Raptors
Toronto Raptors
PG Ja’Kobe Walter
SG Brandon Ingram
SF RJ Barrett
PF Scottie Barnes
C Jakob Poeltl
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Injury Report: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors
Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) has been declared OUT of for the remainder of the first round series
Brandon Ingram (heel) is listed as QUESTIONABLE
Cleveland Cavaliers
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland is the worst in the NBA ATS at 35-53
Cleveland is 18-26 ATS as the home team, ranking second-worst
Cleveland is 44-44 to the Under
Cleveland is 25-19 to the Under as the home team
Toronto is 52-36 to the Under, ranking third-best
Toronto is 28-16 to the Under as the road team, ranking second-best
Toronto is 46-42 ATS and 22-22 ATS on the road
Toronto is 12-13 ATS as a road underdog and 9-16 on the ML
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s Raptors and Cavaliers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning toward a play on the Cavaliers Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rapttors +8.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 211.5
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The Detroit Pistons rallied from down 24 points in Game 6 at Orlando to win, 93-79. Detroit outscored Orlando, 31-8, in the fourth quarter after trailing by 22 at halftime. The series is tied up 3-3 and Game 7 is at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Orlando missed 23 consecutive shots from the field in the loss and completely fumbled down the stretch. The Magic became the first team since 1996-97 to blow a 24-plus point lead in a closeout game at home. Detroit went on a 35-5 run in the second half and simply couldn't be stopped.
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and Tobias Harris added 22 points. The rest of the Pistons combined for 39 points (bench scored 13) on 15-of-35 from the field (42.8%) and 5-of-15 from three (33.3%). Detroit shot 40% from the field as a team and 33% from three compared to Orlando who went 35% from the field and 25% from deep in Game 6.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Magic vs. Pistons
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 3:40 PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: ABC
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Game Odds: Magic vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Sunday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-325), Orlando Magic (+260)
Spread: Pistons -8.5
Total: 202.5 points
This game opened Pistons -9.5 with the Total set at 205.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Magic vs. Pistons
Orlando Magic
PG Jalen Suggs
SG Desmond Bane
SF Franz Wagner
PF Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Magic
Orlando Magic
Jonathan Issac (knee) is listed as DOUBTFUL for Game 7
Detroit Pistons
Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 7
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 46-42 ATS
Detroit is 47-40-1 to the Under
Detroit is 23-20 to the Under at home
Detroit is 20-18 to the Under as a home favorite
Detroit is 22-21 ATS as the home team
Orlando is 43-46 ATS and 46-44 to the Over this season
Orlando is 20-23 ATS as the road team and 12-12 ATS as the road underdog
Orlando is 23-20 to the Under as the road team
Orlando is 12-12 on the total as a road underdog
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s Magic and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Magic +8.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 202.5
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We waited all year for this 76ers team to show up. We knew it was possible, we just kept wondering if it would really happen.
It took the 76ers 86 games to figure it out – 82 regular-season games and the first four games of the Celtics series – but they figured it out at the last possible moment.
How to defend at a consistently high level against an explosive offense for 48 minutes. And how to do it three games in a row, two of them on the road, when a loss ends your season.
This was one of the most remarkable, improbable, incredible three-game stretches in 76ers history. And it happened because they stifled the Celtics’ offense like very few teams ever have.
The first 86 games of the season, the 76ers allowed 116 points per game and they allowed opposing teams to shoot 47 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3. Middle of the pack across the board.
Those are not championship numbers. Those are not numbers that scare a team like the Celtics, who averaged 115 points per game during the regular season and made 37 percent of their 3’s.
But once Joel Embiid returned, an amazing thing happened.
The 76ers turned into a defensive force, and there was nothing the Celtics – with all their offensive weapons – could do about it.
Embiid’s first game back was Game 4 and that was another Celtics blowout, the one that put the 76ers in a 3 games to 1 hole.
But these last three games were a model in how defending at a high level can propel an underdog No. 7 seed that hadn’t won three straight road games against playoff-bound teams since 2023 past a No. 2 seed that never loses at home.
This is a Celtics team that averaged 115 points per game, shot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3, and the last games they averaged 97 points, shot 41 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3.
Ballgame.
The 76ers really wore the Celtics down these last three games, and by the fourth quarter the Celtics couldn’t get good shots, forced 3 after 3 and just got run off the court in the final minutes.
In these last three fourth quarters, the Celtics shot 33 percent from the field and 19 percent from 3. The Celtics are built on burying 3’s. They made 1,268 during the regular season, 9th-most in NBA history, and they shot 37 percent, tied for 5th-highest in the league this year.
But when they needed them the most, the 76ers kept denying them. They kept bombing away and missing and it turned out when the 3’s weren’t falling they didn’t have an answer.
The Celtics attempted 323 3’s in this series, 2nd-most ever in any postseason series, behind the Rockets’ 357 in their 2020 Western Conference First-Round series win over Oklahoma City.
You only take that many 3’s when you can’t do anything else.
Most of those 3’s were contested but they also missed a lot of open looks (I’m looking at you Derrick White) just because the 76ers had them so beat up by the end of the game thanks to a physicality and intensity we rarely saw in the regular season.
And you know what happens when one team keeps missing 3’s. Long rebounds and fast breaks, and that’s how the 76ers outscored Boston by an average of 55-41 in the fourth quarter of these last three wins.
The Celtics never went three games in a row scoring 100 or fewer points during the regular season and they actually haven’t done that in the regular season since 2021. Then the 76ers held them to 93, 90 and 100 in three straight elimination playoff games.
The 76ers’ neutralized the Celtics’ two studs, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, late in the series. Tatum missed Game 7 but shot 43.8 percent and 33 percent from 3 from the field in Games 5 and 6 and was minus-20, and Brown shot 42 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3 the last three games with a minus-57, the worst plus-minus of his 10-year career over any three-game span.
Last time the Celtics had a three-game stretch in the regular season scoring fewer than 300 points and shooting below 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3 was 2021.
So this was the Celtics’ worst three-game offensive stretch in five years, and it came at the hands of a 76ers team that was mediocre defensively during the regular season and needed to win a play-in game just to reach the postseason.
Nick Nurse preached defense all year, but with injuries and the Paul George suspension, he just never had the people to play the brand of defense he wanted. It took 86 games and Embiid returning to action 2 ½ weeks after an appendetomy for it all to come together.
But when it did, it was beautiful.
The 76ers won this series by denying the Celtics what they do best when they needed it the most.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Ime Udoka and General Manager Rafael Stone of the Houston Rockets speaks with the media during the NBA Media Day at Toyota Center on September 29, 2025 in Houston, Texas. 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
If reports are to be believed, the Houston Rockets have already made a decision on one of the biggest questions of the offseason. According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Rockets have “no plans” to move on from either Ime Udoka or Rafael Stone.
“Everybody’s disappointed”
On the peculiar past, present and future prognosis of the Houston Rockets — a team oscillating between development and contention — and an organization that needs clarity, cohesion and creativity. https://t.co/UtNJ5dIQPD
“At this juncture, there are no plans to move on from either Udoka or general manager Rafael Stone. Ownership has remained steadfast in its belief in a three-pronged leadership sector because of a combination of the turnaround in recent years and consecutive 50-win seasons, the latter of which was marked by major injuries, resulting in confidence from the top down.
“One of the prevailing internal beliefs concerning this roster is assuming that Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are healthy, along with Durant, the Rockets aren’t too far removed from Western Conference powers Oklahoma City and San Antonio.”
So there you have it, folks. It’s sounding like the coach and GM are staying. I’m not ready to give up on Rafael Stone just yet, but Udoka is trying my patience — like he is for many Rockets fans. It would be nice to see Udoka welcome an offensive coordinator, but I wonder if he’s too much of a control freak for that to be sucessful.
That leaves any potential Rockets changes to come via the lineup, and my biggest fear is sounding like it might also be close to coming true — that the Rockets make no roster changes and simply run it back with Adams and FVV and keep their fingers crossed.
The team needs more ball handling and shooting and less forwards, and I don’t think that’s a secret to anyone. They also need another big, since Clint Capela isn’t used much by Udoka. I’d personally love to see the Rockets trade Durant. With KD not getting any younger, how many years does he have left at this level? One? Two? I think the one thing we learned this year is that the Rockets are more than one or two years away. For this reason alone, I’d like to see the Rockets move KD for assets that allow the Rockets to retool in a sort of soft rebuild. That’s to say nothing of the KD burner incident that compromised another locker room, especially since it’s essentially been released that it was all true.
While we wait on roster changes, however, get ready for more Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka. It appears that they’re not going anywhere.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on January 11, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ah, yes, it’s the Spurs-Wolves second-round clash that everyone anticipated! No one around here penciled in a Spurs-Nuggets tilt, and there’s also no evidence of yours truly crashing out following San Antonio’s final regular-season loss to Denver.
Now that we have our matchup set, it’s time to dive into some stylistic battles that could take place. Given the small sample size of the first round, the stats used will come from the regular season, and Minnesota’s numbers will reflect data from lineups without Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards — although the latter could come back later in the series.
Let’s start with the Wolves’ shot diet.
Minnesota’s shot chart
The Wolves take 36.3% of their shots at the rim (top 5 league-wide) while converting on just 64.5% of those attempts (bottom5). It goes without saying that Wemby will make their lives much tougher, as opponents are shooting just 60.8% in that area with him playing. More importantly, only 26.2% of attempts are at the rim when Wemby’s on, and the Alien’s presence will force Minnesota to shoot from farther out.
Assuming Wemby camps in the paint due to Gobert’s lacklustre offensive game, the Wolves will focus on pull-up 3s and long 2s. Some of their guards caught fire in round 1, but the full-season stats indicate that Minnesota is a below-average shooting team from every area of the floor except above-the-break 3s, and even that came on extremely low volume. The Wolves will need to find other sources of offense if their shooting reverts to the norm, and one potential solution is to crash the boards.
Offensive rebounding
The biggest matchup advantage Minnesota has over San Antonio is their size at the forward positions. None of the Spurs’ forwards can match up physically against Julius Randle and Naz Reid, which could allow the Wolves to fatten up on the offensive glass. Still, that is easier said than done, as the Wolves’ 28.6% OREB is decidedly average, while the Spurs’ 74.1% DREB ranked first league-wide.
If they decide to go down this route, Minnesota will need to be comfortable taking shots deeper in the paint to force Wemby to commit, leaving the backline more exposed. Even so, there’s a good chance that the Alien will either block the shot or recover fast enough to grab the rebound. The Wolves might be forced to play lineups featuring all of McDaniels, Reid, Randle, and Gobert — a quartet that saw minutes in the Denver series but only logged 71 possessions together in the regular season.
Transition opportunities
If the Wolves prioritize the offensive glass, then they’ll be giving the Spurs easier opportunities to run. Minnesota would be playing into a strength of San Antonio’s, as they rank 6th and 8th, respectively, in transition frequency and points per play. On the other hand, the Wolves could decide that the defensive tradeoff is not worth the potential offensive gain, and they could go big to prioritize defensive boards instead. Minnesota increased their DREB from 66.7% in the regular season (9th percentile) to 79.2% in round 1 against Denver (95th), and they’ll prevent the Spurs from getting easy second-chance points if this continues.
The Wolves could push the pace themselves if defensive rebounding remains a priority. They ranked 6th in transition points per play in the regular season, and both teams were top 10 in preventing opposing transition opportunities too. Fast break points are clearly an emphasis for both teams, and the winner in that category could be determined by the size of Minnesota’s lineups and which side of the rebounding battle they prioritize.
Pace
This one is very simple: both teams are better when they play fast. Minnesota and San Antonio ranked 10th and 12th, respectively, in pace in the regular season, and are now tied for 1st and 3rd in the playoffs. The Wolves were able to take Denver out of rhythm by speeding them up, but doing so against the Spurs would only benefit the black and silver.
For San Antonio, Stephon Castle specifically needs to play with speed and purpose. Portland cut the Spurs’ large lead down to single digits in game five of round 1 because Castle started walking the ball up without getting into any action until the shot clock almost expired. However, San Antonio’s offense is almost impossible to stop when he’s running handoffs and attacking closeouts, which is how the Spurs built their lead.
When Gobert’s been played off the floor in the past, it was always due to issues with his offense, not defense. That problem could rear its ugly head again in this series if his lack of a post game and shooting allows Wemby to camp in the paint, allowing the latter to shut off Minnesota’s drives and rim attempts. Given the ability of the Spurs’ guards to fight through screens and defend, Gobert won’t be able to make as big an impact as a screener either, which could render him close to a zero on offense.
Defensively, Gobert’s matchup with Wemby will be the polar opposite of the one he had against Jokic. Wemby’s lob threat as a roll man and his ability to come off screens will force Gobert to guard in space, which is why I expect him to be assigned to Castle instead. Similar to what Portland did, Gobert can sag off the second-year guard (who quietly hit over 40% from three on five attempts a game against the Blazers) and stay in the paint, while physical forwards like Randle and Reid match up with Wemby instead. The Spurs found counters to this strategy by running hand-offs with Castle (as was shown above), but that might be the lesser of all evils given the offensive versatility that San Antonio has.
Another wrinkle in the Gobert-Wemby matchup is the number of corner threes the Spurs generate. In the regular season, Wemby’s roll gravity helped San Antonio take 13.8% of their shots from the corners when he played, which was one of the highest recorded numbers ever. However, the Wolves are elite at preventing shots from the corners, conceding just 8.6% of such attempts to their opponents, which was one of the five lowest marks league-wide. If Gobert can guard the paint alone, the other Wolves players can focus on playing man defense and prevent open looks instead of worrying about packing the paint to stop lobs to Wemby.
SGP leg #1: Cade Cunningham Over 44.5 points + rebounds + assists
In the playoffs, Cade Cunningham ranks second in points per game, first in field goal attempts, third in free throw attempts, and fourth in minutes.
His 23 field goal attempts are up from 18.6 in the regular season. His free throws have increased from six per game to 10.7, and his minutes have shot up from 33.9 to 40.5.
Cunningham leads all players in postseason usage at 35.3%. The Detroit Pistons go as far as Cade takes them, and the team will need him to stuff the stat sheet in order to complete the series comeback and avoid an upset by the No. 8 seed.
SGP leg #2: Pistons -9
The Orlando Magic have outplayed the Pistons for most of the series, but the psychological aspect of competition comes into play here.
The Magic were up 22 points at halftime in front of the home crowd before suffering a historic meltdown, blowing their chances to complete the upset and advance to the second round.
The Pistons were clearly feeling themselves at the end of Game 6, and they’ve got swagger and momentum to go with home-court advantage. Orlando has got to be reeling, and I’ll bet on Detroit to win this one by double digits.
SGP leg #3: Under 203
Scoring has come at a major premium in this series, and the game total Under has hit in four of six matchups. The game total has gone Under 203.5 in three of six, including two of the last three.
Both teams failed to record 100 points three times in the series, and I’ll take the Under in what should be a gritty, physical dogfight, 2004-style.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Magic vs Pistons predictions for Game 7.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 22: CJ Huntley #22 of the Phoenix Suns in action during his NBA debut in the game against the Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
Player Snapshot
Position: SF/PF
Age: 24
Contract Status: Two-Way, RFA in 2027-28
SunsRank (Preseason): 18
SunsRank (Postseason): 18
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Season in One Sentence
From undrafted to two-way to waived to two-way, the rookie year for CJ Huntley was full of earning opportunities and the establishment of his personal foundation.
By the Numbers
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
4
10.0
3.0
1.3
0.5
0.0
54.5%
0.0%
0.0%
122.4
104.7
+15
Let’s take a look at his stats with the Valley Suns.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
29
27.4
16.0
8.5
1.1
1.2
62.3%
33.8%
69.0%
111.6
118.0
-162
The Expectation
There were not many expectations for CJ Huntley entering the season. When you are the last man on the roster, that is the reality. He signed a two-way contract with the Suns after he went undrafted. Not long into the season, Phoenix waived him to create space for Jamaree Bouyea. Huntley cleared waivers and stayed in the mix. Later in the year, after a few subsequent moves, the Suns brought him back on a two-way deal.
From an expectations standpoint, the goal was simple. Get reps. Learn in the G.
The Reality
The reality with Huntley is that he is a solid foundational piece to have at the back end of a roster. There is room to grow, but the tools are there. He has size, he plays with a motor, and over five years at Appalachian State, he showed steady improvement from three. Around the rim, he has a natural feel for finishing.
The challenge shows up on the defensive end. In his Valley Suns run, there were flashes offensively that stood out. Defensively, there were lapses in positioning, slower reactions, and moments where the read was a beat late. Those are areas that can develop, but at 24, you are also weighing how much growth is still coming.
Could he become a rotation piece? It feels unlikely. As a deep bench option, someone you keep in your system and turn to when needed, he makes sense.
What It Means
Having him under contract on a two-way through next season is a smart move for Phoenix. Is he turning into the next great power forward? Probably not. But what he can provide — size, effort, and the potential to space the floor as a 3-and-D wing — has value. You want those kinds of guys in your organization. Because they may hit, and if they don’t, they are ideal players to sharpen the iron of those around them.
Defining Moment
The best moment of the season for Huntley came with the Valley Suns on the day he signed his two-way contract. He went off that night and gave you a glimpse of what he can be offensively.
Huntley is the kind of player you like having in your system, and based on expectations coming into the season, I land on a B-.
That is what makes these grades interesting. It depends on what you are measuring. If this were based strictly on his impact with the Phoenix Suns, it would be an F. He did not factor in at that level. The B- reflects what he showed in the G League and how that aligned with what I expected. You could even argue for an A. There were no real expectations attached to him. He met the moment that was there.
What we saw in Summer League carried over. He popped. The question was always sustainability, and the G League gave a clearer answer. There is something there. There is also a ceiling. And it feels finite.
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 1: Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Six of the...
HOUSTON — Austin Reaves couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it happened.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) and his teammates stymied the Rockets with their defensive intensity. NBAE via Getty Images
Nearly midway through the regular season, the Lakers ranked 26th in defensive rating, performing even worse on the less glamorous end of the floor than even their biggest detractors expected entering the season.
Only a few of the worst teams in the NBA (Kings, Pelicans, Wizards and Jazz) ranked worse than them defensively at the time.
The Lakers knew a change was needed, and it came during their 110-93 win over the Raptors on Jan. 18, when they started playing more zone defense than they had up to that point in the season.
“Our voices, we were talking more, we were rotating more — that was like a starter for us to kind of get the feel of what that communication looks like,” Reaves said. “And then we could change defenses, we could throw different schemes.”
Even though the Lakers barely played zone defense against the Rockets, the carryover from what coach JJ Redick and his staff were looking to emphasize was evident.
“When we started first playing zone, it did force everybody to communicate with one another and force guys that other teams probably wouldn’t see as communicators to be able to communicate, which ultimately put them in the right position because now they’re talking,” Marcus Smart said. “Now, they’re keeping their head on a swivel, they’re seeing things. So, I definitely have to agree with [Reaves] on that when we started to play that zone. And obviously we didn’t play that much zone in this series, but it helped us when we did play our man, to understand that everybody out there has to talk, and you don’t want to be the weak link.”
It was a collective defensive effort that got the Lakers their first playoff series victory since 2023, starting with Smart and LeBron James (in Year 23) setting the tone.
“In the NBA, you need to have an openness,” Redick said. “And whether that’s LeBron who’s been an All-Defensive player, arguably should have been Defensive Player of the Year multiple times, Smart’s been Defensive Player of the Year; they just buy into whatever schemes that we come up with. When you get buy-in from those guys, it’s easy to sort of execute because then the accountability piece is there.”
The Rockets’ Tari Eason and his teammates struggled against the Lakers’ defense during the first-round series. NBAE via Getty Images
Deandre Ayton controlled the interior, whether it was strong 1-on-1 defense as the primary matchup against Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun or closing out possessions with defensive rebounds.
Sengun scored 32 points on 15-of-37 shooting (40.5%) when Ayton was the closest defender to him and only drew one shooting foul, according to the league’s matchup data.
The Lakers were a significantly better defensive rebounding team when Ayton was on the floor, even if he wasn’t the one grabbing the board.
He led the Lakers with 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, including 9.3 in the final three games of the series against the Rockets, who were the best offensive rebounding team in the league.
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“You have to have some type of stop sign where enough is enough,” Ayton said. “You have to match their physicality in a way where it’s contagious to your teammates as well. So I just tried to play as I am, the biggest dude on the court, and just go out and get every damn rebound. It got to a point where I didn’t even know I was hitting guys and giving certain blows, just off boxing out and to where you keep hitting them, hitting them, they eventually break.”
But even going all the way back to last offseason when the roster was put together.
The Lakers weren’t expected to be the kind of team that could ride their defense to postseason success.
The series against the Rockets showed the progress they made.
“It means everything,” Smart said. “It shows our resilience, and it shows the belief that we have in the next man up. It shows the belief that the coaching staff has in us to be able to, you know, put us in the right position. It just shows that no matter how depleted we are, we’re always going to go out there and compete and give everything we got and our trust in each other.”
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: Jamal Shead #23 of the Toronto Raptors is defended by James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors aren’t supposed to be here.
But they are anyway, and it’s the best-case scenario for a team surviving mostly off their instincts. They’ve learned to live with injuries to key players and miraculously adapted to the harsh environment of playoff basketball.
They have one last mountain to climb in their Game 7 matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that’s mandatory for any team playing with house money.
With a monumental upset now potentially in play, here are six things the Raptors must overcome ahead of the 7:30 p.m. EST tip-off:
History
The Raptors are 3-3 in Game 7:
Lost 88-87 to the Philadelphia 76ers (2001)
Lost 104-103 to the Brooklyn Nets (2014)
Won 89-84 against the Indiana Pacers (2016)
Won 116-89 against the Miami Heat (2016)
Won 92-90 against the Philadelphia 76ers (2019)
Lost 92-87 to the Boston Celtics (2020)
That’s not a bad winning percentage compared to the rest of the league. Legacy organizations like the Boston Celtics (0.729) and Los Angeles Lakers (0.666) rank the best, especially amongst those with the most experience. Modern-day contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder (8/13) and the New York Knicks (7/16) offer a more realistic spectrum of results.
The real concern lies with the fact that home teams have won 74 per cent of the time throughout the history of the NBA. For all of the discourse surrounding the length of the regular-season, there’s still tremendous value in putting in the work during the marathon of a grind.
Troubles in the fourth
After averaging 35.3 points in the fourth quarter throughout the first four games of the series, the Raptors have mightily struggled in the final frame during the last two contests. Cleveland has figured something out or is playing with more urgency. They’ve limited Toronto to an average of 14.5 points in Games 5 and 6. The Raptors are also a combined -19 during this stretch. A part of their issue can be attributed to the loss of Brandon Ingram.
Assuming Ingram won’t be available despite his status being upgraded to questionable, this won’t cut it in Game 7. Even if the Raptors get off to a great start and figure out how to maintain it, it’ll all come down to whether they can produce in the final 12 minutes.
Can the Canadian do it again?
A part of the problem with the team’s late-game offence stems from RJ Barrett. The Canadian knocked down one of the greatest shots in Raptors history, but the road to that legendary moment was a bumpy one. In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers fully lean into a strategic decision to put length (either Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen) on Barrett to negate his drive. While Barrett found success earlier in the series, credit Mobley and Allen for doing a better job of absorbing contact and making it difficult for any over-the-top finishes.
Even with his wrecking-ball style limited, what’s further complicating things is that Barrett’s outside shooting has abandoned him late in games. The Cavaliers are daring Barrett to beat them from the perimeter late in games. It ultimately worked out in the Raptors’ favour to win Game 6, but will it carry over to Game 7?
Need more from Shead
Another symptom of the Raptors’ offensive struggles traces back to Jamal Shead. The point guard is the most obvious Raptors bulldog. It’s easy to spot the Kyle Lowry mannerism. Unfortunately, like Lowry, Shead has battled with his outside jumper during his young career. While he was never the sub-30 per cent shooter that Lowry was during his first four seasons, Raptors fans understand that anything Shead provides from beyond-the-arc is a breath of fresh air.
The Cavaliers have hedged their bets on the law of averages, often leading to wide-open shots for Shead in the fourth quarter. He frustratingly missed multiple attempts from the corner in Game 5 and went 2-for-7 in Game 6.
Toronto has done a few things to counter this, like putting the ball in Shead’s hands more, which leverages his strengths as a ball-handler and set-up man. But there will be pivotal moments when the ball is in the hands of Barrett or Scottie Barnes, and chances are Shead will be called on to hit a series-clinching type of shot.
Mobley is a problem
After being labelled as the primary reason for Cleveland dropping the first two games in Toronto, Mobley has quieted the doubters. Mobley averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 0-for-7 from deep during Games 3 and 4. Since then, the big man has averaged 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. He has also knocked down six of his 10 three-point attempts.
He confidently attacked Collin Murray-Boyles to send the game into overtime on Friday and nearly knocked down the game-winner in overtime.
Mobley is getting strong as the series progresses and another stellar performance could mean trouble for the Raptors.
Pride matters
Mobley’s running-mate in Allen has also answered the call over the last two games. Allen drew criticism for how he handled the Raptors’ decision to guard him with a smaller player. While Toronto survived hiding players like Barrett, Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter on Allen earlier in the series, the Cavaliers centre has done a better job of exploiting the size mismatch.
The Raptors’ most physical bigs (Barnes and Murray-Boyles) also happen to be their two best perimeter defenders. Toronto has understandably declared Donovan Mitchell and James Harden as the more dangerous threat, which means getting creative with Allen and Mobley.
In Game 6, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had no choice but to deploy Jakob Poeltl. The Austrian centre played a series-high 21 minutes. This isn’t necessarily a sustainable option. Extended minutes for Poeltl mean other schematic issues could – and typically do – materialize.
Unfortunately, the Raptors may not have a choice after being out-rebounded 65-48 (19-10 on the offensive boards) in Game 6.
There are underdogs, and then there are the kind of underdogs that look like they just wandered into the wrong NBA arena.
The Lakers aren’t just staring up at the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, they’re squinting at them through a telescope.
Thankfully for the Lakers, this is not uncharted territory.
The Lakers’ Drew Timme (17) and the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren will face off again beginning Tuesday night. NBAE via Getty Images
Ahead of their first-round playoff series against the much younger, faster and deeper Rockets, the Lakers opened as +475 underdogs. Without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Rockets were sitting comfortably at -650.
The Lakers didn’t just survive that series, they deconstructed it. Over the course of six grueling games, coach JJ Redick and the Lakers stripped away Houston’s superpower on the offensive glass and extra possessions. By Game 6 in Houston, the Lakers dominated those categories and held the Rockets to the lowest scoring total than any team thus far in the postseason.
Yes, Kevin Durant did not play in five of the six games, and his injury shifted the balance, but that doesn’t erase the Lakers’ execution. Especially without their top scorer.
Now comes the Western Conference semifinals. By virtue of their victory over the Rockets in six games, the Lakers now earn the right to get absolutely smashed by the reigning champion Thunder.
The second-round odds look more like a No. 16 vs. No. 1 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Lakers open the series as +945 underdogs. Some books even pushed it to +1000. The Thunder are -1700 favorites. That means you’d have to lay $1,700 on OKC to win the series just to win $100.
The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates are heavily favored against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
Those opening lines are unprecedented for the Lakers’ franchise. According to Sports Odds History, the Lakers have never been this big of an underdog in a conference semifinal in the NBA’s modern era. And maybe not in any era!
For context, the last time LeBron James saw anything close to this kind of disrespect by oddsmakers was Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, when his Cavaliers opened as +12.5 underdogs against the Warriors. The Cavs nearly won that game in regulation, only to lose by 10 in overtime. Nevertheless, they covered.
But these odds? This is bigger. This is colder.
And if you’re wondering why the odds are so high, look no further than the four-game season series between the teams.
The Thunder swept the Lakers in four noncompetitive matchups this season.
A 29-point beatdown in November. A February loss to a Thunder team missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at Crypto.com Arena. The April 2 loss. A 43-point disaster that saw injuries to Doncic and Reaves swallow the Lakers whole. Then a 36-point loss in a glorified scrimmage a few days later.
Average margin of defeat: 29.3 points.
That is the largest margin of defeat between any teams in a playoff matchup in NBA history.
But honestly, these odds are probably exactly where they should be.
The Thunder are younger, deeper, faster and more cohesive. They don’t just beat you, they break you. Led by SGA, who can beat you from deep, midrange and at the rim, they are one of the NBA’s best defensive teams and are constructed by talented players who all know and embrace their roles. They space the floor, they knock down 3s and they get out in transition. Their pace turns fatigue into a weapon. It overwhelms opponents. A close game can turn into a blowout in the blink of an eye.
The Thunder’s Aaron Wiggins (21) and his teammates swept the regular-season series against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
Which brings us to Doncic. He’s the only chance the Lakers have in this series, and even that is slim. Right now, he’s on the outside looking in. He’s begun shooting and moving on the court, but still hasn’t progressed to 1-on-1 drills. He’s not expected to return for Game 1, but he could return at some point in the series. But by then, the series could already be decided.
Once again, the Lakers are a team looking to survive long enough to buy Doncic more time. A group leaning on the brilliance of the 41-year-old James. They just emptied the tank against the Rockets; now they’re expected to sprint uphill against the reigning champions.
The odds say this series ends quickly. It may even get ugly. But the playoffs don’t run on odds or logic. They run on unpredictability, momentum and chaos.
Nobody predicted Durant’s injury. Nobody predicted the Lakers beating the Rockets at their own game without Doncic. And nobody is predicting the Lakers even have a chance against the Thunder.
Is it likely the Lakers win the series? No.
Is it possible? Well, that’s why they play the games.
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Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) attempts a layup between Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) and forward Rui Hachimura during a regular-season game. The Lakers went 0-4 against Oklahoma City this season. (Nate Billings / Associated Press)
The Lakers were supposed to be the easy playoff matchup in the difficult Western Conference. They didn’t get the memo.
The Lakers season took a turn for the worst the last time the Lakers played in Oklahoma City, losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to regular-season ending injuries. The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tail spin one month before the playoffs.
“I had no doubt in my mind that we could get the group back and build the belief and confidence and be able to execute and give ourselves an opportunity to win a playoff series,” Redick said. “And then go take on the world champions and be competitive in that."
The Thunder have lived up to their championship billing; they were the only team to sweep their first-round playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.8 points on 55.1% shooting and eight assists in the first round against the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder played two games without All-NBA wing Jalen Williams, who injured his left hamstring in Game 2 and was week-to-week with a Grade 1 strain.
Thunder center Chet Holmgren slips past Clippers center Brook Lopez for a dunk. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
How the Lakers fared
Season series: 0-4
Nov. 12, 2025, in Oklahoma City Thunder 121, Lakers 92 Neither team was at full strength with James sidelined because of sciatica and the Thunder without Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City still dominated behind an effortless 30-point, nine-assist night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It was the largest defeat of the season for the Lakers until April.
Feb. 9, in Los Angeles Thunder 119, Lakers 110 Both teams were without their MVP candidates as Gilegous-Alexander sat because of a strained abdominal muscle and Doncic was sidelined by a hamstring injury. The Thunder proved their depth and chemistry by holding off the Lakers in the fourth quarter. This was one of just eight clutch-time losses for the Lakers during the regular season.
April 2, in Oklahoma City Thunder 139, Lakers 96 The nightmare score wasn’t as scary for the Lakers as seeing their two leading scorers injured in the same game. Reaves played through what was later diagnosed as a Grade 2 oblique muscle strain, and Doncic left in the third quarter with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. The game was expected to be a major showdown between MVP candidates and a litmus test for the Lakers, who entered with 13 wins in their previous 14 games.
April 8, in Los Angeles Thunder 123, Lakers 87 The Lakers were without four starters and still reeling from the regular season-ending injuries suffered by Doncic and Reaves the previous week. Matching up with the Thunder again only exacerbated the emotional hangover. Redick tried to inject some energy into the group by benching veterans Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt for small mistakes early, but the coach later admitted the tactic didn’t work.
Early odds
The Thunder opened as 16-point favorites to win Game 1. James has never been a bigger underdog in a playoff game, according to Yahoo Sports.
HOUSTON — LeBron James sat by his locker, alternating between being introspective and funny.
He allowed himself to take things in, saying he was “living in the moment a lot more.”
The Lakers’ LeBron James led a depleted team to a 4-2 series victory over the Rockets on Friday in Houston. Getty Images
He joked about his son, Bronny, bearing an uncanny resemblance to NFL player Will Anderson Jr., calling him “my fourth child.”
Nothing stood out about the moment.
Except everything.
What just happened was monumental.
The 41-year-old James had just led a depleted Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (for all but two games) past the Rockets in their first-round playoff series, winning Game 6 in Houston on Friday, 98-78.
This was no ordinary first-round win for James, who has carried 10 NBA teams to the Finals, winning four championships.
This was one of the most stunning accomplishments of his career.
This was one of the most stunning accomplishments of his career. Getty Images
It’s time to stop questioning whether James is the greatest player of all time.
Six games before the regular season ended, Doncic suffered a hamstring strain and Reaves sustained an oblique strain in the same game April 2, deflating the Lakers like a nail in a tire.
He’s the first NBA player to play in his 23rd season. He was too old to put a bunch of role players on his back and pull off a miracle. Even in his prime, that would’ve been a huge ask.
The thing is, James is used to being told what he can’t do.
He thrives off proving people wrong. That’s his drug, his fix.
He has been under the brightest of spotlights since he was in middle school. When he entered the NBA as an 18-year-old, he had the highest expectation of any prospect ever. Everyone was waiting for him to fail.
James sprinted past the pressure, shattering every ceiling. He’s the league’s all-time leading scorer, he has the most All-Star selections (22) and has played the most minutes.
The thing is, James is used to being told what he can’t do. Getty Images
But still, no one believed James could do this.
Lead a Lakers team without its top-two scorers, who left behind a 60-point hole? At his age? No chance. No way.
When are we going to stop doubting him?
James responded by averaging 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists over 38.5 minutes per game. Those are stunning numbers for anyone but unheard-of numbers for a 41-year-old playing against guys who are nearly half his age.
He carried the team to a 3-0 series lead.
James averaged more than 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists over close to 39 minutes per game in the series. Getty Images
Then after the Rockets won two straight games, stealing the series momentum, James catapulted the Lakers to a second-round date with the reigning champion Thunder.
Said Austin Reaves: “I just went over to him and was like, ‘You’re insane.’ The stuff that you’re doing is not normal.”
Added Lakers coach JJ Redick: “To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player.”
The oldest NBA player in the league was the best player in the series.
In Game 1, he unraveled the Rockets with his passing, finishing with 19 points and 13 assists. In Game 2, he led all scorers with 28 points. In Game 3, he made a game-tying 3-pointer that forced overtime, and he went on to play 45 minutes. In Game 5, he orchestrated an 11-1 fourth-quarter run, cutting the Lakers’ 13-point deficit to three points and giving them a chance to win.
In Game 6, he was everywhere, doing everything, finishing with game highs in points (28) and assists (eight), as well as grabbing seven rebounds. He had the highest plus-minus (+26) of anyone on the court.
James didn’t just perform. He shined. He stunned.
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He made a dejected-and-hapless group of role players believe in themselves. He brought out the best in them. He led them out of the abyss.
He reinvigorated their careers.
Marcus Smart was falling out of the league. Deandre Ayton was considered immature and unreliable. Luke Kennard was pigeonholed. Each of them looked like stars at times this series.
It was because of James.
If James was pouring every ounce of himself onto the court, how could they not? If someone who understood winning on such a deep level believed in his teammates, how could they not believe in themselves?
What James did was extraordinary.
As the Lakers huddled after Game 6, a loud chant broke out.
“Literally every single guy was going, ‘Baahhhh, baahhhhh,'” Redick said.
The team was making goat sounds to honor the greatest player of all time, a convenient acronym that could be celebrated with a bleat.
It’s time to stop playing devil’s advocate. To stop the debate. To stop questioning him.
James is the best ever.
What we just witnessed was nothing short of breathtaking.
Kurt Helin
