The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers meet in a winner-take-all Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. The winner will face the winner of the Orlando Magic-Detroit Pistons series in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The home team has won all previous six games in the series. Cleveland is favored by 8.5 points.
How to watch Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Kansas City Royals (13-19) face the Seattle Mariners (16-17) in the second game of their series. The Royals won Friday’s opener 7-6. Starting pitchers are Seth Lugo for Kansas City, with a 2.63 ERA, and Emerson Hancock for Seattle, with a 2.86 ERA.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. Seattle Mariners
The Kansas City Royals (13-19) face the Seattle Mariners (16-17) in the second game of their series. The Royals won Friday’s opener 7-6. Starting pitchers are Seth Lugo for Kansas City, with a 2.63 ERA, and Emerson Hancock for Seattle, with a 2.86 ERA.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. Seattle Mariners
The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics meet in a winner-take-all Game 7 to see who advances to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The 76ers forced the decisive game by winning Game 6. Celtics star Jayson Tatum is questionable for the game with a sore left knee. Boston began the day as 7.5-point favorites.
How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
The Cleveland Cavaliers can advance to the second round of the playoffs with a victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. The Cavs lead the series 3-2 after winning Game 5. Cleveland is 3.5-point favorites against the Raptors, who could be without Brandon Ingram. The over/under is set at 219.5 with a spread of 3.5.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to end their first-round series with the Houston Rockets in Game 6. After trailing 3-0, the Rockets have extended the series by winning the past two games. The Houston Rockets are favored by 3.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 206.5.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
The Orlando Magic will try to close out the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Magic lead the series 3-2 but lost Game 5. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points. The total is set at 209.5 for this Eastern Conference matchup.
The Vegas Golden Knights, ranked first in the Pacific Division with a 39-26 record, face the Utah Mammoth, who are fourth in the Central Division with a 43-33 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Utah at -105 and Vegas at -115. Vegas has gone 40-6-11 when scoring at least three goals.
How to watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth
The Tampa Bay Lightning, ranked second in the Atlantic Division with a 50-26 record, face the Montreal Canadiens, who are third in the Atlantic Division with a 48-24 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Tampa Bay at -115 and Montreal at -105.
How to watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Minnesota Timberwolves can wrap up their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a victory in Game 6. The Timberwolves led the series 3-1 before losing Game 5 125-113 on Monday in Denver. A win by Minnesota sends it to the second round to face the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets are favored by 5.5 points in Game 6.
How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Boston Celtics will try to close out the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. The 76ers already won one elimination game, beating the Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 to extend the series. If Boston wins, it will advance to the second round of the playoffs to face the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series. The Celtics are favored by 5.5 points in Game 6.
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Date: Thursday, April 30
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The New York Knicks will try to close out the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. The Knicks have won the past two games to take a 3-2 lead in the series. If New York wins Game 6, it will advance to the second round and face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers-Boston Celtics series. The Knicks are favored by 2.5 points in Game 6.
Yahoo Sports’ “Football 301” podcast hosts Nate Tice and Matt Harmon dedicated a large segment of an episode this week discussing the key unanswered questions across the league following the 2026 NFL Draft. They emphasized that many teams still have significant uncertainties that will play out over the coming months.
There was agreement that no team in the league is perfect after the draft, with most contenders having at least one significant roster or schematic question mark.
Many teams are relying on internal growth, health and coaching adjustments to offset lingering holes as they prepare for training camp and the season ahead. The AFC, in particular, looks especially wide open due to these uncertainties.
Here’s a summary of the main questions they outlined for several prominent teams and units:
Kansas City Chiefs offense
Question: Is the Chiefs’ run game, offensive line, and return of Eric Bieniemy enough to mask the concerns at wide receiver?
The team is essentially running it back with Rashee Rice as WR1 and Xavier Worthy as WR2, both of whom are question marks.
Harmon specifically questioned whether this group of pass-catchers is enough to open up the passing game and keep defenses honest.
“… they kind of need like a big-body receiver, somebody to really win against press man coverage and be kind of that guy on late downs in contested catch situations,” Harmon said. “And to me, I think on paper they still don't really have that guy.”
Xavier Worthy (1) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Rashee Rice (4) in 2024's season opener. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
David Eulitt via Getty Images
Buffalo Bills’ defensive front
Question: Did the Bills do enough on defense, especially along the line and at pass rusher, to contend with other top AFC teams?
While they added T.J. Parker and some veterans, there are still questions about having an “ace” edge rusher or closer for playoff games.
Tice noted concern that the team may be relying too much on Jim Leonhard’s coaching ability to “game up” pressure without having top-end talent.
“He has a defense that can do that,” Tice said. “But this is what's given the Bills issues in the past is that when it came to, you know, the elite games, the playoff games, the tight games, they didn't have that closer. That's why they signed Von Miller. Joey Bosa did a good job for them last year, but then Joey Bosa just had a horrid game in the playoffs against the Broncos and just making a bunch of mistakes, which has always been a little thing with Joey. But I don't think they really have that ace.”
Green Bay Packers seem stuck
Question: Do the Packers have a top-10 unit on either side of the ball after their offseason moves?
After a relatively quiet free agency and some key injuries, it’s unclear if either the offense or defense is elite, or if the roster is simply “stuck in the middle” while relying on internal development.
Harmon challenged whether enough improvement has happened for the Packers to stand out, especially with so many young players expected to take a big leap. The wide receiver room was condensed, which could help, although here were the results of the top guys last season:
Jacksonville Jaguars’ pass rush
Question: Did the Jags add enough legitimate pass rush heat beyond Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker?
Even after drafting a run stuffer and relying on creative coaching, Tice is unsure if there’s enough pure pass-rushing ability on early downs to threaten elite offenses. But there is faith in their coaching to find solutions.
“I would say that their defensive coordinator Anthony Campanelli does a great job of gaming stuff off,” Tice said. “He did. He really moved up in my play-caller rankings because of how good he was on third and fourth down. How good their game plans were every single week.”
Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive spine
Question: Did the Bengals' additions up front (Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe) do enough to cover serious concerns at linebacker and safety, especially against tight ends over the middle?
Both hosts highlighted how the Bengals’ defense was exposed last season in these areas, and improvements depend on the aging yet expensive defensive line masking these back-seven weaknesses.
“That does worry me that you're kind of making the same bet with two aging defensive tackles,” Harmon said.
San Francisco 49ers’ high variance and injuries
Question: How will the 49ers fare with so many key veterans (George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans) coming off injuries, and will a young receiver (De’Zhaun Stribling) step up if Brandon Aiyuk is moved?
Tice described the 49ers as a “super high variance team” that could look great if healthy but has major question marks at crucial positions, putting their 10.5 win total over/under in doubt.
“[Head coach] Kyle Shanahan does really go after guys that are intelligent like in smart players,” Tice said. “That's why his guys don't really make a lot of mistakes and even though he asked a lot of them. So Stribling is going to get a lot of run. That's a lot to put on a second-round rookie wide receiver. Especially if you have aspirations.”
The Kansas City Royals (12-17) face the Athletics (15-14) in the second game of their series. The Royals won the series’ opener 4-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday. Scheduled starting pitchers are Michael Wacha for Kansas City, with a 2.51 ERA, and Luis Severino for the Athletics, with a 5.17 ERA.
The Houston Rockets will try to get their season alive against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. The Rockets avoided elimination with a 115-96 victory in Game 4. The Lakers hold a 3-1 lead in the series. One more victory and they will advance to the second round to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
