The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a chip on their shoulders. Before they can prove anything of substance and go the distance, they need to take care of business as the heavy favorites in their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors.

Here are three keys to making sure that happens. All stats are via Cleaning the Glass.

1. Control the Pace

The Cavs have a talent advantage in this series. But talent can only get you so far. Winning on the margins is often what determines outcomes. If you lose the mini-battles, you lose the series.

For Cleveland, losing control of the pace would be the quickest path to destruction.

Toronto finished the regular season 3rd in transition frequency. They scored over 20 points per game off fastbreaks. They also generated the fourth most turnovers in the league. These transition opportunities are huge for a team that finished 13th in offensive efficiency.

In short, this series favors the Cavs if they can keep this game in the halfcourt. How do you achieve that?

Taking care of the ball is the first step. Cleveland finished the season 8th in turnover percentage and was even better (6th) in the two months after acquiring James Harden. This will be key as the Cavs ranked 11th in transition defense post All-Star break, but struggled heavily in scenarios created off turnovers, finishing 20th off steals.

Then there’s the double-edged sword of attacking the offensive glass. On one hand, offensive rebounds can wear a team down and slow things significantly. On the other hand, coming up short on an offensive board will leave your transition defense more vulnerable. The Cavs have to play this carefully.

The Raptors finished 1st in transition frequency off live rebounds. However, they ranked 19th in keeping opponents off the offensive glass. Cleveland was 11th in offensive rebounding percentage. There’s an opportunity for the Cavs to burn or get burned here. I’ll be interested to see how they approach this.

Either way, a slower pace benefits Cleveland. Expect the Cavs to make this their top priority in round one.

2. Trust the Math

There isn’t much in the world that everyone can agree on. We can, however, agree that three is greater than two, right?

If my math is correct, then the Cavs once again have an advantage.

The Raptors finished 25th in three-point frequency and 18th in accuracy this season. They are… not a great perimeter team. Aside from scoring in transition, the Raps primarily made up for their lack of shooting by attacking the paint (9th in rim frequency) and mid-range (6th in mid-range frequency).

This is exactly the type of style that Cleveland’s defense prefers to go against.

The Cavs have always worked to run opponents off the line and force them to score from the middle of the floor. Difficult, inefficient two-pointers are preferable to three-point jumpers. This has been the basis of Cleveland being an elite defense in years past. It will be their blueprint for round one, too.

Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes will try their best to beat Cleveland from the mid-range. They’ll likely even have a game or two where they are red-hot from that zone. But this is a gamble the Cavs are willing to accept. The math says that Toronto will have a hard time winning four out of seven games by scoring in the mid-range.

The Cavs will trust that even the most prolific scoring performance from the mid-range will be something they can overcome with their own three-point shooting. Let’s talk more about that in our next section.

3. Score, Score, Score

I can’t blame anyone who might feel hesitant to trust Cleveland’s defense. After all, we spent most of the regular season watching them either be banged up or struggling to play with consistent effort. I’ll grant you that concern.

But this team should pack a strong enough punch offensively to make everything else in this series moot.

Lineups featuring James Harden had an offensive rating of 120.9 (87th percentile). Add Donovan Mitchell next to him, and those lineups had a scorching 125.7 offensive rating (98th percentile). You’re banking on that being enough to overcome anything in this first round, even a top-10 defense.

For reference, the Cavs ranked sixth in offensive rating against top-10 opponents after the All-Star break. The Raps ranked 21st.

The problem-solving capabilities of Harden and Mitchell make this possible. They can punish you in isolation, through their pick-and-roll dynamism with Allen and Mobley, or by spraying the ball to any of Cleveland’s various three-point specialists. They have a solution to anything a defense can throw at them.

And while we know that the guards can fill it up, the potential for either Mobley or Allen to control the paint is just as dangerous. These two hit their stride in the back half of the season and will put a heavy strain on Toronto’s frontcourt to keep them from racking up dunks.

Finally, X-Factors like Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Keon Ellis, and Max Strus can swing the entire series with their three-point shooting. Either one of them can heat up in a hurry and deliver a game-ending run.

All in all, the Cavalier offense has all of the tools needed to be an extinction-level threat to the Raptors. This is their greatest advantage in round one.

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The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic are in a battle for their NBA playoff lives.

Tonight’s NBA Play-In finale should be absolutely riveting, and my Hornets vs. Magic predictions and NBA props projections have found three potential mismatches to take advantage of.

Read on for my NBA picks for Friday, April 17.

Best Hornets vs Magic props

Prop #1: Wendell Carter Jr. Over 1.5 assists

+100 at bet365

As the Orlando Magic's starting center, Wendell Carter Jr.regularly serves as the offensive hub, with Orlando guards and wings cutting to the cup off his passes.

Our Covers prop projections have Carter dropping at least two dimes tonight, which is something he has done in three of his previous seven games. 

The Charlotte Hornets rank among the league's worst at defending big man playmakers, making this a prime opportunity for Carter to rack up the dimes.

Prop #2: Miles Bridges Over 1.5 threes

+100 at bet365

Miles Bridges has quietly become one of Charlotte’s most reliable 3-point threats.

With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller drawing constant defensive attention and creating open looks on the perimeter, Bridges benefits from some of the best kick-out opportunities on the team.

He’s knocked down at least four threes in four of his previous seven games and should get there again against Orlando.

Prop #3: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 threes 

-130 at bet365

Kon Knueppel has been one of the more impressive shooting revelations for Charlotte this season. He’s drained the fourth-most threes in the NBA this season and is coming off a 0-for-6 stinker against Miami.

Our model expects a bounce-back shooting night, and Knueppel has made at least three threes in four of his previous seven games. 

I expect Orlando's defense to prioritize stopping Ball first, so I’ll back the rookie sharpshooter against the Magic. 

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The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns collide in a win-or-go-home showdown, with the winner punching a ticket to the playoffs and the loser sent packing.

The Suns may be priced as favorites, but that number carries less weight in a win-or-go-home spot, where rotations shrink, stars take over, and variance swings harder than the market accounts for.

With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a sharper, real-time read on sentiment, we’re breaking down the latest Warriors vs. Suns predictions and best NBA picks for this high-stakes clash.

Who will win Warriors vs Suns?

Warriors win probability:43% (+133)
Suns win probability:59% (-144)

The Phoenix Suns come in as slight favorites at 59% (-144), while the Golden State Warriors sit at 43% (+133), setting up a tight game that will likely come down to which superstar — Devin Booker or Stephen Curry — takes over when it matters most.

Our prediction:Suns to win

Covers NBA expert Jason Logan says "The Suns are being discounted after running into a hot Portland squad on Tuesday, and the Golden State Warriors will show their age in a tough travel spot Friday."

Read more in Jason Logan's full Warriors vs. Suns predictions.

More Warriors vs Suns prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Warriors vs. Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" means the Warriors will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Warriors vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Suns -2.5— Yes and Over 218.5 points — No

That potential for a faceplant isn’t the only reason I’m fading Golden State. The Warriors will now hit the road for the fourth time in eight days, which is a lot of wear and tear on the aging legs of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, get to stay home and enjoy an added day of rest and prep. Phoenix is being discounted after running into a red-hot Portland squad in the Play-In and has shown an ability to bounce back from poor performances, going 22-15 SU and 21-16 ATS when coming off a loss.

Other Warriors vs Suns prediction markets available

• Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 64¢)
• Steph Curry 25% points (Yes: 70¢)
• Draymond Green double-double (Yes: 17¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Warriors vs Suns at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Play-In Tournament finale between the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.

By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.

These Hornets vs. Magic predictions aren’t guesswork — they’re driven by the numbers.

For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 17.

Hornets vs Magic computer picks for April 17

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The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder enter this weekend’s playoffs as the clear betting favorites to go back to back, while the Los Angeles Lakers are dominating first-round series action. 

Key Takeaways

• OKC is the best-case scenario for BetMGM in the futures market.
  
  
• The Lakers are the most-bet team to win a first-round series.
  
  
• Bettors are split on three Game 1 spreads this weekend.

Western Conference top seed Oklahoma City opened as a +240 favorite in BetMGM’s NBA champion market, and the Thunder have shortened to +140. Because of the low NBA title odds and bettors taking chances on long shots like the Lakers, the sportsbook will be in a good spot if the favorite holds serve. 

“The Thunder are clear favorites to win the NBA Championship heading into the playoffs,” Anthony Parenti, BetMGM sports trader, said. “Among the true contenders, OKC is the best result on the futures market. The sportsbook is in the enviable position of getting to cheer for the favorite to win it all.”

BetMGM took more money on the San Antonio Spurs (+450) and more tickets on the Denver Nuggets (+1,000) than OKC, which is getting 10.9% of the bets and 15.5% of the handle. theScore Bet reported that the Thunder are leading the NBA champion market with 15.7% of the wagers and 15.8% of the money. 

FanDuel reported a massive influx of wagers on the Lakers at +25,000 earlier this week.

Lakers long shots

Sportsbooks will be sweating the Lakers in many ways. Not only are the LeBron James-led West 4-seed BetMGM’s biggest liability in the futures market, but they’re also the most-bet team to win their first-round series with odds of +425. 

The fifth-seeded Houston Rockets are -550 favorites that are only getting 8% of the tickets and 7% of the handle at BetMGM. The Lakers have taken 60% of the wagers and 80% of the money at theScore Bet, where L.A. is the only underdog with the majority of both categories. 

However, the most-bet correct score market by handle is the Rockets in seven games at +825. 

Heading into Saturday’s prime-time Game 1, the Lakers are 5.5-point underdogs and getting 68% of the bets at DraftKings. The Rockets have seen 54% of the handle in the series opener. 

Series upsets?

Among the first-round matchups set before the play-in concluded, another BetMGM underdog drawing heavy action is the Portland Trail Blazers, who have attracted more than 80% of both tickets and handle at +1,000 to upset the Spurs in a best-of-seven series.

At theScore Bet, No.2 San Antonio has seen over 90% of the tickets and handle to take out No. 7 Portland. The closest first-round series by tickets at the operator is Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors, which is nearly an even split. However, 90% of the money is backing No. 4 Cleveland. 

The Cavs winning the series 4-0 with odds of +425 is the operator’s most-bet correct score for the market.

Bettors have taken a clear stance on the No. 2 Boston Celtics, hefty -900 favorites to get past the Philadelphia 76ers, who are getting less than 7% of the series handle at theScore Bet. The No. 3 New York Knicks (-270) are getting close to 90% of the money to eliminate the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, while the No. 3 Nuggets (-340) have taken over 80% of the money to beat the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves.   

Game 1 splits

Aside from Lakers-Rockets, DraftKings bettors are currently split on two other Saturday Game 1 spreads. The Cavs (-8.5) are getting 69% of the handle, but 51% of the tickets have come in on the underdog Raptors. 

The Nuggets have taken 54% of the wagers as 5.5-point favorites, but the T-Wolves are getting 60% of the spread handle in the series opener. 

The Knicks are getting nearly 60% of the tickets and a dominating 84% of the handle as 5.5-point favorites over the Hawks. For Sunday’s games, the Celtics’ -12.5 and the Spurs’ -10.5 aren’t scaring off the majority of bets and money at DraftKings.

The Eastern Conference 1-seed Detroit Pistons await the winner of Friday’s Hornets-Magic play-in game, while the Thunder get either the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns.

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There are head-to-head battles that never go out of style.

King Kong vs. Godzilla. Coke vs. Pepsi. Me vs. Mushrooms.

And Kevin Durant versus LeBron James.

These two future Hall of Famers face off in Round 1 of the Western Conference playoffs.

Durant leads a young, promising Houston Rockets squad against LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers’ skeleton crew, still playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Our Rockets vs. Lakers predictions look to Durant to do damage in the series opener, with my NBA picks taking KD to top his points prop.

Rockets vs Lakers Game 1 prediction

Rockets vs Lakers best bet: Kevin Durant Over 24.5 points (-110)

Kevin Durant didn’t go easy down the stretch. The 37-year-old powered the Houston Rockets to a 10-3 SU mark in his final 13 showings, averaging more than 27 points on 54.4% shooting.

To me, this Game 1 scoring total is criminally low, with two quiet efforts against the Los Angeles Lakers in mid-March anchoring this Over/Under. Durant put up twin 18-point performances on a combined 15-for-27 mark from the floor.

This L.A. lineup looks very different now.
 
The Lakers are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, not only pulling the plug on L.A.’s offensive output but also leaving it with fewer options on defense. 

LeBron James will be forced to guard Houston's bigger forwards, so Durant will draw checks from the likes of Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, and Jared Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-11 small forward can shoot over smaller defenders while drilling 3-pointers when bigger ones can’t close out on the perimeter.

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen KD in the playoffs, but he’s always found another gear in the second season. He averages more than 29 points per postseason game for his career, and that production barely dipped in recent stops with Phoenix and Brooklyn.

Player projections sit as high as 27+ points from Durant in Saturday’s series opener. With the playoff spotlight shining a little bright for some of Houston’s young studs, he’ll set the tone right out of the gate.

Rockets vs Lakers Game 1 same-game parlay

If the Lakers have a shot at winning a game in this series, it’s this one. 

Los Angeles is at home, rested and ready for the Rockets. Houston’s young lineup could get caught up in the postseason pressure, and this opener will be closer than oddsmakers expect.

LeBron James has been doing it all for L.A. since losing Doncic and Reaves. He’s been racking up assists, but the Lakers will need him to score more, and I’m not confident Los Angeles’ supporting cast can capitalize on those setups.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

• Lakers +5.5
• Kevin Durant Over 24.5 points
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: The King and I

The old guard has the green light in this playoff opener.

I’m backing both James and Durant to exceed their points totals while fading their passing numbers, as they take center stage as scorers in Game 1.

Rockets vs Lakers SGP

• Kevin Durant Over 24.5 points
• Kevin Durant Under 4.5 assists
• LeBron James Over 25.5 points
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists

Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 1

• Spread: Rockets -5.5 (-110) | Lakers +5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Rockets -220 | Lakers +180
• Over/Under: Over 207.5 (-110) | Under 207.5 (-110)

Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know

Los Angeles has covered the spread in 11 of its last 13 home games (+8.80 Units / 62% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.

How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 1

Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries

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DETROIT, MI – cllct, the collectibles and memorabilia infrastructure company, today announced a partnership with the Detroit Pistons launching Pistons Collectibles, a new collectibles and memorabilia platform.

The platform debuts with Motor City Mint, the first program in professional sports history that offers fans a direct pathway to purchase a professionally graded, PSA-authenticated collectible ticket for every home playoff game.

Motor City Mint produces 250 limited-edition collectible tickets per 2026 NBA Playoff home game - printed on premium heavy card stock, individually serialized with official ticketing information, designed with game-specific artwork, capable of being graded and slabbed by PSA.

Every ticket ships to buyers as a finished, authenticated piece in branded packaging. For the first time, a professional sports franchise is treating the ticket itself as a collectible asset class from the moment of creation - and building an entire collectibles infrastructure around it.

This comes as demands from fans and collectors alike to bring back paper tickets has reached a fever pitch.

Pistons Collectibles will expand beyond Motor City Mint to deliver a year-round pipeline of limited-edition drops, game-used memorabilia, player-signed items, milestone releases, and heritage artifacts that celebrate the franchise’s championship history and its dynamic future.

Motor City Mint is the opening statement - a signal that the Pistons are building one of the most forward-thinking collectibles programs in professional sports.

Motor City Mint - Program Details

Motor City Mint offers two tiers for every home playoff game. The Standard Edition (non-graded) features game-specific artwork and individual ticket information, delivered direct-to-customer in a game-ready state. The Premier Edition (graded) includes similar elements with the ticket authenticated and slabbed by PSA.

These limited-edition tickets are available for purchase through PistonsCollectibles.com, announced on a game-to-game basis. Following each home game, premier edition batches will ship overnight to PSA for grading, with slabbed tickets returned to buyers in approximately 28 – 35 business days - fast enough to preserve the emotional immediacy of the moment while delivering a premium authenticated product.

“We recognized early that while we love the ease and benefits of digital ticketing, there is a segment of fans drawn to something more tangible — the nostalgia and collectibility of a printed ticket,” said Dan Lefton, Chief Revenue Officer, Detroit Pistons. “At our core, we are in the memory business, and tickets have always been the ultimate expression of those moments. As we looked at the broader collectibles landscape, we saw an opportunity to engage a new and increasingly global segment of fans. Partnering with Darren, who has long been at the forefront of the sports business and collectibles space, along with PSA, the gold standard in authentication, gives us tremendous confidence in what we’re building. This is more than a program — it’s the foundation of a new category for our franchise.”

“What the Pistons are doing here is exactly the kind of forward-thinking initiative that cllct was built to enable,” said Darren Rovell, Founder, cllct. “We work hand-in-hand with teams, leagues, and brands to help them identify creative pathways to explore their collectibility - and Pistons Collectibles is a perfect example. This is a franchise recognizing that it has authentic collectible IP embedded in its live experience and choosing to activate it at the highest level. PSA grading, premium packaging - every detail signals that this is serious. We expect other franchises to pay very close attention to what Detroit is building here.”

What Fans Can Expect from Pistons Collectibles

Motor City Mint is the debut product, but Pistons Collectibles is being built as a year-round platform. Key elements of the program will include:

• Motor City Mint: PSA-graded, limited-edition collectible tickets for all 2025-26 NBA Playoffs home games at Little Caesars Arena

• Game-used and player-signed memorabilia: Verified and authenticated items available through curated drops and seasonal releases

• Milestone and heritage releases: Collectible products tied to jersey retirements, career landmarks, championship anniversaries, and franchise history

• Modern drop formats: Serialized editions, surprise-and-delight releases, and packaging designed for display and sharing

• Retail and arena activations: In-venue experiences, community touchpoints, and partner integrations that connect product to real-world moments

Fans can learn more and sign up for updates at: PistonsCollectibles.com

Only one more sleep.

Just a bit over 24 hours for tip-off.

If you feel anxious, crack Trae Young jokes.

Zohran Mamdani on the high cost of Knicks playoff tickets vs Atlanta:

"I would say that I blame Trae Young… and I think it's always important to blame Trae Young" pic.twitter.com/KDYxJNyarG

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 16, 2026

Zohran Mamdani (NYC Mayor)

On why the Knicks’ playoff ticket prices are sky-high:

“First, I would say that I blame Trae Young. And I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young.”

Small moment: Mike Brown & KAT pic.twitter.com/Bmjd1khIVj

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 17, 2026

Mike Brown

On the sizable in-season changes:

“You always evolve over the course of the season. But to change as much as we did on both sides of the ball. We made some pretty sizable changes to our offense and defense throughout the course of the year.”

On what he learned about the roster throughout the regular season:

“That they’re resilient. That’s probably the biggest thing. You don’t really get that feel until you’re around them. I say that for a lot of different reasons – some of the wins that we’ve had coming back, especially late in games. We started off the year playing one way on offense and one way on defense, and we made some pretty big changes throughout the course of the year. I don’t know if I’ve ever gone through a season with a team, as a head coach or as an assistant coach, making the changes that we’ve made with a group of guys.”

On leadership and player ownership:

“Part of giving your group hope is to give them ownership of the process. Because when people have ownership of the process, they’re probably more engaged or they want to buy in more. So I’m not gonna come in and say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna play our offense this way. We’re gonna play our defense this way. And you guys are veterans, you adjust and figure it out.’ No, if I think that it could be a little better with hearing what they have to say — now I can’t listen to all 18 guys, but the top guys: if your top guys have input, and they’re saying, ‘Hey, what about this? Or I’m not sure about that?’ Then I’ve gotta listen, and I gotta think about making adjustments. That’s what that’s all about.”

On the need for a full-team partnership:

“This is a partnership. At the end of the day, though, when you have as many people involved with this, I have to make the decision that’s best for everybody, so at the end of the day, I’m gonna make the decision, and I chose to change some things up because I felt it would fit the group better on both sides of the basketball.”

On Atlanta’s length and versatility:

“Those guys [the Hawks], they’re all long, they’re all athletic. So is that a ‘quote unquote’ edge for them, their versatility? I don’t know. I do know I like our bigs. I like KAT’s size. I like his ability to play outside and inside. I like what he brings to the table when you’re comparing him to Mitch.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s impact:

“Mitchell’s size, his athleticism, his ability to be a vertical threat, it gives our opponents different looks offensively, just by substitution. And so, from that standpoint, it’s pretty neat. And then, you know, like I said, defensively [Robinson and Towns] both bring different things to the table.”

On Jalen Johnson and Atlanta’s resurgence:

“Jalen [Johnson] is a really, really good player, a great player. And shoot, he’s [in the running to win] a lot of awards this year. Him and Nickeil [Alexander-Walker] have led the charge in [Atlanta’s] resurgence here at the end of season; so a lot of respect there.”

On defending Johnson as a team:

“In our last game, Josh matched up with him a little bit more than OG. So it’s more of a team thing than anything else. In this league it’s very hard — especially when you’re talking about a great player like Jalen Johnson — it’s very hard to stop anybody one-on-one. And so your team defense has to be on point, and you just have to make guys work. And if you make them work, you hope the basketball gods are in your favor a little bit, and they end up missing some shots, as well.”

On Brunson’s counters and adjustments:

“Jalen, he’s seen it all, and he’s very smart, very cerebral. So he takes it all in, and he’ll have plenty of counters to a lot of different defenses on his own. But in the same breath, we have to, as a staff, make sure we continue moving him around because we don’t want to give them the same dose the entire game. If you give a team the same dose the entire game, then they can sit on the coverage and get more comfortable with it as the game goes along. It’s a combination of us helping him and him helping himself.”

On the need for consistency over 48 minutes:

“So if you can be consistent instead of fluctuate, you have a better chance of being elite. Because you’ve already shown that you’re a great team, but can you do it over 48 [minutes] instead of over 24 or over 12 or whatever it may be? Because usually the elite ones figure out a way to do whatever they do for a longer period of time than everybody else.”

On approaching the series day by day:

“Just one day at a time. More than anything else, it’s my job to make sure we as a group, starting with me, stay present, and, you know, you go through the hypotheticals, but you can’t dwell on them because if you do, you’ll lose focus at what your strengths are.”

"I've done seen it all. This is Year 8 for me…going from not being in the playoffs, bottom of the East, and now, to one of the tops in the East, it's been amazing."

Mitchell Robinson reflects on his journey with the Knicks: pic.twitter.com/B9jk585MA3

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 16, 2026

Mitchell Robinson

On what will determine the postseason outcome:

“Yeah, everything matters: box-outs, rebounds, offensive rebounds, just the little details. Everything literally counts, and you’ve got to make the best of it. I’ve been in a couple of playoff series now. So, got a little experience. With that, I use that as motivation and know what to look for.”

On Atlanta’s frontcourt:

“[The Hawks] are a great team. They got some good bigs over there, stuff like that. Come out of this and play hard.”

On the Knicks’ approach to the playoffs:

“We put in the work. Out here grinding, getting gritty and ready to go.”

On his health:

“I’m ready to go and doing everything by the book.”

On using last year’s loss as motivation:

“I used it as motivation coming into this year.”

On facing the Hawks again after they first did it back in 2021:

“Yeah, it’s crazy. Was it five years ago when we played them in the playoffs? I didn’t get to play in that series. Five years later, here we are with a different team for both sides. It’s going to be amazing, going to be fun. [We’re] going to get after it.”

On his journey in New York:

“Yeah, I’ve done seen it all. This is Year 8 for me, going from not being in the playoffs, to the bottom of the East, to now one of the tops in the East. It’s been amazing. Long journey. Trust the process and here we are.”

and the DPOG 🦺 goes to…

our fave moments from the regular season 😂 pic.twitter.com/XKf1Vm5iJ9

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 16, 2026

Josh Hart

On how they’re approaching the Hawks matchup and vice versa:

“Preparation is the same. They’re going to know us inside and out. You have to do the same thing. We’ve got to know their tendencies, what they like to do as a team, as individuals, matchups, those kinds of things. So preparation is always the same.”

On the importance of past regular-season matchups against Atlanta:

“None.”

On not caring about those regular-season games:

“The regular season honestly doesn’t really matter when you look at it in terms of a scope like this, because you never know — regular season, there’s a lot of things that you have. I don’t know if they were back-to-backs, you know, who’s in, who’s out, whatever it is. So, you know, you throw those out the window and you just focus on the team and the personnel that they have right now.”

On the Knicks set to be judged by their postseason run:

“I had no expectations [coming in]. We made the playoffs, we had 50 wins, so that was good. You know, we know we’re going to be judged by what we do starting now. So we didn’t really have expectations going into it. Just wanted to make sure we get to the playoffs.”

On the playoff energy at MSG:

“Man, the energy is great in the regular season, but if you’re able to get to a playoff game, the energy is unreal. They show up for us every single game. You have fans outside, [the] weather is good. So everyone’s outside wanting to have fun, wanting to see the Knicks play. So we need them, obviously now more than ever, and we want to show them love.”

On personal growth this season:

“The thing I’m most proud of myself on [this season] is I feel like I’m doing a better job of moving on to the next plays. If I’m not making shots, what else can I do to help this team be successful? How can I bring energy? What kind of plays can I make to help guys get in position to be successful? I’m doing that and being able to turn the page on a bad play, bad quarter, bad half, a little better than I did before. So that’s been good. But the season, it was solid.”

On Brunson’s film study:

“He watches his shots. He sees what kind of angles he can try to use or exploit. For me, I try to screen a little bit differently depending on who’s guarding him, if it’s Dyson Daniels or, I don’t know, Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) or whoever it is. So you, you always try to learn from your opponent and I think that’s something that he tries to do every time he comes to the bench, watch his film, talks to his coaches and stuff like that. So, you know, I think he’s does a good job in the course of the game, of reading the game and letting the game tell them what to do.”

Jalen Brunson

On Dyson Daniels:

“Yeah, he’s a great defender. He’s very smart and he is great. He’s able to use his wingspan and create havoc on and off the ball. He does a lot of great things for their team and he puts them in position to be successful.”

On his confidence:

“It comes from my work ethic and that hasn’t changed since I guess I’ve been dribbling a basketball.”

Earlier today after Hawks practice, I asked HC Quin Snyder about the absence of Jock Landale & what it means for guys like Tony Bradley & Mo Gueye having to step up:

“I think it’s really everybody stepping up. You know, those guys are the most obvious given we don’t have Jock.” pic.twitter.com/BGkjZMJYzM

— JJ (@JameelahJNBA) April 16, 2026

Quin Snyder (Hawks Head Coach)

On the need to defend Robinson collectively:

“We’ve got to approach this collectively. He’s a terrific player that impacts the game in a lot of ways.”

On Robinson’s presence and two-big lineups with KAT:

“He impacts the game on the boards in a really significant way. He does things that are selfless. The rebounds show up, but his presence — whether it’s the screening or rolling, the defending — there’s a lot of things he does. There’s no one guy for us that you can say that’s your job to stop him. So we have to approach it collectively. They play them together, too. So, you look at all those different lineups. So you can chase matchups, or you can stay with what you think works for your team. I think you need to do both.”

Q "Knicks-Pacers Game 1…Tyrese crazy 3…felt like that loss affected Knicks…how important is it to get Game 1 Saturday?"

Tony Bradley (former Pacer) "I think it's very important to hit em in the mouth"

Q "Did you sense Knicks were demoralized after Game 1?"

TB "Oh for sure" pic.twitter.com/sbelXSDjSf

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 17, 2026

Tony Bradley (Hawks Bench Warmer)

On setting the tone:

“I think it’s very important to hit them in the mouth first.”

On the Garden crowd:

“Their crowd is, it can be intimidating. But it’s fun at the same time.”

Jose going from undrafted free agent to fan favorite is the NBA journey dreams are made of 🫡

"New Orleans called me, 'Jose we really want you' … we celebrated like I was the No. 1 pick." pic.twitter.com/jybgxkDrs9

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) April 16, 2026

There’s a whole other article here that’s tempting to write.

Several, even. How about “If the Rockets lose to the Lakers, Ime Udoka should be on the hot seat”? That is a position that could easily be justified. Luka Doncic is out for Game 1, and questionable for Game 2. Austin Reaves is questionable for the entire series. The Lakers are compromised.

The games still have to be played. Many NBA predictions have been wrong. What ought to happen on paper may not play out on the floor. The Rockets need to identify advantages beyond sheer talent, barring early returns from Doncic and Reaves.

Luckily, one jumps off the page.

The Rockets are tougher than the Lakers

There are stats, and then there’s the immeasurable. Let’s knock out the stats first.

Rebounding is as good a measure of toughness as we have. The Rockets’ 54.5% Rebounding Percentage leads the NBA. The Lakers’ 49.9% mark lands 12th.

Defense is linked to toughness, too. The gap there is larger. Houston’s Defensive Rating ranks sixth (112.1). The Lakers’ 115.5 ranked 20th. Granted, that mark came with All-No-Defense first-teamers Doncic and Reaves in the fold. That’s a fair point, but the counterpoint is that replacing them with Marcus “Toughness Personified” Smart and Jake “Don’t Call Me Doncic” LaRavia (a solid player to be fair) is not a net positive.

Almost any measure of toughness favors the Rockets. Loose balls recovered? Houston’s 5.0 per game ranked third, where the Lakers’ 4.2 ranked 15th (which reflects the small margins in this stat above all else). About the only argument for Los Angeles’ toughness is their league-leading 0.74 charges drawn per game. If you think the Lakers can win this one by drawing a charge every other night, I would recommend avoiding sports betting.

Those are the numbers. Now, let’s talk about what we intuitively know:

The Rockets are a lot tougher than the Lakers.

Smart is the exception. Unfortunately for him, he’s 6’3″. The simple solution here is to have Amen Thompson hunt him on offense. Thompson has a similar mentality in a much larger frame: He will win this wrestling match.

Deandre Ayton is an interesting case. He’s a human block of granite, but toughness has not been his forte. He is notably stronger than Alperen Sengun, and moving stronger players has, at times, proven difficult for him. I’d like to say Sengun is tougher (I think he is), but it’s not quantifiable. What can be comfortably said is that he’s more agile, so Sengun should lean into his face-up game and take Ayton off the dribble as often as possible.

Let’s move away from individual matchups. The broader idea is this: Thompson, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. need to be bullying LaRavia, Luke Kennard, and Rui Hachimura off the floor.  They need to leave a 41-year-old LeBron James physically exhausted. Physicality is the key to this series for the Rockets:

Luckily, that’s Ime Udoka’s speciality.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry put on an all-time performance Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, and proved anyone and everyone who ever doubted him, or the Warriors, wrong again.

Curry scored 35 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with under a minute left in the game, to lead Golden State to a 126-121 victory to eliminate the Clippers and set up a game against the Phoenix Suns for the No. 8 seed in the West.

He left it all on the floor, putting in 36 minutes of work. The Warriors and their fans are leaning on Curry to repeat that performance against Phoenix on Friday, April 17. It's not a matter of will he do it, but whether his body will allow him.

Will the Warriors have their best player available in the NBA Play-In game against the Suns? Here's what to know:

Will Steph Curry be available vs. Suns in NBA Play-In game?

Curry has battled a nagging knee injury throughout the season, but it seems that he's not feeling any pain, or significant enough pain to keep him from competing for a chance at the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Curry was not on the injury list and appears to be healthy and available to play against the Suns on April 17, according to the NBA injury report, as of 8:30 p.m. ET on April 16.

Steph Curry injury history

Curry missed 27 regular-season games from Feb. 3 to April 2 with patella-femoral pain syndrome, a bone bruising in his right knee. The persistent pain sidelined Curry until late in the season as he geared up for a postseason run.

Curry returned on April 5 against the Houston Rockets, appearing in three of the Warriors' final five regular-season games. The rest prepared him for a battle with the Clippers in a do-or-die situation.

There was an early scare in the game after Curry went to the locker room in the first quarter. It was unclear as to what happened, but concern crept in as Curry missed time with Golden State during the regular season due to what the team previously told USA TODAY Sports was runners' knee.

Curry returned to the game at the 7:59 mark of the second quarter. It was like nothing happened. He showed up when his team needed him most, connecting on a 3-point shot with 50 seconds left to lead the way to victory.

Curry celebrated by passionately screaming and stomping his feet so hard, it appeared he nearly rolled his ankle, but the grip from his retro Nikes, a pair of Kobe IV Protros, held.

That ankle was ready to turn but the Protro’s held up https://t.co/4hp9CVgiyrpic.twitter.com/xVgTV5CFY9

— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 16, 2026

The season might be over (at last), but that doesn’t mean your interest wanes—or the coverage stops. With this in mind, we present to you our end-of-season player pop quizzes. Each quiz focuses on a single Buck, posing three “totals” based questions, two “advanced stats” based questions, and one “obscure” question about their 2025-26 campaign. Six questions, total. For the culture. So, are you truly the Bucks sicko you think you are? Dip your feet in the water with Milwaukee’s all-time best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and find out.

Season in a snippet

Giannis made noise this year, mostly for all the wrong reasons. On the court, he was his typical dominant self. But, for the first time in his career, he was off the court more often than he was on it thanks to a litany of lower limb injuries—groin strains, calf strains turning to soleus strains, ankle injuries, and hyperextensions. The result: a career-low 36 games after playing at least 61 games in each of his previous 12 seasons—and investigations into the Bucks’ decision to “tell [him] to not play.” Unlucky number 13, huh?

Of course, other noise started prior to the season—leading us to reflect on his Bucks legacy—and discussion about his future popped up like weeds throughout the season. Despite Giannis confirming his commitment to Milwaukee in January and again in August, the rumours persisted, leading to Bucks’ owners publicly declaring he will be extended or he’ll be traded this offseason. And now, here we are, with all of this taking its toll and a majority of Bucks fans ready to trade Giannis regardless of what he wants.

Tantalising totals

(1) “Point-Giannis” garnered much attention prior to the season. How many times did he have double-digit assists?

Click to reveal answer Twice, vs. Charlotte (18) and Denver (11).

(2) Giannis had 40+ points just twice this season, both in the first nine games. Which teams were these against?

Click to reveal answer Cleveland (40) and Chicago (41).

(3) True or false: Giannis had more games with zero blocks than he did games with one or more blocks?

Click to reveal answer True, 19 games of zero vs. 17 games with one or more.

Atypically advanced

(1) True or false: Giannis’ PER this year was a career high?

Click to reveal answer True, 32.6 this year vs. 32.1 in 2021–22.

(2) True or false: Giannis had a career-high usage percentage this year?

Click to reveal answer False, 37.0% this season vs 38.8% in 2022–23.

Obscure optics   

(1) Which other Buck did Giannis pair up with to form his best two-man lineup (with a +8.5 net rating)?

Click to reveal answer Cole Anthony.

---

How did you fare? Share your score in the comments and don’t forget to drop your thoughts along with it—which stat stands out?

The Knicks' playoff run begins on Saturday night when they open the first round against the hot Atlanta Hawks. 

Game 1 will be a feel-out process for both teams, but the Knicks will need to take care of the glass and defend the three-point line well to take early control of the series.

Here are three keys to the series opener...

Getting Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns going early

New York’s All-Star tandem of Brunson and Towns is a lethal one-two punch. Both are capable of carrying New York’s offense for long stretches on their own. But as we’ve learned, there is power in teamwork.

One of the largest criticisms at times is the lack of synergy they have in playing together. As this season wore on, we saw both players build chemistry and unite. Down the stretch of New York’s wins against the Hawks and the Boston Celtics last week, the Brunson and Towns two-man game hummed. 

Towns has a massive physical advantage in this series. The Hawks are guarding him with center Onyeka Okongwu and beyond the 6-10 starter, there’s not many other viable defenders for Atlanta to use. They could go to Jalen Johnson or one of their wings, but Towns and the Knicks should be able to handle any defensive strategy from the Hawks.

After establishing a pick-and-roll offense that works with Brunson and Towns, it would be less than ideal to go backwards now. New York should lean into their two stars more during this run.

Control the boards

The Knicks were seventh in offensive rebound rate this season. They owe that top-10 finish almost entirely to Mitchell Robinson.

In the seven-footer’s 1,175 minutes, the Knicks collected 39.5 percent of their misses, per NBA Stats, a figure that would lead the NBA. In 2,776 minutes with Robinson on the bench, that number dropped to 29.8 percent, a more pedestrian 17th in the league.

Against this smaller Hawks lineup, the Knicks should increase Robinson’s playing time after he averaged just 19.6 minutes in 60 games.

Head coach Mike Brown might need Robinson to crack 25 minutes, a number he reached just seven times all season. That could mean more double big lineups with Robinson and Towns.

In New York’s win last week against Atlanta, the Hawks had 19 offensive caroms. So it’s not a guarantee that the Knicks will automatically outrebound the Hawks. Controlling the glass on both ends will be important to controlling the pace and slowing down Atlanta’s up-tempo offensive attack.

Contain Hawks' three-point shooters

The Knicks did not defend the three-pointer well this season, giving up the fifth-most three-point attempts to opponents per 100 possessions, and allowing teams to shoot 36.2 percent from three, 20th in the NBA.

The Hawks are dangerous on the perimeter, finishing fifth in three-point shooting percentage (37.1 percent) in the NBA this season. They have several players on the roster capable of going off.

Specifically, containing Nickeil Alexander-Walker should be a top priority for the Knicks. The Most Improved Player of the Year candidate erupted for 36 points in New York’s last game against Atlanta, knocking down seven trifectas.

Okongwu has evolved into a stretch-five. He made 37.6 percent of his threes this season. Veteran CJ McCollum is a career 37.5 percent shooter from deep, and Johnson shot a respectable 35.2 percent from behind the arc. 

Most of Atlanta’s core rotation can do damage from deep. And if they knock down shots from outside, they all are capable of putting the ball on the floor and driving to the rim. With the Hawks looking to run, they will be searching for transition three-point attempts.

New York’s wing trio of Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart will be relied upon to defend the perimeter better and get out to shooters to secure the win.

BOSTON — Jrue Holiday’s two-year tenure in Boston technically ended in May. After he was traded from the Celtics to the Trail Blazers, Jrue and his wife, Lauren, packed up their family and moved to Portland, where the two-time NBA champion would join a younger, up-and-coming squad hoping to punch their first ticket to the playoffs since 2021 (spoiler alert: on Tuesday, they did just that).

But, though they physically left the city last summer, the Holidays’ off-court impact in Boston hasn’t waned. In fact, their philanthropic collaboration with Jaylen Brown — which started a year and a half ago — is only growing.

How Jrue Holiday impacted Boston in two years

Holiday only spent two years in Boston, but it’s hard to describe his stint as anything other than a massive success. After earning All-Defensive honors and shooting a career-high 42.9% from three in the Celtics’ title year, he served as a pivotal part of the dominant 2024 championship run, responsible for key steals and defensive stops.

But off the court, his impact in the city extended even deeper than his on-court play, though much of his philanthropic involvement flew under the radar. Just a few months after the successful title run, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Lauren Holiday together launched the Boston Creator Accelerator, an incubator aimed at supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Greater Boston Area.

The Accelerator provided 10 creators with monetary grants totaling $1 million — as well as mentorship, resources, and direct access to Brown and the Holidays.

Year 1 of the partnership was an undeniable success. The Boston Creator Accelerator invested in ten startups, including the: Future Master Chess Academy, a chess academy for underserved communities that focuses on lifelong skills; Little Cocoa Bean Company, a cafe that creates culturally diverse and nutritious food for toddlers and kids; PYNRS, a streetwear-inspired performance running apparel company, and Everybody Gotta Eat, a food culture and catering company, among others.

Brown, who launched Boston XChange last season in hopes of supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, was thrilled to collaborate with the Holidays.

“Sometimes, you’re asking other guys, they’ve been advised not to be involved because of whatever reason, I don’t know,” Brown said last season. “But Jrue and Lauren Holiday are great people. They’ve been doing this everywhere they go.”

It’s true: The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Foundation has operated in five cities since its launch in 2020: Los Angeles (Jrue’s hometown), Indianapolis (Lauren’s hometown), New Orleans (where Jrue played for seven years), Milwaukee (where Jrue won his first NBA title), and, now, in Boston.

In its first four years, the fund awarded grants of $25,000 to $50,000 to more than 150 Black-owned businesses and charities, while providing mentorship and resources that oftentimes far exceeded the financial support. Since launching, the monetary investment and hands-on support have continued to grow.

Though Jrue Holiday now lives in Portland, he’s investing in yet another Boston Accelerator Fund co-hort

For Lawyer Times, a lifelong chess player and instructor who had doubled as a post office worker for more than 40 years, the financial investment allowed him to retire from his day job and go all-in on the Future Masters Chess Academy. Lawyer’s wife, Angela, credits Brown and the Holidays for their unwavering belief in the vision.

“The Holidays have such a giving spirit,” Angela Times said. “They just want to create community and bring people together.”

Since joining the Boston Creator Accelerator, the Academy’s annual revenue increased from $50,000 to $300,000, said Renee King, who helps lead the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Fund.

“They all attribute it to the training the village that was wrapped around them, with the resources from all of the partners,” King said.

The initial cohort’s success has compelled Brown and the Holidays to bring in an additional cohort for Year 2. With the playoffs around the corner, they’re together investing another $1 million into ten businesses, with applications closing on April 21st.

Urina Harrell, the CEO of Vox Pop Branding, has long worked on the marketing side of the JLH Fund.  

“This is a true partnership between the JLH Fund and the Boston XChange,” she said.

King said that Jrue and Lauren never considered ending their investment in the Boston community just because he was traded.

“Their ethos has always been any city that we are, that we’ve inducted into the JLH, we’re still locked into those cities, regardless of if they’re there to play,” King said. “They’re just used to the fact of like, this is what they were put here for, right? They come in, they touch lives, and then they go; they get pulled to another place, to do the same. We were still going to be locked in on Boston.”

Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown have influenced lawmakers on Capitol Hill

The Boston Creator Accelerator could have ramifications that extend far beyond the city; the start-up has also helped inform a new piece of legislation that is pending in Congress, the SPARK Act to Supercharge Minority Entrepreneurship Nationwide. The bill, introduced in February, is meant to spur entrepreneurship and increase access to capital and resources for underserved entrepreneurs nationwide.

“Yes, this is a great pilot. But, the work that’s being done here is being used to shape policy, and we know once we shape policy, then that’s the bigger ripple effect, right?” King said. “Like, we can help more people, because that’s the goal. The goal is to have more people coming together to help more businesses that are creating solutions that all of our entire world needs.”

For now, Boston will continue to benefit from the athletes’ private investment. And, King said it’s been a wonderful city to work in, in large part because of how collaborative the partners that Brown and the Holidays have brought in have been. That list includes

“You have so many folks who are just willing to work together, from government, private institutions, the athletes — it was a very good ethos,” King said. “It was a great place for this pilot to launch, to grow it, because you had so many things within that space that you could pull together. And the energy from everyone, the community around pulling it together was really great.”

Applications close on April 21st, and interested entrepreneurs can apply here.

“We’re looking forward to adding more people to the family,” King said.

The Trail Blazers’ playoff run begins on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs. As the team’s fourth-leading scorer, Holiday will be a crucial part of the team’s upset chances. Across the country, the Celtics begin their playoff run the very same day.

But Jrue Holiday and the city of Boston will forever be linked — even if the Hall of Fame guard never again dons Celtics green.

“Once you’re in the family, you’re always in the family,” King said. “That’s literally the ethos.”