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The Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to close out the Toronto Raptors tonight. Will they do it?
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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.
Date: Friday, May 1
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Toronto Raptors +3.5
Moneyline: Toronto Raptors +145 (39.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers -174 (60.9%)
Over/Under: 219.5
Game 1:Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2:Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3:Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 4:Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89
Game 5:Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
*Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Toronto (7:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Cleveland (TBD)
*if necessary
It's fitting that Philadelphia and Boston are facing off in a Game 7 on Sunday — no two franchises have faced each other more Game 7s than these two. This will be the ninth time in a rivalry that dates back to 1959.
It's not just head-to-head, these teams are in a lot of Game 7s, period. The Celtics have the most Game 7 wins all-time (27) while the 76ers have the most Game 7 losses (12).
Sunday will be a record ninth Game 7 between these franchises, with Boston leading 6-2 heading into this season. Here's a quick look at the history of these games.
How long ago was this? It was the year the Barbie Doll was first released, and Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" first hit theaters. It was so long ago that the 76ers were the Syracuse Nationals.
Boston came from eight down at the half to win 130-125, behind 18 points and 32 rebounds from Bill Russell, while Bob Cousy had 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
This game is legendary among Celtics faithful.
Boston was up one with five seconds left, but Philadelphia was inbounding the ball and had a chance. Celtics Hall of Famer John Havlicek deflected the inbounds pass, leading famed Celtics radio announcer Johnny Most to yell, "Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball!"
“Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over!”
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 16, 2020
Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals, on this date 55 years ago. #NBAVaultpic.twitter.com/StQxhUullC
Boston ran out the clock after that for the 110-109 win.
Talk about a stat line in a loss: The 76ers' Wilt Chamberlain had 30 points and 32 rebounds on the night.
This series has echoes of this season, but with the roles reversed.
That season, 62-win Philadelphia was the No. 1 seed and took a commanding 3-1 series lead (despite dropping the first game at home). Then Boston stormed back to win the next two, forcing a Game 7 in Philadelphia. Under the bright lights, the 76ers struggled and shot just 35.2% (and just 55.6% on free throws), while Boston got a triple-double from Bill Russell (12 points, 26 rebounds and 10 blocks) and got the win, 100-96.
Boston had forced a Game 7 against No. 1-seeded Philadelphia, but on the biggest stage, it was a 76ers reserve that stole the show — World B. Free scored 27 points to lead Philadelphia.
The 76ers also got 14 points and eight rebounds from their first-year player, Julius Erving. The 76ers advanced to the NBA Finals that season (where they lost to Bill Walton's Trail Blazers; the 76ers returned to the Finals the next year and swept the Lakers).
This was the series where the legend of Larry Bird's Celtics really started to grow.
Boston and Philadelphia had been the two best teams in the league this season (both with 62 wins), but in the playoffs it looked like the 76ers were going to dominate, up 3-1 in the series, and they led by 10 points at halftime of Game 5. Boston won and forced a Game 6. There, the 76ers were up 17 at one point, only to have the Celtics storm back and force a Game 7. In that final game, Bird had 23 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and he hit the game-winner to give Boston the 91-90 win.
The Celtics went on to win the NBA title that season.
This was the chance for Philadelphia's revenge from the year before. Just like the season before, the 76ers got up 3-1 in the series only to have Boston storm back and force a Game 7. However, this time, in the Boston Garden, it was all Philly that day, behind 34 points and six assists from Andrew Toney, with Julius Erving adding 29 points.
How this series applies to 2026: This is the only time that Philadelphia has ever won a Game 7 on the road, and the last time the 76ers beat the Celtics in a playoff series, period.
In the playoffs of a lockout-shortened season, these teams met for the first time in a decade and played their first Game 7 in 20 years. Boston pulled away in the fourth quarter behind a triple-double from Rajon Rondo (18 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds) while Kevin Garnett added 18 points and 13 boards.
Philadelphia fans will remember this as a series that never should have gotten to a Game 7 — once again, Philadelphia led 3-1 in the series and, in this case, led entering the fourth quarter of Game 6 at home, yet could not close it out.
Boston fans will remember this as Jayson Tatum's 51-point game — the most ever scored in a Game 7.
THE JAYSON TATUM GAME ️
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2023
51 PTS (Game 7 NBA record)
13 REB
5 AST
6 3PM
Celtics advance to the ECF ‼️#NBAPlayoffs presented by @GooglePixel_USpic.twitter.com/Y8UT8jC1lV
Behind him, the Celtics pulled away in the second and third quarters, cruising to a 112-88 win at home.
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.
Date: Friday, May 1
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Houston Rockets -3.5
Moneyline: Houston Rockets -169 (60.3%) / Los Angeles Lakers +142 (39.7%)
Over/Under: 206.5
Game 1:Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2:Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Game 3:Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Game 4:Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Game 5:Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Houston (9:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Los Angeles (TBD)
*if necessary
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. met with Steve Kerr about the status of his job earlier this week.
Kerr's coaching contract is expiring and there hasn't been any indication whether he would want to return, or whether the Warriors want him back at the helm. According to ESPN, the three had a two-hour meeting Monday that was described as "productive."
Following their meeting, the consensus is that the parties are at a standstill. Although discussions are expected to continue into the upcoming week, there is seemingly no urgency to come to a decision. As one source told ESPN, "It's April. We don't need to rush."
According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole, the drawn out process isn't a matter of a contract negotiation over dollars, but instead about "professional and personal principles."
“From what I understand, (Kerr) in those meetings didn’t sound like someone who didn’t plan on coaching next season,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area.
Another league source told NBC Sports Bay Area: "I think it’s more like 50-50 that he comes back. When the season ended, I would have said it was at least 60-40 that he’d leave.”
There are reportedly contingencies from both sides. Kerr wants to ensure the roster is competitive. The 12th-year coach who has won four championships appears to not be interested in rebuilding or development.
"I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that," Kerr said following the Warriors' play-in loss to the Suns.
Kerr has loved his time coaching in the Bay Area, especially coaching Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. That could be enough to keep him around. But also, it could be a gripe for the front office.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area, the front office would like to see Kerr welcome younger players into his coaching schemes and demand more accountability from older players, including Curry and Green.
The other elephant in the room is Kerr's outspokenness on sociopolitical issues. Andscape's Marc J. Spears suggests that he could leave for "fatigue" but also due to the possibility he's "being stifled a little bit."
"Maybe fatigue. There's a weight that comes with that job. This is a franchise that is expected to have greatness, whether it has it on the roster or not. It's a brand now. You got Steph, so if you trot Steph out there, you have Draymond out there, people expect something great. There's a weight that comes with that," Spears said during an April 21 appearance on 95.7 The Game's "Willard & Dibs" radio show.
He added: "I also think that Steve also truly respects the weight of the job that he has, the weight of the platform that he has. He speaks out on social justice issues, he speaks out on racism issues, he speaks out on gun violence and I've heard a little bit that maybe he's being stifled a little bit in that regard. I'd like to find out a little more than that, if that's true or not, dig deeper into that . . . I'm hearing that might be something in the background."
With all that being said, Spears said with all he's heard, "everything is up to Kerr."
TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was sidelined Friday night for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sore right heel, coach Darko Rajakovic said.
The two-time All-Star left midway through the second quarter of Toronto's 125-120 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday night. He scored one point in 11 minutes before departing.
After averaging 21.5 points per game in the regular season, his first with Toronto, Ingram has struggled in the playoffs, averaging 12 in the five games against the Cavaliers. He's shooting 19 for 58 overall and 5 for 13 from 3-point range.
Cleveland leads the series 3-2 and can advance with a win Friday. The home team has won each of the five games in the series.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike and freshman guard/wing transfer Isiah Harwell from the Houston Cougars have received an invite to the 2026 G League Combine. Both will have an opportunity to be invited to the 2026 NBA Combine with a strong performance, similar to how Dallas Mavericks lead guard Ryan Nembhard did last year.
The G League Combine takes place May 8-10 at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois. It can be streamed on the NBA G League official site.
As for the NBA Combine, Gonzaga signee and combo guard Jack Kayil is the only Zag to be straight-up invited. Due to his prior commitments with Alba Berlin in Germany, he may not participate. That would bode well for the chance of Kayil playing in Spokane, Washington, for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The event runs from May 10-17 at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois. It can be viewed on ESPN2.
The deadline for college players like Harwell to withdraw their names is May 27. For international players, like Kayil, it’s June 13.
The 2026 NBA Draft will be a two-night event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, from June 23-24. Both rounds begin at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
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After missing a chance to eliminate the Houston Rockets in Game 5, the Los Angeles Lakers head back to H-Town for Game 6, where our NBA player prop projections has pinpointed several high-value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.
These Lakers vs. Rockets predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, May 1.
 Lakers |  Rockets |
|---|---|
| James o21.5 points -120 | Sengun o20.5 points -112 |
| Reaves o1.5 3-pointers -160 | Thompson o7.5 rebounds -105 |
| Smart o3.5 assists -169 | Sheppard o3.5 3-pointers +130 |
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Projection: 22.70 points
The Los Angeles Lakers have been rolling offensively on the road, averaging 116.2 points per game over their last 20 outings—good for eighth in the NBA.
Expect LeBron James to set the tone and keep that momentum going as Los Angeles looks to bounce back from a missed closeout chance in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.
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Projection: 2.11 3-pointers
In his return from injury, Austin Reaves scored 22 points in Game 5 but showed some rust from three-point range.
As he continues to regain rhythm — and with the Lakers trying to avoid a Game 7 — expect him to look more comfortable from deep and help fuel a push to close out the series against the Rockets.
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Projection: 3.75 assists
Marcus Smart has been a steady playmaking force throughout the series, only falling short of this assists line in Game 5.
He’ll look to sharpen his facilitation again as the Lakers try to avoid squandering another chance to eliminate the Rockets in the first round.
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Projection: 23.3 points
With Kevin Durant out, Alperen Şengün has taken on a central role for the Rockets in this series and will be counted on again as they try to extend things to a decisive Game 7 against the Lakers.
He’s been hovering near this points line in Games 1, 4, and 5, while clearing it in Games 2 and 3. With the season on the line, expect Şengün to be heavily involved offensively once again.
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Projection: 7.6 rebounds
The Rockets lead the league in offensive rebounding this season, and Amen Thompson has been productive across the board in this series.
He’s also cleared this rebound line in four of his last 10 games, reinforcing his impact on the glass.
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Projection: 3.6 3-pointers
Reed Sheppard has been due for an efficient shooting night from deep for the Rockets, and there’s no better stage than this one to get it going.
When he finds his rhythm from beyond the arc, Sheppard can change the game quickly, and a breakout shooting performance would give Houston a valuable boost on offense.
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| Location | Toyota Center, Houston, TX |
| Date | Friday, May 1, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
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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.
Date: Friday, May 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
TV Channels: Amaz
Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Spread: Orlando Magic +3.5
Moneyline: Orlando Magic +137 (40.5%) / Detroit Pistons -163 (59.5%)
Over/Under: 209.5
Game 1:Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2:Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 3:Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4:Magic 94, Pistons 88
Game 5:Pistons 116, Magic 109
Game 6: Fri., May 1, at Orlando (7 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3, at Detroit (time and network TBD)
*if necessary
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Evidently, the alarm system at Orlando's Kia Center did not want to hear any talk about the Magic potentially going to a Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons.
The alarms began blaring in the arena during Magic coach Jamahl Mosley's pregame media availability in advance of Game 6 of the series on Friday night, doing so while he was being asked if injured forward Franz Wagner might be able to play in a Game 7.
And as that question was being asked, the horns started.
“That's not a good sign,” Mosley said.
Mosley went on to answer the question, explaining that it all hinges on how Wagner responds to treatment. He did that while a computerized voice gave instructions on what people who were in the building should have been doing at that moment.
The alarms returned again a few seconds later, and Mosley decided that was his cue to end the talk.
“All right, that's good, thank you, appreciate it,” Mosley said.
For the record, a team official confirmed that the alarms were false. And Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff's pregame media session, which started about 10 minutes after Mosley's ended, went off without any alarms.
The Magic took a 3-2 lead into Game 6 of the series on Friday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are one game closer to punching their ticket to the next round and our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 6 against the Toronto Raptors, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.
By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.
These Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, May 1.
 Raptors |  Cavaliers |
|---|---|
| Barnes o22.5 points -105 | Harden o20.5 points -118 |
| Barrett o5.5 rebounds -140 | Mobley u9.5 rebounds -150 |
| Barnes o7.5 assists -150 | Mitchell o4.5 assists +105 |
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Projection: 22.85 points
Scottie Barnes is averaging 24.0 points over his last five games — 6.1 above his season mark — and has been a spark for the Toronto Raptors. They’ll need that same level of production to avoid elimination at home in Game 6.
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Projection: 6.67 rebounds
The Raptors rank 9th in offensive rebounding at home over their last five games, and RJ Barrett has taken advantage — clearing this rebounds line in three of five games this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, including a dominant 12-board effort in Game 5.
With a Game 7 on the line, expect Barrett to attack the glass with urgency as Toronto looks to keep its season alive.
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Projection: 7.57 assists
Barnes has gone over this assists line in Games 3 and 5, and if the Raptors want to keep their season alive, a well-rounded effort starts with his playmaking.
Barnes has consistently risen to the occasion in this series, and expect him to lean into his facilitating role — getting teammates involved and dropping dimes whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Projection: 21.52 points
When James Harden is in rhythm, the Cavaliers thrive. That’s been evident in Games 1, 2, and 5, where his 20+ point outings powered Cleveland to wins.
If Harden can handle the pressure of closing things out on the road in a hostile Toronto Raptors environment, expect him to top this scoring line once again.
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Projection: 8.71 rebounds
The Raptors have played at the 9th-slowest pace at home this season, which should limit overall possessions for the Cavaliers.
Evan Mobley has hovered just below this rebounds line, and in a pivotal Game 6, Toronto’s tempo and physicality could keep him in check on the glass once again.
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Projection: 4.81 assists
Donovan Mitchell’s playmaking could be the X-factor in Game 6 for the Cavaliers. He’s come close to this assists line in most of the series — clearing it in Game 2 — and a greater emphasis on getting his teammates involved should boost Cleveland’s overall production.
If Mitchell leans into facilitating, it could be the key to the Cavs closing things out on the road.
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| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Friday, May 1, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
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On their way to a date with the Knicks in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics lost their way and suddenly find themselves in a Game 7 of their Opening Round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tyrese Maxey has played at an all-NBA level throughout this series, but the difference the last two games has been the return to form of Joel Embiid following an appendicitis and the renaissance of Paul George who looks the part of the dominant player he was a decade ago in Indiana. As a team, Philadelphia is also defending at an elite level holding the Celtics under 100 points in each of the last two games and in all three of their wins in the series.
While he is not just a finalist but the favorite for NBA Coach of the Year, Joe Mazzula has been outcoached by Nick Nurse thus far in the series. The Celtics have won when they have shot well and lost when they have not. It has been that simple. Maybe that would not be so cut and dried IF Boston had adjusted to any new wrinkle Nurse and Philadelphia had thrown at them. To date, he has not. Philadelphia has played a physical and harassing defense and with a healthy and active George in the lineup, been able to slow both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Concerning for Boston is Derrick White’s struggles. An issue throughout the regular season, White’s issues shooting the ball, have been underlined in this series—he’s averaging just 8.6 points. He is shooting 30.9% from the field and a pedestrian 25.6% from deep. His efficiency needs to improve.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has seen Embiid show up and thrive in the three games since he returned from injury. He posted 30 points in Game 6 and has delivered 26, 33, and 19 points since returning in Game 4.
Boston has historically thrived at home, but the pressure is now squarely on them after letting the series slip away. As noted earlier, Philadelphia’s defensive intensity has bothered the Celtics and disrupted their rhythm.
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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.
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This game opened Celtics -9.5 with the Game Total set at 208.5.
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The Phoenix Suns duo of Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory held a press conference in the Suns’ practice facility on Thursday. They discussed the team’s evolution, the overall progress made, and thanked the Suns fan base for their unwavering support.
Coming off a summer where they traded one of the world’s greatest scorers, the expectations for the Suns were low. Very low. Ishbia did not forget that and was proud to take some (deserved) victory laps. We heard them talk the talk all summer long, and boy, was it refreshing to see them walk the walk with the results.
It’s easy to feel disappointed after getting swept. It’s human nature. But even with how things ended, it’s clear that last season was a success and a step in the right direction, given the expectations.
This is just the beginning, according to Mat Ishbia. The general feel was they were pleased with how the season went, but they are hungry to keep this thing growing. It’s a process.
Ishbia reaffirmed the job that Brian Gregory has done since stepping into his GM role, despite being a relative “unknown” in the NBA world from an experience perspective.
On the prospect of trading Devin Booker: “Devin Booker is our franchise player. I love Devin Booker. Devin Booker loves being here. Our coach loves Devin Booker. Our GM loves Devin Booker. Devin Booker is going to be here. Devin Booker is going to lead us to a championship here in Phoenix. That’s what he’s going to do, and we’re going to build the right team around him. He’s going to get better, just like I’m going to get better, just like everyone is going to get better in our organization,” Ishbia said.
He is going for the SEO titling strategy with the number of times he mentioned Devin Booker in that answer.
He made sure to make that point loud and clear to kill that rumor before it gained any (legitimate) legs. We all know the national talking heads will need clicks and run the Devin Booker trade tour all summer long, but it was made as clear as day. Devin Booker is not going anywhere.
On the series vs. the Thunder: “I think what was great about watching our team and coach Ott is that Game 1 was not great. Game 2 was better. Game 3 was better. And Game 4, I mean, Games 3/4 we played really good basketball.”
First-year general manager Brian Gregory went after Ishbia and said he felt they “outperformed” every situation and challenge they faced this season.
Gregory started by tipping the cap to the players, “embracing the culture” and doing what it took to be all-in on their vision of the Suns’ desired “DNA” entering the season.
The question many will ask about the future of the Suns all offseason long will revolve around the fit of Booker, Brooks, and Green as the pillars. While that’s the politically correct way to go about this, I think it’s fair for the Suns to explore all options in balancing the roster this offseason, and any significant move likely starts with Jalen Green from a contract and “position overlap” standpoint.
Ishbia went on Burns and Gambo to confirm a lot of what he said earlier and double down on his take that Devin Booker is capable of leading the Phoenix Suns to a championship.
Ishbia also went on a brief hockey tangent: “This is a four-sport town, and disappointed that we don’t have hockey here,” he said. “I support having hockey here in any way I can. I don’t have really control over that right now, but I do like hockey, and I hope Phoenix gets hockey back.
There are many fans who believe the Sixers are cursed — and the evidence is fairly convincing.
Between injuries, guys forgetting how to shoot, front office drama and scandals, point guard holdouts, crushing playoff defeats and everything in between, it does feel like an otherworldly force has been against them in the Joel Embiid era. No championships in over 40 years. No Finals appearances in 25 years. There’s only so much a fanbase can take before it starts drawing supernatural conclusions.
But curses are meant to be broken. Sure, it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. It takes seismic shifts in both execution and luck.
For the Sixers, the early stages of that shift might have started on draft night in 2020, when they took a young guard out of Kentucky named Tyrese Maxey. Nearly six years later, Maxey’s imprint on the franchise has been indelible.
His talent and leadership are big reasons the Sixers were able to force a Game 7 in Boston this Saturday with a dominant win over the Celtics in Game 6 in Philly on Thursday.
After the Sixers staved off elimination in Game 5 on the road, Maxey was ready to get back to Philly. He was on a mission to make amends for the team’s no-show in Game 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, calling that performance a “disgrace” and “unacceptable.”
Well, the fans got everything they could ask for in Game 6.
“Fans were amazing, man,” Maxey said. “They showed up and they showed out, so we appreciate them for that. I feel like they deserved the win and we came through.”
The team played about as well as Sixers fans’ wildest dreams could’ve conjured, but Maxey was exceptional Thursday night.
He scored 30 points on an efficient 11-of-22 from the field and 3-of-5 from three. He also dished out five assists and, mostly impressively, committed zero turnovers. It was about as clean and impactful a game as we’ve seen from a point guard around these parts.
In fact, Maxey now has the most 30-point games with zero turnovers by a point guard in NBA postseason history. He’s also the first Sixer to record 30 points, five assists and zero turnovers in a playoff game since Julius Erving back in 1982.
Maxey hasn’t been perfect, but he’s gotten better as the series has gone on. He’s seen how Boston is defending him and finding ways to manipulate their defense, as stars tend to do. The presence of Joel Embiid has helped a great deal, but Maxey is also proving he’s too good to be held down for long.
While there was an adjustment period reintegrating the big fella, Maxey is operating at a high level right now.
“It’s a completely different game for him,” Nick Nurse said postgame. “I think there’s so much more reading of what’s there. Is it time for him to go? Is it time for him to shoot? Is it time for him to go downhill? Is it too much help? Is it time to kick it back? … So I think he’s processing that better with some more games. And I do think he did a great job, again, of directing the team.”
The offensive production is tremendous and necessary, but Maxey has proven to be a complete player in this series.
There’s no denying defense was a weak spot for Maxey coming into the league. As he’s gotten stronger and gained experience, he’s vastly improved on that end of the floor. In years past, players like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum could hunt Maxey and profit. They’ve sure tried in this series, but Maxey has been up to the task. There was even a play where Maxey wound up on Brown and Kelly Oubre Jr., who’s done a nice job on Brown most of the series, came to help. It led to an open three — and Maxey yelling at Oubre for helping.
In Game 5, Maxey pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. When asked about it after the game, he said he was simply tired of watching the Celtics swarm the offensive glass and did something about it.
That’s leadership. That’s how you break a curse.
But the biggest opportunity to do so comes against the Boston Celtics, a team the Sixers haven’t defeated in the playoffs in over 40 years, in Game 7 Saturday.
“I believe in the group,” Maxey said. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity this year, last year and it’s a tough group, man. We don’t quit, we don’t give up and we really like each other and enjoy being around each other and enjoy seeing each other successful.”
Maxey’s postgame presser was a bit subdued. Known for his infectious smile and joy for the game, Maxey was business-like. You would never know he just dropped 30 points in a huge home playoff win. He appeared unburdened by the team’s previous missteps, let alone mindful of any curses.
His focus seemed singular — get ready for Game 7.
“Just got to go out there with the right mindset,” he said. “It’s going to be a dogfight, most definitely. It’s going to be fun. Just got to go out there and play as hard as we possibly can. That’s it, man. Just go out there and leave it all out on the floor.”
Today, there are three NBA games, but all are on Prime video.
Enjoy the basketball folks!