Category: NBA

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An unexpected first round in the NBA playoffs has forced oddsmakers to adjust on the fly, with the Los Angeles Lakers being named new series favorites, albeit narrowly, and the San Antonio Spurs’ title dreams dwindling in light of Victor Wembanyama’s head injury.

Key Takeaways

• The Lakers were the most-bet team to win their first-round series.
  
  
• Oddsmakers moved L.A. up from +10,000 to +3,500 to win the NBA Finals.
  
  
• Top books dropped the Spurs from +550 to +700 to win the championship after Wembanyama’s concussion.

The Lakers were supposed to be an afterthought for the Houston Rockets, who opened as -750 favorites (88.2% implied chance) to win the series. The Rockets have fallen a considerable distance to their current line of +115, although that still gives them a 46.5% implied chance to win four of the next five games. 

Conversely, the Lakers are up to to -135 after opening at +550. LeBron James has never lost a series after taking a 2-0 lead, going 32-0.

LeBron James' playoff series record when:

Winning Game 1: 29-2
When up 2 games: 32-0

LeBron has won 20 straight series when he wins Game 1. pic.twitter.com/TdY5iH1lBl

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 21, 2026

That’s positive news for the betting public, as Los Angeles was the most-bet team to win a first-round series in the entire playoff bracket.

The purple and gold finished the season 53-29, one game ahead of the Rockets and in fourth in the Western Conference. They also won two of their three regular-season matchups, including both meetings in 2026. 

However, the injury absences of leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves prompted the oddsmakers to mark the 5-seed Rockets as the team to beat.

The Lakers have also made up substantial ground in the NBA championship odds picture. DraftKings has them eighth at +3,500 after they began the playoffs at +10,000 and were as long as +12,000.

DraftKings still has the Rockets as -9.5 favorites in Game 3. Reaves has a chance to return from an oblique injury before the end of the series, while Doncic is presumed to be unavailable until the second round.

Spurs' odds slide

Heads turned away from screens and hands covered eyes Tuesday night when Wembanyama went clattering to the hardwood while trying to grab a loose ball.

The 7-foot-4 Frenchman, who set franchise records for points scored and threes made in a playoff debut the game before, appeared to lose consciousness on the court and was later confirmed to have suffered a concussion. He did not return to the game, finishing with five points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block in 12 minutes.

SCARY SIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO 😳

Victor Wembanyama fell and slammed his face off the court while driving to the basket and had to be taken to the locker room 🤕pic.twitter.com/JIpub8b56z

— Covers (@Covers) April 22, 2026

The Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of Wembanyama’s absence, finishing the game on a 16-4 run to win 106-103 and knot the series at one game apiece. The teams will take the floor for Game 3 in Portland on Friday night. 

The Spurs went from +500 to +550 in odds to win the NBA Finals at major online sportsbooks prior to Wemby’s fall and resultant injury. BetMGM has them at the shortest odds of all leading operators at +550, while FanDuel now lists them at +700.

The NBA has a 48-hour minimum before players can return from concussions. Wembanyama could still be back in time for Game 3 if he doesn’t need any extended recovery time.

The earliest that a player has ever returned from a concussion in the playoffs was four days, which would be the rest day between Games 3 and 4. Following a typical recovery timeline would put the Spurs’ star back sometime between Games 5 and 7.

Wemby's concussion return timeline: pic.twitter.com/RCDv1M38WA

— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) April 22, 2026

DraftKings still has the Spurs as -550 favorites to win their series matchup with the +400 Blazers.

NBA title odds picture

The Oklahoma City Thunder still lead DraftKings' NBA title odds at -120. The Spurs and Boston Celtics (+650) are the only other teams below +1,000.

The Denver Nuggets (+1,100) and Cleveland Cavaliers (+1,400) lead the second tier of contenders before the odds lengthen to +2,200 for the sixth-place New York Knicks.

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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The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are locked at 1-1 as their opening round NBA Playoffs series heads south for Game 3 on Thursday.

My same-game parlay for this pivotal matchup is in a “New York state of mind”, banking on the Knicks to overcome a crushing loss in Game 2 and get solid work from two of its grittiest postseason performers in Game 3.

Here are my best NBA picks & Knicks vs. Hawks predictions on Thursday, April 23.

Our best Knicks vs Hawks SGP for Game 3

The New York Knicks had a 2-0 series lead in their hands, but poor foul shooting and careless turnovers opened the door for an advantageous Atlanta Hawks squad. New York has looked strong for seven of the first eight quarters in this series and feels the pressure not to let the Hawks get a whiff of hope as they head home.

OG Anunoby’s points total should be higher in Game 3. But the Knicks forward left points on the table with a 4-for-8 night from the charity stripe in Game 2. He dropped 18 in the series opener, doesn’t shrink on the road, and is projected for as many as 17+ points in Game 3.

Josh Hart finds another gear in the postseason and has been extremely active on the glass, averaging 19.0 rebounding chances in the opening two games. That nose for the ball has resulted in 13 and 14 boards in those outings. His Game 3 forecast once again sits around double figures on the glass from Hart.

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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The New York Knicks should be taking a 2-0 series lead south when they travel to face the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3.

But it’s the Knicks we’re talking about here.

Blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2 wasn’t the only bad beat for New Yorkers. Anyone banking on OG Anunoby to top his point prop had salt thrown in the wound.

Our Knicks vs. Hawks predictions peg OG for a bounce-back performance in Game 3 and my NBA picks like Anunoby to keep contributing on both ends of the floor.

Knicks vs Hawks prediction

Knicks vs Hawks best bet: OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (-112)

Peace and love to anyone who bet on OG Anunoby to top his scoring prop of 16.5 points in Game 2.

The New York Knicks’ forward finished 4-for-8 from the free-throw line Monday and scored only 14 points in the loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Rough stuff.

Anunoby did enter Game 2 with a bum wheel after injuring his ankle in the series opener. He shot 4-for-9 from the floor after connecting on 6-of-9 FGAs along with all four of his free throws for 18 points in Game 1. However, he was still aggressively going after the Hawks defense in Game 2 and made two triples for the second straight outing.

Anunoby is putting in work, with 38 minutes in each of the first two games, but his usage has dropped to open this series. He’s normally shooting around 12 shots per outing but is taking a step back with defensive assignments a priority.

Considering how poorly Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges shot in Game 2 (a collective 13 for 36), OG needs to pull double duty as the series swings to Atlanta Thursday night. And while some of his teammates struggle outside of MSG, Anunoby actually averages almost two points more in the role of visitor.

He’s put up more than 16 points in three of five meetings with Atlanta overall, including 22 points in his most recent trip to State Farm Arena. Player projections sit between 16.4 and 17.1 points in Game 3.

Knicks vs Hawks same-game parlay

New York let Game 2 get away with turnovers and missed free throws sparking Atlanta’s rally from 12 points down entering the fourth quarter. The Knicks can’t give the Hawks hope. They’ve done a good job checking Atlanta’s top scorers and clean up their mess in Game 3.

Josh Hart is built for postseason play. He’s averaged 19.0 rebounding chances through the first two games of this series, hauling in 13 and 14 boards in those outings. His projections call for another double-digit night on the glass in Game 3.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Knicks moneyline 
• OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
• Josh Hart Over 7.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Original Gangster

Anunoby’s two-way play is vital to the Knicks stealing a win in Atlanta. His projections sit as high as 17+ points and he’s snatched eight boards in each of the first two games. As for defense, the athletic forward swatted a shot in Game 2 and averages around a block per outing on the season.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Knicks moneyline
• OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points
• OG Anunoby Over 5.5 rebounds
• OG Anunoby Over 0.5 blocks

Knicks vs Hawks odds for Game 3

• Spread: New York +1 | Atlanta -1
• Moneyline: New York -110 | Atlanta -110
• Over/Under: Over 216 | Under 216

Knicks vs Hawks betting trend to know

The New York Knicks have stayed Under the total in 30 of their last 45 games (+13.50 Units/27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Hawks.

How to watch Knicks vs Hawks Game 3

Knicks vs Hawks latest injuries

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.

Florida basketball coach Todd Golden is shooting down the possibility of him leaving the Gators for an NBA job with the Golden State Warriors.

Golden's name was linked to the Warriors on Monday, April 20 by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, who reported that if Steve Kerr decides to leave the NBA franchise after 13 seasons, the Warriors would pursue Golden. However, based on Golden's response in a media availability on Wednesday, it appears that he has his eyes set on the sidelines in Gainesville and the SEC for the 2026-27 season.

"I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators," Golden said on Wednesday during a media availability.

Todd Golden: “definitely planning on coaching the Gators” pic.twitter.com/2OSeutmFk6

— Caden Alvis (@CadenAlvis05) April 22, 2026

More: Inside Todd Golden's remarkable rise to top of college basketball

Kerr spoke at length about his future with the Warriors following the team's loss in the NBA play-in tournament, including an embrace with Draymond Green and Steph Curry on the court, where he acknowledged it could be his final game as the Warriors' coach.

O’Connor also mentioned that Golden's relationship with the Lacob family — who are the majority owners of the Warriors — was a reason he was being linked to Golden State.

"If Steve Kerr leaves, the Warriors will pursue Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden, according to my league sources," said O’Connor on his podcast on Monday. "Golden is the coach that they’re targeting, that’s in part because the Lacob family has a relationship with him.

"Golden was the head coach of the San Francisco Dons for three years before he went to Florida and won a national title there. They’ve been together, they’ve had lunches together, those guys know each other and Golden is a very, very talented young head coach. And so I think for the Warriors, Golden would be near the top of their list, if not at the top of the list."

Should Golden change his stance and consider a job in the NBA this cycle, his buyout for an NBA job would be $2 million, according to his contract with Florida, which was obtained by the USA TODAY Sports network.

Golden, 40, has quickly risen to being one of the top college basketball coaches in the country after just four seasons at Florida. He's returned the program to its national prominence, highlighted by its national championship run in 2025 that featured the No. 2 adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 6 adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom.

Florida is 103-41 combined under Golden, who spent the first three years of his head coaching career in the West Coast Conference at San Francisco.

The Gators, who saw a first-weekend exit from the Men's NCAA Tournament this year after earning a No. 1 seed, are expected to have one of the top rosters in the country next season. Thomas Haugh announced his return to the Gators on Tuesday and picked up Denzel Aberdeen in the transfer portal to go along with returnees Alex Condon and Boogie Fland.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida basketball coach Todd Golden shuts down NBA, Warriors rumors

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to go up 2-0 in their first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder routed the Suns 119-94 in Game 1. Oklahoma City is heavily favored at -17.5 with an over/under of 215.5.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Date: Wednesday, April 22

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TV Channels: ESPN

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -17.5

• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -2500 (91.7%) / Phoenix Suns +1050 (8.3%)

• Over/Under: 215.5

Series schedule

Game 1:Thunder 119, Suns 94
Game 2: Wed., April 22 at Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 3: Sat., April 25 at Phoenix (3:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (TBD)
*Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
*Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)

*if necessary

Since Michigan basketball cut down the nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, the top priority for men's college basketball programs over the last two weeks has been finding solutions to holes in their roster from last season with the transfer portal.

Programs like Louisville, Indiana, Texas and Tennessee have proven to be big winners with their activity in the transfer portal, which has included additions of Flory Bidunga and Jackson Shelstad to the Cardinals and Isaiah Johnson and David Punch to the Longhorns.

But with the transfer portal entry window officially closed, there's another key entry deadline looming for college basketball players: to declare for the NBA draft, either by forgoing their college eligibility or retaining it by "testing the waters."

REQUIRED READING: Transfer portal rankings: 10 best uncommitted college basketball players before window closes

There have already been some players who enter the portal, committed to a new program and remain in the NBA draft process, like Bidunga and John Blackwell, who announced his transfer from Wisconsin to Duke on Tuesday. There have been players, like UConn's Braylon Mullins, who were projected to go into the draft but elected to return to college next season instead. But other household names have yet to officially announce their plans for next season with the deadline looming not too far in the distance.

So, with April 24's deadline looming, who has already declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, and more importantly, who hasn't, as teams continue to fill out their rosters for the 2026-2027 college basketball season?

Here's a closer look at the NBA draft prospect pool and key deadlines and dates for the 2026 NBA Draft:

Who hasn't declared for NBA draft yet?

Each of the top three projected picks for the 2026 NBA Draft — Duke's Cameron Boozer, BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson — have yet to announce their decision to declare at the time of this writing. All three players are expected to declare for the NBA draft before Friday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline.

In USA TODAY Sports' latest NBA mock draft, Dybantsa is projected to go No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards, while Boozer is projected to go to the Indiana Pacers and Peterson is projected to land with the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 2 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively.

Here's a list of some notable college basketball players who haven't declared for the NBA draft yet:

• Duke F Cameron Boozer
• BYU F AJ Dybantsa
• Kansas G Darryn Peterson
• Arkansas G Darius Acuff
• Tennessee F Nate Ament
• Duke G Isaiah Evans

Who has declared for NBA draft already?

Here's a running list of some notable college basketball players who have already declared for the NBA draft:

• North Carolina F Caleb Wilson
• Michigan F Yaxel Lendeborg
• Iowa State F Milan Momcilovic
• Houston G Kingston Flemings
• Illinois G Keaton Wagler
• Michigan State PG Jeremy Fears Jr. *
• Louisville F Flory Bidunga * (Transferred from Kansas)
• Miami G Acaden Lewis * (Transferred from Villanova)
• Duke G John Blackwell * (Transferred from Wisconsin)
• Louisville G Mikel Brown Jr.
• Louisville G Ryan Conwell
• Arizona G Jaden Bradley
• Alabama G Labaron Philon Jr.

* Denotes players who have also entered the transfer portal and/or testing NBA waters

When is the NBA draft entry deadline?

The entry deadline for players for the 2026 NBA Draft is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24.

Friday's deadline is one of several key deadlines for players who apply for NBA draft entry, however. Should a player enter the draft but decide to "test the waters" and keep their college eligibility, they have until 11:59 p.m ET on May 27 to withdraw and return to their respective college program. The NBA-specific deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the pool of prospects is 5 p.m. ET on June 13.

When is the 2026 NBA Draft?

The 2026 NBA Draft starts on June 23 at 8 p.m. ET with the first round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The second round will start at 8 p.m. ET on June 24 at the Barclays Center.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who hasn't declared yet for NBA draft? Latest on Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa

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The Detroit Pistons look to even the series after being silenced in Game 1 by the Orlando Magic.

We break down Kalshi’s win probability markets and deliver some Magic vs. Pistons predictions to help guide your NBA picks for Wednesday, April 22.

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 2?

Magic win probability:23% (+335)
Pistons win probability:78% (-355)

Despite Orlando’s Game 1 upset over Detroit, the Pistons remain heavy favorites heading into tonight, trading at 78¢.

Our prediction:Pistons to win

The Detroit Pistons weren’t in “playoff” mode in Game 1, while the Orlando Magic were still sweating from the Play-In Tournament.

Oddsmakers aren’t shying away from the top-seeded squad, with Detroit laying nearly double digits in Game 2. The Pistons even the series at 1-1 on Wednesday.

Read more in Jason Logan's full Magic vs. Pistons predictions.

More Magic vs Pistons prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Magic vs. Pistons 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 Pistons -7.5 spread means the Pistons will cover, while "No" means the Magic 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).

Magic vs Pistons spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Pistons -7.5 — Yes

Most road teams aim for a split in those first two tilts of a series, and the Magic have already achieved that. 

Mix in Orlando’s infuriating inconsistency, and I have a tough time trusting in a repeat performance.

Other Magic vs Pistons prediction markets available

• Cade Cunningham 30+ points (Yes: 46¢)
• Jalen Suggs 6+ assists (Yes: 53¢)
• Ausar Thompson 6+ rebounds (Yes: 44¢)

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 Pistons 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 Magic vs Pistons 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.

Marcus Smart stepped up to meet Kevin Durant at three-quarters court. The Lakers guard reached and poked the ball away. Instead of letting the lanky, nearly 7-foot Durant corral the loose ball, the 6-3 Smart dove to secure it for himself.

The Crypto.com Arena crowd jumped to its feet.

From the opening minute to the final horn, Smart set the tone for the Lakers on Tuesday, scoring 25 points, draining five threes, to go with seven assists and five steals during the Lakers’ 101-94 Game 2 win over the Houston Rockets. The Lakers take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series to Houston for Game 3 on Friday, when the Lakers will try to end a streak of nine consecutive road playoff losses.

LeBron James, in his record-tying 19th postseason, is the Lakers’ most influential player this postseason. Yet even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the team is not short on leadership. The Lakers have six players who have played in the NBA Finals, including Smart and center Deandre Ayton.

"Being in big moments for those guys is not a new thing,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Smart, he just had a killer game today.”

The playoff stage was all Smart knew when he began his career in Boston. He played in the Eastern Conference finals four times with the Celtics and once in the NBA Finals. The season he was traded to Memphis, the Celtics won the NBA title.

Instead of celebrating Boston’s 18th championship, Smart languished between injuries and irrelevancy. He played only 54 games in two seasons with Memphis and Washington, two teams that were closer to the draft lottery than any home-court playoff advantage. The Wizards bought out his contract last summer.

“I could have been out the league, right?” Smart said. “... So to be able to be back on this stage again, making the plays that I'm making with these guys, with this team, this organization, I'm just grateful.”

As a free agent, Smart expressed a desire to play for a team with true championship aspirations. Although he was entering his 12th NBA season and coming off nagging injuries, the Lakers still saw Smart as an important addition. The analytics still painted the 2022 defensive player of the year as an effective defender and an efficient secondary playmaker.

His leadership, while unquantifiable, could be even more valuable.

Redick met with Smart in San Francisco two weeks ago when the Lakers were coming off a three-game losing streak. They were emotionally drained from losing their two leading scorers to regular-season ending injuries. They looked like a team with no legitimate path forward in the postseason.

Smart was nursing a right ankle contusion that kept him out of nine games. Redick still went to veteran guard to help focus the group.

“Because he has the voice he has, he can help create the belief and the confidence in our group,” Redick said. “And I think he's done that.”

The Lakers won their final three regular-season games to maintain home-court advantage in the first round over the Rockets. Smart returned for the final two games, dishing out 17 assists while the Lakers tried to keep their offense afloat without Doncic and Reaves.

Read more:Lakers beat Rockets in Game 2 with a new Big Three

But Smart had only 11 points in the two games and shot two of 12 from three-point range in three games since returning from the ankle injury. He doubled that number of made threes in the first half of Game 2.

“Constantly, my teammates and coaching staff tell me to be aggressive,” Smart said. “Either that's for you or for your teammates, but continue to be aggressive. … I'm a Swiss Army knife, so kind of do a little bit of everything.”

With Smart’s unwavering defensive commitment, the Lakers smothered the Rockets in Game 1 and were just as effective in Game 2 when Durant made his series debut after missing the first game because of a right knee contusion. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer had 23 points on seven-for-12 shooting, but committed a playoff career-high nine turnovers. Three of Smart’s five steals came against Durant.

LeBron pretended to tell Marcus Smart to slow it down... and then turned on the JETS for the DAGGER dunk. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZismkiTiFb

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) April 22, 2026

“He's battle-tested,” James said of Smart. “The guy's been to the Finals, been in multiple playoff games, big games in his career. So, obviously, he's not afraid of the moment.”

The Lakers’ two most experienced players created a signature moment in the final minute with the Lakers leading by five. After a Smart steal, James caught the Rockets’ Tari Eason sleeping on defense at the top of the arc and rushed past him. Smart whipped a one-handed bounce pass to the cutting 41-year-old who finished with a soaring dunk. Center Jaxson Hayes waved his arms toward the delirious crowd. Smart pointed toward James.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

VJ Edgecombe had about as good a start to an NBA career as possible. He started on opening night and played 42 minutes, dropping 34 points on 50% field goal shooting en route to beating a hated rival. Six months later, he had his first big playoff moment in the same building.

He dropped a team-high 30 points, this time on 60% field goal shooting, to help the Sixers pick up a 111-97 victory in Game 2 against the Celtics, tying up the series 1-1 as it comes back to Philly. He broke down the Celtics’ defense and his jumper was lethal as both he and Maxey put Boston’s bigs in pick-and-rolls possession after possession to get them in space.

After going 0-of-5 on his three-point attempts in Game 1, Edgecombe made six of his 10 three-point attempts in Game 2. Sixteen of his 30 came in the second quarter, the most by any rookie in a playoff quarter since Tyler Herro in the bubble, according to ESPN.

That was only the beginning of a historic night for the rookie. Finishing the night with 10 rebounds, he became the youngest player to put up 30 and 10 in a playoff game, passing Magic Johnson, and the first rookie to do so since Tim Duncan in 1998. After the game, Edgecombe shared the podium with Paul George and got to see his mentor react to his feat.

Edgecombe managed to do all of this even after taking a hard fall that forced him to leave the game in the first quarter. He also had to check out early in the third and spend some time on the exercise bike to get ready to play again. Despite that, he capped off his dazzling night by pulling up for a three and drilling it in Payton Pritchard’s face, then giving a wink towards the camera as he went to get back on defense.

This performance perfectly distilled just how much of a shot in the arm Edgecombe has been for this franchise. Not only is he something to show for the wreck that was the 2024-25 season, but he’s shown so many qualities Sixers fans have been begging for in a player.

He’s not just going to try to cook your ass, he’s going to talk shit in the process. The confidence he has in himself is admittedly bordering on delusion.

That’s just the mindset that was needed for the Sixers to bounce back from a dreadful Game 1. They were steamrolled by the Celtics thanks to a putrid shooting performance. Edgecombe missing all five of his threes was a big part of that, but it didn’t stop him from getting up twice as many attempts the next game.

There was also a bit of franchise history made — Edgecombe is the first Sixers rookie to score 30 or more in a playoff game since 1981 when Andrew Toney, aka The Boston Strangler, did it. Edgecombe torturing the Celtics like Toney did once upon a time would only endear him more to Sixers fans.

Edgecombe has shown the type of poise required to bounce back all season, a trait that’s made him look far more seasoned than the average 20-year-old rookie. Everything he’s done this year has shown that as long as the starting backcourt is under contract, the future outlook seems pretty bright. If Edgecombe continues to save his best for the Boston Celtics, it only looks more exciting.

Coming off their first playoff win since 2019, the Spurs battled the Portland Trail Blazers for Game 2 of the opening round. The Spurs started the first quarter on a cold streak, falling behind by as much as 13. Regardless, the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the second quarter. Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The game was tied at halftime, and the Spurs managed to take a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. With 8:33 remaining in the game, the Spurs held a 14-point lead. The Blazers then embarked on a 12-0 run. The Spurs had multiple chances to put the game on ice. Portland outplayed them with Wemby out, and the Blazers held a three-point lead with five seconds remaining. Devin Vassell missed the game-tying three, and the Spurs lost 106-103.

Stephon Castle dropped 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Steph led the team in scoring by draining a pair of threes, slashing his way to the basket, and from the free-throw line. He also snuck into the passing lanes and provided playmaking. Unfortunately, Steph’s inexperience in the playoffs showed in the fourth quarter. He missed several shots and turned the ball over multiple times. He will need to step up for Game 3, especially if Wemby is ruled out.

TOUGH BUCKET. Steph drives on Scoot Henderson and gets the tough bucket to go!

ST3PH! Wemby finds an open Steph in the corner for the trey-ball!

CLEAN UP! Steph puts back Dev’s missed layup with a slam dunk!

AND-ONE! Another drive, another tough bucket: Steph drives on Shaedon Sharpe and fights through contact for the and-one!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 17 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Fox started the game with his share of buckets and provided dimes throughout. Fox also showed his swiping abilities with two steals. Like Steph, Fox also faltered in the fourth. The usual midrange jumpers and floaters were not hitting nylon. With the possibility of Wemby out for Game 3, Fox will need to have a big scoring game to keep the Blazers at bay.

Middy! Fox speeds into the paint and drains the tough jumper over Donovan Clingan!

Defense to Offense! Carter Bryant locks up Deni Avdija and gets rewarded with a Fox dime and a wide-open slam!

Smooth! Fox pulls up on Henderson and drains the middy off the glass!

Reverse and-one! Fox finds a cutting Luke Kornet who finishes with a reverse slam through contact!

Devin Vassell dropped a double-double: 16 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals, two assists, and a block. Dev cashed in on jumpers and crashed the boards on both ends. He was also solid defensively with solid contests alongside his four stocks. Like Fox, he shot 37% from the field and missed several key shots down the stretch. Dev will look to continue to be an x-factor for this team for Game 3.

Dev dime! Dev drops off the pass to Kornet in the dunker spot, and he finishes with a poster!

Here’s another angle!

Defense to Offense Part 2! Kornet defends Matisse Thybulle well, and it results in a smooth Dev jumper on the other end!

All in all, this game was lost due to a lack of execution in the fourth quarter. The silver and black kept making both forced and unforced errors, and were ice cold in the last five minutes of the game. Wemby is in concussion protocol and will be re-evaluated for a clearer idea of his status for Games 3 and 4. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper also suffered injuries, but they do not appear to be serious. Nonetheless, the team needs to prepare to play without Wemby, and they all need to step up before the series gets out of hand.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

Game 3 is in Portland this Friday at 9:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.

#1 – A great start

The first minutes of Game 2 looked a lot like Game 1, as the Celtics exposed the Sixers’ defense with smart ball movement and a fierce offense. As always, they targeted the weakest defender and used the strengths of the Jays to get to the rim and break the defensive shell.

Out of the 11 made field goals in the first quarter, 8 were assisted. As the Celtics kept looking for mismatches, the Sixers sent help, and Jayson Tatum exposed it with his court vision. Note also on this play the smart screen from Neemias Queta, which makes the closeout on Sam Hauser almost impossible.

What really stood out in the first quarter was the Celtics’ willingness to play fast and not give the Sixers time to set their defense. But that is way easier when the Sixers are missing a lot of their threes—which, as we’ll see, wasn’t the case for the rest of the game.

#2 – A late collapse

The difference compared to the start of the game was obvious, and the play-by-play showed it well. Boston weren’t able to force misses from the Sixers, and the rebounding wasn’t as elite as it was in the first minutes. Then, the offense slowed down, and the Sixers were able to take away the paint from Boston.

In the last quarter, the Celtics took only three shots in the paint. They made all of them, but the problem came from outside shooting. In the last 12 minutes, their jump-shot efficiency dropped, with only two makes on 19 attempts.

But the Celtics not only didn’t shoot in the paint, they also weren’t able to generate paint touches that could create good looks. On this miss from Derrick White, it is pretty clear that the Celtics are trying to create a mismatch, but PG understands that this is bait to give space to White, and he closes out pretty well.

The offense being static and slow in the last quarter is also due to the inability to make stops on defense. The Sixers went crazy from three and reminded us of previous Game 2s…

#3 – The Game 2 old demons

Back in 2024, the Celtics dominated the Heat in a five-game series. But, like last night, the first round was tied after two games, as the Miami shooters went crazy from deep while Boston struggled offensively against the zone.

The Sixers didn’t use the same zone defense approach as the Heat last night, but the shooting definitely helped them steal this game from the Celtics. Could this be a sign? If the Celtics end up beating the Sixers 4–1, this might resonate even louder, suggesting that this 2026 team could be following the path of the 2024 team.

#4 – Couldn’t capitalize on rebounding

Entering the series, the Celtics knew they could rely on offensive rebounding when shots weren’t falling. With awful scoring efficiency last night (below 40% FG), the Celtics were aggressive on the offensive boards and collected 18 offensive rebounds.

But they couldn’t make the most of it.

Per cleaningtheglass.com, the Celtics scored only 0.8 points per possession on putback situations, far below their season average (1.16). On 18 offensive rebounds, this gap creates a big difference. The Celtics scored around 14 points on putbacks when it should have been more than 20.

In close games like this, especially when shots don’t fall, you must be more efficient on second chances.

#5 – Sixers better hedge defense

So what changed between the two games? It was more about execution than tactical changes from the Sixers. They kept playing that hedge coverage on the pick-and-roll to apply pressure and force the ball out of the ball handler’s hands, but they were more disciplined.

The third defender was much more active in the passing lanes to disrupt actions, and there was more presence in the paint. Overall, the Celtics had more problems getting inside against this improved execution.

Nonetheless, this coverage also creates a lot of open shots that the Celtics weren’t able to convert last night. If the Sixers keep going with that defensive principle, the Celtics still have a good chance to take the next game just by making the shots they usually make.

#6 – Boston drop coverage

On the other end, the Sixers punished the Celtics’ drop coverage with smart empty pick-and-rolls to remove potential help and find good spots for their ball handlers. The quickness and touch of both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe were hard to deal with.

Drop coverage is a great approach to take away the rim, but the Sixers’ pull-up ability might be too strong to rely on it repeatedly. On top of that, they did a good job placing shooters one pass away from the action to punish the Celtics’ stunts.

However, it is worth noting that the drop coverage was still very efficient at protecting the rim, with one of the lowest rim frequencies and efficiencies of the season for the Sixers. However, rim pressure wasn’t the biggest issue.

#7 – Couldn’t deal with Maxey pull-ups

The Celtics were able to cut it to a two-point game, but this is when Maxey really raised his level and put the game away for the Sixers. As we saw, the drop coverage gives him space for pull-ups.

The young guard is used to these situations, with more than five attempts per game at 34% efficiency—and it showed last night. Here, he tricked White into the screen, rejected it, and found space to pull up in rhythm.

Then, on the next play, Maxey uses his speed to get into the action quickly before the defense is set. Because of that, White is too far to contest the pull-up, and Maxey creates a pocket to shoot.

Then, Maxey showed his improvements as a playmaker. He tricked Derrick White and Nikola Vucevic into thinking he was going right for another pull-up. But this time, he rejected the screen again and drove into a completely open paint.

In the clutch, Maxey did what the Celtics couldn’t: get into the paint and make threes.

#8 – How to defend PG?

The Sixers also used PG as a creator, and this could be another problem for the Celtics to solve. To start the game, he got a couple of post-up opportunities to get going from mid-range.

Once Payton Pritchard entered the game, he became a clear target in the post, as the Celtics guard can’t hold his ground against such a big wing. This forces rotations and creates space for the Sixers.

It will be interesting to see how the defensive approach evolves and who gets more minutes over the next few games—especially Baylor Scheierman.

#9 – More Baylor?

It is quite surprising to see only 11 minutes for Scheierman, considering what he can bring. He struggled a bit against VJ Edgecombe navigating screens, but so did Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard. Unlike them, however, he is less likely to be targeted as a mismatch while still providing spacing and connectivity.

With the quick guards and big wings the Sixers have, I would like to see more of him on the floor, both for what he brings offensively and defensively.

#10 – Beat on the turnovers

We mentioned before the series that this Sixers team was one of the best in the league at limiting turnovers while also being among the elite in defensive playmaking. We saw it last night, as they forced four more turnovers, and these extra possessions helped extend the gap over the course of the game.

The Celtics will have to be more disciplined offensively so the Sixers cannot turn defense into offense and generate easy baskets.