The Cardinals won the recruiting Ekezie sweepstakes against Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky and Maryland, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. His dad, Obinna Ekezie Sr., played in the NBA for four seasons.
"I have chosen to commit to (the) University of Louisville as I feel it's the best situation to develop, showcase my game and strive to win a national championship," Ekezie told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi on why he chose Louisville. "Coach Kelsey separated himself with his detailed plan for my development, specifically being able to play and develop at both the 4 and 5. His excellent staff was completely bought in to helping me reach my goals. But honestly, what put it over the top was the visit. Louisville felt like home from the moment I got there."
Ekezie not only brings a 7-foot frame to the Cardinals, but also adds to their growing depth at the forward position. He was also a consensus five-star and top-five ranked recruit, according to different recruiting outlets.
As noted by the Courier Journal, Ekezie participated in the Basketball Without Borders camp at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in February, where he earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors.
Obinna Ekezie Jr. 247 ranking
Stars: Five
National ranking: No. 4
Positional ranking: No. 2
State ranking: No. 2
Ekezie is listed as a five-star prospect and the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2027 recruiting class by 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 2 center and No. 2 player in the state of Florida in the 2027 class, as well.
His classification rankings are not updated to the 2026 recruiting class at the time of this writing.
Ekezie becomes the eighth addition to the Cardinals' 2026-27 roster after Louisville swarmed the transfer portal following their first-weekend exit from the men's NCAA tournament. Louisville should be a top-15 ranked team — if not within the top-10 — in preseason polls with a roster that includes Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad and Arkansas transfer Karter Knox.
Here's an updated look at Louisville's offseason acquisitions with Ekezie's commitment and re-classification:
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Anthony Edwards might be back for Game 1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, barely a week after appearing to suffer a serious knee injury.
The All-Star guard, who averaged 36.7 points in three games against San Antonio this season, has been “cleared for on-court basketball activities,” the Timberwolves said Sunday.
Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won't come in time for Game 1.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on "Inside the NBA" on Sunday.
Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis and is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.
Doncic returned to the practice floor during the Lakers' first round series, but has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5.
"He's doing more and more on the court," Charania reported. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."
Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show -- new updates on Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets' future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq
Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span but ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, winning the series in six games.
The odds are stacked against LA yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. The absence of Jalen Williams makes things slightly less lopsided, especially if the Lakers keep producing total team efforts with contributions from Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura.
Make no mistake, though: Doncic, who led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game and finished third in assists with 8.3 per game, will be needed this series. It just remains to be seen when – or if – he'll be back in time.
In win-or-go-home scenarios, teams tend to elevate their play and compete with desperation. Perhaps no team is feeling that more than Orlando, which had a 3-1 series lead before it allowed the Pistons to win two in a row, the most recent after an epic choke job in Game 6 in which the Magic shot only 4-of-37 from the floor in the second half.
Here are the winners and losers from Sunday’s Game 7s:
This is what a Most Valuable Player candidate is supposed to do. After he dropped a team-high 32 points in Game 7 Sunday, he brought his scoring average over Detroit’s last three games in the first round — all of which were elimination games — to 36.3 points per game.
Cunningham also dished out 12 assists and limited his turnovers, committing just 4.
He erupted for 17 points in the second quarter and scored 19 overall in the first half. Harris was the player who helped spark a massive run to end the first half, but he didn’t stop there.
Harris steadily knocked down shots and provided an outlet for Case Cunningham; when the Magic tried to blitz him with extra bodies, Harris took advantage and knocked down his shots. It may have been, considering the magnitude of the Game 7, the best game of his career.
Harris finished with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, adding 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
It was a good sign for Detroit that Duren, a first-time All-Star this season, had a productive first half. Duren has struggled to impact games this series and is averaging well below his regular season totals.
He was active on the glass and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He added 15 rebounds, though, moving forward in the second round, he could certainly be more aggressive in finding his mid-range stroke.
He scored the Magic’s first 11 points and set the tone for Orlando, including draining the first three 3-pointers he attempted. Banchero aggressively sought his shot, and, when Detroit diverted more defensive attention toward Banchero, he tried to find his teammates.
He finished the game with 38 points on 14-of-25 shooting, adding 9 rebounds and 6 assists. His biggest issue was that his teammates simply didn’t knock down their shots.
The head coach of the Magic is going to face considerable criticism this offseason over the way Orlando squandered a 3-1 series lead and for that Game 6 collapse. Mosley simply didn’t do enough to halt the runs and the momentum that Detroit was building during pivotal games in the series.
To be clear, the Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the conference, are an extremely talented team, so it was to be expected that they would elevate their play once the stakes were highest.
The right calf strain to Franz Wagner significantly hindered Orlando’s offensive portfolio, But the execution still lacked creativity and flow. Not enough was done throughout the back half of the series to generate offense for Paolo Banchero’s teammates.
Orlando’s other starters combined to miss their first six shots of Game 7, and the Magic players not named Banchero shot just 8-of-27 (29.6%) in the first half.
While Banchero had 9 field goals in the first half, no other Orlando player had more than 2.
With Orlando needing someone else to step up on offense, Suggs, the starting point guard, was an obvious choice. Yet, Suggs struggled once again on Sunday, completing what ended up being a very tough series for him.
Over Orlando’s final four games in the first round, Suggs combined to shoot just 8-of-41 (19.5%). It was even worse from deep; from Games 4-7 of the series, Suggs shot just 4-of-26 (15.4%) from 3-point range.
Orlando couldn’t afford to have careless possessions in the first half, and a 9-3 deficit in the turnover battle before intermission was the key reason why Detroit went on a 20-6 run to close the second quarter; the Pistons, not surprisingly, led the battle in points off turnovers 12-3 at halftime.
That helped set the tone for the rest of the game.
Down 3-1, the Philadelphia 76ers completed an improbable comeback against the Boston Celtics, winning the decisive Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday.
Joel Embiid was a beast in Games 4-7 of the series, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him to keep rolling as an old rivalry with Karl-Anthony Towns is renewed.
76ers vs Knicks best bet: Joel Embiid Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)
For as good as the Philadelphia 76ers are with Tyrese Maxey leading the way, the team’s play on the offensive side of the court gets a noticeable boost when Joel Embiid is available.
During the regular season, Philly’s offensive rating was a mediocre 112.9 with Embiid on the sideline. With Embiid available, the 76ers’ offensive rating soared to 118.5, a mark that would have been fifth-best on the season.
Joel Embiid has averaged a healthy 44 PRA since returning in the playoffs, hitting the Over on this combo line in three of four games. In 11 career games at Madison Square Garden, Embiid has gone for 41+ PRA eight times.
Joel Embiid will also likely need to do more if he wants to lead his team to victory. The New York Knicks have multiple capable defenders to throw at Maxey, but their defensive depth down low isn't as deep.
With Philly's point guard locked up, its big man will have to do more of the heavy lifting.
Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns also have an old rivalry dating back to 2019, and the Sixers center has found success against the opposing big man. He’s averaged 41 PRA in 14 career matchups with Towns, hitting the Over on this line eight times.
Riding high from a 34/12/6 performance in Game 7 and playing against a heated rival, I expect Embiid to be at his best and deliver another big playoff performance.
COVERS INTEL: Joel Embiid averaged 16 rebounds + assists vs. the Celtics.
76ers vs Knicks Game 1 same-game parlay
At 27-18, the Sixers sport the second-best road record against the spread.
The Knicks may have the advantage of rest, but the Sixers are in a groove and have played the Knicks well over the last two seasons. Philly is 4-1 ATS across its last five games at Madison Square Garden.
The 76ers have hit the Over in two of their last four, and the Knicks have reached that mark in three of their last four.
Playoff basketball tends to slow down with lower scoring totals, but the Sixers’ offense is Top 5 with Embiid available, and New York averaged 133 points per game across its last two contests.
76ers vs Knicks SGP
Joel Embiid Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists
76ers +7.5
Over 212
76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 1
Spread: 76ers +7.5 | Knicks -7.5
Moneyline: 76ers +235 | Knicks -290
Over/Under: Over 212 | Under 212
76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Philadelphia 76ers have hit the moneyline in 26 of their last 45 games (+19.85 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.
How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 1
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, May 4, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBC
76ers vs Knicks latest injuries
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The 2026 NBA Playoffs have delivered two very different realities for Rutgers products Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper—but together, they still tell a powerful story about the Scarlet Knights’ growing footprint at the next level.
Ron Harper Jr. — Opportunity in the Margins
For Ron Harper Jr. and the Boston Celtics, the playoffs ended in heartbreak—and unexpectedly, a major opportunity for the older Harper brother.
Boston’s first-round exit came in stunning fashion, blowing a 3–1 series lead and falling in Game 7 to Philadelphia. Injuries—most notably to Jayson Tatum—forced the Celtics to dig deep into their bench, and that’s where Harper’s moment on the big stage briefly arrived.
In a surprising Game 7 decision, Harper was inserted into the starting lineup, a reflection of both Boston’s desperation and trust in his readiness. While his minutes remained limited (just four in the finale), the moment itself mattered: a former Scarlet Knight starting in a win-or-go-home playoff game.
Statistically, Harper’s role stayed modest:
6 games played
4.2 minutes per game
1.8 points, 0.7 rebounds per game
But that doesn’t fully capture his postseason. He had flashes—like a quick 5-point burst in his playoff debut—and provided defensive energy in short stretches.
For Harper, this postseason wasn’t about production—it was about positioning. He proved he can be trusted in high-leverage situations, even on a contender. That’s often the first real step toward carving out a long-term NBA role.
Dylan Harper — A Rookie Who Belongs
While Ron’s playoff run was about survival, Dylan Harper is actively shaping his NBA career as a rookie.
The lottery pick guard has been a legitimate contributor for the San Antonio Spurs, who handled business in the first round, defeating Portland in five games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
And Harper hasn’t just been along for the ride—he’s been part of the engine.
Through the first round:
12.6 points per game
3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Over 56% shooting from the field
He’s already delivered standout moments, including a 27-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 3—an early glimpse of his ceiling in big games. Despite not being the strongest distance shooter in volume or accuracy, Harper knocked down four of five triples and made nine of twelve field goals overall in his career performance.
In a pivotal game where San Antonio was without Victor Wembanyama and Portland was looking to go up two games to one at home, Harper and Stephon Castle combined for 60 points. Harper also registered a team-high +25 in plus-minus, showing that his scoring was contributing to winning.
Harper followed that game up with 17 points on 6-9 shooting in the Spurs’ closeout win over the Blazers, which sent San Antonio to a second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 1: Monday 9:30 EST).
More importantly, Dylan Harper looks comfortable. Composed. In control. As a rookie.
On a Spurs team built around youth and growth, Harper is doing something rare for a young guard in the playoffs: playing efficient, mistake-controlled basketball while still being aggressive.
San Antonio’s philosophy—trusting its young core—has paid off, with Harper playing a key role in their advancement and overall playoff success.
Two Paths, One Statement
The contrast is clear:
Ron Harper Jr.: Fighting for minutes, earning trust, stepping into moments when called
Dylan Harper: Already a rotation piece, producing, and helping drive a playoff team forward
But both paths matter.
One shows how hard it is to stick in the league—and how valuable even small playoff opportunities can be. The other shows what it looks like when a young player accelerates that timeline.
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All season long, the San Antonio Spurs showed they were a team far ahead of everyone else's timeline — they were a contender now, not in a year or three. San Antonio won 62 games and was the No. 2 seed in the West.
All season long, Minnesota almost looked bored. We'd see flashes of the team that made it to two straight Western Conference Finals, but we'd see ugly losses (or just flat games) on other nights. It looked like a team waiting for the games to get serious. When the games did get serious in the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves showed not just their talent but real heart to overcome injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, and they beat the Nuggets.
Can Minnesota repeat that formula, or is San Antonio just too deep and too good? Here's what you need to know heading into this Western Conference Semifinals matchup.
When does the Timberwolves vs. Spurs begin?
Game 1 between Minnesota and San Antonio is on Monday, May 4, and you can watch it on Peacock. The series continues every other day until Game 6, there are a couple days off before that game.
Minnesota vs. San Antonio Playoffs Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern (* = if necessary). Game 1: Monday, May 4 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN) Game 2: Wednesday, May 6 (9:30 ET, ESPN) Game 3: Friday, May 8 (9:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: May 12* (TBD) Game 6: May 15* (TBD) Game 7: May 17* (TBD)
Player to watch: Rudy Gobert
Victor Wembanyama considers Rudy Gobert, a fellow French center, a mentor.
"He's played a huge role in my journey, has been a role model, has inspired me in so many ways that should actually inspire more people, especially when it comes to the care given to the body, which is an example for all big men," Wembanyama said this week.
However, this is Wembanyama we're talking about, so he wants more information and details than anyone else.
"A few weeks ago he asked me what kind of filter I had in my house for water," Gobert said. "It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don't get those type of questions."
Gobert was the reason the Timberwolves upset the Nuggets in the first round, thanks to his spectacular defense on Nikola Jokic. It's not that the three-time MVP didn't get his, but he had to work for every bucket, every inch of court, and it wore him down. It was the key to the series.
Now Gobert has to find a way to be physical and do the same thing to Wembanyama, but it may not be as easy. In part because this will not be a straight matchup — Gobert will not be one Wembanyama much of the time (look for him to be on Stephon Castle, that is what Portland did with its big Donovan Clingan).
Gobert on Wemby is tough because Wemby's game is more fluid, he's got better handles and a better 3-point shot, and his role in the San Antonio offense, while central, is not the same. The Nuggets play through Jokic, that's the case in San Antonio, where Wembanyama can be off the ball and they use his gravity as a shooter to create driving lanes.
Gobert will get his time on Wembanyama (as will Julius Randle), and he needs to be physical and wear his mentee down. It's just a lot easier said than done.
Keys to watch for in Minnesota vs. San Antonio
If/When does Anthony Edwards return?
Anthony Edwards reportedly told his teammates he will be back in this series from the ugly knee hyperextension and bone bruise he suffered in Game 4 against the Nuggets. ESPN's Shams Charania reports Edwards did a little on-court work, and there is some hope he could be back for "potentially Game 3 or Game 4 at the earliest."
All Minnesota is saying is that Edwards remains week -to-week. If Edwards does return, what version of him do we see? 80% 90%
Edwards dropped 55 points on the Spurs in a matchup this season (a game San Antonio still won), which leads into the next issue…
How can Minnesota score enough to win?
Jaden McDaniels may want to hold back from saying the Spurs are "all bad defenders," as he did when talking about the Nuggets. San Antonio is an entirely different thing.
It's not just Wembanyama protecting the rim, although he is the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year who completely changes the geometry of the court. It's that he is surrounded by quality defenders on the perimeter: Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and on down the list, the Spurs don't roll out a bad defender.
A fully healthy Timberwolves team with Edwards driving and creating, plus DiVincenzo knocking down 3s, could put up points on the Spurs and make this a series. As it is now, Minnesota needs a massive series from Julius Randle plus some other guys to step up — Ayo Dosunmu, if he's healthy — to have any chance.
Minnesota also must rely on its defense, which was fantastic against the Nuggets, holding them to 13 points below their league-leading regular-season average. San Antonio has more shot creators and ball handlers, but Minnesota has a great defense and experience. Is that enough?
Prediction: Spurs in 5
The Edwards injury makes this a challenging prediction, if he were fully healthy I'd say Spurs in 7. However, without him to at least start the series — and we don't know what version of Edwards we get if and when he does return — it just changes the equation.
San Antonio is just a tougher matchup for Minnesota, especially a shorthanded Timberwolves team.
Feb 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) goes to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Lakers aren’t alone in having been without a star player due to a hamstring strain in their upcoming playoff series.
During the Thunder’s first round series with the Suns, Jalen Williams exited Game 2 with a hamstring strain, a sight purple and gold faithful are certainly familiar with.
After the game, Williams was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain, a less severe injury than the one Luka Dončić is dealing with. Still, the team announced updates on his status would only come weekly, an indicator of how long he was expected to be out.
The Lakers-Rockets series going six games actually helped OKC in giving Williams additional time to rest, though. And that time could prove to be critical.
Jalen Williams will have had 14 days between his Game 2 hamstring strain against the Suns and OKC's Game 1 against the Lakers/Rockets
Jalen Williams Injury History: The average time lost for Grade 1 hamstring strains is ~12.4 days. Multiple players have suffered the injury in the playoffs including Jaylen Brown, Steph Curry, & Devin Booker. Curry's injury occurred last year & kept him out of GS's last 4 games.
It’s unlikely that there is any sort of clarity on Williams’ status until Game 1 on Tuesday. Even then, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there’s some gamesmanship and Williams is listed as questionable for the contest, forcing the Lakers to at least prepare for him in some regard.
OKC has plenty of experience playing without Williams this year. The Thunder played the first 19 games without him, going 18-1 in that span. In total, he only played 33 games this series after dealing with various injuries, including just nine appearances in the last 39 games.
Obviously, Lakers fans aren’t going to feel any sort of sympathy for the Thunder, but it will be a storyline worth watching entering the series. It’s possible Williams returns this series and it’s certainly more likely than Luka returning, but it’s not a given either will be back.
Apr 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles defended by Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) in the second half uring game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Well, here we are. Detroit Pistons face an elimination game against the Orlando Magic. Winner goes to the second round to face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Toronto Raptors. The loser’s season is done. No pressure. A win at Little Caesars Arena adds a little more myth to what has been, for lack of a better word, a magical season. A loss ends a season a starts a critical offseason where this team must determine how to turn promise into contention. We will soon know which path this team is taking. But it’s never been an easy path, so expect 48 minutes of misery and hope it ends with a bit of exhilaration.
Game Vitals
When: 3:30 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ABC Odds: Pistons -8.5
Round two of the NBA playoffs starts tomorrow, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are once again the underdogs. Whether that’s rightfully so or just another time the public narrative is disrespecting the Wolves, we’ll find out starting Monday night. Even though this is on short notice, there’s still time to hear from you and give you a chance to write some receipts.
It’s time for Canis Pulsus Vol. 49 – Playoff Round 2 Predictions!
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 30: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up prior to a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on April 30, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Canis Pulsus Vol. 49!
For those of you who have been ignoring this series since the 2021 season — Canis Pulsus is designed to give our Canis Hoopus community a published voice.
A pulse, if you will.
We all know that if CH occupied all seats of the Minnesota Timberwolves front office, we would be celebrating our 36th consecutive championship this year. But for now, it’s time for us to exercise our right vote. How would you grade the performance of our pups?
It’s a simple concept, really. Just submit your vote as honestly or sarcastically as you would like. All individual submissions will remain anonymous so no one will know if you were the one voter who picked Spurs in four Once the polls close, the results as a whole will be published on Canis Hoopus and (in theory) be posted on ESPN’s front page next to all the naysayers.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After playing 36 minutes of solid basketball, the Sixers found themselves in a position all too familiar at the end of a playoff game. As dominant as Joel Embiid was offensively, he was showing signs of running out of gas down the stretch. To check off all the boxes, he had already gone back to the locker room with an injury scare.
With 3:49 left in the game, the Celtics again cut the Sixers lead to one as deja vu sank in: a winnable playoff game had turned into immense heartbreak as no one other other than Embiid could get the Sixers over the finish line. Just like Game 7s in 2019 and 2021, the Sixers rested their hopes on Embiid’s broken body carrying them across the finish line.
Tyrese Maxey’s last field goal had come at the end of the third quarter. He only had two points from the line in the fourth and, to make matters worse, he had just smoked a wide open layup a few possessions ago.
After both teams clanked a couple jumpers off the rim, Maxey found himself with the ball at the top of the key. A screen came for a pick-and-roll, and with it the switch Maxey was looking for on Neemias Queta.
The Sixers would come up with another stop and Maxey hunted the same matchup again, zooming by Queta and Jaylen Brown to make it a two-possession game.
After another stop and Maxey took the ball again. This time his midrange pull-up didn’t fall, but he would contribute to their next and most important stop of the series.
The Celtics had killed the offensive glass when they were in control of this series. They got a second attempt to cut it a two-point game thanks to an offensive rebound. When Derrick White’s shot went off, Maxey skied up to get it, securing his ninth rebound of the game.
With 16 seconds left, all that was left was hitting his free throws. That was still an important hurdle to clear — the Sixers lost multiple season games, like one in Toronto and another against Atlanta, because Maxey wasn’t able to hit free throws to seal the game.
He hit all four attempted, completing his 10-point fourth quarter and putting the Boston Celtics away for good. Maxey finished with 30 points (on an efficient 11-of-18 from the field), 11 rebounds and seven assists.
“I just really wanted the ball,” Maxey told reporters at the podium after the game. “Early in the fourth, we went to Joel, and I just felt like it was time for me to step up, make a play.”
"I just wanted the ball."
Tyrese Maxey (34 PTS, 10 in 4Q) on his clutch scoring down the stretch to secure PHI's W in Game 7!
By doing so, Maxey and Embiid put themselves in elite company, as far as Game 7s go. Per ESPN’s stats’ department, they became the first duo to put up 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.
Embiid is plenty responsible for shortcomings of Sixers playoff runs in the past, but he’s been let down by his supporting cast just as many — if not more — times.
This series they got over the hump not just because of Embiid’s brilliance, but his co-star finally rose to the moment as well.
Feb 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) against the Golden State Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who went through the grind of reviewing all 18 players on the Phoenix Suns roster and placing each one into a tier. That kind of buy-in is what makes this exercise worth it. It gives us real data points, helps us start forming some assumptions, and gives us a clearer picture of where each player belongs within their tier as we begin to sort out who is “best.”
Everyone has their own definition of what “best” means, and by taking the time to go through the SunsRank survey, you help compartmentalize these players in a way that makes the next step easier. Did you put someone in the ‘Pillars’ category based on who they are relative to the team’s roster construction moving forward? Or did you put them there because of the statistical impact they had on the team this season? All points of view are welcome in SunsRank. It’s the one time I deviate from my personal method of avoiding terms like “best”, “worst”, or “greatest”.
So let’s get into it. We’re moving into the lowest tier, ‘The Depth Pieces’. I define this tier as “The supporting cast. The ones who fill minutes, plug gaps, and sometimes win a game or two that no one expects. They may not grab headlines, but every season leans on players like these.”
The community put these players here, and the bottom tier consists of six players. So we’ll be ranking players 13 through 18 on the Phoenix Suns’ roster.
The Depth Pieces
Jamaree Bouyea
Jamaree Bouyea, the guy who started the season playing in the Spurs’ G League system who came to Phoenix and forced his way into a two-way contract situation. Respect. 75% of the community voted him into the Depth Pieces tier. Shout out to the 3 people who thought he was worthy of being a Pillar.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
46
14.0
5.7
1.8
1.8
0.6
45.8%
29.5%
68.6%
106.0
104.6
+25
Koby Brea
Koby Brea’s rookie year was one of development in the G League, as he saw only 12 games at the NBA level. The kid has a shot on him, and he is certainly somoene who we hope rises from the Depth Piece tier to somethign more meaningful and impactful in years to come.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
12
7.0
3.8
0.7
0.8
0.1
41.7%
43.3%
1.00%
101.8
106.0
-15
Let’s look at some Valley Suns numbers, seeing as he spent most of the season in the G League.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
23
33.4
15.0
4.6
2.4
1.0
38.4%
36.5%
80.0%
109.3
115.3
-137
Amir Coffey
Coffey arrived in Phoenix from Milwaukee in the trade that sent Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards out. His playing time wasn’t ample this season with Phoenix, and he didn’t make the impact many believed he would. Not surprisingly, 74% of the community classified him as a Depth Piece. Chances are, as an unrestricted free agent, he won’t be with the team next season.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
16
14.1
4.8
1.9
1.0
0.4
50.0%
41.7%
69.2%
116.2
110.6
+26
Haywood Highsmith
Highsmith was a buyout market acquisition and, for someone coming off a meniscus tear, someone we didn’t expect to see much of. And we didn’t. Still, it was a close race to determine which tier he belonged in. 53% voted for the Locksmith to be a Depth Piece, while 40% believbed he was a Wildcard.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
7
13.0
5.4
1.9
1.0
0.6
52.2%
57.1%
85.7%
117.8
116.1
+10
CJ Huntley
The rookie who played five years at Appalachian State was a two-way contracted player. Then he wasn’t. Then he was. We didn’t see him much at the NBA level, but he put some work in down in the G.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
4
10.0
3.0
1.3
0.5
0.0
54.5%
0.0%
0.0%
122.4
104.7
+15
Let’s look at some Valley Suns numbers, seeing as he spent most of the season in the G League.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
29
27.4
16.0
8.5
1.1
1.2
62.3%
33.8%
69.0%
111.6
118.0
-162
Isaiah Livers
I think we all had higher expectations for Livers, but ultimately, we did not see him as much as we expected due to injuries this season. Therefore, he finds himself in the Depth Piece tier.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
36
9.6
1.8
1.7
0.6
0.4
34.4%
30.0%
75.0%
109.4
108.3
+11
Now, the fun begins. This is SunsRank comes to life. Fill out the survey and decide who ranks above whom using your interpretation of the words “best” and/or “better”.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics watches from the bench during the third quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Late in the fourth quarter, as Derrick White’s fifth three-pointer of the night sailed through the net, Jayson Tatum turned his back to the TD Garden parquet and emphatically punched the Celtics bench with both fists.
He badly wanted the Celtics to do the improbable, to pull out a come-from-behind victory in Game 7 against a Philadelphia 76ers team that was peaking at exactly the right moment.
He badly wanted the Celtics to advance to the next round, so that he could come back and continue what was an incredible comeback story, so that he could return to the same Madison Square Garden where his season last ended in heartbreak.
But, almost a full year after he suffered the worst injury in basketball, Tatum was once again sidelined, let down by his body, ruled out of game action by his medical staff.
Derrick White hits a huge three and Jayson Tatum is going nuts on the bench
This time, it wasn’t season-ending, and he wasn’t writhing on the floor in pain. On Saturday morning, Tatum simply woke up with some back-of-knee stiffness that appeared to begin in Game 6, a likely side-effect of returning to action in just 10 months, quickly ramping up minutes, and battling in physical, postseason action.
“It was just unfortunate timing,” Tatum said. “But, it’s a little bit to be expected, right? I was away for 10 and a half months, and I came back, and I’m playing every other day, and I was playing 36 to 40 minutes — so it’s not unusual that something would come up. It was just kind of tough because rehab was going so well the entire time. I guess it was inevitable at some point that I was gonna have to deal with something, and it just kind of came at the worst possible time.”
Tatum said that he was day-to-day and expected to return at some point in the second round, had the Celtics advanced in Game 7.
But, as the team went ice-cold down the stretch of the fourth quarter, all he could do was watch, just as he did for the first 62 games of the season.
“It was tough,” Tatum said. “I was upset, I was sad, I was disappointed all day.”
Part of what made it so painful was how seamless his rehab had been up until that point. He came back in 10 and a half months. He averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in the series’s first six games, shooting 47.5% from the field — the best mark of his playoff career.
Everything was going exactly to plan.
Then, just like that, he was back to the sidelines.
“It just kind of really never crossed my mind,” Tatum said of the possibility of not being there for the final game of the year. “Once I came back, everything was just going so well, so to have to sit yesterday in the biggest game of the season, and just not being able to be out there and be a part of that… it was just tough.”
In the end, the Celtics’ season ended as it started, with three straight losses, and with their best player in street clothes.
Still, for myriad reasons, Tatum said he had zero regrets about doing everything possible to make his return, and that making the push to return this season was “100%” the correct decision.
In large part, that’s because going into next season, he knows that he is capable of being exactly who he was before the injury — if not an even more improved version.
“I’m very happy that I came back to be a part of this team, get back to doing what I love, to help give us a chance to compete for a championship, to prove to myself that I can get back to being the guy who I was, and hopefully better,” Tatum said.
“I was able to prove to myself that I can still play this game at a very, very high level, even not being 100% of myself. I know what I’m capable of. So, checking that box off mentally, because that was a question in my head. There was doubt. Will I be able to be the same player? Will I be able to play at a high level after this injury? Now I have proven it and shown that — even at 85% of myself. So you know, now getting an extended period of time to deload and take some time off and come back next season 100%, 110% ready, get my right calf bigger compared to my left one. So I’m excited about that.”
In addition to overcoming that mental hurdle, Tatum also feels a level of pride regarding what he was able to pull off — even if it did not result in the outcome he desired.
He knows that he blazed a trail for other NBA players with the same injury to follow, players like Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, who have yet to return following Achilles ruptures last Spring, and more recent examples like Donte DiVincenzo.
That, in and of itself, meant a lot.
“Not necessarily from a standpoint of, ‘I’m great, look at what I was able to accomplish,‘ but to give other guys hope,” Tatum said. “Obviously, I don’t want anybody to have to go through tearing their Achilles, but in the unfortunate event that it does happen, that I can be sort of inspirational: if you attack rehab a certain way if you follow these guidelines, or do it a certain way, that it’s not, like, a career-ending injury, that you can come back, that you can be yourself, that you can be better, that it won’t take 18 months, that you can come back whenever is right for you.”
Asked Jayson Tatum if — given how everything panned out — he still felt certain that he made the right decision to return this season after so much back and forth:
“100%. I'm very happy that I came back to be a part of this team, got back to doing what I love, to help give us a… pic.twitter.com/T4GY8VWO1S
“So, I’m happy and proud of the fact that I was able to do that, and unfortunately, if somebody else has to deal with this, they can look at what I was able to do and have some hope and inspiration that it’s not what people used to think it was,” Tatum said. “And, you can come back from this, and be who you were and hopefully be better.”
For now, it will be a long offseason in which Tatum will get some much-needed rest.
At the podium, it was evident that Tatum tried tirelessly to look at the positive view, burdened by the disappointment of a first-round exit and his unexpected Game 7 sidelining.
“I get a long offseason to really get back to 110%,” he said. “I guess that’s the silver lining of it all.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers heads for the net as Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2024 in New York City. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New York Knicks 112-106 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite growing up a half-hour from Shea Stadium as a 1980s Mets fan, I didn’t hate the Yankees. No reason to. They were in a whole other league; they never played the Mets, other than in spring training. Don Mattingly was awesome. Dave Winfield was a freak. Willie Randolph seemed nice. Their third baseman was nicknamed Pags. What wasn’t to like?
I didn’t hate the Yankees until 2000, when Roger Clemens, unable to get Mike Piazza out legally, knocked him out with a heater straight to the gulliver . . . and Don Zimmer said of the victim: “Piazza made a little man out of himself. I don’t care who knows it, I lost a little respect for Piazza.” The same Zimmer who had to have three holes drilled into his skull after taking a curveball there in 1963. Who had two seasons ended by beanballs. Who suffered a concussion in 1986 when he fell down in the clubhouse. Who brought a playoff game to a screeching halt in 1999 when a line drive off the bat of Chuck Knoblauch went into the dugout and hit Zimmer’s ear and jaw. One can only imagine the kind of poor choices a bloke with a litanty of brain injuries might make later in life (photo credit: Reddit).
Until two years ago, I never hated the Philadelphia 76ers. Growing up, they were like the Nets to me, geographical cousins of the Knicks who weren’t the Celtics, and the enemy of my enemy was my friend. Charles Barkley was a force of nature. Jeff Hornacek may not have done anything for me coaching the Knicks, but I loved watching him play. Hersey Hawkins coupled smoothness with alliteration. Everybody knows Shaquille O’Neal, and some remember Gary Trent Sr., “Shaq of the MAC,” but the original Shack was one of the great NBA names of all-time, one Charles Edward Shackleford.
So when the Knicks met the Sixers in the 2024 playoffs, after a lifetime of playoff series with Indiana, Miami and Chicago, I was looking forward to watching the most stressful games of the year against a team I had no beef with. That didn’t last long.
The 2021 series versus Atlanta was the first time I encountered another team’s chronically online fans. Hawks Twitter is probably on the low end of offensiveness, but they were so gross and rude that stuck with me more than Trae Young. Thankfully there didn’t seem to be much of a “Hawks Bluesky” scene this postseason.
Sixers Twitter is just one of several factors that curdled my affection for one of the NBA’s flagship franchises into something slightly toxic. Maybe you share some of my reasons; maybe you hate them for reasons all your own. My hypothesis: however much you hate the 76ers today, it will sink to fathomless depths by the end of this series. Why? I could give you reasons.
Reason 1: KAREN NURSE
You know what’s amazing about J.B. Bickerstaff? Besides having coached four NBA teams and won Coach of the Year by age 46? He’s faced the Knicks twice in the playoffs, lost both times, and never kvetched once. Something to be said for someone who can face adversity with a kind of quiet dignity.
Contrast that with two years ago. After Karen Carlisle’s Pacers lost the first two games of their series with the Knicks, they sent the league office a list of 78 calls they claimed the refs got wrong in those games. Then Little Ricky doubled down on the lowest and hoariest conspiracy theory.
“Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” he said after Game 2. “They deserve a fair shot no matter where they’re playing.”
Every bleeping CBA of my lifetime has been about screwing over “big-market” teams and their fans in order to better serve the poor, tired, huddles masses out in Flyover Country. It’s infuriatingly specious. It’s dumb as shit. It’s the sports version of the NY Times sending reporters out all the time to find out what “real Americans” think of things, when those “real” Americans are always white Midwesterners who not only don’t live in cities, but actively fear them. I’m not any less real than them!
If I wanna go to Game 1 of this series and don’t have the money for a ticket, no one cuts me a break. If Miles McBride wants to make $50 million per on his next deal and nobody offers it to him, no one thinks he’s a victim. You want something you can’t have? Figure out how to make it happen or get over it, right? Yet always, the propaganda regarding what is/isn’t fair to alllll the poor wittle billionaires who aren’t quite Steve Ballmer-level.
If you can’t afford to compete with Ballmer, James Dolan and that anti-labor twat who owns the Rockets, sell the team. You don’t have a birthright to the endless profit machine that is pro sports just because you want it. For Carlisle, of all people — a former Knick and Celtic — to trot that dead horse outta the barn isn’t just offensive to us, it demeans him. Seems he’ll sell out anybody from his past just to get a little ahead today. Maybe Rick’s wealthier than I thought.
Not one to be outdone, Coach Nurse and the Sixers literally FILED A GRIEVANCE after the first two games of their last tussle with the Knicks. What happens if they fall behind this time? An amicus brief to the Supreme Court, requesting the Knicks be kicked out of the NBA? A donation to the White House Hitler’s bunker ballroom, to curry favor with the pedo in power? That may sound extreme, but the next time someone loses to New York without crying foul will be the first. Well, third. Thank you, J.B.
Reason 2: JOEL EMBIID
Like the Yankees, I was totally cool with Embiid right up until I wasn’t. He’s the greatest scoring big man I’ve ever seen (yes, over Shaq). His performance against New York in Game 4 in 2024 was up there, if not better, than anything I ever saw Michael Jordan do to them. There, I said it.
I didn’t like him trying to hurt Mitchell Robinson and various other Knicks in 2024, but I understood. I grew up watching the Knicks clothesline Dream Teamers; I can handle a little physicality (particularly when I’m not the one suffering it). It’s the narcissism I can’t stand.
Clemens could’ve stood up and owned what he did; instead he hid behind teammates making asses of themselves trying to justify assault. That Embiid could pull what he did on Mitch and walk away healthy tells you all you need to know about how much the NBA has changed. If he’d tried that s#$% on Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason, Embiid’s career would already be over.
Look at this asshole.
He attacked Mitch ‘cuz he didn’t like a non-call on the other end. He didn’t like something a reporter wrote about his dead brother, so he shoved him. If Karl-Anthony Towns was the type to mess with people, this would be the time for head games. But KAT doesn’t roll like that. So we’ll just have to wait and see what annoys Mr. Process the next couple of weeks, and pray he doesn’t injure anyone while he’s letting off steam. And if he does, maybe this time the league bothers to notice.
Reason #3: CHRONICALLY ONLINE SIXER FANS
I’ll spare you a deep-dive into this Mariana Trench of misery. Suffice it to say this lot think the 76ers were screwed two years ago and “should’ve” beaten the Knicks. They ignore the ignominy of being the only East Coast metropolis whose fans somehow FAIL TO SELL OUT THEIR OWN ARENA for a playoff game. And now Charlie Brown is all fucking full of himself ‘cuz he finally kicked the football, coming from 3-1 to beat Boston. My advice: if you’re still on Twitter (why??), leave. Now. Otherwise, hold your nose and hope from the best. But expect the worst.
Reason #4: CALLIE RIVERS
Once upon a time, the daughter of Doc Rivers (OAKAAKUYOAK), Callie, was dating Paul George. George cheated on her, impregnating a dancer. Admittedly, I’d rather bring up something George did to hurt the Knicks in the postseason to reference here. And George ended up marrying the dancer and making a family, while Callie married Seth Curry. Not quite on the same villain-level of Tristan Thompson. But the Knicks have rarely reached the postseason during George’s career, and he’s spent most of his years in the Western conference, so there wasn’t much opportunity for intersection. Then again, George was the star of the 2013 Pacers. So there’s no shortage of reasons to not like him — professional or personal.
Reason #5: VJ EDGECOMBE*
This isn’t actually a beef with Edgecombe, who’ll be All-Rookie First Team when it’s announced. He’s a fantastic, exciting player, and in interviews he seems cool. No, this is a beef with how/why Edgecombe is a 76er.
A year ago, the Sixers fell apart after being oddly praised by everyone for an offseason centered on giving 34-year-old injury-prone Paul George a max extension. Completely unpredictably, George missed a ton of time with injuries. So did Embiid. And things got ugly.
After Maxey, their leading scorers last year were Kelly Oubre and Guerschon Yabusele. So Philly embraced tanking and fell all the way to the third pick in the draft. This was a year after Dallas gave up trying the last week of the season to keep New York from their lottery pick that year, and a year before Washington traded for two All-Stars they preferred never to play, rather than continue the upswing their youngsters had them on before the trades and risk losing their lottery pick to New York this June.
The Sixers didn’t really tank unethically, the way a third of the league did this year. I’m just sick of the Knicks getting screwed by teams tanking. And don’t let the league fool you: the latest anti-tanking proposal will fail, just as have all attempts. Because you can’t fix injustice with injustice. Wanna abolish tanking once and for all? Abolish the draft!
Ahh, I know; the small-market soothsayers will cry it’s unfair, that somehow in a league with a hard cap they can’t possibly compete with bigger teams who generally hunt and staff big-name stars. Yes, if we abolish the cap, why, the Knicks and Lakers would sign 10 All-NBA players and the top five rookies available. Anarchy, eh? Could be worse. Imagine a league full of Karens.
The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their series tonight in a winner-takes-all Game 7.
In addition to our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions, we've got the computer working overtime to provide the best NBA player prop projections.
Round out your NBA picks on Sunday, May 3, with these data-based statistical projections.
Raptors vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 7
Raptors
Cavaliers
Murray-Boyles o12.5 points -135
Mitchell o3.5 assists -165
Barrett o1.5 threes -105
Allen o11.5 points -105
Barnes u8.5 assists -130
Harden o19.5 points -120
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Raptors Game 7 computer picks
Collin Murray-Boyles Over 12.5 points (-135)
Projection: 14.77 points
Collin Murray-Boyles has seen his role in the Toronto Raptors offense expand in the postseason, clearing this 12.5-point line in five of the six games against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Raptors will likely see a spike in possessions today when squaring off against the 10th-speediest home team in the NBA over the last five games (the Cleveland Cavaliers). This will result in an easy Over for CMB.
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RJ Barrett Over 1.5 made threes (-130)
Projection: 2.27 made threes
The Raptors check in as the second-best offensive rebounding offense in the NBA over the last five games. Offensive rebounds help maintain possession and can therefore create added scoring chances.
RJ Barrett will be a primary beneficiary, as he's also hit two or more treys in four of the six games in this series.
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Scottie Barnes Under 8.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 7.33 assists
While Scottie Barnes has been a coin flip on this line during this series, the Raptors star is projected to finish comfortably Under 8.5 dimes tonight.
He also finished the season going Under this number in five of his last six games before setting up shop against Cleveland.
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Cavaliers Game 7 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 assists (-165)
Projection: 5.32 assists
Some books are offering the baseline of 4.5 assists, and while Donovan Mitchell projects to go Over that number as well, we're getting a better cushion for the projections here at 3.5.
The number is likely lower because Mitchell has hit the Under 4.5 in four of five games this series, but he averaged 5.7 assists in the regular season.
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Jarrett Allen Over 11.5 points (-112)
Projection: 12.93 points
The Cavaliers grade out seventh-best in the NBA, with 11.9 offensive boards per game over the last 10. Jarrett Allen can turn those rebounds into points, as Cleveland can retain possession when standing tall over the Raptors.
Overall, Allen has 13+ points in six of his last 10 games.
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James Harden Over 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 21.2 points
James Harden has been right around this number on a nightly basis. While he came up short with just 16 points in Friday's loss, he had scored between 18 and 28 in nine straight, dating back to the regular season.
He's also averaged 24.4 points per game over the last five home games.
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How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 7
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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COVERS INTEL: Joel Embiid averaged 16 rebounds + assists vs. the Celtics.
Raptors
Cavaliers