The rivalry between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers stretches back so far that you have to conjure up names like Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Darko Miličić, and LeBron James (remember that old timer?). It was the Detroit Pistons that delayed James’ ascension to title winner, which compelled his migration to South Beach, it was James who single-handedly killed the Going to Work Pistons with 25 consecutive points in 2007.

Both franchises experienced some low lows (Detroit’s much more extended), and both are among the top of the East thanks to some smart roster building and a pivotal player from the 2021 NBA Draft — Cade Cunningham for the Pistons and Evan Mobley for the Cavs.

Cleveland won 64 games last year, got bounced in the second round, and made a win-now trade for James Harden at the trade deadline. Detroit won 60 games this year and is looking at toppling the Cavs as the next step in its title-contending narrative.

The Cavs, though, don’t seem to think much of the Pistons.

In reviewing the four-game season series, it was hard to glean much from either side thanks to injuries. Each side won two, and every win has an asterisk because of key pieces missing from the starting lineup. The most recent was a 122-119 overtime win for Detroit when the Cavs were missing five rotation players, including its backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Harden.

The Cavs lost, but they had plenty to say after the game … anonymously, of course.

“They aren’t in our class,” said one anonymous player to Cleveland.com after the game.

Chris Fedor, the beat writer for the Cavs for many years, follows that up with, “Another player said he didn’t believe Detroit would even be Cleveland’s toughest matchup in the playoffs.”

I’d call it unshakeable confidence if only the players were brave enough to put a name to their words.

For better and for worse, the Pistons don’t do anything anonymously. They say it with their chest, and they aren’t afraid to get physical.

The key to this series is bringing that physicality without pushing it too far. Harden can get you in foul trouble, Ausar Thompson. Donovan Mitchell can make you regret gambling for that steal, Javonte Green. Sam Merrill will make you regret over-helping, Cade Cunningham. Isaiah Stewart can get you ejected, Isaiah Stewart.

The Pistons have a decided size advantage on the wings, and the double-big matchup between Jalen Duren and Jarrett Allen, and Isaiah Stewart (and Tobias Harris) against Evan Mobley will be the key to the series.

Detroit needs to take care of the ball, Cunningham chief among them, and they need to find a way to impose their will in a way they couldn’t manage to against the Orlando Magic until the final six quarters of the series. The Pistons need to keep building up its postseason narrative while ensuring they make the Cavs play down to theirs.

Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and the Cavaliers are incredibly talented. But they are the ones who haven’t been able to deliver when it matters. Mitchell averages 27.8 points in the playoffs but has never escaped the conference semifinals. Harden has never missed the postseason but has only made the conference finals twice since leaving Oklahoma City in 2012. Its been four early playoff exits for the Cavs the past four seasons.

The series is there for the taking. The Pistons just need to deliver on the floor and not focus on soundbites.

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first game of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Lakers beat the Rockets 4-2 in the first round while the Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder are favored with a spread of -15.5 and an over/under of 213.5.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Date: Tuesday, May 5

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

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

Odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -15.5

• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -1111 (88.0%) / Los Angeles Lakers +700 (12.0%)

• Over/Under: 213.5

Series schedule

Game 1: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 5, 8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Thursday May 7, 9:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video)
Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)*
Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*

*if necessary

The Cleveland Cavaliers meet the Detroit Pistons in the first game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Pistons and Cavs each won Game 7s in the first round to advance, beating the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors, respectively. The Pistons are favored in Game 1 by 3.5 points. The over/under for this Eastern Conference matchup is set at 215.5.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons

• Date: Tuesday, May 5

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• TV Channels: Peacock, NBCSN

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

Odds

• Spread: Detroit Pistons -3.5

• Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -159 (59.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +135 (40.9%)

• Over/Under: 215.5

Series schedule

Game 1: Cleveland at Detroit (Tuesday May 5, 7 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 2: Cleveland at Detroit (Thursday May 7, 7 ET, Prime Video)
Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday May 9, 3 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)*
Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)*
Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*

*if necessary

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It’s Cinco de Mayo, and by the looks of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series odds, they’re going to bust the Los Angeles Lakers open like a piñata.

Oklahoma City is laying more than -15 at home in Game 1 of this Western Conference semifinal after thrashing L.A. in the regular season. Rather than tangle with that pile of chalk, my Lakers vs. Thunder predictions swing my focus to the individual efforts in the series opener.

Here are my best NBA picks and Lakers vs. Thunder props on May 5.

Best Lakers vs Thunder props for Game 1

Player	Pick
Deandre Ayton	Over 0.5 assists	-130
Alex Caruso	Over 7.5 points	-105
Marcus Smart	Over 1.5 threes	-135

Game 1 Prop #1: Deandre Ayton Over 0.5 assists

-130 at bet365

It’s just one little assist. How hard could it be? 

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was huge for L.A. against Houston, but finds himself amongst the trees vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Thunder roll out twin 7-footers in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, and Ayton shrank like he was swimming in cold water over his four matchups with OKC. He averaged 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and barely a blip in the assist column.

He’s not getting easy looks from the post here, which means passing to the perimeter or finding teammates in motion. Ayton will also wrangle a couple of offensive rebounds, likely kicking out to an open shooter. If this massive spread holds true, L.A. will be letting it fly from distance to keep pace.

Ayton did record at least one dime in four of his six Round 1 contests, and while he managed only a single assist in those four meetings with OKC, he registered eight potential dimes.

Player projections all lean toward at least one helper from the Lakers’ big man, with forecasts ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 assists in Game 1.

Game 1 Prop #2: Alex Caruso Over 7.5 points

-105 at bet365

The ghosts of "Purple and Gold" past will hunt the Lakers in Round 2. Former L.A. pest Alex Caruso is playing a key role for Oklahoma City with Jalen Williams sidelined with a hamstring injury. 

The reserve guard is a two-way contributor for OKC, watching his usage jump from 12.1% to 17.5% since Williams went down in Game 2 against Phoenix. 

Caruso opened with efforts of two and seven points on a combined 4-for-10 shooting in the first two playoff contests. His minutes and offensive activity increased, scoring 13 and 14 points in the final two games while firing up a 10-for-16 count from the field.

His scoring props have climbed from 5.5 O/U to 7.5 O/U, and Game 1 projections are pretty much on the fence with his current 7.5-point prop total. I see a higher ceiling. 

Caruso has averaged more than nine points over the past two playoff runs and gets a bump in the offensive pecking order as long as Williams is out. And for what it’s worth, he put up six, 10, and 17 points vs. the Lakers this season.

Game 1 Prop #3: Marcus Smart Over 1.5 Threes

-135 at bet365

If Los Angeles is to keep pace with Oklahoma City’s powerful offense, it needs all hands to hit shots. For veteran guard Marcus Smart, that means making from beyond the arc.

Smart ran hot and cold vs. Houston in Round 1. He did hit two or more triples in four of six games — including a 5-for-7 Game 2 — and shot 44.8% from distance for the series.

Given the beefy spread, the game script says Los Angeles is playing from behind, prompting plenty of 3-point attempts to close the gap. And if OKC has any weakness, it’s protecting the perimeter.

The Thunder allow foes to fire at 36.7% on the season, including 36.3% from Phoenix in Round 1. Oklahoma City's tight interior defense prompts opponents to jack up almost 39 treys per game, while making 14.3 of those long-range looks. That's the third most 3PMs allowed in the NBA.

Smart faced Oklahoma City twice in the regular season, going 5-for-11 from beyond the arc. His Game 1 models range from 1.2 to 2.1 makes from downtown, with most forecasts leaning toward two 3-pointers tonight.

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.

New York so good they can win games in two quarters and change.

Philly so bad they can’t even beat the Knicks’ bench mob in a garbage-time war.

Here’s the latest after Game 1.

Mike Brown

On the team’s Game 1 performance:

“I thought it was a really good game by our guys.”

On his offensive concepts clicking in the playoffs:

“It’s a lot of fun when you have concepts on either end of the floor and guys are trying to embrace those concepts at the highest level. When they do, it doesn’t really matter what you call or initiates the action because guys are trying to play the right way. It can be any team out on the floor. If they’re trying to embrace what you’re throwing out there, sacrificing, all of that other stuff, it can be a lot of fun to watch.”

On Philadelphia’s record with Embiid and Maxey playing together:

“A lot of people when they look at this they see, I think they were seventh [in the East]. They see seven versus three and they automatically assume we’ll win. When that combination was on the floor together, they won I think almost 65% of their games. They were on pace to be almost a 60-win team . . . That’s better than us record-wise. They’re completely healthy. It’s going to be a tough series.”

On the foul trouble in Game 1:

“It was a good game by our guys. We have to be better with our fouling. We can’t expect them to shoot 34 [free throws]. They doubled us in free throw attempts.”

On Mikal Bridges defending Tyrese Maxey:

“He didn’t shut Maxey down. Maxey missed some shots, and our team defense behind him was pretty good. But the one thing that I give Mikal a lot of credit for is his alertness and his ability to have multiple efforts when guarding Maxey because Maxey is similar to [Stephen Curry], where he’s constantly moving, especially when it comes to the two-man game with [Joel] Embiid. You can’t ever relax. And Mikal did as good as he could, trying to stay with him whether he was moving or when he gave up the basketball.”

On Jalen Brunson attacking the drop coverage:

“Our guys did a good job of setting screens for him, and Jalen’s pace and his change of speed, all that stuff with the basketball, was really good. They like to play in the drop, and [Brunson] was able to come off and get a couple of pocket 3s because we had good screens. When he did that, they’d come up the floor a little bit, and he was able to get by them.”

Jalen Brunson

On the improved focus and detail:

“I just feel like our focus has been better. Our attention to detail has been better. Honestly, I think those two are very important for us. We gotta continue to do so. Yes, it’s turned into big wins. But that attention to detail will help us in the close wins as well.”

On Mikal Bridges’ impact:

“He’s a huge factor for us and he’s been playing great. There are times throughout the season when every player has his ups and downs, but he stays mentally strong and he stays mentally focused. He comes into work and does his work and his routine and all that stuff. As long as you keep chipping away, things are going to fall in your favor.”

On not overreacting to Game 1:

“Honestly, you’ve got to take this game with a grain of salt. I don’t think we’re going to see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They’re going to be ready to go.”

On resetting after a blowout:

“It’s only one game. We start the next game 0-0.”

On passionate Knicks and Sixers fans:

“One thing I know about Philly fans is they’re very passionate. One thing about Knicks fans is they’re very passionate as well. I think the real fans from both teams are gonna show up and support.”

Josh Hart

On Game 1:

“We played full game of Knicks basketball.”

On getting more catch-and-shoot chances:

“If it’s similar to what it was in the past, I’ll probably have as many catch-and-shoot opportunities as I want. I’ve got to go out there, shoot the ball with confidence. I’m a good shooter, I know I’m a good shooter. I trust my work.”

On the Knicks’ offensive growth through trial and error:

“A lot of trial and error. Seeing what works, seeing what doesn’t. We’re being unselfish. I think that’s the biggest thing. With where we’re at right now, everyone is unselfish. We’re willing to sacrifice individual numbers and stats for the betterment of the team. When we do that, we’re playing our best basketball.”

On how to deal with Philly going forward:

“We want to play a little fast, so being physical, getting stops, pushing the pace, doing those kinds of things is something we’re trying to do, and we’ve got to keep it up. We need to make sure we’re focused on Game 2 and mentally locked in… They’re definitely gonna come out aggressive.”

On the key to the Knicks’ world-beating form:

“Where we’re at right now, everyone is being unselfish. We’re willing to sacrifice individual numbers and stats for the betterment of the team. And when we do that, we’re playing our best basketball. Being unselfish, that’s the biggest thing.”

OG Anunoby

On peaking late in the season:

“You always want to peak later in the season, so this is the process of the year. We’re starting to click, and hopefully getting better and better. We’re a really tough team with threats all over the place. It’s very hard to guard.”

On playing to his standard:

“I think I work on my game very hard, and my teammates are finding me. I think I’m just playing the way I expect to play.”

On continuing to improve:

“There’s still room for improvement on both sides. Never be satisfied. You always want to improve.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the culmination of the never-ending regular-season tinkering:

“I think right now, we’re seeing the culmination of the trials and tribulations that we went through in the regular season.”

On quarterbacking the offense:

“I just love that I get to get my teammates involved and I get a chance to quarterback the offense and put them in positions where I feel they can succeed. They’re trusting me more with the ball right now, and I want to continue to repay their trust with the right plays and make the right decisions.”

On executing Brown’s system:

“I think we’re doing a good job of executing what we want to do and a better understanding of the new system. We’re doing a great job of cutting and bringing energy to our cuts and putting ourselves into positions where we can succeed.”

On the need for three more wins after starting on the right foot:

“We’re playing well, but it doesn’t mean anything if we can’t find a way to get three more wins.”

On hoping this is their best version of the Knicks:

“I would hope so, that’s the hope. You hope that at this time you’re the best version of ourselves. For all the guys who’ve been covering us all year, I’ve always talked about that, getting better one percent every single day. At the end, we need to be proud and happy of the result we bring in the playoffs. I think right now we’re seeing a culmination of the trials and tribulations we went through in the season to be at this point.”

On how the Knicks got here:

“For us to be executing at this level speaks to the unity our team has right now. The sacrifice being made by all of us for the greater good of the team. You see it even in a game like Game 6 in Atlanta, it was just a total team effort. I think tonight as well was a total team effort, everyone came to execute our game plan and I thought we did a great job of executing.”

Nick Nurse

On the truth behind Game 1:

“They were obviously picking us apart.”

On the Knicks’ dominant Game 1:

“They had it going. They were really great tonight. They’re a great team and they were really great tonight.”

On reviewing past matchups before the series:

“You look back, certainly some stuff you can take from it. You try to get as current as you can with what they’re doing in the playoffs. They had their ups and downs, finished on a huge up. You try to take anything from what Atlanta was doing, see what changes they made from game to game.”

On turnovers and playoff physicality overwhelming them in Game 1:

“It was super physical. I think they played really physical. We did get to the line some, but I thought in that same kind of run, I think we had three turnovers, and they were just kind of on-ball.”

On committing costly mistakes on Monday:

“You can’t do that in the playoffs.”

On the blowout loss feeling inevitable:

“It was too easy for them. I didn’t think we handled it great. It wasn’t any fun to be a part of. To sit and watch.”

On pulling Joel Embiid in the third quarter:

“I took him out because there was no sense in getting tireder than we were.”

On the team’s overall performance:

“It was a pretty tough night for everybody. I didn’t think we shot it particularly well, but I don’t think we generated nearly as good of shots.”

Joel Embiid

On not getting as many free throws as he thinks he should have:

“I don’t know. You got to ask Jalen Brunson (about foul baiting). I don’t think I got to the free throw [line] as much as as I wanted, but that’s not, that’s not the reason, you know, why we lost. We just gotta think defense was the biggest reason. We just weren’t connected enough, not physical enough. All the guys were just too comfortable. So, yeah. I’m only focused about what we could have done better on defensive back.”

“It doesn’t matter if we would’ve lost by one or 40 or 50. It doesn’t matter. A loss is a loss. But I think it just starts with playing harder.”

On Mikal Bridges’ ribcage-hit:

“I don’t think that [play] was necessary, (but) it’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I guess we’ve got to go out and be physical, too, and do it, too.”

Back in October when the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns traveled to Macao for the NBA China Games, there was a lot of attention paid to the return of the league to China and, for Brooklyn fans, the debut of the Flatbush 5.

Then, near the end of the celebrations, somewhat out of the spotlight, NBA China and Alibaba, the giant e-commerce and AI/Cloud software provider headed by Nets owner Joe Tsai, announced an artificial intelligence/ Cloud deal that could ultimately change the way NBA fans everywhere watch their favorite teams, perhaps the whole fan experience.

The press release was filled with a lot of corporate and tech talk but the bottom line was that China will be a proving ground for Alibaba’s AI/Cloud technology … which, if it works in China, may find its way to screens from Brooklyn to Beijing. (Simple description of AI and Cloud: AI focuses on creating smart systems that can think, learn, and solve problems; Cloud computing lets people store and access data over the internet, offering flexibility, easy scaling, and cost savings.)

NBA China will utilize Alibaba Cloud’s AI and cloud computing services to support a wide range of digital fan engagement initiatives, including the development of a proprietary AI model for NBA China based on Alibaba’s Qwen series of foundational models. The proprietary AI model, fine-tuned with the league’s range of digital assets, will provide NBA App users in China with engaging content including real-time game highlights, historical basketball data, player insights and interactive discussions on trending basketball topics.

Call it “immersive,” sure. But a better description of the Alibaba’s 360 Real Time Replay System might be “hyper-personalized.“ Fans — and players — got a taste of it at the NBA House in Macao, set up by the league and featuring a very specific Nets experience…

There was also a taste of game action on whatever screen they prefer once the NBA games are broadcast in China next season…

Fans might ask isn’t this a bit of old hat? Haven’t we seen this on national TV games or even on YES Network?Things like 360 degree views, etc. have been a staple of sports programming for more than decade. BUT the difference now is that the technology was exclusively the realm of directors sitting in front of banks of monitors in TV studios or high-tech production trucks. Now the average fan will have it all right in front of them. Welcome to the age of hyper-personalized sports viewing, fan as director.

Fans will be able to create alternate endings, rejigger game flows, take events that occur and compare them to the opposite outcome and move on. Player impact and coaching decisions will get new scrutiny What if Nic Claxton nails a put back he had missed on the court? If Egor Demin’s foot was behind the line on a three? If Nolan Traore’s alley oop doesn’t go astray” or if A.J. Dybantsa or Cam Boozer or Kingston Flemings had more experience? Did Jordi Fernandez make the right call? And all of it won’t be in some dry static recitation, but a highly produced video. The technology in general is fast advancing.

That’s why the league’s enthusiasm level for the technology is so high: more fan engagement. In February at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Adam Silver spoke about it at his annual press conference. Although the Q and A that day was dominated by tanking questions, the commissioner suggested that the media was missing something about AI and the fan experience. His comments, though not well publicized, were extensive.

“One area in particular that I think is worth addressing is the impact on the fan experience. And one of the things that we’re beginning to see already is how we’re going to be able to, more than personalize, almost hyper-personalize our telecasts, allowing people to experience the game in any way they want.

“Many of you have probably experimented with this already, but in essence, you’ll be able to hear the game in any dialect, any language, you’ll be able to hear a hardcore X’s and O’s commentary, maybe one that’s more comedic if that’s what you’re interested, or somebody for a novice explaining each foul and the rules as it goes along.”

“To me, we’re about to witness probably the most significant change, certainly in my lifetime, in how sports are presented,” Silver proclaimed. “Beyond that, the hyper-personalization, if people want to shop during a game, if they want to be on social media and having an ongoing discussion about some aspect about the game, I think it’s a really exciting moment and transformation.”

So, the NBA China deal with Alibaba has become, as Silver noted, part of an under appreciated movement in the league, one of several innovative programs dealing not just with video but new way to view statistics and game flow. In other deals, the NBA is developing similar AI/Cloud technology that will change other elements of the fan experience. But in the video arena, Alibaba has the most experience, most success … and it’s been driven by Tsai.

For the past four Olympiads, summer and winter, Alibaba’s Qwen technology has been the at the center of Alibaba’s role as the official AI/Cloud provider to the International Olympic Committee, developing new tools along the way that can be used in their NBA experience.

“The Olympics is the greatest sporting stage in the world,” Tsai told NetsDaily recently. “We help the Olympic Broadcasting System build a fan experience never seen before. Whether it’s a skier’s aerial rotation or a basketball player’s contested shot, when you see an instant replay in 3D from 360 view, the fan becomes a participant in the game. 

“We also brought this replay technology to the NBA China Games last October to transform the fan viewing experience, and the NBA loved it.”

“It’s been an amazing enabler,” said Sotiris Salamouris, Chief Technology Officer of the Olympic Broadcasting Services of Alibaba’s technology at the Milan/Cortina Olympics said in February. “We’re so happy to be working with Alibaba because a could provider of that size and sophistication would be able to continue scaling up.

“Cloud is about efficiency, explained Salamouris who noted that Alibaba was able to deal with some unique challenges of the 2026 Winter Games. The Olympic Broadcast System produced nearly 1,000 hours of live sports coverage and another 5,000 of interviews, features. Moreover, the 2026 Games were also the most far flung with many venues in remote locations…

“It is an exciting time at the intersection of sports and technology,” Tsai said in October at the time of the NBA China deal. “AI and cloud technologies are enablers of connection—between player and fan, brand and consumer, global vision and local culture. By collaborating with NBA China and introducing Alibaba’s latest innovations, we are here to excite NBA fans through the enablement of exceptional experiences that they’ve never seen before.”

In addition to the NBA and Olympics, Alibaba has also signed deals with the international federations governing squash and aquatics to improve their offerings. It’s become a corporate priority.

Alibaba also is working its other technologies into the sports mix. One example is the company’s Qwen Glasses, their challenger to Meta’s Ray-Ban model. They’ll be marketed China next year as well. While not specifically designed or marketed for sports, both technologies share an underlying idea: using AI to layer real-time information into a live experience. The 360 replay does this at the broadcast level; the glasses bring that same concept to the individual user.

The NBA has other innovative AI/Cloud deals, particularly with AWS, the “Official Cloud and Cloud AI Partner of the NBA and its affiliate leagues, including the WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League.” Indeed, the Alibaba contract with the NBA is limited to China but the technology could make its way to NBA screens through AWS.

press release announcing that deal back in 2025 focused more on its “basketball intelligence platform” rather than video. The combination, of course, is ideal According to the NBA, it “turns billions of data points into compelling insights and interactive experiences for fans.”

There will be new AI-powered stats that capture aspects of basketball performance that have not been measured previously – Defensive Box Score, Shot Difficulty and Gravity.

Leverage, the newest metric from NBA, aims to quantify the moments and players that have the highest impact on the game’s outcome. “While the final minutes of a close game are undeniably high-leverage situations, a player’s back-to-back 3-pointers in the early 3rd quarter may have more impact on the game’s outcome than one might think.” the league said in announcing it earlier this year.

How will it filter down to the Net fans? National TV rights holders — like Amazon — will be incorporating more and more of AI/Cloud into their coverage, and over the long-term, it’s easy to imagine fans, particularly younger fans with video game experience, embracing the technology. As Tsai said just this past week, AI/Cloud technology is different, explaining that real time usage of the technology generates new data which in turn feeds back into the model which derives even more usage.

Moreover, the technology will not be limited to fans. It will become part of the coaching, scouting and other NBA front office decisions. The Nets haven’t publicized any AI cooperation with Alibaba … if indeed any exists. When Tsai was asked if AI is a component in the Nets scouting, he brushed it off by saying that the Nets have enough human intelligence.

AI/Cloud technology is, of course, the most controversial technology of this century as worries mount about the effect on unemployment, AI data centers’ need for huge amounts of water and electricity and the possibility that it could someday, somehow challenge human intelligence. For example, AI’s efficiencies have dramatically reduced NBC Sports footprint at the Olympics where so many of the thousands of employees sent to the venues were engaged with satellite technology. That’s now the realm of Al/Cloud technology. There are other geopolitical concerns as well. Alibaba is also a key driver of China’s AI/Cloud push. Will that ultimately become an issue?

But in the meantime, it’s going to be big in NBA fans’ engagement and appreciation of the game and the man who owns the Nets and Liberty is its big advocate.

Game One of the San Antonio Spurs second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves was a tough, physical contest. Both teams struggled to score for most of the games. The Wolves went on a 14-2 run to build a 9-point lead, the biggest of the game. San Antonio surged back late, but fell just short in a 104-102 loss.

The Timberwolves have now grabbed a 1-0 series lead and stolen home court advantage. That’s important because Minnesota has not lost at home in these playoffs. Despite the loss, the Spurs are still -360 favorites to win Game Two at home on FanDuel.

San Antonio will need more offense in Game Two. Their two stars, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, combined for 21 points on 10-31 shooting on Monday. We’ll start with them for our Game One player grades. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.

Victor Wembanyama

40 minutes, 11 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 12 blocks, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 5-for-17 shooting, 0-for-8 threes, +5

If you just looked at the box score, you’d think this was one of Wembanyama’s best games of the postseason. He had a triple-double with 12 blocks, the most in any NBA Playoff game. He was great at protecting the rim for most of the game, but in the fourth quarter, the Wolves were able to pull him away from the basket or set Gortat screens on him under the rim, where he couldn’t get to shots. As a result, Minnesota ran a much more efficient offense than San Antonio and ultimately won the game.

The Spurs have to find ways to get Wembanyama the ball in advantageous situations in this series. He did not get many strong looks in the half-court. Most of his possessions were spent at the top of the arc as a screener and passer, rather than coming off screens for jumpers or rolling to the rim for lobs. As a result, Wembanyama never got into a rhythm and had a rare, inefficient shooting night. The counting stats were impressive, but his overall impact on the game was more limited than usual.

Grade: B+

De’Aaron Fox

33 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 fouls, 5-for-14 shooting, 0-for-4 threes, -13

Bring out your pitchforks and torches! Fox had a bad game!

Hopefully, we’ve learned not to overreact to one game. Fox struggled mightily to make an impact on offense when the Spurs needed him most. He racked up turnovers, some of them very bad ones, and couldn’t get a shot to fall. Near the end of the game, he finally started to push the pace and score around the rim. It seems like he doesn’t have the same athletic advantage in this game that he had against Portland in Round One.

Fox is far too gifted for this to continue throughout the series. He started to figure things out late in the game. Perhaps that offensive outburst will continue into Game Two.

Grade: D

Stephon Castle

28 minutes, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 fouls, 4-for-8 shooting, 3-for-5 threes, +4

Castle will be vital to the Spurs’ success in this series. San Antonio needed his tough defense to match the Wolves’ physicality. He fouled out of the game, but some of those were just about getting caught in a bad situation with two physical players. With Anthony Edwards seemingly healthy enough to make a real impact on the series, Castle will be tasked with slowing him down.

Dylan Harper led the team in scoring, but Castle’s offense was the most impressive to me. He knocked down open spot-up jumpers and was one of the few Spurs who could get to the rim and draw fouls, going 6-8 from the free-throw line. They’ll need him to play more than 28 minutes to compete in this series.

Grade: B+

Julian Champagnie

32 minutes, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 7-for-12 shooting, 3-for-7 threes, +7

Champagnie helped the Spurs tremendously with his rebounding down the stretch. He had 3 offensive rebounds, many of them contested, to keep San Antonio alive. That’s why it was fitting that the ball found him with seconds remaining on the clock. If Champagnie’s game-winning three-pointer goes down, we are having a different conversation about this series. It was a great look from the team’s best three-point shooter. He’ll have more chances to redeem himself in the series, as the Spurs will desperately need his floor spacing.

Grade: B+

Devin Vassell

36 minutes, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 5-for-11 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, +7

Speaking of shooters stretching the floor, Vassell did just that, shooting 3-for-6 from deep on Monday. His shooting gave the Spurs offense a boost. San Antonio could use more mid-range jumpers from Vassell. He wasn’t able to get many of them off due to the Wolves’ length. It felt like those mid-range J’s he usually nails were not available with Rudy Gobert roaming the paint.

Vassell swiped the ball away three times, but his defense may remain an issue in the series. Minnesota went at Vassell when he switched onto Julius Randle. That defensive matchup caused a lot of problems for the Spurs late in the game. Finding out how to deal with Randle while smaller players are on the floor should be a key for San Antonio moving forward.

Grade: B

Dylan Harper

29 minutes, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 fouls, 7-for-13 shooting, 1-for-4 threes, -4

Harper led the Spurs in scoring on Monday. He and Castle were really the only Spurs guards who could attack the basket in the half-court. His touch around the rim allows him to finish around or through Minnesota’s bigger defenders. Defensively, Harper did an inspired job on Edwards. Harper has the strength and quickness to keep up with the Wolves’ star. I’d like to see more of that matchup as the series progresses.

Grade: B+

Keldon Johnson

24 minutes, 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 5-for-10 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, -13

After struggling against Portland, Johnson finally got back to his game of bullying his way to the rim and finishing. He was limited on the boards, and his defense late in the game was not great. He missed key defensive rotations and was toast when he switched onto Edwards. The Spurs need more of the hard-nosed Johnson they saw in the regular season, especially against Minnesota.

Grade: C+

Luke Kornet

8 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 0-for-1 shooting, -7

The Wolves attacked the basket like crazy when Kornet was in the game. He was a liability on both ends in Game One, posting a -7 plus-minus in just 8 minutes. One thing Kornet could afford to add is a push shot in the paint, as so many big men have utilized to score when the defense is on its heels. There were several occasions when Kornet could have had a bucket if he had a floater or a pop-a-shot look in his bag of tricks.

Grade: D

Harrison Barnes

10 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1-for-1 shooting, +4

Barnes grabbed three offensive rebounds and did a lot of the little things in his limited minutes. The Spurs might need him in this series as they are forced to play bigger to match up with Minnesota. If that is the case, they’ll need Barnes to hit a hot streak from three, as he’s been cold so far in the playoffs.

Grade: B-

Inactives: Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller

The 2026 NBA playoffs shift into high gear as the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to battle the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semifinals showdown.

The Thunder remain perfect in first-round action, pushing their record to 12-0 after a commanding sweep of the Phoenix Suns. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to shine for the Thunder with his elite scoring, while Chet Holmgren anchored the defense and contributed clutch plays. Oklahoma City’s first-round dominant run also secured a valuable rest period ahead of the matchup with the Lakers.

The Lakers advanced to the second round after a 4-2 series victory over the Houston Rockets. With Luka Doncic sidelined by a Grade 2 hamstring strain, LeBron James continued to show up for the Lakers, including a standout performance in Game 6 with 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Austin Reaves, returning from an oblique injury, also made a major impact, providing crucial offensive contributions when the Lakers needed them most. This marks Los Angeles’s first trip to the second round since 2023, and the team remains optimistic that Doncic could rejoin the lineup if their postseason run continues.

Here’s what you need to know as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.

More: From stars to sixth men, key players to watch in NBA conference semifinals

The New York Knicks crushed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game One of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Building a big lead early, they led by 23 at halftime and then cruised, with all starters resting in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brunson poured in 27 of his 35 points in the first half, while Tyrese Maxey didn’t score his first bucket until a few minutes into the second period.

The win extends New York’s strong postseason momentum from their First Round series with the Hawks and gives them a chance to go up 2-0 at home on Wednesday. In a powerhouse performance, the whole team earned an A+. Here are their individual marks.

Jalen Brunson 

31 minutes, 35 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 12-18 FG, 3-6 3PT, +27

Brunson was unstoppable from the jump, exploding for 27 points in the first half alone to set an aggressive tone and help build a commanding lead. He dictated the pace with elite ball-handling, repeatedly attacked mismatches, knocked down tough mid-range jumpers and floaters, and remained efficient even as the game turned into a rout. Defensively, he added two steals and set a tenacious tenor for the team, refusing to let Philadelphia build any steam. O Captain! My Captain!

Grade: A+

Karl-Anthony Towns 

20 minutes, 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, +11

Towns was highly effective in limited minutes, showcasing excellent spacing with three made treys while battling Joel Embiid in the paint. He was a playmaking hub with six assists, grabbed important rebounds on both ends, and was a steady presence in the paint. Though he picked up four fouls and had some turnovers, his efficiency and all-around impact helped the Knicks pull away comfortably. Totally made Embiid look overpaid.

Grade: A

OG Anunoby 

30 minutes, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 7-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, +22 

Anunoby delivered a classic two-way masterclass. On defense, he locked down Philly’s perimeter threats and disrupted passing lanes; offensively, he was surgical with near-perfect shooting and ferocious in attacking his opportunities in the lane. His athleticism in transition and +22 plus-minus highlighted his massive impact in the blowout. Sometimes OG simply looks like an apex predator among a frantic herd of scattering sheep.

Grade: A

Mikal Bridges 

27 minutes, 17 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 7-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, +19

Bridges continued his seamless fit with the Knicks, providing efficient two-way production. He scored in a variety of ways (slashing, spotting up, and creating off the dribble) while adding five assists and strong perimeter defense (including tormenting stints on Maxey). His unflappable shot-making was key to multiple Knicks scoring stretches. This is the Bridges we like! This is the Bridges we need!

Grade: A-

Josh Hart 

26 minutes, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, +24

Hart provided his customary high motor with relentless energy on both ends. He loaded the stat sheet with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, excelling at connectivity and hustle. His defensive stops and rebounding sparked several fast breaks and second-chance opportunities that powered the Knicks’ first-half surge. Note that despite playing some of the toughest defense of his career this postseason, Josh committed just one foul last night. Are you not impressed? And by keeping his minutes low, Josh should have fresh legs for Game Two.

Grade: B+

Mitchell Robinson

12 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1-1 FG, 0-4 FT, +6

Robinson provided rim protection and rebounding in his limited stint before sitting with foul trouble (he picked up four fouls while battling Embiid). He finished an alley-oop dunk efficiently on offense but Philly’s Nick Nurse targeted him with hack-a-Mitch, and the strategy worked because Mitch whiffed on four attempts. Overall, his defensive anchor role was still felt in the paint during his limited time in the blowout win. It’s a bummer about the fouls and the free throws, though.

Grade: B-

Ariel Hukporti

13 minutes, 5 points, 9 rebounds, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 2-2 FG, +22

Hukporti was thrust into meaningful action early due to Robinson’s quick foul trouble against Embiid. The young center held his own in the paint, grabbing a game-high 9 rebounds (including key offensive boards) and providing solid rim presence and hustle. He finished efficiently with a layup and free throw, and his +22 plus-minus reflected the blowout. He saw extended garbage-time minutes as the Knicks pulled away comfortably. We saw glimpses of good Huk and bad Huk throughout the season. Oh baby, this was definitely the good version. Remember: 58th pick!

Grade: B+

Miles McBride

16 minutes, 8 points, 2 assists, 1 foul, 3-6 FG, 2-5 3PT, +16

Deuce delivered reliable bench scoring and perimeter spacing, knocking down two threes (including a corner three off a Brunson assist early) that helped New York to build some separation on the scoreboard. He provided solid perimeter defense and helped maintain the Knicks’ momentum during bench stretches and garbage time, contributing to the dominant victory with efficient shot-making and positive energy.

Grade: B

Jordan Clarkson

14 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, +11

Clarkson saw bench minutes in the blowout and provided a bit of spark with a nice floating jumper off an OG Anunoby assist. However, he struggled with ball security (four turnovers) in his limited role. He added a steal and a couple of rebounds but was quiet otherwise and made little impact as the Knicks cruised to victory.

Grade: B–

Bench / Rotation Notes

The Knicks’ bench was outstanding. They seamlessly maintained and extended the massive lead while the starters rested throughout the fourth quarter. Besides Hukporti and Deuce, Tyler Kolek chipped in eight points and four assists, while Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Pacome Dadiet, and Mohamed Diawara all delivered positive minutes. Overall, New York’s depth overwhelmed Philadelphia’s bench, dominating in energy, shooting, and second-chance opportunities to turn the game into a rout early. Depth was a factor in the Game One victory, for sure.

Grade: B

Coach Mike Brown

Brown had his team ready for a high-stakes playoff opener and orchestrated one of the most dominant performances of the young postseason. The Knicks came out aggressive on both ends, built a massive first-half lead, and executed an efficient, motion-based offense that generated high-quality shots all night. He effectively managed rotations, especially after Mitchell Robinson got into early foul trouble, and wisely gave Ariel Hukporti meaningful minutes that paid off. The bench was fresh and productive in the second half, allowing the starters to rest in the fourth quarter of a 39-point blowout. After a few shaky moments early in the Atlanta series, Mike has regained our confidence.

Grade: A

The Knicks are locked in, but you know Philly will come back with a big counterpunch in Game Two on Wednesday. Can’t wait. Go Knicks!

The TD Garden curse? Inside Celtics and Bruins' home playoff struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In the final seconds of Saturday night’s Game 7 between the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden, as the C’s watched their comeback bid fall short, Philly fans who made the trip to Boston broke out in a gleeful chant.

“We want Boston! We want Boston!”

In the past, such bold declarations were ill-advised. But in recent postseasons, visiting teams and their fans have enjoyed a lot more of their stays in Boston.

Exhibit A: In the 2026 playoffs, the Celtics and Bruins went a combined 1-6 at the Garden.

The Celtics routed the Sixers in Game 1 at home, then lost three consecutive games in their own building (Game 2, Game 5 and Game 7) en route to a stunning first-round collapse.

The Bruins, meanwhile, went 0-3 on home ice in their first-round matchup with the Sabres, with Buffalo outscoring Boston 13-3 at TD Garden to earn a six-game series win.

Unfortunately for Boston fans, the 2026 postseason wasn’t an aberration, but rather the continuation of a concerning trend.

Let’s get to the numbers for both teams:

It wasn’t always this way…

Boston used to be a house of horrors for NBA teams in the playoffs. From 1980 to 1992, the Larry Bird/Kevin McHale/Robert Parish Celtics went 72-21 in postseason games at the old Boston Garden for a winning percentage of .774. In 1986, they went a perfect 10-0 at the Garden en route to a championship.

The “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen found similar success at TD Garden, winning 72.3 percent of their home playoff games (34-13) between 2008 and 2013 and going 13-1 at home during their 2008 title run.

This current Celtics club? Since the 2016-17 season — Jaylen Brown’s first with the team — that winning percentage has dipped more than 10 percent, with Boston winning 62.9 percent of its home playoff games (44-26) in that span.

That percentage was lifted by the 2018 postseason, when Brown and Jayson Tatum helped an upstart Celtics team win its first 10 home playoff games before falling to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers at home in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics’ recent home struggles

The Celtics have had plenty of success over the last five postseasons, with one NBA title, two trips to the NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances in that span.

They’ve also done a surprising amount of losing at TD Garden.

Since 2022, the C’s are a pedestrian 25-19 (.568 winning percentage) in home playoff games, and that includes a 9-2 mark at home during their 2024 title run.

In the 2022 NBA Finals, Boston lost twice to the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden, including a decisive Game 6 that ended with Stephen Curry and Co. celebrating a championship on the parquet.

In the 2023 East Finals, the Celtics lost Game 1 and Game 2 to the Miami Heat on their own floor, then rallied back from a 3-0 series deficit — only to lose Game 7 at home by 19 points.

History repeated itself against the New York Knicks in 2025, as Boston dropped the first two games of the second round at home before eventually falling in six games.

This past week, the Celtics lost consecutive home playoff games for the third time in four years, losing two potential closeout games at TD Garden (Game 5 and 7) while allowing the Sixers to rally from a 3-1 series deficit.

Setting aside that 2024 championship run, the Celtics are a brutal 16-17 at home in the other four most recent postseasons.

Bruins’ recent home struggles

If you thought the Celtics were bad at home in the playoffs … their winter season counterparts are even worse.

In 2022, the Bruins pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to seven games in their first-round series by winning all three games at home before losing Game 7 on the road.

Since then, Boston is a mind-boggling 3-10 in playoff games at TD Garden.

In 2023, the Bruins entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the East but bowed out to the Florida Panthers in Round 1 after dropping Games 2, 5 and 7 on home ice.

In 2024, they gave two games to the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden in the first round (Games 2 and 5) before rallying to win Game 7 at home. But their home struggles did them in vs. the Panthers in Round 2, as they lost all three home games in the series (Games 3, 4 and 6) to end their season.

After missing the playoffs in 2025, the Bruins also lost all three of their home games this postseason … which means they’ve lost six home playoff gamesin a row.

Putting it all together

In fairness to the Celtics and Bruins, winning at home has gotten progressively harder across the board in both sports.

Improvements in travel and sports medicine have made it less taxing for teams to play on the road, and the numbers bear that out: NBA teams have won just 58.4 percent of their home playoff games since 2021, while NHL teams have won 65.2 percent of home playoff games in that span.

Still, Celtics and Bruins are both below those league averages, combining to win just over half of their playoff games (31-29 record, 51.7 percent) over the last five seasons.

There’s another side to this story, of course: The Celtics and Bruins both have fared relatively well on the road in recent postseasons, with the C’s in particular parlaying their success away from TD Garden into deep playoff runs.

But for a Boston fanbase that expects its teams to compete for championships on an annual basis, losing nearly half of your playoff games at home isn’t going to cut it.

The Knicks hit first in their second round series with the Philadelphia 76ers, taking Game 1 in a 137-98 rout. 

Everything was working well for New York, who built a 23-point advantage at halftime and led by as many as 40 points. The Knicks shot a scintillating 19-for-37 (51.3 percent) from three and had 34 assists in the win.

With Game 2 on Wednesday, there is no rest for the weary. Here’s three keys to watch for... 

On a heater

Jalen Brunsonmust be relieved. After a first-round series where he was pestered by Atlanta Hawks guards Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brunson is facing less pressure from the 76ers. 

Brunson was dynamic in Game 1, registering 35 points, with 27 coming in the first half. He was also efficient, shooting 12-for-18 from the field. 

It was clear that Philadelphia’s softer defensive coverage allowed Brunson to cook. Centers Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond are positioned in drop coverage, where they sag back into the paint. It gave Brunson a free runway to pull up from the three-point line or in the midrange. 

Atlanta switched many of its defensive actions, which gave Brunson fewer windows to attack in the pick-and-roll. With the 76ers, Brunson should be more comfortable. 

The next question will be how Philadelphia will adjust for Game 2 after Brunson’s hot night. They could blitz the pick-and-roll to get the ball out of Brunson’s hands or switch more often. But the Knicks look prepared to answer any adjustments. 

Foul trouble

It didn’t take long for fouls to be a story in the series. Karl-Anthony Townspicked up two fouls just over five minutes into the game. His backup, Mitchell Robinson, quickly followed suit with two fouls in the first quarter. 

Both centers had three fouls in the first half, eventually leading to third-string big Ariel Hukporti seeing real rotation minutes. Fouls are going to happen in this series, since Embiid is a crafty big with a variety of pump fakes and tricks to draw fouls. But it’s the silly mistakes that the Knicks bigs should focus on excusing from the game. For example, Towns swiped at the ball numerous times in the first quarter. While one of those reaches did lead to a steal, it put Towns in a compromising position.

He’s too valuable in multiple aspects of the game, as evidenced by his 17 points, six rebounds and six assists on Monday night.

New York as a whole committed 25 fouls and allowed 34 free-throw attempts -- a high number. The foul trouble didn’t decide Game 1, but it could be a pivotal factor for Game 2.

Defensive aggression

Despite the numerous fouls, the Knicks' defense was otherwise exceptional. Priorities number one and two involved slowing down Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. New York was successful in keeping both stars in check, holding them to a combined 27 points on 6-for-20 shooting from the field.

Embiid was able to draw fouls in the first half, but New York kept him out of the paint for much of the game, occasionally throwing double teams at the former MVP. Maxey was defended by Mikal Bridges for most of the night, and Bridges and the Knicks did a solid job containing the point guard on the pick-and-roll.

The Knicks had active hands, forcing Philadelphia into 19 turnovers. Several of the Sixers' miscues were live ball turnovers, which allowed New York to get easy runouts. The Knicks had 16 fastbreak points.

New York has dominated the last four games, and while the offense has received a lot of the credit, the defense has been elite. If the Knicks keep defending this way, the team’s playoff ceiling changes drastically.

New York is known to overpower all that came before — such as Reggie Jackson in Oakland and Mark Messier in Edmonton — making it easy to forget that Josh Hart spent parts of seven seasons with three teams (Lakers, Pelicans, Trail Blazers) before the career-altering trade that brought him to the Knicks in 2023.

Until arriving in New York, Hart had never reached the playoffs. But since reuniting with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have made the second round in four straight seasons, marking the first time the franchise has done so since Patrick Ewing’s final seasons with the team (1997-2000).

So, what does that mean to a former national champion?

“Not a damn thing,” Hart said before Game 1 of the conference semifinals. “That’s not the goal. The goal isn’t to advance to one series or two series. That’s not a goal that we have as individuals or as a team. To be honest, that’s pretty irrelevant. We’ve gotta make sure we do what we’re supposed to do and focus on advancing in this series.”

In the 137-98 series-opening blowout of the 76ers, Hart was essentially the only Knick who didn’t catch fire.

But as usual, he did just about everything else.

Coming off an uneven first-round series against the Hawks — in which Hart averaged 10.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals, but shot 41.1 percent from the field and 5-for-23 on 3-pointers — the do-everything guard repeatedly ignited the Madison Square Garden crowd with his unrivaled energy and relentless defense, getting the offense into transition and treating every loose ball as if his job were at stake.

Hart, who ranks third in Knicks history in triple-doubles, finished with eight points, three steals, eight rebounds and six assists in just 26 minutes, while shooting 3-for-7 from the field (1-for-2 on 3-pointers).

“We want to play a little fast, so being physical, getting stops, pushing the pace, doing those kinds of things is something we’re trying to do, and we’ve got to keep it up,” Hart said. “We need to make sure we’re focused on Game 2 and mentally locked in … They’re definitely gonna come out aggressive.”

In the 2024 first-round matchup against Philadelphia, Hart was one of the biggest reasons why the Knicks prevailed in the teams’ first playoff matchup in 35 years.

He averaged over 46 minutes per game and ranked second on the Knicks in scoring (16.8) and assists (4.5), while leading the team in rebounds (12.3), shooting 43.2 percent and delivering the series-winning 3-pointer.

Once again, the 76ers had no one who could provide the same spark as Hart, no player as motivated, no player who cares half as much about the final score.

“Where we’re at right now, everyone is being unselfish,” Hart said. “We’re willing to sacrifice individual numbers and stats for the betterment of the team. And when we do that, we’re playing our best basketball.

“Being unselfish, that’s the biggest thing.”