The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers meet in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The Celtics took a 2-1 lead in the series after winning Game 3 108-100. Boston is 7.5-point favorites for Game 4. The over/under for the matchup is set at 213.5.
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Date: Sunday, April 26
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers +240 (28.2%) / Boston Celtics -300 (71.8%)
Over/Under: 213.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Celtics 123, 76ers 91 Game 2:76ers 111, Celtics 97 Game 3:Celtics 108, 76ers 100 Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., NBC) Game 5: Tue., April 28 at Boston (TBD) *Game 6: Thu., April 30 at Philadelphia (TBD) *Game 7: Sat., May 2 at Boston (TBD)if necessary
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball against Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Celtics (2-1) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) Sunday, April 26, 2026 7:00 PM ET Round 1 Game #4 Road Game #2 TV: Peacock/NBC Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena Officials: Josh Tiven, Ed Malloy, Mark Lindsay
After splitting the games in Boston, the Celtics wrestled back home court advantage by winning Game 3 108-100 in Philadelphia.. The Celtics dominated Game 1 with a 123-91 win over the 76ers. The 76ers topped the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 to tie the game at 1 game each. The Celtics have a 68-51 record against the 76ers overall in the playoffs. In the regular season, the Celtics are 272-199 overall, all time against the 76ers. They are 93-129 all time in Philly.
The 76ers had the #1 clutch defense in the NBA in the regular season They had a 98.6 defensive rating during the last 5 minutes of games that were within 5 points. They were 23-18 in games that included clutch minutes. The Celtics were 16-17 in games that included clutch minutes and that includes going 1-2 against Philadelphia this season. With 5 minutes left in Game 3, the Celtics led 92-88. With 2 minutes left, the Celtics led 97-96. The Celtics out-scored the 76ers 11-4 the rest of the way to get the win with Pritchard, Tatum, White and Scheierman all coming up big for the Celtics over the final 2 minutes.
Teams that win Game 3 of a series that is tied 1-1 goes on to win the series 74% of the time. When a series is tied 2-2, the team with the higher seed, and thus home court advantage, will win the series 73.1% of the time, which is a good percentage. However, if a team wins Game 4 to go up 3 games to 1, the odds of them winning the series jumps to 95.4%. The Celtics can’t become complacent because they got home court back with their Game 3 win.
One of the advantages that the Celtics have is their depth. In Game 1, the Celtics got 37 points from their bench while the 76ers got 27 points from theirs. Of course, there were about 6 minutes of garbage time in that game. In Game 2, the 76ers got 21 points from their bench while the Celtics got 20 from theirs. In Game 3, the Celtics’ bench put up 35 points while the 76ers got just 14 points from theirs. It would seem that as the reserves go, so goes the game.
If the Celtics had one flaw this season, it was becoming complacent and allowing lesser teams to play harder than them. They can’t afford to do that in the playoffs. They got a very dominant win in Game 1 but they slacked off and allowed the 76ers to play harder in Game 2 and they lost. The Celtics have to play even harder in this game and they will need to be ready for the 76ers’ adjustments. They can’t get complacent and have to come out and fight even harder in this game than they have so far in the series.
The Celtics come into this game with a clean injury report. once again. Derrick White injured his neck in the opening minutes of Game 3 but stayed in the game and played almost 34 minutes. He is not listed on the injury report so should be good to go for Game 4. Jaylen Brown turned his ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 3 but, like White, stayed in the game and is not on the injury report for Game 4.
For the 76ers, Joel Embiid is once on their injury report. Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks. After missing the first 3 games, he remains listed as doubtful for this game. Kelly Oubre joins Embiid on the injury report as questionable due to right adductor soreness. I’m guessing that Adem Bona will once again start for Embiid and if Oubre is out, Dominick Barlow may get the start in his place.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe
Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
Sam Hauser | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesKelly Oubre, Jr | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesPaul George | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Adem Bona
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesAdem Bona | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr Jordan Walsh Delano Banton John Tonje
2-Way Players None Injuries/Out None
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
76ers Reserves Andre Drummond Quentin Grimes Kyle Lowry Justin Edwards Trendon Watford Dalen Terry Dominick Barlow Jabari Walker
2-Way Players MarJon Beauchamp Tyrese Martin Injuries/Out Joel Embiid (Appendix) doubtful Kelly Oubre (groin) questionable
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey In Game1, the Celtics were able to hold him to 21 points on 20 shots along with 1 rebound and 8 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He pretty much had his way in Game 2 with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he scored 31 points but took 31 shots to get them. He finished with 31 points, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks while shooting 38.7% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him well and not allow him to have an efficient game
Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe In Game 1, he finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while shooting 37.5% from the field and going 0-5 from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while shooting 60% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. The Celtics defended him better in Game 3 where he finished with 10 points, l0 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 24.9% from the field and shooting 0-7 from three. The Celtics need keep him from having a big game in this one as well. Honorable Mention Jayson Tatum vs Paul George Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season. In Game 1, George finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but he only took 8 shots. In game 2, he finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 53.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he finished with 18 points, no rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. T
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. Defense becomes even more important in the playoffs. It is very true that defense wins championships. In Game 1, the Celtics held the 76ers to 38.9% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. In game 2, the Celtics defense faltered as the 76ers shot 47.8% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, the 76ers shot 43.7% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to make defense their priority and they need to play physical, lock down defense from the opening tip until the final buzzer.
Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game. As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings. In the regular season, the Celtics were 43-12 in games that they tied or out-rebounded opponents and just 11-13 in games in which they were out-rebounded. In Game 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers 43-40. In Game 2, they out-rebounded the 76ers 50-42, but they were unable to capitalize on them since they shot so poorly. In Game 3, the Celtics once again out-rebounded the 76ers 45-37. They have to continue to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers if they want to win this game. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Move the Ball – The Celtics need to move the ball and trust their teammates. They are at their best when they keep the ball moving and find the open man. When they lapse into hero ball and dribble too much, they tend to struggle, as they did in Game 2. They are 37-2 when they have 25 or more assists and 20-0 when they have 29 or more assists. In Game 1, the Celtics kept the ball moving and they had 31 assists. In Game 2, the ball tended to stick more and they finished with 24 assists. In Game 3, they finished with 21 assists. The Celtics have to keep the ball moving to set up the best shots.
Stay Focused – In Game 1, the Celtics turned the ball over just 8 times. But, since then, they have lost some focus and they have gotten sloppy with the ball. In Game 2, they turned the ball over 13 times for 15 points for the 76ers. In Game 3, it got even worse as they turned the ball over 17 times for 21 points. The Celtics were the best team at taking care of the ball in the regular season. They have to get that focus back and avoid careless passes and not drive into a crowd of defenders. They also have to stay focused on taking good shots and making them.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics will be on the road for the second straight game and they will be facing a very hostile crowd. Philly fans hate the Celtics because they have pretty much owned them in recent years. They hate Jayson Tatum because the Celtics took him with Philly’s pick after the 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz. There will likely be a lot of boos and the Celtics need to play through them. They have to shake off the distractions of playing on the road game and stay focused on playing good basketball.
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season. Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. In the playoffs, coaching becomes more important as it becomes a game of adjustments as they play the same team game after game. The coaching chess game will continue in Game 4.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play. Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game.
Official Report Crew Chief: Josh Tiven The Celtics record with Tiven this year is 3-0 and last year it was 5-1. The 76ers record with Tiven this year is 3-0 and was 3-3 last year. His home won/loss record is 35/32. He calls 19.4 fouls on the home team vs 19.8 fouls on the road team.
Referee: Ed Malloy The Celtics record with Malloy this year is 2-0 and last year was 3-4. Malloy didn’t call any 76ers games this season and they were 1-5 last season with him. His home won/loss record is 29/12. He calls 19.3 fouls on the home team vs 20.2 fouls on the road team.
Umpire: Mark Lindsay The Celtics were 3-1 with Linday this season and 7-1 last season with him. The 76ers were 4-1 this season with Lindsay and 2-3 last season. His home win/loss record is 38-26. He calls 20.0 fouls on the home team vs 20.1 fouls against the road team.
Boston, MA - April 12: Boston Celtics center Luka Garza celebrates after hitting a late 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. The Celtics and Orlando Magic played at TD Garden on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA — At Celtics shootaround on Sunday, Luka Garza has ice on his knees, his usual post-workout regimen.
In his head, he is prepared to play heavy minutes in Sunday’s Game 4 against 76ers, just as he did in the Celtics’ final regular season game, when he exploded for 27 points in a season-high 38 minutes of action.
More likely, he’ll play just a few minutes.
But, just as he has all year, he’ll be ready for any outcome.
“I expect to play,” Garza said. “If I do, or I don’t — it doesn’t matter. It’s just I got to have that mindset to be ready and go out there and try to make some plays.”
In Friday’s Game 3 Celtics win, Garza played 4 minutes, all of which came in the second quarter. In that span, he secured an offensive board that led to a Baylor Scheierman three-pointer, hit a top-of-the-key three of his own, and again found Scheierman for his second triple.
His mindset in these playoffs has been the same it’s been all year.
“I just stick to what’s worked for me in the past — obviously, just trying to screen, make energy plays, offensive rebound, do what I can to kind of help the offensive flow,” Garza said. “And try to not make any game plan mistakes and stuff like that.”
Asked Luka Garza how he approaches a 4-min stint like the one he got in Game 3:
“I just stick to what's worked for me in the past — obviously, just trying to screen, make energy plays, offensive rebound, do what I can to kind of help the offensive flow. And try to not make any… pic.twitter.com/QXHvVfgJYb
After a career season, Garza is mostly out of the playoff rotation, but he’s staying ready for those spurts when his number is called.
Joe Mazzulla turned to Garza for rotation stints in Games 1 and 3, with the Celtics two primary bigs in foul travel; Queta has averaged 4 fouls in 19 minutes per game, and Nikola Vucevic has averaged 3.7 fouls in 22 minutes per game this series.
“When I see someone getting foul trouble a little bit, I know it’s probably coming,” Garza said. “I just prepare my mind for every single game.”
Jaylen Brown referred to Friday’s Game 3 as a Game 7.
Garza said the team will need to dig deep and embrace that mindset again.
“If you want to win a championship, it’s not hard,” Garza said. “So, you got to have that mindset every single night in the playoffs. You know how important it is. It’s mandatory.”
History would suggest the Celtics are in a pretty good spot. Of the 600 NBA teams that have taken a 2-1 series lead, 480 have gone on to win the series.
But for Celtics aren’t worried about that history.
For them, the only past that is on their mind is their 111-97 loss in Game 2.
“There’s obviously a heightened sense of urgency knowing what happened in Game 2,” Garza said. “So we know we got to have a certain humility about us, knowing that we got two more games to win. We got to approach it that way. And obviously, it’s a huge one.”
Victor Wembanyama has been cleared from concussion protocol.
Victor Wembanyama will play in Game 4 on Sunday against the Trail Blazers after clearing concussion protocol.
The all-world San Antonio Spur took a scary, knockout-like fall in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series against Portland, which took him out of the game and forced him to miss Game 3.
Now, five days after suffering the concussion, he has been cleared to take the floor as the Spurs maintain a 2-1 lead in the series.
Victor Wembanyama (concussion protocol) is OUT for the remainder of the game after hitting his head on the court. pic.twitter.com/qP8tAf6osN
San Antonio took Game 3, 120-108, behind the breakout performance of rookie guard and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, who exploded for 27 points on 75 percent shooting and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Stephon Castle led the way for San Antonio with a game-high 33 points on 10-for-18 shooting, along with five assists.
Wembanyama led the Spurs to a Game 1, 111-98 victory at home against the Blazers, where he scored 35 points and drained 5 of 6 from deep in 33 minutes of play.
Victor Wembanyama has been cleared from concussion protocol. Getty Images
In Game 2, the Spurs fell apart down the stretch after initially holding a lead in Wemby’s absence, eventually losing 106-103.
Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, earned the honor of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2025-26, and was the first to win the award unanimously.
This past season, the French phenom averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game while leading San Antonio to a 62-20 record and the No. 2 seed out west behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles the ball during the West First Round Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers game on April 21, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kevin Durant may have played his last game against the Lakers these playoffs.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Kevin Durant will not play in Game 4 with a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, an injury that will sideline him for weeks.
Houston's Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Durant has a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, which would sideline him 2 to 3 weeks in season. He's had around-the-clock treatment to play but has not been cleared by doctors. pic.twitter.com/DpOdclPEAw
Shams went on to report that Durant was at the team’s facility on Sunday and took part in a film session, but that the injury will prevent him from playing for some time.
Even if the Rockets force a Game 7, that would be next Sunday, May 3, or only a week away. It would require some incredible healing for Durant to be back that quickly.
Game 4 will be the third game KD’s missed this series. He opened the series by missing Game 1 with a knee contusion before playing in Game 2. Late in that contest, he sprained his ankle, leading to him missing Game 3 and 4 and, potentially, the rest of the series.
Notably in Game 3, he did not appear on the bench, leading to much discussion. It didn’t sound like he had been particularly involved with the team over recent days, either.
Dave McMenamin says Amen Thompson has no idea how Kevin Durant is feeling:
"Amen Thompson was asked how KD was feeling and he said 'To be honest with you, I don't know.' Whether that means KD has been doing all of his rehab away from the team or the team hasn't been checking in… pic.twitter.com/EnfRl1VIF3
The Lakers will still need to execute to win one more game and finish off the series. Fortunately, their mindset appears to be the appropriate one in that the job is not finished.
But they are firmly in the driver’s seat and reinforcements don’t seem to be coming for Houston.
After missing one game with a concussion, Victor Wembanyama is listed as active and will return to the court on Sunday for San Antonio as it takes on Portland in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Wembanyama exited Game 2 last Tuesday after a nasty face-first fall to the hardwood, and he was later diagnosed with a concussion and entered the NBA's concussion protocol. That process requires Wembanyama to be symptom-free after increasing levels of exertion, all monitored by a league-approved neurologist.
A return after five days is as quick as could reasonably have been expected.
Wembanyama, the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, scored 35 points, with five rebounds and a couple of blocks in the opener in this series, a San Antonio win. However, the Trail Blazers came back to win Game 2 after Wembanyama exited following his concussion. The Spurs have a 2-1 series lead after rookie Dylan Harper scored 28 points off the bench and Stephon Castle scored 33 in Game 3 in Portland — a game that was a blown chance for the Trail Blazers to get a win against a shorthanded Spurs team.
Wembanyama is one of the finalists for MVP this season after averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds a game this season, while shooting 34.9% from 3-point range, and lifting the Spurs to 62 wins. His return puts the Spurs in the driver's seat in their first-round series.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 24: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
It was satisfying to see the Silver and Black take control of the game late on Friday night and win going away behind Dylan Harper’s breakout performance and Stephon Castle’s dominance as the pair of young fellas scored 60 points and overcame another great performance from Jrue Holiday, who has been the Blazers’ best player in this playoff series. Scoot Henderson reverted to the mean and lost his composure a bit in the second half after being called for a technical foul in the second half of Game 3. Deni Avdija was inefficient all game long, and was less effective at foul baiting as the refs seem to be moving on from making bad calls to not making calls at all, including an obvious miss on a Stephon travel in the first half. They did reverse a call on review where Avdija jammed his face into the shooting motion of a De’Aaron Fox drive to the hoop, and earned a chipped tooth and a foul on Fox for his effort. After review, the foul was reversed, but the chipped tooth remained, at least until he visited a dentist after the game.
Victor Wembanyama is still listed as questionable for concussion protocol as of this morning, so the Silver and Black may have to play without him. A win this afternoon will give the Spurs a 3-1 lead heading back to San Antonio for Game 5, which would be great for San Antonio, while the Trail Blazers desperately need to not let that happen. From what I’ve been reading, the strategy for Rip City is to make the game MORE physical, which will probably involve some wrestling at center court. The Spurs will have to avoid getting into the mud with the home team and not let them junk up the game too much, while also matching force with force. It’s going to be fun to watch. LET’S GO SPURS!
Game Prediction:
Keldon Johnson breaks out with a 20 point game, after Robert Williams III (Time Lord) has to leave the game because of Daleks in the arena.
San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, First Round, Game 4 April 26, 2026 | 2:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN app TV: ESPN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As long as the right buttons are pushed, we won’t complain about no starting lineup changes, Mikey.
The Knicks cooked Hawks wings in Atlanta, took a flight back home to New York, and will host a party inside the Garden on Tuesday.
Here’s the latest following a promising outing from your Knickerbockers.
"We've won a lot of games with the starting group. I didn't want to panic and just change anything"
Mike Brown talks about sticking with his starting lineup tonight and why Mikal Bridges didn't play most of the second half: pic.twitter.com/FASAYWh3zN
“It’s always what I feel like — at the end of the day — what’s best for our group. Everything I do it’s about what’s best for our group.”
On keeping Bridges in the lineup:
“We’ve won a lot of games with the starting group. I didn’t want to panic and just change anything. Obviously, we changed some stuff strategy-wise, but I didn’t want to change anything with the starting group because I didn’t feel a need to.”
On featuring Towns more prominently:
“We just switched our early offense. So with us switching our early offense up the way we did, the ball went to his hands quite a bit.”
“Just trying to find different ways to find KAT the ball. And obviously, one of the ways is playing through the elbow. A couple post-ups. So try to move him around, whether he’s at the top of the floor or the elbow or the block. So try to move him around.”
On team play despite struggles:
“At the end of the day, that’s why it’s a team game.”
“Sometimes guys like [Brunson] can struggle but the one thing he continued to do, they got to pay attention to him. They sent double teams at him, which gave other guys wide-open looks. And he set good screens. No matter who it is — if KAT is struggling, he’s got to find other ways to help us win. If Jalen’s struggling to shoot it, he’s got to find other ways to help us win. If OG is struggling to shoot it or not getting enough touches, or Mikal, whoever it is, they just got to keep trying to find different ways to help us win. Jalen did. He created double-teams, Deuce got some wide-open looks. If they’re going to keep doubling him, we got to make sure we knock the shot down.”
“No matter who it is – if KAT is struggling, he’s gotta find other ways to help us win. If Jalen’s struggling to shoot it, he’s gotta find other ways to help us win. If OG is struggling to shoot it or not getting enough touches, or Mikal [Bridges], whoever it is, they just gotta keep trying to find different ways to help us win. [Jalen] created double-teams, [Miles McBride] got some some wide open looks. If they’re gonna keep doubling him, we gotta make sure we knock the shot down. He’s setting great screens. We gotta keep doing those little things when we’re not shooting the ball at the highest level. Jalen did that [in Game 4].”
On spacing and McBride’s impact:
“One of our biggest concepts is spacing. You can do what you want to do — but if all five guys aren’t spaced correctly, it’s going to be tough to get looks. So our group was spaced correctly. Deuce was physical. You can be physical offensively and physical defensively without fouling. Deuce was physical with our screen setting, and we need to be physical with our screen setting. And then after that action, we were aggressive with who had the ball. But we could be aggressive because the spacing is there. So that’s the result of that in the second half and we got to keep exploring not just that combination but any combination knowing at the end of the day our spacing and physicality are big things for us when we do that stuff.”
On creativity and resilience:
“[Atlanta is] making us better, making us think. So we have to be creative while not giving our guys too much by taking advantage of things that we find out every second of the game, over the course of the game. Obviously, the biggest thing is you see the resiliency of our guys, the fight in our guys, and that has to stay there, especially during this time of the year. In both one-point games, we’ve given ourselves a chance. If this bucket goes in down the stretch for us instead of for them, it’s a different story.”
On protecting Brunson defensively:
“We mix it up so Jalen is not always on [the ball-handler]. When he is, we got to make sure we continue to mix up our defensive coverages.”
“We can’t give them a heavy dose of something throughout the game because they have really good players. And when you have really good players, you get in a rhythm and you’re able to take advantage of what the defense is doing. Which is what we were doing in terms of sometimes putting them on, sometimes taking them off. And sometimes hitting right away and sometimes not. So sometimes mixing it up is the best thing.”
On next-play speed and transition defense being key in the Game 4 win:
“When we hit the ground, we’ve gotta get back up and play with next-play speed right away. We can’t take time to get down because they spread the floor. Dyson [Daniels is] to the rim. You’ve got to stop Dyson at the rim after then, and they spray it, and we’re not there to [contest] the threes. So that’s more important. Then — that’s probably the first step. The second step is to crash the right way. And then, we’ll be fine.. They crash from anywhere. You know, there are a lot of teams that crash from anywhere.”
On riding McBride late and sitting Bridges:
“At the end of the day, I just felt that [McBride] had it rolling. They were gonna double Jalen [Brunson]. When they did, [McBride] hit some big 3s. So if a guy has it rolling, he may have a chance to stay out on the floor, that’s all it was.”
On Josh Hart’s defense:
“Yeah, Josh was really good on the ball. Josh is a guy with quick feet, he’s strong and when he gets locked in he’s locked in.”
“We understood that in a pivotal game like tonight, we needed to be our best. I thought we not only met the challenge but we exceeded the expectation in the moment, and that’s what you expect a team that has experience like us to do.”
“I thought we did a great job coming out with more tenacity. More desperation I think is the proper word.”
On having more playmaking opportunities:
“I just feel like opportunities presented themselves, and my teammates made it happen today. They made great cuts and allowed me to make those plays you guys are talking about, playmaking. So, shout out to my teammates making great moves to the basket and allowing me to utilize my skill.”
On sharing the moment with his teammates:
“To be able to have this moment is great, but it’s more important to be able to have this moment with this team, my teammates and brothers in this locker room. It means a lot. And like Magic, I just always talk about impacting winning, and to be able to amplify my teammates is one of the biggest honors I got.”
On the Knicks’ experience helping them in these moments:
“That’s what you expect from a team with the kind of experience we have. Experience teaches you a lot.”
“Obviously, the sense of urgency was there. Down 2-1, giving away two games that we should have won. We had that sense of urgency from the jump.”
On the Knicks’ locker room character:
“I don’t think it’s anything encouraging about it. I think it just reinforces the kind of guys that we have in this locker room. We’ve put ourselves in this position. I know the character we have [and] we were ready to answer back today and, like I said, be ready to build off of it for Game 5.”
“I think it just reinforces the kind of guys that we have in this locker room. We’ve put ourselves in this position. I know the character we have we were ready to answer back today and like I said, be ready to build off of it for Game 5.”
On Towns’ skill set:
“He’s a hub. He’s a guy that can score the ball, but also pass the ball and find guys when they’re open. We have to continue to do that. He’s one of those guys who can take over a game.”
“I think we refocused and understood what was gonna be needed tonight. Most importantly, just not being afraid to fail is a mindset we need to have. Go out there, leave it all on the table.”
On Towns’ impact:
“He really put us in position to win.”
On his sideline exchange with Rick Brunson:
“There’s no debate there. That was two competitors.”
“He’s a special talent. He can do it all. And I know if I get open, he’ll find me. No matter how tight the window is, he’ll be able to find it. It’s amazing playing with a player like him.”
On the importance of rebounding for his game:
“It’s a team effort, for sure. We want to control the boards. And then just depending on who I’m guarding. When I’m on the perimeter, sometimes it’s harder to get rebounds. But making an emphasis on coming in, crashing the boards, helping the team finish possessions.”
On dealing with pain following mid-season surgery:
“Honestly, it’s just been dealing with pain. You know, I had surgery, and there’s things you just gotta fight through. There’s no excuses from out there. I’m expected to do a job.”
On his expectations despite that pain:
“Like I said, it’s no excuses. I expect a lot out of myself, more than anybody else, honestly. And I try not to listen to how I’m feeling day to day. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter; if I’m supposed to get a stop, I gotta get a stop. If I’m supposed to make a shot, I gotta make a shot. So I try not to think about it. Reality is, I’ve gotta go out there and perform.”
On the playoff urgency:
“Yeah, I mean obviously you’re playing Game 42 of a regular-season game, it’s a different feel. So I’d say mentally, physically, film-wise, whatever we have to do to prepare, communicating, holding each other accountable, we can’t push it off. Everything has to be put on the line, put on the table, we’ve got to just run with it. Everybody’s banged up, everybody is dealing with something, but it’s just the time of the year where you’ve got to put it aside.”
On championship motivation:
“I’d say any year you don’t win a championship you should have an ambitious summer to finish off one of these seasons right with a championship. For me, it’s any year we didn’t win it, I’m thinking, I’m pulling from my second year, my third year — I want to win a championship. Not just for selfishly, but for this city, for the guys I fight with, the staff that’s helped us all year and the people behind the scenes.”
On moving without the ball to keep finding opportunities:
“My teammates have done a great job just finding me. I’ve been moving without the ball probably better. That was a big focus of mine, just to figure out where I could get shots moving without the ball, aside from being on the ball.”
“He was being a quarterback. Exactly what he talked about of what he needs to be. We need that every time he’s out there.”
Charles Barkley says he would of put a hit out on Jaden McDaniels if he scored when the game was over vs his team 😳
“Imma put a hit on him. I’m not goin to lie, I have put a hit on guys. If we’re down 20, you don’t do it. If a team is up on me 20 points and a guy shoots a 3,… https://t.co/UaHZqxuOdrpic.twitter.com/0cuEjnf39Y
Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) warms up before game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
After suffering a concussion in Game 2 and missing Game 3, Victor Wembanyama has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and will play in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama has cleared concussion protocol and will play in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers (3:30 pm ET on ESPN), per me and @malika_andrews. pic.twitter.com/kEkfdLGL4I
The concussion was a result of Wemby banging his chin on the court after losing his balance when Jrue Holiday pulled the chair early in the second quarter of Game 2. He missed the rest of the game, which the Spurs lost, as well as Game 3 in Portland, which the Spurs won thanks to historical performances from Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, as well as an admirable job filling in from the always-reliable Luke Kornet.
Wemby, who said he felt ready before game 3 but did not clear the NBA’s protocols, did pass today’s tests and was cleared an hour before tip-off, which will be at a little after 2:30 PM CT on ESPN. The Spurs lead the series 2-1.
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Lakers Game 4 computer picks
Deandre Ayton Over 10.5 points (-120)
Projection: 12.81 points
Sometimes the prop projections give you a play, and you just have to trust the process. Our model sees this as a five-star play, with the numbers expecting a bounce-back performance from Deandre Ayton. In +EV we trust!
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Marcus Smart Under 4.5 assists (+100)
Projection: 3.55 assists
This is another five-star play according to our projections, and this one makes a little more sense. Austin Reaves is questionable for tonight, and if he comes back, it'll eat up a bunch of Marcus Smart's potential assists.
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Luke Kennard Under 3.5 rebounds (-150)
Projection: 3.16 rebounds
This is similar to the Marcus Smart play. The return of AR would almost certainly cut Luke Kennard's floor time, which means his numbers will see a dip.
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Rockets Game 4 computer picks
Amen Thompson Over 16.5 points (-125)
Projection: 18.43 points
Don't let the Houston Rockets' 3-0 deficit fool you, Amen Thompson has brought his best. He's cleared this line in two of three games, finishing with 16 in Game 2.
In a do-or-die game, Thompson will bring the heat.
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Jabari Smith Jr. Over 1.5 assists (+115)
Projection: 1.87 assists
Jabari Smith Jr. is yet to eclipse this total, but he gets way too many touches and floor time not to bet it at plus money. Our model likes him to set up two buckets tonight.
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Alperen Sengun Over 19.5 points (-125)
Projection: 21.17 points
Alperen Sengun just dropped 33 points, and our model likes him to have another productive game. The big man rose to the occasion without Kevin Durant, and he may have to again with his team's season on the line.
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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets Game 4
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Joel Embiid is listed as doubtful for this pivotal Game 4 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, but our NBA player prop projections have discovered plenty of value.
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Celtics Game 4 computer picks
Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 8.04 rebounds
Jaylen Brown is an excellent rebounder for his size and uses his strength to get into a good position. He's topped this number in back-to-back outings, and at plus money, our projections view this as a five-star play!
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Derrick White Over 4.5 assists (+102)
Projection: 5.27 assists
Derrick White hasn't cleared this line in B2B games, but he did in his two outings prior. White is surrounded by talent as the Boston Celtics' starting PG, and he can reach this total with his eyes closed as long as his teammates hit their shots.
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Payton Pritchard Over 12.5 points (+102)
Projection: 14.71 points
Payton Pritchard knows how much a win will mean tonight, and he's ready to bring his A game as the Celtics look for a chance to win this series at home in five.
He just dropped 15 in a Game 3 win, and he'll carry that momentum into tonight.
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76ers Game 4 computer picks
Andre Drummond Over 8.5 rebounds (+120)
Projection: 10.37 rebounds
This is the second five-star play of this game, as our model loves Andre Drummond to clear this rebound total. While the big man has certainly lost a step, he can still grab boards with the best of them.
With no Embiid again, the vet will help clean the glass in a near must-win game.
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Adem Bona Over 4.5 points (-105)
Projection: 5.68 points
Adem Bona has gotten the start in every game this series for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he finally started to piece it together with 10 points in his last outing.
With no Embiid, the Sixers will go to the youngster down low to try to convert easy buckets. Just three scores cashes this Over.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 13.5 points (-112)
Projection: 13.92 points
This is essentially a kitchen-sink game for Philly, and Kelly Oubre Jr. will have his number called early and often to provide offense for his team.
Oubre just put up 17 in Game 3 and will look to keep the good times going here.
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How to watch Celtics vs 76ers Game 4
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Marcus Smart has played tremendously well for the Los Angeles Lakers since returning from a nine-game absence. He logged 18 minutes off the bench in his return, and he’s started four straight games dating back to the season finale.
Through the first three games of the series, Smart has averaged 28.6 points + assists while logging 36 minutes per game. His usage has increased from 15.1 in the regular season to 23.5 in the postseason.
He finished with 23 points + assists in Game 1 and followed it up with 32 and 31 in Games 2 and 3, respectively.
The Houston Rockets are in total disarray after squandering a late lead in Friday’s Game 3. The Lakers could take their foot off the gas and wrap up the series at home in Game 5, but getting James some rest would be ideal.
I expect the Lakers to put the final nail in the coffin of a highly dysfunctional Rockets season.
The Under has hit in four of six head-to-head matchups between these two teams, but I fully expect the Lakers to take care of business in this one and put up more than enough points to push this one to the Over.
After Friday’s 220-point total, the number has moved up just two points to 207.5, making it a value selection.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head Coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following Mike Budenholzer’s departure from Milwaukee after the Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in 2023, the Bucks’ coaching charge has been a carousel of poor decisions. Yes, Adrian Griffin led the team to a 30-13 start to the 2023-24 season, and yes, Rivers was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame while coaching the Bucks. But anyone with a pair of eyes and some nous could tell you they weren’t the right men for the job. And boy, did we ever—especially with Rivers. Jack cited his poor clutch-time offence, Jackson called for his job after a loss to the Washington Wizards, Finn seemed prescient calling for a new coach—though not necessarily a first-timer, and Van took umbrage with Rivers following an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bulls. Of course, you could see it too—fans were done with Rivers by November. Ultimately, though, the Bucks’ head coaching failures have been part of a much larger separation-of-powers problem. The Jenkins hire suggests that balance may be restored.
First, it signals strategic patience. If the Bucks had done what we had all called for and fired Rivers mid-season, not only would it have been messy, but chances are it wouldn’t have been successful. A 2017 study by José A. Martínez found “that changing a coach [midseason] only improved performance in approximately 12% of cases, and instead decreased performance in approximately 5.20% of cases and had a neutral effect in the majority of cases (approximately 83%).” Similar results were found by Berry Tramel in 2018, who determined that only 37 of 152 midseason coaching changes in the previous 50 years had been successful, while the “overwhelming majority of changes didn’t seem to matter.” Of course, the Bucks only had to look back to their own midseason firing of Griffin and hiring of Rivers to know this. So, by keeping Rivers, the Bucks showed poise—that they’ve learned from past mistakes—avoiding a knee-jerk reaction in order to make a move at the right time—the offseason.
In addition, hiring Jenkins just 11 days after Rivers’ departure indicates the move was planned and that there is a clear direction moving forward. While some might have wanted a prolonged search that thoroughly interrogated every available option—or even waited for potential candidates to become available—we’ve seen that show before. Following Mike Budenholzer’s dismissal, the Bucks worked through an arduous Bachelor-like process that included initial groups of candidates before narrowing to finalists, eventually selecting Griffin—only to fire him less than eight months later. Conversely, the swiftness of Jenkins’ hiring signals conviction. Decisiveness. It declares, loud and proud, this is our guy, and we’re not mucking around. These sorts of decisions aren’t made when there’s doubt. And they certainly aren’t made when there’s a disjoint between the powers that be.
Finally, Jenkins’ hiring preserves optionality. Should Giannis sign an extension, Jenkins is the man for the job, a proven coach with multiple 50+ win seasons and four trips to the playoffs—in the vaunted West, no less (more on that below). But should Giannis request a move—or get traded if he doesn’t extend—and the Bucks rebuild, Jenkins is also the right man for the job, having excelled with youth and player development.
What to expect with Jenkins
Following a lengthy tenure as assistant coach under Budenholzer—five years with the Atlanta Hawks and one year in Milwaukee—Jenkins was hired as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies to start the 2019–20 season. There, he coached the team for five full seasons before being let go with just nine games left in the 2024-25 season. In that time, the Grizzlies were generally very successful, with Jenkins ranking first in franchise history for total wins as a coach (250) and third in winning percentage (53.9%) behind Lionel Hollins and Dave Joerger, who had the luxury of coaching Memphis through the Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley Jr., and Tony Allen-led “Grit and Grind” era. As the table below attests, the Grizzlies were immediately better once Jenkins was hired—and immediately worse when he was let go:
Memphis Grizzlies key stats under Taylor Jenkins. Yellow rows denote seasons Jenkins was not the coach.
Jenkins began his head coaching career with a nearly brand-new Grizzlies squad. Franchise icon Marc Gasol had been traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a package headlined by Jonas Valanciunas during the 2018–19 season, while Mike Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz for Grayson Allen, Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder, and draft picks in June. Key veteran Garrett Temple was traded for Avery Bradley the season before too, only for Bradley to be waived in July. In all, six of Memphis’ top seven players in minutes per game were gone.
Instead, Jenkins took over a team full of youth. Rookie Ja Morant led the team in minutes, followed by Crowder, third-year Dillon Brooks, sophomore Jaren Jackson Jr., Valanciunas, and rookie Brandon Clarke. Other key contributors included Kyle Anderson, sophomore De’Anthony Melton, sophomore Grayson Allen, and Solomon Hill. In total, seven of their top 11 players were 24 years or younger. Six had two or fewer years of experience. Still, they finished just one game out of the playoffs behind the eighth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who they lost to 126-122 in the inaugural play-in game.
One year later, despite Jackson being limited to just 11 games, the Grizzlies would make the playoffs. Relying on even more youth—rookies Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman—Jenkins guided the Grizzlies to an overtime play-in win against the Stephen Curry and Draymond Green-led Golden State Warriors despite having just a 27.8% change of doing so to begin. Though they ultimately lost 4-1 to the Utah Jazz in the first round, the promise was evident.
In 2021–22, that promise came to fruition. Morant was named an All-Star, Most Improved Player, and made the All-NBA Second Team, and finished seventh in MVP voting. Jackson was named to the All-Defensive First Team and was fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Melton, Tyus Jones, and Clarke all received Sixth Man of the Year votes as the Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference. New acquisition Steven Adams was hugely impactful too, especially on the boards—he led the league in offensive rebounds—and when screening for Morant. In the playoffs, Memphis beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 in the first round, before losing 4-2 to the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals.
2022–23 saw sustained regular-season success—a key marker for any coach. The Grizzlies again finished second in the West, as Morant was once again named an All-Star; Jackson earned DPOY and All-Defensive First Team honours; Brooks was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team; and Jones finished sixth in 6MOY voting. In the playoffs, however, the Grizzlies fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, 4-2, losing Game 6 by a whopping 40 points. It would be an omen of things to come.
The Grizzlies were decimated by injuries during 2023–24, with Adams missing the entire season, Morant limited to just nine games, and Bane playing only 42. Making matters worse, newly-acquired Marcus Smart—who the team had acquired as part of a three-team deal that saw Memphis give up Tyus Jones and two first-round draft picks—played just 20 games. All things considered, winning 27 games with Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, John Konchar, David Roddy, and Ziaire Williams as five of your top eight players in total minutes is pretty impressive.
Jenkins’ final season with the Grizzlies, the 2024–25 season, seemed to have the writing on the wall from the beginning. Prior to the season, general manager Zach Kleiman overhauled the coaching staff, bringing in six new assistants to combat struggles with half-court offence. It seemed to be working too, with the Grizzlies going 35-16 to start the season. But after a 9-14 slump, Jenkins was fired, with Kleiman citing a need for “urgency” and “clarity of direction.” The Grizzlies, fifth in the Western Conference at the time Jenkins was dismissed, ended up eighth before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. This year, they went just 25-57, finishing 13th.
So, what can Bucks fans take from all of this? Despite the Grizzlies’ half-court struggles on offence, they finished with an 11th-or-better ranked offence three times in five seasons under Jenkins (not including the injury-riddled 2023–24), twice finishing top six. Jenkins’ teams also tend to play with pace, finishing in the top eight five times. And while three-point volume hasn’t typically been a priority, there has been growth there too, with the early Jenkins-led Grizzlies finishing 23rd or 24th in attempts and the teams either side of that 2023–24 season finishing 11th and 13th. Defensively, Jenkins’ teams have consistently been strong, highlighted by three top-seven finishes, and have finished no worse than 14th in defensive rating. Both of these bode well for a Bucks team that was neither offensively nor defensively proficient this year, finishing 24th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating.
Jenkins’ Grizzlies also regularly succeeded as a rebounding team, something that was so obviously an area of need for this year’s Bucks (who finished 26th in rebound percentage). Again, excluding 2023–24, they had three top-10 finishes, including rankings in first and third, while never finishing below 14th. And while Steven Adams was certainly a pivotal part of Memphis’ success on the boards, Jenkins only had him for two seasons and 118 games. Similarly, he only had Valanciunas for two seasons and 132 games. Outside of these—and one season with Zach Edey (8.3 RPG)—Jenkins has never had a single player average over 6.8 RPG. This bodes well for a Bucks team that does have good individual rebounders—Giannis, Jericho Sims, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr.—but hasn’t been able to get it done as a collective unit.
All things considered, Jenkins’ hiring is an inspired one. It represents a Bucks franchise that is back on the same page, while simultaneously giving it direction for both of its conceivable paths moving forward. Win now or youth movement, Jenkins is the man for the job. And with that big question mark decisively out of the way, Jon Horst and his team can now focus on the upcoming draft and free agency period to ensure that 2026–27 looks absolutely nothing like 2025–26.
Lakers
Rockets
Celtics
76ers
