Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s the best time of the NBA season.

After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.

The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.

So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:

8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns

Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.

7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.

5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.

4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.

2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?

1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.

Ranking the eight NBA first-round playoff matchups: Celtics-76ers highlight originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s the best time of the NBA season.

After 82 long games, it’s time for the even more grueling grind of the postseason. Sixteen more wins are required to hoist the championship.

The cream will rise to the top, while others may get exposed in a setting where every weakness and every margin matter.

So, which of the eight battles in the first round will be the one to relish the most? Let’s rank them from least to most entertaining:

8. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns

Oklahoma City is the No. 1 seed after winning the championship last season. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder should easily handle a Phoenix team with Devin Booker running the show. Booker’s main supporting cast is Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Not good enough. They could steal one game with hot shooting, but the Thunder should cruise to the second round, health willing.

7. New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

This postseason is a significant part of the Knicks‘ current timeline. Jalen Brunson needs to lead the team to at least the conference finals, but Karl-Anthony Towns has to quell his previous defensive miscues if New York is to take the next step. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart will need to have the odd hot game every now and then, too. Combine all of that and they should also get past Atlanta with little worries, as the Hawks really only have Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum as their main on-the-ball threats. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is also facing a defining run amid a career year, while Jonathan Kuminga will need to offer more consistency if an unlikely upset transpires.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

Neither of these teams are expected to win the championship, but it’ll be interesting to see if James Harden can add more that Darius Garland couldn’t, especially if the top ranking on the list spices things up. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have been here before, but the latter two and their relatively inexperienced supporting cast will need to step up. Toronto is led by the trio of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes, but that’s not the right balance to move the needle in the postseason.

5. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

This matchup and Cleveland-Toronto could be swapped, but ultimately the star quality of Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards provided the edge. Jokic and Jamal Murray have to do a lot of heavy lifting to win the championship, but they should be enough to take down Edwards, who likely will struggle alongside Julius Randle as his main scoring threat.

4. San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Here it gets a little more intriguing. San Antonio is back in the playoff setting where it thrived under Gregg Popovich, and this time Victor Wembanyama is involved. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and more balanced profiles, the Spurs are rightfully in the contending mix. The playoff inexperience might be a hurdle, but the conference finals should be the minimum. If they get OKC, anything can happen. Portland is also new blood after a while, with Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday the key figures. The Blazers need this experience for their trajectory, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

Injuries are the main concern in this matchup, but if players come back in time then the intensity and quality will increase. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 for Houston in its loss to Los Angeles, while LeBron James turned back the clock without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whoever triumphs may just come down to health, but Houston looked rough on offense without Durant. That bodes well for point guard LeBron, who received major help from Luke Kennard. Regardless, Durant vs. LeBron in 2026 can still attract hype.

2. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid has previously said this matchup isn’t a rivalry. To paraphrase safely, the Celtics tend to rout the 76ers. That was the case in Game 1, but adding Embiid back into the frame could swing a few games for Philly. Boston will still be favored overall given Jayson Tatum’s return and the Eastern Conference being weaker, but Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George can supply key help that Embiid hasn’t always had. Plus, who doesn’t love when these two cities face off?

1. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

But the top spot goes to Detroit and Orlando. In a matchup that should be a throwback to the league’s past, the Pistons have soared to the top seed with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. However, with Tobias and Duncan Robinson being the next two key scorers, there is a risk of Detroit being upset here. Orlando will need to be at its best, which hasn’t always been the case as it hung on to the No. 8 seed. Still, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black and Co. won’t get a better chance to raise their trajectory than here. Let the battle commence.

If you ever doubted the Knicks…

…you better get outta here.

Only three first-round postgame Bulletins coming after this one. You know the reason. Knicks in four.

Mike Brown

On the team’s sacrifice and depth:
“We feel like the team is deep and anybody can get going at any time. For us, it’s about sacrificing and not worrying about shots, minutes or anything like that. Just try to go do what you can to help the team win.”

On Brunson’s Game 1 start:
“It’s big. He stepped up to the plate like he should have done, and he hit some big shots for us early to help us get out front.”

On cleaning up transition defense:
“Transition — they shook free in the first half and the way we chart it, they had 18 fast break points. We talked about it at halftime and we did a little better job in the second half.”

On defending Atlanta’s small-small pick-and-roll:
“We did a nice job in the second half with our transition defense. Their small-small pick and roll also is a problem, and our guys did a pretty good job of defending that the right way in the second half.”

On handling Atlanta’s Hack-A-Mitch:
“We’ll see how the game goes, and we’ll leave him in until we think we need to make a sub. And whenever we feel like we need to make a sub, we will. But we’re gonna give him a chance.”

On using the bonus to counter fouling:
“If they wanna start fouling, then that would get us closer to the bonus. So it’s a time for us to go back to him.”

On OG Anunoby’s impact:
“OG hit some big shots.”

On preaching sacrifice and Brunson’s command:
“We have capable guys. We feel like this team is deep, and anybody can get going at any time. For us, it’s about sacrifice and not worrying about shots or minutes or anything. [Jalen] was good defensively; he was good commanding a double-team. It’s something we’re going to face the entire playoff, and we have to make sure we continue to be on point about it.”

On Towns’ second-half surge:
“The ball went in for him in the second half.”

On playing through Towns early:
“In the first half, he facilitated a lot. We played through him. He made some great passes for some easy buckets, and so we’re just trying to mix it up for him.”

Jordan Clarkson

On Mike Brown’s coaching:
“Intense, smart, challenges us as players. Makes some really good adjustments. His communication throughout the year has been really good with us. From meetings, talking to us, finding out what we see, doing different things (based on player feedback). He’s done an amazing job.”

On Brunson’s breakout in Utah:
“It wasn’t like he wasn’t on the scouting report, but I don’t think us as a team thought he was going to perform the way that he did. It was like his coming-out party. He was just busting our ass, for real.”

On OG Anunoby’s ankle and spiritual healing:
“We need OG out here, so we’re gonna make it happen. He came over to the bench and asked me if I could do (the spiritual healing) for his ankle; then he sat over there for a second, came back in the game and finished the game. Like I said, we need him on the floor so whatever I gotta do to keep it going… sprinkle a little magic on him.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On facilitating early in Game 1:
“I wanted to make sure get them going early and facilitate.”

On reading Atlanta’s game plan:
“I wanted to know — they had a week of practice — to see what their game plan was. Seeing the pressure, when you’ve got someone like [Brunson] and the amazing teammates we’ve got, I wanted to make sure to get them going early.”

On team trust:
“We’ve got an amazing team that, not only our starting five, but everyone on the team could impact winning and can go out there and do an amazing job. So, just us continuing to trust each other and us going out there as a team and winning as a team is the most important thing.”

On his father returning to the Garden:
“To have someone who I would say is the most important person in my life, it’s really awesome to be able to have him back in Madison Square Garden supporting me. I feel like any son out there who plays basketball or plays any sport, you get to see your father there at your competition, you always have a sense of pride, and you want to make him proud.”

Jalen Brunson

On the Game 1 win:
“It was a hard-fought win. It was physical. It was a grind-it-out game.”

On fighting through highs and lows:
“It’s really important, you never know what’s going to happen. There’s going to be highs and lows of a season, highs and lows of a game, and to be able to fight through and still find a way to impact, is very important for us, especially this point of the season.”

On growing chemistry with Towns:
“The longer we’re on the court together, our chemistry’s better. I think we’ve grown as teammates, grown as friends.”

On moving past the McCollum incident:
“It wasn’t purposeful, so we move forward.”

Miles McBride

On the second-half defense:
“I feel like they were getting out and they were winning a space battle (in the first half), getting open, getting to their spots and I feel like in the second half, we really cut that off. We made catches difficult, and we got to loose balls.”

On the need for steady defensive consistency:
“Every single night. It’s nonnegotiable; we have to bring it every single night and be locked in.”

OG Anunoby

On his ankle:
“It’s OK. I just rolled it; it just happened.”

On his performance:
“I think I played good. I could always be better.”

On improving for Game 2:
“Everything.”

Quin Snyder

On the Towns matchup:
“That’s a challenge for us right now. It’s a little bit of pick your poison, you know? How do you handle him on the post with a mismatch? Do you just guard him? How do you handle pick and roll? How do you handle him and Brunson on pick a roll? I think for us to be prepared for all those situations, you can adjust every time down the court. Obviously, we will be doing that. That’s no secret. That’s what, you know, great offensive players demand.”

On Atlanta’s center depth:
“We picked up Tony Bradley [who was on] our G-league team last year. Mo Gueye has been playing the five, which hasn’t been his primary position this year and then obviously spent time guarding [KAT]. So hopefully we can do a better job guarding him than we have. There’s times where it’s good defense, better offense. One of the biggest things is we’ve got to keep him off the foul line. There’s some ways that he scored against us I think are real. Trying to focus on that and make him do something different. I say that he can do a lot of things that are different, so we’ll just lock in, try to make it work.”

On Towns’ rebounding and pick-and-roll:
“He’s always just been a gifted scorer. I think the thing that maybe gets overlooked a little bit at times is his rebounding. That’s another layer to it, because even when you feel like you’ve impacted him and he doesn’t score, he’s on the glass. The situations that he’s in [in New York] are a little different, especially the pick and roll with Brunson. That’s a layer that it’s hard to deal with when you have two players that are that gifted individually and then, when they’re connected as well, it presents more problems.”

On guarding Towns on the perimeter:
“Like any player in the league, they get better as they’re in the league, but I think having him in trail as much as he is and the range that he has, those closeout situations — if they’re long, you think you’re on them and then you realize they’re seven feet tall, you’re not. Then you think you’ve done a good job at that, and he makes a quick read and jabs, shot fakes and goes around you. So do your best. But I think he’s gotten better.”

On not manipulating playoff seeding to face the Knicks:
“That was completely bogus — our focus was totally on us coming into [the season finale]. If we were fortunate enough to be playing in the playoffs, I think that was the goal for us, and then to be healthy. We had lost Jock a short time prior to that, too. The focus for us was on our health. There was no easy matchup, and we weren’t concerned about that as much as we were ourselves.”

CJ McCollum

On the technical and Brunson’s reaction:
“I shot a jumper, and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show. He acted it out until they reviewed it. It’s a normal jump shot. Nothing there. Unnecessary, and I look forward to getting my $2,500 [fine] back.”

Danny Green

On the Knicks’ late-season form dooming them:
“Simply because the fact that the Knicks this year, especially late in the season, they looked very up-and-down. They looked like they were disconnected. The chemistry wasn’t there.”

On rumblings of a players-Brown clash:
“There are rumblings about some guys don’t like Mike Brown or work with the coaches. There are rumblings that some guys are feeling they’re not getting touches or there’s over usage of Jalen Brunson. That seems to me like a team that could self-implode.”

On giving Boston the edge:
“Originally at the beginning of the year, I had the Knicks. The Knicks probably had the highest expectation, the most pressure on them. They made it to the Eastern Conference finals last year. Indiana dropped out with injuries. Boston had dropped down with injuries but came back, and they’ve been playing well even without Jayson Tatum for most of the year. Detroit is good. They’re just young and inexperienced. That’s why I couldn’t give the edge to Detroit. Boston and New York have to face each other in that second round at some point. The winner of that matchup is the one that’s going to get to the Finals. Right now, I’m giving the edge to Boston, even though the Knicks have played well against Boston.”

LeBron James, during his illustrious NBA career, has played in more than 1,900 games. He’s said the craziest thing probably happened in his latest one – in which the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 107-98, in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Saturday, April 18.

In the second quarter, James shared the court with his son Bronny for four minutes. It’s the first time a father and son have played together in an NBA playoff game.

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Victor Wembanyama can build upon his already impressive legacy, but the San Antonio Spurs must first come through against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Game 1 goes tonight, and we're looking at how prediction markets like Kalshi expect this clash to go.

It's a complement to our Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions, offering you more data as you finalize your NBA picks on Sunday, April 19.

Who will win Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1?

Trail Blazers win probability:17% (+488)
Spurs win probability:84% (-525)

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are major favorites to win both the series and Game 1 at home. It would be a major upset if the Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a win tonight.

Our prediction:Spurs to win

Not only does our NBA expert expect the Spurs to follow through on their favorite status in Game 1, but he doesn't think San Antonio loses any in the series. "The San Antonio Spurs should focus on wrapping up this series quickly if they dream of a long postseason run. The specter of the Denver Nuggets in the second round, or even the Minnesota Timberwolves, should worry the Spurs enough to emphasize rest and recovery before the second round."

Read more in Douglas Farmer's full Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions.

More Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Trail Blazers vs. Spurs at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Spurs -11.5 spread means the Spurs will cover, while "No" means the Trail Blazers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Trail Blazers vs Spurs spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Trail Blazers +11.5 — Yes and Over 221.5 points — No

The Trail Blazers can slow the pace in this matchup to remain at least somewhat competitive. Assuming they're successful, that will help keep the overall score suppressed.

Other Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets available

• Dylan Harper 10+ points (Yes: 46¢)
• De'Aaron Fox 20+ points (Yes: 41¢)
• Victor Wembanyama 30+ points (Yes: 45¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Spurs win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Trail Blazers vs Spurs at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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The San Antonio Spurs play host to the underdog Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference playoffs, and we're looking at NBA player prop projections ahead of tonight's Game 1 clash.

Our computer projections combined with Douglas Farmer's Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions will help round out your NBA picks on Sunday, April 19.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs computer picks for Game 1

Trail Blazers	Spurs
Henderson o9.5 points +100	Harper o8.5 points -110
Avdija u6.5 assists -105	Vassell o12.5 points +100
Holiday o14.5 points -112	Fox o17.5 points -105

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Trail Blazers Game 1 computer picks

Scoot Henderson Over 9.5 points (+100)

Projection: 11.39 points

The player prop projected to offer the most EV (23.3%) on the slate is Scoot Henderson to go Over 9.5 points at even money.

This year, opposing starting PGs have averaged 50.2% on shots from the field (best in the league) vs. the San Antonio Spurs, creating a positive matchup.

The Portland Trail Blazers check in as the second-best offensive rebounding team in the league (offensive rebounds maintain possession and may therefore provide added opportunities for scoring and assists).

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Henderson Now at bet365!/span

Deni Avdija Under 6.5 assists (-105)

Projection: 5.48 assists

The Blazers have the sixth-most sluggish pace-of-play offense in the NBA over the last five games, and Deni Avdija has only dished out seven-plus assists five times in his last 10.

One of those recent Unders came against the Spurs.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Avdija Now at bet365!/span

Jrue Holiday Over 14.5 points (-112)

Projection: 17.45 points

The computer is projecting Jrue Holiday to clear his scoring prop by nearly a full three points, and it expects him to have a strong matchup from beyond the arc.

The matchup against the Spurs is a strong one for 3-point shots; the opposing team's starting SGs have posted the eighth-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA this year (37.5%).

If you like the risk, Over 2.5 made threes is available at +115, but the computer is only projecting 2.74.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Holiday Now at bet365!/span

---

Spurs Game 1 computer picks

Dylan Harper Over 8.5 points (-110)

Projection: 10.55 points

Dylan Harper has scored at least nine points in 12 straight games and in 16 of his last 17.

Offensive rebounds preserve possession and generate additional scoring opportunities, and the Spurs rank sixth-best in the league with 12.4 offensive boards per game over the last 15 games.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Harper Now at bet365!/span

Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points (+100)

Projection: 13.30 points

Devin Vassell has averaged 13.9 points per game this season and has cleared this line in four of his last six games.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Vassell Now at bet365!/span

De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-105)

Projection: 18.60 points

De'Aaron Fox has averaged 22.5 points per game over the last eight home games, 3.6 points higher than his full-season average at home.

He's also cleared this prop in three straight and in four of six.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet fox Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1

Location	Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date	Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tip-off	9:00 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Today’s prompt for the staff was easy: what’s your favorite moment from the season?

Bryan: December 23, 2025. Denver comes to town on national tv as the Mavs are at the peak of annoying me by going on that brief winning streak earlier in the month, just to go right back to being a dreadful watch soon after. The worries with Cooper’s jumpshot are still a prominent topic of conversation and, and with his brother sitting courtside, Coop delivers maybe his best overall performance of the season against the multiple-time MVP, Nikola Jokic and crew. 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and a block on 14 of 21 from the field and 4 of 6 for three. He only attempted 1 free throw in that game and had 2 turnovers; it was an offensive clinic by Cooper punctuated by a tomahawk slam right on top of fellow rookie Spencer Jones’ head midway through the game. They won that game too, but I couldn’t bring myself to mind it much.

Tyler: When it ended.

Chris: I’m sorry, I’m gonna say it. For me, it has to be when they traded Anthony Davis. That move signaled the official end of the Nico Harrison era, and the Mavs re-shifted the focus to building around Cooper Flagg. The return was never going to be anything close to the true value of Luka Doncic, but Dallas now has a new star and doesn’t have to operate on two different timelines. And even if you were in the camp of wanting to keep Davis, the idea of paying a mid to upper 30’s guy, who cannot stay on the court, $70 million a year on an extension is so outrageously insane, my brain cannot process it. Good job Fin-Cardi.

Josh: When it ended.

Damn, Tyler stole my bit or more like I stole Tyler’s bit.

Jordan: November 10 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavs had a predictably rough start to the season. The long-term direction of the team is muddied. Cooper Flagg was thrust into a role no rookie should have been in — especially one who’d never played the position he’d been asked to play. His answer was an impressive showing against one of the league’s superstars. All of that culminated in this moment with less than a minute left, straight up against Giannis Antetokounmpo:

The most electric moment of the season. It said everything about what Flagg was about, and why it mattered that the organization fully embrace a new era. It took time, no doubt. But this was the moment that sealed it. It is likely coincidence that the next morning Patrick Dumont, after sitting courtside for this game, fired the general manager; putting in motion where the team is today. When I think of the very few true bright in-game moments from a dark season, this is the one I automatically remember.

Kirk: Jordan took the moment I wanted. Crap. Hold on. But man, yeah, that’s a good one.

Brent: The kid in the Luka jersey sitting next to Dumont – because it confirmed the Dallas Mavericks are the ongoing Black Mirror episode of the NBA since the team was sold.

Joe: My favorite Mavs moment was the Dumont-Luka kid thing. Just a bizarre and hilarious way of ending the dumb 10 months that was the Anthony Davis era in Dallas. Obviously, he didn’t get traded till later, but that was when it ended.

Michael: I’m torn between two and will name them both because one is macro and one is micro.

The macro-level moment was the Anthony Davis trade. I have no problem with Davis, didn’t blame him for the Doncic trade, etc. – no animosity to the players involved, but that trade so desperately needed to happen. It truly marked the end of the Nico Harrison era, but more importantly, gave the franchise their second dose of real hope since the ill-fated Doncic trade (the #1 pick/Cooper Flagg being the first dose, of course). It often feels as though other teams have gone from second apron team to under the cap through some manner of instant sorcery, so my hope had long been the Mavs could do the same. The fact they managed to move on from the Harrison era, move away from the oft-injured Davis to officially make it Flagg’s team, come off the financial burden of multiple contracts, and give the team off season flexibility for the first time in a long time – all in one fell swoop, and all despite Davis being injured at the time – cannot be overstated enough. It was the first real Mavs-related “thrill” since lotto/draft night.

The micro-level moment was Flagg’s 51-point game. 19-for-30 overall, 6-for-9 from deep, 7-for-7 from the free throw line, all in 33 minutes of play, was just an outrageous beast-mode moment. It wasn’t a farce like some high-scoring games can be, and from relatively early in the game, it grabbed hold of me and had me guessing just how special it would be. Ultimately, it had me shouting “next point is 50!” to everyone within earshot so they could stop multitasking and focus only on the game to see something amazing.

Both moments ultimately contributed to a feeling of hope for the future that was elusive for large parts of the last 18 months.

Kirk: I think it has to be the Cooper Flagg dunk over Zubac. I knew our guy had hops, by my goodness this is athleticism we’ve not seen often while in Dallas.

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost Game 1 of their first-round NBA Playoff series to the Denver Nuggets, 116-105, in a game reminiscent of so many of the Wolves’ shortcomings.

There were gorgeous stretches of basketball, especially early in the game, but those pockets of solid play did not last. The Wolves consistently reverted back to the team that underachieved during the regular season. The phrase “flip the switch” had been used to describe the Wolves coming into the playoffs, and at least for one game, that did not occur.

With the game now in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a second look at what went right, and more often what went wrong for the Timberwolves in Game 1 against the Nuggets.

The Good: Rudy Gobert on Offense

The best aspect of the Timberwolves’ Game 1 came from Rudy Gobert on offense. Gobert struggled mightily on that side of the ball last postseason, but did exactly what the team needed him to do on Saturday afternoon in Denver.

The best offensive action the Timberwolves had all night was the pick-and-rolls with Gobert as the screener. Many ball handlers found Rudy rolling to the rim, with Anthony Edwards specifically finding Gobert early and often with the defense tilted to stop the Wolves’ superstar guard.

Gobert himself caught each pass thrown his way and either made the correct next pass or made a move to the rim for a bucket.

“Both ends he did a good job,” Jaden McDaniels said. “He keep doing that, we’re going to win.”

When asked if this performance is repeatable, Gobert answered, “I think we shall see.”

The Bad: Ball Movement

The ball movement that drove the Timberwolves toward a double-digit lead in the first quarter dried up in the second and third quarters. As it so often has this season, the Wolves reverted to isolation basketball and took many ill-advised shots.

One of the main culprits was Edwards, who, after consistently finding Gobert and other teammates in the first quarter, settled for far too many bad shots the rest of the game.

“I don’t know,” Edwards said when asked about the lack of ball movement. “Yeah, I gotta go watch the film. I don’t know. I thought the ball was still kind of moving, but Finchy said the same thing. The ball stopped kind of moving, but I gotta go look at it.”

The player who suffers most due to the lack of ball movement is probably Jaden McDaniels.

In the first quarter and a half of Game 1, the Wolves used the defensive attention toward Edwards with the ball and Gobert rolling to the rim to generate open looks and driving lanes for McDaniels, which led to either open looks at the rim or free throw opportunities with Nikola Jokić guarding the rim.

All of that dried up later in the game as the ball got sticky, and isolation possessions were the primary action of the Wolves’ offense.

The Ugly: Late-Game Execution

The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter but clawed back into the game. The Denver lead got as small as two points before the Wolves’ poor late-game execution prevented them from shrinking the deficit any further.

“Just key mistakes,” Randle explained. “Just little things, we put them on the free throw line. A bunch of little things at certain moments. We’d get it to five, and they’d go on a 4-0 run, 6-0 run, stuff like that. We just gotta limit our mistakes down the stretch and try not to put ourselves in that position by having a better third quarter.”

Late in the game, Gobert and Julius Randle each had awful turnovers, there were a pair of missed defensive rebounds that led to second-chance points for the Nuggets, and a pair of fouls from Randle that gave Aaron Gordon three free throws before Denver even had to run a play.

“We’ve got to make smarter, more solid plays,” Finch said about the plays late in the game. “We had two turnovers right in the middle of one run back. One in the paint, which was a tough pass for Rudy to handle, and then Rudy does a wraparound DHO, they poke away, and then we get the away from the play foul, and it just wasn’t very smart. We’ve got to be more composed.”

How bad was it? A look at some bleak 76ers stats after gruesome loss to Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

We waited all year for this? The 76ers opened their 2026 postseason with one of the ugliest playoff losses in franchise history. The Celtics beat the 76ers 123-91 at TD Garden, a 32-point loss in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1^st-round series.

In the last 30 years, there have only been two worse losses in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference 1^st-round series – the Pistons lost by 35 to the Bucks in 2019 and the Knicks lost by 33 to the Heat in 2012. 

The good news? Last time the 76ers lost a Game 1 in any playoff series by at least 30 points they came back to win the series.

Feeling optimistic now?

With a hat-tip to Stathead, here’s our five-best stats off the 76ers’ 2026 playoff opener.  

HOW BAD WAS IT? The 32-point loss matched the 7^th-worst playoff loss in 76ers history. They’ve lost nine postseason games by 30 or more points and five have been against the Celtics, including the last two. It was the 76ers’ worst Game 1 loss in any playoff series in 44 years, since a 121-81 loss to the Celtics at Boston Garden in 1982 – the so-called Mother’s Day Massacre – in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series. The 76ers came back to win that series before losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The 32-point loss was the 76ers’ 5^th-worst this year, including the regular season. The 32-point loss was also the 76ers’ worst ever in their first postseason game of any season. The previous worst was a 25-point loss to Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals in Game 1 of their 1964 Eastern Division Semifinal series, a 127-102 loss at Cincinnati Gardens. The win was the Celtics’ biggest in 41 years in a Game 1, since they beat the Lakers by 34 (148-114) in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.

HEY, THEY JUST MISSED ANOTHER 3: The 76ers shot just 4-for-23 from 3 for 17.4 percent. That’s their 2^nd-worst ever in a playoff game in which they attempted at least 20 3’s. The only worst performance came in a 111-102 loss to the Nets in 1999 at the Wells Fargo Center, where they were 3-for-25 for 12 percent. This was the first time in 76ers postseason history they made four or fewer 3’s while allowing 16 or more. It’s only the eighth time in NBA history a team has allowed 16 3’s in a playoff game while making four or fewer. The last five teams that have done that have done it against the Celtics. The 76ers haven’t had a regular-season game with four or fewer 3’s while allowing 16 or more in 12 years, since a 114-93 loss to the Trail Blazers at Moda Center in 2014. 

GRUESOME PLUS-MINUS NUMBERS: For only the second time in franchise history, the 76ers had eight players at minus-10 or worse in a playoff game: Tyrese Maxey (minus-29),        V.J. Edgecombe (minus-26), Justin Edwards (minus-21), Kelly Oubre (minus-21), Andre Drummond (minus-19), Dominick Barlow (minus-15), Quentin Grimes (minus-13) and Paul George (minus-10). They also had eight at minus-10 or worse in that 2023 loss to the Celtics (Joel Embiid, Danny Green, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Maxey). Edwards somehow managed to be minus-21 despite playing just 17 minutes. Only four 76ers have had a worse plus-minus in a playoff game in which they played 17 or fewer minutes: Eric Snow was minus-21 in 13 minutes vs. the Bucks in 2001, Elton Brand was minus-23 in 15 minutes vs. the Celtics in 2012, DeAndre Jordan was minus-22 in 17 minutes vs. the Heat in 2022 and Paul Reed was minus-21 in just 11 minutes vs. the Knicks in 2024.

NOT ONE BUT TWO GUYS SHOOTING BLANKS: Kelly Oubre and V.J. Edgecombe were both 0-for-5 from 3, making this the first playoff game in 76ers history where two guys took five or more 3’s and didn’t make any. They both tied the 6^th-most 3-point attempts in a playoff game without a make. 

IT WAS NEVER CLOSE: The 76ers’ 15-point deficit through the first quarter was the 6^th-largest in franchise postseason history and largest since an 18-point deficit against the Pistons in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1^st-round series in 2008. The 18-point halftime deficit was 9^th-largest in 76ers postseason history. And the 24-point deficit after the third quarter was 11^th-largest.

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Observations after Sixers get smoked from the jump, lose Game 1 to Celtics in blowout originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers never even sniffed a Game 1 upset Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

They began their first-round playoff series against the Celtics in nightmarish fashion, falling to a 123-91 loss. The second-seeded Celtics never trailed the seventh-seeded Sixers.

Celtics star Jaylen Brown scored 26 points. Jayson Tatum posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Sixers’ leading scorers were Tyrese Maxey with 21 points and Paul George with 17.

The only player sidelined on either side was Joel Embiid. He’s out indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy last week. 

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is set for Tuesday night in Boston. Here are observations on the Sixers’ blowout Game 1 defeat: 

Celtics land big first blow 

The Sixers had two players start in their playoff debuts with rookie VJ Edgecombe and second-year big man Adem Bona.

The day did not begin according to plan for Bona. He was whistled for his second foul at the 10:23 mark of the first quarter when he rumbled down the floor on a fast break and charged into Sam Hauser. Andre Drummond subbed in. Less than two minutes later, Maxey drove to the rim and drew the second foul on Celtics center Neemias Queta. 

Boston dealt with the frenetic energy of the early action much better than the Sixers. 

George threw a poor cross-court pass that wound up as the Sixers’ fourth turnover in the first five minutes. Brown snagged the steal and Tatum sprinted the other way for a fast-break layup. Following a Sixers timeout, Tatum canned a mid-range jumper to give Boston a double-digit advantage. The Celtics built their lead to 33-18 on a Jordan Walsh layup with 1.1 seconds left in the first quarter. 

The Sixers’ cause was not helped by the fact that they missed several good long-range looks. The team shot just 6 for 21 from the floor and 1 for 9 from three-point territory in the opening period. Their shooting numbers were similar all day long.

Sixers’ backcourt struggles at the start

The Sixers played a nine-man rotation and Justin Edwards was an unsurprising addition. The lefty wing played 17 minutes and tallied seven points on 3-for-9 shooting and six rebounds. 

Nothing the Sixers tried early in the second quarter turned the tide, including zone defense. 

The players’ body language grew increasingly frustrated and out of sync. Drummond goaltended a baseline Queta push shot and was then assessed a technical foul. Payton Pritchard made the ensuing free throw to bump Boston’s lead up to 49-29. The Sixers’ deficit swelled as high as 23 points in the second quarter. 

Almost every area of the game was problematic. One major issue for most of the first half was the inefficiency of the Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt. Edgecombe started 1 for 7 from the field, Maxey 4 for 13. The duo combined for a single made three-pointer on eight attempts in the first half. 

The Sixers need plenty of variables to click into place to beat the Celtics. Maxey and Edgecombe being great is a core part of the equation. 

Adjustments time …  

Both Edgecombe and Maxey saw shots drop late in the second quarter. Among Edgecombe’s highlights were a soft floater and a turnaround jumper.

The Sixers still trailed by 18 points at intermission. Drummond started the third quarter instead of Bona. 

The team tightened up its defense in the first few minutes of the third and Kelly Oubre Jr. laid in his own miss to cut the Celtics’ advantage to 73-58. However, the Sixers continued to misfire on jumpers and couldn’t sustain momentum. With three-pointers from Brown and Nikola Vucevic, Boston’s lead was back over 20 points. 

From there, the Sixers didn’t show anything that suggested they might have a giant comeback in store. 

“Adjustments” is always a buzzword before Game 2 of a playoff series. The Sixers do have many possibilities under that umbrella. Head coach Nick Nurse could alter the rotation, perhaps throwing in Jabari Walker or Trendon Watford. He could place a greater emphasis on screening for Maxey and seeking out desirable switches. The Sixers could tweak their defensive approach, shading harder help toward Tatum and Brown.

Just about everything’s worth considering. Still, the heart of the matter is the Sixers appeared to be the less talented team by a wide margin in Game 1 and also had a brutal day with the factors under their control. 

Making NBA history isn’t anything new for the James family.

They did it when LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together during a Lakers preseason game on Oct. 6, 2024, before it was officially in the record books when they were on the floor together a couple of weeks later for the Lakers’ regular-season-opening win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 22, 2024.

They connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago, when the elder James passed to the younger James for a 3-pointer during the second quarter of the March 27 win over the Nets.

Another historic moment happened Saturday night, with LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son to play in a playoff game together during the Lakers’ Game 1 victory over the Rockets at Crypto.com Arena to kick off the best-of-seven first-round series. 

“There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me,” LeBron James said. “I mean, s–t, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career. It’s just so cool to be out there with him — and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building. And his grandmom. Like, that’s just insane. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. Now, that’s crazy.”

Bronny made his playoff debut last year, playing four minutes across two games (in garbage time) during the Lakers’ five-game first-round series loss to the Timberwolves. 

But with the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain), Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation Saturday night, starting the second quarter alongside his dad, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes. 

He had two fouls and recorded a turnover in four second-quarter minutes, with the Lakers playing an eight-man rotation in the second half.

While Saturday was Bronny’s third career NBA playoff game, and his first playing meaningful minutes, it was LeBron’s record-extending 293rd career playoff game. 

LeBron had 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets. 

“No, I mean, we all prepared this week, including Bronny,” LeBron replied when asked if he gave Bronny advice. “But s–t, it’s just like, everybody in their first playoff game, you’re going to be nervous. You can try to prepare for it, you can try to sleep as much as you can the night before. You can do all the things that you do. You can do the same routine and everything, when you step on that floor.

“I remember my first — what was it, 2006, going against Washington, our first home game. Being back in the playoffs in a minute, in a long time, with the Cavs and just nervous as hell. As soon as I got on the floor, I was just super nervous. But once you get the jitters out, you get the first game under your belt, and now you know what to expect. So he’ll be better going into the next time he gets his number called.”

Game 2 for Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles. 

LeBron James on how it felt to be the lone superstar who played in Lakers-Rockets Game 1, which featured Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant sidelined: "There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me. I mean, shit, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff… pic.twitter.com/dQvbuINYTz

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 19, 2026

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Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 12:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK

Watch: ABC

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns are officially in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. They clawed their way through the Play-In Tournament to secure the 8th seed, and their reward is a date with the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference and a terrifying +11.1 net rating.

The Thunder have been patiently waiting for their opponent, with their last game coming exactly a week ago against this same Suns team.

For Phoenix, this is about proving that their veteran experience, chaos, and high-end scoring can disrupt the rhythm of the league’s most efficient young core. We’re playing with house money here.

OKC won the season series 3-2. There were a few thrillers and a couple of blowouts. But ultimately, it’s all meaningless, as the new season begins. The postseason.

• Nov 28 (NBA Cup): OKC 123, PHX 119
• Dec 10 (NBA Cup): OKC 138, PHX 89
• Jan 4: PHX 108, OKC 105
• Feb 11: OKC 136, PHX 109
• April 12: PHX 135, OKC 103

This iconic shot on January 4th was an unforgettable moment.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Soreness)
• Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Soreness)

Thunder

• Thomas Sorber — OUT (ACL)

What to Watch For

It starts with the stars. This series features two of the premier guards in the world, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Booker. They each have a sidekick named Jalen who can take over at any time as well.

Devin Booker (PHX): 26.1 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.9 RPG. Booker has been the engine for Phoenix all season, carrying the load through various rotations. During the Play-In games, it was a different story as Jalen Green led the way.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 31.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.3 RPG. SGA missed the final two games of the regular season with an oblique injury but has been cleared for Game 1. Likely just maintenance for the playoffs, same with Booker.

Devin Booker will need to elevate his game to superstar status in order for them to have any realistic shot at taking this Thunder team down. Can he match Shai shot-for-shot? If he plays anything as he has in the last two, the odds aren’t great. We need a vintage Book desperately.

Key to a Suns Win

Control your emotions, first and foremost. Don’t let the refs get in your head. When that happens, the Suns get out of whack, and it disrupts the game flow.

Control the Paint and the Glass

OKC lacks traditional bulk, but they have Chet Holmgren (1.9 BPG, 8.9 RPG). Phoenix needs Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro to capitalize on their size. The Suns cannot allow second-chance points to a team that already shoots nearly 50% from the floor. Mark Williams’ absence will be felt if he is unable to go. Hartenstein and Chet will likely feast inside if the Suns are going with a constant small(er) lineup out there.

Size and athleticism will be massive factors this entire series. OKC has the depth to wear the Suns (and any team for that matter) down over the course of a 7-game series. That is why they are the favorites, after all.

Limit the Turnovers

The Thunder lead the league in points off turnovers. Both teams rank in the top 5 in the league in steals per game, with OKC averaging 9.7 (3rd) and Phoenix averaging 9.5 (4th). Oklahoma City takes care of the ball better than most, ranking second in the league in turnovers per game at just 12.6 compared to Phoenix’s 14.5 (t-15th).

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace (1.9 SPG) prowling the passing lanes, the Suns’ backcourt of Booker and Jalen Green must be meticulous. They will face waves of pressure and physicality from the Thunder defense all game long.

Phoenix averaged 13.5 turnovers per game this season; that number needs to stay under 10 for them to steal Game 1.

The Bench “X-Factor”

In the Suns’ recent Play-In loss to the Blazers, the bench size was underutilized. Against a long OKC team, expect Jordan Ott to look toward Ryan Dunn, and possibly Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to provide athletic resistance against OKC’s drives.

Jordan Goodwin has been a blessing for this Suns team. They’re going to need plenty more havoc from him as he will likely be tasked with tracking SGA all series long. Royce O’Neale needs to knock down shots. Ryan Dunn must defend and make plays. Collin Gillespie needs to shoot with confidence. It will take everyone.

Will we get another Jalen Green game? He is coming off consecutive strong showings with his back against the wall. If the Suns have any shot at upsetting OKC, Jalen Green will play a huge part in it.

Prediction

It’s going to be a dogfight. The oddsmakers aren’t giving the Suns much of a chance, but 14 points is a massive spread for a playoff opener. Phoenix has enough firepower to keep this close if they can slow the pace and knock down shots. However, OKC’s home-court advantage and depth will be too much to overcome. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it today.

Thunder 114, Suns 106