Category: NBA

A mind-blowing batch of stats from an unlikely 76ers comeback vs. the Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

I hope you didn’t turn the TV off when the Celtics were up 13. 

The Celtics went up 63-50 a couple minutes into the third quarter Tuesday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First-Round series at TD Garden.

The rest of the game? Sixers 63-44.

It added up to an improbable 113-97 Sixers win,  reducing the Celtics’ lead in the best-of-seven series to three games to two.

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THEY SCORED 11 POINTS: The Celtics have played 400 home playoff games in franchise history, and their 11 points Tuesday night are the 4^th-fewest they’ve ever scored in the fourth quarter of a home playoff game. They scored nine against the Bucks in 1983, 10 against the 76ers (Syracuse Nationals) in 1954 and 10 vs. the Pacers in 2005. It’s their 5^th-fewest in any game in 754 all-time playoff games. It’s their fewest 4^th-quarter points vs. the 76ers in any game – regular season or postseason – in 36 years, since they had nine in a 97-93 76ers win at Boston Garden in 1988. The 76ers’ 17-point 4^th-quarter advantage – 28-11 – is the 5^th-largest ever against the Celtics in a playoff game and it’s tied for the 76ers’ 2^nd -largest ever. Their only larger 4^th-quarter playoff margin was 18 points (32-14) in a win over the Heat in their 2018 Eastern Conference 1^st-round game at American Airlines Arena.

BIGGEST LOST EVER: The Celtics led 86-85 going into the fourth quarter before losing by 16 points. That makes this the Celtics’ worst loss ever when they led going into the fourth quarter. Their previous biggest loss after leading going into the fourth quarter was 15 points when they led the Pistons 73-71 in Game 3 of their 1989 Eastern Conference First-Round series before losing 100-85 at Boston Garden. It was also the 76ers’ biggest postseason win after trailing going into the fourth quarter. They won three games by eight points after trailing after three quarters, most recently in 1982, when they trailed the Celtics 90-88 going into the fourth quarter of Game 2 of their 1982 Eastern Conference Finals series at Boston Garden before winning 121-113. The Celtics were 46-5 in their last 51 playoff games when they had the lead going into the fourth quarter and 60-5 all-time vs. the 76ers when leading in the playoffs going into the fourth quarter.

MAGIC FROM JOEL: Joel Embiid shot 0-for-5 from 3 but 12-for-23 overall from the field for 52 percent. He’s only the second player in NBA history to shoot over 50 percent from the field and score 33 points in a game where he took at least five 3’s and didn’t make any of them. In 2017, Kyrie Irving was 0-for-7 in the Cavs’ loss to the Golden State Warriors but shot 16-for-29 overall (55 percent). Before this series, only 12 Sixers had ever shot 0-for-5 in a playoff game. In this series, three 76ers have done it a total of four times – Kelly Oubre in Game 1, V.J. Edgecombe in Games 1 and 3 and Embiid in Game 5. 

76ERS OWN TD GARDEN: After beating the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 last Tuesday and again in Game 5 Tuesday night, the 76ers have won back-to-back games in a series in Boston for the first time in 58 years. In 1968, they beat the Celtics 115-106 in Game 2 of their Eastern Division Finals series at Boston Garden and four days later won 110-105 in Game 4. They wound up losing that series in seven games. Last time the 76ers won any two games in a row in Boston was in 1980 and 1981. They won Game 5 of their 1980 Eastern Conference Finals series 105-94 and a year later won Game 1 of their 1981 Eastern Conference Finals series 105-104.  They won the 1980 series and lost the 1981 series.

HOW ABOUT THAT 4^TH QUARTER? In the fourth quarter, the Celtics shot 3-for-22 from the field for 14 percent and 1-for-14 from 2-point range for 7 percent. They had 29 possessions and made three baskets. In the fourth quarter alone, Neemias Queta was minus-16, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were both minus-14 and Jayson Tatum was minus-9. Tatum, Brown, White and Queta shot a combined 1-for-15 in the fourth quarter. For the 76ers, V.G. Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and Paul George were all plus-16 an Embiid was plus-16. The 76ers shot 9-for-17 in the fourth quarter for 53 percent. And how about this: In the fourth quarter alone, Maxey and Edgecombe – two guards – combined for nine rebounds, five for Maxey, four for Edgecombe. Maxey and Embiid each had as many baskets in the fourth quarter as the Celtics.

HE’S ALMOST 36: George, who turns 36 on Thursday, had 16 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals, becoming the 5^th-oldest player in NBA history to reach those benchmarks in a playoff game. The only older players with 16, 9, 7 and 2 are LeBron James, Kareem Jabbar, Steph Curry and Scottie Pippen.

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? Andre Drummond made his only 3-point attempt, and he’s now 4-for-6 from 3 in the series. That’s more 3’s than he had in five regular seasons from 2021 through 2025 combined (three). 

GRIMES FROM ARDMORE! Grimes made four 3’s in just 24 minutes, the 2^nd most 3-pointers in franchise history by a player in 24 or fewer minutes. Buddy Hield made six against the Knicks in 2024. Grimes’ four 3’s is also 3^rd-most in 76ers history by a player off the bench. In addition to Hield in 2024, DeAndre Melton made five off the bench in Boston in 2023.

The Atlanta Hawks (2-2) try to repeat their Game 2 win in Madison Square Garden tonight in Game 5.

Jock Landale (right high ankle sprain) has been ruled out.

Starting lineup:

• G CJ McCollum
• G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• F Dyson Daniels
• F Jalen Johnson
• C Onyeka Okongwu

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen

Location: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York, NY

Start Time: 8:00 PM EDT

TV: NBC

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: Peacock, Sling TV

With both teams suffering a slew of injuries to key players, this Lakers-Rockets series hasn’t exactly been beautiful basketball. All of the games have featured offensive struggles and the winning team having to grit and grind their way to victory.

The Lakers have been the better team under these conditions and won the first three games. In Game 4, though, they couldn’t complete the first-round sweep and were blown out by the Rockets.

Los Angeles out-rebounded Houston and scored more points in the paint despite Alperen Şengün having a stellar game, so why weren’t they able to pull off the win?

LeBron James offered an explanation postgame.

“Defense wasn’t our problem tonight,” LeBron said. “It was our offense. Defense wasn’t our problem. I mean, s—, we turned the ball over 23 times for 30 points?… Defense wasn’t our problem. It was offense.”

Not only did the Lakers turn the ball over constantly, but even when they held possession, they didn’t do much with it. As a team, they went 5-22 from 3-point range, which equals a woeful 23% from deep.

LA scoring just 96 points in Game 4, just isn’t enough to win many postseason games. Even in victories, the purple and gold have struggled offensively. In these playoffs, they have an offensive rating of 108.6, which ranks 11th out of 16 playoff teams.

“This is a top ten defense the entire season,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “It’s obviously very challenging without your two leading scorers to generate offense. We’ll take a look at the process again on that end as well. I know our points per shot and our expected points per shot were slightly below our season average. So, to me, it goes back to the two keys. Take care of the ball and we’ll look at that and how we can be better there.”

The Lakers might not have to worry about missing their two best scorers anymore, as Austin Reaves is expected to return for Game 5.

If he does, then that gives LA a tremendous offensive boost. Reaves averages 23.3 points per game and is a much more reliable player to depend on to score 20-plus points than, say, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard, who have done it during this series, but can’t regularly.

“Again, they played a great game,” Redick said. “I think our guys came into the game with the right intent. [Houston] certainly played a really good offensive game. They didn’t do anything differently. We can certainly be better with some of our small details whether it be pick and roll up to touch, our shifts, all that stuff. Our shifts to close, we did a better job of boxing out tonight but some of that was they made more shots. We’re going to look at it over the next two days and get better.”

Despite the offensive struggles, the Lakers are still in the driver’s seat. They are up 3-1, have Game 5 at home up next and have home court in case somehow this series goes the distance.

If they can make the appropriate adjustments and get Reaves back, they can still easily win and advance to play the Thunder.

The main path towards that outcome is to improve offensively. So far, Redick and the Lakers have proven that when things need fixing, they get it done. We’ll see if they do so in Game 5.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Lakers coach JJ Redick knows how difficult it is to close out a playoff series.

When asked ahead of Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Rockets about the challenge of closing out a series, Redick was quick to provide a reminder that he was on the Clippers team that blew the 3-1 series lead to the Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference semifinals before eventually losing the series in seven games.

But he was also on the Magic team that forced a Game 6 in the 2010 Eastern Conference finals matchup to the Celtics after trailing 3-0 in the series. 

Once a team’s backs are against the wall, their sense of desperation heightens. Holes that would’ve been easier to exploit in the series are either filled because the game plans adjust, or added hustle makes it more challenging to capitalize off the weaknesses.

The Lakers just saw how difficult it was to close out their best-of-seven first round series against the Rockets.

After decisively being the better team in Game 1 and Game 2 in Los Angeles, and taking advantage of the Rockets’ mistakes down the stretch of Game 3 to pull off a miraculous comeback to take a 3-0 series lead, the Rockets left little to doubt in Game 4 at Toyota Center.

They were more aggressive and physical defensively, a significant reason for the Lakers’ 24 turnovers that led to 30 Rockets’ points. 

The Rockets finally found an offensive rhythm and attacked the weak points in the Lakers’ defense, helping them score a series-high 115 points on series-bests of 48.1% shooting from the field, 52.9% on 2-pointers (27 of 51) and 40% shooting on 3-pointers (12 of 30). 

The Game 4 victory in Houston was so energizing for the Rockets that on Tuesday starting forward Jabari Smith said: “We’re obviously the better team. I just feel like from top to bottom…we’re the better team.”

One victory gave the Rockets life.

That’s what the Lakers are looking to take away during Wednesday’s Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena – metaphorically, of course. 

“Well, you have to kill them,” Redick responded when asked why it’s so difficult to close out a playoff series. “It’s difficult to kill someone. You’ve got to…again, survival instincts say, ‘I want to stay alive.’ And so, you got to be able to kill them. That’s what [it takes].”

Statistics and history are on the Lakers’ side to wrap up the first round series, and do so quickly.

Since the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff format in 1984, no team in league history has come back from a 3-0 deficit in the 125 instances it happened entering this year’s playoffs.

That includes a perfect 105-0 record for the team that entered the series with homecourt advantage.

The Rockets are one of just 39 teams to force a Game 5 after dropping the first two road games and first home game consecutively under the 2-2-1-1-1 format.

Of those 39, just eight forced a Game 6. 

And of those eight, only two forced a Game 7: the Nuggets in the 1994 Western Conference semifinals against the Jazz; and the Trail Blazers against the Mavericks in the first round of the 2003 playoffs.

Most recently, the Celtics forced a Game 7 against the Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, but that was after dropping their first two home games and their first road game.

But all of those series ended the same: The team that had the three-game lead won.

But the Rockets took the most important step in their attempt to pull off the improbable comeback. They won a game at home. 

“I mean it’s tough to play in the playoffs on the road,” Luke Kennard said on Tuesday. “It’s just how it is and we saw that in Game 3, we came up with a great win, but Game 4, they took it up another level. I don’t want to say we weren’t ready for it because we talked about it but at the same time it’s tough and we knew that. They made some good adjustments, so give some credit to them for that. But for us, again, we gotta come back and protect home court and be ready for Game 5.”

The Rockets will have renewed life in Game 5. And confidence.

The Lakers’ mission is to ensure it doesn’t last any longer. 

The San Antonio Spurs will try to close out the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. The Spurs rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to win Game 4 114-93 on Sunday and take a 3-1 series lead. With one more victory, the Spurs will advance to face the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs

• Date: Tuesday, April 28

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

• TV Channels: ESPN

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

Odds

• Spread: San Antonio Spurs -12.5

• Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -700 (84.0%) / Portland Trail Blazers +500 (16.0%)

• Over/Under: 214.5

Series results. schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2:Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 3:Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108
Game 4:Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93
Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (9:30 p.m. ESPN)
*Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD)
*Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)

*if necessary

March Madness is about to get bigger.

The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments are on the cusp of expanding to 76 teams, ESPN reported, in the final stages of a move that has long been rumored. It is set to take place for the 2027 tournament.

The outlet said the expansion is on track to be formalized in May − when it will be officially announced − with media contracts discussions ongoing. It will need approval from the men's and women's basketball committees, the men's and women's basketball oversight committees, the Division I Cabinet and the DI Board of Governors to be finalize.

One of the most divisive topics in college hoops, the conversation surrounding tournament expansion had been picking up steam since 2025, with NCAA president Charlie Baker strongly indicating it would be happening in the near future. The current format of 68 teams has been in use since 2011 for the men's and 2022 for the women's fields.

This technically isn’t a must-win game, but it comes about as close to being one as possible for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland was in firm control of their opening-round series through the first two games. They were getting whatever they wanted offensively with their star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden leading the charge. This added up to a 2-0 lead, with neither of the wins being particularly close.

The second two games were the exact opposite.

The Toronto Raptors have dictated the terms of engagement since. They’ve made it incredibly difficult for Mitchell and Harden — and in turn — have shut down Cleveland’s entire offense. The inability to get the offense going, combined with terrible fourth-quarter defense, added up to two straight losses in games that were there for the taking heading into the final quarter.

We’ll see which version of the Cavs we get in Game 5 with the series shifting back to Cleveland.

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Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2) vs. Toronto Raptors (2-2)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Wed., April 29 at 7:30 PM

TV: ESPN

Point spread: Cavs -8.5

Cavs injury report: None

Raptors injury report: Immanuel Quickley – OUT (hamstring)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Raptors expected starting lineup: Jakobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles

Previous matchup: The Cavs squandered an eight-point lead in the final five minutes, allowing the Raptors to tie the series up at two games apiece.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Former Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones became the first among 34 defendants to plead guilty Tuesday in an expansive gambling indictment that also ensnared Hall of Fame player Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and organized crime figures.

Jones was a Lakers coach in 2022 and 2023, long after he retired from an 11-year NBA playing career with 11 teams. Before a Feb. 9, 2023, game between the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in which LeBron James was a late scratch because of a foot injury, evidence showed that Jones urged a co-conspirator to “get a big bet on Milwaukee before the information is out!”

Jones urged his co-conspirator in a text: “Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!”

Jones and James were considered good friends for years. A person close to James told The Times in October that the Lakers star didn’t know that Jones was selling injury information to gamblers placing bets.

Jones had entered not guilty pleas in November to the two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in sports betting and rigged poker game schemes. However, during back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday, he entered guilty pleas to those charges.

Read more:Plaschke: No sweep, big problem for Lakers after Game 4 loss to Rockets

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6 before separate judges in the two cases. Guidelines call for 21 to 27 months in prison for the sports gambling charge and 63 to 78 months for the charge on rigged poker games. Prosecutors said they agreed to shave 15 months from the sentence in exchange for Jones pleading guilty by April 30.

He pleaded guilty in the sports betting case first. In a prepared statement, he acknowledged that he conspired with others to defraud sports betting companies by using "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player."

Jones, 49, said the goal of the sports betting conspiracy was to use his insider knowledge of injuries to players to make money gambling.

"I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association," said Jones, who was paid $21 million as a player.

Next came pleading guilty to participating in rigged poker games. Jones admitted that he was paid to use his NBA celebrity to lure deep-pocketed gamblers to poker games in Miami and New York.

Read more:Lakers' Austin Reaves will again be a game-time decision Wednesday

Again reading from a statement, Jones said that, based on conversations with his co-conspirators at poker games, "I knew these games were rigged and that players were being cheated."

And again he concluded with an apology, addressing the court, his family and friends.

"I'm really sorry to everyone involved for my actions," he said.

Prosecutors said Monday they would seek additional charges against Rozier in the sports betting case because they had developed evidence that the 10-year NBA veteran solicited a bribe during an alleged gambling scheme.

According to the original indictment, when Rozier played for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, he told friends he was planning to leave a game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing others to place wagers. Rozier has made $135 million as a player.

Billups, who played with the Clippers for two seasons and later was a member of Clippers coach Ty Lue’s staff before being named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021, is charged with rigging underground poker games that authorities said were backed by three of New York’s Mafia families. Billups, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2024, made $107 million as a player.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Observations after Sixers stay alive, Embiid scores 33 in Game 5 win over Celtics  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers’ season is not dead just yet.

Joel Embiid turned in one of his best career playoff performances and the Sixers forced a Game 6 in their first-round playoff series against the Celtics with a 113-97 win Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Embiid had 33 points and eight assists. Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, who now trail 3-2 in the series. Paul George posted 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 22 points. 

Game 6 will be Thursday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on the Sixers’ Embiid-led Game 5 victory:

Sixers bring back competitiveness 

The Sixers created their first basket off of a Maxey-Embiid pick-and-pop. Embiid swung the ball to George, who drained a three-pointer from the left wing. Another George triple put the Sixers up 8-2. 

Defensively, the Sixers’ start was encouraging. They were solid on the ball and relied on Embiid to protect the paint. Boston settled for some contested jumpers and the Sixers cleaned up the defensive glass. The Celtics scored just six points in the first six minutes. 

The Sixers’ spirits could have stayed low following an ugly Game 4 loss, but they were certainly not checked out mentally in the early stages. 

“I think that the players are pretty aware that they need to do the effort side of things, the really tough, grind it out things much better,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said before the game. “We show them. They’ve certainly talked about it enough among themselves. And now we’ve just got to see what mental frame of mind we’re in when the ball goes up tonight.”

The Sixers couldn’t break open a big lead because their offense stalled. Embiid began 0 for 4 from the field, including three long-range misfires.

After going 0 for 11 from three-point territory over the past two games, VJ Edgecombe nailed a corner jumper on his first shot beyond the arc. The Sixers launched 13 three-pointers as a team in the first quarter and only made three. Boston missed 11 of its first 12 threes.

Grimes steps up

Nurse initially stuck with Andre Drummond as Embiid’s backup over Adem Bona. Nikola Vucevic drove past Drummond and slammed home a dunk late in the first quarter.

Embiid was whistled for two fouls early in the second quarter and Payton Pritchard picked up where he left off in his 32-point Game 4 performance. Tatum intercepted a Quentin Grimes pass and finished a fast-break layup. Derrick White waltzed past Grimes and scored inside. The Celtics’ lead grew to 11 points on a pull-up Tatum jumper.

Grimes eventually converted a four-point play, but he wasn’t sharp on either side of the floor for much of his first stint and the Celtics’ bench outplayed the Sixers’ once more in the first half.

To Grimes’ credit, he had a great second half and posted 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting on the night. While consistency has been an issue this year for Grimes, he can deliver those sort of momentum-shifting scoring bursts.

Embiid had a productive second period attacking against the Celtics’ center trio of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Vucevic. He scored 13 points in the second and also helped the Sixers get Boston in the bonus. 

Embiid dished to Maxey for a right wing three that cut the Sixers’ deficit to 50-48, but the Celtics replied with a 7-0 spurt and also had a strong start to the third quarter. The Sixers soon trailed by double digits again. 

Embiid plays through it all, comes up huge

The Sixers continued to feed Embiid over and over again in the post. 

As his teammates know well, Embiid is awfully tough for anyone to handle 1-on-1 when he’s in rhythm. The 35-year-old Vucevic lacked good defensive answers and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t respond with double teams. Embiid laid the ball in over Vucevic and Edgecombe then drilled a three to pull the Sixers to within 66-65. 

Embiid exited the game with an apparent injury a couple of minutes later. He grimaced and limped under the basket, leading the Sixers to call timeout after Pritchard hit a three. Embiid headed to the locker room.

He was back on the floor with two minutes left in the third quarter and the Sixers closed the period impressively, showing poise at a time when the game could easily have spiraled out of control.

While Embiid’s had well-documented playoff failures, he’s always been determined to grit through pain and injury in the postseason. This was his second game since returning from an appendectomy. In the big picture of his career, Embiid’s resolve to be on the court at well below 100 percent is a quality that sticks out.

With three-balls from Maxey and George, the Sixers surged in front early in the fourth quarter. An Embiid mid-range jumper gave the Sixers a 90-86 lead.

Embiid kept on providing superstar plays. When doubled down low, he assisted a Grimes three. And when he got the ball on the left block against Queta, Embiid sunk a beautiful fadeaway jumper to extend the Sixers’ advantage to eight points.

During Embiid’s best nights, he has the ability to make just about anything feel possible for the Sixers. The team is still down in the series and still one loss from elimination, but Embiid is a massive reason why they remain alive.

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The New York Knicks aim for redemption at Madison Square Garden, and while CJ McCollum has been a constant problem, they’re fixated on getting it done in order to take a 3-2 series lead.

With that said, our Hawks vs. Knicks predictions and free NBA picks have the home team standing on business to do just that on Tuesday, April 28.

Who will win Hawks vs Knicks Game 5?

Hawks win probability:32% (+198)
Knicks win probability:68% (-239)

The New York Knicks will be back in front of their home crowd for Game 5 & will try to take full advantage of being the favorites at 68% while CJ McCollum & the Atlanta Hawks look to pull off another upset in this series by coming in as the 32% underdogs.

Our prediction:Knicks to win

This has been a great opening round chess match, with the Hawks and Knicks able to neutralize each other’s biggest threats so far.

But with Jalen Brunson and Jalen Johnson struggling, the supporting casts are even more important.

I have more faith in New York’s lineup to pick up the slack, especially with the series swinging back to MSG.

Read more in Jason Logan's full Hawks vs. Knicks predictions.

More Hawks vs Knicks prediction markets

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

Nuggets vs Timberwolves spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Knicks -7.5 — Yes and Over 214.5 points — Yes

New York avoided a bad spot with a strong road win in Game 4 and is learning to live without Jalen Brunson making his usual postseason magic. Atlanta, on the other hand, is starting to struggle with adjustments as the series goes on and doesn’t have a reliable support staff to step up, as the Knicks do.

Other Nuggets vs Timberwolves prediction markets available

• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (Yes: 73¢)
• Josh Hart Over 1.5 threes (Yes: 71¢)
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes (Yes: 76¢)

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 Knicks 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 Hawks vs Knicks 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.

The NBA playoffs are not known for upsets. We're used to seeing the mega superstars competing in the latest rounds. Major upsets, storybook performances from underappreciated players seem so rare that one such experience in a postseason makes for some of the most unforgettable moments in recent memory.

Whether it was Tyrese Haliburton leading the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals and taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in 2025 or Jimmy Butler taking the No. 8 seed Miami Heat to the Finals in 2023, these surprises turn ordinary postseasons into unforgettable ones. And this year, it seems like we've got a lot of them.

Although only one team – the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder – has advanced to the second round, there are a myriad of upsets on the horizon that I can say with near certainty very few people saw coming. Here are the five biggest surprises of the 2026 NBA postseason thus far:

SHINING STARS: Ranking the 10 best players in 2026 playoffs so far

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for a pivotal Game 5 between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By comparing the data to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed where the strongest edges are.

These Hawks vs. Knicks predictions are driven by the numbers—not guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, April 28.

Hawks vs Knicks computer picks for Game 5

Hawks	Knicks
Johnson u20.5 points  -120	Brunson o26.5 points  -120
McCollum o3.5 assists -125	Towns o11.5 rebounds -105
McCollum o2.5 3-pointers  -102	Hart o4.5 assists -135

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Hawks Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Johnson Under 20.5 points (-120)

Projection: 20.4 points

Facing the New York Knicks’ league-slowest pace over the last 25 games, the Atlanta Hawks should see fewer possessions, which works against Jalen Johnson’s scoring outlook and puts his chances of clearing the Over in jeopardy.

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CJ McCollum Over 3.5 assists (-125)

Projection: 3.96 assists

The Hawks’ sixth-fastest road pace this season should create extra opportunities, setting up a favorable spot for CJ McCollum to facilitate after clearing 3.5 assists in six of his last 10 games.

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CJ McCollum Over 2.5 3-pointers (-102)

Projection: 2.9 3-pointers

This is a favorable spot for perimeter volume against New York. At home, the Knicks allow the most 3-point attempts per game to opposing starting shooting guards (7.6). And few have punished them more than CJ McCollum, who should carry that same aggressive, Knicks-killer mindset into Game 5.

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Knicks Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-120)

Projection: 26.9 points

Jalen Brunson has cleared 26.5 points in five of his last 10 games, and the setup in Game 5 puts him in a strong position to do it again.

With the series tightening, Brunson’s usage typically climbs in high-leverage spots, and he’s the clear engine of New York’s half-court offense.

He thrives in playoff settings where the pace slows and possessions become more deliberate, allowing him to hunt mismatches and operate in isolation or pick-and-roll.

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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-130)

Projection: 13.4 rebounds

The Knicks rank third in the NBA in offensive rebounding at home (13.3 per game), putting Karl-Anthony Towns in a prime spot to control the glass and give New York an edge on the boards.

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Josh Hart Over 4.5 assists (-135) 

Projection: 5.04 assists

The Knicks’ recent surge has been fueled by their heart & energy, with much of it stemming from Josh Hart’s playmaking and especially after clearing 4.5 assists in four of his last 10 games.

Back on their home floor, he’s in a strong spot to make another impact.

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How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 5

Location	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date	Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The New Orleans Pelicans have requested permission to interview Detroit Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack for their vacant head coach position, according to report by Jake Fischer and Mark Stein of The Stein Line. Jack has been an assistant coach with the Pistons since August 2023, but is most well known for his 13-year playing career, which included a stint with the Golden State Warriors in the 2012-13 season.

“Also: Sources say that the Pelicans have requested permission to interview Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack, who spent three seasons in New Orleans as a player and is in the midst of Detroit’s difficult first-round series with Orlando,” write Fischer and Stein.

While Jack last played in the NBA in 2018, he stuck around in the G-League for multiple years, finishing off as a veteran mentor on the experimental G-League Ignite. After his stint with the Ignite, he became an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, where he worked until he joined the Pistons staff.

Despite his journeyman career, playing for eight teams, Jack made a strong impression with Dub Nation during his lone season with the Warriors. That season, Jack averaged 12.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 29.7 minutes per game (79 games) on 45.2%/40.4%/84.3% shooting and finished third in the league’s Sixth Man of the Year voting, the best finish of his career. The Warriors finished the season 47-35, reaching the playoffs for the first time since the “We Believe” team.

Jack was even more productive in the playoffs, finishing second on the team in scoring behind Steph Curry. He recorded 17.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Jack was pivotal in helping the Warriors upset the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs and pushing the San Antonio Spurs to a six-game series.