Category: NBA

The Cavaliers protected home court this afternoon, handily defeating the Raptors 126-113 on the strength of Donovan Mitchell’s and James Harden’s combined 54 points.

The Raptors have been branded as optimistic underdogs in this series. While sweeping Cleveland in the season series 3-0, those losses came early in the season before their acquisition of James Harden, a presence Toronto would feel heavily in today’s game on the road. Going into Rocket Arena, the Raptors had the weight of the country on their shoulders as they sought to steal a first game on the road.

The game was close in the first quarter, with Scottie Barnes looking like every bit of the superstar that he is, knocking down threes and facilitating his teammates, leading the Raptors to an early lead that was quickly caught up to by the Cavs. The connection between James Harden and Jarrett Allen activated early on, scoring with pick and rolls, layups, and three pointers, with Harden showing off his scoring chops and ability to run an offence. Max Struss, off assists, dropped in four points at close range to break a tie and put the Cavaliers up 4, 35-31 at the end of the first quarter.

Toronto and Cleveland traded blows throughout the beginning of the second, with RJ Barrett activating to get thoroughly involved in the offence. Harden continued his onslaught of scoring and assisting, and with a pass to an Evan Mobley dunk, got the lead to seven points, that after a three-pointer from Struss, would be extended to double digits near the end of the quarter.

Things began to unravel for the Raptors in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers continued to push their lead into the teens with unrelenting force at the rim and on the perimeter. Up 14, Max Struss hit two threes in a row to push the Cavaliers’ lead to 20, 80-60, as RJ Barrett pushed back, getting to the line, and assisting on a Jamal Shead three. Scottie had a picture-perfect assist to Jakob Poeltl, threading the needle past two defenders to drop the rock off to the big man for an easy bucket at the rim. As the Raptors began to claw their way back into the game, the Cavaliers refused to relinquish their lead, as Donovan Mitchell hit jump shots and free throws to keep the Raptors buried under the 20 point deficit.

The writing was on the wall by the beginning of the fourth, though Jamal Shead and Scottie Barnes did what they could to put up points on the board. Barnes was everywhere, hitting free throws, facilitating, or scoring at the rim. But halfway through the last quarter, the Cavs still led 115-95, with James Harden assisting or scoring to patch up any hole the Raptors made in the Cavaliers’ lead. With two minutes left, the Cavaliers pulled their starters, the death knell on the hardwood, as Trayce Jackson-Davis hit two free throws in garbage time to end the game.

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points and James Harden all facilitators with 1o assists, Cleveland’s guard combo operating at its maximum efficiency. The Raptors spread minutes across their big men, with Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili all playing around 20. The rookie played well in his first postseason game, dropping in 14 points with 4 boards and assists and piece. Brandon Ingram underperformed with 17 points, 7 of them from the charity stripe, however, as RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes shined. Ultimately, the Raptors were out-rebounded and outscored, with the Cavaliers’ backcourt looking unstoppable. The Raptors will play the Cavaliers next on Sunday for their second matchup for this first round series, before heading back home to Scotiabank Arena.

The 6-seeded Atlanta Hawks (0-0) try to steal Game 1 just like they did five years ago tonight in the Garden.

Jock Landale (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: 6:00 PM EDT

TV: N/A

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

Streaming: Prime Video

If any college basketball recruit in the transfer portal is considering the Gonzaga Bulldogs, take a look at the amount of professional talent on basketball’s biggest stage right now. Six Zags who were trained and prepared for the next level within the walls of the McCarthey Athletic Center are now gearing up for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren

San Antonio Spurs’ Kelly Olynyk

Denver Nuggets’ Julian Strawther

Los Angeles Lakers’ Rui Hachimura

Atlanta Hawks’ Corey Kispert

Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs

Los Angeles Lakers’ Drew Timme isn’t available for the playoff roster as he’s under a two-way contract, splitting his time with the G League’s South Bay Lakers during the 2025-26 season.

As for the reigning NBA champion, Holmgren is coming off an NBA All-Star appearance for the first time in his young career. Most importantly, the 7-1, 23-year-old freak has been healthy and active defensively with that 7-6 wingspan of his.

Through 69 starts, Holmgren averaged 17.1 points on a shooting split of 55.7 percent from the field, 36.2 percent on three-pointers, and 79.2 percent at the charity stripe. His 8.9 rebounds per game rank tied for No. 11 in the NBA, while his 1.9 blocks per game are tied for No. 2.

The 2026 NBA Finals officially start on June 23 on ESPN/ABC.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

It was vintage Kristaps Porzingis. 

He was active. He was everywhere. He helped space the court for Steph Curry’s scoring flurries. He was in the trenches alongside Draymond Green on defense.

A few days before the Warriors were eliminated Friday from the play-in tournament, Porzingis had 20 points (8-for-12 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc), five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocked shots in an elimination game against the Clippers on Wednesday, 

He was everything the Warriors hoped he’d be when they acquired him from Atlanta for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. 

But that version of him came in spurts this season. 

Porzingis only played in 15 of a possible 31 games with the Warriors because of health issues at least partially related to POTS. He hardly shared the court with Curry, who missed 27 straight games because of runner’s knee. 

The 7-foot-2 center will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Warriors hope to re-sign him, though he’d have to take a significant salary cut from the two-year, $60 million extension he signed in Boston in 2023. 

How does he feel about returning to Golden State?

“That’s a good question,” Porzingis told The California Post in an exclusive interview. “I do love my time here, honestly. Not one bad thing I can say about the organization, the team, the teammates. I really love it here, I really do.

“As I said before, I haven’t had a good year. If I had a good year, I think I’d have a more clear picture of what I want to do. Because I’ve had an up-and-down year like this, this is an offseason in my career that I think I’m just going to take a step back, look at the whole picture and then see what’s the best direction for me.”

Things didn’t go as planned for the Warriors this season, either. 

After losing Jimmy Butler to an ACL tear in January, Golden State went all in on trying to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline. When it became clear that the Bucks weren’t going to part with their superstar, the Warriors pivoted to Porzingis to try to salvage their season.

When Porzingis is at his best, he’s an All-Star-caliber player who can dominate on both ends of the court with his silky shot and rim protection. But an elongated illness has prevented him from consistently playing to his potential.  

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Porzingis began struggling with illness in his final season with the Celtics in 2024-25. It sapped him of his energy. It depleted his wind. It prevented him from being the dominant player who had averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and nearly two blocks per game as he helped lead the Celtics to a championship in 2024. 

Since then, Porzingis has had to play around his symptoms. He’ll stack a few good games and then be sidelined for a cluster of contests. Rinse and repeat. The constant starting and stopping is an enormous challenge considering the paramount importance of rhythm in basketball. 

“It’s been a little bit of the story of my career,” Porzingis told The Post. “A lot of my career, I felt like this is bothering me or that. I’m not able to play at 100%. But honestly, as a basketball player, you rarely do. There’s always something for everybody. 

“But I’ve definitely had this feeling a lot of times. How do I get into a good rhythm because I’ve been out? Because of that, I’m pretty good at jumping right back in and getting into a decent rhythm right away. And also, just staying mentally in the game. Once I get the opportunity to play again, I’m ready to go. I’ve gotten so good at it that it’s very natural for me to just jump back in and be in a rhythm.”

It’s a skill he had to hone. 

Porzingis only played 17 games for the Hawks this season before being traded to Golden State. Last season, he only played 42 games for the Celtics. 

During his introductory news conference with the Warriors on Feb. 7, Porzingis was optimistic he’d be able to remain on the floor. “I’m confident that I will,” he said at the time. But he played in about half of the team’s contests, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in a career-low 23.7 minutes per game. 

Still, the Warriors liked what they saw. 

“Kristaps was fantastic,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday after the Warriors lost their second play-in game to the Suns, 111-96, as Porzingis struggled with ankle soreness. “He changed our team. The dynamic of having that floor spacing and shot-blocking.”

Porzingis knows he’s capable of so much more. 

“Honestly, I’m still working my way back into being in great, great shape,” he said. 

He was excellent in flashes, such as when he had 30 points on 8-for-13 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks against the Wizards on March 16. But his illness and Curry’s injury prevented the team from developing any momentum as Golden State fell to 10th in the West without Butler. 

Now, the Warriors have a lot of questions. Will Kerr return as head coach? WIll Curry sign a contract extension this offseason? Will Green or Butler be traded? Will they land a superstar this summer? Is this the end of the dynasty?

Amid that dizzying set of queries is another: What will Porzingis do?

At this moment, he’s clearly not sure. 

But at least for one game, he was reminded of what he’s capable of doing and who the Warriors could be with him on the court. 

On Wednesday, Porzingis shined alongside Curry’s 35 points and Green’s lockdown defense on Kawhi Leonard. The three of them were in sync. They were stars. The Warriors looked like champions for one night, a thrilling moment of joy for a team that suffered an endless series of blows this season.

For Porzingis, it was a huge relief. 

He knows what he can do. And he made sure everyone else saw it, too. 

“[Wednesday] honestly was a big step forward for me,” Porzingis told The Post. “To have a game like this, it means a lot. To pull it out of somewhere, and it was there. Definitely a big step in the right direction.”

A three-time NBA champion foresees a Knicks implosion after hearing “rumblings” of a fractured team. 

Danny Green, the Long Island product and former Spurs forward, explained in an ESPN media conference call Friday why he has retracted his prediction of the Knicks winning the East. 

“Simply because the fact that the Knicks this year, especially late in the season, they looked very up-and-down,” said Green, an ESPN analyst. “They looked like they were disconnected. The chemistry wasn’t there. 

“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.” 

Green, who was a teammate with OG Anunoby on the 2019 championship Raptors, now envisions the Knicks falling in the second round to the Celtics, though that would go against the results of last year’s playoffs. His reasoning is a difference in chemistry — the Celtics have it, Green said, and the Knicks don’t after replacing Tom Thibodeau with Brown. 

“[The Knicks] have all the talent, they have all the tools, they have everything, and they were going to beat Boston [last year], regardless of whether Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles or not,” said Green — who won titles with the Spurs, Raptors and Lakers. “But just this year with the coaching change, they seem a little bit more disconnected at the wrong time of year.” 

Green didn’t cite specifics, but there were instances during the season when Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns, in particular, didn’t seem to be operating on the same page. And though the Knicks offense ranked fourth in the NBA this season, four of the five starters — outside of Brunson — experienced declines in points and shot attempts per game. 

That happened after reports in the summer of players upset about undefined roles under Thibodeau. 

Charles Oakley, the former All-Star power forward who attended the previous Knicks-Hawks game a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta, also sees something is off with his former team. 

“Last year, it was right there for the Knicks. It was dinner on the table and they went somewhere else like Popeyes,” Oakley said this week on ‘The Bottom Line Sports Show,’ hosted by Gerald Brown and Rick Mahorn. “They got the talent and they’re still fighting within themselves. They don’t really know their roles. And they really don’t really know — KAT and Brunson, that’s their team. OG, Bridges and Hart, use like the fork and knife.” 

Still, the Knicks won two more games than last season and finished with 12 wins in their final 16 games. As the third seed Saturday, they hosted the No. 6 Hawks in Game 1 of the first round. If anything, the surprise this season wasn’t about the Knicks underwhelming — they finished around their projected win total — but rather the Celtics and Pistons busting through ceilings. 

Green dismissed the Pistons and picked the Celtics over New York because of chemistry differences. 

“Originally at the beginning of the year, I had the Knicks,” he said. “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.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers defended their home floor in Game 1 of their first round series against the Toronto Raptors.

Let’s go over today’s winners, because there were no losers.

WINNER – Pace

Controlling the tempo was a point of emphasis for the Cavaliers entering this series. Toronto is one of the deadlier transition teams in the league, while Cleveland was just a middling transition defense throughout the regular season. Naturally, this was a cause for concern.

Cleveland kept the Raptors at bay in the first half. They only allowed one point in transition during the opening quarters by hustling back on defense and forcing the game into a half-court setting. The Cavs also benefitted from drawing a load of fouls, attempting 17 free throws in the first half, and making it harder for Toronto to push off rebounds.

“You tell a group that’s hungry to win, ‘this is what we need to do to win the game,’ and I think they lock in,” said Kenny Atkinson of his group after the game.

This carried deep into the second half, where the Raptors remained stuck in the mud as Cleveland grew its lead. The Cavs kept the game slow and pummeled them 52-36 in the paint. Toronto finished with just 3 fastbreak points.

Closing the door on what should be Toronto’s biggest advantage in this series is a testament to Kenny Atkinson’s game plan and the players for bringing it to life. If they can continue to win on the margins, they’ll go on to win the series.

WINNER – Pick and Roll

One result of slowing the game down is that it forces you to dig deeper into your offensive bag. For the Cavs, a slower game set in the halfcourt meant the world was theirs. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, especially, dominated in that regard.

We’ve seen Harden’s mastery in the pick-and-roll for more than a decade at this point. It turns out, he’s still going at running that action even in a classic ‘07 Cavs jersey. He worked the Raptors in pick-and-roll, coming up with an answer to any problem he was presented. Harden scored either with his step-back jumper or by getting into the lane with his floater. If the Raps blitzed the ball or overcommitted on his drives, he’d quickly zap the ball to a teammate.

That’s the Beard’s special.

“He’s firing darts to shooters,” said Atkinson. “I’d love to see the passes he threw to Max… he’s almost like a quarterback, super accurate, just kind of picking them apart with short passes and then he hits the long ones every once in a while.”

Mitchell, meanwhile, took more of an all-gas, no breaks approach. He put relentless pressure on the basket, slicing into the paint and taking advantage of the Raptors lack of rim protection. When he’s doing that and his three-point shot is falling? Good luck.

The Cavs’ backcourt combined for 54 points and 14 assists.

WINNER – Max Strus

The playoffs are where stars shine brightest. But make no mistake, this environment has always been ripe for big performances from role players, too.

Max Strus fits that bill.

Strus started the game by using his gravity to attack poor closeouts and get to the rim. It’s always good to see someone who was previously considered a three-point specialist then use that skill against the defense to find new opportunities. Strus darted to the basket for numerous layups in the first half, including a buzzer-beating layup to close the first quarter.

“He’s a dog,” said James Harden. “Whether he makes shots or misses shots, he’s more impactful to our team in ways that probably don’t show up in the stat sheet.”

From there, Strus was loose.

We saw more of what you’d expect from Strus as the game went on. A three-pointer in the first half got the ball rolling. That carried over into the second half, where he nailed three more. Strus ended the game 8-10 from the floor, scoring a playoff career-high 24 points and giving Cleveland a massive boost off the bench.

“When you look at how he works, he practices individually for the big moments,” said Atkinson after the game. “We needed his gravity today, I think it turned the game for us offensively, and that got us our separation.”

A Scarlet Knight in Boston’s Rotation

For Ron Harper Jr., the journey has been about patience, growth, and finding his role on a championship-caliber roster. After grinding his way into the league, Harper has carved out a role with the Celtics as a versatile wing—someone who can defend multiple positions, space the floor, and provide energy off the bench.

Boston enters the playoffs as one of the Eastern Conference’s premier contenders, built around elite two-way play and postseason experience. With Jayson Tatum back from injury, the Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference and will look to return to their championship pedigree. While Harper isn’t the focal point, his value shows up in the margins—rotational minutes, defensive assignments, and timely shooting. On a team with championship aspirations, those details matter.

The Celtics’ playoff outlook is simple: they’re in it to contend for another title. Depth pieces like Harper often swing key moments in long series, and his ability to stay ready could be the difference in tight games. For Rutgers fans, seeing a former Scarlet Knight trusted in meaningful playoff minutes is a testament to both his development and the program he came from.

Dylan Harper’s Arrival in San Antonio

While Ron’s role is about contributing to a contender, Dylan Harper represents something different: the future.

The Spurs have been building toward this moment, and Harper’s stellar rookie season after being drafted second overall has been a major step in that process. As a young guard with size, poise, and playmaking instincts, he’s already shown flashes of becoming a cornerstone piece. His ability to control tempo, attack downhill, and create for others has added another layer to San Antonio’s evolving identity.

The Spurs are among the top teams in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings, and San Antonio beat OKC three times in the regular season. With an otherworldly athlete in Victor Wembanyama at center and a dangerous guard lineup including De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Harper’s role becomes easier off the bench as a dynamic playmaker who can make a difference when the team needs it the most.

Playoff Outlooks For The Celtics and Spurs

Boston opens the postseason tomorrow at 1 PM as they host the Philadelphia 76ers, rekindling a familiar rivalry in the Atlantic Division. Should they advance, they will likely face the New York Knicks in the second round, a rematch of New York’s thrilling elimination of the Celtics in six games last year.

Otherwise, the Celtics will play another familiar foe in the Atlanta Hawks, with the two sides last facing each other in the playoffs in 2023. If Boston makes it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, their most likely opponent would be an upstart in the Detroit Pistons, as Cade Cunningham’s team has won 60 games this season, including three victories over New York and the Celtics this season. However, the experience the C’s possess could be critical in a seven-game postseason series, which the young Pistons are lacking despite their talent.

San Antonio opens the playoffs against the Trail Blazers tomorrow at 9 PM at home as they look to make their deepest postseason run in quite some time. Should they advance, a second-round series against the winner of the Nuggets and Timberwolves is looming.

In a crowded Western Conference, the Thunder and Spurs have been a notch above everyone else, so a conference finals matchup between the sides would be the series that NBA fans would truly enjoy seeing, and the series could even serve as the de facto NBA Finals, much like the Warriors-Rockets series of the past.

The Bigger Picture

As the playoffs unfold, the spotlight in this area will naturally be on the Knicks, Sixers, and other local and national brands. But for the Rutgers faithful, there’s another storyline worth following: two Scarlet Knights, two different journeys, and one shared foundation—making their mark when the lights are brightest.

And in a league defined by legacy, the Harper name is only getting stronger.

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Two NBA icons are at the center of the final first-round playoff series to tip off today.

Lebron James and the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant’s No. 5 Houston Rockets will meet in the best-of-seven first round series, but both teams will be without a few key pieces.

Both Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) remain out for the Lakers after sustaining injuries in the same loss against Oklahoma City on April 2. Though it’s possible either could return at some point during the series, they have both been ruled out for tonight’s Game 1.

Durant is listed as a game-time decision for the Rockets tonight after appearing on the injury report with a right knee contusion.

In the regular season, Los Angeles won two of three meetings with Houston, most recently in March.

Game 2 of the Rockets-Lakers playoff series is set for Monday, April 20.

Rockets vs. Lakers start time:

Game 1 of the Hawks vs. Knicks playoff series tips off tonight (April 18) at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, April 18.

How to watch Rockets vs. Lakers for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Lakers game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC (plus almost every other channel you’ll need for the NBA playoffs). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to stream NBA games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.

Rockets-Lakers first round playoff schedule

• Game 1: April 18, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 2: April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
• Game 3: April 24, 8 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• Game 4: April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
• Game 5: April 29*
• Game 6: May 1*
• Game 7: May 3*

* if necessary

NBA Playoffs key dates:

• April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
• June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

The Lakers have had a history with many teams, including this year’s matchup in the Rockets.

One might not think the Lakers and Rockets have any history together, but there is one surprising link between the two franchises.

Pat Riley.

Drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the 1967 NBA draft as the seventh pick in the first round, Riley stayed with the team for the first three years of their existence. The Rockets would remain in San Diego for one more season before moving to Houston in the 1971-72 season.

Of note, in the Houston Rockets’ initial season, the head coach was Tex Winter, the architect of the triangle offense.

Riley would join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 and remained with the franchise until the start of the 1975-1976 season, when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He would retire as a player that season and then join the Lakers’ broadcast team in 1977 and the rest was history

Let’s have a look back at the history of these two franchises in the postseason

1981 First Round

In this matchup, Riley was the assistant coach for Paul Westhead. This was the early Showtime era with second-year Magic Johnson and an eleventh-year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fresh off the NBA championship. On the Houston side, Del Harris was the head coach.

Game 1 was close as the starting 5 combined for 97 points. Magic led with 26 points, Norm Nixon had 22 and Cap had 21. Malone led all players with 38 points, 23 rebounds. 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. The final score was 111-107 in favor of Houston.

Game 2 went better for the Lakers as they tied the series. The Lakers made a lineup change, starting Michael Cooper. Norm, Magic, Wilks, and Cap were happy with Cooper’s defensive focus joining the starting 5. Magic scored 15 points with 18 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals. Kareem, Nixon, and Wilkes all had at least 20 points.

Game 3 was a nailbiter and a defensive clinic for both teams. It was a back-and-forth game with the Lakers running their Showtime transition offense and the Rockets utilizing their strength inside with Malone.

In the closing minutes, it was the Lakers’ defense that helped pick up a few extra possessions. Magic had a chance late to win the game, but after a fancy behind-the-back dribble to his left hand, his shot ended up being short. The Rockets won this series 2-1 and went on to face the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

1986 Western Conference Finals

Once again, the Rockets faced the champion Lakers. Houston was running the Twin Towers lineup of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The Lakers had solidified their starting five with Magic, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Kurt Rambis and Kareem.

Game 1 would be one of Magic Johnson’s greatest games as he finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 18 assists and 3 steals.

Game 2 would be a bounce-back game for the Rockets with the play of Sampson and Olajuwon taking over. Both would have double-doubles, Sampson with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Hakeem with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Game 3 is when Hakeem took over, scoring 40 points with 12 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 46 minutes of play. Kareem was going at Hakeem in a duel for the ages.

Hakeem would go on to win this game to push the Rockets up 2-1. He took over Game 4 as well to push the series nearly out of reach.

Game 5 was the Lakers’ last chance to come back in the series. Midway through the game, a fight led to Hakeem and Kupkak getting ejected. The game, though, would be remembered for an improbable game-winner from Sampson to eliminate the Lakers.

Once again, the Rockets would make the Finals where they would once again face the Celtics and lose in 6 games.

1990 Western Conference First Round

Lots of things happened since the 1986 series between the two. Sampson was not there and it would be a few more years before Hakeem got a championship team around him.

In Game 1, James Worthy took over the game and scored 34 points with 11 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks to lead LA to a win. Game 2 was the Sleepy Floyd game as he scored 27 points as Houston won.

The last two games were not a contest. The Lakers took care of business to close out the first round.

1991 Western Conference First Round

This was the beginning of a new era for Lakers.

The Lakers had a balanced approach to Game 1 and everyone scored in double figures en route to a 94-92 Lakers win, the closest game in the series.

Game 1 was emblematic of how the series would go as the Lakers would win the series in a 3-0 sweep before eventually losing to Jordan’s Bulls in the Finals.

1996 Western Conference First Round

After retiring, Magic would eventually return with this being his final season. There would be quite the clash Magic and Nick Van Exel, negatively impacting the chemistry heading into the playoffs.

The Lakers would face the defending champion Rockets in the first round. Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to beat the champions. Houston would win the series 3-1.

1999 Western Conference First Round

In the last year before Phil Jackson, the Lakers faced the Rockets in the first round. Del Harris would only last 12 games to start the season. Bill Bertka would go 1-0. Kurt Rambis would go 24-13 to finish out the regular season.

Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Shaquille O’Neal would be in their third year together. With the Bulls dynasty having concluded, the Rockets had morphed from the Hakeem- and Clyde Drexler-led teams to the Hakeem, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen Big 3.

In Game 1, the Lakers won on a pair of Kobe free throws in the final seconds. Game 2 saw Houston’s bench of Sam Mack, Brint Price, Othella Harrington carry the Rockets, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Lakers won handily, 110-98. In Houston, the Rockets came back to win Game 3 behind Pippen and Barkley, who each had at least 30 points.

Glen Rice would sit and Rick Fox would take his place in the starting 5 for Game 4, which would be all about the stars. Shaq would dominate Hakeem with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Kobe would join Shaq with 24 points, 6 boards, 8 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks as the Lakers would go on to eventually win the series.

2004 Western Conference First Round

The Lakers were en route to the Finals with Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton and Karl Malone — with Ime Udoka on the bench — while the Rockets were entering a new era with Yao Ming, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.

Throuout the series, it would be a different star showing out for each team. Game 1, it was Shaq with 20 points, 17 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Game 2, it was Kobe with 36 points and Yao with 21

Game 3, it was more balanced for both teams with Shaq and Kobe leading the Lakers with 25 and 21, respectively. Game 4, it was Malone had 30 points. Game 5 was closed out by Kobe with 31 points.

2009 Western Conference Semi-Finals

Kobe and Pau were on the heels of a Finals appearance in the previous year versus the Celtics.

This is probably the closest series between the two franchises just because of how hard it was to score and the intense defense on both sides. Four of the seven games would have final scores below 100 points.

Game 1 set the tone with the defense. Kobe would be battling flu-like symptoms but managed to still score 32 points in a losing effort. Game 2 would go better for the Lakers as they scored above 100 points, resulting in a win. LA would score north of 100 three times in the series and won all three games.

Game 7 turned out to be the lowest-scoring game of the series, but LA still came away with the win.

2020 Western Conference Semi-Finals

The first of two Lebron James-Rockets series. In the bubble, this would be a clash of styles with the Rockets going micro-ball and speedy defense while the Lakers were huge inside.

In Game 1, it was JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard struggled as the Rockets won. Frank Vogel called for a change in Game 2, turning to Markieff Morris in a more prominent role as LA bounced back. By Game 4, Markieff would start, as the Lakers won the final four games to take the series in five.

Coaches tie the Rockets and Lakers together throughout their history, from Riley, Harris and Winter.

This year, will Houston have a problem or will the Lakers be in too deep for their own good?

All playoff history for A Dip in the Lake is from landofbasketball.com

“Don’t let good be the enemy of great”. It’s something my father has told me since I was young. Just because the Phoenix Suns came up short in the 2021 NBA Finals doesn’t mean that the season was a failure. The same can be said about the 2023 Miami Heat that got to the last round as an eighth seed, and the Dallas Mavericks two seasons ago, when they surprised the masses in 2024.

That is the perspective that is most relevant when looking at the Suns before they face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. No matter what happens the rest of the way, the Suns exceeded expectations. While they struggled down the stretch of the season and lost the seventh seed in the 7/8 play-in game, they remained in the top eight for almost the entirety of the year, including being in the top six at times.

Going into the year, many had doubts about the Phoenix Suns. Many pundits and sports books had them projected to be one of the worst teams not only in the Western Conference, but in the entire league. The team’s Vegas win total before the season was 30.5. Outside of Phoenix Suns Insider John Gambadoro, most people were very bearish on the team’s outlook for the 2025-2026 campaign.

While at times the team showed flashes of being better than their record suggested, like when they beat the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City, and the Detroit Pistons, that doesn’t negate the fact that it was a great year for the team.

It’s not just that the Suns made the playoffs and blew away expectations; it’s that they have found a direction, which would have been true even if they had lost to the Golden Warriors in the play-in. The team has built an identity and a core around Devin Booker. Dillon Brooks has brought a much-needed toughness to the team. Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie present how Brian Gregory and Jordan Ott can build teams around the margins, and Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are examples of how veterans can have career years in Phoenix.

For a team that has limited draft assets for the foreseeable future, the development of Rasheer Fleming, Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Khaman Maluach remains pivotal. Outside of Ighodaro, none of them played consistent roles for the team this year, so it wasn’t a perfect season, but throughout the year, the team established that they are in a much better spot than they were a year ago.

It’s quite likely that the Suns get trounced by the Thunder, and if that happens, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Phoenix exceeded expectations from what they were projected to do to start the season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business in a blowout win to start the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

32 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Mark another special start to the playoffs for a guy who is one of the league’s most prolific postseason scorers ever. Mitchell expertly sliced his way through Toronto’s defense, splitting double teams like it was nothing. His finishing at the rim was completed by a 4-7 three-point shooting performance.

Grade: A+

James Harden

22 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

While Mitchell’s game was flash and fire, Harden took a more methodical approach. He carved the Raps up in the halfcourt, orchestrating the pick-and-roll to perfection and making sure the Cavalier offense never faltered. We should all be familiar with his shot creation by now, but I don’t plan on getting tired of it any time soon.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

Mobley played this game like someone ready to make a statement on the big stage. He was aggressive, attacking mismatches whenever they were offered to him. This offense will never cater to Mobley’s self-creation, but he can still be a massively impactful scorer due to his abilities as a play finisher. To that, he was excellent today.

Grade: A

Jarrett Allen

10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal

Allen opened this game with a fresh pair of shoes and three thunderous dunks. How’s that for a start?

The Cavs bigs understand what’s at stake this postseason. They’ve been labeled soft for years by their detractors. Only a strong showing in the playoffs can dispel that narrative once and for all. Both Mobley and Allen looked eager to get started on that.

The box score doesn’t tell the full story. Allen was a huge presence on both sides of the floor.

Grade: B+

Dean Wade

5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Wade airballed his first three-point attempt, then looked hesitant to shoot again. Once he finally did, it was a clean jumper from the corner during the fourth quarter. The Cavs’ offense flowed seamlessly regardless of Wade’s hesitancy, and the value he brings as their only true wing defender is irreplaceable. Wade finished as a plus 20 in 22 minutes.

Grade: B+

Max Strus

24 points, 3 rebounds

Strus looked spry in this one. He was quick off his feet, attacking a closeout early in the first half for a tough finish at the rim and then later doing the same thing all over again. He’s always had a knack for showing up in big moments, and today was no different.

Grade: A+

Keon Ellis

3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Ellis’ only bucket came on a potential four-point play as he was knocked down while shooting a three-pointer. He missed the free throw and didn’t score the rest of the day. His defense was positive, though limited against Toronto’s length.

Grade: C-

Jaylon Tyson

2 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 fouls

Tyson picked up three fouls in his first stint on the court. That’s not the way he wanted his playoff career to begin. However, I can’t fault him for trying to set the tone by being overly physical on defense. That’s something that usually turns into a positive in the playoffs.

Grade: F

Sam Merrill

7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Merrill started the game 0-3 from the field and wasn’t able to hit either of his three-point attempts. The Cavs will hope that changes as the series goes on. Otherwise, Merrill held his own on defense and contributed on the boards to save his grade. Of course, his gravity on offense has value on its own.

Grade: C+

Dennis Schroder

2 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound

I’m sure that Schroder is capable of having a better game than this. He’s someone I’d expect could swing a playoff game at one point throughout this run if his scoring, playmaking, and scrappy defense ever hit at the same time. That didn’t happen today.

Grade: D+

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business in Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon on the strength of a strong third quarter. They controlled the pace of the game and executed at a high level in the half-court thanks to superstar performances from their guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. This added up to a stress-free 126-113 victory.

The Raptors had a strong start. Three quick triples from Scottie Barnes allowed the Raptors to grab a five-point lead by the tail end of the opening quarter. The Cavs responded with seven-straight baskets to close the first, which included five points in the final 26 seconds from Max Strus to give Cleveland a four-point advantage at the end of the first.

Toronto responded well at the start of the second. They kept the Cavs from pulling away by continuing to execute their game plan on both ends, but they once again weren’t able to close the quarter well.

Harden controlled the tempo of the game while making sure the Cavs got a good shot on every possession. That was seen most clearly at the end of the second quarter when the Cavs stretched what was a two-point lead to a 10-point advantage near the end of the second. An RJ Barrett three just before time expired in the half made it a seven-point lead for the Cavs heading into the break.

Toronto’s first-half resiliency broke in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Cavs opened the third on a 21-6 run that was capped off by a triple and layup from Strus that pushed their seven-point lead at the break out to 22. Cleveland ended up winning that frame 36-22.

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To the Raptors’ credit, they didn’t roll over. They could’ve stopped competing and opted to save their energy for Game 2. Instead, they pushed through the finish line and kept things from getting completely away from them. But their chance to actually take this game ended with Strus’s run in the middle of the third quarter.

Mitchell led the Cavs with 32 points. He did so efficiently by going 11-20 from the field, while also contributing four assists and two steals. This was the ninth time he scored 30 or more in the opening game of a playoff series.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson liked how Mitchell got to the basket. “I love how downhill he was.” He pointed out that this was a team-wide focus. Mitchell went 7-11 in the paint in the victory.

Despite how well Mitchell played, this was a complete team performance.

Harden showed how valuable he can be. The Raptors struggled to keep him from getting to his spots. His court vision and ability to make every pass are invaluable in keeping the offense on schedule. Harden finished with 22 points on 8-17 shooting with 10 assists and two steals.

Afterward, Atkinson said this was a “typical” game from Harden. “He just commands the game.”

Strus didn’t score the most points, but his short scoring spurts came at the right times to change the momentum of the game. He supplied 24 points on 8-10 shooting, which included going 4-6 from three in the victory.

The Raptors were led by 24 points from RJ Barrett. Scottie Barnes had an inefficient 21 points on 6-14 shooting. Brandon Ingram had 17 points and four assists on 5-9 shooting.

This type of showing was important for the Cavs. They’ve struggled with intensity and effort throughout the regular season — especially in afternoon games. That wasn’t an issue here. The Cavs were the aggressors in both this game and the series.

“You set the tone first,” Atkinson said. “It’s hard to come back from that.”

In the Donovan Mitchell-era, playoff series have been won by the team that prevailed in Game 1. Cleveland is hoping that trend continues here.

Additionally, the victory brings the Cavs’ all-time record against the Raptors in the playoffs to 13-2.

Game 2 will be back at Rocket Arena on Monday evening. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

The NBA season has wrapped up and the playoffs have begun. As someone who also writes for Detroit Bad Boys, I highly encourage you to watch the #1 seed Detroit Pistons who look to have some postseason success for the first time in 15+ years.

Or, if you’re looking for some more postseason basketball now that March Madness is over, you can keep an eye out on a few MSU alums. There are seven total Michigan State Spartans currently in the NBA, but only one will see playoff minutes. You could argue it could be four Spartans if you include Draymond Green, Miles Bridges, and Xavier Tillman the after the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets lost their play-in games for the #8 seed last night.

Draymond has been with the Warriors since he was drafted in 2012. Miles has been with Charlotte since 2018 and Xavier teamed-up with him for the first time since they were teammates during Tillman’s freshman year.

Your sole Spartan in the playoffs is none other than Jase Richardson of the #8 seed Orlando Magic, who just happen to be matched up with the #1 Detroit Pistons. While Jase may not be a part of Magic’s postseason rotation, he’s still earning valuable experience as he finishes his rookie year.

Here are the final three Spartans in the NBA:

• Max Christie – Dallas Mavericks
• Gary Harris – Milwaukee Bucks
• Jaren Jackson Jr – Utah Jazz

He’s not a player, but I’ll at least give one last shoutout to Mat Isbhia, former MSU guard and current owner of the #8 seed Phoenix Suns.

Enjoy your playoff basketball!

Go Green.

Sixers to face Celtics team with everyone available in Game 1 of playoffs  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There wasn’t much material on the NBA’s injury report Saturday night for Game 1 of the Sixers’ first-round playoff series vs. the Celtics.

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) won’t play Game 1 Sunday afternoon at TD Garden and is out indefinitely. Everyone else on both sides is available.

Johni Broome is off the injury report for the first time since he suffered a right knee lateral meniscus tear in February. Tyrese Maxey will continue to play with a right pinky finger that’s taped up and clearly below 100 percent. Jayson Tatum is set to play his 17th game since returning from a ruptured Achilles.

The fact that the second-seeded Celtics are at full strength is one of many reasons they’re the consensus favorite in the best-of-seven series against the Sixers, who needed a play-in tournament victory over the Magic to clinch a playoff spot. 

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse indicated Friday that he’s not focused on the notion of the Sixers being serious underdogs. 

“I don’t really ever look at things this way,” Nurse said. “I think we’re playing a little better. I think we’re getting a little more used to each other again with this group of guys. 

“I just want to go in there and play really well. And if we play really well and play our backsides off, we should have a chance to do some stuff.”

Read more ahead of Sixers-Celtics 

18 thoughts and tidbits on Sixers vs. Celtics 1st-round series

The full series schedule for Sixers vs. Celtics in Round 1 of playoffs

For Sixers, Tatum a major ‘unknown’ after his return from Achilles injury

No shortage of special moments for Maxey-Edgecombe duo in postseason debut

Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics