Category: NBA

Close your eyes and think about the kid you always matched up against growing up. Little League, Pee Wee hoops, doesn’t matter. Just picture that little stinker and that matchup.

Physical. Annoying. A little chippy. Probably would give you wet willies when you weren’t looking.

And no matter how many times you played them, it never really got less personal.

That’s Celtics vs. Sixers.

Not in the “classic rivalry” sense — in Joel Embiid’s words, “this is not a rivalry, they always kick our ass.” But in the sense that these two teams just keep running into each other. Over and over again. More than any other matchup in playoff history, in fact.

For the 23rd time in NBA history, it’ll be Boston vs. Philadelphia in the playoffs. It’s familiar. It’s layered. And even when one team is clearly better, the games don’t always cooperate with that reality.

Which brings us to the question that might actually decide this series: what happens if these games are still tight late?

The Sixers need to keep things close

The Philadelphia 76ers had the #1 clutch-time defense in the NBA this season. Not top five. The best. They held teams to a 98.6 defensive rating in 174 total minutes of clutch situations. In the NBA, a clutch situation is officially defined as any time during the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, where the score differential between the two teams is five points or less.

They’ve already shown what that clutch-time defense looks like against Boston.

Both of their wins over the Celtics this season came down to the final possessions. If you rule out the Celtics 114-98 blowout win versus Philly on March 1st, the other three games were decided by a total of four points. Four! Two of those resulted in losses for Boston, falling in the regular-season opener 117-116, and losing again in Philadelphia on November 11, 102-100. Those two losses were the exact kind of games where everything slows down and every decision gets magnified.

That’s where this series can drift into something it probably shouldn’t be.

The Celtics don’t need to be perfect.

Here’s the thing with this Celtics team. When they look like themselves, the game usually ends before it ever becomes a “clutch” game.

Ball moves. Shots fall. Defense travels. You look up midway through the fourth and it’s a 15-point game that never really felt in doubt.

That’s the version of Boston that wins this series in five and we all get to start thinking about Round 2.

But for Boston, every now and then, the game tilts a little. And if it tilts long enough in this series, it could be closer than we’re hoping for.

We’ve seen the version of Boston that gets a little too comfortable with isolation play, whether it’s Brown or Tatum holding on to the ball until the shot clock hits nine before they decide to start the action. This shows up most in games where Boston builds a big early lead. Complacency and standing still are the demons of this team. When they get away from playing their game, the threes stop falling. The offense gets a little sticky. Possessions start ending in tougher shots than they probably should. Nothing catastrophic — just enough to keep the other team hanging around.

You look at the scoreboard, now it’s eight. Then six. Then four.

And suddenly you’re playing the Sixers’ game.

For a team that was pretty average for most of the season, the math changes for Philly when games get tight late. And for whoever they’re playing, the focus shifts from who generated better shots over 40 minutes to who executes over the next eight.

A big part of this series will be determined by whether the Celtics can still get clean looks when everything tightens.

For the Sixers, it’ll be determined by whether they can turn the game into a half-court grind, where their guards can pressure the ball, switch across actions, and force Boston into late-clock decisions. And if guys like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe can create just enough offense while the defense does its elite thing, look out.

Lastly, if Joel Embiid somehow appears at any point in this series — even in a limited role — that dynamic gets even more pronounced. Slower pace, more physicality, more chances to drag things into the mud.

That’s not where Boston wants to live.

The stat just tells the story

Yes, the clutch defensive rating matters. It tells you Philly is elite in those moments. But the real takeaway is simpler than that. 

The Sixers need these games to stay close. The Celtics don’t.

If Boston does what it’s done all season — moves the ball, avoids self-inflicted mistakes, and builds real separation — this matchup probably ends without much drama. If they don’t, and they keep letting Philly hang around late, then all of a sudden you’re playing a different kind of series.

The kind where one bounce, one possession, one weird stretch decides things.

The kind of game you remember from growing up.

The one against that kid.

Let’s not get it twisted, the Celtics are the better team in this series. But being the better team doesn’t always equate to advancing to the next round. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten the ‘06-’07 We Believe Warriors, or the ‘10-’11 Mavericks taking down the first version of the Heatles? I can still hear The Jet flying overhead.

Again, playoff series don’t always reward the better team in a straight line. They reward the team that controls what the game (and the series) becomes.

Right now, there are two versions of this series sitting right in front of us. One where Boston plays its game and moves on, and one where things get just uncomfortable enough, just often enough, that Philly gets exactly what it wants.

That’s the margin. And it might come down to whether the Celtics can stay far enough away from the exact kind of game the Sixers have already proven they’re built to win.

If you never got the best of that rival twerp of yours growing up, you should feel pretty good about this matchup. The Sixers aren’t bringing their usual firepower to the table, and if Boston handles its business, they should be the ones handing out the wet willies all series long.

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Whether you’re saddling up at the urinal, putting on a one-man show, or making your NBA postseason debut, stage fright can get the best of us.

Just ask Charlotte Hornets rookie sensation Kon Knueppel, who suddenly forgot how to shoot in Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament win after a record-setting first season in the pros.

Knueppel came out ice cold from beyond the arc and couldn’t find his way in the offense, eventually getting the hook late in the game.

Our Hornets vs. Magic predictions won’t discount the Duke product too much in Friday’s Play-In finale but my NBA picks take a different way to wager on Knueppel’s contributions.

Hornets vs Magic prediction

Who will win Hornets vs Magic?

Hornets: Oddsmakers call for a close contest but how much more can the Magic endure? Orlando botched the season finale to fall to No. 8, have locker room rumors swirling about its head coach, and watched its star player shit the bed in the Play-In.

The Hornets, on the other hand, continue to play at a high level and have been one of the best two-way teams since the break. Plus, Charlotte has won three of four matchups with the Magic this season.

Hornets vs Magic best bet: Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 Assists (-115)

The Charlotte Hornets’ star rookie had a rotten postseason debut, finishing 2-for-12 from the field, including a goose egg on six attempts beyond the arc. 

What’s more disappointing is that Kon Knueppel couldn’t find other ways to contribute and found himself on the bench in crunch time. He logged just six minutes in the fourth quarter — and an extra frame — on Tuesday.

While all eyes go to his chilly shooting performance, Knueppel also recorded just one assist in the OT win over the Miami Heat and generated only two potential assists over his 34 minutes.

On the season, Knueppel has averaged almost 3.5 assists on 6.3 potential dimes per game. Before the Play-In, he had dished out three or more assists in four of the final five games of the schedule, including two five-dime showings.

The Hornets need more from Knueppel than long-range chucks if they’re going to punch their ticket to the playoffs Friday. In the two most recent matchups with the Orlando Magic, Knueppel dished out four assists in each outing – both one-sided wins for Charlotte. 

With the Magic boasting one of the tighter perimeter defenses (33.8% - third lowest since the break) and the fourth lowest 3-point attempts against, Knueppel will find himself making the extra pass rather than letting it fly from deep.

His player projections for Friday’s win-and-in contest sit north of three assists, and this total of 2.5 O/U is just the fourth time in the past 11 games that his assist prop has been this low.

Hornets vs Magic same-game parlay

The Hornets are on the road but have the rest and prep edge due to the East Play-In schedule getting flipped in Philadelphia. Charlotte showed an ability to adapt to off-games from its stars and never stopped fighting in the win over Miami. 

If Knueppel isn’t getting his looks from long range, Brandon Miller picks up the slack. He’s been electric for the Hornets and is forecasted for as many as 22.5 points on Friday. Miller has scored 25 and 20 in his last two matchups with the Magic.

Hornets vs Magic SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
• Brandon Miller Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wrath of Kon

The rookie has something to prove after laying an egg in his first taste of tournament action and must find other ways to impact the game beyond 3-pointers.

Knueppel’s projections call for as many as six rebounds and four assists in the Play-In finale, which could turn into a low-scoring slog. A slower pace of play and a lack of perimeter points will keep this final below the total.

Hornets vs Magic SGP

• Hornets -3.5
• Under 218.5
• Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
• Kon Knueppel Over 5.5 rebounds

Hornets vs Magic odds

• Spread: Charlotte -3.5 | Orlando +3.5
• Moneyline: Charlotte -170 | Orlando +145
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5

Hornets vs Magic betting trend to know

The Hornets are 13-3 SU and 9-7 ATS as road favorites this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Magic.

How to watch Hornets vs Magic

Hornets vs Magic latest injuries

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VJ Edgecombe never truly hit the proverbial rookie wall. Sure, he had ups and downs like any first-year player, but it was less peaks and valleys and more open road with a few speed bumps.

But his most important test came Wednesday night as the seventh-seeded Sixers hosted the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. He was up for it, stuffing the stat sheet and flying around the floor in the Sixers’ 109-97 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

In case you couldn’t tell, Edgecombe was a bit excited for his first taste of postseason basketball.

“I was tweaking a little bit tonight,” he said postgame. “But I was able to settle in a little bit, calm down.”

Generally, a young player will either not be aggressive enough and need a push or be overaggressive and need to be reined in. Most coaches will tell you they prefer the latter.

“I thought he made some … a little bit off-the-script decisions tonight with the ball,” Nick Nurse said postgame, “but didn’t matter the rest of the game. He was flying for rebounds, he was guarding really hard.”

Edgecombe chuckled when asked about his head coach’s analysis.

“I guess it happens when you let a kid play in such a high-intensity game, but I was out there having fun,” he said. “If I gotta play wild for us to win, I’ll play wild.”

It wasn’t the most efficient night as Edgecombe went 7-of-16 from the field and 1-of-5 from three. He also had four turnovers, perhaps the excitement leading to overzealousness.

But it’s impossible to deny the impact he made. He scored 19 points, but maybe his most important stat of the night was his 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end. The Magic finished 12th in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage during the regular season. You will not be surprised to learn, dear reader, that the Sixers were 26th in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage.

Much was made about Orlando’s size and physicality entering this game, but it felt like the Sixers were the aggressors all night.

Early on, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered an obvious illegal screen to Franz Wagner. Oubre then proceeded to get into a verbal fracas with Paolo Banchero, resulting in double technicals. The message seemed clear: the Sixers were not going to be bullied.

Edgecombe was right in the thick of it all.

The Sixers were on Banchero’s hip all night, forcing six turnovers on him alone. In the middle of the third, Paul George, who was excellent defensively, picked Banchero’s pocket. He then flipped a pass ahead to Edgcombe with just the feisty Jalen Suggs in his path. Edgecombe went right at him, with All-Defensive Team pick just sort of helplessly retreating. It was a pretty finish for the rookie and the bucket extended the lead to 11.

But Edgecombe again got a little wild, getting right in Suggs’ face on the landing. The officials, who really officiated the hell out of this one (derogatory), reviewed the play and hit Edgecombe with a technical for taunting.

“It got a little chippy early,” he said. “We’re out there hooping, I just thought my momentum took me all the way there. … That’s what I was telling (crew chief) Tony (Brothers), but he wasn’t buying it. … I don’t know, man. I wasn’t a fan of it, but it’s cool.”

With the Sixers clinging to a five-point lead late in the fourth, they really needed a good possession. They got one as Andre Drummond, who was fantastic Wednesday, hit Edgecombe with a nice pass on a cut. Edgecombe met Wendell Carter Jr. at the rim and completed a tough, physical finish.

In his excitement, the 20-year-old flexed his muscles.

“You like that?” Edgecombe asked the reporter with a laugh. “I just tried to muscle my way through and finish. And obviously, they have a good rim protector, so just try to go through his chest, make a good finish and then flex on them a little bit, ya know?”

Tyrese Maxey, who led the Sixers with 31 points, wasn’t amused in the moment, but could laugh postgame at his rook’s exuberance.

“He made a layup today and he was screaming and I was like, ‘please, get back.’” Maxey said. “But VJ is great. He’s gonna be perfectly fine. His demeanor is great. His work ethic is great. … The winning basketball plays he makes, that’s what’s special about him.”

Edgecombe spoke to reporters with the energy of a child recapping all the cool gifts he got for Christmas. His desire to compete is so obvious.

Coming out of the draft, Edgecombe got some Jimmy Butler comparisons. You could sort of see it with Edgecombe’s athleticism, frame and two-way play.

But the biggest takeaway about Edgecombe Wednesday is that, like Butler, he is a dog.

“He always just seems to make winning basketball plays,” said George. “He just has so many intangibles that contributes to winning. He’s built for the playoffs. The teams that succeed are full of those kind of guys. Once everything else starts to click, man — he’s continuing to prove that he’s special.”

As the Sixers embark on a series with the Boston Celtics, a team chock full of winning players, Edgecombe’s value only becomes more apparent. He had to contend with jumbo-sized playmakers in Banchero and Wagner. The job doesn’t get any easier with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum looming in the first round.

Edgecombe knows what to expect.

“They’re just going to try and bully. That’s all,” he said. “They’re going to put their head down, so I just try to beat them to the spot. The ball gotta touch the floor, so as soon as the ball touch the floor, I try to poke at it. … Obviously, [Banchero and Wagner are] like 6-10, but I ain’t scared of nobody. … Regardless of who you is, I’m gonna try and I ain’t scared. I ain’t gonna back up if you’re running at me. You just gotta run me over.“

Who knows how Edgecombe will fare in his first NBA Playoff series, but, much like his performance in Boston on opening night, you know he’ll be ready.

“I love Philly fans,” he said. “They were loud. the intensity, the physicality — it was great. That’s the type of game I live for.”

On Monday, the NBA released the top-selling jerseys from the 2025-26 regular season. While the list of course features many mainstays, popular players like Steph Curry and LeBron James, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg appeared on the list with the ninth-best-selling jersey.

This news came as a bit of a surprise to me, at least. Last year was a chaotic and challenging year for many Maverick fans, with some swearing off the franchise entirely. An injection of hope came in the form of the Mavericks moving up in the NBA Lottery for the first time in their history, where they later selected Cooper Flagg as the clear number one choice in the draft.

But the Mavericks got off to a slow start, with Flagg in an undefined role, trying to fit in with Anthony Davis and a cast of other veteran players. As the season rolled on, it quickly became clear Dallas had a future superstar on their hands; the game that sticks in my mind is a 116-114 loss to the Bucks where Flagg went off in clutch time. The NBA had Dallas in numerous national television slots in the first half of the season and fans were clearly exposed to his intense brand of basketball. That clearly translated to jersey sales, both in Dallas and around the league.

The list as a whole is pretty fun, given the range. Steph Curry is coming in at number one despite playing in the same place for 17 seasons. LeBron James, of course, still on the list after a million years in the NBA. Jayson Tatum’s still the man in Boston despite missing most of the season working on a return from an Achilles tear.

The question I have is how high can Cooper rise? He’s not passing a Luka Doncic or an Anthony Edwards, I don’t think at least. But Flagg being this popular this soon is very interesting!

The final weeks of the regular season are when the top teams visibly turn their attention to the postseason. They know who they are and what their identity will be in the playoffs. Unless the team is vying for a higher seeding, you will see a visible dip in play for the final weeks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of those teams that could not adopt this mentality. The team underwent a constant need for change due to injuries, transactions, and troubleshooting.

Now, this in itself isn’t the reason to discount this team from true championship contention. It takes a deeper look, looking past just wins and losses, and more so, the manner in which this team wins its games. Is there something that is a viable blueprint for the intensive style that the playoffs demand?

I know the comment section is going to be riddled with “the team won 50+ games despite all hurdles in their way.” I think this line of thinking is setting fans up to believe that there is another gear left in this team. The Cavaliers have shown us who they are, even without all personnel being healthy. I don’t think this team’s faults are going to be all fixed with a healthy roster.

The Cavaliers’ biggest issue is that their effort hasn’t been there all season. Now, in the regular season, they can coast by due to their massive talent advantage on most nights. Look closely at wins and how those came to be for the Cavaliers. Very rarely, if ever, did the Cavaliers rise to the challenge and shut off the opponent’s water. Instead, this team lives and dies by outscoring opponents, even as those opponents move the ball and score with relative ease.

How many times have we had the players, coaches, or even the media call out the effort, or lack thereof, from this team? More than any supposed championship caliber team should. The lack of meeting the call to action is another problem.

For all of the great work head coach Kenny Atkinson has done this year with putting together a puzzle with different pieces night after night, the one problem he hasn’t been able to solve is the Cavaliers’ willingness to compete on the defensive end.

Defense in the NBA is inseparable from effort because it requires constant physical and mental engagement on every possession. This is dialed up to an eleven in the postseason. Each possession feels almost like a game within itself. Unlike offense, where players can rely on skill or pick their moments, defense demands sustained intensity whether its staying in front of opponents, fighting through screens, rotating on time, and contesting shots all hinge on how hard a player is willing to work.

Since the beginning of March, the Cavaliers have gone 15-6. While that would lead one to the inclination that the team found some level of consistency on the defensive end. It becomes less reassuring that, in that stretch, only four of those teams were top-six playoff seeds (Celtics, Lakers, Hawks twice, and Pistons). Not only can you question the caliber of the opponent, but also whether defense was played at all. In those games, the Cavs surrendered 110 points or more regularly to the likes of the Memphis Grizzlies (126), Miami Heat (128 and 120), Orlando Magic (131 and 128), and the Dallas Mavericks (130).

Due to the areas in which the Toronto Raptors excel, fastbreaks and driving to the basket, it feels like the team will be a good stress test for the Cavaliers. The Raptors, if they were to give the Cavaliers a hard time, would be winning games from the extra effort they exert on every possession. The Cavaliers will have to match that energy with the pace of play the Raptors will try to instill. While the talent gap may be able to cover some effort deficiencies in round 1, the Pistons, Knicks, or Celtics will not grant those same luxuries. You would rather they buy into sustained effort early so they don’t get sucker punched in round 2 and onward.

This feels far from a flip-the-switch scenario. Effort isn’t something you can turn on and off; it’s a standard you establish, and the Cavaliers haven’t consistently shown that standard on defense. Their defensive inconsistencies aren’t just schematic; they stem from a recurring lack of effort, which has shown up too often to ignore.

When a team spends the regular season coasting defensively and relying on talent to outscore opponents, it’s difficult to suddenly manufacture the discipline, urgency, and cohesion required in a playoff environment. If the mentalities nurtured and ingrained from playing the Wizards and Grizzlies of the world seep into their postseason play, the Cavaliers’ season will be over sooner rather than later.

2026 NBA playoff simulation: Can the Celtics make another title run? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

So much for a “gap year.” The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them back in the Finals this June.

The Celtics’ playoff run begins Sunday with Game 1 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Boston is heavily favored to win the series, but if it does advance, it won’t be an easy road to Banner 19.

Last year, the C’s quest for a repeat ended with a loss to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals. The archrivals would meet for a rematch if the No. 3 seed Knicks take care of business against the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks.

Will the C’s get over the hump this time, or should we expect another early exit? Our friends at Strat-O-Matic simulated the entire 2025-26 NBA playoff bracket.

Here are the results…

First Round: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2

The Sixers stun the C’s with back-to-back wins to start the series at TD Garden. Boston rebounds with a dominant Game 3 win in Philly, followed by three more victories to close out the first-round clash in six games.

East Semifinals: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-3

Strat-O-Matic’s simulation predicts a rematch between the longtime archrivals. It takes all seven games, but the Celtics close out the thrilling series with a nail-biter victory at TD Garden. Five of the seven games are decided by five points or fewer.

East Finals: No. 1 Detroit Pistons defeat No. 2 Celtics, 4-2

The Celtics steal the first two games on the road to take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to TD Garden, but the Pistons respond by taking both games in Boston to even the series. Detroit stays hot with a win back home and again at TD Garden to win the series in six and advance to the NBA Finals.

Celtics’ top playoff performers

Jaylen Brown continued to lead the Celtics after a spectacular regular season, averaging 26.8 points per game over the three playoff series. Jayson Tatum averaged 22.6 points per game.

Western Conference Playoffs

First Round

• No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder defeat No. 8 Golden State Warriors, 4-2
• No. 5 Houston Rockets defeat No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
• No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves defeat No. 3 Denver Nuggets, 4-3
• No. 2 San Antonio Spurs defeat No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, 4-2

West Semifinals

• No. 1 Thunder defeat No. 5 Rockets, 4-3
• No. 2 Spurs defeat No. 6 Timberwolves, 4-2

West Finals

• No. 2 Spurs defeat No. 1 Thunder, 4-1

2025 NBA Finals: Spurs defeat Pistons, 4-2

In a rematch of the 2005 Finals, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs take down the Pistons in six games for their first NBA title since 2014.

Celtics vs. Sixers rivalry is one of the best in NBA playoff history originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NBA’s best rivalry is the Boston Celtics versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Those two teams have met in the NBA Finals an astounding 12 times.

But second place on the league’s rivalry rankings is probably the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.

These long-time Eastern Conference foes have produced so many amazing playoff moments, and a new chapter will be written over the next two weeks when the C’s and Sixers meet in the first round, beginning Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

It will be the 23rd playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers. Boston has won 15 of the first 22, including six in a row. The last time the 76ers won a playoff series against the Celtics was the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals.

One of the early and most iconic playoff moments in league history came in Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals (known as the Division Finals at the time) when Celtics forward John Havlicek won the series vs. the 76ers with a steal on the final play. Johnny Most’s legendary radio call of “Havlicek stole the ball” only added to the mystique.

Celtics center and Hall of Famer Bill Russell went 7-1 against the 76ers in his playoff career, with the only defeat coming in the 1967 Eastern Conference Finals. Russell and the C’s got their revenge the following year by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Sixers in the conference finals.

The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals was another all-time classic.

The C’s overcame a 3-1 series deficit and won Game 7 at the old Boston Garden. Larry Bird scored 23 points with 11 rebounds, including a go-ahead bank shot with just over a minute remaining, to help the C’s win 91-90. Boston won the final three games of the series by a combined five points. The C’s would go on to beat the Houston Rockets in the 1981 NBA Finals for the first of three titles with Bird.

Few people would have predicted after the Celtics beat the 76ers in the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals that these teams wouldn’t meet again in the playoffs until 2002. In fact, the 1990s is the only decade in which Boston and Philly didn’t square off in the postseason.

Both teams were not contenders for much of the 1990s, but by the early 2000s, each team had once again become a playoff-caliber group. The 76ers lost the 2001 NBA Finals to the Lakers, and their Eastern Conference title defense the following season started against the Celtics in Round 1. The C’s were making their first playoff appearance in seven years, and they took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. The 76ers stormed back to tie the series and force a deciding Game 5 in Boston, where Paul Pierce scored 46 points (8-for-10 on 3-pointers) in a 33-point Celtics win.

The new Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen made five playoff appearances together but only once played against the 76ers. It was a 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, and Boston prevailed with a Game 7 win.

The Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum era of Celtics basketball has seen three series against the 76ers. The last one featured a Game 7 in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Tatum set a Game 7 record with 51 points in a 112-88 victory (highlights in the video below). He was the star in Game 6 on the road, too. The Celtics were facing elimination and trailed with four minutes left, and then Tatum dominated with 16 points in the quarter as the C’s forced a Game 7.

The Celtics are heavy favorites in the upcoming series as the No. 2 seed.

Brown has played at an MVP level this season, and Tatum is starting to look like his old self about a month-and-a-half into his return from an Achilles injury. The Sixers also could be without star center Joel Embiid for some of this series after he underwent an emergency appendectomy last week.

But you never know how these rivalry series will play out.

The Celtics were underdogs against the 76ers in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both out due to injury. But led by a second-year Brown and rookie Tatum, the C’s won the series in just five games.

Here’s a look at every playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers. Note: The Sixers were the Syracuse Nationals from 1946 to 1963.

1953 East Division Semifinals

Celtics win series 2-0

1954 East Division Finals

Nationals win series 2-0

1955 East Division Finals

Nationals win series 3-1

1956 East Division Semifinals

Nationals win series 2-1

1957 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 3-0

1959 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 4-3

1961 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 4-1

1965 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 4-3

1966 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 4-1

1967 East Division Finals

76ers win series 4-1

1968 East Division Finals

Celtics win series 4-3

1969 East Division Semifinals

Celtics win series 4-1

1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals

76ers win series 4-3

1980 Eastern Conference Finals

76ers win series 4-1

1981 Eastern Conference Finals

Celtics win series 4-3

1982 Eastern Conference Finals

76ers win series 4-3

1985 Eastern Conference Finals

Celtics win series 4-1

2002 Eastern Conference First Round

Celtics win series 3-2

2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Celtics win series 4-3

2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Celtics win series 4-1

2020 Eastern Conference First Round

Celtics win series 4-0

2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Celtics win series 4-3

Lakers guard Luka Doncic will be eligible for postseason awards after the NBA and NBA Players Assn. announced Thursday they ruled in his favor on his extraordinary circumstances appeal of the 65-game rule.

Doncic, a leading candidate for most valuable player and a lock for his sixth All-NBA team, played in only 64 games before he suffered a regular-season ending left hamstring injury on April 2. The league's latest collective bargaining agreement requires players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards, but Doncic and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham both won appeals under the CBA’s extraordinary circumstances provision.

Doncic missed two games in December to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia and Cunningham, whose career season led the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, missed 12 games because of a collapsed lung suffered on March 17.

“I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision,” Doncic wrote in a statement on social media. “It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark [Walter], Jeanie [Buss], Rob [Pelinka], JJ [Redick], and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there."

Doncic earned his second league scoring title this season with 33.5 points per game. He surged back into the most valuable player race with a magical March when he was just the second player to score 600 points in March, joining Michael Jordan. He had four consecutive games of 40 or more points and 12 of 30 or more before injuring his hamstring on April 2. He and guard Austin Reaves (oblique) are out indefinitely as the Lakers begin the playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

Read more:Deandre Ayton knows the Lakers need him to be his best in the playoffs

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham are eligible for awards despite the 65-game rule, NBA and players' association decide.

The end for an NBA coach can be brutal and sudden, even for teams that make the playoffs. Last year, twoplayoff teams even got rid of their coach right before the postseason began. It's not the profession for those seeking job security.

No such turmoil occurred to close the 2025-26 NBA regular season, but there is nonetheless a group of coaches still coaching as of Thursday, April 16 that could be fired soon if the high-stakes games of the 2026 NBA playoffs don't go their way.

A team's playoff ledger relative to expectations often supersedes the number of wins accrued over the months-long slog preceding the postseason. Those that fall short under these bright lights are eventually discarded, and NBA coaches have traditionally been among the most dispensable.

Here are five coaches currently in the NBA's postseason who are on the hot seat, especially if their team were to suffer an early exit from the playoffs:

Down in South Philadelphia last night, the crowd filled in slowly for the Sixers’ Play-In Tournament matchup with the Magic. Blame traffic concerns if you’d like given that the Phillies were hosting a game across the street too and the simple fact that it was a weeknight. Sitting at Xfinity Mobile Arena before tipoff, both levels of the stands were fairly dead. Would the fan base lay an egg for this one? I couldn’t blame them much if that was the case.

The Sixers were playing for the right to be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and likely lose to the Celtics in the postseason for the sixth time this century. Joel Embiid was sidelined as he recovers from surgery for appendicitis while his timetable for returning to the court remains unclear. The promises of the Process and those first handful of playoff runs in the Embiid era have evaporated. Most people in this city are bitter about the team, or, even worse, apathetic.

Things, however, shifted as the game progressed. The arena filled up. People were decked out in jerseys from across the decades for the franchise, from Julius Erving to Allen Iverson to even a lingering Dario Šarić that I saw. Fans fed off the energy of the Sixers’ dynamic backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. By the time Andre Drummond, the unsung hero of the evening, nailed a three-pointer with under a minute to go in the first half, the crowd popped. It was as if the clock turned back to a time where anything was possible for the direction of the Sixers as unlimited possibilities were staring at us for the next decade.

I remember being there for the Sixers’ first post-Process playoff game against the Heat in 2018. It may have only been six years since the last time the Sixers were in the postseason, but it felt closer to 60. The Sixers torched Miami in the 27-point victory as vets Marco Belinelli and Ersan İlyasova went supernova off the bench and rookie sensation Ben Simmons dished out 14 assists. It was everything I had dreamed of playing out in front of my own eyes.

I’m a Sixers pessimist. That has been abundantly clear for a while, likely dating back to the team’s 2021 collapse against Atlanta that I’ve never fully recovered from in terms of my fandom. Still, it’s nice to get wrapped up in something bigger than ourselves, right? That’s how it felt watching this team pull out that win. Roaring after yet another improbable Drummond three near the end of the fourth quarter that padded the Sixers’ lead with 20,000 people is what it’s all about.

This all may be fleeting. I am not entertaining a miraculous upset of the Celtics in the coming days. I also imagine quite a few Boston fans, both those from the New England area and the disgusting locals who root for them, will be present and diminish the Sixers’ home court energy. At the very least, this win over Orlando was a call back to what makes playoff basketball so special for the fans in attendance and, maybe, just maybe, a harbinger of brighter days for the franchise in the future (maybe the distant future…).

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale will miss at least the first two weeks of the NBA playoffs because of his sprained right ankle.

Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 regular-season games with Atlanta. He sustained a high ankle sprain on April 1 at Orlando. The Hawks say he “is progressing in his rehabilitation” and “will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.” An update is expected after his re-evaluation.

Atlanta is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and opens its first-round series at the third-seeded New York Knicks on Saturday.

The Hawks addressed a lack of depth at center — Kristaps Porzingis has been unavailable much of the season and N’Faly Dante is out for the year — by acquiring Landale from Utah for cash considerations in early February. He never played for the Jazz and was with them less than a day after being part of an eight-player trade involving Memphis.

The 30-year-old Landale averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 45 games for Memphis.

The Australian is in his fifth NBA season. He made his NBA debut with San Antonio in the 2021-22 season and also has played for Phoenix and Houston.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Boston Celtics are going to be facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs this season after they beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the Play-In Tournament. This is the 23rd time that Boston and Philadelphia have faced off against each other, the most in NBA playoff history.

The Celtics have an all time playoff record of 66-50 against the 76ers that dates back to when Philadelphia went by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1950s. Boston is 15-7 all time in playoff series against Philadelphia, dominating the matchup especially in recent memory.

2026 Regular Season Series

Before we take a trip down memory lane, lets look at the 2026 regular season matchups between Boston and Philadelphia where they split the season series. The first matchup was all the way back to Opening Night on October 22nd where Philly beat Boston 117-116 in TD Garden. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 40 point alongside one of the best rookie debut performances in NBA History from VJ Edgecombe who dropped 34 points. Boston was led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White who had 25 points each and the Celtics almost won if the game winning shot by Payton Pritchard went in at the final buzzer.

Game 2 was was only nine days on October 31st where Jaylen Brown gave the city of Philadelphia a Halloween fright, dropping 32 points in a 109-108 win for Boston on the road. This game was almost the opposite of Opening Night where it was Joel Embiid who missed the game wining three at the buzzer after Quinten Grimes dribbled out the shot clock. Anfernee Simons had a great game for Boston off the bench with 19 points while Maxey led the way for the 76ers with 26 points.

Boston played their third game against Philadelphia only eleven days later on November 11th where it finished as another close game, this time the 76ers winning 102-100 at home. Kelly Oubre Jr was the hero for Philly with a game winning put-back layup with 8.7 seconds to go and a Derrick White half court heave at the buzzer just missed. This was also known as the “Justin Edwards Game” where he led the 76ers with 22 points on 8-9 shooting from the field and 5-6 shooting from three. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 24 points but it wasn’t enough.

The final game of the season series didn’t come until four months later where on March 1st, Boston beat Philadelphia 114-98 in TD Garden, the biggest margin of victory between these teams all year. It was a close game with under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter before the Celtics rattled off an 11-1 run to close it out. This was the Neemias Queta Legacy Game where he dropped a career high 27 points and 17 rebounds on 10-14 shooting, dominating the 76ers underneath the basket. Brown also finished with 27 points for Boston while Maxey led the way with 33 points for Philadelphia.

Early Years: Celtics vs Nationals/76ers (1953-1969)

Back in the day when there was only 8 to 9 teams in the NBA, the Celtics and Nationals would face off almost every season from 1953-1961. In that time frame Boston had the upper hand in this matchup with a record of 15-13 in 7 different matchups in this span.

In 1953 we saw the Celtics sweep the Nationals in the first round in a three game series behind 50 points from Bob Cousy on 10-22 shooting and 30-32 from the free throw line in a Game 2 that had four overtimes. Syracuse would respond by winning the next three series from 1954-1956. Two of these matchups came in what is now the conference finals and ending in a championship in 1955.

Boston came back in 1957 in the first five game series of this matchup, sweeping the Nationals in the first playoff series of Bill Russell’s career. After taking down Syracuse, Boston made their first NBA Finals where they won win their first championship in franchise history over the St. Louis Hawks. Little did we know this would start the greatest dynasty in NBA history.

Boston faced off against Syracuse two more times in 1959 and 1961 ending in Celtics victories and two more championships. The Nationals would leave Syracuse in 1963 and move to the City of Brotherly Love, now called the Philadelphia 76ers and trading for a superstar named Wilt Chamberlain.

The rebrand did not change their luck against the Celtics however, as Boston beat them four times in five years from 1965-1969. The one time Philadelphia beat Boston was in 1967 where they won the championship but the other four times ended in the Celtics winning it all.

Lull Period: Celtics vs 76ers (1977)

Boston was in the process of restarting their dynasty in the mid-70s, winning the championship in 1974 and 1976 but didn’t face Philadelphia at all in this time. The 76ers on the other hand were struggling post losing Wilt Chamberlain but just acquired Julius Erving ahead of the 1977 season. This did wonders for Philly as they were back in real playoff contention and met Boston in the second round of the playoffs in 1977.

This series went all 7 games with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek doing their best to lead Boston while Erving dominated for Philadelphia. In Game 7, it was a close game but ended with the 76ers beating the Celtics in a playoff series for the first time since 1967. World B. Free led the way for Philadelphia with 27 points off the bench while Cowens struggled with only 11 points on 5-16 shooting. The 76ers went on to make the NBA Finals in 1977, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in 6 games.

This was the end of the Celtics dynasty of the 70s but it was just the beginning of them seeing the 76ers in the playoffs on a yearly basis once the 1980s began.

Bird Years: Celtics vs 76ers (1980-1985)

The Celtics had a brand new star to lead them back to glory in the 80’s and his name was Larry Bird. Bird’s rookie year in 1980 saw him win Rookie of the Year and lead Boston back to the playoffs. After sweeping the Houston Rockets in the first round, Bird lead the Celtics into his first matchup against the 76ers in the second round of the 1980 playoffs. Sadly, Philadelphia would win the series in 5 games and 76ers would make the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angels Lakers.

Boston would respond to this loss in 1981 by beating the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals in 7 game series. Larry Bird led the way with 23 points in Game 7 and the Celtics would take down the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals for their 14th championship. Philadelphia came back in 1982 and blew out Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, once again losing to the Lakers in the Finals. Hopefully, the 76ers would enjoy this victory over Boston because it would be the last time they beat the Celtics in a playoff series.

The Celtics wouldn’t play the 76ers in the playoffs again until 1985 where Boston dominated Philly, winning the Eastern Conference Finals in 5 games but losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Boston wouldn’t play Philadelphia again for another 17 years, bringing the rivalry into the 21st century.

Pierce Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2002-2012)

The 90s were a rough decade for the Celtics but one positive that came out of it was drafting Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to be stars of the future. The duo made their first playoff appearance together in 2002 and faced off against the 76ers in the First Round. They would destroy the 2001 Eastern Conference Champion 76ers led by Allen Iverson, winning the series in 5 games. Pierce went nuclear in Game 5, where he dropped 46 points on 16-25 shooting while Walker finished with 26 points on 11-22 shooting.

The Celtics would ride this momentum to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance after beating the Pistons in 5 games in the Second Round before losing to the New Jersey Nets in 5 Games. The Nets would go on to get swept by the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Paul Pierce wouldn’t face off against the 76ers again until the Second Round in the 2012 Playoffs and a lot had changed in a decade. He was the Finals MVP in the Celtics 2008 NBA Championship with new co-stars in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. However, this was the Last Dance for this iteration of the Celtics and they faced off against a scrappy 76ers team who made it past the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose tore his ACL. They were led by All-Star Andre Iguodala and a young core of guys like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams.

In theory this should have been an easy series for the Celtics to win but the 76ers put up a fight, forcing a Game 7 back in TD Garden after trading wins through the first six games. In that Game 7 the new core of Celtics were able to squash the 76ers Cinderella story, led by Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo who scored 18 points. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but had a similar result from 2002, losing to the Big 3 Miami Heat in 7 games.

This would be the end of an era in Celtics history as Allen left to join the Heat in the offseason while Pierce and Garnett got traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. Little did we know that the draft picks from this trade would bring the next iteration of stars to the rivalry.

The Jays Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2018-2023)

We have reached the Modern Day in Celtics History, with the team now being led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they had to continue the tradition of their first playoff series coming against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the Second Round in 2018, the Celtics faced off against the 76ers young core of Joel Embiid and Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons.

Boston was not favored since they lost their stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving but that did not stop their young group from beating Philadelphia in 5 games. In that Game 5 we saw a glimpse of the future, with Tatum leading the way with 25 points on 8-15 shooting while Brown finished with 24 points on 10-13 shooting. This overachieving Boston Celtics team would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose to the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games.

Boston would face off against Philadelphia again in the NBA Bubble, in the First Round of the 2020 Playoffs. This is sort of a footnote in the rivalry with the Celtics sweeping the 76ers. Simmons was out for the entire series and that led Embiid to try and carry the load by himself. The Celtics blew them out through three games before Kemba Walker dropped 32 points in Game 4 to win the series. The Celtics would once again make it to the Eastern Conference Finals after taking down the Toronto Raptors in 7 games in the Second Round but ran out of gas and lost to the Jimmy Butler led Miami Heat in 6 games. Miami would end up losing in the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.

The most recent matchup of the Celtics vs 76ers rivalry came in the Second Round of the 2023 Playoffs and that was the best series of the Jays era so far. It went all 7 games, starting with Boston losing Game 1 at home behind 45 points from James Harden. The Celtics won the next two games before dropping the next two to go down 3-2 in the series with Game 6 on the road and this is where Jayson Tatum would cement his playoff legacy.

Tatum was awful to start Game 6, shooting 1-13 through three quarters before dropping 16 points in the fourth quarter on 4-8 shooting to lead Boston to the win. This set the stage for the main event of Game 7 back in TD Garden with the season on the line. Jayson Tatum would proceed to break the record for points in a Game 7, dropping 51 points on 17-28 shooting from the field and 6-10 from three to lead the Celtics to a blowout victory over the 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Once advancing to the Conference Finals, the Celtics would lose another series to the Heat, this time in a heart breaking Game 7. Miami would lose in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets in 5 games.

2026 Playoff Prediction

After going over the very long and extensive playoff history between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers it is now time to make my prediction for how the 2026 First Round series is going to go. The 76ers are a very dangerous team going into this series.

Joel Embiid might be out but Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecobe are a scary combination to face after they combined for 50 points against the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Game. Paul George is also back from his suspension early in the season and could also be a difference maker as a third option in this series. Philadelphia’s depth also has potential to help with Kelly Oubre Jr and Andre Drummond being solid support pieces.

The one thing that the Celtics have that the 76ers don’t is Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. For years teams have had a hard time finding an answer to guard both of them and the Jays are playing some of their best basketball going into the playoffs. Philly’s center depth could also cause them some issues, leading to potentially a ton of drives by Boston to the basket and easy points for a guy like Neemias Queta. Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser also have the chance to light up the 76ers from deep and we’ve seen Baylor Scheirman and Jordan Walsh play some great defense against tough competition.

My Final Prediction: Celtics Win the Series in 5 games. For as much as I respect Maxey and Edgecombe, I think Boston is just the better team and have too much firepower for Philadelphia to handle. I think the 76ers might be able to steal a win in this series but the Celtics should be able to win this series in a Gentleman’s Sweep.

With the Spurs vs. Blazers series officially set, it’s time for us to go through what each team brings to the table. Today, we’ll start with a quick overview of some stylistic quirks to monitor, before releasing a full preview in the coming days.

First up: the turnover battle.

Turnovers 

These teams are polar opposites in the turnover game. San Antonio is great at protecting the ball on offense (12.9% turnover rate, 4th best) but struggles to steal the rock on defense (forces turnovers on 12.8% of defensive possessions, 28th), while Portland loves coughing up the ball (16.8% turnover rate, 30th) but is also very good at taking it away from opponents (forces turnovers on 15.3% of defensive possessions, 7th). In other words, it’ll be a battle of weaknesses on the Spurs end, but also a clash of strengths on the Blazers’ side. 

With that said, individual matchups will also matter, and Steph Castle could be an X-factor on both ends of the court. Castle averages over a steal per game and will likely spend lots of time guarding Avdija, who has both the highest usage and turnover rate (15.1%) on the Blazers. On the other hand, Castle himself is very turnover-prone (15.9%), which would play into the hands of Portland’s trifecta of elite perimeter defenders in Holiday, Camara, and Thybulle. 

Portland’s rim frequency   

Portland prioritizes shots near the rim, as 35.2% of their attempts come within four feet of the basket (5th highest league-wide). Thankfully, the Spurs have perhaps the greatest rim protector in league history in Wemby, whose presence alone deters opponents from shooting. In fact, only 26.2% of opposing shots come at the basket when he plays, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Blazers see a similar drop in rim frequency. 

Even if they decide to keep shooting, don’t expect many to go in. The Blazers are only making 66.3% of their shots in that area (18th league-wide), and with Wemby on the court, the Spurs are letting in just 60.8% of those attempts. If Portland struggles down low, they could pivot to shooting more threes, as they’re already top 5 in three-point frequency (43.2%) while San Antonio gives up an average number of attempts (37.8%, 14th league-wide). 

Portland’s pick & roll frequency

One way of pulling Wemby away from the rim would be putting him in as many high pick-and-rolls as possible, and Portland’s 17.1% P&R frequency ranks in the league’s top 10. However, the Alien is such a physical freak that he’s fast and long enough to contain both the ballhandler before recovering to the roll man. As a result, the Spurs actually welcome P&Rs, allowing 16.9% of defensive possessions to involve such a play from opposing teams, while conceding just 0.83 points per possession — the third-lowest number league-wide, and also the same scoring average for Portland on offense. In other words, the Blazers will have an extremely difficult time going against Wemby in P&Rs, and it’ll be interesting to see how they adjust. 

Rebounding

Another way for Portland to generate offense is to crash the offensive glass. The Blazers’ 34.3% ORB percentage was 4th league-wide, but that’s going up against the #1-ranked defensive rebounding Spurs team that grabbed 74.1% of its own boards. Expect Clingan and Robert Williams III to get physical with Wemby and cause as much havoc around the Spurs’ rim as possible, especially if they have trouble generating other forms of offense.

However, San Antonio could also counter by doing the same on the other end. The Spurs are also a good offensive rebounding team, grabbing 29.5% of their misses (9th highest). Interestingly, Portland actually struggles on their own glass, conceding 70.2% of rebounds to their opponents (21st). If the Blazers don’t manage to clean up on their own end, then any offensive rebounds they grab will be rendered moot.

San Antonio’s corner three-point volume

The Spurs’ 38.8% three-point volume is average (14th league-wide), but they’re tied for first with New York in corner three volume at 12.9%. This is mostly attributed to Wemby’s insane roll gravity, as San Antonio generates 13.8% of their shots from the corners when he plays, which is the highest in league history. The Blazers allow 10.2% of opponent shots to come from those spots, (right around the league average), but if they prioritize defending the corners, then it’ll open up Wemby’s rolls and drives from the Spurs’ guards. San Antonio is also shooting 71.3% at the rim (90th percentile) on 36.4% frequency (87th), so Portland is stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

Transition opportunities

16.5% of Spurs plays come in transition (6th league-wide), and their offensive rating on such plays is 128.5 (8th). The Blazers allow almost the same amount of transition opportunities on defense (16.4%, 26th) with a defensive rating of 126.8 (19th). San Antonio should dominate in fast-break points, especially since they’re also elite at preventing opposing transition opportunities, while Portland is bottom five in transition frequency. This could be a short series if the Blazers turn the ball over at their usual rate.