Category: NBA

Herald As Celtics playoffs begin, can Boston go from ‘gap year’ to banner year?

Six bold predictions for Celtics-76ers playoff series

Celtics notebook: Jayson Tatum makes admission ahead of playoff opener

GlobeWith Joel Embiid out, these Celtics better pummel the 76ers on the glass

After his career was ‘dead in the water’, Jordan Walsh is ready for a shot at playoff redemption

Joe Mazzulla explained why he deflected praise during Coach of the Year conversation

Game 1 preview: In playoffs, Celtics will take on 76ers with full complement of stars for first time this season

Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns lead the Knicks past the Hawks in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference series

Celtics guard Jordan Walsh prepared for the task of defending 76ers star Tyrese Maxey

CelticsBlogFor Jordan Walsh, this moment was a long time coming

CelticsBlog predictions: How does this season end?

Maxey-mum effort will be needed to contains 76ers point guard

CLNS MediaExclusive Interview: Luka Garza Staying Patient for Playoff Moment with Celtics

Breaking Down Celtics Path to the Finals | Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman NBA Podcast

Noa Dalzell: 76ers Series WILL NOT Be a Cake Walk for Celtics

NBC Sports BostonLive updates: Celtics host Sixers for Game 1 at TD Garden

Celtics vs. Sixers first-round playoff preview, schedule and prediction

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NESN Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Finally Reveals Why He Hates Awards So Much

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Doc Rivers Drops Bombshell Announcement About Uncertain NBA Future

Mass LiveCeltics reserve eager for major assignment vs. 76ers star

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Jordan Walsh interviews Neemias Queta ahead of start of Boston Celtics playoffs

Roundtable: Who our experts think will win in Celtics vs. 76ers first-round series

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Celtics vs. 76ers: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (4/19)

The Athletic Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Playoff broadcast schedule for age-old matchup

Boston Sports JournalBSJ Live Coverage: Celtics vs. 76ers Game 1, 1:00 p.m. – The playoffs begin

Celtics are locked in on Maxey, but also on themselves

Hardwood Houdini 3 Celtics getting kicked to the curb as the playoff battle begins

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Al Horford’s disastrous post-Celtics track record continues after Warriors’ fate

Jordan Walsh reveals what matters most when guarding 76ers star Tyrese Maxey

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Joe Mazzulla on Going From UNDERDOGS to FAVORITES | Celtics vs 76ers Game 1 Pregame

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SI .comWe Predict Every East First Round Series

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Sports on Prime/YouTubeJayson Tatum Opens Up on His Achilles Comeback | NBA on Prime

Locked on CelticsCeltics-Sixers PREVIEW: How Boston DOMINATES Philly and How 76ers make things TOUGH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celtics land big first blow 

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

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

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

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

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

Sixers’ backcourt struggles at the start

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

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

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

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

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

Adjustments time …  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 19, 2026

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Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 12:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK

Watch: ABC

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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

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

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

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

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

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

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

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

Thunder

• Thomas Sorber — OUT (ACL)

What to Watch For

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

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

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

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

Key to a Suns Win

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

Control the Paint and the Glass

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

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

Limit the Turnovers

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

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

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

The Bench “X-Factor”

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

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

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

Prediction

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

Thunder 114, Suns 106

A first quarter flurry from Jalen Brunson and a fourth quarter burst from Karl-Anthony Towns bookended the Knicks’ 113-102 Saturday win over the Atlanta Hawks. The victory gave the Knicks an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.

The two teams will see each other again at Madison Square Garden on Monday night for Game Two. As the Knicks look to build a 2-0 series lead, let’s dive into keys for the game.

Adjustment to the adjustment

It took about three-and-a-half quarters for the Hawks to target New York’s weakness, which is the club’s offense when a wing defends Towns and a center checks Josh Hart.

With a win slipping from their grasp, Hawks head coach Quin Syder went to the tried and true strategy. He put Dyson Daniels on Towns, and had center Onyeka Okongwu guard Hart. After the Knicks took a 106-89 lead with four minutes and 36 seconds remaining, Atlanta went on a 9-0 run. Though the Hawks never got closer than eight points the rest of the way, Atlanta will likely go back to the strategy in the next game.

One look the Hawks leaned on towards the end of the game was Daniels on Towns and Nickeil Alexander-Walker assigned to Brunson. The Hawks can switch the pick-and-roll with Daniels and Alexander-Walker. It can potentially take New York’s offense out of flow and disrupt the potent Brunson and Towns pick-and-roll. New York’s two All-Stars combined for 53 points on Saturday.

The Knicks will need to be ready for the adjustment on Monday night for Game Two. Maybe they post Towns up more, or use Hart as a screener to a greater degree. 

Towns still has a physical advantage regardless of any defender Atlanta throws at him. And he dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 25 points in the final frame. How the Knicks respond to the defensive wrinkle will be a central storyline for Game Two.

Fastbreak delayed

The Hawks are known for their high octane attack, but it was the Knicks who picked up the pace in Game One. The Knicks won the fastbreak battle, outscoring Atlanta 22-13 in the category.  

Part of slowing down Atlanta’s frenetic pace was lowering turnovers. The Hawks thrive on chaos and scoring off opponent miscues: 17.4 percent of the Hawks’ points came off turnovers according to NBA Stats, the fourth-highest figure in the NBA. 

New York turned the ball over seven times during the first half. The Knicks had just four turnovers in the second half, but all of them were all of dead ball nature. Atlanta (12 turnovers) ended up with more errors than the Knicks (11).

If New York can win the possession battle both by limiting turnovers and hitting the offensive glass, they will have a massive advantage in this series.

Bench advantage

New York’s bench was good but not great in Game 1. Defense was where the quartet of Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson had a positive effect on the game.

Offense was much harder to come by for New York’s reserves. Clarkson led the way with eight points. Shamet shot just 1-5 from three. Outside of a quick three-point burst in the fourth quarter, McBride was quiet with just six points in 21 minutes. Still, New York’s bench outscored Atlanta’s backups 20-13.

The Knicks should maintain the depth advantage the rest of the series. The only real Hawk reserve capable of a big night is Jonathan Kuminga. The Hawks forward had eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes on Saturday. Mouhamed Gueye and Gabe Vincent combined for just five points. Former number one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher saw just two minutes in the first half.

As the series wears on, both teams are going to need a reserve to swing a game with a big performance. Based on the series opener, it’s more likely someone from the Knicks has a momentous night.

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LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry may all be close to the sunsets of their careers, but take a moment to appreciate the big-man play we should enjoy from the Western Conference for years to come.

Nikola Jokic, Chet Holmgren, and Victor Wembanyama are all space-bending athletes, while Jaren Jackson Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Donovan Clingan all operate more like traditional bigs.

The first-round matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs can also be seen as a matchup between Clingan and Wembanyama.

My Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks expect Wembanyama to win this matchup handily this afternoon.

Our best Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP for Game 1

Victor Wembanyama is a difficult matchup for everyone in the NBA. He may be particularly difficult for the Portland Trail Blazers. They need Donovan Clingan on the court, but Wembanyama is too quick for Clingan away from the rim.

Presumably by coincidence, Wembanyama never actually faced the Trail Blazers this season, but look at how he fared in the San Antonio Spurs’ matchups against them last year, Clingan’s rookie season.

Wembanyama scored just 12 points in that first game, but he then scored 28 and 30 points in the next two matchups, both in December.

Clingan was not yet at full speed as a rookie, but he was hardly a deterrent for Wembanyama.

The Frenchmen should win on the perimeter, should win on drives, and should win in transition. That is too many ways to score not to exact some joy in his playoff debut.

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

The Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs open their first-round NBA playoff series. The Spurs won two of the teams’ three regular-season meetings. The Blazers landed the West’s No. 7 playoff seed by beating the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament. The Spurs are making their first playoff appearance since 2019.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs

• Date: Sunday, April 19

• Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

• Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

• TV Channels: NBC

• Live Stream: Peacock | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Portland Trail Blazers: 42-40 (West’s No. 7 playoff seed)

• San Antonio Spurs: 62-20 (West’s No. 1 playoff seed)

Odds

• Spread: San Antonio Spurs -10.5

• Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -625 (82.6%) / Portland Trail Blazers +450 (17.4%)

• Over/Under: 220.5

Series schedule

Game 1:Portland at San Antonio on Sunday, April 19 (9 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 21 (8 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
*Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD)
*Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD)
*Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)

*if necessary

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Game 1 between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons opens with Detroit laying a significant number — and for good reason.

But instead of just looking at the spread, prediction markets show how often each team is expected to win outright.

That gives a cleaner baseline for Magic vs Pistons predictions, and helps identify where those probabilities may differ from sportsbook odds and your overall NBA picks for Sunday, April 19.

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 1?

Magic win probability:23% (+335)
Pistons win probability:78% (-355)

The Detroit Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham, are given a 78% chance to win Game 1, while Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic sit at just 23% to pull off the road upset.

Our prediction:Pistons to win

Our NBA expert likes Detroit to get the job done: "When you pair Detroit’s 31-9 home record with Orlando’s draining week of play-in peril, it’s easy to make the case for Cade Cunningham and Co here. Though the Magic have the personnel for a physical series, they face an uphill task in Game 1, with the Pistons poised for a fast start at Little Caesars Arena."

Read more in Tom Oldfield's full Magic vs. Pistons predictions.

More Magic vs Pistons prediction markets

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

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Pistons -6.5 spread means the Pistons will cover, while "No" means the Magic will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Magic vs Pistons spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Pistons -6.5 — Yes and Over 218.5 points — Yes/No

Our projections back the Detroit Pistons to cover -6.5, with their edge on both ends creating separation in Game 1. On the total, 218.5 sits right on the number — making it more of a lean than a strong position depending on pace and shooting early.

Other Magic vs Pistons prediction markets available

• Ausar Thompson 10+ points (Yes: 55¢)
• Cade Cunningham 6+ rebounds (Yes: 56¢)
• Paolo Bancher double-double (Yes: 35¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

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

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

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

Why should I wager on Magic vs Pistons at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

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

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

The Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons open their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The Magic landed the East’s No. 8 playoff seed by beating the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament. The Pistons are the East’s top playoff seed.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons

• Date: Sunday, April 19

• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• TV Channels: NBC, Pea

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

Team records

• Orlando Magic: 45-37 (East’s No. 8 playoff seed)

• Detroit Pistons: 60-22 (East’s No. 1 playoff seed)

Odds

• Spread: Detroit Pistons -8.5

• Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -375 (75.5%) / Orlando Magic +290 (24.5%)

• Over/Under: 219.5

Series schedule

Game 1: Sun., April 19, at Detroit (6:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: Wed., April 22, at Detroit (7 p.m., ESPN)
Game 3: Sat., April 25, at Orlando (1 p.m., Peacock)
Game 4: Mon. April 27, at Orlando (time and network TBD)
*Game 5: Wed., April 29, at Detroit (time and network TBD)
*Game 6: Fri., May 1, at Orlando (time and network TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3, at Detroit (time and network TBD)

*if necessary

The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder begin their first-round NBA playoff series on Sunday. The Suns beat the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament to secure the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. The defending champion Thunder again finished the regular season with the league’s best record.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Date: Sunday, April 19

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TV Channels: ABC

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

Team records

• Phoenix Suns: 45-37 (West’s No. 8 playoff seed)

• Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-18 (West’s No. 1 playoff seed)

Odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -14.5

• Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -1200 (88.4%) / Phoenix Suns +725 (11.6%)

• Over/Under: 215.5

Series schedule

Game 1: Sun., April 19 at Oklahoma City (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Wed., April 22 at Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 3: Sat., April 25 at Phoenix (3:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (TBD)
*Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
*Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)

*if necessary

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics begin their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The teams split their four regular-season meetings. The 76ers will be missing starting center Joel Embiid, at least to begin the series.

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics

• Date: Sunday, April 19

• Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

• Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

• TV Channels: ABC

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

Team records

• Philadelphia 76ers: 45-37 (East’s No. 7 playoff seed)

• Boston Celtics: 56-26 (East’s No. 2 playoff seed)

Odds

• Spread: Boston Celtics -12.5

• Moneyline: Boston Celtics -800 (85.2%) / Philadelphia 76ers +550 (14.8%)

• Over/Under: 213.5

Series schedule

Game 1: Sun., April 19 at Boston (1 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Tue., April 21 at Boston (7 p.m., Peacock)
Game 3: Fri., April 24 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., Prime)
Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., NBC)
*Game 5: Tue., April 28 at Boston (TBD)
*Game 6: Thu., April 30 at Philadelphia (TBD)
*Game 7: Sat., May 2 at Boston (TBD)if necessary

Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) at Boston Celtics (0-0)
Sunday, April 19, 2026
1:00 PM ET
First Round Game #1 Home Game #1
TV: ABC
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 97.5 Fanatic, Sirius XM
TD Garden
Officials: Scott Foster, Pat Fraher, Tre Maddox

The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers meet in the playoffs for the 23rd time, which includes Philly’s time as the Syracuse Nationals in the 50’s and early 60’s. This is the most for any 2 teams in the league. The Celtics lead all time with 15 wins to 7 for the 76ers and they have won the last 6 series against Philly. The last time the 76ers beat the Celtics in the playoffs was in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1982 when the Beat LA chant was born as Celtics fans urged the 76ers to beat the hated Lakers.

The Celtics have won all 3 series that have been played in the Brown/Tatum era, winning in 2018, 2020 and 2023. The Celtics are 212-199 overall, all time against the 76ers. They are 157-58 all time in games played in Boston. These two teams tied the series 2-2 this season. The 76ers won 117-116 on opening night, October 22 in Boston and they won again 102-100 in Philadelphia on November 11. The Celtics won 109-108 in Philadelphia on October 31 and again 114-98 in Boston on March 1.

Three of the games this season came before November 12 when the Celtics were just 5-7 and 11th in the league. They were just getting used to all the new players at that time while the 76ers brought back mostly the same team and were already used to playing together. The 76ers were 7-4 at that time. Philadelphia’s 2 wins were by a total of 3 points. The Celtics first win in October was by 1 point, but their March 1 win was by a total of 16 points.

Three of the 4 matches between the Celtics and 76ers this season were decided by 2 points or less. The Celtics need to avoid close games down the stretch in these playoffs if they can help it. The 76ers had the #1 clutch defense in the NBA this season. They had a 98.6 defensive rating during the last 5 minutes of games that were within 5 points. They were 23-18 in games that included clutch minutes. The Celtics were 16-17 in games that included clutch minutes and that includes going 1-2 against Philadelphia this season.

We can’t take a lot from those regular season games to predict how this game, or this series, will go. First, the Celtics did not have Jayson Tatum for any of the 4 games. Also, Philly didn’t have Paul George for any of the 4 games and they didn’t have Embiid for the November 11 and March 1 games. They will be missing Embiid for this game but Paul George will be a key player for them in this series and gives them a defender with size to put up against Tatum and Brown.

The Celtics come into this game with a clean injury report. After having 8 players sit out their final game of the season, the Celtics have no players listed on their injury report at this time. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid is the only player on their injury report. Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks. We know that he will miss at least the first part of the series and the Celtics need to take advantage and win while he is out. I’m guessing that Adem Bona will start at center.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey

SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe

SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr

PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George

C: Neemias Queta vs Adem Bona

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Baylor Scheierman
Max Shulga
Nikola Vucevic
Ron Harper, Jr
Delano Banton
John Tonje

2-Way Players
None

Injuries/Out
None

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

76ers Reserves
Andre Drummond
Quentin Grimes
Kyle Lowry
Justin Edwards
Trendon Watford
Dalen Terry
Dominick Barlow
Jabari Walker

2-Way Players
MarJon Beauchamp
Tyrese Martin

Injuries/Out
Joel Embiid (Appendix) out

Head Coach
Nick Nurse

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
In the regular season, Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. In the 4 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 30 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 41.8% from the field and 51.4% from beyond the arc. Maxey’s speed makes him hard to defend, but 4 Celtics have had success in guarding him this season. Against Pritchard, he scored 13 points in 55 possessions. Against White, he scored 19 points in 49 possessions. Against Scheierman, he scored 8 points in 44 possessions and against Walsh, he scored 4 points in 33 possessions. Among the 4, hopefully the Celtics can keep Maxey in check.

Jayson Tatum vs Paul George 
In the regular season, George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.  Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season.  George gives the 76ers a 2-way player with the size and ability to guard Jayson Tatum.  But that goes both ways because Tatum can also guard George and is a better rebounder. 

Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs Vj Edgecomb
Edgecombe will likely come in 3rd for Rookie of the Year.  He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc.  In the 4 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to be ready for him and defend him both in the paint and on the perimeter. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game.  Defense wins championships.  In the first 20 games of the season, the Celtics were 18th on defense.  In the 2nd 20 games, they ranked 12th.  In the next16 games,  they had the 3rd best defense.  Overall, they are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.7.  The 76ers are 17th with a defensive rating of 114.4.  The Celtics must play tough lock down defense in this game if they want to beat the 76ers.

Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game. As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings.  The Celtics are 3rd in the league with 46.4 rebounds per game.  The 76ers are 17th with 43.6 rebounds per game. The Celtics are 43-12  in games that they tie or out-rebound opponents.  They are just 11-13 in games tin which they are out-rebounded. They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers.   Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.   

Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball and find the open man. They play their best when they share the ball and keep it moving.  They were 36-2 this season when they had more than 25 assists in a game.  They were 35-0 this season when they had more assists than their opponent.  Both the Celtics and 76ers average 24.6 assists per game.  However, the Celtics need to make careful passes and limit turnovers.  They also have to be aware while dribbling and not drive into a crowd or allow a defender to steal the ball since the 76ers average 19 points off turnovers per game. 

Be Aggressive and Stay Focused – The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team.  They have to play physical defense and they have to be more aggressive in going for rebounds and loose balls and getting to the basket, especially if their 3’s aren’t falling.  Usually the more aggressive team gets the benefit of the calls and being more aggressive will help to fluster the 76ers.  They also have to stay focused on on playing the right way.  Move the ball, look for the open man,  take good shots, play physical defense, and fight for rebounds. 

X-Factors
Home Game – Teams play all season to secure home court in the playoffs.  The Celtics need to feed off the energy of the crowd and hopefully, the 76ers will be distracted by travel and the hostile crowd.   The Celtics should play harder to win on their home court.  Losing Game 1 at home is a major setback, historically giving the home team only about a 58-61% chance to win the series.  However, when they win Game 1 at home, they go on to win the series about 84.8% of the time.  The Celtics need to protect home court and keep their home court advantage. 

Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach.  He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars.  Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season.   Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach.  He won a title with the Raptors in 2019.  The 76ers returned their core this season and added a very talented lottery pick and so Nurse has a lot to prove with this team.

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor.  Every crew calls  the game differently.  Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play.  Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly.  Refs usually allow a little more go in the playoffs but not always. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game. 

Who will be crowned NBA champions for the 2025-26 season? That's the question basketball fans are looking forward to finding out as the playoffs officially got underway on Saturday, April 18.

But for those who can't wait until the Finals are over in mid-June, we have some clues.

USA TODAY Sports simulated each series of this year's playoff bracket 100 different times to come up with an idea of the most likely outcomes.

Starting with ESPN's Basketball Power Index figures, we built an engine with Microsoft Copilot that ran all 100 simulations at once. And here are the results.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson were the supposed jewels of the 2023 NBA Draft. Three years later, they meet in their playoff debuts after very different paths to this point.

Wembanayma and the San Antonio Spurs look like title contenders for the next decade, while Henderson and the Portland Trail Blazers are quite possibly already stuck on the proverbial treadmill of mediocrity.

My Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions and these NBA picks trust Wembanyama to deliver in his postseason debut on Sunday, April 19.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction

Who will win Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1?

Spurs: The San Antonio Spurs should focus on wrapping up this series quickly if they dream of a long postseason run. The specter of the Denver Nuggets in the second round, or even the Minnesota Timberwolves, should worry the Spurs enough to emphasize rest and recovery before the second round.

Expect a sweep in this series, beginning with a Game 1 win by the home team.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points (-115)

Welcome to the playoffs, Victor Wembanyama. Debuting as a No. 2 seed is already an impressive accomplishment from the young San Antonio Spurs superstar, not that he does not have grander ambitions in mind.

While the 7-foot-4 Frenchman is a difficult matchup for every team in the NBA, he should be particularly frustrating for the Portland Trail Blazers. At 7-foot-2 and 280 pounds, Donovan Clingan is a massive human being, but he's not quite quick or agile enough to defend Wembanyama outside the paint.

Unfortunately for us, Wembanyama never actually played against the Trail Blazers this season, missing all three of those games for various reasons, but this presumption still holds up to scrutiny.

He should get a pile of open looks from deep in this matchup, and shooting 34.9% this season from beyond the arc justifies every one of those attempts.

Wembanyama started showing postseason form before the regular season ended, clearing this prop in four of his final five games. In fact, he scored 40+ points in three of those.

The playoffs may need to brace for Victor Wembanyama.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs same-game parlay

Clingan has all the looks of a 15-year contributor in the NBA. He may never be All-NBA, but he is a legitimate player. Yet, his playoff debut may be one to forget simply because of Victor Wembanyama’s two-way influence.

Perhaps Wembanyama’s focus will wane in this first round, but that should not come on either end of the court in Game 1.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 1.5 threes
• Donovan Clingan Under 10.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Portland's Puncher's Chance

Portland's best hope of remaining competitive in both this series and particularly this Game 1 is to slow down the pace. Portland has been off since Tuesday’s win in the Play-In Tournament, but it still had to get to San Antonio and prep for the Spurs.

With the clear talent disadvantage, taking some air out of the ball will increase the variance and give Portland at least a puncher’s chance.

Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP

• Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 Points
• Trail Blazers +11
• Under 221

Trail Blazers vs Spurs odds for Game 1

• Spread: Trail Blazers +11 | Spurs -11
• Moneyline: Trail Blazers +450 | Spurs -600
• Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221

Trail Blazers vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Trail Blazers have gone 6-2 ATS in their last eight games, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 6.3 points even when including the two ATS losses. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Spurs.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1

Trail Blazers vs Spurs latest injuries

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

When the decibel level inside Crypto.com Arena surpasses 100 dB, you typically know which superstar caused it. 

Maybe Luka Doncic just hit a one-legged 3 as he fell into the first row. 

Maybe LeBron James just threw down a thunderous one-handed slam off the fast break. 

Maybe Austin Reaves just broke a defender’s ankles with a crossover and hit a fadeaway jumper plus the foul. 

But on Saturday night for Game 1 of the NBA playoffs between the Rockets and the Lakers, the noise was for someone else, someone nobody expected. 

It was for Luke Kennard. 

Kennard is the type of player that most teams treat like a luxury, not a lifeline. But without Doncic and Reaves, Kennard had the Lakers looking organized and dangerous. 

Kennard didn’t just step into a bigger role in the Lakers’ 107-98 Game 1 win over the Rockets. He hijacked the entire premise of this series. Houston came in expecting to load up on LeBron and dare other Lakers players to beat them. 

Kennard didn’t just accept the dare. He embarrassed it. 

“That was my matchup, and he went off; I gotta be better than that,” said Rockets forward Amen Thompson, one of the NBA’s best defenders who was tasked with guarding Kennard in Game 1. 

Kennard torched the Rockets for 27 points. He was 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. He achieved a milestone in the process, becoming the third player in franchise playoff history to hit 100% from deep on five or more attempts, joining Robert Horry (1997) and Byron Scott (1991). 

Luke Kennard.

COOKING.

He's got 24 points on 8-11 shooting… a new playoff career high! pic.twitter.com/wcDgRlzS6O

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026

It was also the second-most points scored by a player in their Lakers playoff debut.

“I like that he was invested in shooting 3s. He played a fantastic basketball game,” coach JJ Redick said. “He was really aggressive tonight.”

Aggressive is the right word. But incomplete.

Kennard wasn’t just aggressive — he was decisive. There’s a difference, and it matters in the playoffs. Aggression can be reckless. Decisiveness is controlled. 

And for a Lakers team that has spent the last two weeks searching for an offensive identity without its top two scorers, Kennard provided the clarity they’ve been missing. 

The Lakers’ offense, led by Kennard and James, was methodical in its approach. They were intentional and efficient. They ran the plays they wanted and hit the shots they created. 

“I thought we executed very well,” Kennard said after the win. “We stayed poised and organized throughout that entire game.”

For Kennard, he’s had to adapt to his role changing on the fly. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Hawks for Gabe Vincent, Kennard was a spot-up 3-point shooter off the bench for the Lakers. 

The front office believed it needed a 3-point shooter who could hit open shots when defenses collapsed on LeBron and Doncic. Kennard’s buzzer-beater against the Magic on March 21 was direct proof of that. 

LUKE KENNARD HITS THE GO-AHEAD 3 TO WIN IT FOR THE LAKERS

LOS ANGELES HAS WON 9 GAMES IN A ROW! pic.twitter.com/1kZR6dsqQk

— NBA (@NBA) March 22, 2026

Then Doncic went down April 2, and everything changed. 

With one hamstring strain, Kennard was thrust into the role of Lakers starting point guard. He went from spotting up, spacing the floor and staying out of the way of the stars to becoming one of the organizers of them. 

In his first game as the starting point guard, he recorded his first career triple-double. When the playoffs arrived Saturday, Kennard wasn’t experimenting with his new role, he was thriving in it.

“Honestly, I feel like those games leading up to right now, I developed a rhythm kind of playing in that role,” Kennard said. “It gave me confidence going into the playoffs … just being aggressive.”

Confidence is contagious in playoff settings. But it’s also fragile.

Kennard won’t be perfect from 3 every night. The Rockets will inevitably adjust. They’ll close out harder on him. They’ll start double-teaming him, forcing someone else to make shots. Playoff basketball demands constant recalibration. 

“He was way too comfortable early in the first quarter, and that got them going,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said of Kennard. “We gotta do a better job on him. 9-13, 5-5 from 3, he’s way too comfortable.”

Luke Kennard on his game-high 27 points tonight, his aggression and LeBron James setting the tone. pic.twitter.com/KgeVezbGTT

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 19, 2026

Thankfully for the Lakers, Kennard doesn’t need to always be perfect to be effective. He just needs to remain confident, aggressive and involved.

“He kept the defense always off balance tonight,” James said of Kennard. 

Kennard forces defenses into uncomfortable math. Help on LeBron and he’ll kill you from 3. Stay home on the shooters and LeBron can drive to the basket or run the pick and roll in the paint with Deandre Ayton. 

“He is the No. 1 shooter in the NBA … but now he’s doing it in the playoffs when it really counts,” Ayton said. “I was speechless tonight. 5-for-5 from 3 in the playoffs as a Laker? Yeah, that hits different.”

Deandre Ayton on his game tonight, his confidence on the court, and what he saw from Luke Kennard tonight. pic.twitter.com/tIr0Wt57eU

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 19, 2026

When the Lakers traded for Kennard in early February, they weren’t doing it to save their season. They were hoping to acquire a specialist. A luxury piece. 

But injuries don’t care about roster design. They expose it. 

And in Game 1, Kennard didn’t just fill a role. He reshaped the entire structure of the Lakers’ offense without Doncic and Reaves. 

So if you’re the Rockets, the problem isn’t that Kennard scored 27 points or had a perfect shooting night from 3. It’s the possibility that this new version of Kennard — controlled, aggressive, organized — won’t disappear as the series goes on. 

Because if he doesn’t, then the Lakers aren’t just surviving this series. They’re flipping the entire thing on its head. 

And maybe, just maybe, Kennard was acquired to save the season after all.

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