Category: NBA

For the first time in years, the Brooklyn Nets will be doing double-duty in the summer, adding three games at the Sacramento-based California Classic in early July to their already scheduled minimum of five games at the Las Vegas Summer League.

The announcement came via Tweet from the Nets official account…

The Classic is co-sponsored by the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. In addition to the three games the Nets will play at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, three other games involving three other teams will be played at Chase Center in San Francisco. Classic games are normally carried on NBA TV.

The news re the California Classic means the Nets will play a minimum of eight games between July 4, the beginning of the California Classic and July 19, the end of the Vegas Summer League. Following the close of the Classic, they will travel to Vegas and play a minimum of five games in Vegas. That schedule could be extended by a couple of more games depending on how far the Nets advance in the championship round.

The Nets decision was based in large part on just how many of their roster players are young. The roster this past season was the league’s youngest in the last 20 years, per Sean Marks. By season’s end included five first round picks — an NBA record — who can be expected to play in one or both leagues, depending on health. Egor Demin missed the last month of the season due to increased plantar fasciitis in his left foot. At the time, the Nets said Dëmin is expected to be a “full participant in the summer development program.”

In addition, Brooklyn played three undrafted players at one point or another in the season: Chaney Johnson, Grant Nelson and Malachi Smith. Also, as of the moment, the team has three first draft picks in June: a lottery pick somewhere between No. 1 and No. 7 as well as second rounders at Nos. 33 and 43. The double schedule will permit the team to get extended looks at all of them.

The Vegas games, which normally take place the first week of July, will also be getting a later start, giving the Nets the opportunity to play in both leagues. In the past, the Nets played in two leagues, either in Orlando or Salt Lake City.

The Summer League games will come during a particularly hectic time for NBA teams in late June and early July. The NBA Draft takes place over two nights on June 23 and 24 at Barclays Center. Teams can begin contacting free agents on July 1 and will be permitted to sign them five days later. It is also the most active time for trades.

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The Boston Celtics head back to the City of Brotherly Love with a chance to shut the door on the Philadelphia 76ers.

After letting a series-clinching win slip at home, Boston won’t be taking any chances in Game 6 on Thursday. 

The Celtics have long been one of the NBA’s best “bounce-back” teams, but they’ll likely need a lift from super-sub Payton Pritchard if they’re going to close things out and move on to Round 2.

Here are my best Celtics vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks for April 30.

Our best Celtics vs 76ers SGP for Game 6

SGP leg #1: Celtics -5.5

The Boston Celtics’ flash freeze in the second half saw them blow a 13-point lead in Game 5, sending the series back to Philly. The Celtics seem to do their best work on the road and boast one of the most impressive records when coming off a loss.

This season, Boston is 21-6 SU and 18-9 ATS off a loss and 60-13 SU and 51-22 ATS (70%) in those spots over the past three years.

SGP leg #2: Payton Pritchard Over 13.5 points

Payton Pritchard continues to produce off the pine for Boston, be it points, assists, or rebounds. He had a monster 32-point performance in his last trip to Philadelphia and scored 2.5 more points per game as a visitor on the season.

The Celtics guard is shooting 51% over the last three outings, and player projections call for 15+ points from Pritchard on Thursday night.

SGP leg #3: Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 threes

Tyrese Maxey has been an inside-out threat for the Philadelphia 76ers all season.

Maxey connected for 17 total 3-pointers over the last five games, and with Philadelphia’s game script having the Sixers fighting from behind, he’ll be extra active from outside if the Celtics start to pull away.

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Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Celtics vs 76ers predictions for Game 6.

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Amid an up-and-down opening round for the Boston Celtics, Payton Pritchard has been the one constant.

The reserve guard has delivered the team’s most reliable production against the Philadelphia 76ers—no small feat alongside stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Through five games, Pritchard is stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 15 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Our Celtics vs. 76ers predictions expect the dynamic sixth man to keep setting the tone on Thursday.

My NBA picks take Pritchard to put up points in Game 6.

Celtics vs 76ers prediction

Who will win Celtics vs 76ers Game 6?

Celtics: The Celtics let an opportunity to wrap up this Round 1 series slip away with awful fourth quarter in Game 5. Boston goes back to Philadelphia with the pressure mounting.

The Celtics are one of the best bounce-back teams in the NBA. They’re 21-6 SU and 18-9 ATS off a loss this year and 60-13 SU and 51-22 ATS (70%) off a loss over the past three seasons.

Celtics vs 76ers best bet: Payton Pritchard Over 13.5 points (-112)

It seemed no member of the Boston Celtics was immune to whatever ailment impacted the team’s shooting in the second half of Game 6. The Celtics were outscored 63-40 by the Philadelphia 76ers in the final 24 minutes on Tuesday.

Payton Pritchard struggled in the second half, but his stat line was glowing compared to some of the Celtics’ other standouts. He finished the game with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting in just 26 minutes off the bench, including 1-for-5 from beyond the arc.

When asked about his team’s struggles at home, Pritchard told the media, “I can’t really put my finger on it, but honestly, it feels like we've been better on the road.”

That’s true, at least for Pritchard. This season, he averaged 18.3 points per game as a visitor compared to 15.8 ppg at TD Garden, while shooting identical field-goal rates. His best effort in this series was a 32-point explosion at Philadelphia in Game 5.

Pritchard is picking up the slack, not just left by stars like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum but also the rest of the Celtics’ support staff. Derrick White is broken, and Sam Hauser is ineffective, leaving key minutes to fall to Pritchard.

He’s a collective 22-for-43 from the field the past three games (51%), and with Game 6 expected to be the tightest of the series (Boston -5.5), game script says he’ll log his standard of 32+ minutes.

Player projections are positive for Pritchard as well, with models ranging from 14.9 to 15.3 points in a crucial contest for the Celtics.

Celtics vs 76ers same-game parlay

The Celtics’ struggles aren’t deep rooted. They simply live by the three and die by the three. Boston was in command but got passive, and that led to cold shooting in the home stretch of Game 5. I expect the C’s to come out swinging and make good on a 70% ATS win rate off a loss over the past three seasons.

Tyrese Maxey won’t roll over for Boston at home. And with the game script calling for the Sixers to fight from behind, he’ll try to play catch-up from outside the arc. He’s made three or more triples in each of the past four games in this series.

Celtics vs 76ers SGP

• Celtics -5.5
• Payton Pritchard Over 13.5 points
• Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Other Guys

After struggling all season, the Celtics’ “Other Guys” finally get going in Game 6. White finds his touch, Hauser helps out, and Pritchard silences the always-friendly Philly fans with a high-octane effort that pushes the final past this short Over/Under total.

Celtics vs 76ers SGP

• Celtics -5.5
• Over 212.5
• Payton Pritchard Over 13.5 points
• Derrick White Over 11.5 points
• Sam Hauser Over 6.5 points

Celtics vs 76ers odds for Game 6

• Spread: Celtics -5.5 | 76ers +5.5
• Moneyline: Celtics -245 | 76ers +200
• Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5

Celtics vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Boston Celtics are 60-13 SU and 51-22 ATS (70%) off a loss over the past three seasons. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. 76ers.

How to watch Celtics vs 76ers Game 6

Celtics vs 76ers latest injuries

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In today’s Dub Hub:

• In the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green praised Jonathan Kuminga’s defensive impact in the Hawks-Knicks series.
• ESPN lists the Warriors as a hypothetical trade partner for Clippers star Kawhi Leonard.
• ESPN’s Shams Charania breaks down the NBA’s proposed lottery reform aimed at preventing tanking.

Draymond Green has always taken pride in his defensive mastery with the Golden State Warriors, down to the smallest details. His impact on that end has been generational—and it’s clearly rubbed off on others, including former teammate Jonathan Kuminga.

Now with the Atlanta Hawks, Kuminga made a heads-up defensive play in Game 2 of the team’s First Round Playoff series against the New York Knicks and gave Green a shoutout afterward.

Green returned the love during Monday’s episode of The Draymond Green Show, praising Kuminga’s growth and impact in Atlanta.

Via The Draymond Green Show:

“I love [Jonathan Kuminga] to death. That’s my young fella and to see him out there doing what he’s doing defensively, playing his role on the offensive end, it’s a beautiful sight to see. I know what he’s capable of, and he’s capable of giving you more on the offensive end, but he’s playing his role. I think as the series goes on, he’s going to give you more on the offensive end. But even watching that last play in Game 3, where he guarded the guy, switched, stopped it, chased the guy over, knocked the ball away, ran it, like what can you do when a guy is doing that?”

Kuminga has flashed two-way impact throughout the first-round series against the Knicks. In Atlanta’s two wins, he totaled 40 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the field, three steals, and two blocks to showcase how effective he can be when everything clicks.

However, consistency—much like during his time with the Warriors—hasn’t always been there. He’s struggled from deep in the Hawks’ last two losses, shooting a combined 1-of-11 from three in Games 5 and 6 while scoring 10 and 13 points, respectively.

Still, Green doesn’t seem too concerned as the Hawks now face a 3-2 series deficit. He believes Kuminga will eventually bounce back—if not now, then next season with a full training camp under his belt.

“He’s been in Atlanta for three months, so the offensive role will grow. When you get a training camp under your belt, the offensive role will grow. But he’s doing what he has to do to stay on the floor, and I love to see it.”

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, April 29th:

Warriors News:

Those hoping Steve Kerr leaves Warriors should be careful what they wish for | NBC Sports Bay Area

Kerr did some of his best work when the Warriors were most compromised by injury. His overall record is impressive in ways both overt and subtle. latent. More on that later.

Group 2, which seems smaller in number but is particularly vocal in the disaffected chamber of social media, has decided Kerr – who presided over teams that reached the NBA Finals in each of his first five seasons – has lost his touch or, worse, forgotten how to coach. Therefore, it is time for CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy to recruit a replacement for Golden State. Someone they believe is more evolved in the ways of the NBA.

Kawhi Leonard trade: Four offers that could start a Clippers rebuild | ESPN

Golden State Warriors get:

Kawhi Leonard

LA Clippers get:

Jimmy Butler III
2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected)
2032 first-round pick

The Warriors have been connected more to Leonard than any other team in recent months, and for good reason. After Butler tore his ACL in January, the Warriors need a Plan B if they want to try to reopen their competitive window while 38-year-old Stephen Curry is still playing at an All-Star level.

Leonard would be a strong fit as a Butler replacement, with even higher upside after the best regular season of his career. The salaries of the two stars match well enough that no other player would need to be included in this deal.

Steph Curry’s sneaker free agency auction raises $1.7 million for Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation 

NBA News:

4 takeaways: Jalen Brunson stars, Hawks struggle shooting from 3 | NBA

The Hawks were a slightly better-than-average offensive team in the regular season, but they have scored an efficient 119.6 points per 100 possessions (sixth best) as they won 19 of their final 24 games.

In this series, they’ve scored just 106.9 per 100, the second worst mark for any team not involved in the Detroit-Orlando car crash. In four of the five games, the Hawks have scored well below league-average efficiency.

Some of that is some poor shooting from open 3-point shooters. The Knicks haven’t been perfect defensively.

But they’ve been very good. The Hawks had some success attacking Brunson down the stretch of Game 2, but Towns has passed the test. In fact, he had two terrific defensive plays against the Hawks’ two biggest offensive threats on Tuesday.

ESPN’s Shams Charania breaks down NBA’s proposed anti-tanking lottery changes

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

NBA shares newest draft lottery proposal with general managers

Instead, the proposal would expand the lottery to include 16 teams, comprising the 10 teams that miss the Play-In Tournament, the two losers of each conference’s 7-8 play-in matchup, and the four 9-10 seeds. Rather than giving the most lottery balls to the worst teams, the system would instead most heavily favor teams with the 4th through 10th worst records in the league.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

Back in 2021, the Lakers were deep into their title defense when LeBron James suffered an injury that changed the trajectory of not just that season, but the career of their superstar.

Los Angeles was hosting Atlanta when Solomon Hill dove headfirst at LeBron’s legs. Every Lakers fan likely remembers what happened next as LeBron crumpled to the ground and missed the next 21 games. By the time he returned, the Lakers had gone from contenders to a play-in team before ultimately losing to the Suns in the opening round of the playoffs.

That play involving Hill will haunt Lakers fans for decades to come, especially after LeBron admitted to Dave McMenamin of ESPN that he has never truly physically recovered.

“My foot and my ankle ain’t been the same since. Ever since that injury, I’ve been fighting uphill to get it back to normal. But it’s been a little blah ever since. What could have been, for sure. I was playing some of the best basketball of my career up until that point and leading this franchise in the right direction and then something like that happens, a high ankle sprain, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”

Even at the time, the dive Hill took was considered reckless by many. Lakers players Dennis Schröder and Montrezl Harrell both said it was postgame, and Hill had to defend himself.

Dirty or not, the impact has been significant, as it’s been years later and LeBron still doesn’t feel the same. Since then, LeBron has sustained additional injuries, making it impossible to be fully healthy.

In 2023, he tore a tendon in his right foot and went to “the LeBron James of feet” to get it fixed. He did come back, but his burst was clearly missing and LeBron hinted that perhaps only offseason surgery could fix it.

LeBron avoiding that injury from Hill’s dive is one of the “what ifs” of his career. Perhaps had that not happened, he would’ve kept a bit more of his burst and subsequent injuries to his right foot might have been avoided.

Luckily, it hasn’t stopped James from having a long and successful career, but it’s still frustrating to hear that such a reckless dive continues to impact his game to this day.

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

Betting on himself this season didn’t go nearly as well as Quentin Grimes may have hoped. A tumultuous restricted free agency saw him return to the Sixers on only the $6 million dollar qualifying offer in hopes of scoring a better deal the following offseason.

He started well, averaging 17 points per game, shooting 44.8% from the field and 36.9% from three through the first month of the season. Since Dec. 1, though, those numbers dropped to 12.2 points per game and, crucially, a 31% three-point percentage.

His start to the playoffs looked similar. After a great five games in March with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George all out, Grimes again looked like he was struggling to scale down into becoming a helpful complementary player. While he made 50% of his threes in the first three games of the Sixers round one series against Boston, he was only taking two a game as the Celtics’ bench exponentially outscored the Sixers’.

It didn’t prevent them from being blown out in Game 4, but Grimes taking seven shot attempts, his most of the series, ended up being a step in the right direction. He followed up the 12-point performance in Game 4 by dropping 18 off the bench in Game 5.

He did so by shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. Not only did every single one of those feel like huge momentum shifts, but Grimes made the most important play of the game immediately after sinking one.

Embiid had kicked out to him out of the post. He drilled the three from the break to give the Sixers a six-point lead, their highest of the night to that point. Right after burying that he read the pass coming to Jaylen Brown and poked it down the court, nearly stealing it. Brown was able to secure the loose ball was down the other end of the floor, but Grimes stayed right in his face, forcing him to use the remainder of the shot clock to get the ball back into the half court. Brown got off a midrange pull-up, but with Grimes in his face the entire time the ball clanked off the rim and the Sixers got another stop to help build their lead.

The Celtics would only score three more points the rest of the game, missing their last 14 field goals of the night.

Not only was that the biggest play of the Sixers’ entire season, but it highlights two things about the Quentin Grimes experience. The first is why watching him on a nightly basis can be frustrating at times. The second, though, is why can be present value to a team even when he’s struggling offensively.

Grimes hasn’t shot it nearly as well or as frequently as anyone would have hoped. His decision making as a ball handler is frustrating at times — he averaged the second-highest turnover rate of his career this season, per Cleaning the Glass.

Even when he’s struggling with these things his effort is there on defense more often than not. Being strong, quick and on the bigger side for a guard allows him to take on some of the most important assignments, like guarding Jaylen Brown for stretches of games.

There have been plenty of games this year where Grimes couldn’t buy a shot, but needed to close out games because of how much the Sixers needed his defense. It worked out really well for both Grimes and the Sixers that in Game 5 they didn’t have to choose between one or the other.

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The Raptors and Cavaliers head back to Rocket Arena in Cleveland for a pivotal Game 5 tied at two games apiece.

There are plenty of NBA player prop projections and NBA picks worth targeting. Be sure to check out our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions for more.

Raptors vs Cavaliers computer picks for Game 5

Raptors	Cavaliers
Walter o7.5 points -110	Mitchell o4.5 assists  +100
Barrett o19.5 points -110	Wade o4.5 points  -130
Murray-Boyles u6.5 rebounds +115	Mitchell u27.5 points  -105

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Raptors Game 5 computer picks

Ja'Kobe Walter Over 7.5 points (-110)

Projection: 9.16 points

Ja'Kobe Walter was held scoreless in the last two games but played much better in Cleveland, where he scored 21 points in the first two games. He also cleared this number in four of five games to finish the regular season.

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

RJ Barrett Over 19.5 points (-110)

Projection: 21.9 points

RJ Barrett's 18 points in Game 4 were his lowest scoring output of the series after scoring 24, 22, and 33 in the first three games. His projection of nearly 22 points tonight aligns with how he played the first two games in Cleveland.

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

Collin Murray-Boyles Under 6.5 rebounds (+115)

Projection: 6.0 rebounds

Collin Murray-Boyles has gone Over his rebounding total in three straight games, but tonight's total sits at 6.5 rebounds after closing at 4.5 and 5.5 the first four games of this series. Now's the time to back the other side.

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---

Cavaliers Game 5 computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 assists (+100)

Projection: 5.4 assists

Donovan Mitchell had just six assists in Games 3 and 4 in Toronto, but logged nine across the first two games at home and went over this number in Game 2. His projection calls for 5.4 tonight, and the +100 price makes it that much easier to hit the button.

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

Dean Wade Over 4.5 points (-130)

Projection: 6.13 points

Dean Wade has cleared this low bar in three of four games in this series and logged a playoff-high seven points in Game 4.

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

Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-105)

Projection: 25.8 points

This is a big number for a guy who scored just 35 across two games in Toronto and lost his offensive rhythm entirely. Even if he's much better in Game 5, this projection gives us a ton of room to cash the Under.

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

How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 5

Location	Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date	Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off	7:30 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

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The Golden State Warriors announced that the team will host a trio of California Classic summer league games at Chase Center in July. The Sacramento Kings will also host three games at the Golden 1 Center. Golden State will host games on July 3rd, 5th, and 6th while Sacramento will host games on July 4th, 5th, and 6th. The Kings, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks will compete in the three-day tournament in Sacramento while the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs will compete in San Francisco.

While season-ticket holders often receive first dibs at tickets for summer league/preseason games, these games often remain the most affordable tickets to a Warriors game at Chase Center will ever be. Of course, anyone getting a ticket will also be attending a game without Golden State’s biggest stars. Nevertheless, Warriors guard Will Richard has said he will return to summer league play this summer, and the Warriors do currently have a lottery pick in the first round and a late second-round pick, both of which will conceivably become players that feature prominently during summer league.

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics saved their ugliest fourth quarter for the worst possible time, and it came at a steep price.  

Leading 3-1 and with a chance to close out their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden, the C’s collapsed — in near historic fashion. Boston missed its final 14 shots over the last 12 minutes and finished 3-of-22 in the frame, tying a franchise playoff record for fewest field goals in a fourth quarter, per NBC Sports Boston’s Dick Lipe. The anticipation of ending Philadelphia’s season quickly turned into silence shared between Boston’s bench and a home crowd that began filing out before the final buzzer.

Instead of celebrating and catching its breath while awaiting a semifinal opponent, Boston squandered the opportunity and now heads back to Philadelphia for Game 6.

“It was just having an understanding of we were in a good situation and just didn’t execute,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “So we just have to be able to bounce back from that. I think when you have empty possession, empty possession, and at the other end you’re not getting stops, it gets frustrating.”

Boston held a 13-point lead with 10:13 remaining in the third quarter before the meltdown. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid — who missed the first three games of the series and was listed as probable an hour before opening tip — finally broke out. Embiid scored a game-high 33 points, grabbed four rebounds, and tallied eight assists. Celtics bigs had no answer for him as Neemias Queta, Nikola Vučević, and even Luka Garza struggled to subdue Embiid’s dominance.

Eventually, that caught up to Boston.

When Embiid took a trip to Philadelphia’s locker room limping with an apparent left knee injury late in the third quarter, only to return minutes later, the Celtics were in control. They carried an 86-85 lead into the fourth quarter, only to lose their grip.

“We played great up until that point, and then they made more plays down the stretch,” Mazzulla added.

It felt much like the postseason losses Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had endured for years before clearing the title hurdle in 2024 — but far, far uglier. Tatum attempted just two shots in the fourth quarter, while Queta and Sam Hauser accounted for Boston’s only three field goals, as the Celtics finished with as many made shots as turnovers.

“It was a stretch where we weren’t making shots, and they were coming down and hitting shots and getting fouled, and we just kept having to play against a set defense,” Tatum said. “So getting stops would’ve helped, for sure.”

The standard they’ve strived to meet all season simply wasn’t met. Boston’s 11 points in the fourth marked the fewest scored throughout the entire regular season and playoffs. The same energy that forced Philadelphia’s crowd to evaporate at Xfinity Mobile Arena and turn into a “We want Boston” chant from the traveling Celtics fans didn’t return with the team back home.

Even Brown admitted the performance wasn’t up to par.

“Just not good enough overall from the Celtics tonight,” Brown said. “The result was the result, but gotta move on, play in another couple of days and get a chance to respond. So we look at it, learn from it, and move forward.”

Brown continued: “Just can’t sum it up — a lot of different areas were just not good enough. We’ll watch it, and we’ll make sure we’ll come out with the right energy, the right mindset, the right mentality on the road in Philadelphia. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

The Celtics entered Tuesday night with three chances to put the Sixers away for good. They’ll have their second chance in Game 6 on Thursday night in Philadelphia.

While Austin Reaves is nearing a return, the same can’t be said for Luka Dončić.

He has been out since Apr. 2 with a hamstring strain and despite a trip to Spain to speed up his recovery, he has yet to do significant on-court work.

The Lakers have figured out how to win games without Luka and are just one victory away from advancing to the second round. However, if they do eliminate the Rockets and play the Thunder next, don’t expect Luka to be ready to start that series.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Dončić will be out at least for the beginning of the second round and there is no timetable for his return.

For the Lakers’ immediate future, this is not good. The Thunder are the best team in basketball and the Lakers got annihilated by them even when Luka was available. Luka is needed for the Lakers to have the best chance to win.

Hamstring injuries are notoriously difficult to recover from, so while it’s disappointing that Luka hasn’t made a faster recovery like Reaves, it’s not surprising. Clearly, Luka is doing everything to return, but hasn’t made enough improvement to have any kind of timetable for his comeback.

The Lakers’ mission will remain the same: keep on winning games and extend the season long enough for Luka to return.

That’s only going to get harder the deeper they go into the postseason, but that’s the task at hand.

The only good news from all this is that Luka hasn’t suffered any setbacks, and the hamstring strain is a short-term injury, not a long-term one. The timing couldn’t be worse, but this isn’t the kind of injury that will signifcantly impact Luka’s future in anyway.

For the present, though, it means Lakers fans shouldn’t expect a Luka return any time soon.

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

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If the Los Angeles Lakers aren't careful, the Houston Rockets could still make this an interesting series. 

These Rockets vs. Lakers props and NBA picks expect Los Angeles to emphasize the importance of Game 5 on Wednesday, April 29.

Best Rockets vs Lakers props for Game 5

Player	Pick
LeBron James	Over 7.5 assists	-135
Tari Eason	Over 13.5 points	+102
DeAndre Ayton	10+ rebounds	+200

Game 5 Prop #1: LeBron James Over 7.5 assists

-135 at bet365

All facets of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense failed in Game 4. Or, perhaps more charitably, every aspect of the Houston Rockets’ defense succeeded in Game 4.

Either way, LeBron James tallying nine assists stood out.

No Laker scored more than 13 points aside from Deandre Ayton, who was ejected after just 25 minutes of action. No Laker knocked down multiple threes either, outside of Dalton Knecht’s two makes in garbage time.

As a team, Los Angeles shot 50% from the field and 23% from deep. Yet, James set up nine buckets for his teammates.

If LeBron can do that amid such a paltry offensive showing, it should be trusted that James will continue playmaking, even as Houston dials up its defense.

Game 5 Prop #2: Tari Eason Over 13.5 points

+102 at bet365

As the Rockets routed the Lakers in Game 4, Tari Eason deserves particular credit. 

Eason finished with a +31 mark in only 30 minutes, buoyed by 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting and eight rebounds.

More Eason will make sense in Game 5. Leaning on him in Game 3 didn’t pay off offensively — the Houston forward finished with just five points — but he still posted a +6 across nearly 46 minutes in a game where the Rockets ultimately lost by four in overtime.

When Eason is on the court, Houston is better. So, logically, Eason should be on the court more.

Game 5 Prop #3: DeAndre Ayton 10+ rebounds

+200 at bet365

He may have been (questionably) ejected, but DeAndre Ayton was just about the only piece of the Lakers that worked in Game 4. 

The Rockets are likely willing to take that risk again, knowing Ayton’s offensive ceiling is limited compared to someone like LeBron or even Luke Kennard.

LA's starting center went 9-for-12 from the field for 19 points while grabbing 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes. He’s the Lakers' best source of size, and getting +200 odds on him to record another double-double in rebounds offers great value. 

Ayton grabbed 11 rebounds in Game 1, a similar showing to Game 4 in many regards. This is simply a foolish price.

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Our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 5 between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These Magic vs. Pistons predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, April 29.

Magic vs Pistons computer picks for Game 5

Magic	Pistons
Suggs o13.5 points -125	Duren o10.5 rebounds +110
Bane o2.5 3-pointers  -170	Cunningham u28.5 points  -105
Carter Jr. o7.5 rebounds -140	Robinson o2.5 3-pointers  +130

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Magic Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points (-125)

Projection: 13.9 points

The Detroit Pistons have allowed the second-most points per game to opposing starting point guards this season (21.2), making this a strong offensive matchup for Jalen Suggs after a quiet five-point outing in Game 4.

With the Orlando Magic in position to close out the series, expect Suggs to bounce back and be more aggressive offensively.

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Desmond Bane Under 2.5 3-pointers (-170)

Projection: 2.16 3-pointers

The Magic have struggled from deep on the road, shooting just 32.7% (the lowest mark in the NBA this season).

This matchup doesn’t help, either. The Pistons limit opposing starting shooting guards to the second-lowest 3-point rate (27.6%), putting Desmond Bane in a tough spot to find success from beyond the arc.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Over 7.5 rebounds (-140)

Projection: 7.87 rebounds

The Magic rank fifth in the NBA in offensive rebounding over their last 10 games (12.5 per contest), and Wendell Carter Jr. has capitalized with 17 and 11 boards in Games 3 and 4.

With Orlando building momentum, expect Carter to stay active on the glass and push this prop Over again tonight.

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Pistons Game 5 computer picks

Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)

Projection: 11.7 rebounds

The Pistons rank third in the NBA in offensive rebounding, and in an elimination game, Jalen Duren should be anything but passive on the glass. If anything, expect him to ramp up the effort to create second-chance opportunities and keep Detroit alive.

After falling short of this prop all series, this sets up as the spot for Duren to elevate his impact when it matters most.

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Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points (-105)

Projection: 27.21 points

This is the spot where the Pistons need a statement performance from Cade Cunningham. Outside of Game 1, he’s fallen just short of this points line, but if there’s a time for him to break through, it’s now.

If he hits the Under again, it likely means one of two things (or both): Detroit’s season ends early, or Cunningham finds other ways to make an impact despite not clearing the number.

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Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 3-pointers (+130)

Projection: 2.62 3-pointers

This is a favorable matchup for 3-point volume against Orlando. On the road, the Magic allow the most attempts per game to opposing starting shooting guards (7.2).

With Detroit needing a spark in Game 5, Duncan Robinson is a strong candidate to capitalize when he finds his rhythm from deep.

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How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 5

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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UPDATE: While it’s a game of semantics, it sounds more and more encouraging that Austin Reaves will make his return in Game 5. On Wednesday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Reaves expects to play.

Here’s his full report on Reaves:

“My understanding is Austin Reaves expects to play tonight in Game 5 against the Rockets barring any setback. He’s gone through his progression — 1-on-1s, 3-on-3s, 5-on-5s. He’s had no setbacks.”

For now, it’s unclear if he will be on a minutes restriction or if he will start or come off the bench. But simply getting him back is a huge boost for a Lakers team that needs it to close out the series.

Original story follows.

Have no fear, Lakers fans, Austin Reaves is almost here.

After a couple of games where Reaves was listed as questionable but didn’t play, it seems that he is likely to make his return to the court for Game 5 vs. the Rockets.

Shams Charania of ESPN is reporting that, barring a setback, the Lakers expect their star guard to return.

Charania did say he will be a game-time decision, so it’s not absolutely certain that Reaves will play, but it certainly seems to be trending in that direction.

While the Lakers have done well without Reaves, their offense has been struggling in the last couple of playoff games against the Rockets. His return and production could help the Lakers secure the final win they need to eliminate Houston.

Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game this season. His rebounding and scoring totals are career-highs for the five-year guard.

Returning so soon from an injury that can often take well over a month to heal from is a clear indicator of how hard Reaves worked to get back. The Lakers reportedly thought Reaves and Luka Dončić wouldn’t be able to play in the opening round. While Luka is still out, they’ve at least gotten back one of their best players in Austin.

While Reaves ‘ potential return is good news, it isn’t a shock. Recently, Reaves had begun on-court work with the team and was upgraded to questionable before Game 3 and Game 4.

It took multiple weeks, and the Lakers had to win some playoff games without him, but Reaves will be joining the team for competitive matchups once again.

It’s been nearly a month since Reaves has played in a Lakers game. He suffered his injury during a loss against the Thunder. Afterward, his MRI confirmed that he had a Grade 2 oblique strain, and the projected recovery period was 4-6 weeks.

Despite the Lakers’ short-term success, long-term wins will only come with Reaves on the floor. And now that he is likely back, this will only increase LA’s chances of a successful postseason run.

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

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The New York Knicks need one more win to advance over the Atlanta Hawks, and Karl-Anthony Towns has played a big part in making that happen.

My Knicks vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks expect more of the same from KAT in this April 30 tilt.

Knicks vs Hawks prediction

Who will win Knicks vs Hawks Game 5

Hawks: As Knicks fans poured out of MSG after a convincing Game 5 win, the Big Apple crowd chanted, “We want Boston”.

Ah, there’s still at least one more game, folks. New York won’t shoot 57% from the field again, and Atlanta’s outside touch should improve in the friendly confines of State Farm Arena, where it shoots nearly 38% from beyond the arc.

I can see the Hawks forcing a Game 7.

Knicks vs Hawks best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 22.5 points + assists (-112)

Karl-Anthony Towns’ disappearing act in the second half of Game 5 was a tough pill for prop bettors to swallow, especially considering how much the Atlanta Hawks struggled to contain the New York Knicks center.

Atlanta switched up its defensive plan on Towns and started the game with 6-foot-7 forwards Dyson Daniels and Jonathan Kuminga checking the 7-footer. The bigger Towns took advantage down low and proceeded to torch defenders as the Hawks threw the kitchen sink at him to no avail in the first half.

More double teams and the benefit of resting the limping KAT in the second half of a blowout (he played only 12.5 minutes) led to just two more points in the final two frames. Despite that sudden power outage in scoring, Towns continued to be a conduit for the New York attack.

KAT had four assists at the halftime break and dished out six total dimes in the win, working primarily as a passer out of the high post. He finished with 10 assists in Game 4 and continued to find cutters and shooters coming off screen action in Tuesday’s victory.

Towns’ points prop has dipped to 18.5 O/U, while his assist line remains at 3.5, with the Over juiced again for Game 6.

Given KAT's dominance in the first half of Game 5, he could top this total on scoring alone. However, we can pad that with his passing, as the assist market is undervaluing his surge in playmaking over the past two games.

Knicks vs Hawks same-game parlay

The Hawks will dig in on defense and find their shooting form in this do-or-die game back in the ATL. New York looked great at home in Game 5, but the Knicks are just 10-19 ATS as road favorites this season.

C.J. McCollum was MIA at MSG. The veteran sharpshooter has cooled off over the past two games, going a combined 0-for-6 from beyond the arc after opening the series 9-for-23 from distance.

McCollum is a much better shooter at State Farm Arena, knocking down more than 40% of his triples compared to just 34% on the road.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Hawks +2
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 22.5 points + assists
• C.J. McCollum Over 2.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Birds of "Trey"

The Hawks survive on home cooking in the ATL.

McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker get back to attacking from beyond the arc, and this final score goes Over the diminutive total of 214 points.

Games with closing totals of 214 or shorter have finished 4-2 O/U in the playoffs.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Hawks moneyline
• Over 214
• C.J. McCollum Over 2.5 threes
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 threes

Knicks vs Hawks odds for Game 6

• Spread: Knicks -2 (-110) | Hawks +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Knicks -130 | Hawks +110
• Over/Under: Over 214 (-110) | Under 214 (-110)

Knicks vs Hawks betting trend to know

New York is just 10-19 ATS (34.5%) as a road favorite this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Hawks.

How to watch Knicks vs Hawks Game 6

Knicks vs Hawks latest injuries

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