That’s the big question surrounding Kevin Durant and his status for Game 2 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.
While KD is a game-time call with a knee injury, my same-game parlay for Houston at L.A. is confident the visitors can rally from a poor performance in the opener with some help from a young superstar. Given game script, LeBron James will be forced to jack up more shots from beyond the arc.
Without Kevin Durant, this Houston Rockets offense was stagnant, but with two days to rest and ready a Plan B, Houston will look much better in Game 2 while the Los Angeles Lakers’ hot shooting cools. If KD comes back, L.A. doesn’t have a defensive solution for the 6-foot-11 shooter.
Amen Thompson was the only member of the Rockets to show up in Game 1, scoring 17 points. His projections for Game 2 are as high as 19 points, and he’s put up 17, 19, and 26 in his last three head-to-head meetings with the Lakers.
If Durant does return, the game script has Los Angeles playing from behind. LeBron James wasn’t needed from distance in Game 1, but with L.A.'s shooting ripe to regress, LeBron will feel the need to take and make more shots from 3-point land to close the gap.
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Life is funny. The one thing that made the Los Angeles Lakers underdogs is kind of the reason they won the series opener with the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant’s absence sapped more star power from this Round 1 matchup — already down Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — but unlike L.A.’s injured studs, Durant has a good shot of playing in Game 2 tonight.
My Rockets vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks bank on a better showing from Houston tonight, with or without KD on April 21.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Rockets vs Lakers prediction
Who will win Rockets vs Lakers Game 2?
Rockets: I bet the Lakers’ moneyline in Game 1, even before the news of Kevin Durant’s knee injury. If there was going to be a game in which L.A. came out swinging, it would be the opener. And boy did it. But balance is restored in Game 2 as Houston’s role players get on track and the Lakers’ support staff plummets back to earth.
Rockets vs Lakers best bet: Rockets -4.5 (-110)
With the way the Los Angeles Lakers shot the ball in Game 1, it may not have mattered if Kevin Durant was healthy or not.
Los Angeles finished a blistering 61% from the floor, including 10-for-19 from beyond the arc. A well-rested LeBron James conducted a crisp L.A. attack that recorded an assist on more than 72% of its total buckets.
The Houston Rockets' offense, on the other hand, was lost and untethered without the gravity of Durant. The Rockets were a chilly 38% from the floor, with an 11-for-33 mark from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles was able to be more aggressive when it came to double-teaming Houston’s secondary stars, and the Rockets missed KD’s ability to create when things broke down. Couple that with playoff nerves on the road for some younger standouts, and you can see how things fell apart.
I expect it all to come closer to the middle in Game 2 as a potential letdown for the Lakers, who got a Luka-like effort from reserve-turned-starter Luke Kennard on Saturday.
Los Angeles won’t connect at the same clip, and Houston will tighten the bolts on offense, with or without Durant. Head coach Ime Udoka is emphasizing spacing and more screen action — both on- and off-ball — after iso-heavy sets stagnated the Rockets in Game 1.
I’m holding out hope Durant returns for the sake of this bet, but I’m confident Houston will still perform better than Game 1 if he doesn’t.
Rockets vs Lakers same-game parlay
Amen Thompson scored 17 points in Game 1 as one of Houston’s lone bright spots. He dropped 26 and 19 points in the previous two matchups with Los Angeles, and if Durant returns, he’ll enjoy a lot more space in Game 2. Thompson is projected for as many as 19 points.
LBJ did it all for L.A. in the opener but didn’t need to take or make triples, with the Lakers playing with the lead. Game script has Los Angeles trailing tonight, and with some of the Lakers’ role players coming back to earth, James will jack up his share of long-range looks to close that gap.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets -4.5
Amen Thompson Over 16.5 points
LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: The King and I (V2.0)
Let’s try this one more time. I had a fun all-GOAT same-game parlay pegged for Game 1 leaning into LeBron vs. KD. Then Durant went and spoiled it all by banging up his knee in practice. He’s trending toward playing in Game 2, so I’m calling for these two HoFers to pace their team in points and knock down shots from downtown.
Rockets vs Lakers SGP
Rockets -4.5
Kevin Durant Over 23.5 points
Kevin Durant Over 2.5 threes
LeBron James Over 24.5 points
LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
Rockets vs Lakers odds for Game 2
Spread: Rockets -4.5 | Lakers +4.5
Moneyline: Rockets -205 | Lakers +170
Over/Under: Over 207 | Under 207
Rockets vs Lakers betting trend to know
Houston is 22-8 SU off a loss this season, with those bounce-back spots producing a 12-17-1 Over/Under count. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Lakers.
How to watch Rockets vs Lakers Game 2
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Rockets vs Lakers latest injuries
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 3: Andre Drummond #1, Tyrese Maxey #0, Joel Embiid #21, and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 3, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Spurs defeated the 76ers 131-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics host the 76ers on Tuesday night for Game 2, two days after a 32-point Game 1 demolition. And, they’ll mostly be at full strength: only Ron Harper Jr. is on the injury report. He’s listed as probable with a right ankle sprain that he suffered earlier this month.
The Cetics have one player on the injury report tomorrow vs Philly: Ron Harper Jr, who is probable with a right ankle sprain.
Jayson Tatum, who made his return from an Achilles injury on March 6th, continues to be fully uninhibited. He tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in 32 minutes on Sunday, and even said after the game that he feels stronger than he’s felt in years past.
For the 76ers, everyone is available except for Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid has been ruled out of Game 2 after undergoing a successful emergency appendectomy surgery on April 9th. However, on Monday, the 76ers announced he had begun his strength and conditioning program.
Whether Embiid returns in the first round of the playoffs vs Boston remains to be seen.
NBA injury analyst Joel Stotts reported that the average time lost for in-season surgery is 23 days, while the median time lost is 18 days (meaning that half of the NBA players who have undergone appendectomy surgery have missed more than 18 days, while the other half have missed less than 18 days).
Say Embiid falls right in line with that 18-day mark; he’d return on April 27th. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 24th, and Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 26th.
The 76ers undoubtedly hope Embiid can make his return sooner rather than later, as Embiid has been crucial to Philadelphia this season. He’s averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds, while shooting 48.9% from the field. The 76ers were a much better team with him available — they were 24-14 with him (63.2% win rate) and 21-23 without him (a 47.7% win rate).
But for now, Philadelphia will continue to rely on Adem Bona and Andre Drummond to hold down the fort in the post.
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) takes a shot against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) at the end of the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to even their best-of-seven series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, taking a 107-106 victory. CJ McCollum led all scorers with 32 points while Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 29 points with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 18 points.
The Hawks began this game with a change in approach, using Dyson Daniels to guard Karl-Anthony Towns, who similarly began the game guarding Daniels. In a physical affair in the first quarter, it was the Knicks who just exploited the Hawks’ lack of size and attacked on the offensive glass, scoring seven second chance points in the first quarter alone. The hosts established a double-digit lead in the first quarter but a strong start to the second quarter — with Towns and Brunson on the bench —saw the Hawks take a brief lead. Three-point shooting and capitalizing on New York turnovers contributed to this quick turnaround, but it did not last.
The Knicks re-took the lead and took a five-point lead into the second half, where a quick burst led by Josh Hart and Towns saw the Knicks re-establish their double-digit lead, running as high as 14 points. While the lead, at times, hovered in and around double-digits for much of the second half. Even as the fourth quarter arrived, the Knicks still held a double-digit lead having successfully kept the Hawks at arm’s length for the third quarter. Then, the tide began to shift.
The Hawks began to find success getting to the rim, in fact, converting all 11 of their attempts around the rim in the fourth quarter:
The Knicks had success earlier in the game lobbing to Mitchell Robinson, but when they try to run it again in the fourth it’s broken up by Kuminga and falls to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who gets the ball to Corey Kispert, who finishes at the rim:
Working at the three-point line waiting for a hand-off, Onyeka Okongwu receives a great contribution from Gabe Vincent, who not only manages to push Mikal Bridges out of the way and sets the screen on Robinson which allows Okongwu to go from waiting for a hand-off option to being able to spot the opportunity and drive the ball himself to the rim for the dunk, leading to a quick New York timeout:
Vincent is involved again, this time in the pick-and-roll with Kuminga, who receives the ball and darts down the lane, rising effortlessly for the slam dunk:
The help defender for the Knicks here is OG Anunoby, who is quick to rotate but Kuminga quicker getting in the lane and with his athleticism, Anunoby quickly makes the executive decision to not contest this dunk.
The Knicks suffer another lapse at the rim, this time it’s Robinson who allows Okongwu to wander behind him, and Kuminga finds Okongwu for the easy lob:
Kuminga’s first half wasn’t brilliant, but he was excellent in the second half, and his strong played continued as he attacks Jordan Clarkson, getting into the lane, drawing the contact and hitting the hook shot, plus the foul:
Again faced with a mismatch in Jalen Brunson, Kuminga attacks him off of the dribble and gets to rim for the basket:
A good job of recognizing and attacking the mismatch, but a bad mistake for the Knicks to make to allow it to happen and lack of organization sorting their matchups out heading down the floor. It also marks one of many possessions where Brunson gets torched defensively.
For now, another basket on a mismatch, this time courtesy of Jalen Johnson, who takes it to the chest of Hart, and finishes off glass to reduce the Knicks lead further:
Now with the Hawks down by one point, the CJ McCollum show begins.
Having already had a strong game up to this point (particularly in the first quarter), McCollum got his run started as he puts Brunson on skates with the dribble move, and drives to the rim for the basket, lifting his layup high off of the glass to avoid Towns’ block attempt to give the Hawks their first lead since the second quarter:
In isolation this time beyond the three-point line, McCollum drives by Brunson with ease — who makes a poor attempt to stay in front of McCollum and then reach from behind — and rises into his runner to extend the Atlanta lead:
A three from Brunson ties the game at 103 apiece, and McCollum takes charge again. This time, he’s guarded by Anunoby, who does a much better job defending McCollum, following him towards the baseline after the screen from Okongwu. Despite Anunoby’s efforts, McCollum connects on the fadeaway jumper to return the lead to the Hawks:
While all of these baskets were important, arguably the most important one comes here, as Brunson is stripped by Alexander-Walker as he rises into the shot, and the turnover is created. Alexander-Walker finds Johnson, who streaks ahead and dunks at the rim, giving the Hawks a four point lead with 10 seconds remaining:
From trailing all of the way in the second half, the Hawks have rallied to take a two-possession lead with 10 seconds remaining and on course to steal Game 2. However, a quick three out of the timeout by Brunson and two missed free throws from McCollum put the game in doubt.
The Knicks elect not to take a timeout and push up the floor. They get the ball to Bridges, who rises near the corner amidst the contest of Johnson, and the ball hits the front of the rim. The game is over, and the Atlanta Hawks steal Game 2 on the road to even the series:
The Hawks shot 72% in the final quarter to outscore the Knicks 28-15, while the Knicks shot just 22% — 5-of-22 and 3-of-11 from three. An utter collapse on both ends of the floor for the Knicks, who couldn’t stop the Hawks at the rim, nor could find success through Brunson.
Postgame, the word ‘resilience’ was put forward to Hawks head coach Quin Snyder when describing the comeback, a sentiment he felt summarized their efforts in this game.
“I think that’s a great word to describe the night for us,” said Snyder postgame. “New York was dialed in and knocked us back at the beginning of the game. We were competing, we just needed to continue to raise our level and the guys did that. I just thought the way they fought and competed throughout the whole game, and then obviously, we’re able to make some plays late.”
Despite the Knicks clearly establishing themselves as the superior team for three quarters with the counting stats pointing in their favor (shooting 52% from the field, holding the Hawks to under 30% from three, scoring 22 second chance points through three quarters), the Hawks were, mostly, getting the shots they wanted up to that point.
“…I missed four wide-open threes, I missed a corner three, I missed a left wing three, I missed a left slot three, I missed a one-legged three at the end of the quarter, which is whatever,” McCollum listed. “Mo missed a left corner three, ‘JK’ missed a left-corner three, Nickeil missed a trail three, and he made a right corner three. We had possessions where guys that we wanted to shoot were shooting. We had a swing-swing to JJ, he pumped faked and shot a three at the end of the shot clock. Those are great possessions where we did what we said we wanted to do going into the game, and we just missed, and it’s a make-or-miss league.”
Despite the deficit, McCollum rallied the Hawks and encouraged them that they were never far away in this game.
“It’s a long game,” said McCollum. “I think with the experience and just watching so much basketball and playing in so many big moments, you know don’t get caught up in the possessions, don’t get caught up in misses, turnovers, fouls, good or bad. It’s a long game; you’ve got to play it to zero. The way the game is played now is so fast, there’s so many threes, there’s so many possessions. You always have a chance. So, I just told them we’ve just got to stay within one, two possessions, stay a punch away, and then we’ll throw the last punch.”
The Hawks produced multiple defensive stops in the fourth quarter which allowed them to build their run, founded upon their success at the rim.
“I think we just kept competing,” said Snyder of the fourth quarter defense. “Over the course of a game, if you don’t let up and you don’t give in to that, you have an opportunity to have more success late if you just hang in there. We know they’re such a good team and they’re so hard to guard offensively that I think our guys understand that when they do score, you just can’t get discouraged. You just need to keep trying to raise your level. We had a hard time on the defensive glass. Those plays can really be deflating but I thought we responded to those as well. We never quite figured it out, but we dug in in other aspects of the game.”
Let’s talk CJ McCollum now.
Hands up: I wrote before the series that I was concerned with the potential reliance on McCollum in the stretch versus Brunson and said there was a gap between the two players. I said it, and I still think it’s not an outrageous assessment, or concern, to hold, especially in a game where the Hawks’ top two options in Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker struggled to make their usual impact.
However, I was wrong to be concerned about McCollum’s clutch play, because it’s just won the Hawks a playoff game that they probably fall short in otherwise. McCollum was brilliant down the stretch (free throws aside, which, had the Bridges shot gone in, we’d be having a very different conversation — it didn’t, so we aren’t) and took offensive responsibility when the Hawks needed it, with Alexander-Walker scoring nine points, and Johnson scoring 17 points after finding a better rhythm in the second half.
“I make the hard shots and miss the easy ones,” said McCollum of missing his free throws late. “I’m going to have to get in the gym and work on my wide-open free throws. Credit to JJ for getting back on defense and us doing enough to win but got to make those (free throws).”
McCollum scored 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field, but it was his leadership which impressed Quin Snyder even more so.
“The things I really liked, I really liked CJ’s leadership as much as the shot making,” said Snyder. “I thought Nickeil and JJ, their recognition of how we were playing the game offensively and their selflessness in those situations. When they needed to make plays, they made plays too. But as I said, CJ’s leadership was really good with the ball in his hands and hopefully we can shoot better. But to win a game when you don’t shoot well sometimes is more gratifying than the other.”
The media narrative after the game focused on a new guard for the Knicks to center their ire on in the absence now of Trae Young; these were the first questions that were asked of McCollum after the game. I can’t say I’m a fan that this is the narrative chosen when there are other angles to take instead which also praise McCollum’s impact and clutch performance in the face of those who picked the Knicks to comfortably win this series (again, I’m guilty of this, for the sake of transparency), but it is something that has to be highlighted. This was McCollum’s response when asked in the opening question how he felt about being a villain and another guard who has drawn the ire of the Knicks crowd.
“I am no villain, I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife,” McCollum replied postgame. “I think it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans in a really hostile environment. It’s fun, it’s basketball, it’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”
McCollum was asked further about playing to the animosity of the Knicks crowd, but didn’t play into it the narrative too much, outlining the respect he has for the Knicks and their fans, as well as playing in the Garden in the postseason.
“I love it, I love it,” added McCollum when asked about feeding off the animosity of the crowd. “It’s why we play the game. It’s fun being in opposing arenas and when the buzzer sounds, and it’s quiet and you walk off the court. I think there’s a level of mutual respect. It was a tough game against a good team on their home floor and they’re supposed to be passionate, and I think they do a great job of showing up consistently throughout the year. I’ve been to games in the Garden as a fan and watched, I’ve seen playoff games here. It’s a pleasure to be able to play here and it’s a pleasure to be able to walk off the court with a win.”
“CJ, that got him going, I think he enjoyed it,” added Jonathan Kuminga. “The crowd shouldn’t really do that or say that. I think that really got him going, I think it got all of us going, just the energy.”
McCollum’s efforts in the fourth quarter down the stretch will rightly be praised, but his shot-making in the first half I thought was equally important as it kept the Hawks in the game at a time where the Knicks could have begun to stretch away. In future games, the Hawks hope that Alexander-Walker and Johnson will have more offensive impact scoring the ball, but how comforting it must be for the Hawks to know that they can still win a playoff game on the road with neither Johnson or Alexander-Walker having great games, the Hawks shooting 30% from three, and the Knicks scoring 24 second chance points. The belief will have grown massively off of the back of this win, and McCollum has a very large role in that as the series now shifts to Atlanta.
Another reason the Hawks were able to pull off this victory was due to the play of Jonathan Kuminga off the bench. Kuminga scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including seven in the fourth quarter as we looked at — a quarter where he played the entire 12 minutes.
Snyder acknowledged the contributions Kuminga made on offense, but praised his defensive contributions, too.
“He made some plays offensively that were great,” said Snyder of Kuminga. “I think you could just feel the way he competed on the defensive end. It was a huge lift for us, just his physicality, the way he defended the ball, the way he got to the glass, guarded Towns at times. On the offensive end he got us a few big buckets, too.”
Kuminga sensed that the Hawks’ energy was perhaps lower in the first half, and his objective was to play physically in order to change the tempo in the game.
“I think just setting the tone, mostly on defense,” said Kuminga of bringing the energy off the bench. “Being physical as much as I can, because I feel like our energy was a little bit lower because we wasn’t hitting shots that we usually make. There was something else that needed to be done, and I think it’s just the mindset coming out there, trying to engage all the guys and trying to be as physical as much as I can.”
Kuminga had some high energy defensive plays and leapt for loose balls that were heading out of bounds. His effort did not go unnoticed out on the floor. Offensively, he provided a big spark in the fourth taking it to the rim and exploiting the mismatches in front of him. Heading into the series, the Hawks needed strong performances like this from Kuminga to have a chance in swinging the bench battle and to have any chance winning this series they need these types of games from Kuminga. His efforts helped the Hawks win the bench battle 28-20.
Snyder was pleased not just with Kuminga’s contribution, but there were mentions for the other members of the bench.
“…We got some big plays from other guys,” added Quin Snyder. “I think everybody from Tony Bradley, when Mo went down, I thought Corey and Gabe, both off the bench, sparked runs. Two guys that are just really competitive and good basketball players. It was a team win.”
Quick-Hitters
This section is more dedicated to the other talking points of this game/series that we’ll discuss quickly.
Jalen Johnson had a difficult start to this game, scoring four points in the first half on 0-of-4 shooting before finishing with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. The ball went through Johnson more in the second half, and he was able to get to the rim and finish more in the second half. Overall, however, this was a pretty quiet Johnson game. This is his first postseason appearance as a leading star of the team, and first experience with all the nuances the postseason provides, and Quin Snyder described this particular process and how Johnson proceeds in this scenario where he has to give the ball up in certain situations as a matchup develops.
“I think him just keeping an even keel,” said Snyder of Johnson of the next step in the series. “As the game progressed, he found more of a rhythm. That’s hard to do than maybe coming out and having everything go your way. His ability to kind of grind through those situations, and when that happens and then the ball goes to CJ, or Nickeil’s in an action, that’s a big thing for Jalen to understand how important he is and how much we need his offense. But then for him to also be able to recognize there are certain times in the game where he’s playing more of a secondary role. That doesn’t happen as much, obviously, but that’s the playoffs.”
Speaking of the Hawks’ other leading scorer, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a much more difficult time of things offensively in the postseason compared to the regular season matchup with the Knicks. As we saw with McCollum in the fourth, this is what happens when you’re guarded by Brunson and not Mikal Bridges. McCollum was easily able to get by Brunson, and Alexander-Walker has had a much difficult time offensively with Bridges guarding him instead of Brunson — averaging 15 points per game on 30% shooting from the field, shooting 3-of-12 in Game 2. Bridges spent over seven minutes of game time guarding Alexander-Walker, holding him to 1-of-4 shooting in their Game 2 matchup.
Interestingly, OG Anunoby spent the majority of his defensive time on Okongwu, while Josh Hart took the Jalen Johnson assignment (guarding him for over nine minutes with Johnson shooting 5-of-8 when guarded by Hart), leaving Towns on Daniels. It was an interesting adjustment for the Knicks, and I imagine there may be another adjustment to take Brunson off of McCollum, who shot 83% when guarded by Brunson, all per NBA.com’s matchup stats. The next step, I have to imagine, involves Brunson guarding Daniels, and while this would require a reshuffling — potentially placing Anunoby back on Johnson, and Hart onto McCollum — I think it’s a logical place for New York to look next.
Elsewhere, the Hawks have a Dyson Daniels problem in this series. His playing time was limited last night due to foul trouble — and some questionable fouls at that — but offensively he hasn’t been able to get to his drive and spin moves where he can either score himself or create for others in the manner he’s used to — only two assists in Game 2. Daniels is already left alone to shoot threes, and at the beginning of the game Towns was guarding him and just can stands off him until Daniels gets to the paint, leaving Towns free to roam defensively and help elsewhere.
If Daniels isn’t even able to get inside himself or get to his spin/floater/kick-out, all he’s doing at the moment offensively is setting screens for others. While there’s definitely value in that — and it was seen to have success in the regular season matchup with the Knicks — it’s not enough offensively and creates a problem for the Hawks. These ball screens haven’t been able to free up Alexander-Walker as they did in the regular season to get downhill. Fortunately, Alexander-Walker was able to pick up the defensive responsibilities on Brunson (and did a fantastic job at the end of the game, and held Brunson to 4-of-9 from the field per NBA.com’s matchup tracking), and Kuminga was able to get to the rim and score, and make a couple of plays such as the Okongwu lob.
Game 3 is a big one going forward for Daniels in this series, and I suspect his playing time may decrease slightly going forward from an offensive perspective. Defensively, he’s still very important for what the Hawks want to do and for guarding Brunson, but offensively I wonder if the Hawks can find another way for Daniels to be involved. Right now, it’s a lob of probing and then hand-off/screen, and that’s mostly it. Speaking of defense very quickly, I thought this was a much better showing from Johnson, highlighted by his effort at the end of the game on the Bridges contest to seal the game.
The second chance scoring is still a massive problem for the Hawks, with Snyder even admitting afterwards the Hawks still have no answer for this and didn’t figure it out in Game 2. On a different night, this is the defining feature of a New York Knicks victory — 22 second chance points through three quarters is monumental in a playoff game, and the Hawks are very fortunate it didn’t cost them victory.
All in all though, a great road victory for the Hawks, and a collapse from the Knicks at home, who really ought to have wrapped this game up after their strong three quarters. There were some shots you look back in that, had they gone in, change the course of this game — two consecutive three-point attempts from Bridges in the fourth that looked like they were in spring to mind.
But I think for the Knicks, those really difficult shots that Jalen Brunson hit in the regular season with such consistency finally fell out, and he shot just 10-of-26 from the field. McCollum and Kuminga were excellent, and they led the way for the Hawks to take a famous playoff victory in New York and swing home court advantage in their favor.
Game 3 takes place on Thursday night at State Farm Arena, and it’s set to be an enthralling affair.
The Philadelphia 76ers will try to even their first-round series against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics routed the 76ers 123-91 in the series’ opener with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combining for 51 points. The Celtics are favored by 14.5 points in Game 2, with the total set at 216.5.
Moneyline: Boston Celtics -1000 (86.8%) / Philadelphia 76ers +625 (13.2%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Celtics 123, 76ers 91 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
Boston, MA - April 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics and Orlando Magic played at TD Garden on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
In a pregame press conference in Atlanta in late March, Joe Mazzulla said he never wanted to be asked about the Coach of the Year award again.
“I don’t need it,” Mazzulla said. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. The players play. It’s about them. Staff work their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”
I remember turning back to the national reporter who asked the question and chuckling. He hadn’t interfaced with Mazzulla as much as we on the Celtics beat had, and he had just experienced a classic Joe Mazzulla press conference moment that he likely knew was coming.
That Monday evening was far from the first time that Mazzulla had minimized the significance of that kind of honor – he’d downplayed several Coach of the Month awards throughout his four-year tenure as Celtics head coach – but it was the first time that it appeared almost certain that Mazzulla would be named Coach of the Year at the season’s end, after leading a “Gap Year” Celtics team to a 56-26 record.
Three weeks later, hours after Mazzulla was, in fact, named a finalist, Derrick White spoke about the award in definitive terms.
“He doesn’t like the attention on him and making it about himself,” White said. “But, obviously, he has done an amazing job this year – and when he wins it, it’ll be well deserved.”
What does it actually mean to win an award in the NBA?
Awards dominate discourse in the NBA, particularly in April. But their significance is often diminished depending on when they’re announced and what happens in the postseason.
I always think back to Dirk Nowitzki winning the MVP in 2007, just days after his top-seeded Dallas Mavericks lost to the 8th-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
“It just feels so empty right now,” Nowitzki said a few days before collecting his hardware. In a league defined by championships, the highest regular season of all suddenly felt futile.
Coach of the Year is a particularly interesting award because, in recent years, it’s almost been cursed.
Take a look at just the last few years.
In 2023, Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown won the award. In 2022, it was Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams. In 2021, it was New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. In 2020, it was Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. In 2019, it was Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. In 2018, it was Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey.
Every single one of those coaches was fired within four years. The most extreme example, Casey, was actually fired before he even collected the hardware.
And Mazzulla is fully aware of that reality, of the fleeing nature of success, about how the next day, or next season, isn’t promised. He talks about it all the time.
“This could all change 24 hours from now, to where we’re having different conversations,” Mazzulla said Monday, with the Celtics holding a 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. “So it’s part of just the perspective of being rooted in something, regardless of the environment around you on a 24-hour cycle.”
Much of Mazzulla’s desire to deflect praise and recognition is rooted in his faith. He lights up at the podium as he discusses it.
“There are a bunch of better leaders that have gone through a lot before me – David, Solomon, those guys were much better than I was,” he said. “But they went through a lot of good and bad. I like studying those two the most. I flocked to David and Solomon. Good dudes struggled, had success. Guess we’re still talking about them though. But that won’t be me 2,000 years from now.”
Mazzulla has also acknowledged he hasn’t always been this way, calling back to his tenure at West Virginia University as a star basketball player.
“Being a Division I basketball player, you grow up with this sense of entitlement, as if the whole world revolves around you,” he said. “I had to, inherently, if I wanted to be a better husband, a better father, a better coach, I had to get rid of that type of entitlement.”
That end result is what we see today.
Still, whether he likes it or not in this very moment, Mazzulla is on top of the world
“Praise is just as dangerous as criticism,” he said. “You just have to remind yourself that neither one lasts too long. And really, at the end of the day, they’re gonna forget about you eventually. This is all just a short-term thing that’s gonna last a few years, and then 10-15 years from now, no one is gonna talk about it.”
I asked Mazzulla if he tries to impose that belief on his players – especially the young ones who are experiencing widespread praise for the very first time. Several, like Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh, have been inundated with praise as their public profile has risen this season.
It’s something Walsh spoke to last week as he reflected on the highs and lows of his own individual season.
“It’s so hard; one day, you have your name going crazy and everywhere, everybody’s talking about it and how good you’re doing, and the next day, it’d be silent and [you] have nothing, and you’re just kind of on the bench,” he said.
So, is the praise something Mazzulla hopes his players fight?
“Everybody’s different,” he said. “You just try to treat people the way that they need to be treated. Everyone has a different anchor, has a different approach, handles things differently. I don’t try to make guys believe or do things that they don’t want to do. It’s not who they are.”
What he will preach is the idea that it’s all about the team, all about a storied franchise that has won 18 banners, about the greats that came before this particular group.
“The whole idea of this thing is that everything’s bigger than us,” Mazzulla said. “We’re part of this organization. We have a responsibility and ownership to move it forward for however long we’re here. And we can’t – I can’t be good if I don’t have people around me that are good. And, we need each other. So it’s really just having an understanding of that. We need to have great people around you. It’s as simple as that. And, we’re very fortunate enough to have that. We’ll see where it takes us.”
It’s not often that Mazzulla goes this long on a topic, but this topic is one of the things he’s been most consistent about this season: it’s not about him, it’s not about any individuals, really. It’s about the organization.
“I can’t be good if I don’t have people around me that are good.”
You’ll hear lots of people around the Celtics organization saying that in various forms. The assistant coaches don’t want to take the credit. The front office doesn’t want to take the credit. I asked Mazzulla if the award would resonate a little bit more if it were more about the collective.
He nodded.
“I would like for it to be changed to Staff or Organization of the year,” Mazzulla said. “If it were Staff of the Year, it’s different, if it were Organization of the Year – but at the end of the day, I haven’t made one basket all year. Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t gotten a block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play in a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done shit. So, if you don’t have the guys to be able to put you in position, it doesn’t really matter. I’m just grateful – the greatest gift I have is I get to coach a bunch of guys that care about winning and being a part of the culture that we have.”
Joe Mazzulla went long on awards & recognition today.
Asked him about whether he thinks the Coach of the Year award should instead be Organization of the Year:
“If it were Staff of the Year, it's different, if it were Organization of the Year – but at the end of the day, I… pic.twitter.com/KvXAG5neAo
On his way out of the press conference, one reporter jokingly reminded him that they did, in fact, get buckets – referencing the infamous preseason Coaches vs Media game, in which the Celtics coaches defeated us media members 57-4 in a 12-minute beatdown.
That drew some laughs.
But, more seriously, Mazzulla has a valid point. The Celtics coaching staff consists of more than a dozen people. There’s also an athletic training staff, a nutrition team, and countless other people who are responsible for players’ success and development.
He’s the one who talks to the press before and after every game, but he represents a collective that keeps the wheels turning.
Payton Pritchard still believes the tone is set at the top.
“Joe just does an excellent job of holding everybody to a high standard and work ethic and showing up every day and just putting that time in,” Pritchard said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s training staff, weight room. Everybody knows their job, and they come in on a high level, and they produce every day. Even the player development staff, they’re on-court probably more than us, working their butt off. It definitely starts with Joe and the expectations he has and the standard that he holds people to.”
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes in for a dunk against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we go again!
The Philadelphia 76ers will take the floor at TD Garden once again on Tuesday in hopes of turning things around in this first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics — or at least make it a little more competitive. The hosting Celtics come into Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead after absolutely demolishing the Sixers on Sunday afternoon without really having to break a sweat.
It was truly a disaster on Sunday afternoon, a perfect display of two teams and organizations that are simply on two different levels in basically every possible way — Boston came in with strategy and depth, while Philadelphia looked completely desperate and without a plan.
Pretty much everything that could go wrong or poorly for Philadelphia on Sunday did. The team shot just 38.9% from the floor and 4-for-23 from long range in the loss. Paul George had a truly rough-to-watch game in terms of effort and efficiency. Kelly Oubre Jr. was 0-for-5 from long range. The Sixers still don’t have a truly suitable backup center for Joel Embiid, with both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona floundering in an attempt to keep up with the Celtics.
But Tuesday is another day. Whether it changes the result remains to be seen, but one can only hope the Sixers are able to put up a little more of a fight. Even just a spoonful of fight. It can’t get worse than Sunday, can it? (That question is rhetorical, Sixers… please do not take it as a challenge.)
The Sixers are still without Embiid as he continues to recover from an urgent appendectomy surgery performed just under two weeks ago. On Monday, the team announced that the center had begun a strength and conditioning program as his healing continues. What this means in the short term is still relatively unknown. Embiid probably wouldn’t return to training so quickly post-surgery unless there was a chance he could return these playoffs, but the likelihood of him even having a chance to play again this season might be cut down if the Sixers were to go down 2-0 on Tuesday night. It now becomes a bit of a “will he, won’t he” matter for Embiid. Familiar territory, indeed.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are a healthy, full-strength squad looking to just continue what they were able to do on Sunday. The Sixers didn’t exactly give them any reason to change strategy. Boston never trailed for a single moment of Game 1. Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (25) led the squad per usual, but this was a widespread effort for the C’s with everyone able to get involved. They had six players score in double-digits, with 10 of the 13 players they utilized throughout the game scoring five or more points.
It’s very tough to write about, honestly. It’s truly not meant to be overly negative or “doomer.” It is simply that the Celtics are an organization playing a completely different, much more successful game than the Sixers. The evidence was clear as day on Sunday. That being said, fans can always hope that Philadelphia are able to steal a game away. It would very likely require much better shooting from the Sixers on top of a plethora of other factors: more contributions from Paul George and even Quentin Grimes, better performances from the backup fives, providing more help/screens to get Tyrese Maxey space with the ball, actual ball movement instead of forcing ISO ball repeatedly… I could go on, but I think we all get the picture.
At the time of writing, the Sixers are roughly a 14-point underdog. Do with that what you will. It’s going to take a lot to overcome. But, if all the right stars align, it’s always possible.
The Sixers and Celtics tip off for Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Monday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: Peacock Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the San Antonio Spurs handled the Portland Trail Blazers in the first playoff game of the Victor Wembanyama era, the two teams return for Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m ET.
If you didn’t watch Game 1 or are just trying to refresh your mind ahead of some Game 2 wagering, you are in the perfect place!
Game 1 Recap
As many of us expected, the Trail Blazers did not merely rollover and die. Deni Avdija did a great job in his playoff debut – scoring 30 points on 63.5% true shooting while also tallying ten rebounds and five assists. But he and everyone else on the floor was on a completely different level than Wembanyama.
The prodigious big man set a franchise record with 35 points in his postseason debut. That is a big deal considering this is the same organization that fostered the likes of Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.
More than scoring, Wembanyama’s presence in the paint made it nearly impossible for Portland to operate. In his minutes, Portland was held to a 102.9 offensive rating, which is over ten points lower (113.1) than their regular season offensive rating – that was already viewed as unimpressive (21st in NBA).
Game 2 Outlook
The current spread for this game is set at 11.5, meaning that you can bet on whether you think the Spurs will win by more than 11 points or less than 12 points and vice versa with the Blazers.
As we said, the Spurs looked like the clearly superior team in Game 1. But the Blazers kept it close throughout, and San Antonio shot nearly 20% better from three than the Blazers on similar volume in Game 1. In the season, the two teams are separated by just 1.6% in that category. If that evens out a little (which you expect given the unusually large gap in this department), the game will be a lot more closely contested.
The over/under for this contest is set at 220.5. Game 1’s total finished at 209, so oddsmakers think there will be more scoring tonight.
According to the moneyline probabilities, FanDuel sees San Antonio as a heavy-favorite in Game 2. Their moneyline is listed at -700, giving them an 87.5% implied probability of victory.
How to watch Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors guards James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 115-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks evened the series with the New York Knicks, 107-106; Tyrese Proctor and his Cleveland Cavaliers took down RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, 115-105; while Minnesota came back from 19 down to beat Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 119-114.
Johnson scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds for Quin Snyder’s Hawks, who tied the series 1-1 with the win.
RJ Barrett had 22 points, shooting 10-13/0-1, while Ingram scored 17 on a poor 3-15/1-3 night from the floor. He’s hearing about it, especially since he complained after Game 1 that he didn’t get enough shots.
On the NBC broadcast, Noah Eagle mentioned the timeout and how it would shape the final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks-Hawks Game 2 battle Tuesday night.
Inside the NBC studios, Carmelo Anthony touched a monitor wondering why the Knicks had not used a supposed final timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot.
And the millions watching at home surely had similar thoughts after seeing Mikal Bridges clank a last-second jumper in the Hawks’ 107-106 upset road win rather than seeing a designed play out of a timeout.
The Knicks had a timeout, according to the NBC broadcast. @NBA_NewYork/X
Yet, all the focus on the timeout and Knicks fans’ consternation about Mike Brown seemingly pocketing it proved to be the unfortunate outcome from what would be called a “data issue” with NBC incorrectly adding a timeout the Knicks did not actually have before the rushed final play.
“We just want to say that the scoreboard showed a timeout that the Knicks did not have on the final play, but due to a data issue, the wrong timeout information was communicated, so that’s why you see a timeout on the score bug,” NBC’s Maria Taylor said during halftime of the Timberwolves’ 119-114 Game 2 road win over the Nuggets while the studio show recapped hectic final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks’ loss.
Whether the Knicks had a timeout for the final play Tuesday had a great effect on how they handled that last shot and NBC’s untimely error altered how viewers analyzed the chaos in real time.
Before CJ McCollum took the first of his two free throw shots with 5.6 seconds remaining and the Hawks leading, 107-106, the score bug showed the Knicks with no timeouts.
That meant the Knicks would have to attempt to score from either underneath their own basket or in transition off a miss.
The Knicks did not have a timeout right after McCollum missed his first free throw. @WorldWideWob/X
After McCollum missed the first free throw attempt, the Knicks suddenly had a timeout added to their tally.
Having a timeout would allow them to advance the ball and set up designed final shot out of an inbounds pass rather than a rushed play.
Eagle then noted how the presence of said timeout would affect the Knicks’ strategy.
“New York will take its timeout almost guaranteed here,” Eagle said.
McCollum missed the second and Josh Hart grabbed the rebound, yet, to the surprise of those following the score bug, he pushed ahead and passed to Bridges, who settled for a long jumper.
A contested long two-pointer is not an ideal shot, especially if one is under the impression that the Knicks had a timeout to burn.
Anthony, the Knicks legend, said that his initial frustration with the outcome in part stemmed from believing Brown had let them go.
“Well, I was touching and screaming because I was under the impression that there was a timeout, so thank you for correcting that,” Anthony said to Taylor.
Brown did not provide a concrete answer when asked if he would used a timeout had the Knicks possessed one.
“I usually like to go, so they can’t put in their best defenders and all that other stuff,” Brown said. “Five to seven seconds is close. It would have been by gut feel. There is a chance I could have taken a timeout … and then there’s a chance I wouldn’t have. I thought it was a good shot.”
NBC’s data error doesn’t completely absolve Brown, though.
He did not use the timeout the team needed to burn before the three-minute mark before losing it due to the NBA’s two-timeout maximum rule in the final 180 seconds, and then oddly used a timeout with 2:43 remaining when it seemed Jalen Brunson had a chance to score with the Knicks leading, 100-99.
Brown used his final timeout with 10.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks trailing, 107-103.
“A couple of possessions weren’t fluid,” Brown said of the timeout with 2:43 remaining. “So I wanted to make sure that we had something we wanted to get to, or to set something up offensively, because we had whiffed on the last couple possessions. It just didn’t look right, it didn’t feel right.”
The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2026 NBA Playoffs on a strong note with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, thanks in large part to a 19-point, 13-assist, eight-assist effort from LeBron James and a 27-point spark from Luke Kennard.
It was exactly the kind of game that the Lakers needed to play, and it's one that they'll have to continue to replicate in the first round without the presence of Luka Doncic.
Doncic has been out since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain, sustaining the injury late in the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After undergoing an MRI, Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Before going down, Doncic was playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. Despite finishing outside of the top three in NBA MVP voting, Doncic is still in line to receive All-NBA honors.
Doncic returned to the team on Friday ahead of Game 1 after undergoing an injection procedure in his left hamstring in an attempt to accelerate his return from the usual 4-6 timeline, but as of Tuesday morning, an update on Doncic's status remains to be seen.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters last week, referring to both Doncic and Austin Reaves. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely.”
As of Tuesday, it looks like the most likely scenario is that Doncic will not return to the floor until at least the second round if the Lakers advance.
Luka Doncic injury update
Doncic is listed as out for Game 2 (hamstring) in the NBA injury report as of 6 p.m. PT on Monday. Redick addressed the injury earlier in the week but did not give too much information, merely stating Doncic and Reaves (oblique) are "out indefinitely."
"I’m not going to have an update for you this week," Redick said.
The Rockets failed to secure the win despite Los Angeles missing both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who remain out with hamstring and oblique injuries, respectively.
Clearly, the Rockets need Durant to return sooner than later. However, his return date may not come tonight for the team's second road game of the series Tuesday, April 21. He was still listed as questionable on injury reports Monday night with a right knee contusion.
Here's the latest on Kevin Durant's injury and when the 16-time All-Star might return:
Kevin Durant latest injury updates
The New York Times reports that Rockets' coach Ime Udoka believes Kevin Durant will be a game-time decision for Game 2 in Los Angeles.
Reports also indicate that Durant has been seen on the court during practice going through drills and moving "fairly well."
What is wrong with Durant?
Udoka noted that Durant's issue is not one of pain, but of mobility.
"Mobility probably [is most important], Udoka said Monday, April 20. "The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing."
Udoka also noted that the Rockets needed to play with more urgency, something that Durant's presence would certainly help with. He said, "We did a lot of things well. We won a lot of areas. But our efficiency and, I think, our shot creation and our shot quality can be a lot better."
When do Rockets play Lakers next?
Game 2 of the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers is Tuesday, April 21 in Los Angeles. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns watches the action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 has come and Game 1 has gone. To no one’s surprise, the defending champion, 64-win Oklahoma City Thunder crushed a Phoenix Suns team that limped to the finish line.
There isn’t much that went right for Phoenix. The game was already firmly in the hands of OKC by the halfway point of the first quarter. Shortly after that, the Thunder finished off a 17-2 run. The Suns would end up losing 119-85 and never really put up much of a fight.
So, what specifically went wrong for Phoenix in Game 1?
We could mention Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, ostensibly the Suns’ second and third best players, combining for 12-38 from the field. We could talk about the Thunder outscoring the Suns 34-2 off turnovers. We could talk about the Suns losing a rebounding battle once again. But John Voita already covered all of those points in Sunday’s game recap.
What went wrong for Phoenix in game 1 of the first round is the same thing that is going to go wrong in game 2. It is the same thing that went wrong against Portland in the Play-In Tournament. And it is the biggest problem the Suns have been trying to overcome all season long.
What went wrong didn’t happen on the court, but in the front office. The Suns’ biggest problem is roster construction and positional balance.
Playing the Thunder is always frustrating. OKC gets whistles that nobody else could dream of. Shai’s foul-baiting antics make prime James Harden look like a rookie. Unfortunately, Shai’s shot-making is the only skill more profound than his foul-baiting.
Whenever Shai is on the court, you feel his presence. All ten guys on the court shift their attention towards him when he has the ball. He has gravity that forces both teams to revolve around him, and no team can make up for it by targeting him on the other end. He is the reigning MVP for a reason. He is a superstar.
Devin Booker is not. He is a star, yes, but not a superstar. Book had a good game on Sunday. He poured in an efficient 23 points and 6 rebounds. But every time he scored, I thought, “Oh, Devin Booker is on the court.” It felt like he was an invisible man, reappearing here and there. He picked his shots well and was definitely a net positive for the team despite having the second-lowest +/- for the Suns.
I didn’t always see Devin Booker as a phantom, catching glimpses of him when he decided to show up. From the bubble season all the way until Chris Paul was traded away, I felt like Booker was an impact player.
Why could that be? At this point, everyone should know that Devin Booker is better when he plays next to a competent, playmaking point guard. With Ricky Rubio or Chris Paul, Devin Booker could compete with any star in the league. For most of his career, however, Booker has not had the luxury of playing next to a solid facilitator.
If Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia are serious about continuing to compete in the Devin Booker era, the reality is that Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, and Jamaree Bouyea are the wrong kinds of backcourt partners for Book.
All four of those guys bring something different, and three of the four are starting-caliber players in the NBA. But none of them are floor generals. They all fit into the category of secondary playmakers. Unfortunately, I think it’s time for us to admit that Devin Booker does as well. Booker is, in fact, such an elite secondary playmaker that many of us have been convinced for years that he is capable of being a primary playmaker.
What this roster does have going for it are its wings. In fact, this is going too well. Booker, Green, Brooks, Allen, and O’Neale have gotten the lion’s share of the minutes on the wing this year. While that is a respectable quintet, its presence is leaving massive holes at the forward positions. If you have a backcourt of Booker and Green with Brooks at the small forward position, who is playing the power forward? Recently, it’s been all 6 feet and 3 inches of Jordan Goodwin.
This team has the wrong point guards, too many shooting guards and small forwards, and no starting caliber power forward.
Why does all of this matter? Why am I diving into the roster construction in an April article about game 1 of the playoffs?
Because the Phoenix Suns players and Jordan Ott have been set up to fail.
The Suns have had a fun season, and they have exceeded expectations. But regardless of what Mat Ishbia and the rest of the front office want to call it, this was the first season of a rebuild. It might not be a rebuild in the same way the Utah Jazz are rebuilding, but a rebuild it is nonetheless.
That means that the roster is just kind of awkward right now. Jalen Green might be the best young player the Suns could get for Kevin Durant last offseason. Does that mean that Jalen Green is going to be on the Suns for the next decade? No, it does not. Brian Gregory may already have plans to break up Phoenix’s shooting guard logjam.
But by refusing to call it a rebuild, the Suns have placed low-level playoff expectations on a team that was never supposed to be here. Once again, awkward.
That should be remembered when evaluating the talent both on the court and standing on the sideline. Jordan Ott is already a top-two coach in the Devin Booker era, yet the last few weeks of the season and the postseason thus far have left many fans unhappy with Ott’s performance. The context of what he has had to work with this season should be remembered in the upcoming offseason coaching discourse.
But, for now, the Suns and their imbalanced roster are having to face down one of the most harmonious and well-constructed teams in recent NBA history. Game 2 may go down just like Game 1 did. That doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned and experience to be gained to prepare for next year, when the roster will hopefully fit together a lot better than it has this season.
NEW YORK — So, who’s to blame for the fourth-quarter collapse of New York Knicks?
The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 12-point deficit to start the period and stunned New York, 107-106, evening the first-round playoff series at one game apiece Monday, April 20. It tied for the worst blown fourth-quarter lead in Knicks playoff history. The other game was the infamous Reggie Miller "choke" game in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Is it OG Anunoby, who, with a chance at the line to take a one-point lead with 1:54 to play, missed both free throws?
Is it Karl-Anthony Towns, who didn’t record a single point, rebound, assist, steal or block in nearly eight fourth-quarter minutes?
Is it Jalen Brunson, who got cooked on defense down the stretch (twice) by CJ McCollum and whose shot selection in the fourth felt forced, if not potentially self-serving?
Or is it coach Mike Brown, who oversaw it all?
The reality, frankly, is that it’s some combination of all of the above. Losses like these are rarely the fault of a single person, but of an overall breakdown that’s gradual, at first, before it becomes sudden.
"In that fourth quarter, too, you could tell that they were playing with a level of desperation," Brown told reporters after the game. "There were four 50-50 balls, and they got three of the four. We always use that stat to gauge the level of aggression. And in the fourth quarter, their aggression stepped up."
But – fairly or unfairly – the blame for losses like this almost always fall on the head coach. In this case, there’s plenty to back it up.
The Knicks were outscored 28-15 in the fourth, at one point allowing an 11-0 run that finally ended with 1:21 left in the game. New York shot just 22.7% in the period and converted just five field goals, compared with Atlanta’s figures in the period: 72.2% and 13, respectively.
The curious thing about the fourth was that Brown seemingly didn’t reward Towns for a big third quarter.
In the third, Towns dropped 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and was active on the offensive glass, getting easier second-chance points. He relied on his range to hit two massive trail 3s. Yet, in the fourth, Towns was not a principal part of New York’s offensive sets or actions, and he recorded just two shot attempts.
The offense, instead, ran through Brunson, which, on one hand, makes sense. Brunson is the team’s best offensive player and elite closer. But the Hawks threw double-teams and traps at Brunson in the quarter, making his touches and shots far more contested.
New York could’ve adjusted to use Brunson almost as a decoy in pick-and-rolls, creating open space and looks for other players, especially Towns.
Granted, Towns also could’ve remained active on the glass to earn some of those offensive touches, but it’s difficult for a player to assert himself when he’s not a key piece in an action.
Another curious thing was that Brown, at one stretch (from 1:50 left in the third, through 7:56 left in the fourth) had both Brunson and Towns getting breathers on the bench. Teams often stagger their rotations so at least one of their primary scorers is on the floor at all times.
In that span, the Knicks lead went from 12 to nine, but it signaled a change in the game for Atlanta, which built momentum from that point.
"I don’t think (the game got away)," Brown said. "We’ve played that lineup quite a bit since the end of the season, and that lineup has been pretty good. We weren’t good tonight, and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period.
"But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to 10, and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t say that specific lineup caused it."
He’s not wrong, but it’s the job of the coach to understand that a team’s drive or focus or determination has been compromised, especially late in games. It’s also the coach’s job to motivate and guide his team to correct that.
The Knicks became far too passive. They didn’t match Atlanta’s pace and intention, and Brown’s tactics seemingly never addressed that.
So, now, the Knicks may have just given a young team a ton of confidence.
"This is a game we should’ve won," forward Josh Hart told reporters after the game, "and in the playoffs you can’t give away games."
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Team World smiles during the NBA All Star Media Day as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday evening, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was announced, the first of many NBA honors beiong revealed this week. Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award. He is also the youngest.
This is his third NBA season and his third season to be the blocks leader.
Wemby was sitting with his mother as well as members of the Spurs coaching staff when Maria Taylor, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Carmelo Anthony of Peacock notifies the Spurs superstar of his first major career award.
Wembanyama continue to show poise and grace as he expressed how the award reaches beyond one man.
At each point in his career, Wemby has been thoughtful in his answers and careful to share credit with those that are involved with his day to day training and health.
His gratitude was so moving that Carmelo commented how his upbringing has taught him well, crediting his parents, and specifically his dad, for how well Victor handles himself with the media.
The Peacock team was in San Antonio for a nationally televised San Antonio game and had an opportunity to meet Wemby’s parents.
The announcement for Clutch Player of the Year is next, followed by Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday. The Sixth Man involves another member of the Spurs, Keldon Johnson.
Thursday reveals the NBA Sportsman Award, for which Harrison Barnes is a finalist.
Closing out the week on Friday is the NBA Most Improved Player.
Three Spurs could soon be hoisting individual honors.
Go Spurs Go!
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