LeBron James, during his illustrious NBA career, has played in more than 1,900 games. He’s said the craziest thing probably happened in his latest one – in which the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets, 107-98, in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Saturday, April 18.
In the second quarter, James shared the court with his son Bronny for four minutes. It’s the first time a father and son have played together in an NBA playoff game.
"That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career," James, a four-time NBA champion, told reporters after the game. "It was just so cool to be out there with him, and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building. And his grandma.
"You know, like, that’s just insane. You know, like, my mom get to watch her son and grandson during the playoffs. Now that’s crazy,"
Statistically, it was not a memorable four-minute stretch for Bronny James. He had a turnover and two personal fouls and did not attempt a shot.
Now in his second NBA season, Bronny James scored double figures in three of the Lakers’ final six regular-season games. He averaged 2.9 points in 42 games during the regular season.
His father turned in a a scintillating playoff performance in the first game of the best-of-seven series against the Rockets. LeBron James had 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds while helping the Lakers overcome the absence of Luke Doncic and Austin Reaves, both who missed the game because of injuries.
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are major favorites to win both the series and Game 1 at home. It would be a major upset if the Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a win tonight.
Our prediction:Spurs to win
Not only does our NBA expert expect the Spurs to follow through on their favorite status in Game 1, but he doesn't think San Antonio loses any in the series. "The San Antonio Spurs should focus on wrapping up this series quickly if they dream of a long postseason run. The specter of the Denver Nuggets in the second round, or even the Minnesota Timberwolves, should worry the Spurs enough to emphasize rest and recovery before the second round."
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More Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets
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You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Spurs -11.5 spread means the Spurs will cover, while "No" means the Trail Blazers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter).
Trail Blazers vs Spurs spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Spurs -11.5
49¢ (+104)
52¢ (-108)
Over 221.5 points
51¢ (-104)
50¢ (+100)
Our predictions:Trail Blazers +11.5 — Yes and Over 221.5 points — No
The Trail Blazers can slow the pace in this matchup to remain at least somewhat competitive. Assuming they're successful, that will help keep the overall score suppressed.
Other Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets available
Dylan Harper 10+ points (Yes: 46¢)
De'Aaron Fox 20+ points (Yes: 41¢)
Victor Wembanyama 30+ points (Yes: 45¢)
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There were moments. For example, against the Clippers in the first play-in game, when the Warriors got the Kristaps Porzingis they needed — 20 points on 8-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from 3-point range, plus five rebounds, five assists and a couple of blocked shots. If the Warriors decide to get the band back together next season and try to make another run in the Stephen Curry era, they could use that Porzingis.
For his part, Porzingis isn't sure what's next. After a roller coaster of a season where, once again, illness and injuries again limited him (32 games), he said he wants to take a step back in an exclusive interview with Melissa Rohlan of the California Post. She asked Porzingis if he wanted to return to the Warriors.
"That's a good question. I do love my time here, honestly. Not one bad thing I can say about the organization, the team, the teammates. I really love it here, I really do.
"As I said before, I haven't had a good year. If I had a good year, I think I'd have a more clear picture of what I want to do. Because I've had an up-and-down year like this, this is an offseason in my career that I think I'm just going to take a step back, look at the whole picture and then see what's the best direction for me."
What's next for Porzingis involves a few questions. If the Warriors are going to get the band back together next season (or make a bold move, such as chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo) to position themselves for another big run in the Stephen Curry era, they would likely want Porzingis back — but at considerably less than the $30.7 million he was making this season. Which leads to the next couple of questions: Would another team step up with a bigger offer? What will Porzingis prioritize in picking where he plays next? Money? Role? Contending team?
Porzingis' value when healthy is not in question, just ask the champion 2024 Celtics. He's an All-Star-level player when on the court. However, his availability is on the table. Porzingis has played in fewer than 60 games in each of the past three seasons, and has cleared 65 games just three times in his 10-year career (and two of those were his first two seasons in the league).
Porzingis isn't going to be the biggest free agent name on the board this summer, but he is one of the more interesting ones.
The San Antonio Spurs play host to the underdog Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference playoffs, and we're looking at NBA player prop projections ahead of tonight's Game 1 clash.
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Trail Blazers Game 1 computer picks
Scoot Henderson Over 9.5 points (+100)
Projection: 11.39 points
The player prop projected to offer the most EV (23.3%) on the slate is Scoot Henderson to go Over 9.5 points at even money.
This year, opposing starting PGs have averaged 50.2% on shots from the field (best in the league) vs. the San Antonio Spurs, creating a positive matchup.
The Portland Trail Blazers check in as the second-best offensive rebounding team in the league (offensive rebounds maintain possession and may therefore provide added opportunities for scoring and assists).
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Deni Avdija Under 6.5 assists (-105)
Projection: 5.48 assists
The Blazers have the sixth-most sluggish pace-of-play offense in the NBA over the last five games, and Deni Avdija has only dished out seven-plus assists five times in his last 10.
One of those recent Unders came against the Spurs.
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Jrue Holiday Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 17.45 points
The computer is projecting Jrue Holiday to clear his scoring prop by nearly a full three points, and it expects him to have a strong matchup from beyond the arc.
The matchup against the Spurs is a strong one for 3-point shots; the opposing team's starting SGs have posted the eighth-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA this year (37.5%).
If you like the risk, Over 2.5 made threes is available at +115, but the computer is only projecting 2.74.
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Spurs Game 1 computer picks
Dylan Harper Over 8.5 points (-110)
Projection: 10.55 points
Dylan Harper has scored at least nine points in 12 straight games and in 16 of his last 17.
Offensive rebounds preserve possession and generate additional scoring opportunities, and the Spurs rank sixth-best in the league with 12.4 offensive boards per game over the last 15 games.
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Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points (+100)
Projection: 13.30 points
Devin Vassell has averaged 13.9 points per game this season and has cleared this line in four of his last six games.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 17.5 points (-105)
Projection: 18.60 points
De'Aaron Fox has averaged 22.5 points per game over the last eight home games, 3.6 points higher than his full-season average at home.
He's also cleared this prop in three straight and in four of six.
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How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
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Nov 29, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks the ball over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the third quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Today’s prompt for the staff was easy: what’s your favorite moment from the season?
Bryan: December 23, 2025. Denver comes to town on national tv as the Mavs are at the peak of annoying me by going on that brief winning streak earlier in the month, just to go right back to being a dreadful watch soon after. The worries with Cooper’s jumpshot are still a prominent topic of conversation and, and with his brother sitting courtside, Coop delivers maybe his best overall performance of the season against the multiple-time MVP, Nikola Jokic and crew. 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal, and a block on 14 of 21 from the field and 4 of 6 for three. He only attempted 1 free throw in that game and had 2 turnovers; it was an offensive clinic by Cooper punctuated by a tomahawk slam right on top of fellow rookie Spencer Jones’ head midway through the game. They won that game too, but I couldn’t bring myself to mind it much.
Tyler: When it ended.
Chris: I’m sorry, I’m gonna say it. For me, it has to be when they traded Anthony Davis. That move signaled the official end of the Nico Harrison era, and the Mavs re-shifted the focus to building around Cooper Flagg. The return was never going to be anything close to the true value of Luka Doncic, but Dallas now has a new star and doesn’t have to operate on two different timelines. And even if you were in the camp of wanting to keep Davis, the idea of paying a mid to upper 30’s guy, who cannot stay on the court, $70 million a year on an extension is so outrageously insane, my brain cannot process it. Good job Fin-Cardi.
Josh: When it ended.
Damn, Tyler stole my bit or more like I stole Tyler’s bit.
Jordan: November 10 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavs had a predictably rough start to the season. The long-term direction of the team is muddied. Cooper Flagg was thrust into a role no rookie should have been in — especially one who’d never played the position he’d been asked to play. His answer was an impressive showing against one of the league’s superstars. All of that culminated in this moment with less than a minute left, straight up against Giannis Antetokounmpo:
The most electric moment of the season. It said everything about what Flagg was about, and why it mattered that the organization fully embrace a new era. It took time, no doubt. But this was the moment that sealed it. It is likely coincidence that the next morning Patrick Dumont, after sitting courtside for this game, fired the general manager; putting in motion where the team is today. When I think of the very few true bright in-game moments from a dark season, this is the one I automatically remember.
Kirk: Jordan took the moment I wanted. Crap. Hold on. But man, yeah, that’s a good one.
Brent: The kid in the Luka jersey sitting next to Dumont – because it confirmed the Dallas Mavericks are the ongoing Black Mirror episode of the NBA since the team was sold.
Joe: My favorite Mavs moment was the Dumont-Luka kid thing. Just a bizarre and hilarious way of ending the dumb 10 months that was the Anthony Davis era in Dallas. Obviously, he didn’t get traded till later, but that was when it ended.
Michael: I’m torn between two and will name them both because one is macro and one is micro.
The macro-level moment was the Anthony Davis trade. I have no problem with Davis, didn’t blame him for the Doncic trade, etc. – no animosity to the players involved, but that trade so desperately needed to happen. It truly marked the end of the Nico Harrison era, but more importantly, gave the franchise their second dose of real hope since the ill-fated Doncic trade (the #1 pick/Cooper Flagg being the first dose, of course). It often feels as though other teams have gone from second apron team to under the cap through some manner of instant sorcery, so my hope had long been the Mavs could do the same. The fact they managed to move on from the Harrison era, move away from the oft-injured Davis to officially make it Flagg’s team, come off the financial burden of multiple contracts, and give the team off season flexibility for the first time in a long time – all in one fell swoop, and all despite Davis being injured at the time – cannot be overstated enough. It was the first real Mavs-related “thrill” since lotto/draft night.
The micro-level moment was Flagg’s 51-point game. 19-for-30 overall, 6-for-9 from deep, 7-for-7 from the free throw line, all in 33 minutes of play, was just an outrageous beast-mode moment. It wasn’t a farce like some high-scoring games can be, and from relatively early in the game, it grabbed hold of me and had me guessing just how special it would be. Ultimately, it had me shouting “next point is 50!” to everyone within earshot so they could stop multitasking and focus only on the game to see something amazing.
Both moments ultimately contributed to a feeling of hope for the future that was elusive for large parts of the last 18 months.
Kirk: I think it has to be the Cooper Flagg dunk over Zubac. I knew our guy had hops, by my goodness this is athleticism we’ve not seen often while in Dallas.
DENVER , CO - APRIL 18: Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets handles as Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 116-105 win at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost Game 1 of their first-round NBA Playoff series to the Denver Nuggets, 116-105, in a game reminiscent of so many of the Wolves’ shortcomings.
There were gorgeous stretches of basketball, especially early in the game, but those pockets of solid play did not last. The Wolves consistently reverted back to the team that underachieved during the regular season. The phrase “flip the switch” had been used to describe the Wolves coming into the playoffs, and at least for one game, that did not occur.
With the game now in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a second look at what went right, and more often what went wrong for the Timberwolves in Game 1 against the Nuggets.
The Good: Rudy Gobert on Offense
The best aspect of the Timberwolves’ Game 1 came from Rudy Gobert on offense. Gobert struggled mightily on that side of the ball last postseason, but did exactly what the team needed him to do on Saturday afternoon in Denver.
The best offensive action the Timberwolves had all night was the pick-and-rolls with Gobert as the screener. Many ball handlers found Rudy rolling to the rim, with Anthony Edwards specifically finding Gobert early and often with the defense tilted to stop the Wolves’ superstar guard.
Gobert himself caught each pass thrown his way and either made the correct next pass or made a move to the rim for a bucket.
“Both ends he did a good job,” Jaden McDaniels said. “He keep doing that, we’re going to win.”
When asked if this performance is repeatable, Gobert answered, “I think we shall see.”
Rudy Gobert was outstanding on both ends in Game 1. The Offense specifically stood out and I think the Wolves are going to need multiple games like this from Rudy to win the series
Ant and others made the correct pass often and Gobert was great catching and making the next play pic.twitter.com/DQMEBtOPZR
The ball movement that drove the Timberwolves toward a double-digit lead in the first quarter dried up in the second and third quarters. As it so often has this season, the Wolves reverted to isolation basketball and took many ill-advised shots.
One of the main culprits was Edwards, who, after consistently finding Gobert and other teammates in the first quarter, settled for far too many bad shots the rest of the game.
“I don’t know,” Edwards said when asked about the lack of ball movement. “Yeah, I gotta go watch the film. I don’t know. I thought the ball was still kind of moving, but Finchy said the same thing. The ball stopped kind of moving, but I gotta go look at it.”
The ball movement dried up after the first quarter for the Wolves in Game 1. I thought was as big a reason as anyone as to why
The Wolves offense looked great when Ant was making the fight pass to Rudy and others while attacking the rim himself. I thought too often he settled pic.twitter.com/I09vLbWWUV
The player who suffers most due to the lack of ball movement is probably Jaden McDaniels.
In the first quarter and a half of Game 1, the Wolves used the defensive attention toward Edwards with the ball and Gobert rolling to the rim to generate open looks and driving lanes for McDaniels, which led to either open looks at the rim or free throw opportunities with Nikola Jokić guarding the rim.
All of that dried up later in the game as the ball got sticky, and isolation possessions were the primary action of the Wolves’ offense.
The Timberwolves need to get more looks for Jaden McDaniels in the flow of the offense
I think these three plays are a perfect example of how to do that. Use Gobert's roller gravity and the shifted defense toward Edwards to open up driving lanes pic.twitter.com/I1dnJhgPUv
The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter but clawed back into the game. The Denver lead got as small as two points before the Wolves’ poor late-game execution prevented them from shrinking the deficit any further.
“Just key mistakes,” Randle explained. “Just little things, we put them on the free throw line. A bunch of little things at certain moments. We’d get it to five, and they’d go on a 4-0 run, 6-0 run, stuff like that. We just gotta limit our mistakes down the stretch and try not to put ourselves in that position by having a better third quarter.”
Late in the game, Gobert and Julius Randle each had awful turnovers, there were a pair of missed defensive rebounds that led to second-chance points for the Nuggets, and a pair of fouls from Randle that gave Aaron Gordon three free throws before Denver even had to run a play.
“We’ve got to make smarter, more solid plays,” Finch said about the plays late in the game. “We had two turnovers right in the middle of one run back. One in the paint, which was a tough pass for Rudy to handle, and then Rudy does a wraparound DHO, they poke away, and then we get the away from the play foul, and it just wasn’t very smart. We’ve got to be more composed.”
The Wolves kept the game close late, but were unable to execute with a number of mistakes
Turnovers, missed rebounds, and bad fouls all played a role in the 11-point loss pic.twitter.com/18Fx69GPuy
We waited all year for this? The 76ers opened their 2026 postseason with one of the ugliest playoff losses in franchise history. The Celtics beat the 76ers 123-91 at TD Garden, a 32-point loss in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1st-round series.
In the last 30 years, there have only been two worse losses in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference 1st-round series – the Pistons lost by 35 to the Bucks in 2019 and the Knicks lost by 33 to the Heat in 2012.
The good news? Last time the 76ers lost a Game 1 in any playoff series by at least 30 points they came back to win the series.
Feeling optimistic now?
With a hat-tip to Stathead, here’s our five-best stats off the 76ers’ 2026 playoff opener.
HOW BAD WAS IT? The 32-point loss matched the 7th-worst playoff loss in 76ers history. They’ve lost nine postseason games by 30 or more points and five have been against the Celtics, including the last two. It was the 76ers’ worst Game 1 loss in any playoff series in 44 years, since a 121-81 loss to the Celtics at Boston Garden in 1982 – the so-called Mother’s Day Massacre – in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals series. The 76ers came back to win that series before losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The 32-point loss was the 76ers’ 5th-worst this year, including the regular season. The 32-point loss was also the 76ers’ worst ever in their first postseason game of any season. The previous worst was a 25-point loss to Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals in Game 1 of their 1964 Eastern Division Semifinal series, a 127-102 loss at Cincinnati Gardens. The win was the Celtics’ biggest in 41 years in a Game 1, since they beat the Lakers by 34 (148-114) in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.
HEY, THEY JUST MISSED ANOTHER 3: The76ers shot just 4-for-23 from 3 for 17.4 percent. That’s their 2nd-worst ever in a playoff game in which they attempted at least 20 3’s. The only worst performance came in a 111-102 loss to the Nets in 1999 at the Wells Fargo Center, where they were 3-for-25 for 12 percent. This was the first time in 76ers postseason history they made four or fewer 3’s while allowing 16 or more. It’s only the eighth time in NBA history a team has allowed 16 3’s in a playoff game while making four or fewer. The last five teams that have done that have done it against the Celtics. The 76ers haven’t had a regular-season game with four or fewer 3’s while allowing 16 or more in 12 years, since a 114-93 loss to the Trail Blazers at Moda Center in 2014.
GRUESOME PLUS-MINUS NUMBERS: For only the second time in franchise history, the 76ers had eight players at minus-10 or worse in a playoff game: Tyrese Maxey (minus-29), V.J. Edgecombe (minus-26), Justin Edwards (minus-21), Kelly Oubre (minus-21), Andre Drummond (minus-19), Dominick Barlow (minus-15), Quentin Grimes (minus-13) and Paul George (minus-10). They also had eight at minus-10 or worse in that 2023 loss to the Celtics (Joel Embiid, Danny Green, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Maxey). Edwards somehow managed to be minus-21 despite playing just 17 minutes. Only four 76ers have had a worse plus-minus in a playoff game in which they played 17 or fewer minutes: Eric Snow was minus-21 in 13 minutes vs. the Bucks in 2001, Elton Brand was minus-23 in 15 minutes vs. the Celtics in 2012, DeAndre Jordan was minus-22 in 17 minutes vs. the Heat in 2022 and Paul Reed was minus-21 in just 11 minutes vs. the Knicks in 2024.
NOT ONE BUT TWO GUYS SHOOTING BLANKS: Kelly Oubre and V.J. Edgecombe were both 0-for-5 from 3, making this the first playoff game in 76ers history where two guys took five or more 3’s and didn’t make any. They both tied the 6th-most 3-point attempts in a playoff game without a make.
IT WAS NEVER CLOSE: The 76ers’ 15-point deficit through the first quarter was the 6th-largest in franchise postseason history and largest since an 18-point deficit against the Pistons in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference 1st-round series in 2008. The 18-point halftime deficit was 9th-largest in 76ers postseason history. And the 24-point deficit after the third quarter was 11th-largest.
"That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career."
When one considers the length and breadth of LeBron James' GOAT-level career, that statement says a lot. LeBron has been clear the past couple of years that playing with his son Bronny has been one of the — if not THE — greatest joys of his career.
On Saturday, that duo made history again as LeBron and Bronny became the first-ever father/son duo to play in an NBA game. You could see the joy in LeBron's eyes when he talked about it postgame.
LEBRON JAMES: "I was on the floor with my son. In a playoff game. That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career.
LeBron had a special day beyond playing with his son. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out, the Lakers needed 41-year-old LeBron to shoulder the burden of being the team's primary shot creator — and he thrived. In seeming constant motion all night, he finished with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. He was drawing defenders and setting up teammates such as Luke Kennard, who had a team-high 27. The Lakers have a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 on Tuesday in Los Angeles, but Houston is expected to have Kevin Durant back for that game.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: The sneakers worn by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Sixers never even sniffed a Game 1 upset Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
They began their first-round playoff series against the Celtics in nightmarish fashion, falling to a 123-91 loss. The second-seeded Celtics never trailed the seventh-seeded Sixers.
Celtics star Jaylen Brown scored 26 points. Jayson Tatum posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
The Sixers’ leading scorers were Tyrese Maxey with 21 points and Paul George with 17.
The only player sidelined on either side was Joel Embiid. He’s out indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy last week.
The Sixers had two players start in their playoff debuts with rookie VJ Edgecombe and second-year big man Adem Bona.
The day did not begin according to plan for Bona. He was whistled for his second foul at the 10:23 mark of the first quarter when he rumbled down the floor on a fast break and charged into Sam Hauser. Andre Drummond subbed in. Less than two minutes later, Maxey drove to the rim and drew the second foul on Celtics center Neemias Queta.
Boston dealt with the frenetic energy of the early action much better than the Sixers.
George threw a poor cross-court pass that wound up as the Sixers’ fourth turnover in the first five minutes. Brown snagged the steal and Tatum sprinted the other way for a fast-break layup. Following a Sixers timeout, Tatum canned a mid-range jumper to give Boston a double-digit advantage. The Celtics built their lead to 33-18 on a Jordan Walsh layup with 1.1 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Sixers’ cause was not helped by the fact that they missed several good long-range looks. The team shot just 6 for 21 from the floor and 1 for 9 from three-point territory in the opening period. Their shooting numbers were similar all day long.
Sixers’ backcourt struggles at the start
The Sixers played a nine-man rotation and Justin Edwards was an unsurprising addition. The lefty wing played 17 minutes and tallied seven points on 3-for-9 shooting and six rebounds.
Nothing the Sixers tried early in the second quarter turned the tide, including zone defense.
The players’ body language grew increasingly frustrated and out of sync. Drummond goaltended a baseline Queta push shot and was then assessed a technical foul. Payton Pritchard made the ensuing free throw to bump Boston’s lead up to 49-29. The Sixers’ deficit swelled as high as 23 points in the second quarter.
Almost every area of the game was problematic. One major issue for most of the first half was the inefficiency of the Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt. Edgecombe started 1 for 7 from the field, Maxey 4 for 13. The duo combined for a single made three-pointer on eight attempts in the first half.
The Sixers need plenty of variables to click into place to beat the Celtics. Maxey and Edgecombe being great is a core part of the equation.
Adjustments time …
Both Edgecombe and Maxey saw shots drop late in the second quarter. Among Edgecombe’s highlights were a soft floater and a turnaround jumper.
The Sixers still trailed by 18 points at intermission. Drummond started the third quarter instead of Bona.
The team tightened up its defense in the first few minutes of the third and Kelly Oubre Jr. laid in his own miss to cut the Celtics’ advantage to 73-58. However, the Sixers continued to misfire on jumpers and couldn’t sustain momentum. With three-pointers from Brown and Nikola Vucevic, Boston’s lead was back over 20 points.
From there, the Sixers didn’t show anything that suggested they might have a giant comeback in store.
“Adjustments” is always a buzzword before Game 2 of a playoff series. The Sixers do have many possibilities under that umbrella. Head coach Nick Nurse could alter the rotation, perhaps throwing in Jabari Walker or Trendon Watford. He could place a greater emphasis on screening for Maxey and seeking out desirable switches. The Sixers could tweak their defensive approach, shading harder help toward Tatum and Brown.
Just about everything’s worth considering. Still, the heart of the matter is the Sixers appeared to be the less talented team by a wide margin in Game 1 and also had a brutal day with the factors under their control.
Making NBA history isn’t anything new for the James family.
They did it when LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together during a Lakers preseason game on Oct. 6, 2024, before it was officially in the record books when they were on the floor together a couple of weeks later for the Lakers’ regular-season-opening win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 22, 2024.
They connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago, when the elder James passed to the younger James for a 3-pointer during the second quarter of the March 27 win over the Nets.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Bronny James, dribbles as his dad, forward LeBron James, puts up a screen during the playoffs game against the Houston Rockets, April 18. AP
Another historic moment happened Saturday night, with LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son to play in a playoff game together during the Lakers’ Game 1 victory over the Rockets at Crypto.com Arena to kick off the best-of-seven first-round series.
The Lakers James duo connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago. AP
“There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me,” LeBron James said. “I mean, s–t, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career. It’s just so cool to be out there with him — and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building. And his grandmom. Like, that’s just insane. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. Now, that’s crazy.”
Bronny made his playoff debut last year, playing four minutes across two games (in garbage time) during the Lakers’ five-game first-round series loss to the Timberwolves.
With the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić, Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation on Saturday night. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
But with the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain), Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation Saturday night, starting the second quarter alongside his dad, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes.
He had two fouls and recorded a turnover in four second-quarter minutes, with the Lakers playing an eight-man rotation in the second half.
While Saturday was Bronny’s third career NBA playoff game, and his first playing meaningful minutes, it was LeBron’s record-extending 293rd career playoff game.
LeBron James had 19 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets. AP
LeBron had 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets.
“No, I mean, we all prepared this week, including Bronny,” LeBron replied when asked if he gave Bronny advice. “But s–t, it’s just like, everybody in their first playoff game, you’re going to be nervous. You can try to prepare for it, you can try to sleep as much as you can the night before. You can do all the things that you do. You can do the same routine and everything, when you step on that floor.
“I remember my first — what was it, 2006, going against Washington, our first home game. Being back in the playoffs in a minute, in a long time, with the Cavs and just nervous as hell. As soon as I got on the floor, I was just super nervous. But once you get the jitters out, you get the first game under your belt, and now you know what to expect. So he’ll be better going into the next time he gets his number called.”
Game 2 for Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
LeBron James on how it felt to be the lone superstar who played in Lakers-Rockets Game 1, which featured Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant sidelined: "There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me. I mean, shit, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff… pic.twitter.com/dQvbuINYTz
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - NOVEMBER 28: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court around Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on November 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 12:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: ABC
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are officially in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. They clawed their way through the Play-In Tournament to secure the 8th seed, and their reward is a date with the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference and a terrifying +11.1 net rating.
The Thunder have been patiently waiting for their opponent, with their last game coming exactly a week ago against this same Suns team.
For Phoenix, this is about proving that their veteran experience, chaos, and high-end scoring can disrupt the rhythm of the league’s most efficient young core. We’re playing with house money here.
OKC won the season series 3-2. There were a few thrillers and a couple of blowouts. But ultimately, it’s all meaningless, as the new season begins. The postseason.
Nov 28 (NBA Cup): OKC 123, PHX 119
Dec 10 (NBA Cup): OKC 138, PHX 89
Jan 4: PHX 108, OKC 105
Feb 11: OKC 136, PHX 109
April 12: PHX 135, OKC 103
This iconic shot on January 4th was an unforgettable moment.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Soreness)
Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Soreness)
Thunder
Thomas Sorber — OUT (ACL)
What to Watch For
It starts with the stars. This series features two of the premier guards in the world, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Booker. They each have a sidekick named Jalen who can take over at any time as well.
Devin Booker (PHX): 26.1 PPG, 6.0 APG, 3.9 RPG. Booker has been the engine for Phoenix all season, carrying the load through various rotations. During the Play-In games, it was a different story as Jalen Green led the way.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 31.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.3 RPG. SGA missed the final two games of the regular season with an oblique injury but has been cleared for Game 1. Likely just maintenance for the playoffs, same with Booker.
Devin Booker will need to elevate his game to superstar status in order for them to have any realistic shot at taking this Thunder team down. Can he match Shai shot-for-shot? If he plays anything as he has in the last two, the odds aren’t great. We need a vintage Book desperately.
Key to a Suns Win
Control your emotions, first and foremost. Don’t let the refs get in your head. When that happens, the Suns get out of whack, and it disrupts the game flow.
Control the Paint and the Glass
OKC lacks traditional bulk, but they have Chet Holmgren (1.9 BPG, 8.9 RPG). Phoenix needs Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro to capitalize on their size. The Suns cannot allow second-chance points to a team that already shoots nearly 50% from the floor. Mark Williams’ absence will be felt if he is unable to go. Hartenstein and Chet will likely feast inside if the Suns are going with a constant small(er) lineup out there.
Size and athleticism will be massive factors this entire series. OKC has the depth to wear the Suns (and any team for that matter) down over the course of a 7-game series. That is why they are the favorites, after all.
Limit the Turnovers
The Thunder lead the league in points off turnovers. Both teams rank in the top 5 in the league in steals per game, with OKC averaging 9.7 (3rd) and Phoenix averaging 9.5 (4th). Oklahoma City takes care of the ball better than most, ranking second in the league in turnovers per game at just 12.6 compared to Phoenix’s 14.5 (t-15th).
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace (1.9 SPG) prowling the passing lanes, the Suns’ backcourt of Booker and Jalen Green must be meticulous. They will face waves of pressure and physicality from the Thunder defense all game long.
Phoenix averaged 13.5 turnovers per game this season; that number needs to stay under 10 for them to steal Game 1.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 11: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns goes to the basket against Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second 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
The Bench “X-Factor”
In the Suns’ recent Play-In loss to the Blazers, the bench size was underutilized. Against a long OKC team, expect Jordan Ott to look toward Ryan Dunn, and possibly Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach to provide athletic resistance against OKC’s drives.
Jordan Goodwin has been a blessing for this Suns team. They’re going to need plenty more havoc from him as he will likely be tasked with tracking SGA all series long. Royce O’Neale needs to knock down shots. Ryan Dunn must defend and make plays. Collin Gillespie needs to shoot with confidence. It will take everyone.
Will we get another Jalen Green game? He is coming off consecutive strong showings with his back against the wall. If the Suns have any shot at upsetting OKC, Jalen Green will play a huge part in it.
JALEN GREEN CARRIES THE SUNS TO THE PLAYOFFS‼️
• Back-to-back 35+ point games 🔥 • 36 PTS and 8 threes to eliminate the Warriors 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/yy5cY9lDxu
It’s going to be a dogfight. The oddsmakers aren’t giving the Suns much of a chance, but 14 points is a massive spread for a playoff opener. Phoenix has enough firepower to keep this close if they can slow the pace and knock down shots. However, OKC’s home-court advantage and depth will be too much to overcome. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it today.
A first quarter flurry from Jalen Brunson and a fourth quarter burst from Karl-Anthony Towns bookended the Knicks’ 113-102 Saturday win over the Atlanta Hawks. The victory gave the Knicks an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.
The two teams will see each other again at Madison Square Garden on Monday night for Game Two. As the Knicks look to build a 2-0 series lead, let’s dive into keys for the game.
Adjustment to the adjustment
It took about three-and-a-half quarters for the Hawks to target New York’s weakness, which is the club’s offense when a wing defends Towns and a center checks Josh Hart.
With a win slipping from their grasp, Hawks head coach Quin Syder went to the tried and true strategy. He put Dyson Daniels on Towns, and had center Onyeka Okongwu guard Hart. After the Knicks took a 106-89 lead with four minutes and 36 seconds remaining, Atlanta went on a 9-0 run. Though the Hawks never got closer than eight points the rest of the way, Atlanta will likely go back to the strategy in the next game.
One look the Hawks leaned on towards the end of the game was Daniels on Towns and Nickeil Alexander-Walker assigned to Brunson. The Hawks can switch the pick-and-roll with Daniels and Alexander-Walker. It can potentially take New York’s offense out of flow and disrupt the potent Brunson and Towns pick-and-roll. New York’s two All-Stars combined for 53 points on Saturday.
The Knicks will need to be ready for the adjustment on Monday night for Game Two. Maybe they post Towns up more, or use Hart as a screener to a greater degree.
Towns still has a physical advantage regardless of any defender Atlanta throws at him. And he dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 25 points in the final frame. How the Knicks respond to the defensive wrinkle will be a central storyline for Game Two.
Fastbreak delayed
The Hawks are known for their high octane attack, but it was the Knicks who picked up the pace in Game One. The Knicks won the fastbreak battle, outscoring Atlanta 22-13 in the category.
Part of slowing down Atlanta’s frenetic pace was lowering turnovers. The Hawks thrive on chaos and scoring off opponent miscues: 17.4 percent of the Hawks’ points came off turnovers according to NBA Stats, the fourth-highest figure in the NBA.
New York turned the ball over seven times during the first half. The Knicks had just four turnovers in the second half, but all of them were all of dead ball nature. Atlanta (12 turnovers) ended up with more errors than the Knicks (11).
If New York can win the possession battle both by limiting turnovers and hitting the offensive glass, they will have a massive advantage in this series.
Bench advantage
New York’s bench was good but not great in Game 1. Defense was where the quartet of Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson had a positive effect on the game.
Offense was much harder to come by for New York’s reserves. Clarkson led the way with eight points. Shamet shot just 1-5 from three. Outside of a quick three-point burst in the fourth quarter, McBride was quiet with just six points in 21 minutes. Still, New York’s bench outscored Atlanta’s backups 20-13.
The Knicks should maintain the depth advantage the rest of the series. The only real Hawk reserve capable of a big night is Jonathan Kuminga. The Hawks forward had eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes on Saturday. Mouhamed Gueye and Gabe Vincent combined for just five points. Former number one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher saw just two minutes in the first half.
As the series wears on, both teams are going to need a reserve to swing a game with a big performance. Based on the series opener, it’s more likely someone from the Knicks has a momentous night.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry may all be close to the sunsets of their careers, but take a moment to appreciate the big-man play we should enjoy from the Western Conference for years to come.
Nikola Jokic, Chet Holmgren, and Victor Wembanyama are all space-bending athletes, while Jaren Jackson Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Donovan Clingan all operate more like traditional bigs.
The first-round matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs can also be seen as a matchup between Clingan and Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama is a difficult matchup for everyone in the NBA. He may be particularly difficult for the Portland Trail Blazers. They need Donovan Clingan on the court, but Wembanyama is too quick for Clingan away from the rim.
Presumably by coincidence, Wembanyama never actually faced the Trail Blazers this season, but look at how he fared in the San Antonio Spurs’ matchups against them last year, Clingan’s rookie season.
Wembanyama scored just 12 points in that first game, but he then scored 28 and 30 points in the next two matchups, both in December.
Clingan was not yet at full speed as a rookie, but he was hardly a deterrent for Wembanyama.
The Frenchmen should win on the perimeter, should win on drives, and should win in transition. That is too many ways to score not to exact some joy in his playoff debut.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. 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.
The Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs open their first-round NBA playoff series. The Spurs won two of the teams’ three regular-season meetings. The Blazers landed the West’s No. 7 playoff seed by beating the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament. The Spurs are making their first playoff appearance since 2019.
How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs: 62-20 (West’s No. 1 playoff seed)
Odds
Spread: San Antonio Spurs -10.5
Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -625 (82.6%) / Portland Trail Blazers +450 (17.4%)
Over/Under: 220.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Portland at San Antonio on Sunday, April 19 (9 p.m., NBC) Game 2: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 21 (8 p.m., NBC) Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video) Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN) *Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD) *Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD) *Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)
Trail Blazers
Spurs
