Category: NBA

Observations after Sixers start Round 2 of playoffs with 39-point loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers thudded back to earth Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Two days after celebrating a historic Game 7 victory over the Celtics, the Sixers opened their second-round playoff series against the Knicks by suffering a 137-98 loss. 

Jalen Brunson starred in New York’s Game 1 win, posting 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting in 31 minutes.

The Sixers’ top scorer was Paul George with 17 points. 

Joel Embiid had 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting. Tyrese Maxey scored 13 points and went 3 for 9 from the field. 

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Here are observations on the Sixers’ Game 1 loss:

Not how the Sixers drew it up against Brunson 

Mikal Bridges scored the first points of the series with a fast-break slam. VJ Edgecombe replied with a sweet baseline jumper and also nailed a corner three-pointer in the early going. 

Edgecombe had done strong work defending Brunson during the regular-season series and unsurprisingly began the night on the Knicks’ star guard. The Sixers’ other defenders on Brunson included Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. 

Brunson started out in a serious zone against whoever he saw in front of him, finding shots with subtle fakes and hesitations. He poured in 14 of the Knicks’ first 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Edgecombe picked up his third foul at the 4:26 mark of the second quarter when he tripped up Brunson as the two chased after a loose ball. 

The Sixers will need to keep throwing different defenders and coverages at Brunson throughout the series in an effort to be unpredictable and disrupt his rhythm. They’ll also have to be better with the fundamentals of on-ball defense and try to make everything less comfortable for Brunson, from stepping into pull-up jumpers to wriggling free in the mid-range. 

Short rotation doesn‘t work this time for Sixers

Embiid started 0 for 3 from the floor, although he did draw Karl-Anthony Towns’ second foul with 6:55 left in the first quarter. Mitchell Robinson entered.

The Sixers began intentionally fouling Robinson with a little under three minutes in the first quarter, aiming to exploit a widely known weakness. Robinson made a mere 40.8 percent of his free throws this year.

Back on Dec. 19, the Sixers also hacked Robinson and he had his best foul shooting game of the season, going 7 for 8. He did not replicate that Monday, starting 0 for 4. New York subbed Robinson out and briefly replaced him with Ariel Hukporti so the Sixers couldn’t keep hacking. 

Despite the issue with Robinson’s free throws, the Knicks’ bench clearly outplayed the Sixers’ in the first half. Part of that was simply because Sixers head coach Nick Nurse maintained a short rotation. Grimes served as the Sixers’ sixth man. Andre Drummond and Justin Edwards totaled eight first-half minutes.

The Sixers’ lack of rest was surely relevant in Game 1. They had a single day off following a very taxing series against the Celtics. At some point, it appears Nurse will have to expand his rotation a bit, buy slightly more rest for his stars, and see if the Sixers’ bench players can provide an impactful performance or two. 

The Knicks also rely heavily on their star power, but they played 11 men Monday before garbage time and kept growing their lead in the second quarter. Towns canned a three over Drummond early in the second to put New York up 49-37. The Knicks’ advantage ballooned to 23 points when Brunson sunk a second-chance three on the final play of the first half. 

“They’re deep, they’re big, they’re pretty physical as well,” Grimes said of the Knicks before the Sixers’ Monday morning shootaround. “They’ve got a lot of guys who can shoot the three. … They’ve got a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things to put pressure on us at the defensive end. We’ve got to be ready to take their punches and just take care of business.”

Another nightmare Game 1

Maxey didn’t make a field goal until he converted a driving layup with 6:58 to go in the second quarter.

Bridges guarded him well and the Knicks mixed up their pick-and-roll coverages effectively. Maxey committed an uncharacteristic turnover when the Sixers ran a double drag action and he threw a high-risk pass toward the paint that Josh Hart intercepted. 

Almost nothing unfolded as the Sixers would have hoped on either side of the ball. George did stay scorching from three-point range, going 4 for 6 after shooting 55 percent beyond the arc in the Celtics series. 

Just like in their Game 1 and Game 4 defeats to the Celtics, the Sixers had no chance in the fourth quarter and garbage time was abundant. Nurse called timeout with 5:19 left in the third following a Bridges three that gave the Knicks a 95-65 lead.

Though the Sixers were full of self-belief after their comeback against the Celtics, it’s worth remembering that the Knicks also entered Round 2 on a three-game winning streak and eliminated the Hawks with a 51-point Game 6 victory on the road.

Monday’s result doesn’t mean the Sixers are destined to get crushed in this series. They still have dangerous stars and showed in Round 1 that they can defy conventional wisdom.

The Knicks are unequivocally another difficult opponent, however, and now the Sixers must play from behind again. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves face the San Antonio Spurs in the first game of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 4-2 in the first round while the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1. Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards, who missed the last two games of the first round with a knee injury, could return in the opener.

How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs

• Date: Monday, May 4

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

• TV Channels: Peacock

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

Odds

• Spread: San Antonio Spurs -13.5

• Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -641 (83.0%) / Minnesota Timberwolves +464 (17.0%)

• Over/Under: 217.5

The Philadelphia 76ers meet the New York Knicks in the opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Sixers eliminated the Boston Celtics in seven games in the first round. The Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2. The Knicks are favored at 7.5 points with an over/under of 212.5.

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks

• Date: Monday, May 4

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

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

Odds

• Spread: New York Knicks -7.5

• Moneyline: New York Knicks -294 (71.4%) / Philadelphia 76ers +235 (28.6%)

• Over/Under: 212.5

NEW YORK (AP) — The “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast won a Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting on Monday for its deep dive into the finances of the Los Angeles Clippers and star Kawhi Leonard, capping a remarkable rise for the influential show.

Torre's show — which has three episodes each week — has reported on several major stories since its debut in 2023. Topics include Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Harvard, Madison Square Garden’s use of facial recognition software at games and team collusion in the NFL.

“We are honored to have been named the winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting!” the podcast’s official X account posted.

Last September, a report by Torre alleged that the Clippers violated NBA salary cap rules involving a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and the now-bankrupt California-based sustainability services company called Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC. The report led to an ongoing NBA investigation.

The Pulitzer judges called the project a “pioneering and entertaining form of live podcast journalism.”

Leonard has denied any wrongdoing, saying he didn’t receive all of the money he was owed from the company.

The Clippers have strongly denied that any rules were broken and said they welcomed the league’s investigation, which is being run by an outside firm.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and the company and the team announced a $300 million partnership in September 2021. That was about a month after Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers.

The team ended its relationship with Aspiration after two years, saying the contract was in default. Aspiration’s co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, agreed to plead guilty in August after facing federal charges of wire fraud. Prosecutors said he defrauded investors and lenders out of $248 million, adding that “Aspiration’s financial statements were inaccurate and reflected much higher revenue than the company in fact received.”

Torre's podcast is produced by Meadowlark Media and licensed by The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times Company. The 40-year-old Torre also has worked for Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

___

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

The team that’s won Game 1 has won every series that the Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers teams have played. How much stock you put into that is up to you. What we can say is that Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons is important.

Neither the Cavs nor the Pistons have had much time to prepare for the second round. Both teams went seven games in a series that many thought would be over far before it was. As a result, both have just one day to transition from the highs of winning a Game 7 to the onset of a new series.

The lack of preparation usually means that the team, or more specifically the team with the star players, that executes better will come away with the win on Tuesday.

For what it’s worth, the Cavs and Pistons split their four regular-season contests this year.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) at Detroit Pistons (60-22)

Where: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI

When: Tue., May 5 at 7 PM

TV: Peacock, NBC Sports Network

Point spread: Pistons -3.5

Cavs injury report: None

Pistons injury report: Kevin Huerter – QUESTIONABLE (abductor strain)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Pistons expected starting lineup: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Pistons 113-109 in March thanks to a big game from Jaylon Tyson

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Happy Monday everyone. The second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin tonight.

The New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Sorry for the blunder folks! All games on Peacock or NBC (WRC-TV).

DETROIT (AP) — Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has agreed to a contract extension on the heels of Detroit's first-round playoff series victory over the Orlando Magic.

Details regarding the value and length of the extension were not released by the Pistons when they announced the deal on Monday.

The Pistons have gone 104-60 in regular-season games under Bickerstaff and made two playoff appearances since he took over for Monty Williams at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Detroit lost in the first round a year ago. This season, the Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference at 60-22 and on Sunday defeated Orlando 116-94 to close out a playoff series victory for the first time since 2008.

In the fall of 2024, Bickerstaff took over a Pistons franchise that had posted the NBA's worst record in each of the previous two seasons, including a 14-68 record in 2023-24.

Before Bickerstaff arrived, Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA in consecutive seasons.

Detroit opens a second-round playoff series at home on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers — a team Bickerstaff coached from the end of the 2019-2020 season through the 2023-24 campaign.

___

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

The Dallas Mavericks made the flashy hire of Masai Ujiri on Monday afternoon, bolstering their front office less than a week before the NBA Draft Lottery determines where the Mavericks will be picking in June’s Draft. After Nico Harrison was removed from his GM responsibilities in November, the Mavericks operated somewhat unconventionally with no formal GM. Instead, they had the tandem of Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley running day-to-day operations, a pair that proved quite effective when they orchestrated the Anthony Davis trade that reset the Mavericks’ timeline and cap constraints.

With the “Fincardi” hivemind already in house, and virtually no solid evidence the Mavs’ even had a realistic outside target they were engaged with, the hiring of Ujiri comes as something of a surprise. Added to the Harrison departure and Davis trade, the Mavs continue to show they are turning the chapter, not just the page, on the Harrison era. While that distancing is surely welcome to the fanbase, the question remains as to whether Ujiri is the right choice.

What’s in a name?

In just a few hours post-hire, we are already seeing some confusion as to what role Ujiri will play. Logically, this was the GM hire to replace the void left by Harrison, and it seems many have understood it as such. In reality, that is not the case. Ujiri is “President” and “Alternate Governor.” Nowhere has the team officially referred to him as the GM. In fact, the Mavericks’ official press release clearly leaves that title out of his job description, despite said description heavily crossing over with what a GM normally does. Per the official news from the Mavericks’ website:

“Ujiri will oversee all aspects of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting, while working with team leadership to shape the organization’s basketball philosophy and long-term direction.”

While some of that certainly sounds akin to a GM’s usual and customary duties, it also seems to indicate that Ujiri will have much more control than what may have been expected of a direct GM hire. On the other hand, maybe this is just another quirk of how the Mavericks have long done business. Recall that Mavericks’ longtime “GM” Donnie Nelson was not actually the GM in title. Technically, the Mavs did not have a GM for many years under Nelson’s leadership (remember Gersson Rosas’ cup-of-coffee hire as GM?). Time will tell exactly what Ujiri will be doing, but one thing is certain – he will play a major role in the Cooper Flagg era.

What is an Alternate Governor?

While we can only speculate at this point, it’s safe to say Ujiri as an “Alternate Governor” is a tremendous positive for the franchise. Why? This title seems to be deliberate in that it will likely allow Ujiri to stand in for the actual Governor, majority owner Patrick Dumont. In other words, Ujiri can likely be at the table for any NBA Board of Governors-related activities. With all due respect to Dumont, having a respected basketball executive at the table instead of a relatively new owner who’s early legacy is tarnished by the trade of Luka Doncic and poor fan relations, is a massive, massive win for the Mavericks. This further speaks to my earlier supposition that Ujiri’s influence is farther-reaching than that of a typical GM.

Safe bet

Ujiri is, simply put, a safe bet. Don’t let that fool you into thinking he will be an ineffectual stand-in. My calling him a safe bet in this context is a compliment. Ujiri is the antithesis of the outsider-turned-GM the Mavericks previously had making material decisions for the team. He is a well-respected, known quantity in the NBA landscape for over a decade-and-a-half. He was named Executive of the Year in 2012-2013 and oversaw the 2019 Toronto Raptors Championship. This is a big name hire that shows the Mavs are getting back to convention with an established individual.

Good draft history

Ujiri has show effectiveness on both the high and low end of the NBA Draft. Convenient, given the Mavericks have a lottery pick and a late first round pick this summer. To his credit, Ujiri drafted Pascal Siakam with the 27^th pick, Scottie Barnes with the 4^th pick and OG Anunoby with the 23^rd pick over a five-year span. Talent evaluation for a team that so often treated the Draft as an afterthought is a boon. Granted the Mavs don’t have a whole lot in the draft cupboard after this offseason, but that could change with a single trade. Even if it doesn’t, the Mavs need to nail their upcoming picks and Ujiri has at least demonstrated an ability to evaluate talent even in the latter half the first round.

There are two sides to every coin, of course, and there is a fair argument to be made that Ujiri was less impressive in his final years with the Raptors. Nonetheless, this is a big-name hire that shows Dumont is taking things seriously, even to the point of relinquishing some decision-making sway. Personally, I’m hopeful he will retain the services of both Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley as something of official co-GMs. That collective could (somewhat) quietly be a highly effective front office. In the early hours of the hire, this feels like a good day in Mavsland.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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The Los Angeles Lakers may never have a distinct edge in this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and my Lakers vs. Thunder same-game parlay picks believe that should be particularly true in Game 1.

My Lakers vs. Thunder predictions have no faith in Los Angeles in any regard before Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5.

Our best Lakers vs Thunder SGP for Game 1

SGP leg #1: Thunder First Half -9.5 (-115)

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers four times in four tries this season. Is that not bad enough?

The Thunder covered the full-game spread at halftime in three of those games. In the fourth? Oklahoma City was an 18-point favorite for the game and led by exactly 18 points at halftime.

There is no traction here for the Lakers. Not in any regard.

SGP leg #2: Thunder -15.5 (-110)

Most of the time, the thought of a fourth-quarter flurry could inspire fear about a number this large. Los Angeles might push late, right?

Not in this Game 1. Not when on the road and already with a rest disadvantage. This is the one moment to expect JJ Redick to pack it in early if the game is out of hand, likely turning any 20-point deficit into a 30-point misery.

SGP leg #3: Austin Reaves Under 21.5 points (-120)

No one on the Lakers’ roster should be pulled sooner than Austin Reaves, not even LeBron James. Reaves has rushed back from an oblique strain to give James some scoring help, but he still shows some wear.

Save the stress for a winnable game.

Covers NBA betting tools

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• Today’s NBA matchups

See our full Lakers vs Thunder Game 1 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Lakers vs Thunder predictions for Game 1.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This past week’s question asked Rockets fans about Kevin Durant. Following a tumultuous season in which KD played well on the court, was a vibe-killing disaster off of it, and a no-show come NBA Playoffs time, we asked our readers if they wanted the Rockets to trade him in the offseason. Not what they thought the Rockets would do. What they WANT the Rockets to do.

Here’s the results:

As you can see, a full 65 percent of Rockets fans want KD gone. You can count me in that 65. Sadly, it doesn’t appear that we will get our wish. In today’s ESPN article about the Rockets, Ramona Shelbourne reported that KD was a grumpy gus all season in the locker room, saying:

“Durant was predictably brilliant on the court throughout the 2025-26 season, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while playing in 78 games, but team sources said his “moodiness” took some getting used to and wore on the team’s young players throughout the campaign, a dynamic that was exacerbated without VanVleet and Adams as buffers.“

However, despite the burner incident playing a role in Houston’s chemistry issues this season, the Rockets fully intend to have KD back in the fold next season, calling Durant part of their core. The article also mentions that the locker room is supposedly fine now after some meetings, but I don’t think anyone who’s watched the Rockets recently doesn’t think the chemistry and comraderie was better without him. Were the Rockets a better team overall without him? That’s a different convo. Can they reach the next level by trading him for assets and being a little patient? I think that’s also a serious convo that needs to be had.

Anyway, it seems we’re not getting our wish, but if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in 25 years of writing about the NBA is to expect the unexpected.

Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts.

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Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons have notable frontcourts, but the Cavaliers’ big men were inconsistent in the first round against the Magic.

This Cavaliers vs. Pistons same-game parlay expects Detroit to win on the glass in Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5.

Our best Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP for Game 1

SGP leg #1: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 Rebounds (+100)

Jarrett Allen starred on the glass twice in the first round, but that was twice in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game series win. Which is to say, he fell short of this very modest prop five times against the relatively undersized Raptors.

That kind of rate will age even worse against the Detroit Pistons. They thrive on the offensive glass, No. 3 in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate since the All-Star Break, the kind of strength that gets overlooked during the regular season and by casual fans but can be a massive postseason difference-maker.

SGP leg #2: Jalen Duren Over 9.5 Rebounds (-145)

Jalen Duren leads that offensive rebounding focus. He pulled in at least four offensive boards in five of Detroit’s seven games against the Magic. In each of the final three games of that series, Duren snagged at least five offensive rebounds.

This is Duren’s most reliable skill, and even if he is not scoring, every offensive rebound he finds creates another scoring chance for the Pistons.

SGP leg #3: Pistons Moneyline (-150)

Homecourt advantage plus what could be a distinct rebounding edge should be all the logic needed to trust Detroit in this series opener, particularly given how well Cade Cunningham was playing as the first round ended.

Covers NBA betting tools

• NBA odds
• NBA picks
• NBA player props
• Best NBA betting sites
• Today’s NBA matchups

See our full Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 1.

More Covers NBA Playoff content

NBA Championship odds

Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

NBA Finals MVP odds

See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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

The NBA Playoffs are a fickle beast, and that remains especially true for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Three of the four first round series went the distance, which saw the pre-playoff favorite Boston Celtics be eliminated after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Sixers. The number one seed Detroit Pistons staged a 3-1 comeback of their own, highlighted by a 24-point comeback win in game six in Orlando. The Cavaliers toppled the Raptors in seven games, which saw the home team win all seven contests. And last, but certainly not least, the Knicks closed out the Hawks in game six, which was an all-time beat down.

What could the semifinals bring? Our brightest betting minds here at Mavs Moneyball have some disagreement about what the future might hold.

Check out our Western Conference Semifinals preview here.

(1) Pistons vs (4) Cavaliers

Series moneyline: Detroit -120, Cavs +102

David’s pick: Cavaliers over Pistons 4-2

I do not think either of these teams are real. Detroit looked really bad after going down 3-1 to a Magic team that had no identity. But the Pistons won 60 games for a reason and ultimately did not fall victim to the same fate the Mavericks did 19 years ago. Donovan Mitchell has been a career loser in the playoffs and James Harden’s choking is well documented. Fortunately for them, experience will win out here and the Pistons’ dream season will fall short of their ultimate goal. 

Series props:

• Cavaliers to win (+105)
• Series to go 6 games (+200)
• Detroit to win game one/Cleveland to win series (+320)

The Cavaliers will bring Donovan Mitchell to the conference finals for the first time. James Harden will have a chance to go back to the NBA Finals. They will finish it in six games after Detroit runs out of shooting. I think the Pistons will come out and keep their momentum alive in game one, but will not win another game until game 5. 

Tyler’s pick: Pistons over Cavs 4-1

The Pistons were just down 3-1 to the Orlando Magic, so you might be wondering why exactly I think they lay the hammer here. It’s simple for me: Detroit is going to physically beat Cleveland into submission. Jalen Duren was pretty brutal against Orlando, but in game seven he finally found some form. Instead of the physical front line of Orlando, he and his Pistons will face off with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who are not exactly known for their power game. Detroit is going to get the series they want here. It’ll be ugly, physical basketball with final scores rarely exceeding 100. If that is indeed the case, this will be over quickly.

Series props:

• Pistons -1.5 series spread (+155)
• Detroit to be leading 3-0 after game three (+490)
• Jalen Duren to lead series in rebounds (-115)

There’s not much to be added here, I really like the Pistons to get the job done early. And as noted above, I don’t think Jalen Duren’s struggles against a very physical Orlando front line will carry over against the Cavs, who are a different team that plays a different brand of basketball. I would venture to guess that Duren has a great series here on the glass. 

(3) Knicks vs (7) Sixers

Series moneyline: Knicks -270, Sixers +220

David’s pick: Sixers over Knicks 4-3

This is going to be a fantastic series if Joel Embiid plays all of it. Even if he misses a game or two, there will be fireworks. Both teams will struggle to defend the other, and the bad blood runs through the veins of every player. It is not hyperbole to say that this is a legacy-defining series for Embiid. He just defeated his Celtics demons and now faces the easiest path to the NBA Finals that he has had in his career. On the flip side, Jalen Brunson is still looking to get over the hump as the number one guy. Every guy in this series has something to prove. The deciding factor will be who has the better player, and that honor goes to Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Philadelphia wins game seven in a close game.

Series props:

• Sixers to come back from a 2 game deficit (+1000)
• Sixers to win (+220)
• Over 5.5 games (-150) 

I think the Knicks hold serve at home and go up 2-0. After the extended rest, the Sixers get right and ultimately win four out of five. The over on 5.5 seems free, this has seven game classic written all over it. 

Tyler’s pick: Knicks over Sixers 4-3

I’ve gone back and forth on this a couple of times. The Knicks are the kings of engaging in nonsense, while the Sixers are not immune to that themselves. This series will feature small guards everywhere, the rekindling of a feud between Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns. The coaching angle here is interesting as well, as I give a pretty strong edge to the Sixers staff. 

So with that, why exactly am I taking the Knicks? I think the role players for New York are going to do circles around what Philly has outside of Maxey and Embiid. The Knicks have great main role players in Hart, Bridges and Robinson, and even then the fringe guys like Shamet, McBride and Alvarado can all do something well. When you look at the other side, Philly will basically run six or seven guys, with Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond being the only real guys who get minutes. Because the Knicks will run a couple guys deeper, they should have a massive advantage on rest and having their legs.

Series props:

• Sixers +1.5 series spread (-120)
• Knicks game one + series win (-105)
• Josh Hart to lead series in rebounds (+500)

There are tons of trends about teams who just won a game seven facing a team who didn’t play seven games in a game one. Spoiler alert: the rested team does really well! I expect a resounding Knicks game one win, but that will not change my opinion on the series. As far as Hart goes, I wonder if Towns and Embiid cancel each other out in this series on the glass. They could be too busy fighting amongst themselves, which in turn would get KAT into foul trouble. Enter Josh Hart, who averaged over 10 rebounds per game against the Sixers last postseason.

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After a history-making Game 6 in the first round, the New York Knicks are onto Round 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. where they’ll face their longtime rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks took down the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance to the second round. The series included a 140-89 Game 6 victory that made history as the Knicks’ largest playoff win ever.

It took the No. 7-seeded 76ers all seven games to defeat the Boston Celtics and advance to the second round. Down 3-1 going into Game 5, the Sixers won three straight to shock the No. 2 seeded Celtics.

The next game in the Knicks vs. 76ers series is scheduled for Wednesday night.

76ers vs. Knicks start time:

Game 1 between the 76ers vs. Knicks is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET tonight, May 4.

How to watch 76ers vs. Knicks for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus nearly every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

You can also stream the NBA playoffs with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.

Knicks-76ers second round playoff schedule

• Game 1: Monday, May 4 (8 p.m. ET, NBC)
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 6 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Friday, May 8 (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
• Game 4: Sunday, May 10 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 12*
• Game 6: Thursday, May 14*
• Game 7: Sunday, May 17*

* if necessary

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll recap the Pistons’ incredible 3–1 comeback to eliminate the Magic in the first round and preview the second-round series against the Cavaliers. How are you feeling heading into round two? How far can this Pistons team go? And how surreal is it to watch a playoff series win for the first time since 2008?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Tuesday May 5 at 11 a.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
• Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
• YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.