DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives around Goga Bitadze #35 of the Orlando Magic in the second inning during game one of the first round of the eastern conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons have dominated one quarter, won two others, and been on the wrong side of five quarters. That has allowed the Pistons to even up the series with the Orlando Magic at one game apiece, but by no means should the Pistons be happy with their performance so far. Cade Cunningham has been brilliant, the defense has mostly been good, but Detroit is leaving a lot on the table. Jalen Duren has noticeably struggled, the team has committed way too many turnovers, and secondary scorers aren’t doing enough scoring. The Pistons are looking to rectify that in hostile territory tonight in Orlando. Detroit has been playing tough on the road all year, so there is no reason they can’t submit a dominating performance and truly turn this series around. But we can’t just hand wave this team’s struggles. They are just as capable of surrendering a bunch of threes, not slowing down Paolo Banchero, and getting blown out in front of a raucous crowd. Which Detroit Pistons team is going to show up tonight? We’re about to find out.
Game Vitals
When: 1 p.m. ET Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida Watch: NBC/Peacock Odds: Pistons -2.5
Apr 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) goes up for a dunk over Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) during the second half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images | Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Coming off a heartbreaking Game 2 loss this past Tuesday, the Spurs traveled to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers for Game 3. Victor Wembanyama was ruled out due to concussion protocol. After a back-and-forth first half, the Spurs found themselves down by six going into the third quarter. The Blazers looked to be in control and built a 17-point lead. However, Dylan Harper helped kickstart a 21-5 run to end the quarter, only down by one. In the fourth, Harper and Stephon Castle took over. Behind key stops from Carter Bryant and others, the Spurs began putting the pressure on Portland. Castle and Harper each traded buckets every time the Blazers failed to capitalize on offense. They were both simply unguardable. To close the game, Devin Vassell, Luke Kornet, and De’Aaron Fox sprinkled the finishing touches on a 120-108 victory to go up 2-1 in the series.
Stephon Castle led the way with 33 points (10-18 FG, 3-4 3PT, 10-11 FT), five assists, two rebounds, and a steal. Steph delivered one of the quieter 30+ point playoff games of all time. 19 of his 33 came in the first half, and he complemented Dylan’s scoring in the second half. He was efficient from the field, from three-point land, and from the free-throw line. Steph continues to slash his way no matter who steps in front of him, and he is not afraid to attempt tough contested midrange jumpers. A performance like this is a great sign for the Spurs for not only for this series, but for the foreseeable future.
ALLEY-LUKE! Steph fights his way into the paint and finds a cutting Luke on the lob connection!
Dylan Harper dropped 27 points (9-12 FG, 4-5 3PT, 5-6 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. Here are a few records that Dylan broke with his performance: Dylan (age 20) is the second-youngest player to score 20+ points off the bench in a playoff game (youngest – Kobe Bryant, age 18). He is also the youngest player in NBA history to score 25+ points in a playoff game. Dylan was having himself a decent game until the third quarter, when a switch flipped. After Scoot Henderson scored on Dylan, Henderson talked trash to Dylan, which resulted in a technical foul. Dylan took that energy and fueled his team. He exploded in the fourth quarter and emerged as the young star this team drafted him to be. He was uber-efficient from the field with a true shooting percentage of 92%. While Spurs fans are excited about Steph, they should be even more excited about Dylan’s potential.
Smooth as silk. Dyl spins off of Jerami Grant and finishes with a scoop layup!
Bonus highlight: Luke drained his first three of the season at the end of the first quarter! Luke finished with a double-double: 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two assists and two blocks.
All in all, this was a hard-fought and gutty victory for the Spurs. Fox pitched in 18, Dev pitched in 11, Julian pitched in 9, and CB made hustle plays on both ends with three blocks. The emergence of both Steph and Dylan powered this team to a victory, and the series outlook has shifted to a less stressful time for Spurs fans. Wemby will be questionable for Sunday, but even if he does not play, look for the young guards to continue putting the rest of the playoff field on notice. Oh, but if Wemby plays, the outlook becomes even less stressful for the silver and black.
This was expected. Boozer is a projected top-4 pick in this June's draft and is seen as a potential franchise cornerstone for some NBA team.
Boozer lived up to the hype entering Duke, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. His game is incredibly polished, and he is going to be able to come in and help right away.
Boozer has the highest floor of any of the projected top-four picks because he is just good at everything: Shooting (he can score at the rim but also shot 39.1% from 3-point range), rebounding, setting picks, using angles, passing, and playing in transition.
For much of the season, the son of NBA player Carlos Boozer was projected as a lock top-three pick in the draft, but as some teams have fallen in love with the potential of North Carolina's Caleb Wilson, Boozer has slid down to fourth on some boards. The challenge is that scouts are not sold on him being athletic enough to be a true No. 1 option for a team. That said, one scout told NBC Sports Boozer has a lot of young Kevin Love in his game.
Whatever happens, Boozer is about to enter the draft and start what promises to be an interesting NBA career.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s widely regarded that a series doesn’t begin until a team loses at home. In that sense, the Lakers got the series started on Friday.
The purple and gold secured a win inside what looked to be a half-filled stadium for Houston’s playoff opener, taking advantage of late blunders from the Rockets to end regulation to grab a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Both Kevin Durant and Austin Reaves, game-time decisions, were ruled out before tip-off. It set the stage for both teams to rely on “the others” to fill in for them.
LA, as they’ve done in recent weeks, leaned on the veteran Marcus Smart. He once again stepped right in to contribute everywhere on the floor and has entered legendary Lakers’ role player status in an improbably short time.
It’s no secret that without Reaves and Luka Dončić, the Lakers are in need of a massive uptick in on-ball creation. Smart has shouldered much of the burden and thrived, making all sorts of passes with timely shots in this series.
The playoffs consist of finding and exploiting matchups. Following just 11 minutes in Game 2, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka went back to young guard Reed Sheppard in a desperate search for offense. His reluctance to play the third overall pick in 2024 stems from defensive trust, where LA hunted him to no end, just as they did in Game 1.
No matter where Houston tried to hide him, Smart made sure to call his man over to involve him in the action.
In the first quarter, they tried to place him on Rui Hachimura. Watch below as Smart runs the action with Sheppard looking to “show” or “hedge”— disrupt the ball handler’s attack while recovering back to his man — but Smart cleverly drives forcing two to pick him up, leaving Hachimura wide open for a 3-pointer.
Smart connected on three different alley-oops. He’s become a force downhill, engaging the opposing big man before throwing it up to his teammate.
In an adjustment from Game 1, the Rockets had defenders go under his screen roll, looking to bait him into jump shots. But Smart ate up the space with his straight-line drives and found his bigs, as shown in the clip below.
After two excellent scoring games, the Rockets paid extra resources to slow down guard Luke Kennard. The Lakers simply shifted their offense to Smart and LeBron James, the players with the most playoff experience on the roster, for the majority of the second half.
Smart found LeBron on a pick-and-pop 3-pointer and a clutch lob late to pull the Lakers back within two points with under two minutes left.
At the end of the day, legacies and legends are made in crunch time.
A LeBron miss keeps LA down six with just under 30 seconds remaining. Smart, who seemingly was the only Laker still playing, stunts at Jabari Smith in the clip below and forces a game-changing steal. He immediately gets fouled on a 3-point attempt, knocking down all three free throws.
“Just make a play,” Smart said postgame. “My instincts, right? We knew that they were going to try to ice the game, right, and we needed to make a play. Just using my instincts. Jabari Smith, I think it was him who made the pass, I just kind of stunted to see what he does. Now, he’s in no man’s land and he threw a lofted pass for me to recover and I got it.
“As I looked up at the clock, I saw Tate running really fast and I’m like, ‘He’s probably not going to be able to stop in time.’ So I just pulled up right away and he ran right under me. It was a smart play. That’s part of being a vet and my vet savvy. Being in my league for 12 years, I picked up some tricks from some guys.”
That vet savvyness reared its head in overtime. He picked up the first points of the extra period with a corner 3-pointer. With just under a minute remaining and nursing a two-point lead, nobody boxes him out, as he crashes in and gets fouled on an offensive rebound.
He finished with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals, two blocks, and 2-4 from the 3-point line. Smart is no stranger to the playoffs as Game 3 on Friday was his 111th playoff game. His postseason legacy was not born here, but with all his previous games in Celtics green, it might as well be for Laker fans.
With the circumstances of the series, he’s quickly put himself in rarified air, leading the Lakers to their first potential sweep since 2010.
“When you’re sitting at home on your couch as a kid growing up, you’re watching the playoffs, this is what you dream of being involved in,” Smart said. “One of those games. Then, to not be in the playoffs the last 2-3 years for me, it just sucks. I got to watch some good basketball and it’s like, ‘Damn. I’m a competitor. I want to be out there playing, too.’ So, to be back out there, it’s a great feeling.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder won the first two games in OKC. The series shifts to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4. The Thunder are 9.5-point favorites with an over/under of 214.5.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Game 1:Thunder 119, Suns 94 Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107 Game 3: Sat., April 25 at Phoenix (3:30 p.m., NBC) Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
There are some critical games on tap in the NBA Playoffs tonight, and some of the league’s biggest stars will need to perform at their best if they want to help their teams get back in their respective series.
That includes both Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic, who I expect will help their teams climb out of their respective 2-1 deficits.
Let’s take a closer look at these and other spots basketball bettors might want to target today in my NBA player props and NBA picks for Saturday, April 25.
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been as advertised so far, the Thunder continue to benefit from their depth of outstanding players to overwhelm opponents.
That includes center Chet Holmgren, who is averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against the Suns so far.
Holmgren has fired away from 3-point range in this series, hitting twice from beyond the arc in Game 1 and three times in Game 2. That continues a late season trend in which the former Gonzaga standout shot 56.3% from deep during April and hit 3+ 3-pointers in two of his final three regular season contests.
The Suns are one of the better teams in the league at chasing teams off the 3-point line, allowing only 12.3 made threes per game. But that hasn’t helped much against Oklahoma City, likely due to the way the Thunder can deploy threats all over the floor.
I’m expecting Holmgren to continue his barrage from deep and hit the Over.
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #2: Jalen Brunson Over 27.5 points
-110 at bet365
The New York Knicks desperately need someone to step up in Game 4 of their series against the Atlanta Hawks, and it's logical to assume that will be Jalen Brunson.
Brunson led the Knicks with 26.0 ppg in the regular season, and has averaged 27.7 ppg so far in the first three games of this series. He’s been remarkably consistent both in usage — shooting between 22 and 26 times per game — and output, scoring between 26 and 29 points in each contest.
Atlanta has played excellent defense throughout the series, punctuated by forcing Brunson into a turnover at the end of Game 3. But that hasn’t prevented Brunson from being productive, and New York is far too strong offensively to not break out, as it ranked second in offensive efficiency in the NBA this year.
I can’t see the Knicks going down 3-1 in this series without a fight, so I’m backing Brunson to hit his scoring total tonight.
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC
Prop #3: Nikola Jokic to record a Triple-Double
+100 at bet365
It’s hardly a reach to bet on Nikola Jokic to put up a triple-double in any given game. He accomplished the feat a league-leading 34 times this season, averaged a triple-double in the regular season, and even recorded one in Game 1 of this series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic hasn’t been quite as effective in the last two games of the series, with Rudy Gobert doing a fairly good job of locking down the center, holding Jokic to 32.6% shooting from the floor and 3-for-17 from 3-point range over the last two games.
That's led to a lot of "think pieces" about how Gobert has solved Jokic. But the Denver Nuggets star has still averaged 25.5 points and 15 rebounds over the past two games, and it’s hard to imagine Jokic won’t come up with a response — perhaps even moving the ball around more if he can’t be as efficient as he’d like to be in his scoring.
At even money, I like Jokic to get back to his all-around excellence by recording a triple-double tonight.
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CLEVELAND - MAY 22: Head coach Mike Brown talks to Mo Williams #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic during the 2009 NBA Playoffs on May 22, 2009 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers won 96-95. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Wings made of feathers and wax. Flew too high, intoxicated by pride. Sent down crashing by the sun, drowning in hubris inside a dark sea.
Will the Knicks bend, or break?
Here’s the latest before the biggest game since the bounce that changed the Knicks’—now present—future.
On a possible starting lineup change for Game 4: “That’ll be a game-time decision. Like I said (Thursday) night, at this point in the year, anything is on the table — what we do offensively, what we do defensively, what our rotations are, who starts, what we come out with. Everything is on the table. My job is to keep searching, and that’s what we had to do (in Game 3). We found the right combinations. We got a chance to go up three. Couldn’t ask for anything better than that with a minute left in the game, a chance to go up by three, especially with the way we played.”
On not using KAT-Mitch due to matchup concerns: “Because things are matchup-based. If you hypothetically have them both out there, let’s just take their starting five, you put Mitch on Okongwu, put Jalen hypothetically on Dyson Daniels and then you put KAT on Jalen Johnson. And then OG on Alexander-Walker and Josh on CJ McCollum and that’s probably not a good matchup at the end of the day. To play those guys together, it has to fit offensively and it has to fit defensively for it to happen throughout the course of the ball game. At times, it’s a little difficult matchup-wise.”
On paying attention to all details before making a lineup change: “The reality is — any (lineup) decision that I make, I try to think of all the pros and cons. And to back that up, the Charlotte game, I knew he had that streak going on. I threw him out there for five seconds. So everything that I do, I’ll take into consideration for everybody as best I can. And will I whiff sometimes? Yeah. Or will I forget sometimes? Yeah. Or will I say, I know this is going on, but I’m still going to do this or that? Yeah. So anything and everything is on the table. But I try to list the pros and cons for that individual and the repercussions it has throughout the team, whenever I make decisions.”
On the urgency of the playoffs: “The reality of it is, come playoff time, we should be feeling that all the time. There should be a sense of urgency every single possession you’re on the floor. It doesn’t matter who is in front of you or what the score is. You have to play with a level of sense of urgency/desperation, however you want to call it, throughout the course of a ballgame. Even if you’re up 3-0, because I’ve been up 3-0 and when you’re up 3-0 on somebody, they’re playing with a level of desperation, similar to them being a wounded animal, that makes it difficult to close out. That’s definitely something that we want our guys to feel, is that sense of urgency, so that it can be translated to every single possession on the floor when we’re playing in the game.”
On implementing off-ball actions for Brunson: “We called it a few times, you gotta give Atlanta credit. They did a nice job of defending it the few times we called it. But we gotta keep trying to implement it, whether it’s play call or within the flow of what we’re trying to do conceptually on the offensive end of the floor.”
On the need for more paint touches and sprays: “We all have to be aggressive, not just to shoot the ball, but be aggressive to touch the paint on drives. And if you don’t have anything in the paint, you gotta spray it. We haven’t gone anywhere near our sprays that we’ve wanted to in these first three games.”
I’m saying we’re gonna win it. No problem saying it.
On the plus-24 Hart-Brunson-McBride-OG-Towns lineup: “I feel like we were getting stops. Getting some good shots. OG had a couple big threes at the end of the shot clock. Deuce shot the ball well. But I feel like we really played off of our defense.”
Game 3 Last 2-Minute Report has one incorrect non-call: NBA says this should have been an and-1 opportunity for Jalen Johnson: "Josh Hart moves laterally into Johnson's path and does not establish a legal guarding position in Johnson's path prior to the contact" pic.twitter.com/GUoAFC8Pii
On dealing with the defense of Daniels and Alexander Walker: “They both are great defenders. You have to be smart, you have to be kind of tactical in what you do. Just being able to not really focus on what they’re doing but focus on your shot and doing the things that I need to do to make sure I’m comfortable shooting the shots I want to shoot and be in positions I want to be in. But you gotta give them credit. They make things very difficult.”
On the Knicks’ mindset entering Game 4: “We’re playing for our lives.”
On the first-round series urgency: “I would say we’re playing for our lives. I mean, it is a seven-game series and it’s the first to four, but it’s ticking away. We don’t want to leave it up to chance. We don’t want to say we wish we could have or we wish we would have done this different. We want to take every opportunity, every chance we can, and take advantage of it, be together as a team and figure it out.”
On his role coming off the pine: “My job is to come in and play defense and come in and make shots. I want to be at the best ability I can to do it. If I can instill more confidence in my guys for me to let it fly with no hesitancy, I want to do it.”
On playing through pain: “I try not to listen to how I’m feeling day to day. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. If I’m supposed to get a stop, I gotta get a stop. If I’m supposed to make a shot, I gotta make a shot. So I try not to think about it. Reality is, I’ve gotta go out there and perform.”
On defending McCollum in the last defensive play: “I knew they had to go quick. Main thing is, he’s a really good player. I’m not happy with my contest. He made the shot. I feel like if I maybe had bumped him earlier, but trying to get a feel for how the game was being called. I don’t want to put him at the free throw line in a sense like that. Maybe just be more aggressive and make it tougher.”
Stephen A. Smith
On the potential fallout if the Knicks crash out in Atlanta: “There’s gonna be another head coach in New York City if they lose this series. Several players are going to be gone from New York City. I’m so sick of what I’m seeing right now. I love Mike Brown, but I’m very unhappy right now. The New York Knicks are stinking up the joint. Leon Rose, the honeymoon is over. Right now, you’re on the verge of going home. You can’t lose Game 4. You can’t go down 3-1 to the Atlanta Hawks.”
On the Knicks’ struggles against the Hawks: “One minute you’re up 14, you’re losing a game. Another minute you’re down 18, you come back and still lose the game. You’re inventing new ways to lose. This is unacceptable. If the New York Knicks lose this series, heads need to roll.”
On Mitch’s usage: “Knicks Coach Mike Brown is SCARED to get mad!!! He’s to nice of a guy to coach the New York Knicks!!! He would rather play OG at the 5, instead of KAT and Mitch at the 4 and 5. Nice guys finish last Coach!”
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 24: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All hope seemed to be lost for the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three. With 7:30 left in the quarter, the team was down 15 points on the road, with no offensive rhythm, no defensive resistance, and no Victor Wembanyama. That was until a rookie of all people put the team on his back and, in the blink of an eye (or for half a quarter), turned around the game and perhaps the entire first-round series. Dylan Harper scored 12 points in the third quarter, dominating the Portland Trail Blazers on the way to a 120-108 victory.
He and the rest of the Spurs’ young core flipped the switch in the second half. He, Stephon Castle, and Carter Bryant played huge roles in the win despite all being 21 or younger. It was exactly the type of game the Spurs needed to flip the vibe of the entire series. After the win, San Antonio is a -190 favorite to take Game Four on FanDuel.
San Antonio’s young core will lead Game Three’s player grades. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
This was a coming-out party for Harper, who had been relatively quiet in the first two games. The rookie talked the talk and walked the walk in Game Three. There was no fear, as he jawed at the Blazers while shooting free throws or held up three fingers at their bench after making a three-pointer. When Scoot Henderson scored on him, he talked smack right back to Harper before getting a technical (a masterclass in trolling by the rookie). Then Harper went down to the other end and put Scoot and Robert Williams III on a poster.
Harper’s confidence seemed to infect the rest of the team. All of a sudden, they were attacking Portland rather than getting attacked as they had for most of the game. The team started playing with more pace, rushing Portland into bad shots while they got to the basket or created easy shots in early offense. If the Spurs end up winning this series, we’ll likely be talking about Harper’s performance as the pivotal turning point that got them there.
Fox has been under a lot of scrutiny in this series, but I thought he was masterful in Game Three. He did exactly what a veteran guard should do in the playoffs. He pushed all of the right buttons and didn’t do too much to interrupt the Spurs’ offensive flow. When the team’s ball movement got stagnant, Fox tried to get others involved. Late in the fourth quarter, when San Antonio was starting to take their foot off the gas, and Portland went on a 6-0 run, Fox began to take over, sensing the urgency of the moment.
Toumani Camara, the Blazers’ best perimeter defender, has been stuck on Fox since Wembanyama went out. That has actively taken pressure off the Spurs’ other guards. Fox has handled it well by not trying to do too much.
If it weren’t for Harper exploding offensively, we would likely be talking about Castle as the player of the game. He kept the Spurs afloat in the first half while Portland was shooting the lights out. Castle attacked relentlessly, getting to the free-throw line 11 times, knocking down 10 of those free shots. He was efficient from three, knocking down a trio of triples. Castle helped close this one out, hitting some huge shots in the fourth quarter to extend the lead.
Castle has been most impressive on the defensive end. He and Bryant (more on him later) took Deni Avdija out of the game. The Blazers’ best player went 3-15 from the field for 19 points. Avdija is a bowling ball in the paint, going into his defender’s chest over and over again. Castle has held his ground, without fouling for the most part, and went right back at him on the other end. Friday night was a true two-way performance.
Champagnie was far more aggressive in Game Three, and San Antonio needed him to be. He took some movement threes off screens and attempted to attack the basket when Portland overplayed him. Champagnie can’t afford to be one-dimensional offensively, so it’s good to see him attempting to do more, even if the results have been mixed. Ultimately, if Champagnie continues to knock down threes and battle on the boards, he is doing his job.
Vassell hit some big threes on Friday, including one during their fourth-quarter run to extend the lead. That said, his shot selection was a bit mixed in Game Three. He’s taking some tough mid-range jumpers because Portland is guarding him so hard. Vassell is drawing a ton of defensive attention when he is running off screens, and the Spurs’ guards missed him a few times for what would have been open jumpers.
The Spurs’ wing should get a lot of credit for his defensive effort. He’s been locked in on that end, loading up on stocks (steals + blocks) in this series. He’s been a difference maker even when his shot isn’t falling.
My jaw dropped when Kornet hit a corner three-pointer. It was his first made three-pointer since the 2023-2024 season. That highlight aside, Kornet was awesome on both ends. He battled on the boards, grabbing 5 offensive rebounds, including a put-back dunk where he literally snatched the ball from Williams III’s hands. Defensively, he has been positionally sound and protected the paint with two blocks. Kornet is establishing himself as one of, if not the best, backup centers in the league.
Barnes is essentially out of the rotation at this point. He’s not making an impact offensively, and Bryant has been leagues better defensively. I still think there will be a game when the Spurs get a spark from him offensively, but it did not happen in Game Three.
Johnson continues to fight on both ends, but hasn’t had any luck putting the ball in the basket. The Blazers are a tough matchup for KJ. Their bigs are great at protecting the rim, and their wings are big and physical, keeping him from barreling his way to the rim like he normally does. His poor performances are not due to a lack of effort. He’s still battling on the glass and giving it all defensively, even if Portland is trying to target him on that end.
The rookie whom many thought would barely be in the rotation has taken on one of the most important roles in the playoffs. Bryant has been tasked with playing out of position at center. He’s risen to that challenge. Bryant’s effort is a joy to watch. He grabbed 4 offensive rebounds, blocked 3 shots, and played some of his best defense of the season on Advija. Bryant is usually known for being overly aggressive on defense, but in the second half, he did an incredible job of defending Portland’s best player without fouling.
He could afford to be a bit more confident on the offensive end. There are times when he catches the ball and doesn’t really know what to do with it. He’s proven he can hit open jumpers, and needs to be taking them so the Spurs can take advantage of the perks that come with a small-ball lineup. What he has lacked in shot-making, he has made up for in shot creation. Bryant has made a lot of good decisions with the ball in his hands, and he racked up 4 assists in Game Three’s win.
Grade: A-
Inactives: Victory Wembanyama, Harrison Ingram, David Jones-Garcia, Emanuel Miller
With 28 seconds left and the Rockets up six and with the ball, Houston had the game in hand. They just had to take care of the ball and not make any foolish mistakes.
They failed.
"Horrendous mistakes," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said, via the Associated Press. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case. You have a six point lead with 20, or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, you just have to hold the ball and get fouled."
It all went wrong for Houston when Marcus Smart stole the ball from Jabari Smith Jr., then Jae'Sean Tate fouled Smart on a 3-point attempt. Suddenly, it was a 3-point game. Then, LeBron James knocked the ball away from Reed Sheppard and turned it into a 3-pointer on the other end. Tie game. The Lakers went on to win in overtime.
"On the final play, we didn't run what was drawn up," Udoka said of the Rockets' last chance in regulation.
A frustrated Udoka couldn't hide it.
"It's obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish," Udoka said. "The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can't have those...
"Grow up," he said he told his players. "You're not that young anymore."
His players agreed.
"It was a stupid turnover," Sheppard said of his late-game error. “(Alperen Sengun’s) man came up. I should have hit Alpie right over halfcourt and just made the simple play. I tried to split the two defenders."
All those mistakes have left the Rockets down 0-3 to the Lakers and on the brink of an ugly, early playoff elimination. Houston was without Kevin Durant in this game due to a sprained ankle, the second game the future Hall of Famer has missed in this series. His status for Sunday's Game 4 remains unknown.
HOUSTON — The most telling moment of Friday’s Game 3 between the Lakers and Rockets didn’t come in overtime. It came before the ball even went up.
The Toyota Center in downtown Houston sat half-full at tipoff, a quiet indictment of a Rockets team already down 0-2 in the series and playing without superstar Kevin Durant.
LeBron James and the Lakers won over the Rockets’ crowd in Game 3 on Friday night. NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers players wondered out loud in the visiting locker room how the arena could be so empty for a playoff game. Maybe some fans chose to watch baseball down the street, where the Yankees were in town. Others simply chose not to believe in their team.
But by the end of the night, belief wasn’t the problem. Loyalty was.
Purple and gold colors bled through the lower bowl from the opening quarter. LeBron James and Luka Doncic jerseys were scattered like confetti across the crowd. And when Bronny James finished off the first father-to-son alley-oop in NBA playoff history, even the Rockets fans stood and cheered. That’s how undeniable greatness works.
“You could definitely hear all the Lakers fans in here tonight,” Lakers center Jaxson Hayes said afterward. “You could see all the purple and gold jerseys … they drowned out the Houston fans.”
James talks to the media after the game against the host Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
It only got louder.
Hayes detonated a one-handed lob from Luke Kennard. The crowd erupted — not for the home team but for the show. By the fourth quarter, the lines had blurred. By the final minute, they were gone.
Up six with 25 seconds left, Houston had the ball and control of the outcome. Hold the ball and the game would take care of itself. Instead, the Rockets threw an ill-advised pass that turned into three free throws from Marcus Smart. Panic. And then the defining sequence of the game: LeBron stalking rookie Reed Sheppard in the backcourt. He knocked the ball loose, eventually reclaimed possession, and buried the game-tying 3 that sucked the oxygen out of Rockets fans and sent Lakers fans into a frenzy.
In that moment, the Rockets didn’t just lose the game. They lost the room.
By the time overtime came, the outcome felt inevitable. The Lakers closed out Game 3 with authority, but the damage had already been done. Houston’s crowd had flipped and they all stood in awe of the 41-year-old James, still bending the game to his will in his 23rd season.
The Lakers didn’t just steal a game on the road. It was a full-on heist.
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HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 24: LeBron James #23; Luke Kennard #10 and Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during...
HOUSTON — Through the first three games of the NBA playoff series between the Rockets and the Lakers, someone new in purple and gold has had to walk into the fire of the postseason and refuse to blink.
Without their top scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have needed a secondary scoring option behind LeBron James.
the Lakers’ LeBron James (23), Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura look on during the game against the Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
On Friday night in Houston, that someone was Rui Hachimura.
He didn’t just score 22 points, drain four 3-pointers and play 44 minutes, although that workload tells you everything you need to know about how much Lakers coach JJ Redick trusts him. With the Lakers in hostile territory in Houston, they knew they needed a fast start to silence the crowd.
Hachimura imposed himself early, torching the Rockets for 16 points in the first quarter on 6-for-6 shooting, the best scoring quarter of his career.
This Lakers sequence…
Jaxson Hayes hustle. Luke Kennard assist. Rui Hachimura triple.
“It was the matchup. Reed Sheppard was guarding me,” Hachimura said. “It was exactly what we worked on and practiced.”
Hachimura’s preparation coincided with the opportunity perfectly.
Houston adjusted, as it had to. The easy looks disappeared, and James (29 points) once again shouldered the scoring load for the Lakers.
Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball. NBAE via Getty Images
But Hachimura didn’t disappear. He waited.
In overtime, he delivered the sequence that helped define the night and seal the victory.
With the Lakers clinging to a 105-103 lead, James shot and missed a step-back 3 from the left wing. Hachimura caught the rebound in midair along the baseline, and as he fell out of bounds, he flung the ball back into play like a man refusing to let the possession die. Kennard came down with it, and moments later, the ball found its way back to Hachimura — who pump-faked a 3 and then drove and attacked the basket for a layup. The Lakers went up by four and never looked back.
Hachimura’s performance was the kind that forces a front office to revisit every assumption it made last summer.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Japan is playing on an expiring three-year, $51 million deal that was supposed to be movable. Hachimura was expected to be replaced at the February trade deadline, like the Lakers did with Gabe Vincent.
Instead, they kept him.
And now? That decision is aging like something far more expensive than $17 million a year.
Because Hachimura and the rest of the Lakers’ role players aren’t playing like role players.
Rui Hachimura on the Lakers victory in Game 3, his hot start offensively, and the Lakers playing like the more desperate team pic.twitter.com/FH3aMG7pKO
In Game 3, Smart became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to finish with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks in a postseason game. Talk about elite company.
Now the Lakers have a suffocating 3-0 lead and are one win from slamming the door.
Rui Hachimura shoots a 3-point basket against the host Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
Across from them is a Rockets team unraveling in real time. The heavy favorites to win the series now look like a team searching for answers that are never coming. For evidence, look no further than the mistakes they made with a six-point lead, the ball in their hands and 25 seconds left in the game.
“Horrendous mistakes,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if you want to say it’s youth or scared of the moment.”
The only question left now is which Lakers role player will step up in Game 4 on Sunday?
Maybe it’s Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. Or maybe Reaves returns to fill the void.
The Lakers have many options when they look to close the series and continue to prove that this team doesn’t need injured stars to save the season.
They create new ones every game.
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Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) is defended by Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Tyrese Maxey has been living quite comfortably in this series.
Not in the sense that every shot is falling or every possession ends in points, but in the way that’s slightly concerning with every passing game. Through three games, he’s largely been getting to his spots and dictating pace. When the Sixers need something to settle a possession or tilt momentum, the ball finds him and the floor opens up just enough for something good to happen.
Boston hasn’t fully solved him yet. You can’t expect to with a guy like him. Game 3 didn’t change that, but it did show how thin the margin is.
Maxey hit back-to-back threes midway through the fourth. Xfinity Mobile Arena was popping (even though the name “Xfinity Mobile Arena” feels utterly popless). For a moment, it felt like Game 2 all over again.
But after those two threes, Maxey didn’t score again.
That’s the balance Boston is trying to find. Obviously, you’re not going to prevent Maxey from doing his thing. He’s simply too good to completely neutralize. But hitting him with at least a somewhat potent tranquilizer that wobbles him long enough to win the stretches that matter? The Celtics can do that.
Which is why the Jordan Walsh minutes in Game 2 still linger in my mind.
Maxey is still dictating the terms of this series
Maxey hasn’t really run into a matchup that changes how he plays yet. The tracking data makes that pretty clear.
Derrick White has taken most of the assignment, close to 12 minutes and over 50 possessions. That’s Boston’s best option on paper, and White has been solid. But Maxey is still getting into his spots. Three-for-seven shooting doesn’t scream dominance, but it also doesn’t force him out of anything. The offense is still very much flowing through him without much resistance.
Hauser’s minutes tell a slightly different story. The second-most common player to draw the Maxey assignment, he’s spent about eight minutes and 40 possessions guarding Maxey. And give him some credit: Maxey is just one-for-four when guarded by Hauser. That lines up with what we’ve seen from Hauser over the last couple years. He’s not someone you can just pick on and expect easy offense, even if teams keep trying.
After that, it’s been more of a mix. Brown has had stretches where he holds up and others where Maxey gets downhill. Tatum and Pritchard haven’t been on him enough to really matter.
So you’re looking at a bunch of capable defenders, and none of them have really shifted the feel of the matchup. Maxey is still playing on his terms.
That’s what makes the Walsh minutes worth paying attention to.
The Wolf of Walsh Street
That’s where Walsh comes in, because his minutes didn’t feel like the others.
The sample is small. We’re talking under two minutes matched up with Maxey and only a handful of possessions. That’s not enough to declare anything, but within that stretch, Maxey didn’t score and only got one real shot attempt off. For a player who’s been able to get into his offense pretty much whenever he wants, that stands out, even if it’s brief.
Why Walsh is important
Has more room for error as on ball defender. Even when he doesn’t navigate screen perfectly he knows how to use his length and Maxey has been cognizant of that in previous matchups pic.twitter.com/G9A9Kw4QGd
Mazzulla pointed to it after the game. “He was good. We all have a role to play,” he said when asked about the job Walsh did on Maxey, before narrowing in on the specifics. “I thought he was big in our pick-and-roll defense as well, and did a great job making it difficult for him.”
Walsh isn’t navigating screens the way White does. There are still possessions where he gets clipped and ends up trailing the play. Against most guards, that’s the possession. Maxey especially lives off that first step once he gets a shoulder advantage.
But Walsh didn’t get clipped in the same way. More often than not, he was still around, contesting, reaching into the play even after he was technically beaten. It lined up with how he’s talked about defense this season, not trying to erase a player, just pushing him away from what he wants to do and making him find something else.
There’s a clip floating around where Maxey comes off a high screen and has the exact pocket he’s been using all series. Normally that turns into a drive or a pull-up. Walsh stays attached just long enough that it never really opens. Maxey hesitates, pulls it back out, and the possession resets.
It felt different than anything else we had thrown at Maxey up until that point. And I liked it. I liked it a lot.
For your consideration
If Game 3 showed anything, it’s that Maxey is going to have his moments no matter what.
He’s too comfortable getting to his spots for that to disappear. The goal isn’t to take that away completely. You just need to keep it from stacking.
In my opinion, Walsh fits into that more than anything else Boston has tried so far.
Part of that is just how he approaches it. Before the series, he talked about trying to “take away tendencies” and push guys into something they don’t want to do, even if it means living with the result at the end of the possession.
There’s also a level of intent to it that the team has noticed. Payton Pritchard said earlier this season that Walsh “brings an energy, guarding the best [offensive player] every night,” and that it’s what’s going to keep him on the floor. That’s basically the job here. Just stay in the fight long enough to make things uncomfortable.
It helps that he’s not going into this blind either. He mentioned leaning on Jaylen Brown for things “beyond the scouting report,” the small stuff that can get under a player’s skin or throw off their rhythm. You could see hints of that in those possessions.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics guards Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on November 11, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If this series keeps playing out the way it has, Boston is going to need more of those possessions where things don’t quite click for Maxey. Fewer of those clean, one-motion attacks where everything lines up could make all the difference in what’s proving to be a closer series than most people expected.
I’m not saying Walsh needs to be out there for 30 minutes a game going forward. But it’s something you can go to.
And right now, even a couple possessions where he hesitates instead of just playing sounds better than the alternative.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Losing home-court advantage before hitting the road against the Philadelphia 76ers prompted a sense of urgency for the Boston Celtics. To them, Game 3 might as well have been a win-or-go-home contest.
There were no thoughts of returning to Boston with another split. No feeling of settling. The locker room had made up its mind well before the Celtics took the floor at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“This was like a Game 7 for us,” Jaylen Brown told reporters after Boston’s 108-100 Game 3 win on Friday night, per CLNS Media. “Even though it’s a long series, we wanted to come back and respond after dropping one in our home floor. We can’t lose two games in a row in the playoffs. That’s tough. So this was a big win for us.”
Boston faced a far-too-familiar postseason scenario — this time against a Joel Embiid-less Sixers team, with the seven-time All-Star recovering from emergency appendectomy surgery. During their championship run in 2024, the Celtics dropped Game 2 in both the first and second rounds against the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, forcing mid-series responses.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: The Boston Celtics bench reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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
Going from sarcastic “We want Boston” chants echoing across TD Garden in Game 1 to early exits and silence in Game 2, the Celtics found themselves in a spot they had seen before. So before heading out to face Philadelphia’s notoriously hostile environment, the team had a conversation.
Understanding that not everyone on the roster had lived through a Game 3 road test of this magnitude, Brown felt it was important to communicate with everyone.
“It’s something you definitely talk about, but something you gotta experience for sure,” Brown said. “And I think our team is still a young team, so this experience was great. It’s great to get these experiences and win. But when you get hit, you just gotta respond.”
Brown added: “Most importantly, just stay together through the adversity. But when you get hit, you gotta hit back.”
In the third quarter, with less than six minutes, Tyrese Maxey buried a step-back 3-pointer over the reach of Jayson Tatum to give Philadelphia a 67-64 lead. Less than two minutes later, Brown backed down Justin Edwards to sink an 11-foot fadeaway jumper and give Boston back its lead at 69-67.
It was all about staying the course.
Yet, to Brown’s point, even though several members of the roster — like Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh — were part of the 2024 run, it’s a different challenge when you’re playing meaningful minutes. Watching from the bench offers valuable experience, but nothing compares to being thrust into the moment and truly learning what it takes to secure a 2-1 series lead.
The last time the Celtics were in that position, Queta and Walsh were spectating. Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet were ahead of Queta on the depth chart at center, and Walsh was a 19-year-old rookie with just nine NBA games to his name. Now, Queta is Boston’s starting center, while Walsh — though not in the lineup — has been leaned on throughout the season to take on challenging defensive assignments against some of the league’s elite offensive stars.
There’s a clear discrepancy between what it takes for the 2025-26 Celtics to win and what it took for the 2023-24 Celtics to win, and the locker room has embraced that reality.
Brown and Tatum, both scoring 25 points apiece, combined for 50 in Game 3. But it took more than Boston’s dynamic duo to outlast the Sixers. Derrick White added three blocks, Payton Pritchard scored 15 off the bench, and Baylor Scheierman chipped in with two momentum-swinging steals that helped shift control back toward the Celtics.
The in-sync engagement from Boston’s bench said it all.
When Tatum pulled up and hit a clutch 3-pointer over Adem Bona to push Boston’s lead to 106-100 with 25.3 seconds left in regulation, the entire Celtics bench matched his energy. Everyone rose to their feet — fired up, re-energized, and looking as if they were ready to play Game 4 on the spot.
“This is what you sign up for,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “They’re all pushing us. We have to push them. Usually, competition brings out the best of people, and you’re also in two great environments. TD Garden’s a great environment, here is a great environment, and you’re just throwing haymakers at each other. I think you relish that in the moment.”
Figuring out the puzzle of winning is nothing new to a Mazzulla-led group, especially this season.
“It’s what we’ve done, it’s what we do when we’re at our best,” Mazzulla said. “So the goal is to just try to be at our best as much as we can. So we do that in training camp, preseason, regular season, playoffs, we do it. It’s just the trust that we’ll — more times than not — try to be the best version of ourselves. So like I said, there were big-time plays tonight by multiple people in both halves, and we just have to be able to do that.”
More impressive than the win itself were the paths the Celtics took to get there. Maxey and Paul George combined for 49 points, and while the Sixers didn’t replicate their 3-point explosion in Game 2, their intensity never dipped. Philadelphia pushed Boston to the wire on Friday night, forcing the Celtics to earn every basket and every stop before crossing the finish line.
That included Brown’s off-balance, one-legged floater with 6:10 remaining, Pritchard’s buzzer-beating step-back three with 1:17 left, and White’s two offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter — the second of which led to Tatum’s dagger.
For the Celtics — and especially Tatum — it was the same old challenge, just on a different night.
“As you probably could imagine, we’ve been in this scenario time and time again,” Tatum told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Times we’ve fallen short, and times we’ve succeeded. It’s all about learning from past experiences. Whether it’s the first play of the game or crunch time, it’s about making the right read and making the right play.”
Treating Game 3 like Game 7 wasn’t just the right call; it was the perfect reprogramming of the team’s mindset in what many view as a low-pressure contest. The stakes obviously aren’t perceived as drastic, considering a 2-1 lead means the job is only halfway done, but that’s a simplistic approach. Mazzulla’s locker room isn’t built like that. So, with Embiid progressing and inching closer to a return, the Celtics needed to put Tuesday night’s Game 2 defeat way back in the rearview mirror.
That was priority number one for everyone in a Celtics uniform.
“It’s just about responding,” Tatum said. “Responding from Game 2 and how we played in that one, and wanted to play better. We still had 17 turnovers and a lot of ugly possessions. Obviously, there were some possessions where we figured it out and made plays to win the game. But just on both sides of the ball, there’s a lot of things that we can learn from.”
It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough. And in the playoffs, that’s all that matters.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons plays against the Orlando Magic during game one of the first round of the eastern conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have a rock fight on our hands. The Detroit Pistons take their rugged, unhinged defense on the road to Orlando. They can take a 2-1 series lead if they swarm the Magic and get more from Jalen Duren.
Detroit and Orlando have both shown that this will be a cracked-knuckles, first-to-100-wins type series. That fits Detroit as long as they keep playing their brand of basketball. Third-quarter runs like Game 2 embody who Detroit is at its best. They get busy through their tenacious defense, not by outscoring you with snipers and spacers. Play to your strengths.
Game vitals
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
When: 1:00 PM
Watch: Peacock
Odds: Pistons (-2.5)
Analysis
Being tied 1-1 with one of your All-Stars not super involved can be encouraging. While Duren’s production is being affected by the bodies he is drawing, Cade continues to show its levels to this basketball stuff.
Orlando has not “let” Cade do anything. Their entire game plan revolves around taking Cade’s dance partner out of the equation and getting under Cade with stout defenders like Jalen Suggs and Jamal Cain.
It has not worked. Duren has struggled being tagged and grabbed on every roll, but Cade has thrived in this phone booth coverage — middies, off the bounce attacks, off-hand slams in transitions. Cade is simply getting whatever he wants because he is that guy. 33 PPG is superstar stuff, and Cade can do even more if he makes his FTs (whole team has to tighten up there).
In Duren’s case, trying to score over three camped-out defenders is not good process. Somebody is open there, so make the right read. But Duren has to take advantage of the limited one-on-one opportunities he has.
There is no way Wendell Carter Jr. should be bodying and clamping him up. Duren has to go into Carter’s chest instead of fading away from the rim when the opportunity is there.
That left-handed whack-a-mole slam in the third quarter over Jalen Suggs did not count, but that is the type of physicality Duren has to bring in this dog-fight matchup. Duren did tighten up some of his defensive mistakes. His rotations were more crisp than in Game 1.
Detroits defensive approach as a team was night and day. Their explosive 3rd quarter was not just a “bad” offensive quarter from Orlando. Detroit holding teams to under 20 points in a quarter is always on the table when their defensive playmakers are flying up and down the court.
Game 2 showed why you should always die on the Ausar Thompson hill. Even if you think he ruins the spacing because he cannot shoot from range, he is always bound to make defense-to-offense plays that supercharge (or mutes) an entire arena.
Plus, Orlando hasn’t covered the better shooters with more urgency either. Orlando is leaving everybody to sell out on Duren and Cade. You might as well play to your defensive strengths at that point.
The DPOY finalist has Desmond Bane looking over his shoulders. Bane has not found his rhythm as Ausar shadows him like peak Darrelle Revis. In theory, Bane should shoot better at home as he was a 40 percent deep ball shooter in the regular season, but defense travels. Bane will continue to think, “I gotta get this up quick before he gets back here,” if Ausar is following him.
Rim protection travels. It made zero difference to Isaiah Stewart that Paolo Banchero caught him at the rim late in the game. Stew told Banchero he was going to contest shots at the rim “every time.”
“I’m willing to lay my body on the line to make those plays,” said Stewart. “For the energy to shift, to give us something my teammates and coaches can feed on.”
Stew had two energy infusing blocks on Suggs and Banchero. The energy shifts when Stew is knocking down 3s, too. That was a dagger to the chest for Orlando.
Franz Wagner was blanketed by Detroit’s stellar D after carrying down the stretch to open the series. He missed a few bunnies (3/7 on floaters) and bricked some jumpers that could go his way at home but Detroit was much more disciplined collapsing on Wagner drives. It’s a good strategy to collapse on Wagner and force an energy specialist like Cain to make a play.
Cain is an energy bunny who guards Cade with effort and want to. He will bring it for a home playoff game, but Anthony Black is one of the role players Detroit needs to keep in check offensively.
Black has been locked up so far (6 PPG, 38 TS%), but he has the game to have a random big day. Keep tabs on him and Suggs who is only shooting 30 percent from 3.
That clutch shot in Game 1 makes it seem like Suggs is shooting better than he is. Don’t let him break out and continue to bite down on Banchero.
Banchero is driving more than settling and got Detroit in foul trouble in the first half of Game 2. That could always happen in this matchup. Tobias Harris was better staying in front of Banchero and executing peel switches with more success when he was beaten.
Harris was better overall in Game 2. The efficiency won’t show it, but the fact that he’s an offensive threat is major for these Pistons. Detroit has struggled to score. It’s a combination of their personnel plus Orlando’s defense peaking at the right time.
Duncan Robinson is doing his job as a shot maker and ball mover. You would like to see Detroit get more creative with its off-ball movement, but Robinson does his part there, too.
Daniss Jenkins feels like he is rushing things. It’s clear he was told he needs to be a spark, and he is trying to make something shake. He’ll have a moment here, but he needs to take what the defense gives him and hit shots from the charity stripe.
Javonte Green makes moments happen. Playing him is playing to your strengths. Detroit has to muddy these games and turn teams over. You do that by playing your play destroyers. Detroit forced more turnovers with Woo on the floor in the regular season (+4.4).
Ausar, Woo, and some Ron Holland. These are the guys who make that third-quarter explosion a regular occurrence. Defense to offense is how this team has thrived all season.
Is Orlando feeling confident after taking home court advantage, or did Detroit smack them with reality after a dominant Game 2?
Detroit has been consistent, while Orlando has been consistently inconsistent all season. This will be another physical contest as Detroit aims to show why you don’t want to get into that kind of game with them.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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
Game 1 had been a Boston blowout. Game 2 had featured a barrage by the Sixers’ bumptious backcourt. But Friday’s Game 3? That looked and felt like playoff games often tend to look and feel, especially those between ancient rivals like Boston and Philadelphia.
It was a night that saw Sixers forward Paul George take a single shot in the first quarter, then take a different sort of shot to his, uh, lower abdomen while defending Jaylen Brown in the second. It was a night that saw Boston center Neemias Queta, who’s from Portugal (via Utah State), frequently grapple with his Sixers counterpart, Adem Bona, who’s from Nigeria (via UCLA). Bona fouled out in a little over 22 minutes, while Queta fouled four times in not quite 13.
It was also a night that saw Queta — would he be a Portuguese Man o’ War? — bear hug the Sixers’ other center, Andre Drummond, as they battled for position in the third quarter. That compelled Drummond to elbow him in the chin and the officials to scurry to the replay monitor, intent on determining whether the veteran was guilty of a “hostile act.” Drummond was assessed a technical foul.
There was plenty of jostling on the scoreboard, too. The Celtics led by 10 a couple times, and were still ahead by five after three quarters. Then Tyrese Maxey started cooking, and suddenly the home team was up by a point with 8:42 left in the game. Boston responded with an 8-0 flurry to make it 92-85, but there was still half a quarter to play, still plenty of time for the combatants to exchange more body blows.
Six times in the last 4:15, the Sixers made it a one-possession game, but every time Boston had an answer. That the C’s ultimately emerged with a 108-100 victory and a 2-1 series lead is a tribute to their championship pedigree. They won a title two years ago, and stand a decent chance of at least getting to the Finals this season as well.
That’s because they have two cornerstones in Brown and Jayson Tatum, a capable supporting cast and an understanding of what it takes to win this time of year — of just how slight the difference is between victory and defeat.
Down the stretch Friday, veteran guard Derrick White twice claimed offensive rebounds, the first resulting in Brown’s jumper with 3:49 to play, the second leading to Tatum’s clinching three-pointer with 25.6 seconds left.
“The second chances that they got, they capitalized,” George said. “That was the game.”
Backup guard Payton Pritchard also nailed a right-wing three with the shot clock melting away and 1:17 remaining on the game clock, making it 103-98. Forty seconds earlier, Tatum had connected from the arc to extend a one-point lead to four. His final shot, after White did the dirty work, gave Boston a 106-100 cushion.
Tatum notched 11 points in the fourth, Brown eight. Each finished with 25 in all.
But a bounce of the ball here or there, and things might have turned out differently. That’s how slight the margin of error was — and, really, how it usually is in the playoffs.
“A hundred percent,” Maxey said. “A turnover leads to a basket, an offensive rebound leads to a three. It’s like every time, every single time, you know what I mean? We’re doing a hell of a job defensively, guarding them — a hell of a job in the halfcourt, everybody fighting and doing a really good job. But it’s like offensive rebound, three ball, turnover, three ball or layup. Missed boxout, layup.
“But when you play good teams, that’s what it is. That’s what it is. You’ve got to be sharp, extremely sharp in the playoffs. Man, you’re seeing it.”
Maxey finished with 31 points, but needed 31 shots to do so. George had 18 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. 17, but VJ Edgecombe shot 5-for-17 from the floor and missed all seven of his three-point attempts while scoring 10 (albeit while claiming 10 rebounds and handing out five assists).
And overall there was a regression to the mean by the Sixers’ shooters. After going 4-for-23 from the arc in the first game, they went 19-for-39 in the Game 2 victory, a glittering 48.7 percent. On Friday they were 12-for-35 (34.3 percent), which is more in line with their season norm.
Boston, which is forever firing, was 20-for-47 (42.6 percent) from deep, considerably better than its regular-season accuracy (36.7). That means the Celtics owned a 24-point advantage on three-point shooting on the night. Their reserves also outscored the Sixers’ subs, 35-14.
So those were the big reasons for the Boston victory. There were a ton of small ones, too.
In the postseason, Maxey said, “The attention to detail is really, really, really, really, really small. I kind of learned early on in my playoff career that the playoffs are broken down into single-possession games. Every single possession matters. And you don’t want (a) possession to come back to bite you.”
White, normally a dangerous shooter, is clunking along at 35.3 percent from the floor and just 20 percent from the arc while averaging a mere 9.7 points a game in the series.
“Obviously it’s frustrating, but I’m out there,” he said. “I’ve got to do everything I can to help us win games. … And if it’s not shooting, it’s got to be everything else.”
On at least two occasions he swatted Maxey’s layup attempts from behind, after it appeared the Sixers guard had a clear path to the rim in a halfcourt situation. Maxey adjusted in the second half, going more to his midrange game, and promised to incorporate more floaters going forward, too.
Another small detail, then. Same for the splint Maxey has been wearing on his injured right pinky, which appears to be affecting his three-point shooting, and which he said he will have to wear the rest of the way.
“I think this is a really close 2-1 series,” he said.
George does not disagree, saying the Celtics so far have done “what they had to do.”
“But,” he added, “this was a very winnable game for us, so there’s no additional pressure (in Sunday’s Game Four). … We’ve got a chance to even it up Sunday and that’s the only thing that matters. It’s on us. We still feel we’re in the driver’s seat, so just do what we’ve got to do Sunday, and everything else will take care of itself.”
Driver’s seat? That seems like a stretch. But the point is, neither team can afford to get too comfortable. The difference between them is not as great as their respective seedings might have you believe. It’s a matter of doing the little things, making the most of the opportunities that are available.
Chet Holmgren
Jalen Brunson
Nikola Jokic
