Brandon Ingram has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Game 6 between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.

The forward has reportedly been dealing with heel inflammation since March 23, during which he missed the 143-127 win over the Utah Jazz. It was the second game of a back-to-back. The night before, Ingram played 27 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and finished with six points on 30 per cent shooting.

Ingram also missed games against the Orlando Magic (Mar. 29) and the Sacramento Kings (Apr. 1) due to the same heel injury.

His struggles this post-season have been notoriously documented. Ingram is averaging only 12.0 points on 11.6 attempts and 32.7 per cent from the field.

While Raptors fans may find solace in a possible answer for his slump, the injury update will likely put the team at a disadvantage headed into tonight’s elimination game.

The absence of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic hasn't affected the team so far in their first-round Western Conference matchup against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers took the first three games of the series, but have dropped the last two, including a 99-93 loss in Game 5.

The Rockets are looking to become the first NBA team to force a Game 7 since the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. Each of the three previous NBA teams that forced a series finale down 0-3 lost Game 7.

Doncic was injured on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and hasn't played since.

Should the Lakers advance, their opponent will be the Thunder, who beat Los Angeles in all four regular-season meetings, winning by an average of 22 points per game. Doncic is not expected to be ready for the start of that series because of the injury.

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Welcome to the Friday night pressure cooker, with three tasty Game 6s on tap, big-name reputations on the line, and a bonanza of NBA player props to dissect.

The Cavaliers will try to close out Collin Murray-Boyles and the frisky Toronto Raptors, while Desmond Bane and the Magic look to send the Pistons packing.

Then there’s LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers feeling the heat as a 3-0 series lead slips away.

Here are my favorite NBA picks for the May 1 action. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Desmond Bane	Over 2.5 3-pointers	+110
Collin Murray-Boyles	Over 6.5 rebounds	-112
LeBron James	Over 22.5 points	-112

Prop #1: Desmond Bane Over 2.5 3-pointers

+110 at bet365

The Magic have the Pistons on the ropes, but they’ll need the best of Desmond Bane to land the knockout punch tonight, especially with Franz Wagner ruled out.

Bane is only shooting 38% from the field overall in this series, but he’s making his 3-pointers at a 43% clip. 

Given his up-and-down points tallies, I prefer the Over on his triples here. He’s cashed this prop in three straight outings while making 16 of his 29 attempts from downtown.

After Paolo Banchero’s 45-point eruption in Game 5, we could see Detroit make some defensive adjustments to pack the paint, and any double teams would open up a little extra space for Bane from deep.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Collin Murray-Boyles Over 6.5 rebounds

-112 at bet365

Collin Murray-Boyles has looked right at home from the moment he stepped into the playoff cauldron, and he’s a key man here as the Raptors try to force a Game 7.

CMB has been a beast in the paint, with 7+ rebounds in three of the last four contests despite battling Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, and he’s blown past this O/U number in both outings at Scotiabank Arena.

Foul trouble limited him to 26 minutes in Game 5, but he could be looking at his biggest workload of the series tonight, given his ability to switch onto the Cleveland guards and Jakob Poeltl’s struggles defending the pick and roll.

Murray-Boyles grabbed five offensive boards in Sunday’s win, and there should be rebounds up for grabs after the Cavs shot a combined 40% from the field in their two losses in Toronto.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: LeBron James Over 22.5 points

-112 at bet365

Look for LeBron James to come out in attack mode in Game 6, with growing fears that the Lakers could become the first team to blow a 3-0 lead. He won’t want that on his resume in the same week that he’s brought up the G.O.A.T. conversation again.

Even with Austin Reaves returning, L.A. needs James to be a high-volume shooter, and I like this Over on the heels of 25+ points in three of his past four games. LeBron’s slump from beyond the arc is a concern, but there are still positives for the Lakers if it nudges him into the post more often.

He’s shooting 51% on 2-pointers in this series, and that’s the recipe for JJ Redick’s men to escape with a victory here.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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LeBron James and his loveable band of misfits built a shocking 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, much like the script from some 90’s Disney movie. 

The past two games, however, have been more like a horror flick for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston has rallied to force a Game 6 showdown at home, and even with Austin Reaves returning for L.A., the Rockets are favorites to send this series to seven games.

I dive into the player markets for my best Lakers vs. Rockets props and NBA picks for Friday, May 1.

Best Lakers vs Rockets props for Game 6

Player	Pick
Luke Kennard	Over 1.5 threes	+140
Alperen Sengun	Over 6.5 assists	+110
Tari Eason	Under 7.5 rebounds	-125

Game 6 Prop #1: Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes

+140 at bet365

Luke Kennard made the biggest splash among the Los Angeles Lakers’ role players early in this series. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out, Kennard stepped into the starting lineup and knocked down eight of his first 11 attempts from deep. 

The past three games haven’t been as kind to Kennard, who is a collective 1-for-11 from beyond the arc since Game 3. 

After such a hot start to the playoffs, the Lakers haven’t shot the ball well as a team, but I expect this up-and-down success to level out in Game 6. 

Kennard still played 30+ minutes with Reaves back in the rotation in Game 5, and it’s not like the Houston Rockets are clamping down on the perimeter. Over the past three games, 10 of Kennard's 11 3PAs have been graded as “open” to “wide open”, with the closest defender at least four feet away.

Projections for Game 6 range from 1.6 to 2.1 makes from beyond the arc from Kennard, with a healthy plus-money return on the Over.

Game 6 Prop #2: Alperen Sengun Over 6.5 assists

+110 at bet365

Alperen Sengun dished out eight assists in the Rockets’ win on Wednesday, and the Turkish center has been their most active passer in the series. Sengun has registered 61 potential assists through five games, with Houston converting those setups into 27 actual dimes.

His teammates made good on eight of 16 potential assists in Game 5, which is impressive considering how poorly the Rockets shot the ball in that slog of a win. 

The return home tonight will give Houston a bump in field goal success (48.1% at home vs. 46.9% on the road), which means more of those potential plays will translate into buckets. Sengun’s projections all sit north of 6.5 dimes, with a ceiling of seven assists in Game 6.

You can find expensive Over 5.5 or plus-money Over 6.5 totals across the market. Shop around for what you’re comfortable with.

Game 6 Prop #3: Tari Eason Under 7.5 rebounds 

-125 at bet365

Tari Eason has been excellent defensively during the Rockets’ turnaround. He’s drawn the daunting assignment of guarding LeBron while also cleaning the glass, averaging seven rebounds in the series.

Eason hit the boards hard in the opening two games, pulling down 18 total rebounds on 23 rebounding chances — a sharp surge from his season average. Over the past three games, he’s collected 17 total rebounds on 28 chances, including five boards on just nine rebounding chances in Game 5.

With Eason primarily guarding James, his floor positioning shifts with Reaves back in the L.A. rotation. LeBron takes over as the primary ball handler, playing more on the perimeter while Reaves looks to attack the Houston interior.

As a result, Eason is pulled out to the perimeter, which helps explain why his rebounding opportunities dipped with Reaves back in Game 5 — and why his projections fall short of tonight’s rebounding total. The 6-foot-6 forward is forecasted for around seven boards, with most models sitting south of 7.0.

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I don’t even know why we make any other prediction than Knicks in Six anymore.

It don’t make sense. Don’t make it make sense.

Just keep winning theeem gaaaaaaames!!!

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s versatility:

“His versatility is huge whether it’s offensively or defensively. Offensively, he pushes the basketball. He helps us play faster. Defensively, he gives us versatility. You can move him around because of how strong he is and the feel he has on that end of the floor. And then because of his ability to rebound, if you want to cross match and put a smaller guy on him, he can impact the game by hitting the glass.”

On Hart’s physical profile:

“It’s what you look for to have guys that are all 6-8, 6-9, tough and can all bring a lot of things to the table for you. Josh might disagree with his size so he might not be 6-8 or 6-9 but with his strength and toughness, he’s talented physically and he plays the right way, so he gives you those things, even though he is 6-foot-5.”

On OG Anunoby’s consistency:

“It’s huge. Again, he had a double-double (in Game 5), but he impacted the game at such a high level. He impacted it in ways that you can’t even really tell, because it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. We need him, and he’s definitely been about as consistent as you’d hope and expect. And we need every ounce of his consistency at the highest level.”

On Quin Snyder and the Hawks making the Knicks better:

“I’ve got to give [Hawks head coach] Quin Snyder and his staff a lot of credit. They forced us — when I say us I mean not just our players, our coaches — they forced us to find ways to help the team be better. Sometimes when you win you make adjustments. Sometimes when you lose you make adjustments. You’re always trying to figure out how can we put our team in a better position to help them succeed on the floor. Not to say we have it figured out, but every single time that we step on the floor we’re trying to do that. We’re watching film, going through a million different hypotheticals, which you don’t do during the regular season.”

On the offensive changes after Game 3:

“We had to change (the offense), because every possession was a grind those first three games, especially down the stretch. And so we had to find more ways to put our guys in their strengths while getting to it quickly, while still having options. I’m not a guy that likes to call every play. I want our guys to be able to read where the advantage is quickly throughout the course of the action. And Atlanta forced us to find a way to do that and feel pretty good about where we’re at right now.”

On OG Anunoby’s Game 6:

“OG was phenomenal. He played 27 minutes, had 29 points on 14 field-goal attempts and rebounded his behind off.”

On Mikal Bridges’ Game 6:

“It was great. He just did what he’s capable of doing. Now, is he going to go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive and took great shots. And it shouldn’t go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal. … A big night on both ends of the floor by Mikal.”

On the team connectedness and clicking at the exact best time:

“Our guys, their connectedness right now is off the charts. When you lock into the detail and you’re connected like that, with a group that’s as talented and versatile as that group, you got a chance to do that.”

On the midseason and series adjustments:

“We changed the way we played offensively and defensively about halfway through the season and we changed again after Game 3. [The Hawks] forced us to put our thinking caps on and forced us to play different. Find ways to make the game easier while putting [the players] in their strengths, while trying not to hinder them. We changed what we done offensively, but again that’s because we were pushed to do it. We feel pretty good about what we fell into.”

On the Robinson-Daniels scuffle:

“I haven’t seen the film, and it’s tough because when you’re up that big, stuff happens. And it’s hard. If somebody feels like something that shouldn’t happen happens, it’s hard to keep your composure in that moment. But at the end of the day, that’s what we talked about, and our guys did a good job of that the rest of the game.”

Josh Hart

On playing through injury:

“I’m always questionable depending on how my body feels. It was the back kind of locked up and then it went down to my hip, so that kind of happened the first quarter [of Game 5]. And then I tried to play through it the second quarter, and then at halftime it got a little tighter. I couldn’t really move too much.”

On guarding CJ McCollum:

“I think I had good physicality. I was able to force him into some tough shots. I was just trying to make life hard for him. Obviously, that’s a guy that’s got a lot of buckets in this league. That was something I thought, after Game 1 and Game 2 he kind of went off and kind of took over the game, that’s the matchup that I wanted going into Game 3 and after. I’ve had some conversations with the coaches about not taking me off him and those kinds of things.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 6:

“I thought KAT was amazing. To start the game blitzing, protecting the rim, he had some big blocks, his energy was huge for us. I just think the physicality, the attention to detail, focus on the gameplan, I think all those are at a very high level.”

On setting the tone in Game 6:

“It was huge for us because, like I said, we feel like we gave two games away. We wanted to come out with a great attention to detail and focus from the jump. I feel like our starts have been pretty good this series, and we wanted to set a tone from the beginning.”

On the blowout win:

“That’s something where it shows what we can do. And now we gotta continue to build off of it. Now we can’t sit there and not do it because we know we have what it takes to do it. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have.”

On the meaning of the Game 6 blowout heading into the second round:

“I don’t think it boosts confidence. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have. It was huge for us just because we feel like we gave two games away and we wanted to come out here with a great attention to detail, great focus from the jump. I feel like our starts to the game have been pretty good this series. That’s something that we wanted to set the tone with from the beginning.”

OG Anunoby

On his Game 6 performance:

“I don’t know. I work very hard. We have a great team and the team has been finding me and I’m playing with force or whatever.”

On the Knicks’ start to Game 6:

“We just came out with intensity. We were ready to play from the very jump … We know what we’re capable of. We know we’re a great team. We just need to continue to do it.”

On the last time he was part of such a humongous blowout:

“I don’t know. Maybe high school or something.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Knicks fans in Atlanta:

“That just shows the love that our fans got. They support us around the world. In a playoff series to make us feel at home, in another team’s city, speaks volumes about our fanbase. They’re the best fans in the world.”

On the Knicks’ Game 6 performance:

“We knew we needed to be at our best tonight, and we came close to doing that tonight.”

On not having a preference between Boston and Philly:

“I don’t think it should matter who we play as long as the Knicks play our best version of ourselves. When we do that, we can win every night.”

On adjusting to a new role under Brown and sacrificing for the team:

“I never doubted my ability. I never doubted the work I put in. It’s just – you gotta adjust, you gotta adjust. Especially (with) a lot of new things being thrown at you, you’re being asked to do a lot more things – some things that (haven’t) consistently been asked of me in my career so. It’s one thing anyone who knows me, who’s followed my career, I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for the team to win. And I think this year I’ve shown that again. Whatever the team needs me to do, the player the team needs me to be, I’ll step up to the plate, step up to the challenge.”

On answering the call offensively in Game 6:

“I just wanted to answer the call. You ask for the opportunities and they obliged and I got to repay that trust and that opportunity. I just want to impact winning. I got more opportunities to do that and I wanted to make sure not take advantage of the opportunity that I was given. I’m proud that I’ve been able to help us win.”

Jalen Brunson

On staying locked in:

“I think, most importantly, (a performance like this) shows us what we’re capable of defensively. That’s really important. We still have a long road to travel, so staying locked in and knowing what we’re capable of is really important.

“Feel good about it tonight. Tomorrow, we turn the page.”

On the team’s ceiling:

“It’s good to see what we’re capable of when we play like that.”

On the Game 6 defensive dominance:

“We were able to get stops, run in transition, get layups. It really came down to our defense. It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ first-round series:

“He’s played phenomenal. The way we’ve been able to trust each other, all of us obviously including him, it’s been great.”

On OG Anunoby:

“I think he’s one of a kind and getting to see OG, see his work ethic and see the person he is and what he’s just been able to do with his time as a Knick has been great. I’m so happy to have him and happy I don’t have to see him on that side of the ball. He just creates havoc and I think his game is growing. That’s what happens when you work hard and he’s been doing that day in and day out.”

Mikal Bridges

On OG Anunoby:

“He was just doing everything — scoring, defense, rebounding, making plays. He’s doing everything out there and that’s what we need. And I think he’s gonna continue to do that for us.”

On staying confidence amid endless criticism:

“I feel like I’m always confident. Just happy to go out there and get the win. Just doing whatever it takes to win. That’s pretty much it. Just go do it for those guys.”

Mitchell Robinson

On his mental state following the Game 6 ejection:

“Knew something was gonna happen. My mental just not the same. I’m just lost in the world at the moment. Trying so hard to be calm.”

Jose Alvarado

On the Game 6 summary:

“Belt to ass right there.”

It's been almost a month since the transfer portal opened in college basketball, and most — if not all — of the big names in the pool of available players have been locked up by new teams.

Several Power Five conference programs — like Louisville, Indiana, Texas and Tennessee — pushed all their chips and resources into the transfer portals to address notable glaring needs on their roster with the hope that their finds — perhaps ones that are seen as "under the radar" — are the missing pieces to go on a deep run in March Madness next season.

That doesn't mean teams are done looking to fill holes in their roster, nor does it mean the pool of talent is all dried up. Teams are still very much active.

Basketball transfer portal: Pickups from mid-majors who will make big impact

But with the dust starting to settle and teams starting to prepare for summer practices, it's gotten to the point of the transfer portal cycle where the review of teams' transfer classes picks up to see how well they did (or are doing), and where some of the best player fits are.

Here's a look at some of the best transfer pickups who ranked near or just outside of the top 50 rankings by Power Five conference programs:

Conferencestrackers: ACC | SEC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Big East

Dusty May already started preparing for next season even before the confetti was cleaned off the Lucas Oil Stadium floor following Michigan’s win over UConn in the National Championship last month. May hit a home run in the portal last offseason, directly leading to the Wolverines’ success this past season, and he is hoping to do the same thing this offseason in order to replace the talent departing for the NBA.

Big Ten Player of the Year and All-American Yaxel Lendeborg was the best player on this team, and replacing him is going to be incredibly difficult, if not impossible. Replacing Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. will be hard as well, as both of them have declared for the draft as well.

Even though both Mara and Johnson kept the door open for a return, it is highly likely they will both stay in the draft. Assuming that is the case, let’s take a look at the best landing spots for all three of these Michigan stars.

Yaxel Lendeborg

Toronto Raptors

One team that might be a good fit for Lendeborg is the Toronto Raptors. Given Lendeborg’s current draft stock, he likely isn’t going to be taken early enough to end up with a true rebuilding team. The Raptors are a playoff team this year that lacks consistent scoring. Lendeborg is someone who not only score in every type of way, but he also is an outstanding defender with high-level basketball maturity (TikTok maturity is still getting there).

Indiana Pacers

This one might not work out in terms of draft position, as the Pacers are currently the second-worst team in the NBA, but if they get a bit unlucky in the lottery, they could be in a good spot to draft Lendeborg. We knew Indiana was going to have a rough season without Tyrese Haliburton, but this team should return to contending status once he is healthy. Adding a high-level rookie in the draft could take them to the next level.

Miami Heat

The team with perhaps the most buzz surrounding Lendeborg is the Heat. They had some surprise runs in the playoffs not long ago, but they have been stuck in an awkward middle-ground area lately. Lendeborg isn’t jumping off the charts as a top-five pick, but he has the potential to be a star at the next level. He could be that major win in the draft that Miami needs.

Morez Johnson Jr.

Miami Heat

Like Lendeborg, the Heat might be a good fit for Johnson as well, and Miami should end up in a good spot to land him. He has shown the ability to score in a number of ways, though getting down in the paint is certainly his strong suit. His defense will be something that stands out in the NBA, and if he can continue to improve his three-point shooting, he can have a long and successful career. His defensive prowess would fit in nicely with the Heat.

Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers are another team who should end up in the right area to draft Johnson. Philly has struggled the past few years, but the team is finally starting to trend in the right direction. Perhaps a player like Johnson who actually consistently plays (*cough* Joel Embiid *cough*) could help elevate this team.

Los Angeles Lakers

Personally, I think the Lakers would be the best fit for Johnson. L.A. has already expressed interest in him, and this should line up well with where it is picking in the first round. The Lakers are one of the better teams in the NBA, and with good size and scoring abilities, Johnson would be a good fit for what the Lakers have going on.

Aday Mara

Philadelphia 76ers

Mara is another Wolverine who could fit in nicely in Philly. We saw how good the duo of Johnson and Mara was; perhaps we end up seeing something with him and Embiid on the 76ers. The NBA isn’t quite as paint-focused as college basketball, but that would still be a scary duo to go up against.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls desperately need to strike gold in the draft. Mara might be a risk, as it’s hard to tell how he will fare at the next level, but this has potential to be a great bang for your buck pick.

San Antonio Spurs

How fun would it be to watch Mara and Victor Wembanyama on the court together? The Spurs’ length already overwhelms every team they go up against, and adding another giant would add to that quite a bit.

When the basketball leaves a shooter’s hands they usually know when it’s going in. It feels soft off the fingertips, the rotation is spinning, the shot feels true. 

But lately for the Lakers, those shots have not been falling. 

In their first-round series against the Rockets, there’s one statistic that screams out amongst all the others: three-point shooting. 

The math is simple: whichever team shoots better from three, they win the game. 

For the Lakers, they started this series scorching hot from the perimeter. 

Game 1: Lakers at 52.6% from deep — win.

Game 2: Lakers at 46.4% — win.

Game 3: Lakers at 41.4% — win.

Through the first three games, the Lakers efficiency from beyond the arc changed the geometry of the game.

But in Games 4 and 5 of the series, when those three-point shots weren’t falling, everything collapsed. 

Game 4: Lakers at 22.7% — loss.

Game 5: Lakers at 25.9% — loss.

In the two losses the Lakers shot a combined 12 for 49 from three. An average of 24%. That’s not a variance. That’s a problem. 

In the first three games, Houston shot an average of 28.5% from three.

However, in the last two games, the Rockets have not only shot at a higher clip of 37.5%, they’ve more than doubled up the Lakers in made threes overall with 26 combined made threes..

“You gotta give them a lot of credit. They made shots tonight, including some guys who normally don’t make threes,” said J.J. Redick after Game 5. “We just couldn’t make shots. We had some good looks from three that didn’t go down.”

One stat that hasn’t changed all series is the significantly more shots the Rockets have attempted compared to the Lakers. Houston has attempted 69 more field goals than Los Angeles across the five games in the series. That’s not a typo. 

That’s what happens when you turn the ball over as much as the Lakers have, including more than 20 turnovers in Games 3 and 4.

The Rockets also average nearly 15 offensive rebounds per game. They are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, and in the last 25 years.

When you lose the possession battle as badly as the Lakers have you better shoot the lights out to counteract that. That’s what the Lakers did early in the series. Now they aren’t and the consequences are dire. 

Part of the change is the regression to the mean. The Lakers shot 36% from three during the regular season, and after starting the series at 46.8%, they are now averaging 37.7% for the series. Much closer to where they were during the season. 

Part of it is bad luck. The Lakers had at least a dozen shots rim out in Game 5. Including several that were halfway down the basket before bouncing out. 

“It helps when shots go in,” joked Austin Reaves, who returned for the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday. “Bron [LeBron James] probably had three or four in the first half that went in and out.”

Part of it is the Rockets adjustments. And through five games in the series, they’re finally figuring out the Lakers. 

Early in the series, Luke Kennard, who led the league in three-point shooting percentage this season, was given room to operate on the court. In the first game of the series, he punished Houston. He wasn’t quite as hot in the next two games, but he was still lethal from long range. 

In Games 4 and 5, Houston started hunting him defensively. Following him around like a shadow. The result? Kennard is 0-for-7 from three in the last two games. 

Reaves’ return in Game 5 injected energy and excitement but he was rustier than a swing set in an abandoned park. After missing the last four weeks with an oblique injury, he struggled to find his rhythm in his return, shooting 4-for-16 from the field, and 2-for-8 from deep.

And then there’s James.

He might be the biggest offender of them all. After shooting 44% from deep in the first three games, he’s 0-for-9 combined in the last two.

James picked a bad time to go cold from beyond the arc. Not since last season when he went 0-for-19 over a four-game stretch has LeBron missed this many three-pointers in a row. 

At 41 years old, he can still dominate a game, including summoning his greatness when needed. But what he can’t do anymore is sustain that level of play for 40+ minutes a game over a grueling, physical, and punishing seven-game series. 

And Houston knows it. 

Once shooting stops being a weapon, it becomes a liability. So what do the Lakers do when the three-ball has gone missing? Will they adjust in Game 6?

If the Lakers don’t rediscover their perimeter touch soon, no other adjustments will matter. The math in this series has already told us everything we need to know.

If you shoot better from three, you win the game. Miss them, and you lose.

And if the Lakers lose two more, they will be on the wrong side of history forever.

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This is what the Sixers were supposed to look like. This is who they were supposed to be, from the moment Paul George arrived in the summer of 2024, satchelful of Josh Harris’ cash in hand and visions of greatness dancing in his head.

Which is to say, connected and competitive. Explosive and entertaining. Versatile and voracious.

With the season seemingly lost, they have suddenly found themselves, beating Boston twice to even their best-of-seven first-round playoff series at three games apiece, with Game 7 scheduled for Saturday night in TD Garden.

Nobody saw this coming. Not after the Celtics clubbed the Sixers last Sunday — yes, it was just five days ago — to go up 3-1 in the series. But the Sixers used a dominant fourth quarter to win Game 5 on the road, and on Thursday stormed to a 23-point lead before prevailing, 106-93.

The offense hummed. The defense was active. The crowd was alive.

Pretty complete night. Except for one thing.

“It really does not matter,” Nick Nurse said.

He noted that in the playoffs, each game is an entity unto itself, that momentum is a myth. Which was his way of saying that none of this means a thing if they don’t finish the job.

“I’m tired of losing to them,” said Joel Embiid, who has seen the Celtics end the Sixers’ season three times in his 10 seasons. “We have a chance to accomplish something special.”

Certainly his return three games ago from an emergency appendectomy has galvanized the team. He poured in 33 points in Game 5, and while he shot poorly Thursday (6-for-18), he “commanded the offense,” in Nurse’s estimation, assembling a 19-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist stat line. (In another lifetime, Brett Brown would have said Embiid “quarterbacked the gym.”)

Meanwhile Tyrese Maxey was slithering his way to 30 points, and George was providing two-way excellence, scoring 23 while jousting defensively with Boston’s two excellent wings, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Kelly Oubre Jr. and VJ Edgecombe scored 14 points apiece, and the Sixers won the rebound battle for the first time in the series. (It’s also possible they had something to do with the C’s dismal 12-for-41 three-point shooting, though it appeared Boston missed a ton of open looks, too.)

Again, this was the blueprint when George, a nine-time All-Star, signed his four-year, $212 million free-agent contract with Philadelphia in 2024. This was Daryl Morey’s fever dream. But ill health has plagued Embiid and George, the major reason the Sixers won just 24 games in 2024-25 and eked out a so-so 45 this season. (Not to be forgotten, either, is the 25-game suspension George served this year for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.)

Now, George said, they are “super, super close” to becoming the team they hoped to be, way back when — a team on which “no one has to go out there and do it alone,” as he put it.

“I was more than fine coming in, being a third option and allowing those guys (i.e., Maxey and Embiid) to be themselves offensively,” he added. “I told ‘em, ‘I’m gonna get the stops. You guys go out there and go score, and be who you are on the offensive end.’”

So optimistic was George that on Media Day 2024 he declared that the team “should compete for a championship.” Turns out that the only good thing to come out of the season was the opportunity to draft Edgecombe at No. 3 last June.

Even so, the Sixers have seldom had their entire team on the court. Now they do. Now things have “kind of been playing out” the way George envisioned. 

“I mean, it’s a joy and a pleasure to watch Tyrese get better, and Joel out there healthy,” he said. “It’s been fun.”

In Game 5 the Sixers repeatedly dumped the ball down low to Embiid in the second half, and he either exploited his mismatch with Boston’s centers or when double-teamed pitched the ball out to open shooters. The Sixers wound up outscoring the Celtics 28-11 in the fourth quarter to win, 113-97.

That put the fans in a giddy mood for Game 6. They cheered loudly when public-address announcer Matt Cord, in what might or might not have been his last game, noted that there were no Sixers injuries to report shortly before tipoff, and cheered even louder when Embiid joined his teammates on the court for warm-ups.

He went right to work, scoring the Sixers’ first five points on a short jumper and a three-point play. Boston nonetheless led after a quarter, 23-20, but Maxey notched 13 of his points in the second quarter and George added 10 of his points in the third, as the Sixers outscored the Celtics 62-40 over those two periods to take command.

In one sparkling sequence early in the third, Embiid and George fired respective behind-the-back passes to Oubre and Edgecombe for dunks, the latter after Oubre denied Brown at the rim to ignite a fast break.

Now the place was really jumping, and at night’s end the fans reprised their “We want Boston” chant, first heard in the play-in game against Orlando and mocked by Boston followers in Game 4.

But again, none of this matters anymore. All that matters is Game 7, and in looking ahead Maxey dipped deep into the cliche handbook.

“Sometimes it’s not about the X’s and O’s,” he said. “It’s about the Jims and Joes.”

Or, at least, the Jos. Among others.

“It’s gonna be a dogfight,” Maxey added. “It’s gonna be extremely difficult, every single second. Gonna be a roller-coaster ride.”

As Oubre said, “I wouldn’t say we’ve gotta be perfect, but we’ve gotta be close to it.”

Really, though, they just need to be themselves. They need to be who they thought they could be, and who they have finally revealed themselves to be. And not a moment too soon, either.

#1 – ¿Dónde está España?

The Celtics’ Spain pick-and-roll action is the most efficient play call they have, especially against a big man like Joël Embiid. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise to see them go to this action to start the game.

First with Sam Hauser and then with Jayson Tatum, the Celtics scored their first four points with this play call. Embiid really struggles to protect the drive, and Paul George can’t always stay connected to the ball-handler. Therefore, this creates opportunities at the rim—what more can you ask for?

Well, after running it twice in the first three minutes of the game, they stopped it for 16 minutes, and we had to wait until the end of the second quarter to see that play again. Why? Why change an offensive play call that works, that has been working all season, in an elimination game?

The Celtics ran it only a few times in the first half, and when you consider how efficient these actions are, it is hard to understand the reasoning that led the Celtics away from that movement.

Instead, they insisted on a lot of isolation, and it is safe to say that it didn’t go as expected.

#2 – Isolation struggles

The Celtics are scoring at a very poor efficiency rate against Paul George in isolation this series, but they are also struggling against the usual mismatches. Tyrese Maxey has been much better than in previous years at staying in front of Jaylen Brown, and he is now able to force mid-range shots instead of giving up drives.

Brown has also struggled against Kelly Oubre, committing four turnovers when defended by the Sixers wing. The driving lanes weren’t open as usual, and the 2024 Finals MVP wasn’t able to navigate space the way he likes to.

41% shooting from the All-Star, with only two assists and 18 points, was one of the reasons the Celtics couldn’t keep up in the game—but his defense might have been the biggest problem.

#3 – “Best two-way player in the league”?

Calling yourself the best two-way player in the game in December is certainly a bold move, but what matters most is staying true to your word when the playoffs come around. Last night, Brown was the weakest link in the Celtics’ defensive shell and caused multiple breakdowns.

First, there is this transition defense against VJ Edgecombe, where he lets him go right by and doesn’t offer any resistance. This is the playoffs—you’re playing a Game 6. Every possession should matter, even in transition.

Then, in the half-court, the Celtics wanted to avoid giving Joël Embiid one-on-one situations against their centers. The goal was to send a second defender while making sure the corners and the paint remained protected. The problem is that Brown isn’t able to do both, and when the help comes from him, it gives a free pass to his defender at the rim—especially when the rotation behind him isn’t there either.

The body language and defensive execution on that play against Kelly Oubre as the ball-handler provide a great example of the defensive level we saw last night. There is no pressure, and the wing gets to his spot with ease.

As the Sixers realized Brown couldn’t keep up with Oubre off-ball, they put the wing in the opposite corner from Embiid, waited for the help to come, and for Brown to lose track of his matchup—leading to another open layup at the rim.

#4 – The drop coverage has to change

After Game 5, I wrote about how the Sixers exposed the Celtics’ drop coverage.

Guess what? The Celtics stuck to the same coverage, and the Sixers exposed them again. As we saw in the last game, both Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic don’t have the backpedaling ability and hip mobility to keep up with Tyrese Maxey… so why keep trying?

The Celtics should try putting Jayson Tatum on Joël Embiid to take away the two-man game from the Sixers. Kelly Oubre is an average enough shooter that you can try putting Neemias Queta on him—or go small, double aggressively on Embiid with better rotations—but something different has to be shown to the Sixers. They are getting too comfortable. You can’t let that happen in a Game 6.

#5 – Is Paul George the best wing of the series?

We already mentioned his stellar defense in isolation, but the rim protection he also brings, for a wing, has been elite. On that Spain action from the Celtics—one of the rare times they didn’t score—he came off Jayson Tatum to block Queta at the rim. Wow.

Offensively, he brings the versatility needed alongside a quick guard like Maxey and a big man like Embiid. He knows how to play off them and use their gravity. On this play that gave the Sixers a 23-point lead, PG tricks Jaylen Brown and cuts behind the defense for an easy layup at the rim.

What becomes really problematic for the Celtics is that he is making the tough shots he likes to take from mid-range. This gives the Sixers another offensive option to attack smaller bodies like Sam Hauser.

The Jays have one game to step up and show who the best wings in this series are. But so far, with his elite defense and efficient offensive role, PG has been dominating that debate.

#6 – What happened to the offensive rebounds?

In three of the first four games, the Celtics had an offensive rebound rate above 40%. Over the last two games, that number dropped to 28% in Game 5 and 15% in Game 6. What happened to winning the possession battle and attacking a team weakness?

The Sixers ranked 27th in defensive rebound rate this season. Their numbers are basically saying: “crash the glass, and you’ll be fine.”

This needs to be addressed.

#7 – Turnover economy favors the 76ers

While they are losing the possession battle on the rebounding side, the Sixers are also forcing more turnovers—which is rare, but it is working. First, there is the way Jaylen Brown commits offensive fouls. He is already up to 10 this postseason, twice as many as the second player in that category.

Then there is the impressive length and defensive discipline from the Sixers, who know the Celtics’ playbook and have been very good at anticipating movements and forcing difficult passes.

Overall, the Sixers took three more shots than the Celtics and had three more free throws—a small possession gap that could cost Boston its season on Sunday in Game 7.

#8 – Has anyone seen Hugo Gonzalez?

The Celtics are losing the possession battle in both rebounds and turnovers. You know who might help in that area? Hugo Gonzalez.

The young rookie could also help with switchability. Against the Knicks earlier in the season, he showed he could defend both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the same game. It might be time to unleash him against the Sixers.

#9 – Going to the bench with 10 minutes left?

This one is more of an open question for you in the comments, because it’s another strategic decision I don’t fully understand.

Does it make sense because you want to approach Game 7 with as much energy as possible? Or did you expect the bench unit to pull off a comeback? Was it more of a message to the starters?

#10 – The best words in sports… Game 7!

Now is the time to breathe and enjoy it while it lasts, because the season could end this weekend. Still, it’s hard not to be excited about a Game 7 at TD Garden—a chance to see what this group is really made of.

The Boston Celtics haven’t learned their lesson. Instead of preparing for a second-round series against the New York Knicks, they’re boarding a flight back home to host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7.

On Thursday night, the Celtics fell to the Sixers, 106-93, squandering their second chance to close out Philadelphia after taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. With an offense that has lost its identity and a defense unable to contain Joel Embiid’s postseason resurgence, Boston is down to its third and final chance to avoid one of the most catastrophic collapses in its franchise’s history.

The demons that have tormented the Sixers for years — and haunted Joel Embiid — no longer linger in Philadelphia’s locker room. This is now on the Celtics. They lost home-court advantage, failed twice to close out the series, and find themselves in a familiar position Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown know all too well.

“A lot of us have been in this situation before, Game 7,” Tatum told reporters at Xfinity Mobile Arena, per CLNS Media. “So it should be a fun one.”

During the NBA’s pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Celtics found themselves pushed to seven games in the semifinals against the Toronto Raptors after taking a 2-0 series lead. In 2023, they allowed an inferior Atlanta Hawks team to take them to six games in the first round, then lost in seven to a 43-39 Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Last year, they twice squandered 20-point leads at home just before Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.

For the better part of nine years, Tatum and Brown have battled their track record as leaders of a team addicted to inviting chaos.

The fourth quarter of Game 5 and the third quarter of Game 6 don’t suggest Philadelphia was the better team. That overlooks the issue entirely. Those frames exposed Boston as a team once again, lacking the killer instinct that they had in the regular season. They held an 86-85 lead to start the fourth quarter in Game 5 and shot 3-of-22 from the field (13.6 percent), scoring just 11 points. In Game 6, they scored 14 points in the third quarter while shooting 6-of-22 from the field (26.1 percent).

That’s not the norm, as both quarters rank among their lowest-scoring stretches since Opening Night — first and third lowest, respectively.

“Our intentions are good,” Tatum said. “We want to go out there and play the right way and win. It’s just, we just got to be a little bit more together, a little bit tougher. Play with more pace, play faster. You know, how they have played majority of the season and since I’ve been back. It’s just kind of getting back to who we are.”

Tatum exited the game with 4:03 left in the third quarter. He rode a stationary bike before returning to Boston’s bench and did not return for the remainder of Game 6. After the loss, he clarified that leg stiffness was the reason for his exit and said he expects to be ready for Game 7.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to the team’s reserves, giving Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, and Ron Harper Jr. the entire fourth quarter. That group showed more life than the starters had since the second quarter of Game 5, outperforming Boston’s previous five frames. They shot 48 percent from the floor against Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and V.J. Edgecombe, and sparked an 11-0 run to cut Philadelphia’s lead down to 12 points with 7:40 left in regulation.

For a moment, it was an encouraging (yet temporary) shift. But ultimately, it still wasn’t enough.

Embiid and the Sixers never felt threatened because the Celtics hadn’t solved a single issue that kept them from advancing at home in Game 5. Derrick White missed two floaters six feet away from the rim, then argued with officials after a clear double dribble call, all in the first quarter. Neemias Queta again ran into foul trouble, picking up three with more than five minutes left before halftime, including two while Embiid was on the bench. Boston’s inefficiency even showed up at the charity stripe, as Tatum and Brown combined to miss six free throws, adding to a damaged offense that’s hanging by a thread.

Brown, who played over 28 minutes in Game 6, picked up his 10th offensive foul of the series. That accounts for nearly half of Boston’s 23 offensive fouls, the most of any team this postseason.

For the first time since opening the season 0-3 in October, the Celtics are staring at a potential second three-game losing streak. Only this one would end their championship aspirations for good if they come out as the same sloppy, uninspired group that’s allowed the Sixers to batter them around over the past two games.

“We can’t let that happen in the next game,” Brown admitted to reporters, per CLNS Media. “We gotta be the harder playing team.”

Saturday night will be the ninth Game 7 between Boston and Philadelphia, the most of any playoff rivalry in NBA history. Historically, the Celtics have won six of the previous eight. But it’ll take a massive turnaround on all fronts to prevent the Sixers from eliminating Boston from the postseason for the first time since 1982.

“All things considered, we’re in a great spot going home for a Game 7,” Brown said. “Expecting a great atmosphere. Expecting a great fight from our group. Last two games wasn’t the best, but you move on. So I’m looking forward to it, and I’m excited for Game 7.”

Through their own doing, the Celtics have brought themselves to a point they never should have reached. There’s a difference between a lesson and one that’s been nearly a decade in the making without much improvement. They keep putting themselves in this spot time and time again, all while expecting a different result. That’s not growth, nor does it fall in line with the process of learning. At some point, it’s simply an underachievement.

Boston’s bench brought more to the table than its starters, and that’s nearly impossible to overcome in the playoffs. The Sixers entered the series as the underdog, missing Embiid for the first three games. In response, the Celtics displayed the urgency of a team waiting for Philadelphia to slip up rather than a team determined to chase after the series clincher themselves. It’s nothing new, and in the past, it’s only led to their season’s end.

During their 2024 championship run, the Celtics suffered only three losses. After each one, they responded with urgency and a win. That’s the difference between a team ready for the next stage and one setting itself up for failure.

They could still very easily put the Sixers away in seven, but at what cost? Fatigue is a real factor in the playoffs, as is momentum. The Knicks just eliminated the Hawks by scoring 140 points while watching the Celtics grapple to compete. New York is a much greater challenge than Philadelphia, meaning the margin for error wouldn’t be what it’s been in the first round if Boston does make it out. The Knicks are stronger, healthier, and have bragging rights. They know what it takes to outplay the Celtics.

For Boston, there’s no safety net. That’s gone. The Celtics have to be at their best or at least very, very close to it on Saturday night. They can praise Embiid and Philadelphia all they want, but that’s not the deciding factor that has extended this series. It’s the result of falling into bad habits that have long left this team hanging their heads in disappointment, and facing the same postgame questions about decisions and improvements that should have been made.

They were the superior team throughout the regular season, and through no fault but their own, they have become a watered-down version of themselves.

That hasn’t been enough to get away with in Games 5 and 6, and it won’t work in Game 7.

The bottom line is the Celtics need to approach Saturday night determined to make a statement. Because through the first six games, it doesn’t seem like Tatum and Brown have graduated in ways their 2024 championship suggested. They were given a pass last year under extreme circumstances, and although a talent-depleted roster did make it harder at the start of the season, we’re 88 games deep with this group.

The Celtics weren’t lucky. They earned each of their 56 regular-season wins to lock the No. 2 seed in the East. Any leniency for integrating the offseason’s additions expired long ago, and it doesn’t excuse their fumbles at the goal line. This is completely on them.

“We have an opportunity for Game 7 at home, and there’s been great teams, great players that have played in Game 7s, and it’s part of the journey,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “We didn’t play well tonight. We’ll move on to the next game.”

In their 79 years of existence, the Celtics have never blown a 3-1 series lead. That possibility is now staring them in the face.

Not even 12 hours after the final buzzer sounded from Houston’s game five victory, Shams Charania of ESPN broek the unfortunate news that Kevin Durant will be missing Game 6 of the Rockets-Lakers with a bone bruise on his ankle that he sustained in Game 2. The usual return timeline for a bone bruise is two weeks, so it is very likely Durant will not return at all this series.

Thankfully, Houston has looked pretty good — and more like last year’s team — without Durant on the floor, and that should continue. In Durant’s absence, members of the young core like Jabari Smith jr, Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard have stepped up in big ways. In fact, Kevin Durant’s injury has saved the Rockets in this series in various ways. This is not a jab at Durant, but rather a credit to Ime Udoka for finally making the necessary adjustments. The Rockets are really easy to defend because Ime Udoka is so obstinate about how he employs Durant.

In the one game he played, Durant committed NINE turnovers to a squad not known for its defense. With Sheppard, Thompson, Eason, Smith, and Sengun in the starting lineup, the Rockets are much different team to defend using the strategies the Lakers employed against Durant when he was the primary ball handler. The young Rockets put a different kind of defensive strain on individual Laker defenders due to their tenacity and athleticism.

There were just 11 total team turnovers for the Rockets in Game 5, and Durant nearly matched that himself in the one game he played due to Udoka’s strategy. Sheppard, Smith, Eason, and Holiday combined for 12 assists to 1 turnover, while Sengun and Thompson combined for the bulk of the team turnovers with 8 total between them.

In my opinon, Durant’s continued absence will allow the starting lineup of Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith jr, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun to continue building chemistry, which will be beneficial, as this lineup has performed the best for the Rockets this series. Additionally, I feel that Durant’s injury really forced Ime Udoka to make adjustments, as now he does not have Kevin Durant to bail out his lack of offensive creativity.

The Kevin Durant-less Rockets will play Game 6 in Houston with a tip-off of 8:30 pm. As always, be sure to check back at the Dream Shake for pre- and post-game coverage.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson opened up about his mental health after he and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels were both ejected for fighting in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Thursday night.

“Knew something was gone happen,” Robinson wrote in a Facebook post after the Knicks’ 140-89 series-clinching win — and the largest win in a playoff game in franchise history.

“My mental just not the same I’m just lost in the world at the moment.”

The alternate angle of this Knicks-Hawks fight is WILD.

Read more: https://t.co/QMCkiKOwvepic.twitter.com/oeDy8fTZbY

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 1, 2026

Robinson also reshared his pregame post that said, “Trying so hard to be calm.”

That comes as new video footage, appearing to be from a fan emerged on social media.

Taking to his Instagram Story, Robinson posted a video that showed a cartoon animal singing the message: “Hey, I gotta question cus I really need to know, do you ever get tired of being bitch ass n—a, .p—- ass n—a.”

Warning: Graphic Language

Mitchell Robinson’s IG story to Dyson Daniels OMG (@MrBuckBuckNBA) pic.twitter.com/zKcVYSvoMX

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 1, 2026

Things got chippy when OG Anunoby made a pair of free throws to extend the Knicks’ lead to 50 points with 4:39 remaining in the first half.

During the second attempt Robinson boxed out Daniels, who hit him with an elbow, before they came face-to-face and exchanged words.

They got tangled up and things escalated from there, with players and coaches from both teams holding the players back.

Atlanta center Onyeka Okongwu and the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson held Robinson back as the melee nearly spilled into the fans sitting courtside.

Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and several coaches pulled Daniels away.

At one point, Knicks head coach Mike Brown ended up on the ground underneath the scuffle.

Robinson and Daniels both received technical fouls and were ejected.

The NBA hasn’t handed out any suspensions, as of Friday morning.

Robinson and Daniels’ beef had been building after they had a dust-up in Game 1 and Robinson got a technical, as noted by The Athletic’s Fred Katz.

The pair exchanged words throughout the series and things reached a tipping point Thursday night.

Meanwhile, on the court, it was a brutal beatdown by the KNicks.

Atlanta’s 83-36 deficit was the largest at halftime in NBA playoff history, according to ESPN.

Game 6 hasn’t necessarily been kind to The Six.

The Toronto Raptors have a mixed-bag of results in game six of playoff matchups:

• Game six: 6-7 (one during the NBA bubble)
• Facing elimination: 2-3
• Home: 2-2
• Away: 3-5

For the Raptors to extend their current series to a seventh game, they must exorcise a familiar demon in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Friday.

This looks familiar

If it feels like both teams have been here before, it’s likely because Raptors and Cavaliers fans remember their 2015-16 playoff matchup. It was the first post-season meeting between the two organizations, and ultimately ended up being the most competitive series in the ‘LeBronto’ three-parter.

Like in the current series, the Raptors had strong starts to games one and two before subsequently falling apart in the second half. Led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Toronto protected its home court with a convincing Game 3 win and a gritty Game 4 performance.

Much of the criticism in Cleveland was directed at the team’s tertiary star, Kevin Love. During their nightmarish visit to Toronto, the dynamic power forward averaged 6.5 points on 21.7 per cent shooting. Defensively, Love recorded one block and zero steals during this stretch. But in Game 5, the veteran responded with 25 points while shooting 80 per cent. Love also finished with two blocks and one steal. After struggling in this year’s trip to Toronto, Evan Mobley also bounced back in Game 5 with a team-high 23 points, three blocks and one steal.

The Cavaliers secured the series win ten years ago in the following contest, this time with their Big 3 of Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving combining for 83 of the team’s 113 points. While the Raptors certainly struggled with the infamous trio, it was a combination of J.R. Smith catching fire (15 points, five three-pointers) and the bench’s efficiency from the perimeter that pushed the Cavaliers to the finish line.

Realistically, Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden show up in the close-out game tonight. But for the Raptors to force a seventh game, they can’t let a bench option like Dennis Schroder explode for 19 points as he did in Game 5.

It must be a team-effort

In the times the Raptors have ended up on the victorious side of a Game 6, it has typically involved a committee-like approach. Getting this far into a series often means teams are familiar with each other’s playbook. This leads to offence being generated from either elite on-ball creation or players getting open looks due to a rotating defence.

The last time the Raptors won a Game 6, it was during a 125-122 win against the Boston Celtics in the bubble. Six players finished with double-digit scoring. March Gasol also recorded eight points. Even with the generational Kawhi Leonard in 2019, the Raptors needed their depth. Against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6, Toronto had four players with at least 14 points. Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell also contributed nine points each. In the title-clinching win, the Raptors had five players record at least 15 points.

With Brandon Ingram’s heel issues and Scottie Barnes dealing with a right quad contusion, the Raptors may not have enough firepower – of the healthy variety – to produce a team-wide offensive explosion. But if they are to muster something, it begins with the foursome of RJ Barrett, Collin Muray-Boyles, Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter.

Barrett must rediscover his shooting form, both from the three-point line and the charity stripe. The Canadian wing averaged 27.3 per cent from deep and 46.2 per cent from the free-throw line in the last two games. Any kind of spacing Barrett can manufacture will be invaluable on a team that might be missing its two best shooters in the starting lineup. Simply put, Barrett also needs to be a better free-throw shooter for the amount of time he’s on the court, and especially due to his wrecking-ball play style.

Murray-Boyles is clearly dealing with multiple injuries. At times, it looks like his body could fall apart at any moment. Despite his visible impact, the rookie is only averaging 20 minutes per game in the series. With the emergence of Schroder and the big man duo of Mobley and Jarrett Allen showing up in the last game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic needs to keep Murray-Boyles on the court as long as possible.

Shead and Walter provide a similar archetype that isn’t fully appreciated until an elimination game. They are at their best when they’re knocking down triples and playing a type of defence that doesn’t require support. We know the pair can do the latter. While Walter is arguably the best shooter on the team, Shead might end up being the true X-Factor. The Cavaliers dared the former Houston Cougar to beat them from outside when it mattered most in the fourth quarter of Game 5. Shead had multiple attempts and couldn’t make Cleveland pay. Expect the Cavaliers to double-down in Game 6.

The others

The post-season typically boils down to unexpected players having moments. It would be nice if Jamison Battle could catch lightning in a bottle (again). Jakob Poeltl – despite playing limited minutes – will probably continue to be efficient with his usage and take advantage of the rare size advantage.

But there could be a massive game in store for Sandro Mamukelashvili. The sharpshooting power forward recorded 10 points in Game 5 after scoring a combined two points in the prior two contests. Mamukelashvili was debatably the most valuable bench option for Toronto during the regular-season. If he can help negate the impact of the Cavaliers’ bench, it’ll go a long way in forcing a final game.