Former NBA player Damon Jones, arriving for a court date in Brooklyn, reached a plea deal in his illegal-gambling case. (Andres Kudacki / Getty Images)
Former Lakers assistant coach Damon Jones became the first among 34 defendants to plead guilty Tuesday in an expansive gambling indictment that also ensnared Hall of Fame player Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and organized crime figures.
Jones was a Lakers coach in 2022 and 2023, long after he retired from an 11-year NBA playing career with 11 teams. Before a Feb. 9, 2023, game between the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in which LeBron James was a late scratch because of a foot injury, evidence showed that Jones urged a co-conspirator to “get a big bet on Milwaukee before the information is out!”
Jones urged his co-conspirator in a text: “Bet enough so Djones can eat to [sic] now!!!”
Jones and James were considered good friends for years. A person close to James told The Times in October that the Lakers star didn’t know that Jones was selling injury information to gamblers placing bets.
Jones had entered not guilty pleas in November to the two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in sports betting and rigged poker game schemes. However, during back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday, he entered guilty pleas to those charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6 before separate judges in the two cases. Guidelines call for 21 to 27 months in prison for the sports gambling charge and 63 to 78 months for the charge on rigged poker games. Prosecutors said they agreed to shave 15 months from the sentence in exchange for Jones pleading guilty by April 30.
He pleaded guilty in the sports betting case first. In a prepared statement, he acknowledged that he conspired with others to defraud sports betting companies by using "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player."
Jones, 49, said the goal of the sports betting conspiracy was to use his insider knowledge of injuries to players to make money gambling.
"I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association," said Jones, who was paid $21 million as a player.
Next came pleading guilty to participating in rigged poker games. Jones admitted that he was paid to use his NBA celebrity to lure deep-pocketed gamblers to poker games in Miami and New York.
Again reading from a statement, Jones said that, based on conversations with his co-conspirators at poker games, "I knew these games were rigged and that players were being cheated."
And again he concluded with an apology, addressing the court, his family and friends.
"I'm really sorry to everyone involved for my actions," he said.
Prosecutors said Monday they would seek additional charges against Rozier in the sports betting case because they had developed evidence that the 10-year NBA veteran solicited a bribe during an alleged gambling scheme.
According to the original indictment, when Rozier played for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, he told friends he was planning to leave a game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing others to place wagers. Rozier has made $135 million as a player.
Billups, who played with the Clippers for two seasons and later was a member of Clippers coach Ty Lue’s staff before being named head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021, is charged with rigging underground poker games that authorities said were backed by three of New York’s Mafia families. Billups, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2024, made $107 million as a player.
Last offseason, Brad Stevens had to make cuts — the team that had won the title just more than a year before was about to get far too expensive. It was not pain free. Gone were three key pieces of the 2024 championship puzzle: Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Combine that with Jayson Tatum being expected to miss most or all of the season, and expectations were low in Boston.
The result: 56 wins, the No. 2 seed, and being the betting favorite to take the East heading into the playoffs.
All that had his peers vote to hand Sevens the NBA Executive of the Year award.
This is the second time Stevens has won the award, he also did so two years ago for assembling the team that won a title, the one he had to disassemble last offseason.
Stevens received 11 first-place votes and was on 17 ballots, cast by a panel of 30 basketball executives (one from each team). Atlanta's Onsi Saleh finished second in the voting, with Detroit's Trajan Langdon third (for the second consecutive season).
Joel Embiid turned in one of his best career playoff performances and the Sixers forced a Game 6 in their first-round playoff series against the Celtics with a 113-97 win Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Embiid had 33 points and eight assists. Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, who now trail 3-2 in the series. Paul George posted 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum tallied 24 points and 16 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 22 points.
Game 6 will be Thursday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on the Sixers’ Embiid-led Game 5 victory:
Sixers bring back competitiveness
The Sixers created their first basket off of a Maxey-Embiid pick-and-pop. Embiid swung the ball to George, who drained a three-pointer from the left wing. Another George triple put the Sixers up 8-2.
Defensively, the Sixers’ start was encouraging. They were solid on the ball and relied on Embiid to protect the paint. Boston settled for some contested jumpers and the Sixers cleaned up the defensive glass. The Celtics scored just six points in the first six minutes.
The Sixers’ spirits could have stayed low following an ugly Game 4 loss, but they were certainly not checked out mentally in the early stages.
“I think that the players are pretty aware that they need to do the effort side of things, the really tough, grind it out things much better,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said before the game. “We show them. They’ve certainly talked about it enough among themselves. And now we’ve just got to see what mental frame of mind we’re in when the ball goes up tonight.”
The Sixers couldn’t break open a big lead because their offense stalled. Embiid began 0 for 4 from the field, including three long-range misfires.
After going 0 for 11 from three-point territory over the past two games, VJ Edgecombe nailed a corner jumper on his first shot beyond the arc. The Sixers launched 13 three-pointers as a team in the first quarter and only made three. Boston missed 11 of its first 12 threes.
Grimes steps up
Nurse initially stuck with Andre Drummond as Embiid’s backup over Adem Bona. Nikola Vucevic drove past Drummond and slammed home a dunk late in the first quarter.
Embiid was whistled for two fouls early in the second quarter and Payton Pritchard picked up where he left off in his 32-point Game 4 performance. Tatum intercepted a Quentin Grimes pass and finished a fast-break layup. Derrick White waltzed past Grimes and scored inside. The Celtics’ lead grew to 11 points on a pull-up Tatum jumper.
Grimes eventually converted a four-point play, but he wasn’t sharp on either side of the floor for much of his first stint and the Celtics’ bench outplayed the Sixers’ once more in the first half.
To Grimes’ credit, he had a great second half and posted 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting on the night. While consistency has been an issue this year for Grimes, he can deliver those sort of momentum-shifting scoring bursts.
Embiid had a productive second period attacking against the Celtics’ center trio of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Vucevic. He scored 13 points in the second and also helped the Sixers get Boston in the bonus.
Embiid dished to Maxey for a right wing three that cut the Sixers’ deficit to 50-48, but the Celtics replied with a 7-0 spurt and also had a strong start to the third quarter. The Sixers soon trailed by double digits again.
Embiid plays through it all, comes up huge
The Sixers continued to feed Embiid over and over again in the post.
As his teammates know well, Embiid is awfully tough for anyone to handle 1-on-1 when he’s in rhythm. The 35-year-old Vucevic lacked good defensive answers and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t respond with double teams. Embiid laid the ball in over Vucevic and Edgecombe then drilled a three to pull the Sixers to within 66-65.
Embiid exited the game with an apparent injury a couple of minutes later. He grimaced and limped under the basket, leading the Sixers to call timeout after Pritchard hit a three. Embiid headed to the locker room.
He was back on the floor with two minutes left in the third quarter and the Sixers closed the period impressively, showing poise at a time when the game could easily have spiraled out of control.
While Embiid’s had well-documented playoff failures, he’s always been determined to grit through pain and injury in the postseason. This was his second game since returning from an appendectomy. In the big picture of his career, Embiid’s resolve to be on the court at well below 100 percent is a quality that sticks out.
With three-balls from Maxey and George, the Sixers surged in front early in the fourth quarter. An Embiid mid-range jumper gave the Sixers a 90-86 lead.
Embiid kept on providing superstar plays. When doubled down low, he assisted a Grimes three. And when he got the ball on the left block against Queta, Embiid sunk a beautiful fadeaway jumper to extend the Sixers’ advantage to eight points.
During Embiid’s best nights, he has the ability to make just about anything feel possible for the Sixers. The team is still down in the series and still one loss from elimination, but Embiid is a massive reason why they remain alive.
The New York Knicks aim for redemption at Madison Square Garden, and while CJ McCollum has been a constant problem, they’re fixated on getting it done in order to take a 3-2 series lead.
The New York Knicks will be back in front of their home crowd for Game 5 & will try to take full advantage of being the favorites at 68% while CJ McCollum & the Atlanta Hawks look to pull off another upset in this series by coming in as the 32% underdogs.
Our prediction:Knicks to win
This has been a great opening round chess match, with the Hawks and Knicks able to neutralize each other’s biggest threats so far.
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You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Knicks -7.5 spread means New York will cover, while "No" means the Hawks will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter).
Nuggets vs Timberwolves spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Knicks -7.5
45¢ (+109)
55¢ (-132)
Over 214.5 points
50¢ (-108)
51¢ (-116)
Our predictions:Knicks -7.5 — Yes and Over 214.5 points — Yes
New York avoided a bad spot with a strong road win in Game 4 and is learning to live without Jalen Brunson making his usual postseason magic. Atlanta, on the other hand, is starting to struggle with adjustments as the series goes on and doesn’t have a reliable support staff to step up, as the Knicks do.
Other Nuggets vs Timberwolves prediction markets available
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (Yes: 73¢)
Josh Hart Over 1.5 threes (Yes: 71¢)
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes (Yes: 76¢)
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The NBA playoffs are not known for upsets. We're used to seeing the mega superstars competing in the latest rounds. Major upsets, storybook performances from underappreciated players seem so rare that one such experience in a postseason makes for some of the most unforgettable moments in recent memory.
Whether it was Tyrese Haliburton leading the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals and taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in 2025 or Jimmy Butler taking the No. 8 seed Miami Heat to the Finals in 2023, these surprises turn ordinary postseasons into unforgettable ones. And this year, it seems like we've got a lot of them.
Although only one team – the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder – has advanced to the second round, there are a myriad of upsets on the horizon that I can say with near certainty very few people saw coming. Here are the five biggest surprises of the 2026 NBA postseason thus far:
Even without Kevin Durant for most of the series, no one expected the Lakers to get out to a 3-0 series lead. But that is made much easier when someone like Marcus Smart, who shot under 40% during the regular season, scores 46 points combined in Games 2 and 3.
Smart averaged less than 10 points per game during the regular season and only scored more than 20 points three times. Now, in the postseason, we've seen him do it twice in just four games. And considering the combined point differential in those games was just 11 points, with one of those games going into overtime, Smart's out-of-nowhere performances certainly caught the Rockets by surprise.
4) CJ McCollum taking over for Atlanta
Considering that CJ McCollum started just 25 games for the Atlanta Hawks this year, it's kind of shocking that he's been the one that helped elevate the team over the Knicks in Games 2 and 3 of their series.
While the series is still tied 2-2, McCollum has been a breath of fresh air and a pivotal reason the Hawks have any wins in this series at all. Not only is he shooting over 50% from the field, but he's only had one game with fewer than 20 points.
Considering how hot the Hawks ended the season, there were many fans who believed they'd put up a good fight or even upset the Knicks in Round 1. However, most of those fans believed the performances needed would come from All-Star Jalen Johnson, 2026 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker or midseason trade acquisition Jonathan Kuminga. Seeing 34-year-old McCollum continue to give the Knicks' postseason woes was not on very many bingo cards, but it's certainly been great to watch.
The 22-time All-Star was two rebounds away from a triple-double in Game 1 and just four assists from another in Game 3. Unsurprisingly, his worst performance of the series thus far wound up being the only Lakers' loss.
Though the Minnesota Timberwolves were a popular sleeper pick to emerge from the West, their opening round matchup against the Denver Nuggets was still immensely tough, and many fans wouldn't have been surprised to see them lose the series.
Now, if we were to tell those same fans that Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo would go down with injuries in Game 4, they'd all probably assume the series would be over in six games maximum. However, even in a worst case scenario for Minnesota, this series will go seven games.
That same Game 4 that saw Edwards and DiVincenzo go down gave Dosunmu the avenue to take over. He did exactly that, notching 43 points, the most in a single game this postseason. Though Dosunmu was considered a great midseason acquisition for Minnesota at the time, no one could've expected him to be the catalyst for the Timberwolves' 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets.
Though that lead didn't last long and Denver wound up winning Game 5 handedly, the Timberwolves have put themselves in terrific position to take down Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets despite the absence of two critical players. They have Dosunmu to thank for that.
1) The Detroit Pistons' disappearance
This was obvious from the get-go, but it really could be considered either the Pistons' disappearance or the Magic's sudden surge.
The former is more likely the case though. While many fans believed the Pistons were more built for the regular season than postseason, nobody expected them to fall apart so quickly. Between increased turnovers and inconsistent offensive production, the Pistons have made it difficult for themselves to win.
In Game 4 alone, the Pistons committed 20 turnovers which led to 23 points for the Magic. If the Pistons could cut that number down to their game average figure from the regular season (15.1), the Magic would've scored approximately 17 points off turnovers, a six-point difference. Lo and behold, the Magic won Game 4 by six points.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for a pivotal Game 5 between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.
By comparing the data to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed where the strongest edges are.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, April 28.
Hawks vs Knicks computer picks for Game 5
Hawks
Knicks
Johnson u20.5 points -120
Brunson o26.5 points -120
McCollum o3.5 assists -125
Towns o11.5 rebounds -105
McCollum o2.5 3-pointers -102
Hart o4.5 assists -135
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Hawks Game 5 computer picks
Jalen Johnson Under 20.5 points (-120)
Projection: 20.4 points
Facing the New York Knicks’ league-slowest pace over the last 25 games, the Atlanta Hawks should see fewer possessions, which works against Jalen Johnson’s scoring outlook and puts his chances of clearing the Over in jeopardy.
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CJ McCollum Over 3.5 assists (-125)
Projection: 3.96 assists
The Hawks’ sixth-fastest road pace this season should create extra opportunities, setting up a favorable spot for CJ McCollum to facilitate after clearing 3.5 assists in six of his last 10 games.
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CJ McCollum Over 2.5 3-pointers (-102)
Projection: 2.9 3-pointers
This is a favorable spot for perimeter volume against New York. At home, the Knicks allow the most 3-point attempts per game to opposing starting shooting guards (7.6). And few have punished them more than CJ McCollum, who should carry that same aggressive, Knicks-killer mindset into Game 5.
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Knicks Game 5 computer picks
Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-120)
Projection: 26.9 points
Jalen Brunson has cleared 26.5 points in five of his last 10 games, and the setup in Game 5 puts him in a strong position to do it again.
With the series tightening, Brunson’s usage typically climbs in high-leverage spots, and he’s the clear engine of New York’s half-court offense.
He thrives in playoff settings where the pace slows and possessions become more deliberate, allowing him to hunt mismatches and operate in isolation or pick-and-roll.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds (-130)
Projection: 13.4 rebounds
The Knicks rank third in the NBA in offensive rebounding at home (13.3 per game), putting Karl-Anthony Towns in a prime spot to control the glass and give New York an edge on the boards.
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Josh Hart Over 4.5 assists (-135)
Projection: 5.04 assists
The Knicks’ recent surge has been fueled by their heart & energy, with much of it stemming from Josh Hart’s playmaking and especially after clearing 4.5 assists in four of his last 10 games.
Back on their home floor, he’s in a strong spot to make another impact.
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How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 5
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Assistant coach Jarrett Jack of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New Orleans Pelicans have requested permission to interview Detroit Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack for their vacant head coach position, according to report by Jake Fischer and Mark Stein of The Stein Line. Jack has been an assistant coach with the Pistons since August 2023, but is most well known for his 13-year playing career, which included a stint with the Golden State Warriors in the 2012-13 season.
“Also: Sources say that the Pelicans have requested permission to interview Pistons assistant coach Jarrett Jack, who spent three seasons in New Orleans as a player and is in the midst of Detroit’s difficult first-round series with Orlando,” write Fischer and Stein.
While Jack last played in the NBA in 2018, he stuck around in the G-League for multiple years, finishing off as a veteran mentor on the experimental G-League Ignite. After his stint with the Ignite, he became an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, where he worked until he joined the Pistons staff.
Despite his journeyman career, playing for eight teams, Jack made a strong impression with Dub Nation during his lone season with the Warriors. That season, Jack averaged 12.9 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 29.7 minutes per game (79 games) on 45.2%/40.4%/84.3% shooting and finished third in the league’s Sixth Man of the Year voting, the best finish of his career. The Warriors finished the season 47-35, reaching the playoffs for the first time since the “We Believe” team.
Jack was even more productive in the playoffs, finishing second on the team in scoring behind Steph Curry. He recorded 17.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Jack was pivotal in helping the Warriors upset the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs and pushing the San Antonio Spurs to a six-game series.
The Boston Celtics can send the Philadelphia 76ers into the offseason with a win in Game 5 tonight, and there are plenty of NBA player prop projections and NBA picks to take advantage of before the series likely comes to an end.
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76ers Game 5 computer picks
VJ Edgecombe Over 11.5 points (-115)
Projection: 14.76 points
It's fair to expect VJ Edgecombe's volume to go down with Joel Embiid back in the lineup, but this is still a low bar to clear for a guy who's averaged 14.8 ppg in this series, including 30 in Game 2.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 9.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.45 points
Kelly Oubre Jr. reached double figures in the first three games of this series and scored 17 in Game 3 before shooting 0-for-6 in Game 4. His shooting touch will return tonight.
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Joel Embiid Under 26.5 points (-115)
Projection: 23.27 points
Though Joel Embiid scored 26 in his return, this is still a big number to clear in just his second game back. He also averaged just 25.9 ppg on the road this season.
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Celtics Game 5 computer picks
Jaylen Brown Over 6.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 7.94 rebounds
Jaylen Brown has gone Over this number in three straight games and averaged 6.9 rpg on the year. The plus-money price is simply the cherry on top.
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Neemias Queta Over 7.5 points (-110)
Projection: 9.68 points
Neemias Queta has cleared this small total in three of the four games despite battling foul trouble and fewer minutes. Our model calls for 9.68 points, which gives you lots of wiggle room.
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Neemias Queta Over 6.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 8.5 rebounds
And despite fewer minutes, he's still snatched 15 rebounds over his last two games, clearing this number in both. Projections (8.5) call for two full rebounds more than this 6.5-rebound total.
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How to watch 76ers vs Celtics Game 5
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves will again be a game-time decision for Game 5 vs. the Rockets on Wednesday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Less than four weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain, Austin Reaves is closing in on a return with the Lakers in position to clinch a spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
Reaves will officially be a game-time decision before Wednesday’s potentially series-clinching Game 5 against the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. He was questionable for Games 3 and 4, warming up on the court before each game, but is "trending in the right direction," he said Tuesday.
The Lakers have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series despite playing without Reaves and leading scorer Luka Doncic, who is out because of a Grad 2 left hamstring strain.
“JJ [Redick] specifically was like you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be successful,” Reaves said of his coach in his first comments to reporters since suffering the injury on April 2. “And I want to get back out there as fast as I can.”
Reaves said he typically has a very high pain tolerance. So he knew that even though he finished the game against Oklahoma City on April 2, the injury that left him grabbing at his left side repeatedly could turn out to be significant.
But getting the news that he would be out for the rest of the regular season was especially painful. Doncic had just been diagnosed with his injury the day before. The Lakers, then in third place in the Western Conference, came crashing down from a 15-2 record in March. They suddenly looked like sitting ducks in the playoff hunt.
“Our confidence doesn't waver as a team,” Reaves said. “Basically the message from that day forward was … that they were going to do everything as a team to give us an opportunity to come back and play. And they've done exactly what they said.”
The Lakers finished the regular season with three consecutive wins to hold onto home-court advantage as the fourth seed. They raced out to a 3-0 series lead against the Rockets, who staved off elimination with a blowout win in Game 4 despite playing without Kevin Durant. The star forward, who missed Games 3 and 4 because of a sprained left ankle, remains questionable for Game 5.
LeBron James reclaimed the primary playmaker role for the Lakers with Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard sharing ballhandling duties. But intense defense from the Rockets has exposed just how much the Lakers miss Reaves and Doncic. The Lakers have averaged 20 turnovers per game during the playoffs.
Reaves has been “miserable” watching it all, he said. But at least the show from his teammates has been a silver lining.
“It's been a lot of fun, just seeing the determination, the togetherness, and just the joy of them playing basketball together,” Reaves said. “Competing every single possession, it's been a lot of fun. Me and Luka talk about it every time we're watching, just how hard we're playing."
Lakers guard Luka Doncic has not played since getting injured April 2, but he's still a big part of the team as he watches from the sideline. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic is progressing in his return, but still has not started playing one-on-one yet, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Last weekend, he improved enough to incorporate movement into his on-court work instead of just standstill shooting.
Reaves said he has done “everything” in an attempt to maintain his rhythm and conditioning to get back on the court as soon as possible. Clearing the final hurdle will depend on how his body feels. After his availability is determined, Redick said the team will discuss any potential minutes restrictions.
"Everything from the get-go has been a group effort," Reaves said, "and the main thing is to get me back out there as fast as I can without putting myself at risk to re-injure myself. … We're all working for one goal.”
Doncic’s latest injury is an aggravation of the same left hamstring that kept him out for four games during the regular season. Soon after the game in Oklahoma City, Doncic went to Europe to seek specialized treatment. He missed the last five games of the regular season then rejoined the team for the beginning of the playoffs.
Now Doncic and Reaves sit next to each other on the Lakers' bench. They dole out high-fives and shout encouragement to teammates. During timeouts, they whisper to teammates or shoot baskets. Sometimes they play rock, paper, scissors. Doncic playfully slapped Maxi Kleber on the back of the head when Kleber was shooting during a Game 4 timeout.
“When you have some of your top guys out and … they’re still around, they’re on the bench, in the timeouts, at practices just being around, it kind of lifts us up a little bit,” Kennard said. “We know that they’re here for us."
Kennard, Smart fined
Kennard and Smart were fined by the NBA for inappropriate conduct toward game officials, the league announced Monday, after the Lakers guards were involved in a postgame dust-up near midcourt on Sunday. Smart was fined $35,000 for “questioning the integrity of game officials” and Kennard was fined $25,000 for “directing inappropriate language toward game officials.”
After the game that featured five technical fouls and thee ejections, players from both teams jawed back and forth near midcourt. Referees intervened with James and the Rockets’ Jeff Green and at the center trying to separate their respective teammates.
“I always have my teammates' back,” Kennard said Tuesday of the incident. “Not much other to say than that. I got to be a little bit more composed and under control and can't let the emotions get the best of me.”
Los Angeles, CA - March 27: Lakers guard Austin Reaves, #15, celebrates his three-point basket over the Brooklyn Nets in the second half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
If Lakers fans have felt anxious and hopeful about Austin Reaves returning, they can rest assured that he is right there with them.
This time away during the most important games of the year has been agonizing for Reaves, whose competitive spirit wants nothing more than to be on the floor impacting winning for the purple and gold.
“I’ve been pretty miserable,” Reaves said after Lakers practice on Tuesday. “Just not having somewhat of a control on a game, just sitting over there with no hope that I can affect the game. Like obviously, I can talk and try to lead, from being over there but not really being on the court. It sucks. I think we’ve seen in the past when I get injured, I’ll do everything I can to get back as soon as I can, with still being safe at the same time.”
While the Lakers have done a tremendous job of winning without Reaves, his on-court play is sorely missed.
The Lakers have struggled to score past 100 points in each game and have had to grind out victories against a Rockets team that is equally shorthanded, with Kevin Durant missing three of the four contests.
Reaves’ return gives them back their starting guard and will provide an injection of offense and an elite ball handler to the rotation.
Whether he’ll play or not in Game 5 will depend on how he feels on Wednesday morning. The key is for Reaves to feel good and not be at further risk of injuring himself by playing in this matchup.
“Everybody’s on the same page here,” Reaves said. “Everything from the get-go has been a group effort. The main thing is to get me back out there as fast as I can with not putting myself at risk to reinjure myself. So everybody’s been extremely positive through this whole process. We’re all working for one goal, and we’re doing everything we can.”
It’s been incredible and a credit to Reaves and the Lakers’ medical staff that he’s been able to get this close to returning so quickly. The optimistic expectation was four weeks, and if he plays on Wednesday, he’ll return before reaching that date.
He’s clearly done a ton of work during his recovery to reach this point. And while he’s been bummed having to watch these games, unable to impact winning, if things go well, that has come to an end, and Reaves will make his 2026 postseason debut in Game 5 with a chance to eliminate the Rockets and advance to the second round for the first time since 2023.
That would be a great reward for Reaves after all his efforts to return to play. Hopefully, that’s the timeline we are under, and he’ll suit up on Wednesday.
The Atlanta Hawks take on the New York Knicks with their first-round playoff series tied 2-2 heading into Game 5. The Knicks evened the series with a 114-98 victory on Saturday. New York is back at home and favored by 6.5 points in Game 5.
The Boston Celtics will try to close out their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5. Boston won the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. With one more win, the Celtics will advance to play the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series. Boston is favored by 11.5 points in Game 5.
How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 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
Philadelphia 76ers (1-3) at Boston Celtics (3-1) Tuesday, April 28, 2026 7:00 PM ET First Round Game #5 Home Game #3 TV: ESPN Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 97.5 Fanatic, Sirius XM TD Garden Officials: James Williams, Kevin Scott, Brian Forte
The Celtics look to close out their first round series as they host the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 5. The Celtics lead the series 3 games to 1. The Celtics dominated Game 1 with a 123-91 win over the 76ers. The 76ers topped the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 to tie the game at 1 game each. The series shifted to Philadelphia where the Celtics squeezed out a win in Game 3 108-100, thanks to late game heroics by Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum.
Joel Embiid returned to play in Game 4 just 17 days after having his appendix removed. The 76ers were expected to get a boost from his return and at first it seemed to be working as he scored the 76ers first 8 points and drew 2 fouls on Neemias Queta. But then, Payton Pritchard entered the game and had the best playoff game of his career with 32 points and the Celtics pulled away to win the game 128-96.
After their big win at home on Game 1, it looked like the Celtics would run away with the series and possibly sweep the 76ers. But then, they came out with a lackluster performance on the defensive end and shot just 26% from beyond the arc in Game 2 and lost by 14 points. They played better in Game 3 and squeezed out an 8 point lead in the final 5 minutes. Now, they are coming off a 32 point win in Game 4 and the danger is there that they may once again get complacent and allow the 76ers to once again out-play them at home in Game 5.
If the Celtics had one flaw this season, it was becoming complacent and allowing lesser teams to play harder than them. Along with Game 2 of this series where they slacked off and lost to the 76ers, of the Celtics 26 losses this season, there were several losses that were to tanking teams they should have beaten. These include losses to the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls. Hopefully they avoid that trap in this game and come out with maximum effort on both ends of the court.
Close out games are the toughest to win. The team that is up and trying to close out the series tends to play with the sense that they have 3 more games to close out the series and so they don’t play with the sense of urgency that they need to end the series. On the other hand, the team that is down knows that it is their last chance and if they lose they go home and so they play with a sense of urgency and desperation. we know that the 76ers will come out desperate and play that way to stay in the series. The Celtics need to match that effort and close the series out.
In NBA history, there have been 293 series that were tied 3 games to 1. Of those 298 series, the team that was up 3-1 went on to win the series 285 times. (95.6% winning percentage). But, there were 13 series where the team that was down 1-3 came back to win the series (4.4%) Those 13 teams included the 1968 Celtics and the 1981 Celtics. Both of those comeback wins were against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics are 32-0 when leading a series 3-1 while the 76ers are 0-18 when trailing 1-3 in a series.
One of the advantages that the Celtics have is their depth. In Game 1, the Celtics got 37 points from their bench while the 76ers got 27 points from theirs. Of course, there were about 6 minutes of garbage time in that game. In Game 2, the 76ers got 21 points from their bench while the Celtics got 20 from theirs. In Game 3, the Celtics’ bench put up 35 points while the 76ers got just 14 points from theirs. In Game 4, the Celtics reserves put up 57 points, led by 32 from Payton Pritchard, while the 76ers got just 24 from their reserves. It would seem that as the reserves go, so goes the game.
The Celtics come into this game with a clean injury report. once again. Derrick White injured his neck in the opening minutes of Game 3 but stayed in the game and played almost 34 minutes and seemed fine in Game 4 also. Jaylen Brown turned his ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 3 but, like White, stayed in the game and seemed fine in Game 4.
For the 76ers, Joel Embiid returned from an appendix removal to play in Game 4. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks and Embiid returned just 17 days after having his appendix removed. He is listed as probable for Game 5 and will likely start once again. Kelly Oubre was questionable going into Game 4 due to due to right adductor soreness but he also played in Game 4 and is not on the injury report for Game 5.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe
Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesKelly Oubre Jr | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesPaul George | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesJoel Embiid | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Jordan Walsh Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr Delano Banton John Tonje
2-Way Players None Injuries/Out None
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
76ers Reserves Andre Drummond Quentin Grimes Kyle Lowry Justin Edwards Trendon Watford Dalen Terry Dominick Barlow Jabari Walker Adem Bona
2-Way Players MarJon Beauchamp Tyrese Martin Injuries/Out Joel Embiid (appendix) probable
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey In Game1, the Celtics were able to hold him to 21 points on 20 shots along with 1 rebound and 8 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He pretty much had his way in Game 2 with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he scored 31 points but took 31 shots to get them. He finished with 31 points, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks while shooting 38.7% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. With Embiid’s return, Maxey took just 14 shots in Game 4 and finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. He will likely look to be more aggressive in this game and the Celtics need to be ready to play extra tight defense on him.
Jayson Tatum vs Paul George Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season. In Game 1, George finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but he only took 8 shots. In game 2, he finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 53.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he finished with 18 points, no rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, he finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block while shooting 46.2% from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Honorable Mention Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid After missing the first 3 games of the series, Embiid returned to the 76ers for Game 4. He started out strong, scoring the 76ers first 8 points and drawing 2 quick fouls on Queta. He was not on a minutes restriction and played 34 minutes, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 42.9% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. He will likely play better in this game and more than likely defer to Maxey rather than trying to take over himself and so the Celtics need to be ready for that and counter it.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. Defense becomes even more important in the playoffs. It is very true that defense wins championships. In Game 1, the Celtics held the 76ers to 38.9% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. In game 2, the Celtics defense faltered as the 76ers shot 47.8% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, the 76ers shot 43.7% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, the Celtics held the 76ers to 41.3% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to make defense their priority and they need to play physical, lock down defense from the opening tip until the final buzzer with no let up.
Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game and has definitely been a big factor in this series. In the regular season, the Celtics were 43-12 in games that they tied or out-rebounded opponents and just 11-13 in games in which they were out-rebounded. In Game 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers 43-40. In Game 2, they out-rebounded the 76ers 50-42, but they were unable to capitalize on them since they shot so poorly. In Game 3, the Celtics once again out-rebounded the 76ers 45-37. And, in Game 5, they out-rebounded the 76ers 51-30. They have to continue to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers if they want to win this game. Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound. No Complacency – The Celtics are up 3 games to 1 and technically they have 3 games to win 1 but hopefully they don’t have that attitude. They need to come into this game like it is Game 7 and their last chance to close out the series. Their next opponent is locked in a 2-2 series and this would be a good chance to put the 76ers away and be able to rest up and prepare for the next round. However, if they fool around and don’t take the 76ers seriously they could end up worn out and beat up going into the next round, or even worse, losing in 7. Just get it done in Game 5 and rest up.
Stay Focused – In Game 1, the Celtics turned the ball over just 8 times. But, since then, they have lost some focus and they have gotten sloppy with the ball. In Game 2, they turned the ball over 13 times for 15 points for the 76ers. In Game 3, it got even worse as they turned the ball over 17 times for 21 points. The Celtics were the best team at taking care of the ball in the regular season and they need to return to that focus on taking care of the ball. They have to avoid careless passes and not drive into a crowd of defenders. They also have to stay focused on taking good shots and making them.
X-Factors Home Game – Teams play all season to secure home court in the playoffs but they can lose it by losing one of their 4 home games. They already lost one game at home but then won 2 on the road. The Celtics need to feed off the energy of the crowd and hopefully, the 76ers will be distracted by travel and the hostile crowd. Jaylen Brown challenged the home fans to show up and I’m sure they will. The Celtics should play harder to win on their home court. They need to protect home court and win the series in front of their own fans.. The Celtics crowd will be loud and the Celtics need to use that to their advantage and get the win.
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season. Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. In the playoffs, coaching becomes more important as it becomes a game of adjustments as they play the same team game after game. So far, Joe Mazzulla has come out ahead in the series and the coaching chess game will continue in Game 5.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play. Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly. We have seen them call offensive fouls on Jaylen Brown far more than they have all season and he needs to adjust to avoid foul trouble. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game.
Official Report Crew Chief: James Williams Williams has been a referee since the 2018-19 season and has called 570 games. The Celtics were 3-4 this season with Williams and 4-2 last season. The 76ers were 6-1 this season with Williams and 1-7 last season. His home win/loss record is 41-27. He averages 19.3 fouls on the home team and 19.6 fouls on the road team.
Referee: Kevin Scott Scott has been a referee since the 2018-19 season and has called 517 games. The Celtics were 2-2 this season with Scott and 6-1 last season. The 76ers were 2-4 this season with Scott and 0-3 last season. His home win/loss record is 40-25. He averages 19.4 fouls on the home team and 19.8 fouls on the road team.
Umpire: Brian Forte Forte has been a referee since the 2018-19 season and has called 538 games. The Celtics were 2-3 this season with Forte and 6-1 last season. The 76ers were 2-0 this season with Forte and 2-4 last season. His home win/loss record is 25=41. He averages 19.6 fouls on the home team and 19.8 fouls on the road team.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from his involvement in an insider information betting scheme and rigged poker games.
Key Takeaways
Jones admitted to providing inside information on injuries to a group of bettors.
Jones helped lure high-end bettors to rigged poker games.
Sentencing is scheduled for early next year.
Jones appeared at two hearings in a New York court, acknowledging he provided inside information “obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player,” according to The Associated Press. Federal prosecutors alleged in an October 2025 indictment that Jones provided a group of bettors with injury information pertaining to NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Jones admitted Tuesday that he used the nonpublic information to defraud sportsbooks and acknowledged that he violated the NBA’s code of conduct.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers, and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in a read statement during his hearing.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6, 2027, by two different judges. Sentencing guidelines could land Jones in prison for 21-to-27 months in the sports betting case and 48-to-63 months for the rigged poker game, per the AP. He’s also agreed to pay $73,000.
Sports betting case
Jones initially pleaded not guilty but requested a change earlier this month. He was charged in the federal case that includes Terry Rozier, the former Miami Heat guard who is facing additional bribery charges, and nearly 30 other individuals.
Federal prosecutors say Jones told the bettors ahead of a Feb. 9, 2023, game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks to “get a big bet on Milwaukee” before it was announced that James would miss the contest. Jones, who was an unofficial assistant coach with the Lakers, told the group to “bet enough” that he would get a portion of the proceeds.
“As alleged, the defendants turned professional basketball into a criminal betting operation, using private locker room and medical information to enrich themselves and cheat legitimate sportsbooks,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement last year. “This was a sophisticated conspiracy involving athletes, coaches, and intermediaries who exploited confidential information for profit.”
Jones was also paid $2,500 through a peer-to-peer financial app for injury information on Davis before a game in January 2024. Davis ultimately played, and coconspirator Marves Fairley requested his money back.
Rigged poker games
In his second Tuesday hearing, Jones admitted to using his NBA status to “lure high-end bettors” to a poker game in Miami and in the Hamptons, New York. Jones said he knew that the poker games were rigged and that players were being cheated.
“I’m really sorry to everyone involved for my actions,” Jones said.
More than 10 victims were allegedly cheated out of nearly $10 million from the rigged poker games, which were being run by the mob. Suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also charged in the scheme.
Jones had also pleaded not guilty in this case before making the change Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers defied the odds to beat the Houston Rockets three times in this opening round series. After escaping the sweep, can Houston do the same and rally back from down 0-3?
Game 5 of this Round 1 Western Conference matchup tips off in La-La Land Wednesday and my same-game parlay isn’t counting out the Rockets just yet — even if LeBron James lights up the scoreboard.
Here are my best NBA picks and predictions for Rockets vs. Lakers on April 29.
Our best Rockets vs Lakers SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Rockets +4.5
The Houston Rockets are 4.5-point road pups returning to L.A. for Game 5. While the Los Angeles Lakers have home-court advantage and potentially have Austin Reaves back in action, the Rockets' defense has looked great over the past six quarters.
The pressure is mounting for the Lakers, who watched their role players come back to earth in Game 4. Houston doesn’t go down without a fight on Wednesday.
SGP leg #2: LeBron James Over 23.5 points
LeBron James had a quiet night offensively while also leaving this L.A. offense disjointed, coughing up eight turnovers. James looks to get going early and often in Game 5, and even with Reaves’ possible return, LeBron shoulders the scoring load.
Player projections sit as high as 27+ points from him in Game 5 after scoring 57 combined points in Games 2 and 3. This total of 23.5 O/U is the lowest bar he’s drawn since losing Luka Doncic and Reaves.
SGP leg #3: Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 points
Leading the charge for the Rockets is big man Alperen Sengun. He scored 19 points in Game 4, but with L.A. cleaning up the turnovers and slowing things down, Game 5 is more of a half-court battle, which fits Sengun's style.
He goes after a softer interior for Los Angeles, and his forecast for Game 5 sits as high as 24.5 points. He’s been efficient the past two games, shooting 54% from the field.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Rockets vs Lakers predictions for Game 5.
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