The Minnesota Timberwolves had a vision when they traded for Ayo Dosunmu in February, but that vision was not realized much in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets.
If Minnesota wants to spring the upset in this series, it needs to run.
Anthony Edwards emphasizes rebounding in the postseason, averaging better than seven boards per game in each of the last two postseasons. Not coincidentally, the Minnesota Timberwolves ran to the Western Conference Finals each of the last two years.
Against the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves as a whole need to emphasize transition opportunities.
How many players do the Nuggets really want to play? Jonas Valanciunas saw less than eight minutes in Game 1, while Spencer Jones played nine. Effectively, Denver had a seven-man rotation, led by Nikola Jokic at more than 40 minutes.
Minnesota goes at least eight deep and could stretch to 10 if Kyle Anderson and Bones Hyland are given some runway. Both Anderson and Hyland help the Timberwolves in transition, the former via quick thinking off rebounds and the latter via a general helter-skelter approach.
More Anderson and Hyland will not necessarily come at the expense of Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu. In fact, more transition opportunities will highlight the duo.
The best Minnesota adjustment from Game 1 should create a pathway to cash this same-game parlay that already came home once in this series.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder began their title defense with a 119-84 rout of the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday.
The reigning league MVP made just 5 of 18 field goals but went 15 of 17 at the foul line before sitting out the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams scored 22 points and Chet Holmgren added 16 for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
Devin Booker scored 23 points and Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 6-of-22 shooting for the Suns, who shot 34.9% from the field.
Phoenix broke out to a 5-0 lead as the Thunder started cold following a week off.
Oklahoma City heated up quickly. Brooks was called for a flagrant-one foul in the first quarter for hitting Holmgren in the face. The Thunder went on a 12-2 surge after that to take a 24-14 lead.
In the closing seconds of the quarter, Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams threw a pass about three-quarters of the length of the court. Holmgren caught it with his back to the basket, took one dribble to his right, then turned and drained a 3-pointer as time expired to put Oklahoma City up 35-20.
Oklahoma City extended the advantage to 65-44 at halftime. Holmgren had 16 points and Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 at the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander converted a three-point play to push Oklahoma City’s lead to 90-63 late in the third quarter, and the Thunder took a 97-66 edge into the fourth.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns, after earning their way in through the Play-In, opened their postseason on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It went about how you would expect. The game was never close, as Oklahoma City handled business and rolled to a 119-84 win.
There were issues everywhere you looked. The Thunder dominated the possession battle, outscoring Phoenix 34-2 on points off turnovers. They added 18-2 in fast break points, 52-24 in the paint, and 40-24 in bench scoring. The Suns shot 34.9% from the field and turned it over 17 times, while Oklahoma City had six turnovers.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Dillon Brooks had 18, and Jalen Green added 17. Brooks and Green combined to go 12-of-38 (32%) from the field. Nothing came easy. The Suns could not find it from deep, and when they tried to attack inside, the Thunder were waiting. Oklahoma City finished with seven blocks, controlling the paint on both ends.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 25 points, 15 of those at the line. Jalen Williams added 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as Oklahoma City took Game 1.
Phoenix now trails the series 0-1, with Game 2 set for Wednesday, back in Oklahoma City.
Game Flow
First Half
The news came about an hour before tipoff that the Phoenix Suns would once again be without Mark Williams, which meant another start for Oso Ighodaro.
Phoenix opened on a 5-0 run, but the early possessions felt loose. Turnovers crept in right away, the kind that live in the middle of the floor and turn into easy points the other way. The Oklahoma City Thunder cashed in, pushing in transition and flipping those mistakes into quick buckets.
Dillon Brooks brought the expected edge. With 7:04 left in the first quarter, after a turnover, he swiped at the ball and caught Chet Holmgren across the face. The whistle came quick. Flagrant foul, penalty 1.
With 6:47 left in the first quarter, the Thunder were already at the line. Meanwhile, the Suns were still waiting for a whistle to go their way. It fed into a 9-0 run for OKC, and before Phoenix could settle in, they were staring at a double-digit deficit.
The offense went cold in a hurry. Phoenix had 8 straight misses. That opened the door for a 17-2 Thunder run in the middle of the quarter, and the lead kept climbing.
Phoenix finished the quarter with 4 turnovers, and those turned into 8 points for Oklahoma City. Every mistake had a consequence. The Thunder also lived in the paint, piling up 18 points inside. After that early 5- 0 start, the Suns were outscored 35-15 the rest of the way.
Devin Booker had 8 in the quarter. Jalen Green added 6. On the other side, Chet Holmgren poured in 13, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 8.
After one, Phoenix trailed 35-20.
The second quarter opened with a flagrant on the Oklahoma City Thunder, as Isaiah Hartenstein caught Royce O’Neale in the face. Two free throws and the ball. And of course, Royce split the pair.
Another run came from the Oklahoma City Thunder, this one an 8-0 burst while Devin Booker sat, and the Phoenix Suns were a -8 in that stretch. Booker checked back in around the nine-minute mark, but the run kept going. It grew to 12-0 before Phoenix could make a shot. The offense never found a rhythm. The Suns went 3-of-20 from the field across the end of the first and into the second, and the Thunder’s lead pushed out to 25.
We did see some Khaman Maluach minutes in the second, although he was part of the Thunder offensive onslaught and was a -6 during his time on the court.
Dillon Brooks gave you that familiar stretch in the second quarter, the one where most of it makes you nod, and a small part makes you pause. He knocked down a three and drew the foul, finished the four-point play, trimmed the deficit to 20, brought a little life back into it. Then the next trip down, he reached in on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and picked up his third. That’s the full Dillon Brooks experience, all packed into two possessions.
There were not many bright spots for the Phoenix Suns in that half, but Oso Ighodaro was fighting on the interior. He grabbed 9 rebounds before the break, 7 of them on the offensive glass, creating second chances that were hard to come by everywhere else.
The Oklahoma City Thunder took the second quarter 30-24 and carried control into halftime. They shot 48.9% from the field, while Phoenix managed 30.4%. The damage showed up inside and from mistakes. Points in the paint were 32-12, and points off turnovers sat at 21-2.
At the half, the Suns trailed 65-44.
Second Half
The second half opened with the kind of update you never want to hear. Jordan Goodwin, who had left earlier and was moving a little gingerly, was ruled out with a calf injury. It is a familiar one. That same calf has bothered him throughout the season, and it cost him time late in the year.
INJURY UPDATE: Jordan Goodwin (left calf soreness) will not return.
Phoenix came out of the half with better intent on offense. The looks were there. The problem stayed the same as the shots did not fall. They opened 3-of-9 from the field and missed all four attempts from deep, every one of them uncontested.
Head coach Jordan Ott went to his second challenge early in the third on a play where it looked like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocked the ball off Devin Booker. The challenge worked. The funny part, Ott was not even trying to challenge. He was asking for a 30 second timeout. Marc Davis, the lead official, heard something else and triggered it.
For a stretch, the Phoenix Suns held their ground. They traded baskets with the Oklahoma City Thunder through the first part of the quarter, even edging them 19-18. Then it flipped again. Oklahoma City closed the third on a 14-3 run, capped by another buzzer beating three, the second time they hit one to end a quarter.
Booker had 10 in the period, going 3-of-6 from the field. The rest of the group went 5-of-12, and Dillon Brooks was 2-of-7. On the other side, SGA put up 10 points. Only one field goal. He lived at the line, going 8-of-9.
The Thunder took the quarter 32-22. Going into the fourth, it was 97-66.
The gap kept stretching early in the fourth as the Phoenix Suns still could not buy a shot. The deficit climbed to 34, and with about 7 minutes left, the bench was emptied. And then, right on cue, Rasheer Fleming came in and knocked down two corner threes like he had been waiting all night for that exact moment.
The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the playoffs by putting the Denver Nuggets on their heels in Game 1’s first half. Unfortunately for Minnesota, basketball games have two halves.
Rather than hope this series is about to become interesting, my Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks lean on an underrated part of Anthony Edwards’ game, one that should shine once again on Monday, April 20.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction
Who will win Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 2?
Nuggets:My therapist tells me it is healthy to acknowledge likely coming pain. Do not dwell on it, but be mentally ready for it. Do not assume it is inevitable, but accept it when it does come to pass.
Anyway, as a Timberwolves season-ticket holder, I fully expect the Nuggets to go up 2-0 in this series. When healthy, this Denver rotation may be the second-best team in the NBA, something not enough people recognize because it was healthy so rarely this season.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds (+102)
To put it plainly: Anthony Edwards did not play particularly well in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets. His shooting was poor as he scored only 22 points, and his defense was inconsistent, at best.
Chalk at least some of that up to Edwards’ rust as he recovers from a knee injury. It is distinctly possible we do not see him at 100% this postseason.
But Edwards still contributed. He filled out the stat sheet with seven assists, nine rebounds, and three blocks. The boards, in particular, fit a consistent postseason trend from Edwards.
As the Timberwolves have made the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two years, their franchise cornerstone has crashed the glass more aggressively in the postseason.In 2023-24, Edwards averaged 5.4 rebounds per game in the regular season. In 2024-25, he averaged 5.7.
In the 2024 playoffs, Edwards grabbed at least six rebounds in 10 of 16 games, averaging seven per game across three series. In the 2025 playoffs, he grabbed at least six rebounds in 12 of 15 games, averaging 7.8.
Snagging nine boards in the Game 1 loss was not a surprise. The only surprise is sportsbooks not ticking this prop upward for Edwards in the postseason.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Timberwolves did not spend enough time in transition in Game 1, one of their possible edges against the Nuggets. Minnesota is both deeper and, at times, faster. It leaned into transition opportunities following the trade deadline acquisition of Ayo Dosunmu. Leaning into those in the postseason is more important than in March.
If a balky knee slows Edwards, then that should mean only more transition opportunities for Jaden McDaniels and Dosunmu.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets SGP
Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds
Jaden McDaniels Over 15.5 points
Ayo Dosunmu Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Mid-Range McDaniels
This makes far more sense than it looks at first blush.
McDaniels also missed some of the closing stretch due to a knee worry. In his two games before the postseason, McDaniels went 1-for-8 from deep. For someone who otherwise shot 42.1% from beyond the arc this season, a 1-for-8 stretch stands out.
It is safe to assume McDaniels’s rhythm is a bit off. However, he scored 18 and 16 points in those two games, just as he scored 16 points in Game 1 while going 0-for-4 from deep.
The second-most important piece of the Timberwolves’ rotation still scores even when his 3-point looks are not falling, perhaps the best compliment to give to his ever-developing offensive game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have covered the 1H Spread in 20 of their last 30 away games (+9.65 Units / 28% ROI), including in Game 1. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 2
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Timberwolves vs Nuggets latest injuries
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Los Angeles, CA - April 18: Lakers guard Luke Kennard drives the lane for a layup. Lakers hosting the Rockets in game one of the NBA first round playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
However, their absence creates opportunities for others, and Luke Kennard got the start in Game 1 and brought his NBA-best 3-point shooting percentage to the playoffs.
The LA crowd went berserk for Kennard as he was hotter than fish grease in this opening round game. He went 9-13 from the field, a perfect 5-5 from deep and scored a career playoff-best 27 points.
Kennard not only brought elite offensive play but was also a showman in his moment under the sun in Southern California. In the fourth, he hit back-to-back threes, roaring like a lion on his first and got a patented Mike Breen “bang” call on his second as an unavailable Kevin Durant watched from the bench.
After the win and his best game as a Laker, Kennard talked about what this moment meant to him.
“It’s definitely a special moment,” Kennard said. “I’ve been in the NBA for nine years. I’ve had some big plays, big games, but this is up there for sure. Like it, it means a lot. It builds confidence going into the next game. Like I said, to do it, especially at a place like this playing for the Lakers on the biggest stage in basketball, like it means a lot to me and what I’ve done. Just credit to the work I’ve put in and how I’ve prepared leading up to this. Again, it builds confidence going to the next one and hopefully, we can continue to be on the right path.”
Winning Game 1 and protecting home court was incredibly important for the Lakers and they got it done with all of their starters stepping up. Every Lakers starter was in double figures, and four shot above 50% from the field. The Lakers weren’t able to win the rebounding battle as they’d hoped, but thanks to their 61% shooting, they won this first contest.
Deandre Ayton was on the floor with Kennard for 29 of his 38 minutes on Saturday night and was at a loss of words for how the guard produced.
“He is the number one shooter in the NBA so there’s not much to say, but he’s doing it in the playoffs where it really counts,” Ayton said. “My word is speechless, to be honest. Five for five [from three] in a playoff game as a Laker, yeah, it hits different.”
It was just one game, and the Rockets were certainly surprised when their superstar, KD, was a late scratch, but LA found a way to win and that’s all that matters.
Kennard won’t always be this incredible throughout the series, but he has it in him and brought it out when it was needed most.
Kim English reportedly will not be joining Mike Malone's coaching staff at North Carolina after all.
According to multiple reports, including Pete Thamel, the former Providence men's basketball coach informed UNC officials on Sunday, April 19 that he is not pursuing an assistant position with the Tar Heels.
English had accepted a position on the former Denver Nuggets' head coach's staff last week and even arrived on campus and began working on the staff, according to On3. English joined the staff after three seasons with Providence, where he posted a 48-52 record.
He was fired by the Friars at the end of the 2025-26 season on March 13 after a season-ending loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament. Providence went 21-14 in his first season but then struggled each of the last two years.
Before taking the role with the Friars, English spent two seasons as the head coach at George Mason and coached under Rick Barnes as an assistant at Tennessee from 2019 and 2021.
English played for Missouri basketball for four seasons, where he averaged 11.1 points and three rebounds per game, earning Third-Team All-Big 12 honors twice. He was selected with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Following a three-year playing career — which included stints overseas — English transitioned to a coaching career.
Two months ago, Deandre Ayton was frustrated he wasn’t getting the respect he felt he deserved.
After talking to the media following a 21-point, 13-rebound performance against the Magic on Feb. 24, he made an offhanded comment as he walked toward the shower. “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” he said. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton went viral recently after saying, “I’m not no Clint Capela.” NBAE via Getty Images
Funny enough, Ayton is now facing Capela in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets, which the Lakers lead 1-0 after a 107-98 win in Game 1 on Saturday.
As for Capela’s thoughts on the jab?
“I was surprised,” Capela told The California Post. “I don’t know why I’m in someone else’s head. I don’t talk to the guy.”
Capela heard about Ayton’s comment after it went viral in an ESPN story. He responded over Instagram by pointing out that the Lakers’ center plays alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, writing, “U got 2 of the best floor general in the game dawg Lockinnn.”
The 31-year-old Capela, who was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Houston, has made a career out of being a successful role player. He has transitioned into being a backup vet after signing a three-year, $21.5 million contract with the Rockets in June 2025.
He’s a gifted rebounder, shot blocker and rim protector. During his prime, he was an important piece on a Rockets team that made it to two Western Conference finals in 2015 and 2018. He averaged a double-double over seven seasons, including a league-leading 14.3 rebounds and 15.2 points per game in 2020-21.
“Yeah, I mean for me, in my career, I did what I did for my team, had a lot of success,” Capela told The Post. “So, it worked out for me.”
The Rockets’ Clint Capela (30) has made a 12-season NBA career out of being a blue-collar worker. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Capela is great at what he does. He never tried to be a superstar. He has made a 12-season career out of being a blue-collar worker who’s a reliable rim-running big man.
That’s not what Ayton wants for himself.
Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Suns, selected ahead of Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was supposed to become a superstar. Ayton has only lived up to those expectations in moments and has struggled with consistency and maturity throughout his eight-season career.
Some games, he’s a force on both ends of the court who can effortlessly produce double-doubles. He’s DominAyton.
Other games, he’s a 7-foot placeholder.
When the Lakers acquired Ayton on a two-year, $16.6 million contract in July after a buyout from the Trail Blazers, he was hoping to resuscitate his career. His reputation had taken hits for his professionalism during stints with the Suns and Blazers, and he viewed joining the Lakers as a big stage to reinvent himself.
The 27-year-old Ayton has had an up-and-down season, averaging 12.5 points and eight rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game. But things began turning around for him during the Lakers’ recent 16-2 run this spring. His motor was high. He bought into his role.
“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said March 12. “And, you know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”
When the Lakers played the Rockets on March 16, Ayton (seven points, 11 rebounds) and Capela (nine points, eight rebounds and two assists) had similar stats. That type of production sufficed for the Lakers back then.
But now, with Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined indefinitely, the Lakers need him to take his game to another level.
Ayton responded in Game 1, finishing with 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting, 11 rebounds and one blocked shot in 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Rockets crumbled without Kevin Durant, who was sidelined Saturday after knocking knees with a teammate at Wednesday’s practice.
“Nobody can replace KD,” said Capela, who had two points and two rebounds in 11 minutes. “So we did what we did with what we had. And hopefully we can have him for the next one.”
As for Capela, he’s focusing on the task at hand.
Not on any verbal shots.
And he’s choosing to take Ayton’s words as a compliment.
“If people are thinking about me while I’m just doing my thing, I guess it’s a good thing,” Capela told The Post.
BOSTON — The Sixers have rookie representation on the list of finalists for 2025-26 end-of-season awards.
VJ Edgecombe was named Sunday night as a Rookie of the Year finalist along with the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg and the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel. Voting results will be announced at a later date.
The 20-year-old led all rookies in minutes played. Over 75 games, he averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals. Among rookies with at least 20 games played, Edgecombe ranked third in points per game, third in assists per game and first in steals per game.
Knueppel and Flagg were teammates last season as Duke freshmen. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the 26-56 Mavs. Knueppel posted 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest for the Hornets, who couldn’t advance out of the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament. He carried over his sharpshooting to the NBA, hitting 42.5 percent of his three-pointers.
The Sixers have had three Rookie of the Year winners in their history. Allen Iverson earned the honor in 1997, Michael Carter-Williams in 2014 and Ben Simmons in 2018.
The New York Knicks took Game 1 by double-digit points, but the Atlanta Hawks will look to respond when the teams meet again at Madison Square Garden for Game 2.
Dyson Daniels has done it all for Atlanta, and my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect he'll easily clear the Over on a modest combo prop.
Hawks vs Knicks prediction
Who will win Hawks vs Knicks Game 2?
Knicks: I’ll take the Knicks to win outright, although I expect the Hawks to keep things close. The Hawks were down just two points at halftime in Game 1, but the Knicks used a big third quarter to pull away and earn an 11-point win. Homecourt advantage will be the deciding factor in a tight game, so New York gets the edge, especially after how well the dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns played in Game 1.
Hawks vs Knicks best bet: Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists (-120)
Dyson Daniels enjoyed a second straight productive season with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 33.2 minutes and career highs of 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 76 appearances.
Daniels’ season average of 12.7 rebounds + assists will easily clear his combo line for Game 2, so a baseline performance will get the job done. Daniels ended the season with 12+ rebounds + assists in three straight and four of his last five. He finished with 20 in Game 1 against the New York Knicks.
The do-it-all Australian cleared his combo line in 48 of 76 games, good for 63.2%. His implied probability to clear it again means his odds should be priced closer to -170 than -120, offering solid value.
Daniels finished the regular season as Atlanta’s third-leading rebounder and second-leading facilitator. His 6.8 rebounds per game ranked third among guards.
The Hawks also shot nearly 3.5% worse in Game 1 than they did during the season, so Daniels could be due for a few more assists if his teammates convert open looks.
In four games against New York (regular and postseason), Daniels finished with assist + rebound totals of 20, 15, 14, and 17. He easily topped 11.5 in all four games, and he’ll need to be at his best to help his team compete for a win with the series heading back home.
Hawks vs Knicks same-game parlay
I picked the Hawks to cover the same 5.5-point spread in Game 1, and they lost by 11. I’m not deterred, as Atlanta has a clear path to making this one more competitive.
The Hawks were a putrid 12 of 19 from the charity stripe, falling well below their season average of 77.4%. New York hit 25 of 30 free throws, and Atlanta can do a better job at limiting opportunities there. The Hawks went 18-8 ATS between the All-Star break and the end of the season, and I expect them to keep this one close as they look to avoid a 2-0 hole.
The Hawks and Knicks faced off four times this season, finishing with combined game totals of 215, 213, 210, and 253. Game 1 finished just a bucket shy of hitting the Over, and I’m betting on that extra bucket in Game 2.
Atlanta’s shooting was off, as the team hit just 44% of their field-goal attempts, and leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with only 17 points on a miserable 6-for-17 shooting. A slightly more efficient offensive attack from the visitors should push this one to hit the Over.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists
Hawks +5.5
Over 217
Our "from downtown" SGP: Garden Buckets
Jalen Brunson has been at his best at home, averaging 27 at Madison Square Garden and 25.1 at all other venues. He’s averaged 29 points in four matchups with the Hawks.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points in Game 1, and he went for 21 and 36 in two other matchups with Atlanta this season. He’s got a size advantage against the Hawks’ undersized frontcourt.
Alexander-Walker averaged a career-best 20.8 points per game this season and scored 20+ in 46 of 78 appearances. NAW reached that scoring total in 24 of 39 road games, and I expect a bounce-back performance after his inefficient Game 1.
CJ McCollum finished with a team-high 26 points in Game 1, and in 76 games between the Wizards and Hawks, he scored 18+ points 40 times.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Over 217
Jalen Brunson Over 28.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 20.5 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 19.5 points
CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
Hawks vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: Hawks +5.5 (-110) | Knicks -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hawks +190 | Knicks -230
Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)
Hawks vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Hawks have cashed the moneyline in 31 of their last 50 games for +14.55 units and a 12% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.
How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Hawks vs Knicks latest injuries
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.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 15 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers were demolished 123-91 by the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday afternoon. It was bad. Very bad.
The Sixers are embarking on this series without Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy less than two weeks ago. And boy, could they use him right now. (No, I’m not saying he should be playing. I’m just saying his absence is a very palpable loss on days like today, obviously.)
This one was pretty ugly start to finish for Philly. It is amazing to watch one team be outplayed by another in truly every single facet, on every single level in a game. These two teams are just playing different sports. The Celtics have an incredibly deep, talented roster with real strategy on the court. The Sixers look like they’re playing a pick-up game, with no rhyme or reason other than just desperately clawing at any chance to get a few points.
However it was expected to go, it actually went worse.
Game 2 is on Tuesday night.
Let’s get to the Bell Ringer. Term used lightly here.
Tyrese Maxey: 21 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists
Apr 19, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) controls the ball while Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) defends in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Tyrese Maxey commanded the offense for Philadelphia on Sunday in more ways than one, scoring a team-high 21 points and adding a team-high eight assists.
The problem was that the Sixers just were completely outplayed as a team. There was nothing Maxey could do individually about it to change that, especially with the Celtics prepared to pay extra defensive attention to him. There seemed to be no urgency from Nick Nurse either to start calling for more screens to help Maxey get any space with the ball. It just felt like there was little he could do given the circumstances and he produced what he could.
Of course, Maxey didn’t shoot very well like the entire team. Again, partially likely due to having anywhere from one to three Celtics in his face when trying to score. The pathetic thing is that, at 40% from the floor (8-for-20) and 25% from three-point range (25%), Maxey was actually one of the Sixers more accurate shooters on Sunday.
He was far from perfect, don’t get me wrong — he needed to get more shots to fall and had three turnovers himself. I’m just adding context that I think is relevant.
Maxey finished the game with 21 points, 1 rebound and eight assists.
<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
The biggest (only?) bright side to the Sixers making it to this first-round series against the Celtics is at least we are getting to give VJ Edgecombe his first NBA playoff reps in his rookie season. That’s a plus.
One of the first things I noticed about Edgecombe in this one was that he did not seem phased by the context of the game at all. First NBA playoff experience in his life, starting for a team that is coming into this series as a massive underdog to the Celtics, in Boston. It looked like just another game for Edgecombe, with the rookie playing aggressively and fearlessly as he has all year for Philadelphia.
He struggled along with his team, don’t get me wrong. It was an inefficient game for him as it was everyone else in a Sixers uniform, with the rookie shooting 6-for-16 field goals and 0-for-5 from long range. You obviously want him hitting more shots than that from the floor, but the Sixers were grasping at straws for really any opportunity to shoot, so there wasn’t exactly the most excellent spacing and shot selection available.
Seeing Edgecombe hit a big euro-step into a floater over Jayson Tatum is the kind of thing I hope Edgecombe is able to take from this series. These are just two teams on completely different levels of basketball overall, so there might not be as much success as he’d like, but there’s still a lot the rookie can develop and learn from with this experience nonetheless.
Edgecombe finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
VJ Edgecombe with a beautiful euro and floating finish around Jayson Tatum here. pic.twitter.com/EWKe6yiYeF
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Nineteen-year-old Porter Martone has been in Philadelphia for less than a month, but he’s already responsible for one of the biggest, realest moments of sports-induced joy the city has experienced as of late.
The Philadelphia Flyers took Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road Saturday night when Martone scored the eventual game-winning goal. It was Martone’s first ever NHL playoff game.
Martone is already no stranger to stepping up in the clutch. His first NHL goal came back on April 5 in the regular season, when he netted an overtime winner to lift the Flyers 2-1 over the Boston Bruins.
Between having to watch this Sixers-Celtics mauling and a brilliantly-bad Phillies team, a team like the Flyers having exciting young talent stepping up in a big moment is just enough to keep us all from going completely insane right now. Flyers lead the Penguins 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. Next game, also in Pittsburgh, is Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
Before the season, Kingston Flemings asked Houston assistant Hollis Price what it would take to be on the walls of the Cougars' practice gym. Price said he needed to be an All-American.
Fast forward a few months later and Flemings secured that goal of one day seeing his face up on the walls at Houston, after finishing off the best season by a true freshman in Houston history. The second-team All-American is now taking the next step in his career, declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, April 19.
Flemings, a projected top-five pick in USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft, said it was a tough decision to go one-and-done in college, especially after Houston's loss to Illinois in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. After taking some time off following the Cougars' 65-55 loss, he made the unsurprising decision to take the next step.
"Obviously it was a hard decision whether to come back and play with my boys, take it one more year and try to go get the (national championship)," he said. "But this opportunity doesn’t come all the time. … Had to make the right decision, for sure.”
The former five-star recruit per 247Sports' Composite rankings could be the highest-selected player under coach Kelvin Sampson during his Houston tenure, with the feat currently held by Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, who was selected No. 8 overall in 2023 after his true freshman season.
Despite the Cougars' recent success with seven Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Fours since 2019, Houston has only produced four NBA draft picks under Sampson, with Flemings easily possessing the highest ceiling of any Cougar under one of college basketball's best coaches.
There was no better choice for Flemings, though, and he credits his development with choosing Houston.
“I think it was the perfect place for me," he said. "Coach Sampson’s the perfect coach for me. Just coming into the year, I just tried to prove everyone right that recruited me, and just did whatever I could to win. I’m grateful for my decision.
"... If you want to win, if you want to become a better man, better player, everything like that, choose Houston. It’s not going to be easy, but every single day you come in here, you try to get better and you’ll get better in every single way.”
Flemings averaged 16.1 points with 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season, starting all 37 of Houston's games. He also shot 38.7% from 3-point range and was a pesky defender, averaging 1.5 steals per contest.
He made national headlines after exploding for 42 points and six assists in a 90-86 loss to Texas Tech in January, cementing himself as one of the best true freshmen in a loaded NBA draft class that includes numerous one-and-done prospects. USA TODAY projects nine of the first 10 picks to be true freshmen.
"Coming into this year, I wanted to be one of the best freshmen and I think I proved that," Flemings said.
In the coming weeks, Flemings plans on training his 3-point shot, his floater and improving his handle, aiming to dribble lower and tighter to prepare for NBA defenders.
He's also bringing the hard-nosed Houston mindset to the next level.
“I think (I'm) just a winner and someone that teammates like to play with," Flemings said. "Not going to be a bad guy for the team or a cancer. Someone the team’s going to love and a winner.”
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics.
Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon.
Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.
Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to recover following an appendectomy on April 9. It’s unclear when he will be able to return.
Paul George scored 17 points and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point range.
Maxey was hounded by a Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half and held him to 8 of 20 from the field.
Philadelphia’s 64-46 halftime deficit was its largest in a playoff game against Boston since 1982.
Tatum had 10 first-quarter points, punctuated with an emphatic two-handed dunk, to help the Celtics end the period with a 33-18 lead.
Philadelphia struggled at the outset to keep pace with Boston’s shooting, making one of its first nine attempts from 3. The 76ers also had issues keeping Boston out of the paint after Embiid’s understudies, Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, each picked up two quick fouls.
That prompted Sixers coach Nick Nurse to bring in Dominick Barlow, who played just 10 minutes in Philadelphia’s play-in victory over Orlando.
After Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks does not lack playoff intensity.
Saturday's 113-102 New York win saw Knicks captain Jalen Brunson outduel CJ McCollum, who took issue with his technical foul after a kick to Brunson's midsection during a shot at the third quarter's 1:40 mark and the Hawks facing a 57-55 deficit.
"I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show," McCollum said after Saturday's game. "He acted it out until they reviewed it. It's a normal jump shot, nothing there -- unnecessary, and I look forward to getting my $2,500 (fine) back."
Brunson told reporters after the Knicks' Sunday practice that he has "no reaction" to McCollum's postgame comments.
"I didn't see it," New York coach Mike Brown said Sunday of McCollum's postgame comments. "A lot of guys are going to say a lot of things throughout the course of the playoffs. So, whatever people want to say, that's up to them."
"We've just got to be ready for them," Brunson said Sunday, referencing Monday's 8 p.m. tipoff for Game 2. "You just know that teams usually bounce back after a loss, and so we've got to be ready to up our intensity, up our physicality and just be ready to match theirs. They're a good team, they're well-coached and they're going to be ready to go."
The Knicks seek a 2-0 lead at the Garden before the best-of-seven set goes to Atlanta for Thursday's 7 p.m. Game 3.
"It's one of those things you have to be there and experience it to really understand it," New York wing Josh Hart said of MSG's postseason energy Sunday. "Obviously, regular season's always fun, it's always cool. And I was talking to (Yankees right-hander) Cam Schlittler (Saturday) about it -- playoffs in New York is different. The vibe is different. Everything is heightened in the Garden and, obviously, for them at Yankee Stadium. You've got to experience it, man -- the energy, the passion, the love, it's crazy."
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 1: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 1, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
So far in these NBA Playoffs, every top seed has won game 1 of their series by at least 10 points. The Detroit Pistons hope not to break that trend as they face the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena. The top-seeded Pistons are hosting Game 1 of a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades. They are looking for their first series win in just as long.
The Pistons were just 2-2 against the Orlando Magic this year. They struggled from deep, hitting just 31% of their 3-pointers. Detroit has been a hot-shooting team in this last phase of the season, and hopefully it continues. They will also look to force Orlando, particularly Paolo Banchero, into turnovers that they can flip into easy offensive opportunities.
Enough yapping, let’s watch some playoff basketball
Game Vitals
When: 6:30 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: NBC/Peacock Odds: Pistons -8.5
BOSTON — The Celtics had a swell Sunday afternoon to open their 2026 postseason.
The Sixers … had a day.
Any explanation provided for the Sixers’ 123-91 Game 1 loss in Boston is likely to be true and also woefully incomplete. The team missed many jumpers and layups, played leaky defense and plunged into a deep deficit.
“A lot went wrong, that’s for sure,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “It kind of started right in the beginning with not getting off to a great start offensively, getting into some foul trouble with both bigs. The first quarter was obviously moving past us pretty (quickly) and we just didn’t do enough at either end to settle into the game.
“I thought from the second quarter until the middle of the third, we finally … played pretty good basketball. But the minutes around that were absolutely unacceptable.”
The Sixers were subpar in ways that popped up often during the regular season. Their three-point shooting troubles were extreme — 4 for 23 (17.4 percent)— and can be chalked up partly to bad luck on the day. However, it’s notable that the Sixers were a bottom-10 team this year in both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy, per Cleaning the Glass.
Other familiar flaws included transition defense and difficulty compensating for Tyrese Maxey being anything other than world-class. Maxey was the Sixers’ top offensive producer in Game 1 with 21 points on 8-for-20 shooting and eight assists. Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) was desperately missed.
With shot after shot clanging off the rim, the Sixers’ defensive energy and focus wilted.
“To be honest, we missed wide-open shots,” VJ Edgecombe said after posting 13 points and three assists in his first playoff game. “It’s deflating, especially against a good team that’s also shooting really well and with a postseason crowd.
“So my takeaway is they’ve got to win three more. It’s on to the next game. We’ve just got to get ready for that one and make it feel like more of a playoff game.”
Edgecombe later noted that the Sixers must “match (the Celtics’) intensity and bring the physicality” moving forward in the series.
Why didn’t that happen in Game 1?
“To be honest, I don’t know,” he said. “I feel like they were flowing into their sets and all their actions easily, untouched. I think we have to just get up and guard. Just play hard. Be ready to guard your yard; it’s really 1-on-1. If you keep your man in front of you, then we won’t be in rotation.”
Turnovers were also a sizable problem for the Sixers, which is a less common occurence. Points off of turnovers isn’t a perfect stat, but the disparity there Sunday was telling. The Celtics scored 22 points off of the Sixers’ turnovers and punished early-game sloppiness. The Sixers … scored three points off of Boston’s giveaways.
They can play much cleaner basketball.
“We certainly can’t give up that much in transition,” Nurse said when asked about specific, controllable areas of emphasis. “That’s a big one. We’ve got to take care of the ball better. Too many turnovers that were live-ball and led to some of that transition. And I think we’ve got to generate more threes against this team. We’ve got to generate ‘em, we’ve got to take ‘em, and obviously we’ve got to make some, which I’m sure we will.”
Defensively, the Sixers’ day was devoid of shining moments. Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (25 points) each enjoyed themselves. Sam Hauser shot 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. No Sixer made multiple threes.
The Sixers were second in the NBA this season in fourth-quarter defensive rating. They ranked in the league’s bottom half for the other three quarters. At the start of Sunday’s fourth quarter, the Celtics held a 24-point lead.
“If you see someone driving to the rim, no matter what the scenario, step in front of them — especially if it’s Jaylen or Jayson,” Maxey said. “Step in front of them, make them kick the ball out and then rotate after that. But they got a lot of wide-open, walk-down-the-lane layups, walk-down-the-lane dunks. … Those are the ones we can’t give up.
“It’s going to be tough regardless. We’re capable of doing it, but we can’t give those types of plays up.”
Game 2 is Tuesday night and the Sixers need dramatic upgrades to even the series.
“We’ve got to lock in for our film session tomorrow,” Nurse said. “We’ve got to lock in on our practice tomorrow. Lock in on our film session Tuesday, and then we’re going to have to come out and play a lot better.”
