Category: NBA

After an extended voting window for NBA awards, we are finally getting to the actual announcements. The NBA named finalists for all major awards during Pistons-Magic coverage. Unsurprisingly, the Sixers’ VJ Edgecombe was named a finalist for the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year award, alongside Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel and Dallas’ Cooper Flagg.

The three finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award:

▪️VJ Edgecombe, @sixers
▪️Cooper Flagg, @dallasmavs
▪️Kon Knueppel, @hornetspic.twitter.com/8G78MIQZB9

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 19, 2026

For most seasons, VJ Edgecombe’s 2025-26 campaign would be good enough to lock up Rookie of the Year. The 20-year-old averaged an impressive 16 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 75 games, playing 35 minutes per contest and shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from three and 81.1 percent from the free throw line. As his playing time reflects, he was a key piece in the Sixers’ rotation who helped them make a postseason appearance. The role, wins and individual numbers are all Rookie of the Year-caliber. However, this isn’t like most ROTY races. In fact, you could argue this is the best one in quite some time.

Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel was instrumental in their midseason turnaround. The former Blue Devil showed historical efficiency and shooting. Then there’s Cooper Flagg, who might be the best 18-year-old in NBA history, with a 50-point game under his belt and numerous 40- and 30-point performances. As things stand, Knueppel appears to be the favorite, with Flagg narrowly behind.

Whatever happens, Edgecombe’s place among the finalists is well earned. His numbers, role and proven production throughout the season make a compelling case, and the mid-year growth he showed only strengthened it. In a weaker class, this would be a straightforward conversation. But finishing as a finalist in arguably the best rookie class in years is no small thing. Edgecombe held his own against two stellar talents, and that alone says plenty about the kind of player the Sixers have on their hands.

As for the winner, it remains to be seen when the league will make that announcement. NBA PR issued a week-long slow drip press release for all major awards outside of this one, so the timeline is anyone’s guess.

The winners of the following awards will be announced this week:

MON: Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year
TUE: Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year
WED: Kia NBA Sixth Man Award
THU: NBA Sportsmanship Award
FRI: Kia NBA Most Improved Player

Complete schedule for the week ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bCWpmPFLAa

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2026

DETROIT — Paolo Banchero had 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic to a 112-101 win over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons on Sunday night in Game 1 of their first-round series, extending the longest home playoff losing streak in NBA history.

Detroit has dropped 11 straight home games in the postseason, a drought that dates to 2008.

The Pistons will get another chance against Orlando on Wednesday night in Game 2.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham scored a playoff career-high 39 points and Tobias Harris added 17 for the Pistons, but the rest of their teammates were quiet offensively.

“We’re sick about losing this one,” Cunningham said after the loss. “It’s a long series.”

“We didn’t come out with the right energy,” he added.

Franz Wagner scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory for the Magic, who never trailed. Orlando’s Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter scored 17 points each and Jalen Suggs had 16.

The Pistons haven’t advanced beyond the first round in the postseason in 18 years and the Magic haven’t since 2010.

Orlando looked ready and Detroit looked rusty early.

The Magic, coming off a rout of Charlotte in a play-in game on Friday, led 18-5 midway through the first quarter after holding the Pistons to 1-of-6 shooting with four turnovers in their first game in a week.

Detroit rallied to pull within two before Orlando closed with six straight points to lead 35-27 after Banchero and Suggs combined to score 20 points.

The Magic led 55-51 at halftime.

The Pistons came out flat in the second half and Orlando took advantage, scoring eight of the first nine points and prompting Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff to call a timeout.

“We were chasing them all night,” Bickerstaff said. “We made some runs to get ourselves back in the ballgame.”

Detroit scored 10 straight points and 13 of 15 to pull into a 65-all tie on Cunningham’s 3-pointer.

Banchero answered with a long jumper over Jalen Duren and Bane followed with a 3-pointer over Cunningham, leading to the Magic restoring a double-digit lead. Orlando led 81-74 going into the fourth quarter.

“They’ve been off and we’ve found a little bit of a rhythm,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “That always plays a part in it.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — 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.

CELTICS 123, 76ERS 91

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, and Boston rolled past Philadelphia in Game 1 of the first-round series.

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.

MAGIC. 112, PISTONS 101

DETROIT (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead eighth-seeded Orlando to a win over top-seeded Detroit in Game 1 of their first-round series, extending the longest home playoff losing streak in NBA history.

Detroit has dropped 11 straight home games in the postseason, a drought that dates to 2008.

The Pistons will get another chance against Orlando on Wednesday night in Game 2.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham scored a playoff career-high 39 points and Tobias Harris added 17 for the Pistons, but the rest of their teammates were quiet offensively.

Franz Wagner scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory for the Magic, who never trailed. Orlando’s Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter scored 17 points each and Jalen Suggs had 16.

The playoffs are here, but Detroit’s still looking for their first home playoff win since 2008.

The Orlando Magic started off on a 13-5 run, including eight points from an active Jalen Suggs. They were able to extend their lead 18-5 until a Cade Cunningham three stopped the bleeding. After Isaiah Stewart met Paolo Banchero at the rim for a hell of a left-handed block, a Cunningham dunk in transition made it a 27-20 Orlando lead. A 12-0 Detroit run eventually tied the game at 27, but the Magic ended the first quarter on a 8-0 run to take a 35-27 lead heading into the second.

DAWG. https://t.co/cJIpSnu2rZpic.twitter.com/fXeAqrvwV8

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 19, 2026

Coach of the Year finalist JB Bickerstaff stuck to his 11-man regular season rotation, though, three early fouls on Duncan Robinson left extra guard minutes on the floor in the first half. Detroit had multiple opportunities in the second to take the lead for the first time in the game, but could never find that basket when they needed it. Ausar Thompson looked like a Defensive Player of the Year finalist throughout the second quarter as his verticality shined on offensive rebounds and his quickness forced multiple turnovers.

Orlando went into halftime with a 55-51 lead. Detroit’s offense needed more outside of Cunningham’s 14 points, but the Magic packed the paint as Jalen Duren only had three field goal attempts. Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris combined to shoot 3-for-12.

The Magic were able to go on another run as they started the second half on a 8-1 run that forced a Bickerstaff timeout. Detroit responded with eight straight points of their own after Harris knocked down a much-needed corner three. And yet, just as the Pistons got close to taking the lead again, Orlando responded with another run, this time with a 12-3 response to force another JBB timeout with the Magic up 79-68 with four minutes left. Detroit was struggling to generate good shots on offense and Orlando held a seven-point lead heading into the fourth.

A Duncan Robinson three brought Little Caesars Arena alive to make it a 85-81 game, but Jalen Suggs silenced the crowd with his own three to respond. Orlando started 6-for-6 as a Franz Wagner floater from 18 feet forced a Detroit timeout and extended the Magic lead to eight. All of Orlando’s early shot attempts were difficult or well-contested but they went in nonetheless.

Cunningham hit a midrange jumper for his 30th point and the Magic held a 101-92 lead with six minutes left in the game. He was doing his best to carry the offensive load with his shot creation in the Orlando defense and didn’t get much help from his teammates. The Magic offense made difficult shots throughout the fourth to maintain their lead the whole game and they’d go on to win 112-101.

This is now the 11th straight home playoff game the Detroit Pistons have lost and they weren’t good enough on either side of the court tonight. Every Magic started had at least 16 points and were able to convert on field goals down low as they outscored Detroit 54-34 in the paint. To be blunt, the Magic played a better version of Detroit’s playstyle.

Cunningham looked like a future MVP even after his recent return from a collapsed lung as he finished with 39 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Tobias Harris had 17 points, though, he shot 5-for-15 from the field and 1-for-7 from deep. Harris and Daniss Jenkins combined to miss 11 three-pointers and no other Piston finished in double digits. Javonte Green and Caris LeVert each played less than five minutes.

Orlando did a great job of limiting Jalen Duren on both ends as he only had eight points and seven rebounds, but he only had four shot attempts as well. After being Cade’s right-hand-man all year long, JB Bickerstaff is going to have to find ways to get Duren more involved on the offensive end in Game 2. Most of all, JBB can’t let Orlando be a better version of Detroit wants to be.

They’ll respond and play like the #1 seed that they are.

Go Stones.

The NBA has officially announced three finalists for all major awards, and it doesn’t look like any Celtic player will be taking home individual regular-season hardwood this season. But one pretty important Celtic is likely to come away with a trophy.

Joe Mazzulla is named a Coach of the Year finalist

Mazzulla seems pretty likely to earn his first-ever Coach of the Year award. The fourth-year Celtics head coach is one of three finalists for the NBA’s highest coaching honors, along with San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson and Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff.

What is unlikely, however, is that Mazzulla will celebrate the win.

“I don’t need it,” Mazzulla said last month. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. So, the players play. It’s about them. Staff works their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”

Jaylen Brown was not named one of 3 MVP finalists

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Victor Wembenyama (San Antonio Spurs), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) were revealed as the three finalists for MVP. All three players have very strong cases.

The three finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award:

▪️Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, @okcthunder
▪️Nikola Jokić, @nuggets
▪️Victor Wembanyama, @spurspic.twitter.com/p1elMfyG2i

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 19, 2026

• SGA averaged 31.1 points on 55% shooting and 6.6 assists per game.
• Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
• Wemby averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. 

Jaylen Brown, who had the best season of his career, was not named a finalist. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season.

Derrick White was not named one of 3 Defensive Player of the Year finalists

The NBA’s three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year were Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembenyama.

Derrick White just had one of the best defensive seasons in NBA history

And he's not going to get the credit he deserves pic.twitter.com/Ct5vxcyvHN

— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) April 12, 2026

White averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game this season, both career-highs. Jaylen Brown has also stumped for him several times, saying that White has had a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season.

Neemias Queta was not named one of 3 Most Improved Player finalists

Neemias Queta had a strong case for Most Improved Player, but he was not selected as a finalist for the award. The league’s three finalists are Atlanta Hawks forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren.

Queta didn’t have the most conventional case, but he went from a fourth-string center to the starting center on one of the best teams in the league. He went from averaging 5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.9 minutes of playing time in the 2024-25 campaign to 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks this season. He also had the 5th-best net rating and 10th-best defensive rating in the NBA this year.

In a recent appearance on teammate Derrick White’s podcast “White Noise,” Queta weighed in on his case.

“I think I made a pretty good case for it,” he said. “And there’s always so much more I can get better at. I don’t get it this year, next year, it’s available again. That’s a good way to see it.”

Do you think any Celtic player deserved to be a finalist? Sound off in the comment section.

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

Here we are, it’s playoff basketball, and the Spurs are 16 wins away from their sixth championship. The journey starts tonight with a matchup against Tiago Splitter’s Portland Trail Blazers, led by Deni Avdija, who can be a real problem as he combines the shot making of Luka Doncic with the foul hunting of Shai Gilgeous Alexander, but at a slightly lower level of competence. He turned those skills into a 41 point, 13 free throw performance against the Suns as they dropped the Suns to the 8th seed in their play-in game last Tuesday night.

The Spurs have had a week off, and it remains to be seen if the team will be rested and ready, or rested and rusty tonight. It’s the first playoff game for 7 players on the Spurs roster, including Victor Wembanyama, Steph Castle, Dylan Harper, and even some veterans like Keldon Johnson. The Spurs have had an awesome regular season, winning 62 games and finishing in second place in the Western Conference, but playoff basketball is different and there are no easy games. The Trail Blazers are capable of taking some games from the Spurs, and it’s the job of veterans like Harrison Barnes and De’Aaron Fox to have the team prepared for the extra intensity of playoff basketball. The Silver and Black cannot take any victory for granted for the rest or their playoff run, and if they allow the Blazers to keep the game close in the fourth quarter, they can finish strong like they did to Suns, erasing an 11 point Suns lead with a little over 6 minutes left and winning the game in the final minute.

The Spurs have the talent advantage tonight, but they cannot take their opponent for granted. Coach Splitter know the Spurs system well, so this is not a game where coach Mitch can win solely by out-strategizing the opponent. If the home team can limit mistakes and matches Portland’s commitment, it should be a Spurs win. Let’s all watch and find out. GO SPURS GO!

Game Prediction:

Deni Avdija asks Coach Splitter to sub him out when Victor enters the game late in the third quarter because he’s tired of getting his shots blocked.

San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, First Round, Game 1
April 19, 2026 | 8:00 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: Peacock, NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business in Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors. They kept Toronto from getting out in transition, forced them to play in the half-court, and then were able to out-execute them there on both sides of the court.

The Raptors desperately missed Immanuel Quickley in Game 1, who was out with a hamstring injury. His three-point shooting and quickness in the open court were things the team could’ve used. Toronto head coach Darko Rajaković mentioned before Saturday’s game that he was getting better even though he wasn’t able to go on Saturday. Quickly is once again questionable for Game 2.

The Cavs, meanwhile, have a clean injury report for the second game in a row. Thomas Bryant is the only player unavailable. He will be missing the game with a hamstring injury.

We’ll see if the Cavaliers can repeat Saturday’s success in Game 2 and grab a 2-0 series lead.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0) vs. Toronto Raptors (0-1)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Mon., April 20 at 7 PM

TV: Peacock, NBC Sports Network

Point spread: Cavs -8.5

Cavs injury report: Thomas Bryant – OUT (calf)

Raptors injury report: Immanuel Quickley – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)

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

Raptors expected starting lineup: Jamal Shead, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl

Previous matchup: The Cavs grabbed a 1-0 lead with a 126-113 victory.

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

	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.9 (8th)	115 (15th)	+3.9 (9th)
Raptors	116.8 (13th)	113.2 (7th)	+3.6 (11th)

The first weekend of the 2026 NBA playoffs has wrapped up, with each first-round series having one game completed.

And, thus far, all but one of the higher seeds have taken care of home-court advantage, but the playoffs are a long haul and series can change on an instant.

This may be disappointing to the rest of the league, but arguably no team was as impressive as the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who dominated in their postseason opener. The top seed in the Eastern Conference cannot say the same.

So what, exactly, can be gleaned from the early games of the playoffs? Plenty.

Here are the winners and losers from the first weekend of the 2026 NBA playoffs:

WINNERS

The unlikely Magic steal one

Let’s be honest: the Pistons probably still win this series. But this is a massive game for Orlando, whose coach, Jamahl Mosley, came into the playoffs facing some pressure about his future. The Magic excelled in the paint, on both ends, despite Detroit leading the NBA this season with 57.9 points in the paint per game. On Sunday, Orlando held the Pistons to just 34 points in the paint and generated a 20-point advantage in the category.

All five Magic starters reached double-figures in scoring, and Orlando – which plays a similar style as Detroit – showed it won’t just roll over.

Jayson Tatum

What he’s doing, 11 months removed from a torn Achilles, is nothing short of spectacular. Tatum shined in his return to the playoffs, posting an all-around efficient game of 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. His day would’ve been even better had he not shot 1-of-7 from 3-point range, but Boston looked every part of a legitimate threat in the East in its commanding win Sunday over Sixers.

Knicks defensive versatility

Speaking of contenders in the East, the Knicks sent a message Saturday against an upstart Hawks squad that can generate offense from different sources. New York harassed the Hawks, deploying Josh Hart on Jalen Johnson, which allowed OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to fly around the perimeter and smother other weapons. Even Karl-Anthony Towns made his presence felt with a team-high 3 blocks.

The Nuggets-Timberwolves series

This is, by far, the gem of the round. They’re frequent opponents, having met in three of the last four playoffs. These are fierce, competitive teams that don’t like each other. And these teams are fairly evenly matched. The play was physical, chippy and compelling, and there’s no shortage of star power. The rest of the series should be fascinating.

Donovan Mitchell is on a mission

Although he has put up statistically impressive performances in the postseason, Donovan Mitchell often draws criticism because his teams have never gotten past the second round. Mitchell appears determined to erase that narrative; in Game 1 on Saturday, Mitchell dropped 32 points and 4 assists on the Raptors. He, James Harden and backup guard Max Strus combined to shoot 12-of-20 (60%) from beyond the arc.

So are the Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending champions looked hungry, efficient and cohesive in a 35-point blowout victory over the Suns. The defense, unsurprisingly, was oppressive, holding Phoenix to just 34.9% shooting. That, plus the 17 turnovers Oklahoma City forced, opened the path for easier transition points, with the Thunder taking an 18-2 edge on fastbreak points.

LOSERS

A stunning letdown for the Detroit Pistons

Sunday’s shocking 8 vs. 1 upset exposed some of Detroit’s issues. For one, the Pistons clearly need more shooting. Cade Cunningham posted a monster game with 39 points, five rebounds and assists, but his supporting cast let him down. All-Star center Jalen Duren was mostly a non-factor, and Tobias Harris was the only other player to reach double-figures in scoring.

Credit the Magic for their defense, but the Pistons looked flat, almost like they were the ones who had to roll through the Play-In Tournament. Detroit had the week off and entered as 8.5-point favorites. Instead, the Pistons lost their 11th consecutive home playoff game and now have to search for answers. And, to be frank, it makes it feel like Boston is the team to beat in the East.

Lower seeds

The first round of the playoffs tends to produce expected results, and this year has been no exception. Through the Thunder-Suns game, higher seeds are a combined 6-1, and the games, in many cases, have been lopsided. The combined average margin of victory so far has been 17.4 points.

The Houston Rockets

Yes, Kevin Durant was out. But their opponent, the Lakers, was missing Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), the highest-scoring duo in the NBA this season. And, yet, the Rockets, a team that tied for fifth in defensive rating (112.1), allowed the Lakers to shoot 60.6% from the field, including 52.6% from 3-point range. Houston let Luke Kennard, a solid, role-playing shooter, hit all five of his 3-pointers for a playoff career-high of 27 points.

Arguably more disappointing was Houston’s lack of offensive cohesion. Often, players appeared to be ball watching and waiting for iso opportunities. The problem, however, was that the Rockets shot just 37.6% from the floor.

The 76ers without Joel Embiid

It’s clear that Philadelphia is going to struggle without its big man. Embiid (appendectomy) finished the regular season strongly, generating 28.6 points per game over his last five games played. The issue, as it has been with Embiid, is that he has been so infrequently available.

Against the impressive defense that the Celtics bring, there’s simply no way the 76ers can compete without Embiid. According to ESPN, Embiid hasn’t even started basketball activities for his return and may miss the entire first round. The Sixers, almost certainly, will be eliminated at that point, anyway.

Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels

Risacher, the 2025 No. 1 overall selection, played just 2:29 on Saturday against the Knicks and missed badly on his three shot attempts, two of which were point blank. Though he played far more, Daniels, similarly, forced difficult shots and couldn’t settle into a rhythm. The pair combined to go 2-of-10 for 4 points, though Daniels did dish out 11 assists and haul in 9 rebounds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners (Magic) and losers (Pistons) from NBA playoffs opening weekend

BOSTON — Six months ago, Jayson Tatum didn’t know he’d return in time for the playoffs. He wasn’t even certain he’d play at all until next season. Those thoughts of doubt followed him throughout his return from his torn right Achilles tendon, but vanished in Game 1 against the Sixers.

“I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, and return to play and all those things,” Tatum said after Sunday’s 123-91 Game 1 win over Philadelphia. “There was many a days where I wasn’t sure I was gonna play this season, let alone get a chance to play today. So I’m overly just kind of grateful that I’m in this position right now.”

Tatum played in only 16 games during Boston’s regular season, with each being a stepping stone to ramp him up for the postseason. He averaged 21.8 points, led the team with 10 rebounds and shot 41.1 percent from the field through a stretch he admitted wasn’t picture-perfect. From missing his first dunk attempt on his March 6 return against the Mavericks to being open about the discomforts of returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time, Tatum rolled with the punches.

"I played three games last one without you, I didn't like that."

Derrick White is glad to have Jayson Tatum back in the playoffs 🤝 pic.twitter.com/an0c8UnajN

— ESPN (@espn) April 19, 2026

But to begin Boston’s first-round series against Philadelphia, Tatum really rediscovered the comforts of his old self.

Tatum got the Celtics going early, scoring 10 points with seven rebounds and four assists in the first quarter. He sank two fadeaway jumpers — one over Andre Drummond and the other over Tyrese Maxey — and sliced through Philadelphia’s defense to flush a vicious two-handed dunk in the final minute of the frame. With that head start, Tatum unleashed vintage JT, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, surpassing Kobe Bryant for 11th all-time in 3-pointers made in the playoffs (293).

When Tatum subbed out with over seven minutes remaining in regulation and the Celtics leading the Sixers, 108-78, fans gave him a standing ovation. It took only one appearance in the postseason for Tatum to look like himself again for a full 32:25 on the court.

To him, reaching that point began on Feb. 10, over nine weeks ago. That’s when Tatum truly felt like a return in time for a title run was within reach.

“The day that it changed or became a real thought was when I got assigned to the G-League, and we had the scrimmage,” Tatum explained. “And that was really the first time that it was like, ‘Oh, I might come back this year.’ I think just periodically having really good days of rehab that really boost my confidence — whether it’d be how I felt, me hitting certain benchmarks two weeks earlier than I was supposed to, me asking certain teammates how I looked, and the confidence they instilled in me was impactful.”

Tatum held nothing back against Philadelphia. With Joel Embiid out and the Sixers shorthanded, Tatum was on full attack mode. He hunted mismatches, abused Philadelphia’s defense whenever the opportunity rose, and kept the offensive momentum intact. Tatum assisted Sam Hauser in three of his four made 3-pointers and found Neemias Queta wide-open for a dunk-of-the-night nomination.

TATUM ON THE BREAK 💥

GAME-HIGH 21 PTS AT HALF.

CELTICS UP 18 IN GAME 1! pic.twitter.com/cCfvKN3Mbd

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026

In his long-awaited postseason return, Tatum also inched himself closer to Larry Bird’s record for most 25-10-5 playoff performances (26) in Celtics history with his 23rd, per NBC Sports Boston’s Dick Lipe.

“Defensively, I thought he was really good,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Rebounding was great. Understanding of he changed matchups six, seven, eight times throughout the game. I thought that was great there. Offensively, just giving the game what it needs. He was in an aggressive pick-and-roll coverage. With that, you gotta be able to make the right play for yourself and others. I thought he did a great job of that — gave the game what it needed. We gotta continue to do that.”

Even though Tatum checked nearly every box possible, he remained clear about one thing: he hasn’t reached 100 percent just yet. Regardless of how it may appear or what the box score suggests, Tatum still views each day as another step toward that goal, knowing there are no shortcuts in the process.

“I’m still rehabbing,” Tatum said. “I still attack rehab every single day for when we have off-days.”

Sunday marked Tatum’s 122nd career playoff game. It was also his 17th against Philadelphia. So, while taking a moment to reflect on everything that had transpired over the last 11 months — the darkest stretch of his career — Tatum expressed sincere gratitude. The journey from a hospital bed in New York to a playoff ovation, followed by a sarcastic “We want Boston” chant at TD Garden, gave him a fresh perspective.

“A lot of things had to go right to even have the opportunity to come back and play,” Tatum said. “So obviously I thank God every day that I’m able to do — and return to do — what I love. From surgery the next day with Nick (Sang), to everything in between these last 48 weeks, has kind of been a buildup to today.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic are the finalists for NBA MVP.

If this Celtics season has taught us anything so far, it’s that culture, tradition and collective buy-in truly matter.

Those terms aren’t just buzzwords coaches, players and executives throw around for the heck of it. They encapsulate what separates the franchise from so many others in the NBA, and this Celtics team embodies those mantras as much as a group possibly could.

They took a collective bite into the term gap year, chewed on it for a few seconds, then spit it out in disgust. They weren’t going to let the rest of the Eastern Conference off that easily. The East runs through Boston every year until further notice, and they’ve made it abundantly clear that this year is no exception.

CELTIC HISTORY: MOST 25-10-5 PLAYOFF GAMES
26 – Larry Bird
23 – JAYSON TATUM (including today)
15 – John Havlicek
10 – Bill Russell
7 – Dave Cowens
7 – Paul Pierce

— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) April 19, 2026

Sunday’s dominant 123-91 Game 1 victory over the 76ers didn’t carry much drama, but it did offer fans an opportunity to think back to how far this team has already come. Many expected the Celtics to be somewhere around a 7-seed, outmatched on the road against a superior opponent trying to fend for their playoff lives.

Instead, the Celtics are the No. 2 seed, demolishing inferior opponents and fully capable of winning the whole thing. It was just one game, but this win illuminated how far they’ve come and how far they can go.

Here are five thoughts on the state of the series and the Celtics’ potential path:

1) JOYFUL JAYSON

Just like the Celtics weren’t supposed to be here, Jayson Tatum wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be watching from the bench, cheering his teammates on and desperately wishing he could be out there.

Instead, he attacked his rehab with conviction and didn’t settle for anything less than the best-possible outcome. It’s still hard to fathom how close to pre-injury Tatum he looks. He’s scoring with ease, finding his teammates, rebounding at a high level and playing lockdown defense.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 20+ points in the same playoff game for the 50th time, the second most in Celtics history behind Larry Bird and Kevin McHale (58) ☘️ pic.twitter.com/7ATI79CtuU

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) April 19, 2026

Tatum finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and he could have potentially had a triple-double if it were a closer game. When asked about his journey, Tatum made it clear he doesn’t take the experience for granted.

“I understand the magnitude of the injury and the narrative around me coming back and everything in between,” Tatum said. “I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish and return to play and all those things. There were many days where I wasn’t even sure I was going to play this season, let alone get a chance to play today.”

2) MANAGING MAXEY

The only way the 76ers have any chance in this series (they don’t have a chance, but just for kicks) is if Tyrese Maxey goes nuclear. Even if he catches fire in a game or two, the Celtics will still likely win in five or six. If he doesn’t, it could be a sweep.

The Celtics limited him to 8-of-20 shooting and 1 of 4 from distance. Maxey finished with a respectable 21 points and eight assists, but he had to work for nearly everything and often took contested, off-balance shots.

Give the Celtics a lot of credit for their defensive execution as a whole. The 76ers shot 39 percent from the floor and 17 percent from 3-point range. That’ll do it.

“We did a good job with our positioning and our activity, and some of the things that we can control,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “It kind of goes back to that focus on the stuff that we can’t control, both ends of the floor.”

3) RED PANDA-MONIUM 

Let’s take a moment, at the midway point of this article, to acknowledge the greatness of Red Panda. Tatum set the tone in the first half, Red Panda followed suit at halftime and Jaylen Brown finished the job in the second. 

She’s quite gifted, and seeing it in person adds a whole other level of appreciation. Simply the best.

People come to sporting events to watch a show, and they watched two shows Sunday afternoon.

Red Panda putting on a show. Legend @celticsblogpic.twitter.com/PDmukLjUo3

— Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) April 19, 2026

4) BENCH MOB

Outside of Tatum’s return and Brown’s ascension, the consistency of the Celtics’ bench is the biggest story of this season.

Guys like Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez were all fringe NBA players and are now consistent contributors on one of the best teams in the league.

The coaches deserve a lot of credit for that, and the players do as well for meeting the moment. As the playoffs progress, I expect the Celtics to continue to have a clear edge when it comes to bench production. 

Pregame notes…

Celtics have won last 6 series against the 76ers. Last time Philly won, Dr. J and Andrew Toney were still playing for the Sixers (1982).

Since 2017, Brown has been in 135 playoff games and Tatum 121. 28 of 30 teams have played in less than 100 G since then.

— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) April 19, 2026

In every series outside of a potential Thunder matchup in the Finals, which I’d consider a wash, the Celtics should continue to win those minutes. 

Brown said his message for the newcomers logging their first significant playoff minutes was to breathe and manage their emotions.

“They might go on a run, they might not go on a run, but just stay together,” Brown said. “Win the fight. Be a hard-playing team and guard.”

5) NO COMPLACENCY

The Celtics know they’re the better team, but they also know this was just one game and anything can happen in a playoff series. 

While it’s highly likely Boston will advance, it’s important that the Celtics continue to not underestimate the 76ers. This team seems to really understand that, which goes back to the culture, tradition and collective buy-in that define the franchise.

"I played three games last one without you, I didn't like that."

Derrick White is glad to have Jayson Tatum back in the playoffs 🤝 pic.twitter.com/an0c8UnajN

— ESPN (@espn) April 19, 2026

Everything they desire is right there in front of them, but their focus is on Game 2. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a mind-set.

“They’ve got some really talented guys and guys that played hard,” Tatum said. “So you have to show them that respect and know that by the next game they’re going to make adjustments and just preparing for that.”

With two of the Lakers’ big three out, LeBron James finds himself once again asked to be anything and everything for the purple and gold.

That would normally be a ton of pressure to put on one player in the postseason, but LeBron is not your typical athlete.

In Game 1 against the Rockets, he didn’t throw up a bunch of shots to try to make up for the production Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves typically provide.

Instead, he activated his point guard mode and got everyone involved. LeBron had eight assists in the first quarter, which was the most assists he’s had in any quarter in his playoff career.

As the contest progressed, LeBron began looking for his shot. He dominated inside the paint and shot 9-15 from the field. James also had a pair of steals, a block, eight rebounds and the best plus-minus on the team at +11.

Thanks to his all-around game, the Lakers beat the Rockets 107-98 and are 15 wins away from a title.

After the victory, LeBron talked about his role on this team and how he can help uplift the shorthanded Lakers.

“Well, for me, I got to do a little bit of everything,” LeBron said. “That’s what the job requires. So it’s being a triple threat, being able to rebound, being able to pass, being able to shoot, also defend, put myself in a position where I can bring value to this ball club, bring value to this team throughout this series.

“It’s going to be a game-to-game situation to see how the game plays out. I don’t predetermine what I’m going to do. The only thing that’s predetermined in my game is how I prepare. I’ll prepare before I get to the game and then once I get out there, it’s all about reading and reacting, understanding situations. I’ve been in every situation you could ever imagined as a basketball player, so there’s nothing that can surprise me.”

As the league’s oldest player and a four-time NBA champion, LeBron is an amazing option as your leader. He’s seen all the highs and lows and isn’t just a vocal leader but also an All-Star player producing on the court.

The Lakers had a nice break between their last regular-season game and their first playoff contest, and James was a big reason why the Lakers looked so sharp after some time off.

“He displayed great leadership throughout,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We talked all week about being connected offensively and trusting the pass and he led us there in the first half, getting 10 assists and then was able to make some scoring plays down the stretch. Just a fantastic overall game from him and he gave us all he had on the defensive end. He really exerted himself on both ends and that’s what the playoffs are.”

LeBron led the charge, and the rest of his teammates followed. Luke Kennard had a playoff career-high 27 points, Deandre Ayton had a double-double and Rui Hachimura shot 60% from the field, scoring 14.

It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Lakers to win this series, but this was as good a start as anyone could ask for. If James can keep this up and his teammates follow, then the Lakers will maximize what they can do this postseason.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The Atlanta Hawks were excellent against the spread down the stretch, and despite getting smoked in the second half of Game 1 vs. the New York Knicks, they will be competitive in this series, particularly in Game 2.

With Nickeil Alexander-Walker coming off an uncharacteristically poor shooting night, we're building an SGP banking on a bounce-back game from the guard en route to cashing the Over.

Read on for our full Hawks vs. Knicks predictions ahead of tip on Monday, April 20.

Our best Hawks vs Knicks SGP for Game 2

I picked the Atlanta Hawks to cover the same 5.5-point spread in Game 1, and they lost by 11. But 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%.

The New York Knicks hit 25 of 30 free throws, and Atlanta can do a better job at limiting opportunities there. The Hawks went 18-8 against the spread 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.

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