Category: NBA

May 1, 2026

Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas

TV: Amazon Prime

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Online: ESPN

Time: 8:30 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Lakers: Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Lebron James, Deandre Ayton

After a brutal Game 3 loss in Atlanta put New York in a 2-1 hole, many thought their worst fears about this team were realized. There was no cohesion -- the offense looked directionless, the defense debilitated by the team’s best player.

The three games that followed were a complete reversal. The Knicks topped the Hawks by 16, 29, and a whopping 51 points to close the series, making their strongest statement of readiness to contend to date.

It was only the first round against an upstart team, but it may have solidified what this team’s winning identity will be these playoffs: versatility. The postseason is all about matchups and adjustments, and the Knicks have all the talent, but sometimes struggle with utilizing it.

It didn’t look that way to close out the Hawks. Everything coach Mike Brown preached and implemented was executed to glowing perfection. The Knicks ate the early struggle and adjusted to win the series -- here’s how.

Their biggest issue through three games was the offense -- completely freezing down the stretch of Game 2 and well into Game 3. Jalen Brunson struggled outside of the first quarter of the postseason, and the Knicks failed to get other creators to pick up the slack.

They corrected this by getting Brunson off-ball much more and running their offense through their most glaring advantage -- Karl-Anthony Towns. Every half-court possession moved through him in the pinch post, as Brown and the Knicks employed flex action to create cutters and space.

This gave Brunson many easier opportunities and higher-efficiency outputs, and opened the door for OG Anunoby to step up. The Knicks needed more scoring with the slow start from their guards, and shifted more offense in a favorable direction with Anunoby able to use his size to explode in the series.

None of this would work if not for the work that Towns and Brown put in during the regular season. It took some time for the two to find synchronicity in the offense, with many of these added creation reps causing friction early in the year.

It’s certainly paying off now as Towns looked prepared to leverage this Hawks matchup, patiently picking off their defense with strong decision-making and raw talent. A triple-double amid a career series from Towns and 22-and-9 averages from Anunoby later, and the Knicks are advancing in their most dominant fashion in years.

Brown also switched up the bench rotation for more ball handling, inserting Jose Alvarado and making sure that he and Jordan Clarkson were playing if Brunson wasn’t.

Defensively, Brunson was getting picked on while guarding CJ McCollum. Brown turned to veteran Josh Hart for the assignment, moving Brunson onto Dyson Daniels with both stepping up in the new defensive alignment to swing the series.

Now, have the Knicks figured out they need to be running their offense through Towns' high-post creation and making Anunoby their bona fide third scorer? That may have worked against Atlanta, but Boston or Philadelphia offer different challenges.

Towns won’t have the same advantages versus Joel Embiid, and New York’s likely to see much more drop next round, no matter its opponent. Maybe we’ll see different bench pieces to combat the different issues they face

Going up against Boston could make for more of a Mikal Bridges series, coming off last year’s run when he scored more than 20 in Games 4 and 6. Anunoby will be dealing with much tougher wings, and Bridges is much more comfortable against conservative pick-and-roll defenses and smaller guards.

The point is, fans who spent the regular season fretting about an identity or the team’s constant evolution were missing the bigger picture. These Knicks are built to win any way necessary, not in one specific one -- this is a feature, not a bug.

They spent the regular season fidgeting with schemes, lineups and rotations for this championship run, so that if Brunson has a slow series, or Towns an unfavorable matchup, they have other options in their back pocket that have been tried and tested. It may have taken longer than necessary against the Hawks, but we saw what that ability to adapt looks like fully unlocked.

They’ll need to be even more ready against a tougher foe like the Celtics or 76ers. Styles make fights, now let’s see if the Knicks are truly prepared for the bouts ahead.

HOUSTON — As Austin Reaves was ramping up to make his eventual return to the court from a strained left oblique, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked: How would the team manage Reaves’ role after Luke Kennard’s emergence in the playoffs?

“We’ll cross that bridge when it happens,” Redick responded ahead of the Lakers’ Game 3 win over the Rockets. 

Well, with Reaves returning in the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday, it’s time to cross the bridge.

Because the Lakers’ best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Rockets made it clear they need all the offensive help they can get, especially with star guard Luka Doncic remaining sidelined because of his left hamstring strain. 

Enter Reaves and Kennard, the former who had an All-Star-caliber season and the latter who showcased the depth of his offensive skill set while Doncic and Reaves were both sidelined. 

The problem for the Lakers: They’ve yet to find the formula that maximizes Reaves and Kennard while on the floor together.

The Lakers were minus-2 in the 17 minutes when Reaves and Kennard were on the court at the same time in Game 5. 

For the regular season, the Lakers had a minus-5.8 net rating when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor — with their high-level offense being masked by putrid defensive play. 

The Lakers were even worse when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor without Doncic, recording a minus-15.2 net rating, albeit in a small sample of 273 possessions.

The Lakers’ struggles during those situations shouldn’t be a surprise.

But the Lakers need the pairing to find synergy if the team wants to achieve its goal of extending its season long enough for Doncic to return.

And it starts offensively.

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The Lakers found success with Reaves operating on the ball while Kennard ran off off-ball screens weakside, helping create driving lanes for Reaves or opportunities for a drive and kick from Reaves to Kennard.

The defensive shortcomings are more digestible if the offense is firing on all cylinders — which the Lakers are in desperate need of.

They need Reaves’ ball handling, pick-and-roll chops, playmaking and pull-up shooting.

Just like they need Kennard’s movement shooting, off-ball gravity, screening and his ability to attack closeouts.

Kennard was a difference-maker to start the series against the Rockets, combining for 50 points on 65% shooting to lead the Lakers’ offense. 

But when he cooled off, so did the Lakers, with Kennard combining for 22 points on 29% shooting in Games 3-5, with the Lakers’ offense — and Kennard — being less productive and efficient offensively with each game.

And with Kennard playing at least 31 minutes in each of the Lakers’ first five playoff games against the Rockets entering Friday’s Game 6, phasing him out of the rotation isn’t a great option. 

Especially with how important he is to the offense and creating havoc for defenses while Doncic is sidelined.

Reaves’ return provides some solutions. But it doesn’t solve all of the problems about the Lakers’ offensive concerns without Doncic.

They need Reaves and Kennard to be in a rhythm to have a shot to play deeper in May. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to close out the Toronto Raptors tonight. Will they do it?

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

ATLANTA — There are so many reasons to believe the best is yet to come.

You can start with the Knicks’ historic 140-89 Game 6 clincher in Atlanta, capping a pitch-perfect three-game response to devastating back-to-back one-point losses that put their season in jeopardy.

There is OG Anunoby, emerging alpha.

And Karl-Anthony Towns, shooting less than ever but making as great an impact as ever.

And Mikal Bridges, coming off his best game in months.

And Josh Hart, willing to trade a limb for a loose ball.

And Jalen Brunson, among the sport’s elite closers.

But there is also more depth than the reserve unit — featuring Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride — provided in the Knicks’ breakthrough to last year’s conference finals, following the additions of Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado.

“We know how good the bench is and how good the team is,” Alvarado said this week. “We go out there and be ourselves and try to boost the energy. Whatever the team needs, the bench tries to provide that.”

Late in the regular season, Clarkson — who signed a one-year deal with the Knicks in July — was out of the rotation, barely resembling the former Sixth Man of the Year.

Alvarado — who was acquired on Feb. 5 from New Orleans — also recently seemed to lose his spot, as he was benched in Game 1 against the Hawks.

But the two veteran guards both provided much-needed sparks in the first round, giving Mike Brown’s roster increased flexibility against the Celtics or 76ers in the second round.

Alvarado, 28, made the most of his limited time, pestering the Hawks with his relentless defense, while rediscovering the shot that temporarily caused Brown to lose trust in the New York City native.

In the final three games of the series, Alvarado scored 21 points with five assists, five steals and a plus-24 rating, finishing the series 5-of-10 on 3-pointers, while ranking first on the Knicks in steal percentage (5.3) and third in assist percentage (22.0).

Clarkson posted a plus-48 rating while playing 48 minutes in the past three games, attacking the paint, the glass and ball-handlers with urgency that had largely been unseen.

The 33-year-old led all Knicks reserves in scoring (7.7) in the series, while ranking second on the team in offensive rebounding percentage (11.5) and second in turnover percentage (4.4) despite the second-highest usage rate among rotation players.

“[Being out of the rotation is] definitely challenging, but I’ve been in the league for 12 years. I know how it goes,” Clarkson said. “Just continue to stay ready. There’s a locker room of young guys and other people, watching me and seeing how I react to those things. Set an example for them. Continue to stay locked in. … Just wait for my opportunity to go out there and play. Everybody setting that example and having everybody ready is big for the team.”

As the Detroit Pistons look to force a game 7 in their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, they need every advantage they can get. As they visit Orlando to face the Magic on their home floor, the Pistons can take solace that with a vital forward on each team’s respective injury report, Detroit’s is going to suit up tonight while Orlando’s remains out. Tobias Harris was questionable with an ankle sprain that he toughed out in Game 5, but his status for Game 6 was iffy. He will suit up in tonight’s elimination game. Orlando, meanwhile, will be without forward Franz Wagner for the second consecutive game because of a right calf strain.

That doesn’t mean tonight’s game will be easy for Detroit. Far from it. If there is anything we’ve learned in this series it is that nothing is coming easy to either team. Still, the lack of Wagner should hypothetically open up the floor a bit for Cade Cunningham, who won’t have to worry about Wagner switching onto him. It should also help Harris, for however much he is able to go tonight, as the Magic don’t have a comparable player with his size, strength, and defensive fortitude to keep Harris off his favorite low block.

The Pistons will need more, though. They will need Cade Cunningham to have another stellar game. Cade scored 45, a Pistons playoff record, in Game 5, but it barely kept them ahead because the Magic’s Paolo Banchero matched him seemingly shot for shot. That included an insane shooting night from deep that Detroit will have to hope Wagner cannot repeat. They will also have to ensure that the 3-point shooting touch doesn’t simply migrate over to Desmond Bane, who can pop off for six or more threes relatively easily. Detroit will need to hit some threes of their own, whether they come from Cunningham, Harris, or somehow getting Duncan Robinson untracked a bit.

This has been a wild postseason in each conference, and it feels like anything can happen. Well, anything can happen tonight. I’m not sure if that instills more confidence or fear into me.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Watch: Amazon Prime
Odds: Pistons -3.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-3)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Orlando Magic (3-2)

Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr

The Cleveland Cavaliers can advance to the second round of the playoffs with a victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. The Cavs lead the series 3-2 after winning Game 5. Cleveland is 3.5-point favorites against the Raptors, who could be without Brandon Ingram. The over/under is set at 219.5 with a spread of 3.5.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Toronto Raptors +3.5

• Moneyline: Toronto Raptors +145 (39.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers -174 (60.9%)

• Over/Under: 219.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2:Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3:Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 4:Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89
Game 5:Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
*Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Toronto (7:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Cleveland (TBD)

*if necessary

The Los Angeles Lakers will try to end their first-round series with the Houston Rockets in Game 6. After trailing 3-0, the Rockets have extended the series by winning the past two games. The Houston Rockets are favored by 3.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 206.5.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Houston Rockets -3.5

• Moneyline: Houston Rockets -169 (60.3%) / Los Angeles Lakers +142 (39.7%)

• Over/Under: 206.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2:Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Game 3:Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Game 4:Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Game 5:Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Houston (9:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Los Angeles (TBD)

*if necessary

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. met with Steve Kerr about the status of his job earlier this week.

Kerr's coaching contract is expiring and there hasn't been any indication whether he would want to return, or whether the Warriors want him back at the helm. According to ESPN, the three had a two-hour meeting Monday that was described as "productive."

Following their meeting, the consensus is that the parties are at a standstill. Although discussions are expected to continue into the upcoming week, there is seemingly no urgency to come to a decision. As one source told ESPN, "It's April. We don't need to rush."

According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole, the drawn out process isn't a matter of a contract negotiation over dollars, but instead about "professional and personal principles."

“From what I understand, (Kerr) in those meetings didn’t sound like someone who didn’t plan on coaching next season,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Another league source told NBC Sports Bay Area: "I think it’s more like 50-50 that he comes back. When the season ended, I would have said it was at least 60-40 that he’d leave.”

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was sidelined Friday night for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sore right heel, coach Darko Rajakovic said.

The two-time All-Star left midway through the second quarter of Toronto's 125-120 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday night. He scored one point in 11 minutes before departing.

After averaging 21.5 points per game in the regular season, his first with Toronto, Ingram has struggled in the playoffs, averaging 12 in the five games against the Cavaliers. He's shooting 19 for 58 overall and 5 for 13 from 3-point range.

Cleveland leads the series 3-2 and can advance with a win Friday. The home team has won each of the five games in the series.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike and freshman guard/wing transfer Isiah Harwell from the Houston Cougars have received an invite to the 2026 G League Combine. Both will have an opportunity to be invited to the 2026 NBA Combine with a strong performance, similar to how Dallas Mavericks lead guard Ryan Nembhard did last year.

The G League Combine takes place May 8-10 at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois. It can be streamed on the NBA G League official site.

As for the NBA Combine, Gonzaga signee and combo guard Jack Kayil is the only Zag to be straight-up invited. Due to his prior commitments with Alba Berlin in Germany, he may not participate. That would bode well for the chance of Kayil playing in Spokane, Washington, for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The event runs from May 10-17 at the Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois. It can be viewed on ESPN2.

The deadline for college players like Harwell to withdraw their names is May 27. For international players, like Kayil, it’s June 13.

The 2026 NBA Draft will be a two-night event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, from June 23-24. Both rounds begin at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

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After missing a chance to eliminate the Houston Rockets in Game 5, the Los Angeles Lakers head back to H-Town for Game 6, where our NBA player prop projections has pinpointed several high-value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

These Lakers vs. Rockets predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, May 1.

Lakers vs Rockets computer picks for Game 6

Lakers	Rockets
James o21.5 points -120	Sengun o20.5 points -112
Reaves o1.5 3-pointers -160	Thompson o7.5 rebounds -105
Smart o3.5 assists -169	Sheppard o3.5 3-pointers  +130

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Lakers Game 6 computer picks

LeBron James Over 21.5 points (-120)

Projection: 22.70 points

The Los Angeles Lakers have been rolling offensively on the road, averaging 116.2 points per game over their last 20 outings—good for eighth in the NBA.

Expect LeBron James to set the tone and keep that momentum going as Los Angeles looks to bounce back from a missed closeout chance in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.

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Austin Reaves Over 1.5 3-pointers (-160)

Projection: 2.11 3-pointers

In his return from injury, Austin Reaves scored 22 points in Game 5 but showed some rust from three-point range.

As he continues to regain rhythm — and with the Lakers trying to avoid a Game 7 — expect him to look more comfortable from deep and help fuel a push to close out the series against the Rockets.

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Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists (-169)

Projection: 3.75 assists

Marcus Smart has been a steady playmaking force throughout the series, only falling short of this assists line in Game 5.

He’ll look to sharpen his facilitation again as the Lakers try to avoid squandering another chance to eliminate the Rockets in the first round.

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---

Rockets Game 6 computer picks

Alperen Şengün Over 20.5 points (-112)

Projection: 23.3 points

With Kevin Durant out, Alperen Şengün has taken on a central role for the Rockets in this series and will be counted on again as they try to extend things to a decisive Game 7 against the  Lakers.

He’s been hovering near this points line in Games 1, 4, and 5, while clearing it in Games 2 and 3. With the season on the line, expect Şengün to be heavily involved offensively once again.

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Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds (-105)

Projection: 7.6 rebounds

The Rockets lead the league in offensive rebounding this season, and Amen Thompson has been productive across the board in this series.

He’s also cleared this rebound line in four of his last 10 games, reinforcing his impact on the glass.

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Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 3-pointers (+130)

Projection: 3.6 3-pointers

Reed Sheppard has been due for an efficient shooting night from deep for the Rockets, and there’s no better stage than this one to get it going.

When he finds his rhythm from beyond the arc, Sheppard can change the game quickly, and a breakout shooting performance would give Houston a valuable boost on offense.

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How to watch Lakers vs Rockets Game 6

Location	Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date	Friday, May 1, 2026
Tip-off	9:30 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

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The Orlando Magic will try to close out the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Magic lead the series 3-2 but lost Game 5. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points. The total is set at 209.5 for this Eastern Conference matchup.

How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: Orlando Magic +3.5

• Moneyline: Orlando Magic +137 (40.5%) / Detroit Pistons -163 (59.5%)

• Over/Under: 209.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2:Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 3:Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4:Magic 94, Pistons 88
Game 5:Pistons 116, Magic 109
Game 6: Fri., May 1, at Orlando (7 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3, at Detroit (time and network TBD)

*if necessary