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The Detroit Pistons forced Game 7 this afternoon and are just one win away from completing a 3-1 comeback against the Orlando Magic.

My Magic vs. Pistons predictions expect Cade Cunningham to leave it all on the floor in Detroit.

Here are my free NBA picks for today's winner-take-all matchup at Little Caesars Arena.

Magic vs Pistons prediction

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 7?

Pistons: The Orlando Magic set a record for the fewest points scored in a half when they put up a measly 19 points in the third and fourth quarters of Friday’s loss. Orlando squandered a 24-point lead at home and will get the daunting task of playing Game 7 on the road.

The Magic will surely be better than what they were at the end of Game 6, but momentum is clearly on Detroit’s side. Cade Cunningham said it himself, it's about going out and finishing the job.

Magic vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Over 44.5 points + rebounds + assists (-120)

Cade Cunningham was tremendous in the regular season, but as good as he was through those 64 games, he’s elevated his play to another level in the postseason.

Cunningham has averaged 32.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the series, good for 45.3 PRA. He’s averaged 48.7 at home compared to 42 on the road. He recorded 45+ PRA in two of three home playoff games, going for exactly 44 in the other.

The Detroit Pistons star point guard averaged an eye-popping 32.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in three regular-season matchups with Orlando, comfortably clearing the Over on this combo prop in each game. He averaged 54.5 PRA in two at home in the regular season.

In the playoffs, Cunningham ranks second in points per game, first in field goal attempts, third in free throw attempts and fourth in minutes. His 23 field goal attempts are up from 18.6 in the regular season. His free throws have increased from six per game to 10.7, and his minutes have shot up from 33.9 to 40.5.

Cunningham leads all players in postseason usage at 35.3%. He comfortably leads his team in that category, with Tobias Harris coming in second at just 24.8.

The Pistons go as far as Cade takes them, and the team will need him to stuff the stat sheet in order to complete the series comeback and avoid an upset by the No. 8 seed. I’m expecting a huge game for the breakout playoff star.

Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay

The Orlando Magic have outplayed the Pistons for most of the series, but the psychological aspect of competition comes into play here.

The Magic were up 22 points at halftime in front of the home crowd before suffering an historic meltdown and blowing its chances to complete the upset and advance to the second round.

The Pistons were clearly feeling themselves at the end of Game 6, and they’ve got swagger and momentum to go with home court advantage. Orlando has got to be reeling, and I’ll bet on Detroit to win this one by double digits.

Scoring has come at a major premium in this series, and the Game Total Under has hit in four of six matchups. The Game Total has gone Under 203.5 in three of six, including two of the last three.

Both teams failed to record 100 points three times in the series, and I’ll take the Under in what should be a gritty, physical dog fight.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 44.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Pistons -9
• Under 202.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Cade and Tobi lead the way!

Cunningham finished sixth in the Association in double-doubles this season at 38, leading all guards and finishing four ahead of Luka Doncic in the same number of games played (64).

He’s recorded two double-doubles in the playoffs and come within one rebound of a double-double twice more. He recorded a double-double in all three regular-season matchups with Orlando.

Tobias Harris averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds across 27.7 minutes in the regular season. The veteran forward’s minutes and stats have taken a huge leap in the postseason.

Through six games in the first round, he’s averaging 20.2 points and eight rebounds. Harris has recorded two double-doubles, and he’s scored in double figures in all six contests.

If you want to get even riskier for Game 7, replacing a Cade double-double with a Cade triple-double offers final odds of +9000. Cunningham recorded a triple-double in one of three regular-season tilts with the Magic.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

• Pistons -9
• Cade Cunningham Double-Double
• Tobias Harris Double-Double

Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 7

• Spread: Orlando +9 | Detroit -9
• Moneyline: Orlando +290 | Detroit -370
• Over/Under: Over 203 | Under 203

Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Orlando Magic have hit the Game Total Under in five of their last six road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.

How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 7

Magic vs Pistons latest injuries

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Update, 6:45 p.m.: Paul George (illness) is officially available.

Update, 5:45 p.m.: Jayson Tatum is now listed OUT for the Celtics vs. the Sixers for Game 7 in Boston.

Paul George, who celebrates his 36th birthday today, was added to the injury report, but he’s considered probable with an illness. Joel Embiid is also listed as probable.

Game 7 between Philadelphia and Boston is currently hours away and as everyone waits with bated breath for what could be a historic contest, a new wrinkle has emerged in the buildup to the game.

For once, it isn’t the Sixers with a surprise change to the injury report, as Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum has been downgraded to questionable with knee stiffness. Tatum had left the second half of Game 6 with a calf issue, but then was not listed on the original Game 7 injury report. This late change involving the six-time NBA All-Star is certainly a concerning development if you’re a Boston supporter.

Notably, Tatum tore his Achilles in his right foot in the Eastern Conference semifinals last May. He returned to the court for Boston in early March, a ten-month absence that ranked among the fastest returns from that injury in history. He averaged 37.8 minutes per across the first five games of this series, before leaving early and logging 29 minutes in Game 6. We can’t make a direct connection between this current issue and the prior Achilles injury (guys can pick up knocks at any time obviously), but given the reinjury risk associated with that injury, you’d expect the Celtics to operate with an abundance of caution.

You hate to see injuries for anyone, but obviously Tatum’s absence would hugely benefit the Sixers from a competitive standpoint with the season on the line. We’ll await further updates in these final remaining hours to tipoff.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is listed as questionable for Game 7 Saturday, May 2, against the Philadelphia 76ers. The team announced the forward’s downgraded status Saturday afternoon after he developed what the team said is "left knee stiffness" which forced him to leave Game 6 with about four minutes left in the third quarter.

Tatum, 28, is a game-time decision for the winner-take-all game at the TD Garden, per the team.  

Tatum had been seen with an ice pack on his left calf, and reporters on the scene described it as a calf issue.  

He was in the hallway working on the stationary bike during Thursday night’s game, but eventually just headed into the locker room and did not return as the Celtic s fell 106-93. That loss allowed Philadelphia to erase a 3-1 series deficit and force the win-or-go-home game on Saturday.  

Tatum downplayed the injury after Thursday night’s loss.  

Tatum ruled out for Sixers-Celtics Game 7, George dealing with illness  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The hours before Game 7 of the Sixers’ first-round playoff series against the Celtics contained multiple significant pieces of health news.

Boston ruled superstar forward Jayson Tatum out with “left knee stiffness” about two hours before the 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. On the Sixers’ side, both Paul George (illness) and Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) were upgraded to available after initially being listed as probable.

Following a late-season return from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, Tatum had played in the first six games of the Sixers-Celtics series. He averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

Tatum exited late in the third quarter of the Sixers’ Game 6 win Thursday night and told reporters postgame his left leg was “a little stiff,” but the six-time All-Star said he expected to play.

However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Tatum came in Saturday with stiffness at the back of his left knee and the Celtics decided he’d sit Game 7. 

George’s illness apparently arrived out of the blue.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said that George woke up “not feeling well” and missed the team’s Saturday morning shootaround. Embiid was present at shootaround and ultimately good for go for his fourth game post-appendectomy.

While Nurse didn’t say much about George, his tone suggested the illness is not minor.

“We’re expecting him to give it a shot,” Nurse said. 

George was indeed in the Sixers’ starting lineup with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Embiid.

Without Tatum, Mazzulla radically changed his starters. Boston’s first five was Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza.

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum is questionable to play in Saturday’s Game 7 vs the Philadelphia 76ers with what the Celtics have described as “left knee soreness.”

Tatum did not play in the final 15 minutes of Game 6 on Friday and was on the exercise bike in the hall for most of the fourth quarter. But afterwards, he explained that he wasn’t particularly concerned.

“You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike, my leg just was a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter,” Tatum said. “But just kind of assessing the moment, the game was a little out of reach.”

In Thursday’s postgame press conference, Tatum said he was available to play in Saturday’s Game, something that Joe Mazzulla confirmed in a conference call with reporters on Friday afternoon.

Tatum was also not listed on the Celtics’ official injury report on Thursday night.

“I expect to play,” Tatum said. “It was my other leg, not the one I injured last year. I mean, I wasn’t like overly concerned. Shit, I came out at four minutes, like I was supposed to. Just kind of assessed the game — he took the starters out fairly early in the fourth quarter.”

But, on Saturday at 1:30pm — six hours ahead of tip-off — Tatum’s injury status changed.

For the 76ers, Paul George is also a late addition to the report; he’s listed as probable with illness.

If Tatum were to sit, Baylor Scheierman or Jordan Walsh would likely take his place in the starting lineup. Payton Pritchard, who has been the team’s third-leading scorer all year, could also enter the starting lineup ahead of Game 7.

Celtics-76ers tips off at 7:30pm ET.

The Wisconsin Badgers are losing some major production this offseason, as stars Nick Boyd and John Blackwell will be playing elsewhere next season.

Boyd, a senior this year, will be looking to make his dreams come true in the NBA, while Blackwell, who is testing the NBA Draft waters, committed to play for Duke.

Well, both players got a significant accomplishment on Friday: earning an invite to the 2026 NBA Combine.

Blackwell and Boyd are two of 73 players who were invited to the NBA Combine, joining a long list of players who hope to hear their name called in June.

The Combine will take place from May 10th to 17th, while players must either keep their name in or withdraw from the draft on May 27th. So, in Blackwell’s case, he and the other players testing the draft waters have the opportunity to participate in the combine, receive feedback, and make an informed decision on whether to return to college.

It was a strong year for the duo, who made the case of being the country’s top backcourt this season. Boyd led the way with 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, while shooting a respectable 48 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three.

Blackwell, on the other hand, was key as a junior, averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting nearly 39 percent from three-point range.

While he’s expected back at Duke for his senior year, it’ll be a big week for both players as they look towards their future.

After blowing the opportunity to end the series in Game 5, the Lakers, on one day’s rest, came out determined to end the young and hungry Houston’s season Friday night.

With a Game 7 looming, a Lakers defensive masterclass combined with offensive ineptitude from Houston led to just 31 first-half points for the Rockets, giving LA an 18-point halftime advantage en route to a Game 6 win to end series.

​Coming into the playoffs, who won the center matchup between Deandre Ayton and All-Star Alperen Şengün was highlighted as a defining indicator of which team would hold the advantage. Ayton came to LA preaching his renewed focus on defense over offense, and, as he’s done all series, showed it once again Friday night.

​After sending double teams at Şengünin Game 5, the purple and gold went back to single coverage with Ayton. LA’s big man moved his feet, stonewalling Şengün and contesting high without fouling to shut off Houston’s main offensive engine.

As the lead initiator with Kevin Durant out, Şengün had a series-high eight assists in Game 5. It was much different in Game 6, where the single coverage forced him into just one assist and four turnovers on 5-12 shooting.

Houston runs Şengün in more than just straight post-up actions. The Reed Sheppard-Şengün pick and roll had given the Lakers some issues in previous games.

​Watch below as Ayton “shows”— meets the ballhandler at the level of the screen and gives the guard defender Austin Reaves time to recover — and returns to match up with Şengün on the low block. His hands were high, ready to contest, pinning the big man under the basket and forcing an ill-advised behind-the-back pass for a turnover.

A few possessions later, with Houston threatening a second quarter run, they isolated Şengün at the free-throw line extended. Watch as Ayton absorbs three separate body bumps and a ball fake, then extends a contest to get a block on the fade-away attempt.

To start the third, Şengün looked to attack with a head of steam. He catches it on the trail from Amen Thompson and prepares for his patented spin move at the basket. Ayton keeps his position, doesn’t bite on the pump fake and contests the jump hook while cleaning the defensive glass.

“[Ayton] played his ass off tonight,” Marcus Smart said postgame. “He was locked in from the start to the finish. He kept his composure and he really set the tone for us on that defensive end. It allowed me to do what I do and everyone else to kind of galvanize and come together and do our thing.”

That composure held Şengün, a 52% shooter from the field in the regular season, to just 46% for the series and 28 assists to 18 turnovers.

Backup center Jaxson Hayes struggled mightily in this series, unable to stay on the floor with consistent fouls. The center production was entirely in Ayton’s hands. His minutes jumped up in this series as a result, while he was anchoring a defense that held the Rockets to a bottom-five offense in the playoffs.

The Lakers were underdogs in every game they won this series and the Thunder will be heavy favorites in the next round. No matter how that matchup goes, within all the criticism, Ayton came through when they needed it the most.

As promised to begin the year, he was content going without offensive touches, having only six shots in 28 minutes, and shut down Şengün to give the Lakers their first playoff series win in three years.

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

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The Boston Celtics will look to avoid a first-round collapse as they host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 tonight.

This series has been filled with standout performances, giving us plenty of player props to target, whether it’s Joel Embiid stuffing the stat sheet or a couple of Boston Celtics role players continuing to produce at a high rate.

Keep reading to see our best 76ers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, May 2.

Best 76ers vs Celtics props for Game 7

Player	Pick
Joel Embiid	Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists	-105
Payton Pritchard	Over 4.5 assists	+125
Neemias Queta	Over 7.5 rebounds	+105

Game 7 Prop #1: Joel Embiid Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists

-105 at bet365

Since his return from his surgery for appendicitis, Joel Embiid has been a force in this series, averaging 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

While beating the Boston Celtics on their home court in a Game 7 might be a tall order, expect Embiid to put up another big performance after topping 40.5 PRA in each of the last three contests.

Game 7 Prop #2: Payton Pritchard Over 4.5 assists

+125 at bet365

Payton Pritchard remains an excellent distributor for the Celtics. He averaged 5.2 assists per game during the regular season and has dished out five or more assists in all but one game in this series.

Boston is leaning on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as its primary scoring threats, and I can’t see them going away from their two biggest stars tonight. 

That means putting Pritchard in a supporting role, and while his scoring numbers might increase if he hits a few more shots, he’ll mostly be looking to get the ball to the top options on the court. 

Game 7 Prop #3: Neemias Queta Over 7.5 rebounds

+105 at bet365

Neemias Queta is often overlooked in the Celtics offense, and along with picking up some efficient buckets in the paint, Queta is an excellent rebounder.

While the Portuguese center has only played 19.8 minutes per game in the series, he’s still averaging 8.0 rebounds in the process. 

Boston has looked to play Queta more with Embiid back in the lineup. He’s had two straight games with 20+ minutes and double-digit rebounds, and he’ll be counted on to get that kind of run again in Game 7.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Grab some popcorn. Find a seat.

Enjoy the bloodbath between the Sixers and the Celtics.

The Knicks will just be resting and patiently waiting.

Mike Brown

On the offensive changes after falling down 2-1 in Game 3:

“We changed what we’d done offensively, but again, it was because we were pushed to do it. We feel pretty good about what we fell into. We had to find more ways to put our guys in their strengths while getting to it quickly while still having options. I’m not a guy that likes to call every play. I want our guys to be able to read where the advantage is quickly throughout the course of the action. And Atlanta forced us to find a way to do that and we feel pretty good about where we’re at right now. But it happened holistically after Game 3.”

Josh Hart

On how the Knicks flipped the first-round series:

“I think I had good physicality. I was able to force him into some tough shots. I was just trying to make life hard for him. Obviously, that’s a guy that’s got a lot of buckets in this league. That was something I thought, after Game 1 and Game 2, he kind of went off and kind of took over the game, that’s the matchup that I wanted going into Game 3 and after. For starters, I thought KAT was amazing. To start the game blitzing, protecting the rim, he had some big blocks, his energy was huge for us. I just think the physicality, the attention to detail, focus on the game plan, I think all those are at a very high level. And now we have to continue to build, watch Game 7 Saturday and focus on who we have.”

On running the offense through Towns:

“I think we were always comfortable with [running offense through Towns]. I think we just didn’t do a good enough job doing that. So that’s something that you’ve seen the ability. He’s able to do — what, two triple doubles in the last three games? It shows the ability. He’s able to knock down shots, play off the dribble and pass very well. So that’s something we’re gonna continue to do.”

On personally asking coaches to defend CJ McCollum:

“Dude goes down and averages 30 [points] for the first two games, nah. I’ll be the point of attack on that. I cursed out one of our defensive [coaches] for taking me off him at the end of Game 3. I said, ‘I’m on him. Don’t take me off him. I’m guarding him,’ And that was the challenge I wanted.

“At a certain point, it’s just pride. It’s wanting to obviously try to stop him, to limit him. Games 1 and 2, he had (about) 30 [per game]. It was just a pride thing. Go out there and get stops.”

Jalen Brunson

On the need for refocusing after the first-round win:

“It’s good to celebrate the wins, but I mean, we can’t let it drag on. We have to focus up. Wake up tomorrow, and it’s on to the next.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On finding consistency in the playoffs:

“During this series, we didn’t play our best basketball. For us to make a statement about who we could be when we’re clicking on all cylinders [is important]. It’s great for us to have this kind of tape, so that we can look back at it and see, when we’re playing our best, what are we doing correctly? But it’s about consistency in the playoffs. How many times can we do that in a seven-game series?”

On answering the call against the Hawks:

“I just wanted to answer the call. You ask for the opportunities, and they oblige. I’ve got to repay that trust and that opportunity. I always talk to y’all about impacting winning. I got more opportunities to do that, and I wanted to make sure I took advantage of the opportunities I was given and I’m proud I’ve been able to help us win.”

On Knicks’ fans and the sky-high expectations:

“It’s understandable that the fans didn’t know what version they would see of us, especially after—during this series, we didn’t play our best basketball. And for us to make a statement about who we are when we’re clicking on all cylinders — it’s great for us to have this kind of tape to look back at and see when we’re playing our best, what are we doing throughout the game.”

Miles McBride

On getting Towns the ball more:

“I feel like we’ve been comfortable with [going to Towns]. I think KAT is doing a better job of asserting himself, posting up, wanting the ball, and then making the plays. He’s a great player. So I feel like it’s kind of both of our parts as a team. We’ve got to make a conscious effort to get great players the ball in areas we know they’re going to excel. At the same time, they have to want to be assertive in those positions.”

Jordan Clarkson

On staying ready while out of the rotation:

“[Being out of the rotation is] definitely challenging, but I’ve been in the league for 12 years. I know how it goes. 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.”

Boosie

On the exchange with Jalen Brunson:

“Jalen Brunson ran over me. Jalen Brunson ran over me We had a real collision Yeaaaahh I need the video Who got the video? Jalen Brunson ran over me I need the video.”

When your head and your heart often conflict on the outcome of a game involving one of your teams, your head is usually more realistic or pessimistic while your heart is the more optimistic part of your body. For most Sixers fans, it’s the opposite entering Saturday night’s Game 7 in Boston in a first-round series that has gone on much longer than anyone would have expected.

Philadelphia sports teams have lost seven consecutive Game 7s. That streak is eight if you include the winner-take-all Game 5 that the Phillies lost in the 2011 NLDS. That’s right, a Philadelphia sports team has not won a Game 7 since the Flyers eliminated the Sabres in the spring of 2011. The Sixers are responsible for four of the seven Game 7 losses in a streak that has spanned 15 years for the city. 

Two of the four recent losses for the Sixers in Game 7s came at the same building they’re about to play another one in. What’s even more symbolic is the timing of those two losses to the Celtics in Game 7s on the road. The first one came in 2012. Philly was a pesky eight seed that was giving a veteran Celtics group all they could handle in the second round. The Celtics won a low-scoring 85-75 game and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. It felt like the absolute apex of what those Sixers teams could achieve. Philly capitalized on Derrick Rose’s injury in the first round to eliminate the Bulls and then scratched and clawed for as long as it could against Boston but simply wasn’t talented enough to beat a Celtics team that had won the East in 2008 and 2010. Heck, even if the Sixers had pulled it out in Boston, they would have been an even bigger underdog against Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Heat went on to win the NBA Championship in 2012.

That game was the final one Andre Iguodala played as a Sixer. Iggy was a part of the package in the four-team trade with the Sixers, Lakers, Magic and Nuggets that sent Andrew Bynum across the country from LA to Philly while Iguodala landed in Denver. After Bynum never played a game in Philadelphia, Sam Hinkie came in to blow things up and start The Process.

Fast forward 11 years to Mother’s Day 2023 and Philly is back in a Game 7 against the Celtics. But, this time the circumstances are much different. For one, Doc Rivers is coaching the Sixers this time instead of the Celtics. Secondly, the Sixers were much more the Celtics’ equal and had just blown out the Celtics in Boston in a Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Ironically enough, Miami was again waiting for the winner in the Eastern Conference Finals, but this wasn’t the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh Heat. 

But after this loss in 2023, one simply could not use the same “they fought hard,” narrative to cope the way you could have in 2012. It was one of the more embarrassing moments for Joel Embiid, the crown jewel of Hinkie’s rebuilding plan that started in the spring of 2013. Embiid shot just 5-for-18 from the field, was a -28 and the Sixers got blown out, losing by a final score of 112-88. Boston would go on to lose to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat in the conference finals and it was yet another blown opportunity for the Embiid-led Sixers to make a deep playoff run.

Surely you don’t need a refresher on some of the other playoff disappointments that have happened for the Sixers in between 2012 and 2023. Although, we should point out that included in those playoff exits were two more eliminations at the hands of the Celtics in 2018 and 2020. The 2020 loss in the first-round in the COVID bubble was the final season for Brett Brown as Sixers’ head coach. The aforementioned 2023 loss to the Celtics was the end of Doc Rivers’ tenure on the sideline in Philadelphia.

The playoff eliminations for the Sixers in the last 25 years have all happened in either the first or second rounds and one of two narratives has followed each one. It was either “tough break, at least they went down swinging,” if they lost competitively or simply appeared to be outmatched but gave good effort or one of utter embarrassment that resulted in the Sixers being the butt of many jokes amongst national talking heads and other fanbases.

The point is, we’ve seen just about everything when it comes to ways the Sixers can disappoint us in the spring. We all know they have plenty of embarrassments in playoffs. If they didn’t have some of the hard-fought playoff exits, most recently in 2024 against New York, a close loss in Game 7 might be a little easier to stomach considering no one expected them to get here. But we’ve done that before too.

So, all of this is why your heart tells you they won’t win Game 7. They never do. Until you see them dig deep and find a way to pull through in the face of adversity, the only emotion you know if you’re a Sixers fan is pain. But if you remove the historical emotions and simply analyze the last two weeks of this series against Boston, your head will tell you Philadelphia can absolutely win on Saturday night.

All three of the Sixers’ wins in this series have come by double digits. Two of them have been in Beantown. Jayson Tatum seems likely to play in Game 7 for Boston, but will probably be less than 100% after leaving Game 6 with a calf injury. The Sixers aren’t as reliant on Embiid as they once were. Paul George has suddenly come alive. Tyrese Maxey’s level has risen. When VJ Edgecombe plays with the right amount of confidence, he’s not exactly a rookie. Role players like Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond have all had their moments in this series. But Embiid has still been very productive having produced a 33-point masterpiece in Game 5 and finishing just shy of a triple-double in Game 6.

A win on Saturday night would be so emotionally refreshing for this Sixers fanbase. After about a decade of playoff disappointment with Embiid leading the way, no one really went into this season with hopes of a deep playoff run. Frankly, even when things were looking good at various points in the regular season, a lot of fans probably figured, “Well, what’s the point of even getting excited? They’re just going to let me down again in the playoffs if I do enjoy this.” Then, when it was the Celtics yet again as the first-round opponent, many fans probably just felt you could simulate the series and it wasn’t even worth watching as the result would surely be Boston in 4 or 5.

While a win on Saturday doesn’t guarantee Philly gets to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001, there’s certainly a path towards a deep playoff run in an East that would open up significantly without Boston. It’s understandable to think about what might be next if the Sixers can beat the Celtics one more time on Saturday night, but Sixers fans should enjoy this moment. 

You’re actually going to be nervous for a game in this series instead of just watching and waiting for the blowout loss to commence. For as frustrating as the recent playoff exits have been for the franchise, by now I think most fans know that you have to go all the way back to 1982 to find the last time Philadelphia eliminated Boston in the playoffs. Since then, it’s been a total of seven playoff series that the Sixers have lost to the Celtics.

When you consider the franchise’s history with these big games, how a win would change Embiid’s legacy and the collective shot-in-the-arm that the fanbase would get from winning one of these games, it’s impossible to undervalue what Saturday night means for the franchise. This is a lot more than just a first-round playoff series. If the Sixers were to go on to make a deep playoff run, there’s a good chance coming back from 3-1 down against the Celtics would still be the highlight of the 2026 postseason for the franchise.

So, buckle up, Sixers fans. The fact you’re even in a car that’s requiring you to buckle up again is a surprise in and of itself. These rides haven’t always been fun, but sooner or later, one of them will be. Here’s to hoping tonight’s ride is just that.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Matthew Knies was in the building Friday night for one of the wildest finishes Scotiabank Arena has seen in years,  and he had every reason to lose his mind along with everyone else.

Knies attended the Toronto Raptors’ Game 6 first-round playoff matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining a sellout crowd desperate for a reason to believe. Heading in down 3-2 in the series, the Raptors’ season was hanging by a thread, and the night was shaping up to be a grim farewell to Toronto’s basketball season. With the Raptors trailing by a couple of points in the final minute of overtime, the atmosphere had turned funereal.

Then came the sequence that will be remembered for a while. After Raptors point guard Jamal Shead missed one of two free throws, the Raptors managed to pull within one point with 10.9 seconds remaining. That set the stage for RJ Barrett, who fielded the ball and heaved a desperation three-pointer from well beyond the arc. The shot looked like a prayer that wasn’t going to be answered. The ball caromed off the back of the rim, rocketed straight up into the air, and then dropped back down through the net, giving the Raptors a stunning one-point lead with just 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock.

2.1M FOR THE WIN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4rRVNXxSDd

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 2, 2026

Knies, there with a group of friends, was one of many who absolutely erupted when the ball fell through. Video circulating on social media showed the 23-year-old forward celebrating with the kind of unbridled joy that only a miraculous buzzer-beater can produce. You can take the guy out of the playoffs, the Leafs missed the postseason this spring, but you can’t take the competitor out of him.

Knies isn’t the only Leaf to have made an appearance at the Raptors’ playoff run this spring. William Nylander was spotted courtside during Game 4 of the series, the Swedish winger taking in the action from prime real estate near the floor. It speaks to the genuine crossover appeal these athletes have within Toronto’s broader sports community and perhaps to the fact that, with their own playoff run cut short, the Leafs have had some free time on their hands.

Matthew Knies and his buddies went nuts after RJ Barrett scored the game-winning bucket in Game 6

🎥: Amazon Prime | #LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/FcBZDszHyp

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) May 2, 2026

That last part stings a little. The Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade this season, bringing an abrupt and painful end to a year that carried genuine Stanley Cup aspirations before injuries and inconsistency derailed the campaign. For Knies in particular, the early offseason has been a period of reflection following a breakout 2023-24 in which he established himself as one of the most important young power forwards in the Eastern Conference. Watching another Toronto team battle for its playoff life was surely a mix of inspiration and reminder of what the Leafs will need to summon come next October.

As for the Raptors, they completed the comeback to win 112-110, forcing a deciding Game 7 on Sunday in Cleveland. Whether they can pull off the ultimate upset on the road remains to be seen, but Friday night they gave this city exactly the kind of moment it needed, and Matthew Knies was right there for all of it.

I am admittedly stealing the idea for this article from Jeremy Reisman over on the Detroit Lions’ site. They do a great job over there with their Lions coverage, and imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

On Friday night, the Detroit Pistons made history. Facing elimination in Game 6 of the opening round of the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs, the Pistons found themselves down 24 points in the second half. But then their defense locked in, Cade Cunningham took over, and the Pistons came all the way back to force a Game 7 at home in Detroit. Their 24-point comeback set the franchise record for the biggest comeback in the postseason, and it was the largest comeback from a road team facing elimination since the 1996-97 NBA season.

What about our MSU Spartans? Over the years, our teams have been on both sides of epic end-of-game situations, both mounting unthinkable comebacks and also snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I have my #1 memory from this category, and it’s one that still is the record holder in college football. I remember watching this at home and the comeback just had this feeling of inevitability to it to the point that I was able to enjoy it fully without any amount of stress.

I imagine your answers will be exclusively from football and men’s basketball, but if you have something from another sport, feel free to share it. Let’s see what TOC Nation comes up with.

HOUSTON — Kevin Durant’s first Houston Rockets season did not go as intended.

On Friday night at Toyota Center, while his teammates attempted to force a decisive Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant sat on the bench in street clothes with a sprained left ankle. He could only watch as the Lakers shifted into cruise control and the Rockets staggered toward the end of their season.

When the final buzzer sounded on the Lakers’ 98-78 win, the Rockets were right back where they were at the end of last season: exiting the playoffs in the first round.

In Houston’s locker room after the game, players exchanged hugs and gifted each other jerseys, relics of a season that failed to meet the raised expectations set when the Rockets traded last summer for Durant, who was injured for all but one playoff game against the Lakers.

The Rockets have suffered first-round playoff exits in back-to-back seasons, both in series where coach Ime Udoka said it felt like his team "got behind the eight ball."

HOUSTON — The Lakers did it.  

They clawed. They scrapped. They refused to give up. 

The team that was counted out reached the second round of the NBA playoffs after clinching its first-round series against the Rockets with a 98-78 win in Game 6 on Friday. 

What they went through over the last month transformed them, making them ready for their date with the reigning champion Thunder. 

Before everything went wrong for them, they had no chance. 

Now they do.

Game 6 was a huge test.

After the Lakers roared to a 3-0 series lead, the Rockets won the next two contests. Momentum had wildly swung. The Lakers had to win in Houston or else they’d face elimination. 

What was on the line?

Oh, just the Lakers’ reputation and LeBron James avoiding a dent on his legacy. No team in NBA history had ever blown a 3-0 series lead. 

How did they respond? 

The Lakers, who aren’t known as a great defensive team, held the Rockets to fewer than 80 points for just the 10th time in a playoff game since 2000. 

Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart were bulldogs, preventing the Rockets’ scorers from getting hot. 

As for James, he wasn’t about to let the Lakers — or himself — free-fall into infamy. He met the moment with the perfect combination of poise and ferocity, single-handedly outscoring the Rockets in the second quarter, 14-13. 

As the Lakers huddled after the game, everyone bleated to honor him as the greatest player of all time (the GOAT). The 41-year-old James had just led all scorers for the fourth time this series, finishing with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. 

“It speaks to his greatness,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player.”

It was the Lakers’ latest test amid a series of seemingly impossible quizzes that they’ve somehow aced over the last month. 

When the Lakers lost Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) with five games remaining in the regular season, no one thought they had any chance in the playoffs. They were missing their leading scorers, who left a 60-point crater in their absence.  

But the Lakers have learned they’re so much deeper than they thought. 

James is still a superstar, ready and willing to be the first option. Luke Kennard’s talents extend far beyond the 3-point line. Ayton is capable of playing with force. Smart can look like the best defender in the league on any given night. Rui Hachimura and Jake LaRavia are capable of stepping up in big moments. 

For the Lakers, cutting off their two biggest limbs made the rest of their body grow stronger. 

It took a lot for this Lakers team to believe in itself. The negative noise was deafening. 

What they just accomplished is stunning. 

“It felt bleak,” Redick said. “… For us to be written off a few weeks ago and to win a playoff series is a big deal. And it just speaks to the character of our team and the leaders of our team. They didn’t let go of the rope.”

Now the Lakers may just be ready for the Thunder. It’s a crazy thought. But they’ve risen above the impossible. 

That can change a team. It can seed a belief that’s infectious. 

If Doncic returns in the second round of the playoffs, his teammates will no longer feel as though they live or die on his 40-point scoring flurries. 

Everyone in the rotation tapped into being the best version of themselves at various points this series. 

That’s powerful. 

There’s no denying that the Lakers have an enormous challenge ahead of them. Their last two games against the Thunder were disastrous. There was a 43-point loss on April 2, followed by a 36-point loss on April 7. 

But the Lakers are battle-tested now in a way they weren’t before. 

They’ve gone through something. They survived. They persevered. 

Everyone played a part in it.   

James proved he’s still James. 

Reaves returned from a painful oblique injury in Game 5 after pouring himself into getting back onto the court. There were some days he left his house at 7:30 a.m. and didn’t return until 7:30 p.m. after seeking various treatments. 

“Literally, did literally everything we could possibly do to get myself back in this opportunity,” said Reaves, who had 15 points on 7-for-14 shooting.

Then there’s Smart, who was on the verge of falling out of the league before resuscitating his career this postseason, including bottling up Kevin Durant in Game 2.

As for Ayton, his maturity and professionalism had fallen into question before he recently showed he can star in his role, including holding Alperen Sengun to 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting in Game 6.

Then there’s Kennard, who made people question whether he had been playing the wrong role his entire career after shining as a playmaker in the first two games of this series. 

There are so many success stories this postseason on the Lakers’ roster. They did this as a collective. They overcame adversity together. That makes them dangerous. 

They didn’t have a chance. Now they’re going to the Western Conference semifinals. 

It would be foolish to count them out again. 

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