The Golden State Warriors, ranked 10th in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record, face the LA Clippers, who are ninth in the West with a 42-40 record. The LA Clippers are favored with a -220 moneyline compared to the Golden State Warriors' +180. The winner will advance to face the Suns in the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.
How to watch Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers
If you flip through Jayson Tatum’s Instagram stories, you’ll notice that he routinely reposts photos from the Instagram page @eyeofbri. For most of the season, the Celtics star shared pictures of himself on the sidelines in his outfits, cheering on his teammates.
Now that he is back on the court, his posts highlight his on-court play.
The common denominator? Many of those photos are captured by Bri Robinson, one of dozens of NBA player photographers who work as freelancers to chronicle the lives of NBA players.
She’s one of just a few women in the space. She’s also one of the most elite.
And, serving as Neemias Queta’s personal photographer, Robinson attends every home Celtics game and various off-court events, while also sometimes hitting the road.
While at TD Garden, Robinson also takes photos of other players, from the team’s superstars to its two-way players.
It all started in 2023, when Robinson attended a Celtics game as a fan, with her camera, and snapped photos of the players all night. After she finished editing the pictures, she messaged her favorite ones to each player on the roster on Instagram.
“The only person who got back to me was Oshae Brissett,” Robinson recalls. “I was like, ‘Hey – if you’re looking for a shooter, I’m here.’ And he was like, ‘Okay, bet. Like, let’s get together.’ He loved the images that I sent him.”
So, Robinson became Brissett’s personal photographer during the 2024 championship season. It wasn’t a financially lucrative gig, but it did mean that she was credentialed to attend and photograph every home Celtics game. It also meant she was able to chronicle the Celtics’ 18th championship.
Brissett didn’t get much playing time during that playoff run, so Robinson made sure to arrive early to take photos of his tunnel fits and pregame workouts. And, when game play began, even if Brissett didn’t see the floor, she’d photograph the other players, slowly building her portfolio.
After Brissett left the Celtics in 2024, Robinson had to find another player on the roster who’d be willing to help credential her. So, she became Queta’s personal photographer.
Over the past two years, she’s chronicled the come-up of one of the NBA’s top centers.
Falling in love with photography
Bri Robinson first picked up the camera in college, at age 20. And, she recalls, it immediately felt instinctive.
A few years into her photography obsession, she learned that a prowess for photography was in her bloodline.
“There’s this thing called the Shutter Bug gene,” she said. “My mom’s biological uncle, who actually took her in as a kid, like her dad, was a photographer. He was a portrait photographer, but I had no idea until two years into photographing that he was a professional photographer. And so my mom pulled out images of her when she was younger, of her just being a test dummy for him. And the photos were super dope. They were portraits – her sitting with her cat, just stuff that I would do. And I had no idea.”
That moment affirmed she was on the right path – and that she was destined to be a photographer.
“I was always a creative person, but when she told me that, I was like, No way. Am I living through my family member? Are they living through me?”
Robinson’s photography style is unique.
“My style is more portrait style,” she said. “I love emotionally-invoking images – that’s what I love. I love to see after a dunk — the emotions. I love up close photos. I love raw, emotional photos, and I hope that’s what people are seeing.”
Robinson is one of the only female player photographers in the league. That comes with its own set of challenges; she never wants people to question her relationship with or intentions toward players, and at first, she worried people would think she only got into this space to hang out with NBA players.
“When I first started, I thought a lot about what people thought. Like, is she here for the right reasons?” she admitted. “But as I grew in this space, I just say, like, ‘Fuck it. Like, who cares [what people think?’ My work is good, and if guys hire me because my work is good, then so be it.”
Nowadays, Robinson gets paid per gig. And, over the past few years, the gigs have been piling up. She’s travelled to Paris to photograph Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin’s engagement. She’s photographed Jaylen Brown’s Bridge camp and taken pictures for Derrick White’s family. She’s worked closely with a variety of former Celtics, like Torrey Craig, Jrue Holiday, and Xavier Tillman. She photographed a Pilates event hosted by the wife of Maine Celtics head coach Phil Pressey, Elizabeth. The list goes on and on.
Family photoshoots have become one of her biggest strengths; Derrick White’s wife, Hannah, for example, commissioned her to photograph one of their kid’s birthday parties.
“Hannah reached out to me and was like, ‘Hey, last minute, it’s my son’s birthday. I forgot to hire someone. Can you do it?’” Robinson said. “And I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ That was exciting for me, because I never worked with Derrick White and his family outside of the arena.”
She never intended to become a basketball photographer, but given her love for capturing emotions, it suddenly made perfect sense.
“You get to see the person truly in their element,” Robinson said. “That’s what I love to see. People can shoot, people can pull a trigger on the camera, anyone can do that, but if you can invoke an emotion and get that person’s actual, true feelings, that’s everything I love. I’m so passionate about it. Like, I just love it. I’ll see a face, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s the image.’”
She gives a lot of the credit to the players who have helped her get her foot in the door — first Brissett, and now Queta. She’s also enormously grateful for the support she’s received from Tatum, who always makes sure to credit her when he uses her pictures.
Tatum, who has 7.3 million followers on Instagram, has ensured Robinson’s photos are seen by more people than she could have ever imagined.
And, in turn, that’s given her other photography opportunities.
“If Jayson Tatum’s gonna repost me, [other NBA players think] why can’t I use Bri?” she said. “It’s a stamp of approval. JT has really pushed my work, and I’m always going to be grateful for that.”
This season, she’s chronicled Neemias Queta’s journey from a fourth-string center to one of the most durable and consistent centers in the league. She’s also captured tunnel shots for players like Ron Harper Jr, Luka Garza, and Baylor Scheierman.
All of it means she is living out a dream she didn’t even know she had.
The biggest beneficiaries? Celtics fans – who get to enjoy photos of the season’s most emotional moments.
The Orlando Magic, ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 45-37 record, face the Philadelphia 76ers, who are seventh in the East with a 45-37 record. Philadelphia is favored with a -125 moneyline compared to Orlando's +105. The game is part of the Play-In Tournament.
How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: Coby White #3 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball over Pelle Larsson #9 of the Miami Heat late in the second half during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets swinging a trade-deadline deal with the Chicago Bulls to bring Coby White back to his home state was immediately both an obviously great basketball move and a feel-good story, doubly so for those of us who are UNC fans. White, who of course spent one memorable year at UNC in 2019, added the kind of backup ballhandler that the Hornets had desperately needed throughout the first half of the season while seamlessly fitting with the team’s bombs-away approach from three-point range. He took a few games to get going after recovering from a minor injury, but by the end of the season, he was clearly an upgrade to the roster, averaging 18 points on 48/38/90 splits, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 21 minutes per game over the Hornets’ last 10 games. As both a microwave scorer and secondary point guard, he looked like exactly what they needed as they won 7 of their last 10 and made the postseason for the first time in four years. And who better to have on your team for the Play-In Tournament than the guy who, two years ago, put up 42 in a Play-In game?
I’m still not sure anybody saw coming what he would do next. The Hornets and Miami Heat were in a back-and-forth affair all Tuesday night, and White had been stifled for the first half and most of the third quarter. With 2 minutes left in the quarter, the Heat were up 1 after the Hornets had chipped away at a five-point lead. White took the ball up the key, went around a Ryan Kalkbrenner screen, and banked in a left-wing pull-up three. It wasn’t pretty, but it seemed to give him the mojo he needed. Two possessions later, the Heat’s Pelle Larson tripped over himself in the backcourt and lost the ball into White’s hands. He might have had a pass inside, but he decided to pull up from the top of the key instead: splash. The next possession, he beat Simone Fontecchio off the dribble and finished at the rim, and then finished his flurry with a buzzer-beating catch-and-shoot three that ended the quarter. In two minutes, he’d gone on an 11-4 run against Miami that put his team up 6. I wish I had a video of all four plays, but here’s the last two:
For a lot of players, in a lot of games, that stretch would be the most noteworthy highlight they had. Not Coby White, not on this night. The Heat clawed back that deficit pretty early in the 4th and took as much as a 4-point lead with under 30 seconds to go. Charlotte’s Brandon Miller hit a 3, which made it possible for the Hornets to tie it after the Heat converted two free throws with 14 seconds left. And then Coby White did this:
It was a fantastic bit of awareness by both him and the Charlotte coaching staff that a shot would have to go up immediately so that Miami couldn’t foul to both waste time and eventually force the Hornets into shooting 2 when they needed 3, and it’s also an obviously incredibly high degree-of-difficulty shot. But that kind of gamer is who Coby White has always been. The Hornets got the last stop they needed in regulation and ended up winning an exciting overtime, and White finished with a line of 19 points including 5/8 shooting from three, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, recording a team-high plus-minus of +21 in a one-point game.
It is undeniably awesome to see Coby White back in the state where he set high school basketball records and led his college team to one of its most exciting regular seasons in recent memory, and still making incredible plays like he always has. The Hornets have been one of the NBA’s biggest success stories this year, turning around from multiple years of absolute futility, and on Tuesday night, he gave them exactly what they needed to not have that story cut short. He and Charlotte will be back in action on Friday as they try to put North Carolina’s professional team in the actual playoffs for the first time in a decade. Even if you’re not a Hornets or even an NBA fan, I assure you that Coby White remains just as fun to watch as you remember.
It’s fun to play the “What if…” game sometimes in sports. Sometimes, certain scenarios are worth remembering in the event of future transactions that would serve as a reminder of one team’s initial interest in a particular player. If for nothing else, it creates some fun dialogue amongst fans.
As we prepare for Philadelphia’s clash with Orlando Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, let’s rewind about two years to the summer of 2024. It was then that Paul George opted to walk right into the massive amount of cap space Daryl Morey had to negotiate with after finally being done with Tobias Harris and his huge contract. Do you remember who the reported runner-up to the Sixers in the George sweepstakes? In case you forgot, we wouldn’t blame you, but it was the Orlando Magic.
Orlando, not often thought of as a top free-agent destination in the NBA, was coming off a loss in the first round to Cleveland in seven games at the time. Rewind two more years and the Magic were busy drafting Paolo Banchero first overall in the 2022 draft and it didn’t take long for the Magic to ascend into postseason play. George was likely thought of as a veteran that still had some juice left to help Banchero and the rest of Orlando’s younger players mature while also helping them on the court in an effort to rise up to a higher position in the East.
Well, we know what happened and George picked Philly and barring an upset of either Boston or Detroit in the first round this year, the Sixers are going to go the first two years of George’s contract without winning a playoff series with George on the roster. Orlando has stayed in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference’s playoff seeds in the last two years without George and will have to figure out a different way to get out of NBA purgatory.
But what would the Sixers have done if George picked Orlando? Well, it seemed like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who ironically ended up in Orlando, would have been their next target. Caldwell-Pope didn’t get anywhere near the money that George got in the summer of 2024, and he also got one less year on his contract, but his three-year, $66 million contract flopped quickly for the Magic and they flipped him to Memphis last summer. The trade certainly came at a cost for Orlando who decided to add Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a 2029 first-round pick swap to bring in Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies.
It was certainly an understandable pivot from a Magic team looking to maximize every season they have Banchero under contract for, but think about if the Sixers were in that position. Philly already has outgoing first-round pick debts to Oklahoma City and Brooklyn that have not been paid. It simply would not have been possible for the Sixers to shed the final two years of a hefty deal to Caldwell-Pope while still adding a player like Bane to improve their chances of contending.
So, what would the Sixers have done with the rest of the money they would have saved from not signing George had they brought in Caldwell-Pope? It’s possible they would have just given more of it to Caleb Martin. Morey ended up landing Martin anyway, and then trading him in his first season with the Sixers.
Somehow, we have now landed in a world in which it was better to simply sign George than pivot to such alternatives that would have likely made the 2024-25 season even worse. Granted, the Sixers were able to survive all the losing last season by keeping their first-rounder and delaying the debt to Oklahoma City and drafting VJ Edgecombe. But just when you thought last season couldn’t have possibly gone worse, there’s a scenario in which it just might have and all it would have taken was George to have picked Orlando instead of Philadelphia.
To revisit an aforementioned point, maybe the Magic have seen the resurgence from George after his suspension this season. Perhaps it has served as a reminder for the Orlando brass of the player they thought they could get two years ago. Would the Magic possibly be interested in engaging with the Sixers and taking the final two years of George’s contract? It’s at least food for thought.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was fuming over the injury to his star player, Bam Adebayo, in the second quarter of the team’s play-in loss to the Hornets Tuesday night.
Adebayo was tripped by LaMelo Ball just over a minute into the second quarter and did not return due to a lower back injury after falling hard to the court.
Ball fell after driving to the basket and grabbed Adebayo’s left ankle.
Spoelstra felt Ball should’ve been ejected from the game and put the onus on the referees, naming Curtis Blair and Zach Zarba, specifically.
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play,” Spoelstra said after the game. “Obviously, our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and they made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win.
“That’s a shame. [Ball] should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans. Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see that, and if it’s not his responsibility then Zach’s got to see it. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don’t know [Ball] from anyone. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Heat center Bam Adebayo writhes in pain after getting tripped by the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball in the second quarter on April 14, 2026. AP
The NBA is reviewing the incident, insider Chris Haynes reported Wednesday, and a decision on potential discipline is expected before the Hornets’ next game on Friday.
“I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was, but I’mma check on him and see if he’s okay and everything,” Ball said after the game.
Ball ended up making the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, giving ninth-seeded Charlotte a 127-126 win at home.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra objects to a call during the second quarter against the Hornets on April 14, 2026. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Charlotte will visit the loser of Wednesday’s 76ers vs. Magic game with the final playoff spot in the East on the line, while Miami’s season is over.
Ball’s poor shooting kept the Heat in the game. The 24-year-old went 12-for-31 and was 2-for-16 from 3-point range. He finished with 30 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
Adebayo had six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes.
The numbers are in, and the NBA says Year 1 of its new television deals were a hit.
The league released numbers for the regular season on Wednesday, showing that 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across the league’s four primary broadcast platforms this year — those being ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV.
Those numbers are the league’s best in 24 years, the NBA said, plus represented an 86% rise over last season.
Prime Video was part of the league’s television rights package for the first time this season and NBC/Peacock returned for the first time in a generation. The league signed a new 11-year, $76 billion-plus media rights deal in 2024 to show games on those two platforms along with ABC/ESPN and NBA TV.
Those deals kicked in at the start of this season.
Other highlights of the viewership numbers:
— NBA games across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV had the the highest average viewership in 13 years, up 35% over last season.
— A total of 57 telecasts this season reached an average of 2 million viewers, the most since the 2011-12 season.
— People watched NBA games for more than 920 million hours, up 25% over last season and the most since 2011-12.
— The NBA’s social media channels generated a record 228 billion views this season, according to Videocites. That’s up 13% over last season.
— Attendance over the past three seasons in NBA arenas is higher than any three-season span in league history.
— Viewership for NBA Cup group play games was up 90% from last season.
— The audience for the All-Star Game on NBC, averaging 8.8 million viewers, was the largest for the league’s midseason showcase event since 2011.
The NBA Play-In Tournament continues tonight with the Orlando Magic heading to the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the 7/8 matchup.
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Magic computer picks
Franz Wagner Under 19.5 points (-125)
Projection: 17.65 points
While he finished the season with back-to-back 20-point outings, Franz Wagner failed to reach this number in nine straight games before that.
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Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points (+100)
Projection: 14.88 points
Jalen Suggs finished the season with a 23-point game against the Celtics and hit 11 threes over his last two games. That shooting will continue against a middling Philadelphia 76ers defense.
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Desmond Bane Over 3.5 assists (-130)
Projection: 4.42 assists
Desmond Bane has cleared this number in four of his last six games and also logged five and six assists over his last two games against Philly.
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76ers computer picks
Quentin Grimes Over 2.5 assists (+155)
Projection: 2.92 assists
Quinton Grimes' assist numbers come and go, but he had 3+ assists in five straight games to end March and has cleared this number in every game against the Orlando Magic this season.
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Andre Drummond Over 6.5 points (-112)
Projection: 8.41 points
Joel Embiid's absence has boosted Andre Drummond's role, and the big man has scored 22 points over his last two games to end the season.
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Quentin Grimes Over 9.5 points (-120)
Projection: 11.14 points
Grimes is averaging nearly 15 points per game over his last three games in a stretch that includes two 20-point nights. That scoring streak continues tonight.
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How to watch Magic vs 76ers tonight
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Oct 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) have words during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It’s win or stay home (to play the Hornets) for the Sixers when they host the Orlando Magic in the East’s 7-8 Play-In game Wednesday night.
After Charlotte’s thrilling overtime win Tuesday night, we know what’s at stake in this one: the winner of Sixers-Magic will head to Boston for a playoff matchup with the Celtics starting Sunday afternoon. The loser will host the Hornets Friday with one last chance to make the postseason and take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Both teams come into this one in weird places.
The Magic made a huge splash this past offseason to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. The thought was Bane could be an ideal complement to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Orlando became a trendy pick to potentially win the Eastern Conference. Between injuries and inconsistencies, the team never truly took off this season. Their regular season culminated in a loss to the Hospital Celtics, which cost the Magic the opportunity to host this game instead of heading to South Philly.
The trio of Bane, Banchero and Wagner is still a dangerous one. Any of them could go off and have a big scoring night. Their top reserve, Anthony Black, had a strong regular season and was excellent against the Sixers this season. The biggest challenge for the Sixers will be contending with the Magic’s size, but with Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dominick Barlow all healthy, they should be able to handle it.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will be one of the most dangerous backcourts in the NBA playoffs (if they make it there). They face a stiff test tonight from the dogged Jalen Suggs and Bane. We’ll see how Maxey and his strained pinky tendon fare with those two aggressive guards swiping at it all night.
The center position might be the X-factor in this one. With Joel Embiid still out, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona will be the only true bigs available for the Sixers. The guess here is Drummond gets the starting nod based off his experience and Orlando’s aforementioned size. The good news for the Sixers is the Magic don’t have a true stretch big option. Wendell Carter Jr. will shoot threes, but he made just 31.9% on the season. However, both Carter and backup Goga Bitadze average over two offensive rebounds a game — and we all know about the Sixers’ issues there.
This game has serious rock fight potential. Neither squad is a great three-point shooting team. The Sixers hold a slight advantage there with Maxey, George, Edgecombe and Oubre all being legitimate threats from deep this season. And don’t forget about Drummond entering his Splash Mountain era.
Without Embiid, this will be a difficult matchup for the Sixers, but it’s a winnable game. The Magic are in a weird place after a disappointing regular season with plenty of questions surrounding the job security of head coach Jamahl Mosley. It might behoove the Sixers to jump on Orlando early by forcing turnovers and getting out and on the break.
Aside from Embiid, the Sixers will still be without rookie big Johni Broome. Trendon Watford is considered probable with an illness. For the Magic, Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) are questionable. The health of Wagner, who’s still battling back from a high left ankle sprain, is also worth monitoring.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 PM ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: Amazon Prime Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after scoring a three-pointer against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on January 09, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The luxury of securing the 2-seed is a comfy view from the top. While the Boston Celtics spent the final weeks of the regular season fine-tuning rotations and monitoring their health, the lower tier of Eastern Conference playoff teams were in a chaotic sprint toward the finish line.
The 5 through 10 seeds shuffled around all season, and now, with the dust settled, the Sixers and Magic find themselves in the Play-In.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia and Orlando will face off in the 7/8 game. The winner gets a date with Boston in Round 1. The loser gets one more chance to stay alive, with Detroit waiting.
For the Celtics, waiting on their matchup is familiar territory — and so are their two options. The Magic and Sixers are on different timelines, but they’ve ended up in a similar place statistically.
They rank 17th and 18th in net rating — Orlando at +0.6, Philadelphia at -0.1. On paper, it’s a coin flip. The injury picture says otherwise.
If it’s the Magic
Boston already knows what Orlando looks like up close. The Celtics beat them in five games in last year’s first round. The series was never seriously in doubt, but the Magic were physical enough to leave a mark. They made every possession feel like work, and Tatum missed a game because of it.
That memory is real, but the season finale offered a more comfortable preview of what a rematch might look like.
Watching Boston’s bench take it to Orlando’s starters and come away with a win matters. The Celtics didn’t have much to play for beyond pride, while Orlando was still jockeying for seeding. The loss dropped the Magic below the Sixers, forcing them onto the road for the Play-In.
This year’s version of Orlando hasn’t quite taken the leap many expected, but the core challenges are still there. Franz Wagner missed a significant chunk of the season with a high ankle sprain, playing just 34 games, but he’s had a few outings in April to get his legs back. He’s worth watching closely — Orlando’s net rating swings +4.9 with him on the floor, the largest individual impact on the roster.
As a duo, he and Paolo Banchero still haven’t consistently translated their talent into positive results. The pairing often comes back negative when they share the floor. The shot-making and self-creation are obvious, but the connection between them hasn’t fully clicked.
The Magic’s identity hasn’t really changed. They’re built on defense and physicality, and they can turn half-court offense into a grind. Desmond Bane adds another layer of offensive versatility, and Anthony Black has taken a step forward across the board.
There’s great size and length in Orlando’s creators, and that can cause problems in a playoff setting. Boston, though, is one of the teams most equipped to match that with its own wing depth. It becomes less about stopping them, and more about whether Orlando can consistently generate efficient offense against a defense built to handle that profile.
If it’s the Sixers
Philadelphia is the more manageable problem on paper — and it starts with Joel Embiid not being available.
The Sixers’ center underwent an emergency appendectomy late in the season and has reportedly not been around the team since. Without him, the foundation of their offense shifts dramatically. With Embiid on the floor, Philadelphia’s offensive rating sits at 121.2. Without him, it drops to 114.1 — a seven-point-per-100-possession decline that strips away the interior presence, short-roll playmaking, and gravitational pull that opens everything else up.
The ripple effects show up everywhere. Three-point percentage falls from 37.8% to 33.6% with him off the floor, a reflection of how much more difficult the game becomes for their perimeter creators.
What remains is the Tyrese Maxey show, and that’s a more volatile experience than his numbers might suggest.
Maxey plays at a speed that forces decisions before a defense is set. He’s the type of guard who turns a made Celtics basket into a layup on the other end before the defense can get organized. He finished the season at 28.3 points and 6.6 assists, with the ability to decelerate into floaters and pull-up threes that make him difficult to stay in front of.
That quick-twitch style presents a different kind of challenge than Orlando’s size. It’s less about absorbing contact and more about containing pace and decision-making.
The playoff reality, though, is that Boston gets to simplify things without Embiid. No interior threat to account for means they can focus on keeping Maxey in front and forcing the rest of the roster to prove it can beat them. He can swing a game, but carrying that burden across four wins against Boston’s perimeter defense is a different ask entirely.
Wednesday’s game feels like a toss-up, and the regular season meetings don’t offer a clean answer either. Philadelphia took two of three from Orlando, but the results swung wildly, including a 40-point loss in November.
Boston isn’t running from either matchup, and they’ll be favored either way. But the questions they ask are different. Orlando brings size, physicality, and a defense that can drag a series into the mud. Philadelphia, without Embiid, leans almost entirely on Maxey’s burst and shot creation to sustain anything over seven games.
One of those problems is harder to solve than the other.
“The broadcast of the Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets experienced a temporary disruption due to a hardware failure in our production truck,” an Amazon spokesperson said, per ESPN. “Our teams restored the feed as quickly as possible to ensure fans could watch the conclusion of the game. We are conducting a thorough internal review to determine the cause of the outage.”
The feed cut out as the game resumed after a timeout with the Hornets leading the Heat 125-120 and 48.1 seconds remaining in overtime.
LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets fouls Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat in overtime during their game Play-in Tournament game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images
The blackout lasted for nearly two minutes, causing fans to miss 22.1 seconds of playing time and a Hornets possession.
A message that said “technical difficulties” was displayed afterward, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger during the Play-In thriller — including Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“Tell me the game didn’t just cut off?!!? Am I trippin?? WTH,” James wrote on X.
A view of the studio space during the unveiling of Prime Video’s new NBA On Prime Studio at The Culver Studios on October 14, 2025 in Culver City, California. Getty Images for Prime Video
The Hornets went on to win 127-126 and eliminated the Heat from the postseason in the NBA’s first of six Play-In games.
The matchup between the East’s ninth-and-10th-ranked teams had no shortage of thrilling moments, including 16 lead changes and 17 ties.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates with guard Coby White after scoring against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. AP
Adebayo did not return to the game.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said in his post-game press conference that Ball should’ve been ejected after the incident.
After the Hornets win, Ball said it wasn’t intentional and that he was going to check in on Adebayo.
Prime Video has exclusive rights to all six games in this year’s Play-In Tournament.
Nov 7, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 as the 2nd seed in the West, and after last night’s Play-In Tournament games, we know their first round opponent. In a weird scheduling idea that had many people confused, the East 9 vs. 10 game was first — with the Hornets eliminating the Heat in a dramatic game, complete with a controversial missed call that should have seen LaMelo Ball ejected early for tripping and injuring Bam Adebayo — followed by the West 7 vs. 8 game: the Phoenix Suns vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
In a game whose win probability chart looks like a sinusoidal wave, with the Suns leading much of the first and fourth quarter while the Blazers owned the second and third, it was looking like the Suns would pull it out, leading by as much as 11 with 6:41 left before Portland made the comeback. A three from Jerami Grant gave the Blazers their first lead of the fourth quarter with just under two minutes to go before things went back and forth as Devin Booker tried to guide his team to the finish line.
Unfortunately, a couple of turnovers cost Phoenix the game, and two Deni Avdija free throws and a Grant dunk off a steal with 4.5 seconds left sealed the 114-110 victory for Portland, securing their spot as the 7th seed in the West and as the Spurs’ first round opponent. The Suns will go on to face the winner of the West’s 9 vs. 10 matchup between the Clippers and Warriors in a battle for the 8th seed and the right to face the Thunder in round 1.
The Spurs went 2-1 against Portland in the regular season, with all three being relatively close games. The Spurs won the most recent game last week 112-101 without Victor Wembanyama, who had suffered a bruised rib in the previous game. While perhaps a less daunting opponent than the Suns in the sense that they lack explosive offensive players like Booker or Jalen Green, the are still a big, strong, physical team with an All-Star forward in Avdija. They also have many similarities with the Spurs, with their young core being inexperienced in the playoffs, but they still have vets with championship experience, like Jrue Holiday, to guide them.
It will also be a clash of two coaches making their playoff debut in Mitch Johnson and former Spurs champion Tiago Splitter, who both ended up stepping into the role unexpectedly: Johnson after Gregg Popovich suffered stroke last season, and Splitter after Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave after being charged as part of the NBA betting scandal (although he has not been officially fired by the Blazers yet, so Splitter is still interim head coach). Also also, the Blazers feature a couple of former Spurs in Blake Wesley and Sidy Cissoko, so there are several ties between the two teams.
As if anyone needs a reminder, the rounds are seven-game series in a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away format, with the first to four wins advancing. The series will begin on Sunday, April 19 in San Antonio at 8:00 PM CT and will be aired on NBC and Peacock (note that there are no local broadcasts in the playoffs this year). Game 2 will be on Tuesday at 7:00 also on NBC and Peacock. They will then will travel to Portland for Games 3 and 4, which will be on Friday at 9:30 PM on Prime and next Sunday at 2:30 on ESPN. (Thank you to the scheduling gods for looking out for those of us who struggle with Pacific coast games on work nights!) Games 5-7 are TBD and will be scheduled as needed.
We will have much more about this series in the coming days, including match-ups, x-factors, etc., but in the meantime, what has you the most excited about this series, and is it the one you wanted? Feel free to discuss, and in the meantime, welcome back to the playoffs, Pounders!
"I apologize on that one," Ball told reporters after the game. "I got hit in the head and didn’t really know where I was, but I’m going to check in on him to see if he’s OK and everything."
Adebayo was attempting to save a ball from going out of bounds when Ball took his foot out from underneath him. Adebayo fell, landed on his tailbone and remained down for about a minute before walking to the locker room under his own power, albeit carefully.
Bam Adebayo falls hard and walks gingerly to the locker room after LaMelo Ball grabs his foot while in mid-air, swinging it (with replays) pic.twitter.com/bI3gC13xKk
Adebayo was initially deemed questionable to return with a lower back injury, according to the Heat, but did not return to the court when the second half started. He was eventually officially ruled out before the third quarter was complete.
Who won the Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat game last night?
The Miami Heat lost in overtime, 127-126, to the Charlotte Hornets. Their season is over.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke to reporters about Adebayo’s injury
“I didn’t see it, but I don’t think it’s cute — I don’t think it’s funny — I think it’s a stupid play,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game. “It’s a dangerous play, obviously, our best player was out.
"I’m not making any excuse: the Hornets played great. They made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win. That’s a shame, to be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys and shenanigans.”
Spoelstra added that he felt an official should’ve made a call to eject LaMelo Ball.
“Somebody has got to see that, and he should’ve been thrown out of the game for that,” Spoelstra said.
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter,Florida TODAY.
The Heat and Hornets gave us an instant classic to kick off the NBA Playoffs with their overtime thriller, but the conversation following the game was understandably focused on an ugly moment which happened at the start of the second quarter.
LaMelo Ball was driving to the basket when he fell to the ground on some light contact. Bam Adebayo recovered the ball, tried to keep it inbounds on one leg, when Ball tripped the Heat star, causing him to fall hard and be forced out of the game with a lower back injury.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
The incident has been hotly debated. The angle above is damning, and it appears clear that Ball tripped Adebayo on purpose. Another angle from behind the play is less conclusive, looking more like LaMelo was flailing while complaining for a foul, and happened to pull Adebayo’s ankle as a result. Further muddying the water was a lack of a foul on the play, with a referee standing rightat the baseline, but not making a call.
Adebayo was listed as questionable to return with a lower back injury and was later downgraded to being out — playing only 11 minutes.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was understandably heated after the game and didn’t hold back. While he credited the Hornets for making plays down the stretch, he acknowledged that not having Adebayo hurt his team in the elimination game.
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
The big question now is whether or not the NBA will take any action against LaMelo Ball. The Hornets are set to play the loser of Magic/76ers on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. If the league decided a suspension was warranted for the trip it would essentially ensure Charlotte would lose that game, with Ball being the most important player on the Hornets. However, without a foul being called on the play it would be highly unusual for the NBA to suspend a player, meaning that LaMelo could get away with a fine.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 10: Teammates pour water on AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks after the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, we made it. It wasn’t always pretty—and there was often more pain than pleasure—but the 2025-26 season has finally come to a close. Along the way, every major moment, every momentum-shifting play has been captured—here, in prose and picture. 10 volumes, 82 games’ worth. So, for one last time, enjoy reliving the moments that made this Bucks season what it was.
vs. Spurs
It’s a Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee and, with just 10 games left in the season and half the roster injured, Bucks fans have little to get excited about. Ryan Rollins has been excellent all year, but that’s become expected now, the awe worn off. They do, however, have a recently-acquired lithe Frenchman who’s suddenly been thrust into a major role. He’s shown a lot too—flashes of lockdown D, a smooth stroke from three, ball handling and playmaking ability. It’s all there. He starts well too—two rebounds, an assist, a coast-to-coast and-one layup—and the Bucks are surprisingly hanging with the Spurs. But then, Julian Champagnie grabs an offensive rebound and finds 7’4” Victor Wembanyama, who’s determined to remind Bucks fans that he’s the only lithe Frenchman worth awing over. He grabs the pass—head full of steam—takes one dribble from behind the three-point line, eludes four Bucks, and drops a no-look, behind-the-back dime to Stephon Castle for the jam. Extraterrestrial stuff. And yet another crushing blow to Bucks fans’ spirits.
Win probability after Dieng’s and-one: 15.1%
Win probability after Wembanyama’s assist: 11.6%
vs. Clippers
Milwaukee is officially knocked out of playoff contention and welcomes the Los Angeles Clippers to Fiserv—the same team that whooped them by 33 just three games ago. That led by as much as 46. Making things worse, only eight players are available for the Bucks. Yeah, we know where this one’s headed. Still, Gary Trent Jr. has come for the fight, and has 15 points with just over a minute left in the half.
Shot clock off, Trent Ds up Bennedict Mathurin, who’s increased his scoring to 20 per game since coming over from Indiana. Trent locks in, plays Mathurin close—gets right up into him. Under his skin. So much so that Mathurin first pushes off and then—when that’s not called—clamps Trent’s arm in an attempt to create an advantage. Instead, it’s an offensive foul. Bucks ball. And Trent is barking. On the other end, Trent takes possession, dribbling right into a pull-up three that splashes twine with just 1.6 seconds left in the period. It’s his fifth three of the half and he is juiced, giving the Bucks the kind of momentum that, on another night, spurs them to a second-half charge and victory. Tonight, though, all it does is beg: where has this been all season long?
Win probability before Trent draws the offensive foul: 4.0%
Win probability after his three to end the half: 5.8%
vs. Mavs
The Mavs don’t want to win. The Bucks don’t want to win. And no one really cares about this game. But with 2:48 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Alex Antetokounmpo checks in for the first time ever and, suddenly, the most important man in Bucks’ history is invested. And so are you. 47 seconds later, he finds himself at the free throw line. Clank—yeah, he’s an Antetokounmpo. But the second is pure, Giannis is standing, and the whole damn building is cheering. 57 seconds later, he’s back at the line, this time sinking both. And, when the final siren rings, he’s got a better career free throw percentage than Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas—and the Bucks have given Giannis yet another memory to tether him to Milwaukee.
Win probability before Alex checks in: 99.9%
Win probability after his first NBA point: 99.9% (though Giannis’ extension odds surely tick up)
@ Rockets
Forget the moment—this season is done. It’s all about the future. And tonight’s game gives oodles of reasons to be optimistic. Career highs for Ousmane Dieng, Pete Nance, and Cormac Ryan in scoring, a career high for Jericho Sims on the boards. In a road game against a top-six Western Conference opponent, in which the Bucks only really play six guys—and only lose by six—that’s a hell of a lot to like. Mostly, though, it’s Dieng’s fourth quarter—the way he takes control and nearly wills Milwaukee to victory: 17 points and three assists, living in the pick and roll for drive-by finishes at the rim and yank-back Js (all while guarding Kevin Durant on the other end). It’s cold-blooded; hypnotic. Future momentum. Personified.
Win probability after Jabari Smith gives the Rockets a 10-point lead to open the fourth: 6.1%
Win probability after Dieng’s 17-foot step back jumper cuts it to four: 9.6%
vs. Celtics
With the luck of the Irish on their side, the Boston Celtics have turned a season that was supposed to be turmoil—was supposed to be a gap year—into a second-place standing in the East. The Bucks… have not. And now they square off, the Bucks without Giannis, Rollins, KPJ, Portis, and Trent; the Celtics missing only Nikola Vucevic. More importantly, they’ve got their (normal) MVP candidate back, Jayson Tatum. He’s been slow to find his rhythm, shooting just 40% since returning from his Achilles injury, but he’s involved early—a rebound and an assist in the opening moments. Then, after Derrick White secures possession off a jump ball, he snaps the cords on a three. 11-3, Celtics. Timeout, Bucks. By the end of the quarter, the Bucks are on life support, down 43-26. By the end of the game, they’re long dead, and Tatum has dismantled them like a coroner: 23, 11, and nine, shooting 50% from both the field and three. Clinical.
Win probability after the opening tip: 15.1%
Win probability after Tatum’s three: 8.1%
vs. Grizzlies
It’s Easter Sunday and the rag-tag Grizzlies, trailing by just two, can sniff the chocolates. Lisa Byington senses it too: “The Bucks need a bucket.” Enter Jericho Sims. First, he gets to work, battling for rebounding position. Then, when the miss comes, he completes the contract (even if the refs call a holding foul that wipes away the offensive carom from the box score). Still, it’s Bucks ball. But they haven’t got that bucket, not yet. It’s only fitting, then, that Sims is the supplier, collecting the feed from Taurean Prince, rising up—head grazing the rim, of course—and slamming it down. It’s the start of a 35-21 run that secures a win for the Fiserv fans who need something sweet at this time of year. And, just when the crowd thinks it’s found all the eggs, Alex Antetokounmpo checks in and scores his first NBA field goal on an iso jumper. Then, on the next possession, he lobs one to Thanasis, who throws it down, and everyone goes home with their sweet tooth satisfied.
Win probability after the Grizzlies cut it to two: 64.9%
Win probability after Sims’ dunk: 70.6%
@ Nets
The Bucks have been under scrutiny for sitting a “healthy” Giannis. So what do they do? Against the Nets—a team that’s been ignored while fielding a roster full of guys you don’t even know are in the league—they sit seven of their top players and don’t even play a point guard, raising a big middle finger to everyone who’s taken umbrage at them. And to make it even better, they lose—which, paradoxically, makes them winners. Ha!
Win probability before the game: 57.8%
Win probability at the end of the game: 0.0% (and that’s the whole damn point)
@ Pistons
In the Preview and Game Thread I wrote about Sims as the “Player to Watch,” citing his excellence in points per shot attempt (99th percentile for bigs), effective field goal percentage (99th percentile), and assist to usage ratio (91st percentile), while also highlighting his pitfalls in steal percentage (9th percentile), block percentage (10th percentile), and turnover percentage (0th percentile), concluding that “if Sims can even marginally shore up these weaknesses, his efficiency alone could make him a far more impactful rotation piece moving forward.” Against the Pistons, there’s nothing marginal about it. Sims has himself a career night: 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals—with just two turnovers to boot.
Win probability at any point: who cares? The Bucks are locked into the 11th or 12th spot anyway.
Win probability after Sims completes the triple-double: still irrelevant. But the growth? Momentous.
vs. Nets
As it turns out, the game isn’t between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets. No, it’s actually between the Bucks’ starting backcourt: AJ “Dairy Bird” Green and Cormac “If he keeps playing this well he’ll be a household name” Ryan. Ryan takes the cake early, exploding for 18 points in the first quarter alone, to just three for Green. And by the half he’s still well in front: 21 points to nine. By three-quarter time, the gap has narrowed—24-18—but Dairy Bird is now airborne. Then, in the fourth, he’s in full flight, skying for 17 points in the period, including five bombs. The last is his 11th for the game—a new Bucks franchise record—and, by the time the final whistle blows, they’ve both got new career highs. Combined, they put up 63 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, shooting 21/35 from the field and 16/25 from three. Goodness gracious.
Ryan’s win probability after the first quarter: 94.5%
Green’s win probability after the third: 44.3%
The real winner? Bucks fans.
@ 76ers
It’s not every day you’re better than Jesus.
First, Green nails a tough corner look over Paul George. Three No. 228. Nothin but. Second, Thanasis gets up for a block to start the transition opportunity and Ryan knows just what to do with it, finding Green who ties the franchise record. 229. Then, on their very next possession, Ryan finds him again for a transition look from nearly the exact same spot. It curls around the rim, bounces up off the backboard in slow motion—as if written by a screenwriter for tension—and hits rim once more on the way down before falling through the net. 230! All alone at the top. Dairy Bird. Then Jesus.
Despite a strong effort, the Bucks go on to lose the game. But they sure as hell got the moment.
Win probability to start the game: 20.4%
Win probability after Green surpasses Ray Allen: 24.8%
With the series coming to a close (at least in its current iteration), I’d like to thank you all for following along. It’s been a journey, especially as the velocity of the season came to a grinding halt slowed down. If this series has taught me anything, it’s that momentum comes in many forms—and sometimes when you least expect it. Perhaps then, despite all the frustrations of the season and all the worries we currently carry, this offseason will provide the Bucks something—a moment—that propels them back in the right direction. Here’s hoping they seize it.
Until then, which moment hit hardest in Volume 10? Cast your vote below and, as always, add your thoughts in the comments.
Magic
76ers
