DALLAS, TX - APRIL 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday, the NBA released the top-selling jerseys from the 2025-26 regular season. While the list of course features many mainstays, popular players like Steph Curry and LeBron James, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg appeared on the list with the ninth-best-selling jersey.
This news came as a bit of a surprise to me, at least. Last year was a chaotic and challenging year for many Maverick fans, with some swearing off the franchise entirely. An injection of hope came in the form of the Mavericks moving up in the NBA Lottery for the first time in their history, where they later selected Cooper Flagg as the clear number one choice in the draft.
But the Mavericks got off to a slow start, with Flagg in an undefined role, trying to fit in with Anthony Davis and a cast of other veteran players. As the season rolled on, it quickly became clear Dallas had a future superstar on their hands; the game that sticks in my mind is a 116-114 loss to the Bucks where Flagg went off in clutch time. The NBA had Dallas in numerous national television slots in the first half of the season and fans were clearly exposed to his intense brand of basketball. That clearly translated to jersey sales, both in Dallas and around the league.
The list as a whole is pretty fun, given the range. Steph Curry is coming in at number one despite playing in the same place for 17 seasons. LeBron James, of course, still on the list after a million years in the NBA. Jayson Tatum’s still the man in Boston despite missing most of the season working on a return from an Achilles tear.
The question I have is how high can Cooper rise? He’s not passing a Luka Doncic or an Anthony Edwards, I don’t think at least. But Flagg being this popular this soon is very interesting!
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 5: Keon Ellis #14 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 5, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final weeks of the regular season are when the top teams visibly turn their attention to the postseason. They know who they are and what their identity will be in the playoffs. Unless the team is vying for a higher seeding, you will see a visible dip in play for the final weeks.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of those teams that could not adopt this mentality. The team underwent a constant need for change due to injuries, transactions, and troubleshooting.
Now, this in itself isn’t the reason to discount this team from true championship contention. It takes a deeper look, looking past just wins and losses, and more so, the manner in which this team wins its games. Is there something that is a viable blueprint for the intensive style that the playoffs demand?
I know the comment section is going to be riddled with “the team won 50+ games despite all hurdles in their way.” I think this line of thinking is setting fans up to believe that there is another gear left in this team. The Cavaliers have shown us who they are, even without all personnel being healthy. I don’t think this team’s faults are going to be all fixed with a healthy roster.
The Cavaliers’ biggest issue is that their effort hasn’t been there all season. Now, in the regular season, they can coast by due to their massive talent advantage on most nights. Look closely at wins and how those came to be for the Cavaliers. Very rarely, if ever, did the Cavaliers rise to the challenge and shut off the opponent’s water. Instead, this team lives and dies by outscoring opponents, even as those opponents move the ball and score with relative ease.
How many times have we had the players, coaches, or even the media call out the effort, or lack thereof, from this team? More than any supposed championship caliber team should. The lack of meeting the call to action is another problem.
For all of the great work head coach Kenny Atkinson has done this year with putting together a puzzle with different pieces night after night, the one problem he hasn’t been able to solve is the Cavaliers’ willingness to compete on the defensive end.
Defense in the NBA is inseparable from effort because it requires constant physical and mental engagement on every possession. This is dialed up to an eleven in the postseason. Each possession feels almost like a game within itself. Unlike offense, where players can rely on skill or pick their moments, defense demands sustained intensity whether its staying in front of opponents, fighting through screens, rotating on time, and contesting shots all hinge on how hard a player is willing to work.
Since the beginning of March, the Cavaliers have gone 15-6. While that would lead one to the inclination that the team found some level of consistency on the defensive end. It becomes less reassuring that, in that stretch, only four of those teams were top-six playoff seeds (Celtics, Lakers, Hawks twice, and Pistons). Not only can you question the caliber of the opponent, but also whether defense was played at all. In those games, the Cavs surrendered 110 points or more regularly to the likes of the Memphis Grizzlies (126), Miami Heat (128 and 120), Orlando Magic (131 and 128), and the Dallas Mavericks (130).
Due to the areas in which the Toronto Raptors excel, fastbreaks and driving to the basket, it feels like the team will be a good stress test for the Cavaliers. The Raptors, if they were to give the Cavaliers a hard time, would be winning games from the extra effort they exert on every possession. The Cavaliers will have to match that energy with the pace of play the Raptors will try to instill. While the talent gap may be able to cover some effort deficiencies in round 1, the Pistons, Knicks, or Celtics will not grant those same luxuries. You would rather they buy into sustained effort early so they don’t get sucker punched in round 2 and onward.
This feels far from a flip-the-switch scenario. Effort isn’t something you can turn on and off; it’s a standard you establish, and the Cavaliers haven’t consistently shown that standard on defense. Their defensive inconsistencies aren’t just schematic; they stem from a recurring lack of effort, which has shown up too often to ignore.
When a team spends the regular season coasting defensively and relying on talent to outscore opponents, it’s difficult to suddenly manufacture the discipline, urgency, and cohesion required in a playoff environment. If the mentalities nurtured and ingrained from playing the Wizards and Grizzlies of the world seep into their postseason play, the Cavaliers’ season will be over sooner rather than later.
Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham are about to be All-NBA players and land on a lot of MVP ballots.
The NBA and NBPA (the players' union) together agreed that "taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards under the extraordinary circumstances provision in the CBA." While both men were set to file an extraordinary circumstance challenge, neither had to because the league and union agreed they met the criteria.
That means both men will be postseason award-eligible despite falling short of the league's 65-game threshold to qualify for awards.
Doncic played in 64 games before an untimely hamstring injury prematurely ended his season (and likely has him out for the first round of the playoffs). His challenge was based on the fact that he missed two games in December for the birth of his daughter, and that qualified as an "extraordinary circumstance." The league and union agreed. Cunningham played in 63 qualifying games this season (64 total), but missed a dozen games near the end of the season due to a collapsed lung (which happened on a flukey play diving for a loose ball). Again, the league agreed that this qualified as an extraordinary circumstance.
Minnesota's Anthony Edwards did file an extraordinary circumstances challenge, but an arbitrator denied it. Edwards played in 60 games this season, averaging 28.8 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Cunningham, the focal point of the No. 1-seed Pistons' offense, averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game and is the primary reason they are the No. 1 seed in the East. Doncic led the NBA in scoring at 33.5 points a game, adding 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds a night for the No. 4 seed Lakers.
So much for a “gap year.” The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them back in the Finals this June.
The Celtics’ playoff run begins Sunday with Game 1 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Boston is heavily favored to win the series, but if it does advance, it won’t be an easy road to Banner 19.
Last year, the C’s quest for a repeat ended with a loss to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals. The archrivals would meet for a rematch if the No. 3 seed Knicks take care of business against the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks.
Will the C’s get over the hump this time, or should we expect another early exit? Our friends at Strat-O-Matic simulated the entire 2025-26 NBA playoff bracket.
First Round: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2
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The Sixers stun the C’s with back-to-back wins to start the series at TD Garden. Boston rebounds with a dominant Game 3 win in Philly, followed by three more victories to close out the first-round clash in six games.
East Semifinals: No. 2 Celtics defeat No. 3 New York Knicks, 4-3
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Strat-O-Matic’s simulation predicts a rematch between the longtime archrivals. It takes all seven games, but the Celtics close out the thrilling series with a nail-biter victory at TD Garden. Five of the seven games are decided by five points or fewer.
East Finals: No. 1 Detroit Pistons defeat No. 2 Celtics, 4-2
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The Celtics steal the first two games on the road to take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to TD Garden, but the Pistons respond by taking both games in Boston to even the series. Detroit stays hot with a win back home and again at TD Garden to win the series in six and advance to the NBA Finals.
Celtics’ top playoff performers
Jaylen Brown continued to lead the Celtics after a spectacular regular season, averaging 26.8 points per game over the three playoff series. Jayson Tatum averaged 22.6 points per game.
Western Conference Playoffs
First Round
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder defeat No. 8 Golden State Warriors, 4-2
No. 5 Houston Rockets defeat No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0
The NBA’s best rivalry is the Boston Celtics versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Those two teams have met in the NBA Finals an astounding 12 times.
But second place on the league’s rivalry rankings is probably the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
These long-time Eastern Conference foes have produced so many amazing playoff moments, and a new chapter will be written over the next two weeks when the C’s and Sixers meet in the first round, beginning Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
It will be the 23rd playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers. Boston has won 15 of the first 22, including six in a row. The last time the 76ers won a playoff series against the Celtics was the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals.
One of the early and most iconic playoff moments in league history came in Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals (known as the Division Finals at the time) when Celtics forward John Havlicek won the series vs. the 76ers with a steal on the final play. Johnny Most’s legendary radio call of “Havlicek stole the ball” only added to the mystique.
Celtics center and Hall of Famer Bill Russell went 7-1 against the 76ers in his playoff career, with the only defeat coming in the 1967 Eastern Conference Finals. Russell and the C’s got their revenge the following year by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Sixers in the conference finals.
The 1981 Eastern Conference Finals was another all-time classic.
The C’s overcame a 3-1 series deficit and won Game 7 at the old Boston Garden. Larry Bird scored 23 points with 11 rebounds, including a go-ahead bank shot with just over a minute remaining, to help the C’s win 91-90. Boston won the final three games of the series by a combined five points. The C’s would go on to beat the Houston Rockets in the 1981 NBA Finals for the first of three titles with Bird.
Few people would have predicted after the Celtics beat the 76ers in the 1985 Eastern Conference Finals that these teams wouldn’t meet again in the playoffs until 2002. In fact, the 1990s is the only decade in which Boston and Philly didn’t square off in the postseason.
Both teams were not contenders for much of the 1990s, but by the early 2000s, each team had once again become a playoff-caliber group. The 76ers lost the 2001 NBA Finals to the Lakers, and their Eastern Conference title defense the following season started against the Celtics in Round 1. The C’s were making their first playoff appearance in seven years, and they took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. The 76ers stormed back to tie the series and force a deciding Game 5 in Boston, where Paul Pierce scored 46 points (8-for-10 on 3-pointers) in a 33-point Celtics win.
The new Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen made five playoff appearances together but only once played against the 76ers. It was a 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, and Boston prevailed with a Game 7 win.
The Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum era of Celtics basketball has seen three series against the 76ers. The last one featured a Game 7 in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Tatum set a Game 7 record with 51 points in a 112-88 victory (highlights in the video below). He was the star in Game 6 on the road, too. The Celtics were facing elimination and trailed with four minutes left, and then Tatum dominated with 16 points in the quarter as the C’s forced a Game 7.
The Celtics are heavy favorites in the upcoming series as the No. 2 seed.
Brown has played at an MVP level this season, and Tatum is starting to look like his old self about a month-and-a-half into his return from an Achilles injury. The Sixers also could be without star center Joel Embiid for some of this series after he underwent an emergency appendectomy last week.
But you never know how these rivalry series will play out.
The Celtics were underdogs against the 76ers in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both out due to injury. But led by a second-year Brown and rookie Tatum, the C’s won the series in just five games.
Here’s a look at every playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers. Note: The Sixers were the Syracuse Nationals from 1946 to 1963.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic celebrates a dunk on a fast break against the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game on March 31. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers guard Luka Doncic will be eligible for postseason awards after the NBA and NBA Players Assn. announced Thursday they ruled in his favor on his extraordinary circumstances appeal of the 65-game rule.
Doncic, a leading candidate for most valuable player and a lock for his sixth All-NBA team, played in only 64 games before he suffered a regular-season ending left hamstring injury on April 2. The league's latest collective bargaining agreement requires players to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards, but Doncic and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham both won appeals under the CBA’s extraordinary circumstances provision.
Doncic missed two games in December to attend the birth of his daughter in Slovenia and Cunningham, whose career season led the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, missed 12 games because of a collapsed lung suffered on March 17.
“I am grateful to the NBPA for advocating on my behalf and to the NBA for their fair decision,” Doncic wrote in a statement on social media. “It was so important to me to be present for the birth of my daughter in December and I appreciate Mark [Walter], Jeanie [Buss], Rob [Pelinka], JJ [Redick], and the entire Lakers organization for fully supporting me and allowing me to travel to be there."
Doncic earned his second league scoring title this season with 33.5 points per game. He surged back into the most valuable player race with a magical March when he was just the second player to score 600 points in March, joining Michael Jordan. He had four consecutive games of 40 or more points and 12 of 30 or more before injuring his hamstring on April 2. He and guard Austin Reaves (oblique) are out indefinitely as the Lakers begin the playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets.
The end for an NBA coach can be brutal and sudden, even for teams that make the playoffs. Last year, twoplayoff teams even got rid of their coach right before the postseason began. It's not the profession for those seeking job security.
No such turmoil occurred to close the 2025-26 NBA regular season, but there is nonetheless a group of coaches still coaching as of Thursday, April 16 that could be fired soon if the high-stakes games of the 2026 NBA playoffs don't go their way.
A team's playoff ledger relative to expectations often supersedes the number of wins accrued over the months-long slog preceding the postseason. Those that fall short under these bright lights are eventually discarded, and NBA coaches have traditionally been among the most dispensable.
Here are five coaches currently in the NBA's postseason who are on the hot seat, especially if their team were to suffer an early exit from the playoffs:
The fifth-year coach could be coaching for his job when the Magic face the Charlotte Hornets to close out the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Even a first-round exit to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons might lead to Mosley's firing after a disjointed season in which the trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane struggled to gel together offensively. Orlando spent four first-round draft picks on Bane last offseason to be a contender, not relegated to play-in fodder, and Mosley might pay the price in the days ahead.
The interim Blazers coach isn't on this list because of his performance. He just led Portland to its first playoff appearance since 2021 after starting the season with coach Chauncey Billups arrested following the first game as part of federal indictments related to illegal gambling. But new owner Tom Dundon has not committed to hiring Splitter, nor officially parted ways with Billups, and it will make for a complicated situation whenever the Blazers' season ends.
Among NBA teams to qualify for the postseason, only the Charlotte Hornets had a worse crunch time NET rating during the regular season than the Rockets. Despite the addition of Kevin Durant last offseason, their halfcourt offense has devolved at key moments and Udoka has thus far not adjusted well to the flaws or the absence of injured point guard Fred Van Vleet. Losing in the first round to the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers would mean Houston dropped a series in which it almost certainly got out-coached given the personnel discrepancies.
Brown is only in his first season with the Knicks and the team finished with two more regular-season wins than it did a year ago under former coach Tom Thibodeau. But the expectations are high in New York. A first-round exit against the Atlanta Hawks, combined with the reality that Brown was not the top choice for Knicks' brass to begin with last offseason, could lead to a quick change on the bench.
Nurse hasn't succeeded with the Sixers like he once did with the Toronto Raptors, in large part because of injuries and roster construction. Getting out of the play-in tournament after a bounce-back regular season might be enough to give Nurse another year, particularly since Paul George and Joel Embiid again missed large chunks of the season. But Nurse would probably be wise to not get swept by the Celtics in the first round, just to be safe.
Bryson Tiller is leaving Kansas for bitter rival Missouri after a promising and productive freshman season with the Jayhawks.
The 6-foot-11 forward arrived in Lawrence before the spring semester in 2025 and redshirted before playing last season, when Tiller was a regular in the starting lineup. He averaged 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, and one of his best games for Kansas came against the Tigers, when he had 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks in an 80-60 rout at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Missouri has been active in the transfer portal, landing Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey and Providence forward Jamier Jones.
Tiller visited the Tigers on Sunday and made the decision to join coach Dennis Gates over interest from Michigan, Georgia Tech, NC State, Arizona and others. He visited Miami but canceled a planned visit to Arizona.
Kansas already lost another big man, Flory Bidunga, who decided to transfer to Louisville.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Down in South Philadelphia last night, the crowd filled in slowly for the Sixers’ Play-In Tournament matchup with the Magic. Blame traffic concerns if you’d like given that the Phillies were hosting a game across the street too and the simple fact that it was a weeknight. Sitting at Xfinity Mobile Arena before tipoff, both levels of the stands were fairly dead. Would the fan base lay an egg for this one? I couldn’t blame them much if that was the case.
The Sixers were playing for the right to be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and likely lose to the Celtics in the postseason for the sixth time this century. Joel Embiid was sidelined as he recovers from surgery for appendicitis while his timetable for returning to the court remains unclear. The promises of the Process and those first handful of playoff runs in the Embiid era have evaporated. Most people in this city are bitter about the team, or, even worse, apathetic.
Things, however, shifted as the game progressed. The arena filled up. People were decked out in jerseys from across the decades for the franchise, from Julius Erving to Allen Iverson to even a lingering Dario Šarić that I saw. Fans fed off the energy of the Sixers’ dynamic backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. By the time Andre Drummond, the unsung hero of the evening, nailed a three-pointer with under a minute to go in the first half, the crowd popped. It was as if the clock turned back to a time where anything was possible for the direction of the Sixers as unlimited possibilities were staring at us for the next decade.
I remember being there for the Sixers’ first post-Process playoff game against the Heat in 2018. It may have only been six years since the last time the Sixers were in the postseason, but it felt closer to 60. The Sixers torched Miami in the 27-point victory as vets Marco Belinelli and Ersan İlyasova went supernova off the bench and rookie sensation Ben Simmons dished out 14 assists. It was everything I had dreamed of playing out in front of my own eyes.
I’m a Sixers pessimist. That has been abundantly clear for a while, likely dating back to the team’s 2021 collapse against Atlanta that I’ve never fully recovered from in terms of my fandom. Still, it’s nice to get wrapped up in something bigger than ourselves, right? That’s how it felt watching this team pull out that win. Roaring after yet another improbable Drummond three near the end of the fourth quarter that padded the Sixers’ lead with 20,000 people is what it’s all about.
This all may be fleeting. I am not entertaining a miraculous upset of the Celtics in the coming days. I also imagine quite a few Boston fans, both those from the New England area and the disgusting locals who root for them, will be present and diminish the Sixers’ home court energy. At the very least, this win over Orlando was a call back to what makes playoff basketball so special for the fans in attendance and, maybe, just maybe, a harbinger of brighter days for the franchise in the future (maybe the distant future…).
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale will miss at least the first two weeks of the NBA playoffs because of his sprained right ankle.
Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 regular-season games with Atlanta. He sustained a high ankle sprain on April 1 at Orlando. The Hawks say he “is progressing in his rehabilitation” and “will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.” An update is expected after his re-evaluation.
Atlanta is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and opens its first-round series at the third-seeded New York Knicks on Saturday.
The Hawks addressed a lack of depth at center — Kristaps Porzingis has been unavailable much of the season and N’Faly Dante is out for the year — by acquiring Landale from Utah for cash considerations in early February. He never played for the Jazz and was with them less than a day after being part of an eight-player trade involving Memphis.
The 30-year-old Landale averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in 45 games for Memphis.
The Australian is in his fifth NBA season. He made his NBA debut with San Antonio in the 2021-22 season and also has played for Phoenix and Houston.
Oct 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics are going to be facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs this season after they beat the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the Play-In Tournament. This is the 23rd time that Boston and Philadelphia have faced off against each other, the most in NBA playoff history.
The Celtics have an all time playoff record of 66-50 against the 76ers that dates back to when Philadelphia went by the Syracuse Nationals in the 1950s. Boston is 15-7 all time in playoff series against Philadelphia, dominating the matchup especially in recent memory.
Before we take a trip down memory lane, lets look at the 2026 regular season matchups between Boston and Philadelphia where they split the season series. The first matchup was all the way back to Opening Night on October 22nd where Philly beat Boston 117-116 in TD Garden. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 40 point alongside one of the best rookie debut performances in NBA History from VJ Edgecombe who dropped 34 points. Boston was led by Jaylen Brown and Derrick White who had 25 points each and the Celtics almost won if the game winning shot by Payton Pritchard went in at the final buzzer.
Game 2 was was only nine days on October 31st where Jaylen Brown gave the city of Philadelphia a Halloween fright, dropping 32 points in a 109-108 win for Boston on the road. This game was almost the opposite of Opening Night where it was Joel Embiid who missed the game wining three at the buzzer after Quinten Grimes dribbled out the shot clock. Anfernee Simons had a great game for Boston off the bench with 19 points while Maxey led the way for the 76ers with 26 points.
Boston played their third game against Philadelphia only eleven days later on November 11th where it finished as another close game, this time the 76ers winning 102-100 at home. Kelly Oubre Jr was the hero for Philly with a game winning put-back layup with 8.7 seconds to go and a Derrick White half court heave at the buzzer just missed. This was also known as the “Justin Edwards Game” where he led the 76ers with 22 points on 8-9 shooting from the field and 5-6 shooting from three. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 24 points but it wasn’t enough.
The final game of the season series didn’t come until four months later where on March 1st, Boston beat Philadelphia 114-98 in TD Garden, the biggest margin of victory between these teams all year. It was a close game with under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter before the Celtics rattled off an 11-1 run to close it out. This was the Neemias Queta Legacy Game where he dropped a career high 27 points and 17 rebounds on 10-14 shooting, dominating the 76ers underneath the basket. Brown also finished with 27 points for Boston while Maxey led the way with 33 points for Philadelphia.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at TD Garden on March 1, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Early Years: Celtics vs Nationals/76ers (1953-1969)
Back in the day when there was only 8 to 9 teams in the NBA, the Celtics and Nationals would face off almost every season from 1953-1961. In that time frame Boston had the upper hand in this matchup with a record of 15-13 in 7 different matchups in this span.
In 1953 we saw the Celtics sweep the Nationals in the first round in a three game series behind 50 points from Bob Cousy on 10-22 shooting and 30-32 from the free throw line in a Game 2 that had four overtimes. Syracuse would respond by winning the next three series from 1954-1956. Two of these matchups came in what is now the conference finals and ending in a championship in 1955.
Boston came back in 1957 in the first five game series of this matchup, sweeping the Nationals in the first playoff series of Bill Russell’s career. After taking down Syracuse, Boston made their first NBA Finals where they won win their first championship in franchise history over the St. Louis Hawks. Little did we know this would start the greatest dynasty in NBA history.
Boston faced off against Syracuse two more times in 1959 and 1961 ending in Celtics victories and two more championships. The Nationals would leave Syracuse in 1963 and move to the City of Brotherly Love, now called the Philadelphia 76ers and trading for a superstar named Wilt Chamberlain.
The rebrand did not change their luck against the Celtics however, as Boston beat them four times in five years from 1965-1969. The one time Philadelphia beat Boston was in 1967 where they won the championship but the other four times ended in the Celtics winning it all.
BOSTON – 1967: Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the Philadelphia 76ers posts up against Bill Russell #6 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1967 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1967 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lull Period: Celtics vs 76ers (1977)
Boston was in the process of restarting their dynasty in the mid-70s, winning the championship in 1974 and 1976 but didn’t face Philadelphia at all in this time. The 76ers on the other hand were struggling post losing Wilt Chamberlain but just acquired Julius Erving ahead of the 1977 season. This did wonders for Philly as they were back in real playoff contention and met Boston in the second round of the playoffs in 1977.
This series went all 7 games with Dave Cowens and John Havlicek doing their best to lead Boston while Erving dominated for Philadelphia. In Game 7, it was a close game but ended with the 76ers beating the Celtics in a playoff series for the first time since 1967. World B. Free led the way for Philadelphia with 27 points off the bench while Cowens struggled with only 11 points on 5-16 shooting. The 76ers went on to make the NBA Finals in 1977, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in 6 games.
This was the end of the Celtics dynasty of the 70s but it was just the beginning of them seeing the 76ers in the playoffs on a yearly basis once the 1980s began.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 22: Philadelphia 76ers Julius Erving, center, shoots between Boston Celtics Dave Cowens, left, and John Havlicek, right, during a game at the Boston Garden, April 22, 1977. (Photo by Frank O'Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Bird Years: Celtics vs 76ers (1980-1985)
The Celtics had a brand new star to lead them back to glory in the 80’s and his name was Larry Bird. Bird’s rookie year in 1980 saw him win Rookie of the Year and lead Boston back to the playoffs. After sweeping the Houston Rockets in the first round, Bird lead the Celtics into his first matchup against the 76ers in the second round of the 1980 playoffs. Sadly, Philadelphia would win the series in 5 games and 76ers would make the NBA Finals, losing to the Los Angels Lakers.
Boston would respond to this loss in 1981 by beating the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals in 7 game series. Larry Bird led the way with 23 points in Game 7 and the Celtics would take down the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals for their 14th championship. Philadelphia came back in 1982 and blew out Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, once again losing to the Lakers in the Finals. Hopefully, the 76ers would enjoy this victory over Boston because it would be the last time they beat the Celtics in a playoff series.
The Celtics wouldn’t play the 76ers in the playoffs again until 1985 where Boston dominated Philly, winning the Eastern Conference Finals in 5 games but losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Boston wouldn’t play Philadelphia again for another 17 years, bringing the rivalry into the 21st century.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 29, 1981: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass against Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Boston Garden on April 29, 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pierce Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2002-2012)
The 90s were a rough decade for the Celtics but one positive that came out of it was drafting Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker to be stars of the future. The duo made their first playoff appearance together in 2002 and faced off against the 76ers in the First Round. They would destroy the 2001 Eastern Conference Champion 76ers led by Allen Iverson, winning the series in 5 games. Pierce went nuclear in Game 5, where he dropped 46 points on 16-25 shooting while Walker finished with 26 points on 11-22 shooting.
The Celtics would ride this momentum to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance after beating the Pistons in 5 games in the Second Round before losing to the New Jersey Nets in 5 Games. The Nets would go on to get swept by the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
BOSTON – MAY 3: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball as Derrick Coleman #44 of the Philadelphia 76ers attempts to block, during game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts on May 3, 2002. The Celtics won, 120-87. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images/NBAE) | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul Pierce wouldn’t face off against the 76ers again until the Second Round in the 2012 Playoffs and a lot had changed in a decade. He was the Finals MVP in the Celtics 2008 NBA Championship with new co-stars in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. However, this was the Last Dance for this iteration of the Celtics and they faced off against a scrappy 76ers team who made it past the Chicago Bulls after Derrick Rose tore his ACL. They were led by All-Star Andre Iguodala and a young core of guys like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams.
In theory this should have been an easy series for the Celtics to win but the 76ers put up a fight, forcing a Game 7 back in TD Garden after trading wins through the first six games. In that Game 7 the new core of Celtics were able to squash the 76ers Cinderella story, led by Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo who scored 18 points. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but had a similar result from 2002, losing to the Big 3 Miami Heat in 7 games.
This would be the end of an era in Celtics history as Allen left to join the Heat in the offseason while Pierce and Garnett got traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. Little did we know that the draft picks from this trade would bring the next iteration of stars to the rivalry.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 26: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics protects the ball during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jays Years: Celtics vs 76ers (2018-2023)
We have reached the Modern Day in Celtics History, with the team now being led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they had to continue the tradition of their first playoff series coming against the Philadelphia 76ers. In the Second Round in 2018, the Celtics faced off against the 76ers young core of Joel Embiid and Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons.
Boston was not favored since they lost their stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving but that did not stop their young group from beating Philadelphia in 5 games. In that Game 5 we saw a glimpse of the future, with Tatum leading the way with 25 points on 8-15 shooting while Brown finished with 24 points on 10-13 shooting. This overachieving Boston Celtics team would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose to the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston would face off against Philadelphia again in the NBA Bubble, in the First Round of the 2020 Playoffs. This is sort of a footnote in the rivalry with the Celtics sweeping the 76ers. Simmons was out for the entire series and that led Embiid to try and carry the load by himself. The Celtics blew them out through three games before Kemba Walker dropped 32 points in Game 4 to win the series. The Celtics would once again make it to the Eastern Conference Finals after taking down the Toronto Raptors in 7 games in the Second Round but ran out of gas and lost to the Jimmy Butler led Miami Heat in 6 games. Miami would end up losing in the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics speaks with Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers after the game in Game Four of the first round of the playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 23, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most recent matchup of the Celtics vs 76ers rivalry came in the Second Round of the 2023 Playoffs and that was the best series of the Jays era so far. It went all 7 games, starting with Boston losing Game 1 at home behind 45 points from James Harden. The Celtics won the next two games before dropping the next two to go down 3-2 in the series with Game 6 on the road and this is where Jayson Tatum would cement his playoff legacy.
Tatum was awful to start Game 6, shooting 1-13 through three quarters before dropping 16 points in the fourth quarter on 4-8 shooting to lead Boston to the win. This set the stage for the main event of Game 7 back in TD Garden with the season on the line. Jayson Tatum would proceed to break the record for points in a Game 7, dropping 51 points on 17-28 shooting from the field and 6-10 from three to lead the Celtics to a blowout victory over the 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Once advancing to the Conference Finals, the Celtics would lose another series to the Heat, this time in a heart breaking Game 7. Miami would lose in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets in 5 games.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 14: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2026 Playoff Prediction
After going over the very long and extensive playoff history between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers it is now time to make my prediction for how the 2026 First Round series is going to go. The 76ers are a very dangerous team going into this series.
Joel Embiid might be out but Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecobe are a scary combination to face after they combined for 50 points against the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Game. Paul George is also back from his suspension early in the season and could also be a difference maker as a third option in this series. Philadelphia’s depth also has potential to help with Kelly Oubre Jr and Andre Drummond being solid support pieces.
The one thing that the Celtics have that the 76ers don’t is Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. For years teams have had a hard time finding an answer to guard both of them and the Jays are playing some of their best basketball going into the playoffs. Philly’s center depth could also cause them some issues, leading to potentially a ton of drives by Boston to the basket and easy points for a guy like Neemias Queta. Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser also have the chance to light up the 76ers from deep and we’ve seen Baylor Scheirman and Jordan Walsh play some great defense against tough competition.
My Final Prediction: Celtics Win the Series in 5 games. For as much as I respect Maxey and Edgecombe, I think Boston is just the better team and have too much firepower for Philadelphia to handle. I think the 76ers might be able to steal a win in this series but the Celtics should be able to win this series in a Gentleman’s Sweep.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 8: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Scott Henderson #00 of the Portland Trailblazers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on April 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Spurs vs. Blazers series officially set, it’s time for us to go through what each team brings to the table. Today, we’ll start with a quick overview of some stylistic quirks to monitor, before releasing a full preview in the coming days.
First up: the turnover battle.
Turnovers
These teams are polar opposites in the turnover game. San Antonio is great at protecting the ball on offense (12.9% turnover rate, 4th best) but struggles to steal the rock on defense (forces turnovers on 12.8% of defensive possessions, 28th), while Portland loves coughing up the ball (16.8% turnover rate, 30th) but is also very good at taking it away from opponents (forces turnovers on 15.3% of defensive possessions, 7th). In other words, it’ll be a battle of weaknesses on the Spurs end, but also a clash of strengths on the Blazers’ side.
With that said, individual matchups will also matter, and Steph Castle could be an X-factor on both ends of the court. Castle averages over a steal per game and will likely spend lots of time guarding Avdija, who has both the highest usage and turnover rate (15.1%) on the Blazers. On the other hand, Castle himself is very turnover-prone (15.9%), which would play into the hands of Portland’s trifecta of elite perimeter defenders in Holiday, Camara, and Thybulle.
Portland’s rim frequency
Portland prioritizes shots near the rim, as 35.2% of their attempts come within four feet of the basket (5th highest league-wide). Thankfully, the Spurs have perhaps the greatest rim protector in league history in Wemby, whose presence alone deters opponents from shooting. In fact, only 26.2% of opposing shots come at the basket when he plays, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Blazers see a similar drop in rim frequency.
Even if they decide to keep shooting, don’t expect many to go in. The Blazers are only making 66.3% of their shots in that area (18th league-wide), and with Wemby on the court, the Spurs are letting in just 60.8% of those attempts. If Portland struggles down low, they could pivot to shooting more threes, as they’re already top 5 in three-point frequency (43.2%) while San Antonio gives up an average number of attempts (37.8%, 14th league-wide).
Portland’s pick & roll frequency
One way of pulling Wemby away from the rim would be putting him in as many high pick-and-rolls as possible, and Portland’s 17.1% P&R frequency ranks in the league’s top 10. However, the Alien is such a physical freak that he’s fast and long enough to contain both the ballhandler before recovering to the roll man. As a result, the Spurs actually welcome P&Rs, allowing 16.9% of defensive possessions to involve such a play from opposing teams, while conceding just 0.83 points per possession — the third-lowest number league-wide, and also the same scoring average for Portland on offense. In other words, the Blazers will have an extremely difficult time going against Wemby in P&Rs, and it’ll be interesting to see how they adjust.
Rebounding
Another way for Portland to generate offense is to crash the offensive glass. The Blazers’ 34.3% ORB percentage was 4th league-wide, but that’s going up against the #1-ranked defensive rebounding Spurs team that grabbed 74.1% of its own boards. Expect Clingan and Robert Williams III to get physical with Wemby and cause as much havoc around the Spurs’ rim as possible, especially if they have trouble generating other forms of offense.
However, San Antonio could also counter by doing the same on the other end. The Spurs are also a good offensive rebounding team, grabbing 29.5% of their misses (9th highest). Interestingly, Portland actually struggles on their own glass, conceding 70.2% of rebounds to their opponents (21st). If the Blazers don’t manage to clean up on their own end, then any offensive rebounds they grab will be rendered moot.
San Antonio’s corner three-point volume
The Spurs’ 38.8% three-point volume is average (14th league-wide), but they’re tied for first with New York in corner three volume at 12.9%. This is mostly attributed to Wemby’s insane roll gravity, as San Antonio generates 13.8% of their shots from the corners when he plays, which is the highest in league history. The Blazers allow 10.2% of opponent shots to come from those spots, (right around the league average), but if they prioritize defending the corners, then it’ll open up Wemby’s rolls and drives from the Spurs’ guards. San Antonio is also shooting 71.3% at the rim (90th percentile) on 36.4% frequency (87th), so Portland is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Transition opportunities
16.5% of Spurs plays come in transition (6th league-wide), and their offensive rating on such plays is 128.5 (8th). The Blazers allow almost the same amount of transition opportunities on defense (16.4%, 26th) with a defensive rating of 126.8 (19th). San Antonio should dominate in fast-break points, especially since they’re also elite at preventing opposing transition opportunities, while Portland is bottom five in transition frequency. This could be a short series if the Blazers turn the ball over at their usual rate.
After a thrilling 126-121 win over the Clippers on Wednesday, the Warriors will face the Suns in Phoenix on Friday night with the last Western Conference playoff berth on the line.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. AP
The No. 7-seeded Suns lost a nail-biter at home Tuesday to the Trail Blazers.
The winner of Friday’s game earns the right to face the defending champion Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which would begin Sunday in Oklahoma City.
No. 9 vs. No. 10 Western Conference NBA play-in game
Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix
TV: Amazon Prime
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns breakdown
Warriors projected starting five(regular season stats)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green steals the ball from Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the final minutes of the game of the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Warriors X factor: How much do their stars play?
Curry showed what star power can provide in a postseason setting, delivering a 35-point performance while stretching himself to 36 minutes in his most playing time since returning from a knee injury.
Porzingis and Horford also played important roles in the Warriors’ first play-in win.
Can the Warriors count on them for another respective 28 and 22 productive minutes, or more?
Suns X factor: Can Dillon Brooks and Co. cause trouble?
Brooks, the perpetual Warriors menace, recently returned from a monthlong absence after fracturing his hand, which is good news for the Suns and not so much for their opponents.
Phoenix is 32-24 with Brooks, whose hyperactive defense has also helped the Suns become one of the league’s best at forcing turnovers. The Suns ranked fourth in steals and forced more turnovers than all but two other teams.
Brooks’ history with Golden State notwithstanding, it makes for a potentially dangerous matchup for a Warriors team that can be prone to mistakes. Golden State committed the fourth-most turnovers in the NBA, including a stretch of four games with 20-plus last month.
Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NBAE via Getty Images
Fast facts
No team in the NBA is more dependent on the 3 than the Warriors, who take an average of 44.1 per game and make an average 15.7 (35.6%).
The Suns are one of the NBA’s best teams at defending the perimeter, limiting opponents to 34.7% from beyond the arc, the second-lowest in the league.
The Warriors are 17-4 when they shoot 40% or better from deep.
Golden State is also 14-25 when it commits more turnovers than its opponent.
The Warriors have been one of the most turnover-prone teams in the NBA, committing 15.7 per game — more than all but three other teams.
Phoenix, meanwhile, ranked fourth in steals and forced its opponents to turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per game, fourth-most in the NBA.
Season series: Warriors, 3-1
Nov. 4: Warriors 118, Suns 107
Dec. 18: Suns 99, Warriors 98
Dec. 20: Warriors 119, Suns 116
Feb. 5: Warriors 101, Suns 97
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks fouls Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II during the first half of Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Brooks was ejected. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) AP
Postseason history
The Suns are one Western Conference foe the Warriors didn’t bulldoze through at one point or another during their dynasty. The teams have met three times in the postseason, but the last time was all the way back in 1994, when Charles Barkley and Chris Mullin played starring roles.
Phoenix has won all three postseason series with Golden State.
The Warriors have more recent — and successful — history with Brooks.
Not only was he a core member of the Grizzlies team that played a hard-fought series on the way to the Warriors’ NBA title in 2022, Brooks was also part of the Rockets team that Golden State upset in the first round last year.
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With Game 1 of Knicks-Hawks coming up on Saturday, an Eastern Conference scout shares three things to watch during the series:
SLOWING ATLANTA IN TRANSITION
"They have been really good getting out on the break. Jalen (Johnson) is such a great rebounder and he gets it and goes. New York’s transition defense has been okay lately. But Jalen will put a lot of pressure on them. You (have to) pay attention to (Nickeil Alexander-Walker). He’s great in transition. (Jonathan) Kuminga can hurt you. Atlanta doesn’t need a turnover to get going – that’s what makes them so tough. It’s a rebound from Johnson and they are off. And they have multiple guys who can (push the ball off of a rebound). Even if you get back, their flow and the screening in their half court offense is tricky.
"Maybe the Knicks give up something on the offensive glass and keep some people back to slow the Hawks. This, to me, is where the Knicks can get into trouble if they don’t execute.”
HAWKS VS. KAT
"So many teams have put a wing on (Karl-Anthony Towns) and put a center on (Josh) Hart. That’s obviously worked for some of (those teams). I don’t know if the Hawks will do that. I can’t see (Jalen Johnson) defending KAT. Maybe there is another wing who can do it? It’s one of the biggest factors, to me. If Atlanta defends Towns with (Onyeka Okongwu), I think that’s a potential series-killer for them. When a big (is guarding Towns) it just opens up so much for the Knicks.
Jan 27, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
"The (Jalen Brunson-Towns two-man action) was strong the (last time the Knicks played Atlanta, which was a road win). Putting (Okongwu) on KAT gives them a chance to really get (the Towns-Brunson action) going. Tough call for Quin (Snyder) and the group."
DEFENDING BRUNSON
"The results have been up and down, but I like (Dyson) Daniels on Brunson. If they try to get Daniels off of him with a screen, the Hawks have other (versatile defenders) who can step in. You know Brunson is going to get to his spots but you want to make him work for everything and play him physical without fouling. Not an easy (job), but I’d take Daniels over just about anybody.
"On the other end, does (Brunson) guard CJ (McCollum)? Can Atlanta create mismatches by screening (and forcing Brunson to switch who he is defending)? That’s obviously what they want to do. But (Brunson) is tough and doesn’t die (on screens). That’s another (part of the) chess match I’m keeping an eye on."
PREDICTION
"I love Atlanta but I think the atmosphere at the Garden could be tough for them and I think they’ll struggle with Towns (and Mitchell Robinson). I don’t think this is going longer than six (games), so I’ll take Knicks in six."
