Category: Basketball

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Our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, May 5.

Cavaliers vs Pistons computer picks for Game 1

Cavaliers	Pistons
Mitchell u25.5 points  -115	Cunningham o26.5 points -125
Mobley o8.5 rebounds -102	Duren o10.5 rebounds  -115
Harden o2.5 3-pointers  -130	Robinson o2.5 3-pointers  -105

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Cavaliers Game 1 computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 25.5 points (-115)

Projection: 23.3 points

This season, opposing starting shooting guards have shot just 27.6% from three against the Detroit Pistons (the second-worst mark in the league) making it a difficult matchup for Donovan Mitchell to clear his points prop in Game 1.

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Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (-102)

Projection: 8.59 rebounds

The Cleveland Cavaliers have led the league with 15.0 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings, and Evan Mobley made his presence felt on the glass against the Raptors — a trend he’ll look to carry into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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James Harden Over 2.5 3-pointers (-130)

Projection: 2.61 3-pointers

This season, opposing starting point guards have averaged 6.2 three-point attempts per game against the Pistons — the 10th-most in the league — setting up a favorable spot for James Harden to thrive from deep. When Harden gets it going, the Cavaliers tend to follow, so expect him to set the tone early and clear the Over on this prop.

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Pistons Game 1 computer picks

Cade Cunningham Over 26.5 points (-125)

Projection: 28.7 points

Cade Cunningham is on a tear, averaging 32.2 points over his last five games — a jump of 8.2 from his season average.

The matchup with Cleveland only adds fuel to the fire, as opposing starting point guards have shot a league-high 41.4% from three against the Cavaliers this year, setting Cunningham up nicely to boost his scoring from beyond the arc in Game 1.

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Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 12.06 rebounds

Detroit ranks third in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game, and as the Pistons’ top presence on the glass, Jalen Duren will look to assert himself early — battling Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen by owning the boards and setting the tone inside.

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Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 3-pointers (-105)

Projection: 3.22 3-pointers

Duncan Robinson cleared the Over in five of seven games during the opening round against Orlando, but this matchup brings a different kind of challenge. Cleveland’s defense is far more disciplined on the perimeter, closing out hard and limiting clean looks from deep, which will put added pressure on Robinson to find space.

If Detroit wants to keep pace, they’ll need Robinson to get going early from beyond the arc and knock down shots against a Cavaliers defense that won’t give him many easy opportunities.

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How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tip-off	7 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock/NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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The story of the 2025-2026 Boston Celtics is a complicated one. A team that blew expectations out of the water after a 56-win season, that, fair or not, reset those expectations going into the playoffs. The team then fell dramatically short, blowing the first 3-1 series lead in franchise history, and, to dump salt into the wound, they did it against the Philadelphia 76ers. A lot went wrong in the 3-1 collapse. Let’s power rank the reasons why the Celtics are watching the second round of the playoffs from their couch. 

1. Joe Mazzulla

When assigning credit or blame to a basketball team, I tend to shy away from assigning it to the coach. I believe that in basketball, players have an outsized impact on game results compared to other sports. It’s a simple equation: fewer players on the court or field equals more individual player impact. It’s one reason coaches are more valuable and impactful in the NFL than in the NBA. That being said, I have Joe Mazzulla at the top of my list when it comes to why the Celtics were bounced early this season. 

There was a litany of head-scratching decisions from Mazzulla throughout the first round. His decision to turn his back on the identity of the team that won 56 games for him triggered a domino effect that culminated in the collapse. The 2025-26 Boston Celtics racked up wins by being the deeper, harder-playing team every night. Mazzulla left that identity behind immediately to start the playoffs.

Over the last 15 regular-season games, Baylor Scheierman played 24 minutes per game and contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 45.5% from three-point range. Scheierman peaked with monster performances late in the season in MSG and a 30-point masterclass in the last game of the regular season. In Game 1 of the first round, Baylor played three minutes going into the fourth quarter. This decision had a compounding impact on the team, as these minutes were funnelled towards Jayson Tatum, who was tasked with playing over 42 minutes in Game 3, and tasked with a heavy load in any game that became close. Tatum himself was not surprised that it led to an injury. 

“A little bit to be expected, I was away for ten and a half months, and then I came back, and I’m playing every other day, and I’m playing 36-40 minutes. So it’s not unusual that something would come up.”

Not only did Mazzulla abandon what made this team special, but he also tightened his rotation and loaded his superstar with minutes after an Achilles rupture.

There are additional micro decisions that I think really hurt the Celtics. Tyrese Maxey fried the faces off of the Celtics in their first-round matchup, dumping 26.9 points per game on an efficient 57.9% true shooting on the heads of the Celtics. There was one player on the Celtics this season who showed they could slow Maxey down: Jordan Walsh. Walsh held Maxey to 18.4% true shooting in the regular season and 54% true shooting in the first round. Mazzulla played Walsh an inexplicable 5 minutes in Game 7. Walsh should have been in the starting lineup several games prior. 

Last on the Mazzulla front. The decision not to play Payton Pritchard more minutes was baffling. When Pritchard was on the court, he gave the Celtics offense a zip that wasn’t there with him off the court. Without Pritchard on the court, the team and specifically the offense, cratered. With Pritchard on the court in the first round, the Celtics had an 11.7 net rating; with him off the court, the Celtics have a negative 14.1 net rating. Zooming in on the offense, with Pritchard on the court, the Celtics offense had a scorching 120.5 offensive rating. With him off the court, the offense collapsed to a 99.8 offensive rating. Joe’s decision to only play Pritchard 26 minutes in Game 5 hurt the Celtics, especially coming off a Game 4 in which Pritchard had flames shooting out of all of his orifices. 

And I won’t even mention the choice to start a lineup in Game 7 that had played zero minutes together. 

Three of the last four seasons ended with Celtics losses, and the Celtics were heavy favorites going into all of these series. Joe Mazzulla did not cover himself in glory in any of those losses. 

2. Jaylen Brown

Moving on to the first player on the power rankings: Jaylen Brown. Brown had an incredible season, and will deservedly find his way onto either First or Second Team All-NBA. Jaylen again showed the world that putting a ceiling on him is typically a mistake.

However, part of what made Jaylen’s season special was the leap he took as a passer and decision-maker. Historically, Jaylen has tended to get tunnel vision in big spots. But in the regular season, Brown was consistently making the right play, getting teammates involved and leading a Celtics offense that ended the season ranked second in the entire league. Brown reverted to his old ways in these playoffs. Jaylen recorded more turnovers (25) than he did assists (23).

I don’t think this came from selfishness. I believe Brown tends to press and force the issue; he wants to put the team on his back and will them to victory. Despite his play coming from a well-intentioned place, it brought out his worst habits. Leading to a Celtics offense that stalled out when he was on the court. With Jaylen on the court in the first round, the Celtics had a negative 1.3 net rating; with him off the court, the Celtics had a 23.2 net rating. With Jaylen on the court, the Celtics had a 108.7 offensive rating; with him off the court, the Celtics had a 131.3 offensive rating. An astronomical swing — a swing that can’t happen with a team’s second-best player.

3. Derrick White

Derrick White is up next. Coming into the playoffs, I wasn’t worried about a down shooting year for Derrick. I thought the team could survive his 32.7% three-point shooting clip. Unfortunately, Derrick took his bad shooting to another level, making it untenable for the Celtics. Not only did White shoot 27.3% from the three-point line, but his two-point field goal percentage also plummeted from 48.7% in the regular season to 42.3% in the playoffs. To make matters worse, White lost confidence and stopped being aggressive. Hesitancy in the playoffs will get you killed. In the last 15 games of the regular season, which marked Jayson Tatum’s return, White was taking 10.5 field goals per game. Coming into Game 7, White was only taking 9.2 field goals per game. It’s very hard for a team to win with their third player struggling to this degree. 

4. Neemias Queta

Neemias Queta unfortunately joins the ranks. Specifically, Neemias Queta’s foul trouble. In Game 7, we saw what Queta was capable of on a big stage. The Portuguese big man was the most impactful Celtic as the team tried to save their season. Pouring in 17 points and 12 rebounds on the way to being a team-high plus nine in his 32 minutes. It was all on display in Game 7: the athleticism, the improved touch, the clutch free-throw making, the ability to clean the glass.

Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics needed more Neemias Queta early in the series. From the first game in the series, Queta found himself in foul trouble, which shouldn’t happen when playing against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. If I had any hair left, I would have pulled it out when the big man committed another unnecessary foul, reaching in after the 76ers had corralled a defensive rebound. You could live with some of the fouls; it was the avoidable ones that killed the team. With a weak front line, the Celtics needed Queta to play at least 30 minutes per game in this series, and he eliminated that possibility with some horrendous fouls. 

There is plenty of blame to go around for the excruciating first-round loss that the Celtics experienced in round one of the playoffs. However, while it hurts, every issue on the list is fixable, but only if the issues are acknowledged. A lot went wrong for the Celtics in this year’s playoffs, but I remain confident that the team will be right back in the mix this time next year. 

That was fun, eh?

The Detroit Pistons’ first round victory over the Orlando Magic that was overloaded with storylines and narrative shifts feels like it should have earned the victor a vacation. Instead, Detroit turns the page quickly to a tougher test in the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Game 1 tipping off tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The beauty of the NBA playoffs is that it allows no rest for the wicked.

If there’s one thing we learned about Detroit in Round 1, it’s this: they don’t go away easily. That mindset, echoed by J. B. Bickerstaff and his players all season, now faces its stiffest test yet.

Here are the three biggest challenges Cleveland presents.

1. Frontcourt size

Detroit struggled early in the Orlando series adjusting to physicality in the paint and Cleveland brings an even tougher version of that problem.

Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are simply a different tier of frontcourt. Mobley is coming off a strong first round, averaging 18.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while showing off an expanded offensive game, including timely perimeter shooting. His versatility is amplified by Allen, who anchors the paint defensively (2.3 blocks per game in Round 1) and frees Mobley to operate more offensively. Oh, did I mention that Mobley was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year?

Allen, meanwhile, is riding momentum from a dominant Game 7 performance (22 points, 19 rebounds) that may have swung Cleveland’s fate.

On paper, Detroit has more resistance inside than Toronto did – but a concern that didn’t come up as often in round 1 was foul trouble. The Pistons’ physical style is a strength, but against savvy bigs like Mobley and Allen, it can quickly become a liability.

Jalen Duren will need to replicate his Game 7 impact (15 points, 15 rebounds), and Isaiah Stewart has to be a more steady presence. Without that, Cleveland’s size could tilt the series early.

2. Harden’s playstyle

James Harden’s playoff reputation has long been debated, but his ability to manipulate defenses – especially by drawing fouls – still makes him dangerous. It is worth mentioning this will be the first time this season Detroit plays this iteration of Cleveland with both Donovan Mitchell and Harden available. And with Mitchell commanding the bulk of defensive attention, Harden becomes a potential X-factor.

Harden was productive in Round 1, averaging 20.6 points and 6.1 assists while consistently getting to the line (6.9 free throw attempts per game, top 10 in the first round). That matters against a Detroit team that avoided major foul trouble against Orlando – something that may not hold here.

Matchups will be key. Ausar Thompson will be glued to Mitchell, leaving Cunningham and Duncan Robinson to deal with Harden. That’s where Cleveland will hunt advantages, particularly targeting Robinson, which could limit his minutes if he becomes a defensive liability. Do we see an unleashing of Ron Holland to help contain?

3. A style-proof offense?

Detroit just held Orlando to 45.6% shooting in the paint – the worst mark of any playoff team in seven years. That defensive dominance won’t translate as cleanly in this series.

Cleveland can beat you in multiple ways. They can run through Mitchell and Harden, punish mismatches inside with Mobley and Allen, or stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. Unlike Orlando, you can’t neutralize one player and expect everything else to collapse.

The Magic showed flashes of offensive versatility early in Round 1, but ultimately became predictable by the end. Cleveland won’t.

What gives Detroit more than a chance is elite defensive versatility, led by Thompson, who’s may be the best perimeter defenders in the league and can even switch onto bigger players in spurts. If he can disrupt Cleveland’s rhythm the way he did Orlando in Round 1, Detroit has a path.

But this series will demand more. More discipline, more shot-making and more answers.

The Houston Rockets were a relatively top-heavy ball club in 2025-26. Their only consistent performer was Kevin Durant, followed by Amen Thompson, although Thompson’s contributions extend far beyond the stat sheet.

Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason were all major contributors. However, they weren’t exactly consistent contributors, as each of them hit a lull at one point or another during the season. 

Houston had two All-Star players in Durant and Sengun, although Sengun made the All-Star team due to injuries (which still counts). Houston will have just one All-NBA player in Durant. Which likely isn’t enough, due to Durant’s age (although any talks about his decline can and should be neutered expeditiously).

Durant took on a myriad of roles, playing every position, ranging from point guard to shooting guard to small forward to power forward. To the tune of the third-most minutes per night and the second-most minutes in total.

Durant played 78 games –his most since the 2018-19 season. And after a disappointing postseason appearance, in which the Rockets were defeated by the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round, the Rockets are rumored to be considering a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks to land two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

It’s believed that it would take Sengun, Smith and draft capital to land Antetokounmpo. If so, the Rockets will have to think long and hard about it.

The only two players that should be considered as untradeable are Thompson and Durant (in my opinion). Don’t get me wrong, Smith was the x-factor for Houston. When he played well, the Rockets usually did well also.

And Sengun made consecutive All-Star teams and is still just scratching the surface of his potential. 

But we’re talking about Antetokounmpo, after all. One of the league’s 75 greatest players of all-time, who just averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 65.8 percent true shooting and 63.6 percent effective shooting. 

Antetokounmpo would’ve led the Rockets in scoring and efficiency, even in a season that saw him turn 31-years-old midway through the calendar year. Houston will certainly want to maximize Durant’s window, which will likely be just two more years, at most. 

Neither Smith nor Sengun will likely become the player that Antetokounmpo is, even now. And again, both are fine, young players.

But Antetokounmpo’s presence will make life easier for Durant, which Houston has to consider, after asking Durant to do essentially everything in his first season in Houston. If Houston can get a deal done with Milwaukee by parting just Sengun and Smith (and draft capital), that would be tough to turn down. 

Great things happen, historically, when you pair multiple MVPs together. And the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going anywhere.

Houston may as well load up. It’s their best chance of dethroning the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. 

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama showed why he was awarded the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and seems poised to win the award for years to come.

Wembanyama blocked an incredible 12 Timberwolves shots in the series-opening game, an NBA record in a playoff game dating back to when blocks became an official stat during the 1973-74 season. Unofficially, according to Basketball Reference, the last time a player had 12 or more blocks in a playoff game was Wilt Chamberlain in 1970.

The Wolves’ ability to generate offense when Wembanyama is on the court is likely to be the largest determining factor of whether or not Minnesota can win this series. Unlike the last series against the Denver Nuggets, where Nikola Jokić provided little to no resistance at the rim, the Spurs have a generational rim protector underneath the basket.

Despite being rejected at the rim so many times, the Wolves made the correct choice to continue attacking the paint as much as possible. While the 3-point shot and the midrange will be a large part of the Timberwolves offense, it cannot be the only way they put the ball in the basket.

“We’re not going to just not attack the basket because he’s down there,” Randle explained about the team’s mindset. “We can be smarter about how we do it, be a little bit smarter. We’re not going to let him deter us from attacking the rim.”

One place the Wolves could do a better job offensively is to more often push the ball in transition and off of defensive rebounds.

If the Wolves can beat Wembanyama down the floor, he won’t be in a position to block the shot, which will lead to makes at the basket and open looks from beyond the arc. Terrence Shannon Jr. executed that idea best in Game 1 by pushing the pace early and often.

“He gonna have to block it every time,” Shannon said of Wembanyama after the game. “I ain’t gonna stop going downhill.”

The Timberwolves scored just 69 points through the first three quarters of the game, but put together a 35-point fourth quarter to win the game.

The big adjustment was moving Rudy Gobert to the bench, which allowed the Wolves to put all five players on the court who could shoot and stretch the floor. Instead of Wembanyama sitting by the rim and ignoring Gobert on offense, he was forced to guard out on the perimeter, which allowed the Wolves to get some open looks near the rim for the first time all game.

The question for the rest of the series is, can the Wolves score enough with Gobert on the floor, or will they need him on the bench to go on a scoring run?

The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. The Timberwolves still need Gobert to play a large role in this series, as his defense and rebounding are invaluable, and the team did win his 30 minutes in Game 1 by two points, but there will likely be times when it makes sense for Chris Finch to go with the five-out spacing lineup with Randle and Reid.

Finch has been outstanding with adjustments and lineups this entire postseason. Even though the Wolves have been down multiple rotation players since Game 4 against the Nuggets, he has consistently pulled the right levers in each game and will need to continue doing so for the Wolves to win this series.

Game 2 on Wednesday night should be another interesting test for Minnesota as they look to take the first two games on the road of a second-round series just as they did two years ago in Denver.

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds: Wizards, Pacers, Nets have best chance at No. 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.

Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.

Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included

The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Last year, the Dallas Mavericks made the biggest leap to pick No. 1 in a class that featured Cooper Flagg. Dallas had the 11th-best odds in a year where they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Here’s a look at this year’s odds with ties included, via Tankathon:

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds without ties included

Here’s how the odds shape up without ties, via Tankathon:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft?

Now split into two days, the first round will be held on Tuesday, June 23. The second round will follow on Wednesday, June 24.

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds: Wizards, Pacers, Nets have best chance at No. 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.

Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.

Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included

The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Last year, the Dallas Mavericks made the biggest leap to pick No. 1 in a class that featured Cooper Flagg. Dallas had the 11th-best odds in a year where they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Here’s a look at this year’s odds with ties included, via Tankathon:

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds without ties included

Here’s how the odds shape up without ties, via Tankathon:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft?

Now split into two days, the first round will be held on Tuesday, June 23. The second round will follow on Wednesday, June 24.

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Across 1,960 career playoff and regular-season NBA games, LeBron James has never been a larger underdog than he is against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. 

According to Yahoo Sports’ Ben Fawkes, the 15.5-point Game 1 line represents the largest perceived deficit of James’ illustrious 23-year career. 

Key Takeaways

• LeBron hasn’t been as large of a series underdog since 2006.
  
  
• The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets at +550 underdogs in the first round.
  
  
• Bronny James has +500 odds of scoring 15 points in the upcoming series.

The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on a real-life Goliath in the form of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are -15.5 at home ahead of tip-off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are consensus 15.5-point underdogs in Game 1 tonight at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

➡️That would be the biggest underdog LeBron James has been in ANY game in his 23-year career

— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) May 5, 2026

James is already 11 regular-season games clear of Robert Parish and 39 playoff outings ahead of Derek Fisher for the NBA’s all-time record in career appearances. But while he has won four championships and produced countless unforgettable moments, he has never been a larger underdog than he is tonight.

The Lakers’ +600 moneyline odds at DraftKings suggest they only have a 14.3% chance to steal Game 1 on the road. Notably, they’re still without leading scorer Luka Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 against this same Thunder team.

Upsets aren’t impossible. The Lakers overcame huge +550 odds to win their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, eliminating a team they were given a 15.4% chance of beating in six games.

However, in extending their season, they also accepted a date with a team that tormented them during the regular season. 

LeBron, Lakers face daunting task

The defending-champion and NBA Finals odds favorite Thunder (-155) went 4-0 against the Lakers during the regular season. Those wins came by nine, 29, 36, and 43 points, and they did not have MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the nine-point victory.

DraftKings has the Thunder at -1600 (94% implied chance) to eliminate the Lakers and move on to the Western Conference Finals. LA is only +900 (10% chance) to continue past the series.

For context, here are all of the opening series odds for the other NBA conference semifinals:

• San Antonio Spurs (-525), Minnesota Timberwolves (+350)
  
• New York Knicks (-260), Philadelphia 76ers (+215)
  
• Detroit Pistons (-125), Cleveland Cavaliers (+105)

According to SportsOddsHistory, that makes this the second-most lopsided series of LeBron’s career as an underdog. The only other time he faced a greater deficit was in the 2006 Conference Semifinals, when his Cleveland Cavaliers were +1200 against the Detroit Pistons. Detroit won the series in seven games after falling behind 3-2.

Oddsmakers at DraftKings don’t believe that James has much of a hope of extending the series as he did back in ‘06. There are -320 odds the Thunder cover a 2.5-game spread, meaning they have an implied 76.2% chance of winning the series in four or five games.

Notably, the Thunder enter the series having already swept the Phoenix Suns. They also swept their first-round opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies, before they were taken to seven games by the Denver Nuggets one year ago. 

They went on to win the NBA Finals, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games.

Bronny James prop special

As LeBron looks to add a possible final crowning achievement to his playoff resume, his son, Bronny James, is enjoying his first taste of playoff action.

Bronny finished the first round against the Rockets with 10 total points scored while getting playing time in five of six games. FanDuel Sportsbook published a special market for Bronny to reach 15 total points in the series with the Thunder for +500 odds, suggesting he only has a 16.7% chance to hit the mark.

Bronny had 10 total points the Lakers' series vs. the Rockets 😳

Can he get 15+ points in their series vs. the Thunder? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/IxJtPxGtPJ

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) May 4, 2026

The younger James scored zero, four, and 10 points in three previous matchups with OKC. 

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The New York Knicks scorched the nets at Madison Square Garden in the series opener and take aim at a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.

My same-game parlay for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal likes the points to keep flowing, along with standout efforts from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for 76ers vs. Knicks on May 6.

Our best 76ers vs Knicks SGP for Game 2

SGP leg #1: Over 215

The New York Knicks shot 63% from the floor and scored 137 points in the series opener. While I expect New York’s success to come back to earth, its offense throws a lot at Philadelphia, especially with Joel Embiid limping around on defense.

As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they need to promote pace on offense, and I expect the Sixers to do their share of the scoring in Game 2. This total has jumped only two points from the closing number of 213 O/U in Game 1, leaving a low bar for the Over.

SGP leg #2: Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 rebounds

Kelly Oubre Jr. is averaging six rebounds for the postseason, but his work on the boards surges in this series. Embiid is being drawn away from the rim and isn’t mobile enough to chase down misses.

Oubre had five boards on eight rebounding chances in Game 1, with New York not missing much. There will be more rebounding chances in Game 2, and Oubre is projected for six or more rebounds after pulling down seven in both regular-season meetings with the Knicks.

SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 points

Karl-Anthony Towns has served more as a conduit for the Knicks' offense in the playoffs, passing off rather than attacking. However, Philadelphia has to change how they defend KAT.

That means sending smaller players at him up top or sagging off with Embiid. Either way, Towns can find the bottom of the basket, and Game 2 forecasts have him scoring around 22 points.

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See our full 76ers vs Knicks Game 2 preview

Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his 76ers vs Knicks predictions for Game 2.

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See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

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Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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

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LeBron James defied all odds again.

In the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, King James led a Luka Dončić-less Los Angeles Lakers to a surprising six-game series win over the Houston Rockets.

Over the course of the series, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. After closing out, he told NBA on ESPN correspondents “the mission has always stayed the same throughout my career and that’s to go out there and try to dominate.”

Next up, King James and co. will attempt to dominate once again against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s No. 1 seeded, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Since they don’t have home court advantage this time around, their three hypothetical games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena are scheduled to take place:

Game 3Saturday, May 9
5:30 p.m. PT

Game 4Monday, May 11
7:30 p.m. PT

Game 6Saturday, May 16
TBD

If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for each and every contest in LA.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets for any one game at the Crypto.com Arena was $250 including fees on SeatGeek.

Prices start at $146 including fees for games at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center.

While pricey, don’t underestimate just how much you can help the Lakers at home.

Over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, the Thunder beat Los Angeles in all four of their meetings and won by an average of 29.3 points (!) per game.

According to NBA.com, that should come with a disclaimer because “LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played in the same game just once and were minus-16 in 17.9 minutes.”

Sources told The California Post that “Dončić is expected to miss the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma.”

Will he be back for Games 3 and 4?

While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 2026 Western Conference Semifinals series below.

Lakers playoff home game ticket prices

A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

Thunder playoff home game ticket prices

All Thunder playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

How to watch the Lakers and Thunder on TV

Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC and NBA TV.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out thus far?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff bracket here.

Huge 2026 concerts

Looking for entertainment outside of the NBA playoffs?

We’ve got you covered.

Here are just five huge artists you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

• J. Cole

• Gorillaz

• Wu-Tang Clan

• BTS

• RUSH

Want to see who else is on the road? Check out this list of all the events coming to the Crypto.com Arena to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

There are two versions of Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt on Instagram. 

There’s the one you know. The verified, polished account with a half-a-million followers.

Like most NBA players on social media, it features highlights of dunks, tunnel fits, and postgame smiles with teammates. It’s the one the public expects to see. 

And then there’s the other one. 

The one that feels like you just got added to the team group chat. 

View this post on Instagram

Lurking beneath the algorithm’s surface lives “vando_vault.” Vanderbilt’s not-so-secret second account that’s an unfiltered scrapbook of locker room life, memes, hilarious videos, and screenshots that tell the story within the story. 

Scroll through the photos in each of the posts below long enough and you’ll find a version of Luka Doncic you’ve never seen before. The one that lives up to the nickname “The Don.” 

View this post on Instagram

There’s Deandre Ayton’s hilarious expressions. Austin Reaves in cornrows and his budding bromance with Doncic. There’s trolling of Kevin Durant and Stephen A. Smith. Even Luke Kennard isn’t safe from the occasional internet meme.

Look deeper and you’ll find handwritten motivation notes. AI videos of Doncic dancing, and even funny screenshots of LeBron James. It’s weird. It’s lighthearted. It’s perfect. 

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Anthony Edwards’ improbable return to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup for the team's shocking Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs caused a seismic change in NBA betting odds.

Key Takeaways

• Edwards was expected to be out for part or all of the series.
  
  
• The Spurs are still a comfortable second place in odds to win the NBA Finals.
  
  
• Teams that go up 1-0 in a playoff series end up winning more than 77% of the time.

FanDuel sportsbook opened with the Spurs, the West's second-place finishers, at -3,000 amid uncertainty over Edwards' future. The Timberwolves' star guard sustained a hyperextension and bone bruise to his left knee in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets and was given a two-to-six-week return timeline.

Rumors swirled that there was a chance Edwards could be ready for Game 1, so FanDuel dropped San Antonio to -2,200 on Sunday, a day before the series opener. Oddsmakers pivoted again when it was announced Monday that Edwards was likely to play in Game 1. The Spurs were knocked down to -600, while Minnesota shortened to +450.

The T-Wolves still had a ton of work to do in Game 1. They entered as 9.5-point underdogs without Donte DiVinceno and Ayo Dosunmu against a Spurs team that had enjoyed several extra days of rest and was at home, where it went 32-8 in the regular season.

Despite the Spurs’ advantages, the T-Wolves emerged with a two-point victory as Julian Champagnie’s would-be game-winning 3-pointer clanked off the rim at the buzzer. Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Edwards had 18 points (11 in the fourth quarter) in 25 minutes off the bench.

Victor Wembanyama set an all-time playoff record with 12 blocks to go with his 15 rebounds, but he only scored 11 points on 29.4% shooting.

FanDuel now has the Spurs at -186 (65% implied chance) and the Timberwolves at +156 (39% chance) to win the series. The Spurs are -9.5 favorites again for Game 2.

NBA Finals odds picture

The Timberwolves’ early advantage hasn’t caused a massive change in the championship picture.

The Spurs still find themselves second in NBA championship odds at +470, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (-170). However, they are down from about +340, where they were before their Game 1 loss.

On the flip side, the Timberwolves are sixth of the eight remaining teams in title odds at +3,000. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500) and Philadelphia 76ers (+7,000) have longer odds.

BetMGM insights shared with Covers on Monday revealed that the Spurs led all remaining teams in tickets (10.9%) and were second in money wagered (16.8%) in the NBA Finals futures market. The Timberwolves were sixth in tickets (5.5%) and handle (5.2%). 

Bettors also loved the Spurs to win the Western Conference. They drew 21.3% of bets and 23.3% of the pot, which ranked first and second, repectively, in the West.

The Timberwolves were fourth in wagers (12.6%) and handle (9.5%) of the eight remaining teams.

History favors underdogs

While the Spurs are still favored to win their second-round series, they will have to overcome a strong historical precedent.

Teams that take a 1-0 series lead have won 700 of 901 series (77.1%), according to Land of Basketball. Stripping away all other data points, that would suggest the Timberwolves have -337 odds to win the series, and the Spurs should be +337 (assuming no vig). 

Minneosta now has a combined regular-season and playoff record of 3-1 against San Antonio. The teams will meet for Game 2 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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

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The Philadelphia 76ers wrangled just 28 rebounds in their series-opening loss to the New York Knicks. That’ll happen when your opponent knocks down 63% of their shots.

Philadelphia had no answers for a red-hot New York attack and pretty much packed it in by the third quarter, saving its legs for Game 2.

Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with five boards in the blowout defeat, and our 76ers vs. Knicks predictions like him to keep cleaning the glass.

My NBA picks take Oubre to round up the rebounds on May 6.

76ers vs Knicks Game 2 prediction

76ers vs Knicks best bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 5.5 Rebounds (+100)

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s role as a rebounder spikes in this series. 

The New York Knicks’ high action drags center Joel Embiid away from the paint on defense, and his lack of mobility prevents him from crashing the glass.

Oubre will often be the closest defender to the rim, and he’s active enough to contest for rebounds. He hauled in five boards on eight potential chances in just 27 minutes in Game 1.

So far in the postseason, Oubre is averaging 5.9 rebounds on 10.0 chances. New York’s shooting will regress in Game 2, leaving more rebounding opportunities, and Oubre’s projections sit at 6+ boards.

COVERS INTEL: Before Oubre’s five rebounds in Game 1, the 6-foot-8 forward pulled down seven rebounds in each of his two meetings with the Knicks in the regular season.

76ers vs Knicks Game 2 same-game parlay

The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t pick up the pace in Game 1. The Knicks’ hot shooting forced them to start too many possessions from the inbounds.

Philadelphia’s best plan of attack is to avoid the half-court defense by fueling fastbreaks and transition. New York won’t shoot as well as it did in the opener, but its offense is a tough solve for Philly. 

Karl-Anthony Towns has been more of a playmaker for the Knicks in the playoffs. But with the 76ers trying to keep Joel Embiid anchored inside, KAT could see smaller checks and more space from the top of the key. He’ll either attack inside or let it fly from mid-range. Projections are as high as 22 points for Game 2.

76ers vs Knicks SGP

• Over 215
• Kelly Oubre Over 5.5 Rebounds
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 18.5 Points

76ers vs Knicks odds for Game 2

• Spread: 76ers +7 | Knicks -7
• Moneyline: 76ers +225 | Knicks -275
• Over/Under: Over 215 | Under 215

76ers vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Knicks make good on big spreads at home. New York is 24-4 SU and 21-7 ATS (75%) when laying more than five points at Madison Square Garden, including 3-1 SU and ATS so far in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Knicks.

How to watch 76ers vs Knicks Game 2

76ers vs Knicks latest injuries

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