Category: Basketball

After a rough Game 2 loss the Celtics needed a bounce back win in Game 3. They got it, thanks to clutch shots by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the fourth. Each Jay scored 25 points as the Celtics won a great game against the 76ers, 108-100.

There were no injuries to report for the Celtics and they started their usuals of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. Joel Embiid is nearing a return, but it was not in Game 3. Philadelphia started Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George and Adem Bona.

It was back and forth for the start of the game. Just like in Game 1, Neemias Queta picked up 2 quick fouls, so he had to go to the bench. Nikola Vucevic was once again the first big off of the bench for Boston.

The Celtics led 29-24 at the end of the first quarter. Jaylen Brown led the team with 7 points while Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic all had 6 points.

Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza were brought into the game to start the 2nd quarter. Both players made impacts with offensive rebounds and a made three.

BAYLOR "NO DIP" SCHEIERMAN 😎 pic.twitter.com/49i28HwVd8

— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) April 24, 2026

The Celtics got hot from three in the 2nd quarter, but the Sixers were still hanging around. The Celtics led 41-35 with 7:42 to go in the 2nd quarter after a VJ Edgecombe dunk led to a Joe Mazzulla timeout.

Boston did have the lead, up 54-47 at the end of the first half. It was still Brown leading the way in scoring with 11 points while Tatum and Vucevic were behind him with 8 each.

Vucevic started the 3rd quarter over Neemias Queta.

Paul George really got going in the third quarter;he had the Sixers first 8 points of the quarter and matched his first half total in the first 2 minutes of the quarter.

The Celtics built up a 9-point lead, but 7 straight Sixers points cut the lead to 2 and a Joe Mazzulla timeout.

The third quarter was back and fourth as the Celtics could not pull away from the Sixers, in large part due to their turnovers.

The Celtics led 79-74 at the end of three. Jaylen’s 15 and Jayson’s 14 led the team in scoring but Payton Pritchard also needs to be shouted out, through 3 quarters, he had 12 points and was a +15.

It was the Tyrese Maxey show to open the fourth quarter for the 76ers. He had 8 points in the first 3:18 of the period as the Sixers took an 85-84 lead.

Just too many turnovers for the Celtics. They had 17 with just over 7 minutes to go in the 4th while giving up 21 points off of those turnovers.

The Celtics need more from Derrick White on offense. He has been so great on defense all season but he just hasn’t made his threes. He was 3/12 from the floor and 1/8 from three with just over 4 minutes to go in the game.

The Celtics took a timeout after a Kelly Oubre Jr. layup cut what was a 7 point lead down to 2 at 92-90.

Neither team was getting a lot of stops late in the game. Clutch threes from Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics in the lead but the Sixers were running Paul George and Andre Drummond pick and roll and getting buckets every time because Nikola Vucevic was struggling to guard it.

After a pair of Kelly Oubre Jr. free throws cut the lead to 3, Nikola Vucevic missed an open three but a Derrick White offensive rebound and kick out to Jayson Tatum leading to a three put the Celtics up 6 and they did not look back.

Game. pic.twitter.com/8vm6N909Rqhttps://t.co/dbjNpjEpi6

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 25, 2026

The Celtics won the game 108-100 with 25 points from each Jay leading the way.

Boston shot 44% from the field and 43% from three while Philly shot 44% from the field and 34% from 3. Game 4 is Sunday night from Philly at 7 EST.

Rebounds, got to grab those, guys.

The Sixers fell short 108-100 to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 Friday night, falling down 2-1 in the series.

Tyrese Maxey, off an electric third quarter, led all scorers with 31 shooting 12-of-31 from the floor along with six assists. Paul George shot it well once he started attacking, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

VJ Edgecombe’s jump shot came down to earth. He finished with 10 points shooting 5-of-17 from the floor with 10 rebounds.

Despite being upgraded to doubtful on the initial injury report, Joel Embiid remained the only injured player unable to suit up.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• Edgecombe was able to pick up where he left off, beating his defender and going right at Neemias Queta, hitting a contested layup for the Sixers’ first points of the game. The Sixers took advantage of their paint touches early as Maxey was able to kick to Kelly Oubre Jr. for a wide open corner three. Their effort on the glass was good early with Edgecombe and Adem Bona poking free two defensive rebounds while Bona got an early putback on the other end.

The rook picking up where he left off pic.twitter.com/qwnruqZA2f

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) April 24, 2026

• Brown opened the game for Boston by getting switched onto Bona in space and was able to beat him pretty easily with a pump fake. After that the Celtics went on to miss their next six shots. The Sixers started to settle into jumpers though and none of them fell. Four straight misses prevented them from getting any type of space.
• The Celtics found their three-point stroke, hitting seven to round out the quarter. The Sixers were able to get to the rim a couple of times, but their offense looked pretty gummed up. There was no better example of that than Andre Drummond accidentally bumping into Maxey and knocking him over mid-jump shot attempt. Free throws from Maxey and Oubre were answered by another Nik Vucevic three to put the Celtics up by five after the first.

Second Quarter

• It was a very quiet first for PG. He had only taken one shot attempt. He started the second with a pull-up three for his first points of the game, but struggling to rebound had the second unit in trouble. Two quick offensive rebounds led to six Boston points. A couple more threes gave the Celtics the first double-digit lead of the game.
• A big difference from the first two games in this series was how much better the Sixers were with Bona on the floor than Drummond. Bona struck the balance of being much more under control while being in good position to contest shots. He had two blocks, the second leading to a much needed fast break when the Sixers needed some life.

THE BLOCK. THE DUNK. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/apOMbNtIPe

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 24, 2026

• George really got the worst of it drawing an offensive foul as Brown hit him in the groin trying to create space. Despite the crowd’s protests, the play was rightfully not upgraded to a flagrant. Bona took a hard fall and was favoring his left wrist but also stayed in the game.
• Bona did sub out though when he picked up his third foul, two of them coming on moving screens. Drummond started the shift well, but giving up an offensive rebound, an open layup, and turning it over to lead to an open three was a brutal five-point swing. Derrick White hasn’t been able to hit anything in this series, but he hit a tough midrange fadeaway to push the Celtics lead at seven before the break.

Third Quarter

• PG making his first three shots of the half was exactly what the Sixers needed. Two Boston threes thanks to a blown switch and an offensive rebound weren’t though, as well as Bona picking up his fourth. Edgecombe could not buy a three. He missed two more to make him 0-of-5 from deep. Maxey though was able to hit one after putting Sam Hauser on skates. George finding an open Bona rolling for a dunk cut the lead to two and prompted a Celtics timeout.
• The Sixers’ defense did a great job rotating over and forcing a turnover coming out of that timeout. Maxey tied the game up with a midrange and took the lead on the next possession with a stepback three over Tatum. Things really came to a halt though when Drummond was T’d up for a hostile act fighting for a rebound with Queta. It was a weird whistle in a playoff game.

HE'S LITERALLY TYRESE MAXEY. 💁‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/hqyfo1hyOb

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 25, 2026

• The Celtics turned it over on the following two possessions but the Sixers weren’t able to score off either of them. A few trips to the line for Boston and a Drummond three swung the game on the seesaw. Quentin Grimes made a great stand to block a Brown pull-up, but the Sixers’ confusion when play wasn’t stopped led to a Payon Pritchard three. That gave him enough confidence to come off a screen and hit another one from about 35 feet, keeping the Celtics lead at five.

Fourth Quarter

• It didn’t take long for the game to get back on the seesaw. Maxey drilled another jumper from the top of the key to start the quarter with replay showing that his foot was in fact behind the three-point line. Bona split a pair of free throws and Edgecombe floated in for another impressive layup before Maxey came off a screen to hit another three at the top of the key, putting the Sixers back up by one as the Celtics called timeout.
• The Celtics went back in front thanks to a controversial goaltending call on a Tatum layup. The Sixers then turned it over twice in a row, then jacked up a three that didn’t come close and Boston took full advantage with an 8-0 run. Drummond getting fouled on a roll didn’t stop the run, but the corner three he got on the following possession did.

ANDRE AGAIN! 👌 pic.twitter.com/UT5c24uHWf

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 25, 2026

• Oubre and Maxey were both able to get to the basket to get it to two, but both of those were answered by baskets from Brown. George led the offense for two possessions that both led to Drummond dump-offs. Tatum had split a pair of free throws in between them, but a defensive breakdown on the following possession gave him an open three.
• George took the ball again and hit a tough floater, but Pritchard was able to outlast Maxey on the other end and answer with another three. Oubre cut it to three at the line. Vucevic missed a corner three but no one tagged White flying in from the corner. He grabbed the offensive rebound, the Celtics’ 15th of the game, and found Tatum who hit the dagger three.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Spurs' Victor Wembanyama will not play in Game 3 against Portland while he continues to recover from a concussion.

After the second loss in the series, and with all the noise surrounding the officiating, it’s not something that interests me or feels worth diving into right now. I understand and expect that it’s what everyone is talking about. Personally, I want to talk about the team’s fourth quarter in Game 2 (which the Suns won 30–20) and what worked tactically. Let’s break all of that down together.

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You know the routine: a quick statistical checkpoint is needed to have plenty of numbers in mind while reading! As mentioned above, the Suns won that last part of the game 30-20. The difference came from efficiency and physical presence on the boards: Phoenix shot 55% and 43% from 3, while Oklahoma was held to 30% and 20%. Then, on the glass, the Suns won 13–9 (Maluach’s impact?).

OKC attempted 46.5% of their shots in the paint during the first three quarters of Game 2 and made 67.7% of them (21-of-31). In the fourth quarter, that number fell to 35% of their attempts and 50% (3-of-6)

Khaman Maluach played all 12 minutes of the fourth.

The Maluach Effect pic.twitter.com/igxZKUIHJq

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 23, 2026

After a pretty tight first half and a third quarter completely dominated by OKC to close out the game, you could’ve thought Phoenix was going to keep collapsing like in Game 1…but that was without counting on the pride and courage that have defined this team for the past 6 to 7 months. In fact (even if we know the Thunder did relax a bit), the Suns even went on a 20–4 run to erase the 10‑point lead.

There was good stuff in those 12 minutes, especially the total presence of Maluach, a strong and ambitious tactical choice from Jordan Ott to respond to the Thunder’s physicality, with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams rotating in. Khaman had an immediate deterrent effect: OKC scored 48 points in the paint, but only 4 of them came in the final quarter.

An impact you notice right away on this sequence (and it bodes well for the future): the moment SGA blows by Booker, you can see Khaman sliding toward the middle to help and stop the drive. The Thunder guard anticipates it and passes to Mitchell, who is pretty poorly positioned (luckily) to take the shot, so he pump fakes, takes Brooks off balance, and drives to the rim. Except Maluach read the play perfectly and comes to shut the door and contest.

This sequence happens late in the game, but it sums up everything Khaman Maluach represents: deterrence, rim protection, and defensive intelligence. He was even placed on Alex Caruso to maximize his strengths and avoid having him chase Chet, who stays a lot on the perimeter. Whether in Game 1 or Game 2, I found that the Suns had a pretty good way of cutting off driving lanes (packing the paint, rotating with help, and having a second line that doesn’t hesitate to attack instead of reacting).

Again, here with Shai: he drops Brooks with his first step, but Maluach and O’Neal are there in help to stop him from going up, so he’s forced to pass to a perimeter player. Result: you go from an almost guaranteed two points to a three‑pointer that has half the chance of going in.

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Then let’s talk about our good old Dillon. If there’s one player who deserves credit during this run, it’s him: 13 points and 5 rebounds in this quarter. He was the dynamo, the bulldozer of the team, and the play below perfectly represents his mindset and the way you need to play against this Thunder team: with pace, power, and boldness. You have to play their game without turning it into a caricature.

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Finally, I want to show you the sequence that, for me, kick‑starts this run: it begins with Royce O’Neal in full guard‑dog mode, completely limiting Mitchell’s progress and forcing him into a tough layup — Maluach then wins his battle inside against Hart, allowing O’Neal to intercept the pass and run in transition. Dillon finishes this perfect sequence with a running three‑pointer.

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The Suns are still far from where they need to be, but they’re slowly getting closer to the key to competing even more with them. They’re clearly not invincible (a pretty close first half and a last quarter dominated by Phoenix); the big issue remains the turnovers — they’re Christmas gifts for the Thunder — and the impact of Booker and Green, who I don’t find at the postseason level yet. To be continued in Game 3.

The Raptors will still be without their starting point guard for their first-round matchup against the Cavaliers.

Immanuel Quickley aggravated his already strained right hamstring while working his way back from injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of the series, the Raptors announced Friday.

Quickley, 26, has already missed the first three games of the playoffs due to the injury, which he suffered during Toronto’s regular season finale against the Nets after missing multiple games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

After injuries plagued Quickley’s 2024-25 season with the Raptors, he established himself as Toronto’s starting point guard this season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.3 percent in 70 games.

Second-year NBA guard Jamal Shead is starting in Quickley’s place against Cleveland, averaging 7.3 points and 2.3 steals in the series thus far.

“We missed Quickley big time with the way he gets us organized and his shooting helps our team out,” Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters following the Raptors’ 126-113 Game 1 loss to Cleveland, according to the Associated Press. “I like Jamal’s defense and what we need on the court.

“We wanted to have multiple ball handlers on the floor with Jamal.”

Toronto’s 126-104 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday snapped a 12-game playoff losing streak against the club — which dates back to LeBron James’ tenure with Cleveland — and cut the series deficit to 2-1.

Two-time All-Star forward Scottie Barnes led the way for Toronto on Thursday, setting career playoff highs in both points (33) and assists (11), while shooting 11-of-17 from the field.

“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes told reporters following the game. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”

Rajakovic lauded Barnes’ Game 3 performance, saying that he “did everything for us tonight.”

HOUSTON — There’s a moment in every great player’s career when the noise around them gets loud enough and the world decides it knows what the ending should be before the final chapter has been written. 

For LeBron James, that moment came in early March. 

James missed three games between March 6-10, and the Lakers were 3-0 without him. In their dominant victories over the Pacers, Timberwolves and Knicks, the team appeared to play freer without him. They looked younger, faster and even better on defense. 

Fans and analysts alike pointed to James’ absence and said the Lakers would be better without him. Some even suggested he come off the bench. The audacity. The lazy analysis. James heard it all. 

“But it sells papers a lot easier … if you say their team is better off without LeBron,” he said. “They’re absolutely wrong.”

So, LeBron didn’t just go out and say it. He proved it on the court. 

Before we explain further, let’s rewind to the beginning of the NBA season. 

James missed training camp and the first month of the season with sciatica. The Lakers went 10-4 without him, powered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. 

When James returned, he was rusty and still not in game shape. Still, they went 6-1 in his first seven games back. Then injuries stalled things. Reaves went down with a calf strain and missed the next two months. The team drifted without him, 10-10 over a 20-game stretch that felt a lot longer than it actually was. 

All three were healthy after the All-Star break, but the fit wasn’t seamless. They went 4-4 over their next eight games before James missed those three consecutive in early March. 

Most superstars would push back on the narrative that the team is better off without them. 

Instead, James leaned in.

He watched. Studied. Adjusted. And then, quietly, he stepped aside.

He told Doncic and Reaves to keep playing free. To not worry about feeding him the ball on offense. He was happy playing the third fiddle if that meant the team would continue winning. That’s not a small concession for a player who has spent over two decades being the system instead of learning to play inside of one. 

But its credit to James and his evolution. His decision to be the third scoring option behind Doncic and Reaves changed everything. 

The Lakers ripped through March with a 16-2 record in an 18-game span. Not because James was dominating the ball but because he was dominating in other areas of the game. Defense. Rebounding. Pace of play. He became the connective tissue of the Lakers’ new identity instead of its centerpiece. 

But then came April 2. Doncic and Reaves went down with injuries. With just five games left in the regular season, the Lakers were on the brink. 

This is typically where the fairytale ends. Everyone wrote off the Lakers. 

But, instead, James rewrote the script. 

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He went back to being the engine that drives the Lakers. The primary scorer, ball handler and playmaker. Not out of ego but out of necessity. And now, the Lakers have a lead in their first-round playoff series against the Rockets, who were heavy favorites before the series began. 

“LeBron is making it very known to not get too comfortable,” Lakers center Deandre Ayton told reporters at practice Thursday. “This is the playoffs. Anything can happen.”

When James goes up 2-0 in a series, his teams are 24-0. That’s not a coincidence. Against all odds, he’s carried the team on his back long enough for Reaves to return soon, and Doncic might not be far behind him. 

Even at 41 years old, James is averaging 39 minutes, 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds per game in the playoffs. Those numbers would be impressive for a player in his prime, let alone someone who has already lapped the league’s timeline twice over. 

LeBron’s production in this series forces the only question that now matters for the Lakers: How can you walk away from this after the season inevitably ends?

Yes, the future of the Lakers’ franchise belongs to Doncic. Yes, Reaves will become a free agent and deserves to get paid. Yes, the cap sheet is tight, and the CBA is unforgiving. Every dollar matters. 

But so does context.

James has already shown he can adjust his role. He has already taken less to help the roster. And now he’s shown — again — that when everything breaks, he can still carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. 

That’s not a luxury. That’s a safety net you don’t discard and do everything in your power to keep it in Los Angeles. 

If LeBron wants to play a 24th season, then the Lakers can’t get cute. They can’t overthink it. They don’t chase financial flexibility over tangible greatness. 

Bring him back. 

For James, that likely requires a pay cut. But that’s the reality regardless of which team he signs with if he wants to compete for a championship. The market will correct that conversation quickly.

So if the dollars flatten out across the league, why leave?

His son, Bronny, is under contract with the Lakers next season. His life and family are rooted in Los Angeles. His legacy is already intertwined with the franchise’s history. And more importantly, basketball is still being played at a high level. 

The blueprint of this season can be the blueprint for next season. 

The Lakers don’t need LeBron to be who he was. 

They just need him to be exactly who he’s become. 

And over the past two months, including the playoffs, he’s reminded everyone that version might be just as valuable. 

Marcus Smart had not been in the playoffs since 2023, having languished with Memphis and Washington, two teams unlike a Lakers franchise that views the playoffs as a birthright.

Now that Smart is back in the postseason with the Lakers, he has made up for that lost time, playing with zest, smarts and energy.

Smart’s eight points in overtime was part of his overall game of 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocked shots plus his usual outstanding defense that helped the Lakers pull out a 112-108 win in overtime over the Houston Rockets Friday night at Toyota Center.

Along with LeBron James collecting 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and Rui Hachimura scoring 22 points, the Lakers have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Lakers can close out the first-round Western Conference series by winning Game 4 here Sunday night.

Smart drilled a three-pointer in the overtime for a 104-101 Lakers lead. After a missed shot, Smart crashed the boards and was fouled.

He made two free throws for a 109-105 lead and then made three of his next four free throws for what turned out to be the final points of the game.

The Lakers opened a 15-point lead in the first half, but saw the Rockets crawl back to tie the score at 87-87 with six minutes and 22 seconds left.

It was game-on now.

When Reed Sheppard drilled a three-pointer with 4:49 left, it gave the Rockets a 92-91 lead, their first since the first quarter.

The Lakers called a timeout to regroup.

But Jaxson Hayes missed twice, one of his shots getting blocked by Alperen Sengun.

Amen Thompson made one of two free throws and Sengun scored for a 95-91 Rockets lead that made the Lakers play catch-up from that point on.

After Sengun stole a pass from James and dunked for a 101-95 Rockets lead with 40.6 seconds left, the Lakers looked completely done.

But Smart stole the ball and got fouled shooting a three-pointer. He made all three of his free throws to pull the Lakers to within 101-98 with 25.4 seconds left.

The Lakers needed a stop on defense.

They got it when James tipped the ball away from Sheppard from behind. Smart got the ball. It eventually ended up back in the hands of James, who drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 101-101 with 13.1 seconds left.

The Lakers got another impressive defensive stop when Hayes forced Sengun into a bad shot that missed. James got the rebound and called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left.

James took the last shot for the Lakers, the ball rimming out as time expired in the fourth quarter, the score tied at 101-101, sending the game into overtime.

The night began with Austin Reaves being listed as questionable for the game, then with him warming up and eventually being downgraded to out because of his left oblique muscle strain. Reaves has missed all three playoff games and the last five regular-season games, the same as teammate Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain).

The night began for the Rockets with Kevin Durant working out in an attempt to play in the game, but he too was ruled out with a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2 in Los Angeles. Durant was already dealing with a right knee contusion that forced him to miss Game 1.

This essentially meant both teams had to play on, to find a way even if they were missing key parts.

For the Lakers, the door opened for Hachimura, who stepped through it with aplomb in the first quarter. He didn’t miss any of his field goals, shooting six for six from the field and three for three from three-point range, scoring 16 points. He played all 12 minutes in helping the Lakers open a 39-32 lead at the end of the first quarter. It was a career-high for points in a quarter for Hachimura, regular season or playoffs.

Even Bronny James showed he was ready for the moment when the Lakers called on the second-year guard. He drilled a three-pointer in the second quarter and then scored on a reverse layup off a lob pass from his father. Both plays drew cheers from the fans inside the arena.

Along with a defense that held the Rockets to 37.2% shooting in the first half, the Lakers lead 63-52 at the half.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

ATLANTA — The Knicks had finally found a solution to slowing down CJ McCollum.

But for the most important defensive play of the game, they went away from it.

Jalen Brunson started out guarding McCollum during the Knicks’ 109-108 Game 3 loss to the Hawks on Thursday night at State Farm Arena.

But, just like the first two games of the series, McCollum toyed with him.

Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado each got stints trying to slow McCollum down in the second quarter, but the results were the same.

It wasn’t until the Knicks had Josh Hart guard McCollum in the second half that anything changed. McCollum was just 2-for-5 when guarded by Hart, per the league’s official tracking stats.

Needing just one stop to all but secure their comeback, though, the Knicks went back to McBride. And it backfired.

With 16.4 seconds left, the Knicks led by one and the Hawks had a side out-of-bounds in the frontcourt. Coach Mike Brown went with a small lineup, without Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson on the floor.

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That meant OG Anunoby guarded Onyeka Okongwu, Mikal Bridges guarded Nickeil-Alexander-Walker and Landry Shamet guarded Jonathan Kuminga. As a result, Hart was on the inbounds passer — Jalen Johnson — and McBride was on McCollum.

McBride quickly fell a step behind McCollum, who curled as he caught the inbounds pass.

McBride eventually caught up, but it was too late — McCollum comfortably pulled up for a midrange jumper. McBride got a hand up, but his lack of size compared to Hart meant it didn’t affect McCollum, who easily buried the shot that ended up being the game-winner.

“I knew they had to go quick,” McBride said Friday. “Main thing is, he’s a really good player. I’m not happy with my contest. He made the shot. I feel like if I maybe had bumped him earlier, but trying to get a feel for how the game was being called. I don’t want to put him at the free throw line in a sense like that.

“Maybe just be more aggressive and make it tougher.”

The Knicks have made McCollum — who has never been an All-Star — look like a superstar this series. Their inability to contain him has been among the biggest problems this series.

Hart stopped the bleeding for a period of time. “Just tried to make it tough for him,” is how he described it.

But he didn’t get a chance to finish the job.

When it mattered most, McCollum again had the last laugh. And, as McBride said on Friday, the Knicks are now “playing for our lives.”

With their lives on the line, who Brown has guarding McCollum is at the top of his most critical decisions.

ATLANTA — The biggest hole on the Knicks roster has become more and more noticeable. 

It’s allowed the Hawks to stymie Jalen Brunson. 

One of coach Mike Brown’s biggest goals this season was to have Brunson play off the ball and allow others to more often facilitate the offense. The idea was to take some of that burden away from Brunson and create easier shots for him, while also keeping his supporting cast more involved. 

But in the first three games of this first-round series, which the Knicks trail 2-1 and are “playing for our lives,” as Miles McBride said, that element of the offense has largely been absent. 

“We called it a few times, you gotta give Atlanta credit,” Brown said Friday. “They did a nice job of defending it the few times we called it. But we gotta keep trying to implement it, whether it’s play call or within the flow of what we’re trying to do conceptually on the offensive end of the floor.” 

The problem is that outside of Brunson, they lack ball handlers who are capable of creating and orchestrating the offense. Josh Hart can, but it’s not his ideal role. OG Anunoby is best as a spot-up shooter. Karl-Anthony Towns is a good passer, but he’s not someone who can break down a defense by himself. Mikal Bridges, despite Brown saying before the year he’d be the top candidate for the role, has floundered as a ball handler, particularly in Game 3 when he had four turnovers and was benched for the majority of the second half. 

There are no true backup point guards in the rotation either. McBride and Landry Shamet play there at times, but neither is a natural. Jose Alvarado is, but his limited offensive ability has meant he’s on the fringe of the rotation. Tyler Kolek is completely out of the rotation. 

So it’s all falling on Brunson again. And that means less movement on offense as a whole. As the four other players on the court stand and wait for Brunson to create everything, it makes it easier for the Hawks to blitz him, send double-teams and make it difficult for him to take high-quality shots. Usually, it’s Dyson Daniels or Nickeil Alexander-Walker guarding him, with help from a second defender. 

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In Game 3, Brunson shot 3-for-11 — and 0-for-3 from 3-point range — when guarded by Daniels or Alexander-Walker, per the league’s official tracking stats. 

“They both are great defenders,” Brunson said. “You have to be smart, you have to be kind of tactical in what you do. Just being able to not really focus on what they’re doing but focus on your shot and doing the things that I need to do to make sure I’m comfortable shooting the shots I want to shoot and be in positions I want to be in. But you gotta give them credit. They make things very difficult.” 

Nobody has had the ball in his hands more than Brunson during these playoffs across the league. He’s having to work incredibly hard for his shots — almost none of which are open. 

The Knicks barely have anyone who can even bring the ball up the court, which would allow Brunson to collect it in the halfcourt and remove some wear and tear on him. Daniels and Alexander-Walker are picking him up full court, so by the time Brunson finally gets the ball into the halfcourt, he’s expended significant energy. 

It was a little better when McBride was on the floor with Brunson in place of Bridges. There were a few possessions in the third quarter — during an 11-0 Knicks run — when McBride was able to bring the ball up the floor. When Bridges tried that, it was an utter failure. 

“We all have to be aggressive, not just to shoot the ball, but be aggressive to touch the paint [on drives],” Brown said. “And if you don’t have anything in the paint, you gotta spray it. We haven’t gone anywhere near our sprays that we’ve wanted to in these first three games.” 

Brunson is also getting pummeled on the other end trying to guard CJ McCollum, who has torched him this series. So much so that the Knicks have been forced to change their coverage and have Hart guard him. 

Overreliance on offense and getting bullied on defense equals a player who is getting worn out. 

The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers meet in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The teams split the first two games with Portland rallying from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win Game 2. Victor Wembanyama left Game 2 in the second quarter with a concussion and is questionable to play in Game 3.

How to watch San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers

• Date: Friday, April 24

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

• TV Channels: Amaz

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

Odds

• Spread: Portland Trail Blazers 2.5

• Moneyline: Portland Trail Blazers +118 (43.7%) / San Antonio Spurs -145 (56.3%)

• Over/Under: 220.5

Series schedule

Game 1:Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98
Game 2:Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland on Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 4: San Antonio at Portland on Sunday, April 26 (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
*Game 5: Portland at San Antonio on Tuesday, April 28 (time and network TBD)
*Game 6: San Antonio at Portland on Thursday, April 30 (time and network TBD)
*Game 7: Portland at San Antonio on Saturday, May 2 (time and network TBD)

*if necessary

HOUSTON — The Lakers will have to wait at least one more game before they’re able to get one of their star guards back in the lineup.

Austin Reaves was downgraded from questionable to out for Friday’s Game 3 against the Rockets at Toyota Center.

Reaves has been sidelined since suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain, an injury that typically comes with a four-to-six-week recovery timeline.

Coach JJ Redick said pregame, before Reaves was ruled out, that Reaves had progressed “well” and had played in stay-ready games ahead of Friday.

The fifth-year guard, along with fellow star guard Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain), suffered the regular-season-ending injury during the April 2 loss to the Thunder.

He and Doncic missed the final five games of the regular season with their respective injuries.

Reaves had been seen shooting after practices over the last week, including after Thursday’s practice at the team’s practice facility before the team left for Houston.

Doncic was also seen going through shooting drills Thursday, with no timetable for his return. 

Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points to go with 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in a career-low 51 regular-season games after also missing significant time in December and January because of a calf strain. 

He has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 that he’s expected to decline, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason with the expectation of a significant pay raise.

The Lakers entered Friday up 2-0 in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Rockets.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named as the NBA's Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season.

Alexander-Walker had a career year, starting in 71 of the 78 games he played in this season. The 27-year-old guard averaged 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game – all personal career highs. Walker also set the Hawks record for most 3-pointers in a season, draining 251 in the 2025-26 season while shooting 39.9% from 3-point range.

Alexander-Walker was traded to Atlanta on July 6, 2025 after spending two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

The Hawks have become the first team to have back-to-back Most Improved Award winners. Guard Dyson Daniels won the award as a member of the Hawks last season.

Alexander-Walker and the Hawks are currently playing in the postseason, leading the New York Knicks 2-1 in an Eastern Conference first-round series.

Previous Most Improved Player winners

• 2026: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks
• 2025: Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
• 2024: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
• 2023: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
• 2022: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
• 2021: Julius Randle, New York Knicks
• 2020: Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
• 2019: Pascal Siakim, Toronto Raptors
• 2018: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
• 2017: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2016: CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
• 2015: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
• 2014: Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns
• 2013: Paul George, Indiana Pacers
• 2012: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
• 2011: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 2010: Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets
• 2009: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
• 2008: Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
• 2007: Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
• 2006: Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns

2025-26 NBA Awards winners

• Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
• Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Sixth Man of the Year: Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs
• NBA Sportsmanship Award: Derrick White, Boston Celtics

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks' Nickeil Alexander-Walker voted NBA Most Improved Player