The Sixers’ hope of storming back to win their first-round playoff series vs. the Celtics remain alive and well.
With a 106-93 victory on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Sixers earned the right to play a Game 7. They’ll visit Boston on Saturday and look for a third consecutive win.
Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and five assists in Game 6.
Paul George scored 23 points. Joel Embiid tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Jayson Tatum posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for Boston. Jaylen Brown had 18 points.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ emphatic Game 6 victory:
Celtics tweak defense on Embiid
Embiid carried over the momentum from his stellar second half in the Sixers’ Game 5 win. He scored the team’s first five points with a mid-range jumper and an off-balance, and-one layup.
With three-pointers from George and Maxey, the Sixers jumped out to an 11-4 lead. The Celtics started 2 for 9 from the field.
Boston varied its defensive looks against Embiid and predictably showed him less pure single coverage than in Game 5.
While the Celtics’ changes weren’t dramatic out of the gate, they were clearly wary of Embiid’s post scoring and preferred to make him a passer. Embiid notched a first-quarter assist from the post after the Celtics double teamed him on the dribble. Kelly Oubre Jr. cut free and Embiid found him for a dunk.
Embiid got several good early mid-range looks off of his two-man game with Maxey. He was still a tad off as a jump shooter and went 6 for 18 from the floor in the game.
Brown runs into foul trouble, Sixers capitalize
Both Brown and VJ Edgecombe were called for their second fouls around the midpoint of the first quarter. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t take any dramatic steps to curb Brown’s first-half minutes, trusting he would avoid a third foul.
Crucially, Oubre drew Brown’s third at the 5:05 mark of the second quarter. The Sixers got the off-arm push call on Brown they’ve been seeking throughout the series. Brown protested the whistle but had to sit for the remainder of the first half. He was called for his fourth personal just 31 seconds into the third quarter on another offensive foul.
Also significant in the foul department: The Celtics had a poor start at the free throw line. They missed 6 of their first 8 foul shots, all on attempts by Brown and Tatum. That included three straight Brown misses.
The Sixers’ defensive energy and playmaking were pluses in the second quarter, too.
Justin Edwards returned to the rotation and worked hard in his possessions against Brown. Oubre picked up a block and a steal. George rotated over sharply and rejected big man Neemias Queta’s layup. Not much came easily for the Celtics, who committed nine first-half turnovers, and the Sixers were rock-solid on the defensive boards.
Sensational third quarter for Sixers
On the other end, Maxey poured in 21 points over the first two quarters. A Maxey runner with 3.5 second left in the second period gave the Sixers a 58-49 lead.
Maxey turned to his two-man game with Embiid a ton, including on plenty of side pick-and-rolls. As a pair, Maxey and Embiid struck a nice balance in the first half between probing the defense and attacking without hesitation when the moment was right.
The Sixers expanded their advantage early in the third quarter. In a crowd-thrilling sequence, Oubre swatted a Brown layup, leading to a fast break that finished with George dishing a behind-the-back pass and Edgecombe jamming the ball home.
The Celtics asked for timeout. They soon trailed by 17 points with a George pull-up triple. George’s high-quality two-way play and outstanding three-point shooting in this series continued Thursday night. He made five threes in Game 6 and has gone 19 for 35 (54.3 percent) beyond the arc.
Though the Sixers benefited from Boston missing some open jumpers, they maintained strong defensive focus and prevented the Celtics from eating into their lead late in the third quarter. The Sixers thought Andre Drummond beat the third-quarter buzzer with a corner three, but replays showed he didn’t release his shot in time.
Boston still found itself down 23 points early in the fourth quarter after Embiid fed George for a backdoor lay-in. Mazzulla called timeout again and played an all-bench lineup.
That unit fared well. The Sixers’ offense grew cold and sloppy. George was assessed a technical foul for his complaints about a no-call. Ron Harper Jr. drained a corner three. Luka Garza’s dunk cut the Celtics’ deficit to 88-76.
The Sixers eventually restored order and steered clear of a horrendous collapse. They didn’t close the night in especially clean fashion, but the final score is all that matters. The Sixers thoroughly deserved the win and a chance to complete their series comeback on Saturday.
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) controls the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Knicks face the Hawks tonight at State Farm Arena in Game six of their Eastern Conference first-round series. New York leads the series 3-2, and a win would close out the series, sending them to the second round to battle either the Boston Celtics (boo) or the Philadelphia 76ers (also boo). The Knicks mostly breezed through the last two games against Atlanta and are favored tonight.
Tip-off is 7:00 pm EST on ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Peachtree Hoops. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Make your dead ancestors proud. And go Knickerbockers!
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) drives to the basket against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the third quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The stats in the table below are taken from Cleaning the Glass. As a note, the percentiles are in comparison to other playoff games, which influences the sample size.
Offensive Rating
Effective Field Goal Percentage
Offensive Turnover Percentage
Offensive Rebounding Percentage
Free Throw Rate
Cavs
123.8, 81st percentile
65%, 97th percentile
14.9%, 52nd percentile
19.5%, 8th percentile
26.6, 73rd percentile
Raptors
120, 70th percentile
54.8%, 57th percentile
15%, 49th percentile
38.9%, 89th percentile
18.1, 26th percentile
Now, let’s dive into the numbers.
The Cavs took 39% of their shots at the rim (80th percentile). The offense stalled out in games 3 and 4. They failed to register over 105 points in both losses, largely due to an inability to get to the rim. Cleveland took just 26% of their shots in the restricted area in Game 3 (29th percentile) and 28% in Game 4 (34th percentile).
Cleveland completed 76.9% of their shots at the rim (74th percentile). The willingness to get to the basket was coupled with the ability to finish there. Relentlessly attacking the basket caused the defense to shift, which opened up the rest of the offense.
The Cavs knocked down 50% of their threes. That’s up considerably from the 31.1% they hit in Game 3 and the 25% they converted in Game 4. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Cavs are an inside-out team, not the other way around. When they’re getting to the basket and causing the defense to collapse, the ball gets kicked out for open catch-and-shoot threes. When they aren’t, they’re usually settling for stagnant pull-up jumpers. In general, if you’re ever wondering why the Cavs aren’t hitting their threes, it’s probably because they aren’t getting inside enough.
Toronto destroyed the Cavs in transition, as they were in the 100th percentile in points added in the open court. Cleveland has mostly done a good job of keeping Toronto from getting out on the break. They didn’t in Game 5. Allowing a team to get out and run in transition comes down to many different factors, but the Cavs ineffectiveness on the offensive boards partially led to this. It’s much easier to get out and run off missed shots if you don’t have to crash the boards as hard as the Raptors needed to at times earlier in the series.
The Cavaliers’ ability to control the paint made up for this, as Toronto converted just 58.6% of their shots at the rim (25th percentile).
Toronto struggled against a set defense, as they registered a 90.9 half-court offensive rating (43rd percentile). When the Cavs kept the Raptors from running, the defense was good. When they didn’t, things got out of control as they did in the second quarter when the Raptors put up 40 points.
The Raptors picked up 28 points off turnovers. This was the second-fewest turnovers the Cavs committed in a game this series, but the Raptors were still able to capitalize. This was most evident in the second quarter when Toronto converted six Cleveland miscues into 14 points heading the other way.
Toronto still won the possession battle with 15 offensive rebounds. This led to 13 second-chance points and allowed the Raptors to take 14 more shots from the field. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has talked about how important the possession battle is in this series. The Cavs lost that handily and were still able to win.
The Cavs held the Raptors to just 17 points in the fourth quarter. There are several reasons why this happened. Brandon Ingram leaving the game in the first half with a heel injury put more of the playmaking and scoring burden onto Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. That caught up with both as Barnes had no points on 0-5 shooting while Barrett was held to just three points on 1-7 shooting in the fourth.
Cleveland committed no turnovers in the fourth. This helped the Cavs’ defense immensely. The lack of turnovers helped limit the Raptors to just four fastbreak points in the quarter. When the Cavs keep possession, good things have happened this series.
The starters with Max Strus lost the 10 minutes they played by 11 points. On the series, that five-man lineup has been outscored by 24 points in as many minutes. Conversely, the starting unit with Dean Wade has outscored the Raptors by 17 in 38 minutes.
Dean Wade still leads the Cavs in plus/minus as a +39 for the series. Cleveland has lost the 118 minutes he hasn’t played by 37. If this series has taught us anything, it’s that the Cavs need more Dean Wade, not less.
The Cavs played their best basketball with Sam Merrill on the court as they won his minutes by 19 points. Merrill’s off-ball gravity as a shooter changes the game. This led to the Cavs posting a 152.1 offensive rating when he was on the court.
Cleveland lost the minutes Donovan Mitchell played by nine. Being outscored when Mitchell is on the floor was rare for the Cavs this season. Overall, they’ve been seven points better per 100 possessions with him on the court than when he’s off (86th percentile).
Of the 70 regular season game Mitchell played, the Cavs have only lost his minutes 21 times. They’re 5-16 in those contests, meaning they were 40-9 when the Cavs won Mitchell’s minutes. That trend has continued in the playoffs. This was the third-straight game Cleveland has lost Mitchell’s minutes. They’re now 1-2 in those situations.
To further that point, this was the first game in this series that the Cavs won when Mitchell had scored fewer than 21 points. The Cavs have gone as Mitchell’s scoring has throughout the regular season. They were 7-11 when he played and failed to score over 20 points.
Mitchell is still struggling to finish in the paint, as he went 4-10 there in Game 5. This included going 3-6 in the restricted area. This has been a trend all series. Mitchell is converting just 52% of his shots at the rim (18th percentile) after completing 66% of them (60th percentile) during the regular season.
Dennis Schroder scored 19 points in Game 5, after compiling just 18 points in the first four games combined. To say this performance was unexpected based on recent form would be an understatement. Schroder only scored in double figures four times in the 24 regular-season and playoff games he’s played since the beginning of March, coming into this game. This was only the third time he’s scored 19 or more points since being traded to the Cavs.
Evan Mobley’s 16 second-half points flipped the momentum of the game. This performance ties the fourth-most points he’s scored in a second half this season.
Mobley’s three triples are one off his high for the season. This was also the first time he’s made all of his outside shots while taking more than one in a game this year.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 23: Onyeka Okongwu #17 and Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks react after their 109-108 wi over the New York Knicks in game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks (2-3) need this to stave off elimination and force a Game 7 against the New York Knicks.
Jock Landale (right high ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: Watch ESPN, Fubo, NBA League Pass (out of market)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during play against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Intuit Dome on April 15, 2026 in Inglewood, California. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr reportedly met with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy on Monday, according to ESPN.
Rockets’ Kevin Durant will miss Game 6 against the Lakers on Friday night due to an ankle injury, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Golden State Warriors fans might hear the words Steph Curry and free agency and immediately think trouble—but in this case, it was all for a good cause.
During the 2025–26 NBA season, Curry, who had famously been partnered with Under Armour for the past 13 years, stepped away from the brand and became a sneaker free agent. This meant that for the first time in over a decade, he was able to take to the court in a variety of different shoes instead of just his own signature line.
Curry’s pregame sneakers quickly became a viral storyline throughout the season. From Kobes to Jimmy Butler’s JB4s and other player tributes, Curry used each appearance as an opportunity to highlight the culture of basketball while showing respect to those still shaping the game today.
As it turns out, Curry’s sneaker free agency became much more than a viral fashion statement—it turned into a powerful fundraiser.
After the season, he announced that he would auction off the entire collection of sneakers, with all proceeds benefitting his Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation. The results were massive as Curry’s sneaker free agency run generated $1.7 million for charity.
Stephen Curry’s sneaker free agency auction earned a staggering $1,721,728 😳💰
A total of 81 pairs were available for auction, with the top individual bid for a pair reaching $121,600 🤯
For Curry, what started as a new chapter in his sneaker journey turned into something far more meaningful. This time, the impact wasn’t just felt on the court, but in the communities he continues to uplift, serving as yet another reminder that his influence extends well beyond the game.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 30th:
Both sides described the meeting as productive, but there remains no resolution nearly two weeks after the Warriors’ season ended in Phoenix. Kerr, Lacob and Dunleavy plan to reconvene next week to continue discussions, league sources said.
Kerr will take a previously planned golf trip to close out this week as those around him continue to describe Kerr as torn about his own side of the choice.
“It’s April,” one source said. “We don’t need to rush.”
Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-9 big | 23 years old | Michigan
Even though Lendeborg gutted through an ankle injury in the Final Four, he led Michigan to a title and transformed his game. His counting numbers were down from his heights at UAB, but he averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing aggressive defense. He showcased serious switchability, often picking up lead ballhandlers at the point of attack as well as playing against power forwards when Mara or Morez Johnson Jr. would leave the court. He’s also an active help defender with excellent hands.
He drilled 37.4 percent of his 3s for the season, thanks to a hot streak at the end of the year in which he made 48.1 percent over his final 16 games — and that includes a 0-of-5 mark when he was clearly hobbled against UConn in the title game. The Warriors could use another big wing next to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green as they near the end of their careers.
Cunningham played almost 44 minutes, cut down on his costly turnovers – “Just pass the ball to our team instead of theirs,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff had deadpanned – and found the ideal blend of hero ball and facilitating his teammates in the final quarter.
“There’s a handful of them in the league, right?” Bickerstaff said of Cunningham’s leadership. “They’re unique. They’re special. To put the work in, have the talent, even then [to] understand his responsibility and what he means to this team, he wasn’t going to let us go down tonight.”
Not bad for a guy who suffered a collapsed lung in a game six weeks ago.
The “take a week or two” for a coach is like couples therapy in a relationship: it’s doing due diligence for something that, more often than not, already has a predetermined fate.
But that might not be the case in Kerr’s situation, and it feels like the tide is starting to turn, and the momentum has shifted towards a Kerr return. An article published on Wednesday by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Ramona Shelburne, and Anthony Slater reports that Kerr met with Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. for a few hours on Monday, and that the trio will meet again next week. That points to something fairly obvious: if Kerr wanted to leave, he would have done so already.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
One of the most exciting moments for a basketball franchise is if they learn they have won the NBA draft lottery, especially when it's unexpected.
Lottery odds formatting have changed several times since the system began in 1985 when the New York Knicks selected Patrick Ewing. In the future, the format might change again to help prevent tanking from league bottom-dwellers.
The upcoming 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is on May 10 in Chicago and will determine which teams will have a chance to draft top prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson.
14 teams will have a chance at No. 1 overall and with that in mind, here are all of the lottery winners who received the pick despite less than 10 percent odds.
This was shortly after Luka Dončić was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers for a trade involving Anthony Davis. Flagg was recently named 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Before the draft, the Clippers traded the rights to this pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving was named 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year and won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
This pick was shortly after the Pelicans traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson is a two-time NBA All-Star who has not yet made the playoffs.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 26: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 26, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Their road to stealing the series just became more difficult. Toronto could be without its leading scorer from the regular season, Brandon Ingram. He left Game 5 in the first half with right-heel inflammation. This was a previous injury that he was playing through, but aggravated in the second quarter. He’s officially listed as questionable for Game 6.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.
It’s fair to point out that Ingram has struggled this series. The Cavs have done a good job of keeping him from being a lethal midrange scorer by sticking defensive specialist Dean Wade on him. They’ve also sent a fair amount of double teams his way, especially in late shot clock situations.
This has added up to him averaging an underwhelming 12 points on .324/.444/.769 shooting splits in five playoff games. Scoring just one point in Game 5 brought these averages down. Even so, those numbers are considerably less than the 21.5 points on .477/.382/.820 shooting splits he had during the regular season.
Despite the poor player, not having him on the court would hurt Toronto’s offense. The Raptors are already at a play creation deficiency without Quickley. Losing Ingram just puts more on the plate of Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, who were both already shouldering a large offensive load.
Ingram’s absence will mean that the Cavs can shift more of their defensive attention and better defenders towards Barnes and Barrett. This could make what was already a difficult task even harder.
On the other end, the Cavs have a clean injury report heading into Friday’s matchup.
The California Classic is back for its eighth year this July.
It's a basketball invitational, a kickoff to the NBA Summer League, hosted by the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors as rookies from the 2026 NBA Draft, second-year players, among other athletes are out to prove themselves, vying for spots on NBA and G League rosters.
The summer showcase has returned to its dual-city, three-day format between Sacramento and San Francisco from July 3 to 6.
Games at Chase Center, presented by Carmax, will be on July 3, 5 and 6 with the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. The three-day tournament at Golden 1 Center is presented by Ticketmaster, and will take place from July 4-6, featuring the Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Warriors.
A Battle of NorCal showdown between the Kings and Warriors at Golden 1 Center on July 5 where the Mitch Richmond Trophy will be awarded.
Passes for the three-day event are available at Kings.com/CAClassic. Passes for the July 3 and 5 showcases in San Francisco are available at chasecenter.com/california-classic. The July 6 games at Chase Center will be available via broadcast only, the venue's website said.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 28: Julian Champagnie #30 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate after being removed from the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on April 28, 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 the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs completely dominated the series and would have swept the Trail Blazers had Wembanyama not suffered his concussion: true or false?
Marilyn Dubinski: It’s easy to say true since they still got ahead without him later in Game 2 before blowing it, then also made a massive comeback to win Game 3 without him, but ultimately it’s impossible to say. He is just as capable of losing a game by trying to do too much as he is winning one for them, but why not? True.
Mark Barrington: True! But the experience of facing and overcoming adversity was good for the team and will work in their favor for the rest of the playoffs, and in years to come.
Bill Huan: The Spurs did largely dominate the series, but I don’t think it would’ve been a sweep even with a healthy Wemby. Even in a lopsided matchup, the lesser team usually has a hot shooting night combined with the better team taking their foot off the pedal, so I still believe it would’ve ended with the Spurs in 5. OKC is the exception instead of the norm, and hopefully San Antonio can reach that level one day.
Devon Birdsong: I think it’s likely, but I also think that Portland woke a slumbering beast in Game 3. From the end of that game onward, the Spurs were borderline merciless in the execution. I think there’s a possibility that this series might have gone five games anyway, because I do feel like they needed that little wakeup call to know they have to be the best version of themselves as much as possible. There’s no sleepwalking in the playoffs.
Jeje Gomez: True. It was almost a sweep with Wembanyama missing one and a half games and the Spurs having no third big man who could step up, forcing them to play small. In no way is this meant to disrespect a Portland team that played hard and outexecuted a shorthanded San Antonio team down the stretch in Game 2, but the Spurs, with Wembanyama on the floor, outscored them by 45 total points in four matchups.
What is the biggest lesson you think the Spurs learned from the series?
Dubinski: Considering one of the biggest takeaways from every game besides Game 1 was that it was always a tale of two halves – whether they had bad first halves and had to come back in Games 3 and 4, or bad second halves that either blew (Game 2) or had them holding on (Game 5) – the biggest lesson is a reminder that they have to play all 48 minutes. The Blazers are a poor enough offensive team that is prone to long droughts, so that helped the Spurs survive their own poor stretches, but better teams won’t be as forgiving.
Barrington: I think the Spurs learned that they’re good, but just being good isn’t enough to win in the playoffs. You have to keep your composure and not get complacent. The talent gap between the Spurs and the Blazers was big enough for them to get away with not being mentally ready to play at the start of some of the games, or coast after gaining a lead while still winning easily. They won’t have that luxury in later rounds. I don’t know if the Spurs are capable of playing up to their potential for 48 minutes, but they can definitely do better than the 24-minute efforts in the first round series.
Huan: The most obvious one is that they need to play a full 48 minutes, which Marilyn and Mark have already mentioned. More specifically, in order for them to play a complete game, the Spurs need to always push the pace. The offense bogs down when it becomes stagnant and lacks movement on and off the ball, and playing fast and deliberately is when they look best on both ends of the court.
Birdsong: I think they learned that they have to step on the neck every time they get an opening, because the whole complexion of a series can change in a heartbeat. We’re seeing it all over the postseason, but there’s a difference between knowing something intellectually and being on the other side of a momentum turn. It was a good scare, and I’m betting they’ll remember it. They gave Portland precious few opportunities to turn the tide over the last two games.
Gomez: I think the biggest lesson is that they can’t let opponents dictate how they play. The Trail Blazers did a lot to throw them off balance, like letting Stephon Castle completely open on the perimeter, playing extra physical to slow things down, and using a lot of different players and lineups. The Spurs were at their worst when they fell for the trap of trying to force things to match them instead of simply adapting within their preexisting identity. There’s no need for weird lineups, slow, grind-it-out possessions, or hero ball, and it seems like, as the series progressed, the Spurs realized it.
There were many good moments and performances from both teams in this series. Which will you remember as the best or most meaningful?
Dubinski: It’s easy to just say Game 1 was a huge playoff debut for Victor Wembanyama and proved he is ready for bigger things, but that really shouldn’t surprise anyone who recalls he has prior professional experience and has played in an Olympic Gold Medal Game. I think the performance that will stick with me the most is Dylan Harper’s breakout in Game 3. It was so unexpected and out of nowhere, and the way he responded to Scoot Henderson’s trash talk (who, by the way, hasn’t been the same since) was a joy to watch. It was a beautiful performance that even had Kevin O’Connor backing down from his stance that the Spurs made a mistake in drafting him over Kon Knueppel.
Barrington: I’m going to go with a Portland moment, where they were outclassed for the entire series, but didn’t give up and fought back in the closeout game to pull within single digits late in the fourth quarter. You have to respect them for keeping their edge even when they were in a bad spot. The Spurs need to learn from that and embrace that kind of intensity and composure, because things are going to be tougher going forward.
Huan: I love Mark giving the Blazers credit because it’s a great point: the Spurs need to keep fighting regardless of what the score is, even if they’re up big. Other than that, I’d say the second halves of games 3 and 4 were some of the most fun I’ve ever had watching basketball. Spurs fans have all known what Harper’s capable of, but seeing it on a big stage opened the eyes of the entire league. Meanwhile, the comeback in game 4 validated the lack of panic I felt at halftime. I’d never been more confident down 20 and knew the Spurs would claw back if they locked in, but even I didn’t see a 40-point swing. Cue the gif of LeBron pretending to be scared.
Birdsong: Having written about it, that 4th quarter comeback/explosion in Game 3 is going to stick with me for a very long time. I was already prepping an article in my head about the loss. I genuinely thought it was over. Just about every Spurs fan I know thought the same. Not only was it a historical-grade comeback, but it’s also something I’ve never seen from the Spurs before. And after 30-ish years of being a fan, that’s no small thing. I would never have bet on that in a million years.
Gomez: The last few minutes of Game 5 stand out to me. The first half was fantastic, and it set them up to win, but we had seen big comebacks and the Spurs struggling to close out Game 2 in this series, so there was some tension about whether their youth and inexperience would cost them. Instead, they looked like a veteran team that might play with its food but knows when to put opponents away. Fox and Wembanyama were terrific, but the entire group looked confident as they crushed the comeback attempt.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers compete for a loose ball during the second quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Celtics (3-2) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-3) Thursday, April 30, 2026 8:00 PM ET Round 1 Game #6 Road Game #3 TV: Peacock/NBCSN Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena Officials: Marc Davis, Nick Buchert, Ray Acosta
The Celtics look to close out their first round series once again as they visit the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 6. The Celtics lead the series 3 games to 2. The Celtics dominated Game 1 with a 123-91 win over the 76ers. The 76ers topped the Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 to tie the game at 1 game each. The series shifted to Philadelphia where the Celtics squeezed out a win in Game 3 108-100 and dominated the 76ers 113-97 in Game 4.
After the blow out win in Philadelphia, it seemed as though the Celtics were primed to finish the series at home in Game 5. It appeared that they would do just that as they led by 7 at the half and by 13 in the 3rd quarter. But they completely fell apart in the 4th quarter to lose the game 113-97. The Celtics scored just 11 points in the 4th quarter, shooting just 3-22. They didn’t hit a single field goal in the final 7 minutes. At the same time, their defense fell apart, allowing the 76ers to score 28 points. The Celtics have won 2 games by 32 points in this series, only to lose the next game at home.
In the Brown and Tatum era, the Celtics are 7-4 in close out games on the road. They are 4-1 since 2022 in close out games on the road. Teams that are up 3-2 in a best of 7 series wins the series 84% of the time. 357 teams have gone up 3-2 in a series and 300 of those teams won the series. Of those teams, 170 won Game 6 to close out the series while 130 lost game 6 and won Game 7.
Since 2003, 17 teams have either won their first round series in either 4 or 5 games (74%). Since 2015, every team that won the championship has gotten past the first round in 5 games or less. The Celtics in 2024 won their first round series over the Heat 4 games to 1. This might seem like a dire statistic, but there is a positive note to add from Celtics history. In the 2008 playoffs, it took 7 games for the Celtics to get past Atlanta in the first round and those playoffs worked out just fine for the Celtics.
If the Celtics had one flaw this season, it was becoming complacent and allowing lesser teams to play harder than them. Along with Games 2 and 5 of this series where they looked complacent and allowed the and lost to the 76ers, of the Celtics 26 losses this season, there were several losses that were to tanking teams they should have beaten. These include losses to the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls. Since 2023, The Celtics are 8-1 after a playoff loss. 6 of those wins were on the road.
One of the advantages that the Celtics have is their depth. In Game 1, the Celtics got 37 points from their bench while the 76ers got 27 points from theirs. Of course, there were about 6 minutes of garbage time in that game. In Game 2, the 76ers got 21 points from their bench while the Celtics got 20 from theirs. In Game 3, the Celtics’ bench put up 35 points while the 76ers got just 14 points from theirs. In Game 4, the Celtics bench put up 57 points while the 76ers got 24 from theirs.
In Game 5, bench scoring was 29-25 in favor of the Celtics. A game after putting up 32 points, Payton Pritchard played just 26 minutes in Game 5 and only 4 minutes in the 4th quarter when the Celtics were struggling to score. The Celtics out-scored the 76ers by eight points in his 26 minutes and has been the Celtics 3rd best player in this series. Baylor Scheierman played just 8:39 in Game 5. Scheierman is shooting 46% from 3 in the series. Hopefully if the starters show they don’t have it in this game again, Joe will give his bench more minutes.
The Celtics come into this game with a clean injury report. once again. Joel Embiid is once again listed as probable for this game. He returned from an appendix removal to play in Game 4. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks and Embiid returned just 17 days after having his appendix removed. He played very well for them in Game 5 and I expect he will start and play big minutes in this game as well.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe
Jaylen Brown | Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesKelly Oubre, Jr | Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesPaul George | NBAE via Getty Images
C: Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesJoel Embiid | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Amare Williams Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr Delano Banton John Tonje
2-Way Players None Injuries/Out None
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
76ers Reserves Andre Drummond Quentin Grimes Kyle Lowry Justin Edwards Trendon Watford Dalen Terry Dominick Barlow Jabari Walker
2-Way Players MarJon Beauchamp Tyrese Martin Injuries/Out Joel Embiid (Appendix) probable
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey In Game 1, the Celtics were able to hold Maxey to 21 points on 20 shots along with 1 rebound and 8 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He pretty much had his way in Game 2 with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he scored 31 points but took 31 shots to get them. He finished with 31 points, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks while shooting 38.7% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. With Embiid’s return, Maxey took just 14 shots in Game 4 and finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. In Game 5, he finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block while shooting 55.6% from the field and 30.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to continue to make it a priority to defend him.
Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid After missing the first 3 games of the series, Embiid returned to the 76ers for Game 4. He started out strong, scoring the 76ers first 8 points and drawing 2 quick fouls on Queta. He played 34 minutes, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 42.9% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. He struggle a bit in the first half of Game 5, but took over the 2nd half as he played more in the paint and finished with 33 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 block while shooting 52.2% from the field but going 0-5 from three. Queta needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble and to counter Embiid on defense. Honorable Mention Jayson Tatum vs Paul George Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season. In Game 1, George finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but he only took 8 shots. In game 2, he finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 53.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he finished with 18 points, no rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, he finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block while shooting 46.2% from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. In Game 5, he finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while shooting 46.2% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him better, especially on the perimeter.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. Defense becomes even more important in the playoffs. It is very true that defense wins championships. In Game 1, the Celtics held the 76ers to 38.9% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. In game 2, the Celtics defense faltered as the 76ers shot 47.8% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, the 76ers shot 43.7% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, the Celtics held the 76ers to 41.3% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. The Celtics allowed the 76ers to shoot 50% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc in Game 5. When the Celtics shot weren’t falling in Game 5, the Celtics defense disappeared also. The Celtics have to play tough, physical, lock down defense from the opening tip until the final buzzer if they want to win this game.
Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game and has definitely been a big factor in this series. In the regular season, the Celtics were 43-12 in games that they tied or out-rebounded opponents and just 11-13 in games in which they were out-rebounded. In Game 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers 43-40. In Game 2, they out-rebounded the 76ers 50-42, but they were unable to capitalize on them since they shot so poorly. In Game 3, the Celtics once again out-rebounded the 76ers 45-37. And, in their big win in Game 4, they out-rebounded the 76ers 51-30. In Game 5, especially in the 2nd half, they stopped fighting for rebounds and the 76ers had 47 rebounds to 49 for the Celtics. They have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers if they want to win this game. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics need to put out more effort to grab rebounds then the 76ers.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are shooting 36.1% as a team from beyond the arc (5th) while the 76ers are shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc (8th). The Celtics make 16.8 threes a game (3rd) while the 76ers make 11.8 thees a game (6th). The Celtics were 2-4 in last year’s playoffs. 0-2 in this year’s playoffs and 14-17 in the regular season when they shoot under 34% from the field. In Game 2, they shot 26% from beyond the arc and in Game 5, they shot 28.2% on threes. They have to stay focused and they need to work to get open and move the ball to find the best shots. If the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to take the ball inside. And they need to defend the perimeter or the 76ers will beat them with 3’s of their own. The Celtics need to stay focused on offense and play tough perimeter defense in order to win this game.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In their losses in Game 2 and Game 5, they allowed the 76ers to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow the Sixers to surge ahead. The 76ers will be playing for their playoff lives and so will play hard and desperate and with all out effort. The Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way from the opening tip until the final buzzer.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics will be on the road once again and they will be facing a very hostile crowd. Philly fans hate the Celtics because they have pretty much owned them in recent years. They hate Jayson Tatum because the Celtics took him with Philly’s pick after the 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz. There will likely be a lot of boos and the Celtics need to play through them. They have to shake off the distractions of playing on the road gand stay focused on playing Celtics basketball..
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season. Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. In the playoffs, coaching becomes more important as it becomes a game of adjustments as they play the same team game after game. So far, Joe Mazzulla has come out ahead in the series but wasn’t able to push the right buttons in Game 5 and so the coaching chess game will continue in Game 6.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently. Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play. Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly. We have seen them call offensive fouls on Jaylen Brown far more than they have all season and Neemias Queta seems to be in constant foul trouble. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the calls, no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game.
Official Report Crew Chief: Marc Davis Davis has called 589 games since the 2018-19 season and 100 playoff games. His home won/loss record is 34-32. He averages 18.9 fouls against the home team and 19.0 fouls against the road team. The Celtics are 1-2 with Davis this year and 3-4 with him last year. The 76ers are 2-4 with Davis this year and 0-2 last year.
Referee: Nick Buchert Buchert has called 515 games since the 2018-19 season and 15 playoff games. His home won/loss record is 34-33. He averages 20.1 fouls against the home team and 20.1 fouls against the road team. The Celtics are 3-3 with Buchert this year and 3-1 last year. The 76ers are 2-4 with Buchert this year and 2-3 last year.
Umpire: Ray Acosta Acosta has called 498 games since the 2018-19 season and 6 playoff games. His home won/loss record is 38-33. He averages 19.5 fouls against the home team and 19.8 fouls against the road team. The Celtics are 2-1 with Acosta this year and 2-2 last year. The 76ers are 2-4 with Buchert this year and 1-3 last year.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 25: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the offseason officially underway, speculation surrounding the Suns’ offseason will begin. Many fans just wrapped up watching the Suns’ exit interviews with Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia and are now excited to see where this team is headed.
That being said, there was some news that dropped recently from the Marc Stein Substack. This was tailored around one of the two players on the roster who could see an extension this offseason. That player is Dillon Brooks.
Brooks came over this year from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade and was viewed as a positive asset, but not in all the ways many perceived. See, he has this villainous attitude, one he certainly embraced here in Phoenix, and many were uncertain how that would translate there. Well, he proved those doubters wrong and had a great year in Phoenix.
The wing this year averaged a career-high in points and rebounds, with 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1 steal, and44/34/84 from the field. For someone whose role has fluctuated in different situations, he rose to the occasion with Jalen Green missing most of the season. Brooks was tasked with being the second-best offensive player most nights and succeeded in that role.
This is where it makes sense for both parties to want to keep him long-term. The fit seemed to work, and not only does he represent the culture the Suns want of hard work, hustle, and heart over everything, but the fans really bought into this villain mentality that rubbed off in a good way on his teammates.
Per Stein:
The Suns, I’m told, indeed want to secure a long-term stay for Brooks after role in establishing them as the West’s foremost regular season surprise tea but sources say that Phoenix is also mindful of the fact that an extension would kick in for Brooks’ age-32 season since there is currently only one season left on his contract in 2026-27 at $21 million.
The max extension that Brooks can command is a four-year deal in the $125 million range but the expectation is that a new deal will not reach that upper threshold.
As we can see from the snippet via Stein’s Substack, the Suns want Brooks back. We know he makes $21 million next year and $22 million this year. With him able to get an extension of up to 4 years and $125M, that would price him at $31.25 million a year, which is a big pay raise. Luckily, though, they may be able to generate a team-friendly deal, one that is still a pay raise but not completely limiting the Suns’ future financial abilities.
Looking at the future and knowing that guys like Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach in a few seasons will need paydays could make them hesitant about the max for Brooks. Especially with how this team is shaped up, with $20+ million+ in dead cap from the Bradley Beal sign-and-trade last year, they cannot handicap themselves too much.
That is why I think a 4-year, $100 million deal is perfect for a guy like Brooks. A little bump up in money with the salary cap rising since he signed his last deal is good for a guy who embodies everything the team wants him to be. At age 30, this allows him to grow alongside Devin Booker and remain on the same timeline as the star the franchise remains committed to.
What do you think, though? Should the Suns retain Brooks or maybe even look to move off him? If they do extend him, what deal would you like him brought back on?
That's the record of NBA teams who have gone up 3-0 in a playoff series. Only four teams have even forced a Game 7.
The Lakers raced out to a 3-0 series lead against a Houston Rockets team that has been without Kevin Durant for all but one game (not to mention missing other veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams). History told us where this series was headed.
Except, now it's 3-2, the series is headed back to Houston, and the Lakers are in real trouble.
The Rockets have looked a little better with each game, they have found an identity and confidence. For the first 10 quarters of this series, the Lakers looked like the veteran team that had a little more juice left in them, a team that might make a run. They were the aggressors pressuring on defense while their role players like Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were knocking down shots.
However, for the last 10 quarters, the Lakers have just looked old. If not for one moment of their brilliance/horrible Rockets self-inflicted wounds at the end of Game 3, the Lakers would be trailing in this series.
"We're obviously the better team, I feel like," Jabari Smith Jr. said, reflecting the growing confidence that is clear the second you step into the Houston locker room.
Somewhere in the middle of Game 3, with Kevin Durant in the back getting treatment on his ankle, the young Rockets core started to coalesce.
"We're just a tight-knit group of guys, especially the young guys, we really banded together," Tari Eason said. "And I'm just proud of us… We just got to keep it rolling, one game at a time, back home, Game 6."
Rockets find new identity
For three games, Houston looked overwhelmed — by the moment, by the pressure defense from Los Angeles, by everything. Ime Udoka caught some flak for saying his team needed to "grow up." However, maybe that's what they needed to hear.
The Rockets have come together and made a few adjustments. They cranked up their defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and getting points in transition. On offense, they started hunting Kennard. Also, the Rockets started getting Alperen Sengun the ball more in the middle of the floor (where it's harder to bring help).
Sengun, for his part, has settled into his role as more of a facilitator.'
"We learned it watching films, watching their defense, kind of understanding what they do now and there's no, no reason for me to rush the shot or, like, attack the double team," Sengun said after a 14-point, nine-rebound and eight-assist night in Game 5. "I'm just trying to pick them apart and find my teammates and find open shots. And that was my job today."
He did his job — every Rockets starter finished in double-digits.
That Rockets youth seems to be wearing down those Lakers, who have just looked old and slow, even with the return of Austin Reaves.
Lakers need to re-establish their identity
While the Rockets' offense has improved in the last few games, Lakers coach JJ Redick didn't see his team's defense as the issue after a 99-92 loss in Game 5 at home.
"You hope 99 [points] is enough to win and we just couldn't make shots," Redick said. "We missed some layups. Certainly, [we] had some good looks from three that didn't go down."
"I mean, we have some opportunities to make some shots we didn't make, obviously. Think we're generating good shots," LeBron James said, echoing his coach. "As much as we gotta defend, we also gotta score in this game too, and I don't think we did that at a good rate, especially in the second and third [quarters]."
Reaves' return was supposed to help with that, and he did put up 22 points off the bench, but he did most of that damage at the free throw line. Reaves shot 4-of-16 for the game and looked to wear down late, shooting 1-of-8 in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers are still in the driver's seat — they still need to win just one of two games. Reaves should shake off the rust and look better going forward. LeBron has been in more high-leverage games than anyone on the planet and has lifted up teams to big wins before. Marcus Smart has been on big stages before and won. The Rockets are still young and making the mistakes of youth (Eason going back up with a putback with 38 seconds left in Game 5, when the Rockets were up three, rather than kicking out to run down more clock, for example). The odds remain in the Lakers' favor.
But make no mistake, they are in trouble. And the young Rockets believe they can make history.
The Detroit Pistons leaned on their size in Game 5 to keep this series alive, but that kind of emphasis typically invites adjustments in the postseason.
If nothing else, the Orlando Magic shouldn’t allow the boards to be dominated again.
Jalen Duren isn’t getting anywhere near his usual offensive workload in this series. The Detroit Pistons center hasn’t cleared 12 points in a game after averaging 19.5 in the regular season, largely because he’s taking just 7.6 shots per game compared to 11.5.
Even with four second-chance points on five offensive rebounds in Game 5, Duren finished with just 12 points.
Don’t expect him to shine offensively. The postseason isn’t built for players like Duren to score in volume.
SGP leg #2: Jalen Duren Under 9.5 rebounds (-155)
Duren has yet to reach double-digit rebounds in this series after averaging 10.5 per game in the regular season. Even with five offensive boards in Game 5, he finished with just nine total rebounds.
This leg is heavily juiced, but that doesn’t deter this same-game parlay, as the Orlando Magic’s Game 6 adjustment should further limit Duren’s rebounding.
SGP leg #3: Magic +3 (-110)
If Duren is slowed in Game 6, Orlando should continue its trend of going 4-1 against the spread in this series, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by more than seven points per game — even including the lone ATS loss.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Pistons vs Magic predictions for Game 6.
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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
