Kim English reportedly will not be joining Mike Malone's coaching staff at North Carolina after all.
According to multiple reports, including Pete Thamel, the former Providence men's basketball coach informed UNC officials on Sunday, April 19 that he is not pursuing an assistant position with the Tar Heels.
English had accepted a position on the former Denver Nuggets' head coach's staff last week and even arrived on campus and began working on the staff, according to On3. English joined the staff after three seasons with Providence, where he posted a 48-52 record.
He was fired by the Friars at the end of the 2025-26 season on March 13 after a season-ending loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament. Providence went 21-14 in his first season but then struggled each of the last two years.
Before taking the role with the Friars, English spent two seasons as the head coach at George Mason and coached under Rick Barnes as an assistant at Tennessee from 2019 and 2021.
English played for Missouri basketball for four seasons, where he averaged 11.1 points and three rebounds per game, earning Third-Team All-Big 12 honors twice. He was selected with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Following a three-year playing career — which included stints overseas — English transitioned to a coaching career.
Two months ago, Deandre Ayton was frustrated he wasn’t getting the respect he felt he deserved.
After talking to the media following a 21-point, 13-rebound performance against the Magic on Feb. 24, he made an offhanded comment as he walked toward the shower. “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” he said. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton went viral recently after saying, “I’m not no Clint Capela.” NBAE via Getty Images
Funny enough, Ayton is now facing Capela in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets, which the Lakers lead 1-0 after a 107-98 win in Game 1 on Saturday.
As for Capela’s thoughts on the jab?
“I was surprised,” Capela told The California Post. “I don’t know why I’m in someone else’s head. I don’t talk to the guy.”
Capela heard about Ayton’s comment after it went viral in an ESPN story. He responded over Instagram by pointing out that the Lakers’ center plays alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, writing, “U got 2 of the best floor general in the game dawg Lockinnn.”
The 31-year-old Capela, who was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Houston, has made a career out of being a successful role player. He has transitioned into being a backup vet after signing a three-year, $21.5 million contract with the Rockets in June 2025.
He’s a gifted rebounder, shot blocker and rim protector. During his prime, he was an important piece on a Rockets team that made it to two Western Conference finals in 2015 and 2018. He averaged a double-double over seven seasons, including a league-leading 14.3 rebounds and 15.2 points per game in 2020-21.
“Yeah, I mean for me, in my career, I did what I did for my team, had a lot of success,” Capela told The Post. “So, it worked out for me.”
The Rockets’ Clint Capela (30) has made a 12-season NBA career out of being a blue-collar worker. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Capela is great at what he does. He never tried to be a superstar. He has made a 12-season career out of being a blue-collar worker who’s a reliable rim-running big man.
That’s not what Ayton wants for himself.
Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Suns, selected ahead of Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was supposed to become a superstar. Ayton has only lived up to those expectations in moments and has struggled with consistency and maturity throughout his eight-season career.
Some games, he’s a force on both ends of the court who can effortlessly produce double-doubles. He’s DominAyton.
Other games, he’s a 7-foot placeholder.
When the Lakers acquired Ayton on a two-year, $16.6 million contract in July after a buyout from the Trail Blazers, he was hoping to resuscitate his career. His reputation had taken hits for his professionalism during stints with the Suns and Blazers, and he viewed joining the Lakers as a big stage to reinvent himself.
The 27-year-old Ayton has had an up-and-down season, averaging 12.5 points and eight rebounds in 27.2 minutes per game. But things began turning around for him during the Lakers’ recent 16-2 run this spring. His motor was high. He bought into his role.
“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said March 12. “And, you know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”
When the Lakers played the Rockets on March 16, Ayton (seven points, 11 rebounds) and Capela (nine points, eight rebounds and two assists) had similar stats. That type of production sufficed for the Lakers back then.
But now, with Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined indefinitely, the Lakers need him to take his game to another level.
Ayton responded in Game 1, finishing with 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting, 11 rebounds and one blocked shot in 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Rockets crumbled without Kevin Durant, who was sidelined Saturday after knocking knees with a teammate at Wednesday’s practice.
“Nobody can replace KD,” said Capela, who had two points and two rebounds in 11 minutes. “So we did what we did with what we had. And hopefully we can have him for the next one.”
As for Capela, he’s focusing on the task at hand.
Not on any verbal shots.
And he’s choosing to take Ayton’s words as a compliment.
“If people are thinking about me while I’m just doing my thing, I guess it’s a good thing,” Capela told The Post.
BOSTON — The Sixers have rookie representation on the list of finalists for 2025-26 end-of-season awards.
VJ Edgecombe was named Sunday night as a Rookie of the Year finalist along with the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg and the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel. Voting results will be announced at a later date.
The 20-year-old led all rookies in minutes played. Over 75 games, he averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals. Among rookies with at least 20 games played, Edgecombe ranked third in points per game, third in assists per game and first in steals per game.
Knueppel and Flagg were teammates last season as Duke freshmen. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the 26-56 Mavs. Knueppel posted 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest for the Hornets, who couldn’t advance out of the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament. He carried over his sharpshooting to the NBA, hitting 42.5 percent of his three-pointers.
The Sixers have had three Rookie of the Year winners in their history. Allen Iverson earned the honor in 1997, Michael Carter-Williams in 2014 and Ben Simmons in 2018.
The New York Knicks took Game 1 by double-digit points, but the Atlanta Hawks will look to respond when the teams meet again at Madison Square Garden for Game 2.
Dyson Daniels has done it all for Atlanta, and my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions expect he'll easily clear the Over on a modest combo prop.
Here are my best free NBA picks from the Mecca on Monday, April 20.
Hawks vs Knicks prediction
Hawks vs Knicks best bet: Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists (-120)
Dyson Daniels enjoyed a second straight productive season with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 33.2 minutes and career highs of 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists across 76 appearances.
Daniels’ season average of 12.7 rebounds + assists will easily clear his combo line for Game 2, so a baseline performance will get the job done. Daniels ended the season with 12+ rebounds + assists in three straight and four of his last five. He finished with 20 in Game 1 against the New York Knicks.
The do-it-all Australian cleared his combo line in 48 of 76 games, good for 63.2%. His implied probability to clear it again means his odds should be priced closer to -170 than -120, offering solid value.
Daniels finished the regular season as Atlanta’s third-leading rebounder and second-leading facilitator. His 6.8 rebounds per game ranked third among guards.
The Hawks also shot nearly 3.5% worse in Game 1 than they did during the season, so Daniels could be due for a few more assists if his teammates convert open looks.
In four games against New York (regular and postseason), Daniels finished with assist + rebound totals of 20, 15, 14, and 17. He easily topped 11.5 in all four games, and he’ll need to be at his best to help his team compete for a win with the series heading back home.
Hawks vs Knicks same-game parlay
I picked the Hawks to cover the same 5.5-point spread in Game 1, and they lost by 11. I’m not deterred, as Atlanta has a clear path to making this one more competitive.
The Hawks were a putrid 12 of 19 from the charity stripe, falling well below their season average of 77.4%. New York hit 25 of 30 free throws, and Atlanta can do a better job at limiting opportunities there. The Hawks went 18-8 ATS between the All-Star break and the end of the season, and I expect them to keep this one close as they look to avoid a 2-0 hole.
The Hawks and Knicks faced off four times this season, finishing with combined game totals of 215, 213, 210, and 253. Game 1 finished just a bucket shy of hitting the Over, and I’m betting on that extra bucket in Game 2.
Atlanta’s shooting was off, as the team hit just 44% of their field-goal attempts, and leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with only 17 points on a miserable 6-for-17 shooting. A slightly more efficient offensive attack from the visitors should push this one to hit the Over.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Dyson Daniels Over 11.5 rebounds + assists
Hawks +5.5
Over 217
Our "from downtown" SGP: Garden Buckets
Jalen Brunson has been at his best at home, averaging 27 at Madison Square Garden and 25.1 at all other venues. He’s averaged 29 points in four matchups with the Hawks.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points in Game 1, and he went for 21 and 36 in two other matchups with Atlanta this season. He’s got a size advantage against the Hawks’ undersized frontcourt.
Alexander-Walker averaged a career-best 20.8 points per game this season and scored 20+ in 46 of 78 appearances. NAW reached that scoring total in 24 of 39 road games, and I expect a bounce-back performance after his inefficient Game 1.
CJ McCollum finished with a team-high 26 points in Game 1, and in 76 games between the Wizards and Hawks, he scored 18+ points 40 times.
Hawks vs Knicks SGP
Over 217
Jalen Brunson Over 28.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 20.5 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 19.5 points
CJ McCollum Over 17.5 points
Hawks vs Knicks odds for Game 2
Spread: Hawks +5.5 (-110) | Knicks -5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hawks +190 | Knicks -230
Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)
Hawks vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Atlanta Hawks have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 50 games (+14.55 Units / 12% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.
How to watch Hawks vs Knicks Game 2
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Hawks vs Knicks latest injuries
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(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 15 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Andre Drummond – 3 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers were demolished 123-91 by the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday afternoon. It was bad. Very bad.
The Sixers are embarking on this series without Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy less than two weeks ago. And boy, could they use him right now. (No, I’m not saying he should be playing. I’m just saying his absence is a very palpable loss on days like today, obviously.)
This one was pretty ugly start to finish for Philly. It is amazing to watch one team be outplayed by another in truly every single facet, on every single level in a game. These two teams are just playing different sports. The Celtics have an incredibly deep, talented roster with real strategy on the court. The Sixers look like they’re playing a pick-up game, with no rhyme or reason other than just desperately clawing at any chance to get a few points.
However it was expected to go, it actually went worse.
Game 2 is on Tuesday night.
Let’s get to the Bell Ringer. Term used lightly here.
Tyrese Maxey: 21 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists
Apr 19, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) controls the ball while Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) defends in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Tyrese Maxey commanded the offense for Philadelphia on Sunday in more ways than one, scoring a team-high 21 points and adding a team-high eight assists.
The problem was that the Sixers just were completely outplayed as a team. There was nothing Maxey could do individually about it to change that, especially with the Celtics prepared to pay extra defensive attention to him. There seemed to be no urgency from Nick Nurse either to start calling for more screens to help Maxey get any space with the ball. It just felt like there was little he could do given the circumstances and he produced what he could.
Of course, Maxey didn’t shoot very well like the entire team. Again, partially likely due to having anywhere from one to three Celtics in his face when trying to score. The pathetic thing is that, at 40% from the floor (8-for-20) and 25% from three-point range (25%), Maxey was actually one of the Sixers more accurate shooters on Sunday.
He was far from perfect, don’t get me wrong — he needed to get more shots to fall and had three turnovers himself. I’m just adding context that I think is relevant.
Maxey finished the game with 21 points, 1 rebound and eight assists.
<p>(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
The biggest (only?) bright side to the Sixers making it to this first-round series against the Celtics is at least we are getting to give VJ Edgecombe his first NBA playoff reps in his rookie season. That’s a plus.
One of the first things I noticed about Edgecombe in this one was that he did not seem phased by the context of the game at all. First NBA playoff experience in his life, starting for a team that is coming into this series as a massive underdog to the Celtics, in Boston. It looked like just another game for Edgecombe, with the rookie playing aggressively and fearlessly as he has all year for Philadelphia.
He struggled along with his team, don’t get me wrong. It was an inefficient game for him as it was everyone else in a Sixers uniform, with the rookie shooting 6-for-16 field goals and 0-for-5 from long range. You obviously want him hitting more shots than that from the floor, but the Sixers were grasping at straws for really any opportunity to shoot, so there wasn’t exactly the most excellent spacing and shot selection available.
Seeing Edgecombe hit a big euro-step into a floater over Jayson Tatum is the kind of thing I hope Edgecombe is able to take from this series. These are just two teams on completely different levels of basketball overall, so there might not be as much success as he’d like, but there’s still a lot the rookie can develop and learn from with this experience nonetheless.
Edgecombe finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
VJ Edgecombe with a beautiful euro and floating finish around Jayson Tatum here. pic.twitter.com/EWKe6yiYeF
<p>(Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)</p><br> | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Nineteen-year-old Porter Martone has been in Philadelphia for less than a month, but he’s already responsible for one of the biggest, realest moments of sports-induced joy the city has experienced as of late.
The Philadelphia Flyers took Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road Saturday night when Martone scored the eventual game-winning goal. It was Martone’s first ever NHL playoff game.
Martone is already no stranger to stepping up in the clutch. His first NHL goal came back on April 5 in the regular season, when he netted an overtime winner to lift the Flyers 2-1 over the Boston Bruins.
Between having to watch this Sixers-Celtics mauling and a brilliantly-bad Phillies team, a team like the Flyers having exciting young talent stepping up in a big moment is just enough to keep us all from going completely insane right now. Flyers lead the Penguins 1-0 in the best-of-seven series. Next game, also in Pittsburgh, is Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
Before the season, Kingston Flemings asked Houston assistant Hollis Price what it would take to be on the walls of the Cougars' practice gym. Price said he needed to be an All-American.
Fast forward a few months later and Flemings secured that goal of one day seeing his face up on the walls at Houston, after finishing off the best season by a true freshman in Houston history. The second-team All-American is now taking the next step in his career, declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft on Sunday, April 19.
Flemings, a projected top-five pick in USA TODAY's latest NBA mock draft, said it was a tough decision to go one-and-done in college, especially after Houston's loss to Illinois in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. After taking some time off following the Cougars' 65-55 loss, he made the unsurprising decision to take the next step.
"Obviously it was a hard decision whether to come back and play with my boys, take it one more year and try to go get the (national championship)," he said. "But this opportunity doesn’t come all the time. … Had to make the right decision, for sure.”
The former five-star recruit per 247Sports' Composite rankings could be the highest-selected player under coach Kelvin Sampson during his Houston tenure, with the feat currently held by Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker, who was selected No. 8 overall in 2023 after his true freshman season.
Despite the Cougars' recent success with seven Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Fours since 2019, Houston has only produced four NBA draft picks under Sampson, with Flemings easily possessing the highest ceiling of any Cougar under one of college basketball's best coaches.
There was no better choice for Flemings, though, and he credits his development with choosing Houston.
“I think it was the perfect place for me," he said. "Coach Sampson’s the perfect coach for me. Just coming into the year, I just tried to prove everyone right that recruited me, and just did whatever I could to win. I’m grateful for my decision.
"... If you want to win, if you want to become a better man, better player, everything like that, choose Houston. It’s not going to be easy, but every single day you come in here, you try to get better and you’ll get better in every single way.”
Flemings averaged 16.1 points with 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season, starting all 37 of Houston's games. He also shot 38.7% from 3-point range and was a pesky defender, averaging 1.5 steals per contest.
He made national headlines after exploding for 42 points and six assists in a 90-86 loss to Texas Tech in January, cementing himself as one of the best true freshmen in a loaded NBA draft class that includes numerous one-and-done prospects. USA TODAY projects nine of the first 10 picks to be true freshmen.
"Coming into this year, I wanted to be one of the best freshmen and I think I proved that," Flemings said.
In the coming weeks, Flemings plans on training his 3-point shot, his floater and improving his handle, aiming to dribble lower and tighter to prepare for NBA defenders.
He's also bringing the hard-nosed Houston mindset to the next level.
“I think (I'm) just a winner and someone that teammates like to play with," Flemings said. "Not going to be a bad guy for the team or a cancer. Someone the team’s going to love and a winner.”
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season, and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics.
Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, playing in just his 17th game this season following surgery last May to repair his Achilles tendon.
Boston never trailed, building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players. The Celtics connected on 16 3-pointers.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.
Tyrese Maxey had 21 points and eight assists for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid. The 2023 MVP continues to recover following an appendectomy on April 9. It’s unclear when he will be able to return.
Paul George scored 17 points and V.J. Edgecombe added 13. Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point range.
Maxey was hounded by a Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half and held him to 8 of 20 from the field.
Philadelphia’s 64-46 halftime deficit was its largest in a playoff game against Boston since 1982.
Tatum had 10 first-quarter points, punctuated with an emphatic two-handed dunk, to help the Celtics end the period with a 33-18 lead.
Philadelphia struggled at the outset to keep pace with Boston’s shooting, making one of its first nine attempts from 3. The 76ers also had issues keeping Boston out of the paint after Embiid’s understudies, Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, each picked up two quick fouls.
That prompted Sixers coach Nick Nurse to bring in Dominick Barlow, who played just 10 minutes in Philadelphia’s play-in victory over Orlando.
After Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks does not lack playoff intensity.
Saturday's 113-102 New York win saw Knicks captain Jalen Brunson outduel CJ McCollum, who took issue with his technical foul after a kick to Brunson's midsection during a shot at the third quarter's 1:40 mark and the Hawks facing a 57-55 deficit.
"I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show," McCollum said after Saturday's game. "He acted it out until they reviewed it. It's a normal jump shot, nothing there -- unnecessary, and I look forward to getting my $2,500 (fine) back."
Brunson told reporters after the Knicks' Sunday practice that he has "no reaction" to McCollum's postgame comments.
"I didn't see it," New York coach Mike Brown said Sunday of McCollum's postgame comments. "A lot of guys are going to say a lot of things throughout the course of the playoffs. So, whatever people want to say, that's up to them."
"We've just got to be ready for them," Brunson said Sunday, referencing Monday's 8 p.m. tipoff for Game 2. "You just know that teams usually bounce back after a loss, and so we've got to be ready to up our intensity, up our physicality and just be ready to match theirs. They're a good team, they're well-coached and they're going to be ready to go."
The Knicks seek a 2-0 lead at the Garden before the best-of-seven set goes to Atlanta for Thursday's 7 p.m. Game 3.
"It's one of those things you have to be there and experience it to really understand it," New York wing Josh Hart said of MSG's postseason energy Sunday. "Obviously, regular season's always fun, it's always cool. And I was talking to (Yankees right-hander) Cam Schlittler (Saturday) about it -- playoffs in New York is different. The vibe is different. Everything is heightened in the Garden and, obviously, for them at Yankee Stadium. You've got to experience it, man -- the energy, the passion, the love, it's crazy."
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 1: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 1, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
So far in these NBA Playoffs, every top seed has won game 1 of their series by at least 10 points. The Detroit Pistons hope not to break that trend as they face the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena. The top-seeded Pistons are hosting Game 1 of a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades. They are looking for their first series win in just as long.
The Pistons were just 2-2 against the Orlando Magic this year. They struggled from deep, hitting just 31% of their 3-pointers. Detroit has been a hot-shooting team in this last phase of the season, and hopefully it continues. They will also look to force Orlando, particularly Paolo Banchero, into turnovers that they can flip into easy offensive opportunities.
Enough yapping, let’s watch some playoff basketball
Game Vitals
When: 6:30 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: NBC/Peacock Odds: Pistons -8.5
BOSTON — The Celtics had a swell Sunday afternoon to open their 2026 postseason.
The Sixers … had a day.
Any explanation provided for the Sixers’ 123-91 Game 1 loss in Boston is likely to be true and also woefully incomplete. The team missed many jumpers and layups, played leaky defense and plunged into a deep deficit.
“A lot went wrong, that’s for sure,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “It kind of started right in the beginning with not getting off to a great start offensively, getting into some foul trouble with both bigs. The first quarter was obviously moving past us pretty (quickly) and we just didn’t do enough at either end to settle into the game.
“I thought from the second quarter until the middle of the third, we finally … played pretty good basketball. But the minutes around that were absolutely unacceptable.”
The Sixers were subpar in ways that popped up often during the regular season. Their three-point shooting troubles were extreme — 4 for 23 (17.4 percent)— and can be chalked up partly to bad luck on the day. However, it’s notable that the Sixers were a bottom-10 team this year in both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy, per Cleaning the Glass.
Other familiar flaws included transition defense and difficulty compensating for Tyrese Maxey being anything other than world-class. Maxey was the Sixers’ top offensive producer in Game 1 with 21 points on 8-for-20 shooting and eight assists. Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) was desperately missed.
With shot after shot clanging off the rim, the Sixers’ defensive energy and focus wilted.
“To be honest, we missed wide-open shots,” VJ Edgecombe said after posting 13 points and three assists in his first playoff game. “It’s deflating, especially against a good team that’s also shooting really well and with a postseason crowd.
“So my takeaway is they’ve got to win three more. It’s on to the next game. We’ve just got to get ready for that one and make it feel like more of a playoff game.”
Edgecombe later noted that the Sixers must “match (the Celtics’) intensity and bring the physicality” moving forward in the series.
Why didn’t that happen in Game 1?
“To be honest, I don’t know,” he said. “I feel like they were flowing into their sets and all their actions easily, untouched. I think we have to just get up and guard. Just play hard. Be ready to guard your yard; it’s really 1-on-1. If you keep your man in front of you, then we won’t be in rotation.”
Turnovers were also a sizable problem for the Sixers, which is a less common occurence. Points off of turnovers isn’t a perfect stat, but the disparity there Sunday was telling. The Celtics scored 22 points off of the Sixers’ turnovers and punished early-game sloppiness. The Sixers … scored three points off of Boston’s giveaways.
They can play much cleaner basketball.
“We certainly can’t give up that much in transition,” Nurse said when asked about specific, controllable areas of emphasis. “That’s a big one. We’ve got to take care of the ball better. Too many turnovers that were live-ball and led to some of that transition. And I think we’ve got to generate more threes against this team. We’ve got to generate ‘em, we’ve got to take ‘em, and obviously we’ve got to make some, which I’m sure we will.”
Defensively, the Sixers’ day was devoid of shining moments. Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (25 points) each enjoyed themselves. Sam Hauser shot 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. No Sixer made multiple threes.
The Sixers were second in the NBA this season in fourth-quarter defensive rating. They ranked in the league’s bottom half for the other three quarters. At the start of Sunday’s fourth quarter, the Celtics held a 24-point lead.
“If you see someone driving to the rim, no matter what the scenario, step in front of them — especially if it’s Jaylen or Jayson,” Maxey said. “Step in front of them, make them kick the ball out and then rotate after that. But they got a lot of wide-open, walk-down-the-lane layups, walk-down-the-lane dunks. … Those are the ones we can’t give up.
“It’s going to be tough regardless. We’re capable of doing it, but we can’t give those types of plays up.”
Game 2 is Tuesday night and the Sixers need dramatic upgrades to even the series.
“We’ve got to lock in for our film session tomorrow,” Nurse said. “We’ve got to lock in on our practice tomorrow. Lock in on our film session Tuesday, and then we’re going to have to come out and play a lot better.”
The college basketball offseason is well underway with the transfer portal in full swing. Here are a few important dates that the Kentucky Wildcats will follow throughout the spring and summer:
Tuesday, April 21: Transfer portal entry window closes
The transfer portal window has been shortened to 2 weeks, limiting the time players have to decide whether to enter the portal. This deadline only applies to players entering the portal. Players who are already in can still take visits and commit after this date.
Friday, April 24 (11:59 PM ET): NBA Draft Early Entry Deadline
This is when we’ll know who will keep testing the NBA Draft waters for several more weeks. Outside of Malachi Moreno and Jayden Quaintance, no other Wildcat appears likely to test the draft waters
Thursday, April 30: Recruiting period ends
This is the final day of the April recruiting period, both for high school prospects and transfer portal players. From April 10 through April 30, programs are allowed to host both on-and off-campus visits. A quiet period begins Friday, May 1, and runs through Saturday, May 9, during which no off-campus in-person recruiting contact is permitted.
May 8-10, Chicago, Illinois: NBA G-League Combine
This is when we could see Otega Oweh get a chance to boost his stock and hopefully earn an invite to the NBA Combine.
May 10, Chicago, Illinois: NBA Draft Lottery
May 10-17, Chicago, Illinois: NBA Draft Combine
May 27 (11:59 PM ET): NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline
This will be the deadline for Malachi Moreno and others to withdraw from the draft if they want to remain in college basketball.
June 13 (5:00 PM ET): NBA Early Withdrawal Deadline
This is the NBA’s deadline to withdraw or stay in the draft.
June 23, Brooklyn, New York (8:00 PM ET): 2026 NBA Draft First Round
Assuming Jayden Quaintance remains in the draft, expect this to be the night his name is called.
June 24, Brooklyn, New York (8:00 PM ET): 2026 NBA Draft- Second Round
This is when we’ll likely get a chance to see Otega Oweh and other former Cats look to show what they’re made of and hopefully earn a spot on an NBA roster.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows off his jersey before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Twenty-two times, the Celtics and 76ers have tipped off a playoff series with Boston owning a 15-7 lead. Their 23rd meeting started with a 123-91 blowout in Game 1 of this year’s first round series with the Jays combining for 51 points and 10 assists.
If there was any doubt that Jayson Tatum wasn’t ready for the postseason after a 16-game regular season runway, his performance in the series opener silenced any doubters. Just a year shy of his Achilles tear, Tatum finished with another near triple-double of 25-11-7. He looked springy on defense and like a charging bull on his drives.
And as for this year’s MVP candidate, Jaylen Brown fulfilled his role as lead scorer with 26 on 11-of-21 shooting. He started off slow before halftime, hitting just 4-of-12, but when the 76ers threatened a comeback to open the third, Brown scored on 7-of-9 from the field for 26 points to put Philadelphia away.
The Celtics have been littered with x-factors all season. This afternoon, with a healthy roster and no one on the injury report, it was the entire team that had their moments in the blowout win. Mazzulla had trimmed the rotation to eight towards the end of the season, but with the bigs in foul trouble in the first half and the game in hand by the start of the fourth, Boston went twelve deep and everybody had their moments: a floater and block from Baylor Scheierman; Luka Garza with a putback and triple; Jordan Walsh contributed a Maxey shift and a leak out dunk; Sam Hauser hit 4-of-6 from 3.
Ultimately, the Celtics bench outscored Philly’s 37-27, led by Payton Pritchard’s 12 and six assists.
As we previewed here at CelticsBlog, containing Tyrese Maxey was going to be a priority for Boston and for the most part, they kept the All-Star point guard in check. Maxey managed to lead the 76ers in scoring with 21 points, but on an inefficient 8-of-20 with just five trips to the free throw line and three turnovers.
Creating turnovers hasn’t been a strength for the Celtics, but in Game 1, they forced fourteen that generated 22 points. Conversely, Boston had just eight givewaways from 3.
Game 2 is on Tuesday at TD Garden with a 7 pm tip-off.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound over Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Drummond #1 during the first quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers got crushed 123-91 in Game 1 by the Boston Celtics Sunday afternoon, falling down 1-0 in the series.
Tyrese Maxey was unable to pull a rabbit out of the hat, leading the Sixers with 21 points shooting 8-of-20 from the floor along with eight assists. Paul George put up 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting along with four rebounds, one assist and two turnovers.
VJ Edgecombe had his moments in his first playoff game, going for 13 points shooting 6-of-16 from the floor with three rebounds and three assists. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 26.
Joel Embiid (appendectomy surgery recovery) was the only player unable to suit up due to injury.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The Sixers came out chucking — their first three shots of the game were all from behind the arc, but only one of those fell and it was banked off the glass. Adem Bona got the start at center but got a very quick hook after picking up two fouls with a turnover in the process. The Sixers were also able to draw two quick fouls on Neemias Queta though once Maxey and George were able to find space to drive.
It would take just about flawless basketball to get a win and that’s not how the Sixers came out. George had two rough turnovers while Andre Drummond committed a bad loose ball foul after a rare stop. The Celtics ripped off a 14-2 run to get out to a comfortable lead. Nick Nurse opted to go small with Dominick Barlow at the five when Drummond picked up his second, the only positive being the moving screen wasn’t absurdly upgraded to a flagrant.
All of this was secondary though to the Sixers inability to score. Maxey did as good of a job as he could being asked to make something magical happen off the dribble every possession. It took nine minutes of game time for someone other than Maxey or George score, and 10 minutes for a different Sixer to make a field goal. Jayson Tatum made a couple of baskets then found Jordan Walsh in transition to give the Celtics a 15-point lead after one.
No idea how Maxey got this to go. Sixers need a whole lot more of it, down big early. pic.twitter.com/R6KEqMhSIc
George made a quick four free throws out of five. Justin Edwards ended the three-point drought and followed that up with an and-1. He couldn’t convert that free throw and the Sixers still couldn’t make much progress. Drummond checked back in, but with Luka Garza drawing him out to the perimeter, the Sixers had no interior presence.
The frustration for Philly culminated in Drummond getting T’d up as the Celtics pushed their lead to 20. The struggles at center continued as Bona missed two putback bunnies in a row at point-blank range. Not only could they not buy a jumper to fall but they kept leaving points on the table at the line with Kelly Oubre Jr. becoming the latest Sixer unable to convert an and-1. The Sixers shot 12-of-18 from the line in the half.
Forget flawless play, the Sixers just weren’t able to get out of their own way. Edgecombe converted a rare and-1 then the Sixers retained possession their next trip down the floor with the ball going off the Celtics. They immediately turned the ball over trying to throw an inbounds pass from the baseline to half court. A small positive is that Edgecombe got a couple floaters to go in the quarter after a very quiet start. He nailed a turnaround to pull the Sixers within 18 at the half.
VJ Edgecombe with a beautiful euro and floating finish around Jayson Tatum here. pic.twitter.com/EWKe6yiYeF
The Sixers finally got a couple bounces to go their way with a couple of baskets followed by an unsuccessful Celtics challenge. A missed layup from Oubre led to Boston being able to respond, but the Sixers were able to get those points back and prevent another run.
Another poorly-timed turnover helped the Celtics snatch momentum right back. They had gotten a stop down 15 and Maxey was leaking out ahead of the defense. Drummond’s outlet pass didn’t have enough on it and Brown intercepted it. Two Boston threes later and the reeling Sixers called a timeout. They missed two midrange looks coming out of the timeout while Brown and Tatum each got an easy basket at the rim to cap off a 10-0 run.
A good example of execution being the difference was the offensive rebounding numbers vs. second-chance points. The Sixers pulled more down through three quarters, having 11 offensive rebounds to just four for Boston, but second-chance points were in Boston’s favor 12-10. Each one of those points felt back breaking with the Sixers fighting tooth and nail for every basket. They trailed by 24 going into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Quentin Grimes taking and making his first two shots of the game didn’t stop the Celtics from taking their first 30-point lead of the night. The amount of wide open layups the Sixers missed was staggering as Barlow became the latest to do so. To this point in the game they were shooting 55% at the rim, which Cleaning the Glass puts in the 12th percentile across the league.
It didn’t take very long into the quarter for the white flag to be raised. Both teams shut down their stars, with Trendon Watford and Dalen Terry checking in for the first time. Edwards made the best case for minutes in this series as the only bench player to hit shots, and even he finished this game 3-of-9 from the field. The Celtics fans mocked the “We want Boston” chants towards the end of the game to put the cherry on this crap sundae.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (right) defends against the Rockets’ Alperen Sengun in Game 1 on Saturday. AP
The Lakers limited the Rockets to 37.6% shooting from the field, the worst opponent shooting percentage against the Lakers in the playoffs since April 28, 2023, when the Grizzlies shot 30.2% in Game 6 of the 2023 first-round series.
The Rockets shot 40% on 2-pointers in Game 1, which was just the third time this season between the regular season and playoffs that Houston shot 40% or worse on 2s.
“We did a good job of contesting those 6- to 8-foot shots without fouling,” coach JJ Redick said. “Using our length. [Deandre Ayton] Jaxson [Hayes], [LeBron James], Rui [Hachimura], [Jarred Vanderbilt], all those guys, Jake [LaRavia].”
The Lakers’ defensive success started with limiting Alperen Sengun, the Rockets’ All-Star center and second-leading scorer behind Durant, who became the focal point after Durant’s absence due to injury was announced 90 minutes before tipoff.
“I don’t think it affected our mentality,” Redick said. “This is all we’ve talked about for two months: Our playoff mentality; you can’t worry about who’s in or out of the lineup. It’s our game plan, it’s our standards, it’s how we play. And we’ve built toward that. Our guys just responded well and met the moment.”
Sengun, who averaged 20.4 points on 51.9% shooting and a career-high 6.2 assists during the regular season, had 19 points and six assists in Game 1. He shot 31.6% (6 of 19) from the field against the Lakers.
At the center of the off night from Sengun, and the Lakers’ defensive success, was Ayton, their starting big man who not only had a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double but was also the primary defender on Sengun.
Ayton matched Sengun’s physicality, contributing to Sengun shooting 4 of 11 from the field when he was Sengun’s primary defender.
He consistently beat Sengun to his spots, absorbed contact and contested Sengun’s attempts inside the 2-point arc.
“Just getting a contest is super important,” Redick said.
The Lakers’ Deandre Ayton (5) drives against Rockets defenders Saturday. Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Ayton also had strong moments as a defender in drop coverage, using his 7-foot, 252-pound frame to make passing lanes or shot opportunities more challenging to take advantage of, and as a switch defender, especially in the second half against Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard, who had 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting to go with eight assists in Game 1, shot 0-for-3 from the field when Ayton was his primary defender.
And with Ayton on the floor, the Lakers closed out defensive possessions better, which was especially important against a Rockets team that led the league in offensive rebounding the previous two regular seasons and grabbed 21 offensive boards for 23 second-chance points Saturday.
The Lakers had a 67.4% defensive rebounding rate with Ayton on the floor, which was still a poor mark, compared with a 36.8% defensive rebounding percentage when Ayton wasn’t on the court — meaning the Rockets grabbed an offensive rebound on two-thirds of their misses when Ayton was on the bench.
“He was great on both ends,” Redick said of Ayton. “Again, we’re at our best when he’s playing at a high level.”
But defending Sengun wasn’t a one-player job.
Hayes also limited Sengun to 1-of-6 shooting when he was the primary defender.
The Lakers had success with their greens against Sengun — overloading the strong side of the floor to deter a post-up. Two of his three turnovers came after the Lakers deployed the defensive coverage on Sengun’s post-ups.
“They [did] the same thing they did during the season: They flooded, forcing me baseline and bring help from the baseline,” Sengun said. “I just got to find the open shot. I got to be more aggressive and attack quicker.”
Sengun added: “I didn’t want to play much post-up because they were flooding. I like the elbow actions. They can’t do that from there. I just got to make those shots. If I make those shots, nothing would’ve worked.”
Sengun had success against the Lakers’ greens as the game progressed, and he was more patient with his decision-making on post-ups.
“He understands, and we understand, they’re going to flood,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “And we need to be a little more patient with that. Two of his three early turnovers were kind of rushing it. Just gotta invite that, face up and survey. Don’t go away from being a facilitator in the post.
“At times, guys get discouraged if they take away a certain thing, and that can be beneficial for us. We don’t want as much isolation on the perimeter, where they’re loaded up. Invite the doubles like we have all year. What we drill behind it, we should get decent shots out of it as long as we don’t turn it over.”
The Lakers’ frontcourt wasn’t alone in its high-level defensive performance.
Four of the Rockets’ top-four scorers (Sengun, Sheppard, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.) shot worse than 40% from the floor.
“We had a thing out there with togetherness,” Ayton said. “And we just stayed as a unit on the defensive end.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES – Saturday’s Game 1 between the Lakers and Rockets saw the Crypto.com Arena crowd will the purple and gold to victory behind the unlikeliest of leading men.
Midway through the fourth with LA leading by 12, the Lakers ran an action to get their lead guard his fifth three of the night and put the nail in Houston’s coffin.
No, it wasn’t Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves, the high-scoring duo originally expected to lead LA in postseason scoring. With both stars still out, Luke Kennard stepped up huge, putting up a playoff career high of 27 points on 5-5 shooting from the 3-point line.
It started early for the Duke product playing in the 29th playoff game of his career. A sign of utmost respect, the Rockets attached arguably their best perimeter defender, Amen Thompson, to Kennard.
LA used multiple screens and actions to shake him free from the first-team All-Defense opponent. Watch below as he comes off an ATO, curling around a Deandre Ayton screen with Thompson in chase mode.
Known for his 3-point shooting, the 59% mid range shooter collects his first two points. A couple possessions later, he curls off another screen in the middle of the floor and drives with a pretty off-hand hook shot that softly banks in. He finished the first quarter with 12 points on 5-6 shooting.
A major question entering the series was how the Lakers’ guards would handle the on-ball pressure Houston presents, especially in lineups without LeBron James.
Even while committing three turnovers, Kennard provided much-needed shot creation and showed off his underrated handle. Watch below as he snake dribbles off the screen and hits a pull-up over Alperen Şengün in drop coverage.
He stayed aggressive, not only taking threes but seeking them, including one over Thompson’s contest shown below.
“I just liked that he was aggressive shooting threes,” head coach J.J. Redick said postgame. “He played a fantastic basketball game…he just played really aggressive tonight.”
While the Lakers can’t expect 27 points every night, they will need this level of assertiveness every game of the series to contend. He’s become a primary option and the gravity of his movement is a vital cog in the Lakers’ opening up shots for others.
It’s not a large sample size, but once Luka and Reaves went down, LA quickly moved Kennard up the hierarchy. The two-man game with LeBron has blossomed all season and continued Saturday as they surgically hunted mismatches of big man Şengün and young guard Reed Shepherd.
Kennard’s usage on the Lakers before the injuries was just 12.8%. In the final five games of the season, it jumped to 19%. On Saturday, it was a steady 20.2% as one of the main go-to scorers and facilitators.
The Rockets will likely make adjustments going forward, adding more aggressive coverages and mixing up defensive rotations. The Lakers reps have been building towards this moment, and he took full advantage of the opportunity, looking prepared to continue doing so.
“Honestly, I feel like those games leading up to right now, I developed a rhythm kind of playing in that role,” Kennard said post-game. “It gave me confidence going into the playoffs of doing more and being controlled, poised, and looking for my shot when I can. So tonight, there was no difference. Shots went in.
“Again, it’s just having that mentality of getting everybody organized when I can and then looking for the best shot available and just being aggressive.”
