Category: Basketball

This was a pivotal night in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The slate on Friday, May 1 saw three potential closeout games, which meant that three series could have ended tonight – or the same three series could continue with decisive Game 7s.

The Eastern Conference featured two games, with the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic seeking to knock out the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, while the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers looked to end the season of the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors. In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 6 showdown.

The night started with chaos, with the Pistons completing an improbable comeback. Conversely, depending on your perspective, the Magic fell apart in an epic meltdown.

Here are the winners and losers from Friday night in the NBA playoffs:

NBA PLAYOFF BRACKET: Scores and schedules from all first-round series

Vanessa Bryant posted a photograph of her daughter, Gianna, on Instagram Friday on what would have been Gianna's 20th birthday.

“Happy birthday to my sweet baby angel, Gianna," Vanessa said in the post. "Words can’t express how much I love and miss you mamacita. Mommy loves you so much!"

Gianna Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash six years ago along with eight other passengers, including her father, Kobe Bryant.

The crash happened en route to Kobe Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California, where he was scheduled to coach his daughter's team.

Vanessa Bryant’s tribute to Gigi on her 20th Birthday ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1fzNwGSSZr

— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) May 1, 2026

Vanessa Bryant's post had comments with heart emojis from basketball players such as Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu.

Other notable names such as Olivia Munn, Ciara and Kelly Rowland also left comments of support.

Kobe and Gianna have been honored with a statue that sits in front of Crypto.com Arena, which was unveiled in August 2024.

View this post on Instagram

There are nights in the NBA when the game feels secondary to the star power sitting courtside on celebrity row.

Like a kid walking through a museum of modern pop culture, the faces you grew up watching on stage and screen are suddenly right in front of your eyes arguing with referees like it’s a Game 7 of their own lives. 

And there’s no stage bigger when it comes to celebrity row than Los Angeles and New York. 

Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, is where the top celebrities in movies, television, music, sports, tech and more flock to watch Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Lake Show in action. 

The stars are out for Game 5 in LA! pic.twitter.com/Bi7fc5tyMv

— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2026

"Sometimes you say celebrity row at a game and it's one or two people… this is an ENTIRE celebrity row."

pic.twitter.com/o3rUnA9xdU

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

At Madison Square Garden, the celebrities aren’t scattered around like they are in LA. They’re seated shoulder to shoulder like a front-row orchestra that never misses a note. 

Both celebrity fan bases are loyal; they’re lifers and diehards. 

So, what would happen if we turned those courtside legends into two separate teams based on their fandom?

Let’s build it and find out. 

The Lakers

The head coach of the celebrity Lakers team is easy. Jack Nicholson, the godfather of purple and gold since the Showtime era at the Great Western Forum. He still looms over the franchise like a patron saint. He doesn’t come to games as regularly anymore, but his courtside seats have been passed on to his son, Ray. 

Here’s the Lakers’ roster of celebrities to choose from: 

Snoop Dogg, Flea (but the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers band), Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Dyan Cannon, Will Ferrell, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Lou Adler, Michael B. Jordan, Kendrick Lamar, Jimmy Iovine, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martin Lawrence, Andy Garcia, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Dustin Hoffman, Paula Abdul, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Beyonce, David Arquette, Magic Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Mookie Betts, Odell Beckham Jr., Puka Nacua, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Justin and Hailey Bieber, George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Halsey, Tom Cruise, Anze Kopitar, Bill Maher, Adam Sandler, Bad Bunny, Emily Ratajkowski, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Steven Spielberg, Eddie Murphy, Lily Collins, Lil Wayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nicholas Hoult, Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin, Kate Hudson, Arsenio Hall, Nicholas Braun, Adele, Will.i.Am., Adam Levine and Maroon 5, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Pat Sajak, Jonah Hill, David Spade, Chris Rock, David Beckham, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Two Chainz, Kid Cudi, The Weeknd, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Courteney Cox, Steve Carell, Laura Dern, Chris Ivery, Jay Mohr, Jason Sudeikis, Saweetie, David Harbour, Hailee Steinfeld, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Corey Gamble, Kris Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Simon Baker, Lamar Odom, Kourtney Kardashian, Travis Barker, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, Usher, Jamie Foxx, Terrell Owens, Josh Brolin, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Kylian Mbappé, Tyga, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen — and so many more.

The Lakers’ Starting Five

Denzel Washington

Denzel would be your floor general. His voice in the huddle would command attention. Remember his performance in “Training Day”?

Leonardo DiCaprio

We came to learn recently that DiCaprio has struck up a secret friendship with LeBron James. The A-lister actor who is regularly seen courtside at Lakers games would be the silent assassin. Black hat and glasses, he’ll show up when you least expect it.  

Will Ferrell

Every team needs chaos, and Ferrell brings it in waves. He’s the emotional spark plug, the guy who takes a charge, dives into the stands and somehow makes it funny and heroic at the same time.

Flea

Flea and Ferrell are your energy guys. All motion and all heart. Flea could be a defensive menace, like Marcus Smart on the current roster. 

Justin Bieber

Bieber is your 3-point shooter and ball handler. He’s not afraid of the big moment or of the spotlight in Los Angeles. 

Bench mob: Mookie Betts, Eddie Murphy, Tobey Maguire, Dyan Cannon, Andy Garcia, Halsey and Dustin Hoffman.

The Knicks 

At the Garden, the head coach of the celebrity Knicks is Spike Lee. There’s nobody else. No debate. No discussion. He’s the pulse, the historian, the heartbeat stitched into every era.

Here’s the Knicks’ roster of celebrities to choose from: 

Ben Stiller, Adam Horovitz, Chris Rock, Howard Stern, Jon Stewart, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Fallon, Kal Penn, Ricky Gervais, Paul Simon, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, David Duchovny, Judd Hirsch, Norman Reedus, Adam Sandler, Niall Horan, Al Roker, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, Alan Alda, John Mulaney, Drew Barrymore, John McEnroe, Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Jay-Z and Beyonce, John Turturro, Ed Sheeran, Nicholas Turturro, Henrik Lundqvist, Martha Stewart, Mariska Hargitay, Ray Romano, Jeff Garlin, Christopher Meloni, Larry David, Susie Essman, Lorne Michaels, Leon Robinson, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Connolly, Fat Joe, Bette Midler, Maria Menounos, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, John Hamm, Edie Falco, Christine Taylor, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Michael J. Fox, Pete Davidson, Anne Hathaway, Carmelo Anthony, 50 Cent, Emmy Rossum, Bill Murray, Julianne Moore, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Cardi B, Jerry Seinfeld, Leslie Jones, JB Smoove, Stephen A. Smith and more.

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The Knicks’ Starting Five

Ben Stiller

Stiller is the glue guy every team needs. No Knicks fan wears wins and losses quite like him.

Timothee Chalamet

Chalamet is the new wave, the bridge between generations. On the court, he’s young, flashy and effortlessly cool. He’s the player you build a franchise around. 

Tracy Morgan

Morgan brings heart to this team. He’s real, unfiltered and isn’t afraid to tell his teammates how it is. He’s the kinda player the city will wrap its arms around.

Tina Fey

Fey is the strategist on the court. She has a sharp mind and even sharper instincts. She’s the player/coach every great team needs. 

Jon Stewart

Stewart is the passion and the vocal leader of the team. He’d be the one taking charges and demanding more from his teammates. He’s the grit NYC is built on. 

Bench mob: John McEnroe, Mariska Hargitay, Larry David, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Fat Joe, Michael J. Fox.

Two cities. Two identities. But they both live courtside. 

These lists were composed of more recent celebrities who are seen consistently at games the past few seasons. 

Mitchell Robinson was not suspended, but his wallet is a little bit lighter. 

The Knicks center was fined $50K for his role in a heated fracas with Dyson Daniels during the Knicks’ Game 6 series-clinching win over the Hawks on Thursday night at State Farm Arena. 

“The amount of Robinson’s fine takes into account his inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame,” the league said in a statement. 

Robinson posted a vulgar video trolling Daniels on his Instagram story after the game. 

Daniels was fined $25K. 

As OG Anunoby took a free throw with the Knicks leading by 50 points with just under five minutes left in the second quarter, Daniels yanked Robinson’s arm. 

The alternate angle of this Knicks-Hawks fight is WILD.

Read more: https://t.co/QMCkiKOwvepic.twitter.com/oeDy8fTZbY

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 1, 2026

Robinson subsequently got in Daniels’ face, and Onyeka Okongwu came over and tried to pull Robinson away from Daniels. 

That’s when it ignited. 

Players and coaches from both teams ran in and separated the two, but Robinson tried to go back for more. 

Knicks coach Mike Brown fell while trying to get in Robinson’s way. 

Referee Kevin Scott fell in the beginning of the kerfuffle. 

Robinson and Daniels were ejected.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks was fined $50,000 and Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks was fined $25,000, those penalties coming Friday for their roles in an on-court altercation during Game 6 of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round series.

The incident happened with 4:39 left in the second quarter of the Knicks' 140-89 series-clinching win on Thursday night. Both players were assessed technical fouls and ejected.

Robinson and Daniels “became entangled while battling for position during a free throw attempt," the NBA said, and the altercation escalated from there. Robinson merited the larger fine, the league said, because of “his inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame.”

The fine and ejection will not affect Robinson's availability for Game 1 of New York's Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston or Philadelphia.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

May 1, 2026

Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas

TV: Amazon Prime

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Online: ESPN

Time: 8:30 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Lakers: Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Lebron James, Deandre Ayton

After a brutal Game 3 loss in Atlanta put New York in a 2-1 hole, many thought their worst fears about this team were realized. There was no cohesion -- the offense looked directionless, the defense debilitated by the team’s best player.

The three games that followed were a complete reversal. The Knicks topped the Hawks by 16, 29, and a whopping 51 points to close the series, making their strongest statement of readiness to contend to date.

It was only the first round against an upstart team, but it may have solidified what this team’s winning identity will be these playoffs: versatility. The postseason is all about matchups and adjustments, and the Knicks have all the talent, but sometimes struggle with utilizing it.

It didn’t look that way to close out the Hawks. Everything coach Mike Brown preached and implemented was executed to glowing perfection. The Knicks ate the early struggle and adjusted to win the series -- here’s how.

Their biggest issue through three games was the offense -- completely freezing down the stretch of Game 2 and well into Game 3. Jalen Brunson struggled outside of the first quarter of the postseason, and the Knicks failed to get other creators to pick up the slack.

They corrected this by getting Brunson off-ball much more and running their offense through their most glaring advantage -- Karl-Anthony Towns. Every half-court possession moved through him in the pinch post, as Brown and the Knicks employed flex action to create cutters and space.

This gave Brunson many easier opportunities and higher-efficiency outputs, and opened the door for OG Anunoby to step up. The Knicks needed more scoring with the slow start from their guards, and shifted more offense in a favorable direction with Anunoby able to use his size to explode in the series.

None of this would work if not for the work that Towns and Brown put in during the regular season. It took some time for the two to find synchronicity in the offense, with many of these added creation reps causing friction early in the year.

It’s certainly paying off now as Towns looked prepared to leverage this Hawks matchup, patiently picking off their defense with strong decision-making and raw talent. A triple-double amid a career series from Towns and 22-and-9 averages from Anunoby later, and the Knicks are advancing in their most dominant fashion in years.

Brown also switched up the bench rotation for more ball handling, inserting Jose Alvarado and making sure that he and Jordan Clarkson were playing if Brunson wasn’t.

Defensively, Brunson was getting picked on while guarding CJ McCollum. Brown turned to veteran Josh Hart for the assignment, moving Brunson onto Dyson Daniels with both stepping up in the new defensive alignment to swing the series.

Now, have the Knicks figured out they need to be running their offense through Towns' high-post creation and making Anunoby their bona fide third scorer? That may have worked against Atlanta, but Boston or Philadelphia offer different challenges.

Towns won’t have the same advantages versus Joel Embiid, and New York’s likely to see much more drop next round, no matter its opponent. Maybe we’ll see different bench pieces to combat the different issues they face

Going up against Boston could make for more of a Mikal Bridges series, coming off last year’s run when he scored more than 20 in Games 4 and 6. Anunoby will be dealing with much tougher wings, and Bridges is much more comfortable against conservative pick-and-roll defenses and smaller guards.

The point is, fans who spent the regular season fretting about an identity or the team’s constant evolution were missing the bigger picture. These Knicks are built to win any way necessary, not in one specific one -- this is a feature, not a bug.

They spent the regular season fidgeting with schemes, lineups and rotations for this championship run, so that if Brunson has a slow series, or Towns an unfavorable matchup, they have other options in their back pocket that have been tried and tested. It may have taken longer than necessary against the Hawks, but we saw what that ability to adapt looks like fully unlocked.

They’ll need to be even more ready against a tougher foe like the Celtics or 76ers. Styles make fights, now let’s see if the Knicks are truly prepared for the bouts ahead.

HOUSTON — As Austin Reaves was ramping up to make his eventual return to the court from a strained left oblique, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked: How would the team manage Reaves’ role after Luke Kennard’s emergence in the playoffs?

“We’ll cross that bridge when it happens,” Redick responded ahead of the Lakers’ Game 3 win over the Rockets. 

Well, with Reaves returning in the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday, it’s time to cross the bridge.

Because the Lakers’ best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Rockets made it clear they need all the offensive help they can get, especially with star guard Luka Doncic remaining sidelined because of his left hamstring strain. 

Enter Reaves and Kennard, the former who had an All-Star-caliber season and the latter who showcased the depth of his offensive skill set while Doncic and Reaves were both sidelined. 

The problem for the Lakers: They’ve yet to find the formula that maximizes Reaves and Kennard while on the floor together.

The Lakers were minus-2 in the 17 minutes when Reaves and Kennard were on the court at the same time in Game 5. 

For the regular season, the Lakers had a minus-5.8 net rating when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor — with their high-level offense being masked by putrid defensive play. 

The Lakers were even worse when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor without Doncic, recording a minus-15.2 net rating, albeit in a small sample of 273 possessions.

The Lakers’ struggles during those situations shouldn’t be a surprise.

But the Lakers need the pairing to find synergy if the team wants to achieve its goal of extending its season long enough for Doncic to return.

And it starts offensively.

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The Lakers found success with Reaves operating on the ball while Kennard ran off off-ball screens weakside, helping create driving lanes for Reaves or opportunities for a drive and kick from Reaves to Kennard.

The defensive shortcomings are more digestible if the offense is firing on all cylinders — which the Lakers are in desperate need of.

They need Reaves’ ball handling, pick-and-roll chops, playmaking and pull-up shooting.

Just like they need Kennard’s movement shooting, off-ball gravity, screening and his ability to attack closeouts.

Kennard was a difference-maker to start the series against the Rockets, combining for 50 points on 65% shooting to lead the Lakers’ offense. 

But when he cooled off, so did the Lakers, with Kennard combining for 22 points on 29% shooting in Games 3-5, with the Lakers’ offense — and Kennard — being less productive and efficient offensively with each game.

And with Kennard playing at least 31 minutes in each of the Lakers’ first five playoff games against the Rockets entering Friday’s Game 6, phasing him out of the rotation isn’t a great option. 

Especially with how important he is to the offense and creating havoc for defenses while Doncic is sidelined.

Reaves’ return provides some solutions. But it doesn’t solve all of the problems about the Lakers’ offensive concerns without Doncic.

They need Reaves and Kennard to be in a rhythm to have a shot to play deeper in May. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance to close out the Toronto Raptors tonight. Will they do it?

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

ATLANTA — There are so many reasons to believe the best is yet to come.

You can start with the Knicks’ historic 140-89 Game 6 clincher in Atlanta, capping a pitch-perfect three-game response to devastating back-to-back one-point losses that put their season in jeopardy.

There is OG Anunoby, emerging alpha.

And Karl-Anthony Towns, shooting less than ever but making as great an impact as ever.

And Mikal Bridges, coming off his best game in months.

And Josh Hart, willing to trade a limb for a loose ball.

And Jalen Brunson, among the sport’s elite closers.

But there is also more depth than the reserve unit — featuring Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride — provided in the Knicks’ breakthrough to last year’s conference finals, following the additions of Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado.

“We know how good the bench is and how good the team is,” Alvarado said this week. “We go out there and be ourselves and try to boost the energy. Whatever the team needs, the bench tries to provide that.”

Late in the regular season, Clarkson — who signed a one-year deal with the Knicks in July — was out of the rotation, barely resembling the former Sixth Man of the Year.

Alvarado — who was acquired on Feb. 5 from New Orleans — also recently seemed to lose his spot, as he was benched in Game 1 against the Hawks.

But the two veteran guards both provided much-needed sparks in the first round, giving Mike Brown’s roster increased flexibility against the Celtics or 76ers in the second round.

Alvarado, 28, made the most of his limited time, pestering the Hawks with his relentless defense, while rediscovering the shot that temporarily caused Brown to lose trust in the New York City native.

In the final three games of the series, Alvarado scored 21 points with five assists, five steals and a plus-24 rating, finishing the series 5-of-10 on 3-pointers, while ranking first on the Knicks in steal percentage (5.3) and third in assist percentage (22.0).

Clarkson posted a plus-48 rating while playing 48 minutes in the past three games, attacking the paint, the glass and ball-handlers with urgency that had largely been unseen.

The 33-year-old led all Knicks reserves in scoring (7.7) in the series, while ranking second on the team in offensive rebounding percentage (11.5) and second in turnover percentage (4.4) despite the second-highest usage rate among rotation players.

“[Being out of the rotation is] definitely challenging, but I’ve been in the league for 12 years. I know how it goes,” Clarkson said. “Just continue to stay ready. There’s a locker room of young guys and other people, watching me and seeing how I react to those things. Set an example for them. Continue to stay locked in. … Just wait for my opportunity to go out there and play. Everybody setting that example and having everybody ready is big for the team.”

As the Detroit Pistons look to force a game 7 in their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, they need every advantage they can get. As they visit Orlando to face the Magic on their home floor, the Pistons can take solace that with a vital forward on each team’s respective injury report, Detroit’s is going to suit up tonight while Orlando’s remains out. Tobias Harris was questionable with an ankle sprain that he toughed out in Game 5, but his status for Game 6 was iffy. He will suit up in tonight’s elimination game. Orlando, meanwhile, will be without forward Franz Wagner for the second consecutive game because of a right calf strain.

That doesn’t mean tonight’s game will be easy for Detroit. Far from it. If there is anything we’ve learned in this series it is that nothing is coming easy to either team. Still, the lack of Wagner should hypothetically open up the floor a bit for Cade Cunningham, who won’t have to worry about Wagner switching onto him. It should also help Harris, for however much he is able to go tonight, as the Magic don’t have a comparable player with his size, strength, and defensive fortitude to keep Harris off his favorite low block.

The Pistons will need more, though. They will need Cade Cunningham to have another stellar game. Cade scored 45, a Pistons playoff record, in Game 5, but it barely kept them ahead because the Magic’s Paolo Banchero matched him seemingly shot for shot. That included an insane shooting night from deep that Detroit will have to hope Wagner cannot repeat. They will also have to ensure that the 3-point shooting touch doesn’t simply migrate over to Desmond Bane, who can pop off for six or more threes relatively easily. Detroit will need to hit some threes of their own, whether they come from Cunningham, Harris, or somehow getting Duncan Robinson untracked a bit.

This has been a wild postseason in each conference, and it feels like anything can happen. Well, anything can happen tonight. I’m not sure if that instills more confidence or fear into me.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Watch: Amazon Prime
Odds: Pistons -3.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-3)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Orlando Magic (3-2)

Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr

The Cleveland Cavaliers can advance to the second round of the playoffs with a victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. The Cavs lead the series 3-2 after winning Game 5. Cleveland is 3.5-point favorites against the Raptors, who could be without Brandon Ingram. The over/under is set at 219.5 with a spread of 3.5.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

• TV Channels: Amaz

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

Odds

• Spread: Toronto Raptors +3.5

• Moneyline: Toronto Raptors +145 (39.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers -174 (60.9%)

• Over/Under: 219.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2:Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3:Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 4:Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89
Game 5:Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
*Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Toronto (7:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Cleveland (TBD)

*if necessary