The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The Cavs won the series’ first two games before the Raptors took Game 3 on Thursday. Cleveland is favored by 3.5 points in Game 4. Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley is out for the entire first-round series due to a hamstring injury.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
Sunday’s four-game slate is certainly not lacking in excitement. The Los Angeles Lakers can complete the sweep of the Houston Rockets on the road and head to the Western Conference semifinals with a victory.
The other three matchups all feature home teams down 2-1, looking to even up their respective series. Today’s best NBA player props and NBA picks focus on those games, keying in on young players enjoying breakout postseason success.
The Toronto Raptors wouldn’t have won Game 3 without RJ Barrett... plain and simple. He scored 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter, going off for 13 points in a blistering three-minute stretch to put Cleveland out of striking distance once and for all.
Over his last 14 games, dating back to the regular season, Barrett has averaged 22 points, reaching 21+ nine times. He’s hit that mark in four of his last seven at home and scored exactly 20 one more time.
Immanuel Quickley is out again, and Barrett’s scoring average increased from 19 points per game to 20.6 in eight games with Quickley on the sideline. Barrett scored 21+ in four of eight regular-season games without IQ this season.
Barrett has averaged a healthy 26.3 points per game while shooting 64.4% from the floor in this series. His efficiency is bound to drop off, but I don’t expect it to crater, and I’m counting on another strong offensive showing.
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #2: Scoot Henderson Over 14.5 points
-130 at bet365
Scoot Henderson missed most of the regular season due to a left hamstring injury, but he averaged a career-high 14.2 points across 30 games to close out his third NBA campaign.
Dating back to the regular season, he's started 11 straight games, and he’s averaged 17.4 points in that span. Henderson recorded at least 15 points in eight of his last 11, going for exactly 14 once more.
Scoot has been phenomenal in his first-ever playoff series. He ranks third on the team in field goal attempts and minutes per game, and he leads Portland in points (23.3) and triples (4.0).
The 22-year-old microwave scorer is making the most of his opportunities, and his season-high 31 points propelled the Portland Trail Blazers to victory in Game 2.
They'll need all the scoring they can get against a stout San Antonio Spurs defense, and Henderson’s outside shooting will be key to spacing the floor and countering the daunting interior presence of Victor Wembanyama.
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #3: VJ Edgecombe Over 6.5 rebounds
+115 at bet365
Like Barrett and Henderson, VJ Edgecombe is another hungry, young player having a productive playoff run. With Joel Embiid expected to sit out Game 4, Edgecombe should continue to see increased rebounding opportunities.
Edgecombe recorded 10 rebounds in Games 2 and 3, and he’s finished with 7+ boards in three of seven total matchups with the Boston Celtics this season. In those seven games, the rookie averaged 6.1 boards.
Edgecombe averaged 5.6 rebounds per game on the season, but he’s taken his rebounding to a new level over his last eight appearances. In that span, Edgecombe has averaged eight boards and corralled at least seven in six of them.
Playing at home and in desperate need of a win, I expect Edgecombe to continue his stellar inaugural playoff run and cash this plus-money player prop.
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Our NBA player prop projections have been providing winners all season long, and now they have six NBA picks for today's Game 4 matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
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Cavaliers Game 4 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Under 26.5 points (-112)
Projection: 24.38 points
After two strong games at home to start the series, Donovan Mitchell put up just 15 points in this 6ix. The Toronto Raptors did a much better job of keeping him at bay, and our model expects them to have similar success.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet mitchell Now at bet365!/span
Evan Mobley Over 0.5 threes (-135)
Projection: 0.92 threes
Evan Mobley is by no means a sharpshooter, but he has a reliable stroke from deep when the Cleveland Cavaliers need him to. Mobley hit threes in two of the first three games, and his volume will be high enough that he'll knock at least one long ball down.
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James Harden Over 19.5 points (-112)
Projection: 21.49 points
Similar to Mitchell, James Harden had a quieter Game 3 in Toronto. Still, 20 points is a lot more obtainable than 27, and our model believes "The Beard" will have enough volume to go Over this number.
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Raptors Game 4 computer picks
Ja'Kobe Walter Over 7.5 points (-125)
Projection: 10.07 points
This is the top model play according to our projections. Ja'Kobe Walter delivered a stinker in Game 3, but he finished with 14 points in Game 2 and seven in Game 1.
He won't go 0-fer again, and he'll be able to knock down enough shots to hit this number.
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RJ Barrett Over 19.5 points (-120)
Projection: 21.90 points
RJ Barrett has played like a man possessed vs. the Cavs, going 3-for-3 on his points line. With Brandon Ingram struggling, Barrett has stepped up in a big way and will do so again in Game 3.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet barrett Now at bet365!/span
Brandon Ingram Under 20.5 points (-110)
Projection: 19.12 points
As mentioned, BI has been brutal through the first three games. The slick wing has 19 points combined in his last two outings, and our model expects those shooting woes to continue this afternoon.
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How to watch Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 4
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, ESPN
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Toronto took Game 3, 126-104, to avoid being down a 0-3 hole. Now, down 2-1, the Raptors look to defend home court again and tie the series versus the Cavaliers.
Cleveland and Toronto both made 14 three-pointers, but the difference was the Cavaliers took 45 attempts to the Raptors 23. The Raptors had an all-around impressive shooting performance and assisted on 29 of 50 makes. Toronto used a 43-23 fourth quarter to pull away against Cleveland. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett each led the game in scoring with 33 points apiece.
The Cavaliers have a chance to go back to Cleveland with a 3-1 lead and the chance to close out the series. Cleveland didn't have a single scorer reach 20 points in Game 3 after Donovan Mitchell and James Harden both did so in Game 1 and 2's wins and Evan Mobley once. The team that has led at the end of the first quarter has won all three games, so getting off to a quick start is important in this series.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 1:10 PM EST
Site: Scotiabank Arena
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Raptors
The latest odds as of Sunday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers (-170), Toronto Raptors (+142)
Spread: Cavaliers -3.5
Total: 220.5 points
This game sits right where it opened with Cleveland favored by 2.5 and the Game Total set at 220.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Raptors
Toronto Raptors
PG Ja'Kobe Walter
SG Brandon Ingram
SF RJ Barrett
PF Scottie Barnes
SF Jakob Poeltl
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Injury Report: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors
Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) has been declared OUT of for the remainder of the first round series
Cleveland Cavaliers
None
Important stats, trends and insights: Raptors vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland is an NBA worst 35-50 ATS
Cleveland is 43-42 to the Under
Cleveland is 17-25 ATS on the road
Toronto is 51-34 to the Under, ranking tied for third-best
Toronto is 43-42 ATS
Toronto is 22-20 ATS as the home team
Toronto is 23-19 to the Under as the home team
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s Raptors and Cavaliers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning toward a play on the Cavaliers Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cavaliers -3.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 220.5
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The Toronto Raptors needed a response in Game 3 and they got it, and they'll need another one against the Cleveland Cavaliers in tonight's Game 4 if they want to head back to Cleveland all tied up.
However, our Cavaliers vs. Raptors predictions suggest Cleveland should be eager to play much better tonight, and our SGP picks expect Donovan Mitchell to be at his best.
Our best Cavaliers vs Raptors SGP for Game 4
Coming off a Game 3 where he scored just 15 points and shot 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, Donovan Mitchell is a prime bounce-back candidate tonight.
Spida had poured in 30+ points in four straight outings before a quiet night on Thursday, and his 3-point shooting is a natural spark for his stat lines.
This is a guy who shot nearly 56% from the floor and 47% from beyond the arc through the first two games of this series. That shooting touch will return tonight.
Though Scottie Barnes has given Toronto a lifeline in this series, the Cleveland Cavaliers can lean on more playoff experience and a larger pool of counters, so I’ll lay the small spread and trust in the visitors’ 7-2 SU mark in their last nine contests.
Cleveland has also put together a healthy 25-17 record on the road this season.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers will get a chance at home to even their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Sunday in Game 4.
The Celtics were able to reclaim the series lead on Friday, going up 2-1 after defeating the hosting Sixers in Game 3. It was a much closer affair though than Boston’s first win in this series — a 32-point victory in Game 1 — with Philadelphia putting up another valiant effort until simply faltering a bit too much at the end of the 108-100 contest.
Sunday is a new day however, and the Sixers will be back on their home court in front of their fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena with a chance to re-tie the series before things head back to Boston.
The main variable for Philadelphia coming into Game 4 is the status of Joel Embiid, who is currently listed as doubtful for the contest as he continues to work toward medical clearance following an appendectomy just over two weeks ago. If he is ultimately able to play, everything changes quite a bit. We all know how the Sixers’ strategy shifts when they are able to utilize Embiid on the floor, and his presence would certainly put some extra work on the Celtics’ defense and increase spacing for everyone else. That being said, right now, all we can do is wait and see. One can imagine Embiid is probably pushing pretty hard to get out on the floor, and now it’s just up to the medical staff to be satisfied enough with his recovery to clear him to play.
Another injury-related variable coming into Sunday is Kelly Oubre Jr., who is listed questionable as of Sunday morning with right adductor soreness. Oubre has been making some solid contributions throughout the series and is coming off arguably his best performance of these playoffs so far, posting 17 points on 6-for-12 field goal shooting in Game 3. His status, for now, is another situation we just have to wait and see about.
Something that could definitely make a difference in Game 4 for the Sixers would be a bounce-back performance from VJ Edgecombe. The rookie struggled quite a bit in the Game 3 loss, putting up just 10 points in over 41 minutes played shooting 5-for-17 (29.4%) from the floor and going 0-for-7 from long range. He continued to contribute in other ways, posting 10 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block, but he simply couldn’t get going offensively.
The good news is that Edgecombe had a similar experience back in the Sixers’ crushing Game 1 defeat and was able to bounce back in a huge way. The rookie had just 13 points in that series opener, shooting 37.5% from the floor and 0-for-5 from long range. Just two days later, though, was a much different story. Rather than getting down on himself about the struggles of Game 1, Edgecombe looked like a star in Game 2. The rookie led the Sixers to victory with 30 points on 12-for-20 (60.0%) field goal shooting and 6-for-10 (60.0%) three-point shooting in that second contest. It was also his first career playoff double-double, grabbing 10 boards.
The Sixers in general actually had bounced back really well in Game 2. From game strategy adjustments down to individual performances, the two contests were night and day for Philadelphia. The fortunate thing coming into Game 4 is that they don’t even need that large of a turnaround again. The Sixers actually hung in there really well with the Celtics in Game 3 throughout the majority of the contest, even with Edgecombe struggling and minimal impact from bench players not named Andre Drummond. There are certainly adjustments to be made, but the situation is not nearly as dire and desperate as after Game 1.
The question is simply are they able to make those adjustments again and tighten up in the areas they so obviously have room for improvement in, such as limiting offensive rebounding and second-chance points for Boston, and to have the guys they need to step up to do so.
I’ll be honest, I personally have been extremely impressed with the level of fight this Sixers’ squad — especially without Embiid — has been able to put up against this Celtics team. Especially after Game 1, it looked like Boston had sincere potential for a 4-0 sweep with +20-point wins. Don’t get me wrong, there are no moral victories in the playoffs, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I simply mean that I now have a lot stronger of a “they could steal a win here” coming into these games post-Game 2 than I anticipated ever having in this series coming into it — whether they are with or without Embiid by the time tipoff comes around.
But… having Embiid certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Game 4 tips off at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: Peacock Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets scrap during their playoff game on Saturday night. Photograph: Abbie Parr/AP
Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected after Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless – and provocative – layup at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
With Minnesota already all but guaranteed victory in a game that ended 112-96, McDaniels chose to make the layup with 2.1 seconds left rather than run out the clock, as is customary. That led to Jokić jogging down from half-court to confront McDaniels, and a shoving match ensued as other players became involved.
“I don’t know what [Jokić] said, to be honest. I just seen someone who was big as hell,” he said of the exchange with the 6ft 11in, 284lbs center.
“I don’t regret it,” Jokić said of his actions. “Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.”
Jokić was ejected for his part in the melee, as was Randle, who joined in the shoving.
McDaniels was already unpopular with the Nuggets after calling Jokić and his teammates “bad defenders” earlier in the series, which the Timberwolves now lead 3-1.
“I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “The game was over. The game was conceded. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. That’s something that happens in the ‘80s, where teams would continue to score. But that’s who he is.”
Although McDaniels will attract attention for his part in the game, Ayo Dosunmu, who Minnesota acquired from Chicago in February, was the team’s hero.
Dosunmu scored 43 points, stepping up after injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with the highest-scoring playoff performance by a reserve in 50 years.
“Ayo was just out of this world, man,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Just play after play after play.”
Dosunmu made 13 of 17 shots, going 5 of 5 from three-point range, and all 12 of his free throws in a season-high 42 minutes. It was the best performance by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix in April 1976.
Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points. Jokić added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. The Nuggets were just 6 for 27 from 3-point range.
The Wolves have won the last three games and can end the series in Game 5 on Monday night in Denver. “I expect us to have a great effort in Game 5,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I really trust our two best players will find a rhythm, and they have to find that at home.”
While Minnesota celebrate victory, the injuries to Edwards and DiVincenzo are real concerns for the Timberwolves’ playoff hopes.
Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team’s top scorer, left in the second quarter after landing awkwardly and injuring his knee. Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.
Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo may have ruptured his achilles tendon.
In Saturday’s other games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff-career-high 42 points to lift Oklahoma City to a road win over Phoenix. The reigning NBA MVP finished 15 of 18 from the floor with eight assists to give the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Elsewhere, Karl Anthony-Towns totaled 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career playoff triple-double as New York earned a victory over host Atlanta and evened their series 2-2. Meanwhile, the East’s No 1 seeds, the Detroit Pistons, are 2-1 down in their series with Orlando after Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece to give the Magic a 113-105 victory.
He lay on the floor for a few moments and appeared to lose his balance as he tried to get up. Trainers rushed over to examine him, and Wembanyama eventually rose to his feet and jogged to the locker room. The injury happened in the second quarter, and the Spurs ruled him out for the second half.
The Spurs eventually lost that game, 106-103, though San Antonio bounced back in Game 3 on Friday, April 24 to take a 2-1 series lead.
But with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday, April 26, Wembanyama’s status will loom large ahead of tip-off.
Here’s everything you need to know about the status of Spurs star forward-center Victor Wembanyama:
Is Victor Wembanyama playing tonight vs. Trail Blazers?
In its first Game 4 injury report issued Thursday night, San Antonio listed Wembanyama as questionable, and that designation has continued into Sunday morning. It is still unclear, at this point, if Wembanyama will play.
There were positive signs, though, that might be pointing to Wembanyama’s return. For one, he put up some shots during the morning shootaround ahead of Friday’s game. Wembanyama was also present on San Antonio’s bench during the game, both of which suggest that he had cleared the initial steps of the concussion protocol.
The Spurs, however, may exercise further caution with their franchise player. Concussions are serious injuries and repetitive concussions can pose long-term risks, including the potential increase of neurodegenerative diseases like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, recovery time from a concussion varies from person-to-person, though “most symptoms resolve in a few days.” In certain cases, however, symptoms can persist for weeks, or even a month, so caution tends to be the standard.
NBA concussion protocol
In order for a player who was diagnosed with a concussion to return to the floor, the following requirements must be met:
The player is without concussion-related symptoms at rest.
The player has been evaluated by a physician trained in concussion management.
The player has successfully completed the league’s return-to-participation exertion process.
The player’s team physician has had a discuss about the player’s return-to-participation process with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the director of the NBA’s concussion program. Only then, will the player’s team physician make the final determination on return to play.
Victor Wembanyama stats
In 64 games this season, Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game.
HOUSTON — Desperation, and the Lakers needing to play with a sense of it, had been a talking point during Lakers coach JJ Redick’s recent media availability.
Redick knew the Rockets would be desperate to avoid losing the first two games of the best-of-seven first-round playoff series, a deficit fewer than 10% of teams have overcome since 1984.
The Lakers’ Marcus Smart (36) and his teammates have a commanding 3-0 lead over the Rockets heading to Game 4. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Rockets were desperate Friday night. But the Lakers showed, through their words and actions, that they have been just as desperate.
If not more desperate, helping them take a decisive 3-0 lead in the series after the 112-108 Game 3 victory in overtime.
“Love it,” Marcus Smart said. “I’ve been talking to the guys since I got here: You got to leave it all on the court, because you never know. That’s been my motto since I got in this league — just play and leave it all on the court, because you never know. It can be taken away at any moment. And with two of our best players down, we got to play desperate. We got to be the most desperate team. That’s how we have been playing, and that’s how we are winning.”
Desperation can be loud.
It was present when LeBron James backtapped his late steal against Reed Sheppard to Smart, which set up James’ game-tying corner 3-pointer toward the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.
Or Smart and Rui Hachimura crashing the offensive glass and coming up with crucial boards that set up the Lakers’ crucial points in overtime to help maintain their late lead.
Diving on the floor for loose balls, not wanting to concede anything.
But it can also be more subtle.
It can be defensive low-man rotations, quickly closing driving and passing gaps. Securing the defensive rebounds with authority. Being disciplined defensively.
“We’re all just playing with desperation,” Jaxson Hayes said. “We want to make it to the next round. We’re playing like this is our last game of the year. It’s not even a series like, if we lose today, we’re done, so everyone wants to play like that, and everyone wants to put their body on the line for each other right now.”
The Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes (11) scored 12 points in LA’s 112-108 overtime victory Friday against the host Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
This isn’t to say the Lakers have been perfect during the series.
Far from it, which is something Redick acknowledged multiple times after the Game 3 victory.
But they kept doing what was necessary to be the better team Friday night.
“Everything that we needed to do, even when it wasn’t pretty, we just kind of found a way to do it,” Redick said. “We’re playing hard. I mean, that’s what you have to do to put yourself in a position to win. There’s some things we can execute better, but I thought from the beginning of the game we played with a sense of desperation, and we played like a team that was down, as did they. They played a great game as well, a hard-fought game, and I thought we matched that.”
Now, the Lakers are just as desperate to end the series in Sunday’s Game 4 at Toyota Center.
“Got one more, it’s not over,” Smart said. “We got one more. And we’re in their home, and nobody wants to get embarrassed in their home. And we got them in a nail-biter, so it’s one more. We can’t worry about what happens after that because we got to take care of that. So we’ll worry about that after the game. Right now, Sunday is the only thing on our mind.”
For the Lakers, Sunday could be the knockout punch that secures their first playoff series victory since 2023.
“We’re just trying to have that killer mentality right now,” Smart said. “We got them on the ropes, and then it’s our job to try to finish. It’s their job to fight back. And that’s been JJ’s motto all year: Bend, don’t break. And I think we really took that to the head for us. We lived it. We instilled it into us, and you see it the way we played these three games, right? But we got to be like a lion. We got to have that killer instinct. We got them on the ground. We just got to finish them off and keep our foot on their neck.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder steals the ball from Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Suns returned home on Saturday afternoon to host the Thunder, and the result felt familiar. I walked away with a deeper respect for who Oklahoma City is, what they do, and how they do it. That team is relentless.
They are without their second-best player, and it does not slow them. Their best player delivers an absurdly efficient 42-point night with eight assists, and when he sits, the machine keeps running. The next group steps in, applies the same pressure, creates the same disruption, and executes the same vision. It never lets up.
They are not the T-800. No, they are not a Ray Ban-wearing Arnold. They are the T-1000. Adaptive, relentless, better looking.
There is no clear answer for Phoenix. It feels like the Suns are being towed along, close enough to hang around, never quite in control. At any moment, Oklahoma City can press down and create separation.
That reality shapes how you watch this. The roster construction, the injuries, it all narrows the path. It is not built for this matchup. Few teams are. So the lens shifts. Less frustration, more appreciation for what the opponent is doing in real time.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
The Villain notched his 10th Bright Side Baller after his Q4 takeover and 30-point performance in Game 2.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 87 (Game 3) against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:
Reaves has been dealing with a left oblique muscle strain and has not played since participating in a 139-96 blowout loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.
He was listed as questionable on the Lakers' status report released on April 25.
Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters ahead of Game 3 on Friday, April 24, that Reaves would test whether he would've been able to play in the game. He did not play.
Redick had also confirmed that Reaves had recently played in 5-on-5 games, which usually indicates a player is close to a return.
Austin Reaves stats
Reaves has averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games played this season.
When do Lakers play next?
The Lakers will play the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET). The game will be streamed on Peacock.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Paul Reed #7 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 and Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Kia Center on April 06, 2026 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. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Saturday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter helped Orlando to a 113-105 win over Detroit. Jared McCain and OKC took care of Grayson Allen, Khaman Maluach, and the Phoenix Suns, 121-109. Meanwhile, New York thumped Quin Snyder’s Atlanta Hawks, 114-98. Finally, Minnesota clubbed Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 112-96.
Banchero just missed a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Carter had a great game for the Magic as well, with 14 points and 17 rebounds.
Orlando now leads, 2-1.
McCain had 7 points in 12 minutes for the Thunder. Grayson Allen is playing again after his hamstring injury and had 7 points off the bench. Maluach scored 2. Down 3-0, the series is all but over for the Suns.
Jalen Johnson had 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Hawks as the Knicks tied the series, 2-2.
Finally, Jones got a DNP for the Nuggets as Minnesota took a 3-1 lead.
Four games on Sunday as Cleveland takes on Toronto in Game 4, San Antonio challenges Portland in Game 3, Boston gets its old rival Philadelphia in Game 4, and Los Angeles faces the Rockets, also in Game 4.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 23, 2026 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. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors are in a weird spot.
From a circumstantial point-of-view, they’re not supposed to win this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2021-22 season and the move they made at the trade deadline was for tax reasons. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers went all-in with the blockbuster acquisition of James Harden. Toronto is also without its starting point guard for the series, while its centre is fighting off a relentless back injury.
Yet, it still feels like this roster is expected to push the Cavaliers to the brink, or significant changes may occur in the off-season. The team’s payroll is similar to that of other true contenders, making it tricky to improve the questionable roster construction.
But here the Raptors are, one game away from resetting the series into a best-of-three.
Before the scheduled tip-off at 1:00 p.m. EST, here are three storylines to consider ahead of today’s matchup on TSN.
Familiar territory
Despite playing against only 23 playoff opponents during its 30-year history, Toronto is familiar with falling into an early 2-0 series deficit. It’s happened an astonishing 11 times. Ironically, the Cavaliers have won the opening two contests in each of their four playoff matchups against the Raptors.
When the Raptors win game three, they are 4-1 in the fourth contest of the series:
Defeated the Detroit Pistons 89-83 (2001)
Lost to the Orlando Magic 106-94 (2008)
Defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 (2016)
Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 120-102 (2019)
Defeated the Boston Celtics 100-93 (2020)
The rookie and the vet
When Collin Murray-Boyles was taken with the organization’s first top 10 pick since 2021 (Scottie Barnes), no one could have expected that he would look like a calm veteran in his first post-season experience. Murray-Boyles is averaging 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists on a hyper-efficient 72.7 per cent shooting. He’s also adding nearly one block and steal per contest.
One thing Murray-Boyles was chastised for leading into the NBA draft was how his size would hold up against taller centres. While Cleveland has outrebounded Toronto in two of three games, Murray-Boyles looks like he belongs on the court. The Cavaliers arguably have the most dynamic defensive big man duo in the Eastern Conference with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, yet Murray-Boyles looks comfortable navigating through playoff defences.
While it’s likely that Mobley rediscovers some of his defensive aura, Murray-Boyles’ effectiveness in the paint, particularly with his push-shot, should cause Cleveland to second-guess going with a smaller line-up. As long as the Cavaliers believe their best chance at winning means playing both Mobley and Allen in meaningful moments, that opens up new options made possible by the emergence of Jamison Battle.
Another way Murray-Boyles can dramatically affect the outcome is as a fulcrum in off-ball actions designed to get Brandon Ingram the ball. During numerous instances in the second and third quarters, Murray-Boyles’ screens were visibly more effective at getting Ingram open. When the Cavaliers sold out to deny Ingram, the rookie looked comfortable serving as the connector with the ball in his hands.
Mobley matters
It’s reasonable to think that one of – and probably both – Donovan Mitchell and James Harden produce a supernova-like offensive explosion at some point in the remainder of the series. Toronto has proven it can weather those storms up to a certain point. The Raptors will need RJ Barrett to continue dominating and Brandon Ingram to rediscover himself, but both asks are within the realm of possibilities.
The X-Factor could end up being Mobley. The six-foot-11 big man is averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 60 per cent. These are within the vicinity of his regular-season numbers. Where he could swing the momentum back in Cleveland’s favour is through his defence and shooting.
Mobley can’t let Barnes and Murray-Boyles push him around in the paint. That’ll have a direct impact on whether or not the Cavaliers can improve their spacing on the offensive end with an Allen-less lineup.
His shooting will also further complicate matters for the Raptors. In the first two games, Mobley went a combined 2-for-4 from three. In game three, he finished 0-for-4 from beyond-the-arc. Toronto can’t defend everything. With the Raptors exhausting several resources on containing Mitchell and Harden, they have to hope Mobley struggles from three for the rest of the series.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 11: Anton Bonke #49 of the Charlotte 49ers jumps for the opening tipoff against the Davidson Wildcats at Dale F. Halton Arena on November 11, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After Lucas’ look at Carlos Medlock Jr. on Friday, we’re continuing our preview series of new basketball players with a look at the Spartans’ only transfer (at least so far) for 2026-27: Anton Bonke.
Bonke’s background is pretty interesting. He was born in the Netherlands but moved with his mother to Port Vila, Vanuatu, when he was three. Bonke grew up in Port Vila and I had to figure out where that is:
So, it’s an island north of New Zealand and between Australia and Fiji:
And, apparently, it’s not easy to get to East Lansing from Vanuatu:
Making it even harder, Bonke comes to MSU by way of Eastern Arizona Junior College, Providence College, and the University of Charlotte.
One of our readers posted this Q&A with Bonke from his time at Eastern Arizona JC and there is this all-access video from the 2025-2026 season at Charlotte:
In both sources, Bonke discusses growing up in Vanuatu and how his mom got him involved in several sports as a kid. One of which was rowing – a sport most people don’t care about. I get it. But hear me out for just a moment, please.
Training for rowing often takes place early in the morning, requiring a lot of discipline from a younger person. Its repetitive motion requires those who want to be good at it to hone in on, and strive to improve, the finer details of the sport. Specifically this includes:
How the blades of the oars enter and exit the water,
The sequencing of body movements that propel the boat with oars in the water, and
One’s ability to control the body to avoid disturbing the boat, allowing it glide when the oars are out of the water.
In addition to good endurance, rowers generally possess full-body strength, but specifically in the lower body, and leverage – things that could probably help greatly when trying to carve out space in the paint or cutting out for a rebound.
Despite being a good rower, Bonke’s passion shifted to basketball while in Port Vila. There just weren’t a lot of options to play hoops competitively. Bonke settled for watching NBA games until he could start playing on a team after graduating high school at age 16. He had a family connection in Davis, CA, so Bonke moved there and eventually caught on at Eastern Arizona.
After a year at the JUCO level, Bonke moved to Providence College where he had a pretty limited role. During the 2024-25 season with the Friars, he averaged 6.5 minutes, 1.3 points, and 1.2 rebounds per game over 16 appearances with one start.
Bonke’s production increased immensely last year at Charlotte, however, where he averaged 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per game. Bonke played in all 34 games for the 49ers, with 32 starts. He shot 57.6% from the floor and 34.2% (13-38) on threes.
Charlotte finished the year an even .500 at 17-17 overall and 9-9 in the American Conference. The 49ers finished tied for fifth place in the 13 team league. South Florida, Tulsa, Wichita State, and UAB took the top four spots. So how did Bonke do against those teams and Virginia Tech – the only high-major out-of-conference team Charlotte played last season?
Bonke’s stat line in these nine games is pretty similar to the season overall.
His high minutes were the 41 in the double overtime win against Wichita State on January 3. Bonke scored 25 in a win at Temple on January 28, 20 in a loss to Temple on December 30, and 20 again in a loss at Florida Atlantic on March 1.
Overall, Bonke scored in double figures in 20 of 34 games for the 49ers last season. Charlotte was 10-10 in games in which Bonke reached double figures in points and 7-7 in games where he did not. It seems like the 49ers were just going to be a .500 team regardless last year.
So how will this translate to MSU and the Big Ten?
Size-wise, at least, pretty favorably. Bonke is 7 feet, 2 inches tall and either 260 or 270 pounds, depending on which source you look at. Comparing him to several centers he could square up against in the Big Ten:
Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue: 7-4, 250
Aday Mara, Michigan: 7-3, 255
Samet Yigitoglu, Indiana: 7-2, 270
Moustapha Thiam, Michigan: 7-2, 250
Zvonimir Ivisic, Illinois: 7-2, 245
Eric Reibe, USC: 7-1, 260
Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois: 7-1, 255
Aiden Sherrell, Indiana: 6-11, 255
Note that this list includes players who have transferred in to, or could return to, the teams listed above.
This interesting stat also puts Bonke in pretty good company:
7-footers with 50 dunks and 10 threes in a season per @totally_t_bomb:
Anton Bonke Henri Veesaar (NBA draft process) Ryan Kalkbrenner (NBA) Vlad Goldin (NBA) Kel'el Ware (NBA) Branden Carlson (NBA) Chet Holmgren (NBA) Walker Kessler (NBA) Evan Mobley (NBA) Deandre Ayton (NBA) https://t.co/AbQllK2jt9
Tom Izzo is obviously a believer and recently had this to say on the Drive with Jack podcast:
“We just think this kid has a little bit of everything. He’s tough, he’s got size, he can shoot the 3. We’ll see what happens but we feel like we got ourselves a very good player that is going to really help us.”
Also, according to Izzo, the Spartans had to beat out some competitors to land Bonke. In an article posted on Mlive, Izzo said he thought the Spartans might lose him to Kansas. So, Izzo apparently isn’t the only one who is high on Bonke’s potential. Interestingly, the same Mlive article from Matt Wenzel notes that Bonke has entered his name in the NBA draft (while retaining his college eligibility) – something that doesn’t seem to be mentioned much – but Izzo expects him to be in the Green & White next season.
Let’s close this out with a few video clips of Bonke in action for Charlotte last season and you can judge for yourself if you think his game will translate to the Big Ten.
Here is Bonke staying with his man and forcing him away from the basket as he attempts to drive and then ending the scoring threat for good with a nice rejection:
I didn’t know anything about Anton Bonke before starting this article but I’m going to end it with some hopefulness. This guy seems to have come a long way in a short time playing organized basketball. Perhaps, in some ways, this is where the transfer portal can be good. A guy worked hard to get in a position to come to the United States and, in a few years, has worked his way from Eastern Arizona Junior College to a team with Final Four aspirations.
Izzo has called him “tough” and his demeanor in the all-access video from Charlotte seems to indicate that he’ll be able to take it if and when he experiences some “hard coaching” at MSU.
He appears to have an offensive skill set that can provide buckets in the paint and stretch the floor.
Perhaps Bonke will struggle initially with the defensive demands at MSU and in adjusting to the top-level of college basketball but he’s been making adjustments that have worked for him since he was 16 years old.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama went out of Game 2 early in the second quarter with a concussion. He has since been in the NBA concussion protocols. The Spurs have been working with the NBA to monitor Victor’s progress toward recovery. They are also in the process of evaluations to detemin when and if Wemby should return during this timeline of this series.
On Thursday, he flew with the team. On Friday, he worked out, participated in shoot arounds, and yet did not play once the time came.
Per league protocol, 24 hours after a player sustains a concussion, he can begin the process of returning to play. If symptom-free, he can be cleared to return by team doctors in consultation with a league policy director after 48 hours without full participation.
Thirty minutes before tipoff for Game 3, the forward warmed up at Moda Center.
“He’s progressing every day,” Harper said. “All we can really do is pray for him and hope the trajectory he’s (on) keeps happening.”
Expect a game time decision to Wembanyama’s availability.
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