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Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics

Observations after Sixers earn tough play-in win, advance to series vs. Celtics  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers pulled out a tough play-in tournament victory Wednesday night and earned a trip back to the postseason in the process.

They notched a 109-97 victory over the Magic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Next up for the Sixers is a first-round playoff series against the No. 2 seed Celtics. Game 1 is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Boston.

The Sixers had five double-figure scorers. Tyrese Maxey posted 31 points and six assists. VJ Edgecombe had a double-double in his first career postseason game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Desmond Bane starred for the Magic, scoring 34 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Paolo Banchero had 18 points.

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) watched Wednesday’s game from the Sixers’ bench. He remains out indefinitely. 

Here are observations on the Sixers’ playoff-clinching win:

Oubre fires away in first 

Adem Bona got the start for the Sixers at center and knocked down a pair of free throws to kick off the scoring.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was in the middle of much of the early action. He drained two three-pointers in under two and a half minutes.

Oubre was also active defensively in his opening stint against Franz Wagner. He brought the necessary off-ball physicality and didn’t let the 6-foot-10 Wagner capitalize on his height advantage. 

With 8:30 left in the first quarter, Oubre committed an obvious offensive foul when his screen knocked Wagner to the floor. The teams exchanged some unfriendly words after the whistle and both Oubre and Banchero were assessed technicals.

Oubre capped the first quarter in sweet fashion for the Sixers, swishing a corner three with 1.8 seconds left to give his team a 28-24 edge. 

This season Oubre shot a career-best 36 percent beyond the arc, an improvement he credited largely to gaining flexibility in his left wrist and hand through offseason therapy following years of issues. He carried over that confidence in his jumper to the postseason. Oubre shot 5 for 10 from three-point Wednesday in his 19-point performance.

Maxey takes balanced approach 

Maxey made a concerted effort in the first quarter to drive hard, reach the paint regularly and invite contact. 

He drew the second foul on Banchero with 7:06 left in the first. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley let Banchero play through his foul trouble and Orlando’s star forward avoided any more problems on that front.

Paul George was scoreless in the first quarter, but he hit a couple of jumpers in Maxey-less minutes to begin the second period. Quentin Grimes’ and-one layup put the Sixers up 39-33. 

Grimes, Andre Drummond and Dominick Barlow were the only three bench players in the Sixers’ rotation. Drummond had a strong first half. He registered a highlight assist when he short rolled, took Maxey’s pocket pass and fired the ball to a cutting Barlow for a dunk. Drummond’s first quarter also included a put-back slam and two blocks. 

While Maxey mostly kept his foot on the gas offensively, he also recognized when he’d attracted extra defenders and could find open teammates.

With the second quarter winding down, Maxey tossed a one-handed skip pass to Drummond in the corner. The veteran big man drilled his jumper and the Sixers entered halftime with a four-point lead. 

Sixers strong in the clutch

Bane converted a mid-range, and-one jumper on Edgecombe 18 seconds into the third quarter. He made his free throw, which was already his 10th attempt of the game. 

The Magic had a hard time building any serious momentum because of their poor outside shooting. 

Orlando was fourth-worst in the NBA this season in three-point percentage (34.3 percent) and did not transform into a sharpshooting squad Wednesday. The team finished 7 for 27 (25.9 percent) from three-point range. 

Bona stepped up for the Sixers in the third quarter, swatting three shots and providing ample energy. Edgecombe also picked up steam in the third. His fast-break layup extended the Sixers’ lead to 73-62.

There was an altercation under the basket after Edgecombe’s hoop. The home crowd enjoyed the chaotic scene and Oubre spurred them on, asking for more noise. However, the fans were not happy with the conclusion of the officials’ review. Edgecombe got a taunting technical foul for his dust-up with Jalen Suggs. 

Maxey missed several open jumpers in the third quarter and the Sixers couldn’t grow their advantage. The Magic hung around and Orlando cut its deficit to 87-86 on an Anthony Black three early in the fourth quarter.

Maxey had a superstar’s stretch with the game up for grabs. He first made a driving layup. Edgecombe then ripped the ball from Banchero, leading to a Maxey triple on the other end. A Maxey floater built the Sixers’ lead back to eight points.

The game was destined to come down to the final few minutes.

The Sixers had a good night overall on the glass, but Wagner got a put-back layup to trim the Sixers’ lead to 99-95 with 3:25 left, prompting head coach Nick Nurse to call timeout.

Just as he did in the regular season, Edgecombe looked very comfortable in the clutch. He made a difficult layup and hit two foul shots to restore a seven-point lead.

Soon, “We want Boston!” chants rang out from the stands and a Drummond corner three was a joyous way for the Sixers to truly ice the game.

The Celtics series won’t be easy at all, but the Sixers deserve their chance to face the East’s No. 2 seed and try to spring an upset.

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Game Thread #17: Milwaukee Brewers (8-8) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7-9)

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 04: Starting pitcher Chad Patrick #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the 3rd inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Folks, the vibes are bad. The Brewers, after a wonderful start, have lost six in a row. The bullpen, an expected strength, is hanging on by a thread, and there are urgent questions about the closer’s role. Three of the team’s five best hitters are on the shelf, with no returns expected for at least a couple of weeks. It’s not great! (Good vibes around Jackie Robinson, though—it’s Jackie Robinson day today, so raise your glass to one of the great heroes of 20th century America.)

There is one thing that would cure the panic that is beginning to seep into parts of the fanbase: a few wins. Milwaukee will look to end their brutal losing streak tonight (and to keep their record from going under .500), but it’s not going to be a cakewalk. In the second game of their three-game set with the reigning American League champs, the Brewers will send Chad Patrick to the mound to face off with one of the highest paid pitchers in the league, Dylan Cease.

Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays as a free agent this offseason, has had an enigmatic career. At his best, he’s been one of the very best pitchers alive, as evidenced by his 2022 season, when as a member of the White Sox he pitched to a 2.20 ERA, led the American League in bWAR, and finished second in Cy Young voting. But Cease has also had some clunkers; over the past four seasons, his ERA+ has been 180, 97, 118, and 94.

There is no question about Cease’s ability, though. He’s led his league in strikeouts per nine innings twice in the last five years, and at 11.0 per nine for his career, he is third among 47 active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched in career K/9, behind only two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and future Hall of Famer Chris Sale. Cease is off to an excellent star: in three appearances spanning 14 2/3 innings, he has a 2.45 ERA and 1.66 FIP, and while his walks are up, he’s also struck out 26 batters in 14.2 innings, a Mason-Miller-esque rate of 16 per nine innings.

The Brewers will counter with Chad Patrick. He’s got a shiny 0.73 ERA of his own, but he’s definitely been fortunate—the sequencing coach is earning his pay, you might say, as it relates to Patrick. Patrick’s strikeouts are way down (he has only seven in 12 1/3 innings) and his walks are up (3.6 per nine, compared to 3.0 last season), giving him a 1950s-esque 1.40 K:BB ratio. Brewers fans will be pleased as long as the results are there, but the difference between Patrick’s ERA and FIP is higher than Freddy Peralta’s career ERA, so it would be nice to see some encouraging signs under the hood, so to speak.

Milwaukee will field a similar lineup to last night, with the exception of Brandon Lockridge (who finished last night’s game but didn’t start it), who is in for Luis Matos in left field. Gary Sánchez will also do the catching tonight, swapping roles with William Contreras, who will be the DH.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

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How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Tyler Mahle #54 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park on April 08, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants continue their three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters today’s game with a 4.30 ERA, 4.32 FIP, with 15 strikeouts to seven walks in 14.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies last Wednesday, in which he allowed just three hits and four walks with six strikeouts in five and two thirds innings.

He’ll be facing off against Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder, who enters today’s game with a 3.31 ERA, 3.71 FIP, with 11 strikeouts to six walks in 16.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Reds’ 8-1 loss to the Miami Marlins last Thursday, in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five and a third innings.

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Game #18

Who: San Francisco Giants (6-11) vs. Cincinnati Reds (10-7)

Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

When: 3:40 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

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Celtics vs. 76ers first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction

Celtics vs. 76ers first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the 24th time in NBA history and the sixth time this century, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet in the playoffs.

The storied rivals will face off in the first round, marking the first Boston-Philly playoff matchup since the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals when the C’s defeated the Sixers in seven games. This year, the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record, while the Sixers secured the No. 7 seed with a 45-37 record and a win over the Orlando Magic in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Wednesday night.

Boston and Philadelphia played four times in the regular season, splitting their series 2-2. The C’s were without Jayson Tatum for all four matchups due to his Achilles injury, but the superstar is healthy and looking like himself just in time for the postseason.

As for the Sixers, star big man Joel Embiid’s status remains up in the air after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. If he’s out, Philly will lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the load.

The Celtics have won five of their last six first-round series in a sweep or just five games. The 76ers have their work cut out for them as they look to ruin that trend.

Check out our full Celtics-76ers preview below:

Series schedule

  • Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics; Sunday, April 19 (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
  • Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 21 (7 p.m. ET, Peacock)
  • Game 3: Celtics at 76ers; Friday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
  • Game 4: Celtics at 76ers; Sunday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET, NBC)
  • Game 5: 76ers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, April 28 (TBD)*
  • Game 6: Celtics at 76ers; Thursday, April 30 (TBD)*
  • Game 7: 76ers vs. Celtics; Saturday, May 2 (TBD)*

*If necessary

Regular season head-to-head

Oct. 22 at Boston: 76ers 117, Celtics 116

Oct. 31 at Philadelphia: Celtics 109, 76ers 108

Nov. 11 at Philadelphia: 76ers 102, Celtics 100

March 1 at Boston: Celtics 114, 76ers 98

Celtics vs. 76ers stats comparison

Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Philadelphia’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2025-26 season. The Celtics have the advantage in every category except points per game.

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The Celtics will win the series if…

The Jays are the Jays.

It’s simple: If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are themselves, the Celtics win this series handily.

As good as Tyrese Maxey is, the Sixers don’t have the firepower to keep up when the Jays are on their game. Philly’s two wins against Boston came by one and two points, and Tatum missed both matchups. With him back in the lineup and looking like his superstar self, the Sixers will need Maxey, Paul George and rookie V.J. Edgecombe to play to their ceilings to have a chance (assuming Embiid misses most or all of the series).

Maxey could take over a game or two and make things interesting, but vintage performances from Brown and Tatum will be almost impossible to overcome for a team that’s middle-of-the-road on both ends of the floor.

The 76ers will win the series if…

They keep it close.

The Celtics should dominate this series. They’re superior in virtually every category (except points per game, oddly enough), and they’ll have Jayson Tatum back after missing him for all four matchups against the Sixers during the regular season.

But if their usually stout defense allows the Maxey/George/Edgecombe trio to get hot and Philadelphia finds a way to keep it close in the fourth quarter, they could be in trouble.

As our Chris Forsberg noted, the Sixers owned the best clutch-time defense in the NBA, holding opponents to a defensive rating of 98.6 in 174 minutes of clutch play. Both of their regular-season wins against the Celtics were clutch-time wins decided by one or two points.

The C’s must keep their foot on the gas and prevent the 76ers from hanging around late in games. If they can accomplish that, they should cruise into the East semifinals.

Odds

The Celtics are heavy favorites vs. the 76ers and have opened as 10.5-point favorites to win Game 1 on Sunday. Here are the full series odds (via DraftKings).

  • Celtics to win the series: -900
  • 76ers to win the series: +600

Prediction

Celtics in five.

We’ll give the Sixers one game in Philly, because Tyrese Maxey or Paul George will take over on an off night for Boston, or perhaps Edgecombe will catch fire like when he dropped 30 against the Celtics on Opening Night. Otherwise, it’ll be another thorough first-round beatdown by the C’s.

We mentioned the Jays as an obvious advantage for Boston, but big man Neemias Queta is a sneaky X-factor. He has been a revelation all season, and he could give the Celtics another advantage at the rim, especially if Embiid is out. Even if Embiid is active, Queta has shown in previous matchups that he can hang with the seven-time All-Star.

There’s no need to complicate this. The Celtics are the better team in almost every metric, and that will be evident in this first-round clash.

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Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Game Thread

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 14: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after the Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After getting blown out on Monday, the Nats responded nicely, grinding out a 5-4 victory yesterday. That evened the series and put the Nationals one game below .500. They will look to get to .500 tonight against the Pirates in the third game of a four game set. This also a special day around the league, as MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day.

The Nats have a bit of a unique lineup tonight, and it is designed to counter the Pirates pitching strategy. Pittsburgh has a lefty opener, so Curtis Mead will hit second and play first base. To avoid the lefty, the Nats have Luis Garcia Jr. in the 9 spot. Joey Wiemer is also in the lineup, and he will hit sixth. Brady House is back at third base, which means Jorbit Vivas will slide over to second and Nasim Nunez will get the day off. Jake Irvin will be on the bump for the Nats.

The Pirates made some changes to the bottom of their order. Teenaged sensation Konnor Griffin will get the night off. That means Nick Gonzales will play shortstop and Nick Yorke will play third. Henry Davis will be back behind the plate as the Pirates alternate catchers. The Bucs will open with flame throwing lefty Mason Montgomery. Right hander Carmen Mlodzinski will follow him and pitch in a bulk role.

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Game Info:

Stadium: PNC Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

The Nats have already secured a winning road trip, but they are looking for more. Splitting this four game set would satisfy me, but imagine if they can win the next two. That would really give the Nats momentum. The offense is red hot and makes this group very fun to watch. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.

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Gamethread 18: Royals at Tigers

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 15: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals takes the field wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you read the little text under this article, I dubbed this a must win game for the Royals. While this is just game 18 on the season, this game tonight is huge for the vibes and direction of the team.

The Royals are 7-10 on the season, mostly because of inept offense, they’ve scored 2 runs or less in 10 of their first 17 games and in 6 of their last 7 games. When they hold a lead late, like last night, it’s a lot of pressure on the bullpen to be perfect, with no cushion, and it’s a blown lead late again, similar to Sunday.

If the Royals go out there and lose another game scoring 2 runs or less, it starts to build even more frustration offensively and then the pitching can’t continue to be as excellent as they have been, because they are under constant stress to be perfect, because of the poor offense.

Outside of the team, fans, especially the casual ones will keep losing interest in the ballclub, and April isn’t even over yet. The NFL Draft is next week, and we live in Chiefs country, so you know the casual fan will be tuned out quickly if things don’t turn around soon.

Good thing is, like me, most of you are diehard fans and we are in it until game 162 concludes or further beyond that. Tonight the Royals are sending Seth Lugo to the mound, he has been phenomenal all season long. The veteran right-hander has churned out good start after good start this season. If he does that again tonight, the Royals are in business to even this series up.

Here is the starting lineup behind Lugo.

As for the Tigers, they got off to an abysmal start, 4-9, including being swept in a four-game series by the Twins, who are winning the division… what??? Since then, they’ve won four straight games after sweeping the Marlins at home and rallying last night to beat Kansas City. They are 6-1 at home this season.

Right hander Jack Flaherty starts for Detroit. After two rough starts, his last outing in Minnesota was a good one, allowing just one run over 5.2 innings.

Here is the starting lineup behind Flaherty.

Also, today is Jackie Robinson Day, so everyone will be donned with 42 as their number. It’s a very special and historic day in baseball history, hopefully the Royals can break out tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CT, the game can be streamed on Royals.TV.

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Nick Pivetta’s elbow stiffness adds to Padres SP woes

San Diego Padres SP Matt Waldron (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

The San Diego Padres are on a roll, as they have won nine of their last 11 games. They sit comfortably in second place in the National League West. But the momentum may turn for the worse after Nick Pivetta left his last start with right elbow stiffness. The injury has forced the Padres to place the right-hander on the injured list. 

The Friars cannot afford another significant blow to their starting rotation. Joe Musgrove is still recovering from elbow surgery, and losing another key contributor like Pivetta has placed the rotation in a period of uncertainty. 

Add the poor showing from German Marquez in his first three starts with the Padres. Suddenly, the team’s starting pitching depth has been challenged. Marquez has a 5.54 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP over 13 innings pitched. With the recent rash of injuries and bad outings at the beginning of the season, the Friars need to identify reliable starters who can throw quality innings.

Waldron has embraced becoming a knuckleball pitcher

Matt Waldron has been trying to perfect the knuckleball, so it becomes the main weapon in his pitching arsenal. He aims to throw his knuckleball at least 75% of the pitches thrown in every start. It would be a significant increase from previous seasons, which were approximately 38%.

He is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. An oblique injury hampered Waldron and limited him to one start last summer. It was a late June start against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the right-hander struggled with his control. He walked six batters in a 4-0 defeat. 

Give Waldron credit for trying to reinvent himself on the mound. He needed to learn to trust the knuckleball. Waldron came to Peoria with newfound confidence, as he threw the knuckleball in the 75-80 MPH range this spring. The velocity will remind older baseball fans of former major leaguer Tom Candiotti. 

The hope is to combine the knuckler with his fastball to keep opposing hitters baffled inside the batter’s box. Waldron wants to disrupt their timing with the knuckler’s movement toward home plate. 

Hart might be too valuable to take out of ‘pen

Kyle Hart opened the 2026 campaign as the long man in the bullpen. In six appearances, Hart has pitched 11 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. His control has been up and down with five walks and only six strikeouts this season.

Part of Hart’s struggles stems from lowering his arm slot during his delivery toward home plate. It has been a struggle to maximize movement on his sweeper and sinker. When he has been successful in games, he induces batters to hit groundballs at a 57.6% rate. His delivery forces hitters to begin their swing early and make weak contact.

The left-hander has 30 major league appearances, including nine career starts. It would be tough to transition back into being a starting pitcher, as Hart needs to stretch his arm out to go more than a couple of innings of work. 

Having an experienced pitcher filling the long man’s role in the bullpen is a luxury. Hart might be a better asset to keep a game close after a poor start than to replace Marquez in the starting rotation.

The Friars will have Waldron take over Pivetta’s spot in the starting rotation. He is ready for the challenge.

Waldron may not be the ideal foundation piece for the rotation, but he is ready to change the Friar Faithful’s opinion of him on the mound. 

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How to watch Warriors vs. Clippers, Play-In Tournament Round 1

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on as Kris Dunn #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during a game at Intuit Dome on January 05, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors will play with their season on the line Wednesday night in a first-round Play-In Tournament matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Los Angeles and can be watched on Prime Video.

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors closed out the regular season with a 115-110 loss to the Clippers on Sunday night. With Golden State locked into the No. 10 seed and Los Angeles essentially secured as the No. 9 seed, both teams entered knowing a Play-In Tournament rematch was likely. As a result, neither side showed much strategically as the Warriors held out Draymond Green, while the Clippers opted to rest All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Steph Curry, however, did play as he continues to ramp up for the postseason. He led all scorers with 24 points in 29 minutes, and more importantly, said afterward that he’s in a decent spot physically ahead of Wednesday’s matchup.

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors are expected to have a full roster available after dealing with a wave of injuries to end the regular season, although, head coach Steve Kerr did mention multiple players could still be on a minutes restriction. That includes Curry, who Kerr indicated will likely not exceed 40 minutes in this win-or-go-home matchup.

Entering tonight’s game in Los Angeles, the Warriors have lost nine of their last 10 against the Clippers, including a 1-3 record against them this season. That said, tonight’s game will likely come down to two key matchups: Golden State’s defense on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ defense on Stephen Curry.

Leonard remains one of the most dangerous postseason scorers in the league, so Golden State will likely lean on Green as the primary defender on him. In their March 2nd matchup, Green was able to hold Leonard to 23 points — slightly below his season average of 27.9, which was the sixth-highest in the NBA.

On the other end, the Warriors’ offense will inevitably run through Curry. Clippers head coach Ty Lue has a long history of throwing different defensive looks at him, and in Sunday’s matchup, they used Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. as the primary defenders. Expect a similar approach on Wednesday with potential double teams to force the ball out of Curry’s hands.

One thing is for certain: Getting to the playoffs won’t be easy. To keep their season alive, the Warriors must win this game and then defeat the Phoenix Suns just to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a challenging path, but one that is led by a superstar like Curry, a roster with playoff-tested veterans, and a plethora of championship experience.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis

Clippers: Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez

How to watch Play-In Tournament Round 1

Who: Golden State Warriors (37 – 45) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (42 – 40)

When: Wednesday, April 15th, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: Intuit Dome — Los Angeles, California

TV and Streaming: Prime Video (available on fuboTV)

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How to watch Warriors vs. Clippers for free in NBA Play-In Tournament

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Stephen Curry dribbling the ball in a basketball game, Image 2 shows Kawhi Leonard holds the ball, being defended by Draymond Green

The second day of the NBA Play-In Tournament wraps up with an all-California matchup.

The No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers and No. 10 Golden State Warriors will face off in a win-or-go-home game that will eventually determine the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed.

Whichever team wins tonight still has one hurdle to clear before officially punching its playoff ticket — the final play-in game on Friday against Phoenix — while the losing team’s season ends tonight.

Warriors vs. Clippers: what to know
  • What: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • When: April 14, 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET
  • Where: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California)
  • Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)

This season, the Clippers won three of four total matchups with the Warriors; the most recent was a 115-110 victory just three days ago on the final day of the regular season.

Warriors vs. Clippers start time:

The Warriors vs. Clippers play-in game tips off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET tonight, April 15.

How to watch Warriors vs. Clippers for free:

The NBA Play-In Tournament, including tonight’s Warriors vs. Clippers matchup, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

PRIME VIDEO PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.

NBA Playoffs key dates:

  • April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
  • June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

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What to know about Lakers’ first-round NBA playoff series vs. Rockets

The Lakers have a tough task ahead of them. 

Without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), they’re going to face Kevin Durant and the Rockets. 

Here’s what you need to know about LA’s first-round NBA Playoffs opponent:

The Lakers have a tough task ahead of them.  AP
The Rockets struggled with injuries and chemistry throughout the season, but they found their groove. Getty Images

Current status

The Rockets struggled with injuries and chemistry throughout the season, but they found their groove during the stretch run, winning eight straight games and nine of their last 10 to close the season. 

The Lakers similarly found themselves at the end of the season, going on a 15-2 run in March. But then they lost Doncic and Reaves against the Thunder on April 2. Without the 60 points that those stars provide, the team has been turned upside down.

The Rockets are surely going to try to take advantage of the Lakers’ chaos. They’ve had a lot of time to work out their kinks after losing point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL in September and center Steven Adams to a left ankle surgery in January. 

Without VanVleet, turnovers were a huge issue for the Rockets — as well as blown leads and inefficiency. But lately, they’ve tightened things up. Durant has been playing MVP-caliber basketball. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson have made leaps this season. And when Tari Eason shines, he helps open the court for everyone else. 

The Rockets are organized, deliberate and have the size and skill to dominate this series. The Lakers are best when they’re moving the ball and running, but without their top two stars, they’re going to have to play a completely different brand of basketball. 

What makes this matchup interesting

The Lakers’ LeBron James is in his 23rd NBA season and will face the Rockets in a first-round playoff matchup. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There are two reasons this will be fun: LeBron James and Durant. 

James, in Season 23, and Durant, in Season 18, are two of the top players of this generation, and they’re still superstars at ages 41 and 37, respectively. They’re both tasked with carrying their teams’ offenses. 

They’ve met three times in the NBA Finals. James and the Heat won their first battle in 2012. Durant led the Warriors to win their other two matchups in 2017 and 2018. 

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James is arguably the greatest player of all time. Durant is arguably the greatest scorer ever. 

While the league’s young stars are taking over (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Doncic), this matchup will pit two of the vintage greats against each other. It could be the last time they meet in the postseason. James is going to try to keep the Lakers alive until help returns. Durant is going to try to reach the second round of the playoffs after missing the postseason the last two years with the Suns. 

It’s The King versus the Scoring Maestro. 

Should be thrilling. 

The questions

The Rockets have had their share of drama this season. In February, Durant was accused of using a burner account to take shots at his teammates over X. When questioned about the allegations, Durant told reporters, “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense.” It wasn’t a denial, and it led to speculation that there was dissension in the locker room. 

But over the last month, a lot of that noise quieted. The Rockets have shown discipline on defense, and their offense has been running much more smoothly. 

As for the Lakers, their main question now is whether Doncic and Reaves will return. Players are typically sidelined four to six weeks with their injuries, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said there’s no timeline for their return. But it helps that the Lakers’ first-round series is spread out, with two off days in between Games 1 and 2, as well as between Games 2 and 3 and Games 4 and 5. 

My prediction: Rockets in 5

The Lakers ran over the Rockets in their last two matchups in March, when Doncic was at the peak of his scoring explosion. But without Doncic and Reaves, James just doesn’t have enough help to carry the Lakers past the Rockets, who are deeper, bigger and more physical. Now, if Doncic and Reaves return, everything changes. 

But as things stand, my guess is James is going to prove that he’s still a superstar at age 41, shattering all narratives that Father Time has even taken a swing at him over the last two decades. But ultimately, Durant and Co. will advance to the second round. 

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Steph Curry erupts late as Warriors stun Clippers in NBA play-in, will face Suns

Steph Curry erupts late as Warriors stun Clippers in NBA play-in, will face Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

The Warriors’ 2025-26 season somehow still is alive.

Steph Curry erupted in the second half as Golden State rallied to stun the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in the NBA play-in game on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome.

The Warriors will travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns in a do-or-die 8th-seed game, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Curry, on a minutes restriction as he ramps back up after returning from a right knee injury, struggled in the first half but turned it on in the second half and finished with 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the field.

Curry scored just eight first-half points, but poured in 27 second-half points to fuel the comeback win.

Curry’s 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds remaining gave the Warriors a late lead they didn’t relinquish.

Kristaps Porziņģis had a spring in his step and finished with 20 points, while Gui Santos scored 20 points and Brandin Podziemski added 17 points. Al Horford added 14 off the bench.

The Warriors trailed for most of the second half until Horford drained a 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in regulation.

Now the Warriors turn their attention to the Suns. Golden State won three of the four regular-season matchups, including the final matchup in Phoenix on Feb. 5.

One more win on Friday night and the Warriors will achieve their goal of getting into the playoffs.

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Red Sox 9, Twins 5; Boston swings to salvage finale

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15: Ryan Watson #56 (L) and Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate the win against the Minnesota Twins after the game at Target Field on April 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The Red Sox defeated the Twins 9-5. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Red Sox broke out the bats in need of a response from Tuesday’s shutout loss. 

A big day for Trevor Story (5 RBIs) helped Boston earn a 9-5 win over the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox avoided the sweep against the best team in the American League so far. 

Here are three takeaways from Boston’s series finale. 

The offense responds

The Red Sox put six runs on the board after Garrett Crochet’s implosion Monday night. The lineup followed that with its first shutout loss of the season Tuesday.

How would this remarkably inconsistent group respond Wednesday? 

Surprisingly well. 

Boston put together good at-bats from the jump and took advantage of extra opportunities. The Red Sox scored a pair on a dual-error from Twins infielder Luke Keaschall. Moments later, Trevor Story lifted a three-run home run to left field for another rare Boston homer. As referenced by The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey, that marked the team’s first three-run blast of the season. 

Boston added four more runs to put the game away. 

Early impressions? Solid

Connelly Early posted a 2.63 ERA to start the season, though the young lefty struggled to get deeper into his starts. 

He did a much better job keeping his pitch count down in this start and kept a red-hot Twins lineup in check. Early settled in after he allowed a first-inning solo shot to Austin Martin.  

Early finished six strong innings of one-run ball with just two hits allowed and five strikeouts. 

Story time (broadcast, not Trevor)

The best in-game story came around on NESN this afternoon when Will Middlebrooks shared his recollection of a productive night with the late Jerry Remy. 

The former Red Sox third baseman shared that on a road trip when he struggled as a rookie, Remy came to his room with a bottle of wine and worked on the rookie’s timing with rolled up socks to simulate baseballs. 

You can catch the full story here. 

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NCAA urges further study of change that would start eligibility at HS graduation or age 19

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA confirmed Wednesday it is exploring a move to an age-based eligibility model that would give athletes a window of five years to compete in Division I starting immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

The Division I Cabinet discussed the possibility at meetings that concluded Wednesday but did not take a formal position. The Cabinet supports having NCAA staff continue to discuss the idea with other stakeholders to gather feedback.

The Cabinet said the new model would include possible exceptions for circumstances such as pregnancy, military service and religious missions.

The age-based model is similar to an idea included in an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on April 3.

Currently, athletes generally are allowed four seasons of competition over five years with no age restrictions.

The possibility of an age-based model comes after numerous athletes have challenged NCAA eligibility rules in lawsuits with the hope of extending their college careers and ability to earn money through revenue sharing and name, image and likeness deals.

During its meetings, the Cabinet approved changes to preenrollment eligibility rules, including one that would bar athletes who have entered and remained in a professional sports draft from competing in college.

One of the rules requires prospects to withdraw from opt-in professional league drafts, including the NBA draft, to bring precollege enrollment draft rules in line with postcollege enrollment draft rules. Men’s ice hockey and baseball would not be affected because athletes don’t opt in to those sports’ drafts.

The change came after two basketball players, Alabama’s Charles Bediako and Baylor’s James Nnaji, played in college this season after entering the 2023 NBA draft.

Bediako played two seasons at Alabama and entered the draft. He wasn’t selected but played three years in the G League, the NBA’s minor league. He played in five games this past season before the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a ruling that made him ineligible.

Nnaji was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round. He played professionally overseas before he enrolled as a freshman at Baylor in December. He was granted eligibility because he had never signed an NBA contract or played in the G League. He would be ineligible in 2026-27 under the new rules.

In other changes, athletes are allowed to sign with agents prior to enrolling for purposes other than name, image and likeness and are allowed to accept prize money in their respective sports without impacting eligibility.

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

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NBA broke viewership records in 2025-26 season. How many tuned in?

The 2025-26 NBA regular season is officially in the books and it was one that was well-watched.

NBC Sports' NBA coverage began with a record-setting night with "NBA Tip-Off" on Oct. 21, marking the return of the nostalgic broadcast partner.

The season started with the first opening night double-overtime game in 20 years, a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, who kicked things off with their championship ring ceremony.

It was the largest "NBA Tip-Off" doubleheader audience since 2010, not including 2011 opening games on Christmas holiday. The doubleheader maintained an average of 5.6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.

Here's a look at the season highlights for viewership, attendance, digital and social numbers during the 2025-26 NBA season:

NBA 2025-26 regular-season viewership

A total of 170 million people in the United States watched NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC, Peacock and NBA TV through the regular season.

It was the most-watched NBA season in 24 years. Viewership was up 86% compared to the 2024-25 regular season, according to the league.

NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC and Peacock averaged 1.78 million viewers. It was the most in seven years and up 16% year-over-year. Including NBA TV, the league had the highest amount of viewership in 13 years and was up 35% year-over-year.

There were 57 telecasts that averaged at least two million viewers this season, the most since the 2011-12 regular season, and the league had 19 broadcasts that averaged at least three million viewers – the most since the 2012-13 regular season.

The regular season drove more than 920 million hours watched, the most since the 2011-12 season.

NBA on social media for 2025-26 season

The league generated a record 228 billion views on social media this season, up 13% over a year-to-year basis, according to Videocites.

The NBA debuted Tap to Watch, to allow fans to live stream games. According to a league news release, the new implementation drove fans to nearly 20 million live game streams with nationally televised games making up 75% of that engagement. Usage was driven largely by partners such as Google, social media platforms and the NBA App, the news release said.

NBA attendance for 2025-26 season

The NBA fans showed up in record numbers this season. A new league record was set for total attendance across a three-season span (2023-24 to 2025-26), exceeding 22.18 million fans in total attendance in team arenas for the third time ever.

Fun facts from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season

Here are some highlights from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season, according to the league:

  • More than 40 million people in the U.S. watched NBA Cup 2025 group play games across Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and ESPN, up 90% from last year and the most-watched group play games in the event’s three-year history.
  • The NBA Cup final between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in December 2025 averaged 3.07 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video, a 3% increase over the 2024 championship, which was 2.99 million on ABC.
  • ESPN delivered its largest average NBA Christmas audience since 2018 across its platforms. The five-game slate on Thursday, December 25, averaged 5.5 million viewers, up four percent from 2024. The Christmas games reached 47.2 million fans, up 45 percent from 2024. It is the largest audience reach for ESPN’s Christmas NBA games since 2010, excluding the season-opening Christmas day in 2011.
  • Games between the Mavericks and Knicks, and the Thunder and Cavaliers on Jan. 19, in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, delivered the league’s two largest afternoon audiences on MLK King Day on record, dating back to 1992.
  • The first NBA All-Star Game broadcast by NBC Sports since 2002 delivered the largest NBA All-Star audience since 2011, averaging 8.8 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo, according to preliminary Nielsen data and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
  • More than 46 million people in the U.S. watched NBA All-Star weekend across NBC platforms and ESPN, the most in 24 years and more than triple last season.
  • The NBA's storied rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on NBC on Feb. 22 was the most-watched regular-season Sunday night game since April 2, 2000, averaging 5.6 million viewers across ABC, Peacock and Telemundo.  It was also the most watched NBA regular-season game since 2017, excluding Christmas Day.
  • Knicks and Thunder on March 29 delivered 3.4 million average viewers, marking the network’s 10th game with at least 3 million viewers, the most for any network since the 2018-19 regular season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA announces 2025-26 viewership, digital and social media statistics

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An Ode to Utah Jazz Tank Commanders Past and Present

Talen Horton-Tucker #0 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Swinger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In honor of the merciful conclusion to the Utah Jazz’s tanking era, let’s take a look back at some of the players who were instrumental in securing better draft odds and the hope of a playoff appearance next season. Referring to these players as tank commanders is not derogatory nor is it meant to degrade the skill-sets they possess, rather, these players are crucial for ensuring teams get as high a draft pick as they can, while also getting the opportunity to showcase their skills to the rest of the league in hopes of getting more opportunities. It truly is thankless work, and most are forgotten once their contracts expire, but today they get their flowers. 

Luka Šamanić (17-33) 

Šamanić was taken 19th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2019, where he would only appear in 3 games his rookie year. He would only last two seasons in San Antonio before he would be released and the Jazz would scoop him up. During the 2023-2024 season Šamanić appeared in 43 games for the Jazz averaging a modest 4 points and 2 rebounds per game. He was also instrumental in securing a 31-51 record, and the 9th overall pick. Currently he is playing in the Russian VTB United League where he is averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist per game. 

Darius Blazley (2-4) 

Blazley was originally drafted by the Jazz, but his draft rights were given to the Memphis Grizzlies, only to be snatched up by the Thunder. He would get consistent playing time in OKC for four seasons before being traded to the Suns where he would only last 7 games before going to the 76ers, and finally making his way to Utah. He would play 6 games for us, 4 of which we lost. These losses again helped Utah to acquire a top 10 pick in the draft. His basketball career has not gone as planned, especially as of late. Most recently he shoved a teammate out of frustration, and was subsequently cut from the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association. At 25 years old there is still time for Blazely to turn his career around, all of Jazz nation is rooting for him. 

Talen Horton-Tucker (44-72) 

THT is my personal favorite of all the players listed. He spent two seasons with us and was equal parts extremely exciting and extremely frustrating to watch. At times he would forget he had four other teammates out there with him, but that’s what made him so fascinating. During my junior year of high school my friends and I would talk about THT like he was an All-Star, and that he would have a long future on the Jazz if he could just learn to pass. Scary times. (Continuous tanking can do horrible things to the mind of a fanbase.) THT’s best moment as a Jazz man came against the Spurs, where he dropped 41 points. His acrobatic layups, and thunderous dunks will be greatly missed, his tunnel vision and unwillingness to pass, will not. Today he plays in the Euroleague for Fenerbaçhe. Like Blazley, Talen is also 25 years old, and has time for an NBA comeback. 

Juan Toscano-Anderson (7-15)

NBA champion Juan Toscano-Anderson played 22 games for the Jazz and averaged 3.4 points in 15 minutes per game. One of the plays featured on his highlight reel is an assist to Udoka Azubuike and seeing that nearly gave me a heart attack. Toscano-Anderson is the only player in team history to wear #95. In 2025 he signed a one year deal with Pallacanestro Trieste in the Italian basketball league. In his most recent game he put up 4 points, and 4 assists in 17 minutes of action.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. (2-2)

Lofton may have only played in 4 games for the Jazz, going 2-2, but he was certainly memorable. He isn’t built like your typical NBA player,  but he played very well in his few games in Utah. His most impressive outing came when he dropped 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in a win over the Clippers. Lofton last played for the Shanghai Sharks, but of all the players on this list I believe in him to make an NBA comeback the most. He’s still just 23 and averaged an impressive 25 points and 12.6 rebounds in the Chinese Basketball Association.  

KJ Martin (2-17) 

Go ahead and pat yourself on the back if you remember KJ Martin. He is, by far, the best tank commander on this list. He played in 19 games for the Jazz and went 2-17. Without Martin the Jazz may not have secured their worst record in franchise history (17-65) and the best odds in the lottery. While Utah did drop to the fifth spot, they still came away with a blue-chip player in Ace Bailey. Going back and watching his highlights from the ‘24-’25 season the one thing that really stood out was his athleticism. He had some really nice dunks off of lobs, but that was about it. Most recently he played for the Ningbo Rockets where he averaged 7.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. 

Now for this season’s batch of tank commanders! This was a special group that included some very memorable performances, and may have even yielded a diamond in the rough. 

Kennedy Chandler (1-10)

Chandler stands at 5’11, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in his effort on the floor. Unfortunately for him however the Jazz chose to let his 10-day contract expire. Chandler did save his best performances for last; dropping 26 and 31 in his final two games with the team. During his 11 game stint in Utah he averaged a solid 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. His best game came in a loss to the Pelicans where he had 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Seven rebounds for a guy who is 5’11 is perhaps his greatest achievement. His speed, and finishing ability should be enough to stick around in the G-League, but finding a consistent shot from deep is probably his only path to make an NBA roster.

Bez Mbeng (2-13)

The 3-time Ivy League defensive player of the year had some very impressive moments this season with the Jazz. He averaged 2.3 steals per game and even threw in a triple double for fun against the Grizzlies in the Tank Bowl. Mbeng will forever be immortalized in both Jazz, and NBA history as he was the first Jazz rookie to record a triple double since Mark Eaton did it in 1978. He cemented his spot in NBA history on the same night when he and John Konchar became the first teammates to record  triple doubles off the same bench. The Jazz signed Mbeng to a two year deal, and I cannot wait to see him play in Summer League. He could be a very similar type of player as Elijah Harkless, with higher upside on offense. 

Andersson Garcia (1-4)

They could never make me hate you Garcia. Sadly his most notable moment on the Jazz was when he elbowed Ace, and gave him a concussion. What I’ll remember him for however was his tap outs on rebounds. He smacked the air out of the ball to try and get it to his teammates. He played extremely hard during his limited time here. It was probably foolish from the beginning to get so attached to a 25 year old rookie, but I couldn’t help it. Garcia made a believer out of me. I don’t care that he shot 7.7% from deep, or that he shot 31% from the field, he will always have a fan in me. I hope he can find a home elsewhere in the NBA or, more likely, somewhere overseas.

Hayden Gray (0-1)

Gray only played in the season finale against the Lakers where he dropped 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block. He has since been signed to a two-year deal and should play as a member of the Jazz’s Summer League roster. 

For the first time in four years the Jazz will be playing to win games and compete for a playoff spot. (With some luck in the lottery they may even be competing for much more than that.) Gone are the days of watching the Jazz field a G-League level team. In a way I’ll miss it… but not that much. What obscure tanking era players did I miss, and which players do you still irrationally believe in?