Los Angeles, CA - April 18: Lakers center Deandre Ayton celebrates with Lakers guard Luke Kennard after a made basket. Lakers hosting the Rockets in game one of the NBA first round playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Lakers center Deandre Ayton, #5Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin, #18Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, #28Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, #11Lakers guard Bronny James, #9Lakers forward LeBron James, #23Lakers guard Luke Kennard, #10Lakers forward Maxi Kleber, #14Lakers forward Dalton Knecht, #4Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, #12Lakers guard Chris Manon, #30Lakers guard Austin Reaves, #15Lakers guard Marcus Smart, #36Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr., #20Lakers forward Adou Thiero, #1Lakers forward Drew Timme, #17Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, #2Lakers head coach JJ RedickRockets center Steven Adams, #12Rockets center Clint Capela, #30Rockets forward Isaiah Crawford, #27Rockets guard JD Davison, #4Rockets forward Tari Eason, #17Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, #2Rockets forward Jeff Green, #32Rockets guard Aaron Holiday, #0Rockets guard Tristen Newton, #13Rockets guard Josh Okogie, #20Rockets center Alperen Sengun, #28Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, #15Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., #10Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate, #8Rockets guard Amen Thompson, #1Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, #5Rockets coach Ime Udoka
A career night from Luke Kennard and a double-double from LeBron James powered the Lakers to a Game 1 win over the Rockets, 107-98.
While Houston outscored LA 23-6 in second-chance points, they shot just 37.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the 3-point line. LA, meanwhile, shot 60.6% from the field.
The Lakers started Game 1 off with a turnover that led to Josh Okogie getting fouled on the other end. He converted on both free throws, putting the Rockets in the lead early. That turnover would be the exception in the first quarter, though.
Deandre Ayton opened the scoring for LA with a midrange jumper. Los Angeles had as great a start as they’d hope, making eight out of its first 10 shot attempts.
Rui Hachimura led the Lakers with five points, Ayton and LeBron James were close behind with four points each. Okogie led Houston with five points. At the 6:11 mark, LA was up by three after the Rockets made a surge.
Reed Sheppard added a quick five points for Houston. Luke Kennard suddenly ignited for five points, pushing his point total to nine and making him the leading scorer on the team.
LeBron James, who has long held many NBA playoff records like games (292) and points (8,289, with Michael Jordan second at 5,987) opens his Year 23 playoffs with 8 assists in 9 minutes.
Kennard ended the quarter in double figures with 11 points. LeBron ended the quarter with eight assists, which was a new playoff-career high for him. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by four.
LeBron and Jarred Vanderbilt opened the second period with five points for LA. The Rockets turned the ball over twice. Amen Thompson scored the first field goal for Houston in the paint.
At the 6:22 mark, Los Angeles was up by eight.
Hachimura and Ayton were both shooting 100% from the field, combining for 19 points. The Rockets did pick up their defensive effort, forcing a few missed shots from the Lakers. After having one turnover in the first, Los Angeles now had eight turnovers.
LA turned the ball over and played frantic basketball down the stretch of the half. Houston started getting foul calls in their favor. Los Angeles shot 46% from the field in that quarter.
At halftime, Los Angeles was up by two.
Two unforced Lakers turnovers, and two reach in fouls with Houston in the bonus helped the Rockets close the 2nd Q on a 6-0 run to cut LA's halftime lead to 2.
LeBron has 6 points and 10 assists, Ayton 12 points and 4 boards and Smart 7 points with 6 assists.
Sheppard knocked down a triple to put the Rockets up by one to start the second half. Ayton scored on a tip-in of his own shot attempt to give the Lakers the lead again. Jabari Smith Jr. drained his third 3-pointer of the game. He was leading the Rockets with 13 points.
Hachimura knocked down a 3-pointer for LA, his second of the night.
The defensive intensity was high for both teams as they blocked shots and fought for rebounds. Kennard drained his second triple of the game. Both he and Ayton had 14 points.
An 8-0 scoring run gave Los Angeles a decent cushion. Much of the rest of the quarter saw a barrage of free throws being shot. The Lakers were shooting just 63% from the charity stripe, with Marcus Smart being a brutal 2-6 from the line.
LA managed to close the third well, going up by nine.
The Lakers held Houston to 18 points in the 3rd Q, scoring 25 to take a 75-66 lead into the 4th.
LeBron has 10 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds, Ayton 14 and 10 boards, Smart 10 and 7 assists, and Kennard 18 with 4 boards.
A 3-pointer from Sheppard opened the final frame. Hachimura responded with four points for Los Angeles. Kennard added two triples, and LeBron added one of his own as well, pushing the lead to 16 for the Lakers, forcing the Rockets to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Alperen Şengün scored five straight. Kennard then drained another 3-pointer. Tari Eason responded with one on the other end for Houston, leading to a timeout from head coach JJ Redick.
Smart knocked down a 3-pointer out of the break.
Eason was putting in good minutes for the Rockets, scoring another four points to try to keep Houston in it. With two minutes left, the Rockets kept inching closer, making it a nine-point game.
At the 1:40 mark, it was an 11-point lead for LA.
It was back to nine after Smith dunked the ball. Ayton was then fouled and converted on the three-point play, sealing the win.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals. Kennard’s huge night saw him finish with 27 points, a playoff career high, on 9-13 shooting. Ayton ended with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Hachimura notched 14 points. Smart logged 15 points, eight assists and two blocks. Jake LaRavia scored six points off the bench.
Game 2 will be on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets at 7:30 PM PT.
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani flies out against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning Saturday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Happens to the best of 'em.
Runners stranded in scoring position. Hitters chasing, squandering chances, failing to support a pitcher fighting without his best stuff. A reliever off the mark, his few mistakes a few too many.
All adding up to a loss. Rare and deserved.
For just the fifth time in 20 games so far this season, the Dodgers came out on the wrong end of the ledger, losing 4-3 to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday before a blue-and-purple crowd of 47,925 at Coors Field.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado pitcher Ryan Feltner Saturday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
"Up to this point with runners in scoring position, we've been able to — whether it be earn a walk or swing at good pitches – get hits,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “Today it just seemed like we chased a lot more than we have.”
Kyle Tucker, the Dodgers’ new $240 million man, had his second three-hit game this season — but he scored only once, in the first inning, on his 435-foot two-run home run into the second deck.
Freddie Freeman went two for three, including a triple, but he was stranded both times he reached.
And Shohei Ohtani made more history — he extended his career-best consecutive on-base record to 50 games with a ninth-inning single to tie Willie Keeler’s 1901 mark for third in franchise history — but he also scored only once, having reached on an error before Tucker’s first-inning homer.
In all, the Dodgers left eight runners on base — including Ohtani and Will Smith in the ninth — and went 0 for seven with runners in scoring position.
“I mean, it happens at times,” said Tucker, who jumped on pitches early in counts Saturday in an attempt to build a consistent rhythm from at-bat to at-bat, game-to-game.
“We're facing big league pitchers and they got some guys in their bullpen that can pitch really well. But at the same time, we gotta do our part. We had some opportunities with guys on base, especially late. Just gotta find ways to get hits or just get those guys in. Happens at times, but we just gotta do a better job at it.”
These were atypical postgame lamentations for the Dodgers, whose steamroll hit a speedbump as they lost for the first all season to a National League opponent.
Starter Emmet Sheehan wasn’t as sharp as in his prior outing, but he left after five innings with a one-run lead, having thrown 77 pitches, giving up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts and two walks.
“I think last time we made a lot of progress on mechanical stuff,” said Sheehan, who gave up two runs in the first two innings but then held the Rockies at bay. His best inning was his finale one, the 1-2-3, nine-pitch fifth.
“Definitely happy with some of the pitches I made later, but I got to be better earlier in the game,” Sheehan said.
“He fought, he showed how tough he is out there,” said Rushing, the Dodgers’ hot- and hard-hitting backup catcher who got the start. “He didn’t have his best stuff. He knew that. He knew he was going to have to pivot a little bit, figure some things out. I’ll give it to him. He grinded out there. But there’s some things we can work on, both us, about understanding a gameplan. But overall I’m proud of the way he grinded.
“Obviously I’m not proud of the result. We lost a baseball game. But at the same time I think there was some good coming out of the grinding.”
Rushing’s only hit Saturday was a 371-foot solo home run in the second inning that gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead that lasted until reliever Will Klein gave up three consecutive hits and two runs — and the one-run lead he was staked — in the sixth inning.
“I thought tonight his sweeper, the feel for spin wasn't good,” Roberts said. “He didn't have it and I think a couple of those hits early were just cement mixers that just didn't do anything.”
Right-hander Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23) is scheduled to take the mound for the Dodgers in the famously hitter-friendly ballpark for a 1:10 p.m. game Sunday. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10) is scheduled to start for the Rockies.
Treinen is fine
Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen was struck by a batted ball while he was in the bullpen before the game, but he said afterward that he was “fine.”
The Dodgers' right-handed reliever said he didn’t experience any concussion-like symptoms and could have come on to pitch after being tested to ensure he did not, in fact, have a concussion.
PITTSBURH (AP) — Travis Sanheim scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Philadelphia Flyers announced their return to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.
Philadelphia pulled off a stunner in the opener when Sanheim split a pair of Penguins at the top of the zone, glided down the slot and then fired the puck by Stuart Skinner. Porter Martone, the Flyers’ 19-year-old rookie forward, provided some needed insurance when he beat Skinner on a wrist shot with 2:37 to play.
Game 2 is in Pittsburgh on Monday.
Jamie Drysdale also scored for the Flyers, who hardly appeared intimidated by an electric PPG Paints Arena crowd buzzing by Pittsburgh’s first playoff appearance since 2022. Dan Vladar stopped 14 shots to pick up the first postseason win of his six-year career.
Evgeni Malkin scored his 68th career playoff goal for Pittsburgh but the Penguins, the NHL’s third-highest scoring team during the regular season, had trouble sustaining pressure against the Flyers. Bryan Rust pounded home a rebound with 1:01 remaining to get Pittsburgh within a goal, but Vladar stoned Anthony Mantha in the final seconds as Philadelphia held on.
HURRICANES 2, SENATORS 0
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall scored and Frederik Andersen came through with a big third-period performance in net to help Carolina beat Ottawa to open their first-round playoff series.
Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour had gone with Andersen’s veteran experience as the starter over Brandon Bussi for this one, and it paid off for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
Andersen finished with 22 saves, including back-to-back stops on a third-period power play that had Ottawa buzzing with quality chances. One of those was initially ruled a goal, only for a replay review to overturn the call in showing Andersen had gloved a loose puck as it bounced off his skate near the post.
By the end of the game, Andersen was holding up against Ottawa spending most of the last 2 1/2 minutes with a 6-on-4 advantage after pulling Linus Ullmark from the net with the Senators on the power play.
It was a physical game with hard hits and chippiness throughout, starting with captains Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa and Jordan Staal of Carolina locking up in an immediate fight on the opening faceoff and heading to the box just 3 seconds into the game.
Game 2 is Monday night in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes are in the playoffs for the eighth straight year, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three years and thrice overall in this current run that began in 2019.
WILD 6, STARS 1
DALLAS (AP) — Matt Boldy had two goals with an assist, Joel Ericksson Ek scored two power-play goals and rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 27 shots in his postseason debut to help Minnesota beat Dallas in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and two assists and Mats Zuccarello had three helpers for the Wild, who have lost nine consecutive playoff series since 2015. This was an impressive start in a long-expected matchup of Central Division rivals who finished behind Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado.
Even though the Stars have made the West final each of the past three seasons, they are 1-7 in Game 1s at home during that span.
Game 2 is Monday night in Dallas.
Dallas allowed the first goal in 15 of its 18 playoff games last year, and gave up three power-play goals in a 5-4 win over the Wild just nine days earlier. The Stars trailed for good only 5 1/2 minutes into the series when Ericksson Ek scored on a pass from Boldy to make it 1-0. Ericksson Ek added another power-play goal past Jake Oettinger in the third.
Kaprizov and Boldy, the first Wild teammates with 40 goals in the same season, scored during a three-goal surge in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second period for a 4-0 lead. Ryan Hartman scored in between, after having the primary assist on Kaprizov’s goal.
DENVER — The Dodgers found themselves in an unfamiliar place Saturday night.
For the first time in almost a week, the other team had the lead.
After entering play with not only four straight wins, but essentially four consecutive wire-to-wire victories (their only recent deficit came briefly in the top of the first inning Tuesday), the Dodgers once again had early control at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies.
But this time, in a 4-3 loss, they failed to stay in front –– in large part, because they couldn’t pull away.
The Dodgers found themselves in an unfamiliar place Saturday night. APThe Rockies (8-13) turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead on Troy Johnston’s two-run double. AP
Technically, the game flipped in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Rockies (8-13) turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead on Troy Johnston’s two-run double against Dodgers reliever Will Klein; who replaced Emmet Sheehan after his five-inning, two-run start.
The real culprit for the Dodgers (15-5), though, was their inopportunistic offense.
“We had some opportunities and couldn’t create some distance and kept them in the ballgame,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You’re not always going to put up crooked numbers every night. But I thought tonight we could’ve taken better at-bats.”
The Dodgers did have good at-bats early. They scored two runs two pitches into the contest, after Shohei Ohtani reached on an error and Kyle Tucker drove a two-run blast to right field. They tacked on another in the third, when backup catcher Dalton Rushing hit what was already his fifth home run of the season, despite starting for only the sixth time.
From there, however, the lineup started squandering chances. They left two runners on in the third. They came up empty after a Freddie Freeman triple in the sixth. They watched Alex Call get picked off to end the seventh. Then, they missed their biggest opportunities in the final two innings of the night.
Kyle Tucker drove a two-run blast to right field. AP
In the eighth, the bases were left loaded on an inning-ending grounder from Max Muncy, who chased a couple low pitches before rolling one over to second base.
In the ninth, they got back-to-back two-out hits from Will Smith (who was pinch-hitting) and Ohtani (extending his on-base streak to 50 games), only for Tucker to end his three-hit night with a game-ending flyout.
Overall, the Dodgers left eight men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
“I think that up to this point with runners in scoring position, we’ve been able to (produce), whether it be earn a walk or swing at good pitches and get hits,” Roberts said. “Today it just seemed like we chased a lot more than we have. We had opportunities … We could’ve put some more runs on the board.”
What it means
At the very least, that Ohtani’s historic on-base streak will live to see another day.
Before his ninth-inning single, the two-way star had been aboard twice: Reaching on a bad throw from Johnston on a grounder to first base to lead the game off, then when Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman interfered with his swing in the eighth inning to spark the ultimately wasted bases-loaded opportunity.
However, both of those plays went down as errors –– and, importantly, not at-bats in which Ohtani reached “safely” via either a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch.
Thus, he needed his bouncing ninth-inning grounder to sneak through the infield to run his on-base streak up to the 50-game mark.
“It’s remarkable,” Roberts said. “I was hoping he’d get that last at-bat and give hims an opportunity to change the game. He found a way to get on base.”
Ohtani is now just three games shy of the franchise’s Los Angeles record set by Shawn Green in 2000, and eight behind Duke Snider for the most ever by a Dodger.
At the very least, that Ohtani’s historic on-base streak will live to see another day. AP
Who’s hot
For only his second time since joining the Dodgers this year, Tucker delivered a three-hit game, taking the kind of swings that have eluded him during his slow start.
His best came moment came on his two-run homer in the first, when he took a first-pitch hack –– something he has done significantly more often this year –– and clobbered an elevated fastball from Colorado starter Ryan Feltner 435 feet for his third homer of the season.
“Kind of fouled off pitches like that, or swung through some (earlier this season),” he said. “It wasn’t a bad pitch. It was a heater at the top of the zone. But I feel like I should be able to hit those pitches and stay on top and stay through them. Barrel them up more often, but that was just a good swing right there.”
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After that, Tucker added a pair of ground-ball singles in the third and eighth innings.
It was a nearly flawless night … until he made the final out with two aboard in the ninth by getting under a center-cut first-pitch changeup.
Alas, Tucker now has a four-game hitting streak and extra-base knocks in each of the last three. He’s still only batting .263 on the season with a .768 OPS. But it’s progress nonetheless for the $240 million outfielder.
For only his second time since joining the Dodgers this year, Tucker delivered a three-hit game. AP
Who’s not
Teoscar Hernández, whose bat has been almost as cold as the weather since arriving in Denver.
After going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Friday night’s win, Hernández turned in another –– and more –– costly 0-for-3 on Saturday, despite drawing a walk to load the bases in the eighth.
He rolled into an inning-ending double-play in the first, struck out with two runners aboard for the final out of the third, then rolled into an unproductive grounder with Freeman at third and one out in the sixth.
Those missed chances added up to hurt the Dodgers, and dropped Hernández to 6-for-32 over his last nine games.
Up next
After another brisk night Saturday, temperatures should finally be back in the 70s on Sunday, when the Dodgers and Rockies play an afternoon matinee. Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23 ERA) will start for the Dodgers. Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10 ERA) goes for Colorado.
The stars once again came out to watch playoff basketball on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, and we’re not just talking about on the court.
The courtside seating, expanded for the postseason, was once again a who’s who of musicians, actors, and athletes for Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Travis Scott was locked into the rhythm of the game like it was one of his own beats.
Travis Scott attends a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. NBAE via Getty ImagesDan Reynolds attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. NBAE via Getty Images
Singer Rotimi was there as well to soak in the action. On the other side of the court from Scott, sat the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds.
Timothy Olypant sat at halfcourt alongside his wife Alexis Knief. Ray Nicholson, the son of Jack Nicholson, sat in his famous father’s seats that have stayed in the family for decades.
The athletes were well represented as well. L.A. Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack watched the action from the baseline.
Actor Timothy Olyphant watches the Rockets and Lakers courtside. (Photo by Michael J. Duarte)Khalil Mack attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Former NBA player Richard Jefferson was there. Two former Lakers champions also mingled with the players and celebrities as Robert Horry and Lamar Odom took in the playoff action.
And finally, the passing of the proverbial torch was there too. Current Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr., expected to be a top-5 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft also watched the action courtside as if he was picturing himself playing against the game’s greats on that very court.
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Darius Acuff Jr. attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Music. Film. Sports. Fame. Legacy.
It all came together for playoff basketball in Los Angeles.
After nearly a decade of disappointing their fans in the spring time, the Sixers are in a no-lose situation as they open the NBA’s second season on Sunday afternoon in Boston.
Expectations couldn’t be lower for the Sixers as the Celtics are the consensus pick to win the East. It’s probably fair to say that most Sixers fans are just hoping that Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe can perform well enough to give the franchise optimism that building around the two guards comes with a championship ceiling in the future. However, in what everyone knows is a “house money” series for Philadelphia, who might be able to benefit the most from decreased expectations?
The obvious answer are Philly’s two centers who will get the minutes inside while we continue to wait and see if Joel Embiid can go. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona are at completely different phases of their careers. At 32, Drummond is now out to prove each season that he can still play in the NBA as a bench big. Once an All-Star in 2018, Drummond has been living the life of a nomadic veteran that has repeatedly played on short-term contracts and been shopped at deadlines.
But somewhat quietly, Drummond has strung together three straight double-doubles for the Sixers and even looks like a competent three-point shooter. At this stage in his career, it’s likely that even Drummond can be honest with himself when he looks in the mirror and comes to terms with the fact that he’s probably a backup somewhere in the NBA for as long as he wants to keep playing. But perhaps it’s exactly that peace of mind that allows Drummond to continue to punch above his weight with no real pressure on him regarding his NBA future. Although we should note that Neemias Queta dominated Drummond the last time the Sixers and Celtics squared off in the regular season.
It’s certainly not a “no pressure” kind of situation for Adem Bona, who is constantly in a mode of earning more minutes as is usually the case with second-round picks. In two seasons in the NBA, Bona has looked like an NBA rotation player thanks in large part to his defense, but he’s still a ways away from being a polished offensive player and probably will never get there. But it’s the glimpses with Bona that make you say “OK! There’s something there.”
We got a few of those glimpses on Wednesday in the play-in game when Bona had three blocks against Orlando. Most of Philly’s veteran role players are set to become free agents this summer, but Bona still has one more season plus a team option for 2027-28 remaining on his rookie contract. While fans are likely hoping Maxey and Edgecombe can be the leaders of the Sixers’ next true title contending roster, Bona is certainly trying to prove he can have a spot on that roster one day in the future as well. A good series against the Celtics for the young center out of UCLA would certainly go a long way for his future with the organization. Bona, unlike Drummond, truly doesn’t know any better about the stage he’s playing on as these will be his first playoff minutes in his young career. Maybe that makes it easier for him to just go out and play in a series no one is giving the Sixers a chance in.
The backup center minutes behind Embiid have always been an issue in postseason series for Philadelphia in the last decade. Who knows if the low-pressure postseason environments for the Sixers actually allow players like Drummond and Bona to thrive? But let’s just say no one is holding their breath this time around when Embiid isn’t on the court.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Jamie Drysdale #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Denver Barkey #52 after scoring a goal past Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 18, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pregame
The Penguins get both Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte back from injury, forcing Justin Brazeau out of the lineup. Stuart Skinner gets the call to get the first start.
The Flyers make the first mistake when Rasmus Ristolainen hits Elmer Soderblom way after a whistle stops play. Philadelphia to the penalty box 1:53 in. The first power play comes up empty, despite a few Egor Chinakhov shot attempts.
Kris Letang gets the Penguins into trouble hacking at a Flyer after getting hurried. Late in the power play Christian Dvorak barges into Skinner, kicks the puck and lands on the goalie. The puck goes in but the referees immediately wave off the goal as being no good. No goal.
More penalties come when Sidney Crosby pulls the helmet off Jamie Drysdale. Drysdale doesn’t leave the play immediately so he goes for what’s called interference, Crosby for roughing to bring on 4v4 play.
Intense period, no goals that count. Philadelphia takes a 9-5 edge in shots through 20 minutes.
Second period
Skinner stays sharp making a big stop on Trevor Zegras and then another on Noah Cates in the early going of the second.
Dewar gets hobbled by a hit from Tippett and is hunched over, leaving the game temporarily but didn’t miss a shift.
Tippett gets sprung for another breakaway and gets denied by Skinner. The shift continues as the Flyers isolate on the Sam Girard – Letang pair and the fourth line. Zegras gets the puck low to high for Drysdale who walks up to the circle and uses the traffic in front to sneak a low wrister past Skinner. 1-0 Flyers get the first goal 9:19 into the second period.
Looking for a response, the Pens step up their pressure a little and Crosby draws a penalty driving to the net and forcing Travis Sanheim to take him down. Pittsburgh is as disconnected as ever, the first group failed to get a zone entry without going offsides.
Back at 5v5, the Penguins get their best shift of the game and convert it to a goal. A long shift wears down the Flyers, who get trapped as Pittsburgh changes lines with the benches being near the offensive zone. Rickard Rakell shoots a puck that Dan Vladar kicks out, right to Evgeni Malkin. Malkin charges in and beats Vladar with a low shot. 1-1 game as the Pens get on the board.
The Flyers are the next to the power play when Anthony Mantha gets busted for cross checking. The period ends while they’re on it.
Shots in the second are 7-5 Philadelphia. The Penguins aren’t playing very well, but they found a way to get an answer and somehow aren’t trailing after 40 minutes despite their poor play.
Third period
Philadelphia doesn’t score on their carryover power play and the Pens’ PK improves to 3/3 on the night.
The Pens look good at the start, Soderblom drove to the net and got a good shot away, momentum derailed when Mantha took his second offensive zone penalty of the game by high-sticking Porter Martone. The Flyers get some zone time but no goal.
The Flyers find that goal with 10:00 left. Sanheim dances around Soderblom then shoots back across his body to catch Skinner deep in the crease. 2-1 PHI.
The Pens are pushing to try and find a tie goal and then the rookie Martone extends the lead. He did well to hold the puck and let Noel Acciari skate away from him, then pick the top corner on Skinner. 3-1 with only 2:37 to go.
Pittsburgh pulled the goalie to try and attack more. Away from the play Crosby and Sanheim start jousting with dueling cross-checks. Both get sent off on matching penalties. The Pens pull Skinner again to make it a 5v4 situation. Bryan Rust scores, finding a bounce off a Malkin shot attempt and then throwing it in past Vladar.
But they run out of time. Mantha gets a chance going through the crease, Vladar keeps it out. The clock runs out.
Some thoughts
It wasn’t a pretty start for the Penguins in the first period which set the tone for the game. The Flyers had them hemmed up a lot of times, stopping breakouts and using a lot of speed and pressure to turn the game into a tough battle. Philadelphia was great with their counter-attacks once they gained possession and very physical shown by a 16-8 edge in hits in the first period. It was about as close to a dream scenario they could dream up for a start for a road game, sans not being able to score on Skinner.
The coaching chess moves are always an interesting wrinkle to track in a playoff series. Rick Tocchet was starting his checking line with Sean Couturier in the middle for the opening faceoff of the periods. The Penguins didn’t avoid the matchup at the beginning of the game, starting the Crosby line for the first. Then the Pens adjusted and started the second period with their Ben Kindel line (with the third defensive pair), freeing Crosby up for the second shift of the period away from Couturier.
The Penguins were shockingly disconnected, their passes were all over the place, they were on their heels and unable to get much of anything going. What should have been a weakness, in goal, was actually the best part of the team. What was supposed to be the strength, like power play and their forwards, played very poorly.
The Bob Grove stat of the day points out the Pens were in 2017 territory (which isn’t a compliment in this reference) by only generating 10 shots on goal through 40 minutes. The only two times they had that low of a shot output in franchise history both happened in the 2017 run.
Blake Lizotte came back and the penalty kill that was leaky without him tightened right back up immediately with a perfect night tonight. The Flyers’ power play wasn’t very good in the regular season but it was a good night to have a good night while shorthanded since the Pens power play wasn’t performing well.
In the end it was too little, too late for the Pens. They didn’t play particularly well, yet still had a last gasp chance to force OT. That’s a positive outlook, on the other side it’s concerning to come out and lay an egg at home for the playoff opener.
Well, the Pens have a lot to think about and adjust before heading into Game 2 on Monday after playing a very poor game to start the playoffs. They’re going to need to regroup and try again.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Edouard Julien #6 of the Colorado Rockies dodges the tag by Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers scored early but not often, unable to cash in on many chances in a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver. It’s the Dodgers’ first loss in 11 games against National League teams.
Kyle Tucker hit a home run that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead just two batters into the game, his third straight game with an extra-base hit. But unlike the series opener, Saturday night wasn’t a runaway by any means.
After scoring in each of the first five innings on Friday, the Dodgers scored three total runs in the first two innings but got nothing else against Rockies starter Ryan Feltner, who kept the Dodgers at bay into the sixth. Freddie Freeman tripled with one out in the sixth of Feltner but was stranded, first by a brilliant diving stab and throw by third baseman Kyle Karros, then by lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino striking out Max Muncy.
Emmet Sheehan had his own trouble early, allowing single runs in the first and second innings, but he settled down to keep Colorado off the board for the next three frames, finishing his night after 77 pitches through five innings, with four strikeouts.
Colorado turned the tied with the first three batters reaching off Will Klein in the sixth inning, the earliest a Dodgers reliever has appeared in a game all week. Klein gave up an infield single off his own foot sandwiched by two doubles, the latter by Troy Johnston to drive in a pair, giving the Rockies their first lead of the series.
The Dodgers got the first two batters on base in the eighth inning and loaded the bases with two outs, then put two more runners on in the ninth, but were unable to push across the tying run.
One streak still going
Shohei Ohtani reached on an error by the first baseman Johnston in the first inning, and scored on Tucker’s home run. He also reached on catcher’s interference in the eighth. But by not getting on via hit, walk, or hit by pitch, he didn’t technically reach base safely in any of his first four plate appearances on Saturday.
A pinch-hit infield single by Will Smith with two outs in the ninth inning gave Ohtani one more chance in the ninth inning, and he obliged with a single.
Ohtani’s 50-game on-base streak is tied with Wee Willie Keeler (1900-01) for the third-longest streak in modern Dodgers history. It’s already the longest MLB streak by a Japanese player, and the longest on-base streak by any MLB player since Shin-Soo Choo reached in 52 straight games for the Texas Rangers in 2018.
Staying hot
Dalton Rushing is off to an incredible start to his second major league season, and his solo shot in the second inning gave him already more home runs this year (five) in his first 19 plate appearances than he had all of last season (four) in 155 plate appearances.
It’s still absurdly early in the season, and while Will Smith has two home runs thus far he’s hit at least 15 home runs in all six of his non-shortened major league campaigns. The last time the Dodgers had two catchers with double-digit home runs was way back in 1979, when Joe Ferguson hit 20 (14 as catcher) and Steve Yeager hit 13.
Of note
Second baseman Alex Freeland was seen flexing his left hand after catching a Will Klein fastball from close range on a pickoff throw in the sixth inning. Freeland was pinch-hit for in the seventh with Alex Call, though it might have been simply a matchup preference against the lefty Bernardino. On the SportsNet LA broadcast, Kirsten Watson noted that team trainers didn’t immediately tend to Freeland once he got to the dugout. Hyeseong Kim took over at second base in the bottom of the seventh.
Dave Roberts said he pinch-hit for Alex Freeland because of the situation, not anything physical (he’d jammed his thumb a bit).
Also said Blake Treinen is ok after getting hit in the head during batting practice. Said the ball “got him flush.”
Dodgers and Rockies are back at it on Sunday afternoon (12:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA), which remember, is not the series finale. Roki Sasaki is on the mound in the third game of the series, with Michael Lorenzen starting for the Rockies.
Apr 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) steals secondbase under the tag by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez (0) in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
This one will go on Jeff Hoffman, but realistically you also can’t score seven runs in four games and expect anything good to happen. The team is a mess on all fronts right now, from pitching to hitting to defence and base running. One in the loss column is all that’s keeping them above Kansas City and the Mets for the worst record in baseball.
A couple of positive notes, because I’m tired of wallowing:
Max Scherzer looked strong in his return to his first major league team. I had actually forgotten that was where he came up, but then the Bush administration was a long time ago. Anyways, I don’t expect his plaque in Cooperstown will have an A on it. As regards that eventual plaque, Scherzer’s one strikeout tonight left him one shy of 3,500 for his career and 10 behind Walter Johnson for a spot in the top 10 all time. Of course, Johnson took 2,940 more innings to put together his total. Seeing him reach those milestones in the next couple of weeks will be something fun in a rough start to the season.
Nathan Lukes had three hits. His awful start has apparently been the result of issues with vertigo. I’ve known people struggling with unexplained vertigo, and it’s an awful thing to go through. He’s apparently found medication that’s helping with the issue, and certainly looks better the last couple of games. I really hope the issue is solved for him, for reasons beyond baseball. It does raise the question of how on earth the Jays decided to play him through a debilitating neurological issue, though. I’d really like an explanation, because I can’t see one other than outright managerial malpractice. But, positive thoughts. He’s feeling and looking better, and they could really use the old Nathan Lukes right now.
Both teams scored in the first before going quiet. Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero jr. hit ground ball singles to put runners on the corners with one out. Jesus Sanchez cracked a liner to centre field that plated Lukes before Zac Gallen was able to retaliate with a pair of Ks to end the inning. In the bottom, Corbin Caroll worked a walk and stole second, before a Geraldo Perdomo single brought him home to tied the score at one. That would be all the scoring for a while. Kazuma Okamoto singled in the Jays’ second, and Ernie Clement singled in the third. Perdomo managed his second hit in the bottom of the fourth before being erased by a double play. The Jays briefly threatened in the top of five when Ernie Clement laced a two out double off the wall in left, but Vlad couldn’t score him.
The D-Backs pulled ahead in the fifth. Jose Fernandez singled and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Max Scherzer got the next two batters, but Alek Thomas hit a chopper up the first base line that clipped the back corner of the bag and scooted into the corner for the cheapest double you’ll see. That put Arizona on top 2-1. The Jays responded with the help of some good luck of their own. Eloy Jimenez hooked a grounder around the third base bag but appeared to think Nolan Arenado was going to be able to glove it and so pulled up at first instead of digging for a double. That set up what looked like an inning ending double play, but shortstop Perdomo took his foot off the bag before recieving the ball and Jimenez was ruled safe at second on review. Okamoto lined a single to left that allowed Jimenez to come around to score, tying at two. That ended Gallen’s evening, but Ryan Thompson was able to get Myles Straw to fly out to end it there.
In the bottom of six, Perdomo hit a ground ball into right field. It looked like a double, but the ball kicked off the wall and right to Nathan Lukes, who made a great throw to allow Andres Gimenez to tag him at the bag. Combined with a pop out and a fly out, that got Scherzer through the inning. He went 6.0, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. It only took him 74 pitches to get there, but give that he’s been battling forearm tendinitis John Schneider prudently decided not to push his luck.
In the top of seven, Thompson got two outs while giving up a single up the middle to Lukes. Juan Morillo got the call to face Guerrero. He got him swinging to preserve the tie. Tyler Rogers took over for Scherzer and retired the side in order.
Jimenez beat out an infield single in the eighth, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t touch Morillo. Jeff Hoffman struggled again in the Diamondbacks’ half, giving up two ground blal singles to lead off and then walking the bases loaded. They didn’t stay that way long, as Corbin Caroll hit a grand slam to left field, cracking the game open. Kevin Ginkel breezed through the botto
Jays of the Day: Scherzer (0.10), Okamoto (0.13)
Less So: Hoffman* (-0.38), Gimenez (-0.16), Heineman (-0.10)
*Tonight ran Hoffman’s season WPA to -1.40, making him officially the most damaging pitcher in baseball so far in 2026. Congrats, Jeff.
We’ll wrap the series tomorrow. Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.42) will look to keep his hot start going and hopefully get some support from his offence to secure his first win. Ryne Nelson (1-1, 3.54) is off to a promising start himself for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is slated for 4:10pm ET.
David Peteson, who will not be starting tomorrow, sits in the dugout before the Mets’ loss to the Dodgers on April 13, 2026 in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Peterson, according to a club source, is not injured.
The lefty last pitched on Monday against the Dodgers and allowed four early runs. Peterson owns a 6.41 ERA in four starts.
Mets righty Tobias Myers will start Sunday’s game against the Cubs in place of David Peterson. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Myers stretched out as a starter in spring training and has been used in long relief to begin the season.
Myers, who has pitched to a 3.64 ERA in six relief appearances, was last used on Wednesday when he allowed one earned run over two innings.
Apr 18, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17), right, catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) and pitching coach Jordan Tiegs meet at the mound during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Seattle Mariners scored seven runs.
Faced with having to score runs off of George Kirby at T-Mobile Park, a near impossibility, manager Skip Schumaker brought in the infield on the first two opportunities that Seattle had with a runner 90 feet from home, and both times the Mariners shot one through the drawn in infield to score the game’s first three runs.
Both runners reached third base and eventually scored due in part to some shoddy infield defense with Seattle scoring their first run in the bottom of the first after J.P. Crawford doubled off Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi to lead off the game on a shot down the line that first baseman Jake Burger couldn’t field despite appearing to be within stabbing distance.
In the fourth, with a runner on first, second baseman Ezequiel Duran fielded a ball and tried to double off the runner but instead threw the ball into left field which gave the M’s two runners in scoring position and both would score on a single up the middle on the drawn in infield.
The Rangers couldn’t really afford unmade plays or miscues since they were facing Kirby who had gone just about a quarter of a full season’s worth of innings having allowed just one earned run total against the Rangers at T-Mobile Park.
Texas did have a few more chances than usual against Kirby but they squander those on the regular against mortal arms, much less the one pitcher designed in a lab especially to beat them. Overall, they went 1-for-8 with RISP and left an astonishing 16 on base with the one success coming with two outs in the ninth.
The Rangers somehow turned 11 hits and eight walks into just three runs with two of those coming in the ninth in what was then a 7-1 game.
The loss means the Rangers will need to win tomorrow to claim the series and avoid finishing with a losing road trip.
Player of the Game: Josh Jung continued his hot hitting with a solo home run off of Kirby. Jung also singled and walked as his OPS on the year has spiked to .861.
The Jung dong was just the second run that Kirby had allowed to the Rangers in over 40 innings at T-Mobile Park and the first home run that Kirby had ever allowed to a Ranger in Seattle.
Up Next: The Rangers close out this lengthy road trip with a final contest against the Mariners. LHP MacKenzie Gore will make the start in the finale against RHP Bryan Woo for Seattle.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from T-Mobile Park is scheduled for 3:10 pm CDT and the telecast will be back on the Rangers Sports Network.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 18: Gabe Speier #55 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on April 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mariners 7, Rangers 3
Watching the Mariners win: George Kirby, +0.20 WPA Watching the Mariners lose: Josh Naylor, -0.04 WPA
BOSTON - APRIL 29: Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers defends against Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 1981 NBA Playoffs at the Boston Garden on April 29, 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 111-109 and won the series 4-3. 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 1981 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Could the Sixers upset the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs? It feels highly unlikely, but it would be revenge over four decades in the making.
This spring will be the NBA-record 23rd time the two franchises have met in the postseason. It’s a rivalry that favors Boston historically, and, really, in 2026 as well. Still, the Sixers have had some high points sprinkled through the years, too.
For my fellow basketball nerds, I’m going to take you a little trip through the past with a look at all of these matchups, dating back to 1953…
1953 Eastern Division Semifinals: Celtics win series 2-0
This is when the Sixers were still the Syracuse Nationals. I’ll be honest. As a prideful Philadelphian, I don’t care much about that aspect of the franchise’s history. I think it’s outrageous that the team counts Syracuse’s 1955 championship as one of their own. Ultimately, I don’t write the NBA’s history books though, so I’ll be touching upon these.
In the best-of-three series, Boston’s Bob Cousy was fully in control, dropping 20 points in Game 1 and then a whopping 50 points in Game 2, which went to four overtimes, to advance. Cousy played 66 minutes in that one, going 30-of-32 from the free throw line. The Celtics would lose, however, to the Knicks in the Eastern Division Finals.
1954 Eastern Division Finals: Nationals win 2-0
This was very much an outlier year in the league’s history. They had a round-robin format to begin the playoffs for the only time ever. When Syracuse faced Boston in those games, the Nationals won them both with Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes averaging 24.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
They then faced off again in the Eastern Division Finals with the Nationals prevailing in a two-games sweep. Schayes carried the Nationals with a 27-21-5 effort in a Game 1 home victory before closing things out in Boston in Game 2 two days later.
The Nationals would then advance to the NBA Finals before falling to the Minneapolis Lakers in seven games.
1955 Eastern Division Finals: Nationals win 3-1
In a best-of-five format, the Nationals had six scorers average double-figures in the series win: Schayes, Red Kerr, Earl Lloyd, Paul Seymour, George King and Red Rocha.
Cruising to the NBA Finals, the Nationals would win the franchise’s first championship, beating the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games. Syracuse went from being up 2-0 in the Finals to down 3-2 before righting the ship at home in Game 6 and Game 7 wins.
After dropping Game 1 in Boston, Syracuse rebounded and took the next two contests. It would be the final time the franchise beats Boston in the playoffs while still playing in Syracuse. The Nationals would go on to lose to the Philadelphia Warriors in six games in the next round.
1957 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 3-0
With first-year center Bill Russell now suiting up for Boston, the Celtics would go on a decade of dominance over this franchise. The rookie averaged 15.3 points and 28.0 rebounds per game in the sweep on the way to Boston’s first championship.
1959 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 4-3
In a seven-game slugfest, the teams alternated victories before Boston won Game 7 130-125, putting them on a path to another championship. Given Russell’s presence, Boston out-rebounded Syracuse 525-431 in the series.
1961 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 4-1
The final specific Nationals-Celtics playoff matchup, Boston took care of things once more. Russell averaged an outrageous 20.6 points, 31.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the series. The Celtics would go on to win their third-straight title.
1965 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 4-3
The first Sixers-Celtics postseason series, this would put into place a five-year run where the teams would meet in the playoffs annually. The Celtics would have a one-point win in a decisive Game 7, which featured the legendary, “Havlicek stole the ball!” radio broadcast call. Boston’s John Havlicek’s steal off a Sixers inbound pass in the final seconds of the game preserved the Celtics’ lead and sent them to the Finals, where they’d win their seventh-straight title.
1966 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 4-1
Far less climactic than their matchup the previous year, Boston just controlled things so much that a 46-point, 34-rebound performance from Wilt Chamberlain in Game 5 didn’t matter. The Celtics would win the NBA title for the eighth year in a row, but the tide would turn the next spring…
1967 Eastern Division Finals: Sixers win 4-1
Revenge! Chamberlain averaged a triple-double with 21.6 points, 32.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game. Fellow Hall of Famers Hall Greer (29.2 PPG) and Chet Walker (20.6 PPG) also averaged more than 20 points per night. A closeout 24-point home win would send the Sixers to the Finals. They’d beat the Warriors, now out in San Francisco, to capture the franchise’s first Philadelphia-based championship.
1968 Eastern Division Finals: Celtics win 4-3
Well, the revenge was short lived! The Sixers became the first team to blow a 3-1 series lead in the NBA postseason in this one, falling in Game 7 at the Spectrum in South Philly. Chamberlain did not attempt a shot from the field in the entire second half. It would be his final game as a Sixer before being traded to the Lakers that summer.
Boston, naturally, would go on to win the title after moving past the Sixers.
1969 Eastern Division Semifinals: Celtics win 4-1
With Chamberlain no longer a threat, Boston made quick work of the Sixers. In what was Russell’s final playoff run in his final season as a player (though he served as player-coach for the time being), the Celtics would eventually win yet another championship.
In the first year following the NBA-ABA merger, both teams looked much different than the last time they met in the postseason. Julius Erving, now a Sixer, and Doug Collins, a fourth-year All-Star guard, would both average 23.7 points per game in the series victory. In Game 7, World B. Free would score a game-high 27 points off the bench to give the Sixers a six-point win.
The Sixers would reach the NBA Finals, taking a 2-0 series lead over Portland before embarrassingly losing the next four games by a combined 62 points.
1980 Eastern Conference Finals: Sixers win 4-1
Despite a valiant effort from a rookie Larry Bird, the Sixers once more took down Boston in this era on their way to the NBA Finals. Erving, who finished second in MVP voting that regular season, stuffed the stat sheet this series. Erving averaged 25.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
The NBA Finals would see the Sixers face Magic Johnson, yet another superstar rookie, and the Lakers, who beat the Sixers in six games.
1981 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics win 4-3
An iconic matchup in NBA lore, the Sixers, just as they did in 1968, would blow a 3-1 series lead to Boston. Those losses in Games 5, 6 and 7 came by a combined five points. Brutality.
The Celtics would win the NBA Finals over Houston in six games after their comeback against the Sixers.
1982 Eastern Conference Finals: Sixers win 4-3
The legend of Andrew Toney was born here. Toney, in just his second NBA season, earned the “Boston Strangler” nickname with his clutch performances against the Celtics.
The Sixers bounced back from a 40-point Game 1 loss that could’ve been otherwise completely demoralizing. Toney would be the leading scorer in Sixers wins in Game 2 and 4 with 30 points and 39 points, respectively. In a winner-takes-all Game 7 at the Boston Garden with a Finals trip on the line, Toney totaled 34 points while shooting more than 60 percent from the field.
Facing Los Angeles in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, the Sixers would fall in six games again. Sweeping the Lakers in the championship round the following season, after Moses Malone arrived in Philly, would make up for it though.
This remains the most recent time that the Sixers have beaten the Celtics in a playoff series.
1985 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics win 4-1
The Sixers’ 1983 championship core was on the downslide and starting to display signs of age. The star trio of Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish had plenty of firepower for Boston and two-way guard Dennis Johnson, who joined the Celtics the year prior, made life difficult on the Sixers’ backcourt.
Boston would face the Lakers in the NBA Finals, but fell in six games.
This Sixers-Celtics series was really the end of an era. The two teams wouldn’t face each other in the postseason for another 17 years.
2002 Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics win 3-2
Hey, the first Sixers-Celtics postseason series I was alive to witness!
The Sixers were Eastern Conference Champions the year prior, but their regular season win total dropped from 56 in 2001 to 43. They just weren’t the same quality of team.
The home team won every game in this best-of-five set.
After two losses in Boston, Allen Iverson caught fire in a five-point Game 3 win with 42 points. In Game 4, Iverson provided late-game heroics, scoring eight points in the game’s final 72 seconds to give the Sixers a two-point victory.
The stage was set for a decisive Game 5 in Boston!
The Celtics won 120-87. As wild as it sounds even 24 years later, that game was actually a lot closer than the score would indicate. Boston out-scored the Sixers 43-20 in the fourth quarter due to a barrage of threes after it being a somewhat tightly contested game before that.
Paul Pierce finished with 46 points on the night for Boston while making eight of his 10 three-point attempts.
The Sixers weren’t supposed to be there, but they were. The eighth seed in the East during that lockout-shortened season, they upset Chicago in the first round after a career-altering injury to the Bulls’ Derrick Rose in Game 1. They then faced off with a Celtics team that was running on fumes a bit with an older group of stars that had won a title in 2008 and had made the NBA Finals in 2010.
I give these scrappy Sixers credit. They played over their heads against a Celtics team filled with future Hall of Famers and the rings to boot. The two teams split the first two games of the series in Boston with each game being decided by just a single point. The series ebbed back and forth, while also featuring approximately 400 moving screens from Kevin Garnett, before the Sixers improbably forced a Game 7.
In that matchup in Boston during Memorial Day Weekend, the Sixers fought hard, but talent inevitably won out as the Celtics advanced. Rajon Rondo had a triple-double. Jrue Holiday shot 5-17 from the field. Spencer Hawes got eaten up every second he was on the court. Evan Turner was a game-worst -23. It is what it is.
The series, strangely enough, has since been immortalized in the film Uncut Gems.
There’s no getting around it. This series loss sucked badly.
Ben Simmons had his first of several postseason disappearing acts. Al Horford had Joel Embiid playing the most inefficient basketball of his young career. Sixers role players who were key cogs during the stretch run to the playoffs, like Robert Covington, Marco Belinelli and Ersan İlyasova, all went cold.
After losing the first two games of the series on the road, the Sixers returned home. Could they even things up in South Philly?
Game 3 had the most infamous moment of the series. Belinelli hit a shot at the end of regulation that looked like it might have been a three-pointer, which would’ve given the Sixers the win, but was only a two-pointer, merely tying the game. Confetti erroneously went off in the arena, celebrating a win that was not meant to be. The Sixers would then lose in overtime, giving the Celtics an insurmountable 3-0 series lead that they would wrap up in five games.
The pure feel-good vibes of that season and that playoff push still have not returned for the Sixers.
2020 Eastern Conference First Round: Celtics win 4-0
This series was in the bubble. Simmons was out due to injury. Horford was awful in his one year as a Sixer after briefly leaving Boston. It was awful to watch.
The Sixers let this one slip away. It still sinks. I’m angry just thinking about it.
With Embiid sidelined, James Harden went off in Game 1 with 45 points for the upset road win. The Celtics crushed the Sixers in Game 2 121-87, but you could leave with that because they already stole one!
Game 3 saw the Sixers fall at home, but they evened up the series in Game 4 thanks to 42 points from Harden and 34 points from Embiid.
Headed back to Boston for Game 5, I assumed the Sixers would lose because that’s just what they do. I was wrong though! Embiid had 33. 22-year-old Tyrese Maxey had a star-in-the-making performance with 30 points. The Sixers won! They were up 3-2! They could close this bad boy out in South Philly and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 22 years!
Well, that didn’t come to fruition.
Game 6 saw Harden shoot 25 percent from the field while going 0-of-6 from deep. Tobias Harris pathetically shot 1-of-7. The Sixers actually held a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter. They couldn’t finish. It was crushing to watch it all unfold in real time.
Game 7 was a formality as the Celtics destroyed the Sixers 112-88. Everyone no-showed that one.
Those final two losses sum this entire era of Sixers basketball.
Well, I hope that all wasn’t too depressing. I imagine most Sixers fans are just numb to it now!
Apr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
When I was growing up, the term “broken record” never really made sense to me. If a record was broken, to my young and impressionable mind, how would it actually work in the first place? I knew that the general meaning was that if something sounded like a broken record, you’d hear it over and over and over again, but it remained one of those things that I just didn’t comprehend.
I’m reminded of this as the Phillies post another loss at home, one marred by sloppy play that put their starting pitching in a hole and an offense that continues to spin its wheels. It’s the same things that have been at the forefront of their slow start, the plagues and blights on their season.
It’s a broken record.
A marquee pitching matchup was billed between Cristopher Sanchez and Chris Sale and it largely lived up to it. One might have thought that a first at bat home run robbery by Brandon Marsh would be a portend of things to come, but no sir.
Outside of one pitch, Sale shut down a Phillies offense that tried to load up on right handed hitting to try and counter the southpaw. The lone highlight of the evening was Felix Reyes, in his major league debut, taking Sale deep to the opposite field in his first at bat.
However, more just uncalled for errors by the Phillies gave the lead right back. Sanchez got the first two outs via strikeout before Drake Baldwin singled with two outs. Ozzie Albies grounded a ball to Edmundo Sosa, who bobbled the ball and couldn’t record a third out, a crucial error that came right back to haunt them when Matt Olson walked to load the bases. Austin Riley hit a dribbler that Sanchez couldn’t field and the game was tied. Mauricio Dubon hit a duckfart to center and the lead was two.
From there, the game settled into a pitching clinic. The way the Phillies have “hit”, this one was over.
The cold bats are going to happen. Players go through slumps at the plate all the time, even a bunch of them at once. That is something that can be at least understood. Balls finding the Bermuda Triangles seems to be happening to the Phillies a lot lately, the BABIP gods frowning down on pitcher after pitcher on the team’s staff. It’s the sloppy play by the defense that is just baffling, particularly when it’s by normally good defenders. It’s inexcusable for them to play in this manner and cost themselves extra pitches, extra runs and extra losses.
It’s just another broken record in a season full of them so far.
Tobias Myers | (Photo: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images)
The Mets have announced that Tobias Myers, the 27-year-old who came to the Mets with Freddy Peralta in the team’s trade with the Brewers ahead of this season, will start the team’s series finale against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. David Peterson had been slated to start the game, and according to Mike Puma, Peterson is not injured.
Peterson has been struggling lately, though. After a good outing in his first start of the season, he has an 8.79 ERA over his past three starts. For what it’s worth, he has a 3.43 FIP and a 5.87 xERA over those three starts, and while those two metrics are pretty far apart, both suggest that Peterson hasn’t been nearly as bad as his ERA would suggest.
As for Myers, he’s thrown 13.0 innings so far this season with all of them coming out of the Mets’ bullpen. He has a 3.46 ERA and a 4.00 FIP in that limited sample. And in his time with the Brewers, Myers made 31 starts and had success in both his relief and starting roles.
