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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And it starts offensively.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go Cavs!

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

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

There is OG Anunoby, emerging alpha.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game Vitals

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

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-3)

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

Orlando Magic (3-2)

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

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

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

• TV Channels: Amaz

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

Odds

• Spread: Toronto Raptors +3.5

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

• Over/Under: 219.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

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

*if necessary

The Los Angeles Lakers will try to end their first-round series with the Houston Rockets in Game 6. After trailing 3-0, the Rockets have extended the series by winning the past two games. The Houston Rockets are favored by 3.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 206.5.

How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

• Date: Friday, May 1

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

• TV Channels: Amaz

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

Odds

• Spread: Houston Rockets -3.5

• Moneyline: Houston Rockets -169 (60.3%) / Los Angeles Lakers +142 (39.7%)

• Over/Under: 206.5

Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1:Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2:Lakers 101, Rockets 94
Game 3:Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT)
Game 4:Rockets 115, Lakers 96
Game 5:Rockets 99, Lakers 93
Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Houston (9:30 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Los Angeles (TBD)

*if necessary

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. met with Steve Kerr about the status of his job earlier this week.

Kerr's coaching contract is expiring and there hasn't been any indication whether he would want to return, or whether the Warriors want him back at the helm. According to ESPN, the three had a two-hour meeting Monday that was described as "productive."

Following their meeting, the consensus is that the parties are at a standstill. Although discussions are expected to continue into the upcoming week, there is seemingly no urgency to come to a decision. As one source told ESPN, "It's April. We don't need to rush."

According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole, the drawn out process isn't a matter of a contract negotiation over dollars, but instead about "professional and personal principles."

“From what I understand, (Kerr) in those meetings didn’t sound like someone who didn’t plan on coaching next season,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Another league source told NBC Sports Bay Area: "I think it’s more like 50-50 that he comes back. When the season ended, I would have said it was at least 60-40 that he’d leave.”

There are reportedly contingencies from both sides. Kerr wants to ensure the roster is competitive. The 12th-year coach who has won four championships appears to not be interested in rebuilding or development.

"I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that," Kerr said following the Warriors' play-in loss to the Suns.

Kerr has loved his time coaching in the Bay Area, especially coaching Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. That could be enough to keep him around. But also, it could be a gripe for the front office.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area, the front office would like to see Kerr welcome younger players into his coaching schemes and demand more accountability from older players, including Curry and Green.

The other elephant in the room is Kerr's outspokenness on sociopolitical issues. Andscape's Marc J. Spears suggests that he could leave for "fatigue" but also due to the possibility he's "being stifled a little bit."

"Maybe fatigue. There's a weight that comes with that job. This is a franchise that is expected to have greatness, whether it has it on the roster or not. It's a brand now. You got Steph, so if you trot Steph out there, you have Draymond out there, people expect something great. There's a weight that comes with that," Spears said during an April 21 appearance on 95.7 The Game's "Willard & Dibs" radio show.

He added: "I also think that Steve also truly respects the weight of the job that he has, the weight of the platform that he has. He speaks out on social justice issues, he speaks out on racism issues, he speaks out on gun violence and I've heard a little bit that maybe he's being stifled a little bit in that regard. I'd like to find out a little more than that, if that's true or not, dig deeper into that . . . I'm hearing that might be something in the background."

With all that being said, Spears said with all he's heard, "everything is up to Kerr."

.@MarcJSpears on why Steve Kerr could decide to leave:

"Maybe fatigue. There's a weight that comes with that job. This is a franchise that is expected to have greatness, whether it has it on the roster or not. It's a brand now. You got Steph, so if you trot Steph out there, you… pic.twitter.com/R4NOfk8X8v

— Chef (@CurryForGame) April 21, 2026

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was sidelined Friday night for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sore right heel, coach Darko Rajakovic said.

The two-time All-Star left midway through the second quarter of Toronto's 125-120 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday night. He scored one point in 11 minutes before departing.

After averaging 21.5 points per game in the regular season, his first with Toronto, Ingram has struggled in the playoffs, averaging 12 in the five games against the Cavaliers. He's shooting 19 for 58 overall and 5 for 13 from 3-point range.

Cleveland leads the series 3-2 and can advance with a win Friday. The home team has won each of the five games in the series.

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