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Philadelphia 76ers (0-1) at Boston Celtics (1-0)
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
7:00 PM ET
First Round Game #2 Home Game #2
TV: Peacock/NBCSN
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 97.5 Fanatic, Sirius XM
TD Garden
Officials:Marc Davis, Sean Wright, Marat Kogut

The Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 2 of their best of 7 first round series. The Celtics have won all 3 series that have been played in the Brown/Tatum era, winning in 2018, 2020 and 2023. and they are off to a good start with a 123-91 win in the first game of the series. The Celtics have a 67-50 record against the 76ers overall in the playoffs. In the regular season, the Celtics are 212-199 overall, all time against the 76ers. They are 157-58 all time in games played in Boston.

These two teams tied the series 2-2 this season. The 76ers won 117-116 on opening night, October 22 in Boston and they won again 102-100 in Philadelphia on November 11. The Celtics won 109-108 in Philadelphia on October 31 and again 114-98 in Boston on March 1. These games don’t tell us much about this series as the Celtics were without Jayson Tatum in all 4 and the 76ers were without Paul George for all 4.

Three of the 4 matches between the Celtics and 76ers this season were decided by 2 points or less. The Celtics need to avoid close games down the stretch in these playoffs if they can help it. They did this quite well with a 32 point win in Game 1. The 76ers had the #1 clutch defense in the NBA in the regular season They had a 98.6 defensive rating during the last 5 minutes of games that were within 5 points. They were 23-18 in games that included clutch minutes. The Celtics were 16-17 in games that included clutch minutes and that includes going 1-2 against Philadelphia this season.

Game 1 was all Celtics. They started off quickly and other than an early tie, the Celtics held the lead throughout the game. They built the lead to as many as 35 points and finished with a 32 point lead, even after considerable garbage time. No Celtic played more than 33 minutes and most played under 30 minutes. The Celtics had 6 players in double figures and 12 different players played at least 1 minute. The Celtics got 37 points off their bench while the 76ers got 27 points from their bench.

Teams that win Game 1 of a best of 7 series at home go on to win the series 86.0% of the time. Teams that win the first 2 games at home go on to win the series 94% of the time. However, if a home team wins game 1 but loses game 2 in a best of 7 series, the odds of them going on to win the series drops down to 76.6%. Still a good percentage, but much lower than if they win both games at home.

The Celtics come into this game with one player on their injury report. Ron Harper, Jr has been listed as probable for this game with a right ankle sprain. For the 76ers, Joel Embiid is the only player on their injury report. Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9. Recovery for an appendectomy is anywhere from 20 days to 5 weeks. We know that he will miss at least the first part of the series and the Celtics need to take advantage and win while he is out. I’m guessing that Adem Bona will start at center once again.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey

SG: Jaylen Brown vs VJ Edgecombe

SF: Sam Hauser vs Kelly Oubre, Jr

PF: Jayson Tatum vs Paul George

C: Neemias Queta vs Adem Bona

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Baylor Scheierman
Max Shulga
Nikola Vucevic
Ron Harper, Jr
Delano Banton
John Tonje

2-Way Players
None

Injuries/Out
Ron Harper, Jr (ankle) probable

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

76ers Reserves
Andre Drummond
Quentin Grimes
Kyle Lowry
Justin Edwards
Trendon Watford
Dalen Terry
Dominick Barlow
Jabari Walker

2-Way Players
MarJon Beauchamp
Tyrese Martin

Injuries/Out
Joel Embiid (Appendix) out

Head Coach
Nick Nurse

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
In the regular season, Maxey averaged 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. In the 4 games against the Celtics in the regular season, he averaged 30 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 41.8% from the field and 51.4% from beyond the arc. In Game1, the Celtics were able to hold him to 21 points on 20 shots along with 1 rebound and 8 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Jordan Walsh were the primary defenders to slow Maxey down and they did a good job. Expect the Celtics to continue to throw different defenders at him with hopefully the same or better results.

Jayson Tatum vs Paul George 
In the regular season, George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.  Neither of these players were able to play in any of the 4 games between Boston and Philly this season.  In Game 1, George finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, but he only took 8 shots.  The Celtics need to keep him in check once again in this game.  Tatum finished Game 1 with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while shooting 52.9% from the field but was just 1-7 on threes. 

Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs Vj Edgecomb
Edgecombe will likely come in 3rd for Rookie of the Year.  He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc.  In the 4 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc.  In Game 1, he finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while shooting 37.5% from the field and going 0-5 from beyond the arc.  Brown finished Game 1 with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while shooting 52.4% from the field and going 2-2 on threes. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game.  It is very true that efense wins championships.  The Celtics finished the season with a defensive rating of 111.7, which was 4th in the league.  The 76ers finished the season 17th with a defensive rating of 114.4.  After 1 game in Round 1,  the Celtics are 2nd with a defensive rating of 93.8 while the 76ers are 14th with a defensive rating of 126.8.  The Celtics need to continue to make defense a priority and they need to play physical, lock down defense for all 48 minutes. 

Rebound – Rebounding is also one of the biggest keys to winning every game. As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings.  The Celtics finished the season 3rd in the league with 46.4 rebounds per game.  The 76ers finished 17th with 43.6 rebounds per game. This season, the Celtics were 43-12  in games that they tied or out-rebounded opponents and just 11-13 in games in which they were out-rebounded. In Game 1, the Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers 43-40. The Celtics were out-rebounded on the offensive end 11-5, but then, the 76ers missed a lot more shots than the Celtics did.  They simply have to fight harder to grab rebounds than the 76ers if they want to win this game.   Every Celtic has got to crash the boards and fight for every rebound.   

No Complacency – If the Celtics had one flaw this season, it was becoming complacent and allowing lesser teams to play harder than them.  They can’t afford to do that in the playoffs.  They got a very dominant win in Game 1 but the 76ers will regroup and make adjustments and will play harder in Game 2.  The Celtics have to play even harder in this game and they will need to be ready for the 76ers’ adjustments.  They can’t get complacent and  have to come out and fight even harder in this game. 

Be Aggressive and Stay Focused – The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team once again.  They have to play physical defense and they have to be more aggressive in going for rebounds and loose balls and getting to the basket, especially if their 3’s aren’t falling.  Usually the more aggressive team gets the benefit of the calls and being more aggressive will help to fluster the 76ers.  They also have to stay focused on on playing the right way.  Move the ball, look for the open man,  take good shots, play physical defense, and fight for rebounds. 

X-Factors
Home Game – Teams play all season to secure home court in the playoffs but they can lose it by losing one of the first 2 games.  The Celtics need to feed off the energy of the crowd and hopefully, the 76ers will be distracted by travel and the hostile crowd.   The Celtics should play harder to win on their home court. They need to protect home court and keep their home court advantage.  The Celtics crowd will be loud and the Celtics need to use that to their advantage and get the win.  The Pistons and Knicks have both already lost home court advantage and the Celtics have to stay focused and not allow the 76ers to steal theirs.

Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach.  He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars.  Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and he did a great job in the regular season.   Nick Nurse is in his 8th season as a head coach overall and his 3rd as the 76ers head coach.  He won a title with the Raptors in 2019.  Joe came out on top in Game 1 but Nurse will make adjustments and have his team ready to play in Game 2.  Joe has to be ready for those adjustments and counter with some of his own. 

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor.  Every crew calls  the game differently.  Some call it tight and call every bit of contact while others allow more physical play.  Some favor the home team while others call both sides evenly.  Refs usually allow a little more go in the playoffs but not always. The Celtics have to adjust to the way the refs are calling the game and not allow the no calls and bad calls to affect their focus on playing the game. 

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The Orlando Magic caught the Detroit Pistons lacking in Game 1, using that strong start to propel them to a big road victory.

My Magic vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks expect Detroit to be ready to go on April 22.

Magic vs Pistons prediction

Who will win Magic vs Pistons Game 2?

Pistons: The Detroit Pistons weren't in “playoff” mode in Game 1, while the Orlando Magic were still sweating from the Play-In Tournament. Oddsmakers aren't shying away from the top-seed squad, with Detroit laying almost double digits in Game 2. The Pistons even this series at 1-1 on Wednesday.

Magic vs Pistons best bet: Pistons first half -5.5 (-115)

The Detroit Pistons weren’t just rusty after a week off from action; they weren’t ready. 

The Orlando Magic, on the other hand, were in full-throttle survival mode after two Play-In Tournament tilts, including a squash of the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed. 

The Magic were a mere day removed from that effort and hit the ground running in Motown, jumping out to a 35-point first quarter behind a physical brand of ball that left the Pistons passive and on their heels.

“They’ve been off. We found a little bit of rhythm playing so many games, so that always plays a part in it,” Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley admitted after the Game 1 win.

Don’t expect a replay of those opening 24 minutes in Game 2. Detroit has been one of the top teams in first halves all season, boasting a +5.9 first-half margin of victory at home and an overall 1H net rating of +9.2 — fourth highest in the NBA.

Those derivative splits helped the Pistons pump out one of the better records against first-half spreads, going 45-35-3 ATS on the season.

Orlando has also been a strong team in the opening two frames this year, but the Magic run the risk of complacency in Game 2. Most road teams aim for a split in those first two tilts of a series, and the Magic have already achieved that. 

Mix in Orlando’s infuriating inconsistency, and I have a tough time trusting in a repeat performance. The Magic are 23-23 SU and 19-27 ATS when coming off a win this season. 

See what I mean?

Magic vs Pistons same-game parlay

Cade Cunningham finished Game 1 with only four dimes on 17 potential assists due to Detroit’s poor shooting. The Pistons won’t waste his dimes in Game 2. Before suffering a scary lung injury in March and a limited workload in his return, Cunningham had dished out 10 or more assists in 10 of 13 games from February 19 to March 15.

Duncan Robinson knocked down three triples in Game 1 and has made at least three shots from beyond the arc in nine of his last 12 games overall. His Game 2 forecasts lean toward another three makes from downtown.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

• Pistons first half -5.5
• Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists
• Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Cade paid in the shade

Cade Cunningham gets Detroit on track after a belly flop in Game 1, pacing the Pistons with his passing, outside shooting, and rebounding.

Projections call for 10 assists, more than six boards, and as many as three triples in Game 2.

Magic vs Pistons SGP

• Pistons -9.5
• Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 assists
• Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 threes
• Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 rebounds

Magic vs Pistons odds for Game 2

• Spread: Magic +9.5 | Pistons -9.5
• Moneyline: Magic +350 | Pistons -450
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5

Magic vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons are 17-5 SU and 13-9 ATS (59%) when coming off a loss this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Pistons.

How to watch Magic vs Pistons Game 2

Magic vs Pistons latest injuries

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Someone will test the Oklahoma City Thunder eventually, but it will not be the Phoenix Suns in this first round. The Game 1 rout was too convincing to allow for any lingering Phoenix hope, not even in Game 2.

This same-game parlay for our Suns vs. Thunder predictions knows Dillon Brooks will not give up hope until it is too late, creating value on Wednesday, April 22.

Our best Suns vs Thunder SGP for Game 2

The Phoenix Suns have one hope and one hope only. Their backcourt must get scorching hot. At least one of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green needs to shoot lights out.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will emphasize taking the ball out of Booker’s hands. He is a pure enough scorer that he could, for one night, keep up with Oklahoma City on his own.

That puts the ball into Brooks’s or Green’s hands. Green may be the better player with the brighter future, but Brooks will never shy away from a moment, certainly not one when he is out-gunned. There is a reason he led Phoenix with 22 shots in Game 1, making six of them to notch 18 points.

Do not expect efficiency from Brooks. Do not expect hope for the Suns. But do expect Brooks to shoot enough to clear this prop, even if his many missed shots cost Phoenix’s offense too much to help chase this total.

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You can’t fake chemistry.

It’s an intangible thing that’s so vital to playing winning basketball, you almost wonder why it isn’t mentioned more often. You can’t win a championship without rapport and trust. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, fast-tracking the process of building that connection between Donovan Mitchell and James Harden was their biggest challenge entering the playoffs.

So far, so good. The Cavs’ backcourt has combined for a whopping 112 points through their first two games of the playoffs. Their seemingly innate chemistry has helped Cleveland jump out to a 2-0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors. But manifesting a genuine connection between two players that’s strong enough to withstand the intensity of playoff basketball is easier said than done.

That type of chemistry can take years to form — and this backcourt doesn’t have time to spare. Harden is in the final chapter of his career, while Mitchell is in his prime. They have to learn on the fly while their championship window is still open.

“I know we are behind,” said Harden. “So I think what speeds that process up is communication and helping each other out… I don’t even know how many games we’ve played together, so our communication during games, on practice days, is very important because that can get us over the hump.”

Harden joined the team in early February. Roughly two months before the postseason began. That left little time for integration. Maximizing every opportunity to learn something from each other is the only way they can pull this together.

“A lot of times in timeouts, we’ll spend two-thirds of the timeout us communicating amongst each other,” said Mitchell. “Just trying to make these adjustments and pick apart what we see.”

We saw a great example of this during Game 2 versus Toronto.

Mitchell had just put on a one-man show, dancing in isolation before drilling a difficult three-pointer. It was a beautiful shot, but not the highest quality attempt this offense can generate. As such, Harden went out of his way to tell Mitchell what he saw on that play — and where they can find something more sustainable.

“We always communicate what we see,” said Mitchell. “Even though I scored on that possession, to his point, there was an easier read that I didn’t see, but he saw.”

“That’s Donovan Mitchell… what he’s doing is spectacular,” said Harden about Spida’s shot-making. “But we can’t put ourselves in those positions; that’s the first step.”

It’s not easy to tell an All-Star player that the shot he just made wasn’t in the team’s best interest. You can only do that if you’ve built a sense of mutual respect and trust amongst each other. Cleveland’s backcourt has done the work to accomplish this in less than half a season.

“They’re in constant conversations about what’s going on out there,” said Kenny Atkinson. “In the huddle, they are de facto leaders.”

This communication extends to the defensive end, where being on the same page is significantly more important. While Harden isn’t known for his defense, he has nonetheless established himself as one of Cleveland’s most vocal defenders.

“The biggest thing with him is, he’s obviously an all-world offensive talent, but the one thing that jumps out at you is his communication about defense,” said Mitchell. “I’m over here in huddles talking about ‘hey, we need to do this offensively,’ and he’s like, ‘man, we just need three stops in a row.’”

Harden, who had 5 steals in Game 2, once again showed us an example of why being vocal is important. It was his adjustment mid-play that helped Mitchell come up with a steal in the fourth quarter. That type of leadership is why the Cavs wanted him on the roster.

“That’s part of the reason we traded for him,” said Atkinson. “Teams aren’t really picking on him because he’s smart, he’s big, and he’s savvy… the IQ, the hands, he’ll get beat, but then he’ll strip a guy from behind… he’s got a lot of nuance to his defensive game.”

Beating the Narratives

There’s a broader point to be made of this duo.

Both Mitchell and Harden have suffered similar shortcomings in the playoffs. They’ve fallen victim to the same narratives. Two dynamic shot creators who can’t get over the hump. High usage stars who will burn themselves out before going the distance. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the criticisms surrounding both players.

But they no longer have to do it all on their own. Working together as a duo might be what it takes to finally get that chip off their shoulders.

“I think Harden balances it,” said Atkinson. “I still get a little crazy with Don, like ‘Don pass the ball’ and then he goes and makes an incredible shot — it’s just finding that Michael Jordan maturity and balance. Just knowing when to [score], but I do think James being beside him helps a lot. It balances it out a little because Don realizes he doesn’t have to do it all himself.”

Cavs fans have seen Mitchell play the hero. It can be amazing to watch him leave it all on the floor — like when he scored 48 points to elevate an injury-riddled Cavalier team against the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of last year’s playoffs. But those points came at a high cost to his body. All of the bruises he earned while attacking the basket took a toll. And by the end of the game, his exhaustion contributed to Cleveland blowing their lead in the closing minutes.

Now, Mitchell has a sidekick. If a defense is making it too costly for Mitchell to score, he can lean on Harden to take the pressure off him.

“There are a couple of times where Don’s in isolation, and they start crashing, and so he just throws it to James,” said Atkinson.

The effect goes both ways. Mitchell can suck in multiple defenders and dish it to Harden. Or Harden can warp the floor with his own playmaking to open gaps for Mitchell to attack. The two guards work in tandem to pose an impossible challenge for even a top-ranked defense like Toronto.

“You have a guy who can create for himself and others, it just makes it tough,” said Mitchell. “You have to figure out how to guard it. If he runs the pick-and-roll with Ev, do you help off me? Do you stay? There’s a trust level between the two of us and among the group.”

Trust is key. Mitchell has scored 30+ points in each game to open his series versus the Raptors. Neither effort took more than 25 field goal attempts — a mark he reached in four of five games against the Pacers last season. Harden, meanwhile, has totalled 50 points on just 32 field goal attempts across his first two playoff games with the Cavaliers.

Maintaining that balance will be the difference between a deep playoff run and another early exit.

“They’re selfless with each other because they’re on the same page and they want to get to that next level, that next step,” said Atkinson.

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked and loaded for tonight's Game 2 matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.

These Rockets vs. Lakers predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, April 21.

Rockets vs Lakers computer picks for Game 2

Rockets	Lakers
Sengun u18.5 points  -105	James u24.5 points  -112
Thompson o4.5 assists -155	Hachimura o1.5 threes -145
Smith Jr. o6.5 rebounds  +100	Ayton u8.5 rebounds  -135

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Rockets Game 2 computer picks

Alperen Şengün Under 18.5 points (-105)

Projection: 18.1 points

The Houston Rockets could see a dip in scoring opportunities tonight, as they face the Los Angeles Lakers, who have played at the third-slowest pace at home over their last five games.

That sluggish tempo could limit chances for Alperen Şengün to clear his points prop in Game 2.

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Amen Thompson Over 4.5 assists (-155)

Projection: 5.1 assists

Amen Thompson has gone Over his 4.5 assist line in seven of his last 10 games, and despite the matchup, there’s a clear path for him to get there again against the Lakers.

Thompson’s playmaking is heavily driven by his ability to collapse defenses with size and athleticism. At his position, he presents matchup problems — especially when he attacks downhill — which often forces the Lakers into help situations.

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Jabari Smith Jr. Over 6.5 rebounds (+100)

Projection: 6.8 rebounds

The Rockets lead the league with 15.1 offensive rebounds per game this season, and Jabari Smith Jr. is in a position to take advantage on the glass by having gone Over in four of his last 10 games on a 6.5 rebound line.

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Lakers Game 2 computer picks

LeBron James Under 24.5 points (-112)

Projection: 23.6 points

This season, opposing starting power forwards have shot just 21.7% from three against the Rockets — the lowest mark in the league — creating a challenging environment for LeBron James to clear his points prop tonight.

On top of that, the Lakers could see fewer possessions overall, as Houston plays at the second-slowest pace in the league this season, which could limit scoring volume in this matchup.

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Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 threes (-145)

Projection: 2.1 3-pointers

The Lakers have been the league’s most efficient three-point shooting team over their last five games, and that hot perimeter form sets up a favorable shooting environment in this matchup against the Rockets.

When Houston is on the road, opposing starting small forwards have averaged 2.4 made threes per game—the third-highest mark in the NBA this season—creating a strong spot for Rui Hachimura to stay active from beyond the arc and potentially clear his Over.

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Deandre Ayton Under 8.5 rebounds (-135)

Projection: 7.4 rebounds

The Lakers have struggled on the offensive glass at home, ranking last in offensive rebounding over their previous 20 games, which has limited second-chance opportunities and, in turn, impacted Deandre Ayton’s production on the boards.

That trend aligns with his recent form as well, with Ayton finishing Under his 8.5 rebound line in seven of his last ten games.

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How to watch Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 2

Location	Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date	Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Tip-off	10:30 p.m. ET
TV	NBC/Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Watching the Knicks Monday night was like having your teeth pulled – and Stephen A. Smith apparently feels that pain literally.

The enigmatic Knicks fan and host of ESPN’s “First Take” was absent his usual post, where he would surely be laying into his favorite team after an embarrassing 107-106 collapse to the Atlanta Hawks.

“This is truly a sad day for me,” Smith posted on X on Tuesday morning after he was unable to make it to the show. “Bad enough I had to miss @FirstTake because of this damn dental procedure, but to miss the show when BOTH my boys — @KendrickPerkins AND @RealMikeWilbon — are IN-STUDIO…..on a day I was scheduled to be IN-STUDIO…..I almost cried! Love my boys. You, too, @shaepeppler. Damn this sucks. See y’all tomorrow! “

It seems that a toothache has become the latest source of pain for Smith, though the Knicks certainly contributed as well after leading by 12 points to start the fourth quarter before their offense went stale and they blew it at the Garden.

The loss evened the first-round series with the Hawks at 1-1, as blown leads have become the story for the team over the past two playoff runs despite changing coaches between seasons.

Smith, whenever he does return to the air, will surely be calling for head coach Mike Brown to figure out how to break the offense’s stagnation and knock down open looks.

He may also point out that Brown called a timeout with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter, which eventually left the team without a timeout on the game’s final possession.

The Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau last offseason, citing his inability to get this team over the hump to a title contender.

The Knicks and Hawks play next on Thursday in Atlanta, with Smith likely having figured out to key to victory well before tip-off.

The Houston Rockets will try to even their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2. The Lakers won the opener 107-98 with LeBron James totaling 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will again be sidelined for the Lakers while the Rockets’ Kevin Durant is questionable. Houston is favored by 5.5 points. The over/under for the matchup is set at 207.5.

How to watch Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Date: Tuesday, April 21

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

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

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +5.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +170 (35.3%) / Houston Rockets -210 (64.7%)

• Over/Under: 207.5

Series schedule

Game 1:Lakers 107, Rockets 98
Game 2: Tue., April 21 at Los Angeles (10:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 3: Fri., April 24 at Houston (8 p.m., Prime)
Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Houston (9:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Los Angeles (TBD)
Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Houston (TBD)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Los Angeles (TBD)

*if necessary

DENVER – On Monday night at Ball Arena, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets added another thrilling chapter to one of the best rivalries in the NBA.

Game 2 started incredibly rough for the Timberwolves. Their defense got picked apart from beyond the arc, including an incredible four and-1 fouls on 3-pointers in just the first quarter. The offense was equally lifeless, with little to no purpose to their actions on the court.

“We came into the game trying to shoot dumb shots,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch explained. “They were a step ahead of us in everything. We were a little slow defensively, and things settled down. We just chipped into the lead slowly. I was particularly pleased with the way that we kind of just didn’t try to get it all back in one or two possessions. Sometimes we have a habit of doing that, but guys did a really good job.”

The Timberwolves fell down by as many as 19 points early in the second quarter. The series and the Timberwolves season seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse as the weight of a long NBA schedule and a recent stretch of injuries to Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid, among others, appeared to be dragging them down.

The Wolves had a choice in that moment. They could have let go of the rope, played out the string the rest of the series, booked their flights to Cancun, and let go of a season that has largely been a disappointment.

A lesser group would have made that choice. Instead, the Wolves fought back.

“Just coming together, staying poised within those moments,” Edwards said. “I think they was up like, what, 15, 16 [points], just trying to make runs, get defensive stops. We was on one cord, I feel like on the defensive end tonight, especially once they went on those runs.”

The run started in the second quarter when Edwards, pushing through his nagging knee injury, scored 13 points in the frame, including a pair of 3-pointers and multiple drives to the rim for layups and free throws.

It was the first time in the series that the real Anthony Edwards showed up. With his right knee still hampering him, Edwards pushed through and led the Wolves on a 39-12 run that completely changed the tone of the game.

“Definitely uplifts me,” Julius Randle said with Edwards sitting next to him at the podium. “I feel like I can’t let him down. If he’s out there battling, then there’s no excuse why I can’t get my best and make the extra effort plays and just go out there and compete at the highest level. So it definitely energizes me. It makes me want to be on my best game.”

Randle himself, after an especially poor Game 1, gave the Wolves exactly what they needed in Game 2, giving Minnesota the proper mix of playmaking bully-ball game in the paint. He finished the game with 24 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and only a single turnover.

It wasn’t just Minnesota’s offense that rose to the occasion after a horrendous first quarter; it was the defense, too. Rudy Gobert was forced to sit much of the second and third quarters with foul trouble, but when he returned to the court in the fourth quarter, he dominated.

In the fourth quarter, Gobert held Nikola Jokić to just one make on seven shot attempts. Gobert took the one-on-one defensive assignment and shut down a three-time MVP.

The praise for Gobert poured in after the game, “He was phenomenal,” Finch said. “Surviving the foul trouble, just playing his defense before the catch, after the catch. Challenging everything. It’s hard as heck to guard those guys.”

Randle also spoke about Gobert’s impact on Game 2.

Gobert this week was not selected as a top-three finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, finishing in fourth place for the award. Gobert, with a smirk, referenced his DPOY when answering a question about shutting down Jokić; “I was lucky. A top-three defender cannot do that. So I was lucky.”

The dagger for the Timberwolves came from Donte DiVincenzo. With the Wolves up by one with just over a minute left, the Nuggets double-teamed Edwards, who found DiVincenzo just one pass away for the 3-pointer to put Minnesota up by four.

“I love Dante,” Edwards remarked. “I told him after the game he got gorilla nuts. He’s willing to take any kind of shot at any moment of the game, no matter how far it is.” DiVincenzo finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while sporting a team high +20.

Donte explained what allowed him to be successful in his Game 2 minutes: “Kinda just focusing on the little things. Loose balls. Getting my hands on stuff. Disrupting their rhythm of plays. That half a second where you’re disrupting the play, Jaden gets back in front, Rudy gets back in front. And then they make or miss.”

Following a Jokić dunk and a split pair of free throws from Christian Braun, Randle knocked down a two free throws to put Minnesota up by three with 18 seconds left. Jamal Murray subsequently took a head-scratching long two that rimmed out, which led to a leak out dunk by DiVicenzo to salt the game away.

Jaden McDaniels, like Gobert with Jokić, did a fantastic job guarding Murray down the stretch of the game. Murray went 1-5 from the field in the fourth quarter. Combined, the usually deadly combo of Jokić and Murray shot 2-12 in the final frame.

The comments from McDaniels after the game were not focused on the Denver offense, but their defense, or the lack thereof.

Most NBA players would never say publicly what McDaniels did. They would care too much about what other people thought and not have the confidence to back it up when the opponent inevitably responds.

Not Jaden. He so clearly does not care what other people think of him or his team. He is willing to say when he thinks a defender is trash because he, in fact, believes it.

McDaniels scored 14 points in Game 2, all of which came in or around the paint. McDaniels clearly feels he has an advantage offensively near the rim and attacked that Monday night.

Game 2 was a perfect encapsulation of this era of Timberwolves basketball. Just when it feels like they are teetering on the edge of disaster, they play their best basketball. There could not have been many people who believed they could pull that game out, and just minutes later, they had taken the lead.

The unfortunate aspect of the Wolves is that the opposite is just as often true. Just when it feels like they are ready to get on a roll, they let go of the rope and go into a slump. Trying to predict when these ebbs and flows will take place has been impossible during this up-and-down but ultimately disappointing 49-win regular season.

The Wolves saved their season Monday night in Denver. There’s no doubt they are capable of that type of performance again, but now, it’s up to them to repeat that level of play at least three more times and potentially beyond.

We’ll see if they can do it Thursday night at Target Center for Game 3, where the crowd is sure to be rocking.