Tag: NBA

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NEW YORK — If point differential mattered, the first round series between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks would be over right now. Over five games, the Knicks have outscored the Hawks by 54 points.

Game 5 was the Knicks’ most dominant performance of all, a 126-97 victory that gave them a 3-2 lead in a series they trailed just four days earlier. If a possession or two had gone their way in Game 2 or Game 3, the Knicks would be in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the fourth straight year. But the Hawks are still alive, having shot 10-for-13 on clutch shots and winning each those two games by a single point.

The Knicks made sure there would be no clutch shots in this one, taking control late in the first quarter on Tuesday and never leading by fewer than 10 points after that.

Jalen Brunson led the way once again, scoring 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting and adding eight assists, with just one turnover.

Here are some notes, quotes, numbers and film as the Knicks put the Hawks on the brink of elimination:

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1. Brunson takes over late in the clock

In general, teams do not want to be playing late in the shot clock. For every team, efficiency is highest early in the clock and goes down as time ticks off.

But these are the playoffs, when the defenses are better, and also better prepared to take away the offense’s primary actions. So late-clock situations are more common.

And the Knicks have Brunson, maybe the best in the league at getting a bucket late in the clock. In the regular season, league-average effective field goal percentage in the last seven seconds of the shot clock was 47.1%. Brunson’s was 53.2% and he ranked second with 157 total buckets in the last seven seconds.

Over the five games in this series, the Knicks have taken 54 more shots than the Hawks in the last seven seconds of the shot clock. They weren’t particularly efficient late in the clock through the first three games, but over Games 4 and 5, the Knicks have shot 25-for-50, including 6-for-13 from 3-point range in the last six seconds.

On Tuesday, Brunson was 5-for-7 in the last seven seconds of the shot clock, just killing the Hawks when they were so close to getting a stop.

Midway through the second quarter, Dyson Daniels stopped a Brunson drive and forced him to give up the ball with seven seconds on the clock …

But Daniels’ work was not done. He was able to deny a handoff to Brunson, but the Knicks’ star kept moving and gained separation from his defender by curling around Karl-Anthony Towns in the high post. Towns hit Brunson cutting to the hoop and he had an easy layup with less than two seconds left on the clock …

In the fourth quarter, Brunson put the game away with some more standard (though not unspectacular) late-clock bucket-getting. He isolated against Jalen Johnson and Daniels on consecutive possessions and beat them both with up-and-under moves as the clock wound down …

“Come playoff time,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said afterward, “you have to be able to execute different levels of the clock. Obviously you want to play fast, so you’re not going to get to set defense all the time. But that’s not going to always work in the playoffs.

“Our guys seem to not panic when it comes to, you know, eight… seven… six seconds on the shot clock. And I’ve always felt the better teams are able to do that.

“To me, that’s a sign of a mature team, and that’s a sign of a good team. Just like a good player, you know, being able to score all three levels. It’s almost identical to the shot clock, early, middle and late, without panicking. And our group has done a really good job of it, especially Jalen.”

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2. Knicks are keeping the Hawks in check

The Hawks were a slightly better-than-average offensive team in the regular season, but they have scored an efficient 119.6 points per 100 possessions (sixth best) as they won 19 of their final 24 games.

In this series, they’ve scored just 106.9 per 100, the second worst mark for any team not involved in the Detroit-Orlando car crash. In four of the five games, the Hawks have scored well below league-average efficiency.

Some of that is some poor shooting from open 3-point shooters. The Knicks haven’t been perfect defensively.

But they’ve been very good. The Hawks had some success attacking Brunson down the stretch of Game 2, but Towns has passed the test. In fact, he had two terrific defensive plays against the Hawks’ two biggest offensive threats on Tuesday.

Early in the second quarter, Towns blocked a CJ McCollum step-back 3-pointer. And less than two minutes later, he smothered a Jalen Johnson drive …

This season was just the second time in the last 30 years that the Knicks ranked in the top 10 on both ends of the floor. And their success on both ends has carried over into the playoffs thus far.

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3. Towns plays big

Towns finished with only 16 points in Game 5, but 14 of those came in the first half, when the Knicks made it clear that they were the better team on Tuesday.

Jonathan Kuminga came off the Hawks bench and tried to guard the Knicks’ starting center, but he had no chance. Towns drained a 3-pointer over Kuminga and then backed him down before hitting him with a spin move that put the Knicks up five …

A few possessions later, Towns scored against Kuminga in the post again. The Hawks tried double-teaming him in the second half, but that just resulted in the Knicks getting great shots elsewhere on the floor.

Through five games, Towns is averaging 20 points, his third highest mark in the 10 playoff series he’s played in. He’s done it efficiently, with a true shooting percentage of 73.9%, the second best mark among the 29 players who’ve averaged at least 20 points in these playoffs. And he’s one of only three players – Nikola Jokić and Jayson Tatum are the others – averaging at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

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4. Shooters matter

If you want to play at this time of year, it really helps if you can shoot, because non-shooters will be ignored on the perimeter, compromising your team’s spacing.

Dyson Daniels was never a very good shooter (32.7% from 3-point range over his first three seasons) but he really struggled with his jumper this season, shooting just 19% from beyond the arc. Still, the Hawks’ starting lineup works because center Onyeka Okongwu was a much improved shooter from the outside.

Teaming Daniels with a non-shooting center doesn’t work so well, as we saw late in the first quarter on Tuesday. McCollum was double-teamed and Daniels drew help when he got the ball in the paint. But when he passed the ball to the wide-open shooter, that wide-open shooter was Tony Bradley …

The Hawks’ advantage was lost and they turned the ball over.

Two possessions later, the Knicks weren’t afraid to run another double-team at McCollum because Daniels and Bradley were still on the floor together. The Hawks then ran a double at Brunson, and Jordan Clarkson got a short, uncontested floater in the paint.

Late in the second quarter, Daniels again got the ball in the paint after McCollum was doubled. This time, Okongwu was on the floor instead of Bradley, and he drained a corner 3 …

With the Hawks missing Jock Landale (their normal back-up center who can shoot), Bradley has been needed to match up with the Knicks’ size. But it’s very difficult to put him on the floor alongside another non-shooter.

The Hawks may try to avoid that when they hope to keep their season alive in Game 6 on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

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John Schuhmann has covered the NBA for more than 20 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.

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The San Antonio Spurs left no doubt. Well, perhaps a smidgen of doubt. Whatever glimmer of hope the Portland Trail Blazers carried into Game 5 on Tuesday, the Spurs tried extinguishing it with an onslaught of scoring and defense right from the opening tip.

San Antonio led by 10 early in the first quarter, by 20 early in the second quarter and were up 28 late in the second. It looked like the Spurs were going to waltz their way to a series-clinching victory. Portland didn’t let that happen, making the score closer than the Spurs wanted in the fourth quarter.

The Spurs finished the job, defeating the Trail Blazers 114-95 and winning the first-round Western Conference series 4-1.

It was the first series victory for Victor Wembanayama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant and De’Aaron Fox.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, who replaced Basketball Hall-of-Famer Gregg Popovich following Popovich’s health issues, also recorded his first playoff series victory.

It was also San Antonio’s first series win since 2017.

Now, the Spurs await the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series, which Minnesota leads 3-2.

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1. Spurs’ offensive versatility on display

In the first half, eight Spurs had at least five points and only Julian Champagnie hit double figures. Castle and Harper each went 4-for-5 from the field for nine points in the first half, and Wembanyama had seven points, four rebounds and two blocks at halftime.

In the first half, San Antonio shot 66.7% from the field and 46.7% on 3-pointers.

Six Spurs, including the starters, reached double figures in points led by Fox who had 21 points and nine assists. When the Trail Blazers cut into deficit, Fox took over, scoring 13 in the final quarter to prevent Portland from an improbable comeback.

“He’s done this in his career,” Mitch Johnson said. “He was a Clutch Player of the Year for a reason. He’s in a different situation now, in terms of having the basketball in his hands at that volume every single night in the fourth quarter. He may be as good as any player I’ve ever seen, in terms of balancing how to play off (the ball), and then when to go on it. When he gets on it, he doesn’t mess around, and he gets right to it … He took over the game clearly again tonight.”

Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks and three assists, and Harper added 17 points.

Wembanyama is the first player since Patrick Ewing in 1994 to have consecutive double-doubles and six or more blocked shots in the playoffs.

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2. A toast to Champagnie

Champagnie had not scored more than nine points in any of the previous four games of the series. He had 14 in the first half, including 11 during a five-minute stretch of the first quarter when the Spurs took control.

Champagnie, who had a season-high 36 points in a victory against the New York Knicks on Dec. 31, finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

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3. Trail Blazers run into scoring problems

The Blazers scored fewer than 100 points in three of the five games, which is not a complete surprise given the Spurs possessed the league’s No. 3 defense during the regular season.

Portland shot just 35.1% from the field and 23.4% on 3-pointers.

However, The Blazers did not quit in Game 5 and reduced San Antonio’s lead to 91-82 with 8:02 left in the fourth quarter.

“It did feel like we let our foot off the gas,” Mitch Johnson said. “NBA games are long, so that’s not an excuse. That means we’ve got to be better. … There was a stretch there where we needed to be sharper and got to continue to play games like it’s 0-0 every single possession.”

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4. What’s next for the Trail Blazers?

All-Star Deni Avdija, veteran Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara and Damian Lillard, who missed this season recovering from an Achilles injury, are all under contract with Portland for next season, giving the Trail Blazers the framework of a solid team in the ultra-competitive West.

Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams III are free agents, so Portland will need to address frontcourt depth and find additional scoring. It was tied for 27th in 3-point shooting percentage and was 29th in field-goal percentage in the regular season.

The Trail Blazers must fill their head coaching position. Tiago Splitter handled the job on an interim basis and led the Blazers to a 42-40 record and the seventh seed.

Portland does not have a pick in the first or second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Welcome to Tuesday night!

We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, recaps and highlights from tonight’s action.

The 76ers defeated the Celtics 113-97, dominating the second half behind Joel Embiid (33 pts) to force Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday.

The Knicks took a 3-2 series lead by beating the Hawks 126-97, led by Jalen Brunson (39 pts, 8 ast).

Now, the San Antonio Spurs are up against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, ESPN), seeking to reach the second round for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era.

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APRIL 29, 2026 / 12:17 ET

Spurs regain command

108-92 with 2:03 to go.

Victor Wembanyama (17 pts, 14 reb, 6 blk) just delivered a thunderous swat, sending a Jerami Grant shot into the crowd, then rejected a dunk attempt from Toumani Camara.

“He’s just wiping things out,” said Doris Burke. “I would not venture into the paint. I don’t think I’d venture into the zip code.”

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APRIL 29, 2026 / 12:03 ET

Trail Blazers within striking distance

95-82 San Antonio with 6:30 to go in the fourth quarter, as the Blazers start the period on a 19-9 run.

Robert Williams III (11 pts, 7 reb) and Sidy Cissoko (11 pts, 3 stl) have given Portland a lift off the bench.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 11:37 ET

A serenade for Wemby

“M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants are raining down at Frost Bank Center for Victor Wembanyama (12 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast, 4 blk).

I mean, what big man does this?

COUNT IT 👽

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/a59dwQozxT

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 29, 2026

The Spurs are cruising, up 86-65 with 1:03 to go in the third quarter.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 11:21 ET

Spurs in control

76-55 San Antonio with 5:31 to go in the third quarter, as the Spurs and Blazers play even in the third quarter.

Stephon Castle (15 pts) and Dylan Harper (12 pts) have joined Julian Champagnie (16 pts) in double figures, as the entire Spurs starting lineup runs a +10 mark or better.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 11:17 ET

Postgame Presser: Hawks-Knicks

LIVE: Hawks/Knicks Game 5 Postgame Presser

NBA Playoffs presented by @Google https://t.co/pzcHUkaLnm

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 11:03 ET

One time for Jalen Brunson

BRUNSON WENT OFF IN GAME 5!

39 PTS (15-23 FGM)
8 AST
3 3PM

KNICKS WIN AT HOME.
3-2 SERIES LEAD IN ROUND 1. pic.twitter.com/WZ1OMmDv6w

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:57 ET

Spurs up 65-45 at the break

San Antonio’s shooting 66.7% so far, led by Julian Champagnie (14 pts, 4-of-5 3PA), and holding Portland to 36.7% from the field.

The Spurs led by as many as 28 in the first half.

Deni Avdija (16 pts) is the top scorer for the Trail Blazers.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:48 ET

New York wins pivotal Game 5

The Knicks beat the Hawks 126-97, leading by as many as 32 points in front of their fans at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson (39 pts, 8 ast, 1 turnover) was dominant, keying the Knicks to a 57% shooting night from the field and a 60-42 advantage in points in the paint.

“We’ve got to be ready for the next game,” said Brunson. “The right mindset — this (game) is over with.”

The Hawks had five scorers in double figures, led by Jalen Johnson (18 pts). This is the second time they’ve been held under 100 points in back-to-back games this season.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:36 ET

Knicks rolling in MSG

Watch the Captain go to work. The Knicks have been in firm control throughout the second half.

JALEN BRUNSON BAG WORK 😮‍💨😮‍💨

He’s got 34 on 14-22 shooting in Game 5! pic.twitter.com/9xNCVVx4zy

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:17 ET

Spurs lead 36-26 after one

Julian Champagne (11 pts) leads San Antonio in scoring, as the Trail Blazers controlled the interior, but couldn’t find their long-range shooting stroke in the first.

The Spurs are 5-of-12 (41.7%) from deep, while the Blazers are 2-of-13 (15.4%).

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:05 ET

One time for Joel Embiid

EMBIID DELIVERED IN A MUST-WIN GAME 👏

33 PTS (18 in 2H)
8 AST

Philly wins Game 5 on the road to keep their season alive! pic.twitter.com/5Pq2cbh8CW

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:55 ET

Postgame Presser: 76ers-Celtics

LIVE: 76ers/Celtics Game 5 Postgame Presser

NBA Playoffs presented by @Google https://t.co/gGtzNmxE32

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:47 ET

Brunson sparking as Knicks maintain lead

73-57 Knicks with 7:30 to go in the third quarter, as Jalen Brunson (20 pts) pushes his scoring total.

He’s handily outplayed CJ McCollum, who has four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:40 ET

Portland:

• PG Scoot Henderson
  • The No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft was held scoreless in Game 4. He dropped 31 points in the Trail Blazers’ sole win in the series in Game 2.
• SG Jrue Holiday
  • The 17-year veteran is 58-43 all-time in the NBA Playoffs. He’s averaging 18.5 ppg, 5.3 reb and 7.3 ast in this series, showing his longevity.
• SF Deni Avdija
  • Avdija has shot 36 of the Trail Blazers’ 81 FTA in this series, providing consistent downhill pressure on his way to 22.3 ppg.
• PF Toumani Camara
  • The Belgian wing has only cracked double-figures once in this series — 10 points in Game 3. That’s well below his season average of 13.4 ppg.
• C Donovan Clingan
  • The former UConn center is shooting just 28.4% from the field so far this series, as he deals with the length of Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio:

• PG Stephon Castle
  • Clingan’s former point guard with UConn went off in Game 3 without Victor Wembanyama, dropping 33 points. His two-way impact can rival the best in the league.
• SG De’Aaron Fox
  • Fox is playoff-tested, having gone up against the Warriors in a seven-game classic in 2023, averaging 27.4 ppg in the series. He’s putting up 20.0 ppg for the Spurs so far this series.
• SF Devin Vassell
  • Vassell is shooting just 33.3% from 3-point range so far this series, but continues to drop 13.2 ppg.
• PF Julian Champagnie
  • Champagnie has made up for that — he’s knocking down 57.1% of his 3-pointers in this series.
• C Victor Wembanyama
  • The Alien returned with a bang in Game 4, putting up 27 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks. He’s looked very comfortable in Playoff action.

Watch Dylan Harper off the Spurs bench — he and Stephon Castle joined Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as the only duos to score 25+ points while 21 years of age or younger in Game 3.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:34 ET

Sixers win, force Game 6

We’re headed back to Philadelphia, as the Sixers rose up in the second half to defeat the Celtics 113-97.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) dominated the Celtics’ front line, while Tyrese Maxey (25 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Paul George (18 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, team-high +19) filled in the gaps.

EMBIID IS HOOPIN’ IN THE 2ND HALF!

18 PTS (7-10 FGM)

Sixers lead by 13 with under 2 to play in Game 5🍿 https://t.co/KQXG1KETwx pic.twitter.com/nB6E7b7SoB

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

Quentin Grimes (18 pts, 4 3PM) added firepower in 24:04 off the Sixers’ bench.

Jayson Tatum (24 pts, 16 reb) starred for the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown (24 pts) contributed.

But Payton Pritchard (12 pts) was the only other player to reach double figures, as the team shot just 28.2% from 3-point range.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:27 ET

Philly stepping on the gas

111-96 Sixers with 2:16 to go in the fourth quarter, as they fought to extend their season.

They’ve earned a 61-39 advantage in the second half.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:25 ET

Knicks lead at the half

64-48 New York at the break, although the Hawks closed the half on a 11-5 run to cut into the advantage.

The Knicks have built a 40-22 gap in points in the paint, leading by as many as 22 during the contest.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:22 ET

Sixers in control

104-94 Philadelphia with 4:04 to go, as the Sixers’ physicality and shooting takes control of the ballgame.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) has been dominant in the second half, as has the Philly defense. Paul George and Quentin Grimes have dogged Jaylen Brown, while VJ Edgecombe is making Jayson Tatum work.

They’re 6-of-11 from the field in the fourth, while Boston is 3-of-17.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:14 ET

Every possession matters in Boston right now

You can feel the tension in the air in TD Garden, as the Sixers seek to keep their season alive and force a Game 6 in Philly.

100-94 Sixers on another Quentin Grimes (18 pts on 5-of-7 shooting) 3-pointer — their largest lead of the night.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:12 ET

Knicks open up big lead

59-37 Knicks with 3:08 to go in the second quarter.

New York’s had their shooting touch all night, knocking down 60.5% of their shots.

Jalen Brunson (14 pts, 4 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) are sparking the Knicks offense.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:10 ET

‘This is vintage Embiid right now’

Mike Breen said, as Joel Embiid (29 pts) pulled up for a floater in the lane over Neemias Queta.

“He is catching the ball where he wants to and not bailing out this Celtics defense,” said Tim Legler.

Sam Hauser (8 pts) has hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Boston in reach.

94-92 Sixers with 7:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:02 ET

Sixers take the lead

88-86 Sixers with 10:54 to go in the fourth quarter.

Philly’s found the stroke from deep, going 8-for-12 from 3-point range to bring their total to 13-for-36 (36.1%) for the night.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:49 ET

Sixers, Celtics trading big shots

Joel Embiid (25 pts) has been unstoppable, leading the 76ers on a run.

Jayson Tatum (18 pts, 11 reb), Tyrese Maxey (16 pts, 5 reb) and Payton Pritchard (12 pts, 6 ast) have just traded 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions.

Fans in the TD Garden are living and dying with every basket right now, as Philly’s cut the lead to 74-70 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:44 ET

Mitch Rob responds with a poster

After Jonathan Kuminga delivered an alley-oop slam, Mitchell Robinson (6 pts, 3 reb) just posterized him on an offensive rebound. It’s a 65.6 on the Dunk Score scale.

MITCHELL ON HIS HEAD 😵‍💫 pic.twitter.com/Q64qq5RFvi

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 29, 2026

33-22 Knicks with 33.3 seconds to go in the first.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:41 ET

Sixers cut it to five

65-60 Boston with 7:37 to go in the third, as Joel Embiid (21 pts, 6 ast) continues to attack.

He got Nikola Vučević retreating in the lane, then rose up for a patented free throw line jumper.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:36 ET

Kuminga rises up, but Knicks lead

27-20 Knicks with 2:11 to go in the first quarter, but Jonathan Kuminga (4 pts) just threw down an absolute stunner of a slam.

It’s a 78.0 on the Dunk Score scale.

JK Just Keeps Rising ✈️✈️✈️ https://t.co/orzrqiY36E pic.twitter.com/fkS9fm4eqA

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:27 ET

Nick Nurse urges team to keep firing

“We’ve got to start knocking those down,” said Nurse, according to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

Philly’s 5-of-20 from 3-point range as the second half begins.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:17 ET

Dyson Daniels hot early

The Aussie has six of the Hawks first eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, as the Hawks turn up the defensive pressure against the Knicks.

So far, New York’s handled it well, taking a 11-8 lead with 8:08 to go in the first quarter.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:10 ET

Celtics up 57-50 at the half

Boston closes on a 7-2 run to take the lead into the break. They’re up to 51.1% FG shooting on the night, while Philly’s at 42.5%.

Payton Pritchard (9 pts, 6 ast) is +16 on the game so far. His quickness and shooting ability have given the Sixers’ problems, allowing Boston’s spaced, whirring offense to find room against Nick Nurse’s lane-packing style of defense.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:06 ET

Embiid making his presence felt

Joel Embiid (13 pts, 5 ast) just hit a soft fadeaway in the lane over Neemias Queta (6 pts, 9 reb).

.@JoelEmbiid up to 1️⃣3️⃣ points pic.twitter.com/PhNwpY95Hj

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2026

On the next possession, he drew Derrick White in transition, posted him up, then dished it to Tyrese Maxey (13 pts) for a 3-pointer when Jayson Tatum (14 pts, 8 reb) took an extra step towards him.

50-48 Sixers with 2:10 to go in the half.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:58 ET

Physicality picking up

Both teams are scrapping with 4:20 to go in the second quarter, as the 76ers have cut the lead to 45-41.

In the last few possessions, Sam Hauser had the ball stripped in the lane, Tyrese Maxey drew a foul, Kelly Oubre Jr. knocked the ball away from Jaylen Brown and earned a jump ball as they dove in the backcourt. Andre Drummond then showed his quickness to stone Brown on the drive.

You can feel the intensity picking up in Boston.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:51 ET

Grimes rallies the Sixers

A four-point play opportunity for Quentin Grimes (3 pts, 1 reb) can staunch the bleeding for the Sixers, who are down 42-34 with 6:51 to go in the second period.

Boston’s shooting is starting to strain the Sixers — after starting 1-of-10, they’re 2-of-4 this quarter.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:45 ET

Boston opens up a lead

35-26 Celtics with 8:52 to go in the second quarter, as Payton Pritchard (7 pts, 4 ast) drops five quick points in the period.

Boston is battling Joel Embiid (7 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast), who took Luka Garza to the rim in the post a few possessions ago, throwing double-teams at the big man.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:36 ET

Celtics lead 23-21 after one

Tyrese Maxey (8 pts) leads Philly in scoring, while Jaylen Brown (6 pts) is tops for Boston.

Neither team has found the touch from 3-point range, with the Celtics 1-of-10 (10%) and the 76ers 3-of-13 (23.1%).

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:30 ET

Celtics controlling the glass early

Jayson Tatum (4 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) and Neemias Queta (4 pts, 8 reb) have helped the Celtics to a 16-9 advantage on the glass with just over two minutes remaining in the first, but the Sixers are hanging close at 16-15.

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APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Atlanta:

• PG CJ McCollum
  • McCollum was held to 17 points after earning the respect of the Madison Square Garden crowd in Game 2, but it’s been a great series for him. He’s averaging his highest PPG (24.5) since helping take the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19 (24.7).
• SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
  • Alexander-Walker hasn’t had his breakout game yet in this series, scoring 13.8 ppg, below his season average of 20.8.
• SF Dyson Daniels
  • The defensive dynamo from Australia has a series of tough matchups in this series. Can he out-hustle Josh Hart, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges?
• PF Jalen Johnson
  • Johnson was held to 14 points on 33.3% FG shooting in Game 4. The Hawks were 4-7 when he scored 14 or fewer this season.
• C Onyeka Okongwu
  • The sixth-year center from USC is shooting 50% on four 3PA per game this series. Watch his long-range attempts.

New York:

• PG Jalen Brunson
  • Will the Hawks look to put a bigger defender on Brunson? Jonathan Kuminga has held him to four points on 1-of-5 shooting on 46 possessions so far this series.
• SG Josh Hart
  • Hart is shooting just 13.3% from 3-point range this series.
• SF Mikal Bridges
  • Bridges has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, playing just 40 over Games 3 and 4, with Miles McBride getting most of the time.
• PF OG Anunoby
  • The Anunoby-Johnson matchup is crucial in this series. The wing from Indiana has defended Johnson throughout, and outplayed him to the tune of 22 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4.
• C Karl-Anthony Towns
  • Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds against Atlanta, shooting 57/50/92 from the field. He leads the Knicks at +46 in this series.

Watch Miles McBride off the Knicks bench — he can help slow down CJ McCollum while adding 3-point shooting.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Philadelphia:

• PG Tyrese Maxey
  • The 76ers’ main scorer has to adjust with Joel Embiid back.
• SG VJ Edgecombe
  • The rookie out of Baylor has been a bellwether for Philly this series. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous. 
• SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • The swingman is always a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
• PF Paul George
  • Can the future Hall of Famer outplay Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown with the Sixers’ season on the line?
• C Joel Embiid
  • Embiid is 3-13 against the Celtics in his Playoff career.

Boston:

• PG Derrick White
  • White is always a steadying influence for Boston. Can he help contain Tyrese Maxey while finding offensive opportunities?
• SG Jaylen Brown
  • Brown leads the Celtics in free throws attempted (29) during this series. His steady downhill pressure is key.
• SF Sam Hauser
  • Hauser is shooting 45.5% from 3-point range this series. He can change a game quickly from deep.
• PF Jayson Tatum
  • Tatum is 15-5 against the 76ers in his Playoffs career.
•  C Neemias Queta:
  • Queta has faced foul trouble in each of the last two games. With Joel Embiid back, Boston will also look to Nikola Vučević to battle in the post.

Keep an eye on Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench. The sixth-year guard out of Oregon is second on the team in plus-minus this series (+44, behind Tatum’s +48).

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Joel Embiid is probable for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey is available.

Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.

Jonathan Isaac has been upgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s Magic-Pistons Game 5.

Welcome to Tuesday night!

We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, recaps and highlights from tonight’s action.

The 76ers defeated the Celtics 113-97, dominating the second half behind Joel Embiid (33 pts) to force Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Now, the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks (8 ET, Peacock / NBC) are battling.

We’ll soon see the San Antonio Spurs take to the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, ESPN), seeking to reach the second round for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:05 ET

One time for Joel Embiid

EMBIID DELIVERED IN A MUST-WIN GAME 👏

33 PTS (18 in 2H)
8 AST

Philly wins Game 5 on the road to keep their season alive! pic.twitter.com/5Pq2cbh8CW

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:55 ET

Postgame Presser: 76ers-Celtics

LIVE: 76ers/Celtics Game 5 Postgame Presser

NBA Playoffs presented by @Google https://t.co/gGtzNmxE32

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:47 ET

Brunson sparking as Knicks maintain lead

73-57 Knicks with 7:30 to go in the third quarter, as Jalen Brunson (20 pts) pushes his scoring total.

He’s handily outplayed CJ McCollum, who has four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:34 ET

Sixers win, force Game 6

We’re headed back to Philadelphia, as the Sixers rose up in the second half to defeat the Celtics 113-97.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) dominated the Celtics’ front line, while Tyrese Maxey (25 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Paul George (18 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, team-high +19) filled in the gaps.

EMBIID IS HOOPIN’ IN THE 2ND HALF!

18 PTS (7-10 FGM)

Sixers lead by 13 with under 2 to play in Game 5🍿 https://t.co/KQXG1KETwx pic.twitter.com/nB6E7b7SoB

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

Quentin Grimes (18 pts, 4 3PM) added firepower in 24:04 off the Sixers’ bench.

Jayson Tatum (24 pts, 16 reb) starred for the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown (24 pts) contributed.

But Payton Pritchard (12 pts) was the only other player to reach double figures, as the team shot just 28.2% from 3-point range.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:27 ET

Philly stepping on the gas

111-96 Sixers with 2:16 to go in the fourth quarter, as they fought to extend their season.

They’ve earned a 61-39 advantage in the second half.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:25 ET

Knicks lead at the half

64-48 New York at the break, although the Hawks closed the half on a 11-5 run to cut into the advantage.

The Knicks have built a 40-22 gap in points in the paint, leading by as many as 22 during the contest.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:22 ET

Sixers in control

104-94 Philadelphia with 4:04 to go, as the Sixers’ physicality and shooting takes control of the ballgame.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) has been dominant in the second half, as has the Philly defense. Paul George and Quentin Grimes have dogged Jaylen Brown, while VJ Edgecombe is making Jayson Tatum work.

They’re 6-of-11 from the field in the fourth, while Boston is 3-of-17.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:14 ET

Every possession matters in Boston right now

You can feel the tension in the air in TD Garden, as the Sixers seek to keep their season alive and force a Game 6 in Philly.

100-94 Sixers on another Quentin Grimes (18 pts on 5-of-7 shooting) 3-pointer — their largest lead of the night.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:12 ET

Knicks open up big lead

59-37 Knicks with 3:08 to go in the second quarter.

New York’s had their shooting touch all night, knocking down 60.5% of their shots.

Jalen Brunson (14 pts, 4 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) are sparking the Knicks offense.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:10 ET

‘This is vintage Embiid right now’

Mike Breen said, as Joel Embiid (29 pts) pulled up for a floater in the lane over Neemias Queta.

“He is catching the ball where he wants to and not bailing out this Celtics defense,” said Tim Legler.

Sam Hauser (8 pts) has hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Boston in reach.

94-92 Sixers with 7:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:02 ET

Sixers take the lead

88-86 Sixers with 10:54 to go in the fourth quarter.

Philly’s found the stroke from deep, going 8-for-12 from 3-point range to bring their total to 13-for-36 (36.1%) for the night.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:49 ET

Sixers, Celtics trading big shots

Joel Embiid (25 pts) has been unstoppable, leading the 76ers on a run.

Jayson Tatum (18 pts, 11 reb), Tyrese Maxey (16 pts, 5 reb) and Payton Pritchard (12 pts, 6 ast) have just traded 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions.

Fans in the TD Garden are living and dying with every basket right now, as Philly’s cut the lead to 74-70 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:44 ET

Mitch Rob responds with a poster

After Jonathan Kuminga delivered an alley-oop slam, Mitchell Robinson (6 pts, 3 reb) just posterized him on an offensive rebound. It’s a 65.6 on the Dunk Score scale.

MITCHELL ON HIS HEAD 😵‍💫 pic.twitter.com/Q64qq5RFvi

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 29, 2026

33-22 Knicks with 33.3 seconds to go in the first.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:41 ET

Sixers cut it to five

65-60 Boston with 7:37 to go in the third, as Joel Embiid (21 pts, 6 ast) continues to attack.

He got Nikola Vučević retreating in the lane, then rose up for a patented free throw line jumper.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:36 ET

Kuminga rises up, but Knicks lead

27-20 Knicks with 2:11 to go in the first quarter, but Jonathan Kuminga (4 pts) just threw down an absolute stunner of a slam.

It’s a 78.0 on the Dunk Score scale.

JK Just Keeps Rising ✈️✈️✈️ https://t.co/orzrqiY36E pic.twitter.com/fkS9fm4eqA

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:27 ET

Nick Nurse urges team to keep firing

“We’ve got to start knocking those down,” said Nurse, according to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

Philly’s 5-of-20 from 3-point range as the second half begins.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:17 ET

Dyson Daniels hot early

The Aussie has six of the Hawks first eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, as the Hawks turn up the defensive pressure against the Knicks.

So far, New York’s handled it well, taking a 11-8 lead with 8:08 to go in the first quarter.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:10 ET

Celtics up 57-50 at the half

Boston closes on a 7-2 run to take the lead into the break. They’re up to 51.1% FG shooting on the night, while Philly’s at 42.5%.

Payton Pritchard (9 pts, 6 ast) is +16 on the game so far. His quickness and shooting ability have given the Sixers’ problems, allowing Boston’s spaced, whirring offense to find room against Nick Nurse’s lane-packing style of defense.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:06 ET

Embiid making his presence felt

Joel Embiid (13 pts, 5 ast) just hit a soft fadeaway in the lane over Neemias Queta (6 pts, 9 reb).

.@JoelEmbiid up to 1️⃣3️⃣ points pic.twitter.com/PhNwpY95Hj

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2026

On the next possession, he drew Derrick White in transition, posted him up, then dished it to Tyrese Maxey (13 pts) for a 3-pointer when Jayson Tatum (14 pts, 8 reb) took an extra step towards him.

50-48 Sixers with 2:10 to go in the half.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:58 ET

Physicality picking up

Both teams are scrapping with 4:20 to go in the second quarter, as the 76ers have cut the lead to 45-41.

In the last few possessions, Sam Hauser had the ball stripped in the lane, Tyrese Maxey drew a foul, Kelly Oubre Jr. knocked the ball away from Jaylen Brown and earned a jump ball as they dove in the backcourt. Andre Drummond then showed his quickness to stone Brown on the drive.

You can feel the intensity picking up in Boston.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:51 ET

Grimes rallies the Sixers

A four-point play opportunity for Quentin Grimes (3 pts, 1 reb) can staunch the bleeding for the Sixers, who are down 42-34 with 6:51 to go in the second period.

Boston’s shooting is starting to strain the Sixers — after starting 1-of-10, they’re 2-of-4 this quarter.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:45 ET

Boston opens up a lead

35-26 Celtics with 8:52 to go in the second quarter, as Payton Pritchard (7 pts, 4 ast) drops five quick points in the period.

Boston is battling Joel Embiid (7 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast), who took Luka Garza to the rim in the post a few possessions ago, throwing double-teams at the big man.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:36 ET

Celtics lead 23-21 after one

Tyrese Maxey (8 pts) leads Philly in scoring, while Jaylen Brown (6 pts) is tops for Boston.

Neither team has found the touch from 3-point range, with the Celtics 1-of-10 (10%) and the 76ers 3-of-13 (23.1%).

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:30 ET

Celtics controlling the glass early

Jayson Tatum (4 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) and Neemias Queta (4 pts, 8 reb) have helped the Celtics to a 16-9 advantage on the glass with just over two minutes remaining in the first, but the Sixers are hanging close at 16-15.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Atlanta:

• PG CJ McCollum
  • McCollum was held to 17 points after earning the respect of the Madison Square Garden crowd in Game 2, but it’s been a great series for him. He’s averaging his highest PPG (24.5) since helping take the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19 (24.7).
• SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
  • Alexander-Walker hasn’t had his breakout game yet in this series, scoring 13.8 ppg, below his season average of 20.8.
• SF Dyson Daniels
  • The defensive dynamo from Australia has a series of tough matchups in this series. Can he out-hustle Josh Hart, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges?
• PF Jalen Johnson
  • Johnson was held to 14 points on 33.3% FG shooting in Game 4. The Hawks were 4-7 when he scored 14 or fewer this season.
• C Onyeka Okongwu
  • The sixth-year center from USC is shooting 50% on four 3PA per game this series. Watch his long-range attempts.

New York:

• PG Jalen Brunson
  • Will the Hawks look to put a bigger defender on Brunson? Jonathan Kuminga has held him to four points on 1-of-5 shooting on 46 possessions so far this series.
• SG Josh Hart
  • Hart is shooting just 13.3% from 3-point range this series.
• SF Mikal Bridges
  • Bridges has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, playing just 40 over Games 3 and 4, with Miles McBride getting most of the time.
• PF OG Anunoby
  • The Anunoby-Johnson matchup is crucial in this series. The wing from Indiana has defended Johnson throughout, and outplayed him to the tune of 22 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4.
• C Karl-Anthony Towns
  • Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds against Atlanta, shooting 57/50/92 from the field. He leads the Knicks at +46 in this series.

Watch Miles McBride off the Knicks bench — he can help slow down CJ McCollum while adding 3-point shooting.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Philadelphia:

• PG Tyrese Maxey
  • The 76ers’ main scorer has to adjust with Joel Embiid back.
• SG VJ Edgecombe
  • The rookie out of Baylor has been a bellwether for Philly this series. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous. 
• SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • The swingman is always a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
• PF Paul George
  • Can the future Hall of Famer outplay Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown with the Sixers’ season on the line?
• C Joel Embiid
  • Embiid is 3-13 against the Celtics in his Playoff career.

Boston:

• PG Derrick White
  • White is always a steadying influence for Boston. Can he help contain Tyrese Maxey while finding offensive opportunities?
• SG Jaylen Brown
  • Brown leads the Celtics in free throws attempted (29) during this series. His steady downhill pressure is key.
• SF Sam Hauser
  • Hauser is shooting 45.5% from 3-point range this series. He can change a game quickly from deep.
• PF Jayson Tatum
  • Tatum is 15-5 against the 76ers in his Playoffs career.
•  C Neemias Queta:
  • Queta has faced foul trouble in each of the last two games. With Joel Embiid back, Boston will also look to Nikola Vučević to battle in the post.

Keep an eye on Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench. The sixth-year guard out of Oregon is second on the team in plus-minus this series (+44, behind Tatum’s +48).

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Joel Embiid is probable for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey is available.

Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.

Jonathan Isaac has been upgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s Magic-Pistons Game 5.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers will wait until game time Wednesday night to determine whether he is ready to return from nearly four weeks on the sidelines with a strained oblique muscle.

Reaves expressed cautious optimism Tuesday when he spoke to reporters for the first time since getting hurt April 2 at Oklahoma City. The Lakers’ second-leading scorer was listed as questionable for the past two games of their first-round playoff series against Houston, but ultimately didn’t play while Los Angeles split the contests to take a 3-1 series lead.

“I want to get back out there as fast as I can,” Reaves said at the Lakers’ training complex. “I feel good. Trending in the right direction. I can’t wait to get up (Wednesday) and attack another day.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick gave no hints about the team’s mindset around Reaves, saying his availability will be “based on whether he’s good to go. We’ll talk through that.”

Reaves has tried to stay even-keeled during the second major injury absence of his otherwise outstanding season. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds, but played in just 51 games thanks to the oblique injury and a strained left calf that sidelined him for 19 straight games from Christmas to February.

HOUSTON — Kevin Durant continues to make progress with his injured left ankle, but it seems unlikely that he’ll return Wednesday night for Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Durant didn’t participate in practice with the Rockets on Tuesday before they left for California, trailing 3-1 in the first-round series. But he was seen running on an anti-gravity treadmill as the team wrapped up its work before heading to the airport.

Coach Ime Udoka was asked if there was a possibility that Durant would play in Game 5 after missing the last two games with a sprained left ankle and bone bruise.

“We’ll see,” Udoka said. “It is day to day, game to game. But we’ll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn’t participate in practice today. But he’s doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back.”

Durant has missed three games in this series after he sat out the opener with a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2, scoring 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss, during which he injured his ankle late in the game.

The Rockets won Game 4, 115-96, despite missing their superstar to avoid elimination.

Durant’s injury problems this postseason came after the 37-year-old ranked second in the league in the regular season by playing 2,840 minutes.

Durant, who is in his first season in Houston after an offseason trade from Phoenix, is the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history.

We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, recaps and highlights from Tuesday’s action.

We open the night with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers continuing a historic rivalry, as Jayson Tatum’s squad looks to close out Joel Embiid’s and advance to the second round (7 ET, ESPN).

That’ll be followed by another chapter in the epic series between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks (8 ET, Peacock / NBC) and a chance for the San Antonio Spurs to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, ESPN) and reach the second round for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era.

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Philadelphia:

• PG Tyrese Maxey
  • The 76ers’ main scorer has to adjust with Joel Embiid back.
• SG VJ Edgecombe
  • The rookie out of Baylor has been a bellwether for Philly this series. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous. 
• SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
  • The swingman is always a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
• PF Paul George
  • Can the future Hall of Famer outplay Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown with the Sixers’ season on the line?
• C Joel Embiid
  • Embiid is 3-13 against the Celtics in his Playoff career.

Boston:

• PG Derrick White
  • White is always a steadying influence for Boston. Can he help contain Tyrese Maxey while finding offensive opportunities?
• SG Jaylen Brown
  • Brown leads the Celtics in free throws attempted (29) during this series. His steady downhill pressure is key.
• SF Sam Hauser
  • Hauser is shooting 45.5% from 3-point range this series. He can change a game quickly from deep.
• PF Jayson Tatum
  • Tatum is 15-5 against the 76ers in his Playoffs career.
•  C Neemias Queta:
  • Queta has faced foul trouble in each of the last two games. With Joel Embiid back, Boston will also look to Nikola Vučević to battle in the post.

Keep an eye on Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench. The sixth-year guard out of Oregon is second on the team in plus-minus this series (+44, behind Tatum’s +48).

---

APRIL 28, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Joel Embiid is probable for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey is available.

Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.

Jonathan Isaac has been upgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s Magic-Pistons Game 5.

Editor’s Note: Read more NBA coverage from The Athletic here. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its teams. 

***

For Reed Sheppard, basketball has provided lifelong lessons in self-trust.

And one night earlier this season, it took Sheppard four minutes and 33 seconds to show that the faith he has always had in himself would produce different results in Year 2 than during his challenging rookie season.

In an NBA Cup game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco the night after Thanksgiving, playing without future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant and center Steven Adams, the Rockets found themselves trailing by 10 in the third quarter.

That’s when Sheppard showed the impact of that confidence.

Sheppard hit a floater to cut the deficit to eight. Then, after swiping the ball from Stephen Curry, he drained a 3. It was an eye-opening sequence, especially as the Rockets had needed Sheppard to enter Year 2 trusting himself and his shot. They needed him not to think.

“The biggest difference this year,” ESPN analyst Tim Legler said after Sheppard got the Rockets within five points, “is that he is anticipating the next action coming his way. … Most of it was an afterthought a year ago.”

Sheppard grabbed three rebounds, hit another fadeaway and threw down a dunk to tie the score with 20 seconds left in the third. The Rockets would pull out a 104-100 win, with Sheppard scoring a career-high 31 points with nine rebounds and five assists.

It was one of the first examples of Sheppard’s evolution, growth that the Rockets not only anticipated, but also desperately needed. In 22 regular-season games with at least 30 minutes of playing time, he’s averaged 19.5 points with 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and five assists per game. The Rockets had a 9-3 record when Sheppard scored at least 20 points.

It was a far cry from Sheppard’s rookie season, which was sprinkled with inconsistent playing time, DNPs and scoring droughts. He played more than 20 minutes only five times. Some fans questioned whether Houston made the right decision in drafting him third overall. Yet he hesitated to lean into one of his best skills: shooting.

“It was tough. It was different. I wasn’t used to anything like that,” Sheppard told The Athletic. 

But the difficulties of that season showed Sheppard his growth opportunities. He didn’t want to prove his doubters wrong; he wanted to prove himself right.

“I think a lot of it is just trust in yourself. I’ve played basketball my whole life, and I’ve been in moments that you dream of as a little kid,” Sheppard said. “So, now that I’m here, it’s like just have fun, trust in yourself and trust the work that you put in.

After acquiring Durant in the offseason, expectations for the Rockets were high. But before the season started, point guard Fred VanVleet was ruled out after tearing his ACL.

And suddenly, those big expectations landed — at least in part — on Sheppard’s shoulders.

For most of the season, Sheppard was able to handle the load. He played in all 82 games, starting 21. His 3-point shooting, that skill he knew could help Houston, improved in terms of percentage (33.8 in his rookie season to 39.4) and volume (2.7 attempts per game to 7.0). His scoring went from 4.4 points per game to 13.5. He was sixth in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

But as Sheppard knows after a rough introduction to the postseason in his rookie season, the playoffs are a different beast. In the Rockets’ first-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers this year, Sheppard has had to assume even more responsibility with Durant missing three of the series’ four games.

Sheppard saw Game 3 slip from his hands when LeBron James poked the ball away in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, only to have James hit a 3 that would send the game to OT, where the Lakers would win.

Through the first three games of the Lakers series, Sheppard was 12-of-45 (.267) from the field, which included a scoreless Game 2, a flashback to his rookie struggles. In Game 4, he had 17 points, as many as he had in Games 1 and 3, but Sheppard was more efficient, shooting 50 percent from the field and 4 of 7 from 3-point range. The Rockets will need more of sophomore season Sheppard in Game 5 on Wednesday in Los Angeles if Houston has any hope of continuing the series.

Regardless of how this season ends, Sheppard, the son of two college hoop stars, has a solid support system — his parents.

Jeff and Stacey (née Reed) met while playing basketball in Lexington, Ky. Jeff is a two-time national champion and 1998 Final Four Most Outstanding Player at the University of Kentucky. He played 18 games for the Atlanta Hawks in the 1998-99 season and then professionally in Italy. Stacey was a three-time All-SEC standout during her college days.

Reed was a star player at North Laurel (Ky.) High School with expectations and pressure to perform at an incredibly high level for his school, community and his friends. After gaining national attention, he then took a step and played in the SEC at Kentucky for legendary coach John Calipari.

“The good thing is, he’s had wonderful training his whole life. The noise may not have been as loud as it was his rookie year,” Jeff Sheppard told The Athletic. “The stage may not have been as big as it was on the NBA stage, the talent definitely has never been as good, but there’s always been noise in Reed’s life because he’s the son of two Kentucky basketball players.”

Since Reed’s transition to pro, Stacey spends time in Houston while Jeff tries to get to as many East Coast games as possible.

Sheppard was Kentucky’s highest pick since Karl-Anthony Towns went first in 2015. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray and Tyler Herro were All-Star guards drafted out of Kentucky during that time.

There was a lot of curiosity surrounding Sheppard and what he could bring to Houston after he was selected with the third pick of the 2024 draft. He credited his parents for supporting him.

“I’ve learned everything from them. They’ve been a huge part of my journey to get here on and off the court,” Reed said. “I went to the gym with my dad to work out.

“I remember me and my mom traveling to all the travel ball games in different places and even talking basketball with her. I have just learned so much from them.”

Being alongside Reed for the start of his career means Jeff has had a front-row seat to what comes with having a son in the NBA.

“There’s a journey that parents of athletes go on,” Jeff said. “It’s some type of a journey. And it’s a thrill. But oftentimes it’s kind of like a roller coaster, wonderful highs, lots of lows, and sometimes you just gotta hold on and not try to throw up.

“It’s a great journey, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

In 10 minutes of play across three games against the Warriors in the first round of last year’s playoffs, Sheppard was scoreless. He shot 0 of 3 and Houston was outscored by 26 when he played. The Rockets didn’t play him at all in the most important game of the season — Game 7. They lost 103-89.

After the challenges of Sheppard’s rookie season, criticism grew.

“There’s a lot of people talking and a lot of noise, both positive and negative in that arena,” Jeff said. “His journey prepared him for his rookie season in the NBA, but it always involved being able to play through victories and defeats, air balls and made shots and fouling out and not fouling out.

“The challenge of not getting to play for the first time was different and unique. So now all of a sudden, a whole ‘nother set of mental and emotional challenges are bombarding him.”

Then news came of VanVleet’s season-ending ACL injury.

“He knew when Fred went down, that more opportunity was there, obviously, but so many times, I think we just overanalyze different situations,” Jeff said. “When I think about Reed and his thought process … and we all overanalyze.

He’s a 21-year-old kid that’s living his dream and loving the opportunity to play basketball and going out there and trying to learn and develop and go win a ball game. As simple as that sounds, that’s where he is.”

But with no VanVleet, the Rockets needed to speed up Sheppard’s development, and he had to tap into what he knew he had within. There was increased pressure from fans and media.

“I’m not on social media, so I don’t read all of the comments,” Jeff said. “I’m not oblivious to articles that are written about him by any means, but I also don’t get consumed with it. The story is either how great you are or how terrible you were. It’s usually not in the middle. It’s always that extreme.

“There’s nothing we can do about how stories are written. They’re either written about the person that has this phenomenal finish, or sometimes this devastating loss.”

Sheppard ignored what was being said and focused on the main thing. He spent most of his offseason in Houston getting ready for his second season. He worked with athletic trainer Brady Welsh, now the strength coach at Vanderbilt, and mental performance coach Jonathan Roche, who has been with Sheppard since his junior year of high school. Through Roche, Sheppard learned to shift his mindset to help him get back to the joy of basketball.

Support not only came from Sheppard’s inner circle, but from the Rockets organization. He also spent his summer with assistant coach Cam Hodges working on his game and getting stronger in the weight room.

He was learning, regrouping and, most importantly, moving forward.

On March 22, Sheppard came up big once again. After a rally by the Miami Heat to take a lead, he hit a floater with 12.7 seconds left to give Houston a 3-point lead to help the Rockets eventually win 123-122.

Sheppard had 23 points, 14 assists, and no turnovers in 37 minutes. With that performance, he became the youngest player in Rockets history with at least 20 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a game (21 years, 170 days).

“We put it in his hands a ton,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said after the game. “You know, they went zone a lot, so he’s gonna get some of those open looks, but also delivered the ball well.

“And so, it’s kind of picking the zone apart, making the right reads when he got inside, and taking the shots that were there for him. You can see him kind of growing up right in front of your eyes.”

Sheppard was showing growth for the Rockets at the right time.

“I give credit to the team,” Jeff said. “We are spiritual people. We give God the highest praise, and so he leads this team that involves us as parents. You start piecing together all of these members of this team, and then thankfully, you start introducing veteran players that are on the Rockets right now that have made an incredible impact on our son, Jeff Green leading the way. What a veteran. What a man. What a positive influence.”

Sheppard’s village also includes veteran teammates Aaron Holiday, Adams, VanVleet and Durant. The elder players have been sharing both on- and off-the-court advice and encouragement that both Reed and Jeff find to be incredibly meaningful.

“He loves Fred,” Jeff said. “Fred has been a tremendous mentor, not just this season, but ever since he was drafted. Reed was really looking forward to playing with Fred.

“KD’s words have been loud, but his example has been louder. It’s been really cool to see Reed’s development and how he is learning to continue to navigate through things as a young man.”

But even with the good nights, the noise and expectations will always be there. And Sheppard has been preparing for it for quite some time.

“I think sometimes it can be tough, but I think if you have people that you trust and that you love around you and stay true to yourself,” Sheppard said. “There’s a lot that goes on, but I think the biggest thing is just trying to stay humble.

“Stay grateful for every opportunity and just really kind of sinking into that.”

***

Shakeia Taylor is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the NBA. Before joining The Athletic, she worked as a sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune. Follow Shakeia on X @curlyfro.

There, between Games 3 and 4 of their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons, Jamal Cain asked Desmond Bane if Bane ever feels nervous during playoff games. Bane explained that he feels apprehensive, but his worries evaporate once the game begins.

Bane told Cain that everyone on the Magic roster believes in him, and advised Cain to try to remain confident and level-headed.

That talk made a massive difference Monday night. Knowing that his teammates supported him, Cain played a pivotal role in Game 4 as the Magic upset the Pistons 94-88. Orlando needs only one more victory to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Franz Wagner suffered an injury to his right calf midway through the third quarter, forcing Cain to serve as a primary defender on Pistons point guard extraordinaire Cade Cunningham. Cain not only helped to frustrate Cunningham, but he also scored eight points and collected nine rebounds, all of them crucial in an intense, sometimes frantic, game.

With Orlando clinging to a precarious 78-76 lead in the fourth quarter, Cain delivered one of the most emphatic — and most consequential — dunks of the NBA postseason. Cain dribbled three-quarters of the length of the court, sped past Cunningham and elevated off two feet in the lane, slamming the ball with his right hand over hulking Pistons center Jalen Duren. Duren fell onto his backside, Magic fans within the announced crowd of 19,040 inside the Kia Center leapt off their seats and players on the Magic’s bench jumped up and down.

The sequence changed the tenor of the game.

Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. watched Cain’s dunk from several feet away. When the ball hurtled through the hoop, Carter yelled, along with the fans. “I don’t really think words can describe what I felt when he did that,” Carter said later.

Cain’s performance resonated on so many levels. He grew up in Pontiac, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. When he and his grandfather would play the popular NBA 2K video game series, Cain would always be the Pistons, with a special focus on point guard Chauncey Billups.

Now he’s facing the Pistons in the playoffs, attempting to eliminate the team he grew up watching after its 60-win season. His loved ones piled into Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena for Game 1 and Game 2 to watch him play.

“I put some of my friends and family in a tough spot because they’ve been ride-or-die Pistons fans,” Cain said. “But it’s definitely a special moment, especially going back to Detroit and having my whole family come out to watch me play, especially in the playoffs. I mean, words can’t describe how I feel, honestly.”

“They’re sending bodies at him,” Pistons backup center Isaiah Stewart said. “They’re trying to get the ball out of his hands in every way.”

Cain contributed to some of those shooting struggles and also drew a pair of key Pistons offensive fouls. With Orlando ahead 87-85 with 4:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, he was guarding Cunningham when Caris LeVert set an illegal pick and sent him to the ground for Detroit’s 19th turnover of the night. With Orlando ahead 89-85 with 2:56 left in the game, Cain drew an offensive foul on Duren for another illegal pick, Detroit’s 20th turnover.

It was a theme for the evening. The Magic scored 23 points off Pistons turnovers, and the Magic also compiled 16 second-chance points.

Cain and his teammates will take a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 Wednesday night in Detroit.

“We’ve put ourselves in position to try to get four (wins),” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “But right now, it means nothing. We have the advantage, and now we’ve just got to make sure we try to keep that advantage.”

“You know,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said, “it’s first to four (wins), not first to three (wins). So like I say, great win here at the crib, protect the home court. But it’s not over. We’ve got to go do what we need to do.”

It will be difficult. Orlando has played superior defense almost the entire series, but it has struggled to generate offense in the half court. On Monday, the Magic made only 33 percent of their field-goal attempts. As has so often been the case in recent years, 3-point shooting was their Achilles heel; they made only nine of their 35 tries from beyond the arc.

Wagner’s injury is a worry. He said he started to feel discomfort in his right calf approximately one minute before he checked out of Monday’s game with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter. He did not return.

The severity of the injury is unclear. Wagner said he will receive an MRI on Tuesday.

“It just sucks to come out of the game,” he said. “The most important thing is that we got the win, and we’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”

Cain almost certainly will receive extended minutes if Wagner cannot play in Game 5.

Bane’s talk may have crystallized Cain’s mindset, but the entire team has told him that he belongs in the NBA as a rotation player.

“It helps a lot,” Cain said. “I don’t think no one can do this on their own.”

***

Josh Robbins is a senior writer for The Athletic. He began covering the Washington Wizards in 2021 after spending more than a decade on the Orlando Magic beat for The Athletic and the Orlando Sentinel, where he worked for 18 years. His work has been honored by the Football Writers Association of America, the Green Eyeshade Awards and the Florida Society of News Editors. He served as president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association from 2014 to 2023. Josh is a native of the greater Washington, D.C., area. Follow Josh on X @JoshuaBRobbins