Tag: NBA

The AWS NBA Draft Combine — held from May 10-17 — is a week-long gathering in Chicago where top Draft prospects participate in skills drills, scrimmages, get official anthropometric measurements and have the opportunity to meet with NBA team officials.

Last year, 75 prospects participated in the NBA Draft Combine, including every player that would go on to become a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft – a group led by Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey as the top five picks.

With 71 players filing as early-entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft, the number of prospects at this year’s Draft Combine may be even higher. Below is an overview of the stations and activities that Draft prospects will participate in while attending the AWS NBA Draft Combine.

Anthropometric measurements

Hand length and width, height without shoes, percentage of body fat, standing reach, weight and wingspan are measured.

Strength and agility tests

After dynamic warm-up, no-step vertical jump, maximum vertical jump, pro lane drill, three-quarter court sprint, lane shuttle drill (players will complete drills in small groups; within each group, expected order will be lowest jersey number to highest jersey number).

Kon Knueppel participates in shooting drills at 2025 NBA Draft Combine.

Shooting drills (required of each participant)

Players are required to complete each of the following drills:

• Off-the-dribble shooting
• Spot-up shooting
• Star drill (3-point OR Mid-range)
• Side-mid-side drill (3-point OR Mid-range)
• Free throw shooting

See below for a detailed look at the shooting drills.

Live action offense vs. defense drills (optional)

After warmups, there will be three categories of optional live action offense vs. defense drills:

• Simulated actions (Two-on-two/Three-on-three)
• Transition drill (Four-on-four)
• Four-on-four half court

See below for a detailed look at the offense vs. defense drills.

Cooper Flagg goes through measuring at 2025 NBA Draft Combine.

Biomechanical and functional movement testing

Biomechanics assessment via NBA providers; isometric strength assessment

Medical intake & Medical history information

In-person medical screening/exam and history review with orthopedic physician and sports medicine physician, blood draw for medical lab tests, and DEXA. These activities will follow a virtual intake, prior to the Combine, with an orthopedic physician and collection of medical history information (including prior medical records)

Five-on-five scrimmages (Optional)

Pro days (If necessary)

Facilitated by the NBA with content organized by players and player representatives

SHOOTING & LIVE ACTION OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE DRILLS

SHOOTING DRILLS (REQUIRED)

Players are required to complete each of the shooting drills below as directed by the NBA. Four baskets will be utilized for shooting drills.

Off-the-dribble shooting

Shoot from three locations (right wing through top-left wing). At each location, the player will take 10 shots, alternating his dribble in each direction (e.g., one shot dribbling right, one shot dribbling left, one shot dribbling right, and so on).

• Right Wing: Start on the right wing outside of the NBA 3-point line (shoot 15’-18’ jump shots).
  • One dribble right – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot
  • One dribble left – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot

• Top of the Key: Start at the top of the NBA 3-point line (shoot 15’-18’ jump shots)
  • One dribble right – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot
  • One dribble left – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot

• Left Wing: Start on the left wing outside of the NBA 3-point line (shoot 15’-18’ jumpshots)
  • One dribble right – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot
  • One dribble left – pull-up jump shot and return to the initial spot

Spot-up shooting

Start in the right corner. Shoot five shots at five spots around the NBA 3-point line (right corner, break, top, break, left corner) for a total of 25 shots.

Star Drill (3-point OR mid-range)

Players are required to complete the star drill and, based on their individual shooting preference, will have the option of completing this drill from 3-point or mid-range. Upon arrival in Chicago and check-in for the Draft Combine, each player will have the option to notify the NBA that he intends to complete the mid-range version of this drill (instead of the default 3-point version). A player will also have the opportunity to choose the mid-range version by notifying the NBA before beginning the shooting drills.

• 3-Point: Start in the right corner outside the NBA 3-point line. Take one shot in the right corner, move to the left wing, right wing, left corner, and top of the NBA 3-point line, shooting off the catch with passes from the rebounder in each location. Repeat this pattern five times for 25 total shots.
• Mid-Range: As noted above, prior to beginning the shooting drills, a player can notify the NBA that, based on his individual shooting preference, he will complete the mid-range version of this drill. The mid-range star drill option historically has been completed by players who do not consistently shoot 3-pointers. Start in the right corner inside the NBA 3-point line (mid-range). Take one shot in the right corner, move to the left wing, right wing, left corner, and top of the key, shooting off the catch with passes from the rebounder in each location. Repeat this pattern five times for 25 total shots.

Side-mid-side drill (3-point OR mid-range)

Players are required to complete the side-mid-side drill and, based on their individual shooting preference, will have the option of completing this drill from the mid-range. Upon arrival in Chicago and check-in for the Draft Combine, each player will have the option to notify the NBA that he intends to complete the mid-range version of this drill (instead of the default 3-point version). A player will also have the opportunity to choose the mid-range version by notifying the NBA before beginning the shooting drills.

• 3-point: Repeat a cycle of four NBA 3-point jump shots on the move at game speed for two minutes.
  • Start at the left wing:
    • Sprint to the left sideline and then back to the left wing for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to center half court, then back to the top of the NBA 3-point line for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to the right sideline, then back to the right wing for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to center half court, then back to the top of the key for a catch-and-shoot shot

• Mid-range: As noted above, before beginning the shooting drills, a player can notify the NBA that, based on his individual shooting preference, he will complete the mid-range version of this drill. The mid-range side-mid-side drill option historically has been completed by players who do not consistently shoot 3-pointers. The player will repeat a cycle of four jump shots from the mid-range at game speed for two minutes
  • Start at the left wing:
    • Sprint to the left sideline and then back to the left wing for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to center half court, then back to the top of the key for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to the right sideline, then back to the right wing for a catch-and-shoot shot
    • Sprint to center half court, then back to the top of the key for a catch-and-shoot shot

Free Throw Shooting

Shoot 10 free throws.

LIVE ACTION OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE DRILLS (OPTIONAL)

Players will have the option to participate in three categories of live action offense vs. defense drills that feature specific basketball situations that a player may encounter in an NBA game (Simulated Actions, Transition Drill, and Four-on-Four Half Court). For players participating in such drills, prior to doing so, there will be warmups (described below). The coaches operating the live action offense vs. defense drills and warmups may elect to skip a particular action or set based on timing or other considerations.

WARMUPS

Ball handling and finishing (straight line, in-and-out, crossover, euro, between legs — reverse, long layup, and floater).

SIMULATED ACTIONS (TWO-ON-TWO / THREE-ON-THREE)

TWO-ON-TWO

• Coach has the basketball near the baseline on either side of the court
• One offensive player is positioned on each of the left and right wings of the NBA 3-point line. One defensive player is positioned at the block and a second defensive player is positioned at the free-throw line
• Coach passes the ball to Player 1 on the wing, and Player 1 swings the ball to Player 2 positioned on the opposite wing
  • Before beginning the drill, the coach will notify Player 2 that he can either shoot a 3-pointer or do a dribble hand-off (“DHO”) with Player 1. Based on Player 2’s choice, the coach will inform all 4 players whether the drill will involve a DHO
  • If there is a DHO, Player 1 will shoot a 3-point shot following the hand-off, and Player 2 will roll to the basket and receive a pass from the coach for a floater in the paint (no dunking)

• Defender 1 will close out on Player 2 to contest the 3-point shot or floater in the paint (as applicable). Defender 2 will close out on Player 1 to contest the 3-point shot (if applicable). Before beginning the drill, the coach will provide Defenders 1 and 2 with any additional or alternate instructions (for example, whether to switch or stay with their initial offensive assignment)

THREE-ON-THREE WITH ADVANTAGE

• Three players are positioned on the NBA 3-point line (left wing / right wing / corner)

• • Option 1: Player 1 has the ball on the left wing, drives toward the basket, and passes to Player 2 in the corner. Player 2 swings the ball to Player 3 on the wing for a 3-point jump shot or a dribble hand-off (“DHO”) with Player 2
  • Option 2: Player 1 has the ball on the left wing, drives toward the elbow, and passes to Player 2 on the wing. Player 2 swings the ball to Player 3 in the corner for a 3-point jump shot or a dribble hand-off (“DHO”) with Player 2

• Before beginning the drill, coaches will notify the players that they can execute either Option 1 or 2 and that Player 3 can either shoot a 3-point shot or do a DHO with Player 2. Player 3 will inform the coaches and other players of his choice
• If there is a DHO, Player 2 will shoot a 3-point shot following the hand- off; Player 3 will roll to the basket and receive a pass from a coach for a floater in the paint (no dunking)
• Four coaches will be positioned throughout the drill for soft contests on 3-point shots and floaters in the paint

TRANSITION DRILL (FOUR-ON-FOUR)

• Four players on offense are positioned on the baseline. Four players on defense are positioned on the free throw line (extended, directly opposite the players on offense)
• A coach passes the basketball to an offensive player positioned on the baseline
• When the offensive player receives the ball from the coach, the defensive player who is positioned directly in front of that offensive player sprints to touch the baseline and then gets back on transition defense
• When the offensive player receives the ball, the offense can immediately begin to advance the ball down the court in an attempt to score. The other three defensive players must get back on defense and attempt to slow down the offense’s transition attempt until the fourth player gets back on defense

FOUR-ON-FOUR HALF COURT

PICK AND ROLL

• High Pick and Roll / Side Pick and Roll
  • Actions can be initiated by an off-ball screen
• Once live, defenders will be instructed to do the following:
  • Hedge, Show and Recover, Switch, Trap

SCREENING AND OFF-BALL ACTIONS (CORNER SPLIT / HIGH SPLIT)

• Players will be positioned at the following locations:
  • Elbow / Corner / With ball starting above the NBA 3-point line
  • Ball handler will pass to the elbow or corner to initiate the action
• Once live, players can run the following actions:
  • Delay, Dribble Hand-Off, Stationary Hand-off, Backscreens, Down Screens, Off-Ball Cuts
  • This action could still include pick and roll

THUNDER CLOSE-OUT

• Offensive players will be positioned at the following locations:
  • Two high wings and corner
• Defensive players will be positioned at the following locations:
  • Four spots / lines along the baseline — one in each corner, and one on each free throw line lane line
• Coach can throw the ball to one of the offensive players in the corner:
  • Once live, players can run any action
• In a three-on-three situation, go triangle close-out:
  • Players will be positioned on both wings and top of key

Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert has been a mentor to San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. Now, the two will face off in the playoffs.

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. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Eyes darting around the room, Rudy Gobert is racking his brain for a message for his protege. Gobert and his Minnesota Timberwolves had just defeated the San Antonio Spurs and his mentee, Victor Wembanyama, in January.

Gobert could have talked trash about the game. He also could have imparted some wisdom on getting his health back so his game could finally reach the next level.

But Gobert has been doing that for years already. He had a different challenge for Wembanyama instead.

“Ask him if he can beat me at chess without the timer bailing him out,” Gobert told The Athletic with a sly grin.

The relationship between the face of French basketball for the past decade and the NBA’s new enfant terrible is rooted in a deeper journey. They challenge each other on the court, but they relish pushing each other off it.

Wembanyama laughed when he received Gobert’s message a few minutes later, replying by saying he looks forward to another meeting of the minds in the future. Though he may be able to read the board faster, Gobert believes somewhere, deep in his heart, he could beat Wembanyama with enough time.

Now they have it. Seven games of it. Their chessboard has a 3-point line and four 12-minute quarters.

The NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year meeting the man who has won the most of them in league history. The 7-foot-4 prodigy who is reshaping the game against the 7-foot-1 veteran who has mastered the skill of containing it. A meeting of the player taking over the game and the big brother who prepared him for this moment.

“I love trying to give him everything he needs, to answer all his questions,” Gobert said. “(I) try to be the best mentor I can be for him.”

Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 22-year-old MVP candidate, hosts the 33-year-old Gobert and the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday. Gobert has been the person most responsible for the Timberwolves’ evolution into a defensive-minded team. From the moment he was acquired in 2022, he has served as the backbone of a team that has advanced to the second round for the third straight season and is gunning for its third consecutive Western Conference finals appearance.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić presented an immense test for Gobert in the first round, one he passed with flying colors. Now Gobert faces a different, but no less imposing, opponent he knows all too well.

“We faced a contender in the first round. Now we face another contender,” Gobert told reporters. “As a competitor, what more can we ask for? That’s what we sacrifice for, we work for every single day. That’s what I’ve prepared myself for since I’m 12 years old.”

Wembanyama knew his first title pursuit in the NBA might go through the man who helped him get here. “It’s even more fun if we’re playing against Rudy,” he said. Gobert called it a moment that is “amazing for French basketball” and a dream come true as the youth of France watched the game from afar.

They now have to ruin each other’s current chapters in a story that is nearly 10 years in the making.

“He’s completely free on the court, and he’s really starting to master his craft, even though he still has a lot of growth upon him,” Gobert said of Wembanyama. “It’s pretty amazing to see that he’s (22), but also, he’s already mastering his craft. Obviously, I think a lot of the growth that he had is going to be physical. Keep getting stronger, keep being more resistant.”

Gobert has a lot to do with that evolution. He remembered hosting a children’s basketball tournament back in 2017 when their shared agent, Jérémy Medjana, introduced a young Victor and his mother, Elodie. At first, the Wolves center wasn’t struck by the size of Wembanyama — then 5-foot-11 — but more captivated by Elodie, who stands 6-foot-3.

Then, Gobert found out Wembanyama was only 13 years old.

“You could tell he was a baby and would keep growing,” Gobert said.

From that point, Gobert kept tabs on Wembanyama. He would check in with Medjana and co-agent Bouna Ndiaye for updates on the youngster. He wanted to get in the gym with Wembanyama when he was ready and show him the nuances of guarding the paint in the NBA. They reunited three years later for a two-on-two workout alongside French centers Vincent Poirier and Maxime Raynaud. By that point, the 16-year-old Wembanyama was already taller than the 7-foot-1 Gobert.

There are videos of them shooting hoops, but Wembanyama took away even more from Gobert when they hit the weight room afterwards. He wanted to see how Gobert managed to fill out his wiry, massive frame while staying nimble. Wembanyama was getting a hands-on education in longevity.

“After that, we became friends, and I was paying very close attention to his development,” Gobert said. “I always thought he was a little different than the other guys. Not only because of his physical tools, but because of his mindset.”

Wembanyama has long known he would not be well served bulking up to look like David Robinson or Joel Embiid. Gobert represented a path toward a sustainable training program that could withstand the rigors of the NBA. Gobert could teach him everything about pick-and-roll angles, shot altering and every aspect of defense.

But Wembanyama needed to learn how a veteran of playoff battles still plays 70-plus games a season after all these years.

“As a role model, there’s lots of things that he’s inspired me and I think should inspire more people,” Wembanyama said this week. “In terms of taking care of your body, he should be a role model for all big men.”

Gobert is known for his daily focus on yoga and meditation. He once went on a 64-hour darkness retreat in 2023 to focus on his mind-body connection, a journey that parallels Wembanyama’s 10-day venture out to a Shaolin temple last summer. Both seek different perspectives on training while yearning to understand the connection between their career pursuits and their sense of self.

“We have so many conversations about how to maximize your physical potential, but it’s much deeper than that,” Gobert said. “It’s (about) how to maximize our spiritual and mental potential, and Victor is a very curious kid.”

To make a body of their size move with so much efficiency and fluidity, players like Gobert and Wembanyama need a deeper bond with their feet and core to help distribute effort more evenly throughout the body. Gobert helped Wembanyama embrace proprioception — the body’s sense of orientation — which helps spread the strain of forceful moves and even hyperextensions. It’s part of why Wembanyama can maintain balance even when he’s low to the ground and change direction in a way nobody near his size has ever achieved.

Gobert often speaks to Wembanyama about how to sharpen what he calls their “superpowers.” They have a meticulous process of activation and recovery, doing various forms of meditation and stimulus training to make sure every element of their body is working in concert. Gobert praises Wembanyama’s thirst for knowledge, which turned out to be quite literal.

“A few weeks ago, he asked me what kind of filter I have in my house for water,” Gobert told reporters last week. “It just tells you how his mind is. I try to talk to the young guys here about the food they eat and stuff like that. But I don’t get those kind of questions.”

He said, perhaps facetiously, that he is “praying” for the day that Anthony Edwards asks him those kinds of questions, saying how these types of inquiries show how Wembanyama’s desire to maximize his body is different.

“He has the extra discipline that the greats have, and he puts in the work,” Gobert said. “He understands that, obviously, his body is the key, and his mind. He’s really trying to master both.”

When Wembanyama was diagnosed with a blood clot in his shoulder in February 2025, Gobert reached out to offer support and guidance. He could feel the devastation coming from Wembanyama to not be able to play or train. The path of his protege’s life had been put on hold, creating a feeling of aimlessness in the immediate aftermath.

“I remember him being very frustrated, not being able to play,” Gobert said. “But he has grown so much from that experience, because it made him realize that nothing is granted in life.”

Wembanyama emerged from that setback with a refreshed sense of purpose in his career and his role as a public persona. He has become outspoken on everything from gun violence to basketball ethics. He is open about his hopes and dreams and how he deals with his ups and downs. He stands on business when he sheds a tear and doesn’t hide behind the tough athlete tropes.

As they prepare for the longest battle of their friendship, Gobert is most proud of who his protege has become.

“It’s pretty amazing to see that he’s one of a kind — and not just physically. He’s a special soul, a special person, and I really care about (him),” Gobert said. “I really try to be there for him and, obviously, it’s way beyond basketball. I want him to be good, be well. It’s something that I truly care about.”

— Jon Krawczynski contributed to this story.

***

Jared Weiss is a staff writer covering the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama for The Athletic. He has covered the Celtics since 2011, co-founding CLNS Media Network while in college before covering the team for SB Nation’s CelticsBlog and USA Today. Before coming to The Athletic, Weiss spent a decade working for the government, primarily as a compliance bank regulator. Follow Jared on X @JaredWeissNBA

Cade to Tobias.

Detroit to the East Semis.

A weekend with three Game 7s delivered two 3-1 comebacks – and the Pistons’ first Playoff series win since 2008.

See how it all went down and what to know before the Conference Semifinals tip tonight on NBC & Peacock ⬇️

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

What’s Trending: A wild First Round finale, three Game 7s, eight teams left

Cade Takes Control: Cunningham hits new heights to lift Pistons out of 3-1 hole

Pistons Grit: How Detroit came together to overcome the odds and finish the job

Allen Ignites Cavs: Jarrett Allen takes over as Cleveland surges past Toronto in Game 7

Tonight On NBC & Peacock: Knicks & Sixers collide at MSG, Wolves & Spurs duel in San Antonio

BUT FIRST … ⏰

The Conference Semifinals tip tonight on NBC & Peacock as the Knicks host the Sixers in the East (8 ET, NBC/Peacock | Tap to Watch), before the Wolves visit the Spurs out West (9:30 ET, Peacock | Tap to Watch).

Catch Up Quick: From the bracket to schedules to the latest news from every series, tap here for the NBA Playoffs Hub.

1. WHAT’S TRENDING: AN EPIC PLAYOFF WEEKEND IN 2 MINUTES

A First Round for the ages, a weekend that was one of one, and now, just eight teams left standing.

Through 15 days of Playoff basketball, we’ve already seen 48 total games.

That’s the most First-Round games in a dozen years, capped by three Game 7s – the second-most since the current seven-game format was implemented in 2003.

Now, the Conference Semifinals are set:

In the East…

• No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 7 Sixers: Game 1 tonight (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 4 Cavaliers: Game 1 Tuesday (7 ET, Peacock)

In the West…

• No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 6 Wolves: Game 1 tonight (9:30 ET, Peacock)
• No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 4 Lakers: Game 1 Tuesday (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)

How We Got Here: A record First Round culminated with an epic weekend, starting Friday, when the drama kicked into overdrive.

• Detroit Rally: The Pistons (once down 3-1 to Orlando) rallied from a 24-point deficit to force Game 7, marking Detroit’s largest Playoff comeback since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997-98
• Barrett’s Bounce: Then, RJ Barrett called game in Toronto with an instant classic bounce-in 3 with 1.2 ticks left, forcing a Game 7 in Cleveland
• Some Déjà Vu: The bounce echoed another winner in Toronto: Kawhi Leonard’s iconic Game 7 shot in 2019 – “Kawhi bounce,” said Barrett
• LeBron Lifts Lakers: LeBron James (28 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) and the Lakers capped the night with a Game 6 series-clinching win in Houston, solidifying the West Semis

Game 7 Heaven: The weekend brought three Game 7s in the East, tying the NBA record for the most in one conference in a single Playoff round.

Those three Game 7s match or exceed the entire Playoff total in six of the last 10 years. And the fireworks kept coming.

• Philly Stuns Boston: All eyes shifted to TD Garden Saturday, where Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers past the Celtics, 109-100, in Game 7, erasing a 3-1 deficit for Philly’s first Playoff series win over Boston in 44 years
• Detroit Completes Comeback: Then, the Pistons won their third straight game vs. Orlando, joining the Sixers as the only teams to pull off 3-1 comebacks in the same round of a single postseason
• Cavs Respond vs. Raptors: To solidify the East Semis, Cleveland answered Barrett’s Game 6 buzzer-beater with a Game 7 dub, thanks to Jarrett Allen’s monster takeover (see Section 4 for more)

Now, eight teams remain – and the Conference Semifinals begin.

• Playoff Hub: Dive into all things Playoffs, including the latest Conference Semi previews, stories and news here

2. CADE LEVELS UP TO SEND PISTONS TO EAST SEMIFINALS

One week ago, Cade Cunningham faced one of the biggest tests of his young career.

The No. 1 Pistons were in a 3-1 hole against the No. 8 Magic after back-to-back losses. Cunningham had shot 15-of-46 in those losses while committing 17 turnovers – his most in any two-game span this season.

Six days later, he walked off Detroit’s floor to a standing ovation – Game 7 in hand, and the Pistons’ first Playoff series win since 2008 was secured.

To get there, he delivered his biggest three-game playoff stretch yet.

• Game 5 Eruption: Looking to avoid elimination on their home floor, Cunningham carried the Pistons with a franchise Playoff-record 45 points, outdueling Paolo Banchero (45 pts) with a last-minute dagger
• Game 6 Rally: Facing a 24-point deficit in Orlando, Cade (32 pts, 10 reb, 4 stl) sparked Detroit’s largest comeback of the season with 24 points and 9 boards in the 2nd half, sending the series back to Detroit

Then, Game 7: The first of Cunningham’s career and one that will go down in the record books, as the 2x All-Star took over with 32 points, 12 assists and 2 blocks, scoring 17 in the 2nd half to send Detroit to the East Semis.

• Fearless: Cunningham (24y, 220d) is the second youngest player in NBA history to total 30+ pts and 10+ ast in a Game 7, trailing only Luka Dončić
• On Fire: He’s also just the sixth player ever to rack up 225+ total points and 50+ dimes in a single Playoff series
• His Company? Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James (2x), Jerry West and Oscar Robertson
• Unfazed: That run was capped by averages of 36.3 pts, 5 reb and 6.7 ast while shooting 61.1% from 3 in Games 5-7 – numbers he’s never matched over any three-game span in his career

“We were pushed to the limit,” said Cunningham after Game 7. “I think we got a lot better from this series. I got a lot better from this series – I learned a lot about myself.”

3. DETROIT GRIT: PISTONS BAND TOGETHER TO TAKE GAME 7

They were one loss from becoming the seventh No. 1 seed in NBA history to fall to a No. 8.

Instead, the Pistons joined one of the league’s rarest clubs by erasing a 3-1 deficit.

Pistons 116, Magic 94: After a last-minute win in Game 5 and a 24-point rally in Game 6, the Pistons finished the job in Game 7, using a 40-27 2nd quarter to build a double-digit lead that they never relinquished.

Cade Cunningham (32 pts, 12 ast), Tobias Harris (30 pts, 9 reb) and Jalen Duren (15 pts, 15 reb) led the way, overcoming Paolo Banchero’s monster outing (38 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) to punch Detroit’s first ticket to the East Semifinals since 2008. | Recap

All Grit, No Quit: The Pistons are just the 15th team – and second this postseason, joining Philly – to erase a 3-1 series deficit. But the rally didn’t come out of nowhere.

It’s who they’ve been all season.

Back in November, a shorthanded Pistons squad erased a 13-point 4th-quarter deficit to beat Washington. It may have looked like just one of their 60 wins, but to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, it revealed something more.

• “There’s a grit to them, there’s a toughness to them,” said Bickerstaff of his team. “Down 13 in the 4th quarter, we could’ve given it up … but that’s not the nature of this group…
• “Our identity is together, and everything that we do is together.”

Six months later, in a do-or-die Game 7, Detroit did what it’s done all year: band together.

• Harris Heater: Harris, who entered with a team-high three Game 7s under his belt, scored 17 of Detroit’s 40 points in the 2nd quarter, sparking a 22-9 closing run to take control
• Cade In Command: Cunningham added 21 of his 32 points across the 2nd and 3rd quarters, highlighted by a coast-to-coast jam to put Detroit up 15 in the 3rd
• Jenkins Again: Daniss Jenkins (16 pts) – who hit the game-tying buzzer-beater to force OT in November vs. Washington – splashed another to end the 3rd, as Little Caesars Arena erupted
• Duren Delivers: Duren was a force inside, becoming the first Piston to post 15+ pts and 15+ reb in a Game 7 since Hall of Famer Ben Wallace in 2003
• Final Lock: Detroit’s defense allowed just 45 2nd-half points, holding the Magic under 95 for a second straight game, as Harris drilled the dagger from the corner

As One: With a slew of Pistons legends in attendance — from Wallace to Isiah Thomas to Rip Hamilton — Detroit capped its 3-1 comeback. That’s a deficit 302 teams had faced, and only 14 had erased.

Make the 2025-26 Pistons No. 15, stamping their first Playoff series win in 18 years.

• “We think we can do anything,” said Cunningham postgame. “We’ve had our back against the wall, and we stuck together…
• “We have a lot of confidence in who we are as a basketball team – but also as a brotherhood.”

4. ALLEN IGNITES CAVS IN GAME 7, SOLIDIFYING EAST SEMIS

A series that hadn’t given an inch went the distance – and in Game 7, Jarrett Allen went the extra mile.

Cavaliers 114, Raptors 102: Tied 49-49 at the half, Allen (22 pts, 19 reb, 3 blk) erupted in the 3rd quarter as Cleveland outscored Toronto 38-19 to take control, pulling past Scottie Barnes (24 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) and the Raptors to advance to the East Semis. | Recap

• “Man, he really took us over the top,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson of Allen. “Best performance I’ve seen from him, and I’ve coached him a long time …
• “We needed someone else to step up besides James and Don – and he was just absolutely incredible tonight.”

Center Stage: Allen, a nine-year vet and the Cavs’ second-longest tenured player (six seasons), had logged 33 Playoff games entering Sunday, but never a Game 7.

In his first, capping a series that was tied 669-669 in total points through six games – then even at 49 midway through Game 7 – he delivered the separation.

• The Explosion: After entering the break with 6 points, Allen dropped 14 in the 3rd while adding 10 boards and 1 block, turning a tie game into a 19-point lead in just 12 minutes
• The Company: He’s the first player since Nikola Jokić in 2019 to post 20+ pts, 15+ reb and 3+ blk in a Game 7 – and he did it on 63.3% shooting (7-11 FG), with 8 offensive boards
• “Amazing,” said James Harden of Allen’s performance. “His activity, his offensive rebounding, his finishing … 22 & 19 – that’s a game-changer right there.”
• 😂 Said Allen: “I thought it was Don receiving the MVP chants.”

Allen’s energy sparked Cleveland’s core: Donovan Mitchell added 22 points, including 15 in the 2nd half, while Harden (18 pts, 6 reb) and Evan Mobley (13 pts, 7 reb) combined for 31 as the Cavs finished with six scorers in double figures.

The team effort stamped a season-saving response after a heartbreaking Game 6 loss on RJ Barrett’s last-second winner.

But the Cavs took the punch – then punched their ticket back to the East Semis for a third straight season.

• “It’s a mental toughness thing,” said Atkinson on the win. “That was a tough loss in Toronto … for this team, I think we took another step mentally…
• “I think this series galvanized us.”

Up Next: The Cavs meet the Pistons, with Game 1 set for Tuesday in Detroit (7 ET, Peacock).

5. TONIGHT ON NBC & PEACOCK: CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS BEGIN

The Sixers are chasing their first Conference Finals berth since 2001, when Allen Iverson led them to an East title.

The Knicks were there last year.

The two sides begin their quests to return tonight at MSG.

76ers at Knicks (8 ET, NBC/Peacock): Two nights after ousting Boston in seven, the Sixers face another fierce rival in New York – a star-studded squad with a similar one-two punch.

• Twin Engines: Both teams are driven by All-Star guards – Jalen Brunson for New York and Tyrese Maxey for Philly – alongside dominant bigs in Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid
• Close Calls: Their last Playoff meeting? A 2024 First Round showdown that the Knicks took in six, outscoring Philly by just one point (650-649), with five games coming down to clutch time
• Brunson Burner: Leading the charge was Brunson, who averaged 35.5 ppg, including three straight 40-balls (47, 40, 41) to clinch the series
• Dead Even: This year, New York and Philly split the season series 2-2, with the road team taking all four games
• Philly Fire: Maxey has averaged 30 ppg vs. New York this season, while Embiid – limited to just two meetings – enters red-hot, posting 28 ppg this postseason just three weeks after an appendectomy

Wolves at Spurs (9:30 ET, Peacock): Fresh off a physical, shorthanded series win over Nikola Jokić and Denver, Minnesota now faces another tall task: containing Victor Wembanyama and a young Spurs squad that can flip games in a hurry.

But a big boost could be on the way.

• Ant-Man Return? After missing the last two games with a left knee hyperextension, Anthony Edwards (28.8 ppg this regular season) is questionable for tonight
• Wolves’ Clamps: While Ant’s status is TBD, Minnesota’s defense remains locked in behind Rudy Gobert, who helped limit Jokić and the Nuggets’ top-ranked offense to 107.5 ppg in the First Round – 14.6 points below its regular season average (122.1)
• Gobert’s Next Test? Wemby, a fellow Frenchman, the Kia Defensive Player of the Year and a Kia MVP finalist, averaged 21 pts, 8.8 reb and 4 blk in the Spurs’ First-Round win over Portland – the first Playoff series of his career
• Surging In Spring: San Antonio advanced in five, fueled by back-to-back 15+ point comebacks for its first Playoff series win since 2017
• But Minnesota has proven it can beat the 62-win Spurs, as it is one of just three teams to win their season series vs. San Antonio this year (2-1)

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The 14th 3-1 comeback in NBA history.

The first 30/10 Game 7 duo since Shaq and Kobe.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey & the Philadelphia 76ers are moving on, after their first Game 7 win since 2001.

Read on to get set for two more Game 7s today.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Three Game 7s: What to know about this weekend’s trio, quick

Philly Did It: Embiid & Maxey complete Sixers’ 3-1 comeback for first Game 7 win since 2001

Duo Delivered: How Embiid’s return and Maxey’s clutch play swayed the series and Game 7

Game 7 In Detroit: In one final battle, will the 1-seed Pistons complete the comeback or will 8-seed Orlando advance?

Game 7 in Cleveland: Game 6 hero RJ Barrett thrust into spotlight showdown with all-time closer Mitchell, Cavs

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Two more Game 7s on Sunday…

What’s better than a Saturday night Game 7?

How about two more on Sunday:

• On ABC: Game 7 between the Magic and Pistons (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch)
• On NBC & Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, Game 7 (7:30 ET | Tap To Watch)

1. BEST TWO WORDS IN SPORTS, AGAIN: 3 GAME 7s IN 1 MINUTE

Fernando Medina + Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images

One down, two to go.

In the 23 years since the First Round expanded to best-of-7, only one season’s had more opening-round Game 7s than this year’s trio (2014, with five).

And after Philly showed just how much a Game 7 win can mean (get much more in Sections 2 & 3), two more Game 7s await today, when the Magic & Pistons meet at 3:30 ET (ABC) and Raptors & Cavs square off at 7:30 ET (NBC/Peacock).

Four seasons on the brink on the final day of the first round.

Which two teams are moving on? Which two teams are going home?

Here’s what you gotta know.

• So Many Sevens: This is the second-most Game 7s in a First Round since 2003 (5, 2014), when the opening round expanded to from 5 to 7-game series
• Follow My Lead: The Sixers and Pistons can be the first teams in NBA history to complete 3-1 comebacks in the same Playoff round, in the same season
• Hosts Boast: Neither Cleveland nor Detroit have ever lost a Game 7 at home (both 4-0), and Boston’s home loss last night was just the 41st of 156 Game 7s
• No Rest, No Wait: The winners of today’s Game 7s will meet on equal rest in an East Semis series beginning Tuesday, unlike the Knicks’ two-day wait for Philly
• Who’s Historic? The Magic are trying to become just the 7th 8-seed to eliminate a 1-seed, while the Pistons look to follow the Sixers as the 15th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit
• The record for most Game 7s in a single season is five, which happened in 1993-94, 2013-14 and 2015-16. 2025-26 already has three, with seven more opportunities to come

2. SIXERS GET THEIR GAME 7 WIN, ELIMINATING CELTICS

2019 East Semis: Kawhi Leonard, four bounces and the first-ever Game 7 buzzer-beater

2021 East Semis: Three home losses as the 1-seed and Atlanta’s first-ever Game 7 road win

2023 East Semis: Jayson Tatum’s 51-point explosion for the all-time Game 7 scoring record

After years of Game 7 disappointments for Philly and its fans, the 76ers finally got their win.

And they did so in historic fashion, becoming just the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-7 series.

Sixers 109, Celtics 100: Joel Embiid (34 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast) led all scorers with his biggest output of the series, Tyrese Maxey (30 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) delivered 22 2nd-half points, and rookie VJ Edgecombe (23 pts, 6 reb, 5 3s) starred on both ends, as No. 7 Philly clinched Game 7 over No. 2 Boston on the road to advance.

They’ll next take on the No. 3 Knicks in the Conference Semifinals.

Jaylen Brown’s 33 points led Boston, with 26 more on five 3s from Derrick White. Jayson Tatum (knee stiffness) was ruled out just over two hours prior to tip-off. | Recap

• C’s coach Joe Mazzulla then reshaped his starting lineup, giving Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman their first-career Playoff starts. Only two players in the previous 50 years made their first Playoff starts in a Game 7
• Philly’s Best Start: The 76ers responded to the wrinkle with energy, getting out to a double-digit lead, with 10 points from Embiid and 9 from VJ Edgecombe to claim their first opening quarter of the series, 32-19
• Back & Forth: Derrick White’s 12-point 2nd quarter brought the C’s back to take a 37-36 lead before Embiid sank 9 more points to restore a 55-50 Philly halftime lead

Embiid led the Sixers with 19 1st-half points, matched only by White on the other side. Edgecombe supported Embiid with 12 points, but wanted to impact the game another way.

“[VJ] came out of halftime saying: ‘I got White, and I’m gonna do better on him,’” Sixers coach Nick Nurse shared. White made just one 3-ball after that (3-13 FG).

• Philly Flying: Maxey got going after the break, netting 8 points in the first 5 minutes and 12 overall in the 3rd. Edgecombe added 9 as Philly built its largest lead, 84-66
• Pull Out The Stops: That’s when Boston fanned out into a zone defense. The switch-up held the Sixers scoreless from the field for the first 3 minutes of the 4th
• Celtics Surge: That was the break Boston needed, starting the 4th with a 16-4 comeback. Jaylen Brown’s and-1 finish with 8 minutes to go made it a 1-point game
• Maxey’s Moment: Philly was just 2-for-13 in the 4th with 2 minutes left, until Maxey hit back-to-back layups for 5 points of breathing room and sealed the game at the line

“The way we’re playing right now, we’re [so] in sync,” Embiid said postgame. “That’s what I’ve always wanted: Playing winning basketball, sharing the ball… defensively, everybody being locked in… that’s how you win.”

• That locked-in defense found a winning recipe, limiting Boston to 26.5 3P% (13-49) in Game 7. The C’s shot under 30% from 3 and were held at or below 100 points in all four Philly wins
• “When you go after greatness, you have to accept the other side of that,” Mazzulla said postgame. … “You’re gonna fail. We failed by not winning but we stick to the process…”
• X-Factor First: Edgecombe is the first-ever rookie with 20+ points, 5+ reb and 5+ 3s in the Game 7. His 23 points are a Sixers’ rookie record for a Game 7, and he joins Tatum as the only 20+ point Game-7 scorers under age 20

3. EMBIID’S RETURN, MAXEY’S ATTACK PUSH PHILLY PAST NO. 2 BOSTON

Joel Embiid was 0-for-3.

Tyrese Maxey was 0-for-2.

In fact, the 76ers hadn’t won a Game 7 since 2001, when Allen Iverson’s squad did so to reach the Finals.

That all changed Saturday night, on the road, in the home of their rivals, the No. 2 seed to Philly’s 7-seed, coming back from a 3-1 deficit.

With that much working against them, what made this Game 7 climb different for Philly?

• “We had a talk after Game 5,” Maxey said. “We can’t let the same stuff happen over and over and over and over again. At some point, we have to put a stop to it. And we did.”
• Power Production: Embiid (34 pts, 12 ast, 6 ast) and Maxey (30 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) combined for over half of Philly’s Game 7 points, rebounds and assists
• Duo Royalty: They join Kobe & Shaq (2002) as the only duos in the last 50 years to each log 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a Game 7, and stand alone when adding in their 5+ assists each

These Sixers achieved the first 3-1 series comeback since the 2020 Denver Nuggets, with Maxey and Embiid leading the turnaround.

• Following his appendectomy, Embiid only appeared in the final four games of the series, going 3-1 while averaging 28.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 7.3 apg. Maxey had a very similar 28.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 5.7 apg in that stretch
• “What changed in the series is Joel Embiid came back,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after Game 7

Embiid’s return in Game 4, just 17 days removed from surgery, came before “Game 7” was the main motivator, or even a possibility. So what fueled Joel to risk his return?

• “I’m tired of losing to them,” Embiid said of his long history with the Celtics in the lead-up to Game 7
• That Much Sweeter: In addition to the Game 7 demons exorcised, Saturday’s win also marked Philly’s first series win over Boston since 1982
• “It means everything,” Maxey said of Embiid putting his body on the line for his team. “All we can do is appreciate him, he’s been doing it all year; all his career really.”

If Embiid helped alter the series in Philly’s favor, Maxey did so inside Game 7 itself.

• Ty’s Takes: In Game 7’s final two minutes, as Boston stormed back within a possession, Maxey himself sank as many field goals (2) as the rest of his team did in the quarter
• “I just really wanted the ball,” Tyrese said. “I knew I would need to step up and make plays down the stretch for us to win the game.”
• “What he’s been doing: All-NBA,” Embiid said of Maxey’s play

The winning duo will now take on a comparable counterpart in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, as the East Semis start in New York Monday at 8 ET (NBC & Peacock).

4. GAME 7 IN DETROIT: HISTORIC COMEBACK OR HISTORIC UPSET?

Thirty. Four. Years.

That’s how many years, combined, it’s been since the Pistons or Magic have advanced beyond the First Round.

Sixteen for Orlando. Eighteen for Detroit.

One of those droughts ends today, in a series that’s already over-delivered on history, and drama.

After the top-seeded Pistons became the 38th team to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren look to punch Detroit’s first second-round ticket since 2008 – while Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Orlando are out to be just the 7th 8-seed to move on.

To do that, Orlando will need to shake off a 2nd-half struggle that would haunt any team: Outscored 55-19 to erase a 24-point lead, 23 consecutive missed shots over nearly 14 minutes of game play, and 1-for-20 shooting (5% FG) in the 4th quarter.

“You gotta wash it,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “You gotta learn from it. You gotta go get Game 7, and you gotta do it the hard way.”

That ability to move on and overcome adversity is a trait both of these teams share, and a required skill in a series like this one.

• Not Done Yet: Top-seeded Detroit is still standing after facing down elimination in two straight games. The team would be just the 15th, after Philly last night, to move on after going down 3-1
• Play-In Primer: The Magic took on two extra games just to get to Detroit after finishing 8th and falling to Philly in their Play-In opener. They then had to tame one of the season’s hottest teams in Charlotte
• Health Hindrance: Orlando fought through another injury-plagued season, with Franz Wagner (ankle, calf) missing 48 games, along with the final 3 of this series, and 25 absences for Jalen Suggs (various)
• Without Cade: The Pistons faced one of their toughest challenges of the season navigating the stretch run without their All-Star engine Cunningham, who missed 11 games with a collapsed lung. Detroit rallied to go 8-3 in that stretch
• Been There Before: Orlando’s second half drought — and a bounceback from it — has a little precedent this year: on Mar. 29, the Raptors scored 31 straight against the Magic
• After that? Orlando won six of its next seven games

Resiliency like this for Orlando and Detroit isn’t contained to just this season.

These Game 7 foes, meeting today at 3:30 ET (ABC) for a chance to add a brand-new chapter to their franchise’s history, both found themselves at the very bottom of the East four years ago.

• Hard Times: Detroit, featuring a rookie Cunningham, finished 2021-22 just 23 wins, 14th in the East ahead of only Orlando (22 wins), who would go on to draft Banchero 1st overall that summer
• Difference Makers: Now the Magic have had made three consecutive Playoff appearances for the first time since 2012, and after becoming the first team to triple its win total year-over-year last season, Detroit upped again to 60 wins

Today, Cunningham, Banchero and their teams have a chance to take a major next step.

• Another All-Out Duel? While Game 6 featured wild swings, Game 5’s twin 45-point scoring showdown saw Cade set a new Pistons Playoff high, and Paolo come within a bucket of Orlando’s
• Block Party: The Pistons’ 60 blocks through six games are the most in any six-game Playoff stretch since 1994
• No Repeats: Orlando last played a Game 7 two seasons ago in the First Round, against another explosive scorer, as Donovan Mitchell (39 pts) outdueled Paolo (38 pts) in the largest Game 7 comeback (18 points) of the play-by-play era

5. GAME 7 IN THE LAND: LOCAL HERO VS. ALL-TIME CLOSER

Those 1.7 seconds were a lifetime in the making.

When RJ Barrett’s time-stopping OT jumper fell in – after hanging in the air for nearly two seconds, following a bounce off the back of the rim – it didn’t just help the Raptors avoid elimination in Game 6.

It made for a new instant-classic moment for the franchise, delivered by someone who’d dreamed of it growing up just a few miles down the road.

“Just happy to be able to be in this moment, playing for my hometown team,” Barrett said. “That’s amazing. I’m so proud of this group so far, and I think it’s going to be even sweeter when we go get Game 7.”

The hoops world drew immediate comps to Kawhi Leonard’s all-timer in 2019. Barrett did, too.

How iconic this one will be, time will tell. But when the Raptors and Cavaliers meet in a win-or-go-home Game 7 today (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock), the hometown kid will find he’s a key part in a battle of star duos out to send their teams to new heights.

• Reinforcements: After Cleveland fell short of the Conference Finals as the top seed last year, Donovan Mitchell, now paired with James Harden, looks to lead the Cavs back there (and beyond)
• Last Conference Finals Appearance? 2018 – which capped a 3-year stretch of Cleveland ending Toronto’s seasons
• Last Game 7: Spida went for 39 to close out Orlando in the 2024 First Round
• Spida’s Stage: Mitchell averages 32.2 ppg in potential series-clinching games in his career, 4th-most in NBA history (min. 5 games) behind MJ, Iverson and Giannis
• One At A Time: For Toronto, Barrett and Scottie Barnes are looking to send the Raptors past the first round for the first time since 2020
• Extra Even: Through six games, both teams have scored 669 points each, marking just the second Game 7 in NBA history to feature a zero point differential, along with the Cavs and Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals

The 14th 3-1 comeback in NBA history.

The first 30/10 Game 7 duo since Shaq and Kobe.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey & the Philadelphia 76ers are moving on, after their first Game 7 win since 2001.

Read on to get set for two more Game 7s today.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Three Game 7s: What to know about this weekend’s trio, quick

Philly Did It: Embiid & Maxey complete Sixers’ 3-1 comeback for first Game 7 win since 2001

Duo Delivered: How Embiid’s return and Maxey’s clutch play swayed the series and Game 7

Game 7 In Detroit: In one final battle, will the 1-seed Pistons complete the comeback or will 8-seed Orlando advance?

Game 7 in Cleveland: Game 6 hero RJ Barrett thrust into spotlight showdown with all-time closer Mitchell, Cavs

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Two more Game 7s on Sunday…

What’s better than a Saturday night Game 7?

How about two more on Sunday:

• On ABC: Game 7 between the Magic and Pistons (3:30 ET | Tap To Watch)
• On NBC & Peacock’s Sunday Night Basketball: Raptors vs. Cavaliers, Game 7 (7:30 ET | Tap To Watch)

1. BEST TWO WORDS IN SPORTS, AGAIN: 3 GAME 7s IN 1 MINUTE

Fernando Medina + Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images

One down, two to go.

In the 23 years since the First Round expanded to best-of-7, only one season’s had more opening-round Game 7s than this year’s trio (2014, with five).

And after Philly showed just how much a Game 7 win can mean (get much more in Sections 2 & 3), two more Game 7s await today, when the Magic & Pistons meet at 3:30 ET (ABC) and Raptors & Cavs square off at 7:30 ET (NBC/Peacock).

Four seasons on the brink on the final day of the first round.

Which two teams are moving on? Which two teams are going home?

Here’s what you gotta know.

• So Many Sevens: This is the second-most Game 7s in a First Round since 2003 (5, 2014), when the opening round expanded to from 5 to 7-game series
• Follow My Lead: The Sixers and Pistons can be the first teams in NBA history to complete 3-1 comebacks in the same Playoff round, in the same season
• Hosts Boast: Neither Cleveland nor Detroit have ever lost a Game 7 at home (both 4-0), and Boston’s home loss last night was just the 41st of 156 Game 7s
• No Rest, No Wait: The winners of today’s Game 7s will meet on equal rest in an East Semis series beginning Tuesday, unlike the Knicks’ two-day wait for Philly
• Who’s Historic? The Magic are trying to become just the 7th 8-seed to eliminate a 1-seed, while the Pistons look to follow the Sixers as the 15th team to overcome a 3-1 deficit
• The record for most Game 7s in a single season is five, which happened in 1993-94, 2013-14 and 2015-16. 2025-26 already has three, with seven more opportunities to come

2. SIXERS GET THEIR GAME 7 WIN, ELIMINATING CELTICS

2019 East Semis: Kawhi Leonard, four bounces and the first-ever Game 7 buzzer-beater

2021 East Semis: Three home losses as the 1-seed and Atlanta’s first-ever Game 7 road win

2023 East Semis: Jayson Tatum’s 51-point explosion for the all-time Game 7 scoring record

After years of Game 7 disappointments for Philly and its fans, the 76ers finally got their win.

And they did so in historic fashion, becoming just the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-7 series.

Sixers 109, Celtics 100: Joel Embiid (34 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast) led all scorers with his biggest output of the series, Tyrese Maxey (30 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) delivered 22 2nd-half points, and rookie VJ Edgecombe (23 pts, 6 reb, 5 3s) starred on both ends, as No. 7 Philly clinched Game 7 over No. 2 Boston on the road to advance.

They’ll next take on the No. 3 Knicks in the Conference Semifinals.

Jaylen Brown’s 33 points led Boston, with 26 more on five 3s from Derrick White. Jayson Tatum (knee stiffness) was ruled out just over two hours prior to tip-off. | Recap

• C’s coach Joe Mazzulla then reshaped his starting lineup, giving Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman their first-career Playoff starts. Only two players in the previous 50 years made their first Playoff starts in a Game 7
• Philly’s Best Start: The 76ers responded to the wrinkle with energy, getting out to a double-digit lead, with 10 points from Embiid and 9 from VJ Edgecombe to claim their first opening quarter of the series, 32-19
• Back & Forth: Derrick White’s 12-point 2nd quarter brought the C’s back to take a 37-36 lead before Embiid sank 9 more points to restore a 55-50 Philly halftime lead

Embiid led the Sixers with 19 1st-half points, matched only by White on the other side. Edgecombe supported Embiid with 12 points, but wanted to impact the game another way.

“[VJ] came out of halftime saying: ‘I got White, and I’m gonna do better on him,’” Sixers coach Nick Nurse shared. White made just one 3-ball after that (3-13 FG).

• Philly Flying: Maxey got going after the break, netting 8 points in the first 5 minutes and 12 overall in the 3rd. Edgecombe added 9 as Philly built its largest lead, 84-66
• Pull Out The Stops: That’s when Boston fanned out into a zone defense. The switch-up held the Sixers scoreless from the field for the first 3 minutes of the 4th
• Celtics Surge: That was the break Boston needed, starting the 4th with a 16-4 comeback. Jaylen Brown’s and-1 finish with 8 minutes to go made it a 1-point game
• Maxey’s Moment: Philly was just 2-for-13 in the 4th with 2 minutes left, until Maxey hit back-to-back layups for 5 points of breathing room and sealed the game at the line

“The way we’re playing right now, we’re [so] in sync,” Embiid said postgame. “That’s what I’ve always wanted: Playing winning basketball, sharing the ball… defensively, everybody being locked in… that’s how you win.”

• That locked-in defense found a winning recipe, limiting Boston to 26.5 3P% (13-49) in Game 7. The C’s shot under 30% from 3 and were held at or below 100 points in all four Philly wins
• “When you go after greatness, you have to accept the other side of that,” Mazzulla said postgame. … “You’re gonna fail. We failed by not winning but we stick to the process…”
• X-Factor First: Edgecombe is the first-ever rookie with 20+ points, 5+ reb and 5+ 3s in the Game 7. His 23 points are a Sixers’ rookie record for a Game 7, and he joins Tatum as the only 20+ point Game-7 scorers under age 20

3. EMBIID’S RETURN, MAXEY’S ATTACK PUSH PHILLY PAST NO. 2 BOSTON

Joel Embiid was 0-for-3.

Tyrese Maxey was 0-for-2.

In fact, the 76ers hadn’t won a Game 7 since 2001, when Allen Iverson’s squad did so to reach the Finals.

That all changed Saturday night, on the road, in the home of their rivals, the No. 2 seed to Philly’s 7-seed, coming back from a 3-1 deficit.

With that much working against them, what made this Game 7 climb different for Philly?

• “We had a talk after Game 5,” Maxey said. “We can’t let the same stuff happen over and over and over and over again. At some point, we have to put a stop to it. And we did.”
• Power Production: Embiid (34 pts, 12 ast, 6 ast) and Maxey (30 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) combined for over half of Philly’s Game 7 points, rebounds and assists
• Duo Royalty: They join Kobe & Shaq (2002) as the only duos in the last 50 years to each log 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a Game 7, and stand alone when adding in their 5+ assists each

These Sixers achieved the first 3-1 series comeback since the 2020 Denver Nuggets, with Maxey and Embiid leading the turnaround.

• Following his appendectomy, Embiid only appeared in the final four games of the series, going 3-1 while averaging 28.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 7.3 apg. Maxey had a very similar 28.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 5.7 apg in that stretch
• “What changed in the series is Joel Embiid came back,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after Game 7

Embiid’s return in Game 4, just 17 days removed from surgery, came before “Game 7” was the main motivator, or even a possibility. So what fueled Joel to risk his return?

• “I’m tired of losing to them,” Embiid said of his long history with the Celtics in the lead-up to Game 7
• That Much Sweeter: In addition to the Game 7 demons exorcised, Saturday’s win also marked Philly’s first series win over Boston since 1982
• “It means everything,” Maxey said of Embiid putting his body on the line for his team. “All we can do is appreciate him, he’s been doing it all year; all his career really.”

If Embiid helped alter the series in Philly’s favor, Maxey did so inside Game 7 itself.

• Ty’s Takes: In Game 7’s final two minutes, as Boston stormed back within a possession, Maxey himself sank as many field goals (2) as the rest of his team did in the quarter
• “I just really wanted the ball,” Tyrese said. “I knew I would need to step up and make plays down the stretch for us to win the game.”
• “What he’s been doing: All-NBA,” Embiid said of Maxey’s play

The winning duo will now take on a comparable counterpart in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, as the East Semis start in New York Monday at 8 ET (NBC & Peacock).

4. GAME 7 IN DETROIT: HISTORIC COMEBACK OR HISTORIC UPSET?

Thirty. Four. Years.

That’s how many years, combined, it’s been since the Pistons or Magic have advanced beyond the First Round.

Sixteen for Orlando. Eighteen for Detroit.

One of those droughts ends today, in a series that’s already over-delivered on history, and drama.

After the top-seeded Pistons became the 38th team to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren look to punch Detroit’s first second-round ticket since 2008 – while Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Orlando are out to be just the 7th 8-seed to move on.

To do that, Orlando will need to shake off a 2nd-half struggle that would haunt any team: Outscored 55-19 to erase a 24-point lead, 23 consecutive missed shots over nearly 14 minutes of game play, and 1-for-20 shooting (5% FG) in the 4th quarter.

“You gotta wash it,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “You gotta learn from it. You gotta go get Game 7, and you gotta do it the hard way.”

That ability to move on and overcome adversity is a trait both of these teams share, and a required skill in a series like this one.

• Not Done Yet: Top-seeded Detroit is still standing after facing down elimination in two straight games. The team would be just the 15th, after Philly last night, to move on after going down 3-1
• Play-In Primer: The Magic took on two extra games just to get to Detroit after finishing 8th and falling to Philly in their Play-In opener. They then had to tame one of the season’s hottest teams in Charlotte
• Health Hindrance: Orlando fought through another injury-plagued season, with Franz Wagner (ankle, calf) missing 48 games, along with the final 3 of this series, and 25 absences for Jalen Suggs (various)
• Without Cade: The Pistons faced one of their toughest challenges of the season navigating the stretch run without their All-Star engine Cunningham, who missed 11 games with a collapsed lung. Detroit rallied to go 8-3 in that stretch
• Been There Before: Orlando’s second half drought — and a bounceback from it — has a little precedent this year: on Mar. 29, the Raptors scored 31 straight against the Magic
• After that? Orlando won six of its next seven games

Resiliency like this for Orlando and Detroit isn’t contained to just this season.

These Game 7 foes, meeting today at 3:30 ET (ABC) for a chance to add a brand-new chapter to their franchise’s history, both found themselves at the very bottom of the East four years ago.

• Hard Times: Detroit, featuring a rookie Cunningham, finished 2021-22 just 23 wins, 14th in the East ahead of only Orlando (22 wins), who would go on to draft Banchero 1st overall that summer
• Difference Makers: Now the Magic have had made three consecutive Playoff appearances for the first time since 2012, and after becoming the first team to triple its win total year-over-year last season, Detroit upped again to 60 wins

Today, Cunningham, Banchero and their teams have a chance to take a major next step.

• Another All-Out Duel? While Game 6 featured wild swings, Game 5’s twin 45-point scoring showdown saw Cade set a new Pistons Playoff high, and Paolo come within a bucket of Orlando’s
• Block Party: The Pistons’ 60 blocks through six games are the most in any six-game Playoff stretch since 1994
• No Repeats: Orlando last played a Game 7 two seasons ago in the First Round, against another explosive scorer, as Donovan Mitchell (39 pts) outdueled Paolo (38 pts) in the largest Game 7 comeback (18 points) of the play-by-play era

5. GAME 7 IN THE LAND: LOCAL HERO VS. ALL-TIME CLOSER

Those 1.7 seconds were a lifetime in the making.

When RJ Barrett’s time-stopping OT jumper fell in – after hanging in the air for nearly two seconds, following a bounce off the back of the rim – it didn’t just help the Raptors avoid elimination in Game 6.

It made for a new instant-classic moment for the franchise, delivered by someone who’d dreamed of it growing up just a few miles down the road.

“Just happy to be able to be in this moment, playing for my hometown team,” Barrett said. “That’s amazing. I’m so proud of this group so far, and I think it’s going to be even sweeter when we go get Game 7.”

The hoops world drew immediate comps to Kawhi Leonard’s all-timer in 2019. Barrett did, too.

How iconic this one will be, time will tell. But when the Raptors and Cavaliers meet in a win-or-go-home Game 7 today (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock), the hometown kid will find he’s a key part in a battle of star duos out to send their teams to new heights.

• Reinforcements: After Cleveland fell short of the Conference Finals as the top seed last year, Donovan Mitchell, now paired with James Harden, looks to lead the Cavs back there (and beyond)
• Last Conference Finals Appearance? 2018 – which capped a 3-year stretch of Cleveland ending Toronto’s seasons
• Last Game 7: Spida went for 39 to close out Orlando in the 2024 First Round
• Spida’s Stage: Mitchell averages 32.2 ppg in potential series-clinching games in his career, 4th-most in NBA history (min. 5 games) behind MJ, Iverson and Giannis
• One At A Time: For Toronto, Barrett and Scottie Barnes are looking to send the Raptors past the first round for the first time since 2020
• Extra Even: Through six games, both teams have scored 669 points each, marking just the second Game 7 in NBA history to feature a zero point differential, along with the Cavs and Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals