NBA 101

Celtics, 76ers will add to their long playoff history with a Game 7 matchup in Boston

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics appeared to be skipping toward the second round of the NBA playoffs following a 32-point road win in Game 4 at Philadelphia.

But back-to-back convincing wins by the 76ers in Game 5 and Game 6 have left a Boston team that once looked like a favorite to emerge from the Eastern Conference on the brink of an epic collapse.

A loss in Saturday’s Game 7 would be the No. 2 seed Celtics’ earliest exit from the playoffs since the 2020-21 season.

They may have to do it with star Jayson Tatum dealing with a new ailment after he briefly left Game 6 in the third quarter for unspecified treatment to an apparent left calf injury. Tatum, of course, is just 22 games into his return from the torn right Achilles tendon injury he suffered in last season’s playoffs.

The Celtics downplayed the current situation, with Tatum saying afterward that his leg was only feeling “a little stiff.” He said following a quick assessment and some time on the exercise bike he didn’t return because the game was out of hand and the starters had already been pulled.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said there was no injury at all and reiterated that in a conference call Friday.

“He’ll play,” Mazzulla said.

The recent history for winner-takes-all games for Philadelphia teams isn’t exactly on the 76ers side, though.

The Flyers’ return to the NHL playoffs served as a reminder they are the last Philadelphia sports team to win a Game 7, beating, yes, Boston, in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinal.

Since then, the 76ers in 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2023 have all lost Game 7s; the Flyers lost one in 2014 and 2020; and the Phillies lost Game 7 of the NLCS in 2023.

The Phillies also lost a decisive Game 5 in the 2011 playoffs.

The Celtics have long had the Sixers’ number in the playoffs, winning the last six series. The 76ers last eliminated the Celtics in the 1982 Eastern Conference semis.

“I’ve been playing these guys for so long,” 76ers star Joel Embiid said. “I’m tired of losing to them. We have a chance to accomplish something special.”

Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics

When/Where to watch: Game 7, 7:30 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)

Series: Series tied 3-3

Betting line: Celtics by 7.5

What to Know: The Celtics are 27-10 all-time in Game 7s, the 76ers are 6-12 in such games and are 0-4 in them since 2001. It’ll be the ninth Game 7 between these two franchises, with Boston going 6-2 in the previous ones. Philadelphia is the 37th team in league history to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1. Only 13 teams have overcome that deficit and won the series. If Boston is going to prevent the 76ers from becoming the 14th, its shooting must improve. The 76ers have held the NBA’s No. 2 rated offense during the regular season to under 100 points per game in back-to-back games. The Celtics also combined to shoot just 30.5% (22/72) from 3-point range, with 11 makes in each of those games. They led the league in the regular season, averaging 16 3s per game.

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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed.

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

Top players remaining in college basketball transfer portal, what we're hearing

The pickings are beginning to become slim in the men’s college basketball transfer portal.

With the recent commitments of Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam to Michigan, Charleston center Chol Machot to Georgetown, Arizona State‘s Massamba Diop to Gonzaga, Georgetown’s Julius Halaifonua to Oklahoma State and Florida Atlantic’s Josiah Parker to Georgetown we saw a good portion of our previous top 10 best available players get snatched up.

That leaves just five of USA TODAY Sports’ Top 50 portal prospects still on the market. And most of those are going through the NBA Draft process before making a decision.

Who has best class so far? College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Basketball transfer portal: Pickups from mid-majors who will make big impact

Here’s a look at our top 10 uncommitted players in the college basketball transfer portal, with the latest intel on each player:

Conferencestrackers: ACC | SEC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Big East

Last updated May 1.

Best remaining players in 2026 college basketball transfer portal, latest news

1. F Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
   • Latest intel: Duke, Kentucky, Florida and Kansas reportedly in the mix; declared for NBA draft but could return to college
2. G Juke Harris, Wake Forest
   • Latest intel: Michigan, Tennessee and North Carolina fighting it out, with On3 casting a prediction for the Vols.
3. F Allen Graves, Santa Clara
   • Latest intel: Duke and LSU among those in the mix; declared for NBA Draft but leaving door open to college return. He was invited to the Scouting Combine.
4. G Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
   • Latest intel: Another going through draft process; heavy Kentucky interest.
5. G Paul McNeil, NC State
   • Latest intel: Another with Kentucky interest, North Carolina and Michigan reportedly involved, but a return to NC State not being ruled out. His former coach at NC State, Will Wade, is now at LSU, which could be another suitor.
6. F Jordan Burks, UCF
   • Latest intel: A late addition to the portal, Burks had previous stops at Kentucky and Georgetown. He averaged a career-best 13.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg for the Knights this past season. A 6-9 forward who is a 37% shooter from deep should be a hot commodity.
7. G Hamad Mousa, Cal Poly
   • Latest intel: The 6-8 Qatari guard began his career at Dayton before transferring to Cal Poly prior to last season. There he averaged 20.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg and shot 37.2% from behind the arc.
8. G Tijan Saine Jr., Weber State
   • Latest intel: Per ESPN, Saine is hearing from Washington, Missouri, NC State, Mississippi State, LSU and Texas State.
9. G Vyctorius Miller, Oklahoma State
   • Latest intel: He recently finished a visit to Kansas.
10. G Abdi Bashir Jr., Kansas State
    • Latest intel: Has Zoom calls set up with Kansas and NC State and has already visited St. John’s.

Five more to keep an eye on: Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), Akai Fleming (Georgia Tech), Cayden Charles (St. Bonaventure), Mihailo Petrovic (Illinois), Dennis Parker (Radford)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball transfer portal news: 2026 best players still available

Pistons vs Magic Prediction, Picks & Odds for Friday's NBA Playoffs Game 6

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The Detroit Pistons stayed their execution for a few more days, but the odds are still against them. The Orlando Magic may be one-bucket underdogs in this Game 6, but my Pistons vs. Magic predictions and these NBA picks expect Detroit’s silver bullet from Game 5 to go missing on Friday, May 1.

Pistons vs Magic prediction

Pistons vs Magic best bet: Jalen Duren Under 13.5 Points (-112)

The fact that the Orlando Magic shot 17-of-38 from deep in Game 5 and still trailed throughout demands a closer look at the box score. Ah, there it is. The Detroit Pistons outrebounded the Magic by 16, including snagging 16 offensive rebounds compared to just eight for Orlando.

The Pistons corralling 39.0% of available offensive rebounds is wildly impressive and something that the Magic should focus on correcting heading into this Game 6.

Jalen Duren led Detroit on the offensive glass, grabbing five offensive rebounds that yielded four points for the center. And yet, he still scored just 12 points. In fact, Duren has not cleared this points prop in any of the five games of this series.

He averaged 19.5 points per game in the regular season, which explains oddsmakers’ reluctance to lower this points prop further. He was also taking 11.5 shots per game, compared to just 7.6 shots per game in this series.

Chalk some of that up to the Magic defense. And chalk some of it up to the change in the game come the postseason. Possessions take longer, defenders are allowed to be more physical, and superstars tend to hang onto the ball even more often.

Duren is not going to become a scorer at any point in this series, not even when he hits the offensive glass.

Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay

While Duren has not scored more than 12 points in any game in this series, he also has not reached double-digit boards in any of the five games. Grabbing five offensive rebounds in Game 5 was vital, but Duren still topped out at nine total boards.

That offensive rebounding emphasis should be countered by Orlando tonight, and removing that gear from the Pistons should tilt this game toward the Magic.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Jalen Duren Under 13.5 Points
• Jalen Duren Under 9.5 Rebounds
• Magic +3

Our “from downtown” SGP: Onward, Orlando

If Detroit had not so thrived on the offensive glass in Game 5, it likely would have been the fourth game out of five in this series to cash its Under. Betting against Duren because those offensive rebounds should not be as available also coincides with a bet on the Under as well as a bet on Orlando winning this series at home.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Jalen Duren Under 13.5 Points
• Jalen Duren Under 9.5 Rebounds
• Under 211
• Magic Moneyline

Pistons vs Magic odds for Game 6

• Spread: Detroit -3 | Orlando +3
• Moneyline: Detroit -155 | Orlando +130
• Over/Under: Over 211 | Under 211

Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know

It should be mentioned somewhere in this preview that Orlando is 4-1 against the spread in this series, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 7.1 points even when including the sole ATS loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.

How to watch Pistons vs Magic Game 6

Pistons vs Magic latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Lakers are relocating, sort of. G-League team moving to Palm Springs

The Los Angeles Lakers are relocating and rebranding.

No, not those Lakers. Well yes, but not exactly.

The Lakers announced Thursday that its G-League affiliate South Bay Lakers will no longer play their home games at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California, instead moving the team to the Greater Palm Springs region and renaming them the Coachella Valley Lakers.

At the start of the 2026-27 NBA G-League season, the Coachella Valley Lakers will play their home games Acrisure Arena, an 11,000-max capacity multi-purpose event venue in Palm Desert.

“I have enjoyed a long-time relationship with Jerry and Jeanie Buss, Lon Rosen and Linda Rambis. And I am beyond thrilled to have the Coachella Valley Lakers call OVG’s Acrisure Arena their home. Go Lakers,” Oak View Group Senior Partner Irving Azoff said in a news release.

The venue has been mainly used for concerts, comedy shows and hockey games. The facility serves as the home of the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The Lakers have also hosted a couple of NBA preseason games at Acrisure Arena in 2024, against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns on Oct. 4 and 6, respectively.

“Moving the Lakers G League team to the Coachella Valley is an incredible opportunity for the organization,” Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen said in a press release. “The Lakers have had a strong presence in the region for decades, from the Showtime Lakers holding training camp in the 1980s to more recent preseason games.

“We are looking forward to extending that experience and becoming a staple for Coachella Valley sports and entertainment. Acrisure Arena is the perfect modern venue that provides an incredible fan-first experience, while ensuring players have the premium facilities and space they need on game day.”

Season ticket deposits starting at $100 per account are available online at coachellavalleylakers.com. Season tickets are fully refundable at the time of seat selection, the team said.

In two decades, the franchise has recorded 60 NBA call-ups across 38 players.

The Lakers’ G-League team has a knack for finding raw talent and developing them into quality NBA talent, from current Laker Austin Reaves, two-time champion Alex Caruso, NBA All-Star Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and even Kyle Kuzma, who played a role in the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship.

And it’s been the case most recently with Bronny James Jr., Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Kobe Bufkin and Nick Smith Jr. This past season, the South Bay Lakers clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 26-10 regular-season record.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers G-League team moves to Palm Springs now Coachella Valley Lakers

Steve Kerr reportedly had productive meeting with Warriors brass about future; decision not expected until next week

Steve Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors is still up in the air, and a resolution isn’t expected until next week at the earliest. 

Kerr met with owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy for two hours on Monday, according to ESPN, but the two sides did not determine whether Kerr would remain the franchise’s head coach next season. The meeting was described as productive, according to the report. 

The three men plan to meet again next week to continue discussions. Kerr is set to take a golfing trip to close out the week, and he is reportedly “torn” about his decision.

“It’s April,” a source told ESPN. “We don’t need to rush.”

Kerr has spent the past 12 seasons with the Warriors, and oversaw their dynasty-level run throughout the NBA. The franchise won four titles under his watch and reached the NBA Finals six times in eight years, including in each of his first five seasons at the helm. The team won 73 games during the 2015-16 season, too, which broke the all-time wins record set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Kerr was also a member of that Bulls team.

But the Warriors have struggled in recent years. They went just 37-45 this season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. Kerr had an emotional moment with stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the court at the end of their final game. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death,” Kerr was heard telling the duo. “Thank you. Appreciate you.”

Kerr has been pretty open about knowing that his time with the Warriors may come to an end since that loss. Green even predicted that Kerr wouldn’t be around next season. The Warriors reportedly want Kerr to sign a multiyear extension this offseason, rather than return for a farewell tour-type season. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kerr said after their final game. “I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There’s a run that happens, and sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.

“If that’s the case, then I will be nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach in front of our fans in the Bay, to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray, the whole group. It may still go on, it may not. I don’t know at this point.”

Where to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Game 5 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, April 28

The Boston Celtics will try to close out their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5. Boston won the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. With one more win, the Celtics will advance to play the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series. Boston is favored by 11.5 points in Game 5.

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics

• Date: Tuesday, April 28

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

• TV Channels: ESPN

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

Odds

• Spread: Boston Celtics -11.5

• Moneyline: Boston Celtics -600 (81.8%) / Philadelphia 76ers +425 (18.2%)

• Over/Under: 213.5

Series results, schedule

Game 1:Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Game 2:76ers 111, Celtics 97
Game 3:Celtics 108, 76ers 100
Game 4:Celtics 128, 76ers 96
Game 5: Tue., April 28 at Boston (7 p.m., ESPN)
*Game 6: Thu., April 30 at Philadelphia (TBD)
*Game 7: Sat., May 2 at Boston (TBD)if necessary

Where to watch Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Game 5 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Tuesday, April 28

The Atlanta Hawks take on the New York Knicks with their first-round playoff series tied 2-2 heading into Game 5. The Knicks evened the series with a 114-98 victory on Saturday. New York is back at home and favored by 6.5 points in Game 5.

How to watch Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

• Date: Tuesday, April 28

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

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

Odds

• Spread: New York Knicks -6.5

• Moneyline: New York Knicks -275 (70.4%) / Atlanta Hawks +225 (29.6%)

• Over/Under: 213.5

Series results, schedule

Game 1:Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2:Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 3:Hawks 109, Knicks 108
Game 4:Knicks 114, Hawks 98
Game 5: Tue., April 28,at New York (8 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
Game 6: Thu., April 30, at Atlanta (TBD)
*Game 7: Sat., May 2, at New York (TBD)

*if necessary