Game RecapsFriday, May 1, 2026

The Western Conference First Round returns to Houston this Friday, May 1, as the Los Angeles Lakers look to close out the Houston Rockets in a pivotal Game 6. Following a gritty 99-93 victory in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the fifth-seeded Rockets (2-3) have successfully staved off elimination for the second straight game. For LeBron James and the fourth-seeded Lakers, tonight is a critical opportunity to silence the Houston crowd and avoid a winner-take-all Game 7. Catch this high-stakes showd...

The Boston Celtics failed to close out the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 after a disappointing 106-93 loss as they look ahead to Game 7.

The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets with a 110-98 win in Game 6 on Thursday night, closing the first-round series 4-2 and advancing to the Western Conference semifinals for the third straight season. Minnesota’s defense found its center of gravity in Rudy Gobert, who helped put out fires against Nikola Jokic when the game […] The post Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert relishes challenge of tough Nuggets series appeared first on ClutchPoints.

WNBA star Caitlin Clark sustained a knee injury during her 2026 debut, an Indiana Fever preseason loss to the Dallas Wings, but expects to be OK.

Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT LINE: Pistons -3.5; over/under is 210.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Magic lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic look to clinch the Eastern Conference first round over the Detroit Pistons in game six. The Pistons defeated the Magic 116-109 in the last meeting on Wednesday. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 45 points, and Paolo...

Austin Reaves made his return for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Houston Rockets in Game 5. Here's the latest on his status for Game 6.

It was reminiscent of those games in a driveway when an older brother bullied his younger brother.

OG Anunoby entered this postseason as one of the league’s most invaluable supporting players.

OG Anunoby scored 29 points in 27 minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns had his second triple-double of the series and the New York Knicks had their biggest playoff victory in franchise history, overwhelming and eliminating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Knicks broke several NBA records by halftime. Dyson Daniels and Mitchell Robinson were ejected after fighting following a pair of free throws from Anunoby that gave the Knicks a 50-point lead in the second quarter.

During a promotional appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the night before the Thursday release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Anne Hathaway’s enthusiasm for the NBA and the New York Knicks became a talking point. Midway through the interview, Hathaway started speaking about her fandom for the Knicks as well as how […] The post OG Anunoby memes go viral after Anne Hathaway Knicks jersey confession before 29-pt Game 6 showcase appeared first on ClutchPoints.

For the Atlanta Hawks, Game 6 wasn’t just a loss. It was a complete unraveling under pressure. In a closeout game against the New York Knicks where urgency should have fueled competitiveness, Atlanta instead delivered one of the most lifeless postseason performances in recent memory. From the opening possessions, there was a visible disconnect. Rotations […] The post Hawks most to blame for 51-point Game 6 beatdown vs. Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Lakers cold three-point shooting in Games 4 and 5 flipped their playoff series with the Rockets, exposing deeper issues and raising the stakes for Game 6.

When it was all said and done, the 1980s proved to be the rebirth of the National Basketball Association as we know it...

Heroes and zeros from the Knicks' 140-89 Game 6 series-clinching win over the Hawks on Thursday night in Atlanta:

The shorthanded Wolves defeated the Nuggets and will be San Antonio’s opponents in the second round of the playoffs.

It didn't take the Knicks long to start building the foundation for a Game 6 rout. And then they turned it into a historic one.

Tension boiled over in the Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks playoff series as Daniels and Robinson were ejected during New York’s blowout win L'articolo Hawks-Knicks: Dyson Daniels and Mitchell Robinson ejected after Game 6 fight proviene da Sportando.

Things are going well for the New York Knicks after advancing in the playoffs following their 51-point beatdown of the Atlanta Hawks, and superfan Ben Stiller is loving it. Stiller reacted to a moment from Karl-Anthony Towns’ postgame press conference. KAT acknowledged that they “didn’t play our best basketball” at times in the series, but […] The post Knicks superfan Ben Stiller has no doubt NY ‘knows the assignment’ as they advance in playoffs after Game 6 blowout win appeared first on Clut...

Has he been a star miscast as a complementary piece this entire time?

ATLANTA – The best felt like it was yet to come. Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a 3-pointer in the corner three minutes into Game 6, and it capped off a 9-0 run for the Atlanta Hawks. There was a mini crowd pop, and from there, it was hard to get a Hawks fan to get excited […] The post Hawks put season in perspective after ugly 51-point elimination loss vs. Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Paige Bueckers stole the spotlight on Thursday night as the Dallas Wings defeated Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in a preseason matchup. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year went off 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, two rebounds, three assists, a steal and four triples in just 20 minutes of action. Clark got off to a hot start, dropping 14 points in the first quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) Houston; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Rockets -3.5; over/under is 206.5 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers look to clinch the series over the Houston Rockets in game six of the Western Conference first round. The Rockets defeated the Lakers 99-93 in the last matchup on Thursday. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 22...

Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference) Toronto; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Cavaliers -4.5; over/under is 219.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers look to clinch the series over the Toronto Raptors in game six of the Eastern Conference first round. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 125-120 in the last matchup on Wednesday. James Harden led the Cavali...

The Sixers forced Game 7 in impressive fashion, dominating the Celtics in Game 6 Thursday.

Jalen Brunson understands the importance of staying focused following the New York Knicks’ 140-89 series-clinching victory over the Atlanta Hawks, especially given the struggles this team endured last week. But he has a little time to address other matters before gearing up for the Eastern Conference Semifinals. One reporter was dying to know the superstar […] The post Knicks’ Jalen Brunson responds to unexpected WWE question after Hawks series appeared first on ClutchPoints.

30 points in 26 minutes against the team that let him go. This is what the Warriors traded for.

The New York Knicks decimated the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 behind spectacular performances from their star players as they head to the second round.

On to Game 7…

The Los Angeles Lakers got a major boost in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets as Austin Reaves made his return to the floor. Reaves had been sidelined the past four weeks due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain, but came off the bench for Game 5. While Reaves’ return couldn’t get Los Angeles […]

The Sixers picked the right night to look even more like themselves. They handled the Celtics 106-93 in Game 6, tying the series at 3-3 and setting up a Game 7 in Boston. This was control from the start. Philadelphia never trailed. The ball moved. The defense held. The stars delivered. Tyrese Maxey scored 30 […] The post Sixers force Game 7 vs. Celtics: ‘Tired of losing to them’ appeared first on Hoops Wire.