Basketball Intelligence For 5/3/26
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
THE PLAYOFFS
PHI-BOS
The Celtics had no idea how to handle Joel Embiid in this series, and those flaws were exposed the most in Game 7
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
Embiid leads the Sixers to an accomplishment decades in the making
Tony Jones, The Athletic
4 game 7 takeaways
John Schuhmann, NBA.com
The Celtics were on top of the world. Then, the season ended in heartbreak
Noa Dalzell, Celtics Blog
What Happens When You Don’t Disrupt Joel Embiid
Con Brennan, Wait For The Screen
76ers charge back from 3-1 series hole, eliminate Celtics in Game 7: Takeaways
The Athletic
Tyrese Maxey made Philly’s historic upset possible
Ben Golliver
VJ Edgecombe shines again at TD Garden, sending his terrific rookie season to the playoffs’ second round
Gina Mizell, The Inquirer
For this season’s Celtics, nobody expected anything — until they expected everything
Jay King, The Athletic
How the Celtics’ greatest strength all season was wiped out by the Sixers
Sherrod Blakely, Full Court Press
76ers take series, 4-3
Kelly Dwyer, On Hoops
DET-ORL
Resilient Pistons set sights on Game 7 after digging out of 3-1 series hole
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
3 things to know in Magic-Pistons Game 7
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
3 keys to success for Pistons in Game 7
Omari Sankofa II, Free Press
3 Things to Watch
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
History not on Magic’s side in Game 7 at Detroit, but belief is still there
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel
LAL-HOU
How Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart helped Lakers oust Rockets
Law Murray, The Athletic
Lakers shockingly unlocked Deandre Ayton in a way others only dreamed of
Tyler Watts, Fansided
Lakers’ defensive buy-in propelled them to second round of NBA playoffs
Khobi Price, California Post
NYK-ATL
Why Jalen Brunson uses an iPad during games
James Edwards III, The Athletic
OKC-LAL
What to expect in Thunder-Lakers series
Jeff Zillgitt, NBA.com
PHI-NYK
Knicks-76ers preview
The Athletic
SAS-MIN
How a pickup game between teen Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert foretold greatness
Mike Finger, Express News
TOR-CLE
Where Donovan Mitchell finds his drive: His grandmother’s kitchen
Mirin Fader, The Athletic
3 things to know in Raptors-Cavaliers Game 7
Jeff Zillgitt, NBA.com
Cavs need to get aggressive before it kills the season
Caleb Crowley, King James Gospel
Are the Cavs simply showing the NBA who they are?
Chris Fedor/Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com
TOR: Raptors look to exceed all expectations in Game 7
Michael Grange, Sportsnet
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