Expert NBA GAME Previews

The Knicks head to Atlanta for Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead and a real chance to finish this first-round matchup on the road. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on Thursday night at State Farm Arena, with ESPN carrying the broadcast. New York grabbed control again in Game 5 with a 126-97 win, and that result felt

Boston gets its second straight chance to close this series on Thursday night, heading to Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference first round. Tipoff is set for 8:00 PM ET, and the game is available on Peacock. The Celtics finished the regular season 56-26 and entered the playoffs as the No. 2

Game 6 shifts back to Minneapolis with the Timberwolves holding a 3-2 lead and one more chance to finish this series at home. Tipoff is set for 9:30 PM ET at Target Center on Thursday night, with ESPN carrying the broadcast. Denver kept itself alive with a 125-113 win in Game 5, and that result mattered because it pushed a

The Orlando Magic visit the Detroit Pistons for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on Amaz, with Orlando leading the series 3-1 and holding its first chance to close out the matchup. The Magic won Game 4 by a 94-88 score, and

The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers meet Wednesday night at Rocket Arena for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First Round series. Tipoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on ESPN, and the series is tied 2-2 after Toronto won Game 4 by a 93-89 score. This is the swing game. Toronto has taken the last two after falling behind

The Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, for Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series at Crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is set for 10:00 PM ET on ESPN, with Los Angeles holding a 3-1 series lead and one more home win away from advancing. Houston stayed alive with a 115-96 win in Game

The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks meet in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Tipoff is set for 8:00 PM ET on NBC, and the series is tied 2-2 after New York answered with a 114-98 win in Game 4. This is the swing game. Atlanta already stole one at

The Portland Trail Blazers visit the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, for Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round at Frost Bank Center. Tipoff is set for 9:30 PM ET on ESPN, with San Antonio leading the series 3-1 and sitting one win away from advancing. Portland is in full survival mode after dropping Game 4,

The Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at TD Garden. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, and Boston has a chance to close the series after taking a 3-1 lead. The Celtics are coming off a 128-96 win in Game 4, their second