Starting 5: LeBron leads stunner in Houston, Celtics & Spurs go up 2-1

Down 6 in the final 30 seconds of Game 3, the Lakers had to do something only done once over the past 30 years to win.

Enter: The King.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 25, 2026

Comeback King: LeBron & Marcus Smart stage 30-second rally for improbable OT win

Boston Back Up: Celtics shoot to late lead as Tatum & Brown will a 2-1 series edge

Spurs Respond: Without Wemby, Castle & Harper pull off 15-point comeback for 2-1 lead

No. 1 Seeds: Thunder, Pistons dialing up their elite defenses as series shift to the road

Six-Seed Symmetry: Alexander-Walker wins MIP award in Atlanta while Ayo Dosunmu steps in for Wolves

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

Saturday’s four-game Playoff slate…

The NBA Playoffs continue today with a four-game slate, featuring both top seeds in Game 3s and a crucial Game 4 nightcap from Minnesota.

• NBC & Peacock Tripleheader: East No. 1 Detroit and No. 8 Orlando look to break a 1-1 tie in the opener (1 ET | Peacock & NBCSN)
• West No. 1 OKC heads to Phoenix, with the Thunder up 2-0 on the No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET | NBC & Peacock).
• Then, No. 3 New York tries to even the series at 2-2 on the road vs No. 6 Atlanta (6 ET | NBC & Peacock)
• ABC Saturday Primetime: In the West, No. 3 Denver aims to avoid a 3-1 deficit vs. No. 6 Minnesota on the road in Game 4 (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch)

NAW Named Most Improved: Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy.

See the week’s full NBA Awards results below:

• Monday: Kia Defensive Player of the Year | Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
• Tuesday: Kia Clutch Player of the Year | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
• Wednesday: Kia Sixth Man of the Year | Keldon Johnson (SAS)
• Thursday: Sportsmanship Award | Derrick White (BOS)
• Friday: Kia Most Improved Player | Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL)

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1. LEBRON, SMART RALLY LAKERS FOR GAME 3 OT WIN

Six points to make up.

Thirty seconds to make it happen.

Despite trailing for less than six minutes of action Friday night, the Lakers faced their largest deficit of Game 3 with a half-minute left.

They became just the second Playoff team since 1996-97 to wrestle a win out of that situation.

Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT): LeBron James (29 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) and Marcus Smart (21 pts, 10 ast, 5 stl) teamed up to erase the 6-point gap — including a new instant-classic Bron steal & game-tying 3 — getting L.A. to overtime, where Smart’s 8 points claimed a stunning victory for a 3-0 series lead.

Alperen Sengun (33 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) led four Rockets starters scoring over 15 points after Kevin Durant (ankle sprain) was a late scratch. Houston now looks to avoid elimination at home Sunday in Game 4. | Recap

• Rocket Burst: Having trailed throughout the 2nd and 3rd quarters and down 7 early in the 4th, Houston used a 23-10 run over 9 minutes to get their last-minute 6-point lead
• Sengun Show: Alpi scored Houston’s last 8 points in that run, capping it with a steal off a LeBron pass for a breakaway dunk. He netted 12 of his 33 points in the 4th
• Savvy, Smart: After the Lakers couldn’t answer, Smart intercepted Houston’s outlet pass and quickly drew a shooting foul behind the arc, converting each for a 3-point game
• As Houston brought the ball up, LeBron lunged for a back-tip steal then tapped L.A.’s hurried outlet heave to Luke Kennard (14 pts, 6 ast), who got it back to James
• Let It Fly: Initially wide open at the arc, LeBron faked to send Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. flying by before calmly splashing the game-tying triple, 101-101 with 15.1 on the clock
• “Just trying to seize the opportunity in the position that we’re in,” James said of his 151st clutch Playoff bucket, which leads all players since tracking began in 1996-97

After getting a stop on Sengun to set up a final Lakers chance, James’ turnaround 3 for the win went halfway in then out, setting up an overtime that was all Smart and L.A.

• “I know he’s battle-tested,” James said of Smart. “I’ve competed against him for so long in the Eastern Conference, so it’s great to have him on our side.”
• Lakers’ Classic: Smart’s Game 3 puts him with Magic Johnson (3x) as the only Lakers with 20+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a Playoff game since 1973-74
• The 2024 Sixers are the only other team to overcome a 6+ point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation to win a Playoff game

LeBron’s 2nd-quarter lob to Bronny James was the first father-son assist in NBA Playoffs history.

“I’ve seen his steps for so long, he was gathering,” LeBron said. “And I was like, ‘Just go get it.’…He gave us great minutes… That was a special moment, obviously.”

Los Angeles can win the series in Game 4 from Houston Sunday (9:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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2. TATUM, BROWN WILL LATE CELTICS WIN FOR 2-1 LEAD

After dropping Game 2 at home, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown came to Philly on a mission.

Thanks to some clutch heroics to hold off a hard-charging Sixers squad, the Jays left Game 3 with a 2-1 lead, moving up the Celtics’ all-time Playoff scoring list while they were at it,

Celtics 108, Sixers 100: Boston got twin 25-point attacks from Jayson Tatum (7 ast, 5 3s) and Jaylen Brown (7 ast, 3 blk) to overcome Tyrese Maxey’s (6 ast, 5 3s) 31 points and five other Sixers in double figures, taking the series lead again and resetting home court advantage. | Recap

• Jays’ Time: Late in a tight contest of seven ties, eight lead changes and no leads larger than 10, Tatum and Brown locked in to combine for 19 of Boston’s 29 4th-quarter points
• Brown dropped eight straight points to maintain a four-point lead at 96-92, but Paul George (18 pts, 5 ast) found Andre Drummond (12 pts) for back-to-back dunks to get within one
• JT Threes: That triggered Tatum, who hit 5-of-9 3s on the night, drilling two triples in the final two minutes, including the dagger that made it 106-100
• “I’ve been here before,” Tatum said. “Just the mindset of: Do whatever it takes to win… It can look different every single night…

“Just give the game what it needs. As long as you win, that’s all that matters.”

• C’s 3K Club: Tatum became the fourth Celtic ever to reach 3,000+ career Playoff points, joining Larry Bird (3,897), John Havlicek (3,776) and Kevin McHale (3,182)
• On that same Celtics all-time Playoff scoring list, Brown passed Bill Russell (2,673) and Robert Parish (2,683) to take 7th place

With Boston back in control, Game 4 tips in Philly on Sunday (7 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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3. YOUNG SPURS DUO FINDS A WAY WITHOUT WEMBY

With Victor Wembanyama still out for Game 3, San Antonio’s next two lottery picks took over.

Spurs 120, Blazers 108: Stephon Castle (33 pts, 5 ast) led all scorers and rookie Dylan Harper added career-highs in scoring (27 pts), rebounding (10) and 3-point shooting (4 3s) to ignite San Antonio’s 15-point comeback for a 2-1 series lead. | Recap

• Go Time: Portland’s 15-point lead came in the 3rd quarter, before a 21-5 Spurs run gave the road team a one-point edge to start the 4th
• Texas Takeover: San Antonio took control from there, building its own 15-point lead and winning the 2nd half 61-43
• Statement Shooting: Harper scored 12 of his 27 points in that 3rd, on the way to a 22-point 2nd half that included perfect 3-for-3 shooting from long distance
• “Just wanna keep on fighting,” Harper said of his surge. “We kinda had no energy in the 3rd quarter, so I wanted to come in, just make a spark any way I can.”

Castle (21y, 174d) and Harper (20y, 53d) are now the youngest duo in NBA history to each score at least 25 points in a postseason game.

KD and Russell Westbrook are the only other NBA duo age 21 or under to each score 25+ in the same postseason game, back in 2010.

• “He puts the work in and he wants to be great,” Castle said of Harper. “He’s accepted a role this year even with how talented he is, so he’s super special. I’m happy he’s with us.”
• Together With Timmy: Harper’s 27 points are the most scored by a Spurs rookie in a postseason game since Tim Duncan in 1998
• Bryant’s Bench Mark: He also became the 2nd-youngest player behind Kobe to score 20 or more points off the bench in a postseason game since tracking began in 1970-71

Jrue Holiday (29 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 5 3s) and the Blazers will try to tie the series back up at home in Game 4 Sunday (3:30 ET, ESPN).

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4. TOP SEED’S ELITE DEFENSES RISING UP AS SERIES HIT THE ROAD

Top two seeds.

Top two defenses.

Two Game 2s W’s.

Detroit’s gritty group got back to what it does best to even its series Wednesday, while OKC’s defensive maestro Chet Holmgren shined for a 2-0 edge.

• Sub-90 Club: Detroit and OKC have each held their opponent under 90 points in one of their two First Round games so far. No other defense has achieved this in the 29 other Playoff and Play-In games this postseason

Now, as both series hit the road, these No. 1s look to stay connected to their winning ways through their defense-first mentalities.

Pistons at Magic, Game 3 (1 ET, Peacock & NBCSN): Detroit’s defensive flex in Game 2 forced the Magic to shoot a season-low 32.5% from the field. The test will be if the East leaders can keep Orlando’s shooting down on its home floor today.

• The 83 points Detroit held Orlando to in Game 2 was also a season-low for the Magic, and a league-high seventh time the Pistons kept their opponent under 90 this season
• Early Erasers: Detroit piled up seven blocked shots in just the 1st quarter on Wednesday, going on to swat 11 total and force 17 turnovers
• “They like it when it gets messy and it gets ugly,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his Pistons. “That’s where they thrive… We like to push people’s buttons and see how they respond.”

Pistons players up and down the roster embody that relentless, underdog style of play.

None more than two-way conversion Daniss Jenkins and non-lottery pick Marcus Sasser, whose own paths from childhood friends to Pistons teammates are as improbable as Detroit’s worst-to-first journey, NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt writes:

• “My end goal never changed… And I never wavered on the game,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t give up. I never stopped.”
• Offensive Surge: All-Star teammate Cade Cunningham has been similarly unstoppable in the two games against the Magic, leading all Playoff scorers with 33.0 ppg
• “He’s obviously a tall guard, has a lot of skill, obviously is trying to get to the paint,” Franz Wagner said of the challenge Cunningham presents to a Magic defense also looking to return to form

The only defense that outranked Detroit’s this season was OKC’s, and Chet Holmgren (4 blk) showed again in Game 2 why he’s the anchor for that top group of stoppers.

Thunder at Suns, Game 3 (3:30 ET, Peacock & NBC): Holmgren and OKC own two of the five instances Phoenix has been held under 90 points this season, including Game 1’s 84-point tally.

• Holmgren posted the season’s top individual defensive rating, at 102.3, holding opponents to a league-best 47.7% shooting at the rim (min. 250 DFGA)
• “From the moment [Chet] stepped foot on the court with the basketball team, we’ve been No. 1 in the West,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said earlier this year. “That’s no coincidence… He anchors the best defense in the league.”
• On/Off Edge: OKC was 5.6 points better defensively this season when Chet was on the floor, compared to when he was off
• Add Offense: He increases that differential with his scoring too, adding 17.5 ppg on 54.5/41.7 shooting splits so far in this First Round

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5. SIX-SEED SYMMETRY: NAW IMPROVES IN ATL, AYO STEPS IN FOR WOLVES

Jonathan Kuminga’s defensive stand and steal to seal the Game 3 W.

CJ McCollum’s game-changing clutch shots for wins in Games 2 & 3.

Atlanta’s pair of mid-season pick-ups changed the trajectory of its First Round series with New York.

And as Game 4 tonight at home brings the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the No. 3 Knicks (6 ET, Peacock & NBC), it’s a Hawks offseason addition now shining through.

• Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s win makes Atlanta the first team in NBA history with back-to-back Most Improved Player Awards, after Dyson Daniels won last year
• All In The Family: Alexander-Walker’s win adds to his family’s growing hardware collection, as the cousin of reigning MVP and current Kia Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• In his first season in Atlanta, Minnesota’s former 6th-man started 71 games, more than doubling his career-high with 20.8 ppg while shooting a career-best 46%
• Play Free, Be Yourself: “That’s what Nickeil’s come in and done this year, and our offense has taken a huge jump,” Daniels said after NAW’s win. “I think Atlanta has a really good development pathway.”

Alexander-Walker is the first player to add 10+ ppg in scoring and average at least 20.0 ppg for the full season since his teammate, First Round series star and former Most Improved Player (2016) CJ McCollum, 10 years ago.

• “To have an opportunity is one thing. To take advantage of it is another, and I think he’s done that,” McCollum said of NAW. “I think it’s a testament to him as a person and a player.”
• McCollum himself is “among the most impactful players in these NBA playoffs,” according to Shaun Powell’s latest profile on NBA.com

McCollum, Alexander-Walker and the clutch Hawks look to go up 3-1 tonight, after back-to-back one-point victories – something we’ve only seen six times in NBA Playoffs history.

It’s the same situation for the West’s 6-seed, after Minnesota earned a statement Game 3 win at home with a Playoff career-high 25 points from Ayo Dosunmu.

• “I’m giving it my all,” Dosunmu said. “It just puts a sense of urgency on my back and a chip on my shoulder, knowing that you can’t take this for granted.”
• That sense of urgency comes from a three-season Playoff drought, and Jeff Zillgitt writes it’s driving Dosunmu to reach new heights
• Sixth-Man Solution: The trade deadline addition has been filling the spot left by Alexander-Walker, as one of five Wolves averaging double-digit scoring (16.0 ppg) in this series

Dosunmu and Minnesota can go up 3-1 on the No. 3 Nuggets in Game 4 tonight (8:30 ET, ABC).