Samwise NBA Newsletter
Sunday, May 3, 2026
76ers Complete Stunning 3–1 Comeback, Eliminate Celtics in Game 7
The Philadelphia 76ers became the 14th team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit, eliminating the Boston Celtics 109–100 in Game 7 on Saturday night. Joel Embiid delivered 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, including 10 in the final six minutes. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe contributed 23 points and four assists. Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and Derrick White added 26 for Boston, but the Celtics played without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out hours before tip-off with left knee stiffness. Philadelphia will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Sources: The Score, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports
Tatum Ruled Out Same Day as Game 7 with Left Knee Stiffness
Jayson Tatum was ruled out of Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday with left knee stiffness, a same-day decision that stunned Boston. Tatum had sat out most of the fourth quarter of Game 6 with calf tightness and did not recover as expected. Coach Joe Mazzulla described it as back-of-the-knee stiffness and said the team opted to protect him. The decision carries added weight: Tatum played just 16 games this regular season recovering from right Achilles surgery, and Boston was erring on the side of caution with his left leg. The Celtics were eliminated without their franchise star, raising questions about the team’s future.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
NBA Officiating Report Confirms Two Missed Calls Late in Raptors’ Game 6 OT Win
The NBA officiating office confirmed on Saturday that two significant violations were missed in the final minutes of Toronto’s 112–110 overtime win over Cleveland in Game 6. A three-second violation by Collin Murray-Boyles with 1:46 remaining in overtime — which would have given the Cavaliers a free throw and possession — went uncalled. A five-second violation on RJ Barrett with 33 seconds left, when he held the ball too long, also escaped official attention and would have returned possession to Cleveland. Both misses allowed the Raptors to survive and force a Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday. The Cavaliers were unable to challenge either play under current review rules.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Pistons Host Magic, Cavaliers Host Raptors in Sunday’s First-Round Game 7s
Two Game 7s on Sunday close out the 2026 NBA first round, with the Detroit Pistons hosting the Orlando Magic at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Toronto Raptors at 7:30 p.m. ET. Detroit was the top seed in the Eastern Conference and trailed the Magic 3–1 before back-to-back wins, including a stunning 24-point second-half comeback in Game 6, tied the series. In Cleveland, home court has held in every game of the Cavaliers–Raptors series, though Toronto is shorthanded without Brandon Ingram, who is questionable with a heel injury. Winners advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning Monday.
Sources: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports
NBA Reveals Second-Round Schedule: Knicks Host 76ers Monday, Thunder Face Lakers Tuesday
The NBA released the second-round playoff schedule on Saturday, confirming the four conference semifinal matchups. In the East, the New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 on Monday, May 4 at 8 p.m. ET. In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers starting Tuesday, May 5, while the San Antonio Spurs will face the injury-depleted Minnesota Timberwolves. The remaining Eastern bracket slot awaits Sunday’s two Game 7 winners. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3, broadcast on ABC, as the league moves toward what analysts are calling the most wide-open postseason in at least five years.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, HoopsHype
Celtics’ Shock Elimination Reshapes Eastern Conference; 76ers Rise as Title Contenders
The elimination of the Boston Celtics reshaped the Eastern Conference on Saturday night, with championship odds shifting significantly. The Philadelphia 76ers rose into championship contention alongside the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder following their 109–100 Game 7 victory. Boston had entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s second seed, but faced questions all season after Jayson Tatum played just 16 regular-season games recovering from Achilles surgery. Philadelphia’s comeback from 3–1 down is the 14th in NBA postseason history. The 76ers face the Knicks beginning Monday, while the Celtics enter an offseason with significant roster decisions and unresolved health concerns around Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports
Anthony Edwards Ruled Out Minimum Two Weeks; Timberwolves Enter Round 2 Depleted
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been ruled out for at least two weeks, sidelining him for the start of their second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs. Edwards suffered a bone bruise and hyperextension of his left knee during their first-round series against Denver. The absence compounds an already depleted roster: guard Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles in Game 4 of that series, ending his season. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, are considered strong favorites to open the series. The Timberwolves’ upset of the third-seeded Nuggets came at significant cost, with Minnesota entering the second round as the most injury-depleted team in the playoffs.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated
NBA Playoffs — First Round
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Orlando Magic — Game 7 Today (3:30 ET)
2. New York Knicks def. Atlanta Hawks 4–2
3. Philadelphia 76ers def. Boston Celtics 4–3
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Toronto Raptors — Game 7 Tonight (7:30 ET)
Western Conference
1. OKC Thunder def. Phoenix Suns 4–0
2. San Antonio Spurs def. Portland Trail Blazers 4–1
3. Minnesota Timberwolves def. Denver Nuggets 4–2
4. Los Angeles Lakers def. Houston Rockets 4–2
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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