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DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, Tobias Harris added 30 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday to win a playoff series for the first time in 18 years. Cunningham averaged 32.4 points for Detroit, which last won a postseason series by beating Orlando in the second …

For the final 27 minutes of Game 7, the Cleveland Cavaliers that a lot of people expected to show up in Game 1 — the one with more talent than their Toronto opponents — finally showed up. In the final three minutes of the second quarter through the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers shot 51.5% from the floor, …

CLEVELAND — To say losing Game 7 to the Toronto Raptors would be disastrous for the Cleveland Cavaliers is an understatement. Eight years of building led to the most expensive roster in the league that traded for a 36-year-old former All-Star at the deadline just to save this season. Dropping this game would’ve been an indictment of every decision the …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. While the Minnesota Timberwolves have listed Anthony Edwards as “questionable” for Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, a logical mind doubts the superstar will return just yet. Advertisement These Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks understand Minnesota needs to adjust its …

With Game 7 in the balance Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus randomly headbutted Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes. Strus was issued a flagrant 1 foul after a replay review. He was lucky to have avoided a flagrant 2 penalty and an ejection. Advertisement The incident took place late in the third quarter as the Cavaliers held a 76-61 lead. …

CLEVELAND (AP) — Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram missed Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday because of a sore right heel. “The injury right now is such that he needs to rest and go easy on his heel and we’ll see where he is at after this,” coach Darko Rajakovic said …

There’s a reckoning due in Denver after a stunning first-round playoff loss to a Minnesota Timberwolves team that played two-plus games without Anthony Edwards and Donte Divincenzo. Per multiple reports, it won’t come on the sideline. Nuggets head coach David Adelman is expected to return next season according to the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando and ESPN’s Shams Charania. But anybody …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Minnesota Timberwolves already sprung one upset this postseason, three of their four wins against the Nuggets in the first round coming as underdogs. Now the San Antonio Spurs await, with both a rest advantage and homecourt advantage. Advertisement This Timberwolves vs. Spurs …

Despite having one of the world’s best players in Nikola Jokić and benefiting from the best season of Jamal Murray’s career, the third-seeded Denver Nuggets saw their season end prematurely at the hands of the injury-ravaged Minnesota Timberwolves. This, at a bare minimum, raises questions. Advertisement Jokić, needless to say, is a keeper. He’s not going anywhere, nor does he wish …

DETROIT (AP) — Paolo Banchero wanted to say the diplomatic thing. He just couldn’t do it. Shortly after Banchero’s Orlando Magic lost 116-94 to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday in Game 7 of their playoff series, he was asked if they have enough talent to win in the NBA. Advertisement Seated on the postgame press conference stage, Banchero hesitated before …

For the most part, ESPN has tiptoed around the situation involving Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and reporter Dianna Russini, formerly of The Athletic. On Sunday, ESPN’s Inside the NBA studio show jumped into the fray, with both feet. The show makes “gone fishing” graphics when a team’s season has ended. With the Boston Celtics losing on Saturday night to the …

The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers and lost Game 7 at TD Garden. At home. To a seven seed. For a franchise built on banners, this collapse was a rare low point, especially since they’ve beaten the Sixers in every playoff series since 1982. Jayson Tatum didn’t play in the season-ending loss because of …

Game 7s have a way of producing unlikely heroes. Enter Tobias Harris. The Pistons’ veteran wing was solid this season (13.3 points per game) but stepped it up in the playoffs, averaging 20.2 points a night. In Game 7 on Sunday, he found another level. He had 19 points in the first half, including scoring 11 straight in the final …

Pat Kelsey and Louisville men’s basketball continue to have a strong offseason in preparation for the 2026-27 college basketball season. The latest addition to the Cardinals comes from the high school ranks, as they landed five-star recruit Obinna Ekezie Jr., the No. 4 national prospect in the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Advertisement He announced his commitment …

The Orlando Magic were competitive early in Sunday’s Game 7 despite playing without Franz Wagner. But the Detroit Pistons turned up the heat in the second quarter to spark a 110-94 win and secure their first playoff series win since advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in 2008. Advertisement Tobias Harris scored 17 of his 30 points in the second …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Down 3-1, the Philadelphia 76ers completed an improbable comeback against the Boston Celtics, winning the decisive Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday. Advertisement Joel Embiid was a beast in Games 4-7 of the series, and my 76ers vs. Knicks predictions expect him …

Luka Doncic is still building towards a return, but it won’t come in time for Game 1. The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Doncic for the start of their second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on “Inside the NBA” on Sunday. Advertisement Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic …

In the NBA, there’s nothing better than a Game 7. Fortunately for fans tuning in Sunday, May 3, there are two of them, between the No. 1 Detroit Pistons and No. 8 Orlando Magic and between the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers and No. 5 Toronto Raptors. Advertisement In win-or-go-home scenarios, teams tend to elevate their play and compete with desperation. …

Averaging 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, Alpern Şengün was the most impactful player for the Rockets against the Lakers this postseason. So, slowing him down and disrupting what makes him effective became critical for the Lakers in Game 6. Advertisement In previous contests, the Lakers tried to double Şengün, which led him to find open shooters and give …

All season long, the San Antonio Spurs showed they were a team far ahead of everyone else’s timeline — they were a contender now, not in a year or three. San Antonio won 62 games and was the No. 2 seed in the West. All season long, Minnesota almost looked bored. We’d see flashes of the team that made it …

The Minnesota Timberwolves survived and advanced past the Denver Nuggets despite Anthony Edwards missing two-plus games of their first-round playoff series with a bone bruise in his left knee. Up next is a second-round playoff matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in which the Timberwolves are expected to need Edwards to have a reasonable chance of pulling …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their series tonight in a winner-takes-all Game 7. In addition to our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions, we’ve got the computer working overtime to provide the best NBA player prop projections. Advertisement Round out your NBA picks …

Jayson Tatum met with the media Sunday following the Boston Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in their NBA first-round playoff series and explained why he wasn’t able to play. In the early afternoon Saturday, Tatum was initially listed as questionable with left knee stiffness. That status changed approximately two hours before tip-off and Tatum was ruled out …

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Joel Embiid wants Philadelphia fans at the Philadelphia games. Good luck with that. One way or another, the Knicks know the New Yorkers are coming. The 76ers and Knicks begin the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, which is expected to be packed with Knicks fans, from the celebrities in the front row …

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Finally finished with Boston, a trip to New York came quickly for the Philadelphia 76ers. So did the memories. The Eastern Conference semifinals are a rematch of a tight series between Atlantic Division rivals from nearby Northeast cities, a Knicks victory in six games in 2024. Advertisement Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey delivered unbelievable performances. Both …