Türk Telekom players Marko Simonovic and Berkan Durmaz preview their playoff series against Anadolu Efes, emphasizing the need for smart, physical play and strong defense. They also highlight the importance of fan support in Ankara.
Frenchman ejected for first time in his NBA careerMinnesota level series 2-2 after Sunday’s 114-109 winVictor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career after an elbow to the jaw and neck of Naz Reid as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs to level their playoff series at two games apiece.Wembanyama was whistled for an offensive foul as soon as he struck Reid, who had swarmed the Spurs star outside the paint along with teammate Jaden McDaniels after the 7ft 4in Wembanyama rebounded a missed three-pointer by the Spurs. Continue reading...
Frenchman ejected for first time in his NBA careerMinnesota level series 2-2 after Sunday’s 114-109 winVictor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career after an elbow to the jaw of Naz Reid as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs to level their playoff series.Wembanyama was whistled for an offensive foul as soon as he struck Reid, who had swarmed the Spurs star outside the paint along with teammate Jaden McDaniels after the 7ft 4in Wembanyama rebounded a missed three-pointer by the Spurs. Continue reading...
The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers face off in Game 7 on Sunday with a trip to the second round on the line. The Cavaliers have won four straight Game 7s and are 4-0 at home in such games, while the Raptors are 0-1 on the road in Game 7s. RJ Barrett's winning 3-pointer in overtime gave Toronto a 112-110 victory in Game 6.
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points with 12 assists and Tobias Harris added 30 points as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday to win their first playoff series since 2008. The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, rallying from a 24-point deficit in Game 6. Cunningham averaged 32.4 points in the series while Paolo Banchero scored 38 for Orlando.
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday, securing their first playoff series win in 18 years. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points. The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, rallying from a 24-point hole in Game 6. Paolo Banchero scored 38 for Orlando. Detroit will face the winner of Cleveland-Toronto in the second round.
Joel Embiid urged Philadelphia fans not to sell tickets to Knicks fans ahead of the 76ers' second-round playoff series against New York, recalling how Knicks fans overwhelmed Wells Fargo Center during the 2024 series. The seven-time All-Star offered to financially assist fans who might be tempted to sell tickets. Philadelphia completed an NBA-record comeback from 3-1 down to eliminate the Celtics in Game 7.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series Friday, advancing to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points while Rui Hachimura added 21 points with five 3-pointers. The Lakers used a 27-3 run in the first half to take an 18-point halftime lead and never looked back, holding Houston to a season-low 78 points. The fifth-seeded Rockets lost despite forcing Game 6 without superstar Kevin Durant, who missed most of the series with injuries.
The Sabres defeated the Bruins 4-1 on Friday night in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2007.
The Denver Nuggets were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in their first-round playoff series, with Nikola Jokić acknowledging the team is far from championship contention. Jokić had 28 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the 110-98 loss. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks recorded the largest halftime lead in playoff history (47 points) in a 140-89 demolition of Atlanta, the sixth-largest margin of victory in NBA postseason history. The Philadelphia 76ers forced a Game 7 with a 106-93 win over the Boston Celtics, becoming just the second team in NBA history to force Game 7 after losing by 30-plus points twice in a series.
Brandon Hagel has become the Tampa Bay Lightning's emotional core in their 2026 playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, delivering a Gordie Howe hat trick in Game 2 and six goals in five games. Acquired from Chicago in 2022, Hagel's game elevated after playing for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championships and 2026 Olympics. Now facing elimination in Game 6, his teammates and coach Jon Cooper describe him as 'the heartbeat' of the team.
Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks were ejected from Game 6 of their playoff series Thursday after a scuffle that resulted in offsetting technical fouls. OG Anunoby extended the Knicks' lead to 50 points with free throws before the fight erupted.
Kevin Durant will miss Game 6 of the Rockets' playoff series against the Lakers due to a bone bruise in his left ankle, marking his fourth consecutive absence. The 37-year-old sustained the injury near the end of Game 2 on April 21. The Rockets, who trail 3-2 in the series, won the past two games after facing a 3-0 deficit. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Houston, with a potential Game 7 on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Austin Reaves returns from a nine-game injury absence for Game 5 of the Lakers-Rockets playoff series. Reaves has been out since April 2 with strained oblique muscles. The Lakers won the first three games without Reaves and Luka Doncic, but Houston took Game 4 to force a return to Los Angeles.
Victor Wembanyama recorded 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 114-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a 4-1 series win — the Spurs' first playoff series victory since 2017. In other NBA playoff action, Joel Embiid scored 33 points to help Philadelphia beat Boston 113-97 and avoid elimination, while Jalen Brunson's 39 points lifted New York over Atlanta 126-97 for a 3-2 series lead.
Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds plus six blocks as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5 to win their first playoff series since 2017. The Spurs, the Western Conference's second seed, will face the winner of the Nuggets-Timberwolves series. In the East, Joel Embiid scored 33 points in his second game since emergency appendectomy to keep the 76ers alive against Boston, while Jalen Brunson's 39 points led the Knicks past Atlanta.
Victor Wembanyama recorded 17 points and 14 rebounds with six blocks as the San Antonio Spurs clinched their first NBA playoff series win since 2017, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5. The Spurs, the Western Conference's second seed, will face either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semi-finals.
The Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series, taking a 3-2 lead and moving one win away from their first playoff series victory since 2015. Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves while the Wild blocked 26 shots and frustrated a Stars offense that finished in the top 10 in goals per game during the regular season. Kirill Kaprizov added an empty-net goal to seal the victory, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday in St. Paul.
The Buffalo Sabres completed a remarkable turnaround, going from 30th place in early December to Atlantic Division champions with 109 points, culminating in a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Bruins in their first playoff appearance in 14 years. The team attributes its success to tight-knit chemistry and resilience, with key players Tage Thompson scoring twice in an improbable Game 1 comeback and Alex Tuch emphasizing the group's determination. Buffalo made a GM change mid-season, replacing Kevyn Adams with Jarmo Kekalainen, while maintaining its core roster and systems.
Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Denver Nuggets 112-96 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points in a reserve performance not seen in 50 years. The game was marred by a late-game altercation after Jaden McDaniels made a layup with 2.1 seconds left, leading to ejections of Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle. Injuries to Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (possible Achilles rupture) cloud Minnesota's playoff hopes.
The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Houston Rockets 2-0 in their first-round playoff series, but will be without Luka Doncic for Game 3. Despite being short-handed, the Lakers have controlled the series behind strong performances from Luke Kennard and LeBron James. Shams Charania reports Doncic is not expected to play in this series. The Lakers aim to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Sidney Crosby acknowledged heightened urgency after the Pittsburgh Penguins fell behind the Philadelphia Flyers 0-2 in their first-round playoff series. It's the sixth time in Crosby's career facing an 0-2 series deficit, having rallied twice before in 2009. The Flyers have dominated with strong defense and goaltending, limiting the Penguins to just 15 shots from the inner slot while killing all seven power play opportunities.
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday, tying the series 1-1. VJ Edgecombe became the youngest player in NBA history to record 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game at 20 years, 265 days old, surpassing Magic Johnson's record. Tyrese Maxey added 29 points as the 76ers won as 13.5-point underdogs — their largest upset since 2005.
CJ McCollum scored 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks erased a 12-point deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 107-106 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, tying the matchup at one game apiece. McCollum hit a go-ahead jumper with 33 seconds remaining after Jalen Brunson's tying three-pointer. The Knicks had led since halftime and were 40-1 in postseason history when leading by 12 or more after three quarters. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta.
