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Lakers star LeBron James against Houston Rockets in Game 6 of playoffs
Lead signal
NBA playoffs/Newsweek

LeBron James Jokes Bronny James and NFL Star Are ‘Twins’ After Lakers’ Win

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 12:06 PM EDTupdatedMay 02, 2026 at 12:07 PM EDTBy Matthew CoudenContributing WriterThere have been some wild and cool interactions involving NBA players and celebrity fans during the postseason, including Friday night's viral moment with LeBron James.The Los Angeles Lakers finished off the Rockets in Houston, winning 98-78 behind 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds from King James. It was clear LeBron was ready to end this series and move on to the next one, based on his exerting his dominance to make a statement.And with LeBron often running full speed ahead towards the crowd after plays to the basket, that caused an interaction between the NBA and NFL worlds. LeBron crashed into the front row behind the basket, and when he got up, he was near Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr., possibly attending the game in support of the home team.Read more: Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. Makes Bold Claim Before Lakers Playoff Clash...Anderson Jr. offered LeBron a hand and helped him up from the court, with King James all smiles. He dapped Anderson Jr. and briefly hugged the NFL star in a special interaction before heading back out on the court."The moment was

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Jaylen Brown Accuses Joel Embiid of ‘Flopping’ After 76ers Eliminate Celtics - Newsweek featured image
Fast moving
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Jaylen Brown Accuses Joel Embiid of ‘Flopping’ After 76ers Eliminate Celtics

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 01:02 AM EDTBy Megan ArmstrongBoston Celtics All-Star guard Jaylen Brown and Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid had very similar outings in an intense Game 7 at Boston's TD Garden on Saturday night.Embiid finished with 34 points on 12 of 26 shooting from the floor, while Brown finished with 33 points on 12 of 27 shooting from the floor. The main difference was that Embiid's 76ers won 109-100 to complete a 3-1 series comeback and eliminate Boston in the first round of the NBA playoffs.But there was another major difference, if you ask Brown."It was tough," Brown said during his postgame presser. "Embiid put a lot of pressure on us. We didn't really have an answer for him. We tried a bunch of different things. He's a big body. He also was flopping around. He got some extra calls and stuff like that, and they rewarded him for that. But that's the league we’re in."Embiid went 9 of 11 from the line, only five more free throws than Brown attempted, for the record....Brown previously criticized "foul baiting" after the Celtics lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 13. He didn't mention reigning NBA MVP

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Neemias Queta
Context
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Surprise X-Factor Named Ahead of Celtics Game 7 Clash vs. 76ers

The Boston Celtics walked into Game 6 on Thursday night with a chance to close the door on the Philadelphia 76ers, and instead lost to a team many had counted out weeks ago. The Celtics were outplayed from the opening stretch in a 106–93 loss, undone by cold shooting, turnovers, and an inability to contain a surging Tyrese Maxey, who poured in 30 points to keep Philly alive. The Sixers set the tone early and never let up, flipping what once looked like a comfortable 3–1 Celtics series lead into a full-blown crisis. Now the series shifts back to TD Garden for a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Saturday night, with momentum clearly in Philadelphia's favor. And now, in a series loaded with stars, a surprising 7-footer may be the one who decides it.Celtics' center Neemias Queta. On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Zach Kram identified Queta as Boston’s Game 7 “X-factor,” flipping the script away from stars like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown and onto a 26-year-old and former second-round pick whose impact has been undeniable. "Boston's starting center was one of the most improved players in the NBA this season and a pleasant surprise for Boston after Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis,

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More in Nba Playoffs

Lakers star LeBron James against Houston Rockets in Game 6 of playoffs
NBA playoffs/Newsweek

LeBron James Jokes Bronny James and NFL Star Are ‘Twins’ After Lakers’ Win

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 12:06 PM EDTupdatedMay 02, 2026 at 12:07 PM EDTBy Matthew CoudenContributing WriterThere have been some wild and cool interactions involving NBA players and celebrity fans during the postseason, including Friday night's viral moment with LeBron James.The Los Angeles Lakers finished off the Rockets in Houston, winning 98-78 behind 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds from King James. It was clear LeBron was ready to end this series and move on to the next one, based on his exerting his dominance to make a statement.And with LeBron often running full speed ahead towards the crowd after plays to the basket, that caused an interaction between the NBA and NFL worlds. LeBron crashed into the front row behind the basket, and when he got up, he was near Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr., possibly attending the game in support of the home team.Read more: Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. Makes Bold Claim Before Lakers Playoff Clash...Anderson Jr. offered LeBron a hand and helped him up from the court, with King James all smiles. He dapped Anderson Jr. and briefly hugged the NFL star in a special interaction before heading back out on the court."The moment was

7 hr ago
Jaylen Brown Accuses Joel Embiid of ‘Flopping’ After 76ers Eliminate Celtics - Newsweek featured image
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Jaylen Brown Accuses Joel Embiid of ‘Flopping’ After 76ers Eliminate Celtics

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 01:02 AM EDTBy Megan ArmstrongBoston Celtics All-Star guard Jaylen Brown and Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid had very similar outings in an intense Game 7 at Boston's TD Garden on Saturday night.Embiid finished with 34 points on 12 of 26 shooting from the floor, while Brown finished with 33 points on 12 of 27 shooting from the floor. The main difference was that Embiid's 76ers won 109-100 to complete a 3-1 series comeback and eliminate Boston in the first round of the NBA playoffs.But there was another major difference, if you ask Brown."It was tough," Brown said during his postgame presser. "Embiid put a lot of pressure on us. We didn't really have an answer for him. We tried a bunch of different things. He's a big body. He also was flopping around. He got some extra calls and stuff like that, and they rewarded him for that. But that's the league we’re in."Embiid went 9 of 11 from the line, only five more free throws than Brown attempted, for the record....Brown previously criticized "foul baiting" after the Celtics lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 13. He didn't mention reigning NBA MVP

12 hr ago
Neemias Queta
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Surprise X-Factor Named Ahead of Celtics Game 7 Clash vs. 76ers

The Boston Celtics walked into Game 6 on Thursday night with a chance to close the door on the Philadelphia 76ers, and instead lost to a team many had counted out weeks ago. The Celtics were outplayed from the opening stretch in a 106–93 loss, undone by cold shooting, turnovers, and an inability to contain a surging Tyrese Maxey, who poured in 30 points to keep Philly alive. The Sixers set the tone early and never let up, flipping what once looked like a comfortable 3–1 Celtics series lead into a full-blown crisis. Now the series shifts back to TD Garden for a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Saturday night, with momentum clearly in Philadelphia's favor. And now, in a series loaded with stars, a surprising 7-footer may be the one who decides it.Celtics' center Neemias Queta. On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Zach Kram identified Queta as Boston’s Game 7 “X-factor,” flipping the script away from stars like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown and onto a 26-year-old and former second-round pick whose impact has been undeniable. "Boston's starting center was one of the most improved players in the NBA this season and a pleasant surprise for Boston after Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis,

7 hr ago
LeBron James Drops Epic Quote About Father Time After Lakers Top Rockets - Newsweek featured image
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

LeBron James Drops Epic Quote About Father Time After Lakers Top Rockets

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 04:18 PM EDTBy Megan ArmstrongDon't fall victim to revisionist history: the Los Angeles Lakers were not supposed to beat the Houston Rockets.Then LeBron James happened.Yes, the Rockets were unexpectedly without Kevin Durant for five of six games due to an ankle sprain and a bone bruise. It's true that Lakers head coach JJ Redick made sound adjustments, and it's also true that Austin Reaves, the Lakers' second-leading scorer this season, returned in Game 5. Still, James, at 41 years old, was the catalyst to Los Angeles upsetting the Rockets — again, Houston was heavily favored entering the series — in six games to eliminate them in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After the Lakers beat the Rockets 98-78 in Game 6 on Friday night, James joined Amazon Prime Video's NBA studio show. Host Taylor Rooks teed him up by saying, "We all keep saying it's you vs. Father Time. What's the score?" "Oh, I'm kicking his [expletive]," James said without hesitation. "He can go to somebody else at this point. He already lost to me. It's over with."...James led the Lakers with 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in Game 6.According to

6 hr ago
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Celtics Make Ugly NBA History in Game 7 Loss to 76ers

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 08:20 AM EDTBy Jordan SiglerThe Boston Celtics played shorthanded in their 109-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night in Game 7. More News: Only Two NFL Teams Still in the Mix for Aaron RodgersHours before the contest at TD Garden, the Celtics ruled out Jayson Tatum due to a knee injury. Tatum played in Game 6 but was listed as questionable to play on Saturday night. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn't reveal before the contest who would replace Tatum. Boston ended up going with Baylor Scheierman over Jordan Walsh....More News: Chiefs Appear to Have Offered Travis Kelce a ‘Farewell Deal’Boston went with a starting lineup of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr. and Scheierman. The starting lineup accounted for just 59 points against the 76ers in Game 7. Brown led the Celtics with 33 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. White added 26 points, six rebounds and four assists.Per Legion Hoops, the Celtics made NBA history in an ugly way, becoming the first team to have three starters go scoreless in a playoff game. Garza, Harper and Scheierman didn't score a point on Saturday night.

14 hr ago
Luka Doncic Injury Update: Will Lakers Star Return vs. Thunder?
NBA Playoffs/USA Today

Luka Doncic Injury Update: Will Lakers Star Return vs. Thunder?

May 3, 2026, 5:19 p.m. ETLuka 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.Charania reports the Lakers are evaluating Doncic on a week-to-week basis and is currently on a "slow path" in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for the past month.Doncic returned to the practice floor during the Lakers' first round series, but has yet to progress to 3-on-3 or 5-on-5."He's doing more and more on the court," Charania reported. "But right now, still not full-fledged running or full-contact workouts."Doncic has missed 11 games since straining his left hamstring against Oklahoma City on April 2. The Lakers have gone 7-4 in that span but ran out to a 3-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets, winning the series in six games.The odds are stacked against LA yet again with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Thunder, who won a league-best 64 games in

1 hr ago
Boston, Philadelphia face off in Game 7 showdown - Time to make a bet
NBA Playoffs/Fox News

Boston, Philadelphia face off in Game 7 showdown - Time to make a bet

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Backs are against the wall. It is do or die. Win, or go home. Anything can happen. Whatever your favorite little saying is for a Game 7 applies here. The Philadelphia 76ers, a team that barely made it into the postseason, has pushed the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination. It is Game 7, so we have to bet on it; those are the rules.Philadelphia has won two games in Boston already, and now they need to take three of four in the series in order to advance. In the last two games, the 76ers have looked great. They have held the Celtics to just 97 points in Game 5 and 93 points in Game 6. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., on May 14, 2023. (Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images)In fact, in all three of their wins, the 76ers have held the Celtics to under 100 points. They aren’t exactly known for their defense, but it certainly looks like that’s where their success is this postseason.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE

7 hr ago
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James against Houston Rockets
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Austin Reaves Reveals What He Told LeBron James After Lakers’ Round 1 Win

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 12:56 PM EDTBy Cole SullivanThe Los Angeles Lakers concluded their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Friday night with a 98–78 victory, setting up what was expected to be a second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder potentially beginning on Sunday.However, with both the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors forcing Game 7s in their respective series, the Lakers’ matchup with OKC will now not begin until Tuesday. Detroit overcame a 22-point halftime deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic, while Raptors guard RJ Barrett delivered a dramatic game-winner that bounced high off the rim before dropping in to secure a 112–110 victory for Toronto. More news: Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. Makes Bold Claim Before Lakers Playoff ClashMore news: Celtics Confirm Jayson Tatum’s Status With Game 7 Injury ReportThe Lakers game was the last game to finish Friday night, so L.A. knew heading into the contest that if they won, they would already have avoided playing Sunday, which for 41-year-old LeBron James is a very big deal, and he certainly acknowledged it postgame.“Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, RJ Barrett. I appreciate it," James said. "Haven’t seen a shot in Toronto like that since Kawhi. There’s something

2 hr ago
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

Joel Embiid is Worried About Knicks Fans

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 08:52 AM EDTBy Jordan SiglerFresh off an upset of the Boston Celtics in round one in Game 7 on Saturday night, Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid immediately turned his attention to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. More News: Celtics Make Ugly NBA History in Game 7 Loss to 76ersThe 76ers were down 3-1 to the Celtics in the series before winning three consecutive games, including a 109-100 victory in Game 7 in front of a crowd of 19,156 at TD Garden. Embiid, who had emergency appendectomy surgery on April 9, made his first appearance in the series in Game 4. He played the hero for Philadelphia on Saturday, scoring a game-high 34 points to go along with 12 rebounds and six assists....More News: Chiefs Appear to Have Offered Travis Kelce a ‘Farewell Deal’After beating the Celtics on Saturday, the 76ers will play another rival in a series beginning on Monday night. Philadelphia will travel to play the New York Knicks for Game 1. During his postgame news conference, Embiid had a message for the 76ers fan base, pleading with them not to sell tickets to Knicks fans before Game 3 on Friday night."I just have

12 hr ago
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers
NBA Playoffs/Newsweek

76ers Appear to be Trying to Keep Knicks Fans From Purchasing Tickets

News ArticlePublishedMay 03, 2026 at 02:07 PM EDTBy Jordan SiglerThe Philadelphia 76ers pulled off an upset in round one against the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series. Now, the 76ers are trying to protect their home court from visiting fans in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.More News: Celtics Make Ugly NBA History in Game 7 Loss to 76ersNew York Knicks fans came in large numbers to Wells Fargo Center during the first round of the playoffs in 2024, prompting 76ers star center Joel Embiid to voice his disappointment in Philadelphia fans selling tickets to a rival fan base.The 76ers are trying to circumvent that happening again in the semifinals by limiting the purchase of tickets online to residents within the "Greater Philadelphia Area."Via the NBA:"Xfinity Mobile Arena is located in Philadelphia, PA. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Greater Philadelphia area. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside Greater Philadelphia area will be canceled without notice and refunds given."...More News: Joel Embiid is Worried About Knicks FansCertainly, there will be plenty of savvy Knicks fans who will circumvent the policy. Not to mention, there are Knicks fans who reside in the

6 hr ago
Can Lakers survive Thunder? Predictions, odds and schedule for series
NBA Playoffs/USA Today

Can Lakers survive Thunder? Predictions, odds and schedule for series

May 2, 2026Updated May 3, 2026, 5:01 p.m. ETThe Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals and will face last year's champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in a best-of-seven series. The last time these franchises saw each other in the postseason was 2012.The majority of experts and bettors have counted the Lakers out against the Houston Rockets in the first round, but they prevailed and made it past them. But the Rockets aren't a championship team, the Thunder are.The same experts and bettors who counted Los Angeles out in the opening series are doubling down against Oklahoma City. And it makes sense.During their four matchups in the 2025-26 regular season, the Lakers lost all games by an average margin of 29.3 points, the worst regular-season point differential of any playoff matchup in NBA history. Luka Doncic didn't play in two of the four games. Of the two he did play in, he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during their April 2 meeting, causing him to leave early. The Lakers lost that game by 43 points and Doncic has been out since.Doncic won't be available to start the series against the Thunder and his timetable is relatively unknown,

4 hr ago