Raptors coach had great quote after losing Game 7
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic stayed graceful in defeat Sunday after his team’s season came to an end.
Rajakovic’s Raptors hung tough with the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of their first-round series at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The road dogs led by double digits in the first half and hung tough with the Cavs before Jarrett Allen took control in the second half.
With Jakob Poeltl’s regression in the series, Toronto had no answer for Allen’s size in the paint. The Cavaliers center finished with 22 points, 19 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks in the 114-102 Cleveland victory.
After the game, Rajakovic was asked what he learned from coaching his first playoff series with the Raptors.
“I learned how much I love this roster, how much I love my players. That’s what I really learned,” Rajakovic told reporters. “Tomorrow, I’m going to be missing coaching those guys. I told them before the game that I want to advance to the next round so I could continue coaching them and being around them.”
“This is a very special group of people, and I’m very grateful and thankful to have those guys around me and to have a chance to work with them.”
“I learned how much I love this roster and these players.” ❤️🏀@Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković reflects on Toronto’s impressive campaign. pic.twitter.com/tMlBOojCKE
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 4, 2026
The Raptors played without Brandon Ingram in Games 6 and 7, and were also missing Immanuel Quickley due to injury. The fact that Toronto took the series to seven games was a triumph in and of itself for Rajakovic’s undermanned squad.
Rajakovic has been one of the most passionate coaches in the NBA since he first took the reins in Toronto back in 2023. He’s shown some of his fire for the game in the past, with some heated press conference moments under his belt that likely lit a fire under his team. On Sunday, he got a chance to show his appreciation for the players that huddle around him.
The Raptors’ record has improved in each of the three seasons under Rajakovic. The team finished 25-57 in his first year as coach, then had a 5-win improvement the following year. The Raptors jumped to 46-36 this season as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 campaign.
Dave Portnoy commits to amazing punishment if 76ers win title
Dave Portnoy is quite literally putting his neck on the line against the Philadelphia 76ers’ title chances.
The Barstool Sports owner took to social media on Sunday to rant about Sixers fans puffing their chest after beating the Boston Celtics in the first round. Portnoy, a die-hard Boston sports fanatic, called 76ers supporters “scumbags” for their behavior.
Portnoy also called Sixers fans “delusional” for believing an upset of this year’s Celtics team means the team has any chance at winning the NBA championship. Portnoy was so confident, he promised fans he’d get some ink for the first time if proven wrong (note: the video contains profanity).
“I never do bets like this. I never make gimmick bets. But I’m so sick of you Sixers fans,” Portnoy said.
“If the Philadelphia 76ers win the NBA championship, I will get a neck tattoo … a Philadelphia 76ers neck tattoo. I don’t have tattoos. … That is how confident I am you guys have no f—ing chance.
“So, congrats, you won Round 1. And you f—ing scumbags somehow think that changes the rivalry. You beat a bad Celtics team. Who f—ing cares?”
I am so sick of all these delusional @sixers fans acting like they aren’t a bum franchise. It’s round 1 of the playoffs guys. You beat a bad Celtics team. Relax. If the Sixers win the title I’ll get a Sixers neck tattoo. pic.twitter.com/Hd4bEdAX7L
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 3, 2026
Portnoy promised that he wouldn’t just get the tattoo and have it removed a week later, either. He stated that he would have to keep the tattoo “for the rest of my life.”
Based on Las Vegas’ read of the 76ers’ chances, Portnoy isn’t likely to get that tattoo. Philly is considered a 40-to-1 underdog to win it all entering the second round — by far the longest odds among the remaining East teams.
But the 76ers were also heavy underdogs against the Celtics, too. As long as Philly remains alive in the postseason, Portnoy’s neck isn’t safe.
Yankees share key update on Ben Rice after his injury scare
The New York Yankees appear to have dodged a bullet on Sunday following an injury scare to first baseman Ben Rice.
Rice, who has been one of the best hitters in the majors this season, left Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after three innings at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. The 27-year-old hurt his hand while trying to field a pickoff attempt. You can watch the play below.
Ben Rice leaves the game… Goldschmidt replaces Rice at 1st. #RepBX #Yankees #NYYvsBAL pic.twitter.com/WFtQNm7mMo
— YankeesDugout99 ⚾ (@YDugout99) May 3, 2026
The Yankees pulled Rice before the 4th inning due to what the team called a left hand contusion. The positive news for fans of the Bronx Bombers is that the X-rays taken of Rice’s hand were negative, and he’s considered day-to-day.
Ben Rice exited today's game with a left hand contusion that he sustained on the pickoff attempt while playing first base in the third inning. X-rays taken were negative. He's day-to-day.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 3, 2026
“I caught it poorly, and it kind of hit me in the palm,” Rice told reporters after the game.
Rice added that he experienced discomfort on his practice swings after the incident. He took his next at-bat in the bottom of the 3rd and shared that he was exclusively relying on his right hand for the swing. His one-handed plate appearance still resulted in extra bases.
Everything Ben Rice puts in play is going for extra bases right now pic.twitter.com/dE5FhtNzXg
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 3, 2026
Rice got driven in via a home run from Aaron Judge two pitches later. Paul Goldschmidt replaced Rice for the rest of the game, as the Yankees won 11-3.
The injury update was a huge win for the Yankees, who have benefited from a blazing start from Rice at the plate.
Through 33 games, Rice paces the American League with a .343 batting average, while his 1.214 OPS leads the majors. The Yankees will want Rice’s bat back in the lineup ASAP.
Jaylen Brown blames referees’ ‘agenda’ against him after Celtics exit
Jaylen Brown is not going out quietly after the Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead in their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Celtics star on Sunday was still not over his team’s Game 7 loss to the Sixers in front of a home crowd at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Brown led his team with 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but it wasn’t enough in a 109-100 defeat.
Brown vented while on a Twitch live stream about an alleged “agenda” referees have against him. He reacted to a play in which Paul George pushed off his defender, and the referees didn’t call anything. It’s a play Brown felt would’ve gotten himself tagged for an offensive foul.
“Do you know how many players do that?” Brown asked his viewers. “That’s a common play, a basketball play. Every player does it — so why are you targeting me?”
“They clearly had an agenda. Maybe because I spoke and was critical of the refs during the regular season, and they responded: ‘You’re going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls.’”
Jaylen Brown says he felt like there was an agenda against him by the NBA Referees to make him the leader in offensive fouls during the NBA Playoffs 👀 pic.twitter.com/VlhDMmOfzF
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) May 4, 2026
Brown claimed he spoke to “some refs” who supposedly confirmed that there was “an agenda” to call the Celtics wing for an offensive foul when he raises his off arm to create space. He added that other stars such as George and Jalen Brunson use the same tactic all the time, without the same repercussions.
Through the first round of the playoffs, no player was called for more offensive fouls than Brown, and it wasn’t even close. Five players — Jalen Duren, Neemias Queta, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Stephon Castle — tied for second place with 5 offensive fouls, while Brown doubled everyone else up with 10.
Regardless of whether Brown has a legitimate gripe, it’s not a great look to be blaming the officiating after blowing a 3-1 lead. Brown even took a parting shot at Joel Embiid during his Game 7 postgame press conference.
Paolo Banchero has brutally honest take after blowing 3-1 lead to Pistons
Paolo Banchero did not mince words after his team’s unceremonious exit from the postseason.
The Orlando Magic star did all he could Sunday in Game 7 of his team’s first-round against the Detroit Pistons. Banchero poured in a game-high 38 points on 14/25 shooting with 9 rebounds and 6 assists, but it wasn’t enough in the 116-94 loss at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.
Banchero was a sullen figure during his postgame press conference. He gave a candid answer when asked whether or not this Magic team, as currently constructed, is good enough to succeed at the next level.
“I can’t really answer that. I want to say yes, but we haven’t been out of the first round, so if you’re going off the last three years, the answer is no,” Banchero replied.
“The nice answer would be yes, but honestly speaking, I can’t say that we’re good enough to be in the Finals or Eastern Finals, because the last three years, we’ve had the same result.”
The Magic on Sunday became the 15th team in NBA history to lose a series after leading 3-1. One could argue that the team already overachieved, given that they took the East’s No. 1 seed to the brink of elimination.
However, Orlando’s performances in Games 6 and 7 did not exactly evoke confidence in the team moving forward. The Magic led Game 6 by as many as 24 points, but had arguably the worst second half in NBA postseason history to lose by double figures. Game 7 was a good, old-fashioned blowout loss.
It’s hard to imagine the Magic not making some changes this offseason. There have long been rumors about a rift between Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley. At this point, Mosley may have the hottest seat among all the coaches in the NBA.
Willson Contreras butts heads with a Red Sox teammate after latest loss
The vibes in Boston continue to get worse and worse.
The Boston Red Sox lost again on Sunday, falling by a final score of 3-1 to the Houston Astros at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. The defeat marked Boston’s eighth in their last 12 games, dropping them to a division-worst 13-21 overall.
Speaking with reporters after the loss, Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was asked about the team’s continued struggles. Contreras said that it did not help that the team had a number of young players in the lineup who lacked experience in dealing with slumps, per Sean McAdam of MassLive.
When asked about Contreras’ remarks minutes later, Boston teammate Marcelo Mayer sharply disagreed.
“To me, that’s just kind of an excuse: blame the young guys,” said Mayer, 23. “But at the end of the day, we’re all playing baseball, we’re all pros. We all know what we need to do. I don’t think we’re doing a good job with runners in scoring position. When you don’t do that, you don’t score runs.”
Amid their brutal start to the 2026 campaign, the Red Sox already fired manager Alex Cora and a number of other coaches (much to the reported displeasure of several players). But Boston is just 3-4 since those firings, and now their players appear to be butting heads as well.
The three-time All-Star Contreras, 33, is in his first season with the Red Sox after an offseason trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. He has been known to publicly call out his teammates in the past, and there is certainly a lot of material for Contreras to work with this year in Boston.
Report: Celtics could trade 1 surprising player this summer
A reckoning may be coming for the Boston Celtics.
Celtics guard Derrick White could be a potential trade candidate this offseason, Blake Silverman of Sports Illustrated reported on Sunday. Silverman notes that White is currently the third-highest-paid player on Boston’s roster behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The 31-year-old White is regarded as one of the very best role players in the entire NBA. He is a two-time All-Defensive selection who was also an impact starter on the Celtics’ 2024 championship team.
White can be excellent as a catch-and-shoot marksman (which gives him great chemistry with Tatum and Brown), and he also has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. During the regular season, he averaged at or near career highs with 16.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
On the other hand though, White just completed a shoddy 2026 postseason. In a seven-game first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, he posted 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists a game on subpar 32/27/85 shooting splits.
White is still owed roughly $63 million over the next two seasons and also holds a $34.8 million player option for 2028-29. We recently learned that the Celtics may even consider a more drastic trade this summer, so there might not be anybody on the roster who is truly safe right now.
Pistons fans troll Angel Reese during Game 7 win over Magic
Angel Reese caught an unexpected stray during Sunday’s Game 7.
The Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic by a final score of 116-94 on Sunday to win their first-round playoff series. The victory by Detroit at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. completed an epic comeback after they went down 3-1 in the series to Orlando.
Video went viral from the fourth quarter of the game showing Pistons fans in the stands taunting the WNBA star Reese as Detroit was cruising to the win. The fans could be heard loudly chanting “Angel Reese!” again and again.
You can see the clip at the link here.
For reference, Reese is currently in a relationship with Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. after previously dating Detroit center Jalen Duren. Carter and Duren were matched up against each other during the first round series, and Reese took to Instagram to troll Duren after Orlando’s win in Game 4.
After Reese’s post however, the Pistons won three straight games to take the series. Though Detroit does not currently have a WNBA team (the Detroit Shock moved in 2009 and the new Detroit expansion team won’t be competing until 2029), the local fans still got their opportunity this week to laugh at the WNBA All-Star Reese.
Stunning new update emerges on Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards is apparently healing like Wolverine.
In a stunning new development, the Minnesota Timberwolves star Edwards is being listed as questionable for Monday’s Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. Edwards is dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise but has now officially been cleared for on-court basketball activities, per Marc J. Spears of ESPN.
Edwards, 24, has not played for the Timberwolves since suffering a gruesome knee injury in Game 4 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets (see the video here). In the aftermath of the injury, Edwards was originally expected to miss multiple weeks of action.
But earlier in the day Sunday, we learned that Edwards had an optimistic target date set for his return to the court. Now the four-time NBA All-Star has been cleared for basketball activities just over one week after his initial injury.
The Timberwolves and Spurs will effectively be playing every other day during their second-round series. But with Edwards already this close to returning for Game 1, Minnesota is essentially playing with house money right now since the first two games of the series will be in San Antonio anyway.
Edwards is coming off his best regular season yet, averaging 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on efficient 49/40/80 shooting splits. Though the Timberwolves have some other key players who won’t be back at any point this postseason, the latest news on Edwards surely has all of Minnesota feeling far more optimistic right now.
Malik Willis explained his awful first pitch
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has an excuse for his viral first pitch at a recent Marlins game.
Willis was widely mocked for his errant first pitch prior to Friday’s game at LoanDepot Park, which saw his attempt go flying to the backstop (video here). The Marlins shared video of Willis’ appearance on their Instagram account Saturday, though notably, they did not show any angles that actually showed the pitch itself.
Willis owned up to his effort in the comments, though, with a modest excuse for his performance.
“I slipped,” Willis wrote, accompanied by a crying emoji.
Willis did not actually slip, but after an effort like that, he had to defend himself a little bit.
The good news for Willis is he is not the first quarterback to botch a ceremonial first pitch. If he plays well for the Dolphins, this will be long forgotten. If not, it will probably be viewed as a sign of what was to come.
Giants’ Jerar Encarnacion has one of the worst challenges of the season
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion turned in one of the worst ABS challenges of the MLB season so far on Sunday.
Encarnacion challenged an 0-1 pitch that was essentially right down the middle against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Steven Matz’s fastball was perfectly in the zone, but Encarnacion felt otherwise.
He then had to watch as the ABS system showed the ball piercing the strike zone with relative ease.
ABS confirmed in #Giants at #Rays (Top 5).
— ABS Auditor (@ABS_Auditor) May 3, 2026
Jerar Encarnacion challenged the called strike.
Called strike confirmed.
HP: Nic Lentz | Upheld 51.4% (37/72).
Later: Jerar Encarnacion lines out to center fielder Cedric Mullins. pic.twitter.com/rXiaXQhNeJ
Encarnacion wound up lining out, but he couldn’t have felt great about his command of the strike zone after seeing that review. Whether it was worse than Jazz Chisholm’s recent attempt is a matter of debate.
The Giants wound up losing 2-1 in ten innings to cap off an 0-6 road trip. Three of those losses came in walk-off fashion, and they now sit at 13-21 on the season.
Nuggets expected to make huge changes after their playoff loss
The Denver Nuggets are likely to look very different next season after their early exit from the NBA Playoffs.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Sunday that the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic both expect to finalize a 4-year max extension for the star center once he becomes eligible to sign in July. Other than that, however, the entire roster is viewed as expendable.
“There’s going to be real roster changes coming to Denver to identify how they can surround Nikola Jokic with the right pieces to get this team over the top,” Charania said. “They’re going to get calls and listen to calls on everyone on the roster besides Nikola Jokic.”
Reporting on ABC Inside the NBA Tip-Off Show — new updates on Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic, Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Denver Nuggets' future: pic.twitter.com/MPjLnQoPUq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 3, 2026
It has been previously suggested that Jamal Murray might be available this offseason, and this would confirm that. It also indicates that the likes of Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson could be moved in the right deal. That is what happens when the team falls short of expectations and the star player makes a brutal admission about the state of the franchise.
Despite the disappointment, the Nuggets will not be making a coaching change. Everyone else but Jokic will have to sweat their futures, though.
Kimi Antonelli wins Miami Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the drivers’ championship by winning the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sunday.
With an extended break due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren were able to bring several updates in Miami. Additionally, changes to the technical regulations, which saw the elimination of a loophole Mercedes had been utilizing, resulted in the competitive balances being somewhat restored in Miami.
With newfound pace, both McLaren drivers rounded out the podium, with Lando Norris finishing second and Oscar Piastri third.
Red Bull also made huge strides with their upgrades. Max Verstappen qualified second, but spun out on the opening lap.
🔄Verstappen'in yarış başındaki spini
— Arka Kanat (@arkakanat) May 3, 2026
🇺🇸#MiamiGP #F1pic.twitter.com/uWkclZRyOL
Despite spinning out, Verstappen was able to avoid damage and battled back to finish fifth.
Ferrari also remained in contention throughout the race. Charles Leclerc remained firmly in 3rd place until the last lap, where he spun out after being overtaken by Piastri, resulting in a P6 finish.
Despite a rough start with the new technical regulations, F1 seems back on track. Next up is the the Canadian GP, where McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull will look to continue to expand upon their upgrades and cut into Mercedes’ lead.
Charles Barkley explains why he is ‘disgusted’ with Cavaliers
Charles Barkley is “disgusted” by the Cleveland Cavaliers and their inability to close out the Toronto Raptors.
Barkley was furious with how the Cavaliers performed during the final moments of Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Toronto Raptors, and said as much on Sunday’s “Inside the NBA.” The Cavaliers threw the ball away and committed a turnover while leading by 1 with ten seconds left in the game, despite the fact that they still had a timeout. They went on to lose when RJ Barrett hit a three on the ensuing possession.
“I thought I was back at March Madness at a regular old Duke game,” Barkley said. “Watch out passing that ball. They’ve got to foul you. I’m like, what the hell? What are y’all doing? Why are y’all dribbling? Just hold the ball. Get fouled. That’s exactly what happened in that Duke game.
“I am so disgusted with these Cavs. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, (Evan) Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. I don’t think any guy’s had a signature game yet.”
"I am so disgusted at these Cavs."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 3, 2026
—Charles Barkley on Cleveland in their series vs. the Raptors 😳 pic.twitter.com/BFVMxCbVfx
Barkley is comparing the Cavs’ late fiasco to Duke’s loss to UConn during March Madness. Obviously, an NBA playoff team drawing comparisons to a college team for lack of composure is not meant as a compliment.
Barkley actually had the Cavs going to the NBA Finals at the start of the playoffs, a prediction he quickly came to regret. The fact that they have been taken to Game 7 by what he sees as an inferior Toronto team is just further reason for him to be annoyed at them.
Cardinals drop hint about how they will use Carson Beck
The Arizona Cardinals made Carson Beck the 65th overall pick in the NFL Draft, suggesting the organization has a long-term plan for him. That does not mean, however, he will get a chance to start quickly.
Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur indicated that the team will be in no rush to make Beck their starter as a rookie. Though he is the only long-term option on the team’s roster, LaFleur said it could be beneficial to allow the rookie quarterback to sit for at least a year.
“It benefits anyone in any position to be able to sit back,” LaFleur said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. “Sometimes, guys don’t have the choice because you have to put your best 22 out on the field there.”
The Cardinals have Jacoby Brissett returning at quarterback, and also brought veteran Gardner Minshew in as insurance. There are rumblings that Brissett is not happy with his contract situation, but even if that is the case, it sounds like Minshew would get a look before Beck does if the Cardinals needed an alternative at quarterback.
Beck may have risen up draft boards late in the process, but he was still not seen as a first-round talent for a reason. The Cardinals like what they see in the Miami product, but they will want to be careful not to rush him and make sure he is NFL-ready before throwing him into the fire.
Blazers could trade former All-Star this offseason
The Portland Trail Blazers took a significant step forward this season, making this a significant offseason for them. It could see them move on from a former All-Star due to a positional logjam, though.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line wrote Saturday that the Blazers are expected to field significant trade interest in veteran guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday would prefer to stay with the Blazers, but the team may see him as expendable due to Scoot Henderson’s emergence and Damian Lillard’s impending return from injury.
The Blazers like Holiday, but he may simply be the odd man out. Henderson is younger and the Blazers may want to open more minutes for him before making a long-term decision on his future. Holiday, meanwhile, has one year left on his current deal, plus a player option for 2027-28.
Holiday was a key part of Portland’s maturation this past season. He averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Blazers, taking on a large role as the anchor of the team’s backcourt. He turns 36 in June, however, which may not necessarily align with Portland’s long-term vision.
Holiday drew trade interest at the deadline, even though he did not get moved. Most contenders would at least give him a look given his experience and long track record of success, not to mention his reputation as a great locker room guy.
Jazz Chisholm addresses claim that he wore AirPod during game
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm is firing back at claims that he was wearing an AirPod in his ear during a recent game.
Chisholm was the source of some confusion during a game last Wednesday when he was seen with a white object in his right ear while playing against the Texas Rangers. Some assumed Chisholm was wearing a PitchCom device in order to coordinate with the rest of the infield, but others questioned whether he was wearing an AirPod or something similar.
is that an airpod or like pitchcom pic.twitter.com/0PJMtgmDBH
— ben rice truther (@ursocuylle) April 29, 2026
The answer, as it turns out, was neither. Chisholm had an earache after taking a ground ball to the head on Monday, and had a wad of cotton in his ear to try to muffle the noise he was experiencing with his ear ringing.
“It gave me an earache for like three or four days,” Chisholm told Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
Chisholm had been aware of the online conjecture and also posted a photo to clear things up.
So apparently Jazz Chisolm just had a cotton ball in his ear and not an AirPod? People were ready to pounce at the Yankees with no evidence lmao pic.twitter.com/ZKgiZ85EwL
— LombardIsKing (@LombardIsKing_) April 30, 2026
The fact that this was Chisholm made the idea of it being an AirPod more believable. This is, after all, someone who once got suspended for posting on social media from the clubhouse during a game.
Chisholm went just 1-for-12 during the series in Texas, though the lone hit was a home run. He did not miss any games due to the issue, and unfortunately for him, could not use it as an excuse for his recent awful ABS challenge, either.
Anthony Edwards has target set for his injury return
Anthony Edwards has reportedly told his teammates when to expect him back from his left knee injury.
Edwards has told teammates that he intends to return at some point during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ upcoming second round series against the San Antonio Spurs, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The All-Star forward has been undergoing constant treatment on the injury to try to get himself ready to play.
Officially, the Timberwolves are still characterizing Edwards as week-to-week. He has not played since suffering the injury in Game 4 of their series against the Denver Nuggets.
For the Timberwolves, the big question may end up being how long the series will go before Edwards is capable of playing again. They managed to overcome the Nuggets while shorthanded, but the task against the Spurs will likely be tougher. They have also suffered other injuries too, making Edwards’ return even more urgently needed.
The series is set to begin Monday in San Antonio. It shifts to Minnesota on Friday, which would certainly be a convenient time for Edwards to return if he can manage it.
Joel Embiid has warning for 76ers fans ahead of Knicks series
Joel Embiid had a firm warning for Philadelphia 76ers fans ahead of their upcoming second round series against the New York Knicks.
Embiid warned Sixers fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans ahead of the series. The star center said that was what happened last time the two met in the playoffs, which turned Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena into “Madison Square Garden East.”
“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you,” Embiid said. “If you need money, I got you.”
Joel Embiid: "I have a message for our fans. Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philly] was Madison Square Garden East. We're gonna need the support. Don't sell your tickets. This is bigger than you…If you need money, I got you."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) May 3, 2026
Embiid is not wrong about what happened in 2024. Knicks fans took over the arena during that first round series to the point that it became a legitimate issue for Philly players. Embiid publicly voiced his own disappointment at the time, and evidently, it still bothers him.
There is, of course, only so much Embiid can do to keep tickets from falling into the hands of Knicks fans. If his appeal doesn’t work, he’s going to be very frustrated.
Brian Scalabrine was so annoyed after 76ers fans crashed postgame show
Saturday night was a rough one for the Boston Celtics and their fans, and even the team’s local postgame show was not exempt.
A group of Philadelphia 76ers fans crashed the local NBC Sports Boston postgame show after their team eliminated the Celtics 109-100 at TD Garden in Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. They loudly chanted “we want Boston” to taunt the panel.
Former Celtic Brian Scalabrine was a member of that panel, and tried to chant “you are ugly” back at them, though the comeback did not really land with the effect he likely hoped it would.
76ers fans crashed the Celtics postgame show and started chanting “We want Boston.” The analysts were so pissed.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) May 3, 2026
Legendary trolls 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/WPzmk36zi1
Needless to say, no one associated with the Celtics was expecting to find themselves in this situation when they were up 3-1 in the series. Joel Embiid’s return, combined with Jayson Tatum’s untimely absence, conspired to flip the series on its head, and Boston simply ran out of gas.
The “we want Boston” chant has become a running theme throughout the series ever since 76ers fans chanted it at the end of their play-in victory. Celtics fans turned it back around on them when they were cruising in the series, but Philly ultimately got the last laugh.
