Two of the best NBA teams this season can seal their passage to the second round of this year’s playoffs, as the Celtics and Spurs are one win away from eliminating the Sixers and Trail Blazers, respectively. Both teams went up 3-1, following their blowout road victories last Sunday evening.
With their Game 5s to be held in Boston and San Antonio tomorrow, the SBOTOP NBA 2026 odds expect them to complete their gentleman’s sweep. However, even if they lose, they’ll still have two more cracks at it, although they’d rather finish their series as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have drawn level with the Hawks after winning Game 4. And with their series now at 2-2, their best-of-seven series has become a virtual best-of-three, with two of the next three games to be held at the famous Madison Square Garden.
Philadelphia Sixers @ Boston Celtics
After losing their homecourt advantage in Game 2, the Celtics bounced back and put the Sixers on the brink of elimination after pulling out a gutsy 108-100 win in Game 3 and blowing them out 128-96 in Game 4 on Sunday night.
Jayson Tatum hit the dagger three to seal Game 3, and the six-time All-Star followed it up with another all-around performance in Game 4, contributing 30 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists, and five three-pointers on 8-for-16 shooting from the field and 9-for-9 shooting from the free throw line in 35 minutes. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown had 20 points, and Payton Pritchard produced a game-high 32 points off the bench.
The Celtics took advantage of the Sixers’ slower pace, now that Joel Embiid is back in the lineup after undergoing an appendectomy. Boston went 24-for-53 from three-point land, and they had a massive 51-30 edge in the rebounding category.
Speaking of Embiid, his return yielded 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 9-for-21 shooting in 34 minutes. But as mentioned, his presence slowed Philadelphia’s pace, and Tyrese Maxey, who has been Philadelphia’s best player thus far, only had 22 points. Head coach Nick Nurse faces an unenviable dilemma heading into Game 5.
Betting tip – Boston Celtics Asian Handicap -11.50 @ 1.93
Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks
The Knicks were in dire straits after going down 1-2 against the Hawks in Game 3, following CJ McCollum’s match-winning jumper. But instead of shrinking from the pressure, they bounced back with a 114-98 rout on Saturday at the State Farm Arena.
OG Anunoby led New York in scoring with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting in 40 minutes. However, it was Karl-Anthony Towns who made the biggest impact, as the six-time All-Star had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals on 6-for-10 shooting from the field. Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Josh Hart added 19, 11, and 10 points.
McCollum continues to lead the Hawks with 17 points and three assists on 8-for-15 shooting from the field in 32 minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Gabe Vincent added 15, 14, 12, 10, and 10 points in the losing effort. If Atlanta plan to upset New York, Johnson – their franchise player – must assert himself more in this series on both ends.
The winner of this first-round series will likely face the Celtics in the second round. Given how this series has unfolded, it feels like we’re in for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Knicks and Celtics.
Betting tip – New York Knicks Asian Handicap -7.00 @ 1.99
Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs won 114-93 against the Trail Blazers on Sunday, as Victor Wembanyama made his triumphant return from a concussion he sustained in Game 2. The Frenchman was on the NBA 2026 highlights reel, having notched 27 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, four steals, and a whopping seven blocks on 9-for-17 shooting from the field in 34 minutes.
De’Aaron Fox is coming off his best game of the series, as he supplied 28 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and four three-pointers on 11-for-17 shooting. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 16 and 11 points.
After scoring 70 points in his first three career playoff games, Wembanyama’s draft classmate Scoot Henderson had a goose egg in Game 4. Deni Avdija did his best to lead Portland with 26 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on 8-for-14 shooting in 37 minutes. Veterans Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant added 20 and 17 points.
Betting tip – San Antonio Spurs Asian Handicap -12.50 @ 2.00
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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