The Knicks and Timberwolves have advanced to the second round of this year’s NBA playoffs after their Game 6 victories over the Hawks and Nuggets, respectively. After dropping the ball in Game 5, New York and Minnesota made sure to finish the job on Thursday to avoid further complications.
However, the same can’t be said for the Celtics, who lost Games 5 and 6 after being up 3-1 in their best-of-seven series. With momentum not on their side, the Joe Mazzulla-coached team is under pressure to win at home in Game 7 this Saturday night, and the winner of this game will face the Knicks in the next round.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have drawn the Spurs are their next opponents after the latter completed a gentleman’s sweep of the Trail Blazers. However, the NBA 2026 odds are pessimistic on Minnesota’s chances.
Here are some of the latest NBA 2026 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Knicks make history in Game 6 blowout against the Hawks
The Knicks were determined to eliminate the Hawks, and they churned out their best offensive performance in the playoffs in Game 6, outscoring their sixth-seeded counterparts 140-89.
New York turned a two-point deficit into a 25-point lead at the end of the first period, and they eventually built a 47-point lead by halftime. The 51-point victory is their largest playoff win in franchise history. Besides their revamped offence, the Knicks’ defence also deserves credit, especially after their back-to-back blowout wins in Games 4 and 5.
OG Anunoby spearheaded the Knicks’ Game 6 rout with 29 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and four three-pointers on 11-for-14 shooting from the field in 27 minutes. Mikal Bridges, fresh from three straight scoring duds (including a goose egg in Game 4), had 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 17, 14, and 12 points.
The only downer for the Knicks in Game 6 was Mitchell Robinson’s early ejection, as the backup centre fought with Dyson Daniels in the second period when both players got tangled up during a free throw.
McDaniels steps up just in time for the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves looked like they were in trouble after losing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) to major injuries in Game 4, especially after dropping Game 5. But in Game 6, Minnesota finished the job, as Jaden McDaniels had his best all-around game in this series, notching 32 points (game-high), 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on 13-for-25 shooting from the field in 45 minutes.
McDaniels has embraced the villain role, as he called out the Nuggets’ “bad defenders” earlier this series. However, he has successfully backed up his trash talk. He will certainly play a key role in Minnesota’s fortunes against San Antonio in the next round since Edwards is week-to-week at best while DiVincenzo is out for at least one year. Ayo Dosunmu, who had 43 points in Game 5, was also out in Game 6 due to a nagging calf injury, but is expected to return in the next round.
Terrence Shannon Jr. has also stepped up for the Timberwolves. After producing 15 points off the bench in Game 5, the 25-year-old swingman had 24 points, six rebounds, and two steals on 9-for-20 shooting from the field in 35 minutes in Game 6. Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Rudy Gobert added 18, 15, and 10 points.
Celtics look disjointed in the past two games
After blowing out the Sixers in Game 4, the Celtics’ offence has significantly bogged down in Games 5 and 6, having failed to hit the century mark in back-to-back games. The nadir came in Game 6, as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were each held to below 20 points for the first time this series.
The Sixers blew Game 6 wide open in the second and third periods before the Celtics mounted a fake comeback in the final period, courtesy of the latter’s “Stay Ready” bench group. Boston’s defence has also faltered, as Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George are firing on all cylinders, having combined for 72 points yesterday.
In the three games the Celtics have lost in this series, they’ve shot under 30-per cent from three-point land. Boston’s three-point shooting will certainly give a pretty good indication of how Game 7 will go. If the Sixers’ defence stifles the Celtics again on Saturday, they’ll finally complete a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in their history after 19 tries.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
