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Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Knicks lead in pivotal Game 5

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Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks are hosting the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs first round series on NBC and Peacock.

Welcome to Tuesday night!

We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, recaps and highlights from tonight’s action.

The 76ers defeated the Celtics 113-97, dominating the second half behind Joel Embiid (33 pts) to force Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Now, the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks (8 ET, Peacock / NBC) are battling.

We’ll soon see the San Antonio Spurs take to the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:30 ET, ESPN), seeking to reach the second round for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:17 ET

Spurs lead 36-26 after one

Julian Champagne (11 pts) leads San Antonio in scoring, as the Trail Blazers controlled the interior, but couldn’t find their long-range shooting stroke in the first.

The Spurs are 5-of-12 (41.7%) from deep, while the Blazers are 2-of-13 (15.4%).

APRIL 28, 2026 / 10:05 ET

One time for Joel Embiid

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:55 ET

Postgame Presser: 76ers-Celtics

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:47 ET

Brunson sparking as Knicks maintain lead

73-57 Knicks with 7:30 to go in the third quarter, as Jalen Brunson (20 pts) pushes his scoring total.

He’s handily outplayed CJ McCollum, who has four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:34 ET

Sixers win, force Game 6

We’re headed back to Philadelphia, as the Sixers rose up in the second half to defeat the Celtics 113-97.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) dominated the Celtics’ front line, while Tyrese Maxey (25 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) and Paul George (18 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, team-high +19) filled in the gaps.

Quentin Grimes (18 pts, 4 3PM) added firepower in 24:04 off the Sixers’ bench.

Jayson Tatum (24 pts, 16 reb) starred for the Celtics, while Jaylen Brown (24 pts) contributed.

But Payton Pritchard (12 pts) was the only other player to reach double figures, as the team shot just 28.2% from 3-point range.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:27 ET

Philly stepping on the gas

111-96 Sixers with 2:16 to go in the fourth quarter, as they fought to extend their season.

They’ve earned a 61-39 advantage in the second half.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:25 ET

Knicks lead at the half

64-48 New York at the break, although the Hawks closed the half on a 11-5 run to cut into the advantage.

The Knicks have built a 40-22 gap in points in the paint, leading by as many as 22 during the contest.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:22 ET

Sixers in control

104-94 Philadelphia with 4:04 to go, as the Sixers’ physicality and shooting takes control of the ballgame.

Joel Embiid (33 pts) has been dominant in the second half, as has the Philly defense. Paul George and Quentin Grimes have dogged Jaylen Brown, while VJ Edgecombe is making Jayson Tatum work.

They’re 6-of-11 from the field in the fourth, while Boston is 3-of-17.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:14 ET

Every possession matters in Boston right now

You can feel the tension in the air in TD Garden, as the Sixers seek to keep their season alive and force a Game 6 in Philly.

100-94 Sixers on another Quentin Grimes (18 pts on 5-of-7 shooting) 3-pointer — their largest lead of the night.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:12 ET

Knicks open up big lead

59-37 Knicks with 3:08 to go in the second quarter.

New York’s had their shooting touch all night, knocking down 60.5% of their shots.

Jalen Brunson (14 pts, 4 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (14 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) are sparking the Knicks offense.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:10 ET

‘This is vintage Embiid right now’

Mike Breen said, as Joel Embiid (29 pts) pulled up for a floater in the lane over Neemias Queta.

“He is catching the ball where he wants to and not bailing out this Celtics defense,” said Tim Legler.

Sam Hauser (8 pts) has hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep Boston in reach.

94-92 Sixers with 7:33 to go in the fourth quarter.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 9:02 ET

Sixers take the lead

88-86 Sixers with 10:54 to go in the fourth quarter.

Philly’s found the stroke from deep, going 8-for-12 from 3-point range to bring their total to 13-for-36 (36.1%) for the night.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:49 ET

Sixers, Celtics trading big shots

Joel Embiid (25 pts) has been unstoppable, leading the 76ers on a run.

Jayson Tatum (18 pts, 11 reb), Tyrese Maxey (16 pts, 5 reb) and Payton Pritchard (12 pts, 6 ast) have just traded 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions.

Fans in the TD Garden are living and dying with every basket right now, as Philly’s cut the lead to 74-70 with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:44 ET

Mitch Rob responds with a poster

After Jonathan Kuminga delivered an alley-oop slam, Mitchell Robinson (6 pts, 3 reb) just posterized him on an offensive rebound. It’s a 65.6 on the Dunk Score scale.

33-22 Knicks with 33.3 seconds to go in the first.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:41 ET

Sixers cut it to five

65-60 Boston with 7:37 to go in the third, as Joel Embiid (21 pts, 6 ast) continues to attack.

He got Nikola Vučević retreating in the lane, then rose up for a patented free throw line jumper.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:36 ET

Kuminga rises up, but Knicks lead

27-20 Knicks with 2:11 to go in the first quarter, but Jonathan Kuminga (4 pts) just threw down an absolute stunner of a slam.

It’s a 78.0 on the Dunk Score scale.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:27 ET

Nick Nurse urges team to keep firing

“We’ve got to start knocking those down,” said Nurse, according to ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

Philly’s 5-of-20 from 3-point range as the second half begins.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:17 ET

Dyson Daniels hot early

The Aussie has six of the Hawks first eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, as the Hawks turn up the defensive pressure against the Knicks.

So far, New York’s handled it well, taking a 11-8 lead with 8:08 to go in the first quarter.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:10 ET

Celtics up 57-50 at the half

Boston closes on a 7-2 run to take the lead into the break. They’re up to 51.1% FG shooting on the night, while Philly’s at 42.5%.

Payton Pritchard (9 pts, 6 ast) is +16 on the game so far. His quickness and shooting ability have given the Sixers’ problems, allowing Boston’s spaced, whirring offense to find room against Nick Nurse’s lane-packing style of defense.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 8:06 ET

Embiid making his presence felt

Joel Embiid (13 pts, 5 ast) just hit a soft fadeaway in the lane over Neemias Queta (6 pts, 9 reb).

On the next possession, he drew Derrick White in transition, posted him up, then dished it to Tyrese Maxey (13 pts) for a 3-pointer when Jayson Tatum (14 pts, 8 reb) took an extra step towards him.

50-48 Sixers with 2:10 to go in the half.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:58 ET

Physicality picking up

Both teams are scrapping with 4:20 to go in the second quarter, as the 76ers have cut the lead to 45-41.

In the last few possessions, Sam Hauser had the ball stripped in the lane, Tyrese Maxey drew a foul, Kelly Oubre Jr. knocked the ball away from Jaylen Brown and earned a jump ball as they dove in the backcourt. Andre Drummond then showed his quickness to stone Brown on the drive.

You can feel the intensity picking up in Boston.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:51 ET

Grimes rallies the Sixers

A four-point play opportunity for Quentin Grimes (3 pts, 1 reb) can staunch the bleeding for the Sixers, who are down 42-34 with 6:51 to go in the second period.

Boston’s shooting is starting to strain the Sixers — after starting 1-of-10, they’re 2-of-4 this quarter.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:45 ET

Boston opens up a lead

35-26 Celtics with 8:52 to go in the second quarter, as Payton Pritchard (7 pts, 4 ast) drops five quick points in the period.

Boston is battling Joel Embiid (7 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast), who took Luka Garza to the rim in the post a few possessions ago, throwing double-teams at the big man.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:36 ET

Celtics lead 23-21 after one

Tyrese Maxey (8 pts) leads Philly in scoring, while Jaylen Brown (6 pts) is tops for Boston.

Neither team has found the touch from 3-point range, with the Celtics 1-of-10 (10%) and the 76ers 3-of-13 (23.1%).

APRIL 28, 2026 / 7:30 ET

Celtics controlling the glass early

Jayson Tatum (4 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) and Neemias Queta (4 pts, 8 reb) have helped the Celtics to a 16-9 advantage on the glass with just over two minutes remaining in the first, but the Sixers are hanging close at 16-15.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:30 ET

CJ McCollum and the Atlanta Hawks are back in Madison Square Garden tonight on NBC and Peacock with their series against the New York Knicks tied 2-2.

Atlanta:

  • PG CJ McCollum
    • McCollum was held to 17 points after earning the respect of the Madison Square Garden crowd in Game 2, but it’s been a great series for him. He’s averaging his highest PPG (24.5) since helping take the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19 (24.7).
  • SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
    • Alexander-Walker hasn’t had his breakout game yet in this series, scoring 13.8 ppg, below his season average of 20.8.
  • SF Dyson Daniels
    • The defensive dynamo from Australia has a series of tough matchups in this series. Can he out-hustle Josh Hart, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges?
  • PF Jalen Johnson
    • Johnson was held to 14 points on 33.3% FG shooting in Game 4. The Hawks were 4-7 when he scored 14 or fewer this season.
  • C Onyeka Okongwu
    • The sixth-year center from USC is shooting 50% on four 3PA per game this series. Watch his long-range attempts.

New York:

  • PG Jalen Brunson
    • Will the Hawks look to put a bigger defender on Brunson? Jonathan Kuminga has held him to four points on 1-of-5 shooting on 46 possessions so far this series.
  • SG Josh Hart
    • Hart is shooting just 13.3% from 3-point range this series.
  • SF Mikal Bridges
    • Bridges has seen his minutes decrease in the last two games, playing just 40 over Games 3 and 4, with Miles McBride getting most of the time.
  • PF OG Anunoby
    • The Anunoby-Johnson matchup is crucial in this series. The wing from Indiana has defended Johnson throughout, and outplayed him to the tune of 22 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4.
  • C Karl-Anthony Towns
    • Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds against Atlanta, shooting 57/50/92 from the field. He leads the Knicks at +46 in this series.

Watch Miles McBride off the Knicks bench — he can help slow down CJ McCollum while adding 3-point shooting.

APRIL 28, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers will look to keep their season alive in Boston against the Celtics to start tonight’s action on ESPN.

Philadelphia:

  • PG Tyrese Maxey
    • The 76ers’ main scorer has to adjust with Joel Embiid back.
  • SG VJ Edgecombe
    • The rookie out of Baylor has been a bellwether for Philly this series. If he’s hot, they’re dangerous. 
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
    • The swingman is always a thorn in the side of the Celtics.
  • PF Paul George
    • Can the future Hall of Famer outplay Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown with the Sixers’ season on the line?
  • C Joel Embiid
    • Embiid is 3-13 against the Celtics in his Playoff career.

Boston:

  • PG Derrick White
    • White is always a steadying influence for Boston. Can he help contain Tyrese Maxey while finding offensive opportunities?
  • SG Jaylen Brown
    • Brown leads the Celtics in free throws attempted (29) during this series. His steady downhill pressure is key.
  • SF Sam Hauser
    • Hauser is shooting 45.5% from 3-point range this series. He can change a game quickly from deep.
  • PF Jayson Tatum
    • Tatum is 15-5 against the 76ers in his Playoffs career.
  •  C Neemias Queta:
    • Queta has faced foul trouble in each of the last two games. With Joel Embiid back, Boston will also look to Nikola Vučević to battle in the post.

Keep an eye on Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench. The sixth-year guard out of Oregon is second on the team in plus-minus this series (+44, behind Tatum’s +48).

APRIL 28, 2026 / 5:45 ET

Tuesday’s injury report

Joel Embiid is probable for the 76ers, while Tyrese Maxey is available.

Jock Landale is out for the Hawks.

Jonathan Isaac has been upgraded to doubtful for tomorrow’s Magic-Pistons Game 5.

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