NBA Playoffs Tuesday: Lakers-Rockets Game 2, Kevin Durant Status, Best Bets and Betting Trends

Coming Thursday: wall-to-wall coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Matt Brown hosts Countdown to the Draft (7–8 p.m. ET), followed by Tim Murray and Matt Youmans with four hours of live analysis on VSiN PrimeTime.

Meantime . . .

Watch our best draft video clips →

NBA Playoffs: Questions in L.A.

The Lakers-Rockets game is the headliner — and there’s still a major question hanging over it.

The Rockets’ outlook hinges on Kevin Durant, who missed Game 1 with a knee injury and is questionable again tonight. Look for a game-time decision.

Tuesday’s menu

76ers (+13.5) at Celtics (216.5), 7 ET (Peacock). BOS leads 1-0.
Blazers (+11.5) at Spurs (219.5), 8 ET (NBC). SA leads 1-0.
Rockets (-4.5) at Lakers (206.5), 10:30 ET (NBC). LAL leads 1-0.

Zach Cohen’s NBA Report

Monday Madness

The Knicks (-6.5) had a 14-point lead over the Hawks in Game 2, and it looked like New York was about to take control of the series.

CJ McCollum had other plans.

The 34-year-old veteran completely took over in the fourth quarter, finishing with 32 points and six assists in a 107-106 win. Atlanta was +1800 live at DraftKings.

The Timberwolves-Nuggets game was similarly nuts. Denver blew a 19-point lead early, and the rest of the night turned into a back-and-forth battle. Six Minnesota players finished in double figures, with Anthony Edwards leading the way with 30 points.

Minnesota (+7.5) walks out of Denver with a 119-114 win — and home-court advantage.

Tuesday’s Offering

Tuesday’s slate doesn’t pop the same way on paper.

The Celtics and Spurs are both laying big numbers in Game 2s. Still, it’s hard to ignore the talent on the other side in both matchups.

And then there’s the nightcap.

The Lakers are still short-handed without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but LeBron James found a way to take Game 1. If Durant is out again, does LA really have a shot to go up 2-0?

Zach’s best bets posted by mid-morning →

Hardwood Handicappers podcast →

AI + Makinen’s Analytics Report

I ran Steve Makinen’s Game 2 Analytics Report through our AI model — here’s what came out:

Spurs -11.5 vs Blazers
Under 216.5 — 76ers at Celtics

See all of Makinen’s trends & systems →

Contest check: VSiN / KillerSports Playoff Challenge contestants cooled off a bit, but are still 39-25 (60%).
Leaderboard + today’s picks →

NBA player props →

NHL Game 2s

Jonathan Davis will have his Best Bets for these games later today.

Canadiens (+160) at Lightning (-192), 7 ET (ESPN2). TB leads 1-0.
Bruins (+142) at Sabres (-170), 7:30 ET (ESPN). BUF leads 1-0.
Mammoth (+130) at Golden Knights (-150), 9:30 ET (ESPN2). VGK leads 1-0.
Kings (+225) at Avalanche (-278), 10 ET (ESPN). COL leads 1-0.

Get his NHL best bets →

MLB Best Bets