We are a week and a half into the NBA playoffs, and the league continues to see strong viewership numbers. Through 27 telecasts, the 2026 NBA playoffs are the most viewed since 1993. As of Sunday, the NBA is averaging 3.

The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets and are trending the wrong way toward history in Game 6. Oddsmakers have Los Angeles pegged as a road pup and my same-game parlay gladly grabs the points with the Purple and Gold.

The Hawks, who are 16-2 in their last 18 games, are in the middle of a three-team race for the final two guaranteed playoff spots in the East. Atlanta trails the No. 5 Toronto Raptors by a half-game (the Raptors hold the tiebreaker) and leads the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers by a half-game (the Hawks hold the tiebreaker).

If a technical foul was the punishment, then so be it, Christian Braun decided. It was worth the satisfaction of the crime: a bit of hanging on the rim after a dunk, a sly finger-point at Jaden McDaniels.