Celtics Seek Road Win After Game 2 Loss
The 2026 NBA playoffs continue with pivotal Game 3s. The Boston Celtics are looking to bounce back on the road after a surprise defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers, and the San Antonio Spurs play the Portland Trail Blazers.
After being crushed in Game 1, the Sixers responded with a brilliant Game 2 performance to even the series. The Sixers got 30 points from rookie VJ Edgecombe and shot 19 of 39 from 3-point range. The Celtics shot 13 of 50 from behind the arc; their 13 3s were the fewest of any team with 50 or more attempts in a playoff game in NBA history.
Over the last four seasons, the Celtics have often suffered inexplicable playoff losses. These losses are often due to ice-cold 3-point shooting nights. It is expected that they will bounce back. The Celtics will be juiced up heading into Philadelphia with a chance to regain control of the series.
Rockets Face Must-Win Game Against Lakers
The Houston Rockets return to Houston for Game 3 down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers. After Game 1, the consensus was that Luke Kennard’s output wasn’t sustainable. Kevin Durant returned for Game 2, but the Rockets still lost, partly because Kennard again went off.
Durant is back on the injury report due to an ankle injury. Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable. No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 series deficit, so this is essentially a must-win game for the Rockets. They are nearly double-digit favourites.
That is a massive line for a team that’s failed to reach 100 points in either of the first two games. The Rockets have 39/29/72.7 shooting splits for the series and appear out of ideas on offense. The Rockets should win this game, but they’ve shown absolutely no reason to trust them to win by double digits.
Wembanyama’s Injury Impacts Spurs-Trail Blazers Series
The series between the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers completely flipped early in the second quarter of Game 2. Victor Wembanyama drove to the basket, got tripped up and slammed face-first into the ground. He was diagnosed with a concussion shortly after leaving the game, and the Trail Blazers pulled off a late 14-point comeback to even the series at 1-1.
The action now shifts to Portland with Wembanyama’s status for the remainder of the series up in the air. The Trail Blazers have a chance to take control of the matchup. Wembanyama is officially listed as questionable for Friday and did travel to Portland with the Spurs.
- Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe scored 30 points in Game 2.
- The Celtics shot 13 of 50 from 3-point range in Game 2.
- Victor Wembanyama is questionable for Friday’s game against the Trail Blazers.
With Wembanyama’s status up in the air, the Trail Blazers have a chance to take control of the series.