The NBA playoff race probably heated up Tuesday as the Celtics surged past Charlotte – Jaylen Brown poured in points and kept them ahead despite a solid first half.
The crowd at TD Garden jumped, but Crypto. Com Field felt heavy without Luka Doncic or LeBron James. And the thunder crushed LA – no star power left to pull back – and that contrast shows how much deeper OKC really is. More or less, the Lakers’ lineup just couldn’t keep pace with the Thunder’s consistent rotation. Even with a tough defence, they were outmatched by volume and rhythm. A long night in L. A., one filled with missed shots and late panic.
NBA Full Match Report: April 7, 2026
| Matchup | Final Score | Top Performer (PTS/REB/AST) | Opponent Top Performer (PTS/REB/AST) |
| Hornets vs Celtics | Celtics 113, Hornets 102 | Jaylen Brown: 35 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST | LaMelo Ball: 36 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST |
| Thunder vs Lakers | Thunder 123, Lakers 87 | S. Gilgeous Alexander: 25 PTS, 1 REB, 8 AST | Luke Kennard: 10 PTS, 2 REB, 9 AST |
| Rockets vs Suns | Rockets 119, Suns 105 | Amen Thompson: 22 PTS, 11 REB, 8 AST | Devin Booker: 31 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST |
| Jazz vs Pelicans | Pelicans 156, Jazz 137 | Jeremiah Fears: 40 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST | Kennedy Chandler: 31 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST |
| Kings vs Warriors | Warriors 110, Kings 105 | De Anthony Melton: 21 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST | Killian Hayes: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST |
| Mavericks vs Clippers | Clippers 116, Mavericks 103 | Kawhi Leonard: 34 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST | Cooper Flagg: 25 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST |
| Heat vs Raptors | Raptors 121, Heat 95 | Scottie Barnes: 25 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST | Andrew Wiggins: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST |
| Bulls vs Wizards | Bulls 129, Wizards 98 | Patrick Williams: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST | Julian Reese: 17 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST |
| Timberwolves vs Pacers | Timberwolves 124, Pacers 104 | Bones Hyland: 19 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST | Ethan Thompson: 17 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST |
| Bucks vs Nets | Nets 96, Bucks 90 | E.J. Liddell: 21 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST | AJ Green: 20 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST |
Jaylen Brown Continues Historic Scoring Tear
Jaylen Brown just hit 35 points and nine boards. Now he’s got 10 straight games with 26 or more. That final period? He took charge – Charlotte scored only 15. The Celtics kept pace after that. Tatum dropped 23, too. They won the series. Momentum’s on track now for the playoffs. The team played hard through every moment. A few plays changed everything. Defence locked down when it mattered most. One shift in rhythm did the work. Brown didn’t just score; he made them feel the pressure.
Lakers Depth Tested In Blowout Loss To Thunder
Thing is, the Lakers didn’t just fall flat – they collapsed offensively. Without Luka Doncic in Europe getting treated and LeBron James out, their scoring dropped to 87, a season low. That’s when the thunder stepped up. Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 25 and dished out eight assists. They turned it into six straight wins and 18 of 19. Now they’re the top threat in the West. The Lakers? Still trying to stay above water. Their rhythm has cracked. It’s not looking good for them from now on.