Bryan Bash posted a 1-2 record on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, splitting three NBA playoff picks with one winner and two losses. The handicapper found success backing the Lakers as underdogs but came up short on both a large spread favorite and a double-digit road favorite.
Rockets at Lakers
Bash’s lone winner came on the Lakers +5.0, which cashed comfortably as Los Angeles defeated Houston 101-94 to take a stunning 2-0 series lead. Won. The 41-year-old LeBron James led the short-handed Lakers with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Marcus Smart added 25 points with five three-pointers and seven assists. Los Angeles overcame the absences of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with a comprehensive team effort. The Lakers’ superior shooting proved decisive, as they connected on 46.4% from beyond the arc compared to Houston’s dismal 24.1% three-point percentage. That perimeter efficiency gap was the difference in a game where Houston actually out-rebounded the Lakers 42-37. Los Angeles built an early cushion with a strong first quarter (33-26) and never trailed, maintaining control throughout despite Houston’s edge on the glass. Alperen Sengun posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, but the visitors couldn’t overcome their cold shooting from distance.
76ers at Celtics
The Boston Celtics -14.5 play fell apart as Philadelphia dominated in a 111-97 victory that tied the series at one game apiece. Lost. Not only did Boston fail to cover the large spread, they lost outright at home. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe delivered a historic performance with 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after a hard fall early in the game, becoming the first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game this season. Tyrese Maxey added 29 points and nine assists as the 76ers bounced back from a 123-91 blowout loss in Game 1. The second quarter proved catastrophic for Bash’s bet, as Philadelphia outscored Boston 37-26 to seize control. The 76ers’ scorching 48.7% shooting from three-point range contrasted sharply with Boston’s 26.0% from deep, a 22-point differential that made the spread impossible to overcome. Despite Jaylen Brown’s 36 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics, Boston shot just 39.3% overall and couldn’t keep pace with Philadelphia’s efficient offensive attack.
Trail Blazers at Spurs
The Spurs -11.5 selection also failed to cash as Portland rallied for a 106-103 upset victory in San Antonio, evening their series at one game apiece. Lost. The game’s complexion changed dramatically when Spurs star Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion in the second quarter after tumbling face-first when fouled by Jrue Holiday, his jaw slamming into the floor. He did not return, and Portland capitalized on his absence. Scoot Henderson paced the Trail Blazers with 31 points as they outscored San Antonio 30-29 in the second quarter and 27-23 in the fourth to complete the comeback. With Wembanyama sidelined, Devin Vassell’s 16 points, 12 rebounds and three steals led the Spurs, but San Antonio lacked the firepower to pull away. The Spurs shot just 29.2% from three-point range and 71.4% from the free-throw line, failing to build the cushion necessary to cover the double-digit spread even before the injury shifted momentum entirely.
Bash’s Tuesday card demonstrated the volatility of playoff betting, where injuries and shooting variance can quickly derail even seemingly solid positions. The 1-2 showing leaves room for improvement as the postseason continues.
