Despite injury concerns to two starters, the Los Angeles Lakers have quickly become an incredibly popular bet to win the NBA championship.
Key Takeaways
The Lakers are the most-bet team to win the NBA title at FanDuel over the last 24 hours.
The online operator has shortened L.A.’s odds during that period.
The Lakers are currently without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Heading into this week’s playoffs, FanDuel reported on Tuesday that the LeBron James-led Western Conference four seed has received the most wagers over the last 24 hours to capture the league title.
The most bet team to win the NBA Finals over the last 24 hours:
FanDuel has since shortened L.A.’s odds from +25000 to +15000. Still, the Lakers have the 12th-shortest odds on FanDuel’s NBA champion market, right behind the Atlanta Hawks at +10000.
Five teams in the West, including first-round opponent and five-seed Houston (+5500), are listed ahead of the Lakers. Oklahoma City is a +115 favorite at FanDuel to win back-to-back championships, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics at +550 each.
The Lakers are +10000 to win the West and make the best-of-seven Finals.
Injury issues
Los Angeles heads into the series with an unknown status on star Luka Doncic and without guard Austin Reaves until May. Doncic left the team last week to receive treatment on a hamstring strain in Spain.
He’s set to return to the Lakers on Friday, but when he’ll return to the court is uncertain. The team has not announced Doncic’s timeline.
Reaves suffered an oblique strain that will sideline him for multiple weeks, but none of that is stopping bettors, who are backing James to keep the team afloat until everyone is healthy.
Big liability
BetMGM reported this week that, at +25000 to win it all, the Lakers have received 7.9% of the championship market’s tickets and 7.4% of the handle. That’s enough, combined with the massive odds, to make L.A. the operator’s biggest liability entering the NBA postseason.
BetMGM lists the Lakers at +500 to win the series against the Rockets, who are -700 to advance.
Meanwhile, the Spurs lead all teams in the NBA championship market with 11.9% of the bets and over 20% of the handle. The Thunder are second with 15.3% of the money, but with the shortest odds, that’s the team BetMGM is rooting for in the playoffs.
“Among the true contenders, OKC is the best result on the futures market,” BetMGM sports trader Anthony Parenti said.
“The sportsbook is in the enviable position of getting to cheer for the favorite to win it all.”
Most MLB teams, including the Cubs, have gone to all-digital ticketing. You can get a paper Cubs ticket… sometimes… depending on the circumstances.
This began after the pandemic shut ballparks to fans in 2020. The last year the Cubs issued paper season tickets to fans was 2019, and Wrigley Field — plus most other MLB parks — went cashless in 2021 when parks re-opened to fans.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cashless was better for teams, who didn’t have to handle cash (and anecdotally, I heard reports that some rogue employees were stealing cash), and for fans, as long as you have your phone, you can’t forget your ticket.
There have been some glitches. Last September, as I reported here, the MLB Ballpark app got hacked and quite a number of fans, including Cubs fans, lost tickets as a result. Most, though not all, of those tickets were recovered, but as I suggested in that September 2025 article, MLB revamped the Ballpark app and began 2-factor authentication. That’s a must when you have apps with payment information and potentially thousands of dollars worth of tickets stored (as a season ticket holder would).
But here’s the thing. A game ticket isn’t just something that admits you to a stadium. It’s a tangible souvenir of your visit to the ballpark. I have literally thousands of game ticket stubs (and beginning in 2005, when the Cubs put barcodes on the tickets, full tickets) which create memories. Many Cubs season tickets over the years had really nice artistic designs, such as these from the Wrigley Field centennial year in 2014. Those are art, and well worth keeping.
Instead, your digital ticket disappears from the app after the game, so all you have is a record within the Ballpark app that you attended the game. True, you can put photos in the app for each game, but to me at least, a digital record isn’t quite the same as having an actual piece of paper, issued by the team, that you can keep in a scrapbook (people still do those, right?) or elsewhere. I actually had someone suggest that I “print a screenshot” of my digital ticket and… well, no, that’s not the same thing at all.
I bring all this up because of this article on this topic in The Athletic today. The article cites Montreal Expos fan Josée Tellier, who has kept binders of tickets from Expos games she attended, many from decades ago. One of them is from her first game, signed by Andre Dawson:
“Today, when people go to shows or games or whatever, they use their phones to take pictures and to get a memory of that moment, but at the time, who is going to the stadium with that camera? It wasn’t something we were doing at the time,” Tellier said. “So the ticket was the proof that you were there, that you felt the moment, that you saw that magic play.”
That 1986 ticket is her most cherished — not because it was from a championship or record-breaking game, but because it was her first. In 2022, she met Dawson, who signed the card.
“At the time, we didn’t have any money, and this ticket was proof that we were there,” Tellier said. “This little booklet with the ticket inside and my mom’s picture is my most prized possession.”
That’s exactly what I am talking about. These aren’t just pieces of paper that get you into a game, they create memories that can last a lifetime.
The Cubs will sell you a commemorative paper “ticket” for any game you want for $9, which is not unreasonable. I bought one for the combined no-hitter thrown by Shōta Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge in 2024. Here’s what that looks like:
It’s a tangible souvenir, but not quite the same thing as if I had an actual paper ticket that I had used to get into the game.
I was also fortunate enough to get a printed ticket at the Tokyo Dome last year. This one is for the exhibition game the Cubs played against the Yomiuri Giants. (There are two times listed — one is for the gates opening, the other for the start of the game.) This is a great souvenir of my trip to Japan last year.
Teams are getting really stingy about printing souvenir tickets for games now. I did manage to get one in Milwaukee for Game 5 of the Division Series last year — the Brewers will do it for $10.
Errol Segal, who’s been a Dodger fan for 50 years, said he received a notice before the season began that he can no longer get printed tickets.
Segal, 81, owns a recycling center in South LA and said he’ll likely be spending more time there now that the Dodgers have gone fully digital.
“I enjoy working,” Segal said. “I don’t feel my age.”
He said he went to Dodger Stadium Thursday and was able to buy paper tickets, but the team won’t let him get them for the entire season.
“If I had the tickets one year, five years, 10 years, that’s another story,” Segal said. “50 years I’ve had these tickets. They threw me under the bus.”
Segal doesn’t use a smartphone, and I would think you wouldn’t have to buy a smartphone just to go to a sporting event. Apparently the Dodgers disagree.
I get why teams want to do this. Saves printing costs. Makes it easy to have tickets in one place. Oh, and by putting them in the Ballpark app, where you have to log in, teams now know exactly who is using every ticket to every game — data that is useful to them when (for example) setting dynamic pricing.
Incidentally, there is one way for you to create memories for yourself within the Ballpark app, if you don’t mind those memories being digital. The app has a database of games going back to 1901. To find this, click on “Profile” at the bottom of the app, it should show “My History,” all the games you have checked into via the app. Click on the arrow at the right, it will take you to a page showing all your games. Hit the + and you’ll see a screen where you can “Add Past Games.” It took me a while, but I got all my past games in there. Fun and interesting… but still not quite the same as having a paper ticket.
As for Josée Tellier?
In Montreal, with no Expos tickets, print or digital, Tellier goes to Montreal Canadiens games, QR code in hand.
“I really wish we would go back to paper tickets,” she said. Tellier recalled how once, she asked a stadium for the printed version.
They gave her an 8 x 11 printed sheet of paper of her digital ticket.
Like I said… that’s not quite the same. How do you feel about all-electronic ticketing?
I bet the Orlando Magic wish the “Back to the Future” ride was still running at Universal Studios.
That would be their best chance to reverse time and erase the embarrassment of last Sunday, while avoiding this road matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Orlando was the laughingstock of the league in the season finale. It botched a scheduling layup as 13-point favorites to a makeshift Boston squad and faceplanted to the No. 8 seed in the East.
Our Magic vs. 76ers predictions feel the pressure on Paolo Banchero to pick up the pieces in Philly and my NBA picks are taking Orlando's star to top his points prop.
Magic vs 76ers prediction
Magic vs 76ers best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points (-120)
Paolo Banchero was one of the best scorers in the NBA for most of March but seemed to hit a wall in the home stretch.
After tallying 105 points in a span of three games, his usage went from season rate of 27.8% to 24.9% over the final nine contest. Banchero averaged less than 18 points per game in that period and attempted less than 16 field goals in seven of those outings.
That dip in production did coincide with Franz Wagner’s return to the lineup, taking touches away from Banchero. However, we saw an aggressive approach in Sunday’s finale, with Paolo taking 22 shots – tying his second highest FGA mark of the season.
Banchero made just 7 of those 22 attempts, including whiffing on all five 3-pointers, yet was able to go 9 for 11 from the foul line and salvaged a 23-point performance in the loss.
Banchero took the blame for the flop in the finale, despite finishing with a triple-double in the loss. The versatile 6-foot-10 forward has a great opportunity to exploit Embiid’s absence against a smaller Philadelphia 76ers lineup.
Banchero’s two meetings with Philadelphia tell the story: With Embiid in, he finished with 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting and scored only two FTMs. Without him, Banchero hung 32 points (10 for 18) with 11 of those coming from the stripe.
Player projections for Wednesday sit between 23.3 and 25 points from Banchero. I’m leaning toward the high end of those forecasts, as Philadelphia doesn’t have anyone who can handle his combo of speed and size.
Magic vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Sixers are a tough challenge at home and even with Embiid out, this defense can still pack the paint due to the Orlando Magic’s awful 3-point shooting. Philadelphia is 19-8 SU as home chalk this season.
While Banchero headlines the Magic attack, Tyrese Maxey takes center stage for the 76ers. The kinetic guard is an inside-out threat, with projections calling for 3+ makes from beyond the arc. Maxey made three or more triples in two of his three matchups with Orlando this year.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
76ers Moneyline
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Florida Man
Banchero stuffed the stat sheet Sunday and still fell short, taking responsibility for the Magic’s egg in the season finale. Projections are all very positive for the superstar, who should also do some damage on defense against a smaller 76ers lineup.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
Paolo Banchero Over 5.5 assists
Paolo Banchero Over 0.5 blocks
Magic vs 76ers odds
Spread: Orlando +2 | Philadelphia -2
Moneyline: Orlando +110 | Philadelphia -130
Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Magic vs 76ers betting trend to know
Play-In favorites of three points or less are 8-3 SU and ATS since the league introduced the current tournament format in 2021. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. 76ers.
How to watch Magic vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Magic vs 76ers latest injuries
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is the true definition of an ace: dependable, dominant, and downright terrifying to step into the box against.
So… what the hell is going on?
Crochet has been unusually shaky to kickstart the season, allowing nearly as many runs (18) as strikeouts recorded (22) — with those aggressively poor numbers being fueled by an all-time poor outing against the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Crochet got absolutely rocked by one of the least intimidating yet surprisingly productive lineups in baseball, allowing 11 runs in only 1 2/3 innings pitched at Target Field. The Red Sox — who have been around for as long as crayons, airplanes, cellophane, and Australia — have never had someone give up as many runs in so few innings.
It’s not like he’s going to ever be this bad again, but check out his pitching summaries on the season:
March 26 @ CIN 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 8 K April 1 @ HOU 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 R, 7 K April 7 vs. MIL 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 7 K April 13 @ MIN 1.2 IP, 9 H, 10 ER, 11 R, 0 K
Good. Eh. Good. Nuked.
So… back to our original question. What the hell is going on?
I’ve decided to look at this start through two lenses, which will hopefully tell us whether or not we should be freaking out.
“It’s just a bad start, man. Paul Skenes biffed one a couple of weeks ago!”
Paul Skenes did, indeed, biff one a couple of weeks back, allowing five earned runs in 2/3 inning back on Opening Day against the New York Mets. Randy Johnson gave up 11 in 2 1/3 back in 1994. Greg Maddux allowed eight in the same amount of time in 1988. Roger Clemens allowed eight in 1 1/3 in 1995.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out after the game and shut down the idea that his ace was injured:
“He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing,” he said, as seen on NESN.
Crochet backed that statement up:
“I don’t think there’s anything to fret over,” he said.
It’s just something that happens, even to the best of us.
“I don’t care what you say! I just bought a panic button and intend on using it in four days!”
If you take a closer look at the stuff, you would know that everything was down… across the board.
Crochet threw one of the slowest four-seam fastballs of his career (92.7 MPH) and gave up some of the hardest exit velocities of his career (108.9 MPH, 106.5 MPH, 106.0 MPH) — with those three hits coming in the form of two home runs and a terrifying single. Crochet couldn’t even pinpoint exactly why this particular start went so poorly, as he gave away more free passes (four) than whiffs induced (three).
“It’s tough to say,” Crochet said. “I mean, command as a whole has been spotty. I’d gotten away with it a little this early in the year, but tonight they made me pay. It was weak contact, hard contact, walks, hit by pitch, a little bit of everything.”
If he can’t see what went wrong, how is he going to fix it?
We have never seen him pitch this poorly, and with two of his last four starts being among the four worst he has ever had…
Conclusion:
It’s probably fine.
The Red Sox have seen something like this before, with one very important statistic coming from our pal Jake Roy: Crochet threw 102 pitches in his second start of 2025, leading to his average velocity dipping 1.5 mph in his third start. It’s the same thing here, as the velocity drop came after his 107 pitch performance against the Milwaukee Brewers.
If he can’t get the velocity back to normal on regular rest, there’s no reason to think the results won’t follow.
The New York Yankees (9-7) host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (8-9) in Game 2 of their series tonight in the Bronx.
The stars showed out last night in an 11-10 Yankees’ series-opening win. The teams combined for 26 hits in the game. Mike Trout homered twice as did Aaron Judge as did Trent Grisham. New York jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings, but the Angels answered with four of their own in the third inning. Trout’s second homer of the night put the Angels up, 10-8, in the eighth, but Grisham’s second four-bagger with a man on tied it and the winning run scored on a wild pitch by Jordan Romano. The Yankees’ sixth pitcher on the night, Paul Blackburn, picked up the win. There were runs scored in every inning except the third in the game.
The win kept the Yankees in first in the American League East. The Angels remain in third in the American League West following the loss.
Tonight, Ryan Weathers (0-1, 2.81 ERA) takes the ball for the Yankees. He will be opposed by the Halos’ Reid Detmers (0-1, 4.60 ERA).
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Angels
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Angels (+153), Yankees (-186)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+113), Angels +1.5 (-136)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Angels vs. Yankees
Pitching matchup for April 14:
Yankees: Ryan Weathers Season Totals: 16.0 IP, 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 18K, 5 BB
Giancarlo Stanton picked up 2 hits last night and is now 3-17 over his last 6 games
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has at least one hit in 3 straight games (3-14)
Cody Bellinger has at least one hit in 3 straight games (3-14)
Ben Rice has hit in 5 straight games (6-14)
Jo Adell has hit in 3 straight (5-13) and in 8 of his last 9 games (14-30)
Mike Trout is 5 for his last 12 and in the process has raised his average from .174-.224.
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Angels
The Yankees are 8-8 on the Run Line this season
The Angels are 9-8 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 11 times in the Angels’ 17 games this season (11-6)
The OVER has cashed 7 times in Yankees’ 16 games (7-7-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Angels
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Yankees and the Angels:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 9.0.
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After having their playoff hopes dashed, the Detroit Red Wings returned to action Monday night, in what should have been a low-pressure opportunity to evaluate young talent in a otherwise meaningless game. Instead, some of the lineup decisions sparked frustration among the fanbase during a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Much of that frustration centered around top prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who was recently called up after an impressive run with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft had been on a tear in the AHL, recording seven points in his final five games, earning what many believed was a deserved opportunity to showcase his offensive momentum at the NHL level.
Instead, Brandsegg-Nygard was deployed in a limited role as he skated on the fourth line alongside Marco Kasper and veteran James van Riemsdyk, a decision that drew immediate criticism from fans who felt the young forward should have been given a more prominent role.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (1st round’24) GOAL🚨 his third straight game with a goal and an assist #LGRWpic.twitter.com/QWfMj7ZZOV
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 4, 2026
The discontent only grew as veterans David Perron and van Riemsdyk logged more ice time despite both being on expiring contracts and uncertain to return next season.
A popular Red Wings fan account, LGRWProspects, voiced that frustration on social media, calling the usage “such a joke” and suggesting the limited minutes disrupted Brandsegg-Nygard’s rhythm. The comment reflected a broader sentiment that the organization risks hindering the growth of its young players by not putting them in positions to succeed.
Despite the restricted role, Brandsegg-Nygard made an impact in his 11:27 of ice time, the lowest total among Detroit skaters. He finished the game at plus-one and delivered a team-high four hits, showing flashes of the physical and two-way game that made him a first-round pick.
With one game remaining against the Florida Panthers, attention now turns to whether Detroit will adjust its approach. Fans are hoping the final contest provides a clearer look at the team’s future rather than continued reliance on veterans who may not even be apart of the organization moving forward.
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Daulton Varsho is finding a rhythm at the plate, and with a hard-throwing right-hander taking the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers tonight, this is a great matchup for the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder to stay hot.
Read on to see why Varsho is the featured player in my Blue Jays vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, April 14.
Blue Jays vs Brewers predictions
Blue Jays vs Brewers best bet: Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits (-125)
Despite the early-season struggles, the Toronto Blue Jays have fared well against the fastball and should match up well against the youngster.
Daulton Varsho leads the Blue Jays in hits against the four-seamer with a .365 average and a 60% hard-hit rate.
Varsho has recorded a knock in four straight games while batting .412 over that span.
COVERS INTEL: Jacob Misiorowski gives up a lot of big contact, ranking in the 36th percentile for hard-hit rate against.
Blue Jays vs Brewers same-game parlay (SGP)
Kevin Gausman has had a lot of success against this lineup throughout his career, with the Brewers hitting just .177 with a .505 OPS against him. The last time the right-hander saw Milwaukee, he went seven complete innings, allowing just four hits.
William Contreras is 0-for-6 against Gausman with five strikeouts. The Brewers catcher also has a 40% K-rate against the splitter over the last two seasons.
Blue Jays vs Brewers SGP
Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits
Kevin Gausman Under 4.5 hits
William Contreras Over 0.5 strikeouts
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.
Blue Jays vs Brewers home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+425)
Varsho has handled fastballs extremely well to begin the season, and Misiorowski has shown a tendency to give up hard contact when he utilizes the heater.
That could set up the Jays outfielder for his third home run in four games.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 4-10, -3.25 units
SGPs: 2-12, -4.50 units
HR picks: 2-12, -1.80 units
Blue Jays vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Milwaukee -130
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-210) | Milwaukee -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Brewers trend
Toronto has hit the F5 team total Under in 12 of its last 15 games (+8.75 Units / 46% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Brewers.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Brewers.TV, SNO
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman 0-1, 2.08 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (1-1, 3.31 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Brewers latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Brewers weather
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The Heat are trading at just 31 cents (+223) to go into Charlotte and leave with a win tonight. The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA since the All-Star break and are trading at 69 cents to win tonight.
Our prediction:Hornets to win
Covers' NBA expert, Jason Logan, keeps it simple: "The Hornets are excellent at home when catching points and come into the Play-In Tournament producing some of the best two-way basketball, boasting a net rating of +11.3 over the final 15 games."
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Heat/Hornets!
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More Heat vs Hornets prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Heat vs. Hornets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Charlotte -6.5 spread means the Hornets will cover, while "No" on Charlotte means the Heat will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter.)
Result (Price)
Hornets ML (69¢)
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Hornets -6.5 (49¢)
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Heat vs Hornets spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Hornets -6.5
49¢ (+104)
53¢ (-113)
Over 230.5 points
49¢ (+104)
53¢ (-113)
Our predictions:Hornets -6.5
The Heat are horrendous on defense. Miami was 28th in defensive rating in the final 15 games while allowing 127.5 points against in that stretch. Foes racked up an average of 30 assists per contest — fifth most.
Charlotte cracked open the Heat’s zone defense like a piñata in that last meeting, thriving with off-ball movement and dribble-kick passing to spot-up shooters.
Other Heat vs Hornets prediction markets available
Kon Knueppel 20+ points (Yes: 49¢)
LaMelo Ball 8+ assists (Yes: 60¢)
Tyler Herro 20+ points (Yes: 59¢)
Bam Adebayo to record a double-double (Yes: 60¢)
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Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Thunder win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks is defended by Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, here we are.
After a long, 82-game season full of twists and turns, we’ve arrived at the start of a playoff journey. Conventional wisdom said that the Toronto Raptors would be the first-round opponent entering Sunday, but the Orlando Magic somehow lost to the Celtics’ C-team, so here we are. Whatever way you feel about that doesn’t matter now.
It’s the No. 3 seed New York Knicks (53-29) and the No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks (46-36), reviving a five-year-old rivalry whose main combatants are no longer in town. The fanbases sure as hell still remember, and you’ll be reminded of 2021 pretty much every single game, so we had to mention it.
P&T will have plenty of coverage as we lead up to Saturday’s series-opener at the World’s Most Famous Arena, but use this as a starting point. Here’s everything you need to know about this matchup.
Season Recap
You know how the Knicks’ season has gone. After all, you’re reading this on a Knicks site, but just to sum it up.
After firing Tom Thibodeau, engaging in a long coaching search, and keying in on Mike Brown, the Knicks mostly ran back the same team, albeit with new faces Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, while drafting Mo Diawara. It was supposed to be a deeper, offensive powerhouse, and, for the most part, it was. The Knicks started 23-9 and even got some hardware along the way, beating the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final in December. Everything was coming up New York as 2025 turned into 2026.
And then everything fell apart. Starting with a New Year’s Eve collapse in San Antonio, the Knicks lost nine of their next 11 games, capped off by a terrible effort on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at MSG against the tanking Mavs. The sky was falling, we had podcasters saying he couldn’t wait to blow up this core, we had loud calls for Mike Brown’s job, the defense was abhorrently bad, and the season was in a tailspin.
Then, they mollywhopped the Nets by 54 and everything calmed down. After going from 23-9 to 25-18, the Knicks won 28 of their final 39 games, powered by the NBA’s second-best defense over the final 2.5 months of the season. They swapped the disappointing Yabusele for Jose Alvarado, who may not be in the rotation, but was an upgrade. Unlike last year, they haven’t looked overmatched against the top dogs (well, except Detroit), and they look poised to make a run.
The Hawks had a surreal season to watch from afar. Entering the season with real expectations of the playoffs after pairing Trae Young and a great collection of wings with former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis. The season then started disastrously. The team was playing better when Young was sidelined, Porzingis was still battling his mysterious illness, and the Hawks were struggling to stay in the play-in.
Then reports started to surface that both Young and the Hawks wanted to move on. A complicated contract situation made the former All-Star grow estranged from the team he had emerged under, and it came to a head with a January trade to the Wizards. With Porzingis later traded for Jonathan Kuminga, the Hawks appeared to be content with a play-in berth and regrouping next year with a juicy draft pick from that boneheaded Pelicans trade.
But sometimes, that’s not how sports work. After falling to 27-31 to end February, the Hawks hit a lighter part of their schedule and tore through it. They won 18 of their next 20 games, outlasting the brief win streaks of Orlando and Miami to surpass them and make the playoffs. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was blossoming into a star and was no longer in his cousin’s shadow, Jalen Johnson is likely heading for an All-NBA selection, and the role players were all contributing. They met the expectations they had in October, but did it with an entirely different team.
The season series alone encompasses just how different the Hawks are from where they were a few months ago. The first matchup saw the final installment of the Trae Young/Knicks rivalry end in a whimper, as the flamboyant point guard had just nine points and 10 assists on 2-for-9 shooting and six turnovers in 31 minutes, while being -13 in a three-point loss.
Powered by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson combining for an efficient 70 points (and Towns shooting a season-high 18 free throws), the Knicks led by as much as 18 before a ferocious Hawks comeback gave them the lead with two minutes left. Kevin McCullar Jr. even had a standout performance with Josh Hart injured!
Of course, Captain Clutch took over and put the Knicks back in front, despite the Hawks’ offense tearing through a then-terrible Knicks defense. With a one-point lead and 10 seconds to go, OG Anunoby picked off a pass from Young (his final installment of this rivalry) and made two free throws. Alexander-Walker bricked his chance to send it to overtime.
The second game was much less competitive. With no Towns or Mitchell Robinson, Onyeka Okongwu feasted on the overmatched center rotation of Ariel Hukporti and Yabusele, as we reached the part of the Stretch of Hell where the offense stopped working. Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double, and the Hawks led by 26 late in the third quarter. The Knicks pulled to within 11 with four minutes to go, but ran out of gas in an ugly loss that was a sign of things to come.
The finale came after Young was traded (he was on the roster but injured for the January 2 clash) and the keys to the offense were firmly being shared by Johnson and Alexander-Walker, with the latter putting up a performance that made you think his cousin was wearing Hawks colors. With a 13-game home winning streak, the Hawks looked a step quicker than the Knicks all night and, when the game was at their pace, they thrived. A 10-point third-quarter deficit and a struggling Brunson made things look bleak for the Knicks as their grip on the No. 3 seed loosened.
And then, Captain Clutch took over again. Running an excellent two-man game with Towns, Brunson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and dragged the Knicks back into the game and into the lead, outdueling Alexander-Walker’s 36-point masterpiece. Some late-game shenanigans ensued, as even though the Knicks successfully knocked down all of their free throws, the Hawks somehow came a millisecond away from tying the game on a miracle half-court heave by CJ McCollum, but he fortunately couldn’t get it out of his hands.
Playoff History
(Andrew has a full story on the playoff history here)
Trends: Knicks since 1/20: 118.5 ORtg (6th), 108.2 DRtg (2nd), +10.3 net rating (3rd) Hawks since 3/1: 120.1 ORtg (6th), 109.9 DRtg (3rd), +10.2 net rating (4th)
Coaching Breakdown
Mike Brown (NYK): Season with team: 1st Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: CLE, LAL, SAC, NYK Career record: 507-333 (.604) Career playoff record: 50-40 (.556) Best finish: 2007 Cavaliers (Finals appearance)
Mike Brown is entering the postseason as the head coach of a third different team. He’s never won a game past the Eastern Conference Finals, but he’s certainly experienced deep playoff runs as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2001-03 and an assistant under Steve Kerr from 2017-22, winning four championships as an assistant coach.
Brown’s philosophy is a stylistic change from former head coach Tom Thibodeau, in that he prioritizes ball movement, spacing, and a drive-and-kick to open shooters (which he calls “sprays”). He was mostly unsuccessful in increasing the Knicks’ pace, showing that the team’s slow play is rooted in the way their captain operates in the offense, rather than the scheme. His biggest success has been increasing three-point attempts, but those have slowly decreased as the season has gone on.
Defensively, Brown has been flexible in his scheme. While Thibodeau always required a true rim protector on the floor, Brown has been more willing to mix up lineups in certain areas. After starting the season with a scheme that funneled the ball towards the middle of the floor into the help, Brown switched the scheme to look to send the ball towards the sidelines after the Knicks endured a month-plus stretch of abhorrent defense, powered by other teams driving and kicking to open shooters.
Quin Snyder (ATL): Season with team: 4th Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: UTAH, ATL Career record: 504-399 (.558) Career playoff record: 23-34 (.404) Best finish: 2021 Jazz (Second Round berth)
Snyder has been an active head coach since 2014-15 and is finally back in the playoffs after the Hawks flamed out in the play-in in back-to-back years. His tenure with the Jazz was defined by playoff disappointment, as he never reached the Western Conference Finals in six years. While most of that was because the pairing of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert was the No. 5 seed on five different occasions, the biggest disappointment came in 2020-21, when the Jazz had the No. 1 seed and lost in six games to the Clippers in the second round.
Under Snyder, the Hawks have been about ball movement and pace. That was a key tenet with Young in tow, but they’ve kept it in place despite trading their pass-first point guard. McCollum and Alexander-Walker predominantly run the offense, with Johnson in a point-forward role. They want to grab the ball and run down the floor, and will look to push the pace whenever and however. They have more than enough shooting to be matchup nightmares in transition, and the versatility defensively to match up with everyone.
Projected Rotations
Knicks: Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges Josh Hart OG Anunoby Karl-Anthony Towns – Deuce McBride Jordan Clarkson Landry Shamet Mitchell Robinson
Situational: Mo Diawara, Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti
Hawks: Nickeil Alexander-Walker CJ McCollum Dyson Daniels Jalen Johnson Onyeka Okongwu – Gabe Vincent Corey Kispert Jonathan Kuminga Tony Bradley/Mo Gueye
For the Knicks, they have a clean bill of health entering the postseason with one major question mark (and, for once, it’s not Mitchell Robinson). It’s OG Anunoby, who left Friday’s win over Toronto with an ankle sprain. All reporting so far makes us believe that it isn’t major and he should be able to heal in the eight-day span between games. It’s something to watch, though.
For the Hawks, it’s also one player: Jock Landale. Their backup center, acquired from Memphis at the trade deadline, has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, and he will be re-evaluated before the series begins. It seems like a stretch that he’ll be available for Game 1, but he could return at some point in the series to bolster Atlanta’s center rotation.
Broadcast Schedule
(The full schedule has yet to be released, this will be updated)
Game 1: Sat, April 18, 6 pm (Prime Video) Game 2: TBA Game 3: TBA Game 4: TBA Game 5*: TBA Game 6*: TBA Game 7*: TBA
The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers collide in a high-stakes Play-In matchup, with both sides now just one win away from locking up the No. 7 seed.
The Suns enter as favorites, but this isn’t a spot where the market is fully aligned — especially when you factor in how each team’s rotation tightens, and stars take on heavier workloads in a win-or-go-home environment (with a safety net).
With prediction markets like Kalshi offering a different lens on the game, we’re breaking down the best Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and free NBA Picks for Tuesday, April 14.
The Portland Trail Blazers are in tough on the road tonight, trading at just 42 cents (+144) to win, while the Devin Booker-led Suns are trading at 59 cents (-144) to grab that No. 7 seed.
Our prediction:Suns to win
Covers' NBA expert, Douglas Farmer, keeps it simple: "Phoenix needs either Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green to complement Booker to pull off this upset and avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland is more likely to let Brooks get an advantage than Green. That is to effectively say, betting on Phoenix’s third option is both the best bet and the Suns’ best approach to winning this game.
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More Trail Blazers vs Suns prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Trail Blazers vs Suns at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Suns -2.5 spread means the Suns will cover, while "No" on Phoenix means the Trail Blazers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter.)
Result (Price)
Suns ML (58¢)
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Suns -2.5 (53¢)
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Over 216.5 points (51¢)
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Trail Blazers vs Suns spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Suns -2.5
53¢ (-113)
48¢ (+108)
Over 116.5 points
51¢ (-104)
51¢ (-104)
Our predictions:Suns -2.5 and Over 216.5 points — Yes
I expect Phoenix to win this game by multiple buckets, but suppose it comes down to the final minute. Who are you going to side with, the team leaning on Scoot Henderson initiating an offense to feature either Jrue Holiday or Deni Avdija for a needed bucket, or the team with Devin Booker?
Other Trail Blazers vs Suns prediction markets available
Deni Avdija 15+ points (Yes: 64¢)
Toumani Camara 10+ points (Yes: 76¢)
Devin Booker 25+ points (Yes: 60¢)
Dillon Brooks 15+ points (Yes: 70¢)
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Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Suns win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
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Mascherano coached one full season with Messi in Miami
Inter Miami have been off to a slow start in 2026
Javier Mascherano has stunningly stepped down as Inter Miami’s manager, just months after leading the team to their first MLS title.
In the club’s announcement of the move, Mascherano said he was leaving for “personal reasons,” though later on the announcement specifies that his coaching staff will also depart the club.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: A picture of Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers and the new City Connect jersey worn for first time against the Washington Nationals at American Family Field on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The hits just keep coming for the Brewers, and not in a good way. Christian Yelich, who left Sunday’s game early with a hamstring issue, has landed on the injured list, which was not unexpected after manager Pat Murphy’s comments after the game. He’s been diagnosed with an adductor strain. Outfielder Greg Jones, who has been playing for Triple-A Nashville, has been added to the active roster. To make room on the 40-man roster for Jones, reliever Rob Zastryzny, who had a setback in his recovery last week, has been moved to the 60-day injured list.
It’s a blow for Yelich, a productive-when-healthy hitter whose ability to stay on the field is one of the major uncertainties around the modern iterations of the Brewers. The good news is that it’s not his back, which has been the issue that has been giving Yelich so much trouble over the past few seasons. Murphy has been quoted as saying he expects him to be out “for a while.” A little bit of research on past adductor strains suggests that in mild cases, a player can miss as little as two weeks, but in more serious cases, it’s a 4–6-week injury. Given Yelich’s age and relative frailty, the early juncture of the season, and Murphy’s comments, I would expect Yelich to be out closer to the long end of that estimate.
Jones, 28, has appeared briefly in the big leagues with the Rockies and White Sox in the past two years. He was a 2019 first-round pick of the Orioles and even worked his way into the back end of MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects prior to the 2022 season, but he has struggled offensively since then and hasn’t been able to catch on in a big-league role. In 13 games with Triple-A Nashville this year, Jones is hitting .317/.462/.390. Jones has the outline of a player who the Brewers like — he is athletic, speedy (he stole 46 bases in just 89 games for Colorado’s Triple-A team in 2024), and a reliable defensive outfielder — but he’s struck out way too much in his minor league career, and I have my doubts that he’ll be able to hit major league pitching.
This probably isn’t the move that Brewers fans were clamoring for. Milwaukee is in a deep offensive funk and are now without three of their best hitters. A move with more upside would certainly have been more popular — Jett Williams, Luis Lara (who doesn’t profile as a plus hitter but has been very good to start the season), even Eddys Leonard, who is right-handed (unlike Yelich) but offers more upside offensively. This is especially unfortunate timing for Tyler Black, who would’ve been the most interesting and sensible move here. But Black, like Chourio and Vaughn, fractured a bone in his hand in late March.
It’s possible that Williams (who has not exactly been lighting it up with Nashville) is still in the Brewers’ short-term plans, but that the team wants to get past the service-time deadline in which they’d secure an extra year before promoting him. We don’t know exactly when that would be, but it would probably come sometime in the last week or so of April.
For now, the Brewers will have to make do with what they have, which increasingly seems like not much. Chourio remains the player nearest to a comeback, but is probably, at minimum, two weeks away. Vaughn is likely out until mid-May, and we’ll wait on an update for Yelich but I’d expect that mid-May would be an optimistic scenario for him.
Update: Yelich’s timeline is mid-to-late May, right in line with the 4-6 weeks outlined above. Jackson Chourio’s expected return has also been pushed back to early May.
Feb 15, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers (left) and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins (right) watch during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
During the last couple weeks of the regular season, Doc Rivers kept dropping hints that his time as Bucks head coach would be concluding after the season, much to the fanbase’s relief. As we wait to find out if Rivers will have a future role with the team as a consultant/advisor, which had also been rumored for weeks, let’s take an early look at the scuttlebutt. At the moment, there are technically two current vacancies in the NBA because New Orleans’ James Borrego (more on him later) is an interim, but some in league circles believe a lot more openings are ahead, perhaps more than eight. If Milwaukee has more competition later, it probably makes sense to start the interviews ASAP before other teams, particularly those in the playoffs or play-in get going.
Despite what Jon Horst may say publicly, though, any interviewee will want some clarity on what’s happening with Giannis. They (and we) may not get that during initial rounds, but a big tell as to Giannis’ future in Milwaukee may come during this search. His input and involvement—or lack thereof—this time would be a major indicator of whether he sees a future in a Bucks uniform, as trade rumors consistently dog the franchise.
During the last two full coaching searches the Bucks have conducted during offseasons in 2018 (Mike Budenholzer) and 2023 (Adrian Griffin), Giannis entered the conversation once the finalists were selected. Before Bud’s hiring was made official, he had breakfast with Giannis and Khris Middleton, presumably so the front office got their sign-off on what must have been their preferred candidate. Griffin was reportedly not the front office’s first choice in 2023, but it’s believed Giannis met with him and the other finalists before a decision was made, who were Nick Nurse—Horst’s preference—and Kenny Atkinson. Ultimately, the Bucks went with Giannis’ choice in Griff, whose tenure in Milwaukee was hugely problematic and lasted 43 games.
It’s my hope that Horst—who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere this offseason, especially after signing an extension last summer—can hire who he wants this go-around, and many fans would probably agree. Reports indicated in January 2024 that he was again overruled when it came time to replace Griffin, with ownership choosing Doc Rivers. While some understandably assumed that was a Jimmy Haslam-led move, I’ve heard from a team source that it was driven by co-owner and governor Wes Edens. Horst wanted Atkinson. If 2018 was indeed the only time Horst had full autonomy to make a coaching hire, the fact that he nailed it then, plus had clearly better preferences in 2023 and 2024, means it should be only his decision in 2026.
Onto the scuttle. Beginning with a former Bucks assistant: a full week before Rivers was confirmed to be stepping down, Marc Stein wrote that ex-Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins “has already emerged as a likely prime candidate” for what was then not yet an opening. Jake Fischer, also of The Stein Line, confirmed that and stated Jenkins could be someone the Wizards look at if they move on from Brian Keefe.
If Jenkins emerges as a true candidate, a fair bit might be made about his connection with Giannis and what bringing an old assistant back might mean. But this would be too deep a read: Jenkins was in Milwaukee just one season, coming over with Bud after five years in Atlanta. So I doubt he developed much of a relationship with Giannis, or even Horst, in that limited tenure. Here, he was really only known as the guy who hilariously held the bench back from getting on the court if there was the potential for a skirmish.
It came as a surprise that this little-known assistant emerged as a serious head coaching candidate in summer 2019, but he did a fine job in Memphis with two 50-win seasons and a winning record in nearly six full seasons. He was fired with nine games remaining last spring, 15 games over .500, amid talk of a disconnect with players. Though, to be fair, the Grizz front office insisted Jenkins swap out five of his longtime assistants prior to the season with their handpicked replacements. So he was being put in a bad situation, to say nothing of Memphis’ many injuries and Ja Morant-induced woes in recent seasons.
Another Bud disciple is longtime Buck assistant Darvin Ham, who rejoined the franchise in 2024 after a two-year stint running the Lakers. There, he won an NBA Cup and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in his first year, finishing with a 90-74 record. He was Bud’s top lieutenant in Milwaukee after five years in Atlanta, and was hailed by big men Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis as a key voice on the staff. So he had a lot to do with the 2021 championship. He took over for a COVID-stricken Bud to notch a win in 2022, and guided a Giannis-less Bucks to an impressive victory over the defending champs in February while Doc was away from the team.
Fischer mentioned that Ham would be in the running for the Magic gig if Jamahl Mosely isn’t retained following the conclusion of their playoff run, and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype says the Pelicans will pursue him too. The Big Easy is where Borrego just wrapped up 70 games as the interim guy, taking over after Willie Green was fired in November. New Orleans has begun searching for a permanent head coach already, and Borrego remains in consideration per Stein and Fischer. Borrego interviewed with Milwaukee in 2023, though he wasn’t selected as a finalist. He’s twice been an interim replacement (also with Orlando in 2015 for 30 games) and only a full head coach in Charlotte from 2018–21. It wasn’t until the last of those four seasons that the Hornets finished above .500, but they still missed the playoffs.
Much like we did in 2023, in the coming weeks we’ll take a broader look at candidates, including these names and more speculative candidates. As far as the latter goes, if there is anyone you’re interested in, rumored or otherwise, the comments section would be a good place to let us know. If they’re a viable name (i.e., not a current head coach whose team wouldn’t want to give them up), we’ll discuss them.
With the college basketball season over and the NBA Draft Combine a month away, players are making their choices now about whether to turn pro or stay in college another season. That includes some very likely top-10 picks. Here is the latest on a series of announcements.
UNC’s Caleb Wilson declares for draft
He may have flown under fans' radar the last month because he missed the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament with a fractured thumb, but scouts have not forgotten — North Carolina's Caleb Wilson is a projected top four pick and he is going pro.
Wilson is a 6'10" wing who lived up to the hype in Chapel Hill, averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game on 57.8% shooting. He showed up with big games in big moments (24 points against Kansas and 23 facing Duke, outplaying Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer in those games). Wilson is athletic and powerful, and while he needs to develop his shot, the potential is there. There are some teams that have him ranked ahead of Boozer, but he's not falling past four in the June draft.
Illinois Keaton Wagler declares for draft
Two years ago, Wagler was not on the NBA radar. Now, he's a lock to be a top-10 pick, and with that the 6'6" guard that led his team to the Final Four is going pro.
Wagler thrived as the primary ball handler and playmaker for Illinois, averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game, while shooting 41% from 3-point range. He's just 19, he needs to get stronger and prove he can defend at the NBA level, but teams are high on him. There are a number of guards expected to be taken between 5-9 in this draft, and Wagler is solidly in that group.
Louisville’s Mikel Brown entering draft
Mikel Brown, like Wagler, is expected to go in a group of guards taken between 5-9 in the June draft, and with that, the Louisville freshman is going pro, something he told Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s Andscape.
Brown (like Wilson) missed the ACC and NCAA tournaments due to a back strain.
"(My back) really was messed up, but I just kept trying to play through it. And then eventually it just led me to the decision that I wasn't going to play in both tournaments — the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament — just because I'm not trained to go half speed at all."
Brown is a quick, shifty point guard who is going to look better in the NBA, with a more spaced-out floor and shooting all around him. Brown is very skilled as a scorer and shot creator off the ball-screen, and he averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game for the Cardinals. The question with Brown has been consistency and defense, but he is a dynamic playmaker that teams love.
Other NBA Draft notes
• Houston center Chris Cenac Jr. confirmed the expected, that he is entering the NBA Draft. The 6'11" big man averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds a game as a starter, shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. Cenac is a polarizing figure among scouts — many think he could use another year of college development — but is almost certainly a first-round pick (some teams have him up near the end of the lottery, others are thinking more like mid-20s). His individual workouts will have a lot to do with where he is taken.
• Freshman Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou announced on social media he is entering the 2026 NBA Draft. One of the most explosive athletes in the draft, the 6'5" Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He plays a power game that is harder to pull off against the men in the NBA, and his jump shot is holding him back (29.3% from beyond the arc), but his athleticism makes him worth the risk to the right team. He is likely a late first or early second-round pick (assuming he stays in the draft).
• Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears said he will test the waters of the NBA draft, although a return to college seems more likely. Fears averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 assists per game — he led the NCAA in assists — but he is projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick (if selected at all), which means making good college NIL money as a senior may be the smarter play.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Prime Video
Listen: KMVP 98.7
Here we are. The Phoenix Suns are playing in their first ever play in game after a season that surprised a lot of people. The consensus coming in was that a successful year meant making the Play-In tournament, likely in the nine-versus-ten game, probably on the road. Instead, the Suns are hosting the seven-versus-eight game. It would take two straight losses for them to miss the postseason entirely.
The opportunity is right in front of them. Beat the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, and you’re the seven seed. You’re on a flight headed to Texas to face the San Antonio Spurs. But first things first. They have to deal with a Portland team that has been playing better basketball down the stretch. Phoenix is 11–11 in March and April. Portland is 13–8. Since the All-Star break, the Blazers are 15–11. The Suns are 13–14.
Phoenix handled Portland well during the regular season. They went 2–1 and created chaos defensively, averaging 15.3 steals across those three games. That matters, especially against a team that led the league in turnovers at 17.3 per night and coughed it up 19.3 times per game against the Suns. The Blazers also launch threes — 42.2 per game — third most in the league, but they sit near the bottom in efficiency at 34.3%. When those shots don’t fall, they crash. Hard. They’re second in the NBA in offensive rebounds at 14.1 and lead the league in second-chance points at 18.4. That’s where the pressure comes. Because the Suns give up 15.6 second-chance points a night, 22nd in the league.
And yet, none of that really matters now. This is about execution. This is about handling the moment. One game, real stakes, postseason on the line. Who settles in, who controls the chaos, who finishes. That’s what decides tonight.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen — OUT (Left Hamstring Soreness)
Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard — OUT (Left Achilles Tendon)
Jerami Grant — QUESTIONABLE (Right Calf Strain)
What to Watch For
It starts with containing Deni Avdija.
If I asked you to guess where he ranks in the NBA in free throw attempts per game, where would you put him? Last season, he averaged 5.2 and ranked 28th in the league. This season, he’s found his lane attacking the basket. He’s third in the NBA, trailing only Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, getting to the line 9.2 times per game and hitting 80.2%. Yikes.
So step one is clear. Limit his access to the paint and avoid fouling when he gets there. That’s been a problem for the Suns lately. They’ve allowed 51 points per game in the paint over their last 10 games. That’s where it starts. Slow down the guy who applies the most pressure at the rim.
Step two is protecting the defensive glass. As previously noted, the Trail Blazers are second in the league in offensive rebounding. The Suns are fourth in offensive rebounding themselves, but overall, Portland sits sixth in total rebounds while Phoenix is 20th. That gap shows up. That’s effort, positioning, and attention to detail. It has to be there tonight.
And the question is how. Portland is big. They are long. That’s not something the Suns consistently bring with their rotations. The size exists on the roster, but it hasn’t always been on the floor. So it comes back to Jordan Ott and how he manages those rotations, how he counters what Portland throws at them, and how he finds the right balance when it matters most.
Key to a Suns Win
The Suns have to be effective from beyond the arc. Phoenix finished 12th in the NBA in three-point shooting, hitting 36.1%. When you look at their games against the Blazers this season, the connection is clear. In the two wins? They shot 42% from deep. In the loss, they were at 25.7%.
Yes, that loss came without Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, but the formula still holds. If the Suns are going to win, it comes down to balance. Effective three-point shooting. Strong point of attack defense. Limiting Deni Avdija getting downhill. Securing rebounds.
Portland is beatable. There’s a reason they finished 42–40 and are in this game. But the Suns have to turn Portland’s weaknesses into their strengths. The Blazers turn the ball over. That’s the pressure point. The Suns need to press, stay aggressive defensively, and create extra possessions. At the same time, they can’t get too handsy. They can’t give away easy points.
It’s about control. Dictate the pace, don’t let Portland impose theirs. If the Suns do that, they win.
Prediction
I’ve been in the arena for postseason games, for wins and losses, and there’s nothing quite like the Mortgage Matchup Center. The hope is that tonight that anxious feeling doesn’t creep in. But if it does, remember what this team has shown. They can come back. Even in those frustrating losses down the stretch, they were still within reach after falling behind by double digits more often than not.
So if you’re in the building tonight, don’t let that energy take over. I don’t think it will. The Suns have the best player on the court in Devin Booker. You can argue Deni Avdija had the better season, maybe he did, but he hasn’t lived in these moments the way Booker has.
Phoenix wins this one and advances to face the Spurs.
COVERS INTEL: Jacob Misiorowski gives up a lot of big contact, ranking in the 36th percentile for hard-hit rate against. 
