SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 10: John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz grabs a rebound against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of their game at the Delta Center on April 10, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was Fan Appreciation Night in Salt Lake and boy, did the home team give the fans something to appreciate, as the Jazz beat down the shorthanded Grizzlies by 46. Two Jazz bench players recorded triple doubles, a feat unparalleled in living memory.
Kennedy Chandler – A-
Kennedy’s speed is reminiscent of Isaiah Collier, but what really impressed me tonight was his ball-handling. There were moments when his crossover moves left defenders in the dust. He recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 assists, shooting an impressive 4-7 from 3. The only blot on his report card was at the free throw line, where he was a surprising 0-4.
Ace Bailey – A-
Ace also had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, a lot of his scoring coming in the second half. He was active defensively, recording 3 steals and a block and had a number of hustle plays, with John Konchar being the primary beneficiary.
Cody Williams – C
Cody’s shot was off tonight, going 6-16 from the field and 2-6 from 3. There were also periods of the game when he seemed to disappear, something he cannot afford to do next season when he’ll be likely coming off the bench and will need to make an impact in limited minutes.
Blake Hinson – A
Blake did most of his damage tonight from inside the arc, scoring 18 of his team high 30 points driving to the basket. He shot 44% from 3 and also contributed in other ways with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Oscar Tshiebwe – A
Oscar had a monster game on the boards tonight with 22 rebounds. His push shot from the key has really come along and he looks to create opportunities for his teammates, dishing out 3 assists. If he doesn’t make the team next season, it won’t be because of lack of effort. He played hard to the final whistle tonight, blocking the Grizzles’ last shot of the game.
Bez Mbeng – A
Bez was the first one off the bench tonight and took full advantage of the opportunity, notching a triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. His defensive skills have been well reported, but tonight really showcased his playmaking ability and his activity around the basket. One of the plays of the night was Bez saving a ball from going out of bounds in the corner and then lobbing a perfect cross court pass to Cody for a 3.
John Konchar – A
Not to be outdone, John recorded his second triple-double in a row, with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, to go along with his 5 steals and 2 blocks. To say that John was all over the court is an understatement. He blocked passing lanes, leaked out on fast breaks and seemed to battle for every loose ball, all while negotiating his way through 3 early fouls. He did have the play of the game, with an over the shoulder pass to Blake for 3.
The Fans – A
On the last home game, on Fan Appreciation Night, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the energy the fans brought to the game. The last two ugly seasons would test the mettle of any fan, but they keep coming, keep giving their all, keep cheering on whichever Jazz players are on the court.
SACRAMENTO — There’s a reason why the Warriors dubbed this a dress rehearsal.
Rolling out the lineup they hope to use to escape from the play-in, nothing came easy for a group about as close to full strength as the Warriors hope to get heading into the postseason.
Steph Curry survived an early injury scare but was largely kept quiet for his second consecutive game, Kristaps Porzingis turned in one of his poorest shooting efforts of the season and Al Horford made little impact in limited minutes.
In theory, the debut of the three together should have guided Golden State to an easy win over one of the NBA’s worst teams, but it proved to be a struggle to put away the Kings in a 124-118 loss.
There’s a reason why the Warriors dubbed this a dress rehearsal. APIn theory, the debut of the three together should have guided Golden State to an easy win over one of the NBA’s worst teams, but it proved to be a struggle to put away the Kings in a 124-118 loss. AP
It was Kings guard Devin Carter who played a starring role with six 3-pointers for 29 points. The Warriors were led by two guards not named Curry: Brandin Podziemski with a career-best 30 points and De’Anthony Melton with 17 off the bench.
Curry was held to 11 points in 27 minutes and didn’t re-emerge after going into the tunnel midway through the fourth quarter. Porzingis connected on only four of 12 attempts from the field for 11 points and Horford failed to grab one rebound while scoring 10 points in 17 minutes.
What it means
The game provided coach Steve Kerr his first look at the team with Curry, Porzingis and Horford all healthy. Without the latter two on Tuesday, the Warriors struggled to put the Kings away at home, and despite possessing most of their missing puzzle pieces ran into trouble again.
It was Kings guard Devin Carter who played a starring role with six 3-pointers for a game-high 29 points. NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
Whatever hopes the Warriors have for this postseason flashed before their eyes only minutes into the game when Carter blitzed Curry at halfcourt. He swiped the ball clean and sent Curry spinning to the ground, visibly shaken up.
All it amounted to, however, was a scare.
Curry appeared to tweak the same leg that has kept him out of all but three games since Jan. 30. But after a timeout and some attention from Rick Celebrini, the head of their medical staff, Curry remained in the game. He confirmed afterward that it was his ankle, not his knee, that was affected.
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Carter converted a reverse layup on the opening possession of the second half to extend the Kings’ lead to 65-51, their second-largest of the game, but the Warriors went on to score the following 12 points and took an 89-82 advantage into the final period.
Sacramento mounted a 14-2 run to flip a 98-92 Golden State lead into a 106-100 advantage with 5:16 to play, and the Warriors played from behind the rest of the way.
Curry appeared to tweak the same right knee that has kept him out of all but three games since Jan. 30. AP
MVP: Brandin Podziemski
For the anticipation behind the debut of Curry, Horford and Porzingis together, the Warriors’ best player was the only one to play all of their 81 games so far.
Podziemski sank a free throw in the final seconds to reach 30 points for the first time in his career.
Stat of the game: 42
In their 81st game of the season, the Warriors used their 42nd different starting lineup.
With Curry, Porzingis and Horford all healthy at the same time for the first time all year, Kerr said before tipoff, “We’ve been looking forward to this.” He brought Horford off the bench and started Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos and Draymond Green alongside Curry and Porzingis.
They will only have one more dress rehearsal before the play-in, and the first didn’t go so well.
Still, there’s a reason why Kerr said the grouping is so “enticing” to Golden State.
“Lot of versatility, ball handling, shooting,” Kerr said. “Obviously Steph negates a lot of spacing issues, but with the spacing that we will have with Kristaps, there’s the potential that it could open things up for Steph, for BP, for Gui and his driving.”
Up next
Golden State gets one more tuneup Sunday against the Clippers, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. PT inside the Intuit Dome. After Los Angeles fell to the Blazers in Portland on Friday, the Clippers would be in line to host Golden State in the 9/10 play-in game if the Blazers beat the Kings on Sunday.
Apr 10, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) walks off the court after the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Game Story
On paper, this was a Friday evening prime time matchup, literally broadcasted on Prime.
When the two teams met two weeks ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves made the most dramatic overtime comeback in NBA history. Anthony Edwards wasn’t even active for that game, but he suited up today for the first time after missing 10 of the last 12 games. The Wolves may have been locked into the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings, but the Houston Rockets sat just above them at the fifth seed still with an opportunity to move up before the end of the season.
But then came the injury report.
Minnesota smartly opted to rest Naz Reid for the first time, while keeping Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Bones Hyland in street clothes as well. Wolves fans hoping to avoid a postseason date with the Denver Nuggets were liking shadow-rooting for a Minnesota loss, as it would keep the dream alive for a different first round matchup*.
(*The Nuggets ultimately won their game midway through this Wolves game, eliminating the Rockets chances at the three seed.)
Back to the actual game at hand.
Kyle Anderson and Joan Beringer got the nod in the starting lineup and immediately made their presence known. The 32-year-old veteran, Anderson, dinked and dunked in seven first quarter points. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old rookie impressed with two big slams early, including snatching away a Rockets sidelines inbounds pass before traveling throwing in two of his six first quarter points.
Edwards was understandably rusty on both ends of the court early, going zero for three in his opening shift. However, one teammate who wasn’t cold was Terrence Shannon Jr. Fresh off a career-high 33-point performance, Shannon continued on this heater by swishing all three of his treys. The Wolves were laying waste to the Rockets defense, converting on 57% of their first half field goal attempts.
Unfortunately, Houston scored on 68% of their own looks.
Kevin Durant was doing what Kevin Durant does. The two-time Finals MVP was just having shooting practice, knocking in shots over Jaden McDaniels over and over. His 17-point first quarter was only outshined by Amen Thompson, who could’ve been mistaken as DeMar DeRozan tonight based on the amount of mid-range jumpers he was making. Thompson led the Rockets with 24 first half points of his own, on his way to a career-high 41 points on 17 of 22 shots.
The lack of defense from both clubs made for some riveting back-and-forth action. Neither team got more than two possessions ahead of the other in the first half. In the second half, Houston looked like were going to be the first team to seize control of the game. They built up a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter thanks to Minnesota’s soft interior defense and typical foul issues.
Enter: Anthony Edwards.
Outside of a springy dunk over Jabari Smith in the first half, Edwards only had seven points on two for six shooting. He missed his first two attempts in the third quarter, but then uncorked a flurry of jumpers and letting any Rockets defender know about it. Things were getting spicy, as Edwards notched a 12-point quarter to match Durant’s scoring efforts.
Edwards was still on a minutes restrictions, so it looked like Houston were in prime position to pump their lead back up against Minnesota’s second line. Unfortunately for the home team, as they have all season, they had a complete meltdown to start the fourth. They immediately committed three straight non-shooting fouls in the first minute, muting their defensive intensity.
Donte DiVincenzo took advantage, attacking Alperen Şengün and chipping in points in a row for Minnesota. Mike Conley also canned his third triple in as many attempts. McDaniels painted a defensive masterpiece all in one possession, stripping Reed Sheppard, blocking Jabari Smith, then corralling the rebound. But the player who stood out the most was Shannon, who contributing nine of his team-high 23 points in the quarter as well.
You already know that a poster dunk was part of it.
This was all just a setup for the final clutch time minutes of the game. Edwards returned to the game with 4:02 remaining and his team sporting a nine-point lead. Şengün, Durant, and Thompson led a swift 8-2 run to pull within just five points with still over two minutes remaining. Edwards stared down one of his favorite teammates of all-time, Josh Okogie, and went one-on-one against him. After bobbling the ball, he was called for an offensive push-off foul. Durant split a pair of free throws on the other end, giving Edwards another shot at Okogie.
This time, Edwards reminded us all who he was.
When you zoom out and look at this game, consider the following:
Minnesota was without several key starters and rotation players
Edwards was on a minutes restrictions
Minnesota had nothing to play for (standings wise).
Houston had something to play for (standings wise).
Houston was playing at home
Houston was at full-strength (minus Fred VanVleet)
Houston was winners of eight in a row, with their last lost an all-time blunder against Minnesota
Houston shot 60.9% from the field thanks to 86 paint points
Houston shot and made more free throws than Minnesota
Yet the Timberwolves won by multiple possessions. It’s just one game, but it might be fair to ponder if the Wolves are indeed back.
Box Score
Comment of the Night
<em>Shoutout Joan for a perfect night from the field.</em>
Up Next
Minnesota packs their bags and heads back home for the final game of the season. They play host to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, April 12, at 5:30 PM CT, but more importantly, this is the game that Kevin Garnett returns to Target Center. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, they’re likely going to be hard to find. Will we get the return of the “KG Cam?“
This specific game will have no impact on the standings and playoff seedings. The Pelicans just got crushed by the Celtics while the Wolves will likely want no more than one half of action for their regular rotation players. This game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For 24 minutes, it didn’t look like a blowout. Inside the Frost Bank Center, the San Antonio Spurs found themselves in a game that felt tighter than expected. The Dallas Mavericks weren’t backing down, trading shots, matching energy, and riding a red-hot first half from Cooper Flagg that kept the crowd uneasy.
San Antonio hadn’t separated—not yet. But Victor Wembanyama was determined to make sure his team would not go down, not on this night. Wembanyama was doing what he always does, gliding through defenders, scoring with ease, impacting every inch of the floor. Still, Dallas lingered. Every Spurs push met with a Mavericks answer. Every hint of a run dissolved into another close stretch.
At halftime, the message wasn’t about urgency. It was about control. And when the Spurs came back out, everything changed.
The third quarter didn’t begin with a roar—it built into one. De’Aaron Fox took command first, slowing the game just enough to speed it up where it mattered. He dissected Dallas’ defense possession by possession, threading passes, collapsing the lane, and making the right read every time. The offense started to breathe.
“He’s by far the most capable on our team of understanding the pulse of the game,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of Fox. “I think we’ve seen that from him time and time again and that’s exactly what we need as the playoffs arrive.”
Then it started to sprint. Wembanyama followed, turning control into chaos—for Dallas. He scored inside, stretched the floor, cleaned the glass, and erased any thought of resistance. What had been a game suddenly felt like a showcase.
And the Mavericks? They cracked.
Shots stopped falling. Possessions grew frantic. A team that couldn’t miss in the first half suddenly couldn’t buy a basket. Meanwhile, the Spurs kept coming: wave after wave, bucket after bucket. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the tension was gone. So was the doubt. San Antonio didn’t just pull away—they buried the game.
The final score, 139-120, told part of the story. But it didn’t capture the shift—the moment when a competitive night turned into a statement. Wembanyama finished with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, another effortless display of dominance that somehow continues to feel routine. Fox added 18 points and 10 assists, quietly orchestrating the turning point that broke the game open.
“It feels good,” Wembanyama said of meeting the 65-game requirements for post season awards. “It feels like a box that’s checked. It was a season where a lot of things happened and this is a good conclusion for it.”
Around them, the Spurs played like a team that knows exactly who it is. Shots fell. The ball moved. The pace never dipped. What looked ordinary in the first half became overwhelming in the second.
Dallas had its moments, despite the loss. Cooper Flagg’s 33 points made sure of that. But moments weren’t enough. Not against a team that can shift gears like this.
Because that’s what this game became. A reminder.
The Spurs don’t need four quarters to beat you. Sometimes, all it takes is one. And when they find it, there’s not much anyone can do to stop what comes next.
Game Notes
Mitch Johnson said Wembanayama may miss Sunday’s game against Denver due to rest, but conversations will happen before. Meanwhile, Wemby says he would not be surprised if that’s the case.
Carter Bryant is playing with such confidence as the regular season closes and the postseason set to begin. That makes a much more dangerous Spurs team going into the first round. The rookie finished with 12 points off the bench, connecting on all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
The Knicks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Who are they playing? We won’t find out until Sunday night.
The No. 6 seed is still up for grabs entering game No. 82. The Knicks can face either the Hawks, Raptors, Magic or Sixers in the first round of the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the scenarios at play*...
KNICKS FACE HAWKS IF
Hawks lose to Miami, Toronto beats Brooklyn and Orlando loses to Boston
KNICKS FACE RAPTORS IF
Hawks beat Miami, Toronto beats Brooklyn
Hawks lose to Miami, Toronto beats Brooklyn and Orlando beats Boston
*All scenarios above assume that the Raptors will beat the Nets on Sunday. The Nets will presumably want to lose the game to improve/maintain their lottery seeding. If the Raptors lose to the Nets, here are the possible scenarios:
KNICKS FACE ORLANDO IF
Hawks lose to the Heat, Raptors lose to Nets and Orlando beats Boston
Hawks beat the Heat, Raptors lose to the Nets and Orlando beats Boston
KNICKS FACE SIXERS IF
Toronto loses to Brooklyn, Orlando loses to Boston and Sixers beat Milwaukee
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a three point basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) took on the San Antonio Spurs (62-19) for the last time in the 2025-2026 season. Saturday night’s matchup ended with Dallas on the wrong side of a 139-120 final score, with the loss dropping Dallas’ record to 25-56 with one game remaining. The Mavs had eight players listed as “out” so some unusual suspects got to showcase their talents.
Let’s get to the grades!
Ryan Nembhard: B-
13 PTS / 1 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN
Nembhard had a relatively solid game with nothing remarkable. He chipped in a few points, he led the team in assists nearly from the opening tip and didn’t do much to get upset about.
Max Christie: A-
16 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN
This is the kind of game Christie is capable of at really any given time. I still don’t love the high frequency of three-point attempts for a guy who can drive and shoot the mid-range, not to mention hit free throws at a high clip. That said, when he shoots the three this well, it’s nice to see and gives the Mavs a different dimension.
Cooper Flagg: A
33 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 32 MIN
Flagg got himself back on track after a poor scoring night last game. His shooting was spot-on (13-for-25; 3-for-7 from deep) and he poured in the points by making good decisions for easy baskets, while connecting on a number of tough, well-defended shots. This was his eleventh game scoring 30 or more points.
Khris Middleton: B
14 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Middleton was efficient (5-for-8) yet quiet, in that his contributions didn’t really pop out while watching the game. He was solid and made the most of his chances.
Marvin Bagley III: N/A
2 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 8 MIN
Bagley suffered a shoulder injury that took him out of action after only eight minutes, so qualifying for an actual grade isn’t possible. Hopefully he will be able to play in game 82 as opposed to ending his season here.
John Poulakidas: C+
12 PTS / 1 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 30 MIN
Poulakidas couldn’t replicate what he did last time out, and it wasn’t even close. He hoisted a lot of three-pointers as would be expected, but almost none of them went through the net until late in the game when he caught fire a bit. Despite the late flurry, he was the worst Mav in terms of plus/minus (by a big margin) for most of the night. Perhaps the best part of his game is that he stayed within himself and didn’t stop shooting. He demonstrated confidence that not may two-way players would show after such a rough start.
AJ Johnson: B
13 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 20 MIN
I joke around with other MMB staffers that Johnson is a legend in the making. While that isn’t necessarily likely, I do still think there is a good NBA player inside the rough edges of what he currently is. He shot decently well (4-for-9), buoyed by a bank-shot three-pointer, and nailed his free throws (4-for-4) while showing little flashes that have me rooting hard for him to develop more this offseason to see what he can bring to the team next year. This was his highest scoring game since coming to Dallas.
Tyler Smith: C+
6 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
Smith displayed his athleticism and some decently quick hands on a so-so shooting night (3-for-7 but 0-for-4 from beyond the arc).
Final Thoughts
At this point, Mavs’ losses are far more valuable than Mavs’ wins. Without P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and a host of others, this was a nice game to take the L while letting some younger guys get opportunities they otherwise would not have, all the while watching Cooper Flagg put on a show.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 10: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Facing an Indiana Pacers team seeking as many lottery balls as possible and suiting up the sort of roster to prove it, the Philadelphia 76ers got an ugly “a win’s a win” by the final score of 105-94. With one game now remaining in the regular season, the Sixers can finish anywhere from sixth to eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Here are the possible scenarios: – Finish 6th and avoid the Play-In: beat Milwaukee, see Toronto lose to Brooklyn and Orlando lose in Boston – Finish 7th and host the 7-8 Play-In game: beat Milwaukee, one of Toronto or Orlando loses and the other wins – Finish 8th and hit the road for the 7-8 Play-In: lose to Milwaukee or both Toronto and Orlando win We’ll find out how that all shakes out on Monday. For now, let’s talk Bell Ringer.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 10: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers brings the ball up the court against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 10, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t a scoring masterclass by Tyrese Maxey on Friday night, but you can’t say he was passive again, and there’s a certain “willing his team to victory” virtue to scoring 32 points on 28 shots. The finger is still clearly an issue for him, as the 1-of-10 mark from behind the arc would attest, as well as his heading to the locker room to get it checked out at one point in the second half. But Tyrese kept attacking, earning 10 free throw attempts, and ultimately did enough for his team to get the W. Making sure his team avoids the 9-vs-10 Play-In game may not seem like a lofty goal, but the Sixers’ floor would be Earth’s core low without number 0 around.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 10: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 10, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If nothing else, it’s still fun to watch VJ Edgecombe run around in Game 81 like he still has a rocket booster strapped to his back. The rookie guard was all over the place, taking the elevator to the penthouse to reject Taelon Peter early in the game, or having his steals lead to soaring dunks in transition on the other end. The quieter parts of his game are coming along nicely too, like when he recognized a double team and hit a cutting Kelly Oubre in the lane for a bucket. Throw that all together along with an efficient 7-of-14 night from the floor and more than anything, I want to see what Edgecombe can do in the bright lights of a playoff environment.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 10: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 10, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing in the town where he spent the early part of his NBA career, George showed he can still get buckets with the best of them. PG hit a trio of triples of the contested catch-and-shoot variety, but also did a fair amount of his damage in the mid-range with four pull-up jumpers inside the arc. I’m all for analytics and getting the most efficient shots possible, but there’s no denying a certain artistry to having a guy playing perfect defense on you and still just rising up from 15 feet and hitting a shot right in his face. As the Sixers’ offense stagnated throughout the evening, it seemed like George was always there to make something from nothing with a timely bucket.
Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) drives for the basket in front of Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
With the Brooklyn Nets season coming to an end, the focus remained where it’s been for weeks, months, maybe even years… the tank. And with some help from the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings, the Nets clinched the third seed in the May 10 Draft Lottery.
How it happened: In Milwaukee, Brooklyn lost 125-108 at the hands of the Bucks. then later, the early morning scoreboard showed the Jazz had blown out the Grizzlies and the Kings had beat the Warriors late.
With a game to go, neither Utah nor the Kings can catch the Nets. Despite a lot of panic earlier in the week when the Nets won two straight, the Brooklyn along with the Washington and Indiana will go into the May 10 lottery with a 14.0% shot at the overall No. 1 pick and a 52.1% at the top four. That was the plan in preseason and it worked.
Onto the game…
With a whopping ten players ruled out and Brooklyn’s draft positioning more important than ever, the Nets rolled out a starting lineup featuring a flurry of players who have spent much of the season in the G League, opening with Malachi Smith, Trevon Scott, E.J. Liddell, Tyson Etienne, and Ben Saraf.
For Etienne and Scott, Friday marked the second NBA start of their careers, while Smith made his third. Ultimately, the team went just seven players deep. Nolan Traoré and Jalen Wilson were the team’s lone bench players, and every starter logged over 30 minutes. Smith led the way with 43 minutes.
After scoring 19 points in each of his last two outings, Saraf stayed hot and finished with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field — 3-of-9 from three. Traoré poured in 14 points throughout just 16 minutes, though he did so on 5-of-14 shooting from the field (1-of-9 from three). Oof.
Milwaukee stormed out to an early 21-6 advantage, opening up the half by shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. Brooklyn, meanwhile, stumbled out of the gate at just 2-of-10 shooting, showing similar bad habits as they did on Thursday night’s start against Indiana.
By the end of the first quarter, the Nets trailed 38-24. Tyson Etienne kept the game within reach with 15 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists.
Cormac Ryan led the way for Milwaukee with 18 points and three rebounds in the first half, en route to a career-high 28 points in the victory. He is, in theory, Brooklyn Nets fans’ biggest ally at the moment.
By halftime, the Nets cut a 21-point deficit to 12. They caught fire from deep in the second quarter, knocking down six of 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Then, the 12-point deficit only turned to 15 after the third… and no run followed in the fourth.
Just two minutes into the fourth quarter, E.J. Liddell was ejected after appearing to strike Jericho Sims in the face with his forearm during an altercation. Is it fitting? The Nets go down fighting. Just not on the scoreboard.
One game left!
📣 Milestone Watch: Tyson Etienne
Tyson Etienne logged 15 points in the first quarter tonight against Milwaukee, which is his most points in any career quarter or half. He has already tied his career high with four 3-pointers made (4-for-6). His career high in scoring was 18 points on 3/23/26 at Portland.
Judging from the Nets social media page, it appears they continued the tradition of having players meeting with season ticket holders after the final regular season game.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) went out with a whimper against San Antonio Spurs (62-19) at Frost Bank Center on Friday, dropping a 139-120 blowout loss to their once hated rivals. Cooper Flagg matched Victor Wembanyama step for step with 33 points and six rebounds in the loss, but no one rode shotgun alongside the rookie superstar. Eight Mavericks, including Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson were held out with injuries with just one game to play following Dallas’ 11th loss in the team’s last 13 games.
Wembanyama led all scorers with 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Spurs in the win.
Here are four stats that tell the tale of the Mavs’ latest trip to the ‘L’ column.
15-4: Spurs’ first-quarter rebounding advantage
With eight Mavericks listed as out on Friday’s injury report, Khris Middleton started at power forward, and Marvin Bagley III started at center. The Spurs feasted on the glass early on as a result. They missed 12 shots in the first quarter and grabbed five offensive boards in the frame. Victor Wembanyama, who needed to play in one of the Spurs’ final two games of the year to maintain his eligibility for postseason awards, and Julian Champagnie each recorded five rebounds in the first quarter as the Mavs’ smallish frontcourt struggled to start the game. San Antonio took a 37-26 lead after one, aided by their outsized advantage on the boards.
The Mavs made up some of the difference in the second quarter, when they out-rebounded the Spurs 15-9. San Antonio out-rebounded the Mavericks 58-42 on the night and bludgeoned the Mavs 72-42 in the paint.
25: First-half scoring by Cooper Flagg
With so many bodies on the sidelines, it was a foregone conclusion as to who would shoulder the scoring and playmaking burden for the Mavericks, who seem intent on campaigning for Flagg’s candidacy for NBA Rookie of the Year as the regular season comes to a crashing halt.
Flagg shot 10-of-16 from the field in the first half, including 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range, to lead all scorers with 25 points at the break. It was the 14th 20-point half of his rookie season. Since the 1996-97 season, only Allen Iverson (16) has recorded more halves with 20 or more points scored than Flagg has this year.
13-2: Mavs’ late second-quarter run
With 4:32 left in the second quarter, Chapagnie hit a runner in the lane to put the Spurs up 60-50. Over the next 2:45, the Mavs went on a 13-2 run to take a 63-62 lead on Middleton’s 3-pointer from the right wing. The Mavericks hit three straight 3-pointers on the run, as Christie nailed one near the top of the key the possession before Middleton hit his, and Flagg banged one in with a hand in his face from the left wing as the shot clock showed just one second before that.
The Mavericks’ first lead of the game was short-lived, though, as Wembanyama scored the Spurs’ final six points of the first half to give San Antonio a 68-65 lead at halftime. The Mavs’ unlikely but timely shooting (8-of-20, 40%) from deep kept them afloat in the first half.
2-of-14: Mavs’ shooting to end third quarter
The Mavericks took back the lead with 7:55 left in the third quarter, 81-79, on Flagg’s driving score assisted by Dwight Powell. Dallas made just two field goals across the rest of the third, shooting an anemic 2-of-14 from the field.
All Mavericks not named Flagg went 0-of-14 from the floor in that span, as San Antonio outscored Dallas 29-12 the rest of the way in the third. And that was basically all she wrote. The Spurs led the Mavs 108-93 as the fourth quarter loomed.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — AJ Green made 11 3-pointers to set the Milwaukee Bucks’ single-game record and scored a career-high 35 points in a 125-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
Green shot 11 of 16 from 3-point range to break the record of 10 3-pointers that Ray Allen and Damian Lillard had shared. Green’s now has 227 3-pointers as he chases the franchise single-season record of 229, set by Allen in 2001-02.
Milwaukee’s Cormac Ryan added a career-high 28 points in his first start. Taurean Prince had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Prince was 6 of 11 and Ryan 5 of 9 on 3-point attempts.
As a team, Milwaukee shot 24 of 48 from beyond the arc.
This game marked the Bucks’ home finale as they wrap up their first losing season in a decade, snapping a string of nine straight playoff appearances. It comes amid speculation regarding the future of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo was unavailable for a 14th straight game due to what the Bucks labeled as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo has said he’s healthy and that he wants to play. The NBA is investigating the matter.
The nine-time all-NBA forward will become eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension in October. If he doesn’t agree to that extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after next season, or the Bucks could attempt to trade him beforehand.
Antetokounmpo wasn’t alone in being unavailable for this game, as both of these lottery-bound teams rested numerous usual starters.
Tyson Etienne scored a career-high 23 for the Nets.
Brooklyn’s E.J. Liddell was ejected early in the fourth quarter for delivering a forearm to the face of Milwaukee’s Jericho Sims after getting fouled by the Bucks center.
Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) drives towards the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum.
Brooklyn (20-61) are third in the race to the bottom with just one game left, their regular season finale Sunday in Toronto.
They’re a game behind second-place Indiana, but moved 1 ½ games clear of both Utah and Sacramento, pending the former’s tilt against Memphis and the latter’s matchup against visiting Golden State.
Now, after losing without 10 players on Friday and getting wins from Utah and Sacramento, the Nets clinched a top 3 spot in the lottery standings. The Top 3 lottery seeds all have identical 14 percent odds of winning, and a 40.1 percent shot at one of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cam Boozer.
They now have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery and 40.1% odds of a Top 3 pick, drafting no worse than seventh.
As for Friday night’s ugly loss, the Nets allowed 55.6 percent shooting, with AJ Green pouring in a game-high 35 points on 11-of-16 from deep and Cormac Ryan adding 28.
Nets guard Tyson Etienne had 15 of his career-high 23 points in the first quarter.
Malachi Smith added career-highs of 19 points and 10 assists, along with a career-high tying eight rebounds for the Nets, who played without Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin, Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Drake Powell, Josh Minott, Terance Mann, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams and Danny Wolf.
Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) drives towards the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Smith is the first rookie in team history with at least 15 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a game.
Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a 13th straight game, theoretically with a hyperextended left knee and bruised bone, but really because of a busted relationship with the Bucks and Milwaukee’s tanking.
For a change, though, the Nets would not be out-tanked.
As the matchup between the Knicks and Raptors returned from halftime, OG Anunoby was not on the court or the bench.
The team announced that Anunoby would not return to the game after suffering a left ankle injury.
It's unclear how or when it happened, but the forward did take a tumble in the waning minutes of the second quarter. Anunoby did play through it and finished with two points on 1 of 4 shooting (0-for-3 from three), five rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes on the court.
With the Knicks having a sizeable lead against the Raptors at halftime, and the Celtics with a sizeable lead over the Pelicans, guaranteeing Boston the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, New York could be sitting Anunoby as a precaution.
Coach Mike Brown didn't have an update on Anunoby after Friday's win. He confirmed that Anunoby tweaked his ankle but hasn't talked to him or trainers just yet.
The Knicks finish the regular season at home against the Hornets on Sunday night, and Brown was asked about resting his starters since they locked into the No. 3 seed.
"We'll talk about it probably. You want to go into the playoffs as healthy as possible," Brown said. "We'll discuss it as a staff in the next day or so and then we'll see what happens."
With Anunoby's tweaked ankle and Sunday's game not meaning anything for the Knicks, it's likely the forward will not play in the season finale.
Mike Brown says that OG Anunoby tweaked his ankle tonight
Brown says he does not have information on where Anunoby stands with the injury pic.twitter.com/lsn8F55RLS
Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) drives for the basket in front of Brooklyn Nets forward E.J. Liddell (9) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets to give fans a cathartic finale in what has been a forgettable season. In the final home game at Fiserv Forum, the Bucks played with purpose and poise, displaying admirable ball movement on offense and great discipline on D. AJ Green paced the Bucks with 35 points, with Cormac Ryan close behind with a career-high 28. Green’s 11 made triples set a new single-game franchise record, and chants of “Dai-ry-Bird” and “A-J-Green” thundered in the late stages, an appreciative crowd serenading the Iowa sniper on his historic night.
Fresh off a lunch meeting with Zeus, Cormac Ryan started dropping lightning and thunder on the hapless Nets from early on. First, a layup off a pick-six. Next possession, a corner three. Then, a drive right that led to a fadeaway, Karl Malone style. Swish. The two-way phenom stayed on fire throughout the frame, finishing with 18 points on nearly perfect shooting. Ryan’s supporting cast matched the shock and awe of their superstar. They started with seven assists on eight buckets, a team zipping the ball around and not settling until the best shot presented itself. All five starters scored when Taurean Prince hit a corner three, not even halfway into the quarter. They were stingy and connected on D, stifling the visitors with a zone that led to contested, missed triples or altered—or rejected—shots down low. After one, it was Bucks 38, Nets 24.
Bafflingly, quarter two started without Ryan on the floor. Yes, he played almost the entire first quarter. Also yes, he was on a historic (for him) tear. His teammates largely picked up for him. AJ Green hit a couple triples and had a near-miss putback dunk, not a regular feature of his game. Jericho Sims made some nice plays, including a driving layup on a nice dish from Dieng. Ousmane did it himself the next possession, skying in for an emphatic dunk through traffic. When Taurean Prince drained a corner triple the next time down, it was 57-39 Bucks. The Nets then went on a 13-3 run to drop the lead to single digits, prompting a Doc Rivers timeout. Kuzma drained a rhythm triple from the logo to close the half and send the hometowners into the half up double digits. The Bucks had 19 assists on 26 made buckets, shooting 60% on field goals and 52% from deep. Halftime: Bucks 66, Nets 54.
The Bucks had no interest in the bad old days of surrendering leads and removing foot from gas pedal in the third quarter. They rode a balanced attack, highlight plays, and continued solid D to steamroll the visitors early before letting up just enough to make the final quarter somewhat interesting. Myles Turner and Ousmane Dieng had monster dunks early, followed by banger triples by AJ Green, including a corner hit that tied him with Damian Lillard for made three-pointers in a season at 220 (he later added to his total and put himself in range to match or exceed 224 and 229, currently nos. 2 and 1 behind Malik Beasley and Ray Allen). Then it was Prince’s turn. An impossible-looking fadeaway corner triple, with hand in his face, saw bottom. Then he picked a pass on the next possession and hit from long range to send Fiserv into a frenzy. Milwaukee was ahead 99-84 entering the final period.
Things got feisty to start the fourth, with E.J. Liddell and Jericho Sims getting tied up, drawing an immediate crowd of teammates. The review clearly showed Liddell throwing a forearm shiv at Sims’ head, earning a flagrant-2 and ejection for Liddell. Sims shot two free throws. The next possession, Dieng hit Sims for a transition alley-oop slam. Even more catharsis came when AJ Green hit yet another long-range bomb the next time down. Green stayed unconscious, connecting on late-game bombs that gave him 11 triples—an all-time Bucks single game record.
Stat That Stood Out
50%. That’s the Bucks’ three-point percentage tonight, in large part due to Green’s 11-16 from long range.
Apr 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts after being fouled by Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
80 games in, the 2026 Knicks were still destination unknown. After thrashing Toronto 112-95 in game 81, the picture is clearer.
The Celtics hammered the Pelicans 144-118, locking up the 2-seed, while the Cavaliers showed they’re already in playoff form, falling badly to the Hawks. The East top-four are set: Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland. While that’s been in place most of the past few months, there’s still no way of knowing who any of them will face in the first round. Apparently a third of the league not even trying has a kind of muddying effect on the whole.
The Raptors may be the team most Knick fans hope the ’bockers battle in round one, and this was a good reminder why. The Knicks led for the final 36 minutes. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined to go 20-of-30 from the field. Despite a lousy teamwide effort shooting 3s, the visiting Raptors weren’t much better from deep, attempted fewer free throws than the Knicks made, were a -7 in the turnover battle, had 36 points at halftime and RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley didn’t even play. Next time just forfeit, dudes.
The biggest concern from this game is OG Anunoby’s health. Ogugua tripped on Scottie Barnes’ foot midway through the second quarter. He did not return, hopefully because the 3-seed was pretty much a lock, because with the Knicks’ real season still over a week away better safe than sorry, and because despite all y’all ready to hand Mike Brown a pink slip I’ll remind you the last Knick coach would’ve had OG back on the floor before halftime.
So yay! The Knicks have won their most games since 2013, their second-most since 1996. They’re off tomorrow, have nothing to play for Sunday and then have another week off. They’ve won 12 of 15. Dunno how much to make out of beating the mad mid dinosaurs, but champions tend to stack Ws. This game kinda crystallized the season so far: the games that matter aren’t here yet, but the Knicks look better than they did 12 months ago and better than they did when this season kicked off. That’s all you can ask for, isn’t it?
Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
San Antonio managed to give its superstar center the requisite playing time and keep all of its rotation players under 30 minutes in a 139-120 beating of Dallas tonight. The two superstars – Victor Wembanyama (24 points) for San Antonio (62-19) and Cooper Flagg (25 points) for Dallas (25-56) – went supernova in a high-scoring first half. Despite the Spurs shooting well from the field and perfectly from the line (12-12), Flagg and the Mavericks capitalized on several lulls late in the first half to pull even with the Spurs briefly and stay at their heels throughout much of the third period before fading away. With Stephon Castle nursing a sore foot, All-Rookie Team candidate Dylan Harper (13 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds) capably started in his place.
San Antonio’s Wembanyama (40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) and an always ready De’Aaron Fox (18 points and 10 assists) helped the hosts pull away from Dallas in the second half. San Antonio also got balanced scoring throughout the line-up – with noteworthy performances from Julian Champagnie (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) from deep and Carter Bryant (12 points and 5 rebounds) as a playoff-ready contributor off the bench. Keldon Johnson (17 points and 5 rebounds) provided his usual brutish consistency. San Antonio also managed to hit the mythical 50 (FG)-40 (3PT)-90 (FT) mark with 54% from the field, 41% behind the line, and 96% from the stripe.
While Flagg (33 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) did his stellar all-around thing in defeat, Max Christie (16 points and 2 rebounds) and unheralded AJ Johnson (13 points) supplied the secondary scoring through the first several periods to keep Dallas reasonably competitive. Khris Middleton (14 points and 3 rebounds) had a solid performance, as well.
The teams came out firing away, with San Antonio finding its shooting touch more often from the tip. Flagg connected on his first two attempts, while Wembanyama – showing residual damage from his recent wear – put up a flashy 11 points – including a whirling dervish of a floater over Marvin Bagley that required lots of core strength to pull off. Bryant shined in transition, bullying his way through two Mavericks and getting himself an and-1. Wembanyama figured prominently in a closing 14-2 run and San Antonio left the first up 37-26.
Flagg continued to accumulate offensive steam to start the second period. The Spurs still remained comfortably ahead with Wembanyama matching the Maverick’s production. Flagg was the recipient of an and-1 and a Flagrant 1 added on a Luke Kornet closeout. A late Dallas run put them in the lead momentarily, but Wembanyama’s closing half-dozen put San Antonio back up 68-65 going to the half.
Dallas matched the Spurs over a number of possessions to start the third period. San Antonio’s Harper and Johnson carried the offense over the middle minutes of the frame, while Flagg gave way to all of the non-injured Mavericks. A personal 7-point spurt by De’Aaron Fox pushed the Spurs’ lead back up to 14. After a spinning lay-up by Wembanyama made it 101-87, Jacob Tobey exclaimed, “Victor makes no sense!” Fox’s individual awesomeness provided San Antonio the necessary cushion heading into the fourth.
Observations
This is the first Spurs game (since the ABA days) where my dad has not been watching his beloved team – in some form alongside family or a text or phone call away from a family member – as he lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on Monday. His primary motivation in the last months through rounds of chemo and recovery was to see his first Wembanyama era playoffs.
For those of us that watched the opening night 125-92 win against Dallas, this is as good a capstone as any for Wembanyama’s campaign of destruction on the league.
It’s really fun to see the younger players ricochet off of Bismack Biyombo after the introductions.
Marvin BADley (shooting), amirite?
Jordan McLaughlin celebrated his 30th birthday with a late three that – due to the timing of the attempt – caused Coach Mitch Johnson to apologize to the Dallas coaching staff.
Sequence of the Game #1: San Antonio had a great after time-out moment early in the second quarter, where Fox floated a pass to Devin Vassell in the right corner, and the guarded lobbed a feather to a diving Kornet for a dunk.
Sequence of the Game #2: After the Spurs forced multiple misses on one possession, Harper backed in John Poulakidas deep in the paint and notched an and-1 halfway through the third quarter.
Sequence of the Game #3: The Bryant threes that all swished like a former Spur used to do (Danny Green).
Wembanyama ‘Thanos’ Sequence of the Game: Figuring he would do it himself late in the opening stanza, he took a rebound all the way downcourt for a soaring eagle slam from 10+ feet out, and then followed it with a three from the pink part of the Fiesta logo.
Fox needs to get 2 or 3 lay-ups deep in the paint during the playoffs to keep the defenses honest and sufficiently off of San Antonio’s perimeter shooters.
One of the early season criticisms of Harper was his outside shooting, so it must have been a very pleasant surprise for so many of us to see this:
Here are the NBA highest 3PT% leaders since March 1st, 2026 with a minimum of 50 3PA: 1. Dylan Harper 2. Kobe Sanders 3. Cam Spencer pic.twitter.com/iRJGVO3NnF
Wembanyama ’excused me’ his way through two defenders for an opening slam, and Champagnie took Wembanyama’s ensuing miss and threw down a Sean Elliott-like baseline dunk. Wembanyama’s stepback three – after some jarringly bad Bagley misses – made it 11-2. Flagg put up five points, and Middleton’s stepback brought the Mavericks within four. Despite drawing his second foul, Harper stayed in the game without picking up a third one. Bryant was brought in to quell Flagg’s production, but the Rookie of the Year candidate hit a jumper over the rookie’s hands seconds later. Johnson put up a quick handful of points to keep San Antonio ahead. Bryant’s catch-and-shoot three made it 32-23, and Wembanyama scored the last five of the quarter to put the Spurs up 11.
Flagg started the second with another five quick points. Wembanyama had the first ‘almost-falling-whoopsie-then-stretching-into-a-dunk ‘move I’ve ever seen. Flagg lofted a floater over Wembanyama to shave Dallas’ deficit to six. Despite San Antonio continuing to put up points at a brisk pace, Flagg’s and-1 kept it a 3-possession game. Harper had a coast-to-coast lay-up that seemed never in doubt despite Ryan Nembhard staying right in front of him. Champagnie swished a wing three and then punched Dwight Powell’s shot attempt high into the sky. Champagnie blocked Moussa Cisse’s dunk attempt on the next possession. Bryant’s second triple from the exact same spot as the first put San Antonio up nine. Threes in succession from Flagg, Max Christie, and Middleton gifted the Mavericks their first lead. Wembanyama scored the last six of the half for the Spurs and they went to the break with a slim three point advantage.
Nembhard tied things immediately out of the break with a corner three. The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes with a handful of ties that occurred on jumpers from Christie and Middleton. Flagg’s bruising lay-up put the Mavericks back up. Harper’s traditional and-1 and Johnson’s three nudged San Antonio back ahead. Fox seemed to have gotten the message that it was time to put his stamp on tonight’s game and hit a couple of jumpers in the lane and followed it with a shotclock beating three. Bryant exacted a bit of revenge on Flagg by blocking his fadeaway attempt in the final minute of the quarter. Fox’s final attempt fell just errant, but his 14 points in the stanza helped make it 108-93 San Antonio going to the fourth.
For the Mavericks fan’s perspective, please visit Mavs Moneyball.
San Antonio finishes its best regular season in a decade with one more battle with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets Sunday night at 7:30 PM CDT on ESPN.
