Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Steph brushes off injury concern after Playoff Jimmy takes over

Steph brushes off injury concern after Playoff Jimmy takes over originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The absolute last thing the Warriors can afford with the NBA playoffs right around the corner is any kind of Steph Curry injury concern.

Every Warriors player, coach and fan found themselves full of fear Friday night as Curry shook his right hand in pain during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Curry hit his right thumb against Justin Minaya’s left knee as the Blazers forward guarded him. He then went back to the Warriors’ locker room when coach Steve Kerr took a timeout with two minutes left in the first quarter. Curry initially was considered questionable to return, but then was back with his right thumb wrapped and eight minutes remaining in the first half. 

As the Warriors blew out the Blazers at Moda Center, 103-86, Curry played 27 minutes and scored 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting while going 2 of 8 on threes. 

X-rays on Curry’s right thumb came back negative, the Warriors told media members in Portland after the game. 

“I’m feeling great, ready to play Game 82 on Sunday,” Curry told reporters. 

Friday night wasn’t the first time Curry has dealt with an issue to his right hand and thumb this season. He first hurt it in December and has played through the injury since. Curry says he was told the injury was aggravated Friday night, and “hopefully it wasn’t anything serious.”

Whatever level of pain Curry felt when his right thumb jammed into Minaya was obvious. It also didn’t immediately get him out of the game. Curry actually continued on and assisted a Gary Payton II layup on the same play. On the Warriors’ next offensive possession, Curry made an acrobatic floater while crashing to the ground. 

But he also was jumping up and down, grabbing his right hand, shaking it and wincing while doing so. Jonathan Kuminga was called for a take foul and Kerr called timeout, essentially to get Curry out of the game and looked at. 

Before going back to the locker room, Curry had four points on 2-of-5 shooting, missed his lone 3-point attempt and also had one rebound, one assist and one blocked shot. Though the Warriors were facing an extremely short-handed Blazers team with little to play for, it’s always a positive when the Warriors can stay afloat or outscore their opponent without Curry on the court. The Warriors outscored the Blazers 14-3 while Curry was getting X-rays, giving them a nine-point lead once the star point guard returned. 

When Curry came back with a taped right wrist and thumb, he didn’t seem to miss a beat. Curry scored six points – both off 3-pointers – and added three rebounds and three assists in the second quarter. But he clearly was using his left hand, especially dribbling, and on the bench left his right hand on his lap, only using his left to slap hands and celebrate. 

Curry admitted the pain affected his shot “a little bit.” He finished with 10 points after getting taped on 4-of-9 shooting and made two of his seven 3-point attempts.

“It was freshly ringing new pain, but I don’t think it will last too long,” Curry said. “I’m not really good with the anatomy. I just know it hurts right now, but I’ll be all right.”

If Curry is to have any ailments, no one player can fill his shoes. However, there is one player teammates, coaches and fans alike will turn to. The player that changed the Warriors’ season. The 35-year-old who the Warriors will be paying over $54 million next season, and more than $56 million the season after that.

Jimmy Butler. 

It was the Blazers. It was against some players even most die-hard NBA fans couldn’t name. Still, it was takeover time for Butler. Shades of Playoff Jimmy sprouted in the City of Roses. 

Butler scored nine points in the third quarter. He replaced Curry for the final two minutes and 43 seconds of the third and rattled off five points, including a three-point play that brought back memories of his dominant playoff performances with the Miami Heat. 

The main goal of the fourth quarter as the Warriors entered leading by 20 points was ensuring Curry could watch the rest of the game from the bench. Butler made sure that was the case. He again scored another nine points in just six-and-a-half minutes. The second half was the secondary star the Warriors acquired two months ago being showcased in front of us days from the postseason. 

In 14-and-a-half minutes played over the final two quarters, Butler scored 18 of the Warriors’ 53 points. No other Warrior scored more than six. He was a perfect 7 of 7 on free throws in that span, plus had three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Butler’s 24 total points gave him his 11th 20-point game in his 29th contest since joining Golden State. 

He also went 11 of 11 on free throws, and now has 10 games with the Warriors of attempting 10 or more free throws. Prior to his arrival, the Warriors had a total of 10 games this season where a single player shot at least 10 free throws. One man changed everything. 

And one man holds the keys to a game where Curry doesn’t live up to his lofty standards, or even worse, injury concerns come back at the most inopportune time.

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Kornet takes aim at White in hilarious Tommy Award ad, White responds

Kornet takes aim at White in hilarious Tommy Award ad, White responds originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With only two games remaining in the 2024-25 campaign, Boston Celtics big man Luke Kornet made a last-ditch effort to win the coveted season-long Tommy Award.

NBC Sports Boston has handed out the Tommy Award since 2003. The honor began with legendary Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn awarding “Tommy Points” for players who went above and beyond on the court.

Since replacing the late Heinsohn on the Celtics’ broadcast, Brian Scalabrine has been in charge of handing out Tommy Awards. Derrick White (14) and Luke Kornet (12) entered Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets ranked first and second on the team in total Tommy Awards for the season.

Kornet attempted to win over Scalabrine and the Celtics fanbase with a hilarious “attack ad” against White. Words don’t do the video justice, so you can watch it in the video player above.

White went on to record 19 points with seven assists and four blocks in Friday’s 130-94 win over Charlotte. After the game, he addressed Kornet’s ad.

“My lawyers and attorneys say not to comment on it at the moment,” he told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin. “It’s all lies, but I can’t comment any further right now.”

Unfortunately for Kornet, White’s effort against the Hornets earned him his 15th Tommy Award of the season. With only one game remaining, he is officially the season-long Tommy Award winner.

Kornet made a strong push for the award over the last month. The 7-foot-1 center has provided a significant boost off the bench with several noteworthy performances as of late, including a 13-point, 14-rebound performance against the Washington Wizards and a 15-point, 16-rebound game against the San Antonio Spurs.

He’ll look to continue his hot streak when the C’s begin the first round of the NBA playoffs next week. First, Boston will wrap up its regular season Sunday at TD Garden with a rematch against Charlotte.

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Warriors' NBA playoff scenarios entering chaotic final day of regular season

Warriors' NBA playoff scenarios entering chaotic final day of regular season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors’ NBA playoff fate remains undecided entering the final day of the 2024-25 regular season.

But the options for Golden State are slightly clearer after Friday’s 103-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.

Additionally, on Friday, the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves won their respective games, while the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Denver Nuggets, setting up a chaotic Sunday slate.

The Warriors (48-33) held onto the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed, and depending on Sunday’s results, they will remain in the final playoff spot or fall to No. 7 and host a play-in game.

With the Clippers’ win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday, the Warriors no longer can reach the No. 5 seed, and with the Grizzlies’ loss, Golden State can’t be the No. 8 seed.

So, the Warriors’ playoff scenarios appear simple: Beat the Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center and secure the No. 6 seed. Golden State can’t overtake Los Angeles because they don’t hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Per PlayoffPredictors.com, if the Warriors, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Thunder, Lakers and Kings win on Sunday, here’s what the Western Conference standings would look like:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Houston Rockets
  3. Los Angeles Lakers
  4. Denver Nuggets
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves
  6. Golden State Warriors
    **
  7. Los Angeles Clippers
  8. Memphis Grizzlies
  9. Sacramento Kings
  10. Dallas Mavericks

If the Warriors lose to the Clippers, coupled with the Timberwolves beating the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies beating the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State would fall to the No. 7 seed.

For the Warriors to secure the No. 6 seed while losing to the Clippers on Sunday, they would need the Timberwolves to lose to the Jazz.

If the Warriors and Timberwolves lose, while the Nuggets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Lakers and Kings win on Sunday, here’s what the Western Conference standings would look like:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Houston Rockets
  3. Los Angeles Lakers
  4. Denver Nuggets
  5. Los Angeles Clippers
  6. Golden State Warriors
    **
  7. Memphis Grizzlies
  8. Minnesota Timberwolves
  9. Sacramento Kings
  10. Dallas Mavericks

If the Warriors lose, while the Timberwolves, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Lakers and Kings win on Sunday, here’s what the Western Conference standings would look like:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
  2. Houston Rockets
  3. Los Angeles Lakers
  4. Denver Nuggets
  5. Los Angeles Clippers
  6. Minnesota Timberwolves
    **
  7. Golden State Warriors
  8. Memphis Grizzlies
  9. Sacramento Kings
  10. Dallas Mavericks

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What we learned as Warriors boost playoff hopes with win vs. Blazers

What we learned as Warriors boost playoff hopes with win vs. Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

It was not a pretty performance in Portland, but it didn’t have to be for the Warriors to post a 103-86 victory over the Trail Blazers and maintain their status in the Western Conference standings.

The Warriors (48-33) took charge in the second quarter and never were threatened by the Trail Blazers (35-46), who were without six of their top nine players Friday at Moda Center.

The win allowed the Warriors to maintain their grip on sixth place in the West. They will finish at least that high with a win over the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers in the regular-season finale Sunday at Chase Center.

But a loss to the Clippers – who clinched a top-five finish Friday with a win over the Kings in Sacramento – and a Minnesota Timberwolves win over the lowly Utah Jazz on Sunday would drop the Warriors into the dreaded NBA play-in tournament.

No matter what happens Sunday, the Warriors can drop no lower than seventh in the West. In that instance, they could enter the NBA playoffs by winning a home game over the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament.

Six Warriors scored in double figures, led by 24 points from forward Jimmy Butler III. They held the Blazers to 37.6-percent shooting from the field, including 20 percent from deep.

Here are three observations from an evening when Golden State handled its business in its regular-season road finale:

Scary Moment For Steph

Curry’s right thumb, tender since sustaining a sprain in December, was aggravated by a blow late in the first quarter that sent him into the locker room for further examination.

Curry returned with 8:02 remaining in the second quarter and 79 seconds later drained his first 3-pointer of the night.

But Curry, wearing a wrap that went from his wrist to the base of his thumb, was not his usual self afterward. The bandage was big enough to inhibit his typical ballhandling and shooting, and it also forced him to play with a measure of caution.

Curry played 27 minutes, none in the fourth quarter, and finished with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds and five assists and finished plus-8 for the game.

The mere sight of Curry leaving a game, going into the locker room and coming out wearing a heavy wrap, is a sobering thought for the Warriors as they move toward the postseason.

Butler Did It

Knowing Curry’s tenuous condition seemed to push Butler into a higher gear, and the Warriors welcomed the sight of it.

Butler essentially took control in the second half, ensuring there would be no Portland comeback that might even cause coach Steve Kerr to consider reinserting Curry.

Butler’s game-high 24 points came on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including 1 of 2 from distance and 11 of 11 shooting from the line. He recorded seven assists – five in the fourth quarter to preserve the margin – and grabbed five rebounds before exiting with 5:25 remaining.

Butler played 28 minutes and was plus-22, behind only Brandin Podziemski’s plus-31 among the Warriors.

This is the Butler the Warriors are going to need in the games ahead, especially if Curry is even slightly hampered.

Buckets For Buddy And The Bench

On a night when the starters were scrambling to find offense, Golden State’s bench, the league’s second-most productive group, made significant contributions in building a 13-point (50-37) lead at the half.

Hield led the way, draining four triples in the first half to go into the locker room with a team-high 12 points. His third 3-pointer was his 200th of the 2024-25 NBA season, allowing him to reach that total for the seventh time in his career. He joins five others, including Klay Thompson and Curry, have at least seven such seasons.

The eight first-half field goals made the by bench equaled the total of the starters – and came with a higher percentage. The starters shot 8 of 26 (30.8 percent) for the half, while the subs were 8 of 18 (44.4 percent).

The starters found some rhythm immediately after halftime, but Golden State benefited from the early tone set by the bench.

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3 observations after 8-man Sixers lose to Hawks in penultimate game

3 observations after 8-man Sixers lose to Hawks in penultimate game  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

To no one’s surprise, the Sixers will not conclude the season on a winning streak.

They fell to a 124-110 loss to the Hawks on Friday night at Wells Fargo Center in their penultimate game, dropping to 24-57 overall. The Hawks moved to 39-42. 

The Sixers are now locked into the fifth-best odds in the NBA draft lottery. They’ll keep their first-round pick if it falls within the top six.

Jared Butler led the Sixers with 25 points and seven assists. Marcus Bagley had 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Atlanta’s Trae Young tallied 36 points and 11 assists. Caris LeVert scored 31 points.

As usual this season, the Sixers’ injury report was lengthy; they only had eight available players. The team announced pregame that Joel Embiid underwent successful arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on his left knee.

The Sixers’ season finale is set for Sunday afternoon vs. the Bulls. Here are observations on their defeat to Atlanta:

Bagley breaks his ice 

The 2024-25 Sixers used their 54th starting lineup Friday in Butler, Lonnie Walker, IV, Ricky Council IV, Bagley and Adem Bona. 

Every starter besides Council reached double-figure points by halftime. Butler was aggressive early as both a driver and outside shooter. Walker dealt with foul trouble but found a groove in the second quarter. 

Bagley’s shotmaking was unexpected. He’d been chipping in for the Sixers with offensive rebounding and smart cutting, but his jumpers had been wayward. Ahead of Friday’s game, the 23-year-old forward was 1 for 21 from three-point range in the NBA over his two 10-day contracts with the Sixers.

He was apparently due for a hot night. Bagley swished one jumper from the right corner and then nailed one from the left about a minute later. He shot 4 for 5 beyond the arc in the first half.

Bona growing offensively

Bona’s offensive progress was certainly evident in his eighth consecutive start. 

His work around the basket was powerful and crafty, including some subtle pump fakes. Bona also made a textbook post-up jump hook as the shot clock was winding down and an elegant lefty layup after deking a handoff.

The rookie big man needed just seven field goal attempts to record 14 first-half points. He’s rightfully known most for his defensive abilities, but Bona’s offense is absolutely trending up.

In his past three games, Bona’s totaled 51 points on 21-for-28 shooting. He scored 28 points last week vs. the Bucks, too.

Hawks’ bench wins the night  

The Sixers held a six-point halftime lead, but Atlanta started the third quarter well and went up 74-70 on a long-range Young jumper.

Along with Young’s stardom, LeVert’s big night off the bench helped the Hawks overcome their subpar first half. LeVert made his first eight field goals and drained a rainbow three with 1.7 seconds left in the third quarter. Georges Niang also added 16 points off of Atlanta’s bench.

Colin Castleton had the best outing of the Sixers’ three-man second unit, playing a productive, efficient game behind Bona with 16 points on 6for-7 shooting and eight rebounds. Jeff Dowtin Jr. (1 for 11 from the floor) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (3 for 11) each had rough shooting nights.

Another LeVert triple extended the Hawks’ lead to 111-98 with a little under seven minutes remaining and the Sixers couldn’t make any sort of last-ditch comeback.

One more to go until their nightmare of a season is history.

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Steph returns to Warriors-Blazers game after thumb injury

Steph returns to Warriors-Blazers game after thumb injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In a sight no Warriors fan wants to see, star point guard Steph Curry went to the locker room during the first quarter of Golden State’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at Moda Center.

Curry sustained a right thumb injury with around 2:45 left in the quarter when he hit his hand on Justin Minaya’s knee as the Blazers forward guarded him.

While the Warriors announced Curry was questionable to return during the second quarter, the 37-year-old was back on the court with his right hand wrapped as around eight minutes remained in the first half.

The injured thumb is the same one that has given Curry trouble already during the 2024-25 NBA season. He injured it in early December and later admitted it was bothering him after a Jan. 25 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. But Curry drained a 3-pointer immediately after checking back in Friday — hand wrap and all — so it appears he’s doing OK.

As the Warriors fight for the Western Conference’s No. 6 playoff seed, they need Curry at full strength. And after the four-time NBA champion returned to Friday’s game, it’s clear he’s doing whatever it takes to be in Golden State’s final two must-win games.

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Cavaliers vs. Knicks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (63-17) and New York Knicks (50-30) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Cavaliers are currently 29-11 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Knicks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Cleveland is 3-0 against New York this season. New York is 5-3 over the last eight games compared to Cleveland who is 4-2 in the past six.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Knicks live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Madison Square Garden
  • City: New York, NY
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Knicks

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Cavaliers (+121), Knicks (-143)
  • Spread:  Knicks -2.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 111.93, and the Knicks 113.24.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Cavaliers vs. Knicks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans toward the Knicks ML:

"Cleveland is solid in its playoff position, so this is a Knicks or pass spot for me. I don't know what the motivation would be for the Cavaliers to play meaningful minutes."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Cavaliers & Knicks game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Knicks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at -2.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 225.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Knicks on Friday

  • The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Over is 22-18 in the Knicks' home games this season
  • The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog
  • The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Wizards vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Washington Wizards (17-63) and Chicago Bulls (37-43) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Wizards are currently 9-30 on the road with a point differential of -12, while the Bulls have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago is 2-1 versus Washington this season with a 33-point win in the previous meeting.

Chicago has won four of the past five games with two coming by double-digits. Washington has lost four straight games and seven of the past eight.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Wizards vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: United Center
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Wizards vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Wizards (+802), Bulls (-1333)
  • Spread:  Bulls -15.5
  • Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Wizards an implied team point total of 116.64, and the Bulls 124.71.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Wizards vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Wizards on the ML:

"While the chances of Washington winning this game are very slim, double-digit underdogs are profitable in the final week of the season, so I have to lean toward Washington."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Wizards & Bulls game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Bulls at -15.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 235.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Wizards vs. Bulls on Friday

  • The Wizards have lost 4 of their last 5 games
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Wizards and the Bulls have stayed under the Total
  • The Bulls have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division teams

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Embiid has successful surgery on left knee, Sixers announce

Embiid has successful surgery on left knee, Sixers announce  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Joel Embiid underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday, the Sixers announced.

The team said Embiid’s surgery was performed by Jonathan L. Glashow at NYU Langone Sports Medicine Center. The seven-time All-Star will be re-evaluated in approximately six weeks. 

Embiid considered a variety of options before opting for surgery on his bothersome knee. He was officially ruled out for the season on Feb. 28 and last played on Feb. 22.

Though Embiid had surgery last February on his left lateral meniscus, the knee remained a major issue and he was frustrated by recurring swelling. Embiid will end up missing 63 of the Sixers’ 82 games this season. 

“There have been those times where sincerely — Joel himself, medical staff — he looks very much on the way toward playing,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said on Feb. 7. “And then primarily, his injury is one where you’re managing his symptoms, swelling and pain. When those things happen, it’s best for him to sit out. 

“I know that Joel is doing everything he can and fighting to be out there as much as possible. … On this injury that he had last February and had the procedure on, it’s one that you manage symptoms. We’re optimistic long term, talking to the doctors. … I think we’re at seven, eight, nine, 10 of the top people in the world at this point who all see this as (an injury) that over time will improve. But it’s happened slower than anyone’s anticipated. But we love how Joel’s fighting.” 

In general, the 24-56 Sixers never truly stemmed their flow of injuries throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Their season-ending injuries include Embiid, Tyrese Maxey (right finger sprain), Paul George (adductor and left knee), Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery) and Eric Gordon (right wrist surgery). 

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Denver nearly fired Michael Malone, Calvin Booth at All-Star break but winning streak postponed move

What stunned people around the NBA most about the firing of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth in Denver was not the act itself: Malone was thought to be in trouble if the Nuggets didn't make a deep playoff run, and Booth had tried to negotiate a new contract all season long and not gotten one, a bad sign.

It was the timing that confused everyone — who fires a coach with three games and less than a week left in the regular season?

It turns out that team president Josh Kroenke wanted to make this move around the All-Star break, but the team won eight in a row, leading into it, reports Tim MacMahon and Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.

Kroenke made the decision to fire Malone and Booth late Sunday night, sources told ESPN. It wasn't the first time this season that Kroenke seriously pondered parting ways with the winningest coach in franchise history and the executive who had put together the final pieces of the Nuggets' championship puzzle. Kroenke wanted to clean house at the All-Star break, sources said, but an eight-game winning streak spared Malone and Booth.

Tension between a GM and coach is natural — every coach wants players who can help win now, and every GM has to think about the future, not just the present. In Denver, that tension had spiraled, grown toxic, and divided the entire organization into two camps. Kroenke felt he had to make a move — and he probably did at some point — and he couldn't let one side "win." Everyone had to go.

Still, with less than a week to go in the season, the timing seems likely to undercut a hoped-for playoff run.

A couple of other notes from ESPN:

• The players were caught in the middle of the Malone vs. Booth tug of war and were not happy, and that showed on the court with inconsistent play. One source put it this way:

"The players were freakin' miserable, man. You could see it. The effort would come and go. I just wish it happened sooner. We wouldn't be in this mess."

• Maybe the least surprising news: Malone did not take the news well, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on his The Hoop Collective podcast:

"It got out pretty quickly in the NBA that Michael Malone's reaction to being fired was not calm, which is not a surprise. I don't blame him."

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Hawks vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Atlanta Hawks (38-42) and Philadelphia 76ers (24-56) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Hawks are currently 18-22 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Atlanta is 2-0 against Philadelphia this season with 9 and 13 points.

The 76ers' win over the Wizards snapped a 12-game losing streak for Philly, while. the Hawks are 2-4 in the previous six games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Hawks vs. 76ers live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Wells Fargo Center
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hawks vs. 76ers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Hawks (-602), 76ers (+441)
  • Spread:  Hawks -11.5
  • Over/Under: 238 points

That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 123.93, and the 76ers 117.94.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Hawks vs. 76ers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the 76ers ML against the Hawks:

"While nobody will be with me, one of the best strategies over the last week of the season is backing double-digit underdogs as teams lose interest in winning because of not being in the playoffs or are content with their seeding. The Hawks need to win both of their last two games to lock in the 8 seed, but one of those is against Orlando, while Chicago plays Washington and Philadelphia, so it's unclear whether the Hawks will go all out here or on Sunday or not at all. I lean the 76ers ML for the value in their final home game."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Hawks & 76ers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Hawks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +11.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 238.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hawks vs. 76ers on Friday

  • The 76ers have lost 14 of their last 17 home games
  • 8 of the Hawks' last 9 matchups with the 76ers have gone over the Total
  • The 76ers have covered the Spread in their last 3 games
  • The Hawks have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Knicks' Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby must step up defensively in playoffs

The Knicks finished the regular season an abysmal 1-11 in games against the Celtics, Cavs and Pistons.

Maybe you don’t think Friday’s loss should count toward that record because both teams rested key players -- reasonable people can disagree on that.

But there’s not much room to debate one aspect of the Knicks’ play against Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit: their wings have been underwhelming.

Young Pistons star Cade Cunningham averaged 30.8 points, 8.3 assists and five rebounds in four games against the Knicks this year. He hit 49-of-87 shots (56 percent) and went 13-for-25 from three in those games, amassing 33 assists against 10 turnovers.

Who will guard Cunningham in the series?

If you asked Tom Thibodeau, he’d probably (correctly) say the Knicks will guard Cunningham as a team -- but they will need OG Anunoby and/or Mikal Bridges to play stellar individual defense against Detroit’s lead guard.

If the Knicks get past the Pistons (no easy task), they’ll probably have to deal with Jayson Tatum and the Celtics in the second round. It’s worth noting that Tatum averaged 33.5 points on 53 percent shooting (48 percent on threes) against New York this season.

The numbers from Cunningham and Tatum are jarring.

To be fair, both Bridges and Anunoby have strong offensive numbers against Detroit, and any evaluation of the two wings shouldn’t ignore their strong play during Jalen Brunson’s recent four-week absence (Anunoby, in particular, was playing at a very high level on both sides of the ball).

But the Knicks didn’t spend immense capital on Bridges and Anunoby for their offense.

They acquired both players to defend at a high level and supplement the offense around Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The defense hasn’t been there often enough against the Pistons and Celtics -- the same is true of the Cavs, but New York would have to get through Detroit and Boston to face off again against the Cavs. 

Right now, that seems highly unlikely.

The Knicks are disjointed on both ends of the floor -- they left the Garden on Friday demoralized after blowing a 23-point lead to the Cavs’ B-team. After Sunday’s regular season finale, New York will have a week or so to figure things out before Game 1 against Detroit. 

If the Knicks can get on the same page next week and somehow get past the Pistons and Celtics in the postseason, no one will remember these regular-season struggles. 

But if the opposite happens -- if the Knicks get embarrassed against Detroit and/or Boston in the postseason -- you can be sure there will be some hard offseason conversations about the future of the franchise. 

Posted on

Magic vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Orlando Magic (40-40) and Indiana Pacers (49-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Magic are currently 18-21 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Orlando is 2-1 versus Indiana this season but they haven't met since November.

Orlando has won four consecutive games and five of the past six in order to climb to 40-40 on the year. Indiana has won their last six games and seven of the last eight.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Magic vs. Pacers live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Magic vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Magic (+203), Pacers (-248)
  • Spread:  Pacers -6.5
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 108.43, and the Pacers 111.82.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Magic vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Magic to cover and the Under:

"Indiana ruled out a few starters for this matchup, which was surprising, but teams are playing chess with their potential playoff matchups this time of year. This spot screams Orlando to me as underdogs with a lower-scoring matchup."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Magic & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at -6.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 219.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Magic vs. Pacers on Friday

  • The Magic have won 7 straight matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Under is 27-23 in the Magic's matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
  • The Magic have covered the Spread in 6 of their last 7 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Magic have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Bucks vs. Pistons Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Milwaukee Bucks (46-34) and Detroit Pistons (44-36) are all set to square off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

The Bucks are currently 19-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Pistons have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee is 2-0 versus Detroit this season and the final two games of the season will be between these squads.

Milwaukee has won six consecutive games, while Detroit is 2-4 in the last six games, but coming off a win versus New York.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Bucks vs. Pistons live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: NBA TV

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Bucks vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Bucks (+199), Pistons (-243)
  • Spread:  Pistons -6.5
  • Over/Under: 231 points

That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 114.41, and the Pistons 117.8.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Bucks vs. Pistons game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Bucks and Pistons:

"Milwaukee is on the second night of a back-to-back after beating New Orleans last night and resting the starters in the fourth quarter. Detroit had a tough-fought matchup with New York last time out, so I expect this to be another competitive game and defense to be at the forefront of this matchup. I lean the Under."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Bucks & Pistons game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Bucks at +6.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 231.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Bucks vs. Pistons on Friday

  • The Bucks have a losing road record this season (19-20) but have won their last 3 games
  • 7 of the Bucks' last 8 matchups with the Pistons have gone over the Total
  • The Pistons have covered in 43 of their 80 games this season
  • The Bucks have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference teams

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Hornets vs. Celtics Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 11

It’s Friday, April 11, and the Charlotte Hornets (19-61) and Boston Celtics (59-21) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston.

The Hornets are currently 7-32 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Boston is 2-0 with double-digit wins in both meetings versus Charlotte.

Boston has won 12 of the past 14 games entering this contest but is 2-3 over the past five. Charlotte is on a five-game losing streak and 10 out of the previous 11.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Hornets vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming:

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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hornets vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Hornets (+1363), Celtics (-3125)
  • Spread:  Celtics -20
  • Over/Under: 214 points

That gives the Hornets an implied team point total of 106.32, and the Celtics 116.69.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Hornets vs. Celtics game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under and Hornets ML between the Hornets and Celtics:

"Boston and Charlotte are sitting a majority of the starters in this game with very different goals of how to end the season for each team. This will be an ugly watch, so I'd roll with the Under, especially since Boston didn't crack 80 points in its last outing (96-76 loss to Orlando). For the value, I'd take a crack at Charlotte's ML (+1363) and all double-digit underdogs on Friday and Sunday."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Hornets & Celtics game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Charlotte Hornets at +20.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 214.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hornets vs. Celtics on Friday

  • The Celtics have won 4 straight home games against the Hornets
  • Each of the Celtics' last 3 home games against the Hornets have gone over the Total
  • The Celtics have failed to cover the Spread in 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Celtics have won 4 straight home games against the Hornets

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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)