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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t really have anything to really play for. Home court in the first round is secured, and they’re better off not moving up from the fourth seed to the third. Additionally, they’re facing the Atlanta Hawks for two of their final three games — their likely first-round opponent.

Those facts didn’t stop them from going all out and winning a back-and-forth game 122-116 on Wednesday.

This group with James Harden is still new. They need these reps.

“As talented as the guys that came in are, you still have to be able to have that chemistry and have that bond,” Donovan Mitchell said after pouring in 31 points. “That takes time.”

They also need experience in high-leverage games together. Even though there wasn’t much on the line for Cleveland, knowing how close the playoffs are and how well the Hawks are playing made this the perfect opportunity for a dress rehearsal.

Before the game, Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson was asked if he would go with a vanilla game plan against a potential first-round opponent. His answer was no. And the game showed that he meant it.

The Cavs pulled out several wrinkles that you usually only see in the playoffs. They decided to have Harden guard opposing center Onyeka Okongwu. They also drastically cheated off of Dyson Daniels and Jonathan Kuminga defensively in an effort to clog the paint. These are things that you’d expect to see in Game 1 of a playoff series.

Harden guarding Okongwumade sense and is worth revisiting in the playoffs.

Harden has enough strength to handle bigs in the post. He’s not going to get bullied for easy baskets. And hunting him out for post-ups gets you away from what you normally do, which is what happened here.

Okongwu put up 18 points on 7-10 shooting. Those are good numbers. However, the Hawks lost the 33 minutes he played by as many points. The offense wasn’t able to establish the same rhythm as they had an 83.6 offensive rating with Okongwu on the floor. That’s an absolute win for the Cavs.

The idea of using Harden to defend a big didn’t happen overnight. Atkinson has been looking at this for some time now. He mentioned last week that he’s been watching tape of Harden defensively, seeing how he’s guarded fours and fives in the past. That, presumably, inspired him to break that out here. This test run will likely encourage him to keep doing so.

The issue comes with figuring out the other matchups in front of Harden.

The Cavs tried a couple of variations before finding something that worked. Putting Evan Mobley on Jalen Johnson and Dean Wade on CJ McCollum slowed Atlanta down at the start of the third quarter, allowing the Cavs to get back into the game.

For as good of defenders as Mobley, Wade, and Jarrett Allen are, entirely flipping where everyone is on the court at the start of the possession does present some issues. Particularly regarding staying in front of Atlanta’s best scorers: Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

To the Cavs credit, they did a decent job with both, but more so with Johnson. Alexander-Walker did put up a team-high 25 points.

The Cavs’ game plan for Johnson was simple: make him a jump shooter and force him to finish around the basket. Cleveland mostly gave Johnson — who came into this game shooting 35.4% from three — clean looks from the outside. He didn’t make them pay, going 0-5 beyond the arc.

Around the rim is where the Cavs made it difficult. Johnson went just 2-6 on shots in the restricted area and 3-8 on attempts in the paint overall. This was due to how many defenders came over to help on his drives, and from making a team-wide effort to not let the Hawks attack in the open court.

Look at how well the defense — particularly Mobley — was able to help on these.

The Cavs were able to turn the Hawks’ biggest advantage against them.

Atlanta is first in the league in points added in transition. On Wednesday, the Cavs held them in the sixth percentile for points added in transition.

Hawks head coach Quin Snyder spoke pregame about how he wants his team to continue playing fast in the playoffs. They still played their style; the Cavs just did it better.

Cleveland — who’s been a much more half-court oriented since the Harden trade — was in the 84th percentile in points added in transition this game. They did this by running off steals and defensive rebounds.

Allen still doesn’t look quite right. He mentioned when he returned to the lineup after his knee injury that he still wasn’t 100%. That was clear again as he didn’t appear to have the same burst we’ve come to expect from him.

Atkinson didn’t want to speculate postgame about Allen’s health, but he acknowledged it’s something the team is monitoring down the stretch. Even if the Cavs don’t rest their starters in the last two games, Allen might be the one exception to that.

Mitchell’s 31 points lifted the Cavs. He did this by relentlessly attacking inside as he went 8-11 on shots in the paint and generated six attempts at the free-throw line.

Earlier in the season, Mitchell mentioned that he was trying to keep from attacking the rim as much — instead opting to use the floater more. His goal was to be efficient with his scoring, but also with how he moved on the court, opting to use his athleticism only when needed.

The governor is off now.

“It’s that time,” Mitchell said. “If you play like that for 82 games, y’all probably won’t see me in a week or two weeks. It’s hard to do, especially at my size. So you gotta find ways to adapt.”

Mitchell has found ways to adapt and is a more complete scorer because of it. He’s completed a career-high 54% of his looks between four and 14 feet of the hoop. That’s good enough for the 97th percentile in the league. For comparison, he connected on just 39% of those shots two seasons ago. Most of that improvement comes from his floater.

Teams in the playoffs can often take away what you do best. Even though the Indiana Pacers didn’t keep Mitchell from scoring last postseason, they made him pay for every drive to the rim by continually knocking him down. This wore on him to the point that Mitchell didn’t have much left at the end of Game 2, when his team collapsed and essentially lost the series.

We don’t know how this will look in the postseason, but the changes he’s made to his game all season should allow him more counters when teams load up to stop him at the rim.

The Hawks didn’t have an answer for Mobley. He punished their wings as he put up 22 points on 8-15 shooting while going 6-10 at the free-throw line. This included converting 8-12 in the paint.

“The one thing I loved tonight was his post-ups,” Mitchell said. “He was trying to still get down to the rim as opposed to the fade that we’ve talked about for years. He’s being assertive.”

That assertiveness showed up most on the glass, where Mobley tied a career high with 19 rebounds.

“That was huge,” Atkinson said. “It’s usually a mentality change when these jumps happen. I think he switched it on.”

Atkinson still believes in Mobley’s upside.

Before the season, there was some discussion about Mobley leaping into the periphery of the MVP conversation after making the All-NBA second team last season. That didn’t happen. He struggled to adjust offensively to an increased role at the beginning of the year. He’s righted the ship and is playing much more similarly to last season now.

Even though this year hasn’t exactly gone as planned, there’s still reason to buy into Mobley reaching that tier.

“I believe desperately in Evan Mobley,” Atkinson said. “I think he’s got everything. He’s got all the tools and does it on both ends. I love [how] Koby [Altman] always says he’s a winning player. He’s coming into the NBA, and he’s won right off the bat. Not a lot of guys can say that.”

This was a statement win that showed what this team is capable of in the playoffs. They blitzed the second-best defense in the league since the All-Star break to the tune of 44 points in the third quarter. Even though they weren’t able to keep that pace going, it shows how immensely talented this group is, even if the consistency isn’t there yet.

“We’ve never wavered, right? Mitchell said. “I think, no offense to y’all, I think y’all have wavered on us a few times.”

We have wavered, and who could blame us?

Injuries, franchise-changing trades, and overall uneven effort have produced some drastic swings. But in the end, the Cavs have still found a way to grab 51 wins, and have an opportunity to get two more. They believe in this team and what they can accomplish in the postseason.

“I’ve always said, I’m very confident in this group,” Mitchell said.

In just over a week, we’ll start to find out whether that confidence is justified.

In a tightly contested game, Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a victory over the surging Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. Charlotte led for most of the game, but Boston finally managed to break through at the end of the third quarter, and they didn’t look back from there, securing a 113-102 win. The win marked the Celtics’ 17^th double-digit comeback win of the season, tied for 2^nd-most in the NBA.

Brown ended the night leading the team in points and rebounds at 35 and 9 respectively, tacking on 3 assists as well. He was a big force in Boston’s third quarter surge, scoring or assisting on 13 of the team’s 22 points in the final 7 minutes of the quarter. The other 9 points came from a flurry of threes by Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard, capped off by Jaylen scoring 4 points in 34 seconds to give send the Celtics into the fourth quarter with a 3-point lead.

Just a few days ago, Bill Chisholm, owner of the Celtics, had some high praise for Jaylen in an interview with The Boston Globe which felt very applicable to Boston’s win over the Hornets. “He’s always been incredible… The leadership stuff has really been impressive,” he said, adding, “when we’re struggling in a game, you can just see it. He’s like ‘OK, this is enough. Enough of this screwing around.’ And he puts his head down and gets to the rim and gets a really high-quality shot.”

Chisholm also mentioned seeing little interactions between Jaylen and the other guys on the team, with Brown supporting and encouraging them. Those interactions extend beyond the court as well. As many fans know, JB has started to stream on Twitch, and often times he breaks down game film, giving insight into different plays and reads.

After the Celtics took down the Toronto Raptors, Jaylen invited Jordan Walsh onto his stream. Brown looked like a man coaching up his little brother, seeing Walsh’s potential, and trying to instill confidence in him while still poking fun and joking around.

“[You] had a great year… Celtics legends are born during the playoffs… are you ready for the smoke?” Brown asked Walsh.

“For sure, I’ve been waiting for this one,” Walsh replied. “This time I get a chance to impact the game.”

Jaylen Brown got Jordan Walsh pumped for the playoffs:

“(You) had a great year…Celtics legends are born during the playoffs…are you ready for the smoke?”

“For sure, I’ve been waiting for this one,” Walsh said. “This time I get a chance to impact the game”

🎥@FCHWPO on Twitch pic.twitter.com/i1ROPKxFmd

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 6, 2026

People have criticized Brown for streaming after games, saying that it shows a lack of focus, and that he’s not “locked in.” The results show something very different, though. Jaylen is playing some of his best basketball lately and has been lifting his teammates up with him. He’s shown off a greater attention to detail, and we get to hear more of what goes on in his mind as he approaches the games.

Just a month ago, JB was ejected in the first half of a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs after voicing his displeasure with the lack of foul calls. He didn’t let it go after the ejection either, taking to Twitter and Twitch to get it off his chest. Prior to that ejection, Jaylen was averaging 7 FTA per game. Since that point, he’s gotten his average up to 10.4 FTA per game, the fourth highest rate in the league. He increased his efficiency too, raising his freethrow percentage from 78% to 84.8%.  

Brown knew he was going to have extra responsibility on his shoulders this year, and at every stage of the season, he’s adjusted his game to put the team in the best possible position to succeed. That’s including supporting his teammates on and off the court. He always has praise for his guys, and even opposing teams. He takes the time to understand and appreciate the game around him to better understand how to approach it.

JB compared the Hornets to a younger version of the Celtics, praising their ability to shoot the ball, along with their “fearlessness.” He knows that Charlotte could be a potential first-round playoff matchup, and took note of their intensity in the game. “Give credit to Charlotte,” Brown said. “They came out trying to blow up screens. They came out playing with a different intensity level than we did to start the game.”

Even in a complimentary response like this, you get insight into what he sees and feels over the course of a game. JB recognized that the Hornets were playing at a higher level, and the team adjusted to match their energy. Walsh, who was coming off of some high praise in his appearance on Jaylen’s stream, was probably the biggest catalyst for Boston’s shift, no doubt empowered by JB’s words of encouragement.

Small gestures go a long way, and it’s been clear since the beginning of the season that Jaylen has been locked in, and making every effort to lead the Celtics in the right direction. In an MVP-caliber season of career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists, this leadership is maybe Brown’s biggest edge in the MVP race. While he’s certainly deserving, and surely wants the recognition, there’s nothing that he and the team want more than another deep playoff run, hopefully capped off with another Larry O’Brien to bring back to Boston.

Draymond isn't excited about play-in, doesn't believe tournament works anymore originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green isn’t champing at the bit about the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Still, it’s a slim chance of keeping the Warriors’ playoff hopes alive.

“It’s not exciting. It’s not,” Green told reporters after Golden State’s win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. “But you know, I’m a competitor. Going into the game, I’m going to do all I can to win. But it’s not that exciting.”

The Warriors, locked in as the Western Conference’s No. 10 seed, will face either the Trail Blazers in Portland or the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday in a do-or-die game between the ninth and 10th seeds.

If they win, the play-in experience doesn’t end there.

Should Golden State defeat either Portland or Los Angeles, it will go on to face the loser of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth seeds — which will be on the road against either the Trail Blazers, Clippers or Phoenix Suns.

“You go on the road in a game that you need to win, as a competitor, you’re going to rise to the challenge,” Green said. “But I’m not going to sleep tomorrow night like, ‘Man, we got this play-in next week. Got to get my rest.’ It ain’t that exciting.”

The winner of that second play-in game will advance to a first-round best-of-seven playoff series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

But Green, who made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2014 to 2019, and won four titles in eight years, isn’t enthused by the structure.

The play-in officially was adopted as a full-time part of the NBA playoff picture in 2022, but with the recent rise in tanking across the league, Green believes the tournament has lost its purpose.

“I think it worked initially. And now, to have a team stuck in 10th, it ain’t working. We could’ve lost our last 15 games and been stuck at 10th, it ain’t working. But it works for a little bit. If you could be stuck in 10th and lose the last 15 games of your season, it ain’t working. I think the play-in was made for teams to not tank. I think that’s the part that everyone forgets.

“The play-in came about to make teams maybe through 12 or 13 [seed] keep going. They ain’t keep going. They slowed down. Then they hit the brakes. I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in the game for no reason — in the penalty. It ain’t working.”

This will be the third consecutive play-in appearance for Golden State. In the 2023-24 season, the Warriors were eliminated in a win-or-go-home game against the Kings. The following year, they made it out of the play-in to advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Third time’s a charm? We’ll have to wait and see.

But perhaps Green’s frustration with the tournament will prompt the team to avoid it altogether moving forward.

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Last Monday, the Spurs showcased 2014 Spurs NBA Champion Boris Diaw at the Frost Bank Center during their matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. He treated the crowd to a reenactment of his now iconic photo.

Iconic 🤣👏 @theborisdiawpic.twitter.com/Jla8F05f3J

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) April 7, 2026

On Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers came to town, bringing back former players Sidy Cissoko, Blake Wesley, and head coach Tiago Splitter, another member of the Spurs 2014 NBA Championship.

The night before, both Diaw and Splitter met up with 4x NBA Champion and Spurs legend Manu Ginobili for dinner at a local restaurant.

🇺🇸Loved catching up last night with my good friends coach @tiagosplitter and the one and only @theborisdiaw. Missed them!! Hope to see you guys soon again!
🇦🇷Visita a SA de mis amigotes Boris y Tiago! Los extrañaba! Gran cena gran anoche! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/b5ZuV5OOUe

— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) April 8, 2026

During Splitter’s pregame presser, Splitter shared about the reunion.

“It was great. Seeing my friends and talk a little bit about life, and basketball, get an update on what they are doing. You know, we’re good friends. Of course — many, many battles together.”

Splitter added that Boris picked up the check “because I took the one before that…and it was a French restaurant.”

The three have been great friends for many years. At the time the Spurs won that 2014 title, they were often a quartet with Patty Mills. The response to the post was such that Ginobili added a comment, “For those asking @Patty_Mills didn’t join us since the guy is hooping in Spain. Too far! #NoMoreFrogging”

With so many teammates coming over the years, it is special to see how these guys have continued to seek one another out.

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Warriors still waiting for a real glimpse at their highest on-court priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Roughly an hour before tipoff Tuesday night, the Warriors realized they would be deprived of watching a performance that in the final week of this unsatisfying NBA season matters more than winning.

They will be deprived of it again Thursday night.

The two-man game between Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porziņģis, the team’s highest on-court priority, was unavailable against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday will not face the Lakers on Thursday.

Porziņģis was listed as questionable Tuesday afternoon and later declared out with right knee soreness. He was back on the injury report Wednesday afternoon, this time listed as out with an illness. On that same report, Curry was listed as questionable.

Injuries, aches and illnesses continue to undermine Golden State’s season.

After hoping to evaluate the Curry-Porziņģis synergy for at least four games, the Warriors now will have no more than two, assuming both are available Friday at the Sacramento Kings. The short runway limits evaluation to imagination rather than reality.

This matters because Curry and Porziņģis, together, project to have the most influence on Golden State’s offense in the NBA play-in tournament and, perhaps, the playoffs. The mind’s eye sees fantastic basketball, but nothing would confirm the truth better than seeing these two together against a defense.

Curry and Porziņģis have talked about the importance of sharing minutes, as has coach Steve Kerr, who late Tuesday night remained hopeful.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Kerr said of Porziņģis’ being scratched.  “We’ll know in the next day or two.”

Kerr and the Warriors were bitten once again by the KP Experience. He is questionable until he steps onto the court, so it is wise to always brace for the possibility.

The Warriors, 10th in the Western Conference, will open the play-in tournament on the road next Tuesday or Wednesday to face either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Los Angeles Clippers. They’ve lost three of four to the Trail Blazers this season and two of three to the Clippers. A fourth game against LA comes Sunday in the regular-season finale.

Golden State’s next two games are the home finale Thursday night, followed by a late-night bus trip to Sacramento to confront the Kings on Friday before a late-night flight to LA.

The Warriors hope to see Curry and Porziņģis on Friday and Sunday. Two late-season games build some level of chemistry rarely is sufficient.

Curry and Porziņģis shared the court for the first time on Sunday, posting a plus-2 in two three-minute stints in a loss to Houston. They almost certainly would have spent more time together down the stretch, but Porziņģis fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Those six minutes didn’t offer much to assess. Porziņģis seemed out of sorts throughout, perhaps affected by his foul trouble. 

Aside from Curry, all the key healthy players on the roster have shared the floor with Porziņģis. Al Horford, who is expected to return this week, doesn’t need additional minutes with KP. Neither does Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Brandon Podziemski, Gary Payton II or Gui Santos.

It’s Curry who matters most. He and Porziņģis are the two guys most likely to bedevil an opposing defense with Curry’s movement and KP using his 7-foot-3 height to scan the floor and create out of the post. This could in some ways mimic the Curry-Butler dynamic – with the bonus of Porziņģis’ ability to space the floor.

Or so one would think.

Seeing it, however, is the only way to know how they would impact each other. It’s a given that Curry lifts the offensive potential of every teammate. That much was on display Tuesday with De’Anthony Melton.

After a miserable March, shooting 39 percent from the field, including 25 percent from deep, while Curry was sidelined, Melton’s offensive efficiency soared. He scored a team-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 beyond the arc. Yes, this was the Kings, but this was a reminder that Melton still is a weapon.

“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that he’s broken out here the last couple games,” Kerr said. “With Steph’s return there’s so much more focus on Steph, and that opens up the floor.”

Curry and Porziņģis understand this would apply to them. Theoretically. They’ve heard about the virtues of them playing off each other and would like to experience the rhythm.

Didn’t have a chance Tuesday night. Won’t have a chance Thursday night. Maybe Friday night. Anything but another postponement.

“We just prioritize health,” Kerr said. “The rhythm comes after that. We’ll do whatever we have to do to be healthy, and we’ll hope to find some rhythm from there.”

Health issues have torn the delicate fabric of Golden State’s season. There is no sign of it going away. Until it does, this team is but an abstract concept. 

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Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder clinched top spot in the Western Conference and home court advantage through the NBA play-offs with a 128-110 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The comfortable victory ensured the Thunder held off the San Antonio Spurs to secure the NBA's best regular-season record of 64-16 and claim the Western Conference's number one seed for the third consecutive season.

Thunder's Chet Holmgren led the way with 30 points and 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 20 points and 11 assists to extend his record for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points to 140.

The Clippers, who had won eight of their past nine matches, face a key trip to Portland Trail Blazers on Friday with the two sides battling for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The team that finishes in eighth will only require one win in the play-in tournament to advance to the play-offs, while the team finishing ninth will have to beat 10th seeds the Golden State Warriors and the loser of the seventh against eighth match to keep their season alive.

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Trail Blazers 112-101 to extend their record in their past 20 games to 18-2. Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox starred with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

The Denver Nuggets won their 10th consecutive match to tighten their grip on third place in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray scored a team-high 26 points in the 136-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Atlanta Hawks failed to guarantee a play-off spot after losing 122-116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers but can still secure a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference with victory in one of their final two regular-season matches.

Eastern Conference top seeds Detroit Pistons demolished the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 while the Orlando Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker scored 37 points in 37 minutes to lead his side to a 112-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

The night could have easily tilted the other way for the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. No Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and a late-season game with playoff stakes quietly looming in the background. On paper, it felt like a trap.

Instead, the Spurs turned it into a statement.

Behind a composed offensive attack and a defense that tightened when it mattered most, San Antonio pulled away for a 112-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers; a victory defined less by star power and more by collective resolve. From the opening tip, the Spurs looked like a team intent on controlling the tempo. De’Aaron Fox set the tone early, slicing into the lane and dictating pace on his way to a team-high 25 points. 

But this wasn’t a one-man show and it couldn’t be with San Antonio missing two stars.

San Antonio leaned into its depth. Devin Vassell filled the gaps with his two-way presence, while rookie guard Dylan Harper stepped comfortably into a larger role, guiding the offense with poise beyond his experience. Then came the spark from their other rookie. Carter Bryant, a name that doesn’t always headline box scores, caught fire from beyond the arc—knocking down five of six three-point attempts in a breakout shooting performance that stretched Portland’s defense to its limit.

“I thought we had really good contributions from everybody that played,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “I thought we did a really good job with responses throughout the game to a really competitive team… I thought we did really good job.”

Off the bench, Keldon Johnson brought his usual edge, attacking the rim and providing a physical jolt that helped the Spurs maintain control whenever momentum wavered. 

“I thought he [Carter Bryant] did a great job,” Coach Johnson said of the rookie. “He played within himself in terms of things we’ve talked about and training on. He shot with confidence and played with physicality.”

Still, Portland didn’t go quietly. Deni Avdija carved up the defense with 29 points, while Scoot Henderson added 20, helping the Trail Blazers chip away at San Antonio’s lead heading into the second half. For a moment in the third quarter, it felt like the game might slip. Portland surged, testing a Spurs lineup missing its defensive anchor.

That’s when San Antonio responded, not with flash, but with discipline.

The Spurs locked in defensively, cutting off driving lanes and forcing tough looks. On the other end, Fox returned to orchestrate, mixing timely buckets with smart decision-making. A late push, highlighted by key contributions from role players and interior finishes, reestablished control for good.

By the final minutes, the outcome felt inevitable. San Antonio didn’t just survive without its stars, it looked comfortable doing so. The win pushed the Spurs to 61 victories on the season and secured a top-two seed in the Western Conference, a milestone that underscores how far the franchise has come in a short time.

More importantly, it revealed something deeper. This isn’t just a team built around a generational talent. It’s a roster that can adapt, absorb adversity, and still impose its identity.

On a night when the spotlight could have dimmed, the Spurs proved they don’t need it to shine.

Game Notes

• Mitch Johnson confirmed Carter Bryant will be part of his playoff rotation following his career night.
  “He will play in the playoffs,” the Spurs’ head coach told reporters postgame.
• Keldon Johnson may have secured his Sixth Man of the Year award with his performance on Wednesday night.
• Johnson and Bryant combined for 37 points off the bench for San Antonio, a dangerous sign for other teams if those guys can match those numbers.

The Dallas Mavericks came up just short Wednesday night, falling 112-107 to the Phoenix Suns in a game that stayed competitive into the final minutes but ultimately slipped away late. Dallas actually shot a respectable 41.1% from the field and 36.1% from three, but couldn’t quite match Phoenix’s overall efficiency and shot-making. Marvin Bagley III led the way with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 8 rebounds, continuing his strong play, while Cooper Flagg struggled from the field at 4-of-19 but still stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Max Christie added 18 points on 4-of-9 from three, and Ryan Nembhard chipped in 7 assists, but the Mavericks couldn’t find enough consistent scoring late. Phoenix was more balanced and efficient, shooting 46.2% from the field and 40.0% from three, led by Devin Booker’s 37 points and 9 assists and Dillon Brooks’ 28 points.

Dallas came out with solid early energy, getting offense through Marvin Bagley III inside and from three, while Max Christie hit a pair of threes and Cooper Flagg added scoring and playmaking to give the Mavericks early rhythm and even brief control. But that momentum didn’t last, as the Suns flipped the first quarter late behind Royce O’Neale’s shooting and Devin Booker’s shot creation, turning a competitive start into a 33-29 deficit. In the second quarter, Dallas pushed back, with Flagg attacking downhill, Nembhard creating looks, and contributions from Cisse and Middleton helping tie the game around 45-45.

Still, the same issues showed up again, as the Mavericks couldn’t sustain offense or string together stops. Booker took over late in the half, scoring off drives, pull-ups, and free throws while Dallas fell into missed shots and empty possessions. Even when Dallas had chances to grab control, they couldn’t convert, and Phoenix consistently answered with efficient offense. By halftime, the Suns led 61-53, a half where Dallas showed flashes but couldn’t match Phoenix’s consistency.

The second half had stretches where it felt like Dallas might flip the game, but they could never sustain it. In the third quarter, the Mavericks chipped away behind Marvin Bagley’s interior scoring, Poulakidas hitting shots, and Cooper Flagg facilitating, even cutting the deficit down multiple times. But every push was answered, as Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks consistently generated efficient offense, keeping Phoenix in control.

The fourth quarter followed that same script, with Dallas getting within one possession behind Christie’s threes and more Bagley scoring, but missed layups and empty trips prevented them from taking the lead. Booker closed it late with shot-making and free throws, while Dallas’ offense stalled at the worst time. The box score tells the story, as the Mavericks shot 41.1% overall, with Bagley leading with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Flagg struggled at 4-of-19 despite filling the stat sheet. Phoenix was simply more efficient, shooting 46.2% and hitting 14 threes, led by Booker’s 37 and Brooks’ 28, which ultimately sealed a 112-107 loss.

23: Poulakidas points

John Poulakidas was one of the most impressive players in this game, especially considering the context. In real rotation minutes, he didn’t just hold his own; he legitimately impacted the game with his shooting and confidence. He finished with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 5-of-8 from three (62.5%), and it felt like every make came in rhythm and within the flow of the offense. This wasn’t empty production either. He hit tough shots, spaced the floor, and gave Dallas a scoring punch they desperately needed.

What stood out most was how unafraid he was. There were multiple possessions where he went right at Devin Booker, either answering on the other end or forcing Booker to work defensively. That kind of shot-making and confidence, especially from a player in his role, changes how the game feels. Instead of the offense stalling, Dallas actually had someone who could step into a jumper and make it count.

For a team searching for consistent perimeter shooting, this is exactly the kind of performance that should turn heads. Poulakidas didn’t just have a hot night. He showed real, translatable skill as a shooter who can stretch defenses and compete against high-level players.

10: Missed AJ Johnson shots

This was AJ Johnson’s first real extended run, and it was about as rough as it could look. He finished just 1-of-11 from the field (9.1%) and 0-of-3 from three, and it felt even worse than the numbers suggest. The misses weren’t just tough looks. They were forced shots, rushed decisions, and possessions that stalled the offense completely. When Dallas was trying to make a push, those empty trips added up fast.

It wasn’t just the shooting, either. The overall feel wasn’t there. Timing, decision-making, and control all looked off, and instead of settling things down, his minutes often sped the game up in the wrong way. For a player getting a real opportunity, you want to see composure and flashes of creation, but this was mostly out of sync from start to finish.

It’s one game, and young players are going to have nights like this. But this was a reminder of how far he still has to go. When you’re trying to evaluate pieces for the future, performances like this stand out just as much as the good ones.

The Phoenix Suns lost an emotional, hard-fought game against the Houston Rockets and had to bounce back quickly against a pesky Dallas Mavericks team. The Suns got great nights from Devin Booker, who scored 37 points and dished out nine assists, and Dillon Brooks, who scored 28 points on 50% from the field and survived, barely, to win 112-107. 

Here’s what the Suns did well: they held Cooper Flagg to 11 points on 4-for-18 shooting, 11 rebounds, and six assists. The Suns shot 40% from the 3-point line and made 14 threes. The Suns outscored the Mavericks 16-6 in points off turnovers. Yet it was another game full of big momentum swings and consistent play. 

The Suns led by 18 points in the third quarter, only to go scoreless for five minutes and allow the Mavericks to go on an 18-1 run, cutting the deficit to 1. Then they woke up and went up double digits again, only for that lead to evaporate quickly and the Mavericks to lead by two. Booker and Brooks combined for 65 points, and the Suns only beat the 25-55 Mavericks by five points. Stagnant offense and poor defense allowed the Mavericks to hang around in a game the Suns should have won easily. 

Part of the roller coaster ride for the Suns was due to two in-game injuries to Jalen Green (knee) and Jordan Goodwin (lower leg injury), who both left the game in the first half and did not return. Already without Mark Williams and Grayson Allen, the Suns went to their bench and played everyone. Ryan Dunn played 24 minutes and guarded Flagg exceptionally well, while Rasheer Fleming played 14 minutes and had little impact on the game. Jamaree Bouyea played four minutes, and Amir Coffey played six as well. 

The big, emphasis on big, story of the night was Khaman Maluach, who started his first NBA game and showed why he was the Suns’ lottery prize this offseason. He scored 4 points, grabbed 14 rebounds (one night after the Suns were obliterated on the boards), and blocked three shots, including a monster block on a Flagg dunk attempt. 

Khaman Maluach stuffs Cooper Flagg.

Duke on Duke crime.@12SportsAZpic.twitter.com/S8R6WJHHjC

— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) April 9, 2026

Maluach still showed many flaws that he will have to work through to become a great center in the NBA, like his ability to grab the ball without bobbling it, finishing strong in the paint, and not getting pushed around. Tonight, though, he was the difference between the Suns winning and losing because of his effort. He challenged players at the rim, even though he got dunked on by Marvin Bagley in the first quarter, he blocked Flagg late in the game when the Suns needed it most. It was not just that he was trying to block shots either; it was his effort to contest shots and then immediately pursue the rebound after, something that Mark Williams has struggled to do since December. He and Booker tied for a team high +11 in plus/minus, and the eye test matched that. He was brilliant in his first start as a Phoenix Sun, and showed that he could be the Suns’ future at center as early as, well, right now. 

Game Flow

First Half 

The first half was back and forth between the Suns and the Mavericks. Neither team led by more than two possessions until the Suns closed the first half on an impressive 15-6 run to lead 61-53 at halftime. The Suns allowed just one field goal from the Mavericks in the last six minutes of the second quarter. Devin Booker started the game with a quick 8 points early in the first quarter and finished the second quarter attacking Dallas’s little guards at the rim. He had 19 points in the first half.

Outside of Booker, it was Phoenix’s 3-point shooting that was the difference in the first half, with Royce O’Neale scoring 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from long distance. Jordan Goodwin hit three 3-point shots as well, but unfortunately, he left the game with a lower leg injury in the second quarter. The Mavericks were 12-of-12 from the free-throw line and got just enough offense to remain close at the break. 

With Mark Williams and Grayson Allen out of the lineup for injury management, and Jalen Green heading to the locker room just four minutes into the game, Jordan Ott was forced to play his young players. Khaman Maluach started the game for Williams and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half, and his defense was a mixed bag. His length at the rim is disruptive, but Marvin Bagley scored a team-high 11 points in the first half, with all of them coming against Maluach, including a thunderous dunk in the light center.

Ryan Dunn got into the rotation and played well, shutting down Cooper Flagg multiple times and finding shooters in the corner in the short roll on offense. Rasheer Fleming played seven minutes and was quiet in his minutes. 

Second Half

The Suns started the second half with a quick 10-0 run. Dillon Brooks was getting into his midrange bag, forcing the Mavericks to call a quick timeout just two minutes into the quarter. The Suns led 71-53 and had created the separation needed to take full control of the game, except they didn’t score for the next five minutes of game action. The Suns’ lack of ball movement and Brooks’ isolations were major contributors to the drought. The Mavericks did what they do best: get to the free-throw line and score in the paint. Dallas guard Max Christie knocked in a couple of 3-point jumpers as well, and just as fast as the Suns’ lead ballooned to 18, it dwindled to just one, 72-71. The Mavericks 18-1 run was another extended slog of unremarkable basketball from a Suns team that needs to be playing its best basketball right now. 

The Suns woke up and closed the quarter strong. Booker was attacking again in the midrange and converted multiple and-1 pullups to give the Suns a boost, and Gillespie scored 7 quick points to give the Suns an 88-80 lead after three quarters of basketball. 

The fourth quarter was another seesaw of runs. Mavericks guard John Poulakidas continued his hot shooting in the fourth quarter, knocking down multiple jumpers to get Dallas back into the game. The Suns’ offense continued to stagnate, and the Mavericks took their first lead of the game, 95-93, after a Christie pull-up 3-point shot in transition. It was Booker to the rescue yet again as he checked in and immediately deposited a long-range triple and got the free throw line. A tough pull-up jumpshot at the right elbow from Brooks put the Suns up 102-95 after a 9-0 run with five minutes to go. 

Devin Booker starred at home ⭐️

37 PTS
5 REB
9 AST pic.twitter.com/VYsPtV4s1O

— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2026

The Suns had control of the game again; they just had to hold on a little longer. Another Brooks jumper gave the Suns an eight-point lead, but the Mavericks continued to fight (even after they took out all of their best players to try to lose the game). The Mavericks cut the deficit to three, but a Booker side step 3-point shot was the nail in the coffin, as the Suns led 110-104 and went on to win 112-107. 

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Up Next

A Friday night showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, with tip-off at 7:30 Arizona time. 

The never-say-die Dallas Mavericks put up a valiant, short-handed effort against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, losing 112-107. Devin Booker was the high scorer and all-around best player for the Suns, scoring 37 to go along with five rebounds and nine assists. John Poulakidas led Dallas in scoring off the bench, pouring in 23 and making it look easy.

Both the Mavericks and Suns were on fire early from the three-point line. The teams traded leads, with neither squad playing much defense. Both Cooper Flagg and Jalen Green exited the game early with injury issues and it was unclear if either would return. The Mavericks stayed feisty and stuck with the Suns, trailing 33-29 after one quarter.

With Cooper Flagg returning in the second, Dallas tried to keep pace with the Suns and managed for most of the quarter. The hot outside shooting from Dallas cooled but getting to the line allowed Dallas to match scoring with the Suns. But after tying it at 50 with 4:22 remaining, the Mavericks would score only three points the rest of the quarter. The Suns scored slowly and built up a 61-53 to take into the half.

Before the second half started began, it was reported that Jalen Green would not return. The Suns opened the half blowing up their lead to as many as 18 as Dallas looked half asleep. The Mavericks, of course, spent the rest of the period whittling that lead back down to zero only to unravel in the final few minutes. The score entering the fourth was the same difference as when the second half began: the suns lead 88-80.

Dallas would not go away. The Mavericks stormed back once again, taking a 95-93 lead with around eight minutes remaining. Following a Suns timeout, Phoenix retook the lead but not before the Mavericks entered the 45th CLUTCH game of their season, being down five with under five minutes to go. In the first really obvious tanking move I can remember, Kidd pulled all his starters and they STILL managed to keep the game within three points until a Devin Booker three sealed the game with 1:12 remaining. The Mavericks fall, 112-107.

Have yourself a game, John Poulakidas

I make it a point not to get too invested in two-way players. If a two-way player matters, the season is usually lost. But that doesn’t mean I’m against a good story, and the Yale guard has been fun for Dallas these last 40 days or so. He scored his first NBA points three weeks ago and just nine games later, scores a career high 23 points on some great looking shots.

To be honest, I have no idea if he has a spot on a NBA team. He plays real hard and has a key skill in terms of shot making that teams can use. He tries hard on defense, but considering Dallas is so bad at defense I’ve no idea how to rate him. Perhaps he can go to Summer League with the Mavericks?

The Suns have a lot of good players I enjoy watching

Dillon Brooks is an acquired taste at best, but I very much appreciate the games of Collin Gillespie and Khaman Maluach. The former helped control the game for the Suns on the offensive end while the latter was fantastic on the boards for the Suns, grabbing 14 in his first start. I’m not sure how the pieces all fit with this team; Booker is awesome and Jalen Green has a ton of talent.

AJ Johnson might be the worst NBA contract player on the Mavericks in years

Tonight, Johnson shot 1-11 from the floor. He’s now 20-72 from the field in his short time with the Mavericks. Professional basketball players cannot shoot 27% from the floor. His finishing is weak (he loses the ball on drives), his shot from distance looks as if he’s blind, and his defense is that of a grade schooler. Sorry if this is too harsh. Whoever drafted and signed him should not be allowed to make personnel decisions.

Tyrese Haliburton took another big step in his recovery on Wednesday. 

In a post on X, the Pacers star announced that he had moved onto 5-on-5 work. 

“Played 5 on 5 today for first time since June,” he wrote on the social media platform along with the praying hands emoji. 

Haliburton, 26, has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles that he suffered during Game 7 of the NBA Finals last year. 

While he has been rehabbing, the two-time All-Star has been at Pacers games to help cheer on his team, and away from the court, he’s thrown himself into some different hobbies. 

According to The Athletic, Haliburton has been learning to DJ, working on a sneaker line with Puma and livestreaming with his brother. 

The news on Wednesday had fans excited to see the NBA star inching closer to a return. 

“You’ll back more [strong] than before Hali,” one fan wrote on X.

“LETS GOOOOOOOOO,” another person chimed in. 

“The comeback ab to be something special,” a third wrote on the platform. 

Even ESPN sports talk host Pat McAfee responded with an excited post on social media after Haliburton posted about it. 

pic.twitter.com/nNa2zyyNzL

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 9, 2026

Things have been tough for Indiana with Haliburton out for this season, going from one of the best teams in the NBA to one of the worst. 

The Pacers have an 18-61 record this season, the second-worst in the NBA, as they fight for lottery positioning a year after they went to the Finals. 

Indiana is likely to have its lowest win percentage ever this season; right now it stands at .228. 

Haliburton was diagnosed with shingles in late February and had to be away from the team for several weeks. 

He did return to the Pacers bench on March 25. 

The Pacers are down to their final three games of the season with a trip to Brooklyn on Thursday before playing at home against the 76ers on Friday and the Pistons on Sunday. 

The Spurs turned in a solid performance tonight without Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama. It wasn’t a perfect game, as the team survived despite turning the ball over too much and not exactly playing the most efficient offense, allowing the Blazers to cut the lead to a couple of baskets late in the fourth quarter. Where the Silver and Black won the game was on the defensive end of the court, as they limited the Blazers to 101 points despite 29 points from Deni Avdija and 20 points from Scoot Henderson, who is starting to show the promise that made him the second third overall pick a few years back. De’Aaron Fox led the team with 25 points and Devin Vassell had one of his best games of the season on both ends of the court, making defensive plays and scoring 14 points and 8 rebounds. Carter Bryant had a career game, as Portland left him free at the three point line and he hit 5-6 three pointers. Harper excelled in his starting role tonight as he scored 13 and kept the offense organized. You have to also give credit to Keldon Johnson, who was unstoppable coming off of the bench, as it was a team effort where every player that got onto the court made an impact on the victory over a possible playoff opponent for their 61st victory of the season.

Observations

• Even though Wembanyama was out tonight, his imprint was all over the game. Nobody thought this was a 60 game winning team when the season started, but his competitive spirit drove the team to an amazing win total. He’s really young, but he’s already a leader.
• I was not really impressed with Harrison Ingram at first, but he’s really been working hard on his game in Austin, and he’s improved a lot. He’s going to make a run at joining the regular roster next season, and he has a shot.
• The Blazers started out quick but Fox righted things quickly with a personal 10-0 run to make the score 12-8 Spurs.
• Avdija looks really good out there, and without Wemby on the court to erase defensive mistakes, he had a lot of space to create tonight. Carter Bryant had a turn at defending him, and picked up a quick foul, but seemed to do a good job keeping up with his speed.
• Missed free throws (3) and turnovers (4) hampered the Silver and Black in the first quarter, but somehow led 32-23 after the first quarter on a final three-point shot from Dylan Harper.
• Sidy Cissoko was a player I hated to see leave San Antonio. His game was so raw when he was in San Antonio, but you could see they talent and athletic ability. I’m happy for his success in Portland. Blake Wesley is another former Spur who’s on Portland, and he showed his commitment to the game by going to the floor and wrestling Keldon for a loose ball and winning a jump ball.
• Jordan McLaughlin always contributes whenever he plays. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t leave the bench for five games, he’s going to step up whenever he’s called upon.
• Spurs led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, and led 61-51 at the half with Avdija getting some free throws to end the first half scoring. The biggest negative was 5 more turnovers in the quarter, which is something that could have been more harmful than it was, because the Spurs defense stepped to limit the damage.
• Deni Avdija on offense and Jrue Holiday on defense got the Blazers on a 17-12 start to start the third and cut the lead in half, forcing a Mitch Johnson timeout. The Spurs finished the rest of the quarter on a 15-5 run and led 88-73 with a quarter to play.
• Things got a little dicey early in the fourth as Scoot Henderson turned defense into offense by creating turnovers and putting them into the hoop.
• The Spurs took over the fourth with getting to every loose ball, but it was a uneven effort, as they also made mistakes that led to easy Portland points. It looked at times that the Spurs were going to run away with it, leading by as much as 17, but the Blazers stayed in it with their defense while the Spurs offense stagnated. When they cut the lead to single digits with 4:26 left, Mitch had to call a timeout to settle the team.
• The lead shrunk to 6 after the Spurs botched a jump ball with Keldon letting it go out of bounds thinking it was off of Portland. Luckily, the Spur found their mojo and closed out the game with timely stops and enough offense to win by double digits, 112-101.

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There are only two more games left in the season, and Wemby has to play at least 20 minutes in one of them to qualify for post-season awards. I would guess that he’s going to play Friday against the Mavericks as they will just be funneling the rock to Cooper Flagg as he continues to rake in accolades for his rookie of the year campaign. There have been a lot of great first year players this year, but I don’t see anyone beating Cooper, who has been stellar on a really bad team. Dylan Harper is incredible, but his role on a good team is not going to grab the kind of attention that Flagg gets, and actually deserves.

The Spurs final game will be against the Nuggets, which should be a ho-hum affair, as both teams should have settled their playoff standings by then and will be resting all their starters and top contributors. It’s going to be Harrison Ingram time, and he’s going to make his case for being on the regular roster next year.

The Philadelphia 76ers are the only team left in the NBA that can sweep the Houston Rockets.

Houston rides into this game on a 7-game winning streak and just one game behind in the race for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Sixers are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and one back in the loss column from being in fifth place (at the time of writing). They’re also two up in the loss column from 10th place, so there’s quite a range of spots for them to fall into. Obviously, they will be trying hard to win to avoid the play-in.

For Houston, tonight is about continuing to build upon their recent success and execute a decent NBA offense heading into the postseason and offseason. The Rockets have slipped on their “30 assists per game” streak, but a new streak could start tonight.

Tip-off

7pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Sixers

Cameron Payne: OUT

Johni Broome: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Friday night at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves

After the Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings, 110-105, Draymond Green offered his thoughts on the NBA’s tanking issues and the league’s propensity for fining players, instead of tanking teams. He singled out a baffling intentional foul on Seth Curry late in the game. Wednesday, the league opened an investigation.

The NBA is looking into what multiple sources say was a strategy mistake by Kings coach Doug Christie on an intentional foul of Seth Curry while leading the Warriors with over 3 minutes left in Tuesday's game: pic.twitter.com/t83vvfljAA

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2026

Green wasn’t the only observer who took issue with Kings coach Doug Christie’s decision to foul Seth Curry in the backcourt with 3:15 to go in the game. Doug McDermott reached in to force a stoppage and let Christie use his fifth timeout — one which would have otherwise expired, since teams can only use two in the final three minutes.

Only the Kings didn’t have a foul to give, so the move sent Curry to the foul line, where he split two free throws following the timeout. And the internet went crazy.

Could someone wake up Adam Silver and tell him the bottom half of the league is in shambles? pic.twitter.com/5Z8caYjPzN

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 8, 2026

We have NEVER seen this level of tanking bruh

Doug Christie literally instructed his players on the Kings TO FOUL SETH CURRY ON PURPOSE while up 101-100 in the 4th quarter

INSANE 😭💀 https://t.co/WV0XNKp4LLpic.twitter.com/38cIhRQp3C

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) April 8, 2026

Was it Green’s comments that prompted the NBA to investigate? It’s very possible. Commissioner Adam Silver’s league office generally operates on the principle that embarrassing the NBA is the worst thing a player or team can go. Green complained that one third of the league is tanking, yet only two have been fined, and he’s right. But the ones who did get hit with fines were being blatant. The Utah Jazz benched their starters in every 4th quarter, and the Indiana Pacers sat multiple starters, albeit on a back-to-back.

Did Silver take offense to the Jazz’s strategy, or was it that Stephen A. Smith complained about it on his podcast? Probably both!

The irony is that Christie and the Kings aren’t even tanking! DeMar DeRozan missed only his third game of the season Tuesday. Sacramento went 7-8 in the 15 games before Tuesday’s loss. Christie is trying to save his job for next season. The Kings may be terrible, but after three of their starters suffered season-ending injuries, they’re an ethically terrible team.

After all, immediately after the controversial foul, Christie drew up a play to get McDermott a three-pointer and re-take the lead. He didn’t bench anyone in the final minutes and Sacramento didn’t call up multiple G Leaguers and play them heavy minutes, like the Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies have done in the last month, or sign a marginal player simply because he’s Angel Reese’s brother, like the Washington Wizards.

Of course, for Christie, the argument that he wasn’t tanking, just incompetent isn’t a flattering one. Given Kings owner Vivek Ranadive’s propensity for firing his head coaches, dismissing eight of them in his 13 years as team governor. Don’t be surprised if he looks at a Warriors assistant coach to replace Christie.

Still, it’s weird that Christie would be the scapegoat during a season where so many teams have tanked more egregiously than Sacramento, who has dropped (risen?) out of the bottom four in the past two weeks. Draymond is right that the NBA should fine tanking teams, but we suspect that might have more to do with all the fine money he has surrendered over his career than a strictly moral position.

In news that’s completely unrelated to the NBA’s lack of competitiveness as the season winds down, the Warriors may have eight players out for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA action is fan-tastic!

Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is out tomorrow vs. the Lakers. His second straight missed game.

Al Horford and Quinten Post also remain out. Steph Curry and Gui Santos are questionable. Will Richard doubtful.

Front end of a back-to-back with GSW @ Sac Friday. 3 games left.

— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) April 8, 2026

The Lakers (50-29) will play their final road game of the regular season on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors (37-42).

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors

When: 7 p.m. PT, Apr 9

Where: Chase Center

Watch: Prime Video

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The tail end of the regular season has been a miserable time for the Lakers. Since the calendar turned to April, it feels as if it’s just been one unfortunate thing after another. With the playoffs around the corner, the overall mood regarding this team has been trending down.

While Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves focus on getting right, the team will have to rely on LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers to try to stack wins while they are out.

The Warriors have less to fight for this late into the season since they’re pretty much locked into the 10th seed. Still, since Steph Curry just returned from injury, there’s a high chance that they’re going to want to play hard in this one to sharpen themselves and build enough reps just in time for the play-in tournament.

Note that the Warriors are coming off a victory against the Sacramento Kings, led by Curry and Brandin Podziemski. These two will likely lead the charge against the Lakers. Expect Golden State to want to put this game to bed early since they’re on the first night of a back-to-back.

As for the Lakers, well, what matters is that they at least try to make this one a competitive affair, just as they did in the first 20 minutes of their last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lakers head coach JJ Redick was quite critical of Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt, whom he called out postgame. Hopefully, this one is a more pleasing watch no matter the result.

Let’s see if the Lakers can find a way to win their final matchup against the Warriors on Thursday.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) and Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness) are out. Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) is questionable.
• As for the Warriors, Jimmy Butler III (right ACL surgery) is out. Steph Curry (right knee injury management) and Charles Bassey (left ankle sprain) are questionable. LJ Cryer (general illness) is probable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.