Category: Basketball

The Washington Wizards have been at the forefront of the NBA’s tanking crisis all season. The product the Wizards are putting out this year is so bad that they let Bam Adebayo of all players score 83 points on them in a single game. Washington spent part of the year limiting minutes for its best players in an attempt to increase its ping-pong balls, and not even trading for Trae Youngand Anthony Davis has changed the losing culture this season.

The Wizards should be celebrating any fan who wants to attend a game at the end of another tanking season, but instead they played a cruel April Fools’ prank on one of them during a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

The Wizards brought a fan out for a blindfolded halfcourt shot with the promises of $10K if he made it. The fan badly missed the shot, but because he was blindfolded, the Wizards pretended he made it and had the announcers and various mascots celebrate with him.

When the Wizards finally let the fan watch his shot on the jumbotron, he saw he missed, and the team revealed that it was an April Fools’ Day prank. Watch the video here:

The Wizards made a fan think he won $10,000 in an April Fools prank by pretending he made a blindfolded half court shot 😭 pic.twitter.com/MZEfAiGZKM

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) April 2, 2026

“Somebody’s rich,” the in-game host explained after the fan took the shot. A minute later, she changed her tune.

“I really, really hate April Fools’ Day.”

The team did give the fan an autographed jersey and some courtside seats for next season. I guess that’s cool, but $10K is a lot cooler.

It feels like the Wizards just can’t help it from giving themselves and the league a black eye this season. Washington will enter the lottery hoping for some luck to find a new franchise star, but do they deserve it? In our new NBA mock draft, the Wizards fell to fifth while three non-tankers moved up into the top four. That feels appropriate.

Going to a Wizards game is a bad enough way to spend a Wednesday night. Getting turned into the butt of a viral joke for thinking you just won $10K by making an impossible shot is even worse. Shame on the Wizards.

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We have a competitive NBA game tonight when the Phoenix Suns face the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.

Charlotte’s defense has been the story this season, and my Suns vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks expect Charlotte’s defense to lead them to a comfortable victory.

Suns vs Hornets prediction

Suns vs Hornets best bet: Hornets -5.5 (-110)

The Charlotte Hornets have quietly won seven of their last 10, and this team is starting to click.

LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel are all producing offensively at a high level, but what's really turned things around is this Hornets defense.

Charlotte is Top 6 in defensive net rating over the last 10 games, and they do one thing better than anyone right now, and that’s keeping teams off the free-throw line.

That matters in this matchup because the Phoenix Suns love easy points at the stripe. Charlotte also defends the three well, ranking fourth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage in their last 10, which is another problem for a Suns team dependent on knocking down a ton of threes every night. 

Phoenix is banged up and thin up front, and that’s a bad combo against a Charlotte team that’s second in the league in defensive rebounding. No second-chance points mean no safety net.

On top of that, the Suns are coming off a physical road loss in Orlando. This shortened Phoenix roster looked fatigued against the Magic, and that’s not a good look against these Hornets. 

Suns vs Hornets same-game parlay

The Hornets are 7-3 in their last 10 and now get a Suns team that’s going the other way, just 3-7 in their last 10, and it has not been good on the road.

Brandon Miller is right around 20 a night over his last five, and this is a matchup he can take advantage of.

They’ve gone Under the total in three of their last five previous meetings, and tonight’s clash should follow that trend. 

Suns vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• Brandon Miller Over 18.5 points
• Under 223

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sting like a bee!

Moussa Diabate leads the Hornets with nearly nine rebounds per game and has secured at least 10 rebounds in four of his past six games.

LaMelo Ball has been a sneaky rebounder this season. He averaged five per game in March and has at least five boards in three of his past five games. 

Josh Green doesn’t see more than 20 minutes a night, but he’s recorded at least one steal in seven of his previous eight games. 

Suns vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
• LaMelo Ball Over 4.5 rebounds
• Josh Green Over 0.5 steals

Suns vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Suns +5.5 | Hornets -5.5
• Moneyline: Suns +185 | Hornets -225
• Over/Under: Over 221 | Under 221

Suns vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets have cashed the moneyline in 32 of their last 50 games for +19.15 units and a 13% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Hornets.

How to watch Suns vs Hornets

Suns vs Hornets latest injuries

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The 2026 NBA championship race is shaping up to be a thrilling, wide open chase between emergent young teams and established juggernauts, yet somehow it feels like the bottom of the league is getting more attention. The 2026 NBA Draft class is so strong that commissioner Adam Silver is in the process of rushing through lottery reform in an attempt to solve a purported tanking crisis. The fact that teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons quickly went from worst-to-first after landing the No. 1 pick in the draft in recent years makes the stakes even higher when the ping-pong balls bounce on May 10.

The NBA’s decision to flatten the lottery odds ahead of the 2019 draft has opened up the tank race to even more teams and resulted in some surprising winners in recent years. It happened again in our latest mock draft.

We simulated the lottery with one spin of Tankathon to get the first-round order, and there were some major surprises. Three teams moved up at least six spots in the order. Seven teams fell at least two spots from their starting lottery position. Imagine the chaos if this is how the draft actually breaks.

After the lottery results shook up the order, the picks in this mock draft were based on how I think things will actually go, not necessarily what I would do. Let’s hit on some key themes after the jump.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	School	Age
1	Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)	AJ Dybantsa	Wing	BYU	Freshman
2	Brooklyn Nets	Darryn Peterson	Guard	Kansas	Freshman
3	Milwaukee Bucks	Cameron Boozer	Forward	Duke	Freshman
4	Golden State Warriors	Caleb Wilson	Forward	North Carolina	Freshman
5	Washington Wizards	Keaton Wagler	Guard	Illinois	Freshman
6	Los Angeles Clippers (via Pacers)	Yaxel Lendeborg	Forward	Michigan	Senior
7	Sacramento Kings	Kingston Flemings	Guard	Houston	Freshman
8	Utah Jazz	Brayden Burries	Guard	Arizona	Freshman
9	Dallas Mavericks	Darius Acuff	Guard	Arkansas	Freshman
10	Memphis Grizzlies	Jayden Quaintance	Center/Forward	Kentucky	Sophomore
11	Chicago Bulls	Mikel Brown Jr.	Guard	Louisville	Freshman
12	Portland Trail Blazers	Nate Ament	Wing	Tennessee	Freshman
13	Charlotte Hornets	Koa Peat	Forward	Arizona	Freshman
14	Miami Heat	Karim Lopez	Forward	NZ Breakers	Born 2007
15	Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)	Aday Mara	Center	Michigan	Junior
16	Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)	Bennett Stirtz	Guard	Iowa	Senior
17	Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)	Hannes Steinbach	Forward/Center	Washington	Freshman
18	Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)	Cameron Carr	Wing	Baylor	Junior
19	San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)	Thomas Haugh	Forward	Florida	Junior
20	Toronto Raptors	Labaron Philon	Guard	Alabama	Sophomore
21	Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)	Dailyn Swain	Forward	Texas	Junior
22	Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)	Braylon Mullins	Guard	UConn	Freshman
23	Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)	Morez Johnson	Center/Forward	Michigan	Sophomore
24	Denver Nuggets	Patrick Ngongba	Center	Duke	Sophomore
25	New York Knicks	Joshua Jefferson	Forward	Iowa State	Senior
26	Los Angeles Lakers	Motiejus Krivas	Center	Arizona	Junior
27	Boston Celtics	Juke Harris	Guard	Wake Forest	Sophomore
28	Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)	Christian Anderson	Guard	Texas Tech	Sophomore
29	Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)	Isaiah Evans	Guard	Duke	Sophomore
30	Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)	Amari Allen	Forward	Alabama	Freshman

Yes, I’m shocked, too. Let’s dive into some of the biggest themes in this class.

The lottery will decide who goes No. 1, but it feels like A.J. Dybantsa has the edge

Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, and BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa have been battling for the No. 1 pick all season. I’ve been consistent in ranking Boozer at No. 1, but Duke’s unfathomable Elite Eight loss to UConn on Braylon Mullins’ 35-foot buzzer-beater puts a dent in Boozer’s greatest argument. I’ve heard (but can’t confirm) that this is the first time Boozer has failed to win the last game of the season since sixth grade! It took a miracle to beat Boozer while his starting center and starting point guard were both playing hurt, but I feel like he was only going to go No. 1 overall if Duke won the national championship, and that’s over now.

Dybantsa is the only member of the ’big three’ who didn’t win a game in March Madness this year, but he has a built in excuse with his best teammate, Richie Saunders, suffering a torn ACL just before the dance. Given Peterson’s bizarre cramping issues and the strange skepticism about Boozer’s top-end upside, I think Dybantsa is the safest bet to go No. 1. The Hawks winning our lottery sim makes it an even more natural fit.

I have a hard time believing Atlanta would take Boozer given that he’s positionally locked at the four, which is Jalen Johnson’s position. Peterson vs. Dybantsa would be a tremendous debate, but ultimately it’s easier to find guards than big wings with the scoring upside of the BYU freshman.

Dybantsa is an elite scoring prospect. He’s huge for a wing at 6’9 with a strong frame, but he’s also extremely flexible in how he attacks the paint. His long, coordinated strides are a thing of beauty to watch, and his mid-range game is going to be unstoppable in high-leverage situations like the playoffs. The players who are big enough to guard Dybantsa on an island usually aren’t fast enough to keep up with him. The players fast enough to guard him usually aren’t long or strong enough to match his tools.

Dailyn Swain has nothing for AJ. Two points Dybantsa with the step-through. pic.twitter.com/WH44gEXwwO

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 20, 2026

Am I worried about his lack of defensive engagement? About his low-volume three-point shooting? About how he looks outside of a brilliant BYU system tailored to opening up the paint for attacks? Yes, yes, and yes. But he’s an awesome prospect regardless of whether I have him ranked No. 1 or No. 3. The Hawks would be super lucky to get him.

The Warriors and Bucks rise in the lottery for pure mayhem

The Warriors are 10th in the Western Conference standings as I write this. Jimmy Butler is out for the year with a torn ACL, and Steph Curry hasn’t played since January. Curry is reportedly nearing a return, and that means Golden State could absolutely win two play-in games to make the playoffs. If they fall short, though, there’s some chance they could move up in the lottery, which is exactly what happened in our simulation.

The Warriors jumping from No. 11 to No. 1 would be incredible, and it’s important to remember that’s what the Dallas Mavericks did last year to win the rights to Cooper Flagg. Suddenly Golden State would have a massive trade chip to look for veteran help around Curry, or it could just take the best player available — in this case, Caleb Wilson — to give them a new potential star once Steph retires.

The Bucks jumping up is just as seismic. Milwaukee will be cheering for Atlanta come lottery day, because the Hawks own the most favorable pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks. This essentially means that Milwaukee can choose as high as No. 2 overall in the draft if Atlanta lands at No. 1. The stakes would be massive given the lingering Giannis Antetokounmpo trade situation that figures to become a storyline again this offseason.

2025 Caleb Wilson pic.twitter.com/6TWC5VGpIV

— Pitless (@pitlessball) March 6, 2026

Boozer in Milwaukee and Caleb Wilson in Golden State would both be fascinating picks — and the clear best players available in our projection. Watch those Wilson highlights above and let me know who he reminds you of in the comments. I really think he has the best highlight reel of any prospect in this class, and there are days when I’m tempted to slide him all the way up to No. 2.

The Bucks won it all behind Giannis in 2021. The Warriors won the championship for the fourth time with Curry in 2022. Getting this type of luck in the 2026 lottery would give these teams a new lease on life around their historic superstars.

Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 6!?!?

Let me explain.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Yaxel Lendeborg after ranking him as the second-best player in March Madness entering the tournament. Lendeborg now has his Michigan Wolverines int the Final Four after a dominant tournament run that saw him flex his elite two-way ability at every opportunity:

• 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on 84 percent true shooting in the round of 32 against Saint Louis
• 23 points, 7 assists, 12 rebounds on 83 percent true shooting in the Sweet 16 against Alabama
• 27 points, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 7 rebounds on 61 percent true shooting in the Elite Elight against Tennessee

He’s been the best player in the tournament by far, and no one else is close.

Yaxel Lendeborg went OFF vs Alabama:

23 PTS
12 REB
7 AST#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/zjUQHmzAQq

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2026

Of course, Lendeborg’s March Madness production and his hypothetical NBA translation are two different subjects. If you’ve been following the discourse around the tournament, you have probably seen opposing fans bemoan that the Michigan star is TwEnTy SeVeN years old or whatever age they decide to choose on that day.

Lendeborg is 23 years old, and he turns 24 before his rookie year in the NBA begins. Yes, this is his sixth season in college. He’s a month older than Josh Giddey, who is in his fifth NBA season. His age absolutely matters in projecting him the league — by the time he starts his second contract, he’ll already be 28.

Where the Michigan star goes in the draft all comes down to fit. In this projection, the Los Angeles Clippers get the Indiana Pacers pick from the Ivica Zubac trade because it slides out of the top four. After also landing Darius Garland at the deadline, are the Clippers really going to take Kingston Flemings or Darius Acuff or Mikel Brown? I don’t think so. Arizona guard Brayden Burries would make some sense, and Tennessee wing Nate Ament will also probably get consideration. I just like Lendeborg a lot more intriguing than both even if he’s super old for a rookie.

Lendeborg has a rare combination of size, skill, and two-way versatility. Listed at 6’9, 240 pounds, with a 7’4 wingspan, he has the length and weight of an NBA center. This season at Michigan has proven he can play off the ball next to other bigs while using his skill set to maximize everyone else on the floor. His shooting indictors are encouraging by making 37.2 percent of his threes on 8.2 attempts per 100 possessions with an 81 percent stroke from the free throw line. He’s a serious defensive playmaker with a 4.6 percent block rate and 2.1 percent steal rate and tons of chasedown blocks all over his super-super-senior season tape. He’s a willing passer and a capable driver, he doesn’t turn the ball over, and he hits the glass hard on both ends. What’s not to like?

Derrick White was 23 years old as a rookie and he turned out pretty well. Age matters, but it’s not everything. Yaxel is good enough to overcome it.

Which first-rounders will go back to college for big NIL deals?

The money in college basketball is so good right now that it’s only natural this draft will be thinned by a few returners who can’t pass up a big NIL offer. It happened last year with Labaron Philon and Lendeborg as likely first-round picks who returned to school, and guess what, both improved their stock big time this year.

Which possible first-rounders could return next season? We took four players out of our last mock draft just because there has been some speculation they could potentially return to college:

• Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston: I’d really like the fit with incoming freshman five-star center Arafan Diane in the Cougars’ front court if Cenac decides to return for his sophomore year.
• Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara: I’d expect Graves to be one of the most sough-after players in the transfer portal if returns to college, and that probably means a multi-million dollar salary. Graves only played 57 percent of the available minutes this year and couldn’t help himself from fouling constantly despite incredible protection in a sixth-man role. I’d take him in the first if he enters, but spending a year at Kentucky or Arizona or North Carolina or Kansas sounds pretty cool, too.
• Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt: What if North Carolina went after Mark Byington and Tyler Tanner this offseason? Hey, raiding Drake for its head coach and star point guard took Iowa to the Elite Eight this year. I’d likely consider Tanner a top-20 pick if he enters this draft, but if he goes back to school he might be the best player in college basketball next season. I’m still mad his half-court heave rimmed out in the round of 32.
• Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford: Okorie went from the No. 119 recruit to a possible first-round pick during his freshman season at Stanford. This draft is deep with so many point guards that it may benefit Okorie to stick around an extra year and try to play himself into a lottery pick. He may cause an even bigger bidding war in the portal than Tanner and Graves do.

Who are the Final Four’s other NBA prospects?

It’s pretty incredible that there are eight projected first-round picks in this mock draft playing in the Final Four. That’s 26.6 percent of the entire first-round!

• Michigan (3): We went over Lendeborg already. Aday Mara — a 7’3 center who can protect the rim in drop coverage, crush the glass at both ends, and throw some fantastic outlet passes — should be a first-round pick lock despite his scoring touch concerns. Morez Johnson is another obvious first-round talent in my book as the draft’s most versatile defender, and maybe also its best. Trey McKenney will probably be an NBA player eventually, but not this year.
• Arizona (3): Brayden Burries is a likely lottery pick as a well-rounded shooting guard who fits somewhere in the Quentin Grimes-to-Derrick White spectrum (admittedly a super wide spectrum there). Koa Peat is probably (?) a first-rounder for his defense, play-finishing, and beefy playmaking, but his total lack of shooting makes him another player who could potentially return. Most outlets don’t have Motiejus Krivas as a first-rounder, but he’s so good protecting the paint, hitting the glass, and even making his free throws. He would be a huge second-round steal if he falls, and he’s another player who could potentially return to school.
• UConn (1): Braylon Mullins will go down in history for the shot that beat Duke. He battled a couple injuries as a freshman and never really popped until his Elite Eight moment, but I think he’ll be a solid pro as a volume three-point shooter off-the-ball who can also score in transition and add some point-of-attack defense. Tarris Reed has been UConn’s best player on this run, and could be an early second-round pick. Alex Karaban is another possible second-rounder this year.
• Illinois (1): Keaton Wagler feels like a lock for the top-10 as a 6’6 point guard with elite off-the-dribble shooting despite athleticism concerns. I really think there could be as many as six players on this Illini team who get at least a cup of coffee in the NBA. 7’1 twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic are stretch bigs whose size and shooting touch will draw some interest at the next level. I love David Mirkovic, a high-IQ, high-motor brawler on the glass who can handle the rock and shoot it off the dribble a little bit. Andrej Stojakovic — Peja’s kid! — doesn’t have his dad’s shooting, but he’s a good slasher and a fierce on-ball defender. Kylan Boswell is also a feisty defender who hits shots and moves the ball. Wagler is the only likely first-rounder, but the rest of these guys could play in the NBA eventually.

Do you like your team’s pick?

Wanted someone else? Let me know in the comments. It’s going to be an amazing Final Four. The draft lottery awaits on May 10.

J. Cole is trading the mic for the hardwood again. The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, born Jermaine Cole, has signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), ESPN reported.

Cole will suit up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in Jiangsu, China, though the number of games he has committed to remains unclear. It is not his first foray into professional basketball.

In 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, recording 5 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds across three games. He also suited up for the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.

Off the court, Cole is riding the momentum of his latest album, “The Fall-Off,” released in February 2026. He is set to embark on a sweeping 73-show tour beginning July 11 in his home state of North Carolina.

More: NBA's hottest, coldest teams: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are on fire

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China ahead of world tour

On Monday night, the Spurs hosted the Chicago Bulls. Prior to the game, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson shared some great memories and kind words regarding former Spurs guard Tre Jones.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson on Tre Jones, who returns to San Antonio tonight as a member of the Chicago Bulls: “He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.” pic.twitter.com/GInen6vIhC

— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) March 30, 2026

“He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.”

Before the game, I caught Tre in shoot around. He stepped away the moment his family came to the court. He was all smiles, which is how Spurs fans most remember him.

Caught Tre Jones @Tre3Jones in shoot around before Monday night’s @spurs@chicagobulls game. He stopped when his kids hit the hardwood. pic.twitter.com/sDQLMgGBd1

— Jeph Duarte (@JephDuarte) April 2, 2026

A common practice when a former player returns, the Spurs honor him with a video tribute during the opponent introductions. Monday night was no exception. As the in-arena PA announcer introduced the Bulls, he paused before calling Tre Jones and the lights dimmed as a video displayed on the Jumbotron.

Spurs honored Tre Jones with a tribute video prior to tonight’s game.
Tre is one of the kindest people to ever play with the Spurs. He has a big hand in this year’s success by showing this young group how to work, prepare, fight and never give up. pic.twitter.com/h7SsxcpikC

— Raul Dominguez Jr. (@DominguezCinco) March 31, 2026

Jones was drafted by the Spurs in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, 41st overall. He played with the Spurs for his first four-and-a-half seasons. He was a key component of the three-team trade that brought De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.

From Wikipedia:

On February 3, 2025, Jones, alongside Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter and a 2025 first-round pick, was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three team deal, in which they sent Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Sacramento Kings, who sent De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin to San Antonio.

Jones exemplified Spurs culture, played the role asked of him, maintained a positive attitude, and made significant contributions during the team’s greatest transition.

Once the game started, Jones had an impressive night, starting the game with a steal and a layup to kick off all scorers for the night. He ended with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting, two rebounds and three assists as they came up short against the Silver & Black.

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Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers will take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, April 2.

The Thunder have won the first two games of the four-game season series. The fourth game will be played on April 7.

The Thunder have won three straight games and will enter the game as the Western Conference’s top team with a 60-16 record. The Lakers have won 13 of their last 14 games and compiled a 50-26 overall record. The Lakers’ recent success has helped the team push its way up the conference standings; they currently sit in third place.

Thursday night's game will serve as one of the toughest games remaining on the Lakers' regular-season schedule and provide a sense of where the team stands against one of the league's best teams ahead of the postseason.

The Lakers have not made it past the first round since 2023, when the team reached the conference finals as a seventh seed but was then swept by the Denver Nuggets.

Doncic has led the way for Los Angeles this year with an MVP-like season, but the supporting cast around him has stepped up when needed, too. LeBron James produced a triple-double on March 30 in a 120-101 victory over the Washington Wizards while Doncic was suspended. Austin Reaves also showed the ability to produce early in the season, scoring 51 points against the Sacramento Kings and 41 against the Portland Trail Blazers on back-to-back nights.

Doncic has nearly averaged a triple-double with 33.8 points, 8.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game this season in 63 games played. He leads the league in scoring.

Here’s how to watch the big Western Conference showdown:

How to watch Lakers vs. Thunder

• When: Thursday, April 2
• Time: 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
• Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
• TV: Spectrum SportsNet
• Streaming: Amazon Prime

Lakers-Thunder seasons series results

• Nov. 12: Thunder 121, Lakers 92
• Feb 9: Thunder 119, Lakers 110
• April 2: Lakers at Thunder, 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
• April 7: Thunder at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to watch Lakers vs Thunder live stream, TV info

This is the time of the NBA season, with two weeks to go before the start of the playoffs, when teams want to be playing their best basketball.

Squads that are playing well late in regular seasons often outperform their perceived record and can go on deep playoff runs. Sometimes it’s the case of a team finally finding its identity, sometimes it’s the return of an injured star reinvigorating a lineup and sometimes, frankly, it’s a case of veteran teams coasting through much of the season, saving their best for when games matter most.

Yet, that isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. Some teams have hit recent struggles and are sputtering headed into the end of the 2025-26 season.

Here’s a look at who’s hot in the NBA and who is decidedly not:

Who's hot?

Atlanta Hawks

Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have been the hottest team in the East, going 18-3 in that span. The coaching job Quin Snyder has done this season is nothing short of remarkable. This season alone, the Hawks have been through several iterations of this team — from an opening night starting lineup that played just 24 minutes together to eventual trades of Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis — but have now settled on a team-first, ball-sharing identity that’s backed by defense.

Atlanta is averaging 30.3 assists per game, which is currently tied for eighth-most in NBA history. And, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker settling into a larger role and being paired alongside Dyson Daniels, the Hawks have a ferocious clamp on opposing wing scorers. Recent victories over the Celtics and Pistons — the top two teams in the East — show how dangerous this team can be.

San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder

These two get a quick mention and are paired because they have been the best teams in the West for much of the season. San Antonio has gone an NBA-best 20-2 since the All-Star break and the Thunder are 18-2 over that span. They’re led by their Most Valuable Player candidates in Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they look every bit like title contenders.

Los Angeles Lakers

This one is mostly thanks to Luka Dončić. He’s on an absolute heater lately, averaging 39.7 points per game over his last 10 and 37.5 in the entire month of March. Los Angeles has won 13 of its last 14, and some of those have come against big opponents: the Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets (twice) and the Cavaliers.

LeBron James has embraced play-making and is putting Dončić and the rest of his teammates in position to make shots; over the last seven games, James is averaging 8.4 assists per contest, tied for ninth most over that span. The defense has been better, and this looks like a team — after crashing out in the first round of the playoffs last year — that knew it needed to conserve some energy for this stretch run.

Charlotte Hornets

They’re the No. 8 seed in the East, but Charlotte could be a problem either way in the play-in. Since the All-Star break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (122.1), which is just 0.1 behind the league’s top team, the San Antonio Spurs. A lot of that offense has come from LaMelo Ball, sure, but Rookie of the Year favorite Kon Knueppel has been a revelation, and Charlotte suddenly has shooting all over the floor.

It hasn’t been one-sided, however. Since the break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating (109.8).

Who's not?

Miami Heat

On March 12, the Heat toppled the Bucks to improve to 38-29, remaining in the sixth seed. It was their seventh consecutive victory and 10th in 12 tries. Since then, it has been an unmitigated disaster.

Miami has lost eight of its last 10 and its defensive identity has crumbled. This is the side of the ball on which the Heat pride themselves, yet Miami has allowed opposing teams to score 126.4 points per 100 possessions, the worst mark in the NBA over that span. All-Star guard Norman Powell has missed a lot of this run with a back injury and an upper respiratory illness, but the team is hopeless in stopping opposing offenses any time Bam Adebayo sits for even a few minutes. Worst yet, they’ve been struggling as he has been on the floor.

Orlando Magic

In a lot of ways, Orlando’s recent stretch is much like Miami’s: the Magic went on a seven-game winning streak prior to losing six consecutive and eight of 10. The issue for Orlando has been its offense. The one thing that Orlando has on Miami, however, is that the Magic went a perfect 5-0 against the Heat.

The other good thing is that they just got Franz Wagner back Wednesday, April 1 from a left ankle sprain that had sidelined him for more than a month. Still, he was on a minutes restriction, and the Magic lost by 29 against Atlanta.

Phoenix Suns

It turns out Devin Booker couldn’t quite carry Phoenix during a rash of injuries that saw Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams miss extended time, while role players Grayson Allen and Haywood Highsmith have also had to sit in spots.

The biggest blow was the left hand injury to Brooks, who is averaging a career-high 20.6 points per game. He made his return Tuesday, March 31 in an eventual loss against the Magic, and Phoenix has lost seven of its last 10. That’s the bad news.

The good? Phoenix has remained locked into the No. 7 seed, where it has been since Jan. 23, and the Clippers — who are 3 games back — probably have too much ground to make up.

Either way, there had been a slight chance that the Suns could contend for that No. 6 seed and automatic playoff berth in the crowded West. After this recent losing stretch, however, and with the Suns 4½ games back of Minnesota, that’s a near impossibility.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA standings trends looks at Lakers, Spurs winning streaks

There will be plenty of star power in Indianapolis for the 2026 Final Four, but don't forget about the unsung heroes.

Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan made the national semifinals with their major playmakers having the primary roles. But what has allowed this quartet to reach the biggest stage in men's college basketball is that they also get significant contributions from people outside the spotlight. It's going to take more than the top guys to cut down the nets − just look at UConn's Braylon Mullins in the Elite Eight.

So, which under-the-radar players have the chance to step up and be the catalyst for a national championship? Here is one player to watch for each team.

Connecticut: Malachi Smith

The health of Silas Demary Jr. has been a talking point for UConn as the lead guard, but Smith has stepped up well and become a reliable guard during the tournament.

It was big for Smith, who started in 77 games at Dayton before transferring to Storrs this season, to accept a bench role for the Huskies, but he's wound up becoming a vital part of the second unit, and his value has only risen as the season ended. After averaging 2.7 assists per game before the tournament began, he's averaging 5.5 in the four tournament games. Smith made the most his starting role in the first two rounds, when he played more than 30 minutes against Furman and UCLA.

Even with Demary back, Smith has earned increased minutes and it's paying off for Dan Hurley.

Illinois: Kylan Boswell

It makes sense to see a senior playing a big role for Illinois, but it's easy to forget Boswell is won't turn 21 until later this month, and he'll have to play up to his experience in order for the Fighting Illini to break through.

A look at the stat sheet may make you wonder how Boswell makes such a difference − averaging just 8.3 points and 2 assists during the tournament − but he is the heart and soul of the team, a guy that brings energy and intensity. That will be needed defensively since Connecticut is one of the best teams sharing, so he will have to bring pressure to limit passing lanes. Illinois' offense has done well, but it could really use Boswell as he has struggled to score, as he went a combined 0-for-7 from the field in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. If he can find a shooting touch, that makes the back court mightily stronger.

The Final Four means a lot to many, but Boswell is playing a big part on his hometown team. The Champaign native will have the chance to bring its first national title home.

Arizona: Ivan Kharchenkov

You want someone that is willing to lay it all on the line every single play? Kharchenkov is your guy.

There may no be no one with more hustle than than the freshman from Germany who is diving for the ball and playing an aggressive style of ball that really makes opponents uncomfortable. If you look at moments where Arizona swung momentum to its side, most of the time its because of Kharchenkov. Not only that, but he's raised his level in the postseason. He entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, but he's improved that to 14 point and 6.5 rebounds per contest.

Teams cannot relax when Kharchenkov is on the court, as he is will do the little things that could be the key moments in an Arizona win.

Michigan: Elliot Cadeau

Michigan is the highest-scoring offense left in the tournament, averaging 87.7 points per game. None of it happens without the guard play of Cadeau.

The North Carolina transfer has had a renaissance in Ann Arbor, averaging 5.8 assists per game. While he's been dishing it out at a great rate, he's really honed in on taking care of the ball, with fewer than four turnovers in each of the last six games. That's on top averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game and becoming a reliable 3-point shooter. What makes it even more incredible? He is partially deaf in his right ear, has asthma and had surgery his freshman year to treat a progressive eye disorder.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara get most of the attention, but the offense doesn't move as exceptional as it does without Cadeau. Michigan needs its guard to spearhead the attack to keep the offense as lethal as its been all season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four X-factors for Arizona, Michigan, UConn, Illinois

Cooper Flagg, along with his Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, is generally seen as the leading candidates for NBA Rookie of the Year. It’s been a tremendous year for both former Blue Devils.

In this interview with Pat McAfee, Flagg discusses his rookie season to date. He touches on something that Kevin Garnett discovered in his rookie season that was a bit of a surprise for him and for a lot of underage rookies: the NBA is a lonely place.

Garnett talked about sitting alone in his hotel room; Flagg talks about his teammates being grown men with wives and children.

What he doesn’t mention is the hard-living nature of many NBA players: bars, strip clubs, predatory women who zoom in on more naive players.

It’s not an easy life for a mature player, so it can’t be easy for a 19-year-old either.

In the description, one of the interviewers on McAfee’s show asks Flagg what his Welcome-To-The-NBA moment was. Flagg says it came in practice when he tried to dunk on teammate PJ Washington, who, at 27, is a good bit older and more physically mature. That, Flagg says, “…just did not go very well.”

One wonders what it will be like in a few years when Flagg is bigger and stronger.

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has a massive 6-2 lead to protect against Real Madrid when it hosts the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal on Thursday.

The Catalan club is in a commanding position to make a record-extending eighth straight semifinal while Madrid would need an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround to reach the last four for the first time.

Three-time champion Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. Barcelona topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.

Madrid, in its second consecutive quarterfinal, was eliminated by Arsenal last season. It finished seventh in the league phase.

Thursday’s game will mark Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou for the first time since the stadium partially reopened in November amid ongoing renovations.

“I’m incredibly excited, very motivated, and eager to prepare for the match and train at the Camp Nou beforehand,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said. “It will be a wonderful day to be able to manage a match in that beautiful stadium.”

Barcelona has beaten Madrid five times in all competitions this season.

The winner will play Bayern Munich.

In the night's other quarterfinal, Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead against OL Lyonnes to Lyon. The German side hopes to become the third club to eliminate the French record eight-time champion in 17 quarterfinals.

Defending champion Arsenal awaits the winner.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

It all comes down to this. What wild things will go down in the Final Four?

There have been some incredible moments that have made the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament unforgettable, truly encapsulating what makes March Madness such a spectacle. It only makes sense those instant classics continue on the sport's biggest stage, with Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut and Illinois headed to Indianapolis, two wins away from becoming national champions.

With just three games left in the season, it's time for one more batch of bold predictions, just in time for the 2026 Final Four.

King of the Blue Bloods? How UConn can pass Duke this weekend

Buzzer-beating shot

There have been so many clutch plays during this tournament in the final seconds, why not go for another?

One thing that will carry over from last season's Final Four is all of the participants are pretty evenly matched. You could make a plausible case for every one of them to end up on top, which is why we will have some extremely close games in Lucas Oil Stadium.

All of the 2025 Final Four games were decided by six points or less, and that will happen once again. Whether its the semifinals or the championship, it goes all the way down to the final seconds, with someone becoming the hero for their team.

UConn extends Final Four streak

The Final Four round is getting close to being called the Connecticut Invitational, and the Huskies will prove why on Saturday, April 4.

In its seven Final Four appearances, UConn has advanced and won the national championship game six times, currently riding a four-game winning streak in the semifinals. Dan Hurley has yet to lose after the round of 32, with a 10-0 record in the Sweet 16 or later. It's truly some mind boggling success UConn has on the biggest stage.

In the Final Four, UConn continues that run. The Huskies are going to have their hands full dealing with the scoring threat of Illinois, but the Huskies are one of the most experienced teams in the quartet. Alex Karaban comes up big down the stretch for some key buckets to get UConn its fifth straight Final Four round win, and back to the title game for the third time in four years.

Big Ten title drought continues

This tournament has been all about the Big Tens success. However, it won't be able to punctuate it with a national championship.

Getting two teams in the Final Four gives the Big Ten a 50% chance of claiming the title-winner, and there's a chance of it being an all-Big Ten championship game, which a conference hasn't done since the Big Eight had Kansas and Oklahoma in 1988. However, the Big Ten teams have some major task ahead of them. UConn's experience will come up clutch against Illinois, and Michigan faces a relentless Arizona team. Even though the Wolverines offense is on a level of its own, the Wildcats defense is able to limit it, and the deep rotation is able to land a few big blows to Michigan. Arizona makes the right plays at the end to win a classic.

With Illinois and Michigan losing, it means the streak without a Big Ten champion extends to 26 years, a tough ending after being the best conference in all of March.

The West wins with Arizona taking it all

In 2026, the West Coast becomes the Best Coast.

Arizona was the last West Coast team to win a national championship, back in 1997, and it will end up being the next one to win it all again. The Wildcats shed off the March woes that have plagued the program for most of the 21st century, thanks to a loaded team that can beat you in a multitude of ways. With too many weapons for teams to neutralize, Arizona powers through the field to claim its second national championship, winning it in the same city it won its first one in.

The West Coast has tried to claim the top prize this century, with Final Four trips from Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, Utah, Oregon and San Diego State all falling just short, but it will be the 2025-26 Wildcats that bring glory back to the region.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four bold predictions: Who makes championship game, and wins it

After a dominant victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs will travel south for a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s the third and final regular-season matchup between the two squads. However, it may not be the last time they play this year. The Clippers have won 5 of their last 6 games and are looking like a serious contender for the play-in tournament and the seventh seed.

The Clippers and Spurs have played some interesting games this season. In both matchups, one team took a massive lead only for the other to come back and make the game interesting. Despite the funkiness of both games, the Spurs are 2-0 in the matchup this year. A win on the second night of a back-to-back would be a statement victory for San Antonio against a potential first-round playoff opponent.

San Antonio Spurs (58-18) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (39-37)

April 2nd, 2026 | 9:30 PM CT

Watch: Fan Duel | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Filed by 1 p.m. CT.

Clippers Injuries: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Isaiah Jackson – Out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)

What to watch for:

First quarter offense

The Spurs score the second-most first-quarter points in the NBA. On the second night of a back-to-back on a West Coast road trip against a tough Clippers squad, getting out to a hot start will be important. San Antonio lost the first quarter in both games they’ve played against the Clippers this season. Los Angeles can fill it up, especially from three. San Antonio has to come ready to play, even on short rest, if they want to walk away from LA with a win.

Small ball

Luke Kornet missed the Spurs’ last game against the Warriors. Mason Plumlee backed up Victor Wembanyama with mixed results. San Antonio found more success when they went to a small-ball lineup with Carter Bryant playing center. The Clippers will be without both Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, so they’ll likely have to play small themselves. This could turn into a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented game when Wembanyama and Brook Lopez head to the bench.

Guarding the perimeter

The Clippers have shot the ball well from three against the Spurs this season. They are 7th in the NBA in three-point percentage. San Antonio is an average team at defending the three-point line. With Wembanyama roaming the paint, teams are forced to attack them from deep. With players like Darius Garland, Brook Lopez, and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have multiple players who can make it rain from outside. San Antonio is going to have to slow down LA from deep to win this one.

Phew. Boston’s 147-129 thrashing of Miami was something else.

It’s always tough sledding against the Heat, but a 53-point first quarter (11-15 from 3) and 80 points in the first half are indicative of just how much these teams have changed. The Heat and Celtics are on both ends of the pace spectrum at 104.4 vs. 95.46 possessions per game respectively. However, Boston was happy to ramp up the speed. Even with more possessions to deal with, they finished with just seven turnovers and allowed only twelve offensive boards.

The Celtics are 2-1 on their road trip against potential first round opponents and continue to be a steady +600 to raise Banner 19 with our friends at FanDuel and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Jaylen Brown

37 minutes, 43 points (4-10 from 3, 5-7 from the free throw line, 17-29 from the field), 3 rebounds, 7 assists, one turnover, +9

Achilles tendinitis cost Brown two games last week and he looked a little unsettled by his own standards in his Atlanta homecoming on Monday.

Andrew Wiggins was a defensive menace against Brown and Tatum in the 2022 NBA Finals, but Brown enacted some revenge, scoring the first 11 points for Boston on 4-4 shooting. He was more relaxed and deliberate with his drives and post-ups and didn’t seem hellbent on just creating contact and trying to draw fouls.

7 for 7 💪 pic.twitter.com/vhcuScDgdX

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 1, 2026

By the end of the night, Brown tallied 43 points on South Beach after ESPN’s Doris Burke called him a dangerous scorer on all three levels. The seven assists with just one turnover was a nice bounce back after six TOs against the Hawks.

Grade: A+

Jayson Tatum

37 minutes, 25 points (4-13 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 9-21 from the field), 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +7

A masterclass in Charlotte helped earn Tatum the Player of the Week honor and after two days off, he continued his recovery to that all-around game that made him an MVP-candidate over the last three seasons before his Achilles tear.

How about a triple-double against a heated rival?

25-18-11 plus some effective defense against Bam Adebayo is another notch on Tatum’s belt.

NBA Players of the Week for Week 23.

West: Nikola Jokić (@nuggets)
East: Jayson Tatum (@celtics) pic.twitter.com/eBzPvwQwYD

— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2026

Grade: A+

Neemias Queta

33 minutes, 16 points (6-8 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, +28

Queta does so many unsung things on the court like setting wide screens on the perimeter and rebounding the ball, but sometimes, it’s just nice to see him make a couple of loud blocks on the defensive end.

Neemias Queta rejects the two-handed dunk attempt by Bam Adebayo, who scores the putback shortly after pic.twitter.com/D6mIgLQJz5

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 1, 2026

In the fourth quarter, with all eyes on the Jays, Queta was the beneficiary at the dunker spot and grabbing offensive rebounds on pursuit alone.

Grade: A-

Sam Hauser

29 minutes, 23 points (5-7 from 3, 0-1 from the free throw line, 9-11 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, one block, +23

After coming off the bench during days off for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Hauser was back in the starting lineup and started off hot, hitting his first six shots including five 3s in the first quarter.

After halftime, Hauser went to his mid-range game. After Miami cut it to ten heading into the fourth, Hauser attacked a pair of closeouts for a couple of 12-footers that kept the Heat at bay. It was a nice breakout for Hauser after scuffling through the road trip.

Grade: A

Derrick White

34 minutes, 6 points (0-1 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, one block, +6

If you’ve read the last couple player grades, we’ve documented White’s shooting slump over the last several games. He only took four shots in the game, but his fingerprints are all over the win. This sequence is akin to that scene in Top Gun: Maverick when they’re playing dogfight football on the beach.

THIS DERRICK WHITE SEQUENCE 👏

Lob to JB.
Sprints back.
Elite defense to force a miss.

The Celtics hold a commanding lead at the break! pic.twitter.com/kAMY8Tel9G

— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2026

Grade: B-

Payton Pritchard

31 minutes, 14 points (4-7 from 3, 5-9 from the field), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, one block, +20

Pritchard was the fifth leading scorer in this offensive exhibition and acted as more of a play finisher rather than a playmaker last night. That will happen with Tatum and Brown going nuclear on the Heat.

Grade: B+

Baylor Scheierman

18 minutes, 8 points (2-2 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, one turnover, one steal +14

Scheierman’s contributions can often go unseen. His blue collar work shouldn’t go underappreciated. When he shoulders a drive from the free throw line to the baseline and makes the right pass around the horn don’t seem like much, but it’s that consistency that has made him a mainstay in the rotation.

But every once in a while, Baylor Showmanship will pull out the bag of Pistol Pete passes and connect on a fancy behind-the-back:

THAT'S OUR JAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/5Vy9x5TkgL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 2, 2026

Grade: B

Luka Garza

15 minutes, 12 points (2-4 from 3, 5-10 from the field), 2 rebounds, one block, -10

Former CelticsBlogger Sam LaFrance over at Hardwood Houdini documented Garza’s near-the-rim shot package and they were all on display in Miami: the decel step, the up-and-under, and his three-point shot. Twelve points in under fifteen minutes is making it easy to forget that Nikola Vucevic is still out with a fractured finger.

Grade: A

Jordan Walsh

5 minutes, 0 points (0-1 from the field), one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block, -7

The defensive demon notched two stocks (steals plus blocks) in a game where both teams combined for 276 points. Sometimes, you’re a square peg for a round hole.

Grade: B

DNP-CDs: Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., Max Shulga, Amari Williams, John Tonje, Charles Bassey

Inactives: Nikola Vucevic

Victor Wembanyama scored a season-high 41 points as the San Antonio Spurs earned a 10th successive win by beating the Golden State Warriors 127-113.

The Spurs have emerged as NBA title contenders during the second half of the campaign, winning 26 of their past 28 games.

The 22-year-old achieved his haul in just 29 minutes at Chase Center in California and also finished with 18 rebounds.

Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie chipped in with 15 points each for San Antonio, who are second in the Western Conference - just two wins behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"We're still going to play 100% to try to win this championship," Wembanyama said.

The Golden State Warriors are 10th after losing two consecutive games.

In the Eastern Conference, Boston tightened their grip on second place as Jaylen Brown registered a game-high 43 points in the Celtics' 147-129 win in Miami.

Tatum's triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists helped Boston bounce back from defeat against the Atlanta Hawks.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks halted a three-game losing run with a 130-119 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Knicks are third in the Eastern standings while the Grizzlies are 12th in the Western Conference.

Coming off a season-high 41-point game, Wemby picked up right where he left off with an identical scoring line in a blowout victory over Golden State on Wednesday night.

The Alien scored two quick layups to start, and spooked the Warriors into shooting tough threes instead of driving into the paint. The home team didn’t make a basket until the 9:00 mark of the first, resulting in the good guys going on a 17-3 run. As soon as Wemby subbed out, though, the Warriors responded. Brandin Podziemski hit back-to-back threes and helped his team cut the deficit down to just 6. It didn’t help that the Spurs committed 5 turnovers in quick succession, forcing Mitch Johnson to call a timeout. 

Thankfully, his message was heard loud and clear. San Antonio only had two more turnovers for the remainder of the half and reasserted their dominance in the game. With Kornet taking the night off, Mitch elected to play small ball in the non-Wemby minutes, putting Keldon at the 5. That lineup’s rim pressure and speed in transition gave the Warriors fits, helping the Spurs build a 20-point lead to go into halftime up 70-49. 

San Antonio didn’t let up in the second half. Golden State continued to go on mini runs to keep the game within 20, but failed to ever cut the lead down to single digits. It did keep the Spurs honest and forced them to play the starters more than they liked, but the final result was never in question. Garbage time was officially underway halfway through the fourth when Wemby subbed out with the Spurs up 20, and the game ended in a 127-113 victory for San Antonio.

Game notes

• Wemby finished with 17 and 9 in the first quarter and 27 and 13 in the first half. He racked up a double-double in just 11 minutes and seemed so bored that he took some ill-advised threes just to see if the shot was falling. Overall, he finished with 41, 18, and 3 on 16-22 shooting with 3 blocks. At this point, it genuinely feels like he deserves to play in a higher-level league made just for aliens.
• The Warriors played a zone against Wemby at certain points. It didn’t work (see clip below), but I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams try that against him in the playoffs. They essentially let Draymond play him one-on-one while the other four players zoned up to prevent lobs and drives. The Warriors were too small to do any damage, but most other West teams will have enough size to potentially cause some issues.
• Credit the Warriors for fighting and staying in the game. They fielded a lineup full of “who he play for?” guys but kept the game within striking distance.

Play of the game

How many players does it take to stop Wemby?

NASTY 😱

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Zj5Y4VdCRy

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) April 2, 2026

Next game: @ Clippers on Thursday

The Spurs will look to make it 11 in a row Thursday night when they take on Kawhi and the Clippers in LA.