Jan 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) and Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) pursue a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Before we start, I want to thank everyone who has even read one of these this season. They’ve always been a fun way to talk about basketball and the Houston Rockets specifically. A huge round of appreciation for Xiane and Holly, who each grabbed a couple of previews back in January while I was abroad for my brother’s wedding.
As for tonight’s game, the Houston Rockets are resting everyone since they are locked into the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Their opponent will almost assuredly be the Denver Nuggets, who are resting everyone but Nikola Jokic against San Antonio. Jokic needs 20 minutes to reach his 65 games mark. Meanwhile, the Spurs have every incentive to win that game because it pushed Denver to OKC’s side of the bracket, meaning San Antonio might get a pathway of Phoenix and Minnesota on their way to the Western Conference Finals. Again, the Spurs are my pick to win it all this season. And next season. And the season after that one.
The Memphis Grizzlies would very much like to lose this game. As things stand, they are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the sixth-best odds in the lottery. A win could move them into a tie for seventh, where they could lose the tiebreaker with Atlanta on a coin flip. So winning tonight could be the difference in several ping pong balls and their floor dropping from 10 to 12. They would be stupid to try to win.
Tonight is probably a Reed Sheppard night. It’s also a great chance for J.D. Davison and Isaiah Crawford to get some run.
A win tonight matches Houston’s record from last year, when they were the 2 seed. It also bears mentioning that Houston went 41-41 two seasons ago and were five games out of the play-in. That same record would put them in a fight for the 8 seed this season.
Of course, I’ll be back for the playoff game previews. That schedule hasn’t been released yet and won’t until sometimes this week. Houston will play on Saturday or Sunday, and more than likely every game will be the late game.
Tip-off
7:30pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr.: OUT
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 5: Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In our most recent Utah Jazz Fan Reacts survey, we’re looking forward to what is likely going to be an incredibly consequential offseason. Utah may have to make some tough decisions as they look at their roster. This season, the Utah Jazz have been playing to position themselves as well as they can for the lottery. Losing has been the major benefit of almost assuredly allowing the Jazz to keep their pick, which is top-8 protected (if it falls to 9 or later in the lottery, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder). But there have been many secondary benefits. One of those has been Utah’s younger prospects getting a lot of minutes to develop.
In this NBA Reacts, I asked the fans which of the following players they would keep if they could only keep one: Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh, and John Konchar.
Jazz fans picking Cody Williams is probably not something you would have expected last season. I’m also surprised at Kyle Filipowski over Brice Sensabaugh with the amount of scoring Sensabaugh has done recently. That said, Filipowski has also ended the season really well.
You can follow all the lines and make your bets on the upcoming Jazz season here at FanDuel.
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 19: Hayden Gray #3 of the Maine Celtics looks to pass the ball during the game against the Long Island Nets on March 19, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Evan Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz signed Hayden Gray to a two-year contract.
The Utah Jazz are signing guard Hayden Gray to a two-year contract out of the NBA G League's Maine Celtics, agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup tells ESPN. The undrafted UC San Diego product lands an NBA deal to finish the season.
Gray is known as a defense-first guard who fits the mold of recent signings the Jazz have made. We saw the Jazz sign Bez Mbeng to a two-year contract, who was also a high-level defender in college.
At UC San Diego, Gray was given the Big West Defensive Player award for 2024-25. At one point in his college career, he led the NCAA in steals. For the Maine Celtics, he set a single-season record for steals in a season with 79.
It’s clearly a trend for the Jazz to start emphasizing defense with the players they’re signing as guards. And it seems those guards are especially good at stealing the ball. This strategy makes a lot of sense for the Jazz, who have been one of the worst defenses, and usually the worst, in the NBA for the last four seasons. Utah is poised for a great season next year, and clearly, defense is the emphasis heading into this offseason, given their fringe signings. Is this something the Jazz will also take into account in the draft? If Utah jumps into the top-4 of the lottery, they likely just pick the best player available. But if they end up somewhere between 5-8, will defense be more of an emphasis for who they draft? Maybe the Hayden Gray signals what the Jazz might do?
It’s also a bit of a bummer because this signals the end of Kennedy Chandler’s contract. Who knows if Chandler will be with the Jazz moving forward. If he is, it’s likely in the upcoming summer league and training camp.
Kennedy Chandler will not be with the @utahjazz in LA for their final game against the @Lakers.
His second 10-day contract with the Jazz ends tomorrow before Sunday's season finale.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The long NBA season comes to an end on Sunday with the Lakers (52-29) taking on the tanking Jazz (22-59) on Sunday evening. Los Angeles has won the three previous meetings with Utah this season and is looking for the season sweep.
After a tumultuous final stretch of the season, the Lakers should be able to end things on a high note. Following consecutive wins over the Warriorsand Suns, LA will host a Utah team with no interest in winning.
The Jazz have been one of the most shameless tankers this year and it has worked as they are tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. That also means they’ll be focused on losing one more time to end the year.
As for the Lakers, they can potentially nab the No. 3 seed depending on how things play out. Assuming they can take down a Utah team that is holding out basically everyone, then they’ll rely on Denver losing to San Antonio.
The Nuggets look set to have all their starters and rotation players out with only Nikola Jokic playing. He needs to play 20 minutes to qualify for awards, which is all he’ll likely play. On the flip side, the Spurs only have Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanayama listed as questionable.
The most likely odds coming into the game are for the Lakers to move up to the No. 3 seed.
Setting all that aside, though, LA can ride into the playoffs with momentum, which is huge considering how much things went off the rails last weekend. They steadied the ship, got back to winning ways and found some answers while doing so.
In an ideal world, the Lakers can race out to a big lead and sit their starters early to avoid any more injuries. But going into the postseason with good vibes and momentum is the key.
Notes and Updates
Only Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are listed as out. LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable with left foot injury management for both, ironically.
The Jazz have listed Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Elijah Harkless, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic all as out.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 8: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns talk after the game on April 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) play game No. 82 Sunday against the Chicago Bulls (31-49) with a 7:30pm tipoff at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks lost on the road to the Spurs Friday, 139-120, dropping their third in a row and sixth of their last seven. Cooper Flagg scored 33 points on 25 shots and center Marvin Bagley III left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. Center Daniel Gafford, guards Klay Thompson and Brandon Williams, and wings Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington did not play.
The Bulls won twice this week, ending a seven-game skid with a pair of road wins Tuesday and Thursday against a Washington Wizards team playing without Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, 129-98 and 119-108. After starting the season 5-0 the Bulls are limping to the finish line, as young stars guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) and forward Matas Buzelis (illness) have missed the last week, center Guerschon Yabusele left Thursday’s game and did not return (shoulder), guard Collin Sexton (finger) and forward Patrick Williams (thumb) have been playing through injury, and wing Isaac Okoro (quad) missed Thursday’s game. Both the Mavericks and Bulls lost admirably contested games this week to a Phoenix Suns team highly motivated to maintain its grasp on eighth place.
Paint patrol
The Giddey- and Buzelis-less Bulls stumbled out of the gate Tuesday, then found the best version of themselves, pressing their size and experience advantages on both ends and pushing the ball up in transition off stops and turnovers. Collin Sexton, the starting lineup’s only height liability, nonetheless played big in leading the Bulls in rebounding, including four offensive boards. Thursday appeared to be more of the same until Billy Donovan turned to the bench and a small backcourt of Yuki Kawamura and Mac McClung allowed Washington to erase a 13-point lead and briefly go in front. The Bulls woke back up late in the third, attacking the paint and getting to the line to keep growing the lead after subbing Kawamura and McClung back in. In their most effective stretches of this two-game streak the Bulls have sent a parade of players to the rim, including Sexton, Okoro, Tre Jones, Leonard Miller, and Rob Dillingham, while their frontcourt players like Williams and Yabusele have also made their threes.
On the defensive end, Chicago played a lot of zone against the Wizards and it paid off when they needed rebounds to kick-start fast breaks. When San Antonio went to a zone for a few possessions against Dallas late in the third quarter Friday, they forced a late heave from Ryan Nembhard that missed everything after the Mavericks nearly lost it to a backcourt violation. Flagg made them pay with a long jumper from the wing before having his next attempt blocked by Carter Bryant, then Moussa Cisse tipped in a missed layup on a Nembhard drive.
Draft lottery implications
Dallas enters Sunday’s game in tied for the league’s sixth-best draft lottery odds with the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost to the Utah Jazz Friday, 147-101. The Grizzlies play the Rockets in Houston Sunday at 7:30pm. At the same time, the New Orleans Pelicans, who at 26-55 sit just a game behind the Mavericks and Grizzlies with the seventh-best odds, play in Minnesota.
So long, season
The 2025-26 Dallas Mavericks season, in which the losses have more than doubled the wins and fans have had to be satisfied with stretches of winning play and green shoots of development, draws to a close with Dallas in a considerably more hopeful position than many of us would have predicted 365 days ago, thanks to a long-shot draft lottery win and the special player whose name was called first. Inasmuch as contention for individual awards reflects a team effort, his status as one of two finalists for Rookie of the Year provides some measure of validation of this challenging season for Cooper Flagg and his fellow Mavericks.
Flagg has spent his rookie year alongside true pros with championship and deep playoff experience who have shown him how not to quit in Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell, and has joined them to will a very strangely constructed roster to 45 clutch games. He has blossomed under a head coach with a policy of exposure therapy to failure so his players no longer fear it. He has helped the team repeatedly force the respect of its opponents, just last night nudging the Spurs to bring Victor Wembanyama back off the bench late. Even if this season is not remembered with much nostalgia, it may one day be seen as the foundational chapter of a great player’s story.
There are always reasons to watch but this is hardly the first Mavericks season that many fans will be a little relieved to finally see end. There were highlights and steps forward. The ownership group righted a couple of wrongs by finally honoring Mark Aguirre and finally flushing Nico Harrison. The green uniforms looked cool. On the court, however, 2025-26 has often felt like a long and frustrating year; even after some big roster changes the team never really solved its three-point shooting problems and only intermittently solved its turnover problems. That said, it’s a long five months before the Mavericks hit the court again. Before hopes turn toward the last first-round pick Dallas controls until 2031, Sunday’s game presents a chance to go out a winner in front of the home fans. Or it presents a chance to marginally increase the odds of landing a higher draft pick in the lottery. Inevitably, this will be our final time seeing at least some of these guys on our side. Enjoy the last taste of it for a while.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game on KFAA Channel 29, or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (español).
The season finale at MSG means nothing for the Knicks, who are locked into the third seed with no wiggle room.
Not surprisingly, they’re sitting four of their five starters Sunday — minus consecutive-games king Mikal Bridges — against the Hornets, who remain motivated to secure the ninth seed.
But the out-of-town scoreboard warrants close monitoring for the Knicks. Their first-round opponent will probably be the Raptors, but it’s not set in stone and ultimately hinges on up to four results — all sharing the Knicks’ 6 p.m. tipoff.
Here’s a breakdown of scenarios:
Most likely
The Knicks draw the Raptors in the first round.
Og Anunoby drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson and Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors on April 10, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This happens if on Sunday:
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Atlanta beats Miami
Or
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
Or
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
The tanking Nets are almost certain to lose to the Raptors even though it probably won’t help their lottery odds (Brooklyn can only catch the Pacers at the bottom of the standings, and Indiana would also have to lose to the Pistons). So assuming that result, the Raptors will clinch the fifth seed if Atlanta beats Miami (not likely since the Hawks are resting players) OR the Magic beat the Celtics (which is a likely outcome since Boston is resting players).
The Knicks can feel fairly safe scouting the Raptors.
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Boston beats Orlando
Tough to see this happening because it requires a result — Boston beating Orlando — that goes against the odds. The Magic are highly motivated to win Sunday since there’s a chance they can move out of a play-in spot (while the Celtics, who are locked into the No. 2 seed, are resting several players).
Why would this happen if three teams could tie for sixth in the East? If the Raptors and Magic win — and Hawks lose — they’d all have 46 wins, and the three-way tiebreaker means Atlanta stays at No. 5, Toronto stays at No. 6 and Orlando goes to No. 7.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives against CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
Unlikely
The Knicks draw the Magic in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Atlanta beats Miami; Orlando beats Boston
Anything involving the Nets winning Sunday is highly unlikely.
The unlikeliest
The Knicks draw the Sixers in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Boston beats Orlando; Philadelphia beats Milwaukee
Again, the Nets would have to win against a motivated opponent — the Raptors want to avoid the play-in — which is hard to envision. Plus, the Celtics are resting their players.
Ahead of the Sixers’ final game of the regular season Sunday night vs. the Bucks, below is a refresher on the No. 5 through No. 10 range of the Eastern Conference standings. The first through sixth seeds will advance to the playoffs. The seventh through 10th will compete in the play-in tournament for the East’s final two playoff spots.
5. Hawks 46-35
6. Raptors 45-36
7. Magic 45-36
8. Sixers 44-37
9. Hornets 43-38
10. Heat 42-39
And here’s a look at how things could shake out for the Sixers:
For Sixers to finish sixth
The one scenario in which the Sixers would finish sixth is: Sixers win, Raptors and Magic lose.
In that case, all three teams would be 45-37 and the Sixers would win the tiebreaker.
Is that series of events plausible? It could happen, but the odds appear quite small. Orlando will face the 55-26 Celtics and Toronto will take on the 20-61 Nets. Boston’s locked in as the East’s No. 2 seed and Brooklyn’s next major event on the calendar is the NBA draft lottery.
Unsurprisingly, both the Celtics and Nets have long injury lists. Brooklyn’s many absences include Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Terance Mann and Egor Demin. The Celtics will sit plenty of regulars, among them Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Neemias Queta.
On a positive note for the Sixers, the Bucks are shorthanded and nowhere near postseason contention. They should beat Milwaukee at home.
For Sixers to finish seventh
The Sixers need a win to have a shot at the seventh seed, which would mean hosting the first game of the play-in tournament instead of traveling.
The following two scenarios would lead to the Sixers being No. 7:
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic lose
Sixers win, Raptors lose, Magic win
The first outcome would mean that the Sixers play the Magic in that No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup. The second would mean that they’d host Toronto.
Again, the only two other games that matter to the Sixers are Raptors-Nets and Magic-Celtics. The reason the Sixers can’t fall lower than eighth is they’d win the tiebreaker over the Hornets if both teams ended at 44-38.
Either of these results would equal the eighth seed for the Sixers:
Sixers lose (other games become irrelevant)
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic win
As outlined above, neither Orlando nor Toronto look at all likely to lose. Still, anything’s possible and the Sixers surely wouldn’t mind a surprise or two outside of Philadelphia on the season’s final day.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 119-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans Date: April 12th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There’s something about Game 82 that always feels a little like the last day of school. Half the class is mentally checked out. The teacher is rolling in the TV cart. And yet, somehow, it still matters, just not in the way you thought it would back in October.
That’s where the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves heading into their regular season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Eighty-one games down. One to go. Playoff ticket punched.
And yet… it doesn’t quite feel like a celebration.
Because if you’ve been watching this team all season you know the story. This wasn’t a climb. It was a drift. A weird, uneven, occasionally brilliant, occasionally maddening drift where the Wolves spent long stretches looking like a team that had already been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals and decided, consciously or not, that the regular season was more of a formality than a proving ground.
They had nights where they looked like a top-three team in basketball. They had nights where they looked like they forgot the game started at 7:00. And when you zoom out, that’s how you end up here, not in a disastrous position, but not in the one you know was there for the taking.
Let’s be honest. This team could easily be sitting in the three seed right now. Flip two or three of those late-game meltdowns. Close out a couple of those “how did we lose that?” nights. Show up with urgency on a random Tuesday in January. Suddenly, we’re talking about a completely different bracket.
But here’s the twist: it’s not even clear that the three seed would’ve been better.
The Standings Irony Nobody Saw Coming
If the Wolves had climbed into that three spot, they’d likely be staring at a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets, a team that turned every Wolves game into a coin-flip knife fight this season.
Winnable? Sure.
Comfortable? Not even a little.
Instead, sitting at six, Minnesota is waiting on the outcome of one final domino:
If San Antonio decides to send Denver to the opposite side of the bracket and the Lakers beat the tanking Jazz, the Wolves win the prize of a banged-up, limping version of Los Angeles . It’s the kind of matchup that feels like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat.
If things break the other way, you get the Nikola Jokic Experience. Intimidating? Sure. But also a mountain that this Wolves team has conquered already.
As we sit here awaiting the final seeding, neither outcome feels like a death sentence. That alone tells you how far this franchise has come. Because for most of its history, “playoff matchup” was just a polite way of saying “scheduled elimination.”
Now? There’s a real, tangible belief that this team, when locked-in and playing at their peak, can beat anyone in a seven-game series.
Game 82
That brings us to Sunday night against New Orleans, where we are almost certainly going to see a Wolves lineup that looks more like a preseason scrimmage than a playoff dress rehearsal.
No Rudy Gobert, because risking a flagrant foul suspension (or any injury, frankly) in a meaningless game would be malpractice. Probably limited (or no) Julius Randle, because his workload has been heavy and his importance is too high. Perhaps a cautious ramp-up for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, not to win this game, but to find their rhythm again.
And a whole lot of Kyle Anderson bringing the ball up the floor while Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Joan Beringer try to turn this into their personal audition tape. Which, honestly, might be the most interesting part of the night.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t Be Heroes — Be Healthy
This is the easiest key to write and the most important one to follow.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, that happens in this game is worth jeopardizing the health of your core. No extended minutes. No unnecessary contact. No “let’s just see how it looks.”
This isn’t about rhythm anymore. This is about preservation.
Because if the Wolves walk into Round 1 at full strength, they have a puncher’s chance against anyone. If they don’t? None of this matters.
2. Give Shannon Jr. the Full Runway
If there’s one subplot that’s quietly emerged over these last couple of games, it’s the Terrence Shannon Jr. experience. After missing time early and struggling to carve out a consistent role, Shannon has started to flash the exact thing that got people excited in the first place: that downhill, attack-mode energy.
If the coaching staff is going to treat this like a hybrid scrimmage, then lean into it. Let Shannon cook. Let him make mistakes. Let him handle the ball, attack the rim, take shots he might not normally get. Because the only way to find out if someone can contribute in a playoff moment is to give them real, meaningful reps beforehand.
Right now, Shannon looks like a guy who might have something.
3. Keep the Defensive Habits Intact
Even with a patchwork lineup, the identity can’t disappear. This team, at its best, wins with defense. Rotations. Communication. Physicality. Those habits don’t magically reappear because the playoffs start. They’re built, or maintained, in games like this. So even if the personnel changes, the principles can’t.
4. Stay Connected Offensively
This is where things can go sideways in these types of games. You get young guys pressing. Bench players hunting shots. The offense devolves into five separate agendas. Just because this game has no consequences in the standings, doesn’t mean the coaching staff should allow the offense to devolve. Ball movement still matters. Spacing still matters. Playing together still matters.
5. End on a Note That Feels Like Momentum
No banners are being raised for beating the Pelicans in Game 82.
But confidence matters.
And after a stretch where things felt like they were wobbling, these last couple of games have quietly started to stabilize things. The loss against Orlando still had silver linings for players like Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and TSJ. Beating Houston short-handed and taking the season series from at least one Western Conference contender held some psychological weight.
You don’t want to walk into the playoffs feeling like you’re searching. You want to walk in feeling like you’ve found something.
Even if it’s small.
This Was Always About What Comes Next
Eighty-two games later, here’s the truth: This season was never going to be judged by what happened in January. Or February. Or even this week.
It was always going to come down to what happens next.
The Wolves have taken the long road to get here, a road filled with flashes of brilliance, stretches of frustration, and just enough inconsistency to leave you wondering what this team really is.
Now we find out.
Because the regular season, for all its noise and unpredictability and what-ifs, is just the prologue. The real story starts next week.
For two years in a row, this team has walked off the floor in May, a step away from being able to compete for a championship. When you come up short like that, there’s only one thing that matters: getting back there and proving you belong when you do.
The past 82 games have been the necessary grind these Timberwolves have endured to earn their place to compete.
Now comes the part where you justify it.
This is where the possessions get heavier. Where every mistake lingers a little longer. Where the margin for error shrinks and the truth about your team, not the version you sell yourself in November, not the one that shows up for a random Tuesday in February, but the real version, the one that can survive four rounds of playoff basketball, finally reveals itself.
This is where stars become superstars, or don’t. Where role players either carve out their place in a series or fade into the background. Where habits, good and bad, stop being trends and start being outcomes.
And for Minnesota, this is where all the contradictions of this season have to reconcile.
The nights where they looked like a defensive juggernaut. The nights where they couldn’t get out of their own way. The moments where they imposed their will. The stretches where they let go of the rope.
All of it comes to a head now.
Because the luxury of inconsistency is gone. The ability to “figure it out later” has expired. There is no later.
There’s only this.
Four rounds. Sixteen wins. No shortcuts.
And somewhere in there, the answer to the only question that’s really mattered all along: Are these Timberwolves just a really good team…
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: Royce O'Neale #00 and Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns celebrate after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite being the Suns’ first and third leaders in starts this season, fans do mind seeing Royce O’Neale (67 starts) and Collin Gillespie (58 starts) coming off the bench as postseason play gets closer. Both were put in the second unit for last Sunday’s game against the Bulls, and Gillespie only started yesterday’s game against the Lakers because the team had multiple guards out, including Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Jordan Goodwin.
In a recent poll, 62% of the community believed moving Gillespie to the bench unit was the right move.
O’Neale coming off the bench had much more traction, as on 33% believe he should be part of the Suns’ starting five.
I’m not surprised that fans want both to come off the bench despite them both starting the majority of the season. Phoenix has struggled in its last 16 games, going 5-11, with Gillespie especially playing some of his least inefficient basketball of the season. He’s shooting 25% in his past five games, shooting 32% from the field, and as a result, is playing less.
In the past few weeks, both Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks have returned from injury. When the two were healthy earlier in the season, Green wasn’t. Brooks, Green, and Booker have only played ten games this season together, so it was inevitable that either Gillespie, O’Neale, or both were going to be sent to the second unit once all of them were healthy. Brooks and O’Neale both play the power forward spot, and Brooks is the better scorer and more versatile player, so if a spot in the starting lineup came down to the two of them, Brooks would and should get it. At least with Gillespie, he’s the team’s best true point guard, a role that neither Booker nor Jalen Green purely plays.
For a team that has struggled with staying healthy this season, O’Neale and Gillespie have been some of the team’s healthiest players. Only Oso Ighodaro has played more games this season; he’s played in every single one of the team’s games so far. As a result, they were going to be leading the team in starts.
Something needs to change for the Suns, not just for the playoffs, but for the Play-In tournament. After the Portland Trail Blazers’ win over the Los Angeles Clippers last night, it’s looking like Phoenix will face the Trail Blazers in the 7/8 game. While Phoenix won the series, Portland would be coming into the game as the hotter team of late; they’ve won nine of their last 13 games. The Suns still are super likely to make the playoffs, according to FanDuel.
The Suns prioritized rest in their game against the Lakers, with no player logging at least 29 minutes yesterday. When the team hosts the 7/8 game next week, will Gillespie and O’Neale still be coming off the bench? Should they be?
Apr 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (14) shoots the ball as Chicago Bulls center Lachlan Olbrich (47) looks on in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards are wrapping up their 2026 season in Cleveland tomorrow. Here is the preview:
Game info
When: 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Apr. 12
Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
Wizards — Justin Champagnie (knee) is listed as DAY-TO-DAY
Cavs — Donovan Mitchell (ankle), Sam Merrill (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (knee) are all listed as DAY-TO-DAY
Game notes and more
Game 82 of the NBA season is a who’s who of “who is that?” Huge props to anyone who sits down and watches this game.
The Wizards have won fewer than 20 games for a third consecutive season and failed to improve upon last season’s 18 wins. Next year it’s time to start stringing together some wins.
The Cavs might look very different next season if they’re not able to put together a strong playoff run. They are the team to watch in the offseason if they bow out of the postseason early.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama needed to play one more game to qualify for end-of-season awards. After a rib injury, many people suggested he could do 20 minutes of cardio to meet the minimum requirements. Doing the minimum is not in Wembanyama’s nature. He exploded for 40 points in 26 minutes as the Spurs handled the Dallas Mavericks 139-120.
Wembanyama will lead the player grades for the second-to-last regular-season game. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
It wasn’t just the stats Wembanyama put up, but the way he achieved them. He looked smooth on the perimeter, handling the ball and knocking down two three-pointers. He took bumps inside and still finished over the top of opposing defenders. It didn’t look like the rib injury was holding him back at all.
With 65 games in the can, Wembanyama is a lock to take home multiple awards. The Spurs’ big man is -20000 to win Defensive Player of the Year on FanDuel.
San Antonio needed a 40-28 third-quarter run to pull away from Dallas. That effort was led mostly by Fox, who had 14 of his 18 points in the third frame. Fox was a maestro with the rock while having an efficient shooting night. He also had some of the most explosive dunks we’ve seen from him in his time with the Spurs. It was a fun performance to watch, and without him, the Spurs may not have come away with the win.
Harper got exposed by Cooper Flagg a bit. Flagg went to work whenever Harper was guarding him on the perimeter. The rookie didn’t let it get to him. He fought back on the other end by getting to the basket, scoring at an efficient rate. This was one of Harper’s better passing games with six assists.
I’ve been loving Champagnie’s attacking mentality lately. As teams close out hard on him, respecting his jump shot, he’s been going right around them to get to the basket. His finishing around the basket has improved greatly from last season. He’s a real threat to score at the rim now. He’s been playing some solid off-ball defense lately, too, which will be important for the Spurs as teams try to find ways to score around Wembanyama in the playoffs.
Kornet went from dominating the Trail Blazers to playing a more subdued role against Dallas. He was still solid defensively in 18 minutes, walling up in the paint and breaking up passes near the rim. Seven boards in just 18 minutes is nothing to sniff at, either. Kornet’s performance against the Mavs was pretty typical: solid.
Vassell didn’t make much of an impact in his 27 minutes. He was cold when shooting the ball from deep, missing some open shots. He didn’t actively hurt the Spurs either. His defense remains solid, as he’s been able to accumulate some steals on the wing. He and Champagnie have been getting better and better at taking advantage of the defensive opportunities presented to them as teams look to avoid Wembanyama.
Unc was cooking on Friday! Barnes had 15 points, giving the Spurs an edge off the bench. Now Barnes needs to score 17 points or more in his final game of the season to give the Spurs their eighth player averaging double-digit points.
Johnson did what he does best against Dallas, getting to the rim and fighting on the boards. KJ grabbed 2 offensive boards on Friday. His impact on all aspects of the game has made him the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
Bryant continues to play great down the stretch. He’s been a sharpshooter from three in the last two games, as he’s starting to shoot them with a lot of confidence. On the other end, he continues to compete. He had an awesome block on Flagg that showed why so many believe he can develop into a real defensive stopper on the wing.
They’re ravaged by injuries and playing without their top two scorers. They’re weak and vulnerable as they limp toward the finish line of the regular season.
And now, the rest of the Western Conference smells blood in the water.
When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing or trying to light a fire under his team.
When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
He was stating out loud what everyone from the outside could clearly see. The Lakers, a rising force in the standings just a few weeks ago, have now become an exposed nerve.
“Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us,” Redick said Friday. “There’s probably teams in positions that can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well. You’ve seen some of those teams rest their entire lineups basically. We can’t be concerned with all that.”
After a dominant March, the Lakers looked like the team in the West that nobody wanted to face. Led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, and Austin Reaves thriving as the secondary scoring option, the Lakers were firing on all cylinders.
They had rhythm, balance and multiple ways to beat you. They weren’t just beating teams, they were dictating everything.
Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers Getty Images
Then everything unraveled.
During a blowout loss in Oklahoma City, Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and Reaves a Grade 2 oblique tear. With the snap of Thanos’ fingers, nearly 60 points per night disappeared from the Lakers’ rotation.
Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers. To carry the team on his back as they drag toward the checkered flag.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
To his credit, James has been brilliant the last two games, but brilliance from just one man won’t be enough once the postseason starts.
Not in a loaded Western Conference with the Thunder and Spurs separating themselves from the rest of the league. Not against the Nuggets, who casually rested most of their starters including Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on Friday like they were already thinking a round ahead.
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic sat out Friday night to rest for the NBA playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Around the league, other teams see the same thing. A team missing its top two scorers. A roster asking role players to stretch into something they’re not comfortable or familiar with. A system that is trying to find “nine players to be fully all in.”
One of those players is Luke Kennard. For most of his nine-year career, he’s been a 3-point specialist off the bench. Now he’s trying to be one of the Lakers’ primary ball handlers and playmakers.
“You understand why teams want to play us. We’re missing 60 points a game,” said Kennard when asked about Redick’s comments on Friday and if it can be a rallying cry for the team. “But we also have him [James] and the way he’s playing and leading us. We’re going to need him to continue to do that.”
James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it.
Even undermanned, the Lakers have won two straight games against teams that will be in the play-in tournament. That’s a faint pulse, not a flatline. It speaks to this team’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity all season.
James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it. NBAE via Getty Images
“None of you guys had us in the top four to start the season. Most people had us as a play-in team or even worse,” said Redick of preseason predictions for the Lakers. “We’ve had to manage the expectations of the Lakers and the negativity that surrounds every loss, and I think our group has managed that well.”
By virtue of the Lakers’ victory over the Suns on Friday night, they secured a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the first round. With a win in the final regular-season game Sunday against the Jazz and a Nuggets loss to the Spurs, they will finish third and face the Timberwolves for the second straight postseason. With a loss or Denver win, they will host the Rockets in the first round.
Regardless of their first-round opponent, without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers will be underdogs. Both teams will try to stop James by throwing double- and triple-teams at him, forcing the Lakers’ secondary players to make decisions and beat them. And now, there’s not enough evidence to prove they can.
Unfortunately, this is the reality in Los Angeles now. The Lakers are vulnerable. Capable but compromised. They will have to punch above their weight to win a playoff series without two of their stars.
So, yes — everybody wants to play them and rightfully so.
PJ Haggerty is heading to Texas A&M and Isaiah Johnson is joining Texas as the Lone Star state’s two Southeastern Conference programs have landed former Big 12 stars in the transfer portal.
Each player announced his decision in an Instagram post.
Haggerty scored 23.4 points per game for Kansas State this season to rank fourth among all Division I players. Johnson is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 16.9 points for Colorado.
Haggerty will be playing for his fifth different school. The 6-foot-4 guard was at TCU in 2022-23, Tulsa in 2023-24 and Memphis in 2024-25.
Haggerty has averaged at least 21.2 points each of his last three seasons. He was an Associated Press All-America second-team pick with Memphis last season and received honorable mention on this year’s AP All-America team. Haggerty also was an AP second-team all-Big 12 selection this season.
Johnson is a 6-1 guard who had three assists and 2.9 rebounds per game this season to go along with his 16.9 points per game.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 shake hands during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics could be without most of their rotation when they face the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair management), Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendonitis), Derrick White (right knee contusion), and Neemias Queta (right toe sprain) are all out. Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Payton Pritchard (left foot plantar fasciitis), and Nikola Vučević (right ring finger fracture management) are all doubtful.
The lengthy injury report comes as no surprise, because the Celtics have already locked up the No. 2 seed with one game left to play in the regular season. None of the injuries appears to be cause for concern, and everyone except for Tatum laced up on Friday night, when the Celtics blew out the New Orleans Pelicans and solidified their standings in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic are still vying for playoff positioning
The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, will be at mostly full strength and are still playing for playoff positioning. Only Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) are questionable.
The Magic currently have the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, but are tied with the Toronto Raptors for a 45-26 record. The Raptors are facing the Brooklyn Nets in their last regular-season game, and could lock up that sixth seed with a victory.
The Celtics and Magic could face off in the first round of the playoffs; the Celtics will face the winner of the Play-In game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. (The Philadelphia 76ers currently have the 8th seed). The two teams faced off in the first round of the playoffs last year, with the Celtics winning the best-of-seven series in five games.
The Celtics and Magic have faced off three times this season — all in November — with Boston winning two of the three matchups.
Celtics-Magic will tip off at 6pm ET at TD Garden.
