For the third straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will finish as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
For the second straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will finish with the best record in the NBA and have home court advantage for as long as they are playing.
All that came after the Thunder easily handled the Clippers on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 128-110. And those two stats above just begin to touch on what the Thunder have done:
• Oklahoma City is the first team with back-to-back best records in the NBA since the 2019-20 Milwaukee Bucks. • OKC is trying to become the first team with back-to-back best records in the NBA and to win the NBA title since Michael Jordan's Bulls in 1996-97. • Only five other teams have had three or more consecutive seasons with a No. 1 seed — most recently the 2015-17 Golden State Warriors — and those five teams all won multiple NBA titles in that stretch. • This was the Thunder's 64th win. If they win one of their remaining two games, they will become only the third team with back-to-back 65+ win seasons, joining the peak Jordan Bulls and the Curry/Durant-era Warriors (again, teams that won multiple titles).
OKC didn't coast into this, it has won 19-of-20 down the stretch. It also has reached these records despite its second-best player, Jalen Williams, only playing in 33 games this season due to injury (plus the team has faced a lot of other injuries, having guys in and out of the lineup). Part of why the Thunder have pulled this off is that, to a man, they have bought into what coach Mark Daigneault is selling: focusing on yourself, on short-term improvement, and if you do that the big picture will take care of itself.
"I think the first thing for us is just making sure that we're taking care of our stuff," Daigneault said the night before, when the Thunder beat the Lakers. "It starts with how we're playing, the habits we're trying to sharpen what we're trying to get done. You go through the regular season, there's different opponents every night that present different challenges, but it always starts between you and yourself."
Oklahoma City will open the playoffs at home the weekend of April 18 against one of the teams that have fought their way out of the play-in (Phoenix, the LA Clippers, Portland or Golden State).
It is possible to have an NBA game in the final week of the season where both teams care and have incentive to win.
It may be rare, but that is very much the case tonight with the Boston Celtics heading to face the New York Knicks with hopes of clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
My Celtics vs. Knicks predictions and these NBA picks are glad to consider legitimate rotations in a game with real stakes on Thursday, April 9.
Celtics vs Knicks prediction
Celtics vs Knicks best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 26.5 points (-115)
While the Boston Celtics are just about locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks could technically still catch them. That would require the Celtics to lose out and the Knicks to finish 3-0, but neither thought is impossible.
So, for once this week, both teams may play genuine basketball with their actual rotations.
Perhaps more earnestly, New York has to worry about Cleveland snagging the No. 3 seed, and Boston has to continue reintegrating Jayson Tatum into the lineup. His 15 games thus far have been quite impressive, but the Celtics should want even more consistency before the playoffs.
It very well may be Tatum is firmly the No. 2 option for Boston all spring behind Jaylen Brown. Brown’s 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season deserve more praise. He took a team expected to meander and has it firmly in the No. 2 spot in the East. Brown gave Tatum reason to return, and that made the Celtics the Eastern Conference favorites (+165 at bet365).
Brown has cleared this prop in eight of his last 10 games, both exceptions coming by merely the hook.That kind of production should be immune to New York’s slowed pace, particularly since Boston works at nearly as slow a tempo by default.
Celtics vs Knicks same-game parlay
What Jayson Tatum is doing is somewhat absurd. This is not to take away from his recovery or subsequent production. But he is shooting just 41.9% from the field and 33.8% from deep, while averaging 21.6 points. He has cleared this prop only three times in his 15 games back.
Tatum is, understandably, more focused on rebounds and assists than points currently, which should serve to further boost Brown.
Taking this first-half Under is entirely an acknowledgement that these are the two slowest teams in the NBA.
This may look absurd, but realize Tatum has cashed this exact same-game parlay once in his last three games and came a point away from doing so an additional time in his last four games.
He is not driving with abandon. Instead, he is pulling up from deep, albeit with inconsistent results, while looking to impact the game beyond scoring.
Celtics vs Knicks SGP
Jayson Tatum Under 24.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 3.5 3-pointers
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Jayson Tatum Over 5.5 assists
Celtics vs Knicks odds
Spread: Boston +4.5 | New York -4.5
Moneyline: Boston +155 | New York -185
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Celtics vs Knicks betting trend to know
Boston has gone 10-5 against the spread this season with Jayson Tatum in the lineup. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Knicks.
How to watch Celtics vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video, MSG
Celtics vs Knicks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Just a few days into the offseason, Duke has already seen two rotation pieces—Nik Khamenia and Darren Harris—enter the transfer portal. What the Blue Devils haven’t heard yet are any decisions regarding the NBA Draft.
Cam Boozer is surely off to be a Top 3 pick. Dame Sarr and Pat Ngongba have challenging stay-or-go decisions to make. But interestingly, most reporters with inside knowledge of the Duke program, including The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, are operating under the assumption that Isaiah Evans will join Boozer in the draft.
Even a couple of years ago this would be a no-brainer decision for Evans, who is consistently projected as a first-round pick and tested the draft waters last season. But things have changed drastically. Case in point: recent reporting from Jeff Goodman stating that top wings in the portal could demand around $3 million dollars this offseason.
The @TheFieldOf68 has polled 10-plus high-major head coaches, assistants and GM's for the following prices that elite (Top 25 guys) portal players will likely command: pic.twitter.com/hzs1Ie3XY9
Even that number could be low, with some reports stating that John Blackwell—one of the top scoring guards in the portal and a potential Duke target—could fetch closer to $5 million.
Goodman’s reporting, coming directly from coaches, is likely more realistic than the reported number for Blackwell (potentially put out by his agent to drive up his asking price). Still, if you split the difference and say a player of Evans’ caliber would demand $4 million in NIL, you’re faced with a fascinating thought experiment.
That sum would exceed the first year of a Rookie Scale NBA contract for any player drafted below 15 overall. By the time you reach the mid 20s—where Evans is most consistently projected—a $4 million NIL payday would dwarf the first year of an NBA contract by more than $1 million dollars.
There are, of course, other factors to consider than the raw dollars. Many players enter the NBA as early as possible so that their second contract—the first chance to get a 9 figure payday—comes in their prime. But many players drafted in Evans’ range don’t even reach that second deal, with a 2018 study finding that the average career for players drafted in the 20s in the first round is much closer to 5 (the maximum length of a Rookie contract) than 10 years. A player like Evans certainly maximizes his career earning potential by entering the NBA as early as possible, but very few hit that ceiling.
There’s also a unique confounding factor to making a draft decision this year—the 2026 Draft is universally viewed as one of the best in recent memory, while the 2027 is seen as much weaker. Were Evans to return to Duke, likely making more money in the 2026-27 season than he would in the NBA, he might also jump up in the 2027 Draft. Moving up from the 25th pick to the 15th pick would be worth millions more over the length of a rookie contract.
Finally, there’s this: college players are now getting paid more than some of their NBA counterparts to play less than half of the games. At Duke, you play those games consistently in front of a national television audience, rather than the local sports networks of your average NBA contest. That’s less wear and tear on your body and an increased potential to build a brand that will yield lucrative endorsements now and into the future.
It’s highly likely this is nothing more than an interesting thought experiment given the various reports on Evans’ status. But more Duke players will face similar decisions like this as the college game continues to change. For college stars, it may soon be the case that—with the notable exception of surefire lottery picks—the best purely financial decision will be to forego the draft as long as possible.
The Houston Rockets still have a chance to catch the Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to move into the East’s No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets
The playoff scenarios on the line Thursday night are not that thrilling, but there are games that will have big impacts on the final seeding. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
Boston clinches the No. 2 seed in the East and the Atlantic Division crown with a win over the Knicks. Boston is going to be the No. 2 seed and the Atlantic Division champ regardless — it would have to lose out and New York would have to win out to flip that — but it all can become official tonight.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass
Toronto is one of five teams in the East that can finish anywhere from No. 5 to No. 9, with just two games separating them. Toronto currently sits as the No. 6 seed, avoiding the play-in, but it needs wins to stay there and this is a critical one. Miami is likely to be the No. 10 seed, but it has a chance to climb a spot or two if it wins out. The Heat had a players-only meeting after their last loss, we'll see if that has any impact tonight.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video
While Boston can lock up the No. 2 seed, this game matters more to the Knicks, which is now just half a game up on Cleveland, which sits fourth in the East. This game is a potential second-round playoff showdown, however, if Boston wins on the road it becomes much more possible it is not and Cleveland would jump up to third in the East by season's end.
Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
Both teams are in a playoff chase and need wins. Philadelphia is currently eighth in the East but could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th depending on how the final three games shake out — the 76ers desperately need wins. Houston appears headed for a 4/5 showdown with the shorthanded Lakers in the first round, though it could finish as high as third (which would require an unlikely collapse by Denver). The Rockets need a couple wins down the stretch to have home court against the Lakers in the first round, the teams are currently tied.
There are only four days remaining in the NBA regular season. Enjoy them.
Sure, we wine and moan about the half-assed efforts, mixed motivations, and full-on tanking during the home stretch, but with that chaos comes edges.
Soon enough, we’ll only have a handful of postseason games to pick from each day, and those odds will be far less forgiving than these final days of the schedule.
I make the most of this scattered late-season slate with my best NBA player props and NBA picks below.
The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat for the second time in three days tonight. Toronto is clinging to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and needs another impressive win, following Tuesday’s 121-95 squash.
R.J. Barrett was one of five Raptors to score in double figures, but Thursday’s prop pick singles out his playmaking.
The small forward finished with only two assists in that last meeting, marking just the third time in the past nine games Barrett hasn’t dished out four or more assists.
He and others had to pick up the ball-handling slack left by Immanuel Quickley’s recent injury. Quickley returned Tuesday but logged limited minutes, so Toronto still needs more playmaking from the likes of Barrett.
He registered seven potential assists against Miami last time out and averaged 6.6 potential dimes over the previous nine outings. The Heat have nosedived down the defensive rankings in recent months and have allowed 28.6 assists per game since the All-Star break (22nd).
Assist projections for Barrett all sit north of the 3.5 O/U, with the majority of models at four dimes with a ceiling flirting with five.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN-Sun, SportsNet
Prop #2: Joel Embiid Under 28.5 points
-115 at bet365
There’s nothing like fading a star player in a must-win game to get the blood pumping.
The Philadelphia 76ers need a monster effort from their stars if they want to stop sliding back in the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers have dropped two straight despite Joel Embiid’s 34 points versus San Antonio on Monday.
He’s been impressive since returning to action at the end of March, averaging almost 29 points in his last five showings. That’s puffed up his points totals from as short as 23.5 O/U to this current stand of 28.5 O/U.
That scoring output was helped by facing some of the league's quicker-tempo teams, with Miami, Chicago, Minnesota, and San Antonio all sitting in the Top 12 in pace rating. Embiid has also had to take control of the offense with 76ers standouts Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Quentin Grimes struggling down the stretch.
The Houston Rockets run the second slowest pace and sit seventh in advanced defensive rating. They’re also playing for postseason positioning tonight and have won seven in a row, with this run rooted in defense. Opponents are squeezing just 106.4 points out of the Rockets during this streak.
Embiid’s player projections don’t call for a bad night from Philly’s big man just not 29 points. All models sit below 27 points with a low of 23.4. My number comes out just shy of 25 points.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, NBCS-Philadelphia
Prop #3: Mikel Bridges Over 12.5 points
+100 at bet365
The New York Knicks are guarding the No. 3 seed in the East in these final games of the season. The Knicks stay in MSG for all three closing contests and may get a gift from the Boston Celtics, who could rest a slew of starters tonight due to a back-to-back squeeze.
Mikal Bridges has been excellent against the rival Celtics this season, putting up efforts of 12, 14, and 35 points in three meetings. He’s an erratic scorer who runs hot and cold but appears be getting warm at the right time.
Bridges is averaging more than 14 points per game over his last eight outings while shooting 50% from the field in that span.
The Celtics could be without as many as four starters and opt to limit Jayson Tatum in the first of back-to-back games. Boston has climbed from a +3.5 underdog to +4.5, with that market move hinting the C’s plans for tonight.
Bridges projections all sit north of 13 points with a ceiling of 14.5. That could be even bigger if Boston rolls out a makeshift lineup and lies down for the Knicks.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have almost reached the end of the NBA regular season, which concludes on Sunday. There isn’t a ton of drama in these last few days of the regular season, as it is known which teams have clinched spots in the playoffs or play-in games.
The only bit of intrigue left comes from the Eastern Conference, where three teams sit less than two games behind in moving out of a play-in game spot and into the top six in the conference, which would guarantee them a spot in the actual playoffs.
Currently, seven former Ohio State players are on NBA rosters. Three of those players are playing for teams that will be a part of the NBA postseason, while the other four are on the worst teams in the league this year.
For those that are playing on teams occupying the bottom of the NBA standings, it isn’t all bad news, as the failings of their teams have allowed them to see more playing time than they might otherwise have had if their squads had been in playoff position.
Since we are so close to the end of the regular season, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the year has gone for those Buckeyes in the NBA, and what might lie ahead for those former Ohio State players who will be in the postseason this year.
Mike Conley – Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite playing a career-low 18.2 minutes per game, the last couple of months have been a bit of a wild ride for the former Ohio State guard.
Prior to the trade in early February, Conley was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade. A day later, Conley was then shipped by the Bulls to Charlotte with Coby White. The following day, Conley was waived by the Hornets, and after clearing waivers, he resigned with the Timberwolves on Feb. 17.
Minnesota will likely enter the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as with three games left to play, they are three games behind the Lakers and Rockets. The veteran looks like he is playing his best basketball of the season at the right time.
After entering April with three games this season where he scored at least 10 points, Conley has reached double digits in scoring in two of the three games he has played this month. The former Buckeye is finding his rhythm from behind the arc, going 9-16 from three-point range this month.
The 11 points he scored on Sunday against Charlotte were the first time he scored at least 10 points in a game since Nov. 19.
While Conley isn’t going to see a ton of time on the floor these days, he will undoubtedly be ready when his number is called for Minnesota in the playoffs. To go along with the star power Anthony Edwards brings to the table, Conley has the calming veteran influence that a team that is looking to get over the hump and finally make the NBA Finals brings to the table.
Brice Sensabaugh – Utah Jazz
The most exciting former Ohio State player in the NBA this season has been Brice Sensabaugh, who is averaging 14.9 points per game in just 23.6 minutes per game. Sensabaugh has seen his time on the court tick up throughout the season since he is playing for the Utah Jazz, who are actively trying to be the worst team in the NBA.
The Jazz have already had tanking allegations levied against them, and are currently tied with the Sacramento Kings for the worst record in the Western Conference.
When he has been given time on the court, Sensabaugh has been a scoring machine. After scoring 34 points in 43 minutes against Oklahoma City on Sunday, he now has four games this season with at least 30 points.
Following March, when he averaged 20.8 points per game, Sensabaugh is averaging 25 points per game through the four games he has played in April. Sensabaugh has been on fire from three-point range this month, hitting six triples in two of the four games in April.
It’s hard to say if Sensabaugh is a part of Utah’s long-term plans, since a lot of the future for the Jazz likely depends on where they land in the draft lottery. Judging by how he didn’t see much playing time earlier in the season when Utah was closer to fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Buckeye traded in the offseason, since there likely won’t be enough playing time next season to justify the Jazz keeping Sensabaugh.
Jae’Sean Tate – Houston Rockets
Another Buckeye who will join Conley in the playoffs is Jae’Sean Tate of the Houston Rockets. Judging by how little he has played during the regular season, it’s only likely that Tate will see the court in a blowout or if Houston suffers a number of injuries.
So far this season, Tate has appeared in 44 games, where he is averaging 8.4 minutes per game and 2.6 points per game.
Since Houston has clinched a spot in the playoffs, Tate has been used a little more in April, registering 33 minutes across those games. On April 3 against Utah, Tate finished with seven points against Utah, which is only bettered this year by the eight points he scored in an early February game against Indiana.
Much like Conley, Tate could be valuable in the postseason since he is a veteran. Tate is in his sixth season in the NBA, so he knows he could be called upon at any time. If Tate gets on the floor in the playoffs, expect him to give everything he has to help Kevin Durant and the Rockets make a run at the title.
Jamison Battle – Toronto Raptors
The third former Buckeye playing for a playoff team this year is Jamison Battle. The Toronto Raptors are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, but are just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. As long as the Raptors don’t fall below sixth place, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament that starts next week.
After one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle is now in his second season with the Toronto Raptors. Following a rookie season where he started 10 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per game, Battle has seen his minutes cut to 8.7 per game during the 2025-26 season. Along with his dip in minutes, Battle is only averaging 3.2 points per game this season.
Battle’s best game in 2026 came last month against Utah when he recorded 17 points, which has only been topped by the 20 points he scored on Oct. 31 against Cleveland. So far in April, Battle has appeared in three games, but has only registered nine minutes of playing time during those contests.
Don’t expect Battle to be on the court much once the playoffs hit, since Toronto looks to have its rotation set.
E.J. Liddell – Brooklyn Nets
One former Ohio State player who looks like they are going to have a strong close to the regular season is E.J. Liddell. After he was taken in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Liddell suffered a knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines during the 2022-23 season.
Following the tough start to his NBA career, Liddell has struggled to find traction, appearing in just 20 games over the next two seasons.
Although Liddell has only played in 23 games this year, he has at least recorded the first two starts of his professional career. Entering April, Liddell had scored 55 points this season for the Nets. In two games this month, Liddell has registered 36 points, with his season high coming on Tuesday night when he finished with 21 points against Milwaukee.
It’s unlikely Liddell’s future lies with Brooklyn, since the Nets likely don’t have an idea of what they are doing going forward. At least the strong close to the regular season for Liddell might entice other teams to take a chance on the former Buckeye, since he is still pretty young and talented.
Micah Potter – Indiana Pacers
Despite Potter opting to transfer to Wisconsin to close out his college basketball career after starting his career at Ohio State, we’ll update you on how his season is going.
Since Indiana’s year has been a mess after Tyrese Haliburton was injured during the NBA Finals last season, Potter has seen more playing time as the end of the season has drawn closer. The big man has played in 44 games, averaging 9.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Potter is coming off one of his best performances of the season, recording a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday against Cleveland. The double-double was the fourth of the season for Potter. The only higher-scoring output Potter has registered this season came in February when he finished with 23 points against Philadelphia.
The future for Indiana isn’t clear since so much hinges on Haliburton returning to the court healthy last year. Also, the Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. With how Potter has been able to provide solid production when called on throughout his four seasons in the league, a team will likely pick up the former Buckeye and Badger if Indiana decides not to bring him back next season.
D’Angelo Russell – Washington Wizards
There isn’t a lot to report on the former Ohio State guard, since he hasn’t played since Jan. 10, when he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.
Russell was packaged with Anthony Davis in the trade that sent them to the Washington Wizards. Neither player has suited up for the Wizards, who currently have the worst record in the NBA. Russell will finish the season averaging 10.2 points per game in the 26 contests he appeared in.
Finding value in fantasy drafts is essential to win a league title. While some of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball will be more productive in their expected roles, others will take full advantage of new opportunities.
Whether that's through a change in scenery or injuries to other players, those who exceed expectations are capable of delivering fantasy managers a league title. Below are some of the biggest surprises in fantasy basketball this season.
Coming off of a 2024-25 season in which he was one of the NBA's best reserves, Alexander-Walker appeared likely to take on a similar role after his move from Minnesota to Atlanta. Then, Trae Young suffered a knee injury during the Hawks' fifth game of the season, and Alexander-Walker has been a fixture in the starting lineup ever since. For the season, he's averaged 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.2 three-pointers per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the foul line.
Alexander-Walker began the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks; he'll end it as a player providing third-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. And from a non-fantasy standpoint, he's the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player honors.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Despite his scoring and rebounding averages taking a hit last season in comparison to his 2023-24 numbers, Duren was expected to provide consistent fantasy value in the middle for the Pistons this season. However, few may have expected the leap that the fourth-year center made as a scorer. Earning his first All-Star Game appearance, Duren has averaged a career-best 19.5 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the foul line. Add in the rebounding prowess, and Duren has provided reliable top-50 fantasy value.
F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
There was a sense that first-year head coach Mike Brown's offensive approach would benefit the Knicks' wings, as it put the ball in their hands more often. And Anunoby made the most of his opportunities. In 65 games, he has averaged 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Beginning the season with a Yahoo! ADP outside of the top-60, Anunoby has been ranked comfortably within the top-50 for most of this season.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP in the eighties, Clingan has provided top-50 fantasy value in his second NBA season. In 75 games, the 7-foot-2 center has averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers, shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the foul line.
Emerging as one of the best centers to roster for those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Clingan's willingness to attempt shots from the perimeter is worth watching. After attempting 49 three-pointers as a rookie, he's made 80 this season, shooting 33.8 percent. That isn't an elite percentage, but Clingan has the potential to make the three-pointer a reliable aspect of his game as he continues to develop.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon rupture and subsequent departure from Milwaukee opened the door for Rollins to compete for minutes this season, few fantasy managers expected him to be as valuable as he would become. A starter in 67 of the 74 games he has appeared in, Rollins has averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 79.6 percent from the foul line.
To receive top-50 production from a player likely added off the waiver wire during a solid opening month of the season is the kind of transaction that can win fantasy managers a league title.
C Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Even with Queta's solid showing for Portugal at EuroBasket just before the start of this season, some questioned if he could separate himself from the competition for the starting center job in Boston. The 7-footer did so, starting 73 of the 74 games that he's appeared in.
Queta heads into the postseason with career-best averages in points (10.3), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.6), steals (0.8) and blocks (1.3) while shooting 65.1 percent from the field and 69.9 percent from the foul line. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks, Queta has provided reliable top-100 value in his first NBA season as a starter.
G Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
Gillespie's fantasy value took a hit during the latter stages of this season thanks to a shooting slump, but that does not erase the work done to earn a consistent role in Phoenix. A starter in 57 of his 79 games, the third-year guard has averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 87.4 percent from the foul line. "Villain Jr." carved out a consistent role for himself, and the timing could not be better, as Gillespie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
F Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans
Sent to New Orleans as part of a three-team deal headlined by CJ McCollum, Bey has enjoyed a career year after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign rehabbing from a torn ACL. In 72 games, starting 64, he has averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line.
Bey took advantage of opportunities that came about due to injury to other Pelicans rotation players, locking down a spot in the starting lineup. As a result, a player who was not on the radar of most fantasy managers will end the season providing top-100 value.
Honorable Mention (they were good before the injuries hit)
F Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
While the expectation of many was that Porter's numbers would receive a boost in Brooklyn, few expected him to be close to a top-25 player before his season came to a premature end in mid-March. Fantasy managers in most leagues could not benefit during their playoff rounds, but that doesn't erase the fact that Porter averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers.
G Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
There were questions heading into the season about whether George was the right point guard to lead the Jazz into the future. Not anymore. In 54 games, he averaged career-highs in points, assists and steals, and his field-goal percentage jumped from 39.1 percent in 2024-25 to 45.6 percent this season. It will be interesting to see how George's fantasy value will be affected by Utah's improved rotation in 2026-27.
C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
While Sarr finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting last season, the production did not pick up until after the All-Star break. He made notable strides in Year 2, with his averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all improving. Sarr's improved strength allowed him to spend more time in the paint, which helped increase his impact on both ends of the floor, and his fantasy value increased as well.
Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. We've done MVP, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Today, let's get into Sixth Man of the Year. Here's where we stand.
Sixth Man of the Year
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Keldon Johnson
While statistics matter to me in what was a tight race between the Spurs' Keldon Johnson and the Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr., it was the tone Johnson set, the way he leads in the San Antonio locker room, that was the difference. He's the longest-serving Spur on the roster, and the positive vibes in the locker room start with him. Pair that with his highly efficient shooting and he gets my vote. But just barely.
If it weren't for Ajay Mitchell missing so many games in the middle of the season, he would have won this award for me.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Keldon Johnson
This could have been Ajay Mitchell's or Isaiah Stewart's award but both have missed significant time. It likely comes down to Johnson or Jaime Jaquez Jr. Give the edge to Keldon for far superior efficiency (62.5% true shooting vs. Jaquez's 56.1%) and his team being likely to finish 15+ wins ahead of Jaquez's in the standings.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Keldon Johnson
Johnson's production off the bench is one reason why the Spurs have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season. He's averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, leading the way for a team that ranks ninth in the league in bench scoring (41.4 ppg).
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
To me, this is a two-man race between Jaquez and Keldon Johnson. Jaquez averages more points per game, more steals per game, 0.2 fewer rebounds per game, and 3.3 more assists per game. Jaquez also had stretches during the season where he was the offensive engine for the Heat when Tyler Herro or Norman Powell were out. I know the Spurs were a better team than the Heat, but I think the Heat don't even make the play-in tournament without Jaquez.
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to hang onto home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They are currently seeded fourth in the Western Conference but have an identical record as the No. 5 Houston Rockets. The Golden State Warriors are locked into the No. 10 seed and will have to win two games in the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Obi Toppin #1 celebrates with head coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 117-108. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Obi Toppin #1 celebrates with head coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 117-108. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One more home game to go. The Brooklyn Nets will wrap up the home portion of the schedule tonight. They’ve won their last two games after beating the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on Tuesday evening.
The opponent tonight is firmly looking ahead to the NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers knew what the deal was this season and have operated accordingly. They lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night — their third straight — and are now a game behind the Wizards and two games ahead of the Nets in the race to the bottom. Another win by the Nets who are on the front half of a back-to-back would likely drop them into fourth or even fifth. So there is a lot at stake.
And here’s a not-so-fun fact. If there’s a three-way tie for third, the worst case scenario for the Nets in the lottery on May 10 would be ninth.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.
🤕 Injuries
The following are out:
Nic Claxton
Noah Clowney
Egor Demin
Terance Mann
Josh Minnott
Michael Porter Jr
Day’ron Sharpe
Nolan Traore
Ziaire Williams
Danny Wolf
The following are out:
Johnny Furphy
Tyrese Haliburton
TJ McConnell
Andrew Nembhard
Aaron Nesmith
Pascal Siakam
Ivica Zubac
Kobe Brown, Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker are questionable.
🏀 The game
Brooklyn won the first meeting while Indiana took the second. HIGH STAKES BASKETBALL ON DECK!
Indiana desperately needs to maintain their current draft position. The pick is protected from 1-4 and from 10-30. If it falls anywhere else, it goes to the Los Angeles Clippers. High stakes, high drama.
Drake Powell will look to make something happen tonight. Somebody’s gotta shoot and with Traore out, Powell figures to be that guy once again. We’ll see how the teams manage their rotations tonight considering… ya know.
Even in the final days of the season, there’s still an opportunity to impress someone. The players we’ll see tonight are playing for their jobs next season and if you put your best foot forward, you’ll always have a good chance to find something good. Micah Potter is looking to carve out a role on this team, and a while back he spoke about some of the things he tries to bring every night:
“Bring energy. Be a connector on the floor. Use my voice, set physical screens, or teams are starting to switch more often now, so creating angles for my teammates and for myself on screening. Hitting open shots. Making the right play. Playing winning basketball as best as I possibly can.
“I know the situation we’re in as far as guys being injured and things like that, so roles will change based on different lineups. But when I’m in the game, I try to play winning basketball as best I can, be physical, use my voice, and try to help my teammates and create for my teammates.”
Make everything count.
With this being the first leg of a back-to-back as we enter into the final weekend of the season, look for Friday’s injury report to be even more congested than usual.
As the Nets close out another lost season, they hope to enter into the off-season with optimism in the fanbase and trust that the lottery balls will break their way this time. Nets fans have taken a lot of hits in the 2020s, so maybe they’ll be due some good fortune for once.
👀 Player to watch: Obi Toppin
When the Pacers return to competitive play next season, Toppin figures to be a part of that. He’s been out for most of the year with leg injuries, but he’s here to chip in as much as he can at this point of the season. As the team starts to get healthier, they know that Toppin can be a major contributor on a championship level team. Once they get healthy and incorporate their new draft pick into the team next year, look for them to be back in the playoff hunt.
Fun fact: in a couple of mock drafts, the Nets are projected to take his Obi’s similar sized brother, J.J., in the second round. He averaged 20 and 1o for Texas Tech this season.
Jalen Wilson this is your time to shine. As the longest tenured Net that played on Tuesday, he’s got some familiarity with the organization and with the coaching staff. Similar to everyone else who will suit up tonight, Wilson is playing for a spot on this team next year. If he closes out on a high note, it’ll lead to Nets management having to think a bit more closely on how they can utilize him next season and beyond.
📺 From the Vault
WrestleMania is right around the corner, so the Vault’s getting a bit of an extra workout today
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 8: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks grabs the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks lost bigly, 137-111, to the Detroit Pistons as this depressing season draws to a close. But you know what’s not depressing? Jericho Sims! The big man recorded the first trip-dub of his career. But yeah, it was a rough one as the Pistons ran all over the Bucks, winning the season series 3-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
An OK game from Rollins. Not his best, but not his worst either. He had two bad live-ball turnovers, throwing it cross-court, as well as a de facto turnover shooting a three on a no-pass offence barely any seconds into the shot clock. Having said all of this, Ausar Thomspon doesn’t exactly make it easy for you.
Like AJ, the only shots TP made were threes, and most of them were incredibly tough looks in which he had a split second to get the shot off, and made them, which was impressive to see. He did have a few poor closeouts, though.
Dieng was better last night than he was against the Nets from a shooting POV (including some nice step-backs), but man, the finishing at the rim can be rough; he has to get stronger in the offseason. Also had a horror sequence where he helped on the strong-side corner for no good reason, leaving his man open for an easy three, and then dribbled down and threw a cross-court pass that ended up as a Pistons pick-six. I will say that Ous 1) turned it over less, and 2) competed more on the offensive boards than I recall him doing; he had a nice tip to Sims in this one.
It’s been great to see AJ get more threes up full stop, but super great that he’s been making them at a way better clip. Over the last six games, he’s shooting 46.2% on a whopping 8.7 attempts per game. Hit a number of tough ones in this game. Whew!
Sims’ game just continues to blossom, and you can see the confidence washing over him. Doc continues to use him as a hub, and he’s getting increasingly comfortable making plays and trusting himself in that role. A fair few of Jericho’s assists came off scramble situations where he found a shooter before the defence had set, but he also had some advanced backdoor passes to Rollins and Ryan. Furthermore, he’s trusting himself to take dudes one-on-one a few times every game now, something he wouldn’t have dared to try at the start of the season.
Grade: A+
Cormac Ryan
24 minutes, 16 points, 6/9 FG, 3/6 3P, -11
Another solid game from Cormac. He nailed some threes, but the most intriguing part of his game has been his ability to finish in the paint, whether that be with moves around the rim or just short little jumpers.
Grade: B+
Gary Trent Jr.
19 minutes, 7 points, 3/12 FG, 0/8 3P, -16
GT returned from a decent layoff, but didn’t have it. He looked like the same player we’d seen for most of this season. Had a pretty pathetic effort fighting on the inside against Beef Stew. Did make two layups, though, so you know I have to give an ode to my guy Morgan: “Gary at the rim, Gary at the rim. It’s scary, it’s scary. It’s Gary at the rim!“
Grade: D
Doc Rivers
I think Jericho’s career game last night had a lot to do with Doc empowering him more and more as the season has progressed, so Doc deserves some credit for that. The Bucks were never going to beat that team, but again, they played together and didn’t allow it to get too ugly—that’s all you can really ask for.
Grade: C+
Garbage Time: Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Harris
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc said Jericho getting a triple-double was “awesome.” Noted that they kept him in and worked to check the boxes as a team as the game wound down.
Rivers credited Ous for turning it over less, and also defended his high turnover numbers of late because of the lack of other ballhandlers on the team. “There are times when he’s your primary ballhandler, and that’s something, obviously, that we wouldn’t be doing, [but] we have no choice with the bodies.”
Eric Nehm tweeted that Cleaning the Glass has Ous shooting 65% at the rim since joining the Bucks.
Credit Finn for notifying me of this, but Cormac Ryan (12) now has more made shots from 0-5 feet than AJ Green (11) for the entire season in nine games played, compared to Green’s 76.
Up Next
The Bucks play their final home game of the season tomorrow night against the Nets. Catch the game at 7:00. p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Mar 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) reacts after a basket with guard Max Christie (00) and forward P.J. Washington (25) and forward Cooper Flagg (32) against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Cooper Flagg recently sat down with Tommy Alter of The Young Man and the Three podcast in his first podcast appearance ever, which he made sure to let everyone know before they started taping. In the episode aptly named THE MAVS EPISODE, Flagg was joined by teammates Ryan Nembhard and Max Christie, and they hit a whole host of topics.
Some highlights include Christie’s trade to Dallas, everybody’s draft experience and what Max Christie has learned from Klay Thompson. We’ll get back to that last one.
It’s not a secret that Cooper Flagg has struggled with losing as much as the Dallas Mavericks have this year. He has simply not been used to it. But there is an argument to be made about how learning to lose will help you win later in your career and help you deal with adversity better.
Flagg talked about that at length, and touched on how he’s improved at managing the mental side as the season wore on.
“You have to learn how to lose, I think. And learn how to take positives away and know that you might have another one [game] tomorrow or the next day.”
The Dallas Mavericks are in a rebuild phase around Cooper Flagg, and have more than twice as many losses than wins currently at 55-25.
Coming off a successful season at Duke and drafted with the number one pick, Cooper Flagg is not accustomed to losing at all.
“We lost four games last year in college and each time we had four or five days in between to go through all the film. You start working on drills from the game, different things that you have to work on,” Flagg said.
It didn’t make it easier that the pressure was high from back home, especially to start the season:
“The family is freaking out. Like my mom especially. She hadn’t seen me lose that much before so she’s worried about me. And you’re trying to just move on each night.”
“It was tough. There were times early in the season where it was taking a toll on me mentally,” Cooper Flagg said, also emphasizing how much this season has taught him:
“That was a big learning curve for me. Learning how to lose and how to bounce back a little bit quicker and get over it quicker than previously.”
But Flagg is not the only one who learned a lot this season in Dallas. Max Christie, the young shooting guard brought to Dallas with Anthony Davis in the Luka Trade last February, had a lot to say about what a young shooter can learn from one of the best shooters the league has ever seen.
When asked what he has learned from Klay Thompson, he went straight to talking about Thompson’s personality and how he carries himself:
“Outside of basketball and shooting, it’s been a joy to watch him and his personality. The confidence that he has. He doesn’t care what anybody else thinks about him,” Max Christie said about Klay Thompson. It’s that very useful and extreme shooter’s confidence, which is necessary if you want to be the best. Something once-Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr. was good at, as well. A shooter without confidence is at best mediocre.
And Max Christie seems inspired by that approach. “It’s honestly something I think that I can use more of. Continuing to have that ultimate confidence,” he said.
When it comes to basketball and shooting, it’s all about speed.
“What I try to take is his speed and his quickness of his release, and how compact his shot is – but how quick he gets into it. And that’s an adjustment for me. This is the best shooting year I’ve had in my career so far and I’m adjusting to how guys are closing out hard. I have a bad habit of sometimes passing up shots because my shot isn’t as quick as I want it to be right now,” he said.
Max Christie is shooting a very efficient 40 percent from three on 5.8 attempts per game this season, and averages 12.2 points per game, the most of his four-year NBA career.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 22: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game on January 22, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off two disappointing losses, with their postseason chances tanking. They’ll now look to stop the bleeding in what’s shaping up to be a true must-win game, traveling to Houston to take on the Rockets.
The Rockets, as many know at this point, have had what’s best described as a hot-and-cold season. They stand at 50 wins, which in itself is a legitimate accomplishment. However, the process behind their season has been questionable at best.
Head coach Ime Udoka has struggled mightily with adjustments and making this roster work without a true, traditional point guard. There’s been a burner account scandal that may or may not be true, involving Kevin Durant allegedly trashing his teammates on Twitter, and the fact that neither the Rockets nor KD himself have outright denied it is eyebrow-raising, to say the least.
Then there’s been sporadic play from young superstar Alperen Sengun. Some nights he looks like baby Jokic. Other nights he looks lost, getting pick-and-rolled to death to the dismay of the coaching staff and teammates alike. Factor in the shaky shooting surrounding those two, and it’s a recipe for the Rockets losing games they simply should not have.
A lot of their 50 wins come down to two things: their talent and Durant. Despite the Twitter allegations, he’s been a marvel in his 18th year. He’s already played in 76 games and averaged 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 51.7 percent shooting and 41.3 percent from three. His durability has been remarkable given his age, and the production has been rock solid for a guy approaching his forties.
The Rockets have also had contributions across the board, with young guys like Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. all finding their respective ways. The issue isn’t the talent, but more so the questionable roster fit. There aren’t many playmakers or guys who can break down a defender off the dribble, which is what makes the Fred VanVleet injury so devastating.
It essentially becomes: let KD cook, and if he misses, pray for an offensive rebound. The Rockets have done well amassing center depth behind Sengun, but results can be inconsistent depending on the matchup.
So, why is this game so important? The standings race has heated up, with the Toronto Raptors winning a few games and leapfrogging the Sixers, who currently sit in the eighth spot. Other teams jockeying for position, particularly the Orlando Magic, have also won some major games which, factored in with their softer remaining schedule, means the Sixers essentially have to win out if they want to secure a playoff spot and stay out of the play-in tournament.
If the Sixers lose this game, it would skyrocket their chances of being in the play-in, as even if they win the final two games, it’s simply too much ground to make up in a very short remaining schedule. If they win, they’d put themselves in the driver’s seat and, barring an embarrassing defeat or two to a tanking team, make the playoffs.
Not to mention, there are implications with this game outside of the postseason picture. The Sixers own the Rockets pick from the Jared McCain deal, and a Sixers win would help keep that pick towards the lower twenties. The Lakers, Rockets and Cavaliers (via Atlanta) all currently sit at 50 wins, with the Knicks and Nuggets right behind at 51. A Rockets loss would help keep that pick closer to 21st overall, while a Rockets win would potentially nudge it closer to 25th.
Speaking of inconsistency, here come the Sixers. Their prior two losses have been winnable games that they simply haven’t been able to win. Tyrese Maxey in particular has put up two duds, being outplayed by Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins and posting what’s ultimately his worst game of the year against the Spurs. This is a get-right matchup where he has to be aggressive against a plethora of Houston defenders. He cannot have another scoreless half like he did in San Antonio.
Maxey wasn’t the sole reason they lost, however. Quentin Grimes has put up two stinkers, and is tanking his respective payday after his now-former agent negotiated him out of any deal. Grimes has Houston ties, so maybe that’ll incentivize him to get back on track with this game. The Rockets don’t have much true guard depth, and both Maxey and Grimes will simply have to be way better than what they’ve shown recently.
The one silver lining that might translate to this game is Joel Embiid, who was hands down the Sixers’ best player against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Embiid posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, and was the only reason the Sixers hung around as they did. Embiid had success against Sengun and the Rockets a few months ago when they played in Philly, and this shapes up to be a potential revenge game of sorts for Sengun. Either that, or Embiid makes Furkan Korkmaz’s offseason comments look even more goofy.
Heading into this game, Cam Payne and Johni Broome are the only Sixers listed, both out. Houston’s side of the injury report is relatively clean, with Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet remaining out with their respective injuries. More or less, this is shaping up to be a mostly healthy team vs. another mostly healthy team.
Out of all the games this season, this might be the biggest one where they have to come away with a victory. A win keeps their guaranteed postseason dreams alive and healthy, a loss essentially banishes them to the dreaded play-in tournament. We’ll have a better idea of where this team is headed soon enough.
Game Details
When: Thursday, April 9, 8:00 PM ET Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Prime Video Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs guard guard Dylan Harper (2) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
I must admit that I didn’t have high hopes entering yesterday’s game. After all, both Castle and Wemby were sidelined, and the Spurs weren’t really playing for anything (the chance of them getting the first seed is now officially zero). In contrast, a Portland win tonight would have matched their record with the Clippers, giving them an excellent chance to finish the regular season with an improved position in the play-in. Even so, the shorthanded Spurs came out firing and won each of the first three quarters, showcasing impressive depth and versatility. While I hate to see injuries, especially this late in the season, it is heartening to know that this iteration of the Silver and Black can beat a motivated opponent without two of its best players.
Another piece of good news is that — while the box score for this game was pretty vanilla in some respects — it did produce some highly unusual combinations related to free throws, as you will see below. I’m testing out a slightly modified format for the highlights today; first, I’ll outline the key box score factors that determined the game. Second, I’ll identify any notable rarities contained within the box score. These posts are still new and evolving, so please let me know what you think!
Factors that Decided the Game
This game was quite balanced in many key areas, and where imbalances existed they were often offsetting.
Regarding balanced stats, San Antonio had a minor edge in total rebounds (+2), a minor deficit in turnovers (+1), and no advantage or disadvantage in total offensive rebounds. San Antonio did have an edge in ORB% (not pictured here), but again it was mild.
The Spurs were notably more efficient from the field, including FG% and 3P% margins of +3.7 and +5.5 percentage points, respectively. However, these advantages were offset by Portland’s edge in volume, including FGA and 3PA margins of +5 and +8, respectively. The net result of these competing forces was that San Antonio made one more field goal and one less three, thus outscoring the Blazers by a single point from the field.
With everything else being a wash, this game was effectively decided at the free throw line. Fortunately, the Spurs had big advantages in both volume (+9 FTA) and especially FT% ( +28.95 percentage points), resulting in a FTM differential of +10 (i.e., about 91% of San Antonio’s final margin of victory).
Rare Box Score Stats
The Spurs’ victory at the charity stripe was weird, because it was quite large despite the combined free throw volume and efficiency of the two teams being unimpressive.
For example, this contest marked just the 40th time in the last 13 regular seasons that a winning team achieved a FTM differential of +10 or better on no more than 19 FTA. Put another way, this combination happens about 3 times per regular season on average, or about once in every 422 games.
In the set of 40 games mentioned above, the winning team almost always achieved their large FTM margin with excellent efficiency. However, the Spurs’ FT% in this game was basically average. In fact, regular season winners have earned a FTM margin of +10 or more on 19 of fewer FTA and a FT% no better than 78.95% just five times since 2012-2013, or about once in every 3,372 regular season games.
Due to Portland’s dreadful FT% (50%), San Antonio achieved a FT% margin of +28.95 percentage points despite having a FT% of just 78.95%. In the last 13 regular seasons, about one in every 375 winners have met or bettered that FT% differential with a FT% that bad or worse (that’s about 3.3 instances per regular season).
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
R.J. Barrett
Joel Embiid
Mikal Bridges
Raphielle Johnson
