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The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers meet in a crucial NBA Play-In matchup on April 14, with the winner securing the No. 7 seed and the loser getting one final chance to fight for a playoff spot.

Even with a safety net, this is a high-leverage game where teams lean heavily on their top players, tighten rotations, and prioritize execution, all of which create sharper edges in the prop market. That’s exactly where our NBA player prop projections come in.

Here are the top Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks based on our model’s biggest edges.

Trail Blazers vs Suns computer picks for April 14

Trail Blazers	Suns
Clingan u13.5 points  -115	Allen o2.5 rebounds  -105
Henderson o12.5 points  -112	Brooks u17.5 points  +100
Avdija u5.5 assists  -132	Booker u26.5 points  +107

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Trail Blazers computer picks

Donovan Clingan Under 13.5 points (-115)

Projection: 11.5 points

Donovan Clingan’s scoring outlook is being slightly overvalued in this spot. In a Play-In environment, the Portland Trail Blazers are likely to lean more on their primary perimeter creators, limiting Clingan’s offensive volume.

With touches fluctuating and efficiency harder to come by in a tighter game, our model has him falling short of this number.

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Scoot Henderson Over 12.5 points (-112)

Projection: 14.6 points

Scoot Henderson is set up for a usage bump in a high-leverage game. With the ball in his hands more often and the pace still projected to be playable, his scoring opportunities should be there.

Our model sees a clear gap between the projection and the line, making this a strong Over spot.

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Deni Avdija Under 6.5 assists (-132)

Projection: 5.2 assists

Deni Avdija’s assist line is inflated relative to his expected role here. In a more controlled Play-In setting, secondary playmakers often see fewer clean-assist opportunities, especially when possessions slow down.

Our projection comes in well below this number, making the Under the sharper side.

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Suns computer picks

Grayson Allen Over 2.5 rebounds (-105)

Projection: 3.3 rebounds

Grayson Allen’s rebounding is being undervalued by the market. With the Phoenix Suns likely playing their core rotation heavier minutes, Allen should have plenty of opportunities to contribute on the glass.

This line sits well below his projected output.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Allen Now at bet365!/span

Dillon Brooks Under 17.5 points (+100)

Projection: 16.5 points

Dillon Brooks is always capable of putting up shots, but that doesn’t mean efficiency follows — especially in a high-pressure setting. 

With defensive attention tightening and better scoring options around him, our model projects him to fall short of this total, making the plus-money Under appealing.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Brooks Now at bet365!/span

Devin Booker Under 26.5 points (+107)

Projection: 26.1 points

Devin Booker’s number is right on the edge, but the value leans Under. In a Play-In game, defensive focus ramps up on primary scorers, and efficiency often dips as a result.

With the line slightly above our projection, the Under is the sharper play.

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How to watch Trail Blazers vs Suns tonight

Location	Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date	Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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The betting public is backing all of the favorites ahead of day one of the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday evening. 

Top sportsbooks reported a majority of tickets and money supporting the favorites in the first four matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Key Takeaways

• No favorite generated less than 59% of spread bets at BetMGM or DraftKings.
  
  
• There are several instances of the under being in the minority for tickets and the majority for handle.
  
  
• LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Bam Adebayo were the most popular targets of player prop bets at DraftKings.

The Play-In Tournament was officially adopted ahead of the 2020-21 season. It’s meant to both whet the palate of NBA fans and give teams opportunities to play for their playoff futures, but in the world of sports wagering, it also represents another chance for fans to find a wide menu of betting odds. 

Tuesday’s schedule will see the Charlotte Hornets face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference’s 9/10 game, before the Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference’s 7/8 showdown. 

Heat vs. Hornets predictions were practically an open-and-shut case for the public. The majority of bettors are backing the upstart Hornets in the early game. More than half, 59%, of bets and 74% of the money are on their spread, which rose from -4.5 to -5.5, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing. 

As for Miami, 51% of bets but only 38% of money is on the Heat moneyline (+180). Scoring is not expected to be high, with 61% of bets and 77% of money on the under, which fluctuated between 227.5 and 228.5.

DraftKings insights shared with Covers revealed that the Hornets-Heat matchup was the most-bet NBA game to start the week. 

Almost two-thirds, 64%, of tickets and 77% of the pot is on the Hornets’ spread, while 73% of wagers and 74% of the handle is on the Hornets’ moneyline. Nearly three-quarters, 74%, of bets and 60% of the money is also on the under, according to DraftKings Nation.

Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions showed a similar breakdown. At BetMGM, 72% of bets and 70% of the handle were on the Suns’ spread (up from -3.5 to -4.5). Meanwhile, 55% of bets and 87% of the money in the moneyline market also went to the Suns (-165), while 52% of bets and 86% of the handle were on the under (up from 213.5 to 217.5).

In what was DraftKings’ second most-bet game in the Association, 60% of tickets and 71% of money in the spread market, as well as 76% of bets and 55% of the handle in the moneyline market, were on the Suns. The only real divide occurred in the total market, which showed that 30% of bets and 74% of the handle were on the over.

Wednesday Play-In betting breakdown

Wednesday’s Play-In lineup will feature the Philadelphia 76ers against the Orlando Magic in the East’s 7/8 matchup, before the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Clippers for the West’s 9/10 battle.

BetMGM reported 70% of bets on the Sixers -1.5 and the Sixers moneyline (-125), even though Joel Embiid is expected to miss the contest with appendicitis. Bettors are anticipating a lower-scoring game, with 70% of wagers on under 220.5.

DraftKings revealed that 61% of tickets and 78% of the money are on the Sixers’ spread, as well as 63% of bets and 82% of the handle on the Sixers’ moneyline. More than a quarter, 26%, of bets and 78% of the handle are on the under.

Turning to the late game, BetMGM shared that 64% of bets are on Clippers -5.5. However, 65% of wagers are also on the Warriors’ moneyline (+165). Points are expected in this contets, as 53% of tickets are on over 220.5.

DraftKings users like the Clippers in both major team markets, with 62% of bets and 93% of the handle backing them on the spread, as well as 70% of tickets and 75% of the money on the moneyline. A quarter of bets and 71% of the handle are on under 220.5.

Popular NBA Play-In player props

NBA betting sites aren’t limited to offering team markets during the Play-In Tournament, the first step in teams’ pursuit of reaching the NBA Finals.

DraftKings shared with Covers that the three players receiving the most interest in the player prop betting market were LaMelo Ball (Hornets), Mark Williams (Suns), and Bam Adebayo (Heat).

Ball to score 15+ points, make 4+ three-pointers, and score 20+ points were the sportsbook’s three most-popular player props to begin the week. Williams to score 20+ points (+870 at the time of writing) was next, followed by Adebayo to score 20+ points.

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The Miami Heat face the Charlotte Hornets in an elimination game on Tuesday in the NBA’s play-in tournament. The winner will face the loser of Wednesday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday — with the winner of that game securing the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Detroit Pistons. The loser of Tuesday’s Heat-Hornets game is eliminated and lands in the NBA Draft Lottery.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets

• Date: Tuesday, April 14

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Miami Heat: 43-39

• Charlotte Hornets: 44-38

Odds

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets -5.5

• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets -220 (65.8%) / Miami Heat +180 (34.2%)

• Over/Under: 229.5

The Phoenix Suns face the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA’s play-in tournament on Tuesday. The winner will get the Western Conference’s No. 7 playoff seed and face the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The loser will play the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on Friday — with the winner of that game landing the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns

• Date: Tuesday, April 14

• Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

• Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Portland Trail Blazers: 42-40

• Phoenix Suns: 45-37

Odds

• Spread: Phoenix Suns -3.5

• Moneyline: Phoenix Suns -165 (59.4%) / Portland Trail Blazers +135 (40.6%)

• Over/Under: 217.5

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The NBA Play-In Tournament marks the start of the postseason with the Charlotte Hornets hosting the Miami Heat tonight.

Charlotte’s young guns are home favorites versus the Heat, and our same game parlay for the opening Play-In tilt leans into LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel to make a big splash in this big game.

Here are my best Heat vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, April 14.

Our best Heat vs Hornets SGP for April 14

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the best two-way teams since the All-Star break, finishing the schedule with an 18-9 SU record. The Hornets also hold down home court when laying points, boasting a 15-6 SU mark on the season.

LaMelo Ball has dished out eight dimes in eight of his last 14 games, including 13 assists in a win over the Miami Heat on March 17. Ball’s player projections sit north of eight assists against a Heat defense that wrapped the year among the worst in the NBA.

Kon Knueppel is often on the scoring end of those Ball assists, thriving in their guard-on-guard high screens. The rookie flamethrower has torched the Heat in all four meetings, putting up 19, 22, 27, and 30 points while shooting 45% from beyond the arc in those games.

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The NBA Play-In Tournament seems like a cruel joke on those Western Conference teams battling for the final two seeds. Waiting in Round 1 is either the Thunder or Spurs, which is like asking, “Would you rather wrestle a lion or a tiger?”

The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns tip off the Play-In tonight, fighting for the No. 7 seed. These Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks pass on the side and total, and instead poke around for a trio of NBA player props.

Best Trail Blazers vs Suns props

Player	Pick
Dillion Brooks	Over 3.5 rebounds	-140
Toumani Camara	Under 12.5 points	-102
Devin Booker	Over 2.5 threes	+150

Prop #1: Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds

-140 at bet365

This is a battle of two very strong defensive teams that like to shoot the 3-ball. What doesn’t go in will turn into long rebounding opportunities, and Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks isn’t shy about mixing it up on the glass.

Brooks, who averages around 3.5 rebounds, has hauled in 4+ boards in 19 of his last 28 games. That includes four rebounds in a win over Portland on February 3 (as Brooks missed 18 games with a busted hand this winter). He averaged 8.1 rebounding chances during that 28-game span.

He played just 21 minutes in the season finale and has been working his way back into form since returning to the lineup at the end of March. He’ll be a full go for this Play-In contest with projections sitting between 3.4 and 5.0 rebounds.

Prop #2: Toumani Camara Under 12.5 points

-102 at bet365

Portland Trail Blazers guard Toumani Camara is Portland's biggest outside threat, knocking down 2.7 triples per contest. He faces a drum-tight Phoenix perimeter that allows the second-lowest opponent 3-point rate, giving up only 12.2 makes from distance per game. 

Camara was especially active from outside during Portland's late-season push, jacking up 6+ shots from beyond the arc in 10 of his final 11 games (8.5 3PA per game). His scoring jumped to 18.2 per contest in that span and dragged up scoring prop totals to as high as 15.5 O/U.

Tonight’s tilt in Phoenix will be played at a slow pace with postseason intensity, and Camara (who was drafted by Phoenix) will absolutely be circled on the Suns’ pregame whiteboard.

He scored six, 12, and 13 points over his three meetings with Phoenix this season, shooting a combined 7-for-24 from outside (29%). Player forecasts range from 10.0 to 13.1 points for Camara tonight, with most models short of his scoring total.

Prop #3: Devin Booker Over 2.5 threes

+150 at bet365

Devin Booker’s 3-point prop is bouncing between a juicy Over 1.5 and Over 2.5, which is paying plus-money. 

He hasn’t been the sharpest shooter in the second half of the schedule, firing at a 33.8% clip since the All-Star break and knocking down an average of two triples over his last 13 games. 

That said, Booker enters the Play-In well rested and ready to log major minutes after sitting out the final two regular-season outings. 

Before that, he was on a scoring tear in his last six showings, averaging almost 32 points and making 2.7 shots from distance with 3+ triples in three of those outings.

Projections for Tuesday have Booker pegged between 2.0 and 2.4 makes from long range. Given the fact he’s Phoenix’s go-to scorer and his propensity to step up to the postseason pressure (averages 2.3 3PM), I’ll grab the higher return on Over 2.5 threes.

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There is no indication Steph Curry is about to retire, but each postseason that passes lessens his chances of another dramatic playoff run, the kind every basketball fan should hope for.

The Golden State Warriors know those are the stakes, hence emphasizing veterans, unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to thread the needle of reinvention while starring Kawhi Leonard.

These Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks default to trusting Golden State’s veterans on Wednesday, April 15.

Our best Warriors vs Clippers SGP for April 15

Steph Curry has been shooting well since he returned from a knee injury, hitting 41.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in four games back in the lineup. And he has been shooting often, taking nine 3-pointers per game.

He has not been setting up his teammates that often, however. That is, to some degree, a negative reflection of this Golden State roster. How often is Curry going to look for Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos?

He's averaged only 3.5 assists in his return, down from an already pedestrian 4.8 on the season before his knee injury.

Instead, Draymond Green is moving the ball. Of course he is. The last few years of Green’s play have hinged entirely on Curry’s availability. With Steph in the lineup, Draymond has hinted at his past excellence.

He has thus averaged 8.3 assists in the three games he and Curry have overlapped in the last week. Setting up Curry may be the last thing Draymond Green is genuinely good for.

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The drama in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament should be at a fever pitch with Steve Ballmer’s arena going against Steph Curry. There may be other names involved when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers, but all eyes will be on Curry.

My Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and these NBA picks trust Curry on Wednesday, April 15.

Warriors vs Clippers prediction

Who will win Warriors vs Clippers?

Warriors:I won’t do it. I will not bet against Steph Curry when his season is on the line. No one expects Golden State to go on some magical run this postseason, but a win or two to spark the NBA’s interest this week? That is reasonable.

More sincerely, the Clippers backed into the postseason in a worrying way. Twice in the last two weeks, they had clear chances to hold onto a spot in the preferred half of the Play-In Tournament, instead losing twice outright to Portland. Win either of those games, both obvious opportunities, and the Clippers’ postseason hopes look much brighter. Dropping the ball then inspires no faith now.

Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes (+125)

Do you really want to bet against Steph Curry in a single-elimination moment? Sure, some of you are too young to remember the Davidson run in March of 2008, but everyone saw the 2024 Olympics gold medal game against France, right?

You want to bet against that?

Obviously, sportsbooks have raised this 3-pointer prop because they recognize just how lethal Curry can be, but that now means we get plus-money odds on the Golden State Warriors’ superstar doing what he does best.

Worry not that he has been back for only four games since his knee injury. Curry shot 5-for-10 from deep in his first game back, part of shooting 15-for-36 (41.7%) from beyond the arc in those four games.

And the Los Angeles Clippers are only middling defending against 3-pointers, ranking No. 16 in both opponent 3-pointer frequency and percentage made since James Harden left the rotation. Recognize, No. 16 in the NBA at this point of the season is actually a massive worry.

This may be the end of the Warriors’ relevancy in the Curry era, ending not with a “Bang!” but with a whimper, but rest assured, Curry will go down firing.

Warriors vs Clippers same-game parlay

Curry’s ball movement has been a bit slow since his return. Then again, this roster never really allowed Curry to move the ball much, averaging just 4.8 assists before he missed two months with a knee injury. Dropping to 3.5 assists per game in the last four is not terribly glaring in that context.

Draymond Green has been moving the ball, however. He's played in three of Curry’s four games back, averaging 8.3 assists in those three games. There may be a sample size worry in that thought, but if anyone is going to excel with Curry’s return, it is Green.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: One last ride!

For one more night, perhaps one last night, two of the three key pieces to this Warriors dynasty can rekindle those memories. No “Wall” will bother Curry or Green.

They have faced Kawhi Leonard countless times before, and with veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis now their running mates, Golden State as a whole should embrace this road atmosphere.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
• Warriors moneyline

Warriors vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Warriors +5 | Clippers -5
• Moneyline: Warriors +165 | Clippers -200
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5

Warriors vs Clippers betting trend to know

All four matchups between these two teams went Under their totals this season and by an average of 17.25 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Clippers.

How to watch Warriors vs Clippers

Warriors vs Clippers latest injuries

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The shirt was white, the sweater blue and the tie spiffy. Diamond studs sparkled in both of VJ Edgecombe’s earlobes, and he wore Gucci sunglasses. Indoors. At night.

Impressive as the ensemble was, Tyrese Maxey was thinking more about the calendar than he was clothing as his backcourt partner strutted across the Sixers’ locker room Sunday night, after they beat Milwaukee in the final game of Edgecombe’s first NBA regular season.

Rather, Maxey was mulling what lies ahead – play-in purgatory against Orlando on Wednesday night. And, possibly, the playoffs beyond.

He was thinking, too, about the season Edgecombe has fashioned. How he unveiled a 34-point effort in his very first game, in Boston, and from that point on tailored his game to fit the team’s needs.

Defense and athleticism? Sure, everybody knew the Bimini native would provide those things when the Sixers made him the third overall pick last June. But ball-handling and shot creation? They were a bonus. And clutch scoring? From a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until July? Double bonus.

So as Edgecombe neared the pack of reporters that had gathered at the far side of the room, Maxey made an announcement.

“He ain’t a rookie no more,” he hollered.

Not that he ever looked like one, no matter his attire. As veteran center Andre Drummond said, Edgecombe’s belief in himself was evident from the “first game, first practice, the day he walked in.”

“He walked in like, ‘I’m here,’” Drummond added.

And he never wavered. He finished with averages of exactly 16 points a game, as well as just under six rebounds and just over four assists. His shooting numbers – .438/.354/.818 – were acceptable, and figure to get better in the years ahead.

Edgecombe won’t win Rookie of the Year – that honor will surely go to one of two Dookies, the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg or the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel – but there’s little doubt he will be a big part of the team’s future.

“It’s amazing what VJ has done this past season,” Drummond said, and again he mentioned the rookie’s self-assurance.

“Maybe it’s just the generation of kids that are coming up now,” the 32-year-old said, “because I could say that for all the guys in the draft. They just have this confidence and swag that they play with.”

Kids these days, amirite?

Drummond broke in at age 19 with the Pistons, in 2012-13. Though he averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes a night that season, he remembers being “timid” – that he was “trying to figure out how to fit in and how to make it work.”

“And then with these guys now it’s just like, ‘It’s my show’ – like, ‘I’m here to take over,’” Drummond said. “And it’s pretty dope to see what VJ has done this year, and the games he’s won for us and just his confidence, man. I’ve got to speak on the confidence. It’s insane, and I love that for him. It was there right away.”

Nick Nurse clearly believed in Edgecombe as well, seeing as he used him 35 minutes a night over the 75 games the rookie was available, equaling the league’s 10th-highest rate. (Maxey led the NBA at 38 minutes a game.)

And hey, that was fine with Edgecombe.

“Not one complaint,” he said. “Sometimes I used to get mad when I had to come off the court, but now I realize it’s for the best.”

He made the most of his time, improving so much as a ball-handler that he now jokes he is “PG1” – i.e., the team’s No. 1 point guard, ahead of Maxey. He also shone in clutch situations, shooting 58.7 percent when the spread was five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

That came as a surprise to Nurse, as did Edgecombe’s “ability to go get a basket with the shot clock winding down, or just when we need a bucket to keep the scoreboard moving, or make one in the fourth quarter.”

“I think he had all the other stuff kind of coming out of the gates … the defense, the rebounding, the shot-blocking, all those kinds of things,” the coach added.

While it was not readily apparent, Edgecombe did say there was something of an adjustment period, that it took until midseason for the game to slow down for him.

“I ain’t gonna sit and act like it took me two games,” he said. “Nah, it took (until) about halfway through. I mean, even now, it’s still kind of slowing down.”

But he never did. The Bucks’ coaches showed video clips of each of the Sixers in their locker room before Sunday’s game, and the captions under Edgecombe’s highlights were reflective of his nature: “Sprinting in transition. … Aggressive in transition. …. DHO (i.e., dribble handoff) attack – trying to get downhill. … Physical finisher. … ISO (i.e., isolation) – physical. … Crashing the glass.”

He shot a tepid 4-for-11 from the floor while scoring nine points in the 126-106 victory, but handed out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once. And his overall late-season production has been impressive. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.9 points a game in March, including his two biggest scoring games of the season, a 38-pointer against Sacramento on March 19 and a 35-pointer against Oklahoma City four days later.

All of which made him wonder about the commonly held notion that rookies hit the so-called wall at this time of year.

“I’m not too sure where the rookie wall is,” he said. “Maybe someone can explain it to me. Obviously the season had its ups and downs. I’ve had my ups and downs. We’re human. I just try to keep building daily, just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every night.”

No doubt he has some fine shoes to wear while doing so. Because it seems abundantly clear that VJ Edgecombe is all dressed up and has someplace to go. Someplace that nobody else might have envisioned, but a place he sees very clearly through those Gucci sunglasses.

When I was home sick from school as a kid, a common tradition in our house was watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In one of the movie’s most notable moments, Matthew Broderick speaks directly to the audience and says, “Life moves pretty fast, and if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.” I can’t help but think, as the Detroit Pistons wrap up a historic 60-win season, that it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next and forget to savor the beauty of the present. As this amazing team gears up for a postseason run, and the eyes of fans turn to the play-in tournament to scout for the best matchups, I sense fans overlooking the moment itself. Certainly, there’s time and reason to worry about these things, but let’s not soon forget where we were as a franchise and fanbase just two seasons ago.

Like many, I grew up watching the “Goin’ to Work” iteration of the Pistons. As they won 50-plus games year after year, it almost became easier to focus on their shortcomings rather than their triumphs. So instead of appreciating their run of six consecutive conference finals appearances, I often found myself disappointed that they only won one finals, or lamenting their lack of offense and star power in the playoffs. Of course, for about the next 20 years, we became painfully aware of how much we had taken Ben Wallace and co.’s success for granted. As the 2010s dragged into the 2020s, there was little to no hope for a once-proud franchise. And in the bargaining stage of grief, I vowed to never take for granted the Pistons playing meaningful basketball again, if and when that ever happened. Heck, I was desperate enough to just settle for seeing the team represented in the All-Star Game.

Fast forward to this season, where the team came out of the gates fast and never let up. But even as the wins mounted despite injuries and suspensions to key players, there seemed to be a large section of the NBA media, and Pistons fans alike, who remained skeptical. Much of the year, the narrative around this team was focused on the holes in the roster rather than what was going right. Questions such as “does this group have enough shooting?” or “Who is going to score come playoffs other than Cade?” constantly swirled around the team, no matter how much success they had. And that’s peculiar, because just two years ago, the organization was huddling up to make decisions on the futures of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver. Now, instead of focusing on Cade Cunningham officially stamping his name amongst the best in the game, admiring Jalen Duren’s rise to All-NBA caliber player, or marveling at this team’s embrace of the rugged, defense-first mentality of Pistons championship teams of the past, we instead wondered if the team had enough shooting or shot creation. How are fans making the same mistake again? Listen, I get it, these are real questions that will soon have answers. But I see fans again overlooking the team’s success, as they did when it was contending for titles in the Palace of Auburn Hills.


This is supposed to be the fun part.

The team is still on the rise. They are still a year away from becoming accountable to real playoff expectations. Young teams rarely go unscathed in the postseason, and the Pistons may be no exception. Or maybe they will be. They have a fantastic young core that they don’t yet have to consolidate. The East is relatively weak at the top. The roster is fully healthy for the first time in months. Maybe Daniss Jenkins will prove to be the secondary creator that we hoped Jaden Ivey would be. Maybe Duncan Robinson will hold up defensively in crunch time. Maybe Duren and Ausar Thompson will build on their playoff synergy from last year. Maybe not. If they flame out in April or May, so be it. Collecting battle scars is part of the climb for most championship teams. But don’t forget to first, even if for just a moment, enjoy where we are. There is not a single Pistons fan who wouldn’t have signed up to take their chances in the playoffs with a gritty, overachieving, yet potentially flawed roster just two short years ago.

The expectations, they’re coming. The scrutiny of the roster is coming too, like a freight train. The calls to mortgage the future for the present, they’re on the horizon. Depending on what happens beginning Sunday, much will be written one way or another. But that’s for a later day. In the meantime, don’t forget to stop and look around. Your Detroit Pistons are the one seed in the Eastern Conference, inconceivable just 18 months ago. Don’t miss the chance to savor this moment before things get hard.

Though OG Anunobyis an integral piece of the Knicks' lineup on both ends of the floor, defensive versatility remains his calling card. 

The defensive demon can check opponents one-on-one, but he’s also a quality help defender. Anunoby’s two-way ability will be crucial to New York’s first round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, making him an X-factor for the series.

Anunoby is coming off another strong regular season. In 67 games, the 6-7 forward averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. 

Though he’s not one of New York’s two All-Stars on the roster, Anunoby might be the club’s most impactful player. When he’s on the floor, the Knicks are an elite team. When he sits, they're good, but not great. That’s been the case for the past few years since the Knicks acquired the forward in a 2023 trade from the Raptors. 

This season, New York had a plus-9.2 net rating in the 2,224 minutes that Anunoby played. That number plummeted to plus-3.5 with him on the bench.

A candidate for the NBA’s all-defensive team this season, expect Anunoby to be all over the floor on that end. In New York’s 108-105 win against the Hawks last week, Anunoby started the game defending Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu as New York hid Karl-Anthony Towns on guard Dyson Daniels. 

It allowed him to impact the game as a help defender. When Anunoby played with the bench early in the second quarter, he guarded the Hawks' leading scorer, Jalen Johnson. The Hawks don’t have a traditional point guard and play four-to-five players who are listed from 6-5 to 6-8, so Anunoby has multiple players he can be assigned to check throughout the series.

Keeping Johnson in check will be a priority for the entire Knicks lineup. A 6-8 All-Star forward, he led Atlanta in scoring, rebounds, and assists this season. He has the handle to manipulate the defense and take slower defenders on the drive. If opponents switch smaller players on him, he can bully them in the paint.

Even if Anunoby isn’t guarding Johnson for the entirety of each game, his help defense and secondary rim protection will be important to slowing down the Hawks offense.

Offensive simplicity

The Hawks have been one of the best teams in the league lately, going 20-6 after the All-Star break. Defense has been where they have excelled the most, allowing just 108.6 points per 100 possessions, the second-best figure in the NBA during that time.

On offense, Anunoby should keep the game simple like he has for most of this season. Of his 804 field goal attempts this season, 443 of them (55 percent) came without a dribble, according to NBA Stats. It’s where he’s effective as a cutter and three-point shooter from the corners.

Though he’s capable on straight line drives, Anunoby is better when he doesn’t have to put the ball on the floor. In New York’s win last week, the Hawks switched on many of the off-ball screen actions the Knicks set. They often run split actions with Towns as the playmaker at the top of the key. It has created confusion for the defense at times and easier scoring opportunities for players like Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.

Anunoby should be able to find opportunities on dives to the rim, and if the Hawks switch a smaller player on to him like CJ McCollum, there’s opportunities to attack.

Anunoby is a star in his role with the Knicks and that star should shine bright as he impacts both ends of the floor in the opening round.

The Phoenix Suns now await the Portland Trail Blazers tonight in Downtown Phoenix.

This is who most Suns fans wanted in this game, but as the old saying goes: “Be careful what you wish for.” Avoiding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers is great, but as we all know, getting what you wish for isn’t always a blessing in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers are a sneaky, deep, and athletic team. I do not expect the Suns to take them lightly.

Phoenix finished the regular season 45-37, good for the 7th seed. Portland finished a few games behind them at 42-40, which locked them into the 8th seed thanks to a tiebreaker over the Clippers.

1) Recent History: Means Nothing

The Suns won 2 of 3 games against Portland this season, with their lone loss coming in a game where they didn’t have Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen. They scored 77 points in that game. Phoenix blew them out by 17 in the opening meeting and won by five in the 2nd contest.

Last 10 Games

• Suns — 5-5 (W1)
• Blazers — 7-3 (W3)

We can throw all of that out the window now. None of it matters. As we saw in the 2024 series against Minnesota, the Suns swept them in the regular season only to get swept in the playoffs. These regular-season matchups don’t mean much. By the time the playoffs roll around, teams are typically much different versions of themselves.

2) Injury Report: Positive News

We’ve all seen it by now, and the injury report looked like a never-ending CVS receipt. It’s common this time of year for “injuries” to occur out of thin air as teams prepare for the playoffs, especially in the final days of the season.

The updated report shows some GREAT news! Grayson Allen is the only one who appears on the injury report for Phoenix. That does not mean they’re out of the woods by any means, as this is the time of year players will often play through nagging injuries. Here’s to hoping they are all as close to 100% as they can be.

On the other side, the Blazers’ only key player on the list (outside of Dame) is forward Jerami Grant, who is questionable with a right calf strain.

3) Battle of the Bigs: X-Factor

One key matchup that will not draw as many headlines will be the big man matchup between Mark Williams and Donovan Clingan. Phoenix also has Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach (unlikely the rook gets burn in a playoff setting) to throw at Portland’s big man if they need bodies or Williams finds himself in foul trouble.

Portland is a bottom-4 defense against centers this season. This is where I would love to see a “Book-Mark” duo thrive in the P&R, forcing the Blazers to make tough decisions in their defensive rotations. Phoenix must take advantage of and hunt mismatches in the halfcourt.

Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams vs. Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro. Let’s get it.

4) Playoff Play-In Book

We’ve seen the levels that Devin Booker is capable of reaching in important games. They’re going to need that version of him in a single-game elimination environment.

He’s entering the contest healthy and playing some of his best basketball of the season. Phoenix’s offense hums when he is in rhythm without forcing it, which means his teammates are going to need to knock down shots to keep Portland’s defense honest. Portland will do everything it can to throw that rhythm off and disrupt him.

Jrue Holiday has experience guarding Booker in big moments (too soon), and the Blazers have size and athleticism across the board to make it tough for him. As long as Book plays under control and within the flow of the offense, I expect a big game out of him.

Whether it’s by dropping 30+ points (efficiently) or through his playmaking chops and gravity for everyone else… we need a vintage Booker performance in this one.

5) Role Players at home

This is what swings games. Which role players will rise to the occasion? Historically speaking, role players always tend to play better at home come playoff time. Could it be a Royce O’Neale game that propels Phoenix? Will Jordan Goodwin’s chaotic energy lift them when they need it most? Or will it be a Collin Gillespie masterclass? Oh, and PLEASE DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PLAY RASHEER FLEMING IN THIS ONE. Sorry for the Jae Crowder all-caps moment, just had to emphasize it.

We shall see. Either way, Phoenix will need everyone to pitch in. Portland has a deep team as well, so the bench units, even if they aren’t tapped into as much as the regular season, will be vital in this one. If Phoenix’s role guys get outplayed by Portland on their own floor, the margin for error for Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green shrinks dramatically offensively.

So, who will it be tonight? Shoot your shot in the comments.