Category: NBA

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The Los Angeles Lakers were baking one hell of a cake in the second half of the season, only to have injuries drop that sucker on the floor just before the party.

With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Los Angeles is left scooping crumbs, frosting, and championship hopes off the hardwood in these final days of the regular season. 

The Lakers are grasping for the No. 4 seed in the West and praying for the best when the postseason begins, leaning on veteran star LeBron James to keep them on track.

LeBron and L.A. are underdogs in the Bay Area tonight, and our Lakers vs. Warriors predictions see James jacking up his share of shots from beyond the arc.

My NBA picks take the King to top his 3-point prop on Thursday, April 9.

Lakers vs Warriors prediction

Lakers vs Warriors best bet: LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes (+110)

LeBron James is as adaptable as they come. When Luka Doncic is out of the lineup, he picks up his playmaking, and we see his assist tallies soar. And when Austin Reaves is sidelined, James’ activity from outside increases.

LeBron is learning to live without either of his Los Angeles Lakers co-stars in the home stretch. While we have a small sample of games without Doncic and Reaves, James did fire up six 3-point attempts in the loss to Dallas on Sunday.

Looking at his last 19 games without Reaves in action, James has averaged 4.6 shots from beyond the arc, connecting for two or more in nine of those. For comparison, when Luka and Reaves were both healthy during L.A.'s red-hot run in March, LeBron was taking only 2.4 triples and making less than one of those long-range looks an outing.

Tonight's game script has L.A. playing from behind versus the Golden State Warriors, and the rest of the Lakers lineup has provided spotty production, leaving head coach J.J. Redick to blast several players during this current stretch.

James was a one-man wrecking crew vs. Dallas and will have the green light against a Golden State defense that has slipped when it comes to protecting the perimeter. The Dubs have allowed foes to shoot 37% from distance since the All-Star break, and that’s blown up to 39% over the past 10.

LeBron has faced the Warriors twice this season, going 4-for-6 and 2-for-7 from downtown in those matchups. His projections for tonight range between 1.4 and 2.4 makes from 3-point land, with the bulk of those forecasts calling for two triples and his attempts as high as seven 3PAs.

Lakers vs Warriors same-game parlay

Los Angeles can at least keep it close against a Warriors roster that could protect players in this first game of back-to-back outings. The Lakers are desperate not to fall back in the West standings, as they’ll need all the help they can get in the postseason.

Deandre Ayton has been ripped by Redick for his recent efforts, but with the L.A. lineup hurting for offense, he’s capable of putting up points against a small Golden State frontcourt. His projections sit as high as 13 points.

Lakers vs Warriors SGP

• Lakers +4.5
• LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
• Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 Points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal Flush

LeBron went nuclear on the Mavericks, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists, and hauling in nine rebounds. He sat out Tuesday’s matchup with OKC, so the 41-year-old has fresh legs for this trip to Golden State.

Lakers vs Warriors SGP

• Lakers moneyline
• LeBron James Over 24.5 points
• LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
• LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds

Lakers vs Warriors odds

• Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-110) | Warriors -4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Warriors -190
• Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)

Lakers vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Over is 9-2 in the last 11 matchups between the Lakers and Warriors. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Warriors.

How to watch Lakers vs Warriors

Lakers vs Warriors latest injuries

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In today’s Dub Hub:

• Draymond Green admits he’s “not that excited” about the Play-In Tournament as Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed.
• NBA reveals Play-In Tournament schedule, Warriors to play next Wednesday against the Clippers or Blazers.
• NBA determines Kings’ coach Doug Christie made ‘no intentional effort’ to lose the game vs. Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, meaning they’ll have to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to secure a spot in the playoffs.

It’s not where the team expected to be entering the season, but injuries derailed those plans, and now, their playoff hopes come down to a win-or-go-home two-game stretch.

However, despite the stakes, Draymond Green isn’t exactly excited by the opportunity. While he embraces the challenge, Green made it clear after Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings that the Play-In doesn’t carry the same intensity as a traditional playoff series.

Green expanded on this perspective, pointing to the original purpose of the Play-In which was to incentivize teams to keep competing late in the season. But in this year’s Western Conference, the top 10 in the standings have largely been locked in for weeks now, with little pressure from outside teams due to what he claims is tanking.

Regardless of how it feels, the stakes remain clear.

The Warriors will need to win twice on the road to advance and earn a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, or else, their season comes to an early end once again.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 9th:

Warriors News:

What NBA players, coaches and execs are saying about tanking | ESPN

In ESPN’s conversations with dozens of players, coaches and front office executives, a consistent theme emerged: Nobody likes it — “I hate it,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said — but not many deny it is often the most prudent team-building path when stuck near the bottom. Different seasons and different drafts will generate different forms, but everyone agrees it’ll continue until the NBA figures out either the proper rules or punishments to curb it.

“These teams are doing the whole gamut: sitting guys in the fourth, playing analytically bad lineups, drawing up plays for bad shots,” one Western Conference general manager said. “The creativity is impressive and I don’t blame them. It’s the best strategy to get better. Look at all the most promising teams in the league: Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, Hornets. Years of being bad and building up on high picks. It’s painful but worthwhile.”

Steph Curry reveals secret to four-point play success in Warriors’ win vs. Kings | NBC Sports Bay Area

After the win, Curry broke down exactly how he’s able to convert those difficult, contact-heavy shots.

“You have to obviously focus in on the rim,” Curry said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Postgame Live.” “Sometimes there could be contact or whatnot — I do fall a lot — but those two were just timing, confidence, let it go, absorb the contact and have fun with it.”

That simple formula — focus, timing and confidence — has helped Curry turn chaotic moments into highlight plays throughout his career.

Warriors first Play-In game scheduled for next Wednesday

NBA News:

Starting 5: OKC clinches No. 1 seed, Denver wins 10th straight, Cade returns | NBA

Top Dogs: With the win, the Thunder secure the West’s top seed and the league’s best record, a feat they’ve now pulled off in back-to-back seasons

“It’s extremely important,” said Holmgren on securing the No. 1 seed. “Just knowing that in the event of a Game 7, it’s always gonna be at home. You can’t underestimate how valuable that is … now, we got more to do.”

Seeking 65: At 64-16, OKC is one win shy of the franchise’s first-ever back-to-back 65+ win seasons

NBA determines Kings’ late foul was an error and not tanking

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors Reacts Survey: Do you want Steve Kerr to come back?

The Warriors coach is about to see his contract expire, and there haven’t been any reports of working on a new contract. Even though there’s occasionally been some tension between Kerr and owner Joe Lacob, the simple fact is that Kerr has an open invite to coach the Warriors for as long as Curry is on the roster. Curry very openly does not want to play for any other coach … but of course, it takes two to tango, and Kerr will have to make the decision.

So we’re asking Warriors fans: do you want to see Kerr return next year? Or would you prefer he call it quits, and the organization can bring in a new face?

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

For the majority of college basketball players, the final goal is to make it in the National Basketball Association. A very small minority have their dreams become a reality while most go on to do something other than sports. For a team like Michigan that just won the National Championship, the NBA is a realistic dream for a good portion of the roster.

Today, we will power rank the members of the 2025-26 Michigan roster by their pro potential. Keep in mind, we aren’t just ranking the players’ NBA potential next year — we’re talking the long-term trajectory of each players’ future career in the NBA.

Honorable Mention: Howard Eisley Jr., Harrison Hochberg, Charlie May

These players have no shot at the NBA. However any national champion deserves an honorable mention in my book.

13. G Ricky Liburd

Liburd redshirted this season, as he was a late addition to the class and wasn’t a highly sought after prospect. We’ll know significantly more about him next year, but for now, it’s impossible to assess his NBA potential.

12. C Malick Kordel

An international prospect from Germany, Kordel played during garbage time during his first season of college basketball. He was clearly very raw, but at 7-foot-2 and 275 pounds, he has the frame of an NBA center. His need for development prevents him from being any higher on this list.

11. F Will Tschetter

Don’t take Tschetter’s low placement on this list as any disrespect towards one of the pivotal pieces on the national title team. The heartbeat of the program, he embodied the Michigan mantra of “those who stay will be champions.” Unfortunately at this point in his career, we know exactly what his limitations are and so too do NBA scouts. Tschetter was an all-time college basketball character but will likely never see any NBA action.

10. F Oscar Goodman

Goodman was tough to place on this list. The young forward saw more minutes than anyone else on the bench mob and flashed some potential with high flying dunks and blocked shots in garbage time. Depending on Michigan’s activity in the portal, he may be a part of the rotation next year. Given his youth, he could still develop into a fringe NBA type player. Time will tell.

9. F Winters Grady

Like Goodman, this is entirely based off of projection. Grady played in just nine games this season and wasn’t entirely effective before being shut down due to an injury. However, his recruiting profile suggests that of a sharpshooter who could develop into a three-and-D type of player. He is obviously nowhere near draft boards now, but he’s got the right frame and archetype as that of a bench NBA player.

8. G Elliot Cadeau

I wanted to put Final Four Most Outstanding Player much higher on this list, but couldn’t quite pull the trigger. Elliot Cadeau played some of his best basketball during the NCAA Tournament and will be forever remembered for his performances in the Final Four. However, the NBA is beginning to value height and length more and more as time progresses. He is generously listed as 6-foot-1. Small point guards who aren’t elite three-point shooters are going out of style in the NBA unfortunately.

7. G Nimari Burnett

Like Grady, Burnett displays the archetype of a typical three-and-D type player. Burnett doesn’t thrive when asked to create his own shot, but he could thrive in a bench role in the NBA a la Caleb Houstan if he can become an elite three-point shooter. He was very good but not quite elite in his college career which will prevent him from being drafted. However, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him invited to the NBA Summer League and try to make a name for himself this offseason.

6. G/F Roddy Gayle Jr.

April Roddy’s ascent from frustrating shooter to lock-down defender and the best dunker on the team will become the stuff of legend over time. In college, Gayle seemed to get more athletic the older he became, which is quite rare. Like Burnett, his lack of on-ball playmaking will hamper his draft status, but several players just like him have latched onto NBA rosters via Summer League invites over the years. It’s not impossible.

5. G L.J. Cason

As we’ve covered extensively, Cason suffered a season-ending injury, which fortunately didn’t derail Michigan’s season. Before the injury, he was playing arguably as well as anyone on the roster. Cason was explosive on the fast break, shot lights out from three, and provided instant offense whenever called upon. While still young and a bit raw, his weaknesses are the types of things that can be corrected over time as there are certainly no physical limitations to his game. Assuming he returns to full health with no lingering side effects, Cason has a very legitimate chance to be drafted to the NBA in the next few years.

4. G Trey McKenney

A former five-star, McKenney led his dream school to the National Championship as a true freshman. That’s the type of thing dreams are made of. Following Cason’s injury, his role exploded as he became the primary backup ball-handler. He also became Michigan’s most reliable shooter in the tournament as evidenced in the Final Four game against Arizona (6-of-9 from three). Next season will likely be his last in Ann Arbor before heading to the NBA, potentially as a lottery pick if things go right.

3. C Aday Mara

Now things start to get serious. Mara was the difference maker for Michigan basketball this season. His rim protection was the anchor of the No. 1 defense in all of college basketball. He’s projected to be a mid-first round pick, which leaves him with a stay-or-go decision. In the NBA’s eyes, he will need to bulk out his incredibly wiry frame. However, his passing is incredible for his size and he possesses a nice shooting stroke despite the limited attempts this year. He will likely be looked at as a top-end developmental pick should he decide to go pro.

2. F Morez Johnson Jr.

Morez Johnson Jr. proved to be much more than just a rim-runner in Ann Arbor this year. He is an incredibly versatile defender, able to stay in front of guards consistently despite being 6-foot-9. He also developed a post game on offense and was much more than just a dunker this season.

At the NBA level, Johnson could contribute right away in a reserve role. He’s got the size and strength to match up physically and is an excellent free throw shooter for the position. Should he declare this offseason, he could be a serviceable big man in the NBA for a decade or longer such as an Isaiah Stewart type player.

1. F Yaxel Lendeborg

No one helped their draft stock more in the NCAA Tournament than Yaxel Lendeborg. The constant knock on his draft stock will be his age — he’ll be 24 before the NBA season starts — but he proved time and again he can impact the game in every facet.

At 6-foot-9, Lendeborg can guard any position on the court. He is elite at finishing through contact, and shot 82 percent from the free throw line and 37 percent from three. Most importantly, he is patient and lets the game come to him. Lendeborg doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make a massive impact on the game, which makes him incredibly valuable. He proved to also be incredibly tough, as evidenced by his play during the National Championship essentially on one leg.

I would expect Lendeborg to be drafted either late in the lottery or just outside of it. Under the right circumstances, he could start in the NBA right away. His age may prevent him from becoming a star in the league, but he has every single tool necessary to become a very, very good NBA player. It will be fascinating to watch his career progression.

The Suns are currently sitting at 44-36 with just a couple of games left to play. Boy, has this season flown by.

The Suns have locked in the 7th seed and will host the Clippers or Blazers on April 14th at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Now, let’s take a quick look at how we got here in a more zoomed-out perspective, month by month.

• October — 2-4 (.333)
• November — 10-5 (.667)
• December — 7-5 (.583)
• January — 11-5 (.688)
• February — 4-7 (.364)
• March — 8-8 (.500)
• April — 2-2 (.500)

October was weird. A few close losses and some unfortunate endings had them off to a slow start. Then, the Suns had themselves a very strong winter, compiling a 28-15 record in November, December, and January. February was the only “ugly” month, and luckily, it was cut short due to the ASB. They entered the All-Star Break with a 32-23 record, and have since gone 12-13.

The injuries started to pile up in February (even more so than they already were), and things began to spiral a bit. Nothing dramatic, they still weathered the storm, but instead of making a push into the top 6 as we all hoped earlier in the season, they remained in the play-in. It just goes to show you that it truly is a marathon. That is still a massive win relative to expectations entering the season, after many experts had them finishing as one of the worst teams in the association.

And now, here we are in April. The madness and chaos of late-season basketball, where teams are gearing up for one last push for seeding or a tune-up for the playoffs.

For the Suns, it’s about entering the postseason healthy. Last night was not an ideal start to that goal, as Jalen Green and Jordan Goodwin both left the game with leg injuries. Their immediate status is to be determined.

It’s time to let the young guys shine in these final two games. Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Oso, even Brea… let them loose.

We now await the Clippers or Blazers, who are one game apart from each other in the final stretch, and their head-to-head game on Friday will likely determine who gets the 8th seed. It’s almost like a play-in for the play-in.

The final two games of the regular season (for the Suns) before the play-in begins will come on the road in Los Angeles against the Lakers and in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. It’s unlikely any of those teams take these games too seriously. The Lakers have more to play for as they’re fighting for home-court advantage in the first round, but they, too, are limping into the finish line.

It will be interesting to monitor how the rotations look in these last two games, especially considering Jordan Ott’s quote last night, stating:

“We’ll continue to assess how our guys come out of this back-to-back and then we’ll plan accordingly the best we can. Balancing rhythm versus rest, especially with a group that doesn’t have a ton of reps on the floor together.”

Book hinted that one of the games could be a rest day for himself, which makes sense given they are locked into the 7th seed at this point.

I’m in the camp that you just gotta get everyone as healthy as possible heading into that game next Tuesday, regardless of the lack of reps.

the Golden State Warriors are going to rest Stephen Curry in their Thursday evening game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Curry was listed out on the latest NBA injury report due to management of a right knee injury that has been described as runner's knee.

The 38-year-old returned against the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings after missing 27 games from Feb. 3 to April 2. He scored 29 points against the Rockets on April 5 and 17 against the Kings on April 7.

Curry has averaged 27 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists appearing in 41 games for the Warriors this season. He has shot the ball at an efficient clip, a norm for the 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer.

Boston Celtics (54-25) at New York Knicks (51-28)
Thursday, April 9, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #80 Road Game #41
TV: Prime Video
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub,  880 ESPN, Sirius XM
Madison Square Garden

The Celtics head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks in their final road game of the season. This is the 4th, and final, game between these two teams this season. The Knicks won the first game 105-95 in New York on October 24. The Celtics won the 2nd game 123-117 in Boston on December 2. The Knicks won the 3rd game 111-89 in Boston on February 8.

The Celtics are 309-192 overall, all time against the Knicks and they are 130-110 in games played in New York. Both teams are playing in the first of back to back games. The Knicks have been off since Monday and are 7-5 in the first of back to back games. The Celtics last played on Tuesday and they are 9-3 in the first of back to back games.

Along with the importance of this game for seeding purposes, this game has another very important storyline. This will be Jayson Tatum’s first game back to Madison Square Garden since he tore his Achilles in last year’s playoffs. This is one of the mental hurdles that Tatum must get over in order to be all the way back from the injury. He said he’s not thrilled with having to go back there and play but knows that it’s all a part of getting back to where he was before the injury.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 3 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 9.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 10 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 10.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 11 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 26-14 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.

The Knicks are 3rd in the East, 6.5 games behind 1st place Detroit and 3 games behind 2nd place Boston. They are half a game ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 7 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 8 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. They are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 28-9 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.

This game is very important for seeding purposes. The Celtics need just one win or one Knicks loss to clinch the 2nd seed. They can do that with a win in this game or they have 2 more games left and would need to win one of those. The Celtics will host New Orleans on Friday and will finish the season by hosting Orlando. After this game, the Knicks have 2 games left as well. They will host Toronto and Charlotte to end the season. For New York to clinch the 2nd seed, the Celtics would need to lose all 3 games and New York would need to win all 3 games. Also, the Knicks are just half a game ahead of Cleveland and they need to keep winning to hang onto the 3rd seed.

The Celtics originally had 4 starters listed as questionable on the injury report. Derrick White (knee), Neemias Queta (toe) remain questionable. Sam Hauser (back) is available and Jaylen Brown (Achilles) has been ruled out. I’ve included the normal starting 5 other than Jaylen Brown since I’m not sure who will play and who won’t. I’m guessing that Baylor Scheierman starts for Jaylen Brown. For the Knicks, only Tyler Kolek (oblique) is questionable.

Probable Celtics Starters
PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson

SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Mikal Bridges

SF: Sam Hauser vs OG Anunoby

PF: Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart

Neemias Queta vs Karl-Anthony Towns

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Jordan Walsh
Baylor Scheierman
Max Shulga
Nikola Vucevic
Ron Harper, Jr

2-Way Players
None

Injuries/Out
Derrick White (knee) questionable
Neemias Queta (toe)  questionable
Sam Hauser (back) available
Jaylen Brown (Achilles) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Knicks Reserves
Jordan Clarkson
Pacome Dadiet
Jose Alvarado
Mohamed Diawara
Tyler Kolek
Mitchell Robinson
Landry Shamet
Ariel Hukporti

Two-Way Players
Kevin McCullar, Jr
Dillon Jones
Trey Jemison III

Injuries/Out
Tyler Kolek (oblique) questionable

Head Coach
Mike Brown

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Brunson is the key to the Knicks offense and the Celtics need to defend him well. He is averaging 26 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he averaged 25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must defend him closely, especially on the perimeter. If White doesn’t play, I would expect Payton Pritchard to start in his place.

Neemias Queta vs Karl Anthony-Towns
Towns is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc.  In the first 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 22.0 points, 10 rebounds,  and 2 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to box him out on the boards and defend him in the paint and on the perimeter. If Queta doesn’t play, I am guessing that Luka Garza will start in his place with Vucevic coming off the bench. 

Honorable Mention
Sam Hauser vs OG Anunoby
Anunoby is averaging 24 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.8% from 3.  He played in just one of the 3 games against the Celtics this season and finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals while shooting 30% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.   If Hauser doesn’t play, I would guess that Baylor Scheierman starts in his place. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game.  The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.7.  The Knicks  are 8th with a defensive rating of 112.3.   The Celtics have shown that they are capable of playing very good defense but at times still slack off and allow opponents to score too easily.  If Brown, White and Queta are out, they will be without 3 key defenders.   The Celtics must make defense a priority if they hope to win this game. 

Rebound –  As with defense,  rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound.   The Celtics are 4th with 46.5 rebounds per game while the Knicks are 7th with 46.0 rebounds per game.  In the 2 losses to the Knicks this season, the Celtics were out-rebounded but in the win over the Knicks, they out-rebounded the Knicks.  The Knicks are 6th with 16.6 second chance points per game.  The Celtics must give extra effort to beat the Knicks to rebounds in this game. 

Move the Ball Carefully– The Celtics are tough to beat when they keep the ball moving and find the open man but when one player over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 33-0 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 19-23 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. Keep the ball moving and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether in the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over because the Knicks average 17.8 points off turnovers per game. 

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way from the opening tip until the final buzzer. 

X-Factors
On the Road – The Celtics are on the road for the final time this season.   They need to overcome the distractions of travel, playing on an unfamiliar court,  and in front of a hostile crowd and stay focused on playing hard and as a team.  They have to come out playing hard right from the beginning and try to keep the Knicks’ crowd from getting into the game.

Who’s Playing? – It’s possible that the Celtics will be without up to 4 starters.  Since the Celtics need just one win in their 3 remaining games to clinch the 2nd seed, they may rest some players in this one and then go all out in the final 2 games to get that win.  If any or all of the 4 questionable players are out, the other players have to step up big time for the Celtics to get a win. 

Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor.   Each officiating crew calls the game differently.  Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make calls that just don’t make sense.  The Celtics will be on the road and so they can expect the Knicks to get a favorable whistle in their arena.  The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus. 

Last week, I described the state of the Lakers as happiness. Now, all that remains is despair.

That’s what happens when two star players go down in the same game and are out for the rest of the regular season and beyond.

Earlier this year, during a bump in the road that is the NBA season, Lakers head coach JJ Redick referenced Jay-Z’s song “A Week Ago,” describing how things can go from good to bad in a flash.

Well, this is a much worse situation, and when I think about the fact that all of us are stuck watching a team that can’t win games, the ending of the book “The Great Gatsby” comes to mind.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine mornin—

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

5 things I liked and didn’t like

1. Injuries stink

To win an NBA title, you need a combination of skill and luck. The Lakers had the talent to compete in the West, but the injuries have gotten the better of them.

Watching Dončić and Reaves go down while the Lakers were getting blown out by the Thunder killed all hope one could have of a successful season. It’s one thing to lose against the best teams in the NBA. But to not get a chance to compete with anywhere close to your full roster is quite another.

Basketball, like life, can be painful, cruel and unfair. The breaks didn’t go the Lakers’ way, and that’s just the way the 2025-26 season went down.

2. The Thunder are levels better than the Lakers

Okay, but also, did you see the Lakers-Thunder matchup?

OKC was miles ahead of the Lakers. Austin Reaves couldn’t get a pass through the Thunder defenders, and when he did, Deandre Ayton couldn’t catch the ball. Their defense shut down the Lakers’ offense immediately, and the game was over within minutes.

The Lakers couldn’t even get a shot off, and when they did, it was a brick. It’s just one game, but there was a statement to be made and OKC made it.

For me, I take solace in knowing that even if they were healthy, the best-case scenario for LA was making it far enough to get obliterated by OKC.

3. Will Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves be smart enough not to rush back?

Reaves and Dončić are done for the regular season, but the playoffs are up in the air. Being the competitors they are, it’s no surprise they are doing everything to return and not let all their work go to waste this year.

In fact, Luka has gone to Spain for specialized treatment for his hamstring strain in hopes of expediting the process. While his desire to play and do everything possible to return is admirable, he has to be careful that he doesn’t push beyond what is okay.

As a Chicago Bulls fan once told me, it can always get worse.

This feels like the bottom, but if Luka rushes back, injures his hamstring again, makes it a longer-term injury, and the Lakers still get blown out of the playoffs, that would be a far worse scenario than where they are now.

If his treatment helps him return sooner and he’s healthy, great. But if coming back risks further injury, cooler heads have to prevail over competitive fire.

4. JJ Redick needs to calm down

Speaking of cooler heads prevailing, can Redick tone it down a bit during games? We’ve seen him get into arguments with his stars, like Luka, and during the team’s other loss to the Thunder this week, there he was, arguing with Jarred Vanderbilt.

Vando usually has a very calm demeanor, but he was anything but that during a verbal back-and-forth with Redick.

Redick can be a demanding coach, and there is nothing wrong with that. Still, there has to be a moment where things get reigned in a bit.

In that game, the Lakers had four starters missing, and they needed Vando to have even a glimmer of hope of winning. Instead, he didn’t play the rest of the night after this.

I’m not saying they would’ve won if he’d played, but I am saying they were a worse team with him sitting out on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Redick wasn’t just critical of Vando. He also called an early timeout because Rui Hachimura wasn’t doing his job and mentioned postgame that Ayton can’t catch the ball right now.

These are intense times and Redick wants the same success for the Lakers that everyone wants. That’s fine and he’s in charge so it goes his way. But I think finding a way to send the right message without a public spat would benefit all involved.

5. The Marathon Continues

The late, great rapper Nipsey Hussle had a mixtape titled “The Marathon Continues.” The premise was that, despite the ups and downs, life goes on, and we have to keep grinding for the better. That’s what the Lakers have to do at this point in the season.

It feels hopeless right now, but that’s not the case. The players left have to believe they can win enough to extend the season so that Dončić and Reaves can return for the most important games.

There are just a few games left, but they have to spend what’s remaining of the regular season preparing for the playoffs and finding a way to win. That’s a tall task, but it’s the job in front of them. Here’s hoping they find a way to shock us all.

Stat of the Week

One bright spot this week was that having players out meant others got a chance.

Against the Thunder, Adou Theiro logged a career-high 21 minutes. Hopefully, he can play a bit in the remaining games and show off his explosive athleticism.

The present feels dark, but the future can be bright with players like Thiero. If he shows more flashes that he is a player who can grow in LA, just like Austin Reaves and Max Christie, then that’s something good that can happen this month.

Play of the Week

Thiero gave the Lakers one of the few highlights of the week with one of his power dunks. It started with Drew Timme getting the ball on the inbound from Bronny James. He got doubled, which left Thiero wide open on the opposite side. Thiero cut to the basket, and Timme found him open near the rim.

Cason Wallace recovered well, but Thiero was too quick and athletic. He double-pumped the ball, which got Wallace out of the play and slammed it home.

Player of the Week

With players getting hurt and nothing but losses, finding a Player of the Week was tough.

In the end, I went with LeBron James. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists, leading the team in all three categories. He was brilliant against the Mavericks and while it didn’t lead to a win, he needs to play at that level if the Lakers are going to salvage anything from this season.

Stories of the Week

The Thunder have the Lakers’ kryptonite – Silver Screen And Roll

Raj Chipalu broke down the Lakers’ crushing defeat with some in-depth film breakdown and an honest assessment of the gap between LA and OKC.

Increased defensive pressure is intended to rush and rattle the opponent. The Lakers have been completely out of their element in all three matchups and have trailed by over 30 points at halftime in both games in Oklahoma City. The Thunder cruised to a 45-point victory while LA failed to reach 100 points for the first time since February.

While the Lakers were likely never touching OKC’s ceiling this year, the run in March raised questions about just how high the mountain is. The Thunder quickly ended any hopes of a climb as they now sit comfortably at the top, firmly holding the Lakers’ kryptonite.

NBA’s widespread tanking has come at a significant cost for the entire league – The Athletic

It’s clear that tanking has become a big problem in the NBA and John Hollinger wrote about why it’s even worse than you think.

Overall, the eight tanking teams are 17-144 against the 20 legit squads since the trade deadline, a 0.106 winning percentage. To put this achievement into perspective, considering that the Chicago Bulls alone won 18 games against the postseason-20 before the trade deadline.

Wait, it gets worse: The tankers haven’t exactly been taking their opponents to the wire, either. Our Notorious Nine have lost by an average margin of 13.9 points since the All-Star break. The Utah Jazz alone lost games by 35 and 34 this weekend.

Let me underline this for emphasis: The average team in this group, when faced with any type of real basketball game, is playing as bad as the worst team in history (the 7-59 Charlotte Bobcats during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season), posting a despicable .106 winning percentage that equates to an 8.7-win season over 82 games, with nearly the worst scoring margin in NBA history.

And this isn’t one team doing this. It’s nine of them.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

HOUSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday in Houston, the Philadelphia 76ers announced.

The 76ers are scheduled to play at the Rockets on Thursday night.

The team said further updates will be provided as appropriate.

The 76ers are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and on track for a spot in the play-in tournament, though they are only one game behind sixth-place Toronto.

Embiid has been limited to 38 games this season, sidelined primarily by injury management in his knees.

He was held out against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday with “right oblique; injury management; (and) illness.” He has not played in both games of a back-to-back all season.

After missing Saturday's game, Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds in Philadelphia's 115-102 loss at San Antonio on Monday night.

Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds this season after playing in only 19 games in the 2024-25 season. He hasn't appeared in as many as 40 games in a regular season since 2022-23 when he was named MVP after averaging a career-high 33.1 points.

Embiid expressed his frustrations with Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, on Friday night for not allowing him to play in Washington last week.

“I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball,” Embiid said. “I wasn’t allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question of Daryl Morey or whoever makes the decisions.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery in Houston, the team announced.

The 76ers are in town to play the Rockets as they cling to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining in the regular season. Embiid had already been ruled out for Thursday's game because of an illness.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that causes pain in the lower right part of the belly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Philadelphia (43-36) visits the Indiana Pacers on Friday before ending the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The 76ers are one game back of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 seed to avoid participating in the play-in tournament.

HOUSTON (AP) — 76ers say Joel Embiid will have surgery for appendicitis with no timeline for his return.

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Western Conference clash between Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.

By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.

These Lakers vs. Warriors predictions aren’t guesswork — they’re driven by the numbers.

For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, April 9.

Lakers vs Warriors computer picks for April 9

Lakers	Warriors
James u25.5 points +100	Melton o14.5 points  -135
Ayton u8.5 rebounds -125	Green o4.5 rebounds -220
Hachimura o1.5 3-pointers -150	Melton o1.5 3-pointers  -170

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Lakers computer picks

LeBron James Under 25.5 points (+100)

Projection: 25.3 points

The Los Angeles Lakers have operated at the league’s eighth-slowest pace on the road this season, and with the Golden State Warriors ranking seventh-slowest over their last 20 games, this matchup sets up for a reduced number of possessions.

That slower tempo limits overall opportunities for the Lakers and, in turn, caps how often LeBron James can assert himself offensively in the way they’ll likely need.

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Deandre Ayton Under 8.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 8.4 rebounds

The Lakers rank as the NBA’s second-worst offensive rebounding team this season, a trend that aligns with Deandre Ayton consistently falling short of this rebounding line.

He’s gone Under in seven of his last 10 games at an 8.5-rebound mark, making another miss on this prop a realistic outcome.

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Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 made threes (-150)

Projection: 2.3 made threes

The matchup against the Warriors sets up well for three-point production, as opposing starting small forwards have posted a league-high 47.0% 3-point rate against them this season — creating a favorable path for Rui Hachimura to cash the Over from deep tonight.

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---

Warriors computer picks

De'Anthony Melton Over 14.5 points (-135)

Projection: 15.4 points

Over their last five home games, the Lakers have allowed opposing starting point guards to average 6.2 free-throw attempts per game — the fourth-highest mark in the league — making it easier to generate points at the line.

That trend bodes well for De'Anthony Melton to boost his scoring output by attacking and drawing fouls.

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Draymond Green Over 4.5 rebounds (-220)

Projection: 6.6 rebounds

The Warriors rank 10th in offensive rebounding over their last 25 games, setting up a favorable spot for Draymond Green to exceed a modest line.

He’s already gone Over in five of his last 10 games at a 5.5-rebound number, making this another strong opportunity to do so.

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De'Anthony Melton Over 1.5 made threes (-170)

Projection: 2.3 3-pointers

Melton has only cleared this 1.5 made threes line in four of his last 10 games, but the surface-level hit rate doesn’t fully capture the upside in this matchup.

The matchup against the Lakers adds a layer of optimism. The Lakers have consistently allowed clean looks from beyond the arc, particularly to opposing guards, due to their tendency to collapse into the paint and prioritize interior defense.

That style naturally creates kick-out opportunities, exactly the type of looks Melton thrives on as a catch-and-shoot option.

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How to watch Lakers vs Warriors tonight

Location	Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date	Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games. How do you hope the play-in tournament shakes out? Will the NBA bypass the 65-game requirement for Cade Cunningham’s circumstance? What team are you most afraid to potentially see in the postseason?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Saturday April 11 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
• Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
• YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NBA fined the Orlando Magic $25,000 on Thursday for violating league injury reporting rules before Monday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Magic reported point guard Anthony Black as out on its initial injury report. After missing 15 games with an abdominal strain, Black returned and scored 14 points with two assists and two steals in 15 minutes for Orlando in its 123-107 win over Detroit.

In announcing the fine, the NBA said the Magic failed to accurately disclose Black's game availability status.

Black, a third-year player from Arkansas, is averaging 15.1 points and 3.8 assists in 62 games, including 40 starts.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba