The NBA's annual play-in tournament is less than a week away. We know, we're shocked, too. However, despite the proximity to the end of the regular season, there are only two teams currently locked into their seeds in the Eastern and Western conferences.
Only the Golden State Warriors (locked into the Western Conference's No. 10 seed) and Detroit Pistons (locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed) know for sure where they'll rank by season's end.
Other than them, it's an absolute mish-mosh of what-ifs and maybes that could shape the NBA's postseason, with five teams in the Eastern Conference fighting it out to ensure they avoid the play-in.
Here are the current NBA standings and what the NBA postseason and play-in tournament would look like if the season ended today.
The Bucks, Bulls, Nets, Pacers and Wizards have been eliminated from postseason contention.
NBA Western Conference standings
d - Oklahoma City Thunder: 63-16
d - San Antonio Spurs: 60-19 (3 GB)
x - Denver Nuggets: 51-28 (12 GB)
d - Los Angeles Lakers: 50-29 (13 GB)
x - Houston Rockets: 50-29 (13 GB)
x - Minnesota Timberwolves: 47-32 (16 GB)
Phoenix Suns: 43-36 (20 GB)
Los Angeles Clippers: 41-38 (22 GB)
Portland Trail Blazers: 40-29 (23 GB)
Golden State Warriors: 37-42 (26 GB)
The Pelicans, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Kings and Jazz have been eliminated from postseason contention.
NBA playoffs bracket
(Through Tuesday, April 7)
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
NBA Play-In Tournament
(Through Tuesday, April 7)
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14 and finishes Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs begin the very next day, Saturday, April 18, featuring eight teams in each conference after two teams from both the East and West are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be on Wednesday, June 3.
Which upcoming games could impact the postseason standings?
With just five days left in the regular season, every game matters, but there are a few games that could have serious impact on the end-of-season standings.
Wednesday, April 8
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers
Thunder can clinch top seed with win or Spurs loss
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 7: Malevy Leons #33 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night by a score of 110-105. That was a slim enough margin that the game qualified as a close contest under the league’s rules, which doesn’t reflect very well on the Warriors, considering that the Kings were shamelessly trying to lose the game.
Still, because it was a close game, it was added to the pool for the NBA’s Last 2 Minute Report. In the L2M, the league combs over every play in the final two minutes of close games, and examines whether the calls that the officials made were correct or not. Just as crucially, it looks from multiple camera angles at the calls that weren’t made, and identifies which ones should have been.
In Sunday’s narrow loss to the Houston Rockets, the league determined that the Warriors were hurt by two non-calls that should have instead been whistles; the Warriors also benefitted from one such play.
But on Tuesday? No issues. After looking over the replay, the league determined that the officials handed the final two minutes of the game just as they should have. No calls were missed, and no calls were incorrectly made.
Of course, that doesn’t absolve the Kings, who purposely fouled Seth Curry with plenty of time left on the clock, raising the eyebrows of a league that is desperately trying to prevent tanking. But that’s a matter for a different day.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 9: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks greetes Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game on April 9, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While this deal is far from ancient history, enough time has passed that more people are willing to talk about one of the biggest trades to ever happen in sports.
In a recent episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” Davis shared his side of the story, going into detail on the call he had with his agent, Rich Paul, regarding his trade from LA to Dallas.
“So when he [Rich Paul] said ‘traded to Dallas’, I was like, ‘Get the f—out of here.’ And I said, ‘Who the f— they going to trade me for Luka?’ Who else can you trade me for on that team? Mind you, they just went to the Finals.
“And there was never no discussion about ‘man we might get AD out of here’, it was nothing. He was like, ‘They traded you for Luka.’ I’m like, ‘Rich, shut the h–l up. Like what do you want?’ I’m really thinking he’s playing. I’m really thinking he’s just playing. And he was like, ‘Man, I swear.'”
As AD explained, what made the Luka trade so shocking is that the Mavs would even do it. Dončić was coming off an NBA Finals appearance and while they lost that series, most people left that season feeling pretty good about Dallas’ future.
Trading away a generational talent entering their prime without them asking to be moved is essentially unheard of. So, when AD received this news, even the credibility of his own agent wasn’t enough to convince him. Like most basketball aficionados, Davis turned to Shams Charania of ESPN for confirmation.
“I go on X, go straight to Shams’ [Charania] page. Nothing. Go up the stairs, Joel Embiid calls me. Somebody else called me, another player and I’m like wait, hold on. So I go back to Shams’ page and then there it is.”
It took his agent, other players, Pelinka and Shams telling Davis he was no longer a Laker and had been dealt to the Mavs for him to believe it was real.
This trade and all the details about how it came to be will be told for years to come, and thanks to AD sharing his side of the story, another piece to this shocking tale has been told.
Now, AD is a Wizard, Mavs general manager Nico Harrison has been relieved of his duties, Luka will be a Laker for years to come and the course of both franchises has been changed forever.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 7: De'Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 110-105 on Tuesday night, in a battle between deeply injured teams. Only one team was actively trying to win, though, and that team did, indeed, win.
It wasn’t pretty, though it was for a little while. The Warriors blew a 16-point lead, but recovered to pull off a win, and put a halt to their four-game losing skid.
So let’s grade the players who handled business on Tuesday. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. League-average TS is 58.1%.
Spencer didn’t have a particularly good game, but there’s still so much value that he provides. The Warriors only used nine players, which included a player on a two-way contract who is fighting through an injury, a player who was healthy for just the eighth time this season, and a player being carefully worked back into the fold after two months on the sidelines.
So while it wasn’t great basketball that Spencer played, it was extremely valuable for Steve Kerr to know he could trust the guard to play 40+ minutes and not make any huge mistakes along the way. And that’s exactly what happened. Spencer ran the offense well, competed on defense, and made a few buckets. His efficiency wasn’t quite as bad as it looks, since he had a few bail-out attempts.
Leons didn’t play well. There’s no sugarcoating that. He’s also been gutting his way through a nasty wrist injury because the Warriors are shy on bodies, and he deserves a whole lot of credit for that.
Grade: A for the toughness Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team
A lot of good, and a lot of bad for Draymond. The primary takeaway is that it was a strong reminder as to how well he plays with Steph Curry. Steve Kerr synced their minutes up, and it’s just stunning how much chemistry and intelligence they have. It’s just a joy to watch.
But Green also did a lot of things that were not a joy to watch. Some of the turnovers really made you shake your head, and he was a complete non-factor scoring the ball. I also thought his defense wasn’t particularly good, at least by his standards (it’s always good relative to league average).
Grade: C Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
Melton had been in a bit of a rut for a while, but he broke out in a massive way in this game. In a game featuring not one, but two players with the surname “Curry” (curname? surryname?), Melton was the best perimeter scorer. His jump shot was buttery, and he was able to get whatever he wanted across the court. And when Sacramento tightened up on him? He found the open teammate for an easy bucket.
Not to be outdone, Podziemski was every bit as valuable a part of Golden State’s starting backcourt as Melton was. This was an exceptionally crafty game for the third-year guard, who not only repeatedly got good looks — either from the field, or by forcing his way to the line — but seemed to do so at the biggest moments. He’s really developing a reputation for stepping up when the team needs him the most, and making shots that shift the momentum in Golden State’s favor.
I especially enjoyed watching Podz use his patented deceleration in this game. Against a Sacramento team that is young, inexperienced, and highly athletic, he was able to get over-eager defenders in the air all night long. It was quite crafty.
No Al Horford? No problem. No Kristaps Porziņģis? No problem. No Quinten Post? No problem.
Bassey played in his second game since joining the organization, and was everything the Dubs needed at the center position. Against a Kings team that was athletic but not very refined, he was able to feast in the paint, rejecting defenders left and right, and hauling in crafty boards. And against a Sacramento squad that is rangy but not strong, he was a downright bully, pushing bodies aside for boards and buckets.
If he can repeat this performance, I’m going to have a lot of crow to eat as I pushed back a bit when fans were clamoring to add him to the roster while he was performing well in Santa Cruz. Hopefully that’s the case,because the Warriors don’t win this game without him.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Steve Kerr had the Curry brothers share the court for most of Seth’s minutes, and it was more than a feel-good story. It was a reminder that the Warriors system works so much better when there are two dead-eye shooters in it. A system designed for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson isn’t quite the same when you swap out Mychal Thompson’s son for Dell Curry’s youngest, but it certainly was beautiful.
Seth got a lot of open looks thanks to Steph, and he’s going to make them at a high clip. Don’t let the constant injuries or bench role fool you: he’s still one of the game’s elite shooters.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
A very solid GPII game. His offense has really been so good lately — the timing on his cuts is impeccable, and he’s greatly improved his finishing at the rim, as well as his passing. It wasn’t a good defensive game for the Warriors, but Payton was the exception there, as he had a very strong game.
Curry wasn’t quite as dynamic in this game as he was in his return to action on Sunday. Perhaps that was due to a little soreness after his first game in two months, or maybe it was just because Golden State didn’t need him to play as big of a hero role to win the game. He mostly lived on the perimeter, and didn’t attack the rim very much at all, with just one shot inside the arc, and no free throws earned inside it (his three trips to the charity line were a couple of four-point plays and a technical free throw).
Still, his shooting was dynamic, he got in on the action rebounding, and he had a few nice defensive plays. Given that he’s still playing his way back into shape, it was a strong game.
Grade: B
Doug Christie
The Kings are eliminated, and to attempt to work around the league’s new anti-tanking rules, Kings coach Doug Christie tried something new: intentionally fouling Seth Curry late in the game, sending a career 86.4% free throw shooter to the line under the guise of trying to win.
I get that draft picks are more valuable than winning meaningless April games, and I understand that coaches are under pressure from front offices to find creative ways to lose, and sure, it helped the Warriors. But please, have a little respect for the game. That was just pathetic.
Grade: F
Tuesday’s incatives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Al Horford, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis, Quinten Post, Will Richard, Gui Santos, Nate Williams
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 28: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks moves the ball as Dean Wade #32 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempt to steal in the first quarter during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup at State Farm Arena on November 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting their preferred starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. This should be a good test against the Atlanta Hawks.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 11: JD Davidson #4 of the Houston Rockets arrives to the arena before the game against the LA Clippers on February 11, 2026 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Tuesday, the Houston Rockets converted JD Davison’s two-way deal to a traditional NBA contract, theoretically helping the Rockets’ ongoing need at the point guard position.
The Houston Rockets are signing two-way guard JD Davison on a new two-year deal, filling their open roster spot heading into the playoffs, agent Corey Marcum of EZ Sports Group tells ESPN.
Davison has been with the team mostly all season, although he hasn’t spent much time on the floor. As a two-way signee, Davison was limited to just 50 NBA games, although it’s not limited to whether or not he actively plays in the games.
Even if he was made active but never actually logged game minutes, that counted towards his count. The Rockets rank the risk of Davison not being eligible for the postseason, absent a standard NBA deal.
Davison reached his 50th game on Sunday, when the Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors in Stephen Curry’s return from a two-month absence.
As for the deal itself, it’s a two-year contract with a team option in the second year. Davison, the G-League MVP of the 2024-25 season, rose to prominence in Rockets circles during the preseason.
At that point in time, the Rockets were still dealing with the news of Fred VanVleet’s torn ACL and season-long absence. Making matters worse, Houston didn’t technically have any other point guards on the roster, either.
Aaron Holiday and Reed Sheppard had been utilized more as scoring guards upto that point. And still have, although we’ve seen Rockets coach Ime Udoka give Sheppard more on-ball reps in recent months.
During the preseason, Davison made 47.1 percent of his three-pointers, proving capable of providing theoretical value in that realm for a Rockets team lacking outside shooting specialists. Davison also averaged 10.5 points.
On the season, Davison’s counting stats aren’t exactly eye-popping, as he’s averaged 2.2 points, 1 assist and .9 rebounds, while shooting 40 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three, which translates to 11.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Many fans wondered if Jordan Goodwin would even make the opening day roster when the team claimed him off waivers after being released by the Los Angeles Lakers. With him returning to the Valley, many speculated about how much of a difference-maker he would truly be. Well, Goodwin saw all of that and proved it where it mattered this season, on the court.
This year, he was recognized for winning the Dan Majerle Hustle award. This is given to a player every year, to recognize their heart, grit, and hard work in getting them to where they are in the rotation. Something that Suns legend and Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle always represented in Phoenix.
Goodwin is very deserving of this crown, as I mentioned, many did not know what he could be for the Suns this year. He was competing with Jared Butler for the final roster spot, and even though Goodwin earned it, there was no set spot in the rotation for him. He had to earn those minutes, and he did that, proving to the fanbase that the return of Goody was going to be a revival.
Jordan Goodwin would make an All NBA 1st Effort Team if there was one of those
Man is just relentless on both ends trying to create opportunities for his team
The guard this season is putting up some nice numbers, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37% from three. His ability to showcase his defense prowess and be an effective ball stopper is what makes him highly praised in the valley. This is what made him stand out and get the playing time he sees now.
Jordan Goodwin this season:
• Leads the Suns in deflections, 8th overall in the NBA • Leads the Suns in steals • 36 games with multiple steals, the 5th most in the NBA • 136 offensive rebounds, 3rd among all guards https://t.co/RHXU9DiK68
Goodwin always has that fight in him and never gives up. The hustle this man shows when he touches the court is infectious, and it plays off to the rest of the team. He is always fighting for loose balls, trying to generate a steal, and on some nights, he can get it going from three-point land. This year, Goodwin had a career-high 8 threes against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the one time they beat the team this season.
Jordan Goodwin full highlights vs. Oklahoma City Thunder last night (108-105 W):
A career-high 26 points on 9/16 FG (56.3%), a career-high 8 threes on 8/13 3PT (61.5%), 4 Rebounds, 1 TOV, 1 PF, and a +/- of +8 in 30:47 minutes played off the bench.
This type of heart and effort is hard to find in the NBA, and for the Suns, it was vacant from previous teams. Now with Jordan Ott at the helm, things have shaped up differently for the Suns and in a lot better light. A majority of that on the defensive end starts with Goodwin and also ends with him. That is why he is recognized for receiving an award he most certainly deserves. The next on the agenda for Goodwin is a well-deserved long-term contract to stay in the Valley.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Will Riley #27 of the Washington Wizards brings the ball up court against Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls square off again Thursday for Round 2 at Capital One Arena.
Game info
When: Wednesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Tre Johnson (foot) and Jaden Hardy (back) are questionable, while Alex Sarr (toe), Trae Young (quad), Kyshawn George (elbow), Anthony Davis (hand), Tristan Vukcevic (knee), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Bulls, Josh Giddey (hamstring), Matas Buzelis (illness), and Isaac Okoro (quad) are questionable, while Nick Richards (elbow), Anfernee Simons (wrist), Jalen Smith (calf), Zach Collins (toe), and Noa Essengue (shoulder) are out.
What to watch for
The Wizards are coming off an absolute shellacking at the hands of the Bulls on Tuesday in a matchup that ended 129-98. Washington fell behind by 20 points in the first quarter and never mounted anything remotely resembling a comeback.
One difference coming into the rematch is that the Wiz have since ensured that the team will keep its 2026 first-round pick. There’s a chance Washington will look to pick up one more victory, knowing that the team enters Thursday with a 2.5-game cushion over the Brooklyn Nets and a full game over the Indiana Pacers in the race to the bottom. Perhaps the Wizards will try to appease the basketball gods with a final win.
Will Riley also gets another crack at the Bulls after posting arguably the worst game of his career against Chicago. Washington’s second-half breakout rookie finished with just two points on 1-of-13 shooting. Riley had just come off back-to-back 30-point games.
On top of that, there's great news about the status of Pistons star Cade Cunningham.
After missing time after suffering a collapsed lung, Cunningham is expected to make his return Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill.
The Pistons went 8-3 without Cunningham. Overall, the team has a 13-5 record and has averaged 114.8 points per game without its MVP candidate.
Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and a career-high 9.9 assists in 61 games this season. With just three games remaining, Cunningham seemingly won't be eligible for end-of-year awards, such as Most Valuable Player, due to the league's 65-game threshold.
More important for Cunningham and the Pistons' brass, though, is his return in time to make a run in the postseason.
It's the first time that the Pistons have been the top dog in the East since 2007. That season ended with an Eastern Conference finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by a 22-year-old LeBron James.
Last year, the Pistons snapped a five-year postseason drought with a playoff berth as the No. 6-seed. However, they lost a hard-fought series in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs to the New York Knicks, 4-2.
The Pistons selected Cunningham with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State. He's helped lead the charge to get the franchise back to its winning ways.
Beloved sports commentator Dick Vitale delivered some bad news on his health on Wednesday, March 8.
Through a statement from ESPN PR, Vitale announced that he received bad news after going through a series of routine tests last week. The iconic college basketball personality revealed that there were some "abnormalities" found.
“While I feel great physically and sharp mentally, I heard from my doctors that the latest tests (which included a PET scan, then a CAT scan with two MRIs) showed some abnormalities,” Vitale said in a statement shared by ESPN. “They are recommending some additional testing to determine next steps. I'm hoping for the best and we will see what the roadmap looks like after an upcoming biopsy.
“As always, I plan to remain as active as ever and fight as hard as can be.”
Vitale, 86, was declared cancer-free last year and made his return to broadcasting. Last month he called a First Four game between North Carolina State and Texas, with Charles Barkley, the first time the two called a game together.
“I'm still doing games,” Vitale told USA TODAY Sports in March. “It's a miracle. It's absolutely a miracle. I get emotional about it sometimes.”
Since 2021, Vitale has battled with cancer when he was diagnosed with melanoma and lymphoma. He was then diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in 2023. He made an emotional return to ESPN, broadcasting games, last February.
Here's a look at the full statement on his health:
Full Dick Vitale statement on health
“Like countless others, each time I go for any kind of test, I am a nervous wreck,” Vitale said. “The latest example is my scans last week. The anxiousness you feel about the uncertainty is off the charts. You just never know what’s next, and it can be surprising or scary.
“While I feel great physically and sharp mentally, I heard from my doctors that the latest tests [which included a PET scan, then a CAT scan, and then two MRIs] showed some abnormalities.”
“They are recommending some additional testing to determine next steps. I’m hoping for the best, and we will see what the roadmap looks like after an upcoming biopsy,” Vital added.
“As always, I plan to remain as active as ever and fight as hard as can be.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No ice cream tonight. Under the weather, end of a long season, and somehow still scanning lines at tipoff time — that’s dedication. The Dallas Mavericks (25-54) close out their final back-to-back set in Phoenix against the Suns (43-35), both teams playing on one night’s rest. Dallas just dropped 116-103 to the Clippers on Tuesday. Phoenix lost to Houston 119-105. Neither team is operating at full capacity, but the Suns have something to play for — the Clippers are two games back of them for seventh in the West, and Phoenix would very much like to avoid the play-in. Dallas would very much like to go home.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture: Dallas Mavericks (25-54) @ Phoenix Suns (43-35) 📍 Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, AZ 🕙 9:00 PM CST, Wednesday, April 8, 2026 📺 KFAA Channel 29 / MavsTV / NBA League Pass
📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 5:05 PM CST) Spread: PHX -12.5 (-105) | DAL +12.5 (-115) Total: 233.5 (O -110 / U -110) Moneyline: PHX -650 | DAL +470
📉 Game Side Lean: Dallas +12.5
Twelve and a half points is a lot to ask on a back-to-back, even against a 25-win team. Phoenix is motivated — the playoff seeding race is real — but motivated and covering a big number are two different things, especially on one night’s rest against a Dallas team that refuses to quit. The Mavs have a 16-27 record in clutch games this season. They don’t mail it in. Gafford, Marshall, Klay, and PJ are all doubtful, which is a real frontcourt concern, but Flagg is probable and this number feels generous. Take the points.
🔮 Total Lean: Over 233.5
Both teams on a back-to-back usually means sloppy defense and tired legs — neither ingredient that leads to a grind-it-out defensive battle. Phoenix wants to run, Flagg wants to score, and Dallas’s depleted roster means Phoenix gets easy looks inside all night. Points are the path of least resistance here.
🎯 Player Props We Like
Cooper Flagg Over 28.5 Points (-106) Flagg had 25 on 9-of-25 shooting against the Clippers Tuesday — not his best night, but he’s been filling the stat sheet regardless. With Marshall and PJ both doubtful, the offense runs entirely through him. Phoenix has a seeding race to worry about and will game-plan accordingly, but when your supporting cast is this thin, Flagg gets the ball on every meaningful possession. The number is high but the usage is undeniable. Back the rookie.
Oso Ighodaro Double-Double (+584) Here’s the fun one. Ighodaro is a 23-year-old Suns forward averaging 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds this season, but Dallas is showing up tonight without most of their functional frontcourt. Gafford and Marshall both doubtful. That’s a lot of interior real estate up for grabs. Ighodaro had 8 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes against Houston yesterday — he’s close. At +584, you don’t need this to hit often for it to be worth the look. It’s the kind of prop that cashes quietly and makes you feel like a genius.
💡 Summary: Dallas +12.5 for a team that won’t go quietly. Over 233.5 on tired legs and thin defenses. Flagg carrying a depleted roster over his number, and Oso Ighodaro doing something interesting with all that frontcourt space. Four picks.
Apr 6, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts after making a shot from beyond half court that would have tied the game but was ruled after time expired against the New York Knicks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Another look at a likely first-round playoff opponent as the Atlanta Hawks (45-34) travel to Cleveland to spar with the Cavaliers (50-29) and lock up a playoff spot.
Jock Landale (ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
Starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: WatchESPN, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 6: Cade Cunningham #2 high fives Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 6, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons might get Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart back, with both being game time decision, according to head coach JB Bickerstaff. Does anything else really matter? Other things of note, I suppose, is that the Bucks have given up on everything resembling dignity, per their injury report and their head coach’s musing about how much he misses spending time with his grandchildren. The point spread is at Pistons -20.5. Feels like it might be an undercount unless Detroit is completely unserious.
To be more precise, Cade, Kevin Huerter, and Isaiah Stewart are all listed as questionable. But ESPN’s Vince Goodwill has sources that indicate Cunningham is likely to give it a go. If Cade plays the rest of the season, he will be at 64 games. That would be one short of the threshold for awards consideration. Could Cunningham explore a special exception, similar to what Luka Doncic and his agents have floated recently?
The Milwaukee report is far more bleak and definitive. Giannis Antetokounmpo is out. Kyle Kuzma is out. Kevin Porter Jr. is out. Bobby Portis is out. Myles Turner is out. Hope is out.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -20.5
Golden State, Miami and Minnesota made a hard push at February's trade deadline, but team ownership put off making a deal because it believed better offers would be available in the offseason. That may be true. Could the Rockets, or even the Lakers or Celtics, jump into the mix? It's possible, according to a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Two things to watch
Two key factors will impact which jersey Antetokounmpo will pull on next.
First, where does Antetokounmpo want to play? By pushing off trading the Greek Freak to the offseason, the Bucks gave him more leverage — Antetokounmpo has just one more guaranteed season on his contract, and he can tell a team he is not interested in them that he would not re-sign with them. While Milwaukee could trade Antetokounmpo to a team willing to take a one-year flyer on him (as Toronto did with Kawhi Leonard — and won a title with that gamble), most teams will not want to meet the asking price if they cannot reach an extension with their new star.
Second, which teams flame out early in the upcoming NBA playoffs? To use Boston as an example, it has a lot of flexibility this offseason to make a big move, but if it makes the NBA Finals — and the Celtics are the betting favorite to do just that — then would they still have interest in Antetokounmpo? How will the Lakers approach the offseason after injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are set to dramatically impact their playoffs? How will Houston feel if it flames out in the first round?
Which teams are interested
Amick at The Athletic lists a number of teams that could be in the mix for Antetokounmpo.
The Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks were known to be in the market for Antetokounmpo, will almost certainly be back if they fall short.
However, how might the Orlando Magic feel if they fall short of expectations, with their current Play-In status nowhere near what they had in mind when they went all-in for Desmond Bane last summer? And what about the Houston Rockets, who signaled a disinterest in pairing Antetokounmpo with Kevin Durant in February but might change their stance if they get eliminated early?
Ditto for the San Antonio Spurs … or the Los Angeles Lakers … or the Atlanta Hawks. Even the Celtics, who have the 'Two Jays' back now and look fully capable of winning it all, are known to be interested and discussed in league circles as potential suitors.
Those teams have a lot of questions to ask themselves. Does Houston think Antetokounmpo and Durant could play together, especially with floor general Fred VanVleet expected to return next season? The Lakers are going to wholly reshape their roster this offseason, but do they really think the ball-dominant Luka Doncic would fit well with the ball-dominant Antetokounmpo? It's hard to imagine the young, talented, diverse and improving every day Spurs suddenly getting impatient and going after Antetokounmpo.
Other teams not on this list may throw their hat in the ring, but which ones will Antetokounmpo want to play for? There are a lot of moving parts.
One thing is certain: This is going to be a wild offseason.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 8: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on February 8, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK CITY — The Celtics could be shorthanded when they face the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis), Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Neemias Queta (right toe sprain), and Derrick White (right knee contusion) are all questionable to play. The Celtics are on the first night of a back-to-back, with a game against the New Orleans Pelicans back at TD Garden on Friday.
Jayson Tatum will lace up at Madison Square Garden for the first time since he ruptured his Achilles there last May.
“I’m not like, thrilled, to go back and play there,” Tatum said on Tuesday night. “Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me.”
Still, he opted to play on Thursday in New York to get that first game back out of the way.
“Obviously, I knew at some point I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again. So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday. But it’s not like I’m thrilled about it. But it’s part of it. I decided to come back and play, so I’m not necessarily skipping certain games. I can’t play back-to-backs right now, but I decided to come back and play, so it’s just another game on the schedule.”
If the Celtics actually end up sitting four starters, it’s likely that players like Nikola Vucevic, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Ron Harper Jr will all see increased opportunities.
How the Celtics, Knicks stack up
The Celtics are 1-2 against the Knicks this season, but have the upper hand in the conference standings. The Celtics (54-25) have a three-game lead over the Knicks (51-28) for the No. 2 seed.
The Knicks won by double-digits in New York and February, while the Celtics pulled away with a 6-point win in December. But all of those games were played without Tatum, who returned last month from a 10-month-long absence.
The Celtics and the Knicks have had two of the league’s best offenses this season — the Celtics have the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (119.9) and the Knicks have the league’s third-best offense (118.8).
Both have also been top ten defenses; the Celtics have the NBA’s fourth-best defense (111.7 rating), and the Knicks have the NBA’s 8th-best defense (112.3).
