OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Paycom Center on March 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let me preface this by saying it’s unlikely that the Golden State Warriors win both of their potential play-in games this upcoming week. They’ll be underdogs for Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, unless the NBA finishes their investigation and orders Kawhi Leonard to plant trees during the 9-10 game.
Should they get past Team Aspiration, they’ll be underdogs against the loser of the Phoenix Suns-Portland Trail Blazers 7-8 game Friday, AKA the “Cliff Robinson Bowl.” Would it be satisfying to beat Dillon Brooks in a postseason game again or make Damian Lillard watch the Warriors celebrate again? Obviously, but a Warriors team that’s gone 5-15 after Cinco De Mayo isn’t scaring anyone. Both those games (if necessary) will be broadcast on Prime Video, which we all know as the home of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
But if the Warriors pull off two road wins against their healthier, taller, younger, cooler, more talented opponents Wednesday and Friday, then their reward will be a matchup with the defending champions at 12:30 on Sunday, April 19. The tired Warriors will face 18,203 screaming fans still furious about Kevin Durant’s free agency a decade ago and that Chick-fil-A is closed.
The prime-time matchups are about the NBA’s past, and its future. Saturday’s 5:30 game on ABC features 41-year-old LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers facing 37-year-old Durant and the Houston Rockets. Sunday’s prime-time game at 6:00 on NBC will have 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs facing the Suns-Blazers winner.
So mark your calendars for Sunday, but maybe write it in pencil. And if you have to go a T-ball game, church service, champagne brunch, craft fair, or 4/20 pre-party, the Warriors will understand. After all, they might already be in Cancun.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz on April 12, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an exhausting, long NBA season, it was nice to go about Sunday’s game stress-free. There were some stakes involved as the Lakers could still finish either the third or fourth seed.
However, LA pretty quickly took control of the game and moved into cruise control as early as the start of the second half. From there, it was a fun half of the younger guys getting some run and shining with an eye kept on the Nuggets and Spurs.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
The Lakers are going to need Smart in the playoffs, so it was nice to see him get some minutes again after his lengthy injury break. And he was being quite the facilitator as well.
How much fun has it been to watch Bronny develop and flourish to close this season? While it comes with the obvious caveat, he’s likely going ot be a rotation player in a playoff series and it’s a deserved role.
With a freshly-inked contract, Smith Jr. showed why the Lakers signed him with a couple of threes in the first half. He likely won’t be in the rotation to start the playoffs, but he can provide a scoring injection if needed.
He lives! On the topic of fun, seeing Knecht look like the player fans fell in love with a long time ago was a joy. However, there’s a good chance this was perhaps his last appearance in a Lakers jersey.
Grade: A
Drew Timme, Chris Mañon
The two-way guys wrapped up their season with some garbage time minutes. Neither played 10 minutes and neither will be eligible for the playoffs.
JJ Redick
Hats off to Redick, who coached the Lakers to 53 wins this season despite an incredible amount of injuries to the stars. It’s been a pair of tumultuous seasons and Redick still has over 100 wins.
It was a pretty simple task on Sunday against a team actively looking to lose the game.
Grade: B+
Sunday’s inactives: Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves
Leonard also raised his level of play during the season and began to gather MVP award consideration. Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 65 games played.
Leonard's health might be in question for the play-in game, however, after being unavailable for the Clippers' regular-season finale due to an ankle injury on April 12.
Even without Leonard, the Clippers closed out the regular season with a 115-110 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Who will Clippers face in play-in game?
The Clippers will serve as the ninth seed in the Western Conference and take on the Warriors in a play-in game.
Stephen Curry has led the way for the Warriors this season, averaging 26.6 points a game. Curry recently returned from knee injury on April 5. He had missed 27 games. The Warriors went 9-18 during that time without him.
The Warriors finished the regular season with a 37-45 record.
The Clippers have won the last three games in the four-game regular-season series with the Warriors. Golden State's last win over L.A. came on Oct. 28.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 12: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 12, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final buzzer at the Frost Bank Center carried little urgency for the San Antonio Spurs—but it still told a story. San Antonio came into the regular season finale on Sunday already locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, so missing key pieces for rest and injury management, the Spurs fell 128-118 to the Denver Nuggets in a game exposed both vulnerability and perspective heading into the postseason.
Even with a limited run from Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets controlled stretches of the game and never fully let the Spurs recover. Jokić made his presence felt early, tallying 23 points and eight rebounds, all in the first half, before sitting in the second half after securing eligibility for postseason awards.
Despite missing all their starters, apart from Jokic, it was Denver’s supporting cast that delivered the knockout blows. Julian Strawther erupted for 25 points, while the Nuggets’ bench fueled a decisive second-quarter surge. A massive 20-0 run in a period of six minutes turned a competitive game into an uphill battle San Antonio couldn’t climb out of.
“I thought the effort was consistent,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s time to regroup and we’ve got five or six days to prepare. We need to be prepared and as sharp as we can.”
The Spurs, meanwhile, looked like a team managing the bigger picture. Without Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, San Antonio struggled defensively and on the glass. Still, they found offense in spurts. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 24 points, while multiple players reached double figures in a balanced but inconsistent attack . Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson added key contributions, helping the Spurs trim the deficit late, but never enough to truly threaten.
Every time San Antonio pushed, Denver answered.
The Nuggets stretched their lead to double digits multiple times in the second half, leaning on timely shooting and second-chance opportunities. Even as the Spurs made a late push to cut the margin to single digits, Denver’s composure sealed the outcome.
The loss snapped the regular season to a close at 62-20 for San Antonio, a remarkable turnaround and a 34-win improvement from the previous year. More importantly, it marked the end of a drought, sending the Spurs back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“We’ve flipped our minds towards the playoffs,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “We’re excited and we’re expecting to make a long run in it.”
“Regardless, it is playoff basketball,” he added. “Seeding to us really doesn’t matter. Like Mitch said, just win the game in front of you, so we’re focused on that.”
And while this finale won’t linger as a defining moment, it did offer a preview. If these two teams meet again in the postseason, the margin for error will be razor thin.
“It’s been a hell of a year,” Spurs forward Carter Bryant. “I’m ready. I’m excited for the postseason.”
Sunday night showed that even a shorthanded Denver squad has the firepower—and depth—to challenge San Antonio. But for the Spurs, the real season is just beginning.
Game Notes
Carter Bryant is playing with supreme confidence and that’s going to make him a dangerous player come playoff time and for years to come. He finished with 13 points and three blocks. If he puts those kind of numbers up in the postseason, he will be a secret weapon for San Antonio.
Stephon Castle made his return to the lineup, scoring 10 points on 30 percent shooting.
For Spurs fans worried about Denver in round 2, let’s focus on round 1 first. Also, the bright side is that this is the worst the Spurs will be for the foreseeable future. The fact they finished 62-20 after winning just 34 games a year ago is insane. Breathe. It’s going to be fun .
The Spurs had three chances from the three-point line late to cut into Denver’s lead and couldn’t convert. The basketball Gods might have wanted them to take the hard road for their first playoff run in 6 years.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz season is officially over, and they were able to end the season tied for 4th with the Sacramento Kings in the lottery standings. It’s a successful season for the Utah Jazz, whose biggest goal was to keep their lottery pick while also developing their young talent … and also not playing Lauri Markkanen.
Official 2026 NBA Lottery Odds
And with the 2025-26 NBA season behind us, here is the final lottery order (with their odds to get the No. 1 pick) for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10.
Washington Wizards — top-8 protected (14%)
Indiana Pacers — pick goes to Clippers if it falls 5-9 (14%)
Brooklyn Nets (14%)
Utah Jazz — top-8 protected (11.5%)
Sacramento Kings (11.5%)
Memphis Grizzlies (9%)
Atlanta Hawks — via New Orleans Pelicans (6.8%)
Dallas Mavericks (6.8%)
Chicago Bulls(4.5%)
Milwaukee Bucks (3%)
Golden State Warriors (2%)
Oklahoma City Thunder — via Los Angeles Clippers (1.5%)
Miami Heat (1%)
Charlotte Hornets (0.5%)
The Jazz and Kings, as well as the Pelicans and Mavericks, will have a coin flip after the play-in tournament around April 20. At that point, we’ll find out which of Utah and Sacramento gets the 4th spot and the 5th spot. The 4-spot will be a 12.5% odds to get the #1 pick, and the 5-spot will be 10.5%. The Mavericks and Pelicans will find out who gets the 7th spot and who gets the 8th spot. The 7-spot has a 7.5% shot at the #1 pick, and the 8-spot has a 6% chance.
Final 2025-2026 NBA Standings
Here are the final standings for each conference, with the play-in ultimately set to decide who will face the top two seeds in each. The No. 2 seed in each conference will play the winner of the 7-8 game, while the No. 1 seed will play the winner of the next game, between the loser of the 7-8 game and the winner of the 9-10 game.
*Eliminated teams in italics.
You can look at the FanDuel odds here to see the odds for the upcoming NBA Finals.You can see the odds for the NBA Draft here.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 12: Kevin Garnett and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 12, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kevin Garnett is back!
On Sunday night in downtown Minneapolis, the Big Ticket made his long-awaited return to Minneapolis. He was led in through the player tunnel by the Minnesota Timberwolves owners, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, following an introductory hype video.
It was a moment Timberwolves fans had waited a long time to see, and it did not disappoint as the Target Center crowd rained down love from all corners of the building.
“It was great energy in the building,” Chris Finch said about Garnett’s presence at the game. “It was a special night. He came in pregame, talked to the guys, went around the locker room individually, and talked to the coaching staff a bit, and was fun. He was excited to be back, no doubt about it, and it was a pretty neat moment when he walked out. It was good for our guys because they got a sense of just how important somebody with a legacy is, and what that really means.”
The impact of Garnett’s legacy collided with another growing Minnesota legend when KG and Anthony Edwards embraced before the game.
With KG sitting courtside, the Timberwolves closed out the regular season with a 132-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans Sunday night at Target Center.
With the Wolves locked into the sixth seed, they decided to sit almost their entire starting rotation, with Donte DiVicenzo, who did not miss a game all season, as the lone exception. DiVinenzo played the first 7:32 of the game, putting up three points and three assists.
Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Wolves in scoring with 26 points and five assists as he continued his stellar stretch of play to close out the season.
Joan Beringer dominated on both ends of the floor as he put up 24 points on 9-12 shooting to go along with 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Beringer became the youngest player in NBA history to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ rebounds in a single game.
Joe Ingles, Zyon Pullin, Julian Phillips, and Enrique Freeman all scored in double figures, as the Wolves got the victory and finished the season with 49 wins for the second straight year.
Wolves-Nuggets Round 3
With the Denver Nuggets beating the San Antonio Spurs tonight, the Wolves’ playoff matchup was set. For the third time in four seasons, the Timberwolves and the Nuggets will battle in the playoffs. While the Wolves likely would have preferred the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, Minnesota seems confident they can beat any team put in front of them.
While the Wolves and Nuggets do have playoff history, those matchups from the 2023 and 2024 playoffs may not carry over to 2026.
“I don’t think it’s overly relevant,” Finch said about the Denver matchup. “The heart of their team is Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Braun, those guys have been together for a long, long time. The rest of the guys have kind of settled into their roles, and they’ve gotten healthy, so they’ve gotten a little bit deeper. I think that’s the depth that they didn’t have a few years ago, which makes them a lot more dangerous.”
Multiple Timberwolves players pointed to the need to come together as one group as a necessity in the playoffs.
“Just being together,” Donte DiVincezo said about what the team’s mindset needs to be. “All accolades and individual things are out the window. Now it’s all about just trying to get four wins, and we have a great opportunity. It’s a great team that we’re going to be playing, but this is what we thrive on: going on the road. Those first two games, I think we’ll be really connected and try to get in there and sneak one game home.”
Rudy Gobert also pointed to playing connected together as a key for the Wolves heading into the postseason.
Rudy Gobert pregame on the playoffs:
“It’s about being close together and being brothers. We’re gonna have great games and people are going to praise us. And we are gonna have bad moments and people are going to shit on us and in both cases we have to stick to who we are.” pic.twitter.com/t3SBNafJws
To beat the Nuggets in this upcoming series, the Wolves are going to need to play with a level of connectivity that frankly they haven’t shown all season. While the 49 wins signal that Minnesota is a solid enough team, Denver’s 54 wins in an injury-rittled season signal that they have been at another level this regular season
The Wolves have shown they can win a playoff series as an underdog before. Of their four playoff series victory over the past two seasons, three have come as an underdog.
Only time will tell if they can do it again.
Up Next
Game 1 between the Timberwolves and Nuggets will take place on Saturday, beginning at 2:30 PM CT. Fans can watch the game on Amazon Prime Video. The schedule for the rest of the series will be released sometime this week at the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament.
Mike Brown wanted to finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA. He wanted to have the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Brown said falling short of those goals was “disappointing.”
But Brown and the Knicks put up some other impressive numbers this season.
They had the franchise’s third-highest SRS, which is a measurement that accounts for point differential and strength of schedule.
The 2025-26 Knicks finished the season with an SRS of 6.23. They trail only the 1969-70 and 1993-94 teams and are right ahead of the 1972-73 team. Two of those teams won the NBA Finals and the third reached the NBA Finals -- not bad company to be in.
Brown’s Knicks finished the season with the fourth-best offensive rating in the league. They ranked 7th overall in defense and had the fifth-best net rating.
“I wish I could have figured some things out a little sooner than what I did, but we’ve had more ups than downs,” Brown said Sunday.
“....Going into the playoffs, we feel pretty good where we are offensively and defensively as a group,” he added. “We feel connected. I feel like everybody on the team has sacrificed in one way, shape or form. You need that from your group in order to have some success. Our guys compete, and at this point in the season, I feel like the guys really believe, not just in what we’re trying to do but in each other.”
That belief is the result of a strong finish to the regular season. The Knicks snapped an 0-5 stretch against teams above .500 with wins over Atlanta and Boston last week.
The pairing of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on offense looked as good as it has all season in those two games.
Of course, Brown and the rest of the organization will ultimately be judged on what happens in the playoffs.
But Brown’s Knicks seem to be in a good place entering their first-round matchup against the Hawks. They’ve shown over the course of 82 games that they’re one of the top teams in the league. They’ve battled through rough stretches of the season, questions about the fit of Towns, the play of Bridges and a myriad of other issues.
“Like most teams, you go through a lot of ups and you go through and it can get tough. And there can be plenty of opportunities for individuals which can turn into a collective group of guys to quit, throw in the towel any time,” Brown said.
“Anytime we face a little bit of adversity our guys try to handle it the right way. I really like their resiliency and I like their openness to trying different things or new things. Because we’ve done some things differently here than what they’re probably used to when they had a successful run doing the things that they were doing in the past.”
The past success ended with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Getting back there this season is considered the baseline for Brown & Co. We’ll find out in a few weeks if they can get back to that place and beyond.
But right now, at the end of a trying regular season, Brown and the Knicks seem to be in a good spot.
DUECE GETS LOOSE
Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson were the only rotation players on the floor for the Knicks on Sunday.
For McBride, the game was an opportunity to get some shots up and gain more rhythm ahead of the playoffs.
McBride took advantage, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
“He looked good. It was good to see him just go play free, take any shot he wanted and be aggressive,” Brown said. “Because he can score the basketball at a high level, he can shoot at a high level so it’s good to see the ball go in a few times.”
McBride played in six games following a multi-week absence for sports hernia surgery and an ankle ailment. He will obviously play a significant role in how things unfold for the Knicks in the postseason.
In a good sign for New York, McBride said that he feels like his rhythm is in a good place entering the playoffs.
He does feel pain as a result of his surgery while playing, which is something to keep an eye on in the Hawks series, but McBride has managed the pain and played through it since returning from surgery.
Looking back, it seems wild to think how hard a sell the Play-In Tournament was just six years ago. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spent a lot of political capital to make it happen, and there were plenty of skeptics.
It's hard to imagine the NBA without it now — the win-or-go-home drama is built into the postseason. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament.
What is the Play-In?
This was one of the NBA's first attempts to stop (or reduce) tanking, and it has been one of the more effective. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pushed for it and it has been one of his bigger successes as commissioner — it gave more teams something to play, more fan bases something to root for, and along the way created some drama.
The No. 7 and 8 seeds no longer automatically make the playoffs, and seeds No. 9 and 10 can earn their way in. In addition, one of the benefits of the play-in is it created an incentive to win enough games to be a top-six seed and avoid the play-in. There is a genuine push by teams to avoid the potential pitfalls of the play-in.
There are some big names in the play-in this year, including former MVPs Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid.
How does the play-in work?
It's become familiar and is pretty simple to follow, with four teams in each conference competing for two playoff spots.
• Regular season seeds No. 7 and 8 play a single game, with the winner going straight to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed (to face the No. 2 seed).
• Regular season seeds Nos. 9 and 10 play a single-elimination game, from which the loser is out and goes home.
• The winner of the 9/10 game and the loser of the 7/8 game play a single elimination game to advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed (to face the No. 1 seed). The loser of this final play-in game is done for the season.
Eastern Conference play-in schedule, where to watch
Tuesday, April 14
• 9/10 game: Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Wednesday, April 15
• 7/8 Game: Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Friday, April 17
• 9/10 winner at 7/8 loser (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Western Conference play-in schedule, where to watch
Tuesday, April 14
• 7/8 Game: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Wednesday, April 15
• 9/10 game: Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Friday, April 17
• 9/10 winner at 7/8 loser (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Has any team reached the NBA Finals out of the play-in?
Yes, but just once. In 2023, the Miami Heat were the No. 7 seed, lost the first play-in game to Atlanta, and then had to come from behind in the final play-in game to beat Chicago and advance as the No. 8 seed. Once in the playoffs, Miami beat Milwaukee, New York, and Boston to advance to the NBA Finals.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz had their final game of the season, but also the rebuild. It will not be remembered long as the outcome was expected, an easy win for the Lakers 131-107.
There were some things to take away for the Jazz. They played hard in this one, much like they’ve done all season, regardless of who was on the floor. That’s a great sign for the culture, the players, and the coach. Utah has successfully gotten through a season where they weren’t trying to win and has come out intact with a really bright future. And that’s before Utah enters lottery night.
That hustle is shown by multiple players on the team night after night. Tonight, that player was Oscar Tshiebwe, who had his way with DeAndre Ayton all game. Tshiebwe was 12/17 from the floor in this one and scored 29 points along with 17 rebounds. There are multiple players, like Tshiebwe, who may or may not be on the roster next season but have proven they have to be considered. Bez Mbeng is one of those players as well. Tonight, Mbeng was 5/10 from the field for 14 points with 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Not bad, the game after a triple-double. We’ll see if Mbeng and Tshiebwe will be on the roster next season as the Jazz move forward, looking to win as many games as possible. If they don’t make it, they’ve been nice additions that have filled roles well alongside the Jazz’s young, developing talent.
Speaking of the developing talent, Ace Bailey and Cody Williams struggled to shoot in this one. They both showed flashes, but the shooting hasn’t been there as consistently as you’d like. That said, they show the makings of really nice players, and this tanking season has given them the opportunity to grow that they wouldn’t have had were they on teams playing to win every game. Bailey was 7/21 in this one, mostly because the three wasn’t falling, but he’s shown enough this season that he has a bright future with his offensive game alongside the potential to be a high-level defender. Cody Williams has also looked night and day better than last season. Williams was only 5/15 from the field in this one, but he had 6 assists and 2 steals. Considering Williams struggled to put up any stats at all last season and early in the year, that’s a massive improvement. He’s also showing he has some go-to moves to score and help the offense with his pullup mid range game and his straight line drives to the basket. For both Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, we’ll see how they acclimate to having to share possessions with a winning roster next year, but the signs are looking good for them to, at worst, be great rotation pieces. Ace Bailey is showing signs of being an elite two-way player if everything comes together for him.
And with that, it appears the 4-year rebuild is now over. There’s still a lottery on May 10th that could make this rebuild even more epic. But even if the Jazz lose that lottery, they’ll be set up to win in a big way next season. It’ll be fun to see the fruits of four years of tanking labor. All the losing, the development of youth, the trade for Jaren Jackson Jr, the endless Lauri Markkanen trade rumors, only to keep him. It all leads to an upcoming season that will have the Jazz doing something they haven’t done for four years, go to the playoffs.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game 82 is in the books for the Dallas Mavericks, as they took on the Chicago Bulls Sunday night in what resulted in a 149-128 win. The Mavericks finish the season with a 26-56 record, good for either the seventh or eighth worst record in the league, as the Mavs and Pelicans end the season with identical records and will need to go to a coin flip.
That concludes the 2025-2026 season for the Mavs and with it our game-specific Grades coverage. Thank you to all our readers who joined the conversation as we doled out grades game after game!
Let’s get to the grades!
Ryan Nembhard: A+
15 PTS / 9 REB / 23 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
Nembhard broke Jason Kidd’s long-standing record for assists in a single game by a Mavs’ rookie. Kidd had 17 to take the top spot, and Nembhard overtook him midway through the third quarter. The fact he was within shouting distance of Scott Skiles’ NBA record 30 assists is nothing short of astonishing. The fact he did it with only four turnovers is almost mind-boggling. He now holds the second highest assist total in a game in Mavs’ history (Kidd; 25).
Max Christie: A-
12 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 13 MIN
Fan Appreciation night had the Mavs rolling almost across the board. Christie was red-hot, scoring nearly a point-per-minute on 5-for-7 shooting including 2-for-4 from deep. The quick release he learned from Klay Thompson appears to be paying dividends. He showed some solid defense with an unlikely two blocks as well.
Cooper Flagg: N/A
10 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 10 MIN
As much as I would love to give Flagg a grade, his rolled ankle after only 10 minutes of play lands him with the “N/A.” It’s a shame in the last game of his rookie campaign, but especially so since he was on his way to a great night. He shot 4-for-8 from the floor and knocked down both of his free throw attempts in a point-per-minute effort. He will end the season as the first rookie to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-1985.
Khris Middleton: N/A
8 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 6 MIN
Another weird one, as the veteran Middleton was looking good before checking out after six minutes of play. While there isn’t nearly enough to grade on, Middleton did go 2-for-3 from the floor (all beyond the arc) for a highly affective half-quarter of play.
Dwight Powell: B+
7 PTS / 12 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Powell had a heck of a night on the boards to really drive his grade up. He went 3-for-4 from the floor and fell down at least once (though I don’t believe he got hit in the face, which is an oddity for him). Four fouls were the only real knock on his game.
Klay Thompson: N/A
12 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 10 MIN
Thompson falls into the “N/A” category along with a few others, due to the very limited minutes, but this was a nice end to the season for him. He needed two three-pointers to make 200 on the season, and he knocked in four of them to leave no doubt. He also made his way into the top 100 scorers in NBA history Sunday night.
John Poulakidas: A+
28 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 36 MIN
Poulakidas went nuts from beyond the arc, shooting a blistering 8-for-16 (9-for-18 overall). Despite all of that shooting, he also managed to dish a few assists. It was a lot of fun to see him shooting with confidence and knocking down shot after shot, often with a hand in his face. He’s certainly a shooter, so it will be interesting to see what he can do for the Mavs in the future, especially as they are in such need of deep threats.
AJ Johnson: A-
20 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN
Johnson tied for the second most points on the team on a solidly efficient 6-for-12 from the floor. He couldn’t connect from deep (0-for-3) but got himself to the free throw line with frequency, hitting 8-for-9. His team-high five turnovers dinged his grade a bit, but this was basically the best we’ve seen him play since coming to Dallas.
Tyler Smith: A+
20 PTS / 7 REB / 0 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK – 37 MIN
Smith was basically an A+ in his first 12 minutes of play, much less the game overall. Part of that was due to the lack of precedence and playing time heretofore, but he had himself a very nice well-rounded game.
Moussa Cisse: A+
17 PTS / 20 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 41 MIN
Cisse was an absolute beast with a 20-rebound double-double. He played solid defense in a game that was never really in question, getting two steals and two blocks. He did foul a bit too much (four) and turned it over three times, but going 5-for-6 from the free throw line and splitting his total boards evenly between the offensive and defensive glass (that’s right – 10 offensive rebounds) catapulted him to the top marks.
Final thoughts
Make no mistake, this game was hot garbage in terms of the Bulls putting up absolutely zero resistance. While that may make one think the grades should be scaled accordingly, I couldn’t help but give out high marks purely on the basis so many Mavs not only did well as would be expected, but vastly outplayed even the most ambitious expectations. These guys wanted to show out, and just about every single player did just that, all while playing within the game and helping each other to be their best for 48-minutes.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
The Los Angeles Lakers managed to secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs after producing a hot streak later in the season as the team gathered momentum, winning 13 of 15 games.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves all appeared settled into their roles and the team was moving in the right direction, but that momentum has since been lost. The Lakers will have to move forward with James as the focal point after Doncic and Reaves each suffered injuries in the closing stretch of the regular season.
The duo is also expected to miss part of the postseason. That leaves players like Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart to help navigate the Lakers’ potential postseason run long enough to try and get Reaves and Doncic healthy.
Who will the Lakers play in first round of NBA Playoffs?
The Lakers will serve as the Western Conference's fourth seed in the playoff and take on the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 26 points per game in his first year with the franchise. Alperen Sengun leads Houston with 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game this season.
The Rockets finished out the regular season with a 52-30 record during the regular season.
When do Lakers and Rockets start first round?
The Lakers will host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, April 18. The game will air on ABC and start at 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)
When: Saturday, April 18
Where: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
Time: 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)
TV: ABC
Who won Lakers-Rockets regular-season series
The Lakers got the best of the Rockets during the regular season, winning the last two games of the three-game regular-season series.
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 24: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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The Cavs haven’t fared well against the Raptors this season. They’ve dropped all three of their meetings, and none of them were particularly close. Every loss was by at least double digits.
How much you want to read into those games is up to you. Each game took place before December. The Cavs were without starting point guard — at the time — Darius Garland for each of those games, didn’t have Jarrett Allen for two of them, and were without Donovan Mitchell for one of them. Those absences had a tremendous impact on the game.
In addition to that, the Cavs struggled to keep up with the Raptors’ pace. Toronto was able to beat them in transition with their wings. We’ll see if the Cavs are able to adjust to that pace in the series.
This will be the fourth time the Cavaliers and Raptors have met in the playoffs. The Cavs have won all three previous meetings, which took place in three-consecutive seasons from 2016-18.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 12: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense during the game against the LA Clippers on April 12, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA’s regular season came to a close on Sunday, with all 30 teams in the league playing. While most of the standings jockeying had concluded before the final day of the season, there was still a lot to work out. And that included the play-in tournament, and the future for the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State entered Sunday’s game knowing that they would be the 10th seed in the West, giving them an uphill battle to make the playoffs: they’ll need to win consecutive road games in order to clinch the final spot in the playoffs. And they tipped off against the LA Clippers — a game they lost 115-110 — knowing it was likely that they would face LA in a rematch in the play-in tournament.
Now they know that for certain, and we have the schedule as well.
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings 122-110, which finalized the West’s play-in seeding. The win gave the Blazers the eighth spot, and put the Clippers at No. 9. As a result, the Clippers will host the Warriors in the 9-10 matchup, which takes place on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on Prime Video.
The Blazers, meanwhile, visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, also at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video. The winner of that game will be the seventh seed in the West, and will book a first-round series against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The loser will host the winner of the game between the Warriors and the Clippers, and the winner of that game will be the eighth seed, and earn the daunting task of taking on the defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
So the Warriors play Wednesday night, with their season on the line. If they lose to the Clippers, the season is over. If they beat LA, then they’ll get a day off on Thursday to travel, and will visit either Portland or Phoenix on Friday night. Like the other Western Conference play-in games, that game will be at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 12: John Poulakidas #1 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 12, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks end their season strong, cruising to a 149-128 win over the Bulls behind one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. Dallas shot a blistering 52.0% from the field and 22-of-49 from three (44.9%), while piling up 35 assists and completely controlling the flow of the game. Ryan Nembhard led the way with a historic 23 assists to go along with 15 points, while John Poulakidas added 28 points on 8-of-16 from three and Moussa Cisse dominated the glass with 20 rebounds. Multiple Mavericks contributed across the board, as Dallas’ ball movement, shooting, and rebounding advantage proved too much for a Bulls team that never found consistent answers.
Dallas took control of this game almost immediately and never really let Chicago breathe in the first half. The Mavericks got early shot-making from Max Christie and Khris Middleton, then quickly opened things up behind Cooper Flagg’s downhill scoring, Klay Thompson’s threes, and Ryan Nembhard completely steering the offense, as Dallas built a double-digit lead before the Bulls ever found rhythm. Chicago had a few scattered answers through Rob Dillingham and Collin Sexton, but every small push got erased by another Dallas run. What stood out most was how easy the offense looked for Dallas. The Mavericks shot 54.9% from the field and 12-of-25 from three, piled up 22 assists, and got 12 first-half assists from Nembhard alone, which tells you exactly how in control they were offensively. Smith was a huge part of that burst with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Christie added 12 and Thompson chipped in 12 of his own to keep stretching the floor. Chicago never fully collapsed, but they also never made Dallas uncomfortable for long, and by halftime the Mavericks had turned a fast start into a commanding 80-56 lead.
The second half never really had a pulse, with Dallas immediately killing any chance of a comeback and just trading buckets the rest of the way. Chicago had a few moments from Dillingham and Sexton, but every mini run got answered right away by Dallas ball movement and easy looks, especially with Nembhard continuing to rack up assists. The lead hovered comfortably in the 20–30 range for most of the half, and by the fourth quarter it fully turned into extended garbage time with both teams just going through the motions. By the end, it felt like everyone was just waiting for the clock to hit zero in a game that had been decided long before halftime ended.
80: First half Maverick points
The game was essentially decided in the first 24 minutes, and it was because of how overwhelming Dallas was offensively. Dropping 80 points in a half is not normal, and the way they got there is what made it stand out. This wasn’t just hot shooting. It was a combination of ball movement, spacing, pace, and decision-making all coming together at once. The Mavericks consistently generated high-quality looks, whether it was open threes, cuts to the rim, or second-chance opportunities, and Chicago never had an answer.
What really defined the half was how connected everything felt. The assist numbers were off the charts, the pace never slowed down, and players were making quick, confident decisions. That’s something this team has struggled with all season, which is why it stood out so much here. For one half, a half that needed to be awful, the offense actually looked like it had structure and purpose. It did come against a weak opponent, the players the Bulls had out there coud not stop a fly.
23: Nembhard assists
Ryan Nembhard had the game of his season, finishing with 23 assists, he set the Mavericks rookie record for assists in a single game, and it felt like he was behind every single good possession Dallas had. What made it so impressive was the variety. He wasn’t just making simple reads. He was manipulating the defense, hitting shooters in rhythm, finding cutters at the perfect time, and pushing the pace whenever Chicago hesitated. This wasn’t a passive playmaking performance. It was aggressive, intentional, and completely in command.
His impact on the game was massive. The 80-point first half doesn’t happen without him orchestrating everything. Every run Dallas had, every stretch where the offense looked unstoppable, it traced back to Nembhard making the right decision. For a rookie to show that level of control in an NBA game is rare. It also raises real questions about his role moving forward. When a team desperately needs guard play, creation, and stability, a performance like this can’t be ignored. He may not be the long-term answer yet, but he’s absolutely earned a deeper look. Games like this are how players carve out real roles in this league.
8: Poulakidas 3s
John Poulakidas continues to prove that his shooting is not a fluke. Finishing with 28 points and 8-of-16 from three, including a massive 22-point third quarter, he completely changed the feel of the game every time he touched the ball. What stands out is not just the volume, but the confidence and versatility in how he gets his shots. He’s not just spotting up. He’s moving without the ball, relocating, stepping into shots quickly, and making them under pressure. That’s a skill that translates at any level.
Now sitting at 78 made threes, this is no longer a small sample. This is a legitimate trend. For a team like Dallas that has struggled with consistent perimeter shooting all season, this kind of production jumps off the page. More importantly, it fits perfectly next to a player like Cooper Flagg, who needs spacing and reliable shooters around him to maximize his playmaking. Poulakidas doesn’t need the ball to be effective, which makes him even more valuable. At the very least, he has earned a real opportunity moving forward. Whether that’s Summer League, training camp, or a deeper look in rotation minutes, this is the type of player teams take chances on. Shooting like this forces attention.
20: Cisse rebounds
Moussa Cisse also had has defnining game of the season, even if it didn’t come with flashy scoring. Pulling down 20 rebounds, he completely controlled the glass. It wasn’t just the total number. Offensive rebounds that extended possessions, defensive rebounds that ended Chicago’s chances, and constant physicality that wore the Bulls down over time. This is the type of effort that directly impacts winning, especially in a game where Dallas was already clicking offensively.
The Mavericks have been stuck with a group of bigs that are mostly interchangeable and often inconsistent. Cisse is continuing to keep his name in the mix with pure effort, rebounding, and defensive presence. He doesn’t need plays called for him to impact the game, which is exactly what this team needs around a high-usage player like Flagg. Performances like this force the front office to take a harder look. If you’re deciding who stays and who goes, production like this matters.
Apr 12, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) celebrates with guard JD Davison (4) after a play during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
It’s going to be tough to write 300+ words about Sunday night’s season finale between the playoff bound Houston Rockets and the obviously tanking Memphis Grizzlies. I may have to rely on a few random famous Ron Burgundy warm up quotes such as, “How now brown cow.” With the Rockets being locked in as the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, it was decided after the loss to the Timberwolves that in that scenario the teams key players would be resting. Once it became a certainty that the fifth seed is where they will reside, Sundays game officially became meaningless.
Perhaps meaningless for the standings and for casual Rockets fans, but for those like us TDS faithful there were some things to watch for and some things we wanted to see. Starting with the fact that Tari Eason was not on that list of “key players” that would need to be rested in this game and found himself where he usually wants to be, the starting lineup. Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jae’Sean Tate and Clint Capela joined him there.
For those who wanted to see Tari play well heading into the playoffs after a rough outing for him against the T-Wolves, Tari didn’t disappoint. He scored 20 points in 23 minutes on 8-of-17 shooting and even got to finish the game on the bench in street clothes. “The Human Torch was denied a bank loan.” Reed Sheppard scored 19 points on 18 shots. Not his most efficient night, but he got some valuable minutes at point guard headed into the postseason and can boast 3 assists and zero turnovers in the game. Jae’Sean Tate continued to be what he always has been, a pro. 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal on 6-of-9 shooting and the hustle you’d expect in a playoff game although to most it was views as meaningless.
The man of the hour was throwback Clint Capela. In just 22 minutes played, Capela scored 23 points, 13 rebounds and shot 81.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three-point arc, as he knocked down the first three-pointer of his career. Clint Capela was considered a bit of overkill at the center position when he was signed in the offseason, but with the season ending injury to Steven Adams, Capela figures to be a key role player heading into the playoffs.
The Rockets finish the season with 52 wins and 30 losses for the second consecutive year. Some will say it’s a disappointment after an offseason that saw the Rockets add arguably, the greatest scorer of all-time. In someways that sentiment is understandable, however one would have a hard time arguing that the regular season record was always going to come secondary to the amount of success this team has in the playoffs. If the Rockets are able to find themselves in the Western semi-finals or Western Conference finals, then the fact that the regular season record was stagnant won’t matter.
It’s been a fun season regardless and even though the injury bug hit them hard, they are very fortunate to be headed into the post season with their top players healthy. The team has more playoff experience than the squad from last year had, and they will need it as they head to Los Angeles on Saturday for Game 1 of the first round series. As always, you know TDS is going to be here covering the playoffs from all angles. Can’t wait to cover the games and enjoy the discussions with all you TDS faithful. Until then… Stay classy Houston!
