Category: NBA

We’re coming down to the final stretch of the NBA regular season, and multiple races are tightening up.

Not only are the discussions for NBA Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year intensifying, teams are closing their seasons with playoff seeding top of mind.

And the tightest cluster is in the middle of the Eastern Conference, where the race for the automatic playoff bid of the No. 6 seed will go down to the wire. Six different teams — the Hawks, 76ers, Raptors, Hornets, Magic and Heat — each have pathways to end up there.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 22 of the 2025-26 regular season:

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It’s a potential NBA First Round playoff preview tonight, when the Detroit Pistons visit the Orlando Magic.

The Pistons, with the Eastern Conference’s top seed already clinched, are road favorites against a Magic team fighting for the eighth seed.

With plenty of key injuries on both sides, my Pistons vs Magic predictions and free NBA picks will target the Under on Monday, April 6.

Pistons vs Magic prediction

Pistons vs Magic best bet: Under 225 (-110)

The Detroit Pistons have carried the weight without their star, with eight wins in 10 games sans Cade Cunningham.

Their offensive scoring split is nearly identical, averaging 117.8 points during this stretch (and 117.5 overall), but it’s the defense that’s been even tougher, moving from 109.4 points allowed per game to 106.2 over the last 10.

Isaiah Stewart is also sidelined, while Duncan Robinson (hip) and Tobias Harris (knee) are listed as questionable.

The Orlando Magic are coming off a 112-108 win over the Pelicans on Sunday and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.

They’ve won four of their last six and sit just a half-game back of the Hornets for the eighth seed in the East, and just a game back of the Raptors for seventh.

However, they are averaging a lowly 112.3 points per game during this current fun run, which ranks 26th in the NBA.

They’re also down key contributors in Anthony Black (abdomen) and Jonathan Isaac (knee), while Jett Howard (ankle) is considered questionable.

These teams generally slug it out, with the Under cashing in seven of the last 10 head-to-heads, and, considering the circumstances, another low score seems like it’s on the way.

Detroit has generally clamped down when owning a rest advantage, with an 11-6-0 record in this scenario, a Top-5 mark in the league.

Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay

Jalen Duren has been a beast on the glass, grabbing at least 10 boards in 10 of his last 13, including topping Monday’s total eight times.

Desmond Bane is coming off a 27-point scoring night against NOLA, his second straight game hitting that number, and the fourth time in six games he’s cashed the Over.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Under 225
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bank on Banchero

Daniss Jenkins has provided the playmaking with Cunningham sidelined. He had a season-best 14 dimes against Philly last game, and he’s had at least eight assists in the last 12 Detroit games.

And Paolo Banchero loves lighting up the Pistons, hitting at least 22 points in four straight games against Detroit.

Pistons vs Magic SGP

• Under 225
• Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
• Daniss Jenkins Over 7.5 assists
• Paolo Banchero Over 21.5 points

Pistons vs Magic odds

• Spread: Pistons -2.5 (-110) | Magic +2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pistons -155 | Magic +130
• Over/Under: Over 225 (-110) | Under 225 (-110)

Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know

The Magic have lost six straight vs Eastern Conference opponents. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.

How to watch Pistons vs Magic

Pistons vs Magic latest injuries

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Even in a slightly underwhelming regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers can hit the 50-win mark tonight as they visit the Memphis Grizzlies.

Memphis has dropped four straight and could boost its lottery odds with another loss here, so my Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies predictions expect Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to lead the onslaught at FedExForum.

Check out my NBA picks for this April 6 clash, with both squads on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies prediction

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies best bet: Cavaliers -15.5 (-110)

The Cleveland Cavaliers would surely prefer to hang onto the No. 4 seed and avoid the Celtics-Knicks side of the East bracket, but they’re 8-2 straight up in their last 10 and heavy favorites to breeze past the Memphis Grizzlies tonight.

I’m riding with a Cleveland team that’s won the last six meetings with Memphis, and there’s every reason to expect that streak to continue, given the Grizzlies’ recent form. Three of the hosts’ past four losses have come by a margin of 15+ points, and Cedric Coward and GG Jackson both missed yesterday’s defeat in Milwaukee. 

This is a lot of points to lay, especially after a sleepy Cavs win over the Pacers last night, but it’ll only take one quality stretch from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to put this game on ice. The visitors may also have Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen back to control the paint and paper over lapses on the perimeter.

The numbers point to the Cleveland offense as the difference-maker. The Cavs average 119.3 points per game, fueled by the seventh-most 3-pointers attempted, while the Grizzlies are giving up 119.7, the sixth-most in the league.

Memphis is 26-33 against the spread as an underdog, so I prefer to trust a Cleveland squad that’s 24-15 SU on the road and has Mitchell coming off a 38-point outburst.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

Putting aside Harden’s playoff no-shows for a moment, he’s a regular-season winner, and I expect him to have his fingerprints all over a Cavs win today.

He averaged 8.1 assists in March, and he’s knocked down eight 3-pointers across his past two outings. If at least one of Mobley and Allen is available, those lob threats will boost The Beard’s dimes tally.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies SGP

• Cavaliers -15.5
• James Harden Over 7.5 assists
• James Harden Over 2.5 made threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Mitchell Report

Mitchell is the key to a deep Cavs postseason run, and I love all the Overs for Spida tonight. He’s averaging 27.8 PPG, and he’s had six assists in two of his last three games. It’s hard to see Memphis keeping him out of the paint here.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies SGP

• Cavaliers -15.5
• Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 made threes
• Donovan Mitchell Over 5.5 assists

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -15.5 (-110) | Grizzlies +15.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -1600 | Grizzlies +900
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies betting trend to know

The Grizzlies are 1-9 SU in their last 10 contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Grizzlies

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies latest injuries

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After suffering a narrow, overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs will look to get back on track in front of the home crowd when they host Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and the Philadelphia 76ers at Frost Bank Center.

With Philly’s Big 3 finally healthy, the home team will have a tough test, and my 76ers vs. Spurs predictions expect a big night from Embiid, who had a career-best scoring performance in his first career meeting with Victor Wembanyama.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference matchup on Monday, April 6.

76ers vs Spurs prediction

76ers vs Spurs best bet: Joel Embiid Over 38.5 points + rebounds + assists (-112)

Joel Embiid has missed more games than he’s played this season, but he’s appeared in four of the Philadelphia 76ers’ last six games. Embiid was on a roll before missing time, hitting the Over on this combo line in 10 of 12 games. He’s reached that mark in two of four since returning.

The Sixers have gone as Embiid has this season. He’s recorded at least 39 PRA in 18 of 37 games. In those, the Sixers are 14-4 straight up, and they kept the score within eight points in all four losses.

The big man is averaging 38.3 PRA on the season, so a slightly above-average performance will get the job done tonight.

Embiid has faced Victor Wembanyama twice in his career. In his last game out, he logged only 14 minutes, finishing with a muted stat line. In his first, Embiid put on a clinic and delivered 70 points, 18 rebounds, and five assists, nearly doubling the Over on this line with points alone.

Wembanyama was torched by another big and physical center on Saturday, as Nikola Jokic posted 40 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists. Embiid can find success against the French superstar by leveraging his weight advantage and physicality to make the game less comfortable for his lanky opponent.

The San Antonio Spurs' defensive rating of 110.2 is third-best in the Association, but it has fallen to 17th across the team’s last seven home games, making this an exploitable spot for Embiid.

76ers vs Spurs same-game parlay

With four games left, the Spurs are essentially locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, while the 76ers need every win to secure a playoff spot.

Only two games separate the No. 6 Sixers and the No. 10 Miami Heat. Philly is 4-1 ATS across its last five road games, and I expect the Sixers to play competitive basketball with their Big 3 available.

The 76ers have averaged 123 points across 18 games in which Embiid posted 39+ PRA. The Spurs defense has slipped in recent games, but San Antonio’s offense continues to hum thanks to Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and several key role players. Points won’t be tough to find tonight.

76ers vs Spurs SGP

• Joel Embiid Over 38.5 points + rebounds + assists
• 76ers +8.5
• Over 235.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Big 3 Combomaxxing

Embiid recorded a double-double in his last game out, and he's hit that statistical milestone nine times this season.

Tyrese Maxey is averaging a career-best 39.4 PRA, and he's posted 40.9 on the road compared to 38.1 at home. After missing an extended period of time, he's hit the Over on this combo line in four of five games since returning to the lineup.

Paul George has averaged a healthy 36.3 PRA in six games since returning from a lengthy layoff. PG has hit the Over on this line in three straight and five of six. He's averaged 28.9 PRA on the road compared to 25.2 at home this season, and he's gone for 27+ in eight of 15 on the road.

76ers vs Spurs SGP

• Joel Embiid double-double
• Tyrese Maxey Over 34.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Paul George Over 26.5 points + rebounds + assists

76ers vs Spurs odds

• Spread: 76ers +8.5 (-110) | Spurs -8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: 76ers +280 | Spurs -360
• Over/Under: Over 237 (-110) | Under 237 (-110)

76ers vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Philadelphia 76ers have covered the Spread in 25 of their last 40 away games (+10.70 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Spurs.

How to watch 76ers vs Spurs

76ers vs Spurs latest injuries

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Two teams still fighting to improve their playoff seeding face off tonight as the Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks.

Atlanta is one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and I like them to pick up a home win tonight in my Knicks vs. Hawks predictions.

Read on for a full breakdown of tonight’s matchup and to see my free NBA picks for Monday, April 6.

Knicks vs Hawks prediction

Knicks vs Hawks best bet: Hawks -1.5 (-110)

The Atlanta Hawks have won 18 of 20 games since February 22 to play their way into the Eastern Conference's No. 5 seed after playing well under .500 for most of the season.

That run hasn’t just been good for fans, either. Bettors have taken advantage, as the Hawks have also covered in 16 of those 20 games, one of the best long-term ATS streaks we’ve seen all season.

In this case, there’s a clear reason for the turnaround. This isn’t the same team Atlanta had at the start of the season. The additions of CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga have completely changed the roster's dynamics, and somehow, they’ve found chemistry with perennial triple-double threat Jalen Johnson virtually overnight.

The New York Knicks are coming off two straight wins, but their current form remains unclear, with those victories coming over the Grizzlies and Bulls. New York previously lost three straight on the road, and it's failed to win a game against a team above .500 in a month, going 0-5 in such games since March 6. 

I can’t bank on the Knicks turning that trend around against a team playing as well as anyone in the NBA right now, especially on the road. I love the Hawks to win outright, and with a spread of just 1.5 points, the better value is on Atlanta to cover.

Knicks vs Hawks same-game parlay

While the Hawks generally play to higher scores, they’ve also shown a willingness to play at their opponents' speed, such as in their two recent low-scoring affairs against the Celtics. With New York hitting the Under in four of its last five, I’m expecting another tonight.

I’m also backing Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.6 PPG) to hit his scoring total. The Atlanta guard has scored 20 points in six of his last seven games and is averaging 23.4 in that span.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Hawks -1.5
• Under 226.5
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Jalen combos x2

For our longshot SGP, let’s bet on both Jalens to have big nights and show off their versatility. The Jalen Johnson triple-double prop is always a fun one, and while it’s now been eight games since he’s hit that mark, it’s important to remember that Johnson has 13 on the year.

Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson is coming off a 17-point, 10-assist performance against the Bulls, giving him two double-doubles in his last four outings.

Knicks vs Hawks SGP

• Jalen Johnson triple-double
• Jalen Brunson double-double

Knicks vs Hawks odds

• Spread: Knicks +1.5 (-110) | Hawks -1.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Knicks +100 | Hawks -120
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)

Knicks vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Hawks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Hawks.

How to watch Knicks vs Hawks

Knicks vs Hawks latest injuries

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Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets search for their ninth straight win tonight as they face the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena.

My Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets predictions are targeting Jokic to drop dimes on Portland at home.

Read more in my NBA picks for Monday, April 6.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets prediction

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 assists (+105)

Nikola Jokic is comfortably in the running for MVP, averaging 27.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, and an NBA-best 10.9 assists per game. The Joker is the best passing big we’ve ever seen in the Association, and arguably the best playmaker in the league right now.

The Serb is thriving lately as a facilitator. He’s cashed the Over in dimes in six of his last seven contests. Jokic is coming off a 13-assist game against the San Antonio Spurs, and he also dished out 12 dimes last Wednesday versus the Utah Jazz.

The Joker is averaging 11.2 assists at home this season, and he’s also averaging a ridiculous 12.7 dimes across his last 10 appearances. The Portland Trail Blazers are around the middle of the pack in assists allowed.

Jokic cannot be stopped lately with his passing abilities, and all signs point to him creating lots of offense again tonight for his teammates.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Jamal Murray is having a career year, and his three-point shooting is a big reason for it. The guard is averaging 3.2 makes from deep on 7.5 attempts for a 43.4% clip. Murray has cashed the Over in three of his last five.

Most importantly, the veteran is averaging 3.7 makes from long range against Portland this season for a 44% clip. The Blazers have typically been a tough matchup for opposing PGs from three-point land, but not for Murray. He’ll find a rhythm again.

The Denver Nuggets are 2-1 against Portland this season, notching back-to-back wins. They hammered the Blazers 157-103 in February before a 128-112 victory at Ball Arena in March.

Denver has also covered tonight’s spread in two of their last three outings. The Nuggets are playing some of their best basketball of the season right now.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets SGP

• Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 assists
• Jamal Murray Over 3.5 threes
• Nuggets -8.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Buckets pouring in

Denver is the highest-scoring team in the Association, averaging 121.6 ppg. They’ve cashed the team total Over in back-to-back games, scoring 136 against the Spurs and 130 against Utah. They’ve also hit the Over in two straight versus Portland.

Christian Braun is cooking lately, cashing the Over in points in two in a row. He contributed 21 points in the win over San Antonio and 18 in the contest before that. Braun is averaging 13.5 PPG at home compared to 10.5 on the road.

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets SGP

• Jamal Murray Over 3.5 threes
• Nuggets -8.5
• Nuggets Over 122.5 points
• Christian Braun Over 12.5 points

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets odds

• Spread: Portland +7.5 (-105) | Denver -7.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Portland +260 | Denver -320
• Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets betting trend to know

The Denver Nuggets have hit the Game Total Over in 30 of their last 50 games (+8.00 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Nuggets

Trail Blazers vs Nuggets latest injuries

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On April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Michigan men’s basketball will compete on the biggest, most pressure-packed stage its sport has to offer when it takes on UConn in the championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

It’s the latest step in a remarkable turnaround for the program.

Just two years ago, the Wolverines were reeling from an 8-24 season that led to the firing of Michigan legend Juwan Howard as head coach. Since hiring Dusty May as his replacement, though, Michigan has transformed itself into one of the best programs in the country. This year, the Wolverines are 36-3 and have won their five NCAA tournament games by an average of 21.6 points.

REQUIRED READING: 5 reasons Michigan will beat UConn for national championship — and one reason it won't

Tonight, they’ll have the opportunity to do something they haven’t in a generation.

Heading into its matchup against UConn, here’s a look at Michigan’s championship history:

When did Michigan men's basketball last win a national championship?

Michigan will be going for its first national championship since 1989, when the Wolverines won the first and only title in program history.

It was one of the more memorable championship runs in NCAA tournament history. 

Shortly before the tournament started, Michigan coach Bill Frieder stepped down to become the new coach at Arizona State, with assistant coach Steve Fisher taking over for him. After surviving against Xavier in a 3-versus-14 matchup with a five-point win in the first round, the Wolverines advanced to their first Final Four in 13 years. There, they edged Big Ten foe Illinois and its famed Flying Illini team 83-81 before beating Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime in the national championship game thanks to a pair of made free throws from Rumeal Robinson with three seconds remaining in the extra period after a controversial foul call on Pirates guard Gerald Greene.

That year, Wolverines star Glen Rice scored 184 points across six NCAA tournament games, an NCAA record that still stands.

How many national championships does Michigan have?

Michigan will be vying for its second-ever national championship when it takes on UConn, as the 1989 title remains the only one in program history.

The Wolverines have been close over the past 35 years to adding another championship to their trophy case. They lost in the national championship game in 1992 and 1993 with the famed Fab Five. Under coach John Beilein, Michigan made a pair of national championship games in the 2010s, but lost to Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2018.

Michigan national championship results

Monday will mark the seventh time Michigan has appeared in the national championship game. The Wolverines have a 1-5 record in their previous six appearances.

Here’s a look at the results of those games:

• 1965: UCLA 91, Michigan 80
• 1976: Indiana 86, Michigan 68
• 1989: Michigan 80, Seton Hall 79 (OT)
• 1992: Duke 71, Michigan 51
• 1993: North Carolina 77, Michigan 71
• 2013: Louisville 82, Michigan 76
• 2018: Villanova 79, Michigan 62

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan basketball's last national championship: Wolverines 1989 team

Thirty-seven different Division I men's basketball teams have claimed an NCAA Tournament championship.

That number will not grow on Monday, April 6, in the national championship game of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Connecticut: Both the Wolverines and Huskies will look to add a trophy to their shelves when they square off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan vs UConn prediction, spread: Who is favored to win national championship?

For UConn, the goal will be to move into sole ownership of third place with seven program national championships. Meanwhile, Michigan will look to become the 17th program to win two national titles.

The Huskies are seeking their third title in four seasons, while the Wolverines and their fans are desperate for the first one for the program since 1989 (and first for the Big Ten since 2000).

Here's a look at every NCAA Tournament champion in Division I men's basketball since the first tournament played in 1939, when Oregon defeated Ohio State in Evanston, Illinois.

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A new week of NBA action tips off with a light slate of just five games, but I’ve found some slam dunks when it comes to NBA player props.

My best bets include Nickeil Alexander-Walker making it rain on the Knicks from downtown, and Victor Wembanyama continuing his block party against Joel Embiid and the Sixers.

Those and more NBA picks for Monday, April 6, below.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	Over 3.5 threes	+135
Victor Wembanyama	Over 3.5 blocks	+100
Cam Johnson	Over 12.5 points	-115

Prop #1: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 threes

+135 at bet365

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been letting it fly from beyond the arc for most of this season, but he’s been really locked in for the last month and is a big reason why the Atlanta Hawks have climbed all the way to fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

Alexander-Walker is shooting a crazy good 48% from 3-point range on a big 7.8 attempts from deep per game over his last 16 games, and I like him to keep raining treys in tonight’s matchup with the New York Knicks.

The Knicks have taken advantage of a soft schedule down the stretch, but they’ll need to improve their perimeter defense if they want to have a deep playoff run. New York ranks 22nd in opponent 3-point attempts per game and 20th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.

Alexander-Walker has drained four or more threes nine times in the last 16 games.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Peacock

Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks

+100 at bet365

We get a fun matchup on Monday night where two of the games' best big men will do battle as Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.

It is fair to say that Wembanyama has surpassed Embiid in the big man hierarchy and will be a staple in the MVP conversation for years to come.

You can make the case Wemby deserves the award this year, but for now, he's got Defensive Player of the Year locked down.

He’s always been impactful on defense, but he’s taken it to another level in the second half of the season. Wembanyama is swatting a ridiculous 3.9 blocks over 22 games since coming out of the All-Star break, and has rejected four or more shots in 15 of those 22 games.

The Sixers rank 19th in opponent blocks per game. At even money, I love backing Wemby to have another block party in San Antonio tonight.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSP, FDSN SW

Prop #3: Cam Johnson Over 12.5 points

-115 at bet365

The Denver Nuggets are the best offense in the NBA. A lot of that has to do with Nikola Jokic, but they are so hard to contain because they have so much depth and so many players who can hurt you.

Look at Cam Johnson. He’s probably the Nuggets' fourth or even fifth option most nights. But when he gets in a groove, he can put up some great numbers. 

Johnson is averaging 14.8 points while shooting a crazy good 48.7% from 3-point range over his last 13 games. He’s the type of player that can get overlooked even by a good Portland Trail Blazers defense.

He's topped this number in nine of those 13 games, including putting up 19 when these teams last met back on March 22.

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KUNP, ALT

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks bolstered their inside depth for their playoff run on Monday by signing center Tony Bradley, who played in 38 games for the Indiana Pacers this season.

The 6-foot-10 Bradley, in his eighth NBA season, began the 2024-25 season with the Hawks' College Park G League team before finishing the season with Indiana.

In his 38 games, including three starts, for the Pacers this season, Bradley averaged 4 points and 2.8 rebounds.

Bradley also has played for Utah, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Chicago. He has appeared in 20 career playoff games.

Atlanta is fifth in the Eastern Conference entering Monday night's game against the New York Knicks.

The Hawks requested waivers on forward Caleb Houstan, clearing the roster spot for Bradley. Houstan signed a two-way contract with Atlanta on Oct. 18, 2025. His deal was converted to a standard contract on Feb. 19. He averaged 2.3 points in 18 games.

___

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

The Denver Nuggets begin the final week of the NBA’s regular season with a key game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The Nuggets are in position to overtake the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The teams are currently tied, but the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Trail Blazers are trying to hold onto the No. 8 seed and avoid having to win two games in the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets

• Date: Monday, April 6

• Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

• Where: Ball Arena, Denver

• TV Channels: KUNP, ALT, KTVD

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

Team records

• Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (No. 4 in Northwest Division)

• Denver Nuggets: 50-28 (No. 2 in Northwest Division)

Odds

• Spread: Denver Nuggets -8.5

• Moneyline: Denver Nuggets -350 / Portland Trail Blazers 280

• Over/Under: 240.5

All eyes are on the North Carolina Tar Heels as they attempt to find their new head coach for the men’s basketball program. All eyes are also on the Chicago Bulls, who have had way more of an eventful 2026 than they likely bargained for. In the middle of all of this is Billy Donovan, who will have to choose between one of these teams, or he will choose to just do something else altogether. Things got really interesting for the Bulls, though, and it could play a huge role in how things shake out for UNC.

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf finally put their front office on notice. For those who aren’t familiar with how the Reinsdorfs operate, the family treats the Bulls like a cash cow rather than a competitive franchise, and they are very slow to make any kind of noticeable changes to the front office unless their financials start to suffer. That is why it is notable that in Cowley’s report he stated that back in January the Reinsdorfs told Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas to “pick a lane” when it came to what the actual long-term plan for the team was.

To this point of his Bulls tenure, Karnisovas has been perfectly fine getting into the Play-In Tournament every year, but his tone shifted after getting called out by ownership. Karnisovas proceeded to make a lot of moves before the trade deadline, but aside from adding recently exiled former Piston Jaden Ivey, most of the moves involved picking up expiring contracts in efforts to clear up cap space. For what, though? That is the question, and having to ask the question is the problem.

Because the Bulls are now in a predicament, and ownership is not convinced that Arturas Karnisovas or general manager Marc Eversley can fix it. Here is what Cowley stated in his report:

“Up to that point, the mentality from the Reinsdorfs was very hands off. In their eyes it was Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley who made the mess, and it was on them to fix it.

Less than three months later the stakes have changed.

Now, ownership is weighing if the mess has gotten too large for them to fix, and according to a source everything is on the table in the next 10 days.

First and foremost, coach Billy Donovan could be the most important domino currently standing. North Carolina has had Donovan and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd in the cross-hairs since the coaching seat became vacant.“

It again must be pointed out that the Bulls saying “everything is on the table” is significant, even if that information came from a source. The Reinsdorfs have had no problem putting up with mediocrity ever since Derrick Rose’s entire career was altered by tearing his ACL during the 2011-12 season, and then suffering a torn meniscus during the 2013-14 season. Now it seems the Reinsdorfs have had enough, and it could impact Billy Donovan’s decision-making process this offseason.

There are four things that could happen: Billy Donovan could find out that the front office is getting cleaned out, they’re actually going to try to build a good team around him, and he stays with the Bulls. He could also hear this new, or instead find out that Karnisovas and Eversley are staying, and he makes his way to Chapel Hill. There’s also a world where Billy Donovan takes the Brad Stevens path and accepts a role in the Bulls front office. Finally, Donovan could just do something that doesn’t involve neither team, whether that’s coaching another NBA team or taking some time away from the game. What is the most likely outcome? Only Donovan knows that, but we do know this: how the Bulls decide to move forward with their rebuild issues could play an important role in what he decides to do.

Focusing strictly on UNC, the question becomes how patient are they willing to be while Donovan sorts all of this out, especially since Dusty May announced that he isn’t interested in leaving Michigan for another college job. One would have to imagine that Donavan ranks higher than some other candidates, but it also sounds like there are some potential candidates that haven’t been named yet. We’ll see how serious the Reinsdorfs are about fixing the mess they allowed Karnisovas to make, and the ball will be in Donovan’s court from there.