Mike Brown identified his probable rotation for the playoffs.
The coach said the nine players used in the past two games — including Thursday’s 112-106 win over the Celtics — have the edge. The four reserves are Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson.
“Those guys are probably our top nine when you’re talking about the playoffs,” Brown said, “and it’s hard to play more than nine guys [in the playoffs].”
Jordan Clarkson scores a layup during the Knicks’ 112-106 win over Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
That alignment leaves out Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek — all players who have been part of the rotation at times during the regular season.
And all of them picked up DNPs in the past two games against Boston and at Atlanta on Monday.
Alvarado is probably the biggest surprise after being acquired at the trade deadline for two second-round picks, but he was supplanted by McBride — who recently returned from sports hernia surgery — and Clarkson, who has impressed with his defense.
With a clean injury report for Monday’s 108-105 win over Atlanta, the Knicks gave heavier minutes to Jalen Brunson (39 minutes) and OG Anunoby (37). Off the bench, Robinson, Shamet and McBride all recorded at least 20 minutes apiece. Clarkson was sparsely used with nine minutes.
On Thursday against Boston, the four reserves each played at least 14 minutes.
“Trying to find a way to get those guys on the floor with the right combinations at the right times is something I’m messing around with,” Brown said. “But it’s close [to our playoff rotation]. There might be a few things I might change.”
Brown collected his 52nd victory of the season Thursday, eclipsing the highest total by Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks.
“It didn’t register that they had 51 wins [last season], or whatever, and I wasn’t trying to pass what they had last year. I was trying to get the best possible seed we could get going into the playoffs. I was trying to hopefully help the team improve going into the playoffs and then hopefully make a run at this thing,” the coach said. “I’ve said this before: Thibs is a great coach. I’m not trying to be him or replace him. I’m just trying to do the best that I can do with this team. So I don’t really think of that.
“It’d be great to get 60 [wins] and not because we had 60 last year but 60 sounds better than 52 or 54, but that’s kind of how I look at it.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a slow start, the Lakers finally snapped their losing streak on Thursday with a blowout win in San Francisco over the Warriors, 119-103.
LA led throughout the first quarter, but only by single digits. Golden State, who were without Steph Curry, pulled ahead early in the second before the visitors took the lead and didn’t look back.
The Lakers turned 19 Warriors turnovers into 28 points, the main catalyst behind them blowing the game open in the second half. All five starters scored in double figures for LA.
It was a solid offensive start for LA with an early seven-point lead. Deandre Ayton had five points and LeBron James was close behind him with four points. Pat Spencer was the leading scorer for the Warriors with four points.
Golden State missed all four of its attempts from behind the arc.
Meanwhile, LeBron knocked down the first triple for the Lakers. LJ Cryer drained two 3-pointers in a row that helped give the Warriors a burst of life. At the 2:11 mark, Los Angeles was only up by three.
A quick five-point surge from LeBron, including a dunk on the assist by Bronny James, gave the purple and gold a five-point lead at the end of the first.
Seth Curry and Gary Payton II started the second period and helped give Golden State the lead with a 9-0 scoring run. Los Angeles suddenly played sloppily, turning the ball over three times, which helped fuel the Warriors’ surge.
LeBron drained a triple to stop the bleeding for the Lakers.
A 7-0 scoring run put LA back in the lead. Rui Hachimura knocked down his first 3-pointer of the half. He had eight points in this quarter, a major reason why Los Angeles had regained the momentum.
The Lakers were up by five at the 4:16 mark.
Bronny had a productive showing, scoring four points. LA had built a big lead of nine, but the Warriors chipped away at the deficit to make it a four-point lead for Los Angeles at halftime.
A series of runs in the 2nd Q saw LA initially relinquish its lead, but grab it back behind Rui Hachimura, enough for a 53-49 edge at the half.
LeBron and Jake LaRavia combined for a quick five points to open the second half. Golden State turned the ball over twice, which helped the Lakers mount that sudden early surge. The Warriors were forced to call a timeout as they were now down by nine.
Out of the break, Brandin Podziemski scored on a layup.
Ayton was now at 15 points for the night with 10 points in the quarter. Four of LA’s five starters were in double figures; Kennard had seven points. At the three-minute mark, Los Angeles was up by 14. Bronny had a productive seven points off the bench.
A 6-0 Malevy Leons scoring run to end the third made it a nine-point game.
The Lakers opened the final frame with their own 6-0 run of their own, led by LeBron with four points and LaRavia with a dunk. LeBron then threw down a thunderous dunk, piling on the onslaught of offense.
Nick Smith Jr. drained a triple, his first shot attempt.
Kennard then scored five in a row, which put him at 14 points. That officially marked all five starters for LA scoring in double figures. At the 6:05 mark, LeBron checked out with 26 points.
The lead continued to balloon for Los Angeles, leading to the rest of the game being cardio.
Key Player Stats
LeBron finished with 26 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and two steals. Ayton ended with 21 points and five rebounds. Hachimura pitched in with 15 points , two rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Kennard had 14 points, two rebounds, eight assists and four steals. LaRavia notched 16 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Bronny logged 10 points in 21 minutes. Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed six rebounds and dished five dimes.
Smith Jr. scored nine points in garbage time.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Phoenix Suns on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson had 25 points and 10 assists, and the New York Knicks stayed alive in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 112-106 victory over Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
The Knicks (52-28) pulled within two games of the Celtics (54-26) for second place with two games to play for both teams. New York owns the tiebreaker after winning the season series 3-1 and would take the No. 2 seed with two wins and two Boston losses.
Hart made two 3-pointers in the final 42 seconds to give New York more wins this season under Mike Brown than in its 51-31 finish last season in Tom Thibodeau’s final season.
RAPTORS 128, HEAT 114
TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 38 points, RJ Barrett had 22 and the Toronto Raptors moved closer to clinching their first playoff berth since 2022 by beating the slumping Miami Heat 128-114 on Thursday night.
Collin Murray-Boyles scored 17 points, Scottie Barnes had 13 and Immanuel Quickley 11 as Toronto moved past Atlanta into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors and Hawks are both 45-35, but Toronto swept the season series.
Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Heat lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Already destined for the play-in tournament, Miami’s hopes of improving its seeding took another hit.
Miami’s Davion Mitchell finished with 15 points and 11 assists. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 15 points.
With their second home win over the Heat in three days, the Raptors swept the season series against the Heat for the third time. They also did it in 2007-08 and 2018-19.
BULLS 119, WIZARDS 108
WASHINGTON (AP) — Leonard Miller scored a career-high 26 points and matched his career best with 11 rebounds as Chicago eased to a victory over Washington to sweep a two-game set.
Tre Jones scored 31 points and Collin Sexton added 27 for the Bulls, who won 129-98 at Washington on Tuesday night to snap a seven-game skid.
Miller, Jones and Sexton combined to shoot 65.3% (32 of 49) as Chicago (31-49) pulled even with Milwaukee for 11th place in the Eastern Conference and the best record among teams eliminated from postseason contention.
Bulls center Guerschon Yabusele departed early in the third quarter with a sprained left shoulder.
Will Riley scored 23 points to lead Washington, which had 10 players sidelined by injuries.
PACERS 123, NETS 94
NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as it snapped a three-game skid with a win over Brooklyn.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14. Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson finished with 12 points apiece.
E.J. Liddell led the Nets (20-59) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Saraf scored 19 point and Tyson Etienne added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 37 for 96 (37%) from the field and had its two-game winning streak halted.
ROCKETS 113, 76ERS 102
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Houston extended its winning streak to eight games with a win over Philadelphia, who were missing Joel Embiid after he had an appendectomy.
The 76ers, who are fighting for a playoff spot, will be without Embiid indefinitely. He had surgery in Houston on Thursday after being stricken with appendicitis overnight.
Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points each for the Rockets, who have clinched a postseason berth but are contending with Denver and the Lakers for playoff seeding in the West.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points for Philadelphia and VJ Edgecombe added 21. The Sixers lost their third straight and dropped into a tie with Charlotte for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Houston led by 23 after three quarters, but Philadelphia used a 16-0 run to get within 101-94 with about five minutes to play. Durant made a 3-pointer after that to end a scoring drought of almost five minutes for the Rockets and Aaron Holiday made a 3 on the next possession to push the lead to 107-94 with four minutes remaining.
Philadelphia scored the next eight points, with the last five from Edgecombe, to get within five. But another 3-pointer by Durant put Houston ahead 110-102 with just over a minute left.
LeBron James and Bronny James continue to share more time on the court together as the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season comes to a close.
The James family set another unique milestone for the league as Bronny was credited with an assist to LeBron on Thursday, April 9, during the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors.
Bronny stole the ball with 51 seconds left in the first quarter and bounced the ball toward LeBron, who then crossed halfcourt and finished the play in transition with an uncontested dunk. It's the first son-to-father assist in NBA history.
The Lakers led the Warriors 53-49 at halftime in San Francisco.
The father-and-son duo completed a similar milestone on March 27, recording the first father-to-son assist the league has seen.
Bronny passed the ball to LeBron with 7:54 left in the second quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets before the veteran drew a double team and immediately passed the ball back to his son, who made a wide-open 3-pointer.
In the third quarter of Thursday night's game, LeBron got an assist on a Bronny 3-pointer.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 9: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers & Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets hug after the game on April 9, 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
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22.5 VJ Edgecombe – 13 Joel Embiid – 11.5 Paul George – 8 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 5 Justin Edwards – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Houston Rockets 113-102 on Thursday night to conclude a nightmare day for the Sixers.
Joel Embiid was a surprise scratch on Wednesday afternoon, being ruled out for illness before it was announced that Embiid was suffering from appendicitis and would undergo surgery today in Houston. During the game, the team released a statement that the center had undergone a successful appendectomy.
A night that was supposed to feature a major, pivotal contest for the Sixers quickly devolved into kind of a sad mess. This one felt like it was already over when the afternoon news dropped, and the Sixers’ performance out of the gate didn’t exactly inspire any optimism to the contrary. Philadelphia went down by more than 20 points before halftime, with the absence of Embiid palpable throughout.
For awhile, it looked like the game was just about over. In the fourth period, though, the Sixers put up a solid fight, clawing back to within five points in the final few minutes. It was the first real signs of life from the squad we saw all night. They outscored the Rockets 29-17 in the final frame, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback. The Sixers fall 113-102 on Thursday.
Two games still remain in the regular season for Philadelphia, but this loss (combined with the Toronto Raptors’ win) just severely reduced the odds of the Sixers clawing back into a guaranteed playoff spot. It is all but guaranteed now that the Sixers are headed for the Play-In Tournament.
First, though, they still have two regular season games to go. They’ll play the first of the final pair on Friday night, closing their 16th and final back-to-back with a visit to the Indiana Pacers.
Let’s get to the Bell Ringer. And yes, we know this is kind of pointing out the tiniest silver lining surrounding a gigantic storm cloud.
<p>(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
Kelly Oubre Jr. hasn’t been exactly tearing it up the last few games, but he looked hot to start this one. Oubre was the first on the floor to 10 points in the first period, beginning the game 4-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-2 from long range. It’s a good thing, too, because he was just about the only person for the Sixers that could produce offensively early on Thursday night.
Oubre cooled off from there, but continued to chip in on both ends of the floor when the opportunities presented themselves. It was a pretty efficient outing from him as well, with him shooting 7-for-10 from the floor and 2-for-4 from long range.
A perfect night overall? No, but we just need to shout him out because he was the only one keeping this from getting completely out of hand before we even made it out of the first frame.
Oubre finished Thursday with 16 points, four rebounds, one assist, three steals and one block.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is the first on the floor to double digits here with 10 points in Q1 so far, shooting 4-4 FG, 2-2 3PT pic.twitter.com/5jk8Zl0I3E
<p>(Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
VJ Edgecombe chipped in points throughout this one but, as he has so many times this season, the rookie really showed off his abilities down the stretch as the Sixers put up their late fight in the fourth quarter. Even faced with what feels like insurmountable deficits or just truly tough nights on this team, Edgecombe never seems to give up or phone it in when he’s on the floor. He continues to impress with play making for his teammates while also creating opportunities for himself beyond what you can expect from your typical rookie, like the late bucket below where he dances right around guys like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun for a tough finish through contact at the rim. He was a crucial part of the Sixers’ late comeback push on both ends of the floor, coming up with a few clutch points and making some defensive plays.
Edgecombe finished Thursday with 20 points, six rebounds (three offensive), eight assists and two steals.
The rookie VJ Edgecombe dancing his way around Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun for the tough finish pic.twitter.com/VzrDQ6kGqM
Tyrese Maxey, coming off one of his worst games in his NBA career in his 40-minute, 15-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, looked like he might be continuing that pattern on Thursday night. He still just looked off, with sloppy turnovers and a poor touch on the ball apparently early in this one. Fortunately, things turned around for him in the second quarter. After a scoreless first, Maxey got into a groove for 15 points on 6-for-9 field goal and 3-for-4 long range shooting in the second.
The Sixers were already down about 20 points by then, but it’s still never a bad thing to see one of your players work through a slump and figure it out a bit. It wasn’t as if every single shot was falling, with Maxey finishing the night 9-for-20 from the floor, but seeing a few go in and especially hitting five triples on 10 attempts hopefully helped the guard a bit mentally going as we go into the close of the regular season.
Maxey finished Thursday with 24 points, three rebounds and five assists in just over 33 minutes. It’s still a very far cry from the level of play we all know Maxey is capable of at his best, but it’s a step in the right direction compared to where we started the week, for sure.
Sixers continuing to turn defense into offense here in Q4, with Tyrese Maxey turning the VJ Edgecombe steal into a three-point play pic.twitter.com/Mot8XKY0ut
<p>(Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Quentin Grimes provided a decent offensive punch off the bench for the Sixers tonight, especially as they strung together that late-game run that saw Philly cut their deficit down to just five points (after being down over 20 at some points). After putting up just a handful of points in the entire first half, Q hit a few buckets to close the third quarter before bursting for 11 points in the final frame, mostly early in the period when the Sixers took advantage of Durant being on the bench to put a dent in their deficit.
The Quentin Grimes experience has been up and down this season to say the least, with the guard having moments of performing well separated by plays and games that have you confused what he’s trying to accomplish. Tonight wasn’t a perfect night by any means, but it was truly one of the better performances from Grimes as of late, especially down the stretch.
Grimes finished with 20 points, two rebounds and one steal in 26:29 off the bench.
NOT the Miami Heat
Couldn’t help the Sixers at all, huh? The Toronto Raptors are the wall between the Sixers making the playoffs or the Play-In. They faced the Miami Heat twice this week, on Tuesday and tonight. A win (or two) would have gone a long way to helping the Sixers have a shot at climbing back over them for that No. 6 seed.
Instead, the Heat lost both games by double digits. Thanks for nothing, Miami!
Don’t get me the wrong, the Sixers’ finish will be completely of their own making… but still, we wouldn’t have argued with a little outside help.
Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after a made basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
The Rockets have won 8 games in row and for most of Thursday’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers it looked as if they would coast to their 52nd win of the season. However, even if you have just followed this Rockets team causally, you were not comfortable even with the Rockets leading 96-73 going into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets only made 5-of-20 shots in the final quarter of the game, while the Sixers scored 29 points in the quarter. The key for the Rockets was the timeliness of the shots made. With about four minutes to go in the game, Philly had cut the lead to 101-94, leading to a timeout immediately being called by Ime Udoka. The Rockets would get back-to-back corner threes, first from Kevin Durant off of an Aaron Holiday drive to the basket, followed by an Aaron Holiday corner three off of a Kevin Durant assist.
The Sixers would cut the lead back down to five points with less than two minutes to go, when Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun ran the pick-and-roll at the top of the key to perfection, which lead to the defense collapsing on Alpi, leaving Durant wide open for the three-pointer that would give KD his 29th point and seal the deal for the Rockets with just over a minute remaining in the game.
Alperen Sengun struggled scoring the ball with only 8 points on 4-of-14 shooting, but he did grab 12 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson each posted 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Tari Eason shined off the bench despite playing with an illness. He scored an efficient 15 points 0n 5-of-10 shooting and grabbed 8 rebounds. He was 3-of-6 from the three-point arc. Aaron Holiday was 3-of-5 in the 14 minutes he played, scoring what turned out to be 7 crucial points.
Rockets fans have been wanting to see team they have been watching over this 8-game win streak; all season. This fourth quarter aside, they seem to be clicking at the right time. There are still some weaknesses that opposing teams will definitely try to exploit in the postseason. However, the things they have done well are sustainable. They must continue to move the ball and protect the ball. Turning the ball over the way they did in the fourth quarter of this game, will lead to losses in the playoffs. Tonight, when they were able to handle the desperation pressure the Sixers, they ended up finding good looks at the basket and they knocked them down. That will need to be the rule and not the exception moving forward.
The Hometown Heroes are back at it tomorrow night at 8:00 PM CST against another playoff contender, the Minnesota Timberwolves, at Toyota Center. As always, we will be here with Game Previews, in-game discussion, and recap after.
Two years of tanking have taken a mental toll on the Nets.
Nic Claxton is convinced it’ll be over next season, and he’s happy about that.
“It wasn’t always easy, honestly, with the lineup changes, with playing with a lot of younger guys at this stage of my career,” Claxton admitted. “This year was rough, obviously. So we’ve got a few more games this year, we flush that out, we get back to the drawing board this summer and we go from there.
Nic Claxton, who did not play, celebrates after one of the few good plays by the tanking Nets’ in their 123-94 loss to the Pacers on April 9, 2026 at Barclays Center. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
“You can’t let it affect your preparation and your mindset. Even this year I struggled with that some. Going into games you have to go in with the mindset, ‘OK, we’re going to win this game.’ But as far as wins and losses, I get what [coach] Jordi [Fernández] is saying. It doesn’t always come with the scoreboard. It can be seeing our rookies go out and spread their wings and gain confidence. … It can be me maturing and finding that peace within myself no matter what’s going on out there on the court. … Then next year hopefully we get some more actual wins.”
What the Nets (20-60) need is some lottery luck. They entered Thursday clinging to the third-best lottery odds.
Brooklyn’s 123-94 loss to Indiana at Barclays Center only helped their cause. They moved a game clear of the idle Jazz and Kings, tied for fourth.
Losses in their final two games — Friday in Milwaukee and Sunday in Toronto — would guarantee top three odds in the lottery and falling no lower than seventh in the June draft.
Claxton missed his third straight game with a sprained right fifth finger. He’ll likely end the season averaging 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.
That latter figure needs improvement. Claxton has not only regressed from his old defensive form, but has always struggled on the glass.
“One [key] is getting my teammates getting the easy ones,” Claxton said. “Sometimes you’ve got some rebound-hungry dudes on the team that can make your numbers dip because when I average more rebounds, my teammates would pretty much let me get the rebounds. That’s one.
“Two, it is just a mentality thing of going after all of the rebounds. Sometimes the rebound numbers can be skewed because my teammate can be right there to get the rebound and we secure the rebound, but if I don’t go after it, I finish the game with a lower number of rebounds, but my teammate grabbed the board. But it is a numbers game at the end of the day with the NBA, so it’s something you always want to just put some focus and energy towards.”
E.J. Liddell led the threadbare Nets with 26 points against Indiana, while Ben Saraf added 19 points, six assists and five boards.
Claxton, Noah Clowney, Egor Dëmin, Terance Mann, Josh Minnott, Michael Porter Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Nolan Traore, Ziaire Williams and Danny Wolf were all out.
Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Fans react after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) becomes the NBA's second highest scorer of points in a game against the Wshington Wizards at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
The Wizards are hosting the Miami Heat in game 81 of the season Friday night. Here’s the preview:
Game info
When: 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Apr. 10
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
ESPN has not published either team’s injury report. It is safe to assume that a lot of players will be sitting out, though.
Game notes and more
The Wizards threw away the 2026 NBA season back in 2023, so it is no surprise that they have clinched another sub-20 win record. Let’s see what they get up to this offseason — it’s time to start competing, so perhaps they will decide to chase some veterans to shore up the rotation like the Detroit Pistons did a couple of seasons ago. Remember — the Pistons lost a record 28 consecutive games in 2023-24 and then played in a competitive first-round series the following year.
The Miami Heat are already locked into the 8, 9, or 10 seed. At this point, the play-in tournament should just be called the Miami Heat Invitational.
Remember when Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points on the Wizards a couple of weeks ago? That felt like a fever dream.
NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers snapped a three-game skid with a 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14. Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson finished with 12 points apiece.
E.J. Liddell led the Nets (20-59) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Saraf scored 19 points and Tyson Etienne added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 37 for 96 (37%) from the field and had its two-game winning streak halted.
The Pacers raced to a 31-14 lead in the first quarter, led 63-37 at half and carried a 26-point (98-72) advantage into the fourth quarter.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 9: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the game, Miami Heat Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra hinted at a better game between desperate teams after a “disappointing” matchup on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for Erik, none of his players got the memo.
Toronto routed Miami for the second game in a row, winning 128-114. The Raptors were led by Brandon Ingram, who finished with a season-high 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. RJ Barrett added 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Collin Murray-Boyles was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block off the bench. For Miami, Bam Adebayo improved on his no-show on Tuesday with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The outcome was never really in doubt as the Raptors played according to plan. “I thought that taking care of the ball was a big, big part of our game plan”, said Darko Rajakovic after the game. Toronto finished the game with only four turnovers (three if you remove garbage time).
Following a 26-point beatdown just two nights prior, the Heat sent an early message that Miami would not be laying another goose egg. The game was barely 95 seconds old when Darko Rajakovic called the first timeout as the Heat raced out to a quick 7-0 lead.
Fun moment: Herro shot waved off. Before fans could finish cheering, as if on queue, Herro took the inbound pass and scored in the exact same fashion.
With the Heat up 16-8 and Barnes out of the game with two quick fouls, Toronto ramped up the defensive intensity and went on a 15-4 run, fueled by 8 points from the Raptors’ other All-Star, Brandon Ingram.
Ingram ended the first quarter leading all scorers with 10 points. He also almost ended Kel’el Ware.
Toronto led Miami 32-26 after the first quarter. Among the many bright spots, RJ Barrett scoring 9 points in aggressive fashion, the Raptors over coming the slow start and, fairly noteworthy considering their struggles earlier in the season, scoring with ease when the Heat tried defending with a zone.
Active hands from Collin Murray-Boyles. After a missed corner three from Ja’Kobe Walter, Miami corralled the rebound but CMB deflected the outlet pass and came down with the steal. He quickly dished to Walter, who took advantage of the second chance and nailed the three.
Similar to Tuesday’s matchup, the Raptors turned up the aggression in the second quarter. Consistent drives to the basket led to kickouts for three or Miami fouls. Toronto was in the bonus over 4 minutes into the quarter. Miami’s biggest culprit was Vaughan native, Andrew Wiggins, who picked up his third foul just seconds into the frame.
Despite being in control for most of the first half, the Raptors couldn’t quite run away from the Heat — desperate to not replicate Tuesday’s disappointing effort. Led by Tyler Herro’s and Davion Mitchell’s effective drives, the Heat chipped away at the lead. With Bam Adebayo anchoring himself in the paint and thwarting drives to the basket, Miami whittled the lead down to 45-44.
Just like the first quarter, it was Ingram who spearheaded another Toronto run. He scored 5 points and assisted on a Jamal Shead three to push the lead back to nine. By the time Erik Spoelstra called his next timeout, the Raptors had already pushed the lead back up to 58-46.
Toronto didn’t stop there. Credit the team’s defensive pressure or Miami losing focus or Ingram seemingly on a mission to drop 50, but the Raptors pushed the lead to 69-50 at halftime. Ingram finished the half with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Murray-Boyles was a game-high +20 off the bench with 10 points — on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting — 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Raptors carried its largest lead into halftime, despite having zero points on zero attempts in transition — normally a driving force behind a blowout.
Hopefully the vibes carry over to the Blue Jays?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr is here and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 9, 2026
Miami came out of halftime with desperate energy. Hell-bent on getting back into the game quickly, it only took four minutes for the Heat to equal its first half output from beyond the arc, nailing 3 triples and narrowing the lead down to 79-64.
The Heat’s comeback continued with 5 more triples. Combined with several one-and-done possessions for the Raptors, Miami turned what was a 26-point deficit to 6, as Toronto clung to an 89-83 lead.
For the third consecutive quarter, Ingram scored in double-figures. While almost half of his first half points came from the charity stripe, all of Ingram’s scoring in the quarter came from the field — with a higher degree of difficulty as the Heat focused more of it defensive pressure on the All-Star.
Toronto ended the third quarter with a 102-90 lead. Miami stayed in the game with some hot shooting, draining 9 of 12 three-point attempts.
With Miami’s offense reignited and the Raptors lead in a precarious position, Barnes produced a mini 5-0 run to start the final frame, causing Spoelstra to call a timeout. The Heat could not replicate its success from three, missing each of its first 4 attempts. Toronto capitalized on the offensive end, growing the lead to 114-92, forcing another Miami timeout.
The Heat, who have now lost 10 of its last 13 games and can finish no higher than 9th, are crawling towards the play-in tournament. If the last two performances are any indication, Miami’s season should be over in a couple of days and will be defined by one magical night when Bam Adebayo scored 83 points.
The Raptors finish the road portion of its regular season schedule with the last back-to-back of the season in New York on Friday. With only two games remaining, there are still huge implications for the Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks can still finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the East standings, while the Raptors can finish anywhere from 5th to 8th. Toronto also swept the season series against Atlanta, and own the season series against Charlotte and Orlando.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on April 09, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everything is bad again.
Hours after learning Joel Embiid would be out with appendicitis, the Sixers fell to the Houston Rockets Thursday night 113-102 at Toyota Center. They cut a 28-point lead down to five, but didn’t have enough to complete the comeback.
The Sixers are now 43-37 and fading fast in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with the Toronto Raptors crushing the Miami Heat.
Tyrese Maxey bounced back a bit, going for 24 points on 9-of-20 from the field. VJ Edgecombe didn’t have the most efficient night, but was one of the big catalysts of the fourth-quarter comeback attempt with a strong overall game. He had 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Quentin Grimes also had a big night, going for 20 points.
Kevin Durant was exceptional with a game-high 29.
The team announced earlier in the day that Embiid would get surgery in Houston. During the game, it was announced that Embiid underwent a successful appendectomy. Given the recovery time it will take, it’s possible we won’t see the big fella on the court again this season. Just a brutal break for the former MVP and his teammates.
Here are some observations from the loss.
First Quarter
On the first possession of the game, Paul George forced a turnover on Alperen Sengun which turned into an Oubre dunk in transition. George then had a nice drive and finish on Amen Thompson. Not much has gone right for the Sixers this season, but PG has looked like PG over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, George also picked up his second foul late in the quarter.
You figured the Sixers needed an excellent Maxey performance to hang around in this one. Early on, his recent struggles continued. He missed his first three shots — including a step-back three that was way off — and committed another turnover on a drive. He went scoreless.
Adem Bona did a solid job on his Turkish national team teammate Sengun. Sengun was still getting his, but Bona was making him work on both ends.
Oubre was the main source of offense early with 12 points, including two threes. Oubre is on pace to have the best three-point shooting season of his career. The Sixers’ problems were mostly on the other end of the court, but turnovers helped the Rockets’ cause. The Sixers let Houston get out on the break and couldn’t slow down the Rockets’ offense for most of the first quarter. Houston was up 35-26 after one.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is the first on the floor to double digits here with 10 points in Q1 so far, shooting 4-4 FG, 2-2 3PT pic.twitter.com/5jk8Zl0I3E
Nick Nurse opened the second quarter with Dominick Barlow at the five. Andre Drummond didn’t have the greatest run against Sengun in his first-quarter stint.
Well, it wouldn’t be two straight games with scoreless first halves for Maxey, at least! He had a slick, lightning-quick drive for his first bucket. Unfortunately, he turned the ball over a couple possessions later. It looked like Maxey just lost the ball on a drive. You have to wonder how much that pinky is affecting him.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before — defensive rebounding was an issue for the Sixers. After Sengun drew a foul on Bona crashing the offensive glass, the 6-foot-0 Aaron Holiday snagged an offensive rebound and put it back. Whether Embiid plays or not, this is an evergreen issue for the Sixers.
The best way to describe Durant against the Sixers’ defenders is like when a tall person puts their hand on a shorter person’s head and the shorter person swings wildly. They just had no chance. KD put up 17 points in the first half.
Maxey closed the period strong, dropping 15 in the second, including three threes, but the main story of the first half was turnovers. The Sixers committed 11 leading to 20 Rockets points. That was basically the difference in the game as Houston took a 73-56 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
It felt like the Sixers were just mentally checked out. Josh Okogie destroyed them on the glass, they continued to turn the ball over and the Rockets’ half-court offense carved them up. The lead was up to 85-61 midway through the quarter.
It’s hard to even write about what I’m watching. This feels like a slow-motion trainwreck. If you’re an optimist, you could point to Maxey getting going as a positive. He turned in two straight rough performances, including what was arguably one of the worst games of his career in San Antonio. He at least got into rhythm against some pretty tough defenders Thursday.
Another small positive is Barlow playing Durant very tough on a couple possessions. You aren’t going to lock up one of the greatest scorers of all time, but Barlow made the future Hall of Famer work, using his length to bother Durant as much as he could.
It was an ugly third quarter overall. The Rockets took the period 23-17. They led 96-73 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Sixers did cut the lead below 20 thanks to Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe. The combination of Edgecombe’s talent with the dog he has in him is fun. The guy plays hard every night and he tracks down loose balls as well as any player I’ve seen.
A 20-2 run got the Rockets’ lead down to seven. Most of it was fueled by the Sixers’ defense. All three of Edgecombe, Grimes and Barlow were flying around. Credit where it’s due: Drummond shook off his rough start to put together a solid performance. He was the big on the floor for the run and had 15 rebounds and five assists. Though he only recorded one steal, his quick hands did lead to a bunch of Houston turnovers.
A Durant three out of a timeout pushed the lead back to double-digits. Then KD found Aaron Holiday for an open corner three. One guy who wasn’t on the court for the Sixers’ run was Maxey. Nurse got him back in after those threes and he quickly found his way to the basket for an and-one. George was another guy not on the court. It seemed like Nurse was saving the veteran forward for the second half of the back-to-back tomorrow in Indiana.
A pair of huge Edgecombe buckets cut the deficit all the way down to five, but then, somehow, Durant got wide open for a three. That triple put the Rockets up 110-102 with 1:15. It was a valiant comeback effort, but the Sixers came up short.
The Celtics dared Josh Hart to beat them. He obliged.
After a miserable first half, Hart caught fire down the stretch of Thursday’s 112-106 victory over the Celtics — burying his open and contested looks to the delight of an enthusiastic MSG crowd.
“Their game plan was to let him shoot,” coach Mike Brown said, “and he stepped up and he knocked down big shots.”
Josh Hart puts up a 3-point shot as Jayson Tatum jumps to defend during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 112-106 win over the Celtics on April 9, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, burying all three of his trey attempts while suppressing Jayson Tatum on the other end with pressure defense. He was the unlikely hero following his dud of a first half, with Hart going into the break with more turnovers than points.
The final five minutes was a much different story, pushing the third-seeded Knicks to within two games of Boston for second in the East — and one game above the No. 4 Cavs. For the Knicks, a first-round series against either Toronto or Atlanta is now the most likely scenario.
“The Hart-breaker comes through,” Karl-Anthony Towns said.
Asked if he was surprised defenses are still leaving him open despite shooting over 40 percent on 3s this season, Hart replied, “It all depends. For me, I always talk about how I’m the fifth option, sixth option. My thought process always is, how can I get these guys easy shots, get these guys involved, get them feeling good? Am I surprised with that? Nah, because I don’t go out there, like, you know what, I’m going to shoot seven, eight 3s. That’s not really my cup of tea. But when I’m open, I know I’ve got to shoot those shots. But they’re probably looking like he might shoot three or four, so let him have that.”
Whatever the reason for Boston’s strategy, it backfired. The Celtics also had no answer for the Towns-Jalen Brunson two-man game, which has emerged this week as a powerful force.
Just like three nights earlier in a victory over the Hawks, the Knicks worked Towns and Brunson in halfcourt sets. Pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, preferable switches.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket as Sam Hauser defends during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It turned into an unstoppable strategy as the Knicks (52-28) moved one step closer to clinching third in the East while keeping alive their hopes of supplanting Boston at No. 2.
“We’re running it a little bit more than what we were doing before,” Brown said of the Towns-Brunson pick-and-roll. “And guys are getting a rhythm. Guys are getting a rhythm at the right time.”
Brunson picked up five of his 10 assists in the fourth quarter, finishing with 25 points. Towns had 16 points and 12 rebounds. So while Hart got the biggest bouquet Thursday, Towns and Brunson were the catalysts.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after a foul was called on OG Anunoby during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Getty Images
“I just think [myself and Brunson] had convos in the last few days and those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those situations and it’s been very good for our team.”
The Celtics (54-26) were playing without their top star, Jaylen Brown, who sat with Achilles tendinitis. His DNP felt hypocritical after Brown spent months needling the Knicks and their fans, including a comment just this week about seeking revenge for last year’s elimination.
Of course, revenge for the Celtics can only be accomplished in the playoffs, and Brown’s absence theoretically provided an easier avenue to face the Knicks in the second round.
But there were other reasons for Brown to rest. First, the Achilles soreness has been an ongoing issue for him this season. Also, Thursday’s game was the first in a back-to-back set and the Celtics have previously alternated rest days for Brown and Tatum. So don’t be surprised if Tatum sits Friday’s game against the Pelicans.
And lastly, Tatum characterized Thursday’s game as an emotional hurdle to clear after tearing his Achilles on the Garden court almost a year ago. It was his first time returning to the spot of the injury. He apparently needed MSG redemption more than Brown.
“Obviously, at some point I knew I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again,” Tatum said. “So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday.”
If Tatum cleared a mental hurdle, it didn’t help with his shot. He was off and particularly struggled down the stretch while guarded by Hart, finishing with 24 points on 7-of-22 shooting. The Celtics were outscored by 16 points in his 40 minutes. But the Knicks were killed by Payton Pritchard, who went off for 23 points with six assists on 10-of-20 shooting. When the Knicks threatened to pull away in the third quarter with a 13-point lead, Pritchard dragged the Celtics back.
It led to a nip-and-tuck fourth quarter, with the deficit never hitting double digits for the final 18 minutes. In the end, the Towns-Brunson tandem — along with efficient shooting from Hart — carried the result.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks laugh after the game against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If the games will be anything like tonight’s affair, a Knicks-Celtics playoff series would be a gift from the basketball gods, no?
Tonight, the Boston Celtics (54-26) came into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks (52*-28). While Boston has essentially locked up the No. 2 seed, the Knicks are fighting to hold off the Cavaliers for the third spot. However, this marked Jayson Tatum’s big return to Madison Square Garden after rupturing an Achilles tendon here last postseason, and even without the injured Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were determined to win this one for the Tater. The Knicks had other ideas.
Behind a nuclear performance from Josh Hart down the stretch—he went 5-of-7 from three, with three of those bombs coming in the fourth quarter—New York sent Boston back to Beantown with a bruised bottom. Final score: Knicks 112, Celtics 106.
The Knicks funneled their offense through Mikal Bridges (10 PTS, 6 ASTS, +17) to start the game, and he hit three straight buckets to give them a 7-0 lead. From there, Tatum (24 PTS, 14 RBS, 8 ASTS) quickly steadied things for the visitors, scoring, rebounding, and evened the scoreboard. Boston’s edge came from second chances and depth. Neemias Queta (10 PTS, 10 RBS) crashed the glass, and Payton Pritchard (23 PTS) chipped in off the bench to help swing momentum in the wrong direction.
Even with similar shooting splits (48% vs. 44%), the Celts doubled the Knicks in paint points (14–6) and earned extra possessions with a 4–1 edge in offensive boards. The Knicks actually shot better from beyond the arc (40% vs. 25%), but they failed to create enough interior pressure or ball movement. Jalen Brunson (25 PTS, 10 AST, 1 TOV) kept the Knicks close with a three-pointer and free throws, scoring 10 points in the quarter to narrow the score at the break, 29-26.
The second quarter began with a scrappy, uneven stretch, marked by misses, blocks, and squandered possessions on both sides, before our heroes found their rhythm. OG Anunoby (13 PTS) knocked down a three, while Mitchell Robinson (7 PTS, 7 RBS, 3 STL, 1 BLK) brought much-needed interior intensity and finished an alley-oop to push the hosts ahead. Off the bench, Miles McBride provided some lift with a timely three, a steal, and two dimes.
Pritchard continued to be a pest on both ends, while Queta built on his rebound total. When Brunson returned mid-quarter, he worked with Karl-Anthony Towns (16 PTS, 12 RBS) in the pick-and-roll to spark a rally and pull the game even. At halftime, New York held the thinnest of leads, 54-53.
Through the first 24, the Knicks were the cleaner, more efficient team. They shot 48% overall and 33% from three (versus 39% and 24%). Boston stayed close through volume, using eight offensive rebounds, a +8 edge on the glass, and near-perfect free-throw shooting. New York moved the ball better (14–9 in assists) and turned around their paint scoring in the second quarter. At the break, Captain Brunson led all scorers with 16, while Payton Pritchard had 15 on 7-of-12 shooting.
Josh Hart (26 PTS, 10-15 FG) nailed two triples, Bridges and Anunoby canned some of their own, and the Knicks extended their lead to 11 early in the third period. Towns was more active on the glass and added second-chance points, helping New York build what looked like a stable cushion. But Boston is too good to be counted out so early. Tatum kept the Beantown Bums on New York’s heels with a mix of midrange scoring, a triple, and steady rebounding. Then, gradually, Pritchard took over the quarter. The Human Milk Dud swished multiple threes, finished inside, and set up others, while Baylor Scheierman (20 PTS) and Nikola Vučević (10 PTS, 5 RBS) added timely threes to erase the deficit and regain the lead. By the end of the quarter, Boston had snuck ahead by two, 83-81.
We’re finally at the point where we don’t got shit our pants every time Mitchell Robinson hits the floor.
The guests came out swinging in the fourth, with buckets from Scheierman and Tatum. The hosts stayed close behind Jordan Clarkson’s (8 PTS) brief scoring burst, but missed looks from Miles McBride and Landry Shamet stalled their offense. The energy finally shifted when the starters returned, Josh Hart immediately hit a three-pointer, and the Knicks took off on a run that flipped the lead.
The game saw-sawed from there. Pritchard and Scheierman kept knocking down buckets, but Brunson was cool and collected in the driver’s seat, scoring on a step-back three, getting to the line, and setting up Hart for a key layup. A reinvigorated Towns added a three, a dunk, and a steal, while Tatum faltered late with turnovers and a missed layup. The All-Star would finish with six turnovers and a team-worst -16 plus-minus.
Amazon flashed a graphic showing the Boston Celtics at 15–16 in clutch games and the New York Knicks at 20–13. The way these teams ripped at each other, it felt like the decision could go either way. Down the stretch, though, it was a different roommate, Mr. Josh Hart, stepping into the Captain Clutch role. He scored 15 points in the fourth, including eight in the final two minutes and a pair of dagger threes that sealed a 3–1 season series win for the good guys.
JOSH HART COMES UP BIG IN THE CLUTCH!
Extends the lead to 5 with 42.4 to go. Seals the deal at 14.6.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 26: Jarrett Allen #31 (C) celebrates with Jaylon Tyson #20 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during player introductions before the game against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on January 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are balancing getting reps together before the playoffs and trying to go into the postseason completely healthy. On Wednesday, that meant playing all available players in a game that doesn’t have too much significance for the Cavs in the standings. On Friday, that means resting several key players in their rematch with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Cavs will be without the services of Donovan Mitchell (right ankle injury management), Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management), and Sam Merrill (left hamstring injury management). This is in addition to Thomas Bryant missing the game with a left calf strain.
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Cleveland didn’t go with a vanilla game plan in their win on Wednesday. There’s reason to believe they’ll go for it again, just with fewer key contributors available.
No one is 100% at this time of the season, but it is fair to point out that Allen and Merrill have been playing through injuries recently.
Allen hasn’t looked like himself since returning to the lineup from a knee injury that kept him out for a few weeks. He mentioned after his return to the lineup from that injury that he was playing through some pain. Given how important he is to the Cavs’ playoff ceiling, it would make sense to rest him until the playoffs begin next weekend.
Merrill has also been fighting through various injuries throughout the season. The hamstring injury is just the one listed on the injury report right now.
Whether or not Mitchell is as injured as the other two is unknown. He twisted his ankle on Sunday in the win over the Indiana Pacers, but has since denied that he was injured in any way. Resting a star player for a game like this makes sense. I’m not sure it’s worth reading into too much.
The Cavs do have some good news on the injury front. Jaylon Tyson has been upgraded to questionable. He could make his return to the lineup on Friday. On Wednesday, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that the reason he wasn’t playing then was more related to conditioning than any concerns about the toe.
The Hawks will be fully healthy, except for Jock Landale, who will miss the game with a right high ankle sprain.
