Category: NBA

Currently, WNBA teams, including the Washington Mystics are negotiating with free agents who may be interested in coming to their team. One of the key things that remains in teams’ hands is whether to give the core player designation on one player. According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN, most teams have, but the Mystics appear not to have done that.

This is not particularly surprising. According to Sportrac, the 2025 Mystics roster at the end of the season had two players with cap hits above $100,000: Alysha Clark and Stefanie Dolson. However, both Clark and Dolson are longtime veterans and wouldn’t be able to be cored. The remaining players are primarily on rookie scale contracts.

What this means is that the Mystics are in prime position to spend on free agents though they can’t give a supermax salary. They have over $5 million in cap space out of a $7 million salary cap. Remember, the Mystics, EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE TO …. deconstruct like the Wizards … HAVE TO PAY SOME PLAYER a big salary, likely at around $1 million.

Also, out of their cap space, some of these players will be used on their three first round picks (No. 4, No. 9, No. 11) and there’s a good chance that their second round picks (No. 19, No. 30) could ALL make the roster. If that happens, there will still be cap room to sign a free agent or two at a very large salary.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Another dust-up is waiting to be settled as the Detroit Pistons face the Charlotte Hornets for the first time since the February game that ended in chaos and suspensions.

The Pistons are locked at the one seed, and the Hornets appear to be headed for the play-in tournament. Everything is on the table for them, and tonight is a must-win.

Do the Pistons rest vs the hungry Hornets? Or does Cade Cunningham continue to get his legs under him? It will be interesting to see how JB Bickerstaff plays his hand against another potential playoff opponent.

Game Vitals

Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

When: 7:00 PM

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit

Odds: Pistons (+5)

Analysis

The Hornets have been the best offense in the league since Dec. 2. They hit the offensive glass, get up 3s, and have multiple 20-point threats. With their high 3-point rate comes variance.

The Hornets are an interesting watch when they do not have it going from 3 because they do not have many consistent 2-point scorers. None of their go-to options gets to the rim a lot compared to other offensive engines.

The Pistons are the complete opposite. They live in the paint. Cade Cunningham played 26 minutes after missing time. It was good to see him attacking the basket. Cade was 5/7 from the restricted area (PivotFade). He got back in the lineup and immediately began dropping his shoulders and making contact with defenders to get buckets. Getting more minutes tonight before the playoffs could keep Cade sharp after his layoff.

Jalen Duren is an automatic 2-point player. In a playoff series, the Hornets would try to get JD on the perimeter and hunt 3s. He has to be ready for that, no doubt. But how would the Hornets solve the Duren puzzle on the other end?

Moussa Diabaté is Charlotte’s offensive rebound machine, and he kicks it out to his shooters like his life depends on it. He is a ball of energy, but is not sturdy enough to handle Duren in the paint. Not many are. Grant Williams is a good undersized defender, but he would struggle with Duren’s mass. Ryan Kalkbrenner would too, despite his length.

While Charlotte has been the top 3-point shooting team all year (2nd in attempts, third in %), Detroit is on a heater. They are shooting 39 percent (sixth in league) in the last 15 games. Duncan Robinson, Daniss Jenkins, Javonte Green, Tobias Harris, and Marcus Sasser are all shooting over 40 percent during this hot stretch from triple.

Ron Holland is on the 3-point action, shooting 44 percent on three attempts over the last seven games. Holland is going to let it fly every time. He knew these shots were down as soon as they left his hands. That is progress.

On the other side, the Hornets have shooters galore. Kon Knueppel (268) and LaMelo Ball (261) are first and second in total 3s. Brandon Miller is 38.5 percent on over eight attempts. Grant Williams, Coby White. There are some guys over there who can shoot it. While their trigger-happy offense results in tons of 3s, turnovers come with Charlotte’s package. This team turns the ball over a ton (15.4 TO #24), and Detroit feasts off those.

Detroit is the best turnover creation team in basketball. They have the best wing defender in Ausar Thompson. All of those Hornets snipers will deal with him at some point.

It is not fair what Ausar can do to offensive players. The save on this possession was just as impressive as Ausar’s perfectly-timed block. The balance and awareness needed to pull off this sequence is wild.

On the next possession down, it seemed like Ryan Rollins, who is having a Most Improved Player-type year, was fine immediately giving up the ball because of the harassment from Ausar. The turnover-prone weapons in Charlotte cannot be loose with the ball in this matchup.

Daniss Jenkins, who trains with Rollins, will be a critical piece tonight and on this postseason run. He is the backup ball handler who needs to stay prepared. He is good enough to be more than a neutral, but even that would be enough. Detroit needs Jenkins to remain competent with Cade back in the lineup.

We will see how Bicketstaff handles the rotation tonight. The chase for 60 wins and the need to stay sharp are reasons to get starters on the floor. The Hornets will be desperate, and the Pistons can spoil their standings push tonight.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (58-22):

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Haris, Jalen Duren

Charlotte Hornets (43-37):

LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabaté

Question of the day

Are you team rest or team play?

Report: Sixers make late-season moves, converting Terry and waiving Payne originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers on Friday reportedly made a couple of late-season roster moves.

The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that the team is converting Dalen Terry from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal that includes a team option for next season. The Sixers are waiving Cameron Payne to make room for Terry, The Athletic reported. 

Terry was the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Since joining the Sixers in the middle of this season, Terry’s appeared in 13 games and averaged 4.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest. 

He’s a versatile 6-foot-6 wing who passes well and has had good steal and block rates through his NBA career. Terry’s been a subpar shooter as a professional. Over 217 games in the NBA, he’s gone 44.2 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from three-point range and 64.2 percent at the foul line. 

Terry joins Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker as Sixers converted from two-way to standard NBA contracts this year. 

The Sixers signed Payne in February and the 31-year-old guard came back to the NBA from Serbia. Payne played 22 games in his second stint with the Sixers and averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.0 rebounds.

He suffered a right hamstring strain during the Sixers’ loss last Saturday to the Pistons. On Sunday, a team official said Payne would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

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The threat of the Play-In Tournament is fueling the Orlando Magic in their final games of the NBA season.
 
Orlando is a half-game back of the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference — the cutoff to avoid the Play-In — and gets a gift from the schedule gods by facing the lowly Chicago Bulls tonight.

With all hands on deck, my Magic vs. Bulls predictions expect plenty of points from the visiting team.

Our NBA picks like Jalen Suggs to shred a patchwork Chicago backcourt and top his scoring prop on Friday, April 10.

Magic vs Bulls prediction

Magic vs Bulls best bet: Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points (-112)

Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs hasn’t been as aggressive a scorer recently, and that’s trimmed his points prop for Friday. 

He’s attempted just six and nine field goals in the past two outings, making four shots in each contest, and finishing with 11 and 12 points. That’s a notable decline in usage considering he was averaging almost 12 attempts over the past month.
 
Suggs' scoring total for tonight takes a tick down to 13.5 O/U after being set at 14.5 for the past couple of weeks. He can snap out of that slumber in the Windy City tonight. 

The Chicago Bulls rank 23rd in defensive rating over the last 10 contests, allowing more than 127 points per game in that span. More than 70 of those points are coming from opposing guards.

Chicago is down to eight healthy bodies, and many of those guys are D-League callups. On top of that lack of talent, the Bulls are playing the second of back-to-back games after prevailing in Washington on Thursday.

Before this lull in offensive activity, Suggs was averaging around 14 points per outing. His player projections for Friday expect at least one better from the Gonzaga product, with his scoring forecast ranging from 15.2 to 16.1 points.

My number comes out to 15.6 points, which should have the Over 13.5 prop priced around -155 instead of this modest -112 juice. 

Magic vs Bulls same-game parlay

The Bulls picked up a rare win in D.C. last night, setting up a letdown spot back home. Chicago is tired and down to eight healthy bodies while the Magic are going all out to avoid the Play-In Tournament, as they chase the No. 6 seed.

Paolo Banchero will also have a big night against this thin Chicago interior. The Bulls are getting completely bullied in the paint, and Banchero is projected for 24+ points in this must-win matchup. He’s averaged 27.5 ppg against Chicago this season.

Magic vs Bulls SGP

• Magic -15
• Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Sleight of Hand

Suggs and Banchero will pile up the points and round up rebounds against a shorthanded Bulls squad that's sucking wind.

Both Orlando stars are projected to top their points and rebounding totals tonight.

Magic vs Bulls SGP

• Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
• Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
• Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
• Jalen Suggs Over 3.5 rebounds

Magic vs Bulls odds

• Spread: Magic -15 (-110) | Bulls +15 (-110)
• Moneyline: Magic -1000 | Bulls +650
• Over/Under: Over 243 (-110) | Under 243 (-110)

Magic vs Bulls betting trend to know

Orlando has gone Over the total in 23 of its last 35 games (+9.80 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Bulls.

How to watch Magic vs Bulls

Magic vs Bulls latest injuries

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The Atlanta Hawks can lock down a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will be locked into the East’s No. 4 seed if they lose to the Hawks or the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors.

How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks

• Date: Friday, April 10

• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

• Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

• TV Channels: Amaz

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

Team records

• Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-29 (No. 2 in Central Division)

• Atlanta Hawks: 45-35 (No. 1 in Southeast Division)

Odds

• Spread: Atlanta Hawks -8.5

• Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks -325 (73.4%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +260 (26.6%)

• Over/Under: 233.5

#1 – Boston defensive collapse

The Celtics entered the game with the 7th-best half-court defense in the NBA, allowing 95.9 points per 100 possessions. Last night, the Knicks scored 122.5 points per 100 possessions in half-court situations. And the worst defensive stretch happened six minutes before the final buzzer, when the Knicks decided to hunt Neemias Queta.

At first, the Portuguese big man was matched up with Josh Hart so he could roam around the paint. Therefore, the Knicks changed their approach and used Hart as a screener to involve Queta in the action and take away his rim protection.

The Celtics quickly changed their coverage and put Queta back on Karl-Anthony Towns, who is slower than Hart on cuts. Yet, they couldn’t stop that two-man action either. Queta’s positioning was either too aggressive or too low on the ball screen, leading to passes for the roll man.

The Celtics then tried to switch the screen to take away the pass to the roll man, but that created a mismatch for Jalen Brunson, who is elite at getting to his spot against a taller defender.

Look how precise the Knicks were at attacking Queta. They switch the screen order between Hart and KAT so they can involve the Celtics big man on the second screen. Derrick White wants to help on the ball, and Jayson Tatum hesitates between covering KAT or Hart, leading to an open shot at the rim after great offensive manipulation from Brunson.

In four minutes, the Knicks ran seven pick-and-rolls to attack Queta and generated 13 points — 1.85 points per possession. Vucevic then entered the game to close it, but Hart’s daggers had already made the difference.

#2 – Dealing with drop coverage

The Knicks changed their coverage during the game but started with drop coverage when KAT was involved in the action. They were happy to leave Jayson Tatum open for pull-ups as long as the paint wasn’t available.

There was a counter, even if the shots weren’t falling for the Celtics’ go-to guy. Drop coverage often creates space for the roll man behind the defender when spacing allows it. Here, Queta rolls and Tatum finds him above the drop for a nice alley-oop.

Tatum wasn’t the only one taking advantage of it. Payton Pritchard took over the offense when #0 was sitting. This coverage gives him space to get to his spot with more speed and less pressure on the ball.

Pritchard has really improved his pick-and-roll manipulation. On the play below, a small in-and-out dribble freezes KAT just long enough to attack him and get to the rim.

The patience he shows in these actions is impressive. He waits for the perfect timing, attacks when the rim isn’t protected, puts his defender on his back, and spins for just enough space to finish.

But the pick-and-roll wasn’t the only offensive route the Celtics used.

#3 – Hunting Brunson

From the opening minutes, the Celtics targeted Jalen Brunson. With Brunson matched up on Sam Hauser, Boston used movement to bring him into actions. This created gaps in the Knicks defense, allowing Tatum to drive and kick to Derrick White for an open three.

In transition or semi-transition, the Celtics also made sure to attack any mismatch involving Brunson.

Forcing switches onto Brunson is one of the best ways to pressure the Knicks, so the Celtics consistently looked for it. Screen, post-up, read the help, find the open man — simple execution.

#4 – Vucevic and Tatum pairing

Last night was a great opportunity to see how the team functions with both Vucevic and Tatum on the floor. What stood out clearly was the offensive upside.

First, it creates one of the best spacing lineups, especially in the frontcourt.

On top of that, Vucevic opens a door that has been mostly closed since the Kristaps Porzingis trade: the pick-and-pop. Until now, most ball-screen actions involved Queta’s verticality in pick-and-roll situations. Vucevic brings a different dimension.

On this play with Tatum, the pick-and-pop shows its value. Not only can Vucevic shoot, but he can also attack a closeout and create for others.

The duo will need time to build chemistry as the playoffs approach, but Vucevic’s screen quality, IQ, and skillset will create opportunities for Tatum.

#5 – Jayson the PG

In April, Jayson Tatum is close to eight assists per game, and this was another example of his growth as a passer. While his ability to pass on the move remains impressive, it’s also interesting to see him used as a more traditional point guard.

For perspective, he made 77 passes last night. No other player on either team had more than 60. He initiates most actions when he’s on the floor, acting as a creator, driver, and even a quarterback.

This play might be the best example. The Knicks defense collapses, he reads it instantly, and delivers a perfect pass to Pritchard, who swings it to Vucevic.

#6 – Please meet Scheierman

CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss apparently didn’t know Baylor Scheierman. Now she does.

Last night was another example of his two-way impact. As Jordan Walsh struggled defensively against Brunson, Scheierman stepped in and played 30 minutes. He contested 13 shots — the second-highest total for the Celtics — showing real defensive activity.

But he stood out even more for his offensive efficiency. He scored 20 points on just eight shots — one of the most efficient scoring nights you’ll see.

He was also clutch, scoring nine of his 20 points in the final five minutes, including his signature side-step three.

Safe to say he looks playoff ready.

#7 – No Hugo?

Speaking of Scheierman, it was surprising not to see his best friend get minutes. In the previous matchup against New York, he showed elite defensive versatility against both Brunson and KAT.

Given the defensive struggles, it would make sense to see him more in a potential playoff matchup.

#8 – Dealing with the intensity

The Knicks beat the Celtics at their own game by forcing turnovers through discipline and intensity.

On this play, Mitchell Robinson is extremely aggressive on Vucevic, and his length disrupts the action completely, leading to a turnover.

Tatum also struggled with the Knicks’ pressure, committing four turnovers in the fourth quarter alone.

Like in their last playoff matchup, the Knicks raised their defensive level at the right moment, while Boston couldn’t respond.

#9 – Hart causing trouble

The Celtics were once again hurt by their coverage on Josh Hart. As shown earlier, he’s dangerous as a screener, but Boston also chose to leave him open.

That approach is risky now. Hart is shooting close to 40% from three this season. The Celtics often help off non-shooters, but the Knicks may be too balanced for that strategy.

#10 – 332 days later

“I was done with basketball,” Jayson Tatum told Taylor Rooks. Thankfully, he returned after suffering an injury 333 days ago at Madison Square Garden.

Seeing him back on that court was meaningful and highlights the work he has put in to return to this level. He said he went from feeling like Superman to the smallest man on earth — and is now somewhere in between.

That’s a good place to be heading into the playoffs.

There was a buzz around the Sixers after they took down the Charlotte Hornets a couple weeks ago.

Paul George was back from suspension and looked spry. Joel Embiid had another hot start and came up with a huge block late. Tyrese Maxey came back sooner than expected from his right pinky tendon strain. Nick Nurse pushed the right buttons and the role players did their part. The Sixers looked more like the team Daryl Morey had envisioned two years ago.

Reality struck quickly with the Sixers laying an absolute egg in Miami a couple nights later, but things still appeared to be trending upward. Guys were healthy. Vibes were high. It made people wonder what this Sixers team could be if they could just make the playoffs.

Then it all came crashing down Thursday afternoon with news that Embiid had appendicitis and would require surgery ahead of the Sixers’ biggest game of the season. Who knows how long the season would’ve lasted, but this feels like the unofficial end to any fun thoughts.

When you look at teams ahead of matchups, you’re looking for stats and trends. What are their offensive and defensive ratings? What lineups do they use and which are most successful? How do they do at home vs. the road? What’s their record against teams above .500?

With the Sixers, you could throw every single one of those things out the window. Embiid and George missed large chunks of the season. They also dealt with minutes restrictions. Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dominick Barlow all missed a decent amount of games. Their most durable and reliable player has ironically been rookie VJ Edgecombe, who will likely play 75 regular-season games (all starts) in his first year.

It made the Sixers nearly an impossible evaluation. The team we saw against the Hornets basically existed for one night in Charlotte. And it’s not as simple as they had one great game. It was the only game this season where they had their full complement of players, everyone was healthy and nobody was on any type of restriction. If you’ll recall, the game in Miami was the first time Embiid complained of an “illness,” which was quite possibly the beginning of his appendicitis.

That’s not to say the Sixers were poised to be a championship contender. At best, they could’ve captured the six seed. They would’ve taken on the New York Knicks as a (deserved) underdog and probably lost.

But who knows? The Knicks are far from invincible. Maybe they could’ve pulled off the upset. Maybe they could’ve taken a few games and made things interesting. What would Embiid do with two functioning knees? How would George look, now finally healthy? How would the backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe perform in their first postseason together?

These are intriguing questions. Maybe the Sixers wouldn’t have liked the answers, but it would’ve been better to find out, especially after watching incredibly non-competitive basketball for most of last season.

If the 2024-25 Sixers get an F (they absolutely do), then the 2025-26 Sixers get an I for incomplete. Where does that leave things? Well, something has to change. If you’re going to keep Embiid and George (and there is little recourse to move both, barring something unforeseen), you need to find a way to win games without them. Maybe you can’t be on a 50-win pace without them, but a 40-win pace should be doable.

Personnel changes need to happen. First order of business is fortifying the center position. Adem Bona is a worthwhile player to develop, but you need a big-bodied option at the five who can rebound and protect the rim. You don’t need a world-beater — just a guy who can set good screens, roll hard and finish at the rim, affect players at the basket and not get crushed on the glass. That archetype of player is not hard to find. That guy being below the age of 30 would also be a plus.

The Sixers could also use more pop off the bench. Morey made it clear that re-signing Quentin Grimes is a priority. Should it be? Grimes’ season has had many more valleys than peaks. Is that a guy you want to throw a bunch of money? What about Oubre? He’s coming off a great season, but he was dinged up and is now on the wrong side of 30. It’s also worth noting he’s now the third-longest tenured Sixer. Morey doesn’t tend to value continuity and locker room vibes. Maybe he should in the case of Oubre (if Morey is still here).

It’s also been a pretty disappointing season for Nurse. Yes, he’s been dealt nothing but crummy hands the last two seasons, but what advantages has he created for the Sixers on nights when they’re shorthanded or in close games? It feels like it could be time for a new voice and new offensive and defensive schemes, which will fit the team’s personnel better.

For now, another season ends with a slew of what-ifs and a bunch of offseason questions.

Same as it ever was.

Update from Philadelphia 76ers Public Relations on 4/10/26:

Joel Embiid was discharged from the hospital today following a successful appendectomy and is returning to Philadelphia. Embiid’s surgical recovery will be managed by team physicians in consultation with his surgeon. A timeline for return to basketball activities has not yet been determined.

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The NBA rings in the final weekend of the regular season in a big way. Tonight’s slate features all 30 teams in action – in one form or another.

Basketball bettors are going to miss days like this when the playoffs limit us to a handful of matchups and a barren odds board. For now, let’s make the most of a monster night in the Association. 

With motivations mixed across the NBA, I’m going to stick to teams with something to play for Friday. Here are my best NBA prop picks and predictions for April 10.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Onyeka Okongwu	Over 7.5 rebounds	+105
Mikal Bridges	Over 12.5 points	-110
Paolo Banchero	Over 22.5 points	-110

Prop #1: Onyeka Okongwu Over 7.5 rebounds

+105 at bet365

The Atlanta Hawks are still trying to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, with the No. 5 seed within reach. A loss at Cleveland Wednesday was a set back but Atlanta gets another crack at the Cavs Friday.

With Cleveland pretty much parked in the No. 4 spot, the Cavaliers are sitting some starters, including center Jarrett Allen. That opens up the interior and has me looking to Onyeka Okongwu’s rebounding total.

Okongwu finished with only five boards Wednesday as both teams shot better than 47% from the field. The second of two straight matchups will see that shooting success dip, especially with key players out for Cleveland. That will prompt more rebounding chances.

What’s more, the Cavaliers opted to guard Okongwu with James Harden at times Wednesday and without Allen patrolling the paint, the Hawks 6-foot-10 forward can hit the offensive glass against smaller checks. 

He’s averaged 7.5 rebounds on 12.8 rebounding chances over the past 23 games and grabbed eight or more rebounds in three of his last five games (two games with seven). Player projections range from 8.0 to 10+ boards tonight.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Prop #2: Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points

-110 at bet365

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, I’m never betting on Mikal Bridges again.

The New York Knicks small forward looked like he was going to make good on my Over 12.5 points prop bet for him against Boston last night. He started the game with a quick seven points and sat with 10 points early into the second half.

That’s where he would finish. Ouch.

New York is back in action tonight against Toronto with the Knicks trying to hold on to the No. 3 spot in the East. And I’m back on Bridges to top this same point total.

Bridges shot well before opting not to (he dished out six assists), finishing 4 for 4 with two triples last night. He’s hitting at a 53% clip over his last eight outings, putting up 13 or more points in six of those contests. Bridges has played well versus Toronto, scoring 11, 14, 15, and 30 points in four meetings this season.

Tonight’s projections paint the same picture they did yesterday, with Bridges forecasted for at least 14 points. I’ll bite. Again.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC, MSG, TSN, Peacock

Prop #3: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points

-110 at bet365

Just a couple weeks ago, Paolo Banchero was the hottest scorer in the land. The Orlando Magic small forward has cooled considerably since the start of April, putting up more than 20 points only twice in his last five games.

Luckily for him and the Magic, the Bulls are on deck Friday night. Orlando is fighting to get out of the Play-In Tournament, sitting half a game out of the No. 6 seed cutoff with two contests to go.

Chicago is one of the worst defenses and rolls out a patchwork rotation that is missing a ton of size inside. The 6-foot-10 Banchero can get to the rim for easy buckets against a Bulls interior allowing more than 58 points in the paint over the last 10 outings.

Scoring forecasts all sit north of this 22.5 O/U with most models at 24+ points Friday. Banchero has scored 24 and 31 points in his past two meetings with Chicago.

FYI: I also don’t hate his Over 8.5 rebounds (+100) with projections flirting with nine rebounds. Chicago is playing the second night of back-to-back games and lost center Guerschon Yabusele to an injury last night.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Florida, WESH

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

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This biggest moment in the NBA on Thursday night didn’t happen on the court, but rather in the stands of the Pacers vs. Nets game. A couple in Pacers gear were filmed in the stands having what looked to be a deep, philosophical conversation before the woman snapped.

The man appeared to be saying something about what it takes to get a full-time job, to which she clapped back: “That’s you! That’s you … what the f*** are you talking about?” Immediately, the clip went viral, with the widespread assumption being that he was mansplaining to her, and she was fed up — but it’s now been clarified by the woman herself that everyone is wrong.

There are numerous photos of the couple together on her Instagram, confirming that she is the woman seen in the video — and we even got a clarification about exactly what set off this discussion from the boyfriend.

To be fair: It was an April game between the Pacers (19-61) and the Nets (20-60) — given the circumstance I’d probably be talking about the practical application of a Liberal Arts degree was well, rather than be locked on Obi Toppin scoring 26 points.

I love this couple so much.

The New York Knicks (52-28) can lock down no worse than the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed with a win over the Toronto Raptors (43-35). The Raptors can secure the No. 5 seed if they beat the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks.

How to watch Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks

• Date: Friday, April 10

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• TV Channels: MSG, TSN

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

Team records

• Toronto Raptors: 45-35 (#3 in Eastern Atlantic)

• New York Knicks: 52-28 (#2 in Eastern Atlantic)

Odds

• Spread: New York Knicks -6.5

• Moneyline: New York Knicks -275 (70.4%) / Toronto Raptors +225 (29.6%)

• Over/Under: 220.5

The Phoenix Suns (44-36) are locked into the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and the play-in tournament. The Los Angeles Lakers (51-29) can finish anywhere from Nos. 3-5. A win against the Suns and a loss by the Houston Rockets to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday would secure home-court advantage for the Lakers in the first round.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Date: Friday, April 10

• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

• TV Channels: SN-LA, AZFa, Suns

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

Team records

• Phoenix Suns: 44-36 (No. 2 in Pacific Division)

• Los Angeles Lakers: 51-29 (No. 1 in Pacific Division)

Odds

• Spread: Los Angeles Lakers 2.5

• Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers +115 (44.4%) / Phoenix Suns -140 (55.6%)

• Over/Under: 219.5

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With just a single win in their last six games, the Golden State Warriors try to get right ahead of the play-in when they visit the Sacramento Kings.

SacTown has gone full tank mode and should be sporting a bunch of unknowns Friday night.

Despite that, my Warriors vs Kings predictions and free NBA picks don't think Golden State is in any state to run through any team, even one as awful as the Kings.

Warriors vs Kings prediction

Warriors vs Kings best bet: Kings +10.5 (-110)

Stephen Curry sat out the front end of the Golden State Warriors' back-to-back, missing the Lakers' game, which ended in a 119-103 LA romp.

He is expected to be back in the lineup and will take on the Sacramento Kings, the last team he played on Wednesday (April 7), scoring 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting in a Warriors 110-105 victory. 

The Warriors are also expected to get some players off the injured list and into the lineup, including big men Al Horford (calf) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) back in the lineup.

Curry has only played in 41 games this season, and the Warriors' offense is in shambles because of it.

They were a bottom-5 scoring team in the NBA when he went down with a knee injury on January 30, and missed the next 27 straight games, plummeting to 10th in the West.

As for the Kings, the season end couldn't come sooner. Sacramento looks nothing like the young, fun, and up-and-coming "Light the Beam" squad from two years ago, and almost every key player is in street clothes.

That includes DeMar DeRozan (hamstring), Russell Westbrook (foot), and Keegan Murray (ankle).

The Warriors have taken four of five in this head-to-head, and aside from the last meeting, have won by at least 26 points in the other three wins.

But these aren't the same Warriors. And while they should win, they're really just trying to get Steph Curry up to full speed before the play-in. That's no stress, and definitely not a blowout.

Warriors vs Kings same-game parlay

Let's focus on the Golden State star working to get back into game shape.

Steph has been held to 26 minutes or less in the two games since returning from a knee injury, but scoring 20 is nothing, especially against the Kings. In his last 25 vs SacTown, Curry has touched 20 points 21 times.

His assist numbers fluctuate more, but he's had at least five assists in four of the last five games against these Kings.

Warriors vs Kings SGP

• Kings +10.5
• Steph Curry Over 19.5 points
• Steph Curry Over 4.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Curry Cooking Soup!

Knocking down the moneyball is what Curry does best, and he's consistently lighting up the Kings from deep. He's hit at least four 3-pointers in eight of his last 10 against Sacramento.  

As for his rebounding, grabbing three boards shouldn't be a problem: he had five last game against the Kings, and has had at least three boards in 11 of the last 14 against them.  

Warriors vs Kings SGP

• Kings +10.5
• Steph Curry Over 19.5 points
• Steph Curry Over 4.5 assists
• Steph Curry Over 3.5 made threes 
• Steph Curry Over 2.5 rebounds

Warriors vs Kings odds

• Spread: Warriors -10.5 | Kings +10.5
• Moneyline: Warriors -500 | Kings +375
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5 

Warriors vs Kings betting trend to know

The Over has cashed in eight of the last 10 head-to-head matchups between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Kings.

How to watch Warriors vs Kings

Warriors vs Kings latest injuries

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The show must go on.

It’s a cliché this Philadelphia 76ers organization must know all too well at this point after the last few seasons, and it’s relevant yet again. With the news that Joel Embiid had appendicitis and an urgent, successful appendectomy yesterday in Houston, any modicum of hope that the Sixers might pull back into a playoff spot seemed to vanish instantaneously.

And with the Sixers’ rough loss to the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors’ win last night, the statistical odds of them doing so all but vanished as well. Though it’s still technically possible, it’s almost guaranteed at this point that the Sixers will not be able to get back into the No. 6 seed over the Raptors and will instead finish the regular season in a Play-In Tournament seed (7-10).

The harsh reality of the situation though is that, without Embiid, it can start to feel inconsequential anyway. Even if the Sixers had managed to sneak into the postseason, their ability to put up any sort of fight against other playoff teams was relatively contingent on Embiid being available to lead the way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I personally would have bet on them going far in the playoffs even with the big fella… but not having him feels like it nullifies even that tiny chance they would have had at a run.

But, again, the show must go on.

There are still two games left to be played for the Sixers in this rollercoaster of a regular season. The first of the final pair will come on Friday night as Philadelphia close their 16th and final back-to-back with a visit to the Indiana Pacers, less than 24 hours after that brutal loss in Houston. This being the second leg of a back-to-back means no official injury report for the Sixers until this afternoon. Obviously Embiid will not be available for this one, but we will let you know who else may have popped up on the report when it is posted later today.

The Pacers, meanwhile, are a tanking, 19-win team this season just looking to cross the finish line and get to the NBA lottery and draft. They were being led this campaign by Pascal Siakam, who is averaging 24.0 points a game in 63 contests this season, but he has missed Indiana’s last three contests due to an ankle injury. With the Pacers not exactly competing for anything, his season might be over.

In his absence, Obi Toppin has taken on a bit of a larger role, even coming off the bench. On Thursday, Toppin raced to 26 points on 11-for-14 field goal shooting with nine rebounds and three assists in just 18:35 on the floor against the Brooklyn Nets.

Indiana is also coming into Friday on the second leg of a back-to-back after that commanding 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets in a true tank-off Thursday night. That means no official injury report from them either until this afternoon. But honestly, even without Embiid at their disposal, there’s no iteration of this current Pacers squad that the Sixers shouldn’t be able to handle. (Again, I said shouldn’t. We all know that once they’re on the floor, it could turn out very differently.)

The Sixers are 3-0 against the Pacers this season, but Embiid was available for all three contests. Again, I truly do not believe the big fella is needed for this Philadelphia team to beat Indiana, especially if they actually play to their potential. Tyrese Maxey was damn near a triple-double in each of the two times he featured against the Pacers this season, with 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in one meeting and 29 points, eight assists and eight steals in the other. Yes, eight steals. This would be the perfect time for Maxey to really get back into the groove after seeming to struggle the last few contests, especially one of his career-worsts against the San Antonio Spurs earlier this week.

The true reality of the situation Friday for Philadelphia is that, though they might be understandably disappointed and now headed for the Play-In, this game in Indiana is a golden opportunity to provide even the smallest morale boost to a squad of players that desperately needs it as the end of the regular season fast approaches.

You can’t go back and right the wrongs of all the extremely close losses throughout the season that got you here. You can’t undo the last few losses that took you out of a guaranteed playoff spot. You can’t magically make Embiid not have needed urgent surgery for appendicitis. The only thing you can do as the Sixers is use these last two games against easier opponents — first the Pacers on Friday, then the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday — to get your heads back on even a little bit straighter before the Play-In comes around. It might not be enough to change the ultimate outcome there even, but it’s the only thing that is within their control at this point.

The Sixers and Pacers tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Game Details

When: Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers