Category: NBA

It had to feel like it was all slipping away. Cooper Flagg missed games with a foot injury, and while he was sidelined, his former Duke roommate was busy doing the one thing more impactful than posting impressive stat lines — Kon Knueppel was reshaping the narrative. More games played, cleaner shooting metrics, a winning context in Charlotte. On the surface, the case was building. The straw poll of NBA media members had Knueppel firmly in the lead.

Then Flagg dropped 51 on a Friday and 45 on a Sunday, and the conversation was over.

Jason Timpf breaks down exactly why Flagg should be — and now almost certainly will be — the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. The analytical case is airtight: of Flagg’s 96 points across those two games, 52 came directly out of pick-and-roll creation or isolation. Knueppel is at his best as a chaos agent alongside LaMelo Ball — and Timpf’s numbers make that dependency impossible to ignore. In the 2,172 possessions Knueppel has played without LaMelo on the floor, Charlotte posts a zero net rating and scores 112.8 points per 100. Flagg is the offensive engine, on the third-worst spot-up efficiency team in the league, drawing the best defender every single night. These are not comparable situations.

Commissioner Dynamo made me laugh, more than once. Worth your time.

Which brings us to the Rorschach test hiding inside Flagg’s season stats. Look at his October numbers — 13.4 points per game on 41% shooting, including a 2-point disaster against Oklahoma City. Jason Kidd, operating in a context where Anthony Davis was still on the roster and Kyrie Irving’s return felt possible, ran an experiment: Flagg at point guard. If you are a Kidd supporter, that experiment unlocked something in Flagg — accelerated his development, expanded his creation toolkit, made him the player currently dismantling NBA defenses in April. If you are not a Kidd supporter, those early games represent ROY votes that now risk favoring the Hornet sharpshooter. Kidd himself has suggested the experiment was formative. It is, conveniently, impossible to disprove.

What we can say with certainty is this: however those first weeks shaped him, what’s on the other end of it is a 19-year-old who just dropped 51 and 45 in back-to-back games while the basketball internet scrambles to keep up. The Mavericks have a future because of Flagg, potentially a bright one. At the very least, his incredible season beckons the scariest thought experiment this side of “what if Harrison was still in control?” and that is…where would the Mavs be without getting so lottery lucky?

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph, Seth Curry call playing together as NBA teammates “a dream come true.”
• Steph Curry to auction off Sneaker Free Agency Collection to benefit his Eat. Learn. Play Foundation.
• Bucks have “come to terms with the inevitability” of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade coming this offseason, according to ESPN.

Ever since the Golden State Warriors signed Stephen Curry’s younger brother, Seth Curry, on Dec. 1, many awaited the moment the two would finally share the floor as NBA teammates. Just as it seemed within reach, injuries to both delayed that opportunity for most of the season.

However, that changed Sunday night.

After missing 27 games, Steph Curry returned to the lineup, finally giving the brothers their long-awaited opportunity to take the floor together. At the 6:19 mark of the second quarter, the two stood side by side in the same backcourt, delivering a special moment for one of the NBA’s most iconic basketball families.

Steph & Seth share the court 🥹

For the first time in their careers, Stephen Curry and Seth Curry are sharing the floor as teammates in the same regular season game! pic.twitter.com/VtNRumsEPe

— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2026

The Curry brothers shared the floor for just one minute before Seth was subbed out, but it was enough to make the moment real. Between them, they combined for 35 points off the bench, knocking down six three-pointers on 13 attempts. Steph led the way with 29 points in just 26 minutes, while Seth added six points in 13 minutes of action.

After years of competing against each other on separate teams, the opportunity to finally play as teammates became a reality — something both described as a “dream come true” for their family.

"Oh man. That was special. We've both had a very difficult year… I was joking calling us the rehab brothers."

Steph Curry got emotional when asked about playing with his brother Seth for the first time in the NBA 💛🥲

"That was a dream come true to be honest." pic.twitter.com/BGXN4UHf59

— KNBR (@KNBR) April 6, 2026

Seth Curry said playing with his brother represented “a great moment” for them and their family.

“Dream come true. We’ve played against each other for a while now. For us to be on the same floor together as teammates was a different dynamic.”

More: pic.twitter.com/55xX0vetAk

— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) April 6, 2026

And while their time on the floor together was brief this time around, there should be more opportunities with four games remaining in the regular season. For the Warriors, it was a bright spot during a challenging stretch. For the Currys, it meant something more — a moment years in the making, and one they won’t forget.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 7th:

Warriors News:

Why Steph and Seth Curry’s ‘dream come true’ with Warriors is basketball bliss | NBC Sports Bay Area

They’re most happy that their mother Sonya was able to be there, fully in her element. 

“To have that moment coming out of a timeout talking about our matchups, I was having flashbacks to Charlotte Christian High School my senior year, his sophomore year,” Steph said. “That was the last time in an actual game, even though he was on our training camp roster in 2013, but that was the last time we actually played a game together. My mom was in the stands, she probably didn’t have any more memory on her phone with all the pictures and videos.”

Kawakami: Draymond Green on his vision for a fulfilling Warriors ending … in a few years | The San Francisco Standard

“Rich and I discussed it a couple months ago briefly,” Draymond said. “We haven’t talked much about it because we don’t deal with those things until the offseason. But I think in an ideal world, and again, this is me talking without me talking to my representation so Rich will probably kill me. But in an ideal world, I think the best path would be to decline and extend. If I had it my way, that would be the best path forward.”

If it happens, that would be one important piece of the puzzle plopped into place for Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy, added to trying to get Kristaps Porzingis signed, possibly also at a medium salary for a few years, and several other important items.

Steph Curry to auction off his Sneaker Free Agency Collection for charity

Bidding on Stephen Curry’s ‘Sneaker Free Agency Collection’ will run from April 13-28 on https://t.co/LyYxNNu66u

More info on Curry’s @Sothebys auction benefiting his @EatLearnPlay Foundation here:https://t.co/XQ5UsYwlpMhttps://t.co/GW9vbRWDispic.twitter.com/M312j0wGWv

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 7, 2026

NBA News:

Inside the fractured relationship between Giannis and the Bucks | ESPN

The Bucks will be open to trade talks regarding Antetokounmpo, and the highest levels of the organization have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason, sources told ESPN.

“This is as toxic of a team situation as any in the league,” one source close to the team said. “They waited until the very end on Giannis, and now everyone knows.”

Bulls fire vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley

Since hiring Karnisovas to head basketball operations in 2020, the Bulls went 224-254, made one playoff appearance, and are now missing the postseason for the fourth straight season. Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf decided Monday to make a change to the team’s… https://t.co/sedLR42nIN

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 6, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Last Two-Minute Report shows Warriors got hosed against Rockets

What can we conclude? Referees don’t respect Steph Curry, but they respect the sanctity of “three in the key” even less. This author will consider the Warriors a true 37-win team going forward.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

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The basketball gods seem angry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Losing two of their three best players for at least a few weeks just as the playoffs near certainly changes every thought Los Angeles has.

Few opponents will pester a new point guard as aggressively as the Oklahoma City Thunder will tonight, but my Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and these NBA picks still see value in new-look L.A. point guard Luke Kennard on Tuesday, April 7.

Thunder vs Lakers prediction

Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists (+105)

Point guard Luke Kennard. That is a reality for the Los Angeles Lakers as the playoffs loom. This was certainly not their plan.

With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined for the next few weeks, Kennard and LeBron James shared the offensive initiation duties in Sunday’s loss at Dallas, with James playing nearly 39 minutes and dishing out 15 assists while Kennard played more than 41 minutes and handed out 11 assists.

Expect Kennard to also cough up a bounty of turnovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s perimeter defenders. That should be obvious.

But the sheer amount of ball-handling now required of Kennard creates unquestionable value in this prop. As long as Los Angeles has hopes of the No. 3 seed in the West — currently effectively tied with the Nuggets, though the Lakers hold the tiebreaker — expect them to lean into this new-fangled look.

This was not the design, but it is now the reality.

Thunder vs Lakers same-game parlay

The value is in Kennard’s assists prop, not as much as in LeBron James’s. Kennard’s ball-handling role is the surprise induced by Los Angeles’s injuries; LeBron already initiated plenty.

The reaction to Sunday’s stats should be amazement at how much Kennard was asked to do. LeBron’s 15 assists were impressive, but also less of an outlier than Kennard’s 11.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
• Thunder moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rest LeBron?

JJ Redick faces a difficult choice this week. As the No. 3 seed slips from Los Angeles’s grasp, how long will he ride LeBron James? Any deficit against the Thunder tonight should quickly feel insurmountable, and getting some rest for the 41-year-old James before the playoffs is certainly a concern on Redick’s mind.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Thunder -17
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
• LeBron James Under 23.5 points
• LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds

Thunder vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Thunder -17 | Lakers +17
• Moneyline: Thunder -2000 | Lakers +1000
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5

Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know

The looming threat of the Spurs in the standings has kept the Thunder engaged enough to go 3-1 against the spread in their last four games, all as favorites of at least eight points. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers

Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries

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

Some extremely rare Steph Curry-worn sneakers will be available for purchase in a matter of days.

Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday that more than 70 pairs of shoes that Curry donned this season following his shocking split with Under Armour will be hitting its auction block on April 13.

The kicks were worn by Curry during tunnel walks, pre-game warm ups and during games, and some were autographed by the Warriors superstar.

Curry said in a statement that he was pumped for the sale, as he noted that every dollar the footwear brings in will go toward his and his wife Ayesha’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which helps kids in need.

“I’m excited to share this unique catalog in a way that lets fans be part of the journey,” Curry said. “Partnering with Sotheby’s to bring this auction to life gives these sneakers a platform beyond the game, where they can live on and mean something to someone else.”

Curry became a shoe free agent back in November, and he went on to wear unique kicks daily as a way to pay homage to some of his friends and heroes.

For one of his games, he sported the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The shoes will be part of the collection, and experts expect them to fetch between $3,000-$5,000.

Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction.

“From the legendary NBA stars that I grew up admiring, to the current players that I’ve enjoyed competing against, along with some of the biggest names in the WNBA that are helping to drive the momentum across the women’s game, I had so much fun breaking out pairs all season long that each meant so much to me,” Curry said.

“When you look back at both sneaker culture and basketball history, each pair represents an iconic moment, groundbreaking athlete or key chapter over the years in the NBA and WNBA.”

The sale is slated to end on April 28.

---

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Oklahoma State guard Jaylen Curry plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Joe Tipton has learned. Curry is on the move for the second consecutive offseason, only spending one year in Stillwater. UMass is where his college basketball career got underway. But now, Curry is looking for school No. 3 for what should be his final year of eligibility.

The Cowboys used Curry as a nice rotational piece throughout his 33 games played. Only seven of them were starts, playing around 24 minutes every time out there. Curry averaged 10.1 points while shooting 41.8% from the field. Not too bad for somebody playing in a power conference for the first time in his career.

Curry did a little more than just score, though. He finished as Oklahoma State’s second-leading assist man, putting up 3.5 per game. Some activity on the glass did some — mainly on the defensive end — with 3.2 rebounds a night.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

There is one performance from this past season that stands out more than any. Oklahoma State hosted Nicholls back in November for a nonconference showdown. Curry had his lone double-double of the year, doing so in style. Thirty points were put up by Curry, going 8-11 from the field and making all 12 of his free throws. And then 10 assists also show up on the statsheet to help Oklahoma State get a 14-point win.

More on Jaylen Curry, early portion of college basketball career

Curry played high school basketball at Charlotte (NC) Calvary Christian, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 193 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

UMass earned Curry’s original commitment and let him get action as a true freshman. One season later, Curry was a starter for the Minutemen and putting up good numbers. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Unfortunately, not too much team success came, and Curry decided to enter the transfer portal.

Now, another school will have an opportunity to sign Curry. If the fit turns out to be the right one, some potential still appears to be in there.

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A first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets would be a dream scenario for NBA neutrals, and we get another sneak preview as the teams square off tonight.

Charlotte has picked up four straight victories and won at TD Garden last month, but my Hornets vs. Celtics predictions see Boston getting the upper hand, as Jayson Tatum continues to impress. 

Check out my NBA picks for this clash between in-form Eastern Conference squads on Tuesday, April 7.

Hornets vs Celtics prediction

Hornets vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)

A healthy Boston Celtics rotation is a scary prospect for the rest of the league, and they’ve looked in sync while winning eight of their last 10 games.

Boston is also 8-2 straight up in its past 10 matchups against the Charlotte Hornets, and I’m laying the points here with Joe Mazzulla’s men, who are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven. The Celtics turned it on late to brush off the Raptors on Sunday and make it four straight wins by a margin of 14+ points.

Though the Hornets embarrassed Boston in early March, the Celtics got revenge a few weeks later with a 114-99 victory, despite missing Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard combined for 60 points that day to outplay Charlotte’s talented guards.

The hosts are at full strength now, after Nikola Vucevic’s return over the weekend, and their defense is the stingiest in the NBA, allowing just 107 points per game. Look for that attention to detail to stifle a Hornets team that leads the league in made 3-pointers.

After a recent home-heavy slate, Charlotte will be entering a rocking TD Garden, where the Celtics are 27-11 SU this year. So, even this late in the regular season, Boston should view this as a statement game, and this spread is small enough for me to back Tatum & Co.

Hornets vs Celtics same-game parlay

The Celtics are humming along since Tatum’s comeback, and he’s been especially consistent on the glass, with 9+ rebounds in eight of his last nine, headlined by 18 boards against the Heat last week. I’m wagering on another big haul tonight.

Meanwhile, Pritchard’s heat-check scoring is a spark for the Boston bench. He’s nailed this Over in five of his last six games, and finished with 28 points in the last meeting between these teams.

Hornets vs Celtics SGP

• Celtics moneyline
• Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
• Payton Pritchard Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Put up your Dukes

This SGP pairs two Duke alums, with Tatum going past this points prop in five straight and Kon Knueppel putting the final touches on his Rookie of the Year case.

Tatum has been a steady double-digit rebounder in the past few weeks, while Knueppel dropped 20 points on the Celtics last month and has O/U lines that feel low for a player averaging 18.7 PPG and 3.4 APG this season.

Hornets vs Celtics SGP

• Jayson Tatum Over 22.5 points
• Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
• Kon Knueppel Over 16.5 points
• Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists

Hornets vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Hornets +4.5 (-110) | Celtics -4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hornets +175 | Celtics -210
• Over/Under: Over 221 (-110) | Under 221 (-110)

Hornets vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Under is 48-31 for the Hornets this season, but the Over has hit in their past three contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Celtics.

How to watch Hornets vs Celtics

Hornets vs Celtics latest injuries

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

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The battle to stay out of the play-in spots in the East is real, with the team in fifth just 3.5 games up on the team in 10th. Two of those squads collide tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat.

Both teams desperately need a win after a tough stretch of games. My Heat vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks tell you why Toronto will prevail against the spread on Tuesday, April 7. 

Heat vs Raptors prediction

Heat vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -1.5 (-110)

The Miami Heat currently hold the last play-in spot in the East, but they trail the Toronto Raptors, who are just above the play-in spots in sixth place.

The Heat are coming off a win, but it was only their third in the last 11 games. 

This will be an interesting stylistic matchup as Toronto’s defense tries to slow down the high-tempo Heat, who rank fifth in offensive rating since the All-Star break.

The Raptors do this frustrating thing where they show their potential for three quarters, before a typically poor fourth costs them the game, just like their most recent loss to the Celtics.

However, they tend to perform better when they’re supposed to win, and they’re slight home favorites here. Additionally, their strength remains at the defensive end of the floor, where they rank 10th in defensive rating for the second half of the season.

They also do a solid job on the perimeter, ranking eighth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. This is important against a team that leads the NBA in pace and shots per game.

Meanwhile, the Heat rank 21st in defensive rating since the break. That should be enough to help Toronto cover this short spread at home and beat the Heat for the third time this season.

Heat vs Raptors same-game parlay

The Heat’s high pace of play and huge shooting output results in a lot of rebounds. Scottie Barnes has seen his rebounding numbers dip a bit lately, but he still averages 7.5 rebounds per game this season, and this is a great spot for him to get back to having a presence on the boards.

We also get a fun Norman Powell reunion tonight. The former Raptor returns to where he helped win an NBA championship in 2019, and the Toronto fans love him. Don’t be surprised if the guard, averaging 22.1 points per game this season, gets in a groove tonight.

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Raptors -1.5
• Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
• Norman Powell Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Heating the glass

The Raptors have also struggled on the glass of late, ranking 23rd in rebounding rate since the All-Star break. So, rebounds for all!

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Andrew Wiggins Over 4.5 rebounds
• Norman Powell Over 3.5 rebounds

Heat vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Heat +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
• Moneyline: Heat +100 | Raptors -120
• Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240

Heat vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Raptors have covered the 1Q Spread in 12 of their last 16 games for +7.45 Units and a 41% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Raptors.

How to watch Heat vs Raptors

Heat vs Raptors latest injuries

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

Kentucky Basketball is receiving a wide range of projections in way-too-early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings, reflecting uncertainty after a season of key departures and transfers.

Way-Too-Early College Basketball Rankings

• Unranked:Jeff Borzello (ESPN), Jacob Davis (Sports Illustrated), Seth Davis (HoopsHQ)
• No. 28:Jon Rothstein (FanDuel) – despite forward Andrija Jelavić entering the transfer portal
• No. 25:James Fletcher III (On3)
• No. 13:Mike DeCourcy (Sporting News)

Roster Outlook

Projected starting five (before Jelavić’s transfer, though he could still return): G Trent Noah, G Collin Chandler, F Kam Williams, F Andrija Jelavić, C Malachi Moreno
Projected key bench: Brayden Hawthorne, Mason Williams

Roster Status

• Graduating: Otega Oweh, Walker Horn, Zach Tow
• Transferring: Denzel Aberdeen (graduating), Jasper Johnson, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Andrija Jelavić
• Undecided: Trent Noah, Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams, Collin Chandler, Brayden Hawthorne, Reece Potter
• College/Testing NBA Draft Waters: Malachi Moreno

Mark Pope’s top priority will be retention, especially keeping 7-foot center Malachi Moreno, who averaged 7.8 points per game and has high breakout potential. Veteran shooting guard Collin Chandler, averaging 9.7 points, will also hopefully anchor the backcourt, though he has not 100% confirmed his return yet.

As the Wildcats navigate departures, transfers, and player development, fans are left watching closely how the roster takes shape and how early projections will adjust leading into the new season.

One week ago, the Los Angeles Lakers clinched their spot in the NBA playoffs. They had won 15 of 17 games behind a surge from Luka Dončić and looked prime to lock up the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

How quickly things can change.

Dončić injured his left hamstring late in a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Austin Reaves strained his left oblique in the same game, and just like that, the Lakers were down two of their most important players for the foreseeable future.

The reaction was predictable; the Lakers came out flat against an already eliminated Dallas Mavericks team on Sunday. They were able to fight back behind a 30-point, 15-assist effort from LeBron James and a triple-double by trade deadline acquisition Luke Kennard, but Cooper Flagg had arguably his signature moment of his rookie season with 45 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to outlast LA 134-128, handing the shorthanded Lakers their second straight loss.

In the meantime, the other teams in the running for the third seed – the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets – have surged. The Nuggets have won nine in a row and overtook the Lakers for third place with their comeback over the Portland Trail Blazers, Monday, April 6. The Rockets, trailing by just one game, have also been red-hot with a six-game winning streak of their own.

So how much room do the Lakers have for error – if any at all? Here's what lies ahead for each team in the final week of the season:

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAOS: Who will get No. 5 and 6 seeds?

Lakers injuries

Luka Dončić's MVP campaign was put to a premature end when he suffered a grade 2 left hamstring strain in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's been ruled out for the remaining five games in the regular season, with his status unclear for the playoffs.

The standard timeline for a grade 2 hamstring strain is four-to-six weeks, which would make a return in the first round highly unlikely, but Dončić is currently in Spain to undergo an injection procedure in an attempt to expedite his recovery timeline. It's currently unclear how effective this treatment is or how much it can speed up the healing process.

Austin Reaves also went down with a grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game; he is also expected to miss 4-6 weeks as he rehabs in Los Angeles. If both timelines go completely as expected, the Lakers would likely need to advance to the second round in order for Dončić and Reaves to return to the floor.

LeBron James also landed on Monday's injury report as questionable for their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with left foot injury management, which has been persistent over the past month or so. Given the Lakers' reliance on the 41-year-old to carry them at least through the first round, it wouldn't be surprising for him to have a night off in at least one of the four games left in the regular season.

Remaining schedules for the Lakers, Nuggets and Rockets

Here are all the games left for each of the teams in the running for the No. 3 seed in the West:

Lakers remaining games

• Tuesday, April 7: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Thursday, April 9: at Golden State Warriors
• Friday, April 10: vs. Phoenix Suns
• Sunday, April 12: vs. Utah Jazz

Nuggets remaining games

• Wednesday, April 8: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
• Friday, April 10: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Sunday, April 12: at San Antonio Spurs

Rockets remaining games

• Tuesday, April 7: at Phoenix Suns
• Thursday, April 9: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
• Friday, April 10: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
• Sunday, April 12: vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Who has the edge?

The Nuggets have championship experience and one of the greatest centers to ever play the game on their side in Nikola Jokić, but they unequivocally have the toughest remaining schedule out of the three teams. Denver's final two games are against the top two seeds in the West -- though Victor Wembanyama's status might be up in the air for that game.

The Rockets have endured plenty of growing pains along the way, but they're ending the season on just as strong of a note as they started it. This is the youngest of the teams vying for the third seed, and Kevin Durant is still every bit the matchup nightmare he's always been (burner accounts aside). Three of their final four games are against teams jockeying for playoff positioning, and their penultimate meeting with the Timberwolves can likely decide who ends up with the fifth seed.

The Lakers – on paper at least – have the most favorable remaining schedule after Tuesday's game against OKC, but their backs are against the wall after dropping a winnable game in Dallas. The Warriors are still trying to find their rhythm, but Steph Curry looked like himself in his return April 5, which could spell danger for anyone in the West. The Suns might still be fighting to get into the top six, but odds are they'll be locked into the play-in by then. The Lakers then finish off against the tanking Utah Jazz.

The third seed is still within reach, but LA is going to need their role players to step up, like Deandre Ayton had during their 15-2 March or how Luke Kennard did with his triple-double on Sunday. James has shown that he can still pull off amazing feats on the court, but it can't come down to just him if this shorthanded Lakers team is going to survive.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers, Nuggets, Rockets battle for NBA Western Conference No. 3 seed

A win that everyone feels like a loss. The Brooklyn Nets hosted the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon. The team snapped their latest losing streak and came away with a 121-115 win.

The opponent tonight is stuck with nowhere to go. It’s been a lost season for the Milwaukee Bucks and they’re desperately trying to find out what their future is. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Sunday afternoon.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio. Tip after 7:30 PM.

🤕 Injuries

The following are out:

• Nic Claxton
• Noah Clowney
• Egor Demin
• Terance Mann
• Michael Porter Jr
• Day’ron Sharpe
• Ziaire Willimas
• Danny Wolf

Ben Saraf is probable.

The following are out:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Kyle Kuzma
• Kevin Porter Jr
• Bobby Portis
• Ryan Rollins
• Gary Trent Jr
• Myles Turner

🏀 The game

When you fancy yourself a championship contender and have one of the best players in the league on your team, you HAVE to find good young talent on the cheap. With a hard salary cap and roster restrictions, you’ve got to hit on the margins and hope that you develop young talent so you can remain in contention. The Bucks have failed to do that in recent years and it’s led them to this moment of truth. Shams Charania has been driving discussion on the Bucks’ dealings for the past few years and earlier this morning, published a story on ESPN that detailed the latest drama surrounding the team. This part in particular stood out:

Multiple moves by the front office, both in roster building and rotations, failed to work out this season, including most recently the signing of Cam Thomas after the 24-year-old guard was waived by the Brooklyn Nets. Horst touted Thomas as a key piece to the team’s playoff hopes and long-term contending ability, while Rivers compared him to two former elite scorers and Sixth Men of the Year he coached, Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford.

After averaging 24.3 points during a three-game win streak early in his Bucks tenure, Thomas’ production and minutes began to dwindle as the organization soured on Thomas. After not playing in three of his final five games in a Bucks uniform, Thomas was waived to make room for the Bucks to sign two-way big man Pete Nance to a multiyear deal.

The Bucks also cut the guaranteed contracts of second-round picks Tyler Smith and Chris Livingston out of training camp to keep Amir Coffey, who spent most of the season out of the rotation and was moved at the trade deadline along with Cole Anthony, another offseason signing.

There’s a lot bigger news in that Charania story, but we’ll save that for Friday.

Nolan Traore will look to put another good outing together. Traore made a season high five three pointers on Sunday and if he can continue to find success from deep, it will boost his stock on the team. On the season, he’s shooting just 32.4 percent from deep. But with time, maybe he can reach a higher level.

Turnovers will tell the story tonight. Both of these teams are in the bottom third of the NBA in turnover rate and whoever can create more TOs, the more they’ll be able to get out on the break to find easy baskets in transition. With so many players out tonight, it’ll be up to the ones on the court to make the most of their minutes.

As for the Tankathon, the Nets go into the game in third two games out of first and a game and a half ahead of fourth and fifth.

👀 Player to watch: Taurean Prince

Hey, an old friend! Prince has a solid contributor in his decade in the league and could be someone teams turn to if they need a steady veteran presence in the future. At 32 years old, he still has plenty to offer and could help a playoff team down the line. Whether that’s with the Bucks remains to be seen. They’ve got a lot going on right now.

Jalen Wilson will get the start for the Nets and he’ll be one of the guys looking to put up a good outing as he moves to the offseason. Jordi Fernandez is pressing as many buttons as he can to find players who can contribute and give good minutes as he winds this season down. Every day is an opportunity to make a lasting impression and we’ll see how Wilson makes the most of his tonight.

📺 From the Vault

Doc Rivers is heading to the Naismith Hall of Fame this fall, and he’s had success in various roles across basketball history.

More reading: Brew Hoop, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Milwaukee Bucks Games Notes – Milwaukee Bucks
• Milwaukee plays Brooklyn, looks to end road skid – AP
• Nolan Traoré is a promising work in progress, but what he does next could alter the Nets’ future ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post

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The final week of the NBA season usually sees some unexpected results. As the Minnesota Timberwolves back into the playoffs, they are ripe candidates to provide one of those results, especially as the Indiana Pacers play what may be their best basketball of the season.

My Timberwolves vs. Pacers predictions and these NBA picks refuse to put any faith in Minnesota on Tuesday, April 7.

Timberwolves vs Pacers prediction

Timberwolves vs Pacers best bet: Pacers +12.5 (-105)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have effectively boxed themselves into the No. 6 seed in the West. They would need to go 4-0 this week while the Rockets go 1-3 to catch Houston for the No. 5 seed. But there is a worrying scenario for Minnesota. It could fall into the Play-In Tournament yet.

Every day that remains a possibility, anxiety will set in further for the Timberwolves. The organization already had to include two Play-In games amid the postseason ticket presale access for season-ticket holders. They are genuinely a loss or two away from having to answer questions about slipping into the Play-In Tournament.

Recognizing that stressor is the only reason this is not a bet on the Indiana Pacers to win outright. The Pacers have sprung three upsets as multi-bucket underdogs in the last two weeks, part of going 8-1 against the spread in their last nine.

Indiana has secured its needed draft lottery positioning. The Pacers can play as competitively as able. And with the Timberwolves without both Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, they are quite vulnerable to upsets. Edwards and McDaniels are no less than two of Minnesota’s three-best bucket getters, and many nights feel like they are the top two.

Without them, fading the Timberwolves becomes nearly an automatic bet; only the worry of falling to seventh in the standings should prevent Minnesota from losing outright.

Timberwolves vs Pacers same-game parlay

The mere option to bet a Mike Conley points prop is a surprise. He hit no more than one field goal in 12 of his last 16 games. Bench players like that do not usually warrant spots on the props board. But Conley is not a bench player right now. He has started his last five games, though only four of those were genuine. But in his last two games, Conely has hit 7-of-12 shots from deep, scoring 14 and 11 points. He may be finding a form that could actually contribute in the postseason.

Minnesota hopes Naz Reid finds that form soon. A nagging shoulder injury has clearly cut into his efficiency. Reid has cleared this prop just once in his last 10 games.

Timberwolves vs Pacers SGP

• Pacers +12.5
• Mike Conley Over 5.5 points
• Naz Reid Under 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Perhaps Pacers

One of the best ways for Minnesota to avoid an upset is to have Reid hit multiple 3-pointers. Given he is 1-of-10 from beyond the arc in his last two games and has hit multiple 3-pointers in just three of his last 17 games, it is valid to wonder if Indiana might spring this surprise.

Timberwolves vs Pacers SGP

• Pacers Moneyline
• Naz Reid Under 14.5 Points

Timberwolves vs Pacers odds

• Spread: Timberwolves -12.5 | Pacers +12.5
• Moneyline: Timberwolves -800 | Pacers +550
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5

Timberwolves vs Pacers betting trend to know

While going 8-1 against the spread in their last nine games, the Pacers have exceeded bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 8.9 points, even when including the sole ATS loss; that number jumps to 10.4 points in the eight ATS wins. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Pacers.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Pacers

Timberwolves vs Pacers latest injuries

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

As we near another NBA postseason, the Sixers are likely going to be one of the teams participating in the Eastern Conference half of the bracket, either being the sixth seed or via the play-in. But it feels like the noise around the franchise entering the playoffs is sounding much quieter than previous postseasons. Of course, that’s probably a good thing for Philadelphia as the franchise has been known to let its fans down in the early rounds of the playoffs for the majority of the previous 10 years.

But we want to look forward not backwards here. With Jayson Tatum back in the fold, the Boston Celtics are certainly going to be the popular choice to get out of the Eastern Conference and make a run at their second NBA title in three years. But after that, who does anyone really feel confident in atop the East? The Detroit Pistons have not won a playoff series in nearly two decades. New York and Cleveland seem to regularly have second-round ceilings. Is anyone really afraid of the Atlanta Hawks?

That leaves your Philadelphia 76ers in an interesting position heading into the playoffs. Philly hasn’t really garnered a lot of national attention this season as most of the talking heads believe the Sixers have missed their window in the Joel Embiid era. The fanbase has certainly felt a bit apathetic this season. That’s not to say any of those assertions are incorrect, but it does lessen the pressure on the Sixers during the next month — and potentially longer.

The landscape of the Eastern Conference really hasn’t changed much in recent years too. Boston won the conference in 2022 and 2024, got to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023 and was upset largely due to Tatum’s injury last year in the second round against New York. In that time, we’ve seen Miami make it to the Finals out of the play-in tournament, and an Indiana team that was not seeded in the top three of the conference in either of the past two seasons make the conference finals both years.

Maybe Paul George’s resurgence is real and a player who most Sixers fans wrote off and most NBA media members probably thought was one of the worst contracts in the NBA has a revenge tour planned in these playoffs. Could Embiid find a way to stay healthy for most of the postseason for once? How hungry will VJ Edgecombe be for his first dose of playoff action? Tyrese Maxey could certainly be the best player on the floor in almost any playoff game.

None of this is to argue that the Sixers are destined to play until Memorial Day. Monday night’s game in San Antonio was just the latest reminder that this team isn’t a serious contender. However, segments of the NBA playoffs are starting to feel a bit less predictable as evidenced by some of the other deep runs aforementioned Eastern Conference teams have made in recent years.

Sure, “Why not us?” might not be the most encouraging slogan for Sixers fans this spring. But for a franchise that has been understandably ripped time and time again around this time of year, expect the Sixers to be a looser bunch when the second season commences. Does that mean they’ll be a better bunch? Well, you’re guess is as good as mine on that one.