Category: NBA

The standard.

For anyone looking for a career in basketball – and wanting to excel with fierce determination, navigate the toughest challenges with impeccable style and grace, while still accomplishing the task at hand – they need to look no further than Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Val Ackerman.

After four decades of service to professional and college basketball in many roles, including her current position as the commissioner of the Big East Conference, Ackerman is retiring after 13 years at the helm, bringing the league back to its historic place in college athletics after nearly coming close to extinction.

Ackerman will leave the position, effective Aug. 31, and a national search for her successor will start immediately and be led by the conference's Board of Directors.

"When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with our football counterparts and compete with the country’s best. We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman," said St. John’s President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., Chair of the Big East Board of Directors. "She leaves big shoes to fill."

Ackerman said her first contract at the Big East was for five years. After that contract had nearly expired, it was clear the conference's powers-that-be didn't want her going anywhere.

"Then they came back and said they wanted to sign me to a second contract. They said, how about five years?" Ackerman told USA TODAY Sports, hilariously explaining how she ended up staying for 13 years.

"I said, 'okay. How about three?' So I did that, then that contract ran out, and they came back to me and said, 'Can we sign you up for another five years?' And I said, 'how about three?' And then I went through that, and then they came again and said 'how about another five?' And I say, 'how about one?' "

The league is thriving with competitive teams and armed with a new media rights agreement with FOX, NBC Sports and TNT Sports through the 2030-31 season. The obvious question is, why leave now?

"It just felt like the time was right for me. I'd come back to what retirement means. I did what I was hired to do, which was to put the pieces back together again when this storied league broke up," she said, adding she is leaving on her own volition.

Reflections on a 'pinch me' career

From a little girl shooting hoops outside of her Pennington, New Jersey home to playing at the University of Virginia, Ackerman knew she wanted to work in sports after earning a law degree from UCLA in 1985.

After being hired as a corporate associate at Simpson Thacher in New York, she tried in vain to secure her dream job. She still kept the numerous rejection letters, including one from the NBA. Undeterred, the opportunity came three years later, and the call came from Gary Bettman, the future NHL Commissioner, who at the time was the NBA's general counsel and senior vice president, and who hired Ackerman as a junior lawyer at the league office.

Once David Stern called her into his office 18 months later, asking her to help out on various projects, her career took off, including the timing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing nations to determine their own rules for professional athletes to compete at the Olympics.

Ackerman got to travel to the Barcelona Olympics with the original Dream Team and laid the groundwork for the women to follow suit, eventually leading to the formation of the women's team in Atlanta in 1996 and her being asked to be the WNBA's first top executive.

"That was a kind of a pinch-me moment working on the first Dream Team. I was there with some bandwidth and was asked to help out. So it wasn't a surprise that they asked me to do it," Ackerman said about the WNBA. "It was an honor, not quite a surprise, because I was sort of the person in-house at that time who was the women's basketball person."

Ackerman served as WNBA president for eight years, and the league thrived in its first few years before the novelty of women's professional basketball began to erode.

"Things cooled off, and there were some hard years there as it related to numbers dropping and teams folding," she said. "And we couldn't always relocate them. And that was eight years, and then my kids were getting older, and I don't know, I would say there were moments I missed as a parent because of my focus on work. Yeah, wish I could get some of those moments back."

Rebirth of the Big East

When Ackerman was tapped to lead the Big East after seven schools (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and Villanova) separated from the original conference and from the football-playing schools to team up with Butler, Creighton, and Xavier, she knew that she was taking on a Herculean task. UConn completed the Big East reclamation project when it rejoined the league in 2020.

Armed with a cell phone and pretty much nothing else, the mandate from the league's presidents was clear: restore the glory and prestige of a once proud league, with the confidence to do it how you see fit.

When asked how difficult the job at hand would be on a scale of 1-10, Ackerman was not shy in her assessment of what she faced.

"25," she says, almost matter-of-factly. "It was really challenging, the most challenging thing I've ever done in my career. Even when the WNBA launched, we had David Stern make it a company priority, and I was sort of the tip of the spear, but the whole company was told this is a priority project. Here it was, at the beginning, really just me, for the most part, I tried to be resourceful in terms of getting other people involved, trying to hop quickly. But it was a true startup."

The conference has thrived on the biggest stages with Villanova winning national championships in 2016 and 2018 and UConn in 2023 and 2024. The UConn women were the last team standing five times during her tenure (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2025).

Thinking about legacy

As the clock ticks for when Ackerman departs the conference's headquarters at the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan, she reflects on her career, and those "pinch me" moments start to flood her mind, especially the impact that she has had on women.

"I hope I showed what women can do, and I hope I've been at least, in a modest way, an example to women who are either in the business and want to move up, or women who want to get in the business," Ackerman said. "It can be done, ladies."

So how will a person who seems to be everywhere, including traveling to 25 different cities in the past three months, slow down to enjoy retirement?

"I think retirement for me means, you know, it's like what some people will do to get a vacation," she said.

Ackerman, who is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the State of New Jersey Hall of Fame, will also enjoy the spoils of life, but just being a regular person, including being entertained by things that don't resemble sports.

"I'm an animal lover. We've had a string of cats, including right now, we're taking care of my older daughter's cat. I've tried to maintain and stay true to my athlete roots. I do try to work out, and I love to swim. I've glommed onto the Peloton in recent years to try to stave off the effects of aging. I like to read.

"My husband (Charlie Rappaport, a retired tax partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett) and I watch our shows every night. I mean, I need to watch a French cop show to sort of recharge my battery."

The admitted "chocaholic" plans to spend her time cleaning out her closets, traveling more, focusing on donating to charities, especially environmental causes, and finding anything on Brit Box to watch.

So the next person who inherits the Big East knows what they need to do to continue the success Ackerman built.

"I think when you're in these jobs, you're not in them forever. That's just the nature of the beast. Everyone is working a shift at the end of the day. And I think your hope is that when it was your turn, when the baton got passed to you, you ran a good race," she said.

"I've climbed the mountains. Every mountain that I ever wanted to climb, I've climbed it. If there's a legacy piece, I hope it's at least about what I've done for women and the game of basketball."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Val Ackerman retiring as Big East commissioner after 13 years

There are few more precious NBA jewels than a quality young core.

Everyone wants a young core. Winning an NBA championship is the best possible outcome. If you’re not in the running, the next-most exciting position is to have a young core that could be able to climb that mountain in time.

Evaluating the Rockets’ young core has been…frustrating. At times, it’s been invigorating. There have been junctures where it was easy to tell yourself that after the Thunder, this was the best young core in the NBA.

This is not one of those junctures.

Eventually, a young core’s potential has to be partly measured by production. It would be an overreaction to dismiss the entire young core based on a loss to a heavily compromised Lakers team in game one of the playoffs:

But it would be an underreaction to dismiss those results entirely.

Rockets’ young core struggles in Game 1

Let’s get a caveat out of the way: This wasn’t exclusively on the players.

Ime Udoka was outfoxed by JJ Reddick. Several coaching errors hurt the Rockets. Why was Amen Thompson guarding Luke Kennard if he wasn’t going to aggressively close him out? It felt like Thompson was assigned to Kennard so he could play as a free safety. That makes little sense when Kennard is among the best shooters in the NBA.

There was also little effort to get the ball to Alperen Sengun close to the rim. Frankly, I’d have played it the same at first – my feeling was that Sengun would have an easier time beating Deandre Ayon face-up vs trying to outmuscle him on the low block – but once it wasn’t working, Udoka should have pivoted.

That feels like a segway:

Why couldn’t Sengun beat Ayton face-up?

The closest thing the Rockets have to a star in their young core had 19 points on 6/19 shooting from the field. Ayton is not a good defender, but he is very strong. If Sengun doesn’t have a means of beating defenders whom he can’t outmuscle, that will be a major issue for a player who’s probably only in the 75th percentile of strength at his position.

Sengun’s struggles weren’t exclusively on him. The Lakers didn’t guard Thompson. The paint was predictably packed, and both Sengun and Thompson (7/18) struggled with the coverage.

Reed Sheppard? 17 points on 6/20 shooting from the field. A glaring defensive liability. Bad game.

Tari Eason was sensational. Is this a franchise player? No. My love for Eason remains unyielding despite an inconsistent 2025-26, but he’s a high-end role player.

Here’s the central point: nobody emerged as “a guy” against the Lakers in game one. Durant is expected back for game two. The Rockets will be heavily favored, and they’ll probably win. That doesn’t assuage any doubts expressed here. If the Rockets can’t beat the Lakers without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves without Durant, what does it say about their young core?

This is only a permutation of what’s become a recurring theme in these pieces. The Rockets’ young core does not have a franchise player. Sengun and Thompson’s combined lack of shooting is problematic. Sengun and Sheppard’s combined lack of defense is problematic. Thompson and Sheppard’s combined lack of shot creation is…

Yup. Problematic.

There’s talent here. These are players who could elevate a franchise-level talent. It’s still sadly true that the Rockets’ young core decidedly does not have that player:

The loss to the Lakers only reinforced that fact.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to an easy win in the series opener with the Toronto Raptors, and I’ve seen livelier dinosaurs in a museum exhibit. 

Will Game 2 be more competitive?

I have a same-game parlay for tonight's matchup between Cleveland and Toronto, taking legs from both teams but ultimately siding with the Cavs to continue their winning ways.

Here are my best NBA SGP picks and Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions on Monday, April 20.

Our best Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP for Game 2

The Cleveland Cavaliers' 13-point win in Game 1 looked closer than it really was.

The Toronto Raptors need to pick their poison when it comes to slowing down the Cavaliers’ offensive options. Cleveland’s perimeter play and production off the pine are a big edge as this series swings to Game 2 tonight.

Evan Mobley needed just three quarters to top his scoring prop in Game 1 before taking it easy in the fourth. His points prop remains the same, but his involvement in the offense will spike tonight, with him logging more minutes but also making the most of his matchups in the pick-and-roll attack. His projections sit at 18+ points.

The Raptors need to produce more from beyond the arc if they’re going to trade blows with Cleveland. Brandon Ingram missed his only 3-point attempt in Game 1 but is one of the Raptors’ more consistent outside threats. Projections have him hitting two triples in Game 2.

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.

Game ones of a playoff series often show us how teams want to defend, attack, and use their strengths and weaknesses. They are also just the first step in a complex and sometimes long process that is followed up with adjustments and tweaks. Regardless, the opening game tends to give us a good idea of at least the foundation on which the teams want to build. So what did we learn about these two teams after Saturday night’s game? And what might it mean going forward?

The Hawks want to attack Jalen Brunson, and the Knicks let them.

Over the last decade and change, the league has leaned more and more into attacking the opposing team’s weakest defender and finding ways to make them defend your team’s best player. Unlike the early 2000’s and the decades leading up to that, the strength of a team’s defense is now more dictated not by the level of your best defender, but by the level of your worst defender.

And last night, the Hawks, as every other team should, and often does, decided to attack Jalen Brunson as much as possible to make him expend more energy on that end of the floor, and, even more importantly, see if the Knicks’ team defense would dip to the level of their worst individual defender.

Spoiler alert, it did not. On multiple occasions, Atlanta looked to pick on the point guard, with Jalen Johnson, Nickel Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Jonathan Kuminga all taking turns at going at him. And while McCollum had a great game, New York saw some success with Brunson holding his own and forcing some tough contested shots.

Knicks defense has to remain active, Hawks have to continue to work to find openings. Okongwu screens for CJ, OG does not automatically switch. CJ screens for NAW and Brunson *does* switch. NAW looks to attack, KAT helps off Daniels in the paint. pic.twitter.com/5WmsvrBkVq

— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) April 18, 2026

The biggest surprise, though, came not from how Brunson defended those players, or from how those players attacked him. It came from a much-welcomed change under head coach Mike Brown. During large portions of the regular season, Brown opted to send help when teams decided to isolate Brunson despite talking up the captain’s individual defense. This often leads to overreacting to switches, which in turn results in open layups and open threes.

Much to my surprise, Brown chose to trust Brunson and live with the results. The Hawks likely won’t, and shouldn’t, stop attacking Brunson. But they’ll likely need to do so more effectively and more creatively to keep this series close. If and when they do, the hope is Brown doesn’t overreact and fall back into the habit of over-helping.

Josh Hart’s rebounding may be needed more than ever.

As many expected, the Knicks had Karl-Anthony Towns cross-matched onto Dyson Daniels for much of the game. In theory, this allows Towns to play off Daniels, roam, and act as a free safety. Daniels and the Hawks were able to have some success, though, in keeping Towns out of the paint defensively and having him engage in more perimeter actions. And to be fair to Towns, he had one of his best defensive games as a Knick.

But with Towns, one of their two best rebounders on the team, spending more time outside of the paint, the Knicks needed every single one of Josh Hart’s 14 defensive rebounds. Hart may have struggled to leave a positive mark on the game in his first quarter stint, but his work on the boards cannot go understated. While how and where Towns defends may change as the series goes on, chances are the Knicks will continue leaning on Hart to be the fearless rebounder he was Saturday night.

Can the Hawks help make up for Jalen Johnson’s deficiencies?

Johnson still ended the night with 23 points, but it took him 19 shots to get there. He had some big three-pointers, and had some ferocious dunks off of some nice cuts, and actions the offense ran for him. But when the game slowed down, he struggled to consistently get good shots against the Knicks, and in particular, Hart. While Johnson has the athleticism and size advantage over Hart, his lack of a mid-range game and his good, but not great, handle clearly held him back from being an even bigger and stronger force offensively.

Defensive Film: Jalen Johnson🎥

– Going under on screens, making him a pull up shooter (29% on pull-ups threes)

– Funneling the ball towards Dyson Daniels

– Under + hedging vs hunting match ups

Josh Hart is awesome https://t.co/aOYjcl94bcpic.twitter.com/JiTRfomaab

— Shax (@ShaxNBA) April 19, 2026

It’s not unforeseeable that this ends up being his worst game of the series, but it’s clear that either he needs to find different ways to score, or the Hawks need to find more ways to get him downhill and into open spaces where he can really excel. If they can do that, they’ll not only unlock his scoring, but also his passing, which is arguably his most important skill set as it pertains to how it impacts the Hawks’ offense.

Towns needs to be great, and he was

We’ve seen multiple iterations of Towns and his role on the offensive end this season. In the early part of the season, we saw Brown try to turn him into a Domantas Sabonis-esque player with little success. We then saw Towns play a lesser role in the offense through the middle of the regular season. Then we saw Towns really find a solid balance between attacking, not forcing things, being decisive, and utilizing his passing abilities. And last night, we saw a lot of that.

We're back to the well: KAT as a hub, 30+ feet from the basket.

OG screens for Brunson, no switch from ATL. Another cut, another bucket. pic.twitter.com/RuADmia1n7

— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) April 18, 2026

While he did have a few turnovers where he got a bit overzealous or just overthrew passes after making the correct read, he was instrumental in the Knicks winning this game. Besides playing amazing defense, Towns started the game off being the focal point of an  offense that saw Mikal Bridges and Brunson get easy looks off his gravity and decision-making. It was justifiably Brunson’s 19-point first-quarter outburst that got a lot of the attention, while Towns and his slow, inefficient start from the field frustrated some. But if you actually watched the game and didn’t rely simply on box scores to judge impact, Towns’ process, patience, and decision-making were every bit as important as Brunson’s.

Karl-Anthony Towns 25 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLK, 6/13 FG, 3/4 3FG, 71.8% TS vs Hawks pic.twitter.com/7O262wxVUchttps://t.co/dG5EpCHXQW

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) April 19, 2026

Given how tightly the Hawks are playing Brunson and how nobody on the Hawks can defend Towns, he’ll likely continue to have a large role both as a passer and scorer this series. The more Towns can serve as an outlet and initiator for Brunson, the easier his job becomes.

Brunson may decide the floor of this team, but the ceiling of how good this team can be, and how far they can go, ultimately will be decided by Towns. And if he can continue to play even remotely close to the level he did yesterday, the Knicks should feel very good about their postseason run.

Depth difference

While most NBA fans look at the matchups between the starters and what they did, it can often be the bench players and the plays on the margins that really separate the great from the good. And last night, we saw some interesting takeaways from both benches.

One, while I am not someone who often reads too much into the plus-minuses of a single game, it was clear that the Knicks’ bench outplayed the Hawks’ bench. Atlanta’s bench struggled mightily with only one player, Mouhamed Gueye, having a positive plus-minus, and the other three bench players having a plus-minus no better than -5. Shoot, former number one pick, Zaccharie Risacher, may not play another second this series after the awful 120-second stint he had last night.

Meanwhile, the Knicks’ bench was all in the positive. Mitchell Robinson, as he often is, was a force to be reckoned with and was great on both ends of the floor. Deuce McBride, despite struggling with his shot in the first half, came alive in the second half and played his usual great defense. Landry Shamet couldn’t get much to go offensively, but he took the shots they needed him to continue taking, and he fought defensively. And last, but certainly not least, is Jordan Clarkson, whose game was eerily similar to the trajectory of his rollercoaster season. He started off the game shaky, but in the second half, he looked more and more like the re-invented version of him that we saw in the final weeks of the season. One who bought into ball pressure, offensive rebounding, and ball-handling.

The Knicks’ bench was actually so solid that they even put up a very commendable effort over a several-minute span to start the fourth quarter. If the Knicks’ bench can outplay the Hawks’ bench by this much and find a way to stay even close in their minutes without Brunson and Towns, this could be a very short series.

Hack a Mitch back in play?

Robinson’s free-throw shooting has been one of the only real weaknesses in his game throughout his career. And last night, as coaches have done in the past, Quinn Snyder decided to hack Robinson. This has multiple benefits besides just sending the poor free-throw shooter to the line. It also takes the Knicks and the rest of their players out of rhythm offensively, and it also can shake up the Knicks’ rotations a bit as they have to take Robinson out before they usually like to.

In a potential seven-game series, each game, every quarter, evolves into a series of chess moves between the coaches and players. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Snyder and Brown counterplay each other when it comes to Robinson. Brown may respond to Snyder’s strategy by playing Robinson more in the early portions of quarters to get the Hawks into the penalty earlier. Regardless of how it plays out, with Robinsons being such an impactful force, it will be an interesting strategic back-and-forth to keep an eye on.

Same old story

It’s no secret that putting a big man on Hart and putting a wing on Towns is one of the most effective ways to slow down the Knicks offense. We saw throughout most of the game just how effective Brunson, Towns, and the rest of the Knicks were when the Hawks defended them in a more traditional way. When Atlanta did eventually decide to put Daniels on Towns and Okongwu on Hart, the Knicks’ offense looked significantly worse, with most possessions leading to Hart screening for Brunson.

Atlanta made a big change to close the game out and it stalled the Knick offense. Notice Dyson on KAT and OO now on Hart. Knicks start running PnR's with Hart as a result and the offense struggled. Something to watch for next game pic.twitter.com/iKnQIAvJox

— Ariel (@APachecoNBA) April 19, 2026

I still don’t think Snyder goes to this to start games off. Nor do I think it becomes his most-used defensive scheme. I do think, though, that he goes to it more often and earlier. And when he does, it will be interesting to see what Brown and the Knicks have planned. Over the course of the season, while the Knicks never truly found a solution to beating this strategy, they seemed to be able to do just enough. That being said, it’s been almost two full seasons of teams doing this, and they’ve yet to have a consistent enough counter. If the Hawks end up winning the series, or even push it to six or seven games, it will likely be due to this strategy continuing to haunt the Knicks.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The last time I saw a bunch of dinosaurs taking that much of a pounding, Morgan Freeman was narrating an asteroid hitting Earth in the late Cretaceous.

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Toronto Raptors by 13 points in their series opener this weekend, but that margin doesn’t reflect just how strong the Cavaliers look. 

They took a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter, allowing Cleveland to rest some of its key contributors, like Evan Mobley.

Our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions are optimistic about Cleveland’s forward, and my NBA picks are taking him to clear his points prop again in Game 2.

Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction

Who will win Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 2?

Cavaliers: The Cavaliers have too many options. The guard duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden was especially tricky in Game 1. If the Raptors overcommit to slowing them down, bigs like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will feast inside. Game 2 could be closer, but there’s no easy solution for the Raps' defense in this series.

Raptors vs Cavaliers best bet: Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points (-115)

Cleveland Cavaliers big Evan Mobley just topped his 16.5-point scoring prop in Game 1, doing so through only three quarters. 

With the Cavs holding a comfy 21-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, Mobley logged less than six minutes and missed his only shot attempt in that final frame. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting through 33 minutes.

The versatile 6-foot-11 forward is a matchup nightmare for the Toronto Raptors. Toronto can put big bodies on Mobley or counter with quicker defenders, but the Raps lack Mobley's combo of size and speed.

After getting shredded by the guard duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in Game 1 (shooting a collective 8-for-14 from 3-point range), expect Toronto to hedge harder on the Cavs’ screen-heavy schemes and not drop as much in an effort to limit those 3-point looks.

That will generate a ton of space for screeners like Mobley, who will also force bad switches and enjoy exploiting size mismatches when the Raptors’ guards swap off pick-and-roll action.

Game 2 has the same spread as the opener, so oddsmakers expect a more competitive effort from Toronto. That will keep Mobley on the floor for more minutes — or at least more involved in the offense.

Player projections range from 17.5 to as high as 18.3 points from Mobley in Game 2, with my number at 17.9.

Raptors vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

The Cavaliers have too many options, including a much stronger bench. Cleveland’s reserves made a massive impact in Game 1, contributing 40 points. Tonight’s tilt will be more competitive than the series opener, but the Cavs will take a 2-0 series lead north of the border.

Toronto can’t just trade threes for twos against the Cavs. The Raptors need production from the perimeter, and Brandon Ingram was very quiet in the opener. He missed his lone 3-point attempt, but closed the regular season with at least two triples in four of his final six games. Game models lean toward two 3-point makes from B.I. tonight.

Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP

• Cavaliers moneyline
• Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points
• Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Tall Order

The Cavaliers' guards gashed the Raptors in Game 1. With Toronto overcommitting, Cleveland's big men have their time to shine. Both Jarrett Allen and Mobley are projected to top their scoring prop tonight after taking their foot off the gas in the final frame of Game 1.

Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP

• Cavaliers -8.5
• Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points
• Evan Mobley Over 0.5 threes
• Jarrett Allen Over 13.5 points
• Jarrett Allen Over 8.5 rebounds

Raptors vs Cavaliers odds for Game 2

• Spread: Raptors +8.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Raptors +300 | Cavaliers -380
• Over/Under: Over 223 (-110) | Under 223 (-110)

Raptors vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The Raptors have gone Under the total in 27 of their last 40 away games for +12.70 units and a 29% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 2

Raptors vs Cavaliers 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.

In our first pop quiz, you were tested on the most iconic player in franchise history, Giannis Antetokounmpo. And while his season might have been his most disappointing yet, Ryan Rollins just had his best. By far. 

Season in a snippet

74 GP, 32.1 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG, .472/.406/.796

Kyle’s end-of-season grade: B+

Prior to the season, the forecast on Rollins’ free agency seemed clear: as a restricted free agent, all signs pointed to his return to Cream City. Then the Bucks rescinded his qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, and his time in Milwaukee seemed to be over. But unlike his first pitch with the Brewers, which followed a linear path—even if it did bounce to the plate—the offseason threw another curveball, with Rollins returning to the Bucks on a three-year, $12m deal. And shortly after, he rocketed to eighth in our preseason rankings, where we envisioned him battling for the starting point guard role but more likely being part of the rotation, playing steady minutes as one half of the “Mosquito Fleet” next to his “T-shirt Twin,” Cole Anthony. Remember him?

Of course, when the season got underway—and Kevin Porter Jr. went down with an ankle injury after playing just nine minutes against the Washington Wizards on opening night—Rollins assumed starting point guard responsibilities. And he did not disappoint. Solid outings against the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers turned into statement games against the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, and it soon became apparent that Rollins was cut from a different cloth. Yet, despite his brilliance, as the Bucks continued to disappoint, even Rollins found himself subject to fans’ scrutiny, with 43% feeling he isn’t untouchable in trade talks this offseason. Regardless, 2025–26 was a major breakout season for the 23-year-old and, as the onlyplayer in the entire league to finish with averages of over 17 points, five assists, and 1.5 steals, while shooting over 40% from three, Rollins is sure to feature in end-of-season Most Improved Player voting (even if somehow he isn’t a finalist).

Tantalising totals

(1) Rollins had a career-high 36 points in a blowout loss against which Western Conference team?

Click to reveal answer The Portland Trail Blazers.

(2) Rollins had more than 10 assists just four times for the season. What was his highest assist total: 10, 12, 14, or 16?

Click to reveal answer 14, vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

(3) Rollins led the Bucks with 298 deflections on the season. Where did this rank him in the entire league?

Click to reveal answer Fourth, behind Cason Wallace (339), Ausar Thompson (317), and Dyson Daniels (314).

Atypically advanced

(1) Rollins’ season-high game score of 33.0—after posting 29 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals, and a block, while shooting 11/13 from the field and 6/7 from three—came in a one-point win against which team?

Click to reveal answer The Charlotte Hornets.

(2) True or false: Rollins finished with a higher clutch time* true shooting percentage than notable clutch performers Anthony Edwards (68.7%), Jamal Murray (68.6%), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (66.8%)?

Click to reveal answer True, 69.5%.

_{*Clutch time is defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points.}

Obscure optics   

(1) True or false: More than 70% of Rollins’ career minutes were played this year?

Click to reveal answer True, 2377 of his 3336 career minutes (71%) were played this year.

---

How did you fare? Share your score in the comments and don’t forget to drop your thoughts along with it—which stat stands out?

Ramp-up Tatum, Vucevic's impact and more numbers from Celtics' Game 1 rout originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — Asked to assess his first playoff game, just 11 months removed from the Achilles rupture that left his future so uncertain, Jayson Tatum basically shrugged off a dominant two-way effort in Game 1 of the Celtics’ Eastern Conference first-round series with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

“I’m still rehabbing,” said Tatum, then later added, “Still trying to ramp up.”

If this is “Still Rehabbing” Tatum then … sheesh.

Here are three numbers that stand out from Boston’s dominant Game 1, beginning with Tatum’s all-around prowess:

Two-way superstar

Tatum totaled 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals over just 32:25 of game action. He did most of his offensive damage in the first half while helping Boston build a big cushion, then let Jaylen Brown take the offensive baton as the Jays sent a very loud reminder of Boston’s 1-2 championship punch while KOing the Sixers at TD Garden.

Perhaps more encouraging than Tatum’s offensive output was his play on the defensive end. He got switched onto speedy Tyrese Maxey multiple times in the first half but utilized his length to disrupt Philadelphia’s twitchy guard.

The Sixers were a mere 6-of-19 shooting (31.6 percent) when Tatum was the primary defender, per NBA tracking. Maxey finished 1-of-5 shooting with two points when defended by Tatum, with the lone make being a tough finish in traffic around the basket.

Jayson Tatum's defense vs 76ers

Incredible iso and help defense pic.twitter.com/XXpGJZqnyd

— NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) April 20, 2026

Tatum also grabbed 27.5 percent of all defensive rebounds during his floor time as he continues to be the top rebounding forward in the NBA since his return. Boston had a +31.7 net rating during Tatum’s floor time, including a 91.0 defensive rating. 

About the only thing that went wrong for Tatum was his 3-point efficiency, as he went 1 for 7 beyond the arc. Connecting on 8 of 10 shots inside the arc helped jolt his overall shooting numbers (9 for 17). Tatum also created 15 assist points in Sunday’s game while committing just one turnover. 

Given the way players up and down Boston’s roster answered all the questions about their ability to grow into larger roles during Tatum’s absence, nothing has been more important since Tatum’s return than him working his way back closer to the All-NBA player we saw prior his injury in Round 2 against the Knicks last postseason.

Maybe what Tatum has done over the past 45 days will eventually stop feeling so improbable. You can see the explosion is still working its way back — though it didn’t hinder him from exploding through the 76ers defense multiple times on Sunday.

Tatum is still maybe a slight bit hesitant to dive onto the floor, and understandably so coming back from his injury. But his impact is undeniable, and to think that there’s another level that he might ascend to during these playoffs has to be daunting news for East rivals.

That the Celtics were able to limit Tatum’s workload to start this postseason is a positive as well, even though they’ll need him to maintain his two-way output as Boston gets deeper into this postseason trek. 

We’ll just keep saying it: What Tatum is doing at this early juncture simply feels light years ahead of what could have been reasonably expected to this point. And it’s wild to think that, as good as he’s been, there’s another level he might eventually get to.

View this post on Instagram

Live wire

Not all NBA turnovers are equally. A decade ago, after a turnover-plagued playoff loss, then-Celtics coach Brad Stevens told his players he would rather they punt the ball into the stands than give up a live-ball turnover to an opportunistic opponent. 

That notion remains a pillar of Boston’s offensive approach. The Celtics didn’t just commit the fewest turnovers in the NBA during the 2025-26 season (1,014 total); they committed 90 fewer live-ball turnovers than the next-closest rival.

Boston led the league while committing just 506 live-ball turnovers, which, for context, was 382 fewer than 30th-ranked Portland.

The Celtics entered Sunday’s Game 1 knowing that the easiest way to activate Philadelphia’s middling offense was to give up easy transition opportunities. The Celtics committed just three live-ball turnovers all game — including one where Nikola Vucevic simply lost the ball going up for a layup — which led to just three points off live-ball turnovers (all by Tyrese Maxey).

All it takes is a couple lazy passes and Maxey can kickstart a lopsided run. Instead, the Celtics made him work against set defenses and rarely let him see ways to get to the basket in a straight line. The Celtics survived 10 live-ball turnovers in the last regular-season meeting against the Sixers but absolutely have to value the ball given the competition they might see along their playoff path.

Boston’s 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio Sunday was second-best among all Game 1 teams, trailing only Oklahoma City (3.5). 

The Sixers’ already anemic offense (96.4 points per 100 possessions) generated just 83.9 points per 100 possessions against a half-court defense. Philadelphia saw 88.8 percent of its plays against a half-court defense, the highest percentage in Game 1s per Cleaning the Glass data.

Vooch’s debut

Nikola Vucevic got the early call in Game 1 when Neemias Queta got in foul trouble in the first quarter. The big question is how Vucevic will hold up defensively, particularly given the various bigs the Celtics might encounter on their playoff path.

In Game 1, NBA tracking had the Sixers shooting 1 for 7 when Vucevic was the primary defender. He had a few instances where his presence around the basket impacted the Sixers, most notably when Dominick Barlow steamrolled at the rim late in the first quarter and Vucevic spilled beyond the baseline taking a hit to contest the layup. Vucevic disrupted a Maxey baseline drive in the second quarter.

One thing the Celtics need to adjust to with Vucevic on the floor: his penchant for wanting to tip rebounds in the direction of teammates rather than always trying to secure them on his own. Boston’s defensive rebound rate was a team-worst 62.5 percent during Vucevic’s floor time.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

FanDuel is giving its customers the option to protect against injury-induced losses throughout NBA playoff games.

Bet Protect+ is a new optional feature that will either give customers refunds for straight bets or remove parlay legs if a player leaves the game at any point due to injury.

Key Takeaways

• Users must apply Bet Protect+ to wagers before they are submitted.
  
  
• Bet Protect+ costs 3% of a user’s stake per wager.
  
  
• Affected bets will be refunded or have an affected leg removed from a parlay.

Bet Protect was first introduced to FanDuel Sportsbook users in September, ahead of the new NFL season. The NBA playoffs began this past weekend and customers can now enjoy full-game injury protection on the hardwood.

All customers have the option to trigger Bet Protect+ before placing their favorite wagers. Anyone who wants to add it will pay an additional flat 3% fee to the total stake of the selected wager. 

Full-game player prop bets placed before a playoff game begins will be eligible for Bet Protect+, as indicated by a toggle box in users’ bet slips. Bonus bets cannot be used to cover the 3% fee, which will be charged when wagers are submitted. However, bonus bets can be used for the stake itself.

In the event that a player leaves a game with an injury and a user protected a bet involving that player, they will trigger one of two possibilities:

• Refunds for straight bets (stake only)
• Removing the affected leg from a parlay, which is then recalculated as if the affected leg was never there

Live betting odds cannot be protected, although FanDuel is working on adding that feature.

"The challenge is that even with the most well-planned bet, the most comprehensive research, the best hunch – it can all get squashed by an unexpected injury. We want to allow our customers to regain that loss of control," said Jon Sadow, FanDuel's sportsbook product vice president, in a release. 

Rules and requirements

Players are accustomed to playing heavy minutes during the playoffs as they battle to climb NBA Finals odds and eventually compete for the championship. 

The heavy strain can lead to an unfortunate increase in injuries, as seen with several star players going down during last year’s postseason. With Bet Protect+, bettors won’t have to couple the feelings of losing the best player on their favorite team with losing their favorite bet. 

Bet Protect+ only applies to injuries that knock a player out for the rest of the game. Situations in which players are ejected, foul out, get themselves into foul troubles, or are benched will not be covered. A bet on a player who plays, leaves with an injury, and then returns also will not be protected. 

Customers also cannot protect bets in other sports, or parlays that include legs from the NBA and other sports or leagues. Only NBA straight bets and parlay legs will be eligible.

Rewards tokens, such as profit boosts, can be applied in combination with Bet Protect+ to eligible wagers.

FanDuel’s NBA playoff odds

Heading into the first round of the NBA Playoffs, FanDuel had the Oklahoma City Thunder as a +100 favorite to repeat as league champions.

The San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics led the chase pack at +550 each, before  a sizable drop-off to the next competitors. The Denver Nuggets (+1,200), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1,300), and Detroit Pistons (+1,800) were the only other teams with odds shorter than +2,000.

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.

The San Antonio Spurs didn’t return to the playoffs. The playoffs returned to San Antonio. Accordingly, these modern San Antonio Spurs didn’t win their first playoff game. Their first playoff game won the San Antonio Spurs, or whatever Kirk Lazarus aka Lincoln Osiris might have said. Everyone’s geeked out once in a while, especially come playoff time. It’s Hollywood—I mean, Fiesta.

And party time never looked so good: Victor Wembanyama had a game-high 35 points scored while De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle had 17 points apiece. The Spurs as a a team went 15 -33 from downtown, good for 45% in their game 1 win.

The national media and social media made a big hullabaloo about the decked out Fiesta colors in the arena and the soft peer pressuring of fellow fans into wearing their (free!) designated t-shirts (looking at you, Tim Duncan) to capture the spirit of Fiesta, and for this time of year, basically a common law marriage with the Spurs also in the playoffs. I’m a little biased, rightfully so, but the Spurs should get some love and attention for a great season and launching of a hopefully even better postseason.

Wemby's first playoff game.
Spurs’ first home playoff game in six years.

San Antonio is READY in every color 🎨 pic.twitter.com/yGNV1xC72s

— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2026

Victor Wembanyama got lower than a pair of apple bottom jeans (boots with the fur) to drive his way past two defenders to earn a tough bucket. We can all breathe a sigh of relief that the team notched game 1, but it does feel like this team also has the “appropriate fear” and respect for the Portland Trailblazers because it will be a long series.

As a not-so-side note, it’s also easy to root for interim Trail Blazers head coach and former Spur Tiago Splitter. He’s done a fantastic job leading his team to the playoffs after an atypical start to the season where head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of a wide FBI gambling investigation. Regardless of what happens this offseason, Splitter should find himself as a top candidate for head coaching gigs whether in Portland or elsewhere.

GOT THAT 😤

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/gZAZ51JyiE

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

You know when the washing machine is unbalanced so it makes that loud noise during the spin cycle? There was nothing unbalanced about this spin move Wembanyama put on the defense as he cleared his own path for a clean bucket. Overall, Wembanyama seemed as poised, collected, and in control as any 22-year-old basketball star might be in their first playoff game.

ALIEN ACTIVITY IN THE PLAYOFFS 👽

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/vlhuPz9ly7

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

This clip below doesn’t do proper justice to the tremendous end-of-the-quarter sequence by the Spurs where De’Aaron Fox pushed the ball in transition full court knowing full well he was going to laser a perfect pass to Keldon Johnson for the three. Fox drove just far enough toward the basket to draw in the defense and then immediately pivoted toward a trailing Johnson for the open look.

🚨 KJ BUZZER BEATER!!! 🚨

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/QqpizjCxTs

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

My wife, who hasn’t watched a minute of any Spurs game this season (she’s a busy woman), looked up right when Dylan Harper threw this perfect lob to Wembanyama and said, “Man, that was easy. How do you stop that?” Me, being my usual obnoxious self, tried to mansplain that well actually any lob thrown at Wemby looks perfect because he has an 8-foot wingspan, which makes his catch radius really insanely wide.

She didn’t respond because she was already looking back down at her laptop for work, immune to my long-winded rants.

ooooooop! 🙌

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/nO7x9ZMmot

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

You have to wonder, though, if any Joe could step on a court and throw a lob to Wembanyama over other professional basketball players and it would look as cool and on the dot as these alley oops.

𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗔 𝟱𝟭 🛸

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/SevEHvvQyn

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

I know the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era Los Angeles Clippers own the Lob City moniker, but can we borrow it just for a moment? Paul is a former Spur (once a Spur . . . always a Spur) and Griffin is busy making funny commercials with the great Luis Guzmán—I’m sure they won’t mind.

LUUUUKE x2 ‼️

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/uyACeuRaQ6

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

Stephon Castle on this play looked like he forgot how low the basket is when he jumps that high because it looked like he was at the apex of his hop when he realized that the rim was a full half foot lower than he expected. Castle and Fox, for their part, kept the Spurs offense moving on Sunday night, and we should fully expect them to rack up even more assists between the two of them as the series progress.

MY GOODNESS STEPH 😱

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/20APATRAKm

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

Castle knows who he is. He’s the dude playing a dude, disguised as a future All-Star.

King of the Castle 🏰

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/NTDM9Xe8mV

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

Considering how young these Spurs are, Devin Vassell is the wily vet making his own playoff debut. He did not disappoint as he played the most minutes, was impactful on both sides of the ball (2 blocks for good measure), and drained four 3-pointers. On a balanced team of unselfish players, being the fourth highest scorer is a luxury the Spurs will appreciate and use to their advantage.

DEVIN. VASSELL. 🔥

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/WeuBeZzM2K

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

In case you missed this factoid, Wembanyama had the most points in a Spurs playoff debut:

1. Victor Wembanyama – 35 (2026)
2. Tim Duncan – 32 (1998 at Phoenix)

Maybe if Timmay didn’t have to be “pressured” into wearing his orange t-shirt on Sunday night, his record would still be intact.

🦊👽‼️

📺 @NBAonNBCpic.twitter.com/sRM0vu0un3

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 20, 2026

Notice how he was the last one in his section to put on the shirt. It’s like that time Kramer wouldn’t wear the ribbon. Oh Timmay, you’re still my favorite player of all time.

OK but David Robinson looks younger than Duncan in this clip. You’d think Number 21 would remember The Admiral’s advice to use Edge shave gel, not just any ol’ shaving cream.

(note: Edge shave gel is not a sponsor of Pounding the Rock. I just like their old commercial featuring Robinson and Duncan. But, if they do want to sponsor us, I will accept H-E-B bucks and garden gnomes as payment.)

David Robinson and Tim Duncan having a great time watching Wemby and the Spurs beat the Blazers! 🔥 Go Spurs Go! #Spurspic.twitter.com/AIEGgONTZB

— Arnold G (@arnoldog21) April 20, 2026

If you missed the game because you were too busy with wild horses dragging you away from your television, iPad (tablet), or iPhone (smartphone) (seriously, it’s the playoffs!) (but fellow Spurs fans understand . . . sort of), here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs hope to hold home court as they take on the Portland Trailblazers in game 2 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

There’s a certain kind of honesty that only arrives with the benefit of time. Former Los Angeles Lakers’ center Vlade Divac delivered that honesty recently when he said: 

“When I became a GM, I would trade myself for Kobe Bryant.”

He said it with a grin in Amazon Prime’s new documentary Jerry West: The Logo, and the line lands like a punchline wrapped around two decades of basketball truth. 

Back in 1996, Divac was a beloved center for the Lakers. But general manager Jerry West saw something in a skinny, unproven, and fearless 17-year-old kid from Philadelphia named Kobe Bryant. 

West famously worked Bryant out in Los Angeles against Michael Cooper and he walked out of the gym that day convinced he’d seen the future face of the NBA. 

That’s why on Draft Day he decided to ship out Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the teenager who hadn’t played a single professional minute of basketball yet. 

“Jerry saw it, I didn’t,” said former Lakers’ athletic trainer Gary Vitti in the documentary. “I saw a 17-year-old kid trying to imitate Michael Jordan. But he wasn’t Michael Jordan.”

Divac didn’t want to go to Charlotte and he fought it. He felt blindsided by the trade and had every right. 

“If you’re going to make a trade like that, you better be right,” said former Lakers guard and coach Byron Scott in the documentary. 

View this post on Instagram

Thankfully for West, he was right. 

Bryant became a superstar and one of the greatest players in NBA history. He won five championships and became a global icon. 

Divac, years later as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, now sees it clearly. The irony isn’t lost on him. 

“Back then I was upset and I didn’t like it,” said Divac in the doc. “Bu I trusted Jerry that he saw something nobody had seen before. He did a good decision.”

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Less than 24 hours after the Golden State Warriors saw their season collapse in a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in game, Steph Curry traded out the basketball court for echoes of bass lines underneath the Indio night sky at the Coachella Music Festival. 

Curry, alongside his brother Seth Curry, and their wives, were spotted on Saturday night weaving through the festival grounds, part of a celebrity-laced audience watching Justin Bieber headline in the desert. 

Just hours earlier, Curry had 17 points in the Warriors’ final game of the season, as Golden State lost out on the eight-seed in the Western Conference and a first round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seth logged one minute in the loss and did not attempt a shot. 

Ayesha Curry offered a glimpse into the family’s pivot to Coachella, posting on her Instagram story of the couple smiling in front of the stage.

Callie Rivers, daughter of former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, is Seth’s wife, and she was shown in Ayesha’s IG story as well as they got ready for the festival. 

Back in Phoenix, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr wrapped his arms around Steph and Draymond Green at the end of the game, delivering something closer to a farewell than a timeout speech. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death. Thank you.”

"I don't know what's gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death." pic.twitter.com/Cc3fdenm7Zhttps://t.co/9zXroctKdj

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 18, 2026

Kerr’s future with the Warriors is uncertain, but one thing is for sure. Now that their season is over, they will all have plenty of time for concerts, vacations, and tee times on the golf course.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

The Houston Rockets were without star forward and leading scorer Kevin Durant in Game 1 versus the L.A. Lakers due to a knee bruise he suffered in practice last week. According to Ime Udoka, it was a mobility issue for KD and not a pain one. Whether that’s just the coach covering for his player or not, who knows? But latest reports are suggesting that KD should be back for Game 2. According to USA Today, Durant has a “good chance” of returning in Game 2.

“KD, from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance he could return in Game 2. “There’s hope that Kevin Durant can return by Game 2, which is on Tuesday night.”

You haven’t been around here long if you don’t already know my feelings on Kevin Durant. Generational scorer, terrible leader and personality (cough, cough burners), and maybe even a little bit soft. I certainly don’t have him in my top 10 or even my top 15 of all-time like many do, though he can be considered one of the better gun-for-hire types the NBA has seen. No loyalty to team or teammates, but if you pay him enough and have enough pieces already in place, he may grace you with his presence. I honestly feel that the Kevin Durant trade completely ruined Houston’s athletic, running, in-your-face defense mentality in favor of a let’s all stand around and admire KD approach. KD basically does that to every location he goes to that didn’t already have a generational superstar heirarchy in place (Golden State, but he even wore out his welcome there), but that’s a story for another day.

Are the Rockets good enough to win without KD? It doesn’t appear so now that the team has lost its indentity. Are they good enough to win WITH KD? I’m not even sure of that right now, to be honest. A team without an identity is not going far in the NBA Playoffs, and that’s Houston’s biggest problem right now. Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams were tone setters with physicality and athleticism. This is KD’s team right now, for better or worse, and it’s mostly been worse.

That being said, let’s see how the Rockets look if/when KD is back. They’re already in a hole. Whether he plays or doesn’t play, going down 2-0 to the hobbled Lakers is a place no good team should be. And if a series loss happens, honestly someone should lose their job. I doubt they will, but Houston should be embarrased by their Game 1 performance. It’s gut check time whether Get-off-my-injured-list-erson (or whatever his new burner name is) plays or not.

Back in November, Steph Curry seemed to slam the door on playing in the 2028 Summer Olympics for Team USA. 

But last week, speaking exclusively with the California Post, he cracked the door open just enough to let the conversation breathe like a fine wine. 

Curry was asked about the possibility of suiting up for Team USA in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and his response was measured and casual. 

“We’ll figure it out when the time comes, for sure,” Curry told the Post. 

It wasn’t a commitment, but it also wasn’t a denial. 

Five months earlier, on the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash, Curry struck a different one.

“Never say never, but I highly doubt it.” 

That sounded like closure, but now the language has shifted subtly. 

Curry can clearly still play at an elite level. Last Wednesday in the Warriors play-in game victory over the Clippers, Curry scored 35 points, 27 in the second half as he rallied his team back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit. 

Curry will be 40 years old in 2028, and the question won’t be whether or not he can still shoot. That part is certain. The real question will be if he’s healthy and wants to compete. 

Recently, The California Post took a swing at projecting that 2028 roster. You can read those predictions here. 

So when Curry says, “We’ll figure it out,” it’s an opening that the game hasn’t moved past him just yet, and until it does, the door will stay open. 

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

In Sunday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics crushed the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-91. Jared McCain and the OKC Thunder took care of the Suns, 119-84. Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic shocked the Detroit Pistons, 112-101. Finally, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs hammered the Portland Trail Blazers, 111-98.

Tatum nearly pulled off a triple-double, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, and 21 of his points came in the first half.

Out in Oklahoma City, McCain had 5 points in 8 minutes for the Thunder. For Phoenix, Grayson Allen and Mark Williams were both listed as questionable, and neither played. Khaman Maluach got 15 minutes and three rebounds, but did not score.

Paolo Banchero had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists at Detroit, while Wendell Carter got 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Mason Plumlee, in the twilight of his NBA career, did not play against the Trailblazers.

• Tatum, Brown combine for 51 points in Game 1 win vs. Sixers
• Jayson Tatum Reacts to Cheers After Celtics-76ers Game 1
• Jayson Tatum, Celtics make statement in Game 1 against 76ers: Does anyone want Boston?
• Jayson Tatum leads Celtics rout of 76ers in dominant Game 1 playoff opener
• Celtics’ Jayson Tatum puts Sixers on notice with Game 1 takeover
• Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reveals first time he thought he could return this season
• Jayson Tatum’s immediate reaction to triumphant return to NBA Playoffs
• Thunder make an early Jared McCain decision that should terrify opponents even more
• Thunder continue to win Jared McCain trade as 76ers fans predict exact outcome
• 76ers fans already proven right about unforgivable Jared McCain trade
• Column: Duke men’s basketball should retire Grayson Allen’s jersey
• Suns’ Grayson Allen: Game-time decision for Game 1
• Paolo Banchero Explains What Fueled Magic’s Victory Over Pistons In Game 1
• Wojo: The way the Pistons lost Game 1 to Magic should be alarming
• Bianchi: Powered by Paolo and Franz, the Magic didn’t just steal Game 1; they flipped the script on the top-seeded Pistons
• Paolo Banchero, Magic force Pistons to unfortunate 18-year NBA Playoffs streak
• How Paolo Banchero, Magic stole Game 1 from Pistons
• Magic’s Wendell Carter: Delivers in upset victory
• Wendell Carter Jr. ascends for the slam!Wendell Carter Jr. ascends for the slam!
• Wendell Carter Jr. Scores 17 Points In Win Over Pistons
• Orlando Magic need a big series from Wendell Carter to challenge Detroit Pistons
• Mason Plumlee On Preparing For His Return To The Court With The Spurs [627c20]

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

What happened in Game 1 was expected for the Phoenix Suns. You know it, I know, it the NBA universe knows it. Why? Because the Oklahoma City Thunder are the better team, and they showed it.

Sunday afternoon was a clear reminder of the gap. Phoenix can ride good vibes and shot-making, but Oklahoma City lives in execution. Possession after possession, detail after detail. That is where the difference shows up, and that is where the Suns as a franchise want to get to one day: a place where you can beat teams in multiple ways, with multiple contributors, without needing everything to look perfect.

This game highlighted what we have seen all season. Phoenix leans heavily on jump shooting. When the shots fall, it looks great. When they do not, it gets tight in a hurry. Against a defense like Oklahoma City, that margin shrinks even more. They are connected, disciplined, and relentless at the point of attack. Every look feels crowded, every decision feels rushed.

It is like watching two versions of the same idea at different levels. If the Suns are Mario, the Thunder are Mario after grabbing the mushroom. Everything looks similar at first glance, then you realize one version is bigger, stronger, and operating with more room for error. The defense hits harder. The closeouts arrive faster. The shooting holds up. And inside, on both ends, there is a presence Phoenix cannot match right now.

So you walk away from Game 1 without shock. The result lines up with what we expected. Now it becomes about what comes next, what adjustments are made, and whether the Suns can find a way to close that gap, even if it is only for a night heading into Game 2.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Jalen Green, the Michael Jordan of the Play-In. His 36 points against the Warriors propelled the Suns into the postseason. And it also broke the tie between he and Mark Williams for fifth place in the BSB standings. He is there all alone now. He now has his sights set on Brooks and Allen.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 85 (Game 1) against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
23 points (8-of-17, 2-of-5 3PT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, -25 +/-

Dillon Brooks
18 points (6-of-22, 3-of-10 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, -18 +/-

Jalen Green
17 points (6-of-16, 2-of-7 3PT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 block, -19 +/-

Rasheer Fleming
9 points (3-of-3, 3-of-3 3PT), 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 turnovers, -1 +/-

Collin Gillespie
8 points (3-of-6, 2-of-4 3PT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -35 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
0 points (0-of-3), 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, -19 +/-

---

Cast your vote.