PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Head coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors hug during the final moments of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors’ tumultuous season — plagued by season-ending injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody and a 27-game absence from their franchise superstar due to a persistent runner’s knee issue — has come to an ultimate end tonight against the Phoenix Suns.
Steph Curry could not muster enough energy to carry the Warriors anew, with his runner’s knee issue flaring up tonight. That spelled doom for the Warriors, who go into an offseason with uncertainty and questions abound.
One of those questions: What will be the fate of head coach Steve Kerr, who has played out the last year of his contract?
As of this writing, Kerr and the Warriors’ front office hasn’t had an agreement to renew his tenure that has lasted for 12 seasons, producing eight playoff berths, six Finals appearances and four NBA Championships.
When asked about his future, Kerr was noncommittal about providing a definite answer.
Steve Kerr said he will take a week or two to think about his future and discuss it with Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy.
He acknowledged there is an “expiration date” on the job and it’s possible new blood is needed. Said he may return or may not. Doesn’t know yet.
If Kerr does decide to call it a day, it will be a coaching career unmatched by any save for a select and hallowed few. Brought in to instill an offense that did not live up to its potential under Mark Jackson, he helped transform a perennial All-Star in Curry into a bona fide MVP talent and all-time great, empowered a second-round draft pick toward becoming an all-time defender, and maximized the potential of his rosters, all while sticking to what worked defensively under Jackson’s tenure.
Should Kerr decide to return, it wouldn’t be farfetched to assume it would be a one-year deal, which would put him on the same timeline as Curry, who only has one year left on his current deal. Kerr stated that he would not leave the Warriors in order to coach another team that did not have Curry on it.
Steve Kerr: “I don’t want to walk away from Steph. I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. … I would never walk away from Steph.”
PHOENIX (AP) — Golden State coach Steve Kerr is contemplating his future, the four-time NBA champion coach suggesting after the Warriors' season ended Friday night that there is a chance he might not be back with the club next season.
“It might still go on. It may not,” Kerr said after the Warriors lost in Phoenix and were eliminated from the play-in tournament, marking the fourth time in the last seven seasons that Golden State has missed the playoffs.
He shared an embrace with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the team's two constants from the Warriors' title runs with Kerr, in the final moments of Friday night and appeared to mouth the words “thank you.”
Kerr wouldn't reveal what he said in that moment.
“None of your business,” he said, smiling.
Green and Curry both made clear that they want him back. Kerr's future has been the subject of speculation for some time, fueled in part by him coaching this year on the final season of his existing contract.
“I want Coach to be happy. I want him to be excited about the job. I want him to believe you know he’s the right guy for the job,” Curry said. "I want him to have an opportunity to again enjoy what he does. So, whatever that means for him, you know, everybody’s plan is their own. And I’m not going to try to tell anybody what to do. He knows how I feel about him. That shouldn’t even need to be said.”
Added Green, when asked if he could even fathom the Warriors without Kerr on the sideline: "I just don’t deal with change well. I don’t love it. So, I don’t want to think about that. I hope that’s not the case. but we’ll see what happens.”
The 60-year-old Kerr just finished his 12th season with the Warriors. He's 604-353 in that span, led Golden State to the NBA Finals in each of his first five seasons — and once since then as well — plus guided USA Basketball to Olympic gold at the Paris Games in 2024.
He said he'll meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy eventually, to chart a path for what's next. He suggested that might come in a week or two.
“We'll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason,” Kerr said. "And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. there’s a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.
“And, if that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole group.”
The Warriors were 37-45 this season, dealing with injuries the entire way. They rallied Wednesday from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers and move into Friday's play-in finale, but fell short against the Suns.
And now, the Warriors wait to see what's next.
“This was as tough a season as you can have, with the injuries, with all kinds of adversity," Kerr said. "And they battled, and they battled the entire season. They kept going the other night just to, you know, continue the season, to show that kind of fight. And then tonight, we just didn’t have it. But the competitive desire was there. And I’m proud of the group for finishing the season the right way by continuing to fight and trying to win every game.”
Kerr — who won five championships as a player, to go along with his four rings as a coach — has often spoken of his good fortunes within the game. He played for Lute Olsen at Arizona, played with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in Chicago, played with David Robinson and Tim Duncan in San Antonio, played for Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich as a pro.
And coaching Curry — the greatest face of a franchise he's ever seen, he said — is another honor, Kerr has insisted.
“The only thing I’ve learned is that I’m the luckiest guy in the NBA’s history," Kerr said.
It started with an incredibly moving moment, as Warriors coach Steve Kerr removed longtime stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green from the game, and the trio embraced on the sideline. Kerr is reportedly in the last year of his contract, and his future remains uncertain. It was a poignant moment between the three men who helped power the Warriors to four NBA championships since Kerr was hired in 2014.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next but I love you guys to death. Thank you. I appreciate you," Kerr told Curry and Green on the Amazon Prime Video broadcast.
Kerr said after the game his plan was to take some time to determine what's next.
Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr share a moment after their 14th season together ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ivu63E5VL2
But just moments after that heartwarming exchange, Green was ejected from the game.
He and Suns star Devin Booker got into a heated exchange of words and received double technicals. As play resumed, with Booker on the court and Green on the bench, the jawing seemingly continued to a degree referee Scott Foster determined crossed the line. He paused play and ejected both men.
Green played to the crowd, demanding louder boos as he walked off the court.
A short time later the Suns finished off their 111-96 victory that clinched the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
The Suns will now travel to Oklahoma City and a date with the defending champions. The top-seeded Thunder host Game 1 of their first-round series, Sunday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns are not going anywhere. Well, technically, they have a flight to Oklahoma City for a game on Sunday afternoon, but you know what I mean. The season goes on, and we can thank Jalen Green. They effectively ended the Golden State Warriors’ season.
Phoenix got off to a strong start, and more importantly… they made their free throws! They went a perfect 15-for-15 from the charity stripe, and also connected on 7 more three-pointers than the Warriors. A true recipe for success.
Jalen Green led the Suns with 36 points on 14-20 shooting, including seven 3-point field goals. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks had rough shooting nights and dealt with foul trouble early and often. Booker finished with 19 points on 5-12 shooting (10-10 FT), and Brooks added just 13 points on 4-14 shooting.
We should not take a win like this for granted, especially with how tough the Warriors looked when they took down the Clippers on their home floor a couple of nights ago.
A majority of the highlights you will see below all came courtesy of Jalen Green, as he was a walking highlight reel tonight. He poured in 35 points in the first play-in game against Portland, and added another 36 tonight. 37 on Sunday?
And one quick shoutout to Jordan Goodwin, who had his hands everywhere in this one. He was a major reason they won tonight, plain and simple.
Jordan Goodwin vs GSW:
19 PTS 9 REB 6 STL (!!) 7-11 FG 4-7 3P
More points than Steph. More rebounds than Horford. More steals than Draymond. More threes than Steph. pic.twitter.com/yca4YSZKkO
Phoenix jumped ahead to a 13-2 lead early, leading to a timeout from Steve Kerr. A similar start to the previous game for the Warriors, and they seemed to settle back in after, going on a 9-2 run.
Collin Gillespie was the first sub for the Suns, checking in for Jordan Goodwin. Jalen Green hit a momentum three to give the Suns a 23-11 lead.
Phoenix’s defense early was dialed in, making it tough for the Warriors to find any form of offensive flow. They held them to just 13 points through the first 9:30 of the game.
A Royce O’Neale triple extended the Suns’ lead to 16. Collin Gillespie drilled a stepback jumper as the time expired to make a 33-15 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
The Warriors opened up on a 6-0 run, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout with the Suns’ lead cut to 12. As expected in this environment, no team will go down without a fight in an elimination game. A couple of mental errors started piling up for the Suns, with Goodwin overthrowing a wide-open Dillon Brooks off an inbound.
Haywood Highsmith got a chance to contribute and made his presence felt immediately.
Highsmith immediate impact, deflection on Porzingis leads to Jalen Green transition dunk.
Green later 3.
Goodwin putback. Suns up 13. Timeout Warriors 5:24 left in 1st half. #Suns
Every punch Phoenix threw seemed to be met with resistance from the Warriors. Just as they looked to distance themselves, the Dubs would go on a brief run to close some distance. Another careless turnover led to a Steph Curry transition triple, and the Warriors fans in the crowd started to get into it. Phoenix’s offense was absolutely shut down in the second quarter, pouring in just 17 points, with three of them coming right before the buzzer at half, courtesy of a Jalen Green triple.
At halftime, Phoenix led 50-45. Jalen Green led the Suns with 14 points. Podz led the Warriors with 12.
Second Half
The Suns had a strong third quarter overall, setting the tone early on defensively. Jalen Green continued his hot shooting, pouring in 11 points in the opening 9 minutes of the third, including three triples.
Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks were both battling rough shooting nights, along with foul trouble. They each picked up 4 fouls well before the third quarter came to a close.
Just as we all predicted, Draymond Green and… Haywood Highsmith got into it? A double-technical was assessed with just 30 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. This was later corrected as a double-foul on the two at the beginning of the fourth quarter by the PA announcer.
The Suns outscored the Warriors by four in the quarter to give them a 78-69 lead after three. Jalen Green had a 13-point quarter and led all scorers with 27 points.
Steph Curry opened the 4th quarter with a three, which is never a good sign for opponents. Jordan Goodwin thankfully responded with a three-pointer of his own, followed by forcing a jump ball on Steph defensively. Then he proceeded to get the crowd into it.
The Jalen Green game continued. He hit a pair of impossible shots with Draymond draped all over him. Bag work. Golden State called a timeout with the Suns leading 92-78.
Al Horford swiped some of that momentum back by knocking down a three, followed by Steph drawing a foul to get three shots. The lead was cut to 10.
Jordan Goodwin hit a three, and then Devin Booker got to his middie and the Suns poured in five straight points to build their lead back up to 99-84.
The Warriors kept fighting back, but the Suns poured in the threes to put their foot down for good and pull away.
Things certainly got chippy at the end, with Devin Booker and Draymond Green getting ejected after Green fouled out, and they exchanged words. And that’s all she wrote.
Up Next
As a reward for winning, the Suns are headed to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs. They do not have a ton of time to rest, as Game 1 will start at 12:30 pm AZ time on Sunday afternoon.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – NOVEMBER 28: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court around Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on November 28, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 36 points, Devin Booker added 20 and the Phoenix Suns locked down Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, winning 111-96 in the NBA’s play-in tournament Friday night.
The Suns took the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Game 1. The Warriors’ season is over.
Green shot 14 of 20 from the field, including 8 of 14 on 3-pointers. Jordan Goodwin scored 19 points, had nine rebounds and was a menace on defense with six steals.
Booker and Golden State’s Draymond Green were both assessed two technical fouls late in the fourth quarter after exchanging words multiple times and were ejected.
The 38-year-old Curry couldn’t get many clean looks and finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points.
Phoenix led by five at the break and built a 69-53 advantage with 5:12 left in third after a fast-break layup by Royce O’Neale. It was 85-72 with 10:12 remaining.
There was reason to believe the lead wasn’t safe. Phoenix blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead in a loss to Portland on Tuesday night, while Golden State clawed back from a 13-point fourth-quarter hole to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, which led to the winner-take-all matchup Friday.
The Warriors looked as if they might have another comeback brewing — Curry hit a 3-pointer that cut the margin to 85-78 with 9:30 left — but the Suns responded with the next seven points.
The Suns avoided becoming the first team to lose both play-in tournament games on their home floor. The current format was established in 2021.
Golden State’s Kristaps Porzingis played through right ankle soreness, the result of an injury Wednesday against the Clippers. The 7-foot-3 center played just 15 minutes and finished with 11 points.
The Suns built an early 13-2 lead after the Warriors turned the ball over four times. Phoenix pushed the advantage to 33-15 through one quarter after Golden State shot just 30%, including 1 of 9 from 3-point range.
But the Warriors recovered, cutting it to 50-45 by halftime.
PHOENIX — They did it once. They couldn’t do it twice.
A second double-digit deficit in as many play-in games proved to be enough to eliminate the Warriors, who scored the opening basket Friday night and never led again in a 111-96 season-ending loss to the Suns.
“Tonight we just didn’t have it,” coach Steve Kerr said “But the competitive desire was there.”
In a star-studded showdown for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference, it wasn’t Steph Curry or Devin Booker who took over.
The Warriors’ Steph Curry was limited to 17 points Friday in the play-in loss to the host Suns. NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State had no answer for Jalen Green, who one-upped his 35-point performance in a play-in loss to the Blazers that required 29 shots with a surprisingly efficient 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including eight 3-pointers.
Curry was limited to 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting after he scored 35 — 27 in the second half — during Golden State’s comeback win against the Clippers. The Warriors struggled to pick up the slack, managing just 15 points in a first quarter that ended with them down by 18.
“This was as tough a season as you can have, with the injuries, with all kinds of adversity. And they battled. They battled the entire season. They kept going the other night to continue the season, to show that kind of fight,” Kerr said. “I’m proud of the group for finishing the season the right way, by continuing to fight and try to win every game.”
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points and 10 rebounds but committed four of their 21 turnovers that the Suns turned into 30 points.
Draymond Green and Gary Payton II helped the Warriors contain Booker and Dillon Brooks well below their season averages — a combined 33 points — but they had no answer for Jalen Green.
Golden State’s Green and Booker were both ejected with the game out of hand late as players came chest-to-chest and multiple technical fouls were called.
What it means
Last year’s Heat remain the only No. 10 seed to advance from the bottom spot in the play-in to the playoffs. Golden State’s season is over.
The Warriors will have the 11th-best odds in the lottery, giving them a 9.4% chance at a top-four draft pick and 2% odds at the No. 1 overall selection.
Phoenix, which finished seventh in the West, will be the No. 8 seed in a first-round series against the defending champion Thunder that begins Sunday.
“You really have to give the credit to Phoenix. They punched us early,” Kerr said. “Aggressive defense, forcing a lot of turnovers. So we didn’t have it.”
The Warriors’ Gui Santos and his teammates were unable to advance after losing to the Suns on Friday. NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
After falling behind 12-2 early in Inglewood, the Warriors found themselves in an even deeper early hole against the Suns. Unlike in Wednesday’s win, when they erased multiple double-digit deficits, they were never quite able to claw back from a 13-2 opening salvo from Phoenix.
The Suns widened their lead to 33-15 by the end of the first quarter.
The Curry flurry that carried them over the Clippers never came. He came up with a steal late in the first half and set himself up for a transition 3 that cut the Suns’ lead to 43-36, then converted a pair of free throws to pull the Warriors within 47-45 in the final moments of the first half.
But that was as close as the Warriors would get.
Golden State kept it close until Green hit his eighth 3-pointer with 7:58 to play. The shot extended the Suns’ lead to 90-78, and the Warriors wouldn’t cut it within single digits again.
MVP: Jalen Green
Green went to high school in the Warriors’ backyard and struck up an early relationship with Curry. He was one of the reasons Golden State upset the Rockets in the first round last year. This time, he almost single-handedly ended their season.
When Green hit his eighth and final 3-pointer midway through the fourth, it matched as many as the Warriors had connected on as a team to that point. Golden State finished with 11.
Stat of the game: 4-for-16
Curry had nothing left in the tank after his heroics two nights earlier.
He struggled to get involved early, taking fewer shots than seven players while they fell behind in the first quarter, and never found the touch once he forced the issue.
Curry’s 25% success rate from the field was the lowest of any player on either side who attempted more than three shots. He was also responsible for four of Golden State’s 21 turnovers.
His primary defender, Jordan Goodwin, came up with six steals.
Up next
The Warriors can turn their attention to next season and potentially one last ride with Curry. He has one more year on his contract, along with Green and Jimmy Butler. The biggest question the Warriors have to answer is whether Kerr will be back for a 13th season. He coached this past season on an expiring contract and has declined to address his future.
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 36 points, Devin Booker added 20 and the Phoenix Suns locked down Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, winning 111-96 in the NBA’s play-in tournament Friday night.
The Suns took the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Game 1. The Warriors’ season is over.
Green shot 14 of 20 from the field, including 8 of 14 on 3-pointers. Jordan Goodwin scored 19 points, had nine rebounds and was a menace on defense with six steals.
Booker and Golden State’s Draymond Green were both assessed two technical fouls late in the fourth quarter after exchanging words multiple times and were ejected.
The 38-year-old Curry couldn’t get many clean looks and finished with 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 23 points.
Phoenix led by five at the break and built a 69-53 advantage with 5:12 left in third after a fast-break layup by Royce O’Neale. It was 85-72 with 10:12 remaining.
MAGIC 121, HORNETS 90
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 25 points and Orlando built a 35-point lead in the first half on the way to a rout of Charlotte in a play-in tournament game and advanced to a first-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
The Magic earned the No. 8 seed in playoffs and will start their best-of-seven series at Detroit on Sunday.
LaMelo Ball scored 21 of his 23 points in the third quarter for Charlotte.
Banchero had 12 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 10 as the Hornets shot 5 for 20 with six turnovers in the first quarter and fell behind 38-16.
Ball was scoreless with two turnovers when he went to the bench with three fouls with 7:10 left in the first half. He did not score until Orlando’s lead had reached 35 points in the final seconds of the half.
The Magic were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two postseasons and have not won a playoff round since 2010.
The Hornets, who beat the Magic in their last three regular-season games, have not been in the playoffs since 2016.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a shot under pressure from Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns ended the Golden State Warriors season on Friday night, defeating the Dubs 111-96. The Suns victory secured the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and sets them up for a first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Warriors, on the other hand, will begin their offseason. The loss will put the Warriors in the lottery, where they will have the 11th-best odds of winning a top-four pick.
For the second consecutive game, the Warriors got off to an ugly start and quickly gave up control of the game. The Suns jumped out to a 12-2 lead and continued taking advantage of nine turnovers by the Dubs in the quarter. Defensively, Phoenix successfully forced Golden State off the three-point line, as well.
At the end of the first quarter, the Warriors were trailing 33-15 and shooting just 6-for-20 from the field (1-for-9 from three). Steph Curry’s gravity helped the Dubs offense go on its first run to start the second quarter, cutting the lead to single digits on a 12-2 run. However, Suns guard Jalen Green caught fire to cut the momentum, a sign of things to come.
Golden State was finally able to cut the deficit to two points in the final minute of the first half, but Green answered with an incredibly difficult three to send the Suns into the half with a 50-45 lead. Phoenix had seemed to firmly control the game to that point, but was unable to pull away.
Neither team’s offensive nucleus (Devin Booker & Curry) found any rhythm in the first half, forcing both offenses into an ugly slog. Green had bailed Phoenix out while the Warriors had gotten the most on hustle plays and cuts from Brandin Podziemski.
The third quarter was more of the same. In fact, Curry looked hobbled, clearly in pain and barely running off ball. His gravity created some spacing for others, but the Dubs remained stagnant. Any momentum they built was killed by another offensive moment from Green, a turnover, or a whistle.
The game was far from over heading into the fourth, with Phoenix ahead just 78-69. But expecting the elderly (in NBA terms) Warriors — particularly a clearly compromised Steph — to withstand a similar beating and comeback was just asking too much.
Green single-handedly had an 8-0 run to give the Suns a 14-point lead with seven minutes left in regulation. Al Horford made a three and Curry drew a foul on a three-pointer of his own, but the last gasps of Golden State hope seemed to go out with about 5:30 left.
Podziemski caught a swing pass on the right wing and drove inside instead of hitting an open Steph in the corner. He turned the ball over and Booker knocked down a shot to push the Suns lead back up to 15.
Jalen Green was the difference in the game. He was the only offensive player on either team that was able to consistently score all game. He recorded 36 points on 14-for-20 shooting from the field (8-for-14 from three) alongside 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
Booker finished with a game-best +25 plus/minus despite being relatively quiet offensively. He scored 20 points and added 8 assists and 6 rebounds with just 1 turnover.
Curry could ultimately not find his magic for a second game in a row. Instead, he finished with 16 points on an ugly 4-for-16 shooting from the field (3-for-10 from three) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 turnovers.
Podziemski was the Warriors most consistent performer on the night, leading the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds. It was far from a perfect outing, highlighted by his 5 turnovers, but it was commendable given he played 40 minutes for the second consecutive game (after playing all 82 games in the regular season). De’Anthony Melton had a solid all-around game, and scored 16 points that kept the Suns from pulling away when Curry went to the bench in the third quarter. Still, it was far from enough to match Green.
There’s a reason the Warriors were so celebratory after defeating the Clippers on Wednesday. They knew this season would not be lasting much longer. Sure, they hoped they could do it again, but they ran out of gas.
Now all attention goes to the offseason for Dub Nation. Will general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. build a legitimate contender? We’ll see.
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Doc Rivers has an NBA Finals win and a Coach of the Year honor on his ledger and is set to join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year.
But that sounds like it’ll be where his resume will end as a professional basketball coach.
“We met about seven weeks ago, me and ownership. We had a great meeting,” Rivers said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts against the 76ers in the third quarter during a regular season game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
“They asked me what I wanted to do. One of the owners says one plan is, ‘If we do this, you can hang in there for a year or two.’ I literally said, ‘Oh, no, no, no.’ “I told my coaches, I’m done. I loved coaching. Loved it. I had a lot of success at it, had way more ups than downs. But at the end of the day, I’ve given 47 years or whatever, I don’t even know how old I am … with no off time. I just wanted a break. I want to get away. The grandkids and just life in general, man.
“Right now, I can tell you, Bill, I think it was time, so I’d be surprised if I coached another game, I’ll put it that way.”
The 2025-26 season, his second full campaign with Milwaukee, turned into a disaster thanks to injury and constant trade rumors surrounding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was limited to 36 games.
The losing record marked Rivers’ first full losing season since 2006-07 with the Celtics.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that there was a “disconnect” between Rivers and the players this season in a length expose on what went wrong with the Bucks this year.
It remains clear what is next for Rivers. He previously worked as an analyst on ESPN’s top announce team before leaving in January 2024 to join the Bucks’ sideline.
Mar 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) talks with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) on the court during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
This is a lose-lose series for the Houston Rockets.
If the Rockets win the series, then the narrative will be that the Los Angeles Lakers were hurt and of course the Rockets won. If Houston loses the series, they were frauds all along and will need to make wholesale changes this summer to retool around Kevin Durant.
Remember, expectations cost people their jobs. And the expectation for Houston is to win this series handily if Luka Doncic doesn’t make an appearance.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are cruising and playing with house money. LeBron James isn’t expected to carry this team far by himself, so just winning a couple of games would be gravy. They can play with no fear and ride the vibes.
The Lakers are not just LeBron and some scrubs. There’s former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, “Not Clint Capela” Deandre Ayton, Gonzaga standouts Rui Hachimura and Drew Timme, sharpshooter Luke Kennard, defensive stalwart Jarred Vanderbilt, and a really good Jake LaRavia.
This is not going to be an easy series. Don’t expect it to be.
Welcome to the start of a two-month stretch of the most competitive basketball played at the highest level you will see all year.
The first round of the NBA Playoffs tips off this weekend and there are betting angles at every turn. The experts at NBC Sports and Rotoworld are here to offer their thoughts on the opening round. Each states their case concisely. MIA is the OKC series. At the time of publication, Golden State and Phoenix were playing. While the support for OKC is overwhelming regardless of the winner of the final Play-In game, all deferred because their opponent had not been set and that obviously could affect the length of the series.
Not surprising our experts agree on most series, but the keys in each series differ among the prognosticators.
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD): Raptors "At price, the Raptors are the bet for me. There are ongoing concerns about Jarrett Allen’s knee, and the Cavs haven’t shown enough consistency to warrant this aggressive price. "
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports): Cavaliers "The Cavs went 18-6 with James Harden in the lineup this season and his addition is supposed to keep Cleveland’s championship window open. However, Harden hasn’t made it out of the second round since 2017-18 and with Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland hasn’t made it past the semifinals in the last two seasons. Cleveland advances in the first round either 4-1 or 4-2 but is likely a second round exit again. A 36-year-old Harden won’t change much for Cleveland."
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper): Cavaliers "Seemingly every sharp player in the NBA market has lined up to support the Cavs chances to win the East this year but I have serious reservations considering the importance of Donovan Mitchell and his propensity for wearing down in the playoffs. The physical Raptors will test the Cavs ability to take some punishment, and my numbers suggest this will be closer than the market expects. The Raps have elite defense and length but are missing some key pieces that can create offense which suggests we may see some ugly low scoring games that the Cavs survive if they can find their clutch offense. Unders look reasonable until they adjust accordingly and will predict the Cavs to come through 4-2."
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Series Winner: Knicks -275 / Hawks +220
Dalzell: Knicks "The Atlanta Hawks are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time, which could be bad news for the Knicks. With a 20-6 record over the second half of the season, Atlanta shouldn’t be slept on. Could this team be similar to last year’s Indiana Pacers? I would say the Hawks have the best chance to be the sleeper team in either conference, so I’ll say this could be one of the longer series of the first round."
Dinsick: Knicks "The recent head-to-head by these teams at full strength convinced the world that the Hawks will play the Knicks close but ultimately wilt in the clutch in the close match ups. Very likely that Mike Brown elects to deploy a double-big lineup for broad stretches to take advantage of the fact that Atlanta is lacking size and has weak backup center options. Fouling trouble for the Hawks, particularly Okongwu, would be a death knell in a given game but the Hawks do have superior transition offense. In the end the transition game may not manifest however because the advantage for NYK on the boards, offensive board especially will carry the day. Knicks advance 4-1 in a series that overs hit, and Hawks are live to cover in their losses."
Croucher: Hawks "The Knicks series price doesn’t really cohere with their game 1 price - the Hawks are the bet for me here to win the series. The schedule has been kind, but they have played at an excellent level post Trae trade."
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Series Winner: Timberwolves +280 / Nuggets -350
Dinsick: Nuggets "The most exciting series of the first round features familiar foes and superstar firepower. The Wolves have been wildly inconsistent through the year but are relatively healthy. The Nuggets are peaking at the right time and are surely a dark horse to win the title. The game-by-game totals are extremely high based on the elite Denver offense and subpar defense but it will take a heroic effort from Anthony Edwards to win four games and advance Minnesota considering the supporting cast is struggling offensively. The Wolves make things interesting by splitting the first four before succumbing to the relentless offense of the Nuggets who win 4-2."
Croucher: Timberwolves "At price, the Wolves are live to pull the upset. There are still questions about Denver’s defense and Anthony Edwards has proven capable of exploding Nikola Jokic’s suspect rim protection."
Dalzell: Toss-up "The problem in thinking Denver rolls Minnesota is the fact the Nuggets have the 21st-ranked defense. That’s hard to trust in the playoffs, even with the No. 1-rated offense. The Timberwolves should be able to score and keep this series close. Minnesota beat Denver in the 2023-24 playoffs 4-3 and I can see this series going 7 games again and being the most competitive first round matchup. At least I hope so for viewing purposes.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Series Winner: Rockets -575 / Lakers +400
Dalzell: Rockets "This series comes down to the availability of Luka Doncic. While a headliner of Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James would be a box office hit 5, 10, and 15 years ago — it’s not nearly as attractive now. If a 41-year-old LeBron James is the main scoring threat and facilitator then the Lakers are cooked. Houston advances 4–1 or 4-2 pending how many games Doncic plays."
Dinsick: Rockets "Wild matchup that could break any direction depending on the health of Luka Doncic. In the absence of Luka and Reeves, the Lakers offense gets a nuclear downgrade but a small defensive upgrade which will make the match up against the Rockets interesting because of their own deficiencies. First to 100 wins and the Rockets manage to pull ahead four times in a 4-3 series where we don't see Luka."
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Series Winner: Celtics -900 / 76ers +600
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick): Celtics "If only Joel Embiid didn’t have to miss this series due to appendicitis surgery this actually would have been a super compelling matchup. Boston has been a top 5 defense and top 3 offense all year and with the return of Tatum who looks in some ways even better than he was pre injury, it doesn’t seem like Philly has much of a chance to compete in this one."
Dinsick: Celtics "The major question swirling that will impact this series from a pricing standpoint is the availability of Joel Embiid. His presence at the play-in game would suggest he is close to a return from his Appendectomy and he matters at least 4 points to the spread in these games so it would surely affect the series pricing when he returns even if it just makes the losses for the Sixers closer rather than give them a fighters chance at advancing. Ultimately, the hard charging Celtics will take advantage of the weak perimeter defense by Philly to excel in the clutch and come through in short order. Expecting BOS to win 4-0 in this lopsided affair."
Dalzell: Celtics "Philly was a fun watch during its play-in win over Orlando, but I don’t see the upside in facing the Celtics over the Pistons. Joe Mazzula doesn’t get enough respect for his 50-33 playoff record, including a 12-4 first round record. In three-straight first round series, Boston has won 4-2, 4-1, and 4-1. I have a hard time seeing the 76ers win more than one game in this series so Under 5.5 Games is the best bet next to Celtics in 4."
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
Series Winner: Pistons -500 / Magic +380
Dalzell: Pistons "Last season was the Pistons first time in the playoffs since 2018-19. Detroit squandered its chances off pushing New York to seven games last year and that is likely fresh in the brain of these players and staff. Detroit owns a top three defense and welcomed back Cade Cunningham who knocked some rust off. Detroit should make quick work of their first round matchup."
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Series Winner: Spurs -2000 / Trail Blazers +1000
Dinsick: Spurs "Expectations are sky high for the young and inexperienced Spurs and they draw an opponent in the Blazers who have size and an elite offensive playmaker to give them a true test. Reasonable to expect that the Blazers will exercise some physicality against Wemby and make him prove that he can handle playoff intensity and an advanced minutes/usage load. It is tempting to take a shot on Portland at this huge price and then navigate profit if they can get their foot ahead in this series but ultimately the Spurs will likely get home 4-2."
Krick: Spurs "Spurs win this in 5, but the key variable is whether Deni Avdija — one of the best foul-drawers in the league — can get Wembanyama in early foul trouble and fundamentally change how this series operates. Beyond that, Portland needs to win the three-point battle: force Castle and Fox to shoot from deep, get stops, and turn this into a track meet. Neither team is elite from three, but that’s exactly the kind of chaotic, pace-driven series that gives the Blazers their best shot."
Dalzell: Spurs "San Antonio has seven players averaging double digit points per game this season and that will be far too much for Portland. Despite this likely being a quick series, the Trail Blazers will get excellent playoff experience taking on the Spurs. Next year, Portland welcomes Damian Lillard back and will likely add a free agent or two as they have an appealing crew with youngsters Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. I don’t think the Spurs play with their food in the first round and win this series 4-0, maybe 4-1, but watch out for the Trail Blazers next year."
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Hack-A-Mitch is probably coming and Mike Brown said he’s prepared.
“We’ve talked about it. We have different things in mind that we’ll do,” the Knicks coach said. “A lot of them will come down to time and score and feel. But we understand that’s what teams may want to do, especially if our offense is clicking at that point in time.”
Fouling Mitchell Robinson on purpose was deployed regularly in last year’s playoffs, with Detroit’s JB Bickerstaff and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla taking it to higher levels to stall the Knicks’ offense. Robinson launched 56 free throws in 18 playoff games — which was more than triple his rate of the regular season.
Robinson also connected on just 39 percent of those attempts, which made him a liability and took him off the court in pivotal moments.
Brown’s answer Friday suggests that subbing out Robinson during “Hack-A-Mitch” will be dependent on several factors.
Mitchell Robinson shooting free throws during practice at the New York Knicks training facility on Wednesday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Mitchell Robinson is the key for [the Knicks] off the bench, whatever they do,” Charles Oakley, the Knicks legend, said on “The Bottom Line Sports Show.” “He needs to average 25 minutes, 27 minutes, from the first playoff game until the last one because with the offensive rebounds, nobody can block him out.
“He’s like a Moses Malone. He gives them second shots. And that’s how the Bulls won championships, with Dennis Rodman getting offensive rebounds, throwing it back out, [John] Paxson or somebody else hitting open 3s. You get an extra three 3s in a game, that’s big.”
Mitchell Robinson reacts on the floor during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks are still getting their playoff scouting reports and playbooks. But there is a difference in how they’re delivered between Tom Thibodeau and Brown.
“It’s a lot more digital, I’d say,” Miles McBride said.
Thibodeau, who was fired by the Knicks after five seasons (and four postseason appearances), famously handed out thick physical playbooks to his players for every playoff round.
Mikal Bridges didn’t get into the differences in playoff preparation between Brown and Thibodeau.
“I think they both prepare great,” Bridges said. “That’s what I take from it.”
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic found their winning formula. Desperation works.
Works wonders, actually.
Facing elimination and clearly wanting no part of it, the Magic might have put together one of their best performances of the season Friday night. They rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in an Eastern Conference play-in game, moving into the playoffs for the third straight season and getting a matchup with top-seeded Detroit as their reward.
“When you play with a sense of desperation and urgency, when you know you’re either going home or extending your season, that’s what it looks like,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “There (are) no second chances.”
Mosley is the first coach to lead the Magic to three consecutive playoff appearances since Stan Van Gundy took Orlando there in five straight years. Van Gundy was at Friday's game as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video.
“I've got to be honest. Charlotte is shrinking from the competition,” Van Gundy said on the broadcast, as the Magic were running away in the second quarter — building what became a 35-point lead shortly before halftime. “They look like they don't want any part of this.”
That's exactly how Orlando wanted it. It was bully ball, and it worked.
“We’re going to need more of that in the playoffs,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said.
Added Magic forward Paolo Banchero: “We were just relentless with that tonight. ... It was just a complete effort from the whole team.”
Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who has engineered quite a turnaround over his first two seasons with the Hornets, said he hopes his team doesn't forget the lessons that Orlando taught them in this one.
“I hope that this fuels us this offseason, because we’ve done a ton of really good things and gave ourselves an opportunity,” Lee said. “You’re one step away from being in the playoffs. I don’t want to discredit that. But this has got to hurt a little bit.”
Orlando dealt with injuries all season, and going 2-8 in a 10-game stretch late in the regular season could have absolutely sunk any postseason hopes. But the Magic — even with a loss in Wednesday's play-in opener at Philadelphia — have now won six of their last eight, heading into a no-pressure matchup against heavily favored Detroit.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” Mosley said. “There’s a reason we can be happy tonight. But at the end of the day, we still have more work to do.”
Miles McBride and Landry Shamet share so much in common.
They are two of the Knicks’ three most important bench players, with Mitchell Robinson being the other. They are two of the Knicks’ best 3-point shooters and point-of-attack defenders.
Both, though it’s not their natural position, can handle point-guard duties when needed.
And each had similar struggles down the stretch of the regular season.
They endured shooting slumps from 3-point range.
Shamet, from the start of March to the end of the season, shot just 30.4 percent from deep in 16 games. He also missed five games due to a knee injury.
McBride, after missing 28 games for sports hernia surgery, shot 35.7 percent from deep in the six games he played after returning. He was 6-for-21 before going 4-for-7 in the regular-season finale. That was well below their season-long marks — McBride finished at 41.3 percent and Shamet at 39.2 percent.
Landry Shamet puts up a shot as guard Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden, Friday April 3, 2026, in New York, NY. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“It’s just a matter of them getting into the flow,” coach Mike Brown said after practice Friday. “Their last games, they shot better than what they had been doing, so we want them to let it fly because we whole-heartedly believe in them as shooters, just like they believe in themselves.”
Both have the potential to provide the Knicks an edge over the Hawks in bench production. But if their struggles bleed into the postseason, it could certainly be to the Hawks’ advantage.
McBride in particular is out for a bit of redemption.
He struggled in the conference finals last year, as the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in six games — he went just 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range in the series.
Shamet, after barely being used in the first two rounds, actually had a strong conference finals, shooting 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) from deep in the series.
Miles McBride slams the ball over Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“This is my fourth year [in the playoffs],” McBride said Friday, “but this feels like it’s time to get it done and finish it out the right way.
“I’d say any year you don’t win a championship, you should have an ambitious summer to finish off one of these seasons right with a championship. For me, it’s any year we didn’t win it, I’m thinking, I’m pulling from my second year, my third year — I want to win a championship. Not just selfishly, but for this city, for the guys I fight with, the staff that’s helped us all year and the people behind the scenes.”
McBride and Shamet have been so important to the Knicks’ success this year. They need those versions to reemerge.
