Category: NBA

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The Charlotte Hornets may be the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they sure aren't playing like it.

Charlotte has been one of the better sides since the All-Star break, finishing the home stretch of the regular season with an 18-9 record. That span included splitting two meetings with the Miami Heat, who the Hornets host in the Play-In Tournament.

Point guard LaMelo Ball dished out a ton of dimes in his most recent run-in with Miami, and our Heat vs. Hornets predictions see Ball at the wheel of that offense tonight. 

My NBA picks love LaMelo to top his assist prop on April 14. 

Heat vs Hornets prediction

Who will win Heat vs Hornets?

Hornets: While the Hornets climbed the Eastern Conference standings, the Heat were going in the opposite direction. Miami has five wins in its last 15 games. The Heat have issues on defense and now face a Hornets attack that was the second-best offense in the back half of the season. Charlotte is 15-6 SU (14-7 ATS) as a home favorite this season.

Heat vs Hornets best bet: LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists (-120)

LaMelo Ball is at the center of the Charlotte Hornets’ surge. The polarizing point guard watched his playmaking prowess rise in the home stretch, dishing out more than seven assists per game.

His brightest passing performance was 13 assists in a 136-106 blowout of the Miami Heat on March 17. 

Since then, Ball has recorded at least eight dimes in eight of 14 games and did so against defenses much stiffer than Miami. Charlotte took on the likes of Detroit, Boston (twice), New York (twice), Minnesota, and Phoenix — all Top 10 in defensive rating.

The Heat, on the other hand, are horrendous on D. Miami was 28th in defensive rating in the final 15 games while allowing 127.5 points against in that stretch. Foes racked up an average of 30 assists per contest — fifth most.

Charlotte cracked open the Heat’s zone defense like a piñata in that last meeting, thriving with off-ball movement and dribble-kick passing to spot-up shooters. Ball is excellent at creating opportunities from collapsing the defense as well as working out of guard-on-guard screen action. 

Since scorching the Heat in mid-March, Ball has generated an average of 12 potential assists per game. In his three head-to-head battles with Miami, that advanced measurement leaps to 14.3 potential dimes for outputs of five, nine, and 13 assists. 

Player projections for Tuesday’s tilt sit at 8+ assists from Ball. 

Heat vs Hornets same-game parlay

The Hornets are excellent at home when catching points and come into the Play-In Tournament producing some of the best two-way basketball, boasting a net rating of +11.3 over the final 15 games.

Kon Knueppel gets his first taste of postseason play. The sharp-shooting rookie is the main beneficiary of Ball's playmaking and torched the Heat this season, scoring 19, 22, 27, and 30 points in four matchups. He was 18 for 40 from beyond the 3-point arc in those games.

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets moneyline
• LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
• Kon Knueppel Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ball's in your Court

LaMelo’s projections call for as many as 24 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. He cashed this same stat line when Charlotte smoked Miami back on March 17. 

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets -5.5
• LaMelo Ball Over 22.5 points
• LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
• LaMelo Ball Over 5.5 rebounds

Heat vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Heat +5.5 | Hornets -5.5
• Moneyline: Heat +185 | Hornets -225
• Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228

Heat vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Hornets are 12-4 SU and 11-5 ATS (69%) when laying more than three points as a home favorite this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.

How to watch Heat vs Hornets

Heat vs Hornets latest injuries

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Let’s enjoy the beauty of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the rare moment of single-elimination stress in the NBA, and the only welcome addition to the league calendar spurred by the pandemic.

My four-game NBA Play-In Tournament moneyline parlay tells you why Magic vs. 76ers may be the hardest game to pick from, and why Stephen Curry could uncork a vintage effort. Check out my NBA picks below, starting tonight.

NBA Play-In Tournament moneyline parlay

Hornets end playoff drought

What a world to live in, one where the Charlotte Hornets are the biggest favorites in a round of the NBA postseason.

The longest playoff drought in the NBA should come to an end this week, but that needs to start by holding serve against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Since New Year’s Day, Charlotte has a 33-16 record, a 55-win pace across a full season. Quick context: 55 wins would have given the Hornets the No. 3 seed in the East.

More impressively, Charlotte has the No. 1 net rating in the NBA in 2026, 8.9 points better per 100 possessions than Miami’s at No. 16.

This game should not be close.

Suns will rise

Defer to Devin Booker. He is one of the most pure scorers in the NBA, and that is always an asset to enjoy in a single-elimination tournament. Well, single elimination-ish.

The loser between the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers will get a second chance at advancing to the playoffs on Friday, but that would be a path toward the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both Phoenix and Portland should treat Tuesday night like a do-or-die moment, and in such a stressor, deferring to the best scorer on the court is a sound approach, especially with homecourt advantage in his favor.

Magic make Sixers disappear

The Orlando Magic simply have more levers to pull than the Philadelphia 76ers do on Wednesday night.

While 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey may be the best player on the court, his long-range looks have gone awry since he returned from a pinky injury, shooting just 18 of 57 (31.6%) from beyond the arc in nine games.

And Maxey may need that shot against Orlando’s defense, one with a few different deterrents to driving to the rim. Lessening Maxey’s effectiveness should effectively neuter Philadelphia with Joel Embiid already sidelined by an appendectomy.

Curry pumps up the volume

Maybe this is the end of the Golden State Warriors' time in relevance. It could end not with a bang, but with a whimper.

But do you really want to bet against Stephen Curry in a single-elimination moment? You must be too young to remember the joy that was Davidson in 2008. But how could you have already forgotten the gold medal game against France in the 2024 Olympics?

Curry shot 15 of 36 (41.7%) from deep in his brief return to the Warriors’ lineup in the last week. Expect him to shoot at volume against the Los Angeles Clippers, and there are few things more dangerous in this basketball universe than Steph Curry shooting at volume.

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.

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has had a tough go this year.

Not only has he been rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon suffered early in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, he also contracted shingles in February and spent some time away from the team.

When speaking with reporters Monday, April 13, Haliburton revealed that the medication he has been taking for the shingles diagnosis has led to weight gain and being out of shape, thus delaying his progress on the Achilles.

"This has sucked," Haliburton said. "My dad had it during the Finals on his stomach; a lot of people get it there, but mine has been on my face, so I couldn’t even go in front of a camera if I wanted to, earlier, because my eye was basically closed shut and it was all over my face."

I have found one more positive of a tanking season. The Brooklyn Nets hosted exit interviews on Monday morning, but thanks to the players that had already bid farewell to the season (largely due to season-ending injury), the festivities at HSS Training Center lasted only a couple hours instead of the the usual marathon.

General Manager Sean Marks and Head Coach Jordi Fernández shared the first podium, then Michael Porter Jr. joined on Zoom before Noah Clowney reflected on his season in person. And that was it. Clowney was particularly introspective about his season, at one point saying, “I think I progressed this year, maybe not as much as I wanted to or as much as I thought I would have.”

Clowney had a fascinating third season; his 1780 minutes were more than his first two years combined, and he morphed into a full-time wing who shot a ton of threes and drew plenty of fouls, driving the ball more than he ever has. He shot very well on corner threes but very poorly on above-the-break attempts, a fact that he discussed on Monday, but we’ll save Clowney’s self-analysis for a genuine, in-depth look at his growth another day.

Our Jordan Greene will have a full run-down of noteworthy quotes from Nets exits tomorrow, like Fernández admitting that the stress of losing took a toll on him, or Marks once again emphasizing high-minute counts for the rookies. But the main story of the day was, of course, what roster moves await Brooklyn this summer. Namely a potential Michael Porter Jr. extension, as well as team options looming for Josh Minott and Day’Ron Sharpe.

Porter Jr. is entering the final year of a five-year contract in 2026-27, which would pay him nearly $41 million. Thus, the 27-year-old (turning 28 in June) is up for an extension, and fortunately for him, it comes after the best individual season of his NBA career, where he averaged 24/7/3 as a true first option.

Marks admitted as much on Monday: “You look at his usage — it’s the highest it’s ever been. I don’t think anybody questioned whether he could shoot, but I think, could he be a number one option? And I think for us, he’s the number-one option. And I just enjoyed the person, I enjoyed being around him. I think he’s a fun-loving guy. He’s curious, as we all know.”

That’s a tremendous reference to MPJ’s high-octane podcasting career — Curious Mike is the name of his own pod. Still, when it came to a potential extension (or, in a different attempt to capitalize on MPJ’s resurgence, a trade), Marks didn’t give much away.

“I think in the summer there’s going to be a lot of those discussions” he said. “Whether it’s with Michael … there’s a variety of decisions we have to make with a variety of our players on the team. But in terms of a long-term build, short-term build, I think we’ve positioned ourselves over the last year or two to maintain flexibility and have optionality, which I’m really looking forward to.”

Porter Jr. was a bit more open about his contract situation, even admitting that “it hasn’t been on my mind enough until now.”

The team’s leading scorer clearly enjoyed his inaugural season in Brooklyn. He hopes it’s not his last: “If it was up to me I would love to sign an extension with this franchise.”

He continued: “I would love to spend many, many years in Brooklyn and make this my home and watch this franchise take off. Terance Mann actually just sent me a little breakdown of that stretch when we were winning … there were a lot of positives, and the front office has the ability to make some moves and make us even better.”

On the most recent episode of Locked On Nets with Erik Slater, I guessed that the Nets wouldn’t trade Porter Jr. this offseason, though I wasn’t too confident in my prediction. Simply put, it’s a tough sell to everybody — ownership, the coaching staff, the fans — to trade the best player on the team right when you’re trying to compete in earnest.

Marks even mentioned “competitiveness” as the first trait the team looks for in draft prospects: “You’ve heard us all talk about having a Brooklyn grit, being a connected guy, being part of something bigger than yourself, all the old clichés that every team uses in pro sports. But for us, you’ve got to be competitive. That’s going to be the number one thing here. Can we rely on you?”

Paying $40 million annually to a player with a rough injury history and a relative inability to create his offense may be tough to stomach. Brooklyn does have other routes to that roster flexibility and optionality Marks mentioned, though.

Day’Ron Sharpe has a $6 million team option for next season. Might the Nets try to trade Nic Claxton and ink Sharpe to a long-term extension instead, making him their starting center? It wouldn’t be so crazy. Sharpe has evolved into one of the best backup bigs in the league. This is pure speculation, but if the Nets signed him to a contract that pays $15 million annually, that’s only 9% of next year’s salary cap allocated to a starter. Not bad.

“If those talks happen and if it goes down that way, that’s probably a good problem to have,” said Marks. “And I give Day’Ron a lot of credit because he embraced the summer work last year. In his exit meeting this year — I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn — he said he wants to come back an even better, improved player. So when that’s what he wants to embark on and that’s how he’s motivated, I think that’s great.”

At his exit interview a couple weeks ago, Sharpe said he was proud of his growth this season, but that he hasn’t even thought about his contract situation moving forward: “Whatever the team has in plan for me, that’s what they got.”

Similarly, the team holds an option on Josh Minott’s $2.6 million contract for next season. Given how Minott performed after a mid-season trade from the Boston Celtics, it seems like a foregone conclusion he’ll be back as well…

Marks seemed to imply as much in his sole answer about the 23-year-old wing: “He’s really confident out there. I think the shooting is something that probably surprised me slightly, but I look forward to seeing him healthy. He was playing on one leg with us for most of the time here, so it’s nice to get that ankle taken care of, and then again, have another big summer for a young man like that.”

Minott already had the ankle injury when he arrived in Brooklyn, and even after his call-up from the G League, he missed nearly half of potential games in a Nets uniform. Some of that was due to the tank (for which he was occasionally too good), but clearly, it was also about a balky left ankle. As long as that ankle gets taken of, that’s pretty damn encouraging.

Another spit-ball here, but if Minott is extended rather than just picked up at, say, $8 million per year, Marks could lock in two real rotation players at a combined 14% of the cap. Trade Claxton, and now you’re rocking with some real flexibility no matter what happens with Porter Jr.

The rest of Brooklyn Nets’ exit day was not so eventful. Again, our Jordan Greene will have you covered with the rest of the important quotes, such as some rookie praise from both head coach and GM.

This team is still at the beginning of a rebuild, but it seems like the trend-arrow is pointing up. The Nets plan to be competitive next season, and they can improve without making splashy moves. Some lottery luck on May 12 will help, of course. No matter what happens, we’ll have full coverage on NetsDaily.

Again, thanks to all our readers for a great season. With lockers cleaned out and exit interviews over, may our offseason begin in earnest.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry reflects on being the tenth seed again following the Warriors’ 115-110 vs. the Clippers.
• The Athletic recounts the 10-year anniversary of the Warriors’ historic 73-win regular season.
• NBA Playoff bracket is set after the conclusion of the regular season on Sunday.

The Golden State Warriors closed out their regular season with a 115-110 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. The result ultimately didn’t carry much weight in the standings for the Warriors, but the end of the regular season did bring clarity as Golden State now shifts their full attention to a rematch against the Clippers in the Play-In Tournament.

Steph Curry, who finished with 24 points in 29 minutes on Sunday, acknowledged the reality of the situation. For the fourth time in the Play-In era, the Warriors find themselves in a win-or-go-home situation to keep their season alive — this time as the 10th seed once again.

It’s not where the Warriors expected to be heading into the year, but it’s where they are after injuries derailed their season. And Curry made it clear the belief inside the locker room hasn’t wavered. With just a few days to regroup and build chemistry, he’s confident the Warriors can raise their level when it matters most.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, April 13th:

Warriors News:

What we learned as Steph Curry’s 24 can’t save Warriors’ finale loss to Clippers | NBC Sports Bay Area

When the teams meet on Wednesday, two matchups will heavily dictate the outcome. One of those matchups might have been on display in this game, the other not at all.

There was a glimpse of LA’s defense against Curry. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue opted to use a tag-team approach with his best perimeter defenders: Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr.

Dunn, whose height mirrors Curry’s 6-foot-3, is a solid defender who relies on physicality and muscle. Jones Jr., a terrific athlete standing 6-foot-6, uses his 7-foot wingspan to try to smother Curry. Both get plenty of support from their teammates.

The Warriors’ 73-win season, a decade later: ‘We beat the s— outta everybody’ | The Athletic

Draymond Green doesn’t hesitate when he hears the question. Looking back on the Golden State Warriors’ 2015-16 season a decade later, a simple thought pops into the now 36-year-old forward’s mind.

“It’s pretty easy,” Green told The Athletic. “We beat the s— outta everybody.”

Monday marks the 10th anniversary of the night Green and the Warriors dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in the regular-season finale to secure their 73rd win. That mark still stands, and many within the organization believe it always will.

Jimmy Butler watches Steph Curry warm-up before Warriors vs. Clippers Sunday night

NBA News:

Inside Bucks’ season from hell: Giannis trade talk, odd compliments and so much losing | The Athletic

Following a March 21 morning shootaround in Phoenix, multiple league sources told The Athletic that Rivers called a group of veteran players together for a meeting in Mortgage Matchup Center. Per multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Rivers informed the veterans that he believed they had failed him this season and questioned the group’s commitment, conditioning, focus and leadership.

Rivers’ message incensed the group, and the players stood up for themselves, firing back at the head coach over his claims.

“That’s when I checked out on this season,” one of the veterans told The Athletic.

NBA Playoff bracket is now set

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors lose to Clippers, await rematch

The Clippers controlled the game until the final buzzer, though the Warriors subs made it a close score of 115-110, even though the game didn’t feel at all up for grabs. Then again, the Warriors weren’t really trying to grab it, so who cares.

Curry led the Warriors with 24 points, while shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 4-for-9 on threes, with six rebounds and three assists. Bassey had 16 points off the bench on nearly-perfect 5-for-6 shooting, while going 6-for-8 on free throws. Porziņģis (12) and Podziemski (10) were the only other Warriors in double digits, as no one played much.

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

The NBA regular season ended Sunday and the first order of business for teams that fell short of making the playoffs was to evaluate their head coach. Hall of Famer Doc Rivers wasn't spared the scrutiny.

He agreed to depart from the Milwaukee Bucks after winning 16 fewer games this season than last. Rivers has one year remaining on the $40-million contract he signed in January 2024 and will be paid for the final season.

The Bucks were 32-50 this season largely because superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo played in only 36 games because of injuries. Antetokounmpo, who expressed frustration talking to reporters Sunday, might be next out the door.

If so, the Lakers undoubtedly would be interested. They are projected to have about $60 million in salary-cap space and three first-round draft picks they can use — 2026, 2031 and 2033 — to try to make a deal this offseason.

Read more:Lakers beat Jazz in finale, will host play-in game against Timberwolves

Despite his insistence that he was healthy fairly soon after he suffered a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise March 15, Antetokounmpo didn't play in the last 15 games of the season.

"To my understanding, I had to play three-on-three to be able to be available to play," he said. "I did that multiple times. I've never in my life denied participation of practice. Whoever came up with that is disrespectful toward what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself."

The decision was likely made to ensure the trade value of the two-time most valuable player wasn't diminished by another injury. Antetokounmpo, 31, is under contract for 2026-2027 and has a player option of $62.7 million for 2027-28.

The Lakers — and other trade partners — would be more than willing to give him an extension. The contracts of LeBron James ($52.6 million), Rui Hachimura ($18 million) and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) expire after this season, giving the Lakers the cash to toss in Antetokounmpo's direction.

The Bucks floundered without him and the coach paid the price. Rivers, 64, hadn't had a losing full season since 2006-2007, a span that included an NBA title with Boston in 2007-2008, seven seasons with the Clippers and three with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Read more:Elliott: Doc Rivers should be remembered for what he accomplished, and what he didn't do

“I have truly loved my time in Milwaukee,” said Rivers, who played college basketball at Marquette. “Coming back to where I got my start, to a city that has always embraced me, has been a privilege. I am disappointed that things did not turn out the way any of us hoped, but I am deeply grateful for this experience, the relationships built, and unwavering support from our fans and the community.”

Rivers began coaching after a 13-year NBA playing career and has a 1,194-866 record (.580) with five teams across 27 seasons. His regular-season wins are the sixth most in NBA history and he will be enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

The Bucks discussed with him an advisory role in the organization, but Rivers is taking his time deciding what to do next. Asked how long he envisions coaching, Rivers mentioned his grandchildren.

“I won’t answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see,” Rivers told reporters. “I’ll let you figure it out from there. I have seven grandkids now, and they’re all 8 years and under, and it kills me every time I miss grandparents day with each one of them in school. It’s probably time to go see them more, so I’ll let you figure out the rest.”

His seven consecutive winning seasons with the Clippers are part of the franchise's current streak of 15 consecutive seasons with a winning record, the longest active run in the NBA and fourth-longest in league history.

Other NBA coaches on the hot seat include Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic and Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards. Portland Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter also might be replaced.

Splitter took over for Chauncey Billups, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other ex-NBA player.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

In their final regular season game, the Lakers routed a tanking Utah Jazz team for their 53rd win, the most for the franchise since 2010-11. All the machinations of surviving a grueling 82 games are over and the brain trust now shifts its focus towards the playoffs.

The unfortunate injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves not only remove a star backcourt but leave behind a gaping playmaking void. With almost 14 assists combined per game, production is impossible to replace with one player.

But by racking up ten assists of his own on Sunday, Marcus Smart showed why he will be integral in helping the team fill in as best as they can.

Smart returned from injury against the Suns on Friday after missing nine straight games with a right ankle contusion. While playing under a minute restriction, he collected 17 assists in his two games back, finding teammates in a variety of ways. He serves not only as a desperately needed ball handler but also as someone who understands the next read against a compromised defense while continuing the “blender” as head coach J.J. Redick calls it.

It started early in the first quarter on Sunday as he found Deandre Ayton in the clip below for the finish. Watch as he comes to set a screen for LeBron James.

They’ve found good chemistry all year with this “empty side” or “88” in their playbook screen roll throughout the season. It commonly flows into a LeBron post-up against a switch, allowing Smart to screen and pop to the top of the key.

LeBron in the post compromises the defense and Smart found the advantage with a touch pass to Ayton at the basket.

On the play below, he and LeBron reverse roles, with Smart now running the screen action at the top of the key. Smart notices the defender cheating and rejects the screen. A drive and kick to sharp shooter Rui Hachimura, while Maxi Kleber sets a pin screen, pushes the lead to 15 before the half.

“That’s a big reason we wanted to bring Smart here, not just for his defense,” Redick said postgame. “Even post-Boston, the last couple seasons, he’s graded out well as a secondary playmaker. He’s been in that position before. He knows how to get other guys involved. Tonight, he had a great feel for getting [Ayton] involved.”

Smart finished the regular season fourth on the Lakers in assists, behind the three main ball handlers in LeBron, Luka, and Reaves. In addition, he leads the team in plus-minus for the year, epitomizing his all-around impact.

LA enters a playoff series as clear underdogs without their two leading scorers for the season. A Denver Nuggets win over the San Antonio Spurs locked in the Houston Rockets as the 4-5 playoff matchup, with the purple and gold having home court.

Houston has aggressive point-of-attack defenders such as Amen Thompson and Tari Eason to hound the Lakers’ ball handlers. A lot of attention will be thrown at LeBron, opening the door for players like Smart to step in. His experience, which includes 108 playoff games, as a veteran leader and playmaker will be needed if the team hopes to advance at all.

“It’s important with the loss of AR and Luka, it’s not just all on Luke (Kennard) and LeBron to be playmakers,” Redick said. “Smart can fill in with that too.”

You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

Hornets duo LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel join Warriors' Splash Bros in NBA history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Charlotte Hornets were one of the NBA’s biggest turnaround stories this season, going from a 26-26 record before the All-Star break to finishing the campaign on an 18-9 run.

Much of the team’s success can be attributed to its young duo of LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel, who have unequivocally emerged as one of the league’s best shooting backcourts. While that might seem like an extremely lofty endorsement, they shot the three-ball at a historic pace this season.

As shared to X by ESPN Insights, Ball and Knueppel became just the second duo in NBA history to hit at least 270 threes in a season, joining the former iconic Warriors duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Tabbed as the “Splash Brothers,” Curry and Thompson will forever be remembered for being one of the best duos in NBA history. The duo won four NBA championships together and have combined to make 13 All-NBA teams and 17 All-Star selections.

Thompson ultimately joined the Dallas Mavericks after the 2023-24 season, but still is considered a legend in the Bay.

If Ball and Knueppel can even be half as good, the trajectory of the Hornets’ franchise could finally change for the better. Similar to the Warriors, who play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in the NBA play-in tournament, the Hornets also will need to make it out of the play-in to make the playoffs.

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Ranking the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament teams and who should qualify originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, LaMelo Ball, Bam Adebayo, Paolo Banchero and several more.

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is not short of talented names and reputable teams, but not everyone will earn a ticket to the upcoming playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are duking it out for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds. Out West, the four teams are the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

So, which teams should qualify to create the most quality-filled bracket as possible? Let’s rank the participants in each conference:

Eastern Conference

For both conferences, the rankings will primarily factor the talent at each team’s disposal and the likelihood of an enticing first-round matchup (at the minimum).

The No. 7 seed here will face off against the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the first round, while the 8-seed gets the No. 1 Detroit Pistons. Beating Boston four times is a tough ask for these sides, but the Pistons can be there for the taking with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren not having the most elite cast around them.

1. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

A good chunk of this placement for Philly boils down to Joel Embiid’s health. After undergoing appendicitis surgery, it’s not clear how fit he’d be for the tournament and, possibly, more grueling playoff series where he’ll be absorbing bumps and bruises down low. Otherwise, Tyrese Maxey is the best player among the four teams and he’ll have a supporting cast of Paul George, rookie VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. Philly has to be careful, though, because a disappointing exit should mean a deep retooling of the team (hint: Embiid).

2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The Hornets have been here a couple of times before with LaMelo Ball. Those times didn’t end well. But Charlotte is back with fresh head coach Charles Lee, with Ball being surrounded by Brandon Miller, star rookie Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges and Coby White. Charlotte is lacking a standout big man, but this is a crucial point in the franchise’s trajectory. As one of the more entertaining teams in 2026, a playoff berth could lead into becoming a sleeper destination for top players in the summer. But losing, preferably avoiding another blowout, keeps the team stuck in this tier.

3. ORLANDO MAGIC

Orlando was hoping to take another step forward this season following the big addition of guard Desmond Bane. But, despite having a relatively deep roster, it has gone backwards even though the gap between current 8-seed Orlando and 5-seed Toronto is just one win. That shouldn’t have been the case with Bane, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs all posting solid numbers. The Magic can’t afford to be this low (they arguably should be above Philly in this ranking), but some convincing performances are needed. If they stay as an 8-seed, they might have the team to upset Detroit early.

4. MIAMI HEAT

The Heat have become accustomed to hovering around Play-In territory ever since its magical run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed. But they don’t have Jimmy Butler anymore. Miami is led by Norman Powell, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo — a former 83-point scorer — Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr, while Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware have added some freshness to the team. But Miami doesn’t have as much power as the others and an overhaul has been needed for some time. A market like southern Florida should be more attractive to the biggest names.

Western Conference

The two winners of the tournament here don’t exactly receive coveted prizes. The 7-seed will have to face Victor Wembanyama and the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, while the 8-seed will get the reigning champs in the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder.

1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

It’s a whole different ball game when Curry is healthy. It’s a longshot for the 37-45 Warriors to go on a meaningful run, but seeing Curry, Butler Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, among others, take a shot at the Thunder would make for elite viewing. The likely scenario is Golden State losing during the tournament to potentially secure a better draft pick (more youth quality is needed). But the Warriors’ impact when in the playoff conversation is undeniable.

2. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

As aforementioned, the two winners here likely get bounced in the first round. But as far as unproven youthful teams go, Portland can offer something new. Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe are the team’s top scorers, though veterans Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday are still doing their parts to a solid and trusted level. Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Caleb Love are also part of the young core. Teams like this can always benefit from the postseason exposure and experience and come back stronger the following season. Portland getting in could do wonders for its trajectory, with Damian Lillard’s return also coming.

3. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

A poor start to the regular season seriously hurt Los Angeles’ chances of a playoff berth, but Ty Lue’s side has rallied to be back in this position, even after trading James Harden. Leonard is the heartbeat of the team and remains playing at an elite level, with Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, John Collins and Brook Lopez some of the key teammates. But, other than Leonard being back in the playoff frame, this current Clippers team doesn’t exactly move the needle.

4. PHOENIX SUNS

Booker is still doing his thing in the desert and Phoenix has the best record of the four teams here, but player quality and statistics and its translation to the playoffs are a different level. The Suns are in good hands with Booker, but this isn’t the same Phoenix side as year’s past. Dillon Brooks is the team’s second-highest scorer, followed by Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams. The balance isn’t great with multiple small guards, plus there’s a sincere lack in frontcourt quality and depth, so the Suns get cooled down here at the bottom.

The 2026 NBA Playoff bracket is almost set, and the chase for the championship begins with the play-in tournament.

The NBA play-in tournament rules and format are simple. The No. 7 seed plays the No. 8 seed in each conference, and the winner gets the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The No. 9 seed plays the No. 10 seed in each conference, the winner of that game plays the loser of the 7/8 game for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

Got it?

The play-in tournament begins Tuesday evening with the 9/10 game in the East featuring the red hot Charlotte Hornets facing the Miami Heat. The 7/8 game in the West follows with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers. On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic for the No. 7 seed, and the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers play an elimination game in the West.

Let’s make picks for every game of the play-in tournament to complete the playoff picture.

East 9/10 game: Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets

Would you believe the Hornets have been the best team in the NBA since the calendar flipped to 2026? It’s true. After a terrible start, Charlotte went 33-16 with the league’s best net-rating at +10.5 since Jan. 1. It’s one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds in NBA history, and it’s possible it could end on Tuesday night. Facing Erik Spoelstra in an elimination game is a terrifying proposition, and we’ve seen him win so many play-in tournament games before. The Heat have an elite defensive big man in Bam Adebayo, they have two excellent scorers in Tyler Herro and Norm Powell ready to rock, and they have been getting a good year out of Andrew Wiggins all season. I really think the Hornets will push the Detroit Pistons in round one if they can get into the playoffs, but it’s going to be really hard just to win this game. I’m going with Charlotte, but I don’t feel good about it.

Pick: Charlotte Hornets

West 7/8 game: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns

The Blazers have developed into an elite defensive team, and it’s produced their first winning record in five years. Portland is No. 3 in defensive efficiency since the All-Star break with sophomore center Donovan Clingan emerging into arguably the team’s best long-term piece for his elite rim protection. Deni Avdija had a fantastic season, but he’s been slowed lately by a lingering back injury, and Portland will need him at his best to actually make it into the playoffs. No one expected Phoenix to be in this position entering the season. The Suns are one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises, riding a top-10 defense and getting major contributions from Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen that few saw coming. The Suns have also been beat up with injuries lately, but it seems like they should have their key pieces for this game. The battle between Portland’s Jrue Holiday and Phoenix’s Devin Booker will be must see. I’d expect an ugly, physical game where both teams have to grind out scoring possessions. Both teams should feel urgency to win this game, because they could be in for an even more difficult matchup in the next round if they lose.

Pick: Portland Trail Blazers get the No. 7 seed

East 7/8 game: Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers

Orlando was my preseason NBA Finals pick, which was obviously a terrible call. The Magic just never found their groove in another injury-ravaged season, and it feels like head coach Jamahl Mosley should be on the hot seat even if they win this game. Orlando actually does have its key pieces available for this game, and I still think this team can be pretty good when Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black are all in the lineup. Philadelphia has become Tyrese Maxey’s team this season as he’s ascended into an All-NBA talent. Joel Embiid’s health still hangs over the Sixers, but he should be ready to go for this game. Same goes for Paul George. I feel like Orlando is the bigger, more physical team in this matchup … unless Embiid roars back to form. The Magic have the perimeter defenders to make life hard on Philly’s guards, and I think Wagner should be able to score as a pick-and-roll ball handler if he gets the reps. Orlando has the upper hand barring a vintage Embiid performance.

Pick: Orlando Magic get the No. 7 seed

West 9/10 game: Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers

The Warriors are just so beat up right now, to the point that Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis all have a minutes restriction in an elimination game. Did we mention Jimmy Butler is out for the year with a torn ACL, too? I just don’t see how the Warriors can win this game on the road given how well the Clippers are playing lately. Los Angeles has won eight of its last 12 entering the play-in tournament. Kawhi Leonard is playing at a First-Team All-NBA level, Darius Garland has looked good since coming over from Cleveland, and Brook Lopez still has a little bit left in the tank. The Clippers are going to roll, and the Warriors will be hoping for lottery luck.

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

Predicted matchups in NBA play-in tournament

Hornets over Sixers: The Hornets are going to be one of the best teams in the East next season. Getting into the playoffs this year is the perfect way to start their ascension as the conference’s team of the future. Whenever there’s an opportunity for Philly sports fans to have a meltdown, I’m always willing to take it. Hornets get the No. 8 seed.

Clippers over Suns: Maybe I should know better than to doubt the Suns at this point. They are a really scrappy team that plays hard every night. I just think the Clippers have more top-end talent with Kawhi leading the charge. I would take the Clippers over whoever wins the West’s 7/8 game. Clippers get the No. 8 seed.

The regular season may be over, but there’s still time needed for the dust to settle.

Now that teams are locked into their positions, it’s time to look at where the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick owed to the Sixers ended up. The Rockets ended the season winning nine of out of their last 10 games, finishing with a 52-30 record and fifth in the Western Conference.

That’s the exact same record as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who owe their first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks. Some time in the coming weeks or months the NBA will hold a random drawing between the Sixers and Hawks to determine who picks at 22 and who picks at 23.

A random drawing is the only tiebreaker used in these scenarios, there aren’t any other records factored in. The Rockets beat the Cavs in both of their matchups this regular season, but the Cavs finished with both a better conference record and division record.

As Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice has pointed out, these random drawings have been kind to the Sixers in previous years. They won the last two they were in involved in back in the 2020 and 2024 draft, respectively. Ironically, the player they drafted after winning the ‘24 tiebreaker was used to acquire this 2026 first-rounder from Houston via the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This ended up being a kind second half of the season pick-wise for the Sixers despite Houston ending the season on a surge. They dropped down a seed and potentially two spots down in draft order since this tracker was launched. Now it’s up to the Sixers’ front office to use that pick well enough to make the fanbase stop complaining about the Jared McCain trade.

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Over the course of his 23-season NBA career, LeBron James has pulled off innumerable heroic feats.

However, at 41, he may be up for his tallest task yet when his Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves-less Los Angeles Lakers take on Kevin Durant’s No. 5 Houston Rockets in the Divisional Round of the NBA Playoffs.

If you’d like to see if James — along with a starting five made up of DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard — have the guts and gusto scrap out a victory, tickets are available for all four hypothetical home games at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena as of today.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one contest was $142 including fees on StubHub.

Should you opt to road-trip to Houston, prices start at $179 including fees for games at the Rockets’ Toyota Center.

When the two clubs met in the regular season, Los Angeles swiped two of three contests from Houston but that was largely thanks to 36 and 40-point scoring efforts from Dončić on March 16 and 18.

Still, head coach J.J. Redick is optimistic that his Lakers can compete.

“Houston’s obviously a really good basketball team and we’re gonna prepare and we’re gonna fight and we’re gonna go try to win the series,” Redick, 41, said in a postgame press conference.

“We’re gonna do everything we can to get our guys in a great frame of mind, great physical shape over the next four or five days and be ready to play.”

On a promising note, the LAL closed the regular season on an impressive three-game win-streak where they blew out the Warriors, Suns and Jazz.

Will this be LeBron’s most heroic series to date over an already storied career?

Although we can’t say for certain, we do know you’ll want to be in the building to see King James take on KD for the fourth time in the playoffs and first since 2018.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Lakers vs. Rockets 2026 NBA Playoffs series below.

Lakers playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar including all announced Lakers home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:

Houston Rockets playoff home game tickets

All Rockets playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

How to watch the Lakers and Rockets on TV

Fans hoping to catch LeBron and co. on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC and NBA TV.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

About Lakers-Rockets

As noted above, the Lakers and Rockets met three times over the course of the 2025-26 campaign. Los Angeles won two; Houston came out on top on Christmas Day.

However, losing Luka Dončić and Reaves in early April changes everything.

Now, the Rockets’ young nucleus of Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun loom larger than ever.

Thankfully, the Rockets turned the ball over the fourth most in the NBA this season. If the Lakers capitalize, anything can happen.

Especially if Luka dons the purple and gold yet again this year; he’s been in Spain undergoing treatment on his injured leg over the past few days and may return.

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see who’s on the playoff bubble?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff hopefuls here.

Huge 2026 concerts

Looking for entertainment outside of the NBA playoffs?

We’ve got you covered.

Here are just five huge artists you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

• J. Cole

• Gorillaz

• Wu-Tang Clan

• BTS

• RUSH

Want to see who else is on the road? Check out our list of all the biggest concert tours in 2026 to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

Oddsmakers don’t seem to believe the Lakers have much of a chance to beat the Rockets in their upcoming postseason matchup.

Los Angeles has opened up as a massive underdog against Houston, according to oddsmakers at BetMGM.

The gambling outlet has given the Rockets -800 odds to beat the Lakers, meaning bettors would have to throw down a whopping $800 just to win $100.

Conversely, the Lakers have received +550 odds to win the series, giving gamblers an opportunity to make $550 on a $100 bet.

LA learned on Sunday it’d be playing Kevin Durant and the Rockets after it beat the Jazz, 131–107, at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers officially earned the No. 4 seed with the victory, pitting them against No. 5-seeded Houston.

Part of the reason the Lakers aren’t expected to beat the Rockets, of course, is their health.

Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) have both been sidelined since April 2 after they suffered injuries in a road loss to the Thunder, and neither appears likely to play in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA insider Shams Charania, however, reported during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday that there is a chance Dončić could suit up at some point after he spent the last few days in Spain undergoing treatment on his injured leg.

“My understanding is he’ll be back in the States on Tuesday,” Charania said. “And then they’re going to reevaluate him.”

Game 1 of the Lakers vs. Rockets series will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday in Los Angeles.

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The Bucks’ 2025–26 regular season is mercifully over, and while we still have more questions than answers—including a now-official question as to who will be coaching them come October—we do have more clarity on where Milwaukee could be drafting in June. As you’ll read, while the standings are set in stone, the lottery odds for other teams are not. Because of the Bucks’ pick swap with the Pelicans, they still have to wait to find out how many ping-pong ball combinations they have. Let’s dive in.

Official 2026 NBA Lottery Odds

Based on the end-of-season standings, here is the current lottery order (with each position’s odds to receive the no. 1 pick) for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10:

1. Washington Wizards — protected 1–8 (14%)
2. Indiana Pacers — protected 1–4, to Clippers if fifth or sixth (14%)
3. Brooklyn Nets (14%)
4. Utah Jazz — top-8 protected (11.5%)
5. Sacramento Kings (11.5%)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (9%)
7. New Orleans Pelicans (6.8%)
8. Dallas Mavericks (6.7%)
9. Chicago Bulls (4.5%)
10. Milwaukee Bucks (3%)
11. Golden State Warriors (2%)
12. Oklahoma City Thunder — via Clippers (1.5%)*
13. Miami Heat (1%)*
14. Charlotte Hornets (0.5%)*

*These play-in teams could move out of the lottery if they advance into the 16-team playoff field, and be replaced by any of Portland, Orlando, Phoenix, or Philadelphia, though each of those teams’ picks is encumbered by swaps. S

Another note: the Jazz and Kings both finished with the same record, as did the Pelicans and Mavericks. Random tiebreakers will occur to determine which team receives the more favorable lottery placement. This will have some bearing on where the Bucks pick, as a better placement for the Pelicans increases the Bucks’ chances of drafting before 10th by 3.4% due to the swap. So we don’t actually know their true odds just yet.

As you likely know, the listed lottery odds for the team that finishes 10th aren’t actually what the Bucks have. In reality, they have a zero percent chance of receiving the top pick because in 2020, they traded swap rights to their 2026 first-round pick to the Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday. Now, New Orleans has since traded those swap rights to Atlanta, so as I referred to above, what will end up happening is that the Hawks will receive whichever pick between the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ ends up more favorable. The Bucks will receive the less favorable choice.

Morgan and I delved into this a bit back in February, but now that the season is over, let’s go over how things actually shake out, factoring in the swap. We have to wait for the results of the tiebreaker to know their final odds, but here are the chances the Bucks will receive any lottery pick based on finishing 10th:

Obviously, odds are the Bucks will draft 10th. If they hadn’t dealt the swap rights to their pick, their odds of drafting 10th would be 65.9%, and they’d face about a 20.2% chance of dropping down further. Unfortunately, New Orleans decided to win a lot more in the second half of the year and finished somewhat close to Milwaukee in the standings, which upped the odds of Milwaukee falling back to between 23.1% and 23.5%, depending on that tiebreaker.

For what it’s worth, had they lost one more game and finished ninth in the lotto standings, their odds of still ending up with the 10th pick were still between 29.5% and 33.4%, while their odds at the top four improved from 3.3% or 4% (depending on if NOLA is seventh or eighth) to 4.8% to 5.8%. Their most likely draft position would have been ninth at 52% or 56.7%. Shoutout to Morgan for figuring out the code to calculate all these odds.

Anyway, since you should abandon all hope of receiving the number one overall pick, your dreams of Milwaukee receiving the second pick would only become reality if New Orleans (actually Atlanta) wins the lottery. The odds of that happening are less than half a percent. But the tiebreaker does improve the Bucks’ chances of netting a top-four selection from 3.3% to 4%, so take that for what you will.

Final 2025–26 NBA Standings

Here are the final standings for each conference, with the play-in ultimately set to decide who will face the top two seeds in each. The no. 2 seed in each conference will play the winner of the 7-8 game, while the no. 1 seed will play the winner of the next game, between the loser of the 7-8 game and the winner of the 9-10 game. 

Eliminated teams in italics.

Eastern Conference

1. Detroit Pistons
2. Boston Celtics
3. New York Knicks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Philadelphia 76ers (play-in)
8. Orlando Magic (play-in)
9. Charlotte Hornets (play-in)
10. Miami Heat (play-in)
11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Brooklyn Nets
14. Indiana Pacers
15. Washington Wizards

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Houston Rockets
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Phoenix Suns (play-in)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (play-in)
9. LA Clippers (play-in)
10. Golden State Warriors (play-in)
11. New Orleans Pelicans
12. Dallas Mavericks
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Sacramento Kings
15. Utah Jazz

Check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook of SB Nation, for all your lottery odds.