The absurd extent of Joel Embiid’s health misfortune is impossible to exaggerate.
The latest addition to the Sixers’ star big man’s extensive injury history is that he’s been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery Thursday afternoon in Houston. Needless to say, he won’t play Thursday night in the Sixers’ important meeting with the Rockets. There’s no timeline yet for his potential return.
The Sixers’ immediate concern is that Embiid’s surgery goes smoothly and he feels like himself again soon. Assuming that happens, he’d still be well within his rights to ponder if he’s cursed. Last time the Sixers were in the postseason, Embiid played through Bell’s palsy. Other playoff health troubles include multiple orbital fractures and a torn meniscus.
As far as life without Embiid, the Sixers have gotten many reps. He’s been much healthier this year than last but has still only played in 38 games, averaging 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
Both common sense and the numbers point to the Sixers having many more challenges when Embiid’s absent. According to Cleaning the Glass, the team’s net rating has been 10.0 points better with Embiid on the floor compared to off it this season. Second-year center Adem Bona and veteran Andre Drummond are the next men up. Even at their best, neither has close to Embiid’s immense two-way impact.
The Sixers will hope Paul George can remain aggressive, efficient and healthy post-suspension. To fare well without Embiid, they’ll need George and Tyrese Maxey to play like superstars. They’ll also need their role players to be solid, perhaps even outstanding on occasion. Maybe a player or two outside of the current rotation like Jabari Walker will get some chances in the short term.
As Sixers head coach Nick Nurse highlighted often last season, he became accustomed to on-the-fly adjustments during his days coaching overseas and in the G League. He’ll have to crumple up his primary game plan and find savvy solutions that are nowhere near Plan A.
The Sixers do have ways they could manage big wins without Embiid, but there’s no question their outlook has darkened with yet another health woe for their cornerstone center.
For the third straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will finish as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
For the second straight season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will finish with the best record in the NBA and have home court advantage for as long as they are playing.
All that came after the Thunder easily handled the Clippers on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 128-110. And those two stats above just begin to touch on what the Thunder have done:
• Oklahoma City is the first team with back-to-back best records in the NBA since the 2019-20 Milwaukee Bucks. • OKC is trying to become the first team with back-to-back best records in the NBA and to win the NBA title since Michael Jordan's Bulls in 1996-97. • Only five other teams have had three or more consecutive seasons with a No. 1 seed — most recently the 2015-17 Golden State Warriors — and those five teams all won multiple NBA titles in that stretch. • This was the Thunder's 64th win. If they win one of their remaining two games, they will become only the third team with back-to-back 65+ win seasons, joining the peak Jordan Bulls and the Curry/Durant-era Warriors (again, teams that won multiple titles).
OKC didn't coast into this, it has won 19-of-20 down the stretch. It also has reached these records despite its second-best player, Jalen Williams, only playing in 33 games this season due to injury (plus the team has faced a lot of other injuries, having guys in and out of the lineup). Part of why the Thunder have pulled this off is that, to a man, they have bought into what coach Mark Daigneault is selling: focusing on yourself, on short-term improvement, and if you do that the big picture will take care of itself.
"I think the first thing for us is just making sure that we're taking care of our stuff," Daigneault said the night before, when the Thunder beat the Lakers. "It starts with how we're playing, the habits we're trying to sharpen what we're trying to get done. You go through the regular season, there's different opponents every night that present different challenges, but it always starts between you and yourself."
Oklahoma City will open the playoffs at home the weekend of April 18 against one of the teams that have fought their way out of the play-in (Phoenix, the LA Clippers, Portland or Golden State).
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr look on from the bench against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Despite being one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, Steve Kerr has been a controversial topic among online segments of the Golden State Warriors fanbase ever since he agreed to take the job 12 years ago.
Since then, he’s led the Warriors to four championships, six NBA Finals appearances, and the greatest regular season in NBA history, while overseeing Steph Curry’s rise from All-Star to all-time great. But there have been quips from the fanbase, mainly about Kerr’s Curry-centric offensive system, and his struggles with developing young, raw talent like Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman.
All good things run their course, and that will happen for Kerr at some point. But will it be this summer? The Warriors coach is about to see his contract expire, and there haven’t been any reports of working on a new contract. Even though there’s occasionally been some tension between Kerr and owner Joe Lacob, the simple fact is that Kerr has an open invite to coach the Warriors for as long as Curry is on the roster. Curry very openly does not want to play for any other coach … but of course, it takes two to tango, and Kerr will have to make the decision.
So we’re asking Warriors fans: do you want to see Kerr return next year? Or would you prefer he call it quits, and the organization can bring in a new face?
It is possible to have an NBA game in the final week of the season where both teams care and have incentive to win.
It may be rare, but that is very much the case tonight with the Boston Celtics heading to face the New York Knicks with hopes of clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
My Celtics vs. Knicks predictions and these NBA picks are glad to consider legitimate rotations in a game with real stakes on Thursday, April 9.
Celtics vs Knicks prediction
Celtics vs Knicks best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 26.5 points (-115)
While the Boston Celtics are just about locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks could technically still catch them. That would require the Celtics to lose out and the Knicks to finish 3-0, but neither thought is impossible.
So, for once this week, both teams may play genuine basketball with their actual rotations.
Perhaps more earnestly, New York has to worry about Cleveland snagging the No. 3 seed, and Boston has to continue reintegrating Jayson Tatum into the lineup. His 15 games thus far have been quite impressive, but the Celtics should want even more consistency before the playoffs.
It very well may be Tatum is firmly the No. 2 option for Boston all spring behind Jaylen Brown. Brown’s 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season deserve more praise. He took a team expected to meander and has it firmly in the No. 2 spot in the East. Brown gave Tatum reason to return, and that made the Celtics the Eastern Conference favorites (+165 at bet365).
Brown has cleared this prop in eight of his last 10 games, both exceptions coming by merely the hook.That kind of production should be immune to New York’s slowed pace, particularly since Boston works at nearly as slow a tempo by default.
Celtics vs Knicks same-game parlay
What Jayson Tatum is doing is somewhat absurd. This is not to take away from his recovery or subsequent production. But he is shooting just 41.9% from the field and 33.8% from deep, while averaging 21.6 points. He has cleared this prop only three times in his 15 games back.
Tatum is, understandably, more focused on rebounds and assists than points currently, which should serve to further boost Brown.
Taking this first-half Under is entirely an acknowledgement that these are the two slowest teams in the NBA.
This may look absurd, but realize Tatum has cashed this exact same-game parlay once in his last three games and came a point away from doing so an additional time in his last four games.
He is not driving with abandon. Instead, he is pulling up from deep, albeit with inconsistent results, while looking to impact the game beyond scoring.
Celtics vs Knicks SGP
Jayson Tatum Under 24.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 3.5 3-pointers
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Jayson Tatum Over 5.5 assists
Celtics vs Knicks odds
Spread: Boston +4.5 | New York -4.5
Moneyline: Boston +155 | New York -185
Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5
Celtics vs Knicks betting trend to know
Boston has gone 10-5 against the spread this season with Jayson Tatum in the lineup. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Knicks.
How to watch Celtics vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video, MSG
Celtics vs Knicks latest injuries
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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 28: Baylor Scheierman #55, Anfernee Simons #4, Hugo Gonzalez #28 and Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on January 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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In this march (and April) to the playoffs, head coach Joe Mazzulla has been checking items off his to-do list.
First and foremost has been the assimilation of Jayson Tatum back into the rotation. It hasn’t exactly been seamless. There’s been the expected rust and acclimation to the speed and timing of the NBA game. He’s had to get his legs underneath him and after fourteen games, he’s starting to look like he’s got his quick twitch back.
Second, Brown’s game has shifted slightly to more scoring and less playmaking with his partner-in-crime back into the fold. During his Player of the Week campaign, he averaged he averaged 31 points, 5.5 rebounds, and (still getting his teammates involved with) 5.8 assists.
Third, Mazzulla has also trimmed the rotation. Before Tatum’s return, the Celtics routinely went ten-deep. But with everybody back and the injury list clean, Boston has gone to an 8-to-9-man depth chart:
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Derrick White
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luka Garza
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Now, with Nikola Vucevic back from a fractured finger that has had him out since Tatum’s return, will anything change? On Sunday, Vucevic replaced Garza in those backup big minutes. We’ve also seen Hugo Gonzalez effectively phased out over the last two weeks.
In a seven-game series, teams will systematically take things away and force teams to do something different. One of the benefits of this “gap year” has been getting intel for every player, from Jaylen Brown all the way down to Ron Harper Jr. who just signed a standard contract to be eligible for the playoffs. So, come Game 4, 5, 6, or even 7, Mazzulla could throw an unexpected curveball — or shall we say “uneXpected?”
X-factors have littered the Celtics long-storied history. Danny Ainge dusted off a retired P.J. Brown to join the 2008 run. The aptly named Xavier Tillman helped put Dallas on the brink in just twelve minutes in Game 3 of the Finals. Throughout the regular season, we’ve seen nearly every player either start or make an impact on the bench, so who’s your favorite x-factor heading into April, May, and June?
The NBA investigated a head-scratching move by the Sacramento Kings amid a crackdown on tanking, but the league found there was no foul play.
The league looked at a curious foul directed by head coach Doug Christie with his team up by one point with 3:15 left against the Warriors on Tuesday. Doug McDermott intentionally fouled Seth Curry, putting the Warriors guard at the line for free throws.
Sacramento (21-59) is one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and is on track to finish in the bottom five in the league.
The Kings were INTENTIONALLY fouling Seth Curry in crunch time to lose the game…
Sources claimed to ESPN that the move by Christie was a mistake, as he allegedly believed there was a foul to give and he wanted to get a timeout in before the clock ticked under three minutes.
The NBA believes that explanation.
“The NBA has completed an investigation of the Sacramento Kings and Head Coach Doug Christie’s decision to foul intentionally late in the team’s game against the Golden State Warriors on April 7. The league’s investigation determined that Christie mistakenly believed that the Warriors were not in the penalty and therefore instructed his team to foul in an attempt to stop the clock and utilize one of the team’s remaining timeouts,” the league said Wednesday in a statement. “The investigation found that Christie made no intentional effort to give the Warriors a shooting foul, or to cause the Kings to lose the game.”
The Kings went on to lose, 110-105, raising plenty of eyebrows, including Draymond Green’s.
“I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in the game for no reason. In the penalty,” the Warriors star said after the game. “I get fined when I do wrong. Fine the hell out of people. We love taking money from players.”
The Kings, who have been ravaged by injuries, were down by 13 in the third quarter and did take a three-point lead after the “mistake” by Christie in a 101-100 game, as Curry made one free throw before McDermott drained a 3-pointer.
But back to back 3-pointers by Golden State put the Warriors up for good.
Kings head coach Doug Christie gestures during a loss to the Warriors on April 7, 2026. AP
Christie did say after a win over the Jazz last month that “tanking is the last thing” he’d do.
The NBA recently presented three anti-tanking proposals to its board of governors, and they’re set to vote on them on May 28, per ESPN, which said the proposal with the most “momentum” is one in which 18 teams would be in the lottery: the bottom 10 teams and the eight teams that reach the play-in tournament.
Under that proposal, the bottom 10 teams would have an eight percent chance of moving up from their slot, while the remaining 20 percent would be split among the other eight teams.
Just a few days into the offseason, Duke has already seen two rotation pieces—Nik Khamenia and Darren Harris—enter the transfer portal. What the Blue Devils haven’t heard yet are any decisions regarding the NBA Draft.
Cam Boozer is surely off to be a Top 3 pick. Dame Sarr and Pat Ngongba have challenging stay-or-go decisions to make. But interestingly, most reporters with inside knowledge of the Duke program, including The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, are operating under the assumption that Isaiah Evans will join Boozer in the draft.
Even a couple of years ago this would be a no-brainer decision for Evans, who is consistently projected as a first-round pick and tested the draft waters last season. But things have changed drastically. Case in point: recent reporting from Jeff Goodman stating that top wings in the portal could demand around $3 million dollars this offseason.
The @TheFieldOf68 has polled 10-plus high-major head coaches, assistants and GM's for the following prices that elite (Top 25 guys) portal players will likely command: pic.twitter.com/hzs1Ie3XY9
Even that number could be low, with some reports stating that John Blackwell—one of the top scoring guards in the portal and a potential Duke target—could fetch closer to $5 million.
Goodman’s reporting, coming directly from coaches, is likely more realistic than the reported number for Blackwell (potentially put out by his agent to drive up his asking price). Still, if you split the difference and say a player of Evans’ caliber would demand $4 million in NIL, you’re faced with a fascinating thought experiment.
That sum would exceed the first year of a Rookie Scale NBA contract for any player drafted below 15 overall. By the time you reach the mid 20s—where Evans is most consistently projected—a $4 million NIL payday would dwarf the first year of an NBA contract by more than $1 million dollars.
There are, of course, other factors to consider than the raw dollars. Many players enter the NBA as early as possible so that their second contract—the first chance to get a 9 figure payday—comes in their prime. But many players drafted in Evans’ range don’t even reach that second deal, with a 2018 study finding that the average career for players drafted in the 20s in the first round is much closer to 5 (the maximum length of a Rookie contract) than 10 years. A player like Evans certainly maximizes his career earning potential by entering the NBA as early as possible, but very few hit that ceiling.
There’s also a unique confounding factor to making a draft decision this year—the 2026 Draft is universally viewed as one of the best in recent memory, while the 2027 is seen as much weaker. Were Evans to return to Duke, likely making more money in the 2026-27 season than he would in the NBA, he might also jump up in the 2027 Draft. Moving up from the 25th pick to the 15th pick would be worth millions more over the length of a rookie contract.
Finally, there’s this: college players are now getting paid more than some of their NBA counterparts to play less than half of the games. At Duke, you play those games consistently in front of a national television audience, rather than the local sports networks of your average NBA contest. That’s less wear and tear on your body and an increased potential to build a brand that will yield lucrative endorsements now and into the future.
It’s highly likely this is nothing more than an interesting thought experiment given the various reports on Evans’ status. But more Duke players will face similar decisions like this as the college game continues to change. For college stars, it may soon be the case that—with the notable exception of surefire lottery picks—the best purely financial decision will be to forego the draft as long as possible.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for the rebound during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A shooting star, seen as a symbol of hope and good luck, is actually just a small piece of rock or meteor burning while entering the Earth’s atmosphere. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves now sidelined for the rest of the regular season, LA’s late push shifts toward searching for any beams of light they can find.
Against OKC on Tuesday, that image shining in the sky was Adou Thiero. The moments gave flashes of a tantalizing athletic two-way wing while also being far enough away to notice the raw skills as a chunk of unmolded clay.
An already shorthanded purple and gold team was also playing without LeBron James. A valiant effort kept it close in the first half before the eventual takeover, as the number one seed led by as many as 41 points.
The rookie contributed to the early competitiveness. He immediately began flying around the floor after checking in. Watch as he rises for the impressive offensive rebound in the clip below, tracking it down and snatching it away from seven-foot Isaiah Hartenstein.
On the extra possession, Thiero cuts behind and attempts to finish over the top of the big man. He draws two of his ten free throws on the night. Getting to the line is one thing. Converting is another, as he finished 5-10 from the charity stripe, an example of both the potential and the unmolded clay.
His two field goals made were a spot-up 3-pointer and a double pump dunk off a baseline cut. The jumper is still as shaky as it was when he was drafted out of Arkansas. The swish on one was evened out by hitting the side of the backboard on the other.
Thiero took just three 3-pointers all season, but did shoot 9-14 during his South Bay tenure. It’s a small sample, but something the team hopes will translate next season.
The dunks are extremely fun to watch and help reverberate the hype around Thiero. Everything in between still needs clear work as the lack of creativity around the rim in traffic leads to turnovers or rushed decisions.
On defense, he flashed the potential of strong on-ball chops by leveraging that 220-pound frame and 6’4” height with a 7-foot wingspan. Watch below as he closes out on Lu Dort, a candidate for the strongest player in the association, absorbing the body blow and forcing a turnover.
He got impressive stops on the MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and first-time All-Star Chet Holmgren during the contest. As with most young players, those defensive wins are tempered by losses on certain possessions and by being out of sync with the team’s strategy on that end.
“The starting point for him has got to be playing hard, banshee mentality, all of those things, and I think he showed some signs of that in the G,” Redick said. “For him to be an NBA rotation player, it’s got to be every single night, every single possession, and that’s what we’re building for. And then obviously the skill work. He’s had a lot of trouble finishing this year, but we’re confident with his athleticism, he’ll build in his counters when he can’t dunk it. He’s going to end up being a really good player.”
It was a career high in minutes for Thiero against OKC, touching 20 minutes for the first time in his rookie season, a mark that Redick noted was “right at his minutes restriction” postgame. Thiero has dealt with constant injuries all season with a perfect representation of that being getting elbowed by Holmgren in the second quarter, leading to eight stitches.
That didn’t stop him from returning to the game. He gave Laker fans another look at one of the few bright spots in a blowout loss. He is a shooting star they are wishing on for better health next season.
“I’ve built confidence for sure, going out there and being able to still do a couple of the things that I usually do,” Thiero said. “Helps me definitely believe I belong. I can definitely do more of these things, so just trying to build that confidence a little bit more.”
The Houston Rockets still have a chance to catch the Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to move into the East’s No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets
The playoff scenarios on the line Thursday night are not that thrilling, but there are games that will have big impacts on the final seeding. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
Boston clinches the No. 2 seed in the East and the Atlantic Division crown with a win over the Knicks. Boston is going to be the No. 2 seed and the Atlantic Division champ regardless — it would have to lose out and New York would have to win out to flip that — but it all can become official tonight.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass
Toronto is one of five teams in the East that can finish anywhere from No. 5 to No. 9, with just two games separating them. Toronto currently sits as the No. 6 seed, avoiding the play-in, but it needs wins to stay there and this is a critical one. Miami is likely to be the No. 10 seed, but it has a chance to climb a spot or two if it wins out. The Heat had a players-only meeting after their last loss, we'll see if that has any impact tonight.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video
While Boston can lock up the No. 2 seed, this game matters more to the Knicks, which is now just half a game up on Cleveland, which sits fourth in the East. This game is a potential second-round playoff showdown, however, if Boston wins on the road it becomes much more possible it is not and Cleveland would jump up to third in the East by season's end.
Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
Both teams are in a playoff chase and need wins. Philadelphia is currently eighth in the East but could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th depending on how the final three games shake out — the 76ers desperately need wins. Houston appears headed for a 4/5 showdown with the shorthanded Lakers in the first round, though it could finish as high as third (which would require an unlikely collapse by Denver). The Rockets need a couple wins down the stretch to have home court against the Lakers in the first round, the teams are currently tied.
There are only four days remaining in the NBA regular season. Enjoy them.
Sure, we wine and moan about the half-assed efforts, mixed motivations, and full-on tanking during the home stretch, but with that chaos comes edges.
Soon enough, we’ll only have a handful of postseason games to pick from each day, and those odds will be far less forgiving than these final days of the schedule.
I make the most of this scattered late-season slate with my best NBA player props and NBA picks below.
The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat for the second time in three days tonight. Toronto is clinging to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and needs another impressive win, following Tuesday’s 121-95 squash.
R.J. Barrett was one of five Raptors to score in double figures, but Thursday’s prop pick singles out his playmaking.
The small forward finished with only two assists in that last meeting, marking just the third time in the past nine games Barrett hasn’t dished out four or more assists.
He and others had to pick up the ball-handling slack left by Immanuel Quickley’s recent injury. Quickley returned Tuesday but logged limited minutes, so Toronto still needs more playmaking from the likes of Barrett.
He registered seven potential assists against Miami last time out and averaged 6.6 potential dimes over the previous nine outings. The Heat have nosedived down the defensive rankings in recent months and have allowed 28.6 assists per game since the All-Star break (22nd).
Assist projections for Barrett all sit north of the 3.5 O/U, with the majority of models at four dimes with a ceiling flirting with five.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN-Sun, SportsNet
Prop #2: Alperen Sengun to record a double-double
+100 at bet365
I originally had Joel Embiid staying Under his points total in this game, but he was ruled out due to an emergency appendectomy.
The news hit while I was grocery shopping and prompted an early checkout and sprint back to the desk to update my NBA props. This brings me to Alperen Sengun.
The Houston Rockets' big man catches a break without Embiid in action tonight. The Philadelphia 76ers' defense declines without their center in the middle and also has a tougher time cleaning the glass.
Sengun is coming off a 12-point, 14-rebound effort against Phoenix and faces a much softer interior from Philadelphia, which will rely on the old bones of Andre Drummond and reserve Adem Bona to plug the massive gap left by Embiid’s illness.
His 34 double-doubles this season are tied for eighth in the NBA, and Sengun finished with 13 points and eight rebounds with Embiid in action when these teams last met in January.
Projections have Sengun well clear of 10 points, and his rebounding forecasts range from 8.9 to 10.8 boards versus the Sixers tonight.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, NBCS-Philadelphia
Prop #3: Mikel Bridges Over 12.5 points
+100 at bet365
The New York Knicks are guarding the No. 3 seed in the East in these final games of the season. The Knicks stay in MSG for all three closing contests and may get a gift from the Boston Celtics, who could rest a slew of starters tonight due to a back-to-back squeeze.
Mikal Bridges has been excellent against the rival Celtics this season, putting up efforts of 12, 14, and 35 points in three meetings. He’s an erratic scorer who runs hot and cold but appears be getting warm at the right time.
Bridges is averaging more than 14 points per game over his last eight outings while shooting 50% from the field in that span.
The Celtics could be without as many as four starters and opt to limit Jayson Tatum in the first of back-to-back games. Boston has climbed from a +3.5 underdog to +4.5, with that market move hinting the C’s plans for tonight.
Bridges projections all sit north of 13 points with a ceiling of 14.5. That could be even bigger if Boston rolls out a makeshift lineup and lies down for the Knicks.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have almost reached the end of the NBA regular season, which concludes on Sunday. There isn’t a ton of drama in these last few days of the regular season, as it is known which teams have clinched spots in the playoffs or play-in games.
The only bit of intrigue left comes from the Eastern Conference, where three teams sit less than two games behind in moving out of a play-in game spot and into the top six in the conference, which would guarantee them a spot in the actual playoffs.
Currently, seven former Ohio State players are on NBA rosters. Three of those players are playing for teams that will be a part of the NBA postseason, while the other four are on the worst teams in the league this year.
For those that are playing on teams occupying the bottom of the NBA standings, it isn’t all bad news, as the failings of their teams have allowed them to see more playing time than they might otherwise have had if their squads had been in playoff position.
Since we are so close to the end of the regular season, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the year has gone for those Buckeyes in the NBA, and what might lie ahead for those former Ohio State players who will be in the postseason this year.
Mike Conley – Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite playing a career-low 18.2 minutes per game, the last couple of months have been a bit of a wild ride for the former Ohio State guard.
Prior to the trade in early February, Conley was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade. A day later, Conley was then shipped by the Bulls to Charlotte with Coby White. The following day, Conley was waived by the Hornets, and after clearing waivers, he resigned with the Timberwolves on Feb. 17.
Minnesota will likely enter the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as with three games left to play, they are three games behind the Lakers and Rockets. The veteran looks like he is playing his best basketball of the season at the right time.
After entering April with three games this season where he scored at least 10 points, Conley has reached double digits in scoring in two of the three games he has played this month. The former Buckeye is finding his rhythm from behind the arc, going 9-16 from three-point range this month.
The 11 points he scored on Sunday against Charlotte were the first time he scored at least 10 points in a game since Nov. 19.
While Conley isn’t going to see a ton of time on the floor these days, he will undoubtedly be ready when his number is called for Minnesota in the playoffs. To go along with the star power Anthony Edwards brings to the table, Conley has the calming veteran influence that a team that is looking to get over the hump and finally make the NBA Finals brings to the table.
Brice Sensabaugh – Utah Jazz
The most exciting former Ohio State player in the NBA this season has been Brice Sensabaugh, who is averaging 14.9 points per game in just 23.6 minutes per game. Sensabaugh has seen his time on the court tick up throughout the season since he is playing for the Utah Jazz, who are actively trying to be the worst team in the NBA.
The Jazz have already had tanking allegations levied against them, and are currently tied with the Sacramento Kings for the worst record in the Western Conference.
When he has been given time on the court, Sensabaugh has been a scoring machine. After scoring 34 points in 43 minutes against Oklahoma City on Sunday, he now has four games this season with at least 30 points.
Following March, when he averaged 20.8 points per game, Sensabaugh is averaging 25 points per game through the four games he has played in April. Sensabaugh has been on fire from three-point range this month, hitting six triples in two of the four games in April.
It’s hard to say if Sensabaugh is a part of Utah’s long-term plans, since a lot of the future for the Jazz likely depends on where they land in the draft lottery. Judging by how he didn’t see much playing time earlier in the season when Utah was closer to fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Buckeye traded in the offseason, since there likely won’t be enough playing time next season to justify the Jazz keeping Sensabaugh.
Jae’Sean Tate – Houston Rockets
Another Buckeye who will join Conley in the playoffs is Jae’Sean Tate of the Houston Rockets. Judging by how little he has played during the regular season, it’s only likely that Tate will see the court in a blowout or if Houston suffers a number of injuries.
So far this season, Tate has appeared in 44 games, where he is averaging 8.4 minutes per game and 2.6 points per game.
Since Houston has clinched a spot in the playoffs, Tate has been used a little more in April, registering 33 minutes across those games. On April 3 against Utah, Tate finished with seven points against Utah, which is only bettered this year by the eight points he scored in an early February game against Indiana.
Much like Conley, Tate could be valuable in the postseason since he is a veteran. Tate is in his sixth season in the NBA, so he knows he could be called upon at any time. If Tate gets on the floor in the playoffs, expect him to give everything he has to help Kevin Durant and the Rockets make a run at the title.
Jamison Battle – Toronto Raptors
The third former Buckeye playing for a playoff team this year is Jamison Battle. The Toronto Raptors are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, but are just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. As long as the Raptors don’t fall below sixth place, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament that starts next week.
After one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle is now in his second season with the Toronto Raptors. Following a rookie season where he started 10 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per game, Battle has seen his minutes cut to 8.7 per game during the 2025-26 season. Along with his dip in minutes, Battle is only averaging 3.2 points per game this season.
Battle’s best game in 2026 came last month against Utah when he recorded 17 points, which has only been topped by the 20 points he scored on Oct. 31 against Cleveland. So far in April, Battle has appeared in three games, but has only registered nine minutes of playing time during those contests.
Don’t expect Battle to be on the court much once the playoffs hit, since Toronto looks to have its rotation set.
E.J. Liddell – Brooklyn Nets
One former Ohio State player who looks like they are going to have a strong close to the regular season is E.J. Liddell. After he was taken in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Liddell suffered a knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines during the 2022-23 season.
Following the tough start to his NBA career, Liddell has struggled to find traction, appearing in just 20 games over the next two seasons.
Although Liddell has only played in 23 games this year, he has at least recorded the first two starts of his professional career. Entering April, Liddell had scored 55 points this season for the Nets. In two games this month, Liddell has registered 36 points, with his season high coming on Tuesday night when he finished with 21 points against Milwaukee.
It’s unlikely Liddell’s future lies with Brooklyn, since the Nets likely don’t have an idea of what they are doing going forward. At least the strong close to the regular season for Liddell might entice other teams to take a chance on the former Buckeye, since he is still pretty young and talented.
Micah Potter – Indiana Pacers
Despite Potter opting to transfer to Wisconsin to close out his college basketball career after starting his career at Ohio State, we’ll update you on how his season is going.
Since Indiana’s year has been a mess after Tyrese Haliburton was injured during the NBA Finals last season, Potter has seen more playing time as the end of the season has drawn closer. The big man has played in 44 games, averaging 9.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Potter is coming off one of his best performances of the season, recording a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday against Cleveland. The double-double was the fourth of the season for Potter. The only higher-scoring output Potter has registered this season came in February when he finished with 23 points against Philadelphia.
The future for Indiana isn’t clear since so much hinges on Haliburton returning to the court healthy last year. Also, the Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. With how Potter has been able to provide solid production when called on throughout his four seasons in the league, a team will likely pick up the former Buckeye and Badger if Indiana decides not to bring him back next season.
D’Angelo Russell – Washington Wizards
There isn’t a lot to report on the former Ohio State guard, since he hasn’t played since Jan. 10, when he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.
Russell was packaged with Anthony Davis in the trade that sent them to the Washington Wizards. Neither player has suited up for the Wizards, who currently have the worst record in the NBA. Russell will finish the season averaging 10.2 points per game in the 26 contests he appeared in.
Finding value in fantasy drafts is essential to win a league title. While some of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball will be more productive in their expected roles, others will take full advantage of new opportunities.
Whether that's through a change in scenery or injuries to other players, those who exceed expectations are capable of delivering fantasy managers a league title. Below are some of the biggest surprises in fantasy basketball this season.
Coming off of a 2024-25 season in which he was one of the NBA's best reserves, Alexander-Walker appeared likely to take on a similar role after his move from Minnesota to Atlanta. Then, Trae Young suffered a knee injury during the Hawks' fifth game of the season, and Alexander-Walker has been a fixture in the starting lineup ever since. For the season, he's averaged 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.2 three-pointers per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the foul line.
Alexander-Walker began the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks; he'll end it as a player providing third-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. And from a non-fantasy standpoint, he's the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player honors.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Despite his scoring and rebounding averages taking a hit last season in comparison to his 2023-24 numbers, Duren was expected to provide consistent fantasy value in the middle for the Pistons this season. However, few may have expected the leap that the fourth-year center made as a scorer. Earning his first All-Star Game appearance, Duren has averaged a career-best 19.5 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the foul line. Add in the rebounding prowess, and Duren has provided reliable top-50 fantasy value.
F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
There was a sense that first-year head coach Mike Brown's offensive approach would benefit the Knicks' wings, as it put the ball in their hands more often. And Anunoby made the most of his opportunities. In 65 games, he has averaged 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Beginning the season with a Yahoo! ADP outside of the top-60, Anunoby has been ranked comfortably within the top-50 for most of this season.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP in the eighties, Clingan has provided top-50 fantasy value in his second NBA season. In 75 games, the 7-foot-2 center has averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers, shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the foul line.
Emerging as one of the best centers to roster for those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Clingan's willingness to attempt shots from the perimeter is worth watching. After attempting 49 three-pointers as a rookie, he's made 80 this season, shooting 33.8 percent. That isn't an elite percentage, but Clingan has the potential to make the three-pointer a reliable aspect of his game as he continues to develop.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon rupture and subsequent departure from Milwaukee opened the door for Rollins to compete for minutes this season, few fantasy managers expected him to be as valuable as he would become. A starter in 67 of the 74 games he has appeared in, Rollins has averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 79.6 percent from the foul line.
To receive top-50 production from a player likely added off the waiver wire during a solid opening month of the season is the kind of transaction that can win fantasy managers a league title.
C Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Even with Queta's solid showing for Portugal at EuroBasket just before the start of this season, some questioned if he could separate himself from the competition for the starting center job in Boston. The 7-footer did so, starting 73 of the 74 games that he's appeared in.
Queta heads into the postseason with career-best averages in points (10.3), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.6), steals (0.8) and blocks (1.3) while shooting 65.1 percent from the field and 69.9 percent from the foul line. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks, Queta has provided reliable top-100 value in his first NBA season as a starter.
G Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
Gillespie's fantasy value took a hit during the latter stages of this season thanks to a shooting slump, but that does not erase the work done to earn a consistent role in Phoenix. A starter in 57 of his 79 games, the third-year guard has averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 87.4 percent from the foul line. "Villain Jr." carved out a consistent role for himself, and the timing could not be better, as Gillespie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
F Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans
Sent to New Orleans as part of a three-team deal headlined by CJ McCollum, Bey has enjoyed a career year after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign rehabbing from a torn ACL. In 72 games, starting 64, he has averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line.
Bey took advantage of opportunities that came about due to injury to other Pelicans rotation players, locking down a spot in the starting lineup. As a result, a player who was not on the radar of most fantasy managers will end the season providing top-100 value.
Honorable Mention (they were good before the injuries hit)
F Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
While the expectation of many was that Porter's numbers would receive a boost in Brooklyn, few expected him to be close to a top-25 player before his season came to a premature end in mid-March. Fantasy managers in most leagues could not benefit during their playoff rounds, but that doesn't erase the fact that Porter averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers.
G Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
There were questions heading into the season about whether George was the right point guard to lead the Jazz into the future. Not anymore. In 54 games, he averaged career-highs in points, assists and steals, and his field-goal percentage jumped from 39.1 percent in 2024-25 to 45.6 percent this season. It will be interesting to see how George's fantasy value will be affected by Utah's improved rotation in 2026-27.
C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
While Sarr finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting last season, the production did not pick up until after the All-Star break. He made notable strides in Year 2, with his averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all improving. Sarr's improved strength allowed him to spend more time in the paint, which helped increase his impact on both ends of the floor, and his fantasy value increased as well.
Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. We've done MVP, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Today, let's get into Sixth Man of the Year. Here's where we stand.
Sixth Man of the Year
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Keldon Johnson
While statistics matter to me in what was a tight race between the Spurs' Keldon Johnson and the Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr., it was the tone Johnson set, the way he leads in the San Antonio locker room, that was the difference. He's the longest-serving Spur on the roster, and the positive vibes in the locker room start with him. Pair that with his highly efficient shooting and he gets my vote. But just barely.
If it weren't for Ajay Mitchell missing so many games in the middle of the season, he would have won this award for me.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Keldon Johnson
This could have been Ajay Mitchell's or Isaiah Stewart's award but both have missed significant time. It likely comes down to Johnson or Jaime Jaquez Jr. Give the edge to Keldon for far superior efficiency (62.5% true shooting vs. Jaquez's 56.1%) and his team being likely to finish 15+ wins ahead of Jaquez's in the standings.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Keldon Johnson
Johnson's production off the bench is one reason why the Spurs have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season. He's averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, leading the way for a team that ranks ninth in the league in bench scoring (41.4 ppg).
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
To me, this is a two-man race between Jaquez and Keldon Johnson. Jaquez averages more points per game, more steals per game, 0.2 fewer rebounds per game, and 3.3 more assists per game. Jaquez also had stretches during the season where he was the offensive engine for the Heat when Tyler Herro or Norman Powell were out. I know the Spurs were a better team than the Heat, but I think the Heat don't even make the play-in tournament without Jaquez.
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to hang onto home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They are currently seeded fourth in the Western Conference but have an identical record as the No. 5 Houston Rockets. The Golden State Warriors are locked into the No. 10 seed and will have to win two games in the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
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Raphielle Johnson