MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies made 29 3-pointers Monday night against Cleveland, matching an NBA single-game record.
And it wasn't enough.
Nine Grizzlies made at least one 3 in a 142-126 loss to the Cavaliers. The Grizzlies shot 49.2% (29 for 59) from deep and 45.7% (16 for 35) from inside the arc.
The 3-point record had been shared by Milwaukee and Boston. The Bucks made 29 3s in a 144-97 victory at Miami on Dec. 29, 2020, and the Celtics equaled the record in a 132-109 win against the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024.
“I think we can be pretty proud of how we played with this group today on the court,” Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “Guys wanted to go for it in the end, and we were all for it. Unfortunately couldn't set a singular record, but tied it. Nonetheless, very proud of our group.”
The Grizzlies made 10 3s in the first quarter, three in the second, six in the third and 10 in the final period.
The Cavaliers went 12 for 32 from 3 for the game.
“Incredible shooting performance by the Grizzlies. Give them credit,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They shot the heck out of the ball.”
Memphis reserves Adama Bal and Dariq Whitehead each made six 3-pointers. Lucas Williamson went 5 for 12 from deep, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper was 4 for 5.
The Grizzlies lost for the 18th time in their last 20 games. They were averaging 13.7 made 3-pointers per game coming into the day.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.
Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.
Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points apiece for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.
Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a three-point lead. McCollum took an inbounds pass near the free-throw line and took two dribbles before launching a shot that banked in. But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.
It was the Hawks’ first home loss since early February and put an end to Atlanta’s 13-game home win streak.
Brunson led New York with 30 points and 13 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. MVP chants erupted in State Farm Arena as a 17-point fourth quarter from Brunson carried New York to its 51st win of the season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 36 points, 20 coming in the first half to help Atlanta to a 57-53 lead at halftime.
CAVALIERS 142, GRIZZLIES 126
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland beat Memphis despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.
Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.
Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis’s franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis’ franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.
SPURS 115, 76ERS 102
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Philadelphia after Victor Wembanyama left in the first half due to a left rib contusion.
Wembanyama’s status for the final week of the regular season is unknown.
San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.
Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (43-36) are a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Memphis 142-126 on Monday night despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.
Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.
Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis's franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis' franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.
Cleveland trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before using a 31-12 run to lead 68-64 at the break. Keon Ellis scored 16 points in the first half, and Mobley and Schroder each added 12. Schroder also had eight assists.
Cleveland outscored Memphis 28-16 over the first eight-plus minutes of the third quarter to build a 96-80 lead. Sam Merrill made a baseline jumper with 0.3 seconds left in the third for a 101-90 lead.
Merrill finished with 21 points for Cleveland and Ellis scored 19. Jarrett Allen moved into eighth place for blocks in franchise history with 431. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden did not play for Cleveland in the second game of a back-to-back.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 24 points for Memphis, which finished 13-27 at home this season. Dariq Whitehead and Adama Bal each had 20 points off the bench with six 3-pointers. Lucas Williamson added five 3-pointers and 17 points.
Memphis opened the second half with its 14th 3-pointer — in just 28 attempts.
Up next
Cavaliers: Play Wednesday in the first of two games against Atlanta.
Grizzlies: Close the season with three road games, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 6: Dennis Schroder #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 6, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
NOTE: I retroactively took half a grade away from everyone tonight for the three-point defense. That’s what happens when your opponent matches the NBA record for threes made.
Allen was in his bag tonight. His behind-the-back dribble into a monster dunk was my favorite moment of the game. But he also rejected the Grizzlies at the rim and showed his usual two-way impact throughout the night.
The Cavs are getting the most out of Allen, who is visibly still working through some discomfort in his knee.
Grade: B+
Evan Mobley
24 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds
Mobley had a favorable matchup all night. The Cavs did a fine job of taking advantage of that, repeatedly dumping the ball to Mobley and playing off his gravity. The result was a game-high 24 points for Mobley on 9-11 shooting.
I’m going to ding him slightly for not revving the engines even more. This could have been a 30+ point game for Mobley with the way he was rolling.
Grade: B+
Keon Ellis
19 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Ellis is in a groove. He scored 16 points in the first half on 6-9 shooting and delivered an electric dunk to help Cleveland erase a 17-point deficit. His 8 assists are perhaps the most impressive part of this stat line. The Grizzlies began to overcommit, and Ellis made them pay with his playmaking.
This is back-to-back games from Porter where I felt like he was matching his impact from earlier in the season. He filled up the box score by being everywhere all at once. He’s a lot of fun to watch, especially in a league that has moved away from players like Porter in favor of more three-point specialists.
Grade: A
Sam Merrill
21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Merill scored about half of his points in the third quarter. This was a stage of the game where it felt like Cleveland was truly pulling away. His three-level scoring has been a surprise development, and Merrill is proving he earned every penny of his offseason extension.
Similar to Porter, Tomlin just put together two of his better games of 2026. He’s rediscovered his niche by being an energizer who assaults the glass on every possession.
Grade: A-
Dennis Schroder
22 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds
Schroder looks much better when he’s free to be the lead guard. He’s not someone who can thrive as an off-ball player. We understand that Schroder isn’t consistent enough to play this role for long on a winning team — but he’s clearly capable of being a substitute when you’re in a pinch.
He shot 8-12 and dished out a game-high 11 assists. That’s a big boost when you’re missing both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
Grade: A
Larry Nance Jr
10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Nance again provided quality minutes with the bench. I’m not sure if he’s done enough to warrant any minutes in the playoffs, but it’s good to see Nance dust off his shoulders before the season ends.
Grade: B
Tyrese Proctor
10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals
The rook is getting some run before the season ends, and he’s likely out of the rotation. These are valuable reps for Proctor as he prepares for an offseason of improvement. The raw potential is there, but it will be hard for him to be truly impactful when he shoots 2-8 from the floor like tonight.
Credit for getting to the line and making up for it.
Apr 6, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) reacts during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Sam Merrill added 21, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 for their 50th win of the season. Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup after resting Sunday night against Indiana, scoring 13 points and blocking two shots. The Cavs’ bench did their part too, with four reserves scoring in double-digits.
After securing a playoff spot and with a healthy lead in the standings for the fourth seed, the Cavs opted to rest their star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. During the game, the Cavs also locked up no worse than fourth in the conference after the Atlanta Hawks lost to the New York Knicks.
With some level of concern regarding Allen’s knee, it was good to see him getting up and down the floor with ease and making athletic plays. In one sequence in the second quarter, he swatted a dunk attempt at the rim and came right back down the court with an and-one on a tough reverse lay-in. The Cavs will be cautious with his minutes in these somewhat less essential games, but it’s important for Allen to stay sharp after his absences over the last month or so.
Mobley imposed his size and athleticism, which should be expected against a team that was playing mostly reserves and G League players. It would’ve been nothing short of concerning had Mobley put forth a bad game, especially since he sat out the night before. His 9-11 shooting from the floor was especially impressive, and some of those makes were good post moves and offensive process.
Take the starters out of the equation, and there were some definite positives for the Cavs. Seemingly every quarter, one player put themselves on display and made an impact. Nae’Qwan Tomlin had an energy-filled first quarter that helped keep the Cavs within striking distance. Keon Ellis had an excellent second quarter, punctuated by a three with just over a second left in the half. Even the venerable Larry Nance Jr. had some quality minutes, an opportunity he will likely have for the remainder of the regular season.
Craig Porter Jr. (11 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and Tyrese Proctor (10 points, three steals) played well in more expanded minutes without Mitchell or Harden, and Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists in the starting lineup. It was a very balanced effort from the Cavs overall, the kind of game that allows each player to shine for at least a little bit. And tonight, there were quite a few players who fit that.
The Cavs will get two days off before coming back home tk play the Hawks, potentially an early preview of a first-round playoff matchup. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m from Rocket Arena.
Apr 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Spurs returned home from an OT loss in Denver to close the regular season on a four-game home stand, beginning against a fully healthy Philadelphia 76ers squad. Although they lost Victor Wembanyama to a bruised rib at halftime, everyone contributed in a team effort to methodically break down the 76ers defense and make life as difficult as possible on their way to a 115-102 win.
Six Spurs score in double figures, led by a 19-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, and Wemby had 17 points in one half, as did Dylan Harper off the bench. Joel Embiid scored 34 points, including 16-19 from the free throw line, but the Spurs held Paul George and Tyrese Maxey in check, who combined for 31 points on 11-31 shooting.
Observations
The Spurs seemed to be suffering a bit from “first game back” syndrome early on after playing three straight and six of seven on the road, lacking energy and being reckless with the ball while the 76ers were hot from three, especially Paul George, who had 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter. The Spurs finally woke up a bit for a 7-2 run to close the quarter and take a one-point lead, but five turnovers, including a couple during that run, held them back.
Every team’s last-week biggest fear occured early in the first quarter when Embiid hobbled out after tweaking his knee as Castle drove by, and Castle soon followed after appearing to bang knees with Wemby. Fortunately, Embiid returned with three minutes left in the first quarter (but was still hobbling and stretching it out when he could), and Castle was soon back on the bench after a brief visit to the locker room and re-entered to start the second quarter.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of injury scares. Early in the second quarter, Wemby headed to the locker room after colliding with George on a fast break, appearing to favor his left side. He returned midway through the quarter, although he was wincing at times (such as when he collided with Embiid on an and-one) and visited with trainer Will Sevening during breaks in play. He headed to the locker room with under a minute left in the half and did not return, diagnosed with a left rib contusion. Hopefully the Spurs simply decided there was no reason to risk anything more and are just being cautious. That being said, he did get 16 minutes in, so this counts as his second “near miss exception” towards his 65-game count, which includes the NBA Cup Final, so he just needs one more 20-minute game to meet the requirement for awards.
With Embiid slow to get back on defense, even when staying on his feet, the Spurs finally figured out that attacking in transition was the way to go, with 11 fast break points at the half. When their defense did get set, they simply forced Embiid to have to move on defense and slid right by him. Although he had a big second quarter with 17 of his 20 first-half points, the Spurs still added six points to the lead by taking better care of the ball and attacking the weak points in the 76ers defense.
The 76ers started the third quarter on a 10-3 run before the Spurs responded with a 9-0 run and led by as much as 11, but they struggled while being forced to play small lineups and keeping Embiid off the foul line. Philly got as close as two points before the Spurs closed the quarter on a quick 5-0 run, including a three from Dylan Harper just before the buzzer.
The Spurs continued to ride that energy and out-hustle the 76ers in the fourth quarter, grabbing tough rebounds and maintaining a double-digit lead it almost the entire time. The win gives them their first 60-win season since 2017 and 8th overall. Also, combined a Pistons loss to the Magic tonight, this means the Spurs have secured home court advantage in the Finals, although they are a long way and tough road away from even worrying about that.
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 6: Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounds the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 6, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Memphis Grizzlies on the second night of a back-to-back. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Keon Ellis
This was a fantastic 48 hours for Keon Ellis.
He started the week by nailing 3-of-7 three-point attempts in Cleveland’s win over the Pacers. Then, he followed it up with another big shooting night on the road — scoring 16 points and nailing another three three-pointers in the first half against Memphis.
We’ve seen shades of Ellis that we didn’t even know existed. The three-point stroke is pure, but some of his on-ball attacks have really surprised me. In particular, he had a drive out of the baseline that turned into a totally unexpected across-his-body dunk.
This rangy athleticism has made Ellis the type of player who can rack up steals and blocks. But seeing him use it on the drive is just as exciting. He’s quickly filling in offensively as another multifaceted guard who can shoot, cut, dribble, and attack the basket.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen Handles
Life is always better when Allen is on the court.
Allen’s been the heart and soul of the Cavaliers this season. He put that on full display once again tonight with a handful of jaw-dropping plays.
— Jaylon Tyson Fan Club (@IsaacOkoroFan) April 7, 2026
We had a few to choose from. His monster block in the first half, followed by an and-one finish, was pretty sweet. But I have to shout out this filthy behind-the-back move into a thunderous dunk as the play of the night.
WINNER – Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Craig Porter Jr.
Porter and Tomlin were two unlikely heroes earlier in the season. Their timely contributions helped the Cavs stay above water during a treacherous start to the year. Since then, the team has slightly moved past the need for them.
Tonight was different.
This was probably the best game that either of them has played since before the All-Star break. Tomlin, especially, delivered a much-needed performance to prove that converting his contract was worth it. Tomlin was everywhere, gobbling up 4 offensive rebounds and 9 boards overall.
Tomlin’s energy can raise the floor for this team. We saw it a bunch in the ‘ber months. He’s had a more difficult time staying on the court recently — but his work ethic remains his greatest strength. Tomlin simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.
As for Porter, he continues to play bigger than his size. Brad Duaghtery referred to him as “little Wemby” tonight. And, while yes, that’s an insane thing to say. Is he entirely wrong…? Porter is better at blocking shots and grabbing boards than he is at being a modern-NBA point guard. He’s a big man stuck in a 6’1” frame.
Quirky comparisons aside, Porter helped fuel a comeback run for the Cavs with his rebounding and strong defensive impact. Porter had 2 blocks and 2 steals to go with 8 rebounds.
LOSER – Three-Point Defense
I mean, come on, Cavs.
There’s only so much you can say at this point. Even with injuries across the board for both teams — one simple truth remains. Opposing teams can light them up from downtown.
The Grizzlies entered this game 21st in three-point percentage. That didn’t stop them from shooting 29-59 from deep in this one. That’s tied for the most three-pointers in NBA history.
I can’t stress enough how much leeway I’ve given the Cavs in recent years when it comes to defending the three-point line. I fully understand that three-point variance can paint an inaccurate picture on any given night.
But we are long past the point of blaming luck on anything happening to the Cavs this season. If a team ties history against you, it’s time to face the music.
Of course, neither team was anywhere near full strength. That adds a dose of unpredictability that I’m willing to acknowledge. However, the Cavs remain near the bottom of the league in terms of opponent three-point shooting. That’s a full-season trend that’s impossible to ignore.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 6: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 6, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Man, it would have been nice to steal that one.
The Sixers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 115-102 Monday night.
They are now 43-36 and have again dropped a half game below the sixth seed in the East.
Joel Embiid, clearly with some extra juice for this matchup, led the Sixers with 34 points and 12 rebounds shooting 8-of-20 from the floor. Tyrese Maxey struggled mightily, finishing with 15 points and eight assists on six-of-16 shooting. Paul George opened the game on another heater and ended with 16 points going 5-of-15 from the floor.
VJ Edgecombe had 14 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-15 shooting. Victor Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks before being ruled out after halftime with a rib contusion. Stephon Caslte led the Spurs with 19.
Cam Payne (hamstring) and Johni Broome (knee) were the Sixers out due to injury.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
On the Spurs’ second possession of the game Embiid got up to block a Wembanyama layup attempt, but got rolled over in the process of landing. He played the opening minutes of the game but was really laboring through it. He was favoring his knee, but didn’t leave the bench at the first timeout called.
Joel Embiid is staying in the game here early but it looks like he's feeling some pain after this collision/fall with Wemby.
Some wincing and struggling to get up and down the court right after. Again, still in the game though! Just something to watch. pic.twitter.com/JgPUT1iiLn
Despite the looming existential threat, the Sixers were off to another excellent offensive start thanks to PG. He nailed all three of his threes on his way to an 11-point quarter, keeping the Sixers ahead as the Spurs got going. Embiid had still managed to hold them to a 1-of-6 start with two turnovers.
Still looking rather hobbled, Embiid checked back in after four minutes of rest and got on the board with a jumper set up by a Maxey pocket pass. That initially put the Sixers up five, but replay would show that Kelly Oubre Jr.’s foot was on the sideline to negate the three-pointer he had made. That timeout put a half in the Sixers’ momentum — a turnover and a blocked shot giving the Spurs fast breaks. After shooting 54% from the field in the first, the Spurs led by one.
Second Quarter
The physicality of this game only picked up when George and Wembanyama each tagged each other pretty hard. George took quite a bonk to the head and almost definitely should have drawn a foul on his layup that was blocked. He was whistled though for getting Wemby in the side pretty good, a hard foul that had him take a breather as well.
Embiid’s early rest allowed him to play all of the second. He settled in offensively, putting up 16 in the quarter. He definitely felt more comfortable in the moment as his jumper continued to fall. He attempted the off the backboard lob to himself after beating Wemby on a pump fake. It wasn’t the cleanest lob off the glass and Wemby recovered enough to foul him. He capped off what was becoming quite a duel between the two with this stepback.
Edgecombe had another reserved start, but he became one of the few Sixers other than Embiid to make a field goal in the quarter. Maxey on the other hand wasn’t able to do so. He did have seven assists to only two turnovers but went 0-of-5 in a scoreless first half. The Spurs led by seven at the half.
Third Quarter
It turned out to be more than a breather for Wembanyama as the Spurs started the second half without him. He was ruled out with a rib contusion. If he misses another game he won’t be able to qualify for All-NBA or awards. If there’s one thing that will get the 65-game ruled tweaked or revoked it’ll be that guy being accolade-less in a couple of years.
The Sixers took advantage of the momentum, starting the half on an 11-2 run. Maxey finally got on the board when by getting to the line before George and Embiid set each other up for threes. A quick three in response followed by a bad Maxey turnover helped the Spurs respond instantly with a 10-0 run of their own.
Maxey finally hit a three for his first field goal of the night. That was his only shot attempt of his six-minute shift. The offense was stagnant in trying to compensate. Edgecombe had his midrange pull-up falling but was cold from deep — albeit a good chunk of his three-point attempts were grenades.
Both offenses had gotten stuck in the mud. San Antonio went over four minutes without scoring. The Sixers could only incrementally eat into the lead, with a pair of Embiid free throws here and dunker find to Dominick Barlow there. Maxey looked a bit better checking back in, going 1-of-2 on a pair of floaters and hitting a difficult layup. Barlow faked a dribble hand-off to get an open dunk but missed it, and the Spurs ran out to get an open three off the miss. Barlow was able to get a prayer of a three up just before the buzzer, but it cruelly rimmed out, keeping the Sixers in a seven-point deficit.
Fourth Quarter
Maxey got to the rim for a layup on the Sixers’ first possession of the quarter, but again, it didn’t unlock his level of aggression. It would be almost another four minutes before his next shot. Defensively, the Sixers’ opponent was taking an extraordinarily amount of attempts at the rim. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Spurs had taken 45% of their shots from that range to this point in the game.
After sitting the first four and a half minutes, Embiid checked back into a 12-point deficit. He got to the line of his first possession back, but the barrage of jumpers the Sixers had settled into were not falling enough to close the deficit.
Embiid broke up a spell of three contested jumpers, driving to the paint and getting fouled. He was only able to split the pair at the line and that basically sealed the Sixers fate. After a quick layup, the Sixers won possession back when the ball went out of bounds via a challenge, but Maxey turned it over coming out of the review. Castle stripped Embiid and finished the fast break layup to make sure of it.
After two consecutive dud performances from Jalen Brunson — and after he struggled for most of Monday’s game against the Hawks — the point guard emerged as he often does: when it matters most.
Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter of a 108-105 victory over the Hawks, including the biggest buckets of the evening — a go-ahead pull-up jumper with 30 seconds remaining, and then the final free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
“It wasn’t necessarily going his way the whole night. But he stayed with it and did what great players are supposed to do and carried us home down the stretch,” coach Mike Brown said.
Still, the victory was in doubt after the final buzzer, as the referees reviewed a banked-in half-court heave from Atlanta’s CJ McCollum — which would’ve sent the game into OT. But the attempt was determined invalid because it occurred after the buzzer, and the Knicks left here with their biggest win in more than a month.
It was also a lesson learned for Brown, who advised Brunson to hit his final free throw with 1.2 seconds left rather than miss on purpose and burn the clock. That almost came back to burn the Knicks. Almost.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
“It’s tricky. If he misses it, obviously it’s a long heave. But if you foul him on the rebound or you foul him when he’s turning to heave it now they get three free throws,” Brown said. “It’s something we’ve talked about before — it’s still a toss-up situation. … The whole thing was at worst they’ll tie it and we’ll go to overtime. Lesson learned on a couple possessions down the stretch.”
Other than the pre-buzzer dramatics, the game served as a reminder of Brunson’s greatest strength come playoff time — the ability to create for himself in the most pressurized situations off the dribble — and that the Knicks, despite their flaws, have an equalizer for sticky situations.
Until that fourth quarter, Brunson was misfiring. He shot just 11-for-26 for the evening — albeit often in a facilitator role with 13 assists — hounded by Atlanta double-teams and All-Defensive selection Dyson Daniels.
But the Knicks deployed a two-man game with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in clutch time, allowing the point guard to shake off the double teams. And it unlocked a powerful offense down the stretch.
“I thought we did a great job today of utilizing [the two-man game with myself and Brunson],” said Towns, who finished with 21 points, 12 boards and six assists. “When the game got dicey, the coaching staff and our teammates leaned on us to have that two-man game show up when we needed it the most. And it worked. We have a good rapport where I think that, what you saw at the end of the game with me and JB allows him not to have so much pressure on him and allows me to help him out and do what I do best, cause gravity which allows him to get a step on a defender and that’s all he needs to score.”
This result mattered to the Knicks. That was obvious. After five straight losses against teams with winning records — and with the playoffs around the corner — Brown used his likely playoff rotation with heavy minutes for his two top performers — Brunson (39 minutes) and OG Anunoby (37).
With Charles Oakley watching from the third row, the Knicks were stuck in the mud until about midway through the third quarter, when they used a 20-8 run to recover from a double-digit deficit.
New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) dunks the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Then it became Brunson time.
“The ball found a way to go in the hoop for me,” he said.
Both teams were motivated. It carried the look and feel of an important NBA game in April, a rarity. There were playoff implications.
The scorching-hot Hawks (45-34), winners of 18 of their last 20 games before Monday, are trying to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in three years. They’re trying to secure the fifth seed.
The Knicks (51-28) clinched a postseason berth but are still in the mix for seeds Nos. 2-4. The victory Monday meant greater emphasis on Thursday’s game at the Garden against the Celtics, with the No. 2 seed still very much in play.
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
Beyond the seeding implications, the Knicks need to build momentum heading into a postseason with the highest expectations since at least Jeff Van Gundy roamed the sideline.
As owner James Dolan made clear in January, it’s Finals or bust.
“We put the antennas up for the rest of the league as well,” Towns said. “They know what we can do.”
But even though everybody knows what New York’s closer can do, it’s hard to stop Brunson down the stretch. The Hawks became the latest victim — but also the first victim in a while for the point guard.
“It’s huge to know a guy like Jalen can shoot and score the way he does,” Brown said. “On top of that, he’s crafty.”
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama suffered a bruised left rib and was ruled out of the second half of the San Antonio Spurs' game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.
Wembanyama took an inadvertent elbow to the ribs from Paul George when the Philadelphia forward was attempting to deflect a pass as the 7-foot-4 center was sprinting up court on a fastbreak with 10:49 remaining in the first half. Wembanyama remained on the court for a minute while George patted him on the backside apologetically.
Wembanyama subbed out of the game 13 seconds later and immediately went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while keeping his arm pressed to his side.
Wembanyama returned with 5:33 remaining in the period, and asked San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson to take him out with 44 seconds remaining in the first half. He again went into the tunnel leading to the locker room while holding his arm to his side and was ruled out at the start the second half.
Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks while playing 15:40 in the first half.
The 22 year old Most Valuable Player candidate left San Antonio’s game Monday, April 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers with a left rib contusion. Suddenly, his candidacy for individual awards is in jeopardy.
Wembanyama appeared to suffer the injury after drawing contact multiple times in the first half. Late in the second quarter, with 2:56 left to play in the half, Wembanyama made a layup and bumped into Spurs forward Keldon Johnson as he landed. Wembanyama immediately grimaced and labored through the free throw. Earlier in the game, he also collided with Sixers forward Paul George.
Wembanyama was not out on the floor at the start of the second half, and backup center Luke Kornet started in his place. The Spurs announced shortly afterward that he would miss the remainder of the game with the rib injury.
“I think it would be a positive that he felt he could play the last four-to-five minutes of the half,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters after the game. “That’s a positive from my perspective, but I have nothing (on his future status).”
In 15:40 minutes of action Monday night, Wembanyama scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 assist.
“At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back, and honest to God, I haven’t heard anything else at this point,” Johnson added.
Because the NBA Cup Championship counts toward the 65-game rule for individual award eligibility, and because the league grants two exceptions for games in which a player recorded between 15 and 20 minutes, counting those as full games, Wembanyama’s time on the floor Monday night will count as his 64th game this season.
That means he will need to play in at least one of San Antonio’s remaining three games, and he’ll need to record at least 20 minutes on the floor to be eligible for individual awards.
Wembanyama’s first partial game exception came in a 119-94 victory over the Washington Wizards December 18, in which he played 17:18.
Wembanyama entered the night as the heavy favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and was also a candidate for MVP. He was averaging 24.9 points, 11. 6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game this season, while shooting 50.9% from the field, entering Monday night's game.
Apr 6, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
On Monday night, the Atlanta Hawks hit the floor at home for a game against the New York Knicks. Atlanta came into this one winners of four in a row, while New York was looking to push its own streak to three straight victories.
This contest was a back and forth affair throughout, with the Knicks ultimately winning by a score of 108-105 after a CJ McCollum potential game-tying miracle shot was ruled to have come after the buzzer.
The Hawks got off to a lethargic start to this one, at one point relinquishing an 11-point run in the first quarter to fall behind early. The Knicks started off hot from the field, but their scoring numbers weren’t too dramatic, namely thanks to 11 turnovers in the first half.
For the Hawks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker got the scoring party started, despite the Knicks making a clear effort to deny him the basketball, a strategy that head coach Mike Brown confirmed during his on-court interview.
Atlanta ended up finding itself trailing by just one point despite a relatively clunker first quarter effort.
Things wouldn’t get better at the beginning of the second frame, as the Knicks made a surge to go up 43-36, their largest lead of the first half.
During this stretch, Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson dominated Atlanta, as has been the case in previous matchups between the Hawks and Knicks, playing elite defense and crashing the offensive glass on the other end of the floor.
Notably, the first half also saw the Hawks debut of big man Tony Bradley, who the team signed earlier this week to fill the void left by Jock Landale’s ankle injury. Bradley struggled in his first stint in Atlanta, throwing a bad pass that resulted in a turnover and also missing badly on an ill-advised midrange jumper. He didn’t make an appearance in the second half.
However, once Robinson went out of the game, the Hawks quickly responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take a five-point lead, and Alexander-Walker continued to torch an increasingly frustrated Knicks defense with a barrage of tough jumpers and Kyrie Irving-esque finishes around the basket.
The Hawks ended up taking a 57-53 lead into the locker room, holding the visitors to just 21 points in the second quarter thanks to some improved defensive communication, as well as the Knicks cooling off after a hot start from the perimeter.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges led the way for the Knicks with 13 points apiece in the first half, while Alexander-Walker led the scoring for Atlanta with 20, and Jalen Johnson added nine points to go along with five rebounds.
The Hawks would continue their momentum into the third quarter, eventually going ahead by as many as ten points.
They reached that lead courtesy of a monster slam from Johnson over multiple Knicks defenders.
New York began to chip into the lead later on in the period, thanks in large part to the play of Karl-Anthony Towns, who began by bullying the smaller Hawks around the basket, before stretching out the range to near half-court to knock down a deep three-pointer.
Mitchell Robinson continued his dominance when he reentered the game, altering and blocking many Hawks shots around the rim, and getting more clean-up opportunities on the offensive end for New York. Jalen Brunson’s three-pointer late in the period gave the Knicks a sudden four-point lead, although Atlanta would get the deficit back to two heading into the fourth and final frame.
Both teams went ice cold to open up the fourth quarter, with the Hawks crashing the offensive glass relentlessly to help offset some of Robinson’s heroics. Atlanta took a three-point lead at the 8:30 mark thanks to a three-pointer from Johnson.
Atlanta ended up taking a five-point advantage when Alexander-Walker knocked down yet another contested three around the midway point of the fourth quarter.
However, the Knicks would come back to tie things at 90 with under six minutes remaining thanks to another putback from Robinson under the basket.
After a couple more minutes of back and forth play, Alexander-Walker buried yet another triple from the wing to give Atlanta a five-point lead following a steal by Johnson.
After a Jalen Brunson and-one, Alexander-Walker stayed scorching hot with a fadeaway triple from the corner.
However, Brunson wasn’t finished, burying a triple after NAW fell down on a borderline illegal screen, and then taking advantage of a CJ McCollum turnover to score in transition and give the Knicks a two-point lead with two minutes remaining.
With the game tied under a minute to go, Brunson knocked down another clutch jumper over McCollum. Atlanta couldn’t answer on the other end, with Johnson missing a contested floater leaning to his left.
OG Anunoby and Brunson knocked down four free throws in the closing seconds, but the Hawks still had a chance, with McCollum launching a shot from three-quarters court. Miraculously, the shot banked in, but the officials ruled that it had come a tenth of a second after the buzzer, and Atlanta’s winning streak came to an end.
This was an ugly offensive game overall for the Hawks, who shot just 40 percent from the field. NAW led all scorers with 36 points on an efficient 12-19 from the field, while Brunson finished the game with 30 of his own, including 17 in the fourth quarter. Any concerns about the Hawks’ ability to contend with bruising centers like Robinson in the playoffs were not exactly alleviated, and Atlanta’s crunch time offense also needs some tuning up over the next week.
The Hawks will look to shake this one off and get back in the win column on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 108-105, on Monday night for their third straight win.
New York is now 51-28 with three games left in the regular season, giving them a chance to top their 51-31 record last season.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Despite committing five turnovers in the first quarter, New York got out to a strong start and shot 59 percent from the field. Mikal Bridges led the way with 11 points, including a last-second tip-in to put the Knicks up 32-31 at the end of the first quarter. OG Anunoby added in eight points, while Karl-Anthony Towns had five points, three rebounds, and five assists. Atlanta kept up thanks to 10 first-quarter points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
-- Miles McBride drilled his second three-pointer of the night early in the second quarter to keep New York going. Mitchell Robinson began to make his mark on the game by blocking a three-pointer, forcing a turnover on defense, grabbing an offensive rebound, and scoring on the second chance to extend the lead to 43-36 with about eight minutes left in the quarter.
Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson then took over, leading the Hawks on a 12-0 run to go up 48-43 and force a Mike Brown timeout with five minutes remaining in the first half.
-- The Knicks defense stepped up with clock winding down and blocked two shots before the buzzer, but they still trailed at the break, 57-53. Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting (3-for-4 from three), while Bridges and Anunoby continued to pace the Knicks with 13 points each.
Jalen Brunson had an uncharacteristic first half with just six points on 2-for-8 shooting (0-for-3 from three). New York also committed 11 turnovers and were outrebounded, 24-19.
-- Brunson made back-to-back shots in the third quarter to cut the Atlanta lead down to two points, but Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum countered with two straight three-pointers to make it a 69-61 game. Johnson pushed the Hawks' lead to double-digits before Towns caught fire and scored 10 straight points, including his second three of the game.
Robinson made another clutch steal, leading to a Bridges layup to cut the lead to one point. The big man then scored inside to give New York a lead and Brunson hit his first three-pointer to make it a 78-74 game thanks to a 14-1 run. Anunoby drilled a three-pointer as time expired to put the Knicks up 81-79 at the end of the third quarter. They outscored Atlanta 28-22 in the third thanks to Towns' 14 points in the quarter.
-- Atlanta opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run to reclaim the lead. But New York fought back and tied the game at 90-90 on Robinson's multiple offensive rebounds and eventual tip-in midway through the quarter. Alexander-Walker's night continued as the wing made a step-back jumper and two straight acrobatic three-pointers to give him 36 points and the Hawks a 100-95 lead with three minutes left in the game.
As he's done so many times before, Brunson flipped the switch and scored 10 points in 90 seconds to give the Knicks a 102-100 lead. McCollum tied the game on a floater, but it was Brunson who had the last word -- rattling in a foul-line jumper over McCollum to go up two with about 30 seconds left on the clock.
-- McCollum nearly sent the game to OT, making a shot from beyond half court that would've tied the game, but replay showed he didn't get it off in time. Luckily, Anunoby and Brunson made all four of their free throws down the stretch to have the Knicks up three points. Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, finishing 11-for-26 from the field with 13 assists. Anunoby had 22 points and two blocks, while Bridges finished with 15 after his big first half.
Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns' 14-point third quarter propelled the Knicks while they were down 10 points. The All-Star finished with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting with 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (50-28) are back home where they will play three of their last four games of the season, starting with a rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16) on Tuesday.
Realistically speaking, Los Angeles looks to make this one a, at the very least, respectable matchup against the best team in the league.
Like any team that just two of its two best players, the Lakers are currently in scramble mode, being left to figure out how to survive the tail end of the regular season. In their most recent frustrating loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the purple and gold gave a glimpse of how they’re handling their current situation and that involves requiring a handful of their role players to step up.
In doing so, Los Angeles’ successfully stayed afloat on offense. Luke Kennard had himself a triple-double, Rui Hachimura was efficient from all over the field while Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton provided ample contributions across the board. All things considered, it was a commendable effort.
However, the team’s defense was putrid. And it’s likely that they’re not going to win any of their remaining games if that holds up.
While it’s fair to give the Lakers some grace in this tough time, what won’t is the NBA schedule that has them playing the OKC Thunder next. Yes, the same Thunder team that demolished them by 43 points only days ago.
What was supposed to be an opportunity for the Lakers to respond to their most embarrassing defeat of the season turned out to be the worst possible situation for them with two of their best players down while LeBron James is now listed as questionable.
But even if their big three were playing, the Lakers are considered heavy underdogs against the Thunder. That’s why it’s easy to say that this is pretty much a loss unless a miracle happens. The least the Lakers can do is attempt not to get blown out by 43 points or more again on their home floor.
For that to happen, they have to keep up with OKC from the get-go. The biggest reason why the Lakers lost against the Thunder was that they didn’t start strong. The Thunder are the type of opponent who will make you pay for your mistakes, and the fewer L.A. makes them in this rematch, the better.
Who knows? Maybe the Lakers pull off the impossible and defy all odds again like they’ve been doing all season. Let’s see if the purple and gold can pull off the most surprising victory of the season on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) are out.
LeBron James (left foot injury management) is questionable.
As for the Thunder, only Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring) are out.
