Category: NBA

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The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers meet in a crucial NBA Play-In matchup on April 14, with the winner securing the No. 7 seed and the loser getting one final chance to fight for a playoff spot.

Even with a safety net, this is a high-leverage game where teams lean heavily on their top players, tighten rotations, and prioritize execution, all of which create sharper edges in the prop market. That’s exactly where our NBA player prop projections come in.

Here are the top Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks based on our model’s biggest edges.

Trail Blazers vs Suns computer picks for April 14

Trail Blazers	Suns
Clingan u13.5 points  -115	Allen o2.5 rebounds  -105
Henderson o12.5 points  -112	Brooks u17.5 points  +100
Avdija u5.5 assists  -132	Booker u26.5 points  +107

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Trail Blazers computer picks

Donovan Clingan Under 13.5 points (-115)

Projection: 11.5 points

Donovan Clingan’s scoring outlook is being slightly overvalued in this spot. In a Play-In environment, the Portland Trail Blazers are likely to lean more on their primary perimeter creators, limiting Clingan’s offensive volume.

With touches fluctuating and efficiency harder to come by in a tighter game, our model has him falling short of this number.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Clingan Now at bet365!/span

Scoot Henderson Over 12.5 points (-112)

Projection: 14.6 points

Scoot Henderson is set up for a usage bump in a high-leverage game. With the ball in his hands more often and the pace still projected to be playable, his scoring opportunities should be there.

Our model sees a clear gap between the projection and the line, making this a strong Over spot.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Henderson Now at bet365!/span

Deni Avdija Under 6.5 assists (-132)

Projection: 5.2 assists

Deni Avdija’s assist line is inflated relative to his expected role here. In a more controlled Play-In setting, secondary playmakers often see fewer clean-assist opportunities, especially when possessions slow down.

Our projection comes in well below this number, making the Under the sharper side.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Avdija Now at bet365!/span

---

Suns computer picks

Grayson Allen Over 2.5 rebounds (-105)

Projection: 3.3 rebounds

Grayson Allen’s rebounding is being undervalued by the market. With the Phoenix Suns likely playing their core rotation heavier minutes, Allen should have plenty of opportunities to contribute on the glass.

This line sits well below his projected output.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Allen Now at bet365!/span

Dillon Brooks Under 17.5 points (+100)

Projection: 16.5 points

Dillon Brooks is always capable of putting up shots, but that doesn’t mean efficiency follows — especially in a high-pressure setting. 

With defensive attention tightening and better scoring options around him, our model projects him to fall short of this total, making the plus-money Under appealing.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Brooks Now at bet365!/span

Devin Booker Under 26.5 points (+107)

Projection: 26.1 points

Devin Booker’s number is right on the edge, but the value leans Under. In a Play-In game, defensive focus ramps up on primary scorers, and efficiency often dips as a result.

With the line slightly above our projection, the Under is the sharper play.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet XYZ Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Trail Blazers vs Suns tonight

Location	Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date	Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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After an absolute rollercoaster of a regular campaign for the Philadelphia 76ers, we have finally made it to the postseason.

When the dust finally settled on the final games in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, the Sixers ended up as the No. 7 seed with a record of 45-37. With that finish, Philadelphia is set to host the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic in the first round of the Play-In Tournament this Wednesday night. The winner earns their spot in the playoffs to face the Boston Celtics in the first round.

The loser of the contest will have one more chance to continue on, facing the eventual winner of the No. 10 Miami Heat vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets game for the final playoff spot in the East. But let’s just take things one game at a time. Especially when it comes to the Sixers, we all know how quickly things can change.

What is certain is that the Sixers are facing a chance to go directly to the playoffs out of the first game of the Play-In on Wednesday when the Magic come to South Philadelphia.

The Sixers won two of three contests against Orlando this season. They had a pair of meetings before the calendar even turned to 2026, so no one would blame you for not remembering much about the dynamic between these two squads this season. But, with their most crucial meetup of the campaign still to come in the Play-In, let’s take a look back at how the teams have fared against one another thus far, and how those results may be reflected in Wednesday’s contest.

Oct. 27, 2025 – Sixers 136, Magic 124

The first time these two squads met was way back in October 2025. It was the third game of the season for the Sixers and the fourth for the Magic. It all feels like a lifetime ago now, which is why it’s important to not only consider the outcomes of these meetings but also the context surrounding each.

Orlando was well-equipped for this first matchup with Philly, with their top six per-game scorers for 2025-26 all available: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr.

The Sixers, meanwhile, were without Joel Embiid and Paul George, with George having yet to make his season debut. The starting five were Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe, Adem Bona and Jabari Walker. It was the first starts of the campaign for both Bona and Walker.

The Sixers were able to jump out to an early advantage in this one and held the lead almost the entire game, with the Magic leading by just two points in the first quarter and never holding another advantage for the rest of the contest. Philadelphia reached their largest lead of 15 points just before halftime. Despite letting the Magic claw back within just two points midway through the final frame, the Sixers were able to slam the door shut from there to secure the win and start their season 3-0.

The Magic were led by Banchero with 32 points and Bane with 24.

There were a few factors at play that ultimately separated the Sixers from the Magic on this night. One was Maxey simply putting up a massive night with 43 points — his highest mark of the entire 2025-26 campaign for a game that ended in regulation — including eight straight in the closing minutes of the fourth frame to put the final nail in the Magic’s coffin. It was already his second 40+ point game to begin the season. He also had eight assists.

Other leaders for Philadelphia that night were Edgecombe, who had an efficient 26-point game on 10-for-17 field goal shooting, and Oubre, who had a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double with a steal and two blocks.

Another defining factor was that the Sixers had one of their better nights from beyond the arc, with the team shooting 14-for-33 (42.4%). Six Philly players sank at least one triple, with five of them sinking at least two.

Last but not least, the Sixers were able to limit their own turnovers while taking advantage of the Magic’s. Philly put up 20 points off 13 Orlando turnovers, while the Magic converted just nine points from the Sixers’ six turnovers.

So, a big night from Maxey, limiting sloppiness, taking advantage of the Magic’s mistakes and hitting some shots from long range. That’s not too much to ask for again, is it?

Well, for what it’s worth, six turnovers in that October contest ended up tying two other games for the Sixers’ lowest turnover count across this entire season. In terms of the three-point shooting, 42.4% ended up their 13th-best night from beyond the arc in terms of accuracy and the Sixers notched 14 or more threes in just 31 of 82 contests in 2025-26.

Nov. 25, 2025 (NBA Cup) – Magic 144, Sixers 103

Not a pretty score, huh? The 41-point defeat at the hands of Orlando was Philadelphia’s second-worst loss of the season, only outdone by the New York Knicks crushing the Sixers by 49 back in February.

That being said, there is some important context to consider for this NBA Cup blowout. The Sixers, hamstrung by injuries at that point, started Maxey, Dominick Barlow, Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond and Justin Edwards. No Embiid, no George, no Edgecombe. We even saw first period minutes from Eric Gordon, which should tell you all you need to know.

The Magic were without Banchero, dealing with an injury of his own at that point of the season, but they still had a number of their other top-scorers for the year at their disposal such as Franz Wagner, Black and Suggs.

Things were knotted at 25 apiece after the first quarter, but quickly went downhill for the Sixers as the Magic dropped 51 points on them in the second creating a 26-point deficit at halftime. It wasn’t pretty, and it didn’t even look like it was taking much effort from Orlando to run circles around the Philly lineup.

Black had established his dominance early on in the game with 27 first-half points off the bench with some incredible 10-for-14 field goal and 4-for-5 long range shooting. Suggs already had 11 assists at the break, matching the Sixers’ team total for the first half. Philadelphia also only had two scorers in double-digits by halftime: Maxey with 15 points and Jared McCain with 13 points off the bench.

Philly all but waved a white flag from there, with Maxey playing just 10 minutes of the second half with extended time on the floor being given to players like Gordon, Walker, Johni Broome and Hunter Sallis. No offense to those guys, but they aren’t exactly the players you have out there if you’re really desperate to win.

A 41-point loss is a 41-point loss, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know how much stock I’d put in this game being a relevant comparison of these squads… especially with the rotations looking worlds different than they will this week.

Jan. 9, 2026 – Sixers 103, Magic 91

The final matchup of the regular season between Philadelphia and Orlando back in January featured the Sixers’ lineup closest resembling full strength of the three meetings. The 76ers had Embiid, PG, Maxey and Edgecombe available to start, with the only injury unavailability being Trendon Watford and with Kelly Oubre Jr. coming off the bench for limited minutes as it was just his second game back after nearly two months sidelined. Barlow started in Oubre’s place. The starting lineup of Barlow, Edgecombe, Embiid, George and Maxey actually ended up being the Sixers’ most used across the season, starting in 15 contests (with a record of 8-7).

The Magic’s main absences for this one were Franz Wagner and Suggs. Rookie Noah Penda started for the first time in his NBA career to help fill the gaps.

The Sixers struggled mightily throughout the first half of this one, but managed to keep the Magic from ever extending their lead into double-digits, partially through struggles of their own that we will get to in a moment. After halftime, Philly improved their horrendous shooting to at least somewhat-serviceable accuracy while the Magic went from bad to somehow much, much worse. That was enough to turn the tide on this one, allowing the Sixers to win the tiebreaking game of the series.

Remember how three-point shooting was an advantage for the Sixers’ in their early-season win over the Magic? Not so much the case here. Philadelphia went just 4-for-28 (14.3%) from long range in this one. It ended up the team’s second-worst game from beyond the arc all season. Fortunately, the issues were mutual between the Sixers and Magic, with Orlando putting up their second-worst three-point shooting game of the season at the same time sinking just 4-of-29 (13.8%) attempts.

It was truly just an ugly contest all around. The Sixers sucked, and the Magic sucked more. Sometimes that’s all it takes to win — suck a little bit less than your opponent.

Orlando had 10 first-half turnovers, ending up with 19 total in the game, tying their fifth-highest mark of the season. They put up just 12 points in the fourth quarter, sinking just four field goals the entire frame. Banchero himself struggled by his standards with just 14 points on 33.3% field goal shooting in the contest. The Magic’s strongest performances of the night came from Bane with 23 points and Black with 21.

This game was truly a tale of two halves in general, but especially so for Maxey. At halftime, he had just 12 points on abysmal 3-for-12 field goal and 0-for-4 three-point shooting. The second half was a different story, with the guard finally getting hot for 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor and going 3-for-4 from long range. He ended up leading the Sixers by the end of the game with those 29 points.

The interesting thing is that this performance from Maxey specifically feels relevant to Wednesday’s matchup. That is because, since his return from the pinky tendon injury, Maxey has had more than a few games where he has struggled for a half before getting into any sort of groove.

The major, seven-foot difference between the Sixers then vs. now, though, is the availability of Embiid. This contest came six games into the stretch across January into February within which Embiid played 18 of 21 possible games, only missing three that were part of back-to-backs and would mean him playing on zero days rest. That being said, the 22 points on 7-for-17 field goal shooting was actually a bit of a quiet night for Embiid during that time. During that 18-game stretch, he ended up averaging 30.1 points on 52.4% field goal shooting, so his performance against the Magic was far from his best. That being said, his 10 first-half points, though nothing impressive by Embiid’s standards, certainly helped the Sixers stay in this one when Maxey (and PG) struggled early.

And, of course, that’s not even mentioning how just having Embiid on the court changes an opponent’s game plan, the spacing created for his Sixers teammates and his effect in terms of defensive presence in the paint.

That’s the thing about these Sixer and Magic teams — they’ve both had rollercoaster regular seasons with a ton of moving parts in terms of player availability and, frankly, game results. Because of that, the most relevant game of the season between the two very well may be that first meeting, all the way back in October 2025. It was the only meeting of the series that was truly competitive NBA ball — not just a matter of one of the teams being wildly shorthanded or both teams completely forgetting how to shoot a basketball.

At least, the Sixers should hope it’s the most relevant. The Magic were at full-strength and competitive, looking to turn around their tough start to the season, likely in the way they will come into the Play-In hoping to right the wrongs that plagued them at the end of the season. They got good performances out of the likes of Banchero and Bane. It wasn’t simply a matter of them shooting like a middle school team. Still, the Sixers, without Embiid, were able to put up an impressive fight to snag the win through a widespread effort, good fundamentals and an excellent night from Maxey as their leader. Plus, they did it without PG. It’s the exact type of performance they should hope to mirror come Wednesday.

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The betting public is backing all of the favorites ahead of day one of the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday evening. 

Top sportsbooks reported a majority of tickets and money supporting the favorites in the first four matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Key Takeaways

• No favorite generated less than 59% of spread bets at BetMGM or DraftKings.
  
  
• There are several instances of the under being in the minority for tickets and the majority for handle.
  
  
• LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Bam Adebayo were the most popular targets of player prop bets at DraftKings.

The Play-In Tournament was officially adopted ahead of the 2020-21 season. It’s meant to both whet the palate of NBA fans and give teams opportunities to play for their playoff futures, but in the world of sports wagering, it also represents another chance for fans to find a wide menu of betting odds. 

Tuesday’s schedule will see the Charlotte Hornets face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference’s 9/10 game, before the Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference’s 7/8 showdown. 

Heat vs. Hornets predictions were practically an open-and-shut case for the public. The majority of bettors are backing the upstart Hornets in the early game. More than half, 59%, of bets and 74% of the money are on their spread, which rose from -4.5 to -5.5, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing. 

As for Miami, 51% of bets but only 38% of money is on the Heat moneyline (+180). Scoring is not expected to be high, with 61% of bets and 77% of money on the under, which fluctuated between 227.5 and 228.5.

DraftKings insights shared with Covers revealed that the Hornets-Heat matchup was the most-bet NBA game to start the week. 

Almost two-thirds, 64%, of tickets and 77% of the pot is on the Hornets’ spread, while 73% of wagers and 74% of the handle is on the Hornets’ moneyline. Nearly three-quarters, 74%, of bets and 60% of the money is also on the under, according to DraftKings Nation.

Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions showed a similar breakdown. At BetMGM, 72% of bets and 70% of the handle were on the Suns’ spread (up from -3.5 to -4.5). Meanwhile, 55% of bets and 87% of the money in the moneyline market also went to the Suns (-165), while 52% of bets and 86% of the handle were on the under (up from 213.5 to 217.5).

In what was DraftKings’ second most-bet game in the Association, 60% of tickets and 71% of money in the spread market, as well as 76% of bets and 55% of the handle in the moneyline market, were on the Suns. The only real divide occurred in the total market, which showed that 30% of bets and 74% of the handle were on the over.

Wednesday Play-In betting breakdown

Wednesday’s Play-In lineup will feature the Philadelphia 76ers against the Orlando Magic in the East’s 7/8 matchup, before the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Clippers for the West’s 9/10 battle.

BetMGM reported 70% of bets on the Sixers -1.5 and the Sixers moneyline (-125), even though Joel Embiid is expected to miss the contest with appendicitis. Bettors are anticipating a lower-scoring game, with 70% of wagers on under 220.5.

DraftKings revealed that 61% of tickets and 78% of the money are on the Sixers’ spread, as well as 63% of bets and 82% of the handle on the Sixers’ moneyline. More than a quarter, 26%, of bets and 78% of the handle are on the under.

Turning to the late game, BetMGM shared that 64% of bets are on Clippers -5.5. However, 65% of wagers are also on the Warriors’ moneyline (+165). Points are expected in this contets, as 53% of tickets are on over 220.5.

DraftKings users like the Clippers in both major team markets, with 62% of bets and 93% of the handle backing them on the spread, as well as 70% of tickets and 75% of the money on the moneyline. A quarter of bets and 71% of the handle are on under 220.5.

Popular NBA Play-In player props

NBA betting sites aren’t limited to offering team markets during the Play-In Tournament, the first step in teams’ pursuit of reaching the NBA Finals.

DraftKings shared with Covers that the three players receiving the most interest in the player prop betting market were LaMelo Ball (Hornets), Mark Williams (Suns), and Bam Adebayo (Heat).

Ball to score 15+ points, make 4+ three-pointers, and score 20+ points were the sportsbook’s three most-popular player props to begin the week. Williams to score 20+ points (+870 at the time of writing) was next, followed by Adebayo to score 20+ points.

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The Miami Heat face the Charlotte Hornets in an elimination game on Tuesday in the NBA’s play-in tournament. The winner will face the loser of Wednesday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday — with the winner of that game securing the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Detroit Pistons. The loser of Tuesday’s Heat-Hornets game is eliminated and lands in the NBA Draft Lottery.

How to watch Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets

• Date: Tuesday, April 14

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Miami Heat: 43-39

• Charlotte Hornets: 44-38

Odds

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets -5.5

• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets -220 (65.8%) / Miami Heat +180 (34.2%)

• Over/Under: 229.5

The Knicks face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Game 1 is set for Saturday, so let's open up the mailbag to answer your postseason questions...

Hart to the bench is a no-brainer. Would rather see Mo or Mitch start, plus they would show more life at the jump. -- @bobtabaske

I’ve been asking people both around the Knicks and with other teams about the Knicks starting lineup, specifically about Josh Hart’s role in it. Based on those conversations and based on what I’ve seen since Hart has been in New York, my answer to the question above is: the Knicks are at their best with Hart in the starting lineup.

Here are some points made by people in the league whose eye/evaluation I trust:

BALL-HANDLING: If you take Hart out of the starting lineup, who is the secondary ball-handler in the starting lineup? Unless you put Jose Alvarado or Tyler Kolek in the starting lineup, you are taking the best secondary ball-handler out of the unit and replacing him with someone who is less adept at operating as a dribbler. Maybe you argue that Miles McBride can adequately replace Hart as a ball-handler while also improving the starting five.

SHOT DISTRIBUTION: Hart doesn’t need to score to impact the game. This is one of the reasons why he’s a good fit for the lineup. If you replace him with McBride or Landry Shamet, how many shot attempts will either player get? Are you hurting yourself by taking shots away from a player who gives you scoring off the bench? That’s the way I see it playing out.

SCREENING: Hart is the best screener in the starting lineup. That is an overlooked part of the game that is pivotal in today’s NBA. As noted above, he doesn’t need the ball to be effective. He doesn’t want the ball, so his play won’t be impacted by his own field-goal attempts. It’s obvious to say that the lineup works well when Hart is hitting his threes (he’s been hitting them at a high level this season). But even if Hart isn’t knocking down threes at a high level, the Knicks can take advantage of defenders playing off Hart by having him set screens when he’s not being guarded. Hart setting a screen in that scenario forces his defender to scramble and can give the Knicks distinct advantages in the half-court.

Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s why I believe Hart should remain in the lineup. As Mike Brown noted in a recent news conference, he did consider changing the lineup at some point later in the season. But he ultimately decided against it. I think it was the right call. If I end up being wrong, feel free to call me out on it.

Do you think the collaboration instilled between the coaching staff (ex. O+D asst’s taking over huddles) has more advantages or disadvantages in the playoffs? -- @luvmyknix

This is a great question and my guess is that it only helps the Knicks. Brown has been receptive to different ideas/perspectives from his staff and others in the organization. He doesn’t make a decision and then stick with it just to prove that he’s right. I think this kind of collaboration has helped the Knicks during the regular season (for example: Hart going from a bench player to starting; defensive adjustments in late January that solidified the Knicks on that end of the floor). I think it will continue to help the Knicks in playoff series where between game adjustments are often the difference between winning and losing.

QUICK HITTERS

Ian, I know you’re not in the business of doing predictions as you often say but I want to know what you think - who will win this series and in how many games?--@KnicksCentral

Hey Alex, I’m taking Knicks in six just to be conservative. I think the Knicks can win this series in five games due, in part, to their advantage at center and the defensive matchups for OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. I don’t think there will be an "easy" win in the series but I think the Knicks will protect leads late. As Brian Windhorst noted on The Putback, I don’t believe they will "kick" any winnable games.

What are chances Brown is asked to leave should NYK suffer an early exit? There should be more HC options as there will likely be more turnover throughout the league compared to last offseason. -- @GateDasinDog

This is pure speculation but I would think significant roster changes are much more likely than another coaching change. Maybe there will be some smaller changes off the court (changing Brown’s assistant coaches? Changing Leon Rose’s front office?). But unless there is a complete disaster, I don’t see Brown getting fired.

If the Knicks played the Thunder in the finals, why would they not match double bigs to start? -- @_the6thman

This is also just speculation on my part, Left , but I think any change to the lineup would be based more on performance than matching up with a specific opponent. You saw Tom Thibodeau change his lineup midway through the Pacers series. That one was based on the shoddy performance of the starters. I think any change during this postseason would be a reaction to poor play rather than tailoring the lineup to an opponent.

The Phoenix Suns face the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA’s play-in tournament on Tuesday. The winner will get the Western Conference’s No. 7 playoff seed and face the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The loser will play the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on Friday — with the winner of that game landing the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns

• Date: Tuesday, April 14

• Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

• Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona

• TV Channels: Amaz

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Portland Trail Blazers: 42-40

• Phoenix Suns: 45-37

Odds

• Spread: Phoenix Suns -3.5

• Moneyline: Phoenix Suns -165 (59.4%) / Portland Trail Blazers +135 (40.6%)

• Over/Under: 217.5

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The NBA Play-In Tournament marks the start of the postseason with the Charlotte Hornets hosting the Miami Heat tonight.

Charlotte’s young guns are home favorites versus the Heat, and our same game parlay for the opening Play-In tilt leans into LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel to make a big splash in this big game.

Here are my best Heat vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, April 14.

Our best Heat vs Hornets SGP for April 14

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the best two-way teams since the All-Star break, finishing the schedule with an 18-9 SU record. The Hornets also hold down home court when laying points, boasting a 15-6 SU mark on the season.

LaMelo Ball has dished out eight dimes in eight of his last 14 games, including 13 assists in a win over the Miami Heat on March 17. Ball’s player projections sit north of eight assists against a Heat defense that wrapped the year among the worst in the NBA.

Kon Knueppel is often on the scoring end of those Ball assists, thriving in their guard-on-guard high screens. The rookie flamethrower has torched the Heat in all four meetings, putting up 19, 22, 27, and 30 points while shooting 45% from beyond the arc in those games.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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The NBA Play-In Tournament seems like a cruel joke on those Western Conference teams battling for the final two seeds. Waiting in Round 1 is either the Thunder or Spurs, which is like asking, “Would you rather wrestle a lion or a tiger?”

The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns tip off the Play-In tonight, fighting for the No. 7 seed. These Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks pass on the side and total, and instead poke around for a trio of NBA player props.

Best Trail Blazers vs Suns props

Player	Pick
Dillion Brooks	Over 3.5 rebounds	-140
Toumani Camara	Under 12.5 points	-102
Devin Booker	Over 2.5 threes	+150

Prop #1: Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds

-140 at bet365

This is a battle of two very strong defensive teams that like to shoot the 3-ball. What doesn’t go in will turn into long rebounding opportunities, and Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks isn’t shy about mixing it up on the glass.

Brooks, who averages around 3.5 rebounds, has hauled in 4+ boards in 19 of his last 28 games. That includes four rebounds in a win over Portland on February 3 (as Brooks missed 18 games with a busted hand this winter). He averaged 8.1 rebounding chances during that 28-game span.

He played just 21 minutes in the season finale and has been working his way back into form since returning to the lineup at the end of March. He’ll be a full go for this Play-In contest with projections sitting between 3.4 and 5.0 rebounds.

Prop #2: Toumani Camara Under 12.5 points

-102 at bet365

Portland Trail Blazers guard Toumani Camara is Portland's biggest outside threat, knocking down 2.7 triples per contest. He faces a drum-tight Phoenix perimeter that allows the second-lowest opponent 3-point rate, giving up only 12.2 makes from distance per game. 

Camara was especially active from outside during Portland's late-season push, jacking up 6+ shots from beyond the arc in 10 of his final 11 games (8.5 3PA per game). His scoring jumped to 18.2 per contest in that span and dragged up scoring prop totals to as high as 15.5 O/U.

Tonight’s tilt in Phoenix will be played at a slow pace with postseason intensity, and Camara (who was drafted by Phoenix) will absolutely be circled on the Suns’ pregame whiteboard.

He scored six, 12, and 13 points over his three meetings with Phoenix this season, shooting a combined 7-for-24 from outside (29%). Player forecasts range from 10.0 to 13.1 points for Camara tonight, with most models short of his scoring total.

Prop #3: Devin Booker Over 2.5 threes

+150 at bet365

Devin Booker’s 3-point prop is bouncing between a juicy Over 1.5 and Over 2.5, which is paying plus-money. 

He hasn’t been the sharpest shooter in the second half of the schedule, firing at a 33.8% clip since the All-Star break and knocking down an average of two triples over his last 13 games. 

That said, Booker enters the Play-In well rested and ready to log major minutes after sitting out the final two regular-season outings. 

Before that, he was on a scoring tear in his last six showings, averaging almost 32 points and making 2.7 shots from distance with 3+ triples in three of those outings.

Projections for Tuesday have Booker pegged between 2.0 and 2.4 makes from long range. Given the fact he’s Phoenix’s go-to scorer and his propensity to step up to the postseason pressure (averages 2.3 3PM), I’ll grab the higher return on Over 2.5 threes.

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There is no indication Steph Curry is about to retire, but each postseason that passes lessens his chances of another dramatic playoff run, the kind every basketball fan should hope for.

The Golden State Warriors know those are the stakes, hence emphasizing veterans, unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to thread the needle of reinvention while starring Kawhi Leonard.

These Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks default to trusting Golden State’s veterans on Wednesday, April 15.

Our best Warriors vs Clippers SGP for April 15

Steph Curry has been shooting well since he returned from a knee injury, hitting 41.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in four games back in the lineup. And he has been shooting often, taking nine 3-pointers per game.

He has not been setting up his teammates that often, however. That is, to some degree, a negative reflection of this Golden State roster. How often is Curry going to look for Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos?

He's averaged only 3.5 assists in his return, down from an already pedestrian 4.8 on the season before his knee injury.

Instead, Draymond Green is moving the ball. Of course he is. The last few years of Green’s play have hinged entirely on Curry’s availability. With Steph in the lineup, Draymond has hinted at his past excellence.

He has thus averaged 8.3 assists in the three games he and Curry have overlapped in the last week. Setting up Curry may be the last thing Draymond Green is genuinely good for.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Detroit Pistons won 60 games for the third time in team history. That was good enough to lock up the top seed in the East.

That means that play-in tournament results will shape the beginning of the Pistons’ playoff journey. Detroit has not reached these heights in a while, and they did it in the best Eastern Conference play-in bracket to date.

With the season Detroit put up, “fear” is not in their vocabulary. The Pistons would happily take on any of these four teams and aim to destroy them with relentless pressure and a togetherness that has dominated the NBA.

While it is true Detroit will sign up to play anybody and be favored against them in round one, some teams play a more favorable style that Detroit can take advantage of.

Who is the most dangerous potential Pistons first-round matchup?

8 seed Orlando Magic, 45-37

The Orlando Magic were supposed to be one of the top teams in the East after their offseason. The Desmond Bane trade was massive, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were supposed to take leaps. Yet here they are in the play-in for the second straight year. Injuries, tour date shooting, and a backsliding defense put the Magic in this position.

Orlando is supposed to be a gritty team like Detroit, but their defense fell off. The Magic had the 3rd best defense last year. They had solid rim protection, positional size, and a togetherness that held teams in check.

Now the Magic are the 13th-ranked defense. They have lost that elite identity overall, but Orlando is heading into the postseason playing good ball defensively. They have the seventh-best defense over the last two weeks, removing garbage time. Orlando has the second best defensive pedigree among these four teams.

They have not lived up to expectations, but the Magic could put a dent in the questionable Pistons halfcourt offense. When healthy and available, Jalen Suggs is the type of defender that would get under Cade and stay on his hip.

But the Magic offense? That is still a struggle fest.

The addition of Bane has not paid top-tier dividends yet. He played all 82 and shot it efficiently, but the offensive woes in Orlando remain. Banchero has not been able to put it together for long stretches. He has been up and down. His shot selection is still puzzling.

Sometimes I watch and wonder whether he settles so much because he cannot get past defenders consistently. Then he will have a night where the shots are falling, and it’s like, yeah, that is why he keeps shooting (Banchero taking 2s works in Detroit’s favor, hot or not).

To his credit, Banchero has been a playoff riser, and he has shot the ball at an inferno level in the high-stakes game. Teams will still prefer him shooting jumpers over attacking the paint.

Overall, Banchero is much more dangerous when putting his shoulder down and attacking defenders. He is one of the best foul drawers in the league. That chink in his armor is one thing Detroit should be concerned about in this potential matchup.

Franz Wagner is arguably the Magic’s most impactful player, and he is back in the lineup. Wagner has a more free-flowing game than Banchero. Wagner is a more plug-and-play player. He does not need the ball to be impactful; he is a connective passer and a decisive cutter. Wagner has had low moments in the playoffs, but his usual steady play is something to account for. Wagner gets to the line too, so Detroit must be disciplined.

The Pistons destroy teams in the paint on both ends, they get out in transition after forcing turnovers, smother teams defensively, and they foul. They foul a lot.

With Detroit leading the league with 22 personal fouls per game, Banchero and Wagner will look to initiate contact and sit Pistons defenders down. Banchero and Wagner are in the 96th and 95th percentile on shot attempts they were fouled on.

Banchero can be 4-16 from the field but best believe he will shoot at least 10 free throws to bring up his point total. He is a handful when he is not forcing jumpers.

Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed, Javonte Green, and probably even Cade Cunningham would see some Banchero minutes, and they would need to stay focused on cutting off driving lanes so Banchero can settle for tough pull-up 2s.

Banchero is very willing to settle, but if you do not cut him off, he will get you in foul trouble. If Detroit stays disciplined, it could be the first team to make Banchero look like his regular-season self in the playoffs.

Tristan Da Silva is one of Orlando’s better shooters who will be on top of the shooters’ scouting report, along with Bane. Orlando has talent in their big 3, but they have not been able to put it together all year. It is tough to imagine they flip the script against a Pistons squad that has been on a string since November. The Pistons’ halfcourt concerns should not show its head as much against an up-and-down Magic defense.

Orlando sells out to protect the 3-point line rather than holding down the paint. The points in the paint leaders in Detroit are licking their chops seeing that type of philosophy.

On the danger scale, Orlando gets a 4/10. You cannot be arrogant, thinking this time will bend the knee because Detroit won 60 games. Banchero has shown up in the playoffs, and Wagner and Bane are great players. That said, this special defense and deep unit in Motown would be too much for Orlando.

7 seed Philadelphia 76ers, 45-37

Philly was the most dangerous team when I initially started this process. Joel Embiid has not broken through in the playoffs, but he is so much to deal with. He is not a player you willingly sign up to play, even with his checkered playoff history. Healthy Embiid with a 28-PPG scorer and Paul George by his side makes Philly a top-heavy unit. Embiid is not healthy again, though.

Embiid just had surgery for appendicitis. There is no timetable for his return. It sucks that a talented big like him cannot stay healthy for an extended period of time. It is difficult to be confident in the 76ers when their best player is a question mark.

For pockets of this season, Tyrese Maxey emerged as the guy. His play (28 PPG – #5) was so strong that it would make one think maybe Philly will be okay without Embiid. Time will tell if that is true, but that would not be the case against the Pistons.

Detroit smothers anyone, but small guards get it worse. Without the Embiid safety valve, Maxey would constantly see a crowd of junkyard defenders.

There is talent around Maxey, though it is a far cry from being next to Embiid. Paul George is playing his best ball in years after returning from a 25-game suspension. George looks rejuvenated. His 39-point effort on April 1 looked like the old PG. Detroit has matchups for him as well. Ron Holland, Green, and others can all make George struggle. Those same defenders will make it hard on VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes.

Grimes and Edgecombe are Philly’s microwave guys. They go through ebbs and flows but can torch you randomly. Grimes is a solid finisher, while Edgecombe has made five or more 3s seven times this year. The wings in Detroit will not allow it to be easy for those two.

Philly does not turn the ball over often. They rank sixth in turnover percentage. That is against everybody, though. Everybody is not Detroit. Philly was not as safe with the rock on the April 4 loss to Detroit.

That was just one game, but the Pistons do that to everybody. Philly does not have the manpower to handle that pressure, even with a healthy Embiid. He has battled with turnovers his whole playoff career.

Nick Nurse is a championship-winning coach. Some question if he is still operating at that level. He does not maximize movement shooters (see Jared McCain). But Nurse was seen as an in-game adjustment wizard in Toronto. That was a while ago.

The culture and buy-in JB Bickerstaff has established in Detroit makes it hard to easily give Nurse the coaching advantage due to playoff success from the late 2010s. Bickerstaff has outcoached Nurse this season.

With Embiid’s health in the air, who is going to contain Duren? Duren would be a lot for Embiid himself. Adem Bona has put together a good year, but he will be in for a rude awakening if he is the one guarding Duren in round one. Andre Drummond would not fare much better.

The 76ers would have the top-end talent advantage if Embiid were 100 percent. He is not. Philly is not better offensively or defensively. They do not have a deeper bench. One could argue that Detroit has the better coach.

There is not much working in Philly’s favor in a potential match-up with the Pistons. Philly gets to the line a lot. With how handsy and active Detroit is, foul trouble is a potential problem against most teams. It pays that the Pistons are deep.

Philly and Orlando face off in the seven/eight play-in game. The winner clinches the seventh seed and takes on the Boston Celtics in round one. Interestingly, the more dangerous teams are the lower seeds in the play-in tournament. Detroit would be favored against Miami or Charlotte, but they bring some clear advantages.

10 seed Miami Heat, 43-39

Erik Spoelstra has turned water into wine a few times. The Miami Heat overachieved in 2020 and 2023. Granted, Jimmy Butler turned into a top-five player, and random role players popped off during these runs. One could argue that it is elite coaching that empowered those players to have career moments. Spo has proven he can make in-game and series adjustments.

Miami’s advantages over Detroit come down to coaching and experience. JB Bickerstaff should win Coach of the Year (Joe Mazulla is great, but this is JB’s), but he is not a proven playoff coach like Spo. Cade and company have not won a playoff series yet, either, while Bam Adebayo was the No. 2 option on those overachieving Heat squads. Experience and coaching will always be relevant, but Detroit has the talent on its side. On both sides of the ball.

The Heat does not have an elite playmaker who sets the table for himself and others, but that has not stopped them from having the 11th-ranked half-court offense. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are snipers. Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware shot the rock with confidence all year.

The Heat’s no-pick-and-roll offense resulted in more success than last year’s offense. Jamie Jaquez Jr. has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new offense. He thrives driving to the paint and has more space now. Ball movement can open up lanes when teams cannot fly around with precision (Detroit can).

Though Miami has had some success relative to where they were last year, it is difficult to visualize a team having playoff success running virtually zero PnRs when the game slows down in the playoffs.

The Heat also play with the fastest pace, which contributes to their 120 points per game. But again, things slow down in the playoffs. We will see if Miami tinkers with its playstyle. First, they must win two straight on the road to even make the playoffs.

Miami banks on ball movement and attacking closeouts. The Pistons have the defensive personnel to stick with the Heat. That could limit the Heat’s offense. If the Heat cannot get a team in scramble mode, it is tough for them to attack in space.

On the other side, the Heat have a battle tested defense that would probably have the best scheme for Detroit. We have seen teams push the “put two on Cade and live with the results” button. New York did some of that in the playoffs last year. The Heat have the personnel to do this as well. Andrew Wiggins is rangy, Pelle Larsson is in the NBA to defend and bring energy, Dru Smith and Davion Mitchell are constant pests, and Adebayo covers the whole thing. This team has the best shot of “exposing” the Pistons halfcourt concerns.

The half court offense concerns have been there all year for Detroit. As of late, the team has improved from there and the shooting is making a difference. Detroit has a top 10 halfcourt offense since April 1. Some of those games came without Cade. This is a team with insane depth.

If the Pistons shooters continue to make shots, doubling Cade becomes less effective because he make any pass in the book.

Putting two on Cade also opens up Duren who would have an opportunity to outplay one of the best defensive bigs in the league should Detroit face Miami.

Cade and this version of Duren are potentially the best players in a series with the Heat. Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the game. He is versatile and should at least make second-team All Defense this season.

On offense, Adebayo has the shot diet of a wing. His shots from the rim have steadily dropped over the years. That is killing Adebayo’s efficiency. Cade is a no-brainer, but Duren has clearly been better than Adebayo this season. Duren outplaying Adebayo in the playoffs would be massive.

Miami has the coaching advantage, but that has not always been enough to make up for the talent gap (see 2021 round one vs Milwaukee).

Miami’s danger scale rating would be a 5/10. They do not have the offensive firepower to shoot through Detroit. Defensively, Miami will be prepared, but Detroit loves those ugly, drawn-out defensive battles. The Pistons live for that. Spo would have the Heat ready to play, but the Pistons are deep and well-coached. They would be ready too.

9 seed Charlotte Hornets, 44-38

If the season started in January, these Hornets would have home court in the playoffs. The Hornets are 33-16 since the new year. For the full season, they are fifth in offense and seventh in point differential.

All in all, the Hornets are an elite offensive unit that is a lot better than their record suggests. Their turnovers could be their death sentence against a pick-6 Pistons team, but the Hornets are the goods.

LaMelo Ball leads the top-flight offense. Throughout Ball’s career, He has been singled out due to questionable pass and shot selection. Some thought he was too fancy, but there was always magic in his madness. It is on full display now that he is healthy and playing alongside teammates who attract attention.

Kon Knueppel Bball-Index’s 3PT shot quality is a D. The lower the grade, the less open the shot is. Knueppel is a rookie every team in the league glues to because he led the league in 3-point makes, shooting a staggering 42.5 percent from deep. He was first in 3s, and Ball was second. Ball spreading it around, and the Hornets’ accuracy from deep makes them a legit threat for anybody.

The Hornets have the second-highest 3-point rate with garbage time removed, only trailing the Golden State Warriors. 45 percent of Charlotte’s shots come from 3. Unlike GSW, the Hornets are one of the most accurate teams from distance.

Knueppel, Ball, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, and Coby White all garner attention from 3 and can all attack closeouts. If Detroit did not have multiple defenders who could switch screens and chase without a hiccup, the Hornets would shoot right through them.

The paint battle is a non-negotiable for Detroit in a potential Charlotte matchup. The Pistons are third in offensive rebound percentage, while the Hornets do not give up many offensive rebounds. It would be a battle between the melee participants from earlier this season.

Moussa Diabaté is arguably the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounder in the league. He loves snagging boards and kicking it out for Hornets trey balls.

Duren and Isaiah Stewart have to take that edge away from Diabaté. The Hornets’ offense is too explosive to give them multiple opportunities to succeed. Miles Bridges is in the front court with Diabaté. He is not a premier offensive rebounder, but he is a big body you have to box out.

Grant Williams is one of the Hornets’ backup bigs, and he can play. We have seen him drill seven 3s in a Game 7 (2022 Celtics vs Bucks). That is another gritty shooter Detroit will not leave open.

You cannot leave many Hornets players open, but they are not a lockdown team with brilliant individual defenders. Charles Lee has had his guys on a string, but we will see how his guys handle being hunted in the playoffs. Can Ball hold up with constant planned attacks? What about Knueppel? He has been good, but the playoffs and regular season could not be more different.  

The Cade and Duren PNR could have a ton of success against this Hornets team. Those beeline drives off Duren screens and the lob to Duren on the roll could be Detroit’s bread and butter.

Charlotte’s defense has been solid, but they still give up more shots at the rim than average. Detroit lives in the paint and could beat Charlotte up inside.

3 is worth more than 2, and this series could paint that picture very clearly, but Detroit has a special defense that could make the Hornets play their style of play. Neither team is crazy experienced, but this Detroit group did go through trials and tribulations last year together.

The Hornets have a superior offense, while Detroit has more than enough scrappers to chase and hound Hornets creators/shooters. This would be a competitive series and could go the ugly way if Charlotte went berserk from deep. The Hornets have some Jameis Winston in them. They can throw for 5,000 yards but also lead the league in picks.

Ball is solid with the rock, as his turnover percentage is in the 63rd percentile among point guards. Charlotte as a whole turns it over like you get points for it. Every starter would be liable to give it to the Pistons besides Ball and Bridges.

Being turnover-prone against these Pistons is like a nail in the coffin because they force turnovers with the best of them. Ausar led the league in steals, Holland and Green were some of the best bench thieves, and Reed’s hands are super sticky. Even Kevin Huerter is in on the action so far in Detroit. The inexperienced Hornets already turn it over a lot, and Detroit would look to intensify that.

The Hornets have a superior offense, but I would predict that the Pistons’ defense could contain the Hornets. Detroit’s paint presence on both sides of the ball could wear down the thin Hornets. Detroit has the best player in the series by a good margin, so that always helps. Cade will be on a mission to earn those playoff stripes.

Charlotte is the most dangerous of the four play-in teams. Detroit sent a message to the Hornets during the last week of the regular season. The Hornets have been a great team in the second half of the year, but the Pistons are still a step above. This potential first-round series would be a hard-fought 6-game series if I were a betting man. The Pistons’ defense, paint presence, and relentless pressure could crack the volatile Hornets.

Stats via Cleaning The Glass, Bball-Index, PivotFade, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference

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The drama in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament should be at a fever pitch, with Steve Ballmer’s arena going against Steph Curry.

There may be other names involved when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, but all eyes will be on the Dubs' superstar point guard.

My Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and these NBA picks trust Curry on Wednesday, April 15.

Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with the game airing on Prime Video.

Warriors vs Clippers prediction

Who will win Warriors vs Clippers?

Warriors:I won’t do it. I will not bet against Steph Curry when his season is on the line. No one expects Golden State to go on some magical run this postseason, but a win or two to spark the NBA’s interest this week? That is reasonable.

More sincerely, the Clippers backed into the postseason in a worrying way. Twice in the last two weeks, they had clear chances to hold onto a spot in the preferred half of the Play-In Tournament, instead losing twice outright to Portland.

Win either of those games, both obvious opportunities, and the Clippers’ postseason hopes look much brighter. Dropping the ball then inspires no faith now.

Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes (+125)

Do you really want to bet against Steph Curry in a single-elimination moment? Sure, some of you are too young to remember the Davidson run in March of 2008, but everyone saw the 2024 Olympics gold medal game against France, right?

You want to bet against that?

Obviously, sportsbooks have raised this 3-pointer prop because they recognize just how lethal Curry can be, but that now means we get plus-money odds on the Golden State Warriors’ superstar doing what he does best.

Worry not that he has been back for only four games since his knee injury. Curry shot 5-for-10 from deep in his first game back, part of shooting 15-for-36 (41.7%) from beyond the arc in those four games.

And the Los Angeles Clippers are only middling defending against 3-pointers, ranking No. 16 in both opponent 3-pointer frequency and percentage made since James Harden left the rotation. Recognize, No. 16 in the NBA at this point of the season is actually a massive worry.

This may be the end of the Warriors’ relevancy in the Curry era, ending not with a “Bang!” but with a whimper, but rest assured, Curry will go down firing.

Warriors vs Clippers same-game parlay

Curry’s ball movement has been a bit slow since his return. Then again, this roster never really allowed Curry to move the ball much, averaging just 4.8 assists before he missed two months with a knee injury. Dropping to 3.5 assists per game in the last four is not terribly glaring in that context.

Draymond Green has been moving the ball, however. He's played in three of Curry’s four games back, averaging 8.3 assists in those three games. There may be a sample size worry in that thought, but if anyone is going to excel with Curry’s return, it is Green.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: One last ride!

For one more night, perhaps one last night, two of the three key pieces to this Warriors dynasty can rekindle those memories. No “Wall” will bother Curry or Green.

They have faced Kawhi Leonard countless times before, and with veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis now their running mates, Golden State as a whole should embrace this road atmosphere.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
• Warriors moneyline

Warriors vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Warriors +5 (-110) | Clippers -5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +165 | Clippers -200
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Clippers betting trend to know

All four matchups between these two teams went Under their totals this season and by an average of 17.25 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Clippers.

How to watch Warriors vs Clippers

Warriors vs Clippers latest injuries

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The shirt was white, the sweater blue and the tie spiffy. Diamond studs sparkled in both of VJ Edgecombe’s earlobes, and he wore Gucci sunglasses. Indoors. At night.

Impressive as the ensemble was, Tyrese Maxey was thinking more about the calendar than he was clothing as his backcourt partner strutted across the Sixers’ locker room Sunday night, after they beat Milwaukee in the final game of Edgecombe’s first NBA regular season.

Rather, Maxey was mulling what lies ahead – play-in purgatory against Orlando on Wednesday night. And, possibly, the playoffs beyond.

He was thinking, too, about the season Edgecombe has fashioned. How he unveiled a 34-point effort in his very first game, in Boston, and from that point on tailored his game to fit the team’s needs.

Defense and athleticism? Sure, everybody knew the Bimini native would provide those things when the Sixers made him the third overall pick last June. But ball-handling and shot creation? They were a bonus. And clutch scoring? From a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until July? Double bonus.

So as Edgecombe neared the pack of reporters that had gathered at the far side of the room, Maxey made an announcement.

“He ain’t a rookie no more,” he hollered.

Not that he ever looked like one, no matter his attire. As veteran center Andre Drummond said, Edgecombe’s belief in himself was evident from the “first game, first practice, the day he walked in.”

“He walked in like, ‘I’m here,’” Drummond added.

And he never wavered. He finished with averages of exactly 16 points a game, as well as just under six rebounds and just over four assists. His shooting numbers – .438/.354/.818 – were acceptable, and figure to get better in the years ahead.

Edgecombe won’t win Rookie of the Year – that honor will surely go to one of two Dookies, the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg or the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel – but there’s little doubt he will be a big part of the team’s future.

“It’s amazing what VJ has done this past season,” Drummond said, and again he mentioned the rookie’s self-assurance.

“Maybe it’s just the generation of kids that are coming up now,” the 32-year-old said, “because I could say that for all the guys in the draft. They just have this confidence and swag that they play with.”

Kids these days, amirite?

Drummond broke in at age 19 with the Pistons, in 2012-13. Though he averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes a night that season, he remembers being “timid” – that he was “trying to figure out how to fit in and how to make it work.”

“And then with these guys now it’s just like, ‘It’s my show’ – like, ‘I’m here to take over,’” Drummond said. “And it’s pretty dope to see what VJ has done this year, and the games he’s won for us and just his confidence, man. I’ve got to speak on the confidence. It’s insane, and I love that for him. It was there right away.”

Nick Nurse clearly believed in Edgecombe as well, seeing as he used him 35 minutes a night over the 75 games the rookie was available, equaling the league’s 10th-highest rate. (Maxey led the NBA at 38 minutes a game.)

And hey, that was fine with Edgecombe.

“Not one complaint,” he said. “Sometimes I used to get mad when I had to come off the court, but now I realize it’s for the best.”

He made the most of his time, improving so much as a ball-handler that he now jokes he is “PG1” – i.e., the team’s No. 1 point guard, ahead of Maxey. He also shone in clutch situations, shooting 58.7 percent when the spread was five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

That came as a surprise to Nurse, as did Edgecombe’s “ability to go get a basket with the shot clock winding down, or just when we need a bucket to keep the scoreboard moving, or make one in the fourth quarter.”

“I think he had all the other stuff kind of coming out of the gates … the defense, the rebounding, the shot-blocking, all those kinds of things,” the coach added.

While it was not readily apparent, Edgecombe did say there was something of an adjustment period, that it took until midseason for the game to slow down for him.

“I ain’t gonna sit and act like it took me two games,” he said. “Nah, it took (until) about halfway through. I mean, even now, it’s still kind of slowing down.”

But he never did. The Bucks’ coaches showed video clips of each of the Sixers in their locker room before Sunday’s game, and the captions under Edgecombe’s highlights were reflective of his nature: “Sprinting in transition. … Aggressive in transition. …. DHO (i.e., dribble handoff) attack – trying to get downhill. … Physical finisher. … ISO (i.e., isolation) – physical. … Crashing the glass.”

He shot a tepid 4-for-11 from the floor while scoring nine points in the 126-106 victory, but handed out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once. And his overall late-season production has been impressive. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.9 points a game in March, including his two biggest scoring games of the season, a 38-pointer against Sacramento on March 19 and a 35-pointer against Oklahoma City four days later.

All of which made him wonder about the commonly held notion that rookies hit the so-called wall at this time of year.

“I’m not too sure where the rookie wall is,” he said. “Maybe someone can explain it to me. Obviously the season had its ups and downs. I’ve had my ups and downs. We’re human. I just try to keep building daily, just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every night.”

No doubt he has some fine shoes to wear while doing so. Because it seems abundantly clear that VJ Edgecombe is all dressed up and has someplace to go. Someplace that nobody else might have envisioned, but a place he sees very clearly through those Gucci sunglasses.