For the 24th time in NBA history and the sixth time this century, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers will meet in the playoffs.
The storied rivals will face off in the first round, marking the first Boston-Philly playoff matchup since the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals when the C’s defeated the Sixers in seven games. This year, the Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record, while the Sixers secured the No. 7 seed with a 45-37 record and a win over the Orlando Magic in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Wednesday night.
Boston and Philadelphia played four times in the regular season, splitting their series 2-2. The C’s were without Jayson Tatum for all four matchups due to his Achilles injury, but the superstar is healthy and looking like himself just in time for the postseason.
As for the Sixers, star big man Joel Embiid’s status remains up in the air after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. If he’s out, Philly will lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the load.
The Celtics have won five of their last six first-round series in a sweep or just five games. The 76ers have their work cut out for them as they look to ruin that trend.
Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Philadelphia’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2025-26 season. The Celtics have the advantage in every category except points per game.
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The Celtics will win the series if…
The Jays are the Jays.
It’s simple: If Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are themselves, the Celtics win this series handily.
As good as Tyrese Maxey is, the Sixers don’t have the firepower to keep up when the Jays are on their game. Philly’s two wins against Boston came by one and two points, and Tatum missed both matchups. With him back in the lineup and looking like his superstar self, the Sixers will need Maxey, Paul George and rookie V.J. Edgecombe to play to their ceilings to have a chance (assuming Embiid misses most or all of the series).
Maxey could take over a game or two and make things interesting, but vintage performances from Brown and Tatum will be almost impossible to overcome for a team that’s middle-of-the-road on both ends of the floor.
The 76ers will win the series if…
They keep it close.
The Celtics should dominate this series. They’re superior in virtually every category (except points per game, oddly enough), and they’ll have Jayson Tatum back after missing him for all four matchups against the Sixers during the regular season.
But if their usually stout defense allows the Maxey/George/Edgecombe trio to get hot and Philadelphia finds a way to keep it close in the fourth quarter, they could be in trouble.
As our Chris Forsberg noted, the Sixers owned the best clutch-time defense in the NBA, holding opponents to a defensive rating of 98.6 in 174 minutes of clutch play. Both of their regular-season wins against the Celtics were clutch-time wins decided by one or two points.
The C’s must keep their foot on the gas and prevent the 76ers from hanging around late in games. If they can accomplish that, they should cruise into the East semifinals.
Odds
The Celtics are heavy favorites vs. the 76ers and have opened as 10.5-point favorites to win Game 1 on Sunday. Here are the full series odds (via DraftKings).
Celtics to win the series: -900
76ers to win the series: +600
Prediction
Celtics in five.
We’ll give the Sixers one game in Philly, because Tyrese Maxey or Paul George will take over on an off night for Boston, or perhaps Edgecombe will catch fire like when he dropped 30 against the Celtics on Opening Night. Otherwise, it’ll be another thorough first-round beatdown by the C’s.
We mentioned the Jays as an obvious advantage for Boston, but big man Neemias Queta is a sneaky X-factor. He has been a revelation all season, and he could give the Celtics another advantage at the rim, especially if Embiid is out. Even if Embiid is active, Queta has shown in previous matchups that he can hang with the seven-time All-Star.
There’s no need to complicate this. The Celtics are the better team in almost every metric, and that will be evident in this first-round clash.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on as Kris Dunn #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during a game at Intuit Dome on January 05, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will play with their season on the line Wednesday night in a first-round Play-In Tournament matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Los Angeles and can be watched on Prime Video.
The Warriors closed out the regular season with a 115-110 loss to the Clippers on Sunday night. With Golden State locked into the No. 10 seed and Los Angeles essentially secured as the No. 9 seed, both teams entered knowing a Play-In Tournament rematch was likely. As a result, neither side showed much strategically as the Warriors held out Draymond Green, while the Clippers opted to rest All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.
Steph Curry, however, did play as he continues to ramp up for the postseason. He led all scorers with 24 points in 29 minutes, and more importantly, said afterward that he’s in a decent spot physically ahead of Wednesday’s matchup.
Stephen Curry said “physically I’m in a decent spot” after 29 minutes against the Clippers. As for the play-in matchup, “We know who they are. … Gonna be which team can, obviously get a game plan together, but stick to that as much as possible.”
The Warriors are expected to have a full roster available after dealing with a wave of injuries to end the regular season, although, head coach Steve Kerr did mention multiple players could still be on a minutes restriction. That includes Curry, who Kerr indicated will likely not exceed 40 minutes in this win-or-go-home matchup.
Steve Kerr said he thinks Steph Curry can stretch to at least 30 minutes in the play-in game on Wednesday night vs Clippers and “hopefully more.” He said last night Curry wouldn’t play 40. Curry said Friday he thinks he will be able to push for a few more than planned.
"It's not about how badly we want to win, it's just how many minutes guys can literally play and stay effective."
– Steve Kerr explains why Steph Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford will be on minutes limits tomorrow night vs. the Clippers (via @WillardAndDibs). pic.twitter.com/O0XQJQBnLA
Entering tonight’s game in Los Angeles, the Warriors have lost nine of their last 10 against the Clippers, including a 1-3 record against them this season. That said, tonight’s game will likely come down to two key matchups: Golden State’s defense on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ defense on Stephen Curry.
Leonard remains one of the most dangerous postseason scorers in the league, so Golden State will likely lean on Green as the primary defender on him. In their March 2nd matchup, Green was able to hold Leonard to 23 points — slightly below his season average of 27.9, which was the sixth-highest in the NBA.
On the other end, the Warriors’ offense will inevitably run through Curry. Clippers head coach Ty Lue has a long history of throwing different defensive looks at him, and in Sunday’s matchup, they used Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. as the primary defenders. Expect a similar approach on Wednesday with potential double teams to force the ball out of Curry’s hands.
Ty Lue joked he’s sick of seeing Steph Curry in the postseason:
“He’s just a guy that can explode. He can score 50 if you’re not careful. He only had 24 last game, but he had nine 3-point attempts. We can’t let him get that many attempts up from the 3-point line. We gotta try to… pic.twitter.com/H0tp7jcYIE
One thing is for certain: Getting to the playoffs won’t be easy. To keep their season alive, the Warriors must win this game and then defeat the Phoenix Suns just to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s a challenging path, but one that is led by a superstar like Curry, a roster with playoff-tested veterans, and a plethora of championship experience.
The No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers and No. 10 Golden State Warriors will face off in a win-or-go-home game that will eventually determine the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed.
Whichever team wins tonight still has one hurdle to clear before officially punching its playoff ticket — the final play-in game on Friday against Phoenix — while the losing team’s season ends tonight.
Warriors vs. Clippers: what to know
What: NBA Play-In Tournament
When: April 14, 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET
Where: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California)
Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)
This season, the Clippers won three of four total matchups with the Warriors; the most recent was a 115-110 victory just three days ago on the final day of the regular season.
Warriors vs. Clippers start time:
The Warriors vs. Clippers play-in game tips off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET tonight, April 15.
How to watch Warriors vs. Clippers for free:
The NBA Play-In Tournament, including tonight’s Warriors vs. Clippers matchup, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Here’s what you need to know about LA’s first-round NBA Playoffs opponent:
The Lakers have a tough task ahead of them. APThe Rockets struggled with injuries and chemistry throughout the season, but they found their groove. Getty Images
Current status
The Rockets struggled with injuries and chemistry throughout the season, but they found their groove during the stretch run, winning eight straight games and nine of their last 10 to close the season.
The Lakers similarly found themselves at the end of the season, going on a 15-2 run in March. But then they lost Doncic and Reaves against the Thunder on April 2. Without the 60 points that those stars provide, the team has been turned upside down.
The Rockets are surely going to try to take advantage of the Lakers’ chaos. They’ve had a lot of time to work out their kinks after losing point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL in September and center Steven Adams to a left ankle surgery in January.
Without VanVleet, turnovers were a huge issue for the Rockets — as well as blown leads and inefficiency. But lately, they’ve tightened things up. Durant has been playing MVP-caliber basketball. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson have made leaps this season. And when Tari Eason shines, he helps open the court for everyone else.
The Rockets are organized, deliberate and have the size and skill to dominate this series. The Lakers are best when they’re moving the ball and running, but without their top two stars, they’re going to have to play a completely different brand of basketball.
What makes this matchup interesting
The Lakers’ LeBron James is in his 23rd NBA season and will face the Rockets in a first-round playoff matchup. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There are two reasons this will be fun: LeBron James and Durant.
James, in Season 23, and Durant, in Season 18, are two of the top players of this generation, and they’re still superstars at ages 41 and 37, respectively. They’re both tasked with carrying their teams’ offenses.
They’ve met three times in the NBA Finals. James and the Heat won their first battle in 2012. Durant led the Warriors to win their other two matchups in 2017 and 2018.
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While the league’s young stars are taking over (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Doncic), this matchup will pit two of the vintage greats against each other. It could be the last time they meet in the postseason. James is going to try to keep the Lakers alive until help returns. Durant is going to try to reach the second round of the playoffs after missing the postseason the last two years with the Suns.
It’s The King versus the Scoring Maestro.
Should be thrilling.
The questions
The Rockets have had their share of drama this season. In February, Durant was accused of using a burner account to take shots at his teammates over X. When questioned about the allegations, Durant told reporters, “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense.” It wasn’t a denial, and it led to speculation that there was dissension in the locker room.
But over the last month, a lot of that noise quieted. The Rockets have shown discipline on defense, and their offense has been running much more smoothly.
As for the Lakers, their main question now is whether Doncic and Reaves will return. Players are typically sidelined four to six weeks with their injuries, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said there’s no timeline for their return. But it helps that the Lakers’ first-round series is spread out, with two off days in between Games 1 and 2, as well as between Games 2 and 3 and Games 4 and 5.
My prediction: Rockets in 5
The Lakers ran over the Rockets in their last two matchups in March, when Doncic was at the peak of his scoring explosion. But without Doncic and Reaves, James just doesn’t have enough help to carry the Lakers past the Rockets, who are deeper, bigger and more physical. Now, if Doncic and Reaves return, everything changes.
But as things stand, my guess is James is going to prove that he’s still a superstar at age 41, shattering all narratives that Father Time has even taken a swing at him over the last two decades. But ultimately, Durant and Co. will advance to the second round.
The Warriors’ 2025-26 season somehow still is alive.
Steph Curry erupted in the second half as Golden State rallied to stun the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in the NBA play-in game on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome.
The Warriors will travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns in a do-or-die 8th-seed game, with the winner advancing to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Curry, on a minutes restriction as he ramps back up after returning from a right knee injury, struggled in the first half but turned it on in the second half and finished with 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the field.
Curry scored just eight first-half points, but poured in 27 second-half points to fuel the comeback win.
Curry’s 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds remaining gave the Warriors a late lead they didn’t relinquish.
Kristaps Porziņģis had a spring in his step and finished with 20 points, while Gui Santos scored 20 points and Brandin Podziemski added 17 points. Al Horford added 14 off the bench.
The Warriors trailed for most of the second half until Horford drained a 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in regulation.
Now the Warriors turn their attention to the Suns. Golden State won three of the four regular-season matchups, including the final matchup in Phoenix on Feb. 5.
One more win on Friday night and the Warriors will achieve their goal of getting into the playoffs.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA confirmed Wednesday it is exploring a move to an age-based eligibility model that would give athletes a window of five years to compete in Division I starting immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
The Division I Cabinet discussed the possibility at meetings that concluded Wednesday but did not take a formal position. The Cabinet supports having NCAA staff continue to discuss the idea with other stakeholders to gather feedback.
The Cabinet said the new model would include possible exceptions for circumstances such as pregnancy, military service and religious missions.
Currently, athletes generally are allowed four seasons of competition over five years with no age restrictions.
The possibility of an age-based model comes after numerous athletes have challenged NCAA eligibility rules in lawsuits with the hope of extending their college careers and ability to earn money through revenue sharing and name, image and likeness deals.
During its meetings, the Cabinet approved changes to preenrollment eligibility rules, including one that would bar athletes who have entered and remained in a professional sports draft from competing in college.
One of the rules requires prospects to withdraw from opt-in professional league drafts, including the NBA draft, to bring precollege enrollment draft rules in line with postcollege enrollment draft rules. Men’s ice hockey and baseball would not be affected because athletes don’t opt in to those sports’ drafts.
The change came after two basketball players, Alabama’s Charles Bediako and Baylor’s James Nnaji, played in college this season after entering the 2023 NBA draft.
Bediako played two seasons at Alabama and entered the draft. He wasn’t selected but played three years in the G League, the NBA’s minor league. He played in five games this past season before the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a ruling that made him ineligible.
Nnaji was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round. He played professionally overseas before he enrolled as a freshman at Baylor in December. He was granted eligibility because he had never signed an NBA contract or played in the G League. He would be ineligible in 2026-27 under the new rules.
In other changes, athletes are allowed to sign with agents prior to enrolling for purposes other than name, image and likeness and are allowed to accept prize money in their respective sports without impacting eligibility.
It was the largest "NBA Tip-Off" doubleheader audience since 2010, not including 2011 opening games on Christmas holiday. The doubleheader maintained an average of 5.6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.
Here's a look at the season highlights for viewership, attendance, digital and social numbers during the 2025-26 NBA season:
NBA 2025-26 regular-season viewership
A total of 170 million people in the United States watched NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC, Peacock and NBA TV through the regular season.
It was the most-watched NBA season in 24 years. Viewership was up 86% compared to the 2024-25 regular season, according to the league.
NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC and Peacock averaged 1.78 million viewers. It was the most in seven years and up 16% year-over-year. Including NBA TV, the league had the highest amount of viewership in 13 years and was up 35% year-over-year.
There were 57 telecasts that averaged at least two million viewers this season, the most since the 2011-12 regular season, and the league had 19 broadcasts that averaged at least three million viewers – the most since the 2012-13 regular season.
The regular season drove more than 920 million hours watched, the most since the 2011-12 season.
NBA on social media for 2025-26 season
The league generated a record 228 billion views on social media this season, up 13% over a year-to-year basis, according to Videocites.
The NBA debuted Tap to Watch, to allow fans to live stream games. According to a league news release, the new implementation drove fans to nearly 20 million live game streams with nationally televised games making up 75% of that engagement. Usage was driven largely by partners such as Google, social media platforms and the NBA App, the news release said.
NBA attendance for 2025-26 season
The NBA fans showed up in record numbers this season. A new league record was set for total attendance across a three-season span (2023-24 to 2025-26), exceeding 22.18 million fans in total attendance in team arenas for the third time ever.
Fun facts from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season
Here are some highlights from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season, according to the league:
More than 40 million people in the U.S. watched NBA Cup 2025 group play games across Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and ESPN, up 90% from last year and the most-watched group play games in the event’s three-year history.
The NBA Cup final between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in December 2025 averaged 3.07 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video, a 3% increase over the 2024 championship, which was 2.99 million on ABC.
ESPN delivered its largest average NBA Christmas audience since 2018 across its platforms. The five-game slate on Thursday, December 25, averaged 5.5 million viewers, up four percent from 2024. The Christmas games reached 47.2 million fans, up 45 percent from 2024. It is the largest audience reach for ESPN’s Christmas NBA games since 2010, excluding the season-opening Christmas day in 2011.
Games between the Mavericks and Knicks, and the Thunder and Cavaliers on Jan. 19, in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, delivered the league’s two largest afternoon audiences on MLK King Day on record, dating back to 1992.
The first NBA All-Star Game broadcast by NBC Sports since 2002 delivered the largest NBA All-Star audience since 2011, averaging 8.8 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo, according to preliminary Nielsen data and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
More than 46 million people in the U.S. watched NBA All-Star weekend across NBC platforms and ESPN, the most in 24 years and more than triple last season.
The NBA's storied rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on NBC on Feb. 22 was the most-watched regular-season Sunday night game since April 2, 2000, averaging 5.6 million viewers across ABC, Peacock and Telemundo. It was also the most watched NBA regular-season game since 2017, excluding Christmas Day.
Knicks and Thunder on March 29 delivered 3.4 million average viewers, marking the network’s 10th game with at least 3 million viewers, the most for any network since the 2018-19 regular season.
Talen Horton-Tucker #0 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Swinger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In honor of the merciful conclusion to the Utah Jazz’s tanking era, let’s take a look back at some of the players who were instrumental in securing better draft odds and the hope of a playoff appearance next season. Referring to these players as tank commanders is not derogatory nor is it meant to degrade the skill-sets they possess, rather, these players are crucial for ensuring teams get as high a draft pick as they can, while also getting the opportunity to showcase their skills to the rest of the league in hopes of getting more opportunities. It truly is thankless work, and most are forgotten once their contracts expire, but today they get their flowers.
Luka Šamanić (17-33)
Šamanić was taken 19th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2019, where he would only appear in 3 games his rookie year. He would only last two seasons in San Antonio before he would be released and the Jazz would scoop him up. During the 2023-2024 season Šamanić appeared in 43 games for the Jazz averaging a modest 4 points and 2 rebounds per game. He was also instrumental in securing a 31-51 record, and the 9th overall pick. Currently he is playing in the Russian VTB United League where he is averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist per game.
Darius Blazley (2-4)
Blazley was originally drafted by the Jazz, but his draft rights were given to the Memphis Grizzlies, only to be snatched up by the Thunder. He would get consistent playing time in OKC for four seasons before being traded to the Suns where he would only last 7 games before going to the 76ers, and finally making his way to Utah. He would play 6 games for us, 4 of which we lost. These losses again helped Utah to acquire a top 10 pick in the draft. His basketball career has not gone as planned, especially as of late. Most recently he shoved a teammate out of frustration, and was subsequently cut from the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association. At 25 years old there is still time for Blazely to turn his career around, all of Jazz nation is rooting for him.
Talen Horton-Tucker (44-72)
THT is my personal favorite of all the players listed. He spent two seasons with us and was equal parts extremely exciting and extremely frustrating to watch. At times he would forget he had four other teammates out there with him, but that’s what made him so fascinating. During my junior year of high school my friends and I would talk about THT like he was an All-Star, and that he would have a long future on the Jazz if he could just learn to pass. Scary times. (Continuous tanking can do horrible things to the mind of a fanbase.) THT’s best moment as a Jazz man came against the Spurs, where he dropped 41 points. His acrobatic layups, and thunderous dunks will be greatly missed, his tunnel vision and unwillingness to pass, will not. Today he plays in the Euroleague for Fenerbaçhe. Like Blazley, Talen is also 25 years old, and has time for an NBA comeback.
Juan Toscano-Anderson (7-15)
NBA champion Juan Toscano-Anderson played 22 games for the Jazz and averaged 3.4 points in 15 minutes per game. One of the plays featured on his highlight reel is an assist to Udoka Azubuike and seeing that nearly gave me a heart attack. Toscano-Anderson is the only player in team history to wear #95. In 2025 he signed a one year deal with Pallacanestro Trieste in the Italian basketball league. In his most recent game he put up 4 points, and 4 assists in 17 minutes of action.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. (2-2)
Lofton may have only played in 4 games for the Jazz, going 2-2, but he was certainly memorable. He isn’t built like your typical NBA player, but he played very well in his few games in Utah. His most impressive outing came when he dropped 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in a win over the Clippers. Lofton last played for the Shanghai Sharks, but of all the players on this list I believe in him to make an NBA comeback the most. He’s still just 23 and averaged an impressive 25 points and 12.6 rebounds in the Chinese Basketball Association.
KJ Martin (2-17)
Go ahead and pat yourself on the back if you remember KJ Martin. He is, by far, the best tank commander on this list. He played in 19 games for the Jazz and went 2-17. Without Martin the Jazz may not have secured their worst record in franchise history (17-65) and the best odds in the lottery. While Utah did drop to the fifth spot, they still came away with a blue-chip player in Ace Bailey. Going back and watching his highlights from the ‘24-’25 season the one thing that really stood out was his athleticism. He had some really nice dunks off of lobs, but that was about it. Most recently he played for the Ningbo Rockets where he averaged 7.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.
Now for this season’s batch of tank commanders! This was a special group that included some very memorable performances, and may have even yielded a diamond in the rough. Kennedy Chandler (1-10)
Chandler stands at 5’11, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in his effort on the floor. Unfortunately for him however the Jazz chose to let his 10-day contract expire. Chandler did save his best performances for last; dropping 26 and 31 in his final two games with the team. During his 11 game stint in Utah he averaged a solid 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. His best game came in a loss to the Pelicans where he had 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Seven rebounds for a guy who is 5’11 is perhaps his greatest achievement. His speed, and finishing ability should be enough to stick around in the G-League, but finding a consistent shot from deep is probably his only path to make an NBA roster.
Bez Mbeng (2-13)
The 3-time Ivy League defensive player of the year had some very impressive moments this season with the Jazz. He averaged 2.3 steals per game and even threw in a triple double for fun against the Grizzlies in the Tank Bowl. Mbeng will forever be immortalized in both Jazz, and NBA history as he was the first Jazz rookie to record a triple double since Mark Eaton did it in 1978. He cemented his spot in NBA history on the same night when he and John Konchar became the first teammates to record triple doubles off the same bench. The Jazz signed Mbeng to a two year deal, and I cannot wait to see him play in Summer League. He could be a very similar type of player as Elijah Harkless, with higher upside on offense.
Andersson Garcia (1-4)
They could never make me hate you Garcia. Sadly his most notable moment on the Jazz was when he elbowed Ace, and gave him a concussion. What I’ll remember him for however was his tap outs on rebounds. He smacked the air out of the ball to try and get it to his teammates. He played extremely hard during his limited time here. It was probably foolish from the beginning to get so attached to a 25 year old rookie, but I couldn’t help it. Garcia made a believer out of me. I don’t care that he shot 7.7% from deep, or that he shot 31% from the field, he will always have a fan in me. I hope he can find a home elsewhere in the NBA or, more likely, somewhere overseas.
Hayden Gray (0-1)
Gray only played in the season finale against the Lakers where he dropped 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, and 1 block. He has since been signed to a two-year deal and should play as a member of the Jazz’s Summer League roster.
For the first time in four years the Jazz will be playing to win games and compete for a playoff spot. (With some luck in the lottery they may even be competing for much more than that.) Gone are the days of watching the Jazz field a G-League level team. In a way I’ll miss it… but not that much. What obscure tanking era players did I miss, and which players do you still irrationally believe in?
TORONTO, ON- NOVEMBER 24 - Forward Brandon Ingram (3) of the Toronto Raptors looks for a way around guard Jaylon Tyson (20) of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Toronto Raptors play the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. November 24, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs starting on Saturday. The Cavs lost all three of their regular-season games to the Raptors, but each came before December. Let’s take a look at what the numbers say about this Raptors team.
The Raptors have simply been a solid team on both sides of the ball, although they’re better defensively. What they do on that end heavily influences their offensive attack. So let’s dive into the defensive numbers first.
Scottie Barnes (1.4 steals per game) and Immanuel Quickly (1.3 steals per game) have excelled in this area. Both are physical at the point of attack and have active hands in passing lanes.
The Raptors are also committed to getting back in transition and are good at stopping the ball on the break. This has led to them giving up transition opportunities to their opponent on just 13.3% of their defensive possessions, which is the second-fewest in the league.
NBA offenses are built and conditioned to score in transition. There are few teams better at keeping opposing offenses from doing so than the Raptors.
Scoring in the half-court is considerably more difficult than doing so in transition. Toronto has a 96.7 defensive rating in the half-court that ranks 11th in the league. That isn’t outstanding, but their ability to force teams into consistently going up against their set defense is a win on its own.
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Your offense is going to be better in transition than it is in the half-court. Being able to generate shots in the open court is almost always better than the alternative. That’s worth highlighting because the Raptors aren’t elite at capitalizing on all of their transition looks.
They’re 15th in points added per 100 transition possessions. That means that they’re middle of the road in transition efficiency, but being able to get in the open court so often helps offset that. Ideally, you’d like to be great at both — as the Indiana Pacers were last season — but running this much does completely change how you guard them, as the Cavs saw in their three meetings this season.
The Cavs’ three-point defense has been an issue all season. The Raptors aren’t a team that can really exploit that. Toronto doesn’t shoot threes at volume — 25th — and they don’t shoot it particularly well when they do generate looks.
The most efficient ways to score are the rim, the free-throw line, and from beyond the arc. The Raptors only excel in one of those areas. They take the ninth-most shots at the rim and have the eighth-best percentage (68.5%). However, that doesn’t translate to getting to the line.
If they aren’t getting to the rim, they mostly settle for in-between shots. They’re taking a higher percentage of shots in the midrange than they are from three. You don’t see that often.
Toronto is only one of four teams that take more midrange shots than threes. The other three in that group aren’t known for having great offensive processes: the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.
Defensively, they don’t do a great job of keeping teams from getting to the basket and are prone to fouling them. This is partially due to a roster construction that is built more around wings than strong interior defenders.
The best three-point defense is limiting outside attempts. The Raptors don’t do that at a high level.
How to beat the Raptors
The Cavs need to keep the Raptors’ offense from running on them. This means they must limit turnovers and emphasize getting back defensively.
Since James Harden’s debut, the Cavs have done a good job of protecting the ball. They’ve been seventh in the league in offensive turnover percentage (13.1%) in that time. However, they’ve struggled with keeping opponents from getting out and running against them. They allow their opposition to attack in transition on 16.1% of their possessions since Harden’s debut, which ranks 20th in the league. Keeping the Raptors in the half-court is a must, considering that’s where a high percentage of their points come from.
Offensively, the Cavs need to keep focusing on their strengths since the Harden trade. They’ve done a better job of getting to the rim, drawing fouls, and generating three-point looks since the beginning of February. All of which are things the Raptors have struggled with.
Additionally, the Harden trade has boosted the Cavs’ half-court offense. They’ve attacked in transition the third fewest in the league since Harden’s debut. Instead, they’ve opted to operate in the half-court and have been exceptional at doing so. Since the beginning of February, the Cavs have registered a 104.7 offensive rating in the half-court, which is good for third in the league since that time.
If the Cavs can keep Toronto from getting out in transition and continue to execute at a high level with their half-court offense, they should win this series.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 16: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 16, 2026 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While a seven-game series is all about the first to four, not the first to one, there is added pressure on the Lakers to come out victorious in Game 1.
Many NBA experts don’t give them a chance to win this series. Game 1 will be a great opportunity not only to prove those critics wrong but also to start the series against Houston up 1-0.
“Tremendously important for us,” Smart said after Tuesday’s practice. “We know we got a team that’s going to come in and try to set the rules, right. Especially first game, you want to set the tone for the whole series, let them know this is how it’s going to be.
“Not only that, it just sets the tone in general so the refs can understand, ‘This is how we’re going to play. This is how we’re going to do it. Let us play.’ It’s very important for us because they are very aggressive and they do a really good job of setting the tone and we’re going to have to do a good job matching that energy if not going above it.”
In the NBA, the team that wins Game 1 wins the series 77.8% of the time. So, yes, winning the first game as the home team would be ideal for Los Angeles. It would not only get them started on the right track, but also give them the confidence that they can win despite the guards they are missing.
“I think it’s important that we have the right spirit and we have a belief,” Redick said. “Certainly winning Game 1 can help with that, but I’m confident. Our group is in this to fight until we win the series.”
During this week of practice, Redick has stressed that the right spirit is rebounding the ball and limiting turnovers. LA has struggled to keep Houston off the glass even in wins this year, and if they can beat them on the boards on Saturday night, the odds of a victory will be good.
After Wednesday’s practice, Rui Hachimura echoed the sentiments of Redick and Smart on how much winning Game 1 matters.
“We got home court advantage and we gotta get the first one,” Hachimura said. I’ve been to a couple of playoffs, and the first game is really important.”
The Lakers seem to all be on the same page regarding the importance of Game 1.
They’ll have a few more days to work on their game plan before attempting to execute it on Saturday. Hopefully, a week of rest and practice gives them the energy and preparedness to accomplish their first task. Because it may be the first to four that wins, but that path begins with earning the first victory.
LeBron James and the Lakers will open their playoff series with the Rockets on April 18. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Los Angeles will start its series with the Rockets on Saturday, but then will get a full two days off before Game 2 on April 21. It’ll then get an additional two days off before Game 3 on April 24.
The Lakers will play again on April 26, but Game 5 then isn’t slated to tip off until April 29.
Luka Doncic injured his hamstring on April 2 and was given a 4-6 week timeline to return. Getty Images
Both Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring) have been sidelined since April 2, and while LA head coach JJ Redick said the pair was out “indefinitely” this week, both were reportedly looking at return timetables of around a month after they initially sustained their ailments.
“Lmao Adam Silver sneaky mf,” one Lakers fan wrote on Reddit. “we see what you did here and we thank you.”
“Three 2 days off for the Lakers, they really want Luka to play in the 1st round,” another said on X, adding nose and fish emojis.
“totally not RIGGED,” a separate poster wrote.
If Games 6 and 7 are necessary in the series, they would take place on May 1 and May 3 — giving Doncic and Reaves over a month to come back should a winner-take-all game go down in the teams’ opening round.
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Mar 19, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the game winning shot over Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Spurs just finished their fourth-best season in franchise history in terms of win percentage. Is this one of the best San Antonio teams ever, or do we need to wait for the playoffs to claim that?
Marilyn Dubinski: We definitely need to see what’s in store for the playoffs before ranking them. Spurs teams with lower records have won championships and will therefore always be highly regarded. Conversely, the best regular season record for the Spurs was 67-15 in 2015-16, but we mainly remember that team for losing in the second round to the Thunder, however controversial it was (Dion Waiters, ugh), not for how great the regular season was. One thing this squad will always be remembered for is one of the best turnarounds in franchise history, and while their 28-game improvement doesn’t beat the 35 games from 1989-90 or 36 from 1997-98, it may have been an even bigger surprise.
Mark Barrington: It’s the best turnaround I’ve ever seen, from a team that’s barely competitive to one of the league’s elites, but to be one of the best San Antonio teams ever, they are going to have to excel in the playoffs. Maybe one of the best regular seasons ever, but for a team that has five championships, the bar is higher than the regular season. If this team wins the championship, this will be the second-best year ever, after 1999, when they won their first trophy. I don’t know if this team is ready, but it seems possible. They don’t have much playoff experience, but I don’t think anything intimidates them.
Bill Huan: We need to see what happens in the playoffs. This team needs to go through the crucible of a postseason before we can make proclamations about where they rank in Spurs history, and we’ve seen elite regular-season teams flame out when things get tough before. Now that I’m done being a Debbie Downer, I feel comfortable saying that this has probably been one of the most fun seasons in team history, given the expectations going in and the turnaround they had compared to last year. Now, I wasn’t even alive when the Spurs won their first championship and I’ve been a fan for only a decade, so feel free to “expose” me, as the kids like to say.
Devon Birdsong: One of the best regular-season teams? Yeah, I think that’s pretty much set in stone at this point. For the latter fourth of the season, I’ve been comparing this year’s squad to the 2014 Spurs, and their Net Rating ended up being almost identical. They even both went 62-20, and if not for the Thunder, they’d have been the #1 seed like the 2014 Spurs were. However, the best overall is always going to be dictated by rings, so the postseason is where they’ll have to earn that accolade. Even if they were to just make the Western Conference Finals, though, that would be enough to make them a top 10 team in franchise history, and that’s no small thing to be able to claim in the history of this franchise. Obviously, we’d all prefer a title. Now *that* would be a fun ranking exercise.
Jeje Gomez: The potential is there. The record speaks for itself and the net rating is impressive. For most franchises, it would be easy to call them one of their best team ever. Unfortunately for this version of the Spurs, they are measured up against championship teams, so the playoffs have to be considered. If they get to the Conference Finals, they would get a spot among the best San Antonio teams ever, but until they achieve some postseason success, they can’t be regarded as one.
There were a lot of highlights and big moments in the regular season. Which was your favorite?
Dubinski: Just off the top of my head, Victor Wembanyama’s triumphant return in the regular season opener was special after overcoming DVT, and the way he made Cooper Flagg look like a deer in headlights was the cherry on top. (Although news flash: he isn’t anymore. He’s going to be special.) They also actually made me kinda care about the Cup with their wins in Los Angeles and against the Thunder in Vegas. Speaking of which, going 4-1 against the Thunder will always be a fun memory. Lastly, who can forget that entire February and-on stretch? That kind of run is something only true championship contenders do.
Barrington: For me, it might be the 25-point comeback to beat the Clippers on March 6, where they overcame a blah start and took over the game late, shutting down Kawhi Leonard and turning a bad night into triumph. It’s a measure of how resilient the team can be that they didn’t give up when they were down by 25 points in the third quarter and kept believing. But the whole season has been special, and I wouldn’t have missed any of it.
Huan: It’s gotta be Wemby’s performance in the season opener. I still watch highlights of that game once a week and I genuinely think it’s one of the most insane one-game highlight packages of any athlete, from any sport, ever. Jacob Tobey’s line about Wemby being “a figment of our basketball imagination” is one of my all-time favorite calls, too, and the best part is, the entire season continued to go uphill from there.
Birdsong: For me, it’s a tie between Wemby’s hyper-efficient 40-point games and Harper and Castle getting white hot from long distance. After struggling with unevenness from beyond the arc, Castle has been shooting 40% for about a month and a half, and Harper has actually been shooting 50% over that same stretch of time. No shock that the Spurs have been a nigh-unsolvable riddle in that time. Meanwhile, Wemby tied the Admiral for most 40-point 10-rebound games in a season (5), and did so while averaging less than 30 minutes a game. There’s just not much like watching him be unstoppable in that way. And several of those games weren’t far from being 40-20 stat lines. The even crazier thing? He scored 38+ points in four other games, coming unbelievably close to almost doubling the number of hyper-efficient 40-point rampages.
Gomez: Opening night stands out because it was one of the most impressive and unique individual performances the NBA has ever seen. I personally loved the last matchup against the Timberwolves, featuring 55 points from Anthony Edwards, a standout performance by rookie Joan Beringer, a great Wemby game and a wacky ending with missed free throws and offensive rebounds that went the Spurs’ way, the type of weird game that great teams tend to win with some help from the basketball gods. But if I have to pick one moment, I’ll be unoriginal and go with Wembanyama’s game-winner against the Suns. The Spurs were a lock to make the playoffs for the first time in years, but to clinch their spot with such a fantastic bucket from their superstar almost felt scripted.
What was the biggest surprise of the season, other than the record?
Dubinski: For me, it was how much an alleged lack of outside shooting ended up not being a problem. It wasn’t a strength, per se, but they were good enough that it didn’t hold them back. There was a little stress in that department coming in, considering the Spurs didn’t really sign any new outside shooters and the guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper didn’t have a reputation as shooters, but all three of them shot well enough to keep defenses honest. Harrison Barnes also had his super hot start to the season (and started regaining his form in the last month or so), and Julian Champagnie has turned into one of the most reliable shooters in the league. They could still be better, but it wasn’t the glaring weakness we all feared it would be.
Barrington: I think it’s the maturity and emotional resilience of the team. The team is really young, but they don’t play like a young team mentally. Some of it is coaching, and also the veteran leadership of guys like Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, and Jordan McLaughlin, but it’s mostly due to the character of the young players. Victor Wembanyama is an incredible leader, on top of being an insanely talented player. Behind that affable and nerdy exterior lurks an intense competitive nature and steely resolve. Stephon Castle works as hard as any player I’ve seen. Dylan Harper plays with the calmness of a veteran, despite being a rookie. Normally, a team this young would be expected to be bounced early in the playoffs, but they have a chance to make some noise this year if they keep their heads about them, and every indication is that they will.
Huan: Steph Castle, no question. I’ve mentioned countless times that I did not expect this leap from him, and I’m surprised I wasn’t banned from writing, given all the horrendous takes I had about him last season. I thought that he would become a trick-or-treat type player like Marcus Smart but he has developed into a legitimate All-Star calibre guard who’s a borderline elite playmaker and now a decent scorer on league-average efficiency. Oh, and did I mention the defense? I’ve never been this wrong about a player ever, and I’ve never been happier about being wrong, either.
Birdsong: I had no idea how adding Harper to the bench was going to play out. It was pretty obvious the kid had talent, but it was basically asking him to instantly run the show for a group of savvy vets. I especially wasn’t sure how he and Keldon might combine, with Keldon having accepted a role as 6th man, and Harper almost certain to pass him up eventually. Keldon’s a lovely human, but he has a very specific play style, and all anyone could do was hope that they’d complement each other. But not only was pretty much every bench lineup improved with Harper on the court, lineups with him and Keldon specifically are almost five points better on both offense and defense. A big part of why this team won 60 games (and why Wemby was able to dip out early as needed) was because the bench not only refused to relinquish the lead, but also built on it. The bench finished the year 5th in the league for net rating, and I was just hoping for them to be in the top 10. In San Antonio, that tends to align with banners.
Gomez: The seamlessness with which everyone slotted perfectly into their ideal roles was a little surprising for such a young team. Mitch Johnson deserves credit for that, as he seems to be a great locker room leader who can get the best out of his personnel, but the players themselves also need to be commended. The young veterans in particular deserve their flowers. Keldon Johnson was aggressive when he needed to save some offensively-challenged bench lineups, especially early in the season, but he didn’t force things. Devin Vassell had big scoring games and nights in which he took only a handful of shots, but always tried to contribute in any other way he could. De’Aaron Fox was the most impressive in terms of just doing what the team needed to win by moving to an off-ball role for long stretches and even entire games to make room for the young guards, something not a lot of players of his stature would have done in their prime. Raw talent is the main force driving the Spurs’ success, but chemistry is a close second.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brandin Podziemski was seen smiling as he approached the free-throw line in the first quarter of the Warriors’ NBA play-in tournament game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, and it very quickly became apparent why.
Clippers fans behind the hoop sitting in “The Wall” at Intuit Dome had sprinkled in broccoli signs with their cardboard waves, clearly poking fun at the Golden State guard’s hairstyle of choice.
“The Wall” is known for distracting opposing players at the charity stripe, consisting of 4,500 seats and 51 rows, with the first 13 called “The Swell.” Last season, per ESPN, opponents shot 73.4 percent on free throws when facing the rowdy bunch of Clippers fans.
Their antics might have worked, as Podziemski made his first free-throw attempt but missed the second — though Kristaps Porziņģis soared in for a dunk on the rebound.
After a slow start to the win-or-go-home game, the Warriors roared back in the second quarter but still trail the Clippers. So far, Podziemski is 4-of-8 shooting from the field with two 3-pointers and one very good sense of humor.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 24: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 during the first half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on March 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled to stay healthy all season. This has led to them having 41 different starting lineup combinations and just three players participating in 65 or more games. For context, a team like the Boston Celtics had 23 different starting lineup combinations and nine players available for 65 or more gams.
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, things are trending in the right direction heading into the start of the playoffs on Saturday. Head coach Kenny Atkinson confirmed that 14 of the team’s 15 players were full participants in what Atkinson described as a “real practice.” That includes Jarrett Allen (knee), Donovan Mitchell (ankle), and Sam Merrill (hamstring), who were on the injury report late in the regular season.
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The one player who wasn’t a full participant was Thomas Bryant. He was still able to do some on-court work. Atkinson noted that he was “surprisingly ahead of schedule” with the calf injury he’s been dealing with.
Being healthy has allowed them to focus on one of the most important aspects of succeeding in the playoffs, and one of the things that let them down last postseason: Conditioning.
Conditioning has been an overarching focus of practice this week. The Cavs want to be prepared to take on a Toronto Raptors team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league. They’ve done circuit training with the VersaClimber to get ready for playoff intensity. However, that preparation didn’t just start this week. It’s been a focus for this group for almost a year.
“It wasn’t just about yesterday’s [circuit training],” Atkinson said. “It’s about June and July. We’ve done a lot of things in the offseason and in-season to be ready for the intensity and physicality. It’s going to be a big part of this series.”
Full First Round Schedule: Western Conference 
