Golden State Warriors (37-45, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT
LINE: Suns -3.5; over/under is 219.5
PLAY-IN GAME: The Suns and Warriors square off to decide the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner earns the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.
The Suns are 10-7 against division opponents. Phoenix averages 112.6 points while outscoring opponents by 1.5 points per game.
The Warriors are 7-9 against Pacific Division teams. Golden State is eighth in the Western Conference giving up only 115.2 points while holding opponents to 48.0% shooting.
The Suns score 112.6 points per game, 2.6 fewer points than the 115.2 the Warriors give up. The Warriors average 15.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Suns give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Booker is shooting 45.6% and averaging 26.1 points for the Suns. Royce O'Neale is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Brandin Podziemski is scoring 13.8 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 115.1 points, 44.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Warriors: 3-7, averaging 111.4 points, 40.3 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Mark Williams: day to day (foot), Grayson Allen: day to day (hamstring).
Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: unknown (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Charlotte Hornets (44-38, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hornets -3.5; over/under is 218
PLAY-IN GAME: The Magic and Hornets square off to decide the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets take the court for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner claims the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The Magic are 26-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is 20-26 against opponents with a winning record.
The Hornets are 11-5 against the rest of their division. Charlotte is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.0 points per game and is shooting 46.0%.
The Magic are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.7% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 47.6% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LaMelo Ball is averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.
Hornets: 6-4, averaging 113.4 points, 44.8 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.1 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee).
Hornets: Moussa Diabate: day to day (hip), PJ Hall: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks to open the Eastern Conference first round. New York went 2-1 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Knicks won the last regular season meeting 108-105 on Monday, April 6 led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 36 points for the Hawks.
The Knicks are 35-17 against conference opponents. New York averages 116.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.4 points per game.
The Hawks are 27-25 in conference play. Atlanta is 7-8 in one-possession games.
The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 0.5 more points than the 116.0 the Hawks give up. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mikal Bridges is scoring 14.4 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Jalen Johnson is scoring 22.5 points per game and averaging 10.3 rebounds for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.2 points, 40.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 120.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), OG Anunoby: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle).
Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (finger), Nickeil Alexander-Walker: day to day (toe), Jalen Johnson: day to day (rest), CJ McCollum: day to day (rest), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), Dyson Daniels: day to day (toe), Jock Landale: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets to open the Western Conference first round. Los Angeles went 2-1 against Houston during the regular season. The Lakers won the last regular season matchup 124-116 on Thursday, March 19 led by 40 points from Luka Doncic, while Alperen Sengun scored 27 points for the Rockets.
The Lakers are 33-19 in Western Conference games. Los Angeles has an 8-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Rockets are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston has a 5-9 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Lakers make 50.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.2 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Lakers allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jake LaRavia is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 41.4 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.
Rockets: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 49.1 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (rib), Jaxson Hayes: day to day (foot), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
Rockets: Kevin Durant: day to day (rest), Amen Thompson: day to day (rest), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Jabari Smith Jr.: day to day (rest), Alperen Sengun: day to day (rest).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -8.5; over/under is 219.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors to open the Eastern Conference first round. Toronto went 3-0 against Cleveland during the regular season. The Raptors won the last regular season matchup 110-99 on Tuesday, Nov. 25 led by 37 points from Brandon Ingram, while Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Cleveland is seventh in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 44.4 rebounds. Evan Mobley paces the Cavaliers with 9.0 boards.
The Raptors have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto has a 21-27 record against teams above .500.
The Cavaliers are shooting 48.2% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors are shooting 48.2% from the field, 1.8% higher than the 46.4% the Cavaliers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 assists over the last 10 games.
Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ja'Kobe Walter is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 121.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.
Raptors: 6-4, averaging 119.8 points, 41.0 rebounds, 32.3 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: James Harden: day to day (rest), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Dennis Schroder: day to day (rest), Evan Mobley: day to day (calf), Keon Ellis: day to day (knee), Jarrett Allen: day to day (injury management), Thomas Bryant: day to day (calf), Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring), Donovan Mitchell: day to day (ankle).
Raptors: Chucky Hepburn: day to day (knee), Immanuel Quickley: day to day (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.
Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll preview the Pistons’ postseason. We’ll know who the Pistons play in the first round by the time we record, so how are you feeling about the matchup? What’s your prediction for the series? And how does Cade Cunningham’s successful grievance for NBA postseason honors impact Jalen Duren’s potential All-NBA hopes?
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INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 15: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors smiles during the game against the LA Clippers during the SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Latvian big man Kristaps Porziņģis had arguably his best game with the Golden State Warriors last night against the Los Angeles Clippers, notching 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8-of-12 shooting from the field (3-of-6 on threes). However, his availability is up in the air for tomorrow’s tilt against the Phoenix Suns.
Kristaps Porzingis listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game at Phoenix with right ankle soreness. He was limping around with it taped up after last night’s win in LA.
Should Porziņģis be unavailable tomorrow, it is assumed that Al Horford will start in his place. However, that would also meant that the Warriors’ center depth will take a massive hit, which could see Draymond Green at the five for spurts, should Steve Kerr deem it necessary. Green was at his best against the Clippers with either Porziņģis or Horford behind him as a backline rim protector; without either of them in certain configurations, Green might find it difficult to plug holes and erase mistakes despite his history of being a capable roamer and help-side defender.
Inglewood, CA - April 15: Forward Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors steals the ball from forward Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA play-in tournament basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
I had to crack up laughing when I saw the Gil’s Arena crew post a video about Draymond Green’s lockdown defense on Kawhi Leonard entitled, “How A Podcaster ENDED Kawhi’s Dream Season”. Green is arguably the greatest defender of his generation, so him playfully being referred to by his side gig dropping hot pods on YouTube is a nod to just how versatile Green is as a human being.
In a season where he’s had to endure swirling trade rumors, a wounded roster, and the looming shadow of Father Time creeping over his shoulder, this was the game he had to have.
He was the primary defender on the legendary Kawhi Leonard, a guy with rings and NBA Finals MVP in his trophy case, and put on a performance that was absolutely phenomenal.
You know how some guys like Steph Curry are trusted in late game situations offensively to deliver the killshot? We call ‘em closers, guys who carry that Jordanesque swagger to deliver with the game in the balance. Green is the epitome of that on the defensive end, the equivalent of a brick wall at the end of a one way street. You don’t wanna go his way to try to score for game. But don’t take my word for it, ask Mr. Leonard!
Draymond Green’s solitary confinement of Kawhi Leonard compilation, final 3 minutes: pic.twitter.com/tNabKVpLOX
Green was fighting through pain from a stiff leg, consistently smothering Leonard like a wet blanket. When he stole the inbound pass to Leonard with 49 seconds left and the Warriors up 120-117, it felt like the Dubs might be able to exhale. That brilliant move by Green to force Leonard out of position for the pass along the sideline led to the high IQ reflex to knock the stolen ball to his streaking teammate Brandin Podziemski who scored on his layup attempt and drew the foul.
To salt the game and the Clippers’ season away, Green then ripped Leonard’s dribble move, a fantastic and perhaps even stunning sight. We don’t often see the Klaw get his cookies taken in the clutch. Don’t let that closing sequence distract you from the fact that Green was also practically unscreenable when navigating the floor covering Leonard.
Last night, Draymond guarded the ball-handler (Kawhi) on 21 on-ball picks, the most he's guarded in a single game since December, 2021. The Clippers scored a measly 0.5 points per direct on those actions.
The awareness, the feel, the competitive dog inside of Green just stifled Leonard’s plans when the Clippers needed him most. Leonard’s final statline: 21 points on 17 shots in 40 minutes, with 5 turnovers and only 4 free throws. Per NBA.com, Leonard shot 3-for-7 from the field when Green was guarding him, with two turnovers. It doesn’t get any better than what Green and the Warriors did to keep Leonard from finding scoring momentum that can sometimes feel inevitable.
This is why you don’t trade Green; even though he’s an OG now, he is still absolutely invaluable on the floor to keep the other team from being their best selves. You remember how he shut the door on Alperen Sengun and the Rockets last year? It’s what he does.
We haven’t even mentioned how he led the Dubs in assists last night with nine dimes, continually directing the offense like a QB and then setting the tough screens that got his guys open. Enjoy this guy while he’s here, Dub Nation!
Michael Bradley (left) defends Mitchell Robinson during the Knicks' win over the Hawks on April 6, 2026 at the Garden.
Tony Bradley hadn’t played much for the Pacers in the postseason at that point last year, and he wouldn’t play in the Eastern Conference finals until the second game, but he still watched as Tyrese Haliburton’s last-second heave stunned the Knicks by forcing overtime in Game 1.
And Bradley saw how that draining result — the Knicks’ double-digit lead late in regulation evaporated completely — carried over into the next game that Indiana won, too.
That’s why Bradley, now a backup center for the Hawks facing the possibility of an expanded role this series, knows the importance of stealing that first game to “set the tone,” which Atlanta will have the chance to do at the Garden when the first-round series opens Saturday.
“I think it’s very important to hit them in the mouth first,” Bradley told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday, while adding that the Knicks were “for sure” demoralized by Haliburton’s shot.
Michael Bradley (left) defends Mitchell Robinson during the Knicks’ win over the Hawks on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Bradley, a first-round pick by the Lakers in 2017, was waived by the Pacers in January before his contract became guaranteed, and after a pair of 10-day deals with Indiana that followed, he remained unsigned until the Hawks picked him up earlier this month after an injury to backup center Jock Landale.
With Landale now sidelined for at least the start of the series — the Hawks said Thursday that he’ll be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks — with a right ankle sprain, it’s unclear just how sizable of a role Bradley could have against the Knicks.
In three regular-season games with Atlanta, Bradley averaged 11.3 minutes, 3.7 points and three rebounds per game.
For the season, he’s averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds across 10.9 minutes per game.
But Bradley has experienced what it takes to topple the Knicks. And he knows the impact that a devastating blow at the Garden, especially at the start of a series, can have.
“Their crowd is, it can be intimidating,” Bradley said. “But it’s fun at the same time.”
Josh Hart didn’t hesitate. Asked what the Knicks can take from their three regular-season matchups with the Hawks, he said, “None.” They didn’t have Karl-Anthony Towns for one of the games. Hart didn’t play in two of them, either.
“The regular season honestly doesn’t really matter when you look at it in terms of a scope like this,” Hart said, “because you never know — regular season, there’s a lot of things that you have. I don’t know if they were back-to-backs, you know, who’s in, who’s out, whatever it is.
“So, you know, you throw those out the window and you just focus on the team and the personnel that they have right now.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown, tasked with navigating against the Hawks’ Quin Snyder — who was on Brown’s staff with the Lakers in 2011-12 — over the next two weeks in a coaching chess match, opted to not look too far ahead with how he’ll approach the challenge.
“Just one day at a time,” Brown said. “More than anything else, it’s my job to make sure we as a group, starting with me, stay present, and, you know, you go through the hypotheticals, but you can’t dwell on them because if you do, you’ll lose focus at what your strengths are.”
Zohran Mamdani tried to dunk over the Knicks’ longtime arch-nemesis.
But Trae Young wasn’t going to sit idly by and not at least contest the jam.
The New York mayor was asked on Thursday about the high ticket prices at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks’ first-round series against the Hawks compared to the get-in price at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
Before getting into his more extended answer, the democratic socialist wanted to place the blame on Young, a former member of the Hawks.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pictured at City Hall Blue Room on April 16, 2026, during a press conference. Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Post
Zohran Mamdani, when asked about the high cost of Knicks playoff tickets vs Atlanta: "I would say that I blame Trae Young… and I think it's always important to blame Trae Young"
“First, I would say that I blame Trae Young,” Mamdani said jokingly, leading to some laughs. “And I think it’s always important to blame Trae Young.”
Hizzoner then gave a more extended answer about how he believes sports are now more of a “luxury commodity” and wished tickets were “far more affordably priced.” As of Thursday night, the cheapest ticket — on Tickmaster — to get into MSG for Saturday’s Game 1 is $353; Game 3 prices for next Thursday in Atlanta are $84.
The Post’s request for comment from the Knicks and Madison Square Garden was not immediately returned.
All the while, Young, the former Hawk who was traded in the middle of the season to the Wizards, clapped back at New York for what went down in 2021 — and how then-Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the fray.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young reacts while on the court in the second half at MSG during a 2022 game. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“Remember what happened the last time the Mayor of that City had my name in his mouth during a time like this…. #DontBlameMeWhenItHappensAgain,” Young wrote in response on X.
During those playoffs, Young became a thorn in the side of Knicks — and their passionate fans — when he dropped 32 points, including the final-second game-winner, in the opening contest.
“This is very serious, want to get this message to Trae Young on behalf of the people for New York City and anybody that cares about playing basketball the right way: Stop hunting for fouls, Trae,” de Blasio said.
The message really didn’t work, as Young finished the series by averaging 29.2 points and 9.8 assists as the Knicks were eliminated in five games. Memorably, though, Knicks fans continually chanted “F–k Trae Young,” something that still continues to this day.
During the 2024-25 season, Young further entrenched himself as a villain when he helped close out the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals before stepping on New York’s logo at midcourt before mimicking rolling a dice, meaning his team advanced to Las Vegas and the Knicks had not.
The Wizards did not qualify for the playoffs, so Young’s next chance to play the Knicks will come next season, whether he remains with the Wizards (he has a player option for 2026-27) or not.
The Knicks’ regular season was good, but irrelevant. Their own team owner set the bar as championship or bust, so the measuring starts now.
Josh Hart admits as much.
“I had no expectations [coming in]. We made the playoffs, we had 50 wins, so that was good. You know, we know we’re going to be judged by what we do starting now,” Hart said. “So we didn’t really have expectations going into it. Just wanted to make sure we get to the playoffs.”
But now that the Knicks are in the playoffs, they’ll be facing the white-hot Hawks in an Eastern Conference first-round series that tips off with Saturday’s Game 1 at the Garden. It’s a home-court advantage Hart expects to be electric.
“Man, the energy is great in the regular season, but if you’re able to get to a playoff game, the energy is unreal,” Hart said. “They show up for us every single game. You have fans outside, [the] weather is good. So everyone’s outside wanting to have fun, wanting to see the Knicks play. So we need them, obviously now more than ever, and we want to show them love.”
Josh Hart talks to the media after practice at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks will have to contend with one of the league’s hottest teams, and Hart may find himself guarding one of its biggest breakout players.
While Atlanta is seeded just sixth, they’re rolling into this series having gone 19-5 down the stretch.
And Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists this season. While OG Anunoby is the Knicks’ wing stopper, Hart shouldered most of the burden on Johnson in their last matchup, and helped the Knicks come away with an April 6 win in Atlanta.
Jalen Johnson shoots over Josh Hart (3) during the second half of the Knicks’ win over the Hawks at April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“Jalen is a really, really good player, a great player. And shoot, he’s won a lot of awards this year. He’s led the charge,” coach Mike Brown said. “Him and Nickeil [Alexander-Walker] have led the charge in their resurgence here at the end of season, so a lot of respect there. In our last game, Josh matched up with him a little bit more than OG. So it’s more a team thing than anything else.”
Hart held Johnson to 2-for-7 shooting in the time he was guarding Johnson, and the latter finished 8-for-19 with five turnovers in that game.
It’s unclear how much of that duty he’ll draw in Saturday’s Game 1. What’s clear is he’s prioritized the dirty work on that end of the floor.
“The thing I’m most proud of myself on [this season] is I feel like I’m doing a better job of moving on to the next plays. If I’m not making shots, what else can I do to help this team be successful?” Hart said. “How can I bring energy? What kind of plays can I make to help guys get in position to be successful?
“I’m doing that and being able to turn the page on a bad play, bad quarter, bad half, a little better than I did before. So that’s been good. But the season, it was solid.”
In a way, it shaped the tenor of the series last year. When the Knicks erupted for 40 points in the fourth quarter of their Game 1 win against the Pistons, it allowed them to erase an eight-point deficit — anchored by a 21-0 run — and avoid an early setback. It made a statement early in the first round. It avoided the catastrophic scenario of dropping the opener at home and losing home-court advantage.
It was also a bit unexpected, going against the numbers and trends from the 2024-25 regular season. The Knicks finished with the sixth-worst net rating in the fourth quarter that year (minus-4.2), and their minus-1.6 in clutch situations (the final five minutes when the lead or deficit is five points or less) during those frames ranked No. 17 in the NBA.
But when the Knicks open their series against the Hawks one year later Saturday — with most of the same rotation intact and the only major difference a new head coach — fourth quarters, and specifically clutch situations down the stretch, have become an undeniable strength.
Their plus-11.7 net rating in the fourth quarter was the best in the league during the regular season and the best since NBA.com began tracking stats during the 1996-97 campaign.
Josh Hart reacts after he sinks a 3-pointer with seconds left during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics on April 9, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Their plus-20.5 net rating in clutch situations in fourth quarters is second in the league behind the Lakers (25.4), too. The Knicks already have Captain Clutch, with Jalen Brunson named Clutch Player of the Year last season and once again delivering when it matters most in games, and now, that has seemingly become part of their overarching DNA.
“I think it shows the ability that we have to lock in and focus and have a good attention to detail,” Josh Hart said Thursday in Tarrytown. “Now we gotta make sure, seeing that, you know you have the capability of doing it, and now you have to make sure you do it for all 48 and not 12 minutes.”
That’s the catch-22 of all this, at least in the eyes of the Knicks. For as well as they’ve played in the fourth quarter, it’s also left them wanting more from the other three. There’s a hunger, head coach Mike Brown said, to be as perfect as they possibly can. Because in these playoff games, in these high-stakes and pressure-packed moments, being consistent matters — and being consistent is what makes great players elite, Brown said.
“So if you can be consistent instead of fluctuate, you have a better chance of being elite,” Brown said. “Because you’ve already shown that you’re a great team, but can you do it over 48 [minutes] instead of over 24 or over 12 or whatever it may be? Because usually the elite ones figure out a way to do whatever they do for a longer period of time than everybody else.”
The Knicks’ four wins against the Pistons last postseason were by a combined 17 points, and they outscored the Celtics by a combined 30 points across the final frames of their victories.
In the Detroit series, Karl-Anthony Towns hit a deep 3 to put the Knicks ahead late in Game 4 after they trailed by 11 earlier in the frame, while Brunson hit the series-clinching 3 with just four seconds remaining in Game 6 to eliminate a pesky Pistons team that became the Eastern Conference’s top seed one year later.
Jalen Brunson puts up a shot and is fouled by Herbert Jones during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Pelicans at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
These fourth-quarter and clutch situations factored into the Knicks’ narrow victory over the Hawks earlier this month, too, when Brunson poured in 17 points during the final frame, hit the game-winning jumper and connected on a pair of final free throws to ensure that their one-point lead from the end of the third quarter could remain intact.
Of course, Brunson is at the center of anything for the Knicks down the stretch of a game. He’s the centerpiece who can take over at any point, the guard who’s earned his reputation for what he can do with the ball in his hands on the final possession. That has become a staple for the Knicks, something they can depend on.
Over the course of the year, they’ve flipped their fourth-quarter reality and turned it into a strength for the entire team.
And it could shape their ability to manufacture a deep postseason run.
“If you do it for the first 36, you might not have to do it for those last 12,” Hart said. “It shows our ability to lock in and focus, and we have to make sure we do that during the course of a game.”
Postseason minutes are powerful. They can rewrite narratives. They can put careers on different trajectories.
So far, his narrative has largely been out of his hands.
James has been dragged through the mud ever since the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Nepotism. Unready. A joke.
Those words have hovered over the 21-year-old like a shadow, distorting the reality that he has outperformed a lot of other players picked before him in the draft.
James has been dragged through the mud ever since the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. AP
But that narrative is less sexy.
James has been subjected to the same level of criticism as a No. 1 overall pick by virtue of being LeBron James’ son.
Of course, there are two sides to that coin.
Because he’s the offspring of one of the world’s most powerful people, he also had a gold-paved path into the league.
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But what’s lost in all of this is James doesn’t need to be doing this. He doesn’t need to be a punching bag for pundits. He’s subjecting himself to derision because he’s following his dream.
Behind the scenes, he works hard. He’s well-liked by his teammates and coaches. He’s humble. He has shown there’s a place for him on NBA rosters. But that hasn’t changed any minds.
Now’s his chance to make people see him.
“I mean, it’s what I’ve wanted,” James said at Lakers practice Thursday. “My dream is to play in the playoffs. I wasn’t able to play in March, so this is a bigger stage than that. And I’m completely and totally excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it down further in the playoffs.”
James started playing meaningful minutes after Doncic and Reaves suffered their injuries against the Thunder on April. 2.
In April, James actually had better stats than the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher.
James averaged 7.2 points on 47% shooting from the field and 43% shooting from beyond the arc. Risacher averaged 4.8 points on 42% shooting from the field and 10% shooting from deep. It’s a small sample size, but it’s an eye-popping one.
But again, that hasn’t moved the needle.
Bronny James is about to play playoff basketball for one of the most heralded franchises in sports. NBAE via Getty Images
If James can play well during the postseason, the world will be forced to notice him. They’ll be forced to open their minds. This is his chance.
James has been through harder things than trying to change his detractors’ minds. As an 18-year-old freshman at USC, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout in July 2023.
At the time, it was unclear if he was going to survive. Nearly three years later, he’s about to play playoff basketball for one of the most heralded franchises in sports.
For the elder James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, this is a dream come true.
“Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something that I never take for granted,” LeBron said Thursday. “I mean, listen, me being on the floor with him, postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career above everything that I’ve accomplished.
“So the fact that he’s put himself in a position to get his number called for postseason [games] is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been given the last couple years. He earned it, he deserves it and he’ll be ready.”
Regardless of what the 41-year-old says, it’s going to be up to his son to make a statement for himself with his play.
James can make 3-pointers. He can be a menace on defense. He has so much potential.
Mitchell Robinson has seen it all as a Knick, from toiling on the league’s worst team to now being the X factor on a contender that has a chance to be the best.
The Knicks’ road to a title — the bar set by ownership — starts with Saturday’s first-round Game 1 against the visiting Hawks. Robinson, the longest-tenured player on the roster, is the only one left from their 2021 first-round loss to the Hawks.
“Yeah, it’s crazy. Was it five years ago when we played them in the playoffs?” Robinson asked rhetorically. “I didn’t get to play in that series. Five years later, here we are with a different team for both sides. It’s going to be amazing, going to be fun. [We’re] going to get after it.”
Robinson missed that gentleman’s sweep at the hands of Atlanta, sidelined by a broken foot. But after being handled cautiously the final six games — averaging 20.7 minutes in three and missing the rest — he’s come through a left ankle injury and lost toenail, healthy for this Hawks rematch.
A pending unrestricted free agent, this could be his Garden swan song. Robinson was a rookie on a league-worst 17-65 squad and has been part of their steady climb. Now they’ll aim to turn the Hawks into another rung on their ladder.
Mitchell Robinson talks to the media after practice at the Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Yeah, I’ve done seen it all,” said Robinson, 28. “This is Year 8 for me, going from not being in the playoffs, to the bottom of the East, to now one of the tops in the East. It’s been amazing. Long journey. Trust the process and here we are.”
Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.9 boards this season, but the numbers don’t so much lie as fall short of the truth.
“We’ve got to approach this collectively,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “He’s a terrific player that impacts the game in a lot of ways.”
In their April 6 matchup, Robinson had a dozen boards, three blocks and two steals in just 20 minutes off the bench to lead the Knicks to a road win. The league’s most efficient rebounder, Robinson could be the X factor against a team already undersized before losing Jock Landale to an ankle injury.
In the postseason, when games get slower, defensive and played in the halfcourt — where every rebound matters — Robinson has a golden opportunity to thrive.
“Yeah, everything matters: box-outs, rebounds, offensive rebounds, just the little details. Everything literally counts, and you’ve got to make the best of it,” Robinson said. “I’ve been in a couple of playoff series now. So, got a little experience. With that, I use that as motivation and know what to look for.”
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson slams home a dunk during a game against the Wizards this season. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Robinson led the league in rebounds per 100 possessions, offensive rebounds per 100 and offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. And his contrast with Karl-Anthony Towns is like a great fastball-curveball combo.
“Mitchell’s size, athleticism, ability to be a vertical threat, it gives our opponents different looks offensively just by substitution,” coach Mike Brown said, snapping his fingers. “So from that standpoint, it’s pretty neat. … Those two guys are different, and I like to have diversity within our team, especially within the same position.”
Though Towns is great in dribble-handoffs and even from the arc, Robinson is a physical, ferocious offensive rebounder and rim protector.
And the Knicks have gone jumbo with both playing together for 278 minutes in 51 games this season. Their rebound rate of 58 percent was the best of any two-man unit involving Mitchell, and could be a weapon to slow the Hawks’ fast break.
“He impacts the game on the boards in a really significant way. He does things that are selfless. The rebounds show up, but his presence — whether it’s the screening or rolling, the defending — there’s a lot of things he does,” Snyder said. “There’s no one guy for us that you can say that’s your job to stop him. … So we have to approach it collectively.
“They play them together, too. So, you look at all those different lineups. So you can chase matchups, or you can stay with what you think works for your team. I think you need to do both.”
Mar 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) catches a pas against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The playoffs are here. After 82 games and 62 wins, the Spurs have an established identity and a set rotation. A big reason for their success has been their depth outside of their main guys. The role players have stepped up, bringing shooting, defense, and playmaking. San Antonio’s top nine is not perfect, but it’s good enough to beat anyone, as they proved in the regular season.
Normally, rotations only tighten up in the playoffs, but it’s not uncommon for someone not in the scouting report to be asked to fill a small role in case of injury or to make adjustments or counters. So let’s see who the Spurs have at the edges of the rotation and what they could do in the playoffs if called upon to contribute.
The Spurs have some “break in case of emergency” backcourt shooting
Jordan McLaughlin has never really had a rotation spot in the NBA because of his limitations, but early in the season and recently, he has been showing that he can give the team a few solid minutes if needed.
McLaughlin is not particularly big, athletic, or quick, but he has good defensive anticipation and always plays hard. He offers ball handling to start possessions, which helps keep the true initiators fresh, and he can also create in a pinch. But more importantly, he’s been a good three-point shooter.
The former Timberwolf and King shot 42 percent from beyond the arc, continuing a recent trend in his career in which his outside shot seems like a reliable weapon, something that wasn’t true in his beginnings. The volume was small, and not a lot of his attempts came in high-leverage situations because of his role, but it’s safe to say he can make open looks as a spot-up shooter.
The Spurs also have a more versatile but less efficient shooter on the roster. Lindy Waters III shot 34 percent from beyond the arc this year, but on a lot of attempts per minute. He’s been better in past stops, and he can fire on the move. He doesn’t offer much ballhandling, but he understands his role, which explains his extremely low turnover rate in admittedly low minutes.
Backcourt shooting was projected to be one of the Spurs’ biggest weaknesses, and it was an issue at times, but San Antonio has done exceptionally well despite not having many rotation guards whom opponents are afraid to leave open. McLaughlin and Waters III shouldn’t be expected to play much in the postseason, if at all, but it’s good to know that if the team needs some extra shooting in a certain situation, they have those two in the deep bench.
The Spurs have a lot of big men, but not much actual big man depth
The Spurs have five centers on their roster. Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet get the rotation minutes, but Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee, and Bismack Biyombo are on the bench every game, which means San Antonio has big bodies to spare. Alas, quantity doesn’t equal quality. Despite the many names, they don’t have a lot of alternatives to throw out there who can either sustain the level of play of the top two guys or offer a different look.
Biyombo is a fantastic human who should not get minutes under any circumstances when the game is on the line. Plumlee has been known to do the little things well, as he can screen, rebound, and keep the ball moving, but at 36, his best defensive years are behind him, and he’s not much of a scoring threat. Olynyk is the most unique of the three, since he can shoot open threes and is a terrific passer, but he’s one of the worst rim protectors among players his size.
The reason why the lack of quality depth has not been a huge problem for the Spurs is not hard to figure out: their top two guys are among the best in the league at their roles. If nothing unexpected happens, Wembanyama will likely see his minutes expanded in the postseason, and Luke Kornet will continue to be an excellent backup who can also share the floor with Wemby at times, for short stints.
If Wemby gets hurt, San Antonio’s chances to make a deep run disappear, no matter who’s behind him in the depth chart, so it’s not necessary to dwell on that scenario. But what happens if Kornet is injured or ineffective? It could be a problem for the Spurs.
Carter Bryant might be more important than the typical 10th man
In the last stretch of the regular season, Harrison Barnes claimed the ninth spot in the rotation, getting a lot more minutes than Carter Bryant, who at one point seemed in contention for the role. It’s not a shock, since Barnes has the playoff experience that the rookie obviously lacks, and despite his inconsistent season, he’s still a 39 percent shooter from beyond the arc on significant volume. Yet while Bryant might get squeezed out of the regular rotation if Mitch Johnson trims it, he could end up being important in some situations.
When he hasn’t had either of his two top big men, Johnson has preferred to go small often, with Bryant as the de facto center for short stretches, allowing the Spurs to be switchable on defense and play five-out on offense. Those units have some question marks in terms of rebounding and rim protection, but considering the alternatives, it’s hard to blame Johnson for preferring them. If opponents go small themselves or the Spurs need a different look, Bryat could get some run.
If the rookie is getting big minutes at the wing, it probably means something went wrong, but he could also have his moments at that slot if the Spurs just need a jolt of athleticism. Bryant might be the 10th man on the rotation, but could also be a factor in specific matchups.
