Tonight’s game isn't about whether the Orlando Magic will win, because they likely will.
This game is about whether two teams can combine for 218 points when one of them is sending out a collection of nice guys who probably have bright futures as role players but aren't scoring 100 points against anyone on Sunday night.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard are all out or doubtful.
Solid professionals. Hard workers who have earned their spot in this league, they just aren’t a 100-point offense.
Here are the two numbers that matter.
Boston ranks 28th-slowest in the league over the last 10 games, averaging 95.05 possessions per game. That's a system, not a coincidence.
Even shorthanded, Joe Mazzulla's offensive schemes slow the game down regardless of who's in uniform.
Orlando's defensive rating over that same stretch is 115.3. That sounds like points until you realize the teams they've been running up and down the floor were actually capable of exploiting it.
Garza and Scheierman can score, but the Celtics' reserves are not that team. They don't have enough overall firepower to punish a leaky defense, but they will scrap like crazy defensively.
Take the Under and don't look back.
Magic vs Celtics same-game parlay
Paolo Banchero has hit more than one three-point shot exactly zero times in his last nine games.
Boston will likely turn tonight’s clash into a half-court battle, and they’ll hold Orlando’s leading scorer Under his made threes prop.
The same applies to Luke Garza. Garza’s had some success beyond the arc, but he’s only made two or more twice in his previous 11 games.
Magic vs Celtics SGP
Under 217.5
Banchero Under 1.5 threes
Garza Under 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: A full-blown Magic trick
Boston runs a system and is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. The system doesn't disappear when the starters sit, and I don’t see Orlando blowing them out.
Boston should force Jalen Suggs to play real minutes tonight, and he’s dropped 9, 8, and 12 dimes in his last three competitive games.
Garza is the focal point tonight, and with twice as many minutes to double his scoring average.
Desmond Bane is coming off a rough night, but he’s drained at least three triples in three of his last five.
Magic vs Celtics SGP
Celtics +12
Garza Over 14.5 points
Bane Over 2.5 threes
Suggs Over 7.5 assists
Magic vs Celtics odds
Spread: Magic -12 | Celtics +12
Moneyline: Magic -575 | Celtics +475
Over/Under: Over 217.5 | Under 217.5
Magic vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 34 of their last 50 games (+16.40 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Celtics.
How to watch Magic vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Magic vs Celtics latest injuries
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Apr 1, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) smiles before shooting a free throw against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The Spurs have exceeded fan and pundit expectations this year. Their rise has been multifaceted. De’Aaron Fox’s selflessness paired with his ability to augment his role based the need at an exact moment has allowed players around him to grow. But as seen when both Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama sat out last Wednesday, Fox can come out of the gate at full force and take control of the hardwood.
Victor Wembanyama took the leap many anticipated. As the next face of the NBA, he brings poise, savvy and a unique swagger to the role while seeming to break some NBA rule almost nightly.
As the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle elevated his game and is now developing into a premiere defender with physicality capability to interrupt some of the game’s leading ball-handlers.
And let me just say — Julian Champagnie is the real deal! He now owns the Spurs record for three-pointers made in a season. At the start of the season, he filled in as a starter for positions 1-4. Now, he’s earned that starting spot. With his defensive prowess, rebounding capabilities, catch-and-shoot threes, and his recently unveiled flair for the dunk, Champagnie, he’s a bonafide threat no matter where is on the court. Oh, and for those counting, he has the second most starts this year behind De’Aaron Fox. Let that sink in.
Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, has one of the purest midrange games out there. His ability to move without the ball and nail threes on the move makes him hard to defend. He’s currently hitting at 38.4% and with all the attention Wemby gets, he’s bound to see more wide open threes in the playoffs.
Dylan Harper is everything the Spurs could have hoped for and then some. The rookie hit the court NBA ready, shows no fear when slashing into the paint, and has a gift for breaking defenders ankles at the rim. As Carter Bryant said the other night, on a different team Harper is a starter and a contender for Rookie of the the Year.
And let’s just say, if Keldon Johnson is not the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year, there is no justice in this world. Is there another player who gracefull bullies his way to the rim? KJ has an understanding of his strengths and utilizies them like no other player. And that’s on the court. He is the heart and soul of the Spurs, through and through.
What do all seven of those players have in common? They are all averaging double-digit scoring.
Harrison Barnes is averaging 9.9 points per game.
If he scores 17 points tonight, he will also average double-digits.
And that would be the first time in NBA history that eight players have all averaged 10 or more points per game each.
That is the one of the purest stats demonstrating the Spurs depth. It’s the very chemistry behind 62 (possibly 63) wins. The sum of the parts exceeds any one man’s greatness. It is a testament to their unity as a team and their dedication to winning a title. Not next year, but right now.
And Barnes, as much as anyone on the team, is proof positive of that motivation.
An NBA champion who brought a veteran presence to the Spurs, Barnes had been a stater for over a decade. He selflessly relinquished the position to Champagnie and has since been helping to solidify the bench, which will be essential for a deep playoff run.
Whether Barnes scores the 17 tonight or not is inconsequential to the Spurs ability to win a title.
Setting an NBA record, in a league obsessed with records, is a great way to end the regular season.
But the Spurs are no longer about the regular season. They want 16 more wins. We all want 16 more wins. And it is now time to cheer them on toward victory.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket as Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks plays defense during the game on January 27, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We made it. There have been ups and downs, and not everyone has an appendix that started with one, but we have reached the final game of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The entire Eastern Conference tips off at the same time this evening to allow for maximum suspense for different seeding permutations. If you’re reading a game preview for Game 82, I imagine you know the Sixers’ situation by now. Philadelphia needs to win and have both Orlando and Toronto lose to earn the sixth seed and avoid the Play-In. If the Sixers win and one of those two other teams wins, they’ll be the seventh seed and host the 7-vs-8 game. If they lose OR both of those other teams win, they’ll be the eighth seed and on the road for that game. Of course, with Orlando playing Boston, who is sitting everyone, and Toronto facing Brooklyn, who is Brooklyn, things aren’t looking great for our 76ers in the seeding race.
First things first, though, the Sixers need to take care of business against the Bucks, a prospect that isn’t as formidable as past years. Milwaukee sits at 32-49, currently with the 10th highest draft lottery odds. This Bucks season could serve as a reminder to Sixers fans that weird stuff happens with other franchises too. Giannis Antetokounmpo and management have been engaged in the most passive-aggressive NBA feud I can recall; he hasn’t played since March 15. Doc Rivers is using “look at my resume” as a locker room motivational speech and openly opining to reporters about spending more time with his grandkids.
Meanwhile, the Sixers’ vibes roller coaster is at another trough following Joel Embiid’s appendectomy surgery. The likeliest scenario is we have seen Embiid on the court for the last time until the fall. He and Johni Broome are both out tonight, the only members of the Sixers to appear on the injury report. However, Tyrese Maxey’s pinky still looks like it’s bothering him to some extent. Aside from all the obvious benefits of avoiding the Play-In Tournament, getting Maxey an extra half week of rest would seemingly be very helpful. But again, it’s Boston’s C squad and the Nets we are counting on, so let’s not get carried away.
It’s possible that the Sixers only have three games remaining this season. Even if you’re in the camp of not thinking this game will matter much, just remember how late June feels when you’re jonesing just to watch G Leaguers and future Euro league guys wear glorified pinnies with Sixers written on them out in Vegas. Tyrese Maxey is still capable of brilliance with nine healthy fingers, Paul George has turned back the clock at least a couple years since coming back from suspension, and VJ Edgecombe can put a stamp on what has been an outstanding rookie season. Enjoy this somewhat important, but probably ultimately not super critical game, before the stakes kick up quite a few notches this upcoming week.
Game Details
When: Sunday, April 12, 6:00 PM ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket 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
One hallmark characteristic of this Celtics season has been that as soon as it appears Joe Mazzulla has a solidified rotation, things change.
That latest change?
Jordan Walsh is back.
Over the past 7 games, Walsh has re-established himself as a key member of the Celtics lineup, averaging 20.2 minutes per game.
And, in a Tuesday night win against the Charlotte Hornets, he was crucial, tallying 9 points (on 4-4 FG), 6 rebounds, and a steal in 18 minutes of action — while also guarding Hornets star LaMelo Ball for much of the second half.
“He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the team’s best players, creating turnovers,” said Mazzulla. “I thought he was big tonight.”
Whether it’s a recognition of the old adage that “defense wins championships” or Mazzulla just has a gut reaction, Walsh has seemingly locked in a role in the rotation in favor of teammates like Ron Harper Jr., Hugo Gonzalez, and at times, Baylor Scheierman.
It does not appear the Kings will need to search for a new coach this offseason.
Doug Christie will remain Sacramento’s coach after the 2025-26 NBA season, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Sunday, citing team sources.
After Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center, Christie will have completed his first full season as Kings coach after taking over as the interim coach for then-fired Mike Brown early in the 2024-25 season.
Christie’s combined record as interim and full-time coach heading into Sunday’s final game is 49-83.
The expectations for Sacramento heading into this season, at least externally, were not high, but not many expected the Kings to have the league’s worst record for the majority of the first half before playing slightly better as of late.
The Kings (22-59), currently are tied record-wise with the Utah Jazz (22-59) for the fourth-best NBA draft lottery odds entering the final game of the regular season.
Regardless of which pick Sacramento secures in next month’s lottery, it appears Christie will have another young player to develop next season in his second full season.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks to drive against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Ball Arena on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs come into Game 82 of the 2025-2026 regular season with the power to influence the final standings and potential 2nd round match-ups. Though they’re locked into the #2 seed and one side of the West bracket, their opponent tonight, the Denver Nuggets, come into tonight’s game as the 3rd seed, but with their final placement in the standings very much up in the air. The scenario that’s being floated the most amongst pundits and Twitter timelines: A Nuggets loss and Los Angeles Lakers win (they play at the same time at home against the Utah Jazz) would drop Denver to the #4 spot. That sounds like a dream scenario for the young Spurs, who would have to face just one of either Denver or the Oklahoma City Thunder on a potential path to the NBA Finals. There’s no telling what Mitch Johnson and the Spurs’ brain trust is thinking or if they have a preference or if it’s something they’re even thinking about. Based on the history of this franchise, even with Denver sitting basically everyone and leaving their fate in San Antonio’s hands, it really wouldn’t be a shock to see them ultimately hold at least Victor Wembanyama out, give the rest of the top 6 guys a bit of burn, and let the chips fall where they may, completely unconcerned with what path other teams have to take. These Spurs think they can beat anyone and the real test is just around the corner.
San Antonio Spurs (62-19) vs Denver Nuggets (53-28) April 12 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama, questionable, Devin Vassell, questionable, Stephon Castle, questionable, Luke Kornet, shoulder (OUT), David Jones-Garcia, OUT
Nuggets Injuries: Nikola Jokic, questionable, Jamal Murray, OUT, Aaron Gordon, OUT, Tim Hardaway Jr, OUT, Christian Braun, OUT, Peyton Watson, OUT, Spencer Jones, OUT, Cam Johnson, OUT
What to watch for
With 3 starters questionable coming into this one including Wemby, Mitch Johnson’s line of thinking sadly won’t be revealed until gametime. Regardless of Johnson’s final approach to this game, expect to see Nikola Jokic on the court for the Nuggets. Jokic comes into Sunday’s game sitting at 64 games played, 1 shy of the 65-game minimum that players must hit to be considered for regular season awards. Injured for part of the year, Jokic has nonetheless was spectacular yet again this season, leading the league in both rebounding (12.7) and assists (10.9) on his way to averaging a triple double for the second consecutive season.
Pretty much everyone else is out for Denver though, which should tell you all you need to know about David Adelman’s approach to tonight’s game. Having already won a championship with their current core (though Michael Malone was the head coach at the time), it seems pretty apparent by their decision to sit their starters these last two games that the Nuggets aren’t particularily concerned with which side of the bracket they end up on. Having a player the caliber of Jokic, a highly decorated veteran who is capable of carrying a team throughout multiple playoff series, affords them that luxury.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Jan 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) and Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (15) pursue a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Before we start, I want to thank everyone who has even read one of these this season. They’ve always been a fun way to talk about basketball and the Houston Rockets specifically. A huge round of appreciation for Xiane and Holly, who each grabbed a couple of previews back in January while I was abroad for my brother’s wedding.
As for tonight’s game, the Houston Rockets are resting everyone since they are locked into the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Their opponent will almost assuredly be the Denver Nuggets, who are resting everyone but Nikola Jokic against San Antonio. Jokic needs 20 minutes to reach his 65 games mark. Meanwhile, the Spurs have every incentive to win that game because it pushed Denver to OKC’s side of the bracket, meaning San Antonio might get a pathway of Phoenix and Minnesota on their way to the Western Conference Finals. Again, the Spurs are my pick to win it all this season. And next season. And the season after that one.
The Memphis Grizzlies would very much like to lose this game. As things stand, they are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the sixth-best odds in the lottery. A win could move them into a tie for seventh, where they could lose the tiebreaker with Atlanta on a coin flip. So winning tonight could be the difference in several ping pong balls and their floor dropping from 10 to 12. They would be stupid to try to win.
Tonight is probably a Reed Sheppard night. It’s also a great chance for J.D. Davison and Isaiah Crawford to get some run.
A win tonight matches Houston’s record from last year, when they were the 2 seed. It also bears mentioning that Houston went 41-41 two seasons ago and were five games out of the play-in. That same record would put them in a fight for the 8 seed this season.
Of course, I’ll be back for the playoff game previews. That schedule hasn’t been released yet and won’t until sometimes this week. Houston will play on Saturday or Sunday, and more than likely every game will be the late game.
Tip-off
7:30pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr.: OUT
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 5: Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In our most recent Utah Jazz Fan Reacts survey, we’re looking forward to what is likely going to be an incredibly consequential offseason. Utah may have to make some tough decisions as they look at their roster. This season, the Utah Jazz have been playing to position themselves as well as they can for the lottery. Losing has been the major benefit of almost assuredly allowing the Jazz to keep their pick, which is top-8 protected (if it falls to 9 or later in the lottery, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder). But there have been many secondary benefits. One of those has been Utah’s younger prospects getting a lot of minutes to develop.
In this NBA Reacts, I asked the fans which of the following players they would keep if they could only keep one: Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh, and John Konchar.
Jazz fans picking Cody Williams is probably not something you would have expected last season. I’m also surprised at Kyle Filipowski over Brice Sensabaugh with the amount of scoring Sensabaugh has done recently. That said, Filipowski has also ended the season really well.
You can follow all the lines and make your bets on the upcoming Jazz season here at FanDuel.
UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 19: Hayden Gray #3 of the Maine Celtics looks to pass the ball during the game against the Long Island Nets on March 19, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, 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 Evan Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz signed Hayden Gray to a two-year contract.
The Utah Jazz are signing guard Hayden Gray to a two-year contract out of the NBA G League's Maine Celtics, agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup tells ESPN. The undrafted UC San Diego product lands an NBA deal to finish the season.
Gray is known as a defense-first guard who fits the mold of recent signings the Jazz have made. We saw the Jazz sign Bez Mbeng to a two-year contract, who was also a high-level defender in college.
At UC San Diego, Gray was given the Big West Defensive Player award for 2024-25. At one point in his college career, he led the NCAA in steals. For the Maine Celtics, he set a single-season record for steals in a season with 79.
It’s clearly a trend for the Jazz to start emphasizing defense with the players they’re signing as guards. And it seems those guards are especially good at stealing the ball. This strategy makes a lot of sense for the Jazz, who have been one of the worst defenses, and usually the worst, in the NBA for the last four seasons. Utah is poised for a great season next year, and clearly, defense is the emphasis heading into this offseason, given their fringe signings. Is this something the Jazz will also take into account in the draft? If Utah jumps into the top-4 of the lottery, they likely just pick the best player available. But if they end up somewhere between 5-8, will defense be more of an emphasis for who they draft? Maybe the Hayden Gray signals what the Jazz might do?
It’s also a bit of a bummer because this signals the end of Kennedy Chandler’s contract. Who knows if Chandler will be with the Jazz moving forward. If he is, it’s likely in the upcoming summer league and training camp.
Kennedy Chandler will not be with the @utahjazz in LA for their final game against the @Lakers.
His second 10-day contract with the Jazz ends tomorrow before Sunday's season finale.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on April 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The long NBA season comes to an end on Sunday with the Lakers (52-29) taking on the tanking Jazz (22-59) on Sunday evening. Los Angeles has won the three previous meetings with Utah this season and is looking for the season sweep.
After a tumultuous final stretch of the season, the Lakers should be able to end things on a high note. Following consecutive wins over the Warriorsand Suns, LA will host a Utah team with no interest in winning.
The Jazz have been one of the most shameless tankers this year and it has worked as they are tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. That also means they’ll be focused on losing one more time to end the year.
As for the Lakers, they can potentially nab the No. 3 seed depending on how things play out. Assuming they can take down a Utah team that is holding out basically everyone, then they’ll rely on Denver losing to San Antonio.
The Nuggets look set to have all their starters and rotation players out with only Nikola Jokic playing. He needs to play 20 minutes to qualify for awards, which is all he’ll likely play. On the flip side, the Spurs only have Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanayama listed as questionable.
The most likely odds coming into the game are for the Lakers to move up to the No. 3 seed.
Setting all that aside, though, LA can ride into the playoffs with momentum, which is huge considering how much things went off the rails last weekend. They steadied the ship, got back to winning ways and found some answers while doing so.
In an ideal world, the Lakers can race out to a big lead and sit their starters early to avoid any more injuries. But going into the postseason with good vibes and momentum is the key.
Notes and Updates
Only Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are listed as out. LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable with left foot injury management for both, ironically.
The Jazz have listed Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Elijah Harkless, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic all as out.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 8: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns talk after the game on April 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) play game No. 82 Sunday against the Chicago Bulls (31-49) with a 7:30pm tipoff at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks lost on the road to the Spurs Friday, 139-120, dropping their third in a row and sixth of their last seven. Cooper Flagg scored 33 points on 25 shots and center Marvin Bagley III left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. Center Daniel Gafford, guards Klay Thompson and Brandon Williams, and wings Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington did not play.
The Bulls won twice this week, ending a seven-game skid with a pair of road wins Tuesday and Thursday against a Washington Wizards team playing without Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, 129-98 and 119-108. After starting the season 5-0 the Bulls are limping to the finish line, as young stars guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) and forward Matas Buzelis (illness) have missed the last week, center Guerschon Yabusele left Thursday’s game and did not return (shoulder), guard Collin Sexton (finger) and forward Patrick Williams (thumb) have been playing through injury, and wing Isaac Okoro (quad) missed Thursday’s game. Both the Mavericks and Bulls lost admirably contested games this week to a Phoenix Suns team highly motivated to maintain its grasp on eighth place.
Paint patrol
The Giddey- and Buzelis-less Bulls stumbled out of the gate Tuesday, then found the best version of themselves, pressing their size and experience advantages on both ends and pushing the ball up in transition off stops and turnovers. Collin Sexton, the starting lineup’s only height liability, nonetheless played big in leading the Bulls in rebounding, including four offensive boards. Thursday appeared to be more of the same until Billy Donovan turned to the bench and a small backcourt of Yuki Kawamura and Mac McClung allowed Washington to erase a 13-point lead and briefly go in front. The Bulls woke back up late in the third, attacking the paint and getting to the line to keep growing the lead after subbing Kawamura and McClung back in. In their most effective stretches of this two-game streak the Bulls have sent a parade of players to the rim, including Sexton, Okoro, Tre Jones, Leonard Miller, and Rob Dillingham, while their frontcourt players like Williams and Yabusele have also made their threes.
On the defensive end, Chicago played a lot of zone against the Wizards and it paid off when they needed rebounds to kick-start fast breaks. When San Antonio went to a zone for a few possessions against Dallas late in the third quarter Friday, they forced a late heave from Ryan Nembhard that missed everything after the Mavericks nearly lost it to a backcourt violation. Flagg made them pay with a long jumper from the wing before having his next attempt blocked by Carter Bryant, then Moussa Cisse tipped in a missed layup on a Nembhard drive.
Draft lottery implications
Dallas enters Sunday’s game in tied for the league’s sixth-best draft lottery odds with the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost to the Utah Jazz Friday, 147-101. The Grizzlies play the Rockets in Houston Sunday at 7:30pm. At the same time, the New Orleans Pelicans, who at 26-55 sit just a game behind the Mavericks and Grizzlies with the seventh-best odds, play in Minnesota.
So long, season
The 2025-26 Dallas Mavericks season, in which the losses have more than doubled the wins and fans have had to be satisfied with stretches of winning play and green shoots of development, draws to a close with Dallas in a considerably more hopeful position than many of us would have predicted 365 days ago, thanks to a long-shot draft lottery win and the special player whose name was called first. Inasmuch as contention for individual awards reflects a team effort, his status as one of two finalists for Rookie of the Year provides some measure of validation of this challenging season for Cooper Flagg and his fellow Mavericks.
Flagg has spent his rookie year alongside true pros with championship and deep playoff experience who have shown him how not to quit in Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell, and has joined them to will a very strangely constructed roster to 45 clutch games. He has blossomed under a head coach with a policy of exposure therapy to failure so his players no longer fear it. He has helped the team repeatedly force the respect of its opponents, just last night nudging the Spurs to bring Victor Wembanyama back off the bench late. Even if this season is not remembered with much nostalgia, it may one day be seen as the foundational chapter of a great player’s story.
There are always reasons to watch but this is hardly the first Mavericks season that many fans will be a little relieved to finally see end. There were highlights and steps forward. The ownership group righted a couple of wrongs by finally honoring Mark Aguirre and finally flushing Nico Harrison. The green uniforms looked cool. On the court, however, 2025-26 has often felt like a long and frustrating year; even after some big roster changes the team never really solved its three-point shooting problems and only intermittently solved its turnover problems. That said, it’s a long five months before the Mavericks hit the court again. Before hopes turn toward the last first-round pick Dallas controls until 2031, Sunday’s game presents a chance to go out a winner in front of the home fans. Or it presents a chance to marginally increase the odds of landing a higher draft pick in the lottery. Inevitably, this will be our final time seeing at least some of these guys on our side. Enjoy the last taste of it for a while.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game on KFAA Channel 29, or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (español).
The season finale at MSG means nothing for the Knicks, who are locked into the third seed with no wiggle room.
Not surprisingly, they’re sitting four of their five starters Sunday — minus consecutive-games king Mikal Bridges — against the Hornets, who remain motivated to secure the ninth seed.
But the out-of-town scoreboard warrants close monitoring for the Knicks. Their first-round opponent will probably be the Raptors, but it’s not set in stone and ultimately hinges on up to four results — all sharing the Knicks’ 6 p.m. tipoff.
Here’s a breakdown of scenarios:
Most likely
The Knicks draw the Raptors in the first round.
Og Anunoby drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson and Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors on April 10, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This happens if on Sunday:
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Atlanta beats Miami
Or
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
Or
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
The tanking Nets are almost certain to lose to the Raptors even though it probably won’t help their lottery odds (Brooklyn can only catch the Pacers at the bottom of the standings, and Indiana would also have to lose to the Pistons). So assuming that result, the Raptors will clinch the fifth seed if Atlanta beats Miami (not likely since the Hawks are resting players) OR the Magic beat the Celtics (which is a likely outcome since Boston is resting players).
The Knicks can feel fairly safe scouting the Raptors.
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Boston beats Orlando
Tough to see this happening because it requires a result — Boston beating Orlando — that goes against the odds. The Magic are highly motivated to win Sunday since there’s a chance they can move out of a play-in spot (while the Celtics, who are locked into the No. 2 seed, are resting several players).
Why would this happen if three teams could tie for sixth in the East? If the Raptors and Magic win — and Hawks lose — they’d all have 46 wins, and the three-way tiebreaker means Atlanta stays at No. 5, Toronto stays at No. 6 and Orlando goes to No. 7.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives against CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
Unlikely
The Knicks draw the Magic in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Atlanta beats Miami; Orlando beats Boston
Anything involving the Nets winning Sunday is highly unlikely.
The unlikeliest
The Knicks draw the Sixers in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Boston beats Orlando; Philadelphia beats Milwaukee
Again, the Nets would have to win against a motivated opponent — the Raptors want to avoid the play-in — which is hard to envision. Plus, the Celtics are resting their players.
Ahead of the Sixers’ final game of the regular season Sunday night vs. the Bucks, below is a refresher on the No. 5 through No. 10 range of the Eastern Conference standings. The first through sixth seeds will advance to the playoffs. The seventh through 10th will compete in the play-in tournament for the East’s final two playoff spots.
5. Hawks 46-35
6. Raptors 45-36
7. Magic 45-36
8. Sixers 44-37
9. Hornets 43-38
10. Heat 42-39
And here’s a look at how things could shake out for the Sixers:
For Sixers to finish sixth
The one scenario in which the Sixers would finish sixth is: Sixers win, Raptors and Magic lose.
In that case, all three teams would be 45-37 and the Sixers would win the tiebreaker.
Is that series of events plausible? It could happen, but the odds appear quite small. Orlando will face the 55-26 Celtics and Toronto will take on the 20-61 Nets. Boston’s locked in as the East’s No. 2 seed and Brooklyn’s next major event on the calendar is the NBA draft lottery.
Unsurprisingly, both the Celtics and Nets have long injury lists. Brooklyn’s many absences include Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Terance Mann and Egor Demin. The Celtics will sit plenty of regulars, among them Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Neemias Queta.
On a positive note for the Sixers, the Bucks are shorthanded and nowhere near postseason contention. They should beat Milwaukee at home.
For Sixers to finish seventh
The Sixers need a win to have a shot at the seventh seed, which would mean hosting the first game of the play-in tournament instead of traveling.
The following two scenarios would lead to the Sixers being No. 7:
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic lose
Sixers win, Raptors lose, Magic win
The first outcome would mean that the Sixers play the Magic in that No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup. The second would mean that they’d host Toronto.
Again, the only two other games that matter to the Sixers are Raptors-Nets and Magic-Celtics. The reason the Sixers can’t fall lower than eighth is they’d win the tiebreaker over the Hornets if both teams ended at 44-38.
Either of these results would equal the eighth seed for the Sixers:
Sixers lose (other games become irrelevant)
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic win
As outlined above, neither Orlando nor Toronto look at all likely to lose. Still, anything’s possible and the Sixers surely wouldn’t mind a surprise or two outside of Philadelphia on the season’s final day.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 119-115. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans Date: April 12th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There’s something about Game 82 that always feels a little like the last day of school. Half the class is mentally checked out. The teacher is rolling in the TV cart. And yet, somehow, it still matters, just not in the way you thought it would back in October.
That’s where the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves heading into their regular season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Eighty-one games down. One to go. Playoff ticket punched.
And yet… it doesn’t quite feel like a celebration.
Because if you’ve been watching this team all season you know the story. This wasn’t a climb. It was a drift. A weird, uneven, occasionally brilliant, occasionally maddening drift where the Wolves spent long stretches looking like a team that had already been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals and decided, consciously or not, that the regular season was more of a formality than a proving ground.
They had nights where they looked like a top-three team in basketball. They had nights where they looked like they forgot the game started at 7:00. And when you zoom out, that’s how you end up here, not in a disastrous position, but not in the one you know was there for the taking.
Let’s be honest. This team could easily be sitting in the three seed right now. Flip two or three of those late-game meltdowns. Close out a couple of those “how did we lose that?” nights. Show up with urgency on a random Tuesday in January. Suddenly, we’re talking about a completely different bracket.
But here’s the twist: it’s not even clear that the three seed would’ve been better.
The Standings Irony Nobody Saw Coming
If the Wolves had climbed into that three spot, they’d likely be staring at a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets, a team that turned every Wolves game into a coin-flip knife fight this season.
Winnable? Sure.
Comfortable? Not even a little.
Instead, sitting at six, Minnesota is waiting on the outcome of one final domino:
If San Antonio decides to send Denver to the opposite side of the bracket and the Lakers beat the tanking Jazz, the Wolves win the prize of a banged-up, limping version of Los Angeles . It’s the kind of matchup that feels like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat.
If things break the other way, you get the Nikola Jokic Experience. Intimidating? Sure. But also a mountain that this Wolves team has conquered already.
As we sit here awaiting the final seeding, neither outcome feels like a death sentence. That alone tells you how far this franchise has come. Because for most of its history, “playoff matchup” was just a polite way of saying “scheduled elimination.”
Now? There’s a real, tangible belief that this team, when locked-in and playing at their peak, can beat anyone in a seven-game series.
Game 82
That brings us to Sunday night against New Orleans, where we are almost certainly going to see a Wolves lineup that looks more like a preseason scrimmage than a playoff dress rehearsal.
No Rudy Gobert, because risking a flagrant foul suspension (or any injury, frankly) in a meaningless game would be malpractice. Probably limited (or no) Julius Randle, because his workload has been heavy and his importance is too high. Perhaps a cautious ramp-up for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, not to win this game, but to find their rhythm again.
And a whole lot of Kyle Anderson bringing the ball up the floor while Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Joan Beringer try to turn this into their personal audition tape. Which, honestly, might be the most interesting part of the night.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t Be Heroes — Be Healthy
This is the easiest key to write and the most important one to follow.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, that happens in this game is worth jeopardizing the health of your core. No extended minutes. No unnecessary contact. No “let’s just see how it looks.”
This isn’t about rhythm anymore. This is about preservation.
Because if the Wolves walk into Round 1 at full strength, they have a puncher’s chance against anyone. If they don’t? None of this matters.
2. Give Shannon Jr. the Full Runway
If there’s one subplot that’s quietly emerged over these last couple of games, it’s the Terrence Shannon Jr. experience. After missing time early and struggling to carve out a consistent role, Shannon has started to flash the exact thing that got people excited in the first place: that downhill, attack-mode energy.
If the coaching staff is going to treat this like a hybrid scrimmage, then lean into it. Let Shannon cook. Let him make mistakes. Let him handle the ball, attack the rim, take shots he might not normally get. Because the only way to find out if someone can contribute in a playoff moment is to give them real, meaningful reps beforehand.
Right now, Shannon looks like a guy who might have something.
3. Keep the Defensive Habits Intact
Even with a patchwork lineup, the identity can’t disappear. This team, at its best, wins with defense. Rotations. Communication. Physicality. Those habits don’t magically reappear because the playoffs start. They’re built, or maintained, in games like this. So even if the personnel changes, the principles can’t.
4. Stay Connected Offensively
This is where things can go sideways in these types of games. You get young guys pressing. Bench players hunting shots. The offense devolves into five separate agendas. Just because this game has no consequences in the standings, doesn’t mean the coaching staff should allow the offense to devolve. Ball movement still matters. Spacing still matters. Playing together still matters.
5. End on a Note That Feels Like Momentum
No banners are being raised for beating the Pelicans in Game 82.
But confidence matters.
And after a stretch where things felt like they were wobbling, these last couple of games have quietly started to stabilize things. The loss against Orlando still had silver linings for players like Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and TSJ. Beating Houston short-handed and taking the season series from at least one Western Conference contender held some psychological weight.
You don’t want to walk into the playoffs feeling like you’re searching. You want to walk in feeling like you’ve found something.
Even if it’s small.
This Was Always About What Comes Next
Eighty-two games later, here’s the truth: This season was never going to be judged by what happened in January. Or February. Or even this week.
It was always going to come down to what happens next.
The Wolves have taken the long road to get here, a road filled with flashes of brilliance, stretches of frustration, and just enough inconsistency to leave you wondering what this team really is.
Now we find out.
Because the regular season, for all its noise and unpredictability and what-ifs, is just the prologue. The real story starts next week.
For two years in a row, this team has walked off the floor in May, a step away from being able to compete for a championship. When you come up short like that, there’s only one thing that matters: getting back there and proving you belong when you do.
The past 82 games have been the necessary grind these Timberwolves have endured to earn their place to compete.
Now comes the part where you justify it.
This is where the possessions get heavier. Where every mistake lingers a little longer. Where the margin for error shrinks and the truth about your team, not the version you sell yourself in November, not the one that shows up for a random Tuesday in February, but the real version, the one that can survive four rounds of playoff basketball, finally reveals itself.
This is where stars become superstars, or don’t. Where role players either carve out their place in a series or fade into the background. Where habits, good and bad, stop being trends and start being outcomes.
And for Minnesota, this is where all the contradictions of this season have to reconcile.
The nights where they looked like a defensive juggernaut. The nights where they couldn’t get out of their own way. The moments where they imposed their will. The stretches where they let go of the rope.
All of it comes to a head now.
Because the luxury of inconsistency is gone. The ability to “figure it out later” has expired. There is no later.
There’s only this.
Four rounds. Sixteen wins. No shortcuts.
And somewhere in there, the answer to the only question that’s really mattered all along: Are these Timberwolves just a really good team…
