The Minnesota Timberwolves are effectively locked into the No. 6 seed out West, so they will trot out a lineup tonight that looks nothing like what will be seen in the playoffs.
The Orlando Magic are the lucky beneficiaries. Apologies to all fans of the Hornets, 76ers and Raptors.
My Timberwolves vs. Magic predictions and NBA picks expect exactly one key piece of Minnesota’s rotation to shine on Wednesday, April 8, and that's Rudy Gobert.
Timberwolves vs Magic prediction
Timberwolves vs Magic best bet: Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 points (-115)
This spread has moved a bucket today, because it is more and more clear that Minnesota may coast the rest of the week.
Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are both recovering from knee worries. The Timberwolves have declared Mike Conely out for rest, Ayo Dosunmu out to tend to a right calf injury, and Julius Randle out amid “right hand soreness.”
Gobert is listed as questionable, “rest.” Expect him to play.
Why? Because he should rest the final two games of the regular season. One more flagrant foul from Gobert elicits a two-game suspension that would roll over into the postseason. Minnesota should not risk that in either of its last two games. So given Gobert is likely to rest to close the week, expect him to play tonight and to play genuine minutes.
With so much other production removed from the Timberwolves’ lineup, genuine minutes from Gobert should result in more field-goal attempts than usual.
Timberwolves vs Magic same-game parlay
Get ready to learn about Zyon Pullin, NBA bettors. He played three minutes in last night’s Timberwolves’ win at Indiana. The second-year guard has not played even five minutes in a game this season, but it is distinctly possible he plays 10+ minutes tonight.
Perhaps Pullin does not see such action, but that mere possibility should underscore how unseriously Minnesota is taking this game.
Timberwolves vs Magic SGP
Magic -5 1H
Magic -9.5
Under 228.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sit Suggs
The Timberwolves not worrying about tonight should lead to the Magic easing up in certain areas, and no piece of the Orlando rotation needs rest more than Jalen Suggs does. He is clearly playing through injury, if not injuries, as the Magic try to claw their way out of the Play-In Tournament.
Timberwolves vs Magic SGP
Magic -5 1H
Magic -9.5
Under 228.5
Jalen Suggs Under 13.5 points
Timberwolves vs Magic odds
Spread: Timberwolves +9.5 | Magic -9.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves +300 | Magic -380
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Timberwolves vs Magic betting trend to know
Orlando has won three straight games outright, each of them vital as the Magic sit tied for No. 7 in the East with life ahead of the Play-In Tournament only a game away. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Magic.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN North, FDSN Florida
Timberwolves vs Magic latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Mar 28, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott reacts against the Utah Jazz in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
April showers might bring May flowers, sure, but quality basketball in April opens the door to May games. Perhaps even June. This is the stretch where teams tighten things up, clean their rotations, and get ready for the games that actually matter. Unless you are tanking, of course. Thankfully, the Phoenix Suns are not in that lane. They do not have a draft pick waiting to reward losing, so the mission is simple. Compete. Use these games to learn who shows up when the lights get hot, who fades, and what you actually have before a very real offseason arrives.
And yet, things feel off in Phoenix.
This is not a team sharpening its tools. This is a team still rummaging through the toolbox, trying to find those damn needlenose pliers. Health has been part of the story all season, and now that bodies are back, it almost feels like there are too many levers to pull. There are too many tools in the proverbial toolbox. There are too many options and not enough clarity. They are not honing an edge. They are still deciding which blade to pick up.
That early-season run? It was real. They took the league by surprise and stacked wins. It is also worth remembering how it happened. Jalen Green, the $33.6 million man, missed 45 games. During that stretch, something formed. Roles made sense. Chemistry showed up. Guys knew where to be and what to do. The team is 16-15 in games in which he has played. They were 27-21 in games without him. Not a singular cause, but worth noting.
Now he is back. Dillon Brooks is back. Mark Williams is back. The team is the healthiest it’s been all season. And somehow, the picture is less clear. The Suns feel uneven, the roles are less defined, and the team is sputtering. Possession to possession, quarter to quarter, game to game. The identity that once felt loud now feels distant.
If you zoom out and look at the month-by-month counting stats for the Phoenix Suns, you can start to see where things are drifting. April is a small sample. Three games are not enough to plant a flag and call it a full-blown trend. But when you layer it on top of what we have been watching in the weeks leading up to it, the picture becomes a little clearer.
The numbers do not exist in a vacuum. They are confirming what the eye test has been telling you. Certain areas are slipping. Possessions that used to be under control are now loosening. Defensive breakdowns that used to be occasional are becoming routine. Fourth quarters are a barren offensive landscape. And when you connect those dots from late March into April, it stops feeling like a blip and starts feeling like direction. And right now, that direction is not the one you want heading into the postseason.
What is concerning? Let’s delve.
Opposing Points in the Paint
We talked about it in the Weekly Recap, and the numbers keep reinforcing it. Month by month, Phoenix is allowing more damage in the paint, not less. They are allowing 56.0 points in the paint in April, whereas they were permitting 48.5 during the first six months of the year. An extra 8 points nightly is not what anyone would label as “ideal”. That is the wrong direction this time of year. You already know why it matters. The paint is where the highest percentage shots live. Layups, dunks, second-chance looks; all of it adds up quickly when you do not protect that space.
And right now, teams are getting there far too easily. Opposing teams’ offensive rebound percentage in the month of April is 46.5%. It was 32.0% between October and March. The team, as they’ve navigated away from size, has permitted the opposition to roam free to snag offensive rebounds. There is no deterrent, there is no resistance.
Whether it is guards turning the corner without resistance or bigs cleaning up on the glass, as we saw with the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, it becomes a steady diet of easy points. Missed box outs become putbacks. Broken containment becomes a layup line.
That is not something you can live with. Good teams identify this early. They adjust. They tighten things up. They make the paint uncomfortable. Phoenix is going the other way.
Steals Per Game
The calling card for the Phoenix Suns this season, at least for the first half of it, has been defense. Not passive defense, not sit back and react, but pressure. Disruption. The kind that makes teams uncomfortable and speeds them up. That is the identity. Or at least it was. That is what has separated Phoenix when they are right.
But as the season has moved forward, that edge has dulled.
The steals are not showing up at the same rate. This was the league’s top team in steals at one point. They are now ranked 4th, which obviously isn’t horrible. But they are not trending upward, especially when compared to the front-end of the season.
The activity might still be there, the intent might still exist, but the results are not matching it. Hands are a half step late. Rotations are a beat behind. What used to turn into turnovers is now turning into clean looks.
You can point to fatigue and you can point to injuries. Both are part of the story. None of this happens in isolation. But it is still something you have to acknowledge. Because when your identity is built on disruption, and the disruption starts to fade, everything else becomes harder.
Assist Percentage
One of the more concerning developments with the Phoenix Suns is how sharp the drop has been in certain areas, and assists sit right at the center of it. Yes, the April sample is small. Three games are not enough to paint the full picture. But the recent results have been alarming. Their 49.6 assist percentage is dead last in the NBA.
The scoring is still there, although 110.7 points per game in April is 4th least in the league. A primary reason for this is that the assist numbers have fallen off. 19.7 assists on 39.7 made field goals is a significant shift from what the first six months of the season carried, which was 25 assists on 41 field goals made, a 60.8 assist percentage.
The ball is sticking more. The natural flow that defined this team earlier in the season is not showing up with the same consistency.
When the ball moves, the offense breathes. When it doesn’t, everything tightens. Shots become tougher, possessions become more predictable, and the margin for error shrinks. What you are seeing is a lack of cohesion. Not complete dysfunction, but enough of a drop to notice. Enough to question.
And that is the part that lingers. Because when you move into the postseason, those cracks do not hide. They get exposed.
Fourth Quarter Net Rating
Ummm…gross, right?
This team is not closing well. The execution slips, the flow disappears, and possessions start to feel heavy. Devin Booker has not elevated in those moments, and when he shifts into deferment mode, the response around him has not been there either. No one is picking up the slack. No one is carrying the weight.
And that is where games are decided. The fourth quarter is where you win or lose, and right now, Phoenix is not holding up in those minutes. Especially in April. The same issue keeps showing up. The same script keeps playing out. When the moments matter most, the Suns are coming up short.
It’s been a season-long issue. The Suns are the worst team in the NBA in fourth quarter scoring, averaging 25.9 points per Q4.
Thankfully, there is still time. Not much, but some. Three games left for the Phoenix Suns before the Play-In, before everything tightens, before every possession carries a little more weight. And that is where the focus turns to Jordan Ott and the rotations.
He is tightening them. That part is clear. But the question that keeps hanging in the air is whether he is tightening in the right places. Because right now, the productivity is not matching the decisions. The lineups are not producing the consistency you need this time of year.
How long do you keep searching? How long do you keep running out combinations that are not giving you what you need, hoping that something clicks? Because at some point, the window for experimentation closes, and the need for clarity takes over.
That is where Phoenix is right now. Three games to figure it out. Three games to find the groups you trust. Three games to build something that can hold when the pressure rises. After that, there is no more searching. Only results.
We got everybody in the league looking down, staring at their shoes.
Honestly, answer me…. Who in their right mind wants to see the Phoenix Suns right now?
My guess is that the answer to that question is a lot of teams.
That disruptive identity they built early in the season? It has faded. Teams are getting into the paint whenever they want. The activity is there at times, but it is not turning into steals. The ball is not moving with purpose, assists are down, and possessions feel heavier. And when the game tightens in the fourth, things fall apart.
Those are all symptoms of the same thing. Execution.
You can point in a lot of directions. Jordan Ott and the rotations. The players and their ability to carry out what is being asked. Even the roster construction itself. It sounds strange, but this team might be too deep for its own good right now. Too many options, not enough clarity. And when you are still trying to figure out who plays, when they play, and how they fit together this late in the season, it shows.
Because instead of leaning into an identity, you drift away from one. Instead of being disruptive, you become disjointed. Disconnected. Discombobulated. The version of this team we saw early, the one that had a clear edge and a clear purpose, that version feels distant. And with the postseason around the corner, that is the part that should make you uneasy.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle were ruled out for the San Antonio Spurs ’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Wembanyama is out after suffering a rib contusion on Monday and Castle is out with right knee soreness, the team announced.
Wembanyama needs to play at least 20 minutes in one more game to reach the league-required minimum of 65 games for award eligibility.
The Spurs have two games left in the regular season after Wednesday night: Friday against the Dallas Mavericks and Sunday against the Denver Nuggets.
The Spurs said they are hopeful Wembanyama and Castle will play Friday.
They both participated in shootaround on Wednesday.
“I can’t tell you too much of how (Wembanyama) looked, but he heals fast,” Spurs veteran Harrison Barnes said.
Wembanyama suffered the injury in the first half of a 115-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in that game.
Wembanyama had 17 points, five rebounds and three blocks in just under 16 minutes. That time constituted an official game played per the NBA guidelines, which allow two exceptions of 15 to 19:59 minutes to count toward the league-required minimum.
San Antonio (60-19) has clinched the Southwest Division title and is assured of finishing no worse than second in the Western Conference. It trails the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (63-16) by three games.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 7: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on April 7, 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Answers to come later this week! Sign up for the weekly survey!
The Eastern Conference seeding race may last until Sunday, but the Atlanta Hawks can just about smell the postseason proper. And if it escapes the Play-In Tournament, Atlanta will likely face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
My Hawks vs. Cavaliers predictions and these NBA picks do not expect Atlanta or its best player to hide anything in anticipation of that postseason matchup. Too much is still at stake on Wednesday, April 8.
Hawks vs Cavaliers prediction
Hawks vs Cavaliers best bet: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 Points (-112)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made about $4.5 million last year. He then signed a four-year, $60.1-million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Nearly quadrupling your annual income is notable, but Alexander-Walker may still be underpaid.
He has averaged 20.8 points this season while shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc, leading Atlanta in 3-point shooting and trailing only Jalen Johnson’s 22.7 points.
For good measure, Alexander-Walker has dialed up his production in this closing stretch as the Hawks reach as high as the No. 5 seed in the East. He has cleared this prop in his last three games while shooting 16 of 29 (55.2%) from deep. That is the kind of shooting that defenses simply cannot stop, certainly not in the regular season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in particular, are not equipped to stop it. Cleveland has ranked No. 22 in the NBA in the last month in opponents’ 3-point shooting percentage, allowing foes to hit 37.8% of their shots from beyond the arc.
Perhaps worse yet, Cavaliers’ opponents pull up from deep 39.7 times per game. No team that forces more 3-point attempts gives up a better hit rate than Cleveland does.
Hawks vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Alexander-Walker has hit at least four triples in three straight games and in four of his last five, with the exception still featuring a 3 of 8 showing.
Obviously, a good shooting night from Alexander-Walker helps Atlanta’s odds of winning, but so does Cleveland’s overall plight. The Cavaliers need to pick up two games on the Knicks to reach the No. 3 seed in the East, and with three games remaining, that is simply rather unlikely, and Cleveland knows as much.
Hawks vs Cavaliers SGP
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 made threes
Hawks moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Coasting Cleveland
The logic here is simple: An early Atlanta lead should incentivize Cleveland to rest its stars. The Cavaliers need to go 3-0 while the Knicks go 1-2 in the final three games, or 2-1 with an 0-3 from New York. That is not impossible, but it is unlikely enough to justify easing Donovan Mitchell and James Harden into the postseason.
Hawks vs Cavaliers SGP
Hawks moneyline
Hawks first half +0.5
Donovan Mitchell Under 25.5 points
James Harden Under 20.5 points
Hawks vs Cavaliers odds
Spread: Hawks +1.5 | Cavaliers -1.5
Moneyline: Hawks +100 | Cavaliers -120
Over/Under: Over 236 | Under 236
Hawks vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
Atlanta has gone 17-6 against the spread since the All-Star Break, compared to a pedestrian 26-29 ATS record before the season’s proverbial halfway point. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Hawks vs Cavaliers
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Hawks vs Cavaliers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 7: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 7, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo stood along the sidelines at Barclays Center Tuesday night, dressed in a cream-colored sweater to watch his Cream City Bucks lose to the Brooklyn Nets. It may very well be one of the last few times he’ll represent Milwaukee in any form if the latest rumors are true.
Those latest rumors, amplified by ESPN’s Shams Charania online and on television, are that the 6’11” 32-year-old is ready to move on from an increasingly dysfunctional locker room presided over by a coach who looks like a lame duck unable to rally his players. So, the Greek Freakout is upon us, it seems, with Shams predicting that a miniumum of 10 teams will take a look, make a call … and Brian Lewis predicting that Brooklyn will be among them.
“They’ll make calls,” a source told The Post, Lewis reported Wednesday morning. “They’ve made calls in the past.”
Indeed, maybe more than once. Giannis has been a Nets target in the past. How seriously is another question, but as Sean Marks said last year, part of the Nets rebuild will be determining whether a superstar acquisition is worth it.
“If you’re going after max-level talent, they have to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team,” Marks said. “This can’t be like, ‘Let’s go get this [guy] and lock ourselves into being a six or seven seed.’ When we go all in, you’re going in to compete at the highest level and contend.”
Beyond that, various pundits, including Lewis, have reported that the Nets are moving from their 20 or so win rebuild to something more akin to a build, using whoever they get in the 2026 draft lottery as a lure for stars and superstars. Whether the Greek Freak is still the latter is still to be determined.
When healthy, he certainly qualifies as a top 5 player in the league, but he’ll soon be 32 years old, has only played 36 games this season and has been dealing with leg injuries all season long, the worrisome kind, and will want a contract worth more than a quarter billion dollars, including $70+ billion in the final and fourth year …. when he’ll be 36. Then, there’s the troublesome question of his relationship with the only team he’s ever played for.
But it shouldn’t be surprising that the Nets would pick up the phone. They had hoped Mikal Bridges and to a lesser degree Cam Johnson would get him interested. Didn’t happen. It’s not often players of his caliber become available. However, as Lewis points out, he wants to play for a winner and the Nets are far from that. Also, the Nets would no doubt have to give up a lot to get him. Shams reports that the Bucks turned down a package from the Heat that included young center Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, other players and multiple draft picks and pick swaps. It didn’t stop there, noted Shams.
After back-and-forth discussions — including a meeting in Antetokounmpo’s native Greece in late July after which the New York Knicks became the only team he’d play for other than Milwaukee — and the Bucks refusing to move him, Antetokounmpo agreed to give the new roster a chance to grow. His pledge didn’t last long, however.
The reality, Lewis admits, is that the chances of Giannis-to-Brooklyn are small.
To be clear, with teams like the Heat, Warriors and Knicks perceived as likelier landing spots, it’s a long shot Antetokounmpo will end up in Brooklyn.
The odds are just better than the microscopic near-zero they were in February.
So as Jim Carrey once said, so you’re telling him there’s a chance? That’s why you pick up the phone.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
How did we get here?
That question has been on a loop in my mind. With every Cooper Flagg jumper over Luke Kennard. During the whole fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Thunder game.
It’s hard to really grasp how quickly everything went awry. This season deserved better than this.
Even if they were still a level below the Thunder or Spurs, they were building something. With Luka playing at the level he was, it didn’t take much squinting to see the Lakers stunning one of the favorites in a series, either.
And then, in about 24 hours, it all just collapsed.
It was a 1-2 combo that would have made Mike Tyson envious. The Lakers went from a puncher’s chance — if not more — to staring at the lights with their back on the canvas.
Even as they’ve peeled themselves up off the mat to give it a go in the final week of the regular season, they’re beyond a shell of themselves. If they offer more than a whimper in the playoffs, it’ll be a surprise.
It’s an unjust ending to a season that had so much behind it.
It hurts because of what this team was becoming. They had built throughout the year to peak as the postseason arrived and, amidst all sorts of injuries, it was finally happening. Luka and Austin and LeBron James had gotten that time on the court together at last and it looked great. Now, it’ll all be for naught.
Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) is congratulated by forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) after a three-point basket in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Luka’s scoring exploits will be remembered because those nights are hard to forget and are easy to highlight. But his level of buy-in defensively raised the floor of this team and was a big factor in that March success. Now, it’ll fade into the background.
Much the same, Austin’s early-season rise to superstardom won the Lakers some important games and secured tiebreakers that mattered down the stretch. But he, too, had slotted nicely into a role as the second star, forming a dynamic backcourt. He, too, had made strides defensively to help this team compete. Those, too, will be for naught now.
And then there’s LeBron. After years of being The Guy on teams, not only had he handed the keys over to Luka on the fly, but he had moved Austin ahead of him on the totem pole as well. In Year 23 at age 41, he was reinventing himself one more time, becoming a third fiddle who feasted in transition while doing a bit of playmaking when necessary. But he was more than willing to sit back and watch the new stars of the franchise take over. And now, none of that matters.
It’s feels especially harsh for him as the chances of him competing for a title are extremely finite. With his future uncertain, there’s a non-zero chance this was the last go. And it was ripped away.
As up and down as his season has been, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes had seemed to find their footing and were having success. The latter had certainly re-established himself after a disastrous playoffs last year.
Marcus Smart had been a home run signing for the Lakers, coming in and doing the exact things they needed of him. He may not have been at his best defensively, but he was certainly still good enough. And he had more than a few nights when he alone swung games.
Rui Hachimura had not only accepted his role coming off the bench, but embraced it. In a contract year, no less. Luke Kennard came in as a midseason acquisition and fit better than anyone could have expected.
The chemistry-building moments on and off the court were supposed to have a greater end goal in mind. The teaching moments in losses. The gritty wins where you learn something about your team. It all ended up being a little too meaningless.
The Lakers were almost certainly not going to win a title this year. But their play in March changed that from a definitive statement to one with a little less certainty. They had built to a moment where they would have a chance. To have it all upended in one weekend is a gut punch.
Having to watch what’s left of the team limp into the playoffs makes it worse, because you know it’s not an accurate representation of what this team was. It’s to say nothing of the players left, who have to pick up the pieces and finish the season while likely in some form of shellshock as the fans are experiencing.
None of it seems fair. Life isn’t fair and the basketball gods can be cruel. But this Lakers team deserved more than this ending. It’s really just hard to fully grasp.
Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. After looking at MVP on Monday, and Coach of the Year Tuesday, today it's Rookie of the Year, a two-man race between Dallas' Cooper Flagg and Charlotte's Kon Knueppel. Here's where we stand.
Rookie of the Year
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Kon Knueppel
Cooper Flagg's latest surge — including a 51-point outing — has flipped the betting odds, and if this vote were for "who would be the best player from this class in three years" Flagg would have my vote (and Dylan Harper might well be second). However, it's Rookie of the Year, and Knueppel gets my vote for three key reasons. One is simply the number of games played and minutes; the Hornets star has played in a dozen more games and 220 more minutes. Second, as Knueppel has been the more efficient scorer, highlighted by his leading the NBA in 3-pointers made (and shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc).
However, the real key differentiator for me is that Knueppel's intensity, shot creation and scoring have lifted the Hornets into the postseason — he has been critical for them. Knueppel simply has played an important role in meaningful games, and while how good a team is does not usually factor into Rookie of the Year, in this case Knueppel's impact to get his team to the postseason matters as a differentiator in a tight race.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Kon Knueppel
Cooper Flagg's environment has been tougher, but Knueppel deserves the award for the most efficient rookie season in NBA history. The Hornets had a 27.5 win total before the year and have sailed over largely because of how outstanding Knueppel has been.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: Kon Knueppel
This award is rarely associated with a player's impact on winning, but that isn't the case here. Knueppel's play throughout the season is one of the reasons why the Hornets have qualified for the postseason for the first time in four years, and the door has not closed on them avoiding the Play-In Tournament entirely. In 79 games, Knueppel has averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.7 steals, and he needed fewer than 60 games to break the NBA's record for three-pointers made by a rookie.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Kon Knueppel
I know we don't give our awards for vibes, but it sure feels like Knueppel's intense competitiveness is a crucial part of the Hornets turnaround. Among qualified rookies, Knueppel is also 1st in three-pointer made per game, 2nd in points per game, 10th in assists per game, 11th in rebounds per game, and 2nd in Player Impact Estimate. He's also played 12 more games than Cooper Kupp on a much better team.
If the massive point spread didn’t already give it away, the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t expected to put up much of a fight against the Detroit Pistons.
A big reason for that sizable spread is that no one knows which version of Milwaukee we’ll see tonight. The Bucks had just eight healthy bodies in last night’s loss to Brooklyn.
Detroit, on the other hand, is expected to have some starters back in action — or at least available in a limited capacity. One guy who will enjoy beating up Milwaukee’s makeshift defense is Duncan Robinson.
Our Bucks vs. Pistons predictions bounce around his player props, and my NBA picks squeeze extra value from his individual markets on Wednesday, April 8.
Bucks vs Pistons prediction
Bucks vs Pistons best bet: Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 made threes (+110)
With the Detroit Pistons clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last weekend, the team sat several starters for Monday’s loss at Orlando.
Shooting guard Duncan Robinson was one of those inactives, ruled out with a hip strain despite taking part in shootaround beforehand. Robinson is slated to return tonight, enjoying a four-day break before the final three games of the schedule.
Robinson picked up the scoring slack when Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung in mid-March, averaging 13.6 points on 9.3 field-goal attempts the past eight games. He's done the bulk of that damage from beyond the arc, knocking down 28 of 59 3-point attempts (47.5%).
Cunningham could come back tonight, but he will be on a strict minutes restriction, which still leaves Robinson with plenty of touches.
His scoring total is at 9.5 O/U with the Over juiced to -125. However, you can get his Over 2.5 triples at +110, which is essentially the same bet due to Robinson’s reliance on the 3-ball.
He’s knocked down three or more shots from distance in six of the last eight contests, and player projections sit as high as 3.3 makes from downtown.
Even at full strength, the Milwaukee Bucks struggle to protect the perimeter. On the season, the Bucks rank 27th in opponent 3-point success (37.4%) and allow the second most triples per game (14.8). Those numbers have only swelled over the past month (16.0 3PM, 39.4% last 21 games) with Milwaukee circling the drain.
Bucks vs Pistons same-game parlay
Detroit doesn’t need the win, but with an opportunity to get the starters back, including Cunningham, this matchup with Milwaukee could turn into a glorified practice for the postseason. Who knows what lineup the Bucks will bring out? If your tickets are good enough, you might get minutes for Milwaukee.
Ausar Thompson has hauled in at least five rebounds in five straight games before collecting three in the loss to Orlando. With the main rotation returning for Detroit, Thompson gets back to business on the boards, and projections call for as many as six rebounds tonight.
Bucks vs Pistons SGP
Pistons -19.5
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 made threes
Ausar Thompson Over 4.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Big Buck Hunters
We usually like to throw together a fun SGP in this section, but with the health of the Bucks’ rotation an unknown and the Pistons also on the fence with Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, player prop options are limited. We’ll toss on the Over in this game, with Milwaukee’s defense giving way to a 7-2 O/U record in their last nine showings.
Bucks vs Pistons SGP
Pistons -19.5
Over 221.5
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 made threes
Ausar Thompson Over 4.5 rebounds
Bucks vs Pistons odds
Spread: Bucks +19.5 | Pistons -19.5
Moneyline: Bucks +1200 | Pistons -2400
Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5
Bucks vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Over is 11-5 when Detroit is laying double digits this season (69% Overs). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Pistons.
How to watch Bucks vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Wisconsin, FDSN Detroit
Bucks vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Atlanta Hawks can secure a playoff berth and no worse than the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have already secured home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, but still have a chance to catch the New York Knicks for the No. 3 seed.
How to watch Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Following testing and imaging, there was a sigh of relief in San Antonio.
A person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports that the team is optimistic about the injury. Wembanyama has soreness, but there are no long-term concerns about his availability.
They remain hopeful that their 22-year-old two-time All-Star will be available to play Friday, April 10 against the Dallas Mavericks or Sunday, April 12 against the Denver Nuggets. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly disclose details about Wembanyama's injury.
Is Victor Wembanyama playing vs. Trail Blazers?
No. After initially designating him as doubtful Tuesday on their first official injury report, the Spurs downgraded Wembanyama on Wednesday to out against Portland.
Backup center Luke Kornet is a likely candidate to start in his place.
Victor Wembanyama injury
Wembanyama seemed to be hurt on separate occasions against the 76ers. The first happening came during the second quarter, following a mid-court collision with 76ers forward Paul George. Wembanyama appeared to clutch his shoulder as he went down. He went to the locker room for a moment but returned to finish the quarter.
After a 2024-25 season in which no rookies managed to provide top-100 fantasy value, three consistently active first-year players managed to achieve that feat in 2025-26. And based on average draft position, that isn't particularly surprising. Among that year's rookie class, only Zach Edey began the 2024-25 season with a top-100 ADP. This year, Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe did, and there were others whose ADPs sat just outside the top-100. So, to get top-100 (or better) value from a rookie is a big deal for fantasy managers.
Below are the picks for the best rookies in fantasy basketball this season, led by the three players who should be finalists for the actual Rookie of the Year award.
Entering the season with a top-100 ADP, fantasy managers certainly expected big things from Edgecombe this season. And with Joel Embiid and Paul George at less than full strength to begin the year, there was room for the athletic guard to do a bit more offensively. In October, Edgecombe averaged 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.
His points and assists dipped in November, but VJ rebounded in December and has been a reliable contributor for fantasy managers throughout the season. Edgecombe entered the final week of the regular season as a sixth-round player, which is a very good return for a rookie.
G/F Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Knueppel is one of the favorites to win the actual Rookie of the Year award, and with good reason. Having missed just one of Charlotte's 80 games, he's averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 3.4 three-pointers while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 86.2 percent from the foul line.
Knueppel isn't far removed from being a 50/40/90 player as a rookie; given what he's shown, that may be something he achieves in the future. Unlike Edgecombe, Knueppel got off to a relatively slow start in October before turning it on in November and December. However, he has also provided sixth-round value after beginning with an ADP just outside of the top-100.
G/F Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Flagg is right there with college teammate Knueppel in the actual Rookie of the Year race, if not ahead of him, after totaling 96 points in games against the Magic and Lakers. In 67 games, the 6-foot-9 guard/forward has averaged 21.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 82.3 percent from the foul line.
Flagg is just a 29.7 percent shooter from three, but the free-throw accuracy suggests that there is room for him to grow in the years to come. He entered the season with a fourth-round ADP, and the production has lived up to those expectations. It will be interesting to see how Jason Kidd's decision to start Flagg at point guard will affect his development.
F/C Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
Due to the state of the Pelicans' center rotation in the preseason, some believed that Queen could carve out a reliable role for himself immediately. He didn't crack the starting lineup until mid-November, but rotation minutes were not an issue in the season's first month. December was Queen's best month, with the 6-foot-9 rookie averaging 15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game.
Defensive struggles would push Queen back to the bench just after the All-Star break, and there remains a lot to do on that end of the floor. But there is also a lot to like about him moving forward, as Queen can provide value as a scorer and facilitator.
C Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings
With Domantas Sabonis in the fold to begin the season, there weren't many fantasy managers willing to roll the dice on Raynaud in redraft leagues. However, the veteran's injury woes freed up opportunities for the 7-foot-1 rookie to contribute, and Raynaud would move into the starting lineup for good in early February after Sabonis underwent season-ending knee surgery. In his last 28 games, the Kings rookie has averaged 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 31.3 minutes while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the foul line.
Of course, fantasy managers will want to see more defensive production out of Raynaud, who's averaging 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on the season. And Sabonis being under contract for another two seasons may negatively affect Raynaud's ADP next fall. However, he's shown this season that the potential to be a consistently impactful fantasy center is there.
Honorable Mention
G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
With De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the fold, Harper has been asked to come off the bench as a rookie. However, he's been productive enough to earn consistent rotation minutes and provide tangible value in 14-team leagues. Since the All-Star break, Harper has averaged 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game while shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 49.3 percent from three.
G Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
Fears moved from the starting lineup to the bench in late January, but the start to his rookie campaign was highly encouraging. The Pelicans guard, who set the franchise's single-game rookie scoring record on April 7 when he dropped 40 on the Jazz, averaged 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in November.
G/F Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies selecting Coward with the 11th overall pick in last summer's draft raised some eyebrows, especially since he appeared in just three games at Washington State in 2024-25 due to a shoulder injury. In 61 games, Coward has averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 25.8 minutes for a Grizzlies squad hit hard by injuries.
G/F Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
March was Bailey's best month, with the lottery pick averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 3.4 three-pointers in 30.0 minutes per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 88.0 percent from the foul line. Once the Jazz has its expected full rotation, Bailey's offensive ceiling may be lowered. However, his getting to be part of a lineup that includes Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler could do wonders for the rookie wing defensively.
C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets
While Kalkbrenner could not lock down the starting center role as a rookie, due mainly to Moussa Diabaté's emergence, the 7-foot-1 rookie has shot 74.8 percent from the field and averaged 2.0 "stocks" (0.5 steals, 1.5 blocks) per game this season. Diabaté's breakout campaign likely limits Kalkbrenner's ceiling in 2026-27, but he will still be worth using a late-round pick on in redraft leagues.
The expectations are always high at Kentucky. And so is the salary for second-year coach Mark Pope, who earned $5.25 million in total compensation during a 2025-26 season that saw the Wildcats ejected in the second round of the Men's NCAA tournament.
Pope’s contract ranks sixth in the SEC, behind two national championship-winning coaches — John Calipari of Arkansas and Todd Golden of Florida — and another two Final Four coaches — Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and Alabama’s Nate Oats.
But Pope might not have the worst contract in the conference. That title could also belong to Mississippi’s Chris Beard, who made $6 million this season as the Rebels slumped to the bottom rungs in the SEC standings.
USA TODAY Sports compiled pay information from each school in the Power Four conferences and from each school outside those conferences whose team has appeared in at least three of the past five NCAA tournaments.
The list of the sport’s most overpaid coaches begins with Pope and Beard:
Mark Pope, Kentucky
The former Brigham Young coach has not been a hit back in Lexington, compiling a combined 46-26 record with one trip to the tournament’s second weekend. This year’s team was lucky to get out of the opening round thanks to a miraculous buzzer-beater to force overtime against Santa Clara. Given his salary of more than $5 million this season and the amount of money put toward roster construction, Pope provided the worst return on investment of any major-conference coach and will top every coaching hot-seat list all offseason.
Chris Beard, Mississippi
Beard won 20 games in 2023-34, led the Rebels to 24 wins and into the Sweet 16 last March but tumbled all the way down to 15-20 overall and just 4-14 in conference play this season, one game out of last place. That marked his first losing season in 12 full seasons as a college coach across multiple levels. After three years, Beard’s 59-44 record is only slightly better than the 51-42 mark in the program’s first three seasons under his predecessor, Kermit Davis.
Buzz Williams, Maryland
Williams has built a reputation as a turnaround artist during stints at Marquette, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. He may do the same at Maryland, which went 12-21 overall and 4-16 in the Big Ten in Williams’ debut. That's not unlike his first years with the Hokies and Aggies. But even if the Terrapins’ eventually rebound, the program should get more right off the bat from Williams’ $4.86 million in compensation for the 2025-26 season, which ranked fourth in the conference behind Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Illinois’ Brad Underwood and Purdue’s Matt Painter.
Steve Pikiell, Rutgers
Pikiell earned an extension and raise in 2023 after leading Rutgers to four winning seasons in a row and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. But it’s been messy since. After going 15-17 in 2023-24, the Scarlet Knights again went 15-17 in 2024-25 despite two freshmen who were taken in the top five of the NBA draft and then dipped to 14-19 this season. Pikiell’s contract paid him $4.05 million in 2025-26 and runs through 2030-31 with annual $100,000 increases. The current cost to cut ties with him is approximately $20 million.
Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh
Capel will come back for another year with the Panthers after posting his second 20-loss season, which was just the fifth in program history. Since taking over in 2018, the former VCU and Oklahoma coach has gone an even 127-127 and a miserable 60-92 in the ACC, with one tournament berth and only two years with more than eight conference wins. For this, Capel ranked second among ACC public-school coaches at $3.95 million in compensation this season.
Since Florida Atlantic’s miraculous Final Four run in 2023, May’s profile has grown to the point where his name is near the top of every list of college basketball’s best coaches.
This much is certain: At $3.73 million in total compensation for this season, May definitely provides the best bang for your buck of any coach in the country.
USA TODAY Sports compiled pay information from each school in the Power Four conferences and from each school outside those conferences whose team has appeared in at least three of the past five NCAA tournaments.
May is atop the list of the country’s most underpaid coaches:
Dusty May, Michigan
May’s compensation for this season is an incredible deal given how he’s transformed the Wolverines back into the best team in the Big Ten and a national champion. While he’s due for a major pay raise this spring, especially after the interest from North Carolina, May currently provides what is easily the best return on investment of any coach in our survey for this season.
Pat Kelsey, Louisville
Kelsey inherited an absolute mess at Louisville but has immediately returned the program to the top rung of the ACC. After going 12-52 in the two years prior to his arrival, the Cardinals are a combined 51-19 under Kelsey with two tournament appearances, including a trip to this season’s second round. Overall, he has just one losing record in 14 seasons as a college head coach and has made five of the past six tournaments while at Winthrop, Charleston and Louisville. Kelsey made $3.35 million in compensation this year, fourth among ACC coaches.
Ryan Odom, Virginia
Virginia was facing uncertain times with the retirement of Tony Bennett in October of 2024. Odom arrived last March and overhauled the program's offensive scheme in his first season and led the Cavaliers to a 30-6 record, a second-place finish in the ACC and a trip to the second round before bowing out against Tennessee. He’s now made the tournament at four different spots (UMBC, Utah State, VCU and Virginia). In addition to being maybe the best hire of last offseason, Odom earned $3.28 million in 2025-26 ranked fifth in the ACC.
Mike White, Georgia
White’s work at Georgia has slipped through the cracks despite leading the Bulldogs to two tournament berths in a row for just the fourth time in program history. While he made four tournament trips at Florida, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2017, getting the Bulldogs to a combined 42 wins the past two years represents the best coaching job of White’s career. Up next will be actually winning a postseason game after getting bumped by Saint Louis in this season’s opening round. But given his recent record and the fact his $3.91 million salary in 2025-26 ranked 11th in the SEC, White has been the league’s most underpaid coach.
Johnny Dawkins, Central Florida
At $2.1 million, Dawkins’ salary ranks last among Big 12 coaches in our survey. That’s a great deal for a coach who rewarded UCF’s patience by leading the Knights to 21 wins and a tournament bid this season, his second overall with the program and first since 2019. After hitting a lull after the first postseason bid, UCF has rallied since joining the Big 12 in 2023 with three winning seasons in a row and back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time since 2012-13.
It's a big night: The race for the West's No. 1 seed and the best record overall in the league — meaning home court throughout — can be decided tonight. Plus, there are several meaningful games. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
• Oklahoma City can clinch the No. 1 seed in the West, and with that, the overall best record in the NBA, with a win tonight over the Clippers, or a San Antonio loss to Portland. • Atlanta can clinch a playoff spot — and the Southeast Division Title, if people still care about division titles — with a win tonight, but that will not be easy to come by in Cleveland.
Games to Watch
Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET, League Pass)
This game matters more to Orlando than it does to Minnesota. The Timberwolves are essentially locked into the No. 6 seed in the West (which likely means a brutal first-round series with Denver). Orlando needs wins as it is in the middle of the Eastern Conference mash-up between No. 6 and 9, with 1.5 games separating teams from avoiding the play-in altogether to having to win two games just to make the playoffs. Every game, every win matters for those East teams, but this will be a tough one for the Magic, even if the Timberwolves are without Anthony Edwards.
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
As noted above, a win in this game means the Hawks cannot fall back to the play-in, which speaks to just how big a leap this team has made this season by turning the reins over to Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Cleveland could use the win, too, as it is just one game back of the Knicks for the No. 3 seed, although there is speculation the Cavs may be happier as the No. 4 seed, setting up a potential second-round showdown with Detroit rather than Boston (the 2/3 second-round matchup).
Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Victor Wembanyama is officially day-to-day but don't be surprised if he sits this one out. The Spurs are not going to catch the Thunder for the No. 1 seed, and Wemby needs to play just one more game to reach 65 and qualify for postseason awards, so this may be one he rests. Portland is one game back of the LA Clippers for the No. 8 seed, and while the showdown between those two teams on Friday likely decides that race, the Trail Blazers can't afford to be two games back of the Clippers on Friday. Which brings us to...
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (10 p.m. ET, League Pass)
Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Thunder had a pretty easy game against a Lakers team without Doncic/Reaves/LeBron and got to sit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the fourth quarter (and Jalen Williams didn't even play). The Clippers sit as the No. 8 seed in the West, one game ahead of the Trail Blazers who they face Friday night, and they could use this win to maintain (or grow) their lead before that showdown in Portland.
Kurt Helin