Dec 25, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Knicks may have clearer weaknesses than any other team that considers themselves a contender. Their best player is an undersized negative defender, the offense can be stagnant despite posting strong numbers, the outside shooting can abandon them at times, and the starting lineup often digs themselves into deep holes to start out games. But the Knicks also do a lot of things really well. Despite how the season started, their defense has statistically been amongst the best in 2026, they have two extremely talented offensive players with Jalen Brunson being one of the best postseason players in the league, and know how to win dirty.
We’ve seen this play out multiple times in varying ways. The strong fourth quarter against the Cavaliers on Christmas day, the big comeback against the Rockets, the back-to-back comebacks against the Celtics last year, and the close wins against the Pistons in the first-round last season, they’ve been there and done that when it comes to eking out wins with the exception of game one in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
While not everything during the regular season translates the post season, fans can, and likely should feel confident about the fact that this battle-tested group performed exceptionally well when it mattered most. It would be nice to see the Knicks start off games better, and not have to rely on a fourth quarter run or a late-game surge. But this should be one of the core strengths of this team come playoff time.
SAN FRANCISCO — Throughout the last two seasons, JJ Redick has referenced a popular Jay-Z bar to illustrate the ups and downs of an NBA season.
“It was all good just a week ago,” Redick has said a couple of times during his two seasons as Lakers coach, referencing Jay-Z’s “A Week Ago” from his six-time platinum-selling album, “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.”
Even though Redick hasn’t made the reference since April started, the sentiment applies now.
Luka Doncic was having an MVP-caliber season, but it was derailed by a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. APHead coach JJ Redick during a time out in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks on April 5. AP
A week ago, the Lakers were one of the league’s hottest teams entering a marquee road game against the Thunder.
And then two more losses to the Mavericks and the Thunder, all while the teams closest to them in the standings soared, with the Nuggets on a 10-game winning streak and the Rockets winning seven straight entering Thursday.
All of a sudden, the Lakers went from third place in the Western Conference standings, with a multiple-game cushion on the teams below them, to uncertainty about whether they’d host their first-round playoff series.
When the Lakers found out about Doncic’s status for the remainder of the season April 3, Redick reassured that the team’s mission was to clinch the No. 3 seed and win a first-round playoff series.
“We’ve got to prepare our team, our group that we’re going to have available to play in the playoffs series,” Redick said. “Finding who’s gonna be able to play in the playoffs for us. The seeding part probably went out the window after the OKC game.”
If the Nuggets, who entered Thursday at No. 3 in the West, win their final two regular-season games against the Thunder and Spurs, they’ll clinch third regardless of how the Lakers finish.
Lakers coach JJ Redick’s team likely is headed for a first-round matchup against the Rockets. AP
The Lakers would need the Nuggets, who won the regular-season series to secure the tiebreaker for postseason seeding, to drop at least one of their last two games to have a shot at reclaiming third place. And more realistically, the Nuggets would need to lose both of their final games for the Lakers to enter the playoffs as the third seed.
It’s why the Lakers are likely headed toward a No. 4 vs. No. 5 first-round playoff series against the Rockets.
It’s all just a matter of who’ll finish fourth and have homecourt advantage for the series.
Neither the Lakers nor Rockets can fall below fifth, with the Timberwolves, whom the Rockets will host Friday, already locked in at No. 6.
The Lakers have the tiebreaker over the Rockets, so if they finish with the same record, the Lakers would be the higher seed and host their first-round series.
The Nuggets also hold the tiebreaker over the Rockets.
The Lakers playing the Rockets or Timberwolves in the first round has been the likeliest outcome for weeks.
And with the Rockets being the likelier matchup, we’re on a collision course for the fourth playoff series between teams led by LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who last played each other in the playoffs during the 2018 NBA Finals when Durant’s Warriors swept James’ Cavaliers.
But last week, with the Lakers falling and the Rockets soaring, changed the complexion of the expected series.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks during the game on February 28, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tonight was supposed to mean something more.
We’re talking the Los Angeles Lakers vs the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Stephen Curry and LeBron James, the two most important players in the last two decades of NBA basketball, sharing the same floor one more time. Except they won’t tonight, folks. Steph Curry is out tonight on the front side of a back-to-back, and just like that, the basketball gods closed the window on the one matchup that still moves the needle for casual fans and die-hards alike.
Zero Steph vs. LeBron games this season!
Steph Curry is now out tonight vs the Lakers on the front side of a back-to-back. Warriors are in Sacramento tomorrow night. That means zero Curry against LeBron James games this season.
Look at what we missed. During their long rivalry they’ve traded highlights and crazy box scores. Per Basketball Reference, in the regular season head-to-head data LeBron is averaging 30.2 points on 20.9 field goal attempts across 27 games. Steph is answering with 24.9 points and 6.5 assists across those same 27 matchups. That’s two legends still going to work every single time they see each other. And this season, we didn’t get one chapter of it.
The playoff numbers are even more absurd. LeBron at 31.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 8.5 assists per game across 28 playoff matchups between these two. Steph at 25.6 points and 6.5 assists. Four championships worth of pressure, four Finals between these franchises, and a Western Conference playoff battle too boot.
That history is the whole reason tonight stings.
The Warriors are sitting 10th in the West at 37-42, trying to survie their way into the Play-In. The Lakers are 4th at 50-29. But strip away the standings and what you really had scheduled for tonight was probably one of the last (if not the last) meetings between these two legends who carried the torch for their sport. LeBron is 41 and Steph turned 38 in March. The runway on seeing these two go head-to-head with genuine stakes attached is not getting longer.
Steph Curry is out tonight against the Lakers 💔
We won’t get a Steph vs LeBron matchup this season.
And the Warriors lost to the Lakers twice already this season, 105-99 in February and 129-101 in late February. Golden State took the first meeting back in October, 119-109, with Jimmy Butler dropping 31. That was the game where the season felt full of possibility before the injuries started stacking up like unpaid bills.
Now Steph is managing his workload on a back-to-back and we’re all sitting here doing the math on what’s left of this era.
The answer is not much. And tonight just reminded us how fast it’s actually going.
The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors on Thursday formally approved new expansion teams coming to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.
The initial announcement of expanding to those cities, totaling to 18 teams, came on June 30, 2025. The movement was subject to the approval, which is now formal.
Cleveland will begin play first in the 2028 season, with Detroit following in 2029. Philadelphia will be last in 2030.
All three cities have NBA teams in the Cavaliers, Pistons and 76ers, respectively.
The league will have two expansion teams beginning in the upcoming 2026 season: the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Both cities also are home to NBA teams in the Trail Blazers and Raptors, and the new teams participated in an expansion draft to set up their respective rosters.
Those cities are awaiting formal approval, which would take the NBA to 32 teams. The league would likely realign the teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences, too, to fit two new cities out West.
More details on this trio of WNBA expansion franchises will come at later dates.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles as he is chased by LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 104-101 Lakers win in game four of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 08, 2023 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors play their final home game of the regular season in tonight’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and will be streamed on Prime Video.
Golden State snapped a four-game losing streak with Tuesday night’s 110–105 win over the Sacramento Kings. It marked the Warriors’ second game with Steph Curry back in the lineup, and they responded with noticeable energy — particularly in the second quarter, where they outscored Sacramento 41–27 to take a 13-point lead into halftime.
Still, the Kings — despite their 21–59 record — made things interesting late. It took timely shot-making from Curry (17 points) and Brandin Podziemski (20 points) to close it out down the stretch.
Tonight’s matchup against the Lakers was initially shaping up to be the first meeting between Curry and LeBron James this season. However, the Warriors announced Curry will sit out the front end of the back-to-back as he continues ramping up from the knee injury that sidelined him for 27 games.
Steph Curry is now OUT for tonight’s Warriors game against the Lakers @NBCSWarriors
No Steph, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford or Will Richard for the Warriors
With both teams dealing with injuries to key players — including the Lakers being without leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for the remainder of the regular season — the focus shifts to role players on both sides.
For Los Angeles, head coach JJ Redick recently made headlines for publicly challenging his team’s supporting cast following a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
JJ Redick CALLED OUT the entire roster 😭
On Rui: “He wasn’t doing his job so I took him out.”
On Vando: “It was a confluence of things he did wrong.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors may have found a spark in big man Charles Bassey. Signed as a late addition due to frontcourt injuries, Bassey recorded a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double against Sacramento. He provided energy as a rim runner and lob threat, and with Golden State still thin up front, his role could continue to grow as the regular season winds down.
The Los Angeles Lakers were baking one hell of a cake in the second half of the season, only to have injuries drop that sucker on the floor just before the party.
With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Los Angeles is left scooping crumbs, frosting, and championship hopes off the hardwood in these final days of the regular season.
The Lakers are grasping for the No. 4 seed in the West and praying for the best when the postseason begins, leaning on veteran star LeBron James to keep them on track.
LeBron and L.A. are underdogs in the Bay Area tonight, and our Lakers vs. Warriors predictions see James jacking up his share of shots from beyond the arc.
My NBA picks take the King to top his 3-point prop on Thursday, April 9.
Lakers vs Warriors prediction
Lakers vs Warriors best bet: LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes (+110)
LeBron James is as adaptable as they come. When Luka Doncic is out of the lineup, he picks up his playmaking, and we see his assist tallies soar. And when Austin Reaves is sidelined, James’ activity from outside increases.
LeBron is learning to live without either of his Los Angeles Lakers co-stars in the home stretch. While we have a small sample of games without Doncic and Reaves, James did fire up six 3-point attempts in the loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Looking at his last 19 games without Reaves in action, James has averaged 4.6 shots from beyond the arc, connecting for two or more in nine of those. For comparison, when Luka and Reaves were both healthy during L.A.'s red-hot run in March, LeBron was taking only 2.4 triples and making less than one of those long-range looks an outing.
Tonight's game script has L.A. playing from behind versus the Golden State Warriors, and the rest of the Lakers lineup has provided spotty production, leaving head coach J.J. Redick to blast several players during this current stretch.
James was a one-man wrecking crew vs. Dallas and will have the green light against a Golden State defense that has slipped when it comes to protecting the perimeter. The Dubs have allowed foes to shoot 37% from distance since the All-Star break, and that’s blown up to 39% over the past 10.
LeBron has faced the Warriors twice this season, going 4-for-6 and 2-for-7 from downtown in those matchups. His projections for tonight range between 1.4 and 2.4 makes from 3-point land, with the bulk of those forecasts calling for two triples and his attempts as high as seven 3PAs.
Lakers vs Warriors same-game parlay
Los Angeles can at least keep it close against a Warriors roster that could protect players in this first game of back-to-back outings. The Lakers are desperate not to fall back in the West standings, as they’ll need all the help they can get in the postseason.
Deandre Ayton has been ripped by Redick for his recent efforts, but with the L.A. lineup hurting for offense, he’s capable of putting up points against a small Golden State frontcourt. His projections sit as high as 13 points.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
Lakers +4.5
LeBron James Over 1.5 made threes
Deandre Ayton Over 11.5 Points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal Flush
LeBron went nuclear on the Mavericks, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists, and hauling in nine rebounds. He sat out Tuesday’s matchup with OKC, so the 41-year-old has fresh legs for this trip to Golden State.
Lakers vs Warriors SGP
Lakers moneyline
LeBron James Over 24.5 points
LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds
Lakers vs Warriors odds
Spread: Lakers +4.5 (-110) | Warriors -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Lakers +160 | Warriors -190
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Warriors betting trend to know
The Over is 9-2 in the last 11 matchups between the Lakers and Warriors. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Warriors.
How to watch Lakers vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Warriors latest injuries
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 7: Rob Dillingham #7 of the Chicago Bulls looks to pass the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on April 7, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. today. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
SAN FRANCISCO — LeBron James and Steph Curry have a lot in common.
They’re on the Mount Rushmore of basketball greats. They met in the Finals four straight seasons from 2015-2018. And they deeply admire each other’s games.
But they share something less desirable, too.
LeBron James and Steph Curry have had many memorable moments against each other. Getty Images
Both of them are aging superstars who have to transform into superheroes for their teams to have a chance in the NBA playoffs after their seasons were wildly derailed.
That’s no easy task when guys a decade (or two!) younger than them are lying in wait, including the 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama and 27-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Warriors and Lakers entered this season with high expectations and the hope that their deep rosters would carry them past the gauntlet of Western Conference talent. But both rosters have been whittled down to the bones, exposing two of the top players in NBA history to loads they weren’t expected to bear on their own.
For James, this was a shock.
Just a week ago, the Lakers looked like championship contenders. They had gone on a 16-2 run. Doncic was playing MVP-caliber basketball, averaging an otherworldly 37.5 points in March. Reaves was playing at an All-Star level and averaging a career-high 23.3 points a game.
That meant James could switch gears for the first time in his career, becoming the team’s third option. He was on cruise control until last Thursday, when Doncic and Reaves sustained their injuries in a dreadful 43-point loss to the Thunder.
Now?
James has a 60.8-point hole he’s expected to fill for the fourth-seeded Lakers (50-29).
As for Curry, his challenge is similarly tricky.
He entered this season with high hopes after the Warriors went 23-8 after they acquired Butler at the 2025 trade deadline. Golden State could’ve made some real noise last postseason. but Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Timberwolves and they crumbled in five games.
This season, things were supposed to be different.
But Butler suffered a torn ACL in January. Making matters worse, Curry just returned Sunday after missing 27 games because of a knee injury. Now, the Warriors (37-42) are in 10th place, and their survival depends on the balky joint of a player who was sidelined the last two months.
James was content to be the Lakers’ third option on offense, but now he needs to assume a larger role. NBAE via Getty Images
James and Curry have been through better times.
Often against each other.
James vs. Curry was one of the best rivalries in NBA history. James is arguably the greatest player of all time. And Curry is the top shooter the world has ever seen. When they collided, there were fireworks.
Curry led the Warriors to three championships against James, who was at the peak of his powers. And James orchestrated the greatest comeback in NBA history against Curry, leading the Cavaliers to roar back from a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 Finals en route to the franchise’s first championship.
The NBA will be robbed of seeing the two stars play this season, which is a massive bummer considering James is pondering retirement. Curry will be sidelined Thursday because of his knee on the front side of a back-to-back. He also missed both of the teams’ meetings in February. James was out for their season opener because of sciatica.
It has been eight years since they cast an intoxicating spell over the NBA.
And in its place now are two franchises that are clinging to postseason relevance with a pinky finger, led by megastars who have aged like fine wine.
It’s a shame they’re in this position.
But it’s also another thrilling test for two superstars whose narratives keep overlapping.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are officially locked into the 10th seed in the Western Conference, meaning they’ll have to win two road games in the Play-In Tournament to secure a spot in the playoffs.
It’s not where the team expected to be entering the season, but injuries derailed those plans, and now, their playoff hopes come down to a win-or-go-home two-game stretch.
However, despite the stakes, Draymond Green isn’t exactly excited by the opportunity. While he embraces the challenge, Green made it clear after Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings that the Play-In doesn’t carry the same intensity as a traditional playoff series.
Draymond Green is not looking forward to the Play-In tournament AT ALL 😅
"It's not exciting. I'm a competitor so going into the game I'm going to do all I can to win but it's not that exciting… I'm not going to sleep tomorrow night like 'man I got this Play-In next week.'" https://t.co/EghIt9WsWfpic.twitter.com/rIdI1sIBfd
Green expanded on this perspective, pointing to the original purpose of the Play-In which was to incentivize teams to keep competing late in the season. But in this year’s Western Conference, the top 10 in the standings have largely been locked in for weeks now, with little pressure from outside teams due to what he claims is tanking.
Draymond Green on if the Play-In Tournament is still good for the NBA:
"To have a team stuck in 10th, it ain't working. We could have lost our last 15 games and been stuck in 10th. It ain't working… we wanna make the playoffs so it works I guess." pic.twitter.com/qbpEmKtmWx
Regardless of how it feels, the stakes remain clear.
The Warriors will need to win twice on the road to advance and earn a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, or else, their season comes to an early end once again.
🏆 PLAYOFF PICTURE 🏆
▪️ OKC wins 7th straight, clinches the #1 seed in the West, and secures the NBA's best overall record ▪️ ORL rises to #7 in East
In ESPN’s conversations with dozens of players, coaches and front office executives, a consistent theme emerged: Nobody likes it — “I hate it,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said — but not many deny it is often the most prudent team-building path when stuck near the bottom. Different seasons and different drafts will generate different forms, but everyone agrees it’ll continue until the NBA figures out either the proper rules or punishments to curb it.
“These teams are doing the whole gamut: sitting guys in the fourth, playing analytically bad lineups, drawing up plays for bad shots,” one Western Conference general manager said. “The creativity is impressive and I don’t blame them. It’s the best strategy to get better. Look at all the most promising teams in the league: Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, Hornets. Years of being bad and building up on high picks. It’s painful but worthwhile.”
After the win, Curry broke down exactly how he’s able to convert those difficult, contact-heavy shots.
“You have to obviously focus in on the rim,” Curry said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Warriors Postgame Live.” “Sometimes there could be contact or whatnot — I do fall a lot — but those two were just timing, confidence, let it go, absorb the contact and have fun with it.”
That simple formula — focus, timing and confidence — has helped Curry turn chaotic moments into highlight plays throughout his career.
Top Dogs: With the win, the Thunder secure the West’s top seed and the league’s best record, a feat they’ve now pulled off in back-to-back seasons
“It’s extremely important,” said Holmgren on securing the No. 1 seed. “Just knowing that in the event of a Game 7, it’s always gonna be at home. You can’t underestimate how valuable that is … now, we got more to do.”
Seeking 65: At 64-16, OKC is one win shy of the franchise’s first-ever back-to-back 65+ win seasons
The Warriors coach is about to see his contract expire, and there haven’t been any reports of working on a new contract. Even though there’s occasionally been some tension between Kerr and owner Joe Lacob, the simple fact is that Kerr has an open invite to coach the Warriors for as long as Curry is on the roster. Curry very openly does not want to play for any other coach … but of course, it takes two to tango, and Kerr will have to make the decision.
So we’re asking Warriors fans: do you want to see Kerr return next year? Or would you prefer he call it quits, and the organization can bring in a new face?
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Aday Mara #15, Yaxel Lendeborg #23, Roddy Gayle Jr. #11 and Trey McKenney #1 of the Michigan Wolverines look on during the first half of a game against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the majority of college basketball players, the final goal is to make it in the National Basketball Association. A very small minority have their dreams become a reality while most go on to do something other than sports. For a team like Michigan that just won the National Championship, the NBA is a realistic dream for a good portion of the roster.
Today, we will power rank the members of the 2025-26 Michigan roster by their pro potential. Keep in mind, we aren’t just ranking the players’ NBA potential next year — we’re talking the long-term trajectory of each players’ future career in the NBA.
Honorable Mention: Howard Eisley Jr., Harrison Hochberg, Charlie May
These players have no shot at the NBA. However any national champion deserves an honorable mention in my book.
13. G Ricky Liburd
Liburd redshirted this season, as he was a late addition to the class and wasn’t a highly sought after prospect. We’ll know significantly more about him next year, but for now, it’s impossible to assess his NBA potential.
12. C Malick Kordel
An international prospect from Germany, Kordel played during garbage time during his first season of college basketball. He was clearly very raw, but at 7-foot-2 and 275 pounds, he has the frame of an NBA center. His need for development prevents him from being any higher on this list.
11. F Will Tschetter
Don’t take Tschetter’s low placement on this list as any disrespect towards one of the pivotal pieces on the national title team. The heartbeat of the program, he embodied the Michigan mantra of “those who stay will be champions.” Unfortunately at this point in his career, we know exactly what his limitations are and so too do NBA scouts. Tschetter was an all-time college basketball character but will likely never see any NBA action.
10. F Oscar Goodman
Goodman was tough to place on this list. The young forward saw more minutes than anyone else on the bench mob and flashed some potential with high flying dunks and blocked shots in garbage time. Depending on Michigan’s activity in the portal, he may be a part of the rotation next year. Given his youth, he could still develop into a fringe NBA type player. Time will tell.
9. F Winters Grady
Like Goodman, this is entirely based off of projection. Grady played in just nine games this season and wasn’t entirely effective before being shut down due to an injury. However, his recruiting profile suggests that of a sharpshooter who could develop into a three-and-D type of player. He is obviously nowhere near draft boards now, but he’s got the right frame and archetype as that of a bench NBA player.
8. G Elliot Cadeau
I wanted to put Final Four Most Outstanding Player much higher on this list, but couldn’t quite pull the trigger. Elliot Cadeau played some of his best basketball during the NCAA Tournament and will be forever remembered for his performances in the Final Four. However, the NBA is beginning to value height and length more and more as time progresses. He is generously listed as 6-foot-1. Small point guards who aren’t elite three-point shooters are going out of style in the NBA unfortunately.
7. G Nimari Burnett
Like Grady, Burnett displays the archetype of a typical three-and-D type player. Burnett doesn’t thrive when asked to create his own shot, but he could thrive in a bench role in the NBA a la Caleb Houstan if he can become an elite three-point shooter. He was very good but not quite elite in his college career which will prevent him from being drafted. However, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him invited to the NBA Summer League and try to make a name for himself this offseason.
6. G/F Roddy Gayle Jr.
April Roddy’s ascent from frustrating shooter to lock-down defender and the best dunker on the team will become the stuff of legend over time. In college, Gayle seemed to get more athletic the older he became, which is quite rare. Like Burnett, his lack of on-ball playmaking will hamper his draft status, but several players just like him have latched onto NBA rosters via Summer League invites over the years. It’s not impossible.
5. G L.J. Cason
As we’ve covered extensively, Cason suffered a season-ending injury, which fortunately didn’t derail Michigan’s season. Before the injury, he was playing arguably as well as anyone on the roster. Cason was explosive on the fast break, shot lights out from three, and provided instant offense whenever called upon. While still young and a bit raw, his weaknesses are the types of things that can be corrected over time as there are certainly no physical limitations to his game. Assuming he returns to full health with no lingering side effects, Cason has a very legitimate chance to be drafted to the NBA in the next few years.
4. G Trey McKenney
A former five-star, McKenney led his dream school to the National Championship as a true freshman. That’s the type of thing dreams are made of. Following Cason’s injury, his role exploded as he became the primary backup ball-handler. He also became Michigan’s most reliable shooter in the tournament as evidenced in the Final Four game against Arizona (6-of-9 from three). Next season will likely be his last in Ann Arbor before heading to the NBA, potentially as a lottery pick if things go right.
3. C Aday Mara
Now things start to get serious. Mara was the difference maker for Michigan basketball this season. His rim protection was the anchor of the No. 1 defense in all of college basketball. He’s projected to be a mid-first round pick, which leaves him with a stay-or-go decision. In the NBA’s eyes, he will need to bulk out his incredibly wiry frame. However, his passing is incredible for his size and he possesses a nice shooting stroke despite the limited attempts this year. He will likely be looked at as a top-end developmental pick should he decide to go pro.
2. F Morez Johnson Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr. proved to be much more than just a rim-runner in Ann Arbor this year. He is an incredibly versatile defender, able to stay in front of guards consistently despite being 6-foot-9. He also developed a post game on offense and was much more than just a dunker this season.
At the NBA level, Johnson could contribute right away in a reserve role. He’s got the size and strength to match up physically and is an excellent free throw shooter for the position. Should he declare this offseason, he could be a serviceable big man in the NBA for a decade or longer such as an Isaiah Stewart type player.
1. F Yaxel Lendeborg
No one helped their draft stock more in the NCAA Tournament than Yaxel Lendeborg. The constant knock on his draft stock will be his age — he’ll be 24 before the NBA season starts — but he proved time and again he can impact the game in every facet.
At 6-foot-9, Lendeborg can guard any position on the court. He is elite at finishing through contact, and shot 82 percent from the free throw line and 37 percent from three. Most importantly, he is patient and lets the game come to him. Lendeborg doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make a massive impact on the game, which makes him incredibly valuable. He proved to also be incredibly tough, as evidenced by his play during the National Championship essentially on one leg.
I would expect Lendeborg to be drafted either late in the lottery or just outside of it. Under the right circumstances, he could start in the NBA right away. His age may prevent him from becoming a star in the league, but he has every single tool necessary to become a very, very good NBA player. It will be fascinating to watch his career progression.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 04: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns talks with head coach Jordan Ott during the second half of the NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 108-105. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Suns are currently sitting at 44-36 with just a couple of games left to play. Boy, has this season flown by.
The Suns have locked in the 7th seed and will host the Clippers or Blazers on April 14th at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Now, let’s take a quick look at how we got here in a more zoomed-out perspective, month by month.
October — 2-4 (.333)
November — 10-5 (.667)
December — 7-5 (.583)
January — 11-5 (.688)
February — 4-7 (.364)
March — 8-8 (.500)
April — 2-2 (.500)
October was weird. A few close losses and some unfortunate endings had them off to a slow start. Then, the Suns had themselves a very strong winter, compiling a 28-15 record in November, December, and January. February was the only “ugly” month, and luckily, it was cut short due to the ASB. They entered the All-Star Break with a 32-23 record, and have since gone 12-13.
The injuries started to pile up in February (even more so than they already were), and things began to spiral a bit. Nothing dramatic, they still weathered the storm, but instead of making a push into the top 6 as we all hoped earlier in the season, they remained in the play-in. It just goes to show you that it truly is a marathon. That is still a massive win relative to expectations entering the season, after many experts had them finishing as one of the worst teams in the association.
And now, here we are in April. The madness and chaos of late-season basketball, where teams are gearing up for one last push for seeding or a tune-up for the playoffs.
For the Suns, it’s about entering the postseason healthy. Last night was not an ideal start to that goal, as Jalen Green and Jordan Goodwin both left the game with leg injuries. Their immediate status is to be determined.
It’s time to let the young guys shine in these final two games. Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Oso, even Brea… let them loose.
The schedule for the 2026 @SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on @NBAonPrime ⬇️
We now await the Clippers or Blazers, who are one game apart from each other in the final stretch, and their head-to-head game on Friday will likely determine who gets the 8th seed. It’s almost like a play-in for the play-in.
Clippers lose. Blazers lose.
LA is 41-39. Portland is 40-40.
Clippers lead the season series 2-1. But if the Blazers win on Friday, they get the tiebreaker due to conference record.
The final two games of the regular season (for the Suns) before the play-in begins will come on the road in Los Angeles against the Lakers and in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. It’s unlikely any of those teams take these games too seriously. The Lakers have more to play for as they’re fighting for home-court advantage in the first round, but they, too, are limping into the finish line.
It will be interesting to monitor how the rotations look in these last two games, especially considering Jordan Ott’s quote last night, stating:
“We’ll continue to assess how our guys come out of this back-to-back and then we’ll plan accordingly the best we can. Balancing rhythm versus rest, especially with a group that doesn’t have a ton of reps on the floor together.”
Book hinted that one of the games could be a rest day for himself, which makes sense given they are locked into the 7th seed at this point.
"It's probably a conversation we'll have amongst the team, but I could see one of the games not playing."
Devin Booker as Suns have 2 games left in regular season: Friday at LAL, Sunday at OKC.
Suns 7th seed in West. Host 8th seed (Clippers or Blazers) in play-in Tuesday for… pic.twitter.com/HRl52Luq4Y
While the 76ers are not providing a return timeline, players typically miss about three weeks after this surgery, although some players have been out a month or more. Even an optimistic timeline would have Embiid out during the play-in and the first round of the playoffs (should they advance).
Joel Embiid Medical Update: Appendectomies are relatively uncommon in the NBA but have occurred with players like Grant Hill & OG Anunoby undergoing the procedure. The average time lost for in-season surgery is ~23 days (10.2 games). Median = 18 days
Philadelphia, 43-36, currently sits as the No. 8 seed in the East, but teams are so tightly bunched in the middle of the East that the 76ers could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th.
Embiid has played in just 38 games this season due to a variety of injuries, but when he has played, he's been his vintage self, averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The 76ers have a +5.1 net rating this season when he is on the court.
Tyrese Maxey and Paul George will lead Philadelphia into the postseason. The 76ers play the Houston Rockets on Thursday, have a back-to-back against the tanking Indiana Pacers on Friday, and then close the season on Sunday against another tanking team, the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 38-year-old returned against the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings after missing 27 games from Feb. 3 to April 2. He scored 29 points against the Rockets on April 5 and 17 against the Kings on April 7.
Curry has averaged 27 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists appearing in 41 games for the Warriors this season. He has shot the ball at an efficient clip, a norm for the 12-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer.
Steph Curry is now out tonight vs the Lakers on the front side of a back-to-back. Warriors are in Sacramento tomorrow night. That means zero Curry against LeBron James games this season.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Miami.
The Philadelphia center had been ruled out for Thursday’s crucial game against the Rockets in Houston hours earlier.
Embiid last played Monday night against the Spurs, putting up 34 points with 12 rebounds.
The timing could not be worse for the Sixers and Embiid.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
With three games to go in the regular season, Philly sits one game back of the Raptors for the sixth seed in the East.
They entered Thursday in eighth in the conference at 43-36, a half-game back of the Magic for the seventh seed.
If the season ended before Thursday’s slate of games, the 76ers would head to Orlando for a play-in tournament matchup against the Magic for the seventh seed in the conference and a first-round series against the Celtics.
The 76ers are also dangerously close to falling behind the Hornets, who are a half-game back and sitting in the ninth seed, in the standings.
If they fall to the ninth or tenth seed, the Sixers would need to win two play-in tournament games just to make the postseason.
The 7-8 game would take place on April 14 while the 9-10 game would be a day later, leaving Embiid little time to recover post-surgery for the Sixers’ likely play-in tournament run.
The first round of the NBA Playoffs kicks off on April 18.
The latest setback adds to yet another season in which Embiid has had trouble staying on the court.
The former NBA MVP has played in just 38 games this season, although he’s been effective when he’s in the lineup, averaging 26.9 points in just 31.6 minutes per game.
Embiid hasn’t played more than 40 games in a season since 2022-23.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 8: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket as Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the game on February 8, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (54-25) at New York Knicks (51-28) Thursday, April 9, 2026 7:30 PM ET Regular Season Game #80 Road Game #41 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 880 ESPN, Sirius XM Madison Square Garden
The Celtics head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks in their final road game of the season. This is the 4th, and final, game between these two teams this season. The Knicks won the first game 105-95 in New York on October 24. The Celtics won the 2nd game 123-117 in Boston on December 2. The Knicks won the 3rd game 111-89 in Boston on February 8.
The Celtics are 309-192 overall, all time against the Knicks and they are 130-110 in games played in New York. Both teams are playing in the first of back to back games. The Knicks have been off since Monday and are 7-5 in the first of back to back games. The Celtics last played on Tuesday and they are 9-3 in the first of back to back games.
Along with the importance of this game for seeding purposes, this game has another very important storyline. This will be Jayson Tatum’s first game back to Madison Square Garden since he tore his Achilles in last year’s playoffs. This is one of the mental hurdles that Tatum must get over in order to be all the way back from the injury. He said he’s not thrilled with having to go back there and play but knows that it’s all a part of getting back to where he was before the injury.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 3 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 9.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 10 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 10.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 11 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 26-14 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.
The Knicks are 3rd in the East, 6.5 games behind 1st place Detroit and 3 games behind 2nd place Boston. They are half a game ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 7 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 8 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. They are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 28-9 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.
This game is very important for seeding purposes. The Celtics need just one win or one Knicks loss to clinch the 2nd seed. They can do that with a win in this game or they have 2 more games left and would need to win one of those. The Celtics will host New Orleans on Friday and will finish the season by hosting Orlando. After this game, the Knicks have 2 games left as well. They will host Toronto and Charlotte to end the season. For New York to clinch the 2nd seed, the Celtics would need to lose all 3 games and New York would need to win all 3 games. Also, the Knicks are just half a game ahead of Cleveland and they need to keep winning to hang onto the 3rd seed.
The Celtics originally had 4 starters listed as questionable on the injury report. Derrick White (knee), Neemias Queta (toe) remain questionable. Sam Hauser (back) is available and Jaylen Brown (Achilles) has been ruled out. I’ve included the normal starting 5 other than Jaylen Brown since I’m not sure who will play and who won’t. I’m guessing that Baylor Scheierman starts for Jaylen Brown. For the Knicks, only Tyler Kolek (oblique) is questionable.
Probable Celtics Starters PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Derrick White | Getty ImagesJalen Brunson | NBAE via Getty Images
Neemias Queta | Boston Globe via Getty ImagesKarl-Anthony Towns | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga Nikola Vucevic Ron Harper, Jr 2-Way Players None Injuries/Out Derrick White (knee) questionable Neemias Queta (toe) questionable Sam Hauser (back) available Jaylen Brown (Achilles) out Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Knicks Reserves Jordan Clarkson Pacome Dadiet Jose Alvarado Mohamed Diawara Tyler Kolek Mitchell Robinson Landry Shamet Ariel Hukporti
Two-Way Players Kevin McCullar, Jr Dillon Jones Trey Jemison III
Injuries/Out Tyler Kolek (oblique) questionable
Head Coach Mike Brown
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson Brunson is the key to the Knicks offense and the Celtics need to defend him well. He is averaging 26 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he averaged 25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must defend him closely, especially on the perimeter. If White doesn’t play, I would expect Payton Pritchard to start in his place.
Neemias Queta vs Karl Anthony-Towns Towns is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. In the first 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 22.0 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to box him out on the boards and defend him in the paint and on the perimeter. If Queta doesn’t play, I am guessing that Luka Garza will start in his place with Vucevic coming off the bench. Honorable Mention Sam Hauser vs OG Anunoby Anunoby is averaging 24 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.8% from 3. He played in just one of the 3 games against the Celtics this season and finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals while shooting 30% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc. If Hauser doesn’t play, I would guess that Baylor Scheierman starts in his place.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game. The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.7. The Knicks are 8th with a defensive rating of 112.3. The Celtics have shown that they are capable of playing very good defense but at times still slack off and allow opponents to score too easily. If Brown, White and Queta are out, they will be without 3 key defenders. The Celtics must make defense a priority if they hope to win this game.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound. The Celtics are 4th with 46.5 rebounds per game while the Knicks are 7th with 46.0 rebounds per game. In the 2 losses to the Knicks this season, the Celtics were out-rebounded but in the win over the Knicks, they out-rebounded the Knicks. The Knicks are 6th with 16.6 second chance points per game. The Celtics must give extra effort to beat the Knicks to rebounds in this game.
Move the Ball Carefully– The Celtics are tough to beat when they keep the ball moving and find the open man but when one player over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 33-0 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 19-23 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. Keep the ball moving and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether in the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over because the Knicks average 17.8 points off turnovers per game.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way from the opening tip until the final buzzer.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics are on the road for the final time this season. They need to overcome the distractions of travel, playing on an unfamiliar court, and in front of a hostile crowd and stay focused on playing hard and as a team. They have to come out playing hard right from the beginning and try to keep the Knicks’ crowd from getting into the game.
Who’s Playing? – It’s possible that the Celtics will be without up to 4 starters. Since the Celtics need just one win in their 3 remaining games to clinch the 2nd seed, they may rest some players in this one and then go all out in the final 2 games to get that win. If any or all of the 4 questionable players are out, the other players have to step up big time for the Celtics to get a win.
Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the game differently. Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make calls that just don’t make sense. The Celtics will be on the road and so they can expect the Knicks to get a favorable whistle in their arena. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus.
