In the most pivotal season of Leon Rose’s Knicks tenure, it’s a rematch with the Atlanta Hawks, the winners of a 2021 first-round matchup with New York, setting the stage for this potential championship run.
Trae Young is no longer here to rekindle that rivalry, but Atlanta is still every bit as dangerous, if not more. But New York isn’t the same team, either, and has lofty expectations for their June plans.
Let’s dive into previewing the series, and predicting who comes out on top...
Atlanta’s strength is on the defensive side of the ball, where they ranked third in the league since the trade deadline. They’re connective with a ton of athletic size -- qualities that have given the Knicks fits in the past.
When you’re game-planning shutting down New York’s offense, the first bullet point will be Jalen Brunson, and Atlanta has the pieces to ensure he’s constantly hounded. Dyson Daniels (6-foot-7) has been their lead option, and guards Brunson well despite a number of strong performances.
They’ll also lean on Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6-foot-5) to take some reps, though he has a lot of the offensive creation on his plate. Expect stretches from big bench wings Jonathan Kuminga (6-foot-7) and Zaccharie Risacher (6-foot-8) as well.
With all that size, the Hawks may be content not sending much help early one-on-one, and blitz him in pick-and-rolls. They have the speed to quickly rotate on the backside if they’re caught 4-on-3, so Brunson will have to make quick decisions to make them pay.
Getting him off the ball, like in last year’s Pistons series, can help wear out their primary defenders and get Brunson easier opportunities. He usually takes a couple games to get going and adjust to the postseason, so that’s when the Knicks will be at their most vulnerable and need others to step up.
Mike Brown’s motion offense will get to prove its worth in a playoff setting, and they can use it to find favorable matchups in most lineups. The Hawks have used a lot of CJ McCollum plus Gabe Vincent off the bench, two smaller guards the Knicks should be able to attack at will.
They can just keep having Brunson call for the right screen and switch. It will be on Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to identify and expose mismatches. The Knicks will need a big Towns series, as this matchup may be won in the restricted area.
Both teams are strong on the boards, so whoever shows up there may end up with the edge in a given game. Expect Mitchell Robinson to be an X-factor here once again.
Dec 19, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) reacts after a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Off the bench, New York will need a ton from Jordan Clarkson in a defensive series, as one of the best penetrators on the team. It’s possible we see Mohamed Diawara back in the swing of things to combat Atlanta’s size.
Finally, the Knicks will have to limit their turnovers. The Hawks feed off mistakes to bolster their defense and create opportunities on the other end.
Atlanta’s offense, while solid, is definitely the weaker point in their game, especially in the halfcourt. They also boast motion schemes, but with less of the talent to break down defenses and score.
Their shot diet is relatively balanced, with more mid-range shots than your average team, but they still get a healthy amount of threes and rim attempts. They don’t shoot a lot of free throws, so the Knicks can make life easier on themselves by controlling the flow of whistles from the outset.
McCollum and Alexander-Walker are their primary guard creators. The Knicks are likely to hide Brunson on Daniels, a 19 percent three-point shooter who will get called into lots of screening actions and asked to convert to not let Brunson off easy.
Bridges and Josh Hart likely cover the other two guards to provide some point-of-attack capability. Expect a pick-and-roll defense that gets more switch-heavy as the series rolls on and the Knicks force talented but not elite scorers to make one-on-one plays in big moments.
The big matchup will be All-Star Jalen Johnson, who likely sees the Anunoby assignment off rip. He’s a bit quick for Towns and towers over the other starters, so the Knicks have some limited optionality here.
Johnson scores more efficiently in the flow of the offense than isolated, so any hampering Anunoby can do to make catches tougher, get him in the wrong position, and make life physical will be huge. Getting Johnson to fall into the 2021 Julius Randle hole of getting trapped and struggling to find flow in a debut postseason is the ideal scenario.
Atlanta will have some hot performances from non-headlining names, too. Kuminga has been a solid addition and Corey Kispert/Buddy Hield could see some minutes thanks to their knockdown shooting.
The Knicks can and should win this series defensively, but it will take a full effort, all-around performances, and a strong coaching job out of Brown, who’s going up against the formidable Quin Snyder.
Some other things to watch out for: going under Alexander-Walker screens to make him beat you with pull-up threes (33 percent clip this season), putting Towns on Daniels, and going to the Towns-Robinson lineup much more to dominate the paint and glass.
It’s no doubt going to be a grueling and challenging march through the playoffs for the Knicks, and this first round matchup offers no warmup. Still, the Hawks are at a talent and experience deficit that will be tough to overcome.
We still have the playoffs and the parade coming up next. Bring it on!
Mike Breen: "1st time ever…entire playoffs exclusive to national TV…poor decision…fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least 1st round…part of the family. I get networks pay a fortune…but fans deserve to be thrown a bone…This is our final telecast of the season" pic.twitter.com/knsUysK261
“This is the first time ever that no longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round. The entire playoffs exclusive to the national TV partners. … I personally think it’s a poor decision. Fans want to hear their team’s announce team, at least 1st round, because for so many of us, … the home team announcers become part of the family. … I get it. The networks pay a fortune for exclusivity … But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while. This is our final telecast of the season.”
“I didn’t ask that question because we’re not in that position, but they say he’s day-to-day, which to me means he’s fine. I would assume he’s fine, but we [didn’t] even need to think about it so I didn’t check on it.”
On evaluating the regular season:
“I wish I could have figured some things out a little sooner than what I did. But we’ve had some — more ups than downs. You want to win your conference, you want to end up with the best record. So those two areas are disappointing. You’re out there trying to compete every night, no matter who you play. And so winning the [NBA Cup In-Season Tournament] was nice because our guys competed at a level when things were manufactured to mean more with those games. And then, going into the playoffs, we feel pretty good where we are offensively and defensively as a group. Feel connected.”
On waiting to learn the playoff opponent:
“Just wait until it’s over. At the end of the day, I’m sure somehow, some way, I might be told it. But at the end of the day, I’m a firm believer that trying to ask for this opponent or that opponent is not good for you, when you mess with the basketball gods. So whatever happens, happens.”
On scouting potential opponents:
“Our staff has been fantastic all year. We’ve had guys assigned to that stuff already, on both sides of the ball. Our two advanced scouts have been doing a good job taking care of it, too.”
On team standards and accountability:
“The things that you set as your standard are the things that I brought to the table. While I’m trying to hold people accountable, people are holding me accountable, too.”
On playing Mikal Bridges to preserve his streak:
“The streak that he has going is amazing and I definitely don’t want to be the one to screw that up. It’s crazy because load management is a real thing. And that’s something that’s thought of by everybody. Not just the medical performance group — by coaches, by individual players, by agents, by family members — people push to take time off for whatever reason. So for a guy like that to be at the number that he’s at in consecutive games played speaks volumes.”
On managing Bridges’ streak carefully:
“I’m sure he’s probably cool with [playing a few seconds to keep the streak alive] but at the end of the day, that’s definitely led by me. It’s a streak that he has going on, and I want it to continue, but in the same breath, I also don’t want him to get hurt or anything like that, so we’re gonna try to be as smart about it as best we can.”
On the Hawks as a playoff opponent and the overall playoff field:
“Atlanta’s a good team. They’re a good team. Everybody’s good. Everyone is going to pose challenges. I don’t know who we’re gonna play, but we’re gonna face different challenges from everybody because everybody is special at this time.”
On team belief entering the postseason:
“Going into the playoffs, we feel pretty good where we are offensively and defensively as a group. We feel connected. I feel like everybody on the team has sacrificed in one way, shape or form. You need that from your group in order to have some success. Our guys compete, and like I said, at this point in the season, I feel like the guys really believe, not just in what we’re trying to do, but in each other.”
On Miles McBride’s performance:
“He looked good. It was good to see him just go play free and take any shot he wanted and be aggressive … It was good to see the ball go in a few times.”
On the season’s resilience:
“Like most teams, you go through a lot of ups and you go through and it can get tough. And there can be plenty of opportunities for individuals which can turn into a collective group of guys to quit, throw in the towel any time. Any time we face a little bit of adversity our guys try to handle it the right way. I really like their resiliency and I like their openness to trying different things or new things. Because we’ve done some things differently here than what they’re probably used to when they had a successful run doing the things that they were doing in the past.”
“For the people that’s paying attention, I just want to try and play everyday. It’s who I am. It’s who I’ve always been. I don’t really look at [the all-time list] but I guess it’d be cool one day. Hopefully, I have kids one day and maybe brag about that.”
On the Hawks matchup:
“They play very hard and very fast and have a lot of good basketball players.”
“They’re a great team. I’m looking forward to the matchup. They are a team that defends really well. They’ve got guys who can go get a bucket on the offensive end, but their team defense is really something challenging. So, it’s going to be an exciting playoff series.”
On his return performance:
“Just being back out there healthy, playing with the guys, it was a great team win – I just wanted to go out and give it my all, really ramp my intensity up and get ready for this run.”
On his health:
“I’m solid. Being out for some long, just getting my wind back. Dealing with the residual pain of the surgery isn’t fun but it’s part of the journey – just trying to do everything I can to help the team win.”
“We didn’t pay any attention to that. It’s just what they wanted to do.”
On the Hawks roster:
“Just a really good team. They’re led by Nickeil. He’s been playing great all year. They made some trades at the deadline and got CJ McCollum [for Young]. Down the line they are a really good team. So it’s going to be an exciting series.”
On the uncertainty of matchups and prioritizing health in the regular-season finale:
“Right now, I think we’re excited to be in this situation. Whoever we play is gonna be really good. It’s hard to even try to figure that out. It’s possible that certain teams wanna play us. The primary thing is for us to be healthy going into the postseason. That’s been the one thing that has been consistent the last few weeks and months — you don’t know what’s gonna happen. It’s hard to predict all these games, they’re all going on. Wherever it falls is where it falls, and we’ll prepare for the playoffs, regardless of who that is.”
Apr 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown (11) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
In a final tuneup before the playoffs, the Spurs took to the court and walked away relatively healthy (I’m looking at you, Dylan Harper’s thumb), which is all that matters. De’Aaron Fox led the team with 24 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Keldon Johnson contributed 18 points with 6 rebounds in the loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Stephon Castle seems ready for the playoffs to begin, but judging from this half court pass to Carter Bryant, he’s ready for the NFL draft as well.
Here’s a different angle of that pass: the recipient, Carter Bryant, put on an absolute aerial display on Sunday. This flying rookie made the most of his impactful minutes, scoring 13 points and recording 5 boards, 5 assists, and 3 blocks (more on that later).
This version of the Spurs’ inaugural playoff debut will be a memorable one for players like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, but it will also be extra special for longtime Spurs like Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell who trudged through some dry years.
Devin Vassell, here, was reaping what the Spurs’ defense sowed. As mentioned before along with Keldon Johnson, Spurs fans could not be happier for the two longest tenured Spurs about to embark on their first playoff series.
As cool as the other side of the pillow (RIP Stuart Scott) . . . De’Aaron Fox smoothly and (just) casually drains this long-range bomb all the way from the west side of SA.
I promised you more Carter Bryant, and by golly gillicky willickers, you’re going to get more Carter Bryant. In this frame, the best basketball player in the world was channeling his best Dante from “Clerks,” thinking to himself, “I wasn’t even supposed to be here today! Stupid 65-game rule” while trying to block the energetic rookie barrelling down the lane.
If both the Spurs and Nuggets advance out of the first round, they will meet in the second round so personally I hope the 3-time MVP has a short memory or will conveniently be busy thinking of his prized horses rather than having an ax to grind with CB.
Well folks, we made it. This chapter of the regular season finally closed, and after a brief drought, our favorite basketball team is headed back to the playoffs. I wanted to thank J.R. Wilco for giving me another year to wax on about the San Antonio Spurs. I first started writing for Pounding the Rock in the fall of 2018, which means that was also the last time the Spurs made the playoffs. It’s been some lean years, but all worth it to see this team rebuilt from the ground up, brick by brick—or rather, rock by rock. Go Spurs Go!
If you missed the game because you were too busy getting “Memorial Day Miracle” tattooed across your back next to Sean Elliott’s face also inked across your back, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs host the first round of the playoffs against the (to be determined) at the Frost Bank Center on Sunday, April 18, 2026!
Is the whole “gap year” narrative surrounding the Boston Celtics a bit overblown? Perhaps. But there’s a reason why national and local media alike predicted a steep drop-off for the C’s this season.
Boston lost a total of 8,749 minutes and 4,415 points — 46 percent of its total scoring output — from its 2024-25 squad over the offseason. Its best player, Jayson Tatum, was sidelined due to a ruptured Achilles, while four core contributors — Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Luke Kornet — departed via trade or free agency, replaced by the likes of Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Josh Minott and rookie Hugo Gonzalez.
And yet… Joe Mazzulla’s squad hardly missed a step. The 2025-26 Celtics enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — the same seed as last year — and their 56-26 regular-season record was just five wins off last season’s pace of 61-21.
That’s a remarkable achievement, especially when you consider Tatum played in just 16 games after making his season debut on March 6. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens also traded away four players ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February — Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman Sr. — leaving the Celtics to lean more heavily on Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser while giving expanded roles to young players such as Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh.
Despite all that turnover, the results were impressively similar. Here’s a look at where the 2025-26 Celtics finished in multiple team stat categories, and how they compared to the 2024-25 squad:
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This year’s Celtics maintained the same elite scoring defense — 107.2 points per game allowed — despite losing four excellent defenders in Porzingis, Holiday, Horford and Kornet. They increased their rebounding output from last season, shot better from the floor and posted a better offensive rating than the 2024-25 team.
Interestingly, the most notable difference between the two squads is the drop-off in 3-point attempts — the C’s attempted 6.1 fewer 3-pointers this season than last season, as Brown led the league in 2-point attempts per game (23.6) while making a concerted effort to get to the basket.
Brown was instrumental in keeping the Celtics humming this season despite the talent drain. He averaged career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (5.1) per game while posting a 35.1 percent usage rate that ranked second in the NBA behind only Luka Doncic (minimum 50 games played).
But make no mistake: The success of the 2025-26 C’s was a full team effort.
Case in point: Eight different players averaged career highs in at least four major stat categories. The full list: Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh.
You could argue career highs are expected for regulars like Brown, Pritchard and White, who saw upticks in usage to fill the void of lost talent. But few could have predictedthe majority of the roster rising to the challenge — especially Queta, who doubled his scoring and rebounding outputs from last season while making a legitimate case for the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Of course, the Celtics aren’t chasing regular-season stat improvements. Their goal is to have a different playoff outcome than last spring, when they fell to the New York Knicks in the second round after Tatum’s devastating injury.
With Tatum now back in the fold and several players operating at the highest level of their careers, the 2025-26 Celtics have a golden opportunity to one-up last season’s squad in the only stat category that matters: playoff wins.
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 19: Providence Friars guard Stefan Vaaks (7) reacts to a missed shot during a game between the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Providence Friars on January 19, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was one of the most memorable Illinois seasons in recent memory. But with the offseason already in full swing, what’s next?
Scholarship-wise, each team is allowed up to 15 scholarships. Three scholarships will become available following the departure of graduating seniors Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, and AJ Redd.
Keaton Wagler’s exit to the NBA adds another. Wagler, after a slow start, became a key part of Illinois’ success. He led the Illini in scoring with 17.9 points per game and 4.2 assists. Those numbers will be hard to replace. And when you add Kylan and Ben’s numbers, you get 36.0 PPG (44%) and 8 APG (57%). That is a lot of stats to replace offensively and defensively. Kylan was a shutdown defender, and Ben was much improved over last season. Wagler was improving defensively every game.
With Mihailo Petrovic and midseason signee Toni Bilic entering the transfer portal, it’s pretty clear where Brad Underwood & Co. need to build.
So what is left?
From the starters, Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivišić, and David Mirković are expected back. Off the bench, Zvonimir Ivišić, Andrej Stojaković, Brandon Lee, and Blake Fagbemi return, with Ty Rodgers and Jason Jakstys coming off injury-plagued seasons. That’s a solid core—assuming all remain in Champaign.
One intriguing possibility is Naz Rankin, the 5-foot-10, 161‑pound Morgan Park standout who averaged 23.2 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals. Rankin signed with Illinois football as a wide receiver but has expressed interest in playing basketball as well.
Incoming help
Recruits
The Illini have four high school signees for the 2026-27 season. Let’s start with a pair of 4-star prospects.
Quintin Coleman, 4-star, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, from the Principle High School in St. Louis. He is ranked between 34th and 38th nationally. The Illini recruited Coleman earlier, but he committed to Wake Forest. He recently de-committed from the Demon Deacons and signed with Illinois. Coleman possesses a very smooth, effortless jumper from any range (shooting 39% in his EYBL league). He also has good ball skills and is a strong perimeter rebounder.
Lucas Morillo, 4-star, 6-foot-7, 180 pounds, Shooting Guard from the Newman School, Boston. Ranked 59th nationally and No. 2 in the state of Massachusetts. 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists as a junior last season (2024-25). He is more of a scoring guard than a shooting guard. Like our current backcourt group, Morillo can drive and slash with the best of them. But his jump shot is suspect and needs improvement in range. He is an excellent defender and perimeter rebounder.
3-Star Recruits
Eathan Brown 3-star 6-foot-4 185 pounds, Combo Guard from Rolla Sr. High School, Rolla, MO. Ranked as 117th nationally and 8th in the state of Missouri, a two-time all-state selection. As a junior, he became the all-time leading scorer in Rolla Sr. High history. He averaged 22.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 3.8 steals last season. He played for the Gateway Knights in the New Balance P32 League. He averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds, three assists, and 2.2 steals. For that effort, he earned the 17U MVP. Like Keaton Wagler, some say he could be underrated. He has, as Underwood likes to say, great positional size and could see rotation at the guard spot.
Landon Davis 2-star 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, Power Forward from Waukee Northwest, Waukee, IA. Ranked 227 nationally, 247 Sports has him as the 38th-best power forward in the country. He averaged 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 2.9 assists. He could use a little time with “Body by Fletch,” but he has the skills and basketball IQ to excel at the next level.
And they may not be done.
The Illini is said to still be pursuing Zavier Zens, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound power forward from Wisconsin Lutheran in Milwaukee. He was named 2026 Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin. Zens has offers from Wisconsin and Utah State. Zen averaged 23.6 PPG and 5.4 RPG and recently de-committed from Northern Iowa.
So that still leaves 4 open scholarships (for now).
Transfers
Underwood has secured one transfer so far: Stefan Vaaks from Providence. He is a 6-foo-7, 200-pound shooting guard. Vaaks averaged 15.8 PPG, shooting 40.3% from the floor and 35% from 3-point range, 3.2 APG, and 2.5 RPG. Vaaks is from Tabasalu, Estonia, and played in the Latvia-Estonia pro league before going to Providence.
Other targets of interest are:
John Blackwell from Wisconsin. Blackwell is the son of former Illini Glynn Blackwell. Blackwell averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG, and earned All-Big Ten honors.
Another option could be Kylan Boswell’s former Arizona teammate, KJ Lewis. Offense isn’t the draw here; although his offensive numbers are not bad, 14.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG. It is his defense, averaging 2.1 steals per game and 3.5 defensive box score, playing for Georgetown this past season. Boswell’s defensive numbers are 0.7 seals and a 3.1 defensive box score.
As for any further defections, if the Illini land another point guard, I think very real possibility that Brandon Lee could look for another team. Right now, the Illini still have room to add, so anything can happen.
Knicks fans will be missing Mike Breen and Clyde Frazier in their opening-round playoff series against the Hawks.
For the first time ever, the NBA is pushing all local network broadcasts out of the playoffs in favor of the national television networks, which paid a hefty price for the rights to air the playoff product.
In past years, the first round of the playoffs would air on the local channels with the home broadcast team locally, while also offering a national broadcast to out-of-market fans.
Mike Breen, who is the Knicks’ play-by-play voice and also the lead commentator for ESPN, crushed the decision on the final day of the Knicks’ regular season.
Mike Breen: "1st time ever…entire playoffs exclusive to national TV…poor decision…fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least 1st round…part of the family. I get networks pay a fortune…but fans deserve to be thrown a bone…This is our final telecast of the season" pic.twitter.com/knsUysK261
“First time ever that no longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round,” Breen said on the MSG broadcast during the Knicks’ 110-96 loss to the Hornets in which they sat most of their starters.
“The entire playoffs are exclusive to national TV broadcasters. I mentioned this earlier this season. I think personally, Clyde, it’s a poor decision. Fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least in the first round. For so many of us, they become part of the family. I get it. The networks pay a fortune for exclusivity, and I work for one of the networks, but fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while in terms of letting the home team have a little bit of the first round.”
The NBA’s new TV deal started this season, where they agreed to a $76 billion broadcast rights deal, which separated the product across multiple platforms to broadcast the league over the next 11 seasons.
Breen thought “throwing the fans a bone” should have been a priority even after commissioner Adam Silver and the league were able to successfully negotiate massive rights deals with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon.
Adam Silver and the NBA reached an obscene broadcast deal that began this year. NBAE via Getty Images
Breen would like the league and its streaming partners to work out a deal to let the local broadcasters step back in, but recognized that it’s unlikely.
“Somehow, if there’s any way they can work out some kind of compromise, I’m not hopeful for that, but it would be wonderful to have it because this is our final telecast of the season,” Breen said.
Mike Breen and Walt Frazier pose for a photo before their final game of the season together between the New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets. NBAE via Getty Images
Breen has talked about this a few times while on MSG airwaves, as the Knicks hope for a lengthy playoff run after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
The league has found itself in a difficult place on a number of issues recently.
Between tanking concerns and the season being too long, some pundits have been clamoring for a shorter season.
However, broadcast partners would surely be furious about losing inventory.
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 2: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns, Sion James #4 and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets pose for a photo after the game on April 2, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The regular season ended for the NBA on Sunday night, and for Duke rookies, it marked the end of a remarkable season.
Phoenix Sun Khaman Maluach finished on a high note, with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks.
Cleveland Cavalier Tyrese Proctor was close to a triple-double, with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
In New York, Sion James wrapped up the regular season with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Kon Knueppel finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He also finished the season with 273 three-pointers, the first time a rookie has ever led the NBA, but just barely: Charlotte teammate LaMelo Ball finished with 272.
Meanwhile, for Dallas, Cooper Flagg’s spectacular first season came to a premature end. He played just 10 minutes before he sprained an ankle. However, he left the game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist.
Which brings us back to perhaps the most interesting story of the NBA season: the riveting battle for Rookie of the Year between Flagg and Knueppel.
It’s really too close to call, isn’t it? In this video, Doc Rivers argues that if you go by the numbers, Flagg should get it, but if you go by the impact on his team, Knueppel should.
We’ve suggested this too. His impact on the Hornets has been amazing.
So how do you resolve this? We don’t know, but we do know this: Flagg would give Knueppel the trophy in a heartbeat if the Mavericks were still playing like the Hornets will be.
There’s only one way for this to end: Co-Rookies of the Year. Nothing else would be fair.
Apr 12, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Ron Harper Jr (13) and Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) celebrate during the second half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
BOSTON — Technically, John Tonje has played in many a high-profile game at TD Garden. In a way, he’s actually been doing so for years.
That’s because since he was a little kid in Nebraska, Tonje has set nearly all of his NBA 2K games at TD Garden, his favorite arena in the arena.
“I always play here [on 2k],“ Tonje told CelticsBlog on Sunday. ”I love playing here. Growing up, my favorite arena was always TD Garden. I just love it.”
Tonje made his official (non-video game) TD Garden debut in late February, playing five fourth-quarter minutes in a blowout Celtics win.
But after the Celtics secured the No. 2 seed on Friday, Tonje knew he might have a chance to live out that dream in full, to play rotation minutes, to make an NBA basket. The Celtics ruled out 8 players ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Orlando Magic. And, Tonje knew that he very well could have the chance to play in front of a crowd that had almost become mythical.
“I woke up today knowing that I’m gonna have an opportunity to come out here and play and do what I love to do,” Tonje said, “and play in an arena like this.”
That he did.
The 24-year-old played a whopping 30 minutes in the arena of his dreams, and tallied 13 points — and his first NBA bucket — en route to an improbable 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic. And, he did it with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, Payton Pritchard, and Hugo Gonzalez all sidelined.
“Hitting my first field goal, that was huge,” Tonje said, noting that his only two NBA career points came at the free throw line. “To see that actual field goal go down, which was a three in the corner, it was great to see. And I was, like, ‘Okay, this is real.’”
Tonje was one of only eight Celtics available to play on Sunday. Of them, three (Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Tonje) were late 2025 second-round draft picks. Three (Jordan Walsh, Dalano Banton, and Luka Garza) were second-round draft picks from years before. One (Ron Harper Jr.) was undrafted. Baylor Scheierman, the No. 30 pick in 2024, was the only former first-rounder available to play.
That didn’t stop the Celtics from pulling off what, on the outside, appeared to be one of the improbable wins of the NBA season.
“We expected to go out there and compete and win the game,” Scheierman said. “I know going into the game, that was our expectation.”
Here’s how they did it.
Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman set the tone for Game 82
Luka Garza was the head of the snake when the Celtics took the parquet on Sunday evening, running onto the court first for warm-ups, with Scheierman, Walsh, Harper Jr, Shulga, Williams, and Banton all trailing behind him.
Garza had been awaiting this opportunity, too. The 27-year-old had plenty more NBA experience than a rookie like Tonje, but he did not take for granted the chance to have more extended minutes than he’s had all year. And, he took advantage, setting a career-high in scoring (27 points) and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds in a season-high 38 minutes.
And, before tip-off, Garza made a point of instilling confidence in his teammates.
“Luka said it before the game, huddled up, ‘This is for all the times that we’re on the bench, all the times we want an opportunity, we have a chance to go out there and show it,’” said Harper Jr.
The message resonated. During layup lines, the available Celtics laughed as they realized just how short-handed they appeared.
“There was probably, on the outside, a lot of unknowns about what was going to happen looking at the lineup,” Scheierman said. “And we were even joking in the locker room, coming out in layup lines and looking at each other, like, ‘We got seven people out here?’”
But, the grittiness that has been on display all season was evident from the opening jump.
A mere eight seconds into the game, Scheierman drew an offensive foul. On the next possession, Garza hit his first three-pointer of the night. By the end of the first quarter, the Celtics trailed by 9 points — but it was clear they came ready for battle. Harper Jr., who poured in 12 of the team’s 20 first-quarter points, was particularly aggressive from the jump.
“We definitely didn’t go into this game thinking this is like David vs. Goliath, thinking we’re like ultimate underdogs,” Harper Jr. said. “We came into the game expecting to compete, and expecting to win.”
And, to onlookers, nothing on the Celtics’ side seemed to indicate they were overwhelmed or intimidated by the lineup on the other side, a group of proven Magic players that included Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs. To make things all the more wild, the Magic were vying for Play-In positioning, hoping to secure home-court advantage in Wednesday’s Play-In game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
But if someone were to turn on the game, they’d never guess that the Celtics were the ones with nothing substantive on the line.
“We said it all year, 1 to 15, whoever steps on the floor, there’s an expectation to put us in position with the opportunity to win,” said Joe Mazzulla. “Stick to the process of winning; today is no different than the other 81 games.”
The tides drastically turned in the third quarter, when the Celtics outscored the Magic 42-20 and built a double-digit lead. Scheierman hit stepback threes like he was James Harden en route to a 30-point, 7-assist, 7-rebound career night.
After each bucket, the TD Garden crowd exploded as though it were a playoff game.
“I thought the crowd was tremendous for us tonight,” Mazzulla said. “I think they helped us get our third-quarter run, and I think they kept us in it. The great thing about our fans is, 1) they’re smart – they know good basketball, 2) they care about winning. They care about playing the right way. That’s what they want to see.”
The game was tied with 35 seconds to go when Garza hit the go-ahead three-pointer with a hand in his face.
“I was like, ‘Yeet,’” Scheierman said, laughing. “We wanted to get him a three. That’s not necessarily how we had it drawn up to get there. But yeah, chicken.”
That improbable shot capped off an improbable night that capped off an improbable season.
“It was so awesome,” Garza said. “Seeing it go in, just feeling the crowd too. It was definitely a top moment for me.”
Nearly everyone on the Celtics’ bench jumped to their feet, rejoicing the clutch basket. Tonje said the presence of the sidelined Celtics was particularly energizing.
“It meant everything to see D-White, JT, all the older guys come up, and meet us at half court and dap us up and just give us energy,” he said. “It was so, so great.”
In the background was the reality that Sunday also doubled as the Celtics’ Fan Appreciation Day. Before the game, Jordan Walsh thanked Celtics fans for being the best fans in all of sports.
Jordan Walsh addresses Celtics fans on the last game of the season:
“On behalf of the organization, I want to thank you all for being the best fans in sports.” pic.twitter.com/OsV0CAwRyY
“That’s what makes Boston, in general, just super special — the support we get,” he said. “You could have seen the injury report last night that said a bunch of people were going to be out, and people could have just not shown up, knowing people weren’t going to play. But the Garden was packed, and it was rocking like it was a must-win game for us. And so I think that’s super special, and we got to give a lot of credit to our fans for coming through and creating that type of atmosphere.”
On Sunday night, Ron Harper Jr’s dreams were validated
Ron Harper Jr, who began the year with a training camp contract and not even the promise of a two-way, reflected on his journey after a 27-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist, and 3-steals night that just so happened to coincide with his 26th birthday.
Harper Jr. had been through it all.
He went undrafted in 2021.
He bounced around the league on four different two-way contracts.
He tore his labrum in 2023.
He was waived after the Celtics’ training camp in 2024.
But he opted to return to Boston for a second chance at Celtics training camp in 2025, a decision he hoped would pay off, and one he made in large part due to just how much he took away from his first training camp in Boston.
“It was a little bit of a gamble,” Harper Jr said. “But even last year, when I got waived off of the Exhibit-10, and I was in the G League, it was never any hard feelings. I felt like I learned a lot that training camp, being around a team that had just won a championship, those experiences, it’s unmatched. You see how those guys grind, see how they play the game. You see how they work out. You see how they approach the day-to-day. It’s just something I try to take with me throughout my journey.”
Asked Ron Harper how much he felt like taking the training camp deal in Boston was a gamble, and when he realized it was rewarding:
“It was a little bit of a gamble. But even last year, when I got waived off of the Exhibit-10 and I was in the gym, it was never any hard… pic.twitter.com/iK5m77OxDg
“The whole year has been rewarding,” Harper Jr. “I had a great stay in Maine when I was there, won Player of the Month, me and my teammates were able to compete in the showcase tournament in Orlando. That was a great experience.“
In February, Harper Jr. started his first-ever NBA game, and the Celtics blew out the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back. He was tasked with guarding Kevin Durant, and he, somehow, outplayed the Hall of Famer. It was that moment that reiterated to him that a second training camp with Boston was the right call.
“The most rewarding moment was probably when I started the first game,” he said. “That’s something that I dreamed of for a while. Thinking about where I came from and how the year was looking, I definitely didn’t think this would be the year where I start a game.”
Since that first start, Harper Jr. has had several standout moments. There was a 22-point outburrst against his brother, Dylan, in a game vs San Antonio. There was a big first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets last month.
And, there was Sunday’s career-night, a 27 point outing in which Harper Jr. was the guy spearheading the offense.
His two-way contract was converted to a standard deal earlier in April. It was a moment that was special for Joe Mazzulla, too.
“It really starts with him,” Mazzulla said. “He’s done a lot for us, especially this season — playing in Maine, playing in the Stay Ready games, playing in NBA games, being ready. He’s a competitive guy. It’s a testament to who he is, so I’m really happy for him.”
“I’m just really grateful to be in the situation,” Harper Jr said.
For John Tonje, the quiet work came to fruition
Before Sunday, Tonje had played a total of 12 NBA minutes in his rookie season. Joe Mazzulla said the behind-the-scenes work with the team’s player development staff is what prepared him.
“He hasn’t played in an NBA game — he’s played in Stay Ready games. He’s played in optional shoots,” Mazzulla said. “He’s gone through reads – it’s the exact same thing. All those things are just as important.”
Asked Joe Mazzulla about John Tonje, who had never played meaningful NBA minutes before tonight:
“He’s played in Stay Ready games. He’s played in options shoots.”
“The coaching staff does an amazing job just trying to get us better, put us in situations that we’ll see in the games,” Tonje said. “And I think those Stay Ready games are there to prepare us for moments like this, and just – hats off to the coaching staff.”
Tonje especially credited his player development coach, Nana Foulland, for preparing him mentally.
“He’s been great,” he said. “He’s tough on me, which is what I need. And, he doesn’t always have the sweetest things to say, which is great. He’s helping me get better.”
Still, there’s no way to truly emulate the environment of playing at a packed TD Garden.
“I’d be lying if I said it and didn’t feel different,” he said with a smile.
TD Garden was as loud as it’s been all year — as loud as it was in Tonje’s video games growing up.
“I know that a lot of those guys who haven’t got a lot of opportunity, they’re super grateful for that, that they got an opportunity to play in that type of environment,” Baylor Scheierman said.
Garza, Harper, and Scheierman led the way, but they didn’t do it alone. Dalano Banton, who was on a Ten-Day contract with the Celtics in February, was signed to the Celtics’ 15th roster spot on Saturday, and laced up a day later. He tallied 7 assists and 4 blocks in 36 minutes in the win.
Jordan Walsh posted 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, and a steal. Max Shulga earned his first career NBA start, finishing with 3 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes. And, Amari Williams played 9 minutes off the bench.
None of it surprised Mazzulla, who has stressed all year that every single player on the roster could impact winning.
“It’s a validation of what we’ve been talking about,” Mazzulla said, crediting the team’s player development staff for putting players in this position. “And the most important thing is our guys, it’s very easy if you’re constantly in an optional shoot or playing in a Stay Ready game, you can see as if your job is meaningless, but they have to stay ready, because any moment, as soon as they step on the floor, you’re held to the same standard. And I think that’s what guys who are on the court today are looking for. And so it’s more of a validation to the staff, but really to the locker room. And they care about winning. They care about playing great.”
As the final buzzer sounded, the veterans rejoiced, dapping up nearly every player on the roster.
Jaylen Brown walked through the tunnel in disbelief, and almost immediately turned to social to media to Tweet: “I love this team.”
Players signed as many autographs as they could. A John Tonje signature had never held more weight at TD Garden.
The page will now turn. The Celtics will begin a week of practice ahead of Sunday’s playoff game, where the stakes will be higher than they’ve been all year. Players like Tonje, Williams, Shulga and Banton might not lace up for meaningful minutes all spring.
Regardless of what happens next, one thing is certain: Game 82 captured the magic of the 2025-2026 Celtics — a team that came into the year with minimal external expectations and turned into a championship contender.
Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
As Kyle wrote in the preview, this game had legitimate stakes—a win for the Philadelphia 76ers (and other results) could have them move up to sixth place and avoid the play-in game(s), but a loss could have them in the 9-10 game against the Miami Heat. For the first half, the Bucks handled this well, taking a four-point lead into the main break. But a dismal third quarter put the game beyond reach, and the Bucks closed out their 2025-26 season, fittingly, with a loss. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
The improved Sims continued to show confidence in his new skillset, especially when creating for others. He found AJ Green with an absolute dime on a backdoor cut in the first half. Then, on the next possession, found Taurean Prince for a kick-out corner three. He also continued his ascension catching and finishing in traffic, especially as the game wore on.
Dieng’s been thrown into the fire as the Bucks’ primary (only?) ball handler to end the season. Last night, it led to some ugly turnovers but, generally, he looked comfortable in the role. As Wes Matthews noted, he’s a “real complete player and [has] so much room to get better.” Next year, where he can be used as a more natural secondary ball handler, he certainly will be.
The quest was clear from the start—get the Bucks’ three-point record—but Green didn’t take any bad shots getting there. If anything, it spoke to what should’ve been all season, especially after all the talk preseason about the Bucks upping their three-point volume. However, after a long campaign, Green’s legs failed him in the second half, with many of his attempts falling short. Still, it was a night to remember.
Ryan again looked more than comfortable in NBA action, playing freely and purposefully. He showed he’s got hops too, with a come-from-nowhere put-back dunk off a missed Andre Jackson Jr. free throw that had the bench hyped. Perhaps most impressive, however, was Ryan’s ability to find points in the paint via crafty finishes at the rim, floaters, or short turnarounds. He also hit the boards well, leading to a career-first double-double. Ryan’s got game and will get a chance to showcase it again next season.
A-Jax had a monster jam in transition in the first quarter and generally played like a wound-up Energizer bunny. But, as is often the case with A-Jax, there’s a lot of action for little difference. I’d be surprised to see him back in Milwaukee next season.
Thanasis was active—as always—early, recording a stat in each of the major categories in the first quarter. In the second, he showed off a sneaky floater and had a filthy spin off a fake handoff that almost ended in a poster dunk. The six assists were a nice surprise too.
Grade: C+
Doc Rivers
In his final game as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Rivers led the team to a halftime lead against a 76ers team with stakes on the line. The third quarter was ugly, but with so few players at his disposal, there’s not much he could have done about that. Whether by choice or lack of options, Rivers continued to put the ball in Dieng’s hands, expand Sims’ game, and provide opportunities to Ryan, all moves that could (and should) help the Bucks moving forward. For those, he gets credit.
Grade: B
Garbage Time: Alex Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Gary Trent Jr., Pete Nance, Gary Harris.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Prior to the game, Rivers couldn’t help but take a jab at ex-player Joel Embiid: “It’s that time of year, right? Appendicitis. I mean, you can’t make it up. You really can’t.”
Green’s third three of the first quarter put him ahead of Ray Allen as the Bucks’ all-time record holder for three-pointers made in a single season (230). What an achievement for the Iowa native who went from being undrafted in 2022, to landing a two-way contract, and then signing long-term prior to the season.
The Bucks’ ball movement continued to impress early—nine assists on 11 made field goals in the first quarter. At the half, they had 17 on 22, while at three-quarter time, they had 20 on 28. They ended the game with 26 helpers on 39 made field goals.
Green had double-digit three-point attempts just 13 times across the Bucks’ first 75 games. Over the final seven, he had four.
After going for 63 points against the Nets, Green and Ryan combined for 34 in the first half. The burden clearly took its toll, though, as they combined for only seven points in the second half.
The Bucks struggled in the third quarter, going 1-15 from three, while the 76ers shot 6/11 and turned a four-point half time deficit into an 18-point lead.
Ex-Buck MarJon Beauchamp got fourth-quarter minutes, finishing with a free throw and a dunk off an offensive rebound.
The 76ers tried everything they could to get Kyle Lowry a basket—including a past-half-court heave—in what might have been his final NBA game. While he couldn’t hit any of his five attempts, he’s had a stellar career. All the best, Kyle.
With news that he’s departing as head coach, Rivers finishes up sixth all-time with 1,194 career wins. While his Bucks tenure didn’t go as planned, he’s given a heck of a lot to basketball and the NBA. Thanks, Doc.
Up Next
That’s a wrap on the season, folks. The Bucks will be back in action during Summer League in July and then for preseason play sometime in October. In the meantime, we’ll keep you posted with plenty of offseason coverage.
Now that the NBA regular season has come to a close, the big question in Milwaukee is: Has Giannis Antentokounmpo played his last game in a Bucks uniform?
In a 10-minute session with reporters, the two-time league MVP repeated his frequently expressed frustrations with the state of the Bucks franchise, but he also didn't rule out the possibility of signing an extension with the team either.
If they don't trade him this offseason, the Bucks do have the option of signing Antetokounmpo to an extension this fall, something owner Wes Edens did tell ESPN was a possibility last month.
However Antetokounmpo said there's been no movement on that front.
"We'll see when we get there," he said. "But somebody has to offer you that, for you to sign. I haven't been offered an extension. So, if that is on the table, then I will try to make the best decision for me and my family."
Antetokounmpo can be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The 10-time All-Star also expressed frustration with the team not clearing him to play after he suffered a hyperextension of his knee and a bone bruise last month − even though he says he's healthy.
"I don't have control," he said. "(M)y understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play. I did that multiple times ...
"I don't know who said that, who came up with that, but that's disrespectful towards what I've done for this team and the way I carry myself my whole career, pretty much.
Apr 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) goes up to dunk during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
And so ends the regular season! I must admit, a big part of me was hoping that the Spurs would push hard to knock Denver down to the fourth seed; not only because San Antonio would thereby avoid potentially playing them in the second round, but also because it would likely make OKC’s path to the conference finals much harder. Barring a remarkable recovery in health for the Lakers or a sudden resurgence from Minnesota, it’s difficult to imagine the Thunder facing any resistance in making it out of the first two rounds.
Even so, pushing for the win tonight would have represented a serious risk for a Spurs team that has the opportunity to enter the playoffs fully healthy after an amazing overall regular season and a particular stunning post-Allstar run. In short, San Antonio has every reason to believe that their team is capable of beating anyone, so last night’s game was much more about mitigating injury risk than bracket engineering. Whatever the case may be, the Silver and Black did fight hard to end the season, though the outcome felt pretty inevitable throughout. Even so, the box score always has some interesting stories to tell, as I will outline below:
Factors that Decided the Game
One central but comparatively subtle issue in this game was Denver’s significant advantages on the glass, including DRB and ORB margins of +8 and +5, respectively. All else equal, these outcomes produced somewhat more offensive opportunity for the Nuggets
Some of that extra opportunity came at the free throw line (+4 FTA), aided by San Antonio having more (+2) and worse timed fouls. In addition, Denver had a mild but meaningful edge in FT% (+5.05 percentage points). Consequently, they ultimately outscored the Spurs by four from the charity stripe.
San Antonio’s relative shooting inefficiency extended beyond the free throw line to the field in general, as the Nuggets logged FG% and 3P% margins of +4.55 and +4.75 percentage points, respectively. As a result, Denver scored five more baskets. The Spurs countered with a huge edge in three-point attempts (+17), which did help San Antonio earn a 3PM differential of +4. This clawed back some of the lead that the Nuggets had built in other areas, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Rare Box Score Stats
From a team perspective, nothing about this game stands out as being super unusual from the perspective of basic box score stats. The closest thing that comes to mind is Denver’s negative 3PA (-17) and 3PM(-4) margins. Over the last 13 regular seasons, this was just the 142nd contest in which a team won by 10+ with margins as bad or worse in both areas. Probabilistically, this combination happens about once every 120 games, or about 10 times per season (on average).
The most shocking stat to me was part of Jokic’s performance, as this game marked just the 22nd time in his 810 career regular season games that he played 18 minutes and logged no more than ONE assist. Almost all of the other cases were much earlier in his career; in fact, the last instance was in a game against Indiana on January 2, 2020.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
For as long as the NBA has honored me by asking me to be one of the postseason award voters, each year there are a couple of awards that keep me up at night, trying to split hairs between players who all deserve recognition for monster years. For example, Third-Team All-NBA is always brutal. Some years it's the big ones, such as MVP. This year I struggled more with Most Improved Player than other award on the board.
What follows is my official ballot for the NBA's end-of-season awards. [Note, this ballot assumes that the league grants Luka Doncic's challenge and makes him eligible despite having played in 64 games, one short of the league threshold. It would be some frighteningly bad PR for the league to say Doncic is out because he chose to fly to Slovenia for the birth of his child and missed a couple of games — the league is very sensitive to those kinds of image issues.]
NBA Most Valuable Player
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) 2. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) 3. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) 4. Luka Doncic (Lakers) 5. Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
This is an incredibly deep MVP field, and it had the vibe of a real race for a while over the last month, with all four top players playing at their peak and making their case. However, it was never quite that close in my mind — this is a season-long award, and SGA was the most consistent of this group, both in terms of minutes and efficient production. Wemby returned from an injury earlier in the season in time to meet the 65-game threshold, but that same injury put him on a strict minutes limit and even had him coming off the bench in some games. Jokic dipped from his incredible standards for a stretch after his injury. Doncic was out for a critical final push of the season (and likely the first round of the playoffs) with his hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander just kept scoring, kept defending at a level that put him in All-Defense consideration, and was at his best in the clutch, which is why the Thunder have the best record in the NBA.
If the league does not make Doncic eligible, I will move Jaylen Brown up a spot and slide the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard into fifth. Also, if he had played enough games, Cade Cunningham would have been in my top five.
All-NBA Teams
First Team
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) 2. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) 3. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) 4. Luka Doncic (Lakers) 5. Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
Second Team
1. Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) 2. Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers) 3. Tyrese Maxey (76ers) 4. Kevin Durant (Rockets) 5. Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
Third Team
1. Jalen Johnson (Hawks) 2. Chet Holmgren (Thunder) 3. Jamal Murray (Nuggets) 4. Jalen Duren (Pistons) 5. Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
It was painful for me to leave Toronto's Scottie Barnes and Portland's Deni Avdija off this list, both had strong seasons and were central to their team's success (and both teams exceeded expectations). Mr. 83 Bam Adebayo from Miami also merited a long look here.
NBA Rookie of the Year
1. Kon Knueppel (Hornets) 2. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) 3. VJ Edgecombe (76ers)
The betting odds shifted in recent weeks as Cooper Flagg had some monster nights and some talking heads wanted to make this a race — and, to be fair, Flagg was brilliant, would have won the award most years. He will be the best player from this class in a few years. However, Knueppel had the most efficient rookie season in NBA history, played in 10 more games and nearly 200 more minutes, and most importantly, his play lifted his team to the postseason. Knueppel was essential to the Hornets' improvement this season.
I believe the Spurs' Dylan Harper will be the second-best player out of this class in five years, but the award is about this season, and Edgecombe was simply better and more important to his team.
NBA All-Rookie Teams
First Team
1. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) 2. Kon Knueppel (Hornets) 3. VJ Edgecombe (76ers) 4. Dylan Harper (Spurs) 5. Cedric Coward (Grizzlies)
Second Team
1. Ace Bailey (Kings) 2. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Hornets) 3. Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans) 4. Derik Queen (Pelicans) 5. Maxime Raynaud (Kings)
Ace Bailey almost played his way onto the first team for me, and good on the Kings (and Hornets, and Pelicans) for having two players making All-Rookie. Tre Johnson of the Wizards almost made the cut for me, but was just too inefficient. Also, Brooklyn took five guys in the first round and none of them made the cut... ouch.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) 2. Chet Holmgren (Thunder) 3. Ausar Thompson (Pistons)
Not much debate here. Honestly, no real debate about the top two spots on this list in my mind. For the third slot, I went with the best on-ball hawk in the league and a representative of an elite Pistons defense, but Rudy Gobert or Bam Adebayo were also under consideration for that spot.
All-Defensive Teams
First Team
1. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) 2. Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) 3. Chet Holmgren (Thunder) 4. Bam Adebayo (Heat) 5. Ausar Thompson (Pistons)
Second Team
1. Scottie Barnes (Raptors) 2. OG Annunoby (Knicks) 3. Derek White (Celtics) 4. Cason Wallace (Thunder) 5. Dyson Daniels (Hawks)
More than many voters (at least I think), I lean more into guards and wings who defend well for this award rather than just listing seven or eight bigs, even though a good rim protector can change a defense (four of my first team selections are bigs). It was hard to leave off Amen Thompson. Also, it was strange not to vote for Draymond Green — and he has a legit case. The Warriors' defense was top five before the Jimmy Butler injury (and others) crushed their depth, and he was quarterbacking it. He also nearly made my list.
NBA Coach of the Year
1. Joe Mazzulla (Celtics) 2. J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons) 3. Jordan Ott (Suns)
This, to me, is a two-man race, and there is a very good case for Bickerstaff, but I will lean into Mazzula. It's not just because this team was unexpectedly good (remember when this was a "gap" year in Boston?), but also because of the culture he has built and his ability to put in place a system that develops guys like Neemias Queta and turns them into quality rotation players. I think this season he did that better than Bickerstaff. That same logic has me putting in Phoenix's Joran Ott third, just ahead of San Antonio's Mitch Johnson.
This was a very close two-man race for me between Johnson and Jaquez. To me, the difference ultimately was Johnson's locker room leadership in San Antonio, which was a foundational part of allowing this San Antonio team to blossom the way it did. It was a tough call giving Sheppard the third spot over Naz Ried or Tim Hardaway Jr.
This was the hardest choice on the awards list for me this season. There is a tremendous case for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who in his seventh season took on a new and larger role and thrived. Ultimately, I gave my vote to Duren because he showed significant improvement on both ends of the court, not because his situation changed but because he simply got better. His handle got better, his shot creation improved while his turnovers dropped, and he became a high-level paint protector. Then Duren showed real leadership when Cade Cunningham went out at the end of the season, he had the Pistons going 8-3.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles during the second half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on April 08, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the regular season now over, here’s our picks for every NBA award this season.
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic has been the best player in the world for the last five years, but this is the season Gilgeous-Alexander stole that title away from him. It’s excruciating not to give Jokic his fourth MVP after a season where he led the league in both rebounds and assists while scoring just about as well as ever, but it’s a testament to SGA’s level that he’s still ultimately most deserving of the honor. Don’t believe the narrative that Gilgeous-Alexander is simply a free throw merchant (Austin Reaves had a higher free throw rate this year) or that OKC’s success is only about its defense. Switch SGA with even another offensive star like Jalen Brunson, and there would be so many more holes to pick in the Thunder. He was already the best guard alive even before he unleashed a deadly step-back three-pointer this year, which he used to win several games at the buzzer. Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 45.3 points per 100 possession on 66.5 percent true shooting is simply absurd stuff for a 6’6 guy. He’s legitimately one of the best guards the league has seen post-Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry is really the only guard I feel comfortable saying had an objectively higher peak in the time since. SGA crushed Jokic in EPM (+9.3 to Jokic’s +8.0) and estimated wins (+19.1 to +17.1) this year. Some of the other advanced stats slightly favor Jokic or even Wembanyama, but Shai grades out as an elite player in all of them, and the Thunder would have been nowhere close to 64 wins without him, especially in a year where Jalen Williams barely played. Wemby is coming for the Best in the World title next season, but SGA has it for now, along with what should be his second MVP.
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
There’s no need to spend much time on this one. Apologies to Bill Russell, but Wembanyama is already maybe the best defensive player in league history at age-22. With an 8-foot wingspan, incredible speed, and a high motor, he’s going to win this award every year for the foreseeable future as long as he plays enough games. If Wembanyama weren’t eligible this season, I’d go with Chet Holmgren as a distant second choice.
Rookie of the Year: Kon Knueppel
I went longer on this year’s Rookie of the Year race last week, but Knueppel deserves the award over his college teammate Cooper Flagg because he was simply a better and more impactful player this season. Knueppel’s shooting and screening have been elite traits from day one. I’d say he’s been a top-50 player in the entire league as a rookie. Flagg would still go No. 1 in a redraft, but Knueppel has been the NBA’s best rookie this season, and I honestly don’t think it’s all that close.
I considered Joe Mazzula, Jordan Ott, and Charles Lee for this honor, but ultimately Bickerstaff deserves the nod for getting this Pistons team from 14 wins to 44 wins to 60 wins. I felt like Detroit downgraded over the offseason by losing Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley among others, but Bickerstaff got the most out of the defense, developed two-way guard Daniss Jenkins into a key contributor, and found ways to prioritize Jalen Duren offensively as he made a huge leap. Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit for Detroit going 13-5 without Cade Cunningham this season, and he’s the brains behind the league’s No. 2 overall defense. The Pistons’ preseason over/under was only 46.5 wins. No one thought this would be the best team in the East this season, and Bickerstaff’s fingerprints are all over their success. The Monty Williams era seems so long ago at this point, and that might be Bickerstaff’s biggest accomplishment yet.
Clutch Player of the Year: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexnader led the league with 175 points in the clutch this season. Jamal Murray (166) and Nikola Jokic (155) were second and third in that category, but unlike Denver’s star duo, SGA didn’t really have anyone else to take the pressure off him in late-game situations. Chet Holmgren was the only other Thunder player to finish top-100 in clutch points this year by checking in at No. 49. The development of his step-back, like the game-winner against Denver above, is going to make him so much harder to guard in the playoffs.
Most Improved Player: Jalen Duren
There are plenty of worthy candidates for this award, but it still feels like it’s going to come down to Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Duren. I’m going with the Pistons center because I feel like the leap he made this season — going from a pretty good starter to a potential All-NBA nod — is more difficult than the one NAW made. I had Duren at No. 5 on my 2022 draft board, so I always believed he had this type of development in him coming out of Memphis. Duren was the NBA’s youngest player as a rookie, and he was the first guy to enter the league who was born after LeBron’s debut. It’s wild to think he’s still only 22 years old, and he’s younger than several projected first-round picks in the 2026 draft, including Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Haugh, and of course Yaxel Lendeborg. His ability to attack off the dribble just exploded this year, and he also became more efficient from short mid-range, while continuing to crush the glass at both ends. Detroit’s offense scored 122 points per 100 possessions with Duren on the floor this year for more than 1,800 minutes — which would have led the league. When he was off, the team only scored 114.7 points per 100. His free throw improvement from 66.9 percent last year to 74.7 percent this year is also part of the story. Duren’s defense can still get better, and he’s got plenty of time for that. He’s one of the best centers in the league right now, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming before this season started.
NBA All-Defensive Team picks
First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Bam Adebayo, Derrick White, Rudy Gobert
Second team: Scottie Barnes, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, OG Anunoby, Cason Wallace
All-NBA Team picks
First team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell
Second team: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Jalen Duren, LaMelo Ball
Third team: Tyrese Maxey, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Jalen Brunson, Scottie Barnes
Apr 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) limps off the floor during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Mercifully for your Dallas Mavericks, the 82-game grind that is the NBA regular season has come and gone. Just about the only two bits of drama over the last two months of this disaster was whether or not they could lose enough games to earn some lottery balls, and if they could get Cooper Flagg the Rookie of the Year award.
The awards race will have to wait for a bit, although Cooper finds himself as a -160 favorite over Charlotte’s Kon Kneuppel (+125) for Rookie of the Year as the season comes to a close. As for the lottery odds, the Mavericks have done enough to secure the tied for seventh best odds in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. The full standings are as follows.
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, your Mavs have a +1000 shot at landing the number one overall pick. As you can see above, Dallas has a 29% chance at landing in the top four of the draft. If the Mavericks lose the coin flip for seventh, they will have a 33% chance at picking eighth, 31% at picking ninth and 7% at picking tenth or worse. If they win it, they will have a 20% chance of picking seventh, 36% chance at picking eighth, and a 15% chance at picking ninth or worse.
The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10th from Chicago, which overlaps with the NBA Combine (May 8th to the 17th).
Moving on from the losers bracket, there will still be an NBA Champion crowned this summer. The top six seeds in each conference have been set, while seeds seven through ten are set to duke it out in the play in tournament. Here’s how things stand.
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Oklahoma City Thunder (-155) enter the playoffs as the overwhelming favorite to win the West. Next in line are the San Antonio Spurs (+310) and Denver Nuggets (+650).
Out East, the Boston Celtics (+155) enter the postseason as the favorites to represent the conference in the NBA Finals, once again per our good friends over at FanDuel. Not far behind are the Cleveland Cavaliers (+340) and both the Detroit Pistons (+500) and New York Knicks (+500).
Overall, the OKC Thunder (+125) remain heavy favorites to repeat as Champions, per FanDuel. The Spurs (+450) and the Celtics (+550) come in with the next best odds to bring home a title.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Jamaree Bouyea #17 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 12, 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 82 of the season, a game that generally means nothing. It meant something for plenty of teams in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, but everything was already decided for both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns. So there isn’t much to take away from a game like this unless you’re a Suns sicko. That’s what I am. That’s what you are if you’re reading this.
While the second season begins on Tuesday for the Suns, there were still some interesting things to see as the regular season came to a close. Many of the young players who were part of that 25-point second-half debacle against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday were given more opportunity on Sunday against the Thunder. And they took advantage of it.
You might not take much from that performance, but those players will. Their coaches will too. When the season ends and the offseason regimens begin, there are real takeaways from what they showed on Sunday.
On Friday, the youth movement looked disorganized and passive. On Sunday, they looked engaged and aggressive. That’s what I’m taking from the final game. The team, and especially the youth movement, showed some promise, even if it came against the Third Team Thunder. I’ll take 135 points to end the season every time.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
It was a disgusting showing against the Lakers, but not by Oso!
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 82 against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:
