Category: NBA

By Adam King, RotoWire.com

It all comes down to this. The final week of the NBA season. If your fantasy basketball league is still active, projecting any sort of production is almost impossible. Outside of a small pocket of teams, most are now in a position to rest players, be it for one or multiple games. Keeping that in mind, let’s try to find a few sure things to help you win your title.

As we move through what is commonly viewed as silly season, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the NBA fantasy rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles — whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals — is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Ousmane Dieng, Milwaukee Bucks (16% rostered)

From undrafted to making franchise history, as the Phoenix Suns put it, there’s a new member in the Phoenix Suns record books, and it’s Collin Gillespie. Last night, the guard set the franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season, passing a 21-year record that was held by Quentin Richardson when he hit 226 threes in the 2004-2005 season.

Gillespie, 26, has been one of the main reasons the Suns have surpassed their preseason expectations. Starting the season off the bench, he’s started 57 games this year and leads the team in total minutes, and is having his best season in nearly every statistical category. Averaging three triples per game, shooting 41% from long range, he’s not only been efficient from behind the arc, but consistent. His second year on the team, the guard was resigned this offseason after a strong end to his 2024-2025 campaign. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Some of Gillespie’s best shooting games have come when Phoenix’s top scorer, Devin Booker, is out. On February 3rd against the Portland Trailblazers when he hit eight triples as a part of his 30-point, 10-assist double-double, joining Booker and Steve Nash as the only Suns’ to ever perform such a statistical performance with eight threes. When Booker went down early against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 1st, Gillespie had a stellar performance, going for 28 points and hitting eight triples in the process.

It’s been an overall strong and surprising season from the former Villanova guard, but he’s hit a bit of a cold stretch of late. In March, his points per game were the lowest they’ve been since before he was inserted into the starting lineup, and it was his least efficient month both from the field and three, shooting under 40% for both. In his first game of April, he shot 2/7 from the field, 29%. He’s had to deal with a change in his offensive role since Jalen Green and Devin Booker have been fully healthy and back in the lineup. The team has also dealt with a slew of injuries, including to starters Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks.

For the Suns to get out of the play-in tournament and give the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs some trouble in the first round, Gillespie is going to need to get his rhythm back, but for now, the focus is that he put himself in the Phoenix Suns record books. Gillespie has five more games this season to expand his lead as the Suns’ all-time leader in threes made in a season; he can give himself some cushion to make his record last.

Coming off a victory against the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs traveled to the Intuit Dome to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. Victor Wembanyama missed this game due to ankle injury management. Without Wemby, the Spurs went back and forth with the Clippers in the first quarter. After leading by eight, the Spurs outscored the Clippers in the second, 35-19, to give themselves a 24-point cushion heading into halftime. The Spurs’ cushion was provided by lockdown defense and hot shooting. In the third, the shooting went ice cold. The Spurs shot 1-9 from three, and were outscored by LA, 34-19. In the fourth quarter, the Clippers cut the deficit to seven. However, thanks to big shots from Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper, the Spurs’ lead ballooned to as much as 23. The Spurs ultimately won 118-99.

De’Aaron Fox led the way with 22 points (9-13 FG), eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Fox was super efficient from the field and was active in the passing lanes. His steals were comprised of pickpockets, interceptions, and deflections. His points really painted the picture in the fourth quarter. Come playoff time, expect more of this stat line, where the team will need him the most.

BUZZER-BEATER! Fox finds an open Harrison Barnes at the last second for the buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter!

Guard your pockets! Fox pickpockets Kris Dunn and speeds past everyone for a wide-open lane for a jam!

Stephon Castle dropped 20 points (8-15 FG, 3-5 3PT), five assists, and four rebounds. Steph created offense with a mix of tough and-one finishes, dunks, middies, and threes. Despite having five turnovers, he dropped clutch buckets with Fox in the fourth. He drained a corner three, converted an and-one, and had himself a dunk contest. He also had the assignment of guarding Kawhi Leonard, which was not an easy task. Look for Steph to draw the toughest defensive assignment come playoff time.

WHITE CASTLE! Steph finds Luke Kornet on the alley-oop connection early in the first!

Sniping from the Castle! Steph catches and knocks down the open three from the top of the key!

Catch and Shoot + Corner Specialist badges activated! Steph gives the Spurs extra cushion by draining the corner three early in the fourth!

GET BIG! Steph drives in on Darius Garland and muscles through for an and-one finish!

DETONATED! Luke finds a cutting Steph for an open lane, which results in a ferocious slam!

Dylan Harper dropped 19 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3PT), five assists, two rebounds, and a steal. Dyl’s dribble and finishing moves are so polished for a rookie. He made every spin and every finish look easy. He also drained a pair of threes. He earned extra playing time in the fourth due to his play, and it paid off in a big way. He slashed his way to the cup and found open shooters to clinch the game. While he’s earned an All-Rookie selection, there might be a chance he sneaks onto the first team.

Put him in a blender! Dyl goes to work on Nicolas Batum with a crossover spin move for the layup!

WHAT CAN’T HE DO? Dyl catches and drains a running shot from half court to beat the second quarter buzzer!

FLIGHT #2 CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF! Dyl drives past John Collins with a crossover and explodes for a two-handed slam!

DAGGER! Dyl finds an open Keldon Johnson in the corner for the game-clinching three!

Without their best player, the Spurs made this a statement game. Wemby might be an MVP candidate, but this team has loads of talent. For example, the guard trio of Castle, Fox, and Harper showed up and showed out. Every time the ball was in either of their hands, points were going to be generated. The guard play combined with cutters and shooters is already deadly. Just add the 7’5” alien to destroy a team’s defense. The Spurs face a real test this Saturday against a contending Denver squad.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs end their three-game road trip this Saturday when they travel to Ball Arena to take on the Denver Nuggets at 2:00 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video/FDSN-SW.

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The New York Knicks will try to find some consistency ahead of the playoffs as they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

New York is beating bad teams but failing to cover, and I’m taking Chicago with the points tonight in my Bulls vs. Knicks predictions.

Let’s break down this matchup and see all my free NBA picks for Friday, April 3.

Bulls vs Knicks prediction

Bulls vs Knicks best bet: Bulls +15.5 (-110)

The Chicago Bulls may have watched their season go down the drain in recent weeks, but there have been moments when they’ve been able to come through for bettors.

Specifically, they’ve done a good job when they’ve been given a boatload of points, covering in five straight games in which they’ve been underdogs by nine points or more.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are dealing with their own struggles as they look towards the playoffs.

New York has now lost three of its last four outright, and while it continues to score wins against bad teams – the Knicks have won 10 straight games against opponents with losing records – that’s only masking the team’s struggles.

Along with having issues getting wins against quality opposition, the Knicks have now failed to cover in any of their last five games and are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 overall. They’re just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games as a favorite.

While not as dramatic as some other patches of shaky defense, New York has allowed 114.0 ppg over its last six games, well up from the season average of 110.6 ppg.

And it’s still not clear exactly how Karl-Anthony Towns best fits into the offensive system alongside Jalen Brunson, with the Knicks putting up 103 points or less in four of their last seven games.

New York should win tonight – it’s what they do against weaker teams – but there’s no way to have any confidence in a blowout. I’m taking the Bulls to cover the massive spread on offer here.

Bulls vs Knicks same-game parlay

Along with taking the Bulls to cover, I’m also going to target the Over tonight. Chicago has hit the Over in five of its last six games and has played to a total of Over 237.5 points in each of their last six games.

In what should be a high-scoring affair, I also like Tre Jones to hit his points total. The Chicago guard has now scored 15+ points in seven straight games and should continue to get high usage for the Bulls for the rest of the regular season.

Bulls vs Knicks SGP

• Bulls +14.5
• Over 237.5
• Tre Jones Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bulls ball out

For a longshot SGP, let’s roll with Josh Giddey to pick up a triple-double tonight. He’s coming off a March where he put up six triple-doubles and came within 0.6 rebounds per game of averaging one for the month.

I’ll also take Tre Jones to hit the Over on his PRA total, as he’s put up 24+ PRA in six of his last seven games. I’m also taking Matas Buzelis to hit Over 2.5 threes tonight, something he’s done in four of his last six games.

Bulls vs Knicks SGP

• Josh Giddey triple-double
• Tre Jones Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Matas Buzelis Over 2.5 threes made

Bulls vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Chicago +14 (-110) | New York -14 (-110)
• Moneyline: Chicago +650 | New York -1000
• Over/Under: Over 237.5 (-110) | Under 237.5 (-110)

Bulls vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Bulls are 3-0 ATS in their last three games as double-digit underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Knicks.

How to watch Bulls vs Knicks

Bulls vs Knicks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Six games left. That is the total amount of dates before we can set our eyes on a brighter future. 

A few days ago, Brooklyn was belittled by a red hot Charlotte Hornets team that have been enjoying the fruits of its labor. Including their victory against the Nets and their 20 point win against the Phoenix Suns yesterday, the Hornets have won seven of their last nine contests and are one game ahead of the Orlando Magic for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are a few steps away from making their first playoff appearance exactly 10 seasons ago. 

Tonight, the Nets will be taking on a similar opponent who have been red hot in their own right. The Atlanta Hawks, currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, have become one of the league’s most exciting teams after they parted ways with their former star guard in Trae Young. As the Nets look for more advantages to increase their draft odds, this game may be in their favor.

And if you’re wondering — of course you are — the Nets are currently in what is essentially a three-way tie for best odds in the May 10 Lottery. At this point, they are second, a game behind the Wizards, tied with the Pacers for second. They are also a game and a half ahead of the Kings and two and a half ahead of the Jazz.

Where to Watch

Catch the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Injury Report

MPJ (left hamstring strain), Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management), Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain), and Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery) will be out of action. The Nets three two-ways and two 10-days including new hire, Trevon Scott, should be available. This will be their third game in four days, a G League playoff game sandwiched between two NBA contests.

For the Hawks, Jock Landale (ankle) will miss tonight’s game.

The Game

If I’m the Atlanta Hawks, I couldn’t ask for a better situation. 

First, they have not one, but two stars that have taken the rise to become what looks like an epic duo. Jalen Johnson is a matchup nightmare due to the fact that he is a 6’8 point forward who can do everything and fly through the air at the same time. Johnson is currently averaging a near triple double in 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. A couple of months ago, he became the eighth player in league history to record four straight triple doubles.

In the backcourt, Nikeil Alexander-Walker has come to his own in Quinn Snyder’s offense. Averaging 20.6 points, he has taken the point guard duties of this team and made the most of it. Because he is not as ball dominant as Trae Young and he could move without the ball, Alexander-Walker has been able to flourish in this offense, especially with that Alexander-smoothness that he and Shai Gilgeous Alexander both possess. The two are cousins.

Both are great tributes to the Hawks development model. Johnson was drafted at No. 20 by Atlanta. Slowed by injury, he averaged 2.4 points and 5.6 points in his first two years before taking off. Alexander-Walker is more of a mid-career success story. He’s a bit older at 27 and taken a little earlier, at No. 17 (by the Nets who traded his rights to preserve cap space for the Clean Sweep in 2019.)

Secondly, the Hawks match up very well with the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference. With key victories against the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, they have proven they could make some damage in the playoffs. Besides Alexander-Walker and Johnson, the Hawks have a complete team, especially with other newcomers like C.J. McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga. With so many bigger bodies, playing against guards like Jalen Brunson or James Harden could possibly work in their favor as we head into the Spring.

But before we get to that point, let’s see how the Nets can approach this game. The Kings defeated the Raptors a couple of days ago, which makes this race for draft odds that much more closer. 

Player to Watch

Alexander-Walker may not be the success story that Jalen Johnson is, but he may be a better story. NAW, as noted up top, is SGA’s cousin, and now after four teams in seven years, he has found a home. (Jordi Fernandez is familiar with both because they were part of Team Canada when he was head coach.)

Zach Langley of Soaring Down South wrote earlier Friday:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s breakout seventh campaign isn’t slowing down.

That’s what’s confirmed this year to be no fluke. His full-season emergence as a two-way star, with career-high averages in every major statistical category, has transformed the outlook of this Hawks team in both the immediate and long-term future.

And as Maxwell Ogden his colleague on SDS noted, his performance is accelerating.

Alexander-Walker entered March averaging 19.8 points on .431/.373/.888 shooting. Those are more than respectable numbers, but his efficiency has gone through the roof since Mar. 1 and given the Hawks a new outlook on what the postseason may hold.

Since May 1, Alexander-Walker is averaging 22.7 points on .528/.468/.942 shooting—on 7.4 three-point field goal attempts per game, no less.

Among players who appeared in at least 10 games in March, only three converted with more efficiency from beyond the arc than Alexander-Walker. Darius Garland was the only player who shot better than Alexander-Walker while attempting at least 7.0 treys per game.

He’s also under contract for another three years at a reasonable $15 million per season. If he keeps this up, he’ll be one of the league’s bargains.

From the Vault

This one is a little late for a obituary and a little early for retrospect but we figure it’s always a good time to honor a Brooklyn legend and singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka qualifies. Sedaka died in February at age 87. Much of the honors we read and listened to was about some of the great songs of the 50’s and 60’s — “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Bad Blood,” “Laughter in the Rain” and “Calendar Girl” — there wasn’t a lot about growing up in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. After all, he lived across the street from Neil Diamond and dated Carole King. (Look them up if you have to.)

“We all lived in Brooklyn,” he said. “It was a wonderful time. It must have been something in the egg cream. We used to hang out in the sweet shop and have egg creams and potato knishes.”

Obviously, a different time, but Brooklyn’s musical legacy extends back a long, long time. Here’s Sedaka singing about his hometown 50 years ago.

Enjoy.

More reading: Soaring Down South, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Atlanta Hawks Game Notes – Atlanta Hawks
• Atlanta plays Brooklyn on 3-game win streak – AP
• Nets desperately need lottery luck after tanking is all said and done ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post

The Los Angeles Lakers, at the worst possible time, caught a bad break with their biggest star.

All-Star guard and Most Valuable Player candidate Luka Dončić, suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury in a blowout loss against the Thunder on Thursday, April 2, potentially putting his award eligibility – and the Lakers' dreams of a deep postseason run – in jeopardy.

Dončić is set to an undergo an MRI to evaluate the severity of the injury.

Thursday night’s game against Oklahoma City was his 64th of the season, putting him one shy of the minimum required for consideration for MVP, All-NBA selection and other individual honors. This means Dončić needs to play in at least one of Los Angeles’ remaining five games to become eligible. Meanwhile, the Lakers are still battling for seeding in the Western Conference in the final games of the season.

Dončić finished the game with 12 points on 3-of-10 shooting, including a sluggish 1-of-7 from 3-point range. He added 7 assists and 4 rebounds. The injury comes just days after he scored 600 points in March, marking just the 10th time in NBA history that a player has reached that level of production in any month.

BOSTON – Last week, as the regular season began to wind down, I followed the Celtics around for a couple of days. The assignment was not too dissimilar from my usual shenanigans; as a beat reporter, you — in effect — follow the team around to shootarounds, practices, games, and other events (and if you’re wondering, yes, it feels invasive at times). 

The difference was that this time, the team had two consecutive days off from game action and travel, something that very rarely happens during the regular season (only four times so far, to be exact).

Usually, when the team has two consecutive days off, one of those days is a travel day (if the Celtics play at home on a Monday, and on the road on a Thursday, they technically have two days off, but Wednesday would be a travel day). 

But, in late March, a two-day span between a Sunday night game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and a Wednesday night game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was one of those rare times.

How do players maximize that time? 

I dove deep into that question.

Much of it revolves around giving back to the community, said Celtics longtime team president Rich Gotham. Players participate in off-court events in and around the city of Boston, events that are oftentimes centered around empowering youth, among other causes.

“Generally, what we try to do is really understand, like, what makes each player tick — what they’re into, the kind of stuff they want to do, what their interests are,” Gotham told CelticsBlog. “It’s different for every player, depending on where they are in their career arc. But, particularly with the young players, we try to sort of cement that this is what it means to be a Celtic. You’re part of an organization. There’s what goes on on the floor, but then there’s everything that supports what goes on. And you have to actually be a participant in that. You have to contribute to that.”

Monday, March 23rd: Youth workshops, sporting events, and dinners

Sam Hauser attended a financial literacy event for middle schoolers at the Dearborn STEM Academy, a public middle and high school in the heart of Roxbury that is focused on science, technology, and math.

Players attend these kinds of community events all the time. In March alone, Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, Luka Garza, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta each headlined one of a myriad of Celtics off-court events. 

The events are often hosted in collaboration with the team’s corporate partners; Hauser’s workshop was hosted in partnership with TD.

3:30pm: Sam Hauser headlines a financial literacy workshop for Roxbury youth  

Hauser was the guest of honor and the star of the show at Dearborn. For more than an hour, he hung out with kids as they reviewed information and answered questions about financial literacy, learning about concepts like interest rates, emergency funds, and credit scores. 

“I didn’t learn this stuff in high school, so honestly, I was learning some stuff on the fly here today, which is pretty cool,” Hauser said. (I can confirm I also struggled with some of the questions the students were asked).

The highlight of the event came at its conclusion, when the Celtics forward participated in a heated knockout game against the middle schoolers.

Hauser taught a bunch of the kids the rules of knockout — then subsequently eliminated nearly all of the competitors.

“It’s tough love,” Hauser said afterwards with a smile, conducting his post-competition interview alongside one of the knockout participants. “As much as you love these kids, you gotta lose sometimes in life.”

Ultimately, Vladimir Hyppolite, an 8th grader at the Dearborn Academy, came out victorious, winning a pair of tickets to Friday’s Celtics game against the Hawks. 

He walked both the basketball contest and the financial literacy trivia walked away with a basketball signed by Hauser and his autographed jersey. 

“It’s definitely weird,” Hauser said of seeing his jersey be the event’s prized reward. “Still, I don’t see many of my jerseys out there, so seeing them here today and a few in the crowd every now and then. It’s pretty cool – something that you kind of dream of when you’re a little kid, like, ‘I hope someone wears my jersey when I grow up.’ But actively seeing it is pretty special.”

Hauser has a one-year-old boy, Teddy, and spends lots of downtime with his family when the Celtics have a day off.

But this type of give-back to the community was a priority, too.

“You’ve got to fit it in,” Hauser said. “In this case, we have an extra day before the next game, and this stuff’s important, so you make time for it. And, today was a special one for sure – to come in here and learn about this stuff, and be present, and fit into the schedule perfectly. It couldn’t have been more of a perfect storm.”

7pm: Luka Garza, Neemias Queta each attend corporate partner dinners

In addition to off-court community events, the Celtics have partnership dinners sprinkled throughout the season. Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, Hugo Gonzalez, and Cedric Maxwell participated in private dinners for Boston Celtics corporate partners at local Boston restaurants last week. At these dinners, the players mingled with guests, shared stories from the season and time in the NBA, and enjoyed dinner together.

8pm: Derrick White and Joe Mazzulla sit ringside for a WWE event with their families

A couple of hours later, Derrick White and Joe Mazzulla attended WWE’s Monday Night Raw at TD Garden with their respective families.

A clip of Mazzulla jokingly putting White in a chokehold went viral, and the Celtics coach later reflected on the off-night excursion. 

“I grew up as a kid watching it,” Mazzulla said. “I was able to have a family night, take the kids there, hang out with D-White. It was a good time.”

White said these types of off-court excursions with Mazzulla have become increasingly during his tenure as head coach.

“Just bonding – I think that goes deeper than basketball,” White said. “So it’s always cool to do things like that.”

Mazzulla was asked if it felt unusual for a boss to go out with an employee on an off-night.

“I don’t consider myself a boss, and I don’t consider Derrick an employee, with all due respect,” he clarified. “It’s not how we operate. I think it’s more about relationships and the people that you have.”

It’s far from unusual for Derrick White to be found at a Boston sporting event. Last month, he attended a Boston Fleet gam, rooting for one of eight Professional Women’s Hockey League teams. He’s also a frequent attendee at Red Sox games.

And, White’s had an especially busy month of off-court endeavors; also last month, he was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Tuesday, March 24th: Practice, content day, and community events

While the Celtics were off from basketball activities on Monday, the team was back in action at the Auerbach Center on Tuesday. But that’s not all they did.

10:00am-10:30am: Team Photo

Before practice, the Celtics took a full team photo, updated for the postseason action that will soon commence.

10:30am-12:30pm: Celtics Practice

Then, the team held its first official practice in more than two weeks, which came on the heels of a loss to the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum later described the practice as a “really good” one, and the team went on to rattle off three straight wins against East playoff teams.

After practice, most players work on individual skill development with their assigned coaches on player development and review film from the previous game (some players get this work in before practice).

Derrick White, for example, fired up shots alongside longtime assistant coach Matt Reynolds. After the two completed White’s shooting workout, they typically compete in a trick shot competition — just for fun — along with other members of the staff.

On the opposing basket, Payton Pritchard, Ron Harper Jr, Jordan Walsh, and Charles Bassey competed in 2-on-2 drills organized by player development coaches Craig Luschenant, Nana Foulland, and Da’Sean Butler.

Luka Garza worked out on post moves and touch shots with Celtics assistant DJ MacLeay, his assigned player development coach.

Jayson Tatum got up shots with coaches Tony Dobbins, Amile Jefferson, and Steve Tchiegang.

And, Hugo Gonzalez and Neemias Queta worked out with Tyler Lashbrook and Ross McMains.

Then, after practice, Joe Mazzulla and at least one Celtics player address the media. On this particular day, that player was Derrick White.

12:30pm-3pm: Playoff Content Day

When practice concluded, Celtics players headed over to the WGBH TV studios down the street, where the team records a ton of content ahead of postseason action.

Playoff content day is a couple-hour obligation in which every player on the roster fulfills a litany of tasks that helps create video content for the postseason run ahead. That content will be posted on social media throughout the upcoming playoff run, repurposed for pregame and midgame Jumobotron hype-up videos, and more.

The goal is to record as much content as possible, so when the playoffs begin, players won’t have any off-court distractions.

Tuesday’s itinerary includes conducting interviews with a variety of media people; for example, Brian Scalabrine sat down with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White for NBC Sports Boston, and Marc D’Amico and Megan Ottolini interviewed Hugo Gonzalez for Celtics Weekly, the team’s in-house weekly show. (Those are just a few of the dozens of interviews that took place on Tuesday afternoon).

Accompanied by a member of the Celtics organization, each and every player on the roster went through the various stations. Those stations included signing basketballs and other memorabilia for the Shamrock Foundation, taking photos for jumbotron content, and filming social content with the marketing team.

5:30PM-6:30pm: Jordan Walsh headlines a community event in Lawrence 

To wrap up a long day, Jordan Walsh attended an event in Lawrence in which fifty families enjoyed a sit-down dinner at the Boys and Girls Club. Families walked away from the PIMCO-sponsored event with a delicious dinner, gift cards to the grocery store Market Basket, and bags of produce. Some also won kitchen appliances in a raffle, which Walsh handed out.

During the dinner, Walsh sat down for a Q&A alongside former Celtic Leon Powe, which was moderated by Kash Cannon, the Celtics’ director for community engagement.

The room erupted when the 22-year-old arrived — a reaction he’s received dozens of times throughout his Celtics tenure, but one that nevertheless doesn’t get old.

“It kind of does feel like a superpower, in a way, because you bring joy to people by entering a room,” Walsh said. “That’s the highest compliment you could get. Kids would be, like, screaming and yelling and just excited for you to walk into a room – that’s definitely the biggest compliment ever.”

Amanda Hinchcliff, a lifelong Lawrence resident who serves as the club’s program director, said anticipation ahead of the event had been building all week.

“We’re everything to these families,” Hinchliff said. “We’re obviously an after-school provider for them, for the parents who work. But, parents come to us for everything – whether they need help with their rent, with food. We’re like a one-stop shop – kids that come over just from the Dominican Republic, just fresh here, not speaking a lick of English. The first stop is here. I don’t know if we just have that reputation for helping families, and it’s just kind of spread throughout the city: go to the Boys and Girls Club, they’ll help you. And we do, if we can help them, we will.”

The Celtics have a partnership with the Lawrence Public School system and the Boys and Girls Club, and concluded that hosting a food insecurity event, headlined by a current player, would be impactful.

“Generally speaking, an NBA player might not show up in a community unless we’re saying we’re getting to know it, and we’re bringing them there because we see the need,” Gotham said. “And we understand the need, and we feel like we can help.”

Gotham said Lawrence has been a city the Celtics have long been invested in. 

“Lawrence is further away,” Gotham said. “It’s a little harder between games or on off-days when guys are trying to get their rest. But we’ve come to understand the community up there. We’ve built some relationships. We understand where the need exists.

Due to some rush hour traffic, the event took more than an hour for Walsh to get to. Still, he was thrilled to be a part of an uplifting evening that also addressed a tangible need in the community. 

“I don’t feel like it’s an obligation,” Walsh said. “I feel like it’s something I get to do, it’s an opportunity I get to do. Because, if it was me as one of those kids, I would want a guy like me to show up and be there.”

6:30pm-7:30pm: Hugo Gonzalez participates in a Q&A at the Auerbach Center

At the same time that Jordan Walsh wrapped up the event in Lawrence, 30 miles away at the Auerbach Center, Hugo Gonzalez was beginning a financial literacy workshop for 9th graders, similar to the one Hauser attended a day prior.

Gonzalez and Walsh have both been attending these types of off-court events since the day they were drafted by the Celtics.

“Whether we trade for a player, or sign a free agent, or draft a player, their first day in Boston, you’re doing a community event,” Gotham said. “And it’s our way of saying, ‘Hey, this is part of the responsibility here. It’s giving back.’ So that’s the first thing we do.”

It’s also the first thing they go back to — whenever the schedule allows.

All of it is a crucial part of being a part of the Celtics organization.

“You want people who appreciate what they’re a part of, and sort of understand it,” Gotham said. “And they put it in the context, like, ‘Wow, I’m grateful to actually have this kind of opportunity. And I want to contribute to it.’”

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We’ve got an action-packed Friday in the NBA with nine games on the docket and a bunch of lopsided matchups.

My NBA picks for Friday, April 3, hone in on Karl-Anthony Towns, Alperen Sengun, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Keep reading for my favorite NBA player props tonight.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 11.5 rebounds	+100
Alperen Sengun	Double-Double	+115
Sandro Mamukelashvili	Over 11.5 points	-112

Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds

+100 at bet365

Karl-Anthony Towns continues to be a monster on the glass for the New York Knicks, logging 12.5 rebounds per game through March and clearing 11.5 boards in 12 of his last 17 contests.

The big man will dominate the glass tonight against a lackadaisical Chicago Bulls squad that ranks 23rd in opponent rebounds per game (45.4) and 29th in opponent field-goal attempts per contest (93.8).

The Bulls also own the second-fastest pace in the NBA (104.8), so there will be plenty of scoring (and rebounding) chances at both ends of the court.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CHSN, MSG

Prop #2: Alperen Sengun Double-Double

+115 at bet365

The Houston Rockets are massive -1700 favorites tonight against the lowly Utah Jazz, setting the stage for Alperen Sengun to have a big game.

The center has 33 double-doubles in 67 appearances, including two in his last three games and six of nine.

While rebounds are his bread and butter, Sengun is also one of the best playmaking centers in the association, logging 6.2 dimes per game — the second-most at his position behind only Nikola Jokic.

The Jazz have allowed 128.3 points per game during their current 1-11 run, so Sengun and the Rockets will have no trouble padding their stats tonight.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: KJZZ, SCHN

Prop #3: Sandro Mamukelashvili Over 11.5 points

-112 at bet365

Sandro Mamukelashvili has been a pleasant surprise in his first season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging a career-best 11.2 points per game while shooting an efficient 52.4% from the field.

The Raptors forward has been even better down the stretch, logging Over 11.5 points in six straight and averaging 17.7 PPG during that span — tied for the second-best mark on Toronto.

The depleted Memphis Grizzlies have already given up on their season, losing 15 of their last 17 while giving up 125.7 PPG during the skid. 
Look for Mamukelashvili to make it rain in Memphis.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, FDSN SE-Memphis

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The real national championship game. At least that's what many are calling Arizona vs. Michigan's national semifinal in the Final Four's second game Saturday.

The Wolverines and Wildcats are the remaining No. 1 seeds and considered the two best teams remaining by most. So that should provide a banger of a game in the nightcap. Vegas can't figure it out either, with it basically a pick 'em ( Michigan at -118; Arizona at -102).

Final Four bold predictions: Which drought continues? Who wins it all?

Final Four X-factors: The four players key to national championship hopes

So who wins Saturday night? Here are our predictions:

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After getting crushed in Portland, the New Orleans Pelicans try to right the ship by completing a three-game regular season series sweep over the Sacramento Kings Friday night.

SacTown just snapped a four-game slide with a win in Toronto, salvaging a five-game road trip with a win.

With two of the worst scoring defenses in the league, my Pelicans vs Kings prediction and free NBA picks have the scoreboards getting a workout and the game going Over the total.

Pelicans vs Kings prediction

Pelicans vs Kings best bet: Over 234.5 (-110)

The New Orleans Pelicans losing streak extended to six with a 118-106 loss to the Trail Blazers, with each of the last four by double digits.

The Pelicans have allowed 122 points per game during this slide, and teams have shot 49.8% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.

It doesn’t get much better for the Sacramento Kings, who have just two wins in their last nine, and have also been bleeding points, allowing 123.7 over that stretch.

They’re also shorthanded Friday, with Keegan Murray (ankle) and Russell Westbrook (toe) already ruled out, and Malik Monk (shoulder) listed as questionable.

There’s so much bad defense that you need to target the total. The Kings have seen the Over cash in three of their last four, while NOLA has topped the Over in three if its last five.

That’s the same number of times the Over has hit in the last five head-to-head meetings between these teams.

Pelicans vs Kings same-game parlay

Zion Williamson has failed to hit the 20-point mark in each of the last two games, but he’s loved lighting up the Kings, scoring at least 23 points in nine of 12 career matchups.

Precious Achiuwa is coming off the most productive game of his career, lighting up the Raptors for 28 points and 19 boards. He’s scored 15 or more in three straight.

Pelicans vs Kings SGP

• Over 234.5 points
• Zion Williamson Over 21.5 points
• Precious Achiuwa Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Buckets galore

DeMar DeRozan keeps getting buckets. The veteran went for 28 against his former club and now has hit 20+ points in three straight.

Trey Murphy has totaled just six assists across his last four games, but the Over looks appealing as he’s had at least five dimes in four of his last five against Sacramento.

Pelicans vs Kings SGP

• Over 234.5 points
• Zion Williamson Over 21.5 points
• Precious Achiuwa Over 14.5 points
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points
• Trey Murphy Over 4.5 assists

Pelicans vs Kings odds

• Spread: New Orleans -6 (-110) | Sacramento +6 (-110)
• Moneyline: New Orleans -205 | Sacramento +170
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Pelicans vs Kings betting trend to know

New Orleans has covered the spread in six straight games vs Kings teams that held a losing record. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Kings.

How to watch Pelicans vs Kings

Pelicans vs Kings latest injuries

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The red-hot Houston Rockets welcome the reeling Utah Jazz to the Toyota Center tonight, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

My Jazz vs. Rockets predictions are eyeing Kevin Durant to cook a struggling Utah defense.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, April 3.

Jazz vs Rockets prediction

Jazz vs Rockets best bet: Kevin Durant Over 23.5 points (-120)

Kevin Durant has been brilliant for the playoff-bound Houston Rockets in Year 1. He's averaging 25.8 PPG, which ranks 10th in the Association. KD is a walking bucket, and he's one of the most consistent scorers around, even at 37 years of age.

The future Hall of Famer is averaging 25 PPG this season against the Jazz across three meetings, and the Utah Jazz — sitting at 21-56 and 29th in defensive rating — is the perfect matchup. Durant is also thriving lately, cashing the Over in points in six of his last eight.

He's hit the Over in three of his previous four contests at home, where Durant is averaging 24.2 PPG. The Jazz are considered an easy matchup for opposing small forwards, allowing 26 points per night to the position.

Houston enters tonight as a 92.5% favorite, looking to extend their win streak to five games. Durant should ball out tonight against this Jazz stop unit.

Jazz vs Rockets same-game parlay

Alperen Sengun has been a brilliant playmaker for the Rockets this season, averaging 6.2 assists per game. The big man has cashed the Over in dimes in three of his last four contests.

Sengun has cooked the Jazz this season as a facilitator. Across three matchups, he’s averaging 9.3 dimes.

The Rockets have won two of the last three against Utah in 2025-26, and they cashed the Over in both of those victories. The Jazz are allowing a league-worst 125.4 PPG this season.

While Houston doesn’t typically score a ton of points, they’re up against a team that struggles immensely to contain their opponents offensively. Lock in the Over.

Jazz vs Rockets SGP

• Kevin Durant Over 23.5 points
• Alperen Sengun Over 6.5 assists
• Rockets Over 124.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Reed Thin Defense!

Reed Sheppard has been scorching hot from deep lately. The guard was 9-for-14 against the Bucks, and he was also 4-for-7 from three-point range on Tuesday against the Knicks.

Amen Thompson is averaging 5.3 dimes this season and 5.0 assists against Utah. He’s cashed the Over in back-to-back games, and the Jazz are allowing 5.6 dimes per night to opposing shooting guards.

Jazz vs Rockets SGP

• Alperen Sengun Over 6.5 assists
• Rockets Over 124.5 points
• Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 threes
• Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists

Jazz vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Jazz +17 | Rockets -17
• Moneyline: Jazz +979 | Rockets -1800
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5

Jazz vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have hit the 2Q Moneyline in 17 of their last 24 games (+10.00 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Rockets.

How to watch Jazz vs Rockets

Jazz vs Rockets latest injuries

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The Charlotte Hornets are the standout pick for “playoff sleeper”, and they can improve their chances of sneaking into the Top 6 against the Indiana Pacers tonight.

Charlotte has put together a 7-3 run in its last 10 games, just as other Eastern Conference foes are fading, and my Pacers vs. Hornets predictions expect LaMelo Ball to cook up another big stat line here.

Get the lowdown on this April 3 clash with my free NBA picks, including the impact of Indiana’s lengthy injury report.

Pacers vs Hornets prediction

Pacers vs Hornets best bet: LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 points (-102)

Ever the polarizing player, LaMelo Ball has found the right balance of scoring and playmaking in what has quickly turned into a breakthrough season for the Charlotte Hornets.

As a result, the Hornets have reeled off win after win, and I like the LaMelo points prop tonight against an Indiana Pacers squad missing Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.

Ball made seven of his 12 shots in his previous meeting with the Pacers, and he’s reached the 20-point mark in six of his last nine contests, while being flanked by Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel.

Answering any remaining questions about whether he makes winning decisions, LaMelo has dialed back a few of his wilder field goal attempts – and he shot a steady 36% from downtown in March.

But this prop pick is still a volume play, with Ball jacking up 16+ shots in 11 of his last 16 games, and he’s always a candidate to pile up 20+.

There are some creaking gaps in the Indiana defense, too. The Pacers are giving up 120.7 PPG, fifth-most in the league, and Ball has the size to shoot over any potential backcourt defender.

With Charlotte cruising to a pair of blowouts in its past two outings, Ball shifted into playmaking mode. But I’m counting on more scoring here, particularly for a Hornets squad that’s on the second night of a back-to-back set.

Pacers vs Hornets same-game parlay

All the parts just seem to fit for the Hornets – including both Ball’s ability to get tough buckets and Moussa Diabate’s nonstop effort on the glass. I’m building this SGP around the Charlotte duo, with Diabate racking up 10+ rebounds in five of his past seven contests.

The Pacers are just 7-31 SU on the road this season, so there’s no obvious path to an upset. Given that the Hornets landed a 133-109 win in Indiana in late February, a home victory is on the cards here.

Pacers vs Hornets SGP

• LaMelo Ball Over 20.5 points
• Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
• Hornets moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Diabate Experience!

The Pacers are set to be the latest team to get the full Diabate experience. Rebounding is his calling card, but he’s refining his offense – to the tune of 10+ points in four of his last seven matchups – and he averaged a block per game in March.

With Diabate leading the charge defensively for Charlotte, the Under is 48-29 this year for the hosts.

Pacers vs Hornets SGP

• Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 rebounds
• Moussa Diabate Over 7.5 points
• Moussa Diabate Over 0.5 blocks
• Under 235.5

Pacers vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Pacers +15.5 | Hornets -15.5
• Moneyline: Pacers +795 | Hornets -1300
• Over/Under: Over 232 | Under 232

Pacers vs Hornets betting trend to know

The Under is 7-3 in the Hornets’ last 10 contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Hornets.

How to watch Pacers vs Hornets

Pacers vs Hornets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

In the aftermath of their worst loss of the season, few Lakers players or coaches had spoken to Luka Doncic after he limped off the court in the third quarter Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Austin Reaves didn’t know the extent of Doncic’s hamstring injury, but he knew how the Lakers superstar would approach the latest hurdle in this winding season.

“He's a competitor,” Reaves said of Doncic, “so he'll do all he can do to put himself in a position to come back when he can.”

Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday on the left hamstring injury he suffered in a 43-point loss to the Thunder. He already missed four games before the All-Star break with the same injury, but the Lakers withheld expectations on his status for the final five regular-season games.

After Sunday’s game in Dallas, the Lakers face the Thunder at home Tuesday, play consecutive games at Golden State on Thursday and against Phoenix at home Friday and finish the regular season Sunday against Utah.

Read more:Lakers star Luka Doncic suffers hamstring injury in reality-check loss to Thunder

Doncic’s injury left the Lakers backcourt extra shorthanded Thursday as Marcus Smart missed his sixth consecutive game Thursday. The veteran guard could return against Dallas, coach JJ Redick said. He has been day-to-day since injuring his right ankle against Orlando on March 21.

If Smart is unable to return in Doncic’s absence, the Lakers could shift even more ball-handling responsibility to Reaves and LeBron James while relying on Bronny James as an additional guard off the bench. The 21-year-old James has played in five consecutive games, tying his longest stretch of his second pro season.

The Lakers (50-27) are already guaranteed a top-six seed in the Western Conference, but are still jostling for seeding. They have a one-game lead for the No. 3 seed over No. 4 Denver, which is on a seven-game winning streak.

Approaching the end of the regular season, the Lakers looked at Thursday’s game against the defending NBA champions as a test, forward Jake LaRavia said. They were 15-2 in March with 13 wins in their last 14 games. The Lakers were playing like an evolved form of the team that lost by 29 to the Thunder in Oklahoma City in November.

Read more:After a sizzling March, Lakers face a big playoff test against equally hot Oklahoma City

But like that first rout, Thursday’s featured a flurry of Lakers turnovers, suffocating Oklahoma City ball pressure and an efficient masterclass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“This close to the end of the season, we would've wanted it not to go that way,” said LaRavia, who had six points and a team-high eight rebounds Thursday. “It was pretty much the same story, I feel like, the first time we played here this year.”

The Lakers built much of their March success on successful revenge performances. They bounced back after previous losses to the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic. They lost by seven to the Nuggets on March 5 then responded with nine consecutive wins, their longest winning streak of the season, including an overtime thriller against Denver that clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker that could factor into the tight standings.

Redick praised his team’s “playoff mentality” during the run. It was also when the team was largely its healthiest.

Doncic had played all but one game since the All-Star break. Reaves, who missed six weeks with a calf injury this season, has started in 22 consecutive games. When James returned from an elbow injury, the star trio found a clear hierarchy that lifted the team to new heights.

Read more:Luka Doncic matches Michael Jordan for the most magical March in NBA history

Doncic, who became just the 10th player in NBA history to score 600 points in a single month, is the “head of the snake,” said James, who is averaging just 12.3 shots in the last 12 games but is shooting 54.4% from the field. Doncic’s brilliant March unified the team behind his most valuable player push, his thrilling shot-making and even his smiling dunk against Washington.

With the team exuding the type of joy that often characterizes Doncic’s game, James believes the Lakers can maintain their momentum despite Doncic’s uncertain status and a deflating loss.

“Nothing is rattled,” James said. “It's one game, it's part of the NBA season, it's the defending champions. We get it. We understand.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.