Category: NBA

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

The Spurs are now 15 wins away from their sixth championship, and the first order of business is taking care of home court in Game 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Silver and Black won the first game by double digits, but the Blazers were competitive throughout—and with two road teams taking upset victories last night, a victory for the home team is not a foregone conclusion. The Nuggets are looking at a long series against the Timberwolves, and either team could be the Spurs second round opponent if the Spurs advance. It would be optimal for Alamo City hoopers to take care of business and make it to the second round with a rest advantage, and that would start with a victory tonight.

Deni Avdija was impressive for Rip City on Sunday night, as he used his strength to get to the hoop and scored 30 taking the ball right at Wembanyama and Spurs defenders. Toumani Camara did a good job defending against Spurs drives to the hoop, at least until halfway through the third quarter, when the Spurs fought off a Blazers surge to create a comfortable margin after the lead had been cut to a single point.

Both teams were a little tentative at the beginning of Game 1, but they quickly embraced playoff intensity as the game progressed and it was a fun game to watch. Victor Wemanyama had a historic playoff debut with 35 points, with a balanced effort from the rest of the cast, with Devin Vassell making key baskets, and Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox doing work. The bench was relatively quiet, except for Luke Kornet, who scored 10 and made key defensive plays. As good as the first game was for the Spurs, you get the feeling that they could play much better, and hopefully they will tonight.

I’m looking for a good game tonight from Keldon Johnson, in his second career playoff game. The Blazers could try to play a more physical game tonight than they did in Game 1, and if the game is called fairly, that should result in foul trouble for the visitors. The Spurs need to adjust to the intensity, weather the storm, and take care of business. If they do, it’ll be another fun night for the Frost Bank Center crowd as they cheer their team to a 2-0 series lead. GO SPURS GO!

Game Prediction:

The Trail Blazers have to wear the dirty uniforms from Game 1 as the Portland owner refuses to pay for laundry services.

San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers, First Round, Game 2
April 21, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Streaming: Peacock
TV: Peacock, NBC
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

There’s a difference between being snubbed…and inconvenience. 

The fact that Lakers superstar Luka Doncic missed out on being named an NBA MVP finalist falls into that category. He was the inconvenience that voters didn’t quite know how to handle. Because his historic season doesn’t fit neatly into the box they’ve spent years building. 

So instead, they chose to close the lid.

Was that the right decision? We can make the argument either way, but perhaps there’s a solution at the end of all this that can appease everyone. 

Let’s start with the finalists: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic. 

All three are deserving. They all play on the No. 1, No, 2, and No. 3 seeds in the Western Conference. They are all the best players on their own team with elite level production on both ends of the floor. They check all the boxes. 

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But MVP isn’t supposed to be an exercise performed with a Sharpie and a checklist. There’s more gravitas to it. There’s the eye test. There’s the feeling in your gut when you know you’re seeing one of the best players in the world do what they do best. There’s how opposing defenses throw the kitchen sink at one player just to try and slow him down only to discover they can’t. 

And nobody made us feel that way this season quite like Doncic. 

“I’m disappointed. I think he deserved to be there,” said Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick. “All three guys that did end up being finalists all have a strong case. A lot of this is media momentum, unfortunately.”

Let’s start with the obvious.

He led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game. More than 2.4 points more than SGA. Pair that with 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and over 100 steals. Night after night, Doncic wasn’t just producing. He was dominating. No player in NBA history has ever averaged 30+ points, 7+ assists, and 7 + rebounds on a team that won 50 games or more and not won the MVP. Doncic will have now done it twice (2024). 

And let’s not forget that he had to carry the Lakers on his back for most of the season. 

The Lakers takeoff this season did not come with a clean runway. There was turbulence on the tarmac. An early sciatica injury to LeBron James saw him miss the first 14 games of the season. Doncic led them to a 10-4 record. Midway through the season their second leading scorer Austin Reaves went down with an injury. So did other role players. The Lakers roster felt like it was constantly being rearranged mid-flight. But through it all, Doncic was the pilot that guided them through the turbulence. 

So when his teammates that were on this journey with him were asked their thoughts on Doncic not being an MVP finalist they didn’t hesitate with their answers. 

“You can see he’s the MVP,” said Lakers’ forward Rui Hachimura. “I can see he’s the MVP of this league. What he does, what he brings to the game every game.”

That’s not analytics. That’s lived experience. 

But unfortunately, analytics and advanced metrics is where the divide and the case against Doncic begins. 

The anti-Doncic crowd will point to his plus-4 net rating. They’ll stack that next to Jokic’s plus-10.4, SGA’s plus-14.8, and Wemby’s gaudy plus-17.3 and call it decisive. They’ll bring up the defensive metrics as well, where admittedly, Doncic lags behind. They’ll remind you, correctly, that the other finalists are all two-way players, including Wemby who at 22 years old just became the youngest and first ever unanimous player ever to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

All fair points. 

But when did the MVP award become less about overall value to a team and more about the completeness of an individual player?

Not since Russell Westbrook in the 2014-15 season has a player ever led the league in scoring and not finished as a top three MVP finalist. 

Doncic’s MVP campaign is messy. He’s ball-dominant. He’s emotional and racks up technical fouls like dishes. He’s defensively inconsistent. He doesn’t check every box. 

And yet, in the month of March, Doncic dominated the entire league. The Lakers went 16-2 over an 18-game stretch. Doncic was the undisputed Player of the Month, breaking Kobe Bryant’s franchise record, and finishing second only to Michael Jordan with 600 points. His MVP odds surged. He went from out of the race, to second behind SGA by March 31. 

“If we continue to finish the season the way we’re playing right now, and he continues to play that way — to me, he is the MVP,” said Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick at the time. 

Even Doncic was asked about his MVP case. 

“The better I play, the more I go down in ratings,” he said in Spanish, half-joking, fully aware of the dialogue going on in the sports talk world. 

Then came April.

In a head-to-head matchup against SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Doncic had a golden opportunity to put a final exclamation point on his MVP campaign. Instead, he suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain and the Lakers lost to OKC by 43. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Doncic would miss the final five games of the season, just as voters were getting ready to make their final selections. 

And there’s the rub. Sometimes MVP races aren’t just decided by numbers. They’re decided by moments. And in that moment in OKC, Doncic’s MVP slipped away.

Because the truth is, had he stayed healthy, had the Lakers lit up OKC in those two late-season matchups, had the Lakers surged to the three-seed, then we’re having a very different conversation right now. Not only would Doncic be the finalist, but maybe he’s the favorite. 

So was he snubbed?

Not exactly. 

But he was minimized. 

Voters didn’t ignore him entirely, but they did find reasons to prioritize players who fit the evolving definition of MVP: efficient, elite on both ends of the floor, and attached to team success from start to finish. 

Still, the omission exposes something bigger. And that’s that the league needs to make some changes. 

Changes not just to the 65-minimum games played threshold, that’s obvious. But other changes as well. 

How about an NBA Offensive Player of the Year award like the NFL has? 

If that award existed, then there wouldn’t even be a debate. Doncic would be holding the trophy.

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers

Game 2 – April 21, 2026

Location: Crypto.com arena, Los Angeles, CA

TV: NBC/Peacock

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Online: Peacock

Time: 9:30 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups

Rockets: Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Lakers: Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Jake Laravia, Lebron James, Deandre Ayton

The playoffs continue tonight for the Rockets. The biggest question is the status of Forward Kevin Durant, as he is listed as a game time decision with his knee bruise. Honestly, even without Kevin Durant, this Houston team should win over a depleted Lakers team, but then again, Houston could put up another stinker offensively.

Hopefully Sengun, Jabari, and Amen Thompson all bounce back from their lackluster Game 1 performances. ( I am excluding Reed because to give him grace since it was his first real NBA playoff game). If not, the Rockets could be in trouble, and facing an 0-2 deficit before the series shifts to Houston this Friday.

Here are the NBA playoff games for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

• Boston Celtics at Miami Heat — 7:30 PM ET (TNT)
• Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
• Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns — 10:00 PM ET (TNT)

Enjoy the basketball!

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The Lakers and Rockets are back in action today in Los Angeles for Game 2 of their first-round NBA Playoff series.

The Lakers didn’t need anything fancy in a Game 1 that made history in more than one way. Even without two key players, Los Angeles defended, controlled the tempo, and let their veterans handle the rest.

Houston heads into Game 2 down a game to the Lakers after the 107-98 loss on Friday, and another loss tonight would put the series in a tough spot before it even shifts back to Texas.

It’s possible they’ll continue to be without Kevin Durant, too; the forward is listed as a game-time decision tonight after missing out on Game 2 with a knee contusion.

Following tonight’s game, the series moves to Houston for Game 3 on Friday, April 24 and Sunday, April 26.

Rockets vs. Lakers start time:

Tonight’s (April 21) Rockets vs. Lakers playoff game tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Rockets vs. Lakers for free:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA playoffs including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to stream NBA games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.

Rockets-Lakers first round playoff schedule

• Game 1:Lakers 107, Rockets 98
• Game 2: April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
• Game 3: April 24, 8 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
• Game 4: April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
• Game 5: April 29*
• Game 6: May 1*
• Game 7: May 3*

* if necessary

NBA Playoffs key dates:

• April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
• June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

The Los Angeles Lakers host Game 2 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, April 21, and while the Lakers will be without two of their most important players in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, one of them is inching closer towards a return.

It was revealed during a report on ESPN's NBA Today that Dončić and Reaves both began practicing with the Lakers on Monday, April 20. While Dončić is still considered out indefinitely, ESPN reports Reaves has been progressing, and there is optimism in the building that he could return towards the end of the series.

"The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually the one that's further along than Luka Dončić in their respective rehab processes," Shams Charania said on the broadcast. "... Remember early April here, he had a four-to-six-week timetable. So theoretically, that puts him on track late in this series, potentially early in the next series."

KEVIN DURANT INJURY UPDATE: Will Rockets star play vs. Lakers Game 2?

The latest on the rehabs of Lakers star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/HA4sfuckrN

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 21, 2026

NBA PLAYOFF BRACKET: Odds today, schedule and scores for every first-round series

Charania added that Reaves has begun one-on-one on-court work and is expected to continue his progression to three-on-three and five-on-five before a return to game action.

Dončić, meanwhile, is currently not expected to return in the first round.

Neither has played since April 2 due to a grade 2 left hamstring strain (Dončić) and a grade 2 left oblique strain (Reaves). Dončić flew to Spain in the last week of the regular season to undergo an injection procedure in hopes of accelerating the healing process in his hamstring, while Reaves remained in Los Angeles to rehab his oblique.

The Knicks find themselves in a 1-1 lock with the Hawks in their first-round matchup, as they head to Atlanta following an embarrassing defeat at home. While they’ve given themselves no shortage of issues to address before Game 3, one factor likely to be high up on New York’s list: stopping CJ McCollum.

The 6-foot-3, 34-year-old veteran guard has smoked the Knicks in back-to-back games at MSG this series. He scored 26 in Game 1 on 11-for-20 shooting, 4-for-9 from three, then added 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including 3-of-10 from three.

No other Hawk has managed to hurt the Knicks to McCollum’s degree and consistency thus far, making him the current biggest threat to end this New York playoff run early. 

With that in mind, let’s break down how he’s cut through their defenses and what can be done to switch things up.

McCollum’s primarily been guarded by Jalen Brunson, who, for all he’s done on the offensive end, is the Knicks’ biggest weak point defensively. Normally, New York would hide him on a favorable matchup, but with Karl-Anthony Towns on the non-shooter (Dyson Daniels) in Atlanta’s lineup, head coach Mike Brown doesn’t have much of a choice.

To be fair, McCollum got a lot of his Game 1 buckets off silly Knicks mistakes and semi-transition stuff that’s easy to clean up. He’s also burned every other Knick that ends up guarding him via switch or changed matchup in those few attempts.

But he’s also identified Brunson as an easy target and is taking advantage. He’s 9-for-12 from the field when guarded by Brunson, and went from singling him out in Atlanta’s offense a little in Game 1 to all the time in Game 2.

From the middle of the second quarter of Game 2 on, if McCollum was on the floor with Brunson, that was the matchup he was playing to. Repeated isolations and pick-and-rolls, punishing every way Brunson and the roll man tried to play him.

His double-cross got Brunson way out of position multiple times. If he rejected a screen, Brunson slammed into it; if he used it, Brunson couldn’t recover in time.

Sometimes, even the slightest move gave McCollum a walking lane to the paint. Brown tried switching Brunson with Mikal Bridges, who was guarding Nikeil Alexander-Walker, down the stretch, to no avail.

McCollum would call for an Alexander-Walker screen, which Brunson would switch, giving Atlanta the matchup they wanted. McCollum would dance and usually score.

It should go without saying, but the first adjustment is for Brunson to show much better defensive effort. This is a uniquely tough matchup for him, an explosive guard that’s much quicker, but isn’t giving up size or strength.

That doesn’t matter. Brunson isn’t expected to be a lockdown defender, but he has to be better than he’s been and has proven it before.

His bouts with Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Maxey looked similar at points, but they weren’t routinely walking right by him. He can make up much of this gap by fighting harder through screens, actually trying to stay attached to McCollum’s hip, and not giving in to switches so easily.

Brown will do his part and try different matchups, as well as throwing more aggressive schemes at McCollum if he’s rolling again. If Brunson is on NAW and McCollum is calling over screen after screen to pick on him, Brown needs to have his guards trap or another alternative to mix things up.

There’s also doing nothing. 

For as tough as McCollum has been, if the rest of his team remains subdued, this defensive approach may end up fine.

Remember, the Knicks had a double-digit advantage and played a great defensive fourth quarter, but couldn’t convert on the offensive end. If they had, maybe they win, and this McCollum conversation isn't something to worry about, especially given the Hawks scored only 107 points. And it's not much of an offense when it rests on a 34-year-old zero-time All-Star.

However the Knicks choose to react, they’ll be doing so under immense pressure on the road. Win one in Atlanta and the series is in your hands again, don’t and it’ll be much more than Brunson taking the heat.

10 insane Roob stats from the 76ers' improbable upset win over the Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

They didn’t just upset the Celtics in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference 1^st-round series. They played so well they provided us with a full array of insane stats.

After losing by 32 points in the opener, the 76ers beat the Celtics 111-97 at TD Garden to even the series at one game apiece. The 76ers were 3-17 in their 20 previous playoff games in Boston.

Everything they didn’t do in Game 1 they did Tuesday night. And we’re here with all the details.

With a hat tip to Stathead, here’s a fresh batch of 76ers stats off their most improbable wins of the year.

IT ONLY TOOK A HALF: By halftime, VJ Edgecombe had already set a franchise record for most 3’s in a playoff game by a rookie with four. The previous record was three, set by Charles Barkley in a 102-100 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of their 1985 Eastern Conference finals series and matched by Evan Turner in a 94-73 loss to the Heat at American Airlines Arena in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference 1^st-round series in 2011. Edgecombe finished 6-for-10 from 3.

RECORD-SETTING QUARTER: Edgecombe’s 16 points in the second quarter are the most in any quarter of a playoff game by a 76ers rookie. The previous record was 10, set by Raja Bell in the second quarter of a 108-91 win over the Bucks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals at the First Union Center in 2001 and matched by Evan Turner to the Heat in a 94-73 loss at American Airlines Arena in the second quarter of Game 2 of their Eastern Conference 1^st-round series in 2011.

AN ANDREW TONEY THROWBACK: Edgecombe’s 30 points are the most by a 76ers rookie in a playoff game in 45 years, since Andrew Toney had 35 in the 76ers’ 118-99 loss to the Celtics (of course) in Game 2 of their 1981 Eastern Conference finals at Boston Garden. The only other 76ers rookies with more points than Edgecombe are Lee Shaffer, who had two 30-point games in the Syracuse Nationals’ 1962 Eastern Division Semifinals series against the Philadelphia Warriors, both at Convention Hall in West Philly and Mo Cheeks, who had 33 at the Spectrum in a 115-112 loss to the Spurs in Game 4 of their 1979 Eastern Conference semifinal series (the Spurs were in the East from 1977 through 1980 after moving from the ABA to the NBA).

IT GETS EVEN BETTER: Edgecombe is the first rookie in NBA history with 10 rebounds and six 3-pointers in a playoff game. His six 3-pointers tie the 2^nd-most in history by a rookie. Matt Maloney of Haddonfield High and Penn had eight in the Rockets’ win over the Supersonics at Key Arena in Seattle in their 1997 Western Conference semifinal series. Maloney, Luguentz Dort and Michael Porter also had six. None of them had 10 rebounds. 

MORE VJ: Edgecombe is the second 76ers rookie ever with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game and the first in 64 years, since good ol’ Lee Shaffer in that 1962 Syracuse Nationals series against the Warriors. 

BURYING THOSE 3’S: After shooting just 4-for-23 from 3 in Game 1, the 76ers were 19-for-39 from 3 in Game 2. That equals the 2^nd-most 3’s in franchise history in a playoff game. They had 21 in a Game 1 win over the Nets in their 2023 Eastern Conference 1^st-round series. Their 49 percent shooting from 3 is 8^th-highest in franchise postseason history (minimum 20 attempts). The 39 attempts are their 4^th-most ever.

IT’S BEEN 49 YEARS: The 76ers’ 37 points in the second quarter were their most in any quarter in a playoff game against the Celtics in 49 years, since Game 4 of their 1977 Eastern Conference semifinal series, when they scored 39 in the fourth quarter of a 124-119 loss at Boston Garden.

THE DUDE IS 35 YEARS OLD: With 17 points in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2, Paul George – who is 35 years, 354 days old – became the oldest 76er in 39 years with consecutive games with at least 17 points. Dr. J – at 37 years, and 68 and 70 days – had back-to-back games with 22 and 24 points in the 76ers’ Eastern Conference 1^st-round series against the Bucks at the Spectrum and MECCA Arena. 

CLANK! The Celtics hoisted up 50 3-point attempts, 16^th-most in NBA history. They made just 13 for 26 percent from 3. That’s the 2^nd-worst percentage in playoff history by a team attempting 50 3’s. Last year, the Celtics were 15-for-60 from 3 in an overtime loss to the Knicks, also at TD Garden.

THIS HAD ONLY HAPPENED ONCE: The 76ers shot 48 percent from the field and the Celtics shot just 39 percent. The only other time the 76ers shot at least 48 percent and held the Celtics below 40 percent in a playoff game was in 1981, in a 91-90 loss in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series at Boston Garden. The 76ers shot 49 percent in that game and the Celtics shot 38 percent. The 76ers lost anyway, and the Celtics went on to win the NBA Championship.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole reports that Steve Kerr is not expected to return to the Warriors “barring renewed faith” in his role.
• Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reports that the Warriors could consider Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden as a potential replacement for Steve Kerr.
• Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was unanimously named NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

It’s beginning to look like the Golden State Warriors are heading toward a major change on the sidelines next season.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, Steve Kerr is not expected to return as head coach, barring a “renewed faith” in his role with the franchise.

Via NBC Sports Bay Area:

The general belief among the Warriors – openly expressed by Draymond Green – and around the league since the weekend is that Kerr will be comfortably jobless after meeting with Lacob and Dunleavy. Most expect a decision in a matter of days, not weeks.

Yet Kerr last week left open the possibility – very slight, according to sources – of returning. Multiple sources indicate his decision, however, will not be based on the dollar amount.

“They could offer Steve $25 million a year,” one league source said, “and I doubt that alone would make a difference.”

Two sources insist that any change of heart would require, among other factors, Kerr having renewed faith in his role as the franchise shifts toward the future.

With money not expected to be a factor, the situation appears to hinge on whether Kerr still wants to lead the franchise into its next phase — one that would eventually move beyond Stephen Curry as its centerpiece.

While Kerr has long been vocal about his love for coaching Curry and the Warriors, his contract is set to expire, and this past season served as a reminder that the Warriors’ dynasty is nearing its end. Injuries exposed the reality of an aging roster trying to hold onto contention in a league that continues to get younger, faster, and more skilled. There’s also the added layer of the organization reportedly wanting Kerr to tweak his system moving forward — including placing a greater emphasis on analytics, according to ESPN.

All of that makes it fair to question whether he is still willing to navigate what could be a challenging transition period.

So, with a meeting looming between Kerr, Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., this decision will define not just next season, but the next era of Warriors basketball.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 21st:

Warriors News:

The Warriors’ summer of uncertainty starts with Steve Kerr | ESPN

If Kerr returns, they will discuss staffing and what management believes is a need for philosophy tweaks, team sources said, focusing on diversifying the offensive attack and winning the analytically friendly possession battle more often. There has been a feeling internally that they were too reliant this season on 3-point variance.

Those aside, there’s also overarching organizational disappointment about the 13-15 start when the Warriors were healthy, the late-game inconsistencies, the incessant turnover problem and the fact that they won only 37 games in a season in which one-third of the league was tanking.

Is the ride over for Warriors? Golden State’s offseason looks like an off-ramp | Yahoo Sports

If Kerr walks, ESPN reported that the front office would consider external candidates, even exploring the college ranks. I’m told the Warriors love Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden. He’s known the Lacob family for years, and league sources say they’ve long admired his coaching talent ever since he was an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco. But Golden would be no guarantee to leave Florida for a Warriors franchise that is, frankly, a less appealing destination than it used to be. With aging stars and no youthful core to build around, the Warriors may no longer be in a position to get exactly what they want.

Warriors players reflect on disappointing 2025-26 NBA season, preview offseason | NBCS Bay Area

NBA News:

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

The biggest accomplishment may be this: Wemby got everybody to agree.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry was the unanimous MVP in 2016 and in the 10 seasons that have followed, there have been only two instances of a player collecting 100% of the first-place votes for an award.

Those were Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year in 2024, and now this.

Hawks complete 4th quarter comeback win vs. Knicks to tie series at 1-1

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors reportedly extended Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently

The Warriors are waiting to learn what Steve Kerr’s future will be, but that’s where the leadership questions mostly end. According to a report from ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. signed an extension a few months ago, and is now under contract for multiple years. So in a summer of uncertainty, the Dubs know who is going to be calling the shots, and making the decisions.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

You couldn’t have written up a more dispiriting Game 1 performance from the Detroit Pistons than what they delivered against the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. The eighth-seeded Magic, facing a Pistons team that never spent a day below first place in the Eastern Conference all season, never trailed. They had the better game plan, the better players, and the better energy. Even in a game when its star, Cade Cunningham, scored 39 points, it never seemed like Detroit was threatening to take over the game.

For a team and a fan base that dealt with a season of hearing Detroit disrespected as not real contenders, with the likes of the Celtics, Knicks, and Cavs, thrust above them as teams that could win a title, it was a chance to prove the doubters wrong.

Now those same doubters have no reason to do anything other than double down, and many of the believers are in crisis mode.

The Pistons have one game to fix the mess they put themselves in. Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena is a must-win contest, or this series is effectively over.

I have faith in the Pistons, but I also recognize that playoff basketball is not regular-season basketball. There is too much time to game plan and prepare. The Magic were able to effectively close off the paint to call comers, and for a non-shooting team like the Pistons, having zero pathways to the basket completely short-circuited anything they hoped to do on offense. It shouldn’t have been that easy to neutralize Detroit’s attack and take away all their strengths, but here we are.

With zero hyperbole, the Pistons had their worst game scoring inside this season. Their 34 points were a low point. The same team that scored 80 points in the paint against Brooklyn in November, and at least 60 points in the paint 38 times, managed a meager 34.

I have seen some say Jalen Duren was invisible, and, boy, I wish that were the case. Unfortunately, he was extremely noticeable in all the worst ways. Only two players on the Magic roster who played had fewer shot attempts than Duren.

Duren only had one game with a lower usage rate all season than he did on Sunday, and never had a lower percentage of his team’s shot attempts than he did against the Magic. He didn’t make any of this up on defense, where he was constantly letting Magic players have position and getting beaten on back cuts in both man and zone defense.

It was ugly. It is also fixable.

Cade proved he is a playoff performer. He can get his own, but it’s on him and his coaching staff to figure out how to get others involved, chief among them, Duren. They need to embrace Duren’s face-up game and short-roll opportunities instead of only force-feeding entry passes right below the basket.

It’s not that I want Duren suddenly co-running the offense. I just need the Pistons to find opportunities inside to provide any semblance of spacing the floor and creating cracks in Orlando’s defense. Detroit settled on Sunday and made it easy for the Magic defenders. They can’t afford to do that again.

If they do, it is effectively game over on not just the Pistons season, but has to be game over for this version of the franchise’s team-building project. If it’s this easy to shut down how your offense works because you want to put superior defenders on the floor, then you don’t have a winning formula.

Detroit would need to think long and hard about who is part of that title-contending future. It can’t be all three of Duren, Ron Holland, and Ausar Thompson. Not because any of the three can’t get markedly better on offense, but because Detroit has chips they can move around to build an extremely dangerous team that can succeed in both the regular season and the playoffs. Cunningham’s performance is all the proof you need of that fact.

The scheme, the secondary players, the future? Those are all question marks. We are going to get an answer on Wednesday, one way or another.

Observations after Sixers snag gutsy Game 2 win over Celtics, Edgecombe and Maxey star  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

BOSTON — The Sixers emphatically erased the embarrassment of their 32-point Game 1 loss Tuesday night at TD Garden.

They responded by snagging a 111-97 win over the Celtics to even their first-round playoff series at 1-1. 

VJ Edgecombe was simply incredible, posting 30 points and 10 rebounds. Edgecombe scored the most by a Sixers rookie in a playoff game since Andrew Toney against the Celtics in 1981.

Tyrese Maxey had 29 points and nine assists. Paul George scored 19 points. 

Celtics star Jaylen Brown had 36 points. Jayson Tatum tallied 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. 

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) remained out. A Sixers official said Monday that Embiid has started a post-surgery strength and conditioning program in Philadelphia. 

The Sixers will head home and face the Celtics in Game 3 on Friday night. Here are observations on their Game 2 victory: 

Three-point disparity the early story  

The Sixers’ defense did not have a promising start. Boston scored six points on its first two possessions with long-range jumpers by Tatum and Sam Hauser.

Offensively, the Sixers did a nice job in the opening minutes of taking available mid-range looks without hesitation. They began 4 for 4 from the floor. George knocked down a couple of mid-post jumpers. Edgecombe hit a shot from the left elbow to give the Sixers their first lead of the series at 9-8. 

The contest then shifted back to a similar dynamic as Game 1. Boston made a 16-0 run and went up 26-13 on a Nikola Vucevic three-pointer. 

The early long-distance gap between the teams was dramatic. The Celtics scored the night’s first 15 points beyond the arc. A game after going 4 for 23, the Sixers missed their first six three-point tries. 

Ultimately, the Sixers plugged away impressively until their shooting fortunes improved.

“I thought they just made tough shots,” George said. “We played good defense and they were making tough shots, contested shots. … I think the biggest thing is we were locked in. We were moving, we were flying around, we were helping one another.

“We can sustain that over a game. I thought it wore on them a little bit that we were there, we were contesting shots and we weren’t making it easy. But they came out hot. We just didn’t lay down. We stayed with it, put our heads down and hung in there.”

Edgecombe bounces right back up 

Edgecombe exited at the 4:47 mark of the first quarter, limping off to the Sixers’ locker room.

The rookie had fallen hard on his back a few plays prior while pursuing a defensive rebound. Fortunately for Edgecombe and the Sixers, he avoided anything close to a worst-case outcome.  

Edgecombe returned to the Sixers’ sideline about two minutes later and hopped on an exercise bike. He checked in with seven seconds left in the first quarter. 

“I just landed on my back, but I’m good,” Edgecombe said with a smile. “I was able to finish the game, so I’m good.

“That’s all I got for you. Ain’t nothing wrong with me; I’m good.”

Maxey and Brown sat to start the second quarter. The Sixers didn’t experience any sort of downward slide with their star guard resting. George and Quentin Grimes sunk three-pointers early in the second. Grimes also swatted away a Payton Pritchard jumper. 

Andre Drummond added a corner three. The veteran big man’s baseline push shot lifted the Sixers to a 41-39 edge and Maxey soon subbed in.

Grimes’ two-way play in the first half was an important boost for the Sixers after his quiet Game 1. When he’s on, Grimes can help keep the Sixers’ offense afloat with tough shotmaking during stagnant stretches. 

Edgecombe’s health sure didn’t appear to be an issue in the second quarter. He played a truly spectacular period. 

The 20-year-old chased down ultra-athletic offensive rebounds, played active defense and made his first three-pointers of the series — four of them, in fact. Late in the second, Edgecombe sliced through the Celtics’ defense and slammed in a fast-break dunk. He swished a jumper from the left wing to put the Sixers up 62-54. Edgecombe’s 20 points and seven rebounds topped both teams at halftime. 

As he showed in the Sixers’ opening-night win over the Celtics and on many subsequent occasions, Edgecombe believes that he belongs on big stages and has the tools to shine. He did just that in his second career playoff game. 

Sixers find tons of timely buckets

George committed his third foul with 6:57 left in the second quarter and had to watch the rest of the first half from the bench.

He drained a three-pointer on the first shot of the third quarter to raise the Sixers’ lead to double digits. Following that 0-for-6 start from three-point territory, the Sixers made 11 of their next 14 long-range jumpers. Meanwhile, the Celtics cooled off considerably and finished 13 for 50 (26 percent).

Edgecombe came out again with a limp at the 10:08 mark of the third quarter. Just like in the first half, he was back on the Sixers’ bench minutes later and good to go. 

The Celtics ate into the Sixers’ lead during much of the third quarter, but Edgecombe nailed a pull-up three to restore a six-point advantage. He continued to play fearless basketball and amped up his offensive aggression with Maxey on the bench. 

Boston trimmed its deficit to 84-82 on a short Pritchard jumper early in the fourth quarter. The Sixers prevented the Celtics from surging ahead and Justin Edwards played a major part.

Edwards, who logged 22 minutes off the bench, beat the shot clock with a timely three. He also blocked a Brown jumper, scrapped for rebounds, and generally did valuable, high-effort work as the Sixers’ lone bench wing.

“He’s a bigger wing defender,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said of Edwards. “And when Tatum and Brown are both in there, we’ve got to watch who’s in the game. So that led to Justin having a couple of stints there.

“Again, Justin for whatever reason seems to be open. The ball seems to find him and he’s not afraid to shoot ‘em. And he’s a good shooter.”

The Celtics were always bound to push the Sixers. With three-balls from Tatum and Brown, the Sixers’ lead dipped to 91-90.

Tatum missed a go-ahead jumper attempt. Maxey was then rewarded for his persistence through inevitable shooting ups and downs as the Sixers’ lead guard. He canned pull-up threes on the team’s next two possessions.

“He just wanted them,” Nurse said after Maxey’s 12-point fourth quarter. “I think you probably all could see that.

“He kind of looked at me for a play call and I looked at him and called, and he was like, ‘Man, I got it.’ He knew. … One of our emphases coming in was to screen better and I thought we did that tonight. Drummond and (Adem) Bona did a good job of getting him more space tonight.”

The Sixers’ foot stayed on the gas and the Celtics couldn’t create any drama down the stretch. Next on the Sixers’ agenda will be trying to grab an unlikely series lead Friday in Philadelphia.

Duke basketball is reloading, per usual.

The Blue Devils gained a commitment from former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell on Tuesday, April 21, adding one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 19.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season, earning all-Big Ten third-team honors.

REQUIRED READING: Best fits: 10 college basketball transfers who are perfect for new teams

"It just felt right," Blackwell told The Field of 68. "It felt right for me from the jump. When I talked to Coach (Jon) Scheyer and Coach (Emanuel) Dildy ... we chatted and it just felt like the right situation for me. Then when I got on campus, it just confirmed everything I was looking for."

Blackwell is ranked No. 7 in USA TODAY's transfer portal rankings, and was the No. 2 guard in the portal behind former Wake Forest star Juke Harris, who's still uncommitted.

The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native started 72 games in three seasons with the Badgers, and averaged double figures on Wisconsin's back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams. He's 1-3 in his career in March Madness, including two first-round exit upsets to No. 12 seeds High Point and James Madison in 2026 and 2024, respectively.

Blackwell will likely start in the backcourt alongside returning guard Cayden Boozer and potentially Isaiah Evans, who's still mulling a 2026 NBA Draft decision. Dame Sarr and Caleb Foster could also return to Duke, with incoming Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski and returning center Patrick Ngongba likely handling frontcourt duties.

Blackwell was huge down the stretch for Wisconsin, scoring 25 points in the Badgers' regular season finale win over Purdue, before dropping 34 against Washington and 31 against Illinois in back-to-back Big Ten tournament games. He also scored 22 points in Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament loss to High Point.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Blackwell commits to Duke basketball via transfer portal

For years, LeBron James and Marcus Smart have shared the court. However, it’s often been on opposing sides.

Smart, a longtime Celtic, faced off against James when he was a Cavalier for countless regular-season games and in the postseason during the 2010s.

Cleveland got the better of Boston during those battles, winning the Eastern Conference four times in the decade.

During the summer, Smart joined the Lakers, and now the two foes have become teammates. They’ve gotten their first taste of playoff glory as members of the purple and gold as they beat the Rockets to win Game 1 of their opening round series.

After the win, Smart spoke about loving playing alongside LeBron James after years on the other side.

“It’s been great,” Smart said. “Being able to see why he’s considered one of the greatest to do it. The way that he prepares for the playoffs, it’s a whole different mentality for him than the regular season. We see it, you guys see it, but as a teammate, to be able to be there watching him get prepared, watching the things he’s doing to get himself ready, I’m glad I’m on his side this time.”

This isn’t the first time Smart has talked about the joys of playing with LeBron. He mentioned his excitement regarding playing with James in the summer after signing with the Lakers.

As a 12-year veteran, Smart knows what a winning mentality looks like. He exudes it every day, in every way possible, through his on-court play, practice regimen and media appearances.

Obviously, he understood that LeBron has this too, but now he is seeing it up close, in a way only a teammate can. With Luka and Austin Reaves out, the duo has become two of the most important leaders on the team.

Considering that LeBron is an All-Star in his own right, and Smart is a defensive initiator, this is a great pairing to have as the playoffs begin.

They’ve already proven they can have success together at this level by winning Game 1. They’ll look to continue stacking up victories during the rest of the NBA playoffs, and this time, they’ll do it together.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.