Category: NBA

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The NBA Play-In Tournament seems like a cruel joke on those Western Conference teams battling for the final two seeds. Waiting in Round 1 is either the Thunder or Spurs, which is like asking, “Would you rather wrestle a lion or a tiger?”

The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns tip off the Play-In tonight, fighting for the No. 7 seed. These Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks pass on the side and total, and instead poke around for a trio of NBA player props.

Best Trail Blazers vs Suns props

Player	Pick
Dillion Brooks	Over 3.5 rebounds	-140
Toumani Camara	Under 12.5 points	-102
Devin Booker	Over 2.5 threes	+150

Prop #1: Dillon Brooks Over 3.5 rebounds

-140 at bet365

This is a battle of two very strong defensive teams that like to shoot the 3-ball. What doesn’t go in will turn into long rebounding opportunities, and Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks isn’t shy about mixing it up on the glass.

Brooks, who averages around 3.5 rebounds, has hauled in 4+ boards in 19 of his last 28 games. That includes four rebounds in a win over Portland on February 3 (as Brooks missed 18 games with a busted hand this winter). He averaged 8.1 rebounding chances during that 28-game span.

He played just 21 minutes in the season finale and has been working his way back into form since returning to the lineup at the end of March. He’ll be a full go for this Play-In contest with projections sitting between 3.4 and 5.0 rebounds.

Prop #2: Toumani Camara Under 12.5 points

-102 at bet365

Portland Trail Blazers guard Toumani Camara is Portland's biggest outside threat, knocking down 2.7 triples per contest. He faces a drum-tight Phoenix perimeter that allows the second-lowest opponent 3-point rate, giving up only 12.2 makes from distance per game. 

Camara was especially active from outside during Portland's late-season push, jacking up 6+ shots from beyond the arc in 10 of his final 11 games (8.5 3PA per game). His scoring jumped to 18.2 per contest in that span and dragged up scoring prop totals to as high as 15.5 O/U.

Tonight’s tilt in Phoenix will be played at a slow pace with postseason intensity, and Camara (who was drafted by Phoenix) will absolutely be circled on the Suns’ pregame whiteboard.

He scored six, 12, and 13 points over his three meetings with Phoenix this season, shooting a combined 7-for-24 from outside (29%). Player forecasts range from 10.0 to 13.1 points for Camara tonight, with most models short of his scoring total.

Prop #3: Devin Booker Over 2.5 threes

+150 at bet365

Devin Booker’s 3-point prop is bouncing between a juicy Over 1.5 and Over 2.5, which is paying plus-money. 

He hasn’t been the sharpest shooter in the second half of the schedule, firing at a 33.8% clip since the All-Star break and knocking down an average of two triples over his last 13 games. 

That said, Booker enters the Play-In well rested and ready to log major minutes after sitting out the final two regular-season outings. 

Before that, he was on a scoring tear in his last six showings, averaging almost 32 points and making 2.7 shots from distance with 3+ triples in three of those outings.

Projections for Tuesday have Booker pegged between 2.0 and 2.4 makes from long range. Given the fact he’s Phoenix’s go-to scorer and his propensity to step up to the postseason pressure (averages 2.3 3PM), I’ll grab the higher return on Over 2.5 threes.

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There is no indication Steph Curry is about to retire, but each postseason that passes lessens his chances of another dramatic playoff run, the kind every basketball fan should hope for.

The Golden State Warriors know those are the stakes, hence emphasizing veterans, unlike the Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to thread the needle of reinvention while starring Kawhi Leonard.

These Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks default to trusting Golden State’s veterans on Wednesday, April 15.

Our best Warriors vs Clippers SGP for April 15

Steph Curry has been shooting well since he returned from a knee injury, hitting 41.7% of his shots from beyond the arc in four games back in the lineup. And he has been shooting often, taking nine 3-pointers per game.

He has not been setting up his teammates that often, however. That is, to some degree, a negative reflection of this Golden State roster. How often is Curry going to look for Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos?

He's averaged only 3.5 assists in his return, down from an already pedestrian 4.8 on the season before his knee injury.

Instead, Draymond Green is moving the ball. Of course he is. The last few years of Green’s play have hinged entirely on Curry’s availability. With Steph in the lineup, Draymond has hinted at his past excellence.

He has thus averaged 8.3 assists in the three games he and Curry have overlapped in the last week. Setting up Curry may be the last thing Draymond Green is genuinely good for.

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The Detroit Pistons won 60 games for the third time in team history. That was good enough to lock up the top seed in the East.

That means that play-in tournament results will shape the beginning of the Pistons’ playoff journey. Detroit has not reached these heights in a while, and they did it in the best Eastern Conference play-in bracket to date.

With the season Detroit put up, “fear” is not in their vocabulary. The Pistons would happily take on any of these four teams and aim to destroy them with relentless pressure and a togetherness that has dominated the NBA.

While it is true Detroit will sign up to play anybody and be favored against them in round one, some teams play a more favorable style that Detroit can take advantage of.

Who is the most dangerous potential Pistons first-round matchup?

8 seed Orlando Magic, 45-37

The Orlando Magic were supposed to be one of the top teams in the East after their offseason. The Desmond Bane trade was massive, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were supposed to take leaps. Yet here they are in the play-in for the second straight year. Injuries, tour date shooting, and a backsliding defense put the Magic in this position.

Orlando is supposed to be a gritty team like Detroit, but their defense fell off. The Magic had the 3rd best defense last year. They had solid rim protection, positional size, and a togetherness that held teams in check.

Now the Magic are the 13th-ranked defense. They have lost that elite identity overall, but Orlando is heading into the postseason playing good ball defensively. They have the seventh-best defense over the last two weeks, removing garbage time. Orlando has the second best defensive pedigree among these four teams.

They have not lived up to expectations, but the Magic could put a dent in the questionable Pistons halfcourt offense. When healthy and available, Jalen Suggs is the type of defender that would get under Cade and stay on his hip.

But the Magic offense? That is still a struggle fest.

The addition of Bane has not paid top-tier dividends yet. He played all 82 and shot it efficiently, but the offensive woes in Orlando remain. Banchero has not been able to put it together for long stretches. He has been up and down. His shot selection is still puzzling.

Sometimes I watch and wonder whether he settles so much because he cannot get past defenders consistently. Then he will have a night where the shots are falling, and it’s like, yeah, that is why he keeps shooting (Banchero taking 2s works in Detroit’s favor, hot or not).

To his credit, Banchero has been a playoff riser, and he has shot the ball at an inferno level in the high-stakes game. Teams will still prefer him shooting jumpers over attacking the paint.

Overall, Banchero is much more dangerous when putting his shoulder down and attacking defenders. He is one of the best foul drawers in the league. That chink in his armor is one thing Detroit should be concerned about in this potential matchup.

Franz Wagner is arguably the Magic’s most impactful player, and he is back in the lineup. Wagner has a more free-flowing game than Banchero. Wagner is a more plug-and-play player. He does not need the ball to be impactful; he is a connective passer and a decisive cutter. Wagner has had low moments in the playoffs, but his usual steady play is something to account for. Wagner gets to the line too, so Detroit must be disciplined.

The Pistons destroy teams in the paint on both ends, they get out in transition after forcing turnovers, smother teams defensively, and they foul. They foul a lot.

With Detroit leading the league with 22 personal fouls per game, Banchero and Wagner will look to initiate contact and sit Pistons defenders down. Banchero and Wagner are in the 96th and 95th percentile on shot attempts they were fouled on.

Banchero can be 4-16 from the field but best believe he will shoot at least 10 free throws to bring up his point total. He is a handful when he is not forcing jumpers.

Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed, Javonte Green, and probably even Cade Cunningham would see some Banchero minutes, and they would need to stay focused on cutting off driving lanes so Banchero can settle for tough pull-up 2s.

Banchero is very willing to settle, but if you do not cut him off, he will get you in foul trouble. If Detroit stays disciplined, it could be the first team to make Banchero look like his regular-season self in the playoffs.

Tristan Da Silva is one of Orlando’s better shooters who will be on top of the shooters’ scouting report, along with Bane. Orlando has talent in their big 3, but they have not been able to put it together all year. It is tough to imagine they flip the script against a Pistons squad that has been on a string since November. The Pistons’ halfcourt concerns should not show its head as much against an up-and-down Magic defense.

Orlando sells out to protect the 3-point line rather than holding down the paint. The points in the paint leaders in Detroit are licking their chops seeing that type of philosophy.

On the danger scale, Orlando gets a 4/10. You cannot be arrogant, thinking this time will bend the knee because Detroit won 60 games. Banchero has shown up in the playoffs, and Wagner and Bane are great players. That said, this special defense and deep unit in Motown would be too much for Orlando.

7 seed Philadelphia 76ers, 45-37

Philly was the most dangerous team when I initially started this process. Joel Embiid has not broken through in the playoffs, but he is so much to deal with. He is not a player you willingly sign up to play, even with his checkered playoff history. Healthy Embiid with a 28-PPG scorer and Paul George by his side makes Philly a top-heavy unit. Embiid is not healthy again, though.

Embiid just had surgery for appendicitis. There is no timetable for his return. It sucks that a talented big like him cannot stay healthy for an extended period of time. It is difficult to be confident in the 76ers when their best player is a question mark.

For pockets of this season, Tyrese Maxey emerged as the guy. His play (28 PPG – #5) was so strong that it would make one think maybe Philly will be okay without Embiid. Time will tell if that is true, but that would not be the case against the Pistons.

Detroit smothers anyone, but small guards get it worse. Without the Embiid safety valve, Maxey would constantly see a crowd of junkyard defenders.

There is talent around Maxey, though it is a far cry from being next to Embiid. Paul George is playing his best ball in years after returning from a 25-game suspension. George looks rejuvenated. His 39-point effort on April 1 looked like the old PG. Detroit has matchups for him as well. Ron Holland, Green, and others can all make George struggle. Those same defenders will make it hard on VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes.

Grimes and Edgecombe are Philly’s microwave guys. They go through ebbs and flows but can torch you randomly. Grimes is a solid finisher, while Edgecombe has made five or more 3s seven times this year. The wings in Detroit will not allow it to be easy for those two.

Philly does not turn the ball over often. They rank sixth in turnover percentage. That is against everybody, though. Everybody is not Detroit. Philly was not as safe with the rock on the April 4 loss to Detroit.

That was just one game, but the Pistons do that to everybody. Philly does not have the manpower to handle that pressure, even with a healthy Embiid. He has battled with turnovers his whole playoff career.

Nick Nurse is a championship-winning coach. Some question if he is still operating at that level. He does not maximize movement shooters (see Jared McCain). But Nurse was seen as an in-game adjustment wizard in Toronto. That was a while ago.

The culture and buy-in JB Bickerstaff has established in Detroit makes it hard to easily give Nurse the coaching advantage due to playoff success from the late 2010s. Bickerstaff has outcoached Nurse this season.

With Embiid’s health in the air, who is going to contain Duren? Duren would be a lot for Embiid himself. Adem Bona has put together a good year, but he will be in for a rude awakening if he is the one guarding Duren in round one. Andre Drummond would not fare much better.

The 76ers would have the top-end talent advantage if Embiid were 100 percent. He is not. Philly is not better offensively or defensively. They do not have a deeper bench. One could argue that Detroit has the better coach.

There is not much working in Philly’s favor in a potential match-up with the Pistons. Philly gets to the line a lot. With how handsy and active Detroit is, foul trouble is a potential problem against most teams. It pays that the Pistons are deep.

Philly and Orlando face off in the seven/eight play-in game. The winner clinches the seventh seed and takes on the Boston Celtics in round one. Interestingly, the more dangerous teams are the lower seeds in the play-in tournament. Detroit would be favored against Miami or Charlotte, but they bring some clear advantages.

10 seed Miami Heat, 43-39

Erik Spoelstra has turned water into wine a few times. The Miami Heat overachieved in 2020 and 2023. Granted, Jimmy Butler turned into a top-five player, and random role players popped off during these runs. One could argue that it is elite coaching that empowered those players to have career moments. Spo has proven he can make in-game and series adjustments.

Miami’s advantages over Detroit come down to coaching and experience. JB Bickerstaff should win Coach of the Year (Joe Mazulla is great, but this is JB’s), but he is not a proven playoff coach like Spo. Cade and company have not won a playoff series yet, either, while Bam Adebayo was the No. 2 option on those overachieving Heat squads. Experience and coaching will always be relevant, but Detroit has the talent on its side. On both sides of the ball.

The Heat does not have an elite playmaker who sets the table for himself and others, but that has not stopped them from having the 11th-ranked half-court offense. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are snipers. Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware shot the rock with confidence all year.

The Heat’s no-pick-and-roll offense resulted in more success than last year’s offense. Jamie Jaquez Jr. has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this new offense. He thrives driving to the paint and has more space now. Ball movement can open up lanes when teams cannot fly around with precision (Detroit can).

Though Miami has had some success relative to where they were last year, it is difficult to visualize a team having playoff success running virtually zero PnRs when the game slows down in the playoffs.

The Heat also play with the fastest pace, which contributes to their 120 points per game. But again, things slow down in the playoffs. We will see if Miami tinkers with its playstyle. First, they must win two straight on the road to even make the playoffs.

Miami banks on ball movement and attacking closeouts. The Pistons have the defensive personnel to stick with the Heat. That could limit the Heat’s offense. If the Heat cannot get a team in scramble mode, it is tough for them to attack in space.

On the other side, the Heat have a battle tested defense that would probably have the best scheme for Detroit. We have seen teams push the “put two on Cade and live with the results” button. New York did some of that in the playoffs last year. The Heat have the personnel to do this as well. Andrew Wiggins is rangy, Pelle Larsson is in the NBA to defend and bring energy, Dru Smith and Davion Mitchell are constant pests, and Adebayo covers the whole thing. This team has the best shot of “exposing” the Pistons halfcourt concerns.

The half court offense concerns have been there all year for Detroit. As of late, the team has improved from there and the shooting is making a difference. Detroit has a top 10 halfcourt offense since April 1. Some of those games came without Cade. This is a team with insane depth.

If the Pistons shooters continue to make shots, doubling Cade becomes less effective because he make any pass in the book.

Putting two on Cade also opens up Duren who would have an opportunity to outplay one of the best defensive bigs in the league should Detroit face Miami.

Cade and this version of Duren are potentially the best players in a series with the Heat. Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the game. He is versatile and should at least make second-team All Defense this season.

On offense, Adebayo has the shot diet of a wing. His shots from the rim have steadily dropped over the years. That is killing Adebayo’s efficiency. Cade is a no-brainer, but Duren has clearly been better than Adebayo this season. Duren outplaying Adebayo in the playoffs would be massive.

Miami has the coaching advantage, but that has not always been enough to make up for the talent gap (see 2021 round one vs Milwaukee).

Miami’s danger scale rating would be a 5/10. They do not have the offensive firepower to shoot through Detroit. Defensively, Miami will be prepared, but Detroit loves those ugly, drawn-out defensive battles. The Pistons live for that. Spo would have the Heat ready to play, but the Pistons are deep and well-coached. They would be ready too.

9 seed Charlotte Hornets, 44-38

If the season started in January, these Hornets would have home court in the playoffs. The Hornets are 33-16 since the new year. For the full season, they are fifth in offense and seventh in point differential.

All in all, the Hornets are an elite offensive unit that is a lot better than their record suggests. Their turnovers could be their death sentence against a pick-6 Pistons team, but the Hornets are the goods.

LaMelo Ball leads the top-flight offense. Throughout Ball’s career, He has been singled out due to questionable pass and shot selection. Some thought he was too fancy, but there was always magic in his madness. It is on full display now that he is healthy and playing alongside teammates who attract attention.

Kon Knueppel Bball-Index’s 3PT shot quality is a D. The lower the grade, the less open the shot is. Knueppel is a rookie every team in the league glues to because he led the league in 3-point makes, shooting a staggering 42.5 percent from deep. He was first in 3s, and Ball was second. Ball spreading it around, and the Hornets’ accuracy from deep makes them a legit threat for anybody.

The Hornets have the second-highest 3-point rate with garbage time removed, only trailing the Golden State Warriors. 45 percent of Charlotte’s shots come from 3. Unlike GSW, the Hornets are one of the most accurate teams from distance.

Knueppel, Ball, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, and Coby White all garner attention from 3 and can all attack closeouts. If Detroit did not have multiple defenders who could switch screens and chase without a hiccup, the Hornets would shoot right through them.

The paint battle is a non-negotiable for Detroit in a potential Charlotte matchup. The Pistons are third in offensive rebound percentage, while the Hornets do not give up many offensive rebounds. It would be a battle between the melee participants from earlier this season.

Moussa Diabaté is arguably the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounder in the league. He loves snagging boards and kicking it out for Hornets trey balls.

Duren and Isaiah Stewart have to take that edge away from Diabaté. The Hornets’ offense is too explosive to give them multiple opportunities to succeed. Miles Bridges is in the front court with Diabaté. He is not a premier offensive rebounder, but he is a big body you have to box out.

Grant Williams is one of the Hornets’ backup bigs, and he can play. We have seen him drill seven 3s in a Game 7 (2022 Celtics vs Bucks). That is another gritty shooter Detroit will not leave open.

You cannot leave many Hornets players open, but they are not a lockdown team with brilliant individual defenders. Charles Lee has had his guys on a string, but we will see how his guys handle being hunted in the playoffs. Can Ball hold up with constant planned attacks? What about Knueppel? He has been good, but the playoffs and regular season could not be more different.  

The Cade and Duren PNR could have a ton of success against this Hornets team. Those beeline drives off Duren screens and the lob to Duren on the roll could be Detroit’s bread and butter.

Charlotte’s defense has been solid, but they still give up more shots at the rim than average. Detroit lives in the paint and could beat Charlotte up inside.

3 is worth more than 2, and this series could paint that picture very clearly, but Detroit has a special defense that could make the Hornets play their style of play. Neither team is crazy experienced, but this Detroit group did go through trials and tribulations last year together.

The Hornets have a superior offense, while Detroit has more than enough scrappers to chase and hound Hornets creators/shooters. This would be a competitive series and could go the ugly way if Charlotte went berserk from deep. The Hornets have some Jameis Winston in them. They can throw for 5,000 yards but also lead the league in picks.

Ball is solid with the rock, as his turnover percentage is in the 63rd percentile among point guards. Charlotte as a whole turns it over like you get points for it. Every starter would be liable to give it to the Pistons besides Ball and Bridges.

Being turnover-prone against these Pistons is like a nail in the coffin because they force turnovers with the best of them. Ausar led the league in steals, Holland and Green were some of the best bench thieves, and Reed’s hands are super sticky. Even Kevin Huerter is in on the action so far in Detroit. The inexperienced Hornets already turn it over a lot, and Detroit would look to intensify that.

The Hornets have a superior offense, but I would predict that the Pistons’ defense could contain the Hornets. Detroit’s paint presence on both sides of the ball could wear down the thin Hornets. Detroit has the best player in the series by a good margin, so that always helps. Cade will be on a mission to earn those playoff stripes.

Charlotte is the most dangerous of the four play-in teams. Detroit sent a message to the Hornets during the last week of the regular season. The Hornets have been a great team in the second half of the year, but the Pistons are still a step above. This potential first-round series would be a hard-fought 6-game series if I were a betting man. The Pistons’ defense, paint presence, and relentless pressure could crack the volatile Hornets.

Stats via Cleaning The Glass, Bball-Index, PivotFade, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference

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The drama in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament should be at a fever pitch, with Steve Ballmer’s arena going against Steph Curry.

There may be other names involved when the Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, but all eyes will be on the Dubs' superstar point guard.

My Warriors vs. Clippers predictions and these NBA picks trust Curry on Wednesday, April 15.

Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with the game airing on Prime Video.

Warriors vs Clippers prediction

Who will win Warriors vs Clippers?

Warriors:I won’t do it. I will not bet against Steph Curry when his season is on the line. No one expects Golden State to go on some magical run this postseason, but a win or two to spark the NBA’s interest this week? That is reasonable.

More sincerely, the Clippers backed into the postseason in a worrying way. Twice in the last two weeks, they had clear chances to hold onto a spot in the preferred half of the Play-In Tournament, instead losing twice outright to Portland.

Win either of those games, both obvious opportunities, and the Clippers’ postseason hopes look much brighter. Dropping the ball then inspires no faith now.

Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes (+125)

Do you really want to bet against Steph Curry in a single-elimination moment? Sure, some of you are too young to remember the Davidson run in March of 2008, but everyone saw the 2024 Olympics gold medal game against France, right?

You want to bet against that?

Obviously, sportsbooks have raised this 3-pointer prop because they recognize just how lethal Curry can be, but that now means we get plus-money odds on the Golden State Warriors’ superstar doing what he does best.

Worry not that he has been back for only four games since his knee injury. Curry shot 5-for-10 from deep in his first game back, part of shooting 15-for-36 (41.7%) from beyond the arc in those four games.

And the Los Angeles Clippers are only middling defending against 3-pointers, ranking No. 16 in both opponent 3-pointer frequency and percentage made since James Harden left the rotation. Recognize, No. 16 in the NBA at this point of the season is actually a massive worry.

This may be the end of the Warriors’ relevancy in the Curry era, ending not with a “Bang!” but with a whimper, but rest assured, Curry will go down firing.

Warriors vs Clippers same-game parlay

Curry’s ball movement has been a bit slow since his return. Then again, this roster never really allowed Curry to move the ball much, averaging just 4.8 assists before he missed two months with a knee injury. Dropping to 3.5 assists per game in the last four is not terribly glaring in that context.

Draymond Green has been moving the ball, however. He's played in three of Curry’s four games back, averaging 8.3 assists in those three games. There may be a sample size worry in that thought, but if anyone is going to excel with Curry’s return, it is Green.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: One last ride!

For one more night, perhaps one last night, two of the three key pieces to this Warriors dynasty can rekindle those memories. No “Wall” will bother Curry or Green.

They have faced Kawhi Leonard countless times before, and with veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis now their running mates, Golden State as a whole should embrace this road atmosphere.

Warriors vs Clippers SGP

• Steph Curry Over 4.5 threes
• Steph Curry Under 4.5 assists
• Draymond Green Over 5.5 assists
• Warriors moneyline

Warriors vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Warriors +5 (-110) | Clippers -5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +165 | Clippers -200
• Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Clippers betting trend to know

All four matchups between these two teams went Under their totals this season and by an average of 17.25 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Clippers.

How to watch Warriors vs Clippers

Warriors vs Clippers latest injuries

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The shirt was white, the sweater blue and the tie spiffy. Diamond studs sparkled in both of VJ Edgecombe’s earlobes, and he wore Gucci sunglasses. Indoors. At night.

Impressive as the ensemble was, Tyrese Maxey was thinking more about the calendar than he was clothing as his backcourt partner strutted across the Sixers’ locker room Sunday night, after they beat Milwaukee in the final game of Edgecombe’s first NBA regular season.

Rather, Maxey was mulling what lies ahead – play-in purgatory against Orlando on Wednesday night. And, possibly, the playoffs beyond.

He was thinking, too, about the season Edgecombe has fashioned. How he unveiled a 34-point effort in his very first game, in Boston, and from that point on tailored his game to fit the team’s needs.

Defense and athleticism? Sure, everybody knew the Bimini native would provide those things when the Sixers made him the third overall pick last June. But ball-handling and shot creation? They were a bonus. And clutch scoring? From a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until July? Double bonus.

So as Edgecombe neared the pack of reporters that had gathered at the far side of the room, Maxey made an announcement.

“He ain’t a rookie no more,” he hollered.

Not that he ever looked like one, no matter his attire. As veteran center Andre Drummond said, Edgecombe’s belief in himself was evident from the “first game, first practice, the day he walked in.”

“He walked in like, ‘I’m here,’” Drummond added.

And he never wavered. He finished with averages of exactly 16 points a game, as well as just under six rebounds and just over four assists. His shooting numbers – .438/.354/.818 – were acceptable, and figure to get better in the years ahead.

Edgecombe won’t win Rookie of the Year – that honor will surely go to one of two Dookies, the Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg or the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel – but there’s little doubt he will be a big part of the team’s future.

“It’s amazing what VJ has done this past season,” Drummond said, and again he mentioned the rookie’s self-assurance.

“Maybe it’s just the generation of kids that are coming up now,” the 32-year-old said, “because I could say that for all the guys in the draft. They just have this confidence and swag that they play with.”

Kids these days, amirite?

Drummond broke in at age 19 with the Pistons, in 2012-13. Though he averaged nearly eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes a night that season, he remembers being “timid” – that he was “trying to figure out how to fit in and how to make it work.”

“And then with these guys now it’s just like, ‘It’s my show’ – like, ‘I’m here to take over,’” Drummond said. “And it’s pretty dope to see what VJ has done this year, and the games he’s won for us and just his confidence, man. I’ve got to speak on the confidence. It’s insane, and I love that for him. It was there right away.”

Nick Nurse clearly believed in Edgecombe as well, seeing as he used him 35 minutes a night over the 75 games the rookie was available, equaling the league’s 10th-highest rate. (Maxey led the NBA at 38 minutes a game.)

And hey, that was fine with Edgecombe.

“Not one complaint,” he said. “Sometimes I used to get mad when I had to come off the court, but now I realize it’s for the best.”

He made the most of his time, improving so much as a ball-handler that he now jokes he is “PG1” – i.e., the team’s No. 1 point guard, ahead of Maxey. He also shone in clutch situations, shooting 58.7 percent when the spread was five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

That came as a surprise to Nurse, as did Edgecombe’s “ability to go get a basket with the shot clock winding down, or just when we need a bucket to keep the scoreboard moving, or make one in the fourth quarter.”

“I think he had all the other stuff kind of coming out of the gates … the defense, the rebounding, the shot-blocking, all those kinds of things,” the coach added.

While it was not readily apparent, Edgecombe did say there was something of an adjustment period, that it took until midseason for the game to slow down for him.

“I ain’t gonna sit and act like it took me two games,” he said. “Nah, it took (until) about halfway through. I mean, even now, it’s still kind of slowing down.”

But he never did. The Bucks’ coaches showed video clips of each of the Sixers in their locker room before Sunday’s game, and the captions under Edgecombe’s highlights were reflective of his nature: “Sprinting in transition. … Aggressive in transition. …. DHO (i.e., dribble handoff) attack – trying to get downhill. … Physical finisher. … ISO (i.e., isolation) – physical. … Crashing the glass.”

He shot a tepid 4-for-11 from the floor while scoring nine points in the 126-106 victory, but handed out 11 assists while turning the ball over just once. And his overall late-season production has been impressive. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 18.9 points a game in March, including his two biggest scoring games of the season, a 38-pointer against Sacramento on March 19 and a 35-pointer against Oklahoma City four days later.

All of which made him wonder about the commonly held notion that rookies hit the so-called wall at this time of year.

“I’m not too sure where the rookie wall is,” he said. “Maybe someone can explain it to me. Obviously the season had its ups and downs. I’ve had my ups and downs. We’re human. I just try to keep building daily, just to make sure I’m bringing my best foot forward every night.”

No doubt he has some fine shoes to wear while doing so. Because it seems abundantly clear that VJ Edgecombe is all dressed up and has someplace to go. Someplace that nobody else might have envisioned, but a place he sees very clearly through those Gucci sunglasses.

Warriors star Steph Curry shares ‘surreal' reaction to Darius Garland's praise originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wednesday’s NBA play-in tournament game between the Warriors and Clippers already has plenty of storylines, so why not add one more?

Clippers guard Darius Garland had high praise for Steph Curry after the 115-110 win over Golden State on Sunday.

“It’s pretty cool going against a top-75 guy like that, first ballot Hall of Famer,” Garland said. “It will be cool just to compete with a guy like that. The skill and the ability that he has, that affected me and the way that I play.”

Garland is averaging 18.8 points and 6.7 assists per game, filling some of the void left after James Harden was dealt to Cleveland.

“It’s super cool to see that on the other end, Garland continued. It’s gonna be fun. Any time you play against a top-75 guy like that or a first ballot Hall-of-Famer or someone that you’re inspired by or looked up to and watched when you’re growing up, it’s always super cool to go against him and go at him a little bit. I’m super excited about that, but my main goal is trying to win the game, so that’s all that matters to me.”

Garland was a former first-round pick for the Cavaliers and helped get Cleveland back on the map as a true contender before being traded to Los Angeles. Curry responded to Garland’s comments with nothing but gratitude.

“It’s surreal that you’re this deep into your career and you have that influence,” Curry responded. “He was a guy when he first showed up in Cleveland that you knew was gonna be a problem in the league just because of his skillset, his composure, obviously his speed.

The 38-year-old will do his best to keep up with Garland’s speed on Wednesday night in a win-or-go-home scenario.

“He’s just a gamer. I know he’s been dealing with some injuries early in the year and over the course of his career,” Curry added. “But when he’s out there, he’s always a threat. It’s great to see him continue to grow, and even in a new setting, continuing to figure it out.”

No matter the outcome of Wednesday’s play-in game, there is no love lost between these two elite point guards.

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When I was home sick from school as a kid, a common tradition in our house was watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In one of the movie’s most notable moments, Matthew Broderick speaks directly to the audience and says, “Life moves pretty fast, and if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.” I can’t help but think, as the Detroit Pistons wrap up a historic 60-win season, that it’s easy to get caught up in what’s next and forget to savor the beauty of the present. As this amazing team gears up for a postseason run, and the eyes of fans turn to the play-in tournament to scout for the best matchups, I sense fans overlooking the moment itself. Certainly, there’s time and reason to worry about these things, but let’s not soon forget where we were as a franchise and fanbase just two seasons ago.

Like many, I grew up watching the “Goin’ to Work” iteration of the Pistons. As they won 50-plus games year after year, it almost became easier to focus on their shortcomings rather than their triumphs. So instead of appreciating their run of six consecutive conference finals appearances, I often found myself disappointed that they only won one finals, or lamenting their lack of offense and star power in the playoffs. Of course, for about the next 20 years, we became painfully aware of how much we had taken Ben Wallace and co.’s success for granted. As the 2010s dragged into the 2020s, there was little to no hope for a once-proud franchise. And in the bargaining stage of grief, I vowed to never take for granted the Pistons playing meaningful basketball again, if and when that ever happened. Heck, I was desperate enough to just settle for seeing the team represented in the All-Star Game.

Fast forward to this season, where the team came out of the gates fast and never let up. But even as the wins mounted despite injuries and suspensions to key players, there seemed to be a large section of the NBA media, and Pistons fans alike, who remained skeptical. Much of the year, the narrative around this team was focused on the holes in the roster rather than what was going right. Questions such as “does this group have enough shooting?” or “Who is going to score come playoffs other than Cade?” constantly swirled around the team, no matter how much success they had. And that’s peculiar, because just two years ago, the organization was huddling up to make decisions on the futures of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver. Now, instead of focusing on Cade Cunningham officially stamping his name amongst the best in the game, admiring Jalen Duren’s rise to All-NBA caliber player, or marveling at this team’s embrace of the rugged, defense-first mentality of Pistons championship teams of the past, we instead wondered if the team had enough shooting or shot creation. How are fans making the same mistake again? Listen, I get it, these are real questions that will soon have answers. But I see fans again overlooking the team’s success, as they did when it was contending for titles in the Palace of Auburn Hills.


This is supposed to be the fun part.

The team is still on the rise. They are still a year away from becoming accountable to real playoff expectations. Young teams rarely go unscathed in the postseason, and the Pistons may be no exception. Or maybe they will be. They have a fantastic young core that they don’t yet have to consolidate. The East is relatively weak at the top. The roster is fully healthy for the first time in months. Maybe Daniss Jenkins will prove to be the secondary creator that we hoped Jaden Ivey would be. Maybe Duncan Robinson will hold up defensively in crunch time. Maybe Duren and Ausar Thompson will build on their playoff synergy from last year. Maybe not. If they flame out in April or May, so be it. Collecting battle scars is part of the climb for most championship teams. But don’t forget to first, even if for just a moment, enjoy where we are. There is not a single Pistons fan who wouldn’t have signed up to take their chances in the playoffs with a gritty, overachieving, yet potentially flawed roster just two short years ago.

The expectations, they’re coming. The scrutiny of the roster is coming too, like a freight train. The calls to mortgage the future for the present, they’re on the horizon. Depending on what happens beginning Sunday, much will be written one way or another. But that’s for a later day. In the meantime, don’t forget to stop and look around. Your Detroit Pistons are the one seed in the Eastern Conference, inconceivable just 18 months ago. Don’t miss the chance to savor this moment before things get hard.

Though OG Anunobyis an integral piece of the Knicks' lineup on both ends of the floor, defensive versatility remains his calling card. 

The defensive demon can check opponents one-on-one, but he’s also a quality help defender. Anunoby’s two-way ability will be crucial to New York’s first round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, making him an X-factor for the series.

Anunoby is coming off another strong regular season. In 67 games, the 6-7 forward averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. 

Though he’s not one of New York’s two All-Stars on the roster, Anunoby might be the club’s most impactful player. When he’s on the floor, the Knicks are an elite team. When he sits, they're good, but not great. That’s been the case for the past few years since the Knicks acquired the forward in a 2023 trade from the Raptors. 

This season, New York had a plus-9.2 net rating in the 2,224 minutes that Anunoby played. That number plummeted to plus-3.5 with him on the bench.

A candidate for the NBA’s all-defensive team this season, expect Anunoby to be all over the floor on that end. In New York’s 108-105 win against the Hawks last week, Anunoby started the game defending Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu as New York hid Karl-Anthony Towns on guard Dyson Daniels. 

It allowed him to impact the game as a help defender. When Anunoby played with the bench early in the second quarter, he guarded the Hawks' leading scorer, Jalen Johnson. The Hawks don’t have a traditional point guard and play four-to-five players who are listed from 6-5 to 6-8, so Anunoby has multiple players he can be assigned to check throughout the series.

Keeping Johnson in check will be a priority for the entire Knicks lineup. A 6-8 All-Star forward, he led Atlanta in scoring, rebounds, and assists this season. He has the handle to manipulate the defense and take slower defenders on the drive. If opponents switch smaller players on him, he can bully them in the paint.

Even if Anunoby isn’t guarding Johnson for the entirety of each game, his help defense and secondary rim protection will be important to slowing down the Hawks offense.

Offensive simplicity

The Hawks have been one of the best teams in the league lately, going 20-6 after the All-Star break. Defense has been where they have excelled the most, allowing just 108.6 points per 100 possessions, the second-best figure in the NBA during that time.

On offense, Anunoby should keep the game simple like he has for most of this season. Of his 804 field goal attempts this season, 443 of them (55 percent) came without a dribble, according to NBA Stats. It’s where he’s effective as a cutter and three-point shooter from the corners.

Though he’s capable on straight line drives, Anunoby is better when he doesn’t have to put the ball on the floor. In New York’s win last week, the Hawks switched on many of the off-ball screen actions the Knicks set. They often run split actions with Towns as the playmaker at the top of the key. It has created confusion for the defense at times and easier scoring opportunities for players like Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.

Anunoby should be able to find opportunities on dives to the rim, and if the Hawks switch a smaller player on to him like CJ McCollum, there’s opportunities to attack.

Anunoby is a star in his role with the Knicks and that star should shine bright as he impacts both ends of the floor in the opening round.

The Phoenix Suns now await the Portland Trail Blazers tonight in Downtown Phoenix.

This is who most Suns fans wanted in this game, but as the old saying goes: “Be careful what you wish for.” Avoiding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers is great, but as we all know, getting what you wish for isn’t always a blessing in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers are a sneaky, deep, and athletic team. I do not expect the Suns to take them lightly.

Phoenix finished the regular season 45-37, good for the 7th seed. Portland finished a few games behind them at 42-40, which locked them into the 8th seed thanks to a tiebreaker over the Clippers.

1) Recent History: Means Nothing

The Suns won 2 of 3 games against Portland this season, with their lone loss coming in a game where they didn’t have Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen. They scored 77 points in that game. Phoenix blew them out by 17 in the opening meeting and won by five in the 2nd contest.

Last 10 Games

• Suns — 5-5 (W1)
• Blazers — 7-3 (W3)

We can throw all of that out the window now. None of it matters. As we saw in the 2024 series against Minnesota, the Suns swept them in the regular season only to get swept in the playoffs. These regular-season matchups don’t mean much. By the time the playoffs roll around, teams are typically much different versions of themselves.

2) Injury Report: Positive News

We’ve all seen it by now, and the injury report looked like a never-ending CVS receipt. It’s common this time of year for “injuries” to occur out of thin air as teams prepare for the playoffs, especially in the final days of the season.

The updated report shows some GREAT news! Grayson Allen is the only one who appears on the injury report for Phoenix. That does not mean they’re out of the woods by any means, as this is the time of year players will often play through nagging injuries. Here’s to hoping they are all as close to 100% as they can be.

On the other side, the Blazers’ only key player on the list (outside of Dame) is forward Jerami Grant, who is questionable with a right calf strain.

3) Battle of the Bigs: X-Factor

One key matchup that will not draw as many headlines will be the big man matchup between Mark Williams and Donovan Clingan. Phoenix also has Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach (unlikely the rook gets burn in a playoff setting) to throw at Portland’s big man if they need bodies or Williams finds himself in foul trouble.

Portland is a bottom-4 defense against centers this season. This is where I would love to see a “Book-Mark” duo thrive in the P&R, forcing the Blazers to make tough decisions in their defensive rotations. Phoenix must take advantage of and hunt mismatches in the halfcourt.

Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams vs. Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro. Let’s get it.

4) Playoff Play-In Book

We’ve seen the levels that Devin Booker is capable of reaching in important games. They’re going to need that version of him in a single-game elimination environment.

He’s entering the contest healthy and playing some of his best basketball of the season. Phoenix’s offense hums when he is in rhythm without forcing it, which means his teammates are going to need to knock down shots to keep Portland’s defense honest. Portland will do everything it can to throw that rhythm off and disrupt him.

Jrue Holiday has experience guarding Booker in big moments (too soon), and the Blazers have size and athleticism across the board to make it tough for him. As long as Book plays under control and within the flow of the offense, I expect a big game out of him.

Whether it’s by dropping 30+ points (efficiently) or through his playmaking chops and gravity for everyone else… we need a vintage Booker performance in this one.

5) Role Players at home

This is what swings games. Which role players will rise to the occasion? Historically speaking, role players always tend to play better at home come playoff time. Could it be a Royce O’Neale game that propels Phoenix? Will Jordan Goodwin’s chaotic energy lift them when they need it most? Or will it be a Collin Gillespie masterclass? Oh, and PLEASE DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PLAY RASHEER FLEMING IN THIS ONE. Sorry for the Jae Crowder all-caps moment, just had to emphasize it.

We shall see. Either way, Phoenix will need everyone to pitch in. Portland has a deep team as well, so the bench units, even if they aren’t tapped into as much as the regular season, will be vital in this one. If Phoenix’s role guys get outplayed by Portland on their own floor, the margin for error for Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green shrinks dramatically offensively.

So, who will it be tonight? Shoot your shot in the comments.

The 2025–26 Mavericks season didn’t just fall short of expectations. It unraveled almost immediately, forcing everyone involved to confront how fragile the foundation really was. This was a team that entered the year expecting to compete right away, expecting to be playing meaningful basketball deep into April, and instead looked disjointed from the opening week. That early loss to Washington in Game 2 wasn’t just a bad night. It felt like the first real crack. From there, it didn’t take long for the fanbase, and honestly, the organization, to realize that what Nico Harrison had envisioned was not a bold retool but a complete miscalculation. The roster lacked cohesion, the identity wasn’t there, and the “plan” never materialized. By early November, ownership made the move they almost had to make, firing Harrison after a 3–8 start, not just to change direction, but to signal accountability. It was less about fixing the team overnight and more about admitting that the path they had taken after the Finals run had gone completely off course.

From that point on, the season was defined by instability. Injuries hit key players at multiple points, forcing constant lineup changes and eliminating any chance at continuity. At the same time, trade rumors swirled around several core pieces, casting a cloud that never really lifted. On the court, that instability showed up in the way Dallas played. Jason Kidd’s “free-flow” offense was supposed to provide flexibility, and in some ways it did. It allowed players to step in and out without a rigid system breaking down. But the downside became obvious. A roster filled with players who all needed similar touches and operated in similar areas of the floor struggled to define roles. Possessions often felt random. Some nights it clicked for stretches, but more often it resulted in stagnant offense, missed shots, and a team that never developed a consistent rhythm.

The trade deadline was the moment when everything finally shifted from confusion to clarity. The Mavericks pivoted hard. Moving off the Anthony Davis centerpiece of the original Doncic deal, prioritizing draft capital, and embracing a long-term view weren’t just roster adjustments. It was the organization fully acknowledging what this season had become. More importantly, it allowed them to center everything around Cooper Flagg. With that shift, roles began to make more sense. The offense, while still inconsistent, became more purposeful because it finally had a focal point. Instead of trying to spread responsibility across a flawed roster, the Mavericks leaned into their one undeniable strength. Flagg became the engine. And for the first time all season, the basketball started to look somewhat coherent.

And that’s ultimately what this season will be remembered for. Not the losses. Not the dysfunction. But the emergence of Cooper Flagg. As the youngest player in the NBA, he didn’t just show flashes. He developed in real time into a primary creator and offensive hub. By April, he was averaging over 21 points and 5 assists, handling point guard responsibilities, and showing a level of composure that is rare even among elite prospects. His growth as a playmaker stood out the most. Early in the year, he was reacting. By the end, he was dictating. He got more comfortable getting to his spots, reading defenses, and managing possessions under pressure. His ability to shift between forward and guard roles, play through contact, and maintain production against high-level defenses speaks to both his physical and mental development. Coaches trusted him more. Teammates relied on him more. And he responded every time. The combination of skill, feel, and mentality has already pushed him into legitimate Rookie of the Year territory, and more importantly, into the conversation as a future superstar.

That’s why, despite everything, there is still a clear sense of direction. Even ownership sees it. The organization openly acknowledged that this season was “really difficult,” but emphasized that having a generational talent like Flagg provides an extraordinary opportunity to reshape the franchise. That optimism is real, but it doesn’t hide the urgency. Dumont also made it clear that this is an extremely important offseason and that the Mavericks have “a lot of work to do.” And that might be the most important takeaway. The hard part isn’t identifying the centerpiece. It’s building everything else around him correctly.

That process starts at the top. Dallas still needs to hire a president of basketball operations, someone who can establish a real identity, build a functional roster, and create a culture that this team clearly lacked throughout the year. This hire is not just about basketball decisions. It’s about direction. It’s about finally aligning the front office, coaching staff, and roster around a single vision.

From there, the decisions only get more complicated. The Mavericks have to nail their draft pick. With where they are, there’s no room for error. That player has to complement Flagg, whether that means adding guard creation, perimeter defense, or shooting. Then there’s Kyrie Irving. His presence represents both opportunity and uncertainty. Does he fit the timeline of a team building around a 19-year-old? Can he elevate this group, or does his timeline conflict with where the franchise is headed? The same questions apply, in different ways, to veterans like Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington. These are productive players, but the Mavericks have to decide whether they are part of the next version of this team or assets that can be used to reshape it.

And beyond the roster, the scope of this offseason is even larger. Ownership is exploring major infrastructure decisions, including a new arena and entertainment district that could define the franchise’s future for decades. That matters because it reflects the scale of what’s happening. This is not just a rebuild on the court. It’s a full reset of the organization’s identity, from leadership to roster to long-term vision.

That’s what makes this season so strange to evaluate. It began with expectations of immediate contention and ended with one of the most disappointing records in recent franchise history. But buried inside all of that failure is something that changes everything. The Mavericks found their cornerstone.

Now the real challenge begins.

This video is an attempt to put Cooper Flagg’s rookie season in context, and it makes some interesting points, particularly statistically.

The narrator compliments Kon Knueppel, but argues that Flagg’s season has been on a completely different level. He compares his rookie season to what LeBron James did in his first year in the league, and argues that Flagg’s is more impressive.

Various people appear here, including Kevin Durant, Colin Cowherd, and Charles Barkley, who is enormously impressed. Check out these comments he made about Flagg:

“I’ve said this before. Kobe was great later. McGrady, Garnett—the only player I had ever seen who was ready for the NBA right out of high school has been LeBron James until now. LeBron came in day one… to see a teenager play this well, uh, is incredible, man. Plain and simple.” 

“He, as a teenager, coming into the league to be that ready. To be that ready. And he is ready. But the funny thing is the thing that makes him ready is he went 20 for 29… He is a great [volume shooter] only when he’s shooting well and he doesn’t take bad shots. That’s what I [was] impressed about more. His defensive effort is probably elite as well, but his shot selection takes him to another level.” 

Flagg’s season is over now, and we get to see where he goes from here. His coach, Jason Kidd, had very brief advice for him: rest. Let your body heal up.

Flagg did have a spectacular season, but he carried a huge burden for Dallas, and Kidd is right.

Knowing Flagg, though, he’ll take a few days and get back in the gym.

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On a sunny August afternoon, I sat down with Payton Pritchard to discuss the reality that the upcoming Celtics season was being widely deemed a Gap Year.

He laughed.

“There’s only one mindset, always,” he told me then. “I’ve never been on any team in my life where the mindset wasn’t to try to compete for the championship.”

It’s the right thing to say, of course.

What kind of competitor would relent to the notion that an entire NBA season was a wash?

But I could immediately tell that he wasn’t just saying it because that was the right thing to say. All summer, I had chatted with people around the NBA — media members, executives, scouts, coaches — and almost all of them warned me I was in for a long season of losing, a significant departure from my first two years on the Celtics beat.

A 10-minute conversation with Pritchard almost single-handedly convinced me otherwise — as ridiculous as that may sound. The then-27-year-old was back in Boston, where he had begun working out with the other Celtics youngsters after spending most of the summer on the Cape with his wife, Emma. He was already getting to know the new guys and reuniting with the same Celtics coaches who led the team to 61 wins the year prior.

On this particular day, Pritchard hosted a 1-on-1 basketball tournament at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury. Afterwards, we caught up, and I began to broach the topic of the year ahead.

When I said the word “Gap Year,” Pritchard’s face quickly changed. He looked at me in the most matter-of-fact way he could, his eyes widening.

“It’s not a gap year,” he said firmly. “It’s a year to prove something, take a step, and show people that we are still that team.”

Still that team? They weren’t still that team.

In my first year covering the Celtics, they were historically dominant, winning 64 games en route to a championship. The following year, they won 61 games.

But after an unexpected elimination in the second round of the playoffs last Spring, the Celtics lost Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in salary-shedding trades, and Luke Kornet and Al Horford to free agency. Franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum was likely to miss the season with an Achilles rupture he suffered in May. However you wanted to slice it, the offseason served as a financial overhaul, and this wasn’t the same team coming back in the fall.

But Pritchard was a perennial winner, playing for an organization that’s won more titles than any other. He was a key part of the 2024 championship team, and now, he was just months removed from a Sixth Man of the Year, career-best season.

His pedigree of winning began much earlier than the pros. In college, he was the starting point guard for the Oregon Ducks for four straight years, during which time his team won 70% of its games (and the PAC-12). In high school, the Oregon native won four straight state championships.

Why would things change now?

“We’ll put the pieces together,” he told me. “And we will come out and compete, and try to win every game, and put together a great season – and go for a championship.”

I left that conversation convinced, in large part because Pritchard, much like Jaylen Brown (whom I spent time with in July), has a compelling, no-nonsense way of talking. The competitive character, as Joe Mazzulla often calls it, almost oozes out of him.

That spirit had been heralded by many. When I first started covering the Celtics, Pritchard’s college coach, Dana Altman, told me that few people in this world rival his competitive fire.

“I really admire him,” Altman said. “I’ve been able to do this for a long time, and he’s one of the most focused, hardest workers I’ve known. And he’s very competitive; he competes in practice, in games, and he hates to lose.”

Two months after Pritchard and I spoke on that hot summer afternoon, I penned a column: “The Celtics are going to be much better than you expect.” And, in 1500 words, I tried to justify why.

They’d play faster, I maintained. (That ended up being completely false — the Celtics have held the slowest pace in the entire NBA this season).

They’d lean on their three-point shooting efficiency, I wrote. That turned out somewhat true; the Celtics have hit 36.7% of their three-pointers this season, good for the 8th-best in the league. But Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White have all had down years from beyond the arc, and efficient three-point shooting is not the main driver of the team’s success this season.

More veteran players like Xavier Tillman and Chris Boucher were due for career years. That turned out wrong: neither player even survived the trade deadline.

Looking at the roster, I couldn’t quite make the basketball case for it. But a single conversation with the Celtics’ spark plug told me that the outside perception of the franchise’s incoming season was way off.

Then, the Celtics started 0-3

Three consecutive losses felt like 15 in a city so used to winning. First, the Celtics dropped a nail-biter at home to the Philadelphia 76ers. Then, they got blown out on the road by the same New York Knicks team that ended their season months earlier. And, two days after that, they got pounded on the boards in Detroit.

On October 26th, after the 119-113 loss to the Pistons, the basketball world almost definitively concluded what many had already speculated: the Celtics were poised for a season of losing.

Still, Pritchard walked off the Little Caesars Arena court alongside Mazzulla, as confident as ever.

“We said to each other: ‘This is only gonna make us stronger,’” Pritchard said. “We were going in the right direction. A lot of people didn’t think that, losing our third game. But I remembered it was like, ‘Okay, we were going to start turning the corner. And then, little by little, every day, we’re getting better and better.’”

Addressing the media after that loss to the Pistons, Pritchard sang the same tune.

Everything was going to be just fine.

The Celtics had to clean up their rebounding, and they would.

His open shots were going to fall (Pritchard shot an abysmal 17.4% from three-point range in October).

They just needed some time.

“I knew there was gonna be some adjustment period,” Pritchard told me. “A lot of people in different roles, and people seeing different matchups and different positions, really. It was gonna be an adjustment at first.”

Baylor Scheierman said the team’s togetherness was what stood out during that time.

“There was no separation in the locker room, regardless of what went on, ” he said. “There’s no separation. We stayed together. And that’s kind of how it was, through the ups and downs of the whole year.”

After the 0-3 start, the Celtics went on to win 56 of their next 79 games. Only three teams in the league — the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons — have been better in that span.

How ‘competitive character’ became the name of the game

In the Celtics locker room on Friday night, after the Celtics earned their 55th win, Pritchard turned to Jaylen Brown.

“Great season, man,” he said. “Just a great season.”

Brown nodded emphatically.

The Celtics had just secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year. Another postseason run faced them, their fifth as teammates.

“That’s a great season,” Brown said.

Eight months have passed since Payton Pritchard assured me the Celtics would be great, after he rejected the notion of the Gap Year on that hot summer day in Roxbury.

The 2025-2026 Celtics were still that team, just as he said they would be, finishing with the fourth-best record in the league.

Last week, I sat down with Pritchard to reflect on that initial August conversation and his unwavering faith in a Celtics squad most had ruled out.

Was he psychic? Did he know something we didn’t? Was it a conversation he had with Joe Mazzulla? An off-season meeting?

It turns out it was never that complicated.

“The people that were returning,” Pritchard said, “had something to prove.”

For Pritchard, that’s always been the mindset: “I live in a state of trying to prove people wrong.”

And, he feels that the locker room is filled with those kinds of players.

Luka Garza and Neemias Queta were both 2021 second-round draft picks who got their careers started in the G-League. Both players were fourth-string centers last year, and both have worked tirelessly to become key rotation players, with Queta now establishing himself as one of the best young centers in the league.

Ron Harper Jr. went undrafted and bounced around the league on four two-way contracts before landing in Boston. Jaylen Brown carries a chip on his shoulder irrespective of circumstance. The list goes on and on.

“You’ve got to credit Joe for creating a culture of that, but also Brad [Stevens] picking players that have a chip on their shoulder, that love to play basketball,” Pritchard said. “A lot of us, besides JT and JB, were late round picks, and so you got to have a chip on your shoulder to make it.”

Sam Hauser, who also went undrafted and began his career in the G League, similarly carries that edge.

“Going undrafted and feeling like you were better than some of the guys who got drafted ahead of you definitely puts a little bit of a chip on your shoulder, and you just want to go in and try to prove yourself and try to prove that you belong,” he said. “I feel like, naturally, when people write you off as a human being, or, I guess as a player, I should say, naturally, you’re just gonna have a little extra motivation.”

All year long, Joe Mazzulla has deflected praise and credited the team’s ‘competitive character.’

Earlier this month, I asked him to define what the oft-used phrase meant.

“It’s just having a group of guys that care about winning, care about the process of that. Every practice, film session, every shootaround, everything’s important,” Mazzulla said. “They just compete every single minute. That kind of defines every guy we have.”

“Guys in this locker room, every time they get a chance to play, they want to come out and prove that they’re worthy of being a rotational player, starter, or whatever it is,” Pritchard said.

When did Pritchard know it was all beginning to click?

He points to a December 1st win in Cleveland as a turning point in the season. They entered the game with a 10-9 record after dropping a close game in Minnesota. And, they were without Derrick White and Neemias Queta on the second night of a back-to-back.

Pritchard took it upon himself to lead the group to a win over one of the East’s premier teams, dropping a season-high 42 points. The Celtics, despite being shorthanded, pulled out the victory.

“That’s when I started noticing, like, ‘Okay, the pieces are coming together a little bit,’” Pritchard said.

Payton Pritchard decided to lead by example

Before the season, Pritchard and Mazzulla discussed how the team was going to approach the challenges that lay ahead.

“We talked about my mindset going into it, and how we were gonna lean on how I approach everything day-to-day, and being a leader for those young guys,” Pritchard said. “The mentality of showing up, game in, game out, and trying to prove yourself every night. That was the thing that we talked about the most – the culture of this team, how we wanted to be.”

Pritchard made a concerted effort to lead by example, handling his own fluctuating role with grace. He finished the year averaging a career-best 17 points and 5.2 assists, but his night-to-night production varied.

He started the first 49 games of the season, but was moved to the bench after the trade deadline. And, anytime he was asked, he downplayed the sacrifice that came with moving to the bench midyear: with Anfernee Simons gone, leading the second unit was simply what made sense.

A hallmark of the Celtics’ success this year has been that different players stepped up every night. Sam Hauser started 49 games. Jordan Walsh started 25. Baylor Scheierman started 20. And, for a stretch, Hugo Gonzalez looked like one of the most impactful rookies in the league.

Players cycled in and out of the rotation — but largely handled it with grace because they always knew they’d get another chance.

“It just helps everybody in the locker room to understand their moment could come,” Pritchard said. “To never get too far down and frustrated, because you might get called up in the next game.”

Pritchard, who has fallen out of the rotation plenty of times during his career — and racked up DNPs during Mazzulla’s first season at the helm — became a chief disseminator of that message.

“Keep working on your game, be a good teammate, and then, when it is your moment, everybody’s gonna be happy for you,“ he told his teammates. “And, if it’s not your moment? Be happy for the other person.”

Last year, Neemias Queta benefited from Pritchard’s guidance firsthand.

“He always preached the view of perspective – trying to see outside of the moment that you’re living in,” Queta told me. “It might not be right now, but [this time] is for you to get better and work on other stuff. You might not be getting repetition on the court, so you just want to attack your workouts with a different type of mindset, whether it’s working on your jump shot, working on defense, working on stuff that can help you right away, or eventually later on down the line. It was huge for me. Back in those days, I really took that to heart. He was able to do [those things] to get himself on the court. And I think when he told me that and [gave me] that type of assurance, it just made my life so much easier.”

On Friday night, Pritchard was awarded the Celtics’ Red Auerbach Award, an honor bestowed upon the Celtics player who best embodies the spirit of being a Celtic “through exceptional performance both on and off the court.”

Mazzulla said the 28-year-old had earned the selection through his five years with the organization: “It’s been an honor to coach him.”

“He’s been with us for some time,” Mazzulla said. “It’s just what he’s grown into and where he’s been over the course of his time. You just take a look at a guy that was constantly having to compete with other guards and not getting a ton of time — a 9th, 10th man to come in and come off the bench and spark us, and then [he entered] the starting lineup, and then back off the bench, and he’s just kind of playing.“

Pritchard feels like he’s always been a natural leader. But, in his first few years in Boston, he was far from the loudest voice in the room.

“You’re maybe not gonna speak in the locker room and hear your voice, but you can still be a leader in the way you approach every day,” he said. “You can tell a leader from the first day he walks in.”

Others have taken notice.

“In the locker room, he’s one of the most vocal guys,” Queta said. “He’s pretty much been able to communicate with all types of personalities that we have — he’s just a great teammate.”

Last week, when Pritchard reflected on our August conversation, he emphasized how much of his unwavering confidence came from simply being a part of the Boston Celtics: “You stay in a championship mindset.”

“Boston lives in a state of — a championship is the only goal,” he said. “A championship organization is, top to bottom, [about] the work ethic everybody puts in. It’s the little things. It’s the custodian at the practice facility; he shows up on time. He puts in his work. The front office does the same thing – they’re there early. The training staff, the weight room. Everybody is held to a standard of work ethic. Obviously, the players work hard, and they’re held to that standard, but it’s everybody.”

Pritchard looks at the disappointment of last year as a building block, rather than a setback. And before the year began, he decided to use it as fuel.

“Maybe that helped us for this year. If you live in that mindset of always going for it,” he trailed off. “If it doesn’t happen this year, it could happen the year after, or the year after that. It’s all building for the future.”

The Celtics’ playoffs will begin on Sunday. What their future holds remains to be seen. But one thing was certain: regardless of available personnel, regardless of how the offseason went, he was right about one thing.

These Celtics were still that team.

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Devoted NBA fans recognize how appropriate this matchup is in the NBA Play-In Tournament. If two teams both delightfully surprised their fans and largely flew below the general radar all season, they were the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns. Shining a spotlight on the pair is appropriate.

This same-game parlay, one of many Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions and NBA picks for the Play-In Tournament, respects Phoenix’s backcourt more than anything else Tuesday night.

Our best Trail Blazers vs Suns SGP for April 14

The Phoenix Suns have hardly gotten to enjoy all three of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks at the same time. A hip contusion and a hamstring worry kept Green sidelined until the All-Star Break, at which point Brooks broke his hand, and then Booker suffered an ankle concern.

The good news: All three look available for the Play-In Tournament.

The bad news: Green appeared to injure his knee last week against the Mavericks just four minutes into the game, and he may actually be limited against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

This backcourt should bother nearly any opponent if it's ever in sync and fully healthy at the same time. If that happens to be this week, then how will Portland defend all three? Devote Jrue Holiday to Booker to the best results possible, sure, but then?

The Trail Blazers best approach would be to get the ball out of Green’s hands and risk whatever damage Brooks does or does not inflict. High usage from Brooks can giveth as much as it taketh, a risk the Suns will have to take regardless of Green’s status, but even more so if he is indeed limited at all.

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.

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The Charlotte Hornets have not seen the postseason in nine years. Technically, the NBA Play-In Tournament does not end the longest active postseason drought in the league, but Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat does indeed come after the regular season.

In a literal way, welcome to the postseason, Charlotte.

These Heat vs. Hornets props and NBA picks expect the best offense in 2026 to put on a show for the home crowd on Tuesday, April 14, with Kon Knueppel leading the charge.

For more on this game, check out Jason Logan's Heat vs. Hornets predictions.

Best Heat vs Hornets props

Player	Pick
Kon Knueppel	Over 3.5 3-pointers	+140
Coby White	Over 12.5 points	-112
Tyler Herro	Over 2.5 3-pointers	-105

Prop #1: Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 3-pointers

+140 at bet365

Rookies are not supposed to find their groove this easily. Kon Kneuppel led the NBA in 3-pointers this season, outpacing Charlotte Hornets teammate LaMelo Ball by one and No. 3, Luka Doncic, by 19.

More impressively, Knueppel made 42.5% of his shots from beyond the arc, trailing only Jamal Murray’s 43.5% among players who took at least five 3-pointers per game and played a genuine season.

There is no reason to expect Knueppel to slow down now, and with this prop at plus-money, his success brings us value. Expect Knueppel to play more than his 30.4 minutes per game (averaged since Jan. 1) and take more than his 7.6 threes per game (also since Jan. 1).

Knueppel’s impressive and unexpected rookie season took the Hornets from a fun team to a dangerous one, and they should lean on that in their return to the postseason.

Prop #2: Coby White Over 12.5 points

-112 at bet365

Charlotte acquired Coby White in late February and then took some time building him into the rotation. As a backup point guard, he usually plays about 20 minutes, which makes it all the more impressive that he's averaged 16.2 points per game since March 1.

Taking 11.1 shots in 19.6 minutes per game is not light work, but it is the exact role White was asked to fill. His minutes obviously do not overlap much with Ball, so White is asked to keep the pedal pressed to the floor.

His game differs from Ball’s in a number of ways, the most obvious being Ball’s forte is dazzling passes while White looks for his own shot more. That is fine, for as long as the pace is still frenetic, Charlotte has an edge on its opponent.

White’s pace should be emphasized against the Miami Heat, a less athletic and chaotic roster.

Prop #3: Tyler Herro Over 2.5 3-pointers

-105 at bet365

Would the Heat be in this single-elimination moment if Tyler Herro had been available for more than 33 games this season? It is a fair wonder.

But in his limited action, Herro still shot 37.8% from deep this season. Remove the season finale in which he played just 22 minutes, and Herro hit 38.9% of his 3-pointers when starting while taking 6.9 per game.

He is still the same shooter he was that complemented Jimmy Butler, just a bit older and now complementing Bam Adebayo.

Miami’s best hope of keeping up with Charlotte’s offense is Herro firing away from deep. Do not be surprised if he takes eight or nine shots from beyond the arc.

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.

This season, all the playoffs will be added to a nationally televised broadcast schedule.

In the past, the first round of playoffs featured the local play-by-play and color analysts that fan know and love.

As Spurs fans, it is hard to recall the playoffs without Bill Land and Sean Elliott. It was always hard to say goodbye to them as the Spurs advanced, but then again, the Spurs advancing helped to soften the blow.

This Sunday, the Spurs will enter the postseason for the first time in seven years. This could have been the first time Jacob Tobey called playoff games for the Silver & Black alongside Spurs legend Sean Elliott.

Mike Breen, national play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN, spoke out against the decision.

Coincidentally, he was serving as the local broadcaster for the New York Knicks in their last game of the season.

“No longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round. The entire playoffs exclusive to national TV partners…I personally think this is a poor decision. Fans want to hear their team’s announce, at least first round, because for so many of us and all my favorite teams growing up the home team announcers become part of the family. Such a big part of why you root for the team. I get it that networks pay a fortune to get exclusivity. Obviously I work for one of the networks, it’s important to them. But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while. Let the home team have a little bit of the first round.”

Breen, in his twentieth year as a national broadcaster, understands both sides as he spends much of the season as the Knicks local play-by-play announcer while simultaneously suiting up for national games.

As the playoffs begin, they will look and sound differently than fans have come to know.

Perhaps between Breen, social media, fans, and pundits at all levels there will be enough noise for the league to reconsider after this season.

For now, check your national listings for dates and times.

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