"He will be the leader of this basketball team for many years to come," Manuel said, prompting a standing ovation from the fans in attendance at the event.
After inheriting a program that went 8-24 in 2023-24, May has gone 64-13 in two seasons at the school. His 2025-26 team went 37-3 and won the Big Ten regular-season title before a dominant run through the 2026 NCAA Tournament that was capped off by a 69-63 victory against UConn in the national title game last Monday. The 37 wins were a program single-season record.
May’s success in rapidly turning around the Wolverines has transformed him into one of the brightest coaching stars in the sport and has attracted interest from other programs. The 49-year-old Indiana native was widely linked to the vacant North Carolina position before May informed the university he wasn’t pursuing other college jobs.
"I'm very grateful, and during the (NCAA) tournament, I just told Warde I'm not leaving,” May said Saturday during an appearance on Big Ten Network, which was airing the championship celebration. “And I probably ruined any leverage I could have had. It's an honor to coach at this great institution, and I just look forward to what's next."
May had previously been the head coach at Florida Atlantic, where he led the Owls to an improbable appearance in the 2023 Final Four.
In February 2025, while guiding Michigan to a 19-win improvement and a run to the Sweet 16 in his first season, May received a one-year contract extension that ran through 2030 that raised his average annual salary from $3.825 million to $5.1 million.
Manuel told reporters that May’s new deal will run through 2031, though the financial details of the contract are still being finalized.
“I’m very relieved, but we knew it was done a few days before the final game,” Manuel said Saturday. “You want to have a coach that other people want, and I'm happy to keep him. Dusty and I have a great relationship and trust in one another. For me, it feels awesome to know that he's going to continue to lead this program and continue to be the head coach here at Michigan.”
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 9: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle up before the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an exciting four-team battle for seeding in the Western Conference throughout the second half of the season, all but two teams are locked into their spot playoff spots heading into the final day.
Results on Friday, namely Minnesota beating Houston, means that all that is up for grabs on Sunday is the No. 3 seed between the Lakers and Nuggets.
The Wolves will be the No. 6 seed and the Rockets will be the No. 5 seed, the latter only being able to tie LA’s record on the final day with the purple and gold holding the tiebreaker. At the top, OKC and San Antonio will be the No. 1 and No. 2 seed, respectively.
That leaves the No. 3 seed Denver (53-28) and the No. 4 seed Los Angeles (52-29) as the only sides that can end the day in a different spot than where they started. That also makes it pretty simple to lay out the scenarios for where the two teams can finish.
Let’s dive into them.
Lakers win, Nuggets win
If both teams win, then it’s simple math. The Lakers would finish one game behind the Nuggets and in the No. 4 seed.
LA plays the Jazz, who are tied for the fourth-best in the draft lottery. That means they certainly are going to end the season as they navigated it: by tanking.
On the flip side, the Nuggets play the Spurs, who are likely to rest their starters and key rotation players, with nothing at stake for either team. That being said, Denver has already done some weird things this weekend, resting all of its starters against the Thunder on Friday with far more uncertainty in the playoff seeding.
If this scenario plays out, the Lakers would play the Rockets and the Nuggets would play the Wolves.
Lakers win, Nuggets lose
If Denver loses to what will likely be the skeleton Spurs while the Lakers beat the tanking Jazz, that means LA jumps to the No. 3 seed and Denver falls to No. 4.
Outside of being able to laugh at the Nuggets for still finishing above them in the standings, it would set up a familiar, if not difficult, playoff match-up with the Wolves. While Minnesota has limped to the finish, figuratively and literally, they still will likely have Anthony Edwards and much of the same team that smacked around a healthier version of LA last year.
Denver, meanwhile, would face the Rockets in the first round with a second-round series against the Thunder looming for the winner.
Lakers lose
If the Lakers lose, it matters not what the Nuggets do as LA would finish in the fourth seed and face the Rockets. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the purple and gold opt to rest many of it’s own key players to avoid any more injuries this season and settle into the fourth seed.
In that case, they would face a Houston team that has had a rocky season, even though it’s ending strong. The Rockets had their eight-game win streak snapped on Friday by Minnesota. It’s not been smooth sailing in Kevin Durant’s first season with the Rockets and the team has looked on the brink of a meltdown multiple times, setting up an intriguing potential upset bid for the Lakers in the first round.
BROOKLYN, NY - SEPTEMBER 9: Shakira Austin #0 of the Washington Mystics is introduced before the game against the New York Liberty on September 9, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Saturday, Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin signed a 3-year maximum level contract with the Toronto Tempo, according to Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic. The maximum level contract starts at $1.19 million in the 2026 season.
The Mystics have until Monday to decide whether to keep Austin by matching the offer sheet or let her go. I may be wrong, but I think Washington matches this offer. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 11, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final week of the regular season hasn’t exactly been the momentum builder heading into the playoffs the Sixers had hoped. Bad losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets knocked them firmly into Play-In tournament positioning.
Through all of this, the Sixers sit at 44-37 in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are one game behind the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, who are currently sixth and seventh, respectively.
They are a game ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and, thanks to holding the season series tiebreaker, can’t finish worse than them in the standings. At worst case scenario, the Sixers will make the 7/8 play-in game and will have two cracks at qualifying for the playoffs.
The tiebreakers against Toronto and Orlando are a little more complicated since the Sixers went 2-2 this year against both teams. Thanks to a superior division record, the Sixers own both the tiebreakers over those two teams individually and the three-team tiebreaker should they all finish with the same record.
That gives the Sixers a chance, a very slim one, albeit, at nabbing a top-6 seed on the last day of the regular season and avoiding the Play-In. To do so will require a Sixers win over the Milwaukee Bucks and losses from both the Magic and Raptors.
Orlando could very well fall to the Celtics in Boston, but the Raptors will be hosting a 20-win Brooklyn Nets team. Given how the Nets have looked as of late, it feels unlikely the Sixers will get that lucky. The Celtics are also locked into the second seed no matter what, so it’s very possible they’re taking it easy for the regular season finale.
That still leaves the seven seed on the table as well, should the Sixers and Raptors win but the Magic fall. The Sixers are so banged up they’ll take any advantage they can get right now, even homecourt throughout the Play-In.
Three teams are contending for one automatic playoff spot (top six) in the East. Here’s how each can clinch:
▪️Toronto: with a win OR losses by Orlando AND Philadelphia.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 02: Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball /C during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There I was, watching the fourth quarter of the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. It wasn’t a pretty sight. The youthful movement that so many have been clamoring for — myself included — was on full display, and boy, did they look youthful. Koby Brea launching bomb after bomb, Rasheer Fleming tossing the ball to the other team, no semblance of organized offense to be found. They finished with 9 points in the quarter. 73 points for the game, their lowest total since St. Patrick’s Day of 2016. Ten years since we’ve seen a Suns team score 73 or less.
But hey, that gives us a chance to look back at the Suns’ history, right? And when we do, we are reminded of darker times. Much darker times.
The last time the Suns scored 73 points or less? March 17, 2016. They scored 69 against the Jazz that night, led by Brandon Knight's 17 points pic.twitter.com/FhbMiWmmAi
And as I sat there watching it unfold, I felt a little sadness creep in. Maybe it was the margaritas on a Friday night after a long week. Maybe it was something deeper. The NBA is a cycle, and the regular season is closing in on its final turn.
The back end of the season has been frustrating. When I look back at what I’ve written and the observations I’ve made, I can see where the negativity has crept into my own lens. But I also want to put something out there that reminds me, and anyone reading, of the positive things that have happened. Because even with frustrations around the rotations from head coach Jordan Ott or the issues defending the paint over the past two months, I’m not ungrateful. I’m grateful. This season could have gone sideways. We could have experienced no identity, no opportunity, and nothing to build on. Instead, an identity showed up. It faded some, but it exists. And the organization followed through on what it talked about last summer.
The cycle keeps moving, and I don’t expect a deep postseason run. Part of me is uneasy about the Play-In, about the potential Blazers or Clippers matchups, about facing teams that are trending up while the Suns are still searching this late in the year. Call it Post-Traumatic Suns Disorder. It’s an annual April tradition. And that’s fine.
Because when I look back on this season once it concludes, I’ll write about how thankful I am that it happened. This was an inflection point, and it was handled the right way. At worst, this team finishes with 44 wins. I had them at 35. There’s no version of this where I walk away disappointed.
The cycle tells you what comes next, and what comes next doesn’t carry the same rhythm as the season. I love the in-season rhythm. I’m guessing you do too. You’re here every day, reading, absorbing, reacting, and throwing your thoughts into the mix. I enjoy the thought exercises, the graphics, the podcasts, the matchups, and the injury reports. The regular season gives you a cadence that fits. And in that fourth quarter, while things were unraveling, I felt it. That quiet realization that this is almost over.
I’m looking forward to the break. Everyone needs it. The players need the mental and physical reset, and I’ll take one too. I’ll settle into it, pick a video game to play to get me through the Arizona summer, and take advantage of some rest. I always do. But I also know what’s coming. The offseason conversations, the scenarios, and the debates. They can wear on you. This offseason will be interesting. Last offseason was about laying the foundation. This one is about what you do with it, how you build on it, and how you make the next set of decisions. That part isn’t easy.
I’m looking forward to those conversations. At the same time, I’m going to miss this. The day-to-day. The random Friday night against the Lakers where everything goes sideways and you’re sitting there taking it in anyway, albeit with a little help from a reposado-based adult beverage. I’ll miss the grind. I’m thankful for it.
Last season felt like a finish line I couldn’t wait to reach. This one feels different. I don’t want it to end. It’s something to hold onto, something to appreciate. We want it to keep going as long as it can. But like every season, it ends. The question now becomes when. And we’ll learn that in the days (and hopefully weeks) to come.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass as LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the first half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final weeks and, specifically, days of the NBA season always brings with it a team or two messing with the basketball Gods by trying to tank their way to a preferred match-up.
On Friday, it came from a very unexpected place. The Nuggets, who have been one of the hottest teams in the league recently, sat their entire starting lineup against the Thunder. This came after OKC listed all of Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams as out for the game.
While the Thunder have the top seed locked up, it was a far more puzzling decision from Denver, who entered the night just one game above the Lakers for the No. 3 seed and they did not have the tiebreaker.
Genuinely, it’s hard to figure out their rationalization. Perhaps they thought the Lakers would keep losing and they could work their way into a 4-5 match-up with LA? If they win their first round series, they’ll have to meet one of OKC or San Antonio in the second round, so maybe their focus was on that match-up and not the first round one.
Nuggets head coach David Adelman was asked pregame about the decision to sit all the starters and gave a very unconvincing argument as to them not tanking.
Whatever plans they had, though, probably didn’t include them actually winning the game on Saturday, which may have thrown a wrench in their plans if a 4-5 match-up with the Lakers was the end goal. With Houston losing to Minnesota and the Lakers throttling the Suns, neither the Nuggets or the Lakers can finish below the Rockets as both sides own the tiebreaker in that series.
So, there’s no Lakers-Nuggets playoff series coming in the first round, which is great for those fans with PTSD.
Overall, it was an odd decision for Denver with unclear intentions, but the end result is the standings looking like this heading into Sunday:
The scenario is very simple for the Lakers on Sunday. If they win and Denver loses, they jump to the No. 3 seed. If they win and Denver wins or they lose, they remain the No. 4 seed.
Against a Utah team that has been tanking since about November, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where they don’t win. Denver, meanwhile, plays the Spurs, who almost certainly rest a host of their players with their spot in the standings locked in as well.
It’s setting up a pretty drama-free ending to the season.
It's all about the drama. A few years back, the NBA borrowed an idea from European soccer leagues and had all its teams play at the same time — or at least within the same conference — so there was no advantage to knowing what was needed. It sets up a situation in which two games are ending nearly simultaneously, with major playoff implications.
This year, nine of the 15 games on Sunday have some level of postseason implications. Here is everything you need to know.
Eastern Conference
The top four seeds in the East are locked in: 1) Detroit; 2) Boston; 3) New York; 4) Cleveland.
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta can lock up the No. 5 seed with a win in Miami, setting up a first-round matchup with Cleveland. However, an Atlanta loss combined with a Toronto win would move the Raptors up to fifth and drop the Hawks to sixth (and a first-round meeting with New York). A Toronto loss also secures Atlanta the No. 6 seed.
If Toronto loses, it could fall to seventh if Orlando wins, which brings us to the next games that matter.
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
If Orlando can win on the road, it locks into the No. 7 seed, with an outside chance of jumping past Toronto to No. 6 and avoiding the play-in if the Raptors lose at home to the Nets (unlikely but not impossible). However, if Orlando loses in Boston, Philadelphia would jump up to No. 7 it can win at home over the tanking Bucks.
Orlando and Philadelphia will likely face each other in the first round of the play-in, but the No. 7 seed will host that game.
Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 6 p.m. ET, League Pass
Charlotte had an impressive end to the season, but needs one more win to secure the No. 9 seed and be at home for the first of two play-in games it must win to make the playoffs. If Charlotte loses and Miami wins, the Heat jump up to ninth and host the play-in game.
Western Conference
The top two seeds are locked in: 1)Oklahoma City; 2) San Antonio. That doesn't mean the Spurs don't have something to play for on Sunday.
Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
The Nuggets at Spurs is the juiciest game of the day.
San Antonio can give itself a likely much easier path to the Western Conference Finals if it shows up on the final day of the season and beats Denver. If the Nuggets lose and the shorthanded Lakers can beat tanking Utah at home, then the Lakers jump the Nuggets to be the No. 3 seed (Los Angeles and Denver would be tied, but the Lakers have the tiebreaker thanks to that wild game a few weeks back where Austin Reaves' intentionally-missed free throw rebound and bucket forced overtime, then Luka Doncic won it in OT with an amazing baseline jumper). Neither Oklahoma City nor San Antonio wants to see Nikola Jokic and Denver in the second round. Denver is — for my money — one of the three best teams in the NBA and a true title contender. If the Nuggets fall to the No. 4 seed, they would line up to face the Thunder in the second round in a titanic battle (assuming both win their first-round series). Also in that scenario, if the Spurs win their series against a play-in team, they would face the winner of the Rockets vs. Lakers first-round series — two good teams, but neither as threatening as the Nuggets.
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
The Trail Blazers beat the Clippers on Friday night and, with that, control their own destiny — beat the Kings on Sunday and Portland finishes No. 8 in the West and will travel to Phoenix for a win-and-you're-in play-in game (and the Trail Blazers would just need to win one of two games to make the playoffs). However, if the Trail Blazers stumble and the Clippers beat the Warriors, the Clippers would move up to No. 8 and travel to Phoenix, while Portland would fall to ninth and host the Warriors in the first of two play-in games it would have to win to advance.
The Warriors at Clippers game is a little odd because those two teams are very likely to turn around and face each other a few days later in a win-or-go-home game, so we could see some unusual lineups and two coaches trying not to tip their hands.
The NBA Playoffs return to NBC — and make their debut on Peacock — on Sunday, April 19. To celebrate that return home, NBC Sports has partnered with Ludacris — the three-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, actor, and philanthropist — for an NBA playoffs promotional spot called "It's Time."
The song is Ludacris' reinterpretation of the legendary "Time Has Come Today" by The Chambers Brothers. It is at the heart of a cinematic spot that weaves together the larger‑than‑life moments we have come to expect as part of the NBA Playoffs.
"When the clock's ticking and everything's on the line, that's what playoff basketball is all about," Ludacris said. "Being part of this spot and the NBA Playoffs' return to NBC and debut on Peacock feels like the positive adrenaline rush we all want & need!"
"The NBA Playoffs are where time becomes everything -- every possession, every decision, every second," said Lyndsay Signor, Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing, Universal and Television Entertainment Group. "Reimagining 'Time Has Come Today' with Ludacris allows us to honor the history of the game while delivering a modern, cinematic expression of what makes playoff basketball so compelling. As the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock, this spot sets the tone for the urgency, spectacle, and iconic moments that define the postseason."
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges incredible success is due to a combination of hit tracks — such as "Stand Up," "Get Back," "Southern Hospitality,' "Number One Spot," "Money Maker," and "My Chick Bad" — and eye-catching videos that accompany them. Together, that made for a perfect partner for NBC Sports and the NBA. Of course, many fans know Ludacris better as "Tej" from the Fast & Furious franchise.
The NBA playoffs return to NBC on Sunday, April 19, with more details on times and matchups to come.
"It's Time" will debut during Sunday Night Baseball's Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta Braves game, April 12, on NBC and Peacock. NBC Sports' coverage of the NBA Playoffs on NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN tips off one week later.
Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley, Jr. (35) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Coming off a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Spurs battled the Dallas Mavericks for the final time this season. Stephon Castle was ruled out, but Victor Wembanyama returned from his rib contusion. The Spurs started the game hot, outscoring the Mavs 37-26 in the first quarter. However, the Mavs fought back and outscored the Spurs 39-31 in the second. Wemby and Cooper Flagg were exchanging buckets, and the second half looked to be a shootout. Wemby and the Spurs had other plans. They outscored the Mavs 40-28 in the third, and carried a 15-point lead into the fourth. Wemby scored his 30th point in 20 minutes and came out of the game. However, he checked back in for six more minutes to finish the job. He finished with 40 points in 26 minutes, and the Spurs’ supporting cast handled the Mavs for the rest of the fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 139-120.
Victor Wembanyama dropped 40 points (14-23 FG, 10-11 FT), 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal in just 26 minutes. With this game being his 65th, Wemby has officially secured eligibility for awards. He could have played lazily and sat in the corner for 20 minutes, but that is not who Wemby is. He made it a mission to put up an MVP-type stat line, knowing he would only get limited minutes. The Mavs could not guard him. How poetic is it to start the season by dropping 40 on the Mavs, and possibly end the regular season by dropping 40 on them again? Wemby is now likely to be awarded Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team, and All-Defensive First Team. Not bad for his third season in the league.
POWER THROUGH! Wemby drives through both Ryan Nembhard and Marvin Bagley III for the slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped a double-double: 18 points and 10 assists to go along with one rebound. Fox started off slow, dropping only four points in the first half. However, in the third quarter, he caught fire and dropped 14 points. When Fox drains at least two shots in a row, look out. The one constant for him throughout the game was his assists. He threw lobs, tossed dimes to shooters, and was a playmaker on the fastbreak. Like the Blazers game, this is a Fox performance the Spurs are looking forward to come playoff time.
Timing is key! Fox lobs a pass into Wemby deep in the paint, then Wemby catches it and throws it down!
Keldon Johnson dropped 17 points, six rebounds, and two assists. KJ feasted on the Mavs’ bench players. He fought his way into the paint and threw up his usual share of hook shots. His infectious energy has helped this team’s chemistry since the start of the season, and it will only grow louder come playoff time. Look for him to have a big performance this Sunday to solidify his case for Sixth Man of the Year.
This game could have gotten interesting in the third. The Mavs’ scoring pace was high, and while the Spurs were matching buckets, it was in the team’s best interest to put them away as early as possible. Wemby solidified his case for DPOY and MVP, and six other players finished in double figures. With one game remaining, it remains to be seen if the Spurs will rest players to get ready for the playoffs next weekend, or to try to defeat the Nuggets so that the Lakers could move up to the 3rd seed (if the Lakers beat the Jazz). Regardless, Spurs fans cannot wait for the team’s first playoffs in seven seasons.
The Spurs close out the regular season against the Denver Nuggets this Sunday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on ESPN/FDSN-SW. Thank you to all who have been reading these articles during the season!
Even Steph was anxiously waiting for Brandin Podziemski to drop his first 30 ball 😂
"I told him we were gonna treat him like Devin Booker when he scored 70 in Boston and they lost… I know he's been searching for it. Everybody knew it too." https://t.co/giIAqXLAgcpic.twitter.com/FZxSPIov0I
“I told him we were going treat him like Devin Booker,” Curry said. When he scored 70 in Boston, they lost. Give him the sign and all that.”
Podziemski had his first 30-point game in a loss, which makes it harder to celebrate the moment properly. Curry was still able to have some fun talking about it, given the fact that the Warriors are locked into the 10 seed in the wild Western Conference.
“I know he’s been searching for it, Curry continued. “Everybody knew it, too, so it was fun to see him get it. And the way he got it.”
Podziemski scored 25-plus points eight times this season before getting over the hump. Even if it doesn’t seem like a huge deal, it silences the critics who have been ruthless toward the 23-year-old as of late.
With the Warriors slated for some meaningful basketball next week, it could be timely for another Podziemski 30-piece.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Luke Kennard #10 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defend against the dribble of Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Defense wins championships, as the old adage goes. While this team is unlikely to reach championship heights, it has secured the Lakers no lower than a fourth seed in the playoffs. This guarantees them home court in the first round, regardless of what happens on the final day of the regular season.
LA has had a real defensive turnaround post-All-Star break, jumping from 23rd to 14th in defensive rating. They showed their teeth on the second night of a back-to-back against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
The Lakers’ stingy defense held Phoenix to only 25 second half points as they led by as many as 29 en route to a comfortable victory. Phoenix mustered up just 73 total points, a season low for any opponent by a mile. This also follows up allowing just 103 points to the Warriors the night before.
The Suns came in heavily shorthanded on Friday. They were without many backcourt players, including their star guard Devin Booker. It pushed Dillon Brooks, a 20-point-per-game scorer this year, up into the No. 1 option.
After a turnover on the play below, all Lakers sprint back in transition. LA switches the first screen, so LeBron ends up guarding Brooks. Then the opposing center, Mark Williams, sets a second screen. Ayton responds by dropping into the Lakers “no roller behind” coverage, which stops any lob pass and discourages drives. This forces Brooks to settle for a contested pull-up shot over LeBron.
All five Lakers on the floor are clearly in sync with the game plan.
The same result occurs a few possessions later. The purple and gold switch all screen actions in the clip below, negating any potential advantage, while in lockstep on their help responsibilities to shut down all baseline drive attempts.
It’s kicked out to Brooks once again for a side step shot as the shot clock dwindles to zero. Brooks fished just 5-14 from the field with three turnovers.
“I thought the whole game, our defense was really physical outside of a couple mishaps,” head coach J.J. Redick said postgame. “I thought we talked pregame a lot about just being able to execute our coverages because they do so many different things. Whether it’s stack, the backside action, all the off-ball stuff, I think our guys did a great job of that and they did it with physicality.”
A major part of the Lakers’ defensive execution, physicality and overall identity all season is Marcus Smart, who returned off the bench for the first time since missing nine straight games. LA certainly missed his intensity and consistent motor, represented in the clip below.
Watch him knock the ball away to steal the rebound and whip the pass over to Jarred Vanderbilt for the finish.
Smart collected two steals in just 18 minutes to go along with five rebounds and seven assists. LA as a team forced 17 steals and 23 total turnovers against the Suns. Not a single Laker finished with a negative plus-minus with all five starters being a double-digit positive.
Without the services of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers not only miss their starting backcourt but also the league’s highest-scoring duo, with 67 combined points per game. It’s too much production to make up for, and it makes the offense a tough thing to lean on.
Where they can consistently hang their hat is in their effort and execution on defense. It’s not what the team was originally built on, but circumstances have changed. If they want to survive in the playoffs, their team defense will have to carry them.
Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs hype squad celebrate after a victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
It’s wonderful to end the regular season on a high note, and it would appear that the Spurs are going to do that after securing the team’s 62nd and Vic’s 65th game in an ultimately comfortable win over the Mavs. There’s still one game to go, but San Antonio no longer has anything to play for in this regular season, and their final opponent (the Nuggets) may very well enter than game with the three seed on the line. Anything could happen, but I think a final Spurs record of 62-20 ought to be heavily favored at this point.
In some respects, this game was like many Spurs wins recently, in that San Antonio got up early and ultimately won by nearly 20 points. However, it was also a remarkably seesaw affair for about two-and-a-half quarters, until the game clearly broke the Silver and Black’s way around the middle of the third quarter. Fortunately, this combination of characteristics helped create some interesting box score highlights:
Factors that Decided the Game
This game looked like it was well on its way to over at the end of the first quarter, as San Antonio had opened up an 11-point lead. A resurgent 2nd and early 3rd quarter from Dallas made the game interesting, but the Spurs’ reasserted themselves in the latter half of the third, resulting in yet another comfortable blowout.
San Antonio secured a sizable overall advantage in total rebounds (+13), but Dallas actually held the edge in offensive boards (+1). In addition, Dallas had four fewer turnovers, which played a role in them having six more field goal attempts. Furthermore, the Mavs leaned much harder into the three-ball, logging a +8 3PA margin.
Sadly, for the Mavs, San Antonio was extremely efficient from the field, including FG% and 3P% values of 54.35% and 40.63%. This allowed the Spurs to outscore Dallas by eight outside of the free throw line.
The final nail in the coffin was San Antonio’s large advantages in free throw volume (+8 FTA) and FT% (+17.35 percentage points), which allowed the Spurs to achieve a point differential of +11 at the charity stripe. Setting aside San Antonio’s ridiculous efficiency in this area, a big problem for Dallas in this game is that they fouled more often (+4) and at bad times, which drove the Spurs’ edge in free throw volume (and is another reason that the Mavs shot more from the field compared to San Antonio).
Rare Box Score Stats
San Antonio became just the 31st team (winner or loser) in the last 13 regular seasons to make at least 26 free throws on no more than 27 attempts. That combination happens a bit more than twice per season, or about once in every 545 games.
The Spurs were also just the 39th regular season winner in the last 13 seasons to record FG%, 3P%, and FT% values that were all as good or better than 54.35%, 40.63%, and 96.3%, respectively. In other words, this shooting percentage line is matched or bettered by a bit less than 3 winning teams in a given regular season, or roughly once in every 433 games.
Although not captured in the graded team box score, Wemby’s 65th (and certainly final) game of the 2025-2026 regular season was another doozie. In fact, dating all the way back to the start of 1996-1997, this is one of just four regular season instances in which a player scored 40+ points in under 27 minutes. These cases are evenly divided across just two players: Klay Thompson and Victor Wembanyama.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Lakers guard Luke Kennard dribbles to the hoop under pressure from Suns guards Amir Coffey and Jamaree Bouyea at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
From AAU games in Ohio to college gyms up and down the Atlantic Coast Conference to the NBA, Luke Kennard has always been met with the same warning.
“Shooter!"
LeBron James, however, knows better than to put Kennard in a box.
The Lakers superstar watched Kennard’s career grow since he was playing on James’ AAU team in Ohio, where, yes, Kennard shot the lights out, but he also displayed the same versatility that made him a fitting emergency point guard during the Lakers’ shorthanded late-season push.
“He's just a ball player,” James said. “... People just kind of gave him the narrative of just being a shooter. But he does so many more things. He can handle the ball, he can rebound the ball, he can make plays. ... And what we're missing right now, we need it [from him]. We need it more and more than ever.”
Beyond being the league's leading three-point shooter, Kennard has 31 assists in the last four games, stepping up his ball-handling responsibilities for the Lakers, who must finish the regular season Sunday against the Utah Jazz without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Kennard had three assists with 19 points in the Lakers’ 101-73 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday that clinched home-court advantage in the first round.
The 29-year-old has averaged 2.3 assists per game in his NBA career and only 1.7 per game for the Lakers (52-29) since he joined in a midseason trade. But without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers have relied on offense by committee. During the last four games, 77.3% of the Lakers’ made field goals have been assisted.
“Just being organized, controlling pace,” Kennard said of the team’s ability to share the ball in recent games. “Guys not overthinking too much, just playing within the flow of the game.”
Lakers guard Luke Kennard celebrates with LeBron James' after James scored at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Kennard’s poise was been paramount for the team during an emotional week. The eight-year veteran who has cycled through five teams and been traded midseason twice provides steadiness, Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
“He’s a professional,” Redick said. “He comes to work, he's a great teammate. He does what the team asks him to do. … No matter what you sort of give him, he'll embrace it.”
Kennard was, in fact, a point guard in high school, he said proudly. While at Franklin High, he passed James on Ohio’s all-time scoring list. He solidified his status as a prolific shooter at Duke. Redick is familiar with that particular fate, he said with a wry smile.
Redick approached Kennard after Doncic and Reaves were injured against Oklahoma City last Thursday to discuss the contingency plan of him taking on more ball-handling responsibilities. The Lakers had one day of practice in Dallas, and the team walked through several plays with Kennard at different positions. It was the only practice day the Lakers have had since the season-altering injuries. The rest of Kennard’s learning has been through conversations with coaches, film study and instinctual play on the court.
He responded with his first career triple-double in the first game in his new role: 15 points, 11 assists and 16 rebounds in the Lakers’ loss to the Mavericks.
But Kennard is notoriously hard on himself. He lamented Tuesday — after he scored 10 points with nine assists but missed both of his three-point attempts in a loss to Oklahoma City — that he wishes he was shooting better recently. During the first four games in April, he was just three-for-13 (23.1%) from three. He is still leading the league in three-point shooting at 47.8% this season.
Despite playing with a splint on his left index finger after suffering an injury in the Lakers’ win over Golden State on Thursday, the left-handed Kennard made his first three-pointer Friday, getting fouled on the play to earn a four-point opportunity. He finished two for four from three against the Suns and six for 12 from the floor. It was the first time he’d made multiple threes in a game since March 30 against Washington.
“We all feel like every time he shoots the ball, it's gonna go in,” Redick said. “Whether that's a floater, a midi, or a three I think he's got a great deal of confidence and a lot of that comes from his preparation and his work. I think the biggest thing for us is, with our current group, having those other ball handlers so we can give him breaks from being on ball all the time.”
Getting Marcus Smart back from injury Friday helped ease the ball-handling burden on Kennard. Smart had missed nine games because of a lingering right ankle injury. Smart had six points and seven assists in his first game since March 21.
The Lakers waived guard Kobe Bufkin on Friday to open a roster spot for the postseason, possibly to add a veteran guard to bolster backcourt while Doncic and Reaves are out. The Lakers have until Sunday’s regular-season finale to sign any player waived by his former team before March 1 to standard contract.
James, playing for the second consecutive night Tuesday, had 12 assists with 28 points and six rebounds. In three appearances since the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, James has averaged 28 points, 12 assists and 5.8 rebounds on 60% shooting from the field.
Fitting James, Doncic and Reaves together came with growing pains, but pairing James and Kennard has felt simple. These two of the most prolific scorers in high school basketball history in Ohio are cut from the same cloth.
“It’s just because it's two cerebral basketball players,” James said. “That's why it's seamless. He's smart as hell. I'm smart as hell at this game.”
The King has been let out of his so-called cage. He has gone from being the team’s third option to the head of the snake. We’re getting to see what the 41-year-old is actually capable of doing at this stage in his career.
And it’s stunning to witness.
Things around the Lakers’ locker room are depressing. They have an emotional hangover from losing Luka Doncic (strained hamstring) and Austin Reaves (strained oblique) last week to injuries. Some of the guys on the court need name tags to be recognized. The team’s hopes of a deep playoff run are dead in the water.
The King has been let out of his so-called cage. He has gone from being the team’s third option to the head of the snake. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
And it’s because of James. What he’s doing is unprecedented. He’s redefining what’s possible.
On Friday, he helped the Lakers clinch homecourt advantage as either the third or fourth seed in the first round of the playoffs with a 101-73 win over the Suns.
James, who played on the second night of a back-to-back, finished with 28 points (10-for-16 shooting from the field, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc), 12 assists and six rebounds.
The night before?
He had 26 points on 11-for-17 shooting, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the Lakers’ 119-103 win over the Warriors.
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the absurdity of that.
James is the only player in NBA history to play in his 23rd season. Last month, pundits were proclaiming the Lakers were better without him. Byron Scott said in February on a local radio show that James should leave the team after this season.
The James slander was at an all-time high — and that’s really saying something.
James responded by becoming the team’s third option after he returned from a three-game absence at the top of March. He decided to plug in the holes behind Doncic and Reaves, who were shining together. Arguably the greatest player of all time embraced being a role player.
His sacrifice is even more impressive now after seeing what he’s capable of doing.
Over the last three games without Doncic and Reaves, James has averaged 28 points (60% shooting from the field and 46% shooting from beyond the arc), 12.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds. Before that stretch, he had averaged 17.5 points since becoming LA’s third option.
It’s a mind-blowing transformation. He can turn on the faucet with such ease. He still has it.
On any given night, he’s capable of being the best player on the court.
“I had to tap back into a role that I’ve been accustomed to in the past, but obviously it wasn’t what it was this year,” James said. “But circumstances have put me back in there, and I’m just trying to feed off my teammates, teammates are feeding off of me, and just trying to make things happen for us to continue to stay afloat.”
James has given the Lakers a reason to still play. He has given them motivation. Inspiration.
Just a few days ago, Lakers coach JJ Redick bemoaned that he needed to find nine players who were still willing to fight after the team’s 36-point loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, in which James was sidelined because of left foot injury management.
James is the only player in NBA history to play in his 23rd season. NBAE via Getty Images
After that rout, the team held a meeting.
James made an impression.
“In the meeting, in the walkthrough [Thursday] morning just the way he carried himself, just he really set the tone for the team,” Redick said. “Guys followed that.”
If arguably the greatest player of all time is still pouring himself into the game, how can his teammates not follow suit?
James isn’t giving up. He’s doubling down. He’s roaring.
It has led to some changes.
Deandre Ayton has started playing harder. Luke Kennard has shined, transforming from being a 3-point specialist into a point guard. Marcus Smart returned Friday from a nine-game absence because of a right ankle contusion, infusing the team with some life on the defensive end.
The Lakers are lost in the wilderness. But they’re willing to follow James.
It’s no secret that the Lakers are being looked at as easy prey heading into the postseason. “I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Redick said.
But Kennard cautioned that because of James, things aren’t quite so clear-cut.
“I guess you understand why people are saying that,” said Kennard, who had 19 points, three assists and three steals Friday. “You’re missing 60 points a game. … But we also have [LeBron James], and the way he has been playing and leading us has been incredible.”
James carried the Lakers past the Warriors without Steph Curry and the Suns without Devin Booker. Regardless of how magnificent he’s playing, it’s hard to imagine he can get LA past the first round of the playoffs against a team that isn’t resting its stars, biding enough time for Doncic or Reaves to return.
But he’s still giving this his all.
No one would blame the Lakers if they rolled over after last week’s gutting turnaround. And no one would blame James if he threw his hands in the air now that he’s alongside a bunch of role players and G Leaguers.
But instead, he’s showing heart, and everyone else is following.
He’s reminding us all that his greatness hasn’t waned.
If anything, it may be more notable now than ever.
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