Category: NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic
Date: April 8th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CDT
Location: Kia Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

There’s a very specific kind of relief that only long-time Timberwolves fans truly understand, the kind where you’re not celebrating something great so much as you’re exhaling because something catastrophic didn’t happen.

That was Tuesday night in Indiana.

Within a span of a few hours, the Wolves handled their business against a decimated Pacers team, the Suns lost to the Rockets, and just like that, Minnesota’s magic number to avoid the play-in dropped to zero. It’s official: the Wolves are in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and we can all avoid the psychological warfare that would have been a one-and-done play-in scenario for a team that spent parts of this season flirting with the three seed.

Given the franchise’s history, and let’s be honest, we’ve seen enough inexplicable meltdowns to last a lifetime, that alone is worth something.

While we breathe our collective sigh of relief that the Wolves avoided disaster, let’s not forget that they also created the conditions that made disaster possible in the first place. Too many nights where they drifted. Too many games they treated like a Netflix show you half-watch while scrolling your phone. Too many fourth quarters where they convinced themselves they could “flip the switch”, and then discovered, yet again, that the switch doesn’t always work.

So yeah, they’re in.

But they’re also here, staring at what’s almost certainly the six seed, because of all the opportunities they let slip through their fingers over the past six months.

---

The Standings Reality Check

Let’s talk about the other “magic number” — the one that actually matters now.

Houston’s magic number to lock up the five seed is down to one. They still have Philadelphia on the schedule, which, as Minnesota learned the hard way, is no walk in the park with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. But even if the Rockets stumble there, and the Wolves take them down on Friday, Minnesota would still need Houston to drop the regular-season finale against a Memphis team that’s basically holding open tryouts for lottery odds.

That’s not happening.

The Wolves technically still have a path to five, but we’re now firmly in the Al Michaels, “Do you believe in miracles?” territory. Unless you’re banking on something truly bizarre, the six seed is where this is headed.

Which brings us to the real question:

Do you keep chasing the illusion of five… or do you accept six and start preparing for what’s coming?

Because what’s coming is likely Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

---

The Weird Silver Lining

And here’s where things get interesting.

Because as much as slipping to six feels like a missed opportunity, there’s a strange, almost uncomfortable logic to the idea that this might actually help the Wolves, if they handle it correctly.

This team is banged up. Anthony Edwards has been nursing an inflamed knee. Jaden McDaniels decided to build camaraderie with his bestie by taking on a knee injury of his own. Naz Reid is clearly managing that shoulder. And even Rudy Gobert, who has been the defensive backbone all season, has looked like a guy who could use a few days where he’s not wrestling with 270-pound centers.

And if the path is Denver?

Then you don’t need to be 95%. You need to be right.

Because beating Jokic isn’t about effort. It’s about precision, discipline, and having enough in the tank to survive the mental grind of a seven-game chess match.

A tired Gobert is not beating Jokic.

A locked-in, fresh Gobert might.

---

So… What Do You Do Now?

That’s the tension of this Orlando game.

On paper, it still matters. The five seed is technically alive. You’re not mathematically eliminated. You don’t just wave the white flag.

But in reality? This is where you have to be honest with yourself.

Because there’s a difference between playing to win the game… and playing to win the next two weeks.

---

Keys to the Game

1. Don’t Get Anyone Hurt. Seriously, That’s the Headline

This isn’t a normal “key to the game.” This is the key.

The Wolves have been one of the healthier teams over the past couple of seasons, especially compared to their own history. The past two Western Conference Finals trips were made possible because they mostly avoided the kind of injuries that derail playoff runs.

That luck is already being tested, and if there’s one thing we know about the NBA, it’s that the worst possible injury always happens when you think you’re just “getting through one more game.”

Chris Finch doesn’t need to treat this like Game 7. He needs to treat it like a controlled scrimmage with stakes.

That doesn’t mean you roll out a G-League lineup and punt the game. But it does mean managed minutes for the Wolves’ core players and absolutely no “play through it” nonsense if something feels off.

Because the only way this game becomes a disaster… is if someone doesn’t make it to Game 1 healthy.

---

2. Keep the Structure, Even If the Stakes Are Weird

Even if you’re dialing back minutes, you can’t let the habits slip.

This team has spent the last few weeks trying to rediscover its identity after that California trip where everything went sideways. The wins over Boston and Houston showed what it looks like when they’re locked in. The losses showed how quickly it disappears.

So yes, this isn’t a must-win in the traditional sense, but it is a must-maintain. If you let those winning habits slide now, you’re not flipping a switch in Game 1. You’re just hoping it magically reappears.

And we’ve seen how that goes.

---

3. Let the Role Players Build Rhythm

If there’s a hidden benefit to this stretch, it’s this: The supporting cast has had real reps.

Guys like Bones Highland, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo have been asked to do more, and that matters. Because in the playoffs, those are the players who swing games.

This is another opportunity to sharpen that. Let them handle the ball. Let them create. Let them get comfortable in roles they might need to step into if a series tightens or someone tweaks something. Because if this team is going to make a run, it’s not just about Edwards and Randle. It’s about whether the rest of the roster can hold up when defenses start loading up.

---

4. Don’t Completely Turn Off Competitive Instincts

There’s a danger in “accepting fate” too early. You don’t want to overextend yourself chasing something unrealistic. But you also don’t want to walk into the playoffs having spent a week playing at half-speed.

There’s a balance here.

Compete. Play hard. Execute. Just do it smart.

Because the last thing you want is to show up in Denver and realize you’ve been in cruise control for two weeks while the other team has been sharpening knives.

---

The Final Thought

The Wolves did their part. They avoided the play-in in this minefield of a Western Conference. Given the way this season twisted and turned, that alone shouldn’t be taken for granted.

But now comes the part that actually defines this team.

Not the standings. Not the seed.

The version of themselves they bring into the postseason.

Because if this team shows up as the group that beat Boston and Houston, connected, physical, disciplined, then nobody is going to be thrilled about seeing them in a 3–6 matchup. If they show up as the team that sleepwalked through chunks of the season, that let leads evaporate, that couldn’t string together 48 minutes? Then it won’t matter who they play.

Maybe the five seed is slipping away. Maybe six is inevitable.

That’s fine.

Because the real question isn’t where the Wolves land.

It’s whether they use these last few games to become the team they’re capable of being, or the one that spent all season convincing us they might never quite get there.

We’re about to find out.

The Boston Celtics’ newest majority owner, Bill Chisholm, recently took part in a 1-on-1 interview with Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, and there was plenty for fans to take away from it. The interview covered topics such as his thoughts on and relationship with the team during his first year, the approach in the upcoming offseason, and even thoughts on building a new stadium.

Bill’s first year

Chisholm is a self-proclaimed die-hard Celtics fan, and he can often be spotted on the sidelines of the team’s home games at TD Garden. He’s been extremely present, without being apparently overbearing. He shared how pleased he was to have the opportunity to be the leading governor of the Celtics, while also reflecting on the season so far.

“I’ve been following the Celtics forever, and this is my favorite team,” he said, adding “This is a fun team to root for. They play hard every night, they bring it, they execute, and there’s been a lot of really good leadership.”

He continued by saying that he feels “extremely welcome,” and that he’s trying to “find the right balance of being supportive and visible to them without making them feel like I’m looking over their shoulder.”

Wyc Grousbeck, the previous majority owner of the team, was beloved by fans. Not only did he help return the team to a winning culture which was briefly absent during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, he supported the team enough for them to deliver two championships during his tenure, and he did so while maintaining a fan-like presence.

Based on Chisholm’s answer, he seems to be taking a similar route, relishing in the opportunity to lead his favorite team while doing what he can to put them in the best possible position to succeed. He noted that he’s made an effort to build a relationship with all of the players and Joe Mazzulla, while also mentioning that he and Joe are “on the same page,” and that he’s a huge fan. Bill provided some well-deserved praise to Brad Stevens as well, saying “[Brad] and his team are tremendous.”

In terms of managing his new ownership duties along with his previously existing business responsibilities, Chisholm credited Grousbeck for making things “seamless” for him, saying that Wyc “did it for over 20 years and done it incredibly well,” while extending similar praise to Brad and the executive team for managing the basketball aspects.

In terms of challenges, Bill had this to say: “Probably my biggest challenge is to incrementally improve things, but most importantly, ensure the culture stays intact. For me, the thing I’ve probably been most proud of is resisting the temptation of the new owner curse [of making too many changes], because it’s a very good situation and I certainly don’t take that for granted.”

Celtics fans are likely equally grateful of Chisholm for not leaning into that temptation, and can certainly appreciate the transparency. In terms of things that he’s trying to improve, Bill didn’t have anything specific in mind. Instead, he said that he tries to get that pulse from Brad, assistant general manager Mike Zarren, and their team. He noted that Brad emphasizes culture more than anything, so that’s where the focus is currently.

The offseason approach

This upcoming offseason will be Chisholm’s first at the helm. When asked about how involved he intends to be, Bill had a simple message which fans will love: “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Chisholm feels confident that he knows what that entails, mentioning that he’s taken the time to understand the CBA and the salary cap to stay informed, and to empower the team to make better decisions. He did say that “ultimately, I’m looking to Brad and [team president Rich Gotham] and their teams to make the recommendations, and I’m there to support them.”

Bill is cognizant of the fact that fans are afraid of the possibility that new ownership means cost cutting, treating the team as a business venture as opposed to something entwined with the lives of millions. He emphasized that he knows he has to prove himself from now until the time he passes the team along, and is eager to do so.

“We were completely aligned that we’re about winning. We’re going to compete, play hard, develop our talent, find additional talent, and this is not a gap year. We’re just not doing that. I can put my hand on heart saying that. I’ll prove it and I’ll continue to prove it every day, that I just want to win,” he said.

Reflections on Jayson and Jaylen

When asked about Jayson Tatum’s recovery from the torn Achilles, Bill was clearly amazed, saying “holy cow, he’s throwing up triple-doubles now.” He added that there was never any pressure for Tatum to come back, but they knew it was a possibility, and wanted to prepare the team for either reality.

Chisholm also reflected on how Jaylen Brown stepped up this season: “He’s always been incredible, but to have even another gear in Year 10 is really incredible. I think as a player he upped his game across all dimensions, but as a leader as well.”

Jaylen’s leadership clearly made an impression on Bill, who shared stories of seeing JB coaching and supporting his teammates on the sideline, or taking the game into his hands when the team was struggling. Chisholm added that Jaylen “absolutely should be first-team All-NBA, and for me he’s certainly my personal MVP.”

Thoughts on a new arena

Previously, Bill was asked whether he had any intentions of building a new stadium for the team to play in. At the time, he responded by saying that he believes TD Garden is a good home for the team, but he was curious to hear more from the fans.

The Globe resurfaced the discussion, asking Chisholm if the fans gave him any feedback on the idea, and if he changed his stance at all. Bill’s response was that “it’s pretty much the same as it was at the beginning of the season… The Garden is a great place to play… It’s loud, a lot of energy, and it’s got a storied history.”

Ideally, Bill wants the team to stay where it is. He did note that to make it work, he wants to improve both the fan and player experience. “If we can do those things and remain where we are now, that’s great. And if that doesn’t work there, we’ll think about other places,” he said.

He added that Celtics ownership and Bruins ownership are on the same page about their commitment to staying at TD as of now. “That’s where we want to end up and we’re working on it as we speak,” he said.

Boston and family

Bill currently splits time between Boston and California because of his other business dealings, but feels very warmly about Boston despite the harsh winter: “It’s a fantastic city, and to have the energy of what’s been going on with the Celtics, but also the Patriots’ run, it’s been a magical time for Boston as a city and a sports city. I always say it’s the best sports city in the country, so that’s been special.”

He added that he “grew up in the North Shore, but this is my first time living in the city proper, so there’s a lot of stuff that’s familiar and a lot that’s new as well.” He also mentioned that “it’s a dead heat” for who in his family is the biggest fan of the team between his wife, his three kids, and himself, of course. He called it a “gift” from the Celtics to give him the opportunity to share this experience with his kids, who are in their mid-to-late 20s.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wolves fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

I sure hope Adam Silver and whatever blue ribbon panel he assembles to end the practice of tanking succeeds because watching the end of this Wizards season just plain sucks. Last night, the G-League-plus lineup and some playing time shenanigans got Washington a 31-point vanquishing by a Bulls team that entered the game with a 5-22 record since the trade deadline.

This one wasn’t close. Or competitive. Or even entertaining. There was some spectacle in the sense that both teams played fast. The way that played out was the Bulls ran for layups and transition threes, and the Wizards took quick shots…which the Bulls then turned into fastbreak layups. For the game, the Bulls outscored Washington 31-14 in transition points.

The big reason the final margin wasn’t even bigger? Chicago is terrible. Against a Wizards team giving up wide-open threes and frequent free runs at the rim, the Bulls made just a third of their threes.

At the game’s pace, league average efficiency would have produced a combined 248 points. The Wizards and Bulls managed 227. Much of the credit for that belongs to Washington’s offense, which registered an offensive rating of 91. League average this season: 115.7.

Washington’s defense was so non-competitive that Patrick Williams (who’s a well below average NBA player) and Rob Dillingham (whose first team gave up on) had probably the best games of their NBA careers. Williams had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block — the kind of performance the Bulls imagined they would get when they signed him to a five-year, $90 million contract. Dillingham scored 26 points in 27 minutes.

As bad as it was, the game was not completely devoid of positives for the Wizards — at least as far as we can extract anything meaningful from an opponent as similarly lacking in true NBA-level talent.

• Bilal Coulibaly continued to attack with dribble drives. Opponents have had trouble staying in front of him when he decides drive, and the Bulls were no different. Chicago’s zone help concepts frequently brought what passes for their big man into his driving lane, but Coulibaly was able to get into effective pull-ups or kick to open teammates…who missed the open looks.
• JuJu Reese had another double-double — 17 points, 11 rebounds. During the broadcast, Glenn Consor said Reese has shown he’s an NBA player. I still think that’s a bit optimistic — his big rebounding numbers have mostly come against lineups lacking size. I kinda think he’s in that four-A situation they used to talk about when I followed baseball. Basically, it was a label applied to players who could excel at the AAA level but weren’t quite good enough to be productive at the highest level. Maybe Reese can get there if he works on body and skills.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	BULLS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	56.9%	49.4%	54.5%
OREB%	19.1%	15.7%	26.0%
TOV%	12.1%	19.6%	12.7%
FTM/FGA	0.234	0.151	0.207
PACE	107		99.3
ORTG	120	91	115.7

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Bilal Coulibaly	24	53	137	22.9%	2.6	178	-22
Julian Reese	36	81	98	24.0%	-3.4	101	-15
Sharife Cooper	27	61	106	25.6%	-1.5	64	-22
Anthony Gill	16	35	152	11.7%	1.5	100	-13
Jamir Watkins	22	49	101	25.1%	-1.8	69	-4
Bub Carrington	32	71	91	24.6%	-4.4	31	-20
Justin Champagnie	29	65	65	13.6%	-4.5	22	-14
Leaky Black	24	54	56	7.8%	-2.5	-31	-31
Will Riley	31	69	26	19.0%	-11.7	-90	-14

BULLS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Patrick Williams	32	71	159	17.3%	5.4	310	25
Rob Dillingham	27	61	122	29.0%	1.1	239	24
Tre Jones	27	60	125	29.5%	1.7	228	15
Collin Sexton	30	68	97	29.0%	-3.7	151	21
Isaac Okoro	16	36	150	18.3%	2.3	268	15
Lachlan Olbrich	21	47	113	16.0%	-0.2	152	17
Leonard Miller	25	56	110	17.6%	-0.6	116	20
Yuki Kawamura	16	37	173	5.5%	1.1	117	6
Mac McClung	18	41	123	11.1%	0.3	68	-2
Guerschon Yabusele	27	60	92	15.3%	-2.1	24	14

As Deandre Ayton walked out of the Lakers’ locker room Tuesday, he sang a lyric by The Five Stairsteps. 

“Ooh child, things are going to get easier.”

They can’t get much worse for LA, that’s for sure. 

The Lakers’ 123-87 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday highlighted how far things have gone in the wrong direction for a team that was soaring. 

Over the last week, they went from going on a 16-2 run and being considered title contenders to losing both Luka Doncic (strained hamstring) and Austin Reaves (strained oblique) for the rest of the regular season and likely the first round of the playoffs.

What was the scene Tuesday during their first home game since the devastating news?

Instead of Luka Doncic being on the podium talking about his MVP campaign, Kobe Bufkin and Adou Thiero were giving postgame interviews about their success in the G League. 

Instead of deploying a starting five that dismantled multiple contenders over the last month, LA had just one typical starter in the lineup in Deandre Ayton. 

And instead of JJ Redick raving yet again about how the Lakers never drop the rope, he was desperately looking for warm bodies who were willing to try and grip it. 

“We’ve got to find nine guys that are all-in on us fighting,” Redick said.

The coach didn’t see that from his group Tuesday.

Frustrations spilled over for Jarred Vanderbilt after he was yanked from the game just 16 seconds into the second quarter. He confronted Redick and was held back by Reaves. When asked what led to that moment, Redick cited “a confluence of things.”

Redick also subbed out Rui Hachimura 2 minutes and 27 seconds into the game. “I called the early timeout because Rui didn’t do his job, so took him out of the game,” Redick said.

As for Ayton, who had three points and three rebounds in nearly 23 minutes, Redick also didn’t hold back on his assessment of him. “We’ve ran a bunch of plays for him,” he said. “He’s just had trouble catching the ball.”

It’s a sad turn of events for a squad that had finally found its groove. 

The Lakers were the “it” team in March. They were beating great teams. Their chemistry was off the charts. They were golfing together off the court. And on it, they had become a fully realized version of their potential. 

Now what’s happening is just sad. 

Doncic’s MVP campaign was waylaid. Reaves, who has a potential maximum contract looming, might not get to show what he can do in the postseason. And the 41-year-old James has to try and keep the team alive in the first round of the playoffs until he can get a semblance of help.

All of the Lakers’ momentum was shuttered. 

James, who missed Tuesday’s game because of left foot injury management amid a stretch in which the Lakers play three games in four nights, sat on the bench wearing a red and black striped sweater. He was next to Reaves, who donned a Lakers sweatshirt. Doncic was more than 5,000 miles away in Spain, where he’s undergoing treatment for his hamstring. 

Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) and Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness) were also sidelined. 

Tuesday should’ve been one of the most highly anticipated games of the season. 

Instead, the defending champion Thunder faced a JV squad. A sold-out crowd at Crypto.com Arena essentially paid premium prices to watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. play with their food for a few hours.

What a turnaround for the Lakers. 

This was supposed to be a matchup between two MVP contenders. It was supposed to be the second time in a weeklong span that the Lakers could prove that they belonged in the championship conversation. 

Instead, it was a funeral for the version of the Lakers that fans had fallen in love with over the past month. 

It was the second time in a week the Lakers lost to the Thunder by more than 35 points. A thrilling team has degenerated into an unrecognizable version of itself. It’s hard to watch. 

And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to get easier anytime soon. 

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Sixers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Philadelphia 76ers have just three games left in their regular season campaign. It doesn’t sound like much, but there is still a lot to be decided in this final week for the Sixers, and for a few other teams in the Eastern Conference.

There are still battles to be fought in the East, even if the top seed was already claimed by Detroit Pistons this past weekend. There are still a handful of teams, including the Sixers, that can technically finish anywhere from the No. 5 seed down to No. 10.

As of Wednesday morning, the Sixers are currently the No. 7 seed in the East, a Play-In Tournament position. The squad had been in the No. 6 spot, a guaranteed playoff spot, just 48 hours ago, but dropped as a result of their Monday night loss to the San Antonio Spurs. They then fell another half game behind with the Toronto Raptors’ win on Tuesday. As it stands today, Philadelphia sits one game behind Toronto for the six seed.

The Sixers are as healthy as they could probably ask for at this point — well, it’s the healthiest they’ve been at the end of a regular season in quite some time, at least — but it certainly hasn’t guaranteed wins every night of this last stretch. Even with Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all available, it’s far from flawless basketball.

Your Wednesday look at the East!

The Sixers are off again. They went from 0.5 game behind the No. 6 Raptors to 1.0 back with Toronto winning their game last night.

Tonight, No. 8 Orlando could jump ahead of Philly if they win (vs. Timberwolves). No. 5 Hawks play the Cavs. pic.twitter.com/NaOQKbC8Vn

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) April 8, 2026

But the show ain’t over yet, and it ain’t all up to the Sixers.

The only thing currently separating the 43-36 Sixers and Magic is a tiebreaker, with Philadelphia winning the season series 2-1. That means that the Sixers, off on Wednesday night, could fall back to No. 8 if the Orlando Magic win their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

If the Magic were to lose, Orlando would fall back to No. 9, with the Charlotte Hornets taking the No. 8 spot by way of having the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Magic. Both would be half a game behind the Sixers at 43-37 if that were to happen. The Sixers hold tiebreakers over both.

As one can see, there are a lot of moving parts here each night here in the final week of the regular season. Philadelphia has just three of their own games left — against the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks — so they could still move back up, but they don’t completely control their own destiny even if they do win out. Right now, they’re teetering the line between playoffs and Play-In.

With all that being said and considering the plethora of variables even with just a few days left: do you think the Sixers can move back into guaranteed playoff position (top six seeds), or will they have to fight their way through the Play-In Tournament (7-10 seeds)?

Let us know!

In what can only be described as a tank-off (though I’d argue one team tried a lot more shenanigans than the other), the Milwaukee Bucks fall to the Brooklyn Nets 96-90. The loss brings the Bucks just one game behind the Bulls for the ninth-best draft odds. This win for the Nets means they lead the season series 2-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Pete Nance

26 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3/8 FG, 1/4 3P, -13

Nance was mostly invisible in this game. Didn’t have his shot going, but did somewhat of an impact through his passing.

Grade: C

Taurean Prince

36 minutes, 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 6/15 FG, 4/12 3P, +1

Shot worse than he had been, but made some big ones down the stretch (including a tough three from the deep corner). Also contributed in other areas such as rebounding. The four assists are nice until you see the turnovers; don’t quit your day job, TP.

Grade: C+

Ousmane Dieng

31 minutes, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 turnovers, 5/12 FG, 0/5 3P, -5

A really tough game for Ous, who seems to be hitting a wall as this season comes to a close. It’s understandable, with him never playing this much before, but still, you’d like for him to play better against a team like that. Having that many turnovers is unacceptable.

Grade: D+

AJ Green

38 minutes, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6/13 FG, 6/12 3P, -4

Was lukewarm for most of the game, but lit it up in the fourth, going 3/5 from three, including a clutch triple to bring the Bucks within two with 32 seconds left. I liked his physicality on defence as well.

Grade: B-

Jericho Sims

36 minutes, 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6/9 FG, +7

It really seems like they’re making a point of using Jericho as a hub as the season winds down. His development as a DHO/short-roll operator has been tremendous.

Grade: A-

Cormac Ryan

33 minutes, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 5/12 FG, 3/6 3P, -5

Didn’t shoot the ball from two as well as he had been, but still had some moments of brilliance. In particular, Ryan had a smooth “Pinoy step” in the second quarter (kind of like a slow euro-step with the shot fake on the first step… YouTube it if that made no sense, LOL).

Grade: B

Andre Jackson Jr.

15 minutes, 3 points, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 1/3 FG, 0/2 3P, 0

We might be coming to the end of the line with AJax. Just not a functional NBA player.

Grade: D-

Gary Harris

21 minutes, 7 points, 3/9 FG, 1/4 3P, -11

Did some nice things—including a one-legged three with the shot clock winding down in the first half—but all in all, not much to report, good or bad (in typical Gary Harris fashion). Good on him for wanting to play and compete in a game like this, though.

Grade: C

Doc Rivers

I mean, how much can you really judge Doc when the front office really took over for this one? I’ll keep echoing the point that the team is “playing the right way,” evidenced by having 25 assists on 45 made field goals.

Grade: C+

DNP-CD: Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Gary Trent Jr., Ryan Rollins

Bonus Bucks Bits

• The Bucks (31-48) have the Pistons, Nets, and 76ers (two likely losses, one that could go either way). The Bulls (30-49) have the Wizards, Magic, and Mavs (one win, one loss, and one that could go either way). If the Bulls win two of those games and the Bucks lose two, both teams will end up with the same record of 32-50, triggering a coin flip for the ninth-best odds (I think).
• Prior to the game, Doc answered a question about how long he sees himself continuing to coach in the NBA: “I won’t answer that, but I have grandkids that I want to see. I’ll let you figure it out from there.”
• Doc said the Nets getting to the line 23 times to the Bucks’ eight, along with Milwaukee’s 19 turnovers, were the biggest things that lost them the game. Singled out Ous as someone who has to value the ball better.
• Back home in New York, Cormac Ryan got a small but loud applause when he scored.
• The Nets were doing some shifty tanking stuff, such as not playing E.J. Liddell (their best player on the night) in the fourth quarter. Also, Nolan Traore is playing suspiciously low minutes and coming off the bench. Yes, the Bucks were also tanking (right?), but at least they played their best guys when it mattered.
• Milwaukee went on a 15-5 run late in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough.

Up Next

The Bucks are back in action tonight in Detroit at 6:00 p.m. CDT. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

Steph Curry debuts unreleased ANTA KAI 3s vs. Kings amid sneaker free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry’s sneaker free agency tour added another intriguing chapter Tuesday night.

The Warriors star laced up an unreleased “Mastery” ANTA KAI 3 — Kyrie Irving’s signature shoe — during Golden State’s 110-105 win over the Kings at Chase Center, drawing immediate attention across the sneaker world.

Stephen Curry is debuting the “Mastery” ANTA KAI 3s tonight in game: pic.twitter.com/ZjGJI9A7GP

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 8, 2026

Curry, who parted ways with Under Armour after a 12-year partnership in November, has spent the past several months rotating through brands as an on-court free agent. From Nike to Adidas to Jordan, the two-time MVP has used his platform to spotlight a wide range of sneakers — but ANTA continues to stand out.

He previously has worn multiple ANTA pairs in recent months, including customized designs and All-Star Weekend appearances, making Tuesday’s in-game debut another notable data point in his ongoing rotation.

Stephen Curry was spotted wearing the ANTA Sneakerverse SV Eclosion Type 2 with the Curry Brand logo on the heel 👀🤔✍️

Could @StephenCurry30 be signing with ANTA? pic.twitter.com/kOI19O3XMp

— KicksFinder (@KicksFinder) February 22, 2026

Curry has made it clear he’s embracing the process.

Just one day earlier, he announced plans to auction off his “Sneaker Free Agency” collection, with all proceeds benefiting his EAT. LEARN. PLAY. Foundation in Oakland — a move that framed his season-long rotation as both personal exploration and a celebration of basketball culture.

While Curry hasn’t indicated any timeline for a decision, ANTA’s continued presence suggests the brand is firmly in the conversation as his next long-term partner.

For now, the sneaker free agency continues.

But with each appearance, the direction feels increasingly worth watching.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

The final week of the 2025-26 NBA regular season is upon us, and the race to solidify playoff seeding is in full swing. Teams across both conferences are battling for position, with first-round matchups and play-in tournament spots still very much up for grabs.

In the Western Conference, the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, sit at the top and could take the No. 1 seed for the third consecutive season, with the San Antonio Spurs close behind at No. 2. With just three games remaining, the play-in picture is far from settled, and every win or loss carries serious weight.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons clinched the No. 1 seed with the Boston Celtics at currently at No. 2. Remaining game could still shift conference seedings.

With the regular season winding down, the playoff picture is still taking shape. Here is how things currently stand and who would be in the play-in tournament if the season ended today.

More: NBA power rankings: Where do Lakers go with Luka Dončić injury?

How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

The NBA Play-In Tournament tips off Tuesday, April 14, and runs through Friday, April 17, with all six games streaming exclusively on Prime Video.

The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds in each conference battle for the final two playoff spots per conference, while the top six seeds lock automatic berths.

The NBA Playoffs start on Saturday, April 18, as 16 teams, eight per conference, compete through a best-of-seven bracket to crown a champion.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 3, on ABC.

NBA Play-In Tournament bracket

The NBA play-in tournament standings after games played on Tuesday, April 7:

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
• (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

Eastern Conference

• (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
• (9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is NBA Play-In Tournament? Format and current standings

The Suns came out against Houston on Tuesday night with a level of tenacity and execution that has been absent for nearly two months, ripping off a 24-0 run in the first quarter against Kevin Durant and the 4th-seeded Rockets, the best run Phoenix has produced since play-by-play tracking began in 1997. The energy was real, the shots were falling, and the defensive disruption finally arrived with purpose, as Phoenix leaned into the emotion of the night and translated it into production.

And then the quarter ended.

We settled back into the familiar rhythm that has followed this team as the season winds down, where productivity slips and regression takes over. In a game charged with emotion, the Suns never found a way to channel that energy into anything sustainable. And without adjustments against a team that thrives on owning the glass, the outcome felt inevitable as they were outscored 98-68 over the final three quarters.

Suns were up 42-31 when Dillon Brooks starting talking shit to Kevin Durant. The Rockets out scored the Suns 88-63 the rest of the game

pic.twitter.com/9OMf0EE5EF

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 8, 2026

The Suns can look electric for stretches, completely in sync, and then it fades. It has been a theme for the last third of the season, and it showed up again against the Houston Rockets.

Some of it comes down to emotional maturity. These are moments that many of these players are still learning to navigate. Not all have played in games with added weight, added noise, and added meaning. Harnessing that consistently is not easy. And layered on top of it, you are playing a Houston team that, right now, is simply better.

So you get the flash. You get the reminder of what it can look like. And then you are left searching for why it doesn’t hold. But what made Tuesday frustrating is how familiar it felt. The Phoenix Suns went right back to the same habits. No real adjustment. Another fourth quarter that slipped away. Another night trying to combat size with guard play and hoping it holds.

It didn’t.

They got crushed on the glass. 37 second-chance points allowed. That is not bad luck, that is a structural problem. That is getting outworked, out-positioned, and outmuscled possession after possession. For a team that is healthy and possesses size, the use none of it. No, they keep running a limping Grayson Allen out there so he can miss a few threes and defensive assignments.

Imagine a world where the Suns put rebounders on the floor to negate getting pwned on the glass https://t.co/0odmtRwk9S

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 8, 2026

And then there was the emotion.

They were talking when they were up. Feeling good. Riding that early wave. And in doing so, they poked Kevin Durant. You give a player like that a reason — any reason — and you are asking for trouble. The 21-point lead slowly disappeared, possession by possession, until it was gone.

Health is coming back, but growth is not showing up with it. Progression is sitting in the back seat of this Uber drive to the postseason. You want to see progress this time of year, even against better teams. Cleaner execution. Better awareness. A sense that things are tightening, not unraveling. Instead, it feels like the same script on repeat.

And now the margin is shrinking. Three games left, only two up on the Los Angeles Clippers. That cushion is not what it used to be. Home court in the Play-In is still there, but it is no longer comfortable. That is where the concern lives.

Because the postseason is built on emotion. It is built on moments like this, only louder, tighter, and heavier. And right now, there is a real question as to whether this team can meet that moment and execute when it matters most.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

20 on the season for Devin Booker. This surpasses last season’s total for Book. That’s right, this is the second season we’ve done the Bright Side Baller, and you may recall that Devin was the Bright Side Baller of the Year for 2024-25. He did so winning it 19 times. So this is a big moment for him.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 79 against the Rockets. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
31 points (7-of-16, 2-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 15-of-16 FT, 3 turnovers, +2 +/-

Mark Williams
19 points (7-of-9), 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover, +10 +/-

Jalen Green
15 points (5-of-14, 0-of-4 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 4 blocks, -5 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
11 points (4-of-7, 3-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +6 +/-

Dillon Brooks
10 points (3-of-12, 1-of-7 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +4 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
8 points (4-of-6), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, -22 +/-

---

Who gets it?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have three games left in the regular season. As of now, it seems like they’re going to match up against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. That makes it as good a time as any to ask how you think that potential series would go.

The Hawks have turned it on over the past couple of months. They’ve been 19-4 since the All-Star break, which is good for the third-best record in the league and the best in the conference in that span. They’ve done this on the defensive end as they’ve registered an impressive 107.3 defensive rating since that time.

They’re a very different team now than they were at the start of the season. The Hawks came into this year hoping to make a Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis-led starting unit work. They pivoted away from that at the deadline, handing the reins over to Jalen Johnson.

Atlanta is a wing-heavy team. They have size and versatility at every position and would be a good test for the Cavs if they were to meet in the first round.

Meanwhile, it’s difficult to know what to make of this Cavaliers team. The highs have been high since the James Harden trade, but the inconsistencies on the defensive end make it difficult to predict how exactly the playoffs will go.

How do you think a first-round series between the Cavs and Hawks would go? Let us know by voting below, and tell us why you voted how you did in the comments.

Every April, USAA honors the sacrifice and resilience of more than 1.6 million kids for Month of the Military Child. San Antonio Spurs Lil’ MVP Camp, presented by USAA, celebrates the strength, service and skills of local military kids with an on court experience.

Recently, some of the campers took to the podium to participate in a “presser” similar to what Spurs players and coaches go through before and after games.

In this post, the kids got some questions. Spurs bog man Kelly Olynyk also fielded some of the same questions.

Had to ask our @USAA Lil MVPs and Kelly Olynyk the important questions 🎤🎙️#sponsoredpic.twitter.com/9Fbvrow7BM

— San Antonio Spurs – x (@spurs) April 7, 2026

Can you beat The Coyote 1v1?

Julian expected that a draw was the most probable while Evalei doesn’t think she could beat the varmint. Kelly Olynyk thought it was a great question, but needed to study film to give an accurate response. Darian’s confidence was off the charts as he was sure he’d win.

Favorite Spurs player”?

A resounding response for Victor Wembanyama.

The kids were asked who inspires them. Family members were the most common.

What would be your basketball super power?

Dunking. And for a youngster under four feet tall, that seems like a super power, but who knows? These kids might just grow into players who can dunk with their normal human powers.

What is your favorite basketball memory?

While I am sure these kiddos are too young to remember the Spurs annihilating the Miami Heat in 2014, they had some solid personal memories including hitting buzzer-beaters and having their parents watch them succeed.

Tomorrow’ NBA and WNBA superstars today. Fun little video and a great was that USAA is supporting military families.

---

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Hawks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

---

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks are turning their eyes towards the postseason.

Postseason basketball is often more physical, slower-paced, and features a shortened rotation. Backup center Jock Landale has proven to be a big midseason pickup, providing size and floor spacing that makes everyone else’s job easier.

But after a dirty takedown from Goga Bitadze of the Orlando Magic, an ankle injury will sideline him until at least the playoffs — and possibly longer.

Of course, Onyeka Okongwu can’t realistically play 48 minutes a game. That begs the question: which player would be the best candidate to play backup center for the rest of the season and into the games that matter most?

Please discuss your answers in the comments below.

The NBA play-offs are a four-round tournament to determine the winners of the NBA Championship.

Sixteen of the 30 NBA teams - who start the regular season - qualify for the end-of-season format.

The top six with the most wins in each Conference (East and West) automatically secure their spot in the play-offs.

The teams that place between 7-10th then play for the remaining spots in a 'play-in tournament'.

Teams are seeded by their final position in the Conference table.

NBA play-off format

Teams will need to progress through four rounds to claim the NBA title.

• First round (16 teams compete)
• Conference semi-finals (Eight teams compete)
• Conference finals (Four teams compete)
• NBA finals (Two teams compete)

In each round, the team with the better regular-season record will gain home-court advantage. That team plays games one, two, five and seven at home.

Each round uses a best-of-seven format. If one team wins the first four games, they will progress to the next round. There could be anywhere between 60-105 games in total, in the play-offs.

In the first round, the top seeds will play the bottom seeds from each Conference.

• Series one – first seed vs eighth seed
• Series two – second seed vs seventh seed
• Series three – third seed vs sixth seed
• Series four – fourth seed vs fifth seed

The winners of Series one and Series four play each other in each of the Conference semi-finals, as do the winners of Series two and three.

The winner of those games will meet in the Conference final.

The NBA Finals

The winner of each Conference final will face off in the NBA finals for the Championship.

In 2026, the finals will begin on 3 June, with a potential seventh game pencilled in for 19 June.

More questions answered...

What is a tifo banner?

Modric, Mbappe, Ronaldo - the players targeting football club ownership

How does the new Club World Cup work & why is it so controversial?

How much are Premier League referees paid?

During Michigan’s win over UConn Monday night, Aday Mara threw a quick and devastating outlet pass over the Huskies’ defense that made announcer Bill Raftery excitedly say, “shades of Wes Unseld.”

Many people immediately wondered: who the hell is Wes Unseld?

And since he retired in 1981, a lot of readers were born well after his career ended. And in truth, in later years, Unseld was a shadow of what he had been.

And what he was earlier in his career was phenomenal.

Just 6-6, but a solid 250, Unseld came into the league in 1968 and won Rookie of the Year and also MVP.

He played center and when he came in, that meant he had to deal with Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, and Willis Reed, among others.

In a couple of years, he would have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to deal with as well.

Despite being vastly smaller than these enormous rivals, Unseld more than held his own, and, as Raftery suggested, he had one of the greatest outlet passes ever seen. Perhaps only Russell, Kevin Love, and Bill Walton were in the same tier as outlet passers.

Basically, Unseld achieved all that he did by outworking his opponents.

Later in his career, knee problems began to limit his mobility. He remained a good rebounder and passer until retirement, but he couldn’t move like he had as a younger player.

There really isn’t anyone else quite like him in the history of the game.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line