Candace Parker, Amar’e Stoudemire and Doc Rivers headline a nine-member class that has been selected for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next August.

The threesome will be joined by Elena Delle Donne, Mark Few, Joey Crawford, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mike D’Antoni and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team in the Class of 2026, the Hall of Fame announced Saturday. Some were dominant forces on the court and pioneers of their sport, while the coaches maintained remarkable levels of success for over two decades each.

Read more about the full class of inductees below:

Candace Parker (player)

WNBA player (2008-2023), three-time WNBA champion, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA MVP, two-time NCAA champion

The list of accolades only begins to scratch the surface of Parker’s basketball resume. She was the best player at every level at which she competed.

She was the top high school player in the country in Illinois, twice winning USA Today High School Player of the Year (2003 and 2004). Her high school years were also when she first drew acclaim for her athleticism. She is believed to be the first woman in Illinois to dunk in a basketball game, doing so at just 15 years old.

It was an omen of just how head and shoulders above the competition she would be for the rest of her career.

Parkler’s dominance continued in her three seasons under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee (2005-08), where the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She won two national championships with the Vols (2007 and 2008) and was an All-American all three years in college. In both national title runs, Parker was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.

“Candace Parker is the best player in the women’s game,” Summitt said in 2008. “There has been a lot of questions or suggestions about who is the best player. My comment on that is, the big question should be, who is the best player in the world? Is it Candace Parker or is it Lauren Jackson?”

At the time, Jackson was a WNBA center who had already won two of her three MVP awards.

Parker’s brilliance continued in the WNBA. Drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008, Parker became the first WNBA player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. In 2016, she won the first of her three championships. She was still averaging close to a double-double (14.7 points and 9.7 rebounds) in her 12th WNBA season in 2020 for the Sparks. She won Defensive Player of the Year that season before leaving the team to join her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021, where she helped the franchise win titles in 2021 and 2023.

In 2016, when Parker was 30, the WNBA named her to its list of 20 greatest players. She remained on the list when it expanded to 25 players in 2021. Her jersey has been retired by Tennessee, the Sparks and the Sky.

“Candace Parker has left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles Sparks,” Magic Johnson wrote on Twitter after Parker’s jersey retirement. “Not only as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but as a true ambassador of our franchise and women’s basketball as a whole.” — Devon Henderson, staff writer

Mark Few (coach)

Gonzaga head coach (1999-present), 773 wins, 2017 AP Coach of the Year, two Final Fours, two championship game appearances

In his 27 seasons and counting at Gonzaga, Few has transformed the Bulldogs from an obscure mid-major men’s basketball program into a national power. His impact was immediate, leading the Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen in each of his first two seasons (2000 and 2001) as one of two head coaches to accomplish that feat since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Since then, Few’s Gonzaga teams have won the WCC Tournament championship 21 times and have made the NCAA Tournament in all 27 seasons, clinching an automatic bid in 2020 before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. The Bulldogs made the NCAA title game in 2017 and 2021, but lost both times.

His winning percentage (.832) is the highest in NCAA history for coaches with more than 600 games, and he currently ranks 19th in career wins. Few will be the fifth active Division I coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. — Henderson

Amar’e Stoudemire (player)

NBA (2002-2016), six-time NBA All-Star, five-time All-NBA Selection, 2002-03 NBA Rookie of the Year

One of the game’s highest flyers will soon land in the Hall. It didn’t always appear that destiny was assured for the power forward. Stoudemire didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 14, and through various moves and eligibility complications, he only ended up playing two seasons in high school. His senior year was enough, however, to be drafted directly into the NBA after he averaged 29.1 points, 15 rebounds, 6.1 blocked shots and 2.1 steals per game for Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Fla.

The Phoenix Suns drafted Stoudemire with the No. 9 pick in the 2002 draft, and he spent the first eight years of his career with the franchise. The 6-foot-10 forward made an immediate impact, averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds en route to becoming the first prep-to-pro player to win Rookie of the Year in 2003. He later became one half of a superstar duo with two-time MVP point guard and 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash on the famed “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns. Two of Stoudemire’s three seasons averaging more than 25 points per game came in Phoenix. In the Suns’ 2005 run to the Western Conference Finals, he averaged just under 30 points and 11 rebounds through 15 playoff games.

Stoudemire became known as one of the hardest dunkers in the game, but was also a skilled midrange shooter with deft footwork.

“This guy made my life so fun,” Nash told PHNX Sports in 2024. “Every night, getting the chance to find him on the break, find him on the pick-and-roll, play in the half-court with him, just an incredible, incredible player. I think we’ve all seen him dunk on people, and we’ve all seen him tear the rim off, but I think what people don’t always understand is the dynamism of an athlete at 6-foot-10 that he possesses. Out of this world.”

In 2010, Stoudemire signed with the New York Knicks in free agency and was later joined by Carmelo Anthony in a midseason trade. In 2010-11, he poured in 25.3 points per game for New York. Stoudemire’s NBA career — he also played a few seasons overseas — ended in 2016 after 14 seasons. He finished with career averages of 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. — Henderson

Doc Rivers (coach)

NBA coach (1999-present), 2008 NBA champion, 2000 NBA Coach of the Year, sixth in career wins by an NBA coach

In Rivers’ 13-season playing career with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs from 1983-96, he was a one-time NBA All-Star in 1988 with Atlanta.

It was as a head coach that he built his legacy. He has won 1,192 games and counting in 27 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Orlando Magic (1999-2003), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23) and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-present). He is currently sixth on the career wins list for NBA head coaches. He was the only coach in the top 10 not yet in the Hall of Fame.

Rivers won Coach of the Year in his first season with Orlando, and led the Magic to the playoffs in three of his four years with the team. By 2004, Rivers had made his way to Boston. In the 2007-08 season, he led the Celtics to a 36-win turnaround, tied for the largest ever season-to-season turnaround in NBA history, and led the Celtics to a title, winning the finals in six games over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rivers had a star-studded roster on the 2008 champion Celtics, including future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

“Doc is probably one of the more intelligent people I’ve ever met,” Garnett said on the Bucks’ YouTube channel in 2025. “Always coming up with quotes, always having things in the chamber that he hits you with. One of the — if not the best — inspirational coaches I’ve ever been around. He is a special type of coach.”

Rivers brought the Celtics back to the finals in 2010, again against the Lakers, but this time fell in seven games.

In 2013, he became the coach of the LA Clippers and helped turn the long-struggling franchise into a Western Conference power with stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The Clippers averaged 54 wins from 2013 to 2017 after recording just one 50-win season in the previous 43 years of the franchise’s existence, dating back to its days as the Buffalo Braves.

All told, Rivers has made the playoffs in 21 of his 27 seasons.

“It would mean the world to me,” Rivers told reporters Tuesday in Milwaukee when asked about potentially joining the Hall of Fame. “I’ve done a lot, the numbers are the numbers. But it’s not, I swear, it’s not why I got into this. It’s the relationships. It’s the people. From the day that I was nominated, the calls, I can’t tell you. It’s in the hundreds, the player calls. And some of the calls have been amazing because I thought they didn’t like me anymore. You have falling outs with players, and you don’t ever worry about it; it’s just part of it as a coach. It’s been amazing that they have reached out, and it’s made me feel really good about just doing what I do. It’s been great.” — Henderson

Elena Delle Donne (player)

NCAA leading scorer (2012), WNBA Rookie of the Year (2013), WNBA MVP (2015, 2019), WNBA champion (2019)

Before becoming a prominent WNBA fixture, Delle Donne walked on to the volleyball team at the University of Delaware and led the team to the conference title before joining the basketball team, where she led the nation in scoring as a junior and took her team to the Sweet 16 as a senior. The Chicago Sky selected Delle Donne with the second pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, and in 2014 she led the team to its first finals appearance. Her 2013 draft class, including Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins along with Delle Donne, is regarded as one of the most influential in league history.

After being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017, the 6-5 forward won a WNBA championship and her second league MVP in 2019, making her the first player to earn the honor with two different franchises. An elite shooter, Delle Donne has the league’s all-time leading free-throw percentage (93.7) and was the first WNBA player to achieve the 50-40-90 mark (50 percent from the field, 40 percent for 3, 90 percent from the free-throw line) over the course of a season. Her versatility attracted attention from opponents, as Delle Donne’s nimble ballhandling, paired with her height and lethal shooting, made her a threat in every aspect of the game. In addition to her 2016 Rio Olympic gold, she also won gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and 2011 World University Games.

Off the court, Delle Donne has been an outspoken advocate for those with Lyme disease and has talked openly about her struggles with the illness. She is also a champion of disability awareness, inspired by her older sister Lizzie. — Emily Ohman, staff writer

Joey Crawford (referee)

NBA referee (1977–2016), 2,561 regular-season games, 374 playoff games, 50 NBA Finals games

By the end of the 2014-15 season, Crawford had refereed more playoff and NBA Finals games than any active referee. He is among the two longest-tenured NBA referees in history, having been active for 39 seasons. In November 2005, he became the sixth referee to officiate 2,000 games and was a staple officiating the game’s biggest moments for decades.

Crawford is the 19th referee to be inducted into the Hall and the ninth NBA referee.

Crawford became infamous for his quick technical fouls, most notably in a tiff with Tim Duncan in 2007 when Crawford ejected the San Antonio Spurs star for laughing while on the bench. Crawford said Duncan had been laughing at him and used an expletive, while Duncan later said that Crawford had asked him if he wanted to fight. Crawford was later suspended by the league and said the incident changed his life and the way he approached the job.

He retired in 2016 due to nagging knee injuries, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most experienced referees in NBA history who called a record number of playoff games. — Henderson

1996 United States Women’s National Team (team)

1996 Olympic gold medal, 10 future Hall of Fame members

The WNBA owes a debt of gratitude to this group.

The team, coached by legendary Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer and headlined by stars such as Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo and Dawn Staley, ran roughshod over its competition in Atlanta. They went 8-0 with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points.

Their dominant performance raised the global profile of the women’s game and contributed to the launch of the WNBA in late 1996. The Olympic team went on a months-long global tour in preparation for the 1996 Games, showcasing the interest in women’s basketball while playing against college and professional teams from all over the world.

The players on the team went on to become some of the earliest superstars of the WNBA, which held its inaugural season in 1997. “Now, when I look in hindsight,” Lobo told ESPN in 2022, “… holy cow, what the Olympic team did, the launch of the WNBA that’s here 26 years later, would there even be a WNBA without that team? Certainly not in that immediate time frame.”

The Americans averaged 102 points per game at the Atlanta Games. Leslie and Katrina McClain led the team in scoring, averaging 19.5 and 14.1 points, respectively. Leslie also added 7.3 rebounds per game and took home tournament MVP.

She later became a three-time WNBA MVP and two-time champion. All told, 10 players on the 1996 Olympic team have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Staley in 2013.

“We didn’t really have those profound conversations,” Staley told ESPN. “It was OK then to not feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. We were task-oriented.

“But when you grow and remove yourself from that time, you do have those conversations now. It is cool to have been part of the evolution of a sport, to have seen it, felt it, lived it, and take the time to really, really try to appreciate it and think how to keep it going.” — Henderson

Chamique Holdsclaw (player)

WNBA player (1999-2013), six-time WNBA All-Star, three-time NCAA champion

The star of powerhouse Tennessee teams in the mid-1990s, Holdsclaw led the Volunteers to three straight national championships and won back-to-back NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player awards before being drafted with the No. 1 pick in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. She left college as the SEC’s all-time leading scorer, totaling 3,025 points.

She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 after averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game that season, in which she also started in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game. Despite struggling with injuries in subsequent years with the Mystics, she averaged a double-double in back-to-back seasons in 2002 and 2003, leading the WNBA in rebounds per game each year.

She finished her WNBA career after stints with the Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream and San Antonio Silver Stars. Holdsclaw was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. — Mark Puleo, senior editor

Mike D’Antoni (coach)

NBA coach (1998-2020), two-time NBA Coach of the Year

Considered one of the most innovative offensive minds in NBA history, D’Antoni jumped into the NBA coaching ranks after spending seven years coaching in Italy, where he previously played with Olimpia Milano from 1977 to 1990, retiring as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

In the NBA, D’Antoni revolutionized the pace of offensive play as head coach of the Phoenix Suns from 2003 to 2008. He led the Suns to 50-plus wins in four consecutive seasons. After coaching stints with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, D’Antoni again took the league by storm in the late 2010s with the Houston Rockets, leading the franchise to three straight seasons with more than 50 wins. He famously coached Steve Nash and James Harden to MVP campaigns, and he was instrumental in the career of fellow 2026 Naismith inductee Stoudemire. — Puleo

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

NBA, Men's College Basketball, WNBA, Women's College Basketball

2026 The Athletic Media Company

In a bit of a surprise, the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday announced that they had signed 10-day player Malachi Smith to a two year standard deal. Shams Charania of ESPN was first with the news; the Nets later confirmed…

The Brooklyn Nets are signing guard Malachi Smith to a two-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Smith averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds across two 10-day contracts with the Nets after playing for the team’s Long Island G League affiliate, and now lands a full standard deal.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026

Smith’s signing gives the Nets the league maxium of 15 standard deals and three two-ways with five games left in the 2025-26 season.

Neither Shams nor the Nets provided details on the contract, but in the past, Brooklyn has signed a number of players to multi-year, non-guaranteed deals late in the season, among them Kessler Edwards, David Duke Jr. and current Net Jalen Wilson. In those cases, the players contracts only became guaranteed for the second year if they made the final roster the following October.

On Friday night, Smith had expressed his gratitude for his opportunity with Brooklyn.

“It’s been like a blessing, for sure,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Hawks. “But I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy.

“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here. So, obviously there’s a transition: physically, athletically, thinking the game a lot faster. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. So just having that same mentality, just going out there having fun and controlling the things I could control.”

Smith, 26, becomes the eighth rookie on the Nets roster this season. In addition to the Flatbush Five and Smith, two other first year players with no NBA experience have donned the black-and-white: Grant Nelson who played four games on a 10-day in February and March before being sidelined with patellar tendinitis, and current two-way Chaney Johnson who’s played 14 games with Brooklyn, averaging 7.8 points per game. Both are 23.

Smith played 39 total games in Long Island this season before being called up on March 13. Undrafted out of Gonzaga in 2023, he previously played for the G League affiliates of the Trailblazers, Bucks and Grizzlies who traded him to Long Island last September.

His numbers jumped January 6 when Long Island coach Mfon Udofia inserted him at point guard after Nolan Traore was called up to Brooklyn. In 24 games after that, Smith averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 51.9% overall and 42.9% from deep. He’s upped his game again over the last 10 games, averaging 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 57.9% from the field and converting 50% of his opportunities from beyond the arc.

Zach Lowe even took note of the heater Smith has been on…

Well-earned. Has been legit good amid the tankery — a fun reason to watch the Nets. https://t.co/gfHJX3LnbD

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 4, 2026

Smith joined high school teammate, Nets two-way E.J. Liddell, on the Brooklyn roster. The pair played for Belleville West High School in Belleville, Illinois, and won a state championship in 2018. Liddell is a year younger.

Smith is the fourth call-up for Long Island, which finished its season two nights ago with a loss in the opening round of the G League playoffs. In addition to Smith, Nelson and Trevon Scott, who just signed to a 10-day with Brooklyn, Nate Williams was signed to a two-way by the Golden State Warriors.

Long Island now ranks fourth in the number of G League affiliate call-ups this season, tied with Oklahoma City and the Clippers, trailing only San Antonio and Cleveland with five and Washington with six.

• Nets reward Malachi Smith with two-year contract after ‘anything but easy’ journey to NBA – Brian Lewis – New York Post

April 3, 2026 isn’t likely to be a date well-remembered in NBA history, but it did produce an extraordinary (if unfortunate) statistic: In the 7,891 days in which regular season NBA games have been played since the 1976-1977 season began (i.e., since the NBA-ABA merger), yesterday is the only day in which five games were won by 32+ points. Unsurprisingly, all five games pitted playoff-bound teams who are fighting for seeding against lottery-bound teams who are desperate to lose. Here are a handful of other details:

• The total margin of victory recorded across all games was +220. This is the 13th highest daily total recorded since the NBA-ABA merger, but the highest for a day in which no more than nine games were played (all days ranked 1st through 12th included at least 11 games played).
• The average margin of victory across the nine games played was 24.4 points, the highest ever for a day in which at least nine games were played.
• Of the four other games played, three were double-digit victories. The only truly close contest was the King’s 117-113 victory over New Orleans. Since the NBA-ABA merger, this is just the 18th regular season day in which 9+ games were played with no more than one single-digit margin of victory. However, there have actually been four days in the same period where 9+ games were played with NO single-digit point differentials. Those days are February 3, 1995, November 7, 2025, March 8, 2026, and March 29, 2026. That’s right, three of these four cases happened this season.

In any case, to commemorate this event I’ve provided the graded box scores for all five blowouts. If nothing else, examining these tables provides some illuminating insights into the myriad ways in which a 30-plus point blowout can occur. Hope you enjoy.

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.

Sacramento State forward Shaqir O'Neal – yes, the son of Shaq – won the College Slam Dunk Championship on Friday, April 3, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis before the Men's Final Four.

Shaqir O'Neal, wearing his dad's "Shaq" shoe brand, elbow-dunked over two fellow players and threw down a reverse on his final attempt to secure the win over Central Connecticut's Nico Ashley. He finished with two 50-point scores, the highest total possible on a single dunk.

REQUIRED READING: Shaqir O'Neal discusses NBA goals, HBCU hoops and choosing Sac State

"Dad, I know you're watching this," Shaqir O'Neal said after his win. "You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I'm expecting my money. Shoutout to my pops."

DePaul's CJ Gunn won the men's 3-point contest and Kansas' Elle Evans won the women's 3-point contest. Evans also took home two more awards, winning the team shooting competition alongside Purdue's Fletcher Loyer and Portland State's Jaylin Henderson before defeating Gunn in the 3-point shootout between champions.

Shaqir O'Neal averaged 5.3 points with 3.2 rebounds per game this season at Sacramento State. The 6-foot-8 forward started his career at Texas Southern, where he held a small role off the bench for two seasons before transferring to Florida A&M in 2024-25.

Shaqir O'Neal plays for his dad's former Sacramento Kings foe Mike Bibby, who served his first year as Sacramento State head coach this season.

"It's been an unreal experience," Shaqir O'Neal told USA TODAY Sports. "Coach Bibby and his staff, they really care about the players, just on and off the court. They made sure they built that relationship with us early in the summer. It's really been a movie with all the press and all this stuff. And haters and this and that. And the ups and downs. Us losing players to injuries, like it's been real, it's been crazy, but it's been a great learning experience."

Four of Shaquille O'Neal's children played Division I college basketball, including sons Shaqir O'Neal and Shareef O'Neal (UCLA, LSU), and daughters Amirah O'Neal, a former preferred walk-on at LSU and Me'Arah O'Neal, who averaged over 13 points per game at Florida this season.

None of Shaq's children turned out to be nearly as good as their Hall of Fame dad that won four NBA championships. But Shaqir O'Neal sure can dunk like his dad could, although no backboards were shattered.

Shaqir O'Neal college dunk contest highlights

Something sweet from @shaqironeall from @SacHornetsMBB🍯#CollegeSlam x @StateFarmpic.twitter.com/Y3ISiCIRmZ

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

.@shaqironeall has no problem making his daddy proud🤷‍♂️#CollegeSlam x @StateFarmpic.twitter.com/dn2n7IXYF8

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

With this dunk, @shaqironeall is your @StateFarm Slam Dunk Champion 🏆#CollegeSlampic.twitter.com/R7kH3aX0oA

— College Slam (@CollegeSLAM) April 4, 2026

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shaqir O'Neal, son of Shaquille, wins college slam dunk contest

The Nets are signing guard Malachi Smith to a two-year deal Saturday.

It’s the ultimate case of grit paying off, with Smith going undrafted in 2023 and laboring in the G League since.

After excelling in Long Island, he got a pair of 10-day contracts and parlayed them into a standard deal in a move first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.

“It’s been like a blessing, for sure,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Hawks. “But I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy.

“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here. So, obviously there’s a transition: physically, athletically, thinking the game a lot faster. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. So just having that same mentality, just going out there having fun and controlling the things I could control.”

Smith averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds across two 10-day contracts with the Nets as they’ve gone into full tank mode and played the tail end of their bench.

The guard has given them a spark, never more than Friday against Atlanta.

In a five-minute burst spanning the first and second quarters, Smith shot 4-of-4 overall and 3-of-3 from behind the arc to lift the Nets to within four with 10:59 left in the half.

He even hit a wild heave from well past the halfcourt logo that nearly beat the buzzer.

Didn't count, but what a play. Josh Minott goes Odell. Malachi Smith puts it in. pic.twitter.com/hLlNpAdK72

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) April 4, 2026

“I think just the mentality is leave it all on the floor,” Smith said. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years, so I’m not going to take any minute for granted.

“I always tell myself I don’t care if I get one minute or 10 minutes, I’m gonna be able to go to sleep at night knowing I play as hard as I can. And then whatever happens after that, I can live with the results.”

This signing comes as the Nets are now all but assured of landing a top-three slot in the draft lottery.

After the Kings’ come-from-behind win Friday night against the Pelicans, Brooklyn is now 2 ½ games clear of both Sacramento and Utah.

The Nets would have to go 3-2 down the stretch, while either the Kings or Jazz would have to lose out for Brooklyn to fall into a fourth-place tie. They’ve only won three games since Feb. 10.

Would you believe the Knicks beat the Bulls at MSG?

Easy peasy victory, as New York reached FIFTY wins for the third consecutive season.

S/o Thomas Joseph Thibodeau.

Brown on Alvarado playing only 4th: "Landry & Deuce as backup guards…wanted to take look…Jose's done fantastic job but…haven't had a lot of healthy guards, he stepped in…Deuce Landry getting healthy…trying to find minutes for them…priority for me…they've proven themselves" pic.twitter.com/FZcA8djEBp

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Mike Brown

On a fast start against Chicago:

“Tonight we started the right way, and when we do, we might jump on somebody. It’s about making our opponents feel us executing our defense the right way every possession, not giving up any easy baskets in transition and finishing it with the defense rebound.”

On the first-quarter defense on Friday:

“A lot of it has been our defense. In the first quarter, we’re 19th [in the league] right now, and fourth quarter, we’re first by a mile. So for us to bring that same sense of urgency to start the games defensively, it’s going to be big for us.”

On using Jeremy Sochan at backup center with KAT out:

“It allowed us to do a lot of things like switch pick and rolls. It brought a different element to our game. Not just offensively with the speed, but defensively with switching a lot of things and just keeping the ball in front of us.”

On Jose Alvarado’s future role with Deuce and Shamet back:

“We think Jose has done a fantastic job for us. … Deuce is getting healthier and Landry’s getting healthy and trying to find minutes for those guys – both of those guys are capable of playing that (backup guard) spot – is going to be a priority because they’ve proven themselves this year for us.”

On OG Anunoby’s lone All-Defensive nod:

“It’s bulls–t, and I can say that with a straight face ‘cause he’s a great defender and he does a lot of different things that people don’t see on that end of the floor for us and for other teams he played for. But more importantly, his versatility is just off the charts and you can do a lot of things with your defense because of him. In my opinion, he deserves First Team All-Defense this year – and hopefully the powers that be will see it that way, too.”

On the Knicks’ form heading into the playoffs:

“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders. Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes, I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year. Even in games where there’s quote-unquote manufactured pressure (such as the NBA Cup). We’ve played really good basketball. I like what we have in that locker room and I like the things that we’ve done this year, but I expect more from myself first and everybody else second.”

On performing in big environments:

“All games you want to win, but when you go into Boston, it’s different than maybe going into another arena. Or if you go into OKC, it’s different than going into another arena. Those types of games, there’s a lot of manufactured pressure just because they’re good teams and it’s on national TV and all that good stuff. So to get that (environment) and to be able to perform at a pretty good level – you embrace that opportunity. You want to win all games, but to win those games – our guys have done (well) in those situations over the course of the year. So my belief is, (with) this group going into the playoffs when it’s real, that our guys will rise to the occasion.”

On the need for winning games without regard for the opponent:

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, at the end of the day it’s about us. I thought the guys were really good with that. … I thought we played the right way, playing with a sense of urgency and then on top of that, sharing the basketball offensively and spacing the floor the right way. It was a lot of fun to watch.”

“My bad. You good? You OK?”

— Jalen Brunson checking on the kid he fell into

Bro got the dap, a photo, shoes

And a story to tell for a lifetime

(📸:ski28) pic.twitter.com/eHGuEQP21I

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the need to start games strong:

“Being able to lock in and be ready to go from the jump is key. It starts with our preparation. I think there’s still things we can do better defensively. Obviously, getting out to a lead helped us play comfortably for the rest of the game.”

Josh Hart

On not having a clue about the Knicks’ slow-start issues:

“We’ve been getting off to slow starts for two years now. If I had the answers, we would be better.”

"That's bullshit…sorry kids"

–– Mike Brown on OG Anunoby having made only one NBA All-Defense Team in his career (2nd team 2023)

Brown: "He deserves 1st Team this year" pic.twitter.com/B3BlnONc85

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

OG Anunoby

On deserving more All-Defensive recognition:

“I think I should’ve gotten it more, for sure. I think I should’ve gotten it last year. I think I should get it this year. That’s definitely a goal of mine, coming into the season, especially defensively, being on the first team or second team – hopefully first.”

On the true value of defense:

“It’s half the game. Fifty percent offense. Fifty percent defense. I just take pride in it. It’s very important, especially for winning games and winning championships – it’s very important.”

Mike Breen: "There are many Knick fans, many in the media & in organization who feel season would be disappointing if Knicks don't make Finals…Blows me away
…
Championship is goal–but just remember where franchise was before Leon…Julius…Thibs…ofc Brunson…easy to forget" pic.twitter.com/bQ7QE37R5D

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Miles McBride

On the increased energy against Chicago:

“Tonight, we just came out with a different energy. The first five really set a tone, and the bench follows.”

On his groin tweak against the OKC Thunder:

“It’s just kind of like a tweak; it’s a painful tweak. (It’s) like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time. It’s not fun. I’ll get back right. All glory to God.”

On OG Anunoby’s defensive value:

“I think that speaks to his motor, his work ethic. He super important for us.”

"Giddey…he was a sex symbol in OKC"

–– Clyde pic.twitter.com/ENcfA9uRvg

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 4, 2026

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Detroit Pistons have rolled without Cade Cunningham, and they’ll look to keep that momentum and complete the season sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers when they head to Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight.

Jalen Duren has feasted without Cunningham in the lineup; my Pistons vs. 76ers predictions call for another big game from the big man.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference matchup on Saturday, April 4.

Pistons vs 76ers prediction

Pistons vs 76ers best bet: Jalen Duren Over 34.5 points+rebounds (-120)

Jalen Duren earned his first All-Star appearance in 2025-26 behind averages of 19.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Across his last 15 games, he’s averaging 34 points+rebounds, and across his last 11, those averages climb to 36.

The big man has hit for at 35+ points+rebounds in seven of his last 11, and he’s averaged 34.3 across his last four road games. In two games against the Philadelphia 76ers, Duren finished with 24 points and rebounds in 15 minutes in a blowout and 37 points and rebounds in 37 minutes. 

He’ll be forced to handle more scoring and rebounding responsibilities tonight without Detroit Pistons superstar guard Cade Cunningham still on the shelf.

Cunningham’s absence bodes well for Duren’s statistical output. In 55 games played with Cunningham this season, Duren has averaged 29.2 points+rebounds in 27.7 minutes. 

In 11 games without him, Duren averaged 35.1 points+rebounds and 31.1 minutes. Duren has posted at least 35 points+rebounds in seven of 11 games played without Cunningham.

Philadelphia’s defense hasn’t been impressive this season. The Sixers have given up the 12th-most points, 11th-most rebounds, fourth-most offensive rebounds, and sixth-most second-chance points. Philly’s 114.8 defensive rating ranks 17th.

With Joel Embiid still banged up, Duren could feast against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona down low. I’ll bank on another big game from Detroit’s go-to option tonight.

Pistons vs 76ers same-game parlay

Duren is poised for a monster game, but the 76ers can keep this one close at home if Tyrese Maxey goes off. Detroit is just 12-16 ATS as the road favorite, and Philly is 6-7 as the home dog.

I like Detroit to win this one outright, but I’m not betting the spread with uncertainty surrounding the statuses of Paul George and Joel Embiid.

Season-long trends lean the Under tonight, but both offenses have played well as of late. Detroit has combined for 227+ points in three of its last six games, and Philadelphia has reached that total in four of its last five.

Even without Cunningham and potentially without Embiid, there is enough firepower for both teams to put up points.

Pistons vs 76ers SGP

• Jalen Duren Over 34.5 points+rebounds
• Pistons moneyline
• Over 226.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Guard-Play!

Tyrese Maxey has averaged 24.5 points and 8.5 assists in four games since returning from a lengthy absence. In that span, he hasn’t reached 29 points due to Paul George’s monster impact as a scorer.

With George potentially out tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, Maxey could see far more work on offense. He’s also dished 7+ assists in four straight.

Daniss Jenkins has started nine straight games, averaging 19.3 points and seven dimes. In that span, he’s gone for 18+ points six times and 7+ assists five times. Expect another high-usage, highly-productive outing tonight with Cade Cunningham still sidelined.

Pistons vs 76ers SGP

• Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
• Tyrese Maxey Over 28.5 points
• Daniss Jenkins Over 6.5 assists
• Tyrese Maxey Over 6.5 assists

Pistons vs 76ers odds

• Spread: Pistons -3.5 (-105) | 76ers +3.5 (-115)
• Moneyline: Pistons -160 | 76ers +135
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5

Pistons vs 76ers betting trend to know

The Detroit Pistons have hit the Moneyline in 27 of their last 40 away games (+10.35 Units / 9% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. 76ers.

How to watch Pistons vs 76ers

Pistons vs 76ers latest injuries

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

Dan Hurley knew it all along.

To get back to the Final Four for the third time in four years, Connecticut basketball would need Tarris Reed Jr. to dominate at center, a vital position that helped secure the Huskies' back-to-back titles just two years ago.

"Tarris is the difference between us getting to the Final Four," Hurley said in early March after the Huskies’ Big East tournament quarterfinal win over Xavier.

REQUIRED READING: Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

Illinois vs UConn predictions: Who will win in Final Four, play for national championship?

That wasn't the first — likely not the last — time Hurley made that statement this season. But it's a shot that keeps cashing in wins for the Huskies, as Reed has come out and put together a historic run through the Men's NCAA Tournament to get the Big East powerhouse to Indianapolis for Saturday's Final Four matchup vs. No. 3 Illinois.

It wasn't a matter of if Reed can get on a run as he has. It was a matter of just when.

The "when" picked up in the final weeks of the regular season, when he put up three straight double-doubles against St. John's, Seton Hall and Marquette. But it was a loss to Marquette on the final day of the regular season, which knocked UConn out of contention for a 1-seed, that flipped the switch for Reed.

"(It was like) one of the things, like, 'OK, we're at the end of the season. I've been playing OK, but there's still another level I could get to,'" Reed told USA TODAY Sports in Indianapolis on Friday during a breakout session. 

TARRIS REED DROPS THE HAMMER 🔨 pic.twitter.com/PfNKE1lTtK

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 28, 2026

Sure enough, that's exactly what Reed has done this postseason by muscling his way into the paint and being a stalwart presence around the rim for rebounds. He can even knock down a 3-pointer when needed.

Reed terrorized Furman's defense in the first round with his 6-11, 265-pound frame for 35 minutes when he finished with 31 points and 27 rebounds. No player had reached the 30-plus points and 25-plus rebounds mark in an NCAA tournament game since Houston's Elvin Hayes nearly 60 years ago. 

He did it again in the Elite Eight when he fueled UConn's historic comeback against Duke by taking over on the court, which featured possible No. 1 overall draft pick Cameron Boozer, in the second half. He scored 14 of his 26 points in the second half to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in the final 20 minutes.

Tarris Reed tonight vs. Furman:

31 PTS
27 REB
12-15 FG

A HISTORIC night for the @UConnMBB big man 💪 #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/Ue6PnpIN0P

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2026

Reed was named Most Outstanding Player of the East Region after becoming the first player in the history of the NCAA Tournament to average at least 20 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in a four-game regional. 

"He's that bear inside that any great team needs," NBC Sports' John Fanta told USA TODAY Sports back in February.

Reed's showing in the past month has also been a culmination of a season-wide observation of the Huskies big man, who started just one game last season: He is flat out more comfortable and confident in Hurley's system this year than he was last year when he transferred from Michigan. 

REQUIRED READING: How UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. terrorized Furman to avoid March Madness upset

"There were days where I felt like I had a great game, and I'm getting cursed out and ripped out in film. It's always the standard," Reed told USA TODAY Sports last month. "Coach Hurley sets that standard, and he raises it every week, every level, every game.

"The biggest thing is just always being a level up and always wanting to achieve more."

Reed's emergence this season has also helped bring the Huskies' defense back to being a top-10 unit in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom. It has also helped open up their offense.

Third 20-point game of March Madness for the Big 🐻 … 👀 pic.twitter.com/jZQ6bHmDrw

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 29, 2026

"He's grown a lot, just as a leader, as a person, (and) understanding what he is to the team. There were times in the regular season we were just on him every day about how important he is," UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. 

"Now he can dominate and really understand how good of a player he is, and just to see his leadership grow, it's just a testament to his hard work and him believing in himself. 

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

UConn will need Reed to be an X-factor once again on Saturday against an Illinois team that ranks No. 1 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metric and has carried them to the Final Four. 

“When he plays at the level that he’s capable of playing at, we can beat any team in the country, and he’s as good as any center in the country,” Hurley said of Reed last weekend. 

If he can do that, the Huskies will be playing in Monday’s national championship game and going for a program's seventh title. 

"It's my senior year. This is it for me. So I'm trying to go out there, swing for the fences every play, every possession," Reed said Friday. "My days are numbered, maximum two games." 

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza contributed to this story

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarris Reed Jr. proving to be X-factor for UConn in March Madness

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

It's been 25 days since Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in the Miami Heat's rout of the Washington Wizards.

Since then, things have not gone well for either team. Washington has gone 1-11, although they've covered six of the 12 games. Miami has gone 3-8 and 4-7 against the number. 

Miami has just the thing to snap out of its spiral—the Wizards. The Heat has played seven top-five seeded teams over the 11-game slide and just two opponents with losing records.

That's why my Wizards vs. Heat predictions and NBA picks call for the Heat to cover.

Wizards vs Heat prediction

Wizards vs Heat best bet: Heat -18 (-110)

The Miami Heat is giving up a big number on the point spread, but the Heat have been consistently dominant against bottom-dwelling teams. Miami has covered its last five games as double-digit favorites, winning by an average of 22 points. 

Miami has also covered two-thirds of the time when coming off a loss in the last game, going 24-12 and clearing the spread by an average of 2.2 points.

Miami has a spot in the play-in tournament and is looking to improve its seeding. The Washington Wizards are playing out the string. Look for the gap in motivation to help propel the Heat.

Miami will be without its scoring leader—Norman Powell—who is out until at least April 7 with illness. Washington, however, has been decimated by injury. The Wizards' starting lineup for the last game featured two rookies and another player who was starting just his 17th game in the NBA.

And three of the starters from that game—Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tristan Vukcevic—are questionable for Saturday's game. Alex Sarr, who missed the last game, is also questionable, as is Justin Champagnie. They join the five players already ruled out for the game on Washington's injury report.

While Washington has been covering lately, the Wizards are not performing well against top teams. Washington has failed to cover its last three as a double-digit underdog, losing by an average of 25.3 points. They've also failed to cover the last three when getting 15 or more, losing by 28.7.

Wizards vs Heat same-game parlay

There should be plenty of points in this one. Miami plays at the fastest pace in the league, and Washington is at No. 6. The totals cutoff is high, but Miami has had plenty of cutoffs in the 240s.

The Heat has gone Over five of its last seven and in eight of the last 10 overall. Washington has been Over in seven of the last 10.

All eyes will be on Bam Adebayo to see if he can hang another 83 on the hapless Wizards. Tyler Herro has the higher scoring average by more than a point per game, however, and he's topped 30 in two of the last three.

Wizards vs Heat SGP

• Heat -18
• Over 246 points
• Tyler Herro Over 24.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Heat Check!

The odds on Jaime Jaquez hitting multiple threes seem out of whack. He's taken five or more attempts in the last five games and made at least two in the last six. It's a no-brainer to take him in an up-tempo game at that price.

After the entire team got together to get Bam Adebayo enough shots to score 83 the last time they played Washington, look for Bam to do some work on the boards to pay them back this time around. He's hit double figures in rebounds in his last five.

Pelle Larsson will be getting Powell's minutes and had six assists last game, taking his spot in the starting lineup. He also has a five-assist game in the last four outings.

Wizards vs Heat SGP

• Tyler Herro Over 24.5 points
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 1.5 made threes
• Bam Adebayo Over 11.5 rebounds
• Pelle Larsson Over 3.5 assists

Wizards vs Heat odds

• Spread: Wizards +16 | Heat -16
• Moneyline: Wizards +1041 | Heat -2000
• Over/Under: Over 244 | Under 244

Wizards vs Heat betting trend to know

The Washington Wizards have hit the Game Total Over in 21 of their last 30 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Heat.

How to watch Wizards vs Heat

Wizards vs Heat latest injuries

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

Right back to work! The Philadelphia 76ers will close their 15th of 16 back-to-backs this season hosting the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

The Sixers are coming off a great win on Friday night, taking down the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103. It was a crucial win, not only because it was one of the harder opponents left of the schedule but because every other relevant team in the Eastern Conference surrounding the Sixers won their games as well. They hold steady in the No. 6 seed, the final non-Play-In playoff spot, coming into Saturday.

This is one of the other tough ones that’s left on the regular season schedule for the Sixers, though. Coming in on the second leg of back-to-back, Philadelphia is facing an East-leading Detroit squad that is looking to keep the good times rolling, even if they’re without a few major players themselves. The Pistons are 3-0 against the Sixers so far this season.

With a victory over the 76ers tonight, the Pistons would officially clinch the No. 1 seed in the East, pulling out of reach of the Boston Celtics (currently four games back) in second.

The massive wrinkle that has been thrown in to the Pistons squad recently has been the loss of star guard Cade Cunningham to injury. The two-time NBA All-Star has missed the last nine contests for the Pistons, but the rest of the squad has been stepping up in his absence. More on that later.

Isaiah Stewart also remains out — he has been sidelined longer than initially expected with a calf injury and has not played since mid-March. Marcus Sasser is probable as of Saturday morning with a hip strain and former Sixer Tobias Harris is questionable after exiting the Pistons’ last contest early with a knee contusion.

Again, this is the second leg of a back-to-back for Philadelphia, so no official injury reports until this afternoon. That being said, even in this late season push, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Joel Embiid out for this one based on the fact that he has not played both legs of any back-to-back this season. Paul George has not played on zero days rest either this campaign, but it feels like his odds of playing are a bit higher than Embiid’s at this stage with him seemingly healthy and enjoying the restful effects of being suspended for 25 games mid-season. He’s been playing extremely well since his return, so it would certainly help to have him in the lineup for this one.

Either way, though, we will let you know for sure when we know!

Even without Cunningham (and Stewart), the Pistons have been firing, going 7-2 in the last nine games without their team’s leader. Jalen Duren has used the opportunity to continue his career-best, All-Star nod-worthy season. The 22-year-old big has been fantastic and efficient throughout the year, averaging 19.5 points on 64.5% field goal shooting with 10.7 rebounds (3.8 offensive) per game across 66 contests. He’s played in eight of these last nine games without Cunningham, averaging 23.1 points on 67.5% field goal shooting with 11.0 rebounds in that stint. He’s showing no signs of slowing down either, most recently posting a 22-point, 14-rebound double-double in the Pistons last game on Thursday (a win over the Timberwolves).

Not having the big fella would obviously make it all the more easy for the 6-foot-10 Duren to continue to dominate as well. Adem Bona and Andre Drummond would have their work cut out for them for sure when it comes to rim protection.

Another name that has come alive in the absence of Cade — one you might not recognize as well as Jalen Duren’s — is Daniss Jenkins. The 24-year-old guard is in his sophomore NBA season and has been starting in Cunningham’s place these last nine games, putting up impressive numbers even when being asked to do the impossible job of filling the star’s shoes. Jenkins is averaging 19.3 points and 7.0 assists per night in these recent starts, including a career-high 30-point night against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 23 and a 19-point, 10-assist double-double against the Atlanta Hawks two nights later.

Alas, even without Cunningham, the Pistons are looking to keep the success that has kept them leading the East going, especially being able to clinch the top seed tonight.

The Sixers, however, need to keep their winning ways going too as they continue to fight their own Eastern Conference battle. Philadelphia are currently No. 6 in the conference, with just the division record tiebreaker putting them atop the Toronto Raptors at No. 7. The No. 8 Charlotte Hornets and No. 9 Orlando Magic trail just behind as well, with the Miami Heat three games behind Philadelphia in the No. 10 spot.

Of those teams, only the Sixers and the Heat play tonight, with the Heat facing a much more favorable opponent in the tanking Washington Wizards.

The Pistons are still a powerhouse to be dealt with even without Cunningham it seems, but with the Sixers healthy (even factoring in Embiid being possibly sidelined for rest), this is probably the best opportunity Philadelphia could ask for to sneak their first win of the season over Detroit.

And there couldn’t be a more important time for them to make it happen.

Five games to go. The Sixers and Pistons tip off in South Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET.

Game Details

When: Saturday, April 4, 7:00 PM ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

When the Boston Celtics chose Neemias Queta as their starting center, they rolled the dice. They moved on from their three most-used bigs in Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, supplanting their depth by placing their faith in Queta, who had just six career starts across four seasons.

Queta, a non-shooting big unlike Porziņģis or Horford and less experienced than Kornet, was handed the keys to Boston’s frontcourt from the start. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla even texted Queta during the offseason to tell him the job was his. Since then, he’s repaid the organization twofold — breaking out as a first-year starter and Boston’s leading rebounder (8.4) through 70 starts, with five games remaining in the regular season.

On Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Queta scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and four blocks, recording his 16th double-double of the season on a milestone night.

“It’s becoming kind of like second nature for me,” Queta told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after Boston’s 133-101 win over Milwaukee. “Getting to understand my teammates, getting to understand how to get them open, how to figure out how to score down in the paint, and rebounding is something I’ve been doing for a long time. So I’m glad I got to 1,000. Let’s get to 10,000 or whatever more I can get.”

Before the season, Queta had only 396 career rebounds as a backup on Boston’s bench. He’s already grabbed 604 boards this season alone, emerging as a late-bloomer who’s reshaping how the league sees him. He’s playing the role of a traditional center without the bells and whistles of modern NBA bigs — and it’s paying off. Queta has found the sweet spot of not doing too much, but doing more than enough to push Boston to heights many considered unfeasible on Opening Night.

Queta is averaging a career-high 10.1 points while shooting 64.3 percent from the field. He ranks seventh in the league in both defensive rating (105.5) and net rating (11.9). The Celtics, meanwhile, average the fewest turnovers (12.2), rank second in offensive rating (119.9), and third in 3-pointers made (15.3), maintaining their No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference since Jan. 15.

“We’re getting good looks, and once we manipulate the defense, we’re able to knock down shots,” Queta said in Milwaukee.

🔨🔨🔨 pic.twitter.com/7LOLip89I5

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 4, 2026

Even at the February trade deadline, when the Celtics swapped Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vučević, Queta maintained his role as the go-to center. Vučević, a 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star, has come off the bench in 11 of his 12 appearances behind Queta, showing how far he’s come since Mazzulla entrusted him with the starting role.

“It’s unbelievable,” Jayson Tatum told reporters. “I couldn’t be more proud and happier for Neemi. You know, the way he’s seeing the game, the leap that he’s made as a screener, as a passer. Somebody you can trust when you throw the ball in the seams — finishing, protecting the rim. He is an NBA starting big man. That’s who he is now.”

Three years ago, the Sacramento Kings waived Queta, allowing him to sign a two-way contract with the Celtics a week later. He showed promising flashes during Boston’s 2023-24 championship season, making 28 appearances and earning a standard contract before the playoffs. Year after year, Queta continued to improve as a member of the “Stay-Ready Group.” When the biggest opportunity of his professional career finally arrived, he validated Boston’s offseason plan and player development program.

Now, there’s no telling where Queta’s ceiling is.

“He’s only going to continue to get better,” Tatum added.

Last season, Queta was a reserve stuck in the shadows of Porziņģis, Horford, and Kornet as the Celtics approached the playoffs. With Porziņģis sidelined by a mystery illness, Kornet emerged as the unung hero against the New York Knicks in Round 2. This time, the floor belongs to Queta. He’s the primary center and most reliable big, and rather than serving as a placeholder, he has become an integral piece. He’s helped make the Spain pick-and-roll a dependable tactic in their offense, creating space for teammates with simple, yet effective actions that go unnoticed in the boxscore.

In seven previous playoff appearances with the Celtics, Queta never played more than five minutes. In Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, he played 5 minutes.

However, Queta’s breakout has him feeling confident and locked in for Boston’s final stretch before the playoffs.

The Celtics return home after back-to-back blowout victories, scoring 280 points in Miami and Milwaukee to maintain a 2 1/2 game lead over the No. 3 seed New York Knicks.

“I feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Queta said. “We’re playing great basketball. We’re looking great offensively. Our defense is picking up a lot, so we just want to keep on honing these skills and keep on getting better because we’ve got these last five games to finish strong and then head into the playoffs with the best momentum to go full steam ahead.”

The Atlanta Hawks won by a comfortable margin as they handled the Brooklyn Nets in a 141-107 victory at Barclays Center on Friday night. CJ McCollum led the scoring with 25 points with Nickeil Alexander-Walker adding 21 points. For the Nets, Nic Claxton led with 16 points.

The final scoreline ultimately deceives the true nature of this game. You’d look at that final margin and think this was a comfortable victory for the Hawks, with the visitors able to cruise for the majority of the game.

It looked like this would be the case in the opening frame as the Hawks took a 35-17 point lead with a minute remaining in the first quarter — the Hawks punishing the Nets’ turnovers. However, the Nets finished the quarter on an 8-0 run, and an extended 14-0 run into the second quarter to reel the Hawks back to within three points and dash those early notions that this contest would be a wire-to-wire blowout.

The Hawks continued to press their advantage in transition and extended pressure to the Nets in those fastbreak situations, and behind this the Hawks were able to stabilize and push their lead back to double-digits. The Nets, however, kept the Hawks honest for most of what remained of the half, slipping late to a 16-point deficit as they entered the locker room at halftime.

The Hawks would have been expected to take care of business from this point forward, but the Nets kept the Hawks honest again in the third: the Atlanta lead never extended beyond 16 points in the third quarter, with the Nets reigning the Hawks’ lead to 10 points on multiple occasions in the third.

In the fourth quarter, Atlanta finally put distance between themselves and the Nets, pushing the lead out to 15 points, then 20 points, then 30 points as the bench was emptied, and finished at its highest of the night at 34 points to end the game. A 34 point final margin is probably what you would expect in a matchup like this, and while the Hawks were never threatened in this game (their lead never falling below 10 in the second half) but the Nets absolutely kept the Hawks honest — always one run away from bringing this game to single digits prior to the fourth quarter.

Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder was most pleased with how his side opened the game, beginning with a 10-0 run.

“I loved how we started the game,” said Snyder. “For the most part, over the course of the game, that was there. That’s who we are, and I think when we’re playing that way and looking for each other and helping each other on the offensive end — whether that’s a screen or a pass or running for somebody — that’s when we’re a more efficient offensive team. Our guys are really making an effort to execute in those situations.”

Where the Hawks looked at their most impressive was in transition, whether it was coming off of misses or off the many Brooklyn turnovers in the first half. For the game, the Hawks scored 35 points off of turnovers and 26 fastbreak points. Brooklyn’s turnovers also contributed to the Hawks attempting 11 more field goal attempts. Let’s take a look at some of these instances.

Good help by Gabe Vincent on the drive helps cough the ball up and the Hawks set off in transition. Atlanta moves the ball, and when it finds Alexander-Walker on the perimeter he drives inside and finishes with his left-hand at the rim:

Dyson Daniels pokes the ball away from Nolan Traore and finds Jalen Johnson in transition, who steps through the lane to finish at the rim for another fastbreak/points off of turnover basket:

Former Hawk Terance Mann loses control of his dribble, and CJ McCollum picks up the loose ball, carries it up the floor and rises into a three-pointer as Mann backs off:

On the dig on the drive, Daniels procures another steal and sets off in transition off the ball. McCollum outlets to Alexander-Walker, who finds Daniels to his right and finishes at the rim, adjusting well to avoid the Nets’ attempts to block the shot:

Off of a rebound from Noah Clowney, Daniels sneaks from behind to knock the ball loose for another steal. Daniels finds Johnson, who goes behind his back to find Daniels, who finds McCollum in the lane, who hits the floater:

The Hawks secured 11 steals on the game, with Daniels accounting for five by himself, but it was more than just Daniels who Snyder was impressed by defensively.

“Obviously Dyson and Nickeil are the head of the snake, so to speak, the two-headed snake,” said Snyder. “It raises other guys’ level when you see someone working like that. We’ve got Gabe comes in and picks up, and I thought Jonathan (Kuminga) tonight was terrific defensively. We’ve just got to make sure we have good offensive possessions and don’t turn it over, so we get a chance to set our defense.”

Kuminga’s effort in this game was notable; diving on the floor on a couple of occasions to try secure the ball or complete a steal. Offensively, Kuminga scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 3-of-3 from behind the arc, with Snyder praising his offense and how easy Kuminga is to play with.

“I think when you watch the game you see a late clock, get into the paint, pull up, some of those things, but to me, the thing that he’s doing really well is he’s easy to play with,” said Snyder of Kuminga. “You can tell that he’s internalized that. I’ve talked to him about trying to be more aggressive in transition in particular. He’s locked in defensively, and he’s capable of making some plays for us offensively with a couple of timely buckets that he’s able to get.”

While Kuminga led the bench scoring effort, it was McCollum who led the Hawks in scoring with 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, 4-of-7 from three, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to go along with seven assists. It was a diet of the usual blend of inside and outside scoring for McCollum, whose life was not made difficult by the Nets’ defense. His four three-pointers tied Alexander-Walker’s four threes for most in this game as the Hawks hit 20 threes, shooting 51% from behind the arc. This was another element where the Hawks really distanced themselves from the Nets, who only hit 12 threes, outscoring Brooklyn 60-36 in that regard.

McCollum also led the Hawks in assists, registering seven assists on the game as the Hawks received contributions from across the board moving the ball, tallying 36 assists for the game. Snyder discussed how the Hawks have become as connected as they have despite this current Atlanta group assembled mid-season.

“I think the fact that our group is connected the way they have in a short period of time really speaks to those guys in the locker room,” said Snyder postgame. “I think there’s been a foundation that we felt like we’ve tried to lay and been consistent with some of those things. They’ve embraced one another as much as anything. As we’ve talked about it a lot, the roles are going to evolve, you’re going to have different things that are available to you at different times. As long as we stay connected and play with the pass, good things can happen. When you get a group that feels that way and wants to play that way and is able to put the team in front of themselves individually, I think it’s a rare thing. Not just in the NBA, but just in general.”

The Hawks now lead the NBA in assists per game with over 30 assists per game, and it’s accomplished by committee. The Hawks’ leading assist-man on the season, Jalen Johnson, had an understated by effective game, scoring 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with 11 assists and five assists. Particularly in the first half, Johnson’s outlet passing was fantastic, and while he wasn’t credited with the assist on some of these outlets (following an extra pass) Johnson was a great connector in transition where the Hawks excelled last night.

All in all, the Hawks took care of business, but the Nets kept them honest for three quarters before Atlanta finally pulled away behind a 43-22 fourth quarter, allowing for the Hawks to clear their bench with four minutes to spare. Looking across the league, no changes occurred in the Eastern Conference around the Hawks — Toronto picked up a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers (currently in the 6-seed) have a daunting matchup in San Antonio on Saturday night, who have won 11 straight games.

Next up for the Hawks (45-33) is, by no means, an easy matchup as the New York Knicks (50-28) will arrive in Atlanta ahead of a Monday night matchup. Should be a rowdy atmosphere as always, and an important game for the Hawks as they continue to chase an automatic playoff berth.

Until next time!