PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 8: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Royce O'Neale #00 of the Phoenix Suns talk after the game on April 8, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) play game No. 82 Sunday against the Chicago Bulls (31-49) with a 7:30pm tipoff at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks lost on the road to the Spurs Friday, 139-120, dropping their third in a row and sixth of their last seven. Cooper Flagg scored 33 points on 25 shots and center Marvin Bagley III left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. Center Daniel Gafford, guards Klay Thompson and Brandon Williams, and wings Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington did not play.
The Bulls won twice this week, ending a seven-game skid with a pair of road wins Tuesday and Thursday against a Washington Wizards team playing without Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George, 129-98 and 119-108. After starting the season 5-0 the Bulls are limping to the finish line, as young stars guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) and forward Matas Buzelis (illness) have missed the last week, center Guerschon Yabusele left Thursday’s game and did not return (shoulder), guard Collin Sexton (finger) and forward Patrick Williams (thumb) have been playing through injury, and wing Isaac Okoro (quad) missed Thursday’s game. Both the Mavericks and Bulls lost admirably contested games this week to a Phoenix Suns team highly motivated to maintain its grasp on eighth place.
Paint patrol
The Giddey- and Buzelis-less Bulls stumbled out of the gate Tuesday, then found the best version of themselves, pressing their size and experience advantages on both ends and pushing the ball up in transition off stops and turnovers. Collin Sexton, the starting lineup’s only height liability, nonetheless played big in leading the Bulls in rebounding, including four offensive boards. Thursday appeared to be more of the same until Billy Donovan turned to the bench and a small backcourt of Yuki Kawamura and Mac McClung allowed Washington to erase a 13-point lead and briefly go in front. The Bulls woke back up late in the third, attacking the paint and getting to the line to keep growing the lead after subbing Kawamura and McClung back in. In their most effective stretches of this two-game streak the Bulls have sent a parade of players to the rim, including Sexton, Okoro, Tre Jones, Leonard Miller, and Rob Dillingham, while their frontcourt players like Williams and Yabusele have also made their threes.
On the defensive end, Chicago played a lot of zone against the Wizards and it paid off when they needed rebounds to kick-start fast breaks. When San Antonio went to a zone for a few possessions against Dallas late in the third quarter Friday, they forced a late heave from Ryan Nembhard that missed everything after the Mavericks nearly lost it to a backcourt violation. Flagg made them pay with a long jumper from the wing before having his next attempt blocked by Carter Bryant, then Moussa Cisse tipped in a missed layup on a Nembhard drive.
Draft lottery implications
Dallas enters Sunday’s game in tied for the league’s sixth-best draft lottery odds with the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost to the Utah Jazz Friday, 147-101. The Grizzlies play the Rockets in Houston Sunday at 7:30pm. At the same time, the New Orleans Pelicans, who at 26-55 sit just a game behind the Mavericks and Grizzlies with the seventh-best odds, play in Minnesota.
So long, season
The 2025-26 Dallas Mavericks season, in which the losses have more than doubled the wins and fans have had to be satisfied with stretches of winning play and green shoots of development, draws to a close with Dallas in a considerably more hopeful position than many of us would have predicted 365 days ago, thanks to a long-shot draft lottery win and the special player whose name was called first. Inasmuch as contention for individual awards reflects a team effort, his status as one of two finalists for Rookie of the Year provides some measure of validation of this challenging season for Cooper Flagg and his fellow Mavericks.
Flagg has spent his rookie year alongside true pros with championship and deep playoff experience who have shown him how not to quit in Klay Thompson, Khris Middleton, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell, and has joined them to will a very strangely constructed roster to 45 clutch games. He has blossomed under a head coach with a policy of exposure therapy to failure so his players no longer fear it. He has helped the team repeatedly force the respect of its opponents, just last night nudging the Spurs to bring Victor Wembanyama back off the bench late. Even if this season is not remembered with much nostalgia, it may one day be seen as the foundational chapter of a great player’s story.
There are always reasons to watch but this is hardly the first Mavericks season that many fans will be a little relieved to finally see end. There were highlights and steps forward. The ownership group righted a couple of wrongs by finally honoring Mark Aguirre and finally flushing Nico Harrison. The green uniforms looked cool. On the court, however, 2025-26 has often felt like a long and frustrating year; even after some big roster changes the team never really solved its three-point shooting problems and only intermittently solved its turnover problems. That said, it’s a long five months before the Mavericks hit the court again. Before hopes turn toward the last first-round pick Dallas controls until 2031, Sunday’s game presents a chance to go out a winner in front of the home fans. Or it presents a chance to marginally increase the odds of landing a higher draft pick in the lottery. Inevitably, this will be our final time seeing at least some of these guys on our side. Enjoy the last taste of it for a while.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game on KFAA Channel 29, or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (español).
The season finale at MSG means nothing for the Knicks, who are locked into the third seed with no wiggle room.
Not surprisingly, they’re sitting four of their five starters Sunday — minus consecutive-games king Mikal Bridges — against the Hornets, who remain motivated to secure the ninth seed.
But the out-of-town scoreboard warrants close monitoring for the Knicks. Their first-round opponent will probably be the Raptors, but it’s not set in stone and ultimately hinges on up to four results — all sharing the Knicks’ 6 p.m. tipoff.
Here’s a breakdown of scenarios:
Most likely
The Knicks draw the Raptors in the first round.
Og Anunoby drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson and Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors on April 10, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This happens if on Sunday:
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Atlanta beats Miami
Or
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
Or
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Miami beats Atlanta; Orlando beats Boston
The tanking Nets are almost certain to lose to the Raptors even though it probably won’t help their lottery odds (Brooklyn can only catch the Pacers at the bottom of the standings, and Indiana would also have to lose to the Pistons). So assuming that result, the Raptors will clinch the fifth seed if Atlanta beats Miami (not likely since the Hawks are resting players) OR the Magic beat the Celtics (which is a likely outcome since Boston is resting players).
The Knicks can feel fairly safe scouting the Raptors.
Toronto beats Brooklyn; Miami beats Atlanta; Boston beats Orlando
Tough to see this happening because it requires a result — Boston beating Orlando — that goes against the odds. The Magic are highly motivated to win Sunday since there’s a chance they can move out of a play-in spot (while the Celtics, who are locked into the No. 2 seed, are resting several players).
Why would this happen if three teams could tie for sixth in the East? If the Raptors and Magic win — and Hawks lose — they’d all have 46 wins, and the three-way tiebreaker means Atlanta stays at No. 5, Toronto stays at No. 6 and Orlando goes to No. 7.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives against CJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
Unlikely
The Knicks draw the Magic in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Atlanta beats Miami; Orlando beats Boston
Anything involving the Nets winning Sunday is highly unlikely.
The unlikeliest
The Knicks draw the Sixers in the first round
This happens if on Sunday:
Brooklyn beats Toronto; Boston beats Orlando; Philadelphia beats Milwaukee
Again, the Nets would have to win against a motivated opponent — the Raptors want to avoid the play-in — which is hard to envision. Plus, the Celtics are resting their players.
Ahead of the Sixers’ final game of the regular season Sunday night vs. the Bucks, below is a refresher on the No. 5 through No. 10 range of the Eastern Conference standings. The first through sixth seeds will advance to the playoffs. The seventh through 10th will compete in the play-in tournament for the East’s final two playoff spots.
5. Hawks 46-35
6. Raptors 45-36
7. Magic 45-36
8. Sixers 44-37
9. Hornets 43-38
10. Heat 42-39
And here’s a look at how things could shake out for the Sixers:
For Sixers to finish sixth
The one scenario in which the Sixers would finish sixth is: Sixers win, Raptors and Magic lose.
In that case, all three teams would be 45-37 and the Sixers would win the tiebreaker.
Is that series of events plausible? It could happen, but the odds appear quite small. Orlando will face the 55-26 Celtics and Toronto will take on the 20-61 Nets. Boston’s locked in as the East’s No. 2 seed and Brooklyn’s next major event on the calendar is the NBA draft lottery.
Unsurprisingly, both the Celtics and Nets have long injury lists. Brooklyn’s many absences include Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, Terance Mann and Egor Demin. The Celtics will sit plenty of regulars, among them Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Neemias Queta.
On a positive note for the Sixers, the Bucks are shorthanded and nowhere near postseason contention. They should beat Milwaukee at home.
For Sixers to finish seventh
The Sixers need a win to have a shot at the seventh seed, which would mean hosting the first game of the play-in tournament instead of traveling.
The following two scenarios would lead to the Sixers being No. 7:
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic lose
Sixers win, Raptors lose, Magic win
The first outcome would mean that the Sixers play the Magic in that No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup. The second would mean that they’d host Toronto.
Again, the only two other games that matter to the Sixers are Raptors-Nets and Magic-Celtics. The reason the Sixers can’t fall lower than eighth is they’d win the tiebreaker over the Hornets if both teams ended at 44-38.
Either of these results would equal the eighth seed for the Sixers:
Sixers lose (other games become irrelevant)
Sixers win, Raptors win, Magic win
As outlined above, neither Orlando nor Toronto look at all likely to lose. Still, anything’s possible and the Sixers surely wouldn’t mind a surprise or two outside of Philadelphia on the season’s final day.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on February 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pelicans defeated the Timberwolves 119-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans Date: April 12th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There’s something about Game 82 that always feels a little like the last day of school. Half the class is mentally checked out. The teacher is rolling in the TV cart. And yet, somehow, it still matters, just not in the way you thought it would back in October.
That’s where the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves heading into their regular season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Eighty-one games down. One to go. Playoff ticket punched.
And yet… it doesn’t quite feel like a celebration.
Because if you’ve been watching this team all season you know the story. This wasn’t a climb. It was a drift. A weird, uneven, occasionally brilliant, occasionally maddening drift where the Wolves spent long stretches looking like a team that had already been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals and decided, consciously or not, that the regular season was more of a formality than a proving ground.
They had nights where they looked like a top-three team in basketball. They had nights where they looked like they forgot the game started at 7:00. And when you zoom out, that’s how you end up here, not in a disastrous position, but not in the one you know was there for the taking.
Let’s be honest. This team could easily be sitting in the three seed right now. Flip two or three of those late-game meltdowns. Close out a couple of those “how did we lose that?” nights. Show up with urgency on a random Tuesday in January. Suddenly, we’re talking about a completely different bracket.
But here’s the twist: it’s not even clear that the three seed would’ve been better.
The Standings Irony Nobody Saw Coming
If the Wolves had climbed into that three spot, they’d likely be staring at a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets, a team that turned every Wolves game into a coin-flip knife fight this season.
Winnable? Sure.
Comfortable? Not even a little.
Instead, sitting at six, Minnesota is waiting on the outcome of one final domino:
If San Antonio decides to send Denver to the opposite side of the bracket and the Lakers beat the tanking Jazz, the Wolves win the prize of a banged-up, limping version of Los Angeles . It’s the kind of matchup that feels like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat.
If things break the other way, you get the Nikola Jokic Experience. Intimidating? Sure. But also a mountain that this Wolves team has conquered already.
As we sit here awaiting the final seeding, neither outcome feels like a death sentence. That alone tells you how far this franchise has come. Because for most of its history, “playoff matchup” was just a polite way of saying “scheduled elimination.”
Now? There’s a real, tangible belief that this team, when locked-in and playing at their peak, can beat anyone in a seven-game series.
Game 82
That brings us to Sunday night against New Orleans, where we are almost certainly going to see a Wolves lineup that looks more like a preseason scrimmage than a playoff dress rehearsal.
No Rudy Gobert, because risking a flagrant foul suspension (or any injury, frankly) in a meaningless game would be malpractice. Probably limited (or no) Julius Randle, because his workload has been heavy and his importance is too high. Perhaps a cautious ramp-up for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, not to win this game, but to find their rhythm again.
And a whole lot of Kyle Anderson bringing the ball up the floor while Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Joan Beringer try to turn this into their personal audition tape. Which, honestly, might be the most interesting part of the night.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t Be Heroes — Be Healthy
This is the easiest key to write and the most important one to follow.
Nothing, and I mean nothing, that happens in this game is worth jeopardizing the health of your core. No extended minutes. No unnecessary contact. No “let’s just see how it looks.”
This isn’t about rhythm anymore. This is about preservation.
Because if the Wolves walk into Round 1 at full strength, they have a puncher’s chance against anyone. If they don’t? None of this matters.
2. Give Shannon Jr. the Full Runway
If there’s one subplot that’s quietly emerged over these last couple of games, it’s the Terrence Shannon Jr. experience. After missing time early and struggling to carve out a consistent role, Shannon has started to flash the exact thing that got people excited in the first place: that downhill, attack-mode energy.
If the coaching staff is going to treat this like a hybrid scrimmage, then lean into it. Let Shannon cook. Let him make mistakes. Let him handle the ball, attack the rim, take shots he might not normally get. Because the only way to find out if someone can contribute in a playoff moment is to give them real, meaningful reps beforehand.
Right now, Shannon looks like a guy who might have something.
3. Keep the Defensive Habits Intact
Even with a patchwork lineup, the identity can’t disappear. This team, at its best, wins with defense. Rotations. Communication. Physicality. Those habits don’t magically reappear because the playoffs start. They’re built, or maintained, in games like this. So even if the personnel changes, the principles can’t.
4. Stay Connected Offensively
This is where things can go sideways in these types of games. You get young guys pressing. Bench players hunting shots. The offense devolves into five separate agendas. Just because this game has no consequences in the standings, doesn’t mean the coaching staff should allow the offense to devolve. Ball movement still matters. Spacing still matters. Playing together still matters.
5. End on a Note That Feels Like Momentum
No banners are being raised for beating the Pelicans in Game 82.
But confidence matters.
And after a stretch where things felt like they were wobbling, these last couple of games have quietly started to stabilize things. The loss against Orlando still had silver linings for players like Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and TSJ. Beating Houston short-handed and taking the season series from at least one Western Conference contender held some psychological weight.
You don’t want to walk into the playoffs feeling like you’re searching. You want to walk in feeling like you’ve found something.
Even if it’s small.
This Was Always About What Comes Next
Eighty-two games later, here’s the truth: This season was never going to be judged by what happened in January. Or February. Or even this week.
It was always going to come down to what happens next.
The Wolves have taken the long road to get here, a road filled with flashes of brilliance, stretches of frustration, and just enough inconsistency to leave you wondering what this team really is.
Now we find out.
Because the regular season, for all its noise and unpredictability and what-ifs, is just the prologue. The real story starts next week.
For two years in a row, this team has walked off the floor in May, a step away from being able to compete for a championship. When you come up short like that, there’s only one thing that matters: getting back there and proving you belong when you do.
The past 82 games have been the necessary grind these Timberwolves have endured to earn their place to compete.
Now comes the part where you justify it.
This is where the possessions get heavier. Where every mistake lingers a little longer. Where the margin for error shrinks and the truth about your team, not the version you sell yourself in November, not the one that shows up for a random Tuesday in February, but the real version, the one that can survive four rounds of playoff basketball, finally reveals itself.
This is where stars become superstars, or don’t. Where role players either carve out their place in a series or fade into the background. Where habits, good and bad, stop being trends and start being outcomes.
And for Minnesota, this is where all the contradictions of this season have to reconcile.
The nights where they looked like a defensive juggernaut. The nights where they couldn’t get out of their own way. The moments where they imposed their will. The stretches where they let go of the rope.
All of it comes to a head now.
Because the luxury of inconsistency is gone. The ability to “figure it out later” has expired. There is no later.
There’s only this.
Four rounds. Sixteen wins. No shortcuts.
And somewhere in there, the answer to the only question that’s really mattered all along: Are these Timberwolves just a really good team…
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 26: Royce O'Neale #00 and Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns celebrate after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 26, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite being the Suns’ first and third leaders in starts this season, fans do mind seeing Royce O’Neale (67 starts) and Collin Gillespie (58 starts) coming off the bench as postseason play gets closer. Both were put in the second unit for last Sunday’s game against the Bulls, and Gillespie only started yesterday’s game against the Lakers because the team had multiple guards out, including Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Jordan Goodwin.
In a recent poll, 62% of the community believed moving Gillespie to the bench unit was the right move.
O’Neale coming off the bench had much more traction, as on 33% believe he should be part of the Suns’ starting five.
I’m not surprised that fans want both to come off the bench despite them both starting the majority of the season. Phoenix has struggled in its last 16 games, going 5-11, with Gillespie especially playing some of his least inefficient basketball of the season. He’s shooting 25% in his past five games, shooting 32% from the field, and as a result, is playing less.
In the past few weeks, both Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks have returned from injury. When the two were healthy earlier in the season, Green wasn’t. Brooks, Green, and Booker have only played ten games this season together, so it was inevitable that either Gillespie, O’Neale, or both were going to be sent to the second unit once all of them were healthy. Brooks and O’Neale both play the power forward spot, and Brooks is the better scorer and more versatile player, so if a spot in the starting lineup came down to the two of them, Brooks would and should get it. At least with Gillespie, he’s the team’s best true point guard, a role that neither Booker nor Jalen Green purely plays.
For a team that has struggled with staying healthy this season, O’Neale and Gillespie have been some of the team’s healthiest players. Only Oso Ighodaro has played more games this season; he’s played in every single one of the team’s games so far. As a result, they were going to be leading the team in starts.
Something needs to change for the Suns, not just for the playoffs, but for the Play-In tournament. After the Portland Trail Blazers’ win over the Los Angeles Clippers last night, it’s looking like Phoenix will face the Trail Blazers in the 7/8 game. While Phoenix won the series, Portland would be coming into the game as the hotter team of late; they’ve won nine of their last 13 games. The Suns still are super likely to make the playoffs, according to FanDuel.
The Suns prioritized rest in their game against the Lakers, with no player logging at least 29 minutes yesterday. When the team hosts the 7/8 game next week, will Gillespie and O’Neale still be coming off the bench? Should they be?
Apr 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Leaky Black (14) shoots the ball as Chicago Bulls center Lachlan Olbrich (47) looks on in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards are wrapping up their 2026 season in Cleveland tomorrow. Here is the preview:
Game info
When: 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Apr. 12
Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
Wizards — Justin Champagnie (knee) is listed as DAY-TO-DAY
Cavs — Donovan Mitchell (ankle), Sam Merrill (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (knee) are all listed as DAY-TO-DAY
Game notes and more
Game 82 of the NBA season is a who’s who of “who is that?” Huge props to anyone who sits down and watches this game.
The Wizards have won fewer than 20 games for a third consecutive season and failed to improve upon last season’s 18 wins. Next year it’s time to start stringing together some wins.
The Cavs might look very different next season if they’re not able to put together a strong playoff run. They are the team to watch in the offseason if they bow out of the postseason early.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama needed to play one more game to qualify for end-of-season awards. After a rib injury, many people suggested he could do 20 minutes of cardio to meet the minimum requirements. Doing the minimum is not in Wembanyama’s nature. He exploded for 40 points in 26 minutes as the Spurs handled the Dallas Mavericks 139-120.
Wembanyama will lead the player grades for the second-to-last regular-season game. As a quick reminder, these grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
It wasn’t just the stats Wembanyama put up, but the way he achieved them. He looked smooth on the perimeter, handling the ball and knocking down two three-pointers. He took bumps inside and still finished over the top of opposing defenders. It didn’t look like the rib injury was holding him back at all.
With 65 games in the can, Wembanyama is a lock to take home multiple awards. The Spurs’ big man is -20000 to win Defensive Player of the Year on FanDuel.
San Antonio needed a 40-28 third-quarter run to pull away from Dallas. That effort was led mostly by Fox, who had 14 of his 18 points in the third frame. Fox was a maestro with the rock while having an efficient shooting night. He also had some of the most explosive dunks we’ve seen from him in his time with the Spurs. It was a fun performance to watch, and without him, the Spurs may not have come away with the win.
Harper got exposed by Cooper Flagg a bit. Flagg went to work whenever Harper was guarding him on the perimeter. The rookie didn’t let it get to him. He fought back on the other end by getting to the basket, scoring at an efficient rate. This was one of Harper’s better passing games with six assists.
I’ve been loving Champagnie’s attacking mentality lately. As teams close out hard on him, respecting his jump shot, he’s been going right around them to get to the basket. His finishing around the basket has improved greatly from last season. He’s a real threat to score at the rim now. He’s been playing some solid off-ball defense lately, too, which will be important for the Spurs as teams try to find ways to score around Wembanyama in the playoffs.
Kornet went from dominating the Trail Blazers to playing a more subdued role against Dallas. He was still solid defensively in 18 minutes, walling up in the paint and breaking up passes near the rim. Seven boards in just 18 minutes is nothing to sniff at, either. Kornet’s performance against the Mavs was pretty typical: solid.
Vassell didn’t make much of an impact in his 27 minutes. He was cold when shooting the ball from deep, missing some open shots. He didn’t actively hurt the Spurs either. His defense remains solid, as he’s been able to accumulate some steals on the wing. He and Champagnie have been getting better and better at taking advantage of the defensive opportunities presented to them as teams look to avoid Wembanyama.
Unc was cooking on Friday! Barnes had 15 points, giving the Spurs an edge off the bench. Now Barnes needs to score 17 points or more in his final game of the season to give the Spurs their eighth player averaging double-digit points.
Johnson did what he does best against Dallas, getting to the rim and fighting on the boards. KJ grabbed 2 offensive boards on Friday. His impact on all aspects of the game has made him the leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
Bryant continues to play great down the stretch. He’s been a sharpshooter from three in the last two games, as he’s starting to shoot them with a lot of confidence. On the other end, he continues to compete. He had an awesome block on Flagg that showed why so many believe he can develop into a real defensive stopper on the wing.
They’re ravaged by injuries and playing without their top two scorers. They’re weak and vulnerable as they limp toward the finish line of the regular season.
And now, the rest of the Western Conference smells blood in the water.
When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing or trying to light a fire under his team.
When Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters that “everybody wants to play us,” he wasn’t posturing. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
He was stating out loud what everyone from the outside could clearly see. The Lakers, a rising force in the standings just a few weeks ago, have now become an exposed nerve.
“Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us,” Redick said Friday. “There’s probably teams in positions that can start looking forward to potential second-round matchups as well. You’ve seen some of those teams rest their entire lineups basically. We can’t be concerned with all that.”
After a dominant March, the Lakers looked like the team in the West that nobody wanted to face. Led by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level, and Austin Reaves thriving as the secondary scoring option, the Lakers were firing on all cylinders.
They had rhythm, balance and multiple ways to beat you. They weren’t just beating teams, they were dictating everything.
Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers Getty Images
Then everything unraveled.
During a blowout loss in Oklahoma City, Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and Reaves a Grade 2 oblique tear. With the snap of Thanos’ fingers, nearly 60 points per night disappeared from the Lakers’ rotation.
Now, they’re asking LeBron James, at 41 years old, to rewind time and become the engine, the initiator and the closer for the Lakers. To carry the team on his back as they drag toward the checkered flag.
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To his credit, James has been brilliant the last two games, but brilliance from just one man won’t be enough once the postseason starts.
Not in a loaded Western Conference with the Thunder and Spurs separating themselves from the rest of the league. Not against the Nuggets, who casually rested most of their starters including Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on Friday like they were already thinking a round ahead.
The Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic sat out Friday night to rest for the NBA playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
Around the league, other teams see the same thing. A team missing its top two scorers. A roster asking role players to stretch into something they’re not comfortable or familiar with. A system that is trying to find “nine players to be fully all in.”
One of those players is Luke Kennard. For most of his nine-year career, he’s been a 3-point specialist off the bench. Now he’s trying to be one of the Lakers’ primary ball handlers and playmakers.
“You understand why teams want to play us. We’re missing 60 points a game,” said Kennard when asked about Redick’s comments on Friday and if it can be a rallying cry for the team. “But we also have him [James] and the way he’s playing and leading us. We’re going to need him to continue to do that.”
James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it.
Even undermanned, the Lakers have won two straight games against teams that will be in the play-in tournament. That’s a faint pulse, not a flatline. It speaks to this team’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity all season.
James can’t do it by himself, but to Kennard’s point, there is something dangerous about dismissing a team completely with one of the greatest players of all time still on it. NBAE via Getty Images
“None of you guys had us in the top four to start the season. Most people had us as a play-in team or even worse,” said Redick of preseason predictions for the Lakers. “We’ve had to manage the expectations of the Lakers and the negativity that surrounds every loss, and I think our group has managed that well.”
By virtue of the Lakers’ victory over the Suns on Friday night, they secured a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the first round. With a win in the final regular-season game Sunday against the Jazz and a Nuggets loss to the Spurs, they will finish third and face the Timberwolves for the second straight postseason. With a loss or Denver win, they will host the Rockets in the first round.
Regardless of their first-round opponent, without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers will be underdogs. Both teams will try to stop James by throwing double- and triple-teams at him, forcing the Lakers’ secondary players to make decisions and beat them. And now, there’s not enough evidence to prove they can.
Unfortunately, this is the reality in Los Angeles now. The Lakers are vulnerable. Capable but compromised. They will have to punch above their weight to win a playoff series without two of their stars.
So, yes — everybody wants to play them and rightfully so.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown #7 shake hands during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics could be without most of their rotation when they face the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair management), Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendonitis), Derrick White (right knee contusion), and Neemias Queta (right toe sprain) are all out. Sam Hauser (low back spasm), Payton Pritchard (left foot plantar fasciitis), and Nikola Vučević (right ring finger fracture management) are all doubtful.
The lengthy injury report comes as no surprise, because the Celtics have already locked up the No. 2 seed with one game left to play in the regular season. None of the injuries appears to be cause for concern, and everyone except for Tatum laced up on Friday night, when the Celtics blew out the New Orleans Pelicans and solidified their standings in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic are still vying for playoff positioning
The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, will be at mostly full strength and are still playing for playoff positioning. Only Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) are questionable.
The Magic currently have the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, but are tied with the Toronto Raptors for a 45-26 record. The Raptors are facing the Brooklyn Nets in their last regular-season game, and could lock up that sixth seed with a victory.
The Celtics and Magic could face off in the first round of the playoffs; the Celtics will face the winner of the Play-In game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. (The Philadelphia 76ers currently have the 8th seed). The two teams faced off in the first round of the playoffs last year, with the Celtics winning the best-of-seven series in five games.
The Celtics and Magic have faced off three times this season — all in November — with Boston winning two of the three matchups.
Celtics-Magic will tip off at 6pm ET at TD Garden.
Five-time NBA All-Star point guard and current Amazon Prime Video NBA analyst John Wall takes a shot at some playoffs Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What is the key for the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals?
A: To me the key has always been all year: Can Mikal Bridges and [OG] Anunoby play well at the same time? … Outside of what you know you’ll get from [Jalen] Brunson and KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], I think that takes their team to another level. I kind of go back to the game when they beat the Spurs pretty badly, everybody was clicking. I know you can’t get that every night, but I feel like those two guys are the key to their team going far.
A: I don’t think it’s no pressure, because last year they feel like they should have went to the Finals, if they don’t give that Game 1 away or Game 2 away against the Pacers, and then you come back this year when everybody thought it was a down year in the East with the Celtics dealing with injuries, the Pacers not having [Tyrese] Haliburton, and everybody, including James Dolan, thought the Knicks would be the No. 1 seed in the East. And you have Boston is still ahead of them, they just got Jayson Tatum back, which is scary for the league, but nobody expected the Celtics to be where they are.
Retired NBA player John Wall speaks on a pregame show prior the game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks at Capital One Arena on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
Q: So you don’t think there’s pressure on the Knicks?
A: Yeah, they have pressure, but it shouldn’t really be no pressure. … They show us a run here, then they go on a losing streak. And then it’s like they kind of had a favorable schedule probably after that bad month of February that got them back on track because they were almost close to not being a top-three team in the East, and that woulda put a lot of pressure on them.
Q: If the Knicks meet the Celtics in the second round, how do you see that series?
A: I’m taking the Celtics on that one. … I feel like the Celtics are a more complete team. Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, one of them is gonna be on the floor at all times, and they also have Derrick White, [Payton] Pritchard’s playing great off the bench, you got [Baylor] Scheierman, that’s another guy that knocks down shots. … I just feel like they’re a more complete team than what the Knicks are.
The Knicks beat Jayson Tatum and the Celtics on Friday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: So who do you see in the Eastern Conference finals?
A: Right now I have the Celtics and it’s up in the air. I feel like if the Knicks don’t have to see the Celtics, I would take them there. I like Detroit a lot, I just don’t know if Detroit has another guy that can create off the dribble outside of Cade Cunningham in the playoffs, ’cause the coverages that they’re gonna do with him, he hasn’t seen in the regular season. I’m not giving him my best coverages now when I know I might have to see him in the playoffs.
Q: So you would like the Knicks over the Pistons if they met?
A: Yes.
Q: Your thoughts on Mike Brown?
A: I like Mike Brown. We all talked about Jalen Brunson, we know how dominant he is, how much he scores the ball, but he’s ball dominant, and I think a lot of times all those other guys don’t get implemented into the offense and they kind of get lost. I feel like we were gonna get more ball movement, and we don’t get too many of those, it’s kind of like the same offense we had before. Only difference is he goes deeper into his bench than what Thibs [Tom Thibodeau] used to.
Q: Were you surprised when Thibs was fired?
A: Yeah, for a guy to get to the Eastern Conference finals, you don’t do that. I get you probably wanting to play more guys off the bench, but this has been Thibs’ motto his whole career, play probably seven guys at best, sometimes eight, but I play my main guys a lot of minutes. It’s kind of like you look at Cleveland’s situation, when LeBron [James] and them went to the Finals, the next year David Blatt’s fired. He got to the Finals, didn’t have Kevin Love and lost Kyrie Irving Game 1, he still was able to make it a competitive series as best he could.
Mike Brown calls out a play. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Q: Correct me if I’m wrong, you don’t sound sold on Mike Brown.
A: Mike Brown’s not the problem. I feel like it’s the players in figuring out how to play well with each other at a high level. It’s about how can you get Jalen Brunson to still be efficient and be the way he is ’cause he’s so gifted, but he’s at his best when the ball is in his hands. I feel like anybody that coaches him is how can you get him to still be that killer guy he’s been for them and the clutch guy he has been for the Knicks and this city, and the fans love him, to get everybody else to also get going also? I’m not blaming Mike Brown for anything.
Q: What do the Knicks need from KAT in these playoffs?
A: KAT has to be KAT. KAT has to be dominant. KAT has to be a guy that can stay on the floor and block shots, defend for them at a high level. He has to be a guy that can knock down a 3 like he’s been doing, but also KAT has to take advantage of when teams put smaller guys on him. Let’s say if they meet Boston in the playoffs, Boston is gonna put Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown on him. And that’s a matchup he has to dominate in the post. If he’s dominating there, now you have to double-team and you have other guys have to do that. … I was talking to one of my Knicks friends that’s a fan, and he’s, “Oh yeah, we’re going to the Finals,” and I’m like, “Bro, you have to understand, you all had no Jaylen Brown yesterday, and you went to the wire with the Celtics.” And Josh Hart had to score 26 points. They shoulda won that game by 15 points, at best.
Q: What is the difference between the Brunson we see now and the Brunson who was in Dallas?
A: He wasn’t a franchise guy, he was trying to figure out his way. The series when Luka [Doncic] was hurt, and what he did against the Utah Jazz gave him an unbelievable confidence to understand, “Well, I might can be a No. 1 option in this league.” What he brings to the table is impeccable to do at his size and be efficient and be as clutch as he is. I just think he has to find a way to get other guys going and not just make him have to make jump shots all night for seven games. To me he’s not a true point guard, he’s more of a combo-type of guard. He’s gonna get the ball whenever he wants, he has the creativity to do whatever he wants when he feels, I feel like early on you have to get guys shots. First minute, minute-30 of the [Celtics] game, Mikal Bridges had seven points. He got it going. He goes missing for the rest of the game.
Q: How big of an impact does Mitchell Robinson have to be?
A: He’s a big key to them because what he brings off the bench, outside of free-throw shooting. A guy that can block shots, a guy that can switch out and really guard other people. And his offensive rebounding ability is very key for them. They really want to play him down the stretch, he just don’t shoot well from the free-throw line.
Q: What do you think of a possible Knicks-Hawks first-round matchup?
A: I think it goes six [games]. They have two guys that can guard, you have Nickeil Alexander-Walker who’s to me Most Improved Player this year, and then you got Jalen Johnson, that’s a guy that’s an All-Star, should be on the All-NBA team. So they can make it interesting because Onyeka Okongwu can guard KAT, he can space the floor and knock down 3s also.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is greeted by New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby during the second quarter on Friday night. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: What other teams could be a threat to the Celtics?
A: If we get the James Harden and Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley that we expect to get, that’s another team that could be a threat. For me, I feel like it’s three teams that can give the Celtics a threat: the Knicks, the Cavs and the Pistons. But I just feel like the Celtics have been there before. And you know they got revenge on last year, they felt like they gave that series away to the Knicks, being up almost 20 every game, living by the 3, dying by the 3, not making ’em. So that was a saucy taste in their mouth. The Pistons also got a saucy taste, they feel like they coulda beat the Knicks.
Q: The Cavs?
A: Can James Harden knock off the curse of everybody saying he keeps missing in the playoffs? That’s the key for him. I think he unlocked Spida [Mitchell] to another level where Spida don’t have to worry about creating as much, just let him be a bona fide scorer. But I think Evan Mobley has to be the Evan Mobley that we saw last year making All-NBA and being a Defensive Player of the Year. It helps their team go over the hump.
Q: The Raptors?
A: Nah, they’re just not there. I think they have their closer when they went and got Brandon Ingram. We also gotta see how [Immanuel] Quickley can get back in there. I just don’t think they have enough to put any threat to the top teams.
Q: Joel Embiid, who just had appendicitis surgery, and the 76ers?
A: With Embiid, it’s a team that you probably don’t want to see if they’re all healthy, him, Paul George and [Tyrese] Maxey. But I think also it changes their dynamic of what they do offensively, they try to feed the ball to Embiid more, it takes away from Maxey being the guy he was early on in being aggressive and being able to attack. … He helps them offensively, it’s just Embiid can’t move defensively and that kind of might hurt him against certain matchups.
Q: Is there a sleeper team that can make some noise?
A: A sleeper team I want to talk about is the Magic. But I don’t think they ever gonna get it right. They got all the pieces, I just don’t know if Franz [Wagner] can get into a rhythm and help them out before the playoffs start. I want Paolo [Banchero] to be a guy that just gets downhill, you’re a guy that has the physical tools and ability, athleticism to get by anybody and the strength to dominate anybody in the paint.
Q: Who wins the Western Conference?
A: There’s three teams, nobody else in my opinion. [Oklahoma City], Spurs and Denver.
Q: Describe defending NBA champion OKC.
A: They have the same team as last year. They had to go through a lot of adversity this year with guys being out, and I love the guy Ajay Mitchell, he gives them another boost off the bench. You got the MVP from last year, SGA [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] when games are close. They know who their go-to guy is and everybody just knows their role. Everybody just plays defense at a high level, they’d be ready to make open shots when they have to, and you have a guy like SGA that’s shooting almost 60 percent from the field, makes clutch shots and he’s a go-to guy.
Q: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
A: I love them a lot just because they play so enthusiastic, everybody can defend for them, they all can create shots off the dribble. Only thing that scares me is, who’s gonna be their closer? We have never seen a player like Wemby. The closest thing you’ve seen was Kevin Durant, but then you have what Wemby does on the defensive end, it cancels all that out.
Q: Thoughts on Stephon Castle?
A: I love him. Dawg. Would love to have him on my team. Being with Dan Hurley at UConn they kind of taught him coming in. He’s not trying to go out there and get 30 every night, he has certain nights when he does that. But I think him being a true point guard for them has allowed De’Aaron Fox to get back to the scoring ability that we have seen before the All-Star break.
Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball during the game against the LA Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: OKC versus San Antonio in the conference finals?
A: I can’t forget Denver. [Nikola] Jokic is another guy that can get to whatever he wants. And you got guys like Cam Johnson that’s finally figured out how to make shots and understands that he’s wide open.
Q: Is Jokic’s wrist a problem?
A: Health and some luck is all key to it.
Q: The Warriors with Steph Curry back?
A: That team you don’t want to see in the Play-In. If they get OKC first round, they don’t really go too far. You don’t know how long Steph can stay healthy with the injury he’s dealing with.
Q: The Lakers?
A: If Austin Reaves and Luka don’t come back in the first round, that can be bad for them, because if I’m the Rockets, I want to match up with them without Luka and Austin Reaves. Luka and Austin Reaves and Bron being the third option changes their team to a different dynamic.
Q: The Rockets?
A: I feel like if they get the Lakers they can get by there, but I don’t think they go far. We’re still dealing with the problem of them having a true point guard and trying to figure out what they can do. With the Lakers, when they play K.D. they double-team him and they force somebody else to beat ’em, and other guys gotta be able to shoot the ball at a high clip. I would live with that in a playoff series.
Q: K.D.?
A: I think teams are gonna frustrate him because they’re gonna double-team him or sit in those gaps and force somebody else to beat them for a whole series, and they just don’t have enough knockdown shooters to help ’cause their knockdown shooters don’t play defense at a high level, so it hurts ’em. So they got a good thing on one end and a bad thing on the other end.
Q: The T’wolves with Anthony Edwards?
A: Ant gotta get healthy. … Ant’s a bona fide killer, he has the old-school mentality. They’re trying to force Ant to be a point guard. … If he comes out and shoots 12, 14 shots in the first quarter, other teams are happy because nobody else has touched the ball and found a rhythm. But if he comes out and pass and get other guys shots and get them a little rhythm, he’s gonna be able to get 25 shots whenever he wants to. … We also forget, no credit away from them, but the last two years they got kind of lucky. Last year Steph Curry got hurt, I don’t think they beat the Warriors in that series if he doesn’t get hurt to get to the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 10, 2026. Getty Images
Q: The Suns?
A: They’re playing at a good level but not there yet.
Q: Who were your favorite point guards growing up?
A: Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Baron Davis. When I got closer to the league, it was too many. It was a point guard era where you had tough matchups maybe seven nights in a row. Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, [Rajon] Rondo, Russ [Westbrook], D. [Derrick] Rose. It was never a night off.
Q: Who are point guards you like now?
A: They’re more combo guards now. … If you go point guard, it’d be like Luka for sure, James Harden, SGA, you have Kyrie Irving when he’s healthy. … Jamal Murray’s a guy I like. Jalen Brunson’s a guy that’s very crafty that I like. Cade Cunningham’s for sure on that list.
Q: Your former Kentucky coach John Calipari?
A: The GOAT.
Q: What would be your message to Knicks fans about the upcoming playoffs?
A: Y’all better make it to the [NBA] Finals or y’all might have a new team next year.
"He will be the leader of this basketball team for many years to come," Manuel said, prompting a standing ovation from the fans in attendance at the event.
After inheriting a program that went 8-24 in 2023-24, May has gone 64-13 in two seasons at the school. His 2025-26 team went 37-3 and won the Big Ten regular-season title before a dominant run through the 2026 NCAA Tournament that was capped off by a 69-63 victory against UConn in the national title game last Monday. The 37 wins were a program single-season record.
May’s success in rapidly turning around the Wolverines has transformed him into one of the brightest coaching stars in the sport and has attracted interest from other programs. The 49-year-old Indiana native was widely linked to the vacant North Carolina position before May informed the university he wasn’t pursuing other college jobs.
"I'm very grateful, and during the (NCAA) tournament, I just told Warde I'm not leaving,” May said Saturday during an appearance on Big Ten Network, which was airing the championship celebration. “And I probably ruined any leverage I could have had. It's an honor to coach at this great institution, and I just look forward to what's next."
May had previously been the head coach at Florida Atlantic, where he led the Owls to an improbable appearance in the 2023 Final Four.
In February 2025, while guiding Michigan to a 19-win improvement and a run to the Sweet 16 in his first season, May received a one-year contract extension that ran through 2030 that raised his average annual salary from $3.825 million to $5.1 million.
Manuel told reporters that May’s new deal will run through 2031, though the financial details of the contract are still being finalized.
“I’m very relieved, but we knew it was done a few days before the final game,” Manuel said Saturday. “You want to have a coach that other people want, and I'm happy to keep him. Dusty and I have a great relationship and trust in one another. For me, it feels awesome to know that he's going to continue to lead this program and continue to be the head coach here at Michigan.”
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 9: The Los Angeles Lakers huddle up before the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an exciting four-team battle for seeding in the Western Conference throughout the second half of the season, all but two teams are locked into their spot playoff spots heading into the final day.
Results on Friday, namely Minnesota beating Houston, means that all that is up for grabs on Sunday is the No. 3 seed between the Lakers and Nuggets.
The Wolves will be the No. 6 seed and the Rockets will be the No. 5 seed, the latter only being able to tie LA’s record on the final day with the purple and gold holding the tiebreaker. At the top, OKC and San Antonio will be the No. 1 and No. 2 seed, respectively.
That leaves the No. 3 seed Denver (53-28) and the No. 4 seed Los Angeles (52-29) as the only sides that can end the day in a different spot than where they started. That also makes it pretty simple to lay out the scenarios for where the two teams can finish.
Let’s dive into them.
Lakers win, Nuggets win
If both teams win, then it’s simple math. The Lakers would finish one game behind the Nuggets and in the No. 4 seed.
LA plays the Jazz, who are tied for the fourth-best in the draft lottery. That means they certainly are going to end the season as they navigated it: by tanking.
On the flip side, the Nuggets play the Spurs, who are likely to rest their starters and key rotation players, with nothing at stake for either team. That being said, Denver has already done some weird things this weekend, resting all of its starters against the Thunder on Friday with far more uncertainty in the playoff seeding.
If this scenario plays out, the Lakers would play the Rockets and the Nuggets would play the Wolves.
Lakers win, Nuggets lose
If Denver loses to what will likely be the skeleton Spurs while the Lakers beat the tanking Jazz, that means LA jumps to the No. 3 seed and Denver falls to No. 4.
Outside of being able to laugh at the Nuggets for still finishing above them in the standings, it would set up a familiar, if not difficult, playoff match-up with the Wolves. While Minnesota has limped to the finish, figuratively and literally, they still will likely have Anthony Edwards and much of the same team that smacked around a healthier version of LA last year.
Denver, meanwhile, would face the Rockets in the first round with a second-round series against the Thunder looming for the winner.
Lakers lose
If the Lakers lose, it matters not what the Nuggets do as LA would finish in the fourth seed and face the Rockets. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the purple and gold opt to rest many of it’s own key players to avoid any more injuries this season and settle into the fourth seed.
In that case, they would face a Houston team that has had a rocky season, even though it’s ending strong. The Rockets had their eight-game win streak snapped on Friday by Minnesota. It’s not been smooth sailing in Kevin Durant’s first season with the Rockets and the team has looked on the brink of a meltdown multiple times, setting up an intriguing potential upset bid for the Lakers in the first round.
BROOKLYN, NY - SEPTEMBER 9: Shakira Austin #0 of the Washington Mystics is introduced before the game against the New York Liberty on September 9, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Saturday, Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin signed a 3-year maximum level contract with the Toronto Tempo, according to Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic. The maximum level contract starts at $1.19 million in the 2026 season.
The Mystics have until Monday to decide whether to keep Austin by matching the offer sheet or let her go. I may be wrong, but I think Washington matches this offer. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 11, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final week of the regular season hasn’t exactly been the momentum builder heading into the playoffs the Sixers had hoped. Bad losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets knocked them firmly into Play-In tournament positioning.
Through all of this, the Sixers sit at 44-37 in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They are one game behind the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, who are currently sixth and seventh, respectively.
They are a game ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and, thanks to holding the season series tiebreaker, can’t finish worse than them in the standings. At worst case scenario, the Sixers will make the 7/8 play-in game and will have two cracks at qualifying for the playoffs.
The tiebreakers against Toronto and Orlando are a little more complicated since the Sixers went 2-2 this year against both teams. Thanks to a superior division record, the Sixers own both the tiebreakers over those two teams individually and the three-team tiebreaker should they all finish with the same record.
That gives the Sixers a chance, a very slim one, albeit, at nabbing a top-6 seed on the last day of the regular season and avoiding the Play-In. To do so will require a Sixers win over the Milwaukee Bucks and losses from both the Magic and Raptors.
Orlando could very well fall to the Celtics in Boston, but the Raptors will be hosting a 20-win Brooklyn Nets team. Given how the Nets have looked as of late, it feels unlikely the Sixers will get that lucky. The Celtics are also locked into the second seed no matter what, so it’s very possible they’re taking it easy for the regular season finale.
That still leaves the seven seed on the table as well, should the Sixers and Raptors win but the Magic fall. The Sixers are so banged up they’ll take any advantage they can get right now, even homecourt throughout the Play-In.
Three teams are contending for one automatic playoff spot (top six) in the East. Here’s how each can clinch:
▪️Toronto: with a win OR losses by Orlando AND Philadelphia.
