Category: NBA

It was always going to take a lot for the Sixers to pull off a first-round upset over the second-seeded Boston Celtics. They were going to have to make the rebounding battle look respectable, which they haven’t done. They were going to have to keep Boston’s role players in check, which they haven’t done. Their stars needed to take over games, which they haven’t done.

On top of all that, the Sixers were going to need some shooting luck. Clearly, one game of VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey going nuclear wouldn’t be enough. They needed to have their role players shoot it well consistently all series.

After getting blown out in Game 1, having shot just 38% from the field and 17% from three, there was solace to be taken in the fact that the Sixers couldn’t possibly shoot that bad the rest of the way, especially given the fact that it was a lot of open looks they shot poorly on.

Three games later, the Sixers have not been able to dig themselves out of the hole, and their inability to hit open shots is a huge reason for that. Through their four games the Sixers have the second-worst field goal percentage on open shots at 30.3%, just barely better than Denver’s 30%. They are 11th out of the 16 playoff teams in field goal percentage on open threes, making 33.3% of them.

The inability to finish good possessions has notably taken the wind out of their sails. After they were blown out again in Game 4, Nick Nurse detailed how he thought the Sixers got good looks on the first 10-12 possessions of the game, but they had only put eight points on the board.

Here are a couple of examples of that, with the ball swinging to Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. to what would qualify as wide-open threes.

As their wide-open field goal percentage would indicate, they’re shooting even worse on open twos than threes. Here’s a couple examples of shots the Sixers definitely want to generate from inside the arc just not falling.

This has been a bottom-10 outcome for the Sixers shooting in the playoffs, but there is more to it than shooting variance. The Sixers were not a good three-point shooting team in the regular season, ranking 23rd in the league. It’s hard for them to rely on getting good shooting luck because the best three-point shooters on the team are the highest usage players.

Along with Maxey and Paul George, the other three of the top five Sixers in three-point percentage this season were Justin Edwards, who’s on the fringes of the rotation, Andre Drummond, who shoots one a game, and Oubre, who’s had the best season from three of his career.

It sure is bad luck that Oubre has followed up the best three-point regular season of his career by shooting 17% in the playoffs, but it’s also bad roster construction that they are so dependent on shooters like him. The Sixers had a chance in this series to prove they’re closer to Boston than many may think, but they’re inability to put the ball in the hoop has prevented them from getting out of the gate.

HOUSTON — To see the Lakers struggle offensively as much as they did in Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Rockets wasn’t surprising.

As coach JJ Redick reminded reporters, the Rockets had been a top-10 defensive team the entire 2025-26 season, finishing at No. 6 in defensive rating for the regular season. 

The Lakers were also due for shooting regression after making a playoff-best 46.1% of their 3-pointers through the first three games of the best-of-seven first round playoff series against the Rockets. 

But it also wasn’t surprising because most of the Lakers’ offensive struggles from Sunday night carried over from Friday’s Game 3 win, in which the Lakers needed a miraculous comeback to pull off the victory. 

The Lakers have averaged 22.3 points over the last six quarters of regulation against the Rockets after scoring a series-low 96 points in Game 4 and being held to a combined 38 points in the third and fourth quarters of Game 3. 

“It’s obviously very challenging without your two leading scores to generate offense,” Redick said, referring to Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) and the 55.8 points and 13.8 assists they averaged during the regular season being sidelined.

Redick added: “We’ll take a look at the process again on that end as well. And I know our points per shot and our expected points per shot were slightly below our season average. So to me, again, it goes back to the two keys: Take care of the ball, and we’ll look at that and how we can be better there.”

LeBron James took responsibility for the Lakers’ struggles with ball security on Sunday.

He finished with 8 of the Lakers’ 24 giveaways, marking back-to-back games in which James finished with that many turnovers after having 8 of the Lakers’ 21 giveaways in Game 3. 

The Lakers won Game 1 and Game 3 despite struggling with turnovers.

That wasn’t the case in Game 4.

“We knew coming into the series, we have to protect the ball versus them and not have not have too many pick-sixes, which we did all [Sunday] night,” James said. “It started with me obviously. My turnovers were unacceptable. But we’ll do a better job with that on Wednesday.”

Marcus Smart, who had four turnovers in Game 4, said a majority of the Lakers’ were because of mental fatigue instead of physical fatigue, with Game 4 being the first matchup of the series that had a one-day break between games.

There’s another two-day break before Wednesday’s Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena before one-day breaks ahead of a potential Game 6 on Friday at the Toyota Center and Game 7 on Sunday in Los Angeles. 

“We were dropping passes, myself included,” Smart said. “I was throwing passes to guys’ legs, you know, normal passes that we make on a regular basis, right? But it’s something we gotta clean up. We know it, we understand it. It’s not gonna get easier.”

To the Rockets’ credit, their defensive pressure and tenacity played a part in the Lakers’ offensive struggles over the last six quarters.

Houston was already playing physically, but with their season on the line, the heightened desperation led to more possessions with intensified ball pressure and more focused off-ball defense.

The Lakers weren’t rattled after Game 4.

And understandably so, having a 3-1 lead in the series which will go back to Los Angeles with the Lakers having three more opportunities to close out the series.

The decisions from the referees were just as much of a talking point inside of the locker room and at the podium as their offense was.

But the Rockets have shown enough during the series that it shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion the Lakers will close it out on Wednesday. 

“There’s no such thing as being comfortable until a series is done,” James said. “None of us are.”

If the offense on Wednesday looks anything like it did on Sunday, the Lakers will find themselves coming back to Houston.

Edgecombe finishes 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting, Flagg wins  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ No. 3 pick finished third in the NBA’s Rookie of the Year voting.

In the results announced Monday night, VJ Edgecombe received one second-place vote and 93 third-place votes from the 100-person media panel. The Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg won the award with 412 total voting points and the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel came in second with 386 total points. 

The No. 1 overall pick out of Duke, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Knueppel was a constant for Charlotte, playing 81 games and posting 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest. 

Edgecombe cemented himself as a starter for the Sixers in the preseason and averaged 35.0 minutes over 75 regular-season games. He posted 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. 

Among the many highlights of Edgecombe’s season were a 34-point performance in the Sixers’ opening-night win over the Celtics; game-winning hoops in December vs. the Warriors and Grizzlies; and a 38-point, 11-assist outing in a March 19 victory against the Kings. Edgecombe also earned the Rising Stars MVP award at his first NBA All-Star weekend. 

Edgecombe logged 153 regular-season minutes in “clutch” situations, which the NBA defines as games within a five-point margin and under five minutes left. He was excellent on both ends of the floor in those spots. Edgecombe ranked second on the Sixers in clutch points (73), first in made clutch threes (12), first in clutch rebounds (31) and first in clutch steals (eight). The 20-year-old shot 58.7 percent from the field in the clutch and 54.5 percent from three-point range. 

Edgecombe’s averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals in his first four career playoff games. He’s shot 0 for 16 from three-point range in the Sixers’ first-round playoff series vs. the Celtics outside of Game 2, when he went 6 for 10 beyond the arc. Edgecombe was tremendous in that game, which is the Sixers’ one win so far of the series, tallying 30 points and 10 rebounds.  

Facing a 3-1 series deficit, the Sixers will visit the Celtics on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

“Our backs are already against the wall,” Edgecombe said Sunday night. “It’s win or go home. That’s the mentality we’ve got to play with. If we lose, we’re done until October. … We’ve got to come out and play hard. We have to play like we have nothing to lose. I think that’s going to help us.”

After dropping two straight games, the Knicks did what they needed to in Atlanta on Saturday night, winning Game 4 to even up their first round playoff series and regain homecourt advantage. 

The series heads back to New York for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday night, and head coach Mike Brown believes his team is ready for the moment.

“This group is a relentless group, they’re an experienced group,” Brown said. “They perform best, it seems, when their backs are against the wall. So, I believe our guys are ready.”

After two straight one-point losses, the Knicks earned a convincing 114-98 win in Atlanta in Game 5, regaining some momentum as things come back to The Garden. 

But the Knicks know they’re going to see the Hawks come out playing with some desperation on Tuesday night. 

“We just have to have a higher level of desperation, because we know they’re not going to come in and ease into this game,” said Miles McBride.

“This is the playoffs. Nobody’s just going to hand you a win, hand you a game. Obviously, our two losses were very close games, but you don’t lose the games always at the end of the game. It’s a possession here or in the first half when you missed a box out, or somebody didn’t run to the lane and there wasn’t anybody to kick it out. So it’s little things like that that we’re more focused on and have to be focused on moving forward.”

Jalen Brunson, who has had an up-and-down series from a shooting perspective (41.6 FG percentage), told reporters that the Knicks must bring the same “focus and attention to detail” into Game 5, knowing the Hawks are going to throw their best counterpunch. 

“Throughout a series, there’s always going to be adjustments,” said Brunson. “When a team loses, they’ve got to figure out what they did wrong and how they’re going to adjust. I think it’s constant adjustments and a constant chess game. You see what move they make and you come back with a different move.”

History tells us that teams who win Game 5 in a 2-2 series become overwhelming favorites to win a best-of-seven series. 

But according to Brunson, the Knicks don’t need any extra motivation to come out and win.

“This is what we work all year for, what we work all summer for, to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs,” Brunson said. “There’s not a lot of motivation left that’s needed really. This is an opportunity for teams to go and put their names in history if they want it, so there’s no more motivation.”

On the brink of advancing to the second round and pulling out a sweep for the first time since 2010, the Lakers fell to the Rockets in Game 4.

​With Kevin Durant out once again, it set the stage for a young and athletic Houston squad to play with a sense of urgency and desperation. And just like that, LA’s broom is put back in the closet.

The Rockets ramped up the physicality without a let-up, forcing the Lakers to figuratively and literally give the game away with 23 turnovers that led to 30 points. The Rockets used a 34-18 third quarter to lead by as much as 28 against the reeling purple and gold, who had just one day off between the overtime win and Sunday’s matchup.

After the final buzzer, a minor scuffle broke out between the two squads. Thankfully, it was only words exchanged, but we’ve undoubtedly reached the point of extreme annoyance. Playing the same team this many times creates tension with familiarity. Pet plays and actions not run with precision are scouted out miles in advance.

Without Austin Reaves, who was also ruled out before game time, LeBron James remained the offense’s orbit. He came off playing 45 grueling minutes in Game 3, a ton of energy expenditure for anyone, let alone a 41-year-old.

​The turnovers started early in the first quarter as the Lakers looked to hunt Reed Sheppard, as they’ve done in all games. LeBron looks for a hit-ahead pass in the clip below. Sheppard sees it coming and easily jumps it for the turnover.

Then, early in the second quarter, LeBron attempts to dribble through two defenders and gets stripped, leading to a dunk on the other end.

“We did a good job in the second quarter of cutting into the lead, and then we had a few turnovers, which was our kryptonite tonight,” LeBron said postgame. “Obviously, we know coming into the series we have to protect the ball against them, and not have too many pick-sixes, which we did all night and it started with me. Obviously, my turnovers were unacceptable, but we’ll do a better job on that on Wednesday.”

Among the Lakers’ 23 miscues, eight came from their lone healthy superstar. While it was honorable that he took on the blame, he wasn’t alone. Marcus Smart had three turnovers in the first quarter, telegraphing his passes like the lob below to Deandre Ayton.

Luke Kennard, after two explosive scoring outputs in Games 1 and 2, has clearly shot up the scouting report for Houston. No longer is he allowed to roam free above the arc and, instead, he’s given heavy attention even on closeout attacks.

​Watch below as he attempts to get to his patented efficient mid-range, but Eason hounds him, forcing a mid-air pass that’s deflected into another run out below.

After a monster start to the series, the two unsung heroes Smart and Kennard combined for just 16 points, seven assists and six turnovers in Game 4. It’s a sign of possibly coming back to Earth for guards who stepped up in production and usage in their star back court’s absence.

With Reaves being a game-time decision in back-to-back games before being downgraded to out, the Lakers would get major reinforcements if he were able to return in Game 5.

He adds a multi-dimensional player on offense, with season averages of 23.3 points and 5.5 assists in the regular season, giving the team a much-needed downhill force against ball pressure that’s starting to wear on the available ball handlers.

With the chance to close it out at home and not have to fly back to Houston for Game 6, the Lakers may not just welcome Reaves back but may need him to close out against a feisty Rockets team hungry to keep their season alive.

​You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu

​

The Golden State Warriors face a massive sliding doors moment in the coming days. As has been heavily reported, longtime head coach Steve Kerr and the team’s front office will determine whether he will remain the team’s head coach going forward in the coming days. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints detailed the many ripple effects that will come out of that decision. One that has perhaps fallen under the radar is the way Kerr’s future will impact center Al Horford’s approach to the offseason.

“And as for other players on the roster, Kerr’s influence impacts decisions for Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton,” Siegel wrote. “Whereas Melton owns a $3.4 million player option and will likely opt out to enter unrestricted free agency, Horford would strongly consider opting in to his $6 million player option if Kerr remains the head coach.”

“One of the main reasons Horford picked the Dubs was to contend for a title at the end of his career. If Kerr leaves and the Dubs look to reset the roster around Curry, the chances of Horford opting out and becoming a free agent increase tenfold.“

Horford’s first season with the Warriors started slowly, sidelined by sciatic for much of the first couple months of the season. However, he seemed to be coming into form right as Jimmy Butler suffered his season-ending ACL injury. Horford ultimately appeared in 45 regular-season games (13 starts), recording 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks in a career-low 21.5 minutes per game on 42.6%/36.1%/84.6% shooting. Not included in those numbers is Horford’s heroic performance in Golden State’s comeback victory over the Clippers in the play-in tournament when the 19-season NBA veteran hit four threes in the fourth quarter.

Horford’s player option is worth roughly $5.969 million, a reasonable value given his late-season production. If he opts out and goes elsewhere, the Warriors would have slightly more room to operate under the league’s salary aprons and could be more inclined to re-sign Quinten Post. It seems that choice will be heavily influenced by Steve Kerr’s future.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• The New Yorker releases a wide-ranging interview with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, discussing his future in Golden State and more.
• NBA insider Marc Stein says the Warriors’ roster could be in for a “drastic” overhaul if Kerr departs.
• Series updates across all NBA First Round matchups.

A little over a week has passed since the end of their season, and Steve Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors still remains uncertain. While many reports suggests the four-time Warriors champion head coach will be leaving this offseason, the biggest factor pushing him to stay is his ties to Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Kerr acknowledged that while most coaching tenures eventually run their course, his situation in Golden State isn’t that simple, largely because of the stars still leading the team.

Via The New Yorker:

You sound like a guy who wants to come back, and if it’s your choice, then you would.

This is a really interesting situation, and I’m very respectful of the organization and their place in the universe right now. And I know how this stuff works. Most coaching runs just last a certain amount of time, and then it’s best for everybody to move forward. And what we have to figure out is whether now is that time, because what complicates it is we still have Steph and Draymond.

That’s the tension at the center of it all. Kerr understands the natural lifecycle of an NBA coach, but the presence of Curry and Green — and the belief that this group can add to their four championships together — makes his choice far more complicated.

For now, no decision has been made. Kerr pointed to upcoming conversations with the organization as the next step, with a decision expected soon.

For another year, right?

Yeah, another year each on their contracts. And I don’t want to abandon those guys. If Steph and Draymond were retiring this year, I think this would be an easy decision: we all go out together and the organization takes their new path. But it’s not that easy because I think Steph’s going to play another couple of years and I think we can still do some good things together. But these are all conversations that will happen in the next week or two and we’ll figure it out. And whatever happens, it’s going to end well. I know that, because it’s too important not to.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, April 27th:

Warriors News:

Has Steve Kerr Had Enough? | The New Yorker

You’ve come to blows—

Yeah. I mean, people pulling us apart. And in my first five years, we would get into three knockdown, dragouts a year. Part of it was, I just had to show the rest of the team that I’m in charge. You have to do things by a set of standards. It’s a community that you’re building, not just a team—a little society with values and standards and expectations. And then you’re a community that has to police itself. The coach has to demand certain behaviors, certain habits. So then for a long time we had a truce. I understood him so well. He understood me. But this year we had a major blowout in December. He’s such a unique person. There’s things he’s done that I can never forgive him for, and yet I will do anything for him.

Sunday Best: LOTS happening leaguewide and the latest Intel is here | The Stein Line

The coming week, furthermore, could deliver another significant shakeup to the X-and-O landscape should Steve Kerr and the Warriors decide to part ways after a dozen seasons together that delivered four championships.

If a parting indeed happens — as many have forecasted — little seems certain about next steps for Golden State beyond the knowledge that the franchise wants Stephen Curry to retire as a Warrior.

There is a growing belief that the roster overhaul around Curry could prove to be more drastic if Kerr is no longer the coach. Remember that Draymond Green recently shared on his podcast (full version below) that he does not expect Kerr to return and is likewise unsure if the team wants to retain him … although it’s believed that Green, 36, will be presented with the concept of declining his $27.7 million player option for next season to sign a longer-term extension at a lower annual salary.

Behind The Scenes Of “My Free Agency Sneaker Collection” With Sotheby’s

NBA News:

Nothing Is off the Table in Houston | The Ringer

The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary. But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go. 

NBA Playoff Bracket update

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Former Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo suffers devastating injury in the playoffs

DiVincenzo’s injury could very likely bring his tenure in Minnesota to a close. The Wolves acquired guard Ayo Dosunmo at the trade deadline, and he has fit in admirably. Slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though, Dosunmo is in position to ask for a significant payday. With the Wolves hoping to remain contenders next season, DiVincenzo’s $12.535 million salary next year becomes an obvious tradeable expiring contract.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

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The Detroit Pistons will be eager to even up this series at two games apiece tonight, and the Orlando Magic can really put the pressure on the East's top seed should they go up 3-1.

The stakes are high, and that means plenty of NBA player prop projections and NBA picks to choose from. For a full breakdown, check out our Pistons vs. Magic predictions.

Pistons vs Magic computer picks for Game 4

Pistons	Magic
Duren o14.5 points  -120	Bane o3.5 assists  +140
Robinson u2.5 threes  +100	Banchero u8.5 rebounds  -120
Green o5.5 points  -110	Carter u10.5 points  -125

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Pistons Game 4 computer picks

Jalen Duren Over 14.5 points (-120)

Projection: 16.97 points

Jalen Duren has been totally shut down to the tune of just 27 points in three games in this series, but this 14.5-point total is an overreaction for a guy who averaged almost 20 points per game this season.

His breakout game is coming.

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Duncan Robinson Under 2.5 threes (+100)

Projection: 2.45 threes

Duncan Robinson has cleared this number in all three games (9-for-21 for the series), but with Orlando's perimeter defenders, you have to expect his 42.9 3-point rate to come down at some point. The plus-money on the Under makes this the opportunity to bank on that.

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Javonte Green Over 5.5 points (-110)

Projection: 6.45 points

Javonte Green only took two shots through the first two games, but went 2-for-6 from three in Game 3. Our model calls for more of the same in Game 4.

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Magic Game 4 computer picks

Desmond Bane Over 3.5 assists (+140)

Projection: 3.84 assists

Desmond Bane logged five assists in Game 1 and averaged 4.1 over 82 games this season. Our model calls for 3.84 assists tonight, and the +140 price makes this an easy button to push.

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Paolo Banchero Under 8.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 7.61 rebounds

Paolo Banchero has been active on the glass with 27 boards across three games, but this is still a high bar to clear. Another good rebounding game could still easily fall short of this number.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Under 10.5 points (-125)

Projection: 9.66

Wendell Carter Jr. has been one of the biggest stories of this opening round, scoring 17 in Game 1 and 14 in Game 3. Between that, however, was a 3-point dud in which he shot 1-for-6 from the floor. Our model calls for 9.66 tonight.

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How to watch Pistons vs Magic Game 4

Location	Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date	Monday, April 27, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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DENVER (AP) — Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards will be sidelined for at least one week with a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee, a diagnosis the Timberwolves formally announced Monday before Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Denver.

Edwards had an MRI exam that confirmed the absence of structural damage, a relief to the Timberwolves after Edwards' injury occurred in the second quarter of their Game 4 victory over the Nuggets. Still, his availability for the second round if they advance will be in question. The team called his status week to week, so Edwards would likely miss at least the beginning of the next series before he's cleared to return.

“With the two injuries we had in one game, it was as positive as you can get it,” guard Mike Conley told reporters after the team's pregame shootaround in Denver. ”Obviously we want him to get healthy. We want him to be recovered as quickly as he can, but his health is No. 1. He knows his body. When his body’s ready, he’s going to fight through it. We know if we can get out of the series, we’ll get him back."

Minnesota, which took a 3-1 lead on Denver in the series into Game 5, lost their other starting guard, Donte DiVincenzo, for the rest of the postseason and much of next season with a ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in the opening minutes of Game 4.

Edwards averaged 28.8 points in the regular season, third best in the NBA behind Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed 21 games this season, by far the most of his career, mostly to a right knee injury.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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The Orlando Magic can put the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons on the ropes with another win tonight, and our Pistons vs. Magic predictions are happy to take the points with the Magic at home.

We break down why in our NBA picks and SGP predictions for Game 4 below.

Our best Pistons vs Magic SGP for Game 4

Wendell Carter Jr. has provided excellent numbers through the first three games of the series against the Detroit Pistons, averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. Carter scored 11+ points in 45 of 78 regular-season matchups, and he’s reached that total in two of three playoff games.

The Orlando Magic big man is an effective floor-spacer who can spread out Jalen Duren with his 3-point shooting ability. Carter has gone just 1-for-7 from deep in this series, but he’s due for positive regression in that department.

The Magic are finally healthy and rolling against a Pistons team that doesn’t have any answers for their size and shot-making abilities. I’ll take Orlando to cover as a small home dog.

Two of three games have gone Under in this series, and it's thanks to strong defensive efforts on both sides. The Magic and Pistons each rank in the Top 3 in defensive rating in the postseason.

Detroit finished second in that category in the regular season, while Orlando was 13th.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are just one win away from knocking off the Denver Nuggets, but they'll have to do it without Anthony Edwards.

Our Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks think they'll pull it off on Monday, April 27.

Who will win Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 5?

Timberwolves win probability:79% (-375)
Nuggets win probability:21% (+376)

With their backs against the wall and the series shifting back to Denver, it's no surprise the Nuggets have a 79% chance of winning Game 5.

Our prediction:Timberwolves to win

While the Nuggets are 11-point favorites and should be desperate with their backs up against the wall, anyone who has watched the last few games of this series can very clearly see the body language throughout Denver’s roster.

Frustration, anger, and wounded pride are no way to mount a comeback from a 3-1 series, and they may cost the Nuggets quicker than anyone expects.

Read more in Douglas Farmer's full Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions.

More Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Nuggets -11.5 spread means the Nuggets will cover, while "No" means the Timberwolves will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Timberwolves vs Nuggets spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Nuggets -11.5 — No and Over 223.5 points — No

The Timberwolves are missing a big piece of their offense in Edwards, but their defense can draw this game out and turn it into a rock fight. That's the best chance Minnesota has of winning.

Other Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets available

• Rudy Gobert 10+ points (Yes: 55¢)
• Nikola Jokic 30+ points (Yes: 57¢)
• Julius Randle 7+ rebounds (Yes: 56¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Nuggets win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Timberwolves vs Nuggets at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

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.

After officially declaring for the NBA Draft last week, AJ Dybantsa published a long “thank you” message to BYU on his LinkedIn Monday.

Below is the full post:

“When I committed to BYU, I knew I was signing up for something bigger than basketball.

A lot of people questioned the decision. For me, the choice was simple. I wanted to go to the place that would best develop me as a basketball player and as a person. BYU was the program that gave me the clearest path to both.

The moment I stepped on campus, I knew I made the right call. T

his school welcomed me in, raised the standard for me, and made me a better person every single day I was there. From the coaching staff to the professors to the fans walking across campus, this is a community unlike any other in college sports.

Coach Young, thank you for trusting me with the keys to your program. You came to BYU with an NBA mind and a deep belief in what this place could become. You pushed me harder than I’ve ever been pushed, and you cared about me as a person before you cared about me as a player. I’ll carry the lessons you taught me for the rest of my life.

To my teammates, the bond we built this year goes way beyond basketball. The film sessions, the bus rides, the late nights in the gym, the conversations that had nothing to do with the game. Y’all are brothers for life. I’m rooting for every single one of you.

To Coug Nation, what y’all do for this program is special. The way fans show up for BYU basketball is unlike anything in the country. The kindness I felt walking around campus and the city of Provo, the families who treated me like one of their own, the kids who came up to me everywhere I went. That’s the part of this experience I’ll remember most.

I am proud to have worn the Y. I’m proud to have represented this university. I’m proud to be a Cougar for life.

The next chapter starts now, but BYU will always be a part of who I am.

Go Cougs.”

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Two series could end tonight, though that would require one double-digit upset. The more intriguing wonder is if the Orlando Magic can take a firm grasp of their first-round series with the Detroit Pistons. It is always intriguing when a No. 1 seed may be on the ropes in the first round.

These NBA player props for Monday, April 27, take a quick look at Orlando before nodding toward a couple of defensive wings who should pour in the points tonight.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Jalen Suggs	Over 2.5 threes	+122
Dillon Brooks	20+ Points	+100
Jaden McDaniels	20+ Points	+175

Prop #1: Jalen Suggs Over 2.5 threes

+122 at bet365

Simply enough, Jalen Suggs has hit at least three 3-pointers in each game of this series. One can safely assume this is part of the Orlando Magic’s game plan.

Suggs averaged 6.3 attempted shots from beyond the arc per game this regular season. And now he has taken 28 through three games in the playoffs. That is not by accident.

As long as Suggs is shooting this often, even his middling rate should yield a few triples. Hitting 33.9% this season from deep is not astounding, but if he is taking 8+ per game, then it is more likely than not that Suggs will hit at least three.

It may be bold for the oddsmakers to raise this prop to 3.5, but they certainly should not have Over 2.5 priced at plus money.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

Prop #2: Dillon Brooks 20+ points

+100 at bet365

Again, simply enough, Dillon Brooks has scored 30+ points in his last two games while averaging 27 in this series. One can very much assume this has been the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defensive game plan.

The Thunder know they will not lose this series because Brooks scored too many points, so they are content to let him shoot. He has taken at least 21 shots in each game after averaging 17.1 per game in the regular season.

Brooks attempted 21+ shots in only 26.8% of his games this year; doing so in three straight postseason games is no accident.

As long as Brooks is shooting this often, even his inefficient rates should yield 20+ points. His points prop is set at 18.5 with the Over juiced to -120; surely the one additional point is worth those 20 cents.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

Prop #3: Jaden McDaniels 20+ points

+175 at bet365

No one with the Minnesota Timberwolves would ever suggest, “No Anthony Edwards, no problem,” but anyone who watched the Timberwolves this season knows to expect a Jaden McDaniels outburst now.

Yes, now. McDaniels has been in the headlines this whole series, but not for any outburst. He has been so restrained that he took a layup in the closing seconds on Saturday, and still Nikola Jokic threw a temper tantrum.

McDaniels averaged 18.7 points per game in 16 games with Edwards sidelined this season, taking 3.6 more shots per game.

This milestone is priced too aggressively, given the added workload that should be coming McDaniels’s way tonight, to the Denver Nuggets’ assured chagrin.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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.