Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was voted as the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 season on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Flagg finished ahead of the Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel in a close race for the award. Flagg earned 56 first-place votes and totaled 412 points, while Knueppel had 44 first-place votes and 386 total points. The 26-point gap between them is the second smallest between the top-two finishers since the current voting format began in 2002-03, behind only a 15-point gap in 2021-22 when Scottie Barnes edged Evan Mobley for the award.
The Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe finished third with 96 total points and one second-place vote.
Flagg joined two NBA icons by winning Rookie of the Year.
He became the second-youngest winner (19 years, 112 days as of April 12, the final day of the regular season), behind only LeBron James (19 years, 106 days in 2003-04). And, he joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies to lead their team in total points (1,473), rebounds (466), assists (316) and steals (84) since steals were first recorded in 1973-74.
This is a truly great honor,” Flagg said. “I’m grateful to receive this award and thankful to everyone in the Dallas Mavericks organization who believed in me from day one. None of this happens without my teammates, coaches and the people around me pushing me every day. I came here to compete and help this team win. This is just one step forward in what we’re building."
He had to show versatility early in the season, playing point guard before eventually moving to forward after Anthony Davis was traded.
Cooper Flagg stats
Flagg finished out the regular season averaging 21 points (leading all rookies), 6.7 rebounds (fourth among rookies) and 4.5 assists per game (second among rookies) in 70 games played. He shot 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from the 3-point line.
He scored a career-high 51 points on April 3 against the Orlando Magic, becoming the youngest player in the league's history to score 50+ in a game at 19 years, 103 days old. Flagg was also the first rookie to have four or more games with at least 40 points since Allen Iverson in 1996-97.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 26: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a dunk against Kris Murray #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Moda Center on April 26, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs took a 3-1 lead against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Despite trailing by 19 points in the first half, the Spurs came back with a vengeance, outscoring the Blazers 73-35 in the second half to win Game Four 114-93.
Victor Wembanyama returned from concussion protocols in Game Four and dominated as he did in Game One. Wembanyama owned the defensive end of the floor and gave the Spurs just enough offense to pull ahead. He was aided by his All-Star running mate, De’Aaron Fox, who led all scorers with 28 points. The Spurs are now -650 favorites on FanDuel to win Game Five in San Antonio to advance to the Western Conference Semis.
Wembanyama and Fox will lead our Game Four player grades. 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.
Portland is at its best when it can get to the rim. They could not do that against Wembanyama. Seven blocks and four steals speak for themselves, but as we all know with Wemby, it’s more about the shots that don’t go up or the passes that don’t get made that define his impact. The Blazers only scored 38 points in the paint. Wembanyama effectively shut down their most potent offensive weapon: paint scoring.
Wembanyama settled a lot offensively in the first half. He put up some fairly baffling threes and mid-range jumpers as he tried to get back in a rhythm. Once he started to feast on lobs around the rim, the Spurs settled in offensively and blew out the Blazers. His shot selection keeps this from being an A+ game, but he was pretty darn close.
This may have been Fox’s best performance as a Spur. He has certainly had bigger scoring nights, but in terms of impact and stakes, this takes the cake. Fox was the offensive engine that got them back into the game and helped them extend the lead. He was smart about when he needed to get into the paint, and made some momentum-shattering shots from deep.
I have really liked what I’ve seen from Fox in this series, too. When he’s been matched up with Deni Advija, he’s gone chest to chest with him and done an admirable job shutting down his drives. With Wembanyama in the game, he’s been aggressive at the point of attack, creating turnovers. On Sunday, he had an incredible blocked three-point shot in the first quarter. That two-way impact is exactly what San Antonio needs from Fox for the rest of the playoffs.
Castle’s defensive effort has been incredible. He was left in for the third quarter despite playing with four fouls because of how impactful he has been. It felt like he was everywhere defensively as the Spurs started to storm back against Portland. Offensively, it was an up-and-down game, but his ability to hit spot-up threes has changed how the Blazers have to guard him. It’s to the point now where I don’t think they can continue to put a big on him and leave him completely alone.
It’s almost getting boring to write the Champagnie blurb in this series. He’s just doing his job. He hits open threes when they come his way, and he plays good enough defense not to get burned. He has worked in a few more drives, attacking the aggressive Portland closeouts. He seems to be gaining confidence as the series progresses, which is a good sign for the Spurs’ playoff chances.
Vassell’s shot selection was much better in Game Four. He made some clutch shots in the third quarter to help the Spurs get back into the game. He was a part of the defensive unit that locked down the Blazers in the second half. It wasn’t an explosive offensive game, but he helped the team in a major way.
San Antonio’s bench struggled overall. The Blazers’ bench outscored the Spurs’ bench 34-24. Harper was quiet in Game Four after his coming-out party in Game Three. It wasn’t a great game from Harper, but it’s hard to call it a bad one either. He has 0 turnovers, so he didn’t hurt them with the ball in his hands. When Castle was in foul trouble, Harper gave them a solid ball-handler to keep the momentum going.
This was not Kornet’s best game. He was still impactful on the offensive boards, but his inability to finish inside hurt San Antonio in the first half. With Wembanyama back, Kornet returns to a smaller bench role where he will be relied on to keep the defense in a decent spot while the starters rest.
Barnes had his most impactful play of the series so far when he made a big offensive rebound and then slammed it to give the Spurs the lead in the 3rd. He was a steady veteran presence in his 11 minutes. It was an inspired choice by Mitch Johnson to go to him over Carter Bryant when things got close in the third quarter.
Johnson needed a comeback game in a bad way. It wasn’t as loud as Harper’s in Game Three, but it felt like KJ had the type of performance that would build the confidence he needs going into the rest of the playoffs. He finally scored around the rim a bit more and was on the floor during the Spurs’ big run. It would be great to see him build off this performance in Game Five.
Mitch went with the vets in this key game. Bryant only meets the minute requirement by playing in garbage time. It was great to see him knock down open three-pointers. He looked much more confident letting it fly.
Apr 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) drives on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the second half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Here are the NBA playoff games for Monday, April 27, 2026:
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic — 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns — 9:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves — 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
With Steve Kerr’s future with the Warriors still up in the air, could the outspoken coach finally make the long speculated move from the basketball gymnasium to the political arena?
Despite his frequent use of his platform to weigh in on current events and a personal connection to gun reform, Kerr, 60, has said in the past that he had no interest in running for elected office.
However, that was at the height of the Warriors’ dynasty, when things were more stable.
Kerr’s contract expired after the season and was upfront that he wasn’t sure what his future held. In a wide-ranging Q&A with The New Yorker’s Charles Bethea shortly after the Warriors were eliminated, Kerr made it clear that his unsettled situation hadn’t changed his thoughts on getting into politics.
“I don’t have any desire to go into politics,” Kerr said. “I love basketball. This is my world. All of my friends and my people are in this world. And whether I keep coaching the Warriors or not, I imagine I’ll be involved in basketball.”
Steve Kerr expressed regret for calling President Trump a “buffoon.’ Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
While Kerr may not view politics in his future, he did walk back certain comments he made regarding President Trump.
When asked about his infamous “buffoon” comment, Kerr expressed regret in his conversation with Bethea.
“But calling the President a buffoon, I kind of regret that, even though I felt it in my heart. It’s better to point out policy decisions, but also American values. What’s wrong with the things that he does.”
President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. REUTERS
Kerr is expected to meet with general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and owner Joe Lacob in the near future to decide whether he returns for a 13th season to coach Steph Curry and continue their pursuit for a fifth championship together.
Curry said that he wants to play for “multiple” more years, and the Warriors would like Kerr to commit to a multiyear deal and some philosophical changes should he decide to come back, according to ESPN.
As for what his future holds, Kerr didn’t offer many clues. He has had a week to ponder now since he gave the two-hour interview last Monday in his office inside the Warriors’ arena.
Bethea, the interviewer, noted that Kerr “sound[ed] like a guy who wants to come back.”
“I don’t want to abandon those guys,” he said. “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.”
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The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to complete a sweep of the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their opening-round playoff series. The Thunder won the first three games by an average of 16.7 points. Phoenix’s season will end with another loss in the series. If the Thunder close out the Suns, they will face the winner of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers series.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Game 1:Thunder 119, Suns 94 Game 2: Thunder 120, Suns 107 Game 3:Thunder 121, Suns 109 Game 4: Mon., April 27 at Phoenix (9:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock) *Game 5: Wed., April 29 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *Game 6: Fri., May 1 at Phoenix (TBD) *Game 7: Sun., May 3 at Oklahoma City (TBD)
The Timberwolves announced Monday, April 27 that an MRI revealed Edwards suffered a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise.
This comes as the Timberwolves are looking to close out the Nuggets in Game 5, which is scheduled for Monday night at 10:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Denver). Minnesota has taken a 3-1 series lead and got a massive boost from backup guard Ayo Dosunmu, who scored 43 points in Game 4.
Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Edwards’ status for Monday’s game against the Nuggets:
Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight vs. Nuggets?
No, the Timberwolves have already ruled Edwards out for this game and for others beyond, listing him as week-to-week. The team is expected to provide an update on his progress when it becomes available.
How long could Anthony Edwards be out?
With the caveats that every injury is unique and that different players can react differently to the same ailments, fans can look at one of Edwards’ opponents in the series as a possible barometer for what to expect.
Granted, teams have the luxury of time and patience during the regular season to ensure their players are fully healthy before making a return. The Timberwolves, in this case, do not have that luxury.
Minnesota has taken a 3-1 series lead over Denver, but the second round of the NBA Playoffs will start next week. And if Minnesota advances, it will likely face the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs, a very formidable opponent.
Anthony Edwards injury
The injury occurred with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.
Athletic trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.
The trainers helped him toward the tunnel, though they didn’t immediately usher Edwards to the locker room, momentarily examining him in the tunnel.
Anthony Edwards stats
In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.
In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.
Former Knicks sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo became the fourth player over the past two playoffs to go down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
DiVincenzo suffered the devastating injury just 79 seconds into the first quarter of Minnesota’s Game 4 matchup with the Nuggets on Saturday night.
The shooting guard lofted up a three, then went down with the non-contact injury as he planted his leg going after the offensive rebound.
He immediately signaled towards the bench and left to the locker room.
DiVincenzo was able to walk off under his own power, but was later shown around halftime leaving the stadium in a wheelchair and a splint.
He was ruled out and the diagnosis was confirmed postgame.
Jalen Brunson and the rest of DiVincenzo’s former Knicks teammates received the news following their victory over the Hawks, and the captain immediately reached out.
“I talked to him, he seems in good spirits,” Brunson said Monday. “He’s formulating a plan and I wish him nothing but the best, it just sucks to see -- after the game that was like the first thing I heard, and I looked it up and saw it.
“That’s my brother, tough to see, but he’ll be back stronger.”
DiVincenzo was capping off another strong season with the Timberwolves, in which he appeared in all 82 regular season games and shot 38 percent from three-point land.
One of the biggest storylines entering the NBA playoffs was whether or not Luka Doncic would have any sort of effect this postseason.
While that answer has remained at zero when it comes to matter on the court as he’s still recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Doncic is finding ways to contribute in other manners.
At least financially.
Luka Doncic has agreed to pay any fine the NBA levies against Lakers rookie Adou Thiero after he was ejected. NBAE via Getty Images
According to reports, Doncic has agreed to pay any NBA-levied fine given to teammate Adou Thiero after the rookie was ejected in the Game 4 loss.
With just over a minute left in the game, Thiero and Rockets veteran guard Aaron Holiday came face-to-face following a Dalton Knecht three that. After being physical during the box out, the two players began jawing at one another before being separated by teammates.
Typically a situation like this, particularly in the postseason, is nothing to scoff but official James Williams felt differently.
After having already ejected Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton earlier in the game on a call that was questioned by both the Lakers and Rockets postgame, Williams asserted himself and promptly tossed Thiero and Holiday.
Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday are both ejected by official James Williams after a slight scuffle late in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss.AP Los Angeles rookie Adou Thiero is led off the court by a member of the Lakers staff after he was thrown out Sunday night in Houston.AP
The move confused and angered Lakers head coach JJ Redick and star LeBron James.
“I didn’t get a great explanation on Adou,” said Redick after the game when asked why he was ejected. “I’m sure James [Williams] will give you that.”
“I’m more pissed off about them kicking Adou out,” James said after the game. “I thought that was uncalled for and made no sense. That’s the first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. That was ridiculous.”
Game 5 of the series between the Rockets and Lakers is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN.
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Apr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) sits on the bench before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
A lot of playoff basketball happened yesterday, but perhaps the biggest story was Victor Wembanyama’s triumphant return from concussion protocol. After banging his chin on the court and exiting Game 2, which the Spurs lost, he was cleared to travel with the team but missed Game 3 in Portland, which the Spurs won. He finally returned for Game 4 and helped lead the Spurs to one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history, as they became the first team to win by +15 points after being down by +15 at halftime.
It all started as a feel-good story, with Wemby returning five days after the concussion, which is the beginning of the average return window of 5-7 days. Then, things got interesting immediately after the game. First, while being interviewed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews on the court, he mentioned the Spurs were great at handling his concussion but he was “very unhappy with the way the protocol was handled by other parties,” calling it “funny” before a befuddled Andrews moved on.
"I had lots of emotions in me before the game, obviously excitement. Frustration. I let it all out tonight."@wemby joins @malika_andrews after his Game 4 return 👽 pic.twitter.com/XESKky8EaB
After that had raised some eyebrows, he was unsurprisingly asked to elaborate on what he meant at the start of his press conference in front of a gaggle of curious reporters. After a long, thoughtful pause, he had this to say:
“I won’t get into the details. I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again after the season. All the doctors, especially on the Spurs, but the doctors all around, they were great, took great care of me. But the way the situation was handled was very disappointing. Not on the Spurs. But as I say, I won’t get into details.”
Then, when asked to elaborate more, the feed was suddenly muted to viewers. (And yes, this did in fact happen. I was watching it live on the Spurs’ YouTube page, and my mind immediate said, “Huh, they just muted him”.)
LMFAOOOO
Wemby was about to start talking trash about that NBA and they IMMEDIATELY cut his microphone OFF 😭😭
So is that in fact what happened, or was it just a coincidence that the NBA’s official feed lost sound when it did, then magically recovered for the next question? If it was it intentional, was it because they were afraid Wemby was about to say something he shouldn’t? That then begs the question, what did he say during those seconds when the mic was cut and no one outside the room could hear? Fortunately for us, YouTuber Chaz NBA found feed from a mic from inside the room … and Wemby didn’t say anything that he hadn’t already said: simply that he was fine with the Spurs but not the process (mic cut at the 1:54 mark, you can tell when the sound transitions from clear to distant and echoey).
To be clear, I am not a conspiracy theorist, and maybe the rabbit hole I’m about to dive down is an overreaction, but this still leaves many questions to unravel beyond whether this was intentional or not, so let’s break it down. First, there’s the question who exactly is Wemby upset at? The NBA has clear concussion protocol standards that he followed: he waited 24 hours to return to lite activity and completed the mandatory 48 hours with no contact allowed. He was symptom free by then, so he proceeded through all the cognitive and neurological testing required to be cleared to play. He (and the Spurs) reportedly felt he was ready to go for Game 3 but was not cleared to play, and it took up until an hour before Game 4 before he was finally cleared.
It would be understandable that he’s frustrated it took that long if he felt he could have played sooner, so again, does this answer who he’s upset at? He clearly stated it’s not the Spurs or their doctors, so the obvious answer would be the other party involved: the NBA. So the next question is why, and how much are they actually involved in this process?
This led me to consult with the NBA’s official concussion protocol rule for the zillionth time in the last week, and this jumped out at me in a new light. Under section 5.B.iv, which is the “Return to Participation” section, it says the following:
A team physician has discussed the return-to-participation process and decision with the Director of the NBA Concussion Program. Note that, to promote the consistency of player care, the final return-to-participation decision is to be made by the player’s team physician.
That last sentence is interesting. This “note” seems to put it more the team physician’s hands, even though it’s in conjunction with the “Director of the NBA Concussion Program” (whoever that is). So if the NBA ultimately does have final say, as has been widely reported, why that little note? It adds unnecessary confusion. Regardless, the most likely conclusion is the Spurs’ physician gave him the clear before Game 3 but this so-called Director did not. That would answer what “other party” Wemby is upset with.
Now the question becomes why was there disagreement, and was there more to this than simply two dissenting medical opinions? Was the NBA hoping to extend the series? (Probably not, but if so, it didn’t work.) Are they simply being overly cautious due to the lawsuits the National Football League is facing due to revelations of medical issues head injuries can cause later in life? Quite possibly, as they should, but this not-a-conspiracy-theorist has another thought.
What if the NBA simply didn’t like the optics of Wemby returning from a concussion, sustained in a high profile game on national television, in just three days? The moment went viral and had doctors and “medical experts” from all over giving their own takes and opinions on national television and social media, with most saying he should wait at least a week (despite no two cases being alike and them not having access to him or his medial files).
As previously noted, the average return time from a concussion in the NBA is 5-7 days, and Game 3 didn’t fit that timeline. Game 4 did, but just barely, and it sounds like even then the Spurs and Wemby had to work to convince the league he should be cleared. That brings us to our final question: why did the mic go out during Wemby’s press conference?
As shown above, he didn’t say anything that hadn’t already been said, but was there an agreement between him and the league that he had to stay quiet about the topic if he returned? Did he break a gag order, or did the league feel like he was about to go a step too far when they (allegedly) hit the mute button? We all know that Wemby is confident and brutally honest, sometimes to a fault, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind even if it brings about scrutiny (like his “ethical basketball” comments). Maybe that had the NBA worried. (If there is some sort of conspiracy going on here, maybe Pablo Torre can help us find out, just like when he exposed Kawhi Leonard and Uncle Dennis’ shenanigans.)
Who knows if Wemby will be asked about it again after the season, as he suggested. Maybe it will never come back up, or maybe he’ll endure a fine and speak out someday. There’s no telling at this point, but there sure are a lot of coincidences and unanswered questions here that will leave us wondering. The good thing is, assuming the Spurs take care of business and finish off the Trail Blazers, we don’t have to worry about any what-ifs coming from this incident.
Wemby is the potential face of the league who has a mind and a mouth and is not afraid to use them. That is undoubtedly good for him and the league, but also means there may be more times where they’ll have tell him to be quiet, and this could be the first in a long line of “Wemby vs. The Establishment” moments. Only time will tell.
While the Portland Trail Blazers threw intrigue into the mix with their Game 2 win, the San Antonio Spurs have restored order to the proceedings in this first round.
My Trail Blazers vs. Spurs predictions and same-game parlay expect the series to end in five games, thanks, in part, to Stephon Castle on Tuesday, April 28.
Our best Trail Blazers vs Spurs SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Spurs -12
The San Antonio Spurs were down 17 at half in Game 4 and won by 21. A 38-point swing can and should not go unmentioned. The Spurs are better than the Portland Trail Blazers at everything, and with Wemby a full game back, the Spurs will not falter early again.
What you saw from San Antonio for the final 24 minutes in Portland is what you'll get from it for a full 48 at home, with a chance to win its first playoff series in close to a decade.
SGP leg #2: Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes
Stephon Castle can do it all for the Spurs, including hit shots from deep. The young PG has hit 9 of 21 shots from beyond the arc in this series, 42.9%, and cleared this prop in three of the four games.
Having Wemby on the floor only increases Castle's chances of wide-open looks, and he can knock down at least two of them to cash this leg of the SGP.
SGP leg #3: Stephon Castle Over 17.5 points
Castle may be the perfect complement to Victor Wembanyama, able to score on his own but also excelling at facilitating for others.
His scoring has come in handy in this series, scoring at least 16 points in each game and averaging 21.8 points per 34 minutes.
That is an odd stat, but it is an intentional one. When Castle has played at least 34 minutes, he has cleared this points prop. I expect him to reach those minutes as Portland throws everything it has at the Spurs.
See our full Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 5 preview
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Trail Blazers vs Spurs predictions for Game 5.
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A Monday night tripleheader of NBA playoff games on NBC and Peacock wraps up with the Denver Nuggets trying to stave off elimination by the injury-depleted Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round series.
The odds are stacked against Denver: Teams that lead 3-1 in a best-of-seven series have 95.6% of advancing to the next round (285-13). But the last two rallies from a 3-1 deficit were managed by the Nuggets in the 2020 playoffs — over Utah in the first round and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Timberwolves have won Game 5 in the previous three playoff series that they took a 3-1 lead. But Minnesota will be without the starting backcourt of Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards after both guards were injured during the 112-96 victory in Game 4.
The end of the game also featured a bench-clearing altercation between Denver center Nikola Jokic and Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels. The NBA fined Jokic and Julius Randle for their actions.
See below for additional information on the Timberwolves-Nuggets game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets game preview:
In the absence of DiVincenzo (ruptured right Achilles suffered less than 2 minutes into the first quarter) and Edwards (bone bruise and hyperxtended left knee), guard Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points in Game 4.
"With the magnitude of the playoffs, this ranks No. 1," Dosunmu said. "I’m living in the moment, and this sounds clichéd, but I won’t take this for granted."
Minnesota likely will need more solid performances from Dosunmu to close out Denver and to go deep in the playoffs. DiVincenzo (who had been one of four players to start all 82 regular-season games) underwent season-ending surgery Sunday, and Edwards will be out for multiple weeks.
"Losing those two guys was really tough," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. "Tough emotionally for the guys. We regrouped well. I thought the key was just hanging in there until we get to halftime and kind of reset things. We really had a team effort, everybody chipped in."
The Nuggets will need improvement from Jokic, who is having the least efficient series of his playoff career (which covers 98 games). The three-time MVP who is a finalist again this season, is shooting 39.1% from the field and 18.5% on 3-pointers. He made only 7 of 26 field goals in Game 3, his career-low (26.9%) for a playoff game (he'd never made fewer than 47% from the field or 22% on 3-pointers).
Jokic has struggled with 3-point shooting since returning from a 16-game absence in January for a left knee injury.
“It’s a little bit of everything," Jokic said after Game 4. "I’m not shooting the ball really well, especially from the 3. (Minnesota center) Rudy (Goebert) is doing a good job with being physical, testing the officials, contesting shots. He’s a really good defender. And not just him, they play very good … they’re big, long, tall, handsy, trippy, they’re bumping you.”
Denver’s offense has plummeted over three consecutive losses, averaging 102 points per game (27 below the average in winning the 13 previous games in a row).
“It’s honest conversations," Denver head coach David Adleman said about the team's response to the slump. "Because that’s all you got. There’s a million narratives out there, people write stories, there’s social media, there’s all the crap. But it’s about us in the room, bottom line.’’
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 22: Kyle Manzardo #9 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field on April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA Draft lottery reform is coming, Adam Silver wants it and what the NBA Commissioner wants, he gets. The only question is what it will look like.
There is a growing momentum behind a formula that would expand the lottery to 18 teams and flatten the odds, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.
Yet according to league and team sources, a heavy front-runner has emerged among the three proposed solutions... 18 teams would be part of the draft lottery (rather than the current 14) and the bottom 10 teams would all have an 8% chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The remaining odds — 20 percent in all — would be divided among the remaining eight teams.
There's a lot to unpack, and a lot of questions about this:
• Nothing can become official until the Board of Governors meets and votes on it next month. Meaning nothing is set in stone.
• Expanding to 18 teams means that not only are the four teams that lose in the play-in going to be in the lottery, but so are the four teams with the worst record that make the playoffs but lose in the first round. If it were in place this season, teams such as Toronto and maybe Phoenix would be in the lottery.
• While the odds are small, wait for the outcry the first year one of the playoff teams wins the lottery and gets the No. 1 pick, something Amick gets into at The Athletic:
As several general managers pointed out, there is a fear that implementing Option No. 1 might simply create new problems that will eventually need to be addressed. What might the league-wide reaction be, for example, when one of those two lottery teams that actually took part in the playoffs gets lucky by landing the No. 1 pick?
• If Adam Silver and the owners vote to do nothing, just leave the system as is, there will be far less tanking next season because it is seen as a much weaker draft class. That said, you can be sure a year from now Silver and the NBA league office will take a victory lap about how great their tanking solution worked.
• Giving all 10 teams that miss the playoffs entirely an equal 8% chance to win the No. 1 pick does reduce the incentive to race all the way to the bottom and have the worst record in the league. It could mean that at the end of the season, struggling teams will play their young players and develop them a little more... so long as it doesn't get them into the play-in and hurt those lottery odds. And in the years there is a Victor Wembanyama or Cooper Flagg in the draft — or another crazy deep draft like this year — teams will tank to get into the bottom 10 if needed.
• This new system gets further away from the reason to have a draft in the first place. Teams tank — or are just bad and end up in the lottery — because they lack the high-level talent, they don't have a Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic or Victor Wembanyama, and the best way to get a franchise-changing player like that is through the draft. (For middle and small market teams, it can be the only way.) The more the odds are flattened, the harder it becomes for the worst teams to get those players, forcing them to be bad for longer and making the fan base suffer more.
The entire point of the draft is to help the worst teams get the best players — the Las Vegas Raiders are the worst team in the NFL, they get to draft Fernando Mendoza. Simple. Clean. The NBA continues to move away from that: Last season, 11 teams had worse records than the Dallas Mavericks, but the basketball gods smiled on them and their 1.8% chances, and they got the No. 1 pick and Cooper Flagg. How does that help struggling teams?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball as Oso Ighodaro #11 screens Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 6:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: NBCSN/Peacock
Listen: KMVP 98.7
This very well could be the final game of the 2025-26 NBA season for the Phoenix Suns. If it is, what a ride it’s been.
No team in league history has ever come back from down 3-0. Phoenix is also the only team without a playoff win this year after the Rockets finally got one against the Lakers last night.
Phoenix made things slightly more interesting last game, but Shai had a performance for the ages, and the Suns just couldn’t hang despite an early 9-point lead in the first quarter. But, as we’ve seen all series long… the Thunder are just simply too good. They are the defending champs and won 64 games for a reason, after all.
The adjustments have been minimal from first-year head coach Jordan Ott. Will we see more of the same? If this team is who they’ve said they are all season long, they should go down swinging.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns injury report vs. Thunder:
OUT: Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal; stress reaction).
QUESTIONABLE: Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain). #Suns#ThunderUp
Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Soreness)
Thunder
Thomas Sorber — OUT (Right ACL)
Jalen Williams — OUT (Left Hamstring Strain)
What to Watch For
Jalen Williams is out again, and that means plenty more Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins minutes. This team is deep. Shai’s firepower led the way in Game 3, with eight players contributing 6+ points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nearly unstoppable. He is hitting tough contested shots, he is getting downhill with ease, and drawing fouls when he needs to. Or kicking it to his open teammate if the Suns overcommit. Slowing him down has been virtually impossible. If they want any chance at an upset tonight, the defense on him has to improve. Easier said than done.
One person who could certainly help with that would be Jordan Goodwin. Goody’s status is in question again, as he has been sidelined since the first game of the series with a calf injury. There’s been a lot of chatter about how much the Suns have missed Mark Williams, and rightfully so due to the size disadvantage. But to me, Jordan Goodwin’s absence has been the most negatively impactful for this Suns squad. His presence changes everything defensively.
Outside of Dillon Brooks, he is the culture setter. The big momentum-shifting plays and the “little things” he does over the course of the game add up.
Key to a Suns Win
It’s simple, really. Take care of the ball. Rebound.
If they do those two things while playing their brand of hard-nosed basketball, they have a chance against anyone. If they continue to carelessly turn it over or allow second-chance points, they are toast. The margin for error against this Thunder team is microscopic.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 25: Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder steals the ball from Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The possessions where the Suns had an excellent defensive stand for 20-to-23 seconds that led to a miss, only for the Thunder to grab the offensive board and hit a triple are the backbreakers. Those momentum shifts are the difference between a transition opportunity for your offense and your defense getting overworked for another 10-13 seconds and a potential 5-point swing on a single possession.
Shooters need to shoot. We’re going to need Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen to knock their shots down. Royce O’Neale as well. The “Big 3” of Booker, Brooks, and Green will draw the most defensive attention, so it sets up the role players for quality looks. They surprisingly had plenty of good looks from deep in the last game; the shots just weren’t falling at the rate they needed to.
The list of things that have to go right to win is pretty long. Do we have one last fight in us?
Prediction
This thing is over. I expect the Thunder to aim to put one final bow on this thing and wrap it up so they can enter their next series well rested against the Lakers or Rockets. Prove me wrong one last time, Suns.
The Detroit Pistons will try to even their first-round playoff series with the Orlando Magic in Game 4. The top-seeded Pistons have dropped two of the first three games to the Magic. Detroit is a 2.5-point favorite in Game 4. The over/under for the matchup is set at 213.5.
Moneyline: Orlando Magic +125 (42.2%) / Detroit Pistons -155 (57.8%)
Over/Under: 213.5
Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)
Game 1:Magic 112, Pistons 101 Game 2:Pistons 98, Magic 83 Game 3:Magic 113, Pistons 105 Game 4: Mon. April 27, at Orlando (8 p.m., NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Wed., April 29, at Detroit (7 p.m., Amazon) *Game 6: Fri., May 1, at Orlando (time and network TBD) *Game 7: Sun., May 3, at Detroit (time and network TBD)
