After coming off the bench twice, Curry returned to the starting lineup Friday in Golden State’s 124-118 loss to the Kings. The next step as he makes his way back from more than two months away will come Sunday against the Clippers as he resumes his normal 32- to 34-minute workload.
When the teams most likely meet again Wednesday in the play-in tournament, Curry said he hopes to be able to push beyond that if the situation calls for it.
“I’ll be comfortable with it,” Curry said, insinuating that the medical staff may have a different opinion. “I find it hard to believe if the game calls for a couple extra minutes — we’re gonna make the right decision.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) smiles at the crowd during a game against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Curry expressed optimism, despite sitting in front of his locker with his right ankle in an ice bath after being held in check for 11 points in 27 minutes in the loss to one of the league’s bottom dwellers.
Curry’s ankles, for all their trouble early in his career, are not the body part of immediate concern, so Steve Kerr was relieved to learn a rolled ankle was the worst of it when Curry had the ball stolen from him at half court and collided with Kings guard Devin Carter.
“I was worried it was his knee,” the Warriors coach said. “I just saw him limping. He came over and he said, ‘No, I’m fine. It’s just the ankle.’ I don’t know if he just tweaked it or something, but he’s fine.”
Curry only returned this past Sunday from a 27-game absence with runner’s knee in his right leg. He confirmed afterward that it was his right ankle that caused him to fall into a heap after having his pocket picked early in the first quarter.
“I’ll be all right,” Curry said. “As long as it’s not my knee. I can deal with ankles. I’ve been dealing with that forever. That was the interesting part: My knee felt pretty good, even better than last game.”
Friday’s game was the first test run for the lineup the Warriors hope to use to escape the play-in from the No. 10 seed, featuring Curry with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis for the first time.
Curry exploded for 29 points in his first game back but was limited to 17 on Tuesday in an effort Kerr described as “a little rusty.” The same could be said of any of the three players returning from time off. It doesn’t help that Kerr started his 42nd different combination in 81 games.
“We’ve just got to get a little more organized,” said Brandin Podziemski, who started alongside Curry, Porzingis, Draymond Green and Gus Santos and scored a career-best 30 points. “There’s a lot of chaos out there with Steph, and I don’t think KP’s quite used to that.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Chase Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Porzingis, who missed the past two games with an illness, was held to 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Horford wasn’t able to grab one rebound while scoring 10 points in 17 minutes; he had missed the previous 14 games after straining his calf.
“It’s weird because you have a lineup where you expect nine or 10 guys are going to play, but you haven’t really had reps,” Curry said. “I don’t know how else to quantify it other than we have one game to find some good patterns, some good chemistry.”
With the play-in picture gaining some clarity, the Warriors’ final tuneup comes with an added wrinkle. Kerr must balance seeing what he needs without giving away too much to the team they will likely face again three days later in a do-or-die postseason game.
After the Clippers’ loss to the Blazers on Friday, they will host Golden State in Wednesday’s No. 9-10 play-in game if Portland beats the Kings in its season finale Sunday.
Kerr said he planned to watch a replay of the Clippers-Blazers game on the Warriors’ flight to Los Angeles. Ahead of their final regular-season game, Kerr reiterated that he still has “lots of hope” about his team’s chances in the playoffs, “but I also know we’re not where we need to be.”
Leave it to Curry to sum up what the Warriors need between now and Wednesday.
“Forty-eight great minutes,” he said. “That’s all we have in front of us.”
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SACRAMENTO — With one free throw, Brandin Podziemski quieted teammates, unmuzzled at least one fan online and robbed thousands more inside the Kings’ arena of free pizza.
Podziemski had 29 points when he stepped to the foul line with five seconds left in the Warriors’ 124-118 loss to the Kings on Friday night. He knew the significance of his number in the box score.
“Everyone did,” the third-year guard said. “As soon as I missed the first one, everyone on the bench looked at me, and that’s why I smiled a little bit. They’ve been giving me a hard time about it the whole year.”
The Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski scored 30 points for the first time in his NBA career Friday. NBAE via Getty Images
Fortunately for Podziemski, the second free throw fell and gave him 30 points for the first time in his young career. It took him 219 games, which may not seem like a lot unless you made a public commitment to not posting from a certain social media account until he did.
That is just what one user on X did all the way back on Nov. 25, 2024, when @currysafraud wrote, “Not tweeting until Podz scores 30.” The post was routinely resurfaced and racked up more than 30 million views before Podziemski finally made good a year and a half later.
The Kings give away free pizza any time an opponent misses two free throws, and Podziemski used a question about snuffing out the promotion to let it be known he’s in on the joke, too.
“It would’ve been bad on both ends,” he said. “Pizza — and the account can be activated now.”
Podziemski had scored 25 or more nine times entering Friday, including four in the two months Steph Curry missed earlier this year, but the 30-point threshold eluded him.
Besides scoring 30 points Friday, Podziemski denied Kings fans of free pizza by making a free throw after missing his first. NBAE via Getty Images
His quest for 30 took on a life of its own to the point that another account on X made a post highlighting the players to have reached the scoring figure since Podziemski’s debut.
The list included teammates Gui Santos and Will Richard, who each set career highs with 30-point performances earlier this season. Richard, a rookie, also accomplished his against the Kings in Sacramento on the Warriors’ first visit in November.
Players to score 30+ in a game since Brandin Podziemski entered the league:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Luka Dončić Giannis Antetokounmpo Jalen Brunson Jaylen Brown Donovan Mitchell Anthony Edwards Joel Embiid Nikola Jokić Stephen Curry Jayson Tatum Kevin Durant Tyrese Maxey… pic.twitter.com/FW6v3e6O1A
Podziemski was so determined once the number was within reach that he drove the length of the court and drew contact despite Sacramento having already sealed the win.
“I told him we were going to treat him like Devin Booker when he scored 70 in Boston and they lost,” Curry joked. “I know he’s been searching for it. Everybody knew it, too. It was fun to see him get it — and the way he got it done.”
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As Marcus Smart walked to the Lakers’ podium for his first postgame media availability following the Lakers’ 101-73 win over the Suns on Friday, he made a statement that carried more weight than just the four words that came out of his mouth.
“Feels like so long,” he said as he sat down before taking questions from reporters.
And it had been.
Not just because Smart had been sidelined for nine games due to a right ankle contusion before making his return to the court Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
But because how much had changed for him and the Lakers over the previous three weeks.
When Smart suffered the injury during the March 21 win over the Magic, the Lakers were putting the finishing touches on a season-best nine-game winning streak, their most consecutive wins in a season since 2019-20.
The Lakers’ Marcus Smart returned Friday against the Suns and helped key the victory. NBAE via Getty Images
“It hurt us,” Smart said. “It hurt our morale. It took us a little time to get ourselves back together, but we trust in one another. We talked through it, this is new to us as well, and we’re trying to figure it out together. But we constantly are seeing that and doing what we’re supposed to do.
“That means everybody has to step up their roles. Everybody has to step up their play. Myself included. I might be playing more on both ends of the floor, just being that initiator, getting us in offense, finding guys, and then [finding] the right spots for myself as well.”
It didn’t take Smart long to be in those right spots, reminding the Lakers of what they missed while he was sidelined.
And what they’ll need from him now that he’s back with the playoffs on the horizon.
After Smart missed a floater over 6-foot-11 Suns big man Oso Ighodaro late in the third quarter, Ryan Dunn grabbed the defensive rebound, but Smart and Maxi Kleber didn’t give up on the play.
Kleber dove on the floor with Dunn for the ball, which popped out of Dunn’s hands.
Smart retrieved the ball midair and quickly passed it to Jarred Vanderbilt underneath the basket before falling over Dunn, assisting Vanderbilt on a dunk that put the Lakers up 75-58.
“He was awesome,” coach JJ Redick said of Smart. “And that play was just emblematic of our effort all game long.”
Smart (36) and his Lakers teammates are ready for the postseason challenge of likely playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
LeBron James said: “Just a winning player. He just makes winning plays. It’s just solidified with the play that he had out there with Maxi. That’s just what he does — just makes winning plays.”
Smart said it had been “stressful” trying to get his ankle to a place where he could return to the court.
Especially when the Lakers dropped three consecutive games after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, as part of a 5-4 stretch they had without Smart.
“Seeing my guys out there and not being able out there to help, especially with things the way they are now, we’re down bodies, it’s been tough,” Smart added. “But everybody in the organization, players, coaches, just [gave] me full-time support. The training staff, we’ve been doing everything possible, day in and day out to try to expedite this [while] making sure we’re [not] sacrificing other things that can cause the ankle to flare up and we would be back at square one.”
Smart is expected to get more playing time in the regular-season finale against the Jazz on Sunday.
His impact will go beyond the stats in the box score.
It’ll be reflected in plays like he and Kleber made Friday.
And the leadership the Lakers need from him to navigate through the next week before the playoffs start without two of their best players.
“We all know it’s gonna be a challenge for us,” Smart said. “But this is part of the game, right? We see this every year. The playoffs start, and it’s whoever can stay healthy. A little bit of luck comes into play, but it’s definitely gonna be a challenge. I’m excited about the challenge. I know it doesn’t seem like we are as a team, but we are. We’re gonna have our ups, we’re going to have our downs, but we’re in it together.”
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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 27: Dalano Banton #45 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 27, 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
BOSTON — The Celtics have signed Dalano Banton to a standard contract, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported.
Banton becomes the team’s 15th and final rostered player; since the trade deadline, the Celtics have signed former two-way players Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. to standard deals. Banton, who was on a Ten-Day contract earlier in the season, becomes the fourth post-deadline signing, allowing the Celtics to remain below the luxury tax but still fill out their roster.
Banton, a 26-year-old, 6’8 guard, was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2021 and has since played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Celtics, and, very briefly, for the Los Angeles Clippers. Across 221 career games, Banton has averaged 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. He’s a 6’8 guard who can score in a variety of ways, but has never been particularly efficient (for his career, Banton has shot 40.3% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range).
Banton joined the Celtics for a West Coast road trip on a Ten-Day contract in late February, but did not sign a second Ten-Day contract with the team. Before that brief stint, he was on the Celtics for the first half of the 2023-2024 campaign, where he played alongside current Celtics Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Jordan Walsh.
Dalano Banton rejoins the Celtics after two years
In February, Banton said he was excited to rejoin Joe Mazzulla and his former teammates.
“It definitely feels good,” he told CelticsBlog. “I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity. Spending from the start of the season to right about a couple weeks ago in the G, just knowing that the uphill battle, and just sticking to the grind every day — being here is great. A lot of familiar faces, and everyone’s welcoming me back with open arms.”
Banton has had some very successful stretches since he was traded from the Celtics in February of 2024, just months before their title run. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in Portland for the remainder of that 2023-2024, and subsequently averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists in a more limited role with the Blazers last year.
“I’m glad to have him back,” Mazzulla said. “He’s worked hard when he was with us before, but just his ability to — extra ball handling — but really his ability defensively to impact the game. Whether it’s on the ball, whether it’s with his ball pressure, whether it’s his defensive activity. I’m excited to have him back and working with him.”
Banton said he kept in touch with the Celtics in the year and a half since he was traded, in particular with his player development coach, Tyler Lashbrook.
“I’ve definitely had a great relationship with a lot of people here,” he said. “Brad’s been good to me ever since they signed me here a couple years ago. He always kept that relationship with them, always talking to my agent and stuff like that about me, keeping tabs on me.”
Payton Pritchard said it was great to have Banton back around.
“It’s been a journey for him,” Pritchard said. “For him to work his way back into the league and get an opportunity again, it’s a testament to his work ethic.”
The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as?
With Friday’s 101-73 win over the Suns, in addition to the results involving the teams around them in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are guaranteed to be a top-four seed in the conference for the playoffs.
The Timberwolves (48-33) are locked in as the sixth seed.
The biggest question that’ll be answered Sunday evening: What seed will the Lakers enter the postseason as? NBAE via Getty Images
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday, in addition to the Lakers’ win and the Nuggets’ victory over the top-seeded Thunder locking Houston in at its spot.
Now, it’s just a matter of where the Lakers and Nuggets will finish in the standings so the 3-6 and 4-5 West playoff matchups can be set.
The Nuggets (53-28) are in control of third seed, but the Lakers (52-29) still have a shot at finishing at No. 3 for the second consecutive season entering the final day of the regular season.
Lakers finish as the third seed if …
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings.
If the Nuggets lose to the Spurs, the Lakers would need to beat the Jazz on Sunday to claim the third seed.
The Lakers need the Nuggets to drop their regular-season finale to the Spurs on Sunday to have a shot at taking a jump in the standings. Getty Images
If the Lakers finish the season as the third seed, they would match up against the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series for the second consecutive season, while the Nuggets would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series.
The Timberwolves knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs in the first round in five games last spring.
The Rockets (51-30) became the fifth seed after falling to the Timberwolves on Friday. AP
The Lakers own the tiebreaker over the Nuggets for playoffs seeding purposes after winning the regular-season series, 2-1.
Also, in this scenario, the Lakers would also finish with their best record in an 82-game regular season since they won 57 games in 2010-11.
Lakers finish as the fourth seed if …
The Nuggets beat the Spurs on Sunday.
Or, if the Lakers lose to the Jazz.
If either (or both) scenario happens, the Lakers would play the Rockets in the 4-5 series, while the Nuggets would play the Timberwolves in the 3-6 series.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If there were any doubts that Victor Wembanyama would be hampered in the playoffs due to his rib injury, they were quickly silenced on Friday night. Wembanyama secured a First-team All-NBA spot and the Defensive Player of the Year award in his 65th game, putting up an eye-popping 40 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in a 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
It was exactly the type of game the Spurs needed from their superstar big man. Wembanyama has been on a scoring tear since March. For all the external doubt about his ability to take over the game offensively… Wembanyama has been taking over the game offensively. His two-way impact has never been better than it has in the last two months. The only thing that could have held him back in the playoffs was that rib contusion.
Beyond the stats, it was the way he played on Friday that should reassure Spurs fans. He moved fluidly on the perimeter, handled the ball with ease, got up for blocks, and most importantly, didn’t look held back by his body. With Wembanyama close to 100%, San Antonio looks ready for a deep playoff run.
Takeaways:
I would like to share this clip of Wembanyama doing head calcs (short for calculations) on how many minutes players should have to play to qualify for awards. He can do it all.
The Mavericks hung around in the game despite being down several key contributors. When the Spurs finally pulled away in the third quarter, it was driven by an offensive outburst from De’Aaron Fox. San Antonio’s point guard scored 14 of his 18 points in the third. Fox has put together a nice stretch of games recently. His ability to take over games offensively will be valuable come playoff time. Fox also led the team with his passing, dropping 10 dimes for a double-double.
Carter Bryant is hooping right now. He had 12 points against the Mavericks, including three triples. He was one of the few players who could contest Cooper Flagg, blocking his jumper at one point. Overall, Bryant just looks more confident. He’s been slowly ascending all season. Now he’s a legitimate rotation player. Is he a playoff rotation player? That’s something we will find out in the next few weeks. At the very least, he looks like a player the Spurs can count on to play a more significant role next season.
Speaking of Flagg… that kid is a beast. He should be the rookie of the year, no offense to Kon Knueppel, but Flagg is on another level. He was unstoppable on Friday night with 33 points on 13-25 shooting. It felt like no matter who the Spurs put on him, he was able to get to his spots and score. It’s funny to think about what San Antonio would look like had they gotten him with the first overall pick.
After dropping 15 points on Friday, Harrison Barnes is sitting at 9.9 points per game with one contest left. He’ll have to score 17 points in San Antonio’s last game for the team to have 8 players average double-digit points.
Game 82, against the Denver Nuggets, could matter a lot. With a Los Angeles Lakers win on Friday, they now hold the tiebreaker for the three-seed. If the Spurs beat the Nuggets on Sunday, they’ll drop Denver down to the four seed, which means the Spurs would face either the Lakers or Minnesota Timberwolves in a potential second-round matchup. It’ll be up to Mitch Johnson if he wants to play the starters and try to avoid the Nuggets in the playoffs.
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 6: A general view of the New York Knicks logo before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s that time of the year.
That time of the year when we come up with a thousand possibilities, anxiously think about this and that and the other thing… only for everything to unfold and be resolved by itself in 24 hours.
We just can’t help ourselves, can we? That’s why, with just one game left to play and the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed out East, we’re presenting you with all possible four first-round opponents and all scenarios that would lead to each of those matchups, depending on Sunday’s results.
Rest assured, New York will be hosting whoever happens to cross their path for the first two games of the series.
NY Knicks vs. TOR Raptors
Hawks win AND Raptors win
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. ATL Hawks
Hawks lose AND Raptors win AND Magic lose
NY Knicks vs. ORL Magic
Hawks lose AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
Hawks win AND Raptors lose AND Magic win
NY Knicks vs. PHI Sixers
Raptors lose AND Magic lose AND Sixers win
All games with Eastern Conference-seeding implications are scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, so you can start making room for the 6-9 timespan.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Micah Peavy #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the TD Garden on April 10, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#1 – Magnet ball
Shooting in basketball carries a big share of variance and luck. Even the greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, is below 50% from beyond the arc on wide-open attempts. This means you’d still have a better chance to win a coin-flip game than to see Curry knock down a three when he is open. Not that shooting threes is like tossing a coin, but I think there are some similarities.
And yesterday, the Celtics kept benefiting from that coin flip.
It started with Derrick White, launching a 34-footer after receiving the ball with less than a second on the clock.
Seeing how responsive the ball was to their shooting attempts, the Celtics kept firing. They ended up taking 59 threes, the highest total of the season — and they made 29 of them, tying the record from last season against the Knicks in the home opener.
What’s even crazier is that every Celtic who played more than 10 minutes attempted at least one triple. Yes, even Neemias Queta. And yes, he made it!
Out of a Spain pick-and-roll action, Jordan Walsh swings it back to Nemi, and that’s a beauty.
#2 – Taking away the rim
While the offense was impressive, the defense also showed great discipline after a complicated night in NY. The threat that the New Orleans offense presented was heavy rim pressure, with 42% of their shots attempted within 4 feet (1st in the league).
Yet, the Celtics were able to bring that number down to 22%, taking away the rim from the Pelicans, who were forced to rely much more on floaters and mid-range shots than layups.
The play above is a great example of how well the Celtics protected the paint, with Queta anchoring the rim, Sam Hauser staying connected to the ball, Walsh helping at the top of the key, and White ready to help or close out on Derik Queen.
The Celtics were helped by the lack of talent and spacing, but they remained disciplined all game long to make up for their previous defensive collapse. Looking forward to seeing that discipline when the playoffs start.
#3 – Jaylen rim pressure
On the other end, while the Pelicans couldn’t find a way to the rim, Jaylen Brown showed how relentless of a driver he has become. The 2024 Finals MVP forced seven free throws and scored on five drives throughout the game.
He did a great job identifying and attacking mismatches early in the possession so he could get downhill without being slowed by a second defender.
His handle and ability to turn the corner were on display last night, and once he gets up to speed, it becomes really hard to stop him. Very nice footwork at the end of the drive to jump off two feet for better control and go around the block attempt from Kevon Looney.
While his ability to get to the rim was elite last night, he had some trouble with the Pelicans’ aggressive coverages.
#4 – Dealing with gravity
The night before, it was Jayson Tatum who had six turnovers against the Knicks. This time, it was Brown who lost the ball seven times against the Pelicans. The young team’s game plan was to force the ball out of Brown’s hands and apply pressure whenever he had it.
In pick-and-roll situations, their big men were aggressive at the level of the screen to slow down the All-Star and force occasional turnovers.
As Brown was killing them inside, they kept bringing more bodies into the paint to force kick-outs, ready to close out wherever JB would pass the ball. Here, Poole sees Brown is stuck and forced to pass, and is able to steal the ball intended for Walsh on the wing.
These two games where JB and JT struggled to take care of the ball against aggressive defenses showed why they need each other to stretch the floor and avoid being the sole focus of the opponent’s game plan.
#5 – PP & Vooch off the bench
Speaking of duos, that new two-man scoring punch off the bench with Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic could be really dangerous offensively. With PP’s scoring ability and growing gravity, combined with Vucevic’s screening and floor-spacing, this bench unit could become elite on offense.
Last night, they played a lot together, like in this action. PP throws the ball to Vooch and runs toward him to initiate a handoff at full speed. Because PP is quick and Vucevic is a threat from outside, the defense doesn’t know what to prioritize, creating hesitation and leading to open layups.
Games are won in the details, and Joe Mazzulla knows that. Safe to say he must have loved these sneaky plays from Derrick White to generate extra possessions.
It started on the very first action of the game with that sneaky offensive rebound from behind, leading to an open three.
For the 13th time this season, the Celtics recorded more than 30 assists — a rare sight for a team with the lowest assist rate in the NBA. Yet, they are undefeated when reaching that mark.
Looking at the opponents, it also feels like the ball moves more against lower-tier teams, as most of these games came against the Nets, Wizards, or Bucks.
#8 – Red Auerbach award
Payton Pritchard won’t be eligible for Sixth Man of the Year, but he most certainly deserves the Red Auerbach Award. The guard has delivered game after game, despite losing his spot in the starting lineup.
Payton Pritchard receives a huge ovation as he wins this year’s Red Auerbach Award – given for embodying the spirit of being a Boston Celtic ☘️ –@CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/OW2jmDkHb9
Whether as a starter or off the bench, Payton has consistently brought the spark that allowed the Celtics to be the best version of themselves and outperform expectations in what some saw as a gap year.
#9 – From a gap year to second seed
The last time the Celtics weren’t a top-two seed, Brad Stevens was still coaching. Even more impressive, over the last seven seasons, the Celtics have ranked top four in Net Rating in six of them.
This season might be the craziest yet in terms of performance, as the Celtics finished with the second-best offense in the NBA (third last year) and the fifth-best defense (same as last year).
#10 – Ready for a revenge playoffs run?
The upcoming playoff run could look a lot like last year’s. Orlando is very likely to be Boston’s first-round matchup, and the Knicks could be waiting in the semifinals.
Will they be ready this time? Exciting times ahead as the Celtics close out an extraordinary regular season.
Jan 21, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) and forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) react during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Just yesterday, the Hawks clinched their 50th playoffs appearance in franchise history after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team will have one final regular season game Sunday against the Heat, but then they will turn their focus to either a series against the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Both teams pose their problems for opposing frontcourt between Mitchell Robinson’s bulk, elite rebounding and rim protection, Jarrett Allen’s rim running and touch around the rim, and Evan Mobley’s all-around defensive game.
Incumbent backup center Jock Landale may or may not be ready from an ankle injury by the time the playoffs roll around this upcoming weekend, so I posed the question to the readers of this blog: who should the Hawks go with behind Onyeka Okongwu?
Well, the masses have chosen the wiry defender from Senegal as their choice:
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 19: Aaron Holiday #0 of the Houston Rockets shoots against Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena on November 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers 114-104 on Thursday night at Toyota Center in Houston. However, after a near collapse in the fourth quarter, Houston needed offensive production, and they found it from none other than guard Aaron Holiday. In his 14 minutes of action, Aaron Holiday was 3-of-5 and scored seven vital points, but what’s most important is his role during the fourth quarter.
Houston was leading 96-73 going into the fourth. Other Rockets fans and I were feeling alright, but just like during the Sun’s game Tuesday, the tables quickly turned. It looked like the game was going to get out of control as the momentum was shifting fast, and Houston was unable to rely on its young players during this stretch, so they turned to the veterans. In the last quarter of the game, the Sixers scored 29 points while the Rockets made only 5 of 20 shots. However, the shots that were made were timely. The Rockets’ ability to make timely shots was crucial. Ime Udoka called a timeout right away after Philly trimmed the margin to 101-94 with almost four minutes remaining in the game. The Rockets would score two consecutive corner threes: one from Kevin Durant after Aaron Holiday drove to the basket, and another from Aaron Holiday after Kevin Durant assisted. This means that during both key possessions, Aaron Holiday found a way to get involved.
Holiday’s production wasn’t only against Philadelphia as he saw an increased run in games versus Utah, Golden State, and Phoenix, scoring six points versus both Utah and Golden State, and 12 points versus Phoenix. Aaron Holiday is the quintessential backup guard who perfectly embodies the next man up mentality. The Rockets are going to need some production from him heading ito this year’s NBA Playoffs.
The Rockets will end their season Sunday night at home versus the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:00. As always, be sure to check back here at The DreamShake for pre- and postgame content.
The Dallas Mavericks (25-56) took on the San Antonio Spurs (62-19) Friday night in their penultimate game of the 2025-2026 season, which ended in a 139-120 loss. Dallas rolled in with a lengthy injury list that included the usual suspects this year, along with P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson.
The game started off closer than expected under the circumstances, but the Spurs pulled ahead by 11 points by the end of the first frame. Victor Wembanyama was expected to play around 20 minutes in order to meet qualifications for league honors, and clearly wanted to make the most of his time. He was red hot throughout the night (which ended with him playing 26 minutes) and was a big reason the Spurs jumped out to an early lead.
In the second quarter, the Mavs flipped the script and dropped in 39 points to cut the deficit to three points at the half. Cooper Flagg had a massive game of his own, nearly matching Wembanyama. The Mavs carried their momentum into the third quarter, taking the lead on multiple occasions before the wheels came off. The Spurs scored on nine-straight possessions and almost instantly put the Mavs in a hole they were unable to climb out of.
The fourth quarter basically amount to garbage time, but it was nice to see the Mavs come close to holding steady (getting outscored in the quarter 31-27) despite AJ Johnson, Tyler Smitth and John Poulakidas leading the charge in the late going. When all was said and done, the Mavs had a solid offensive performance but had no answer for Wembanyama and ultimately got blasted heading into their final game of the season.
The Mavs won the turnover battle
The Mavs won the turnover battle
Dallas has had some awful game in terms of turnovers, occasionally with one or more players tallying five or more each. Tonight was an entirely different story. Both teams took care of the ball, but the Mavs had only seven turnovers against a very good team. Oddly, Dwight Powell accounted for three of them, which itself is an anomaly. In the end, it wasn’t enough to save the Mavs from a lopsided loss, but seeing them take care of the ball against a team that could have made them look silly was a decent consolation prize.
Cooper Flagg’s Rookie of the Year push
Over the past few games, Flagg is clearly being featured even moreso than usual in a final effort to win Rookie of the Year honors. After an 11-point outing last game against the Phoenix Suns, Flagg was back to his old self, pouring in 33 points on 52% shooting on 25 shots; nearly double the next closest Mav (Ryan Nembhard with 13 attempts). Throughout it all, Flagg continues to play within himself and the team’s gameplan. Nothing he did on Friday night felt forced and he even dished out five assists. It’s insane to me to think Flagg has a chance at missing out on ROY, and if nothing else, this burst over the past week will at least make for an eternal argument in the annals of NBA history if he doesn’t win the award.
Max Christie finding his shot
Mette Robertson recently covered a podcast that Cooper Flagg partook in. With him was Max Christie, who spoke about what he is learning from Klay Thompson. Particularly, Christie commented on getting his shot off quicker, a sentiment he reiterated in his postgame interview. Christie was 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-12 overall in Friday’s game. His shot looked good and was noticeably quicker. He even got one off from the corner with Wembanyama closing out on it, hitting nothing but net. That Christie is willing to learn and has one of the greatest shooters to learn from, is a positive sign going forward. The Mavs are at the bottom of the league in everything three-point related, and will need Christie to help reverse that trend next year and beyond.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Head coach Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards talks with Bub Carrington #7 against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on March 27, 2026 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, the Washington Wizards lost to the Miami Heat, giving them a nine game losing streak. They are 17-64 with one more game left to go. The Indiana Pacers have 19 wins, so that makes them officially … the worst team in the 2025-26 NBA season.
The Wizards will officially finish the 2025-26 season with the NBA’s worst record. pic.twitter.com/nqJi1XPsKX
With the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, it appears that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins are ready to turn the page on another sub-20 win season. Hopefully this past season is the last time when we are quietly wondering whether losing is actually winning, if you know what I mean.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: (L-R) Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines speak to media at a player breakout session during a 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four practice day at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara played a pivotal role in head coach Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship this season. Now, after successful first years in Ann Arbor, both big men have important decisions to make in the next month or so.
Mara and Johnson — along with fellow Wolverine Yaxel Lendeborg — are projected to be first-round picks in this summer’s NBA Draft. Mara is projected to be selected in the late portion of the lottery, while Johnson is expected to go in the late part of the first round.
The goal for all guys that enter the NBA Draft is to receive a guaranteed contract. If you are selected in the first round, you will receive a guaranteed contract for two years; the remaining two years after that are controlled by the team. The higher you get picked, the more money you make.
Turning down the NBA isn’t easy, but Johnson recently told NBC5 in Chicago he wouldn’t mind doing it if that’s what’s best for him.
“There’s no rush because if I can’t get (a guaranteed contract) this year, I know I can get it next year, and I have no issue coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat,” Johnson said.
#Michigan PF Morez Johnson and his decision to either stay or go to the NBA via NBC Chicago:
“There’s no rush because if I can’t get a (guarantee NBA contract this year), I know I can get it next year. I have no issue with coming back to Michigan and trying to repeat.” pic.twitter.com/7KVZO6af5l
Johnson is ESPN’s No. 27 overall prospect on their big board this year. Just for the sake of example, let’s say 27 overall is exactly where he goes in this year’s draft. The 27th overall pick last year was former Wolverine Danny Wolf. According to Spotrac, Wolf is making $2,801,280 as a first-year NBA player. Let’s say the number goes up slightly this year and is right at $2.9 million.
With all that information in mind, the question then becomes whether or not Michigan would be able to match or exceed the $2.9 million, bring Johnson back for one more year and help raise his draft stock. Michigan isn’t a poor program by any means, so it wouldn’t be surprising if that scenario were to be reality. I’m sure May and his staff wouldn’t mind having a veteran big man that has experience in the system back in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with a Spanish media outlet, Mara was speaking as if he already had his mind made up as far as declaring for the draft. But it also sounds like he will retain his collegiate eligibility just in case.
“There’s still the whole summer ahead, during which I have to prepare for the draft, talk to teams, train with teams, and see what position I’ll play,” Mara said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to decide what to do; both options are good, whether I stay or leave.”
May already has an insurance policy in the event that one or both big men leave for the draft, as the Wolverines acquired the commitment of former Tennessee center J.P. Estrella on Thursday. However, getting one or both of Johnson and Mara to come back would be incredible for Michigan’s chances of going back-to-back.
At this point, I expect both of them to declare for the draft while retaining their college eligibility. Mara seems more likely than Johnson to stay in the draft, but both of them very well could be ready to move on regardless of where they end up getting selected. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 27, so there is a lot of time between now and then for the Michigan big men to finalize their plans.
What do you think Mara and Johnson will do? Go to the NBA? Return to Michigan? Let me know what you think down in the comments section below!
Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
If he stays he would be trouble (for the opponents).
If he goes it might be double (carrying the UNC torch brightly into the NBA).
First off: this is not a question about what’s best for Caleb. Everyone has him as a top five pick in the NBA, and I genuinely believe he could rise as high as #2. Darius Acuff brings serious defensive concerns. Darryn Peterson has created mental health concerns. Cameron Boozer has NBA execs wondering about his positional versatility and inability to play above the rim. AJ Dybantsa seems the clear #1 at this point, but Wilson’s combination of size, athleticism, basketball IQ, and intangibles has GMs salivating. What does the 2nd pick in the NBA draft deliver? $25,000,000 guaranteed over the first two years with another $30,000,000 in the following two years, which are team optional. It’s best for Caleb to go to the draft right now.
But let’s get selfish for a moment and think about this in terms of what’s best for UNC.
If Caleb comes back, he brings star power and an on-court presence UNC could build a champion around. He’d probably be one of the headline players all off-season, the projected top pick in next year’s draft. He’d be taking a legit shot at “legend” both at UNC and within the college game. On the flip side, he’d also consume a massive amount of NIL on next season’s roster, and he’d risk the dreaded sophomore slump. Can you imagine UNC fans ranting about Coach Malone if Wilson wasn’t going for 25 and 12 every game? I can.
If Caleb goes to the NBA, he’d be the first Tar Heel to go in the top 5 since Marvin Harrison and Raymond Felton in 2005. Caleb oozes UNC positivity and can’t stop talking about how much he loves Chapel Hill and Tar Heel basketball. Carrying that energy into the draft and his rookie season would be proof of concept that UNC basketball can nurture an exceptional talent and propel them to the game’s heights, while also delivering an authentic college experience beyond the court. Caleb didn’t live in a basketball bubble at UNC, divorced from real student life. He soaked it all in.
What a walking, talking billboard for UNC in the pro game, something it’s lacked for awhile now.
So, how do you see it? Let us know in the comments below.
MINNEAPOLIS - APRIL 19: Kevin Garnett #21 and Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves congratulate each other after their last game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2006 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, the NBA released an official statement regarding a bizarre situation in a recent Sacramento Kings versus Golden State Warriors game.
In case you missed it, Sacramento Head Coach Doug Christie instructed his own players to intentionally foul an above average free throw shooter, Seth Curry, despite holding a one-point lead in clutch time. The KANGZ Kings ultimately lost the game in regulation, and considering the tight battle to earn the top lottery odds in a stacked draft, it sparked yet another conversation about “tanking.”
By now, you must be sick of hearing about this. Adam Silver’s focus on punishing teams for losing instead of much more important matters (sports betting). Nonsensical and complicated draft lottery reforms. Fans criticizing talking heads for even talking about it.
Enough!
Alright, fine. But before we leave this all behind us, can I just give you one more quick story? Please?
Let’s turn back your clocks back to calendar year 2006.
Actually, almost exactly 20 years ago to the day. It’s April 18th, the last day of the regular season. The Minnesota Timberwolves were going to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. An inauspicious 33-48 record put them second to last in the West standings, but tied for the seventh-worst overall record. Not great. However, the silver lining was that they were in line to secure the seventh spot in the 2006 NBA draft lottery.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
There was one team just half a game behind Minnesota in the standings: the Boston Celtics. More importantly, three teams sat just one game ahead of the Wolves in the standings: Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets. Why does this matter?
Just eight months prior, the Timberwolves traded away their first round pick (along with All-Star Sam Cassell) to the Los Angeles Clippers.
That pick was smartly (?) top 10 protected through 2011. That meant if the Wolves finished with the eighth-worst record or lower, they would not be at risk of losing said pick. With three teams on the Minnesota’s heels, there was potential for shenanigans tomorrow. Let’s game a look at the tip-off times for all of the aforementioned teams:
Heat @ Celtics – 6:30pm CT
Spurs @ Rockets – 7:00pm CT
Grizzlies @ Timberwolves – 7:00pm CT
Warriors @ Jazz – 8:00pm CT
Nuggets @ SuperSonics – 9:30pm CT
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the staggered start times made it impossible for them to know if they need should tank or not.
Let’s jump back to Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Memphis had nothing to play for, as they had all but locked in their spot as the number five seed in the Western Conference playoffs. In fact, a loss could’ve even benefitted them, pitting them against a 44-38 Nuggets team instead of a 60-22 Mavericks team. They rested or limited minutes to their key rotation players such as a young Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, and Eddie Jones.
The Wolves weren’t to be outdone.
MARLIN LEVISON ¥ mlevison@startribune.com 04/19/06 РAssign#101406- Timberwolves vs. Memphis Рlast game of the season Рa look at a dismal season from players or fans perspective. IN THIS PHOTO:Wolves Marcus Banks, Rashad McCants and Mark Madsen look disinterested as they sit on the bench watching the game proceed without them. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
Since a loss would secure their lottery pick, they went all out. Kevin Garnett, who had been already been sitting out due to a “right quad injury,” would not be available. Ricky Davis, who had also been out for that same span, was also not active due to a “right knee injury.” They were the Wolves top two scorers by a mile. Not enough? Let’s take starting point guard, Marko Jarić off the table for no real reason.
Things didn’t start great for Minnesota though. Well, they did great if you’re talking about winning a basketball game. They stumbled into a 10-point lead right before halftime. That advantage shrunk to just six at the end of the third quarter, but there was still time.
Mark Madsen time, to be specific.
The 30-year-old, two-time NBA champion, knew what it took to win. And in this case, a win actually meant a loss. He subbed in for starting center Mark “Big Basic” Blount with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter, and never looked back. If you aren’t familiar with other Madsen’s game, he was a classic undersized, hustle-type, frenetic energy big. In today’s game, think Dwight Powell. Madsen only averaged about 10 minutes a game and less than two field goal attempts.
In this specific game, Madsen played 30 minutes and took 15 shots.
After missing his first three shots of the game, he finally made his first (and only) bucket of the game. Madsen’s layup put the Wolves up five with 7:35 remaining. Danger time. Minnesota was up three with 39 seconds left and possession of the ball. They could nearly run out the clock and simply secure a victory. Instead, with 12 ticks still on the shot clock, “Mad Dog” fired a 15-foot jumper that missed.
Why does that seem weird?
That was Madsen’s second shot from outside the paint.
All season.
MINNEAPOLIS – APRIL 19: Mark Madsen #35 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 19, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies won 102-92. NOTICE 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 2006 NBAE (Photo By Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After essentially leading all game, the Grizzlies had somehow managed to drag this clown show into overtime thanks to a Brian Cardinal three-pointer on the following possession. What ensued in the two following five-minute overtime periods would make Adam Silver choke on a slice of tiramisu.
If you thought Mark taking his second ever jump shot of the season at the end of regulation was bad, you hadn’t seen anything yet. Throughout Madsen’s 502 NBA games, including both regular season and the postseason, he had only ever attempted 18 three-point shots. Five of those 18 were halfcourt heaves, so he’s really ever taken 13 honest to god shots from beyond the arc.
13 three-point attempts in 502 games. He made one of those.
He shot seven three-point attempts in 10 minutes of overtime play in this game alone.
He made none of those.
Many of these “shots” had no chance of going in. Airballs, backboard rockets, bricks off the side of the rim. You could hear fans in Target Center shouting out “Draft pick!” during this horrid display. Eventually, you see Madsen smiling, might I say winking, at fans during dead ball situations late in the game. The broadcast even cut to replays of both the Minnesota and Memphis benches bursting into laughter as Madsen ran around like Steph Curry, launching jumpers off the catch. The late, great Tom Hanneman and a young Jim Peterson were on the call and were cracking up, even encouraging Madsen to “Let it rain!” live during the game. It ended with Head Coach Dewane Casey drawing up an elevator doors play for Madsen to get off a three-ball despite being down 10.
I am not embellishing.
Feast your eyes on rare footage of this blatant, shameless, and absolutely hilarious tank job by the Timberwolves, commandeered by Mark Madsen:
Victor's coming! Tanking teams need guidance.
Remember the time Mark Madsen went 1-for-15 in the 82nd game? He missed 7 threes in 2 OT's as Minnesota scraped out an L to move up in the draft.
Fans yelling "DRAFT PICK!", visiting Grizzlies in disbelief. An unbelievable game. pic.twitter.com/PnNtE2qXAR
If you think this game came and passed as if no one paid attention, well then you would be wrong. Casey shared his thoughts with reporters after the game.
“The guys were having fun with it. For what we’ve been through this season, I thought the guys deserved it. I hope what we did didn’t make a mockery of the game”
Dewane Casey, 2006
Even Madsen himself recalled the game some eight years later. Like Casey, he laughed it off as harmless fun.
“Imagine being out there, catching the ball at the three-point line and the whole arena is yelling, ‘Shoot.’ It doesn’t make me feel good. So in my mind, I’m like, you know what, I’ve worked hard on my game. I’m going to go out there and knock these down. I think everyone in that building knew the situation. But I go out there and try to make every single shot always.”
Mark Madsen, 2014
You’d imagine that this Timberwolves organization, who just got harshly punished by the NBA for illegal contract negotiations six years ago, would’ve been discouraged from any potential funny business. But this was 2006, where things were still new. There wasn’t easy access to watching or streaming basketball games, nor was there social media to spit out clips and aggregate this travesty.
Glen Taylor’s Timberwolves walked away Scot-free.
SEACUCUS, NJ – MAY 22: Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery on May 22, 2007 at the NBATV Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. 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 2007 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
General Manager, Kevin McHale, ended up with the number six pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He selected multi-time All-Star and All-NBA guard, Brandon Roy. However, on draft night, McHale swapped the draft rights to Roy for future career-journeyman, Randy Foye. So, yeah. The Timberwolves may have pulled off the most blatant greatest tank job ever without direct repercussion, but in some ways, they ultimately punished themselves.
Because sometimes you might think you’re tanking, when in reality, you’re really just a living, breathing, tank.
Let that be a lesson to those of you pissed off at Sacramento.
