Category: NBA

This is the second part of a two-part season recap series. Read part one here.

With their season-long five-game losing streak in the rearview, the Minnesota looked to transform their team at the trade deadline. The Wolves did just that with a series of moves that traded away Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and Leonard Miller, while getting back Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips. They also re-signed Conley following his buyout with the Charlotte Hornets and reunited with Kyle Anderson, who was let go from the Memphis Grizzlies.

The roster shakeup breathed new life into a roster that had seemingly grown stale over the past few months and gave them desperately needed bench depth to use for both the stretch run of the regular season and the Playoffs.

Here are the top Post-All-Star break moments of the Timberwolves 2025-26 season.

The Vibes Were High Against the Raptors

The season of high-highs and low-lows continued into February for the Timberwolves. Following a 115-96 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wolves started to put things together.

They won their final two games before the All-Star break, swept a three-game road trip where they beat the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets, before capping off a stretch of seven wins in eight games at home in a 115-107 win over the Toronto Raptors.

The game was a professional victory for the Timberwolves. The game was tight the entire first half before the Wolves put their foot on the gas in the third quarter to take a double-digit lead. The ball movement was on point the entire game, and the defense was able to shut down the Raptors with Rudy Gobert dominating the paint, while also leading the team with five assists.

The vibes around the team seemed to be in as good a place as they had been in years. The trade deadline had passed, Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland had transformed the Wolves bench into a quality unit, and the Wolves were up to third in the Western Conference standings for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

Like many times earlier in the season, it felt like the Wolves were finally putting everything together. Despite numerous stumbles throughout the season, the Timberwolves seemed primed to go on an extended winning streak. Instead, the opposite happened.

Rock Bottom in Los Angeles

The win against the Raptors, like many other wins before it, was not the spark that would propel the Timberwolves toward regular-season consistency. Rather, the Wolves lost three straight games by a combined 66 points.

It started at home in a 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic. Next, a 120-106 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in a game where Anthony Edwards shot 2-15 from the field. The third straight blowout came against the Clippers. The Wolves gave up 153 points, a Clippers franchise record for points scored in regulation.

The losing streak was rock bottom for the Timberwolves. It wasn’t just that they lost three games, all of which to above .500 teams; it was the way they lost them.

In the first two games, the Wolves’ offense completely disappeared. The ball movement had completely deserted them as Edwards, Julius Randle, and others over-dribbled the ball on countless possessions. The Lakers specifically baited Edwards into terrible shots, successfully shutting him down and the rest of the Timberwolves. Hitting a rough patch on one side of the ball for a couple of games would be one thing. The Wolves could pinpoint specific issues that needed to be solved and fix them.

While the Wolves did get their offense going the next night against the Clippers, their defense fell off a cliff.

Scoring just 92 points one game, only to give up 153 points just two games later, spoke to larger issues going on with the team beyond anything strategic or talent-based. It showcased a potential fatal flaw of a team unwilling or unable to provide a consistent performance night-to-night.

A Record-Setting Overtime Comeback

The most insane game of the season, and in recent memory at Target Center, came a week ago against the Houston Rockets. With Edwards and Dosunmu both out, the Timberwolves grabbed a 110-108 overtime victory in a game that won’t soon be forgotten.

The Wolves controlled the lead for most of the game and eventually built up an 11-point lead with less than four minutes left in the game. Just when it felt like the Wolves were going to cruise to a really solid win, the game took a turn toward the absurd.

Following an Alperen Şengün layup and a Timberwolves shot clock violation, Julius Randle ran over Şengün, who was setting a screen, for a foul. The play was upgraded to a flagrant foul for Randle, with crew chief Scott Foster saying Randle unnecessarily “launched” into Şengün on the play.

“I’ve never seen it before,” Finch said about the flagrant call on Randle. “They’re telling me they had a clear opportunity to avoid the screen. They said he sought him out to run him over. I’ve never seen a flagrant like that. He goes through a screen, they call a foul, fine. That’s clearly a foul. Play on. But a flagrant? I don’t know.”

The Rockets hit both flagrant free throws, scored on their next possession, and continued scoring to go on a 13-0 run to take the lead. Randle gave the Wolves the lead back with a bully ball layup in the paint before a Gobert away-from-the-play foul gave Kevin Durant the game-tieing free throw as well as the ball back, while also fouling Gobert out of the game.

With a chance to win the game, the Rockets turned the ball over, giving the Wolves the chance to win it on a Randle layup that was blocked by Şengün.

The game was insane enough, but that was only the beginning. The Rockets opened up overtime to score the first 13 points of overtime, with Naz Reid getting ejected in the middle of the run following a foul call on him not overturned.

The craziness did not stop there as the Wolves responded with the next 15 points with DiVincenzo knocking down the game-tying 3-pointer and Randle capping off the run with a midrange jumper to give the Wolves the lead. After a foul and a pair of missed free throws from Durant (one of which was intentional), the Wolves secured a win in one of the most insane games of the season.

In the hallway to the Timberwolves locker room, Randle shared his displeasure with the lead official, yelling out, “That shit didn’t work Scott Foster.”

The Timberwolves’ winning after trailing by 13 points in overtime was the largest overtime comeback since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data in 1996-97, as the Wolves avenged their nine-point overtime collapse to the Nuggets on Christmas.

Kevin Garnett Returns

The most memorable part of the Timberwolves regular season. On Friday, the Wolves announced that Kevin Garnett would be making his long-awaited return to Target Center during the team’s regular season finale on April 12th against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The announcement comes a couple of months after Garnett agreed to return to the organization in an ambassador role with a jersey retirement ceremony set to take place during the 2026-27 season, with ceremony details set to be released on a later date.

While the game itself might end up being anticlimactic, as the Wolves could potentially be locked into their seed for the Playoffs, the night itself is set to be one of the most memorable and cathartic moments in the history of Minnesota basketball. It’s been an excruciatingly long wait for Timberwolves fans to see their franchise icon back with the organization and pumping up the Target Center crowd yet again.

That wait is almost over.

It got interesting at times, but the Milwaukee Bucks mostly dominated the tanktastic Memphis Grizzlies, 131-115. As Deolu put it in his rapid recap, this was the Bucks’ their first win against Memphis since January 2022, which is crazy to think about. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Kyle Kuzma

22 minutes, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 turnovers, 2/3 FG, -4

Made some nice reads out of the short roll in the first quarter, and shot efficiently on extremely low volume, but the turnovers were still too high. Also got out-rebounded by smaller players on a few occasions.

Grade: C

Pete Nance

23 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2/4 FG, 0/1 3P, +23

Pete did most of his best work in the second half as a connector, making a few great passes in tight quarters to cutting teammates.

Grade: C+

Taurean Prince

23 minutes, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 7/8 FG, 5/5 3P, +20

Rain, hail, or shine, TP remains one heck of a shooter. I mean, some of these three-point attempts were not easy, and he just nails them. Given his skill set, I think this might have been his best game of the year.

Grade: A+

Ryan Rollins

32 minutes, 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 10/16 FG, 4/7 3P, +0

Rollins was clinical, getting to his spots, working in the pick-and-roll, and taking what the defence gave him. He also had some ridiculous ambidextrous finishes around the rim. Can’t say enough about his development this year.

Grade: A-

Myles Turner

21 minutes, 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 6/13 FG, 1/4 3P, -3

Finished around the rim decently (as he should, considering he was the biggest and tallest player out there by some margin). Also got four O-boards because of that height, along with four stocks. Great production on those fronts. Still, got exposed a few times moving his feet on the perimeter against fringe NBA players.

Grade: B-

Ousmane Dieng

31 minutes, 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 6/15 FG, 1/4 3P, +8

Not the best game from Ous, who failed to make much of an impact. He certainly had moments of brilliance—such as his full-court outlet pass to Cormac Ryan—but failed to put it together from a scoring standpoint. You want to see him succeed with the ball in his hands to be a long-term player for this team.

Grade: C+

AJ Green

26 minutes, 6 points, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 2/7 FG, 2/7 3P, +0

A nothing game from AJ. You wish he’d be more impactful against a team of G-Leaguers.

Grade: D

Jericho Sims

26 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 6/7 FG, +19

Sims mostly did his job by playing off others, but he showed signs of savviness we hadn’t seen earlier this season. For example, he had a play where he faked the DHO and kept it, leading to the massive slam. Great to see that development.

Grade: B

Cormac Ryan

29 minutes, 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 7/8 FG, 3/4 3P, +19

Another great game from Cormac, who just keeps showing out. He made threes from both a standing start and on the move, but also did great work inside the arc; he spun for a dipsy-doo fadeaway, and also cut backdoor for the reverse layup. Also showed his stuff as an instinctual defender, racking up five steals.

Grade: A+

Doc Rivers

Thought Doc did a solid job coaching. I’ll echo Finn’s sentiment about Rivers getting the team to “play the right way,” which has been evident over the past two weeks, and honestly, really refreshing. No agendas, just a bunch of dudes playing for each other. Now, the opponent was tanking to a significant degree, but all Doc could do was put guys in position to succeed and get them to play in the way that best helped the team, and I thought he did. The Bucks won a game they should have won, and Doc played a key role.

Grade: B+

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo

Inactive: Kevin Porter Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Doc said that although the team is out of playoff contention, these games are meaningful for a lot of guys.
• On Cormac: “Great cutter, great IQ, better with the ball than we thought… and his hands have been everywhere. Very impressed with him.”
• Rivers highlighted how Ryan Rollins is doing his work “in the game flow” and not forcing anything.
• Ousmane Dieng, Rayan Rupert, and Adama Bal all grew up together in France and shared an NBA court in this one. Pretty cool moment.

Up Next

The Bucks are back in action on Tuesday night against yet another tanktastic team, the Brooklyn Nets. Catch the game at 6:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

The regular season is winding down. After splitting a tough back-to-back vs. Minnesota and Detroit, they Sixers travel to San Antonio to kick off their final regular-season road trip — a three-game stretch away from home.

The Spurs are putting the cherry on top of a dominant season, with many considering them one of the two best teams not just in the West, but in the league period. A win tonight would be their 60th of the year, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder and possibly the Detroit Pistons as the only teams to accomplish that feat. Standings-wise, there isn’t much for them to play for here — they sit nine games above the contested three seed and three games behind the Thunder for the one seed. Barring some crazy circumstances, the Spurs are going to be the two seed out West. We’ll see how far they push their starters tonight if this game is close down the stretch.

Heading into this game, the Sixers are slated to take on the Spurs at seemingly full strength. The only listees on the injury report are G League assignments, meaning you can expect the Sixers to be on the wrong end of their gauntlet of Victor Wembanyama and a deep stable of guards.

These two teams faced off not too long ago, resulting in a blowout win for the Spurs in Philadelphia. However, the Sixers were without Paul George and Joel Embiid — both of whom should be available this time around. The Sixers struggled offensively with Wemby’s massive frame mucking up their paint-based offense, and the Spurs had no shortage of firepower either, with eight players scoring in double figures.

With the regular season in crunch time, it’s hard to keep up with all the games — especially in the cluster where the Sixers are packed in with five or six teams. Last night the Toronto Raptors lost to the Boston Celtics, putting the Sixers in the driver’s seat for the six seed due to tiebreakers once again. A win tonight would help solidify their standing, while a loss would make things interesting with the Raptors and Charlotte Hornets lurking close behind.

The good news is that, like the Spurs, the Sixers should be close to full strength as well. Both George and Embiid are not listed on the injury report heading in, and Tyrese Maxey has also been cleared. The lone listees are rookie Johni Broome and Cameron Payne, who is out with a hamstring strain and expected to be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks.

On paper, this will be a seriously tough game to win, and that’s only more true depending on how far the Spurs go to lock up a win. If the Sixers can manage the not impossible but very hard task, it’ll go a long way in the standings battle. After this, they’ll travel to Houston to play the Rockets on Thursday, then follow that up with two games against tanking opponents in the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. At worst, you’re probably looking at 2-1 for that stretch. Factoring in the schedule strength of the teams they’re jockeying with, a win tonight would seriously put pressure on them.

The Spurs have been an elite team all year, so this won’t be an easy game. Let’s see if their added reinforcements can shift the tide and the Sixers can make a big dent in their postseason seeding aspirations.

Game Details

When: Monday, April 6, 8:00 PM ET
Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

There was one concern I had heading into Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, and it came straight from the last time these two teams met. You remember it. The Suns could not keep the ball in front, and it turned into a layup line. Guards getting downhill whenever they wanted, no resistance at the point of attack, and everything collapsing from there.

And on Sunday, it showed up again.

Tre Jones lived in the paint. Over and over, he blew by perimeter defenders, got to his spots, and finished clean. He ended with 29 points, 21 of them coming right at the rim. Collin Sexton was not nearly as aggressive this time, and if he had been, this could have looked very different. The Phoenix Suns got the win, but it did not erase the concern.

Because the issue is the same. Containment. Or lack of it.

Jordan Ott rolled with a nine-man rotation, and there was no Rasheer Fleming and no Ryan Dunn. Two players who at least give you a different look defensively. More length, more disruption, more potential resistance either at the point of attack or at the rim.

There was an adjustment early. Jordan Goodwin got the start over Collin Gillespie in an effort to slow things down. But Chicago countered. They screened him out of the action, forced switches, and suddenly it was Devin Booker and Jalen Green trying to contain downhill pressure. That is not a winning formula. Not against guards who are looking to attack every possession. Layer in transition defense, or the lack of it. Phoenix was outscored 28–6 in fast-break points. That is effort, awareness, urgency, all of it. And it turned what should have been manageable into something far more stressful than it needed to be.

They won. That part counts. But the concern does not go away. Because teams are showing you the blueprint. Get downhill, force rotations, live in the paint. And until the Suns prove they can consistently stop it, it is going to keep showing up.

The hope is that the adjustments come. The hope is that the staff sees it, addresses it, and finds a counter. Because if not, these final four games are going to feel the same way, and at some point, you drift into that territory where you mess around and find out.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Jalen Green was hyper-efficient against the Hornets, which was enough for him to earn Bright Side Baller #6 on the season.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 78 against the Bulls. Here are your nominees:

Devin Booker
30 points (9-of-22, 3-of-7 3PT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-of-10 FT, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +3 +/-

Jalen Green
25 points (11-of-21, 2-of-7 3PT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 6 turnovers, +8 +/-

Dillon Brooks
15 points (6-of-15, 1-of-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +10 +/-

Mark Williams
14 points (6-of-8), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +7 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
12 points (5-of-5, 2-of-2 3PT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 0 +/-**

Collin Gillespie
9 points (3-of-11, 3-of-8 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers, 1 block, +13 +/-

Where do you end up?

Deandre Ayton, you want to be a star?

You viewed joining the Lakers as a golden opportunity to resuscitate your career and rewrite your narrative?

Well, you’ve now become a central figure in the Lakers’ hopes of surviving the first round of the playoffs until Luka Doncic (Grade 2 hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 oblique strain) return from their injuries. 

And so far, not so good. 

Ayton finished with 13 points and four rebounds in the Lakers’ 134-128 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday. 

Five of his teammates outscored him. And four of them outrebounded him, including Luke Kennard, who had a team-high 16 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 Kennard had four-times as many rebounds as the 7-footer?

Come on. 

Ayton has gone from being someone who can sway games from time to time, to someone whom the Lakers desperately need for 48 minutes. 

Things have drastically changed for LA after they lost their top two scorers. 

The 41-year-old James has gone from being the team’s third option to needing to play at a superstar level. Of course, he rose to the occasion, scoring 22 points in the first quarter, the most points he has scored in any quarter this season, en route to finishing with 30 points, a season-high 15 assists and 9 rebounds. 

Kennard had his first triple-double of his career with 15 points and 11 assists to accompany those 16 boards. Jaxson Hayes scored 23 points. Rui Hachimura had 21 points and 7 rebounds.

Ayton needs to take his game to another level, too. 

Let’s not forget that Ayton is the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was picked ahead of Doncic (No. 3) and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11). 

It’s clear he wants to be a star.  Heck, he made waves in February by exclaiming in the locker room “I’m not no Clint Capela.” But the problem is he’s inconsistent. 

Some nights he’s a ball of energy who uses force on both ends of the court to effortlessly produce double-doubles.  

Other nights? He’s a liability. 

Well, Ayton doesn’t have the luxury of being the latter right now. 

On Sunday, Ayton shot well in the third quarter, scoring 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting, helping the Lakers cut their 22-point hole to two points in that period. But otherwise, he was quiet as a mouse. 

He wants to be known as more than a guy who catches lobs and gets a block or two a game. Well, the Lakers need him to play to his potential right now.

On Sunday, he did that in spurts, which wasn’t enough against the Mavericks, who are in 13th place in the Western Conference with a record of 25-53. 

So, imagine how that would fare against an elite team in the West in the first round of the playoffs?

It’s no secret that Ayton’s effort wavers. 

He’s mercurial. He has struggled with moments of immaturity. Sometimes he’s all in. Other times, he’s somewhere else even though he’s in the building. 

Recently, Ayton has been trending in the right direction. 

During the Lakers’ 16-2 run heading into Thursday’s disastrous game against the Thunder in which both Doncic and Reaves suffered injuries, Ayton was starring in his role.

He had embraced playing winning basketball, which meant doing what the Lakers needed as opposed to what he wanted. 

What changed? 

“Felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said March 12. “And, you know, I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”

That’s great and all.

But really, that’s the bare minimum.

He needs to make another transition. The Lakers need him to be DominAyton. 

If he could regularly produce 20-and-10 performances, the Lakers have a chance of treading water until they’re complete again. James needs help. Everyone needs to step up, especially a former No. 1 overall pick. 

Ayton can’t take quarters off. He can’t be someone the Lakers hope shows up. He needs to be a force. 

Over the last month, Ayton has been getting credit for putting in the requisite effort. That no longer moves the needle. He needs to dominate. 

He doesn’t want to be compared to Clint Capela?

It’s now or never for him.

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The Spurs have return home from a short three-game road trip. On Monday night, the Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers in a game that is promoting Native American Heritage.

Spurs shooting guard Lindy Waters III representing Kiowa and Cherokee-American tribes and Jacob Tobey, Mashpee Wampanoag of Massachusetts, have teamed up with the Spurs to bring awareness through “Sacred Like Me.”

The evening is filled with special events including a land acknowledgement ceremony, grants, and in-game performances.

Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey will perform the national anthem.

Tobey, now in his second year with the Spurs, has embraced San Antonio as his home. In addition to his full-time job, the Suffolk University alum enjoys performing as part of the local music scene.

He can often be seen throughout San Antonio with his guitar playing hit songs and fan favorites. Last march, he was asked to perform in Austin on the night off between games when the Spurs hosted two Rodeo Road Trip games in the state capital. The Spurs Jackals who made the trip to Austin cheered him on as part of the audience on that Friday evening.

Tobey’s gigs incorporate a lot of modern top 40 favorites, but it is his original compositions that truly showcase his gift.

He recently penned a song about making Texas his new home.

He has some San Antonio shows in April. On the 11th, he’ll be performing at Elsewhere Too, a venue he’s returned to regularly. Later that week on the 16th he’ll be at Smash’d, another hot spot promoting Tobey’s passion.

I asked him how hard it was to book shows with the Spurs entering the playoffs. He admitted he had to plan strategically now that the postseason was imminent.

Tobey shared that finding the balance for writing and performing can be difficult with the demands of his dream career as play-by-play announcer, but venues work with him as the demand for his music grows within the scene. He plans on recording his original music during the offseason for an upcoming release.

If you are not a local patron, fear not, Tobey often livestreams a portion of his performances through his Instagram page.

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Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) host the Knicks (50*-28) at State Farm Arena. New York sits third in the Eastern Conference, having won two straight to improve to 7-3 in their last 10. The Knicks need to stay sharp in their last road game of the season, especially with the Cleveland Cavaliers on their heels. Atlanta, meanwhile, might be the league’s hottest team, riding a four-game win streak and sitting fifth in the East.

The season series is split 1-1. The teams last met on January 2 in New York, where the Hawks pulled off a 111-99 victory. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 23 points for the winners. On the home team’s side, Jalen Brunson racked up 24 points while Ariel Hukporti snared 16 boards.

Things are looking up in Atlanta now that they’ve parted ways with Trae. The Birds have won 18 of their last 20 games and are playing with confidence down the stretch. They score 118.6 points per game while allowing 115.9, mixing a mid-tier offense (14th in the league with a ninth-ranked defense. Quin Snyder’s boys play fast (fifth for pace) and move the ball, dishing a league-best 30.3 dimes per game. From the perimeter they shoot 37%, and they rate sixth for points per game, partially because their defense is sound (9.5 steals per game).

Jalen Johnson leads the team in scoring with 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while Alexander-Walker has flourished in Georgia, averaging 20.6 points per game, taking eight three-pointers a game, and making 39% of them. At center, Onyeka Okongwu has averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 71 games this season. Dyson Daniels, The Great Barrier Thief , puts up 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and two steals per game, and veteran CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.

As of this writing, the only name on the injury report for either team is Jock Landale of the Hawks, out with an ankle issue.

Prediction

ESPN.com seems to think the Knicks will win, giving them a 57% edge. Color us a little less certain. The Knicks took the first meeting of the season, but it was a close 128-125, with the Hawks winning the second half by ten. New York needed a combined 70 points from KAT and Cap to squeeze the Peaches. In their second matchup, the orange and blue managed just 17 points in the second quarter and couldn’t break 52 points in a frustrating second half.

Since those two contests, the Hawks have found consistency and Snyder has this team humming as they fly toward the playoffs. Although the ’Bockers are blessed with more talent, they don’t always blend their assets in a victorious manner. Atlanta, however, has a weird alchemy and momentum that reminds me a little of the 2020-21 Knicks. Fitting, then, that those Knicks lost in the first round to the Hawks; and for as good as the current team out of Georgia is, I’m not convinced they’re ready to break past the first round. But all that starts in about two weeks. For tonight, look for the Knicks to fight hard for three quarters, then falter down the stretch, losing by three.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (50*-28) at Atlanta Hawks (45-33)
Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup is too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan.

It’s been a little over a month since Jonathan Kuminga made his Atlanta Hawks debut, and while the team has been red-hot since the All-Star break, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the former Warrior as he acclimates to his new surroundings. 

In 13 games for Atlanta (25 possible appearances*), Kuminga has put up respectable ‘per game’ averages of 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21 minutes a night on a 59.7% True Shooting clip. Yet, given his sizable $24.3 million team option for next season, it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be back in Atlanta in 2026-27, and I’m quite fascinated to see the level of production the team gets from him going forwards, particularly as the competition level rises in the postseason.

_{*Kuminga has been dealing with a balky left knee since he injured it against Dallas on January 22nd, and has played in four consecutive games for the Hawks just once since being acquired at the deadline.} 

After a frustrating, enigmatic four-and-a-half-year stint in Golden State largely defined by Kuminga’s dismal relationship with head coach, Steve Kerr, the former seventh overall pick was in need of a fresh start in Atlanta, aiming to make good on the sky-high potential that made him a top-10 draft pick. 

Kuminga took a few weeks to recover from a bone bruise in his left knee after being traded to Atlanta, but once he was cleared for action, it looked like he’d been shot out of a cannon in his first three games in a Hawks uniform, going for 27, 17, and 20 points against Washington (twice) and Portland, shooting a combined 21-for-31 from the field (5-for-9 from three) over that stretch.

However, after missing the following three games with inflammation in his left knee, he’s struggled to make a consistent impact and has failed to reach the double-digit mark in five out of his last ten appearances.

One trend that’s beginning to emerge in Kuminga’s performances with the Hawks is that he’s generally struggled against Play-In/Playoff-caliber opponents relative to his performances against lottery-bound teams. As you can see in the table below, his numbers – particularly his scoring efficiency – drop across the board against higher caliber competition. 

So where does this leave us? Which version of Kuminga can we trust? It’s a difficult question given the miniscule sample size (278 minutes) of him in a Hawks uniform, yet it’s a question Atlanta’s front office is certainly trying to answer as they prepare to decide on his team option for next season. 

So without further ado, let’s go through a few critiques of Kuminga’s performance in Atlanta since the All-Star break. 

Thrives In Transition

I’ll start with an obvious positive: Jonathan Kuminga is an elite athlete, even by NBA standards, and these athletic gifts lend themselves nicely to an Atlanta team that likes to spread its wings on offense, ranking fifth in pace and fourth in transition frequency on the season. Kuminga thrives in early shot clock situations where he can attack the defense with a head of steam – opportunities that came around less frequently when he was in Golden State earlier this season. 

Check out this play from Wednesday’s win over Orlando. ‘JK’ is in attack mode just three seconds into the possession before Franz Wagner can get into his defensive stance, and he capitalizes for an easy two points plus the foul. 

Against Boston, the Hawks force a turnover and are off to the races with a 3-on-2 advantage in transition. Kuminga receives the ball around half-court and a few seconds later he’s at the rim, dropping in a lay-up. 

Against Portland, he muscles the 7’2”, 280-pound (!) Donovan Clingan out of the way, before finishing off the possession with a pretty reverse lay-in. 

Per cleaningtheglass (CTG), the Hawks rank second in transition efficiency this season, scoring 1.34 points per play. With Kuminga shooting an impressive 20-for-32 (62.5%) in the first nine seconds of the shot clock, Atlanta’s transition efficiency improves to 1.39* point-per-play when he is in the game – underscoring his value in these early shot clock situations. 

_{*92nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season (min. 100 possessions played)}

The problem is that even for teams like the Hawks who like to run, the majority of the game is played in the halfcourt, where Kuminga has been quite inconsistent thus far. 

Halfcourt Offense Is a Work In Progress

Tasked with providing a scoring punch off the pine for a defensive-minded Atlanta Hawks bench unit, it would have been rather pollyannaish to expect Kuminga to instantly mesh with his new teammates. That said, watching back a few of his misses on film, it’s clear that he needs to do a better job picking when to attack in the halfcourt. 

From their recent game in Boston, Kuminga receives the ball on the wing and keeps his head down on his drive to the basket. There’s more than enough time on the shot-clock for Atlanta to get a cleaner look, and he has opportunities to pass to Zaccharie Risacher, Mo Gueye or the cutting Corey Kispert, but instead Kuminga opts to take it right at three Celtics defenders resulting in an empty possession for Atlanta. 

Against Brooklyn on March 12th, Kuminga goes one-on-one against rookie forward, Danny Wolf, and either doesn’t recognize or doesn’t care that Jalen Johnson’s defender is coming over to help. Instead of kicking it out to the open Johnson, Kuminga tries to finish through contact, leading to a blocked shot and an easy transition bucket for Brooklyn. 

Earlier in the quarter of the same Brooklyn game, Kuminga dominates the entire possession, taking 11 dribbles before failing to convert at the rim. Similar to the play above, he misses a wide-open Alexander-Walker in the corner before going up to shoot. 

The clips above do a good job demonstrating why Kuminga is shooting just 24-for-41 (58.5%) at the rim for the Hawks – well below his career rim field goal percentage of 71%.  He needs to slow down, process the defensive coverage, and do his best not to force things. 

Still, that’s not to say Kuminga is a complete lost cause in these halfcourt situations. There have been signs of improvement lately. 

This was a gorgeous and-one finish on Amari Williams from last week’s game against Boston. 

Against Orlando, he puts his strength on display once again, taking it right at Da Silva before finishing at the rim. 

Here, he recognizes he’s in a crowd, and instead of forcing up a tough mid-range attempt, kicks it out to Alexander-Walker for a triple from the top of the key. Yes! 

Even when he doesn’t convert, the pressure Kuminga puts on the basket can be a positive for Atlanta – especially when he takes an opposing rebounder out of the equation, like on this possession against Detroit. 

Additionally, Kuminga is a big help when it comes to generating free-throws for a Hawks team that ranks 25th in free-throw attempt rate on the season, drawing shooting fouls on 17.6% of his field goal attempts in Atlanta, a mark that ranks in the 94th percentile amongst forwards per cleaningtheglass. 

Something I’d like to see the Hawks do more of is putting Kuminga in ‘obvious attack’ situations where he can use the same gifts in the halfcourt that make him such a lethal transition scorer. 

In the play below, CJ McCollum has his drive walled off by Ausar Thompson and kicks it out to Kuminga on the opposite wing. The left side is completely cleared out for ‘JK’ – just check out how much space he has when he catches the ball – and Javonte Green (my guy!) has no chance sticking with Kuminga’s drive.

I’ve really enjoyed the possessions where Atlanta uses him as a roll-man, like on this play against Memphis. McCollum makes a great pass to the rolling Kuminga and it’s an easy slam for ‘JK’ – with GG Jackson torn between helping on Kuminga and sticking to Corey Kispert in the corner. 

Per cleaningtheglass, Atlanta is scoring 0.96 points-per-play in the halfcourt with Kuminga on the floor – slightly below their halfcourt efficiency on the season and a mark that ranks in just the 42nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups with at least 100 possessions played this season. I’m curious to see whether this number rises as Kuminga and his teammates develop a better understanding of each other’s games. 

Impact On The Defensive Glass Has Been Elite

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about Kuminga’s scoring ability, but another area where he’s made a noticeable impact for Atlanta is on the glass. I discussed the Hawks substantial turnaround on the boards since the All-Star break in my last piece, and when he’s played, Kuminga has been a big part of this improvement – particularly on the defensive end. 

Per pbpstats, Kuminga is personally snagging 18.3% of available defensive boards when he is on the floor for Atlanta – well above his career defensive rebounding percentage (DREB%) of 13% – and it’s encouraging to see that this has translated to the team-level as well, as Atlanta’s 77.9% defensive rebounding percentage with Kuminga on the floor ranks in the 99th percentile (!) relative to other five-man lineups this season per cleaningtheglass. 

While it would be nice to see the Hawks turn more of these defensive rebounds into transition opportunities*, given that the defensive glass was a legitimate problem to start the season, Kuminga’s impact in this area deserves a ton of praise. 

_{*per CTG, the Hawks are turning just 28.3% of their defensive boards into transition possessions with Kuminga on the floor – 44th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season.}

Is His Defensive Impact Sustainable?

Lastly, we need to talk about Kuminga’s impact on the defensive end – beyond the boards, of course. Per cleaningtheglass, the Hawks are posting an elite, 104.5 defensive rating with Kuminga on the floor, a mark that ranks in the 98th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season. 

While limiting their opponent’s second chance opportunities has certainly been a factor here, the Hawks are also forcing turnovers on 17% of their defensive possessions* and holding their opponents to an unfathomable 57.8% rim field goal percentage** with Kuminga on the floor – both of which are elite marks. 

_{*92nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups per CTG}

_{**99th percentile relative to other five-man lineups per CTG (for reference, San Antonio Spurs’ opponents are shooting 60.4% at the rim when Victor Wembanyama is in the game – albeit in a much larger sample size)}

Kuminga has been a more active defender since joining the Hawks, posting more steals per 100 possessions in Atlanta (1.9) than he did in any season with the Warriors. 

Against his former team, he picks off Poziemski’s skip pass to the corner, sparking an offensive possession that results in a Risacher triple. 

Kuminga is also a legitimate deterrent around the hoop – as on display in these two plays from Atlanta’s win over Boston on March 30th. 

Below, he does a good job sticking with Pritchard’s drive before forcing a miss.

Here, he and Okongwu cause Jaylen Brown to adjust mid-air on his drive to the hoop, resulting in another Boston miss. 

Now, it has to be said that these defensive numbers are almost certainly inflated by the competition-level Kuminga has faced – with Atlanta playing lottery-bound opponents in six out of the 13 games he’s appeared in – but even so, you only play the teams on your schedule, and it’s been good to see Kuminga and the Hawks taking care of business on the defensive end. 

Kuminga’s next opportunity to impress comes at home tonight against the New York Knicks (7-3 in their last ten games), who currently occupy the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference.

Each game provides another data point and I’ll be keeping an eye on his scoring efficiency against a Playoff-caliber opponent, as well as how the team performs on the glass when he is on the floor – with New York ranking sixth in offensive rebounding rate and third in defensive rebounding rate on the season

Tip-off is at 7:00pm EST on FanDuel Sports!

Seven-foot big men do not grow on trees. Luckily for Dusty May and Michigan basketball, they do sometimes enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Such was the case with Aday Mara, who became the 2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in one year with the Wolverines after playing sparingly with UCLA in his first two collegiate seasons.

REQUIRED READING: Even with squeaky Yaxel, Michigan blasts Arizona in Final Four thanks to supporting cast

With star Yaxel Lendeborg dealing with an injury in the Final Four against No. 1 Arizona, it was Mara who stepped up with a career-best performance to help the Wolverines reach the national championship game.

Mara will likely be a key piece for Michigan as the Wolverines aim to win their first national championship since 1989. Heading into the national championship in March Madness, here's what you need to know about the Michigan big man:

UConn star Tarris Reed Jr. will end his college career on Monday, April 6, against the team with whom it first began.

The senior center started his career at Michigan, where he played two seasons before transferring to Connecticut in 2024. His breakout this season as a full-time starter has been well-documented and is a huge reason for the Huskies' NCAA Tournament run.

REQUIRED READING: Dan Hurley called his shot: Tarris Reed Jr. would be X-factor for UConn Final Four run

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound interior presence is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game this season on 61.7% shooting, although his game has stepped up a notch in March Madness. Reed is averaging 20.8 points with 13 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament and has a strong case for being the best overall player in the 68-team field so far.

Despite Reed leaving the program, Michigan still boasts one of the best frontcourts in college basketball, led by a trio of first-year transfers in Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.

Why did Reed leave Michigan? Here's what to know of his transfer after the 2023-24 season:

The men’s college basketball season comes to a close Monday night with two accomplished programs set to square off for the 2026 NCAA national championship at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

In this corner, we have a potent Michigan squad that dominated the loaded Big Ten during the regular season and has seemingly flipped the switch to activate juggernaut mode in the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines hope to hoist a second championship banner and overcome a history of championship game disappointments.

Then there’s UConn, the most successful March Madness operation of the 2020’s thus far. The Huskies have already called upon some tourney magic to reach this point and are now seeking a third title in four years and seventh overall.

PREDICTIONS: Our picks for Michigan-Connecticut title game

PORTAL KING: How Dusty May built Michigan basketball into this behemoth

Here’s all you need to know about how, when, and whom to watch.

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Connecticut

Time/TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, TNT

If you’re a casual observer hoping to see a competitive event, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be disappointed given what we’ve witnessed over the last couple of weeks from the Wolverines. Their well-oiled offensive machine has made them the first team in tournament history to crack 90 points in their first five games. Michigan’s biggest concern is the health of standout forward Yaxel Lendeborg, but even if his minutes are limited by his bad left knee he will make the most of his time on the court. Meanwhile, Elliot Cadeau has been able to control the action on the floor even with a majority of his own shots not falling, and Aday Mara has dominated the paint on both ends. Those performances in turn have allowed Morez Johnson Jr. to orchestrate some spectacular finishes at the rim and helped emerging star Trey McKenney find open looks from the arc.

The Wolverines can be beaten – they’re not undefeated after all –, and UConn is capable of it if a lot of things go right. First and foremost, the Huskies have to hit three-pointers. Braylon Mullins seems to have worked through his mini slump, but now Solo Ball and Alex Karaban must do the same. Another thing the Huskies must do is win the turnover battle. Their relentless ball pressure is effective against many opponents, but Michigan’s experienced handlers will be ready for it. Finally, Tarris Reed and Co. will at least have to hold their own for the Huskies on the glass and not allow Michigan to generate second-chance points.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today: Michigan, Connecticut clash leads schedule

When Connecticut basketball announced its return to the Big East ahead of the 2019-2020 season, it was a moment that signified the return of one of the original members and powerhouses of the conference.

It came at a time when relative newcomer Dan Hurley was working on bringing the winning culture and toughness of the Jim Calhoun era back, and was trying to find the right players to execute his vision and playbook.

Since then, in spite of his lone losing record at UConn in his first season, Hurley has not just restored those two things. He's returned the program to its national prominence. ... And has done it at an exceptional level.

REQUIRED READING: Is UConn a blue blood? Huskies may be the bluest. Ranking college basketball's top programs

Hurley has the Huskies sitting in the Men's NCAA Tournament title game for the third time in the last four seasons on April 6 vs. No. 1 Michigan. It's a level of work by Hurley that had former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl saying he's doing "stuff that John Wooden did" on TNT after UConn's Final Four win over No. 3 Illinois on April 4.

Should the Huskies be able to stop the Wolverines, the No. 1 team in KenPom, inside Lucas Oil Stadium, it'd be a remarkable and historic feat for the program, since not many Division I men's college basketball programs have done what they'll look to do in a four year span.

Here's what to know on UConn's national championship titles:

How many national championships does UConn men's basketball have?

UConn has won six national championships in men's basketball, with three of them coming under Calhoun, who is responsible for the Huskies' initial rise to a powerhouse program inside the Big East and the country.

The Huskies' first men's national championship came in 1999, when Calhoun's squad defeated Duke 77-74 inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Richard Hamilton finished with 27 points against the Blue Devils, which featured NBA talent in Trajan Langdon and Elton Brand. To get to the finals, the Huskies defeated Ohio State in the national semifinals, the first Final Four in program history.

Calhoun would lead the program to two more national titles in 2004 and 2011, with the latter coming during the Kemba Walker postseason run that featured a famous step-back jumper in the Big East Tournament championship vs. No. 3 Pitt.

UConn's last two national championships under Hurley in 2023 and 2024 have made the Big East responsible for four of the last nine Men's March Madness titles heading into Monday's game.

Here's a breakdown of when the Huskies have won the Men's NCAA Tournament:

• 1999: beat Duke, 77-74
• 2004: beat Georgia Tech, 82-73
• 2011: beat Butler, 53-41
• 2014: beat Kentucky, 60-54
• 2023: beat San Diego State, 76-59
• 2024: beat Purdue, 75-60

UConn basketball record in Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game

UConn is an impressive 6-0 in the Men's NCAA Tournament national championship game. The Huskies are 2-0 in the title game under Dan Hurley.

Which team has most NCAA Tournament national championships?

UConn is tied for the third-most Men's NCAA Tournament titles with North Carolina at six. Only UCLA and Kentucky have more national titles than the Huskies.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn men's basketball national championships: Huskies looking to add

Both Michigan and UConn are banged up entering the national championship game on Monday, April 6.

Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American this season, was limited to 14 minutes in Michigan's Final Four win over Arizona after suffering a knee injury in the first half. He also re-aggravated his ankle, stemming from earlier in the season in the Big Ten Conference Tournament.

Meanwhile, multi-year starting UConn guard Solo Ball's status is also unknown. Ball was seen with a boot on his foot during April 5's walkthrough, and coach Dan Hurley said he was unavailable for practice.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan vs UConn prediction, spread: Who is favored to win national championship?

Both teams could look a bit different when they square off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, or at least less than 100% healthy for the final game of the season.

Here's a look at our six most important players for the national championship between No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 2 UConn:

Most important players of Michigan vs UConn national championship game

Yaxel Lendeborg

In one way or another, Lendeborg's presence will be felt — or it won't.

The 6-foot-9 forward was one of the best players in college basketball this season, averaging 15.1 points with 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game after transferring from UAB. While Michigan still defeated Arizona 91-73 in the Final Four without Lendeborg only playing 14 minutes, the Wolverines are still — obviously — a much better team with Lendeborg in the fold.

Lendeborg was playing his best basketball heading into the Final Four, with consecutive performances of 25, 23 and 27 points against Saint Louis, Alabama and Tennessee respectively. He might not be as mobile against UConn as in prior NCAA Tournament games but can potentially still impact the game old-head style.

"He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA, and a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA," Michigan coach Dusty May said April 5. "Whatever version of Yaxel we get it's going to be somebody that helps us play better basketball."

Tarris Reed Jr.

UConn's offense runs through Tarris Reed Jr., a who has an argument as the most impactful player in the NCAA Tournament this season. The 6-foot-11 center is also facing his former team, adding potential fuel to the fire.

The first-year Huskies starter is averaging 14.8 points with 8.8 rebounds per game, although those totals have jumped to 20.8 points with 13 rebounds per contest in March Madness. He outdueled likely national player of the year Cameron Boozer and top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight, finishing with a ridiculous stat line of 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals on 10-of-16 shooting.

It's hard to imagine UConn having a path to winning without Reed.

Aday Mara

Aday Mara saved his career-best performance for a perfect time against Arizona in the Final Four, scoring a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 11-of-16 shooting.

The 7-foot-3 first-year transfer from UCLA will be tasked with stopping Reed, who has been a force to be reckoned with during the NCAA Tournament. Mara vs. Reed will be a strength-vs.-strength matchup for Michigan and UConn.

Solo Ball

Ball has been one of UConn's most-reliable 3-pointer shooters for three seasons, but the veteran starter could potentially miss the national championship due to injury.

The 6-foot-4 junior is a vital part of the Huskies' offense and is attempting 9.4 3-pointers per game in March Madness. Losing Ball would be a huge blow and would put added pressure on true freshman Braylon Mullins and fourth-year starter Alex Karaban, UConn's other top 3-point shooters.

"I'm just listening to the medical staff," Ball said when asked if he'll play Monday night against Michigan. "I've been preparing and doing rehab already. So definitely just preparing the same way as (if) I'm playing."

Alex Karaban

Alex Karaban is the "best babysitter," according to coach Dan Hurley. The fourth-year starter has been with the program for five years after redshirting as a true freshman, and is looking for third national championship as a player.

The NCAA Tournament's all-time wins leader among players is 3-of-18 shooting in UConn's last two wins over Duke and Illinois, and the Huskies will need its leader for their best shot at Michigan.

The 6-foot-8 wing stepped up and made a huge shot in UConn's upset win over Duke in the Elite Eight, although the 3-pointer to pull within two points with under a minute left was overshadowed by Braylon Mullins' heroic game-winning 3-pointer. Mr. UConn will be relied on in his final collegiate game.

Elliot Cadeau

A former five-star recruit, Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau didn't live up to his potential in two seasons at North Carolina. The junior has been outstanding for the Wolverines in March Madness, though.

The 6-foot-1 guard is averaging an NCAA Tournament-leading 8.6 assists per game, serving as an offensive hub for Michigan's potent attack. He's also averaging 11 points per game and shooting 40.7% from 3-point range, and could be asked for more responsibility if Lendeborg is limited due to injury.

Regardless, the ball will be in his hands a lot in the national championship game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan vs UConn national championship game most important players

Dan Hurley is on the doorstep of history.

The Connecticut men's basketball coach could make history with another win on Monday, April 6, against No. 1 Michigan in the national championship game of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament.

REQUIRED READING: NCAA championship game predictions: AI picks winner of UConn vs Michigan

Hurley led the Huskies to back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, pushing UConn to six titles in program history (all of which occurred from 1999-onward). If he wins another, he would join a short list of elite men's college basketball coaches to win at least three NCAA championships.

Here's what you need to know about coaches who have won at least three national titles in NCAA history:

The national championship game of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Connecticut will have a lot on the line.

Obviously, the biggest thing on the line will be who wins the national title for the 2025-26 men's college basketball season. But, while a title would be significant for both programs, not all national championships are created equal: A win would mean something different for the Huskies as opposed to the Wolverines.

REQUIRED READING: Yaxel Lendeborg is best player in Final Four. Toughest, too. | Opinion

A win for the Huskies would cement them as a modern-day dynasty and move them further up the list of all-time national championship winners, while the Wolverines would break a historic title drought for the Big Ten Conference while becoming one of only a few programs to win multiple championships.

Ahead of their national championship meeting, here's a look at which programs have the most national titles in NCAA Tournament history: