I’ll confess up front that I have no life. Which is why I spent a large part of my weekend running simulations of the 2026 NBA draft using the Fanspo site. I won’t bore you with the mathy details (yet), but I ran the draft using 9 default setting combinations (auto pick behavior standard, team needs, and chaos vs. the ESPN, Fanspo, and No Ceilings draft boards) 6 times each for a total of 54 runs.

I learned a lot of things (which will be covered in my next article), but one of the more important things I learned was that there were three players that fell to 47 that I had not expected, but that the Suns might want to consider. Thus, I’m providing 3 more scouting reports of players that might be available when the Suns pick at 47. Keep in mind, these are all long shots, but they are players that should at least be on the radar in case they do fall.

Aday Mara (Michigan, Junior, C)

Aday Mara (7’3″, ~255 pounds) is a highly skilled 2026 NBA Draft prospect and Michigan transfer known for elite passing instincts, soft touch around the rim, and significant size. While an exceptional interior scorer and rim protector, his NBA projection relies on improving lateral mobility, perimeter defense, and added physical strength.

Key Statistics

23.2 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.9 stocks, 66.9 FG%, 54.5 FT%

Strengths

• Elite Passing & IQ: Possesses rare vision for a center, acting as a high-post playmaker with advanced reads, including flashy behind-the-back passes.
• Interior Scoring: Efficient scorer with soft touch, shooting high percentages on layups and dunks, particularly as a pick-and-roll or short-roll threat.
• Rim Protection: Uses his 7’3″ frame to block shots and alter attempts in the paint, showing good verticality.

Weaknesses

• Shooting: Needs to develop his jump shot to expand his floor spacing, as his free-throw shooting is low.
• Physicality & Mobility: Concerns exist regarding his ability to defend in space and switch onto smaller players, which could make him a drop-coverage specialist in the NBA. 

Draft Range

Late first to early second round (20-40) with several mocks putting him in the 26-27 range

Why the Suns Should Take a Look

The NBA meta has taken a shift back to having room for giant centers: Zach Edey has been great in Memphis. During last year’s draft, several big men dropped into the second round (Maxime Renaud, Ryan Kalkenbrenner) and have had great rookie seasons. Mara has a 7’6.5” wingspan and grades out as a better defender than Reynaud, if a worse shooter. He averages 4.6 blocks per 36 minutes. He has a more advanced feel for the game than Maluach, and might be a good pick-up if Mark Williams’ contract demands prove exorbitant. He could also provide insurance if Maluach fails to develop.

All in all, he’s a late first round talent; you can’t teach height, and there are several scenarios that fell out where he was the best player available when the Suns drafted in the simulation. I would rank him 5^th on the Suns board from my previous article, between Henri Veesaar and Rueben Chinyelu.

NBA Comparison

Maxime Reynaud, but with less jumpshot and more shot blocking.

Flory Bidunga (Kansas, Sophomore, PF/C)

Flory Bidunga is an elite, high-motor 6’10” 235 lbs. sophomore center at Kansas (2025-26) and a projected 2026 NBA Draft prospect known for explosive athleticism, premier rim protection, and efficient finishing. Named the 2025-26 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, he dominates as a lob threat and rebounder, though he is considered slightly undersized for a center and is developing his offensive game beyond the paint.

Key Statistics

31.6 MPG, 13.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.3 stocks, 64.0 FG%, 65.4 FT%

Strengths

• Elite Athlete & Motor: Possesses tremendous energy, speed, and agility, allowing him to play above the rim consistently.
• Rim Protection: A premier shot-blocker (98th percentile block rate) with great verticality, timing, and recovery speed.
• Efficient Scorer: Highly reliable in the dunker spot and as a roll man (96th percentile), featuring a soft touch and strong lefty hook.
• Rebounding: High-level rebounder on both ends of the floor.

Weaknesses

• Size/Position: At 6’9″ to 6’10”, he is considered a bit undersized for a traditional NBA center, leading to challenges against stronger, taller opponents.
• Offensive Range: Primarily a paint scorer with limited shooting range; needs to develop a consistent jumper to floor-space, according to SI.com and Reddit users.
• Defensive Discipline: Can occasionally get lost on defense or over-pursue block attempts, resulting in foul trouble

Draft Range

Early to mid-second round (35-45)

Why the Suns Should Take a Look

Bidunga has the mobility to play PF or C, making him an interesting option if the Suns want to play two bigs at a time. As noted elsewhere, re-signing Mark Williams isn’t a given, and the Suns’ depth at PF is awful. Bidunga has a 7’2” reach and an excellent vertical leap. He would add athleticism and a lob threat, while being young enough for potential growth. I like his intangibles of being high motor and high effort, which fit well with Ott’s vision for the team. My main concerns with him are his limited shooting and limited offensive game, including assists. I would put him between Alex Condon and Baba Miller on my draft board.

NBA Comparisons

Mark West (Look him up, you whippersnappers), Jarrett Allen, Clint Capela.

Ebuka Okorie (Stanford, Freshman, PG)

Ebuka Okorie is a 6’2″, 185-pound freshman guard for the Stanford Cardinal who has rapidly emerged as a top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. Originally an under-the-radar recruit ranked outside the top 100, he became one of the most productive freshmen in college basketball during the 2025-26 season, earning All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Rookie honors.

Key Statistics

34.8 MPG, 22.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 46.0 FG%, 36.0 FT%, 83.4 FT%

Strengths

• Elite Rim Pressure: Okorie is widely considered the best pure driver in his class. He led the country in drives, converting 71.4% of his half-court rim attempts.
• Shot Creation & Ball Handling: A “jitterbug” with the ball, he uses a shifty handle and change of pace to create his own shot and get downhill.
• Efficiency Under Pressure: Despite a high usage rate (30.7%), he maintains a low turnover rate, averaging only 1.7 turnovers per game.
• Foul Drawing: He is highly effective at getting to the line, leading the ACC in free throws made and shooting 83.4% from the stripe. 

Weaknesses

• Physical Limitations: Scouts hold concerns regarding his lack of elite size and “above-the-rim” athleticism for the NBA level.
• Shooting Consistency: While a capable three-point shooter, his long-range consistency is a “work in progress,” currently hitting 36.0% from deep.
• Defensive Versatility: Due to his size, he can be overpowered by larger guards and lacks the versatility to switch onto multiple positions. 

Draft Range

Late 1st to early 2nd Round (roughly 28th-31st).

Why the Suns Should Take a Look

Okorie fell to the Suns in one of the runs. He’s unlikely to be there when the Suns pick, just based on his raw potential, but could fall if his measurements at the combine say he’s as short as he looks in video. The good is that he is just about the craftiest scorer I’ve seen: his toolset on drives is otherworldly for a 19-year-old. Stop and pop, floaters, Eurostep, slithery-reverse layups, speed changes, shifting to his left hand, all the skills are there. His three-point shot improved dramatically as the season went by, and I think it will continue to improve at the NBA level. He also displays amazing handles and good court vision while limiting turnovers.

The downside: he’s small, slight, and his defense is abysmal. He is going to struggle mightily at the NBA level. I’m uncomfortably reminded of Damian Lillard at both ends of the court, both the good and the bad. But, if the Suns want a backup point guard behind Gillespie who will run an offense, score, push the pace, and not let the opposing team rest with Green out of the game, Okorie fits the mold.

NBA Comparisons

Damian Lillard, Brevin Knight

Final Verdict

While it’s unlikely that these three players will be on the board when the Suns draft, the simulations show it as possible once in a great while. With these three players added into the mix, here is my draft board for the Suns heading into the 2026 Draft with the 47^th Pick:

1. Joshua Jefferson: Very unlikely to be available, but Julius Randle-level upside
2. JT Toppin: A borderline lottery pick if not for injury
3. Zuby Ejiofor: One of the best players two years running at the college level. Elite intangibles
4. Henri Veesaar: Sweet shooting PF/C to stretch the floor. Could form a rotation with Fleming.
5. Aday Mara: Best shot blocker in the NCAA this past year per 36
6. Rueben Chinyelu: Rebounding machine with a clear NBA role and good fit
7. Milan Momcilovic: 6’8” 50% three-point shooters will always have a spot in the league
8. Ebuka Okorie: Potential Jamal Crawford sixth-man of the year type-player
9. Bruce Thornton: Smart, efficient point guard with a bad rap for being one inch too short. Could easily be a steal of the second round like Gillespie
10. Alex Karaban: He shoots threes, meh rebounder, and can play a little 4. Nothing special
11. Alex Condon: We already have Oso Ighodaro at home, dear.
12. Flory Bidunga: projects as a solid, high-energy back-up C. Limited offensive upside.
13. Baba Miller: Kirkland-brand Oso Ighodaro
14. Pryce Sandfort: Not sure what he provides that Koby Brea doesn’t
15. Juke Harris: Low efficiency chucker who doesn’t play defense either. No future in the league. See also: Cam Thomas, Ricky Davis

Next Up

Taking these ratings and showing what they yield in the draft simulator to figure out who the Suns are most likely to get, given this draft big board. Stay tuned…

In our most recent Utah Jazz Reacts survey, we got some interesting answers from Utah Jazz fans. Utah is nearing the end of another season where draft position was the goal. With that in mind, most of Jazz Nation is looking forward to next season and how good the team will be. One of the biggest questions these last four years under Will Hardy is, “Can Will Hardy turn them into a top-10 defense in the NBA?” Even though the team has been purposely designed to lose games, they’ve been one of the worst defenses in the league, if not dead last, each season. With an upgraded roster, that’s going to be one of the most interesting storylines next season. But how do Jazz fans feel?

From this survey, it looks like Jazz fans have a lot of faith in Will Hardy going forward. AlthoughThere may be some noise in that data. For example, maybe the roster doesn’t have enough players who are able to defend at a high enough level. We’ll see. All that said, it is interesting that Hardy has the seal of approval for the defense from the fans.

The next question I had was: who has the best chance of making the All-Star Game next season? According to Jazz fans, it looks like that is Lauri Markkanen.

That may be very likely, although I also think Keyonte George would be my own pick. The ball will be in George’s hands a lot and will be the player making everything happen. That might give him an advantage, but we’ll see.

To look at the odds for these and the upcoming playoffs, you can visit FanDuel here.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has officially announced its Class of 2026 inductees, representing some of the most impactful individuals who have played a part in the growth and advancement of basketball.

The Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2026 is headlined by Joey Crawford, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire, the 1996 U.S. Women's national team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Candace Parker and Mike D'Antoni.

“The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to welcome the Class of 2026, a group that reflects the very best this sport has to offer,” President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame John Doleva said in a news release. "From a referee who set the standard over four decades, to coaches who built dynasties at every level, to players who redefined their positions, to a visionary who changed how the game is played — and a women’s class headlined by a national team that helped launch an entire league, alongside three of the most accomplished players the women’s game has ever seen — we are honored to welcome them to Springfield."

These individuals were recognized for their contributions to the game of basketball, whether they revolutionized the sport, pushed it forward, or have been an adversary to the betterment of the overall product of the game.

Here are the list of the newly inducted Class of 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame members, their accolades and how they've impacted the game.

More: Who made Basketball Hall of Fame? Part of 2026 class revealed by report

Dan Hurley is a man of superstition.

The Connecticut men's basketball coach is also often animated on the sidelines, whether it is his displeasure with something from his team or displeasure with a call from a referee (or referees) on the officiating crew.

Speaking of officials, the Huskies will see three officials in their Final Four game on Saturday vs. No. 3 Illinois who have worked previously worked their games earlier this season, including one who was on the whistle for three of their five losses.

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As noted by CT Insider's David Borges, UConn is 1-3 on the season with official Ron Groover this season. The three losses came against Arizona on Nov. 19, at St. John's at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6 and then Feb. 18 vs. Creighton. The lone win came in a home game against Marquette on Jan. 4.

Hurley has spoken at length about his intensity on the sidelines with officials this week in Indianapolis after he appeared to have butted heads with referee Roger Ayers in the final seconds of UConn's Elite Eight win vs. Duke last Sunday in Washington, D.C. after Braylon Mullins knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer.

REQUIRED READING: What time is men's Final Four? How to watch NCAA Tournament semifinals

"I get much more of a bad reaction from people, I think, on social media than when I meet regular people," Hurley said Friday, April 3 at the Final Four. "Because anytime I meet regular people, they look at me and they start laughing or they start smiling. Or (say), 'You're the guy from the video. You look a little crazy, but I think you're a good egg.'"

It's worth noting that in eight overall trips to the NCAA Tournament across his coaching career, Hurley has not received a technical foul or an ejection — like he did in the final game of the regular season vs. Marquette after making contact with an official — from a game in the tournament. He was mindful of this in a media availability on Thursday, and based on his speculation history, he's likely thinking of it still.

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

"I think I'm an intense coach. It's not easy to work my games. But I've always gotten zero technical fouls in my NCAA Tournament coaching career. I just jinxed myself. Oh, my God, now I'm going to get bounced out of this thing. Oh, my God," Hurley said on Thursday, April 2.

Saturday's Final Four will be the third national semifinal that Hurley has led the Huskies to in the last four years, the first team in over a decade to do such a thing in the NCAA Tournament in a four-year span. UConn is 17-3 in six NCAA Tournament appearances under Hurley.

Official crew for UConn-Illinois Final Four semifinal

The NCAA announced on Saturday that the official crew for UConn-Illinois in the Final Four will comprise Ron Groover, Paul Szelc and Marques Pettigrew. The alternate referee is Greg Nixon.

UConn has won both games that Szelc and Pettigrew worked earlier this season: Szelc for the win over Illinois at Te Garden in November, and then Pettigrew for the win over Florida in the Jimmy V Classic at The Garden in December.

REQUIRED READING: Braylon Mullins is more than a big shot. He's been UConn's missing piece

UConn-Illinois Final Four time today

• Date: Saturday, April 4
• Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)

The Huskies and the Illini will tip off at 6:09 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4 inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

One team will head home with a national championship trophy when Michigan, Arizona, UConn and Illinois face off in the Final Four and national championship game this weekend.

Another team across the country won't be winning a national title, but will be going home with $300,000 in name, image and likeness cash.

The second annual College Basketball Crown, which Nebraska won during its inaugural tournament in 2025, is a five-day tournament in Las Vegas, where eight teams that didn't make the Men's NCAA Tournament compete for cash prizes.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness games today: Final Four schedule and game breakdowns

Oklahoma, Baylor, Creighton and West Virginia already earned at least $50,000 each for reaching the semifinals of the tournament, which are being played Saturday, April 4. The championship game will be held Sunday, April 5.

The CBC is a similar postseason tournament to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which usually features the top non-NCAA Tournament teams in a given season. NIL, though, is shaking up which consolation tournament teams choose to be a part of, especially with the CBC featuring all power conference teams.

Here's a look at the payout structure for the CBC in 2026, which features $500,000 in prize money:

CBC winner's share: How much does champion make in prize money?

• CBC champions: $300,000

The champion of the College Basketball Crown earns $300,000 in NIL money.

College Basketball Crown payout structure 2026

Teams competing in the CBC are guaranteed to earn NIL cash prizes as long as they won their first-round game in 2026. Here's how the CBC payout structure works:

• CBC champions: $300,000
• CBC runners-up: $100,000
• Semifinalists: $50,000 each

College Basketball Crown bracket, scores

Here's a look at the full College Basketball Crown bracket so far, with scores for each game:

Wednesday, April 1

• Oklahoma 90, Colorado 86
• Baylor 67, Minnesota 48

Thursday, April 2

• West Virginia 82, Stanford 77
• Creighton 82, Rutgers 69

Saturday, April 4

• Oklahoma 82, Baylor 69
• Creighton vs. West Virginia | 4 p.m. ET

Sunday, April 5:

• Oklahoma vs. Creighton/West Virginia | 5:30 p.m. ET

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College Basketball Crown payout, winner's share: How much do teams make in CBC?

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INDIANAPOLIS — Arizona is out to Bear Down at the 2026 Final Four.

The Wildcats are back on the biggest stage in college basketball, breaking a 25-year drought to reach the national semifinals. It's been a remarkable ride, winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles to earn a No. 1 seed in March Madness. Arizona hasn't slowed down since then, winning every game by double-digits to make it to Lucas Oil Stadium.

With Arizona having one of its most successful seasons in decades and two wins from its first national title since 1997, fans will sure be rallying around its most famous chant: Bear Down.

People may be hearing it for the first time and may be confused about why the Wildcats are chanting about bears, but it holds a special meaning for Arizona, with a story that is 100 years old.

Bill Murray is going to be present for the Final Four in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 4.

College basketball fans won't be too shocked by this development, as the actor and comedian has long attended Connecticut men's basketball games. That's because he's the father of Luke Murray, an assistant coach for UConn and future head coach of Boston College.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness games today: Final Four schedule and game breakdowns

However, Bill Murray also grew up a fan of Illinois men's basketball — the team UConn happens to play in the Final Four for a chance to compete in the March Madness national championship game.

So, who is the "Saturday Night Live," "Caddyshack," and "Groundhog Day" actor rooting for between UConn and Illinois?

Here's what Bill Murray said ahead of the Final Four meeting between Huskies and Fighting Illini:

For months now, the Wolves and the Houston Rockets have been stuck in a hotly contested battle for the West’s middle playoffs seeds, never really separating, never really collapsing, just kind of stalking each other across the standings. And now, with the regular season finally narrowing into its last meaningful stretch, the picture is starting to come into focus. Not complete focus, because this is still the Western Conference minefield, but enough focus to at least see the outline. Barring a last-minute collapse, Oklahoma City looks headed for the one seed. San Antonio would then have the two seed on lock. The Lakers, sans Luka Doncic, are clinging to the three slot, while Denver has the inside track on four. That leaves Minnesota and Houston locked in the same argument they have been having for months, battling over whether the reward for this season’s efforts will be the five or the six.

And that, in turn, raises the question Wolves fans are now wrestling with: which road would you actually rather take?

Make no mistake, there is no easy path here. This is not the Eastern Conference circa 2014 where you could spend two rounds bludgeoning flimsy pretenders before the real test arrived. Out West, the real test starts immediately. It is a gauntlet no matter where you finish, and the only thing that changes is the flavor of the pain.

If Minnesota lands in the six seed, it likely gets the Lakers in round one and then, if the bracket holds, the San Antonio Spurs in round two. If the Wolves leap Houston and grab fifth, then the opening act becomes Denver in round one and Oklahoma City in round two. This is basically the basketball version of deciding whether you’d rather fight a bear in the woods or a shark in open water.

So we asked the Canis Hoopus faithful which road they would prefer: Lakers then Spurs, or Nuggets then Thunder.

The overwhelming response was clear. Most of you want the six seed. Most of you want the Lakers in round one and San Antonio in round two. Which is understandable, but also not as simple of a choice as it appears on the surface. If you’ve watched the Lakers-Wolves matchups this season and walked away thinking, “Yes, that’s who I want in the playoffs,” then I admire your courage and also question your memory.

Yes, the Wolves absolutely steamrolled the Lakers in five games last postseason. That happened. It was real. It felt cathartic. Minnesota owned the paint, bullied them physically, and made Los Angeles look like a team that had one superstar too many and one center too few.

But this version of the Lakers is not that version of the Lakers.

At the time of last year’s first-round meeting, Los Angeles was still trying to fold Luka Doncic into the whole operation. The fit was a little weird, the rhythm was off, and the center spot was a full-blown construction site after they moved on from Anthony Davis. This time around, there’s more cohesion, more comfort, and more rhythm. Luka was playing like an MVP candidate in March, the Lakers have been scorching hot, and they have taken all three games from Minnesota this season. They’ve won one on an Austin Reaves buzzer-beater and taken the others two in convincing fashion.

While Deandre Ayton is not exactly prime Hakeem, he has at least been competent enough to keep Minnesota’s frontcourt from reenacting last year’s paint domination. The Wolves had their way inside in that playoff series. This year, the Lakers have done enough to make things far murkier.

Now, to be fair, there is one giant caveat here, and it’s a GIANT one. We didn’t know this at the time the poll went live, but Luka’s injury situation certainly tilts the conversation. If he is not full strength by the time the playoffs start, that changes everything. It doesn’t make the Lakers easy, but it makes them far more palatable then facing Jokic and Denver. In a conference where every path involves walking through fire, sometimes “slightly less flammable” is all the optimism you need.

Then there is the second-round possibility in that bracket: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

This is where the conversation gets weird in a way that only Timberwolves basketball can make weird. If Minnesota gets past the Lakers and finds San Antonio waiting in the second round, the Wolves would actually hold the playoff experience advantage. Read that again slowly, especially if you’ve been following this franchise for more than five years. The Minnesota Timberwolves would be the mature, battle-tested team in the matchup. It sounds absurd because for the first 36 years of this franchise’s existence, the idea of Minnesota having postseason gravitas would have felt like a typo. But now? They’ve been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals. They’ve played in real games, under real pressure, against real teams. They know what that feels like.

San Antonio, on the other hand, is terrifying in a completely different way. Wembanyama has taken another leap in the second half of the season, and the Spurs have become the type of team nobody can quite believe is this good this fast. They are young, they are hungry, and they are nipping at the one seed with the kind of reckless confidence that makes young teams dangerous before they’ve learned they’re supposed to be scared.

Still, if you’re choosing your poison, there is a logic to preferring San Antonio over Oklahoma City in round two. The Wolves could get physical with the Wemby. They could lean on their experience. They could try to turn the series into an ugly, grown-man fight and make San Antonio prove it can handle that kind of pressure. That path makes sense.

But then you look at the other road.

The fifth seed. Denver in round one. Oklahoma City in round two.

This is where things get complicated, because the road most fans seem least interested in might also be the one the Wolves secretly believe they’re built for.

It is not hard to understand why Denver would be a more intimidating first-round opponent than the Lakers. Nikola Jokic exists, and he is still the most terrifying player on the planet to see across from your team in a playoff setting. He is the best player in the world, and unlike some other stars, his greatness doesn’t need dramatic flourishes. He doesn’t need to hit 40-foot threes or scream into the camera. He just quietly disassembles your defensive plan with surgical precision.

And yet, if you’re Minnesota, Denver is the monster you at least recognize. The Wolves have seen this movie before. They took Denver to seven games in 2024 and ended the Nuggets’ title defense in the greatest playoff moments in franchise history. They swept the Nuggets in the regular season last year. Even this year, despite going 1-3 against them, the matchups have often felt familiar rather than hopeless. Denver has won the games, yes, but some of them were close enough to remind you that Minnesota understands the challenge. Christmas Day, for instance, ended in overtime. These teams know each other. There is no mystery. No fear of the unknown. If anything, there may be a degree of confidence on both sides that makes that series feel almost inevitable, like two rivals who have already agreed they’ll be seeing each other again in the spring whether the bracket wants it or not.

That is the pro-Denver argument. Familiarity. Physicality. A belief that Minnesota is one of the few teams in the league structurally built to at least make Jokic work for everything. Gobert, Randle and Reid in waves, all the size and length and bruising frontcourt options you need to keep Denver from just skating through a series unchallenged.

The problem, of course, is what comes next.

Because lurking around the corner in that path is Oklahoma City, and that one still feels different. The Thunder ended Minnesota’s season in last year’s Western Conference Finals, and they did it with a level of maturity and control that made the Wolves look like a team still learning how serious basketball is played in late May. Minnesota has split the season series 2-2 with OKC this year, so it’s not as if the matchup is hopeless. The Wolves can absolutely play with them. They’ve proven that. But there is still a professionalism to the Thunder, a clarity of identity, that Minnesota has not consistently shown. Against San Antonio, the Wolves might have the composure edge. Against OKC, that edge belongs to the Thunder until proven otherwise.

The one possible silver lining there is timing. If Minnesota drew Oklahoma City in the second round rather than the conference finals, the Wolves might actually have fresher legs than they did in the past two postseasons, when some of the wear and tear really started to show by the time they reached the final four. There is at least a case to be made that a second-round clash with the Thunder would catch both teams in a better physical spot and potentially give the Wolves a cleaner crack at the matchup.

Still, if you’re asking fans which road feels less terrifying, it makes sense that the Lakers-Spurs path won the poll. It looks cleaner on paper. It has fewer Jokic and Shai-related nightmares built into it. It offers a younger second-round opponent. It feels, if not easy, at least slightly less like intimidating.

And yet, this is where the whole conversation circles back to the same reality: the Wolves do not actually control this. Not fully. Not yet. There are still games left to play, and all kinds of weird variables remain in play, not least of which is Luka’s health and whatever last-minute surprises the Western Conference cooks up in the final week. Maybe the standings shift. Maybe one team stumbles. Maybe somebody rests on the last weekend. Maybe the bracket that looks obvious right now is totally different in six days.

That is why this whole exercise is more about preference than prediction. At the end of the day, whether Minnesota finishes fifth or sixth, the path is going to be brutal. It is going to require them to beat teams they have struggled against, stay healthy, get Anthony Edwards fully back into rhythm, and play with a level of consistency that has eluded them for maddening stretches all season. There is no gimmick route here. No lucky loophole. No “just get this matchup and everything opens up.” That door does not exist in this conference.

So maybe the better question is not which path do you prefer. Maybe the better question is which version of the Timberwolves do you think is actually showing up?

If it’s the locked-in, physically dominant, defensively connected version, the one that beat Boston and survived Houston and remembers how to play like a team with real postseason confidence, then either road is survivable. Difficult, yes. But survivable.

If it’s the sleepy, self-sabotaging, switch-flipping version that spends entire quarters treating urgency like an optional feature, then it honestly does not matter if the opponent is the Lakers, Nuggets, Spurs, or Thunder. That version is not getting to June.

The thing Wolves fans know now, maybe more than at any other time in franchise history. The playoffs are not just about the bracket. They are about identity. And for this team, that identity still fluctuates a little too much for comfort.

Still, if you made me choose? I get why the fan base picked the sixth seed. I do. There is still something about avoiding Jokic in round one and OKC in round two that feels marginally more humane. Luka may be in street clothes. The Spurs are terrifying, but they are also young. The Wolves would have been there before. They would know what the pressure feels like. There’s something to that.

But whichever road the Wolves get, the mission is the same. Use these final games to get Edwards right. Get the rotations locked in. Get the supporting cast settled. Get the defense back to a place where it can travel into any arena and make life miserable. Because the bracket may determine the shape of the challenge, but not the size of it.

Out West, every path is uphill. The only real question is whether the Wolves are ready to keep climbing.

As the Wolves get locked and loaded for the post-season, FanDuel Sportsbook is here for all of your NBA playoff betting needs!

Last night, the New York Knicks eviscerated the Chicago Bulls from the opening tip, en route to the team’s third 40-point victory of the season. They entered as 14.5-point favorites against a Bulls team that, while tanking all the same as teams like Indiana, Utah, and Washington, were playing enough players that made you truly think, “Yeah, these guys are just bad.“

I savored that fourth quarter, watching the bench mob play out the string. As the final buzzer sounded, so did the calmness of regular-season basketball. That’ll be the last time the Knicks will square off against a hopelessly overmatched opponent for several months.

By the time the next game comes, whether it’s against the Nets or these Bulls or the Kings, this team could look totally different. They could be buzzing from the success of the team’s first championship in 53 years. They could be dismantled and reconfigured after a disappointing early exit. They could somehow look the same after a run ends just short of the ultimate prize.

By the time we see a game like this again, where everyone gets to eat, and the starters are laughing on the bench in the fourth, everything may change. There are a bunch of these games throughout an 82-game season, especially this year, where the Knicks have a staggering 17 20+ point victories (and nine 30+ point victories, a franchise record!), but they are uncommon come playoff time.

Could there be a blowout in either direction in the final week or in whatever playoff series the Knicks are in? Absolutely. In the last two years alone, those highly contentious series against the Pacers still delivered multiple staggering blowouts in both directions. Basketball’s a volatile sport, after all.

But from here on out, there are stakes to every single game the Knicks play. There are no gimme’s, there are no meaningless games. Even if the seeding is locked up and Game 82 does turn out to be mostly meaningless, you’ll still be playing a team fighting for seeding, even if the personal outcome doesn’t matter.

The bench mob has gotten much more run this year, and we salute their services. Ariel Hukporti, Tyler Kolek, Pačome Dadiet, Trey Jemison III, Kevin McCullar Jr., and probably Jeremy Sochan: We thank you for your services of competing hard in practice every day to get our guys ready and stepping up when you’ve been needed due to the day-to-day injuries of the main rotation. If someone goes down from here, some of you may be thrust into bigger roles (ahem, Delon Wright), but most likely, this is the end of the road for you guys, who play critically important roles to get through an 82-game season.

From here on out, it’s down to 11 guys. Foul trouble or injuries could dip into the deep reserves, but barring disaster, it’s these 11.

• Jalen Brunson
• Mikal Bridges
• Josh Hart
• OG Anunoby
• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Deuce McBride
• Jose Alvarado
• Landry Shamet
• Jordan Clarkson
• Mo Diawara
• Mitchell Robinson

These 11 will get meaningful minutes at some point in the postseason, whether plentiful or situational. We don’t know who Mike Brown will use in his planned rotation, but we know that eight of these 11 are probably in it for sure. We’ll see games where he turns to Clarkson for spot scoring, Diawara for his length and versatility, and Alvarado when he needs ballhandling off the bench, but those will be on a game-by-game basis.

The team is healthy now. For the last four regular-season games and however long this playoff run is, these are the 11 that matter. These 11 will decide the Knicks’ fate, for this season and for the future of this core.

The next four games are all against teams that the Knicks could face in the postseason, and while we know from last April that the outcome means essentially nothing, they’re important when it comes to seeding. The Knicks enter the final week with a 1.5-game lead on the Cavaliers for fourth and sit 2.5 games behind the Celtics for second. With a head-to-head matchup remaining against their Atlantic Division foes, it’s not totally over yet, but the margin for error is nonexistent.

The head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cavaliers means it’d be pretty hard to fall to four, but a poor final week opens the door. Who the Knicks play will also be heavily influenced by their own actions, as they have a chance to knock the Hawks down a peg, push the Raptors deeper into the play-in, and limit the Hornets’ rise. A loss could also further embolden them ahead of a playoff series.

Every game from here on out is against a formidable opponent. There are no easy paths left.

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

The Spurs have only five games left in the regular season, and two of them are against the Denver Nuggets, today and on the final game of the season, which will likely be a rest day for both team’s stars. It’s also the final road game for the Silver and Black, as they finish up the season with a four game stand in the Frost Bank Arena. The Spurs’ chances for taking first place in the west depend on the Thunder losing at least two of their remaining five games, which seems unlikely after they took LeBron’s lunch money on Thursday, so the team will be concentrating on improving and working on their team play. That’s a project that’s going well, with the team easily dispatching the Clippers in their last game with Victor sitting out with ankle soreness, with overall team play and balanced scoring and smothering defense.

Victor Wembanyama is available today—he needs to play three of the final five games to be eligible for post-season awards and I expect him to make a huge impact today in his matchup with Nikola Jokic. Both Jokic and Wemby are in the running for MVP this year, but in my mind, Victor has the edge, because while both players are excellent on offense, Vic is the better defender, and he’ll make sure to demonstrate that in today’s contest. Stephon Castle must dominate Jamal Murray, and the Spurs will probably use a variety of defenders against Aaron Gordon. I’d like to see they try Carter Bryant on Gordon as a player who can match his athleticism, although he will likely have a rough time with his offensive craftiness. It would be a good learning experience for the Rookie. It could be a big game for De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, as the Spurs have more guard depth than the Nuggets and that will provide lots of opportunities for the Spurs backcourt. OK, GO SPURS GO!!!

Game Prediction:

Nikola Jokic will miss a defensive rotation because he got lost in watching Victor Wembanyama do amazing things. It happens to all of us.

San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets
April 4, 2026 | 2:00 PM CT
Streaming: NBA League Pass
TV: FanDuel Sports Southwest, Prime
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.

Not long after the Brooklyn Nets lost once again Friday night, this time by 40 ignominious points to the red-hot Atlanta Hawks at Barclays, word arrived from the west coast that the Sacramento Kings had won their game with the New Orleans Pelicans in a tight one that came down to the final seconds!! Huzzah!!

It was big news in Brooklyn and here’s why from Tankathon…

The Nets who reportedly had set a goal of getting a top three pick — with a 52.1% chance at at top four pick and a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1 — are close to achieving it. Although nothing is mathematically certain, for the Nets to drop into fourth and lesser odds would require them to win three of their last five and have both the Wizards and Pacers lose out. While the latter may be likely, it’s hard to imagine the Nets, winners of five games in the last two-plus months, will add another three to the win column before closing time, no matter the competition.

The focus on the top three was based on the assessment that the three top picks in the NBA Draft — Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson and A.J. Dybanta — were all “franchise changers,” the equivalent of having three Cooper Flaggs in one draft! That’s changed a bit with Peterson’s maturity being a question and other prospects like Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff rising in draftnik analyses.

Getting the first overall pick will be tough with the Nets playing four games vs. three other tanking teams — the Wizards on Sunday, the Bucks two days later, Pacers next Thursday and a return trip to Milwaukee the next night — before finishing off with the Raptors on April 12. Still, Brooklyn has a shot. They are arguably the worst team in the NBA right now and have gotten worse of late.

There are other variables of course even if the Nets finish last in the standings. They’ll have to deal with a history that is not favorable. Playing the probabilities is one thing, good fortune with the aerodynamics of small plastic balls is quite another.

The last three teams to go into the lottery with the worst record in regular season and the best odds came out of it with the fifth pick. Indeed, there’s a 47.9% of that. Moreover, no team with the worst record has won the overall No. 1 since the NBA instituted its new draft rules in 2019. And the last two lotteries were won by the Mavericks and Hawks who had 1.8% chances at the top spot. Of course, falling a bit in a generational as well as deep draft is better than winning the overall No. 1 in a bad draft.

All that said, Brian Lewis argued before the Atlanta game, that the Nets are the neediest of the tanking legion and deserve some of that good fortune. But in that argument, he pointed to some troublesome facts.

[N]one of the 10 or so teams playing the percentages need a young star more than talent-starved Brooklyn, including the Pacers and Wizards, who they’re chasing.

They infamously haven’t produced a single homegrown All-Star since Brook Lopez in 2013, over a decade ago…

Between the beating the Nets just took from Charlotte and the matchups they still have looming, it just drives home that every single one of these tanking rivals has either veteran All-Stars or young franchise players, or both.

For all their future draft capital, right now Brooklyn has neither.

No Tyrese Haliburton or Ivica Zubac like Indiana. No Trae Young or Anthony Davis like Washington. No Donatas Sabonis or DeMar DeRozan like Sacramento. Etc. etc.

So, something else to think about as the last week of the season approaches and the lottery is now a little more than a month away. Also, things no doubt will change on Draft Night. As we’ve noted ad infinitum, Marks does his best work within 48 hours of the NBA Draft.

In the meantime, it’s Zanax and Zantac in equal portions as we watch the Nets and the scoreboard.

The Bucks are in hot water for their handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playing status. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that the team is under investigation for potentially violating the league’s “player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements.”

The team won’t medically clear Antetokounmpo, who hyperextended his knee on Mar. 15, per Charania, although the two-time NBA MVP has vowed he’s healthy and ready to take the court.

“You know who you are dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday.

“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete it’s like a slap in my face. So, I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”

“I’ve never seen a case of a player saying, my caliber of player, that’s like, I’m saying it publicly, I want to f–king play. You know what I’m saying?” Antetokounmpo added. “I don’t think I’ve seen this. So, if there needs to be an investigation, great. There should be. I don’t know. There should be. Until we figure something out.”

Charania added to the report on Saturday, saying that the Bucks told NBA investigators that Antetokounmpo declined the opportunity to play 3-on-3 scrimmages as part of the return protocol from his knee injury. The team’s franchise player told the league he is healthy enough to take the court.

Late last month, the National Basketball Players Association suggested that the Bucks, who are 30-47 and eliminated from playoff contention, were tanking and holding a healthy superstar out of the lineup.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union wrote in a statement.

In the days after the injury, the team reportedly approached Antetokounmpo about sitting out the rest of the season, but he insisted on trying to get back on the court.

The face-off marks yet another rift between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who drafted him No. 15 overall in 2013 and won a championship with the Greece native in 2021. 

Trade rumors swirled last offseason and during this season with various reports about Antetokounmpo’s desire to leave the only franchise he’s known.

Before the trade deadline, Milwaukee opted to hold on to Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 27.6 points with 9.8 rebounds in 36 games this season, despite rumors that he could be dealt.

In March, Bucks co-owner Wes Edens said he doesn’t want Antetokounmpo, who has one year plus a player option for the 2027-28 season left on the three-year, $186 million extension he signed in 2023, playing out the 2026-27 NBA season with the team without a new deal.

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There are just three games in the Association today (apparently, some other basketball games are getting all the attention today), but I've still found some value in the NBA player props market.

My NBA picks for Saturday, April 4 cover all three of today's matchups — see why I'm targeting rebounds in what should be an absolute slopfest, Wemby to focus more on defense than offense, and Daniss Jenkins continuing to cash the Over on his threes.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	o5.5 rebounds	+110
Victor Wembanyama	u28.5 points	-112
Daniss Jenkins	o1.5 threes	-120

Prop #1: Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 5.5 rebounds (+110)

+110 at bet365

What can we expect with mediocre (or outright) bad teams playing? That's right: Bad offense! The Miami Heat sit 20th in the league in field goal percentage, with Washington 23rd, with plenty of missed shots up for grabs on both sides.

The big difference here is that the Wiz are also dead last in rebounding percentage, meaning we should look to Miami to clean the glass — and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been doing just that, topping this number in three straight games.

His numbers took a dip during a four-game stretch a few weeks ago (where his minutes were limited due to a hip ailment), but looking at when he's had regular run (27+ minutes), he's cashed this prop in five of his last seven games — and our NBA player prop projections put him right at six boards today.

• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MNMT, FDSN SU

Prop #2: Victor Wembanyama Under 28.5 points (-112)

-112 at bet365

Victor Wembanyama is coming off back-to-back 41-point outings, but those were against the depleted Warriors and hapless Bulls.

Neither team has a truly threatening interior presence, and today he's squaring off with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Wemby will have to spend more time and effort defending (and dealing with the physicality of the much thicker Jokic), and I'm anticipating it will come at the expense of his scoring production.

The Spurs star went Under this number in six of his previous seven games before his 40+ outbursts, and our NBA player prop projections have Wemby pegged for just 24.4 points today.

A number of other books have moved to 27.5 already (or have higher juice on u28.5), giving us a little bit of value on the number as well.

• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: Daniss Jenkins Over 1.5 threes (-120)

-120 at bet365

Daniss Jenkins has stepped up in a big way for the Pistons since Cade Cunningham has been sidelined with a collapsed lung, getting moved into the starting lineup and seeing his usage expand from around 20 per game to 36 minutes per night.

His scoring has also skyrocketed, averaging more than 19 points per game in that span, while hitting just over two threes per game (on almost five attempted) and cashing this prop in six of 10 games since becoming the starting PG.

Jenkins and Detroit will face Philadelphia tonight, which is giving up the most 3-point attempts since March 1 — and could have some tired legs on defense after grinding through a tough matchup with Minnesota last night.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN DT, NBCSP

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

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

If you’ve scrolled Twitter lately, you might think the Cleveland Cavaliers are stuck in a doom spiral. Fans are upset about some of their recent performances. I share some of that sentiment. But the truth is, Cleveland has won eight of their last 11 games and continues to be one of the Eastern Conference’s strongest contenders.

Even the fans agree with that, despite some grumbles.

More than a third of fans said they believe the Cavs will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this May. Another 26% predict the Cavs will make it to the NBA Finals, win or lose.

FanDuel tends to agree. The Boston Celtics are the only Eastern team with higher odds to win the title. Overall, Cleveland has the fifth-highest odds behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Celtics, and Denver Nuggets.

On the flip side, fewer than 10% of the fan base is worried about a first round loss. It seems no one is overly concerned about the Atlanta Hawks.

Hope is a good thing. It’s the reason why we root for these teams in the first place. The Cavs have done enough this season, largely behind a seismic change for James Harden, to make you feel like they have a fighting chance at doing something special. All that’s left now is to finish the regular season and get healthy.