Category: NBA

As the Detroit Pistons prepare not just for what they hope is a deep playoff run, but also for next season, the team is shuffling its roster with a new signing and releasing a little-used member. Center Tolu Smith is signing a two-year contract that will make him available for the playoffs and potentially ensure he’s on board next season as well. To make room for Smith on the roster, the Pistons waived second-year forward Bobi Klintman.

The news was first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and later confirmed by Omari Sankofa with the added detail that the second year of the deal is non-guaranteed.

Smith has been a two-way player for the Pistons over the past two seasons and adds depth with the anticipated return of backup center Isaiah Stewart. Smith has played in 13 games for the Pistons this season. He’ll be behind starter Jalen Duren, Stewart, and Paul Reed. But Smith is a big body at 254 pounds that the Pistons can turn to if they feel like Reed, who weighs just 210 pounds, can’t bang down low against a specific opponent, and either Duren or Stewart is unavailable. The added depth at center might also allow JB Bickerstaff to play a two-big lineup with Duren and Stewart on the floor without worrying about how to allocate the minutes.

Smith is averaging 10 minutes per game, hitting 51% of his shots, and 3.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks a night.

Klintman, meanwhile, didn’t seem to be in the plans for the Pistons. He represents Trajan Langdon’s first draft miss as a relatively high second-round pick (37th overall). Of course, very few second-round picks do much of anything in the NBA, but there are nine players selected after Klintman who have logged more than 2,000 minutes, while Bobi has played just 113. That includes Ajay Mitchell and Jaylen Wells, selected with the two picks immediately after Klintman, as well as Oso Ighodaro (40th overall), Pelle Larsson (44th), Jamal Shead (45th), and Cam Spencer (53rd).

There is a chance Klintman stays in the fold by signing a new two-way contract with the Pistons, using the slot vacated by Smith, but Detroit never seemed to prioritize or reward Klintman with playing time. Getting 113 minutes in two seasons is a drop in the bucket. Detroit has had its fair share of blowout wins, and Klintman has played less than 18 minutes since November.

If this is the end of his tenure, he walks away averaging 1.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in just under six minutes per game while shooting 33% from the floor.

Already without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers ruled out LeBron James out for Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James was questionable as he manages a chronic left foot injury. The Lakers are fighting for playoff seeding with four games left before the postseason, but with two consecutive losses and major injuries mounting, they have slipped to fourth in the West, a half-game behind Denver. The lowest they can fall is into fifth place, ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Doncic is out with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and Reaves is sidelined with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. The Lakers (50-28) are also without starting guard Marcus Smart, who will miss his eighth consecutive game with because of a right ankle contusion. Now with James out, the Lakers will be down four of their five regular starters.

The 41-year-old James had played in 13 consecutive games with the Lakers going 10-3 during that span. Adjusting to a reduced ball-handling role to let Doncic and Reaves control the offense, James was shooting 54.4% from the field, averaging 17.6 points per game on only 12.3 shot attempts in the first 12 games before Doncic and Reaves were injured.

With both guards out in the Lakers' last game against Dallas, James shot 12 for 22 from the field, scoring 30 points with 15 assists. It was the most shot attempts for James in a game since Dec. 20, 2025, when Reaves was out because of a calf strain and Doncic suffered a a leg contusion that limited him to just the first half.

The Thunder (62-16) have won five consecutive games. The defending NBA champions are 3-0 against the Lakers this season, including a 43-point drubbing last week. The Lakers finish the regular season at Golden State on Thursday, at home against Phoenix on Friday and against Utah on Sunday. The playoffs begin April 18.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Michael Malone has accepted an offer to be UNC’s next basketball coach, the first one outside “the family” in most of our lifetimes. Malone became familiar with UNC thanks to his daughter Bridget, a rising sophomore, who plays volleyball for the Tar Heels. While reportedly in the mix to return to the NBA as a head coach, Malone opted instead to step into the vacancy left open for almost two weeks after the dismissal of Hubert Davis.

Inside Carolina reports that Malone will be the second-highest paid coach in college basketball behind Bill Self. Malone agreed to a six-year deal that will average just over $8 million per year. The contract was approved by the Board of Trustees on Tuesday.

Malone won a NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. The star of that team, Nikola Jokic, “the Joker,” entered the NBA as the 41st pick in the 2015 draft. His rookie season and Malone’s first as the Nuggets’ head coach coincided, and Malone helped craft Jokic into one of the NBA’s foremost talents.

Malone brings 12 years of NBA head coaching experience, 10 with the Nuggets and two with the Sacramento Kings. Prior to that, he spent 10 seasons as an assistant with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Along the way, he developed much respect with UNC’s NBA alumni, such as Ty Lawson, Danny Green, and Tyler Hansbrough, who have been praising the hire. Before his professional experience, Malone worked in the college game at Manhattan, Providence, and Oakland.

You can stream the introductory press conference today at 6:00 pm on GoHeels.com or on YouTube. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Great Day to be a Tar Heel! pic.twitter.com/50O9gdxA0F

— Bubba Cunningham (@BubbaUNC) April 7, 2026

Who: Phoenix Suns (43-35) vs. Houston Rockets (49-29)

When: 8:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Peacock/NBC

Listen: SiriusXM Channel 214

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78 down, 4 to go. The Rockets have clinched a playoff spot, and the Suns have clinched a Play-In spot. While not technically impossible for the Suns to take the Timberwolves’ standings spot number 6, it is increasingly improbable, given the 3-game deficit. The Suns, and basically everyone else, are playing warm-up for the postseason at this point.

That said, the Suns have won 3 of their last 5. Though the victories haven’t always been pretty at times, they are still victories. Most importantly, the Suns have finally started to get healthy. Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks are both back and playing big minutes.

With that health has come a shortened rotation. Sunday against the Bulls, none of Rasheer Fleming, Ryan Dunn, or Khaman Maluach saw minutes.

Will the trend continue? We will see tonight against the Rockets.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Haywood Highsmith – OUT (Right Knee)

Rockets

• Steven Adams – OUT (Ankle)
• Fred VanVleet – OUT (ACL)

What to Watch For

The Rockets are healthy, and when they are, they are BIG. They are second in the league in blocks per game and first in rebounds despite being eleventh in defensive rebounds. That means they crash the offensive glass hard. They are first in the league in offensive rebounds per game at 15.0. Now, that said, your Phoenix Suns are fourth in the league in offensive rebounds per game at 13.0. 

Overall, by the numbers, the Rockets have a better offense, better defense, are better at crashing the glass, and are much taller. I have thought all season that this is a top-two worst matchup in the NBA for the Suns.

That thought is sustained by history. The Suns have lost the last seven matchups against the Rockets. Their last win against Houston came on February 29th, 2024, in a game that saw Kevin Durant score 24 points for Phoenix and Jalen Green score 34 for Houston.

Tonight, we are watching to see if the Suns can get a big win against a bad matchup going into the play-in.

Key to a Suns Win

If the Suns want to win, they are going to have to play bigger than they are. Against the Bulls, Jordan Ott started Jordan Goodwin. Goodie may be the best in the league at playing bigger than he is, so I hope to see him starting again. He had a good night, after all, putting up 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Tonight, it is all about crashing the glass. Phoenix can’t do anything about the hands they are going to have in their faces; all they can do is work hard to secure the rebound after misses.

Prediction

My confidence isn’t high after recent performances, and the Rockets have had the Suns’ number for over two calendar years now. What’s important is that the Suns fight hard and feel warmed up going into their first play-in game.

Rockets 114, Suns 110

Just when it looked like the Lakers’ injury report couldn’t get worse, it has.

The Lakers will have to play against the Thunder without LeBron James, who has been ruled out due to left foot injury management.

The team is already playing without Marcus Smart, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, so now the only starter who will be suiting up for the purple and gold is Deandre Ayton.

Via the Lakers: LeBron James, left foot injury management, has been downgraded to OUT for tonight’s game vs. Oklahoma City.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) April 7, 2026

The only good news here for Los Angeles is that this injury is being labeled as left foot injury management. So, it’s just about LeBron getting some rest and not another massive injury to a key player.

After Tuesday, the Lakers have three games left, including a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday. If LeBron resting here means he can play the rest of the way, then that’s probably a smart move.

Still, LeBron’s absence from this game doesn’t make winning any easier. With Dončić and Reaves out, the Lakers have been relying on James even more.

He ran the entire offense for LA in their game against the Mavericks and played well. It’s going to be extremely difficult for Lakers head coach JJ Redick to find LeBron’s level of production with the players he has left available.

Perhaps Luke Kennard can have another triple-double, or Rui Hachimura goes berserk from deep to keep the Lakers in this one.

Considering that OKC just blew out LA when they were fully healthy a week ago, this doesn’t look like a game the Lakers can win.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

It had to feel like it was all slipping away. Cooper Flagg missed games with a foot injury, and while he was sidelined, his former Duke roommate was busy doing the one thing more impactful than posting impressive stat lines — Kon Knueppel was reshaping the narrative. More games played, cleaner shooting metrics, a winning context in Charlotte. On the surface, the case was building. The straw poll of NBA media members had Knueppel firmly in the lead.

Then Flagg dropped 51 on a Friday and 45 on a Sunday, and the conversation was over.

Jason Timpf breaks down exactly why Flagg should be — and now almost certainly will be — the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. The analytical case is airtight: of Flagg’s 96 points across those two games, 52 came directly out of pick-and-roll creation or isolation. Knueppel is at his best as a chaos agent alongside LaMelo Ball — and Timpf’s numbers make that dependency impossible to ignore. In the 2,172 possessions Knueppel has played without LaMelo on the floor, Charlotte posts a zero net rating and scores 112.8 points per 100. Flagg is the offensive engine, on the third-worst spot-up efficiency team in the league, drawing the best defender every single night. These are not comparable situations.

Commissioner Dynamo made me laugh, more than once. Worth your time.

Which brings us to the Rorschach test hiding inside Flagg’s season stats. Look at his October numbers — 13.4 points per game on 41% shooting, including a 2-point disaster against Oklahoma City. Jason Kidd, operating in a context where Anthony Davis was still on the roster and Kyrie Irving’s return felt possible, ran an experiment: Flagg at point guard. If you are a Kidd supporter, that experiment unlocked something in Flagg — accelerated his development, expanded his creation toolkit, made him the player currently dismantling NBA defenses in April. If you are not a Kidd supporter, those early games represent ROY votes that now risk favoring the Hornet sharpshooter. Kidd himself has suggested the experiment was formative. It is, conveniently, impossible to disprove.

What we can say with certainty is this: however those first weeks shaped him, what’s on the other end of it is a 19-year-old who just dropped 51 and 45 in back-to-back games while the basketball internet scrambles to keep up. The Mavericks have a future because of Flagg, potentially a bright one. At the very least, his incredible season beckons the scariest thought experiment this side of “what if Harrison was still in control?” and that is…where would the Mavs be without getting so lottery lucky?

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph, Seth Curry call playing together as NBA teammates “a dream come true.”
• Steph Curry to auction off Sneaker Free Agency Collection to benefit his Eat. Learn. Play Foundation.
• Bucks have “come to terms with the inevitability” of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade coming this offseason, according to ESPN.

Ever since the Golden State Warriors signed Stephen Curry’s younger brother, Seth Curry, on Dec. 1, many awaited the moment the two would finally share the floor as NBA teammates. Just as it seemed within reach, injuries to both delayed that opportunity for most of the season.

However, that changed Sunday night.

After missing 27 games, Steph Curry returned to the lineup, finally giving the brothers their long-awaited opportunity to take the floor together. At the 6:19 mark of the second quarter, the two stood side by side in the same backcourt, delivering a special moment for one of the NBA’s most iconic basketball families.

Steph & Seth share the court 🥹

For the first time in their careers, Stephen Curry and Seth Curry are sharing the floor as teammates in the same regular season game! pic.twitter.com/VtNRumsEPe

— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2026

The Curry brothers shared the floor for just one minute before Seth was subbed out, but it was enough to make the moment real. Between them, they combined for 35 points off the bench, knocking down six three-pointers on 13 attempts. Steph led the way with 29 points in just 26 minutes, while Seth added six points in 13 minutes of action.

After years of competing against each other on separate teams, the opportunity to finally play as teammates became a reality — something both described as a “dream come true” for their family.

"Oh man. That was special. We've both had a very difficult year… I was joking calling us the rehab brothers."

Steph Curry got emotional when asked about playing with his brother Seth for the first time in the NBA 💛🥲

"That was a dream come true to be honest." pic.twitter.com/BGXN4UHf59

— KNBR (@KNBR) April 6, 2026

Seth Curry said playing with his brother represented “a great moment” for them and their family.

“Dream come true. We’ve played against each other for a while now. For us to be on the same floor together as teammates was a different dynamic.”

More: pic.twitter.com/55xX0vetAk

— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) April 6, 2026

And while their time on the floor together was brief this time around, there should be more opportunities with four games remaining in the regular season. For the Warriors, it was a bright spot during a challenging stretch. For the Currys, it meant something more — a moment years in the making, and one they won’t forget.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 7th:

Warriors News:

Why Steph and Seth Curry’s ‘dream come true’ with Warriors is basketball bliss | NBC Sports Bay Area

They’re most happy that their mother Sonya was able to be there, fully in her element. 

“To have that moment coming out of a timeout talking about our matchups, I was having flashbacks to Charlotte Christian High School my senior year, his sophomore year,” Steph said. “That was the last time in an actual game, even though he was on our training camp roster in 2013, but that was the last time we actually played a game together. My mom was in the stands, she probably didn’t have any more memory on her phone with all the pictures and videos.”

Kawakami: Draymond Green on his vision for a fulfilling Warriors ending … in a few years | The San Francisco Standard

“Rich and I discussed it a couple months ago briefly,” Draymond said. “We haven’t talked much about it because we don’t deal with those things until the offseason. But I think in an ideal world, and again, this is me talking without me talking to my representation so Rich will probably kill me. But in an ideal world, I think the best path would be to decline and extend. If I had it my way, that would be the best path forward.”

If it happens, that would be one important piece of the puzzle plopped into place for Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy, added to trying to get Kristaps Porzingis signed, possibly also at a medium salary for a few years, and several other important items.

Steph Curry to auction off his Sneaker Free Agency Collection for charity

Bidding on Stephen Curry’s ‘Sneaker Free Agency Collection’ will run from April 13-28 on https://t.co/LyYxNNu66u

More info on Curry’s @Sothebys auction benefiting his @EatLearnPlay Foundation here:https://t.co/XQ5UsYwlpMhttps://t.co/GW9vbRWDispic.twitter.com/M312j0wGWv

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 7, 2026

NBA News:

Inside the fractured relationship between Giannis and the Bucks | ESPN

The Bucks will be open to trade talks regarding Antetokounmpo, and the highest levels of the organization have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason, sources told ESPN.

“This is as toxic of a team situation as any in the league,” one source close to the team said. “They waited until the very end on Giannis, and now everyone knows.”

Bulls fire vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley

Since hiring Karnisovas to head basketball operations in 2020, the Bulls went 224-254, made one playoff appearance, and are now missing the postseason for the fourth straight season. Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf decided Monday to make a change to the team’s… https://t.co/sedLR42nIN

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 6, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Last Two-Minute Report shows Warriors got hosed against Rockets

What can we conclude? Referees don’t respect Steph Curry, but they respect the sanctity of “three in the key” even less. This author will consider the Warriors a true 37-win team going forward.

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

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The basketball gods seem angry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Losing two of their three best players for at least a few weeks just as the playoffs near certainly changes every thought Los Angeles has.

Few opponents will pester a new point guard as aggressively as the Oklahoma City Thunder will tonight, but my Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and these NBA picks still see value in new-look L.A. point guard Luke Kennard on Tuesday, April 7.

Thunder vs Lakers prediction

Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists (+105)

Point guard Luke Kennard. That is a reality for the Los Angeles Lakers as the playoffs loom. This was certainly not their plan.

With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined for the next few weeks, Kennard and LeBron James shared the offensive initiation duties in Sunday’s loss at Dallas, with James playing nearly 39 minutes and dishing out 15 assists while Kennard played more than 41 minutes and handed out 11 assists.

Expect Kennard to also cough up a bounty of turnovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s perimeter defenders. That should be obvious.

But the sheer amount of ball-handling now required of Kennard creates unquestionable value in this prop. As long as Los Angeles has hopes of the No. 3 seed in the West — currently effectively tied with the Nuggets, though the Lakers hold the tiebreaker — expect them to lean into this new-fangled look.

This was not the design, but it is now the reality.

Thunder vs Lakers same-game parlay

The value is in Kennard’s assists prop, not as much as in LeBron James’s. Kennard’s ball-handling role is the surprise induced by Los Angeles’s injuries; LeBron already initiated plenty.

The reaction to Sunday’s stats should be amazement at how much Kennard was asked to do. LeBron’s 15 assists were impressive, but also less of an outlier than Kennard’s 11.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
• Thunder moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rest LeBron?

JJ Redick faces a difficult choice this week. As the No. 3 seed slips from Los Angeles’s grasp, how long will he ride LeBron James? Any deficit against the Thunder tonight should quickly feel insurmountable, and getting some rest for the 41-year-old James before the playoffs is certainly a concern on Redick’s mind.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

• Thunder -17
• LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
• LeBron James Under 23.5 points
• LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds

Thunder vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Thunder -17 | Lakers +17
• Moneyline: Thunder -2000 | Lakers +1000
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5

Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know

The looming threat of the Spurs in the standings has kept the Thunder engaged enough to go 3-1 against the spread in their last four games, all as favorites of at least eight points. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers

Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries

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.

Some extremely rare Steph Curry-worn sneakers will be available for purchase in a matter of days.

Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday that more than 70 pairs of shoes that Curry donned this season following his shocking split with Under Armour will be hitting its auction block on April 13.

The kicks were worn by Curry during tunnel walks, pre-game warm ups and during games, and some were autographed by the Warriors superstar.

Curry said in a statement that he was pumped for the sale, as he noted that every dollar the footwear brings in will go toward his and his wife Ayesha’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which helps kids in need.

“I’m excited to share this unique catalog in a way that lets fans be part of the journey,” Curry said. “Partnering with Sotheby’s to bring this auction to life gives these sneakers a platform beyond the game, where they can live on and mean something to someone else.”

Curry became a shoe free agent back in November, and he went on to wear unique kicks daily as a way to pay homage to some of his friends and heroes.

For one of his games, he sported the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The shoes will be part of the collection, and experts expect them to fetch between $3,000-$5,000.

Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction.

“From the legendary NBA stars that I grew up admiring, to the current players that I’ve enjoyed competing against, along with some of the biggest names in the WNBA that are helping to drive the momentum across the women’s game, I had so much fun breaking out pairs all season long that each meant so much to me,” Curry said.

“When you look back at both sneaker culture and basketball history, each pair represents an iconic moment, groundbreaking athlete or key chapter over the years in the NBA and WNBA.”

The sale is slated to end on April 28.

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Oklahoma State guard Jaylen Curry plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Joe Tipton has learned. Curry is on the move for the second consecutive offseason, only spending one year in Stillwater. UMass is where his college basketball career got underway. But now, Curry is looking for school No. 3 for what should be his final year of eligibility.

The Cowboys used Curry as a nice rotational piece throughout his 33 games played. Only seven of them were starts, playing around 24 minutes every time out there. Curry averaged 10.1 points while shooting 41.8% from the field. Not too bad for somebody playing in a power conference for the first time in his career.

Curry did a little more than just score, though. He finished as Oklahoma State’s second-leading assist man, putting up 3.5 per game. Some activity on the glass did some — mainly on the defensive end — with 3.2 rebounds a night.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

There is one performance from this past season that stands out more than any. Oklahoma State hosted Nicholls back in November for a nonconference showdown. Curry had his lone double-double of the year, doing so in style. Thirty points were put up by Curry, going 8-11 from the field and making all 12 of his free throws. And then 10 assists also show up on the statsheet to help Oklahoma State get a 14-point win.

More on Jaylen Curry, early portion of college basketball career

Curry played high school basketball at Charlotte (NC) Calvary Christian, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 193 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

UMass earned Curry’s original commitment and let him get action as a true freshman. One season later, Curry was a starter for the Minutemen and putting up good numbers. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Unfortunately, not too much team success came, and Curry decided to enter the transfer portal.

Now, another school will have an opportunity to sign Curry. If the fit turns out to be the right one, some potential still appears to be in there.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

A first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets would be a dream scenario for NBA neutrals, and we get another sneak preview as the teams square off tonight.

Charlotte has picked up four straight victories and won at TD Garden last month, but my Hornets vs. Celtics predictions see Boston getting the upper hand, as Jayson Tatum continues to impress. 

Check out my NBA picks for this clash between in-form Eastern Conference squads on Tuesday, April 7.

Hornets vs Celtics prediction

Hornets vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)

A healthy Boston Celtics rotation is a scary prospect for the rest of the league, and they’ve looked in sync while winning eight of their last 10 games.

Boston is also 8-2 straight up in its past 10 matchups against the Charlotte Hornets, and I’m laying the points here with Joe Mazzulla’s men, who are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven. The Celtics turned it on late to brush off the Raptors on Sunday and make it four straight wins by a margin of 14+ points.

Though the Hornets embarrassed Boston in early March, the Celtics got revenge a few weeks later with a 114-99 victory, despite missing Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard combined for 60 points that day to outplay Charlotte’s talented guards.

The hosts are at full strength now, after Nikola Vucevic’s return over the weekend, and their defense is the stingiest in the NBA, allowing just 107 points per game. Look for that attention to detail to stifle a Hornets team that leads the league in made 3-pointers.

After a recent home-heavy slate, Charlotte will be entering a rocking TD Garden, where the Celtics are 27-11 SU this year. So, even this late in the regular season, Boston should view this as a statement game, and this spread is small enough for me to back Tatum & Co.

Hornets vs Celtics same-game parlay

The Celtics are humming along since Tatum’s comeback, and he’s been especially consistent on the glass, with 9+ rebounds in eight of his last nine, headlined by 18 boards against the Heat last week. I’m wagering on another big haul tonight.

Meanwhile, Pritchard’s heat-check scoring is a spark for the Boston bench. He’s nailed this Over in five of his last six games, and finished with 28 points in the last meeting between these teams.

Hornets vs Celtics SGP

• Celtics moneyline
• Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
• Payton Pritchard Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Put up your Dukes

This SGP pairs two Duke alums, with Tatum going past this points prop in five straight and Kon Knueppel putting the final touches on his Rookie of the Year case.

Tatum has been a steady double-digit rebounder in the past few weeks, while Knueppel dropped 20 points on the Celtics last month and has O/U lines that feel low for a player averaging 18.7 PPG and 3.4 APG this season.

Hornets vs Celtics SGP

• Jayson Tatum Over 22.5 points
• Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
• Kon Knueppel Over 16.5 points
• Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists

Hornets vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Hornets +4.5 (-110) | Celtics -4.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hornets +175 | Celtics -210
• Over/Under: Over 221 (-110) | Under 221 (-110)

Hornets vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Under is 48-31 for the Hornets this season, but the Over has hit in their past three contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Celtics.

How to watch Hornets vs Celtics

Hornets vs Celtics latest injuries

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.

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The battle to stay out of the play-in spots in the East is real, with the team in fifth just 3.5 games up on the team in 10th. Two of those squads collide tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat.

Both teams desperately need a win after a tough stretch of games. My Heat vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks tell you why Toronto will prevail against the spread on Tuesday, April 7. 

Heat vs Raptors prediction

Heat vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -1.5 (-110)

The Miami Heat currently hold the last play-in spot in the East, but they trail the Toronto Raptors, who are just above the play-in spots in sixth place.

The Heat are coming off a win, but it was only their third in the last 11 games. 

This will be an interesting stylistic matchup as Toronto’s defense tries to slow down the high-tempo Heat, who rank fifth in offensive rating since the All-Star break.

The Raptors do this frustrating thing where they show their potential for three quarters, before a typically poor fourth costs them the game, just like their most recent loss to the Celtics.

However, they tend to perform better when they’re supposed to win, and they’re slight home favorites here. Additionally, their strength remains at the defensive end of the floor, where they rank 10th in defensive rating for the second half of the season.

They also do a solid job on the perimeter, ranking eighth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. This is important against a team that leads the NBA in pace and shots per game.

Meanwhile, the Heat rank 21st in defensive rating since the break. That should be enough to help Toronto cover this short spread at home and beat the Heat for the third time this season.

Heat vs Raptors same-game parlay

The Heat’s high pace of play and huge shooting output results in a lot of rebounds. Scottie Barnes has seen his rebounding numbers dip a bit lately, but he still averages 7.5 rebounds per game this season, and this is a great spot for him to get back to having a presence on the boards.

We also get a fun Norman Powell reunion tonight. The former Raptor returns to where he helped win an NBA championship in 2019, and the Toronto fans love him. Don’t be surprised if the guard, averaging 22.1 points per game this season, gets in a groove tonight.

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Raptors -1.5
• Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
• Norman Powell Over 17.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Heating the glass

The Raptors have also struggled on the glass of late, ranking 23rd in rebounding rate since the All-Star break. So, rebounds for all!

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
• Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
• Andrew Wiggins Over 4.5 rebounds
• Norman Powell Over 3.5 rebounds

Heat vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Heat +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
• Moneyline: Heat +100 | Raptors -120
• Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240

Heat vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Raptors have covered the 1Q Spread in 12 of their last 16 games for +7.45 Units and a 41% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Raptors.

How to watch Heat vs Raptors

Heat vs Raptors latest injuries

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Kentucky Basketball is receiving a wide range of projections in way-too-early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings, reflecting uncertainty after a season of key departures and transfers.

Way-Too-Early College Basketball Rankings

• Unranked:Jeff Borzello (ESPN), Jacob Davis (Sports Illustrated), Seth Davis (HoopsHQ)
• No. 28:Jon Rothstein (FanDuel) – despite forward Andrija Jelavić entering the transfer portal
• No. 25:James Fletcher III (On3)
• No. 13:Mike DeCourcy (Sporting News)

Roster Outlook

Projected starting five (before Jelavić’s transfer, though he could still return): G Trent Noah, G Collin Chandler, F Kam Williams, F Andrija Jelavić, C Malachi Moreno
Projected key bench: Brayden Hawthorne, Mason Williams

Roster Status

• Graduating: Otega Oweh, Walker Horn, Zach Tow
• Transferring: Denzel Aberdeen (graduating), Jasper Johnson, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Andrija Jelavić
• Undecided: Trent Noah, Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams, Collin Chandler, Brayden Hawthorne, Reece Potter
• College/Testing NBA Draft Waters: Malachi Moreno

Mark Pope’s top priority will be retention, especially keeping 7-foot center Malachi Moreno, who averaged 7.8 points per game and has high breakout potential. Veteran shooting guard Collin Chandler, averaging 9.7 points, will also hopefully anchor the backcourt, though he has not 100% confirmed his return yet.

As the Wildcats navigate departures, transfers, and player development, fans are left watching closely how the roster takes shape and how early projections will adjust leading into the new season.