Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Fans react after Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) becomes the NBA's second highest scorer of points in a game against the Wshington Wizards at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
The Wizards are hosting the Miami Heat in game 81 of the season Friday night. Here’s the preview:
Game info
When: 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Apr. 10
Where: Capital One Arena
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injuries
ESPN has not published either team’s injury report. It is safe to assume that a lot of players will be sitting out, though.
Game notes and more
The Wizards threw away the 2026 NBA season back in 2023, so it is no surprise that they have clinched another sub-20 win record. Let’s see what they get up to this offseason — it’s time to start competing, so perhaps they will decide to chase some veterans to shore up the rotation like the Detroit Pistons did a couple of seasons ago. Remember — the Pistons lost a record 28 consecutive games in 2023-24 and then played in a competitive first-round series the following year.
The Miami Heat are already locked into the 8, 9, or 10 seed. At this point, the play-in tournament should just be called the Miami Heat Invitational.
Remember when Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points on the Wizards a couple of weeks ago? That felt like a fever dream.
NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers snapped a three-game skid with a 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14. Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson finished with 12 points apiece.
E.J. Liddell led the Nets (20-59) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Saraf scored 19 points and Tyson Etienne added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 37 for 96 (37%) from the field and had its two-game winning streak halted.
The Pacers raced to a 31-14 lead in the first quarter, led 63-37 at half and carried a 26-point (98-72) advantage into the fourth quarter.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 9: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on April 9, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the game, Miami Heat Head Coach, Erik Spoelstra hinted at a better game between desperate teams after a “disappointing” matchup on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for Erik, none of his players got the memo.
Toronto routed Miami for the second game in a row, winning 128-114. The Raptors were led by Brandon Ingram, who finished with a season-high 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. RJ Barrett added 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Collin Murray-Boyles was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block off the bench. For Miami, Bam Adebayo improved on his no-show on Tuesday with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The outcome was never really in doubt as the Raptors played according to plan. “I thought that taking care of the ball was a big, big part of our game plan”, said Darko Rajakovic after the game. Toronto finished the game with only four turnovers (three if you remove garbage time).
Following a 26-point beatdown just two nights prior, the Heat sent an early message that Miami would not be laying another goose egg. The game was barely 95 seconds old when Darko Rajakovic called the first timeout as the Heat raced out to a quick 7-0 lead.
Fun moment: Herro shot waved off. Before fans could finish cheering, as if on queue, Herro took the inbound pass and scored in the exact same fashion.
With the Heat up 16-8 and Barnes out of the game with two quick fouls, Toronto ramped up the defensive intensity and went on a 15-4 run, fueled by 8 points from the Raptors’ other All-Star, Brandon Ingram.
Ingram ended the first quarter leading all scorers with 10 points. He also almost ended Kel’el Ware.
Toronto led Miami 32-26 after the first quarter. Among the many bright spots, RJ Barrett scoring 9 points in aggressive fashion, the Raptors over coming the slow start and, fairly noteworthy considering their struggles earlier in the season, scoring with ease when the Heat tried defending with a zone.
Active hands from Collin Murray-Boyles. After a missed corner three from Ja’Kobe Walter, Miami corralled the rebound but CMB deflected the outlet pass and came down with the steal. He quickly dished to Walter, who took advantage of the second chance and nailed the three.
Similar to Tuesday’s matchup, the Raptors turned up the aggression in the second quarter. Consistent drives to the basket led to kickouts for three or Miami fouls. Toronto was in the bonus over 4 minutes into the quarter. Miami’s biggest culprit was Vaughan native, Andrew Wiggins, who picked up his third foul just seconds into the frame.
Despite being in control for most of the first half, the Raptors couldn’t quite run away from the Heat — desperate to not replicate Tuesday’s disappointing effort. Led by Tyler Herro’s and Davion Mitchell’s effective drives, the Heat chipped away at the lead. With Bam Adebayo anchoring himself in the paint and thwarting drives to the basket, Miami whittled the lead down to 45-44.
Just like the first quarter, it was Ingram who spearheaded another Toronto run. He scored 5 points and assisted on a Jamal Shead three to push the lead back to nine. By the time Erik Spoelstra called his next timeout, the Raptors had already pushed the lead back up to 58-46.
Toronto didn’t stop there. Credit the team’s defensive pressure or Miami losing focus or Ingram seemingly on a mission to drop 50, but the Raptors pushed the lead to 69-50 at halftime. Ingram finished the half with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Murray-Boyles was a game-high +20 off the bench with 10 points — on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting — 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Raptors carried its largest lead into halftime, despite having zero points on zero attempts in transition — normally a driving force behind a blowout.
Hopefully the vibes carry over to the Blue Jays?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr is here and got a standing ovation from the crowd.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 9, 2026
Miami came out of halftime with desperate energy. Hell-bent on getting back into the game quickly, it only took four minutes for the Heat to equal its first half output from beyond the arc, nailing 3 triples and narrowing the lead down to 79-64.
The Heat’s comeback continued with 5 more triples. Combined with several one-and-done possessions for the Raptors, Miami turned what was a 26-point deficit to 6, as Toronto clung to an 89-83 lead.
For the third consecutive quarter, Ingram scored in double-figures. While almost half of his first half points came from the charity stripe, all of Ingram’s scoring in the quarter came from the field — with a higher degree of difficulty as the Heat focused more of it defensive pressure on the All-Star.
Toronto ended the third quarter with a 102-90 lead. Miami stayed in the game with some hot shooting, draining 9 of 12 three-point attempts.
With Miami’s offense reignited and the Raptors lead in a precarious position, Barnes produced a mini 5-0 run to start the final frame, causing Spoelstra to call a timeout. The Heat could not replicate its success from three, missing each of its first 4 attempts. Toronto capitalized on the offensive end, growing the lead to 114-92, forcing another Miami timeout.
The Heat, who have now lost 10 of its last 13 games and can finish no higher than 9th, are crawling towards the play-in tournament. If the last two performances are any indication, Miami’s season should be over in a couple of days and will be defined by one magical night when Bam Adebayo scored 83 points.
The Raptors finish the road portion of its regular season schedule with the last back-to-back of the season in New York on Friday. With only two games remaining, there are still huge implications for the Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks can still finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the East standings, while the Raptors can finish anywhere from 5th to 8th. Toronto also swept the season series against Atlanta, and own the season series against Charlotte and Orlando.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 09: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on April 09, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Everything is bad again.
Hours after learning Joel Embiid would be out with appendicitis, the Sixers fell to the Houston Rockets Thursday night 113-102 at Toyota Center. They cut a 28-point lead down to five, but didn’t have enough to complete the comeback.
The Sixers are now 43-37 and fading fast in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with the Toronto Raptors crushing the Miami Heat.
Tyrese Maxey bounced back a bit, going for 24 points on 9-of-20 from the field. VJ Edgecombe didn’t have the most efficient night, but was one of the big catalysts of the fourth-quarter comeback attempt with a strong overall game. He had 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Quentin Grimes also had a big night, going for 20 points.
Kevin Durant was exceptional with a game-high 29.
The team announced earlier in the day that Embiid would get surgery in Houston. During the game, it was announced that Embiid underwent a successful appendectomy. Given the recovery time it will take, it’s possible we won’t see the big fella on the court again this season. Just a brutal break for the former MVP and his teammates.
Here are some observations from the loss.
First Quarter
On the first possession of the game, Paul George forced a turnover on Alperen Sengun which turned into an Oubre dunk in transition. George then had a nice drive and finish on Amen Thompson. Not much has gone right for the Sixers this season, but PG has looked like PG over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, George also picked up his second foul late in the quarter.
You figured the Sixers needed an excellent Maxey performance to hang around in this one. Early on, his recent struggles continued. He missed his first three shots — including a step-back three that was way off — and committed another turnover on a drive. He went scoreless.
Adem Bona did a solid job on his Turkish national team teammate Sengun. Sengun was still getting his, but Bona was making him work on both ends.
Oubre was the main source of offense early with 12 points, including two threes. Oubre is on pace to have the best three-point shooting season of his career. The Sixers’ problems were mostly on the other end of the court, but turnovers helped the Rockets’ cause. The Sixers let Houston get out on the break and couldn’t slow down the Rockets’ offense for most of the first quarter. Houston was up 35-26 after one.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is the first on the floor to double digits here with 10 points in Q1 so far, shooting 4-4 FG, 2-2 3PT pic.twitter.com/5jk8Zl0I3E
Nick Nurse opened the second quarter with Dominick Barlow at the five. Andre Drummond didn’t have the greatest run against Sengun in his first-quarter stint.
Well, it wouldn’t be two straight games with scoreless first halves for Maxey, at least! He had a slick, lightning-quick drive for his first bucket. Unfortunately, he turned the ball over a couple possessions later. It looked like Maxey just lost the ball on a drive. You have to wonder how much that pinky is affecting him.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before — defensive rebounding was an issue for the Sixers. After Sengun drew a foul on Bona crashing the offensive glass, the 6-foot-0 Aaron Holiday snagged an offensive rebound and put it back. Whether Embiid plays or not, this is an evergreen issue for the Sixers.
The best way to describe Durant against the Sixers’ defenders is like when a tall person puts their hand on a shorter person’s head and the shorter person swings wildly. They just had no chance. KD put up 17 points in the first half.
Maxey closed the period strong, dropping 15 in the second, including three threes, but the main story of the first half was turnovers. The Sixers committed 11 leading to 20 Rockets points. That was basically the difference in the game as Houston took a 73-56 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
It felt like the Sixers were just mentally checked out. Josh Okogie destroyed them on the glass, they continued to turn the ball over and the Rockets’ half-court offense carved them up. The lead was up to 85-61 midway through the quarter.
It’s hard to even write about what I’m watching. This feels like a slow-motion trainwreck. If you’re an optimist, you could point to Maxey getting going as a positive. He turned in two straight rough performances, including what was arguably one of the worst games of his career in San Antonio. He at least got into rhythm against some pretty tough defenders Thursday.
Another small positive is Barlow playing Durant very tough on a couple possessions. You aren’t going to lock up one of the greatest scorers of all time, but Barlow made the future Hall of Famer work, using his length to bother Durant as much as he could.
It was an ugly third quarter overall. The Rockets took the period 23-17. They led 96-73 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Sixers did cut the lead below 20 thanks to Quentin Grimes and VJ Edgecombe. The combination of Edgecombe’s talent with the dog he has in him is fun. The guy plays hard every night and he tracks down loose balls as well as any player I’ve seen.
A 20-2 run got the Rockets’ lead down to seven. Most of it was fueled by the Sixers’ defense. All three of Edgecombe, Grimes and Barlow were flying around. Credit where it’s due: Drummond shook off his rough start to put together a solid performance. He was the big on the floor for the run and had 15 rebounds and five assists. Though he only recorded one steal, his quick hands did lead to a bunch of Houston turnovers.
A Durant three out of a timeout pushed the lead back to double-digits. Then KD found Aaron Holiday for an open corner three. One guy who wasn’t on the court for the Sixers’ run was Maxey. Nurse got him back in after those threes and he quickly found his way to the basket for an and-one. George was another guy not on the court. It seemed like Nurse was saving the veteran forward for the second half of the back-to-back tomorrow in Indiana.
A pair of huge Edgecombe buckets cut the deficit all the way down to five, but then, somehow, Durant got wide open for a three. That triple put the Rockets up 110-102 with 1:15. It was a valiant comeback effort, but the Sixers came up short.
The Celtics dared Josh Hart to beat them. He obliged.
After a miserable first half, Hart caught fire down the stretch of Thursday’s 112-106 victory over the Celtics — burying his open and contested looks to the delight of an enthusiastic MSG crowd.
“Their game plan was to let him shoot,” coach Mike Brown said, “and he stepped up and he knocked down big shots.”
Josh Hart puts up a 3-point shot as Jayson Tatum jumps to defend during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 112-106 win over the Celtics on April 9, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Hart scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, burying all three of his trey attempts while suppressing Jayson Tatum on the other end with pressure defense. He was the unlikely hero following his dud of a first half, with Hart going into the break with more turnovers than points.
The final five minutes was a much different story, pushing the third-seeded Knicks to within two games of Boston for second in the East — and one game above the No. 4 Cavs. For the Knicks, a first-round series against either Toronto or Atlanta is now the most likely scenario.
“The Hart-breaker comes through,” Karl-Anthony Towns said.
Asked if he was surprised defenses are still leaving him open despite shooting over 40 percent on 3s this season, Hart replied, “It all depends. For me, I always talk about how I’m the fifth option, sixth option. My thought process always is, how can I get these guys easy shots, get these guys involved, get them feeling good? Am I surprised with that? Nah, because I don’t go out there, like, you know what, I’m going to shoot seven, eight 3s. That’s not really my cup of tea. But when I’m open, I know I’ve got to shoot those shots. But they’re probably looking like he might shoot three or four, so let him have that.”
Whatever the reason for Boston’s strategy, it backfired. The Celtics also had no answer for the Towns-Jalen Brunson two-man game, which has emerged this week as a powerful force.
Just like three nights earlier in a victory over the Hawks, the Knicks worked Towns and Brunson in halfcourt sets. Pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, preferable switches.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket as Sam Hauser defends during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It turned into an unstoppable strategy as the Knicks (52-28) moved one step closer to clinching third in the East while keeping alive their hopes of supplanting Boston at No. 2.
“We’re running it a little bit more than what we were doing before,” Brown said of the Towns-Brunson pick-and-roll. “And guys are getting a rhythm. Guys are getting a rhythm at the right time.”
Brunson picked up five of his 10 assists in the fourth quarter, finishing with 25 points. Towns had 16 points and 12 rebounds. So while Hart got the biggest bouquet Thursday, Towns and Brunson were the catalysts.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after a foul was called on OG Anunoby during the third quarter of the Knicks’ win over the Celtics. Getty Images
“I just think [myself and Brunson] had convos in the last few days and those convos are showing up in the game, especially in the last two fourth quarters,” Towns said. “In high-pressure situations, we’ve leaned on each other and trusted each other in those situations and it’s been very good for our team.”
The Celtics (54-26) were playing without their top star, Jaylen Brown, who sat with Achilles tendinitis. His DNP felt hypocritical after Brown spent months needling the Knicks and their fans, including a comment just this week about seeking revenge for last year’s elimination.
Of course, revenge for the Celtics can only be accomplished in the playoffs, and Brown’s absence theoretically provided an easier avenue to face the Knicks in the second round.
But there were other reasons for Brown to rest. First, the Achilles soreness has been an ongoing issue for him this season. Also, Thursday’s game was the first in a back-to-back set and the Celtics have previously alternated rest days for Brown and Tatum. So don’t be surprised if Tatum sits Friday’s game against the Pelicans.
And lastly, Tatum characterized Thursday’s game as an emotional hurdle to clear after tearing his Achilles on the Garden court almost a year ago. It was his first time returning to the spot of the injury. He apparently needed MSG redemption more than Brown.
“Obviously, at some point I knew I would have to get over that hurdle and play there again,” Tatum said. “So, it’s going to have to be this Thursday.”
If Tatum cleared a mental hurdle, it didn’t help with his shot. He was off and particularly struggled down the stretch while guarded by Hart, finishing with 24 points on 7-of-22 shooting. The Celtics were outscored by 16 points in his 40 minutes. But the Knicks were killed by Payton Pritchard, who went off for 23 points with six assists on 10-of-20 shooting. When the Knicks threatened to pull away in the third quarter with a 13-point lead, Pritchard dragged the Celtics back.
It led to a nip-and-tuck fourth quarter, with the deficit never hitting double digits for the final 18 minutes. In the end, the Towns-Brunson tandem — along with efficient shooting from Hart — carried the result.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks laugh after the game against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If the games will be anything like tonight’s affair, a Knicks-Celtics playoff series would be a gift from the basketball gods, no?
Tonight, the Boston Celtics (54-26) came into Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks (52*-28). While Boston has essentially locked up the No. 2 seed, the Knicks are fighting to hold off the Cavaliers for the third spot. However, this marked Jayson Tatum’s big return to Madison Square Garden after rupturing an Achilles tendon here last postseason, and even without the injured Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were determined to win this one for the Tater. The Knicks had other ideas.
Behind a nuclear performance from Josh Hart down the stretch—he went 5-of-7 from three, with three of those bombs coming in the fourth quarter—New York sent Boston back to Beantown with a bruised bottom. Final score: Knicks 112, Celtics 106.
The Knicks funneled their offense through Mikal Bridges (10 PTS, 6 ASTS, +17) to start the game, and he hit three straight buckets to give them a 7-0 lead. From there, Tatum (24 PTS, 14 RBS, 8 ASTS) quickly steadied things for the visitors, scoring, rebounding, and evened the scoreboard. Boston’s edge came from second chances and depth. Neemias Queta (10 PTS, 10 RBS) crashed the glass, and Payton Pritchard (23 PTS) chipped in off the bench to help swing momentum in the wrong direction.
Even with similar shooting splits (48% vs. 44%), the Celts doubled the Knicks in paint points (14–6) and earned extra possessions with a 4–1 edge in offensive boards. The Knicks actually shot better from beyond the arc (40% vs. 25%), but they failed to create enough interior pressure or ball movement. Jalen Brunson (25 PTS, 10 AST, 1 TOV) kept the Knicks close with a three-pointer and free throws, scoring 10 points in the quarter to narrow the score at the break, 29-26.
The second quarter began with a scrappy, uneven stretch, marked by misses, blocks, and squandered possessions on both sides, before our heroes found their rhythm. OG Anunoby (13 PTS) knocked down a three, while Mitchell Robinson (7 PTS, 7 RBS, 3 STL, 1 BLK) brought much-needed interior intensity and finished an alley-oop to push the hosts ahead. Off the bench, Miles McBride provided some lift with a timely three, a steal, and two dimes.
Pritchard continued to be a pest on both ends, while Queta built on his rebound total. When Brunson returned mid-quarter, he worked with Karl-Anthony Towns (16 PTS, 12 RBS) in the pick-and-roll to spark a rally and pull the game even. At halftime, New York held the thinnest of leads, 54-53.
Through the first 24, the Knicks were the cleaner, more efficient team. They shot 48% overall and 33% from three (versus 39% and 24%). Boston stayed close through volume, using eight offensive rebounds, a +8 edge on the glass, and near-perfect free-throw shooting. New York moved the ball better (14–9 in assists) and turned around their paint scoring in the second quarter. At the break, Captain Brunson led all scorers with 16, while Payton Pritchard had 15 on 7-of-12 shooting.
Josh Hart (26 PTS, 10-15 FG) nailed two triples, Bridges and Anunoby canned some of their own, and the Knicks extended their lead to 11 early in the third period. Towns was more active on the glass and added second-chance points, helping New York build what looked like a stable cushion. But Boston is too good to be counted out so early. Tatum kept the Beantown Bums on New York’s heels with a mix of midrange scoring, a triple, and steady rebounding. Then, gradually, Pritchard took over the quarter. The Human Milk Dud swished multiple threes, finished inside, and set up others, while Baylor Scheierman (20 PTS) and Nikola Vučević (10 PTS, 5 RBS) added timely threes to erase the deficit and regain the lead. By the end of the quarter, Boston had snuck ahead by two, 83-81.
We’re finally at the point where we don’t got shit our pants every time Mitchell Robinson hits the floor.
The guests came out swinging in the fourth, with buckets from Scheierman and Tatum. The hosts stayed close behind Jordan Clarkson’s (8 PTS) brief scoring burst, but missed looks from Miles McBride and Landry Shamet stalled their offense. The energy finally shifted when the starters returned, Josh Hart immediately hit a three-pointer, and the Knicks took off on a run that flipped the lead.
The game saw-sawed from there. Pritchard and Scheierman kept knocking down buckets, but Brunson was cool and collected in the driver’s seat, scoring on a step-back three, getting to the line, and setting up Hart for a key layup. A reinvigorated Towns added a three, a dunk, and a steal, while Tatum faltered late with turnovers and a missed layup. The All-Star would finish with six turnovers and a team-worst -16 plus-minus.
Amazon flashed a graphic showing the Boston Celtics at 15–16 in clutch games and the New York Knicks at 20–13. The way these teams ripped at each other, it felt like the decision could go either way. Down the stretch, though, it was a different roommate, Mr. Josh Hart, stepping into the Captain Clutch role. He scored 15 points in the fourth, including eight in the final two minutes and a pair of dagger threes that sealed a 3–1 season series win for the good guys.
JOSH HART COMES UP BIG IN THE CLUTCH!
Extends the lead to 5 with 42.4 to go. Seals the deal at 14.6.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 26: Jarrett Allen #31 (C) celebrates with Jaylon Tyson #20 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during player introductions before the game against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Arena on January 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are balancing getting reps together before the playoffs and trying to go into the postseason completely healthy. On Wednesday, that meant playing all available players in a game that doesn’t have too much significance for the Cavs in the standings. On Friday, that means resting several key players in their rematch with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Cavs will be without the services of Donovan Mitchell (right ankle injury management), Jarrett Allen (right knee injury management), and Sam Merrill (left hamstring injury management). This is in addition to Thomas Bryant missing the game with a left calf strain.
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Cleveland didn’t go with a vanilla game plan in their win on Wednesday. There’s reason to believe they’ll go for it again, just with fewer key contributors available.
No one is 100% at this time of the season, but it is fair to point out that Allen and Merrill have been playing through injuries recently.
Allen hasn’t looked like himself since returning to the lineup from a knee injury that kept him out for a few weeks. He mentioned after his return to the lineup from that injury that he was playing through some pain. Given how important he is to the Cavs’ playoff ceiling, it would make sense to rest him until the playoffs begin next weekend.
Merrill has also been fighting through various injuries throughout the season. The hamstring injury is just the one listed on the injury report right now.
Whether or not Mitchell is as injured as the other two is unknown. He twisted his ankle on Sunday in the win over the Indiana Pacers, but has since denied that he was injured in any way. Resting a star player for a game like this makes sense. I’m not sure it’s worth reading into too much.
The Cavs do have some good news on the injury front. Jaylon Tyson has been upgraded to questionable. He could make his return to the lineup on Friday. On Wednesday, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that the reason he wasn’t playing then was more related to conditioning than any concerns about the toe.
The Hawks will be fully healthy, except for Jock Landale, who will miss the game with a right high ankle sprain.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics traveled to New York to play the Knickerbockers for their 79th game of the season. Boston needed just a single win to secure a second place birth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In a classic regular season contest, both team’s had runs and chances to close it out, but it was the Knicks who prevailed downt he stretch, 112-106.
Prior to the tip, Jaylen Brown was ruled out of the clash with left Achilles tendinitis. The starting five for Boston would be Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Jayson Tatum. Jayson Tatum would return to the scene of his traumatic knee injury last season. For the Knicks, they started OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson.
Mikal Bridges hit the game’s first three shots as the Knicks jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead. Tatum scored Boston’s first two points of the game with a steal at half court and a layup. Tatum spun on Josh Hart and was fouled driving to the cup on another layup. Jordan Walsh got the nod ahead of Baylor Scheierman, who filled in for Jayson Tatum for much of the year; he hit his first three-pointer from the corner, game tied at 7.
Both teams traded buckets before Queta scored inside off a Tatum lob, with the C’s up 13-11 with 6 minutes to go in the quarter. Tatum had the ball in his hands for most of the first quarter and was picking apart the Knicks’ D. Derrick White had a pull-up jumper for his first two of the game. Payton Pritchard entered the game for Tatum and immediately hit his first shot, Boston up by 6 points, 19-13.
The Knicks were having a rough shooting start; they were just 5 of 13 to start the game and just 1 of 7 from downtown. Pritchard was having an early impact; his three quick buckets gave him the confidence to start talking trash at center court, presumably in the direction of Spike Lee. Pritchard drained a triple as the shot clock expired in the first quarter.
The Knicks rallied to start the second quarter with some good minutes from bench players Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson. They took the lead back 31-35 with nine minutes to play in the first half. Boston was just 0-4 to start the third; Pritchard finally broke the drought with a back-cut score.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston countered the Knicks with a nice 7-0 run, Sam Hauser draining a triple to make it all square at 40 apiece. Both teams slogged it out to finish the half, a very even contest. Brunson was the driving force for the Knicks with 16 first-half points; OG Anunoby had 10 points for the home team. For Boston, Tatum was filling the stat sheet; he had 10 points, 9 boards, and 4 assists. Payton Pritchard was the team’s leading scorer at halftime, with 15 points on 7-12 shooting. It would finish New York with 52 points and Boston with 51 points at the half.
New York was white hot to start the third; they reeled off 4 straight three-pointers as Boston was struggling to stay with the open shooters. Joe Mazzulla burned a timeout at the 9-minute mark, the Knicks starting to pull away from Boston 57-66. NY got the lead out to 13 points, Mazzulla needing to call another timeout, as KAT was starting to attack the bucket and Boston’s D was starting to fall apart.
Boston finally got going in the third, with Tatum and Pritchard fueling the C’s to a 10-0 run. Vooch got in on the act, hitting his first three-pointer of the game. Baylor Sheierman had a dagger triple on the break, Tatum finding him with a deft pass out wide on the left wing, Boston down just 4 points with 3 minutes to go in the third, 72-76.
A Nikola Vucevic triple got it back to just one point; a play later, Pritchard laced his 21st point of the game with a triple, Boston up by 2 points, 78-76. Both teams once again traded buckets after going on mini runs, setting up the game for a big fourth quarter, with Boston by just 2 points, 83-81.
Baylor Scheierman was showing out in the Big Apple 🍎; he hit his fourth triple of the game to start the fourth quarter on a relocation triple. Tatum returned to the game, replacing DWhite. Boston’s bench was outstanding in this game; they had 43 points compared to the Knicks’ 18. Tatum had 6 straight points for the road team, Boston up 92-87 with a ton of time to go.
A Josh Hart corner triple cut Boston’s lead back to 2 points; it was very rowdy at MSG. New York was leading the battle in the paint with KAT and Robinson; they had 38 points to Boston’s 28 points.
Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) high fives Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Scheierman laced another triple for Boston, KAT hit back with one of his own, the lead see-sawing, Knicks up by 1 point, 98-99. Baylor’s fifth three-pointer of the night had the New York crowd stunned, both team’s throwing hay makers.
Turnovers started to hurt the C’s for Boston late, but Baylor Scheierman was still hawt, he nailed yet another three-pointer to give Boston the lead back. Scheierman had 24 points from Boston bench but it was a one point game with the Knicks ahead and a minute and a half to go.
Derrick White rimmed out a triple with a minute to go in the game he struggled all game with just one made field goal, Josh Hart converted his to make it a 5 point game, 104-109 New York. Nikola Vucevic converted on a offensive rebound to cut it to 3 points. Josh Hart hit his fifth three-pointer to seal it. Boston drop a heart breaker with their All-NBA player Jaylen Brown watching on.
Boston will next play the NOLA Pelicans tomorrow at home at 7:30pm EST.
In what felt like a playoff atmosphere, the Knicks held on to a 112-106 win over the Celtics on Thursday night at MSG.
Josh Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead New York to a big win against their conference rivals. With the win, the Knicks remain within reach of the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks (52-28) have surpassed the win total from last season with two games to go.
Here are the takeaways...
-The Knicks' plan to start was to attack in transition, with Mikal Bridges scoring the first seven points of the game. The Celtics responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game with good defense and offensive rebounding. Boston would build a seven-point lead midway through the first frame thanks to outhustling the Knicks and getting every 50-50 ball, but New York would make their run.
The first quarter ended with Payton Pritchard and Jalen Brunson trading threes in the final minute as the Celtics led 29-26 at the end of one.
Pritchard was the catalyst for the Celtics' offense in the first. He put up 11 points in six minutes off the bench to lead the team. The Knicks were shooting just 34 percent when Boston had their biggest lead, but bounced back and finished the frame with 45 percent shooting. Brunson led the team with 10 points.
-The Knicks got out to a 7-0 run to start the second (10-0 run from the end of the first) to retake the lead. Both offenses will settle down, as they traded leads throughout the quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns wouldn't get his first points until midway through the second, but it wouldn't be his last. The two-man game between him and Brunson was effective and helped give the Knicks a five-point lead in the waning minutes, but a late surge by the Celtics helped them to trail by just one at halftime.
Pritchard (15) and Tatum (10) led the Celtics as they outrebounded the Knicks 29-25 after two quarters. Brunson (16) and OG Anunoby (10) led the Knicks in scoring.
-The Knicks built up a nine-point lead in the opening minutes of the third because of the three-point shot. That lead would balloon to 13 as Towns started to take over the game with his rebounding and drives to the basket. The Celtics responded after a timeout halfway through the third with a 10-0 run as their threes began to fall. That run extended to 19-4 as they retook the lead with two minutes remaining. Boston took that momentum to end the third with an 83-81 lead.
-The Celtics would get out to a seven-point lead early in the fourth as the Knicks could not get a stop. The Knicks made a run of their own to cut the deficit to two points with seven minutes remaining. Both teams traded buckets with New York taking advantage of Boston's turnovers to hold a 106-104 lead with 1:26 remaining in the game.
Hart hit two threes in the final minute to help the Knicks pull out the win.
-Hart finished with 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting (5 of 7 from three). Towns posted 16 points and 12 rebounds while Brunson had 25 points and 10 assists.
-The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown, and Tatum returned to MSG for the first time since tearing his Achilles in the playoffs last year. Tatum finished with a team-high 24 points on 7 of 22 shooting, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Pritchard scored 23 points in 35 minutes off the bench. Baylor Scheierman helped keep the Celtics in the game in the fourth with his three-point shooting. He finished with a season-high 20 points and went 6 of 7 from downtown.
Game MVP: Josh Hart
Hart's scoring in the second half, and especially in the fourth, pushed the Knicks over the top. His defense on Tatum also helped finish up the win.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 9: Ben Saraf #77 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on April 9, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I arrived at the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush a bit earlier than usual this afternoon. With 15 minutes to spare before doors opened up, I sat down outside Fini Pizza and inhaled a pepperoni slice. I felt a clam breeze as the sun shined down on me through the oculus. I heard birds chirping even as The Strokes hummed through my ear buds.
And for a brief moment, I forgot all about “tanking” despite being a mere 10 feet from its epicenter this week.
Like we did on Sunday and Tuesday, we’ll call tonight’s game what it was. Jordi Fernández is right each time he insists that all minutes at the NBA level matter, but the only concrete, tangible thing to be gained tonight were better odds to land a top pick in the upcoming draft lottery. The Nets came into tonight with only a half game cushion between them and the threshold for top odds at the number one overall pick this summer. The visiting Indiana Pacers sat two games ahead.
Both teams knew what was at stake, despite whatever rhetoric they’ve used to describe their rotations over the past few weeks.
This time, Brooklyn sat Nolan Traoré (rest), Josh Minott (left ankle soreness), Terance Mann (right patella tendinosis), Noah Clowney (left ankle injury management), Ziaire Williams (left foot tenosynovitis/bursitis), and Nic Claxton. They joined the expected crew of Danny Wolf (ankle), Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring), Day’Ron Sharpe (thumb), and Dëmin (foot), leaving Brooklyn with eight inactives.
The Pacers sat Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith , Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Ivica Zubac, Johnny Furphy, Kobe Brown, Ben Sheppard, and of course, Tyrese Haliburton.
Yeah, they even sat their head coach, in a sense. Rick Carlisle missed tonight’s game and will miss the next to attend a school event for his daughter.
But tonight was also the home finale, and Fan Appreciation Night. For as much flack as this Brooklyn crowd gets for the hospitality it extends to visiting teams, seated fans for teams like this, at this point, in this kind of a season, are difficult to come by. Even if they were tourists simply looking to experience our city’s game at a discount, casuals hoping to score a Steph Curry or Luka Doncic autograph, or true team supporters, they were here, and deserve a nod for that.
“Yeah, I mean the loyalty and the support has been amazing, especially going into a season that we didn’t win a lot of games, but all our guys worked and played hard, got better, and to feel the support for what we’re trying to do and the plan we have is pretty special,” Fernández said pregame. “So, I appreciate them showing up, and the way we play is because we feel that support.”
Indeed, you’d like to see Brooklyn give them a show even with the understudies taking center stage.
If only it were that simple.
The Nets dipped deeper into their organizational rotation tonight than they have all season. Even though Jalen Wilson and Drake Powell have been part of the regular rotation at times this year, they came off the bench. Ben Saraf started alongside Tyson Etienne, Malachi Smith, E.J. Liddell, and Tre Scott. The Pacers took a similar approach, bringing Obi Toppin and Jay Huff off the bench.
Brooklyn lost the first quarter 31-14, shooting just 5-21 from the field. The Nets once more played without a true center tonight, and it showed. Brooklyn lost on the glass 21-12 in the opening frame, where Indiana also outscored them in the paint 20-6. Another quarter of play only ballooned those ratios. The Pacers went into the break up 65-37, up 46-20 in the paint, and 38-19 on the boards.
At that point, Obi Toppin was our only scorer with double digit points, putting up 14 on 5-7 shooting. Neither Chaney Johnson nor Ochai Agbaji, the only guys who might’ve had a chance to stop the bleeding inside, played any minutes this evening.
Nevertheless. Brooklyn opened up the third with 12-0 start in paint scoring. Rather than getting some taller reinforcements, the Nets simply started driving more often on an Indiana defense that either stopped caring in the second half or Brooklyn simply didn’t challenge enough in the first.
“He does a great job of getting into the paint with the ball, and that’s very important, because he draws a lot of attention” Fernández said of Saraf. “Now, he’s getting comfortable with making better decisions, whether it’s to score or to find shooters. He ended up with six assists and two turnovers, which is elite, and that’s a night that we didn’t make any shots. Just imagine if we make a couple.”
Also, Toppin and Huff weren’t in the game for that stretch, which saw the Nets slightly cut into the lead with an extended 18-11 run. Tank commanders might’ve started sweating had Toppin and Huff not come back in, but they did around halfway through the third, and once again started BBQ-chickening Brooklyn inside. The Pacers still ended up winning the period and put their lead back at 26 entering the fourth. After Brooklyn’s 12-0 start to the third in paint scoring, Indiana only lost the period there by 24-20 margin.
The Nets couldn’t conjure up another fake comeback after that. There are few things more disheartening for a team to go through than a possession where you drive, force a collapse, put the defense in a blender, kick for an open three, and then clank it off the side iron, and the Nets had about four of those in the final period’s first five minutes. They ended up posting .385/.211 splits for the game, which won’t get it done, even against a fellow basement dweller.
“I thought the effort and the purpose was there,” Fernández said. “We took the right shots. They just didn’t go in.”
So, both teams quietly strolled to the finish line down the stretch of the fourth. Amidst it all, E.J. Liddell waltzed into a career night where he led the Nets with 26 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 10-16 from the field. Ben Saraf followed with a 19/6/5 game. Tyson Etienne added 14 points, four assists, and four rebounds while shooting 3-7 from deep in the loss.
Once more, even if the on-court Nets weren’t after that, it’s what they should’ve been, with respect to the franchise’s long term outlook.
And in terms of leaving a better, final impression on the fans? It’s not like we don’t all have TVs and there aren’t two more games left.
Bottom line: The Nets remain in third place in the race to the bottom, a game behind of the Pacers, a game ahead of the Jazz. Meanwhile, the Wizards lost to the Bulls and clinched the worst record this season.
Final: Indiana Pacers 123, Brooklyn Nets 94
Sean Marks Speaks
As part of YES Network’s season-ending interviews with players, coaches and staff, Sean Marks sat down for a brief interview on the upcoming Draft Lottery, which is a month from Friday. The Nets GM laid out the importance of the lottery pick…
Marks made an interesting comment when talking about this year’s team and its youth. He noted that not only was the 2025-26 roster the youngest in the NBA this year. They were also the youngest NBA team in 20 years. He noted that next year’s squad will also be young, but not as young at this one.
Milestone Watch
E.J. Liddell had his first career double-double tonight against Indiana with 26 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. He has scored 15+ points in three straight games from 4/5-9 after his previous career best was 10 points on 3/14/26 at PHI.
Liddell also became the first Net with 25+ PTS and 10+ REB in an NBA game after playing in the G League that season. It was his third straight game with a career high in points after logging 15 vs WAS (4/5) and 21 vs MIL (4/7).
Injury Update
Nic Claxton gave his exit interview for the season pregame tonight. He came out with his right pinky finger in splint. He mentioned that he doesn’t expect (or want) to have surgery on it.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he’d go under the knife. “Give it some time to rest. I think it’ll heal up. Not trying to have any procedures.”
Claxton also said that he recently had an MRI on the finger and intends to take “proper precautions.” We’ll have more on his exit interview later on.
Next Up
The Nets will complete their final back-to-back of the season, flying to Milwaukee for a penultimate game vs the Bucks. Like on Tuesday, expect the household names to sit this one out. It’ll tipoff at 8:00 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers snapped a three-game skid with a 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14. Jalen Slawson and Quenton Jackson finished with 12 points apiece.
E.J. Liddell led the Nets (20-59) with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Saraf scored 19 point and Tyson Etienne added 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 37 for 96 (37%) from the field and had its two-game winning streak halted.
The Pacers raced to a 31-14 lead in the first quarter, led 63-37 at half and carried a 26-point (98-72) advantage into the fourth quarter.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: Head coach Brian Keefe of the Washington Wizards reacts to a play against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards did not take any chances with their lottery odds heading into their back-to-back games against the Chicago Bulls. The D.C. crew lost again on Thursday in a 119-108 contest at Capital One Arena.
The game started out like Tuesday’s blowout affair against the same Bulls. The visitors went ahead by 19-6 in the opening four minutes and looked like they were ready to run away with the contest. But the Wizards battled back, with Bub Carrington hitting a pair of threes to keep Washington within 32-24 after the opening period.
The Wizards used a balanced scoring attack in the second quarter to get back into the contest. Sharife Cooper went on a personal 7-0 run to give Washington its first taste of the lead, 44-43, with 4:04 left in the half.
Washington trailed 52-51 at the break. Carrington and Leaky Black led the way, each scoring 9 points.
The Wizards stayed in striking distance for most of the third quarter. However, the game’s complexion changed when Juju Reese got called for a flagrant foul after inadvertently elbowing 5-foot-7 Yuki Kawamura. The flagrant penalty plus a pair of live-ball turnovers resulted in an 8-0 Bulls run to close the third.
Washington trailed 87-74 entering the fourth quarter. The Wiz never chopped the lead smaller than 9 points, dropping their 8th straight contest.
Will Riley was the team’s leading scorer with 23 points to go along with seven assists, three steals, and three blocks. But the Illinois alum struggled with his shot for most of the game, tidying up his field goal shooting a bit with garbage time buckets. He went 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Juju Reese had another monster double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, feasting on the glass against a Bulls team that lost its only viable big man, Guerschon Yabusele, to a shoulder injury during the game.
With a Washington loss and an Indiana Pacers win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the Wizards have a two-game cushion for the No. 1 spot in the tank rankings.
The Wizards next take on the Miami Heat on Friday in the team’s penultimate game of the season.
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Team ELY guard Dink Pate (1) of the G League Ignite shoots the ball against Team BallIsLife during the G-League Next Up game at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Kentucky Basketball will not land Dink Pate, who made his commitment to Providence on Thursday after spending the last three seasons in the NBA G League.
Pate, who recently turned 20 years old, will leave the professional ranks to play college basketball. The 6-foot-7 point guard first made headlines in 2023 when he joined the NBA G League Ignite, becoming the youngest professional basketball player in United States history.
During the 2023–24 season with Ignite, Pate played under former Kentucky assistant coach Jason Hart, who is now at SMU. Once that move happened, many thought that could be it for the Wildcats’ chances with Pate. While Mark Pope did recently hold a Zoom call with Pate, Providence was able to win out in the end.
This season, Pate has played for the Westchester Knicks in the G League, where he has averaged over 15 points per game while shooting 41.3% from the field and 37.7% from 3-point range. The versatile guard also averaged over five rebounds and nearly four assists per contest, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Before joining Westchester, Pate spent time with both the G League Ignite and the Mexico City Capitanes, giving him professional experience against older and more seasoned competition.
Despite playing professionally, Pate is expected to be eligible to play in college because he has never signed an NBA contract or appeared in an NBA game. With NCAA athletes now allowed to earn money through NIL opportunities, the league is treating G League similarly to overseas professional experience, which should make his path to eligibility much smoother.
With his size, experience, and playmaking ability, Pate could have given Kentucky a dynamic and experienced guard heading into the upcoming season.
Alas, Pope and Co. are left to look elsewhere for Kentucky’s rebuilding backcourt.
BREAKING: Westchester Knicks guard Dink Pate has committed to Providence, his agent Sam Permut of @RocNationSports told ESPN. G-League star turned down two-way and 10-day opportunities to maintain eligibility. Former top-30 recruit is averaging 16.0 PPG this season. pic.twitter.com/SNLnJV8zRH
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 5: John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz looks to drive the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz season is nearing an incredibly important lottery, and Jazz fans will be watching the lottery balls closely. But whether the Jazz jump in the lottery or not, the Jazz have had some rookies and prospects make an impact during the current rebuild. Utah can’t likely keep all of them, and so that’s what inspires the latest Utah Jazz Reacts Survey. If you had to choose one of these prospects below, who would you pick? These four have been among the most prominent prospects to play during the rebuild, and I wanted to see who you think is the most important to keep on the Jazz?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on February 27, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Of course, Utah is throwing every good luck charm they have into acquiring a top 3 selection in this year’s draft. AJ Dybantsa would be a match made in heaven. Darryn Peterson has the best fit. Cameron Boozer follows in Papa Carlos’ footsteps. Utah is also perfectly fine standing pat at 4, if it means not converting their pick to the Galactic Presti-pire. Caleb Wilson could have risen into the top 3 if he had been able to participate in the March Madness Tournament.
But what if Utah drops into the unorthodox spot where they — inevitably — drop down one or two tiers and out of the superstar conversation?
Be wary, Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings lurk in these parts. It’s a tricky part to be in, considering Utah is not in dire need for another point guard after Keyonte George’s breakout, and Isaiah Collier headlining as the lead backup guard. Of course, the Jazz could look to prioritize fit here and select one of Nate Ament or Brayden Burries.
I introduce Keaton Wagler to the corporate office. All things considered, Wagler would be the ’best fit’ guard in the pool with a 6’6” frame who plays the brain of a veteran and the range of a flamethrower. This feels like the missing piece of Danny Ainge’s art gallery.
NBA Draft Profile: Keaton Wagler
Bio: 6 ft, 6 in | 185 lbs | 19 yrs old | Illinois University
2025-26 regular season stats: 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG STL, 44.5% FG, 39.7% 3PT
Accolades: Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year, Second-Team All-American, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, NCAA Tournament South Region Most Outstanding Player
NBA Comparison: D’Angelo Russell, more polished Jeremy Lamb
Mastery
Wagler is arguably the most polished pick-and-roll operator in this class. His 12.4% turnover rate is elite for a high-usage freshman. He manipulates defenders with bendy, herky-jerky movements, often putting his opponent in a blender just by changing his face.
He isn’t a stopper on the defensive end yet, but his 1.7 BLK% and 1.3 STL% show active hands and high-level positioning. At 6’6”, he’s not a target that teams can easily hunt. A solid creator, Wagler doesn’t turn the ball over often and can create shots for his teammates as a decent level.
His primary calling card is a flamethrower of a jump shot; he’s a dynamic threat who can knock cow. triples off screens or deep pull-ups from well beyond the NBA line. He’s the kind of high-IQ player who always seems to make the right pass, acting like the glue that keeps an offense from getting stagnant. His shot diet is extremely healthy — no trips to the doctor’s office for you, sir.
Another positive sign for his offensive resume is his solid 81% rate at the charity stripe. Players who both generate and convert free throws tend to translate well as NBA scorers, applying the right amount of pressure on defenses.
Illinois uses him to crash boards, and responds with solid rebounding numbers for a guard. He’s a grab-and-go rebounder who immediately initiates transition, which would fit perfectly in the third-fastest pace team in the league. That speaks to his competitiveness and willingness to impact the game beyond scoring.
Margin
His biggest flaw is his lack of athleticism, which really shows on defense. Wagler struggles to slip screens and once beaten, fails to recover and consistently has to play behind his opponents. He’s underwhelming defensively, considering his 7’0” wingspan.
Currently, his finishes rely on angles and timing rather than elevation. It works for him fine at the collegiate level, but it won’t slide against NBA-level rim protectors. Some of those attempts will likely get stuffed if he doesn’t adjust his approach. Defenders at higher levels will quickly recognize his tendency to attack with his left hand, and start shading him in that direction. Wagler needs to depend on countering his flaws or equal comfort attacking right, because opponents will have a much easier assignment to contain him.
His ball-handling is servicable, but he needs to work on tightening his handle, especially when pressured by defenders or navigating crowded areas of the floor. Working on that would help him become a more consistent creator and allow him to operate more comfortably in pick-and-roll situations.
Wagler is ‘Crafty’ with a capital C, but he isn’t ‘Fast’ with a capital F. He lacks a lightning-quick first step, meaning he has to work twice as hard to create separation. If he can’t get defenders off-balance with his hesitations and pump fakes, he may struggle to create his own shot consistently at the pro level.
Mandate
When I project Wagler at the NBA level, I see a player who has a clear scoring foundation but still needs to round out the rest of his game — similar to how Keyonte had to rebuild his offensive character after his first couple of years in the league. The shooting alone gives him value, but he won’t be a primary offensive initiator as of now.
The Jazz could be comfortable fitting him into a secondary creator or complementary scoring role, where he can space the floor, attack closeouts, and make simple reads within the offense. If he imrpvoes his handle and becomes more balanced attacking the basket, there’s a realistic pathway for him to develop into a reliable NBA rotation guard.
Lineups with Keyonte George, providing downhill aggression, and Wagler, providing surgical distribution and spacing, would give Utah some of the tallest and most versatile young backcourts in the league. If the Jazz want to double down on their positionless length identity, Wagler is the connective tissue.
But in the meantime, we’re all hoping the Jazz front office goes palooza in reaction to Utah receiving their first franchise #1 pick.
