INDIANAPOLIS – Solo Ball's status for UConn in the men's basketball NCAA championship game is in doubt after spraining his foot.
Ball said he is feeling "alright," and will leave a decision on his status for the game Monday, April 6, up to UConn's medical staff. He's wearing a walking boot and won't practice on Sunday, April 5.
"I'm doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," Ball said.
UConn coach Dan Hurley announced Ball's injury earlier, saying his junior guard has "some type of foot sprain." Ball said the injury occurred in the first half when he got tangled up with Tarris Reed Jr.
He won't practice on the off day, and Hurley said they'd have a better idea of whether he can play later.
"I'm just leaving it up to the medical staff. Doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," Ball said when asked if he thought he'd play against Michigan.
UConn is trying to win its third title in four years. But it will have to get through a dominant Michigan team, which has scored 90 or more points in all five of its NCAA tournament games and blew out Arizona, the only other No. 1 seed left, by 18 points in the Final Four.
"Thankfully it's not a seven-game series," Hurley joked. "Tough to get an MRI on Sunday."
Meanwhile, Michigan is also dealing with an injury to a key player as Yaxel Lendeborg was limited to 14 minutes in the Wolverines' Final Four win over Arizona on Saturday night after tweaking his ankle and knee in the first half.
What TV channel is national championship on? How to stream Final Four
TV channels: TBS/truTV
Streaming options: NCAA March Madness Live | HBO Max | Sling TV
Every game remaining in the Men's NCAA Tournament will air on TBS and simulcast on truTV, with Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill calling the game courtside and Tracy Wolfson reporting from the sidelines.
Streaming options include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login), HBO Max and Sling TV.
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made headlines for signaling out Memphis and Milwaukee as places he doesn’t enjoy playing when he was on a golf YouTube video with Bob Does Sports. Those comments — particularly saying he doesn’t enjoy playing in Memphis — made people angry.
“A random f***** Tuesday in Milwaukee,” James said on the YouTube video when talking about life in the NBA. “Staying at the f****** Hyatt at 41 years old. You think I want to do that shit? Being in Memphis on a f****** random ass Thursday? I’m not like the first guy to even talk about it in the NBA. We’re all like, ‘You guys have to move. Go over to Nashville.’”
James was asked to clarify those comments on Saturday. And in the process, he decided to do a drive-by on his hometown in the process.
“41 years old, it’s two cities I do not like playing in right now,” James said on Saturday. “That’s Milwaukee, and that’s Memphis. What is the problem? I don’t like going home either. Shit, and I’m from there.”
James tried to clarify that he wasn’t taking a shot at the city or their people when listing places he doesn’t enjoy going to.
“I’m not talking about the city, like the people in Memphis,” James said. “I don’t like staying at the Hyatt Centric. What’s wrong with that?”
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How much you want to read into him saying he doesn’t enjoy going home to Cleveland for games is up to you. In context, it seemed like he was saying he doesn’t like going to the hotel and traveling there in the winter, as was the case this season when the Lakers made their lone trip to play the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, you could read it another way if you wanted to as well.
What we do know is that James is in the last year of his current contract with Los Angeles. And while things have been working out well for him and the Lakers over the last month, it’s clear that he isn’t the focal point of the franchise anymore. He’s adjusted to that well on the court, taking a tertiary role alongside both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves when the trio is healthy, which they won’t be heading into the playoffs. Whether or not James wants that to continue to be his reality off the court remains to be seen.
That said, it’s difficult to picture James playing anywhere but Cleveland and Los Angeles next season. We’ll see how this all unfolds this summer. A lot can change between now and July.
Who: Phoenix Suns (42–35) vs. Chicago Bulls (29–47)
When: 12:30 PM Arizona Time
Where: United Center — Chicago, Illinois
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Suns are about to play their 78th game of the season (yeah, the postseason is coming in fast), and it’ll be their final matchup against an Eastern Conference team: the Chicago Bulls.
About a month ago, Phoenix got caught off guard by this same team, losing by just two points in a messy and somewhat concerning game. The Suns never even held the lead, largely due to poor shooting: 39% from the field, 28% from three, and 67% from the free-throw line.
As for recent form, it hasn’t been pretty for either side. The Suns are 3–7 over their last 10 games, while the Bulls are even worse at 2–8, including a five-game losing streak. One team is trying to regain confidence and rhythm to secure the 7th seed, while the other is basically playing for nothing. Too far from the Play-In, too far from the lottery.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Amir Coffey — QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle)
Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee)
Bulls
Zach Collins — OUT (Right Toe)
Noa Essengue — OUT (Left Shoulder)
Josh Giddey — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring)
Lachlan Olbrich — PROBABLE (Plantar Fascia)
Nick Richards — QUESTIONABLE (Right Elbow)
Collin Sexton — PROBABLE (Right Finger)
Anfernee Simons — OUT (Left Styloid)
What to Watch For
The Suns are facing a Chicago team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league (3rd this season), driven by transition engines like Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Collin Sexton. The first key matchup will be tempo control: Booker needs to dictate a more controlled pace against a team that constantly wants to run, and fast, rushed basketball hasn’t exactly worked out for Phoenix lately.
Another key factor is the matchup between Matas Buzelis and the Suns’ wings. Buzelis has taken a real leap this season. He’s not in the MIP race, but his improvement is undeniable. He’s long, offensively versatile, and has no problem putting up double-digit rebounding performances. If given too much freedom, he can be dangerous—Brooks, Fleming, and the rest will need to stay locked in.
Finally, the battle inside could be intense: Mark Williams (if he plays), Oso Ighodaro, Khaman Maluach, Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards, and Jalen Smith will all be involved. The Bulls are the second-best defensive rebounding team (34.8 per game), while the Suns rank 4th in offensive rebounds. This could turn into a real war in the paint in Chicago.
Key to a Suns Win
The first key is simple: slow the game down. Chicago is only dangerous when they control the pace. If Phoenix dictates tempo, forces the Bulls into half-court sets, and limits turnovers, the advantage shifts immediately.
The second focus is attacking Chicago’s perimeter defense, one of the weakest in the league (24th this season). Booker, Green, and Gillespie need to hunt switches, go at Giddey and Tre Jones, and generate open looks for O’Neale, Allen, Fleming. Or even Oso Ighodaro (okay, maybe not him).
Defensive discipline is also crucial. The Suns need to rediscover consistency in their help defense, traps, and pick-and-roll coverage. Mistakes will happen, that’s inevitable — but they need to be minimized. This is the kind of game where you clean things up and prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
Lastly, Phoenix absolutely has to win the non-Booker minutes, which is a recurring issue. That means giving clear playmaking responsibility to Green, Gillespie, or even Allen, running simple sets (Spain PnR, ghost screens, off-ball actions), and leaning into Oso’s simplicity. A more defensive-minded lineup could also help create extra possessions and tempo swings — which, in 2026, is basically the foundation of winning basketball.
If these three levers are pulled, the Suns should be in control.
Prediction
I don’t expect an easy game. Not at all. It should be fast-paced and entertaining, and if the shot-making is there, we could see a really fun matchup between two teams with completely different approaches to tempo.
That said, Phoenix is still the better team (and nearly at full strength), so I’m going with a solid win for the Suns.
The Los Angeles Clippers head to Sacramento, trying to move up in the seeding for the play-in round. L.A. faces three teams with a worse record in the last five contests, which could help the Clippers catch Portland, as long as they take care of business in the games they should win.
That hasn't happened lately. Los Angeles has failed to cover its last four, while the Sacramento Kings are 4-1 ATS over the last five.
That's why my Clippers vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks call for the Kings to cover at home.
Clippers vs Kings prediction
Clippers vs Kings best bet: Kings +13 (-110)
The Los Angeles Clippers have turned around their season after a terrible start, but they're still not used to being the hunted. Los Angeles has covered less than 40% of the time when it's been favored in a game and is just 5-11 ATS as a road favorite, missing the spread by an average of 4.5 points.
L.A. has also failed to cover three of its last four as a double-digit favorite. This is only the second time this season they've been favored by double figures on the road, and they missed covering the last time, a week ago at Milwaukee, by 3.5 points.
The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, have nothing to play for, but they've found new life. Sacramento has covered as a double-digit dog three times in the last 10 days, winning one outright.
The Kings are 7-7 over their last 14 games, 9-5 ATS. That run includes a win over the Clippers on March 14, despite being a 13.5-point underdog. The Clippers are 8-6 outright over that stretch but just 5-9 ATS.
They've covered as a road favorite just three times in calendar year 2026 and not since March 2.
Sacramento's interior game matches up well with a Clippers team that doesn't handle banging in the paint well.
The Kings shot a season best 58.5% against L.A. in the win, and in their February meeting before that, Sacramento led by double figures early and was leading into the fourth quarter before the Clippers rallied to win—but not cover.
Clippers vs Kings same-game parlay
Both teams rank in the bottom half of the league in pace, and the Clippers are No. 28. Los Angeles has been Under in four of its last five, Sacramento in two of its last three.
Sacramento bullied the Clippers inside the paint the last time they played. If that trend continues, Brook Lopez may find the going tough in the paint and look to kick the ball out. He has 10 assists in his last four games.
Clippers vs Kings SGP
Clippers +12.5
Under 228.5 points
Brook Lopez Over 1.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brook from Downtown!
Interior production has been a problem for the Clippers, and Sacramento is not a good matchup for them.
The Kings should own the inside, as they did in the last matchup. In addition to passing out of the paint, Lopez, who has three games with multiple treys in the last five, will likely look to shoot from outside.
John Collins has grabbed fewer than seven rebounds in his last six games. Raynaud has hit double-figure scoring in eight of the last nine and has 35 boards in his last four games.
Clippers vs Kings SGP
Sacramento +13
Maxime Raynaud double-double
Brook Lopez Over 1.5 made threes
John Collins Under 6.5 rebounds
Clippers vs Kings odds
Spread: Clippers -13 | Kings +14
Moneyline: Clippers -855 | Kings +575
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Clippers vs Kings betting trend to know
The Kings have won their last four ATS against the Clippers as an underdog. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Kings.
How to watch Clippers vs Kings
Location
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SoCal, NBC Sports California
Clippers vs Kings latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Boston, MA - March 1: Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman gives a thumbs-up after making a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Boston’s newest wave of role players — Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. — aren’t being asked to manufacture offense on their own. That responsibility already belongs to Boston’s stars.
Instead, they’re asking them to do something far more specific: attack advantages and keep the ball moving. The guiding principle is simple. When the ball finds you, decide immediately. Shoot. Drive. Pass. Just don’t let it stick.
And while they share success this season as a similarity, the Celtics set of wings are all a little different. For Sam Hauser, he can do many things, but his calling card is his three-point shooting. Conversely, Jordan Walsh is known for his pesky individual defense. Hugo Gonzalez is still raw. However, he’s undeniably a momentum-shifter, what Joe Mazzulla affectionately describes as “giving the game what it needs.”
But if there’s a Celtic that encompasses all three of those skills, it’s Baylor Scheierman and according to our readers, he’s been the most pleasant surprise this season.
Scheierman is your classic “not great at anything, but good at everything” player. In other words, Derrick White in a former Nebraska high school quarterback’s body. The final first round pick of the 2024 NBA Draft has not just turned his sophomore year into a breakout season, but he’s become such an integral part of the Celtics rotation.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: Charles Bassey #99 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors plan to sign center/power forward Charles Bassey to the team’s roster, according to a report by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Bassey has spent the season dominating with the Warriors G-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, but recently received a trio of 10-day contracts between short stints with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. Bassey’s deal will likely only span the remainder of this season, but if the Dubs are high on his prospects, they could try to add a non or partially-guaranteed minimum salary through next season.
A Nigerian native, Bassey spent his college career at Western Kentucky before turning pro. The Philadelphia 76ers drafted him with the 53rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Waived by the Sixers after just one season, Bassey eventually landed with the Spurs on a two-way contract, where he spent the previous three seasons. No longer eligible for a two-way contract and unable to get another NBA deal, Bassey received a training camp invite with the Hawks, but was waived, received a brief 10-day stint with the Grizzlies, before landing in Santa Cruz.
In 17 games (16 starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, Bassey averaged 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game on 61.0%/40.5%/.65.9% shooting. In eight NBA games, he’s averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds on 62.5% shooting from the field in 6.6 minutes per game (15.6 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes).
It’s been a season of progress for the Toronto Raptors, yet they find themselves in Play-In peril ahead of today’s trip to the Boston Celtics.
That amps up the pressure on a Toronto team that’s 5-5 in its last 10 games, and my Raptors vs. Celtics predictions expect Jaylen Brown to guide Boston towards another dominant victory.
Read on for my NBA picks and betting angles for this April 5 battle, with Eastern Conference seeding still in flux.
Raptors vs Celtics prediction
Raptors vs Celtics best bet: Jaylen Brown Over 27.5 points (-112)
Jaylen Brown has played his way onto a lot of MVP ballots this season, and he’s putting the finishing touches on a career year. So, don’t count on the Toronto Raptors slowing him down here.
With a 28.7 ppg average that ranks fourth in the NBA, Brown is rolling, and he’s gone past this points prop O/U in seven of his last eight outings.
Forget any concerns about Jayson Tatum’s return disrupting Brown’s rhythm. He’s still getting to his spots, as we saw in a 43-point masterpiece against the Heat. In fact, he’s jacked up 20+ shots in six of his last eight contests — and 29 FGAs in two of his past three games. That doesn’t sound like a star suffering from fewer touches.
Likewise, his 3-point struggles are balanced out by a healthy dose of free throws. With his effective downhill style, Brown averaged 9.5 FTA per game in March and knocked them down at an 86% clip.
Toronto has been on the receiving end of some big outings from Boston’s No. 7, including a 30-point performance in December, and the visitors had some costly defensive lapses in losses to the Pistons and Kings this week.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are emerging as the team to beat in the East, and I see Brown adding to his collection of 30-point games today.
Raptors vs Celtics same-game parlay
With Brown leading the charge, Boston is a formidable home team, as its 26-11 record at TD Garden suggests. Joe Mazzulla’s men are 8-2 SU in their past 10 contests, and they’ve won nine of their last 10 meetings with the Raptors.
I’ll triple down on this Boston Celtics offense with a wager on Derrick White to heat up from downtown. He nailed five 3-pointers last time out against the Bucks, so the arrow is pointing up.
Raptors vs Celtics SGP
Jaylen Brown Over 27.5 points
Celtics moneyline
Derrick White Over 2.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: The Js bring it!
Boston's star duo looks ready for a playoff run, and this SGP signals impressive stats for both of the Js here.
Tatum is way ahead of schedule in his injury comeback, and he’s grabbed double-digit rebounds in five of his past six contests. He’s also dished a combined 28 dimes in his last three games.
Raptors vs Celtics SGP
Jaylen Brown Over 27.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 4.5 assists
Jayson Tatum Over 9.5 rebounds
Celtics -9.5
Raptors vs Celtics odds
Spread: Raptors +10 | Celtics -10
Moneyline: Raptors -375 | Celtics -400
Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5
Raptors vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Under is 23-14 in Celtics home games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Celtics.
How to watch Raptors vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, NBCS-Boston
Raptors vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics boxes out during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
From the moment Tatum hit the court in his first game almost a month ago, one thing has stuck out to me: the guy has come back to the game with a nose for the ball that is truly remarkable.
It’s like we’ve got a Steve Austin Six Million Dollar Man thing going on here, because Tatum has, from the get-go, displayed a knack for grabbing rebounds that is truly remarkable, given his career numbers.
In 13 games, Tatum is averaging 9.9 rebounds, which is enough to lead the team by almost a full board (Neemias Queta is second at 9 rebounds per game over the same time period).
What’s more impressive about that stat is that it’s significantly higher than his numbers from last season. Tatum’s shooting is down meaningfully from last season, as is his assist total (eFG% is down from .537 to .494, assists are 5.1, down from 6.0), but his rebounding has gone from 8.7 to 9.9 rips per game, with all of that increase coming on the defensive glass.
With a little bit of luck, Tatum could end the season averaging a double-double, something that he’s never done in his career.
Importantly, Tatum’s rebounds aren’t coming strictly at the expense of other players on the team.
Looking at advanced stats split before and after Tatum’s return, the Celtics have been rebounding the other team’s misses at a 75.4% clip since March 6th. Prior to that, the team’s defensive rebounding rate was just 70.4%. Defensive rebounds are up by more than 3 per game in real numbers.
Given that the Celtics score 119.4 points per 100 possessions, those extra three rebounds amount to an extra 3.6 points per game, and are partially responsible for a better than one point per 100 possession drop in opponent production against Boston.
Not surprisingly, Boston’s net rating per game has gone from +7.3 before Tatum’s return to +8.5 since, with no meaningful change in field goal percentage to indicate better offensive efficiency on that side of the ball.
Tatum is still very much a work in progress on the offensive side of the court, but he seems to be content to work into the flow of the game at that end, not trying to force himself back into game shape in a manner that works to the detriment of the team as a whole, but, on the other end of the court, he’s been the team’s number one rebounding option from the get-go.
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Kevin Garnett Rajon Rondo #9 of the New Orleans Pelicans Head Coach Doc River of the LA Clippers and former player Paul Pierce enjoy the game between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers on February 11, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Doc Rivers into the Hall of Fame
I suppose this was, in some ways, a foregone conclusion.
The Basketball Hall of Fame seems to place a high value on longevity when it comes to coaches at all levels of the sport, and at this point in time, Doc is the only coach with more than 2,000 games under his belt that isn’t in the hall of fame. Heck, Bill Fitch is in the Basketball Hall of Fame with 2,050 games coached, and he’s got a losing record as a head coach.
But I think that time will not be kind to Doc’s reputation. To be sure, he’s got a pretty decent record, overall, 1192-863 as of this date, and it’s not out of the question that he could top Lenny Wilkens’ record for total games coached. Wilkens coached 2,487 games in his career, and Doc is sitting at 2,055 games. At the same time, Doc has morphed from a coach who could get the most out of his players to a guy who seems bent on blaming them for everything. There’s also the matter of the blown 3-1 playoff series.
The version of Doc that is coaching the Bucks these days seems a far cry from the “Ubuntu” Doc that led the Celtics to a title in 2008 and confidently hid $2,600 in the Staples Center locker room in 2010 to convince the team that they were going to make the Finals that year.
I kind of feel for the guy. It doesn’t seem like he enjoys coaching very much these days, and it makes me wonder why he keeps at it. Is he chasing Lenny Wilkens’ record? Does he not want to figure out life holds for him after he’s done coaching?
Los Angeles, CA – February 22: Guard Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots between Austin Reaves #15 and center Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers as guard Luka Doncic #77 looks on in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Another one bites the dust
The Lakers have shut Luka Doncic down for the rest of the season, meaning that he’s also going to miss the 65 game threshold for regular season awards.
Predictably, people are up in arms about this.
I stand by my observations from last week: There should be a declared minimum number of games played to qualify for awards that are quite literally based on the games one plays, and if that minimum cuts out a player due to injury, well, that’s just how these things work. If you want to get a regular season award, logic dictates that you participate in a significant number of regular season games.
Right now, you can take off every fifth game and still qualify for the MVP award. Lowering the threshold to 60 games would mean that you can take every fourth game off, which seems excessively lenient to me, and either abolishing the limit or lowering it further seems to be even less defensible.
And in Doncic’s case, he would’ve met the threshold if he had been less adept at incurring technical fouls.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 21: AJ Griffin #14 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 21, 2024 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2023-24 Houston Rockets underwent a significant amount of change, as the team parted with Stephen Silas at the end of the prior season. The Rockets sought a defensive-first approach, which was sensical after Houston finished bottom-five in that category in each of Silas’s three seasons in the big chair.
The Rockets made a big jump in the standings, from 22-60 in 2022-23 to 41-41 in the 2023-24 season, with the league’s ninth-best defensive attack. However, their offense ranked 20th-best and they lacked a formidable outside shooting attack, ranking as the league’s 23rd-best outside shooting team at 35.2 percent from deep.
In the offseason that followed, the Rockets decided to address their shooting deficiencies, by trading for AJ Griffin, who they’d reportedly had interest in acquiring at the trade deadline. As a side note, Houston ultimately traded for Steven Adams at the trade deadline during that season.
Griffin made 39% of his triples from deep in his rookie 2022-23 campaign and fell out of favor with Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder, resulting in a rather significant minutes reduction, from 19.8 minutes as a rookie to 8.6 minutes in his second season with the Hawks.
Naturally, there was a fit for both sides. The Rockets traded a second-round pick for Griffin, which ultimately was used on Pelle Larson. Following the trade, we’d never seen footage of Griffin training with the Rockets in the summer or offseason.
As it turns out, Griffin had been mulling retirement to focus on evangelism and ultimately decided to walk away from basketball at the age of 21 years old.
But it was an uneventful, non-public ordeal. The Rockets respected Griffin’s desires to move on from basketball and supported him, despite losing their draft capital in exchange for him.
By the same token, Griffin didn’t spread ill will about the Rockets. The story went away.
Well, it was never really a story to begin with. The situation pales in comparison to the situation that’s come full circle regarding the Chicago Bulls and Jaden Ivey, who was traded to the Bulls and released after just four games with the organization.
Ivey was viewed as a potential long-term asset for the Bulls. Until he began to concoct social media videos, many of which are aimed at targeting certain groups and/or population circles.
Ivey also began asking media members very personal questions about their lifestyle decisions and choices. Like Griffin, he also took up an interest in religion and spirituality, but in a significantly different manner. And it ended poorly for him.
Which should make Rockets fans feel much better about the Griffin fiasco. Sure, he never played for them, but that’s about the extent of the embarrassment faced by the Rockets.
That a player they spent a second-round pick on amounted to a lost second-round draft pick. For the Bulls, it’s resulted in daily mockery at the national level. And the more expressive Ivey has become, the more the Bulls’ front office has faced questions about how little research they’d conducted before making the deadline deal with the Detroit Pistons.
With a week to go in the season, Minnesota and Phoenix are essentially locked into the 6/7 seeds, but that play-in divide could become formal today. Here's what you need to know on Easter Sunday in the NBA.
Playoff Scenarios
• Minnesota clinches a top-six playoff spot with a win and a Phoenix loss. Don't be so sure this happens today, the stumbling Timberwolves face a red-hot Charlotte team, while Phoenix isn't likely to lose to tanking Chicago. • Conversely, Phoenix becomes locked into the play-in if it loses and Minnesota wins. That's probably not happening today, but it's happening this week.
Games to Watch
Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics (3:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
This is potentially a first-round matchup preview. Boston is playing well and is pretty locked into the No. 2 seed in the East (2.5 up on No. 3 seed New York). Toronto is the team that really needs this upset win. The Raptors sit as the No. 6 seed in the East, just half a game up on the 76ers at No. 7, a win can help create a little space and keep the Raptors out of the play-in. Toronto should play like a desperate team in this one.
Charlotte Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass)
Charlotte needs every win it can get, as it is currently the No. 8 seed in the East, but Orlando is just half a game back and Miami is just one game. Charlotte is also just one game back of Philadelphia for the No. 7 seed. The Hornets have won three in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10. Minnesota is pretty locked into the No. 6 seed in the West (it will be tough to make up two games on No. 5 seed Houston in a week), but it needs a win to officially secure that No. 6 seed. Also, Minnesota just needs to get some wins and find a rhythm before the playoffs.
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Stephen Curry returns to the court for the Warriors, although it is the Rockets who need this win more. The Warriors are basically locked into the No. 10 seed and will need to win two play-in games on the road to get to the playoffs, but that is more likely with Curry back. Houston seems destined for the No. 5 seed, as making up the 1.5-game deficit to catch No. 4 Denver will be tough, but the Nuggets have the league's toughest remaining schedule, so the door is not closed. Catch Curry's return on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 29: A picture of JBL headphones used by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks while working out before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on October 29, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following news that the NBA has opened a probe into the Bucks’ and Giannis’ contradicting claims on his health status, ESPN’s Shams Charania yesterday revealed more details about the ongoing dispute, reporting the following:
“The Bucks have told NBA investigators that Giannis Antetokounmpo declined the opportunity to play 3-on-3 scrimmages as part of return protocol from a mid-March knee injury, per ESPN sources. Antetokounmpo told the league he is healthy enough to resume action.”
Subsequently, an NBA spokesperson released the statement below via Charania, giving more details into the situation:
“The NBA’s Player Participation Policy investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo is ongoing and certain facts remain in dispute. The investigation has found that the Bucks scheduled Giannis to work out last week in three-on-three scrimmages as part of his return-to-play process, but he declined to participate. There is a disagreement as to whether the team requested that Giannis participate in a group workout earlier this week, and the league is continuing to monitor the situation.”
So, it does seem like the Bucks are being truthful (at least in some part) about their assertion that Antetokounmpo is not yet ready to return; he was asked to participate in three-on-three scrimmages and declined, which is notable. If he is to return in one of these games, I think it’s entirely fair for the Bucks to want him to check every box before he does. Now, might they have further motivations for their assertion that he is not ready to play? I am sure they do, but those motivations are very reasonable.
I also want to note that there would be a heap of players (and notably, stars) across the NBA being held out by their teams for not-wholly-truthful reasons, but that it feels like the Bucks are being investigated because Giannis has brought this to the attention of the NBA and, in my opinion, made it a way bigger deal than it is. I totally understand GA is a competitor who wants to play whenever healthy—and that’s a key part of what’s made him the player he’s become—but for him not to see where the Bucks are coming from is frustrating, to say the least.
Does this new information change how you see the situation? Let us know in the comments.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 3: Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards and Angel Reese pose for a photo after the game against the Orlando Magic on March 3, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Time keeps on ticking, ticking, into the future. The Brooklyn Nets are speeding towards the end of the season and the start of their real season. With that in mind, they opened the month of April with a 34-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The opponent tonight is focusing on the Draft as well. The Washington Wizards are winding their season down and were in Florida to face the Miami Heat yesterday. As expected, the Wizards lost.
At the moment, the Wizards hold the top lottery odds, a half-game ahead of the Nets and Pacers who are tied for second. Brooklyn has a growing if not yet comfortable lead over fourth place Utah. The Jazz are 2.5 games back of the Nets with five to go. Should teams tie, the lottery odds would be divided equally between or among the bottom teams.
Where to follow the game
YES Network on TV. Gotham Sports on streaming. WFAN on radio.
Injuries
The following are out:
Michael Porter Jr
Egor Demin
Ziaire Williams
Day’ron Sharpe
Danny Wolf
Nic Claxton
Noah Clowney is questionable and Terance Mann is probable. Malachi Smith will be celebrating his new, two year (non-guaranteed) deal and the three two-ways will be available from here on out, with the Long Island Nets season over.
The following are out:
Trae Young
Anthony Davis
Cam Whitmore
Tristan Vukcevic
Alex Sarr
D’Angelo Russell
Kyshawn George
This is night two of a back-to-back for the Capital city crew so don’t be surprised if we see some more additions prior to gametime.
The game
Brooklyn won the first and third meetings while the Wizards took the second.
The Hall of Fame class of 2026, and Washington Mystics legend Elena Delle Donne is one of this year’s inductees! Salute to her.
This one has a lot of stakes attached to it. These teams are at the top of the Tankathon standings and a win for the Wizards would tie the season series and tie their records at 18-60.
Even in a lost season, young players have plenty to play for. They’re playing for their current jobs, next destinations, and professional pride. There’s always something to play for when you’re trying to prove yourself, and every game is an opportunity to get better. For the Wizards, Jamir Watkins might be someone they think about keeping on the team next season. From Harrison Hamm at Bullets Forever:
Like most rookies, he has areas where his feel will improve and he can match his boundless athleticism with technique. He has an inclination toward gambling. Sometimes, he relies a little too much on his own athleticism — letting guys drive, then trusting himself to make an unlikely recovery. His off-ball recognition will get better with experience.
I’m most intrigued by his rim protection upside. As good as he is at blowing plays up and forcing turnovers, he can get better at understanding when guys like to get their shots off, and how he can generate a quality contest.
Gotta keep making the most of your time.
Speaking of making the most of your time, Malachi Smith shined in his 17 minutes. The rookie guard scored 15 points off the bench and has likely earned himself a bigger role over the next few games. He’s got a new contract and some much needed security going forward. When you push yourself and work hard, good things happen.
This one could get a bit sloppy. Both of these teams are in the bottom third of the league in turnover rate and with the Wizards on night two of a back-to-back and playing a day game, they won’t be at full strength. It won’t be a pretty watch so hopefully these teams exceed everyone’s minimal expectations.
Player to watch: Julian Reese
Like we mentioned earlier, the end of the season can be an opportunity for a young player to find themselves. Similar to his sister Angel, Julian Reese has been a rebounding machine since joining the Wizards. He’s impressed teammates and given the fans something fun to watch as we wind down the season. Reese’s friendships with members of the team go back some years and there’s a belief in him and what he can do.
“We already kind of click well — I think it’s just the single fact, no one else on this team kind of knew Ju’s strengths like I did because I’ve seen it before,” Bub Carrington said. “He’s been showing that he’s a league big. He’s proof that it don’t matter how long you played in college. If you’re good at basketball, you prove it every night.”
Whoever controls the boards will likely win this one. Both of these teams are bottom of the league in rebounds so whoever completes possessions will be in position to walk away with the win. With the Nets frontcourt as decimated as it is, it’s going to take a team effort on the boards to compete.
Apr 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in overtime at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
So close! For much of this game, I felt like the Spurs were firmly in control; the point differential never got huge by modern NBA standards, but until the end of the third quarter it always felt like San Antonio was going to have enough to counter what Denver was brining to the table. As things tightened in the final minutes of regulation, both teams put together some impressive play; however, the Spurs made a couple of key errors, and in the end the Nuggets managed to convert small but critical advantages into their 50th win of the season.
From a strategic perspective, this loss likely means that San Antonio’s dreams of the one seed have faded away, unless OKC truly collapses in this final stretch. However, given the sudden injuries to the Lakers’ roster (which, as a diehard fan of the game, I truly hate), being the second seed may actually produce an easier path to the conference finals (conditional on Denver not catching Los Angeles for the three seed). In any case, here are some key highlights from yesterday’s scintillating contest:
This was a very low turnover game, with the Spurs (11) and Nuggets (6) combining for just 17 turnovers. Since the start of 2012-2013, only 2.65% (446 of 16,829) of regular season contests have had a turnover total at least that low. Unfortunately, the differential still strongly favored Denver, in that they had five less. This disadvantage transferred offensive opportunity from San Antonio to the Nuggets, mostly negating the advantage the Spurs built in TRB (+6) and ORB (+4).
Although both teams recorded exactly 22 fouls, the Spurs did a better job managing the type and timing of their fouls, which helped give the Silver and Black a +5 edge in FTA. Furthermore, the Spurs earned a slightly higher FT% (+6.23 percentage points), which translated to a FTM margin of +6 for San Antonio.
Unfortunately for the Spurs, their six-point edge at the charity stripe was not quite enough to overcome Denver’s advantages from the field. Two major factors were at play here: First, the Nuggets had a slightly better FG% than San Antonio (+1.98 percentage points). Typically, a margin this small would not mean much, but because both teams took 101 shots it translated to a +2 FGM margin for Denver.
In addition, the Nuggets had a notably better 3P% (+7.97 percentage points), which allowed them to produce a 3PM margin of +4. The net result of all of this is that Denver outscored San Antonio by eight from the field.
While this isn’t covered in the graded box score, both Wemby and Joker put together insane stat lines yesterday. For example, Victor became just the second player since the start of 1996-1997 to record a line including 34+ points, 18+ rebounds, 7+ assists, and 5+ blocks in the regular season. The first was Karl-Anthony Towns, in a December 30, 2018 game between the Timberwolves and Heat.
Similarly, Jokic became just the second player during the same period to record a regular season box score line including 40+ points, 8+ rebounds, 13+ assists, and 3+ blocks. The other player is LeBron James, who did so in a February 18, 2010 contest between the Cavs and Nuggets.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Boston, MA - March 4: Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic and guard Jaylen Brown talk in the third quarter. The Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
BOSTON — The Celtics could have an additional boost when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon; Nikola Vucevic, who has been sidelined since March 6th with a right ring finger fracture, has been upgraded to questionable for the first time since first suffering the injury.
In Vucevic’s absence, Luka Garza has stepped up, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes, while shooting 60.7% from the field and 44.7% from three. He had fallen out of the rotation after the Celtics traded for Vucevic in mid-February; how Joe Mazzulla will divvy up the two players’ minutes remains to be seen.
Mazzulla said this week that Vucevic is important to what the Celtics will do, and praised him for how he handled himself during his recovery.
“He’s a professional. I mean, he hasn’t missed a film session, practice,” Mazzulla said. “Even two days after he had his procedure, he was out working on his cardio.”
The Raptors will be without Chucky Hepburn (right knee surgery recovery) and Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis), but are otherwise healthy.
How the Celtics, Raptors stack up
The Celtics and Raptors have faced off three times this season, and the Celtics have emerged victorious each time, tallying two victories in December and one in January. Now, they meet in a final matchup that could serve as a first-round preview.
The Raptors have been led by Brandon Ingram (21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and Scottie Barnes (18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists), both of whom were named All-Stars this season. RJ Barrett (19.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) has also been crucial to the team’s success.
The Celtics (52-25) have all but secured the second-best record in the East, holding a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks with five games left to play.
The Raptors (43-34) currently have the 6th-best record in the Eastern Conference and are 0.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the play-in.
Given that the No.2 seed will face the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 playoff game, it’s very plausible that the Celtics will face the Raptors in the first round of the postseason.
Yet May opted to bring his hobbled star Yaxel Lendeborg back into the 91-73 win over Arizona despite a first-half leg injury Lendeborg suffered, and despite a big lead for the Wolverines for much of the game.
Why? May has learned from previous NCAA Tournament experience that a lead is never safe.
"Well, apparently you guys missed the UConn-Duke game," May said postgame. "The game was already decided that we were playing Duke tomorrow. They were up 19, correct, in the second half? And who won?
"So, being out — you're playing Arizona, one of the best teams — statistically, the number one or two team all year in the country and you're up 20 with 10 minutes left, with eight and a half minutes left. We didn't feel quite as confident as you guys did that we could just put the kids to bed. And he came in and Elliot [Cadeau] was in foul trouble, and so he just held it down.
"So yeah, obviously we felt like the game was still in hand."
Michigan led by as many as 30 points at 77-47 with 10:31 remaining in the second half, following a 3-pointer from Trey McKenney. However, Arizona did outscore the Wolverines 15-4 for the next 4:22 of game time, cutting the lead to under 20 for the first time since the 18:16 mark of the second half.
Lendeborg had subbed out of the game with 13:02 left in the game, with Michigan leading by 22. He checked back in with 7:10 remaining, and the lead was down to 20 with Arizona shooting a second free throw.
Cadeau, Michigan's starting guard, agreed with his coach about not taking any chances.
"We felt like we had a lot of games like this. And we learned from them," Cadeau said. "Some games, the teams actually came back. So we stressed in the huddle to keep our foot on the gas because it's March, it's April. Anything can happen, like they could come back from a 30-point deficit."
Despite Lendeborg being hobbled for the majority of the game, he finished with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in 14 minutes of play.
His teammates were not shocked at all by the resiliency shown by Lendeborg in Michigan's biggest game of the season to date.
"I think it just shows the guy who Yaxel is. I mean, he just wants to put it all on the floor for Michigan, and he wants to give the fans what they came here for," McKinney said.
"I'm just really grateful to have him as a teammate. He's one of the best players in the country, and he really showed that tonight. But he's selfless as well. So I'm just really grateful to be around him."
