The Golden State Warriors face a massive sliding doors moment in the coming days. As has been heavily reported, longtime head coach Steve Kerr and the team’s front office will determine whether he will remain the team’s head coach going forward in the coming days. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints detailed the many ripple effects that will come out of that decision. One that has perhaps fallen under the radar is the way Kerr’s future will impact center Al Horford’s approach to the offseason.

“And as for other players on the roster, Kerr’s influence impacts decisions for Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton,” Siegel wrote. “Whereas Melton owns a $3.4 million player option and will likely opt out to enter unrestricted free agency, Horford would strongly consider opting in to his $6 million player option if Kerr remains the head coach.”

“One of the main reasons Horford picked the Dubs was to contend for a title at the end of his career. If Kerr leaves and the Dubs look to reset the roster around Curry, the chances of Horford opting out and becoming a free agent increase tenfold.“

Horford’s first season with the Warriors started slowly, sidelined by sciatic for much of the first couple months of the season. However, he seemed to be coming into form right as Jimmy Butler suffered his season-ending ACL injury. Horford ultimately appeared in 45 regular-season games (13 starts), recording 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks in a career-low 21.5 minutes per game on 42.6%/36.1%/84.6% shooting. Not included in those numbers is Horford’s heroic performance in Golden State’s comeback victory over the Clippers in the play-in tournament when the 19-season NBA veteran hit four threes in the fourth quarter.

Horford’s player option is worth roughly $5.969 million, a reasonable value given his late-season production. If he opts out and goes elsewhere, the Warriors would have slightly more room to operate under the league’s salary aprons and could be more inclined to re-sign Quinten Post. It seems that choice will be heavily influenced by Steve Kerr’s future.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• The New Yorker releases a wide-ranging interview with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, discussing his future in Golden State and more.
• NBA insider Marc Stein says the Warriors’ roster could be in for a “drastic” overhaul if Kerr departs.
• Series updates across all NBA First Round matchups.

A little over a week has passed since the end of their season, and Steve Kerr’s future with the Golden State Warriors still remains uncertain. While many reports suggests the four-time Warriors champion head coach will be leaving this offseason, the biggest factor pushing him to stay is his ties to Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Kerr acknowledged that while most coaching tenures eventually run their course, his situation in Golden State isn’t that simple, largely because of the stars still leading the team.

Via The New Yorker:

You sound like a guy who wants to come back, and if it’s your choice, then you would.

This is a really interesting situation, and I’m very respectful of the organization and their place in the universe right now. And I know how this stuff works. Most coaching runs just last a certain amount of time, and then it’s best for everybody to move forward. And what we have to figure out is whether now is that time, because what complicates it is we still have Steph and Draymond.

That’s the tension at the center of it all. Kerr understands the natural lifecycle of an NBA coach, but the presence of Curry and Green — and the belief that this group can add to their four championships together — makes his choice far more complicated.

For now, no decision has been made. Kerr pointed to upcoming conversations with the organization as the next step, with a decision expected soon.

For another year, right?

Yeah, another year each on their contracts. And I don’t want to abandon those guys. If Steph and Draymond were retiring this year, I think this would be an easy decision: we all go out together and the organization takes their new path. But it’s not that easy because I think Steph’s going to play another couple of years and I think we can still do some good things together. But these are all conversations that will happen in the next week or two and we’ll figure it out. And whatever happens, it’s going to end well. I know that, because it’s too important not to.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, April 27th:

Warriors News:

Has Steve Kerr Had Enough? | The New Yorker

You’ve come to blows—

Yeah. I mean, people pulling us apart. And in my first five years, we would get into three knockdown, dragouts a year. Part of it was, I just had to show the rest of the team that I’m in charge. You have to do things by a set of standards. It’s a community that you’re building, not just a team—a little society with values and standards and expectations. And then you’re a community that has to police itself. The coach has to demand certain behaviors, certain habits. So then for a long time we had a truce. I understood him so well. He understood me. But this year we had a major blowout in December. He’s such a unique person. There’s things he’s done that I can never forgive him for, and yet I will do anything for him.

Sunday Best: LOTS happening leaguewide and the latest Intel is here | The Stein Line

The coming week, furthermore, could deliver another significant shakeup to the X-and-O landscape should Steve Kerr and the Warriors decide to part ways after a dozen seasons together that delivered four championships.

If a parting indeed happens — as many have forecasted — little seems certain about next steps for Golden State beyond the knowledge that the franchise wants Stephen Curry to retire as a Warrior.

There is a growing belief that the roster overhaul around Curry could prove to be more drastic if Kerr is no longer the coach. Remember that Draymond Green recently shared on his podcast (full version below) that he does not expect Kerr to return and is likewise unsure if the team wants to retain him … although it’s believed that Green, 36, will be presented with the concept of declining his $27.7 million player option for next season to sign a longer-term extension at a lower annual salary.

Behind The Scenes Of “My Free Agency Sneaker Collection” With Sotheby’s

NBA News:

Nothing Is off the Table in Houston | The Ringer

The Rockets thought that KD was their missing piece, and instead, there’s a chance they’ll turn him into a stepping stone this summer. It turns out that your best player shouldn’t also be a mercenary. But despite that, the Heat, Timberwolves, Blazers, Mavericks, Pistons, Knicks, Raptors, Hawks, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Hornets, Bulls, Wizards, Warriors, Pacers, Jazz, Sixers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, and Clippers would all have varying degrees of interest—pending how the rest of these playoffs go. 

NBA Playoff Bracket update

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Former Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo suffers devastating injury in the playoffs

DiVincenzo’s injury could very likely bring his tenure in Minnesota to a close. The Wolves acquired guard Ayo Dosunmo at the trade deadline, and he has fit in admirably. Slated to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though, Dosunmo is in position to ask for a significant payday. With the Wolves hoping to remain contenders next season, DiVincenzo’s $12.535 million salary next year becomes an obvious tradeable expiring contract.

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

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The Detroit Pistons will be eager to even up this series at two games apiece tonight, and the Orlando Magic can really put the pressure on the East's top seed should they go up 3-1.

The stakes are high, and that means plenty of NBA player prop projections and NBA picks to choose from. For a full breakdown, check out our Pistons vs. Magic predictions.

Pistons vs Magic computer picks for Game 4

Pistons	Magic
Duren o14.5 points  -120	Bane o3.5 assists  +140
Robinson u2.5 threes  +100	Banchero u8.5 rebounds  -120
Green o5.5 points  -110	Carter u10.5 points  -125

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Pistons Game 4 computer picks

Jalen Duren Over 14.5 points (-120)

Projection: 16.97 points

Jalen Duren has been totally shut down to the tune of just 27 points in three games in this series, but this 14.5-point total is an overreaction for a guy who averaged almost 20 points per game this season.

His breakout game is coming.

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Duncan Robinson Under 2.5 threes (+100)

Projection: 2.45 threes

Duncan Robinson has cleared this number in all three games (9-for-21 for the series), but with Orlando's perimeter defenders, you have to expect his 42.9 3-point rate to come down at some point. The plus-money on the Under makes this the opportunity to bank on that.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet ROBINSON Now at bet365!/span

Javonte Green Over 5.5 points (-110)

Projection: 6.45 points

Javonte Green only took two shots through the first two games, but went 2-for-6 from three in Game 3. Our model calls for more of the same in Game 4.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet GREEN Now at bet365!/span

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Magic Game 4 computer picks

Desmond Bane Over 3.5 assists (+140)

Projection: 3.84 assists

Desmond Bane logged five assists in Game 1 and averaged 4.1 over 82 games this season. Our model calls for 3.84 assists tonight, and the +140 price makes this an easy button to push.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet BANE Now at bet365!/span

Paolo Banchero Under 8.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 7.61 rebounds

Paolo Banchero has been active on the glass with 27 boards across three games, but this is still a high bar to clear. Another good rebounding game could still easily fall short of this number.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Under 10.5 points (-125)

Projection: 9.66

Wendell Carter Jr. has been one of the biggest stories of this opening round, scoring 17 in Game 1 and 14 in Game 3. Between that, however, was a 3-point dud in which he shot 1-for-6 from the floor. Our model calls for 9.66 tonight.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet CARTER JR. Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Pistons vs Magic Game 4

Location	Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date	Monday, April 27, 2026
Tip-off	8:00 p.m. ET
TV	NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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DENVER (AP) — Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards will be sidelined for at least one week with a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee, a diagnosis the Timberwolves formally announced Monday before Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Denver.

Edwards had an MRI exam that confirmed the absence of structural damage, a relief to the Timberwolves after Edwards' injury occurred in the second quarter of their Game 4 victory over the Nuggets. Still, his availability for the second round if they advance will be in question. The team called his status week to week, so Edwards would likely miss at least the beginning of the next series before he's cleared to return.

“With the two injuries we had in one game, it was as positive as you can get it,” guard Mike Conley told reporters after the team's pregame shootaround in Denver. ”Obviously we want him to get healthy. We want him to be recovered as quickly as he can, but his health is No. 1. He knows his body. When his body’s ready, he’s going to fight through it. We know if we can get out of the series, we’ll get him back."

Minnesota, which took a 3-1 lead on Denver in the series into Game 5, lost their other starting guard, Donte DiVincenzo, for the rest of the postseason and much of next season with a ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in the opening minutes of Game 4.

Edwards averaged 28.8 points in the regular season, third best in the NBA behind Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He missed 21 games this season, by far the most of his career, mostly to a right knee injury.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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The Orlando Magic can put the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons on the ropes with another win tonight, and our Pistons vs. Magic predictions are happy to take the points with the Magic at home.

We break down why in our NBA picks and SGP predictions for Game 4 below.

Our best Pistons vs Magic SGP for Game 4

Wendell Carter Jr. has provided excellent numbers through the first three games of the series against the Detroit Pistons, averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. Carter scored 11+ points in 45 of 78 regular-season matchups, and he’s reached that total in two of three playoff games.

The Orlando Magic big man is an effective floor-spacer who can spread out Jalen Duren with his 3-point shooting ability. Carter has gone just 1-for-7 from deep in this series, but he’s due for positive regression in that department.

The Magic are finally healthy and rolling against a Pistons team that doesn’t have any answers for their size and shot-making abilities. I’ll take Orlando to cover as a small home dog.

Two of three games have gone Under in this series, and it's thanks to strong defensive efforts on both sides. The Magic and Pistons each rank in the Top 3 in defensive rating in the postseason.

Detroit finished second in that category in the regular season, while Orlando was 13th.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are just one win away from knocking off the Denver Nuggets, but they'll have to do it without Anthony Edwards.

Our Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks think they'll pull it off on Monday, April 27.

Who will win Timberwolves vs Nuggets Game 5?

Timberwolves win probability:79% (-375)
Nuggets win probability:21% (+376)

With their backs against the wall and the series shifting back to Denver, it's no surprise the Nuggets have a 79% chance of winning Game 5.

Our prediction:Timberwolves to win

While the Nuggets are 11-point favorites and should be desperate with their backs up against the wall, anyone who has watched the last few games of this series can very clearly see the body language throughout Denver’s roster.

Frustration, anger, and wounded pride are no way to mount a comeback from a 3-1 series, and they may cost the Nuggets quicker than anyone expects.

Read more in Douglas Farmer's full Timberwolves vs. Nuggets predictions.

More Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Nuggets -11.5 spread means the Nuggets will cover, while "No" means the Timberwolves will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Timberwolves vs Nuggets spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Nuggets -11.5 — No and Over 223.5 points — No

The Timberwolves are missing a big piece of their offense in Edwards, but their defense can draw this game out and turn it into a rock fight. That's the best chance Minnesota has of winning.

Other Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction markets available

• Rudy Gobert 10+ points (Yes: 55¢)
• Nikola Jokic 30+ points (Yes: 57¢)
• Julius Randle 7+ rebounds (Yes: 56¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Nuggets win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Timberwolves vs Nuggets at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

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After officially declaring for the NBA Draft last week, AJ Dybantsa published a long “thank you” message to BYU on his LinkedIn Monday.

Below is the full post:

“When I committed to BYU, I knew I was signing up for something bigger than basketball.

A lot of people questioned the decision. For me, the choice was simple. I wanted to go to the place that would best develop me as a basketball player and as a person. BYU was the program that gave me the clearest path to both.

The moment I stepped on campus, I knew I made the right call. T

his school welcomed me in, raised the standard for me, and made me a better person every single day I was there. From the coaching staff to the professors to the fans walking across campus, this is a community unlike any other in college sports.

Coach Young, thank you for trusting me with the keys to your program. You came to BYU with an NBA mind and a deep belief in what this place could become. You pushed me harder than I’ve ever been pushed, and you cared about me as a person before you cared about me as a player. I’ll carry the lessons you taught me for the rest of my life.

To my teammates, the bond we built this year goes way beyond basketball. The film sessions, the bus rides, the late nights in the gym, the conversations that had nothing to do with the game. Y’all are brothers for life. I’m rooting for every single one of you.

To Coug Nation, what y’all do for this program is special. The way fans show up for BYU basketball is unlike anything in the country. The kindness I felt walking around campus and the city of Provo, the families who treated me like one of their own, the kids who came up to me everywhere I went. That’s the part of this experience I’ll remember most.

I am proud to have worn the Y. I’m proud to have represented this university. I’m proud to be a Cougar for life.

The next chapter starts now, but BYU will always be a part of who I am.

Go Cougs.”

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Two series could end tonight, though that would require one double-digit upset. The more intriguing wonder is if the Orlando Magic can take a firm grasp of their first-round series with the Detroit Pistons. It is always intriguing when a No. 1 seed may be on the ropes in the first round.

These NBA player props for Monday, April 27, take a quick look at Orlando before nodding toward a couple of defensive wings who should pour in the points tonight.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Jalen Suggs	Over 2.5 threes	+122
Dillon Brooks	20+ Points	+100
Jaden McDaniels	20+ Points	+175

Prop #1: Jalen Suggs Over 2.5 threes

+122 at bet365

Simply enough, Jalen Suggs has hit at least three 3-pointers in each game of this series. One can safely assume this is part of the Orlando Magic’s game plan.

Suggs averaged 6.3 attempted shots from beyond the arc per game this regular season. And now he has taken 28 through three games in the playoffs. That is not by accident.

As long as Suggs is shooting this often, even his middling rate should yield a few triples. Hitting 33.9% this season from deep is not astounding, but if he is taking 8+ per game, then it is more likely than not that Suggs will hit at least three.

It may be bold for the oddsmakers to raise this prop to 3.5, but they certainly should not have Over 2.5 priced at plus money.

• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

Prop #2: Dillon Brooks 20+ points

+100 at bet365

Again, simply enough, Dillon Brooks has scored 30+ points in his last two games while averaging 27 in this series. One can very much assume this has been the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defensive game plan.

The Thunder know they will not lose this series because Brooks scored too many points, so they are content to let him shoot. He has taken at least 21 shots in each game after averaging 17.1 per game in the regular season.

Brooks attempted 21+ shots in only 26.8% of his games this year; doing so in three straight postseason games is no accident.

As long as Brooks is shooting this often, even his inefficient rates should yield 20+ points. His points prop is set at 18.5 with the Over juiced to -120; surely the one additional point is worth those 20 cents.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

Prop #3: Jaden McDaniels 20+ points

+175 at bet365

No one with the Minnesota Timberwolves would ever suggest, “No Anthony Edwards, no problem,” but anyone who watched the Timberwolves this season knows to expect a Jaden McDaniels outburst now.

Yes, now. McDaniels has been in the headlines this whole series, but not for any outburst. He has been so restrained that he took a layup in the closing seconds on Saturday, and still Nikola Jokic threw a temper tantrum.

McDaniels averaged 18.7 points per game in 16 games with Edwards sidelined this season, taking 3.6 more shots per game.

This milestone is priced too aggressively, given the added workload that should be coming McDaniels’s way tonight, to the Denver Nuggets’ assured chagrin.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC or Peacock

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

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The NBA Playoffs are back in the Big Apple for Game 5 between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

New York holds home court after locking this series at 2-2, and my NBA picks like the momentum to stay in Madison Square Garden, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart making a splash.

Our best Hawks vs Knicks SGP for Game 5

SGP leg #1: New York Knicks moneyline

The New York Knicks’ playoff experience is starting to show after four games. The Knicks are making smart adjustments and have a better cast of support players to pick up the slack. I like New York to put the Atlanta Hawks on the ropes with a strong showing at MSG.

SGP leg #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists

Karl-Anthony Towns was a conduit for this Knicks offense in Game 4, generating 10 assists as he set up shop atop the key. Towns was able to see over smaller defenders and find teammates activated from off-ball screens and backdoor cuts. He’s dished out four or more dimes in seven of his last eight games overall.

SGP leg #3: Josh Hart Over 1.3 threes

Josh Hart is best known for his defense and rebounding, which is why he continues to get wide-open looks from long range. Hart hasn’t been able to make the most of those 3-point attempts, but is a much stronger shooter at MSG and makes the Hawks pay for all that space on the perimeter.

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See our full Hawks vs Knicks Game 5 preview

Get Jason's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Hawks vs. Knicks predictions for Game 5.

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Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

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See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.

Live NBA Playoff bracket

Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round. 

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Only one more sleep. Fewer than 34 hours.

Hawks at Knicks, Game 5 at MSG.

Let’s beat ‘em birds.

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s defense in Game 4:

“Josh was really good on the ball. Josh is a guy with quick feet, he’s strong and when he gets locked in, he’s locked in. His defensive activity, especially when he [pressures the ball], was fabulous [Saturday night]. Really, really good. And we needed all of it.”

On giving Hart differente defensive assignments:

“We just wanted to move Josh around. Josh, his ball pressure is good. He’s strong, he’s got pretty good feet, he’s got long arms and he locks into the ball, so he’s able to get some deflections without fouling because of his long arms. CJ is a handful, so we just gotta keep finding ways to show him different looks, which means different guys gotta guard him at different times.”

On the defensive changes applied in Game 4:

“The players in that locker room (made the change). We didn’t change anything in transition. Our rules are still the same. We just got back.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On adjusting his game to more of a playmaking role:

“I think that the difference for me today over other days — and I thought I did a good job playmaking this series — was instead of trying to lead people to a spot, I just passed it to where they were and let them make the decision. I thought that helped me a lot today, getting my teammates the ball earlier and allowing them to make a decision and then convert on those plays. So, just being aggressive and playmaking and trying to be playing quarterback at those spots when I got the ball.”

On finding joy in facilitating:

“Just to see my teammates being special and to be able to get them involved is something I truly enjoy more than hitting a shot. To see people like OG consistently making the right read on the cut, the back door, whatever the case may be against the defense and doing something special, it brings me joy and it brings me the most energy.”

On Knicks fans traveling:

“Knicks fans travel all around the world. It’s even more special — I already knew how special the Knicks fans were from last year, but to be going to Abu Dhabi in preseason and see the stadium packed with Knicks fans is crazy. So, they travel around the world. They bring us so much love and energy and just passion that you can just feel that kind of passion in the building and it helps us feel like every game we play, no matter if it’s away or in Abu Dhabi, around the world, it’s a home game.”

OG Anunoby

On Towns’ skill set:

“[KAT] is a special talent. He can do it all. And I know if I get open, he’ll find me. No matter how tight the window is, he’ll be able to find it. It’s amazing playing with a player like him.”

On Hart’s defensive impact:

“It makes it easier, because it gives me more time to rotate toward the rim and then also make a read on if the ball handler is gonna pick up his dribble or if he’s going to the rim full speed, because Josh is pressuring him. So it just makes it easier what to do. He’s doing an amazing job being physical, getting into the ball. He’s beating guys up. And that’s what he does.”

Josh Hart

On his defensive approach:

“I’ve been trying to do that every game this series, trying to be physical with those guys, take that challenge upon myself. Don’t think there was anything different today. Trying to do what I’ve been doing. I haven’t been making shots. So I’ve got to make sure I find a way to be impactful.”

On not being satisfied after Game 4:

“You never know what that can be. You can’t be satisfied with this performance. You can’t go into Game 5 thinking we had a great game, and they’re just going to lay down, ’cause they’re not. They’re going to come out with a sense of urgency, a sense of physicality that they probably haven’t shown yet. We’ve got to be ready to weather that storm and have our own physicality.”

Jalen Brunson

On the team’s mindset shift in Game 4:

“I think we refocused and understood what was going to be needed tonight. Most importantly, just not being afraid to fail is a mindset we need to have. Let’s go out there and leave it all on the table.”

On his ankle injury scare:

“I’m right here. I’m all good.”

On Knicks fans traveling:

“It’s one of the coolest things that I will always remember when I’m done playing, is how crazy these Knicks fans travel. Whether they live here now or whatever, they know how to attack an away stadium. And it’s a really cool sight to see.”

Jordan Clarkson

On returning to playing playoff basketball:

“It’s beautiful, bro. I’m just happy to be playing for something again, playing in the playoffs. This high is something you can’t buy.”

On sacrificing his scoring role in New York:

“I don’t think it was something I wanted to prove. I just wanted to impact this team, help this team get a win and continue to win. That’s it. That’s sacrificing what I’ve done for the last 12 years, and that’s scoring.”

On his defensive focus and intensity:

“It was just being aggressive, getting into the ball, picking up guys and then rebounding — turning it up on that end. Those are things that they’ve been preaching to me all year. I’ve been out of this kind of intensity basketball for the last three years. So playing myself back into game shape and this high-intensity playoff effort all through the year. Just for a time like this.”

On his years with the tanking Jazz:

“It was definitely tough. Not playing to win something and working towards a goal. My job there wasn’t to be this role that I’m in right now, either. So definitely different there. So trying to stay locked in through the year, knowing we’re not playing for nothing in the playoffs. And looking forward to that. But still continue to be a pro, work on my game, during that time.”

On the Game 5 mindset:

“We know [the Hawks] are going to try to come back and punch us in the mouth when we’re at the crib. So we got to be ready.”

Carmelo Anthony

On Towns’ Game 4 performance:

“We talk about KAT, about what we always want to see from KAT. From him today to lead the team by his passing, by his aggressiveness and then took advantage of the defense when he could. He just played a complete game.”

All season long, members of the Minnesota Timberwolves had insisted to the coaching staff that things would be different come playoff time.

During a December back-to-back series in New Orleans, Anthony Edwards mentioned that the team was already looking forward to the playoffs.

IN DECEMBER.

Only four months to go!

So, all included, surely game one would wake a team up from a malaise of a season in which they said would get better once the postseason started, right?

Not quite.

“They kept telling me it would be different when we get there, and game one wasn’t any different…so we jumped their ass,” coach Chris Finch said at the podium after a rollercoaster game two. “They lied to us, and they responded.”

Did they ever. Over the last three games, the Wolves have played with a composure that has them sustaining runs and preventing the Nuggets from going on them, locking in defensively, and sharing the ball in the half court that allows them to get to the teeth of the defense.

None of this, and I repeat NONE, was visible in the regular season for multi-game stretches. Quarters? Sure. A game? Sure, I can hear that out. A whole run? No way.

“I knew it was there,” Finch said.

But he continued – and it’s worth the whole quote.

“It was very frustrating. Sometimes it was focus, sometimes it was effort, sometimes it was execution. We couldn’t sustain what we wanted to in order to be a top team at the time. Guys were admittedly probably bored. Some immaturity of two long runs in the playoffs and we thought we would take a step forward there, and we didn’t.”

He would go on to talk about the banter heading into the playoffs, and the ensuing game one loss and motivation that would follow.

But the product of all of this is a night that everyone will remember for a really long time. Donte DiVincenzo went down just 1:19 into the game holding his calf, the worst becoming true with a torn achilles. An injury of that magnitude that can surely take the wind out of the sails of a team playing so well up until that point, and starting out game four on a tear.

For a team that so often would pack it up and mail it in over the course of the season, a reason to do so dropped right into their lap. It’s a pretty traumatic event, and obviously shakes up a rotation well beyond what the coaching staff is going into the game expecting.

Then your best player goes down for the rest of the game. The powerhouse of the team.

Though Anthony Edwards was playing poorly up until that point, it’s never an actual good thing for a player of his caliber to leave the game, believe it or not. It left a team beginning to really find itself in an immediate place of searching for answers in a playoff setting they had been hoping to see all season.

Multiple people had just become more important at work.

Hampered with a shoulder injury, Naz Reid would need to step up his game beyond what he was giving. Bones Hyland would need to become a more important scorer and collapse defenses (he will moving forward as well). Terrence Shannon Jr. will need to become a version of himself that was expected heading into the season.

“These playoff games really matter,” Naz Reid said afterward. “Every possession, every moment, every second. Making sure that we make smart plays..we want to make things happen in our favor, try not to have boneheaded mistakes we had throughout the season, and right now it’s super crucial.”

Reid would go one to live by it, putting up his best game in over a month, and helping to chip in on the production left out on the floor by his injured counterparts.

Injuries independent, the theme now moving forward lies in the mentality of this group heading into game five.

I tried to ask as many members of the group as possible what they’ve found in the playoffs that they previously didn’t have in the regular season.

The hero of the night’s answer put it all in a bow.

“I’m not gonna lie, I knew we guarded like that, but the intesnity…each and every possession, just seeing the guys fight,” 43-point scorer Ayo Dosunmu said.

Just arriving in February, Dosunmu’s arrival was in the middle of the season’s doldrums, and the guard would have a unique perspective on the personality resurgence currently taking place.

“Everytime [Jaden] was on the court guarding Murray, he was guarding him like his life depended on it.”

Like their life depends on it.

Surely a mental place that this team has gotten to. But now, the challenge is much more unique. The Wolves will now head on the road to try and close a talented team out down two starters, and in desperate need of their bench to find the continuous life they did on Saturday night. More crucial will be showing one of the more talented two man pairings in the league that there isn’t a way forward in the series in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray – smothered offensively for the last three games.

While things look positive, there is still basketball to be played.

More importantly, up 3-1, the Wolves will need to channel their their “life depends on it” mindset, even though it doesn’t right now – and fight off the demons that prevented a sense of urgency in the first place.

Former Northwestern center Cade Bennerman has committed to North Carolina via the NCAA Transfer Portal. He didn’t see any action as a true freshman in the 2025-26 season and ultimately redshirted.

Cade Bennerman played high school basketball at Father Ryan (TN), where he was a three-star prospect. The 7-foot center was the No. 219 overall player and No. 26 center in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

At the time of his commitment to Louisville, Bennerman was the No. 30 center in On3’s 2026 Transfer Portal Player Rankings. On April 21, North Carolina also landed a front-court commitment from former FAU forward Maxim Logue.

Bennerman and Logue will help fill the roster hole left by Henri Veesar, who declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. Veesar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this past season, while shooting 60.8% from the field and 42.6% from beyond the arc.

For his efforts, Veesar was named an All-ACC Second-Team selection this year.Veesar was offered up to $6 million by teams attempting to lure him into the transfer portal this offseason, per CBS Sports‘ Matt Norlander. Nonetheless, he opted to move onto the next chapter of his career.

The Tar Heels are undergoing significant roster turnover after firing head coach Hubert Davis this offseason and replacing him with longtime NBA HC Michael Malone. Malone coached in the NBA from 2001-25.

He led the Denver Nuggets to an NBA championship in 2023. Now, he’s ready to guide North Carolina to similar success.

“Carolina is one of the most historic programs in college basketball, and I am honored to be the head coach of the Tar Heels,” Malone said. “It is humbling to follow so many legends in Chapel Hill. I know from the many Tar Heels in the NBA how special the Carolina Basketball Family is, and I will do everything I can to continue UNC’s championship legacy while preparing our players for professional careers and life after basketball.”

The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 7 and closed on April 21. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the men’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes did not have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.

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