Category: Basketball

Boston Celtics (54-25) at New York Knicks (51-28)
Thursday, April 9, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #80 Road Game #41
TV: Prime Video
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub,  880 ESPN, Sirius XM
Madison Square Garden

The Celtics head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks in their final road game of the season. This is the 4th, and final, game between these two teams this season. The Knicks won the first game 105-95 in New York on October 24. The Celtics won the 2nd game 123-117 in Boston on December 2. The Knicks won the 3rd game 111-89 in Boston on February 8.

The Celtics are 309-192 overall, all time against the Knicks and they are 130-110 in games played in New York. Both teams are playing in the first of back to back games. The Knicks have been off since Monday and are 7-5 in the first of back to back games. The Celtics last played on Tuesday and they are 9-3 in the first of back to back games.

Along with the importance of this game for seeding purposes, this game has another very important storyline. This will be Jayson Tatum’s first game back to Madison Square Garden since he tore his Achilles in last year’s playoffs. This is one of the mental hurdles that Tatum must get over in order to be all the way back from the injury. He said he’s not thrilled with having to go back there and play but knows that it’s all a part of getting back to where he was before the injury.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 3 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 9.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 10 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 10.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 11 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 26-14 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.

The Knicks are 3rd in the East, 6.5 games behind 1st place Detroit and 3 games behind 2nd place Boston. They are half a game ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 7 games ahead of 6th place Toronto and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando and 8 games ahead of 8th place Philadelphia. They are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 28-9 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 3 games.

This game is very important for seeding purposes. The Celtics need just one win or one Knicks loss to clinch the 2nd seed. They can do that with a win in this game or they have 2 more games left and would need to win one of those. The Celtics will host New Orleans on Friday and will finish the season by hosting Orlando. After this game, the Knicks have 2 games left as well. They will host Toronto and Charlotte to end the season. For New York to clinch the 2nd seed, the Celtics would need to lose all 3 games and New York would need to win all 3 games. Also, the Knicks are just half a game ahead of Cleveland and they need to keep winning to hang onto the 3rd seed.

The Celtics originally had 4 starters listed as questionable on the injury report. Derrick White (knee), Neemias Queta (toe) remain questionable. Sam Hauser (back) is available and Jaylen Brown (Achilles) has been ruled out. I’ve included the normal starting 5 other than Jaylen Brown since I’m not sure who will play and who won’t. I’m guessing that Baylor Scheierman starts for Jaylen Brown. For the Knicks, only Tyler Kolek (oblique) is questionable.

Probable Celtics Starters
PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson

SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Mikal Bridges

SF: Sam Hauser vs OG Anunoby

PF: Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart

Neemias Queta vs Karl-Anthony Towns

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Jordan Walsh
Baylor Scheierman
Max Shulga
Nikola Vucevic
Ron Harper, Jr

2-Way Players
None

Injuries/Out
Derrick White (knee) questionable
Neemias Queta (toe)  questionable
Sam Hauser (back) available
Jaylen Brown (Achilles) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Knicks Reserves
Jordan Clarkson
Pacome Dadiet
Jose Alvarado
Mohamed Diawara
Tyler Kolek
Mitchell Robinson
Landry Shamet
Ariel Hukporti

Two-Way Players
Kevin McCullar, Jr
Dillon Jones
Trey Jemison III

Injuries/Out
Tyler Kolek (oblique) questionable

Head Coach
Mike Brown

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Brunson is the key to the Knicks offense and the Celtics need to defend him well. He is averaging 26 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he averaged 25.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must defend him closely, especially on the perimeter. If White doesn’t play, I would expect Payton Pritchard to start in his place.

Neemias Queta vs Karl Anthony-Towns
Towns is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc.  In the first 3 games against the Celtics, he averaged 22.0 points, 10 rebounds,  and 2 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc.  The Celtics need to box him out on the boards and defend him in the paint and on the perimeter. If Queta doesn’t play, I am guessing that Luka Garza will start in his place with Vucevic coming off the bench. 

Honorable Mention
Sam Hauser vs OG Anunoby
Anunoby is averaging 24 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.8% from 3.  He played in just one of the 3 games against the Celtics this season and finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals while shooting 30% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.   If Hauser doesn’t play, I would guess that Baylor Scheierman starts in his place. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game.  The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.7.  The Knicks  are 8th with a defensive rating of 112.3.   The Celtics have shown that they are capable of playing very good defense but at times still slack off and allow opponents to score too easily.  If Brown, White and Queta are out, they will be without 3 key defenders.   The Celtics must make defense a priority if they hope to win this game. 

Rebound –  As with defense,  rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound.   The Celtics are 4th with 46.5 rebounds per game while the Knicks are 7th with 46.0 rebounds per game.  In the 2 losses to the Knicks this season, the Celtics were out-rebounded but in the win over the Knicks, they out-rebounded the Knicks.  The Knicks are 6th with 16.6 second chance points per game.  The Celtics must give extra effort to beat the Knicks to rebounds in this game. 

Move the Ball Carefully– The Celtics are tough to beat when they keep the ball moving and find the open man but when one player over dribbles and lapses into hero ball, they falter. The Celtics are 33-0 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 19-23 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. Keep the ball moving and don’t lapse into hero ball, whether in the first quarter or the 4th quarter. They have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over because the Knicks average 17.8 points off turnovers per game. 

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way from the opening tip until the final buzzer. 

X-Factors
On the Road – The Celtics are on the road for the final time this season.   They need to overcome the distractions of travel, playing on an unfamiliar court,  and in front of a hostile crowd and stay focused on playing hard and as a team.  They have to come out playing hard right from the beginning and try to keep the Knicks’ crowd from getting into the game.

Who’s Playing? – It’s possible that the Celtics will be without up to 4 starters.  Since the Celtics need just one win in their 3 remaining games to clinch the 2nd seed, they may rest some players in this one and then go all out in the final 2 games to get that win.  If any or all of the 4 questionable players are out, the other players have to step up big time for the Celtics to get a win. 

Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor.   Each officiating crew calls the game differently.  Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make calls that just don’t make sense.  The Celtics will be on the road and so they can expect the Knicks to get a favorable whistle in their arena.  The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus. 

Last week, I described the state of the Lakers as happiness. Now, all that remains is despair.

That’s what happens when two star players go down in the same game and are out for the rest of the regular season and beyond.

Earlier this year, during a bump in the road that is the NBA season, Lakers head coach JJ Redick referenced Jay-Z’s song “A Week Ago,” describing how things can go from good to bad in a flash.

Well, this is a much worse situation, and when I think about the fact that all of us are stuck watching a team that can’t win games, the ending of the book “The Great Gatsby” comes to mind.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine mornin—

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

5 things I liked and didn’t like

1. Injuries stink

To win an NBA title, you need a combination of skill and luck. The Lakers had the talent to compete in the West, but the injuries have gotten the better of them.

Watching Dončić and Reaves go down while the Lakers were getting blown out by the Thunder killed all hope one could have of a successful season. It’s one thing to lose against the best teams in the NBA. But to not get a chance to compete with anywhere close to your full roster is quite another.

Basketball, like life, can be painful, cruel and unfair. The breaks didn’t go the Lakers’ way, and that’s just the way the 2025-26 season went down.

2. The Thunder are levels better than the Lakers

Okay, but also, did you see the Lakers-Thunder matchup?

OKC was miles ahead of the Lakers. Austin Reaves couldn’t get a pass through the Thunder defenders, and when he did, Deandre Ayton couldn’t catch the ball. Their defense shut down the Lakers’ offense immediately, and the game was over within minutes.

The Lakers couldn’t even get a shot off, and when they did, it was a brick. It’s just one game, but there was a statement to be made and OKC made it.

For me, I take solace in knowing that even if they were healthy, the best-case scenario for LA was making it far enough to get obliterated by OKC.

3. Will Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves be smart enough not to rush back?

Reaves and Dončić are done for the regular season, but the playoffs are up in the air. Being the competitors they are, it’s no surprise they are doing everything to return and not let all their work go to waste this year.

In fact, Luka has gone to Spain for specialized treatment for his hamstring strain in hopes of expediting the process. While his desire to play and do everything possible to return is admirable, he has to be careful that he doesn’t push beyond what is okay.

As a Chicago Bulls fan once told me, it can always get worse.

This feels like the bottom, but if Luka rushes back, injures his hamstring again, makes it a longer-term injury, and the Lakers still get blown out of the playoffs, that would be a far worse scenario than where they are now.

If his treatment helps him return sooner and he’s healthy, great. But if coming back risks further injury, cooler heads have to prevail over competitive fire.

4. JJ Redick needs to calm down

Speaking of cooler heads prevailing, can Redick tone it down a bit during games? We’ve seen him get into arguments with his stars, like Luka, and during the team’s other loss to the Thunder this week, there he was, arguing with Jarred Vanderbilt.

Vando usually has a very calm demeanor, but he was anything but that during a verbal back-and-forth with Redick.

Redick can be a demanding coach, and there is nothing wrong with that. Still, there has to be a moment where things get reigned in a bit.

In that game, the Lakers had four starters missing, and they needed Vando to have even a glimmer of hope of winning. Instead, he didn’t play the rest of the night after this.

I’m not saying they would’ve won if he’d played, but I am saying they were a worse team with him sitting out on Tuesday.

On the other hand, Redick wasn’t just critical of Vando. He also called an early timeout because Rui Hachimura wasn’t doing his job and mentioned postgame that Ayton can’t catch the ball right now.

These are intense times and Redick wants the same success for the Lakers that everyone wants. That’s fine and he’s in charge so it goes his way. But I think finding a way to send the right message without a public spat would benefit all involved.

5. The Marathon Continues

The late, great rapper Nipsey Hussle had a mixtape titled “The Marathon Continues.” The premise was that, despite the ups and downs, life goes on, and we have to keep grinding for the better. That’s what the Lakers have to do at this point in the season.

It feels hopeless right now, but that’s not the case. The players left have to believe they can win enough to extend the season so that Dončić and Reaves can return for the most important games.

There are just a few games left, but they have to spend what’s remaining of the regular season preparing for the playoffs and finding a way to win. That’s a tall task, but it’s the job in front of them. Here’s hoping they find a way to shock us all.

Stat of the Week

One bright spot this week was that having players out meant others got a chance.

Against the Thunder, Adou Theiro logged a career-high 21 minutes. Hopefully, he can play a bit in the remaining games and show off his explosive athleticism.

The present feels dark, but the future can be bright with players like Thiero. If he shows more flashes that he is a player who can grow in LA, just like Austin Reaves and Max Christie, then that’s something good that can happen this month.

Play of the Week

Thiero gave the Lakers one of the few highlights of the week with one of his power dunks. It started with Drew Timme getting the ball on the inbound from Bronny James. He got doubled, which left Thiero wide open on the opposite side. Thiero cut to the basket, and Timme found him open near the rim.

Cason Wallace recovered well, but Thiero was too quick and athletic. He double-pumped the ball, which got Wallace out of the play and slammed it home.

Player of the Week

With players getting hurt and nothing but losses, finding a Player of the Week was tough.

In the end, I went with LeBron James. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists, leading the team in all three categories. He was brilliant against the Mavericks and while it didn’t lead to a win, he needs to play at that level if the Lakers are going to salvage anything from this season.

Stories of the Week

The Thunder have the Lakers’ kryptonite – Silver Screen And Roll

Raj Chipalu broke down the Lakers’ crushing defeat with some in-depth film breakdown and an honest assessment of the gap between LA and OKC.

Increased defensive pressure is intended to rush and rattle the opponent. The Lakers have been completely out of their element in all three matchups and have trailed by over 30 points at halftime in both games in Oklahoma City. The Thunder cruised to a 45-point victory while LA failed to reach 100 points for the first time since February.

While the Lakers were likely never touching OKC’s ceiling this year, the run in March raised questions about just how high the mountain is. The Thunder quickly ended any hopes of a climb as they now sit comfortably at the top, firmly holding the Lakers’ kryptonite.

NBA’s widespread tanking has come at a significant cost for the entire league – The Athletic

It’s clear that tanking has become a big problem in the NBA and John Hollinger wrote about why it’s even worse than you think.

Overall, the eight tanking teams are 17-144 against the 20 legit squads since the trade deadline, a 0.106 winning percentage. To put this achievement into perspective, considering that the Chicago Bulls alone won 18 games against the postseason-20 before the trade deadline.

Wait, it gets worse: The tankers haven’t exactly been taking their opponents to the wire, either. Our Notorious Nine have lost by an average margin of 13.9 points since the All-Star break. The Utah Jazz alone lost games by 35 and 34 this weekend.

Let me underline this for emphasis: The average team in this group, when faced with any type of real basketball game, is playing as bad as the worst team in history (the 7-59 Charlotte Bobcats during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season), posting a despicable .106 winning percentage that equates to an 8.7-win season over 82 games, with nearly the worst scoring margin in NBA history.

And this isn’t one team doing this. It’s nine of them.

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

HOUSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid was diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday in Houston, the Philadelphia 76ers announced.

The 76ers are scheduled to play at the Rockets on Thursday night.

The team said further updates will be provided as appropriate.

The 76ers are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and on track for a spot in the play-in tournament, though they are only one game behind sixth-place Toronto.

Embiid has been limited to 38 games this season, sidelined primarily by injury management in his knees.

He was held out against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday with “right oblique; injury management; (and) illness.” He has not played in both games of a back-to-back all season.

After missing Saturday's game, Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds in Philadelphia's 115-102 loss at San Antonio on Monday night.

Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds this season after playing in only 19 games in the 2024-25 season. He hasn't appeared in as many as 40 games in a regular season since 2022-23 when he was named MVP after averaging a career-high 33.1 points.

Embiid expressed his frustrations with Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, on Friday night for not allowing him to play in Washington last week.

“I was pissed off. I wanted to play basketball,” Embiid said. “I wasn’t allowed to play basketball, so I think this is more of a question of Daryl Morey or whoever makes the decisions.”

___

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

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery in Houston, the team announced.

The 76ers are in town to play the Rockets as they cling to the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with three games remaining in the regular season. Embiid had already been ruled out for Thursday's game because of an illness.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that causes pain in the lower right part of the belly, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Philadelphia (43-36) visits the Indiana Pacers on Friday before ending the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The 76ers are one game back of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 6 seed to avoid participating in the play-in tournament.

HOUSTON (AP) — 76ers say Joel Embiid will have surgery for appendicitis with no timeline for his return.

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Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Western Conference clash between Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.

By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.

These Lakers vs. Warriors predictions aren’t guesswork — they’re driven by the numbers.

For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Thursday, April 9.

Lakers vs Warriors computer picks for April 9

Lakers	Warriors
James u25.5 points +100	Melton o14.5 points  -135
Ayton u8.5 rebounds -125	Green o4.5 rebounds -220
Hachimura o1.5 3-pointers -150	Melton o1.5 3-pointers  -170

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Lakers computer picks

LeBron James Under 25.5 points (+100)

Projection: 25.3 points

The Los Angeles Lakers have operated at the league’s eighth-slowest pace on the road this season, and with the Golden State Warriors ranking seventh-slowest over their last 20 games, this matchup sets up for a reduced number of possessions.

That slower tempo limits overall opportunities for the Lakers and, in turn, caps how often LeBron James can assert himself offensively in the way they’ll likely need.

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Deandre Ayton Under 8.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 8.4 rebounds

The Lakers rank as the NBA’s second-worst offensive rebounding team this season, a trend that aligns with Deandre Ayton consistently falling short of this rebounding line.

He’s gone Under in seven of his last 10 games at an 8.5-rebound mark, making another miss on this prop a realistic outcome.

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Rui Hachimura Over 1.5 made threes (-150)

Projection: 2.3 made threes

The matchup against the Warriors sets up well for three-point production, as opposing starting small forwards have posted a league-high 47.0% 3-point rate against them this season — creating a favorable path for Rui Hachimura to cash the Over from deep tonight.

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---

Warriors computer picks

De'Anthony Melton Over 14.5 points (-135)

Projection: 15.4 points

Over their last five home games, the Lakers have allowed opposing starting point guards to average 6.2 free-throw attempts per game — the fourth-highest mark in the league — making it easier to generate points at the line.

That trend bodes well for De'Anthony Melton to boost his scoring output by attacking and drawing fouls.

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Draymond Green Over 4.5 rebounds (-220)

Projection: 6.6 rebounds

The Warriors rank 10th in offensive rebounding over their last 25 games, setting up a favorable spot for Draymond Green to exceed a modest line.

He’s already gone Over in five of his last 10 games at a 5.5-rebound number, making this another strong opportunity to do so.

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De'Anthony Melton Over 1.5 made threes (-170)

Projection: 2.3 3-pointers

Melton has only cleared this 1.5 made threes line in four of his last 10 games, but the surface-level hit rate doesn’t fully capture the upside in this matchup.

The matchup against the Lakers adds a layer of optimism. The Lakers have consistently allowed clean looks from beyond the arc, particularly to opposing guards, due to their tendency to collapse into the paint and prioritize interior defense.

That style naturally creates kick-out opportunities, exactly the type of looks Melton thrives on as a catch-and-shoot option.

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How to watch Lakers vs Warriors tonight

Location	Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date	Thursday, April 9, 2026
Tip-off	10:00 p.m. ET
TV	Prime Video

Not intended for use in MA.
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Send in your questions now for this week’s episode of The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast to discuss everything Pistons. Submit your question to the comments section here or on X/Twitter to @TheRealWesD3 and/or @blakesilverman.

Join us live on Saturday afternoon for the show where we’ll recap the Pistons’ recent stretch of games. How do you hope the play-in tournament shakes out? Will the NBA bypass the 65-game requirement for Cade Cunningham’s circumstance? What team are you most afraid to potentially see in the postseason?

Plus, The Pindown has a phone line where you can leave a message and hear your voice on the show. Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message around 45 seconds or less so we can fit everyone into the show.

The podcast will be uploaded to all audio platforms the following morning.

The Pindown: A Detroit Pistons Podcast Vitals:

When: Saturday April 11 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit Bad Boys YouTube Channel

How to submit questions:

• Detroit Bad Boys Website: Comment section of the weekly Pindown episode articles.
• Call (313) 355-2717 and leave us a voicemail with your question. Please try to keep the message to 45 seconds or less.
• Twitter: @detroitbadboys, @blakesilverman or @therealwesd3
• YouTube: Chat section of The Pindown live recording — Subscribe here

As always, leave any questions or topics you want to be discussed in the comment section below.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NBA fined the Orlando Magic $25,000 on Thursday for violating league injury reporting rules before Monday night's home game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Magic reported point guard Anthony Black as out on its initial injury report. After missing 15 games with an abdominal strain, Black returned and scored 14 points with two assists and two steals in 15 minutes for Orlando in its 123-107 win over Detroit.

In announcing the fine, the NBA said the Magic failed to accurately disclose Black's game availability status.

Black, a third-year player from Arkansas, is averaging 15.1 points and 3.8 assists in 62 games, including 40 starts.

___

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

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Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets desperately need a win tonight, but with Joel Embiid sidelined due to illness, Philadelphia faces a stiff test to snap Houston’s seven-game winning streak.

My 76ers vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks expect Philadelphia’s weaknesses to show early, including star point guard Tyrese Maxey struggling from deep on Thursday, April 9.

76ers vs Rockets prediction

76ers vs Rockets best bet: Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes (+102)

In a week filled with two-way players seeing ample playing time and sportsbooks worrying about over-exposure to Unders on player props, it is a bit refreshing to see a mispriced prop like this.

Tyrese Maxey is a solid shooter. Before his pinkie injury in early March, the Philadelphia 76ers’ guard was shooting 37.3% from deep, making 3.3 per game. 

However, Maxey has not been humming since his return, connecting on just 10-for-32 attempts from deep in his last six contests. Those struggles have been further emphasized when Joel Embiid is sidelined, as Maxey is just 3-for-10 from distance in those two matchups.

Those facts alone would justify this bet, but then realizing Maxey is about to play the Houston Rockets cements this value. 

The Rockets rank No. 7 in the NBA in limiting opponents’ attempts from deep, giving up 3-pointers on just 40% of foes’ shot attempts. Houston is also No. 5 in opponent 3-point percentage, with teams making just 35% of those long-range attempts.

This prop would be too high against just about any opponent; at plus-money, it is aggressively mispriced against the Rockets.

76ers vs Rockets same-game parlay

Houston is currently riding a seven-game winning streak, which has happened to see six Overs cash.

76ers vs Rockets SGP

• Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes
• Over 227
• Rockets moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Pack It In Philly

Philadelphia is desperately trying to stay in the preferred Play-In game in the East. It holds the tiebreaker against both Orlando and Charlotte, but it cannot afford to lose more than one of its remaining three games.

Combining the Houston spread with Unders on Maxey’s and VJ Edgecombe’s points props is a correlated thought: if the Rockets build a healthy lead, the 76ers may fold early to better set themselves up for success tomorrow in Indiana and on Sunday against the Bucks.

76ers vs Rockets SGP

• Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes
• Over 227
• Rockets -5.5
• Tyrese Maxey Under 28.5 points
• VJ Edgecombe Under 15.5 points

76ers vs Rockets odds

• Spread: 76ers +5.5 (-110) | Rockets -5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: 76ers +180 | Rockets -220
• Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)

76ers vs Rockets betting trend to know

Houston is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Rockets.

How to watch 76ers vs Rockets

76ers vs Rockets latest injuries

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Nothing makes a stronger case for a 72-game NBA season with significant draft lottery reform than tonight’s starting lineups for the Indiana Pacers and the Brooklyn Nets.

My Pacers vs. Nets predictions and NBA picks recognize that one of these teams wants to lose more than the other — which is saying something — on Thursday, April 9.

Pacers vs Nets prediction

Pacers vs Nets best bet: Pacers -3 (-110)

The most obsessed of NBA fanatics will struggle to comprehend the lineups from both the Indiana Pacers and the Brooklyn Nets tonight.

It would be quicker to point out recognized players that will start, but that would require faith that the teams will not bench someone late in the afternoon.

Instead, focus on the known factors.

The Pacers have done everything they can to secure a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA draft, a necessity to keep their pick.

Meanwhile, the Nets are fighting with the Jazz and the Kings for top-three lottery odds.

Remember, in the current system, the worst-three records in the NBA yield a 14.0% chance at the No. 1 pick, while the No. 5 team in that conversation has “only” a 10.5% chance.

This loss means something to Brooklyn.

Yes, this is a system that needs to be adjusted, but until it is, one can justifiably and cynically expect the Nets to find a way to lose this game. With a spread within a bucket, that loss is likely to be one ATS as well.

Pacers vs Nets same-game parlay

As the Pacers and Nets have put the finishing touches on their respective tanks, they have both veered toward the Under.

Indiana has surprisingly leaned into its misery this week, inducing two Unders in its last two games, while Brooklyn has been an Under team all season long (cashing 45 in 79 games), including notching Unders in five of its last seven contests.

Pacers vs Nets SGP

• Pacers -3
• Under 224.5
• 1H Under 109

Our "from downtown" SGP: Nets Early, Pacers Late

Consider this a value play.

In a game that is likely to be decided by one team’s stubborn insistence on losing, the lead flipping after halftime should not be worth such an aggressive payout.

Pacers vs Nets SGP

• Pacers -3
• Nets 1H +1.5
• Under 224.5

Pacers vs Nets odds

• Spread: Pacers -3 (-110) | Nets +3 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pacers -155 | Nets +130
• Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)

Pacers vs Nets betting trend to know

Indiana was last favored on Feb. 19, marking a stretch of 23 games since then. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Nets.

How to watch Pacers vs Nets

Pacers vs Nets latest injuries

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Coming off a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Spurs battled the Portland Trail Blazers for the last time this season. Due to injuries suffered in the last game, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle were ruled out. As a result, Dylan Harper and Luke Kornet started in their places. After outscoring the Blazers 32-23 at the end of the first quarter, both teams struggled to shoot from three (aside from Carter Bryant). The Spurs took a 10-point lead into halftime and took a 15-point lead into the fourth. After the Blazers cut the lead down to six late, the Spurs sank the Blazers with a dagger three from De’Aaron Fox. In a defensive and scrappy game, the Spurs ultimately took down the Blazers 112-101.

De’Aaron Fox led the way with 25 points (10-20 FG, 3-6 3PT), seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals. With his backcourt running mate out, Fox took control of the offense to start. His three-point shot looked pure, along with his midrange pull-ups and finishes. He was also quick with the dimes in both the frontcourt and the fastbreaks from the backcourt. As the regular season draws to a close, the Spurs look forward to Fox giving them insurance games like this one from Fox for their postseason run.

Too quick! On the fastbreak, Fox speeds past Deni Avdija for the quick layup to dunk!

Beautiful play! Fox gets his defender in the air, passes it to Harrison Barnes, who passes it back to Fox, who then immediately lobs it to Luke Kornet for the alley-oop slam!

The reverse angle!

Don’t reach! Fox drives and pulls up for the and-one jumper over Kris Murray!

Splashtown! Fox throws a lob pass to Devin Vassell for the three-point splash!

Run the floor! On another fastbreak, Fox drives to the three-point line, gets doubled, and in a flash throws a pass to a cutting Kornet for the open slam!

Keldon Johnson dropped 20 points (8-15 FG, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist. KJ led the charge off the bench and went to work in the paint. No matter who was guarding him, KJ drove and took his time making his presence known to the Blazers’ defensive line. He shot over 50% from the field and got to the free-throw line. He also nearly grabbed double-digit rebounds. This game helps put the finishing touches on a Sixth Man of the Year-type season for KJ.

TOO STRONG! KJ drives past Murray and finishes through contact off the glass for the and-one!

Persistence pays off! KJ tries the hook shot over Jrue Holiday, gets his own rebound, and throws up a floater for two!

HUSTLE AND HEART! KJ dives on the loose ball and gives it up to Fox, who then throws it ahead to a wide-open Julian Champagnie, who throws it down!

Carter Bryant dropped a career-high 17 points (5-6 3PT), five rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Carter played 25 minutes off the bench and provided the Spurs with the best game of his rookie season. Portland was leaving him open at the three-point line, so Carter was taking what the defense gave him. The result? A career-high five threes on six attempts. He was also active on the boards and dished out several dimes. His bench production, along with KJ’s, allowed the Spurs to completely obliterate Portland’s bench.

GET OUT OF HIS WAY! Carter drives in on former Spur Sidy Cissoko and completely takes him out of the play, which results in a pass to a wide-open Kornet on the dunk!

CART3R! Carter knocks down his fifth three of the game from the corner!

Here’s all five CB threes!

In a scrappy game, the Spurs, while shorthanded, came out on top. Fox showed up and showed out. KJ followed, and CB earned a spot in the playoff rotation according to Mitch Johnson. In his third start, Harper dropped 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Kornet also dropped 10 points (5-6 FG), six assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block. Despite missing both Castle and Wemby, this team continues to prove how deep they are, and their potential come playoff time is as high as the championship.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs take on the Dallas Mavericks for the final time this season on Friday at 7:00 P.M. (CST) on KENS.

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There's plenty at stake when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Miami is jockeying for a better play-in position while Toronto tries to hold on to the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in completely.

This is a rematch from two days ago and my Heat vs. Raptors predictions expect Toronto to win again. Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference clash on April 9.

Heat vs Raptors prediction

Heat vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -3.5 (-110)

The Toronto Raptors clobbered the Miami Heat 121-95 on Tuesday. Toronto had a +12 rebounding margin and scored 70 points in the paint, while holding Miami to 36 FG%.

The Heat should shoot better but I don't trust their defense or ability to contest Toronto's length on the glass. They are 26th in the league in ppg allowed (126.3) over the last 15 games and have struggled away from home.

Meanwhile, the Raps are finally at full strength after dealing with key injuries all season. This should be closer than the last game, but Toronto will still win and cover.

Heat vs Raptors same-game parlay

Despite coming off the bench, Jamal Shead has become Toronto's best passer. He has dropped 6+ dimes in eight of his last 10 contests and is averaging 8.3 assists per game over that span.

Raps center Jakob Poeltl is finally healthy and has been scoring at a high efficiency inside. He has cleared 10.5 points in six of his last seven games and dropped 17 points against Miami on Wednesday. 

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Raptors -3.5
• Jamal Shead Over 5.5 assists
• Jakob Poeltl Over 10.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Raptors Roll

Scottie Barnes is Toronto's best player and he should make the All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career. He had one steal against Miami on Wednesday but had swiped 2+ steals in nine of his previous 10 games. 

Heat vs Raptors SGP

• Raptors -3.5
• Jamal Shead Over 5.5 assists
• Jakob Poeltl Over 10.5 points
• Scottie Barnes Over 1.5 steals

Heat vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Miami +3.5 | Toronto -3.5
• Moneyline: Miami +140 | Toronto -165
• Over/Under: Over 237 | Under 237

Heat vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Heat are 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS in their last nine games away from home. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Raptors.

How to watch Heat vs Raptors

Heat vs Raptors latest injuries

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Jordan Clarkson’s season has been, in an odd way, a microcosm of the New York Knicks’ season that has encapsulated the team and their roller-coaster season.

The former Sixth Man of the Year, his playing time, and quality of play may not have the most direct correlation with when the Knicks’ peaks and valleys have come. But like the Knicks’ season, Clarkson has gone from looking good to bad, to really bad, to good again.

With his recent improved defensive energy, unexpected offensive rebounding, his scoring history, as well as his edge in experience over the likes of Jose Alvarado, Mo Diawara, and Tyler Kolek, he will get the first lick at securing a consistent role off the bench. And you can compile a strong case that he deserves it.

There is one stat that is somewhat concerning, though. With just three games left to go in the season,Clarkson is averaging just 3.1 three-point attempts per game right now and is shooting just 33.2% on them. That ranks ninth on the team in attempts and 11th on the team in percentage. And even when you account for minutes and look at his per-36 stats, his shooting attempts still rank eighth among players on the team.

This may not seem like a big deal. And there is a chance that it doesn’t end up hurting the team significantly. But there are a few reasons why it may. First of all, Mike Brown and the Knicks have emphasized upping the three-point attempts this season. Opposing teams will look to take away what the Knicks want to do, so coming by threes may prove to be even more difficult during the postseason.

Secondly, teams will also want to key in on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns and make others beat them. If, and when Clarkson shares the floor with them, he must look to take threes. If he doesn’t, not only could he end up dribbling into what could be a crowded paint for a contested two, but it will continue to shrink the floor for the two stars that need as much spacing as possible. If Clarkson is even remotely hesitant about taking these attempts, it could make things more difficult for both Brunson and Towns.

There is some hope for Clarkson and the Knicks, though. Despite the less-than-stellar three-point percentage, Clarkson is still shooting 37.1% from three when he’s wide open (closest defender more than 6ft away). And, when he’s had the ball for less than two seconds, he’s shooting 34.8% from three. Neither are elite numbers, but they are still respectable and should be good enough. When teams hedge hard, trap, or double-team Brunson and or Towns, something teams may do more of in the playoffs, Clarkson could get even three-point attempts that are both wide open, and without him having the ball for too long.

The other positive is that Clarkson has been a solid three-point shooter over three of his last four playoff appearances. While those came in 2020-2022, he did shoot a decent 35.3% on 9.2 attempts per 36 minutes in 24 games during that span. And lastly, as you can see from the graph above, Clarkson is shooting 38% from the right corner this season, making 37 of 108 attempts. Surely, both the Knicks and Clarkson have this information, and could look to find more opportunities for him from that side. If that is the case, the veteran scorer could play a pivotal role in a few games off the bench.

But both the percentages and volume are still concerning enough over the 69 regular season games this year that I would keep a close eye on it. And as should be the case for any bench player not named Mitchell Robinson, Deuce McBride, and arguably Landry Shamet, his leash should be kept relatively short. On any given night, Diawara, given his size, defense, athleticism, and willingness to let it fly from three, could provide the Knicks with more of what they need. And while I don’t see it happening, there is even a strong case for Kolek to see some opportunities as well.

Clarkson will start the postseason as the de facto wing off the bench, and I can see why. He’s still capable of pouring in 15+ points on any given night, and we’ve seen bench players come in and change the trajectory of not just a playoff game, but a whole series. He’s one of the few players who could absolutely do that. His ball-handling, self-creation, scoring, cutting, and improved defensive intensity can prove to be key. But fans should hope that Brown, as he’s proven to be over the course of the season, will remain open to change and experimentation. The last thing the Knicks need, and the last thing the fans want, is a repeat situation of the Tom Thibodeau era, where the status quo was sticking with veterans regardless of quality of play, process, or results.