Category: Basketball

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Before making any prop bets or NBA picks on the last day of the regular season, study the NBA standings. Be sure the team has something to play for. Only a handful do — the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets, and seeds No. 5 through 10 in the Eastern Conference.

Even some of those teams — looking at you, Denver — are choosing to rest more than compete on Sunday, April 12.

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Tyrese Maxey	Under 2.5 threes	+135
Kawhi Leonard	Under 26.5 points	-115
Luke Kennard	Over 5.5 assists	-125

Prop #1: Tyrese Maxey Under 2.5 threes

+135 at bet365

The Philadelphia 76ers could still evade the Play-In Tournament. Most likely, the 76ers will end up the No. 8 seed out East, but it is conceivable they host the first Play-In game, needing the Magic to lose to the Celtics today. Do not hold your breath on that; Orlando is favored by 12 points. But stranger things have happened.

That combination of possible but unlikely yields value in doubting Tyrese Maxey to hit three 3-pointers. The sportsbook is presenting the option on the board because Philadelphia should play a full and honest rotation. Players on any teams without that likelihood are effectively not prop options today.

But if the Magic are up handily on the Celtics late, the 76ers may pull their starters earlier than the game would otherwise suggest.

And it is not like Maxey has been shooting well of late, hitting just 11-of-37 (29.7%) from beyond the arc in his last six games.

• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin or NBC Sports Philadelphia

Prop #2: Kawhi Leonard Under 26.5 points

-115 at bet365

The writing is on the wall for the Los Angeles Clippers. They need to beat the Warriors, as 6-point favorites, while the Blazers lose to the Kings for Los Angeles to climb back into the No. 8 seed.

First of all, Portland is favored by 16.5 points.

Secondly, LA’s swoon in the last week that knocked it into the No. 9 seed also means it would face Golden State in a single-elimination game this week.

Which is all to say, do not expect the Clippers to play long minutes. They know their fate. And do not expect them to show the Warriors anything of note.

Kawhi Leonard has already fallen short of this prop in each of his last two games and in six of his last seven. Any reduction in his minutes or aggression should assure it tonight.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SoCal or NBC Sports Bay Area

Prop #3: Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists

-125 at bet365

Point guard Luke Kennard may be a Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff reality. With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves expected to miss at least the start of the first round, Kennard’s starting streak should extend into the postseason.

It may not be Los Angeles’s design or preference, but Kennard is at least filling the role, clearing this prop in three of his four games as a starter this month and averaging 7.75 assists per game. Perhaps even more impressively, Kennard has committed a total of only five turnovers in those four games.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Spectrum Sports Network or Jazz+

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

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The equation is simple for the Toronto Raptors: beat the Brooklyn Nets today, and they lock in a Top-6 finish.

Toronto has won five of its last six matchups against Brooklyn, and my Nets vs. Raptors predictions expect a similar script at Scotiabank Arena tonight, with the depleted visitors arriving as huge underdogs.

Check out my NBA picks for this April 12 clash, headlined by another Scottie Barnes playmaking masterclass.

Nets vs Raptors prediction

Nets vs Raptors best bet: Scottie Barnes Over 5.5 assists (-125)

The Toronto Raptors are within touching distance of ending a three-year playoff drought, and Scottie Barnes should be able to stuff the stat sheet today, even if a blowout scoreline cuts into his minutes. His assist numbers have come down to earth a little lately after a late-March surge, but he’s still hit this Over in 10 of his last 13 games.

Immanuel Quickley’s return from a foot injury is helping to relieve some of the playmaking burden on Barnes’ shoulders. However, Toronto’s cautious approach with Quickley means there are still plenty of possessions with Scottie at the controls.

Plus, the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets — who’ve lost seven in a row on their travels — should be easy pickings for Barnes. Brooklyn allowed 120+ points to the Pacers and Bucks last week while relying on an inexperienced rotation, and the Raptors have every incentive to get out to an early lead.

Scottie finished with 10 assists earlier this month against the Kings, the last lowly visitors to Scotiabank Arena, and this is the type of lopsided matchup where he could dig deep into his bag of highlight passes.

Barnes is pushing for All-NBA consideration, and he’s averaging 6.0 apg at home this season. Look for his connection with Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl to pad his dimes tally tonight.

Nets vs Raptors same-game parlay

Forget Toronto's struggles against elite defenses. This is a chance to feast on a Brooklyn team that’s used a seven-man rotation in its last two losses and allowed a mediocre Milwaukee offense to shoot 56% from the field on Friday.

Toronto nailed this team total Over in two wins over the Heat this week, and I’ll add the Ingram points prop as a nod to the damage that BI can do against untested defenders. He had a season-high 38 points against Miami on Thursday.

Nets vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 5.5 assists
• Raptors team total Over 120.5
• Brandon Ingram Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: The Scottie Show

Barnes has been a spectator for the last three postseasons, and I expect him to leave nothing to chance today. He’s averaging 18.1 ppg and 7.4 gp this year to go with his stellar playmaking, and — even with one eye on a first-round playoff series — he can nudge those numbers up against the overmatched Nets.

Nets vs Raptors SGP

• Scottie Barnes Over 5.5 assists
• Scottie Barnes Over 16.5 points
• Scottie Barnes Over 6.5 rebounds
• Over 219.5

Nets vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Nets +23.5 | Raptors -23.5
• Moneyline: Nets +1800 | Raptors -10000
• Over/Under: Over 219.5 | Under 219.5

Nets vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Nets are 8-32 on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Raptors.

How to watch Nets vs Raptors

Nets vs Raptors latest injuries

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The Portland Trail Blazers hope to improve their NBA playoff seeding when they host the Sacramento Kings.

Sacramento seems to like to compete, and my Kings vs. Trail Blazers predictions expect a competitive game tonight. 

Read on for my NBA picks for Sunday, April 12. 

Kings vs Trail Blazers prediction

Kings vs Trail Blazers best bet: Kings +16.5 (-110)

The Sacramento Kings may be 22-59 and playing out the string, but this number is simply too large to lay against any NBA team.

The Kings have covered four of their last five against the spread, demonstrating real competitiveness despite being decimated by injuries all season. 

They've covered spreads of +15.5 twice in recent weeks as heavy road underdogs, proving this group has enough pride to keep games respectable.

And Russell Westbrook may suit up. If he does, the Kings suddenly have a veteran floor general who can eat clock, draw fouls, and keep this deficit manageable when it matters most.

The Portland Trail Blazers need this win for play-in positioning, but needing a win and needing to win by 17 are two completely different things. 

The Trail Blazers will play to secure the victory, not to embarrass a shorthanded opponent. Once they're comfortable, expect the reserves to get some playing time in the final home game. 

Portland is just 3-4 against the spread at home as a double-digit favorite this season. Those three covers came against Washington, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee, and the Kings have been quietly covering all month.

The head-to-head ATS history backs it up, too. Portland is just 3-6-1 against the spread in the last 10 meetings against Sacramento.

The Trail Blazers are below .500 ATS when asked to lay big numbers on their own floor, and that's why we’re taking the points and Sacramento.

Kings vs Trail Blazers same-game parlay

Portland has allowed the second-fewest points per game across the past 10 games. The Trail Blazers are locked in for play-in positioning, and Sacramento isn’t running and gunning recently.  

Expect a slower, half-court grind that keeps this total buried under 228.5.

Nique Clifford thrives in exactly that environment. He’ll see 30+ minutes tonight and has knocked down at least two triples in three of his past five games.

Kings vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Kings +16.5
• Under 228.5
• Clifford Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Rolling from deep

Sacramento has allowed the second-most made threes in the league across their last five games, and Portland has the shooters to expose it.

Jrue Holiday is averaging 3.3 threes per game over his last ten, and Donovan Clingan has seen a spike in his long-range attempts with at least one triple in three straight games. 

Maxime Raynaud will jack up the three, and he’s made at least one in five of his previous 11 contests. 

Kings vs Trail Blazers SGP

• Clifford Over 1.5 threes
• Holiday Over 3.5 threes
• Raynaud Over 0.5 threes
• Clingan Over 0.5 threes

Kings vs Trail Blazers odds

• Spread: Kings +16.5 | Trail Blazers -16.5
• Moneyline: Kings +800 | Trail Blazers -1300
• Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5

Kings vs Trail Blazers betting trend to know

Sacramento is 4-1 ATS in its last five games. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Trail Blazers.

How to watch Kings vs Trail Blazers

Kings vs Trail Blazers latest injuries

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BOSTON — The line of green stretched down the street. Fans — young and old — stood in the April sun for hours, awaiting the arrival of the guests of honor.

Some Celtics fans were local, of course. But most traveled from all over to arrive at I Love Boston Sports, a small store at Faneuil Hall that sells Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots merch. One family hailed from South Dakota. Another arrived from Germany, suitcases in hand. A couple from Australia, a man from upstate New York, two college-aged girls from Florida, the list goes on.

On this particular Saturday afternoon, the special guests weren’t Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. But from the look of the ocean of green forming outside the store, it certainly looked like prominent Boston athletes were inside.

In reality, it was three Celtics bench players — all of whom have experienced long stretches of DNPs this season — who arrived on the last off-day of the regular season to sign autographs and take photos with fans.

Luke Garza arrived first, then Ron Harper Jr, and then Jordan Walsh. For two uninterrupted hours, the trio of Celtics bench players snapped photos and signed merch for kids and adults alike. At I Love Boston Sports, fans got special Bus 1 Boys and t-shirts and posters signed, which depict Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Garza, Harper Jr, and Walsh as a five-person boy band, with the Celtics schedule listed below in tour-date fashion.

Marie, a 40-year Celtics fan decked out in green, said she drove two hours to attend the meet-and-greet. And, finding out which players would be in attendance made the trip all the more compelling.

“These three have embodied what this Celtics season has been all about,” she said. “To us, they are heroes.”

Garza joined the Celtics on a minimum contract in the offseason and emerged as a fan favorite due to his relentless hustle. The 27-year-old is having a career season — he’s averaging 7.8 points and 4 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game — but three times this season, he’s fallen completely out of the rotation.

One Celtics superfan, Dale, told Garza he was nervous after the Nikola Vucevic trade because he didn’t it to cut into his minutes.

“I wasn’t happy these last couple of games,” Dale said, referencing the most recent three-game stretch in which Garza fell out of the rotation. “That’s my boy!”

Harper Jr., meanwhile, was just a few weeks removed from signing his first standard NBA contract, after four two-way deals and a major shoulder injury. And, by the looks of it, the allure of being a Boston Celtic had not worn off — the 26-year-old did not stop grinning the entire afternoon.

“Mr. Harper!” said one little boy in a Banner 18 jersey. “You’re my favorite player.”

And, Walsh signed a slew of #27 jerseys, his teammates teasing him about the relative popularity of his jersey and jokingly getting out of the way. Garza and Harper Jr. clapped as Walsh signed his superfans’ jerseys.

The Celtics fans travelled from all over to celebrate a special regular season

One older fan, Chris, drove from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to attend the meet-and-greet.

“I just wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “I’m so excited for the playoffs. It’s absolutely worth it. Being three hours away, we don’t get the opportunity to meet these guys. So, you’ve got to do the drive.”

On his way out, Chris tapped Garza, Walsh, and Harper on the chest and urged them to deliver Banner 19.

Farrell, who became a Celtics fan during the pandemic, was not surprised at the Celtics’ success this year, in large part because he’s long had an undying belief in Payton Pritchard.

“I was a Pritchard fan before Pritchard really started to come into his own,” he said. “And nobody believed me. Everybody said, ‘Yeah, he’s just another player. He gets a three-pointer every now and then.‘ I said, ‘No, no, no. This guy has some magic.’ And now that he’s a Celtics star, my friends all think I’m psychic.”

Another superfan, known among Celtics fans as Aztec Gino, travelled from Canada, where he is based. He dons a bright green beard and is usually front and center at Celtics-Raptors games at Scotiabank Arena.

Outside, one woman, Angela, said she normally wouldn’t feel this giddy after a regular season. But the Celtics just won 55 games in a supposed Gap Year, in a season in which Jayson Tatum was largely sidelined, nearly half of the rotation was lost due to free agency or trades.

“In Boston, we only celebrate championships,” she said. “But just once, I’m making an exception. I’m celebrating this season.”

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The Orlando Magic look to improve on their NBA playoff seeding when they visit TD Garden and the Boston Celtics.

Boston plays in a system no matter who’s on the floor, and my Magic vs. Celtics predictions expect a low-scoring affair. 

Read on for my NBA picks for Sunday, April 12. 

Magic vs Celtics prediction

Magic vs Celtics best bet: Under 217.5 (-110)

Tonight’s game isn't about whether the Orlando Magic will win, because they likely will. 

This game is about whether two teams can combine for 218 points when one of them is sending out a collection of nice guys who probably have bright futures as role players but aren't scoring 100 points against anyone on Sunday night.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard are all out or doubtful. 

That's the entire top seven rotation gone. 

The Boston Celtics taking the floor for Boston are Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. Good people. 

Solid professionals. Hard workers who have earned their spot in this league, they just aren’t a 100-point offense.

Here are the two numbers that matter.

Boston ranks 28th-slowest in the league over the last 10 games, averaging 95.05 possessions per game. That's a system, not a coincidence. 

Even shorthanded, Joe Mazzulla's offensive schemes slow the game down regardless of who's in uniform. 

Orlando's defensive rating over that same stretch is 115.3. That sounds like points until you realize the teams they've been running up and down the floor were actually capable of exploiting it. 

Garza and Scheierman can score, but the Celtics' reserves are not that team. They don't have enough overall firepower to punish a leaky defense, but they will scrap like crazy defensively. 

Take the Under and don't look back.

Magic vs Celtics same-game parlay

Paolo Banchero has hit more than one three-point shot exactly zero times in his last nine games. 

Boston will likely turn tonight’s clash into a half-court battle, and they’ll hold Orlando’s leading scorer Under his made threes prop.

The same applies to Luke Garza. Garza’s had some success beyond the arc, but he’s only made two or more twice in his previous 11 games.

Magic vs Celtics SGP

• Under 217.5
• Banchero Under 1.5 threes
• Garza Under 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: A full-blown Magic trick

Boston runs a system and is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. The system doesn't disappear when the starters sit, and I don’t see Orlando blowing them out.

Boston should force Jalen Suggs to play real minutes tonight, and he’s dropped 9, 8, and 12 dimes in his last three competitive games. 

Garza is the focal point tonight, and with twice as many minutes to double his scoring average. 

Desmond Bane is coming off a rough night, but he’s drained at least three triples in three of his last five. 

Magic vs Celtics SGP

• Celtics +12
• Garza Over 14.5 points
• Bane Over 2.5 threes
• Suggs Over 7.5 assists

Magic vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Magic -12 | Celtics +12
• Moneyline: Magic -575 | Celtics +475
• Over/Under: Over 217.5 | Under 217.5

Magic vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 34 of their last 50 games (+16.40 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Celtics.

How to watch Magic vs Celtics

Magic vs Celtics latest injuries

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The Spurs have exceeded fan and pundit expectations this year. Their rise has been multifaceted. De’Aaron Fox’s selflessness paired with his ability to augment his role based the need at an exact moment has allowed players around him to grow. But as seen when both Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama sat out last Wednesday, Fox can come out of the gate at full force and take control of the hardwood.

Victor Wembanyama took the leap many anticipated. As the next face of the NBA, he brings poise, savvy and a unique swagger to the role while seeming to break some NBA rule almost nightly.

As the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle elevated his game and is now developing into a premiere defender with physicality capability to interrupt some of the game’s leading ball-handlers.

And let me just say — Julian Champagnie is the real deal! He now owns the Spurs record for three-pointers made in a season. At the start of the season, he filled in as a starter for positions 1-4. Now, he’s earned that starting spot. With his defensive prowess, rebounding capabilities, catch-and-shoot threes, and his recently unveiled flair for the dunk, Champagnie, he’s a bonafide threat no matter where is on the court. Oh, and for those counting, he has the second most starts this year behind De’Aaron Fox. Let that sink in.

Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, has one of the purest midrange games out there. His ability to move without the ball and nail threes on the move makes him hard to defend. He’s currently hitting at 38.4% and with all the attention Wemby gets, he’s bound to see more wide open threes in the playoffs.

Dylan Harper is everything the Spurs could have hoped for and then some. The rookie hit the court NBA ready, shows no fear when slashing into the paint, and has a gift for breaking defenders ankles at the rim. As Carter Bryant said the other night, on a different team Harper is a starter and a contender for Rookie of the the Year.

And let’s just say, if Keldon Johnson is not the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year, there is no justice in this world. Is there another player who gracefull bullies his way to the rim? KJ has an understanding of his strengths and utilizies them like no other player. And that’s on the court. He is the heart and soul of the Spurs, through and through.

What do all seven of those players have in common? They are all averaging double-digit scoring.

Harrison Barnes is averaging 9.9 points per game.

If he scores 17 points tonight, he will also average double-digits.

And that would be the first time in NBA history that eight players have all averaged 10 or more points per game each.

That is the one of the purest stats demonstrating the Spurs depth. It’s the very chemistry behind 62 (possibly 63) wins. The sum of the parts exceeds any one man’s greatness. It is a testament to their unity as a team and their dedication to winning a title. Not next year, but right now.

And Barnes, as much as anyone on the team, is proof positive of that motivation.

An NBA champion who brought a veteran presence to the Spurs, Barnes had been a stater for over a decade. He selflessly relinquished the position to Champagnie and has since been helping to solidify the bench, which will be essential for a deep playoff run.

Whether Barnes scores the 17 tonight or not is inconsequential to the Spurs ability to win a title.

Setting an NBA record, in a league obsessed with records, is a great way to end the regular season.

But the Spurs are no longer about the regular season. They want 16 more wins. We all want 16 more wins. And it is now time to cheer them on toward victory.

Fan appreciation tonight.

Go Spurs Go!

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

We made it. There have been ups and downs, and not everyone has an appendix that started with one, but we have reached the final game of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The entire Eastern Conference tips off at the same time this evening to allow for maximum suspense for different seeding permutations. If you’re reading a game preview for Game 82, I imagine you know the Sixers’ situation by now. Philadelphia needs to win and have both Orlando and Toronto lose to earn the sixth seed and avoid the Play-In. If the Sixers win and one of those two other teams wins, they’ll be the seventh seed and host the 7-vs-8 game. If they lose OR both of those other teams win, they’ll be the eighth seed and on the road for that game. Of course, with Orlando playing Boston, who is sitting everyone, and Toronto facing Brooklyn, who is Brooklyn, things aren’t looking great for our 76ers in the seeding race.

First things first, though, the Sixers need to take care of business against the Bucks, a prospect that isn’t as formidable as past years. Milwaukee sits at 32-49, currently with the 10th highest draft lottery odds. This Bucks season could serve as a reminder to Sixers fans that weird stuff happens with other franchises too. Giannis Antetokounmpo and management have been engaged in the most passive-aggressive NBA feud I can recall; he hasn’t played since March 15. Doc Rivers is using “look at my resume” as a locker room motivational speech and openly opining to reporters about spending more time with his grandkids.

Meanwhile, the Sixers’ vibes roller coaster is at another trough following Joel Embiid’s appendectomy surgery. The likeliest scenario is we have seen Embiid on the court for the last time until the fall. He and Johni Broome are both out tonight, the only members of the Sixers to appear on the injury report. However, Tyrese Maxey’s pinky still looks like it’s bothering him to some extent. Aside from all the obvious benefits of avoiding the Play-In Tournament, getting Maxey an extra half week of rest would seemingly be very helpful. But again, it’s Boston’s C squad and the Nets we are counting on, so let’s not get carried away.

It’s possible that the Sixers only have three games remaining this season. Even if you’re in the camp of not thinking this game will matter much, just remember how late June feels when you’re jonesing just to watch G Leaguers and future Euro league guys wear glorified pinnies with Sixers written on them out in Vegas. Tyrese Maxey is still capable of brilliance with nine healthy fingers, Paul George has turned back the clock at least a couple years since coming back from suspension, and VJ Edgecombe can put a stamp on what has been an outstanding rookie season. Enjoy this somewhat important, but probably ultimately not super critical game, before the stakes kick up quite a few notches this upcoming week.

Game Details

When: Sunday, April 12, 6:00 PM ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

If the Celtics season were represented by one player, it would be Jordan Walsh. As CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell writes:

One hallmark characteristic of this Celtics season has been that as soon as it appears Joe Mazzulla has a solidified rotation, things change.

That latest change?

Jordan Walsh is back.

Over the past 7 games, Walsh has re-established himself as a key member of the Celtics lineup, averaging 20.2 minutes per game.

And, in a Tuesday night win against the Charlotte Hornets, he was crucial, tallying 9 points (on 4-4 FG), 6 rebounds, and a steal in 18 minutes of action — while also guarding Hornets star LaMelo Ball for much of the second half.

“He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the team’s best players, creating turnovers,” said Mazzulla. “I thought he was big tonight.”

Whether it’s a recognition of the old adage that “defense wins championships” or Mazzulla just has a gut reaction, Walsh has seemingly locked in a role in the rotation in favor of teammates like Ron Harper Jr., Hugo Gonzalez, and at times, Baylor Scheierman.

And the fans agree. Walsh won our poll for who could be Boston’s biggest x-factor heading into the playoffs:

With one game left in the NBA’s regular season, you can still wager on Walsh with FanDuel’s player props or Boston as a +550 to raise the Larry O’Brien at https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba.

Kings reportedly expected to retain coach Doug Christie after 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It does not appear the Kings will need to search for a new coach this offseason.

Doug Christie will remain Sacramento’s coach after the 2025-26 NBA season, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported Sunday, citing team sources.

After Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center, Christie will have completed his first full season as Kings coach after taking over as the interim coach for then-fired Mike Brown early in the 2024-25 season.

Christie’s combined record as interim and full-time coach heading into Sunday’s final game is 49-83.

The expectations for Sacramento heading into this season, at least externally, were not high, but not many expected the Kings to have the league’s worst record for the majority of the first half before playing slightly better as of late.

The Kings (22-59), currently are tied record-wise with the Utah Jazz (22-59) for the fourth-best NBA draft lottery odds entering the final game of the regular season.

Regardless of which pick Sacramento secures in next month’s lottery, it appears Christie will have another young player to develop next season in his second full season.

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The San Antonio Spurs come into Game 82 of the 2025-2026 regular season with the power to influence the final standings and potential 2nd round match-ups. Though they’re locked into the #2 seed and one side of the West bracket, their opponent tonight, the Denver Nuggets, come into tonight’s game as the 3rd seed, but with their final placement in the standings very much up in the air. The scenario that’s being floated the most amongst pundits and Twitter timelines: A Nuggets loss and Los Angeles Lakers win (they play at the same time at home against the Utah Jazz) would drop Denver to the #4 spot. That sounds like a dream scenario for the young Spurs, who would have to face just one of either Denver or the Oklahoma City Thunder on a potential path to the NBA Finals. There’s no telling what Mitch Johnson and the Spurs’ brain trust is thinking or if they have a preference or if it’s something they’re even thinking about. Based on the history of this franchise, even with Denver sitting basically everyone and leaving their fate in San Antonio’s hands, it really wouldn’t be a shock to see them ultimately hold at least Victor Wembanyama out, give the rest of the top 6 guys a bit of burn, and let the chips fall where they may, completely unconcerned with what path other teams have to take. These Spurs think they can beat anyone and the real test is just around the corner.

San Antonio Spurs (62-19) vs Denver Nuggets (53-28)
April 12 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama, questionable, Devin Vassell, questionable, Stephon Castle, questionable, Luke Kornet, shoulder (OUT), David Jones-Garcia, OUT

Nuggets Injuries: Nikola Jokic, questionable, Jamal Murray, OUT, Aaron Gordon, OUT, Tim Hardaway Jr, OUT, Christian Braun, OUT, Peyton Watson, OUT, Spencer Jones, OUT, Cam Johnson, OUT

What to watch for

• With 3 starters questionable coming into this one including Wemby, Mitch Johnson’s line of thinking sadly won’t be revealed until gametime. Regardless of Johnson’s final approach to this game, expect to see Nikola Jokic on the court for the Nuggets. Jokic comes into Sunday’s game sitting at 64 games played, 1 shy of the 65-game minimum that players must hit to be considered for regular season awards. Injured for part of the year, Jokic has nonetheless was spectacular yet again this season, leading the league in both rebounding (12.7) and assists (10.9) on his way to averaging a triple double for the second consecutive season.

• Pretty much everyone else is out for Denver though, which should tell you all you need to know about David Adelman’s approach to tonight’s game. Having already won a championship with their current core (though Michael Malone was the head coach at the time), it seems pretty apparent by their decision to sit their starters these last two games that the Nuggets aren’t particularily concerned with which side of the bracket they end up on. Having a player the caliber of Jokic, a highly decorated veteran who is capable of carrying a team throughout multiple playoff series, affords them that luxury.

If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

Before we start, I want to thank everyone who has even read one of these this season. They’ve always been a fun way to talk about basketball and the Houston Rockets specifically. A huge round of appreciation for Xiane and Holly, who each grabbed a couple of previews back in January while I was abroad for my brother’s wedding.

As for tonight’s game, the Houston Rockets are resting everyone since they are locked into the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Their opponent will almost assuredly be the Denver Nuggets, who are resting everyone but Nikola Jokic against San Antonio. Jokic needs 20 minutes to reach his 65 games mark. Meanwhile, the Spurs have every incentive to win that game because it pushed Denver to OKC’s side of the bracket, meaning San Antonio might get a pathway of Phoenix and Minnesota on their way to the Western Conference Finals. Again, the Spurs are my pick to win it all this season. And next season. And the season after that one.

The Memphis Grizzlies would very much like to lose this game. As things stand, they are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the sixth-best odds in the lottery. A win could move them into a tie for seventh, where they could lose the tiebreaker with Atlanta on a coin flip. So winning tonight could be the difference in several ping pong balls and their floor dropping from 10 to 12. They would be stupid to try to win.

Tonight is probably a Reed Sheppard night. It’s also a great chance for J.D. Davison and Isaiah Crawford to get some run.

A win tonight matches Houston’s record from last year, when they were the 2 seed. It also bears mentioning that Houston went 41-41 two seasons ago and were five games out of the play-in. That same record would put them in a fight for the 8 seed this season.

Of course, I’ll be back for the playoff game previews. That schedule hasn’t been released yet and won’t until sometimes this week. Houston will play on Saturday or Sunday, and more than likely every game will be the late game.

Tip-off

7:30pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Steven Adams: OUT

Fred VanVleet: OUT

Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr.: OUT

Grizzlies

Everyone you’ve heard of: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

HOU -13.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Game 1 on the road against either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers

All Times EDT

Sunday, April 12

MLB

Arizona at Philadelphia, 1:35 p.m.

San Francisco at Baltimore, 1:35 p.m.

Minnesota at Toronto, 1:37 p.m.

Athletics at N.Y. Mets, 1:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay, 1:40 p.m.

Miami at Detroit, 1:40 p.m.

L.A. Angels at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.

Washington at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Kansas City, 2:10 p.m.

Boston at St. Louis, 2:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Colorado at San Diego, 4:10 p.m.

Texas at L.A. Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 4:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m.

NBA

Atlanta at Miami, 6 p.m.

Brooklyn at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at New York, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Orlando at Boston, 6 p.m.

Washington at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Denver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m.

Memphis at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

New Orleans at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Portland, 8:30 p.m.

Utah at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m.

NHL

Pittsburgh at Washington, 3 p.m.

Boston at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Montreal at N.Y. Islanders, 6 p.m.

Ottawa at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Utah at Calgary, 9 p.m.

MLS

Orlando City at Columbus, 7 p.m.

OTHER EVENTS

AUTO RACING

NASCAR Cup Series - Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn.

NHRA - Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.

GOLF

PGA Tour - Masters Tournament, Augusta, Ga.

TENNIS

ATP - Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

WTA - Upper Austria Ladies Linz, Linz, Austria

_____

In our most recent Utah Jazz Fan Reacts survey, we’re looking forward to what is likely going to be an incredibly consequential offseason. Utah may have to make some tough decisions as they look at their roster. This season, the Utah Jazz have been playing to position themselves as well as they can for the lottery. Losing has been the major benefit of almost assuredly allowing the Jazz to keep their pick, which is top-8 protected (if it falls to 9 or later in the lottery, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder). But there have been many secondary benefits. One of those has been Utah’s younger prospects getting a lot of minutes to develop.

In this NBA Reacts, I asked the fans which of the following players they would keep if they could only keep one: Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh, and John Konchar.

Jazz fans picking Cody Williams is probably not something you would have expected last season. I’m also surprised at Kyle Filipowski over Brice Sensabaugh with the amount of scoring Sensabaugh has done recently. That said, Filipowski has also ended the season really well.

You can follow all the lines and make your bets on the upcoming Jazz season here at FanDuel.

According to Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz signed Hayden Gray to a two-year contract.

Gray is known as a defense-first guard who fits the mold of recent signings the Jazz have made. We saw the Jazz sign Bez Mbeng to a two-year contract, who was also a high-level defender in college.

At UC San Diego, Gray was given the Big West Defensive Player award for 2024-25. At one point in his college career, he led the NCAA in steals. For the Maine Celtics, he set a single-season record for steals in a season with 79.

It’s clearly a trend for the Jazz to start emphasizing defense with the players they’re signing as guards. And it seems those guards are especially good at stealing the ball. This strategy makes a lot of sense for the Jazz, who have been one of the worst defenses, and usually the worst, in the NBA for the last four seasons. Utah is poised for a great season next year, and clearly, defense is the emphasis heading into this offseason, given their fringe signings. Is this something the Jazz will also take into account in the draft? If Utah jumps into the top-4 of the lottery, they likely just pick the best player available. But if they end up somewhere between 5-8, will defense be more of an emphasis for who they draft? Maybe the Hayden Gray signals what the Jazz might do?

It’s also a bit of a bummer because this signals the end of Kennedy Chandler’s contract. Who knows if Chandler will be with the Jazz moving forward. If he is, it’s likely in the upcoming summer league and training camp.

The long NBA season comes to an end on Sunday with the Lakers (52-29) taking on the tanking Jazz (22-59) on Sunday evening. Los Angeles has won the three previous meetings with Utah this season and is looking for the season sweep.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

When: 5:30 p.m. PT, Apr 12

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

After a tumultuous final stretch of the season, the Lakers should be able to end things on a high note. Following consecutive wins over the Warriorsand Suns, LA will host a Utah team with no interest in winning.

The Jazz have been one of the most shameless tankers this year and it has worked as they are tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. That also means they’ll be focused on losing one more time to end the year.

As for the Lakers, they can potentially nab the No. 3 seed depending on how things play out. Assuming they can take down a Utah team that is holding out basically everyone, then they’ll rely on Denver losing to San Antonio.

The Nuggets look set to have all their starters and rotation players out with only Nikola Jokic playing. He needs to play 20 minutes to qualify for awards, which is all he’ll likely play. On the flip side, the Spurs only have Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanayama listed as questionable.

The most likely odds coming into the game are for the Lakers to move up to the No. 3 seed.

Setting all that aside, though, LA can ride into the playoffs with momentum, which is huge considering how much things went off the rails last weekend. They steadied the ship, got back to winning ways and found some answers while doing so.

In an ideal world, the Lakers can race out to a big lead and sit their starters early to avoid any more injuries. But going into the postseason with good vibes and momentum is the key.

Notes and Updates

• Only Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are listed as out. LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable with left foot injury management for both, ironically.
• The Jazz have listed Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Elijah Harkless, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic all as out.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.