Category: Basketball

Basketball News

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Chris Paul, about to turn 40, talks retirement: 'I’m going to keep playing, I think'

Chris Paul has been solid on the court and the veteran leader the San Antonio Spurs brought him in to be this season. He has played a role in the growth of Victor Wembanyama and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Stephon Castle.

He's also averaging numbers — 8.8 points, 7.6 assists a game — well below his career averages. He turns 40 just after the season ends. Does he want to keep going? Marc Spears of ESPN's Andscape brought up the dreaded retirement word to CP3, but it sounds like he will return.

"I'll be 40 in May. So, yeah man, I'm going to keep playing, I think," Paul told Andscape recently. "At the end of every season, I evaluate everything. Evaluate playing. Evaluate how my body feels. But the more years that go by, it's more conversations with my family, with my kids. They have a lot of say so. They got a lot of input.

"Obviously, I got a lot of homies, friends that have retired or whatnot. And they are always like, 'Man, play as long as you possibly can. Play as long as you possibly can.' And I appreciate that. But I also, I just always want to talk to my kids about it because that's the most important job that I have. I love to play. I definitely love my kids and my family more than I like to play. Anybody who's in this knows the sacrifice could goes longer. I said this summer I will evaluate it and talk to my family about it."

His choice may well come down to situation and money.

Paul is making $10.5 million this season on an expiring contract, can he find that kind of money again next season? It's also unclear if he would return to San Antonio, the Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox and want to give heavy minutes to him and Castle at the one, so there may not be a lot of minutes for CP3. Other teams would be interested, but Paul has prioritized trying to be close to his family in Southern California during the season. Paul also would prioritize playing for a team expected to make a deep playoff run. That's a lot of things that have to come together.

There will be teams interested in Paul. If he wants it, he will be able to play a 21st season in the league. It's just a matter of priorities for the future Hall of Famer.

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Thunder vs. Rockets Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and, best bets for April 4

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Preview 

The Oklahoma City Thunder (64-12) and Houston Rockets (50-27) are all set to square off from Toyota Center in Houston.

Rockets star Dillon Brooks will miss tonight's game because he was suspended for one game for receiving his 16th technical.

The Thunder are currently 29-7 on the road with a point differential of 13, while the Rockets have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Thunder vs. Rockets live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Toyota Center
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Thunder vs. Rockets

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Thunder (-266), Rockets (+215)
  • Spread:  Thunder -6.5
  • Over/Under: 230 points

That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 117.36, and the Rockets 113.97.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Thunder vs. Rockets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Thunder -6

Thomas: “The Thunder have won 18 of their last 19 games. They have covered in eleven straight games. In that span, they have done it all. They have covered as underdogs, they have covered as double-digit favorites, and and they have covered as 20+ point favorites. They have been the model of excellence. The Rockets are no layup by any means. However, with Brooks sidelined tonight, the Rockets and their emotional leader will be without their primary defender on SGA.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Thunder & Rockets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Rockets at +6.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 230.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Thunder vs. Rockets on Friday

  • The Thunder have won 11 straight road games
  • The Over is 25-21 in the Thunder's matchups against Western Conference teams this season
  • The Rockets have covered in 41 of their 77 games this season
  • The Thunder are on a streak of 11 straight road wins

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Celtics break Warriors' single-season 3-point NBA record vs. Suns

Celtics break Warriors' single-season 3-point NBA record vs. Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Boston Celtics broke one of the NBA’s 3-point records in Friday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, and it probably won’t be the only one they set during their historic season from beyond the arc.

The Celtics have passed the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors for the most 3-pointers made by one team in a single season. The Warriors’ record was 1,363, and the Celtics currently stand at 1,370 after making 14 3-pointers against the Suns.

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Payton Pritchard’s 3-pointer in the second quarter Friday night was the record-breaker for Boston, which still has five regular-season games remaining to extend the record.

Back in 2016-17, Isaiah Thomas set the Celtics record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 245. Derrick White broke this record on Monday, and it’s likely Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard will surpass Thomas before the regular season concludes.

Barring a surprise downturn in the Celtics’ 3-point shooting, they are on track to break two more 3-point records.

The Utah Jazz set the record for most 3-point shots made per game with 16.74 during the 2020-21 season, and the Celtics are at 17.9 per game.

The Houston Rockets set the record for most 3-point attempts per game with 45.38 in the 2018-19 campaign, and the Celtics are at 48.5 per game.

The Celtics have ranked first or second in both 3-pointers made and attempted per game every season since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022. His 3-point-heavy strategy has produced fantastic results. Boston reached the NBA Finals in 2022 and 2024 (won the title) and Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s very difficult to beat the Celtics when they’re firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc. The C’s have made 15 or more 3-pointers in 62 of their 75 games so far this season, and they’ve won 48 of those matchups.

If the Celtics continue to hit 17.9 3-pointers per game throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs, it’s hard to imagine any team beating them four times in a seven-game series.

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Cavaliers vs. Spurs Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and, best bets for April 4

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview 

The Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15) and San Antonio Spurs (32-44) are all set to square off from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

The Cavaliers have been up and down recently but are currently riding a two-game winning streak. They get a massively shorthanded San Antonio Spurs team tonight.

The Spurs are coming off a big win over the Nuggets. The win should be taken with a grain of salt. The majority of the Nuggets starters did not play in that game.

The Cavaliers are currently 28-10 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Spurs have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Spurs live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Frost Bank Center
  • City: San Antonio, TX

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Cavaliers (-980), Spurs (+642)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -14
  • Over/Under: 239 points

That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 125.85, and the Spurs 118.56.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Cavaliers vs. Spurs game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Cavs -14…

Thomas: “The Cavaliers are at full strength. The two played each other on March 25th, and the game was closer than Cavs might have liked. The Spurs won the turnover battle and went to the line more than the Cavs. It was also a poor three point shooting night for the Cavs. That should not happen for a second time. They win by margin.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Spurs game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Antonio Spurs at +14.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 239.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Spurs on Friday

  • The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Southwest Division teams
  • The Spurs' last 4 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Cavaliers are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games as a favorite
  • The Cavaliers are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games as a favorite

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Now-or-never pickups to help your playoff run

The majority of names on this list were likely not even on the radar for you a month ago. However, as is the experience at this time every year, deep-diving is a skill in itself. All five teams featured here have well and truly packed their bags for this season and are marching proudly toward the 2025 NBA Draft. If you are lucky enough to have made it this far, your season could very well come down to quantity over quality.

Whether it's targeting an offensive threat capable of delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player who can help boost your blocks and steals, narrowing your focus can prove vital as you battle for seedings. Let's dive into five players who are currently rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

It's been a meteoric rise for Bona over the past week, putting up top-30 value in that time. Across four games, he is averaging 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3.5 blocks in 30.8 minutes, shooting 80.6% from the floor and 69.2% from the line. He had built some momentum earlier in the month before an injury ended up costing him five games. However, he has well and truly established himself as the starting center and, honestly, should serve as the primary backup behind Joel Embiid next season. Andre Drummond, despite still being an elite rebounder, is very limited offensively, and speed is certainly not a strength. As for the remainder of this campaign, Bona is someone who simply needs to be rostered in all formats.

Carrington's rookie season has been a mixed bag, despite playing a relatively consistent role. Fresh off a career-high 32 points in a loss to the Magic, Carrington has now played at least 35 minutes in three straight games. He has scored double-digits in five of the past seven fixtures, seemingly becoming more comfortable on an NBA court. In nine games over the past two weeks, he is averaging 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 3-pointers in 29.8 minutes per game. While his offensive output will likely fluctuate from one game to the next, he is a reliable source of assists and 3s, while also providing above-average rebounding numbers from the guard position.

Although his role is typically dependent on whether Immanuel Quickley is resting or not, Shead has done enough over the past two weeks to warrant a roster spot in most formats. Across seven games during that time, he is averaging 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 3-pointers in just 23.8 minutes per game. The Raptors appear to have settled into a rhythm in which they give Quickley every second game off. This means Shead should be viewed as a part-time starter, at least for now. However, with a floor of 24 minutes per game, managers should seriously consider grabbing him, especially if in need of assists and steals.

Thybulle was basically a forgotten man this season due to an ankle injury, which prevented him from making his season debut until mid-March. However, since making his debut, Thybulle has played in 10 straight games, logging at least 25 minutes in each of the past two contests. The Trail Blazers are in no hurry to rush anyone back onto the court, meaning Thybulle should be able to hold down a relatively solid role for the remainder of the season. His fantasy value is quite clearly tied up in just one category, that being steals. Across his 10-game span, Thybulle is averaging 2.4 thefts per game. For anyone battling in their playoffs, 8-10 steals across a seven-day period could mean the difference between winning and losing, making him a viable streaming candidate, assuming he fills a need on your squad.

With LaMelo Ball undergoing surgery on his wrist and ankle, Simpson has seemingly supplanted him as the starting point guard for the remainder of the season. He has assumed that role in four straight games, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 3-pointers in 30.8 minutes per contest. His offensive game leaves a lot to be desired, but he is going to be given every opportunity to demonstrate what he can do down the stretch. Player development is the top priority for the Hornets at this point, and Simpson should be near the top of that list. Much like Shead, Simpson offers upside in assists and steals, while history would tell us that he could get hot at some point in the next two weeks, providing managers with a sneaky points boost.

  • Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (96% rostered)

  • Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (92% rostered)

  • Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers (89% rostered)

  • Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (86% rostered)