Category: Basketball

Victor Wembanyama may miss some time after a rib injury scare in the San Antonio Spurs 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Reports indicate Wembanyama’s injury isn’t serious, and he will likely suit up for the one required game he has to play to qualify for end-of-season awards. However, he will likely miss the Spurs’ final matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers this season, as he is listed as doubtful. Stephon Castle joins him on the injury report with the same designation.

This will be the rubber match between Portland and San Antonio, as the series is tied 1-1. The Blazers defeated the Spurs in their last matchup, 115-110, a game in which Wembanyama also sat out, and Luke Kornet led the team with 23 points. Portland is fighting hard for its playoff positioning, as they sit just a half-game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for 8th in the Western Conference. This game could impact who the Spurs play in the first round and could be a preview of a potential playoff series.

San Antonio Spurs (60-19) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (40-39)

April 8th, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT

Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Stephon Castle – Doubtful (knee), Victor Wembanyama – Doubtful (rib), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (ankle), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)

Trail Blazers Injuries: Jerami Grant – Out (calf), Vit Krejci – Doubtful (calf), Damian Lillard – Out (achilles), Shaedon Sharpe – Doubtful (fibula)

What to watch for:

Grabbing defensive rebounds

The Blazers are awesome offensive rebounders. If Wembanyama is a Godzilla-type figure, then Donovan Clingan is his King Kong (or Cling Kong) counterpart. The Portland big man leads the league in offensive rebounds with 4.5 a game. Without Wembanyama, Kornet will be counted on to keep Clingan off the glass. It’ll have to be a team effort on the boards, though. The Blazers are 2nd in the NBA with 14.1 offensive rebounds per game. Allowing second-chance points will crush the Spurs’ chances of winning.

Small ball advantage?

The Spurs often go to a small-ball second unit when Wembanyama sits. Carter Bryant has surprisingly been the team’s best third center on the roster this year. Against bigger teams, that lack of size can sometimes come back to bite San Antonio. Against Portland, however, it could work to their advantage. Robert Williams III is a stout, athletic defender, but not much of an offensive threat. Bryant should be able to handle him on the defensive end. On offense, the Spurs will have more ball-handlers and floor spacers to take advantage of a Portland defense that already allows 116.1 points per game. This may be the one game the Spurs’ small-ball lineup could end up a net-positive.

Dylan Harper starting

With Castle potentially resting this game, Harper should get a shot in the starting unit. In his two games as a starter, Harper averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He’s been playing some excellent basketball lately, shooting the ball effectively, scoring around the rim, and playing tough defense on the perimeter. He’ll have his work cut out for him against tough perimeter defenders like Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday, but a big game in the starting five could be exactly what Harper needs to hit the ground running into the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are within reach of clinching the NBA's Western Conference top spot for the third season running after thrashing the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time in six days.

A 123-87 victory on Tuesday means the Thunder are one win - or one San Antonio Spurs loss - from ensuring they finish top.

The Lakers had lost 139-96 to the defending NBA champions on Thursday - one of their heaviest defeats in their history.

This time, despite being without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, they stayed with the Thunder into the second quarter before their opponents scored 23 points - conceding just five - in the final seven minutes and 16 seconds of the half to take control.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes - extending to 139 his record for most consecutive games with 20 or more points - as his side secured their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games.

The defeat for the Lakers was their third in a row - they fall behind the Denver Nuggets in the chase for third spot in the Conference.

Rui Hachimura led the home side with 15 points with no other Lakers player scoring more than 11.

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns missed out on an automatic play-off spot after losing 119-105 to the Houston Rockets.

Kevin Durant who was traded from Phoenix to Houston last year, scored 24 points against his former team with sections of the Suns home crowd subjecting him to boos throughout the game.

The defeat for the Suns means the Minnesota Timberwolves have secured the final play-off spot in the Conference after their comprehensive 124-104 success over the struggling Indiana Pacers.

The Boston Celtics closed in on securing second seed in the Eastern Conference after holding off the in-form Charlotte Hornets 113-102 while the Toronto Raptors kept their automatic play-off hopes on track with a 121-95 win over the Miami Heat, who will now be involved in next week's play-in tournament, along with the Suns.

What is with the Suns dominating the first quarter and then struggling throughout? I could have sworn that in the last game I covered against the Charlotte Hornets, the Suns did the same thing they did tonight. This time, though, it definitely stung more for multiple reasons. One was that the Suns had a 24-0 run in the first quarter, giving them 37 first-quarter points. This would set the stage for an explosive game throughout, but sadly, it missed the mark.

This was also a big one for both teams, with Kevin Durant’s return to the Valley after he missed their first meeting due to injury. For the Suns, they also had Jalen Green, who missed their first matchup, and was looking to provide a showcase as well. Sadly for the Suns, Durant won that battle, even if he had a rough start, finishing with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

For the Suns, Booker got off to a hot start and found himself at the line 16 times, which was incredible to see. He finished with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists, but it was just not enough for Phoenix. The Rockets continued to attack the glass, outrebounding the Suns 55-34 (24-10 on the offensive glass). This was a big reason for the Rockets’ ability to generate second-chance points and keep them in a fighting chance throughout. Eventually, it just pushed over the limit because of Phoenix’s shooting struggles. A 7-of-31 shooting night from three is not going to cut it, and Phoenix looks clear it’s in for a tough couple of weeks ahead.

Game Flow

First Half

In a game, the Suns wanted to come out of the gates swinging; they did, and man, was it a beauty to witness. Right from the jump, Devin Booker started heating up, making his first three shots and getting a quick eight points. Some great hustle and three-pointers accompanied this, from Jordan Goodwin, sparking a huge run for the Suns. One that continued and snowballed into a 24-0 run here in the first quarter, with Mark Williams at the forefront.

Goodie with a pair of early triples 👌 pic.twitter.com/eEPkGygbDt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

His dominance on the glass made Alpren Sengun struggle to get any rebounds, and his ability to score on the other end gave the crowd the excitement they craved. Phoenix was locked in, as they needed to be, for the postseason, and it could not have come at a better time.

Williams impacting both ends early. Active hands disrupting, creating second chances, and holding Sengun in check defensively

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 8, 2026

That being said, Houston did stop the run with a Kevin Durant mid-range and did start to climb back into this one. They started to find their groove with Reed Shepperd and Amen Thompson finding some offensive flow. At the end of one, Phoenix was in the lead 37-21 and looked to be in control of this one if they kept the momentum up.

The second quarter was not much of an offensive explosion to start, but it still had its moments. The Suns continued to see that value from Goodwin come to play, as he was once again active on both ends and made a nice three. The Suns have also done a great job of limiting their front court from doing anything, while their bigs have 16 points combined.

Then the quarter started to get interesting, after Brooks and Durant were arguing with each other. Durant started to feel his rhythm and made Brooks fall with a nice crossover move. The refs also started to get involved, handing out a tech to each team in just 90 seconds. First was given to Booker after complaining about a foul he deserved; the other was given to Jae’Sean Tate, who stepped on Dillon Brooks.

KEVIN DURANT HAD DILLON BROOKS STUMBLING. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/vdk6c5en3r

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 8, 2026

The Suns, who were now struggling behind the arc, changed their game plan. They began attacking the basket and scoring on the Suns’ bigs, forcing multiple trips to the line. Booker led this charge and did it with no fear to keep the Suns in the lead. Booker leads the team with 21 points and a fantastic first half as the Suns are up 57-54. A very physical match is set up for a be wild finish here.

Devin Booker in the first half:

21 points
4 assists
3/4 on 2's
2/5 on 3's
9/10 at the line

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 8, 2026

Second Half

The third was a rough start for Phoenix as they could not find a basket outside the free throw line. Their first six points came at eight shots at the charity stripe, until Brooks found some heat. He made back-to-back shots, including a nice three to help him after a tough shooting night. Green also had this acrobatic finish doing a 360 spin move for the layup. This spark from the two seeking revenge against the Rockets kept the Suns in the lead.

What a finish by Jalen Green, plus the foul pic.twitter.com/7W9GrjYXTV

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 8, 2026

Yet the Rockets did take some control back in this one as they had Josh Okogie replace Reed Shepperd in the starting lineup. This move allowed them to be more physical and create some mismatches on the defensive end. His impact alongside Durant, making winning plays, allowed the Rockets to shrink the lead and keep it within arm’s reach.

The Suns cannot catch a break on the offensive glass as Houston just grabs every rebound and turns it into second-chance points. With their shooting struggles as well, the one thing keeping them in this game is their ability to get to the free-throw line. At the end of the third, the Suns were blessed to see a Royce O’Neale three-pointer finally fall and to have a three-point lead, 84-81.

Headed to the fourth.@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/gghldhF3Pu

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

Unfortunately for Phoenix, this was their worst start to a quarter, and it came at a terrible time. With Durant on the bench, the Rockets went on an 8-0 run and took the lead right form undenrath Phoenix’s grasp. They also continued to dominate the glass with Sengun now finding his shots at the rim. The Suns just do not have the size to match and need to see a change, implementing a wing like Ryan Dunn or Rasheer Fleming to match Houston.

The onslaught continued from the Rockets as their runs seemed to multiply in the fourth. Jabari Smith Jr. hit some big-time threes, and Amen Thompson had some crazy finishes late to make you realize how lethal Houston is. Even with the 24-0 run, this Houston team can bounce back, yet the Suns found no answer offensively after the first.

Sadly for Phoenix, it was just not enough, even with the hot start. They fell ot the Rockets in a heartbreaking collapse after such a great start. This loss will sting the Suns, as they are still in seventh in the West but have now fallen a game behind the Clippers, who beat the Mavericks tonight.

Tonight's Final.@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/3mEBYu6uSc

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

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Up Next

The Suns have their final back-to-back of the season and their final home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks were out west Tuesday night to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in what ended in a 116-103 loss. This one started very ugly, got better to the tune of the Mavs impossibly taking a lead, and then trended back to ugly. Here are a few stats to know from a rough night.

17 straight: Clippers scoring run to begin the game

The Clippers absolutely blitzed the Mavs from the opening tip. Their 17-0 scoring run took place over the first three minutes and 22 seconds of the game, putting the Mavs in a large hole almost instantly. The scoring outburst wasn’t so much a haymaker as it was a high-speed food processor that calmly obliterated whatever it touched. The Clippers shot over 70% from the floor during (and beyond) their run, ripping through the Mavs with precision. Meanwhile, all Mavs not named Cooper Flagg couldn’t quite find the touch until the latter half of the quarter when Marvin Bagley checked in to help Flagg chip away at the lead just a bit.

35%: The Mavericks overall shooting percentage

The Clippers 17-0 run to start the game was due in part to the Mavs missing makable shots, a trend that continued throughout the night. The Mavs managed to hoist up 100 total shots, but only made 35 of them. Missing 65 shots in 48 minutes is a remarkable feat for all the wrong reasons. Amazingly, players such as Marvin Bagley (8-for-11) and Ryan Nembhard (6-for-12) were very efficient, which really goes to show you just how bad the shooting was from everyone else.

18.2%: The Mavericks three-point shooting percentage

If you thought the prior stat was bad, this one really takes the cake. Dallas converted at a 6-for-33 clip from deep on Tuesday night. For perspective, Kawhi Leonard matched the entire output of the Mavs’ team from downtown. Klay Thompson was the biggest culprit for Dallas, going 1-for-10 from beyond the arc, though Max Christie’s 0-for-5 was nothing to write home about either. Dallas has not been a good three-point shooting team all year, but this was shockingly bad to witness.

27/28: Dallas’ free throw attempts and makes

The only thing the Mavs could hit against Los Angeles was free throws, of which they got many. Dallas was an exceptional 27-for-28 from the free throw line. Despite it not helping the outcome, it at least made the final score look a tad more presentable. The starters who attempted a free throw (Flagg, Christie and Dwight Powell) were a perfect 20-for-20 from the stripe

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Oklahoma City Thunder (63-16, first in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (41-38, eighth in the Western Conference)

Inglewood, California; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -7.5; over/under is 225.5

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City aims to keep its six-game win streak intact when the Thunder take on Los Angeles.

The Clippers are 24-25 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles ranks fifth in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing only 112.4 points while holding opponents to 46.8% shooting.

The Thunder have gone 40-9 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is 5-6 in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 114.0 points per game the Clippers score are 6.7 more points than the Thunder allow (107.3). The Thunder average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Clippers allow.

The teams play for the third time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 122-101 on Dec. 19. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points to help lead the Thunder to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: John Collins is shooting 55.6% and averaging 13.7 points for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 23.5 points over the last 10 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points and 6.5 assists for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is averaging 11.3 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 7-3, averaging 118.3 points, 40.8 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 10.2 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points per game.

Thunder: 9-1, averaging 124.9 points, 46.4 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 51.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.2 points.

INJURIES: Clippers: Isaiah Jackson: out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).

Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Dallas Mavericks (25-54, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (43-35, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Suns -10.5; over/under is 230.5

BOTTOM LINE: Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks visit Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

The Suns are 27-22 in conference play. Phoenix is at the bottom of the Western Conference scoring 43.0 points per game in the paint.

The Mavericks are 14-35 against conference opponents. Dallas is fourth in the Western Conference with 44.7 rebounds per game led by P.J. Washington averaging 7.0.

The Suns are shooting 45.5% from the field this season, 2.2 percentage points lower than the 47.7% the Mavericks allow to opponents. The Mavericks average 10.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Suns give up.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Suns won 120-111 in the last matchup on Feb. 11.

TOP PERFORMERS: Royce O'Neale is scoring 9.8 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Suns. Booker is averaging 26.5 points and 3.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Max Christie is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 26.5 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-5, averaging 115.6 points, 42.3 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.7 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 117.4 points, 43.1 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.4 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).

Mavericks: P.J. Washington: out (elbow), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Daniel Gafford: out (shoulder), Caleb Martin: out (heel), Brandon Williams: out (illness), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

At the end of the first quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 123–87 dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team walked into the spotlight carrying something heavier than gold — their place in history.

Just two nights removed from a 79–51 title-clinching win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA national championship in Phoenix, the Bruins were introduced at halfcourt.

Head coach Cori Close stood off to the left, with stars Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and the rest of the team holding up their national championship trophy and waving at fans.

The women of Westwood got the loudest ovation by far, especially considering it was another blowout for the purple and gold at the hands of OKC. 

Even some of the celebrities sitting courtside took notice. Academy Award nominee for best actress, Kate Hudson, sat courtside and greeted the players, giving them her congratulations on their impressive performance.

The champs are here! The Lakers honor UCLA Women’s basketball team after winning the 2026 NCAA tournament pic.twitter.com/ullOVNxdM7

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 8, 2026

The same could not be said for the Lakers. Playing without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves the team didn’t put up much of a fight against the reigning NBA champions.

The only fight that did take place happened on the Lakers bench as guard Jarred Vanderbilt exchanged words with Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick during a timeout early in the second quarter.

The Lakers fell into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Houston Rockets after the loss.

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The final score of Tuesday’s game was both a reflection of the chasm in talent between the Lakers and Thunder but also not entirely indicative of the effort LA gave to start the game either.

For the opening 18 minutes, the hosts held their own on the back of effort and energy plays on both ends. Some timely 3-pointers from unlikely — and unsustainable — sources helped them keep pace with Oklahoma City. But once the threes dried up and the free throws clanked off the rim endlessly, LA didn’t have any more answers and, well, you get a 36-point defeat.

As a result and considering the circumstances, there’s going to be a lot of grace given in these grades. Not one player was playing a role they’re suited for and many of the players have more minutes in the G League than the NBA in recent months. And they were playing against the best team in the NBA. This was never going to be pretty.

So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Drew Timme

27 minutes, 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, -26

An unexpected start for Timme, who started the game really well with 10 early points. That he finished with 11 points should tell you how the rest of the game went.

Grade: B

Rui Hachimura

26 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-3 FT, -24

For very obvious reasons, it’s flown under the radar that Rui has been in a great shooting rhythm over the last week or so.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

23 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-4 FG, 1-2 FT, -26

As harsh as you could be with Ayton after putting up this stat line, he was being defended by a First Team All-Defense caliber player in Chet Holmgren and was without the four ballhandlers he has the most chemistry with.

Grade: C+

Jake LaRavia

20 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-2 FT, -19

There were a couple of possessions in that first half that were nice sequences in which LaRavia ended up with an open look from three. And, well…

He does so many of the little things that if he can consistently knock down shots, he’d be a big gamechanger.

Grade: C-

Luke Kennard

23 minutes, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 4-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-3 FT, -23

Of all the players who have had their role change the most in the last five days, Kennard might top that list. From largely an off-ball scorer to the lead point guard tonight.

Grade: B

Adou Thiero

21 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-10 FT, -15

Finally, Thiero got some run and it was as fun as you’d hope. Head coach JJ Redick mentioned that he was right at his minutes restriction, but he did a lot in that short span.

Grade: A-

Bronny James

23 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-9 FG, 0-5 3PT, -25

Bronny does look a lot more comfortable now, but his jumper is still shaky at best. It should be the biggest thing he works on this summer. He’s a consistent 3-pointer away from being a legitimate rotation player.

Grade: C-

Kobe Bufkin

18 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-6 FG, 2-2 3PT, 3-4 FT, +0

Another player with some surprise early minutes. The bulk of his stats, however, came in garbage time. It was nice to see him get some run and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they try him out a bit more to try to get some more scoring off the bench.

Grade: B

Maxi Kleber

13 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5

A pretty meh performance in limited minutes for Kleber.

Grade: C

Dalton Knecht

19 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, -3

We’re not at a point in Knecht’s career where he isn’t even dominating garbage time. Those used to be the minutes he would at least dominate.

Grade: C-

Nick Smith Jr.

12 minutes, 11 points, 2 assists, 1 foul, 4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5

Only fourth quarter minutes for NSJ. He’s seen his role usurped by the combo of Bufkin and Bronny, so it’s hard to imagine him getting much more run this year.

Grade: B+

Chris Mañon

12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1-2 FG, -5

A very rare extended run for Mañon, who received G League All-Defense honors earlier in the day.

Grade: C+

Jarred Vanderbilt

It was an adventurous start for Vando, who made his lone shot and was active but also missed all three free throws after being fouled on a long-range shot late in the first. His night abruptly ended in the second quarter when Redick called an early timeout and pulled him from the game for, as he said postgame, a “confluence of things.” Vando never returned, logging only five minutes.

JJ Redick

It’s a pretty impossible situation Redick has been placed in, but credit for him for having the team ready at the jump. The result felt inevitable, but the fight the team had not just in the opening 18 minutes, but throughout the game was evident.

Even with the likes of LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes out tonight but set to return, hopefully some more of the young Lakers continue to get minutes as well.

Grade: B

Tuesday’s inactives: LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes

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

Chicago Bulls (30-49, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Washington Wizards (17-62, 15th in the Eastern Conference)

Washington; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Washington plays Chicago looking to break its 10-game home losing streak.

The Wizards are 11-38 in conference games. Washington is 2-2 in one-possession games.

The Bulls are 18-31 in Eastern Conference play. Chicago has a 12-31 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Wizards are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.8% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the Wizards give up.

The teams square off for the third time this season. In the last matchup on April 7 the Bulls won 129-98 led by 26 points from Rob Dillingham, while Bilal Coulibaly scored 19 points for the Wizards.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bub Carrington is scoring 10.3 points per game with 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 17.6 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 48.8% over the last 10 games.

Tre Jones is shooting 55.3% and averaging 13.8 points for the Bulls. Collin Sexton is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Wizards: 1-9, averaging 115.2 points, 39.1 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 131.6 points per game.

Bulls: 2-8, averaging 119.1 points, 45.5 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 128.0 points.

INJURIES: Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (knee), Jaden Hardy: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Kyshawn George: out for season (elbow), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out for season (quad).

Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Isaac Okoro: day to day (quad), Jalen Smith: out for season (calf), Matas Buzelis: day to day (illness), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Miami Heat (41-38, 10th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (44-35, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Toronto; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Miami travels to Toronto looking to break its three-game road slide.

The Raptors are 31-18 against conference opponents. Toronto is 7-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Heat are 25-24 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is the Eastern Conference leader with 46.5 rebounds per game led by Bam Adebayo averaging 10.0.

The Raptors are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points higher than the 46.4% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat score 8.5 more points per game (120.4) than the Raptors give up to opponents (111.9).

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Raptors won 121-95 in the last matchup on April 7.

TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. RJ Barrett is averaging 19.4 points over the last 10 games.

Adebayo is scoring 20.0 points per game and averaging 10.0 rebounds for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 5-5, averaging 117.4 points, 40.6 rebounds, 34.4 assists, 10.4 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.5 points per game.

Heat: 3-7, averaging 122.0 points, 43.4 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.3 points.

INJURIES: Raptors: None listed.

Heat: Nikola Jovic: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Milwaukee Bucks (31-48, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (57-22, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pistons -18.5; over/under is 220.5

BOTTOM LINE: Milwaukee will aim to end its four-game road losing streak when the Bucks face Detroit.

The Pistons are 10-4 against the rest of their division. Detroit is sixth in the Eastern Conference with 27.6 assists per game led by Cade Cunningham averaging 9.9.

The Bucks are 20-29 in Eastern Conference play. Milwaukee is fourth in the NBA averaging 15.0 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.8% from downtown. AJ Green leads the team averaging 2.8 makes while shooting 41.1% from 3-point range.

The Pistons average 10.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.9 fewer makes per game than the Bucks allow (14.8). The Bucks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Pistons allow.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Pistons won the last meeting 124-112 on Dec. 7, with Cunningham scoring 23 points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Bucks. Ousmane Dieng is averaging 13.6 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 40.4% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 116.8 points, 42.0 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.0 points per game.

Bucks: 3-7, averaging 106.9 points, 40.0 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: Cade Cunningham: day to day (lung), Isaiah Stewart: day to day (calf).

Bucks: Kyle Kuzma: day to day (achilles), Kevin Porter Jr.: out for season (knee), Myles Turner: day to day (ankle), Ryan Rollins: day to day (hip), Giannis Antetokounmpo: day to day (ankle), Bobby Portis: day to day (wrist), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (hip).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Boston Celtics (54-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (51-28, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York hosts Boston aiming to prolong its five-game home winning streak.

The Knicks are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 15.2 fast break points per game led by Mikal Bridges averaging 3.2.

The Celtics have gone 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston has a 5-7 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks' 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Celtics allow. The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 45.9% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 111-89 in the last meeting on Feb. 8. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.

Brown is averaging 28.8 points, seven rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.6 points, 44.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.

Celtics: 8-2, averaging 116.1 points, 47.7 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.

Celtics: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Minnesota Timberwolves (47-32, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (43-36, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -6; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Magic take on Minnesota.

The Magic are 25-16 in home games. Orlando is 17-19 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Timberwolves are 22-17 in road games. Minnesota scores 117.6 points and has outscored opponents by 3.5 points per game.

The Magic average 115.5 points per game, 1.4 more points than the 114.1 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 117.6 points per game, 2.4 more than the 115.2 the Magic allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won the last meeting 119-92 on March 7. Desmond Bane scored 30 points to help lead the Magic to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is shooting 45.9% and averaging 22.3 points for the Magic. Bane is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Julius Randle is scoring 21.1 points per game with 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Timberwolves. Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49.5% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 115.8 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.8 points per game.

Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 111.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 10.0 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jett Howard: out (ankle), Jamal Cain: day to day (calf), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee), Wendell Carter Jr.: day to day (neck).

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee), Jaden McDaniels: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

BOSTON — For more than two weeks, Jordan Walsh didn’t lace up. The 22-year-old, who had, at one point, started 20 straight games for the Celtics, had completely fallen out of the rotation.

Still, Walsh kept an even-keeled mindset and perspective throughout that adversity.

“I’m still okay with where I’m at because Year 1, I had no chance of playing,” Walsh told CelticsBlog on March 22nd, amid a string of DNPS. “This year, I started 20 games, and we went 15 and 5 — and I proved that I can play at a high level.”

At that point — just over two weeks ago — it seemed likely that Walsh had permanently fallen out of the rotation. But, 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.”

Jaylen Brown, who has been one of Walsh’s mentors over the past few seasons, praised Walsh’s impact in the game.

“Jordan has the ability to change games,” Brown said. “His athleticism has the ability to change games. So that’s something that in the playoffs or future certain matchups, that will definitely be just continuing to urge him to have discipline and make the right plays out there and bring energy to our group. It makes a big difference.”

Brown pointed to a transition basket Walsh got in the first half as a key moment swing for the Celtics.

“Tonight, our offense wasn’t going in that second quarter, [he] gets out and runs with the transition dump that gets us going,” he said. “Plays like that are important.”

Jordan Walsh with the takeaway from LaMelo Ball 😈 pic.twitter.com/HCzfQkUqp7

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 8, 2026

Jordan Walsh never changed his approach while sidelined

Amid his DNPs, Walsh said that he had leaned on his teammates to gain perspective on how to handle a changing role.

“I’ve gotten a piece of everybody’s story — Payton [Pritchard], JB [Jaylen Brown], Xavier [Tillman], all these people kind of went through similar things,” Walsh said last month. “I’ve gotten their story, and they gave me their knowledge on it.”

At that point, Walsh concluded he’d ensure that his attention to detail and work behind the scenes didn’t waver, regardless of his on-court opportunities. He’d work just as hard as practice, and be just as meticulous in the film room, ready for the moment in which his number might be called.

“It’s kind of just doing my best in the role that I am in now, and that’s just supporting the guys, showing up to practice, being the last one to leave,” Walsh said then. “Like, all that stuff is so cool to me.”

And, Joe Mazzulla took notice.

“When it’s not your turn, what’s your mindset and what’s your consistency? Still chipping away at the workouts? hHw serious do you take a film?” Mazzulla said on Tuesday. “So [I’ve seen] professionalism and consistency from Jordan, and I think Tyler [Lashbrook] does a great job with the guys that he works with, making sure that they’re ready. But it starts with Jordan’s mindset — if you’re not playing, how are you getting better? And so he continues to do that, and I think that’s why he could pick up where he left off.”

Brown thinks Walsh has improved, even though it hasn’t always been easy.

“Just throughout the whole season, I’ve seen an increase and just a better feel overall for what is needed and what he needs to do when he’s out there on the floor,” Brown said. “He’s just managed that well. At times, it’s not been in his favor, but I think he’s kept a level head.”

Jayson Tatum has similarly been impressed by Walsh’s approach this year.

“Just being ready — not necessarily knowing when he’s going to get in, but knowing that part of being a professional is when your number is called to come in and change the game — crash the glass, defensive rebound, pick up 94-feet, hit open shots,” Tatum said after the Celtics 115-102 win over the Hornets. “And give him credit, he definitely did — [he] changed the energy of the game.”

Still, how Walsh will impact the Celtics in the postseason remains to be seen — he’s never laced up for real postseason action. Jaylen Brown is looking forward to seeing how that shakes it.

“Playoffs is a time of year where you put it all on display, everything that you learn, all the discipline that you’ve acquired, all of that stuff — the ultimate test is coming up,” Brown said.

Walsh’s Stay Ready mindset embodies the season the Celtics have put together thus far. Some nights, it’s been Hugo Gonzalez. Other nights, it’s been Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, or Luka Garza. Heck, even Josh Minott — now a Brooklyn Net — helped win the Celtics a few games.

That’s how the roster exceeded expectations en route to 54 wins — and counting.

Joe Mazzulla summed it up best.

“The story of our season up until this point,” he said, “is we got 14, 15 guys that can impact winning.”

After four straight losses, the Golden State Warriors are back in the win column, with a 110-105 victory over the scrappy — but lowly — Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night at the Chase Center.

From the opening tip, it was clear that the Warriors had energy thanks to the return of Steph Curry, who played in his second game following a 27-game absence. Despite Curry’s return, the Warriors were still extremely beat up, and playing without Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, Quinten Post, Gui Santos, and Will Richard, to go along with the season-ending injuries that Moses Moody (who appeared at the arena to massive applause) and Jimmy Butler III sustained. Then again, the Warriors weren’t getting sympathy points from a Kings team that was without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, among others.

But it was evident that Curry’s return had rejuvenated the Warriors, who brought full-on hustle to an arena that finally had life in it. That said, it took the funky starting lineup — Pat Spencer, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Malevy Leons — quite a while to find some rhythm, though they finally did locate a little, led by Spencer. Golden State’s defense was solid, while Sacramento’s offense was tremendously ugly at the beginning. The Warriors had gone 3-for-4 on threes before the Kings even attempted a shot from distance.

But even so, the Warriors couldn’t gain much separation, because their offense was still struggling. Curry checked in at the 6:24 mark with the Dubs leading by just a single point, and, not surprisingly, the spacing instantly improved. Yet that seemed to coincide with the Kings realizing that they were a very athletic team, and they started to use that to an advantage, opening up a lead in the process. After a few minutes, Curry started to get into a flow, and the Warriors trailed 26-25 after a closely-contested, back-and-forth opening frame.

The second quarter was weird, especially at the beginning. The Warriors dialed up the energy level to 11, while lowering the execution level to 0.5. They weren’t sloppy — that would come in the third quarter — but they just couldn’t get anything going, at least on offense. They weren’t able to make good passes, or get open looks, or convert buckets.

Around the halfway mark, Curry returned, along with Green and Seth Curry, and that sparked the Dubs, who started using defense to lead to offense. Suddenly the Warriors were clicking — Melton was playing his best game in ages — and they had a 48-40 lead. The Kings responded with a few buckets, before Curry stole the momentum back with an unreal four-point play. Podziemski, who bailed the offense out time and time again, added a three shortly later, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time all game. Not long after that, Curry somehow managed a second four-point play, and suddenly the Warriors lead was 16.

At the break, they led 66-53. They had turned the ball over just five times. Life was good.

They had no idea what awaited them on the other side of halftime.

Sloppiness. That’s what awaited them, so it was entirely a self-inflicted wound, though give credit to the Kings for applying constant pressure. It was sloppy from the get-go — both teams were playing hard and scrappy, but only one of them was executing at a level befitting the NBA, and it wasn’t the team that had a vested interest in winning the basketball game.

There’s no need to linger on a no good, very bad quarter. After turning the ball over just five times in the first half, the Warriors had 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone. They especially fell apart late, when it seemed like they could barely hold onto the ball, let alone dribble or pass it, and the Kings pounced. Sacramento ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, and pulled to within four points when the buzzer sounded.

The Kings finished the run in the fourth quarter, turning it into a 13-0 blitzing that tied the game, before Podziemski mercifully stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws.

From there, the teams threw punches back and forth — not literally, thankfully, though if you’re looking for that, might I suggest watching highlights from the baseball game between the Angels and Braves. Neither team could gain any separation, and it really felt like each team was just waiting for Curry to check back into the game.

He did so at the 5:53 mark, once again accompanied by his brother and Green. This time the Warriors were down two, but Seth immediately drained a three to shift the momentum.

Still, it nearly came down to the wire. The game was tied with two minutes remaining, when Steph rose for a corner three.

It missed. You didn’t expect me to say that, did you? But he read it all the way, dashed in for his own rebound, whipped the ball back out to the perimeter, and watched Podziemski drain a three for a lead that the Warriors would not relinquish.

The Kings, who have been eliminated, then employed a fascinating strategy that felt like an attempt to skirt the NBA’s anti-tanking rules, and, for the second time in the last few possessions, purposely fouled Seth Curry, a career 86.4% free throw shooter. Both teams benefitted from this decision, as he made both free throws, pushing the lead to five with just over a minute remaining.

Golden State got a few stops against a Sacramento offense that at this point just seemed to be goofing off, and they avoided disaster with a 110-105 win.

We’re used to the stars of the game starting in the backcourt, which was the case on Tuesday. But usually that’s because Curry is starting, not coming off the bench. Instead, it was Podziemski and Melton who started and led the team in scoring. Podz had 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Melton had 20 points and three assists. Curry, meanwhile, had 17 off the bench.

But the unsung hero was the new guy: Charles Bassey. With the Warriors missing their three centers, Bassey — playing in just his second game with the organization — controlled the paint any time his number was called. He finished with a sensational line — 14 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks — but that doesn’t paint the picture as to how huge his contributions were. For a deeply undersized team, he made the Warriors feel big. And against a Sacramento squad that had the athleticism advantage, Bassey helped equalize that mismatch. He’s going to be a vital player for them the rest of the way.

The Warriors improved to 37-42, and have just three regular season games remaining. The next one is Thursday night, when they host the banged up Los Angeles Lakers at 7:00 p.m. PT.